Matt. 24:1-14 – To the early disciples, what Jesus prophesies must have been mind-boggling. How could the Temple be torn down? How could one stone not be left upon another? In Matthew 23, Jesus had stated that the Jews’ “house would be left desolate.” The disciples knew that Jesus would be “coming,” but they wanted to know when that would happen? Remember from O.T. prophecies that the “coming of the Lord” meant coming in judgment. That’s what Jesus was speaking of here. Jerusalem and its Temple would be completely demolished and burned in AD 70. It would send reverberations throughout the Roman Empire. But it would also signal a terrible persecution against the disciples, and Jesus sadly states “many will fall away.” History clearly tells us that, before the Jewish Wars of AD 66-73, there were many rumors of wars and earthquakes in Palestine. Nation did rise against nation, mostly because during this time the Roman government would fall into chaos for a short time, and some nations would take the opportunity to revolt against Rome’s rule. Just before and during the Jewish Wars, several individuals rose up in Judea and Galilee and proclaimed they were the Christ or a false prophet. It seems like all bad news. But that was not the case. Jesus stated that the Kingdom gospel would be preached throughout the then-known world before the end of Jerusalem and its Temple happened. He also said that the ones who “endured to the end” would be saved.
Matt. 24:15-31 – Jesus continues now as a prophet of doom explaining more details about this coming judgment. He sounds very much like O.T. prophets when He proclaims catastrophic events in regard to the Sun, Moon, and Stars. This language was used in the O.T. to denote the removal of governments, high officials, and national traditions and laws that were thought to be permanent. (Nothing is permanent on this earth!) Again, it sounds like only terrible, bad news, but Jesus states clearly that God will “cut it short” for the “sake of the elect.” Jesus also tells them what will happen in advance so they will be prepared for the “end of the age.”
Matt. 24:32-50 – Jesus now gives them a parable of a fig tree, the example of Noah, and two more parables regarding the head of a household and a thief and a master and his slaves. All of these are to say, “Be prepared!” Note that He also states in Vs. 34 that “this generation will not pass away until all these things take place.” For those who generate an entire future scenario yet to still come from these passages, I say, “ How can you ignore Jesus’ statement?” Jesus is not a false prophet. All of these things DID take place before that generation passed away. We, of course, do not know when Jesus will return for the final resurrection. Therefore, we can learn to always be prepared for His final coming, and be faithful to the end, no matter how bad the persecution or how catastrophic the events.