The Parable of the Fig Tree

Matthew 24:32-25

In our study of Matthew 24, last time we looked at Jesus’ prediction and description of His second coming (Matthew 24:28-31). We saw that His return will be public, powerful, and purposeful. Christ will come in the sky with power and great glory. This sign will be visible to all. It will be accompanied by cataclysmic events in the heavens and on earth. All the nations will mourn, and God will send His angels to gather of the elect.

The Lord’s return will be as real and historical an event as was His first coming. As believers in Jesus Christ, we should always be looking back to the moment of our saving faith in Christ, when our souls were redeemed. But we must also look forward with anxious anticipation towards the return of Christ, when our bodies will be redeemed and we will enter into the promised fullness of the kingdom of heaven. In that day, Satan will be defeated, the cursed lifted, Christ worshiped, creation restored, sin and death conquered, and all the saints glorified.

Among the many passages in Scripture that describes the Lord’s return, the Olivet Discourse (Matthew 24-25) is unique and special because it’s the message that comes directly from Jesus Himself about His return. Remember that Jesus teaches about these things in response to the question of the disciples in Matthew 24:3, “Tell us, when will these things be? And what will be the sign of Your coming, and of the end of the age?” The disciples had been in awe of the temple buildings and its enormous stones as they left Jerusalem, and Jesus had told them, “Do you not see all these things? Assuredly, I say to you, not one stone shall be left here upon another, that shall not be thrown down.” (Matt. 24:2). The disciples thought the magnificent temple with its massive stones was permanent. Jesus says it is temporary.

They thought that the temple and the city of Jerusalem would last forever. Jesus revealed that they’re actually going to be destroyed, and so this question of then, what’s permanent, must be in their minds. When will this happen? If this is impermanent, then what is permanent? As we look at these four verses that we’re studying today, I think the unifying theme is not so much the timing of Christ coming, but rather the trustworthiness of Christ’s words.

All we have as we look forward to the end of the age are the words of Christ, spoken either by Him, His apostles, or His prophets in the Bible. So if we are going to be ready for the coming of Christ, we must cling to His word.

In these four verses (Matt. 24:32-35), Jesus emphasizes what we can know with certainly. He says, “you know that summer is near,” (Matt. 24:32) and “know that it is near—at the doors!” What do we know? The things about Christ’s coming that He has just taught. How can we know? By the words of Christ.

First, let’s consider…

1. The Analogy of the Fig Tree (24:32)

Jesus says, “Now learn this parable from the fig tree: When its branch has already become tender and puts forth leaves, you know that summer is near.” (Matt. 24:32). Jesus tells very short parable about the fig tree. Remember that a parable is a story or illustration thrown alongside a spiritual truth. In this case, the parable is a simple analogy.  

MacArthur points out that the Jews were used to the fig tree and figs functioning as illustrations. Jotham used a fig tree in his story shouted to the inhabitants of Shechem from the top of Mount Gerizim (Jdg. 9:10-11); Jeremiah saw two baskets of figs in his vision after Nebuchadnezzar took captives from Judah to Babylon (Jer. 24:1-10); Hosea used it as a figure in his prophecy about Israel (Hos. 9:10); and Joel used a splintered fig tree to illustrate the devastation of Judah by a plague of locusts (Joel 1:4-7). Jesus Himself had used the fig tree on numerous other occasions as a teaching aid (see Matt. 7:16; 21:19; Luke 13:6-9).[1]

Because it is so widely used in scripture, and sometimes refers to the nation of Israel, some have equated the fig tree in this parable with Israel. Hal Lindsay and others put a lot of weight on the formation of the modern state of Israel in 1948. In fact, this became a major factor in some people thinking that the rapture or second coming would take place in 1988 (forty years or a generation after the budding of Israel, the fig tree). Perhaps some of you remember the booklet “88 Reasons Why the Rapture Will Be in 1988” written by Edgar C. Whisenant, a former NASA engineer, that predicted the Rapture would occur that year between September 11-13.[2] We all know that the rapture did not occur in 1988 or since then. They were wrong partly because they got the parable of the fig tree wrong.

In this parable, Jesus is simply talking about the change in season, using the fig tree as an example. During the days of Jesus, the fig tree was a very common tree in Israel, much as it is today. In those regions of the world, fig trees put forth their fruit for nine months of the year. They are dormant during a few winter months, but come out in blossoms during the early spring. It was one of the first plants to put forth its buds. When it does, you know full well that summer is near.

That is the illustration. Next, Jesus gives …

2. The Application of the Parable (24:33)

Jesus says, “So you also, when you see all these things, know that it is near–at the doors!” (Matt. 24:33). Just as you can look upon the change in seasons and can tell when summer is near, so also can you look at the signs that Jesus has spoken and realize when the Lord is near.

Jesus said that when you see “all these things,” you should be able to know that the time is near. What are “these things”? Jesus has spent much of His discourse describing the things that will take place before He comes. In Matthew 24:4-14, Jesus gave some general signs that will characterize the time between His first coming and His second coming: wars, rumors of wars, famines, earthquakes in various places, apostasy, persecution, standing firm to the end, and the gospel being preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations. Most of these signs have been present throughout the whole church age, just in varying degrees of frequency and intensity. This is exactly what we are to expect from birth pains. When labor begins, we may not know exactly when the baby will come, but we know that the birth is near. Then in Matthew 24:15-28 Jesus gave specific signs that will occur during a time of great tribulation: abomination of desolation, people running for their lives, false Christs, false prophets, and then the celestial signs that occur when Christ comes.

Jesus says that when you see all of these things, you know that it is near, it’s “at hand.” The lesson of the fig tree is this: “know that summer is near!” The lesson for us today is this: “know that the Lord is near!” This is the language of the New Testament writers. In Philippians 4:5, Paul wrote, “Let your gentleness be known to all men. The Lord is at hand.” Peter wrote, “But the end of all things is at hand; therefore be serious and watchful in your prayers.” (1 Peter 4:7). James said, ” You also be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand. … Behold, the Judge is standing at the door!” (James 5:8-9). In Revelation, Jesus says, “And behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to give to every one according to his work.” (Rev. 22:12).

We need to learn this lesson. When we think of the coming of Jesus, we ought not to think that it is a long way off. We ought to think of the coming of Jesus as soon and near.

We have seen the analogy of the fig tree, the application of the parable, and now we see …

3. The Assurance of Christ’s Words (24:34-35)

In Matthew 24:34, Jesus says, “Assuredly, I say to you, this generation will by no means pass away till all these things take place.”

“This generation” here could refer to the generation present at Jesus’ time which would see the beginning of each of these signs; it could refer to the final generation which will see the completion of each of these signs; it could refer to the unbelieving nation of Israel; or it could also refer to the human race as a whole.

“All these things” must refer to what Jesus has just taught in Matthew 24:4-31. All these things certainly began to take place when some of Jesus ‘ disciples were still alive. In the events leading up to the destruction of Jerusalem and the temple by the Romans in AD 70, some of these things occurred. I believe the events in that generation were a foreshadowing of worse things to come in the final generation. However, many aspects of Jesus’ prophecy did not occur in AD 70; for example, the celestial signs and the coming of the Son of Man in power and glory in Matthew 24:28–31.

How do we know that all these things will take place? Jesus answers that in Matthew 24:35, “Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away.” This is an amazing statement that Jesus makes here. He says that His words are more permanent than the universe. Do you realize that only God could make a statement like that?

Creation displays remarkable consistency according to the God-ordained laws that govern it, such as the sun rising in the east and setting in the west or the cycle of the stars. Yet, according to Jesus, the truth of His teaching is more certain than night following day or the constellations in the sky. The Bible is clear that the creation as we know it is not permanent.  For instance, Isaiah reports that, in the end times, the earth will be destroyed:

“¹⁹ The earth is violently broken, The earth is split open, The earth is shaken exceedingly. ²⁰ The earth shall reel to and fro like a drunkard, And shall totter like a hut; Its transgression shall be heavy upon it, And it will fall, and not rise again. … ⁴ All the host of heaven shall be dissolved, And the heavens shall be rolled up like a scroll; All their host shall fall down As the leaf falls from the vine, And as fruit falling from a fig tree.” (Isaiah 24:19–20; 34:4).

Although the present world, which God cursed because of sin (Genesis 3:17–19), will come to an end, Isaiah reveals that a new, uncursed world will arise: “For behold, I create new heavens and a new earth; And the former shall not be remembered or come to mind.” (Isaiah 65:17; cf. 66:22).

In the New Testament, Peter’s description is even more detailed than Isaiah’s: “But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up.” (2 Peter 3:10). He adds that creation will experience renewal: “Nevertheless we, according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells.” (2 Peter 3:13). Furthermore, in the book of Revelation, echoing Isaiah and Peter, John writes, “Now I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away. Also there was no more sea.” (Revelation 21:1). The heavens and the earth aren’t eternal, but the words of Jesus are. 

When He says His words will never pass away, Jesus builds on His teaching about the words of God in the Sermon on the Mount: ““For truly I tell you, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished.” (Matthew 5:18). Jesus’ statement in Matthew 24:35 about the eternal nature of His words reveals that they are of the same nature as the Father’s words, inscribed in Scripture—they stand forever. As the Psalmist says in Psalm 119:160, “The entirety of Your word is truth, And every one of Your righteous judgments endures forever.”

Isaiah 40:8 foreshadows the contrast Jesus makes in Matthew 24:35: “The grass withers, the flower fades, But the word of our God stands forever.” One day the sun, moon, and stars will cease to exist, and the earth, sea, and sky will perish. Yet Jesus’ words will not pass away. They are eternally fixed, reflecting the unchanging character of God (Malachi 3:6; Hebrews 13:8). As the psalmist says,

²⁵ Of old You laid the foundation of the earth, And the heavens are the work of Your hands. ²⁶ They will perish, but You will endure; Yes, they will all grow old like a garment; Like a cloak You will change them, And they will be changed. ²⁷ But You are the same, And Your years will have no end. (Psalm 102:25–27).

The Word of Christ is more lasting and sure than the heavens and the earth. In God’s time and in God’s way, every Word will be fulfilled perfectly. The uncertainty of the exact time of Christ’s coming should make us more watchful, expectant and prepared not carelessly wasting our lives merely delving into the indulgence of the world and the flesh. Charles H. Spurgeon said, “Time is short. Eternity is long. It is only reasonable that this short life be lived in the light of eternity.”

As I close today, I urge you to meditate on this statement of Jesus, “Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away” (Matt. 24:35). Jesus finished the Sermon on the Mount saying,

²⁴ “Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock: ²⁵ and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock.” (Matt. 7:24-25).

Is your life founded on the solid rock of Christ and His eternal words? He proclaimed, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand” (Matt. 4:17). He said, “Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” (Matt. 11:28). He said, “the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many” (Matt. 20:28).

Jesus is the Son of Man and Son of God who came to give His life on the cross to redeem you from sin and death. The only proper response is to repent, change your mind and heart about Jesus; come to Him; believe He died for your sins and was raised for your justification. He has the words of life.

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[1] John MacArthur, MacArthur New Testament Commentary: Matthew 24-28, Moody Publishers, Chicago 1989, p. 61.

[2] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edgar_C._Whisenant  

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The Coming of the Son of Man

Matthew 24:27-31

Today we come to the climactic event in Jesus’ Olivet Discourse in Matthew 24—the coming of the Son of Man. The Bible emphatically declares that Jesus Christ will return to earth. The story of Jesus, and indeed the story of mankind, salvation history, and the kingdom of God are not complete until Christ returns. The Old Testament is filled with prophecies of the coming of Christ—not just His first coming but also His second coming. There are over 1,800 predictions of Christ’s second coming in the Old Testament. There are over 300 references to the second coming in the 260 chapters of the New Testament. One out of every thirty verses in the New Testament refers to the second coming of Christ.[1]

Jesus is teaching about His coming in response to the disciples’ question in Matthew 24:3. Leaving the temple in Jerusalem for the final time, they had pointed out the marvelous buildings and splendor of the temple—to which Jesus replied, “Do you not see all these things? Assuredly, I say to you, not one stone shall be left here upon another, that shall not be thrown down” (Matt. 24:2). When Jesus sat on the Mount of Olives the disciples came and asked him, “Tell us, when will these things be? And what will be the sign of Your coming, and of the end of the age?” (Matt. 24:3).

In answering them, Jesus addressed both these their questions. He told them general signs that would characterize the whole period of the time prior to His coming (Matt. 24:4-14). Then He told them about the great tribulation (Matt. 24:15-26) and the sign of the abomination of desolation that would mark its beginning (Matt. 24:15). In our passage today, He tells about what follows that great tribulation, namely, The Coming of the Son of Man (Matt. 24:27-31). I want to just point out three truths about Christ’s coming today: it will be public, powerful, and purposeful.

First, the Coming of the Son of Man will be …

1. Public (Matt. 24:27-29)

Jesus contrasts His real coming with the false Christs and their false prophets. Unlike these imposters who supposedly appear privately out “in the desert” or “in the inner rooms” (Matt. 24:26), the coming of the Son of Man will be public for all to see, “as the lightning comes from the east and flashes to the west” (Matt. 24:27). It will be visible, obvious, and unmistakable. In Matthew 24:30 Jesus says “Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.”

In Matthew 24:29 Jesus indicates the timing of His coming. He says, “Immediately after the tribulation of those days…” The “tribulation” that Jesus speaks of here is the period of time He described in detail in verses 15-28—that future period He called “great tribulation” (Matt. 24:22). I believe Jesus is referring to the time that the Bible describes elsewhere as one in which the “man of sin” (2 Thess. 2), the Antichrist (1 John 2:18), will rise to world dominance, and which will be characterized by unprecedented suffering for both the Jewish people and for those who follow Jesus the Messiah. It’s a time that will be cut short by the return of our Lord (Matt. 24:22), and by the outpouring of God’s righteous wrath on those who sinfully rebel against Him.

Now some of you might be wondering about what has been called “the rapture”. This event is clearly taught by Paul in 1 Thessalonians 4 where he says,

¹⁶ For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. ¹⁷ Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord. (1 Thessalonians 4:16-17).

That passage certainly describes a “rapture” or “catching up” of believers in the clouds after the dead in Christ have been raised. In 1 Corinthians 15, Paul also writes about this resurrection, saying it will occur, “in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.” (1 Cor 15:52).  

The question is not if there will be a resurrection of the dead and a rapture of believers in Christ, but when it will occur. Many believe that believers in Jesus Christ, His true church, will be raptured prior to the great tribulation period that Jesus just spoke about. I believe this is a viable interpretation of New Testament prophetic passages, but it is certainly not the only viable view. I don’t believe you can definitively prove when the rapture occurs from Matthew 24. Those who hold the pre-tribulation rapture position find support for it in 1 Thessalonians 4, in 1 Corinthians 15, and in passages that indicate that God will save believers from the wrath to come (1 Thess. 1:10; 5:9; 2 Pet. 2:9; Rev. 3:10; 4:1). The Bible plainly teaches us that God’s wrath will not be poured out on those who are in Christ. Jesus Himself has taken all the wrath for our sins on His cross.

Yet, we also know from Matthew 24 and from the rest of the New Testament that believers in Christ in all ages will endure persecution and tribulation. The experience of the church throughout its history has been characterized by what our Lord forewarned His disciples in John 16, saying, “In this world you will have tribulation” (John 16:33). Even today, many of our brothers and sisters in some parts of the world are experiencing dreadful tribulation for their faith. But the encouragement that Jesus gives us in the midst of tribulation is “but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world” (John 16:33).

So, whether you hold to a rapture of the church prior to the “great tribulation” or not, we must be ready for persecution and tribulation all throughout our Christian life. What Matthew 24:29 tells us is that the experiences of tribulation—and even ultimately the “great tribulation”—will come to an end. And it will be “Immediately after the tribulation of those days” that our Lord will gloriously return.

His return will be marked by cosmic disruptions. Matthew 24:29 says, “Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken.” This is Old Testament cataclysmic language for the day of the Lord, the day when God comes to judge the world. (Isaiah 13:10, 34:4; Joel 2:29; 3:14). Because of this, some Bible scholars and teachers have concluded that these things must be figurative or symbolic. But they seem to be describing literal events, just as the tribulation was literal.

In Luke’s account of the Olivet Discourse, Jesus says, “And there will be signs in the sun, in the moon, and in the stars; and on the earth distress of nations, with perplexity, the sea and the waves roaring; men’s hearts failing them from fear and the expectation of those things which are coming on the earth, for the powers of the heavens will be shaken” (Luke 21:25-26). Jesus says these cosmic events will cause men’s hearts to fail from fear. I believe that Jesus is describing the cosmic disturbance that comes alongside His return to earth. When He comes there will be the darkening of the sun and moon, and the falling of stars!

It’s not too unreasonable to conclude this because the coming of the Son of Man will be …

2. Powerful (Matt. 24:29-30)

In Matthew 24:30, Jesus tells us, “Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.” When our Lord calls Himself “the Son of Man”, He is taking His name directly from the messianic prophecy of Daniel 7:13. He is “One like the Son of Man, Coming with the clouds of heaven!” He is the One of whom Daniel says, “Then to Him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom, That all peoples, nations, and languages should serve Him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion, Which shall not pass away, And His kingdom the one Which shall not be destroyed.” (Daniel 7:14).  

But what is the “sign of the Son of Man” that He speaks of? Is it the cosmic events of Matthew 24:29? Is it a sign or banner in the sky that signals His coming? Or is it the actual appearing of the Son of Man? Whatever it is, I have confidence that no one will misunderstand its meaning—that the Son of Man is now appearing on the earth and beginning His glorious reign. All the earth will see His return.

In fact, Jesus says viewing the “sign of the Son of Man” will cause “all the tribes of the earth will mourn.” I believe we should understand this “mourning” in at least two ways. In Zechariah 12:10, we’re told that, when the Lord makes His return to Jerusalem, “then they will look on Me whom they pierced. Yes, they will mourn for Him as one mourns for his only son, and grieve for Him as one grieves for a firstborn.” So, for the tribes of Israel (that’s the context of Zechariah 12), this will be a mourning and wailing of repentance over having crucified their King. They will finally recognize Jesus as the Messiah, and welcome His rule as King!

But it won’t be a mourning of “repentance” for all. For the majority of the people of the earth, it will be a time of wailing in fear. The apostle John, in the Book of Revelation, writes;

I looked when He opened the sixth seal, and behold, there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became like blood. And the stars of heaven fell to the earth, as a fig tree drops its late figs when it is shaken by a mighty wind. Then the sky receded as a scroll when it is rolled up, and every mountain and island was moved out of its place. And the kings of the earth, the great men, the rich men, the commanders, the mighty men, every slave and every free man, hid themselves in the caves and in the rocks of the mountains, and said to the mountains and rocks, “Fall on us and hide us from the face of Him who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb! For the great day of His wrath has come, and who is able to stand?” (Revelation 6:12-17).

The nations will mourn when Christ returns because then it will be too late to repent and put your faith in Jesus.

The tribes of the earth, we’re told, then “will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.” In the Bible, “clouds” are often symbolic of God’s heavenly majesty and glory. In Matthew 17, when Jesus was transfigured before His disciples on the mountain, we’re told, “a bright cloud overshadowed them” (Matt. 17:5). Later, when the Lord Jesus ascended to His Father as the disciples watched, “He was taken up, and a cloud received Him out of their sight” (Acts 1:9). In Daniel’s vision of the Son of Man, He appeared “coming with the clouds of heaven” (Daniel 7:13). 

His coming is powerful. Jesus says it is “with power and great glory” (Matt. 24:30). In Revelation 19, John describes His coming in these words:

Now I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse. And He who sat on him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and makes war. His eyes were like a flame of fire, and on His head were many crowns. He had a name written that no one knew except Himself. He was clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God. And the armies in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, followed Him on white Now out of His mouth goes a sharp sword, that with it He should strike the nations. And He Himself will rule them with a rod of iron. He Himself treads the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. And He has on His robe and on His thigh a name written: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS (Revelation 19:11-16). 

Christ’s coming will be glorious!

Finally, we see that the Coming of the Son of Man will be …

3. Purposeful (Matt. 24:30-31)

Jesus ended His answer to the disciples’ second question about the sign of His coming by telling them, “And He will send His angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they will gather together His elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.” (Matt. 24:31).

In Jesus’ parable of the wheat and the tares in Matthew 13, the owner of the field said, “Let both (the wheat and the tares) grow together until the harvest, and at the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, “First gather together the tares and bind them in bundles to burn them, but gather the wheat into my barn.”” (Matt. 13:30). In explaining the parable to His disciples, Jesus said,

…”He who sows the good seed is the Son of Man. ³⁸ The field is the world, the good seeds are the sons of the kingdom, but the tares are the sons of the wicked one. ³⁹ The enemy who sowed them is the devil, the harvest is the end of the age, and the reapers are the angels. ⁴⁰ Therefore as the tares are gathered and burned in the fire, so it will be at the end of this age. ⁴¹ The Son of Man will send out His angels, and they will gather out of His kingdom all things that offend, and those who practice lawlessness, ⁴² and will cast them into the furnace of fire. There will be wailing and gnashing of teeth. ⁴³ Then the righteous will shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. He who has ears to hear, let him hear!” (Matt. 13:37-43).

And again, after telling the parable of the dragnet, Jesus says, “So it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come forth, separate the wicked from among the just” (Matt. 13:49). They go out at His command, accompanied with a “great sound of a trumpet”. A trumpet is used to blast a sound that summons people from afar. This great trumpet will gather together His elect. The term, “His elect” refers the saved, all the people who have believed in Jesus as the Son of Man and Son of God. They were known and chosen by Him before the foundation of the world (Ephesians 1:4). When the great trumpet is sounded, every living believer on earth will be gathered by the angels.

What a joyous sound this will be for the saints! Their Redeemer has come, and now they are about to enter into the joy of the inheritance of their Lord!

Christ will come in the sky with power and great glory. This sign will be visible to all. It will be accompanied by cataclysmic events. All the nations will mourn, and God will send his angels for the gathering of the elect.

These are glorious words. And yet, these are sobering words. As a believer in Christ, there is no need to fear the second coming of the Son of Man. When He comes, He has a purpose: to rescue and to judge. The believer loves His appearing, because He loves the king! At the end of his life, Paul writes, “Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing.” (2 Tim. 4:8). Do you long for (and love) His appearing? When Christ comes back, He will reward those who “have loved His appearing!” We are those who are “looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ,” (Titus 2:13).

Here is the application of this great truth. Jesus is coming. That much is certain. The precise time is hidden in the heart of God. It may be soon. Since no one knows when He will come, our attitude and duty as believers is clear:

Believe in His coming.

Pray for His coming.

Love His coming.

Preach His coming.

Watch for His coming.

Wait for His coming.

Expect His coming.

Live for His coming.

Live as if it might be today and one day you won’t be disappointed. If you don’t know Jesus, don’t wait another day, another hour, another second. Repent today. Run to the cross, lay your sins on Jesus, and trust Him as your Savior. Confess Him as your Lord. This is the most important decision you can ever make. Don’t be caught unprepared when the Son of Man returns to the earth.

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[1] H.B. Charles, Jesus Is Coming Again | Mark 13:24-27, https://hbcharlesjr.com/resource-library/sermon-outlines/jesus-is-coming-again-mark-1324-27/ accessed 9/13/2025.

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Enduring to the End

Matthew 24:4-14

As Jesus sats down on the Mount of Olives, His disciples asked Him about what they had just heard (Matt. 24:3). They had been admiring the magnificent buildings of the temple (Matt. 24:1), and Jesus had just told them that it all would be thrown down, not leaving one stone on another (Matt. 24:2). The temple would be destroyed.

The disciples connected the destruction of the temple with Jesus’ coming—the ushering in of His kingdom and the end of the age. They asked Him, “Tell us, when will these things be? And what will be the sign of Your coming, and of the end of the age?” (Matt. 24:3). I believe that the disciples thought that Jesus was about to accomplish all these things, that they would be fulfilled in their lifetimes. Even after Jesus’ death and resurrection, they asked Jesus, “Lord, will You at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?” (Acts 1:6).

They are not expecting two advents of the Lord Jesus Christ, and a time gap in between. They could not conceive of an extended period of time between the ascension of Jesus and the second coming of Jesus. So, looking down from the Mount of Olives to the temple mount and trying to make sense of what they are hearing, they asked two questions: a when question, “When will these things be?”, and a what question, “What will be the sign of Your coming, and of the end of the age?” They wanted to know the timing of these things, and what signs would show that they have arrived.

In the Olivet Discourse that follows, Jesus answered both these their questions. And in answering, He also gave us an outline of future events. He told us signs of the time leading up to a great tribulation (Matt. 24:4-14), and He told us about that great tribulation (Matt. 24:15-26). He then told us about what follows that great tribulation, namely, His return in glory (Matt. 24:27-31). He gives us signs for that great tribulation, and for His second coming.

So, the section we are looking at today (Matt. 24:4-14) has to do with the time prior to the great tribulation (Matt. 24:31). Remember, the disciples had asked Jesus “when” these things would happen. But I want you to notice that Jesus answers that question mostly by telling them when it would not happen. Notice that after Jesus warns them of signs that would take place, He says, “See that you are not troubled; for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet” (Matt. 24:6). He says, “All these are the beginning of sorrows” (Matt. 24:8). He tells them, “But he who endures to the end shall be saved” (Matt. 24:13), suggesting that the end has not yet come. The one indication He gives of the time of the end is in Matthew 24:14, “And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come.”

All the signs that Jesus gives in Matthew 24:4-14 we can find in our world today. In fact, what Jesus describes has been ongoing throughout the history of the church. These things may increase in intensity and frequency as the time gets nearer to Jesus’ return, like birth pains increase as the time for birth draws near (Matt. 24:8).

What Jesus stresses in these verses is not so much when He is coming, but how we are to live until His coming. How we live during this undefined amount of time between Jesus’ first coming and His second coming is more important than knowing the timing of His coming. Jesus gives some specific things we are to do while we wait for His coming. The real question we need to ask is not “When will the end come?” but “Will I endure to the end?” Jesus said, “But he who endures to the end shall be saved” (Matt. 24:13).

So, in Matthew 24:4-14, Jesus gives us warnings to help us endure to the end.

1. Take heed that no one deceives you (Matt. 24:4)

Jesus commands them to , “Take heed”. Literally, that is “See!” or “Look!”. Figuratively, it means “Beware!” or “Take care!” Jesus commands us to continually, habitually watch out and beware. Of what? Deceivers. The word “deceives” can also mean “leads astray” or “leads into error”. Jesus wants us to take care that we are not led astray into error.

A. Spiritual Deception

How could we be led astray? Jesus warns, “For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will deceive many.” (Matt. 24:6). Jesus predicts many false messiahs, false prophets, and false teachers will arise. It happened in the early church. It happens today. It will continue and get worse as the time grows closer to Jesus’ return. Throughout the centuries of the church, many people have risen up and said that they were the Christ—either meaning that they were the long-awaited Jewish Messiah, or that they were the “manifestation of Christ” in some way.

Wikipedia lists over 40 people who have to be some kind of Christ in just the 20^th and 21^st centuries. Some of the names are infamous from the headlines: 1) Sun Myung Moon: considered within the Unification Church as the Messiah and the second coming of Christ. 2) Jim Jones: claimed to be the reincarnation of Jesus, Buddha, Vladimir Lenin, and Father Divine prior to leading a mass suicide of his followers. 3) Marshall Applewhite: claimed to be Jesus and the Son of God prior to leading his Heaven’s Gate cult mass suicide to rendezvous with a space ship hiding behind the comet Hale-Bopp. 4) David Koresh: leader of the Branch Davidian religious sect in Waco, Texas. Claimed to be “the Son of God, the Lamb.”

They almost always announce the end of the old age, and the beginning of a new age. They seek people to follow them and worship them. They claim to be God or Christ. Jesus warns us not to be fooled by such things.

John warns us in 1 John 2 writing, “Little children, it is the last hour; and as you have heard that the Antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have come, by which we know that it is the last hour.” (1 John 2:18). These are not just men who are openly against Christ, but also those who are something or someone instead of Christ. These include the false Christs of the cults, the false Christs of other religions, and the false Christ of ultra-liberal theologians. Their message is anti-Christian in that they reject the true Christ. Don’t be deceived. Their Christ is an imposter!

Jesus’ point is: don’t be fooled!

Another thing that will happen and may cause us to be deceived is…

B. International Disruption

Jesus warns us that many world events would occur that may cause us to think that the end-times had come. He says, “And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars.” (Matt. 24:6) He explains this in Matthew 24:7, saying, “For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom.” It seems that ever time there is war, people begin asking “Is this the end of the world?” They asked it in World War I and World War II. People asked it again when terrorists attacked on 9/11. Recently, people asked it when Hamas and Israel went to war in Gaza or when Iran attacked Israel.

When we see all this international disruption, Jesus says, “See that you are not troubled; for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet.” (Matt. 24:6). World wars are not the end of the world. There will be no peace until the Prince of Peace, Jesus Christ returns.

C. Natural Disasters

Jesus says (Matt. 24:7), “And there will be famines, pestilences, and earthquakes in various places.” Famines can be caused by weather patterns, infestations, or by war. All these can cause scarcity of food. Famine can also be sent by God as a judgment. Earthquakes are common all over the world. Just this week there was another powerful 7.8 earthquake in the Kamchatka region of Russia.

These types of things have happened all throughout human history.

That’s why these are general signs. They are reminders to us that this world is not right, it has been marred by sin and subjected to futility and corruption (Rom. 8:20-21). They are reminders of God’s judgment on this world of sin and that Christ is coming again to make all things right. And yet, Jesus warns us not to be led astray by these things. “All these“, as horrible as they may appear, are only “the beginning sorrows”. “Sorrows” literally means “the pain of childbirth” or “labor pains”. These calamities are only early contractions of the new heavens and new earth that will be born.

Later on in this section of Matthew;’s Gospel, our Lord tells us what the signs are that we should be looking for. But it isn’t any of these things. Don’t be troubled by those who mistakenly declare that the end has come. Don’t be led astray, through fear or panic, from living the life you should in Christ.

A second thing that we are to do is …

2. Endure until the end (Matt. 24:9-13)

Our Lord implies this from His statement in Matthew 24:13, “But he who endures to the end shall be saved.” The word “endures” means to persevere under trial, or bear up under tribulation. Why will we need to endure? Because of what Jesus says will happen during this time.

First He says there will be …

A. Religious Persecution

Jesus says, “Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and kill you, and you will be hated by all nations for My name’s sake.” (Matt. 24:9). This is probably not speaking about the “great tribulation” because that is not mentioned until Matthew 24:21-22. Rather, this is speaking of the reality that our Lord had already told His disciples about in Matthew 10:16-22 when He first sent them our to preach the Kingdom of Heaven:

“Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves. Therefore be wise as serpents and harmless as doves. But beware of men, for they will deliver you up to councils and scourge you in their synagogues. You will be brought before governors and kings for My sake, as a testimony to them and to the Gentiles. But when they deliver you up, do not worry about how or what you should speak. For it will be given to you in that hour what you should speak; for it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father who speaks in you. Now brother will deliver up brother to death, and a father his child; and children will rise up against parents and cause them to be put to death. And you will be hated by all for My name’s sake. But he who endures to the end will be saved” (Matthew 10:16-22).

Our Lord said something similar to His disciples on the night He was betrayed in John 15,

“If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you” (John 15:18-19).

Christians have been persecuted and killed for their faith throughout all of church history. There were terrible persecutions of the early Christians by the Jews and then by the Romans under Nero and the other emperors. Most of the twelve apostles were martyred for their faith. Indeed, every century has seen persecution of Christians for their faith. However, there has been an absolute explosion of Christian persecution in the last hundred years or so. More Christians died for their faith in the 20th century than in the first 19 centuries combined.

Then there will also be …

B. Spiritual Defection

Not only will there be external pressures from the world against us as Jesus’ followers, but He also warns that there will be internal pressures. The times will be tough; and they will test the integrity of those who say they belong to Christ. He says, “And then many will be offended, will betray one another, and will hate one another.” (Matt. 24:10). To “be offended” means to “cause to stumble or fall away”.

In some of history’s most trying times for the church, those who professed to be His followers would betray others who professed to be His followers. It reminds me about the seed that fell in the rocky places in the parable of the sower in Matthew 13. Jesus said about the false believer, “For when tribulation or persecution arises because of the word, immediately he stumbles.” (Matt. 13:21). He falls away. And even worse, Jesus says, they will betray and hate one another.

Part of this defection may be the result of false believers who have followed false teachers. Jesus warns in Matthew 24:11, “Then many false prophets will rise up and deceive many.” They have not believed in the true Jesus because they believed the perversions of the false prophets and false teachers. Today we see so many cults and false religions that draw people away from the truth of Christ. That’s why it is so important to know and study God’s word, so you can discern the truth from deception and falsehood.

Then also there will be …

C. Lawlessness and lack of love

Jesus says, “And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold.” (Matt. 24:12).

Lawlessness was the characteristic of the scribes and Pharisees (Matt. 23:28) whom Jesus denounced in Matthew 23. John writes, “Whoever commits sin also commits lawlessness, and sin is lawlessness.” (1 John 3:4). Sin promotes self-love, not the selfless love of God. We have certainly seen self-love replace love for others in our day. Homosexuality and transgenderism are at the root the sin of self-love. Paul warns in 2 Timothy 3,

¹ But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: ² For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, ³ unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, ⁴ traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, ⁵ having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away! (2 Tim. 3:1-5).

Lawless sin causes love for God and others to grow cold. Lawlessness seems to be prevailing in our society as a whole. Theft, murder, assassinations, riots, mass shootings are all lawlessness. It gets so bad that if we do not endure in faith and love in Christ, it could even cause our love to grow cold. Beware!

So Jesus says, “But he who endures to the end shall be saved.” (Matt. 24:13). Even though many will stumble, fall away, and grow cold, true believers in Christ will endure. He who stays true to the LORD in such times will prove that they truly belong to Him. Paul goes on in 2 Timothy 3 to write,

¹⁴ But you must continue in the things which you have learned and been assured of, knowing from whom you have learned them, ¹⁵ and that from childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. (2 Tim. 3:14-15).

The end-times will come; but they haven’t come yet. And our focus shouldn’t be on when the end-times come, but rather on our own faithfulness in the times in which the Lord has placed us. And in all such times, our Lord tells us, “he who endures to the end shall be saved”.

Finally, Jesus reminds us of our task as we await His coming.

3. Preach the Gospel to all the world

Jesus says in Matthew 24:14, “And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come.”

This is a promise of our sovereign Lord. No matter what the times are like—throughout the period of our time of awaiting our Lord’s return—His gospel will go forth and save lost people. Even in the places where the governments of men forbid the gospel from entering, the Lord Jesus says that it will be preached as a witness to all nations.

But this isn’t a promise only. It’s also a call. It’s a reflection of our Lord’s great commission; in which He said,

“All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age” (Matt. 28:18-20).

When we live in the midst of dark times—when we live in times that are the “beginning of birth-pangs”—the most important work we can be doing is the work of spreading the gospel. The end-times are not here yet; but they’re fast approaching. Our Lord’s return is nearer today than it was the day before. And it’s more important than ever that we proclaim the Savior to lost men and women. 

Let’s make sure that we are alert to the times—and that we are not fooled into thinking the end has come when it hasn’t yet arrived, and thus lose sight of our duties. Let’s make sure we endure in the faith to the very end—no matter what the times may be; and that we thus remain useful to Him in the work of His kingdom. And above all else, let’s make sure we are proclaiming the good news of the gospel of Jesus Christ wherever—and whenever—He has chosen for us to live; because it is that gospel alone that saves lost souls for eternity.

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