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Signs of Christ’s Return

24 Jesus left the temple area and was going on His way when His disciples came up to Him to call His attention to the [magnificent and massive] [a]buildings of the temple.(A) And He said to them, “Do you see all these things? I assure you and most solemnly say to you, not one stone here will be left on another, which will not be torn down.”

While Jesus was seated on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to Him privately, and said, “Tell us, when will this [destruction of the temple] take place, and what will be the sign of Your coming, and of the end (completion, consummation) of the age?”

Jesus answered, “Be careful that no one misleads you [deceiving you and leading you into error]. For many will come in My name [misusing it, and appropriating the strength of the name which belongs to Me], saying, ‘I am the Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed),’ and they will mislead many. You will continually hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not frightened, for those things must take place, but that is not yet the end [of the age]. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be famines and earthquakes in various places. But all these things are merely the beginning of birth pangs [of the intolerable anguish and the time of unprecedented trouble].

“Then they will hand you over to [endure] tribulation, and will put you to death, and you will be hated by all nations because of My name. 10 At that time many will be offended and repelled [by their association with Me] and will fall away [from the One whom they should trust] and will betray one another [handing over believers to their persecutors] and will hate one another. 11 Many false prophets will appear and mislead many. 12 Because lawlessness is increased, the love of most people will grow cold. 13 But the one who endures and bears up [under suffering] to the end will be saved. 14 This good news of the kingdom [the gospel] will be preached throughout the whole world as a testimony to all the nations, and then the end [of the age] will come.

Perilous Times

15 “So when you see the [b]abomination of desolation [the appalling sacrilege that astonishes and makes desolate], spoken of by the prophet Daniel, standing in the Holy Place (let the [c]reader understand),(B) 16 then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains [for refuge]. 17 Whoever is on the housetop must not go down to get the things that are in his house [because there will not be enough time]. 18 Whoever is in the field must not turn back to get his coat. 19 And woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing babies in those days! 20 Pray that your flight [from persecution and suffering] will not be in winter, or on a Sabbath [when Jewish laws prohibit travel]. 21 For [d]at that time there will be a great tribulation (pressure, distress, oppression), such as has not occurred since the beginning of the world until now, nor ever will [again].(C) 22 And if those days [of tribulation] had not been cut short, no human life would be saved; but for the sake of the elect (God’s chosen ones) those days will be shortened. 23 Then if anyone says to you [during the great tribulation], ‘Look! Here is the Christ,’ or ‘There He is,’ do not believe it. 24 For false Christs and false prophets will appear and they will provide great signs and wonders, so as to deceive, if possible, even the elect (God’s chosen ones). 25 Listen carefully, I have told you in advance. 26 So if they say to you, ‘Look! He is in the wilderness,’ do not go out there, or, ‘Look! He is in the inner rooms [of a house],’ do not believe it. 27 For just as the lightning comes from the east and flashes as far as the west, so will be the coming [in glory] of the Son of Man [everyone will see Him clearly]. 28 Wherever the corpse is, there the [e]vultures will flock together.(D)

The Glorious Return

29 “Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not provide its light, and the stars will fall from the sky, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken.(E) 30 And at that time the sign of the Son of Man [coming in His glory] will appear in the sky, and then all the tribes of the earth [and especially Israel] will mourn [regretting their rebellion and rejection of the Messiah], and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory [in brilliance and splendor].(F) 31 And He will send His angels with a loud trumpet and they will gather together His elect (God’s chosen ones) from the four winds, from one end of the heavens to the other.(G)

Parable of the Fig Tree

32 “Now learn this lesson from the fig tree: As soon as its young shoots become tender and it puts out its leaves, you know that summer is near;(H) 33 so you, too, when you see all [f]these things [taking place], know for certain that He is near, right [g]at the door. 34 I assure you and most solemnly say to you, this generation [the people living when these signs and events begin] will not pass away until all these things take place. 35 Heaven and earth [as now known] will pass away, but My words will not pass away.

36 “But of that [exact] day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son [in His humanity], but the Father alone. 37 For the coming of the Son of Man (the Messiah) will be just like the days of Noah. 38 For as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the [very] day when Noah entered the ark, 39 and they did not know or understand until the flood came and swept them all away; so will the coming of the Son of Man be [unexpected judgment].(I) 40 At that time two men will be in the field; one will be [h]taken [for judgment] and one will be left. 41 Two women will be grinding at the mill; one will be taken [for judgment] and one will be left.

Be Ready for His Coming

42 “So be alert [give strict attention, be cautious and active in faith], for you do not know which day [whether near or far] your Lord is coming. 43 But understand this: If the head of the house had known what time of the night the thief was coming, he would have been on the alert and would not have allowed his house to be broken into.(J) 44 Therefore, you [who follow Me] must also be ready; because the Son of Man is coming at an hour when you do not expect Him.

45 “Who then is the faithful and wise servant whom his master has put in charge of his household to give the others [in the house] their food and supplies at the proper time?(K) 46 Blessed is that [faithful] servant when his master returns and finds him doing so. 47 I assure you and most solemnly say to you that he will put him in charge of all his possessions. 48 But if that servant is evil and says in his heart, ‘My master is taking his time [he will not return for a long while],’ 49 and begins to beat his fellow servants and to eat and drink with drunkards; 50 the master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour of which he is not aware, 51 and will cut him in two and put him with the hypocrites; in that place there will be weeping [over sorrow and pain] and grinding of teeth [over distress and anger].

Footnotes

  1. Matthew 24:1 The massive size and polished surfaces of the fitted stones that formed the temple structure created a magnificent sight (cf Luke 21:5). The refurbishing of the temple was begun by Herod the Great in 20 b.c. and was completed in a.d. 64 by Herod Agrippa II. The rabbis had a saying: “Whoever has not seen the temple of Herod has never seen a beautiful building” (as quoted from the Talmud). They also said that Herod built it of yellow, white, and perhaps blue marble; and that he intended to cover it with gold, but the rabbis advised him not to because it was beautiful just as it was, looking like the waves of the sea.
  2. Matthew 24:15 I.e. the Antichrist (2 Thess 2:4), “the prince who is to come” who will make a covenant with Israel, then break it in the middle of the tribulation (the seven-year period of Dan 9:27).
  3. Matthew 24:15 I.e. the reader of the book of Daniel (cf 24:15). Jesus is indicating that the final fulfillment of this prophecy is yet to come.
  4. Matthew 24:21 The most obvious sign during the tribulation, prior to the second coming of Jesus, is when the abomination that causes desolation (the Antichrist) sets his image in the temple.
  5. Matthew 24:28 The Greek for “vultures” can also be translated “eagles,” but the reference is most likely to the vulture, which the Greek word includes with eagles as a class. The meaning of this much discussed verse is either that the corpse represents the returning Christ, whose appearance will attract the attention of the entire world, that is, the vultures; or that the corrupt world is the corpse, about to be judged by the returning Christ (Rev 19:18).
  6. Matthew 24:33 I.e. false christs, wars, famines, earthquakes.
  7. Matthew 24:33 I.e. the return of the Christ is imminent.
  8. Matthew 24:40 This is not the removal of the church described in 1 Thess 4:13-18 and Rev 3:10. The one taken is taken for judgment just as the wicked were taken by the flood in Noah’s day. The one left is left to enter the kingdom that Christ will establish.

24 · kai When Jesus Iēsous had left exerchomai · ho the ho temple hieron and was walking poreuō away , · kai his autos disciples mathētēs came proserchomai · ho up to call epideiknymi his autos attention to the ho buildings oikodomē of the ho temple hieron. And de he ho responded apokrinomai to them autos, saying legō, “ You see blepō all pas these houtos things , do you not ou? I tell legō you hymeis the truth amēn, not even one ou stone lithos will be left aphiēmi here hōde upon epi another lithos that hos will not ou be thrown katalyō down .” And de when he autos was seated kathēmai on epi the ho Mount oros of ho Olives elaia, the ho disciples mathētēs came proserchomai to him autos privately kata idios, saying legō, “ Tell legō us hēmeis, when pote are these houtos things to take place eimi, and kai what tis will be the ho sign sēmeion of ho your sos coming parousia and kai the consummation synteleia of the ho age aiōn?”

And kai Jesus Iēsous answered apokrinomai · ho them autos, saying legō, “ Take blepō care that no one tis leads you hymeis astray planaō. For gar many polys will come erchomai in epi · ho my egō name onoma, saying legō, ‘ I egō am eimi the ho Christ Christos,’ and kai they will lead many polys astray planaō. And de you will mellō hear akouō of wars polemos and kai rumors akoē of wars polemos. See horaō that you are not alarmed throeō, for gar this must dei take ginomai place but alla the ho end telos is eimi not oupō yet . For gar nation ethnos will rise egeirō up against epi nation ethnos and kai kingdom basileia against epi kingdom basileia, and kai there will be eimi famines limos and kai earthquakes seismos in kata various places topos. But de all pas these houtos things are only the beginning archē of birth ōdin pangs . Then tote they will hand paradidōmi you hymeis over to eis be persecuted thlipsis and kai will kill apokteinō you hymeis, and kai you will be eimi hated miseō by hypo all pas · ho nations ethnos because dia of · ho my egō name onoma. 10 · kai At tote that time many polys will fall skandalizō away and kai will betray paradidōmi one another allēlōn and kai hate miseō one another allēlōn. 11 And kai many polys false pseudoprophētēs prophets will arise egeirō and kai lead planaō many polys astray; 12 and kai because dia lawlessness anomia will be increased plēthunō, · ho the ho love agapē of ho many polys will grow cold psychō. 13 But de the ho one who endures hypomenō to eis the end telos will be saved sōzō. 14 And kai this houtos · ho gospel euangelion of the ho kingdom basileia will be proclaimed kēryssō in en all holos the ho world oikoumenē as eis a testimony martyrion to every pas · ho nation ethnos, and kai then tote the ho end telos will come hēkō.

15  Therefore oun when hotan you see the ho abomination bdelygma of ho desolation erēmōsis · ho spoken legō of by dia the ho prophet prophētēs Daniel Daniēl, standing histēmi in en the holy hagios place topos ( let the ho reader anaginōskō understand noeō), 16 then tote those ho who are in en · ho Judea Ioudaia must flee pheugō to eis the ho mountains oros, 17 the ho one on epi the ho housetop dōma must not go katabainō down to gather airō up what ho is in ek · ho his autos house oikia, 18 and kai the ho one in en the ho field agros must not go epistrephō back opisō to pick airō up · ho his autos coat himation. 19 But de woe ouai to ho women who are echō pregnant en gastēr and kai to ho mothers who are nursing thēlazō babies in en those ekeinos · ho days hēmera! 20 And de pray proseuchomai that hina your hymeis flight phygē will not be ginomai · ho in winter cheimōn or mēde on a Sabbath sabbaton. 21 For gar then tote there will be eimi great megas suffering thlipsis, such hoios as has not ou been ginomai from apo the beginning archē of the world kosmos until heōs · ho now nyn, and oude will never ou mē be ginomai again. 22 And kai unless ei mē those ekeinos days hēmera were shortened koloboō, · ho no ou human being sarx would an survive sōzō. But de for dia the sake of the ho elect eklektos those ekeinos days hēmera will be shortened koloboō. · ho 23 Then tote if ean anyone tis says legō to you hymeis, ‘ Look idou, here hōde is the ho Christ Christos!’ or ē, ‘ There hōde he is!’ Do not believe pisteuō him. 24 For gar false pseudochristos messiahs and kai false pseudoprophētēs prophets will appear egeirō, and kai they will perform didōmi great megas signs sēmeion and kai wonders teras so hōste as to lead planaō astray , if ei that were possible dynatos, even kai the ho elect eklektos. 25 Mark idou well , I have warned you hymeis in advance. 26 So oun, if ean they say legō to you hymeis, ‘ There idou he is eimi, out in en the ho wilderness erēmos!’ do not go exerchomai out ; or, ‘ Here idou he is, in en the ho inner tameion rooms !’ do not believe pisteuō it. 27 For gar as hōsper the ho lightning astrapē comes exerchomai from apo the east anatolē and kai flashes phainō to heōs the west dysmē, so houtōs will eimi the ho coming parousia of the ho Son hyios of ho Man anthrōpos be. 28 Wherever hopou ean the ho corpse ptōma is eimi, there ekei the ho vultures aetos will gather synagō.

29  Immediately eutheōs · de after meta the ho suffering thlipsis of ho those ekeinos days hēmera, the ho sun hēlios will be darkened and kai the ho moon selēnē will not ou give didōmi · ho its autos light phengos, and kai the ho stars astēr will fall piptō from apo the ho sky ouranos and kai the ho powers dynamis of the ho heavens ouranos will be shaken saleuō. 30 And kai then tote the ho sign sēmeion of the ho Son hyios of ho Man anthrōpos will appear phainō in en the sky ouranos, and kai then tote all pas the ho tribes phylē of the ho earth will mourn koptō, and kai they will see horaō the ho Son hyios of ho Man anthrōpos coming erchomai on epi the ho clouds nephelē of the ho sky ouranos with meta power dynamis and kai great polys glory doxa. 31 And kai he will send apostellō · ho his autos angels angelos with meta a loud megas trumpet salpinx call , and kai they will gather episynagō · ho his autos elect eklektos from ek the ho four tessares winds anemos, from apo one end akron of the heavens ouranos to heōs the ho other akron.

32  Learn manthanō this ho parable parabolē from apo · de the ho fig sykē tree : as soon as hotan · ho its autos branch klados becomes ginomai tender hapalos and kai puts out ekphyō its ho leaves phyllon, you know ginōskō that hoti summer theros is near engys. · ho 33 So houtōs also kai, when hotan you hymeis see all pas these houtos things , you know ginōskō that hoti it is eimi near engys, at epi the very door thura. 34 I tell legō you hymeis the truth amēn, this houtos generation genea will not ou mē pass parerchomai away · ho until heōs an all pas these houtos things take ginomai place . 35 · ho Heaven ouranos and kai · ho earth will pass parerchomai away , · ho but de my egō words logos will never ou mē pass parerchomai away .

36  But de concerning peri · ho that ekeinos day hēmera and kai hour hōra, no oudeis one knows oida, neither oude the ho angels angelos of ho heaven ouranos nor oude the ho Son hyios, but ei mē the ho Father patēr only monos. 37 For gar as hōsper were the ho days hēmera of ho Noah Nōe, so houtōs will be eimi the ho coming parousia of the ho Son hyios of ho Man anthrōpos. 38 For gar as hōs in en the ho days hēmera · ho before pro the ho flood kataklysmos people were eimi eating trōgō and kai drinking pinō, marrying gameō and kai giving gamizō in marriage , until achri the hos day hēmera Noah Nōe entered eiserchomai the ho ark kibōtos, 39 and kai they knew ginōskō nothing ou until heōs the ho flood kataklysmos came erchomai and kai took airō them all hapas away, so houtōs will eimi · kai the ho coming parousia of the ho Son hyios of ho Man anthrōpos be. 40 At that time tote two dyo men will be eimi in en the ho field agros; one heis will be taken paralambanō and kai the other heis left aphiēmi. 41 Two dyo women will be grinding alēthō at en the ho mill mylos; one heis will be taken paralambanō and kai the other heis left aphiēmi. 42 Therefore oun be alert grēgoreō, because hoti you do not ou know oida on what poios day hēmera · ho your hymeis Lord kyrios will come erchomai. 43 But de understand ginōskō this ekeinos: if ei the ho owner of the house oikodespotēs had known oida at what time poios of night phylakē the ho thief kleptēs was coming erchomai, he would an have been on the alert grēgoreō and kai would an not ou have allowed eaō his autos house oikia to be broken dioryssō into . · ho 44 For dia this houtos reason you hymeis also kai must be ginomai ready hetoimos, because hoti the ho Son hyios of ho Man anthrōpos will come erchomai at hos an hour hōra you do not ou expect dokeō.

45  Who tis then ara is eimi the ho faithful pistos and kai wise phronimos servant whom hos his ho master kyrios has put kathistēmi in charge of epi · ho his autos household oiketeia to ho give didōmi other autos servants their ho food trophē at en the proper kairos time ? 46 Blessed makarios is · ho that ekeinos servant whom hos · ho his autos master kyrios will find heuriskō so houtōs doing poieō when he returns erchomai. 47 I tell legō you hymeis the truth amēn, he will put kathistēmi that servant autos in charge kathistēmi of epi all pas · ho his autos possessions hyparchō. 48 But de suppose ean that ekeinos servant is wicked kakos and says legō · ho in en · ho his autos heart kardia, ‘ My egō master kyrios is slow chronizō to return ,’ · ho 49 and kai begins archō to beat typtō · ho his autos fellow syndoulos servants , and de eats esthiō and kai drinks pinō with meta · ho drunkards methyō; 50 the ho master kyrios of ho that ekeinos servant will come hēkō on en a day hēmera when hos he does not ou expect prosdokaō and kai at en an hour hōra that hos he does not ou know ginōskō, 51 and kai will cut dichotomeō him autos in pieces and kai assign tithēmi him autos a ho place meros with meta the ho hypocrites hypokritēs, where there ekei will be eimi · ho weeping klauthmos and kai · ho gnashing brygmos of ho teeth odous.