Matthew 24 Verses 1-5: How to Discern the Signs of the Times. In these verses, Jesus warns His disciples about coming deception, the destruction of the temple, and the need to be watchful. He emphasizes that understanding the real signs requires paying attention to His words, not being swayed by fear or tradition, and recognizing that these warnings were first spoken to His contemporary generation. These lessons help us gain spiritual discernment for both their time and ours.
Matthew 24 Verses 1-5: How to Discern the Signs of the Times
Audio
.
Scriptures used in this lesson:
Matthew 24:15, Matthew 24:21, Matthew 23:33-34, Matthew 23:35-36, Matthew 23:37-38, Matthew 23:39, Matthew 24:2, Mark 13:1-2, Luke 21:5-7, Matthew 24:2, Matthew 24:3, 1 Corinthians 15:52, 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17, Revelation 10:5-6, Acts 14:22, Matthew 24:4-5, Matthew 24:11, Revelation 12:9, Revelation 13:11, Revelation 13:15, Revelation 13:16, Revelation 16:13, Revelation 19:20, Philippians 3:2, Galatians 5:12, Jude 1:4,
Matthew 24 Verses 1-5: How to Discern the Signs of the Times
Introduction and Approach to Matthew 24
Matthew chapter 24 is challenging to teach and discuss. Sometimes, as I enter areas that seem risky or rarely discussed, I find myself unsure how to express the ideas. Many of the things I say, I have never heard anyone else say before. I am not certain how these things will sound or what impact they may have on you or on me. I can only trust the Lord and rely on the Holy Spirit to remove what’s not helpful and plant what is needed.
Today, we are focusing on Matthew 24. We are just beginning to study it, and my goal is to reach verse 15, but I am not sure how far we will get. Verse 15 is significant in the chapter, and I hope we can reach and discuss it together.
Matthew 24:15
15 When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand:) then let them which be in Judea flee into the mountains.
Matthew 24 Verses 1-5: How to Discern the Signs of the Times
And that’s about where we want to get to. Allow me to go ahead and share this verse with you. It’s the verse most people discuss.
Matthew 24:21
21 For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be.
That would really be a nice place to get to tonight, and that’s where our notes take us, but I don’t know if we’ll get that far.
A Journey of Discovery and New Insights
I want us to take our time as we study. I will use many parallel references and include passages from other books and commentaries in my library that I believe will be helpful. For our discussion, I have gathered many quotes. I want you to know that I am not alone in discovering new things. Many others are beginning to see truths that differ from what we were traditionally taught. This change started for me several months ago.
Matthew 24 Verses 1-5: How to Discern the Signs of the Times
While teaching church history, I noticed something in Matthew 24 that I had never seen before. Suddenly, specific passages seemed alive to me – Scriptures like seeing stars fall and the moon not giving light. As I studied and prayed, asking God for wisdom and revelation, other elders shared their insights, further stirring me. What I share with you here is what I have learned in the last six months. It has been a significant journey. I approach commentaries differently now, looking for deeper truths rather than just common explanations.
Overcoming Fear and Rethinking Tribulation
We have been conditioned to fear the Great Tribulation. Many of us expect that all the calamities and plagues described in Revelation will one day come upon the earth. This leads us to struggle with trusting God for protection or for the strength to die for our faith. Sometimes, the idea of a rapture appeals because of these fears. But that was not the mindset of first-century believers.
Fear is powerful, but it does not come from God. Today’s study is meant to show that Matthew 24 and most of Revelation actually address the great tribulation of AD 70. This does not mean these passages offer nothing for us today. When I teach, even if I focus on a message intended for a particular people in history, I always look for principles we can apply in our lives now.
Matthew 24 Verses 1-5: How to Discern the Signs of the Times
Just as Ephesians was written to the Ephesians but speaks to us today, I believe Matthew 24 contains truths for us today, though it was written for AD 70. We can draw principles from it and better understand how God brings judgment and how He works in our world now.
Personal Reflections and Key Convictions
As I write this, I find myself asking if we really trust God to protect us today. Would we be willing to lay down our lives for Him? Would we be willing to die for our faith? I wonder about the condition of the larger church world regarding these questions. Is our safety concern why we hope for a rapture? These are essential things to ask as we turn to Scripture and examine what it teaches.
Today, I want to focus on two main ideas. First, I believe the great tribulation described in Matthew 24 actually occurred in AD 70. Second, I have come to see that the destruction of Jerusalem in AD 70 is the key to understanding the book of Revelation. That is my conviction at this point in my walk with Christ and my study of His Word.
Matthew 24 Verses 1-5: How to Discern the Signs of the Times
Recently, I told Judy about these thoughts. She asked me if I was sure I could say that. I remember how strongly I used to believe the Earth would be destroyed. Now, I am even more confident about this new understanding. I think that as we continue, you will see what I am trying to communicate, even if I am limited by time and can only share specific highlights. I trust the Spirit will help us.
The Six Discourses and the Importance of the Olivet Discourse
Matthew chapters 24 and 25 are one long teaching of Jesus. This is the sixth and final discourse in Matthew’s gospel. The first is the Sermon on the Mount in chapters 5–7. The second is the charge to the twelve disciples in chapter 10. And the third is the kingdom parables in chapter 13. The fourth discusses kindness and forgiveness in chapter 18. The fifth is the “woes” addressed to the scribes and Pharisees in chapter 23. Now, we are looking at the sixth and final discourse.
Matthew 24 Verses 1-5: How to Discern the Signs of the Times
The most extended discourse is the Sermon on the Mount, and this teaching about the destruction of Jerusalem and the end of the age is the second longest. The amount of Scripture devoted to a topic indicates its importance, so we need to study it carefully.
Outline of Matthew 24
Chapter 24 has an outline. First, we see the question. Next comes the beginning of sorrows. Then we read about the great tribulation. After that are the signs of His coming. The following sections are lessons from the fig tree, the call to be ready like Noah, and finally, the challenge to be faithful like the servant.
Setting the Stage: Jesus’ Prophecy of the Temple’s Destruction
Matthew 24 Verses 1-5: How to Discern the Signs of the Times
Matthew 24 1-2
1 And Jesus went out, and departed from the temple: and his disciples came to him for to shew him the buildings of the temple.
2 And Jesus said unto them, See ye not all these things? verily I say unto you, There shall not be left here one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down.
To begin, remember Jesus left the temple with His disciples. They showed Him the impressive buildings, and He told them that not one stone would be left on another. This would all be torn down. That statement sets the stage for all that follows.
It is Tuesday of Passover week. In just a couple of days, Jesus will give His life on the cross as a sacrifice for His people. We are still in the week of His triumphal entry into Jerusalem – the Passion week. On this day, He went to the temple and started teaching the crowds in chapter 21. He has spent the entire day answering questions and instructing the people.
Matthew 24 Verses 1-5: How to Discern the Signs of the Times
Jesus has just finished addressing the scribes and Pharisees and has pronounced woes upon them. To understand the flow of His teaching, we need to go back and look at chapter 23. It is important not to let chapter breaks disrupt our understanding. Too often, we stop reading at a chapter break and lose the context of the Spirit’s message. So, we should look at chapter 23 and get a running start before we continue into chapter 24. This helps us keep our focus on Jesus’ continuous message.
Jesus Pronounces Judgment on “This Generation”
Let’s start with Matthew 23:33. Jesus told the scribes and the Pharisees, Woe unto you. He has now given them the seven woes. He comes to a climax of it, and he says,
Matthew 23:33-34
33 Ye serpents, ye generation of vipers, how can ye escape the damnation of hell? Wherefore, behold, I send them to you. Matthew
34 Wherefore, behold, I send unto you prophets, and wise men, and scribes: and some of them ye shall kill and crucify; and some of them shall ye scourge in your synagogues, and persecute them from city to city:
Matthew 24 Verses 1-5: How to Discern the Signs of the Times
Jesus called the scribes and Pharisees vipers and serpents. He asked how they could escape the damnation of hell. Then He said He would send prophets, wise men, and scribes to them. At first, this did not make sense to me. If they are serpents and damned, why send messengers to them?
Jesus went on to say that these prophets and wise men would be killed, crucified, and scourged in the synagogues. They would be persecuted from city to city. Even knowing they would be rejected, He still sent them. I found myself asking God why He would do this. Why send His servants to people who would only harm them? Here’s the answer.
Matthew 23:35-36
35 That upon you may come all the righteous blood shed upon the earth, from the blood of righteous Abel unto the blood of Zacharias son of Barachias, whom ye slew between the temple and the altar.
36 Verily I say unto you, All these things shall come upon this generation
Matthew 24 Verses 1-5: How to Discern the Signs of the Times
I’m going to send you my prophets and my scribes and my teachers so that I can judge you for their blood. Verily I say unto you, all these things shall come upon this generation. Say “this generation” back to me. This generation. It is so important that you get that. How many are teachable tonight? Are we teachable? We’ve got to be teachable. This generation and all this – Matthew chapters 23, 24, and 25 – is talking to this generation, which was the generation of Jesus’ time in AD 33.
Then Jesus says,
Matthew 23:37-38
37 O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not!
38 Behold, your house is left unto you desolate.
Matthew 24 Verses 1-5: How to Discern the Signs of the Times
Behold, your house is left to you desolate! It’s no longer “God’s house.” It’s no longer the “Father’s house.”
Desolate. The word desolate means destroyed. Israel, the house of Israel, Judaism, the law of Moses, the age of Moses is going to be left desolate – destroyed.
Matthew 23:39
39 For I say unto you, Ye shall not see me henceforth, till ye shall say, Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord.
The Disciples’ Questions About the Temple Prophecy
Now we begin today’s lesson. Jesus finished His message to the scribes and Pharisees and left the temple. His disciples went with Him and pointed out the impressive temple buildings.
Matthew 24 Verses 1-5: How to Discern the Signs of the Times
We need to understand what the disciples were thinking. They were not concerned with events two thousand years in the future. They were focused on what Jesus had just said about Israel’s desolation, the destruction of Jerusalem, and the judgment coming upon the city. The disciples were fascinated by what Jesus had said minutes prior. As they walked by Herod’s magnificent temple of limestone, gold, and silver, the disciples commented on its beauty (Matthew 24:1).
Jesus responded that not one stone of that temple would remain. He told them it would all be destroyed (Matthew 24:2). The conversation was about what He had just taught, not about a distant future age. Jesus wanted them to realize a significant change was about to happen.
Matthew 24:2
2 And Jesus said unto them, See ye not all these things? verily I say unto you, There shall not be left here one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down.
Matthew 24 Verses 1-5: How to Discern the Signs of the Times
Now tell me, what’s he talking about here? Is he talking about 2,000 years from now, or is he referring to what he said a few minutes ago about Jerusalem and this temple? Is he talking to that generation, or is he talking to a generation on down the road, two thousand or three thousand years? It’s so important that you get this. This is the foundation of understanding Matthew 24, and I think the Revelation of Jesus Christ.
Synoptic Gospels Parallel the Prophecy
Let’s hook up some other thoughts, scriptures, and parallel books to make sure we’re bringing all this together. Look in Mark 13. In verse 1.
Mark 13:1-2
1 And as he went out of the temple, one of his disciples saith unto him, Master, see what manner of stones and what buildings are here!2
2 And Jesus answering said unto him, Seest thou these great buildings? there shall not be left one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down.
Matthew 24 Verses 1-5: How to Discern the Signs of the Times
Luke 21:5-7
5 And as some spake of the temple, how it was adorned with goodly stones and gifts, he said, As for these things which you behold, the days will come in the which there shall not be left one stone upon another that shall not be thrown down.
6 As for these things which ye behold, the days will come, in the which there shall not be left one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down. And they asked him, saying, Master, but when shall these things be and what sign will there be when these things shall come to pass?
7 And they asked him, saying, Master, but when shall these things be? and what sign will there be when these things shall come to pass? Back in Matthew.
Let me explain the situation. The disciples and Jesus had left the temple. The disciples admired the temple’s beauty, but Jesus told them it would be destroyed. They wanted to know when this destruction would happen. They asked Him for a sign. This is a key point in their conversation. Luke’s Gospel confirms it, and other passages reflect how Jesus lamented over Jerusalem and declared its coming desolation.
Matthew 24 Verses 1-5: How to Discern the Signs of the Times
It is vital to grasp what the disciples were asking. They wanted to know when the temple and Jerusalem would be destroyed. I want to make it clear—this question was not about the distant future, but about events that would soon take place.
For historical proof, I refer to the historian Josephus, who described the actual destruction of Jerusalem during the war of A.D. 70. He wrote that Roman soldiers pursued the Jews to the Holy House and set fire to it. The flames rose, and the Jews tried desperately to stop the blaze but could not. They sacrificed their lives trying to save the temple as it burned.
Josephus also described the bodies everywhere—people were slain and beaten. Most did not have weapons and were killed no matter what. Around the altar, dead bodies were piled up. Blood flowed down the temple steps, and even the bodies on the altar fell below. This is the devastation that Jesus had predicted. It is a real, historical event.
Matthew 24 Verses 1-5: How to Discern the Signs of the Times
“Whereby the flame burst out from within the Holy House itself immediately, when the commanders retired and Caesar with them, and when nobody any longer forbade those that were without to set fire to it, and thus was the Holy House burnt down.” That’s from the sixth book, the fourth chapter, and the seventh paragraph.
“While the Holy House was on fire, everything was plundered that came to hand, and ten thousand of those that were caught were slain. Nor was there commiseration of any age or any reverence of gravity, but children and old men and profane persons and priests were all slain in the same manner, so that this war went round all sorts of men and brought them to destruction, and as well those that made supplication for their lives as those that defended themselves by fighting.
The flame was also carried in a long way and made an echo together with the groans of those that were slain. And now the Romans judging that it was in vain to spare what was round about the Holy House burnt all those places as also the remains of the clusters and the gates.”
Matthew 24 Verses 1-5: How to Discern the Signs of the Times
Fulfillment of Jesus’ Predictions
The entire city of Jerusalem was burned. The temple was the first to go, and then the surrounding areas followed. Everything was destroyed. This total devastation fulfilled exactly what Jesus had predicted in Matthew 24:1, Mark 13:1, and Luke 21:5-6.
I want to stress that this destruction is not something to look for in the future. It already happened just as Scripture said it would. After these predictions, the Gospel account tells us that Jesus went to the Mount of Olives. There, His disciples came to Him privately. They asked Him, “When will these things happen, and what will be the sign of your coming and the end of the world?” (Matthew 24:3).
These are not three separate questions but one question with two parts. The disciples wanted to know when the destruction would occur and what sign would indicate it was near. In Mark 13:3, the disciples Peter, James, John, and Andrew are explicitly mentioned as those who asked. This is important because Jesus’ response uses “you,” “ye,” and “your” to address His listeners directly, showing that He was speaking to them at that time, not to people living thousands of years in the future.
Matthew 24 Verses 1-5: How to Discern the Signs of the Times
Clarifying “World,” “Age,” and “Globe” in the Text
An important point is the word “world.” In Greek, there are three words translated as “world.” One is “cosmos,” which means the orderly arrangement or the system of things. Another is “aion,” which means an age or a period of time – the word used here. He was not talking about the physical destruction of the earth, but rather about the end of an age or period in God’s redemptive plan. The third word translated as “world” is oikoumene, meaning the globe. That’s the word Jesus would have used had he meant the end of the globe. Understanding these words helps clarify what Jesus truly meant about “the end of the world.”
Do you see the difference in those meanings of those words? Cosmos means the arrangement of things. It’s the system of government. Our cosmos is not the same as China’s cosmos. Do you see that? We don’t have the same arrangement of government as the Chinese do. But we still live in the same aion, the same age, the same messianic period. And we still live on the same globe. Do you see that the globe and the aion age are different? Globe means this earth, this ball of dirt that we’re gravitated to. That’s what oikoumene means. Aion means the age, the period of time in which we live.
Matthew 24 Verses 1-5: How to Discern the Signs of the Times
The word “world” in the King James Bible is translated from different Greek words, and this has confused how we understand specific passages. In Matthew 24:3, many of us have been taught that “world” means the physical earth, the globe. But the word actually used there is “aion,” which means “age.” The disciples were not asking about the end of the physical world, but about the end of an age or a period of time.
If you look at other Bible translations, you’ll see this word rendered as “age” rather than “world.” That little difference makes a massive impact on our understanding of the passage. The disciples wanted to know, “When is this age coming to an end?” They were not wondering when the physical earth would end.
It’s important to realize that, in the disciples’ minds, the destruction and desolation of Jerusalem would signal the end of their current age. When Jerusalem was destroyed, that age ended and a new one began. This transition from one age to another is a key point in Revelation as well. The end of the Mosaic age was the start of the church age. Much of what happens in Revelation is connected to this shift.
Matthew 24 Verses 1-5: How to Discern the Signs of the Times
Ages, Dispensations, and Covenants in Scripture
There have always been different ages, dispensations, and covenants in Scripture. To most ages, there is a corresponding covenant. For example, before Adam, there was a pre-Adamic age. Genesis 1:1 and 1:2 describe a time when darkness covered the earth, even before Adam. Each new age brings changes and new covenants as God works out His purposes in history.
The Sequence of Biblical Ages
Let me explain how the ages and covenants work in Scripture. There was a pre-Adamic age—there was a time, a period, before Adam. That age ended when Adam came along. God made a covenant with Adam. He gave Adam a purpose. Adam was supposed to take dominion over the earth, reproduce, and care for the garden. He was told to obey God and not eat from the forbidden tree. When Adam began his role, the pre-Adamic age ended, and a new age began.
Matthew 24 Verses 1-5: How to Discern the Signs of the Times
The Adamic age also came to an end. That age ended with the flood recorded in Genesis chapters 6-9. So, the history moved from the pre-Adamic age, to the Adamic age, and then to the Noahic age—the age of Noah. God made a covenant with Noah, too. We remember this covenant (Genesis 9:13) by the sign of the rainbow. Each age closes and a new one begins, marked by God’s covenant and purpose.
But did the age of Noah end? Sure did.
When did that age end? Abraham. Well, it actually ended at Babel in Genesis chapter 10. Did he cause some confusion? Sure did. You see, confusion always ends one age and begins another. Was the flood kind of confusing? The Babel was kind of confusing. But that age ended with Noah, and Abraham came in.
Did the age of Abraham end? Sure did. And what did it end with? Moses? But how did it end? Was there some confusion that brought about the end? Was there a cataclysm? Did something bad happen? Sure. Plagues on Egypt. So, one age begins and another age ends.
Matthew 24 Verses 1-5: How to Discern the Signs of the Times
Now we’re in the Mosaic age. And in the Mosaic age, you have some other things that come along in there, other covenants. You have the Davidic covenant, the Palestinian covenant. But the Mosaic age came in in Exodus chapter 20. But did it end? Now, when did it end? This is what the disciples are asking. What “confusion” is going to happen?
Overlap of Ages and the New Covenant through Christ
Let’s imagine ourselves with the disciples, sitting with Jesus on the Mount of Olives. We would be living in what is called the Mosaic age. We are not yet in the church age. This is all before the cross. It is before the shedding of Jesus’ blood, before the resurrection, the ascension, and before Pentecost. All of these events are still to come. At this time, the Mosaic age was the present reality.
The disciples wanted to know when the Mosaic age would come to an end. Jesus did not answer their question directly at first. That is what Matthew 24 is about: the end of one age and the start of a new one. Today, we are living in a different age. We are not in that same time. The disciples lived at a time when the ages overlapped. Jesus was about to introduce the new covenant. That new covenant is described in Matthew 28. For the moment, though, we are picturing ourselves just before that transition takes place.
Matthew 24 Verses 1-5: How to Discern the Signs of the Times
Matthew 26:28 For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.
The Ending of the Mosaic Age and the Coming of the Church Age
The Mosaic age ended with the destruction of Jerusalem. This is what Jesus will share with His disciples in passages like Matthew 24-25, Mark 13, Luke 17 and 21, and the book of Revelation. After this, we moved from the Mosaic age into the New Covenant age. This is often called the Church age or the Dispensation of Grace.
Will this current age come to an end? Yes, God always has something more for His people. This age will reach its climax, its consummation, and eventually its end. What will bring this age to a close? It will be the return of Jesus Christ.
His return is not just the start of a new phase; it actually marks the end of this age. Afterwards, we enter the eternal age—the everlasting age when time no longer matters. At the resurrection, our mortality will be replaced with immortality. In the vision from Revelation 10, the angel stands on land and sea and announces that time will be no more. That is the beginning of eternity.
Matthew 24 Verses 1-5: How to Discern the Signs of the Times
Revelation 10:5-6
5 And the angel which I saw stand upon the sea and upon the earth lifted up his hand to heaven,
6 And sware by him that liveth for ever and ever, who created heaven, and the things that therein are, and the earth, and the things that therein are, and the sea, and the things which are therein, that there should be time no longer:
We will enter into another age, another covenant, another time, and another dispensation. We end the age that we are now existing in, and we enter into a brand new age, an everlasting covenant. So we have the everlasting or the eternal covenant, which Revelation 10 talks about, time shall be no more. It never ends. This is the age we enter after immortality.
No matter where you read about His Advent coming, you’ll find resurrection. There’s no literal, physical coming of Christ without resurrection. I’m talking about Advent, not a coming of the Son of man. I hope you’re with me. At His Advent, there’s always resurrection.
Matthew 24 Verses 1-5: How to Discern the Signs of the Times
1 Corinthians 15:52
52 In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. 53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.
In 1 Corinthians 15, it talks about how mortality puts on immortality, and how corruption puts on incorruption. There’s resurrection, the trump of God sounds.
1 Thessalonians 4:16-17
16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:
17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.
Matthew 24 Verses 1-5: How to Discern the Signs of the Times
The Lord comes, the trump of God sounds. The dead in Christ shall rise first, then we which are alive and remain shall go with them together to meet the Lord in the air and “shall we ever be with the Lord.” “Every be” with Him. Everlasting.
How I Interpret These Scriptures: Embracing the Present Kingdom
This is how I interpret the Scriptures. I believe that, in these passages (Matthew 24), Jesus is teaching about the end of the Mosaic age. If we understand what is really being asked and answered, and get away from a purely futuristic way of thinking handed down by tradition, we’ll see the point. Jesus taught His disciples that the covenant, the law of Moses, and that whole period would end with the destruction of Jerusalem and its temple. This would make it clear to everyone—even the Jews—that God had moved into a new age, a new covenant, and a new way of relating to His people through Christ and the church.
If we are willing to open our eyes and move past doctrines that keep us stuck, we will find wisdom and revelation. We can free ourselves from the fear and bondage that come from misunderstanding tribulation prophecies. Instead, we can embrace life in the kingdom of God—where God reigns through Christ by the Spirit within the church.
Matthew 24 Verses 1-5: How to Discern the Signs of the Times
This is the main reason I’m focusing so much on this topic. I want us to finally let go of the obsession with future tribulation and see what Jesus was really teaching. The apostle Paul said that it is through much tribulation that we enter the kingdom of God, but we shouldn’t live in fear of a great future disaster. Instead, we should be embracing the reality of the kingdom now.
Acts 14:22
22 Confirming the souls of the disciples, and exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God.
The Ongoing Victory and the Nature of the Kingdom
I do not believe that destruction is ahead of us. We win in Christ. No antichrist will come and take everything away from us. The church keeps growing stronger and stronger. We are meant to advance and overcome. The church moves forward without stopping, and God’s purpose is that we become the pure bride, without spot or wrinkle.
Matthew 24 Verses 1-5: How to Discern the Signs of the Times
John the Baptist and Jesus both said the kingdom of God is at hand. Many still say it’s at hand, but the truth is, it’s already here. The kingdom came in AD 70. Jesus defeated the devil at His resurrection, and He also removed the old religious system in A.D. 70. The kingdom of God has been here ever since. Jesus reigns now, and the kingdom is present now.
There are different ways people think about the “millennium.” Some believe the kingdom only comes when Jesus returns, bringing cataclysm and establishing Himself as king. That’s premillennialism—it means Jesus must come back before we are true overcomers. But the Bible shows that, when Jesus returns, we enter immortality—there is nothing left to overcome. Premillennialism holds that Jesus will return before victory is secured.
I believe Jesus is king now. The church is called to mature and to advance, not to retreat or escape, but to confront evil and storm the gates of hell. Where do you stand? Ask yourself: When did Jesus become king? When did He defeat the devil and establish His kingdom? If you say it was when He rose from the dead or ascended, you understand that you are already living in the millennial era—the time of Jesus’ rule and reign.
Matthew 24 Verses 1-5: How to Discern the Signs of the Times
This age will end, and we will enter an eternal covenant when Jesus comes again. When He returns, He will establish a new, everlasting age. Jesus established His kingdom through His death, resurrection, and ascension to the heavenly throne. As the last Adam, He rules over all creation until He comes again to judge the living and the dead. Until then, He is conquering the nations by the gospel.
Covenant Blessings—God’s Response to Faithfulness
Do you believe that Jesus is spreading the results of His victory across the whole world? By doing this, He fulfills the dominion mandate God originally gave Adam. Through the Holy Spirit, the earth will one day be full of God’s glory, just like the waters cover the sea. When God’s people are faithful to the covenant, God pours out blessings on the whole world—not because people beg for it, or try to force God’s hand, but because God has promised to respond to covenant faithfulness. Our proper response brings God’s response. That’s how covenant works.
I once tried to teach about covenant, and it was tough, but now I believe I could teach it with greater confidence. God’s covenant truly does require a real response from us.
Matthew 24 Verses 1-5: How to Discern the Signs of the Times
Now, let’s look at what we have covered so far. Have you seen the main point? The central question is: when does this (i.e., that) age and time period end? That’s what Jesus is talking about—a specific age and a specific time.
The “Beginning of Sorrows” and Jesus’ Warnings
As we get into the next section, the “beginning of sorrows,” look closely at whom Jesus is addressing. He isn’t talking to a distant future generation. He spoke directly to the generation that lived during His time—especially those named in the Gospel narrative, like Peter, James, John, and Andrew. The use of “you,” “ye,” and “your” throughout the passage shows that He was speaking to real people in AD 33.
When I read through verses 4 to 14, I focus on those words. I ask the listeners to do the same, responding each time we find “ye,” “you,” or “your.” This shows that these warnings and predictions were directed at the people present at the time, not at us living two thousand years later. That understanding is crucial to interpreting these passages. And the first thing Jesus says to them is, “Let no man deceive you.” And then he says there will be many false prophets who will arise and deceive many.
Matthew 24 Verses 1-5: How to Discern the Signs of the Times
Matthew 24:4-5
4 And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you.
5 For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many.
Deception and the Call to Scripture Study
Jesus warns us by saying, “Let no man deceive you.” How does deception happen? People can mislead us, but there is more to it than that. If we do not study the Scriptures for ourselves, we are more likely to be deceived. If we rely only on brief teachings from the church or on information from TV preachers or teachers whose background we don’t know, we are vulnerable. When we don’t know where they are coming from or whether they are genuinely committed to the Word of God, we can be led astray.
But if you study the Bible for yourself and seek God diligently, you become much less likely to be deceived by others. The key is to spend time in Scripture on your own. By doing this, you can avoid deception and stand on a strong foundation. That’s why Jesus said, “Let no man deceive you.” The responsibility falls on each of us to dig into the Word personally.
And then he says the people that will deceive you are religious people, i.e., “prophets.” Do you see that?
Matthew 24 Verses 1-5: How to Discern the Signs of the Times
Matthew 24:11 And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many.
The Greek word “deceive” there means to roam from safety, from truth, from virtue. Can I hook this up with the Revelation? Can I show you that there is a false prophet in the Revelation? Let’s look, if we will, in Revelation 13.
False Prophets in Scripture and Revelation
In chapter 12 of The Revelation, we see the dragon. The dragon is the devil. It tells us so.
Revelation 12:9 And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.
Then in Revelation 13, we see another beast. It’s the beast out of the sea. I believe that, in John’s time and the people we’re talking about, it was Rome. I believe it’s basically the governmental systems. The earth, the humanistic systems, man, and humanism are what I believe this beast represents. In Revelation 13, beginning at verse 11, we see another beast coming up out of the earth.
Matthew 24 Verses 1-5: How to Discern the Signs of the Times
The first beast comes out of the sea, which is humanity, the world, and turmoil. This one comes up out of the earth, and if your translation may say it, it may say land. It came up out of the land. And that’s what it should say because he’s coming up out of Israel. This is what the writer, John, wants us to see here.
This is a beast coming up out of the land of Israel.
Revelation 13:11
11 And I beheld another beast coming up out of the earth; and he had two horns like a lamb, and he spake as a dragon.
Say, “like a lamb.” Like a lamb. He wasn’t a lamb. He was like a lamb. But he spake as a dragon. He spake as the devil.
Jesus says the false prophets will come and deceive many. He says they’ll deceive you. They’re poisonous. They’re vipers and snakes.
Matthew 24 Verses 1-5: How to Discern the Signs of the Times
Revelation 13:16 is what I want. And he causes all those small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in the right hand or in their foreheads.
Revelation 13:15
15 And he had power to give life unto the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak, and cause that as many as would not worship the image of the beast should be killed.
16 And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads:
Who causes people to receive a mark? The devil? The world’s systems? Or the false prophets? Who causes us to get a mark? Who are we talking about here? Religion, or, better put, false religion.
Okay, you didn’t get it. I left you somewhere. Let’s do it again. In Revelation chapter 12, we have the first dragon. That’s the devil. In the first part, the first half of Revelation 13, we have a second beast that’s coming up out of the sea. This is the world’s systems and humanism. This is what the dragon, i.e., devil, will give his power to. To me, Rome, and I think it’s Nero in particular, is what the book of Revelation speaks about. Then there’s a third beast that comes up out of the land here in chapter 13, verse 11. This beast is identified in chapter 16, verses 13, 19, and 20, as the false prophet.
Matthew 24 Verses 1-5: How to Discern the Signs of the Times
Revelation 16:13
13 And I saw three unclean spirits like frogs come out of the mouth of the dragon, and out of the mouth of the beast, and out of the mouth of the false prophet.
And he is the one who causes us to receive a mark.
Revelation 19:20
20 And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone.
The false prophet is the one who causes us to receive a mark. Who then is responsible for getting us marked? Not the devil and not even humanism, but the false prophet.
Matthew 24 Verses 1-5: How to Discern the Signs of the Times
Let me clarify what I mean. Many people today have become trapped in their way of thinking. They are so fixed in their beliefs that they cannot be moved, because they have accepted lies from the enemy and from false prophets (preachers). These false prophets and false teachers are the ones who put a “mark” on people’s minds, binding them to specific ideas and stopping their spiritual growth. They make people believe and follow things that lead them into bondage. In fact, religious leaders can hold people captive mentally and spiritually.
If you look at Revelation chapter 16 verse 13, you see three evil spirits coming out of the mouth of the dragon, the beast, and the false prophet. The dragon is the devil, as explained in Revelation 12. In my understanding, the beast represents Rome, especially the emperor Nero. Today, we still see similar patterns in humanistic systems and corrupt governments. The false prophet stands for false religious systems. These three are the same types Jesus warned about in Matthew 24: false spiritual influences, worldly systems, and deceiving religious leaders.
Every New Testament writer—from Matthew and Mark to John, Paul, James, Peter, and Jude—warns us about false teachers. It is a major theme throughout the Scriptures. If you study the Bible carefully, you will find that there are two main extremes in false teaching. Some false teachers are Judaistic, trying to get Christians to return to old Jewish traditions and laws.
Matthew 24 Verses 1-5: How to Discern the Signs of the Times
Philippians 3:2
2 Beware of dogs, beware of evil workers, beware of the concision.
Paul talks about how they try to get you back into the concision or circumcision. He says he would those who teach that would cut it all off (Galatians 5:12). And the other is the extreme of liberty, where anything goes.
Jude 1:4 For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ.
That’s in Jude 1:4, they love to have the love feast. But both say they’re anointed. Both say they’re in God’s message. But they both are warned about. You receive warnings in the scriptures about being legalistic, and you receive warnings in the scriptures about being too liberal.
Matthew 24 Verses 1-5: How to Discern the Signs of the Times
The Importance of Personal Study and Discernment
I believe we put ourselves in danger of being deceived if we do not read and study the Scriptures personally. When you study the Bible for yourself, you learn where the boundaries are—you know how far is too far to the right or to the left. Your spirit and conscience will warn you if you start to stray. But often, we let ourselves be deceived because we listen only to what we want to hear.
Matthew 24 Verses 1-5
Matthew 24 Verses 1-5
Also see: