Matthew 24:1-35; Mark 13:1-31; Luke 21:5-33
As He sat on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to Him privately, saying, “Tell us, when will these things be, and what will be the sign of Your coming and of the end of the age?”
Matthew 24:3
The remainder of Matthew 24-25 is Jesus’ response to these questions, and what He says must be puzzling to the disciples. From where we sit, looking back upon the Resurrection and Ascension and 2,000 years of history, we immediately (and properly) interpret “Your coming” as the Second Coming of Christ, which remains in our future. The disciples, though, do not yet understand that there is to be a Second Coming. Despite Jesus’ prior statements, they do not yet understand that the Cross is just days away. They remain bewildered by His talk of the Resurrection, and they most certainly do not anticipate the Ascension. So they are not (yet) looking for a return of Christ — He’s right there! — but more of a broad revelation of Christ, with attendant glory and Kingship, victory over their oppressors, and the end of the age, ushering in a new world order a la Isaiah 11-12, 65:17-25.
Little do the disciples expect Jesus’ answer to range over millennia into the future, but that is what they get. Much of what Jesus says is fulfilled about 40 years hence with the Roman destruction of Jerusalem in 70 A.D. Some of what Jesus says is fulfilled somewhat continually throughout history (e.g., wars and rumors of wars), with various periods when one might well interpret events as boding Christ’s imminent return (e.g., the fall of Rome, the Black Death, Hitler). And, of course, we are still looking for the global revelation of the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. (Mt. 24:30)
As I said a couple of weeks ago, Jesus is the ultimate Realist. He does not paint a pretty picture. He speaks of tribulation and distress, of lawlessness and peril and suffering. He urges us to put away all illusions (or delusions) that the world is friendly and benign. We do not live in “Leave It to Beaver land”. We need to face that reality and not panic when the whole world goes to pot. Nor should we be led astray by false reports of some “christ” over here or over there. (Mt. 24:23-25) But we should most definitely pay attention to what is going on in the world and anticipate His return, with full assurance that what Jesus says will stand forever. (Mt. 24:32-35)
See also: