Matthew 24:15-35

This passage has caused so called “higher” critics of the Bible to mistakenly declare that Jesus was expecting His “coming” to be soon. (“This generation will not pass away...”) Of course this only makes sense out of context because in the next section of the discourse Jesus makes it clear that no one, not even Himself, knows the time.

Others have gone so far as to theorize that the writer of Matthew was writing near the time of the destruction of Jerusalem in A.D. 70 by the Roman legions of Titus. They believe that this was an attempt by the writer to put words into the mouth of Jesus to encourage those who experienced that disaster. This makes no sense because if the destruction of Jerusalem had already happened the writer would know that there was no “abomination that causes desolation” set up in the temple. In fact, the temple was burnt by the Romans before they were able to reach it.

Jesus may have been making some reference to the Fall of Jerusalem in A.D. 70 but in truth the major focus of this discourse concerns the time right before His Second Coming. Apparently there will be a temple and it will be desecrated. There will be a terrible destruction visited upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem. There will be an incredible rise in deceitful religions. There will be great cosmic disturbances.

But there will also be the Coming of the Son of Man. Every eye will see Him. No one will need an internet connection or CNN to inform them that He has come. Many on the earth will be thrown into panic and great terror by His coming. And from the time these things start to take place it will all happen within one generation.

To all of this I can only say, “Come quickly, Lord Jesus.”