Matthew 24:1-14

Questions about the destruction of Jerusalem Matthew 24:1-14 : As Matthew twenty-three ends Jesus laments the terrible things which would come upon that generation. (Matthew 23:36) He knew that even the temple would not be spared. As the disciples were standing and commenting on the magnificence of the the Temple, Jesus told them that there was coming a day when "...not one stone shall be left here upon another, that shall not be thrown down." (Matthew 24:2.) This prediction of destruction brought grief to the disciples hearts. This event happened when the Roman General Titus came against Jerusalem in 70 A.D., and destroyed the city completely.

The questions asked by the disciples were "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) They assumed that what Jesus was talking about would be at His second coming. They asked about "when" and "what signs would be given?" We will later see that the things before Matthew 24:34 would take place in the lifetime of those in that generation. “Assuredly, I say to you, this generation will by no means pass away till all these things take place.”

Jesus warned them of the possibility of being misled. This is our Lord's number one warning! "Take heed that no one deceives you." (Matthew 24:4) How can you make sure you are not deceived? You check it out in God's Word and carefully study for yourself. Jesus said that there would be false Christs, wars, famines, earthquakes, and the gospel would be preached to the whole world. All of these would be things people would try to use as signs but these things would not pinpoint the destruction of Jerusalem or the end of the world, "but the end is not yet."