Matthew 24:15-33

Sign concerning the destruction of Jerusalem Matthew 24:15-33: Jesus gave a real sign for the Jews to look for as the destruction of Jerusalem approached. The real sign Jesus gave was the fulfillment of the prophecy of Daniel (Daniel 9) -- "Abomination of desolation." The destruction of the Temple spoken of by Jesus was the same as the "Abomination of desolation" predicted by Daniel. Jesus explained all of this with the words of Luke 21:20, "When you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then know that its desolation is near." A foreign army would come to make Jerusalem desolate. When the army came they were to flee to the mountains without going back into the city. They were to leave from the field where they were. Do no go back to your house. This quick departure will be difficult if you have small children, or if it is winter or on a Sabbath. All of this fits perfectly the coming of the Roman army to destroy Jerusalem in AD 70. So far, all of this depicts a local, escapable judgment. It certainly does not fit a worldwide, inescapable judgment! All of this fits perfectly about what we know of the Roman army coming to destroy Jerusalem in A.D. 70. None of these things would fit the end of the world and final judgment. Those Christians understood this teaching and as a result many escaped Jerusalem.

Many think these things refer to the end of the world. But, this cannot be because these things would happen "immediately'' and these things are before Matthew 24:34. Remember, in Matthew 24:34 Jesus starts His discussion of the end of the world.

Some say this has to be the end of the world because of the natural disasters described in the text. These natural disasters were used commonly in the Old Testament to talk about the fall of nations. (1) Babylon, Isaiah 13:1; Isaiah 13:6-13, (2) Egypt, Isaiah 19:1-2; Ezekiel 32:2-9, (3) Tyre, Isaiah 23:1; Isaiah 24:21-23, (4) Edom, Isaiah 34:4-6, (5) Nineveh, Nahum 1:1-5, (6) Israel, Amos 8:9, and (7) Judah, Jeremiah 4:5-6; Jeremiah 4:23-28.

Here they are used to talk about the destruction of the Jewish nation. The destruction of Jerusalem was "the sign" Jesus had given. All of these things took place immediately after the fall of Jerusalem and during that generation.