Jesus Highlights Key Events in The End-Times: Matthew 24
I. GENERAL OVERVIEW OF MATTHEW 24
A. Introduction – the question
“… 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)
Jesus taught in Matthew 24 exactly what Paul taught in 2 Thessalonians 2
B. The first thing Jesus says, “Do not be deceived”. It is the first thing Paul the apostle said in 2 Thessalonians.
“And Jesus answered and said to them: “Take heed that no one deceives you. For many will come in My name,
saying, ‘I am the Christ’, and will deceive many.” (Matthew 24:4-5)
a. Deception involves more than getting false information. There is a deception that results in no information. It
comes from lack of urgency about the End Times. The lack of concern that has no information is covert deception. This
is sometimes worse than the deception that comes from bad information.
C. The church will be hated and killed by all nations.
“Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and kill you, and you will be hated by all nations for My name’s sake.”
(Matthew 24:9)
1. The Untied States will hate Christians before Jesus returns.
2. The Untied Kingdom, Germany, France, Italy and all the other “cultured nations” will hate and kill Christians.
D. Many will fall away.
“And then many will be offended, will betray one another, and will hate one another.” (Matthew 24:10)
1. The word translated “offended” is commonly translated as “fall away” in various bible translations.
2. The apostle Paul taught about a great falling away.
“Let no one deceive you by any means; for that Day will not come unless the falling away comes first, and the man
of sin is revealed, the son of perdition.” (2 Thessalonians 2:3)
“Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and
doctrines of demons. (1 Timothy 4:1)
E. False prophets with sorcery and false signs and wonders.
“Then many false prophets will rise up and deceive many.” (Matthew 24:11)
F. Sin will reach heights never known in history.
“And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold.” (Matthew 24:12)
“And in the latter time of their kingdom, when the transgressors have reached their fullness, a king shall arise, having
fierce features, who understands sinister schemes.” (Daniel 8:23)
G. The great harvest will come in the midst of all of satan’s activity.
“And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will
come.” (Matthew 24:14)
H. The abomination of desolation.
“Therefore when you see the ‘abomination of desolation’ spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place”
(Matthew 24:15)
1. The abomination of desolation is the time when the antichrist stands in the temple in Jerusalem declaring himself
to be God.
2. The antichrist will make all the people of the earth worship him. It is the abomination that leads to global desolation.
It is not figurative, but it is literal.
3. The abomination of desolations is God’s title for this period of crisis. The abomination of desolation is the greatest
abomination of all history. It will be the church’s greatest hour.
4. This term is used seven times in scripture:
a. It is used five times in the book of Daniel: Daniel 8:13; 9:26, 27; 11:31; 12:11
b. It is used two times in the New Testament: Matthew 24:15 and Mark 13:14
II. GREAT TRIBULATION
“For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the world until this time, no,
nor eve shall be.” (Matthew 24:21)
“After the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened and the moon will not give its light.” (Matthew 24:29)
“At that time … there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation, even to that time.”
(Daniel 12:1)
A. In Matthew 24:21, Jesus quotes Daniel 12:1. This doctrine originated in Jesus’ heart and not in Daniel’s or the
angel’s.
1. Jesus is not exaggerating when He refers to the great tribulation as a crisis such has never happened since the
beginning of the world.
2. In Daniel 12, the angel told Daniel about this most difficult time in history for believers. There is coming
cataclysmic tribulation upon planet earth.
B. There is a dramatic seven year period at the end of the age.
1. The Holy Spirit is orchestrating a seven-year drama at the end of natural history.
2. Daniel was the first one to receive understanding of this seven-year period described in Daniel 9:24-27.
“Seventy weeks are determined for your people … to make reconciliation for iniquity, to bring in everlasting
righteousness … “Know therefore and understand, that from the going forth of the command to restore … Jerusalem
until Messiah the Prince, there shall be seven weeks and sixty-two weeks; … And after the sixty-two weeks Messiah shall
be cut off … and the people of the prince who is to come shall destroy the city … the end of it shall be with a flood, and
till the end of the war desolations are determined. Then he shall confirm a covenant with many for one week; but in the
middle of the week he shall bring an end to sacrifice … and on the wing of abominations shall be one who makes
desolate, even until the consummation, which is determined, is poured out on the desolate.” (Daniel 9:24-27)
3. The seven-year period will be divided into two important parts.
a. The first three and a half years will be dramatic and difficult. It is referred to as birth pangs.
b. The second three and a half years will be even more dramatic and severe. The last three and a half years is the
heavy labor. It is called the great tribulation.
4. We are currently in “morning sickness”. The birth pangs will be more intense than what is now occurring in most
places of the earth.
C. The Great Tribulation is a literal 42 month period. It is also referred to as 1,260 days or “time, times and half a
time.”
1. The Great Tribulation begins with the great act of abomination that leads to global desolation. When the antichrist
governs the political systems of the world using demonic signs and wonders then declares himself to be God.
2. Because he will be in the top position as world leader, the stakes are very high. The essence of the abomination is
that he uses his political position to force the whole earth into satanic worship.
3. The very thing that satan wanted from Jesus in Matthew 4 is what he demands from the whole earth.
“Again the devil took Him up on an exceedingly high mountain, and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world
and their glory. And he said to Him, “All these things I will give You if You will fall down and worship me” (Matthew 4:8-9)
4. The abomination is that he demands satan worship from every human being on the earth at the price of human
life. No one can buy nor sell without worshipping the devil. All who refuse will be sought out as a criminal of the state
under a real threat of martyrdom.
5. This abomination is backed up by demonic signs and wonders.