The Promised King: The King Will Return
Matthew 24 is the King's great prophetic discourse.
As He leaves the temple, the disciples marvel at its buildings. He says: not one stone will be left on another that will not be thrown down. On the Mount of Olives, they ask Him privately: When will these things be, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?
He answers with one of the longest discourses in the Gospel — weaving together the destruction of Jerusalem (which would happen within a generation, in AD 70) with the final return of the Son of Man at the end of the age. Both events serve as previews of one another. Both demand the same response: watch.
The Promised King has come once. He will come again. And His disciples must live in the meantime as those who are awake.
The temple will fall
Jesus left the temple and was going away, when His disciples came to point out to Him the buildings of the temple.
He answered them:
"You see all these, do you not? Truly, I say to you, there will not be left here one stone upon another that will not be thrown down."
The temple was vast. Some of its stones weighed hundreds of tons. It seemed permanent.
He says: it will all fall. In AD 70 — within a generation — Rome would do exactly that.
The disciples' question
As He sat on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to Him privately:
"Tell us, when will these things be, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?"
They ask three things bundled together: when, what sign of His coming, what sign of the end. Jesus weaves all three into one discourse, because the destruction of Jerusalem and the end of the age are connected — the first is a preview of the second.
Do not be led astray
"See that no one leads you astray. For many will come in my name, saying, 'I am the Christ,' and they will lead many astray. And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not alarmed, for this must take place, but the end is not yet."
"For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be famines and earthquakes in various places. All these are but the beginning of the birth pains."
The Promised King warns His people not to chase signs and not to follow imposters. Wars, famines, earthquakes — these mark the age, not the end.
You will be persecuted
"Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and put you to death, and you will be hated by all nations for my name's sake."
"And many will fall away and betray one another and hate one another. And many false prophets will arise and lead many astray. And because lawlessness will be increased, the love of many will grow cold. But the one who endures to the end will be saved."
Endurance is the mark of the genuine disciple. Not flashiness. Not initial excitement. Endurance.
The gospel to all nations
"And this gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come."
Before the end, the gospel will reach every nation. This is a great hope and a great mandate. The Promised King's Kingdom will not be confined to one people or one continent. The mustard seed will become a tree.
The abomination of desolation
"So when you see the abomination of desolation spoken of by the prophet Daniel, standing in the holy place (let the reader understand), then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains."
This warning had immediate application in AD 70 when the Romans desecrated the temple. It also points to a final tribulation before His return.
"For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been from the beginning of the world until now, no, and never will be. And if those days had not been cut short, no human being would be saved. But for the sake of the elect those days will be cut short."
Even in the worst days, God is restraining the storm for the sake of His people.
False christs
"Then if anyone says to you, 'Look, here is the Christ!' or 'There he is!' do not believe it. For false christs and false prophets will arise and perform great signs and wonders, so as to lead astray, if possible, even the elect."
There will be signs and wonders to lead astray. He tells them in advance — so they will not be deceived.
"If they say to you, 'Look, he is in the wilderness,' do not go out. If they say, 'Look, he is in the inner rooms,' do not believe it."
The Christ will not return as a hidden figure to be found by select seekers. His return will be unmistakable.
"For as the lightning comes from the east and shines as far as the west, so will be the coming of the Son of Man."
The Son of Man comes
"Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, and the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken. Then will appear in heaven the sign of the Son of Man, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory."
The Son of Man who came once in humility on a colt will come again in glory on the clouds. His angels will gather His elect from the four winds.
The fig tree
"From the fig tree learn its lesson: as soon as its branch becomes tender and puts out its leaves, you know that summer is near. So also, when you see all these things, you know that he is near, at the very gates. Truly, I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all these things take place. Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away."
The first wave of fulfillment came on that generation, in AD 70. The final wave is yet to come. But His words will outlast everything else.
No one knows the day
"But concerning that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father only."
Anyone who claims to know the date of Christ's return claims more than the angels — more than the incarnate Son Himself in His earthly humility. The day is hidden by the Father's wisdom.
"For as were the days of Noah, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. For as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day when Noah entered the ark, and they were unaware until the flood came and swept them all away, so will be the coming of the Son of Man."
People were going about ordinary business. Then suddenly — the flood.
"Then two men will be in the field; one will be taken and one left. Two women will be grinding at the mill; one will be taken and one left."
The same setting. The same activities. Different destinies.
Stay awake
"Therefore, stay awake, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming."
He gives a small parable: if the master of the house had known what time the thief was coming, he would have stayed awake. So too you must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.
He gives another image: a faithful servant whom his master sets over his household to give them their food at the proper time. Blessed is that servant whom his master will find so doing when he comes. But if that wicked servant says to himself, My master is delayed, and begins to beat his fellow servants and to eat and drink with drunkards, the master will come on a day he does not expect — and there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
The Promised King is coming back. The faithful are doing the work He left for them. The unfaithful are exploiting His delay. When He returns, the difference will be plain.
Closing prayer
Father, thank You that the Promised King is coming again — not silently, not secretly, but on the clouds with power and great glory. Save us from false christs and false signs. Keep us awake. Make us faithful servants doing the work You gave us when the Master returns. Let our love not grow cold in the lawlessness of these days, and let us endure to the end. In Jesus' name, amen.
