Danger ahead .... That’s the ominous road sign confronting the human race as we speed toward the future. While much is uncertain about what’s coming, one thing is clear: There will be a day, possibly not long from now, when mankind will endure violence, destruction, chaos, and judgment on a worldwide scale. A few will experience salvation, peace, and triumph—but most will be doomed. And for people in both groups, the same event will prove decisive: the return of Jesus.
That’s the starting point for John MacArthur’s prophetic study from Matthew 24. Jesus Is Coming! answers questions like:
Why will Jesus return? Is there a way to know when He’ll return? Where will Christians be when He comes? What role will Christians have in end-time events? The answers you discover could make a profound difference in how you live the rest of your life.
Matthew 24:01 .. Jesus came out from the temple and was going away when His disciples came up to point out the temple buildings to him 24:02 .. and he said to them . . . do you not see all these things .. truly I say to you .. not one stone here will be left upon another .. which will not be torn down 24:03 .. as he was sitting on the Mount of Olives .. the disciples came to him privately .. saying . . . tell us .. when will these things happen .. .......... and what will be the sign of your coming .. and of the end of the age
24:04 .. and Jesus answered and said to them . . . see to it that no one misleads you 24:05 .. for many will come in my name .. saying . . . I am the Christ .. and will mislead many
24:06 .. you will be hearing of wars and rumors of wars .. see that you are not frightened .. for those things must take place .. but that is not yet the end 24:07 .. for nation will rise against nation .. and kingdom against kingdom .. and in various places there will be famines and pestilences and earthquakes 24:08 .. but all these things are merely the beginning of birth pangs 24:09 .. then they will deliver you to tribulation .. and will kill you .. and you will be hated by all nations because of my name 24:10 .. at that time .. many will fall away and will betray one another and hate one another 24:11 .. many false prophets will arise and will mislead many 24:12 .. because lawlessness is increased .. most people’s love will grow cold 24:13 .. but the one who endures to the end .. he will be saved 24:14 .. this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all the nations . . . . .......... and then the end will come
24:15 .. therefore .. when you see the abomination of desolation which was spoken of through Daniel the prophet .. .......... standing in the holy place .. let the reader understand
24:16 .. then those who are in Judea must flee to the mountains 24:17 .. whoever is on the housetop must not go down to get the things out that are in his house 24:18 .. whoever is in the field must not turn back to get his cloak 24:19 .. but woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing babies in those days 24:20 .. but pray that your flight will not be in the winter .. or on a Sabbath 24:21 .. for then there will be a great tribulation .. such as has not occurred since the beginning of the world until now .. nor ever will 24:22 .. unless those days had been cut short .. no life would have been saved .. but for the sake of the elect those days will be cut short 24:23 .. then if anyone says to you . . . behold .. here is the Christ .. or there he is . . . do not believe him 24:24 .. for false Christs and false prophets will arise and will show great signs and wonders .. so as to mislead .. if possible .. even the elect 24:25 .. behold .. I have told you in advance 24:26 .. so if they say to you .. behold . . . he is in the wilderness .. do not go out .. or .. behold . . . .......... he is in the inner rooms .. do not believe them 24:27 .. for just as the lightning comes from the east and flashes even to the west .. so will the coming of the Son of Man be 24:28 .. wherever the corpse is .. there the vultures will gather
24:29 .. but 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 the sky .. and the powers of the heavens will be shaken 24:30 .. and then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky .. and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn .. .......... and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of the sky with power and great glory 24:31 .. and he will send forth His angels with a great trumpet and they will gather together his elect from the four winds .. .......... from one end of the sky to the other
24:32 .. Now learn the parable from the fig tree . . . when its branch has already become tender and puts forth its leaves .. .......... you know that summer is near 24:33 .. so .. you too .. when you see all these things .. recognize that he is near .. right at the door 24:34 .. truly I say to you . . . this generation will not pass away until all these things take place 24:35 .. heaven and earth will pass away . . . but my words will not pass away
24:36 .. but of that day and hour no one knows .. not even the angels of heaven .. nor the Son .. but the Father alone 24:37 .. for the coming of the Son of Man will be just like the days of Noah 24:38 .. for as in those days before the flood .. they were eating and drinking .. marrying and giving in marriage .. .......... until the day that Noah entered the ark 24:39 .. and they did not understand .. until the flood came and took them all away .. so will the coming of the Son of Man be 24:40 .. then there will be two men in the field .. one will be taken and one will be left 24:41 .. two women will be grinding at the mill .. one will be taken and one will be left
.................. be ready for his coming
24:42 .. therefore .. be on the alert .. for you do not know which day your Lord is coming
24:43 .. but be sure of this . . . that if the head of the house had known at what time of the night the thief was coming .. .......... he would have been on the alert and would not have allowed his house to be broken into 24:44 .. for this reason .. you also must be ready . . . for the Son of Man is coming at an hour when you do not think he will 24:45 .. who then is the faithful and sensible slave .. whom his master put in charge of his household to give them their food at the proper time 24:46 .. blessed is that slave whom his master finds so doing when he comes 24:47 .. truly I say to you .. that he will put him in charge of all his possessions 24:48 .. but if that evil slave says in his heart . . . my master is not coming for a long time 24:49 .. and begins to beat his fellow slaves and eat and drink with drunkards 24:50 .. the master of that slave will come on a day when he does not expect him .. and at an hour which he does not know 24:51 .. and will cut him in pieces .. and assign him a place with the hypocrites . . . in that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth
The course of the present age is to be marked by wars .. famines .. pestilences .. persecutions .. false Christs .. and religious systems .. increasing in intensity as the age nears its end .. and culminating in tribulation such as the world has never seen .. nor ever shall see again . . . Jesus Christ shall suddenly .. unexpectedly and gloriously appear .. coming in the clouds of heaven with his hosts .. blessed are they who cherish the “blessed hope” Titus 2:13 .. and live in hourly expectation of his coming . . . . the signs of the near return of Jesus are national [Mt24:6] .. religious [Mt24:11] .. missionary [Mt24:14] .. and Jewish [Mt24:32] .. fig tree a type of Israel