“Watch out that no one deceives you.”
Matthew 24:4
In this chapter, Jesus describes a series of events that will happen in the future—starting with the destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem, which occurred in about 70 A.D. when the Romans under Titus destroyed Jerusalem.
He warns his followers that they will be persecuted and put to death because of him. He encourages each one to beware of others who will claim to be the Messiah, or a Prophet, to deceive many. This message is not to instill fear of the end of the age, but to give his followers insight into what is to come, so when it does we can be prepared and we will not be deceived or fall away from the faith.
Verse 34 says: “Truly I tell you, this generation will certainly not pass away until all these things have happened.” The text is unclear about which events Jesus was talking about, the destruction of Jerusalem versus the end of the age when he describes the “Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven.” We can only assume he was referring to the destruction of Jerusalem since he also states about the end of time: “But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.”
Finally, he goes on to compare the end of the age to the time of Noah when the flood destroyed all living beings that were not in the boat with Noah and his family. People were living their lives oblivious that something terrible was about to happen.
Reflect
What is the purpose of prophecy?
Jesus warned us not to be deceived. Who is trying to deceive us? Why?
How does Jesus describe the Messiah’s coming?
“Then will appear the sign of the Son of Man in heaven. And then all the peoples of the earth will mourn when they see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven, with power and great glory. And he will send his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of the heavens to the other.” Matthew 24:30-31
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