Matthew 24:1-39
About the Text
(3) Where is the Mount of Olives? It is a hill that still exists today, that overlooks Jerusalem from about a half mile away. You could see the entire Jewish temple from this vista point.
(4-14) These signs seem so general in their description. Haven't many of them been fulfilled already in history? Yes, and they are still being fulfilled. The world has seen such signs as earthquakes, wars, and famines for the past 2,000 years (and more). Jesus tells us the general characteristics of the age we live in - the time between His first and second comings. These general characteristics will become more intense as the end draws near.
(14) Has the gospel been preached to all nations yet? No. There are still about 1,700 people groups who have not had the gospel of Jesus Christ effectively communicated to them yet. The world-wide spread of the gospel must happen before the end comes. See Romans 11:25.
(15) What is the "abomination that causes desolation"? This term refers to something that is detestable in eyes of God and His people that will be erected in the His temple that will drive away all worshipers. This was first foretold a few hundred years before Christ, through the prophet Daniel, in Dan 9:27, 11:31, 12:11). A partial fulfillment came through Antiochus Epiphanes, who set up a pagan altar to Zeus in the temple in 168 BC. Jesus here foretells another time when this prophecy would be fulfilled, that would lead to massive desertion of Jerusalem and to the persecution of Christians. Because Jesus describes such persecution as "unequaled from the beginning of the world until now and never to be equaled again," and because Christians would be fleeing to the "mountains" of Judea, and because the return of Christ will be visible, it is likely that this portion of Jesus' prophecy has not been fulfilled yet. Great tribulation is yet to come.
(26) Why won't Jesus' second coming be "in the desert" or "in the inner rooms"? This verse means that Jesus' coming will be visible to the whole world. Therefore, those who say that Christ's second coming has already happen "spiritually" are in error.
(31) Who are the "elect"? Those chosen by God, before the beginning of the world (Eph. 1:3), to have faith in Jesus Christ. In other words, all true believers.
(34) What did Jesus mean that "this generation will certainly not pass away"? Was the second coming supposed to happen during the lifetime of those listening to Jesus? No. When Jesus uses the word "generations," He means the "people of our kind." See Mark 8:12, Matt. 12:39, 16:4.
Insights
The Bottom Line
Stand firm. The world today is already a place of great distress. No matter how hard Christians and mankind have tried to eliminate the great evils of the world (e.g. war, poverty, drugs, hunger, persecution, false religion), these evils still flourish. Sometimes it seems that God has forgotten us. But He hasn't. Our Lord Jesus Christ suffered and died on the cross to take the punishment for our sins, forgives those sins, declares us "clean" before God, rose from the dead to prove his promises true, and gives the Holy Spirit to transform the lives of those who believe. God really changes believers. See, the elimination of evil depends on God's effort, not on man's effort. Also, Christ promises that he will return, and tells us about the end times to reassure us that when things look their worst, God is still in control. You can trust the One who knows the future. So stand firm and keep believing.