“Therefore, stay awake, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming.” - Matthew 24:42
The return of Christ Jesus. These words are without doubt one of the most comforting promises we have been given. For 2,000 years, believers have anxiously and expectantly awaited the signs – the signs of the “end times” – leading up to His return. Even during the days of the Acts of the Apostles, His return was, in their minds, “imminent” – they expected it could happen at any time.
Of course, there are a great many different theories and interpretations of what the “end times” will look like for believers – whether it’s pre-trib, post-trib, or mid-trib concepts. Then again, “rapture” or “no such thing” as rapture. Take into consideration the views on timing, and we have quite a collection of ideas.
So for now - for the sake of this writing – let’s just take into consideration Jesus’ own words about what we call the end times. Some statements were quite direct – others, a bit more indirect. Even some of Jesus' parables had references that were either directly or indirectly pointed toward His return.
In each and every verse, every related parable, and every word, Jesus was warning us that He would, in fact, return and that we ought to always be prepared, for we did not know – and never would know – the day of His return. After all, how could we know when He Himself didn’t know.
Jesus Speaks Directly to His Disciples
As Jesus was sitting on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately. “Tell us,” they said, “when will this happen, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?” - Matthew 24:3
Jesus had just finished preaching the “Seven Woes” to the Pharisees, as it is known, and was just leaving the temple when His disciples came to Him to point out the magnificence of the buildings of the temple. Perhaps Jesus, as He did so often, saw this as an opportunity to teach them – or maybe He was a bit frustrated with their fascination with the physical world. Either way, Jesus began a teaching which would ultimately be covered in two full chapters of the Gospel of Matthew – 24 & 25 – also known as the Olivet Discourse.
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1. The Signs of the Coming End of the Age (Matthew 24:4-8)
Jesus answered: “Watch out that no one deceives you. For many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am the Messiah,’ and will deceive many. You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come. Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places. All these are the beginning of birth pains.
Wars and Rumors of Wars - And this is just the beginning of the pain the world will undergo. Of course, one must wonder – we have been hearing of wars and famine and earthquakes for virtually the entire 2,000 years since the time of Jesus. And while that is true, perhaps we ought to consider how quickly we are now receiving this information. We hear it almost instantly – fast enough that it sometimes can be overwhelming, can’t it? It can feel like there is potential for war to break out all over the world.
Deception. False prophets – Again, there have been many over the years who have preached a false gospel. Even Paul offered an admonition to the Galatians (1:6-9) about a “different gospel.” And yet today, false gospels are everywhere around us and readily available to anyone with internet or “have heard about”…pretty much you name it. People are now pushing away sound Christian doctrine “to suit their own desires” and to scratch “itching ears” because something sounds good. (2 Timothy 4:3) Social and cultural pressures have absolutely falsified the gospel and created false prophets.
Famines and earthquakes – According to the UN News (3 October 2019), there is enough food produced today to feed everyone on the planet. And yet, some 800+ million are considered chronically undernourished. Starving. The National Earthquake Information Center now tracks some 20,000 earthquakes worldwide annually – or 55 per day.
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2. Apostasy and Persecution (Matthew 24:9-14)
“Then you will be handed over to be persecuted and put to death, and you will be hated by all nations because of me. At that time many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other, and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people. Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold…
Persecution
According to Open Doors’ 2024 World Watch List, more than 365 million Christians worldwide face high levels of persecution and discrimination for their faith. This is an increase of at least 5 million from 2023 – meaning, 1 in 7 Christians globally are being targeted. In 2023 alone, there was an astounding seven-fold increase in violent attacks on Christian institutions – including churches, schools, and even hospitals. Vandalism, arson, and even bombings all aimed at Christian communities. Perhaps not surprisingly, the geographic center of the violence has moved from the Middle East to Africa, driven by militant Islamic extremists. Just as this was written, it was announced that a machete attack had killed 49 Christians during a prayer session in DR Congo. Yet, Christians in many other countries are treated as enemies and must remain unnoticeable, even secretive, in their faith.
With all of that, we here in the US are somewhat insulated from hearing the news of these worsening conditions – even while our own situation is not improving. One need simply view social media pages to witness the vitriol against Christians with labels and accusations of hate toward others. It could be telling as to how many “celebrities” hide their faith for fear of losing work.
Apostacy
It shouldn’t be, yet it is somewhat amazing how the news will so gleefully cover a pastor who gives up on their faith. And yet, perhaps more importantly, we see a number of denominations that are moving away from Biblical teachings. Episcopal, Methodist, and even some Baptist and Lutheran churches fully embrace LGBTQ and trans movements – and allow pastors from those communities. Even many non-denominational churches are embracing worldliness and giving in to the social pressures. Paul also warned of the “apostasia” – meaning “defection” or “rebellion” (2 Thessalonians 2:3 / 1 Timothy 4:1) – as people “abandon their faith and follow deceiving spirits and…demons.”
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3. The Abomination that Causes Desolation (Matthew 24:15-16)
“So when you see standing in the holy place ‘the abomination that causes desolation,’ spoken of through the prophet Daniel—let the reader understand— then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains.
As with so many other prophecies of the Bible, we must be a bit careful to keep our eyes open for “foreshadowing” and actual fulfillment. Foreshadowing simply means a point in history that might look like fulfillment – but wasn’t quite complete. So it is with the Abomination of Desolation – a reference that comes directly from the book of Daniel and a vision granted to Daniel by the angel Gabriel.
Ultimately, the vision refers to the abomination as being “1290 days” from that time. Many see the prophecy being fulfilled by Antiochus IV, who certainly desecrated the temple and slaughtered many Jews. Truly an abomination. And yet Jesus' words came some 200 years later – essentially stating the prophecy was not yet unfulfilled. Others see the fulfillment in 70 A.D., when the temple was destroyed. Yet, there had been no treaty with Israel for 7 years, as promised in the prophecy.
So what do we look for? Well, it could well be that Jesus was teaching that the fulfillment of the prophecy in Daniel had not yet been fulfilled. Hopefully, the Church will have been caught up in the rapture. But for those who are alive during the tribulation, they should be watchful and recognize the breaking of the 7-year covenant with Israel after the first 3 ½ years.
Jesus further warned – “Be always on the watch, and pray that you may be able to escape all that is about to happen, and that you may be able to stand before the Son of Man.” (Luke 21:36)
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4. Incredible Destruction and False Messiahs (Matthew 24:15b-23)
“…let the reader understand—then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. Let no one on the housetop go down to take anything out of the house. Let no one in the field go back to get their cloak. How dreadful it will be in those days for pregnant women and nursing mothers! Pray that your flight will not take place in winter or on the Sabbath. For then there will be great distress, unequaled from the beginning of the world until now—and never to be equaled again.
“If those days had not been cut short, no one would survive, but for the sake of the elect those days will be shortened.”
The Book of Revelation indeed portrays a horrifying image of what the times of tribulation will be like. Jesus’ words certainly paint no better picture. The devastation will be like nothing we have ever seen or heard of before.
Jesus further warns:
For false messiahs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect. See, I have told you ahead of time. “So if anyone tells you, ‘There he is, out in the wilderness,’ do not go out; or, ‘Here he is, in the inner rooms,’ do not believe it. For as lightning that comes from the east is visible even in the west, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. (v. 24-27)
There will be false messiahs and false prophets that people will hear about. But we are not to listen! In the gospel of Luke, He warns us, “Watch that you are not deceived. Many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am he’ and the ‘time is near.’ Do not follow them!”
When Jesus does return, no one will have to tell us about it – we’ll know. He will be as visible as lightning that stretches across the sky.
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5. This Generation Shall Not Pass Away (Matthew 24:34 / Mark 13:30 / Luke 21:32)
“Truly I tell you, this generation will certainly not pass away until all these things have happened.”
These words were uttered by Jesus some 2000 years ago. That throws a bit of a legitimate question mark around this verse. What in the world did Jesus mean? Clearly, the generation He was speaking to at that moment – those who were there with Him – have indeed passed away a great many years ago. Obviously, none of the events Jesus spoke of occurred during the lifespan of people alive during Jesus’ day – so Jesus clearly meant something different. But what?
There are more than a few interpretations for this one, as you can imagine. The one that seems the most prevalent is that context is critical. Jesus had been talking about a great many signs leading up to the tribulation and Jesus’ return.
This meaning is reinforced in the parable of the fig tree in verses 32-33: “As soon as its twigs get tender and its leaves come out, you know that summer is near. Even so, when you see all these things, you know that it is near, right at the door.” In other words, those who are on the earth witnessing the events will only have a short time left.
What he wanted to make clear was that there would not be a great deal of time passed from the first signs until His return. The generation that saw the early signs would not pass away before the fulfillment of the end times prophecies.
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6. No One Knows the Day or Hour (Matthew 24:36-41)
“But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. For in the days before the flood, people were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, up to the day Noah entered the ark; and they knew nothing about what would happen until the flood came and took them all away.”
Not even the angels nor the Son know when it will be – only the Father. And let us remember, to Him a thousand years is like a day and a day like a thousand years. (2 Peter 3:8) For generations now, we seem to always have someone who believes they can pin it down. How many voices do you hear that believe we are seeing the signs today? Yes, there are a great many theories that would seem to point to a timeframe – but theories they are.
Jesus compares the time to that of the flood. Noah continued to show faith and be obedient to the Lord by continuing to build the ark against what must have been a great deal of pressure. The area of Mesopotamia, where Noah lived, would have been hard to imagine such a devastating flood. Then again, we need simply look at western North Carolina and Kerr County, TX, and I think we can have a different understanding.
The message is - no one knows when, and like the flood, few will be expecting it. It could be tomorrow, or it could be in another “day” - although, I don’t know about you, but that one is hard for me to imagine.
One thing we do know – we are closer today than we ever have been before.
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7. The Rapture – (Matthew 24:30-31 / 40-41 / Revelation 3:10)
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. (v. 30-31)
That is how it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. Two men will be in the field; one will be taken and the other left. Two women will be grinding with a hand mill; one will be taken and the other left.” (v. 40-41)
If we are honest, there are verses that seem to be, well…a mystery. Two men – one taken and one left. Two women – one taken and one left. Many point to this verse as evidence of what we know as the rapture, along with others such as Mark 13:32 and 1 Thessalonians 4:17. Others believe this is not accurate – that the word “rapture” appears nowhere in the Bible.
However, the word in Greek used by Paul is “harpazo” – “to seize” or “to snatch away.” In Latin, the word used is rapture(o) – with the same meaning. In the Latin Vulgate rapiemur is used – same root, same meaning.
The argument against the rapture seems to be that the reference to “one left/one taken” is comparing the times to the flood, when one might be left and the other taken. Also, in verses 40-41, the trumpet sounds at the “coming of the Son of Man” – not prior. Valid arguments it would seem.
Personally, I believe the most telling evidence of believers being “caught up” or “snatched away” was spoken by Jesus Himself – when He appeared to John on the island of Patmos, after His resurrection.
"Since you have kept my command to endure patiently, I will also keep you from the hour of trial that is going to come on the whole world to test the inhabitants of the earth." - Revelation 3:10
Yes, these words are spoken to the Church in Philadelphia (no, not the one in Pennsylvania), but they are consistent with all of His teachings about the end times. “Since you have kept my command to endure patiently…” Jesus’ message to us all in these teachings is precisely that – endure to the end.
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8. The Parable of the Ten Virgins - (Matthew 25:1-13)
At that time the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. Five of them were foolish and five were wise. The foolish ones took their lamps but did not take any oil with them. The wise ones, however, took oil in jars along with their lamps. The bridegroom was a long time in coming, and they all became drowsy and fell asleep.
Ten virgins – all prepared to meet and presumably marry the bridegroom. Often throughout the New Testament, we read of a comparison of Christ as a bridegroom and His Church as the bride. In fact, in Ephesians 5, Paul offers teachings for Christian households – with lessons for wives as well as for husbands. Paul tells husbands to love their wives, just as “Christ loved the Church and gave Himself up for her to make her holy…” Paul goes on to describe the relationship between husbands and wives, reiterating the words of Genesis 2:24, as reaffirmed by Jesus in Matthew 19:4. Paul culminates the lesson, telling us the relationship between a husband and wife is a “profound mystery” – because he was “talking about Christ and the church.”
Jesus’ parable about the ten virgins waiting for the bridegroom is clearly directed at the church waiting for Jesus. The “oil in their lamps” is directly related to how they are living their lives as brides of Christ – ready, or unprepared. Like we see today, five were prepared with oil in their lamps, living their lives in preparation, but five not so much. Oh sure, they believed – they didn’t doubt His return - but they were simply not living their lives prepared. Of course, all of the virgins got sleepy. And when the bridegroom did come at midnight, sleepy or not, five were ready, and five were not.
Those who were not tried in vain to get caught up at the last moment, but to no avail. It was too late. The words of the bridegroom had to be heartbreaking:
“But he replied, ‘Truly I tell you, I don’t know you.’ (v. 12)
These are the same words that those who are not ready for the Lord’s return may very well hear.
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9. The Parable of the Talents - (Matthew 25:14-30)
Again, it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted his wealth to them. To one he gave five bags of gold, to another two bags, and to another one bag, each according to his ability. Then he went on his journey. The man who had received five bags of gold went at once and put his money to work and gained five bags more. So also, the one with two bags of gold gained two more. But the man who had received one bag went off, dug a hole in the ground and hid his master’s money. (v. 14-18)
The NIV calls this the “parable of the bags of gold,” while “talents” is the term used by the ESV. Personally, it strikes a different chord for me because the Lord has not left us with just money that we can put to use for Him, but rather He has left us with time, with specific talents, and also with treasure.
We generally know the parable well – the kingdom of God will be like a “man (Jesus) going on a journey” and leaving behind his servants to take care of his property (to advance his kingdom). Each servant is given a certain amount to work with – some more than others, but all have been given something. Either way, a “talent” might be worth well over a million dollars today. So even the man who received one bag was still given a tool of incredible value.
When the man returns – when his servants step into his kingdom - the man asks what each of them did. Two hear the words we all wait to hear. But the one who had the least – did nothing with it. He buried it – because he knew the man was hard to please, and he was afraid of what might happen. Thus, the man went the same way as the five virgins who left their lamps without oil. Perhaps the man heard the same words – “Truly I tell you I don’t know you.”
At the end of the day – when we are called into His kingdom, I think it is the desire of each and every one of us to hear Jesus’ words:
“Well done, good and faithful servant!”
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10. The Final Judgement - the Sheep and the Goats (Matthew 25:31-46)
“When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his glorious throne. All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left.
Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’
One of Jesus’ final teachings on the end times is really a lesson of final judgement. Of course, Jesus had a few lessons regarding final judgment throughout His ministry. But the parable of the sheep and the goats is important because a casual reading and one might think that it refers to salvation being the result of works. And yet, we must read a bit deeper.
Jesus tells us Himself – but it can be missed if we gloss over it. He makes clear that the inheritance allotted to the sheep is not based on their works, since their inheritance – the kingdom – was prepared for them “since the creation of the world.” Clearly, long before they could do any good works. The good works of the sheep are not the cause of their salvation – their righteousness – but rather a result of their salvation.
The message of the Parable of the Sheep and Goats is that when we give ourselves to Jesus, we are to do as Jesus did. God’s people will love others as they love themselves. Followers of Christ will love and serve others – serving the “least of these” - with caring and kindness, just as if we were serving Christ Himself. Because we are.
Of course, exploring the end times through these verses could and should offer us a glimpse of what is in store for the world. These warnings were not as we give warnings, but rather to serve as a reminder of God’s love and a notice to remain diligent. It is ours to remain steadfast and keep our eyes fixed on what is eternal, not what is clearly temporary.
As we do so, we are called to share the love and good news of Christ now, while it is still “called ‘Today’ so we may not be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness” (Hebrews 3:13) – planting seeds and reinforcing the hope found in Christ.
Together, let’s embrace the coming times with joy, and with courage, with faith – and with our eyes wide open! Let’s keep oil in our lamps! Then we may well hear, “Well done, good and faithful servant.”
Jesus made us one more promise regarding the “last day” – whenever or whatever that might be. It is a promise we can cling to despite anything that may come our way:
And this is the will of him who sent me, that I shall lose none of all those he has given me, but raise them up at the last day. For my Father’s will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life, and I will raise them up at the last day.” -John 6:39-40
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Greg doesn’t pretend to be a pastor, a theologian, or a Bible expert, but offers the perspective of an everyday guy on the same journey as everyone else – in pursuit of truth.
Greg can be reached by email or on Facebook @ Greg Grandchamp - Author.
Originally published Wednesday, 30 July 2025.