Signs of Christ's Return

The Signs of Christ's Coming--Part 2
by
John MacArthur
All Rights Reserved

(A copy of this message on cassette tape may be obtained by calling 1-800-55-GRACE)
Matthew 24:4-5    Tape GC 2367

Introduction

Jesus came into the world to save it. He came to Israel to be her Redeemer and Messiah. Yet as the apostle John said, "He came unto his own, and his own received him not" (John 1:11). Jesus gave the Olivet Discourse in Matthew 24--25 thirty-three years after entering the world--just as He was about to leave it. He began His ministry by offering Himself to the people of Israel, but they later rejected Him. In two more days, He would be executed on a cross by the very people He came to save and rule.

Review

The sermon the Lord gave in Matthew 21--23 was the last public sermon He made to the people of Israel. He pronounced judgment on the false leaders of Israel and those who followed them. First He spoke in parables of judgment. Then in Matthew 23 He directly denunciated the Jewish religious leaders who were leading the people astray. He ended His message of judgment by saying, "Behold, your house is left unto you desolate, for I say unto you, Ye shall not see me henceforth, till ye shall say, Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord" (vv. 38- 39). The phrase "he that cometh in the name of the Lord" is a Messianic title. The Jewish nation will not see Christ again until they recognize Him as their Messiah and King. First the Lord pronounced judgment, then He spoke of His future return.

A. The Bible's Comments on the Future 

B. The Jews' Curiosity About the Future 

C. The Disciples' Comprehension of the Future

1. Their awe at the Lord's prediction 

2. Their anticipation of the Lord's presence 

The conclusion of Christ's message in Matthew 23 no doubt gave the disciples great hope. They were looking forward to the establishment of Christ's kingdom; they had waited for it a long time. They just heard Jesus say He would bring judgment and then come in the name of the Lord. They saw those two events as taking place in close connection with one another, according to their understanding of the Old Testament prophets. The disciples believed they were about to enter the Messianic kingdom. Luke 19:11 says that Jesus "spoke a parable, because he was near to Jerusalem, and because they thought that the kingdom of God should immediately appear." From the time Christ approached Jerusalem, the disciples anticipated the kingdom.

Lesson

3. Their application of the Lord's prophecy

The disciples didn't know there would be a long time period between Christ's first and second coming. They had no idea that two thousand or more years would go by before He returned. The Old Testament prophets didn't indicate it would happen that way. That's why the New Testament calls the church age--the era between Christ's two comings--a mystery hidden in times past (Col. 1:26).

a) The Old Testament perspective

In Isaiah 61 we read some words from the Messiah in anticipation of His coming. Verses 1-3 say, "The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound; to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn; to appoint unto those who mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness, that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that he might be glorified."

Verses 4-11 continue with that prophecy. Notice that in verse 1 He said He would "proclaim liberty to the captives." Then in verse 2 He said He would "proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord, and the day of vengeance of our God." The preaching of the gospel and the day of vengeance were seen as a unit. Then in verses 3-10 we read about a time of comfort for mourners and healing for the land. Verse 11 concludes, "As the earth bringeth forth her bud, and as the garden causeth the things that are sown in it to spring forth, so the Lord God will cause righteousness and praise to spring forth before all the nations."

Because Isaiah 61:1-11 is one prophecy, the events spoken of were seen as one unit.

b) The New Testament perspective

Luke 4:16-20 says that Jesus "came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up; and, as his custom was, he went into the synagogue on the sabbath day, and stood up to read. And there was delivered unto him the book of the prophet, Isaiah. And when he had opened the book, he found the place where it was written, The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised, to preach the acceptance of the year of the Lord. And he closed the book."

Notice that Jesus quoted verse 1 and only part of verse 2 from Isaiah 61. He didn't finish verse 2, which talked about "the day of vengeance of our God." Why didn't He include that? Because that aspect of the prophecy is yet future. What the Jewish people interpreted as one prophecy by Isaiah would, according to Jesus, be fulfilled on two separate occasions. That's why He closed the book after He said He would "preach the acceptance of the year of the Lord" (Isa. 61:2a). The second time He will come in judgment. It wasn't until Jesus came that people realized there would be a first and second coming. Even the disciples didn't know there would be a long period of time during which people became saved before Christ returns to establish His earthly kingdom.

D. The Lord's Clarification About the Future

Because the disciples anticipated Christ's immediate earthly rule, they said, "Tell us, when shall these things be? And what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the age?" (Matt. 24:3). What made them feel such anticipation? Because Jesus said the Temple would be devastated in Matthew 24:2. As He answers the disciples' question, He explains that the kingdom is yet future. The events Christ spoke of will immediately precede His second coming.

1. The interpretations pointing to the past

Some commentators say the events in Matthew 24--25 took place before the destruction of Jerusalem in  A.D. 70 or sometime during the church age. But there are several indicators in the Olivet discourse that show Christ was speaking of a time that has not yet come.

2. The indicators pointing to the future

In Matthew 24:4-14, Jesus describes several signs that will precede His second coming. There will be people claiming to be the Christ (v. 5), deception (v. 5), wars and rumors of wars (v. 6), nation rising against nation (v. 7), famine and earthquakes (v. 7), an abundance of false prophets (v. 11), love grown cold (v. 12), and the gospel heard all over the world (v. 14). Some people believe these signs happened in  A.D. 70, but careful study makes it clear they are still future.

a) The birth pains

(1) The concept

In Matthew 24:8 Jesus says, "All these [signs] are merely the beginning of birth pangs" (NASB). The Lord was referring to the pain a woman experiences when she gives birth to a child.

When do birth pains occur? Not at conception; nor do they come during a pregnancy. Birth pains come just before the birth of a child. They signal the end of the pregnancy. (Doctors monitor the frequency of a woman's contractions so they know when birth is approaching.) Likewise, the signs in Matthew 24:4-14 will occur immediately before His coming, not during the church age.

(2) The confirmation

Paul said this about the coming of the Lord: "Of the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that I write unto you. For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night" (1 Thess. 5:1-2). He was saying, "There is no need for me to teach you about eschatology. You know that the day of the Lord will come suddenly and unexpectantly, just as a thief comes in the night."

Verse 3 continues, "When they shall say, Peace and safety, then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child." Paul illustrated the suddenness of the Lord's coming with the birth pains that come at the end of a pregnancy, just as Jesus did.

Birth pains are infrequent at first. Then they become more frequent, with less time between each successive pain until the child is born. That's exactly what will happen in the end times. The birth pains will start out far apart. Each subsequent one will occur in less and less time. Finally, right at the time of Christ's coming, there will be an explosion of concurrent, tragic events all across the earth.

b) The end of the age

Matthew 24:13 says, "He that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved." What does "the end" refer to? In verse 6 Jesus says, "The end is not yet." And in verse 3 "the end" is used by the disciples in reference to the end of the age. So Jesus was talking about the end of the age. And since He is talking about those who endure the events in Matthew 24-- the birth pains--He must be referring to those who will be alive at the end of the age. Because the disciples and no one since them has experienced all those events, we know the end of the age has not come yet.

c) The worldwide teaching of the gospel

In Matthew 24:14 Christ says, "This gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come." Before the end of the age, the gospel will be preached worldwide. Now that couldn't apply to the time before  A.D. 70. Even today there are many places in the world where the gospel has not been preached. But there is coming a day when the gospel will be preached all over the world.

How will the gospel be preached to the whole world? Jesus wasn't talking about a slow, gradual process whereby the gospel would eventually reach the whole world. At the end of the age, the gospel message will spread throughout the world by some supernatural, instantaneous means. Everyone on the face of the earth will hear it.

d) The abomination of desolation

Matthew 24:15-16 says, "When ye, therefore, shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place (whosoever readeth, let him understand), then let them who are in Judaea flee into the mountains." Jesus was saying that great tribulation will

take place when the abomination of desolation stands in the holy place.

What is the abomination of desolation? Daniel 9:27 says that the Antichrist "shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate." The Antichrist will go into the Temple sometime during the tribulation and desecrate it. He will commit sacrilege in the place where the Jewish people worship God. He will do that "even until the consummation" (Dan. 9:27). The Antichrist's actions will occur at a time when God will pour out final judgment. Then Christ will come to make an end of sin (Dan. 9:24) and bring everlasting righteousness.

e) The incomparable tribulation

In Matthew 24:21 we read, "For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be." Before Christ returns, the world will experience great tragedies.

Daniel 12:1 says, "At that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince who standeth for the children of thy people, and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time." The content of Daniel 11 indicates Daniel was referring to the end times. So, at the end of the age will be the worst time of trouble ever in the history of the world.

f) The chaos in the heavens

Jesus says in Matthew 24:29-30, "Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give its light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken. And then shall appear the sign of man in heaven." Christ will come immediately after the great tribulation of verse 21--a time that is still future.

g) The parable of the fig tree

Matthew 24:32-34 says, "Now learn a parable of the fig tree: When its branch is yet tender, and putteth forth leaves, ye know that summer is near; so likewise ye, when ye shall see all these things, know that it is near, even at the doors. Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled." When you see new leaves developing on a fig tree, you know that it will soon bear fruit. Summer is near. The appearance of the leaves is a sign. Likewise, the occurrence of the signs in Matthew 24 indicate that the Lord's return is near. And the generation that is alive when those signs are fulfilled will not pass away until Christ comes. That tells us the signs in verses 4-15 are reserved for those who live in the end times.

It's apparent that the events of Matthew 24--25 are yet future. It's true that some of the things Jesus said will happen in the end times are happening now: we have wars, earthquakes, and famines, but they will happen in proportions far beyond anything we have known. There are even some amazing things happening in the skies, but nothing has happened that compares to what Matthew 24:29 speaks of.

Some people insist the signs in Matthew 24 were to take place when the disciples were alive. They point to Christ's usage of the words ye and you throughout Matthew 24 to support their argument: "Ye shall hear of wars and rumors of wars; see that ye be not troubled" (v. 6), "then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you; and ye shall be hated" (v. 9), "when ye, therefore, shall see the abomination of desolation" (v. 15), and "pray that your flight be not in the winter" (v. 20, emphasis added).

Whenever God spoke through a prophet about a future event, He spoke directly to the people who lived during the prophet's lifetime. The use of ye or you doesn't mean that the people who hear the prophecy have to see its fulfillment. The prophecy speaks to those who are alive at the time it is fulfilled, but is also a warning to those alive at its hearing. Some good examples of that appear in these Old Testament passages: Isaiah 33:17-24; 66:10-14; and Zechariah 3:17-20; 9:9.

The signs in Matthew 24:4-15 will take place during the great tribulation, which is still in the future. Let's look now at the signs that will indicate the end of man's age and the beginning of God's eternal, glorious kingdom. Keep in mind that they will be like birth pains (Matt. 24:8). They will start out slowly, and speed up as time goes on. That's what appears to happen with the events that take place after each of the seven seals are opened on the scroll in Revelation 5:1--8:1. When the seventh seal is opened, all of a sudden seven trumpets are sounded in succession, each one announcing the outpouring of God's wrath. After that, seven bowls of wrath are poured out on the earth (Rev. 15--16). The seals may be opened over a period of years, the trumpets sound over a period of perhaps weeks, and the bowls poured out in a matter of hours or days. The birth pains of Christ's coming will get closer and closer to one another near the end of the age.

I. THERE WILL BE DECEPTION (vv. 4-5)

There have always been false teachers who claim to come in the name of Christ yet lead people astray. But the deception in the end times will be especially bad. During that time, the church will be gone--it will have been raptured. The Olivet discourse doesn't talk about the rapture, but there are other passages that indicate the church won't be around during the tribulation. Without the church's influence, mankind will be left with no restraints. All hell will break loose.

A. The Caution About Deception

In Matthew 24:4 Jesus says, "Take heed [Gk., blepo, `keep your eyes open'] that no man deceive you." During the tribulation, people will be looking for answers to their problems. Matthew 24:12 says that lawlessness will abound. Because the world will be filled with evil, Jesus warns people to beware of deception so they won't be led astray.

Someday, this world will fall apart. It will be filled with people without natural affection (2 Tim. 3:3). Social relationships will be disrupted, and economic chaos will prevail. People will indulge in sin constantly. While everything is collapsing, people will be looking for leaders. Many false prophets will come forward claiming to be Messiahs and deliverers. They will offer themselves as the solution to the world's problems. In Matthew 24:5 Christ says, "Many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many." Although there are false Christs today, there will many more in the end times. That's why Christ warns people not to be deceived.

Portions of the Olivet discourse appear in Mark 13 and Luke 21. Luke 21:8 says, "Take heed that ye be not deceived; for many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and the time draweth near. Go ye not, therefore, after them." Christ had great concern because in the end times, people will be crying desperately for leaders to deliver them. They will seek religious leaders because man has a religious bent to his nature.

In Matthew 24:23-24, Jesus says, "If any man shall say unto you, Lo, here is Christ, or there; believe it not. For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall show great signs and wonders, insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect." The false teachers of the end times won't be like those we see now. Empowered by demons, they will be able to do supernatural signs and wonders. Their deeds will captivate the world.

B. The Character of Deception

1. Depicted

The myriad of false Christs will ultimately culminate in one false Christ known as the Antichrist, who will be indwelt by Satan. Daniel called him the little horn (Dan. 8:9), the king of fierce countenance (Dan. 8:23), and the willful king (Dan. 11:36). John called him the beast in Revelation, and Paul called him the man of sin and the son of perdition (2 Thess. 2:3). He will be so convincing and deceptive that Israel will make a covenant with him, believing he is their deliverer (Dan. 9:27). All the nations of the world will be deceived by him and come under his power.

2. Described

a) Daniel 8

Scripture has a lot to say about the Antichrist. Daniel 8:23 says, "In the latter time of their kingdom, when the transgressors are come to the full, a king of fierce countenance, and understanding dark sentences, shall stand up." The phrase "when the transgressors are come to the full" explains why God hasn't yet dealt with the evil in our world. He's waiting for sin to run its full course before He eliminates it from existence forever.

In the day when transgressions come to the full, a king "understanding dark sentences" will stand up. What does that mean? The Antichrist will have communion with Satan and the demons of hell. He will be a medium who can contact evil spirits. Daniel 8:24-25 says, "His power shall be mighty, but not by his own power; and he shall destroy wonderfully, and shall prosper, and continue, and shall destroy the mighty and the holy people. And through his policy also he shall cause deceit to prosper in his hand; and he shall magnify himself in his heart, and by peace shall destroy many." The Antichrist will use peace and negotiations to bring the world under his power.

b) Revelation 6

Revelation 6:2 says that when the tribulation begins, there will come a rider on a white horse. He will conquer, but he will have only a bow and no arrows. That means he will intimidate and conquer the world without resorting to violence. The Antichrist will be a false rider trying to imitate the true rider on the white horse in Revelation 19-- the Lord Jesus Christ.

c) Daniel 11

Daniel 11:36 says this about the Antichrist: "The king shall do according to his will; and he shall exalt himself, and magnify himself above every god, and shall speak marvelous things against the God of gods, and shall prosper till the indignation be accomplished; for that which is determined shall be done." The Antichrist will display his power up until the wrath of God has run its course and destroyed him. In the time that he rules, he will blaspheme God. He will "honor the god of fortresses; and a god whom his fathers knew not shall he honor with gold, and silver, and with precious stones, and pleasant things" (Dan. 11:38). The Antichrist will raise up new gods; he will be idolatrous.

d) Revelation 13

The apostle John saw the Antichrist as a powerful beast in Revelation 13. According to verses 4-5 people will say, "Who is like the beast? Who is able to make war with him? And there was given unto him a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies, and power was given unto him to continue forty and two months [three and one-half years]." He will be in power during the latter half of the tribulation--the second half of the seven-year period described in Daniel 9:24-27.

The Antichrist's power will be great. Revelation 13:6-8 says, "He opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme his name, and his tabernacle, and them that dwell in heaven. And it was given unto him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them; and power was given him over all kindreds, and tongues, and nations. And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him." What deceit! The world will believe he is the savior they've waited so long for. Verse 11 tells us that another beast, a false prophet, will come alongside the Antichrist. Verses 12-14 say, "He exerciseth all the power of the first beast before him, and causeth the earth and them who dwell on it to worship the first beast .... And he doeth great wonders, so that he maketh fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men, and deceiveth them that dwell on the earth."

C. The Creator of Deception

Who will be behind all the deception from the Antichrist? Satan himself. Revelation 12:9 calls him "the great dragon ... that old serpent, called the Devil and Satan, who deceiveth the whole world."

In 2 Thessalonians 2 Paul writes, "Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him, that ye be not troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of the Lord is present" (vv. 1-2). Apparently someone was telling the Thessalonians that the day of the Lord had arrived, and that Christ's coming was imminent. However, Paul told the Thessalonians not to believe that. Why? Verse 3 says, "Let no man deceive you by any means; for that day shall not come, except there come the falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition." Before the return of the Lord, the Antichrist will be revealed to the world. He will deceive and oppose many, and exalt himself above God. Until that happens, the Lord won't return. Verses 8- 10 say, "Then shall that wicked one be revealed ... even him whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, and with all deceivableness of righteousness in them that perish."

The first sign of the end of man's age is deception. It will be so effective that the whole world will fall for it. No wonder the Lord says to beware!

Focusing on the Facts

1. According to Luke 19:11, the disciples thought the kingdom of God would immediately appear. What were they not aware of (see p. 2)?

2. Why did Jesus quote only verse 1 and part of verse 2 from Isaiah 61 when He taught in a synagogue (Luke 4:16-20; see pp. 2-3)?

3.According to Matthew 24:4-14, what are some of the signs that will precede Christ's coming (see pp. 3-4)

4.If the signs in Matthew 24 are _______ _______, then they will occur in the ________ times immediately before Christ's _________ (see p. 4).

5.What will happen in regard to gospel preaching at the end times (see p. 5)?

6.What is the abomination of desolation spoken of in Matthew 24:15-16 (Dan. 9:27; see pp. 5-6)?

7.What will happen in the heavens at the end of the tribulation (Matt. 24:29-30; see p. 6)?

8.What is one argument people use to say that the events of Matthew 24 have already happened? How is that argument refuted (see p. 7)?

9.According to Matthew 24:4-5, what will happen on a massive scale during the end times? Why (see pp. 7-8)?

10.What warning did Christ give in Matthew 24:23-24 (see p. 8)?

11.Describe what the Antichrist will be like, using scripture references from Daniel and Revelation (see pp. 9-10).

12.What did Paul say must happen before the Lord returns (2 Thess. 2:3; see pp. 10-11)?

Pondering the Principles

1. In Luke 19:11, we see that the disciples believed that Christ's kingdom was about to be established on earth. They didn't realize there would be a long period of time between Christ's first and second coming, the period we are living in right now. Although they may have been disappointed when they discovered that, the disappointment was far outweighed by the certainty that Christ's kingdom will come someday. Do you look forward to Christ's return? Meditate on Revelation 21:1--22:5, and specify what you look forward to in the coming kingdom. Keep eternity in mind in everything you do; don't allow present difficulties or circumstances make you lose sight of the great future God has in store for you!

2.Jesus clearly stated that He will return after the signs in Matthew 24:4-15 have taken place. The time indicators He gave show He that was speaking of an era we have not yet entered. Using Matthew 24:4- 15, 23-24 and 2 Thessalonians 2:3, what would you say to someone who says that Christ is ruling over the earth right now, as some cults claim?

Added to the John MacArthur "Study Guide" Collection by:

Tony Capoccia
Bible Bulletin Board
Box 119
Columbus, New Jersey, USA, 08022
Websites: www.biblebb.com and www.gospelgems.com
Email: tony@biblebb.com
Online since 1986