Ready for His Return
Now as He sat on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to Him privately, saying, “Tell us, when will these things be? And what will be the sign of Your coming, and of the end of the age?” (Matthew 24:3)
On Tuesday of His Passion Week, Jesus persevered through a long day of hostile questioning from the religious leaders. Jesus and His disciples were spending their nights in Bethany, and the road to Bethany went over the Mount of Olives. On the way back to their evening lodging, Jesus sat on the Mount of Olives, and they enjoyed the view of the temple mount. Removed from the temple, yet overlooking it, the disciples asked Jesus questions about His bold prediction concerning the destruction of the temple (Matthew 24:1-2).
The timing was appropriate. The religious leaders rejected Jesus and would soon deliver Him to the Romans for crucifixion. Jesus knew the bitter fate awaiting Jerusalem, and He wanted to give hope and confidence to His disciples who would soon be greatly tested.
The teaching of Jesus was in response to two (or three) questions from the disciples. (1) When will these things be? – referring to the destruction of the temple. (2a) What will be the sign of Your coming, and (2b) of the end of the age? These questions were obviously related, and the disciples probably thought they asked only one question. In their minds, the destruction of the temple and the end of the age were probably connected. But really, they asked two questions (some say three), and this second question is answered in the remainder of the chapter.
It may also be that this second question was asked as they remembered the events surrounding the first temple’s destruction: Solomon’s Temple was destroyed in the context of national judgment and exile.
As Jesus answered this important second question, He made many specific comments and predictions about the end times. These predictions have been the source of significant disagreement among Christians who have tried to understand them. Why didn’t Jesus simply say it so clearly that there was no possibility anyone could misunderstand Him?
One reason why prophecy may seem vague or imprecise is because God wants every generation to have reasons to be ready for Jesus’ return. We should not think of Jesus’ return as an event far off on a timeline, but something we have been running parallel with since the day of Pentecost in Acts 2.
Other people suggest that God’s intention was to keep the future somewhat vague and clouded to confound the Devil, even as the predictions of the resurrection of the Messiah were present, but somewhat vague in the Old Testament.
Though some prophetic interpretations are different, we are sure of this: He is coming again, and we must be ready. That’s the real test of end-times wisdom. Do we believe Jesus Christ is coming again? Are we ready for His return? Faithfulness in the present is the key to readiness for His return.
Thank you so much