The Last Days
The Sign of the End of the Age
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)
A newspaper headline, “Russia sending thousands more troops to Ukraine border,” brings fear to the hearts of everyone. Is this the end? Are we going to see World War 3?
Thank God because we can see answers from the Bible! We are not in the dark on these matters. If I have a question, it would be: Why didn’t the disciples ask Jesus one question at-a-time in Matthew 24? These are complex questions: (1) When will this happen? (2) What will be the sign of the your coming? (3) What will be the sign of the end of the age? Hence, due to its different interpretations, the Olivet Discourse has become a topic of theological debate since time immemorial.
Nevertheless, let’s take a look at Jesus’s response. (It is lengthy; one book is not enough to expound these entirely.)
Matthew 23:4–28:
4 Jesus answered: “Watch out that no one deceives you. 5 For many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am the Messiah,’ and will deceive many. 6 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…
