The main point of this passage is that the desolation of Jerusalem in the first century would be a sign that the Son of Man had been enthroned in heaven and would powerfully gather his elect from all the earth into his kingdom.
In the previous chapter, Jesus had told the scribes and Pharisees that because of their hypocrisy, unbelief, and consistent persecution of God’s messengers and saints, God’s judgment would be poured out on that generation in particular (Matt. 23:36). In Matthew 24:1-3, the disciples had asked about the timing of this judgment and the destruction of the temple, although they conflated it with the end of the age. Jesus then answered their question, and gives a clear indication of the timing in 24:34, repeating the same phase found in 23:36. From verse 4 to 34 he prophesies concerning the events that would take place in that generation. In verse 36 he begins to speak of the end of the age and distinguishes it from the destruction of Jerusalem and gives no timing or sign for that day.
Verse 15 - The Abomination of Desolation
While Jesus had described things which would take place in their lifetime which were not signs of imminent judgment (Matt. 24:4-14), now he gives them such a sign, a sign which will require them to take immediate action to avoid the impending judgment.
The “abomination of desolation” or a similar phrase is found in Daniel 8, 9, 11, 12. Most of these passages were prophecies of what Antiochus Epiphanes (c. 215 BC–164 BC) would do when he conquered Jerusalem with Gentile armies and desecrated the temple (Dan. 8, 11-12). This therefore was a model of what the disciples should expect. Daniel also wrote of the abomination of desolation in Daniel 9, how that after the Christ’s first coming in the final of the "seventy weeks," the abomination of desolation would come and the city and sanctuary would be destroyed.
Luke 21:20 makes clear that this would be fulfilled when the armies came to attack Jerusalem, the holy place. Writing to a Gentile audience, Luke interprets the Old Testament phrase: “But when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then know that its desolation has come near” (Luke 21:20). The standards of the army were objects of idolatrous worship. Thus, they were an abomination that brought desolation.
Verses 16-20 - The Flight to the Mountains
When the Roman armies came to Jerusalem, many Jews fled into the city, but the Christians knew to flee away from it (Matt. 24:16). This direction was similar to Jeremiah’s exhortation to leave Jerusalem when the Babylonians came.
At the end of AD 66, the Roman army made its first attempt on Jerusalem and then retreated. Josephus (a 1st century Jewish historian) records that after it left, some people ran away from Jerusalem. After that, those in charge of the city took greater measures to keep people from deserting. Eusebius (an early Christian historian) tells of how Christians fled away from Jerusalem to Pella, on the other side of the Jordan River, outside of Judea.
Those who did not take the opportunity to flee were trapped and unable to leave later. Quick decisive action was needed, as when a person leaves a burning house - don't get your stuff, just leave (Matt. 24:17-18). This applied to all "Judea," as the Romans came to suppress the rebellion in the region.
Verses 19-20 mention winter, sabbath, and those pregnant or nursing since flight from Judea would have been difficult in winter, on a Sabbath (e.g. less assistance from Jews), or for those pregnant or nursing.
Verses 21-22 - Great Tribulation
"For then there will be great tribulation..." (Matt. 24:21). This refers to the Jewish-Roman War (AD 66–74) and the siege of Jerusalem (AD 70). Some think this phrase cannot refer to these events because worse things have happened. But this is not meant to be pressed too literally (how could a local tribulation "in Judea" be greater than the flood? greater than the final judgment?). Instead, it fits the idea that this was the judgment that had been building from the death of Abel which would be poured out on that generation (Matt. 23:35-36).
It was indeed a remarkable and horrendous tribulation. There was war throughout Judea. There were uprisings against the Jews in cities across the empire. The Romans armies closed in on Jerusalem. In the spring of 70 AD, Jews swarmed into Jerusalem, for protection and for the Passover. Over a million of them were there. Titus began his siege. With so many inside, they soon began to suffer from famine and disease. They also fought each other. Factions fought for control of the city and people fought each other for food. Some tortured others to force them to reveal the location of food. Some resorted to cannibalism. They also desperately fought the Romans. Those who fled were crucified by the Romans in sight of the city. After 5 months, the Romans finally triumphed and spread slaughter and fire throughout the city. In the end, Josephus estimates 1.1 million Jews died. The remaining 97,000 went into captivity, to slavery, or to be killed in the arena.
Verses 23-28 - False Christs
False messiahs and prophets abounded as Judea moved into rebellion. The Jewish historian Josephus records that there were “a great number of false prophets” during the siege. They prophesied that the Jews would be victorious and told people to not desert. He recounts one false prophet who told the people to “get upon the temple, and that there they should receive miraculous signs of their deliverance.” 6,000 of the people followed his directions and came into the cloisters of the temple, and there they were caught by the Romans and perished in a fire (The War of the Jews, 6.5.2).
The disciples were told not to follow the false prophets into the wilderness (as some did) or into the city (as some did) (Matt. 24:26). Christ’s coming (parousia) would be unmistakable when it happened. He distinguishes his parousia from the chaotic events of that day. He would not come to save Jerusalem.
In verse 28, Jesus seems to compare Jerusalem to a corpse. "Wherever the corpse is, there the vultures will gather" (Matt. 24:28). In other words, it's dead meat, do not expect its deliverance. As with a corpse, the bird would gather to feast on it. “Vultures” can also be translated “eagles” (as in a similar phrase in Job 39:30). So this reference would be especially fitting for a Roman army which carried the emblem of the Roman eagle.
Verse 29 - The Powers of the Heavens
“Immediately after the tribulation of those days...” The horrendous siege of Jerusalem would result in verses 29-30. In these verses, Jesus gets to the destruction of the city and temple itself.
Some think that this description of the sun, moon, and stars being darkened or falling can only mean the end of the world. But this language is commonly used in Scripture to refer to historical judgments. The disciples would have heard this and recognized it as prophetic language referring to the fall of a nation and its rulers. The sun, moon, and stars, being appointed to rule the day and night, often represented earthly and spiritual powers (e.g. Is. 24:21).
"The oracle concerning Babylon" in Isaiah 13 that prophesied its conquest by the Medes said, "For the stars of the heavens and their constellation will not give their light; the sun will be dark at its rising, and the moon will not shed its light.” (Isaiah 13:10)
Isaiah 14:12-15 says the Israelites will taunt the king of Babylon by comparing him to a fallen star.
Isaiah 34:4, a prophecy of God’s judgment on Edom, says “All the host of heaven shall rot away, and the skies roll up like a scroll. All their host shall fall…”
Ezekiel 32:7-8, in a prophecy of Pharaoh’s defeat by Babylon, says, “When I blot you out, I will cover the heavens and make their stars dark; I will cover the sun with a cloud, and the moon shall not give its light. All the bright lights of heaven will I make dark over you, and put darkness on your land, declares the Lord GOD.”
The desolation of Judea would shake the powers of the heavens. It would be “lights out” for Jerusalem. What power would do this desolating and shaking? The power of the Son of Man, “who has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God, with angels, authorities, and powers having been subjected to him” (1 Peter 3:22).
Additionally, there were in fact reports of signs in the heavens during that time. Josephus says during the siege “there was a star resembling a sword, which stood over the city, and a comet, that continued a whole year” (The War of the Jews, 6.5.3). And before the siege, he says chariots and troops were seen in the clouds.
Verse 30 - The Sign of the Son of Man in Heaven
"Then will appear in heaven the sign of the Son of Man..." (Matt. 24:30). This can be translated, and is better translated, "the sign of the Son of Man in heaven." Then, at the end of this tribulation, would appear the sign that Christ reigns in heaven. What was the sign? The fulfillment of his prophecy, the desolation of the temple and vindication of him and his people.
The "tribes of the earth" refers to the people of Israel. That is the references of the phrase in Zechariah 12, and the word "earth" can also mean "land."
They would then "see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory." This "coming" was not a coming down to earth but a coming up to glory in heaven, as in Daniel 7. This desolation would be a visible manifestation of Christ's exaltation. The Greek word used here is not the word used particularly for his second coming (parousia) used in verses 3, 27, 37, 39, but is the more general word for coming or going (erchomai). Three other times in Matthew (10:23, 16:28, 26:64), it is said that Christ's coming (erchomai) would happen within that generation. Just a day or two after this discourse, Jesus told the high priest and council, "But I tell you, from now on you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of Power and coming on the clouds of heaven" (Matthew 26:64).
Verse 31 - The Gathering of the Elect
"And he will send out his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other" (Matt. 24:31). These are not necessarily spiritual “angels” but can be human “messengers” (the Greek word can be translated either way). The reference to a "loud trumpet call" alludes to the trumpets used in the year of Jubilee and to the gathering of the lost among the nations in Isaiah 27:13.
In this case, this is a reference to preachers of the gospel, messengers of Christ, sent out by the exalted Christ to gather his elect from one end of heaven to the other. Compare this with the parable of the wedding feast (Matt. 22:1-14) - after bringing down judgment upon the rebellious city, the king sends out his servants to invite as many as they find, and these servants gathered all they found into the wedding hall (while the collection is mixed, it is through this means that the elect are brought into the kingdom). This work is ongoing in this age as the gospel gathers the elect into the kingdom.
Verse 32-33 - A Parable of the Fig Tree
These verses do not mean that when you see this fig tree, which is Israel, reborn, then Christ’s return is imminent. It is not a continuation of the earlier parable of the fig tree (Matt. 21), but an analogy using the way trees work. The analogy is not particular to a fig tree, since in Luke 21:29, the analogy used is "the fig tree, and all the trees."
Its meaning is when the disciple see these things (the events just described, the "leaves"), then it is near. The ESV uses the pronoun "he," but it can also be translated as "it." This could refer to the prophesied judgment, to Christ (as the one bringing the judgment), or to Christ's reign. Luke helpfully clarifies in his parallel passage. "So also, when you see these things taking place, you know that the kingdom of God is near" (Luke 21:31). This is not a reference to the return of Christ, but to the coming of God's kingdom in this age.
Verse 34-35 - Certainty and Timing
Jesus repeats the phrase from Matthew 23:36. "Truly, I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all these things take place" (24:34). He summarizes his answer to the question concerning "these things" - the destruction of Jerusalem and the temple. It would happen during “this generation,” the generation which had rejected John and would crucify Christ and persecute his apostles.
Verse 35 does not mean that heaven and earth would pass away during that generation, but is an expression meaning that his words were more certain and fixed than heaven and earth.
Application
Christ’s words are certain and sure. His prophecy came to pass. He is a true prophet, not a madman or deceiver. He was right about the desolation of Jerusalem, and he is also right in the other prophecies he made, such as the advance of his kingdom and his second coming.
Christ reigns in heaven, and he exercises this authority by pouring out judgment, protecting and vindicating his people, and powering gathering his elect from all the earth. These things demonstrate his enthronement in heaven. The risen Christ has reigned from heaven ever since his ascension. These things are what we can expect from him. All authority has been given him.
Do not be led astray by false christs and false prophets. Do not get caught up in foolish rebellions and suffer for the folly and apostasy of others. See that you are not deceived.
Do not seek a return to the old covenant ceremonies. Do not hope for a rebuilding of the temple and the resumption of sacrifices. But rather, be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken.
Heed the example we find in the desolation of Jerusalem. This is what happens when a people persists in apostasy and hostility to Christ and his people. As Christ left the temple and destroyed it and the city around it, so he can do when a church departs from him. If God did not spare the natural branches when they fell away into unbelief, neither will he spare Gentiles if they do the same.
Revere the Lord Jesus. Rejoice with trembling. He is a powerful king. Submit to him, lest he be angry and you perish in the way. He is a compassionate Savior who wept at the sight of Jerusalem and would have gathered Jerusalem’s people under his protection, but he also a mighty King who will tread the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God the Almighty. Blessed are all that take refuge in him.
Look to the future with endurance and hope. The future belongs to Christ’s church, for he is powerful to vindicate, deliver, and bless you and your efforts. The future does not belong to hypocrites and tyrants. Promote the gospel, make disciples, and extend the reign of Christ, in your life and the world. Gather with the elect, answering the trumpet call of the gospel, and edify one another. Do so that you all might be the salt of the earth and the light of the world, an outpost of the kingdom of heaven.
Conclusion
The desolation of Jerusalem in the first century is a sign that Jesus Christ has been enthroned in heaven and is currently gathering his elect from all the earth into his kingdom. The Lord reigns! Let the earth rejoice, let the many coastlands be glad! Let the peoples tremble and take refuge in him.
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