When Will These Things Be?
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?”
Just a few days before the Passover when He would be killed, Jesus’ disciples pointed out to Him the amazing construction of the temple. Herod the Great had begun renovations in 20 B.C., and they still were not completed during Jesus’ time. But the massive and beautiful stones used naturally caught the attention of the disciples.
Jesus’ reply was shocking: “Not one stone shall be left here upon another, that shall not be thrown down” (Matthew 24:2).
It seems the disciples saved their questions until they reached the Mount of Olives and could ask Him privately what He meant. Though certain of His words would come to pass in the near future (when the Romans destroyed the temple in A.D. 70), Jesus was answering their question about end-time fulfillments at His second coming.
The rest of Matthew 24 contains Jesus’ answer to the disciples. This Olivet Prophecy is a major key to understanding end-time prophecy. Read more about this in the “End Times” section, especially in the article “Understanding the Olivet Discourse” and related articles.
Tomorrow on the Daily Bible Verse Blog: “Beginning of Sorrows” (Matthew 24:7-8).
