The King’s Return, Part 1 (Matthew 24:1-35)

The King’s Coming

Matthew 24:1-35

January 18, 2026 — Land O’ Lakes Bible Church

Introduction

Please take out your Bibles and turn in it to Matthew 24, Matthew 24. We will be looking at the first 35 verses of this chapter this morning as we jump back into our study of the Gospel of Matthew.

If you do not have a copy of the Bible or want to follow along with what I will be using this morning, you can grab one of those Red Bibles there in your seats and open it to page #985 (2x).  

Off and on for the last two years as a church, we have been working our way through the Gospel According to Matthew. And as we have done so, we have tried to labor to see the glory of who Jesus is as God’s forever King.

Throughout Matthew’s Gospel account, we have learned from the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew 5-7 what is required to enter the kingdom of heaven, a greater righteousness than that of the Scribes and the Pharisees. A righteousness that is impossible with man, but not in Christ.

In Matthew 10, we were taught about what it looked like to be sent out as messengers of the King and how to interact and what to expect, opposition.

In Matthew 13, with parables, Jesus taught us about the slow, but promised growth of God’s kingdom. How it would start small, but grow large.

Then in Matthew 18-20, we were taught to live as a community in God’s kingdom.

Now as we come into Matthew 24 and into Matthew 25, we enter the fifth teaching section of Matthew’s gospel where Jesus teaches us about the end of time, the end of the world.

It is a topic that many throughout time have spent time considering, and many have even made bold and foolish predictions on the timing of such events. But as Jesus teaches us here in these two chapters, his aim is to encourage and steady our hearts by pointing us to himself as our hope and comfort.

Let me borrow here from an increasingly popular children’s show, Bluey. The cartoon show Bluey, is a show about a family of dogs. There is Bluey, her younger sister, Bingo, and their mom and dad.

In one of the episodes, Promises, there is a struggle for the family to rightly understand and apply promises being made within the family. It moves from a broken promise by Bluey, then the Dad to a misuse of promises to get what one wants. But at the end of the episode, Bingo is trapped on top of a climbing dome. The Mom comes and tells Bingo that to let go, she will catch her. And Bingo asks, “You promise?” And the Mom assures her by promising her. Bingo then falls safely into her mother’s arms as she promised.

Promises and words of assurance are good and reaffirming for our hearts and minds in the midst of uncertainties. And that is exactly what I pray that we will see in our time together this morning from Matthew 24:1-35 as we consider the glory of the end and our King’s return.

Let’s then hear the great promise of Jesus that is meant to steady and encourage our hearts in the midst of waiting as we hear the word of the LORD from Matthew 24:1-35…

The grass withers and the flower fades, but the word of our God stands forever! Amen!

Main Idea: When it comes to the end of the age, let us not be led astray nor be alarmed by all its uncertainties and difficulties, rather let us trust the words of our Returning King! 

Jesus Predicted the End (Matthew 24:1-28)

Jesus Will Return in Visible Glory (Matthew 24:29-31)

Jesus’ Words are Sure (Matthew 24:32-35)

Jesus Predicted the End

In Matthew 23, Jesus gave a list of woeful rebukes against the religious leaders of Israel, the scribes and Pharisees. As that chapter ends, Jesus turns and weeps over Jerusalem and as he does, he declares that the house of the Jews, the temple, has been left desolate. To be desolate is to be uninhabited, forsaken. This is because no longer is God’s presence found in the temple, but in the person of Jesus.

But, as Jesus is leaving the temple, as he is going away, his disciples continue to look at the temple there in verse 1, for they come to him, pointing back to the temple, to her buildings. But Jesus here responds to the disciples with a profound prediction, verse 2…

Jesus is here predicting the destruction of the Jewish temple. A destruction that did indeed come in AD 70 with the ransacking of Jerusalem by the Roman army. More on that in a moment down in verses 15-28.

But for now, it is important for us to see what Jesus here is doing in this passage. He is declaring what is to come with authority and simplicity to help encourage our hearts and minds as we live in between his two comings and to help us to keep alert and endure what lays ahead with confidence.

For our King, declaring such predictions shows us once more how he is the one Sovereignly ruling over all human history. Showing us how though it may feel as the world is in chaos, as things seem to be increasingly bad, nothing, and I mean nothing takes place outside of his sovereign purposes and plans. For our Triune God has declared whatsoever comes to pass.

This should be deeply encouraging to us as Christians, as we are reminded here of whose world it is that we live in! As we are reminded that he who created the heavens and the earth is ruling his creation from beginning to end.

And so, with Jesus’ prediction of such an event sends shock waves through his disciples. And as Jesus leaves the temple and heads up to sit on the Mount of Olives, his disciples come to him there in verse 3, asking him when will these things be, and what will be the sign of his coming and of the end of the age?

This being a question we all want to know ourselves. But as we prepare to move through verses 4-28, we need to understand something. We need to understand here that Jesus is predicting what will take place between his first coming and his second. Meaning, that these events are happening not in various periods, but in one period, this period between, and that they are ongoing events.

Now, this is a topic that has been hotly debated by many Christians. And good faith discussions on this matter should take place and I am happy to have one of those with you if you would like after. But above all here, we need to see precisely why Jesus is predicting these things. It is not to give his disciples the secret details of what will happen, but to show them plainly what lays ahead and how to be ready.

See how Jesus starts to encourage us to stay alert in these days between his comings there in verse 4…

Jesus predicts here what will come and that there will be many temptations, many challenges before us that would soon lead us astray unto the wide path of destruction and away from the narrow path of life. Things such as false Christs and false teachers for starters. Verse 5…

This is a wise and practical warning for us to be on alert for those we are listening to and entrusting our soul care to. For many of these false teachers and false Christs will arise and their goal is to lead us astray by pointing our hearts and our minds away from Christ unto themselves and the treasures of this world.

This is why it is so important for us to pay careful attention to who we are listening to, who we are reading on the things pertaining to our souls. This was true in the days of these first disciples, how much more so now in the day of the internet and podcasts where you can listen or hear of such a variety of teaching proclaiming to be in the name of Christ.

Beloved, friend, do not be led astray by these false christs and false teachers. Stay on guard as we live in a world ruined by sin.

Look at verses 6-7, just how ruined and dangerous this world is. We read…

Many of these false christs and false teachers throughout the ages have pointed to these, seeing, hearing of these increase in wars and famines and earthquakes, and tried to predict the nearness of the end, saying the time has come.

And by all means, Jesus could come now at any moment. He could come today or tomorrow and the end would have arrived!

But Jesus is not pointing out these wars and rumors of wars and famines and earthquakes to point to a specific set of these and then the end will come. No! Jesus is telling us that these wars and rumors of wars and famines and earthquakes are to be the ordinary part of human history between his comings.

One thing I remember from my eighth grade history teacher drilled into our heads was this quote, “Those who don’t know history are doomed to repeat it.”

And doomed are we to repeat history when we begin to think the wars and famines and earthquakes of our days are unique to the time. For these matters would present themselves in the generation of these first disciples and have continued to go on and be part of every generation, at least in some part of the world throughout church history.

For this is part of creation’s groaning in the pains of childbirth until now, as Paul writes in Romans 8:22, and Jesus says here in verse 8. These wars and rumors of wars and famines and earthquakes are not the end itself, but the beginning of these birth pains.

To paint the picture, at least clearly for most of you ladies, these are but the braxton hicks contractions or the very early contractions that aren’t so intense of labor. Therefore, let us not confuse these to be the signs of the end and that it must be now. It might, it could, but it is also possible that we are still a bit away as well.

And while being reminded of this history of these things, and how they seem to be on repeat through the generations, do you see the one who predicted these things? The one who is therefore still in control and will in the end triumph?

Jesus predicts these things not for our discouragement, but for our encouragement in him! Therefore, let us keep our eyes on him through it all throughout these birth pains.

Birth pains that will not only include wars and rumors and famines and earthquakes, but also tribulation and suffering. Verses 9-11…

These tribulations, these afflictions and sufferings are not to be seen as a next step of the birth pains, but as part of those birth pains. For this generation of first disciples would be arrested, and beaten, and many of them even put to death on account of the name of Jesus.

Even now, around the world, we have brothers and sisters in Christ who are being delivered over to these very things as we speak. They are delivered over and put to death, because they proclaim the name of Jesus as the only means of life in a fallen and broken world. They are hated and betrayed on the account of Jesus’ name.

Too often we act surprised when these things happen. And yet again, Jesus has foretold us of these things, he has predicted them for our sake that none may be led astray in thinking these things as something strange and random.

Beloved, there are many false christs and teachers out there who would encourage us that if our faith was just strong enough, all would be well. There are those teachers that would encourage us that if we are suffering, we must not be in the right place or joined God in the right work, because the work is not prospering. Those teachers lead many astray. Beloved, look at this prediction by Jesus, see that he has foretold us these things so that we may not be caught unaware and continue to endure! Look there at verses 12-13…

As this lawlessness increases, as people will be tempted to turn inward to self, and tempted to allow love to grow cold. Both towards God and one another. And so, here as we consider the end, and Jesus call to not be lead astray, we must ask ourselves, has our love grown cold? Has our love of God grown cold in the midst of lawlessness, tempting us to turn more and more inward towards self? Self preservation, self care?

What about our love for one another? Are we loving one another as we love Christ? Are we laboring to outdo one another in good and care? Beloved, beware of a love that grows cold. Do not grow weary in the midst of tribulation and suffering and lawlessness, instead endure. For we are told that those who endure will be saved.

To borrow and paraphrase from one brother, ‘This call to endure is not the means of one’s salvation. It is the evidence of such a great salvation.’ For it is the working out of what Paul writes to the Church at Philippi when he says that he who began a good work in you will complete it. So beloved, let us keep enduring! Let us keep pressing on, even when it seems tough!

We need to keep trusting in Jesus, keep pressing in with one another, leaning and depending on one another in the local church, so that we may keep enduring until that day our faith becomes sight!

For even as these things are happening, even in the midst of these birth pains, there is something glorious that is going on! Look there at verse 14…

As the nations are raging against God and one another. As creation itself groans and cries out in the birth pains with its famines and earthquakes, God’s kingdom is being proclaimed throughout the whole world. It is advancing little by little throughout all the nations. Embassies are being planted and established in all these foreign lands in the local, gospel proclaiming churches that push onward the purposes and rule of God. And it is as this is happening, then the end will come.

God’s forever kingdom will prevail as all other kingdoms fall! Yet even now, this ultimate conquering and judgment has been delayed. Not because Jesus is failing as King, but because he is triumphing for the means of his redemption to spread and fill the earth and then the judgment will come! This is the big picture of redemption history between the first and second coming of Jesus. But now with verses 15-21, Jesus turns and focuses in on a small portion of that period and begins to answer the disciples' question about the destruction of the temple. Let’s look there now.

Abomination of Desolation (Matthew 24:15-21)

Verses 15-21… Jesus here makes the connection for us between the destruction of the temple and the Prophet Daniel regarding this abomination of desolation. As readers here we are being called to understand this, not here in Matthew, but from the readings of Daniel.

For in Daniel, it was prophesied some centuries before that a day was coming when the temple would be treated with contempt. That there would be those who enter the temple and desecrate it with abominable practices.

This prophecy was partly fulfilled before the days of Jesus, around 175 BC. When pagan worship filled the temple for a short period. But here, Jesus says that this earlier fulfillment was only partly what was prophesied by Daniel. That there is another part of the fulfillment coming where the temple would be completely destroyed. A destruction that has indeed now come in AD 70 with the destruction of the temple in the days of Nero.

And he prepares his disciples with this, telling them of the signs, warning them when they see these things to get out. That they are to leave quickly, even hoping for the women and those pregnant may have the opportunity to flee and it not be on the Sabbath when that help might be found more lacking.

Jesus prepares them for this very specific event here so that they may be ready and be helped to endure through this great tribulation that is unlike anything the world has ever seen.

Repeat of the whole Age between the Comings (Matthew 24:22-28)

There in verses 22-28, Jesus zooms back out from that small particular event of the destruction of the temple there in 70 AD and again recaptures what is to be going on throughout this entire age between his comings. Reminding us that there will be false christs and prophets, that there will be suffering in hopes to lead even the elect, those who are in Christ astray.

And he warns us, he encourages us to not be led astray by all this by declaring judgment will come quickly and suddenly against such lawlessness.

Therefore, let us keep enduring, Christian! Let us keep looking to Jesus and holding fast to him throughout the ages.

But let this be an urgent warning to all who reject Jesus as God’s Forever and Saving King. All those who do not come and bow to him will be gathered with the vultures and the corpses in a place of eternal judgment where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

Jesus will come quickly and suddenly, so do not presume you have time to deal with this later. Make today the day of your salvation! Turn from your sin and come to Jesus! Trusting in the one who laid down his life so that you could live!

That’s point #1, Jesus predicts the future.

Jesus Will Return in Visible Glory (Matthew 24:29-31)

Much more quickly, Jesus will return in a way that is unlike his first coming. As Jesus came and was born and laid in a manger, it was rather quiet. Sure there were shouts from the angel chorus, the shepherds and the wise men came, but there was no visible display of Christ's first arrival. He was laid in a manger as one who humbled himself.

But in His return, Jesus will come in visible glory! Look there at verses 29-31…

Jesus’ return will be clearly visible and glorious. He will come, gathering his elect, those who have been united to him by faith to rule and reign with him forever.

A return that will bring about the fullness of the reign of God’s forever King! A return that will relieve all of creation from these present birth pains.

This is the return we long for and wait for! But we need not look behind every corner wondering if this is it. Jesus’ return will not be missed by any. All will see that the King has returned, returned to conquer and reign with His people!

Jesus will return in visible glory, that is point #2.

Jesus’ Words are Sure (Matthew 24:32-35)

An agriculture lesson is given here now from Jesus to further steady our hearts and minds in light of the end. Verses 32-35…

Much is left a mystery in Jesus’ return. But the certain glorious return of our King is guaranteed. It is guaranteed his return will be clearly visible and that those who endure in faith will be gathered to him. A word that we can place all our hope, all our confidence in.