When will these things happen?

There is a lot of confusion about the meaning of the 24th chapter of the Gospel of Matthew.  There are a myriad of doctrines that have sprung up from this passage, obviously they can't all be true. 

Over the next few posts we will try and remove some of the mystery and show that it is possible to understand the Lord's teaching.

The passage in Matthew 24, and indeed Chapter 25, come about in answer to some questions the apostles raised after the Lord told them about the destruction of the temple.  They asked him,

“Tell us, when will these things happen, and what will be the sign of Your coming, and of the end of the age?” Matt 24:3

The apostles were so shocked at the thought of the destruction of the temple, they assumed that it must herald the 2nd coming of Christ and the end of all things.  They asked 3 questions, thinking they all refured to one event.  

1) When will these things happen?

2) What will be the signs of your coming?

3) (What will the signs) the end of the age?

Jesus, in His answer pointed out that all these things would not happen at one time.

Next time we will look at how the Lord describes the destruction of city of Jerusalem  and the temple and see the signs and the times He refured to.