Let’s carefully examine what Jesus stated about this.
** Some translations use the word “presence” rather than “coming.” Which should it be? Notes from Vines are below. However, Jesus already has shown us how to view it, with the above illustration in Matthew 24:37-39. Jesus illustrated his arrival as the flood of Noah’s day. Not the time period just before it – That was when the flood was coming. The flood was not invisibly present (here) when the people were eating and drinking. In like manner, Jesus is not invisibly present when the people are eating and drinking. But when he does arrive, Jesus describes it as lightning where everyone will know his arrival. Just as everyone knew the sudden arrival of the flood. There is a real separating work that is done, in a quick manner. The wicked die. The righteous live. Just as one could say, back in Noah’s day before the flood, that the flood of Noah’s day was coming, most people didn’t notice but eventually it arrived. Then they all noticed. Compare Understanding the difference between the coming and the arrival of the kingdom of God
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- The word “presence” is able to be rendered either “presence” or “coming.” It has been assigned the Greek word number 3952 by the ABINGDON’S STRONG’S EXHAUSTIVE CONCORDANCE OF THE BIBLE and is “parousia” partly defined as: “…phys. aspect: -coming, presence.”
- The book Vine’s Expository Dictionary of Biblical Words defines it as: “parousia (…,3952), lit., ‘a presence,’ para, ‘with,’ and ousia, ‘being’ (from eimi, ‘to be’), denotes both an ‘arrival’ and a consequent ‘presence with.’ For instance, in a papyrus letter a lady speaks of the necessity of her parousia in a place in order to attend to matters relating to her property there.”
3 As he sat on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately, saying, “Tell us, when will these things be? What is the sign of your coming, and of the end of the age?”
4 Jesus answered them, “Be careful that no one leads you astray. 5 For many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will lead many astray.
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- It is interesting that Jesus first of all tells them to look out for ones who mislead. We need to be diligent in seeking truth. We need to test our own beliefs too.
- This question also asks about the end of the age. Basically meaning the end of the rule of man, the Gentiles also known as the Gentile times. To see more on this, see When is Jesus coming and arrival?
6 You will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you aren’t troubled, for all this must happen, but the end is not yet. 7 For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom; and there will be famines, plagues, and earthquakes in various places. 8 But all these things are the beginning of birth pains.
9 “Then they will deliver you up to oppression and will kill you. You will be hated by all of the nations for my name’s sake.
This happens in two time periods – See Revelation 11:3 Many will think that they are doing a good thing in God’s eyes but their actions are more based upon following men than a sincere desire to do what is right – Compare Matthew 25:31-46
10 Then many will stumble, and will deliver up one another, and will hate one another.
Compare Isaiah 3:4 ; Jeremiah 13:14 ; Daniel 11:33-35; 12:10
11 Many false prophets will arise and will lead many astray. 12 Because iniquity will be multiplied, the love of many will grow cold.
This “lawlessness” or “iniquity” can refer to those acting wickedly against those who strive for Jehovah’s righteousness. These intense actions will be headed by the anti-Christ who is the abomination and the king of the north for our day. They are all one in the same, just different titles. Jesus and his disciples experienced some of this lawlessness by many of the spiritual shepherds of the time. Compare Isaiah 3:8; 9:13-17 ; 10:16-22; Jeremiah 9:2-3 ; Daniel 11:33-35 ; Revelation 11:2-3 ; 2 Timothy 3:1-7
All of the above verses mentioned in Matthew 24 can be applied to both time periods where there are struggles between the kings of the north and south, as mentioned in the book of Daniel. The first occurrence has already happened but the second has not. See Daniel 11-12 for more detailed information.
13 But he who endures to the end will be saved.
This is especially important in the last 45 days. Compare with Daniel 12:12 ; Matthew 24:22
14 This Good News of the Kingdom will be preached in the whole world for a testimony to all the nations, and then the end will come.
The word “preached” can also be translated “be heralded.” (Ref. footnote) – This actually is fully accomplished by Jehovah’s direction through an angel in “midheaven”– Many churches claim to do this. But if they blaspheme God by teaching falsehood in his name, how could it be considered good? Compare Isaiah 66:19-20 ; Revelation 14:6-7
19 “I will set a sign among them, and I will send those who escape of them to the nations, to Tarshish, Pul, and Lud, who draw the bow, to Tubal and Javan, to far-away islands, who have not heard my fame, nor have seen my glory; and they shall declare my glory among the nations. 20 They shall bring all your brothers out of all the nations for an offering to Yahweh, on horses, in chariots, in litters, on mules, and on camels, to my holy mountain Jerusalem, says Yahweh, as the children of Israel bring their offering in a clean vessel into Yahweh’s house.
6 I saw an angel flying in mid heaven, having an eternal Good News to proclaim to those who dwell on the earth, and to every nation, tribe, language, and people. 7 He said with a loud voice, “Fear the Lord, and give him glory; for the hour of his judgment has come. Worship him who made the heaven, the earth, the sea, and the springs of waters!”
15 “When, therefore, you see the abomination of desolation, Daniel 9:27; 11:31; 12:11 which was spoken of through Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place (let the reader understand), 16 then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. 17 Let him who is on the housetop not go down to take out the things that are in his house. 18 Let him who is in the field not return back to get his clothes. 19 But woe to those who are with child and to nursing mothers in those days! 20 Pray that your flight will not be in the winter nor on a Sabbath, 21 for then there will be great suffering, such as has not been from the beginning of the world until now, no, nor ever will be. 22 Unless those days had been shortened, no flesh would have been saved. But for the sake of the chosen ones, those days will be shortened.
Here we see Jesus’ reference to Daniel and the literal city of Jerusalem. Daniel speaks of two different occasions of Jerusalem’s demise, at the hands of the king of the north but in two different time periods. One has occurred in the first century and the other has yet to happen. Compare comments for Daniel chapters 7, 8, and 11 . In verse 22 it makes mentions “on account of the chosen ones” Compare Isaiah 64:5-12; 65:8-9 ; Lamentations; Malachi 4:5-6
23 “Then if any man tells you, ‘Behold, here is the Christ!’ or, ‘There!’ don’t believe it. 24 For there will arise false christs, and false prophets, and they will show great signs and wonders, so as to lead astray, if possible, even the chosen ones.
25 “Behold, I have told you beforehand.
26 “If therefore they tell you, ‘Behold, he is in the wilderness,’ don’t go out; or ‘Behold, he is in the inner rooms,’ don’t believe it. 27 For as the lightning flashes from the east, and is seen even to the west, so will the coming of the Son of Man be.
This goes to show that there will be no question at all when Jesus arrives in power – It will be obvious to all. Notice the illustration of lightning that it will be SEEN from east to west. There is no doubt! See Understanding the difference between the coming and the arrival of the kingdom of God
28 For wherever the carcass is, that is where the vultures[a] gather together.
This is the time of “the great evening meal of God.” Where there is a great harvest of the wicked and the harvesters are angels. A frightening and sobering time indeed. See Luke 17:37; Matthew 13:36-42, 47-50; 25:41-46; Revelation 19:11-21
11 I saw the heaven opened, and behold, a white horse, and he who sat on it is called Faithful and True. In righteousness he judges and makes war. 12 His eyes are a flame of fire, and on his head are many crowns. He has names written and a name written which no one knows but he himself. 13 He is clothed in a garment sprinkled with blood. His name is called “The Word of God.” 14 The armies which are in heaven followed him on white horses, clothed in white, pure, fine linen. 15 Out of his mouth proceeds a sharp, double-edged sword, that with it he should strike the nations. He will rule them with an iron rod. Psalm 2:9 He treads the wine press of the fierceness of the wrath of God, the Almighty. 16 He has on his garment and on his thigh a name written, “KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.”
17 I saw an angel standing in the sun. He cried with a loud voice, saying to all the birds that fly in the sky, “Come! Be gathered together to the great supper of God,[a] 18 that you may eat the flesh of kings, the flesh of captains, the flesh of mighty men, and the flesh of horses and of those who sit on them, and the flesh of all men, both free and slave, small and great.” 19 I saw the beast, and the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against him who sat on the horse, and against his army. 20 The beast was taken, and with him the false prophet who worked the signs in his sight, with which he deceived those who had received the mark of the beast and those who worshiped his image. These two were thrown alive into the lake of fire that burns with sulfur. 21 The rest were killed with the sword of him who sat on the horse, the sword which came out of his mouth. So all the birds were filled with their flesh.
36 Then Jesus sent the multitudes away, and went into the house. His disciples came to him, saying, “Explain to us the parable of the darnel weeds of the field.”
37 He answered them, “He who sows the good seed is the Son of Man, 38 the field is the world, the good seeds are the children of the Kingdom, and the darnel weeds are the children of the evil one. 39 The enemy who sowed them is the devil. The harvest is the end of the age, and the reapers are angels. 40 As therefore the darnel weeds are gathered up and burned with fire; so will it be at the end of this age. 41 The Son of Man will send out his angels, and they will gather out of his Kingdom all things that cause stumbling and those who do iniquity, 42 and will cast them into the furnace of fire. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
47 “Again, the Kingdom of Heaven is like a dragnet that was cast into the sea and gathered some fish of every kind, 48 which, when it was filled, fishermen drew up on the beach. They sat down and gathered the good into containers, but the bad they threw away. 49 So will it be in the end of the world.[a] The angels will come and separate the wicked from among the righteous, 50 and will cast them into the furnace of fire. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”
Matthew 24:29-31(WEB): (This elaborates on verses 27-28)
29 “But immediately after the suffering of those days, the sun will be darkened, the moon will not give its light, the stars will fall from the sky, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken; Isaiah 13:10; 34:4 30 and then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky. Then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of the sky with power and great glory. 31 He will send out his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they will gather together his chosen ones from the four winds, from one end of the sky to the other.
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- This is the 45 day period where nations are given the chance to submit and show repentance by destroying all the other religions of the earth or fight. This is the destruction of Babylon the Great, the harlot in Revelation. The reaping of wicked by Christ’s angels may begin during this period. At the very beginning of this period, the second group of 144,000 are gathered to join their brothers for a total of 288,000 to make up Christ’s bride. – compare Daniel 12:11-12; Revelation 11:11-13
32 “Now from the fig tree learn this parable: When its branch has now become tender and produces its leaves, you know that the summer is near. 33 Even so you also, when you see all these things, know that he is near, even at the doors. 34 Most certainly I tell you, this generation will not pass away until all these things are accomplished. 35 Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.
- Notice the phrase “he is near at the doors” denotes just before Michael stands up – Daniel 12:1 ; Revelation 11:14-15
- The term “this generation” means the end of the wicked generation when Jesus comes in power with his angels. It is the end of the age, just as the flood was the end of an age. See This generation…
36 “But no one knows of that day and hour, not even the angels of heaven, but my Father only.
Jesus never did give his disciples a date when Jerusalem would be destroyed – Only signs which were based upon scriptures in Daniel – And so it is for us today – See the book of Daniel chapters 7,8, and 11
37 As the days of Noah were, so will the coming of the Son of Man be. 38 For as in those days which were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered into the ship, 39 and they didn’t know until the flood came and took them all away, so will the coming of the Son of Man be. 40 Then two men will be in the field: one will be taken and one will be left. 41 Two women will be grinding at the mill: one will be taken and one will be left. 42 Watch therefore, for you don’t know in what hour your Lord comes.
This phrase “taken” is interesting and sometimes misunderstood. In this instance, those taken are reaped as weeds to be destroyed. Notice those who were mentioned who were taken back in Noah’s day. Those taken away were the wicked. With this illustration, when the Son of man returns, those taken will also be the wicked. It is a solemn thing to wonder if about half the people on earth will end up being judged as wicked. Let’s hope that there will be many more who side with Jesus. Here, in Jesus’ illustration of the angels reaping, 50% are taken. – Compare above notes on Matthew 13:36-42,47-50; 24:28; Luke 17:33-37
43 But know this, that if the master of the house had known in what watch of the night the thief was coming, he would have watched, and would not have allowed his house to be broken into. 44 Therefore also be ready, for in an hour that you don’t expect, the Son of Man will come.
How could it be that God’s people would not expect his coming? If they all have left true worship even though they would deny it at the time. Compare Jeremiah 9:2,3; 23:11,12 ; Ezekiel 13:8-23
45 “Who then is the faithful and wise servant, whom his lord has set over his household, to give them their food in due season? 46 Blessed is that servant whom his lord finds doing so when he comes. 47 Most certainly I tell you that he will set him over all that he has.
This “faithful and wise servant” provides spiritual guidance based upon God’s word possibly before and during this distressing time for God’s people. This is probably the “Elijah” of our day. – See Elijah
48 But if that evil servant should say in his heart, ‘My lord is delaying his coming,’ 49 and begins to beat his fellow servants, and eat and drink with the drunkards, 50 the lord of that servant will come in a day when he doesn’t expect it and in an hour when he doesn’t know it, 51 and will cut him in pieces and appoint his portion with the hypocrites. That is where the weeping and grinding of teeth will be.
There are those who will desire to stick with their old polluted and unacceptable ways of worship. Like the Pharisees of old, they hold their ways above scrutiny from God’s word. Compare Daniel 11:32 and Matthew 25:31-46 (below):
31 “But when the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then he will sit on the throne of his glory. 32 Before him all the nations will be gathered, and he will separate them one from another, as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. 33 He will set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left. 34 Then the King will tell those on his right hand, ‘Come, blessed of my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world; 35 for I was hungry and you gave me food to eat. I was thirsty and you gave me drink. I was a stranger and you took me in. 36 I was naked and you clothed me. I was sick and you visited me. I was in prison and you came to me.’
37 “Then the righteous will answer him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you a drink? 38 When did we see you as a stranger and take you in, or naked and clothe you? 39 When did we see you sick or in prison and come to you?’
40 “The King will answer them, ‘Most certainly I tell you, because you did it to one of the least of these my brothers,[a] you did it to me.’ 41 Then he will say also to those on the left hand, ‘Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire which is prepared for the devil and his angels; 42 for I was hungry, and you didn’t give me food to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave me no drink; 43 I was a stranger, and you didn’t take me in; naked, and you didn’t clothe me; sick, and in prison, and you didn’t visit me.’
44 “Then they will also answer, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry, or thirsty, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and didn’t help you?’
45 “Then he will answer them, saying, ‘Most certainly I tell you, because you didn’t do it to one of the least of these, you didn’t do it to me.’ 46 These will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.”
This shows that those who help Jesus’ brothers on the earth will be rewarded. However, those who don’t will “depart into everlasting cutting off.” This is the case even though both groups call Jesus “Lord.” It is important to see that those who don’t help is because they do not have love of God or neighbor. (Matthew 22:37-39)
37 Jesus said to him, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ Deuteronomy 6:5 38 This is the first and great commandment. 39 A second likewise is this, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ Leviticus 19:18
To get even a greater understanding of what Jesus stated about this topic, see Understanding the Difference Between the Coming and the Arrival of the Kingdom of God