In a word, of course! But in another word, of course not!

In seminary, we were taught to always remember “Context, context, context. A text without a context is a pretext to teach anything you want to teach.”

The main problem with the modern interpretation of Matthew 24 (and the parallel passages in Mark and Luke) is that most Christians are heavily influenced by the popular futurist interpretation proclaimed by the premillennial dispensationalist wing of the church. Therefore, they read this chapter through the lens of a modern cultural influence rather than the actual context of the passage. By doing so, they miss what is being taught.

The key to understanding this passage is to understand the real question(s) being asked of Jesus. “Parousia” is a Greek word that means “the appearing, the coming, the appearance.” Whenever the New Testament speaks about “the coming” of the Son of Man or “the appearance” of the Son of Man, the word normally is “parousia”. In verse 3, the disciples ask, “What will be the sign of your coming (parousia)?”

When we look at the context of Matthew 24 and the parallel passages in Mark 13 and Luke 21, we see that Jesus prophesies that the Temple will be torn down and not one stone will be left upon another. His disciples (Mark 13 tells us there were four, Peter, James, John, and Andrew) are rightly concerned that such a magnificent structure would be destroyed. After all, it was not only an incredibly glorious building, it was also the center of Jewish worship. Therefore, the disciples of Jesus ask Him, “…when will these things be…” Matthew 24:3. Jesus answers with the prophesy of Matthew 24:4-51. The question we should ask is, “What is the time frame of which Jesus is speaking?” What are the time clues in the context of the passage? Since, the Temple is no longer in existence, would Jesus really be prophesying an event which is still future to our time? Or is He speaking of the destruction of the Temple in a time that is still future to the time of the disciples? Remember the context. Jesus is answering the question of the four disciples and He says to them, “See to it that no one misleads you.” Throughout the whole of Matthew 24 and the parallel passages, the “you” to whom Jesus is speaking is not those of us in this century, but the four disciples who have asked Him when the Temple is to be destroyed.

So, all the events of Matthew 24 are future to the time of the disciples to whom Jesus is speaking. He is telling them that they will see all these events; they will hear of all these events; they will experience the great tribulation (Matthew 24:21). Jesus tells His four disciples “Truly I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all these things take place.” (Matthew 24:34)

Because some bible translators have a futuristic view of Matthew 24, many bible editions render the word for “generations” as “race”. Some commentaries state that Jesus must be speaking of the Jewish race rather than that particular generation since they believe the events of Matthew 24 are still future to our time. The problem with that view is that every other use in the New Testament of the word for “generation”, clearly refers to that specific generation. It is only here, because of a futurist point of view, that the word is translated as race.

Therefore, the biblical truth is that Jesus was not talking about events of the far, distant future of more than 2000 years or events future even to our time. Nor was He speaking of the end of the world. Instead, He was teaching about the destruction of the Temple, the end of the Jewish age. The obliteration of the Temple meant that the Jews no longer had a place in which to sacrifice, to receive forgiveness for their sins. Their genealogical records were also destroyed, and the center of their culture no longer existed.

Although many believe Jesus is speaking about things that are still in our future, He is very clearly answering the question of the four disciples. He is not speaking to us. Therefore, the events of which Jesus was prophesying were future to the time of the disciples. They occurred in 70 A.D. when the Temple was destroyed. The events are not still future to our time.

Additionally, in Matthew 24:29-30 (NASB), Jesus tells His disciples that “…immediately after the tribulation of those days…all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.” Virtually all modern versions translate this verse as the “tribes of the earth” or the “peoples of the earth” will mourn. Yet Jesus is clearly speaking of the “tribes of the land”, the tribes of Israel. Note that Jesus, speaking in verse 33, says to the four disciples “you” will “see all these things.” And in verse 34, Jesus states “Truly, I say to you (four disciples), this generation will not pass away until all these things take place.”

In Matthew 26:63-64, at one of the three illegal trials of Jesus before the Sanhedrim, (there were three before the Jews and three before the Romans) The High Priest (in violation of Jewish law) questions Jesus and asks if He is the Christ, the Son of God. Jesus answers in the affirmative and says, “I tell you; hereafter you shall see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of Power, and coming on the clouds of Heaven.”

In the parallel passage of Mark 14:61-62, the High Priest questions Jesus and asks, “Are You the Christ, the Son of the Blessed One?” And Jesus said, “I am; and you shall see The Son of Man sitting at the right hand of power, and coming with the clouds of heaven.”

Virtually everyone believes this event is still future to our time.

I would suggest that since Jesus is addressing that High Priest personally, there are only three possible scenarios:

• Either this event has already occurred,
• That High Priest is still alive, or
• Jesus is a liar.

Since the last two conditions are clearly not true, the first must be.

Therefore, the coming of the Son of Man in power and glory of which Jesus is speaking in these passages is a past event. Jesus came in 70 A.D. in power and glory in judgment against the apostate Jewish leaders and the Temple of God which they had polluted. The prophecy of Jesus was fulfilled in the immediate future of the disciples, but it is not future to our time.

Other passages teach that Jesus will return at the end of time in glory for judgment of the wicked and to gather His people to Himself for an eternity in glory, but Matthew 24 is not one of those passages.