Jesus is on the Mount of Olives with Peter, Andrew, James and John. He wanted to let them know what was going to happen, both in the near future, and at the very end, and how to handle it. Jesus knew that after His death the peace of Rome would come to an end, and there would come a time when the Temple that stood in Jerusalem would be destroyed and not one stone would be left upon another. This eventually happened in 70 AD. Jesus is warning His disciples that for some of them it will come in their lifetime.

He tells them not to take notice of any others who falsely say they are the Messiah, and they are not to be alarmed when they hear of wars and rumours of wars, earthquakes, or famines. They are to be ready for families to split and go in different directions, some even betraying their own parents or their own children. This will all happen.

Then in verse 14 Jesus talks about the “abomination of desolation”. Jesus is now talking about the very end of time; He is talking about the final days before He comes back for the second time.

Again, there will be false Messiahs, and false prophets, and then in verse 24 He quotes from a reference in Isaiah 13:10 and 34:4:  “But in those days following that distress: ‘the sun will be darkened and the moon will not give its light. The stars will fall from the sky and the heavenly bodies will be shaken’”.

Verse 26 tells us that people then will see Jesus coming in great power and glory, and His angels will gather all Jesus’ own from over the whole earth. For those who might be questioning exactly when these events will take place Jesus teaches them to learn the lesson from the fig tree.  He says when you see the leaves coming you know it is nearly summer. In the same way whenever you see turmoil in the world then recognise the signs and be ready for the return of the Lord. 

We do not know when the Lord Jesus is coming back, we cannot set dates, but He will come back and take His own with Him. So, keep watch, and whenever you see a sign don’t ever lose hope.

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Lord help me today to walk with You and be ready for whatever comes my way. Amen