When Will the Signs of the End Take Place?
When Jesus answered the disciples’ question about the destruction of the temple in Jerusalem and his return and the end of the age, he prophesied events and developments that the disciples understood. The events of signs 1 through 8 and sign 10 (see question 3) describe realities in the first century as well as the history of the church from the first century until today. Sign 9, the siege and destruction of Jerusalem , happened in A.D. 70. That the reference of Jesus’ prophecy in Matthew 24–25 (and Mark 13 / Luke 21 ) refers to the entire period between Jesus’ first coming in the first century and his second coming emerges from a consideration of (1) the structure of Jesus’ discourse on the end times, (2) Jesus’ warnings and exhortations, and (3) Jesus’ comments on the consequences of his prophecy for his followers. The Structure of Jesus’ Discourse on the End Times Jesus’ discourse on the end times follows his prediction of the destruction of the temple in Jerusalem and a