Matthew 24:4-29

Signs of the Close of the Age

4 And Jesus answered them, a "See that no one leads you astray. 5 For b many will come in my name, saying, 'I am c the Christ,' and they will lead many astray. 6 And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you d are not alarmed, for this e must take place, but the end is not yet. 7 For f nation will rise against nation, and g kingdom against kingdom, and there will be h famines and earthquakes in various places. 8 All these are but the beginning of i the birth pains.

9 "Then j they will deliver you up k to tribulation and l put you to death, and m you will be hated by all nations for my name's sake. 10 And then many will fall away 1 and n betray one another and hate one another. 11 And many o false prophets will arise p and lead many astray. 12 And because lawlessness will be increased, q the love of many will grow cold. 13 r But the one who endures to the end will be saved. 14 And this gospel of the kingdom s will be proclaimed throughout the whole world t as a testimony u to all nations, and v then the end will come.

The Abomination of Desolation

15 "So when you see the abomination of desolation w spoken of by the prophet Daniel, standing in x the holy place ( y let the reader understand), 16 then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. 17 z Let the one who is on a the housetop not go down to take what is in his house, 18 and let the one who is in the field not turn back to take his cloak. 19 And b alas for women who are pregnant and for those who are nursing infants in those days! 20 Pray that your flight may not be in winter or on a Sabbath. 21 For then there will be c great tribulation, d such as has not been from the beginning of the world until now, no, and never will be. 22 And if those days had not been cut short, no human being would be saved. But for e the sake of the elect those days will be cut short. 23 f Then if anyone says to you, 'Look, here is the Christ!' or 'There he is!' do not believe it. 24 For g false christs and h false prophets will arise and i perform great signs and wonders, h so as to lead astray, if possible, even the elect. 25 See, j I have told you beforehand. 26 So, if they say to you, 'Look, k he is in the wilderness,' do not go out. If they say, 'Look, he is in the inner rooms,' do not believe it. 27 l For as the lightning comes from the east and shines as far as the west, so will be m the coming of the Son of Man. 28 n Wherever the corpse is, there the vultures will gather.

The Coming of the Son of Man

29 "Immediately after o the tribulation of those days p the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, and q the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken.

  1. Cross References
    Jeremiah 29:8
    For thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel: Do not let your prophets and your diviners who are among you deceive you, and do not listen to the dreams that they dream.
    Ephesians 5:6
    Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience.
    Colossians 2:8
    See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ.
    2 Thessalonians 2:3
    Let no one deceive you in any way. For that day will not come, unless the rebellion comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction.
    1 John 3:7
    Little children, let no one deceive you. Whoever practices righteousness is righteous, as he is righteous.
  2. Cross References
    Matthew 24:11
    And many false prophets will arise and lead many astray.
    Matthew 24:24
    For false christs and false prophets will arise and perform great signs and wonders, so as to lead astray, if possible, even the elect.
    Jeremiah 14:14
    And the Lord said to me: "The prophets are prophesying lies in my name. I did not send them, nor did I command them or speak to them. They are prophesying to you a lying vision, worthless divination, and the deceit of their own minds.
    1 John 2:18
    Children, it is the last hour, and as you have heard that antichrist is coming, so now many antichrists have come. Therefore we know that it is the last hour.
  3. Cross References
    Matthew 1:17
    So all the generations from Abraham to David were fourteen generations, and from David to the deportation to Babylon fourteen generations, and from the deportation to Babylon to the Christ fourteen generations.
  4. Cross References
    2 Thessalonians 2:2
    Not to be quickly shaken in mind or alarmed, either by a spirit or a spoken word, or a letter seeming to be from us, to the effect that the day of the Lord has come.
  5. Cross References
    Revelation 1:1
    The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show to his servants the things that must soon take place. He made it known by sending his angel to his servant John.
  6. Cross References
    2 Chronicles 15:6
    They were broken in pieces. Nation was crushed by nation and city by city, for God troubled them with every sort of distress.
    Revelation 6:4
    And out came another horse, bright red. Its rider was permitted to take peace from the earth, so that people should slay one another, and he was given a great sword.
  7. Cross References
    Isaiah 19:2
    And I will stir up Egyptians against Egyptians, and they will fight, each against another and each against his neighbor, city against city, kingdom against kingdom.
  8. Cross References
    Acts 11:28
    And one of them named Agabus stood up and foretold by the Spirit that there would be a great famine over all the world (this took place in the days of Claudius).
    Revelation 6:8
    And I looked, and behold, a pale horse! And its rider's name was Death, and Hades followed him. And they were given authority over a fourth of the earth, to kill with sword and with famine and with pestilence and by wild beasts of the earth.
    Revelation 6:12
    When he opened the sixth seal, I looked, and behold, there was a great earthquake, and the sun became black as sackcloth, the full moon became like blood.
  9. Cross References
    John 16:21
    When a woman is giving birth, she has sorrow because her hour has come, but when she has delivered the baby, she no longer remembers the anguish, for joy that a human being has been born into the world.
    Acts 2:24
    God raised him up, loosing the pangs of death, because it was not possible for him to be held by it.
    Romans 8:22
    For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now.
  10. Cross References
    Matthew 10:17
    Beware of men, for they will deliver you over to courts and flog you in their synagogues.
    Matthew 10:21
    Brother will deliver brother over to death, and the father his child, and children will rise against parents and have them put to death.
  11. Cross References
    Matthew 24:21
    For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been from the beginning of the world until now, no, and never will be.
    Matthew 24:29
    Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, and the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken.
    Revelation 2:10
    Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and for ten days you will have tribulation. Be faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life.
  12. Cross References
    Matthew 23:34
    Therefore I send you prophets and wise men and scribes, some of whom you will kill and crucify, and some you will flog in your synagogues and persecute from town to town.
    John 16:2
    They will put you out of the synagogues. Indeed, the hour is coming when whoever kills you will think he is offering service to God.
  13. Cross References
    Matthew 10:22
    And you will be hated by all for my name's sake. But the one who endures to the end will be saved.
  14. Cross References
    Matthew 10:21
    Brother will deliver brother over to death, and the father his child, and children will rise against parents and have them put to death.
  15. Cross References
    Matthew 7:15
    Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves.
  16. Cross References
    Matthew 24:5
    For many will come in my name, saying, 'I am the Christ,' and they will lead many astray.
    Matthew 24:24
    For false christs and false prophets will arise and perform great signs and wonders, so as to lead astray, if possible, even the elect.
  17. Cross References
    Revelation 2:4
    But I have this against you, that you have abandoned the love you had at first.
  18. Cross References
    Matthew 10:22
    And you will be hated by all for my name's sake. But the one who endures to the end will be saved.
  19. Cross References
    Romans 10:18
    But I ask, have they not heard? Indeed they have, for "Their voice has gone out to all the earth, and their words to the ends of the world.
    Colossians 1:6
    Which has come to you, as indeed in the whole world it is bearing fruit and growing - as it also does among you, since the day you heard it and understood the grace of God in truth.
    Colossians 1:23
    If indeed you continue in the faith, stable and steadfast, not shifting from the hope of the gospel that you heard, which has been proclaimed in all creation under heaven, and of which I, Paul, became a minister.
    Mark 14:9
    And truly, I say to you, wherever the gospel is proclaimed in the whole world, what she has done will be told in memory of her.
  20. Cross References
    Matthew 10:18
    And you will be dragged before governors and kings for my sake, to bear witness before them and the Gentiles.
  21. Cross References
    Matthew 28:19
    Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.
  22. Cross References
    Matthew 24:6
    And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not alarmed, for this must take place, but the end is not yet.
  23. Cross References
    Daniel 9:27
    And he shall make a strong covenant with many for one week, and for half of the week he shall put an end to sacrifice and offering. And on the wing of abominations shall come one who makes desolate, until the decreed end is poured out on the desolator.
    Daniel 11:31
    Forces from him shall appear and profane the temple and fortress, and shall take away the regular burnt offering. And they shall set up the abomination that makes desolate.
    Daniel 12:11
    And from the time that the regular burnt offering is taken away and the abomination that makes desolate is set up, there shall be 1,290 days.
  24. Cross References
    John 11:48
    If we let him go on like this, everyone will believe in him, and the Romans will come and take away both our place and our nation.
    Acts 6:13
    And they set up false witnesses who said, "This man never ceases to speak words against this holy place and the law.
    Acts 21:28
    Crying out, "Men of Israel, help! This is the man who is teaching everyone everywhere against the people and the law and this place. Moreover, he even brought Greeks into the temple and has defiled this holy place.
  25. Cross References
    Daniel 9:22 - 23
    He made me understand, speaking with me and saying, "O Daniel, I have now come out to give you insight and understanding.
    Daniel 9:25
    Know therefore and understand that from the going out of the word to restore and build Jerusalem to the coming of an anointed one, a prince, there shall be seven weeks. Then for sixty-two weeks it shall be built again with squares and moat, but in a troubled time.
    Revelation 1:3
    Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear, and who keep what is written in it, for the time is near.
  26. Cross References
    Luke 17:31
    On that day, let the one who is on the housetop, with his goods in the house, not come down to take them away, and likewise let the one who is in the field not turn back.
  27. Cross References
    Luke 5:19
    But finding no way to bring him in, because of the crowd, they went up on the roof and let him down with his bed through the tiles into the midst before Jesus.
  28. Cross References
    Luke 23:29
    For behold, the days are coming when they will say, 'Blessed are the barren and the wombs that never bore and the breasts that never nursed!
  29. Cross References
    Matthew 24:29
    Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, and the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken.
    Daniel 12:1
    At that time shall arise Michael, the great prince who has charge of your people. And there shall be a time of trouble, such as never has been since there was a nation till that time. But at that time your people shall be delivered, everyone whose name shall be found written in the book.
    Revelation 7:14
    I said to him, "Sir, you know." And he said to me, "These are the ones coming out of the great tribulation. They have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.
  30. Cross References
    Revelation 16:18
    And there were flashes of lightning, rumblings, peals of thunder, and a great earthquake such as there had never been since man was on the earth, so great was that earthquake.
  31. Cross References
    Matthew 24:24
    For false christs and false prophets will arise and perform great signs and wonders, so as to lead astray, if possible, even the elect.
    Matthew 24:31
    And he will send out his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.
    Isaiah 65:8 - 9
    Thus says the Lord : "As the new wine is found in the cluster, and they say, 'Do not destroy it, for there is a blessing in it,' so I will do for my servants' sake, and not destroy them all.
    Luke 18:7
    And will not God give justice to his elect, who cry to him day and night? Will he delay long over them?
    Matthew 22:14
    For many are called, but few are chosen.
  32. Cross References
    Luke 17:23
    And they will say to you, 'Look, there!' or 'Look, here!' Do not go out or follow them.
    Matthew 24:5
    For many will come in my name, saying, 'I am the Christ,' and they will lead many astray.
    Matthew 24:26
    So, if they say to you, 'Look, he is in the wilderness,' do not go out. If they say, 'Look, he is in the inner rooms,' do not believe it.
  33. Cross References
    1 John 2:18
    Children, it is the last hour, and as you have heard that antichrist is coming, so now many antichrists have come. Therefore we know that it is the last hour.
  34. Cross References
    Matthew 24:11
    And many false prophets will arise and lead many astray.
  35. Cross References
    Matthew 24:11
    And many false prophets will arise and lead many astray.
  36. Cross References
    Deuteronomy 13:1 - 3
    If a prophet or a dreamer of dreams arises amon...
    2 Thessalonians 2:9 - 11
    The coming of the lawless one is by the activit...
    Revelation 13:13 - 14
    It performs great signs, even making fire come ...
    Revelation 16:14
    For they are demonic spirits, performing signs,...
    Revelation 19:20
    And the beast was captured, and with it the fal...
    Acts 8:9
    But there was a man named Simon, who had previo...
  37. Cross References
    John 13:19
    I am telling you this now, before it takes place, that when it does take place you may believe that I am he.
    John 14:29
    And now I have told you before it takes place, so that when it does take place you may believe.
    2 Peter 3:17
    You therefore, beloved, knowing this beforehand, take care that you are not carried away with the error of lawless people and lose your own stability.
  38. Cross References
    Acts 21:38
    Are you not the Egyptian, then, who recently stirred up a revolt and led the four thousand men of the Assassins out into the wilderness?
  39. Cross References
    Luke 17:24
    For as the lightning flashes and lights up the sky from one side to the other, so will the Son of Man be in his day.
  40. Cross References
    Matthew 24:3
    As he sat on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately, saying, "Tell us, when will these things be, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the close of the age?
    Matthew 24:37
    For as were the days of Noah, so will be the coming of the Son of Man.
    Matthew 24:39
    And they were unaware until the flood came and swept them all away, so will be the coming of the Son of Man.
  41. Cross References
    Luke 17:37
    And they said to him, "Where, Lord?" He said to them, "Where the corpse is, there the vultures will gather.
    Job 39:30
    His young ones suck up blood, and where the slain are, there is he.
  42. Cross References
    Matthew 24:21
    For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been from the beginning of the world until now, no, and never will be.
  43. Cross References
    Isaiah 13:10
    For the stars of the heavens and their constell...
    Isaiah 24:23
    Then the moon will be confounded and the sun as...
    Ezekiel 32:7
    When I blot you out, I will cover the heavens a...
    Joel 2:10
    The earth quakes before them; the heavens tremb...
    Joel 2:31
    The sun shall be turned to darkness, and the mo...
    Joel 3:15
    The sun and the moon are darkened, and the star...
    Acts 2:20
    The sun shall be turned to darkness and the moo...
    Amos 5:20
    Is not the day of the Lord darkness, and not li...
    Amos 8:9
    And on that day," declares the Lord God, "I wil...
    Zephaniah 1:15
    A day of wrath is that day, a day of distress a...
    Revelation 6:12
    When he opened the sixth seal, I looked, and be...
    Revelation 8:12
    The fourth angel blew his trumpet, and a third ...
  44. Cross References
    Revelation 6:13
    And the stars of the sky fell to the earth as the fig tree sheds its winter fruit when shaken by a gale.
    Isaiah 14:12
    How you are fallen from heaven, O Day Star, son of Dawn! How you are cut down to the ground, you who laid the nations low!
    Isaiah 34:4
    All the host of heaven shall rot away, and the skies roll up like a scroll. All their host shall fall, as leaves fall from the vine, like leaves falling from the fig tree.
English Standard Version (ESV) The Holy Bible, English Standard Version Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers.