Matthew 24:23 – 28

Destruction of Jerusalem 3

23 “Then if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Christ!’ or ‘There!’ do not believe it.

24 For false christs and false prophets will rise and show great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect.

25 See, I have told you beforehand.

26 “Therefore if they say to you, ‘Look, He is in the desert!’ do not go out; or ‘Look, He is in the inner rooms!’ do not believe it.

27 For as the lightning comes from the east and flashes to the west, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be.

28 For wherever the carcass is, there the eagles will be gathered together.

These six verses clarify the signs for the prophecy of the destruction of Jerusalem which fell in 70 A.D. And expose the methods the false prophets would use to deceive the followers of Jesus.

False teachers would use the conditions of the tribulation to point to some men and call some of them Christ and tell the world that Christ's second coming was now beginning.

Jesus says do not believe that ruse.

Jesus said these false prophets would use apparent miracles to deceive the true believers of Jesus, the true believers had such great faith in Christ it would be easy for them to fall for these sly false prophets.

In verse 25 Jesus says this subject is so important that we need to pay attention to His warnings so we are not fooled by the false prophets. Even today there are false teachers who are using these verses to claim Jesus second coming happened at the time of the fall of Jerusalem. Jesus warned us, so do not believe them.

In verse 26 Jesus says the false teachers will use the ruse of Jesus not being in the city but out in the unpopulated areas telling the followers they need to go out and look for Him. Jesus says do not believe them because that is not going to be the way He will return.

Jesus uses verse 27 to contrast how His second coming will be different from what will happen at the time of the destruction of Jerusalem. He points out this coming will be highly public, all will see Him return, it will not be in a secluded part of the world, but will be as the dawn spreads across the sky from east to west. Everyone will see Him return not just a select few. Revelation 1:7 tells us all will see Him return. ( Behold, He is coming with clouds, and every eye will see Him, even they who pierced Him. And all the tribes of the earth will mourn because of Him. Even so, Amen.)

In verse 28 He points out the destruction of Jerusalem will be as the scavenger birds are with the dead.

This example is also used in Job 39:30 (Its young ones suck up blood; And where the slain are, there it is.” ) The young ones are the young of the eagle which is mentioned in verse 27 of that passage.

The eagle is also figuratively used as representing the Roman army which had eagles inscribed on the flags of their army units. And where they were was the destruction of Jerusalem which was filled with the slain of the Jews.