Did Jesus give signs for the second coming?

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What’s Your Question? for Sept. 23, 2009

Matthew 24 is often misused to try to predict the time of the Lord’s coming. Several verses show Jesus was discussing the destruction of Jerusalem, not the second coming. Verses 15,16: When the abomination of desolation (the Roman army, Lk. 21:20) approached, they were to flee to the mountains. Verses 17,18: Those on the housetop and in the fields were not to return to gather possessions. Verse 19: It would be more difficult for pregnant women, or those nursing babies. Verse 20: It would be more difficult in the winter (for obvious reasons), or on the Sabbath (the gates of the city would be closed, Neh. 13:19). None of these things would apply to the second coming! Jesus said the generation He was addressing would not pass till all the signs were fulfilled (vs. 34,35).