v1-2: The Lord Jesus was a prophet, and each of the gospel writers bring 'end-time prophecy' (John's is in Revelation). The prophecies are part of each gospel writers' record, and is consistent with the scheme of each writer; there are therefore differences as well as similarities, but no inconsistencies.

All prophecy centres in Jesus Christ, Rev 19.10, Deut 18.14-22; the "Prophet" pictures Christ; the prophecy was partly fulfilled in Samuel and Elijah, but fully in Christ. He is the final prophet, the peak of God's revelation about Himself.

The wonderful stones and buildings refer to the part-completed construction of the temple, which had taken many years to reach that stage, John 2.20. Later, in AD 70, it would be totally destroyed.

v3-4: Jesus sat on the Mount of Olives, where one day He will stand; Zech 14.3-5. He addressed the disciples, as in Matt 24.3; in contrast, in Luke 21.7, He spoke to the people.

v5-6: Jesus' first words, "Watch out", for many will come to deceive (v21-22 also), and they will deceive many. The faithful believer will be in a small minority. The Jewish believer, specifically addressed by Jesus, will face deception and persecution.

The deceivers will claim the authority of the Name of Jesus, Matt 7.22, "from among yourselves" (Act 20.30), "by spirit or by word or by letter, as if from us " (2 Thess 2.2), "having a form of godliness" (2 Tim 3.5). They will claim to come in His Name, they will even claim to be Him, they will come from amongst believers, they will claim support from great men, they will be religious, and they will come "with all power, signs, and lying wonders" (2 Thess 2.9). Thus, deception comes in credible form.

Although the Lord Jesus appears to address Jews particularly, we would be foolish not to learn lessons; deceivers are still deceivers, in whatever age.

v7-8: The beginning of sorrows and birth-pains; cyclical, gradually increasing in intensity until the time of birth. There will be general widespread suffering.

v9-13: "You must be on your guard"; the persecution of faithful Jewish believers; from councils, rulers and kings (v9), from family (v12), and from all men (v13). At the same time there will be a testimony to all men (v10), and to those who persecute (v11).

In the midst of such persecution, the command is to stay faithful to he end. Our confidence will always be in Christ, who will say faithful to us.

v14-22: This section gives more details than the previous verses, and these events seem to follow the pattern set down in v6-13.

v14: "When you see", which implies that the believers will be watchful.

The "abomination of desolation", referred to in Dan 9, speaks of a person rising up against the true God and against those who love Him. It is similar to the beast (Rev 13), and the man of sin (2 Thess 2); all three may be descriptions of the same. The reference to Judea indicates a tribulation centred in the Middle East.

v15-16: Jewish people praying on the house top, and working in the fields.

In these dreadful circumstances, the command is simply to flee (as in v14); in Rev 18.4, this continues the principle of separation.

v17-19: The time of tribulation is described as unequalled; see Jer 30.4-7, the time of Jacob's trouble.

v20: God will, as ever, remain in ultimate control, intervening for the sale of His elect, the people of Israel.

v21-22: At that time also, false Christs and false prophets will arise, just as they will before the tribulation (v6). They will come with signs and wonders to deceive; in contrast, in the N.T. signs and wonders were given as authentication of the Messiah (Acts 2.43; 5.12; 14.3).

v23: The Lord has told us ahead of time; we must heed His gracious warning; to ignore it would bring disaster.

v24-25: As events progress, there will be signs in the heavens; the natural order will be affected.

The stars in heaven and the powers in heaven refer to spiritual forces (as in Eph 6.12), and to warfare in the heavenly places (Rev 12).

v26-27: Men will "see" the coming of Christ, in the clouds with glory and power. The Lord will return after the tribulation, to gather the elect, the believing nation of Israel.

v28: "Learn this lesson", the fig tree pictures Israel; tender fruit would come in summer.

v29-30: "These things" refer to the events described in v14-25; the generation, "this generation", which sees those things will see the Lord return; the tribulation will be shortened for their sake.

v31: The clear lesson is that the Lord's words will come true, and cannot fail to do so. Whatever happens, we must cling to Him; He is our certainty in a world of uncertainty.

v32-34: Although the specific signs may be observed, the actual "day or hour" is kept secret from men; even Jesus the servant did not know the time. This encourages faithfulness is His servant, and the need to be watchful, and to "do business till I come" (Luke 19.13). His servant must be diligent and vigilant, serving as He did.

The brief parable (v34) indicates serving together, for each one has his appointed task. This challenges modern individualistic thinking.

Jews have long debated the time of Messiah’s coming, and there was much speculation following Daniel’s prophecies.

v35-37: "You do not know"; will cannot know the time of His coming. But the message is clear to all, "Watch!"

Luke (Luke 21.7-38) brings a different emphasis to this section; he omits references to false Christs, the elect, the Holy Spirit, and seems to speak more of worldwide events. There are the Time of the Gentiles, where the nations of Japheth dominate the world; we understand this has been the case since the Greeks and Romans (BC 3rd century).