Mat 24:4-8 | TNotes | STEP | Summary for Matt 24:4-8: 24:4-8 Jesus warned the disciples not to be deceived by impostors or overwhelmed by catastrophes in hope of a premature end to history. Time must run its predestined course. The signs predicted in 24:4-8 are not necessarily at the end; rather, they are signs prior to the end.

Summary for Matt 24:4-8: 24:4-8 ^a Jesus warned the disciples not to be deceived by impostors or overwhelmed by catastrophes in hope of a premature end to history. Time must run its predestined course. The signs predicted in 24:4-8 ^b are not necessarily at the end; rather, they are signs prior to the end.
24:5 ^c claiming, ‘I am the Messiah’: A series of false prophets and miracle workers evoked messianic images and persuaded the masses to follow them in hope of deliverance during the period between AD 30 and 70 (Josephus, Antiquities 18.4.1; 20.5.1; 20.8.6; War 6.5.2). The earliest recorded instance of an outright claim to be the Messiah was Bar Kochba’s claim in AD 132. It is not clear whether Jesus is referring only to impostors in the period prior to the destruction of the Temple or to false messiahs throughout the church age or perhaps during a future tribulation.
24:6 ^d these things must take place: Tumultuous times are part of God’s sovereign plan as he brings history to a close (see 24:7 ^e, 29-30 ^f; 2 Thes 2:8-12 ^g).

• The end could refer to the close of an epoch (such as at AD 70) or the end of human history as we now know it (cp. Matt 24:13-14 ^h; see also 10:22 ⁱ; 13:39-40 ^j, 49 ^k).
24:8 ^l first of the birth pains: Intense anguish is expected just prior to Jesus’ second coming (see also 24:29-31 ^m; Isa 13:8 ⁿ; 26:17 ^o; Jer 4:31 ^p; 6:24 ^q; Mic 4:9-10 ^r).