Mat 24:6-12 | TNotes | STEP | 24:6 these things must take place: Tumultuous times are part of God’s sovereign plan as he brings history to a close (see 24:7 , 29-30 ; 2 Thes 2:8-12 ). • 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 ; see also 10:22 ; 13:39-40 , 49 ).

24:6 ^a these things must take place: Tumultuous times are part of God’s sovereign plan as he brings history to a close (see 24:7 ^b, 29-30 ^c; 2 Thes 2:8-12 ^d).

• 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 ^e; see also 10:22 ^f; 13:39-40 ^g, 49 ^h).
24:8 ⁱ first of the birth pains: Intense anguish is expected just prior to Jesus’ second coming (see also 24:29-31 ^j; Isa 13:8 ^k; 26:17 ^l; Jer 4:31 ^m; 6:24 ⁿ; Mic 4:9-10 ^o).
24:9 ^p hated (see Acts 28:22 ^q): At the end of the first century, the Roman historian Tacitus described Christians as “the hated ones of mankind” (Tacitus, Annals 15.44). The affliction of the righteous sometimes has the purpose of inciting repentance and obedience (see Exod 4:31 ^r; Deut 4:30 ^s; Judg 10:6-16 ^t; Pss 34:19 ^u; 37:39 ^v; 50:15 ^w).
24:10 ^x Persecution will lead some to abandon loyalty to Jesus (10:25 ^y; 13:21 ^z; 16:24-28 ^aa; 26:33 ^ab).
24:12 ^ac the love of many will grow cold (see Rev 2:4 ^ad): If the love within the community of Jesus’ disciples diminishes to the point of extinction, then the community ceases to be what God has designed it to be.