Matthew 24:4-8

Jesus was having a private time with His disciples regarding many topics they were speaking about with Him. These topics were varied and related to a time coming in the future. This information not only concerned the Jews but humanity in general.

After taking His seat, He began teaching His disciples of the future. He began in Matthew 24:4 ‘And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you’. He let them know right from the start of His revelations that “they” who are alive in those days need, to be aware that they could very well be deceived. He did not state by who, only that deception would be great in that day.

He gave an example of the deception in Matthew 24:5 ‘For many shall come in My name, saying I Am Christ; and shall deceive many’. Many in the Greek is: G4183 πολύς, πολλόςpolus polos pol-oos' Including the forms from the alternate “pollos”; (singular) much (in any respect) or (plural) many; plenteous, etc. Deceive in the Greek is: G4105 πλανάωplanaō plan-ah'-o From G4106; to (properly cause to) roam (from safety, truth, or virtue): - go astray, deceive, err, seduce, wander, be out of the way. In other words, there would be plenty of people who would be successful in deceiving and seducing others into believing that “they” are Jesus the Christ. Jesus’ warning is not trivial but is a stern warning that a plenteous many will in fact be deceived and loose their soul and spirit to hell.

Matthew 24:6 'And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet’. End in the Greek is: G5056 τέλοςtelos tel'-os From a primary word τέλλω tellō (to set out for a definite point or goal); properly the point aimed at as a limit, that is, (by implication) the conclusion of an act or state (termination [literally, figuratively or indefinitely], result [immediate, ultimate or prophetic], purpose); specifically an impost or levy (as paid): - + continual, custom, end (-ing), finally, uttermost. Compare G5411.

It seems that wars and rumours of war have been with mankind since before Jesus’ ministry. However, the sheer number of wars will be incredible in the last days and of the time Jesus is speaking about. I see wars in the news all the time. According to this website, as of February 2018 there are currently 67 wars and 780 conflicts with guerrillas, separatists and anarchists. Here’s the link: https://www.warsintheworld.com/?page=static1258254223

Matthew 24:7 ‘For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places’. Nation in the Greek is: G1484 ἔθνος ethnos eth'-nos Probably from G1486; a race (as of the same habit), that is, a tribe; specifically a foreign (non-Jewish) one (usually by implication pagan): - Gentile, heathen, nation, people. Kingdom in the Greek is: G932 βασιλείαbasileia bas-il-i'-ah From G935; properly royalty, that is, (abstractly) rule, or (concretely) a realm (literally or figuratively): - kingdom, + reign.

Matthew 24:8 ‘All these are the beginning of sorrows’. Sorrows in the Greek is: G5604 ὠδίνōdin o-deen' Akin to G3601; a pang or throe, especially of childbirth: - pain, sorrow, travail.

Since the voluminous wars that exist in this time period Jesus is sharing with His disciples; it’s quite disturbing that the large number of wars taking place in the world, is a huge indicator of the time period before the return of Jesus again to earth. Jesus states these wars are “the beginning of sorrows.”