I have reasons for starting this which I may mention at a later time. Someone said to start this and so, here it is. This is for discussion. You should notice that I give only little pieces of input to each verse, because this should be an open discussion. I also highlighted some portions.
This is actually kind of important, given that Jesus presents some parables that seem to show that for those who do not hear, listen, and act... it isn't pretty. Once again, this is for considerate discussion.
Matthew 24
"Then Jesus went out and departed from the temple, and His disciples came up to show Him the buildings of the temple. 2 And Jesus said to them, “Do you not see all these things? Assuredly, I say to you, not one stone shall be left here upon another, that shall not be thrown down.”
[There is too little information available for me to say, but what about the western wall that is still standing? This would only be a distraction. It is something that came up in some of my research.]
"3 Now as He sat on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to Him privately, saying, “Tell us, when will these things be? And what will be the sign of Your coming, and of the end of the age?”
4 And Jesus answered and said to them: “Take heed that no one deceives you. 5 For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will deceive many. 6 And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not troubled; for [a]all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. 7 For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be famines, [b]pestilences, and earthquakes in various places. 8 All these are the beginning of sorrows.
[Please tell me that you notice that Jesus is presenting His second coming as affecting the whole world, not just Jerusalem.]
9 “Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and kill you, and you will be hated by all nations for My name’s sake. 10 And then many will be offended, will betray one another, and will hate one another. 11 Then many false prophets will rise up and deceive many. 12 And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold. 13 But he who endures to the end shall be saved. 14 And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come."
[Again, Jesus is relating His second coming to the whole world, not just Jerusalem. Jerusalem, which can very well be symbolic for Israel, and all Jews, is the center of the story, but all the nations of the world are involved.]
This is actually kind of important, given that Jesus presents some parables that seem to show that for those who do not hear, listen, and act... it isn't pretty. Once again, this is for considerate discussion.
Matthew 24
"Then Jesus went out and departed from the temple, and His disciples came up to show Him the buildings of the temple. 2 And Jesus said to them, “Do you not see all these things? Assuredly, I say to you, not one stone shall be left here upon another, that shall not be thrown down.”
[There is too little information available for me to say, but what about the western wall that is still standing? This would only be a distraction. It is something that came up in some of my research.]
"3 Now as He sat on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to Him privately, saying, “Tell us, when will these things be? And what will be the sign of Your coming, and of the end of the age?”
4 And Jesus answered and said to them: “Take heed that no one deceives you. 5 For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will deceive many. 6 And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not troubled; for [a]all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. 7 For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be famines, [b]pestilences, and earthquakes in various places. 8 All these are the beginning of sorrows.
[Please tell me that you notice that Jesus is presenting His second coming as affecting the whole world, not just Jerusalem.]
9 “Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and kill you, and you will be hated by all nations for My name’s sake. 10 And then many will be offended, will betray one another, and will hate one another. 11 Then many false prophets will rise up and deceive many. 12 And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold. 13 But he who endures to the end shall be saved. 14 And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come."
[Again, Jesus is relating His second coming to the whole world, not just Jerusalem. Jerusalem, which can very well be symbolic for Israel, and all Jews, is the center of the story, but all the nations of the world are involved.]