Matthew 24:33

24:33 So also you, when you see all these things, know ¹  that he is near, right at the door.

Matthew 23:39

23:39 For I tell you, you will not see me from now until you say, ‘Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord!’” ² 

Matthew 24:15

The Abomination of Desolation

24:15 “So when you see the abomination of desolation ³  – spoken about by Daniel the prophet – standing in the holy place (let the reader understand),

Matthew 13:14

13:14 And concerning them the prophecy of Isaiah is fulfilled that says:

‘You will listen carefully ⁴  yet will never understand,

you will look closely ⁵  yet will never comprehend.

¹ tn The verb γινώσκετε (ginwskete, “know”) can be parsed as either present indicative or present imperative. In this context the imperative fits better, since the movement is from analogy (trees and seasons) to the future (the signs of the coming of the kingdom) and since the emphasis is on preparation for this event.

² sn A quotation from Ps 118:26.

³ sn The reference to the abomination of desolation is an allusion to Dan 9:27. Though some have seen the fulfillment of Daniel’s prophecy in the actions of Antiochus IV (or a representative of his) in 167 b.c., the words of Jesus seem to indicate that Antiochus was not the final fulfillment, but that there was (from Jesus’ perspective) still another fulfillment yet to come. Some argue that this was realized in a.d. 70, while others claim that it refers specifically to Antichrist and will not be fully realized until the period of the great tribulation at the end of the age (cf. Mark 13:14, 19, 24; Rev 3:10).

⁴ tn Grk “with hearing,” a cognate dative that intensifies the action of the main verb “you will listen” (ExSyn 168-69).

⁵ tn Grk “look by looking.” The participle is redundant, functioning to intensify the force of the main verb.