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The `end' is marked by `tribulation' in two phases. Firstly, during the `beginning of sorrows', the Lord says:
`They shall deliver you up to be tribulated' (Gk. afflicted, as in verses 21 and 29). Secondly, there comes `great
tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world till now, no, nor ever shall be' (verse 21).
We may now visualise the outstanding features of this first answer:
A 24:4,5.  Warning against deception by false Christs.
B 24:6-14. The beginning of sorrows. `Endure', `saved'.
B 24:15-22. The tribulation in full course. `Shortened', `saved'.
A 24:23,24. Warning against deception by false Christs.
Intermingled with the conflict of nations we have famines, pestilences, and earthquakes, as signs of the
beginning of sorrows. A gleam of hope is found in these passages of gloom in the word `sorrow'. Odin and odino
speak, not of sorrow in general, but pains in one particular, `pains that issue in birth'. There are altogether seven
occurrences:
`Whom God hath raised up, having loosed the pains of death' (Acts 2:24).
`As travail upon a woman with child' (1 Thess. 5:3).
(and in all the other references, viz., Mark 13:8; Gal. 4:19,27; and Rev. 12:2).
This last reference is illuminated by Matthew 24, and sends back light in return. The birth pains of Revelation
12:2 are followed by the rise of the beast and the false prophet, and the war on the saints of chapter 13. There also,
in Revelation 13, is the abomination of desolation spoken of by Daniel the prophet.
The sign of the coming
Passing from the question of the `end', the Lord comes to the related question of `the sign of coming'. This, too,
is introduced by warnings against deception. The two foci of this second answer are found in verses 24 and 30,31:
`Signs and wonders ... if ... possible ... deceive the very elect' (Matt. 24:24).
`The sign of the Son of man in heaven ... gather ... His elect' (Matt. 24:30,31).
The false signs and wonders are described in Revelation 13 and 2 Thessalonians 2:
`And he doeth great wonders ... and deceiveth them that dwell on the earth by the means of those miracles' (Rev.
13:13,14).
`And then shall that Wicked (one) be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of His mouth, and
shall destroy with the brightness of His coming (parousia): even him, whose coming (parousia) is after the
working of Satan ... with all deceivableness of unrighteousness ...' (2 Thess. 2:8-10).
By referring to Hebrews 2:4 we shall see how close is the parody of Satan:
`God also bearing them witness, both with signs and wonders, and with divers miracles, and gifts of holy spirit'
(Heb. 2:4 Author's translation).
`After the working of Satan, with all power and signs and wonders of the lie' (2 Thess. 2:9 Author's translation).
Moreover, both the Lord and the false Christ are to have a parousia, as the word is for `coming'.
Not only are there these two signs, but there are also two gatherings:
`For wheresoever the carcase is, there will the eagles be gathered together (sunago)' (Matt. 24:28).