Troubles Preceding The End
Matthew 24.4-5 (Mark 13.5-6; Luke 21.8)
And Jesus answered them, "See that no one leads you astray. For many will come in my name, saying, 'I am the Christ,' and they will lead many astray."
Jesus warned against being deluded by false messiahs. In Acts we find Simon the magician, a man who was deceiving the people with his sorcery, even convincing people he was "the power of God that is called great." [Acts 8.9-11] A man named Theudas convinced people of Judea that he was a prophet and led many astray before he himself was killed. [Josephus, Jewish Antiquities 20.5.1; Acts 5.36] There was then a man, Judas of Galilee. [Acts 5.37] Josephus says that during the era of Roman procurator Felix (52-60 AD), there were "imposters" being put to death nearly every day. [Josephus, Jewish Antiquities 20.8.5-6] He also mentions "an Egyptian false prophet" who convinced the Jews to follow after him in revolt against the Romans. [Josephus, Wars of the Jews 2.13.5; Acts 21.37-39] Another individual involved with the Jewish-Roman War who appears to have claimed to be the messiah (by his actions, if not by words) was Menahem ben Judah. Jesus' prophecy about false messiahs finds fulfillment as early as 30-40 AD.
Matthew 24.6 (Mark 13.7; Luke 21.9)
"And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not alarmed, for this must take place, but the end is not yet."
Following Emperor Nero's suicide in 68 AD, civil war broke out in the Roman Empire. The Batavian Rebellion occurred the same year, in the Roman province Germania Inferior. Within Judea the Jewish-Roman War (which officially began in 67 AD) was raging on. Roman historian Tacitus wrote this about the time period: "The history on which I am entering is that of a period rich in disaster, terrible with battles, torn by civil struggles, horrible even in peace. Four emperors fell by the sword, there were three civil wars, more foreign wars, and often both at the same time." [Tacitus, The Histories 1.2] Josephus also mentions this time of civil war in the Empire. [Josephus, Wars of the Jews 4.9.2] This prophecy found its fulfillment by the 60s AD.
Matthew 24.7a (Mark 13.8; Luke 21.10)
"For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom..."
A minor rebellion in Roman-controlled Britannia took place in 61 AD, and as already mentioned were the Batavian Rebellion, and the Jewish-Roman War itself. Commagene and Sophene, kingdoms from the east, across the great river Euphrates, were called upon by the Romans to aid in putting down the Jewish revolt. The prophecy was fulfilled by the 60s AD.
Luke 21.11 (Matthew 24.7b; Mark 13.8a)
"There will be great earthquakes, and in various places famines and pestilences. And there will be terrors and great signs from heaven."
Luke records an earthquake. [Acts 16.26] Three earthquakes took place in Rome in 51 AD. [Tacitus, The Annals 12.43.1] In the 60s AD, an earthquake destroyed the city of Laodicea. In 62 AD, an earthquake took place at Pompeii. A prophet named Agabus prophesied and saw the fulfillment of a famine during the reign of Emperor Claudius. [Acts 11.28] Josephus records a famine. [Josephus, Jewish Antiquities 20.2.5; Wars of the Jews 5.10.2-3] Tacitus writes of plague. [Tacitus, The Annals 12.43, 16.13] Each of these historians mentions heavenly signs associated with Jerusalem and its temple. [Josephus, Wars of the Jews 6.5.3; Tacitus, The Histories 5.13] This prophecy finds its fulfillment between 30-70 AD.
Matthew 24.8 (Mark 13.8b)
"All these are but the beginning of the birth pains."
Persecution of the Faithful
Mark 13.9 (Matthew 24.9a; Luke 21.12)
"But be on your guard. For they will deliver you over to councils, and you will be beaten in synagogues, and you will stand before governors and kings for my sake, to bear witness before them."
"And when they bring you to trial and deliver you over, do not be anxious beforehand what you are to say, but say whatever is given you in that hour, for it is not you who speak, but the Holy Spirit."
"This will be your opportunity to bear witness. Settle it therefore in your minds not to meditate beforehand how to answer, for I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which none of your adversaries will be able to withstand or contradict."
Matthew 24.9b (Mark 13.13a; Luke 21.17)
"... and you will be hated by all nations for my name's sake."
Jesus directly stated that his disciples would flee persecution, but that they would "not have gone through all the towns of Israel before the Son of Man [came]." [Matthew 10.23] Persecution of the disciples began in the early years of their ministries. [Acts 4.3] Followers are taken before councils. [Acts 4.15, 6.12] Stephen was stoned to death. [Acts 7.58] Saul helped persecution spread against the followers of the Way. [Acts 8.1, Acts 9.1] Further persecutions are found in Scripture. [Acts 12.1, 14.19, 24.5; 2 Timothy 3.11] Followers are taken before governors and kings. [Acts 23.33, 26.1] Tacitus speaks of the Roman persecution under Nero, and its savage intensity. [Tacitus, The Annals 15.39-44] This prophecy found fulfillment between 30-70 AD.
"And then many will fall away and betray one another and hate one another."
Mark 13.12 (Luke 21.16)
"And brother will deliver brother over to death, and the father his child, and children will rise against parents and have them put to death."
Paul mentions Christians backsliding, leaving the faith, and turning against each other. [Galatians 3.3; 2 Timothy 1.15, 4.9,16] Fulfilled at the latest by 68 AD.
"And many false prophets will arise and lead many astray. And because lawlessness will be increased, the love of many will grow cold."
Matthew 24.13 (Mark 13.13b; Luke 21.18-19)
"But the one who endures to the end will be saved."
The New Testament frequently mentions false prophets, lawlessness in abundance, and general hostility between Christians. [Acts 13.6, 20.29; Hebrews 10.25; 1 Corinthians 5.1; 2 Corinthians 11.13; 2 Timothy 2.16; 2 Peter 2.2; 1 John 2.18, 4.1; 2 John 1.7; Jude 1.17] Josephus provides some further corroboration on such actions taking place. [Josephus, Wars of the Jews 4.3.2, 4.6.3, 5.10.5, 6.5.2-3, 7.8.1] This finds fulfillment between 30-70 AD.
Matthew 24.14 (Mark 13.10)
"And this gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come."
Christ worded this goal several ways, and Paul repeatedly stated that this goal had been achieved, using the same words that Christ had. To Paul, it seems, it was irrefutable fact that the gospel had been preached "to every creature under heaven". [Acts 2.5, 24.5; Romans 1.8, 10.16-18, 16.25-26; Colossians 1.3-6, 1.21-23] Fulfilled between 30-70 AD.