Discovery BoxMatthew 24:3 
ContextSigns of the End of the Age
24:3 As 1 he was sitting on the Mount of Olives, his disciples came to him privately and said, “Tell us, when will these things 2 happen? And what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?”
Matthew 24:27
Context24:27 For just like the lightning 3 comes from the east and flashes to the west, so the coming of the Son of Man will be.
Matthew 24:44
Context24:44 Therefore you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him. 4
1 tn Here δέ (de) has not been translated.
2 sn Because the phrase these things is plural, more than the temple’s destruction is in view. The question may presuppose that such a catastrophe signals the end.
3 sn The Son of Man’s coming in power will be sudden and obvious like lightning. No one will need to point it out.
4 sn Jesus made clear that his coming could not be timed, and suggested it would take some time – so long, in fact, that some will not be looking for him any longer (at an hour when you do not expect him).
