One day, some followers of Jesus asked Him “what will be the sign of Your coming, and of the and of the age?” Christ’s answer to His followers is often called the “Olivet Discourse” and it’s recorded in Matthew 24, Mark 13 and Luke 21. Jesus said that the end times would begin with a period of deception, wars, famines, earthquakes, plagues and terrifying sights from Heaven. He called this period the Beginning of Birth Pains. The first three seals of Revelation depict this same period, highlighting the arrival of the ultimate deceiver, the Antichrist and his involvement in violent uprisings and famines.
Jesus added that the Abomination of Desolation ends the Beginning of Birth Pains period. The Antichrist will invade Jerusalem, enter the Temple, put an end to the daily sacrifices and claim to be God. The Abomination of Desolation starts the Great Tribulation, Satan and the Antichrist’s violent persecution of Christians and Jews. Jesus described the Great Tribulation in Matthew 24:9-28. The fourth and fifth seals of Revelation 6 also examine this coming period. Fortunately, the Great Tribulation is going to be cut short when Jesus returns to deliver His followers. This rescue mission is known as the Rapture and it takes place between the sixth and seventh seals of Revelation.
Summary
Jesus was asked what the sign of His return and the end of the age would be in Matthew 24:3. He described the Beginning of Birth Pains period in Matthew 24:4-8. He talked about the Great Tribulation in Matthew 24:9-28. Finally, He discussed the Rapture in Matthew 24:29-31.