This section is the beginning of the end-times discourse of Jesus. Remember that in the previous section Jesus spoke about how the temple would be destroyed. In today’s reading the disciples are concerned, and ask Him when this will happen. Jesus’ prophetic reply points forward to both the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 AD as well as His future second coming. Keeping which He is speaking of can be confusing at times.
His main point is that bad things will continue to happen in the world. Earthquakes and tsunamis will come, wars will destroy nations, famines will kill many, people will question where God is in the midst of these horrible things, and many will fall away, deceived by those who question God’s power and will. All these horrible things don’t point to God, but to sin: Sin that even leaves the Earth crying out, Sin from leaders who see power being more important than people, sin from greed that focuses people more on their own wants than the needs of others.
Yet to the one who endures until the end… the one who remains in the true faith… this one will be saved. In the midst of the struggles and depression that comes about by looking at the many problems in our world, remember our Hope, the promise to those of us remaining in the faith – His promise of the end of the troubles, and the beginning of life with Him forever.