And then. The third section of the prophecy, contained in Matthew 24:23-35, passes from the fortunes of Jerusalem to the end of the world. To the Lord's hearers was conveyed the truth that the signs and events now indicated were to be subsequent to the destruction of the city.
No further note of chronology was given. The uncertainty of the future caused a state of constant expectation and hope. And this is the feeling which we Christians are intended to embrace and cultivate.
"The word 'then' relates not to the connection in the order of time with the things just mentioned,… not meaning what should follow straightway after these things, but what should be in the time when these things were to be done of which he was about to speak" (St.
Chrysostom, 'Horn.,' in loc.). Lo, here is Christ! This refers to something different from the announcement in Matthew 24:5. Some analogous deceptions doubtless occurred at the siege of Jerusalem, but the Lord is predicting the remote events of the latter days, of which previous occurrences were types and anticipations.
Believe it not. When Christ does come the second time, there shall be no doubt or ignorance of his appearance (see Matthew 24:27, and compare the warning in Deuteronomy 13:1-3).