Jesus was asked by his disciples what would be the sign of His return and of the end of the age (Matthew 24:3b).  Matthew gave an account of Jesus’ responses to those questions (24:4-31).

In Matthew 24:4-14, Jesus stated a brief overview of the entire 70th Week, from the beginning to the very end.  In this passage, He first provided highlights corresponding to the first five seals described by John in Revelation:

• 24:4,5 (First Seal);
• 24:6,7a (Second Seal);
• 24:7b (Third Seal);
• 24:7b,8 (Fouth Seal);
• 24:9-12 (Fifth Seal).

Next, Jesus’ discussion returned to the midpoint of the 70th Week, at which time those living in Judea are to flee (Matthew 24:15,16), to be protected by God for 1,260 days (Revelation 12:6).  Then He touched on the time of the Great Tribulation, an interval of immense distress unequaled in human history up to that point (Matthew 24:21).  He even noted that this period of time—which corresponds to John’s Fifth Seal persecution of saints (Revelation 6:9-11)—will be shortened for the sake of the elect (Matthew 24:22).

What will cut short this time for the elect saints?  It will be the opening of the Sixth Seal (Matthew 24:15-29).  The Fifth Seal will encompass the “Great Tribulation” period, while the hallmark of the Sixth Seal will be conspicuous “cosmic disturbances” (24:29).  The responses by Jesus in Matthew 24:4-31 parallel the descriptions of the first six seals by John in Revelation 6:1-17 (see Parallels Between the Six Seals and the Olivet Discourse).

Jesus included a direct answer to his disciples’ question about what would be the “sign” of His coming—likening it to lightning flashing from the east to the west (Matthew 24:27)—before detailing His future return in the clouds.  The latter will be at the Pre-wrath Rapture (24:30,31), when the Son of Man (Jesus) will appear in the sky, soon after the opening of the Sixth Seal.  None of what Jesus spoke about encompassed any part of God’s wrath, which will not begin until after the Pre-wrath Rapture has taken place.