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Mat_24:4. The reply of Jesus is directed, in the first instance, to the second question ( τί τὸ σημεῖον , κ . τ . λ .), inasmuch as He indicates, as the discourse advances, the things that are to precede His second coming, till, in Mat_24:28, He reaches the point which borders immediately upon the latter event (see Mat_24:29). But this answer to the second question involves, at the same time, an indirect answer to the first, in so far as it was possible to give this latter at all (for see Mat_24:36), and in so far as it was advisable to do so, if the watchfulness of the disciples was to be maintained. The discourse proceeds in the following order down to Mat_24:28 : first there is a warning with regard to the appearing of false Messiahs (extending to Mat_24:5), then the announcement of the beginning and development of the dolores Messiae on to their termination (Mat_24:6-14), and finally the hint that these latter are to end with the destruction of the temple and the accompanying disasters (Mat_24:15-22), with a repetition of the warning against false Messiahs (Mat_24:23-28). Ebrard (adv. erroneam nonnull. opinion., qua Christus Christique apost. existumasse perhibentur, fore ut univ. iudicium ipsor. aetate superveniret, 1842) finds in Mat_24:4-14 the reply of Jesus to the disciples’ second question. He thinks that in Mat_24:15 Jesus passes to the first, and that in Mat_24:29 He comes back “ad σημεῖον τῆς ἑαυτοῦ παρουσίας κατʼ ἐξοχήν , i.e. ad secundae quaestionis partem priorem.” This supposition is simply the result of an imperious dogmatic preconception, and cannot be justified on any fair exegetical principle. See below. Dorner, who spiritualizes the discourse, understands Mat_24:4-14 as setting forth the nature of the gospel and its necessary development, while he regards what follows, from Mat_24:15 onward, as describing the historical “decursum Christianae religionis;” he thinks that Jesus desired by this means to dispel the premature Messianic hopes of the disciples, and make them reflect on what they must bear and suffer “ut evangelium munere suo historico perfungi possit.”