Matthew 24:9-13

Matthew 24:9-13

[9] Then  up  to  be afflicted,  and  shall kill  and  hated  of  all  nations  for  name's sake.  [10] And  then  shall many  be offended,  and  shall betray  one another,  and  shall hate  one another.  [11] And  many  false prophets  shall rise,  and  shall deceive  many.  [12] And  because  iniquity  shall abound,  the love  of many  shall wax cold.  [13] But  he that shall endure  unto  the end,  the same  shall be saved. 

What does Matthew 24:9-13 Mean?

Contextual Meaning

In the context all the things described in these verses will happen during the period of "birth pains," namely, during the Tribulation. However what follows seems to locate these events in the last half of the Tribulation. During the "birth pains" the disciples would experience persecution and martyrdom. The "you" extends beyond Jesus" immediate disciples and includes disciples living in the future when these things will happen. Jesus was again speaking beyond His immediate audience.
The word "tribulation" or "persecuted" (Gr. thlipsis, or "distress") is a key word in this passage occurring three times ( Matthew 24:9; Matthew 24:21; Matthew 24:29; cf. Matthew 13:21). These are all the occurrences of the word in Matthew"s Gospel. The outstanding characteristic of this time will be thlipsis. This persecution will lead many disciples to turn away from the faith (cf. Daniel 11:35). [1] They will even hate one another ( Matthew 24:10). The deceiving influence of false prophets as well as the persecution the disciples will experience will cause many to turn from the faith ( Matthew 24:11; cf. Matthew 7:15-23; Matthew 13:21). Those disciples who hate one another will do so because wickedness will abound and the love of many of them (for the Savior, the truth, and or one another) will grow cold ( Matthew 24:12).
Though the term "disciple" is a broader one than "believer," it seems clear that Jesus meant some believers would be deceived, turn from the faith, and even hate other believers. There is no other revelation in Scripture that would preclude this interpretation and much that warns believers about this possibility (e.g, 1 Timothy 4; 2 Timothy 3). There is much Revelation , however, that precludes the view that those who will turn from the faith will lose their salvation (e.g, John 10:28-29; Romans 8:31-39).
In contrast to those who prove unfaithful, those who persevere and endure the temptations of that period will experience deliverance ( Matthew 24:13). Their deliverance, unfortunately referred to as being "saved" by the majority of the English translations, will happen when and because Messiah will return at the end of the Tribulation. Jesus did not mean that perseverance results in eternal salvation. Only faith in Him does that. He will end the persecution of His disciples and thereby deliver them from this distress. Another view is that the end refers to the end of the faithful disciple"s life. [2] However the main subject of the promise seems to be the time of testing, not the disciple"s life.
"It is a promise that those who are faithful to the end, in the midst of the tribulation persecutions of Antichrist, will be abundantly rewarded with joint rulership with Christ in His coming kingdom." [3]