Matthew 24:33 Even so, when you see all these things, you know that it is near, right at the door.
Then in verse 36 He says that the day and hour of the beginning of those events described prior to verse 32 would begin to happen. Read the chapter again with that in mind.
I was not trying to leave anything out, I just included those verses for brevity (something I am rarely accused of). We certainly should take the entire discourse into account.
“In verse 32 Jesus began to explain what to look for as signs of when those things described earlier would begin to happen. Look at verse 33.”
Matthew 24:33
Even so, when you see all these things, you know that it is near, right at the door.
What is “it” here?
We need to go back to the beginning for context:
Matthew 24:3
Now as He sat on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to Him privately, saying, “Tell us, when will these things be? And what will be the sign of Your coming, and of the end of the age?”
There are essentially three questions being answered. What are the answers?
When will these things be?
It is not for us to know when. (See verse 36.)
We should not fall into the trap of foolish date-setting schemes.
What will be the sign of Christ’s coming?
There are actually 6 signs that precede Christ’s coming:
1) Deception, False Christs, False Peace - Matthew 24:5
2) War and rumors of war - Matthew 24:6,7
3) Famine - Matthew 24:7
4) Disease, troubles and natural disasters - Matthew 24:7
5) “Tribulation”, persecution and martyrdom of the saints - Matthew 24:9
6) Signs in the heavens, specifically the darkening of the sun and moon (immediately AFTER the Great Tribulation) - Matthew 24:29
What will be the sign of the end of the age?
Christ coming is the 7th sign that marks the arrival of the END.
Matthew 24:3, 6, 8, 13, 14
Now as He sat on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to Him privately, saying, “Tell us, when will these things be? And what will be the sign of Your coming, and of the END [emphasis added] of the age?”
And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not troubled; for all these things must come to pass, but the END [emphasis added] is not yet.
All these are the beginning of sorrows.
But he who endures to the END [emphasis added] shall be saved.
And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the END [emphasis added] will come.
So the answer to the question of what is “it” in verse 33, is it is the END of the age.
The disciples wanted to know when. Christ said it was not for them to know. They wanted to know the signs of the END and of His coming. He answered them with six specific signs preceding His return and confirmed their expectation that His return does mark the END of the age.
The period called the END is another way of describing the Day of the Lord. It is the end of the world (not the end of the earth) or end of the age. It is the last portion of time before the new age and new world of the millennial kingdom begins. During this time God judges unbelieving Israel and all of the nations of the world.
An attempt to make “it” refer to the whole prior list of signs does not work and does not make sense:
Matthew 24:33 [if “it” refers to the signs]
So you also, when you see all these things, know that [THESE SIGNS] are near—at the doors!
See. It does not work. It does not fit. It is singular.
Could “it” be referring to the time period of these signs? No. Same problem.
Matthew 24:33 [if “it” refers to the time period of the signs]
So you also, when you see all these things, know that [THIS TIME PERIOD OF SIGNS] is near—at the doors!
Still does not work. Signs mean something. They point to something. Now try substituting the END for it:
Matthew 24:33 [if “it” refers to the END]
So you also, when you see all these things, know that [THE END] is near—at the doors!
Yes. That works. Because that is what He is referring to. That is the answer to the questions His disciples asked.
But here is the most important point: This time period is NOT the END of the age. It is what precedes the END.
This is additionally supported by the fact that He describes His coming AFTER the Great Tribulation to be like a thief and at an unexpected time:
Matthew 24:29-30
Immediately AFTER [emphasis added] the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken. THEN [emphasis added] the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.
Matthew 24:42-44
Watch therefore, for you do not know what hour your Lord is coming. But know this, that if the master of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched and not allowed his house to be broken into. Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.
Paul places the END on this same timeline as well:
1 Corinthians 15:23-25
But each one [is resurrected] in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, afterward those who are Christ’s at His coming. Then comes the END [emphasis added], when He delivers the kingdom to God the Father, when He puts an end to all rule and all authority and power. For He must reign till He has put all enemies under His feet.