He was using Daniel to answer the questions the disciples were asking as a sign of his return and restoration of isreal kingdom which is yet future
I think you'd benefit by going back and looking to see what is actually written. Jesus was in the Temple grounds where He said "not one stone will be left standing", the disciples then asked Him when "these things" will take place, to which they also added, "and the time of Your coming and the end of the age".
Jesus didn't connect the destruction of the Temple with His return and the end of the Age, the disciples did--He was talking about the destruction of the Temple. And so sits them down on the Mount of Olives to spell out, clearly, what was going to happen, even within their own lifetime.
That's why when He talks about the hearing of wars and rumors of wars, and natural disasters, etc, He clearly says these are not signs of the end, but rather "birth pains"--these are the pains of labor of a fallen world, echoed again by St. Paul in Romans 8 when he speaks of the groanings of creation under the subjugation and tyranny of death. As long as we are in this fallen world, it's a world of pain and suffering, where wars, rumors of wars, conflict, and natural disasters take place, where there are famines, and diseases, which have been a constant throughout history. These aren't the end, these aren't the signs of the end, these are just labor pains.
He does talk about His return, but it's not connected with the destruction of the Temple. He had spoken of signs connected to the destruction of the Temple, which is why as Eusebius writes, the Church in Jerusalem saw the writing on the wall and fled to the wilderness. The Jewish Christians in Jerusalem fled, based on the warning from Christ; but non-believing Jews stayed and fought, and died. This was viewed as a betrayal by the Christians, and may be a major reason why Christians were never allowed to enter a synagogue after that, as not long after we see the addition of the "
Benediction against the heretics" appear in the weekly rabbinic benedictions. There was already a growing rift that had been going on for a long time, but the fleeing of Christians from Jerusalem when Rome came and the Temple was destroyed, that was probably the last straw: Christianity and Judaism would forever be separate.
So what does Jesus tell us about His coming? He is clear, "no one knows the day or hour", "The Son of Man returns at a time you do not expect", when Christ comes in judgment it will be like the flood in Noah's day: two will be in a field, one will be taken and one will be left; two will be at the grind mill, one taken and one left. For people will be going about their lives "marrying and given in marriage" when, without warning, the flood came and swept them all away (Matthew 24:39).
The Lord comes, when we do not, there will be no warning, no sign to tells us ahead of time. Which is why we must be faithful, vigilant servants who stay awake and not sleep on the job; (Matthew 24:45-51). The Lord provides us with several Parables concerning this, the Parable of the Ten Virgins, the Parable of the Talents, and then also His warning about future Judgment. Who is the foolish virgin? Who is the unfaithful servant? He who sees the hungry and gives them no food, who sees the thirsty and gives them no drink, who sees the naked and gives them no clothing. For "I was hungry and you did not feed Me" etc.
So see to it that, rather than seeking after signs, abide in the word of Christ who tells us to love our neighbor and be obedient to the charge He has given us--His return is certain, but unknown. But when He comes, He comes in Judgment. He shall divide the tares from the wheat, and the goats from the sheep. He comes to tread the winepress of God's righteous wrath against all wickedness.
-CryptoLutheran
