Slaves4Christ: August 2013

Matthew 24 - The Olivet Discourse

· Also found in Mark 13, Luke 21

o Steve Gregg: Mat 24 puts Luke 21 (about Great Trib in 1^st century) and Luke 17 (about 2^nd coming??) together as writes his gospel topically (future things), not chronologically. VV. 1-34 happened to “this generation” (1^st century). Afterward, Matthew writes of the 2^nd Coming.

§ You/your used 14x in vv. 1-34, but not after that.

Jesus Predicts the Destruction of the Temple

1 Then Jesus went out and departed from the temple, and His disciples came up to show Him the buildings of the temple. 2 And Jesus said to them, “Do you not see all these things? Assuredly, I say to you, not one stone shall be left here upon another, that shall not be thrown down.”

The Signs of the Times and the End of the Age

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?”

o Mark 13:3-4 “Peter, James, John, and Andrew asked Him privately, 4 “Tell us, when will these things be? And what will be the sign when all these things will be fulfilled?”

o Luke 21:7 “So they asked Him, saying, “Teacher, but when will these things be? And what sign will there be when these things are about to take place?”

o Matthew rephrases Mark & Luke – sounds like

1. When will the temple be destroyed?

2. What will be the sign of your coming?

o Matthew is compressing 2 narratives found in Luke 17 & Luke 21.
2 possibilities:

· Matthew may have modified the question to accommodate both narratives. 1 about 70 AD, 1 bout 2^nd coming. OR

· Matthew is paraphrasing the disciples.

o Many times “coming” talked about, usually not referring to 2^nd coming. (to comfort, to bless, to judge)

Examples:

· Jn 14:18 - Jesus said to disciples in upper room, “I will not leave you comfortless, I will come to you.” – referring to the Holy Spirit

· Jn 14:23 - Jesus answered and said to him, “If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him.”

·         Isa 19:1 – “The burden against Egypt.
      Behold, the LORD rides on a swift cloud,
      And will come into Egypt;
      The idols of Egypt will totter at His presence,
      And the heart of Egypt will melt in its midst. “ – coming in judgment on     Egypt

· Dan 7:13-14 – “one like the son of man coming with the clouds from heaven,”
“came to the Ancient of Days,” “given dominion, glory, and a kingdom,” “everlasting dominion,” “kingdom shall not be destroyed.

o NT says Jesus already on throne in his kingdom

§ Rev 3:21 – “To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne.”

§ 1 Cor 15:25 - “For He must reign till He has put all enemies under His feet.”

§ Acts 2:36 - Peter on Pentecost: “Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ (king).”

o    Dan 7:13 - “ I was watching in the night visions,
      And behold, One like the Son of Man,
      Coming with the clouds of heaven!
      He came to the Ancient of Days,
      And they brought Him near before Him.
      Then to Him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom,
      That all peoples, nations, and languages should serve Him.
      His dominion is an everlasting dominion,
      Which shall not pass away,
      And His kingdom the one
      Which shall not be destroyed.” – Jesus came to God in Heaven
      ASCENSION INTO HEAVEN

o In Acts 1, disciples saw Jesus ascend into heaven. Dan 7, we see this from the other side of the clouds. Receives seat at Father’s right hand and receives his kingdom to rule over. Not coming to earth, but going the other way.

· What shall be the sign of your coming? (Matt. 24:3)

· Were the disciples asking about the 2^nd coming?

o How could they? They didn’t even know he was leaving.

o They thought he was soon coming to power.

· Where did they get the expression “your coming” ?

o Matt 16:28 – “Assuredly, I say to you, there are some standing here who shall not taste death till they see the Son of Man coming in His kingdom.”

o Associated “coming” with the destruction of Jerusalem

o Peter, James, John & Andrew asked this privately (Mk 13:3).

o Jesus addressed them with “you” 15x in chapter 24.

§ Dispensationalists: He was speaking to disciples as reps of Jewish race that would be alive at 2^nd coming.

§ So in John 14 when Jesus said, “If you ask anything in my name, I will do it?” Was he talking to reps of Jewish race?

§ If reps of anything – reps of the Church.

§ Disciples asked personal question, Jesus gave personal answer.

§ They wanted to know when they should leave the city.

· v. 16 “then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains”

· Eusebius: B4 Romans besieged Jerusalem, Christians were warned by oracle from Christ to flee city. (refer to Mat 24?)

· Fled to Pella—a mtn town on other side of Jordan River. King Agrippa welcomed Christians in. Paul had testified b4 him, nearly convinced him 2 become Christian.

4 And Jesus answered and said to them: “Take heed that no one deceives you. 5 For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will deceive many.

o Same thing said in vv. 23-24.

o Many false prophets before 70 AD:

· Josephus told of false prophet who told his followers to hide in pinnacle of temple – burned and died.

· Simon Magus (Acts 8)

o Lived in Samaria. Magician w/mighty pwrs.

o Acts 8 sounds like converted by Philip. Offered $ to Peter for pwr to lay hands on people so they can receive Holy Spirit.

o Went to Rome – Magician/false prophet impress emperors (incl. Nero)

o Apocryphal story – levitated, Peter & Paul rebuked, fell & broke leg. Both later executed by Nero.

o Justin Martyr (60-130 AD)—Magus worshiped as a god in Rome b/c magic pwrs during reign of Emperor Claudius.

o Jerome – Simon: “I am the word of God. I am the comforter. I am the almighty. I am all there is of God.”

o Iranaeous (disciple of John): Simon Magus claimed to be Son of God & Creator of the angels.

· Dicipheus

o Origin (church father -late 200s AD): He claimed to be the Christ foretold by Moses.

· Josephus describes of time of Felix: “As for the affairs of the Jews, they grew worse and worse continually for the country was again filled with robbers and imposters who diluted the multitude, yet did Felix catch and put to death many of the imposters with those robbers.”

· 135 AD false prophet convinced Jews to resist Romans 1 last time. They were wiped out.

· 1 John 4:1 “many false prophets have gone out into the world.”

6 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 is not yet. 7 For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be famines, pestilences, and earthquakes in various places. 8 All these are the beginning of sorrows.

· Jesus did not say this was the end, but the “beginning of sorrows”.
These things may make you think it’s the end, but it’s not.

· Wars & rumors of wars

o Jews butchered all over the Empire, esp. after 66 AD

§ Jews persecuted all over empire.

§ Uprising against Jews in Alexandria in Selucia – 50,000 Jews slain (Josephus)

§ Cesarea--20,000 Jews killed in battle by Syrians.

§ Hostilities b/n Jews & Syrians divided many towns & villages into armed camps.

§ Constant threat of wars put Jews in unsettled state—some afraid to plow & seed fields.

o Jewish War 66.5-70AD

o Whole Rom. Empire in turmoil.

§ Nero committed suicide 68 AD.

· No natural successor.

· Four Caesars, beginning with Nero, died by the sword.

o Galba took throne, was decapitated, impaled, and paraded around with grotesque and grizzly gestures. Reigned “a little while” [Rev 17:9-10] (7 months).

o Otho, rumored to be one of Nero’s gay lovers, stabbed himself to death few mos. later.

o Vitellius was engorged and inebriated, was butchered and dragged by hook into the Tiber River.

o Vespasian declared emperor by his army. He returned from besieging Jerusalem back to Rome to take throne. During this time the Christians fled to Pella. (Lk 21:21 – “When you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then flee to the mountains.”)Then he sent his son Titus to take Jerusalem.

o AD 69-70 called “they year of the 5 Emperors”

§ Tacitus says in Histories that this was

· A period rich in disasters,

· frightful in its wars,

· torn by civil strife,

· even in peace full of horrors.

· 3 Civil Wars in Roman Empire

· More wars with foreign enemies

· Cities in Campania’s richest plains were swallowed up and overwhelmed;

· Rome was wasted by conflagrations (fires),

· Its oldest temples consumed,

· And the Capitol itself fired by the hands of citizens.

· Sacred rites were profaned;

· There was profligacy (wastefulness, extravagancy) in the highest ranks;

· The sea was crowded with exiles, and

· Its rocks polluted with bloody deeds.

· In the capital there were yet worse horrors . . .

· Besides the manifold vicissitudes if human affairs, there were prodigies in heaven and earth, the warning voices of thunder, and other intimations of the future, auspicious or gloomy, doubtful or not to be mistaken.

· Never surely did more terrible calamities of the Roman People, or evidence more conclusive, prove that the gods take no thought for our happiness, but only for our punishment.

(http://etext.library.adelaide.edu/t/tacitus/tlh/hist1.html)

· “there will be famines, pestilences, and earthquakes in various places” (v.7)

o Famines & pestilences are normal accompaniments of war.

§ Sieges to starve city out.

§ Crops outside city destroyed or eaten by invading army.

§ Josephus: People didn’t plant crops because of dangers.

o Famine in Acts

§ Acts 11 – famine predicted by Agibus took place during reign of Claudius.

§ Covered entire Roman Empire.

o Pestilence = Disease

§ Josephus – disease & starvation ran rampant throughout city

· Dead bodies piled up in streets, not buried.

· Leads to great proliferation of diseases.

· Many bodies thrown over wall, filled up Kidron Valley.

· Rats.

o Earthquakes

§ Jesus didn’t say there would be more than at any other time.

§ Places earthquakes took place in the decade before Jerusalem was destroyed according to contemporary writers of the period:

· Crete

· Smyrna

· Myletus

· Chios (KI-os)

· Samos

· Laodicea

· Hieropolis

· Colosse

· Campania

· Rome

· Judea

· Pompie (Feb. 63 AD)

9 “Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and kill you, and you will be hated by all nations for My name’s sake. 10 And then many will be offended, will betray one another, and will hate one another. 11 Then many false prophets will rise up and deceive many. 12 And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold. 13 But he who endures to the end shall be saved.

· You will be killed, hated, have tribulation

o Most of the apostles except John were martyred before 70 AD

§ Peter crucified upside down by Nero

§ Paul suffered also in this first persecution under Nero. Was beheaded

§ Andrew was taken and crucified on a cross, the two ends of which were fixed transversely in the ground. Hence the derivation of the term, St. Andrew's Cross.

§ Mark was dragged to pieces by the people of Alexandria.

§ Stephen stoned (Acts 7)

§ James beheaded 44 AD (Acts 12)

§ Philip was scourged, thrown into prison, and afterwards crucified, A.D. 54.

§ Matthew slain with a halberd in the city of Nadabah, A.D. 60.

§ Luke is supposed to have been hanged on an olive tree, by the idolatrous priests of Greece.

§ Bartholomew beaten & crucified by idolaters in India.

§ Thomas was stabbed with a spear by pagan priests in India.

§ Matthias was stoned at Jerusalem and then beheaded.

§ James the Less (brother of Jesus, writer of book of James)--beat and stoned by the Jews; and finally had his brains dashed out with a fuller's club.

§ Jude, the brother of James, was commonly called Thaddeus. He was crucified at Edessa, A.D. 72.

§ Simon the Zealot crucified in Britain, A.D. 74.

§ Barnabas died 73 A.D.

o Other Persecution - Acts

§ Peter & John beaten.

§ General persecution (Acts 8:1—“And at that time a great persecution arose against the church which was at Jerusalem; and they were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria”).

§ Saul persecuted church (Acts 9).

§ Paul persecuted from city to city.

§ Paul’s converts were persecuted.

o “they will deliver you up to the councils, and they will scourge you in their synagogues;” (Mat 10:17)

§ Happened to disciples in Acts 4.

§ Stephen brought before the council, then stoned in Acts 7.

o “You shall be brought before governors and kings for my sake, for a testimony against them and the Gentiles.” (Mat 10:18)

§ Paul stood before Felix the Gov. (Acts 23:24) and testified to him (Acts 24:10).

§ Paul testified to Festus (Acts 25),

§ Paul testified before King Agrippa & Queen Bernice (Acts 25:23, 26:30). King Agrippa “said to Paul, ‘You almost persuade me to become a Christian’”” (Acts 26:28)

§ Paul testified before Caesar Nero (Acts 25:11).

· False Prophets – SEE NOTES on v. 4.

· Betrayal/Love grow cold

o 2 Tim 1:15 – “all those who are in Asia have turned against me, among whom are Phygellus and Hermogenes.” Includes 7 Churches in Asia mentioned in Revelation.

o 2 Tim 4:10 “Demas has forsaken me, having loved this present world, and has departed for Thessalonica—Crescens for Galatia, Titus for Dalmatia.”

o 2 Tim 4:16 “At my first defense no one stood with me, but all forsook me.”

o 1 John 2:19 “many have gone out from us”

o Rev 2:4 – church of Ephesus had lost first love.

14 And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come.

· Gospel was preached to all nations according to Paul in approx. 62 AD

o Col. 1:6 – “(the gospel) which has come to you as it has in all the world and is bringing forth fruit as it is also among you since the day you heard it and knew the grace of God in truth.”

o Col. 1:23 “And if indeed you continue in the faith, grounded and steadfast and are not moved away from the hope of the Gospel, which you heard, which was preached to every creature under heaven, of which I, Paul, became a minister.”

§ Speaking hyperbolically

· = preaching of the Gospel had been widespread, reaching many, many nations.

· He and his readers knew it hadn’t reached the whole world, was expected to be taken as hyperbole.

· Matt. 24:14 – Jesus said, “This Gospel of the Kingdom shall be preached to all the world for a witness to all nations and then shall the end come.”

o Jesus may be talking about the time before Jerusalem fell

o Or before the end of the world as a result of their persecution and being scattered.

The Great Tribulation

15 “Therefore when you see the ‘abomination of desolation,’ spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place” (whoever reads, let him understand), 16 “then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains.

· Parallel statement in Mark 13:14

o 14 “So when you see the ‘abomination of desolation,’ spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing where it ought not” (let the reader understand), “then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. 15 Let him who is on the housetop not go down into the house, nor enter to take anything out of his house. 16 And let him who is in the field not go back to get his clothes. 17 But woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing babies in those days! 18 And pray that your flight may not be in winter. 19 For in those days there will be tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the creation which God created until this time, nor ever shall be. 20 And unless the Lord had shortened those days, no flesh would be saved; but for the elect’s sake, whom He chose, He shortened the days.

· Parallel statement in Luke 21:20-21 is paraphrased this way for his Gentile audience:

o “But when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then know that its desolation is near. Then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains, let those who are in the midst of her depart, and let not those who are in the country enter her. For these are the days of vengeance, that all things which are written may be fulfilled. But woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing babies in those days! For there will be great distress in the land and wrath upon this people. 24 And they will fall by the edge of the sword, and be led away captive into all nations. And Jerusalem will be trampled by Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled”

· Mat 24:15-22 is one running context. That same context is in Luke 21:20-24 and refers to the time when Jerusalem is “surrounded by armies.”:

o “20 “But when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then know that its desolation is near. 21 Then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains, let those who are in the midst of her depart, and let not those who are in the country enter her. 22 For these are the days of vengeance, that all things which are written may be fulfilled. 23 But woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing babies in those days! For there will be great distress in the land and wrath upon this people. 24 And they will fall by the edge of the sword, and be led away captive into all nations. And Jerusalem will be trampled by Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled.”

· “then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains”

o The Christians did flee to the mountain town of Pella in Trans-Jordan on the other side of the Jordan River before the destruction of Jerusalem.

o Eusebius (earliest church historian, 325 AD) says they fled when a prophecy was given:

“before the war began, members of the Jerusalem church were ordered by an oracle given by revelation to those worthy of it to leave the city and settle in a city of Perea called Pella.” (Church History, Book 3, paragraph 5 (3:5) [p. 95 in Paul L. Maier’s translation])

· Dispensationalists say abomination of desolation (AoD) is still future:

o Defined as when Antichrist sets up image of himself in rebuilt temple in Jerusalem in the Holy of Holies.

o Luke does not agree

§ AoD refers to the time when Jerusalem will be surrounded by armies (Lk 20:20-21).

o AoD in Daniel 9:24-27

§ From this disp. believe trib 7 yrs long

§ vv. 26-27: “26 And after the 62 weeks, the Messiah shall be cut off. But not for himself, and the people of the Prince who shall come will destroy the city and the sanctuary.” (The Romans will destroy Jerusalem and the temple). “And the end of it will be with a flood,” (Jews dispersed about world) “until the end of the war, desolations are determined. 27 Then he shall confirm a covenant with many for one week, but in the middle of the week he shall bring to an end the sacrifice and offering. And on the wing of abomination shall be one who makes desolate.”

· Dispensationalist View:

o Disp. insert gap b/n vv. 26-27 of 2000+ years.

o The last of the 70 weeks was put off when Jews killed Jesus.

o Entire church age b/n 69^th & 70^th weeks (b/n vv. 26-27).

o 70^th wk will be trib. period of 7 yrs.

o “he shall confirm a covenant with many for one week”—He = Antichrist.

o “in the middle of the week he shall bring to an end the sacrifice and offering” = time when Antichrist will set of AoD

§ Jews will recoil in disgust and stop offering sacs just as they did when Antioches Epiphanes defiled temple with pigs’ blood.

· GAP of 2000+ years is major problem for Disp. View:

o Prophecy essentially says: There are 70 wks determined upon God’s dealing with Daniel’s people (Jews). “From the going forth of the decree to cmd and restore Jerusalem until Messiah the Prince, there shall be 7 wks” (49 yrs) “& 62 wks” (Tot. 69 wks/483 yrs) “and the streets shall built again the wall even in troublesome times” (after Babylonian Captivity, built in days of Nehemiah) “then after the 62 wks” (which follow 7 wks, so after 69 wks or 483 yrs) “the Messiah shall be cut off. But not for himself, and the people of the Prince who shall come will destroy the city and the sanctuary. And the end of it will be with a flood.” (Ref to Jesus and dying and destruction of Jerusalem by Romans).

o Disp: 70^th wk postponed til after Rapture of Church

§ What’s the point of giving the info at all? It communicates nothing.

§ Why say it will be 490 yrs if it’s really going to be 2,490 yrs?

§ This is deceiving. Better off telling them nothing. 5x as long.

§ Similar to someone asking you for ride home. “Where do you live?” “About 10 mi. from here.” “OK.” After going 50-100 mi. you ask, “Didn’t you say you live 10 mi. away?” They say “yes, but I forgot to mention that between the 9^th & 10^th mi. there’s a GAP of 400 miles!”—Wouldn’t you think you’ve been deceived?

§ No GAP ever mentioned.

§ No one dreamed of a GAP until John Nelson Darby in 1830.

§ Disp. take this view because they believe Antichrist is the “one who makes desolate.”

· Where is the Antichrist in this passage?

o Need to find antecedent to “he” in v. 27.

§ Last person specified is Messiah.

§ Disp. say it’s the Prince in “the people of the Prince who shall come.” Antichrist est. cov. For 7 yrs.

§ Disp. agree “the people of the Prince who shall come” are Romans destroying Jerusalem in 70 AD.

§ Disp: the Prince is not Titus (Roman general & prince-father Vespasian was king), or Jesus (just referred to as Prince), but Antichrist who will be a Roman and leader of the “revived Roman Empire.”

· Revived Roman Empire nowhere spoken of in Bible. Formulated by inserting more GAPs elsewhere.

· How could Romans who destroyed Jerusalem in 70 AD be the people of the future Antichrist?

· No evidence in passage at all of Antichrist. Inserted/Eisegesis.

· Even if Prince was Antichrist, what reason do we have to say “he” in v.27 is ref to Prince rather than Messiah?

· Messiah prominent in vv. 25-26. Prince not even subject of the sentence, but the object of a preposition. “The people” are the subject of the sentence.

§ Before 1830, all Christians believed Prince was Titus or Messiah. “He” in v. 27 is Messiah.

§ “he” (Jesus) “shall confirm a covenant with many for one week, but in the middle of the week” (after 3 ½ yrs ministry, Jesus was “cut off” [v. 26])” he shall bring to an end the sacrifice and offering.”

§ Jesus’ death brought end to any legitimate Jewish sacrificial system and Old Covenant.

§ Not one animal sac accepted by God after veil torn.

§ Destruction of temple brought final end.

· Structure of vv. 26-27:

o v. 26 has 2 parts as does v. 27 and they parallel each other.

o 1^st part v. 26 parallels v.27, 2^nd part v. 26 parallels v.27.

1^st part v.26: “26 And after the sixty-two weeks, the Messiah shall be cut off.” (Jesus dies)

1^st part v.27: “27 Then he shall confirm a covenant with many for one week, but in the middle of the week he shall bring to an end the sacrifice and offering.” (Jesus’ death brings end to sacrifice)

2nd part v.26: ”and the people of the Prince who shall come will destroy the city and the sanctuary. And the end of it will be with a flood, until the end of the war, desolations are determined.” (temple destroyed)

2nd part v.27: “And on the wing of abomination shall be one who makes desolate.” (temple destroyed)

o Says same thing 2x, but gives additional info 2^nd time.

o Luke agree with this b/c he thought “abomination of desolation” referred to “when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then know that its desolation is near”

17 Let him who is on the housetop not go down to take anything out of his house. 18 And let him who is in the field not go back to get his clothes. 19 But woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing babies in those days!

· Tough having baby b/c of famine and difficulty of flight.

· Josephus: at least one woman ate her baby because of starvation during siege of Jerusalem.

20 And pray that your flight may not be in winter or on the Sabbath.

· Travel in winter difficult

· Gates of city would be shut on Sabbath.

· Unable to buy provisions for journey on Sabbath as no one would be selling any.

· Worst time for sudden departure.

· Unknown what time of year Christians fled Jerusalem.

o Jerusalem besieged in June, fell on September 8, 70 AD.

o Probably fled shortly before in spring. May have prayed so didn’t happen in winter.

21 For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the world until this time, no, nor ever shall be. 22 And unless those days were shortened, no flesh would be saved; but for the elect’s sake those days will be shortened.

· Great Tribulation

o Called “days of vengeance” by Luke (Lk 22:21).

o “great distress upon this land and wrath upon this people” (Lk 22:23)

· Problem with apply Great Trib. to destruction of Jerusalem in 70 AD

o Sounds global: “no flesh would be saved”

o Sounds uniquely severe: “such as has not been since the beginning of the world until this time, no, nor ever shall be”

o Main reasons that Trib. not thought to have taken place by Dispensationalists.

o Rev. 3:10 sounds universal: “I also will keep you from the hour of trial that is coming to test those that dwell on the earth, that is coming upon all the world to test those who dwell in the land.”—used as Pre-Trib Rapture proof text.

· Resolution: Hyperbole, these exact hyperboles used elsewhere in scripture.

o Universality/all world - “no flesh would be saved”

· Acts 2:5—“And there were dwelling in Jerusalem at that time Jews—devout men from every nation under heaven.”—Pentecost

· Were Navajo, Aborigines, or Chinese represented here?

· Really implies Roman Empire, hyperbole employed.

· Luke 2:1—“And it came to pass in those days, that a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be taxed.” (same author as Acts)

· Did Caesar tax the Myas and Incas in South America or the Koreans?

· Refers to Roman Empire.

· They of civilizations outside their own.

· Col 1:6—“the gospel has gone out into all the world.”

· Col 1:23—gospel to “every creature under heaven.” – hyperbole

· Middle-Eastern writers of 1^st century didn’t write the same way we do. But we do also use hyperbole, just not the same hyperboles.

· Rev. 3:10—“trial that is coming . . . on all the world” could easily refer to Rom. Empire

· When Nero committed suicide, whole Rom. Empire was thrown into disarray and chaos. Emperors assassinated, civil wars, wars with other nations. (See notes on Mat. 24:6—Wars & Rumors of Wars above).

· “All Flesh” not necessarily global

· Jer. 12:10-12—“Many rulers have destroyed my vineyard (Jerus./Israel). They have trodden my portion under foot. They have made my pleasant portion a desolate wilderness. They have made it desolate. Desolate it mourns to me. The whole land is made desolate because no one takes it to heart. 12 The plunderers have come on all the desolate heights in the wilderness for the sword of the Lord shall devour from one end of the land to the other end of the land. No flesh shall have peace.”

o All flesh in this passage is the Land of Israel. No flesh in Israel shall have peace.

· Joel 2—(quoted in Acts 2—Pentecost)--“Behold I will pour out my spirit on all flesh.”

o Not every person on planet baptized with Holy Spirit. Not all saved.

o Spirit poured out on a broader category than the Jews.

· No flesh in Mat 24:21 likely refers to those in Israel. It’s a ‘miracle’ that anyone survived.

· “but for the elect’s sake those days will be shortened,” otherwise, the Christians too would not have survived.

o When Vespasian 1^st besieged the city, was warning to Christians.. He could have had Rom take the city at that time, but he returned to Rome (to take throne). God shortened that time by taking the middle piece out of it (sending Vespasian to Rome) so Christians could flee. Then Titus came back and the crisis continued.

o Uniqueness
(“such as has not been since the beginning of the world until this time, no, nor ever shall be”)
HYPERBOLES USED:

· hyperbole (n.) – overstatement or exaggeration

· Ex. 10:14—“And the locusts went up over all the land of Egypt and rested on all the territory of Egypt. They were very severe. Previously, there had been no such locusts as they. Nor shall there be such after them.”

· Joel

· Joel 1:4 describes locust plague: “What the chewing locust has left, the swarming locust has eaten. What the swarming locust has left, the crawling locust has eaten. What the crawling locust has left, the consuming locust has eaten.”

· Joel 1:2—“Has anything like this happened even in your days or in the days of your fathers? Tell your children about it. Let your children tell their children and their children another generation.”

· Joel 2:1-2—“Blow the trumpet in Zion and sound the alarm in my Holy Mountain. Let all of the inhabitants of the land tremble for the Day of the Lord is coming. A day of darkness and gloominess (swarms of locusts make it dark). A day of clouds and thick darkness. Like the morning clouds spread over the mountain, a people (locusts) come, great and strong, the like of whom has never been nor will there ever be any such after them, even for many successive generations.”

o How do we know these are locusts? (Imagery compares locusts with soldiers).

§ V.5 “on the mountaintops they leap like the noise of a flaming fire that devours stubble, like a strong people set in battle array”

§ V.7 “they run like mighty men, they climb the wall”

§ V.25 refers to locusts as “my great army which I sent among you.”

o Ex. 10:14 says “Nor shall there be such after them,” but Joel 2:2 says the same thing.

o Can’t be literal, can’t have both be uniquely the worst. – Hyperbole

· 2 Chron. 1:12—(speaking to Solomon) “Wisdom & knowledge are granted to you. And I will give you riches and wealth and honor such as none of the kings have had who are before you nor shall any after you have the like.”

· Jesus said he had wisdom greater than Solomon.

· Likely not more wealthy than Rockefeller or Bill Gates.

· Not absolutely literal – hyperbole.

· Lk 1:69-70 –(Zacherias, father ofJohn the Baptist) “God has up a horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David as he spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets who have been since the world began.”

· Hyperbole meaning “from ancient times”

· Jn 9:32 –Blind man healed by Jesus said, “Since the world began it has been unheard of that anyone opened the eyes of one who had been born blind.”

· The man doesn’t know everything that happened since the world began.

· Emphatic statement “Who has ever heard of such a thing?” Hyperbole – Elijah & Elisha did many miracles. Maybe some blind were healed.

· Josephus on the Fall of Jerusalem: “It is therefore impossible to go distinctly over every instance of these men’s iniquity. I shall therefore speak my mind here at once briefly: that neither did any other city ever suffer such miseries, nor did any age every breed a generation more fruitful in wickedness than what this was from the beginning of the world.”

· Typical Jewish hyperbole.

· Holocaust of AD 70 was sufficiently horrendous to cause an onlooker to say no city’s ever suffered like this before.

23 “Then if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Christ!’ or ‘There!’ do not believe it. 24 For false christs and false prophets will rise and show great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect. 25 See, I have told you beforehand.
26 “Therefore if they say to you, ‘Look, He is in the desert!’ do not go out; or ‘Look, He is in the inner rooms!’ do not believe it.

· SEE NOTES ON FALSE PROPHETS ABOVE

27 For as the lightning comes from the east and flashes to the west, so also will the coming [parazea] of the Son of Man be. 28 For wherever the carcass is, there the eagles will be gathered together.

The Coming of the Son of Man

29 “Immediately after 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. 30 Then 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.

31 And He will send His angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they will gather together His elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.

· Dispensationalists say vv. 30-31 refer to 2^nd coming of Christ.

· Problem is in v. 34 Jesus states, “this generation will by no means pass away till all these things take place.”

· Disp. try to resolve by:

A. Generation = race of people, coming from single ancestor

1. Refers to the Jews - Jews will still exist and not be exterminated by Tribulation & Antichrist OR

2. Refers to Christians in Judea – The Church will not pass away.

o Jewish race not mentioned.

o 1 Pet 2:9 about the Christian church “we are a chosen generation” (or race).

B. Generation = particular final generation on earth (popularized by Hal Lindsey – Late Great Planet Earth)

§ Generation that sees a certain single act will not pass before these events take place.

§ Generation = 40 years.

§ End Times & 40 years started when Israel reconstituted as nation on May 14, 1948.

§ Very popular 1970s-1981.

§ Generation should’ve ended in 1988, Trib starting in 1981. Trib is 7 yrs and Church must be raptured before Trib.

§ 88 Reasons Why the Rapture Could Be in 1988 by Edgar C. Whisenant – distributed to >1 million Christian leaders. Changed to 1989 when Rapture didn’t come in 1988 (forgot there is no Year 0). Not a scholar, but an engineer.

§ Where did they get this idea that “this generation” that saw Israel become a nation is the generation Jesus referred to?

· Mat 24:32-34 “32 “Now learn this parable from the fig tree: When its branch has already become tender and puts forth leaves, you know that summer is near. 33 So you also, when you see all these things, know that it is near—at the doors! 34 Assuredly, I say to you, this generation will by no means pass away till all these things take place”

o Lindsey: Fig Tree = est. symbol throughout scripture for Israel.

o Fig Tree loses leaves in winter time just as Israel ceased to be a nation for a while. When Israel re-established as a nation, symbolized by new growth, spring time tree comes back to life, leaves & tender branches. KNOW THAT IT IS NEAR. This generation will not pass.

· REBUTTAL

o Fig Tree is not at all established symbol of Israel, though it may mean Israel in some scriptures.

o Hard time proving any one occurrence of Fig Tree in Old Testament represents Israel.

o Closest Hal Lindsey comes: Jeremiah 24:1-10 – basket of figs – good figs taken into captivity in Babylon, bad figs left behind in Jerusalem.

o Not same thing as Fig Tree reps Israel.

o Cannot say we have to interpret Fig Tree as symbol of Israel b/c it is not est. symbol.

o Not sure Fig Tree ever used as symbol of Israel—not at all clear.

o Is there any evidence here that Fig Tree reps Israel?

§ v.32 “know that summer is near,” Does not say Second Coming of Christ is near.

§ Statement from nature that when you see certain things, you know certain other things are about to take place.

§ v. 33 “when you see all these things”

· Are “these things” a reference to fig tree getting new growth? OR

· Referring to all the things He talked about earlier in the Ch?

· Summer is not near, the Events described are near.

§ Mat 16:1-4 “1 Then the Pharisees and Sadducees came, and testing Him asked that He would show them a sign from heaven. 2 He answered and said to them, “When it is evening you say, ‘It will be fair weather, for the sky is red’; 3 and in the morning, ‘It will be foul weather today, for the sky is red and threatening.’ Hypocrites! You know how to discern the face of the sky, but you cannot discern the signs of the times. 4 A wicked and adulterous generation seeks after a sign, and no sign shall be given to it except the sign of the prophet Jonah.” And He left them and departed.”

§ Fig Tree or Red Sky doesn’t rep anything other than itself.

§ Parallel statement in Luke 21:29 proves Jesus is just making a point from nature and not using the Fig Tree as symbol for Israel:
“29 Then He spoke to them a parable: “Look at the fig tree, and all the trees. 30 When they are already budding, you see and know for yourselves that summer is now near. 31 So you also, when you see these things happening, know that the kingdom of God is near. 32 Assuredly, I say to you, this generation will by no means pass away till all things take place”

o No basis for “this generation” to refer to Israel becoming nation again.

o Jesus should have said “that generation.”

o “This Generation” commonly used by Jesus

§ 6x in Matthew – always refer Jesus own generation

§ Mt 11:16-19: “16 ‘But to what shall I liken this generation? It is like children sitting in the marketplaces and calling to their companions, 17 and saying:

‘ We played the flute for you,
And you did not dance;
We mourned to you,
And you did not lament.’

18 For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, ‘He has a demon.’ 19 The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Look, a glutton and a winebibber, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’ But wisdom is justified by her children.’”

· “They” is the generation that saw John the Baptist & Jesus.

§ Mat 12:39-45: “39 But He answered and said to them, “An evil and adulterous generation seeks after a sign, and no sign will be given to it except the sign of the prophet Jonah. 40 For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the great fish, so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth. 41 The men of Nineveh will rise up in the judgment with this generation and condemn it, because they repented at the preaching of Jonah; and indeed a greater than Jonah is here. 42 The queen of the South will rise up in the judgment with this generation and condemn it, for she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and indeed a greater than Solomon is here. 43 “When an unclean spirit goes out of a man, he goes through dry places, seeking rest, and finds none. 44 Then he says, ‘I will return to my house from which I came.’ And when he comes, he finds it empty, swept, and put in order. 45 Then he goes and takes with him seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter and dwell there; and the last state of that man is worse than the first. So shall it also be with this wicked generation.”

· Generation that heard Jonah speak more righteous than “this generation” that heard Jesus speak. That generation will condemn “this generation.”

· Likewise with Queen of South in Solomon’s time.

· “This generation” is the one to whom one great than Jonah came, to whom “one greater than Solomon” came.

· v. 45 Jesus had delivered “this wicked generation” from demons, brought light & truth. They didn’t respond to Him & demons came back in force in 70 AD. (Read Josephus to see many Jews were demon possessed under Roman siege, acting totally irrationally).

§ Mat 23:33-38: “33 Serpents, brood of vipers! How can you escape the condemnation of hell? 34 Therefore, indeed, I send you prophets, wise men, and scribes: some of them you will kill and crucify, and some of them you will scourge in your synagogues and persecute from city to city, (ALL THIS HAPPENED TO THE APOSTLES) 35 that on you may come all the righteous blood shed on the earth, from the blood of righteous Abel to the blood of Zechariah, son of Berechiah, whom you murdered between the temple and the altar. 36 Assuredly, I say to you, all these things will come upon this generation. 37 “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the one who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing! 38 See! Your house is left to you desolate;

· v.36 – This generation will suffer the ultimate combined punishment for all the wicked bloodshed of the righteous, which was summed up by their murder of Jesus. Jerusalem destroyed in AD 70.

Only Problem with applying to 1^st Century: vv 30-31,
“30 Then 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. 31 And He will send His angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they will gather together His elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other. “

· Mat 16:28 “Assuredly, I say to you, there are some standing here who shall not taste death till they see the Son of Man coming in His kingdom.”

o Same prediction.

o Same timeframe.

· If not referring to generation in 1^st Century, then Jesus MISSED his prediction and is a FALSE PROPHET!

· OT Law: Prophets must get EVERY prediction right or be stoned.

· Every Christian who believes Jesus is not a false profit MUST BELIEVE WHAT JESUS SAID WOULD HAPPEN IN THAT GENERATION DID HAPPEN IN THAT GENERATION.

· Then what do we do with vv 29-31?

29 “Immediately after 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. 30 Then 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. 31 And He will send His angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they will gather together His elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.

§ Tribulation is most likely 3 ½ year (mid 66 AD –near end 70 AD) Jewish-Roman War.

§ Why does Jesus say “Immediately after the tribulation of those days” these bizarre things would happen (in 70 AD)?

o Can’t be literal as stars don’t fall to earth, they are bigger, could never have >1 star fall to the earth. Actually fall from heaven-shooting stars?

o This type of language (apocalyptic) commonly used in OT in non-literal way. Disciples would be well aware of this.

§ Isaiah 13 – destruction of ancient Babylon prophesied
“1 The burden against Babylon which Isaiah the son of Amoz saw”. . . 17 “ Behold, I will stir up the Medes against them, Who will not regard silver; And as for gold, they will not delight in it.”
“10 For the stars of heaven and their constellations
      Will not give their light;
      The sun will be darkened in its going forth,
      And the moon will not cause its light to shine.”

· Interpretation: Babylon like sun, moon, & stars in its seeming permanence, but when it falls, it’s as if the sun had fallen or the moon stopped shining. Something as seemingly permanent and seemingly invincible as Babylon was coming to an end.

§ Isaiah 34:4-5 – Judgment on Edom
“4 All the host of heaven (stars) shall be dissolved,
      And the heavens shall be rolled up like a scroll;
      All their host shall fall down
      As the leaf falls from the vine,
      And as fruit falling from a fig tree.
       5 “ For My sword shall be bathed in heaven;
      Indeed it shall come down on Edom,
      And on the people of My curse, for judgment.”

· Can’t be future b/c Edom no longer exists! (Last known Edomite was Herod the Great in 1^st century (1/2 Edomite)). No Edomites to judge in future.

· Were basically extinct for generation or two before Jesus born.

· Already fulfilled, stars did not literally fall, heavens did not roll back.

· Fall of a nation like the end of the world to them, end of the heavens, something of permanence no one thought would come to an end.

§ Ezekiel 32 – Judgment on Egypt
“1 And it came to pass in the twelfth year, in the twelfth month, on the first day of the month, that the word of the LORD came to me, saying, 2 “Son of man, take up a lamentation for Pharaoh king of Egypt . . . 7 When I put out your light,
      I will cover the heavens, and make its stars dark;
      I will cover the sun with a cloud,
      And the moon shall not give her light.
       8 All the bright lights of the heavens I will make dark over you,
      And bring darkness upon your land,’
      Says the Lord GOD.”

o Fulfilled shortly after when Babylon conquered them.

o God put out their lights.

§ Joel 2 – Judgment on Jerusalem
28 “ And it shall come to pass afterward
      That I will pour out My Spirit on all flesh;
      Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy,
      Your old men shall dream dreams,
      Your young men shall see visions.
       29 And also on My menservants and on My maidservants
      I will pour out My Spirit in those days.
       30 “ And I will show wonders in the heavens and in the earth:
      Blood and fire and pillars of smoke.
       31 The sun shall be turned into darkness,
      And the moon into blood,
      Before the coming of the great and awesome day of the LORD.
       32 And it shall come to pass
      That whoever calls on the name of the LORD
      Shall be saved.
      For in Mount Zion and in Jerusalem there shall be deliverance,
      As the LORD has said, “
      Among the remnant whom the LORD calls.

o Peter quoted this passage and said they were living in that time.

o On Pentecost when the Holy Spirit was poured out.

o Peter argued that the fulfillment of this prophecy was in progress (upon that generation).

§ Judgment on Jerusalem also talked about in Luke 21:

“20 “But when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then know that its desolation is near. . . . 24 And they will fall by the edge of the sword, and be led away captive into all nations. And Jerusalem will be trampled by Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled. 25 “And there will be signs in the sun, in the moon, and in the stars; and on the earth distress of nations, with perplexity, the sea and the waves roaring; 26 men’s hearts failing them from fear and the expectation of those things which are coming on the earth, for the powers of the heavens will be shaken. 27 Then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.”

§ Obvious parallel to Luke 21 in Matthew 24:

· 29 “Immediately after 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. 30 Then 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.

o (Remember in Mat 24 “15 “Therefore when you see the ‘abomination of desolation,’ spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place” (whoever reads, let him understand), 16 “then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains.” Corresponds to “when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies” in Luke).

§ Were there signs in the in the heavens associated with the Fall of Jerusalem?

· Josephus

o Josephus was not a Christian. Never read Gospels. Probably not aware that Jesus ever made this sermon. Not in Christian circles nor read Christian literature.

o A Jew who witnessed the fall of Jerusalem.

o A captain in Jewish army who defected to Romans when he saw Jews could not possibly win. Spent rest of career in army trying to persuade those in Jerusalem to surrender.

o After Jerusalem fell, went back to Rome with Titus, became official historian of the Jews (hired by Romans).

o Made references to Christ, but nothing to indicate he was follower.

· The Wars of the Jews, Book VI, Ch. 5, Paragraph 3 (Wars 6:5:3):
“Thus were the miserable people persuaded by these deceivers. And such as belied God himself, while they did not attend, nor give credit to the signs that were so evident and did so plainly foretell their future desolation. But like men infatuated without either eyes to see or minds to consider, did not regard the denunciations God made to them. Thus, there was a star resembling a sword which stood over the city, and a comet that continued a whole year.

Thus also, before the Jews’ rebellion, and before those commotions which preceded the war, when the people were come in great crowds to the Feast of Unleavened Bread, on the 8^th day of the month of Zanthicus, and at the 9^th hour of the night, so great a light shone around the altar in the Holy House that it appeared to be bright daytime, which light lasted for half an hour. This light seemed to be a good sign to the unskilled, but was so interpreted by the sacred scribes as to portend (foretell) those events that followed immediately upon it.

At the same festival also, a heifer (cow), as she was led by the High Priest to be sacrificed, brought forth a lamb in the midst of the temple.

Moreover, the Eastern Gate of the Inner Court of the Temple, which was of brass, and vastly heavy, and had been with difficulty shut by 20 men, and rested upon a basis armed with iron, and had bolts fastened deeply into the firm floor which there made of one entire stone, was seen to be opened of its own accord about the 6^th hour of the night. Now those that kept the watch in the Temple came here upon, running to the captain of the Temple, and told him of it, who then came up thither, and not without great difficulty was able to shut the gate again. This also appeared to the vulgar to be a very happy prodigy (phenomenon) as if God did by open to them the Gate of Happiness. But the men of learning understood it: that the security of their Holy House was dissolved of its accord, and that the gate was opened for the advantage of their enemies. So these publicly declared that this signal foreshadowed the desolation that was coming upon them.

Besides these, a few days after the Feast, on the 21^st day of the month of Artemisius, a certain prodigious and phenomenal event appeared. I suppose the account of it would seem to be a fable were it not related by those who saw it, and were not the events that followed it of so considerable a nature as to deserve such signals: For before sun setting, chariots and troops of soldiers in their armor were seen running about among the clouds, and surrounding of cities.

Moreover, at the feast which we call Pentecost, the priests were going by night into the inner court of the Temple, as their custom was, to perform their sacred ministrations. They said that in the first place, they felt a quaking, and heard a great noise. And after that, they heard a sound as if a great multitude saying, ‘Let us remove hence.’ “

· Why doubt these events could happen then, but not doubt they could happen in future?

· Very rare for any book from 1^st century to survive until today.

· Possibly, God preserved the writings of Josephus so we would have the historic fulfillment of these things since they are not recorded in the Bible. The Bible only records the prediction.

29, 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.

§ This language does not have to be taken any more literal than it does in Isaiah, Ezekiel, or Joel when it talks about the fall of Babylon, Edom, Egypt, or Jerusalem.

§ Typical prophetic language.

§ Jesus – Jewish prophet who speaks like Jewish prophet. His disciples are acquainted with Jewish prophets.

§ Speaks of great cataclysm as if dissolution of universe. Such language before only meant fall of a great empire or great city.

§ Fall of Jerusalem would certainly warrant such language.

o God’s Holy City now become a “den of thieves.”

o Used of lesser cities.

o Strange to our ears, but Jesus spoke not Americans, but Jews.

o Established Jewish idiom.

30 Then 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.

· Word order in NKJV not the only possible word order.

· KJV: And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven

o Some scholars: Sign not in heaven. Earthly sign, but Son of Man in heaven.

§ Mat 26:63-64 “63 But Jesus kept silent. And the high priest answered and said to Him, “I put You under oath by the living God: Tell us if You are the Christ, the Son of God!”
64 Jesus said to him, “It is as you said. Nevertheless, I say to you, hereafter you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Power, and coming on the clouds of heaven.”

· When did Caiphas & the Sanhedrin see this?

o They’re not alive now.

o Will they be resurrected prior in order to see His coming?

o Most natural – they saw it in their lifetimes. They saw him in heaven “coming on the clouds of heaven.”

o Did this mean they would actually see him in the sky?

§ Our American literalistic bias.

§ Isa. 19:1 – Prophecy of destruction of Egypt by Asyria, 700 BC
“The burden against Egypt.
Behold, the LORD rides on a swift cloud,
  And will come into Egypt;
  The idols of Egypt will totter at His presence,
  And the heart of Egypt will melt in its midst..”

· Idols don’t totter or melt.

· Cannot be literal.

· Judgment from the LORD is coming on Egypt in the form of armies, destroying & conquering Egypt.

· Did God physically come to Egypt? Did he really ride on a cloud?

o God rides the clouds like a charioteer rides a chariot (war vehicle).

§ Ps 104:3 “Who makes the clouds His chariot”

§ When God judges a nation & sends armies against a nation, it’s as if God is riding at the head of those armies, even if they are pagans. They are doing his bidding.

· What is the difference b/n language in Isa 19:1 & Jesus in Mat 24:30?

· Son of Man is glorified, is ruling in heaven.

· The sign he is doing so (“the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven”) is: He is destroying his enemies, those who crucified him, he’s vindicated (“Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory”).

· THE DESTRUCTION OF JERUSALEM IS THE SIGN ON EARTH THAT JESUS IS EXHALTED & VINDICATED IN HEAVEN.

· Problem: v.30 “all the tribes of the earth will mourn”

o Doesn’t that sound like the 2^nd coming b/c everyone on earth will mourn?

§ “ge” is the Greek word translated earth. Can mean either earth or land.

§ If translated “all the tribes of the land will mourn,” this would be describe something that happens to Israel.

§ Which is more biblical?—tribes of the earth or tribes of the land?

· In Bible, earth not divided into tribes, but nations.

· Land of Israel is divided into tribes. “the twelve tribes of Israel”

§ All the tribes of Israel did mourn in AD 70.

§ All Israel was afflicted and still is afflicted by the destruction of Jerusalem.

31 And He will send His angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they will gather together His elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.

· Rapture?

· Gathering of Tribulation Saints out of earth at 2^nd Coming (believers in pre-trib rapture)?

o Both think gathering of the elect is out of the world into heaven.

o Maybe they believe this b/c angels mentioned.

o “angelos” = messengers

§ Frequently used of supernatural heavenly beings.

§ Also used in scripture of people who are not angels.

· John the Baptist sent “angeloi” to question Jesus (Luke 7:19-24).

§ Meaning dependent on context.

· What if it were translated this way?:
“He will send His messengers . . . and they will gather together His elect from all parts of the world.”

o Messengers are the evangelists of the Gospel, sent out to all the world to gather into the Kingdom of God/the Church all of the elect.

· “from one end of heaven to the other” = from one horizon of the earth to the other, from east to west.

· The language can certainly bear this meaning without any violence done to the text.

· Summary: The destruction of the Jewish state, the temple, & its capital brings great grief on the Jews, but the message of the Gospel goes out to all the world, bringing in the Gentiles.

o Did it happen in that generation? YES!

· Alternate View: Great Trib refers to troubles brought on Jews beginning with Jewish War & continuing to the present day.

o Jesus did not say how long it would last.

o Parallel in Luke 21:24: “And they will fall by the edge of the sword, and be led away captive into all nations. And Jerusalem will be trampled by Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled.”

§ Distress of Jewish war would continue til time of Gentiles fulfilled. Tribulation extended through whole Church Age.

§ Could make sense with Mat 24:29 “Immediately after the tribulation of those days”

§ Then you could take more literal approach to vv. 29-31, referring to 2^nd coming of Christ.

o One big problemo: v. 34 “this generation will by no means pass away till all these things take place”

§ Possibly could mean overwhelming majority, with exception of this one thing. (but doubtful) As all doesn’t always mean all (hyperbole).

The Parable of the Fig Tree

32 “Now learn this parable from the fig tree: When its branch has already become tender and puts forth leaves, you know that summer is near. 33 So you also, when you see all these things, know that it is near—at the doors!

· What is near?

o It = the events he talked about (“What shall the sign be that these things are about to happen?”)

o Some manuscripts say “he is near.”

o James refers to the Lord’s coming as almost immediate:

§ 5:3 “(To rich men) Your gold and silver are corroded, and their corrosion will be a witness against you and will eat your flesh like fire. You have heaped up treasure in the last days.”

§ 5:8-9 “You (Christians) also be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand. 9 Do not grumble against one another, brethren, lest you be condemned. Behold, the Judge is standing at the door!

· Likely taken from Mat 24:33 “at the very door.”

· James apparently believed he was seeing “all these things,” (v. 33) and the coming of the judge (v. 30) was at the door (v. 33).

§ James considered one of the earliest written books of NT, certainly before 70 AD.

§ Probably all of NT written before 70 AD.

§ If James was wrong that “the coming of the Lord is near” & “the judge is standing at the door,” his book does not belong in the Bible.

§ Silly view: “with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.” (2 Pet 3:8) It’s near to the Lord.

· If “at the door” can mean 2000 years off, what was the point of Jesus even using the expression?

· If “When you see these things,” it is at the door & it is near means 2000 years off, he might as well have said nothing! Because he communicated nothing. When you say “it is near,” you are indicating the time is not far off.

o Otherwise, you have MISCOMMUNICATED or

o COMMUNICATED NOTHING.

34 Assuredly, I say to you, this generation will by no means pass away till all these things take place.

Every other time “this generation” used in Gospels, it refers to the generation Jesus was speaking to.
Matthew groups info together by topics. Mat 24:35-end of chapter parallels Lk 17, which talks about 2^nd Coming.
Everything before v.34 happened to “this generation.”

Friday, August 30, 2013

Videos Uploaded from Syrian Chemical Weapons Attack

Tuesday, August 20, 2013

The Bible Says the Gospel Was Preached Throughout the Whole World in the 1st Century

Many say that many of the events prophesied in the Olivet Discourse have not yet taken place and must future. One reason is they say the Gospel hasn't been preached in all the world as Jesus predicted. But the Apostle Paul, under inspiration of the Holy Spirit said otherwise.

Colossians 1:3-6

Colossians 1:21-23

Friday, August 16, 2013

The Olivet Discourse - Notes - Events Leading up the Destruction of Jerusalem in 70 AD