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CONCISE BIBLE NOTES ON

THE OLIVET DISCOURSE

And Other Prophetic Matters

MATTHEW 24

Dr. Stanford E. Murrell

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Concise Notes on the Olivet Discourse

The Lord Jesus Christ was not only King of kings and Lord of lords, He was a priest, and He was a prophet reflected definitively in the Olivet Discourse. Concise Notes on the Olivet Discourse sets forth the prophetic teaching of Christ concerning the destruction of Jerusalem and the destruction of the Herodian Temple. Responding to two specific questions asked by His disciples, Jesus provided many signs of the time which would take place within a span of forty years. Matthew 24:34 Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled. Other prophetic subjects are also discussed such as Anti-Christ, the Beast of Revelation 13, and the Millennium.

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THE OLIVET DISCOURSE

And Other Prophetic Matters

Introduction

Eschatology is a branch of Systematic Theology that concerns itself with “last things” or “last days.” Unfortunately, there is no consensus among God’s people about the events that will unfold in the last days. Several prominent positions have been advocated over the centuries which can be identified as Premillennialism, Postmillennialism, Amillennialism, and Dispensationalism.

An Attack on Credibility

In addition to the conflicting positions on eschatological matters is the question of credibility. There is great disagreement, even within the church, as to whether or not the Bible is a credible book. Liberal theologians and pastors believe that the authority and credibility of the Bible can be challenged and yet offer the world a sure word of prophecy. Concerned conservative Christians contend that teaching the Bible as untrustworthy is an impossible and an illogical position to defend.

One reason for the assault on the inspiration and authority of the Scriptures is because of the difficulties of eschatology.

Once the credibility of the Bible is undermined, the credibility of Jesus Himself is called into question. Nevertheless, many Christians are willing to dismiss the historical Jesus, the Jesus who is the Son of God, the Jesus who was born of a virgin, the Jesus who lived a sinless life, died a substitutionary death, and rose again on the third day, according to the Scriptures. This history Jesus is replaced by a Jesus who is less credible but more understandable.

A Historical Recognizance

The intense interest in eschatology during the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, and continuing today, may be attributed to several factors.

Wars and Rumors of War

Between 1800 and 1899 alone, there were more than 300 wars and major conflicts throughout the world. The bloodshed and violence caused people to long for someone to come and bring peace to the world. The Adventist movement emerged to offer hope and deliverance. Since the beginning of the twentieth century there have been two global wars, World I and World War II, the Korean War, the Vietnam War, Operation Desert Storm, and the Iraqi War, not to mention all the regional wars in Africa and the Middle East between Israel and the Palestinians.

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The Rise of Idealism

Nineteenth century men, like the German philosopher Friedrich Hegel (1770-1831), developed a comprehensive philosophical system of absolute idealism to unite mind and nature. Charles Darwin studied nature and saw an essential unity based on the principle of the survival of the fittest. Others took the theory of evolution and applied it to society. They proposed that some races were superior to others. As nature fought tooth and claw for the survival of the fittest, nations and races also fight for supremacy.

When the theories of evolution were applied to religion, the Religious Historical View emerged as an outgrowth of liberal theology. The argument was advanced that Biblical religion follows the same development as all religious beliefs. This means that religion begins in a simple manner and then develops to a more complex point of view. It is said that religion begins with animism, the belief that natural objects have desires and intentions, much like speaking to a Pet Rock, and then advances to polytheism, henotheism, the belief in one god without denying the existence of other gods, and finally there is the fully developed belief in monotheism, the One Supreme God, called Jehovah by Jews and Christians, and Allah by Muslims.

The uniting of Religious Historical View with evolution created a strong argument against the supernatural, including miracles, the Virgin birth, the atonement, divine reconciliation, and the resurrection and ascension of Christ.

This produced a crisis in the church. One way to handle the crisis was to accommodate the teachings of the church to fit the prevailing social and evolutionary models. The teachings of Jesus would be reshaped to fit a worldly view. Specifically, there would be more concern for the social and humanitarian issues and not focus so much on the spiritual and the eternal. If there is a heaven, let it be made here on earth. The kingdom of God was to be established. So the kingdom of God was redefined in terms of ethics and human values.

The German theologian Albrecht Ritschl (1822 – 1889) was a leading advocate of this approach to Christianity. Attention was turned from eternity to time, from heaven to earth, from the hereafter to the here and now. The kingdom of God must concern itself with the social application of the teachings of Jesus so that people will be willing to show love and care for the poor. The Social Gospel was born.

A division emerged over the objective of the church. Was the primary purpose of the church to minister to needs on earth or was the purpose of the gospel and the church to prepare people for salvation, redemption, reconciliation to God, and eternal life. Those who were conservative and orthodox said no to the spirit of accommodation. It was argued that Christians needed to have hope. There should be a renewed belief in the integrity of the Bible, in the power of the gospel, and in the personal return of the Savior.

As the conflict raged between Liberalism and Conservatism, the voice of Albert Schweitzer (1875 – 1965) emerged. Schweitzer was a German, and later a French theologian, organist, philosopher, physician, and medical missionary in Africa. In 1952, Schweitzer received a Nobel Peace Price for his philosophy of “Reverence of Life.”

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His most famous book was translated into English under the title, The Quest for the Historical Jesus. It was Schweitzer’s position that the message of Jesus, and the kingdom of which He spoke, could not be understood apart from the first century Jewish understanding of eschatology.

Schweitzer set forth the proposition that the kingdom of God would not come gradually and through social evolution as nineteenth century theological Liberalism was saying, but the kingdom of heaven would come in a catastrophic manner. The kingdom of God would come suddenly, supernaturally, and transcendentally from heaven. God would bring the kingdom of heaven and intrude into the normal process of life and progress of history. Schweitzer thought about the Liberal theology of his day, and called it intellectual dishonesty.

But Schweitzer was defending a Conservative understanding of Scripture, for he went on to accuse Christ of not understanding His own contemporary eschatology. Schweitzer said that Jesus falsely expected the kingdom of God to come suddenly from heaven, reflected when Jesus sent the seventy out in Luke 10. The sending of the seventy disciples showed that Jesus expected the kingdom to come immediately. But it did not happen.

Therefore, according to Schweitzer, Jesus had to deal with His own delayed expectations in His own conscience. Perhaps God would bring the kingdom when Jesus entered Jerusalem in a triumphant manner (Matthew 21:9-11). But, again, it did not happen. According to Schweitzer, Jesus persisted in His expectations to the point of allowing Himself to be crucified believing He would rise again from the dead.

Finally, in His last moments on the Cross, Jesus realized it was not going to happen and so He cried out, “My God, My God, why hast thou forsaken me.” So Jesus died as a great teacher who embodied the gospel of love. But Jesus died in disillusionment.

The value of Schweitzer’s work is that he at least made it impossible for even Liberal scholars to teach the New Testament without realizing the eschatological dimension of it. The heresy of Albert Schweitzer was a denial of the resurrection and a belief that Jesus died foolishly as a delusional Messiah.

The Parousia Delayed Theory

Schweitzer went on to teach that just as Jesus went through His own process of understanding and delaying the kingdom of God coming to earth, so did the early church. As time passed, the church had to make many adjustments as to why the kingdom of heaven did not come to earth as anticipated in the life of Jesus, or in their own lifetime.

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Realized Eschatology

In the providence of God, men like C. H. Dodd (1884-1973) arose to respond to the heresy of Albert Schweitzer and the Parousia Delayed theory. Dodd was a Welsh New Testament scholar and influential Protestant theologian who taught what is known as “realized eschatology,” the belief that the kingdom of God of which Jesus spoke is a present reality more than a future apocalypse.

Dodd taught a “realized eschatology” because he assumed that the time frame references of the nearness of the coming of the kingdom as stated in the New Testament were valid. Dodd believed that Jesus was not delusional. The future forecasts of Christ did take place, but in a spiritual sense. The prediction of Matthew 10:23 was fulfilled. Matthew 10:23 But when they persecute you in this city, flee ye into another: for verily I say unto you, Ye shall not have gone over the cities of Israel, till the Son of man be come.

The disciples did see the Son of Man being manifested in power and glory because there are many references to the presence of the kingdom of God.

John said that the kingdom of God was at hand. Matthew 3:1 In those days came John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judaea, 2 And saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.

Jesus preached the kingdom of God. Mark 1:14 Now after that John was put in prison, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God, 15And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel.

Jesus said the kingdom of God was in the midst of the people. Luke 17:21 Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! For, behold, the kingdom of God is within you.

Jesus said that if you see me casting out devils by the power of God. Matthew 12:28 But if I cast out devils by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God is come unto you.

The very presence of Jesus was a manifestation and a coming of the kingdom of God. Some of His disciples did not die until they saw the Lord in His glory. Matthew 16:27 For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels; and then he shall reward every man according to his works. 28 Verily I say unto you, There be some standing here, which shall not taste of death, till they see the Son of man coming in his kingdom. 17:1 And after six days Jesus taketh Peter, James, and John his brother, and bringeth them up into an high mountain apart, 2 And was transfigured before them: and his face did shine as the sun, and his raiment was white as the light. In His transfiguration and in His resurrection, the glory of Christ was made manifest. All of these events took place within the first century generation. Eschatology was realized.

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Redemptive History

Taking a position between the popular positions of C. H. Dodd’s Realized Eschatology, and Albert Schweitzer’s Parousia Delayed doctrine was Oscar Cullmann (1902 – 1999). His position, known as Redemptive History, teaches that Jesus Christ was the midpoint of sacred history, which informs general history, and which runs linearly from creation to consummation (Cross, F. L., ed. The Oxford Dictionary of the Christian Church. New York: Oxford University Press. 2005, article Cullmann, Oscar). Cullmann insisted on the objective reality of sacred history which, in turn, led him to strive for dialogue between the Lutheran and Roman Catholic traditions. He was invited to be an observer at the Second Vatican Council. When he died at age 96, Cullmann was given a special tribute by the Word Council of Churches for his ecumenical work.

The D Day Theory

Writing to a modern post-war generation, Dodd made the comparison to Christ’s redemptive work at Calvary and D-Day, June 6, 1944. While Hitler’s empire was not completely destroyed, and the war was not over after that invasion, it marked the beginning of the end. In like manner, the death of Christ marked the end of the rule and reign of Satan though the war is not completely over. The future kingdom that Jesus predicted came to pass with His earthly ministry, with His death, burial, and resurrection, His ascension, and with the promise of His return. The victory has been won. For all intents and purposes, the kingdom has come in all of its glory. Of course, the analogy breaks down because no one expects the end of the world to come 2,000 plus years later.

The Already, and The Not Yet (Als reeds en nog niet)

Herman Ridderbos (1909 – 2007), was a New Testament Dutch theologian who wrote extensively on the history of salvation (Heilsgeschichte) and biblical theology.

Special Note.

Heilsgeschichte (heils–ge-schich–teis) a technical term for an interpretation of history emphasizing God’s saving acts and viewing Jesus Christ as central in redemption (Merriam-Webster).

According to Ridderbos, the church must see that the kingdom of heaven has already come, and yet it has not yet come. In other words, there is a tension between the rhetoric and the reality, between the realization and the full presentation of the kingdom.

Tied to this is the idea of primary and secondary fulfillment, meaning that much of the teaching and preaching of New Testament eschatology has an immediate and then a far-reaching fulfillment. The primary sense of eschatology was fulfilled in biblical times, while the secondary fulfillment remains for the consummation of the ages.

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A Futuristic View

Dispensationalism, another view of eschatology, sees most of the eschatological teaching of the New Testament as belonging to the future. These are some of the different ways theologians have tried to understand eschatology in church history.

1 Corinthians 15:55-56

“O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?56 The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law.”

Preterism

Opposing Dispensationalism are those who believe that the events spoken of in the Olivet Discourse and seen by John in the Revelation have been fulfilled. This is the position of preterism.

Full Preterism

As the name suggests, full preterism believes that all of the future events spoken of in the New Testament have been fulfilled. The fall of Jerusalem, the destruction of the temple, and the second coming of Christ have been fulfilled. Also included in this position is the general resurrection of the dead.

Full Preterism and the Resurrection

1 Corinthians 15:50 Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption. 51 Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, 52 In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. 53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. 54 So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory. 55 O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? 56 The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. 57 But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ 58 Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye steadfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.

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Full preterism arguments for a historical fulfillment of the resurrection is based on Paul’s use of the word “we” in 1 Corinthians 15:51, 52: “we shall not all sleep”;“we shall all be changed”; “we shall be changed.”

Likewise, in 1 Thessalonians, Paul speaks of those who are alive, and he includes himself in the language, being caught up to meet the Lord. 1 Thessalonians 4:16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: 17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. 18 Wherefore comfort one another with these words.

The full preterist will argue that Paul was expecting himself to be included when these prophesies were fulfilled. The full preterists are not alone in this understanding. The higher critics of the New Testament have seized upon Paul’s terminology to indict the apostle of not being trustworthy in order to make the Bible less than infallible.

Special Note.

The words of Paul in 1 Thessalonians and in 1 Corinthians does not of necessity mean that the apostle expected to be alive when they were fulfilled. Paul was speaking not only to the first century Christians but to Christians of all generations. He would certainly be included in the rapture and in the resurrection.

Spiritualizing the Texts

In order for the full preterism position to be valid, the texts concerning the rapture and the resurrection have to be spiritualized. However, it is inappropriate to spiritualize something that is being discussed physically. It is hard to spiritualize the bodily resurrection of the saints without, at the same time, denying the bodily resurrection of the saints. The full preterism position is a renewed form of Gnosticism. The Gnostics denied that Jesus had come in the flesh. They spiritualized the incarnation.

Full Preterism and the Rapture

In order for the teaching of Paul concerning the rapture, or the greeting of Christ at His coming to happen, the full preterist has to spiritualize the event and speak of a rapture which was secret, silent, and unseen. It was invisible. If this position is true, then no one heard it, no one saw it, and no one was aware of it. If this position is true, then justice cannot be done to the language which was designed to comfort God’s people.

1 Thessalonians 4:13 But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. 14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. 15 For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep.

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16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: 17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. 18 Wherefore comfort one another with these words.

Special Note.

It is a matter of theological irony that the Dispensational teaching concerning the rapture closely parallels the full preterist position, which they vociferously denounce. Dispensationalism teaches that prior to the great tribulation the Lord will rapture His saints in a secret and silent coming. The rapture will happen so suddenly it will be invisible to people who are left behind. They will wonder what happened.

The Glory of Christ’s Return

Tragically, Dispensational teaching misses the importance of Paul’s teaching, which is that when Jesus returns the second time, Christians will rise to greet the Lord and escort Him to earth. In this friendly encounter with Christ in the air, the church will share in the glory of the Lord’s return.

Come the Conquering Heroes

What Paul was communicating was a familiar image to the people of his generation, which was the triumphal return of the armies of Rome. Whenever the armies of Rome would return from a victorious campaign, they would camp outside the city. All of the soldiers would be encamped as well as all of the captives they wanted to put on display.

A messenger would then be sent to the Senate to announce their arrival. The banners of SPQR would be carried with great fanfare. This would give the city planners time to erect an arch of triumph and to decorate the city to welcome their great heroes.

Garlands with sweet aroma would be scattered throughout the city to perfume the air.

At a prearranged time, a signal would be made whereby the trumpets would be blown. That was the signal for the armies of Rome to march in triumph into the city. But before the blowing of the trumpet everyone who was an actual citizen of Rome would go forth to greet the victorious army and serve as an escort back into the city through the arch of triumph. In this manner the people would participate in the victory and in the triumph of the army.

When Jesus comes, He shall descend with the saints. He will continue to descend in a great triumphant return joined by those who shall be changed in a moment and in the twinkling of an eye who shall rise to greet Him. Even so come quickly, Lord Jesus!

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Partial Preterism

In distinction to full preterism, partial preterism says that some of the prophetic events in the New Testament have been fulfilled but not all. The fall of Jerusalem, the destruction of the temple, the appearance of the anti-Christ and the primary events of the Revelation have taken place in the past. However, the second coming of Christ is still future and so is the general resurrection of the dead. The Christian also anticipates a new heaven and a new earth wherein righteousness dwelleth. The return of Christ in AD 70 was a return of Christ in judgment over Israel, but the return of Christ spoken of in Acts 1:11 and Hebrews 9:28 is still in the future. Jesus returned in AD 70 at the end of an age, the Jewish age, but not at the end of all history. The days of vengeance, which Luke spoke of in association with the judgment upon Jerusalem, was a “day of the Lord” in judgment but not the final day of the Lord. The greatest difference of partial preterism from full preterism and from Dispensationalism, concerns itself with the general resurrection, the rapture, and last judgment.

An Overarching Theme

In discussing the Olivet Discourse -- the anti-Christ, the Beast of Revelation 13, and other prophetic matters -- the overarching theme has been the time frame in which the events and personages appear. Specifically, the possibility of everything taking place within the first century, c. AD 66-70, has been advocated.

Attention is turned to the resurrection. In the Apostle’s Creed, there is a statement of faith in “the resurrection of the body.” That is not a statement of belief about the Lord’s bodily resurrection, but the resurrection of the believer.

The Apostle’s Creed

“I believe in God, the Father Almighty,Creator of heaven and earth;And in Jesus Christ his only Son, our Lord;who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,born of the Virgin Mary,suffered under Pontius Pilate,was crucified, dead, and buried;He descended into hell.the third day he rose from the dead;he ascended into heaven,and sitteth at the right hand of God the Father Almighty;from thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead.

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I believe in the Holy Spirit,the holy catholic* church,the communion of saints,the forgiveness of sins,the resurrection of the body,and the life everlasting. Amen.

As Christ has been presented as the first fruits of the resurrection of the dead, the hope of the Christian is to share in His resurrection.

Special Note.

* holy catholic church refers to the universal church of Jesus Christ which includes all who love the Lord.

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AD 70 The Destruction of Jerusalem

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MATTHEW 24

The Olivet Discourse

Matthew 24:1-2

1 ¶And Jesus went out, and departed from the temple: and his disciples came to him for to shew him the buildings of the temple.

24:1. the temple. the Herodian temple.

2 And Jesus said unto them, See ye not all these things? Verily I say unto you, There shall not be left here one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down.

24:2. And Jesus said unto them. Jesus spoke to His disciples in a normal didactic or teaching manner following the normal rules of discourse. With this in mind, the signs of the time and the predictive elements would have been and should have been expected to come to pass just as Jesus said they would. Therefore, the time would come when the Second Temple, rebuilt by the Jews after the Babylonian Captivity and expanded by Herod the Great, would be destroyed.

Special Note.

The destruction of the building of the Temple and the city of Jerusalem did not happen overnight. The story begins in the summer of AD 66 when a Roman official was caught stealing from the Jewish treasury in the Temple. Outraged Jews sparked a confrontation with Roman officials which escalated into a revolt against Roman authority with a view to Jewish independence.

When word of the Jewish uprising reached Rome, Nero sent an experienced general, Vespasian, to put down the revolt, accompanied by his son, Titus, and three Roman legions totaling about 9,000 soldiers.

In AD 68 Nero died. Vespasian turned the seize of the Jews over to his son, Titus, in order to return to Rome to become emperor. A strong Roman leader was needed because the death of Nero sent Rome into social chaos and civil war. A man named Galba tried to seize the throne, but was assassinated and replaced by Otho, who was murdered in AD 69. He was replaced by Vitelius. Though appointed by the Senate of Rome, the military rejected Vitelius in favor of Vespasian. He reigned from AD 69 – 79. He was then succeeded by his son, Titus.

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3 And as he sat upon the Mount of Olives, the disciples came unto him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? And what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world?

24:3. he sat upon the Mount of Olives. Matthew 24, Mark 13, and Luke 21 contain the Mount of Olives Discourse.

Special Note.

A harmony of the gospels, comparing one account with the others, is a profitable exercise and very instructive.

24:3. and of the end of the world? and of the end of the age.

Special Note.

Jesus has talked about “the end of the world” elsewhere.

KJV. Matthew 13:37 He answered and said unto them, He that soweth the good seed is the Son of man; 38 The field is the world; the good seed are the children of the kingdom; but the tares are the children of the wicked one; 39 The enemy that sowed them is the devil; the harvest is the end of the world; and the reapers are the angels. 40 As therefore the tares are gathered and burned in the fire; so shall it be in the end of this world.

NKJV. Matthew 13:37 He answered and said to them: “He who sows the good seed is the Son of Man. 38 The field is the world, the good seeds are the sons of the kingdom, but the tares are the sons of the wicked one. 39 The enemy who sowed them is the devil, the harvest is the end of the age, and the reapers are the angels. 40 Therefore as the tares are gathered and burned in the fire, so it will be at the end of this age.

Notice there is a slightly different reading. In the KJV, “the harvest is the end of the world”. In the NKJV, “the harvest is the end of the age.”

The reason for the change from “world” to “age” is because there are two Greek words in view. In Matthew 13:38, the Greek word is cosmos. But in 13:39 and 40, the Greek word is aion, which means “age” or “epoch” and not world.

The age that Jesus had in mind in Matthew 24:3 was the Jewish age, not the human age of time.

In Luke 21, there are some details that are not found in Matthew 24 or Mark 13 concerning the end of the age.

Luke 21:20 And when ye shall see Jerusalem compassed with armies, then know that the desolation thereof is nigh. 21 Then let them which are in Judaea flee to the mountains; and let them which are in the midst of it depart out; and let not them that are in the

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countries enter thereinto. 22 For these be the days of vengeance, that all things which are written may be fulfilled. 23 But woe unto them that are with child, and to them that give suck, in those days! For there shall be great distress in the land, and wrath upon this people. 24 And they shall fall by the edge of the sword, and shall be led away captive into all nations: and Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled.

Special Note.

The “times of the Gentiles” necessitates a differentiation from the time of the Jews. The word “until” refers to a terminal point. Jerusalem will be controlled by Gentiles for a definite period of history, but that time period will end.

Some modern day Bible students have hoped that in 1948 when Israel was reestablished as a modern state, and in 1967 when Jerusalem was reunited under Jewish control, “ the times of the Gentiles” came to an end.

In his epistle to the Romans, the apostle Paul makes reference to “ the times of the Gentiles” and speaks of it in terms of divine judgment being upon the nation.

Romans 11:25 For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fullness of the Gentiles be come in.

On the basis of ethnicity, Paul argues that God is not done with the Jewish people.

Special Note.

There are other time frame references which speak of the nearness expectancy of the last days according to the writers of the Scriptures.

Matthew 10:23 But when they persecute you in this city, flee ye into another: for verily I say unto you, Ye shall not have gone over the cities of Israel, till the Son of man be come.

Matthew 26:64 Jesus saith unto him, Thou hast said: nevertheless I say unto you, Hereafter shall ye see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven.

Romans 13:11 And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed. 12 The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light.

1 Corinthians 7:31 And they that use this world, as not abusing it: for the fashion of this world passeth away.

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1 Corinthians 10:11 Now all these things happened unto them for examples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world [ages] are come.

Philippians 4:5 Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand.

James 5:8 Be ye also patient; stablish your hearts: for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh. 9 Grudge not one against another, brethren, lest ye be condemned: behold, the judge standeth before the door.

1 Peter 4:7 But the end of all things is at hand: be ye therefore sober, and watch unto prayer.

1 John 2:18 Little children, it is the last time: and as ye have heard that antichrist shall come, even now are there many antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last time.

Revelation 1:11 The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him, to shew unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass; and he sent and signified it by his angel unto his servant John:

Revelation 1:3 Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand [near].

Revelation 3:11 Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown.

Revelation 22:6 And he said unto me, These sayings are faithful and true: and the Lord God of the holy prophets sent his angel to shew unto his servants the things which must shortly be done. 7 Behold, I come quickly: blessed is he that keepeth the sayings of the prophecy of this book.

The Rise of False MessiahsMatthew 24:4-5 * Matthew 11-13 * Matthew 24:23-26

4 ¶And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you.

24:4. Take heed. In presenting the “signs of the time,” it must be remembered that Jesus was speaking of significant signs that would be recognized by those within the generation He was speaking to. The Lord said at the end of His presentations that the generation would not pass away until everything He had shared was fulfilled. Matthew 24:34 Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled.

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Special Note.

There have always been wars, and famines, and earthquakes. But when these events are geographically localized and confined to a specific generation within a definite time period, suddenly they are significant. Modern wars and rumors of wars, earthquakes, and famines have no bearing as “signs of the time” concerning the end of the world because the “end of the age” of which Jesus spoke has seen the fulfillment of the “signs.”

Special Note.

Titus Flavius Josephus was born AD 37 in Jerusalem, in Judea, was a subject of Rome during the reign of Caligula. He died c. AD 100. In the providence of the Lord, born into a priestly family of the Jews, when he reached maturity Josephus became a scholar, historian, and hagiographer, which is a biographer of a saint or an ecclesiastical leader.

Though not a Christian, the church owes a large debt of gratitude to Josephus for recording the War of the Jew, and his eyewitness account of the destruction of Jerusalem in AD 70. Josephus has been proven to be a respected, reasonable, and reliable historian, having been a Pharisee, a territorial governor of Galilee, and a military strategist who served as a general in the Jewish army. During the siege of Jerusalem between AD 66 – 70, Josephus saw the futility of the situation and began to serve as a negotiator between the officials in Jerusalem holding out against the Roman legions that had come to suppress the Jews. Josephus wrote of Rome’s military might and the weapons they used to conquer Jerusalem with the battering ram, the catapult, and other forms of warfare.

5 For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many.

24:5. I am Christ. Prior to the fall of Jerusalem, between the ascension of Christ and AD 70, there were many false Messiahs who were able to deceive many. The 1906 unedited full text of the Jewish Encyclopedia lists several.

Special Note.

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“From Josephus it appears that in the first century before the destruction of the Temple a number of Messiahs arose promising relief from the Roman yoke, and finding ready followers. Josephus speaks of them thus:

"Another body of wicked men also sprung up, cleaner in their hands but more wicked in their intentions, who destroyed the peace of the city no less than did these murderers [the Sicarii]. For they were deceivers and deluders of the people and, under pretense of divine illumination, were for innovations and changes, and prevailed on the multitude to act like madmen, and went before them in the wilderness pretending that God would there show them signs of liberty" (Josephus, "B. J." ii. 13, §; 4; idem, "Ant." xx. 8, §; 6).

Matt. xxiv. 24, warning against "false Christs and false prophets" gives testimony to the same effect. Thus about 44, Josephus reports, a certain impostor, Theudas, who claimed to be a prophet, appeared and urged the people to follow him with their belongings to the Jordan, which he would divide for them. According to Acts v. 36 (which seems to refer to a different date), he secured about 400 followers. Cuspius Fadus sent a troop of horsemen after him and his band, slew many of them, and took captive others, together with their leader, beheading the latter” ("Ant." xx. 5, § 1).

Wars and Rumors of Wars Matthew 24:6-8 * Matthew 24:29-31

6 And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet.

7 For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places.

24:7. famines. The Bible speaks of famines in Acts. The famine was so terrible that the church of Corinth took up a special offering to help the saints.

Acts 11:27 And in these days came prophets from Jerusalem unto Antioch. 28 And there stood up one of them named Agabus, and signified by the spirit that there should be great dearth throughout all the world: which came to pass in the days of Claudius Caesar. 29 Then the disciples, every man according to his ability, determined to send relief unto the brethren which dwelt in Judaea:

1 Corinthians 16:1 Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I have given order to the churches of Galatia, even so do ye. 2 Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him, that there be no gatherings when I come. 3 And when I come, whomsoever ye shall approve by your letters, them will I send to bring your liberality unto Jerusalem. 4 And if it be meet that I go also, they shall go with me. 5 Now I will come unto you, when I shall pass through Macedonia: for I do pass through Macedonia.

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Romans 15:25 But now I go unto Jerusalem to minister unto the saints. 26 For it hath pleased them of Macedonia and Achaia to make a certain contribution for the poor saints which are at Jerusalem. 27 It hath pleased them verily; and their debtors they are.

For if the Gentiles have been made partakers of their spiritual things, their duty is also to minister unto them in carnal things. 28 When therefore I have performed this, and have sealed to them this fruit, I will come by you into Spain.

Josephus said there were famines leading up to the time of Jerusalem’s destruction. He records the consequences in graphic detail. One woman, who had lost everything but her baby to militant zealot Jews, then killed her baby son, “and then roasted him, and ate the one half of him, and kept the other half by her concealed.”

When the seditious men smelled “the horrid scent of this food, they threatened her, that they would cut her throat immediately if she did not show then what food she had gotten ready. She replied that she had saved a very fine portion of it for them and uncovered what was left of her son. She said this is my own son and he was killed by my own doing. Come eat of this food; I have eaten of it myself. The men left, trembling and frightened and all the city came under distress when they heard about it” (Josephus pp. 443-444). Hundreds of thousands died from starvation during Titus’ final siege of Jerusalem. One of the most heart-wrenching scriptures is Luke 23:28, “But Jesus turning unto them said, “Daughters of Jerusalem, weep not for me, but weep for yourselves and for your children.”

24:7. earthquakes. During the reign of Caligula (AD 37 – 41) and during the reign of Claudius (AD 41 – 54), massive earthquakes took place that devastated thousands.

Special Note.

In the writings of the first century historian, Tacitus, we read a description of the conditions in A.D. 51 in Rome: "This year witnessed many signs or omens... including repeated earthquakes." Josephus accounts that an earthquake in Judea was such a magnitude that "the constitution of the universe was confounded for the destruction of men."

He also wrote that earthquakes were "a common calamity" and indicated that God Himself had brought them about for a special purpose. Then there is the book of Acts that records "a great earthquake that shook the foundations of the prison house" (Acts 16:26). There were earthquakes in Crete, Smyrna, Miletus, Chios, Samos, Laodicea, Hierapolis, Colosse, Campania, Rome, and Judea. Paul started churches at Colosse and Hierapolis. However, these two cities, along with Laodicea, suffered a great earthquake in approximately A.D. 61. Laodicea was rebuilt soon after the earthquake but Colosse and Hierapolis were not.

The earthquake at the latter place was so destructive that the emperor, in order to relieve the distresses of the inhabitants, remitted its tribute for five years. Both these earthquakes are recorded by Tacitus. There was one also in the same reign in Crete. This is mentioned by Philostratus in his Life of Apollonius, who says, that 'there were others at Smyrna, Miletus, Chios, and Samos; in all which places Jews had settled.' In the reign of Nero, there was an earthquake at Laodicea. Tacitus records this also.

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It is likewise mentioned by Eusebius and Orosius, who add that Hierapolis and Colosse, as well as Laodicea, were overthrown by an earthquake. There was also one in Campania in this reign (of this both Tacitus and Seneca speak) and another at Rome in the reign of Galba recorded by Suetonius; to all which may be added those which happened on that dreadful night. When the Idumeans were excluded from Jerusalem, a short time before the siege commenced, "A heavy storm (says Josephus) burst on them during the night, violent winds arose, accompanied with the most excessive rains, with constant lightnings, most tremendous thunderings, and with dreadful roarings of earthquakes. It seemed (continues he) as if the system of the world had been confounded for the destruction of mankind and one might well conjecture that these were signs of no common events" (Scripture in Light of First Century History).

8 All these are the beginning of sorrows.

24:8. the beginning of sorrows. When Nero came to the throne, the persecution of the Jews and Christians began in earnest. Paul and Peter were executed during the reign of Nero. More than 1.1 million inhabitants of Jerusalem died during the destruction of Jerusalem.

PersecutionMatthew 24:9-10

9 Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for my 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 [sin] shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.

13 But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.

14 And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.

Matthew 24:15-22

15 When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand:)

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16 Then let them which be in Judaea flee into the mountains:

17 Let him which is on the housetop not come down to take any thing out of his house:

18 Neither let him which is in the field return back to take his clothes [cloak].

24:18. Neither…return back. In time of war or calamity, a natural instinct is to return home for special supplies or run to a place of shelter, such as a fortified city with walls. Jesus gave counsel that was counterintuitive to this natural impulse.

19 And woe unto them that are with child, and to them that give suck [have babies] in those days!

20 But pray ye that your flight be not in the winter, neither on the Sabbath day:

24:20. But pray ye that your flight be not in the winter. In the modern era, with missiles being used, it does not matter what the time is for there is no escaping. One season of warfare is just as harsh as the next.

21 For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be.

24: great tribulation, such as was not since. What made the tribulation period of AD 70 so severe was the kind of tribulation the Jews faced. These were days of vengeance whereby God judged Israel for crucifying His Son. These were the days in which Israel was placed under God’s judicial wrath until the time of the Gentiles are fulfilled. These were the days when God divorced His covenanted people.

22 And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect's [chosen of God] sake those days shall be shortened.

23 Then if any man shall say unto you, Lo, here is Christ, or there; believe it not.

24 For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.

25 Behold, I have told you before.

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26 Wherefore if they shall say unto you, Behold, he [the Messiah] is in the desert; go not forth: behold, he is in the secret chambers [inner rooms]; believe it not.

27 For as the lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.

The Gathering of the Eagles Matthew 24:28

28 For wheresoever the carcass is, there will the eagles be gathered together.

24:28. the carcass. The carcass is what is left of a dead animal. The carcass is Jerusalem.

24:28. the eagles be gathered together. On the banners of the Roman army was the image of an eagle. When Jerusalem was seized, the standard banners were unfurled. Jerusalem was to be slaughtered.

Astronomical PerturbationsMatthew 24:29

29 Immediately after the tribulation [trouble] of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken:

24:29. Immediately after the tribulation.

24:29. the sun darkened. In this verse, Jesus speaks of astronomical perturbations or heavenly disruptions.

30 And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.

24:30. the sign of the Son of Man. It is possible that the sign of the Son of Man is the destruction of the Temple. Other signs have been suggested.

Special Note.

Between AD 30 and AD 70, Josephus recorded several unusual signs in the heaven in his work, Wars of the Jews, Book 6, Chapter 5. Josephus describes a light shining in the Temple,

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as well as a star like a sword pointing to Jerusalem (probably a reference to Halley’s Comet in 66, which many Jews understood as foretelling the destruction of Jerusalem).This comet had been anticipated as early as AD 60, which terrified Nero to the point he had members of his family killed. This royal slaughter took place because Nero, like others, was superstitious and believed the coming comet foretold a change in government. He tried to protect himself, but to no avail. When the comet came in AD 66, Nero committed suicide. At one point, a heifer being led to sacrifice gives birth to a lamb in the midst of the Temple. It is Josephus who first relates the story of the voice from the Holy of Holies saying, “Let us remove hence.”

24:30. the clouds of heaven. One of the challenges in studying prophecy is the use of apocalyptic language which is full of symbolism. The book of Revelation is called The Apocrypha because of the symbolism it uses. Here is another case in point. Are these words to be interpreted as apocalyptic language or are the words literally to be fulfilled? What is being communicated? If care is not taken, wild interpretations can be made with apocalyptic language.

Special Note.

The British philosopher Bertrand Russell (1872-1970) did not think that Jesus was very wise, especially when the Lord spoke on matters related to His future. “He certainly thought that his second coming would occur in clouds of glory before the death of all the people who were living at that time.”

Matthew 10:23 But when they persecute you in this city, flee ye into another: for verily I say unto you, Ye shall not have gone over the cities of Israel, till the Son of man be come.

Matthew 16:28 Verily I say unto you, There be some standing here, which shall not taste of death, till they see the Son of man coming in his kingdom.

Mark 13:30 Verily I say unto you, that this generation shall not pass, till all these things be done.

While Mr. Russell died in unbelief, he at least understood a critical teaching of Jesus Christ, and that is the Son of God promised to return a second time for all who believe (Hebrews 9:28).

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

Matthew 24:32-41

32 ¶Now learn a parable of the fig tree; When his branch is yet tender, and putteth forth leaves, ye know that summer is nigh:

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33 So likewise ye, when ye shall see all these things, know that it is near, even at the doors.

34 Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled.

24:34. This generation. This is a critical verse for it establishes a time period of no more than forty years from the time Jesus gave this prediction to the events that the Lord had spoken about were to be fulfilled. Jesus did come in judgment upon Israel.

This Generation

The following passages should be studied to find out how the phrase “this generation” is used.

Matthew 1:16 “whereunto shall I liken this generation?” Matthew 12:41 “shall rise in judgment with this generation.” Matthew 12:42 “rise up in the judgment with this generation” Matthew 12:45 “shall it be also unto this wicked generation” Matthew 23:36 “things shall come upon this generation” Matthew 24:34 “This generation shall not pass, till all” Mark 8: 38 “shall no sign be given unto this generation” Mark 13:30 “that this generation shall not pass, till all” Luke 11:29 “He began to say, This is an evil generation” Luke 11:31 “the men of this generation and condemn” Luke 11:30 “also the Son of man be to this generation” Luke 11:32 “with this generation and condemn it” Luke 11:51 “It shall be required of this generation” Luke 17:25 “and be rejected of this generation” Luke 21:32 “This generation shall not pass, till” Acts 2:40 “yourselves from this untoward generation”

When the Word of God wants to indicate another generation than the present one being addressed, the proper language is used, as in Hebrews 3:10, where the Lord says He was grieved with “that generation.” Everyone understands the generation the Lord was not pleased with was the Exodus generation which had come out of Egypt under the leadership of Moses.

To contend that in Matthew 24, Mark 13, and Luke 21, Jesus was speaking of events to come in a far distant generation is confusing, at best, and a violation of the normal usage of language. Jesus spoke prophetically of many events that would come to pass in the generation in which the disciples lived. History confirms that what the Lord said would happen did happen.

24:34. all these things be fulfilled. This language includes the events of Matthew 24:29-31.

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The Events of Matthew 24:29-31

The darkening of the sun. The moon not giving its light. The stars falling from heaven. The powers of heaven being shaken. The appearance of the sign of the Son of man in heaven. The tribes of the earth in mourning. The Son of Man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and glory. The sending of angels with a great sound of a trumpet. The gathering together of the elect from the four winds. The gathering together of the elect from one end of heaven to another.

Special Note.

The temptation arises to invoke the principle of primary and secondary interpretation of prophecy and say that Matthew 24:29-31 has a near and far fulfillment. In this scenario, there can be the fulfillment of the events in one generation and have them fulfilled again many generations later.

Another temptation comes to extrapolate the events of verses 29-31 and catapult them into the future and associate them with the Second Advent of Christ. This can be done if the time frame references are interpreted figuratively. Many commentators say that the reference to “this generation” is a figurative reference to a generation yet to come.

However, the context does not allow that to happen. The plain sense of the text indicates the events are to take place within the time frame Jesus established, which was the generation to which he spoke, or about a 40-year period of time. Jesus did not stop after describing the destruction of the Temple and say, “Now let me share with you some events relating to my Second Coming.”

The Lord did not do that. He continued the narrative of verses 29-31 in association with the destruction of the Temple in AD 70. Therefore, a way has to be found to understand the events in light of what happened in Jerusalem in AD 70.

One way to understand Matthew 24:29-31 and incorporate the events within the time frame established by Jesus is to allow for the usage of apocalyptic language, which was a very familiar style of writing among the Jews. Apocalyptic language concealed as much as it revealed. By comparing Scripture with Scripture, the words of Matthew 24:29-31 become more clear.

Special Note.

Question. “Are the time frame references in the Bible used figuratively or literally?”

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Question. “Is the language figurative or literal which describes predictions of cosmic judgments upon people and nations by the hand of God?”

It seems that a pattern that will answer these questions can be found by doing a biblical comparison and allowing Scripture to illuminate Scripture. In other words, the use of apocalyptic language does not necessitate a literal fulfillment. Apocalyptic language was used historically to speak of God’s judgment upon Babylon, Edom, Moab, and Ammon, without a literal fulfillment of cosmic perturbations.

Scripture Interpreting Scripture A Biblical Comparison

The darkening of the sun. Joel 3:15 The sun and the moon shall be darkened, and the stars shall withdraw their shining.

The moon not giving its light. Isaiah 13:10 For the stars of heaven and the constellations thereof shall not give their light: the sun shall be darkened in his going forth, and the moon shall not cause her light to shine.

The stars falling from heaven. Isaiah 13:9 Behold, the day of the Lord cometh, cruel both with wrath and fierce anger, to lay the land desolate: and he shall destroy the sinners thereof out of it. 10 For the stars of heaven and the constellations thereof shall not give their light: the sun shall be darkened in his going forth, and the moon shall not cause her light to shine.

The powers of heaven being shaken. Joel 2:10 The earth shall quake before them; the heavens shall tremble: the sun and the moon shall be dark, and the stars shall withdraw their shining: 11 And the Lord shall utter his voice before his army: for his camp is very great: for he is strong that executeth his word: for the day of the Lord is great and very terrible; and who can abide it?

The appearance of the sign of the Son of man in heaven. Daniel 7:13 I saw in the night visions, and, behold, one like the Son of man came with the clouds of heaven, and came to the Ancient of days, and they brought him near before him.

The tribes of the earth in mourning. Isaiah 61:1 The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me; because the Lord hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound; 2 To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn; 3 To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that he might be glorified.

The Son of Man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and glory.

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The sending of angels with a great sound of a trumpet.

The gathering together of the elect from the four winds.

The gathering together of the elect from one end of heaven to another.

Special Note.

Amos 5:18 Woe unto you that desire the day of the Lord! To what end is it for you? The day of the Lord is darkness, and not light. Taking the style of apocalyptic language into consideration, the same language that is used to describe judgment upon people and nations is used by Christ.

35 Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.

36 But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only.

37 But as the days of Noe were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.

38 For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark,

39 And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.

40 Then shall two be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left.

41 Two women shall be grinding at the mill; the one shall be taken, and the other left.

Matthew 24:42-51

42 Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come.

43 But know this, that if the Goodman of the house had known in what watch the thief would come, he would have watched, and would not have suffered his house to be broken up.

44 Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh.

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45 Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his lord hath made ruler over his household, to give them meat in due season [food at the right time]?

46 Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing.

47 Verily I say unto you, That he shall make him ruler over all his goods.

48 But and if that evil servant shall say in his heart, My lord delayeth his coming;

49 And shall begin to smite [beat] his fellow servants, and to eat and drink with the drunken;

50 The lord of that servant shall come in a day when he looketh not for him, and in an hour that he is not aware of,

51 And shall cut him asunder, and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

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MARK 13The Olivet Discourse

c. AD 30

1 And as he went out of the temple, one of his disciples saith unto him, Master, see what manner of stones and what buildings are here!

13:1. Master. Teacher.

Special Note.

In trying to understand the Olivet Discourse, the principle of sensus literalis or literal sense must be addressed. Some believe that prophecy must come to pass in the exact, literal way the words are recorded in Scripture. The concept of literal interpretation as it was first set forth in the Reformation meant that the Bible is always to be interpreted according to the sense in which it is written. Some forms of literary structure in the Bible are written in the sense of a historical narrative. Other forms are that of poetry, figurative or metaphorically. In the Olivet Discourse, a distinction is to be made between the ordinary and figurative language.

Ordinary language may be defined as what some might call a literal interpretation. The text means exactly what it seems to suggest and says. There is an ordinary use of words. Figurative language is when there is a symbolic element used in the literary genre or category.

2 And Jesus answering said unto him, Seest thou these great buildings? There shall not be left one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down.

13:2. See thou these great buildings?

Special Note.

There are three basic ways to understand the Olivet Discourse. The first option is to understand the whole discourse as using ordinary language leading to a literal interpretation of the narrative. A second option is to treat the discourse as figurative language or metaphorical without any concern for its historical setting or literal fulfillment. The third option is to realize that the Olivet Discourse uses partly literal language and partly figurative language.

It can immediately be seen that if a literal understanding of a passage is applied to a figurative passage, there will be confusion and a tortuous twisting of Scripture. Also, an opportunity exists for critics to attack the integrity of Scripture and the Lord Himself.

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For example, if Jesus was speaking at one point in the discourse about His Second Advent and His return to glory at the end of the Gentile age in clouds of glory, and that has not happened yet, then critics will argue the whole prophecy is discredited.

No one has ever tried to interpret all of the Olivet Discourse as wholly figurative, so the theological battles lines, and the critics of Jesus and the Bible, have focused attention on what is literal and what is figurative, which verses apply to the prophetic events relating to the fall of Jerusalem, and which verses and events relate to the Lord’s Second Advent.

Excavated Stones Thrown Down by RomansAD 70

13:2. Seest thou these great buildings. The Temple in Jerusalem could clearly be seen from the Mount of Olives, which was nearby. There was a valley in between. The wall that faces the Mount of Olives is the Temple wall. In AD 70 the walls of Jerusalem were destroyed as Jesus had predicted.

Peter, James, John, and Andrew Two Questions

3 And as he sat upon the Mount of Olives over against the temple, Peter and James and John and Andrew asked him privately,

4 Tell us, when shall these things be? And what shall be the sign when all these things shall be fulfilled?

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13:4. Tell us. The disciples did not ask where, or how, nor who would destroy Jerusalem. They asked when it would happen. That is a question with respect to time.

The Two Basic Questions of the Disciples

“Lord, tell us when the walls of Jerusalem shall be destroyed?”

“Lord, tell us what will be the sign to guide us to the imminent of the destruction of Jerusalem.”

Special Note.

Question. “What is meant by the end of the world (age)?” Matthew 24:3 And as he sat upon the Mount of Olives, the disciples came unto him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? And what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world?

Because the term for “world” is aionos, or age, in the Greek, what Jesus was talking about was not the end of world history but the end of the Jewish age. We know the Jewish age came to a conclusion in AD 70 with the fall of Jerusalem and the destruction of the sacrificial offerings. The economy of redemption that focused upon the Jewish nation came to an end in a dramatic way.

The First SignThe Deception of Many

Mark 13:5

5 And Jesus answering them began to say, Take heed lest any man deceive you:

13:5. And Jesus answering them began to say. The fulfillment of prophetic utterances of Scripture is one of the main arguments in defense of the supernatural origin of the Bible and its inspiration. How else can events find fulfillment many years after the prophecy was given unless there was Divine enlightenment?

6 For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many.

The Second SignWars and Rumors of Wars

Mark 13:7

7 And when ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars, be ye not troubled: for such things must needs be; but the end shall not be yet.

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The Third Sign Earthquakes in Various Places

Mark 13:8a

The Fourth Sign Famines and Troubles

Mark 13:8b

8 For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be earthquakes in divers places, and there shall be famines and troubles: these are the beginnings of sorrows.

13:8. and there shall be famines. When the Roman legions surrounded Jerusalem, they destroyed all the trees that surrounded the city including those on the Mount of Olives. The inhabitants of Jerusalem under siege resorted to eating dogs and rats. Cannibalism was not unheard of.

Special Note.

Josephus records the desperate situation of Mary, daughter of Eleazar of Bathezor. Once a wealthy woman, Mary was deprived of everything of value and reduced to poverty and hunger. Out of her mind, Mary roasted her baby for food. When the smell of cooking attracted others, Mary said to those who came to investigate, “This is my own son. The deed is mine. Eat, for I too have eaten. Be not more merciful than a woman, nor more compassionate than a mother. But if you are too pious and shrink from my sacrifice, let the rest remain for me.”

The Fifth Sign Religious Persecution

Mark 13:9

9 But take heed to yourselves: for they shall deliver you up to councils; and in the synagogues ye shall be beaten: and ye shall be brought before rulers and kings for my sake, for a testimony against them.

The Sixth SignThe Worldwide Proclamation of the Gospel

Mark 13:10

10 And the gospel must first be published among all nations.

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13:10. among all nations. The word “nations” is used in two distinct ways in the New Testament. The term (ethnos) is used to refer to Gentiles. The term was also used of Israel since it consisted of so many tribes. The passage probably refers in an idiomatic way to the gospel being preached throughout the Roman Empire, which was comprised of many conquered nations and was the known world of that day.

The Sixth Sign Scripturally Fulfilled

Romans 1:8 First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for you all, that your faith is spoken of throughout the whole world.

Romans 10:18 But I say, Have they not heard? Yes verily, their sound went into all the earth, and their words unto the ends of the world.

Colossians 1:6 Which is come unto you, as it is in all the world; and bringeth forth fruit, as it doth also in you, since the day ye heard of it, and knew the grace of God in truth:

Special Note.

There are Christians who believe that until the gospel has gone to every tribe and tongue and nation known to man, this prophesy has yet to be fulfilled.

The Witness of the Holy SpiritMark 13:11

11 But when they shall lead you, and deliver you up, take no thought beforehand what ye shall speak, neither do ye premeditate: but whatsoever shall be given you in that hour, that speak ye: for it is not ye that speak, but the Holy Ghost.

The Seventh SignActs of Family Betrayal

Mark 13:12

12 Now the brother shall betray the brother to death, and the father the son; and children shall rise up against their parents, and shall cause them to be put to death.

The Eighth SignWidespread Hatred of Christians

Mark 13:13

13 And ye shall be hated of all men for my name’s sake: but he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.

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13:13. And ye. It must not be forgotten that Jesus was answering a specific question to a specific group of four men who were His disciples in the first century.

Special Note.

One of the primary problems when we read these prophecies and others in the verses to follow is that they apply “us” to the contemporary generation. But they are not. The context refers to the generation in which Jesus lived and to the children of that generation. While there is certainly an application of doctrine from the Olivet Discourse to every Christian in every generation, the interpretation belongs to the first century believers.

13:13. And ye shall be hated of all men for my name’s sake. By way of interpretation, the book of Acts records that the disciples were hated for the Lord’s sake. By way of application, the disciples of Christ are suffering terrible persecution throughout the world, especially in nations controlled by people of the Islamic faith. Thousands of Christians are being forced to convert to Islam, pay a tax, or leave their homes and possessions. Many are being slaughtered.

The Ninth SignThe Abomination of Desolation

Mark 13:14

How to Avoid and Survive the Great Tribulation and

The Destruction of Jerusalem

First Rule of SurvivalRun to the Mountains

14 But when ye shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing where it ought not, (let him that readeth understand,) then let them that be in Judaea flee to the mountains:

13:14. But when ye shall see the abomination of desolation. This could also be translated, “the devastating pollution.” The disciples and other Christians were eyewitnesses to the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet (Daniel 12:11)

13:14. Flee to the mountains. The normal place of refuge to flee to was the city walls. However, Jesus told His disciples when they saw specific events unfolding, they were to flee, not to Jerusalem, not to the city walls, but to the mountains. That is exactly what the early Christian community did. When Jews fled to the city, the disciples of Jesus took heed to His warnings. Many were spared.

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Special Note.

The abomination of desolation refers to the act of defiling the holy Temple. Historically, this first took place in 168 BC when Antiochus IV Epiphanes erected a statue of Zeus and sacrificed pigs on the sacred altar. History was going to repeat itself sometime between AD 30 and AD 70.

In AD 40, the Roman emperor Gaius had a statue of himself erected with the intent to place it inside the Temple in Jerusalem. In the providence of God, he died before that could happen.

But in AD 69 something did take place that was significant. In the lull that took place between turning the Roman army over from Vespasian to Titus, Jewish Zealots made their way into the Temple, expelled the priests, and trashed the area.

Second Rule of SurvivalDo not Return Home

Mark 13:15-16

15 And let him that is on the housetop not go down into the house, neither enter therein, to take any thing out of his house:

24:15. on the housetop. The rooftop was often used as a patio for relaxation and other activities.

16 And let him that is in the field not turn back again for to take up his garment.

24:16. not turn back. This counsel was just the opposite of the normal reaction of people in the ancient world who fled to the city for protection inside fortified walls. Jesus told His disciples not to return to Jerusalem but flee to the mountains. This was a message of urgency.

17 But woe to them that are with child, and to them that give suck in those days!

24:17. But woe to them. Pregnant women and nursing mothers find it difficult to move rapidly. The opportunity to escape destruction demanded mobility.

Second Rule of Survival Pray

Mark 13:18

18 And pray ye that your flight be not in the winter.

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24:18. not in the winter. The progress to the mountains could be hindered at the wrong time and impede escaping the oncoming slaughter.

Unprecedented Affliction Mark 13:19

19 For in those days shall be affliction, such as was not from the beginning of the creation which God created unto this time, neither shall be.

Supernatural Intervention Mark 13:20

20 And except that the Lord had shortened those days, no flesh should be saved: but for the elect’s sake, whom he hath chosen, he hath shortened the days.

24:20. shortened those days. In the providence of God, there were events and deeds that allowed for the days to be shortened so that more people survived. For example, opposition leaders to surrender among the Zealots were suddenly killed. Walls were breached allowing the Roman soldiers to pour in and capture the city sooner, rather than later. The water supply and the food supply ran out quickly necessitating a more immediate surrender.

Third Rule of Survival Do Not Believe False Christs

Mark 13:20-23

21 And then if any man shall say to you, Lo, here is Christ; or, lo, he is there; believe him not:

13:21. believe him not. There are many teachings Christians are not to believe. A secret, silent coming of Christ is one such teaching.

Special Note.

The modern Dispensational understanding of the Rapture of the church says Jesus will come secretly and silently to take His church from the earth before great tribulation. Some have called it, “The Great Snatch.” Jesus said, “Do not believe that.” There is no secret, silent coming of Christ.

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The Tenth SignThe Rise of False Christs and False Prophets

Accompanied by Signs and Wonders Mark 13:22

22 For false Christs and false prophets shall rise, and shall shew signs and wonders, to seduce, if it were possible, even the elect.

23 But take ye heed: behold, I have foretold you all things.

The Eleventh SignCelestial Changes

The Darkening of the Sun and MoonStars Falling from Heaven

Mark 13:24-25

24 But in those days, after that tribulation, the sun shall be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light,

13:24. after that tribulation.

Special Note.

Jesus has been talking about signs on earth that were to precede the fall of Jerusalem. Suddenly, He begins to talk about signs in the heavens. Some Bible commentators think the Lord stopped talking about the destruction of Jerusalem and began to talk about events that would precede His Second Advent.

Many See a Two-Fold Division

Historical View. Prophecies Concerning the Fall of Jerusalem Mark 13:1-23 Futuristic View. Prophecies relating to the Second Coming Mark 13:24-37

25 And the stars of heaven shall fall, and the powers that are in heaven shall be shaken.

13:25. And the stars of heaven shall fall.

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Special Note.

In AD 60, during the reign of Nero, there were signs that occurred in the sky. A comet was observed for a period of time. The public saw this as an omen of a radical political change that would soon take place. “As if Nero were already dethroned, men began to ask who would be his successor.” Nero took the comet threat seriously. He took no chances. Children and men whom Nero feared were banished from Rome and starved to death or poisoned. Nero survived the comet by several years. In AD 66 Halley’s Comet appeared after which Nero committed suicide in AD 68 (Tacitus, Roman historian, AD 115).

The Twelfth Sign Seeing the Coming of the Son of Man

Mark 13:26

26 And then shall they see the Son of man coming in the clouds with great power and glory.

13:26. And then shall they see.

Special Note.

Some Bible scholars believe it is possible that in the Olivet Discourse Jesus includes not only the destruction of Jerusalem but His second coming at the end of history, which is the end of the age of the Gentiles. Others insist that all of the Olivet Discourse belongs to the events surrounding the fall of Jerusalem in AD 70. Jesus was speaking of His coming at the end of the Jewish age.

Special Note.

Josephus (c. AD 75) – Jewish Historian. “Besides these [signs], a few days after that feast, on the one-and-twentieth day of the month Artemisius [Jyar], a certain prodigious and incredible phenomenon appeared; I suppose the account of it would seem to be a fable, were it not related by those that 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 armour were seen running about among the clouds, and surrounding of cities.”

“Moreover, at that feast which we call Pentecost, as 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 of a great multitude, saying, “Let us remove hence” (Jewish Wars, VI-V-3).”

This reticence report of Josephus reflects the report of the prophet Elisha surrounded by horses and chariots of fire, and the presence of God leaving the temple in Ezekiel’s vision.

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2 Kings 6:17 And Elisha prayed, and said, Lord, I pray thee, open his eyes, that he may see. And the Lord opened the eyes of the young man; and he saw: and, behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire round about Elisha.

Ezekiel 10:18 Then the glory of the Lord departed from off the threshold of the house, and stood over the cherubims. 19 And the cherubims lifted up their wings, and mounted up from the earth in my sight: when they went out, the wheels also were beside them, and every one stood at the door of the east gate of the Lord's house; and the glory of the God of Israel was over them above. 20 This is the living creature that I saw under the God of Israel by the river of Chebar; and I knew that they were the cherubims. 21 Every one had four faces apiece, and every one four wings; and the likeness of the hands of a man was under their wings. 22 And the likeness of their faces was the same faces which I saw by the river of Chebar, their appearances and themselves: they went every one straight forward.

27 And then shall he send his angels, and shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from the uttermost part of the earth to the uttermost part of heaven.

13:24-27. after that…and then…and then. In these verses Jesus spoke of astronomical perturbations or catastrophic signs that take place in the heavens.

Special Note.

A serious question arises as to literary style and form for this reason. In the Old Testament it was not uncommon for an apocalyptic literary form to be used. The prophets of Israel described visitations of divine wrath upon the earth by using graphic descriptions indicating a period of catastrophic judgment. The astronomical perturbations did not take place literally, but the judgment was real and it was severe.

The judgment of God upon Babylon. Isaiah 13:9 Behold, the day of the Lord cometh, cruel both with wrath and fierce anger, to lay the land desolate: and he shall destroy the sinners thereof out of it. 10 For the stars of heaven and the constellations thereof shall not give their light: the sun shall be darkened in his going forth, and the moon shall not cause her light to shine. … 13 Therefore I will shake the heavens, and the earth shall remove out of her place, in the wrath of the Lord of hosts, and in the day of his fierce anger.

Isaiah announces the desolation of Bozrah which was the capital of Edom. Isaiah 34:3 Their slain also shall be cast out, and their stink shall come up out of their carcases, and the mountains shall be melted with their blood. 4 And all the host of heaven shall be dissolved, and the heavens shall be rolled together as a scroll: and all their host shall fall down, as the leaf falleth off from the vine, and as a falling fig from the fig tree. 5 For my sword shall be bathed in heaven: behold, it shall come down upon Idumea, and upon the people of my curse, to judgment.

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The Parable of the Budding Fig TreeMark 13:28-30

28 Now learn a parable of the fig tree; When her branch is yet tender, and putteth forth leaves, ye know that summer is near:

29 So ye in like manner, when ye shall see these things come to pass, know that it is nigh, even at the doors.

30 Verily I say unto you, that this generation shall not pass, till all these things be done.

13:30. this generation shall not pass. The disciples would have understood that the generation to which Jesus referred was His own. The time frame is from AD 30-70.

Special Note.

Question. “What does ‘this generation’ mean? Is it to be taken figuratively or literally?” An ordinary prima facie or primary understanding of this text must refer to the contemporary generation of Jesus. The Lord was dogmatic. “Verily,” or, “Surely I say unto you.”

13:30. this generation shall not pass away. this generation shall not die. Jesus promised that certain people would not die before they saw the predictions He made come to fulfillment.

Special Note.

It would be wrong to change the meaning of the term “generation” (genea) to refer to a “sort,” a “kind,” or a “type.” Jesus did not say, “People like this will not pass away,” or something equivalent to that.

Nor did Jesus have in mind the believers or the righteous ones in general so that He would be saying, “Some of you that believe and are alive when I come, shall not pass away.”

Nor did Jesus have a “mind frame” in view in lieu of a time frame, as some Bible scholars have suggested, such as Herman Ridderbos (1909-2007). “People of this frame of mind, this sort, this type, this ilk, will be around.”

The normal usage of genea refers to a group of people who are alive at the particular time (see Note on Matthew 24:34).There are 38 other references in the New Testament in which genea is used and in every one the word means the contemporary generation.

31 Heaven and earth shall pass away: but my words shall not pass away.

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32 But of that day and that hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels which are in heaven, neither the Son, but the Father.

13:32. knoweth no man.

Special Note.

In order to avoid the difficulties of Mark 13:24-32, the suggestion is made that the time frame is not limited to the first century after all. But there is no reason why verse 32 should override His former assertion. While the specific day and the hour might not be known, even to Jesus in His humanity, the generation in which the events were to take place was certain.

33 Take ye heed, watch and pray: for ye know not when the time is.

13:33. when the time is. The time Jesus spoke of in the Olivet Discourse was the time when Jerusalem would be destroyed and the Temple would be desecrated. The time was yet forty years into the future, for Jesus was a prophet, and the time was then, to His generation, not now, 2000 plus years later.

Special Note. What If…

“What if the end of the age has come?”

“What if what Jesus is talking about in the Olivet Discourse is not the end of history, but the end of the Jewish age?”

“What if what Jesus is talking about is not His final coming to fulfill the final renovation of heaven and earth, but His coming in judgment upon Israel?”

“What if these were the ‘days of vengeance’ Jesus was referring to?” (Luke 21:22).

It is a Matter of Time

34 For the Son of man is as a man taking a far journey, who left his house, and gave authority to his servants, and to every man his work, and commanded the porter to watch.

An Unexpected Return

35 Watch ye therefore: for ye know not when the master of the house cometh, at even, or at midnight, or at the cockcrowing, or in the morning:

36 Lest coming suddenly he find you sleeping.

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37 And what I say unto you I say unto all, Watch.

Literal or Ordinary VersesTemple and City

The destruction of Herod’s Temple The destruction of the holy city of Jerusalem

Literal or Ordinary Verses Signs

The First Sign The Deception of Many Mark 13:5-6 The Second Sign Wars and Rumors of Wars Mark 13:7 The Third Sign Earthquakes in Various Places Mark 13:8a The Fourth Sign Famines and Troubles Mark 13:8b The Fifth Sign Religious Persecution Mark 13:9 The Sixth Sign The Proclamation of the Gospel Mark 13:10 The Seventh Sign Acts of Family Betrayal Mark 13:12 The Eighth Sign Widespread Hatred of Christians Mark 13:13 The Ninth Sign The Abomination of Desolation Mark 13:14 The Tenth Sign The Rise of False Christs and Prophets Accompanied by Signs and Wonders Mark 13:22 The Eleventh Sign Celestial Changes Mark 13:24-25 The Twelfth Sign Seeing the Coming of the Son of Man Mark 13:26

Controversial VersesLiteral or Figurative?

The end of the world (age) (?) Matthew 24:3 The coming of Christ in glory (?) Mark 13:26 The gospel going to all nations (?) Mark 13:10 The astronomical perturbations (?) Mark 13:24-25 This generation (?) Mark 13:30

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The Olivet Discourse

LUKE 21

1 And he looked up, and saw the rich men casting their gifts into the treasury.

2 And he saw also a certain poor widow casting in thither two mites.

3 And he said, Of a truth I say unto you, that this poor widow hath cast in more than they all:

4 For all these have of their abundance cast in unto the offerings of God: but she of her penury [poverty] hath cast in all the living that she had.

5 And as some spake of the temple, how it was adorned with goodly stones and gifts, he said,

21:5. goodly stones. Some of the stones were over 60 feet in length.

6 As for these things which ye behold, the days will come, in the which there shall not be left one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down.

7 And they asked him, saying, Master, but when shall these things be? And what sign will there be when these things shall come to pass?

21:7. And they asked him.

Two Questions of Concern

“Master, but when shall these things be?” “And what sign will there be when these things shall come to pass?”

8 And he said, Take heed that ye be not deceived: for many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and the time draweth near: go ye not therefore after them.

9 But when ye shall hear of wars and commotions, be not terrified: for these things must first come to pass; but the end is not by and by.

10 Then said he unto them, Nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom:

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11 And great earthquakes shall be in divers [different] places, and famines, and pestilences; and fearful sights and great signs shall there be from heaven.

12 But before all these, they shall lay their hands on you, and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues, and into prisons, being brought before kings and rulers for my names sake.

21:12. they shall lay hands on you. The initial persecution against the church came from the Jews. In Jerusalem many Christians suffered.

Acts 8:1 And Saul was consenting unto his death. And at that time there was a great persecution against the church which was at Jerusalem; and they were all scattered abroad throughout the regions of Judaea and Samaria, except the apostles.

Anger was deliberately generated against Christians.

Acts 13:50 But the Jews stirred up the devout and honourable women, and the chief men of the city, and raised persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and expelled them out of their coasts.

Acts 14:1 And it came to pass in Iconium, that they went both together into the synagogue of the Jews, and so spake, that a great multitude both of the Jews and also of the Greeks believed. 2 But the unbelieving Jews stirred up the Gentiles, and made their minds evil affected against the brethren. 3 Long time therefore abode they speaking boldly in the Lord, which gave testimony unto the word of his grace, and granted signs and wonders to be done by their hands. 4 But the multitude of the city was divided: and part held with the Jews, and part with the apostles. 5 And when there was an assault made both of the Gentiles, and also of the Jews with their rulers, to use them despitefully, and to stone them, 6 They were ware of it, and fled unto Lystra and Derbe, cities of Lycaonia, and unto the region that lieth round about:

Acts 14:19 And there came thither certain Jews from Antioch and Iconium, who persuaded the people, and, having stoned Paul, drew him out of the city, supposing he had been dead.

Acts 17:5 But the Jews which believed not, moved with envy, took unto them certain lewd fellows of the baser sort, and gathered a company, and set all the city on an uproar, and assaulted the house of Jason, and sought to bring them out to the people.

The Gentiles also began to persecute the Christians. It was easy to blame them for all the social ills. Tacitus, a Roman historian, called Christians, "a class of men hated on account of their crimes" [Annals, 15.44]. Nero blamed Christians for the Great Fire that destroyed many of the districts in Rome. Did not Christians teach that the world was coming to an end by fire?

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13 And it shall turn to you for a testimony.

14 Settle it therefore in your hearts, not to meditate before what ye shall answer:

15 For I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which all your adversaries shall not be able to gainsay nor resist.

16 And ye shall be betrayed both by parents, and brethren, and kinsfolks, and friends; and some of you shall they cause to be put to death.

17 And ye shall be hated of all men for my names sake.

18 But there shall not an hair of your head perish.

19 In your patience possess ye your souls.

21:19. Possess ye your souls.

Special Note.

Not all Christians were faithful to the Lord when the persecution of the church began. Some fell away.

2 Timothy 2:17 And their word will eat as doth a canker: of whom is Hymenaeus and Philetus; 18 Who concerning the truth have erred, saying that the resurrection is past already; and overthrow the faith of some.

2 Timothy 1:15 This thou knowest, that all they which are in Asia be turned away from me; of whom are Phygellus and Hermogenes.

James 4:1 From whence come wars and fightings among you? Come they not hence, even of your lusts that war in your members? 2 Ye lust, and have not: ye kill, and desire to have, and cannot obtain: ye fight and war, yet ye have not, because ye ask not. 3 Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts. 4 Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? Whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.

20 And when ye shall see Jerusalem compassed with armies, then know that the desolation thereof is nigh.

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21:20. Jerusalem compassed with armies. The parallel passage in Matthew 24:28 warned about the gathering of the eagles which are here identified as the armies of Rome. The armies of Rome gathered against Jerusalem. The banners of the Roman legions were unfurled and the image of an eagle was seen.

Matthew 24:28 For wheresoever the carcase is, there will the eagles be gathered together.

21 Then let them which are in Judaea flee to the mountains; and let them which are in the midst of it depart out; and let not them that are in the countries enter thereinto.

21:21. Then let them which are in Judaea flee. This was a local destruction relegated to the first century AD.

Days of Vengeance

22 For these be the days of vengeance, that all things which are written may be fulfilled.

21:22. For these be the days of vengeance.

Special Note.

The destruction of Jerusalem was pervasive and it was complete. Josephus wrote, "No other city ever suffered miseries, nor did any age, from the beginning of the world, ever breed a generation more fruitful in wickedness that this was." He also wrote, "If the miseries of all mankind from the creation were compared with those which the Jews then suffered, they would appear inferior."

23 But woe unto them that are with child, and to them that give suck, in those days! For there shall be great distress in the land, and wrath upon this people.

24 And they shall fall by the edge of the sword, and shall be led away captive into all nations: and Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled.

21:24. the edge of the sword…led away captive. More than 1.1 million people perished in the fall of Jerusalem. Another million were led away captive into exile. Jerusalem was trodden down of the Gentiles.

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25 And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring;

21:25. And there shall be signs. Jesus said there would be omens of destruction. Josephus recorded many signs that proceeded the fall of Jerusalem.

Josephus, War 6.5.3 288-309

“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 that God made to them.”

A Star and a Comet

“Thus there was a star resembling a sword, which stood over the city, and a comet, that continued a whole year.” There was a Great Light Around the Altar “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 eighth day of the month Xanthicus, [Nisan, April, about a week before Passover] and at the ninth hour of the night, so great a light shone round the altar and the holy house, that it appeared to be bright day time; which lasted for half an hour. This light seemed to be a good sign to the unskillful, but was so interpreted by the sacred scribes, as to portend those events that followed immediately upon it.”

A Cow Gave Birth to a Lamb

“At the same festival also, a heifer, as she was led by the high priest to be sacrificed, brought forth a lamb in the midst of the temple.”

The Eastern Gate “Moreover, the eastern gate of the inner temple, which was of brass, and vastly heavy, and had been with difficulty shut by twenty men, and rested upon a basis armed with iron, and had bolts fastened very deep into the firm floor, which was there made of one entire stone, was seen to be opened of its own accord about the sixth hour of the night. Now those that kept watch in the temple came hereupon 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.

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This also appeared to the vulgar to be a very happy prodigy, as if God did thereby open them the gate of happiness. But the men of learning understood it, that the security of their holy house was dissolved of its own accord, and that the gate was opened for the advantage of their enemies. So these publicly declared that the signal foreshowed the desolation that was coming upon them.”

A Miraculous Phenomenon of Chariots in the Air

“Besides these, a few days after that feast, on the one and twentieth day of the month Artemisius, [Iyar, May or June] a certain prodigious and incredible phenomenon appeared: I suppose the account of it would seem to be a fable, were it not related by those that 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.”

There was the Sound of a Great Multitude

“Moreover, at that feast which we call Pentecost, as 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 of a great multitude, saying, "’Let us remove hence.’”

Jesus son of Ananias: A Voice from the East

“But, what is still more terrible, there was one Jesus, the son of Ananus, a plebeian and a husbandman, who, four years before the war began, and at a time when the city was in very great peace and prosperity, came to that feast whereon it is our custom for everyone to make tabernacles to God in the temple [Sukkot, autumn, 62 CE], began on a sudden to cry aloud,

‘A voice from the east, a voice from the west, a voice from the four winds, a voice against Jerusalem and the Holy House, a voice against the bridegrooms and the brides, and a voice against this whole people!’

This was his cry, as he went about by day and by night, in all the lanes of the city.

However, certain of the most eminent among the populace had great indignation at this dire cry of his, and took up the man, and gave him a great number of severe stripes; yet did not he either say anything for himself, or anything peculiar to those that chastised him, but still went on with the same words which he cried before.

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Hereupon the magistrates, supposing, as the case proved to be, that this was a sort of divine fury in the man, brought him to the Roman procurator, where he was whipped till his bones were laid bare; yet he did not make any supplication for himself, nor shed any tears, but turning his voice to the most lamentable tone possible, at every stroke of the whip his answer was,

‘Woe, woe to Jerusalem!’

And when Albinus (for he was then our procurator) asked him, Who he was? And whence he came? And why he uttered such words? He made no manner of reply to what he said, but still did not leave off his melancholy ditty, till Albinus took him to be a madman, and dismissed him.

Now, during all the time that passed before the war began, this man did not go near any of the citizens, nor was seen by them while he said so; but he every day uttered these lamentable words, as if it were his premeditated vow,

‘Woe, woe to Jerusalem!’

Nor did he give ill words to any of those that beat him every day, nor good words to those that gave him food; but this was his reply to all men, and indeed no other than a melancholy presage of what was to come.

This cry of his was the loudest at the festivals; and he continued this ditty for seven years and five months, without growing hoarse, or being tired therewith, until the very time that he saw his presage in earnest fulfilled in our siege, when it ceased; for as he was going round upon the wall, he cried out with his utmost force,

‘Woe, woe to the city again, and to the people, and to the Holy House!’

And just as he added at the last,

‘Woe, woe to myself also!”

there came a stone out of one of the engines, and smote him, and killed him immediately; and as he was uttering the very same presages he gave up the ghost.”

26 Mens hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken.

27 And then shall they see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.

28 And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh.

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29 And he spake to them a parable; Behold the fig tree, and all the trees;

30 When they now shoot forth, ye see and know of your own selves that summer is now nigh at hand.

31 So likewise ye, when ye see these things come to pass, know ye that the kingdom of God is nigh at hand.

32 Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass away, till all be fulfilled.

21:32 Christ was referring to the generation in which He lived, not a future generation (cf. Luke 11:29-32; 11:51; 17:25; 21:32.

33 Heaven and earth shall pass away: but my words shall not pass away.

34 And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares.

21:34. overcharged with surfeiting. indulging in one’s appetites to excess.

35 For as a snare shall it come on all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth.

36 Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of Man.

37 And in the day time he was teaching in the temple; and at night he went out, and abode in the mount that is called the Mount of Olives.

38 And all the people came early in the morning to him in the temple, for to hear him.

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The Book of the Revelation

In studying the Olivet Discourse it is important to compare it to the material found in the book of the Revelation for a simple reason. It is possible that what Jesus said would happen in Matthew 24, Mark 13, and Luke 21, John saw would happen in the Revelation.

Confirmation of this possibility exists by understanding the dating of the Revelation and by comparing Revelation 6 with Matthew 24. Jesus prophesied the destruction of the Temple, the destruction of the city of Jerusalem, and His coming at the end of the Jewish age. Revelation amplifies these same basic themes.

The Dating of Revelation

There are two traditional dating of Revelation. The first can be termed the early date, meaning Revelation was written prior to the fall of Jerusalem in AD 70. The second can be designated the late date, which establishes the Revelation as being written c. AD 95 during the reign of Domitian (24 October 51 – 18 September 96) and well after the fall of Jerusalem.

The External Evidence

The church has always been interested in references to the books of the Bible by extra biblical writers to help establish parameters of time.

One of the most formable reasons for a late dating of Revelation are the words of Irenaeus who was born during the first half of the 2nd century. While the exact date is disputed, it is believed he was born c. AD 130 and died AD 202.

A respected church father, in his book Against Heresies, Irenaeus of Lyons makes a reference to the Revelation.

Special Note.

Irenaeus wrote his work in Greek but it was preserved in Latin. Our English translation is a translation of a translation. This might be significant.

“We will not, however, incur the risk of pronouncing positively as to the name of Antichrist; for if it were necessary that his name should be distinctly revealed in this present time, it would have been announced by him who beheld the apocalyptic vision. For that was seen no very long time since, but almost in our day, towards the end of Domitian's reign” ( Against Heresies, Book 5).

Irenaeus is saying that if he, and the others of his generation, needed to know the name of the Anti-Christ, John would have revealed it in the Revelation.

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Irenaeus goes on to say, “For that was seen no very long time since, but almost in our day, towards the end of Domitian's reign.” On the basis of these words many scholars contend for a late dating of the Revelation.

At first glance, it would seem that Irenaeus was saying that John’s apocalyptic vision took place during the reign of Domitian. That would have been after the fall of Jerusalem in AD 70.

However -- and this is the critical point -- there is a grammatical and literary question about this English translation of the Latin from the Greek. The question has to do with the antecedent of the phrase “that was seen”.

Is Irenaeus saying that John’s vision was seen “ towards the end of Domitian’s reign” or is he saying that John who received the vision, John himself was seen “ towards the end of Domitian’s reign”?

Special Note.

When the other works of Irenaeus are examined, it is instructive to note that he makes reference to other ancient copies of Revelation. One does not talk about something in their own lifetime as being “ancient”. But if a document was written a hundred years earlier than when Irenaeus was writing, the word “ancient” might be appropriate.

Also, another respected church father, Clement (c. 96), argued that all of the apostolic revelations, meaning all the Scriptures, ceased during the reign of Nero.

The Internal Evidence

When reading a book of the Bible, Biblical scholars look for evidence to indicate who wrote the book, the time and date of events, historical personages that are mentioned, and geographical locations. Much can be learned about a book of the Bible in this way.

When internal evidence is sought for who wrote the Bible, it is not hard to discover that the apostle John is credited with the work. When evidence is sought for the date of the book, there are some indications that are helpful.

Time Frame Elements

The Greek terms used in the following passages are time frame references that indicate a short time span. Those who received the first edition of Revelation understood the radical fulfillment of the events of which John wrote. The first century had a sense of urgency about the crisis which was at hand after reading the Revelation because of the language of the book itself.

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Revelation 1:1 The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him, to shew unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass; and he sent and signified it by his angel unto his servant John: 2 Who bare record of the word of God, and of the testimony of Jesus Christ, and of all things that he saw. 3 Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand.

Revelation 1:19 Write the things which thou hast seen, and the things which are, and the things which shall be hereafter;

Revelation 2:5 Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent.

Revelation 3:3 Remember therefore how thou hast received and heard, and hold fast, and repent. If therefore thou shalt not watch, I will come on thee as a thief, and thou shalt not know what hour I will come upon thee.

Revelation 3:5 He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels.

Revelation 3:10 Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth.

Revelation 3:19 As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.

Revelation 22:6 And he said unto me, These sayings are faithful and true: and the Lord God of the holy prophets sent his angel to shew unto his servants the things which must shortly be done.

Revelation 22:10 And he saith unto me, Seal not the sayings of the prophecy of this book: for the time is at hand.

Temple Allusions

Another internal evidence to consider in the Revelation are the many Temple allusions. If the Revelation was written prior to the fall of Jerusalem, the allusions would make sense. There is not the slightest hint in the Revelation that the Temple is no longer standing. This is an argument from silence, but it is pregnant with significance. If the Temple had been destroyed, then the whole shape and character of the Revelation would be difficult to comprehend. How could John speak of something that no longer existed?

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The Time Passage in Revelation 17

Revelation 17:7 And the angel said unto me, Wherefore didst thou marvel? I will tell thee the mystery of the woman, and of the beast that carrieth her, which hath the seven heads and ten horns. 8 The beast that thou sawest was, and is not; and shall ascend out of the bottomless pit, and go into perdition: and they that dwell on the earth shall wonder, whose names were not written in the book of life from the foundation of the world, when they behold the beast that was, and is not, and yet is. 9 And here is the mind which hath wisdom.

A Divine Explanation

The seven heads are seven mountains, on which the woman sitteth. 10 And there are seven kings: five are fallen, and one is, and the other is not yet come; and when he cometh, he must continue a short space. 11 And the beast that was, and is not, even he is the eighth, and is of the seven, and goeth into perdition. 12 And the ten horns which thou sawest are ten kings, which have received no kingdom as yet; but receive power as kings one hour with the beast. 13 These have one mind, and shall give their power and strength unto the beast. 14 These shall make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome them: for he is Lord of lords, and King of kings: and they that are with him are called, and chosen, and faithful.

Seven heads Seven mountains Seven heads Seven kings

Five have fallen One isOne is yet to come Eighth king is the beast

Ten horns Ten kings

Special Note.

The city of seven hills is Rome. The kings of Rome are mentioned. Five are fallen, and one is. This reveals that the Revelation was written in the time of the sixth king. The sixth king reigns over the city of the seven hills. The question is this: “Who is the sixth king?” or, “Who is the sixth emperor of Rome?” The answer to this inquiry depends on how the emperors of Rome are counted. It is to be noted that Julius Caesar, called Caesar, did not receive the title emperor. The first person to receive the formal title of emperor was Caesar Augustus.

First Suggested Scenario

First Emperor Augustus Second Emperor Tiberius Third Emperor Caligula Fourth Emperor Claudius

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Fifth Emperor Nero Sixth Emperor Galba who died shortly after taking office and prior to AD 70

Second Suggested Scenario

First Emperor Augustus Second Emperor Tiberius Third Emperor Caligula Fourth Emperor Claudius Fifth Emperor Nero

Galba Otho Vitelius

Sixth Emperor Vespasian

Third Suggested Scenario

First Emperor Julius Caesar Second Emperor Augustus Third Emperor Tiberius Fourth Emperor Caligula Fifth Emperor Claudius Sixth Emperor Nero

Special Note.

The Jewish people called the emperors “king” which is consistent with the text of Revelation.

John 19:15 But they cried out, Away with him, away with him, crucify him. Pilate saith unto them, Shall I crucify your King? The chief priest answered, We have no king but Caesar.

Special Note.

The writer, Clement, records the story of John chasing after a heretic. If that incident took place during the reign of Domitian, then John would have been in his nineties. However, if the incident had taken place thirty or forty years earlier, and thus prior to the fall of Jerusalem, then John would have been a younger and more vigorous man.

Dr. Timothy C. Tennent

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President of Asbury Theological Seminary and Professor of World Christianity

“There is a much-beloved story (passed down from Polycarp to Irenaeus to us) about St. John the Apostle. According to the story, John, the Apostle of love, was inside a Roman bathhouse getting cleansed, as was the custom of his day. However, through the hot steam he suddenly realized that the heretic Cerinthus was sitting just across the room.

John immediately jumped up and fled the bathhouse, explaining that Cerinthus was inside and he didn’t want to be killed when the building collapsed under the righteous judgment of God! …

Why did John flee the bathhouse? He fled because Cerinthus had departed from what, even in John’s day, was already the received tradition of the gospel. In other words, the gospel is not merely a matter of personal interpretation so that one person’s view is just as valid as the next person’s view. This is why Paul admonishes the Galatian Christians so strongly, saying: “If anyone is preaching to you a gospel contrary to the one you received, let him be accursed” (Galatians 1:10). This is why Paul tells Timothy, “What you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful ones who will be able to teach others also” (2 Timothy 2:2). This is why Jude admonishes us to “contend for the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints” (Jude 1:3).”

A Matter of Confusion

The subject of anti-Christ has become confusing to many because different positions have been taken.

There is anti-Christ the Doctrine according to 1 John There is anti-Christ the Beast according to Revelation 13 There is anti-Christ the Man of Sin according to 1 Thessalonians There is anti-Christ the Institution according to the Baptist Confession There is anti-Christ the One Person according to the conversion theory

“Who” or “What” is the anti-Christ? How can “Who” or “What” be identified? These are the questions of concern.

A Matter of Interest

The world’s fascination with anti-Christ is reflected by Hollywood films such as Rosemary’s Baby and The Omen. Years ago, Jean Dixon prophesied the anti-Christ had been born.

“A child born somewhere in the Middle East shortly before 7:00 A.M. (EST) on February 5, 1962 will revolutionize the world. Before the close of this century, he will bring together all mankind in one all-embracing faith. This will be the foundation of a new Christianity with every sect and creed united through this man who will walk among the people to spread the wisdom of the almighty powers.”The Identity of the Anti-Christ

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Any study of “the” anti-Christ begs the question, for the Scriptures teach there is not just one but many who could be called anti-Christ. The apostle John wrote that several individuals were calling themselves “anti-Christ”. Many already existed in his day in the form of false teachers, and John considered himself to be in the last times.

1 John 2:18 Little children, it is the last time: and as ye have heard that antichrist shall come, now are there many antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last time. 19 They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us: but they went out, that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us.

Special Note.

Notice the time frame reference. “Little children, it is the last time.” Notice also that John refers to many anti-Christs who had already come and gone. “They went out from us.” John links anti-Christ with apostasy.

1 John 4:1 Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world. 2 Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God: 3 And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world.

1 John 2:22 Who is a liar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist, that denieth the Father and the Son.

1 John 4:3 And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world.

2 John 1:7 For many deceivers are entered into the world, who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an anti-Christ.

According to John, anti-Christ was not simply a person but a doctrine. Specifically, for John, anti-Christ was a person who set himself up to oppose Christ and the people of God by teaching that Jesus did not come in the flesh, which is a direct assault upon the Lord’s incarnation.

Moreover, the term “anti-Christ” also has reference to anyone who places themselves in the place of Christ. In other words, the concept of an anti-Christ does not always mean someone who is hostile to Christ, per se. It can refer to someone who says they are here in the place of Christ, thereby diverting glory from Jesus to self or the office they hold. The Catholic Church holds to the tradition that the pope is here on earth as the Vicar of Christ.

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The pope presents himself to the church and to the world, instead of Christ or in place of Christ, which many Protestants have found to be offensive, thereby leading to charges that the papacy is the anti-Christ institutionalized. The charge is not without foundation.

Innocent III taught that, “The Pope holdeth place on earth, not simply of a man but of the true God.”

Leo XIII (1885) declared that the Pope holds “upon this earth the place of God Almighty.”

Pius IX said, “I am the way, the truth and the life.”

When crowned, they said to Pius XII (1939), ‘Receive this tiara adorned with three crowns that thou mayst know that thou art the father of princes and of kings, the ruler of the world, the Vicar on earth of our Saviour Jesus Christ.’

This is significant because while many Christians today are being taught to look for a political leader as an “anti-Christ”, more care should be taken to look within the professing Church for teachers who deny major historic doctrines concerning Christ or set themselves up in His place. 2 Thessalonians 2:3 explains:

“Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day [of the Second Coming of Christ] shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; 4 Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God.”

Being sensitive to anti-Christ coming from within the church, the 1689 Baptist Confession had this to say in Chapter 26, Paragraph 4:

“Lord Jesus Christ is the Head of the church, in whom, by the appointment of the Father, all power for the calling, institution, order or government of the church, is invested in a supreme and sovereign manner; neither can the Pope of Rome in any sense be head thereof, but is that antichrist, that man of sin, and son of perdition, that exalteth himself in the church against Christ, and all that is called God; whom the Lord shall destroy with the brightness of his coming” (Colossians 1:18; Matthew 28:18-20; Ephesians 4:11-12; 2 Thessalonians 2:2-9).

The anti-Christ is someone who is against Christ, as he puts Himself forth as a substitute for Christ. Paul amplifies this concept in his epistle to the Thessalonians.

2 Thessalonians 2:3 Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; 4 Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God. 5 Remember ye not, that, when I was yet with you, I told you these things? 6 And now ye know what withholdeth that he might be revealed in his time. 7 For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way. 8 And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall

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consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming: 9 Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, 10 And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. 11 And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie:

The content in which Paul speaks of the mystery of iniquity, the Man of Lawlessness, the Son of Perdition, is in response to the concerns within the community at Thessalonica that the Lord had already come. Paul wrote to correct that misapprehension. Paul reminded the church that certain events had to take place before the Lord’s return.

The Man of Sin who is the Son of Perdition

The first event: an apostasy. “that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first.” Here Paul speaks of a repudiation of true faith. Unlike the pagan who never embraces Jesus Christ as Lord, the apostate does embrace Christ as Lord but later repudiates that belief. An apostate can only be someone within the covenant community. B. B. Warfield believed that Paul was talking about the apostasy of the Jews in the church in the first century. John 1:11 He came unto his own, and his own received him not.

The second event: the revealing of the man of sin. “and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition.”

The third event: the Man of Sin will be identified by exalting himself above God. “Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God.”

It is possible that the Man of Sin is the same person that John speaks of, for Paul describes the Man of Sin in two basic ways. First, the Man of Sin opposes Christ -- he is anti-Christ – and, second, the Man of Sin exalts himself above all that is God and claims the right to be worshipped.

The fourth event: the Man of Sin will sit in the temple, “so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God.”

If these words are to be taken literally, then this event occurred while the Herodian Temple was still standing prior to AD 70, or it refers to a future event that will require the rebuilding of the temple. A third option is to view the “temple” as a reference to the church, the temple of God.

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The desecration of the temple by the Man of Sin does link Paul’s teaching with the Lord’s teaching in the Olivet Discourse and the Abomination of Desolation spoken of by Daniel the prophet. Matthew 24:15 When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand:)

The fifth event: the working of the mystery of iniquity. “For the mystery of iniquity doth already work.”

This time frame reference was a present reality in Paul’s day. Just as John talked about anti-Christ being already in the world, Paul speaks about the Man of Sin (Lawlessness) being presently, already at work.

The sixth event: the restraining of the Man of Sin . “only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way.”

Here is another great mystery of the New Testament. Who or what is the restraining one? Dispensational teachers advocate that the Holy Spirit is in view here. The idea they present is that when the Church is removed at the Rapture prior to the Great Tribulation Period, so is the Holy Spirit. When the Holy Spirit is gone, then the Man of Sin will be revealed.

The restraining power or person is unclear. It may be God Himself who restrains men from doing evil. It may be the Roman government, which was able to control evil. Or it may be that Paul was referring to himself, as he restrained lawlessness by his apostolic authority. But all of this is speculation.

The seventh event: the revealing of the Man of Sin. “And then shall that Wicked be revealed.”

The eighth event: the destruction of the Man of Sin. “whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming:”

The ninth event: the Man of Sin will be accompanied by signs and wonders. Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders.”

The tenth event: the judgment upon the unrighteous. “And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. 11 And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie:”

It seems that the Man of Sin will be given supernatural powers in order to manifest signs and wonders. He will be in concert with Satan. These elements of the Man of Sin (Lawlessness) corresponds to the description of The Beast of Revelation 13 whose mark is the mark, 666.

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The Beast of Revelation

In the study of the Olivet Discourse and the teaching of Jesus concerning the last days of the Jewish age in the first century AD, attention must be given to the Beast of Revelation 13. The time frame reference is of particular significance. In the first century, John spoke of the spirit of the anti-Christ being in the world. The Man of Lawlessness was already said to be at work. The language of the book of Revelation contains many passages about events that must shortly come to pass. Because of the nearness of the events, because of the madness of men such as Nero, because of the danger Christians faced, the Revelation was written in code in order to protect the saints while at the same time encouraging their hearts.

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REVELATION 13The First Beast

The Beast from the Sea

And I stood upon the sand of the sea, and saw a beast rise up out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns, and upon his horns ten crowns, and upon his heads the name of blasphemy.

13:2. the sea. the Mediterranean Sea.

2 And the beast which I saw was like unto a leopard, and his feet were as the feet of a bear, and his mouth as the mouth of a lion: and the dragon gave him his power, and his seat, and great authority.

13:2-3. And the beast. The character of the beast is more significant than his actual appearance, as hideous as that was to behold. The character of the beast was that of an animal. Taking the worse features of previous individuals who ruled Israel, such as Alexander (the leopard), Cyrus (the bear), Nebuchadnezzar (the lion), John combined them into one hideous personage of Rome. Nero excelled in his beastly character.

A Description of the Beast from the Sea

Body Leopard Head Seven heads with the name of blasphemy on each one Horns Ten horns with a crown on each horn Feet Bear Mouth Lion

Three Gifts of the Dragon

Power Seat Authority

3 And I saw one of his heads as it were wounded to death; and his deadly wound was healed: and all the world wondered after the beast.

13:3. and his deadly wound was healed. Following the death of Nero, there was a popular belief during the last part of the first century that he returned after his death in AD 68. This is called the Nero Redivivus Legend.

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The Dragon

4 And they worshipped the dragon which gave power unto the beast: and they worshipped the beast, saying, Who is like unto the beast? Who is able to make war with him?

13:4. and they worshipped the beast. Nero, who ruled as emperor from AD 54 to AD 68, demanded absolute devotion as he went increasingly mad, being intoxicated with power to live a life of debauchery. No one could resist him. Nero castrated a boy and then married him. He murdered his own wife, who was pregnant, by kicking her. Nero had his mother slaughtered by the sword after three failed assassination attempts on her life. Suetonius writes that Nero, in an act of royal entertainment, devised a game for his guests in which, disguised as a wild animal, he was set free to attack chained Christians whose private parts were torn to pieces.

Two Intimidating Questions

“Who is like unto the Beast?” “Who is able to make war with him?”

5 And there was given unto him a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies; and power was given unto him to continue forty and two months.

13:5. forty and two months. Three and one half years is a long time but, in the providence of God, evil has a saturation point and a date of termination. Nero began to persecute Christians in AD 64. In AD 68, he committed suicide. Nero was 30 years old at his death on 8 June, AD 68. He had been born in December, AD 37.

Three Provisions Given to the Beast

A mouth which allowed the Beast to speak great things and blasphemies. Power to endure. A time frame of forty-two months or three and one half years.

6 And he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme his name, and his tabernacle, and them that dwell in heaven.

7 And it was given unto him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them: and power was given him over all kindreds, and tongues, and nations.

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13:7. war with the saints. Under Nero’s authority, the church suffered great persecution. Both Paul and Peter were put to death during his reign. Following the great fire in July of AD 64 that engulfed ten of the fourteen regions of the city of Rome, the Christians were blamed and persecuted for that and other crimes against the state, such as the failure to pledge their loyalty to Caesar.

8 And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.

13:8. slain from the foundation of the world. The Fall of Man and the need of a redemptive Savior was not a surprise to God. Before the universe was brought into existence, the Plan of Redemption was established.

9 If any man have an ear, let him hear.

10 He that leadeth into captivity shall go into captivity: he that killeth with the sword must be killed with the sword. Here is the patience and the faith of the saints.

13:10.

Two Principles of Divine Justice

He that leadeth into captivity shall go into captivity. He that killeth with the sword must be killed with the sword.

The Second BeastThe Beast out of the Earth

11 And I beheld another beast coming up out of the earth; and he had two horns like a lamb, and he spake as a dragon.

13:11.

The Beast out of the Earth

His body Like a lamb with two horns His mouth Spoke as a dragon (with authority)

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First Power

12 And he exerciseth all the power of the first beast before him, and causeth the earth and them which dwell therein to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed.

Second Power

13 And he doeth great wonders, so that he maketh fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men,

Third Power

14 And deceiveth them that dwell on the earth by the means of those miracles which he had power to do in the sight of the beast; saying to them that dwell on the earth, that they should make an image to the beast, which had the wound by a sword, and did live.

13:14. an image to the beast. Nero had an image of himself established in the Temple of Mars.

Fourth Power * Fifth Power

15 And he had power to give life unto the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak, and cause that as many as would not worship the image of the beast should be killed.

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Sixth Power

16 And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads:

Seventh Power

17 And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.

13:12-17.

The Various Powers of the Beast out of the Earth

First power. The Beast out of the Earth had the ability to force individuals into acts of worship. Revelation 13:12 And he exerciseth all the power of the first beast before him, and causeth the earth and them which dwell therein to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed.

Second power. The Beast out of the Earth was able to perform miracles. Revelation 13:13 And he doeth great wonders, so that he maketh fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men.

Third power. The Beast out of the Earth had power to deceive and to motivate individuals to create an image to the Beast from the Sea. Revelation 13:14 And deceiveth them that dwell on the earth by the means of those miracles which he had power to do in the sight of the beast; saying to them that dwell on the earth, that they should make an image to the beast, which had the wound by a sword, and did live.

Fourth power. The Beast out of the Earth had power to energize the inanimate image made to the Beast from the Sea, causing it to speak. Revelation 13:15a And he had power to give life unto the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak, and cause that as many as would not worship the image of the beast should be killed.

Fifth power. The Beast out of the Earth had power to kill those who refused to worship the image made to the Beast from the Sea. Revelation 13:15b …and cause that as many as would not worship the image of the beast should be killed.

Sixth power. The Beast out of the Earth had the power to forcibly mark individuals for the purpose of identification. Revelation 13:16 And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads:

Seventh power. The Beast out of the Earth had economic authority over individuals. Revelation 13:17 And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.

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666The Mark of the Beast

18 Here is wisdom. Let him that hath understanding count the number of the beast: for it is the number of a man; and his number is Six hundred threescore and six.

13:18. the number of a man. Throughout history the identity of “the man” whose number is 666 has been attempted.

The Identify of the Man666

The Beast, whose number is 666, has been identified as the personified power of the Roman government. This conception is based on the great political power of the Beast.

The Beast, whose number is 666, has been identified as the ruler of the Roman government, Nero.

The Beast, whose number is 666, has been identified as the papacy. This conception is based on the religious facets associated with the Beast. At the time of the Reformation, the most popular candidate for fulfilling the anti-Christ was the pope (Leo X and then Clement VII). Luther and Calvin were convinced that the pope in Rome was the anti-Christ. The Roman Catholic Church was the anti-Christian institution. The Vicar of Christ identified himself with his own title as the anti-Christ.

The Beast, whose number is 666, has been identified as a future world ruler, either in the world today or someone who is yet to emerge. Historically, some of the candidates for anti-Christ have been: Joseph Stalin, Mussolini, and Adolf Hitler.

Special Note.

After WWII, some classified documents from the archives were released and, among them, was a private document titled: Hitler, the Scourge of Europe. These private documents of Hitler's was photocopied and printed for people to see and read. One of these documents was an early entry from his diary, and in his own handwriting is written, "This evening I have made a covenant with Satan." Adolf Hitler made a serious effort to engage the assistance of the 'prince of darkness' in the programs he set forth (R. C. Sproul).

13:18. the number of a man. The number of “the man” is the number of “the Beast,” and “the Beast” was Nero, from a historical record. Tacitus spoke of Nero’s cruel nature. Pliny, the Roman naturalist, described Nero as the destroyer of the human race and the poison of the world. The Roman satirist, Juvenal, spoke of Nero’s cruel and bloody tyranny.

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Apollonius of Tyana, in his writings, said that the favorite nickname people had of Nero was The Beast. He makes this comment, “In my travels which have been wider than ever man yet accomplished, I have seen many wild beasts in India. But this beast, commonly called a tyrant, I know not how many heads it has nor if it be crooked of claw or armed with horrible fangs. Of a wild beast you cannot say they were ever known to eat their own mother, but Nero has gorged himself on this diet.”

13:18. the number of a man. 666. In a textual variant manuscript of the Revelation, the number is 616.

Special Note.

In the ancient world, cryptograms were well-known. A cryptogram was an encoded puzzle whereby numbers and letters were related. Hebrew, Greek, and Latin languages, had systems of using their letters for numbers. Roman numerals are letters that have a numerical value. The letter “x” stands for the number 10. The Latin letter “v” has the numerical number 5. The Latin letter “m” has the numerical value of 1,000. This was also true in Nero’s name.

In Hebrew, Nero Caesar is Neron Kaiser. When translated into numbers it comes to the number 666. In Greek, Neron Kaiser comes out to the number 616.

Bruce Manning Metzger was an American biblical scholar, and textual critic, who was a longtime professor at Princeton Theological Seminary, and Bible editor, who served on the board of the American Bible Society, Born on February 9, 1914, Dr. Metzger died on February 13, 2007. As a supreme textual critic, it was the opinion of Dr. Metzger that the variant reading of 616 was intentional in order to allow Greek speaking people who read the Revelation to know the identity of the “Beast.”

The Millennium

REVELATION 20

And I saw an angel come down from heaven, having the key of the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand.

2 And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years,

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20:2. bound him a thousand years. This is the first reference to the millennium and is united with the binding of Satan.

Satan is Prohibited from Deceiving the Nations

3 And cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal upon him, that he should deceive the nations no more, till the thousand years should be fulfilled: and after that he must be loosed a little season.

20:3.

Timeline

Satan is bound * Satan is in the bottomless pit *A 1000 years pass * The release of Satan * The rest of dead live

4 And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years.

20:4. What John Saw

John saw thrones. John saw those that sat upon the thrones. John saw that judgment was given to those that sat upon the thrones. John saw the souls of the martyrs for the witness of Jesus and for the Word of God.

What the Martyred Souls Did Not Do

The martyred souls did not worship the beast The martyred souls did not worship the image of the beast. The martyred souls did not receive the mark of the beast on their foreheads. The martyred souls did not receive the mark of the beast on their hands.

The Reward of the Martyred Souls

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The martyred souls lived. The martyred souls reigned with Christ a thousand years.

5 But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection.

6 Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.

20:6. and shall reign with him a thousand years.

Various Millennium Positions

Amillennialism does not view the teaching of Revelation 20 to refer to a literal 1,000 year reign of Christ on the earth. The teaching of Revelation 20 is understood to mean that the martyred saints live beyond the grave to rule and reign with Christ for a completed period of time. The Age of the Church is the Kingdom of God which began with the first appearance of Christ.

The radical nearness of the kingdom of which John spoke was “at hand” (Matthew 3:2). Jesus said, “the kingdom of God is within you” (Luke 17:21). The fact that Jesus was able to cast out demons by the finger of God indicated that the kingdom of God had come (Luke 11:20). At the ascension of Christ, He went to His coronation where He was crowned King of kings, and Lord of lords. Sitting at the right hand of God in glory, Christ is the Author and Finisher of our faith (Hebrews 1:2).

In Christ, the church fulfills the prophecies of the Old Testament. The church enjoys the kingdom blessings and promises. The church consists of believing Jews and Gentiles, which comprise the true seed of Abraham by faith (Galatians 3:7). There is no future dealing with ethnic Israel being exalted, though in Christ “all Israel” shall be saved. The Christian community, as it manifests the kingdom, will have a positive influence upon society. Rather than speaking of “no millennial,” the amillennial position speaks of a realized or fulfilled millennial. The task of the church is to make the invisible kingdom a visible kingdom (John Calvin).

Dispensationalism teaches that the kingdom age is yet to come. Christians are now in the church age, which represents a parenthesis between the Old Covenant and the New Covenant. With the rapture, the Church Age will end, God’s unique covenant promises to national Israel will resume, there will be a period of great tribulation, the anti-Christ will be revealed, the battle of Armageddon will be fought, Christ will then return to establish a literal kingdom on earth over which He shall rule for one thousand years.

For the Dispensationalist, the coming of the kingdom is in the future. Classical Dispensationalist do not believe that Jesus is King, though He is Lord. One day Jesus will be King when He sits in Jerusalem on the throne of David to rule the nations with a rod

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of iron. He will preside over a re-established sacrificial system in a rebuilt temple. The ethics Jesus taught in the Sermon on the Mount will be binding upon those in the millennial because they have no relevance to believers in the Church Age.

In the original Scofield Bible, we read: “The Sermon on the Mount in its primary application gives neither the privilege nor the duty of the Church.” Lewis Sperry Chafer, founder and first president of Dallas Theological Seminary, wrote: “The Bible provides three complete and wholly independent rules for human conduct – one for the past age (there was no need of recording such rules as held good for people who lived before the Bible was written) which is known as the Mosaic Law and is crystallized in the Decalogue; one for the future age of the kingdom which is crystallized in the Sermon on the Mount; and one for the present age which appears in the Gospel of John, the Acts, and the Epistles of the New Testament” (Systematic Theology, 5:98).

Because Dispensationalism postulates two distinct programs, one for national Israel and one for the church, all of the Old Testament prophesies are yet to be fulfilled after Jesus comes and during the millennial period. The church is not viewed as the New Israel.

Postmillennialism believes that the church is a New Israel. A positive and hopeful position, postmillennialism believes the church shall grow in power and influence to transform society through the gospel and then, when the world is essentially Christianized, Jesus will return. The kingdom of God is a kingdom of spiritual redemption. The kingdom of God is not based on an earthly or political transformation of society, but the effectual power of the gospel to permeate society.

Historic Premillennialism does distinguish itself from Classical Dispensationalism in that it does not concern itself with some of its more sensational aspects. While the New Testament church, as an initial expression of Christ’s kingdom, shall enjoy some victories, it will fail in its mission to evangelistically transform the world, necessitating the return of Christ to reign over the earth for 1,000 years.

7 And when the thousand years are expired, Satan shall be loosed out of his prison,

Satan is Allowed to Deceive the Nations

8 And shall go out to deceive the nations which are in the four quarters of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to battle: the number of whom is as the sand of the sea.

9 And they went up on the breadth of the earth, and compassed the camp of the saints about, and the beloved city: and fire came down from God out of heaven, and devoured them.

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10 And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever.