Mt. 24:1 Then Yeshua went out and departed from the Temple, and His disciples came to Him to show Him the buildings of the Temple.
Mk. 13:1 Then as He went out of the Temple, one of His disciples said to Him, “Teacher, see what manner of stones and what buildings are here?”
Lk. 21:5 Then, as some spoke of the Temple, how it was adorned with beautiful stones and donations, He said, .
The famous Olivet Discourse occurred between two significant events. Just prior to this Yeshua spoke the final words of His public ministry, which included a denunciation of the leadership of Israel, especially for their guilt in trying to lead the nation to reject Him as the Messiah. For His last few days on earth He dealt exclusively with His disciples. Immediately after the Olivet Discourse came the preparation for the last Passover and the Lord’s Supper. Soon after would come His crucifixion, burial, and resurrection
The basic purpose of His discourse was to answer the question, “Where and how would the Messianic Kingdom come into being?” Since Israel had rejected the Kingdom offer of the Messiah, it was impossible to set up the Kingdom at this time. In His closing denunciation Yeshua said He would not return until Israel was ready to accept Him. “For I say unto you, you shall no more see Me henceforth till you say, Blessed is He that comes in the name of the Lord.”
Source: Mt. 23:39
Mt. 24:2 And Yeshua said to them, “Do you not see all these things” Assuredly, I say to you, not one stone shall be left here upon another, that shall not be thrown down.”
Mk. 13:2 And Yeshua answered and said to him, “Do you not see these great buildings? Not One stone shall be left upon another, that shall not be thrown down.”
Lk. 21:6 “As for these things which you see, the days will come in which not one stone shall be left upon another that shall not be thrown down.”
The stones which so impressed the disciples were indeed magnificent. Those that formed the retaining wall for the Temple compound were impressive. Some of the, called Herodian Stones, were ten to twelve feet long and weighed several tons each. The retaining wall was ever considered to be an actual part of the Temple by the Jews and were not the stones that Yeshua was prophesying about. The verse in Mark points out what Yeshua is talking about, the stones that made up the Temple building itself. Yeshua prophesied that the Temple compound was doomed and the Temple itself “would not have one stone left upon another that would not be thrown down.” According to Josephus, it was Titus’ intention to save the city and the Temple from destruction in the beginning. We read in is writings, “But when Titus, knowing that the city would either be saved or destroyed for himself, did not only proceed earnestly in the siege, but did not omit to have the Jews exhorted to repentance, so he mixed good counsel with his works for the siege; and being sensible that exhortations are more frequently more effectual than arms, he persuaded them to surrender the city, now in a manner already taken, and hereby save themselves, and sent Josephus to speak to them in their own language; for he imagined they might yield to the persuasion of a countryman of their own.”
Source: Jos. War 5.9.2 360, 361
The Second Temple (often called Herod’s Temple) was a magnificent structure. It could very easily have been one of the wonders of world had it survived the war. Strangely enough, Titus, the Roman general, had every intention of saving Temple for the glory of Rome. During the siege of Jerusalem, he called council of six main generals to discuss the fate of the Temple. Three voted to have it destroyed; three voted to save it. Titus cast the deciding vote to save the Temple. Josephus recorded Titus’s words: “Although the Jews should get upon that holy house, and fight us thence, yet ought we not revenge ourselves on things that are inanimate, instead of men ourselves.”. Titus opposes to the destruction of the Temple also, partly on account of the Princess Berenice’s feelings, who was his lover, and who was Jewish, plus the three council members agreeing with him.
Sources: Jos. War. 6.4.3 241; History of the Jews, pgs. 306, 07
On more than one occasion, Titus sent Josephus around the walls, begging the Jews to surrender and save their city and Temple from destruction. At one point Titus even went so far as to offer to battle the Jews at a completely different location in order to save the Temple, but they refused. Titus words, recorded by Josephus, are especially powerful, “Titus was deeply affected with this state of things, and reproached John and his party and said to them, Have not you, you vile wretches, by our permission, put up this partition-wall (soreg) before your sanctuary” Have not you been allowed to put up pillars thereto belonging at due distances, and on it to engrave in Greek, and in your own letters, this prohibition that no foreigner should go beyond that wall? Have we not given you leave to kill such as go beyond it, although he were Roman? And what do you do now, you pernicious villains? Why do you pollute this holy house with the blood of both foreigners and Jews themselves? I appeal to the gods of my own country, and to every god that ever had any regard to this place (for I do not suppose it to be now regarded by any of them now); I also appeal to my own army, and to those Jews that are now with me, and even to yourselves, that I do not force you to defile your sanctuary; and if you will but change the place whereon you will fight, no Roman shall either come near your sanctuary, or offer any affront to it; nay I will endeavor to preserve your holy house, whether you will or not.” The Jews rejected his offer and the Temple was destroyed.
Source: Jos. War 6.2.4 94
After the Romans had conquered the city of Jerusalem and the Temple, Titus gave orders that his soldiers should dig up the foundations of the Temple and the city. The destruction of the city and the Temple to that extent also fulfilled a prophecy found in the book of Micah. "Hear this, you rulers of the house of Jacob, you chiefs of the house of Israel, who detest justice and make crooked all that is straight, who build Zion with crime, Jerusalem with iniquity! Her rulers judge for gifts, her priests give rulings for a fee, and her prophets divine for pay; yet they rely upon the Lord, saying, ‘’the Lord is in our midst; no calamity shall overtake us.’ Assuredly, because of you Zion shall be plowed like a field, and Jerusalem shall become heaps of ruins, and the Temple Mount a shrine in the woods.” It seems very clear from this Scripture that God intended for Jerusalem and the Temple to be destroyed, regardless of Titus’ intentions. I Corinthians 3:16 says: “Do you not know that you are the Temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?” Could we not assume from this Scripture that God is finished with man-made temples and there is no need for a third one in the future?
Sources: Micah 3:9-12; I Corin. 3:16
Josephus talks about the destruction of Jerusalem this way. “Caesar gave orders that they should now demolish the entire city and Temple, but should leaven as many of the towers standing as were the greatest immanency, that is: Phasaellus, and Hippicus, and Mariamne, and so much of the wall as enclosed the city on the west side.” The Mishnah tells us that both the First and Second Temples were destroyed on the same day of the year, the 9th day of Ab.
Sources: Jos. War 7.1.1 1;; M:Taanith
The fire in the Temple was started by a soldier picking up some burning trash, and being lifted up on the shoulders of another soldier, threw it through one of the Temple’s windows. At that time, Titus was in his tent, resting. When word of the fire reached him, he rushed to the Temple without even putting his armor back on ad began giving orders to his soldiers to extinguish the fire, but it was too late. Because there was so much gold in the Temple building, a great amount of it began to melt in the fire and flowed into the crevices between the stones. When the ruins cooled, the soldiers literally took the Temple apart stone by stone to get at the gold. Thus, Yeshua’s prophecy was fulfilled..Josephus records that when Titus returned after a short trip and viewed the ruins of the city and the Temple, he actually mourned over them.
Sources: Jos. War 6.4.5.6252, 252-56; 7.5.2 112,13; Hisory, pgs 307,08
Mt. 24:3a Now as He sat on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to Him privately,
Mk. 13:3 Now as He sat on the Mount of Olives opposite the Temple, Peter, James, John, and Andrew asked Him privately,
Lk. 21:7a And they asked Him, saying,
In these verses we have our first major differences in the wording of the Synoptic Gospels. Mark, who is the first Gospel writer, is also the one giving the most detail. He actually names the four disciples who go to Yeshua privately. Matthew does say that it is the disciples, but fails to name them. Luke doesn’t say who it is, as though it isn’t important to him. He may assume from verse one that it is His disciples. However, in Luke’s defense, we must. Remember that we are reading about a conversation that is not broken up by verses in the original conversation.
Mt. 24:3b Saying, “Tell us, when will these things be? And what will be the sign of Your coming, and the end of the age?”
Mk. 13:4 “Tell us, when will these things be? And what will be the sign when all these things will be fulfilled.?”
Lk. 21:7b “Teacher, but when will all these things be? And what sign will there be when these things are about to take place?”
When Yeshua responds to His disciples, He tells them only one thing: some time in the future the Temple is going to be destroyed. Yet, from what He tells them, they come up with three questions: (1) when will these things be? (2) what will the sign of His coming be?? And (3) when is the end of the age? They asked Him when these things were going to take place as though they expected they to take place in their life times. Yeshua did not answer them by saying, “”Don’t worry about it. People 2,000 years out in the future are the ones who will see it.” No! His answer was directed to His disciples. They were the ones who would see it. It was here that Yeshua set the context for everything that He said would happen. Looking at His disciples, He said, “When you (His disciples) see these things come to pass ...........” Not only would all these things began to happen in their life times, but also they would be localized enough that they would see, or at least hear about them.
The disciples asked by what outward sign God would give from Heaven concerning the coming of the Messiah and the end of the age. From infancy the Jewish people believed that the Temple would stand until the end of time. This was firmly rooted in their minds so that when Yeshua mentioned the destruction of the Temple they put two and two together. There is absolutely no reason for us to separate this question into three different events. The disciples had only one thing in mind, and that was when would these things happen that He had been talking about take place. Yeshua mentioned only the destruction of the Temple. They had no cause to be thinking of any other events except those centered around the coming destruction of the Temple which would also have to include the city of Jerusalem. Since the Jewish people are very keen on their history, this would bring to mind the events surrounding the destruction of Solomon’s Temple by Nebuchadnezzar in 586 B.C.E. There is not the faintest suggestion that this three-fold question of the disciples was regarding two or three events separated by a period of several hundred years. Their concern was that of what was going to happen at the which Yeshua spoke of, namely, when the Temple would be destroyed. The answer to their question as to the time of this event was this generation (Mt. 24:34), and not to a people in a future age and time who had not even appeared on the scene yet.
Twice in his letter to the Corinthians the Apostle Paul shared with them his belief that they were in the last days. Paul evidently felt very strongly that the end of the Jewish Age was near. He knew that Rome would soon be invading Israel and that would bring mass destruction upon the land. But, probably the most compelling verse of Scripture though is found in the Epistle of John: “Little children, it is the last time, and as you heard that anti-Christ comes, even now many anti-Christs have risen: whence we know that it is the last time.” Notice that John is writing his epistle in the present tense, not in the future tense. Not long after the city of Rome burned, Christians came under heavy persecution by everyone. This is because Emperor Nero made scapegoats of them by blaming the fire on them. Nero would become the Anti-Christ (Mr. 666) of the Book of Revelation, because of his persecution of Christians.
Source: Matt. 24:34; I Corin. 7:29-31, 10:11; I John 2:18; Rev. 13:18
Mt. 24:4 And Yeshua answered and said unto them, “Take heed that no one deceives you.”
Mk. 13:5 And Yeshua answering them, began to say, “Take heed that no one deceives you.”
Lk. 21:8a And He said, “Take heed that you be not deceived.”
Mt. 24:5 “For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will deceive many.”
Mk. 13:6 “For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am He,’ and will deceive many.’”
Lk. 21:8b “For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am He,’ and, ‘The time has drawn near.’ Therefore do not go after them.”
There seems to be one driving force behind all of these false leaders and pretenders. Hundreds of years before this, Moses had prophesied that one day God would raise up a Prophet like himself from among the people. This coming Prophet was understood to be the Messiah. “The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet from among your own people, like myself; him shall you heed. This is just what you asked the Lord your God at Horeb, on the day of assembly, saying, ‘Let me not hear the voice of the Lord my God any longer or see His wondrous fire any more, lest I die.’ Whereupon the Lord said to me, ‘They have done well in speaking this. I will raise up a prophet for them among their own people, like myself. I will put My words in His mouth and he will speak to them all that I command; and if anybody fails to heed the words he speaks in My name, I Myself will call him to account.’” Because the people had rejected Yeshua and believed the Messiah had not yet come, this opened the door for all kinds of strange characters to come out of the woodwork. The Apostle Paul, speaking to the elders of the church at Ephesus, gave them a stern warning: “For I know this, that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock. Also from among yourselves men will rise up, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after themselves.”
Sources: Deut. 18:15-19; Acts 20:29, 30
Two of these false Christs are mentioned in the Book of Acts. The first is a man named Thuedas, who is mentioned by Gamaliel in his testimony before the Sanhedrin. Gamaliel indicates that Thuedas appeared just before an uprising started that was led by Judas the Galilean, “who arose in the days of the census” (presumably) a reference to the taxation associated with the governor Quirinius (ca. 6 C.E., cf. Lk. 2:2). A more probable date however, was provided by Josephus, who assigned the movement to the rule of procurator Cuspius Fadus (44-46 C.E.). There is some controversy as to whether Gamaliel and Josephus are talking about the same Thuedas because of the time difference.
Sources: Lk. 2:2; Acts 5:36; Jos. Ant. 20.5.2, note #1
Eusebius, the church historian, described Thuedas’ deception this way: “When Fadus was procurator (agreeing with Josephus) of Judea, an imposter called Thuedas persuaded a vast crowd to take their belongings and follow him to the Jordan River; for he claimed to be a prophet, and promised to divide the river by his command and provide them easy crossing. A great many people were deceived by this talk. Fadus, however, did not allow the people who were deceived by this talk , but sent a company of calvary against them. These attacked without warning, killed many, and took many alive, capturing Thuedas himself, whose head they cut off and conveyed it to Jerusalem.”
Sources: Eusebius, bk. 3, ch. 11; History, pg. 198, 240; Histories, pgs. 69, 70
Another false prophet spoken of in the Book of Acts was a man called Judas the Galilean. Luke’s Gospel talks about a certain census ordered by Caesar Augustus while Quirinius was governor of Syria.. This census actually took place in 6 C.E., ten years afer the birth of Yeshua (Luke was in error as to his timing). Because of this census and subsequent taxation, Judas the Galilean rose up and began to incite the people to revolt. It is thought that this was the beginning of the Zealot Party or Fourth Philosophy. According to Josephus, it was Juda’s son, Menahem, who led the group that attacked and captured Masada.
Sources: Acts 5:37; Jos. Ant. 18.1.4 4; 20.5.2 102; Jo. War 2.8.1 117, 118; 2.17.8 433,434;
Histories, pg. 32; History, pg. 125, 240; Eusebius, bk 1, ch. 5
Josephus mentions two other false leaders that arose to deceive the people. The year was
4 B.C.E. Two things are of interest about this year. First of all, it is at the height of the Jewish Messianic Expectation. According to the prophecies of Daniel, it is the proper time for the Messiah to arrive. Secondly (guess what) it is the year of Yeshua’s birth! It should be of no surprise that pretenders are already trying to take advantage of the people. These two we will now take a look at were simply trying to take advantage of the time and circumstances of the day. This type of thing will continue for the next seventy-five years until the Temple is destroyed and the people will continue to be fooled by them even though Yeshua warned them.
Simon was a slave of Herod the Great. He was a handsome man with a “tall and robust body.” During one of Herod’s absences, he got together a band of robbers, put a diadem on his head, and declared himself to be a king. He and his band burnt the royal palace at Jericho and many other edifices before Gratus, captain of the king’s soldiers, caught up with them. They cut off his head.
Sources: Jos. Ant. 17.10.6 273-273; Jos. War 2.4.2 57-59
The other person was a man by the name of Athronges, who was a shepherd. He was a big man, with an even larger ego. He thought nothing of doing bodily harm to anyone that crossed him. He had four brothers of equal size and strength. Each rule a band of their own, but remained in submission to Athronges. Athronges also put a diadem on his head and declared himself to be a king. But his fate would soon be the same as all the rest. All of these false leaders seemed to feel that they were the ones to fulfill the great Mosaic leader that God had promised in Deut. 18:15-19. Too bad that job had already been filled.
Sources: Jos. Ant. 17.10.7 278-280; Jos. War 2.4.3 60-62; Deut. 18:15-19
Mt. 24:6 “And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not troubled. For all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet.”
Mk. 13:7 “And when you hear of wars and rumors of wars, do not be troubled; for such things must happen, but the end is not yet.”
Lk. 21:9 “But when you hear of wars and commotions, do not be terrified; for these things must come to pass first, but the end will not come immediately.”
From the time following the ascension of the Lord into Heaven until the final climax of the destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple, wars would be a common occurrence throughout this area of the world. Several civil wars would break out in different lands as Josephus and other historians recorded for us. But, the Jewish people were the subject of events where greatest loss of life occurred, and I have listed most of these by location and number of casualties in alphabetical order: Alexandria – 50,000; Asamon – 2,000; Askelon – 22,500; Bethshean – 13,000; Caesarea – 20,000; Damascus – 10,000; Gamala – 5,000; Japha – 15,000; Jericho – 15,000; Jerusalem (prior to the siege) – 64,100; Jerusalem during the siege) – 1,100,000; Joppa – 12,600; Jotapata – 40,000; Lake Tiberius – 5,500; and the Samaritans 24,600. Did the Jewish people hear of wars and rumors of wars? Not only did they hear about them, they experienced them in a very personal and horrible way. What was once called the Promised Land flowed red with blood all those years and it was all so unnecessary.
Sources: Jos. War 2.14.9 305-307; 2.18.1 457; 2.18.3 466-468; 2.18.5 477,478; 2.18.1 508,509; 2.18.11 511,512; 2.20.2 559-561; 2.18.8 495-497;; 3.2.2 19; 3.2.3 24, 25; 2.14.9 305-307; 3.7.32 314,315; 3.9.3 422-427; 3.7.3 376,377; 3.10.9 529-531; 4.5.1 312,313; 4.5.3 332,333; 5.11.1 450; 6.1.1 1-3; History, pgs. 309, 395, 396; Eusebis, bk. 2, ch. 19
Mt. 24:7a “For nation will rise up against nation, and kingdom against kingdom.”
Mk. 13:8a ”For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom.”
Lk. 21:10 Then He said to them, “Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom.”
Mt. 24:7b “And there will be famines, pestilences, and earthquakes in various places.”
Mk. 13:8b “And there will be earthquakes in various places, and there will be famines and troubles.”
Lk. 21:11 “And there will be great earthquakes in various places, and famines and pestilences, and there will be fearful sights and great signs from Heaven.”
Famines were fairly common during Biblical times, but we want to discuss two in particular here. The first is mentioned in Acts 11:28-30 where a prophet names Agabus, while in Antioch prophesied that a great famine would come upon “the whole world.” This term “the whole world” will be discussed in a later verse, but in fact he was talking about the area of Judea. Josephus records how Queen Helena sent some of her servants to Egypt at her own expense to buy large quantities of wheat for the starving people. She also sent other servants to Cyprus to buy dried figs for the same purpose. He son, Izates, sent large sums of money to the principal men of Jerusalem for them to buy food. These actions earned both Queen Helena and Izates honored places in Jewish history. The famine occurred during the reign of Emperor Claudius.
Sources: Acts 11:28-30; Jos. Ant. 20.2.5 51-53; & note #4; Eusebius, bk. 2, ch. 8; Annuals, pg. 243
The most horrendous, and probably least known, famine occurred in the city of Jerusalem during the siege by he Roman legions during the war of 66-70 C.E. Josephus, the Jewish historian, and Eusebius, the Christian historian, wrote extensively about it. Eusebius states that, “The multitude of those that were assembled from all Judea at the time of the Passover, to the number of three million souls, were shut up in Jerusalem, ‘as in a prison.’ According to Josephus, there was enough corn and other supplies laid up in the city to last the rebels for several years. Unfortunately, common sense did not prevail in this situation. There were three separate warring factions within the city and it didn’t take long for civil war to break out . Vespasian, the Roman general, seeing this going on, simply sat back and let the Jews kill each other off. The famine started when the different factions burned each other’s food supplies. It didn’t take long and there was nothing left to eat in the city. Josephus and Eusebius both go into great detail concerning the desperation that began overtaking the city because of the famine Josephus tells us this: “This destruction of such a vast quantity of corn and other provisions, as was sufficient for many years, was the direct occasion of that terrible famine, which consumed incredible numbers of Jews in Jerusalem during its siege.. Nor possibly could the Romans have taken this city , after all, had not these seditious Jews been so infuriated as thus madly to destroy what Josephus here justly styles the “nerves of their power.”
Sources: Jos. War 5.1.4 24-26;, & note; Eusebius, bk. 3, ch. 5
The strong began preying on the weak, taking food from them, even though they had plenty themselves. They broke into private homes, searching for food. The occupants were tortured. The rich sold their wheat by the measure; the poor their barley by two measures (Rev. 6:6). Children would steal food from their fathers. Mothers would take food from their babies for themselves. John of Gischala and his men invaded the Temple to get at the shewbread that was reserved for the priests. He also took the sacred oil and wine (Rev. 6:6). That was kept to be poured on the burnt offerings and divided it among his followers. Dearest friends engaged in hand-to-hand combat with each other over a morsel of food. The rebels even searched dead bodies think that some may be feigning death to hide food. People became so desperate that they searched the sewers looking for something to eat. Such things as dried feces, straw, grass, belts, and leather off shields became food items.
Sources: Revelation 6:6; Jos. War 5.1.4 29-36; War 5.10.2 4.24.-427; War 5.13.6 562-565; Eusebius, bk, 3, ch. 6
It is sometime hard to realize what hunger can do to a person and the desperate extremes they can be driven to. Both Josephus and Eusebius tell the story of a woman named Mary or Miriam. She had com to Jerusalem from a village called Bethzebub from beyond the Jordan. She had an infant son who still nursed at her breast. She had become trapped in Jerusalem by the siege of the Romans. The rebels had broken into her house and stolen all of her possessions, including any food that she had. Josephus records her words: “Thou miserable infant! For whom shall I preserve thee in this war, this famine and this sedition? As to the war with the Romans, if they preserve our lives, we must be slaves. This famine will also destroy us, even before that slavery comes upon us, - yet are these seditious rogues more terrible than both the other, com on, be thou my food, and be thou a fury to these seditious varlets and a byword to the world, which is all that is now wanting to complete the calamities to us Jews? As soon as she had said this she slew her son, then she roasted him, and ate the one half of him, and kept the other half concealed. Very soon the rioters appeared on the scene, and smelling the nefarious odor, they threatened to slay her immediately unless she should show them what she had prepared. She replied that she had saved an excellent portion for them, and with that uncovered the remains of the child. They were immediately seized with horror and amazement and stood transfixed at the sight. But she said, ‘this is my son, and 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, I have already eaten of it; let the rest also remain for me.’ At these words the men went out trembling.”
Sources: Jos. War 6.3.4 201-208; Eusebius, bk. 3, ch. 6;; History, pg. 306
Earthquakes were the next sign. Some have taken the word “seismoi” in the first sense, hen it could refer to insurrection, which were happening all over during this time. But if we confine the word o earthquakes, there are several major examples of what our Lord referred to. There was one in Crete during the reign of Claudius, as well as Smyrna, Chios, and Samos as recorded by the historian Grotius. Major earthquakes at Rome are mentioned by Tacitus, one at Laodicea during the reign of Nero, in which the city was overthrown. Another in Rome during the reign of Galba is mentioned in the book by Suetonius. One in Hierapolis and Colosse according to Tacitus. There was one at Campania mentioned by Seneca. Josephus tells about one in Judea.
Sources: Rev. 8:5, 16:18; Jos. Ant. 15.5.2 12, 22; Jos. War 4.4.5 286, 287
Luke’s passage adds the following sentence: “There will be fearful sights and great signs from Heaven.” We read the following in Josephus and Eusebius: “There were also such omens observed as we understood to be forerunners of evil, by that loved peace, but were by those that kindled the war interpreted so as to suit their own inclinations; and the very state of the city, even before the Romans came against it, was that of a place of doomed to destruction.” Most historians will tell you that fixing a date on something back in history can be extremely difficult at time. It appears that Josephus was writing here sometime in early winter of 66 C.E. Cestus had just attacked Jerusalem in November. The supernatural events that Josephus recorded, and were confirmed in his writings by Eusebius of Caesarea, evidently occurred on the Feasts of Passover and Pentecost the spring and summer prior to
the attack by Cestus.Sources: Jos. War 2.22.1 650; Eusebius, bk. 3, ch. 8
Josephus recorded in his writings that the true beginning of the war was approximately May, 66 C.E. It would be towards around the fall of Jerusalem and the Temple when he recorded these supernatural events, but it is probably no coincidence that they actually occurred right about when the war started. These are the supernatural events listed by Josephus and Eusebius: (1) there was a star resembling a sword, which stood over the city, and a comet that continued for a whole year. (2) Before the Jew’s rebellion, and before those commotions which preceded the war, when people were come in great crowds to the Feast of Unleavened Bread, on the eighth day of the month of Xanthicus (Nisan), 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 (Rev. 8:1). (3) At the same festival , also a heifer gave birth to a lamb in the midst of the Temple; (4) Moreover, the Eastern Gate of the inner court of the Temple (Nicanor Gate), 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 but running to the captain of the Temple, and told him of it, who then came up there, and not without greater difficulty was able to shut it again. This also appeared 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. (5) So these publicly declared that the signal foreshadowed the desolation that was coming upon them. Besides these, a few days after the feast, on the one and twentieth of the month of Artemisias (Iyyar), which begins I April or early May, a certain great and incredible phenomenon appeared . I suppose the account of it would seem to be a fable, were it not related by those who saw it, ans were not the events that followed it of considerable a nature as to deserve such signals; for, before sun setting, chariots and troops of soldiers in their armor were seen running around among the clouds, and surrounding the clouds; and surrounding the cities; (6) Moreover at the feast we call Pentecost, as the priests were going by night into the inner court of the Temple, as was their custom, to perform their sacred ministrations , they said, in the first place, they felt a quaking, and heard a great noise, and after that, and after that they heard a sound as of a great multitude, saying, ‘Let us remove hence.’
Sources: Rev. 8:1; Jos. War 2.14.4-6 214-; War 2.17.2 408-410; War 6.5.3 289-300
Josephus wrote of another sacred oracle that came to mind of the Jews at this time: For the Jews by demolishing the Tower of Antonia, had made their Temple foursquare, while at the same time they had written I their sacred oracles – “that then should their city be taken, as well as their holy house, when once their Temple should become foursquare.” But now, what did most elevate them in undertaking this war, was an ambiguous oracle that was found in their sacred writings, how, ‘about that time, one from their country should become governor of the habitable earth,.’ The Jews took this prediction to belong to themselves in particular and many of the wise men were thereby deceived in their prediction. Now, this oracle certainly denoted the government of Vespasian, who was appointed emperor in Judea.
Source: Jose: Jos. War 6.5.4 311, 312
Mt. 24:8 “All these are the beginning of sorrows.”
Mk. 13:8c “These are the beginnings of sorrows.”
The word “sorrows’ used here can also be translated birth pains, demonstrated just as a woman goes into labor before giving birth. The pains normally start out light and are infrequent. As labor progresses, so does the intensity and frequency of the labor pains. This is exactly what happened to the nation of Israel until the nation of Israel until the final climax of the Great Tribulation of 66-73 C.E.
Mk. 13:9a “But watch out for yourselves, for they will deliver you up to councils, and you will be beaten in the synagogues. And you will be brought before the rulers and kings for My sake.”
Lk. 21:12 “But before all these things, they will lay their hands on you and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues and prisons, and you will be brought before kings and rulers for My sake.”
Mk. 13:9b “For a testimony to them.”
Lk. 21:13 “And it shall turn to you for a testimony.”
The word “councils” could refer to the Sanhedrin Ketannah (Lesser Sanhedrin), which was a twenty-three member court that had jurisdiction over civil and criminal cases. But, more likely, Yeshua was referring to the Bet Din, a three-member court found in the synagogue itself. This seems more likely since He mentions being “beaten in the synagogue.” The Bet Din would hand down a sentence of so many stripes for an offense and the Cantor was responsible for administering the stripes. The Book of Deuteronomy says that a person may be given up to forty lashes. The Mishnah says the number of lashes administered must be divided by three. It says, “He lays on one-third of the lashes in front of him (on the chest)and two-thirds behind him.” In Acts 5:40 Peter and other apostles with him, having been warned not to speak in the name of Yeshua were brought before the Sanhedrin and beaten. In Acts 18:17, Paul is taken before the head of the synagogue and beaten before the seat of judgment. In Acts 22:19, Paul relates how he had believers beaten in every synagogue prior to his conversion.
Sources: Deut. 25:2, 3; Acts 5:40;; 18:17; 22:17; 22:19; M:Makkoth 3:11a; BT:Makkoth 13b
Mt. 24:9 “Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and kill you, and you will be hated by all nations for My name’s sake.”
This account clearly states that what is about to be described is going to occur before the sign that the end of the age has begun, as Luke’s passage begins with the phrase, “”But before all these things .....” Yeshua then described some personal experiences that His disciples were to go through after His departure from them. Altogether He listed seven things: (1) they will have great opportunity for testimony; (2) they will succeed in proclaiming the Gospel everywhere; (3) they need not worry about preparing defenses before their trials because they will be given divine utterance when they are brought before judgment; (4) they will be rejected by their own family members; (5) they will be hated by all men; (6) nevertheless, their salvation is assured; and (7).they will succeed in winning many souls.
Mt.2 4:14 “And this Gospel of the Kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all nations, and then the end will come.
Mk. 13:10 “And the Gospel must first be preached to all the nations.”
Another question that is often disputed is when will the Gospel be preached to the world? Does it mean this present world today, or the world of the first century? Eusebius? Eusebius, the father of church history had this to say: Thus, under the influence of Heavenly power, and with divine cooperation, the doctrine of the Savior, like the rays of the sun, quickly illume the whole world, and straightway, in accordance with the divine Scriptures, the voice of the of the inspired evangelists and apostles went forth through all the earth, and their words to the end of the earth.” “Meanwhile, the holy apostles and disciples of our Savior were dispersed throughout the world. Parthia, according to tradition, was allotted to Thomas as his field of labor. Scythia to Andrew, and Asia to John, who, after he had lived there some time, died at Ephesus. Peter appears to have preached in Pontus, Galatia, Bithynia, Cappadocia, and Asia to the Jews of the dispersion, and at last, having come to Rome, he was crucified head-downwards, for he had requested that he might suffer in this way.. Philip spent his last years in Hierapolis and Laodicea. Bartholomew went to India. Matthew went to several foreign lands. James Alphaeus went to Egypt. Simon the Zealot went to Egypt and Britian. John Mark founded a church in Alexandria.” It is very clear that when the term “All the world” is used in the Bible, the very least it means the land of Israel, or the most the Roman Empire as it was known in the first century. It has absolutely nothing to do with the world as we know it today.
Source: Eusebius, bk 2, ch. 3; bk3, ch. 1
In Acts 2:5 it says that while Peter preached on the Day of Pentecost, “there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men from every nation under Heaven.” In Acts 11:27-30, Agabus prophesied that, “there would be a great famine over the whole world.” He was actually talking about Judea. Josephus also wrote about it. In Acts 17:6, Jason and some brethren were accused of “Turning the whole world upside down.” Paul in Romans 1:8, “your faith is spoken of in all the world.” Romans 10:8 says, “But I say, have they not heard? Yes, verily, their sound went forth into all the earth, and their works to the end of the world.”
Sources: Acts 2:5; 11:27-30; 17:6; Romans 1:8; 10:18
Mk. 13:11 “But when they arrest you and deliver you up, do not worry beforehand, or premeditate what you will speak. But whatever is given you in that hour, speak that; for it is not you who speak but the Holy Spirit.”
Lk. 21:14 “Therefore settle it in your hearts not to meditate beforehand on what you will answer.”
Lk. 21:15 “For I will give you a mouth and wisdom which all your adversaries will not be able to contradict or resist.”
M. 24:10 “And then many will be offended; will betray one another , and will hate one another.”
Mk. 13:12 “Brother will betray brother to death, ad father his child; and children will rise up against parents and cause them to be put to death.”
Lk. 21:16 “You will be betrayed even by parents and brothers, relatives and friends; and they will send some of you to your death.”
This is the prophet Micah’s description of the dreadful condition Israel was slipping into in his day. “For son spurns father, daughter rises against mother, daughter-in-law against mother-in-law, a man’s household are his enemies.” These same words can be found in BT:Soth 49b and Midrash Rabba of Songs 11:33. Yeshua had also previously quote them in Matt. 10:35, 36. The family unit has always been something very precious to the Jewish people. It was just as important to them as their relationship with God. The family relationship was a prime indicator of their relationship with God. Now, according to Micah’s warning, something was wrong. The family unit was breaking down. Micah was writing his warning in the 7th century B.C.E. It would not take long until Jerusalem and Solomon’s Temple would be destroyed. Most are familiar with the history from that point to the coming of Yeshua. Was the failure of the family unit the cause of the destruction of the First Temple? Not entirely, but it was a sign of deeper problems. Israel’s relationship with God was in just a much trouble. Yeshua quoted Micah’s warning for a reason. The Jews might have considered that the same consequences might once again come upon them, but they don’t They also had deeper problems with God. Micah’s warning is ringing loud and clear again today. We don’t have a Temple of stones for someone to destroy today, but we have so much more to lose if we don’t listen.
Sources: Micah 7:6; Matt. 10:35:35, 36; BT:Sotah 49b; Midrash Rabba of Songs 11:33
The right before the 400-year Intertestamental Period, the prophet Malachi wrote these words: “He shall reconcile parents with children and children with their parents, so that I do no come and strike the earth with a terrible curse on that terrible day of the Lord.” We know now that the person being spoken of here is Yochanan haMatbil (John the Baptists). Yeshua said that he would come in the spirit of Elijah . But, it appears that John may have had a dual purpose . First and foremost, he came announcing that Israel’s Messiah would be coming shortly. This was the news that the Jewish people had been waiting for several hundred years for. For with the coming of the Messiah awaited Kingdom of God. But, unfortunately, they were looking for deliverance from the yoke of the Roman occupation. This was not to be. John’s second purpose was to deliver them from the bondage of sin. This they didn’t recognize that they had. They had become so self righteous it would take the horror of the Day of the Lord to wake them up.
Sources: Malachi 4:5; Matt 17::11:13
Mk. 13:13a “And you will be hated by all for My name’s sake.”
Lk. 21:17 “And you will be hated by all for My names sake.”
Lk. 21:18 “But not a hair of your head shall be lost.”
Lk. 21:19 “In your patience possess your souls.”
Mt. 24:11 “Then many false prophets will rise up and deceive many.”
First, we want to talk about a false prophet called the Egyptian. Josephus tells his story his way:: “But there was an Egyptian false prophet that did the Jews more mischief than the former; he was a cheat; and pretender to be a prophet ll along, and got altogether thirty thousand men that were deluded by him, these he led round about from the wilderness to the Mount of Olives, and was ready to break into Jerusalem by force from that place; and if he could but once conquer the Roman garrison and the people, he intended to domineer over them by the assistance of those guards of his that were to break into the city with him, but Felix prevented his attempt, and met him with Roman soldiers, while all the people assisted him in his attack upon them, insomuch that, when it came to a battle, the Egyptian ran away with a few soldiers,, while the greatest part of those that were with him were either destroyed or taken alive; but the rest of the multitude were dispersed every one to their own homes and there concealed themselves.”
Source: Jos. War 2.13.5 262-263
There seems to be somewhat of a disagreement over the size of the Egyptian’s army. The above reference is from “Josephus War” places the size at thirty thousand Men. References from “Josephus Antiquities,” “Acts 21:38,” “History of the Jews,” and “Eusebius Church History” place the total at four thousand.
Sources: Acts 21:38; Jos. Ant. 20.8.6 167-172; Eusebius, bk. 2, ch. 21; History, pg. 241
“That you be not so quickly shaken from right understanding, nor yet troubled, neither through spirit, nor through word, nor through letter as through us , as that the day of the Lord is at hand. Let no one deceive you in any way, because – unless the apostasy comes first and the man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition , who opposes and exalts himself against ever one that is called god, or an object of worship, so that he sits in the Temple of God.” This is a very much misunderstood Scripture by the church today simply because it tries to take something that was happening in the first century and tries to apply it for today.
Source: II Thessalonians 2:2-4
It is an unfortunate fact that Christianity today is so hung up on itself it won’t hardly consider anyone else. There was an apostasy going on in the days of Paul, but it was two-fold: Jewish and Christian. The land of Israel was conquered by the Roman general Pompey in 63 B.C.E. Because Judaism was already an established religion, Rome left it alone. They didn’t like it because the Jews would not offer sacrifices to their pagan gods, but for the most part they left the Jews alone. When there was a public distribution of grain, for instance, the Jews got as much as every one else. Under the rule of Emperor Augustus they lead reasonably peaceful lives. I don’t mean to make it sound like everything was rosy, and they were allowed to practice their religion as they saw fit. Religious apostasy is what we want to look at here.
Then around the year 26 C.E., a man came baptizing in the Jordan River, telling people to repent because the Messiah was coming. Within a few days a man named Yeshua of Nazareth came to be baptized and Yochanan haMatbil declared Him to be the long awaited Messiah. For approximately three years this Rabbi traveled around Israel telling the people they had strayed too far from God’s Law and needed to return. A new movement, eventually to be called Christianity, formed within the Judaism around Yeshua’s teachings. His message, which remained within the framework of the Judaism of His day, was eventually rejected by the leadership of Israel.
As long as Christianity remained a part of Judaism it received the same protections and benefits from the Romans that the Jews did. But, when the two began to separate, then Christianity was treated as a new religion by the Romans and began to come under persecution. They still refused to offer sacrifices to the pagan gods and to the emperor himself, which caused them a lot of trouble. When a person had offered his sacrifice to those pagan gods he was given a kind of mark so he could go into the market place and be able to buy or sell produce or any other goods (mark of the beast – Rev. 13:16). When emperors like Caligula demanded to be worshiped as a god, Christian’s problems really increased. Yeshua told His followers to “eat My flesh and drink My blood,” so they were accused of being cannibals. Believers called each other “brothers and sisters, and greeted each other with a holy kiss,” so they were accused of incest.
Sources: I Thessalonians 5:26; Revelation 13:16
A lot of Christians began to fold under the pressure of persecutions and false accusation. It is very probably that is the reason for the letters to the seven churches we see in the Book of Revelation. It makes sense when you see such phrases as “repent, and do the first works.” “You have those who hold to the doctrine of the Nicolaitans,” hold fast to what you have till I come,” and “hold fast and repent.” A lot of believers were denying Yeshua and going Back into Orthodox Judaism for the protection that it afforded. The Book of Hebrews was written about this time to encourage believers because of the horrible times that were coming upon the land of Israel. There is an especially stern warning given in chapter six: “For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted the heavenly gift, and have become partakers of the Holy Spirit, and have tasted the good word of God and the powers of the age to come, if they fall away, to renew them again to repentance , since they crucify again for themselves the Son of God, and put Him to open shame.”
Sources: Hebrews 6:4-6; Rev. Chps. 2 & 3
Christians know very little, if anything, about the Jewish apostasy simply because history isn’t taught in our churches. Also they simply don’t seem to care about anything that is outside of their realm of belief. Christian apostasy was bad in many ways, but the Jewish apostasy was far worse because it brought about the destruction of the city of Jerusalem and the Temple. It also caused the deaths of an estimated 1,337,000 people during the First Jewish Revolt. Josephus is the best, but not the only source for this. A brief description of the inhabitants of Jerusalem would be: “They went from being God’s holy people to, in one case, animals that ate their own young.” They violated every law God had on the books. Plenty of details are provided throughout this study without giving more here. Let’s just say that it is hard to believe that human beings can treat other human beings in the manner that happened during the siege of Jerusalem. A Jew is a person that loves God and tries to live according to His Word. The people inside the city walls, because of their actions, were no longer Jews, but just Israelites.
Now, lets talk about the son of perdition. Eusebius recorded these words” “After the death of Tiberius Caius (Caligula)received the empire, and, besides the innumerable other acts of tyranny against many people, he greatly affected many especially the whole nation of the Jews. These things we may learn briefly from the words of Philo, who writes as follows: ‘So great was the caprice of Caius in his conduct toward all, and especially toward the nation of the Jews ... The later he so bitterly hated that he appointed to himself their places of worship in other cities, and beginning with Alexandria he filled them with images and statues of himself. The Temple in the Holy City (Jerusalem), which had hitherto been left untouched, and had been regarded as inviolable.”
Source: Eusebius, bk., 2, ch. 6
The governor of Syria, Petronius, had received two orders to enter Judea with his legions and to turn the sanctuary into a pagan temple. It was east to conceive the mortal anguish of the Jewish people when these orders became known to them. On the eve of the Feast of Tabernacles a messenger appeared in Jerusalem, who converted this feast of rejoicing into mourning. Thousands of Judeans hastened to appear before Petronius, declaring that they would rather suffer the penalty of death than allow their Temple to be desecrated, Petronius then a true statement of the case to the emperor, hoping that he might be induced to abandon his scheme. In the meanwhile, a close friend of Caligula had talked him into reversing his plan. When Caligula received Petronius letter, in which the governor detailed what difficulties he would encounter were he to attempt to execute the orders of his master, the emperor’s anger exploded. He ordered Petronius to commit suicide, and ordered his statue to be placed in the Temple once again. Fortunately, Caligula was assassinated by the Praetorian Guard (24 Jan., 41 C.E.) Before any of his orders could reach Israel.
Sources: Jos. Ant. 18.8.2 261; Jos. War 2.10.1 184, 185; Sueonius, pgs. 146, 147; History, pgs. 187,189;
Eusebius. Pg. 63
Caligula, the son of perdition, had tried but failed to set up his image in the Temple of God in Jerusalem. By all historical accounts, the insane Caligula was one of the most evil men in history. He was the first of the Roman emperors that demanded to be worshiped as a god while he was still living. But, there was another coming, a man of sin who would be revealed in the near future. His name was Nero. John, in his “Apocalypse,” would refer to him as Mr. 666. Christians would be turned by him into human torches to light his gardens. They would be covered with the skins of freshly killed animals and then torn to pieces by wild dogs and other animals. When most of the city of Rome burned to the ground, Nero used the Christians as handy scapegoats to blame the fire on. They were accused of being cannibals for obeying Yeshua’s words to “eat My flesh and drink My blood.” I John says that “many anti-Christ have risen,” but non filled that description like Nero. And when his army under Titus conquered Jerusalem, they set up standards in the courtyard and began offering sacrifices to him and the Roman gods. Nero had accomplished what Caligula had failed to do.
Sources: I John 2:18; Rev. 13:18; Jo. War 6.6.1 316
Even in death, Nero was a tough character to deal with. At the very end of his reign things for Nero began to fall apart quickly for Nero. Without going into a lot of detail, he just pushed things too far, made a lot of enemies just as his predecessors had, and “all good things must come to an end. The Roman Senate declared him an enemy of the state and demanded that he commit suicide or someone would do it for him. Most historians say that Nero did commit suicide, but supposedly to was done at the hand of his servant at his country estate. There was a lingering question for some time as to whether this is true or not. A legend known as Nero Redivivus circulated for quite some time that Nero was still alive and would come back to claim power some day. The most prominent parts of this legend was that Nero fled to Parthia and was living there waiting for the right time to make his move. John wrote about this in his “Apocalypse:” “Now the beast which I saw was like a leopard, his feet were like the feet of a bear, and his mouth like the mouth of a lion. The dragon gave him his power, his throne, and great authority. And I saw one of his heads as if it had been mortally wounded , and his deadly wound was healed. And all the world marveled and followed the beast.”
Source: Rev. 13:2,3; Wikipedia
Mt. 24:12 “And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold.”
I would like to quote from three different places in Josephus to demonstrate just how far the depravity of the rebels had sunk. Bear in mid that the dead had always been treated with the greatest love and respect by the Jewish people. It is required by the Torah that the body be buried within twenty-four hours of death (Deut. 21:22).. The immediate family was to go through a seven-day mourning period called shivah (7). Now, as Josephus describes it, all of this was forgotten. War and famine had hardened the hearts of the people. Love for one’s fellow man and his God was a thing of the past. The first indication was not quite as blatant, but everything has to have a beginning. It had always been the policy of the Temple cult to accept sacrifices from non-Jews who wished to offer them to Yahweh. It was also a practice to offer a sacrifice to Yahweh in the name of the emperor. That suddenly stopped. Josephus records it this way: “At the same time, Eleazar, the son of Ananias the High Priest, a very bold youth, who was at the time governor of the Temple, persuaded those that officiated in the divine service to receive no gift or sacrifice for any foreigner. And this was the true beginning of our was with the Romans; for they rejected the sacrifice of Caesar on this account.”
Source: Deut. 21:22; Jos. War 2.17.2 409
“It was then common to see cities filled with dead bodies, still lying unburied, and those of old men, mixing with infants, all dead and scattered about together, women also laying amongst them, without covering for their nakedness; you might then see the whole province full of inexpressible calamities, while the dead of still more barbarous practices which were threatened was every where greater than what had already been perpetrated.”
Sources: Jos. War 2.18.2 465; 6.4.6 259; .6.5.1 275,275; Eusebius, pgs. 105, 106
“All along the roads also vast numbers of dead bodies laying in heaps, and even many of those that were so zealous in deserting, at length chose rather to perish within the city; for the hopes of burial made death in their own city appear of the two less terrible to them. But these Zealots came at last to that degree of barbarity, as not to bestow a burial either on those slain in the city, or on those that lay along the roads, but as they had mad an agreement to cancel both the laws of their country and the laws of nature, and, a the same time that they defile men with their wicked actions, so they would pollute the divinity itself.”
Source: Jos. War 4.6.3. 380-382
Mt. 24:13 “But he who endures to the end shall be saved.”
Mk. 13:13b “But he who endures to the end shall be saved.”
Lk. 21:20 “But when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then know that its desolation is near.”
Luke’s Gospel gives a different warning than Matthew and Mark, but its meaning still has application for what is to happen. Yeshua tells His disciples that when they see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then know that its desolation is near. This is not the abomination of desolation in itself, but means that it will happen in the near future after that. He circumstances around this will be explained in the next verse.
Mt. 24:15 “Therefore when you see the abomination of desolation spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place: (whoever reads, let him understand).
Mk. 13:14a “But when you see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet , standing where it shouldn’t” (Let the reader understand).
Ancient prophecies, whether Biblical or from the Dead Sea Scrolls, rarely have just a single fulfillment, but more than one can occur in the future. The circumstances and characters may be different, but the motif is the same, showing that history does repeat itself. When the Lord said “abomination of desolation,” the memories of two events in Jewish history would immediately come to mind for His disciples. The first event occurred in 163 B.C.E. The Syrian ruler, Antiochus Epiphanes, during a Jewish revolt, ordered a swine sacrificed on the altar of the Temple. He then entered the Holy of Holies, where the High Priest alone was allowed to go, and sprinkled the pig’s blood in there. His presence in the Holy of Holies was all that it took for the first “abomination of desolation.” He also had an idol of Zeus erected in the Temple and poured a broth made from the pig all over the Torah scrolls. But, the abomination of desolation occurred simply when his foot touched the floor inside the Holy of Holies.
Sources: Jos. Ant. 12.5.4 250,251; Jos. War 1.1.1 32; Apoc. Lit. 4.9
The second abomination of desolation occurred when the new independent Kingdom of Judea fell prey to the Romans, whose aim was to encircle he Mediterranean Sea and make it into a Roman Lake. Judea was in the way and must be conquered. The general Pompey lead his legions into the land in the year 63 B.C.E. He installed a puppet monarchy under the rule of Rome. But, worse still in the eyes of he Jewish people, he decided to enter the Holy of Holies. Josephus describes the outrage: “Sin was committed against the sanctuary when Pompey and some of his men entered it, for none are allowed inside except the High Priest.” We are told that Pompey did not touch any of the holy utensil within, perhaps out of fear of divine retribution. But, the damage had been done in the minds of the faithful Jews. A pagan had desecrated the holy Temple – again!
Sources: Jos. Ant. 14.4.4 71, 72, and note #5; Jos. War 1.7.6. 152, 153; History, pg. 66
The pattern is now set for what is to come that was prophesied by Yeshua. On August 6, 70 C.E., the Roman general Titus, who blasphemed God and insulted Heaven, entered the Holy of Holies. Tradition says that he spread the Torah scrolls over the stone where the Ark of the Covenant had been in times past. He then had sex with a prostitute that he took in there. The prophecy of Daniel was now fulfilled and the abomination of desolation was fulfilled for the third time.
Sources: Jos. War 6.4.7. 260; History, pgs307,308; Tacitus, bk. 5
Mt. 24:16 “Then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains.”
Mk. 13:14b “Then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains.”
Lk. 21:21a Then“ let those in Judea flee to the mountains.”
Yeshua gave His disciples the sign that would mark the fact that Jerusalem was about to be destroyed. The sign was the surrounding of the city by an army. The Hebrew Christians were told that when they saw this sign they were to leave Jerusalem and Judea and flee outside of the land. This sign would make the coming desolation of Jerusalem and the Temple. From that point on the city would be trodden down until the times of the Gentiles was fulfilled. This prophecy was fulfilled in October/November, 66 C.E. when the Roman governor Castaways Gallus and his army attacked and surround the city. The surrounding of the city marked the sign Yeshua had promised, and the Hebrew Christians knew that Jerusalem would soon be destroyed. They also knew that they had to get out of the city. However, this was impossible while the Roman army surrounded the city. Unexpectedly, on the fourth day of the siege, Gallus ordered his army to withdraw from the city and go back to Caesarea. His reason for doing this is unknown, but Josephus records that “it was without any reason in the world.” Had he pressed the attack then, he could have won the war. On the way back to Caesarea, Gallus’ army was attacked by Jewish forces and the bulk of it was practically destroyed. About two years would pass before any Roman armies would surround Jerusalem again. It was during this time that the Hebrew Christians would leave the city, cross the TransJordan, and begin living in the city of Pella.
Sources: Jos. War 2.18.9, 500; 2.19.4 527,528; 2.19.7 540
Mt. 24:17 “Let him who is on the housetop not come down to take anything out of his house.”
Mk. 13:15 “And let him that is on the housetop not go down into the house, neither enter therein, go take anything out of his house.”
Mt. 24:18 “And let him who is in the field not go back to get his clothes.”
Mk. 13:16 “And let him that is in the field not turn back again to take up his garments.”
Lk. 21:21b “And let them which are in the midst of it depart out; and let not them that are in the countries enter there into.”
Lk. 21:22 “For these are the days of vengeance, that all things which are written may be fulfilled.”
Mt. 24:1 9 “But woe to those who are pregnant and to those with nursing babies in those days.”
Mk. 13:17 “But woe to those who are pregnant and to those with nursing babies in those days.”
Lk. 21:23a “But woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing babies in those days!”
Mt. 24:20 “And pray that your flight may no be in winter or on the Sabbath day.”
Mk. 13:18 “And pray that your flight may not be in the winter.”
Indeed, to stay in Jerusalem would be suicide. The Hebrew Christians from the least to the greatest – even nursing mothers – must leave the city. There is only one problem: crossing the Jordan River can be tricky business. For much of the year the river is shallow, a little more than a stream, and fairly easy to cross. But, during the rainy winter season from October to April, the sudden downpours turn the river into a raging, uncontrollable torrent.
No wonder Yeshua said, “Pray that your flight will not take place in the winter.” It isn’t the cold they were afraid of. It is the rain of winter and the distinct possibility that they would all be trapped on the west bank of the Jordan River, to be cut to pieces by the advancing Romans.
Mt. 24:21 “For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the world until this time, no, nor ever shall be.”
Mk. 13:19 “For in those days there will be tribulation, such as has not been from the beginning of creation which God created until this time, nor ever shall be.”
Lk. 21:23b “For there will be great distress in the land and wrath upon this people.”
God is a just God. He never brings judgment without first giving warning of that coming judgment, and giving the opportunity for repentance. That is also true of the judgment that befell Israel at the middle of the first century. Deut. 28:45-57 gives a warning that is so accurate that it almost boggle the mind about some of the events that occurred during that period. I encourage the reader to look at those Scriptures for himself. But, whether it is words from the Word of God of from the pages of history, it is very difficult for our minds to comprehend the events that took place then, but we will try. Yeshua warned of a Great Tribulation, but even His words were inadequate. First, we will turn to Eusebius, the father of church history. “The possibility of going out of the city being brought to an end, all hope of safety for the Jews was cut off. And the famine increased and devoured the people by houses and families. And the rooms were filled with dead women and children, the lanes of the city with the corpses of old men. Children and youths, swollen with the famine, wandered about the marketplace like shadows, and fell wherever the death agony overtook them. The sick were not strong enough to bury even their own relatives, and those that had the strength hesitated because of the multitude of the dead and the uncertainty as to their own lives. Many, indeed, died while they were burying others, and many betook themselves to their graves before death came upon them. There was neither weeping nor lamentation under these misfortunes, but the famine stifled the natural affections. Those that were dying a lingering death looked with dry eyes upon those that had gone to their rest before them. Deep silence and death-laden night circled the city.”
Sources: Deut. 25:45-57; EuSebius, bk. 3, ch. 6
Josephus adds the following: “A deep silence also, and a kind of deadly night, had seized upon the city; while yet the robbers were still more terrible than these miseries were themselves; for they broke open those houses which were no other than graves of dead bodies, and plundered them of what they had; and carrying off the coverings of their bodies, went out laughing, and tried the points of their swords in the dead bodies, and, in order to prove what metal they were made of they thrust some of those through that still lay alive upon the ground; But for those that entreated them to lend their right hand and their sword to dispatch them, they were too proud to grant their requests, and left them to be consumed by the famine. Now every one of these died with their eyes fixed on the Temple, and left the rebellious alive behind them. Now the rebellious at first gave orders that the dead should be buried out of the public treasury, as not enduring the stench of their dead bodies. But afterwards, when they could no do that, they had them cast down from the walls into the valley beneath. However, when Titus, in going his rounds along this valley, saw them full of dead bodies, and the thick putrification running about them, he gave a groan, and, spreading out his hands to heaven, called God to witness that this was not his doing.”
Source: Jos. War 5.12.3,4 515-519
“And indeed, why do I relate these particular calamities? – while Manneus, the son of Lazarus, came running to Titus at this very time, and told him that there had been carried out through the gate, which was entrusted to his care, no fewer than a hundred and fifteen thousand eight hundred and eighty bodies, in the interval between the fourteenth day of the month of Xanthicus (Nisan), when the Romans pitched their camp by the city, and the first day of the month of Panemus (Tamuz). After this man there ran away to Titus many of the eminent residents, and told him the entire number of the poor that were dead, and that no fewer than six hundred thousand were thrown out at the gates, through still the number of the rest could not be discovered. And they told him farther, that when they were no longer able to carry out the dead bodies of the poor, they laid their corpses in very large houses, and shut them up therein.”
Source: Jos. War 5.13.7 567
“Now of those who perished by famine in the city, the number was prodigious, and the miseries they underwent were unspeakable; for if so much as the shadow of any kind of food did anywhere appear, a war was commenced presently; and the dearest friends fell at fighting one another about it, snatching from each other the most miserable supports of life. Not would men believe that those who were dying had no food, but the robbers would search them when they were expiring, lest anyone should have concealed food in their bosoms, and counterfeited dying; nay, these robbers gaped for want, and ran about stumbling and staggering along like mad dogs, and reeling against the doors of the houses like drunken men, they would also, in the great distress they were in, rush into the same houses two and three times in one and the same day. Moreover, their hunger was so intolerable, that it obliged them to chew everything, while they gathered such things as the most sordid animals would not touch, and endured to eat them; nor did they at length abstain from girdles an shoes; and the very leather which belonged to their shields they pulled off and gnawed; the very wisps of old hay became food to some; and some gathered up fibers, and sold a very small weight of them for four attic (drachmae).
Source: Jos. War 6.3.3 193-198
Mt. 24:22 “And unless those days were shortened, no flesh would be saved; but for the elect’s sake those days will be shortened.”
Mk. 13:20 “And except that the Lord had shortened those days, no flesh should be saved. But for the elect’s sake, whom He has chosen, He has shortened those days.”.
Vespasian had gathered his forces at Caesarea with one goal in mind. He was determined to march on Jerusalem, and with one final assault, completely wipe out the Jewish forces once and for all. It was at this time that he heard the news of Nero’s suicide and decided not to advance until he found out who the new emperor would be and what new orders he would receive from that emperor. Once he found out that Galba was the new emperor, he sent his son, Titus, to Rome to greet the new emperor and receive his new orders. While Titus was on his way to Rome aboard ship, he received news that Galba had been assassinated Otho was now the new emperor. King Agrippa, who was accompanying Titus, decided to go on to Rome, but Titus (by inspiration) decided to return to Judea to his father. Shortly after that, Otho was assassinated, and Vitellis took his place, but the legions began demanding that Vespasian assume the throne held by Vitellis. Vespasian left for Rome by way of Egypt, and left Titus in charge of crushing the Jewish revolt. Had Vespasian completed the attack on Jerusalem that he had started in the first place, “no flesh would have been saved,” but Titus did things a little differently than his father and did not attack Jerusalem right away, so “the days were shortened for the elect’s sake.” The Hebrew Christians had time to escape to Pella.
Source: Jos. War 4.9.2 491, 497-499
Lk. 21:24 “And they shall fall by the edge of the sword, and they shall be led away captive into all nations; and Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles until the time of the Gentiles be fulfilled.” .
The final tally of victims is almost unimaginable, but Josephus also gives us a record of that “Now the number of those that were carried captive during this whole was collected to be ninety-seven thousand, as the number of those that perished during the whole siege eleven hundred thousand (1,000,000). The whole multitude of the Jews that were destroyed during the entire seven years before this time, in all countries of and bordering Judea, is summed up by Archbishop Usher, from Lipsius, out of Josephus, at the year of Christ 70, and amounts to 1,337,490.”
Source: Jos. War 6.9.3 420, & nt. #2.
Mt. 24:23 “Then if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Christ!’ or ‘There!’ do not believe it.”
Mk. 13:21 “And then if any man shall say to you, Lo, here is Christ; or Lo, He is there; believe him not.”
Mt. 24:24 “For false Christs and false prophets will arise and show great signs and workers, so as to deceive if possible, even the elect.”
Mk. 13:22 “For false Christs and false prophets shall rise, and shew signs and wonders, to seduce, if it were possible, even the elect.”
In this verse Yeshua warned about false Messiahs and prophets coming to the people seeking to deceive them in this time of trouble. We want to look at two of them in particular. The first one is not mentioned in the Bible, but we find recorded the event because of the horrible deception that he brought on the people. Josephus records it this way: “The soldiers also came to the rest of the cloisters that were in the outer court of the Temple, whether the women and children, and a great mixed multitude of people fed, in number about six thousand. But before Caesar had determined anything about these people, or given the commanders any orders relating to them, the soldiers were in such a rage, that they set the cloisters on fire, by which means it came to pass that some of these were destroyed by throwing themselves down headlong, and some were burnt in the cloisters themselves. Not did any of them escape with their lives. A false prophet was the occasion of these people’s destruction, who had made a public proclamation in the city that very day, that God commanded them to get upon the Temple, and that there they should receive miraculous signs of their deliverance.
Source: Jos. War 6.5.2. 283-285; Eusebius, bk. 2, chs. 13,14
The other false Messiah is mentioned in the Word of God and is possibly the worse of all. We begin with a quote from Irenaeus, one of the church fathers. “Simon Magus set himself to contend against the apostles, that he might appear glorious. He was for his magic honored with a statue by Claudius Caesar. He was glorified by many as a god, and taught that himself was he that appeared as the Son among the Jews, that in Samaria he descended as the Father, and in other nations came as the Holy Ghost. That he was the most sublime virtue, that is, he which was the Father over all, and that he was content to be called by the highest titles that any man did call him.” “But a certain man named Simon before this used magic in the city, and astonished the nation of Samaria, saying that himself was some great one; to whom they gave head, from small to great, saying: this man is the power of God, which is called great. To whom they all gave heed, from the least to the greatest, saying, ‘this man is the great power of God.’” (Acts 8:9-11).
Sources: Acts 8:9-11; Irenaeus, “Against Heresies”
Now we read about this man in the writings of Eusebius, the church historian. “With faith in our Lord Jesus Christ reaching all people, the enemy of salvation planned to capture the imperial city in advance and sent Simon there, cited previously, and by assisting his sorcery took possession of many in Rome and led them astray. This is reported by Justin Martyr, an ornament of our faith, soon after the apostles who writes as follows in his first “Defense”of our doctrines to Antoninus (Pius).:”“After the Lord’s ascension, the demons presented men who claimed to be gods, and they not only escaped being persecuted by you but even became objects of worship. Simon, a Samaritan from a village called Gittho, worked wonders through magic in Claudius’ time, thanks to the demons that possessed him. He was deemed a god at Rome and was honored as a god with a statue in the River Tiber between the two bridges. It carries the inscription in Lain “Simoni deo Sancto” (to Simon, holy, god)). Nearly all Samafitans and a great many in other nations also acknowledged him as their chief deity and worshiped him. And a woman named Helen, who raveled around with him but had previously lived in a brothel in Tyre, they call the First Emanantion from him.’” This is Justin’s version, and Irenaeus agrees with him in book one of his “Against Heresies,” where he collects stories about Simon and his foul teachings that are available to any interested. According to tradition, Simon was the original author of all heresies. From this time down to ours, his followers, while pretending Christianity, prostrate themselves before pictures and images of Simon and Helen, worshiping them with incense, sacrifices, and libations. Their more secret rites are so full of frenzy, madness, and degradation that they cannot be reported in writing or words. Whatever is more disgusting than the foulest crime imaginable is surpassed by the utterly repulsive heresy of these men, who, drenched in vice, make support of wretched women.”
“Of such evil Simon was the father. Nevertheless, our Savior’s inspired apostles quickly extinguished the flames of the evil one before they could spread, and to conspiracy by Simon or any of his contemporaries succeeded in those apostolic days. After the imposter’s crimes were exposed in Judea by the Apostle Peter, he quickly fled overseas from east to west so that he could live as he wished. Arriving in Rome, he achieved much success that the citizens erected his statue and honored him as a god. But his success was brief. Hot on his heels in the same reign of Claudius, a gracious providence brought to Rome the great and mighty Peter, chosen for his merits as leader of the apostles. Like a noble captain of God, he proclaimed the Gospel of light and the Word that saves souls. With this Divine Word, Simon’s power was extinguished and destroyed immediately, along with the man himself.”
Sources: Eusebius, bk. 2, chs. 13n 14;
Mt. 24:25 “See, I have told you beforehand.”
Mk. 13:23 “But take heed; see, I have told you beforehand.:
There are several passages in the Hebrew Scriptures where God warned Israel of coming judgment if they didn’t straighten up their act (Deut. 28:68; Jere. 44:7,8; Hosea 8:13, 9:3, 11:3-5) But, want to focus on three sets of Scriptures in the Gospels where Yeshua prophesied of things to come that were fulfilled during his war forty years later. There are three instances where Yeshua gave the people clear warnings that they should repent and get right with God or suffer the consequences. The first is found in Luke 13:1-3. “And there were present at that time some that told Him of the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifice. And He answered and said to them, ‘Think you that these Galileans had become sinners above all Galileans because they suffered these things? I tell you no; but unless you repent, you shall all in like manner perish.’” These verses are referring to a story that Josephus would refer to later on. “But the nation of the Samaritans did not escape without disturbances. The man that excited them to it was one who thought lying a thing of little consequence; and who contrived everything so that the multitude might be pleased; so he directed them to get together upon Mount Gerizim, which is by them looked upon as the most holy of all mountains, and assured them that when they are come there, he would show them those sacred vessels which were laid under that place, because Moses had put them there. So they came armed and thought the discourse of the man probable, and as they abode in a certain village, which was called Tirathaha, they got rest together to them, and desired to go up the mountain together, but Pilate prevented their going up, by seizing the roads with a great number of horsemen and footmen, who fell upon those who were gotten in the village; and when it came to an action, some of them were killed, and others of them they put to flight, and took away many alive, the principle of which, and also the most potent of these that fled away, Pilare ordered to be killed.” Th Samaritans sent a committee to the governor of Syria to accuse Pilate of murder, claiming they were on a religious mission and not revolting. The accused Pilate of “Mixing their blood with their sacrifices,” since Mount Gerizim is where the Samaritans have their temple and perform sacrifices. An interesting note to this is that Moses was never allowed to go into the Promised Land by God, much less go as far as Mount Gerizim. Moses died and was buried by God close to Mount Nebo in the land of Moab, near Beth-Peor.
Sources: Deut. 28:68;; 34:4-6; Hosea 8:13; 9:3; 11:3-5; Luke 13:1-3; Jos. Ant. 18.4.1,2 85-89
So, how were Yeshua’s word fulfilled? Again, we turn to the word of Josephus, the Jewish historian. “For he (Titus) had such engines as threw darts, and javelins, and stones, and that in no small number, by which he did not only defend himself from such as fought against him, but slew moreover many of the priests, as they were about their sacred ministrations; not withstanding these men were made with all sorts of impiety, yet did they still admit those that desired to offer their sacrifices, although they took care to search the people of their own country beforehand, and both suspected and watched them, while they were not so much afraid of strangers, who, although they had gotten leave of them how cruel soever they were, to come to that court, were yet often destroyed by this sedition; for those darts that were thrown by the engines came with that force, that they went all over the buildings, and reached as far as the altar, and the Temple itself, and fell upon the priests, and those that were about the sacred offices; insomuch that in any persons who came thither with great zeal from the ends of the earth, to offer sacrifices at this celebrated place, which was esteemed holy by all mankind, fell down before their own sacrifices themselves, and sprinkled that altar which was venerable among all men, both Greek and barbarians, with their own blood; till the dead bodies of strangers were mingled together with those of their own country, and those of profane persons with those of priests, and the blood of all sorts of dead carcasses stood in lakes in the holy courts themselves.” Source: Jos. War 5.1.3. 14-18
Next, we look at Luke 13:4, 5. “Or those eighteen, on whom fell the Tower of Siloam and killed them, think you that they had become debtors above all the men that dwell in Jerusalem? I tell you no; but unless you repent, you shall all in like manner perish.” These two verses are pretty well self-explanatory as to what happened during this event, but it is how it took place that we want to recognize. Josephus records a similar situation that occurred while the Roman legions attacked a town named Gamala just northeast of Jerusalem. “But the men of war sustained the siege till the two-and-twentieth day of the month of Hyperberetaeus (Tisri), when three soldiers of the Fifteenth Legion, about the morning watch, got under a high tower that was near, and undermined it without making any noise, nor when they either came to it, which was in the nighttime, nor when they were under it, did those that guarded it perceive them. The soldiers then, upon their coming, avoided making a noise, and when they had rolled away five of the strongest stones, they went away hastily; whereupon the tower fell down of a sudden, with a great noise, and its guard fell headlong with it, so that those that kept guard in other places, were under such disturbance, that they ran away.
The last prophecy we want to look at is found in Luke 19:41-44. “And when He drew near, H saw the city and wept over it, saying, ‘If you had known, even you, especially in this your day, the things that make for your peace! But now they are hidden from your eyes. For the days will come upon you when your enemies will build an embankment around you, surround you and close you in on every side, and level you, and your children within you, to the ground; and they will not leave in you one stone upon another, because you did not know the time of your visitation.” We read the fulfillment of this prophecy in Josephus also. “That therefore his (Titus) opinion was, that if they aim at quickness joined with security, they must build a wall round about the city, which was, he thought the only way to prevent the Jews from coming out any way, and that then they would either entirely despair of saving the city, or so would surrender it up to him, or be still more easily conquered when famine had farther weakened them. For besides this wall, he would not lie entirely at rest afterward, but would take care then to have banks raise again, when those that would oppose them were become weaker. Now the length of this wall was forty furlongs, one only abated. Now at this wall without were erected thirteen placed to keep garrisons in, the circumference of which put together, amounted to ten furlongs, the whole completed in three days; so that what would naturally have required some months, was done in so short an interval as is incredible.”
Sources: Luke 19:41-44; Jos. War 5.12.1 499-500; 5.12.2. 508-510
Mt. 24:26 “Wherefore if they shall say unto you, behold, he is in the desert; go not forth; behold, He is in the secret chambers, believe in not.”
Josephus records three instances where the Jews completely ignored the Lord’s warning about following false prophets and leaders. In these instances, no particular person or leader was named, yet many of the people lost their lives because they failed to follow the Word of God. “Now, as for the affairs of he Jews, they grew worse and worse continually, for the country was again filled with robbers and imposters, who deluded the multitude. Yet did Felix catch and put many to death of those imposters every day, together with robbers. “These works, that were done by the robbers filled the city with all sorts of impiety. And now these imposters and deceivers persuaded the multitude to follow them into the wilderness, and pretended that they would exhibit manifest wonders and signs, that should be performed by the providence of God. And many that were prevailed on by them suffered the punishment of their folly; for Felix brought them back, and then punished them.” “There was also another body of wicked men gotten together, not so impure in their actions, but more wicked in their intentions, who laid waste the happy state of the city and less than did these murderers. These were such men as deceived and deluded the people under pretense of divine inspiration, but were for procuring innovations and changes of the government, and these prevailed with the multitude to act like madmen, and went before them into them into the wilderness, as pretending that God would be there to show them signals of liberty, but Felix thought this procedure was the beginning of a revolt; so he sent some horsemen and footmen , both armed, who destroyed a great number of them.”
Sources: Jos. Ant. 20.8.5. 160; 20.8.6. 167-170; Jos. War 2.13.4. 258-260
Mt. 24:27 “For as the lightning comes from out of the east, and shines unto the west; so shall the coming of the Son of Man be.”
Two verses of Scripture very plainly describe the Lord’s judgment that will come upon the city of Jerusalem and the Temple in those last days. “Behold the Lord Himself comes from afar in blazing wrath, with a heavy burden. His lips full of fury, His tongue like a devouring fire, for the Lord will make His majestic voice heard and display the sweep of His arm in raging wrath, in a devouring blaze of fire, in tempest, and rainstorm and hailstones.” “And the Lord will manifest Himself to them, and His arrows shall flash like lightning, my Lord God shall sound the ram’s horn and advance in a stormy tempest.” Anyone who understands apocalyptic language and is familiar with the history of what happened in the First Jewish Revolt of 66-73 C.E. would understand these two verses plainly. But, just to make things very clear, it bears repeating that the last half of Luke 21:23, where it says, “For there will be great distress in the land and wrath upon this people. Yeshua was talking about the land of Israel and the Jewish people of the first century, not the people of the twenty-first century. But, it ought to be a clear warning to the rest of the world. Israel was, and always will be, God’s chosen people. They had violated His Law, turned their backs on Him and rejected His Messiah. How much more will God’s wrath be poured out at His Second Coming on a world that has practically forsaken Him and everything He has taught us? Let Jerusalem be a lesson before it is too late!
Sources: Isaiah 30:27, 30; Zechariah 9:14; Luke 21:23b
Mt. 24:28 “For wheresoever the carcase be, there will the eagles be gathered together.”
This sweeping statement speaks of the horrible carnage that would take place as a result of the revolt. The eagle is the standard of Rome. The gathering of eagles represents the invasion of the Roman legions into the land of Israel. This statement is a precursor where Yeshua was announcing the Day of the Lord coming upon Israel with Rome being the agency of that judgment.
Mt. 24:29a “Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light.”
Mk. 13:24 “But in those days, after the tribulation, the sun shall be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light.”
Lk. 21:25a “And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon.”
Mt. 24:29b “And the stars shall fall from Heaven, and the power of the heaven shall be shaken.”
Mk. 13:25 “And the stars shall fall, and the powers that are in Heaven shall be shaken.”
Lk. 21:25b “And in the stars, and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity, the sea and the waves roaring.”
Lk. 21:26 “Men’s heart’s failing for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth, but the powers of Heaven shall be shaken.”
Mt. 24:30 “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 glory.”
Mk. 13:26 “And then shall they see the Son of Man coming in the clouds with great power and glory.”
Lk. 21:27 “And then shall they see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.”
Verses 29, 30, and 31 must be taken together. As incredible as it seems, people today still try to take these verses literally. What we have here is a prime example of what is called apocalyptic language. Yeshua is telling His disciples that because the Jewish people have rejected God’s Messiah, the Day of the Lord will come upon them, making the end of the Jewish Age. The “Day of the Lord” occurred several times in the Hebrew Scriptures and this same apocalyptic language was used each time in Scripture. Another example in the New Testament is the Book of Revelation. Apocalyptic language was never intended to be taken literally. It was used to paint a picture. If you try to interpret it literally, you will misinterpret it. One example includes Isaiah 13:6-10 – “For the day of the Lord is near; it shall come like havoc from Shaddai. Therefore all hands shall go limp, and all men’s hearts sink; and, overcome by terror, they shall be seized by pangs and throes. Writhe like women in travail. They shall gaze at each other in horror, their faces livid in fright. Lo! The day of the Lord is coming with pitiless wrath and fury, to make the earth a desolation, to wipe out the sinners upon it. The sun and constellations of heaven shall not give off their light. The sun shall be dark when it rises, and the moon shall diffuse the glow.” Other examples would include Isaiah 34:4, 8-10; Jere. 46:10; Ezek. 32:7, 8; Joel 2:1, 2, 10, 11; 3:3, 4; Amos 5:18-20; Zeph. 1:14-16.
Here we have the records of three different historians. “Prodigies had occurred, which this nation, profane to superstition, but hating all religious rites, did not deem it lawful to expiate by offering and sacrifice. There had been seen hosts joining in battle in the skies, the fiery gleam of arms, the temple illuminated by a sudden radiance from the clouds. The doors of the inner shrine were suddenly thrown open, and a voice of more than mortal tone was heard to cry that the gods were departing at the sam instant there was a mighty stir as of departure. Some few put a fearful meaning on these events, but in most there was a firm persuasion, that in the ancient records of their priests was contained a prediction of how at this very time the east was to grow powerful, and rulers, coming from Judea, were to acquire universal empire. These mysterious prophecies had pointed to Vespasion and Titus, but the common people, with the usual blindness of ambition, had interpreted these mighty destinies of themselves, and could not be brought even by disasters to believe the truth” (Tacitus “Histories, bk. 5). “And not many days after the feast, on the twenty-first day of the month Artemisium, a certain marvelous vision was seen which passes belief. The prodigy might seem fabulous were it not related by those who saw it, and were not the calamities which followed deserving of such signs. For before the setting of the sun chariots and armed troops were seen throughout the whole region in mid-air, wheeling through the clouds and encircling the cities” (Eusebius “History,” bk. 3, ch. 8). “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 who saw it, and were not the events that followed it so considerable a nature as to deserve such signals; for, before sunsetting, chariots and troops of soldiers in their armor were seen running about among the clouds, and surrounding of cities” (Jos. War 6.5.3. 297-299).
Sources: Histories, bk. 5; Eusebius, bk. 3, ch. 8; Jos. War 6.5.3. 297-299
Mt. 24:31 “And He shall send His angels with a great sound of the trumpet, and they shall gather together His elect from the four winds, from one end of Heaven to the other.”
Mk. 13:27 “And then shall He send His angels, and then gather together His elect from the four winds, from the uttermost part of the Heaven.”
There are three significant steps that occur in these verses having to do with the last days of the Jewish Age. These steps are: (1) the appearing of the Son of Man in the clouds of Heaven; (2) the appearing of God’s angels from Heaven in the clouds; and (3) the gathering of God’s elect from the earth. These three steps each can be found in the following texts: Matt. 24:30, 31; I Thess. 4:16, 17; and Rev. 14:14-16. Modern day prophecy teachers try to equate these verses, especially I Thess.., with the concept known as the Rapture of the Church. But, a careful reading of Matt. 24:29 shows that they are connected to the Day of the Lord, which comes upon Israel during Daniel’s Seventieth Week.
Sources: I Thessalonians 4:16, 17; Revelation 14:14-16
There seems to be about as many different theories concerning a “rapture” as a thermometer has degrees. But, they all revolve around one fact: there has to be some king of a seven-year tribulation period. Since the Great Tribulation Yeshua prophesied about occurred in 66-73 C.E., and He said there would never be another one, that makes things difficult. The term “rapture” was used in a couple of Bible commentaries in the mid-1700's, but John Nelson Darby was the first to use the term pre-tribulation rapture in 1827. He is known as the “father of dispensationalism.” He divided up Biblical history into periods, or dispensations, according to how he thought God dealt with mankind. His last dispensation included the final period of judgment included in he Book of Revelation. His thinking seemed to be that a merciful God wouldn’t let His church live through all that awful judgment, so He would somehow take it out of the way before it started. No mention seemed to be made of all the suffering martyrs down through the centuries that gave the ultimate sacrifice for their faith, but somehow didn’t deserve to be “taken out of the way.” It appears that the concept of the rapture has been in the church only for about three hundred years and is based on some very sketchy thinking at best. Verses of Scripture that the church uses today to justify that concept actually apply to the Great Tribulation of 66-73 C.E. and/or the Second Coming of Yeshua.
Lk. 21:28 “And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your head, for your redemption draws night.”
Mt. 24:32a “Now learn a parable of the fig tree.”
Mk. 13:28a “Now learn a parable of the fig tree.”
Lk. 21:29 And He spoke a parable to them: “Behold the fig tree, and all the trees.”
Mt. 24:32b When his branch is yet tender, and puts forth leaves, you know that summer is near.”
Mk. 13:28b “When her branch is yet tender, and puts forth leaves, you know that summer is near.”
Lk. 21:30 “When they now shoot forth, you see and know of your selves that summer is now at hand.”
Mt. 24:33 “So likewise you, when you shall see all these things, know that it is near, even at the door.”
Mk. 13:29 “So you in like manner, you shall see these things come to pass, know it is near, even at the door.”
Lk. 21:31 “So likewise you, when you see these things come to pass, know you that the Kingdom of God is near at hand.”
Yeshua was very plain in His warnings both to His disciples and the people around Him. Most of them came straight out of the Scriptures and should have been recognized.
Mt. 24:34 “Verily I say to you, this generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled.”
Mk. 13:30 “Verily I say to you, that this generation shall not pass, till all these things be done.”
Lk. 21:32 “Verily, I say to you, this generation shall not pass away, till all be fulfilled.”
The generation the Yeshua is talking about is the forty years coming immediately after His crucifixion (33-73 C.E.). Masada would mark the final event in His prophecy. Attached is a chronology of That Generation and is filled with wars, famine, death and destruction. .
Mt. 24:35 “Heaven and earth shall pass away, by My words shall not pass away.”
Mk. 13:31 “Heaven and earth shall pass away, but My words shall not pass away.”
His words would not pass away because they would physically come to fruition. The last seven years constituting the Great Tribulation would be “hell on earth” for the Jewish people, simply because they refused to heed His words. Yeshua chooses this segment with teaching by parables, just as all the Rabbis did. But, as plain as the lessons were, they were simply ignored
Mt. 24:36 “But of that day and hour knows no man, no, not the angels of Heaven, but My Father only.”
Mk. 13:32 “But of that day and that hour knows no man, no, not the angels which are in Heaven, neither the Son, but the Father.”
The disciples had asked the question “when.” Yeshua did give them an answer of sorts, as far as the time period. But, they had a work to do after He was gone, so they needed to concentrate on that.
Mk. 13:33 “Take heed, watch and pray, for you know not when the time is.”
Mk. 13:34 “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.”
Mk. 13:35 “Watch you therefore; for you know not when the master of the house comes at even or at midnight, or at the cockcrowing, or in the morning.”
Mk. 13:36 “Lest coming suddenly he find you sleeping.”
Mk. 13:37 “And what I say to you, I say to all, watch!”
Watch, but keep busy doing the work of the Kingdom of God!
Mt. 24:37 “But as the days of Noah were, so shall also the coming of the Son of Man be.”
Mt. 24:38 “For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the Ark.”
Mt. 24:39 “And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of Man be.”
For those who do not believe, life will go on as normal. This is the way it will be down through history. Even though today are believing a false concept of some kind of rapture, Yeshua did say that He would come back a second time. When He does, those who are looking for Him are waiting. Those who are unbelievers will find out too late that their unbelief will belief will be their judge..
Mt. 24:40 “Then shall two be left in the field; the one shall be taken, and the on left.”
Mt. 24:41 “Two women shall be grinding o the mill; the one shall be taken, and the other left.”
Mt. 24:42 “Watch therefore; for you know not what hour your Lord comes:
In these three verses Yeshua tries to emphasize the horror that is coming on Israel. Verses 40 and 41 have nothing to do with the rapture theory. During the war of the Great Tribulation, approximately half of Israel’s population was either killed or taken into captivity. This is the meaning of those verses.
Mt. 24:43 “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 into.”
Mt. 24:44 “Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as you think not the Son of Man comes.”
Yeshua keeps stressing this, probably because He knows what is coming upon Israel.
Mt. 24:45 “Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his Lord had made ruler over his household, to give them meat in the due season?”
Mt. 24:46 “Blessed is that servant, what his Lord when he comes shall find him so doing.”
Mt. 24:47 “Verily, I say to you, that he shall make him ruler over all his people.”
Mt. 24:48 “But, and if that evil servant shall say in his heart, my lord delays his coming.”
Mt. 24:49 “And shall begin to smite his fellow servants, and to eat and drink with the drunken;”
Mt. 24:50 “The lord of hat servant shall come in a day when he looks not for him, and in an hour that he is not aware of.”
Mt. 24:51 “And shall cut him asunder , and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”
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