The Desolation of Jerusalem and The Coming of

The Desolation of Jerusalem and The Coming of the Son of Man Matthew 24; Mark 13; Luke 21

Three Views 1. All talking about the end of the world and the second coming 2. All talking about the destruction of Jerusalem 3. Talking about both the destruction of Jerusalem and the second coming

Apocalyptic Literature • A prophecy of an event which will soon take place. • A prophecy of an event in the distant future. • An exhortation to live faithfully for God.

Near and Far Prophecies • • • Some Ezekiel -- Restoration of Israel and Future Temple Daniel -- Chiasmus of Nebuchadnezzar and Future Kingdoms Joel -- Locust Plague and Outpouring of Spirit Zechariah -- Rebuilding Temple and Coming of Messiah Revelation -- Destruction of Rome and Second Coming

The Setting Matt. 24: 1 -3; Mark 13: 1 -4; Luke 21: 5 -7 • The disciples pointed out the stones and buildings of the temple: “What wonderful…” • Jesus said, “You see all these things, do you not? Truly, I say to you, there will not be left here one stone upon another, that will not be thrown down. ” • Then they went to the Mount of Olives where the disciples asked him two questions.

Two Questions • “When will these things be? ” – Destruction of the Temple • “What will be the sign … Matthew Mark Luke of your advent [parousia] and of the full end of the age? ” – Second Coming when these things are all to be fully ended? ” – Both – S. C. & D. O. T. when these things are about to happen? ” – Destruction of the Temple

Daniel 9: 27 b LXX • “… and on the temple [the] abomination of desolation will be until [the] full end; and [a] full end will be given on the desolator. ” • Based on this scripture the disciples apparently thought that the temple would be destroyed at the end of the world.

Synoptic Differences • Matthew alternates blocks of destruction of the temple and the second coming • Mark interweaves the two themes • Luke moves most of the second coming material to Luke 17: 22 -37

Matthew’s Blocks 24: 4 -8 24: 9 -25 24: 26 -28 24: 29 24: 30 -33 24: 34 24: 35 -25: 46 Not Second Coming Destruction of the Temple Not Second Coming After Destruction of the Temple Second Coming

Warnings About Misunderstanding Matthew 24: 4 -14; Mark 13: 5 -13; Luke 21: 8 -19 • Against Being Led Astray – Wars, earthquakes, famines, plagues – “The end is not yet” – “The beginning of birth pangs” • Against Falling Away – persecution – love grow cold

Call for Endurance • Matt. 24: 13 — “But he who endures to the end will be saved. ” • v. 14 – “And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached throughout the whole world, as a testimony to all nations; and then the end will come. ”

Abomination of Desolation Matt. 24: 15 -16; Mark 13: 14; Luke 21: 20 • When you see (in the lifetime of apostles) • The abomination of desolation (the hated thing that destroys) (Luke: armies [neu. pl. ] surrounding Jerusalem) • Standing in a holy place (holy ground-NAB) (not “the holy place” in the temple) • where they [neu. pl. ] must not (Mark; ASV he) • Spoken of by Daniel (9: 27; 12: 11) • Then FLEE

The Armies Surrounding Jerusalem • In AD 66 the Jews rebelled against Rome. • The Roman general Cestius Gallus surrounded Jerusalem with the 12 th Legion. • They pushed to the temple gates before retreating. • The Jews destroyed the retreating 12 th Legion. • The Christians fled to Pella.

Great Tribulation Matt. 24: 16 -22; Mark 13: 15 -20; Luke 21: 21 -24 • This will be the time of the Great Tribulation -- no other time like it – Don’t try to save possessions – Woe to the pregnant and nursing – Pray not in winter or on sabbath – Shortened for the sake of the elect – Don’t believe “Here is the Christ” – False Christ and false prophets

Tribulation in Jerusalem A. D. 70 • Three Rival Messiahs – In temple, city, and outside • Food destroyed – Burnt each other’s grain • Robber bands abound – Broke into people’s houses – Beat them if they had food or if they didn’t

Tribulation in Jerusalem A. D. 70 (cont. ) • No way to escape – Arrows shot at those escaping – Syrian forces met and disemboweled escapees looking for gold coins • Woman ate her own child – Mary daughter of Eleazar from Bethezob – Roasted and ate her infant son • A million Jews died; 90, 000 captives

The Parousia Matt. 24: 23 -28; Mark 13: 21 -23 • Presence; arrival; advent • Technical term for the second coming • Christ not in the inner room • Christ not in the wilderness • As obvious as lightning in the sky • As obvious as vultures circling a dead body

The Coming of the Son of Man Matt. 24: 29 -31; Mark 13: 24 -27; Luke 21: 25 -28 • Immediately after that tribulation – signs in the sun and moon and stars – symbolic for political upheaval (Isaiah 13: 1, 10, 17; Ezekiel 32: 2, 7, 11) • Then they will see (not apostles) – The sign = the Son of man in heaven – Answer to the second question

The Coming of the Son of Man • On the clouds of heaven – Clouds are a symbol of divinity – Ex. 16: 10; 19: 9; 34: 5; Num. 11: 25; 12: 5; Is. 19: 1; Ezek. 30: 3; Dan. 7: 10 -13 • With power and great glory • Send out His angels • With a loud trumpet call – I Thess. 4: 16; I Cor. 15: 52 • They will gather his elect (II Thess. 2: 1)

Symbolic or Second Coming? • Not Symbolic for Jesus coming in destruction on Jerusalem • The coming happens “after the tribulation of those days” • Same coming as Matthew 25: 31 – “When the Son of man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne. ”

Parable of the Fig Tree Matt. 24: 32 -33; Mark 13: 28 -29; Luke 21: 29 -31 • When you see fig leaves – Summer is near • When all these things happen – He is near (Luke: the kingdom of God) • Note that all these things do NOT include the second coming; they precede and point to it Fig leaves All these things Summer is near He is near

Statements about Time Matt. 24: 34 -36; Mark 13: 30 -32; Luke 21: 32 -35 • This generation [the people then alive] will not pass away until all these things happen – Not include the second coming – Answer to the First Question • Of that day and hour [when heaven and earth pass away] no one knows, except the Father – It will come “upon all who dwell upon the face of the whole earth” (Luke 21: 35).

Exhortation to Watch Matt. 24: 37 -25: 46; Mark 13: 33 -37; Luke 21: 36 • Like days of Noah • People unaware • So we must be ready • He will come when we do not expect • Mark concludes with Jesus saying, “What I say to you I say to all: Watch. ”