Matthew 24: the End of the World or Jerusalem's Fall?

     While Jesus and his disciples were in Jerusalem, the Lord predicted the demolition of the Jewish temple (Matt. 24:1-2). Apparently the disciples assumed the destruction would take place when the Lord returned for judgment, because they asked the following two questions: "tell us, when will these things be?" (i.e. the desolation of the temple); "and what will be the sign of your coming, and of the end of the age?" (v. 3).¹

     Jesus answers their first question, concerning the temple’s destruction, in verses 4-34. Note: "assuredly, I say to you, this generation will by no means pass away till all these things are fulfilled" (v. 34). [These things were in fact fulfilled about forty years later.] Jesus then answers their second question, about the end of the age, in verses 35-51. Notice carefully the words "these things" and "those days" (vv. 3, 6, 8, 19, 22, 29, 33, 34) in contrast to "that day" (v. 36).

     Before the complexities of this passage are considered, let’s note some interesting historical facts. 1. False christs and false prophets (vv. 4-5, 23-26): Josephus recorded over seventy who claimed to be the messiah prior to the AD 70 devastation of Jerusalem (see Ant. 20.5.1; 20.8.10; Wars 2.13.4-6; cf. Acts 5:36-37). 2. Wars, famines, earthquakes, etc. (vv. 6-8): From AD 68-69, four Roman emperors were killed; there were civil wars in Rome which spread throughout the empire; Acts 11:28 records a worldwide famine; pestilence and earthquakes are certainly not phenomena peculiar to modern times (cf. Matt. 27:54; 28:2; Acts 16:26). 3. Persecution (v. 9): This was obviously taking place prior to Jerusalem’s siege (Acts 7:59; 12:1-2; 1 Pet. 2:19-21; et al.). 4. Betrayal and lawlessness (vv. 10-12): When the Roman armies besieged Jerusalem, the Jews inside the walls turned against each other (cf. Josephus, Wars 2.13). 5. He who endures to the end shall be saved (v. 13): Over 1 million Jews were killed in Jerusalem’s fall, but there is no record of a single Christian losing his life during this tragedy; when the Christians saw the signs of which Jesus spoke, they fled to Pella for safety.

     6. The gospel will be preached in all the world before the end (v. 14): Colossians 1:5-6, 23 (written prior to AD 70) mentions the gospel having been preached in all the world. 7. The "abomination of desolation" (v. 15): Luke says this was preceded by Jerusalem being surrounded by armies (Luke 21:20). 8. Judeans escaping to the mountains, etc. (vv. 16-20): These verses simply cannot refer to the end of the world; the emphasis is on the urgency and the difficulty of fleeing to safety from the region where Jerusalem was located. 9. Great tribulation, etc. (vv. 21-22): Josephus vividly described the horrific events of Jerusalem’s desolation, including such abominations as starving mothers eating their own children. However, the siege of the Romans did not last long enough to spread to the places where Christians had fled. 10. The coming of the Son of Man (v. 27): Considering the context, this symbolically describes the Lord coming in judgment against Jerusalem (cf. Isa. 13:6; 19:1).² 11. Eagles (or vultures) gathering around a carcass (v. 28): This is another symbolic description of national Judaism’s death as the Roman armies gather together against the principal city. 12. The parable of the fig tree (vv. 32-33): Just like they saw the signs of a fig tree and knew that summer was near, they could also know that the destruction of Jerusalem was near by the signs of which Jesus spoke. 13. All these things to be fulfilled during the generation of these disciples (v. 34): There can be no doubt that the events Jesus describes in the previous verses have reference to something that was going to take place in the first century AD. 14. There will be no signs pointing to the end of the world; it will be sudden and unexpected (vv. 35-51).

     The primary difficulty involves interpreting verses 29-31. If these words are taken literally, Jesus seems to be picturing the end of the world. But note the transition into symbolic imagery in vv. 27-28. When the immediate context is considered, as well as the common figurative language used in the Bible to depict God’s judgment on a nation (see The Day of the Lord), there is no need to force a literal interpretation on this section. Remember that Jesus’ original audience was Jewish and therefore familiar with Jewish apocalyptic literature where these symbols are common. From a first-century Jewish perspective, what would these symbols have conveyed?

     Constellations falling from heaven (v. 29) symbolize the fall of prominent powers (cf. Isa. 13:1-11; 14:4-12; 34:1-5; Luke 10:18). The phrase "Son of Man coming" (vv. 27, 30) does not always portray his literal second coming but sometimes refers to the Lord coming representatively (cf. Isa. 13:5; 19:1). In Matt. 10:23 the Son of Man was to "come" before his contemporary disciples had personally gone through the cities of Israel. Matt. 16:28 describes the Son of Man "coming in his kingdom" before some of his contemporary disciples had died (cf. Mark 9:1; Col. 1:13). Similarly, Matt. 24:27-30 figuratively describes his coming judgment on Jerusalem. Because of the Lord’s accurate predictions of this devastating event, everyone would know that this was his judgment against the unbelieving Jews.

     Jesus "coming on the clouds" is also symbolic in this context (cf. Isa. 19:1; Jer. 4:13; Psa. 68:4,34 [KJV]; 104:3; Matt. 26:64), describing his swift judgment. Verse 31 probably illustrates God’s providential care, protecting his righteous ones during Jerusalem’s siege. Angels are agents of God’s providence (Psa. 91:11; Heb. 1:13-14). Trumpets are symbols of sounding out warning (Num. 10:1-10; Jer. 4:5; 6:17; Zeph. 1:16; 1 Cor. 14:8). The word "heaven" is sometimes used to symbolize that which is widespread throughout the lands (cf. Deut. 30:4; Neh. 1:9; Isa.13:5).

     Despite the exegetical challenges of this passage, here are some important lessons to be learned: (a) the divine foreknowledge of Jesus; (b) the obvious historical fulfillment of the Lord’s detailed predictions, proving the reality of predictive prophecy and divine inspiration of scripture; (c) God’s providential care for his people (cf. Rom. 8:28); (d) with the Lord’s help, the gospel can be preached in all the world (Matt. 28:18-20); and (e) he who endures to the end shall be saved (cf. Heb. 3:14; 6:11-12; 10:35-36; Rev. 2:10).

     Admittedly portions of Matthew 24 are hard to understand. The difficulty intensifies when one is unfamiliar with the overall context of scripture and is laded with preconceived misunderstandings. But the important thing, whether or not one ever grasps the full meaning of this and related passages, is the paramount question: Are you ready to meet the Lord in the final judgment, whenever that may be?

–Kevin L. Moore

Endnotes:

     ¹ Unless otherwise noted, all scripture quotations are from the NKJV. See also the parallel accounts: Mark 13:1-37 and Luke 21:5-38. It was Peter, James, John and Andrew who asked the Lord these questions in private (Mark 13:3).
     ² See The Day of the Lord. 

Related Posts: Biblical Interpretation: Asking the Right Questions, Preterism (Part 4)

Related Articles: Donald Taylor's Apocalyptic Literature

Image credit: http://planbox.files.wordpress.com/2012/11/end-of-the-times.jpg

The Day of the Lord

      While the return of Christ is sometimes referred to as "the day of the Lord" (2 Pet. 3:10), the same expression is used elsewhere in scripture with reference to several other days of the Lord’s judgment. It is a mistake to overlook the historical and literary contexts in which this phrase is so often used.

     1. Babylon (Isaiah 13:1-22). This was a message of doom against Babylon (vv. 1, 19), delivered around 700 BC. It was called "the day of the Lord" (vv. 6, 9). The instrument of the Lord’s judgment was "from a far country" (v. 5), identified as "the Medes" (v. 17). It cannot refer to the final day of the Lord, since "everyone will flee to his own land" (v. 14), even the children will suffer (vv. 16, 18), houses will be plundered and wives ravished (v. 16), etc. The heavenly bodies failing to give light (v. 10) symbolically depicts this as a dark, terrible day of destruction. These symbols are no more literal than the statement, "every man’s heart will melt" (v. 7). This prophecy was fulfilled in 538 BC.

     2. Edom or Idumea (Isaiah 34:5-12; Obadiah 1-21). Isaiah describes the destruction of Edom as "the day of the Lord’s vengeance" (34:8). Obadiah calls it "the day of the Lord" (15). After suffering intensely at the hands of the Babylonians, the Edomites were driven out of their homeland by the Nabatean Arabs during the 4th century BC. They were forced to adopt Judaism by John Hyracanus in 120 BC, and had vanished from history before the end of the 1st century AD. These prophecies were fulfilled.

     3. Northern-Israel (Amos 5:1-27). This message concerns the punishment of the northern kingdom of Israel, described as "the day of the Lord" (vv. 18, 20). This prophecy was fulfilled in 722 BC when the Assyrians led Israel away into captivity.

     4. Southern-Judah. Because of their wickedness, the southern kingdom of Judah was to be punished, along with the destruction of their principal city, Jerusalem. The Babylonians were the instruments of God’s judgment, and this was described by Jeremiah as "the day of the Lord’s anger" (Lam. 1:12; 2:1, 21-22); by Ezekiel as "the day of the wrath of the Lord" (7:19) and "the day of the Lord" (13:5); and by Zephaniah as "the day of the Lord"(1:7), "the great day of the Lord" (1:14-18), and "the day of the Lord’s anger" (2:2-3). This judgment was accomplished around 586 BC.

     5. Egypt (Jer. 46:1-28; Ezekiel 29:1 - 32:32). The Lord’s judgment against Egypt was called by Ezekiel, "the day of the Lord" (30:3), and by Jeremiah, "the day of the Lord God of hosts" (46:10). The instrument of God’s wrath was identified as Nebuchadnezzar and the Babylonians (Jer. 46:2, 13, 26; Ezek. 30:10). This was fulfilled in 568 BC.

     6. Jerusalem. Having been rebuilt after the Babylonian exile, Jerusalem (the center of Judaism) was destined to be destroyed again, this time by the Romans in AD 70. Zechariah called it "the day of the Lord," when "all nations" [Rome = the world empire] were to gather "against Jerusalem to battle" (14:1-2). Joel also called it "the day of the Lord" (1:15; 2:1, 11, 31; 3:14). This judgment was to be against "the inhabitants of the land" (1:2, 14; 2:1), the city of Zion (2:1, 9, 15), and the temple (1:9, 13-16); and the New Jerusalem or spiritual Israel was to emerge for all nations (2:27; 3:17-21; cf. Gal. 6:15-16; Heb. 12:22-23). When was this to occur? In Acts 2:16-21 Peter quotes Joel 2:28-32 and applies it to events that were taking place as he spoke. The Spirit was poured out on the Jewish apostles in AD 30 (Acts 2:1 ff.) and on Gentile men and women approximately ten years later (Acts 10:1-48), and Jerusalem was destroyed by the Romans in AD 70, thus completing the fulfillment of Joel's prophecy. Malachi foretold that before "the great and dreadful day of the Lord," Elijah would come to help the Jews "remember the law of Moses" and to restore family relationships (4:1-6). This was fulfilled in John the baptist (Luke 1:16-17; Matt. 3:1 ff.; etc.), about forty years prior to Jerusalem’s destruction. 


     7. Christ’s return (Acts 17:31; Rom. 2:5; 1 Cor. 1:8; 5:5; 2 Cor. 1:14; Phil. 1:6, 10; 2:16; 1 Thess. 5:2; 2 Thess. 2:2; 1 Pet. 2:12; 2 Pet. 2:9; 3:7-12; 1 John 4:17; et al.). This has yet to be accomplished, but with the proven track record of the fulfillment of the other days of the Lord, we can have confidence that this one will also certainly come to pass!


Addendum: Symbolism of God’s Past Judgments
    

     When the violent overthrow of a nation was predicted in the OT and was referred to as the day of the Lord’s judgment, common symbols were used to vividly describe the event. When the sun, moon, and stars were said to be darkened, this figuratively depicted God’s judgment as a dark day of despair (Isa. 13:10; Amos 5:8, 18, 20; Lam. 3:2, 6; Zeph. 1:15; Ezek. 30:18; 32:7-8; Zech. 14:6; Joel 2:2, 10, 31). Earthquakes and constellations falling from heaven symbolized divine judgment and the fall of a powerful nation (Isa. 13:13; 34:4; Ob. 4; Lam. 2:1; Joel 2:10). Fire and blood were common symbols of devastation (Isa. 13:8; 34:3-10; Ob. 18; Amos 5:6; Lam. 1:13; 2:3, 4; 4:11, 13, 14; Zeph. 1:17,18; Jer. 46:10; Ezek. 30:8, 14, 16; 32:6; Joel 1:19-20; 2:3, 5, 30, 31; Mal. 4:1). Since the first six "days of the Lord" mentioned above have all been fulfilled in history, it is a mistake to literalize the symbolism of these prophecies and to ignore their immediate and historical contexts.

--Kevin L. Moore

Related Posts: Matthew 24: End of the World or Jerusalem's Fall?, Ezekiel's "Wheels"

Related articles: Neal Pollard's Things that won't be at the Judgment

Image credit: http://endtimepilgrim.org/dotl.jpg

The Kingdom of God (Part 3 of 3)

The Approaching Kingdom:

     In preparing the way for Christ, John the baptizer proclaimed: “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand” (Matt. 3.2).* Jesus preached the same message: “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand” (Matt. 4.17); “surely the kingdom of God has come upon you” (Matt. 12.28); “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand . . .” (Mark 1.15). Jesus said to his contemporary disciples: “Assuredly, I say to you that there are some standing here who will not taste death till they see the kingdom of God present with power” (Mark 9.1; cf. Matt. 16.28; Luke 9.27).

     During the ministries of John the baptizer and Jesus, the kingdom was at hand. The kingdom was to be fully realized during the lifetime of Christ’s 1st-century disciples. The kingdom was to come with power. When Peter confessed that Jesus is “the Christ, the Son of the living God” (Matt. 16.16), upon that solid foundation Jesus promised to build his church (v. 18). The Lord’s very next statement to Peter was: “And I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven . . .” (v. 19). Why did Jesus promise to build his “church” and then immediately mention the “kingdom”?  Either he was abruptly changing subjects or there is a connection between the church and the kingdom.

The Kingdom Realized:

     Between his resurrection and ascension, Jesus spent nearly six weeks speaking to his apostles “of things pertaining to the kingdom of God” (Acts 1:1-3). He commanded them to wait in Jerusalem “for the promise of the Father,” and they would receive “power” when the Holy Spirit had come upon them (vv. 4, 8). N.B. The kingdom was to come with “power” (Mark 9:1) in Jerusalem (Isa. 2:3). In Acts 2 the Lord’s promise to them was fulfilled, and Peter stood with the eleven and began to preach the gospel (v. 14). N.B. Peter had been promised “the keys of the kingdom” (Matt. 16:19). Keys are a means of entrance, and when Peter preached the gospel and his hearers obeyed it, they were “added” to the community of the saved, i.e. the church (vv. 41, 47). 

     From Acts 2 onwards we read of the existence and growth of the church (5:11; 8:1, 3; etc.), proclaimed as “the kingdom of God” (8.12; 19.8; 20.25; 28.23, 31), into which penitent baptized believers enter and serve (2.38, 41, 47; 8.12; 14.21-22; cf. John 3.5; Col. 1.13; 4.11). In Col. 1.13 Paul writes: “He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love.” The apostle John was “in the kingdom” and affirmed that the Lord “has made us to be a kingdom . . .” (Rev. 1.6, 9; 5.10 NASB). 

     Christ is now reigning in his kingdom (Acts 2.30-36; Rom. 15.12; 1 Cor. 15.24-25; 1 Tim. 6.13-16) and all Christians are citizens of it (Eph. 2.19). It is not a physical kingdom “of this world” (John 18.36) but is a spiritual kingdom, governed from heaven, that will be delivered to God the Father when Christ comes again (1 Cor. 15.23-25).

     Citizenship in God’s kingdom is actualized when one’s sins are forgiven (Col. 1.12-14; Rev. 1.5-6) and is maintained by faithful and holy living (Rom. 14.16-17; 1 Cor. 4.20; 6.9-10; Gal. 5.21; Eph. 5.5; 1 Thess. 2.12; James 2.5; 2 Pet. 1.10-11). Note the connection between church/kingdom in Matt. 16.18-19; Col. 1.13, 18; Heb. 12.23, 28. Note also the connection between suffering in this life and being part of God’s kingdom (Acts 14.22; 2 Thess. 1.4-5; Rev. 1.9). Those who are now citizens of God’s kingdom have an inheritance in the future heavenly kingdom (1 Cor. 15.50; 2 Tim. 4.1, 18; 2 Pet. 2.11).

Conclusion:

     An important aspect of the message of missions is the gospel of the kingdom of God. This was the message preached by John the baptizer, Jesus, the apostles, and early evangelists. The kingdom of God is synonymous with God’s sovereign rule, but only those who accept and submit to the Lord’s reign can comprehend, enter, and comprise God’s spiritual kingdom. This spiritual kingdom is variously designated as the kingdom of heaven, of God, and of Christ.

     The sovereignty of God, having been challenged by Satan and rejected by men through the ages, was to be established on earth by way of the Messiah and his kingdom – prophesied throughout the Old Testament. During the earthly ministry of Jesus, the kingdom was said to be “at hand,” “upon you,” and ready to be realized during the lifetime of Christ’s contemporary disciples; it was to come with “power” and Peter would be given its “keys.”

     On the day of Pentecost (Acts 2) the power was demonstrated by the Holy Spirit and Peter preached the gospel, through which obedient hearers were added to the community of the saved. The kingdom of God is the church into which all penitent baptized believers (purified of sin) enter and obtain heavenly citizenship. This spiritual kingdom will last beyond this life on into the eternal heavenly kingdom of God.

--Kevin L. Moore

*Unless otherwise noted, all scripture quotations are from the NKJV.

Related Posts: Kingdom of God Part 1, Part 2, The Meek Shall Inherit the Earth, And With Many Other Words, The Church of the NT

Related Articles: FHU's Kingdom journal 1:1, 1:2; Stan Mitchell's The Kingdom

Image credit: https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2IpAooxCEhDdh_JyNQjq3P0gcs2ak8CHErLGRhepzsCGf3LSwndUQwMxb2-mcqphCixAXW766r4_ks5FeAhFx7mvuLJd0SRRtfxMo-zLpmgTpB9YhyphenhyphenS7bECS8JaCy7pzaMRnLMV2PoVc/s1600/sunrise.png