(Re: Was not Noah in the ark *7 days before the Flood?)
If you think that Noah's Flood is analogous to the future Tribulation (instead of Jesus Christ's future, Second Coming), and that days are analogous to years, are you saying that the rapture of the Church will occur seven years before the Tribulation? If so, why would that be, instead of the same day that the Tribulation starts, like how Noah went into the ark (for the last time) "in the selfsame day" that the Flood started (Genesis 7:11-17)? Luke 17:27 similarly shows that the Flood started the same day that Noah entered the ark (for the last time).
Or, if you think that Noah's Flood is analogous to Jesus Christ's Second Coming, then why cannot the rapture (the gathering together of the Church to Jesus) be the same day as the Second Coming, "immediately after" the future Tribulation of Revelation chapters 6 to 18 and Matthew 24 (Matthew 24:29-31; 2 Thessalonians 2:1-8; 1 Thessalonians 4:15-17, Revelation 19:7 to 20:6)?
Genesis 7:2-10 shows that Noah spent the seven days before the Flood gathering all of the different animals into the ark. So Genesis 7:11-17 simply means that the entering of the animals was completed the same day that the Flood started. Since the analogy in Luke 17:26-37 and Matthew 24:37-41 compares the Flood to Jesus Christ's Second Coming (Luke 17:30, Matthew 24:37b,39b), which Jesus had just finished saying will not happen until immediately after the future Tribulation (Matthew 24:29-30), Genesis 7:2-10 could have typified the "fulness of the Gentiles being come in" (Romans 11:25b) to salvation by the end of the (possibly seven-year: Daniel 9:27) future Tribulation which will immediately precede the Second Coming (Matthew 24:29-31), the Second Coming being when all of the still-living, unsaved elect genetic Israelites will become saved (Romans 11:25-29).
(See also Genesis 7:9 above, and Romans 11:25 below)
~
(Re: By what criteria is someone either taken or left?)
The Bible does not say by what criteria Jesus Christ will, at His future, Second Coming, determine which non-Christians will be "taken" somewhere to be killed by Jesus Himself (Luke 17:36-37, Revelation 19:21), and which non-Christians will be "left" alive where they are, in order to enter the future Millennium (Zechariah 14:16-19). His criteria might have nothing to do with any differences between the individual people, just as, for example, King David's criteria for determining which individual Moabites were killed, and which were left alive, had nothing to do with any differences between the individuals (2 Samuel 8:2); and just as (in a different context, regarding who is elect or nonelect) a potter's criteria for determining which part of a lump of clay to make a vessel unto honor (analogous to the elect), and which part of that same lump of clay to make another vessel unto dishonor (analogous to the nonelect), is not based on any differences between the two parts of that same lump of clay (Romans 9:21, Romans 3:23).
~
(Re: Is there a difference between people who are simply non-Christians, and those who are evil and God-hating?)
No, for all non-Christians are evil (Romans 3:10), and God-hating (cf. Proverbs 8:36), whether they consciously realize it or not; just as even all Christians who are disobedient to God without repentance are evil (Matthew 25:26), and God-hating (John 14:24), whether they consciously realize it or not.
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*Luke 17:29 / *Lk. 17:29 -
(Re: Destroyed / G0622 = annihilation?)
No, see Luke 13:3(space) above.
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*Luke 17:31 / *Lk. 17:31 -
This, like Luke 21:28, can refer to what Christians should do when the signs accompanying Jesus Christ's future, post-tribulation Second Coming begin to occur (Luke 21:25-28, Matthew 24:29-30), just as Luke 21:25-27 can refer to how non-Christians will react when they see these signs (Matthew 24:29-30).
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*Luke 17:37 / *Lk. 17:37 -
(Re: Are the *eagles Christians, like in Isaiah 40:31, Psalms 103:5, and Ezekiel 1:10?)
No, Luke 17:37b refers not to Christians, but to literal eagles. Also, Luke 17:37b refers to the same thing as Matthew 24:28, which shows that the "body" is a "carcase", a dead body, a "ptoma" (G4430) in the original Greek, which is used to refer only to a dead body (Matthew 14:12, Mark 6:29, Mark 15:45, Revelation 11:8-9). Luke 17:37b and Matthew 24:28 refer back to Job 39:30b, and mean that where a killed body is, there literal eagles will come and eat it. This it what will happen to the bodies of the non-Christians who will be killed by Jesus Christ Himself at His future, Second Coming (Revelation 19:21), just as Luke 17:37b refers to what will happen at the Second Coming (Luke 17:30).
It was probably because literal eagles eat dead bodies that literal eagles were called "an abomination" in Leviticus 11:13. Regarding Isaiah 40:31, it does not mean that Christians will become literal eagles, but only that they can become "as" eagles with regard to the ability of eagles to renew their strength. Regarding Psalms 103:5, it also does not mean that Christians will become literal eagles, but only that they can become "like" eagles with regard to the ability of eagles to "renew their youth", which could be figurative of an ability to renew their strength. Regarding Ezekiel 1:10, it is not referring to humans, but to one type of the literal, angelic beings called cherubims (Ezekiel 10, see especially verse 14).
~
(Re: Does Luke 17:37b refer to those "left"?)
No, for in Luke 17:37, Jesus Christ is answering where the one taken will be taken, not where the one left will be left. For Jesus had already said where the people will be before one is taken and one is left (Luke 17:34-36). The ones taken will be taken to where they will be killed by Jesus Himself, and birds will eat their dead bodies (Matthew 24:28, cf. Job 39:30b; Revelation 19:21).
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*Luke 18:10-14 / *Lk. 18:10 -
See Luke 17:10 above.
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*Luke 18:19 / *Lk. 18:19 -
See Matthew 19:17 above.
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*Luke 18:35 / *Lk. 18:35 -
Here the original Greek word (eis: G1519) translated as "unto" can mean as Jesus came near "by" (Acts 27:2) a blind man next to Jericho, yet still on Jesus' way out of Jericho (Mark 10:46).
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*Luke 19:17-19 / *Lk. 19:17 -
Even though this is part of a parable, its principle of Jesus Christ giving obedient Christians rulership over parts of the earth will still be fulfilled literally, after Jesus physically returns from heaven and sets up the Millennial aspect of His Kingdom (Luke 19:15); just as verses like Revelation 2:26-29, Revelation 5:10, Revelation 20:4-6, Matthew 19:28, Luke 22:30, Zechariah 14:8-21, Psalms 72:8-11, Psalms 66:3-4, and Micah 4:1-4 will be fulfilled at that time.
(See paragraphs 3-5 of Acts 1:6 below. Also, see the "Millennium" sections of Revelation 20:4 below)
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*Luke 19:27 / *Lk. 19:27 -
Jesus Christ is the king in the parable of Luke 19:27. But Luke 19:27 will not occur until He physically returns from heaven and finally-judges Christians of all times (Luke 19:15-27).
~
(Re: Are not Christians commanded to slay the enemies of Jesus?)
God forbid. What you are proposing is an awful, "Christian" version of Islamic "jihad" (a so-called "holy war"). Instead, Luke 19:27b is not a commandment to Christians. For they are commanded elsewhere never to harm anyone, even in self-defense (Matthew 5:39,44, Romans 13:10, Matthew 7:12, Matthew 26:52; 2 Corinthians 10:3-5). So Luke 19:27b must jump ahead to when Jesus Christ will send forth His angels to cast all non-Christians of all times into the eternal suffering of the lake of fire and brimstone (Matthew 13:40-42, Revelation 20:15, Revelation 14:10-11). And this will not occur until over 1,000 years after Jesus' future, Second Coming (Revelation 19:7 to 20:15).
(See also Matthew 5:39 above)
~
(Re: What about at Jesus' Second Coming?)
Luke 19:27 is only a parable. Its details are not meant to be read as contradicting that at Jesus Christ's future, Second Coming, He alone will tread the winepress (Isaiah 63:3). He alone will be the one who will defeat the world's armies, who will have gathered together against YHWH God (Revelation 19:15-21, Revelation 16:14).
(See also Daniel 12:7b above)
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*Luke 19:40 / *Lk. 19:40 -
See the "Consciousness" section of 1 Thessalonians 5:23 below.
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*Luke 19:41,44 / *Lk. 19:41 -
This can refer to the same, never-fulfilled destruction as Matthew 24:2.
(See Matthew 24:2(space) above)
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*Luke 19:44 / *Lk. 19:44 -
The destruction of Jerusalem in 70 AD did not fulfill Luke 19:44. For the stones of the Wailing Wall (also called the Western Wall) of the Temple Mount in Jerusalem still stand today one on top of the other, just as they did when Jesus Christ spoke this prophecy at His first coming, in the first century AD. Instead, Luke 19:44 could be fulfilled at the very end of the future Tribulation of Revelation chapters 6 to 18 and Matthew 24, right before and at Jesus' Second Coming (Zechariah 14:2-21, Revelation 19:7 to 20:6).
(See also Matthew 24:2(space) above)
~
(They shall not leave in thee one stone upon another)
Note that nothing requires that the "not one stone" part of Luke 19:44 is hyperbole, just as nothing requires that the "not one" part of Romans 3:12, Luke 12:6, or Matthew 18:10 is hyperbole.
~
(Re: Is not "thou knewest not the time of thy visitation" why we must avoid literalism?)
No, see John 12:15 below. Or, see section 2 of Luke 3:4 above.
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*Luke 20:35 / *Lk. 20:35 -
This is not contradicting that there will be mortal, married, unresurrected non-Christians in the current age's (or world's) final stage, which will be the future Millennium (Zechariah 14:16-19).
(See also section 2 of Ephesians 1:21 below. And see Mark 10:30 above)
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*Luke 21:1-6 / *Lk. 21:1 -
(Re: Means that Luke 21:5-6 cannot include the Wailing Wall?)
It can. For Matthew 24:1-2 and Mark 13:1-3 show that Jesus Christ had exited the second Jewish temple complex by the time of Matthew 24:1-2 and Mark 13:1-3.
(See also Matthew 24:2(space) above)
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*Luke 21:5-6 / *Lk. 21:5 -
This passage, like its parallel passages (Mark 13:1-2, Matthew 24:1-2), can refer to the stones of the entire second Jewish temple complex in Jerusalem, including its Wailing Wall, also called the Western Wall.
In Luke 21:5 the original Greek word (kalos: G2570) translated as "goodly" (in reference to the temple's stones) can mean "beautiful" (Strong's Greek Dictionary). At the time of Jesus Christ's first coming, even the huge stones of the temple's Wailing Wall could have been quite beautiful, polished to an amazing, gleaming perfection. Compare the disciples' exclamation: "see what manner of stones... are here!" (Mark 13:1).
In Luke 21:5 the original Greek word (anathema: G0334) translated as "gifts" can mean "a votive offering" (Strong's Greek Dictionary), which would include prayers, for they can be offered (Hebrews 5:7). And the Greek word is derived from another Greek word (anatithemai: G0394) which can mean to "communicate" (Galatians 2:2). Even today, Jews (and sometimes Christians) stick little pieces of paper with prayer requests between the stones of the temple's Wailing Wall, hoping that this will help them to communicate with God. At the time of Jesus Christ's first coming, the Jews could have also placed, as gifts to the temple, beautiful plaques of silver and gold inscribed with prayers high up on the wall.
(See also section 2 of Matthew 24:2(space) above)
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*Luke 21:8 / *Lk. 21:8 -
This, like Mark 13:5-6 and Matthew 24:4-5, refers to individuals falsely claiming to be Christ (Matthew 24:24).
~
(Re: Very few have come saying that they are Jesus Christ)
Matthew 24:24 has not happened yet, and note that a false Christ does not have to claim to be "Jesus" Christ.
For example, the Antichrist's future, one-world religion could have both a false Christ, and a separate, false Jesus.
(See Revelation 13:4 below)
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*Luke 21:12 / *Lk. 21:12 -
(Synagogues)
This can refer to long "before" the future Tribulation of Luke 21, Mark 13, Matthew 24, and Revelation chapters 6-18. That is, the "synagogues" part of Luke 21:12 can refer to the persecution of Christians by Jews in the first century AD (Acts 13:14,45,50, Acts 9:22-23, Acts 17:1-13, Acts 14:1-5, Acts 14:19; 1 Thessalonians 2:14).
Also, Luke 21:12, like Mark 13:9, can include a future, Jewish persecution of Christians who will be living in southern Israel (Judaea) during the first half of the future Tribulation. At that time, Christians (whether Jews or Gentiles) could be beaten in ultra-Orthodox synagogues for trying to preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ there. And even today, Christian proselytism is outlawed throughout Israel.
(See also Matthew 24:16, Matthew 24:19, and Matthew 24:20 above. And see section 4 of Romans 11:28 below)
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*Luke 21:18 / *Lk. 21:18 -
This does not require physical protection. For Jesus Christ had just said: "some of you shall they cause to be put to death" (Luke 21:16). So Luke 21:18 can include the hairs of martyred Christians (of all times), which will not perish in the sense that even their hairs will be resurrected into immortality when their bodies are resurrected into immortal flesh at Jesus' future, Second Coming, just as Jesus' body was resurrected into immortal flesh on the third day after His death (Luke 24:39,46; 1 Corinthians 15:3-4,21-23,51-53, Philippians 3:21, Romans 8:23-25, Revelation 19:7 to 20:6).
(See also Luke 10:19 above)
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*Luke 21:20 / *Lk. 21:20 -
When Jesus Christ says: "ye shall see Jerusalem compassed with armies" (Luke 21:20), He is referring to the first part of Daniel 11:31: "And arms shall stand on his part". And when Jesus says: "the desolation" in Luke 21:20, He is referring to the "abomination of desolation" part of Daniel 11:31, just as in Matthew 24:15, He is referring to the "abomination of desolation" part of Daniel 11:31.
So Luke 21:20-23 is not referring to 70 AD, nor (as is sometimes claimed) to the pillaging of Jerusalem which will occur at the very end of the future Tribulation of Revelation chapters 6 to 18, Matthew 24, Luke 21, and Mark 13, right before Jesus Christ's future, Second Coming to save Jerusalem in Zechariah 14. Instead, Luke 21:20-23 is referring to what will happen at the midpoint of the future Tribulation, when the future Antichrist will antitypically fulfill Daniel 11:31 at the start of his future, literal 3.5-year worldwide reign (Revelation 13:4-18), during which 3.5 years, Jerusalem will be trodden down by the non-Christian Gentiles (Revelation 11:2b), which future treading down is what Luke 21:24 is referring to.
(See also Daniel 11:31 above)
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*Luke 21:21 / *Lk. 21:21 -
(Judaea)
See Matthew 24:16 above.
~
The original Greek word (chora: G5561) translated as "countries" can mean "region" (Luke 3:1).
--
*Luke 21:23 / *Lk. 21:23 -
(Re: Fulfilled in 70 AD?)
No, see Matthew 24(space) above.
~
Luke 21:23 relates to the land of Judaea (Luke 21:21).
(See Matthew 24:16 above)
--
*Luke 21:24 / *Lk. 21:24 -
(Re: *Titus)
Luke 21:24 was not fulfilled by Titus's armies in 70 AD. For Luke 21:24 refers to the same, future treading down underfoot (not merely an outside siege) of Jerusalem by the Gentiles as Revelation 11:2b, during the future Antichrist's literal 42-month worldwide reign (Revelation 13:5-18), which time period is shown from four different angles in Revelation chapters 11 to 14 (Revelation 11:2b-3, Revelation 12:6,14, Revelation 13:5,7, Revelation 14:9-13).
(See the next section)
~
(*Times)
The treading down of Jerusalem during the "times" (Greek: kairos: G2540) of the Gentiles in Luke 21:24 refers to what will occur during certain years in our future, the same "times" (kairos: G2540), or years, referred to in Revelation 12:14b, during which non-Christian Gentiles will tread down Jerusalem as part of the future Antichrist's literal 3.5-year worldwide reign (Revelation 11:2b, Revelation 13:5-18), during the second half of the future Tribulation of Revelation chapters 6 to 18, Matthew 24, Luke 21, and Mark 13.
Similarly, when the apostle Paul says: "until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in" (Romans 11:25), he means until a full number of genetic Gentile individuals have become Christians, which will not happen until near the end of the future Tribulation, right before Jesus Christ's future, Second Coming (Romans 11:26).
(See paragraphs 2-5 of the "fulness" part of Romans 11:25 below. Also, see Ezekiel 21:27 above)
~
(Sword)
The "sword" in Luke 21:24 could include the modern bayonet. Also, "sword" could be used figuratively in the sense of any weapon, just as, for example, the truth of the adage: "The pen is mightier than the sword" applies to any physical weapon, not just a sword. Similarly, "the pen" applies to any form of written speech (words/ideas), not just those written down with a literal pen.
~
(Re: The times of the nations/peoples)
In Luke 21:24b the original Greek word (ethnos: G1484) translated as "Gentiles" can be translated as "nations" (Luke 21:25) or "peoples" (cf. Romans 10:19).
--
*Luke 21:25-27 / *Lk. 21:25 -
(Re: Does this contradict Luke 17:26-30?)
No, for Luke 17:26-30 means that non-Christians will not be worried about any future, Second Coming of Jesus Christ until it takes them by surprise. And Luke 21:25-27 means that they will become horribly worried only when the signs accompanying the Second Coming (in Luke 21:27) actually begin to happen, immediately after the future Tribulation of Revelation chapters 6 to 18, Luke 21, Mark 13, and Matthew 24 (Matthew 24:29-30).
(See also Matthew 24:37 above)
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*Luke 21:27-28 / *Lk. 21:27 / *Lk. 21:28 -
Luke 21:28 shows that the Church's rapture will be at Jesus Christ's future, Second Coming (in Luke 21:27). For the rapture will be the time of obedient Christians' ultimate redemption (Romans 8:23-25; 1 Corinthians 15:21-23,51-53; 1 Thessalonians 4:14-18).
Luke 21:27 refers to the same Second Coming of Jesus Christ as Matthew 24:30, Revelation 19:7 to 20:6, and Zechariah 14:3-21, which will not occur until "immediately after" (Matthew 24:29) the future Tribulation of Matthew 24, Luke 21, Mark 13, and Revelation chapters 6 to 18, including after a future pillaging of Jerusalem which will occur at the very end of the Tribulation, right before Jesus Himself returns and saves the Jews in Jerusalem, destroys the world's armies, which came against Jerusalem, and sets up the capital of the Millennial aspect of His Kingdom in Jerusalem (Zechariah 14, Micah 4:1-4).
So Luke 21:28 refers only to the signs which will accompany Jesus Christ's future, Second Coming (Luke 21:25-27, Matthew 24:29-30), not to the events which will occur during the preceding Tribulation (Luke 21:8-24).
~
(See)
In Luke 21:27 the original Greek word (optanomai: G3700) translated as "see" means to literally see with one's eyes. Compare its use in John 16:19-22, which meant that the apostles of Jesus Christ at His first coming would not literally see Him while they sorrowed while His body lay dead in the tomb, but they would literally see Him and rejoice at His physical resurrection on the third day after His death (Luke 24:39,46).
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*Luke 21:29 / *Lk. 21:29 -
(*All the trees)
Here the original Greek word (pas: G3956) translated as "all" does not have to mean absolutely all, but can mean "all manner of" (Acts 10:12). And, indeed, not all trees are deciduous, so Luke 21:30 would not apply to absolutely all trees. Also, in prophecy, various trees can represent nations (Ezekiel 31). So Luke 21:29 can refer figuratively to the nations (including Israel) which gained or regained independence after World War II. Also, "these things" in Luke 21:31 include the never-fulfilled, worldwide events of Luke 21:25-26,35, which must occur right before Jesus Christ's future, Second Coming (Luke 21:27, Matthew 24:29-31) and His establishment of the physical aspect of God's Kingdom on the earth during the subsequent Millennium (Revelation 20:4-6, Zechariah 14:3-21).
(See also Matthew 24:34 above)
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*Luke 21:31 / *Lk. 21:31 -
This refers to some signs by which people might know that the coming of the Millennial Kingdom of Jesus Christ (Revelation 20:4-6), which He will establish after His future, Second Coming (Revelation 19:11 to 20:6), is near from the viewpoint of humans.
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*Luke 21:32 / *Lk. 21:32 -
See Matthew 24:34 above.
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*Luke 21:34 / *Lk. 21:34 -
The original Greek word (bareo: G0916) translated as "overcharged" can mean "burdened" (2 Corinthians 5:4).
The Greek word (kraipale: G2897) translated as "surfeiting" can refer to gluttony or debauchery.
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*Luke 21:36 / *Lk. 21:36 -
(*Escape)
This does not require a pre-tribulation rapture. For some in the Church will escape all of the future Tribulation of Revelation chapters 6 to 18, Matthew 24, Mark 13, and Luke 21 by dying before it begins (Isaiah 57:1). And others in the Church will escape all of it by being physically protected on the earth during it (Revelation 12:14-16, Psalms 91). Those who will escape the Tribulation by dying before it begins will stand before the Lord Jesus Christ in heaven (cf. Philippians 1:21,23; 2 Corinthians 5:8). And those who will escape the Tribulation by being miraculously protected on the earth during it will stand before the Lord in the sky at the rapture (1 Thessalonians 4:17), which will not occur until immediately after the Tribulation (Matthew 24:29-31; 2 Thessalonians 2:1-8; Revelation 19:7 to 20:6).
(See also the "Protection" section of Revelation 7:4 below. And see Matthew 24:31 above)
~
(Re: So should we pray that we die?)
No, Christians should not pray that they die, but that they will escape the future Tribulation (Luke 21:36). But they should pray this realizing that if their prayer is granted, it will not mean that they will be raptured into the third heaven before the Tribulation.
~
(Watch)
See the "Watching" section of Matthew 24:36 above.
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*Luke 22:30 / *Lk. 22:30 -
See Matthew 19:28 above.
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*Luke 22:32 / *Lk. 22:32 -
This means that God can give Christians the ability to continue in the faith. But He does not take away their free will. So it is possible for them to wrongly employ their free will to commit apostasy (Luke 8:13; 1 Timothy 4:1; 2 Timothy 4:3-4; 2 Thessalonians 2:3, Hebrews 3:12, Matthew 13:21), to the ultimate loss of their salvation (Hebrews 6:4-8, John 15:6; 2 Timothy 2:12b, Mark 8:35-38, Hebrews 10:38-39, Matthew 24:9-13).
(See also Hebrews 6:4 below)
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Dec 6, 2018
If you think that Noah's Flood is analogous to the future Tribulation (instead of Jesus Christ's future, Second Coming), and that days are analogous to years, are you saying that the rapture of the Church will occur seven years before the Tribulation? If so, why would that be, instead of the same day that the Tribulation starts, like how Noah went into the ark (for the last time) "in the selfsame day" that the Flood started (Genesis 7:11-17)? Luke 17:27 similarly shows that the Flood started the same day that Noah entered the ark (for the last time).
Or, if you think that Noah's Flood is analogous to Jesus Christ's Second Coming, then why cannot the rapture (the gathering together of the Church to Jesus) be the same day as the Second Coming, "immediately after" the future Tribulation of Revelation chapters 6 to 18 and Matthew 24 (Matthew 24:29-31; 2 Thessalonians 2:1-8; 1 Thessalonians 4:15-17, Revelation 19:7 to 20:6)?
Genesis 7:2-10 shows that Noah spent the seven days before the Flood gathering all of the different animals into the ark. So Genesis 7:11-17 simply means that the entering of the animals was completed the same day that the Flood started. Since the analogy in Luke 17:26-37 and Matthew 24:37-41 compares the Flood to Jesus Christ's Second Coming (Luke 17:30, Matthew 24:37b,39b), which Jesus had just finished saying will not happen until immediately after the future Tribulation (Matthew 24:29-30), Genesis 7:2-10 could have typified the "fulness of the Gentiles being come in" (Romans 11:25b) to salvation by the end of the (possibly seven-year: Daniel 9:27) future Tribulation which will immediately precede the Second Coming (Matthew 24:29-31), the Second Coming being when all of the still-living, unsaved elect genetic Israelites will become saved (Romans 11:25-29).
(See also Genesis 7:9 above, and Romans 11:25 below)
~
(Re: By what criteria is someone either taken or left?)
The Bible does not say by what criteria Jesus Christ will, at His future, Second Coming, determine which non-Christians will be "taken" somewhere to be killed by Jesus Himself (Luke 17:36-37, Revelation 19:21), and which non-Christians will be "left" alive where they are, in order to enter the future Millennium (Zechariah 14:16-19). His criteria might have nothing to do with any differences between the individual people, just as, for example, King David's criteria for determining which individual Moabites were killed, and which were left alive, had nothing to do with any differences between the individuals (2 Samuel 8:2); and just as (in a different context, regarding who is elect or nonelect) a potter's criteria for determining which part of a lump of clay to make a vessel unto honor (analogous to the elect), and which part of that same lump of clay to make another vessel unto dishonor (analogous to the nonelect), is not based on any differences between the two parts of that same lump of clay (Romans 9:21, Romans 3:23).
~
(Re: Is there a difference between people who are simply non-Christians, and those who are evil and God-hating?)
No, for all non-Christians are evil (Romans 3:10), and God-hating (cf. Proverbs 8:36), whether they consciously realize it or not; just as even all Christians who are disobedient to God without repentance are evil (Matthew 25:26), and God-hating (John 14:24), whether they consciously realize it or not.
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*Luke 17:29 / *Lk. 17:29 -
(Re: Destroyed / G0622 = annihilation?)
No, see Luke 13:3(space) above.
--
*Luke 17:31 / *Lk. 17:31 -
This, like Luke 21:28, can refer to what Christians should do when the signs accompanying Jesus Christ's future, post-tribulation Second Coming begin to occur (Luke 21:25-28, Matthew 24:29-30), just as Luke 21:25-27 can refer to how non-Christians will react when they see these signs (Matthew 24:29-30).
--
*Luke 17:37 / *Lk. 17:37 -
(Re: Are the *eagles Christians, like in Isaiah 40:31, Psalms 103:5, and Ezekiel 1:10?)
No, Luke 17:37b refers not to Christians, but to literal eagles. Also, Luke 17:37b refers to the same thing as Matthew 24:28, which shows that the "body" is a "carcase", a dead body, a "ptoma" (G4430) in the original Greek, which is used to refer only to a dead body (Matthew 14:12, Mark 6:29, Mark 15:45, Revelation 11:8-9). Luke 17:37b and Matthew 24:28 refer back to Job 39:30b, and mean that where a killed body is, there literal eagles will come and eat it. This it what will happen to the bodies of the non-Christians who will be killed by Jesus Christ Himself at His future, Second Coming (Revelation 19:21), just as Luke 17:37b refers to what will happen at the Second Coming (Luke 17:30).
It was probably because literal eagles eat dead bodies that literal eagles were called "an abomination" in Leviticus 11:13. Regarding Isaiah 40:31, it does not mean that Christians will become literal eagles, but only that they can become "as" eagles with regard to the ability of eagles to renew their strength. Regarding Psalms 103:5, it also does not mean that Christians will become literal eagles, but only that they can become "like" eagles with regard to the ability of eagles to "renew their youth", which could be figurative of an ability to renew their strength. Regarding Ezekiel 1:10, it is not referring to humans, but to one type of the literal, angelic beings called cherubims (Ezekiel 10, see especially verse 14).
~
(Re: Does Luke 17:37b refer to those "left"?)
No, for in Luke 17:37, Jesus Christ is answering where the one taken will be taken, not where the one left will be left. For Jesus had already said where the people will be before one is taken and one is left (Luke 17:34-36). The ones taken will be taken to where they will be killed by Jesus Himself, and birds will eat their dead bodies (Matthew 24:28, cf. Job 39:30b; Revelation 19:21).
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*Luke 18:10-14 / *Lk. 18:10 -
See Luke 17:10 above.
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*Luke 18:19 / *Lk. 18:19 -
See Matthew 19:17 above.
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*Luke 18:35 / *Lk. 18:35 -
Here the original Greek word (eis: G1519) translated as "unto" can mean as Jesus came near "by" (Acts 27:2) a blind man next to Jericho, yet still on Jesus' way out of Jericho (Mark 10:46).
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*Luke 19:17-19 / *Lk. 19:17 -
Even though this is part of a parable, its principle of Jesus Christ giving obedient Christians rulership over parts of the earth will still be fulfilled literally, after Jesus physically returns from heaven and sets up the Millennial aspect of His Kingdom (Luke 19:15); just as verses like Revelation 2:26-29, Revelation 5:10, Revelation 20:4-6, Matthew 19:28, Luke 22:30, Zechariah 14:8-21, Psalms 72:8-11, Psalms 66:3-4, and Micah 4:1-4 will be fulfilled at that time.
(See paragraphs 3-5 of Acts 1:6 below. Also, see the "Millennium" sections of Revelation 20:4 below)
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*Luke 19:27 / *Lk. 19:27 -
Jesus Christ is the king in the parable of Luke 19:27. But Luke 19:27 will not occur until He physically returns from heaven and finally-judges Christians of all times (Luke 19:15-27).
~
(Re: Are not Christians commanded to slay the enemies of Jesus?)
God forbid. What you are proposing is an awful, "Christian" version of Islamic "jihad" (a so-called "holy war"). Instead, Luke 19:27b is not a commandment to Christians. For they are commanded elsewhere never to harm anyone, even in self-defense (Matthew 5:39,44, Romans 13:10, Matthew 7:12, Matthew 26:52; 2 Corinthians 10:3-5). So Luke 19:27b must jump ahead to when Jesus Christ will send forth His angels to cast all non-Christians of all times into the eternal suffering of the lake of fire and brimstone (Matthew 13:40-42, Revelation 20:15, Revelation 14:10-11). And this will not occur until over 1,000 years after Jesus' future, Second Coming (Revelation 19:7 to 20:15).
(See also Matthew 5:39 above)
~
(Re: What about at Jesus' Second Coming?)
Luke 19:27 is only a parable. Its details are not meant to be read as contradicting that at Jesus Christ's future, Second Coming, He alone will tread the winepress (Isaiah 63:3). He alone will be the one who will defeat the world's armies, who will have gathered together against YHWH God (Revelation 19:15-21, Revelation 16:14).
(See also Daniel 12:7b above)
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*Luke 19:40 / *Lk. 19:40 -
See the "Consciousness" section of 1 Thessalonians 5:23 below.
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*Luke 19:41,44 / *Lk. 19:41 -
This can refer to the same, never-fulfilled destruction as Matthew 24:2.
(See Matthew 24:2(space) above)
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*Luke 19:44 / *Lk. 19:44 -
The destruction of Jerusalem in 70 AD did not fulfill Luke 19:44. For the stones of the Wailing Wall (also called the Western Wall) of the Temple Mount in Jerusalem still stand today one on top of the other, just as they did when Jesus Christ spoke this prophecy at His first coming, in the first century AD. Instead, Luke 19:44 could be fulfilled at the very end of the future Tribulation of Revelation chapters 6 to 18 and Matthew 24, right before and at Jesus' Second Coming (Zechariah 14:2-21, Revelation 19:7 to 20:6).
(See also Matthew 24:2(space) above)
~
(They shall not leave in thee one stone upon another)
Note that nothing requires that the "not one stone" part of Luke 19:44 is hyperbole, just as nothing requires that the "not one" part of Romans 3:12, Luke 12:6, or Matthew 18:10 is hyperbole.
~
(Re: Is not "thou knewest not the time of thy visitation" why we must avoid literalism?)
No, see John 12:15 below. Or, see section 2 of Luke 3:4 above.
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*Luke 20:35 / *Lk. 20:35 -
This is not contradicting that there will be mortal, married, unresurrected non-Christians in the current age's (or world's) final stage, which will be the future Millennium (Zechariah 14:16-19).
(See also section 2 of Ephesians 1:21 below. And see Mark 10:30 above)
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*Luke 21:1-6 / *Lk. 21:1 -
(Re: Means that Luke 21:5-6 cannot include the Wailing Wall?)
It can. For Matthew 24:1-2 and Mark 13:1-3 show that Jesus Christ had exited the second Jewish temple complex by the time of Matthew 24:1-2 and Mark 13:1-3.
(See also Matthew 24:2(space) above)
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*Luke 21:5-6 / *Lk. 21:5 -
This passage, like its parallel passages (Mark 13:1-2, Matthew 24:1-2), can refer to the stones of the entire second Jewish temple complex in Jerusalem, including its Wailing Wall, also called the Western Wall.
In Luke 21:5 the original Greek word (kalos: G2570) translated as "goodly" (in reference to the temple's stones) can mean "beautiful" (Strong's Greek Dictionary). At the time of Jesus Christ's first coming, even the huge stones of the temple's Wailing Wall could have been quite beautiful, polished to an amazing, gleaming perfection. Compare the disciples' exclamation: "see what manner of stones... are here!" (Mark 13:1).
In Luke 21:5 the original Greek word (anathema: G0334) translated as "gifts" can mean "a votive offering" (Strong's Greek Dictionary), which would include prayers, for they can be offered (Hebrews 5:7). And the Greek word is derived from another Greek word (anatithemai: G0394) which can mean to "communicate" (Galatians 2:2). Even today, Jews (and sometimes Christians) stick little pieces of paper with prayer requests between the stones of the temple's Wailing Wall, hoping that this will help them to communicate with God. At the time of Jesus Christ's first coming, the Jews could have also placed, as gifts to the temple, beautiful plaques of silver and gold inscribed with prayers high up on the wall.
(See also section 2 of Matthew 24:2(space) above)
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*Luke 21:8 / *Lk. 21:8 -
This, like Mark 13:5-6 and Matthew 24:4-5, refers to individuals falsely claiming to be Christ (Matthew 24:24).
~
(Re: Very few have come saying that they are Jesus Christ)
Matthew 24:24 has not happened yet, and note that a false Christ does not have to claim to be "Jesus" Christ.
For example, the Antichrist's future, one-world religion could have both a false Christ, and a separate, false Jesus.
(See Revelation 13:4 below)
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*Luke 21:12 / *Lk. 21:12 -
(Synagogues)
This can refer to long "before" the future Tribulation of Luke 21, Mark 13, Matthew 24, and Revelation chapters 6-18. That is, the "synagogues" part of Luke 21:12 can refer to the persecution of Christians by Jews in the first century AD (Acts 13:14,45,50, Acts 9:22-23, Acts 17:1-13, Acts 14:1-5, Acts 14:19; 1 Thessalonians 2:14).
Also, Luke 21:12, like Mark 13:9, can include a future, Jewish persecution of Christians who will be living in southern Israel (Judaea) during the first half of the future Tribulation. At that time, Christians (whether Jews or Gentiles) could be beaten in ultra-Orthodox synagogues for trying to preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ there. And even today, Christian proselytism is outlawed throughout Israel.
(See also Matthew 24:16, Matthew 24:19, and Matthew 24:20 above. And see section 4 of Romans 11:28 below)
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*Luke 21:18 / *Lk. 21:18 -
This does not require physical protection. For Jesus Christ had just said: "some of you shall they cause to be put to death" (Luke 21:16). So Luke 21:18 can include the hairs of martyred Christians (of all times), which will not perish in the sense that even their hairs will be resurrected into immortality when their bodies are resurrected into immortal flesh at Jesus' future, Second Coming, just as Jesus' body was resurrected into immortal flesh on the third day after His death (Luke 24:39,46; 1 Corinthians 15:3-4,21-23,51-53, Philippians 3:21, Romans 8:23-25, Revelation 19:7 to 20:6).
(See also Luke 10:19 above)
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*Luke 21:20 / *Lk. 21:20 -
When Jesus Christ says: "ye shall see Jerusalem compassed with armies" (Luke 21:20), He is referring to the first part of Daniel 11:31: "And arms shall stand on his part". And when Jesus says: "the desolation" in Luke 21:20, He is referring to the "abomination of desolation" part of Daniel 11:31, just as in Matthew 24:15, He is referring to the "abomination of desolation" part of Daniel 11:31.
So Luke 21:20-23 is not referring to 70 AD, nor (as is sometimes claimed) to the pillaging of Jerusalem which will occur at the very end of the future Tribulation of Revelation chapters 6 to 18, Matthew 24, Luke 21, and Mark 13, right before Jesus Christ's future, Second Coming to save Jerusalem in Zechariah 14. Instead, Luke 21:20-23 is referring to what will happen at the midpoint of the future Tribulation, when the future Antichrist will antitypically fulfill Daniel 11:31 at the start of his future, literal 3.5-year worldwide reign (Revelation 13:4-18), during which 3.5 years, Jerusalem will be trodden down by the non-Christian Gentiles (Revelation 11:2b), which future treading down is what Luke 21:24 is referring to.
(See also Daniel 11:31 above)
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*Luke 21:21 / *Lk. 21:21 -
(Judaea)
See Matthew 24:16 above.
~
The original Greek word (chora: G5561) translated as "countries" can mean "region" (Luke 3:1).
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*Luke 21:23 / *Lk. 21:23 -
(Re: Fulfilled in 70 AD?)
No, see Matthew 24(space) above.
~
Luke 21:23 relates to the land of Judaea (Luke 21:21).
(See Matthew 24:16 above)
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*Luke 21:24 / *Lk. 21:24 -
(Re: *Titus)
Luke 21:24 was not fulfilled by Titus's armies in 70 AD. For Luke 21:24 refers to the same, future treading down underfoot (not merely an outside siege) of Jerusalem by the Gentiles as Revelation 11:2b, during the future Antichrist's literal 42-month worldwide reign (Revelation 13:5-18), which time period is shown from four different angles in Revelation chapters 11 to 14 (Revelation 11:2b-3, Revelation 12:6,14, Revelation 13:5,7, Revelation 14:9-13).
(See the next section)
~
(*Times)
The treading down of Jerusalem during the "times" (Greek: kairos: G2540) of the Gentiles in Luke 21:24 refers to what will occur during certain years in our future, the same "times" (kairos: G2540), or years, referred to in Revelation 12:14b, during which non-Christian Gentiles will tread down Jerusalem as part of the future Antichrist's literal 3.5-year worldwide reign (Revelation 11:2b, Revelation 13:5-18), during the second half of the future Tribulation of Revelation chapters 6 to 18, Matthew 24, Luke 21, and Mark 13.
Similarly, when the apostle Paul says: "until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in" (Romans 11:25), he means until a full number of genetic Gentile individuals have become Christians, which will not happen until near the end of the future Tribulation, right before Jesus Christ's future, Second Coming (Romans 11:26).
(See paragraphs 2-5 of the "fulness" part of Romans 11:25 below. Also, see Ezekiel 21:27 above)
~
(Sword)
The "sword" in Luke 21:24 could include the modern bayonet. Also, "sword" could be used figuratively in the sense of any weapon, just as, for example, the truth of the adage: "The pen is mightier than the sword" applies to any physical weapon, not just a sword. Similarly, "the pen" applies to any form of written speech (words/ideas), not just those written down with a literal pen.
~
(Re: The times of the nations/peoples)
In Luke 21:24b the original Greek word (ethnos: G1484) translated as "Gentiles" can be translated as "nations" (Luke 21:25) or "peoples" (cf. Romans 10:19).
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*Luke 21:25-27 / *Lk. 21:25 -
(Re: Does this contradict Luke 17:26-30?)
No, for Luke 17:26-30 means that non-Christians will not be worried about any future, Second Coming of Jesus Christ until it takes them by surprise. And Luke 21:25-27 means that they will become horribly worried only when the signs accompanying the Second Coming (in Luke 21:27) actually begin to happen, immediately after the future Tribulation of Revelation chapters 6 to 18, Luke 21, Mark 13, and Matthew 24 (Matthew 24:29-30).
(See also Matthew 24:37 above)
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*Luke 21:27-28 / *Lk. 21:27 / *Lk. 21:28 -
Luke 21:28 shows that the Church's rapture will be at Jesus Christ's future, Second Coming (in Luke 21:27). For the rapture will be the time of obedient Christians' ultimate redemption (Romans 8:23-25; 1 Corinthians 15:21-23,51-53; 1 Thessalonians 4:14-18).
Luke 21:27 refers to the same Second Coming of Jesus Christ as Matthew 24:30, Revelation 19:7 to 20:6, and Zechariah 14:3-21, which will not occur until "immediately after" (Matthew 24:29) the future Tribulation of Matthew 24, Luke 21, Mark 13, and Revelation chapters 6 to 18, including after a future pillaging of Jerusalem which will occur at the very end of the Tribulation, right before Jesus Himself returns and saves the Jews in Jerusalem, destroys the world's armies, which came against Jerusalem, and sets up the capital of the Millennial aspect of His Kingdom in Jerusalem (Zechariah 14, Micah 4:1-4).
So Luke 21:28 refers only to the signs which will accompany Jesus Christ's future, Second Coming (Luke 21:25-27, Matthew 24:29-30), not to the events which will occur during the preceding Tribulation (Luke 21:8-24).
~
(See)
In Luke 21:27 the original Greek word (optanomai: G3700) translated as "see" means to literally see with one's eyes. Compare its use in John 16:19-22, which meant that the apostles of Jesus Christ at His first coming would not literally see Him while they sorrowed while His body lay dead in the tomb, but they would literally see Him and rejoice at His physical resurrection on the third day after His death (Luke 24:39,46).
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*Luke 21:29 / *Lk. 21:29 -
(*All the trees)
Here the original Greek word (pas: G3956) translated as "all" does not have to mean absolutely all, but can mean "all manner of" (Acts 10:12). And, indeed, not all trees are deciduous, so Luke 21:30 would not apply to absolutely all trees. Also, in prophecy, various trees can represent nations (Ezekiel 31). So Luke 21:29 can refer figuratively to the nations (including Israel) which gained or regained independence after World War II. Also, "these things" in Luke 21:31 include the never-fulfilled, worldwide events of Luke 21:25-26,35, which must occur right before Jesus Christ's future, Second Coming (Luke 21:27, Matthew 24:29-31) and His establishment of the physical aspect of God's Kingdom on the earth during the subsequent Millennium (Revelation 20:4-6, Zechariah 14:3-21).
(See also Matthew 24:34 above)
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*Luke 21:31 / *Lk. 21:31 -
This refers to some signs by which people might know that the coming of the Millennial Kingdom of Jesus Christ (Revelation 20:4-6), which He will establish after His future, Second Coming (Revelation 19:11 to 20:6), is near from the viewpoint of humans.
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*Luke 21:32 / *Lk. 21:32 -
See Matthew 24:34 above.
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*Luke 21:34 / *Lk. 21:34 -
The original Greek word (bareo: G0916) translated as "overcharged" can mean "burdened" (2 Corinthians 5:4).
The Greek word (kraipale: G2897) translated as "surfeiting" can refer to gluttony or debauchery.
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*Luke 21:36 / *Lk. 21:36 -
(*Escape)
This does not require a pre-tribulation rapture. For some in the Church will escape all of the future Tribulation of Revelation chapters 6 to 18, Matthew 24, Mark 13, and Luke 21 by dying before it begins (Isaiah 57:1). And others in the Church will escape all of it by being physically protected on the earth during it (Revelation 12:14-16, Psalms 91). Those who will escape the Tribulation by dying before it begins will stand before the Lord Jesus Christ in heaven (cf. Philippians 1:21,23; 2 Corinthians 5:8). And those who will escape the Tribulation by being miraculously protected on the earth during it will stand before the Lord in the sky at the rapture (1 Thessalonians 4:17), which will not occur until immediately after the Tribulation (Matthew 24:29-31; 2 Thessalonians 2:1-8; Revelation 19:7 to 20:6).
(See also the "Protection" section of Revelation 7:4 below. And see Matthew 24:31 above)
~
(Re: So should we pray that we die?)
No, Christians should not pray that they die, but that they will escape the future Tribulation (Luke 21:36). But they should pray this realizing that if their prayer is granted, it will not mean that they will be raptured into the third heaven before the Tribulation.
~
(Watch)
See the "Watching" section of Matthew 24:36 above.
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*Luke 22:30 / *Lk. 22:30 -
See Matthew 19:28 above.
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*Luke 22:32 / *Lk. 22:32 -
This means that God can give Christians the ability to continue in the faith. But He does not take away their free will. So it is possible for them to wrongly employ their free will to commit apostasy (Luke 8:13; 1 Timothy 4:1; 2 Timothy 4:3-4; 2 Thessalonians 2:3, Hebrews 3:12, Matthew 13:21), to the ultimate loss of their salvation (Hebrews 6:4-8, John 15:6; 2 Timothy 2:12b, Mark 8:35-38, Hebrews 10:38-39, Matthew 24:9-13).
(See also Hebrews 6:4 below)
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