(Re: Was the Wailing Wall built later than thought? For coins stamped by a Roman proconsul twenty years after Herod the Great's death were found under the wall's lowest stones)
Note that Herod the Great died in 4 BC. So twenty years later would be 16 AD. Therefore, whoever built it, or whenever it was built, the Wailing Wall, also called the Western Wall, of the Temple Mount, existed at the time that Jesus Christ spoke Matthew 24, about 33 AD. And so "not one stone" in Matthew 24:2 remains unfulfilled.
(See section 1 of Matthew 24:2 above)
Also, note that the Jews would not make a meaningless wall their most holy place of worship on the earth.
Also, the coins could not have been found under the Wailing Wall of the Temple Mount. For the religious Jews would not permit any digging there. Instead, the coins could have been found by digging under a different wall, such as one at the southern end of the Temple Mount.
The only way for the archaeologists to dig under the Wailing Wall would be for them to enter in the dead of night with their picks and shovels into the synagogue just off the north end of the Wailing Wall. Then they would have to get through a locked, wrought-iron gate in the eastern wall of that synagogue. This gate blocks entrance to a tunnel running east under the Muslim Dome of the Rock on the center of the Temple Mount. Then the archaeologists would have to go into this tunnel a short distance and start digging a tunnel southward along the back side of the Wailing Wall. Then, after some distance, they would have to start digging downward through the dirt just east of the wall until they reached the bottom of the wall. Then they would have to start digging under the wall, literally "undermining" the holiest place of worship in the world left to the Jews. Then they would have to "discover" (instead of surreptitiously place) Roman coins of a certain date under the wall.
All this digging would outrage the religious Jews, who could not only demand a halt to the undermining of the Wailing Wall, but also demand that a permanent blockage be placed at the gate in the synagogue to the north of the Wailing Wall (if this has not already happened). Or, some ultra-Orthodox Jews in their rage at the defilement of the Wailing Wall and the Temple Mount (including by Muslims today) could in the dead of night break through the gate and use the tunnel behind it to detonate explosives beneath the Muslim Dome of the Rock, damaging it seriously enough so that it will be condemned by Israeli authorities as too dangerous to enter. The ultra-Orthodox Jews could then claim that this damage was "a holy mission from God" so that the Dome can be replaced by a third Jewish temple.
(See Revelation 11:1 below)
~
(Re: In Matthew 24:2, if Jesus had been talking about a future, third Jewish temple, would not He have just come out and said so, and not have *deceived the disciples like this?) / (*Deceit)
Note that there was no deceit. Jesus Christ just did not tell His disciples everything at that time (John 16:12-13), like He would later, in, for example, the Holy Spirit-inspired scriptures written by the apostles Paul and John.
(See Revelation 11:1 below)
~
(Re: Is not it delusional to pretend that the apostles at the time of the Olivet Discourse were talking about another, still-hypothetical Jewish temple some 2,000 years in the future?)
What matters is what Jesus Christ Himself meant by what He Himself says in the Bible (2 Peter 1:20).
(See Revelation 11:1 below)
--
*Matthew 24:3 / *Mt. 24:3 -
(Re: End of the *age)
Matthew 24:3 . . . what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world?
Here the original Greek word (aion: G0165) translated as "world" can also be translated as "age" (Ephesians 2:7, Colossians 1:26).
It is sometimes claimed that the end of the age refers to the end of the Old Covenant age in 70 AD. But the time of the letter of the Old Covenant Mosaic law ended not at the destruction of the second Jewish temple in Jerusalem in 70 AD, but decades earlier, at the moment that Jesus Christ died on the Cross (Matthew 27:50-51a) and abolished the letter of the Old Covenant Mosaic law (Ephesians 2:15-16, Colossians 2:14-17, Romans 7:6; 2 Corinthians 3:6-18, Hebrews 7:18-19), which was the same moment that He brought the New Covenant into effect (Matthew 26:28, Hebrews 9:15-17, Hebrews 10:19-20, Matthew 27:51a). So there was no transition period, no overlap at all (Hebrews 10:9b, Hebrews 7:12), between the time of the letter of the Old Covenant Mosaic law and the time of the New Covenant.
Also, while the apostles of the Church asked Jesus Christ about the end of the age (Matthew 24:3), He did not tell them that the end of the age would occur at the destruction of the second Jewish temple, or (as is sometimes claimed) before the future Tribulation of Matthew 24 and Revelation chapters 6 to 18, or even at the end of the Tribulation, that is, at Jesus' post-tribulation, Second Coming (Matthew 24:29-31), or when the end of the age would occur, just as Jesus did not tell His apostles other things during His ministry (John 16:12). It would not be until later that Jesus would show the apostle John, through the vision in the book of Revelation (given about 95 AD: Irenaeus, Against Heresies 5:30:3c), that the end of the age, when all non-Christians of all times will be cast into the eternal suffering of the lake of fire and brimstone (Matthew 13:40, Matthew 25:41, Revelation 20:15), will not occur until over 1,000 years after Jesus' future, Second Coming (Revelation 19:7 to 20:15).
(See also section 2 of Ephesians 1:21 below. And see section 2 of Hebrews 9:26 below)
--
*Matthew 24:4-5 / *Mt. 24:4 / *Mt. 24:5 -
See Luke 21:8 below.
--
*Matthew 24:6 / *Mt. 24:6 -
(The end)
This refers to the end of the future Tribulation of Matthew 24 and Revelation chapters 6 to 18.
(See also Matthew 24:3 above)
~
(Re: Preterism?)
Note that just because wars occurred in the first century AD after Jesus Christ spoke Matthew 24:6 does not make those wars the fulfillment of Matthew 24:6 any more than just because the worst wars in history occurred in the twentieth century AD does not make those wars the fulfillment of Matthew 24:6.
--
*Matthew 24:7-8 / *Mt. 24:7 -
(Re: Means that the Tribulation has started?)
No, see the "Details" section of Revelation chapters 6 to 22 (Overview) below.
~
(Re: Preterism?)
Note that just because the famine in Acts 11:28 occurred in the first century AD after Jesus Christ spoke Matthew 24:7 does not make that famine the fulfillment of the "famines" part of Matthew 24:7 any more than just because the worst famines in history occurred centuries later (such as the Great Chinese Famine and the Bengal Famine) does not make those famines the fulfillment of the "famines" part of Matthew 24:7.
Unprecedented famines could occur after the unprecedented war in Revelation 6:4-8 which will begin the future Tribulation of Revelation chapters 6 to 18 and Matthew 24.
(See the "famines" paragraph of the "War" section of Revelation 13:5 below)
~
(Re: Is not Matthew 24:7-8 happening now on a larger scale than ever in history, and getting worse every day?)
What wars are happening now and getting worse every day which are larger than World War II or World War I? And what famines are happening now and getting worse every day which are larger than the Great Chinese Famine or the Bengal Famine? And what epidemics are happening now and getting worse every day which are larger than the Spanish Flu Epidemic or the Black Death Epidemic? And what earthquakes are happening now and getting worse every day which are larger than the Shaanxi Earthquake or the Tangshan Earthquake?
~
(Re: Parallel to Revelation?)
Matthew 24:7-8 could include the war (Revelation 6:4), famine (Revelation 6:6,8), epidemics (Revelation 6:8, where beasts could include disease-causing animals such as bacteria), and earthquake (Revelation 6:12) of only the first stage of the future Tribulation of Revelation chapters 6 to 18.
But the Tribulation of Revelation chapters 6 to 18 (as opposed to Matthew 24:7-8, which could also include other wars, famines, epidemics, and earthquakes preceding Revelation 6:4-8), has not started yet. For it will start with the horrible war (and its aftermath of famines and epidemics) of the second through fourth seals (Revelation 6:4-8), which will end up killing one-fourth of the world (Revelation 6:8). The "great sword" of this war (Revelation 6:4) could be Israel's nuclear weapons.
(See the "War" section of Revelation 13:5 below)
--
*Matthew 24:9-13 / *Mt. 24:9 -
This refers to the future killing of Biblical Christians, whether Jews or Gentiles, those (not in hiding) who will be hated and killed for the name of Jesus Christ (Matthew 24:9) in every nation during the future, literal 3.5-year worldwide reign of the Antichrist (the individual-man aspect of Revelation's "beast") (Revelation 13:5-10, Revelation 14:12-13, Revelation 20:4-6). Matthew 24:9-13 shows that not all Christians will continue to love Jesus during that time, for some Christians' love for Him will grow cold because of their unrepentant sin (Matthew 24:12; 1 Timothy 4:1-2; 2 Timothy 4:3-4), and/or because they will become offended (Matthew 24:10) that He is letting them and their little ones suffer in the Tribulation (Matthew 13:21, Isaiah 8:21-22; 1 Peter 4:12-13). Only those Christians who continue to love Jesus to the end will be ultimately saved (Matthew 24:13, Matthew 10:37-39).
(See the "Dangerous" section of Matthew 24:31 below. Also, see Mark 13:9 and Revelation 13:4 below)
~
(Re: Is not Matthew 24:9 happening now on a larger scale than ever in history, and getting worse every day?)
What killings of Biblical Christians are happening now and getting worse every day which are larger than the Diocletianic Persecution or the Decian Persecution?
--
*Matthew 24:11 / *Mt. 24:11 -
(Re: Is not this happening now on a larger scale than ever in history, and getting worse every day?)
What false prophets are alive and operating publicly now and getting worse every day who are larger in importance than the false prophet Mohammed or the false prophet Nathan of Gaza?
--
*Matthew 24:13 / *Mt. 24:13 -
(The end)
See Matthew 24:6 above.
--
*Matthew 24:14 / *Mt. 24:14 -
Matthew 24:14a will be fulfilled when the Gospel of Jesus Christ will be preached to all nations during the future Tribulation (Revelation 14:6) of Matthew 24 and Revelation chapters 6 to 18. So "the end" in Matthew 24:14b means the end of the Tribulation.
~
(Re: But could not the "world" have meant the ancient Roman empire?)
In Matthew 24:14, while the original Greek word (oikoumene: G3625) translated as "world" could refer to the ancient Roman empire (Luke 2:1, Acts 24:5), it can also mean the entire planet. For just as Satan could have offered Jesus Christ more than just the Roman empire (Luke 4:5-7), and just as Satan has deceived more than just the Roman empire (Revelation 12:9), so Matthew 24:14 could mean that the Gospel of Jesus Christ has to reach more than just the Roman empire (Revelation 5:9, Revelation 7:9) before Matthew 24:15 (which is Daniel 11:31,36 and 2 Thessalonians 2:4) will be allowed to occur (2 Thessalonians 2:6-8). Matthew 24:15 did not occur in 70 AD, nor has it occurred at any time since then, just as Matthew 24:29-31 (which is 2 Thessalonians 2:1 and 1 Thessalonians 4:15-17) did not occur in 70 AD, nor has it occurred at any time since then.
--
*Matthew 24:15 / *Mt. 24:15 -
(Abomination of desolation / AOD)
Just as Matthew 24:2 was not fulfilled in 70 AD, because the Wailing Wall of the second Jewish temple-complex still stands, so Matthew 24:15 was not fulfilled in 70 AD.
In Matthew 24:15, Jesus Christ is referring to Daniel 11:31.
(See Daniel 11:31 above)
~
(Re: Was the AOD about Jesus' death?)
No, for the Church is commanded to flee Judaea (southern Israel) into the mountains when it sees the abomination of desolation (Matthew 24:15-16), whereas the Church was commanded to remain in Jerusalem after Jesus Christ's crucifixion and resurrection (Luke 24:49,52, Acts 1:4 to 2:47). The early Church even continued to worship God in the second Jewish temple in Jerusalem after Jesus' resurrection (Luke 24:53, Acts 2:46, Acts 22:17).
~
(Re: Is the AOD about the Wailing Wall?)
No, the abomination of desolation is about something (possibly a standing, android image of the future Antichrist) being placed in the specific "holy place" (the inner sanctum) of a future, Jewish temple in Jerusalem (Matthew 24:15, Daniel 11:31) shortly before the future Antichrist sits there (at least one time) and proclaims himself God (2 Thessalonians 2:4, Daniel 11:36). This could occur about four years before the Wailing Wall is destroyed at Jesus Christ's future, Second Coming).
(See paragraph 3 of Matthew 24:2 above)
~
(Re: Does the holy place not mean the temple, but the city of Jerusalem? For the Greek word "topos"/G5117, meaning place, was not used in the Septuagint to refer to the temple)
Note that it does not have to be used to refer to the temple in the Septuagint, which was only a man-made, Greek translation of the original, Hebrew scriptures, which could refer to the inner part of the temple as the holy (qodesh: H6944) place (e.g. Leviticus 16:2, Exodus 28:29, Exodus 28:35).
And the holy (hagios: G0040) place (topos: G5117) in Matthew 24:15 refers to the same, inner part of the Jewish temple as the holy place (hagion: G0039) in Hebrews 9:25, Hebrews 9:3, and Hebrews 9:8.
--
*Matthew 24:16 / *Mt. 24:16 -
(*Judaea / *Fleeing)
(See the "Fleeing" sections of Revelation 12:6 below)
Regarding "Judaea" (Matthew 24:16), this does not have to mean first century AD Judaea, for there are many churches in Judaea (southern Israel) still today. They contain mostly Gentile Christians, not just Jewish Christians. The Church began and has always been in Judaea: "Then had the churches rest throughout all Judaea" (Acts 9:31); "the churches of Judaea" (Galatians 1:22); "the churches... in Judaea" (1 Thessalonians 2:14). Matthew 24:16 refers to those in the Church, whether Gentiles or Jews, who will be living in Judaea at the future point in time when the abomination of desolation (possibly a standing, android image of the future Antichrist) is set up in the holy place (the inner sanctum) of a future, third Jewish temple in Jerusalem (Matthew 24:15, Daniel 11:31).
The future Antichrist's persecution of the Church could begin in Jerusalem and Judaea right after the abomination of desolation is set up and the Antichrist sits in the future temple (at least one time) and proclaims himself God (2 Thessalonians 2:4, Daniel 11:36). So to avoid this persecution (cf. Matthew 10:23a), those in the Church living in Judaea should flee immediately after they see the abomination of desolation set up (Matthew 24:15-16), which event could occur at the midpoint of the future Tribulation of Revelation chapters 6 to 18 and Matthew 24, and which event could mark the start of the Antichrist's literal 3.5-year worldwide reign (Revelation 13:4-18). Eventually, the Antichrist's persecution of the Church (not in hiding) will reach every nation (Revelation 13:7-10, Revelation 14:12-13, Revelation 20:4-6, Matthew 24:9-13). So the basic principle of Matthew 24:16 of fleeing (the Antichrist's persecution) would apply to Christians around the world.
Just as the woman in Revelation 12:6 represents different people in the Church around the world, so the protected wilderness place she flees to represents different, divinely-protected wilderness places around the world. When those in the Church living in Judaea see the abomination of desolation set up (Matthew 24:15), they should flee to places in the wilderness east of Judaea, in the mountains (Matthew 24:16) of Jordan. And those in the Church who will be living in places other than Judaea should flee to other wilderness places, mountainous places (Ezekiel 7:16), in the regions of the world where they live.
And they should have prepared beforehand hideouts in these wilderness/mountain places, hideouts already fully stocked with all of the emergency supplies of canned food, bottled water, warm clothing and bedding, etc., that they and their families and fellow Christians will need to survive (cf. 1 Timothy 5:8, Matthew 24:45-46, cf. Genesis 41:48,36, Genesis 45:7) until Jesus Christ returns, possibly on the 1,335th day after the abomination of desolation is set up (Daniel 12:11-12, Revelation 16:15). For they should not carry any supplies with them when they flee (Matthew 24:17-18). They should flee as unhindered and quickly as possible, knowing that when the abomination of desolation is set up, that could signal the beginning of the future Antichrist's literal 3.5-year Luciferian/Satanic worldwide reign of terror (Revelation 13:4-18, Revelation 12:9), when he will be given power to make war against all Biblical Christians that he can get his hands on, and to physically overcome them and kill them (by beheading) in every nation (Revelation 13:7-10, Revelation 14:12-13, Revelation 20:4-6, Matthew 24:9-13).
(See also Isaiah 26:19 above)
--
*Matthew 24:17 / *Mt. 24:17 -
(On the housetop)
The houses in Judaea (southern Israel) still today have flat roofs, which have low walls around them and are used like patios.
--
*Matthew 24:19-20 / *Mt. 24:19 -
This means that it will be more difficult for pregnant women and women carrying infants to flee (Matthew 24:16), just as it will be more difficult to flee in the winter or on a sabbath. This would apply in cases where those fleeing do not have cars (or gasoline), and so will have to walk a long way to their place of refuge. For walking a long way will be more difficult for pregnant women and women carrying infants, and for anyone at a time of wintry cold and wind, rain, or snow, and for any Christian on the sabbath who believes that it is a sin to walk a long way on the sabbath. Also, by the time that Matthew 24:15-20 is fulfilled in our future, the ultra-Orthodox Jews in Judaea (southern Israel) could have reestablished sabbath police there, who could attack with sticks anyone trying to walk a long way on the sabbath.
Also, the ultra-Orthodox Jews believe that it is a sin to even turn on a light switch on the sabbath, as they see this as breaking the commandment not to kindle a fire on the sabbath (Exodus 35:3). So they could similarly forbid people to start a car on the sabbath, as this would be kindling a fire within its combustion engine. Also, the ultra-Orthodox Jews could set up roadblocks to prevent anyone from driving a car anywhere on the sabbath.
(See also Matthew 24:20 below)
~
(Re: Today, do not people in Jerusalem no longer have to worry about traveling in winter, since their SUVs have great winter tires and heaters?)
Can you cite what percentage of Christians in Jerusalem (and Judaea) own SUVs with winter tires, or even own a car at all? And for those possibly relatively-few who even own a car at all, what assurance is there of a sufficient gasoline supply at all points in our future?
--
*Matthew 24:20 / *Mt. 24:20 -
This does not require that the letter of the Old Covenant Mosaic-law sabbath will be in effect, as far as God is concerned, at the future time that Matthew 24:20 is fulfilled. And the parallel verse in Mark 13:18 does not mention the sabbath. For some Christians, whether Jews or Gentiles, choose to keep the sabbath, while others choose not to keep it (Romans 14:5).
(See the "Law" and "Sabbath" sections of Ephesians 2:15 below. Also, see Matthew 24:19 above)
--
*Matthew 24:21 / *Mt. 24:21 -
While this refers to the future, worldwide Tribulation like has never affected the whole world before, Matthew 24:21 does not require that the future Tribulation will be worse for every individual than, for example, Job's personal tribulation, or the Jews' tribulation in the Holocaust, or the tribulation of some people in the early Church (e.g. Revelation 2:10). For some people in the Church will be divinely protected on the earth during the future Tribulation (Revelation 12:6,14-16).
Also, while the future Tribulation of Revelation chapters 6 to 18 and Matthew 24 will be worse than any prior tribulation (Mark 13:19), it will not be worse in the sense that less than eight people (cf. 1 Peter 3:20) will survive the Tribulation (for millions of people could survive it), but in the sense that the Tribulation would leave no survivors at all if its duration had not been limited by God (Mark 13:20).
(See paragraphs 2-3 of Mark 13:20 below)
~
Matthew 24:21 refers to the second half (Revelation chapters 11 to 18) of the future Tribulation, the first half (Revelation chapters 6 to 10) being in Matthew 24:7-8.
~
(Re: Josephus records that 1.1 million Jews were killed in Jerusalem in 70 AD, and 97,000 were taken into captivity)
Note the "nor ever shall be" part of Matthew 24:21. World War II was worse than 70 AD, even just for the six million Jews who were so horribly killed in the Holocaust. And not even World War II fulfilled the detailed Tribulation of Revelation chapters 6 to 18 and Matthew 24, which will occur in our future.
(See the "Details" section of Revelation chapters 6 to 22 (Overview) below. Also, see Matthew 24:22 below, and section 2 of Isaiah 6:13 above)
~
(Re: Was not 70 AD the worst tribulation ever because starving Jews in Jerusalem ate their own children during its siege?)
No, for note that the same thing occurred during the siege of Jerusalem in 586 BC (Jeremiah 19:9, Lamentations 4:10), and before that during the siege of the Israelite city of Samaria in 722 BC (2 Kings 6:25-29). The future Tribulation of Revelation chapters 6 to 18 and Matthew 24 will be so bad as "was not since the beginning of the world" (Matthew 24:21).
~
(Re: Is Matthew 24:21 referring to the mass crucifixions and eviscerations in 70 AD Jerusalem?)
No, for Matthew 24:21 is not referring to the manner of death, but to the amount of death (Matthew 24:22). That is...
(See section 2 of Isaiah 6:13 above)
Also, how many Christians were crucified in Rome in 64 AD, and in later persecutions of the Church by the Romans, which persecution went on for centuries? Also, note that Christians who were crucified in Rome in 64 AD were also set on fire while they were still alive on their crosses. There is no more painful death than burning.
Also, how many people were "drawn and quartered" by the English during past centuries? And how many people were impaled on sharp spikes by the ancient Assyrians as they conquered the Middle East?
Also, note that what happened to the Jews in 70 AD was later dwarfed by the horrible and unprecedented Holocaust.
Also, do you believe (as is sometimes claimed) that 50 million people or more were slaughtered over more than 1,200 years by the papacy?
If so, how can 1 million people being slaughtered in 70 AD be worse than that?
Also, the total amount of suffering by hundreds of millions of people during World War II was orders of magnitude greater than 70 AD. And the total amount of suffering by billions of people during the future Tribulation of Matthew 24 and Revelation chapters 6 to 18 will be orders of magnitude greater than World War II. For example, the pain which humanity will experience during the five months of Revelation 9:5-10 will be so intense that people will want to die (Revelation 9:6).
~
(Re: The word "amount" does not appear in the definition of the original Greek word for "great" in Matthew 24:21)
Note that "great"/"megas" (G3173) simply means "big" (Strong's Greek Dictionary).
And "tribulation"/"thlipsis" (G2347) means "pressure" (Strong's Greek Dictionary), and can be translated as "affliction" (Mark 13:19).
So the "great tribulation" of Matthew 24:21 means "big affliction", in the sense of a great amount of affliction.
For anything referred to as being "great" (megas: G3173) can mean that it is great in amount, like the "great joy" in Matthew 2:10 means a great amount of joy, and the "great light" in Matthew 4:16 means a great amount of light, and the "great faith" in Matthew 15:28 means a great amount of faith, and so on through many of the other instances of the use of "megas" in the New Testament.
But Matthew 24:22 shows that Matthew 24:21 means that the future Tribulation will be great in the number of deaths which will occur during it, so great that all flesh on the earth would die were it not for God limiting the time of the Tribulation.
(See also section 3 of Revelation 6:8 below)
~
(Re: Tribulation via crucifixion encompasses both distress and death; Christ addresses distress in Matthew 24:21, and death in Matthew 24:22)
Note that the unprecedented distress in Matthew 24:21 would include the amount of death in Matthew 24:22.
Also, note that there is no reference to crucifixion in Matthew 24:21, just as there is no reference to crucifixion in the distress of Luke 21:25-26, for example. Crucifixion is not mentioned anywhere in the never-fulfilled Matthew 24, or Luke 21, or Revelation chapters 6 to 18. For Christians will be beheaded instead (Revelation 20:4-6).
Also, note that the unprecedented amount of distress and death during the future Tribulation (Matthew 24:21-22) will involve not just Christians, but non-Christians as well, such as from the huge war in Revelation 6:4-8, which will kill one-fourth of the world, and then from the weird horse-like beings who will kill one-third of mankind (Revelation 9:15-19).
~
(Re: But where were the mass crucifixions in World War II?)
Why would there have to be any? For that is like asking where in 70 AD was the unprecedented horror of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, where 150,000 innocent men, women, and children were intentionally targeted and burned to death with nuclear fire.
~
(Re: And where was the Jewish infighting and the slaughtering of Jews by Jews in World War II?)
Why would there have to be any? For that is like asking where in 70 AD was the horror of the American Civil War, when Americans used their weapons against their fellow Americans, resulting in some 600,000 casualties.
And even long before 70 AD, the Jews had the huge civil war between their northern kingdom (Israel) and their southern kingdom (Judah) which went on for some 200 years (from about 922 BC to 722 BC) and involved battles in which as many as 500,000 Jews were slaughtered by their fellow Jews (2 Chronicles 13:16-18; cf. also 2 Chronicles 28:6).
--
*Matthew 24:22 / *Mt. 24:22 -
This could refer to a shortening of the number of days of the future Tribulation of Matthew 24 and Revelation chapters 6 to 18. For the purpose of the shortening is to save lives (Matthew 24:22, Mark 13:20).
Matthew 24:22 and...
(See "Mark 13:20 can mean" under Mark 13:20 below)
-
Next entry / Prior / Table of Contents
Dec 1, 2018
Note that Herod the Great died in 4 BC. So twenty years later would be 16 AD. Therefore, whoever built it, or whenever it was built, the Wailing Wall, also called the Western Wall, of the Temple Mount, existed at the time that Jesus Christ spoke Matthew 24, about 33 AD. And so "not one stone" in Matthew 24:2 remains unfulfilled.
(See section 1 of Matthew 24:2 above)
Also, note that the Jews would not make a meaningless wall their most holy place of worship on the earth.
Also, the coins could not have been found under the Wailing Wall of the Temple Mount. For the religious Jews would not permit any digging there. Instead, the coins could have been found by digging under a different wall, such as one at the southern end of the Temple Mount.
The only way for the archaeologists to dig under the Wailing Wall would be for them to enter in the dead of night with their picks and shovels into the synagogue just off the north end of the Wailing Wall. Then they would have to get through a locked, wrought-iron gate in the eastern wall of that synagogue. This gate blocks entrance to a tunnel running east under the Muslim Dome of the Rock on the center of the Temple Mount. Then the archaeologists would have to go into this tunnel a short distance and start digging a tunnel southward along the back side of the Wailing Wall. Then, after some distance, they would have to start digging downward through the dirt just east of the wall until they reached the bottom of the wall. Then they would have to start digging under the wall, literally "undermining" the holiest place of worship in the world left to the Jews. Then they would have to "discover" (instead of surreptitiously place) Roman coins of a certain date under the wall.
All this digging would outrage the religious Jews, who could not only demand a halt to the undermining of the Wailing Wall, but also demand that a permanent blockage be placed at the gate in the synagogue to the north of the Wailing Wall (if this has not already happened). Or, some ultra-Orthodox Jews in their rage at the defilement of the Wailing Wall and the Temple Mount (including by Muslims today) could in the dead of night break through the gate and use the tunnel behind it to detonate explosives beneath the Muslim Dome of the Rock, damaging it seriously enough so that it will be condemned by Israeli authorities as too dangerous to enter. The ultra-Orthodox Jews could then claim that this damage was "a holy mission from God" so that the Dome can be replaced by a third Jewish temple.
(See Revelation 11:1 below)
~
(Re: In Matthew 24:2, if Jesus had been talking about a future, third Jewish temple, would not He have just come out and said so, and not have *deceived the disciples like this?) / (*Deceit)
Note that there was no deceit. Jesus Christ just did not tell His disciples everything at that time (John 16:12-13), like He would later, in, for example, the Holy Spirit-inspired scriptures written by the apostles Paul and John.
(See Revelation 11:1 below)
~
(Re: Is not it delusional to pretend that the apostles at the time of the Olivet Discourse were talking about another, still-hypothetical Jewish temple some 2,000 years in the future?)
What matters is what Jesus Christ Himself meant by what He Himself says in the Bible (2 Peter 1:20).
(See Revelation 11:1 below)
--
*Matthew 24:3 / *Mt. 24:3 -
(Re: End of the *age)
Matthew 24:3 . . . what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world?
Here the original Greek word (aion: G0165) translated as "world" can also be translated as "age" (Ephesians 2:7, Colossians 1:26).
It is sometimes claimed that the end of the age refers to the end of the Old Covenant age in 70 AD. But the time of the letter of the Old Covenant Mosaic law ended not at the destruction of the second Jewish temple in Jerusalem in 70 AD, but decades earlier, at the moment that Jesus Christ died on the Cross (Matthew 27:50-51a) and abolished the letter of the Old Covenant Mosaic law (Ephesians 2:15-16, Colossians 2:14-17, Romans 7:6; 2 Corinthians 3:6-18, Hebrews 7:18-19), which was the same moment that He brought the New Covenant into effect (Matthew 26:28, Hebrews 9:15-17, Hebrews 10:19-20, Matthew 27:51a). So there was no transition period, no overlap at all (Hebrews 10:9b, Hebrews 7:12), between the time of the letter of the Old Covenant Mosaic law and the time of the New Covenant.
Also, while the apostles of the Church asked Jesus Christ about the end of the age (Matthew 24:3), He did not tell them that the end of the age would occur at the destruction of the second Jewish temple, or (as is sometimes claimed) before the future Tribulation of Matthew 24 and Revelation chapters 6 to 18, or even at the end of the Tribulation, that is, at Jesus' post-tribulation, Second Coming (Matthew 24:29-31), or when the end of the age would occur, just as Jesus did not tell His apostles other things during His ministry (John 16:12). It would not be until later that Jesus would show the apostle John, through the vision in the book of Revelation (given about 95 AD: Irenaeus, Against Heresies 5:30:3c), that the end of the age, when all non-Christians of all times will be cast into the eternal suffering of the lake of fire and brimstone (Matthew 13:40, Matthew 25:41, Revelation 20:15), will not occur until over 1,000 years after Jesus' future, Second Coming (Revelation 19:7 to 20:15).
(See also section 2 of Ephesians 1:21 below. And see section 2 of Hebrews 9:26 below)
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*Matthew 24:4-5 / *Mt. 24:4 / *Mt. 24:5 -
See Luke 21:8 below.
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*Matthew 24:6 / *Mt. 24:6 -
(The end)
This refers to the end of the future Tribulation of Matthew 24 and Revelation chapters 6 to 18.
(See also Matthew 24:3 above)
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(Re: Preterism?)
Note that just because wars occurred in the first century AD after Jesus Christ spoke Matthew 24:6 does not make those wars the fulfillment of Matthew 24:6 any more than just because the worst wars in history occurred in the twentieth century AD does not make those wars the fulfillment of Matthew 24:6.
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*Matthew 24:7-8 / *Mt. 24:7 -
(Re: Means that the Tribulation has started?)
No, see the "Details" section of Revelation chapters 6 to 22 (Overview) below.
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(Re: Preterism?)
Note that just because the famine in Acts 11:28 occurred in the first century AD after Jesus Christ spoke Matthew 24:7 does not make that famine the fulfillment of the "famines" part of Matthew 24:7 any more than just because the worst famines in history occurred centuries later (such as the Great Chinese Famine and the Bengal Famine) does not make those famines the fulfillment of the "famines" part of Matthew 24:7.
Unprecedented famines could occur after the unprecedented war in Revelation 6:4-8 which will begin the future Tribulation of Revelation chapters 6 to 18 and Matthew 24.
(See the "famines" paragraph of the "War" section of Revelation 13:5 below)
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(Re: Is not Matthew 24:7-8 happening now on a larger scale than ever in history, and getting worse every day?)
What wars are happening now and getting worse every day which are larger than World War II or World War I? And what famines are happening now and getting worse every day which are larger than the Great Chinese Famine or the Bengal Famine? And what epidemics are happening now and getting worse every day which are larger than the Spanish Flu Epidemic or the Black Death Epidemic? And what earthquakes are happening now and getting worse every day which are larger than the Shaanxi Earthquake or the Tangshan Earthquake?
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(Re: Parallel to Revelation?)
Matthew 24:7-8 could include the war (Revelation 6:4), famine (Revelation 6:6,8), epidemics (Revelation 6:8, where beasts could include disease-causing animals such as bacteria), and earthquake (Revelation 6:12) of only the first stage of the future Tribulation of Revelation chapters 6 to 18.
But the Tribulation of Revelation chapters 6 to 18 (as opposed to Matthew 24:7-8, which could also include other wars, famines, epidemics, and earthquakes preceding Revelation 6:4-8), has not started yet. For it will start with the horrible war (and its aftermath of famines and epidemics) of the second through fourth seals (Revelation 6:4-8), which will end up killing one-fourth of the world (Revelation 6:8). The "great sword" of this war (Revelation 6:4) could be Israel's nuclear weapons.
(See the "War" section of Revelation 13:5 below)
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*Matthew 24:9-13 / *Mt. 24:9 -
This refers to the future killing of Biblical Christians, whether Jews or Gentiles, those (not in hiding) who will be hated and killed for the name of Jesus Christ (Matthew 24:9) in every nation during the future, literal 3.5-year worldwide reign of the Antichrist (the individual-man aspect of Revelation's "beast") (Revelation 13:5-10, Revelation 14:12-13, Revelation 20:4-6). Matthew 24:9-13 shows that not all Christians will continue to love Jesus during that time, for some Christians' love for Him will grow cold because of their unrepentant sin (Matthew 24:12; 1 Timothy 4:1-2; 2 Timothy 4:3-4), and/or because they will become offended (Matthew 24:10) that He is letting them and their little ones suffer in the Tribulation (Matthew 13:21, Isaiah 8:21-22; 1 Peter 4:12-13). Only those Christians who continue to love Jesus to the end will be ultimately saved (Matthew 24:13, Matthew 10:37-39).
(See the "Dangerous" section of Matthew 24:31 below. Also, see Mark 13:9 and Revelation 13:4 below)
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(Re: Is not Matthew 24:9 happening now on a larger scale than ever in history, and getting worse every day?)
What killings of Biblical Christians are happening now and getting worse every day which are larger than the Diocletianic Persecution or the Decian Persecution?
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*Matthew 24:11 / *Mt. 24:11 -
(Re: Is not this happening now on a larger scale than ever in history, and getting worse every day?)
What false prophets are alive and operating publicly now and getting worse every day who are larger in importance than the false prophet Mohammed or the false prophet Nathan of Gaza?
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*Matthew 24:13 / *Mt. 24:13 -
(The end)
See Matthew 24:6 above.
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*Matthew 24:14 / *Mt. 24:14 -
Matthew 24:14a will be fulfilled when the Gospel of Jesus Christ will be preached to all nations during the future Tribulation (Revelation 14:6) of Matthew 24 and Revelation chapters 6 to 18. So "the end" in Matthew 24:14b means the end of the Tribulation.
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(Re: But could not the "world" have meant the ancient Roman empire?)
In Matthew 24:14, while the original Greek word (oikoumene: G3625) translated as "world" could refer to the ancient Roman empire (Luke 2:1, Acts 24:5), it can also mean the entire planet. For just as Satan could have offered Jesus Christ more than just the Roman empire (Luke 4:5-7), and just as Satan has deceived more than just the Roman empire (Revelation 12:9), so Matthew 24:14 could mean that the Gospel of Jesus Christ has to reach more than just the Roman empire (Revelation 5:9, Revelation 7:9) before Matthew 24:15 (which is Daniel 11:31,36 and 2 Thessalonians 2:4) will be allowed to occur (2 Thessalonians 2:6-8). Matthew 24:15 did not occur in 70 AD, nor has it occurred at any time since then, just as Matthew 24:29-31 (which is 2 Thessalonians 2:1 and 1 Thessalonians 4:15-17) did not occur in 70 AD, nor has it occurred at any time since then.
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*Matthew 24:15 / *Mt. 24:15 -
(Abomination of desolation / AOD)
Just as Matthew 24:2 was not fulfilled in 70 AD, because the Wailing Wall of the second Jewish temple-complex still stands, so Matthew 24:15 was not fulfilled in 70 AD.
In Matthew 24:15, Jesus Christ is referring to Daniel 11:31.
(See Daniel 11:31 above)
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(Re: Was the AOD about Jesus' death?)
No, for the Church is commanded to flee Judaea (southern Israel) into the mountains when it sees the abomination of desolation (Matthew 24:15-16), whereas the Church was commanded to remain in Jerusalem after Jesus Christ's crucifixion and resurrection (Luke 24:49,52, Acts 1:4 to 2:47). The early Church even continued to worship God in the second Jewish temple in Jerusalem after Jesus' resurrection (Luke 24:53, Acts 2:46, Acts 22:17).
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(Re: Is the AOD about the Wailing Wall?)
No, the abomination of desolation is about something (possibly a standing, android image of the future Antichrist) being placed in the specific "holy place" (the inner sanctum) of a future, Jewish temple in Jerusalem (Matthew 24:15, Daniel 11:31) shortly before the future Antichrist sits there (at least one time) and proclaims himself God (2 Thessalonians 2:4, Daniel 11:36). This could occur about four years before the Wailing Wall is destroyed at Jesus Christ's future, Second Coming).
(See paragraph 3 of Matthew 24:2 above)
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(Re: Does the holy place not mean the temple, but the city of Jerusalem? For the Greek word "topos"/G5117, meaning place, was not used in the Septuagint to refer to the temple)
Note that it does not have to be used to refer to the temple in the Septuagint, which was only a man-made, Greek translation of the original, Hebrew scriptures, which could refer to the inner part of the temple as the holy (qodesh: H6944) place (e.g. Leviticus 16:2, Exodus 28:29, Exodus 28:35).
And the holy (hagios: G0040) place (topos: G5117) in Matthew 24:15 refers to the same, inner part of the Jewish temple as the holy place (hagion: G0039) in Hebrews 9:25, Hebrews 9:3, and Hebrews 9:8.
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*Matthew 24:16 / *Mt. 24:16 -
(*Judaea / *Fleeing)
(See the "Fleeing" sections of Revelation 12:6 below)
Regarding "Judaea" (Matthew 24:16), this does not have to mean first century AD Judaea, for there are many churches in Judaea (southern Israel) still today. They contain mostly Gentile Christians, not just Jewish Christians. The Church began and has always been in Judaea: "Then had the churches rest throughout all Judaea" (Acts 9:31); "the churches of Judaea" (Galatians 1:22); "the churches... in Judaea" (1 Thessalonians 2:14). Matthew 24:16 refers to those in the Church, whether Gentiles or Jews, who will be living in Judaea at the future point in time when the abomination of desolation (possibly a standing, android image of the future Antichrist) is set up in the holy place (the inner sanctum) of a future, third Jewish temple in Jerusalem (Matthew 24:15, Daniel 11:31).
The future Antichrist's persecution of the Church could begin in Jerusalem and Judaea right after the abomination of desolation is set up and the Antichrist sits in the future temple (at least one time) and proclaims himself God (2 Thessalonians 2:4, Daniel 11:36). So to avoid this persecution (cf. Matthew 10:23a), those in the Church living in Judaea should flee immediately after they see the abomination of desolation set up (Matthew 24:15-16), which event could occur at the midpoint of the future Tribulation of Revelation chapters 6 to 18 and Matthew 24, and which event could mark the start of the Antichrist's literal 3.5-year worldwide reign (Revelation 13:4-18). Eventually, the Antichrist's persecution of the Church (not in hiding) will reach every nation (Revelation 13:7-10, Revelation 14:12-13, Revelation 20:4-6, Matthew 24:9-13). So the basic principle of Matthew 24:16 of fleeing (the Antichrist's persecution) would apply to Christians around the world.
Just as the woman in Revelation 12:6 represents different people in the Church around the world, so the protected wilderness place she flees to represents different, divinely-protected wilderness places around the world. When those in the Church living in Judaea see the abomination of desolation set up (Matthew 24:15), they should flee to places in the wilderness east of Judaea, in the mountains (Matthew 24:16) of Jordan. And those in the Church who will be living in places other than Judaea should flee to other wilderness places, mountainous places (Ezekiel 7:16), in the regions of the world where they live.
And they should have prepared beforehand hideouts in these wilderness/mountain places, hideouts already fully stocked with all of the emergency supplies of canned food, bottled water, warm clothing and bedding, etc., that they and their families and fellow Christians will need to survive (cf. 1 Timothy 5:8, Matthew 24:45-46, cf. Genesis 41:48,36, Genesis 45:7) until Jesus Christ returns, possibly on the 1,335th day after the abomination of desolation is set up (Daniel 12:11-12, Revelation 16:15). For they should not carry any supplies with them when they flee (Matthew 24:17-18). They should flee as unhindered and quickly as possible, knowing that when the abomination of desolation is set up, that could signal the beginning of the future Antichrist's literal 3.5-year Luciferian/Satanic worldwide reign of terror (Revelation 13:4-18, Revelation 12:9), when he will be given power to make war against all Biblical Christians that he can get his hands on, and to physically overcome them and kill them (by beheading) in every nation (Revelation 13:7-10, Revelation 14:12-13, Revelation 20:4-6, Matthew 24:9-13).
(See also Isaiah 26:19 above)
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*Matthew 24:17 / *Mt. 24:17 -
(On the housetop)
The houses in Judaea (southern Israel) still today have flat roofs, which have low walls around them and are used like patios.
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*Matthew 24:19-20 / *Mt. 24:19 -
This means that it will be more difficult for pregnant women and women carrying infants to flee (Matthew 24:16), just as it will be more difficult to flee in the winter or on a sabbath. This would apply in cases where those fleeing do not have cars (or gasoline), and so will have to walk a long way to their place of refuge. For walking a long way will be more difficult for pregnant women and women carrying infants, and for anyone at a time of wintry cold and wind, rain, or snow, and for any Christian on the sabbath who believes that it is a sin to walk a long way on the sabbath. Also, by the time that Matthew 24:15-20 is fulfilled in our future, the ultra-Orthodox Jews in Judaea (southern Israel) could have reestablished sabbath police there, who could attack with sticks anyone trying to walk a long way on the sabbath.
Also, the ultra-Orthodox Jews believe that it is a sin to even turn on a light switch on the sabbath, as they see this as breaking the commandment not to kindle a fire on the sabbath (Exodus 35:3). So they could similarly forbid people to start a car on the sabbath, as this would be kindling a fire within its combustion engine. Also, the ultra-Orthodox Jews could set up roadblocks to prevent anyone from driving a car anywhere on the sabbath.
(See also Matthew 24:20 below)
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(Re: Today, do not people in Jerusalem no longer have to worry about traveling in winter, since their SUVs have great winter tires and heaters?)
Can you cite what percentage of Christians in Jerusalem (and Judaea) own SUVs with winter tires, or even own a car at all? And for those possibly relatively-few who even own a car at all, what assurance is there of a sufficient gasoline supply at all points in our future?
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*Matthew 24:20 / *Mt. 24:20 -
This does not require that the letter of the Old Covenant Mosaic-law sabbath will be in effect, as far as God is concerned, at the future time that Matthew 24:20 is fulfilled. And the parallel verse in Mark 13:18 does not mention the sabbath. For some Christians, whether Jews or Gentiles, choose to keep the sabbath, while others choose not to keep it (Romans 14:5).
(See the "Law" and "Sabbath" sections of Ephesians 2:15 below. Also, see Matthew 24:19 above)
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*Matthew 24:21 / *Mt. 24:21 -
While this refers to the future, worldwide Tribulation like has never affected the whole world before, Matthew 24:21 does not require that the future Tribulation will be worse for every individual than, for example, Job's personal tribulation, or the Jews' tribulation in the Holocaust, or the tribulation of some people in the early Church (e.g. Revelation 2:10). For some people in the Church will be divinely protected on the earth during the future Tribulation (Revelation 12:6,14-16).
Also, while the future Tribulation of Revelation chapters 6 to 18 and Matthew 24 will be worse than any prior tribulation (Mark 13:19), it will not be worse in the sense that less than eight people (cf. 1 Peter 3:20) will survive the Tribulation (for millions of people could survive it), but in the sense that the Tribulation would leave no survivors at all if its duration had not been limited by God (Mark 13:20).
(See paragraphs 2-3 of Mark 13:20 below)
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Matthew 24:21 refers to the second half (Revelation chapters 11 to 18) of the future Tribulation, the first half (Revelation chapters 6 to 10) being in Matthew 24:7-8.
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(Re: Josephus records that 1.1 million Jews were killed in Jerusalem in 70 AD, and 97,000 were taken into captivity)
Note the "nor ever shall be" part of Matthew 24:21. World War II was worse than 70 AD, even just for the six million Jews who were so horribly killed in the Holocaust. And not even World War II fulfilled the detailed Tribulation of Revelation chapters 6 to 18 and Matthew 24, which will occur in our future.
(See the "Details" section of Revelation chapters 6 to 22 (Overview) below. Also, see Matthew 24:22 below, and section 2 of Isaiah 6:13 above)
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(Re: Was not 70 AD the worst tribulation ever because starving Jews in Jerusalem ate their own children during its siege?)
No, for note that the same thing occurred during the siege of Jerusalem in 586 BC (Jeremiah 19:9, Lamentations 4:10), and before that during the siege of the Israelite city of Samaria in 722 BC (2 Kings 6:25-29). The future Tribulation of Revelation chapters 6 to 18 and Matthew 24 will be so bad as "was not since the beginning of the world" (Matthew 24:21).
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(Re: Is Matthew 24:21 referring to the mass crucifixions and eviscerations in 70 AD Jerusalem?)
No, for Matthew 24:21 is not referring to the manner of death, but to the amount of death (Matthew 24:22). That is...
(See section 2 of Isaiah 6:13 above)
Also, how many Christians were crucified in Rome in 64 AD, and in later persecutions of the Church by the Romans, which persecution went on for centuries? Also, note that Christians who were crucified in Rome in 64 AD were also set on fire while they were still alive on their crosses. There is no more painful death than burning.
Also, how many people were "drawn and quartered" by the English during past centuries? And how many people were impaled on sharp spikes by the ancient Assyrians as they conquered the Middle East?
Also, note that what happened to the Jews in 70 AD was later dwarfed by the horrible and unprecedented Holocaust.
Also, do you believe (as is sometimes claimed) that 50 million people or more were slaughtered over more than 1,200 years by the papacy?
If so, how can 1 million people being slaughtered in 70 AD be worse than that?
Also, the total amount of suffering by hundreds of millions of people during World War II was orders of magnitude greater than 70 AD. And the total amount of suffering by billions of people during the future Tribulation of Matthew 24 and Revelation chapters 6 to 18 will be orders of magnitude greater than World War II. For example, the pain which humanity will experience during the five months of Revelation 9:5-10 will be so intense that people will want to die (Revelation 9:6).
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(Re: The word "amount" does not appear in the definition of the original Greek word for "great" in Matthew 24:21)
Note that "great"/"megas" (G3173) simply means "big" (Strong's Greek Dictionary).
And "tribulation"/"thlipsis" (G2347) means "pressure" (Strong's Greek Dictionary), and can be translated as "affliction" (Mark 13:19).
So the "great tribulation" of Matthew 24:21 means "big affliction", in the sense of a great amount of affliction.
For anything referred to as being "great" (megas: G3173) can mean that it is great in amount, like the "great joy" in Matthew 2:10 means a great amount of joy, and the "great light" in Matthew 4:16 means a great amount of light, and the "great faith" in Matthew 15:28 means a great amount of faith, and so on through many of the other instances of the use of "megas" in the New Testament.
But Matthew 24:22 shows that Matthew 24:21 means that the future Tribulation will be great in the number of deaths which will occur during it, so great that all flesh on the earth would die were it not for God limiting the time of the Tribulation.
(See also section 3 of Revelation 6:8 below)
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(Re: Tribulation via crucifixion encompasses both distress and death; Christ addresses distress in Matthew 24:21, and death in Matthew 24:22)
Note that the unprecedented distress in Matthew 24:21 would include the amount of death in Matthew 24:22.
Also, note that there is no reference to crucifixion in Matthew 24:21, just as there is no reference to crucifixion in the distress of Luke 21:25-26, for example. Crucifixion is not mentioned anywhere in the never-fulfilled Matthew 24, or Luke 21, or Revelation chapters 6 to 18. For Christians will be beheaded instead (Revelation 20:4-6).
Also, note that the unprecedented amount of distress and death during the future Tribulation (Matthew 24:21-22) will involve not just Christians, but non-Christians as well, such as from the huge war in Revelation 6:4-8, which will kill one-fourth of the world, and then from the weird horse-like beings who will kill one-third of mankind (Revelation 9:15-19).
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(Re: But where were the mass crucifixions in World War II?)
Why would there have to be any? For that is like asking where in 70 AD was the unprecedented horror of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, where 150,000 innocent men, women, and children were intentionally targeted and burned to death with nuclear fire.
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(Re: And where was the Jewish infighting and the slaughtering of Jews by Jews in World War II?)
Why would there have to be any? For that is like asking where in 70 AD was the horror of the American Civil War, when Americans used their weapons against their fellow Americans, resulting in some 600,000 casualties.
And even long before 70 AD, the Jews had the huge civil war between their northern kingdom (Israel) and their southern kingdom (Judah) which went on for some 200 years (from about 922 BC to 722 BC) and involved battles in which as many as 500,000 Jews were slaughtered by their fellow Jews (2 Chronicles 13:16-18; cf. also 2 Chronicles 28:6).
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*Matthew 24:22 / *Mt. 24:22 -
This could refer to a shortening of the number of days of the future Tribulation of Matthew 24 and Revelation chapters 6 to 18. For the purpose of the shortening is to save lives (Matthew 24:22, Mark 13:20).
Matthew 24:22 and...
(See "Mark 13:20 can mean" under Mark 13:20 below)
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