Jesus Told Many They Would Live to See His Coming.

seventysevens

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We are in the "thousand year reign" right now. Jesus has ALL POWER AND AUTHORITY right now as He told His apostles in Matthew 28:18. It is reiterated in Ephesians 1:18-23 and Hebrews 1.

Christ reigns now until He returns and renders judgement, after which He will return the reign to the Father, just as 1 Cor 15:20-28 says!
Since satan is still free to roam and deceive who he can -then no we are not yet in the one thousand year reign:
Rev20
2 He seized the dragon, that ancient serpent, who is the devil, or Satan, and bound him for a thousand years. 3 He threw him into the Abyss, and locked and sealed it over him, to keep him from deceiving the nations anymore until the thousand years were ended.
.........those who had been beheaded because of their testimony about Jesus and because of the word of God. They had not worshiped the beast or its image and had not received its mark on their foreheads or their hands. They came to life and reigned with Christ a thousand years.
 
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Brian Mcnamee

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No such phrase in the Bible as "second" coming. You might start with that. Just the plain old coming of the Lord.
So... since he came to oversee the end of the Old Covenant Age and the destruction of the city and temple. In other words since it's not a prophecy about the end of the world. Then, since he comes again after that to oversee the great judgments toward the city of Rome for its murder of the saints and then yet again to oversee the end of the empire in 1453 AD. (That is the end of end time prophecy even though we certainly see end time events concerning other nations and evil empires.)
Indeed? What comes after that? How about one hundred chapters of an age of promise where his people begin to be able to serve him according to the dictates of their own conscience. Where they get to raise their children without fear? How about a world where slavery is illegal and the whole idea of a king or emperor is an abomination? How about a world when you are free and have some kind of control of you own destiny. Or how about a world where actually idolatry is no longer forced on the peoples by kings and emperors? How about an age where the rule of law based on Biblical principle is the vehicle for unbelievable prosperity for the general public? You might get my point by now and say that is our world, or at least many places in our world. Yep that sure wasn't the world back in Jesus time nor the world for the next 1500 years after that. My point? Is an apocloytic vision for the future what the Word of God teaches and prphesies? Or is a scriptural vision for the future one of ever growing influence in this world of the Gospel. the Word and his invisible kingdom? Which one do you place your faith in? Which one do you have evidence for to place your faith in? An since faith wihout works is dead. Which one do you labor for in faith? Carefull with that. God is offended when we see ourselves as grasshoppers.
No, JIMINZ, my contention is the fig tree is Jerusalem, not Israel.

Back before 2011, at the time, I did think Israel, influenced by commentators like Jack Van Impe years before, was the fig tree. (btw, I have not tuned in to a prophecy commentator in I don't know how long.)

But when 2011 passed by and no confirming of the covenant to begin the 7 years - that intepretation (of Israel being the fig tree) was proven wrong.

The theory went like this... 1948 + 70 years = 2018. 2018 minus 7 years, the confirming of the covenant for 7 years should have takened place some time before the end of 2011. But it didn't. Failed theory.

Subsequently, upon further investigation, it is apparent that Jerusalem is the fig tree, based upon Jesus denouncing the fig tree beside the road, as he and the disciples were about to enter Jerusalem that last passover week, knowing that Jerusalem would reject him. So the fig tree represents Jerusalem. Which makes more sense given Matthew 23:37-39.

So the parable of the fig tree looks like this... 1967 + 70 = 2037. 2037 minus 7 years, the confirming of the covenant for 7 years will take place some time before the end of 2030.
 
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Original Happy Camper

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"not taste of death

Could Christ be referring to the second death? as those humans he spoke to all died a physical death.

Revelation 20:14
And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.

Who does not participate in the second death

Revelation 20:6
Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.
 
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Daniel Martinovich

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No, Daniel, they are not in the same order if two are before and one after. You have to say that because you are misinterpreting what the abomination of desolation is.

First of all the "abomination of desolation spoken of by Daniel the prophet" is not mentioned in Luke 21 in the text. You are trying to make it sound like the abomination of desolation is addressed in Luke 21, inferred, with some ill formed logic that the desolation of Jerusalem, that the surrounding of it by the armies is the abomination of desolation. But it is not, Daniel.

In Luke 21, the desolation of Jerusalem (which the surrounding by the armies is not the abomination of desolation) takes place, followed by the exile, dispersion into the nations; which has happened, apparent to everyone.

Differently, the abomination of desolation in the text of Matthew 24:15 is followed by the gathering (not dispersion) of the elect in Matthew 24:31, at Jesus's return to earth from heaven.

Like Matthew, the abomination of desolation in the text of Mark 13:14 is followed by the gathering (not dispersion) of the elect in Mark 13:27, at Jesus's return to earth from heaven.

The abomination of desolation in Matthew 24 and Mark 13 has not taken place yet
They are in the exact same order. You show me were I lied and falsified the verses proceeding and following the verses in question. You can claim it’s a differant discourse till the day you die but you cannot change the order of those verses so that they fit your religious tradition. They are the exact same discourse and the exact same prophecy.
 
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Brian Mcnamee

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No such phrase in the Bible as "second" coming. You might start with that. Just the plain old coming of the Lord.
So... since he came to oversee the end of the Old Covenant Age and the destruction of the city and temple. In other words since it's not a prophecy about the end of the world. Then, since he comes again after that to oversee the great judgments toward the city of Rome for its murder of the saints and then yet again to oversee the end of the empire in 1453 AD. (That is the end of end time prophecy even though we certainly see end time events concerning other nations and evil empires.)
Indeed? What comes after that? How about one hundred chapters of an age of promise where his people begin to be able to serve him according to the dictates of their own conscience. Where they get to raise their children without fear? How about a world where slavery is illegal and the whole idea of a king or emperor is an abomination? How about a world when you are free and have some kind of control of you own destiny. Or how about a world where actually idolatry is no longer forced on the peoples by kings and emperors? How about an age where the rule of law based on Biblical principle is the vehicle for unbelievable prosperity for the general public? You might get my point by now and say that is our world, or at least many places in our world. Yep that sure wasn't the world back in Jesus time nor the world for the next 1500 years after that. My point? Is an apocloytic vision for the future what the Word of God teaches and prphesies? Or is a scriptural vision for the future one of ever growing influence in this world of the Gospel. the Word and his invisible kingdom? Which one do you place your faith in? Which one do you have evidence for to place your faith in? An since faith wihout works is dead. Which one do you labor for in faith? Carefull with that. God is offended when we see ourselves as grasshoppers.

Compare with Daniel 7:13-14, where the Son of Man is taken up on clouds before the Ancient of Days and given dominion.

The Son of Man came into His kingdom at the Ascension; the Lord is seated at the right hand of the Father until He returns in glory on the last day. When the Lord returns, it is not to gain a kingdom here, rather He will--as St. Paul says in 1 Corinthians 15:23-28--deliver all things to the Father after He has made subject all things, the last of which is death, which is defeated at the resurrection of the dead (1 Corinthians 15:53-55).

Christ is not going to become King, Christ is King. When He returns as judge of the living and the dead on the last day it is as One who is already Lord over all and whose kingdom is everlasting. Which is precisely what we confess in the Nicene Creed, "He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead, and of His kingdom there will be no end."

-CryptoLutheran
Where is David's throne?
isaiah 9
For unto us a Child is born,
Unto us a Son is given;
And the government will be upon His shoulder.
And His name will be called
Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
7 Of the increase of His government and peace
There will be no end,
Upon the throne of David and over His kingdom,
To order it and establish it with judgment and justice
From that time forward, even forever.
The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this.

Luke 1
“Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. 31 And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bring forth a Son, and shall call His name JESUS. 32 He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Highest; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David. 33 And He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of His kingdom there will be no end.”

When does the LORD Jesus become king over all the earth and take the throne?
John wrote Revelation after 70AD and he recorded this verse as a still future event in Ch 11
15 Then the seventh angel sounded: And there were loud voices in heaven, saying, “The kingdoms[fn] of this world have become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ, and He shall reign forever and ever!” 16 And the twenty-four elders who sat before God on their thrones fell on their faces and worshiped God, 17 saying:
“We give You thanks, O Lord God Almighty,
The One who is and who was and who is to come,[fn]
Because You have taken Your great power and reigned.
18 The nations were angry, and Your wrath has come,
And the time of the dead, that they should be judged,
And that You should reward Your servants the prophets and the saints,
And those who fear Your name, small and great,
And should destroy those who destroy the earth.”

Psalm 110 confirm this timing as a time after the LORD is seated at the right hand of God the Father.
The LORD said to my Lord,
“Sit at My right hand,
Till I make Your enemies Your footstool.”
2 The LORD shall send the rod of Your strength out of Zion.
Rule in the midst of Your enemies!

In Zech 14 we see a special day where the LORD is proclaimed king over all the earth. Note how many specific unfulfilled prophecies there are in this chapter.
1 Behold, the day of the LORD is coming,
And your spoil will be divided in your midst.
2 For I will gather all the nations to battle against Jerusalem;
The city shall be taken,
The houses rifled,
And the women ravished.
Half of the city shall go into captivity,
But the remnant of the people shall not be cut off from the city.
3 Then the LORD will go forth
And fight against those nations,
As He fights in the day of battle.
4 And in that day His feet will stand on the Mount of Olives,
Which faces Jerusalem on the east.
And the Mount of Olives shall be split in two,
From east to west,
Making a very large valley;
Thus the LORD my God will come,
And all the saints with You.[fn]
6 It shall come to pass in that day
That there will be no light;
The lights will diminish.
7 It shall be one day
Which is known to the LORD—
Neither day nor night.
But at evening time it shall happen
That it will be light.
8 And in that day it shall be
That living waters shall flow from Jerusalem,
Half of them toward the eastern sea
And half of them toward the western sea;
In both summer and winter it shall occur.
9 And the LORD shall be King over all the earth.
In that day it shall be—
“The LORD is one,”[fn]
And His name one.

Notes: this is the 2nd coming the day of Armageddon and the city is taken and the LORD comes with his saints. The promise of the MT of Olives to split is still future. The declaration that the LORD is now king over all the earth is matching up with Rev 11 and psalm 110 as the day the kingdom is his and the throne of David is taken and the LORD is king over all the earth. The promise of a new river flowing year round is also made and a key verse 9 is in that dayis shall be the LORD is one and His name one. In this whole chapter the LORD is Yehova. Now we see Jesus having come and the understanding is he is Yehova too.

Chapter 14 goes on to show a clear continuation of events on earth after the LORD is king over all the earth.
16 And it shall come to pass that everyone who is left of all the nations which came against Jerusalem shall go up from year to year to worship the King, the LORD of hosts, and to keep the Feast of Tabernacles. 17 And it shall be that whichever of the families of the earth do not come up to Jerusalem to worship the King, the LORD of hosts, on them there will be no rain. 18 If the family of Egypt will not come up and enter in, they shall have no rain; they shall receive the plague with which the LORD strikes the nations who do not come up to keep the Feast of Tabernacles. 19 This shall be the punishment of Egypt and the punishment of all the nations that do not come up to keep the Feast of Tabernacles.

The fact is this whole chapter is yet future and literal and matches up with all the other verses about the kingdom.

Revelation 20 shows that Daniel 7 talks about and describes the end of the millennium as a quite different event than Armageddon.

1 Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven, having the key to the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand. 2 He laid hold of the dragon, that serpent of old, who is the Devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years; 3 and he cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal on him, so that he should deceive the nations no more till the thousand years were finished. But after these things he must be released for a little while.

4 And I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and judgment was committed to them. Then I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for their witness to Jesus and for the word of God, who had not worshiped the beast or his image, and had not received his mark on their foreheads or on their hands. And they lived and reigned with Christ for a[fn] thousand years. 5 But the rest of the dead did not live again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection. 6 Blessed and holy is he who has part in the first resurrection. Over such the second death has no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with Him a thousand years.

7 Now when the thousand years have expired, Satan will be released from his prison 8 and will go out to deceive the nations which are in the four corners of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to battle, whose number is as the sand of the sea. 9 They went up on the breadth of the earth and surrounded the camp of the saints and the beloved city. And fire came down from God out of heaven and devoured them. 10 The devil, who deceived them, was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone where[fn] the beast and the false prophet are. And they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.


This chapter promises several things that are to note.
Satan will be bound for 1000 years.
The nations will not be deceived for 1000 years.
The beast and false prophet are cast into the lake of fire for the whole 1000 years and are still there when Satan is loosed and then he too is thrown into the fire.
The dead live and reign with Jesus for 1000 years and specific dead directly linked to time of the mark of
the beast are included.
The release of Satan the nations are deceived again and this time they surround Jerusalem and are destroyed by fire from heaven.

Daniel 7 is talking about the same thing.

11 “I watched then because of the sound of the pompous words which the horn was speaking; I watched till the beast was slain, and its body destroyed and given to the burning flame. 12 As for the rest of the beasts, they had their dominion taken away, yet their lives were prolonged for a season and a time.

NOTE. The horn is destroyed and its body given to the flame and the rest of the beast lose their dominion but their lives are prolonged a season and a time. This is the Satanic time of being bound for 1000 years. They are loosed to deceive the nations one last time. This is the season and time but they still have lost all dominion. Jesus when tempted by Satan in LUKE 4 Then the devil, taking Him up on a high mountain, showed Him[fn] all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time. 6 And the devil said to Him, “All this authority I will give You, and their glory; for this has been delivered to me, and I give it to whomever I wish. 7 Therefore, if You will worship before me, all will be Yours. You see Satan has now lost that dominion but not until the 2nd coming.

Dan 7 shows this transfer too
“I was watching in the night visions,
And behold, One like the Son of Man,
Coming with the clouds of heaven!
He came to the Ancient of Days,
And they brought Him near before Him.
14 Then to Him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom,
That all peoples, nations, and languages should serve Him.
His dominion is an everlasting dominion,
Which shall not pass away,
And His kingdom the one
Which shall not be destroyed.

The kingdom comes when the king takes away Satan's authority and binds him for 1000 years. The kingdom comes when the pompous person is overcoming the saints for a times times and half a time. If you think about Revelation there are 42 months from the time the mark of the beast is instituted. Again all of this is yet future and directly related to the 7 year tribulation.

‘The fourth beast shall be
A fourth kingdom on earth,
Which shall be different from all other kingdoms,
And shall devour the whole earth,
Trample it and break it in pieces.
24 The ten horns are ten kings
Who shall arise from this kingdom.
And another shall rise after them;
He shall be different from the first ones,
And shall subdue three kings.
25 He shall speak pompous words against the Most High,
Shall persecute[fn] the saints of the Most High,
And shall intend to change times and law.
Then the saints shall be given into his hand
For a time and times and half a time.
26 ‘But the court shall be seated,
And they shall take away his dominion,
To consume and destroy it forever.
27 Then the kingdom and dominion,
And the greatness of the kingdoms under the whole heaven,
Shall be given to the people, the saints of the Most High.
His kingdom is an everlasting kingdom,
And all dominions shall serve and obey Him.’

I have used as few words to connect the scriptures as possible and one would have to wonder if a literal interpretation makes sense why look for any other sense. The nations have never not been deceived and Satan has never been bound. You look at Jerusalem and Israel with the whole world focused on bringing world peace and now the Temple Institute has prepared everything for the return of the sacrifices central to the 70th week of Daniel. This is setting up and it is pretty obvious.
 
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Hank77

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Were they partial preterist in their interpretation?
No, their interpretations were the same as most all the churches when it came to these Gospel verses. Calvin thought that Jesus was referring to Daniel 12 others, such as Matthew Henry, Daniel 9 but they all agreed that these scriptures are talking about the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 AD. Their views were the historical view [Historicism] of these scriptures. Charles Spurgeon, one of, if not the most, respected preacher and theologian of his time, says in his commentary...

You and I would have believed that all this came true without any confirmation from outside history, but it was very remarkable that God should raise up the Jew Josephus, and put it into his mind to write a record of the siege of Jerusalem, which curdles the blood of everyone who reads it, and exactly bears out the statement of the Master that there was to be “great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world, no, nor ever shall be.”


This exposition consisted of readings from Matthew 23:29-39; and Matthew 24:1-21.

Matthew 24 Commentary - Spurgeon's Verse Expositions of the Bible

Scofield, on the other hand, would have us believe that Luke was writing about the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 AD but Matthew was writing about future event before a restoration of Jerusalem.
Matthew says ....
Mat 24:32 Now learn a parable of the fig tree; When his branch is yet tender, and putteth forth leaves, ye know that summer is nigh:
Mat 24:33 So likewise ye, when ye shall see all these things, know that it is near, even at the doors.
Mat 24:34 Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled.

Luke says....
Luk 21:29 And he spake to them a parable; Behold the fig tree, and all the trees;
Luk 21:30 When they now shoot forth, ye see and know of your own selves that summer is now nigh at hand.
Luk 21:31 So likewise ye, when ye see these things come to pass, know ye that the kingdom of God is nigh at hand.
Luk 21:32 Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass away, till all be fulfilled.

Clearly Luke and Matthew are referring to the same words that Jesus spoke. If Israel is the fig tree becoming a state in 1948, as some suppose, what nations are the other trees that a budding, what new nations are these?

Adam Clarke
Learn a parable of the fig-tree - That is, These signs which I have given you will be as infallible a proof of the approaching ruin of the Jewish state as the budding of the trees is a proof of the coming summer.

John Gill
Now learn a parable of the fig tree,.... Take a similitude, or comparison from the fig tree, which was a tree well known in Judea; and the putting forth of its branches, leaves, and fruit, fell under the observation of everyone:....
 
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Douggg

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They are in the exact same order. You show me were I lied and falsified the verses proceeding and following the verses in question. You can claim it’s a differant discourse till the day you die but you cannot change the order of those verses so that they fit your religious tradition. They are the exact same discourse and the exact same prophecy.
Daniel, the verses in my bible are in the same order as in your bible. What is out of order is your interpretation and logic of what is the abomination of desolation, which is only found in Matthew and Mark, not Luke.

I am saying that you not comprehending that the dispersion of the Jews into the nations immediately following the destruction of Jerusalem - precedes the end time abomination of desolation in Matthew 24 and Mark 13 - by 2000 years.

Following the abomination of desolation event in Matthew and Mark, the elect are all gathered back to Israel.

You can't see that the desolation of Jerusalem resulted in the dispersion of the Jews into the nations?
And that the gathering of the elect is bringing the Jews back to Israel ?
 
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Douggg

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Adam Clarke
Learn a parable of the fig-tree - That is, These signs which I have given you will be as infallible a proof of the approaching ruin of the Jewish state as the budding of the trees is a proof of the coming summer.

John Gill
Now learn a parable of the fig tree,.... Take a similitude, or comparison from the fig tree, which was a tree well known in Judea; and the putting forth of its branches, leaves, and fruit, fell under the observation of everyone:....
Hank, take a look at when Adam Clarke and John Gill lived? 1700-1800's

We have the fulfillment in our day. Israel a nation again - as it turns out, is not the fig tree representation. Jerusalem is the fig tree representation.

The formulations base on Israel 1948 - all the combinations have already expired.

The only combination remaining is the 1967+70. Then we have to take into account the 7 years before it...of when the covenant will be confirmed for the 7 years, as required by Moses in Deuteronomy 31:9-13.

We don't know exactly when, but it is pretty close.
 
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Hank77

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No, Daniel, they are not in the same order if two are before and one after. You have to say that because you are misinterpreting what the abomination of desolation is.

First of all the "abomination of desolation spoken of by Daniel the prophet" is not mentioned in Luke 21 in the text. You are trying to make it sound like the abomination of desolation is addressed in Luke 21, inferred, with some ill formed logic that the desolation of Jerusalem, that the surrounding of it by the armies is the abomination of desolation. But it is not, Daniel.

In Luke 21, the desolation of Jerusalem (which the surrounding by the armies is not the abomination of desolation) takes place, followed by the exile, dispersion into the nations; which has happened, apparent to everyone.

Differently, the abomination of desolation in the text of Matthew 24:15 is followed by the gathering (not dispersion) of the elect in Matthew 24:31, at Jesus's return to earth from heaven.

Like Matthew, the abomination of desolation in the text of Mark 13:14 is followed by the gathering (not dispersion) of the elect in Mark 13:27, at Jesus's return to earth from heaven.

The abomination of desolation in Matthew 24 and Mark 13 has not taken place yet
In Luke Jesus tells them to flee to the mountains in 70 AD and in Matthew and Mark He tells them to flee to the mountains at some future time?

Luk 21:20 And when ye shall see Jerusalem compassed with armies, then know that the desolation thereof is nigh.
Luk 21:21 Then let them which are in Judaea flee to the mountains; and let them which are in the midst of it depart out; and let not them that are in the countries enter thereinto.

Mat 24:15 When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand:)
Mat 24:16 Then let them which be in Judaea flee into the mountains:

Dan 9:27 And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate.


Matthew was a Jew, who would have been familiar with and used to using the exact terminology used in the OT scriptures. Luke, being a Gentile, would not have been. It doesn't seem to be a very strong argument that they are speaking about totally different occurrences.
 
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Daniel Martinovich

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I think that the question was answered in these verses right here.

John 21:23 - Then this saying abroad went out among the brothers, that this disciple (John) should not die: yet Jesus did not say to him, He shall not die; but, If I will that he remain till I come, what is that to you?

This is my opinion however, but who knows. I figure, that in this verse, it's showing that it was understood by the brothers and disciples that He meant not all would die, but that some would live to see His coming. But I believe this verse was worded that way so that it was known that what He meant, was more so along the lines of "what business is it of yours if I will this man lives until my coming? Are you God to know what He's planning? No, so follow me."

Not that John was to live until Jesus's return, but that if he was, so what? Whose business is it apart from God's? Do we know how He thinks? No, so submit regardless, and follow Him.

That's my take on it anyway.
Or it meant the early church was as confused about the subject as the church today and thought that John would be raptured rather than die. Since John, at least acceding to religious tradition was the only one of the apostles to live to see Jesus's prophecy come to pass. He with hindsight the others did not have thought it good to point out that Jesus did not say he would not die but would remain alive until Jesus came. In other words he understood what the coming of the Lord was while the "brethren" thought it was an end of the world scenario; ike most of the commentators on this thread. He was correcting that misconception.
 
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Daniel Martinovich

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Why they never appeared to mankind to preach Gospel if they are still alive until now ???

The taste of death realm can only be felt with our SOULS, so Jesus speaks about the saints who died in God and escape the taste of death of hell fire.
Why the need to twist and torture the scripture to come to a conclusion like that when every single verse of Matthew 24, Mark 13 and luke 21 came to passs with a vengence on the region in the lifetimes of many of those he was speaking to?
 
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Daniel Martinovich

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.
In the Old Testament, it is recorded that Enoch(GENESIS.5:24, HEBREWS.11:5, JUDE.1:14) and Elijah(2KINGS.2:11) were privileged to not taste death on earth before they were directly translated to heaven by God.

In the New Testament, 120 apostles and disciples of Christ(ACTS.1:15) experienced the miraculous Pentecost of ACTS.2. Later some of them likely also did not taste death on earth before they were directly translated to heaven = they would live long enough to see Jesus Christ's 2nd Coming to earth, as prophesied by Jesus Christ at MATTHEW.16:27, MARK.8:38 and LUKE.9:26.
.
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As per JOHN.21:18, it is possible that the apostle John is still living on earth = he is 2,000+ years old, because there is no record of his death. In comparison, it is recorded that the apostles Peter and Paul were executed/died in Rome.
... John may even be surfing this forum.
_ _ _ _ _ _ _

MATTHEW.19: = 26 But Jesus looked at them and said to them, “With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”
That would be a problem with your doctrine that teaches there is a one time end of the world as we know it event in the fuutre called a "second" coming. No problem at all though with the scripture that teaches that many of them remained alive until the coming of the Lord in the judgment against Jerusalem. Plus, why the need to twist and torture the scripture to come to a conclusion like that when every single verse of Matthew 24, Mark 13 and luke 21 came to passs with a vengence on the region in the lifetimes of many of those he was speaking to?
 
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Daniel Martinovich

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Jesus did not tell them He would come back before they parted from this world, he told them that they would "not taste of death". I have certainly read that Jesus comes to take the believers to be with him rather than experience death. This is what I think it means. I'll leave it for people with better doctrinal knowledge than me to confirm or correct me on this.
Yes he did tell them that. I can only ask the need to twist and torture the scripture to come to a conclusion like that when every single verse of Matthew 24, Mark 13 and luke 21 came to passs with a vengence on the region in the lifetimes of many of those he was speaking to?
 
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seventysevens

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when every single verse of Matthew 24, Mark 13 and luke 21 came to passs with a vengence on the region in the lifetimes of many of those he was speaking to?
Surely you don't think that every single verse in those chapters has actually come to pass - if you do you are VERY mistaken - think about it then you are saying that that no time in the present nor the future could possibly be Great Tribulation that would be as bad it is was 2000 years ago - simply false thinking to say such a thing

21 For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the world until this time, no, nor ever shall be. 22 And unless those days were shortened, no flesh would be saved; but for the elect’s sake those days will be shortened

If what you say is valid then we would find factual physical evidence that Jesus has returned to earth which we know has not yet happened - that kind of false teaching simply does not match to what Jesus said:

30 Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory
 
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Douggg

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In Luke Jesus tells them to flee to the mountains in 70 AD and in Matthew and Mark He tells them to flee to the mountains at some future time?
Exactly.

And in similitude to something that happened 1000's of years before, at the end of the 7 years when Jesus splits the Mt. of Olives in half, it says...

Zechariah 14:5 And ye shall flee to the valley of the mountains; for the valley of the mountains shall reach unto Azal: yea, ye shall flee, like as ye fled from before the earthquake in the days of Uzziah king of Judah: and the LORD my God shall come, and all the saints with thee.

Dan 9:27 And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate.

Matthew was a Jew, who would have been familiar with and used to using the exact terminology used in the OT scriptures. Luke, being a Gentile, would not have been. It doesn't seem to be a very strong argument that they are speaking about totally different occurrences.
Both Matthew and Luke were quoting Jesus weren't they?

It is a hugely strong argument that the desolation of Jerusalem in Luke is not the abomination of desolation in Matthew and Mark - because following the desolation of Jerusalem in Luke, is the dispersion of the Jews into the nations.

While in Matthew and Mark, following the abomination desolation event is the gathering of the elect - not dispersion. Matthew and Mark, the gathering of the elect, corresponds to Ezekiel 39, after the battle of Armageddon in Ezekiel 39:17-20....

27 When I have brought them again from the people, and gathered them out of their enemies' lands, and am sanctified in them in the sight of many nations;

28 Then shall they know that I am the LORD their God, which caused them to be led into captivity among the heathen: but I have gathered them unto their own land, and have left none of them any more there.





___________________________________________________________________________________
 
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Daniel Martinovich

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What is the particular reason you choose not believe in a 2nd coming ? is it simply the verbiage ? why make such an issue with it?

How do You read the following verse :

11 “Men of Galilee,” they said, “why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven.”

All these pages and you still won't make the point of what you intend by making this thread

reminds of the Seinfeld episode when Kramer went into the bank and expecting the "hello" to be exactly that - even though all the employees would greet him with -How are you ?- hey there !- good afternoon ! -Hi ! - and such greetings , but then Kramer said no one said "hello" to him :)
How do I read that? Exactly as it says. 11 “Men of Galilee,” they said, “why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven.” What I do not do is add the word "second" into the sentence with all the baggage that goes along with a teaching of men about a one time end of the world as we know it event called the "second" coming. I don't have to either since there are well over a dozen days of the Lord in scripture when he physically came to earth in great days of judgment like the one this occurred in the lifetimes of many of those he was speaking to. I have no need of twisting and torturing the scripture to make it fit al the pop culture end time teachings based on this. Every single verse of Matthew 24, Mark 13 and Luke 21 came to pass just like Jesus said it would and when he said it would. I also don't have any need to confuse this with other end time prophecy in the Old and New Testaments as it speaks to other nations, peoples and time periods. Tell me something that did not come to pass in Matthew 24, Mark 13 and Luke 21?
 
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seventysevens

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How do I read that? Exactly as it says. 11 “Men of Galilee,” they said, “why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven.” What I do not do is add the word "second" into the sentence with all the baggage that goes along with a teaching of men about a one time end of the world as we know it event called the "second" coming. I don't have to either since there are well over a dozen days of the Lord in scripture when he physically came to earth in great days of judgment like the one this occurred in the lifetimes of many of those he was speaking to. I have no need of twisting and torturing the scripture to make it fit al the pop culture end time teachings based on this. Every single verse of Matthew 24, Mark 13 and Luke 21 came to pass just like Jesus said it would and when he said it would. I also don't have any need to confuse this with other end time prophecy in the Old and New Testaments as it speaks to other nations, peoples and time periods. Tell me something that did not come to pass in Matthew 24, Mark 13 and Luke 21?
The end of the world does not mean it disappears , notice it is also called "the end of the age"

Surely you don't think that every single verse in those chapters has actually come to pass - if you do you are VERY mistaken - think about it then you are saying that that no time in the present nor the future could possibly be Great Tribulation that would be as bad it is was 2000 years ago - simply false thinking to say such a thing

21 For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the world until this time, no, nor ever shall be. 22 And unless those days were shortened, no flesh would be saved; but for the elect’s sake those days will be shortened

If what you say is valid then we would find factual physical evidence that Jesus has returned to earth which we know has not yet happened - that kind of false teaching simply does not match to what Jesus said:

30 Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory
 
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Daniel Martinovich

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Surely you don't think that every single verse in those chapters has actually come to pass - if you do you are VERY mistaken - think about it then you are saying that that no time in the present nor the future could possibly be Great Tribulation that would be as bad it is was 2000 years ago - simply false thinking to say such a thing

21 For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the world until this time, no, nor ever shall be. 22 And unless those days were shortened, no flesh would be saved; but for the elect’s sake those days will be shortened

If what you say is valid then we would find factual physical evidence that Jesus has returned to earth which we know has not yet happened - that kind of false teaching simply does not match to what Jesus said:

30 Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory
I certainly do contend that every single verse was fulfilled. From: The End Of An Age

Matthew 24:16. Then let them which are in Judea flee into the mountains: 17. Let him which is on the housetop not come down to take any thing out of his house: 18. Neither let him which is in the field return back to take his clothes. 19. And woe unto them that are with child, and to them that are nursing in those days! 20. But pray that your flight is not in the winter, neither on the Sabbath day: 21. For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be. 22. And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect's sake those days shall be shortened.
Mark 13:14..... then let them that are in Judea flee to the mountains: 15. And let him that is on the housetop not go down into the house, neither enter therein, to take any thing out of his house: 16. And let him that is in the field not turn back again for to take up his garment. 17. But woe to them that are with child, and to them that are nursing in those days! 18. And pray that your flight be not in the winter. 19. For in those days shall be affliction, such as was not from the beginning of the creation which God created to this time, neither shall be. 20. And except that the Lord had shortened those days, no flesh should be saved: but for the elect's sake, whom he has chosen, he has shortened the days.
Luke 21:21. Then let them which are in Judea flee to the mountains; and let them which are in the midst of it depart out; and let not them that are in the countries enter into it. 22. For these are the days of vengeance, that all things which are written may be fulfilled. 23. But woe to them that are with child, and to them that are nursing in those days! for there shall be great distress in the land, and wrath upon this people. 24. And they shall fall by the edge of the sword, and shall be led away captive into all nations: and Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled.
It's at this point that Jesus's prophecy starts to veer into the illustrative language common to Bible prophecy. Because it is purposefully difficult to understand and the vast majority of the 20th centuries believers have clearly not. It's the main reason they have strayed and ignored the context of the prophecy which is the destruction of the buildings and city they were looking at. So a little time will be spent on going back to the context. Luke's record of the event of Jesus's prophecy differs significantly from Matthew and Mark. In fact, without it; it would be far more difficult to reconcile Matthew and Marks wording in these verses with the over all context of the prophecy. Which is why we have Luke's record, which it will be helpful to say something about now. There is much contention from secular and leftist "scholars" about when the New Testament was written that have muddied the waters of common sense and history. Contentions that have nothing to do with physical evidence but are purely political and based on varying agenda's to discredit the scripture. Luke wrote his Gospel and addressed it to the Most Excellent Theophilus. These scholars are pretty sure of themselves no such person existed or it's just a title for some unknown Roman and therefore there is no reason to believe it was even written in the first century. Yet if one looks at any internet list of Jewish high priests of the first century Theophilus was high priest four years 37-41 AD at exactly the same time Luke's Gospel would have been written. This is also recorded in Josephus's contemporary history of the region. Not only this but according to the book: God's Honorable Mentions: Minor Players Who Impacted Bible Events by Jim Cole-Rous. ( Which I don't have time to independently verify.) Theophilus was a classmate of Paul (Saul) and perhaps even Luke in Gamaliel's college and some of the eye witnesses of the resurrection had close family ties to him. The last high priest before the war in 70 AD was also named Theophilus. So while there is no absolute proof Luke was writing to this high priest. It shatters the obnoxious speculation of secular\leftist "scholars" who make all kinds of baseless claims rooted in their ignorance and animosities. This isn't a rabbit trail of information. It's purpose is to head off temptation that would try to lead one to think that somehow Luke, even though it is the exact same prophecy written in the exact same order is somehow talking about something different than Matthew and Mark. It is not. It is self serving to think otherwise.
So lets look at what is being said. It's pretty apparent by all three accounts that the last chance to escape this will be as the previous verses said. Immediately when you see the armies withdrawing. It is clear that any hesitation to flee for any reason will result in their death. It turned out that this was because those that those who were leading the sedition against Rome were using terrorism to keep the people in Judea and forcing them to fight. Once they got back from chasing Cestius army that had inexplicitly left, that would be the last chance short of being raptured that anyone would have to escape. The reference to woman who were pregnant or people who had small children is obvious. Survival would be difficult.
The next issue in these verses are the declarations of the extent of the death and destruction. While Matthew and Mark's language seem to create open ended impressions of death and destruction un-paralleled in past, present and future history; which would be historically false. Luke actually says exactly what this language is referring to; which was historically accurate. To verify this some more it's probably a good idea to delve into other prophecies about it. The order in which all three accounts of this prophecy and when it was given are the same. The day before this prophecy was given. In fulfillment of messianic prophecy Jesus rode into Jerusalem according to Zechariah 9:9 Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion; shout, O daughter of Jerusalem: behold, your King comes to you: he is just, and having salvation; lowly, and riding upon an ass, and upon a colt the foal of an ass. The people of Jerusalem do exactly as this prophecy predicted. They meet him, they cast their clothes on the ground for the colt to walk on. The shout for joy and proclaim him the the Messiah, the Son of David the King of Israel. Jesus went to the temple and threw out the money changers and begins to heal the sick in the temple. Then the political leaders of Israel, enraged by all this descend upon him in the temple and attempt to get him to denounce what the people had just done. Jesus does not. He comes back the next day and begins to teach the people. Once more the political leaders show up to question his authority to even be in the temple and teach. His confrontations and denunciations of them in the temple are what lead to this prophecy that occurs the same day as they are leaving the temple and his disciples are commenting on the beautiful buildings of the temple mount. So the next few paragraphs of scripture are just a few from the chapters of Jesus's confrontation with those political leaders in the temple the day of the prophecy of Matthew 24, Mark 13 and Luke 21.
AKJV (Jesus speaking.)
Matthew 23: 29 Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! because you build the tombs of the prophets, and garnish the sepulchers of the righteous, 30 And say, If we had been in the days of our fathers, we would not have been partakers with them in the blood of the prophets. 31 Why you be witnesses to yourselves, that you are the children of them which killed the prophets. 32 Fill you up then the measure of your fathers. 33 You serpents, you generation of vipers, how can you escape the damnation of hell? 34 Why, behold, I send to you prophets, and wise men, and scribes: and some of them you shall kill and crucify; and some of them shall you whip in your synagogues, and persecute them from city to city: 35 That on you may come all the righteous blood shed on the earth, from the blood of righteous Abel to the blood of Zacharias son of Barachias, whom you slew between the temple and the altar. 36 Truly I say to you, All these things shall come on this generation. 37 O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you that kill the prophets, and stone them which are sent to you, how often would I have gathered your children together, even as a hen gathers her chickens under her wings, and you would not! 38 Behold, your house is left to you desolate.
Luke's account says this: Luke 19:41 And when he was come near, he beheld the city, and wept over it, 42 Saying, If you had known, even you, at least in this your day, the things which belong to your peace! but now they are hid from your eyes. 43 For the days shall come on you, that your enemies shall cast a trench about you, and compass you round, and keep you in on every side, 44 And shall lay you even with the ground, and your children within you; and they shall not leave in you one stone on another; because you knew not the time of your visitation.
All three accounts quote this parable. Matthew 21:33 Hear another parable: There was a certain householder, which planted a vineyard, and hedged it round about, and dig a wine press in it, and built a tower, and let it out to farmers, and went into a far country: 34 And when the time of the fruit drew near, he sent his servants to the farmers, that they might receive the fruits of it. 35 And the farmers took his servants, and beat one, and killed another, and stoned another. 36 Again, he sent other servants more than the first: and they did to them likewise. 37 But last of all he sent to them his son, saying, They will reverence my son. 38 But when the farmers saw the son, they said among themselves, This is the heir; come, let us kill him, and let us seize on his inheritance. 39 And they caught him, and cast him out of the vineyard, and slew him. 40 When the lord therefore of the vineyard comes, what will he do to those farmers? 41 They say to him, He will miserably destroy those wicked men, and will let out his vineyard to other farmers, which shall render him the fruits in their seasons. 42 Jesus said to them, Did you never read in the scriptures, The stone which the builders rejected, the same is become the head of the corner: this is the Lord's doing, and it is marvelous in our eyes? 43 Therefore say I to you, The kingdom of God shall be taken from you, and given to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof. 44 And whoever shall fall on this stone shall be broken: but on whomsoever it shall fall, it will grind him to powder. 45 And when the chief priests and Pharisees had heard his parables, they perceived that he spoke of them. 46 But when they sought to lay hands on him, they feared the multitude, because they took him for a prophet.
While all of these scriptures confirm and clarify the context of the prophecy there may still be question in the hearts of some readers as to why Jesus would use the language he did as recorded by Matthew and Mark when it can be so easily taken out of the context of the prophecy. There is an answer within the verses above and in the whole of scripture regarding the end of the Old Covenant age. Something that never happened before nor ever will again. That God chose a single people for the purpose of bringing his written word into the earth. Plus, to bring the messiah into the earth according to that written word and to establish a beachhead for his long planned invasion of all the nations by the invisible kingdom of God. This mission was accomplished. Since most in ancient Israel never went along with this calling it was the main cause of this calamity. So if one looks at Ancient Israel's calling and all the circumstances that surrounded everything that happened. It is something that would never again be repeated in the world. Jesus was quoting Old Testament prophecies about this. Among many others mainly Daniel 12:1. And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which stands for the children of your people: and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time: and at that time your people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book. Daniel's verse, according to the timeline laid out in his book also clearly places this word of prophecy in the first century. You can read that along with all it's historical data here regarding Daniel 11-12. This leads us to the next subject of these verses. The deliverance of the faithful.
One of the primary motives for Jesus giving this prophecy was so the faithful and anyone else that would heed his words would be delivered from this judgment. The Apostle John was the only one who wrote a Gospel and did not record this prophecy. One of the reasons could be that he would be the only one among the twelve apostles to live to see it's fulfillment. Just as Jesus said in John 21: 21 Peter seeing him said to Jesus, Lord, and what shall this man (John) do? 22 Jesus said to him, If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to you? you follow me. 23 Then went this saying abroad among the brothers, that that disciple should not die: yet Jesus said not to him, He shall not die; but, If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to you? God may have not wanted any writing about it after the fact. Or perhaps, it's because John would record it in approximately a chapters worth of the book Revelation right in that books timeline where it belongs. The first century. That is what the 144,000 Jewish believers of the book of Revelation illustrate. The "elect," delivered from the destruction prophesied. As it does in this prophecy recorded by Matthew, Mark and Luke. Many other prophecies about the end of this Old Covenant Age predict the deliverance of the believers not from persecution and martyrdom; but from this holocaust type war that destroyed most of the Jewish people and the land of Judea. Here is the prophecy of this in the timeline of the book of Revelation.
The last subject of note in these verses concerns Luke 21: 24. And they shall fall by the edge of the sword, and shall be led away captive into all nations: and Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled. The only "times" of the Gentiles in scripture, or, the only thing one could use in scripture to interpret just what these "times of the gentiles" are, would be all the prophecies and historical records in scripture about the four gentile empires that ruled over God's Old and New Testament saints. That age also had a specific date when it would end prophesied in scripture. (If you know where to look.) When that fourth empire was to end an age of promise was to begin to appear. It just so happened that when that age ended. The New Jerusalem, God's saints, just began to not be trampled under foot by peoples and nations who have set themselves against it. 500 years later. When there were enough real Christians in the world and they were exercising enough influence in the great nations of the world. The Jewish people were shown mercy and got their homeland back. So we have a double whammy prophecy here.
 
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jgr

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Other than a small number of exceptions, the following represent the prevailing fulfilled view of Matthew 24 and its parallel passages for 18 centuries of Christian Church history.


160AD Clement of Alexandria

(On Matthew 24:15, The Abomination of Desolation) "We have still to add to our chronology the following, -- I mean the days which Daniel indicates from the desolation of Jerusalem, the seven years and seven months of the reign of Vespasian. For the two years are added to the seventeen months and eighteen days of Otho, and Galba, and Vitellius; and the result is three years and six months, which is "the half of the week," as Daniel the prophet said. For he said that there were two thousand three hundred days from the time that the abomination of Nero stood in the holy city, till its destruction. For thus the declaration, which is subjoined, shows: "How long shall be the vision, the sacrifice taken away, the abomination of desolation, which is given, and the power and the holy place shall be trodden under foot? And he said to him, Till the evening and morning, two thousand three hundred days, and the holy place shall be taken away."


325AD Eusebius Pamphilius

Ecclesiastical History: (On Matthew 24:15) "--all these things, as well as the many great sieges which were carried on against the cities of Judea, and the excessive. sufferings endured by those that fled to Jerusalem itself, as to a city of perfect safety, and finally the general course of the whole war, as well as its particular occurrences in detail, and how at last the abomination of desolation, proclaimed by the prophets, stood in the very temple of God, so celebrated of old, the temple which was now awaiting its total and final destruction by fire,-- all these things any one that wishes may find accurately described in the history written by Josephus." (Book III, Ch. 5)


375AD John Chrysostom

Homily St. Matthew: (On Matthew 24:15) "And see how He relates the war, by the things that seem to be small setting forth how intolerable it was to be. For, "Then,"saith He, "let them which be in Judaea flee into the mountains." Then, When? When these things should be, "when the abomination of desolation should stand in the holy place." Whence He seems to me to be speaking of the armies." (Homily 76, Number 1)


John Calvin

Matthew 24:15

When you shall see the abomination of desolation. Because the destruction of the temple and city of Jerusalem, together with the overthrow of the whole Jewish government, was (as we have already said) a thing incredible, and because it might be thought strange, that the disciples could not be saved without being torn from that nation, to which had been committed the adoption and the covenant(Romans 9:4) of eternal salvation, Christ confirms both by the testimony of Daniel As if he had said, That you may not be too strongly attached to the temple and to the ceremonies of the Law, God has limited them to a fixed time, 136 and has long ago declared, that when the Redeemer should come, sacrifices would cease; and that it may not give you uneasiness to be cut off from your own nation, God has also forewarned his people, that in due time it would be rejected.


Adam Clarke

Matthew 24:15

The abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel - This abomination of desolation, St. Luke, (Luk 21:20, Luk 21:21), refers to the Roman army; and this abomination standing in the holy place is the Roman army besieging Jerusalem; this, our Lord says, is what was spoken of by Daniel the prophet, in the ninth and eleventh chapters of his prophecy; and so let every one who reads these prophecies understand them; and in reference to this very event they are understood by the rabbins. The Roman army is called an abomination, for its ensigns and images, which were so to the Jews. Josephus says, (War, b. vi. chap. 6), the Romans brought their ensigns into the temple, and placed them over against the eastern gate, and sacrificed to them there. The Roman army is therefore fitly called the abomination, and the abomination which maketh desolate, as it was to desolate and lay waste Jerusalem; and this army besieging Jerusalem is called by St. Mark, Mar 13:14, standing where it ought not, that is, as in the text here, the holy place; as not only the city, but a considerable compass of ground about it, was deemed holy, and consequently no profane persons should stand on it.

Matthew 24:16

Then let them which be in Judea flee into the mountains - This counsel was remembered and wisely followed by the Christians afterwards. Eusebius and Epiphanius say, that at this juncture, after Cestius Gallus had raised the siege, and Vespasian was approaching with his army, all who believed in Christ left Jerusalem and fled to Pella, and other places beyond the river Jordan; and so they all marvellously escaped the general shipwreck of their country: not one of them perished. See on Mat 24:13 (note).


Matthew Henry

Matthew 24:15

Here he comes more closely to answer their questions concerning the desolation of the temple; and what he said here, would be of use to his disciples, both for their conduct and for their comfort, in reference to that great event; he describes the several steps of that calamity, such as are usual in war.1. The Romans setting up the abomination of desolation in the holy place, v. 15. Now, (1.) Some understand by this an image, or statue, set up in the temple by some of the Roman governors, which was very offensive to the Jews, provoked them to rebel, and so brought the desolation upon them. The image of Jupiter Olympius, which Antiochus caused to be set upon the altar of God, is called Bdelygma eremoseos —The abomination of desolation, the very word here used by the historian, 1 Mac. 1:54 . Since the captivity in Babylon, nothing was, nor could be, more distasteful to the Jews than an image in the holy place, as appeared by the mighty opposition they made when Caligula offered to set up his statue there, which had been of fatal consequence, if it had not been prevented, and the matter accommodated, by the conduct of Petronius; but Herod did set up an eagle over the temple-gate; and, some say, the statue of Titus was set up in the temple. (2.) Others choose to expound it by the parallel place (Lu. 21:20 ),when ye shall see Jerusalem compassed with armies. Jerusalem was the holy city, Canaan the holy land, the Mount Moriah, which lay about Jerusalem, for its nearness to the temple was, they thought in a particular manner holy ground; on the country lying round about Jerusalem the Roman army was encamped, that was the abomination that made desolate. The land of an enemy is said to be the land which thou abhorrest (Isa. 7:16 ); so an enemy’s army to a weak but wilful people may well be called the abomination.Now this is said to be spoken of by Daniel, the prophet, who spoke more plainly of the Messiah and his kingdom than any of the Old-Testament prophets did. He speaks of an abomination making desolate, which should be set up by Antiochus (Dan. 11:31Dan. 12:11 ); but this that our Saviour refers to, we have in the message that the angel brought him (Dan. 9:27 ), of what should come at the end of seventy weeks, long after the former; for the overspreading of abominations, or, as the margin reads it, with the abominable armies (which comes home to the prophecy here), he shall make it desolate.


John Wesley

Matthew 24:15-16
24:15
When ye see the abomination of desolation - Daniel's term is, The abomination that maketh desolate, Daniel 11:31 ; that is, the standards of the desolating legions, onwhich they bear the abominable images of their idols: Standing in the holy place - Not only the temple and the mountain on which it stood, but the whole city of Jerusalem, and several furlongs of land round about it, were accounted holy; particularly the mount on which our Lord now sat, and on which the Romans afterward planted their ensigns. He that readeth let him understand - Whoever reads that prophecy of Daniel, let him deeply consider it. 13:14 ; Luke 21:20; Dan 9:27.

24:16
Then let them who are in Judea flee to the mountains - So the Christians did, and were preserved. It is remarkable that after the Romans under Cestus Gallus made their first advances toward Jerusalem, they suddenly withdrew again, in a most unexpected and indeed impolitic manner. This the Christians took as a signal to retire, which they did, some to Pella, and others to Mount Libanus.


Charles Spurgeon

Matthew 24:15-18

This portion of our Savior’s words appears to relate solely to the destruction of Jerusalem. As soon as Christ’s disciples saw “the abomination of desolation,” that is, the Roman ensigns with their idolatrous emblems, “stand in the holy place,” they knew that the time for them to escape had arrived—and they did “flee into the mountains.” The Christians in Jerusalem and the surrounding towns and villages “in Judaea,” availed themselves of the first opportunity for eluding the Roman armies, and fled to the mountain city of Pella, in Perea, where they were preserved from the general destruction which overthrew the Jews. There was no time to spare before the final investment of the guilty city. The man “on the housetop” could “not come down to take anything out of his house,” and the man “in the field” could not “return back to take his clothes.” They must flee to the mountains in the greatest haste, the moment that they saw “Jerusalem compassed with armies” (Luke 21:20).
 
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Daniel Martinovich

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Jesus warned people not to look for the kingdom of heaven as a place on earth, for the kingdom of heaven is within.

Luke 17:21 neither will they say, ‘Look, here!’ or, ‘Look, there!’ for behold, God’s Kingdom is within you.

People were expecting a Jesus in the flesh instead of the Holy Spirit. Jesus will become more apparent as a new heaven and earth will be established as Peter prophesied in his second epistle. A 2nd coming is inferred by some passages, although not easily understood. Resurrection was promised to the saints.

Matthew 24:35 (WEB) Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.
Afraid I have a totally different take of that verse:
What Is The Government Of God?
 
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