Thoughs of the tribulation

[FutureAndAHope]

I put this in another section, but though it might be better here.

The following is just my opinion, and could be wrong. But I believe that we are soon to enter the time of tribulation explained in the book of revelation in the bible, starting with a global war. The church will be hunted down during a part of the tribulation, deprived of food, not able to buy or sell, many will die of sickness, and hunger, and eventually many believers will be put to death by those who hate them. All sound fairly bad does not it?

Although the bible describes that many Christians will be killed during the tribulation, I can’t see that it is biblical that every believer will go through that type of suffering, essentially it is not a requirement to suffer to enter the gates of heaven. Why do I say that? We look to the men of faith in the bible Joshua, King David, and Joseph, Moses, none of them died a horrible death, God preserved them from wars conflicts and death through their faith, they are all in heaven today. Why is there to be suffering? The bible suggests that those who are forced to suffer for Christ will have higher position of honour in heaven, a better resurrection. Note what Hebrews says,

Heb 11:33-34 who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, quenched the power of fire, escaped the edge of the sword … and others were tortured, not accepting their deliverance; that they might obtain a better resurrection: and others had trial of mockings and scourgings, yea, moreover of bonds and imprisonment:

The bible praises two groups, those with faith to be delivered from the power of the sword unharmed, and those who were persecuted for their faith and gave their lives up to receive a better resurrection, they surrendered themselves to be tortured, had mocking and scourging’s at the hands of evil men.

Do I know who will suffer and who will not? Not at all? Maybe all will suffer to a degree? But have faith in God at this time, for the one who overcomes, and is faithful to the end shall be saved.

I am a bit of a sissy, and don’t like the idea of suffering, so the way I have been thinking is that through God’s preservation, His powerful working, one may escape the power of the sword. For Jesus word can not be broken, and He said:

Mar 11:22-24 Have faith in God. Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou taken up and cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that what he saith cometh to pass; he shall have it. Therefore I say unto you, All things whatsoever ye pray and ask for, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them.

There are going to be many mountains at this time, things which will destroy and kill, but as Christ’s children He has given you precious promises. I wonder if these can be used to avoid trouble. If we can trust in God’s preserving power.

The bible suggests even when people do persecute the church, that there is a degree of preservation, the bible says:

Luk 21:16-18 But ye shall be delivered up even by parents, and brethren, and kinsfolk, and friends; and some of you shall they cause to be put to death. And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake. And not a hair of your head shall perish.

“not a hair of your head shall perish”, so I would say ask God in faith to preserve you, to keep you safe from pain of torture, through His preserving promises. If God can blind an army for Elisha, or provide food for the hungry widow, what can he not do for you, to preserve you and keep you safe from those who would deprive you of provision, or seek your harm.

2Ki 6:18 As the Syrian army came closer, Elisha prayed, "LORD, make those soldiers blind!" And the LORD blinded them with a bright light.

1Ki 17:14-15 For this is the word of the Lord, the God of Israel: The store of meal will not come to an end, and the bottle will never be without oil, till the day when the Lord sends rain on the earth. So she went and did as Elijah said; and she and he and her family had food for a long time.

So I hope I don’t suffer, or have to go through the hard things, but if I do then I pray that I will not turn back. Like the Hebrew children who would not bow before the false god that Nebuchadnezzar set up, saying “Our God can deliver us, but if He does not we will not serve your gods”. So too let’s stand in faith believing God will preserve us alive, if not then may he receive praise through the trial.

 

[Gottservant]

The question of the tribulation can trouble some, even after the time of the tribulation.

What it asks of you is three things: what order do you do things in, who do you do them for and what praise do you have for the one you do it for (this is a tribulationally hard saying).

The big picture itself is up to God (it's just that up to the point of the tribulation emerging among men, men have no concrete idea of how they are to be tested).

 

[David Kent]

The following is just my opinion, and could be wrong. But I believe that we are soon to enter the time of tribulation explained in the book of revelation in the bible, starting with a global war. The church will be hunted down during a part of the tribulation, deprived of food, not able to buy or sell, many will die of sickness, and hunger, and eventually many believers will be put to death by those who hate them. All sound fairly bad does not it?

Although the bible describes that many Christians will be killed during the tribulation, I can’t see that it is biblical that every believer will go through that type of suffering, essentially it is not a requirement to suffer to enter the gates of heaven.

There are two great tribulations mentioned in the scriptures, the first in the Olivet prophecy, which was on the Jews in the first century as a punishment for rejecting God's anointed and crucifying him. The second is in Revelation and is on the church. This has happened all through what is sometimes called "the Church Age". It happened under Pagan Rome and came to a partial halt under Constantine, it was reintroduced with more force under the Popes and the Metropolitans. It reached its peak under the Inquisition that tool of the devil., straight from the pit. At one time the Huguenots were almost 50% of the population of France but were destroyed by tribulation. Is tribulation on the Church normal? Of Course. Jesus said so.

• John 16:33 These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.

Other writers say similar

• Acts 14:22 Confirming the souls of the disciples, and exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God.
• Romans 5:3 And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience;
• Romans 8:35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?
• Romans 12:12 Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer;
• 2 Corr 1:4 Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.
• 2 Corr 7:4 Great is my boldness of speech toward you, great is my glorying of you: I am filled with comfort, I am exceeding joyful in all our tribulation.
• 1 Thess 3:4 For verily, when we were with you, we told you before that we should suffer tribulation; even as it came to pass, and ye know.
• 2 Thess 1:6 Seeing it is a righteous thing with God to recompense tribulation to them that trouble you;
• Rev 1:9 I John, who also am your brother, and companion in tribulation, and in the kingdom and
• patience of Jesus Christ, was in the isle that is called Patmos, for the word of God, and for the testimony of Jesus Christ.
• Rev 2:9 I know thy works, and tribulation, and poverty, (but thou art rich) and I know the blasphemy of them which say they are Jews, and are not, but are the synagogue of Satan.

 

[seventysevens]

There are two great tribulations mentioned in the scriptures, the first in the Olivet prophecy,

No , that truly is a false understanding as there is only one Great Tribulation - as spoken by Jesus making reference to what Daniel prophesied about.

Jesus tells us that the result of the Great Trib would result in ALL flesh perishing - not just people but all flesh including the animal kingdom and all fish in the sea - (If He Jesus did not return to put an end to it)in the Olivet prophecy, Jesus spoke of the same events as in Revelation - which is HIS revelation to John - that includes Jesus return to earth to establish His Kingdom on earth

 

[R. Hartono]

https://www.christianforums.com/bible/mark/13:27/
The whole world will watch on this Mighty Day of Rapture millions of angels coming down to gather His elect.
Mark 13:27 And he will send His angels and gather His elect from the four winds,

1 Thes 4:16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:
17 Then we which are ALIVE and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air.

And the foolish virgins will be left

 

[shilohsfoal]

Stay away from the middle east.

Revelation 6:8 I looked, and there before me was a pale horse! Its rider was named Death, and Hades was following close behind him. They were given power over a fourth of the earth to kill by sword, famine and plague, and by the wild beasts of the earth.

They are given power over the fourth part of the earth. Not the entire earth.
And please note.The place called Armegeddon is in Israel.Not Canada or China.
Revelation 16:16 KJV: And he gathered them together into a place called in the Hebrew tongue Armageddon.

In just a few years ,the Israeli government will have its cashless society.Maybe you will understand then.

 

[David Kent]

No , that truly is a false understanding as there is only one Great Tribulation - as spoken by Jesus making reference to what Daniel prophesied about.

It is not my understanding that is false. The GT in Olivet was clearly on Jerusalem and the Jews. It was in the first century. Jesus was speaking to the disciples when he said, "When you see the abomination of desolation," that is the armies surrounding Jerusalem Luke 21:20 then know that its desolation is nigh. It was Jerusalem that was to be desolated by the abomination. It was. All Christians in Jerusalem saw the abominable armies and fled, (They understood)

You futurists have been sold a pup. The futurist teaching was invented by Jesuits like Ribeira and Belarmine with one aim, to counter the true teaching of the Reformation Church and the pre Reformation Churches that the Pope is Antichrist. It was first introduced in the protestant church by Edward Irving who was a Scottist Presbyterian who claimed to be the first to preach on Dispensationalism in his Christmas Day sermon in 1825.. It was then adopted by John Darby a High Anglican who took over the emerging Plymouth Brethren, and who developed it. The teaching was mainly confined to these two groups and was widely considered to be a heresy during the 19th century.

Philip Mauro, a New York lawyer said he was one of the first to accept it. He wrote that it was first taken to NY about the turn of the 20th century by a Brethren man. He wrote futurist books while he believed that teaching and said he looked down on those who did not accept the new teaching. Writing in 1923, he said that there were many there who can remember the time before the teaching arrived.

The great escalation of this false teaching was the Scofield Bible which was given free to bable colleges and students in the USA.

What does the bible say about new teachings in these last days?

• 1 Timothy 4:1 Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;

 

[vinsight4u]

/nvm

 

[vinsight4u]

/nvm

 

[vinsight4u]

/nvm

 

[LastSeven]

We are already in the tribulation. We have been since the fall.

 

[David Kent]

The end times is when the abomination that Daniel foretold happens at the holy site. It is when the final days of Babylon over the world will take place.
Babylon/Iraq area

Jesus Christ told His people that they would not see any signs from heaven.
His generation would only see the sign of Jonas.

The end times will have signs in the heavens and upon the earth. That time will be cut short. It ends with the return of Jesus Christ and the saints are changed. They get gathered unto Him in the air. It is soon followed by the vials full of His wrath - leading to the battle at the end of Rev. 19.

You people are so mixed up. The sign of Jonas was Jesus being in the grave for three days and three nights.

 

[Davy]

I put this in another section, but though it might be better here.

The following is just my opinion, and could be wrong. But I believe that we are soon to enter the time of tribulation explained in the book of revelation in the bible, starting with a global war. The church will be hunted down during a part of the tribulation, deprived of food, not able to buy or sell, many will die of sickness, and hunger, and eventually many believers will be put to death by those who hate them. All sound fairly bad does not it?

Although the bible describes that many Christians will be killed during the tribulation, I can’t see that it is biblical that every believer will go through that type of suffering, essentially it is not a requirement to suffer to enter the gates of heaven. Why do I say that? We look to the men of faith in the bible Joshua, King David, and Joseph, Moses, none of them died a horrible death, God preserved them from wars conflicts and death through their faith, they are all in heaven today. Why is there to be suffering? The bible suggests that those who are forced to suffer for Christ will have higher position of honour in heaven, a better resurrection. Note what Hebrews says,

Heb 11:33-34 who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, quenched the power of fire, escaped the edge of the sword … and others were tortured, not accepting their deliverance; that they might obtain a better resurrection: and others had trial of mockings and scourgings, yea, moreover of bonds and imprisonment:

The bible praises two groups, those with faith to be delivered from the power of the sword unharmed, and those who were persecuted for their faith and gave their lives up to receive a better resurrection, they surrendered themselves to be tortured, had mocking and scourging’s at the hands of evil men.

Do I know who will suffer and who will not? Not at all? Maybe all will suffer to a degree? But have faith in God at this time, for the one who overcomes, and is faithful to the end shall be saved.

I am a bit of a sissy, and don’t like the idea of suffering, so the way I have been thinking is that through God’s preservation, His powerful working, one may escape the power of the sword. For Jesus word can not be broken, and He said:

Mar 11:22-24 Have faith in God. Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou taken up and cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that what he saith cometh to pass; he shall have it. Therefore I say unto you, All things whatsoever ye pray and ask for, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them.

There are going to be many mountains at this time, things which will destroy and kill, but as Christ’s children He has given you precious promises. I wonder if these can be used to avoid trouble. If we can trust in God’s preserving power.

The bible suggests even when people do persecute the church, that there is a degree of preservation, the bible says:

Luk 21:16-18 But ye shall be delivered up even by parents, and brethren, and kinsfolk, and friends; and some of you shall they cause to be put to death. And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake. And not a hair of your head shall perish.

“not a hair of your head shall perish”, so I would say ask God in faith to preserve you, to keep you safe from pain of torture, through His preserving promises. If God can blind an army for Elisha, or provide food for the hungry widow, what can he not do for you, to preserve you and keep you safe from those who would deprive you of provision, or seek your harm.

2Ki 6:18 As the Syrian army came closer, Elisha prayed, "LORD, make those soldiers blind!" And the LORD blinded them with a bright light.

1Ki 17:14-15 For this is the word of the Lord, the God of Israel: The store of meal will not come to an end, and the bottle will never be without oil, till the day when the Lord sends rain on the earth. So she went and did as Elijah said; and she and he and her family had food for a long time.

So I hope I don’t suffer, or have to go through the hard things, but if I do then I pray that I will not turn back. Like the Hebrew children who would not bow before the false god that Nebuchadnezzar set up, saying “Our God can deliver us, but if He does not we will not serve your gods”. So too let’s stand in faith believing God will preserve us alive, if not then may he receive praise through the trial.

Those on the pre-trib rapture doctrine have had their authors that pushed all kinds of death and turmoil and world wars for the end, using those things as a scare tactic to draw people over into their pre-trib rapture theology. Hal Lindsay is one of those writers especially with his book The Late Great Planet Earth, and now it's Tim LaHaye's Left-Behind books and movies. But it's mostly dreamed up junk used to help prop up the false pre-trib rapture theory.

I'm not saying those of us in Christ Jesus won't be persecuted during the coming tribulation (Acts 14:22). I'm saying that future time is not going to be a time of war at all, but a time of world peace, though not a real world peace like when Jesus comes to take reign over all nations (Matt.24:6; 1 Thess.5:3; Dan.8:25). Jesus told us to prepare for death, basically not to worry about death, because those who kill our flesh they can't kill our soul (Matt.10:28).

This present world is merely a passage through the night; all will see that at the resurrection; even the wicked when God's consuming fire burns up man's works off the surface of the earth on the last day of this world (2 Peter 3). The truly important matter is who we follow, and those in Christ Jesus keeping the Faith, and also defending the Faith (spiritually of course).

In Revelation 11 concerning God's two witnesses for the end, two candlesticks are mentioned along with them. Jesus said the seven candlesticks represent the seven Churches in Asia (Rev.1:20). That is pointing to two Churches making a stand with God's two witnesses during the tribulation for 1260 days. Some of us will be delivered up to give a Testimony for Christ Jesus, and that's when Jesus said don't premeditate what we will say in that hour, because it won't be us that speaks, but The Holy Spirit speaking through us to the world (when the true cloven tongue will manifest again). That is why those under the altar in Rev.6 that asked, "How long?" were told to wait for their brethren who likewise as they were killed for their Testimony will also be killed at the end.

 

[Davy]

It is not my understanding that is false. The GT in Olivet was clearly on Jerusalem and the Jews. It was in the first century. Jesus was speaking to the disciples when he said, "When you see the abomination of desolation," that is the armies surrounding Jerusalem Luke 21:20 then know that its desolation is nigh. It was Jerusalem that was to be desolated by the abomination. It was. All Christians in Jerusalem saw the abominable armies and fled, (They understood)

You futurists have been sold a pup. The futurist teaching was invented by Jesuits like Ribeira and Belarmine with one aim, to counter the true teaching of the Reformation Church and the pre Reformation Churches that the Pope is Antichrist. It was first introduced in the protestant church by Edward Irving who was a Scottist Presbyterian who claimed to be the first to preach on Dispensationalism in his Christmas Day sermon in 1825.. It was then adopted by John Darby a High Anglican who took over the emerging Plymouth Brethren, and who developed it. The teaching was mainly confined to these two groups and was widely considered to be a heresy during the 19th century.

I believe in a Post-trib return of our Lord Jesus, so the Futurist label doesn't really apply to me, because that label was used to point to those on the Pre-trib Rapture theory.

Yet many who use that Futurist label even misapply it to Christ's future 2nd coming! So that label really is a joke! Nothing but men's doctrine.

What's even funnier is that the 1st century Church fathers also held the belief that the events of our Lord Jesus' Olivet Discourse and His Revelation was about the coming of the Antichrist at the end of this world, which according to men's Futurist label made them Futurists also!

And now since we well know the pope is not... the Antichrist, because no pope has ever fulfilled the prophecies for the end in Jerusalem like our Lord Jesus and His Apostles taught, we still have these "Reformer leftovers" raising a stink about Bible prophecy that is still future and has not come to pass yet! The Reformation is over! The pope wasn't the Antichrist as they believed, nor is the pope the Antichrist today! Get over it and join the 21st century instead of living in the past.

 

[seventysevens]

I believe in a Post-trib return of our Lord Jesus, so the Futurist label doesn't really apply to me, because that label was used to point to those on the Pre-trib Rapture theory.

.

The futurist view assigns all or most of the prophecy to the future, shortly before the Second Coming; especially when interpreted in conjunction with Daniel, Isaiah 2:11-22, 1 Thessalonians 4:15–5:11, and other eschatological sections of the Bible
Futurists differ on when believers will be raptured, but there are three primary views: 1) before the tribulation; 2) near or at the midpoint of the tribulation; or 3) at the end of the tribulation. There is also a fourth view of multiple raptures throughout the tribulation, but this view does not have a mainstream following.

Futurism, Preterism or Historicism?

What is historicism? What is the historicist interpretation of the book of Revelation?

You are a Futurist regardless what view you have on when the rapture happens

 

[seventysevens]

It is not my understanding that is false. The GT in Olive was clearly on Jerusalem and the Jews.

Clearly your understanding of that is false -simply enough that Jesus stated outright during the Olivet that when the GT happens destruction so bad that no flesh would be saved if it were not for Him returning to put an end to it , It has not happened and Jesus has yet to return , but it will happen soon - Then you can say you are correct

 

[jgr]

The majority of Matthew 24 is Christ's literal description of events that would occur in the period leading up to the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 AD. These are confirmed both scripturally and historically.

DECEIVERS

Matthew: "And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you, For many shall come in my name saying, I am Christ, and shall deceive many" (24:4,5).

Mark: "And Jesus answering them began to say, Take heed lest any man deceive you; For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ, and shall deceive many" (13:5,6).

Luke: "And he said, Take heed that ye be not deceived; for many shall come in my name saying, I am Christ, and the time draweth near; go ye not therefore after them" (21:8).

Did such deceivers or false Christs arise and deceive many in those years before the destruction of Jerusalem? Yes.

According to Josephus, the noted Jewish historian, twelve years after our Saviour's death, a certain impostor named Theudas persuaded a great multitude to follow him to the river Jordan which he claimed would divide for their passage. At the time of Felix (who is mentioned in the book of Acts), the country of the Jews was filled with impostors who Felix had put to death EVERY DAY—a statement which indicates that there were "many" of such in those days.

An Egyptian who "pretended to be a prophet" gathered 30,000 men, claiming that he would show "how, at his command, the walls of Jerusalem would fall down."

Another deceiver was Simon, a sorcerer, who led people to believe he was the great power of God (See Acts 8). According to Irenaeus, Simon claimed to be the Son of God and creator of angels. Jerome says that he claimed to be the Word of God, the Almighty. Justin relates that he went to Rome and was acclaimed as a god by his magical powers.

Origen mentions a certain wonder-worker, Dositheus, who claimed he was the Christ foretold by Moses. Another deceiver in those days was Barchochebas who, according to Jerome, claimed to vomit flames. Bar-jesus is mentioned in Acts 13:6 as a sorcerer and false prophet. These are examples of the deceivers of whom history says there were "a great number," and of whom Jesus had prophesied that there would be "many."

WARS AND RUMORS OF WARS

Matthew: "And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars. See that ye be not troubled; for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. For nation shall rise against nation and kingdom against kingdom" (24:6,7).

Mark: "And when ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars, be ye not troubled; for such things must needs be, but the end is not yet, For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom" (13:7, 8).

Luke: "But when ye shall hear of wars and commotions, be not terrified; for these things must first come to pass; but the end is not by and by [immediately]. Then said he unto them, Nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom (21:9,10).

We are told that when Jesus gave this prophecy, the Roman Empire was experiencing a general peace within its borders. Jesus explained to his disciples that they would be hearing of wars, rumors of wars, and commotions. And did they? Yes. Within a short time the Empire was filled with strife, insurrection, and wars.

Before the fall of Jerusalem, four Emperors came to violent deaths within the space of 18 months. According to the historian Suetonius (who lived during the latter part of the first century and the beginning of the second), Nero "drove a dagger into his throat.'' Galba was run down by horsemen. A soldier cut off his head and "thrusting his thumb into the mouth," carried the horrid trophy about. Otho "stabbed himself" in the breast. Vitellius was killed by slow torture and then "dragged by a hook into the Tiber." We can understand that such fate falling on the Emperors would naturally spread distress and insecurity through the Empire.

In the Annals of Tacitus, a Roman who wrote a history which covers the period prior to 70 A. D., we find such expressions as these: "Disturbances in Germany," "commotions in Africa," "commotions in Thrace," "insurrections in Gaul," "intrigues among the Parthians," "the war in Britain," "war in Armenia."

Among the Jews, the times became turbulent. In Seleucia, 50,000 Jews were killed. There was an uprising against them in Alexandria. In a battle between the Jews and Syrians in Caesarea, 20,000 were killed. During these times, Caligula ordered his statue placed in the temple at Jerusalem. The Jews refused to do this and lived in constant fear that the Emperor's armies would be sent into Palestine. This fear became so real that some of them did not even bother to till their fields.

But though there would be wars, rumours of wars, and commotions, Jesus told his disciples: "See that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the END is not yet." The word "end" that is used here is not the same Greek word as in the expression "end of the world." As Barnes says, the end here referred to is "the end of the Jewish economy; the destruction of Jerusalem."

Wars, rumors of wars, and commotions were of a general nature. These things were not signs of the end; to the contrary, they were given to show that the end was NOT yet. None of these things would be the sign which would cause the disciples to flee into the mountains.

FAMINES, PESTILENCES, EARTHQUAKES

Matthew. "And there shall be famines and pestilences, and earthquakes in divers places, all these are the beginning of sorrows (24:7,8).

Mark: "And there shall be earthquakes in divers places, and there shall be famines and troubles. These are the beginning of sorrows" (13:8).

Luke: "And great earthquakes shall be in divers places, and famines and pestilences, and fearful sights" (21:11).

The Bible records that there was famine "throughout all the world...in the days of Claudius Caesar (Acts 11:28). Judea was especially hard hit by famine. "The disciples, every man according to his ability, determined to send relief unto the brethren which dwelt in Judaea" (verse 29). Paul's instructions concerning this "collection [of fruit] for the saints" is recorded in First Corinthians 16:1-5; Rom. 15:25-28.

Historians such as Suetonius and others mention famine during those years. Tacitus speaks of a "failure in the crops, and a famine consequent thereupon." Eusebius also mentions famines during this time in Rome, Judea, and Greece. Yes, there were famines in those years before the fall of Jerusalem.

Along with famines, Jesus mentioned pestilence; that is, plagues, the spread of disease, epidemics. Famine and pestilence, of course, go hand in hand. When people do not have proper food or insufficient food, pestilence results. Suetonius wrote of "pestilence" at Rome in the days of Nero which was so severe that "within the space of one autumn there died no less than 30,000 persons." Josephus records that pestilences raged in Babylonia in A. D. 40. Tacitus tells of pestilences in Italy in A. D. 65. Yes, there were pestilences in those years before the destruction of Jerusalem.

During this period, Jesus said there would also be earthquakes in many places. Tacitus mentions earthquakes at Rome. He wrote that "Frequent earthquakes occurred, by which many houses were thrown down" and that "twelve populous cities of Asia fell in ruins from an earthquake."

Seneca, writing in the year 58 A. D., said: "How often have cities of Asia and Achaea fallen with one fatal shock! how many cities have been swallowed up in Syria! how many in Macedonia! how often has Cyprus been wasted by this calamity ! how often has Paphos become a ruin! News has often been brought us of the demolition of whole cities at once." He mentions the earthquake at Campania during the reign of Nero. In 60 A.D., Hierapous, Colosse, and Laodicea were overthrown—Laodicea being so self-sufficient that it recovered without the Imperial aid furnished other cities. In 63 A.D,, the city of Pompeii was greatly damaged by earthquake. There were earthquakes in Crete, Apamea, Smyrna, Miletus, Chios, Samos, and Judea. Earthquakes in divers places.

PERSECUTION AGAINST THE DISCIPLES

Matthew: "Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name's sake. And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another.., And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold" (24:9-12).

Mark: "They shall deliver you up to councils; and in the synagogues ye shall be beaten; and ye shall be brought before rulers and kings for my sake, for a testimony.., whatsoever shall be given you in that hour, that speak ye: for it is not ye that speak but the Holy Ghost... And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake" (13:9-13).

Luke: "They shall lay their hands on you, and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues and into prisons, being brought before kings and rulers for my name's sake. And it shall turn to you for a testimony...I will give you a mouth and wisdom which all your adversaries shall not be able to gainsay nor resist...and some of you shall they cause to be put to death. And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake" (21:12-17).

The book of Acts gives a complete account of how the disciples were persecuted in the very ways Jesus had predicted. Let us take, for example, Acts 4: "And they laid hands on them [Peter and John], and put them in prison" (verse 3). They were brought before "rulers" (verses 5-7). And it turned into an opportunity to testify. Peter explained that "there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved" (verse 12). They were given a mouth of wisdom which their adversaries could not gainsay, for the men of the council "marveled" (verse 13). They were then commanded "not to speak at all nor teach in the name of Jesus" (verse 18). As Jesus had said, they were hated for his name's sake.

The same things are seen in Acts 5. Certain authorities "laid their hands on the apostles, and put them in the common prison" (verse 18). Later they were brought "before the council" (verse 27) and told to answer for continuing to teach in the name of Jesus (verse 28). Again they had opportunity to testify (verses 29-32). They were "beaten" (verse 40). As they departed from the "council", they rejoiced "that they were counted worthy to suffer for his name"(verse 41).

Or take Acts 6. There arose certain ones of the "synagogue" that disputed with Steven. "And they were not able to resist the wisdom and the spirit by which he spoke" (verses 9,10). Persecution resulted and he was brought into the "council " and questioned (verse 12). Again there was the opportunity to testify, the words of that testimony being given in Acts 7. Stephen was killed for his stand (verses 54-60). Jesus had said that some of them would be killed.

Notice Acts 8. "There was a great persecution against the church." Christians were put in "prison", but the result was that the word was preached (verses 1-4).

In Acts 16, Paul and Silas were beaten and cast into "prison." But it turned into an opportunity to testify and the Philippian jailor and his family were converted as a result (verses 22-34). In Acts 21, persecution resulted in Paul being beaten, brought before rulers, before whom he testified (Acts 22). In Acts 22:19 we read that Christians were "imprisoned and beat in every Synagogue."

In Acts 24, Paul was brought before Felix, the governor, and testified. He was given a mouth of wisdom which his adversaries could not gainsay—though they obtained an orator to speak against him. Paul's words even made Felix to "tremble." In Acts 25 and 26, Paul was brought before king Agrippa, the chief captains, and the principal men of the city. He was given a mouth of wisdom, for Agrippa said to Paul, "Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian" (verse 28).

Jesus said the disciples would be afflicted, beaten, imprisoned; they would be hated for his name's sake and some would be killed; they would be brought before councils, rulers, and kings, for a testimony; they would be given a mouth of wisdom which their adversaries could not gainsay. Surely these things came to pass in those years—unmistakably fulfilled in every detail.

"And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many ...but he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved" (Mt. 24:11,13). Peter, who was present when Jesus gave this prophecy (Mk. 13:3), later wrote about "false prophets" that had risen and of "many" that followed their pernicious ways (2 Peter 2). John, who also heard Jesus give this prophecy, recorded the fulfillment: "Many false prophets are gone out into the world" (l John 4:1). "Many deceivers are entered into the world" (2 John 7).

Paul also spoke of "false apostles, deceitful workers" (2 Cor. 11:13). He mentioned Hymenaeus and Philetus who taught false doctrines and overthrew the faith of some (2 Tim. 2:17, 18). By the time of his epistle to Titus, there were "many...deceivers ...who subvert whole houses, teaching things which they ought not" (Titus 1:10, 11).

The waters of truth were muddied by betrayals, false prophets, iniquity, and the love of many waxing cold. "But he that shall endure [such things] until the end, the same shall be saved" (Mt. 24:13)—both now and hereafter. We understand "end" here in a general sense, for unlike the use of this word in verses 6 and 14, this reference does not have the definite article in the Greek text.

GOSPEL TO BE PREACHED TO THE NATIONS

"And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then [not until then] shall the end come" (Mt. 24:14). Unless we take this verse clear out of its setting, "the end" in view here is the end or destruction which was to come upon Jerusalem and the temple. This was the question that Jesus was answering in the verses before, and the verses that follow are still speaking about Jerusalem and Judea. Jerusalem would be destroyed, but "first" the gospel would be preached unto all nations (Mk. 13:10).

It was a tremendous prophecy. Picture the scene. Here on the mount of Olives, Jesus was speaking these words to seemingly insignificant men. Who would have supposed that the names of these humble men would become known around the world and that even in our day—almost 2,000 years later—the seeds of truth that they planted would still be producing fruit? Who would have supposed that this unpopular gospel that Christ committed to these men would ever spread beyond that immediate area? Such a vast preaching program unto all nations seemed almost impossible of fulfillment. But it was fulfilled, and in a very real sense the gospel did go to all nations before the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 A. D..

On the day of Pentecost when the disciples were filled with the Holy Spirit, there were present in Jerusalem "devout men, out of every nation under heaven" (Acts 2:5). They heard the gospel preached by Peter and 3,000 were converted that day. Many of these, no doubt, returned to their various countries and preached the gospel.

Later when persecution came against the church, the believers at Jerusalem were scattered and "went every where preaching the word", throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria (Acts 8:1,4). Philip took the message to the city of Samaria with great results (verses 5-8). Later he was directed to a high ranking government official from Ethiopia who was gloriously converted (verses 26-40). It is believed that this man took the message to the continent of Africa and many were converted because of his influential testimony.

Peter took the message to the Gentiles at the house of Cornelius, an event that was a turning point in the missionary activities of the church (Acts 10, 11). The book of Acts gives a sketch of the mighty missionary work that advanced rapidly.

The message spread to Rome. By the time of Nero, the Christians had grown so numerous that they aroused the jealousy of the government. The story of the great fire in Rome in 64 A. D. —for which the Christians were falsely blamed—is well known. In writing to the Christians at Rome, Paul opens his epistle by saying, "Your faith is spoken of throughout the whole world" (Rom. 1:8), and his closing words talk about the gospel as having been "made known to all nations for the obedience of faith" (16:26).

Concerning even far away England, Newton says: "There is absolute certainty that Christianity was planted in this country in the days of the apostles, before the destruction of Jerusalem." Eusebius and also Theodoret inform us that the apostles preached the gospel in all the world and some of them "passed beyond the ocean to the Britannic isles."

By the time Paul wrote his letter to the Colossians, he could say: 'The gospel...is come unto you, as it is in all the world" (Col. 1:6). Likewise, in verse 23, he mentions '"the gospel which ye have heard, and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven."

By 70 A. D., the gospel had gone forth to the world for a witness. No longer was God's message to man confined to one nation or race.


Source: "Great Prophecies of the Bible" by Ralph Woodrow

 

[David Kent]

Clearly your understanding of that is false -simply enough that Jesus stated outright during the Olivet that when the GT happens destruction so bad that no flesh would be saved if it were not for Him returning to put an end to it , It has not happened and Jesus has yet to return , but it will happen soon - Then you can say you are correct

You would have a hard time finding that in Olivet. The days that were cut short were the days of the siege for as Daniel said it ended with a flood of Roman soldiers unexpectedly entering the temple against the orders of Titus.

 

[David Kent]

I have that book. Others should get it as well. They won't if they prefer darkness rather than light.

 

[Davy]

The majority of Matthew 24 is Christ's literal description of events that would occur in the period leading up to the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 AD. These are confirmed both scripturally and historically.

....

Source: "Great Prophecies of the Bible" by Ralph Woodrow

What about the sign Jesus gave there about placing of the abomination that makes desolate in the temple from the Book of Daniel?

What about the sign Jesus gave there about His 2nd coming and gathering of His Church, which parallels the gathering of the Church which Paul taught in 1 Thess.4? (Matt.24:29-31 is about gathering of the 'asleep' saints; Mark 13:24-27 is about gathering of the saints still alive on earth at His coming).

What about what Jesus said there, that the generation that would see "all these things" would not pass until "all these things" are fulfilled?

Matt 24:33-34
33 So likewise ye, when ye shall see all these things, know that it is near, even at the doors.

34 Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled.
KJV

Because of Jesus saying that above, it means man cannot... split up those signs as being in the process of fulfillment over multiple generations. Like He said, the generation that sees "all these things", meaning ALL THOSE SIGNS HE GAVE IN THAT CHAPTER, then THAT generation won't die out until ALL THOSE SIGNS have been fulfiled, period.