The Prophecies of

Jesus' Olivet Discourse

By

Gerry Watts

 

   Numerous writings exist today on the subject of Jesus' Olivet Discourse, and there are a number of differing interpretations concerning how we are to understand these prophetic words of Christ. The interpretations can be broken down into three major views, namely,

a) It was all fulfilled in the 1st Century AD (commonly called the 'Consistent/Hyper Full Preterist' view)

b) Most of it is to be fulfilled at the very end of this age, which is still future (the 'Futurist' view, commonly linked to Dispensationalism), and

c) Part of it has been fulfilled in the 1st Century, while the rest will be fulfilled at the Second Advent of Christ (Partial Preterist and Historicist views) 

   Of course, whichever view one takes, this will decide how one interprets the vision of Revelation as well, as Revelation is intimately linked to Christ's Olivet prophecies and the book of Daniel (as well as all of the prophets really). [1]

   Anyhow, the reason as to why these variant interpretations of the Olivet prophecies exist is because of the specific words and phrases that Jesus used. On the one hand, he clearly referred to the generation of His own day in the 1st Century AD ('this generation'), yet on the other, He referred to His Second Advent, which hasn't occurred as yet. The problem is where to draw the line between one or the other.

   The Full Preterist view, I believe, makes the mistake of limiting the whole prophecy to the 1st Century AD, which then makes it virtually irrelevant for the generations of Christians ever since. I would go so far as to say that the Full Preterist view on the Second Advent is totally in error because it denies that there is yet a Second Advent of Christ, in the traditionally orthodox sense. 

   The Full Preterist believes that Jesus Christ fully returned in the 1st century AD! This undermines the goal and expectation of this present age for the believer, as well as for the whole of creation - that Jesus will return visibly and bodily from the heavens for all to see, followed by the resurrection and judgment of the living and the dead, and He will fully manifest the Kingdom of God in a New Creation. 

   On the other hand, the Futurist view then makes the opposing, yet similar, mistake of placing these things in the distant future, which then makes it virtually irrelevant for all the preceding generations of the Church - until now!

   The only reasonable and satisfactory explanation is that the prophecy can apply to BOTH the 1st century and the unfolding future. To put it another way, I would say that this prophecy not only foretold the official ending of the age of the Old Covenant in relation to the events of the First Coming of Christ, but it also foretells the end of this present age in relation to the Second Coming of Christ. 

   The first relates to Israel, Jerusalem and the Temple (i.e. a more localised, contemporary fulfillment), and the latter relates to the whole world and all nations (i.e. a universal fulfillment). The first relates to the ending of the Times of the Hebrews, and the latter relates to the ending of the Times of the Nations.

   Many of the Old Testament prophecies not only had a short-term contemporary fulfillment for Israel, within a generation or so, but they could often be applied in a long-term fulfillment. This was especially the case in the Messianic prophecies, which often had a contemporary fulfillment, as well as a longer-term fulfillment in relation to the coming of the Messiah. For further study of prophetic patterns and cycles, see Midrash and Prophetic Patterns.

   I have come to believe, without a doubt, that view c) above is the correct interpretation (the Partial-Preterist/Historicist view). Nevertheless, I do not believe that there is a clear line in the narrative where the '1st century fulfillment' ends and the 'Second Advent' fulfillment begins. There is a transition that can actually apply to both! This will be made clearer as we progress. It's a matter of understanding that there was an Old Covenant fulfillment concerning ancient Israel, and there is a New Covenant fulfillment concerning the Christian Church and all nations.

   Paul was teaching this principle in 1 Corinthians 10:6 & 11, that many of the things that applied to ancient Israel can also be applied as types and shadows and examples to the Christian Church.

 Now these things occurred as examples to keep us from setting our hearts on evil things as they did...

 ...These things happened to them as examples and were written down as warnings for us, on whom the fulfillment of the ages has come. (NIV)

   I'm not going to laboriously delve into all the various interpretations here, but instead I'm going to attempt to give a simple straightforward study on this subject. Hopefully I will show that Jesus' words are quite simple to understand, for those who wish to see the truth in this matter, without needing any fanciful interpretation to fit into some particular scheme. And the evidence of history and of the writings of the Church Fathers are clearly on my side here.

   Some of what is written here can also be found in the article The Day of The Lord, The Return of The King. If one wishes to gain more understanding on the subject of the Second Coming of Christ, then I would suggest you read that article. Nevertheless, there are some further insights which are included below that are not included in that article.

   As an accompaniment to this article, I have provided a chapter from Philip Mauro's book The Seventy Weeks on the subject of The Siege of Jerusalem As Described By Josephus which reveals the accuracy of many of Jesus' words having been fulfilled in the 1st century AD.

So let us now take a look at the key passages that record these prophecies of Jesus in what has been called 'the Olivet Discourse.' The reason for this description is due to the fact that He spoke these things to His disciples on the Mount of Olives (or Olivet) overlooking the Temple in Jerusalem, only days before He was to die in 33 AD, and it is the most detailed account that we have of Jesus' prophecies about the then-future destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple, and the desolation of Judea, to mark the end of the Old Covenant age, along with the details of His Return at the end of this present age.

In a sense, it is speaking of the end of the Times of the Hebrews (under the Old Covenant), as well as the end of the Times of the Nations (under the New Covenant).

There are three accounts of this actual Discourse, which can be found in Matthew 24-25, Mark 13 and Luke 21, though Luke also records some similar teaching on the subject at other times in Luke 17 & 19. We need to consider all of these accounts together to understand exactly what Jesus was saying. 

As I've already mentioned above, there are many 'dispensational' interpretations out there that teach that virtually all of the details of this Discourse are still to be fulfilled in the future as part of 'a great 7-year (or 3 1/2 year) Tribulation' involving a coming Antichrist. I was blinded by this very misleading interpretation for many years, but the actual truth of the matter is a lot plainer than most people think. If you are presently influenced by this kind of 'dispensational thinking' then you will need to try and lay that aside for now so that you can be more open to what I'm going to say, if you wish to learn the truth in this matter.

I shall quote the appropriate verses from each Gospel account as we progress, using Matthew 24 as the main text for clarity.

The Three Questions

The majority of Matthew 24 (and Mark 13 and Luke 21) concerns things that were fulfilled in the 1st century AD, in relation to the destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple, and the end of the Old Covenant system, and of Israel's place as God's nation in the flesh. (This is not saying that a Gentile Church has replaced Israel, but it means that the true Israel of God is made up of spiritual Jews and Gentiles in Jesus the Messiah, which is the true Church or Ecclesia of God). In God's eyes, it was the end of the religion of Judaism and the Old Covenant system of the Law of Moses, the latter having been fulfilled in Jesus the Messiah and the establishing of the New Covenant.

Jesus also gave warnings about the general condition of the last days, which would last until His Return at the end of the age. These things would increase over time in frequency and intensity, but they are not to be taken as specific signs of His Coming in and of themselves. These things began to be fulfilled in the 1st century AD. 

During His final week of teaching in Jerusalem, Jesus had already prophesied that the temple in Jerusalem would be totally destroyed, along with the city itself, and that this destruction would be witnessed by the generation living at that time (i.e. within about 40 years). This was to be a pivotal, and climactic, event in the history of the Jewish people, and a fulfillment of all Biblical prophecy concerning them. That is, after a period of over 1500 years, Israel and the Old Covenant were to pass away, to be fully replaced by a New Covenant Israel in Jesus the Messiah (i.e. Biblical Christianity and the Christian Church).

As he approached Jerusalem and saw the city, he wept over it and said, "If you, even you, had only known on this day what would bring you peace—but now it is hidden from your eyes. The days will come upon you when your enemies will build an embankment against you and encircle you and hem you in on every side. They will dash you to the ground, you and the children within your walls. They will not leave one stone on another, because you did not recognize the time of God's coming to you."

 

(Luke 19:41-44 NIV)

 

 

A large number of people followed him, including women who mourned and wailed for him. Jesus turned and said to them, "Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me; weep for yourselves and for your children. For the time will come when you will say, 'Blessed are the barren women, the wombs that never bore and the breasts that never nursed!' Then
   " 'they will say to the mountains, "Fall on us!"
      and to the hills, "Cover us!" ' For if men do these things when the tree is green, what will happen when it is dry?"

 

(Luke 23:27-31 NIV)

 

 

"The king was enraged. He sent his army and destroyed those murderers and burned their city." 

(Matthew 22:7 NIV)

"And so upon you will come all the righteous blood that has been shed on earth, from the blood of righteous Abel to the blood of Zechariah son of Berekiah, whom you murdered between the temple and the altar. I tell you the truth, all this will come upon this generation.

 "O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing. Look, your house is left to you desolate."

(Matthew 23:35-38 NIV)

  It was for this reason that the disciples drew Jesus' attention to the temple buildings, because they just couldn't believe that this magnificent holy structure was going to be completely destroyed in the very near future. Herod's Temple was a magnificent complex, even though parts of it were still under construction until about 64 AD. Ironically, Herod the Great's massive Temple renovation/rebuilding programme took over 80 years to build, and it was completed just 6 years before it was totally destroyed! Yet Jesus tells them clearly that every stone was going to be thrown down, because God had left it desolate and He no longer dwelt there in any form whatsoever.

Jesus left the temple and was walking away when his disciples came up to him to call his attention to its buildings. "Do you see all these things?" he asked. "I tell you the truth, not one stone here will be left on another; every one will be thrown down."

 

(Matthew 24:1-2 NIV)

Some of his disciples were remarking about how the temple was adorned with beautiful stones and with gifts dedicated to God. But Jesus said, "As for what you see here, the time will come when not one stone will be left on another; every one of them will be thrown down."

(Luke 21:5-6 NIV)

Now listen carefully, because this is the key to correctly understanding this Discourse of Jesus. It was in this context of Jesus' words about the destruction of the temple and the city that the disciples Peter, James, John and Andrew came to Jesus privately, while He was sitting on the Mount of Olives overlooking the city, to ask Him some questions.

They actually asked Him three questions:

1. When will these things happen?

2. What will be the sign that they are about to happen? and

3. What will be the sign of your coming (or Presence) and the end of the age?

All three Gospel accounts mention the first two questions, but only Matthew records the 3rd question.

"Teacher," they asked, "when will these things happen? And what will be the sign that they are about to take place?"

(Luke 21:7 NIV)

As Jesus was sitting on the Mount of Olives opposite the temple, Peter, James, John and Andrew asked him privately, "Tell us, when will these things happen? And what will be the sign that they are all about to be fulfilled?"

(Mark 13:3-4 NIV)

As Jesus was sitting on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately. "Tell us," they said, "when will this happen, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?"

 (Matthew 24:3 NIV)

The disciples' questions were essentially about the coming destruction of the temple and the city, but they also assumed that all of this was part of Christ's Return at the end of the age - that is, the ultimate Day of the Lord. They were right in thinking that this was a Day of the Lord for Israel and Jerusalem, but they were mistaken for thinking that this judgment on Jerusalem was to be connected to the ultimate Day of Christ's Return in power and glory, i.e. His Second Advent. 

Yet having said that, this Coming of Christ in clouds (of judgment) over Jerusalem and Judea was fulfilled in that generation, when those who pierced Him saw Him (in judgment), and the tribes of the land mourned because of the wrath and vengeance of God that was poured out upon them. These events confirmed the prophecies of Jesus that He was indeed the Messiah who had come to them, and that He was now ruling from the heavens at God's right hand. Nevertheless, this is not the same as the Second Advent, for when that occurs, the great Resurrection and Judgment Day are included, along with the passing away of the present heavens and earth. 

At the time of the Olivet Discourse, the disciples did not understand that there was to be an indefinite period of time during Christ's absence in which God would be calling out His people from all nations in an Administration of Grace. This was more fully revealed to Paul some years later.

Now Jesus answered them by giving them details of both events, beginning with the then-future events of the 1st century, giving them details of what was to come during the next 40 years (and beyond), particularly as it applied to Jews and Christians in the land of Palestine, by the end of which time Jerusalem and the Temple would be destroyed in the Jewish/Roman War of 66-70 AD. These things are recorded in Matthew 24:4-25, Mark 13:5-23 and Luke 21:8-24.

Let us now consider these texts a step at a time.

Deception, Wars and Upheavals - Birth Pangs of the Last Days

Jesus answered: "Watch out that no one deceives you. For many will come in my name, claiming, 'I am the Christ,' and will deceive many."

(Matthew 24:4-5 NIV)

Jesus said to them: "Watch out that no one deceives you. Many will come in my name, claiming, 'I am he,' and will deceive many."

(Mark 13:5-6 NIV)

He replied: "Watch out that you are not deceived. For many will come in my name, claiming, 'I am he,' and, 'The time is near.' Do not follow them."

(Luke 21:8 NIV)

   The first thing He warns them about is false Messiahs or Christs, saying that many would arise to deceive the people, claiming to be the promised deliverer. It is well documented in the writings of the Jewish historian, Josephus, and others, that many false messiahs and 'rebel leaders' arose in the land of Palestine alone in the decades that followed (E.g. The Jewish War, Book VI). Even Acts 21:38 mentions one of these false messiah figures, an Egyptian, whom Paul was mistaken for by the Roman commander.

   And in accordance with the pattern of prophetic cycles repeating themselves, false messiahs and deceivers have continued to arise, not only in Palestine, but throughout the whole world, in this present age.

"You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come. Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places. All these are the beginning of birth pains."

(Matthew 24:6-8 NIV)

"When you hear of wars and rumors of wars, do not be alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come. Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be earthquakes in various places, and famines. These are the beginning of birth pains."

(Mark 13:7-8 NIV)

"When you hear of wars and revolutions, do not be frightened. These things must happen first, but the end will not come right away."

 Then he said to them: "Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be great earthquakes, famines and pestilences in various places, and fearful events and great signs from heaven."

(Luke 21:9-11 NIV)

   Jesus then warns them (and by extension, all believers) about wars, battles, revolutions and general upheaval in society and nature. He says that we should not be frightened or surprised when these things occur, and He made it very clear that these things are not signs of the end! There will be wars and news of wars, with nation fighting nation, and kingdom fighting kingdom, with revolutions and rebellions.

   There will also be great earthquakes, famines and pestilences (or diseases) in the world, as well as fearful events and great signs from heaven. All these things are said to be the beginning of birth pains, which increase in frequency and intensity over time.

   These things began to occur in the 1st century AD, particularly as it affected the small land of Palestine, let alone the rest of the Roman world. In relation to the Jewish/Roman war of 66-73 AD, there were many fearful events and great signs from heaven around this time. Josephus records about 7 signs that took place at this time in his Jewish Wars: Book 6.[2] 

   There were also great upheavals and rebellions throughout the Roman Empire, and even Rome itself was brought to the brink of collapse after the death of Nero Caesar, due to the civil wars during 'the year of the four Emperors' from 68-69 AD. [3]

   And these 'birth pangs' have also continued to increase throughout this present age, in the same way as apostasy and deception have. Birth pains become more frequent and more intense as the actual birth becomes nearer, so in accordance with how Jesus used this metaphor, we should expect to see more upheavals such as these in the world as the end of the age draws near. It is interesting to note that some of the greatest world wars and revolutions, atrocities and plagues, have occurred in the past 100 years or so. Surely the birthing of the kingdom of God is near.

Persecution, Martyrdom and Trials of Faith

"Then you will be handed over to be persecuted and put to death, and you will be hated by all nations because of me. At that time many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other, and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people. Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, but he who stands firm to the end will be saved. And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come."

(Matthew 24:9-14 NIV)

"You must be on your guard. You will be handed over to the local councils and flogged in the synagogues. On account of me you will stand before governors and kings as witnesses to them. And the gospel must first be preached to all nations. Whenever you are arrested and brought to trial, do not worry beforehand about what to say. Just say whatever is given you at the time, for it is not you speaking, but the Holy Spirit."

 "Brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child. Children will rebel against their parents and have them put to death. All men will hate you because of me, but he who stands firm to the end will be saved."

(Mark 13:9-13 NIV)

"But before all this, they will lay hands on you and persecute you. They will deliver you to synagogues and prisons, and you will be brought before kings and governors, and all on account of my name. This will result in your being witnesses to them. But make up your mind not to worry beforehand how you will defend yourselves. For I will give you words and wisdom that none of your adversaries will be able to resist or contradict." 

"You will be betrayed even by parents, brothers, relatives and friends, and they will put some of you to death. All men will hate you because of me. But not a hair of your head will perish. By standing firm you will gain life."

(Luke 21:12-19 NIV)

   Jesus goes on to warn them of the coming persecution against His followers, who would be called Christians, and the consequences of these trials, which for many would mean martyrdom. Yet these persecutions would help bring God's true messengers before governors and kings, and cause the gospel to be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, including Rome itself. Only then would the end come for Jerusalem and Israel, and the full rejection of the Old Covenant system. His disciples are encouraged to endure to the end of these trials as Overcomers, remaining loyal to their heavenly King and the Faith they profess.

   Yet Jesus warned that many would also fall away from the Faith, and there would be great hatred and betrayal against His disciples, even from friends and family. Lawlessness and wickedness would increase, with little regard for the true Faith once held by those who had rejected it. Many false prophets would arise also, leading many into deception.

   We don't have to look very far to see how these things have been fulfilled. The book of Acts alone records something of the persecution and trials of the early church, which initially was instigated by the Jews, and it is well documented in Roman history that from Emperor Nero onwards there were official persecutions against the Christians, causing many families and friends to betray their 'Christian' loved ones who they believed to be rebels and heretics, defilers of 'the true faith' - whether Roman or Jewish.

   Paul also reveals in his letters that the gospel of the kingdom was proclaimed to the whole world, including Rome, before the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 AD.

All over the world this gospel is bearing fruit and growing, just as it has been doing among you since the day you heard it and understood God's grace in all its truth....This is the gospel that you heard and that has been proclaimed to every creature under heaven, and of which I, Paul, have become a servant.

(Colossians 1:6, 23 NIV)

But the Lord stood at my side and gave me strength, so that through me the message might be fully proclaimed and all the Gentiles might hear it. And I was delivered from the lion's mouth.

(2 Timothy 4:17 NIV)

   There is also ample evidence within the New Testament writings that there were many false prophets and teachers within the early church, particularly those who were Judaisers, as well as those who belonged to the Gnostic sects. These things only increased as the decades and centuries rolled by - and Jesus' words were fulfilled to the letter. On top of this, the overall state of the Jewish nation by the time of the Roman War in the late 60's AD was utterly appalling, as Josephus recounts in his Jewish Wars (see accompanying article by P. Mauro). It's no wonder that Paul said the following about the Jews of his day when writing to the Thessalonian believers.

For you, brothers, became imitators of God's churches in Judea, which are in Christ Jesus: You suffered from your own countrymen the same things those churches suffered from the Jews, who killed the Lord Jesus and the prophets and also drove us out. They displease God and are hostile to all men in their effort to keep us from speaking to the Gentiles so that they may be saved. In this way they always heap up their sins to the limit. The wrath of God has come upon them at last (or fully).

(1 Thessalonians 2:14-16 NIV)

   (The last sentence literally reads 'Yet the wrath (of God) moves ahead on to them to a finality' meaning that God's judgment was already being prepared to be shortly poured out upon them, for they had 'filled up their sins to the limit' in their treatment of God's Son and His messengers.)

   Jesus had warned them that that generation would eventually become seven times more wicked than what they were before the commencement of His ministry - and sadly His words were horrifically fulfilled by 70 AD.

"When an evil spirit comes out of a man, it goes through arid places seeking rest and does not find it. Then it says, 'I will return to the house I left.' When it arrives, it finds the house unoccupied, swept clean and put in order. Then it goes and takes with it seven other spirits more wicked than itself, and they go in and live there. And the final condition of that man is worse than the first. That is how it will be with this wicked generation."

(Matthew 12:43-45 NIV)

 

 

The Jewish War and the Temple's Destruction

Now read the following texts very carefully and notice the parallels between them all.

"So when you see standing in the holy place 'the abomination that causes desolation,' spoken of through the prophet Daniel—let the reader understand— then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. Let no one on the roof of his house go down to take anything out of the house. Let no one in the field go back to get his cloak. How dreadful it will be in those days for pregnant women and nursing mothers! Pray that your flight will not take place in winter or on the Sabbath. 

For then there will be great distress (or affliction or tribulation), unequaled from the beginning of the world until now—and never to be equaled again. If those days had not been cut short, no one would survive, but for the sake of the elect those days will be shortened. 

At that time if anyone says to you, 'Look, here is the Christ!' or, 'There he is!' do not believe it. For false Christs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and miracles to deceive even the elect—if that were possible. See, I have told you ahead of time."

(Matthew 24:15-25 NIV)

"When you see 'the abomination that causes desolation' standing where it does not belong—let the reader understand—then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. Let no one on the roof of his house go down or enter the house to take anything out. Let no one in the field go back to get his cloak. How dreadful it will be in those days for pregnant women and nursing mothers! 

Pray that this will not take place in winter, because those will be days of distress unequaled from the beginning, when God created the world, until now—and never to be equaled again. If the Lord had not cut short those days, no one would survive. But for the sake of the elect, whom he has chosen, he has shortened them. 

At that time if anyone says to you, 'Look, here is the Christ!' or, 'Look, there he is!' do not believe it. For false Christs and false prophets will appear and perform signs and miracles to deceive the elect—if that were possible. So be on your guard; I have told you everything ahead of time."

(Mark 13:14-23 NIV)

"Now whenever you may be perceiving Jerusalem surrounded by encampments, then know that her desolation is near. Then let those in Judea flee into the mountains, and let those in her midst be coming out into the country, and let not those in the country be entering into her, for days of vengeance are these, to fulfill all that is written. Yet woe to those who are pregnant, and to those suckling in those days; for there will be great necessity in the land and indignation on this people. 

And they shall be falling by the edge of the sword and shall be led into captivity into all nations. And Jerusalem shall be trodden by the nations, until the eras of the nations (or times of the nations) may be fulfilled."

(Luke 21:20-24 CV)

These texts are describing the horrific events of the Jewish/Roman War of 66-70 AD, particularly in relation to the destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple, and the region of Judea. Jesus described these days as 'days of great affliction or tribulation'. This war was primarily brought about by the rebellious violence of the various sects of Jewish Zealots, who even fought against one another, besides their Jewish brethren who wouldn't follow them. Jesus warned His followers to watch for the signs so that they could get out of Jerusalem and Judea when the time was near. 

In God's eyes, it was to be the worst time that Jerusalem and the people would ever experience, and there would only be survivors because the days would be numbered precisely as God intended, and those days would therefore be cut short, otherwise no one would survive the blood bath. [4] It was for the sake of the elect (the chosen ones) that the days were shortened (for many survivors would become Christians after witnessing such an event).

Jesus also warned them again about false messiahs and prophets arising at this time, and the false signs and miracles that would accompany their leadership in order to try and deceive the true chosen ones of God - if that were possible to do, for the true chosen ones of God would not be tricked into following these charlatans anyway, for they would heed the words of their Master! Yet sadly, many others would be tricked, and would not heed the words of Jesus.

The Abomination of Desolation and the Great Affliction

Now Jesus essentially gave them two signs that would herald the coming desolation of the city and the temple, although it is possible that these signs were, in fact, one and the same! 

1. Firstly, He said that 'the abomination of desolation' spoken by the prophet Daniel would be seen standing in the Holy Place or standing where it ought not. 

In the original Greek grammar, the order reads like this: the abomination of desolation, spoken by Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place, (let the reader understand).

Both Matthew and Mark include the words in parenthesis 'let the reader understand' after mentioning this abomination 'standing in the holy place.' So they were emphasising the importance of the need to correctly understand Jesus' words of warning. Jesus was using a kind of code language so that only those with wisdom and scriptural knowledge would understand, while the rest would just ignore Him and suffer the consequences.

Therefore we need to understand two things here, namely,

a) what is 'the abomination of desolation spoken of by Daniel', and

b) what or where is the holy place where this abomination would be seen standing?

There are at least three places in the book of Daniel where this phrase is mentioned, particularly in the Septuagint version, which is what Jesus was quoting from. Most commentators would agree that it is generally referring to the deeds of the Seleucid king Antiochus IV Epiphanes in the 2nd century BC. The book of Maccabees also confirms this. For further study of this, see The Vision of The Ram And The He-Goat.

Briefly stated, Antiochus, as a foreign king, defiled the city of Jerusalem and the Temple via war, persecution and pagan customs. He changed the temple of God into a pagan shrine, and all sorts of detestable practices were committed there.

An 'abomination' in the Scriptures is something that is detestable to God, something disgusting, vile, defiling and unclean, and it also carries the thought of blasphemy. It is usually associated with idolatry. A 'desolation' is that which is ruined or empty due to destruction, usually because of the judgment of God.

So Jesus was saying that a specific idolatrous, defiling act (which could be a thing or a person - and in Daniel, this can be read in the plural), that would bring destruction to the city and the temple, would be seen standing in the holy place. The 'holy place' was either the city of Jerusalem itself or the temple, or both! This 'abomination of desolation' did not have to be exactly the same as the previous one by Antiochus, but there is a similarity and a connection here.

It is evident that Jesus was specifically referring to the prophecy of the Seventy Sevens in Daniel chapter 9, concerning the coming of the Messiah. In verses 26-27 of that chapter, the focus is very much on the city of Jerusalem and the sanctuary, and its final official destruction or desolations.

The final half of verse 27 has proven a bit of a problem for most translators, but it is in this portion of the text that 'the abomination of desolations' is mentioned in connection with Jerusalem's judgment due to the rejection of her Messiah. Here are a few renderings of this verse.

...and on the temple shall be the abomination of desolations; and at the end of time an end shall be put to the desolation. 

(English Translation of Septuagint)

...and by the wing of abominations he is making desolate, even till the consummation, and that which is determined is poured on the desolate one.'

(Young's Literal Translation)

...on a wing of the sanctuary shall be desolating abominations. Till the conclusion of the era the decided conclusion will be poured forth on the desolation.

(CV)

...and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate.

(KJV)

   The one thing that is clear from these renderings of Daniel 9:27b is that abominations and desolations were decreed for Jerusalem AND the temple as God's judgment upon the people (the desolate or desolate ones). This was to be the city's end (or conclusion or consummation) in accordance with the cessation of the Old Covenant system. It's interesting to note that some translations mention 'the wing' of the temple, which could've be referring to one particular side of the temple courts. This has great significance if applied to the Tower of Antonia (a Roman fortress) adjoining the Temple courts or, as we shall see, to the advance of Cestius (For further study of this prophecy, see The Prophecy of The Seventy Sevens).

We shall now see that this 'abomination of desolations' of Daniel 9 is 'the abomination' that Jesus was referring to that was spoken by the prophet Daniel that would stand in the holy place, which would serve to bring about the fulfillment of this prophecy.

Now if we go to Luke's account of Jesus' words, we are given the second sign.

"Now whenever you may be seeing Jerusalem surrounded by encampments, then know that her desolation is near."

2. Secondly, Jerusalem would become surrounded by army encampments, and this would herald the nearness of her desolation.

Now take note here that where Matthew and Mark record only 'the abomination...standing in the holy place (let the reader understand)' portion as the warning sign to flee, Luke's account blatantly says 'when you see Jerusalem surrounded by army encampments' i.e. ready for an attack or siege, that is the sign to flee! So the two signs are intimately connected as one! Luke gives us the parallel meaning.

The details of the Jewish/Roman War that began in 66 AD and lasted until 73 AD, with Jerusalem and the Temple being destroyed in 70 AD, are well documented in the writings of Josephus, and there are numerous articles available via the internet that can be used to research these things. Here is how these things were fulfilled.

The Fulfillment of Jesus' Words

The war involving Jerusalem truly began in the autumn of 66 AD, at the time of the feast of Tabernacles, though skirmishes had already begun earlier in the year. This Jewish rebellion was the greatest provincial uprising that the Roman Empire had faced at that time. Numerous Jews were in Jerusalem and Judea for the Feast so that they were able to witness the unfolding events. This is when the Roman Governor of Syria (notice the Syrian link to Antiochus Epiphanes), Cestius Gallus, and the Twelfth Legion, set up camp on Mount Scopus near Jerusalem in preparation to attack the Jewish rebels who had taken over the city and the Temple, including the Roman-occupied fortress of Antonia - which was situated on the northern wing of the temple! (Recall Daniel 9:27)

Josephus records (in Book 2 and 4 of his Jewish War) that these Jewish rebels were already polluting the sanctuary at this stage, and for the whole three and a half years of the war against Jerusalem, they continued to defile the temple with their murders and their blasphemies, using the temple as their military base! This, in itself, constituted an abomination of desolation! Adding to this, they later invited the Idumeans (descendants of Esau) to join their murderous ranks, as they continued to multiply their abominations! The temple courts became soaked in human blood, with piles of corpses everywhere. Not only that, but even Lake Galilee, the river Jordan and the Dead Sea became as rivers and lakes of blood, full of decomposing bodies, during the War (Wars, Book 3:10:9; Book 4:7:5-6; Book 6:8:5). As Jesus had said, 'Wherever there's a dead body, there the vultures will gather.'

Cestius then attacked Jerusalem and set up camp within the city near Herod's palace. The Romans then besieged the temple wall on the north for a number of days. Here is what Josephus said of this attack.

"...so the soldiers undermined the wall, without being themselves hurt, and got all things ready for setting fire to the gate of the temple....It then happened that Cestius was not conscious either how the besieged despaired of success, nor how courageous the people were for him; and so he recalled his soldiers from the place, and by despairing of any expectation of taking it, without having received any disgrace, he retired from the city, without any reason in the world."

This Syrian/Roman general and his army, complete with their idolatrous standards or ensigns, which represented their pagan gods, were standing in the holy city attacking the holy temple - with their encampments around, and in, the city. This also was the abomination of desolation standing in the holy place. Yet this was not the moment of desolation - it was a warning sign, hence, miraculously, the Romans withdrew for no reason at all!

In fact, it is recorded by the church historian, Eusebius, that the Jewish Christians understood these events to be the signs that Jesus had predicted, and therefore they subsequently fled into the Judean wilderness and mountains to travel across the Jordan to Pella (Ecclesiastical History 3:5:3). As for the rest of the Jews, they were deceived by the messages and fear tactics of the self-proclaimed prophets and messiahs who said that God would fight for them and rescue them, especially as Rome (under Cestius) had already turned away once! Instead of seeing this as a warning sign, they viewed it as a sign of coming victory! Such was their blind zeal!

As the war progressed, things just grew worse, until the Roman general, Titus, in the spring of 70 AD, surrounded the city with encampments and laid siege to it, until they broke through the walls. After about 5 months, they finally entered the temple and then burned it. Amidst the ruins, the Romans raised their standards and sacrificed to their gods and to Titus. 

Many thousands of Jews perished and the rest were taken captive and sold as slaves within the Empire. These things fulfilled Jesus' words completely.

 "Now whenever you may be perceiving Jerusalem surrounded by encampments, then know that her desolation is near. Then let those in Judea flee into the mountains, and let those in her midst be coming out into the country, and let not those in the country be entering into her, for days of vengeance are these, to fulfill all that is written. Yet woe to those who are pregnant, and to those suckling in those days; for there will be great necessity in the land and indignation on this people. And they shall be falling by the edge of the sword and shall be led into captivity into all nations.

(Luke 21:20-24 CV)

As he approached Jerusalem and saw the city, he wept over it and said, "If you, even you, had only known on this day what would bring you peace—but now it is hidden from your eyes. The days will come upon you when your enemies will build an embankment against you and encircle you and hem you in on every side. They will dash you to the ground, you and the children within your walls. They will not leave one stone on another, because you did not recognize the time of God's coming to you."

 

(Luke 19:41-44 NIV)

 

As we have established, the Great Tribulation or Great Affliction (or Distress) mentioned in these texts is referring to the horrific days of the siege of Jerusalem ,which was unlike anything that had previously happened in that city. It was an horrific bloodbath - and most of the suffering and carnage was caused by the Jewish warring factions within the city, not just by the Romans! If these days had not been shortened, no flesh would've survived at all. The writings of Josephus in his Jewish War make it very plain how bad things actually were in those days. All of Jesus' words were fulfilled exactly has He had said.

Eventually, all the stones of the temple were taken apart and demolished by the Romans, who were trying to get the melted gold out of the cracks. This fulfilled the words of Jesus to the letter concerning the stones of the temple. Many of the Christians, as well as some of the wiser Jews, escaped into the mountains, but those who remained were either slaughtered or taken into captivity and scattered throughout the Roman Empire.

All the Old Testament prophecies concerning Jerusalem and Israel were fulfilled at that time, particularly those that spoke of the Day of the Lord, for Jesus had stated unequivocally "...for these are days of vengeance, to fulfill all that is written." This is especially true in relation to the prophecies of Daniel. A number of Jesus' words quoted above were alluding to the prophecies of Daniel, including the following.

"At that time Michael, the great prince who protects your people, will arise. There will be a time of distress such as has not happened from the beginning of nations until then. But at that time your people—everyone whose name is found written in the book—will be delivered..."

"...It will be for a time, times and half a time. When the power of the holy people has been finally broken, all these things will be completed."

(Daniel 12:1,7 NIV)

 

And after the sixty-two weeks, the anointed one shall be destroyed, and there is no judgment in him: and he shall destroy the city and the sanctuary with the prince that is coming: they shall be cut off with a flood, and to the end of the war which is rapidly completed he shall appoint the city to desolations.

And one week shall establish the covenant with many: and in the midst of the week my sacrifice and drink-offering shall be taken away: and on the temple shall be the abomination of desolations; and at the end of time an end shall be put to the desolation.

(Daniel 9:26-27 LXX)

The divine timing of these events was remarkable in their accuracy. On the day of Passover, in the Spring of 70 AD, the Roman armies began to encamp around Jerusalem in preparation for the coming siege. This was 40 years from when Jesus began His ministry. After 5 months, the Temple was burned and the city destroyed. The temple was destroyed on the 10th of the Jewish month Ab. This was the very same day that the temple of Solomon had been burned in 587/586 BC. Certainly not a coincidence! Both the First and Second Temples were divinely judged and destroyed on the same day! (Herod's Temple was essentially the Second Temple that was built after the Babylonian captivity, only enlarged and beautified.)

Then on the Passover of 73 AD, the last group of Jewish Zealots were defeated by the Romans as they made their final stand in the fortress of Masada. They committed mass suicide rather than allow the Romans to kill them. This officially ended the Jewish/Roman War of that period. It occurred exactly 40 years from the crucifixion of Jesus (33-73 AD) - to the very day! Again, certainly not a coincidence! These prophetic fulfillments heralded something of great magnitude - the end of an official divine transition from the Old Covenant to the New Covenant; from Israel after the flesh to the spiritual Israel of God.

The official, legal beginning of the War, when the Emperor Nero sent Vespasian to subdue Palestine, occurred in February 67 AD. The city of Jerusalem was finally subdued, and the temple destroyed, under Titus by August 70 AD. This was a period of 3 years and a half - or put another way, 'time, times and half a time.'

"...It will be for a time, times and half a time. When the power of the holy people has been finally broken, all these things will be completed."

Be that as it may, Luke's account makes it even clearer that this Great Affliction for the Jews would then go on to last the whole of this present age, which Jesus called 'the Times of the Nations' (or Times of the Gentiles), as opposed to the previous Times of the Hebrews. Take careful note of the words in this text.

"And they shall be falling by the edge of the sword and shall be led into captivity into all nations. And Jerusalem shall be trodden by the nations, until the eras of the nations (or times of the nations) may be fulfilled."

(Luke 21:24 CV)

This was truly a pivotal, and a hugely significant, event in Jewish and Biblical history. Jesus made it clear that it would be unparalleled, because these 'days of vengeance' would fulfill all that is written concerning Israel and Jerusalem. And Jerusalem would then continue to be rebuilt, trodden down, and destroyed by the various nations until the end of this age, and the Return of Christ. Nevertheless, the era of ancient Israel under the Old Covenant, which had lasted for over 1500 years, officially ended in 70 AD. The focus is now on a New Jerusalem, a New Mount Zion, a New Creation, a New Covenant, a New Promised Land - even a New Humanity that is not based on fleshly ties, that which is the New Temple of God.

(For the most part, what follows can also be found in the latter half of the article The Day of The Lord, The Return of The King)

 

The Coming of the Son of Man - Like Lightening

It is at this point in the accounts that Jesus starts to talk about His Coming or Presence at the end of the age, to answer the disciples' 3rd question. He begins to bridge the gap, so to speak, between the judgment of Jerusalem in the 1st century AD, and the ultimate judgment of the world at His Return (the Second Advent). This is where the transition begins that I spoke of at the beginning of this article. This is where some obvious problems begin to arise.

We must also take note that Jesus doesn't give any clue whatsoever here of the duration of this present age (i.e. the last days). He just tells us about the things that will occur on the Day of His glorious Return - and these things have also had a fulfillment in His Judgment-Coming upon Jerusalem in the 1st century AD.

"So if anyone tells you, 'There he is, out in the desert,' do not go out; or, 'Here he is, in the inner rooms,' do not believe it. For as lightning that comes from the east is visible even in the west, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. Wherever there is a carcass, there the vultures will gather."

(Matthew 24:26-28; see also Luke 17:24 NIV)

Firstly, He begins by declaring loud and clear that His Presence (Greek parousia) or Coming will not be secret and invisible, but it will be just like the lightening flashing across the whole sky. That is, it will be visible in the sky to ALL on the earth as a glorious light in the darkness! There will be no mistaking it! Many false prophets and false messiahs will come (including those teaching about false comings of Christ), but they are not the true Messiah unless they fulfill this criteria for the Day of the Lord. Even Jesus Himself has to fulfill this prophecy eventually in it's ultimate sense, otherwise He will prove to be a false prophet and a false Messiah!

Jesus was telling them not to chase after the false messiahs who were to come, particularly those who claimed that he was in the inner rooms (of the temple) or out in the desert - and, of course, there were such false messiahs declaring such things in the decades that followed! They proclaimed that God would deliver Jerusalem from the Romans, but they did not heed the words of Yahweh Himself spoken through His Son. There wasn't to be any deliverance for the city or the temple or the land. Judgment and wrath was coming, and it was firmly decided (Desolations have been decided - Daniel 9:26-27).

In the Prophets, lightening and thunder, as well as clouds, were common signs of God's judgment upon Israel and the nations. The Roman historian Tacitus records that lightening flashed over the city of Jerusalem during the siege, and Josephus records the following signs, mentioning clouds and angelic armies.

Besides these [signs], a few days after that feast, on the one- and-twentieth day of the month Artemisius, [Jyar,] a certain prodigious and incredible phenomenon appeared; I suppose the account of it would seem to be a fable, were it not related by those that saw it, and were not the events that followed it of so considerable a nature as to deserve such signals; for, before sun-setting, chariots and troops of soldiers in their armour were seen running about among the clouds, and surrounding of cities. Moreover, at that feast which we call Pentecost, as the priests were going by night into the inner [court of the] temple, as their custom was, to perform their sacred ministrations, they said that, in the first place, they felt a quaking, and heard a great noise, and after that they heard a sound as of a great multitude, saying, "Let us remove hence" (Wars, VI-5-3)

Tacitus, writing of the same events, said:

"In the sky appeared a vision of armies in conflict, of glittering armor. A sudden lightening flash from the clouds lit up the Temple. The doors of the holy place abruptly opened, a superhuman voice was heard to declare that the gods were leaving it, and in the same instant came the rushing tumult of their departure" (Histories, 5:13).

Jesus also indicated how much carnage would accompany Jerusalem's judgment by referring to the dead bodies and the vultures - a very literal Gehenna - yet He also uses this phrase solely in relation to His Return in Luke 17:37. This is because He is partially quoting from Isaiah 13 & 34 concerning the Day of the Lord. Nevertheless, as stated earlier, this event was also a 'Coming of Christ in Clouds of judgment, like lightening,' to those in Jerusalem and Judea - a Day of the Lord for Israel. So these things do have a relation to one another concerning the events of Jerusalem's destruction in the 1st century AD, and Christ's Return at the end of this age.

Jesus continued,

 Immediately after the distress of those days
   'the sun will be darkened,
      and the moon will not give its light;
   the stars will fall from the sky,
      and the heavenly bodies will be shaken.' "

(Matthew 24:28-29 NIV)

"But in those days, following that distress,
   'the sun will be darkened,
      and the moon will not give its light;
 the stars will fall from the sky,
      and the heavenly bodies will be shaken.' "

(Mark 13:24-25 NIV)

And there shall be signs in the sun and the moon and the constellations, and on the earth pressure of nations in perplexity, at the resounding of the sea and the shaking, at the chilling of men from fear and apprehensiveness of that which is coming on the inhabited earth, for the powers of the heavens shall be shaken.

(Luke 21:25-26 CV)

Now this is where the problem arises for most. In Matthew's account, the Greek word eutheos is used, which generally means 'immediately, straightaway.'

"Immediately after the distress (tribulation or affliction) of those days."

First and foremost, Jesus was linking what was to follow with 'the affliction of those days,' and it was to follow straight away - not hundreds or thousands of years later! He was talking about 'the great affliction' of the Jewish/Roman War in 66-70 AD, especially the final months of the siege in 70 AD.

How dreadful it will be in those days for pregnant women and nursing mothers!... 

...For then there will be great distress (or affliction or tribulation), unequaled from the beginning of the world until now—and never to be equaled again. If those days had not been cut short, no one would survive, but for the sake of the elect those days will be shortened.

Now evidently the physical sun, moon and stars didn't darken or collapse after 70 AD in a literal sense, but they did in a figurative, symbolic sense! They are used in this symbolic sense in the Old Testament. Let us firstly consider the relevant prophetic texts that Jesus was clearly alluding to from Isaiah and Ezekiel.

See, the day of the LORD is coming—a cruel day, with wrath and fierce anger—to make the land (or earth) desolate and destroy the sinners within it.

The stars of heaven and their constellations will not show their light. The rising sun will be darkened and the moon will not give its light. I will punish the world for its evil, the wicked for their sins. I will put an end to the arrogance of the haughty and will humble the pride of the ruthless.

I will make man scarcer than pure gold, more rare than the gold of Ophir. Therefore I will make the heavens tremble; and the earth will shake from its place at the wrath of the LORD Almighty, in the day of his burning anger.

(Isaiah 13:6-13 NIV)

Come near, you nations, and listen; pay attention, you peoples! Let the earth hear, and all that is in it, the world, and all that comes out of it! The LORD is angry with all nations; his wrath is upon all their armies. He will totally destroy them, he will give them over to slaughter. Their slain will be thrown out, their dead bodies will send up a stench; the mountains will be soaked with their blood.

All the stars of the heavens will be dissolved and the sky rolled up like a scroll; all the starry host will fall like withered leaves from the vine, like shriveled figs from the fig tree...

...For the LORD has a sacrifice in Bozrah
       and a great slaughter in Edom...

...For the LORD has a day of vengeance, a year of retribution, to uphold Zion's cause...

...there also the falcons (vultures) will gather...

(Isaiah 34:1-4, 6, 8, 15 NIV)

 

 " 'This is what the Sovereign LORD says:
       " 'With a great throng of people I will cast my net over you, and they will haul you up in my net.

I will throw you on the land and hurl you on the open field. I will let all the birds of the air settle on you and all the beasts of the earth gorge themselves on you.

I will spread your flesh on the mountains and fill the valleys with your remains.

I will drench the land with your flowing blood all the way to the mountains, and the ravines will be filled with your flesh.

When I snuff you out, I will cover the heavens and darken their stars; I will cover the sun with a cloud, and the moon will not give its light.

All the shining lights in the heavens I will darken over you; I will bring darkness over your land, declares the Sovereign LORD.

I will trouble the hearts of many peoples when I bring about your destruction among the nations, among lands you have not known.

I will cause many peoples to be appalled at you, and their kings will shudder with horror because of you when I brandish my sword before them. On the day of your downfall each of them will tremble every moment for his life.

(Ezekiel 32:3-10 NIV)

   These prophecies of judgment have been fulfilled a number of times in the ancient past in relation to Israel and Judah, as well as Egypt, Babylon and other nations and Empires. The heavenly luminaries of the sun, moon and stars often symbolise the leaders of the world, particularly as it relates to those who are God's representatives in the earth, those who represent His kingdom authority. 

The nation of Israel, God's chosen holy nation, was symbolised as the sun, moon and stars in Joseph's dream (Genesis 37:9-11; cf. Revelation 12:1-6). And in Daniel 8:9-12, 24, the priests and rulers of Judah are seen as stars of the heavenly host who are thrown down to the earth and trampled upon by the Little Horn (Antiochus IV Epiphanes). Angelic messengers are also symbolised as stars (Job 38:7).

So, figuratively speaking, Jesus was prophesying the great shaking of the Jewish and Roman world, and the spiritual powers behind them, that would immediately follow the end of the Old Covenant system. More importantly it was prophesying that the world of Old Covenant Judaism was about to be destroyed, with all the lights going out. This would give way to a New Creation.

Nevertheless, in a greater sense, in relation to Christ's Second Advent, this is also describing something so cataclysmic that nothing like it has occurred since the beginning of creation, or at least since the time of the Great Flood of Noah's time.

The Shaking of the Universe and the Glory Cloud

According to 2 Peter 3, these things will occur in a very literal manner, at the beginning of the Day of the Lord Jesus Christ. And men will be frozen with fear and apprehensiveness and great terror, wondering what the heck is coming upon the whole earth, for the earth will be shaking and the sea will be roaring, and the whole heavens will be combusting and dissolving with fire! But first, the sun and moon and stars will go dark!

Not only are these things spoken of in many OT prophecies, such as Isaiah 13 & 34, and Joel 2-3, but they are also referred to elsewhere in the NT. We shall see shortly that Peter described this shaking and dissolving of the universe when he wrote about the Day of the Lord in his second letter. The writer to the Hebrews was also referring to this awesome Day when he wrote the following.

See to it that you do not refuse him who speaks. If they did not escape when they refused him who warned them on earth, how much less will we, if we turn away from him who warns us from heaven? At that time his voice shook the earth, but now he has promised, "Once more I will shake not only the earth but also the heavens." The words "once more" indicate the removing of what can be shaken—that is, created things—so that what cannot be shaken may remain. Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe, for our "God is a consuming fire."

(Hebrews 12:25-29 NIV)

These texts also have reference to the events of the Jewish War and the close of the Old Covenant system in a relative, figurative sense, yet they ultimately speak of the end of this present age and the Return of Christ in an absolute, more literal sense.

Returning to the Olivet Discourse, Jesus continues with the events of that Day.

"At that time they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. When these things begin to take place, stand up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near."

(Luke 21:27-28 NIV)

"At that time men will see the Son of Man coming in clouds with great power and glory. And he will send his angels and gather his elect from the four winds, from the ends of the earth to the ends of the heavens."

(Mark 13:26-27 NIV)

"At that time the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky, and all the nations of the earth will mourn. They will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of the sky, with power and great glory. And he will send his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of the heavens to the other.

(Matthew 24:30-31 NIV)

The 'sign of the Son of Man' that is mentioned by Matthew, I believe, is the great Glory cloud of God, shining in all its brilliance. One of the common themes of some of the prophetic passages concerning Christ's return is that of clouds, that is, the glory clouds of God's presence. He will be in clouds, on clouds and with clouds! This sign will appear in the sky as a supernatural light, after the darkening of the sun and the moon, which will cause all the nations of the earth to mourn (or grieve or lament).

This phrase 'the nations of the earth' can also be translated as 'the tribes of the land' (see also Revelation 1:7). In both Hebrew and Greek, land and earth are interchangeable, depending on the context. In relation to AD 70, all the tribes of the land of Judah, all those who pierced Him, mourned at the sight of God's Judgment upon them through Christ. Yet in the greater sense, all the tribes or nations of the earth will mourn when they witness the judgment of Christ at His Second Advent.

All the peoples of the earth will see Christ Jesus descending from the heavens with power and great glory, and He will remain in the atmosphere of the earth (that is, in the sky or air) surrounded by clouds of glory, clouds of angels - and clouds of believers - while He judges those who remain on the earth! He will then send out His angels (heavenly messengers) with a shout of command that will sound like a trumpet, and they will gather and assemble His elect (or chosen ones) from the whole earth  - and the heavens!

As Luke records, "When these things begin to take place....your redemption is drawing near." This is clearly saying that even true believers (that is, the Body/Bride of Christ, the Ecclesia of the sons of God, the overcomers, etc) will experience the beginning of these things just before our redemption (that is, our deliverance or full salvation) occurs. It may only be for a matter of minutes, but this becomes the test of our faith of whether we will seek to hold on to this world or not. We shall look at this shortly.

When Jesus ascended into the heavens (that is, entered the spirit realm) in 33 AD, this is what happened.

After he said this, he was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid him from their sight. They were looking intently up into the sky as he was going, when suddenly two men dressed in white stood beside them. "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."

(Acts 1:9-11 NIV)

Now this is so simple that a child could understand it. The disciples were told that this same Jesus would return from the heavens in the same way as He left! It's a simple reversal of His ascension into the heavens. Now, how did He leave this earth? He ascended visibly into the sky (for gravity had no hold on Him) in a cloud (the Glory cloud of the Presence of God, not rain clouds) until He disappeared from sight.

Therefore, in the same way, He will return from the heavens, visibly descending to the atmosphere of this earth (that is, in the sky or the air) for all to see. And He will be surrounded by glory clouds (and these are not rain clouds) as He appears like lightening.

This is exactly what Jesus described in the above texts! As we have seen, it can be said that these things were fulfilled in a more figurative sense in relation to Jerusalem's destruction in 70 AD, but that was only in relation to Judah and Jerusalem and Israel. The Second Advent involves the whole world, all nations, and it will occur in a very literal sense, involving supernatural happenings that have never been witnessed before on such a great scale! It will also include the ultimate Resurrection and Judgment Day!

Deliverance and Destruction 

Before we continue, here are a few more scriptures from the writings of the Apostles that speak of these very same things in relation to the Second Advent - and they need no explanation! And these words go way beyond the context of 70 AD alone! The words of Paul, especially, are aimed at believers from all nations throughout the world, not just those in Palestine - and, by extension, they apply to all Christians of every generation throughout this present age.

"...and to be waiting for His Son out of the heavens, Whom He rouses from among the dead, Jesus, our Rescuer out of the coming indignation...for God did not appoint us to indignation, but to the procuring of salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, Who died for our sakes, that, whether we may be watching (those alive) or drowsing (those in death), we should be living at the same time together with Him."

(1 Thessalonians 1:10; 5:9-10 CV)

 

"...thus Christ also,...will be seen a second time, by those awaiting Him, apart from sin, for salvation, through faith." 

 

(Hebrews 9:28 CV)

 

 

"...Henceforth you shall be seeing the Son of Mankind sitting at the right hand of power and coming on the clouds of heaven." 

 

(Matthew 26:65 CV)

 

 

"I came to be casting fire on the earth, and what will I, if it were already kindled?" 

 

(Luke 12:49 CV)

 

 

"For the Son of Mankind is about to be coming in the glory of His Father, with His messengers, and then He will be paying each in accord with his practice." 

 

(Matthew 16:27 CV)

 

 

"And I perceived, when It opens the sixth seal, and a great cataclysm occurred, and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the whole moon became as blood, and the stars of heaven fall on the earth as a fig tree is casting its shriveled figs, quaking under a great wind. And heaven recoils as a scroll rolling up, and every mountain and island was moved out of its place. And the kings of the earth, and the magnates, and the captains, and the rich, and the strong, and every slave and freeman, hide themselves in the caves and in the rocks of the mountains. And they are saying to the mountains and to the rocks, "Fall on us and hide us from the face of Him Who is sitting on the throne, and from the indignation of the Lambkin, for the great day of Their indignation came, and who is able to stand?" 

 

(Revelation 6:12-17 CV)

 

"Now we do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who are reposing, lest you may sorrow according as the rest, also, who have no expectation. For, if we are believing that Jesus died and rose, thus also, those who are put to repose, God will, through Jesus, lead forth together with Him. 

For this we are saying to you by the word of the Lord, that we, the living, who are surviving to the presence of the Lord, should by no means outstrip those who are put to repose, for the Lord Himself will be descending from heaven with a shout of command, with the voice of the Chief Messenger, and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ shall be rising first. Thereupon we, the living who are surviving, shall at the same time be snatched away together with them in clouds, to meet the Lord in the air. And thus shall we always be together with the Lord. So that, console one another with these words." 

(1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 CV)

 

'Yet the heavens and the earth which are now, by the same word (of God), are stored with fire, being kept for the day of the judging and destruction of irreverent men...the Lord is not tardy as to the promise…Now the Day of the Lord will be arriving as a thief, in which the heavens shall be passing by with a booming noise, yet the elements shall be dissolved by combustion, and the earth and the works in it shall be found.'

 

(2 Peter 3:7, 9-10 CV)

We shall be considering these last two scriptures in particular a little later, when dealing with the suddenness of that Day, which will occur 'as a thief in the night,' and the awesome event commonly called the 'Rapture,' though it should be more accurately called the Snatching and Transformation of the sons of God. These things are revealed in type and shadow in the events of Noah and the Flood, and Lot and the destruction of Sodom.

Returning to the Olivet Discourse, Jesus continued by using the simple parable of the Fig Tree to tell us that, in the same way as fig trees begin to bud and sprout leaves in the spring, heralding the nearness of summer, so all these signs would herald the nearness of the kingdom of God and it's King - particularly in its relation to the 1st century events of the impending destruction of Jerusalem.

"Now learn this lesson from the fig tree: As soon as its twigs get tender and its leaves come out, you know that summer is near. Even so, when you see all these things, you know that it (or he) is near, right at the door."

(Matthew 24:32-33 NIV)

"Now learn this lesson from the fig tree: As soon as its twigs get tender and its leaves come out, you know that summer is near. Even so, when you see these things happening, you know that it is near, right at the door."

(Mark 13:28-29 NIV)

He told them this parable: "Look at the fig tree and all the trees. When they sprout leaves, you can see for yourselves and know that summer is near. Even so, when you see these things happening, you know that the kingdom of God is near."

(Luke 21:29-31 NIV)

There is something more to this parable, but so that we don't detract too much at this point, if you wish to look into this matter further, see The Parable of the Fig Tree in The Secrets of the Parables book.

Jesus then continued,

"I tell you the truth, this generation will certainly not pass away until all these things have happened. Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away."

(Matthew 24:34-35 NIV)

So what did He mean by saying that 'this generation will not pass away until all these things have happened?'

This Generation

There are generally two ways of interpreting what Jesus was saying here. Many times throughout His ministry to Israel, Jesus spoke about “this wicked and adulteress generation,” which generally referred to those who were alive at that time. A generation was usually understood to be 40 years, due to the 40 years of wandering in the wilderness for ancient Israel, until that 'Exodus' generation had died. 

As we have already seen, a good portion of the Olivet Discourse is describing the then-future events of the 1st century AD concerning the judgment of Jerusalem and the Temple, and the 'days of vengeance' and 'wrath' that were about to come upon the Jewish people and their dying religion of Judaism.

Jesus had pronounced judgment upon that generation who were about to reject the true Messiah and His Apostles.

"And so upon you will come all the righteous blood that has been shed on earth, from the blood of righteous Abel to the blood of Zechariah son of Berekiah, whom you murdered between the temple and the altar. I tell you the truth, all this will come upon this generation."

The popular interpretation is as follows, which is often the view of Dispensationalists. Some contexts suggest that the phrase “this generation” is referring to the whole wicked generation of unbelieving Israel, beginning many centuries before Christ and continuing right through to the end of the age (cf. Matthew 12:39-45). This gives the meaning of 'generation' in the broader sense of 'race'.

“…so that on you should be coming all the just blood shed on the earth, from the blood of just Abel until the blood of Zechariah, son of Bereciah, whom you murder between the temple and the altar. Verily, I am saying to you: All these things will be arriving on this generation… Jerusalem!… Lo! your house is left to you desolate. For I am saying to you: You may by no means be perceiving Me henceforth, till you should be saying, ‘Blessed is He Who is coming in the name of the Lord!’” 

 

(Matthew 23:35-39 CV)

In the above passage quoted from Matthew, Jesus prophesied that the judgment would come ‘on you,’ that is, on those who would be alive during the period from 33-70 AD, the time when the judgments actually took place. And He also said that they had murdered the priest and prophet Zechariah son of Berechiah - even though he had lived and died many centuries before them! These people were not hundreds of years old, yet they were connected to the 'generation’ or the ancestors of Israel that Jesus was speaking about! 

So, according to this view, the phrase ‘this generation’ can, and does, have a wider application, depending on the context, and it can carry the meaning of 'race' and not just a generation.

It is also true that Jeremiah had prophesied that the descendents of Israel would continue as a nation until the end of this age, until the physical laws of this old creation would pass away.

This is what the LORD says,
       he who appoints the sun
       to shine by day,
       who decrees the moon and stars
       to shine by night,
       who stirs up the sea
       so that its waves roar—
       the LORD Almighty is his name:

"Only if these decrees vanish from my sight,"
       declares the LORD,
       "will the descendants of Israel ever cease
       to be a nation before me."

(Jeremiah 31:35-36 NIV; see also Jeremiah 33:19-26)

  And God also made it clear that there would always be a spiritual remnant of Israel, a remnant of grace, who are the true Israel of God, for He would not completely reject all of the descendents of Israel because of their sins.

This is what the LORD says:
       "Only if the heavens above can be measured
       and the foundations of the earth below be searched out
       will I reject all the descendants of Israel
       because of all they have done,"
       declares the LORD.

(Jeremiah 31:37 NIV)

So whichever way one looks at these prophecies, they are definitely declaring that a spiritual Israel will continue until Christ's Return and the establishing of the New Creation. But for this to occur, there also needs to be a physical nation of Israel after the flesh, out of which comes the spiritual remnant. And that's exactly how it is to this day.

Therefore, according to this view, in the context of Matthew 24:34 quoted earlier, ‘this generation’ can also be referring to the final generation of unbelieving Israel who will see all these things unfold (that is, the various signs and events of Christ's Return), and they will not completely pass by until all these things have occurred - which includes the visible return of Christ Himself! Only then will the wicked generation ‘pass by’ and be no more, having no place in the New Jerusalem.

Now, there may be some aspects of this view that commend it, but be that as it may, there is a problem here. And this leads us to the second interpretation.

The other interpretation of 'this generation' would be that this refers to the generation of Jews living at that time in the first century, from 30-70 AD, who would experience all these things coming upon Judah and Jerusalem via the Jewish/ Roman war of that period.

The Greek word genea translated as generation is widely recognised in most concordances as denoting the generation of people living at that time. If Jesus had meant to say 'generations' in the plural, or 'race' even, then He could've said so, but He clearly meant that judgment was going to arrive on the generation living at that time in the 1st century. Here is what Wayne Jackson says in his Study of Matthew 24.

Genea is found 43 times in the New Testament. In 17 of these cases, the expression is “this generation.” In Matthew’s record, for example, “this generation” is found in 11:16; 12:41,42,45; 23:36, 24:34. A careful consideration of these passages provides a clear sense of the significance of the expression. For instance, Jesus, surveying the Jewish wickedness of his day, warned of an impending punishment. He said: “All these things [the consequences of the Jews’ rebellion] shall come upon this generation” (Mt. 23:36) ... Arndt & Gingrich suggest that genea denotes “basically, the sum total of those born at the same time, expanded to include all those living at a given time generation, contemporaries” (153). McClintock & Strong state that the phrase “this generation” in Matthew 24:34 denotes “the generation of persons then living contemporary with Christ” (776).

Therefore, Jesus was clearly stating that judgment was going to fall on the generation of Jews that He was talking to....and it did, within 40 years!

“…so that on you should be coming all the just blood shed on the earth, from the blood of just Abel until the blood of Zechariah, son of Bereciah, whom you murder between the temple and the altar. Verily, I am saying to you: All these things will be arriving on this generation… Jerusalem!… Lo! your house is left to you desolate. For I am saying to you: You may by no means be perceiving Me henceforth, till you should be saying, ‘Blessed is He Who is coming in the name of the Lord!’” 

 

(Matthew 23:35-39 CV)  

 

That generation would receive the ultimate generational curse of the Law of Moses, connecting them with all of their murderous forefathers of previous generations. Their ultimate sin would be murdering the Messiah, the Son of God. Therefore, "All these things will be arriving on this generation."

 

As he approached Jerusalem and saw the city, he wept over it and said, "If you, even you, had only known on this day what would bring you peace—but now it is hidden from your eyes. The days will come upon you when your enemies will build an embankment against you and encircle you and hem you in on every side. They will dash you to the ground, you and the children within your walls. They will not leave one stone on another, because you did not recognize the time of God's coming to you."

 

(Luke 19:41-44 NIV)

These words were fulfilled when the Roman armies under Titus surrounded the city of Jerusalem in 70 AD and laid siege to it for 5 months. They eventually built a wall of wooden stakes around the whole city using all the trees in the vicinity for miles around, cutting it off completely, to starve the inhabitants. Thousands of Jews were slaughtered in the process, and the whole city and the temple complex was totally destroyed, and not one stone was left on another, particularly in the sanctuary area.

All these things came upon 'this generation' just as Jesus had forewarned them.

He also said the following.

"Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away."

Jesus also states very clearly that, in relation to His glorious Return, the present heavens and the earth shall pass away! But the very words of the Kingdom of God and it's King shall not pass away - because a New Creation shall arise in which all things will have its complete fulfillment for all to see! Only the unshakable kingdom of God will remain. This is clearly confirmed by Peter.

'Yet the heavens and the earth which are now, by the same word (of God), are stored with fire, being kept for the day of the judging and destruction of irreverent men...the Lord is not tardy as to the promise…Now the Day of the Lord will be arriving as a thief, in which the heavens shall be passing by with a booming noise, yet the elements shall be dissolved by combustion, and the earth and the works in it shall be found.

 

At these all, then, dissolving, to what manner of men must you belong in holy behavior and devoutness, hoping for and hurrying the presence of God's day, because of which the heavens, being on fire, will be dissolved, and the elements decompose by combustion! Yet we, according to His promises, are hoping for new heavens and a new earth, in which righteousness is dwelling.'

 

(2 Peter 3:7, 9-13 CV)

We have seen above that, in a figurative sense, the present heavens and earth of the Old Creation, in the form of the Old Covenant system of Judaism, has already passed away in 70 AD, while the New Covenant creation through the words of Christ continues to exist. Paul teaches that the New Creation, the New Humanity, already exists in spirit, but we are still awaiting the fullness of it at Christ's Return. Therefore, these things are to have their ultimate fulfillment in relation to the passing away of this Old Creation and Order in the ultimate Day of the Lord.

In the remainder of the Olivet Discourse, Jesus goes on to give warnings of the suddenness of that Day, which will occur like a thief in the night, and He gives us some idea of how things will be in the world at the time of His Return. He also teaches us in a few parables that the Church needs to be watching for that Day, for it will arrive suddenly and judgment will follow. So let's take a look at these things in a little more detail. And if you are presently influenced by a 'dispensational mindset' you may find the following very surprising indeed!

A Thief in the Night

Firstly, here is one of the warnings that Jesus gave about that Day.

   "Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come. But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what time of night the thief was coming, he would have kept watch and would not have let his house be broken into. So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him."

(Matthew 24:42-44 NIV)

"Be careful, or your hearts will be weighed down with dissipation, drunkenness and the anxieties of life, and that day will close on you unexpectedly like a trap. For it will come (intrude-CV) upon all those who live on the face of the whole earth. Be always on the watch, and pray that you may be able to escape all that is about to happen, and that you may be able to stand before the Son of Man."

(Luke 21:34-36 NIV)

Jesus is warning His followers that if we get bogged down in life's affairs and the ways of the flesh and the world, then the Day of the Lord will close in on us unexpectedly like a trap, for it will intrude unexpectedly upon all mankind on the face of the entire earth, like a thief coming suddenly in the night to steal your belongings - and there is no escape! Only the watchful and prayerful overcomers in Christ, His true disciples, will be prepared for that Day.

Now here is what the apostle Paul had to say about the Day of the Lord, and it is evident that Paul confirms, and builds upon, much of what Jesus said.

'Now concerning the times and the eras, brethren, you have no need to be written to, for you yourselves are accurately aware that the Day of the Lord is as a thief in the night - thus is it coming! Now whenever they may be saying "Peace and security," then extermination is standing by them unawares, even as a pang over the pregnant, and they may by no means escape.' 

 

(1 Thessalonians 5:1-3 CV)

Paul is saying here that the times and eras and seasons of Biblical prophecy will not reveal when the Day of the Lord will actually occur! That Day will arrive like a thief in the night, at a time when the world is going about its normal everyday business, oblivious of what's coming! It will be in a time of relative peace and safety, and NOT in the midst of some 'Armageddon Holocaust' or any specific war! This is such a different scenario to what is commonly taught and believed these days!

The destruction of the wrath of God will arrive unexpectedly as a trap for all those who dwell upon the face of the entire earth! Paul likens it to the birth process in a woman, which usually begins suddenly and unexpectedly! And the world will have no means of escape! Only the Chosen Ones of God will be able to escape the full force of these things due to the powerful saving grace of their Master and Redeemer, for we are not appointed to suffer the wrath of God and His Christ.

In ancient times (as well as modern times), bands of thieves would suddenly descend upon a town to pillage it, often causing destruction of property as well, and this would usually occur at night while everyone was sleeping, so the whole thing would happen quite unexpectedly. Yet there would also be the individual thief who would be out at night breaking and entering peoples houses unexpectedly. This is how the majority of the world, and even the Church, will view the Return of Christ - as a thief coming to intrude upon their lives, and to steal that which they think belongs to them, even their very soul!

"If ever, then, you should not be watching, I shall be arriving on you as a thief, and under no circumstances will you know what hour I shall be arriving on you...Lo! I am coming as a thief!" 

 

(Revelation 3:3; 16:15)

 

"Now the day of the Lord will be arriving as a thief..." 

 

(2 Peter 3:10)

 

The Days of Noah

Up to now, the majority of the Olivet Discourse in Matthew 24:1-35 has had a direct relation to the events of the 1st century AD, although verses 27-35 began a transition to the events of the Second Advent. From verse 36 onwards, the text is directly related to the Second Advent. We shall now see that Jesus said that there won't be any specific signs to herald His Coming, for no one can know the day or hour of His Return. In fact, He goes on to reveal that it will happen at a time when the majority, including Christians, will not be expecting it!

This is in complete contrast to what has gone before, because Jesus gave a number of specific signs to those of that 1st century generation, who would witness the destruction of Jerusalem, in order for them to flee the city and the land! But when it comes to His Return, no one will know until the Day arrives!

Jesus went on to say that, at the time of His Return, the world will be just like it was in the days of Noah, just before the Flood came, when they were all oblivious of what was coming upon the earth.

  "No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. For in the days before the flood, people were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, up to the day Noah entered the ark; and they knew nothing about what would happen until the flood came and took them all away. That is how it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. Two men will be in the field; one will be taken and the other left. Two women will be grinding with a hand mill; one will be taken and the other left.

   "Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come. But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what time of night the thief was coming, he would have kept watch and would not have let his house be broken into. So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him."

 

(Matthew 24:36-44 NIV; also Luke 12:38-40; 17:26-27)

   He is saying that the world in general will be in a state of relative peace and safety (and Paul confirmed this, as we saw earlier), with everyone living their lives as normal, going about their daily business, eating and drinking, buying and selling - and marrying. Now a marriage is a joyful occasion, so this is emphasising the fact that the world, including the Christian Church as a whole, will be wrapped up in their everyday affairs, on the whole, enjoying life!

  That is to say, there won't be any specific sign given beforehand to indicate that this Day is about to occur. It will begin suddenly, out of the blue - and even the majority of Christians will not be ready for it - and when it starts, there isn't any going back! There will be no escape for those outside of Christ, for they will be taken away in judgment!

   Now if we take note of what the world was like in the days of Noah, we will get some clues as to what it will be like in the days of the Son of Man. Genesis 6 tells us the following.

  Then the LORD said, "My Spirit will not contend with man forever (for the age), for he is mortal; his days will be a hundred and twenty years."...The LORD saw how great man's wickedness on the earth had become, and that every inclination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil all the time...Now the earth was corrupt in God's sight and was full of violence. God saw how corrupt the earth had become, for all the people on earth had corrupted their ways. So God said to Noah, "I am going to put an end to all people, for the earth is filled with violence because of them. I am surely going to destroy both them and the earth."

 

(Genesis 6:3, 5, 11-13 NIV)

  The Book of Jasher, an ancient scroll that is mentioned a few times in the Old Testament, confirms what the Scriptures tell us.

  But in the latter days of Methuselah, the sons of men turned from the Lord, they corrupted the earth, they robbed and plundered each other, and they rebelled against God and they transgressed, and they corrupted their ways, and would not hearken to the voice of Methuselah, but rebelled against him.

 

(Jasher 4:4)

  The world was full of everyday violence and wickedness of all kinds, including robbery and muggings, in open rebellion against the most basic tenets of God's laws. It was totally corrupt in every way. Most were living for their own selfish pleasure, in a corrupt manner, in defiance of the Creator. Yet in general they were living in abundant prosperity, surrounded by worldly pleasures.

  It is later revealed that both Noah and Methuselah preached the Word of God to the world of that time for 120 years. Towards the end of that time, Noah and his family, along with Methuselah and his family, built the Ark over a period of 5 years. Then in the year of the Flood, Methuselah died. 

 

  Now this is what amazes me the most. The only ones who believed God and obeyed His Word were 8 people out of the whole world! After 120 years of preaching the word and warning the people about the judgment to come, only the 8 souls of Noah and his family believed God and boarded the Ark to be saved! (Others had believed previously, but they had all died before the Flood came, including Methuselah).

  This small remnant symbolises the remnant of Overcomers who will be saved at Christ's Return to be spared the Wrath of fire. The number eight symbolises New Creation or New Beginnings, and in the same way as Noah and his family rose above the waters of judgment in the Ark to be kept alive, and to eventually remain on the New Earth after the waters had subsided, so the true followers of Christ will be saved by the Ark of Christ Jesus Himself, rising above the judgment, to eventually descend upon the New Earth as the Firstfruits of a New Humanity to begin ruling over a New Creation. 

  Noah essentially means 'rest' and he prefigures the Rest of God, which is the inheritance of salvation in, and through, Christ - the entering into the true Promised Land, the Kingdom of God. God always uses the minority as His servants, those who belong to the remnant of grace. It has always been this way - whether it be Noah and his family, Lot and his family, Joshua and Caleb, Gideon's 300 men, etc, etc.

  Jesus also makes it clear in the text above that there will be a judgment of separation at this time, so whether one is asleep or at home or out working or whatever one is doing on that Day, one will be taken away in judgment, while another will be saved and will be left behind to inherit the earth. The whole pattern is in the account of Noah and the Flood. 

  Yet even though the majority of the world will have heard something about the Gospel and the coming judgment, like the people of Noah's time had, they will not really believe it, and they will therefore know nothing about what is coming until it is too late - and then there will be no escape! And in the same way as the Flood was worldwide, so the judgment of the Day of the Lord will be universal.

  The Book of Jasher also gives us some extremely interesting information about the events that began the Great Flood, which ties in perfectly with what Jesus was revealing about the Day of His Return and the similarities with the days of Noah.

  And on that day, the Lord caused the whole earth to shake, and the sun darkened, and the foundations of the world raged, and the whole earth was moved violently, and the lightning flashed, and the thunder roared, and all the fountains in the earth were broken up, such as was not known to the inhabitants before; and God did this mighty act, in order to terrify the sons of men, that there might be no more evil upon earth...

 

  ...And all the sons of men that were left upon the earth, became exhausted through evil on account of the rain, for the waters were coming more violently upon the earth, and the animals and beasts were still surrounding the ark. And the sons of men assembled together, about seven hundred thousand men and women, and they came unto Noah to the ark.

   And they called to Noah, saying, Open for us that we may come to thee in the ark--and wherefore shall we die? And Noah, with a loud voice, answered them from the ark, saying, Have you not all rebelled against the Lord, and said that he does not exist? and therefore the Lord brought upon you this evil, to destroy and cut you off from the face of the earth.

  Is not this the thing that I spoke to you of one hundred and twenty years back, and you would not hearken to the voice of the Lord, and now do you desire to live upon earth?...

...And the sons of men approached in order to break into the ark, to come in on account of the rain, for they could not bear the rain upon them. And the Lord sent all the beasts and animals that stood round the ark. And the beasts overpowered them and drove them from that place, and every man went his way and they again scattered themselves upon the face of the earth.

  And the rain was still descending upon the earth, and it descended forty days and forty nights, and the waters prevailed greatly upon the earth; and all flesh that was upon the earth or in the waters died, whether men, animals, beasts, creeping things or birds of the air, and there only remained Noah and those that were with him in the ark.

(Jasher 6:11, 16-20, 24-26)

 

The Days of Lot

  Jesus also went on to reveal further similar parallels with the days of His Return, by mentioning the days of Lot and the judgment that fell upon Sodom and Gomorrah and the other cities of the Plain. This time the judgment was by heavenly fire, and although it wasn't universal, it nevertheless destroyed all within that vicinity.

  "It was the same in the days of Lot. People were eating and drinking, buying and selling, planting and building. But the day Lot left Sodom, fire and sulfur rained down from heaven and destroyed them all. It will be just like this on the day the Son of Man is revealed."

(Luke 17:28-30 NIV)

Let us repeat that last line.

It will be just like this on the day the Son of Man is revealed.

  Now it doesn't come much clearer than this! In the same way as fire and sulphur rained down from heaven in divine judgment on the day Lot and his family left Sodom, and destroyed all who remained, so the fire of God will fall at Christ's Return and destroy this Old Creation - after the sons of God have been rescued and delivered from this earth.

  The people of Sodom and that whole area (in what is now the Dead Sea) were also full of barbaric violence and corruption and all wickedness, mistreating the poor and needy, robbing and mugging, and they practiced all manner of sexual lusts and perversions (see Genesis 18-19 and Jasher 19). Yet even though they had been given time to repent, no one believed God and obeyed. So on the very day Lot left Sodom, to go up to higher ground for safety, the divine fire fell! Yet even Lot had to be virtually dragged out of there by heavenly messengers!

  On that very day, every one in Sodom and the other cities were carrying on as normal, living life as usual, some sleeping, some working, buying and selling, building and planting, eating and drinking, etc. But as soon as God's chosen ones of the family of Abraham had left Sodom, the fire fell and destroyed them all!

  This is a secondary pattern that establishes the truth of the matter. The parallels are as clear as day (if you have not been indoctrinated by other scenarios) between Noah's day and Lot's time, and the days of Christ's Return at the end of this age. The divine type and pattern is unmistakable. One simple look at the world today will confirm to anyone who has some knowledge and understanding that the conditions are truly ripe for judgment!

  Jesus also went on to say something else in relation to Sodom and His Return.

"On that day no one who is on the roof of his house, with his goods inside, should go down to get them. Likewise, no one in the field should go back for anything. Remember Lot's wife! Whoever tries to keep his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life will preserve it. I tell you, on that night two people will be in one bed; one will be taken and the other left. Two women will be grinding grain together; one will be taken and the other left."

   "Where, Lord?" they asked. He replied, "Where there is a dead body, there the vultures will gather."

(Luke 17:31-37 NIV)

  Jesus is saying here that when the events of that Day begin, His followers are NOT to try and save their own lives or their material things, because it will be fruitless to try and do so! Whether one is at home, resting or eating (which many in the East used to do on the flat roofs of their houses) or whether one is out working (figured by those out in the fields), Jesus warns us not to think about saving ourselves or our material goods. He then gives the warning of what happened to Lot's wife. She had been previously warned that she should not stop and look back, or think about returning, but that they should keep moving, but she disobeyed and stopped and looked back. She then died by turning to a pillar of salt, due to the falling fire and sulphur.

  Now Jesus uses this example to warn us not to try and cling to earthly things, particularly when the judgments of that Day begin, because he who tries to save his soul will lose it (literally destroy it), but he who loses his soul (literally destroys his soul, through walking the path of humble obedience to God) will save it. And when the disciples asked Jesus "Where?" presumably wondering where these people would be taken, He replied by quoting a line from Isaiah 34, which we considered earlier, concerning the destruction of the generation of that Day.

"Where there is a dead body, there the vultures will gather."

  It's no wonder, then, that there are many warnings in the NT about not loving the world and that which is in it - for this world system, and everything in it, is destined for the fire of God! This doesn't mean that it's wrong to have riches and material blessings, and to enjoy the good things that God graciously gives us, but it means that we need to have the proper perspective - these things will not last! We must be good and wise stewards, but we must hold it all loosely. The real treasures are in the heavens, that is, in the spirit realm.

  Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For everything in the world—the cravings of sinful man, the lust of his eyes and the boasting of what he has and does—comes not from the Father but from the world. The world and its desires pass away, but the man who does the will of God lives forever (for the age).

 

(1 John 2:15-17 NIV)

 

You adulterous people, don't you know that friendship with the world is hatred toward God? Anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God. Or do you think Scripture says without reason that the spirit he caused to live in us envies intensely? But he gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says:
   "God opposes the proud
      but gives grace to the humble."

 

(James 4:4-6 NIV)

  Both Peter and Jude also used these early examples of divine judgment that Jesus used (i.e. Noah and the Flood, and Lot and Sodom, recorded in Genesis) to warn false believers about the judgment to come at Christ's Return, as well as giving encouragement to those who are true disciples of Jesus, that God rescues His righteous ones out of trial and wrath. Here is what they wrote.

For if God...did not spare the ancient world when he brought the flood on its ungodly people, but protected Noah, a preacher of righteousness, and seven others; if he condemned the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah by burning them to ashes, and made them an example of what is going to happen to the ungodly; and if he rescued Lot, a righteous man, who was distressed by the filthy lives of lawless men (for that righteous man, living among them day after day, was tormented in his righteous soul by the lawless deeds he saw and heard)— if this is so, then the Lord knows how to rescue godly men from trials and to hold the unrighteous for punishment until (more accurately 'in') the day of judgment.

 

(2 Peter 2:4-9 NIV)

 

Though you already know all this, I want to remind you that the Lord delivered his people out of Egypt, but later destroyed those who did not believe...In a similar way, Sodom and Gomorrah and the surrounding towns gave themselves up to sexual immorality and perversion. They serve as an example of those who suffer the punishment (chastening - CV) of eternal (age-abiding) fire.

 

(Jude 5, 7 NIV)

 

 

Flaming Fire

So what are we to make of all this talk about fire in relation to the Day of the Lord and the judgment that will follow? Here is what Paul, the great messenger of the Gospel of Grace to the nations, had to say about the Unveiling of Christ in the Day of the Lord, in 2 Thessalonians 1:6-10.

 '…it is just of God to repay affliction to those afflicting you, and to you who are being afflicted, ease, with us, at the unveiling of the Lord Jesus from heaven with His powerful messengers (angels), in flaming fire, dealing out vengeance to those who are not acquainted with God and those who are not obeying the evangel of our Lord Jesus Christ - who shall incur the justice of eonian extermination from the face of the Lord, and from the glory of His strength - whenever He may be coming to be glorified in His saints and to be marvelled at in all who believe in that day (seeing that our testimony to you was believed). (CV)

Essentially, Paul is describing not only the events of Christ's Unveiling (or Revelation or Manifestation) and the judgment upon this Old Creation in flaming fire, but he is also talking about the Great Judgment that will follow when Christ will judge the living and the dead. Jude was also alluding to this in the above text when he said "They serve as an example of those who suffer the punishment (chastening - CV) of eternal (age-abiding) fire." 

Only true followers of God and His Son will be given ease and abundant blessing for the ages to come, by inheriting the age-abiding life of the First Resurrection, which is immortality and incorruption - the Glory of the Kingdom of God in a New Creation. The rest will experience the wrath and vengeance of God in the figurative fire of the Second Death, which will involve punishment and chastening, and the destruction of the flesh, away from the glorious presence of the face of the Lord. These New Creation terms are talking of a state of being rather than a location or physical place.

It must be remembered though that even this state of age-abiding death for the majority of humanity shall not be their final end 'forever.' They will all have a place on the New Earth, even though they will be experiencing the Second Death, metaphorically called the Lake of Fire. For further information on these things, see Is There Really a Hell? and The First and Second Resurrections and the Judgment Day. 

The flaming fire of God that shall be evident during the Day of the Lord is ultimately His righteousness, holiness and justice being meted out, but there will also be manifestations of heavenly and earthly fire, for God is a consuming fire, and the present heavens and earth are stored with fire. This, no doubt, is referring to the atomic force that pervades the universe, as well as hydrogen itself. This is made very clear by Peter in his second letter.

'Yet the heavens and the earth which are now, by the same word (of God), are stored with fire, being kept for the day of the judging and destruction of irreverent men...the Lord is not tardy as to the promise…Now the Day of the Lord will be arriving as a thief, in which the heavens shall be passing by with a booming noise, yet the elements shall be dissolved by combustion, and the earth and the works in it shall be found.'

'At these all, then, dissolving, to what manner of men must you belong in holy behavior and devoutness, hoping for and hurrying the presence of God's day, because of which the heavens, being on fire, will be dissolved, and the elements decompose by combustion! Yet we, according to His promises, are hoping for new heavens and a new earth, in which righteousness is dwelling.' 

 

(2 Peter 3:7, 9-13 CV)

Salvation for the Overcomers

Yet having said all that, what will happen to the true followers of Christ on this awesome Day? Well, Jesus Himself, as well as the Apostle Paul, revealed that those who truly belong to the Body of Christ, who are watching for Christ's return, being aware of the truth of the Scriptures, will not be surprised by Christ's coming as a thief. The true disciples of Christ, called Overcomers or Conquerors, are promised salvation and deliverance from the wrath and vengeance of God. This is the sure Hope or Expectation of our salvation. 

Many today are throwing out the proverbial baby with the bath water as a counter reaction to the more modern Pre-Tribulation Rapture Theory, which is often mockingly called 'The Great Escape' Theory, by saying that there isn't any Rapture or snatching away at all! Instead, they are choosing to re-interpret Paul's words in 1 Thessalonians 4 in a very different sense altogether (we shall consider this shortly). Yet it is clear that both the Pre-Trib Rapture Theory, and the extreme 'no rapture' theory, are both incorrect.

The truth of the matter is that there is a promise of escape from the Hour of Trial that will come upon the whole world in the Day of the Lord, a promise of deliverance from the wrath of God (not an escape from affliction or tribulation in general, I might add), which was promised out of the mouth of Jesus, and confirmed by Paul. Here is what Paul had to say about this.

"Now you, brethren, are not in darkness, that the day may be overtaking you as a thief, for you are all sons of the light and sons of the day. We are not of the night nor of the darkness. Consequently, then, we may not be drowsing, even as the rest, but we may be watching and be sober. For those who are drowsing are drowsing at night, and those who are drunk are drunk at night. 

Yet we, being of the day, may be sober, putting on the cuirass (breastplate) of faith and love, and the helmet, the expectation of salvation, for God did not appoint us to indignation, but to the procuring of salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, Who died for our sakes, that, whether we may be watching or drowsing (in the sleep of death), we should be living at the same time together with Him." 

(1 Thessalonians 5:4-10 CV)

"...and to be waiting for His Son out of the heavens, Whom He rouses from among the dead, Jesus, our Rescuer out of the coming indignation."

(1 Thessalonians 1:10 CV)

But this is only promised to those who endure and overcome, to those who are truly serving Christ, those who endure to the end. These are the true sons of God, who will be manifested with Christ in glory when He returns. Here are some further words of Jesus and Paul that confirm these things.

"Seeing that you keep the word of My endurance, I, also, will be keeping you out of the hour of trial which is about to be coming on the whole inhabited earth to try those dwelling on the earth. I am coming swiftly! Hold what you have, that no one may be taking your wreath." 

(Revelation 3:10-11 CV)

"Now take heed to yourselves, lest at some time your hearts shall be burdened with crapulence and drunkenness and the worries of life's affairs, and that day may be standing by you unawares, as a trap, for it will intrude on all those sitting on the surface of the entire earth. Now be vigilant, on every occasion beseeching that you may be prevailing to escape all these things which are about to occur, and to stand in front of the Son of Mankind." 

(Luke 21:34-36 CV)

  I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us. The creation waits in eager expectation for the sons of God to be revealed...

  ...We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. For in this hope (expectation) we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what he already has? But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently (with endurance).

(Romans 8:18-19, 22-25 NIV)

This establishes the truth that true followers of Christ are promised a way of escape and deliverance from the wrath of the Day of the Lord, a way of rescue, just as Noah and Lot were divinely rescued from the judgments of their day. Now the question needs to be asked, 'How will these Overcomers (the Bride/Body of Christ Ecclesia) be able to escape these judgments of God if this is going to come upon the whole earth in that Day - especially as the creation itself will be cleansed by fire?' 

The answer lies in the truth which Jesus revealed in His Olivet Discourse - and that is, that there will be a supernatural gathering (or assembling) of His chosen ones from throughout the heavens and the earth - which will also include a transformation of the body!

 

The Great Snatching, Transformation and Gathering

As we have seen earlier, Jesus revealed the following when He was describing the events of His Return.

"And He shall be dispatching His messengers with a loud sounding trumpet, and they shall be assembling His chosen from the four winds, from the extremities of the heavens to their extremities."

 

(Matthew 24:31 CV; also Mark 13:27)

Then Paul was given the following revelation to add to this,

"Now we do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who are reposing (sleeping), lest you may sorrow according as the rest, also, who have no expectation. For, if we are believing that Jesus died and rose, thus also, those who are put to repose, God will, through Jesus, lead forth together with Him. 

For this we are saying to you by the word of the Lord, that we, the living, who are surviving to the presence of the Lord, should by no means outstrip those who are put to repose, for the Lord Himself will be descending from heaven with a shout of command, with the voice of the Chief Messenger, and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ shall be rising first. Thereupon we, the living who are surviving, shall at the same time be snatched away together with them in clouds, to meet the Lord in the air. And thus shall we always be together with the Lord. So that, console one another with these words." 

(1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 CV)

This is the great 'Rapture' text that is often used to 'prove' the Pre-Tribulation Rapture theory, that is, that Jesus will come secretly for His Church before a supposed 7-year (or 3.5 year for some) Tribulation occurs. I was unwittingly blinded by this false doctrine for many years and I was a staunch defender of it! Thankfully, I have come to see it for what it is - a theory of man based on a total misunderstanding of certain prophetic texts. Due to the very influential system of Dispensationalism, this Rapture Theory has become very popular over the past century or so.

The word rapture comes from the Latin words raptus and rapere. They essentially mean 'to seize or snatch away violently' and they form the basis for many English words such as rape, rapid and raptor. It is not really the most suitable word to use to describe the 'snatching away' that Paul is referring to here, but I often use it due to its familiarity and common use. 

The Greek word translated snatched (away) in the above text is harpazo and it means 'to snatch, seize or grab with force.' It can be used in a negative manner, such as a wolf snatching a sheep, or in a more positive manner, such as snatching someone away from harm. There are 3 key passages in the NT that help us to see how Paul is using this word in the above text. He is describing a physical and spiritual snatching away with force from one location to another, and from one state of being to another.

'Now when they stepped up out of the water, the spirit of the Lord snatches away Philip, and the eunuch did not perceive him any longer, for he went his way rejoicing. Now Philip was found in Azotus...'

(Acts 8:39-40 CV)

In this instance, Philip was supernaturally snatched away, both bodily and spiritually, and placed in another location, quite a few miles from where he had previously been, that is, he was transported by the Spirit.

"I am acquainted with a man in Christ, fourteen years before this, (whether in a body I am not aware, or outside of the body, I am not aware -- God is aware) such a one was snatched away to the third heaven. And I am acquainted with such a man (whether in a body or outside of the body I am not aware -- God is aware) that he was snatched away into paradise and hears ineffable declarations, which it is not allowed a man to speak."

(2 Corinthians 12:2-4 CV)

In this next instance, Paul is talking about his own incredible experience of being snatched away in spirit to the very dwelling place of God and His Christ, the Third Heaven or Paradise. He wasn't even aware of whether this occurred in the body or out of the body (which could lead us into a very interesting debate as to what he actually experienced). In other words, he could've been temporarily taken there while in his body, or it was purely a spiritual experience which occurred out of his body. Nevertheless, he was spiritually snatched away from one location to another, from earth to heaven.

And she brought forth a son, a male, who is about to be shepherding all the nations with an iron club. And her child is snatched away to God and to His throne.

(Revelation 12:5 CV)

This is describing the bodily, yet spiritual, ascension of Jesus, the male Son, Who was snatched away to God and His throne, that is, to the right hand of God. The day is soon coming when the remaining sons of God will also be snatched away, both bodily and spiritually, to meet with Christ and to inherit the kingdom - that is, to be changed into spiritual bodies of immortality and incorruption. 

Now let us return to the text in 1 Thessalonians 4 to see how, and when, this awesome event will occur in a little more detail.

The Sleeping and the Living

  "Now we do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who are reposing (sleeping), lest you may sorrow according as the rest, also, who have no expectation. For, if we are believing that Jesus died and rose, thus also, those who are put to repose, God will, through Jesus, lead forth together with Him."

  Paul and his companions wanted the Thessalonian Christians to know that those believers who had died (those sleeping in the sleep of death) would not miss out on the events of Christ's Return, because all true followers of Christ have the expectation of salvation - unlike the rest of humanity, who have no sure hope of life after death. Therefore, believers shouldn't grieve in the same way as the world does, because we have the expectation of age-abiding life. These things are to occur in the Day of the Lord, and at that time, all those believers who are sleeping in death will be raised to be with Jesus at His coming.

For this we are saying to you by the word of the Lord, that we, the living, who are surviving to the presence of the Lord, should by no means outstrip those who are put to repose, for the Lord Himself will be descending from heaven with a shout of command, with the voice of the Chief Messenger, and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ shall be rising first.

Paul is now reiterating the very words of Jesus Himself concerning His Coming, that those believers who are living at the time that Day begins will not enter into their inheritance ahead of those who have fallen asleep in death from previous generations. For on that Day, the Lord Himself will descend from heaven and will appear in the atmosphere of this earth for all to see, and He will give the shout of command, as the voice of the Son of God, as the voice of the Chief Messenger of the heavenly hosts, figuratively described as the trumpet of God - and the dead in Christ shall be rising first. 

This is the fullness of the First Resurrection mentioned in Revelation 20:5-6, and the raising of believers in the last day.

Thereupon we, the living who are surviving, shall at the same time be snatched away together with them in clouds, to meet the Lord in the air. And thus shall we always be together with the Lord. So that, console one another with these words.

Now Paul states as clear as day here that the living generation of believing overcomers, who are surviving to that Day, shall be snatched away together with the resurrected ones, in clouds (that is, resembling clouds) to meet the Lord in the air or atmosphere before the wrath of God is poured out on the earth in all its fullness. And take note that these words should be used to encourage and comfort one another in our faith.

The Greek word aer is used here and it is the usual word for air or atmosphere, that is, the oxygen-filled space all around us, whether a few feet above the ground or many thousands of feet up in the air. It can be used figuratively, but in virtually every instance in which this word is used in the NT, it is used in its normal literal sense. This is how it should be understood in the above text. In fact, the only figurative expression in this passage is 'the trumpet of God,' although the expression 'clouds' of believers is also somewhat figurative.

This snatching away will occur both bodily and spiritually, being transported from one location to another, and being transformed from one state of being (mortal flesh) to another state of being (spiritual flesh).

These details are identical with what Jesus revealed in His Olivet Discourse. Here's a reminder.

"And He shall be dispatching His messengers with a loud sounding trumpet, and they shall be assembling His chosen from the four winds, from the extremities of the heavens to their extremities."

 

(Matthew 24:31 CV; also Mark 13:27)

The first thing that will happen, once the shaking of the earth and the heavens are under way, is that Christ will descend to the atmosphere around the earth, and, as the Chief Messenger of the heavenly army of His chosen messengers or angels, He will shout out the command for the dead believers to be raised first, and then the living ones in the Body of Christ will be snatched away together with the resurrected ones (after undergoing a divine transformation), and then the messengers will be sent out at Christ's command to gather and assemble these chosen ones from throughout the earth and the heavens to meet with Him in the air. 

This will be accompanied by the trumpet blasts of the sound of Christ's shout of command (cp. Revelation 1:10). The whole company of heavenly messengers and the sons of God will partially form the clouds in the air, to shine forth the huge glory cloud of God.

Now you may be asking, "But how can living believers be snatched away into the sky with resurrected ones while they still have their mortal bodies?" Ah! This is where Paul reveals a little secret about a spiritual transformation!

The Last Trump

'Now this I am averring, brethren, that flesh and blood is not able to enjoy an allotment in the kingdom of God, neither is corruption enjoying the allotment of incorruption. Lo! A secret to you am I telling! We all, indeed, shall not be put to repose (the sleep of death), yet we all shall be changed, in an instant, in the twinkle of an eye, at the last trump. For He will be trumpeting, and the dead will be roused incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal put on immortality.' 

(1 Corinthians 15:50-53 CV)

There are many uses for the blowing of trumpets in the Hebrew Scriptures. I believe that it is evident here that Paul is using the figure of the Two Silver Trumpets that were used for signalling the community of Israel to assemble together and to move camp when they were travelling in the deserts en route to the Promised Land (Numbers 10:1-7). Even the moving of the camps occurred in 4 Stages (East, South, West and North - though some translations omit the last two stages). This is what Paul appears to be describing here.

The Body of Christ will be called to assemble together, and this shall occur in two main stages, though the gathering will be from E, S, W and N. The dead will be raised and changed first, and then the living shall be changed into immortality at the last trump. Then the whole assembly or army of God, the great cloud of Glory, will move out together, with Christ at the Head, to fully enter into our inheritance. This will fulfill the spiritual meaning of the Feast of Trumpets, as well as fulfilling the typology of the Day of Atonement, as Christ, the great High Priest, comes forth from heaven a second time to bring salvation and cleansing to His people.

These things have a relation to the Seventh Trumpet of Revelation 11:15-19, but Paul was not directly referring to that trumpet, because the vision of Revelation was given later. It can be seen that the above details fit perfectly into that which Paul revealed in 1 Thessalonians 4 about the snatching away at the coming of Christ.

   The secret (often rendered mystery) that Paul revealed in relation to this event was the Secret of the Resurrection, the transformation of the believer's body into immortality and incorruption, so that we will enter into the heavenly allotment of the New Humanity immediately in that Day, instantly, in the twinkle of an eye. 

   This is the full inheritance of our salvation, the full adoption as sons, and it is the only way of escape from suffering the vengeance and wrath of God. We shall then enter Christ's Presence and meet Him in the air, while this Old Creation is destroyed, after which, we shall return with Him as His Bride amongst the armies of heaven to be unveiled to the world as the Sons of God and to remain together with Him in ruling the earth and the heavens - that where He is, we shall be also.

   This is the fullness of the First Resurrection, the special out-resurrection from among the dead. Only true disciples of Christ, those who are Overcomers and Firstborn Sons, will have part in this special salvation. They are Firstfruits of a greater Harvest. For further study, see The First and Second Resurrections and the Judgment Day and The Promise and Christ's Inheritance.

Enoch and Elijah

The following scriptures are also referring to this glorious change or transformation into immortality for the true Body/Bride of Christ at Christ's Return. This body will be a spiritual body, nevertheless it will be a human body, but one that belongs to a New Humanity patterned after Christ Himself.

'…to know Him (Christ), and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, conforming to His death, if somehow I should be attaining to the out-resurrection that is out from among the dead. Not that I already obtained, or am already perfected. Yet I am pursuing, if I may be grasping also that for which I was grasped also by Christ Jesus.' 

 

(Philippians 3:10-12 CV)

 

'…that the mortal may be swallowed up by life.'

 

(2 Corinthians 5:4 CV)

 

'For I am reckoning that the sufferings of the current era do not deserve the glory about to be revealed for us. For the premonition of the creation is awaiting the unveiling of the sons of God.' 

 

(Romans 8:18-19 CV)

 

'Whenever Christ, our Life, should be manifested, then you also shall be manifested together with Him in glory.' 

 

(Colossians 3:4 CV)

 

For our realm is inherent in the heavens, out of which we are awaiting a Saviour also, the Lord, Jesus Christ, Who will transfigure the body of our humilation, to conform it to the body of His glory, in accord with the operation which enables Him even to subject all to Himself.

 

(Philippians 3:20-21 CV)

 

Beloved, now are we children of God, and it was not as yet manifested what we shall be. We are aware that, if He should be manifested, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him according as He is. And everyone who has this expectation in Him is purifying himself, according as He is pure.

(1 John 3:2-3 CV)

  There are two prophets of God in the OT who are types and shadows of the Body of Christ undergoing this transformation in the Day of the Lord - Enoch and Elijah. Both of these men were supernaturally taken away and whisked into the presence of God without any sign of having died (see Genesis 5:21-24 and 2 Kings 2:1-18). That is not to say that they didn't actually die, it's just that we have no record of it in Scripture. This is intentional, because they are types of the sons of God at Christ's Unveiling.

  We are told that no man has gone into heaven except Christ (John 3:13), and that only Jesus Christ has immortality now (1 Timothy 6:14-16), and Hebrews 11 includes Enoch and Elijah in the list of those who had died in the faith without having received the promises.

  It is probable that Enoch was spared the experience of seeing the death and destruction of the Flood because God took him to the place of His Presence on earth at that time - the Garden of Eden. Elijah was taken up into heaven (that is, the sky) in a whirlwind and was seen no more, but he no doubt died peacefully at a secret remote location. It appears as though Elisha knew this, which is why he tried to discourage the company of the prophets from going to search for Elijah.

  Enoch can mean 'Initiated through discipline and teaching' which describes the true disciple (literally 'a disciplined learner') of Christ who has been initiated into the secret things of God. Elijah can mean 'God of Yah' or 'subject to Yahweh' or 'God is Yah' and this describes the Overcomer who is subject to God and His Son, Who is Yahweh. 

  Both Enoch and Elijah typify the Overcomers who will inherit the Transformation into immortality and incorruption at the Return of Christ, when they are snatched away into the heavens to be with Christ for the ages to come.

The Manifest Sons of God

There is a growing belief in these days that a certain portion of 'the Church' shall soon 'manifest the Son' in their flesh, becoming immortal humans on earth who will then help to establish the kingdom before Christ returns. This belief tends to be based on some form of either Pre or Post-millennialism, which then views these things as happening on this present earth either in a literal 1000 year reign of Christ, or through the reign of the Overcoming Church for a very long time still yet to come. 

Of course, this means that many of the details in the prophetic texts relating to the Day of the Lord, which we have considered in this article, have to be re-interpreted to mean something quite different from their original intended meaning. It is true to say that there is a spiritual transformation coming for the sons of God, as we've seen above, and that these sons or overcomers are only a remnant of the Church in general, but it will occur as our Master Jesus, and the apostle Paul, clearly said it would, and not in accordance with the new theories of men.

But as appealing as this 'new transformation theory' may be, it is contrary to the clear teaching of the Scriptures, as has been shown above. Firstly, the future manifestation of the kingdom in a New Creation shall only arrive when the King is literally present in the Day of the Lord. It is true that the kingdom of the heavens is present now, but this is only in spirit, being invisible, while Christ is absent from the earth and ruling in the heavens, but the full manifestation of it is still yet future. It is still an expectation, not an observed reality! Christ will one day be present in a visible, bodily sense, at which time both the Resurrection and the Great Judgment will take place.

And the second reason has to do with Paul's spiritual walk. In Philippians 3:10-12, quoted earlier, Paul states that he eagerly pursued the spiritual walk so that he could experience the power of Christ's resurrection in this life, as well as experiencing the fellowship of His sufferings. Now we would all like to experience the power of resurrection life, but how many of us would wish to experience the suffering part. The truth of the matter is, that we can't have the glory without experiencing the cross first; and we can't have the power without experiencing something of the weakness of the flesh first. Paul knew this, and he sought to experience both: the cross in his flesh, and the glory in his spirit.

But he also states emphatically that he had not reached a state of perfection in his walk and he had not already obtained the prize of immortality. But he longed to reach a place where he was living as though he was already in the New Humanity, in the power of the resurrection! But this also involved regularly dying to the flesh, conforming to Christ's death. He still had to endure to the end to gain the prize!

So if Paul himself never attained perfection (and he also never taught that a portion of the Body shall fully attain to it before Christ's return either), then on what basis are we to believe that this will occur soon, as some teach? This transformation to immortality will only occur at the Presence of Christ and it will include the whole Body, for there is only one Body (Ephesians 4:4). These are the Sons of God, the Overcomers in Christ. Nevertheless, this One Body does not equal the whole of Christendom or the Church!

The amazing fact is that the whole of creation senses that, one day, things will change at the Return of it's King, Christ Jesus. And at the time that this unveiling or manifestation of Christ occurs, the Body of Christ ecclesia will also be unveiled or manifested as the Sons of God! This unveiling of the Sons of God cannot occur until Christ Himself, as The Son of God, is unveiled to the whole of creation. When The Son is unveiled, the sons will be unveiled with Him, and not before.

'I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us. The creation waits in eager expectation for the sons of God to be revealed.' 

 

(Romans 8:18-19 NIV)

 

'Whenever Christ, our Life, should be manifested, then you also shall be manifested together with Him in glory.' 

 

(Colossians 3:4 CV)

 

   In closing, the remainder of the Olivet Discourse in Matthew 24:45 - 25:46 contain parables that are primarily related to the end of this age and the events of the Second Advent, though they can also have an application to every generation. They speak of the judgment and accounting that will take place at that time, and the importance of being prepared for that Day through serving God. For further study of these parables, see The Secrets of The Parables.

[1]  It has recently come to my attention, through reading the excellent work of Kenneth L. Gentry, Jr, Before Jerusalem Fell: Dating The Book of Revelation (and others), that the weight of evidence for the writing of Revelation, both externally and internally, actually leans heavily toward the early date of c. 65 AD, during the reign of Emperor Nero. The evidence also indicates that the whole New Testament canon was completed before the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 AD.

   I am strongly convinced that the vision of Revelation can be interpreted on three levels of truth. The primary interpretation is the Partial-Preterist view that this was largely a prophecy of the Jewish War, and the destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple in 70 AD, thereby ending the Old Covenant era of ancient Israel, and firmly establishing Christianity as the New Covenant kingdom.

   The secondary interpretation is the Historicist view that it is prophesying many key events of this present Church Era until the Second Advent of Christ, and that essentially, Revelation carries on where Daniel left off (with a little overlap). I would say that whereas Daniel was largely prophesying the Times of the Hebrews under the Old Covenant, John in Revelation is largely prophesying the Times of the Nations under the New Covenant (as well as prophesying the end of the Old Covenant system and the 'days of vengeance' upon Israel and Jerusalem).

   The third interpretation is the purely allegorical view that views these things as purely spiritual truth that can be applied to any and every generation, both now and in the age to come.

   Of course, due to the nature of scriptural truth and principles, some of the interpretations within these views actually converge in agreement, while other points are very similar. For example, views 1 & 2 agree that the first Beast of Revelation 13 is the ancient Roman Empire, while the second Beast resembling a Lamb is 1) ancient Judaism (Preterist) or 2) Papal Rome (Historicist). View 3 would see the 'Beasts' as representing satanic worldly powers, both politically and religiously, under the domination of the flesh.

   For further information, see the studies in this section The Prophetic Plan Revealed.

[2]  In the autumn of 62 AD, a Jew called Joshua (Jesus) begins prophesying Jerusalem's doom. Then in late 65 or early 66 a star like a sword appears in the night sky, along with a comet (sign 1). Then in the spring of 66 a brilliant light is seen over the altar and the sanctuary (sign 2); a lamb is born to a cow in the temple (sign 3); and the massive doors of the Eastern Gate of the Temple open on their own (sign 4). In early summer of 66, angelic chariots and armies are seen in clouds throughout Judea (sign 5); and a voice is heard by many priests in the inner court of the temple saying, "We are leaving here" (sign 6). Then during the siege of Jerusalem by Titus in the autumn of 70 AD, just before the city and the temple are destroyed, the 'prophet' Joshua dies (sign 7). See Josephus, The Jewish War, Book VI, 288-311.

[3]  Below is a quote from the Roman historian Tacitus from his Histories (1:2-3) concerning the era after the death of Nero.

"I am entering on the history of a period rich in disasters, frightful in its wars, torn by civil strife, and even in peace full of horrors. Four emperors perished by the sword. There were three civil wars; there were more with foreign enemies; there were often wars that had both characters at once. There was success in the East, and disaster in the West. There were disturbances in Illyricum; Gaul wavered in its allegiance; Britain was thoroughly subdued and immediately abandoned; the tribes of the Suevi and the Sarmatae rose in concert against us; the Dacians had the glory of inflicting as well as suffering defeat; the armies of Parthia were all but set in motion by the cheat of a counterfeit Nero. Now too Italy was prostrated by disasters either entirely novel, or that recurred only after a long succession of ages; cities in Campania's richest plains were swallowed up and overwhelmed; Rome was wasted by conflagrations, its oldest temples consumed, and the Capitol itself fired by the hands of citizens. Sacred rites were profaned; there was profligacy in the highest ranks; the sea was crowded with exiles, and its rocks polluted with bloody deeds. In the capital there were yet worse horrors. Nobility, wealth, the refusal or the acceptance of office, were grounds for accusation, and virtue ensured destruction. The rewards of the informers were no less odious than their crimes; for while some seized on consulships and priestly offices, as their share of the spoil, others on procuratorships, and posts of more confidential authority, they robbed and ruined in every direction amid universal hatred and terror. Slaves were bribed to turn against their masters, and freedmen to betray their patrons; and those who had not an enemy were destroyed by friends.

... Besides the manifold vicissitudes of human affairs, there were prodigies in heaven and earth, the warning voices of the thunder, and other intimations of the future, auspicious or gloomy, doubtful or not to be mistaken. Never surely did more terrible calamities of the Roman People, or evidence more conclusive, prove that the Gods take no thought for our happiness, but only for our punishment."

[4]  Even Josephus used words that were very similar to Jesus' words when he described the desolation and horror of those days.

"It is therefore impossible to go distinctly over every
instance of these men's iniquity. I shall therefore speak my mind
here at once briefly: - That neither did any other city ever
suffer such miseries, nor did any age ever breed a generation
more fruitful in wickedness than this was, from the beginning of
the world." (Wars, Book 5:10:5)

Copyright © G Watts 2008

Appendix: 'The Siege of Jerusalem As Described By Josephus' by Philip Mauro

 

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