Truth Magazine

By Clint Springer

The temple in Jerusalem had been torn down and rebuilt twice, was full of splendor and riches, but Jesus plainly said it would be completely razzed. They wanted to know when?

Notice that these things concerned the apostles. They were living in troublesome times. A good commentary will tell of actual earthquakes, famines and such in those days (see Acts 11:27-30), but the two chapters of Matthew 24 and Luke 21 under consideration are specific to the tragedy named in our title.

When the Master was questioned about the kingdom, three catastrophic events came into focus: The crucifixion, the destruction of Jerusalem, and the end of the world (Luke 17:20-37). Terrible times were to come after the crucifixion, but certain distinctions will become clear as we re-view other chapters.

In the parable related by Luke (19:11-44) the noble-man is Jesus, but the coronation was foretold by Daniel (7:13, 14). However, those who rejected him were punished  no doubt relating both to the devastation brought against Jerusalem as well as final judgment on all.

In such a study Matthew 24 is usually considered. In that text two questions were asked, the first relating to the time when one stone would not be left standing on another. The second is about the end of the world, a topic beyond the purview of present study. Verses 1-35 constitute the first division, and all was to take place before that generation passed away (v. 34). That overlaps with a study of Luke 21, the transition text of Matthew 24 being verse 36.

When studying Old Testament prophecy, it is important to remember that Jesus said the final “end” of Judaism (A.D. 70) was that which Daniel foretold. At that point in time, all Old Testament prophecy found fulfillment (Luke 21:22).

The disciples were to be persecuted and any church history book will tell about that. Still, they were to preach being divinely inspired by the Holy Spirit. The terrible tragedy shortly to unfold related to God’s judgment against rebellious Israel. As has been al-ready stated, that catastrophe took place when the Romans besieged the city, desecrated the temple, and burned the whole metropolis.

The prophet Daniel called this event “the abomination of desolation” (Matt. 24:15). How bad was it? The great tribulation, Jesus said, was to be worse than anything before or after (Matt. 24:21). Those who try to make this relate to the end of the world, or some devastation yet to take place, need to remember that it pertained only to Judea and was to happen before that generation passed away.

Matthew 22:7 reads, “But when the king heard thereof, he was wroth: and sent forth his armies, and destroyed those murderers, and burned up their city.”

Matthew’s account said the gospel would be preached in all the world for a witness, and that happened ten or so years before the fulfillment came about (Col. 1:6; Rom. 10:18). Matthew 24 and Luke 21 are called apocalyptic language, exotic figures and symbols similar to the book of Revelation. Notice also that specific signs at that time were in contrast to normal times that will be characteristic of the end of the world. A “coming of the Lord” does not always demand a personal appearance, for Old Testament examples use similar language when in reality one nation was used to punish another.

Since words like “catastrophe” have been used to describe that which Jesus said was worse than anything that had ever happened, it is needful to get an insight into the events of A.D. 70. Most of the following notes are taken from the writings of Josephus, the renowned Jewish historian. He was present during the siege.

After the Jews rebelled, Vaspasian began his march to subdue the cities of Judea. When he was called back to Rome, his son Titus continued the campaign and besieged Jerusalem calling on them to surrender. There were al-ready seditions and civil war, three factions vying for control. There was fighting in and around the temple, it being “de-filed with murders” on every side.

Had the Jews been united, the Romans would have been hard pressed to capture the city due to the uneven terrain and three walls that encompassed most of it. A major factor was famine, for the factions burned several years’ worth of “corn” in their fighting.

Owing to the Feast of the Passover, there were great numbers in the city  dead bodies, unburied, everywhere. Besides arrows, both sides fought with “engines” that hurled darts, rocks, and spears. The Romans engaged huge battering rams. The Romans build “banks” by cutting down all the trees; starvation set in; the strong began to take by force what little food the poor and weak possessed. As months passed, the situation became progressively worse. Some slipped outside the city searching for food, and those caught were tortured. Upwards to five hundred a day were crucified in plain sight of the wall, but the Jews would not surrender. Hordes of dead bodies were cast from a wall into a deep valley, where “thick putrefaction” made Titus draw back in horror.

Many who escaped or surrendered swallowed gold coins in an effort to get away with their savings. When this be-came known, multitudes were murdered and their intestines opened in search of the money. Josephus says that in one night two thousand were disemboweled as soldiers looked for gold.

151,880 corpses were brought out one gate; another re-ported 600,000. Inside the city, some rooms were stacked with bodies like racks of timber. Starvation became so severe, some began to search the dunghills for anything edible  for bits of undigested grain. The “pestilential stench” became overwhelming.

On page 579, the historian tells a story so contemptible that it’s hard to believe. Sustained by reliable witnesses, the story is about a woman who slew her son, then roasted and used him for food. This was foretold by Moses when he wrote about the curses that would come upon Israel because of disobedience (Deut. 28:53).

The temple was looted, burned, stones overturned, and dead bodies were heaped upon one another. The Romans set up “ensigns” in the temple and offered sacrifices be-fore them. The whole city was then burned.

Being tired of slaughter, about 40,000 were allowed to go free, but the sound of body were made slaves, some sent to the Egyptian mines, others turned into gladiators.

Some of the final figures look like this: There were 2,700,000 in the city; 1,100,000 were slain during the whole siege; 97,000 were taken captive. This article only relates partially the atrocities perpetrated by both sides in that war. It lasted about seven months, and the words of Jesus were indeed fulfilled during that generation.

Guardian of Truth XLI: 20 p. 14-15
October 16, 1997

By Louis J. Sharp

God always has had “messengers” to deliver his Word to the people. Each “messenger” is obligated to deliver God’s message  not his own. By the pen of inspiration, Paul wrote: “I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel; Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ. But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed. For do I now persuade men, or God? Or do I seek to please men? For if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ” (Gal. 1:6-10). Every individual must make a determination in reference to truth and error.

Frequently, when gospel preachers urge the necessity of obedience to the gospel of Jesus Christ, a reluctant hearer seeks to shirk his responsibility by saying: “You are not my judge.” To this, I quickly retort, “No, I am not your judge, and for this I am forever grateful.” I am so happy that everyone will receive righteous judgment from him who judges all.

Yet, those who condemn the preacher for the message he delivers, themselves are guilty of condemning or judging. Self-righteously, they quote Jesus’ words: “Judge not, that ye be not judged” (Matt. 7:1). Evidently, they have not yet discovered that almost in the same breath, Jesus admonished, “Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast ye your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn again and rend you” (v. 6). Also, “beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves” (v. 15). Again, “Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them” (v. 20). Specifically, these admonitions demand some degree of judgment.

Jesus does condemn harsh, censorious judgment. We must never be guilty of this harmful practice. But, as Malcolm often says, “We are fruit inspectors.” “By their fruits ye shall know them.” A man who habitually lies may be called a liar. A woman who is a tale-bearer very properly is known as a gossiper. One who commits murder is a murderer, make no mistake about it. And the disobedient person, who has never obeyed the gospel of Christ, has not been added to the body of Christ (Acts 2:38, 47). Good people, this is not judging.

Like John, we “warn you to flee from the wrath to come. Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance” (Matt. 3:7-8).

Guardian of Truth XLI: 20 p. 7
October 16, 1997

By Johnie Edwards

Elvis Presley, known as the “King Of Roc ‘n’ Roll” died twenty years ago, August 16, 1977 at the age of 42. Graceland opened to tourists in 1982 and draws more than 700,000 visitors a year, according to a story in the Bloomington, Indiana Herald-Times on August 16, 1997. According to an article in Saturday, August 16, 1997 The New York Times, the Elvis Industry is a multimillion-dollar company with rights to dozen of products tied to Elvis Presley, from records to T-shirts. People are now making him a religious icon!

The First Presleyterian Church

USA Today carried a front page cover story on August 8-10, 1997 and made reference to “The First Presleyterian Church of Elvis The Divine.” The article further stated, “Already, academics study Elvis as a role model for the first stages of a new religion. Some suggest parallels between Elvis’ following and the early stages of major religions. There are parallels in the origins of Christianity, Buddhism, Confucianism and the Elvis movement.”

This is exactly how human religious organizations get started. The USA To-day article also said, “Like any other m or religion, it will take on a life of its own after the historical players have left the building.” When folks revere a man too much, like they did Martin Luther or John Wesley, new churches begin.

If a “First Presleyterian Church” is started, it will be too late to be or even resemble the Lord’s church we read about in the New Testament. The Lord’s church began in Jerusalem (Zech. 1:16, Luke 24:46-47; Acts 2:5, 47) by men hearing and obeying gospel preaching concerning Jesus Christ, the Son of God. This church that begins in Memphis, Tennessee will have it beginning at the wrong place to be the church of Christ Paul refers to in Romans 16:16.

Worship

No doubt the worship in this latest religion will be directed to Elvis Presley’s image as he is revered.

The Bible teaches us that we are not to worship men. When Peter went to Cornelius’ house, “. . . Cornelius met him, and fell down at his feet, and worshiped him. But Peter took him up, saying, Stand up; I myself also am a man” (Acts 10:25-26). Here is a good example that teaches us that we are not to worship men.

God must be the object of our worship. As Jesus talked with the woman at the well, among other things, he said, “God is a spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth” (John 4:24). God is to be worshiped, not men. As Jesus responded to the devil’s temptation to worship him, Jesus told us whom to worship, “Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve” (Matt. 4:10). As John fell be-fore the feet of an angel to worship, do you recall what the angel said to John? “Then saith he unto me, See thou do it not; for I am thy fellow servant, and of thy brethren the prophets, and of them which keep the sayings of this book: worship God” (Rev. 22:8-9).

Isn’t it strange that people are never content to just do as the Lord has directed, but want to create some new religion and some other object of worship than that pre-scribed on the pages of inspiration? Time will only tell how well this new religion and worship catches on!

Guardian of Truth XLI: 20 p. 16
October 16, 1997

By J.S. Smith

Premillennialism is a system of religious belief wherein the kingdom of Christ does not now exist, but will be established as an earthly nation in the future. Jesus will sit on the literal throne of David in the city of Jerusalem and physically rule the world.

Premillennialism is built on one highly untenable principle: that when Jesus was incarnated, he intended to establish that earthly kingdom, but the Jews would not let him. Premillennialists ironically argue that the Jews were anticipating an earthly kingdom and Jesus came to establish an earthly kingdom and so the Jews pre-vented him. That doesn’t even make for good nonsense. If Jesus were establishing the kind of kingdom they wanted, why would they stop him?

Premillennialists will concede that the prophecy of Daniel 2:36-44 pointed to a kingdom being instituted in the first century A.D., but submit that the fulfillment was postponed until such a time as the Jews could be converted en masse to Christ and allow him to take his throne. But for prophecy to be accurate, it cannot be postponed. I predicted in 1992 that the Atlanta Braves were a team of destiny and would win the World Series. Am I therefore accurate because my prediction was merely postponed until October 1995? Of course not; the uncooperative Toronto Blue Jays proved me wrong.

The point is simple and unavoidable: Either the kingdom was established as prophesied or the prophets were false, Jesus was a failure and God is impotent. The postponement theory is an apology for God’s supposed downfall.

Look more closely at Daniel 2 and see if it allows for a postponement. Daniel said that four great empires would rule the world until God’s kingdom was set up. He identified the first as that of Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon, to whom he spoke. Tracing Daniel’s prophecy from that point, the next empire was the Medo-Persian(539 B.C.), less splendid and unified, but larger and more enduring. The third nation to follow was the Greek of Alexander the Great (330 B.C.). Then came Daniel’s fourth empire, the Roman, stronger, brutal and unrefined. “And in the days of the these kings the God of heaven will set up his kingdom which shall never be destroyed; and the kingdom shall not be left to other people; it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand forever” (Dan. 2:44).

There is no way around the conclusion that God’s kingdom would be established in the days of the Roman empire, the period in which Jesus lived. Either Daniel’s prophecy was fulfilled in that era or it failed. We have shown that postponement of its fulfillment is tantamount to failure.

But did Jesus fail to set up God’s kingdom? Or did he set up a kingdom of different quality than the Jews anticipated?

Soon after baptizing Jesus, John the immerser was executed for the lusty whim of Herod. To this, the Lord “began to preach and to say, `Repent for the kingdom of heaven is at hand (Matt. 4:17). It is undeniable that as Jesus began his ministry, he was under the impression that his messianic mission would succeed. He taught his early disciples to pray in Matthew 6:10 that the kingdom would come and instructed them in its gospel (Matt. 9:35).

In Matthew 10, he gave the twelve apostles supernatural powers and sent them into Judea to preach that “the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” The Lord still thought its establishment was imminent.

Time and the Lord’s journeys brought him to Caesarea Philippi where he asked his disciples whom they thought he was. Peter confessed him as the Messiah, the one who was prophesied to institute the kingdom of God, and to him (and the other apostles, Matt. 18:18) was given the keys of the kingdom (Matt. 16:18-19). If the kingdom was not established in Peter’s lifetime, he carried those keys in his heart without ever using them. What a futile and pointless day was spent then in Caesarea Philippi!

But a short time later came the coup de grace. Matthew 16:21: “From that time Jesus began to show to His disciples that He must go to Jerusalem, and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised the third day.”

Please understand it: from the very time that Jesus promised the keys of the kingdom to Peter, he began to sketch his impending crucifixion for them. If he were ever planning to establish an earthly kingdom with himself on its throne, death was sure to cramp those plans. Could it just be that this death would send him to a figurative throne over a spiritual kingdom?

Peter, fresh with the keys in his pocket, rebukes the Lord’s prophecy, thinking that death would prevent him from using those keys. Jesus, however, returns the rebuke, accusing Peter of being engrossed in the things of men, rather than God (Matt. 16:23). The Jewish/Premillennialist pre-occupation with putting Jesus on an earthly throne is labeled as self-serving and ungodly.

You can try to two-step around that promise all day long, but either Jesus knew what he was talking about or he is less than we think. The last of those early disciples would have died by A.D. 125 at the latest. If the kingdom did not come in their lifetimes, your Lord is a failure and only a dishonorable Premillennialist could continue to trust in him.

Of course, all Jesus predicted did happen. He entered the city of his demise upon a donkey to the sneers of the gentry and the cheers of the commoners. He was tried by the vindictive Jewish and Roman authorities and put to death on the cross. For the Jew, the fulfillment of the kingdom prophecy seemed to be postponed until the real Messiah came along. For the Premillennialist, the kingdom was postponed until the crown prince Jesus thinks it safe to emerge from his exile.

But, Peter, taking the keys of the kingdom out of his pocket and opening the door, teaches us better. “Men and brethren, let me speak freely to you of the patriarch David, that he is both dead and buried, and his tomb is with us to this day.

Therefore, being a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him that of the fruit of his body, according to the flesh, He would raise up the Christ to sit on his throne, he, foreseeing this, spoke concerning the resurrection of the Christ” (Acts 2:29-31). Reread the italicized words and keep looking for the kingdom. Christ sits on his throne, ruling a kingdom that transcends the lines of human treaties and boundaries. His kingdom is worldwide, claiming citizens in every corner of the globe, of every race, Jew or Gentile (Acts 10:34). “He who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings and Lord of lords” (1 Tim. 6:15).

His church, promised in the same context as the kingdom in Matthew 16, is no afterthought, the feeble grasp at power of a failed revolutionary. His church is that kingdom of prophecy, established in the midst of the fourth empire since Babylon, a kingdom “which shall never be destroyed” (Dan. 2:44), and “which the gates of Hades will not prevail against” (Matt. 16:18), and “which cannot be shaken” (Heb. 12:28). Citizens are constantly being conveyed into her (Col. 1:13), and she will be delivered back to God, not born, when the Lord returns (1 Cor. 15:24).

Don’t count Jesus as a failed crown prince in Jewish-imposed exile. Revere him as the true King he is and attain citizenship in the empire of the saved. For if Jesus failed the first time, what makes you think he can succeed the next?

Guardian of Truth XLI: 20 p. 8-9
October 16, 1997