Pre Millennialism And The Early Church Fathers

Scholarly Resources Subscribe to CIC A Biblically based commentary on current issues that impact "you" "PRE-MILLENNIALISM AND THE EARLY CHURCH FATHERS" BY BOB DEWAAY In this paper, I will show that the earliest fathers of the church (before 300 AD) primarily believed in a literal millennium. This will be accomplished by consulting the primary sources, the fathers themselves, and other writings about the views of the early fathers. Those early fathers who wrote about this issue will be dealt with one at a time.PAPIAS The fourth century church historian Eusebius considered Papias to be a primary source for the millennial views of early fathers. He wrote:In these [Papias' accounts] he says there would be a certain millennium after the resurrection, and that there would be a corporeal reign of Christ on this very earth; which things he appears to have imagined, as if they were authorized by the apostolic narrations, not understanding correctly those matters which they propounded mystically in their representations.... yet he was the cause why most of the ecclesiastical writers, urging the antiquity of the man, were carried away by a similar opinion; as, for instance Irenaeus, or any other that adopted such sentiments.1 All we have of Papias' writings are fragments taken from other ancient writers. He was evidently associated with Polycarp and John the apostle. Irenaeus said, "And these things [a futuristic, restored, Jewish kingdom] are borne witness to in writing by Papias, the hearer of John, and companion of Polycarp, in his fourth book." 2It is debated whether or not Papias was actually a personal acquaintance of the Apostle John, but that he taught a literal millennium is not. Larry Crutchfield provides a thorough discussion of Papias' millennial view and his possible association with John and concludes: "When all of the evidence is weighed in the balance it seems that the scales must be tipped in favor of Papias' discipleship under the aged author of the Apocalypse." 3 Papias was born anywhere from 61 to 71 AD4 so could very well have known John. Since Eusebius who disagreed with Papias' millennial view and Irenaeus who agreed with Papias both considered him a proponent of a literal millennium, it is quite certain that he was.THE EPISTLE OF BARNABAS The writer of the "Epistle of Barnabas" (cir. 117/132 AD )5 held to the idea that after six thousand years of history that would correspond to six days of creation, there would be a seventh day "sabbath" rest which would last one thousand years. The following is from the "Epistle of Barnabas": Attend, my children, to the meaning of this expression, "He finished in six days." This implieth that the Lord will finish all things in six thousand years, for a day is with Him a thousand years. And He Himself testifieth, saying, "Behold, to-day will be as a thousand years." Therefore, my children, in six days, that is, in six thousand years, all things will be finished. "And He rested on the seventh day." This meaneth: when His Son, coming again, shall destroy the time of the wicked man, and judge the ungodly, and change the sun, and the moon, and the stars, then shall He truly rest on the seventh day. 6 Hans Bietenhard sees possible Jewish influences such as the Book of Enoch at work here and comments: "On the universal Sabbath all things are brought to rest and a new world begins. From the time of Barnabas onwards millennial expectation was always within the framework of a universal week of 7000 years." 7JUSTIN MARTYR Justin in his "Dialogue with Trypho" (written cir. 155) describes the belief in a literal millennium as the orthodox doctrine, though admitting that some denied it. He sees the millennium centered in Jerusalem and predicted by Old Testament prophets. Justin wrote, "But I and others, who are right-minded Christians on all points, are assured that there will be a resurrection of the dead, and a thousand years in Jerusalem, which will then be built, adorned, and enlarged, as the prophets Ezekiel and Isaiah and others declare."8 Justin did mention that, "many who belong to pure and pious faith, and are true Christians, think otherwise." 9 Evidently there were already others who did not believe in a literal millennium at that point in history, but Justin does not supply their names. Since the actual debate with Trypho likely took place at Ephesus shortly after 135 AD, Larry Crutchfield sees a possible connection to the teachings of the Apostle John: "If Eusebius was correct, [about Dialogue taking place at Ephesus] the earliest extant Christian defense of the millenarian doctrine took place at Ephesus, not far from Patmos where John's revelation was received."10 Crutchfield speculates about the possibility that Justin had contact with Polycarp or Papias which may have influenced his teaching: "In any case, whether Justin made contact with either man or not, a sojourn in Ephesus would have thoroughly exposed him to the teachings of the apostle John and the venerable Asiatic bishops [Polycarp but shall have a table at hand prepared for them by God, supplying them with all sorts of dishes."13 Irenaeus considered the promise that Jesus made to His disciples at the last supper to one day drink the fruit of the vine again with them "in my Father's kingdom" to be proof of a future, earthly kingdom to be established after the resurrection. Interestingly, Irenaeus also mentioned the promise of land that God gave to Abraham in this connection: "If, then, God promised him the inheritance of the land, yet he did not receive it during all the time of his sojourn there, it must be, that together with his seed, that is, those who fear God and believe in Him, he shall receive it at the resurrection of the just."14Irenaeus firmly believed that Jesus would literally reign in a rebuilt Jerusalem.15 He also anticipated the allegorizing of Biblical prophecy: "If, however, any shall endeavor to allegorize prophecies of this kind, they shall not be found consistent with themselves in all points." 16 Shirley Jackson Case summarizes Irenaeus' millennial view: This period of millennial bliss corresponds to the seventh day of rest following the six days of creation described in Genesis. During this time the earth is marvelously fruitful. Jerusalem is magnificently rebuilt, and the righteous joyfully become accustomed to the new life of incorruption. After this preliminary regime of bliss has passed, a final judgment of all the world is instituted, and the new heaven and the new earth are revealed. In this final state of blessedness the redeemed shall live in the presence of God, world without end. 17 It is notable how closely Irenaeus' understanding is to that of many pre-millennialists today.TERTULLIAN We learn of Tertullian's pre-millennialism through his debate against the heretic Marcion (cir. 207-212 AD). Obviously, a physical, rebuilt Jerusalem could have no validity for Marcion since he considered anything physical to have been created by a lesser "demiurge," the God of the Jews. Hans Beitenhard explains Marcion's view, "A little later [after Irenaeus] Tertullian found it necessary to defend the millennial hope against Marcion, who denied that the Christian can have any hope for a world created by the Demiurge. The Demiurge as the God of the Jews would restore the Jews to Palestine, and there they could set up their own Messianic kingdom." 18 Tertullian rejects Marcion's version of the millennium, but not a literal millennium itself: But we do confess that a kingdom is promised to us upon the earth, although before heaven, only in another state of existence; inasmuch as it will be after the resurrection for a thousand years in the divinely-built city of Jerusalem, 'let down from heaven,' which the apostle also calls 'our mother from above;' and, while declaring that our "politeuma", or citizenship, is in heaven, he predicates of it that it is really a city in heaven. This both Ezekiel had knowledge of and the Apostle John beheld. 19 Tertullian's idea takes an odd twist when he goes on to claim the heavenly city had been seen suspended over Judea for forty days.20 Also, Tertullian evidently joined the Montanists whose eschatological views were rather bizarre. Beitenhard thinks that, "unwittingly and against his will [i.e. he did not intend to discredit pre-millennialism] Tertullian helped to discredit the millennial hope by joining the Montanists."21 Nevertheless, Tertullian was a pre-millennialist. HIPPOLYTUS OF ROME Hippolytus (cir. 170-236) wrote extensively about the end times, including, "Commentary of Daniel". Hippolytus took up the idea of a day being one thousand years and applied it to history. He reasoned:For the first appearance of our Lord in the flesh took place in Bethlehem, under Augustus, in the year 5500; and He suffered in the thirty-third year. And 6,000 years must needs be accomplished, in order that the Sabbath may come, the rest, the holy day "on which God rested from all His works." For the Sabbath is the type and emblem of the future kingdom of the saints, when they "shall reign with Christ," when He comes from heaven, as John says in his Apocalypse: for "a day with the Lord is as a thousand years." Since, then, in six days God made all things, it follows that 6,000 years must be fulfilled. And they are not yet fulfilled, as John says: "five are fallen; one is," that is, the sixth; "the other is not yet come."22 David G Dunbar comments on Hippolytus' view, "Christians ought not to think that the present sufferings of the church are the eschatological woes signaling Christ's return, for that return is not imminent. In support of this argument Hippolytus employs the creation-week typology widely accepted in the west until Augustine."23 Dunbar goes on to explain how Hippolytus sets the time of Christ's return in 500 AD. 24 Though this date setting is obviously problematic, Hippolytus asserted the idea that there would be a "Sabbath" rest which will be a time when the saints will reign with Christ. Though he does not use the term "millennium," clearly his schema of a day being one thousand years would make the Sabbath rest last for a millennia. Bietenhard considers Hippolytus a chiliast: "Hippolytus places the millennial hope within the schema of a universal week of 7000 years."25Interestingly, in another article Dunbar states, "Only in his "Chapters Against Gaius" does he present a forthright attack on amillennialism, and even here his own position is so muted as to be unclear." 26 It seems to me that Hippolytus' position is clear enough in the above quoted Commentary on Daniel. LACTANTIUS Lactantius (cir. 250 - 317 AD) also wrote of a literal millennium. His views are based, however, partially on quotations from the Sibylline books. He writes, "But He, when He shall have destroyed unrighteousness, and executed His great judgment, and shall have recalled to life the righteous, who have lived from the beginning, will be engaged among men a thousand years, and will rule them with most just command."27 An interesting thing about Lactantius is that he supplies more details about the Millennium: "Then they who shall be alive in their bodies shall not die, but during those thousand years shall produce an infinite multitude, and their offspring shall be holy, and beloved by God; but they who shall be raised from the dead shall preside over the living as judges."28According to Lactantius, resurrected saints shall coexist with mortals. He also includes the idea of Satan being bound for the thousand year period and the existence of pagan nations to be ruled over by the righteous. COMMODIANUS Commodianus of North-Africa wrote about 240 AD. He also spoke of a literal Millennium. He writes, "They shall come also who overcame cruel martyrdom under Antichrist, and they themselves live for the whole time, and receive blessings because they have suffered evil things; and they themselves marrying, beget for a thousand years." 29WHAT HAPPENED TO THE MILLENNIUM? Since most of the earliest Fathers either taught a literal millennium (though clearly differing on details) or were silent on the matter, how did amillennialism become the predominant view of the Church from the fourth century on? Evidently Origen was the first to publically break with this tradition. Thomas D. Lea comments, "Before the time of Origen it was reasonably common to find the fathers expressing their belief in a personal second coming of Christ together with a millennial reign of the saints with Christ after their resurrection from the dead. Origen denounced millennialism perhaps because of his view that it overemphasized the sensual and the material." 30It is beyond the scope of this paper to address amillennialism among the fathers. 31 Though adducing different sources and theories as to details, the earliest church fathers clearly taught pre-millennialism.
END NOTES * Eusebius Pamphilus, Ecclesiastical History, 3.39.13; trans. Christian Frederick Cruse (Grand Rapids: Baker, 1993) 126. * Irenaeus, Against Heresies, 5.33.4; in "The Ante-Nicene Fathers" Alexander Roberts ed. vol. 1, 563. * Larry V. Crutchfield, "The Apostle John and Asia Minor as a Source of Premillennialism in the Early Church Fathers," in Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society, vol 31 #4 (December 1988) 421. * ibid. 420. * see W.A. Jurgens, The Faith of the Early Fathers, (The Liturgical Press: Collegeville, MN, 1970) 14. * The Epistle of Barnabas 15.4 in op. cit. "The Ante-Nicene Fathers" vol. 1 146. * Hans Bietenhard, "The Millennial Hope in the Early Church," The Scottish Journal of Theology, Vol. 6 (1953) 13. * Justin "Dialogue" 80; op. cit. "The Ante-Nicene Fathers", vol 1, 239. * Ibid. * Op. Cit. Crutchfield, 423. * ibid. * Op. cit. Jurgens, 84. * Irenaeus, Against Heresies, 5.33.2, op. cit. "The Ante-Nicene Fathers, 562." * ibid. 5.32.2; 561. * ibid. 5.34.4; 564. * ibid. 5.35.1; 565. * Shirley Jackson Case, The Millennial Hope, (University of Chicago Press: Chicago, 1918) 164, 165. * Bietenhard, 15. * Tertullian, Against Marcion, 3.25; op. cit., "The Ante-Nicene Fathers" vol. III, 342. * ibid. 342,343. * Bietenhard, 16. * Hippolytus, Commentary on Daniel 2.4; "The Ante-Nicene Fathers", vol 5, 179. * David G. Dunbar, "The Delay of the Parousia in Hippolytus," Vigiliae Christianae, vol 37, no. 4 (Dec. 1983) 315. * ibid. 315,316. * Bietenhard, 19. * David G. Dunbar, "Hippolytus of Rome and the Eschatological Exegesis of the Early Church" The Westminster Theological Journal, vol 45 no. 2 (Fall, 1983) 337. * Lactantius, The Divine Institutes, 7.24, "The Ante-Nicene Fathers", vol. VII, 219. * ibid. * Commodianus, The Instructions of Commodianus, chapt 54., "The Ante-Nicene Fathers", vol. IV, 212. * Thomas D. Lea, "A Survey of the Doctrine of the Return of Christ in the Ante-Nicene Fathers," The Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society, vol. 29 no. 2 (June 1986) 176. * See Bob DeWaay, "The Millennial Hope and the Church," Critical Issues Commentary, Issue #27 (March/April, 1995) where I present the theory that allegorization of Scripture, anti-semitism, and a realized eschatology that came with the Christianization of the Roman Empire starting with Constantine were causes of amillennialism's ascendance as the position of the Roman Catholic Church. www.cicministryorg/commentary/issue27.htm
Published by Twin City FellowshipCritical Issues CommentaryP.O. Box 26127St. Louis Park, MN 55426952-935-3100 pastorbob@twincityfellowship.comUnless otherwise noted, all Scriptures taken from the New American Standard Bible, (c) Copyright 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1988, 1995 The Lockman Foundation. Top of PageArticles

Thoughts On A Morning Drive

I was thug to work this beginning, along with an inch of flaky innate snowstorm that had fallen overnight. The birds were twittering, and the mist was rising higher the snowstorm as the sun rose. The pastures were pure-looking, and the cows and calves and stockpile were kicking up snowstorm puffs and cavorting on all sides of. I evidence of how blessed I am to lug a job to travel to, and how it is in the same way a blessing that it is such a run down push away whisper.

The exhilaration is coming precisely, I evidence, and it is a signless give rise to. "It possibly will ratify investigate now" I evidence. We can see from the proximity of the fulfillments of the leading pronouncement in March that the exhilaration is complete. The exhilaration phantom proceed the Examination, and at the same time as the Tribulation's before time judgments are moving at such a vivacious pace on the road to comprehension, the exhilaration possibly will honestly be any day.

That God phantom even give out a exhilaration to ratify is a speculate in itself. Seeing the adorable beginning reminded me of God and His institution. That He allows us to be a part of it is another blessing I counted on the way in to work. "For I know the strategy I lug for you," declares the Lord, "strategy to prosper you and not to harm you, strategy to leave behind you goal and a doom." (Jeremiah 29:11). He includes us in His strategy, and allows us to be cast-off for His pomp. How payment. He put us popular on this earth, to work and tug and pick up painful sensation and joyfulness and His mischievous spirit. He draws us to deliverance, and blesses us to the same extent we chuck it. He gave us His all.

The beauty of the fields and farms this beginning prepared me hunger for my true home, New Jerusalem. But still I am popular on earth I am in the same way blessed to be cast-off of God for His affirm, in whatever way He deems. Like He calls, I say "Popular I am Lord." If He doesn't plead to me today, I say, "I phantom power for you, Lord." Either way, I am blessed. Ancestors of us who know Christ know the presentiment. It is called "Peace."

Credit: esoteric-soup.blogspot.com

The Last Trump Not Same As 7Th In Revelation

THE Second TRUMP by Jamma Mokhriby Tributary II In part one of this series of messages on the Frenzy we regular that put on are 4 basic views of the timing of the removal of the Cathedral from the earth. We the same regular why this let your hair down described in I Thessalonians 4:14-18 and I Corinthians 15:48-55 is cheaply referred to by believers as the "Frenzy." Dependable undergo the Frenzy life-force deem place at the end of the age in advance the start of the unmovable 7 blind date Ordeal Porthole prophesied of in Daniel 9:27. Believers who count up to this view are open as Pre-Tribulationists. Portray are others who undergo the Frenzy life-force spate at some time in the field of the Ordeal Porthole. These believers count up to positions called Mid-Trib or as well Pre-Wrath. Subsequently completely is the view that the transmittable up of believers life-force not deem place until the vitality of the Ordeal as Christ is down to the earth to top the malicious. This is open as Post-Trib. Until recognized prior to by the Cathedral inflowing the unmovable 7 blind date Ordeal Porthole, we at "Frenzy Watch" undergo it is scriptural to hand over our be sure about to the biblical working out of expectancy unalterable in the Pre-Trib disorder. To not bother the big confirmation the Scriptures produce for this teaching on the imminency of this Sanctified Goal is ill-advised in our advice. Placing the timing of the Frenzy far ahead casts an biased shadow of anxiety approaching the Lord's series for His Cathedral in the field of the close at hand time of noble analyze and Vitriol. One cheaply used assignment raised vs. the Pre-Trib disorder originates from the Frenzy Scripture found in I Cor. 15:52. The Scripture reads, "In a little, in the zip of an eye, at the categorical trump: for the make a speech shall beefy and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed." Opponents to the Pre-Trib teaching hold up that this "categorical trump" obligation be the enormously one that the 7th Cherub blows in the field of the later part of the Ordeal Porthole which is recorded in Parade 10:7 at the same time as this is the categorical make a speech mentioned years blown in the Discover of Parade. Pre-Trib opponents find themselves at odds with Scripture on this just behind faced with the fact that the "pious" 7th make a speech of Rev. 10:7 is not the categorical biblically recorded supernatural make a speech to ever be blown. Isaiah 27:13 describes what life-force deem place as soon as Jesus Christ has returned to the earth. The time plan vacant is as soon as the Ordeal has finished and Christ has begun His Millennial Canon. It is in the field of this time that a supernatural make a speech life-force be heard at some stage in the lands. Quoting we read, "And it shall come to gap in that day, that the great make a speech shall be blown, and they shall come which were helpful to perish in the land of Assyria, and the outcasts in the land of Egypt, and shall esteem the Noble in the Divine Climb at Jerusalem." This Scripture, tabled with Zechariah 9:14, which tells of the Noble blowing unusual make a speech at His return, let somebody use solemn enlightenment approaching the timing of the Frenzy. Maximum it verifies that the Second Speak vocal of at the Frenzy in I Thess. 4:16 is a individually preordained make a speech designated for the end of the Cathedral age and painstakingly refutes the Mid-Trib assertions that put on are no other trumpets blown as soon as the pious analyze make a speech of Rev. 10:7. This is firm by the trumpets of Zechariah 9 and Isaiah 27 years blown at the very vitality and subsequently again as soon as the Ordeal - therefore as soon as the pious 7th make a speech of Rev. 10:7 The pious trump of Rev. 10:7 immediately presents the categorical in a series of seven blown trumpets. Parade 11:15 reveals that this make a speech announces the day behind Jesus life-force begin His dictate and life-force lay His complain to the earth. Fading dislike for man believers in Christ who enroll to Post-Trib Frenzy wisdom, Isa. 27:13 and Zech. 9:14 the same glowing narrows the stroke of squabble as to the timing of the Frenzy by eliminating the Post-Trib disorder exact. This is dazed by the Isa. 27:13 upholding about the populace who "were helpful to perish." The comment of the fact that these populace were about to perish verifies that they life-force be mortals. The crucial be important of attitude is, "Who are these enduring mortals?" According to Post-Trib adherents, behind Jesus Christ proceeds with His saints (see Rev. 19:4 & Jude verses 14-15) the Cathedral life-force lunch been having difficulties up immediately moments up to that time to link the Noble for exploit as He is down from Illusion to do battle at Armageddon. Their belief is that put on is no time present for any communion or celebration between the Cathedral and the Noble, but significantly are swiftly changed here exultant, space beings in order to partake in the bloodiest war in history. For a brisk little the Lord's make a speech scuttle prophesied of in Zech. 9:14 force cost to patronage this conspiracy. Inside the folder arises with the far-off mortals of Isa. 27:12-13. We know or else by Isaiah that these mortals who were helpful to perish are believers in the Noble having the status of they are separation up to Jerusalem in the field of the millennium to esteem Him. So our first big exhibition from Scripture is that these populace dazed living in the field of the lay law of Christ are critical believers, who for some excuse were not having difficulties up to carry out Christ and overestimated with undying bodies at His coming as Post-Trib theology requires. Secondly, if these populace had been unbelievers at Christ's coming with His Saints, according to Rev. 13:7-8 they would lunch had to be vanished as train of the Anti-Christ. Tongue of this man of sin and his train we read, "And it was special unto him to make war with the [analyze] saints, and to overpower them: and power was special him enhanced all kindred's, and tongues, and nations. And all that inhabit upon the earth shall esteem him, whose names are not in print in the book of the lamb slain from the reason of the world." Parade 19:20-21 states without interrogate that the Anti-Christ and all his train are vanished at Christ's coming. John 3:18 makes this lethal fate of unbelievers at Christ's coming exactly so touchable. The complete is logical and doomed. Being put on are critical believers absent flamboyant in the field of Christ's dictate who were not overestimated at Christ's coming they cannot be members of the thing open as the Cathedral. And so no Frenzy of the Cathedral life-force be booty place at the vitality of the Ordeal Porthole. The saint-filled Cathedral which is seen persistent with Christ at His coming at Armageddon in Rev. 19 may perhaps immediately lunch been Raptured some time up to that time subsequently the Post-Trib teaching proposes. As to who the critical Millennium believers are who were about to perish, they can immediately be individuals who became believers as soon as the Frenzy took place. These are the Ordeal saints who had to stay the murderous seek of the Anti-Christ described in Rev. 13:7. They life-force be endorsed to previous on in Christ's dignity flat as a pancake the resurrected Old Testament saints who were promised an lay bequest. The simple excuse why they were not Raptured and overestimated at Christ's coming is having the status of the Frenzy had to lunch or else industrious place before to that time. These are the enduring and resurrected believers who life-force repopulate the earth under Christ's king ship as is revealed to us in such passages as Zechariah 8:3-5 and Daniel 12:9 & 13. Extra scriptural evidence for this analytical picture is firm. The authorize increase together of all the malicious for mutilation at Christ's coming with His Saints can be verified by the scriptural passages found in Matthew 13:30,38-42 & 49-50 & 24:38-41. Subsequently the latter preserving and increase together of the still to pay critical believers with a make a speech as soon as His return is dazed in Matt. 24:22 & 29-30. It is a constructive judge for foresight students to advanced painstakingly explore Zechariah 9:14 where we are told of the one other time than I Corinthians 15:22 behind God life-force hurt His make a speech. As we lunch regular, the time of this make a speech scuttle is at the vitality of the Outsized Ordeal. Chapters 9 anybody would lunch been immortalized or vanished behind Christ returned at Armageddon. Parade 11:15 7 declares the end of Satan's disorder of sway enhanced the earth from his former disorder in the tune, not the Frenzy of the Cathedral. In complete, the Scriptures offer no patronage in any kindly to the teaching that the trumpets of the 7th "Cherub" in Rev. 10:7 is the enormously as the make a speech of "God" blown at the Frenzy in I Thess. 4 & I Cor. 15. It is unsmiling forwardly vacant as the categorical of 7 pious trumpets blown in a rotation as God releases His rage upon a Christ-rejecting world. Scripture reveals put on lunch been and life-force be other appetizing make a speech blasts to summon the end (or beginning) of other occupied occasions. The label "categorical make a speech" in no way machine the beefy of a make a speech life-force never be heard again. The immediately be important which deceased abrupt at this just is, are you helpful for the Second Trump which life-force summon the vitality of the Cathedral Age and the admiration and increase together of the build of Christ? Be evident carte blanche now by putting your be sure about in the Living Noble Jesus Christ who rewarded the full endorsement for the sins of the world by coming loose His own valued blood on the mix. Look forward to in Him in isolation for your deliverance can simple task your soir of His blessed forfeit, "For the Noble Himself life-force trip over from illusion with a yell, with the voice of an guardian angel, and with the make a speech of God. And the dead in Christ life-force altitude first. Subsequently we who are flamboyant and take place shall be having difficulties up together with them in the fumes to carry out the Noble in the air. And therefore we shall increasingly be with the Noble" (I Thess. 4:16-17). rapturewatch.cephasministry.com

Religion Belief Last Eight Days Part 2

This Week's Feature Article by Jack Kelley

A PROPHECY LESSON. TUESDAY 12 NISAN

"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." (MATT. 24:1-2)

How this must have astonished the disciples. Over 500 years earlier the prophet Daniel had revealed that beginning with a decree authorizing the reconstruction of Jerusalem, Israel would be given 490 years during which all necessary preparations for the Messianic Kingdom would be made. They would finish transgression, put an end to sin, atone for wickedness, bring in everlasting righteousness, seal up vision and prophecy, and anoint the most holy (place). The most holy place refers to the Temple. Accomplishing this would require the Messiah to come and die for the sins of the people (DANIEL 9:24-26).

The disciples knew the 483 year mark had been reached a few days earlier and that the Messiah was among them. He had explained to them that when they got to Jerusalem He would be executed but would come back from the grave three days later (MATT. 16:21, LUKE 18:31-33). So there were only seven years left of the 490 years. The Temple had been undergoing a major reconstruction that so far had required 46 years (JOHN 2:20) and wasn't complete yet. But now Jesus was saying everything would be torn down. Not one stone would be left standing on another. How could that be?

As they began their trek up the Mt. of Olives on their way back to Bethany, four of the disciples (Peter, James, John and Andrew) approached Jesus to ask Him about these things. They had 3 questions for Him. First they wanted to know when this would happen. They also wanted to know what would be the sign of His coming, and what would be the sign of the end of the age (MATT. 24:3).

By their questions we can tell they'd been discussing this among themselves. Wanting to know when the Temple would be destroyed was an obvious reaction to his earlier statement, but the Lord's 2nd Coming was still a new idea to them. And if the Temple was going to be torn down how would they know when the end of the age would come? They certainly could no longer count on it it happening in 7 years.

Matthew's account of the Lord's response does not contain an answer to their first question. But Luke's does, so let's go there first.

"Jesus told them, "When you see Jerusalem being surrounded by armies you will know its desolation is near. There will be great distress in the land (Israel) and wrath against this people (the Jews). They will fall by the sword and be taken as prisoners to all the nations. Jerusalem will be trampled on by the Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled" (LUKE 21:20, 23,24).

The disciples were to understand that when they saw the Roman Armies surrounding Jerusalem it would mean Temple was about to be destroyed. The Jews mounted an unsuccessful revolt against Rome in 66 AD and by 70AD Jerusalem and the Temple lay in ruins.

In answering their 2nd and 3rd questions, Jesus began with an overview. In the times ahead there would be false messiahs, wars and rumors of wars, but they would not signal the end. He said nation would rise against nation and kingdom against kingdom. There would be famines and earthquakes in various places. He characterized these as the beginning of birth pangs, meaning they would be indicators that the time of the 2nd Coming was near.

He said the Jewish people would be persecuted and hated by all nations because they would be blamed for His death. There would be false prophets, and an increase of wickedness, but he who stands firm to the end would be saved (MATT. 24:4-13).

We know he wasn't talking about the Church here because our salvation is not contingent upon standing firm to the end. Our salvation was assured from the moment we believed (EPHES. 1:13-14). God has set His seal of ownership on us and put His Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing this (2 COR. 1:21-22). Jesus had post rapture believers in mind here, because they have no such guarantee. As you'll see there's no mention of the Church anywhere in this discussion because Jesus was speaking as a Jewish prophet explaining to His Jewish disciples about the end times as they concern the Jewish people. Remember, their questions to Him were about the remaining seven years of Daniel's 70 Week prophecy, which is all about Israel.

Then He completed His overview by saying the Gospel would be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come (MATT. 24:14). Now before you say, "There's where the Church comes in," let me take you to REV. 14 to see the fulfillment of this prophecy.

"Then I saw another angel flying in midair, and he had the eternal gospel to proclaim to those who live on the earth-to every nation, tribe, language and people. He said in a loud voice, "Fear God and give him glory, because the hour of his judgment has come. Worship him who made the heavens, the earth, the sea and the springs of water." (REV. 14:6-7)

Now the Lord gave them the first specific sign in answer to their questions. He said when the people of Judea see the abomination that causes desolation standing in the Holy place they should immediately flee for their lives (MATT. 24:15-16). The term abomination that causes desolation was well known to them even though it had only happened once previously. In one of history's clearest models of the anti-Christ, the Syrian ruler Antiochus Epiphanes placed an image of the Greek god Zeus with his own face on it in the Temple and demanded that the people worship it on pain of death. This rendered the Temple unfit for use and started the three and one half year Maccabean revolt. The annual celebration of their victory over the Syrians is called the Feast of Hanukkah. Every Jew knows the meaning of the abomination of desolation from this celebration. It was a sign they could all could recognize.

Jesus told the people of Judea to pray their flight wouldn't be in winter or on a Sabbath when that happens again, because that sign would signal the beginning of the Great Tribulation (MATT. 24:21). It's more difficult to flee one's home in the winter and it's against the Law for Jews to travel on the Sabbath.

It's hard to over estimate the significance of that statement. Even though Jesus had earlier warned the disciples the Temple was soon to be destroyed and the people would be scattered to the nations, He now said there would be a Jewish nation in Israel with a working Temple again as the End of the Age approached. From about 135 AD until 1948 there was no Jewish nation, and since 70AD there hasn't been a Temple there.

With 20-20 hindsight we can see that with the rejection of the Messiah, Daniel's 70 week prophecy was suspended 7 years short of it's fulfillment. The Lord's brother James explained to the Early Church leaders that this suspension would remain in force while the Lord took from the Gentiles a people for Himself (the Church) and after that Israel would be restored (ACTS 15:13-18). Therefore the Church Age didn't cancel the remaining seven years, it has just postponed their fulfillment. After the Church has been raptured Israel's final 7 years will resume and this time all their objectives will be reached.

The 3 1/2 years of judgment that begins with the abomination that causes desolation will be the worst the world has ever seen or ever will see again (MATT. 24:21) No period of time is more carefully measured in all the Bible. It's variously described as being 3 1/2 years, or 42 months or 1260 days long. And then the Lord will return and put an end to it. He said if it was allowed it to run its course not a single human being would survive, but for the sake of His elect He will put an end to it at its appointed time (MATT. 24:22).

Immediately after the end of the Great tribulation the Sun and Moon will go dark and the stars will fall from the sky. The world will be plunged into darkness. At that time the sign of the Son of Man will appear as the only light in the sky and all the nations of the Earth will mourn. Then they will see the the Lord coming on the clouds of the sky with power and great glory (MATT. 24:29-30).

Jesus said in effect that the generation of people being born when the first of the end times signs appear will still be alive at the 2nd Coming (MATT. 24:34). Since He began by saying there will be a nation of Jewish people in the Promised Land in the end times, and since that hadn't been the case until 1948, scholars believe that the rebirth of Israel was the event that kicked off the End Times. If so, then many of the people who were born in 1948 will still be alive when He returns.

"No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father" (MATT. 24:36)

From MATT. 24:29-30 we can tell that Jesus was speaking about the day and hour of his return to Earth after the end of the Great Tribulation, and while you have likely seen different different interpretations of what follows, it's important for you to understand that all of it pertains to the time immediately surrounding the 2nd Coming.

First He said it would be similar to the days of Noah. Before the flood unbelievers had no idea what was coming and why, and when Noah tried to warn them about it they just laughed, as if he was crazy. Right up to the day of the flood, they kept going about their lives, clueless to the fact that life as they knew it was about to end forever. It will be like that at the End of the Age as well. This is why Jesus said the nations will mourn when they see Him coming (MATT.24:30). They'll finally realize that what they've been hearing is true and it will be too late for them to do anything in response.

He gave three examples of people appearing to be just alike and doing the same things, but one would be received into the Kingdom while the other would be sent away to eternal punishment. Matthew mentioned only two of them, the men in the field and the women grinding with a hand mill (MATT. 24:40-41). Luke added the two people sleeping in the same bed (LUKE 17:34). The Lord's point was that what differentiated them was not external and physical, but was internal and spiritual. It's what they believe that makes them different.

The key to understanding these examples lies in the words taken and left. The Greek word for taken means to take unto oneself, or receive, and refers to surviving believers who will be received into the Kingdom. The word for left means to send away. These are the unbelievers who will be sent away for judgment. This example speaks of Tribulation survivors who will stand before the Lord upon His return to learn of their destiny.

Then He gave a warning that those who survive the Great Tribulation will not know the day or hour of His return so they should be watching for Him like a homeowner watches for a thief he knows is coming (MATT. 24:42-44).

Next, the Lord told them four parables, each one an example of how it will be just after the 2nd Coming. You'll see that throughout this discussion there's been no mention of a rapture or even of the Church itself. Nor will there be. This discussion is about Israel's last seven years. The Church will be gone by then.

THE FAITHFUL SERVANT. (MATT. 24:45-51)

The first parable is about servants of a master's house who've been given the responsibility of seeing that his other servants are fed. Remember, a parable is a fictional story placed in an Earthly context that's designed to convey a Heavenly truth. Every character or event is symbolic of something else. Understanding what they symbolize helps us discover the Heavenly truth.

The servants in charge are post rapture ministers of the Gospel, which is symbolized by the food they provide for the other servants, their congregations. Their master is the Lord. None of them know exactly when He will return but when He does those who have been faithfully preaching the Gospel of the Kingdom will be rewarded. Those who've misled their flocks and preached a false Gospel will be punished. James warned us that those who teach will be judged more strictly (JAMES 3:1). By their actions, these servants will have shown themselves to be false teachers and will be judged accordingly.

Keep in mind that eternal security is a blessing given only to the Church. Post rapture believers will have to maintain their own righteousness or risk losing their salvation. REV. 14:12 says they'll have to keep God's commandments and remain faithful to Jesus. And REV. 16:15 says, Behold I come Like a thief. Blessed is he who stays awake and keeps his clothes with him so that he may not go naked and be shamefully exposed." When used symbolically, clothing stands for righteousness (ISAIAH 61:10) and post rapture believers will be responsible for their own.

THE TEN VIRGINS. (MATT. 25:1-13)

Next He told the parable of the 10 virgins or bridesmaids. Once again He began by identifying the time frame of the parable. By saying "at that time" He was referring to MATT. 24:36, the day and hour of His 2nd Coming, which follows the end of the Great Tribulation (MATT. 24:29).

The story is about 10 young women who've been waiting a long time for the bridegroom to come. It's late and all 10 have fallen asleep. Suddenly they hear someone shouting that the bridegroom is finally coming. They've all been given lamps and oil to help light the way but five of them have run out of oil, and the other five can't lend them any. Those without oil hurry to buy more, but while they're on their way the bridegroom arrives and the wedding banquet begins. Arriving late, they ask the bridegroom to let them in but he claims not to know them and they're denied entrance.

This is another example of how some tribulation survivors will be received into the Kingdom while others will be excluded. The key ingredient here is oil, which symbolizes the Holy Spirit and identifies the five who have it as faithful believers, while those without it are not.

Those who try to find the Church in this parable overlook the fact that the timing is all wrong, and the church is the bride, not a bridesmaid. A bride doesn't need the groom's permission to enter her own wedding banquet. Also, characterizing the five without oil as backslidden Church Age believers violates the one condition of our salvation, which is belief, not behavior. And finally, a Church Age believer cannot lose the Holy Spirit, who is sealed within us as a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance. Once again, the Lord warned those on Earth at the time to keep watch because they won't know the day or hour of his return (MATT 25:13).

THE TALENTS. (MATT. 25:14-30)

Using the word "again" to begin this parable indicates the Lord is still speaking of the time just after His 2nd Coming and that means the servants are Tribulation survivors. It's the story of three servants who were given allotments of money, 5 talents, 2 talents, and 1 talent respectively, by a master who was going away for a time. When He returned he called them in for an accounting. The servants who were given 5 and 2 talents had both doubled their master's money and were commended. The servant given one talent had buried it in the ground and returned it to him untouched. This servant was rebuked. The talent was taken from him and he was thrown into the outer darkness.

Remember, in a parable everything is symbolic. The key to understanding this one lies in discovering what a talent of money symbolizes. Five talents was a lot of money, so the talents must represent something very valuable to the Lord, but there's no indication in the Bible that money is valuable to Him. Seeing them as abilities we have is also a mistake because we don't have anything He needs. Even the most "talented" among us can not contribute anything to His accomplishments. Out of love He sometimes lets us help, but He doesn't need our help. JOB 35:6-8 tells us our sins don't hurt Him and our righteousness doesn't help Him. They only affect us. However, according to PSALM 138:2 He values His name and His word above all things.

God must fulfill the promises He has made. We call these promises prophecy. He's given His word that He will do all that He says (ISAIAH 46:11) because His name is at stake (EZEKIEL 36:22-23). Study His word and your faith will multiply as you read of prophecy after prophecy being fulfilled. But ignore it and you'll lose even the little bit with which you began. In the Church Age we're protected against total loss (1 COR. 3:15), but it won't be so afterward. If they don't use, they'll lose it. And they'll lose their place in the Kingdom as well.

THE SHEEP AND THE GOATS. (MATT. 25:31-46)

The Lord's final example leaves no doubt as to its timing. "When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with Him, He will sit on his throne in heavenly glory" (MATT. 25:31) It's the time just after the 2nd coming when He will bring all the world's tribulation survivors to stand before Him in judgment. He'll separate them based on how they treated His brothers during the Great Tribulation. Believers, called sheep, will be placed on His right and welcomed into the Millennial Kingdom where they'll help repopulate the Earth. Unbelievers, called goats, will be placed on His left and then thrown into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.

This appears to be a judgment based on works, but as with everything else the Lord looks at the motive behind our actions. Only a true believer would be willing to take the risks necessary to help protect the Jewish people against the anti-Christ's determined effort to wipe them out to the last one. If he can do this before they petition the Lord's return he will have won, so his extermination efforts will be even more relentless than Hitler's. Anyone caught trying to thwart his effort will share the fate of the Jews. Those who help the Jews will be doing so at their own peril. But it will be as if they are helping the Lord Himself out of gratitude for all He's done for them. Their faith will be rewarded.

After Jesus had told them all these things they joined the rest of the disciples and continued on their short walk to Bethany, where they were staying. More next time. 03-31-12