After the Great Tribulation

(Continued)

Supporting Opinions

     When I say all this I am in very good company. There are many supporting opinions concerning the degree of the suffering and severity of the war in A.D. 70.

     Warburton is quoted as having said: "One of the most awful eras in God's economy of grace, and the most awful revolution in all God's religious dispensations." Orelli said: "A greater catastrophe than the mortal combat of the Jewish people with the Roman world-power, and the destruction of the holy city, is unknown to the history of the world."

     Farrar called it "the most awful in history.1

     Adam Clarke wrote: "No history can furnish us with a parallel to the calamities and miseries of the Jews.2

     Eusebius wrote: "Such was the punishment of the Jews for their iniquity against the Christ of God, and for their impiety. But one should add to this the prophecy of our Savior, a prophecy in which there was no lie, and by which He foretold these very things: Woe to those who are with child and give suck in those days. Pray that your flight be not in winter nor on a Sabbath day. [The Sabbath means almost nothing to most Christians today]. For there shall then be a great affliction such as never happened from the beginning of the world until now, nor ever shall happen."3 "These things happened in the second year of Vespasian [A.D. 68-79] and in accordance with the prophetic utterances of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, Who by divine power foresaw the events as though they were already happening. He shed tears at them and lamented, for so it is set down in the writings of the holy evangelists who also gave His words.4

     Josephus, speaking of the A.D. 70 destruction of Jerusalem said this: "I cannot refrain from saying what my emotion bids me. It seems to me that if the Romans had proven powerless against the sinner, the city [Jerusalem] would have been engulfed by an earthquake or flood, or it would have shared the thunderbolts of Sodom, for it had brought forth a generation more ungodly than these. Because of the folly of these men, the entire nation perished."5

     In Acts 2:40, Peter called it a perverse [untoward] generation.

     In the preface of "The Wars of the Jews" or "the History of the Destruction of Jerusalem," COMPLETE WORKS OF JOSEPHUS, p.427, Josephus wrote: "Whereas the war which the Jews made with the Romans hath been the greatest of all, not only that have been in our times, but, in a manner, of those that ever were heard of; both of those wherein cities have fought against cities or nations against nations...."

     Josephus described it in a similar way to that of Jesus, when He said: "such as was not from the beginning of the creation which God created unto this time, neither shall be." Mark 13:19.

     This destruction was so complete that every synagogue and every tombstone with a Jewish inscription was destroyed, leaving no sign that a single Jew had ever lived in Palestine.

"And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect's sake those days shall be shortened." Matthew 24:22, Mark 13:20.

     Jesus prophesied of the destruction of Jerusalem, in that generation, Matthew 23:36 and that the temple would not be left one stone upon another that would not be thrown down, and that God's people were to flee when they saw the city surrounded with armies, and that if the days were not shortened, no flesh would be saved, but for the elect's sake, those days were shortened.

     Luke continued, "And they shall fall by the edge of the sword, and shall be led away captive into all nations: [notice, they, not you] and Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled." Luke 21:24.

     Let me pose a question. What race of people on this earth has been led away captive and scattered into all nations? Only the Jews have been so completely dispersed, yet retained their identity. This was not true of the house of Israel (ten northern tribes dispersed about 721, B.C. who melted into other civilizations).

     The first part of Luke 21:24 was exactly fulfilled between A.D. 66 and A.D. 73, as attested to by Josephus. The Romans completely destroyed Jerusalem and the temple and an estimated 1,100,000 Jews died by the edge of the sword, or by starvation, and many were led away captive into all nations. Of the latter group, some of the recorded figures are: 2,130 at Joppa, 1200 at Jotapata, 6000 young men at Tarichea who were sent to Nero, over 30,000 others sold or given to Agrippa. Of the Gadarenes, 2200, Idumea, 1000, and Josephus says the total was about 97,000 who were taken captive.

Why Such Desolation?

     We can readily see that the prophesied desolation of Jerusalem, which Jesus called "great tribulation," was completely fulfilled in explicit detail through the events which occurred in the forty years following His ministry. But why would God bring such desolation upon a nation which He had chosen to be His own?

     Luke 19:44 tells us why this desolation occurred: "because you did not recognize the time of your visitation." NASB.

     Just what does that mean? The Lord, God, in order to redeem fallen man, sent His only begotten son to bring the way of salvation. After the prophets had prophesied of Jesus, the Jews, instead of receiving Him, crucified Him. He was too much of a threat to them.

     Jesus spoke before the multitudes and His disciples, saying: "woe to you scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites!"

     Then, as recorded in Matthew 23, to the Jews, He said: "Therefore, behold I am sending you prophets and wise men and scribes; some of them you will kill, and some of them you will scourge in your synagogues, and persecute from city to city that upon you may fall the guilt of all the righteous blood shed on earth, from the blood of righteous Abel to the blood of Zechariah, the son of Berechiah, whom you murdered between the temple and the altar. Truly I say to you, all these things shall come upon this generation.

     "O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, the way a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, and you were unwilling. Behold your house is being left to you desolate!" Matthew 23:34-38, NASB.1

R. V. G. Tasker, in THE TYNDALE NEW TESTAMENT COMMENTARIES, 1st Ed., 1961, Matthew, pp. 218-219, makes this statement about the desolation of Jerusalem: "This terrible prophecy of Jesus [Matthew 23:37-39] was uttered in no spirit of vindictiveness, but, as the most moving lament over Jerusalem bears eloquent testimony, was truth spoken in love . . . and He recalled the numerous occasions when He would have sheltered them, if only they had been willing, from the wrath that was coming upon them in the onslaught of the Roman legions . . ." On page 222 we read: "The blood of innocent men that is to be unjustly shed by the death of the Messiah and His servants will make it possible for the destruction of Jerusalem in A.D. 70 to be in effect a judgment upon the murderers of all God's servants whose deaths are recorded in the canonical Scriptures."

     The exceeding wickedness of the Jews is shown through the historical and Biblical records of the lives and deaths of the followers of Jesus. Among those who were brutally murdered were Stephen, James, Andrew, Peter, Paul, Simon the Canaanite, James son of Zebedee, Bartholomew, Thomas, Matthew, James son of Alphaeus, Jude Thaddeus, John Mark, Barnabus, Matthias, Luke and Jesus.

     The Bible records the stoning of Stephen Acts Chapters 6 & 7.

     Acts 6:8, "And Stephen, full of grace and power, was performing great wonders and signs among the people.

     9. But some men from what was called the Synagogue of the Freedmen, including both Cyrenians and Alexandrians, and some from Cilicia and Asia, rose up and argued with Stephen.

     10. And yet they were unable to cope with the wisdom and the Spirit with which he was speaking. 11. Then they secretly induced men to say, "We have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses and God."

     12. And they stirred up the people, the elders and the scribes, and they came upon him and dragged him away, and brought him before the Council.

     13. And they put forward FALSE witnesses who said, "This man incessantly speaks against this holy place, and the Law;

     14. for we have heard him say that this Nazarene, Jesus, will destroy this place and alter the customs which Moses handed down to us."

  Acts 7:58. And when they had driven him out of the city, they began stoning him, and the witnesses laid aside their robes at the feet of a young man named Saul.

     59. And they went on stoning Stephen as he called upon the Lord and said, "Lord Jesus, receive my spirit!"

     60. And falling on his knees, he cried out with a loud voice, "Lord, do not hold this sin against them!" And having said this, he fell asleep.

     History tells us that James, the just, was thrown down from the pinnacle of the temple, and it did not kill him, so they finished him off with a fuller's club.2

     In Luke 21:12, Jesus warned His disciples that the Jews would persecute and scourge them in their synagogues. You can also see this in Matthew 24:9.

     The Jews persecuted many followers of Jesus, including Peter and Paul, from city to city (1 Thessalonians 2:15).3  All this, Jesus said, would occur that the guilt of all the blood of the righteous from Abel to that day would fall upon those Jews, and it would all come upon that generation.  And indeed, it did.

     That generation of Jews, Josephus said, was the "most ungodly generation to live on the earth."

     Paul said, "For you, brethren, became imitators of the churches of God in Christ Jesus that are in Judea, for you also endured the same sufferings at the hands of your own countrymen, even as they did from the Jews, who both killed the Lord and the prophets, and drove us out. They are not pleasing to God, but hostile to all men, hindering us from speaking to the Gentiles that they might be saved; with the result that they always fill up the measure of their sins. But wrath has come upon them to the uttermost." 1 Thessalonians 2:14-16, NASB.

     It is also interesting that Paul credited the Jews with the death of Jesus, when most people today are persuaded that the Romans were responsible for killing Him. Perhaps the Roman soldiers nailed Him to the cross, but it was at the insistence of the Jews who shouted "crucify Him!"

The prophecy of Jesus that the Jews would kill the prophets, scourge some of them in their synagogues and persecute some of them from city to city was fulfilled over and over in the book of Acts.  Let's look at some of those scriptures:

     Acts 9:29, "And he was talking and arguing with the Hellenistic Jews; but they were attempting to put him to death."

     Acts 10:39, "And we are witnesses of all the things He did both in the land of the Jews and in Jersalem, And they also put Him to death by hanging Him on a cross."

     Acts 14:2, "But the Jews who disbelieved stirred up the minds of the Gentiles, and embittered them against the brethren." 19. But Jews came from Antioch and Iconium, and having won over the multitudes, they stoned Paul and dragged him out of the city, supposing him to be dead."

     Acts 17:1, "Now when they had traveled through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where there was a synagogue of the Jews. 2. And according to Paul's custom, he went to them, and for three Sabbaths reasoned with them from the Scriptures."

     5. But the Jews, becoming jealous and taking along some wicked men from the market place, formed a mob and set the city in an uproar; and coming upon the house of Jason, they were seeking to bring them out to the people.

     13. But when the Jews of Thessalonica found out that the word of God had been proclaimed by Paul in Berea also, they came there likewise, agitating and stirring up the crowds.

     Acts 20:3, "And there he spent three months, and when a plot was formed against him by the Jews as he was about to set sail for Syria, he determined to return through Macedonia."

     19. "serving the Lord with all humility and with tears and with trials which came upon me through the plots of the Jews.

Acts 21:27, "And when the seven days were almost over, the Jews from Asia, upon seeing him in the temple, began to stir up all the multitude and laid hands on him, 28. crying out, "Men of Israel, come to our aid! This is the man who preaches to all men everywhere against our people, and the Law , and this place; and besides he has even brought Greeks into the temple and has defiled this holy place."

     Acts 23:12, "And when it was day, the Jews formed a conspiracy and bound themselves under an oath, saying that they would

     neither eat nor drink until they had killed Paul."

     Acts 24:9, "And the Jews also joined in the attack asserting that these things were so."

     Acts 25:2,"And the chief priests and the leading men of the Jews brought charges against Paul; and they were urging him, 3. requesting a concession against Paul. . ."15. "and when I was at Jerusalem, the chief priests and the elders of the Jews brought charges agains him, asking for a sentence of condemnationupon him." 24. "And Festus said, "King Agrippa, and all you gentlemen here present with us, you behold this man about whom all the people of the Jews appealed to me, both a Jerusalem and here, loudly declaring that he ought not to live any longer."

     Acts 26:2, "In regard to all the things of which I am accused by the Jews. . ."21. "For this reason some Jews seized me in the temple and tried to put me to death."

     Is it any wonder that God destroyed those wretches?

No Great Surprise

     It should come as no great surprise that God spent His wrath on the Jews of that time. He had foretold it through His prophets, and Jesus had made it perfectly clear as well.

     The prophet Jeremiah wrote numerous times of the coming of the first desolation of Jerusalem: "For thus hath the Lord said, The whole land shall be desolate; yet I will not make a full end.. For this shall the earth mourn, and the heavens above be black: because I have spoken it, I have purposed, and will not repent neither will I turn back from it." Jeremiah 4:27-28.

     Although this prophecy concerned the first destruction of the temple and the city, the fact of its fulfillment indicates that God would do that which He foretold. Therefore, we should not be surprised that He did it again. God caused the temple and city to be destroyed twice because of the wickedness of the people. The second destruction was prophesied in Daniel 9:26. Many people have overlooked this prophecy.

     

    

Warning

     Jesus gave the Jews plenty of warning about the impending doom of Jerusalem and the temple.  It was the subject of several of His parables.

     Luke 19:12-28, He said therefore, "A certain nobleman went to a distant country to receive a kingdom for himself, and then return. 13. "And he called ten of his slaves, and gave them ten minas, and said to them, 'Do business with this until I come back.' 14. "But his citizens hated him, and sent a delegation after him, saying, 'We do not want this man to reign over us.' 15. "And it came about that when he returned, after receiving the kingdom, he ordered that these slaves, to whom he had given the money, be called to him in order that he might know what business they had done. 16. "And the first appeared, saying, "Master, your mina has made ten minas more.' 17. "And he said to him, 'Well done, good slave, because you have been faithful in a very little thing, be in authority over ten cities.' 18. "And the second came, saying, 'Your mina, master, has made five minas.' 19. "And he said to him also, 'And you are to be over five cities.' 20. "And another fame, saying, 'Master, behold your mina, which I kept put away in a handkerchief; 12 for I was afraid of you, because you are an exacting man; you take up what you did not lay down, and reap what you did not sow.' 22. He said to him, 'By your own words I will judge you, you worthless slave. Did you know that I am an exacting man, taking up what I did not lay down, and reaping what I did not sow? 23. 'Then why did you not put the money in the bank, and having come, I would have collected it with interest?' 24. "And he said to the bystanders, 'Take the mina away from him, and give it to the one who has the ten minas." 25. "And they said to him, 'Master, he has ten minas already." 26. "I tell you, that to everyone who has shall more be given, but from the one who does not have, even what he does have shall be taken away. 27. "But these enemies of mine, who did not want me to reign over them, bring them here, and slay them in my presence."

     Matthew 21:33-45  "Listen to another parable.  There was a landowner who planted a vineyard.and put a wall around it and dug a wine press in it, and built a tower, and rented it out to vine-growers, and went on a journey. 34. "And when the harvest time approached, he sent his slaves to the vine-growers to receive his produce. 35. "And the vine-growers took his slaves and beat one, and killed another, and stoned a third. 36. "Again he sent another group of slaves larger than the first; and they did the same thing to them. 37. "But afterward he sent his son to them, saying, 'They will respect my son.' 38. "But when the vine-growers saw the son, they said among themselves, 'This is the heir; come, let us kill him, and seize his inheritance.' 39. "And they took him, and cast him out of the vineyard, and killed him. 40. "Therefore when the owner of the vineyard comes, what will he do to those vine-growers?" 41. They said to Him, "He will bring those wretches to a wretched end, and will rent out the vineyard to other vine-growers, who will pay him the proceeds at the proper seasons."   (Luke 20:16, "He will come and destroy these vine-growers. . .")  42. Jesus said to them, "Did you never read in the Scriptures,

         'THE STONE WHICH THE BUILDERS REJECTED,

         THIS BECAME THE CHIEF CORNERSTONE;

         THIS CAME ABOUT FROM THE LORD,

         AND IT IS MARVELOUS IN OUR EYES'?

     43. "Therefore I say to you, the kingdom of God will be taken away from you, and be given to a nation producing the fruit of it. 44. "And he who falls on this stone whill be broken to pieces; but on whomever it falls, it will scatter him like dust." 45. And when the chief priests and the Pharisees heard His parables, they understood that He was speaking about them. 46. And when they sought to seize Him, they became afraid of the mulitudes, because they held Him to be a prophet.

     Matthew 22:1-7 "And Jesus answered and spoke to them again in parables, saying, 2. "The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king, who gave a wedding feast for his son. 3. "And he sent out his slaves to call those who had been invited to the wedding feast, and they were unwilling to come. 4. "Again he sent out other slaves saying, 'Tell those who have been invited, "Behold, I have prepared my dinner; my oxen and my fattened livestock are all butchered and everything is ready; come to the wedding feast."' 5. "But they paid no attention and went their way, one to his own farm, another to his business, 6. and the rest seized his servants [the prophets] and mistreated them and killed them. 7. "But the king was enraged and sent his armies, and destroyed those murderers, and set their city on fire."

     Luke 19:41-44, And when He approached, He saw the city and wept over it., 42. saying, "If you had known tin this day, even you, the things which make for peace! But now they have been hidden from your eyes. 43. "For the days shall come upon you when your enemies will throw up a bankbefore you, and surround you, and hem you in on every side.  44."and will level you to the ground and your children within you, and they will not leave in you one stone upon another, because you did not recognize the time of your visitation."

     

     Clay in the Potter's Hand

     In Jeremiah, chapter 18, there is a principle which God gave through the prophet, which enlightens us as to how God deals with mankind. "O house of Israel, cannot I do with you as this potter? saith the LORD. Behold, as the clay is in the potter's hand, so are ye in mine hand, o house of Israel. At what instant I shall speak concerning a nation, and concerning a kingdom, to pluck up, and to pull down, and to destroy it; If that nation, against whom I have pronounced, turn from their evil, I will repent of the evil that I thought to do unto them. And at what instant I shall speak concerning a nation, and concerning a kingdom, to build and to plant it; If it do evil in my sight, that it obey not my voice, then I will repent of the good, wherewith I said I would benefit them. Now therefore go to, speak to the men of Judah, and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, saying thus saith the LORD; Behold, I frame evil against you, and devise a device against you: return ye now every one from his evil way, and make your ways and your doings good. And they said, There is no hope: but we will walk after our own devices, and we will every one do the imagination of his evil heart." Jeremiah 18:6-12.

     God made it very clear, through Jeremiah, exactly what Israel could expect from Him. In Jeremiah 18:17, God said that He would scatter Israel before their enemy. "Because my people hath forgotten me..." Jeremiah 18:15.

     So if Israel had followed God, He would have preserved and blessed them, but because they chose their own way, He destroyed and scattered them.

     This, of course, again spoke of the first destruction of Jerusalem, but it shows the principle by which God dealt with the Jews in the latter desolation as well.

     In the forty years from the death of Jesus to the desolation of Jerusalem and the temple, God gave the Jews ample opportunity to receive the gospel, repent and accept Jesus, the Messiah, but they refused (except for a few who believed and repented). So God was not free to change His mind concerning the calamity that He had pronounced upon them through Jesus and the prophets.

     Because of the principle in Jeremiah chapter 18, in which God responds according to man's obedience to Him, many of the prophecies made in the Old Testament, concerning God's promises to natural Israel, have not, and will never come to pass. They were conditional upon Israel's obedience. God has shown us through their example that He will bring calamity upon disobedient people when they continually refuse to be corrected and to repent and turn from their evil ways. He will also bring blessing upon those who walk according to His statutes.

     As we have gone, verse by verse, through the Olivet discourse, we can now see the fulfillments more clearly.

     The exactness of these predictions of our Lord Jesus confirm again in our hearts that He was indeed the Christ, the Son of God. Every word which He spoke has been, or shall be, literally fulfilled. Jesus said: "Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will not pass away." Mark 13:31.

     Since the time when Jesus spoke the prophesies recorded in Matthew 24, Mark 13 and Luke 21, the only period of tribulation in recorded history, which dealt with the Jews, that could possibly be the fulfillment of Luke 21:20-24, was that destruction of Jerusalem in A. D. 70. No other such period has included all the specific predictions of time-table, location, severity, exact sequence, etc., as did that desolation.

     After the A. D. 70 destruction, the city of Jerusalem was not under Jewish control again until A. D. 132. This was only for a brief period of about three years, during the reign of Roman emperor Hadrian.

     At that time, there was a man named Simon, called Bar-Cocheba (Bar-Kochba), whom the Jews proclaimed and supported as their long-awaited "Messiah."

     Simon led the insurrection, achieving independence for Jerusalem, which apparently lasted until A. D. 135 (history is not complete concerning this).

     The finds near the Dead Sea in 1951-52 included two letters from a "Simon ben Koseba" who could have been one and the same as "Simon Bar Cocheba" (a name given him by a Scribe, based on Numbers 14:17, believing that he was the Messiah). Bar Cocheba means: "son of the star."

     Simon ruled at Jerusalem for three years, as indicated by the so called "insurrection coins" minted with Hebrew inscriptions. These numbered "year 1" and "year 2," and dated from the "liberation" of Israel. This numbering shows that the Jews thought it the beginning of a new era under their "Messiah." The coins proclaimed him "Simon, the Prince of Israel."

     This movement was finally crushed by Roman general Julius Severus, governor of Britannia, and Simon Bar-Cocheba was killed about A. D. 135. The spelling of his name was then perverted by the Rabbis to "Simon Bar-Kosiba" (son of lies).

     After this time, the area known as Judea, now called "Palestine," (land of Philistines) became a Roman Province. Jews were forbidden to enter on pain of death. Its population was by then heathen.4

     Since the A. D. 70 destruction, the temple in Jerusalem has never been rebuilt. It, therefore, could not be destroyed again. For this reason, the destruction of A. D. 132-135 must be totally ruled out as a possible fulfillment of the "great tribulation" prophesied by Jesus. The temple destruction was to be a major part of that fulfillment.

     From the crucifixion of Christ, to this day, the Jews have been visited by calamity and persecution. They had invoked upon their race the most far-reaching indictment that man could ever conceive. They said of the Christ, "Let His blood be upon our heads and upon our children." Matthew 27:25.

     There is only one hope for the Jew, and that is the same hope that exists for any man; to call upon the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, accepting His forgiveness and salvation, and being taken from under this self-appointed curse.

     Sufficient Evidence

     If we stopped at this point, we would have given sufficient evidence to establish that the "great tribulation" of Matthew 24 is past history; that the events of A. D. 70 did, indeed, fulfill all that Jesus prophesied concerning the "great tribulation."

     At this point, we press into some other areas of events which were to happen after the tribulation of those days. They do not make or break our case for the already past fulfillment of the "great tribulation," but do, by the very fact of their occurrence, support our belief that the "great tribulation" is past.

     These chapters will help us to better understand Bible prophecy. The possibility of more than one fulfillment of some of them is not precluded by Scripture, however, only one fulfillment is necessary to establish the authenticity of a prophecy.

     

     AFTER THE GREAT TRIBULATION

     False Christs and False Prophets

     Now let us talk about what happens after the tribulation.

     There seems to be a period of time, during and possibly after the "great tribulation," which transpires between verses 24 and 25 of Luke 21. This we will talk about in the Chapter on "The Times of the Gentiles."

     For the time immediately after the "great tribulation," Jesus gave the following warning:

     "Then if any man shall say unto you, Lo, here is Christ, or there: believe it not. For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets and shall show great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect. Behold I have told you [disciples] before. Wherefore if they say unto you, Behold, He is in the desert; go not forth: Behold, He is in the secret chambers; believe it not. For as the lightning cometh out of the east; and shineth even unto the west; so shall the coming [presence] of the Son of man be. For wheresoever the carcase is, there will the eagles be gathered together." Matthew 24:23-28, Mark 13:21-23.1

     It is important to understand that these false Christs and false prophets arise after that "great tribulation." What implication does this have for those who hold the pre-tribulational rapture theory? If the elect are raptured to heaven as they believe, how can they be on earth to be deceived?

     In the Olivet discourse, Jesus specifically warned His disciples to not believe these false Christs and false prophets.   He was speaking of events that would occur in the years following A. D. 70.

     History records numerous examples of false gods and false Christs. Justin, the martyr, wrote:

     'One Samaritan, Simon, from a village called Gitthon, performed wonders of magic by the art of the demons who possessed him. He did this in your imperial city of Rome during the reign of Claudius Caesar. He was looked upon as a god, and like a god was honored among you by a statue placed on the Tiber River between the two bridges and bearing this Latin inscription: simoni deo sancto, which means, "to Simon the holy god."'2

     According to Eusebius, Hegesippus, in a letter, wrote: "The church was still called a virgin, for it had not yet been corrupted by false tidings. But Thebouthis, because he had failed to become a bishop, was first to begin its corruption among the people by means of the seven heresies, to which he belonged. From these sects came Simon, whence arose the Simonians; Cleobius, from which came the Cleobians; Dositheus, whose followers were Dosithians; and Gorthaeus, founder of the Gorthenians and Masbothians. From these came the Menandrians, the Marcianists, the Carpocratians, the Valentinians, the Basilidians, and the Saturnilians. In their own way by different means, each proclaimed its own doctrine. From them came false Christs, false prophets, false apostles who, against God and His Christ, split the unity of the church with their words of destruction. . ."3

     This type of deception continues to this day.

     Elect Deceived

     When Jesus warned His disciples about false Christs and false prophets to come after the tribulation, He said they would deceive, if possible, the very elect. He was not speaking of the unbelieving Jews as elect, because they were to be destroyed in His vengeance. It would indeed be shocking if Jesus brought vengeance upon the very elect of God!

     The natural Jews were broken off (Romans 11:17-24) because of their unbelief, and a new covenant brought a new "elect," the church. This new covenant was established by grace through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, whom most Jews rejected. Those who did receive Him and were the first Christians, and numerous ones thereafter, were numbered among the "elect," because they were grafted in again and became a part of His church, in which there is no distinction between Jew and Greek, bond and free, male and female. All are one in Christ Jesus (Colossians 3:11-12).

     Those under the new covenant of salvation by grace through faith make up the "elect" spoken of by Jesus, and they are those whom He warned of the desolation to come. Jesus said to the unbelieving Jews: "you are not my sheep." John 10:26. He called them "this evil generation," Matthew 12:45, and told them: "The kingdom shall be taken away from you and given to a nation producing the fruit of it:" Matthew 21:43.

     The clear meaning of Matthew 24:28 is not obvious: "For wheresoever the carcase is, there will the eagles be gathered together." Perhaps it refers to the prophecy of Jeremiah: "And the carcases of this people shall be meat for the fowls of heaven, and for the beasts of the earth; and none shall fray them away." Jeremiah 7:33-34. The words "fowls of heaven" could refer to eagles or vultures.

     The Roman eagles, which were the standards of the Roman army could be referred to here as they were gathered where the dead bodies of the Jews were.

     "For as lightning, that lighteneth out of the one part under heaven, shineth unto the other part under heaven; so shall also the Son of man be in his day. But first must he suffer many things and be rejected of this generation." Luke 17:24-25.

     Signs After the Tribulation

     What signs did Jesus foretell after the "great tribulation?" Matthew 24:29 begins: "Immediately after the tribulation of those days..." Mark says: "but in those days, after that tribulation, the sun shall be darkened and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars of the heaven shall fall, and the powers that are in heaven shall be shaken." Mark 13:24. Luke also spoke of signs in the sun, moon and stars in Luke 21:15.

     The word "immediately," used in Matthew 24:29, has caused a lot of difficulty for those who believe that the great tribulation was fulfilled in A. D. 70. It is probably the main reason that many people believed that the great tribulation will be repeated. But we know that Scripture precludes that, so we must deal with the word "immediately." There is, what I believe to be, a plausible explanation for these signs in the sky which Jesus prophesied. Bear in mind that everything after Luke 21:24 occurs "after the great tribulation."

     Fulfillments of Prophecy

     First, let us talk about prophecy. Fulfillments of prophecy were not always easy to recognize. When Jesus said that John the baptist was the fulfillment of the prophecy that Elijah would come, it was not at all clear to His disciples. John (the baptist), himself, had stated that he was not Elijah, yet Jesus said that he fulfilled the prophecy that Elijah would come before the great and dreadful day of the Lord. (Malachi 4:5). The explanation, which makes this fulfillment about Elijah come clear, is found in Luke 1:13-17. It tells of an angelic visitation to Zacharias, father of John (the baptist). As recorded in verse 17, the angel said: "And he shall go before Him in the spirit and power of Elias [Greek equivalent of Elijah], to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children...." This even quotes some of the words of Malachi 4:6.

     We can see that there is sufficient Scripture to establish that John did fulfill the prophecy of Elijah.

     In some instance, it took very little to fulfill a prophecy. In Luke 22:36, Jesus said, ". . . and he that hath no sword, let him sell his garment, and buy one." That was to fulfill the Scripture that Jesus would be reckoned among criminals. It sounded as if every one of them would have to buy a sword, but in verse 38, they said, ". . . Lord, behold, here are two swords." And He said unto them, "It is enough." Not much was required to adequately fulfill the prophecy.

     Perhaps we are looking for too spectacular a display in the heavens to fulfill the prophecy of Matthew 24:29.

     The Jews did not recognize Jesus as their long awaited Messiah, in spite of the vast number of old testament prophecies which were fulfilled by His life. Could we be lacking in our understanding of Bible prophecy as well?

     Five Parts to Heavenly Signs:    

In Luke 21:25-26, the Bible speaks of these signs which must occur to fulfill this prophecy:

     1. Sun darkened

     2. Moon would not give its light

     3. Stars would fall from the sky

     4. Roaring of the sea and billow

     5. Over Roman-ruled part of the earth

     Whatever the fulfillment, it must include all facets of these signs. It must also be in the right geographical location. It is generally supposed that these signs in the heavens were to occur over the whole world, but what does the Bible tell us about this?

     "Men's hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth [oikoumene: the inhabited earth, specifically the Roman Empire]." Luke 21:26.

     So the signs are not for the whole world, but for what was then known as the habitable earth, dominated by the Roman Empire.4

     What occurred immediately after the destruction of A. D. 70 that could possibly be the fulfillment of these signs?

     The darkening of the sun and moon could easily be explained by the eruption of a volcano, if it was in that region, but how about the part about the stars falling from the sky? Did this mean actual stars?

     Stars Falling

     Here's a little lesson in Science of the universe:

     The closest star to the earth, excluding our own sun, is 4.3 light-years from the earth. It is called Proxima Centauri, and it takes its light 4.3 years to reach us. If it were possible for this star to travel at the speed of light, 186,282 miles per second, it would take it 4.3 years to reach earth. Such a speed is unheard of. If Proxima Centauri ceased to emit its light, it would be 4.3 years before we would know it. That's the closest one. The average distance between stars in the Milky Way is four to five light-years.

     The farthest star is said to be billions of light-years away. Its light takes billions of years to reach the earth.

     What would happen if a star really fell to earth? The smallest star is 5,200 miles in diameter, compared to the earth's diameter of 7,930 miles at the equator. If such a star fell upon the earth, it would take only one to destroy the entire earth. The earth's atmosphere would not be sufficient to cause it to burn up, because of its enormous size. Further, if such a phenomenon began to occur, there would be an indication of its movement long before its actual arrival, because its light would travel faster than the star itself. As it approached earth, it would be like another sun.

     Since stars are nuclear fusion and radiate tremendous heat (millions of degrees) and ultra violet and X-rays, it would never reach the earth before all forms of life on this planet ceased to exist.

     Stars, even when they die, do not fall from the sky. Aside from "proper motion," which is almost undetectable, they are stationary.

     What we usually refer to as falling stars are actually meteors. When they fall into the earth's atmosphere, at about sixty-five miles up, the friction of the air causes them to heat up to about 4000 degrees and glow brightly, giving the appearance of a shooting or falling star. They must be in the earth's atmosphere to be visible. There have been meteor showers upon the earth from the earliest times. They occur so frequently that, to be a real indicator of prophetic fulfillment, it would necessitate a rather spectacular display to distinguish it from so many previous occurrences.

     The most significant meteor shower on record was on November 13, 1833. This vast group of meteors is called the Leonid meteor shower, and the earth comes in contact with it each November. The November 13, l833 encounter was with the most dense portion of this group. Many who saw this meteor shower were convinced that it was the time of the second coming of Jesus. They were, unfortunately, misinformed.

     Could it be that we have misunderstood what "stars falling" from the sky really indicates?

     If we can call meteors "falling stars," then it is also possible that brightly glowing cinders from a volcano could represent stars as they fall from being spewed high into the sky. To someone totally unaccustomed to such a phenomenon, it would seem as if stars were falling. In this age, with knowledge increased, we would not think so, but in those days, it could have been.

     Luke wrote: ". . . and Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the nations [gentiles] until the seasons of the nations (and they shall be) are fulfilled. And signs shall be in sun and moon and stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, in perplexity for the roaring of sea and billow; men fainting for fear, and expectation of the things coming on the inhabited earth [Roman Empire]. Luke 21:24-26, NENT.

     What could cause the seas to act in such a violent manner, and sufficiently fulfill this prophecy? Did such an event occur after A. D. 70?

     Volcanic tremors in the ocean stir up waves, today called "tsunamis." They often reach tidal wave proportion. So a volcanic eruption of sufficient proportion could actually fulfill all five signs.

     A volcanic eruption could also fulfill the Scripture in Acts which says: "and I will grant wonders in the sky above and signs on the earth beneath, blood and fire, and vapor of smoke. The sun shall be turned into darkness and the moon into blood, before the great and glorious day of the Lord shall come." Acts 2:19-20, NASB. Notice that this is before the great and glorious day, not before the great and terrible day of the Lord. I believe the great and terrible day of the Lord was the destruction of Jerusalem in A. D. 70.

     The obstruction of the atmosphere caused by smoke and ashes from a volcano can filter the light from the sun so that when the light reaches the moon, it appears very red. This was seen in recent years in the eruption of Mt. St. Helens in Washington state.

     An erupting volcano may also cause earthquakes. But was there such a volcanic eruption in that region at that time?

     Let me tell you of a possible fulfillment of all these signs which occurred in A. D. 79, in the proper location, right from the pages of history, immediately after that tribulation of those days, and you decide if it could be the actual fulfillment of the prophecies of Jesus.

     Mt. Vesuvius

     On August 24, A. D. 79, Mt. Vesuvius in Italy erupted, after centuries of being dormant. It had caused earthquakes almost continuously since A. D. 63, seven years prior to the desolation of Jerusalem [see Matthew 24:7-8

     It was not too distant from Rome, where many of the survivors of the destruction of Jerusalem had been taken.

     There is an account in secular history, by Pliny, the younger, available in most libraries, which describes this eruption in detail. It appears to be exactly what Jesus foretold. The timing of its eruption is not coincidental.

     The sun and moon were obliterated from sight, and it was the blackest of days and nights. Jesus said there would be signs in the heavens [sky] and distress upon the earth, but He did not say that the earth would be destroyed at that time. These signs occurred after the tribulation of A. D. 70.

     According to Pliny's account, men's hearts failed for fear and the waves (tsunamis) of the sea were great and very destructive. He described the beginning of the eruption as looking like a tall pine tree. The cloud was filled with cinders which made it spotted with what would appear to be stars, falling in all directions. Compare that to this Scripture: "And the stars of heaven [the sky] fell unto the earth, even as a fig tree casteth her untimely figs, when she is shaken of a mighty wind." Revelation 6:13.

     The sea seemed to roll back upon itself, the shore was enlarged and several dead sea-animals were left on it.

     The greater part of the people imagined that the last and eternal night was come, which was to destroy the [pagan] gods and the world together. Pliny stated in a letter: "I imagined that I was perishing with the world itself."

     In a more recent eruption of Vesuvius, in 472, ashes and smoke were carried by winds as far as Constantinople (Istanbul), fifteen hundred miles distant. In 1631 there was another eruption in which streams of lava and boiling water fell on the villages beneath it, killing 18,000 people. It is reasonable to assume that the A.D. 79 eruption was at least as widespread as the 472 and 1631 eruptions, after such a long dormant period (400 years). The pressure that was necessary to blow the top off the mountain would have had tremendous force.5

     I would not be so dogmatic as to say that the eruption of Mt. Vesuvius was absolutely the only possible fulfillment of the heavenly disturbances, because Scripture does not specifically preclude the recurrence of such signs as it precludes the recurrence of the "great tribulation." And perhaps these signs could appear again, but it is quite likely that Jesus was announcing the exact events which I have enumerated, since all the other parts of the prophecy were of a local nature, and were for that generation.

    

     Blinded-Hardened

     Most of the Jews would not receive a gospel of salvation by grace, through faith in Jesus. It was diametrically opposed to their traditions and ordinances. Because of their unwillingness to accept it, their eyes were blinded and their hearts hardened (John 12:40). But those among the Jews who did receive this gospel were accepted with the beloved.

     The first converts to Christianity were Jews. So the gospel was not taken away, nor withheld from them, it actually went to them first; but the old covenant was made obsolete and a new covenant was instituted (Hebrews 8:13).

     The old covenant was based upon ordinances and animal sacrifices, and the new covenant is based upon salvation by grace through faith in Jesus, the Christ; Jesus Himself being the permanent sacrifice for all men, for all times.

     Unbalanced View of the Jews

     Some people literally hate all Jews, committing violent, anti-Semitic acts against them. On the other hand, because of the teaching of some of our church leaders, many Christians stand in awe of the Jews, "God's chosen people." Both views are unbalanced, or extreme.

     The fact is, that the majority of the Jews rejected Jesus and the prophets, and God cut them off. He considers them to be dead. "For if the casting away of them be the reconciling of the world, what shall the receiving of them be, but life from the dead?" Romans 11:15.

     "As regards indeed the glad tidings (gospel), [they are] enemies on your account; but as regards the election, beloved on account of the fathers. For not to be repented of are the gifts and the calling of God." Romans 11:28-29, BINT.

     In other words, the Jews are enemies of those who are preaching the gospel, but if they will repent and accept it, God will welcome them in again, through Jesus as their Savior.

      No Respecter of Persons

     The Bible tells us that God is no respecter of persons. Gentiles who do not know Christ are also considered, just as the Jews, to be dead. "Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lust thereof. Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead..." Romans 6:12-13.

     Here again, all are equal who do not know Christ, equally lost in their sins, and all are equal who do know Him, and have their names written in the Lamb's book of life.

     "...even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ." Ephesians 2:5, NASB. Everyone regardless of race or nationality, is spiritually "dead" until they accept the atonement of Jesus Christ.

     God did not cast the Jews off totally, but left a remnant which He did not destroy, kept by election of grace (Romans 11:5-7). So a balanced view of the Jews is to consider them to be equal with all other people. They, like gentiles, must come to salvation by grace through faith in Jesus Christ as their Savior to be grafted in again (Romans 11). Jews who accept Jesus as their Savior are call "Christians," just like everyone else. The majority of the early Christians were converted Jews.

     Apostle to the Gentiles

     The reason that Paul had so much to say about the "mystery," was that it was directly related to the gentile believers, and he was the Apostle to the gentiles [in the sense of masses (nations), not necessarily in the sense of "heathen"]. Almost every mention of the "mystery" has in it a "gentile connection."

     The gospel (good news), which Jesus gave us was a gospel of salvation by grace through faith for all people (nations, gentiles). All races, of people may come into the kingdom of God, through Jesus Christ our Lord, by the new birth. Each man must receive or reject it for himself until the harvest is full.

     First to the Jews

     As we have seen, the gospel was first preached to the Jews, and after they rejected it, it was taken to the gentiles. Because God foreordained this "mystery," which would bring salvation to all who would accept it, it is accurate to state, that the gospel would have gone to the nations regardless of what the Jews did in response to Jesus, since it was not a taking away of anything from the Jews, but a bringing in of a better covenant both for them and adding to it, the nations. This addition of the masses as "fellow-heirs" to the kingdom is a part of the "mystery," ordained from the foundation of the earth.

    The Mystery

     This is one of the most enlightening chapters in this book. It contains a very clear explanation of the "mystery" of God which we all need to understand.

     I recall reading a book in which a Christian writer detailed what he thought the mystery of God was all about. As I read, I became convinced that he had no understanding whatsoever of the "mystery," but I had to confess that I, myself, did not know what it meant, either.  I began to seek the Lord for a deeper understanding of the "mystery," and as I studied, it began to come clear.

     Jesus had said: "Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given." Matthew 13:11, Mark 4:11.  So let's begin with a prophetic Scripture from Isaiah 42, and unravel this "mystery."

     "Behold, My Servant, whom I uphold; My Chosen One in whom My soul delights. I have put My Spirit upon Him; He will bring forth justice to the gentiles. He will not cry out or raise His voice, nor make His voice heard in the street, a bruised reed He will not break, and a dimly burning wick He will not extinguish; He will faithfully bring forth justice. He will not be disheartened or crushed, until He has established justice in the earth; and the coastlands will wait expectantly for His law." Isaiah 42:1-4, NASB.

     Although this Scripture does not mention the word "mystery," it is a prophecy about that very thing which Paul called the "mystery" of Christ.

     Isaiah said in verse one, "He will bring forth justice." The word justice is the Hebrew word "mishpat," which means a particular right or privilege. The word which is rendered "gentiles" is the Hebrew word "goy," which can also be translated "nations," in the sense of massing, or simply, the "masses." So this verse literally says: He will bring forth a particular right or privilege to the masses.  It then goes on to say that He will establish justice (right or privilege) in the earth; and the coastlands will wait expectantly for His law (the perfect law of liberty, James 1:25).

     The word coastlands or isles above is from a Hebrew word meaning literally: a habitable spot. Again, this pointed to the masses.

     The Chosen One in verse one is obviously Jesus. What the "mystery" shows us is that Jesus came for the specific purpose of making it possible for the masses to obtain access to the kingdom of God: for the "gentiles" to receive the right or privilege of sonship. For this purpose, consider the words "gentiles" and "masses" to have the same meaning.

     Old Covenant

     God had established the old covenant between Himself and a chosen race, Israel. If that covenant had been perfect, through the blood of animal sacrifices, there would have been no necessity for the Son of God, Jesus, the Christ, to have shed His innocent blood to redeem fallen man (Hebrews 8:7).

     The fact is, that the old covenant was far from perfect, and was only a type of the new covenant to follow. The blood shed under the old covenant was only temporary, while the work of the blood of the perfect sacrificed Lamb, Jesus, is permanent. Jesus was the sacrificed Lamb slain from the foundation of the world, the focal point of God's redemption of man.

     Not only was the old covenant imperfect, but one of its greatest shortcomings was that it excluded the majority of mankind, the masses of the people (gentiles) who were not of the natural nation Israel.

     God, in His infinite wisdom, established a plan from the beginning of this world, to destroy the works of the devil. This plan would be God's secret (a mystery) until the proper time, then He would display it openly.

     Why would God want to keep a secret? From whom would He hide His plans for man's redemption?

     What is the Mystery?

     The "Mystery" is, that after giving Israel as a type of chosen people (in the flesh), God fulfilled His original plan which He foreordained before the ages (in the Spirit), but which was kept hidden (secret) until the time of Christ, and that was salvation by grace through faith.

     Now let us back that statement up with plenty of Scripture. "For I would not, brethren, have you ignorant of this mystery, lest you be wise in your own conceits, that a hardening in part has befallen [the] Israel, till what time the fullness of the nations [masses] be come in; and so [meaning: "in this way"], all Israel shall be saved: even as it is written." Romans 11:25, NASB. Bracketed information added by author.

     That Scripture tells us how all the Israel of God [Abraham's seed and heirs according to promise, Galatians 3:29] will be saved. In the Greek text, the first word Israel is preceded by the definite article, denoting a specific people, and the second usage for all Israel does not use the definite article. This is only a small "clue" which Scripture bears out to be true. It denotes another "Israel" of God, the church.

     "Now to him that is of power to stablish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret [hidden] since the world began, But now is made manifest, and by the scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, made known to all nations for the obedience of faith: To God only wise, be glory through Jesus Christ for ever. Amen." Romans 16:25-27.

     What a power-packed Scripture! The "mystery" was hidden, though prophesied, then it was made manifest according to God's commandment, and it is made known unto all the nations [masses], and it is the gospel of Jesus Christ of salvation by grace through faith.

     In I Corinthians, Paul, writing to Greeks (gentiles) said: "but we speak God's wisdom in a mystery, the hidden wisdom which God foreordained before the ages unto our glory: which none of the rulers of this age has known: for had they known, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory: but as it is written, things which eye saw not, and ear heard not, and entered not into heart of man, whatsoever things God prepared for them that love Him." I Corinthians 2:7-10, NENT. This speaks of salvation by grace through faith.

     God prepared beforehand this salvation, and Jesus the Christ would bring it to all nations, and to do so, it was necessary for Him to be slain as a sacrifice to forever atone for man's sins, once for all. If the rulers of that age had known what they were doing, they would not have killed Him. Therefore, God had to keep it a "mystery" until it was accomplished. Only through the death of a sinless man could redemption come. There was only one sinless man, Jesus.

     "According to the riches of His grace, which He made to abound toward us in all wisdom and prudence, having made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His good pleasure which He purposed in Him unto a dispensation of the fullness of the season, to sum up all in the Christ, those upon the heavens, and those upon the earth; in Him whom also we were made a heritage, foreordained according to the purpose of Him who worketh all things...." Ephesians 1:7-11, NENT.

     Again, there is great substance in that Scripture. It speaks of grace (by which we must be saved, through faith) and His good pleasure in making known to us the "mystery." He purposed that the "mystery" would be administered to us at the appropriate time, and that all would be summed up in Christ. We will see in the next Scripture what that summing up means.

     "Wherefore remember, that once you, the nations [gentiles] in the flesh, who are called uncircumcision by what is call circumcision in the flesh made by hands; that ye were at that season apart from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers to the covenant of promise [Abrahamic covenant based on faith], having no hope and without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus ye that once were far off are become nigh in the blood of the Christ. For He is our peace, who made both one, and break down the middle wall of the partition, having abolished in His flesh the enmity, the law of the commandments contained in ordinances; that He might create in Himself of the two [Israel and the nations], one new man, making peace; and might reconcile both in one body [the church] to God through the cross, having slain the enmity thereby." Ephesians 2:11-17, NENT.

     Notice that there are several points presented here:

     1. The gentiles were apart from Christ.

     2. They were alienated from the commonwealth of  Israel.

     3. They were strangers to the covenant of promise, having no hope without God in the world.

     Through His sacrificial death, He abolished the law of commandments contained in ordinances, and broke down the wall of partition separating the nations from God and from the commonwealth of Israel. He brought the "masses" into the (Abrahamic) covenant of promise.

     So through Christ, all nations are made equal in God. And all must come through the blood of Christ. The two are made oneonly in Him. The enmity (hatred, hostility, animosity) between nations was slain and their reconciliation came about through the His sacrificial death on cross, bringing a "new creation," (Galatians 6:15). This new creation is made up of people from all nations on the face of the earth, but only includes those persons who come through Christ Jesus. For those who have not accepted Jesus, the hostility remains.

     "And He came and preached peace to you which were afar off, and to them that were nigh. For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father." Ephesians 2:17-18.

     A New Temple

     The access is through Christ. Both are equal through Him! "Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints, and of the household of God; And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone; In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord: In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit. Ephesians 2:19-22.

     This is no natural covenant as was the old covenant, but it is in the Spirit, through faith in the Christ, likewise, this temple is no natural temple, but it is the church, His body, and the only temple that the Bible predicts will be built. The old covenant was centered around the old temple buildings with its altars and animal sacrifices, with strict ordinances which no one could fully keep. The new covenant is centered upon Christ, and His Spirit inhabits a collective temple, not made with hands, the hearts of men, making up His body, the church. This body needs no natural temple building or altars, because Jesus became the sacrifice forever for all who receive Him.

     This breaking down of the middle wall of partition, then, is not to make unbelieving Jews one with Christians, or gentiles as to that matter, but both groups must come through the blood of Jesus to become one in Him. Jesus did the work, but we must receive it for it to be effective in our lives.

     "For this cause I Paul, the prisoner of the Christ Jesus, in behalf of you nations [gentiles], if so that you have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God given me toward you; how that by revelation was made known to me the mystery, as I wrote afore in few words, whereby when you read, you can perceive my understanding in the mystery of the Christ; which in other generations was not made known to the sons of men as it has now been revealed to His holy apostles and prophets in Spirit; that the nations [gentiles] are fellow-partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the Gospel, whereof I became a minister, according to the gift of the grace of God given me according to the working of His power (to me, the least of all saints, was this grace given), to preach to the nations [gentiles] the unsearchable riches of the Christ and to bring to light what is the dispensation of the mystery hid for the ages in God who created all things; in order that now unto the principalities and the powers in the heavenlies be made known through the church the manifold wisdom of God according to a plan of the ages which he made in the Christ, Jesus our Lord;" Ephesians 3:1-11, NENT.

     It is obvious that this is the body of Christ, the church, which God will work through until the "times of the gentiles" be fulfilled. The nations are fellow-heirs through the "promise" in Christ through the gospel. His body includes both natural Israelites (Including Jews) and gentiles, all who have accepted Jesus as their Savior, as one new man. It is also interesting to see that Paul was imprisoned because of preaching the "mystery" to the gentiles. This is seen in Ephesians 3:1 and Colossians 4:2-4.

     No wonder the Jews wanted to stop him, he was teaching the gentiles about the fulfillment of the "mystery" that the kingdom of God had now come to them. The Jews did not understand that God had made the gentiles, whom they considered heathen, to be equal with them, and fellow-heirs. Many Christians do not understand that today. But the fact is, those Jews who did not accept Christ died in their sins and were not heirs at all.

     Some teach that Jesus descended into hell and preached to the Israelites who had died without Jesus, and led them away to heaven. I think that this is a total distortion of Scripture. If the Israelites believed in a coming Messiah, it was reckoned to them as righteousness. If they died unbelieving, they are lost. It is appointed unto man once to die and after that the judgment.

     "Now I rejoice in my suffering for you, and fill up on my part what are lacking of the afflictions of the Christ in my flesh for His body, which is the church; whereof I became minister, according to the dispensation of God given toward you, to fulfill the word of God, the mystery hidden from the ages and from the generations: but now has it been manifested to His saints, to whom God was pleased to make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the nations, which is Christ in you [gentiles], the hope of glory:" Colossians 1:24-29, NENT.

     Isn't that a fantastic revelation? That the hope of glory is Christ in the masses. But remember that the term gentiles, in this sense, includes all those who come to accept Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. Whosoever will, remember? Notice that He called the gentiles His saints. In Romans 1:7, Paul said the beloved of God in Rome were also called as saints.

     "And confessedly great is the mystery of godliness; Who was manifested in flesh, justified in Spirit, seen of angels, preached among nations [gentiles], believed on in the world, received up in glory [brilliancy and splendor]," I Timothy 3:16, NENT. There's that gentile connection again.

     "I want you to know how much I am struggling for you and for those at Laodicea, and for all who have not met me personally. My purpose is that they may be encouraged in heart and united in love, so that they may have the full riches of complete understanding, in order that they may know the mystery of God, namely, Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. Colossians 2:1-3. NIV.

     So, the "mystery"of God is completely expressed in Christ Himself, and His manifestation was for the purpose of bringing forth this "mystery," making all one in Himself.

     According to Faith

     "Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree: That the blessings of Abraham might come on the Gentiles [masses], through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promises of the Spirit through faith." Galatians 3:13-14.

     There it is again, the blessings of Abraham, which are according to "promise," and by "faith," not under the law. And the promise that was given to Abraham is now appropriated to these Gentiles. Everyone who accepts Christ into his life and walks in obedience to Him is in this group of "Gentiles" [masses]. Without the marvelous work that Christ did by His sacrificial death on the cross, the covenant of Abraham would never have been extended to the gentiles. It was for this reason that Christ came.

     The ministry of the gospel during the intervening years has continued and it will continue into the future.

    

     Will all Jews be Saved?

     Some believe that all Jews will be saved, based upon Romans 11:26, "And so, all Israel shall be saved." They have the idea that, at some future time, God is going to save all Jews. But notice, it doesn't say all the Jews will be saved, it says all Israel. Paul writing to the Romans, quoted Isaiah: "Though the number of the sons of Israel be as the sands of the sea, it is the remnant that will be saved, for the Lord will execute His word upon the earth, thoroughly and quickly." Romans 9:27-28, NASB.

     This was, again, a prophecy of the A.D. 70 destruction of Jerusalem, perhaps, updated by Paul. Are these two Scriptures contradictory? No! Realize that the epistle to the church at Rome was written before the A.D. 70 desolation of Jerusalem, in which 1,100,000 Jews were killed. They died without Christ.

     Those Jews had said to Pilate, concerning the crucifixion of Jesus, "His blood be upon us, and upon our children." Matthew 27:25, NENT.

     Even though Jesus prayed on the cross, "Father forgive them, for they know not what they do," it is obvious that those Jews were not saved and will not be, unless they repented and accepted Jesus as their Christ. Jesus said, "No man cometh to the Father but by Me." John 14:6. It would be pure folly to believe that He would give eternal salvation to those whom He destroyed in His wrath.

     So the Scripture in Romans 9:27-28 is referring to the A.D. 70 desolation, while the one in Romans 11:26 is addressing the salvation of all the Israel of God, Christians [Abraham's seed and heirs according to promise].

     There will be no blanket salvation for all Jews no more that there is blanket salvation for all mankind.

     "And he saith to me, Seal not the words of the prophecy of this booklet; for the season is nigh. Who is unrighteous, let him be unrighteous still: and who is filthy, let him be made filthy still: and who is righteous, let him do righteousness still: and who is holy, let him be made holy still." Revelation 22:10-11, NENT.

     It is quite clear, that all Jews will not be saved, neither will all natural Israel, nor all the gentiles, but only those who accept Jesus the Christ. The Israel of God is not the natural nation called Israel, but the Israel which is circumcised of the heart and not the flesh. It is made up of members of all peoples who have, through Christ, entered into a personal relationship with Almighty God, walking in obedience to His will. "If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham's seed, and heirs according to promise." Galatians 3:29, NIV.

     Now the promise was given to Abraham, but it was of faith, not a natural promise. Those after the flesh, which are described (in Galatians 4:21-28) as the Jerusalem of that day, were not of promise, and were cut-off and destroyed. But the Jerusalem above (Hebrews 12:22) is our mother, and that's the only way anyone can obtain the promises given to Abraham, administered through his seed, Jesus, in the fullness of time, the revealing of the "mystery" of God.

     "For neither is circumcision anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new creation. And as many as shall walk by this rule, peace upon them, and mercy, and upon the Israel of God." Galatians 6:15, NENT.

     The Israel of God

      

     When we read the old testament accounts of God's dealings with Israel, and the Jews specifically, it becomes abundantly clear that, though given centuries of time, the natural nation Israel could never achieve salvation.

     They were almost continually wicked, doing abominations in the sight of God. One generation would seek God, and the next would go back into worship of pagan gods.

     Yet, through His prophets, God foretold that He would someday save Israel. This would not be their doing, but would be fully accomplished by God at His appointed time, and in His way.

     Since it proved impossible for Israel (except for a small remnant) to walk with God, even after He sent His own son Jesus to die for our sins, it would seem that those old testament prophecies could never be fulfilled. In the natural, that would be a true assumption, but with God, we see the supernatural at work, and all things are possible.

     God required holiness, and man could not produce it. It would take a perfect people who had walked upright with God all their days to fulfill the righteousness required for salvation. No such people ever existed. Only one perfect man ever lived on the earth, Jesus, the Christ, the only begotten son of God. Only He could lay claim to the promises of God for the nation Israel. In Him, God would fulfill His old testament prophecies of Israel. Not in a natural nation, but in one man would come a holy nation, the Israel of God. Not by natural procreation, but a new creation. That one man, who only did what the Father showed Him, fulfilled all Scripture, all types given by the law and the prophets, taking upon Himself the iniquity of us all, and nailing sin and death to a cross, He arose victorious over it. He bought salvation for all who would accept Him. In Him would the gentiles hope.

     He was the focal point of Israel, and in Him exists the Israel of God, Abraham's seed and heirs according to promise (Galatians 3:29). 'But it is not as though the word of God has failed. For they are not all Israel who are descended from Israel; neither are they all children because they are Abraham's descendants, but: "through Isaac your descendants will be named." That is, it is not the children of the flesh who are children of God, but the children of the promise are regarded as descendants.'

     All past history focused upon the Christ, and all future claims to eternal life spring forth only from and through Him. He was the manifestation of God in the flesh; the first born of many brethren.

     The old Israel was a natural nation, a chosen race. The new Israel is a Spiritual nation, the body of Christ, "the church." And if we belong to Christ, and His righteousness is manifested in our lives, the free gift of God's salvation, eternal, victorious life with Jesus is ours.

Past History                                                                                                     Future

Made Up Of One Nation                                                                        Made Up Of All Nations

Natural Israel                                                                                             Spiritual Israel

     

     

     Son of Man Coming in a Cloud

     "And then shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud [Matthew 24:30 says "on the clouds of heaven"] with power and great glory." Luke 21:27.

     There are various opinions of the meaning of this Scripture. Some Bible commentators see this as a coming of Christ "in the clouds" above Jerusalem at the time of the destruction, to actually direct the desolation of the city, or a manifestation of His power is so doing. This is because Luke 21:32 says: "Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass away, till all be fulfilled." Of this, Bible commentator Matthew Henry wrote: "The destruction of Jerusalem was in a particular manner an act of Christ's judgment, so that it might justly be looked upon as a coming of the Son of man, in power and great glory, but in the clouds."1

     In Clarke's Commentary, Vol. V., p. 232, Adam Clarke states (regarding Matthew 24:30, "Then shall appear the sign of the Son of man...") 'The plain meaning of this is, that the destruction of Jerusalem will be a remarkable instance of Divine vengeance, such a signal manifestation of Christ's power and glory, that all the Jewish tribes shall mourn, and many will, in consequence of this manifestation of God, be led to acknowledge Christ and his religion." At first reading, it sounds as though he is placing this as a future event, but read further and it becomes obvious that he was referring to A.D. 70. The Scripture on which he was commenting had put it in a future setting, because it had been written before the fact, and he handled it in that same way.

     'By "of the land" in the text, is evidently meant here, as in several other places, the land of Judea and its tribes...' He identified the angel sent out in verse 31 as "his messengers, the apostles, and their successors in the Christian ministry." (Which followed the sign of the son of man) The trumpet, he identified, as "the earnest affectionate call of the Gospel of peace, life and salvation." (Which occurs during the "times of the gentiles.") The elect which were to be gathered together, he said, were "The Gentiles, who were now chosen or elected, in place of the rebellious, obstinate Jews, according to our Lord's prediction, Matthew 8:11-12 and Luke 13:28-29." He further said: "It is worth serious observation, that the Christian religion spread and prevailed mightily after this period: and nothing contributed more to the success of the Gospel than the destruction of Jerusalem happening in the very time and manner, and with the very circumstances, so particularly foretold by our Lord. It was after this period that the kingdom of Christ began, and his reign was established in almost every part of the world."

     I have often wondered if the gathering of the elect would be accomplished through the preaching of the gospel. That is literally what is happening. We are being gathered unto Him through acceptance of Christ into our lives. The Greek word translated "angels" does mean literally "messengers," and they are sent out by Jesus to carry the message of the good news of the gospel of Christ. As sinners are converted, they come into the fellowship of Christ and become "one" with Him.

     This joining with Christ is a "union" or "betrothal" of the believer to Jesus, as a part of His bride, the church.

     Some Bible scholars see this coming in Matthew 24:30 as His second coming at the end of this age. This is the traditional view and perhaps the most popular one, but not what the Bible teaches.

     Jesus told His followers: "But when these things begin to come to pass, look up and lift up your heads; because your redemption draweth nigh." Luke 21:28. This He told them not us.

     The greatest persecution of Christians, prior to A.D. 64, was from the Jews. But when the Jews began to fight among themselves, and later, against the Romans, they were too busy to persecute Christians. So in the desolation (and the troublous times before and after) there was a kind of redemption for the Christians. Of course, the later persecutions came from the Roman Emperors, but there were also several periods, between persecutions, in which the gospel was freely preached to all nations.

      

     Look up, Lift up Your Heads

      When the Scripture in Luke 21:28 says "look up" and "lift up" your heads, it does not indicated a looking up into the sky as some suppose, but merely to "unbend," "rise," and "be elated," not with head hanging down in dismay, but to hold your head erect, knowing that you are about to be ransomed by the Lord.

     The remainder of Matthew 24, beginning with verse 32, is made up of parables, which show clearly that there would be signs when this "great tribulation" was to begin (as in the parable of the fig tree putting forth leaves) and that it would catch the unprepared by surprise [as in the days of Noah, when the wicked knew not until the flood came and took them (the wicked) all away].

     The Greek text says: presence of the Son of man." Matthew 24:37-29, NENT.

     The word used here, which in many translations is rendered "coming," is the Greek word "parousia" which means "presence." It is showing how the desolation of Jerusalem would come upon the Jews to destroy them in the same way that the flood destroyed the wicked in the time of Noah. Notice that, in Matthew 13, in the parable of the tares and wheat, and the parable of the fish in the sea, the wicked are taken from among the just. Just as in the days of Noah.

     "Then shall two be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left, two women shall be grinding at the mill; the one shall be taken and the other left. Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come." Matthew 24:40-42.

     Each of these is a warning to stay on the alert for the signs which would alert them that it was time to flee Jerusalem. In the parable of the good man of the house, and the faithful and wise servant, and again the parable of the ten virgins, in Matthew Chapter 25, they were admonished to be prepared at all times for the coming of the fulfillment of His prophecies. "Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour." Matthew 25:13.

     When the time was fulfilled, and Jerusalem was finally threatened, first by rumors of (talk about) wars, with Galigula wanting to place a statue of himself in the Sanctuary of the Temple (A.D. 38), to the attack upon Jerusalem by Cestius Gallus (A.D. 66), when the Jewish Christians fled Jerusalem traveling about a hundred miles over the mountains of Judea and Moab, to Pella, the warning signs all came, and all the prophetic words of Jesus were fulfilled.

     Important Questions

     At this point, I would like to address some questions that may have arisen in your minds concerning the material covered in this book and its implications.

     Question 1.

If the "great tribulation" came in A.D. 70, and John, writer of the book of the Revelation, survived past that time, to possibly A.D. 100, why didn't he write about it in the books of the Bible which he authored after that time?

     Answer: There is very good evidence that the Book of the Revelation was written prior to A.D. 66. It describes the events of the Great Tribulation period which took place around A.D. 70.

     The Christians who fled to Pella were well aware of the destruction of Jerusalem, just as Jesus had foretold. The early church had no doubt that the "great tribulation" had indeed come to Jerusalem. This gave great impetus to the Christian movement, because they could see that Jesus was the Christ, as He had declared, from the fulfillments of the things He foretold; from the coming of the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost to the destruction of Jerusalem and the temple. It happened just as He had said it would.

     John mentioned the "great tribulation" as a current event in the book of the Revelation. The first mention is Revelation 1:9, "I John, your brother and partaker with you in the tribulation..." NENT.

     The second mention is Revelation 8:14, "And he spake to me, These are they that come out of the great tribulation, and they washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb." NENT. This obviously spoke of Christians. It was, a vision of the future of what was about to take place.

     Revelation 1:9, quoted above, was not in a vision, but was introductory to the book of the Revelation, yet he spoke of the "tribulation" as if it were a current event.

     Matthew Henry, in his Bible commentary on Matthew 24, stated that none of the twelve apostles, except John, lived to see the destruction of Jerusalem, but they left directions to their successors, and that it was useful to them.

     He says that when the Christians in Jerusalem and Judea saw the ruin coming, they fled to Pella, across the Jordan. He also states that of the thousands that perished in the destruction of Jerusalem, there was not so much as one Christian.

     It is interesting that John's Gospel does not include the prophecies of the Olivet discourse as do the other Gospels. It is likely that the Gospel according to John was written after A.D. 70, and that John did not include those prophecies because they had been entirely fulfilled. This is merely speculation, and should be received as such.

     Question 2.

If the A.D. 70 desolation was not the fulfillment of Matthew 24, Mark 13 and Luke 21, what events would have to happen before the second coming of the Lord?

     Answer: If the "great tribulation" was not fulfilled in A.D. 70, and was yet future, then among other things, it would be necessary for the following events to occur to fulfill prophecy:

     1. The temple in Jerusalem would have to be rebuilt. This would mean clearing the land of existing structures.

     2. Animal sacrifice would have to be reinstated. This would be a great abomination to God, refusing to acknowledge the sacrifice of His only begotten Son as a permanent atonement, once for all.

     3. Jerusalem would have to experience wars and tumults and rumors of (talk about) wars.

     4. Her enemies would have to surround her, and throw up a bank [siege wall] against her, hemming her in on all sides.

     5. There would have to be famine, pestilence and the Jews would have to be killed by sword (an outmoded weapon).

     6. The reinstated sacrifice would have to cease again.

     7. The city and the temple would have to be destroyed again, leaving no stone upon another that was not cast down.

     8. Their survivors would then have to be scattered into all nations (as they have already been for two thousand years).

     9. The "times of the gentiles" would come.

     10. False prophets and false Christs would have to appear during the time after the destruction.

     11. There would have to be wonders in the sky,

     12. Finally, Christ would come again.

     After having read this book, you can easily see that these events have all occurred, in the exact order, as foretold by Jesus, in the forty years following the crucifixion of Christ.

     If we are unable to recognize these fulfillments that were so literal and precise, how could we ever hope to recognize any fulfillment of prophecy today, or in the future?

     Some say that we are going through great tribulation even now, and what of the destruction of Hiroshima and Nagasaki in Japan during WWII, and the holocaust of Hitler's concentration camps? That was against Jews! Christians are being persecuted in many lands right now, and some estimate that over fifty million were killed in the name of Christianity by the Roman church during the dark ages. What of them? What of all the martyrs? Could none of this be the "great tribulation?"

     All of these are, perhaps by definition, "great tribulation," but Hiroshima and Nagasaki are not prophesied about in Matthew 24, Mark 13 and Luke 21. Although the hollocaust was perpetrated against Jews, it was not the "great tribulation" of Scripture, because it was not in Jerusalem, and did not involve the destruction of the Temple and the City. The martyrdom of Christians is foretold as a continuing thing in the Bible, but again, it was not exclusively during the "great tribulation" in Jerusalem.

     Matthew 24, Mark 13 and Luke 21, in short, contain very specific prophecies which predict the acts of vengeance and wrath of God upon an obstinate and disobedient generation of unbelieving Jews.

     Some of these prophecies are found in the predictions of Jesus in Matthew 23:34. There are many other related scriptures of prophecy in the Bible. They do not address a worldwide conflict and tribulation, but only that which related to Judea and its inhabitants of that day, the Jews.

     Question 3.

If the "great tribulation" is past history and cannot be repeated, then what can be expected to occur in the future, between now and the second coming of Jesus?

     It is not our purpose here to detail what will happen in the future, but rather, to show, unquestionably, what has already come to pass, in fulfillment of Bible prophecy.

     However, there are several conclusions which can be drawn. The first is that there cannot be a pre-tribulation rapture of the saints, as many have confidently taught for over a hundred and fifty years, because the "great tribulation" is past. Jesus said, "But watch at every season, making supplication, that ye may prevail to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man." Luke 21:36, NENT. The King James Version says: "pray that ye may be accounted worthy to escape." This Jesus spoke, not of an end-time pre-tribulational "rapture" of the church, but of the escape of His disciples from Jerusalem to prevent being killed in the destruction. As we have already stated several times, the saints who were in Jerusalem at that season did escape to Pella in Perea. History bears this out.

     Question 4. Will Antichrist come in the future?

     Many end-time teachers talk about the coming of "the Antichrist." They are apparently referring to one of the beasts in the Book of the Revelation, calling him "the Antichrist." This is simply not Scriptural. In Revelation 13:1-18, there are three wicked ones mentioned, a dragon, and two beasts (one of which is smitten unto death and his stroke of death has been healed), and there is the image of the first beast.

     The Bible does not refer to any of these as "the Antichrist." In Revelation 16:13, the dragon, the beast and the false prophet (which could be the second beast of Revelation 13) are all mentioned, and in Revelation 20:10, all three have been cast into the lake of fire and brimstone.

     The word "antichrist" appears in only two books of the entire Bible, 1 John and 2 John. "Little Children, it is the last time: and as ye have heard that antichrist shall come, even now are there many antichrists." (Notice, not "the" antichrist, but "many" antichrists.) 1 John 2:18.

"Who is a liar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist, that denieth the Father and the Son." 1 John 2:22. "and every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and that is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is in the world." 1 John 4:3. Before John died, he wrote that, the spirit of antichrist was already in the world.

     "For many deceiver are entering into the world, who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist." 2 John :7. This he spoke of the heresies which were beginning to creep into Christianity.

     The word antichrist comes from the Greek word "antichristos," meaning: "an opponent of the Messiah."

     The only mentions of this word in the Bible are those listed above, and they do not refer to any one individual as "the Antichrist." John was merely warning them of those who would  oppose the Messiah, as many had already begun to do. So there is no authority in the Scriptures to refer to an individual as "the Antichrist," in regard to end-time events. All who oppose the Messiah are antichrist, of which there are still very many.

     Some refer to the "man of sin" in 2 Thessalonians Chapter 2, as "the Antichrist," but again, the Scripture does not so name him. "...he that opposeth and exalteth himself against every one called God or an object of worship; so that he sitteth in the temple of God, setting himself forth as being God." 2 Thessalonians 2:4, NENT. This Scripture is also used by some to show that the Temple in Jerusalem must be rebuilt before the Lord can return. On closer examination, we find that the word translated "temple" is the Greek word "naos," which is the same word in I Corinthians 6:19, saying: "What! know ye not that your body is the temple [naos] of the Holy Ghost, which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?"

     The Greek word for the physical temple building is "hieron" (the entire precincts of the temple). But "naos" (the central sanctuary of the temple) is used numerous times in the Bible to identify the dwelling place of God, in the Spirit, the hearts of men (I Corinthians 3:16, 6:19, II Corinthians 6:16, Ephesians 2:21).

     In this day, a person totally sold out to humanism would be described as having the "man of sin" sitting in the temple, "naos" (his heart), where God should be. The "man of sin" represents everyone who exalts himself above God in his own heart, and tries to run his own life apart from, and in opposition to Christ. Such a one is sent a working of error from God to believe what is false, because he has not a love of the truth. (2 Thessalonians 2:10-12).

     Most of the confusion concerning the "man of sin" comes from the King James Version. I believe that the rendering of this Scripture from Greek to English could be greatly improved. Perhaps then our theologians could understand it. That is just my opinion, and it's worth as much as it cost you.

     Question 5.

Since the Temple in Jerusalem was fully destroyed in A.D. 70, does the Bible predict that it will have to be rebuilt before Jesus comes again?

     Answer: The Bible makes no such prediction. It is possible, I suppose, that the present-day Jews, in their zeal, could rebuild it, but prophecy does not foretell such.

     Standing in the way of such a reconstruction of the temple is the Moslem mosque, called the "Dome of the Rock," which presently occupies much of the location of the temple. Of course that is no problem to God, but the New Jerusalem, described in Revelation 21, has no temple in it, (vs 22) "for the Lord God and the Lamb are its temple."

     The Bible makes it perfectly clear that under the new covenant, God inhabits those who are His through Jesus our Lord. He needs no temple building to reside in. He has made for Himself a body, the church, and therein will He dwell.

     Conclusion

      To be very clear about it, our conclusion, after all the evidence has been examined, is that the "great tribulation" prophesied by Jesus, and previously announced as the day of God's wrath and judgment upon the Jews, was entirely fulfilled, attended with famine, pestilence, death by starvation and the sword, the cessation of sacrifices, the abomination of desolation, the total and final destruction of the Temple at Jerusalem and the dispersing of survivors into all nations, in the time period between A.D. 66 and A.D. 73. Further, that a repeat of such events is not prophesied in the Bible and is, in fact, precluded by Matthew 24:21 and Mark 13:19.  These facts have been adequately shown both Biblically and historically.

     What Difference does it Make?

     "For as I passed by, and beheld your devotions, I found an altar with this inscription TO THE UNKNOWN GOD, whom therefore ye ignorantly worship, him declare I unto you. Acts 17:23. As Paul stood on Mars hill, he pointed out how the men of Athens were too superstitious. He also said that they were ignorant and went on to say: "And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men everywhere to repent:" Acts 17:31.

     In Romans Chapter ten, Paul wrote: "Brethren, my heart's desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved. For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge. For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God." Romans 10:1-3.

     Paul also wrote in Romans 1:13, "Now I would not have you ignorant, brethren...," and this statement he made at least seven times, concerning Paul's purpose, righteousness, baptism, Spiritual gifts, Paul's desperation of life, concerning the dead, and the fact that, to the Lord, a day is as a thousand years and a thousand years as a day.

     If we are willing to receive what Paul is saying, we must acknowledge the fact that God does not desire that we be ignorant. He has given us the capability to obtain accurate knowledge about Him, and He expects us to be diligent to learn the truth. Otherwise, we might be like Israel, trying to go about serving God in the wrong way.

     This is what I believe is happening in our day. We have, in our laziness, allowed someone else to explain the Bible to us, instead of studying it for ourselves. We are individually responsible to God for what we do with our lives, and no one else can stand in our place. So it is vital that we learn as much of the truth as we can, from the best source (the Bible), so as to dispel the traditions of men (which make the Word of God of non-effect) in our lives.

     God has given us inquiring minds, and in much of our secular activity, we use them very well, but when it comes to our knowledge of God, we too often place our trust in men.

     Men figure out things, then expound upon what they have found, much as I have done in this book. And we should listen, or read these things, perhaps we will learn something. But, as we have our minds stimulated by men's input, let us turn to God's sources and examine for ourselves if these things be true, as the noble men of Berea did in Acts 17:11.

     I have had the opportunity several times, in recent years, to discuss some of my findings, from independent Bible study, with others who have studied in much the same way. It is amazing how we have reached the same conclusions, independently, about so many Bible doctrines. Yet I do not desire that anyone take what I say as truth, without first checking it out in the Bible and the sources cited.

     Corporate Bible studies are good, and group discussions are valuable, but never abandon your own individual Bible studies. Try to put aside traditions you have been exposed to, and see what the Scriptures say to you by the power of the Holy Spirit. This I say, not to everyone, but to those who are able to do so. Rest assured, if those things you have been taught are true, they will be reinforced by Scripture. If not, Scripture will expose them.

     Do not be apprehensive about the great tribulation which, so many teach, is yet future, when in fact it is past. Jesus came to set the captives free. Incorrect understanding holds us captive. Before conversion, fear of death holds men captive, but afterwards, with the assurance of eternal life, the fear of death can no longer hold us, the "portals of the grave" (gates of hell), cannot prevail against the church because we are in Christ Jesus. Jesus led captive the fear of death which had sway over us. Now we are free to live our lives, and die with that blessed assurance that we shall forever be with Him.

     The fear of what is coming upon the earth, especially when we believe error, can cause us much unnecessary anxiety. Here, again, the truth can set us free. "Be careful for nothing; but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:6-7.

     I am not a great prophet of God, who can give you all the facts about what will happen in the future. I am, however, a reasonably intelligent historian and Bible scholar, who can relate to you those most obvious events which have already come, fulfilling Bible prophecy. I can also assure you that "neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord." Romans 8:23-39. Neither can "tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword." Romans 8:35.

     The future is in God's capable hands, and if we place ourselves in His hands, He will fit us into His Master plan, so that all things will work out for our good.

     No man knows what lies ahead for us, but be assured that those belong to our Lord we'll have nothing to fear.

     

     

     END

Other writings by James B. Hartline

 

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