Jesus Takes Over

Matthew 24:15–35 NIV

“So when you see standing in the holy place ‘the abomination that causes desolation,’ spoken of through the prophet Daniel—let the reader understand— then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. Let no one on the housetop go down to take anything out of the house. Let no one in the field go back to get their cloak. How dreadful it will be in those days for pregnant women and nursing mothers! Pray that your flight will not take place in winter or on the Sabbath. For then there will be great distress, unequaled from the beginning of the world until now—and never to be equaled again. “If those days had not been cut short, no one would survive, but for the sake of the elect those days will be shortened. At that time if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Messiah!’ or, ‘There he is!’ do not believe it. For false messiahs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect. See, I have told you ahead of time. “So if anyone tells you, ‘There he is, out in the wilderness,’ do not go out; or, ‘Here he is, in the inner rooms,’ do not believe it. For as lightning that comes from the east is visible even in the west, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. Wherever there is a carcass, there the vultures will gather. “Immediately after the distress of those days “ ‘the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from the sky, and the heavenly bodies will be shaken.’ “Then will appear the sign of the Son of Man in heaven. And then all the peoples of the earth will mourn when they see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven, with power and great glory. And he will send his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of the heavens to the other. “Now learn this lesson from the fig tree: As soon as its twigs get tender and its leaves come out, you know that summer is near. Even so, when you see all these things, you know that it is near, right at the door. Truly I tell you, this generation will certainly not pass away until all these things have happened. Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.

Introduction: Two Questions, When will the temple be destroyed and what is the signing of your Coming and the End of the Age.

It is so tempting to see this passage as the End of the Age question, but is it? Jesus is...

23 - Jesus Predicted the Destruction of Jerusalem.

Abomination of Desolation. Phrase used in Daniel, 1 Maccabees, Matthew, and Mark to designate a destestable object of pagan idolatry so loathsome to God that his people would feel desolate and devastated in its presence.

What is referred to here can only be understood by referring to Daniel 9:27 and the LXX [Septuagint] of Daniel 12:11, the latter of which may be a reference to the altar of Zeus erected by Antiochus Epiphanes in 168 BC (cf. 1 Macc 1:54–59). The phrase in question likely means an abomination that causes or results in desolation, that is in abandonment of the temple by God. … ‘Let the reader understand.’ The phrase seems to mean ‘take note, you already know what this refers to.’ If Mark was writing in late AD 68, this note would be most germane. The First Evangelist, however, writing at a later time, may well be referring to the desecration perpetrated by Titus when the temple was taken and Roman standards were brought into the holy precincts” (Ben Witherington III, Matthew, Smyth & Helwys Bible Commentary [Macon, GA: Smyth & Helwys Publishing, Incorporated, 2006], 446–47, Logos).

Jesus is says something like this will happen again.

The difference is that Jesus is saying the tribulation leading up to the destruction of Herod's Temple will be such that the world will never see again.

What is also different in Jesus message is that unlike the time of the Macabbees, these so called, "Christs" will not help deliver Israel from their oppressors. Don't chase after Macabbean type of Saviors.

The Jewish revolt began in AD 66, and during 67–68 the Roman commander Vespasian conquered most of Palestine. The Roman civil war in 68–69 led to a suspension of military operations in the East, but during that period Jerusalem was torn apart by its own civil war, as different Jewish parties battled for control, with the temple (the inner courts controlled by the Zealots under Eleazar and the outer court by John of Gischala) at the centre of the fighting. When eventually the Roman attack was resumed in 69, Jerusalem was already in a weakened and demoralized state. The rest of Judea was quickly reduced (apart from the strongholds of Herodium and Masada), and when Vespasian returned to Rome to take up his new office as emperor his son Titus put Jerusalem under siege for five terrible months until the temple and much of the city were destroyed in the fall of AD 70.

France, R. T.. The Gospel of Matthew (New International Commentary on the New Testament (NICNT)) (p. 910). Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co.. Kindle Edition.

Our limited knowledge of events in first-century Palestine has prompted three main proposals of historical events which might have been recognized as the “devastating pollution” by those who had heard of Jesus’ prediction.56 (a) In AD 40 the emperor Gaius gave orders for a statue of himself to be set up in the temple at Jerusalem; fortunately the order had still not been carried out when Gaius was assassinated in AD 41, thus averting what would have been a bloody uprising. (b) Probably during the winter of AD 67/8 the Zealots took over the temple as their headquarters and Josephus speaks with horror of the way they “invaded the sanctuary with polluted feet” and mocked the temple ritual, while the sanctuary was defiled with blood as factional fighting broke out (Josephus, War 4.150–157, 196–207).57 (c) When the Roman troops eventually broke into the temple the presence of their (idolatrous) standards in the sacred precincts would inevitably remind Jews of Antiochus; Josephus even mentions Roman soldiers offering sacrifices to their standards in the temple courts (War 6.316). Luke’s parallel to this verse (Luke 21:20, “Jerusalem surrounded by armies”) apparently understands the “devastating pollution” in this sense.

France, R. T.. The Gospel of Matthew (New International Commentary on the New Testament (NICNT)) (pp. 912-913). Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co.. Kindle Edition.

Picture of where people hid during the siege of Jerusalem.

Why interpret this as the Prediction of the temple in 70 AD.

This is one of the specific questions Jesus is answering.

Look at Mark 13 - The transition to when Jesus answers the 2nd question begins in verse 36.

Mark is only answering the when the temple will be destroyed question.

Jesus says these will happen in the lifetime of that generation of the disciples - vs 34 - This makes way more sense then saying within a generation some time in our future.

Parousia - A Noun refers to an event of arriving at a certain place. This Noun is used in the N.T. for Jesus’ second coming. - Here found in verse 3 in the second question, in verse 27, where Jesus contrasts the temple destruction to his second coming. Verse 37 where Matthew clues us to the fact that now he is answering the 2nd question.

Erchomai - a Verb to go or to come - Used vs. 5 of the false messiahs, vs. 30 when the son of man is going or coming on the clouds of heaven with power.

So Not the Parousia in vs. 30 but what?

Jesus Takes Authority Over All Nations.

- Morris says, “The coming of the Messiah will not be some secret thing such that only those with special knowledge will be able to say where the Messiah is. Jesus likens his coming to the lightning. Nobody needs to be told where the lightning is. When it flashes, the whole sky is lit up from east to west. The coming of the lightning is a coming that thrusts itself on our notice; we cannot overlook it. The coming of the Son of man will be like that. It will be open and public; nobody will need to be told about it” (Leon Morris, The Gospel according to Matthew, The Pillar New Testament Commentary [Grand Rapids: W. B. Eerdmans, 1992], 607, Logos).

In Verse 29 - Jesus is quoting from Isaiah 13 in verse 29 which refers to the judgement of Babylon at the hands of the Medes. Jesus then seems to be suggesting that the destruction of the temple is a like-kind of judgment. It is a displacement of the world system that has taken over the temple, by the hands of the Romans, but by the time Revelation is written, the Roman empire is Babylon.

This however, is also a theme in a number of prophets like Joel a future day of the Lord when Jerusalem is destroyed, and Ezekiel over a judgment/destruction of Egypt and the Pharoah. This is common language to the judgment of a nation - it refers also to the spiritual battle behind the eartly judgment.

vs. 30 the sign of the Son of Man appears, and he “Comes” or goes? What is this referring to?

The Lexham English Bible (Chapter 7)

12 And as for the remainder of the beasts, ⌊their dominion was taken away⌋, but a prolongation ⌊of their life⌋ was given to them for a season and a time.

13 “⌊I continued watching⌋ in the visions of the night, and look, with the clouds of heaven one like a son of man was coming, and he came to the Ancient of Days, and ⌊was presented⌋ before him. 14 And to him was given dominion and glory and kingship that all the peoples, the nations, and languages would serve him; his dominion is a dominion ⌊without end⌋ that will not cease, and his kingdom is one that will not be destroyed.

Only God is said to Come on, in, with Clouds - It is a picture of God’s presence.

But here it is a Son of Man who then is also divine who is presented before the Ancient of Days the Father.

The image of the nations mourning and the Son of Man arriving on the clouds of heaven depicts him being given all dominion. - So the sign is being recognized by the Nations and it is His ascension.

- Then we have Angels gathering the elect

The Trumpet throughout the prophets is about God gathering his people from out of the diaspora. Paul in Thessalonians and Corinthians associates the Trumpet and angel gathering to Christ's second coming and the resurrection of those who died in Christ.

1. Weber says, “The trumpet is an Old Testament image. It was used sometimes in connection with the Lord ‘gathering together’ his faithful, as in Yahweh’s fearful appearance on Mount Sinai while Israel cowered at the foot of the mountain (Exod. 19:16); the gathering of worshipers to the holy mountain in Jerusalem (Isa. 27:13); and the march of Yahweh’s army (Zech. 9:14; see also Deut. 30:4; 1 Cor. 15:52; 1 Thess. 4:16; Heb. 12:19; Rev. 8:2; 11:15)” (Weber, Matthew, 404).

So what can we conclude in all of this.

Jesus is predicting the temple’s destruction in 70 AD.

The Power Structures will change as a result with Jesus having all authority in Heaven and Earth.

And from the Temples destruction till Jesus comes again people from the ends of the earth will be gathered into the church.

So what are the implications for us since we live almost 2,000 years after the destruction of the temple?

Let’s Point People to Jesus, Not Another Temple.

Story of Pastor Friend who posted an article about the plans to build the third temple.

From: https://templeinstitute.org/statement-of-principles-2/

The Temple Institute is dedicated to all aspects of the Divine commandment for Israel to build a house for G-d's presence, the Holy Temple, on Mount Moriah in Jerusalem. The range of the Institute's involvement with this concept includes education, research, activism, and actual preparation. Our goal is firstly, to restore Temple consciousness and reactivate these "forgotten" commandments. We hope that by doing our part, we can participate in the process that will lead to the Holy Temple becoming a reality once more.

At this one place on earth, unlike any other, the one place that the Creator Himself chose to rest His presence, the rectification of man's connection with G-d takes place. All people were able to come to the Temple to partake in this direct and fulfilling bond; to recharge their spiritual batteries and come away with a renewed sense of purpose and being.

But I see a problem with this. Jesus is the New Temple they seek:

John 2:19-21

Jesus answered and said to them, "Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up." Then the Jews said, “It has taken forty-six years to build this temple, and will You raise it up in three days?” But He was speaking of the temple of His body.

Corinthians 3:16-17

Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? If anyone defiles the temple of God, God will destroy him. For the temple of God is holy, which temple you are.

John 4:21

21 “Woman,” Jesus replied, “believe me, a time is coming when you will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem. 22 You Samaritans worship what you do not know; we worship what we do know, for salvation is from the Jews. 23 Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in the Spirit and in truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. 24 God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in the Spirit and in truth.”

Lets take a journey through Hebrews 8-10

Hebrews 8 - The Tabernacle/Temple is copy and shadow of what is in heaven vs. 5, and verse 13 he has made the first covenant obsolete and it will disappear.

8 The Holy Spirit was showing by this that the way into the Most Holy Place had not yet been disclosed as long as the first tabernacle was still functioning. 9 This is an illustration for the present time, indicating that the gifts and sacrifices being offered were not able to clear the conscience of the worshiper. 10 They are only a matter of food and drink and various ceremonial washings—external regulations applying until the time of the new order.

The New International Version (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2011), Heb 9:8–10.

11 But when Christ came as high priest of the good things that are now already here, v he went through the greater and more perfect tabernacle that is not made with human hands, that is to say, is not a part of this creation. 12 He did not enter by means of the blood of goats and calves; but he entered the Most Holy Place once for all by his own blood, thus obtaining eternal redemption. 13 The blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a heifer sprinkled on those who are ceremonially unclean sanctify them so that they are outwardly clean. 14 How much more, then, will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself unblemished to God, cleanse our consciences from acts that lead to death, h so that we may serve the living God!

15 For this reason Christ is the mediator of a new covenant, that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance—now that he has died as a ransom to set them free from the sins committed under the first covenant.

The New International Version (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2011), Heb 9:11–15.

24 For Christ did not enter a sanctuary made with human hands that was only a copy of the true one; he entered heaven itself, now to appear for us in God’s presence. 25 Nor did he enter heaven to offer himself again and again, the way the high priest enters the Most Holy Place every year with blood that is not his own. 26 Otherwise Christ would have had to suffer many times since the creation of the world. But he has appeared once for all at the culmination of the ages to do away with sin by the sacrifice of himself. 27 Just as people are destined to die once, and after that to face judgment, 28 so Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many; and he will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him.

The New International Version (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2011), Heb 9:24–28.

10 The law is only a shadow of the good things that are coming—not the realities themselves. For this reason it can never, by the same sacrifices repeated endlessly year after year, make perfect those who draw near to worship. 2 Otherwise, would they not have stopped being offered? For the worshipers would have been cleansed once for all, and would no longer have felt guilty for their sins. 3 But those sacrifices are an annual reminder of sins. 4 It is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins.

The New International Version (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2011), Heb 10:1–4.

9 Then he said, “Here I am, I have come to do your will.” He sets aside the first to establish the second. 10 And by that will, we have been made holy through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.

The New International Version (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2011), Heb 10:9–10.

12 But when this priest had offered for all time one sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God, 13 and since that time he waits for his enemies to be made his footstool. 14 For by one sacrifice he has made perfect forever those who are being made holy.

The New International Version (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2011), Heb 10:12–18.

Continuation Chart:

Conclusion:

We should not be rooting for a new temple to be built.

We should be praying and sharing the Gospel to Jews and Gentiles alike. To the Jewish Nation and the Palestinians, that they may receive Jesus’ salvation and Lordship.