When Love Loses It's Pulse

Matthew 24:8–12 “All these events are the beginning of labor pains. “Then they will hand you over to be persecuted, and they will kill you. You will be hated by all nations because of my name. Then many will fall away, betray one another, and hate one another. Many false prophets will rise up and deceive many. Because lawlessness will multiply, the love of many will grow cold.”

Talk about beginning of birth pains briefly

The previous are the precursors to the sign

Signs before AD 70

Matthew 24 has double application. It applied to the destruction of Jerusalem and the final destruction of the world. How were the signs of Jesus's coming fulfilled before the destruction of Jerusalem in A.D. 70?

Jesus drew a careful distinction between the destruction of Jerusalem and His second coming, using specific terminology throughout Matthew 24: “these things” (tauta) consistently refers to events connected with Jerusalem’s destruction, while “coming” (parousia) and “end” (synteleia) refer to Christ’s second advent.[1]

Before the abomination appeared in Jerusalem, Palestinian Christians experienced trials including false messiahs, wars and rumors of wars, famines, and earthquakes—predictions that became historical reality between A.D. 35 and A.D. 55.[2] False Messiahs such as Menahem and Theudas convinced thousands of followers of their messianic claims.[1] Israel was filled with wars and rumors of wars during this period, partly due to the fanatic actions of the Zealots.[1] Natural catastrophes included a famine under Claudius (A.D. 49), a pestilence in Rome in A.D. 65, and earthquakes.[1]

A second category of trials involved persecution by both Jews and Gentiles, betrayal by relatives, and hatred for Christ’s name—upheavals that occurred before A.D. 70, with the gospel proclaimed to every creature under heaven during this period.[2] The phrase “to all the world” referred to the Roman empire of the first Christian century, which was the disciples’ understanding of “the world.”[3]

The specific sign Jesus provided—the abomination of desolation—occurred when Roman governor Cestius arrived with legions in October A.D. 66. His mysterious withdrawal gave Christians the opportunity to escape, and the Christian community fled to Pella in Transjordania.[4] When General Titus resumed the siege in A.D. 70, he encircled the city, and after five months of famine and strife, thousands perished.[4]

[1] Richard M. Davidson, “What Did Jesus Mean by ‘This Generation’?,” in Interpreting Scripture: Bible Questions and Answers, ed. Gerhard Pfandl, Biblical Research Institute Studies (Silver Spring, MD: Biblical Research Institute, 2010), 2:290–291. [2] Hans K. LaRondelle, The Israel of God in Prophecy: Principles of Prophetic Interpretation (Berrien Springs, MI: Andrews University Press, 1983), 197. [3] Everett I. Carver, When Jesus Comes Again (The Presbyterian and Reformed Publishing Co.; Phillipsburg, NJ 08865, 1979), 166. [4] Hans K. LaRondelle, LaRondelle Articles and Lectures (Bradentown, FL: Barbara LaRondelle, 2015), 6–7.

The sign is persecution in the church, by the church on a global scale

Rev 13 speaks about global pressure that will lead to a death decree

The persecution is a result of external pressure, pressure from the world

The persecution will take place because there are many in the church who will fall away from the name of Jesus

The falling away will lead to betrayal

False prophecy and prophets will contribute to the persecution in the church and apostasy. This is a grim picture of how things will be.

All of this (persecution, betrayals) will take place because the love of Jesus will have waxed cold in the hearts of many of God’s professed people.

But there is good news, he who endures… will be saved and… will address this all important topic next Sabbath (Taiwo).

Love Personified was Speaking then, and Love Personified is Speaking NOW!