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November 7th

The bible reading today is in Matthew chapter 24.

“As Jesus sat on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately, saying, “Tell us, when will these things be, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?” And Jesus told them, “you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not alarmed, for this must take place, but the end is not yet. All these are but the beginning of the birth pains. Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and put you to death, and you will be hated by all nations for my name’s sake."

And because lawlessness will be increased, the love of many will grow cold. And this gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come. So when you see the abomination of desolation spoken of by the prophet Daniel, standing in the holy place ( let the reader understand), then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains.”

‭‭Matthew‬ ‭24:3, 6, 8-9, 12, 14-16‬ ‭

The disciples of Christ, in the days following the birth of the church at Pentecost, heard the rumors of war with Rome. Rome’s armies would come over the next 40 years putting down small and medium-sized revolts by Judeans and Galileans.

Then Rome would send a major force to quell the Jewish rebels for good. Over a million people would die savagely in Jerusalem during that siege. The city was doomed per Christ’s prophesy. And the city died in just a few months.

The Savior gave the city clear and sufficient warning. But the warning went unheeded by the Jews. Only the followers of Jesus acted on Christ’s instructions and were delivered. As soon as Christ’s disciples saw the “abomination of desolation”, spoken of by Daniel, standing in the holy place in the Temple, they fled to the mountains of Pella in the region of Perea.

Now, the Romans were often lenient and somewhat respectful of Jewish laws and customs. Even during the time of Christ, with Roman occupation of Judea. One would not see the Eagle and other Roman idolatrous symbols anywhere near the Temple in respect of Israel’s God.

But Jesus said that one day Jerusalem would be destroyed and all within the city would die. And you and I would simply believe God’s word on the matter, even without outside confirmation. But God put it in the mind of the famous historian Josephus to write down what happened in and to Jerusalem during that Roman siege of the city of David.

CH Spurgeon said, “Josephus’ record curdles the blood of everyone who reads it. It exactly bears out the statement of the Master that there was to be great tribulation, such as was not seen since the beginning of the world...nor ever shall be.

Spurgeon considered Josephus’ historical account of the AD 70 destruction of Jerusalem and all within it horrifying, brutal, and especially cruel.

It’s not hard for me to think that the first disciples listening to Christ’s Olivet Discourse in our reading today probably connected the destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple with the Coming Again of Jesus.

They asked the Lord Jesus what would be the signs of his coming again. And he answered...“For as the lightning comes from the east and shines as far as the west, so will be the coming of the Son of Man.”

‭‭Matthew‬ ‭24:27‬ ‭

In whatever way he came, whether in the final destruction of the Temple whenever that would be, or at the end of the world’s final drama (the judgment of God upon the nations)...those first disciples would get Jesus’ use of lightning flashing. His coming would be sudden and it would be un-looked-for by the masses.

Whatever...Come, Lord Jesus!

Have a great day.