Focus is on Jesus’s prophecies from Matthew 24, Mark 13, Luke 21
Prophecies of Jesus are understood two ways depending on the gospel you refer to. For example: Mark’s gospel in chapter 13 is specific to the generation of his time with a focus on the Jewish nation and the Roman empire, and nothing in the distant futures while Matthew and Luke both focus on the time they lived, on a time soon to come, and finally on a time for future generations. Based on Josephus most of what Jesus prophesied came about ending in seventy A.D. with the temple’s destruction and the dispersion of the Jewish nation throughout the Roman Empire. Furthermore, the reference to the gospel being preached throughout the world had to do with the known world of the Roman Empire and not the entire planet– as the thinking goes.
Opening commentary from Adam Clark
Matthew 24– “This chapter contains a prediction of the utter destruction of the city and temple of Jerusalem, and the subversion of the whole political constitution of the Jews; and is one of the most valuable portions of the new covenant Scriptures, with respect to the evidence which it furnishes of the truth of Christianity. Everything which our Lord foretold should come on the temple, city, and people of the Jews, has been fulfilled in the most correct and astonishing manner; and witnessed by a writer who was present during the whole, who was himself a Jew, and is acknowledged to be an historian of indisputable veracity in all those transactions which concern the destruction of Jerusalem. Without having designed it, he has written a commentary on our Lord’s words, and shown how every tittle was punctually fulfilled, though he knew nothing of the Scripture which contained this remarkable prophecy.”
Clarke, A. (2014). The Holy Bible with a Commentary and Critical Notes (New Edition, Vol. 5, p. 225). Faithlife Corporation.
Historian Josephus and the destruction of the temple and the city of Jerusalem:
1. (1) Now, as soon as the army had no more people to slay or to plunder, because there remained none to be objects of their fury (for they would not have spared any, had there remained any other such work to be done) Caesar gave orders that they should now demolish the entire city and temple, but should leave as many of the towers standing as were of the greatest eminency; that is, Phasaelus, and Hippicus, and Mariamne, and so much of the wall as enclosed the city on the west side. (2) This wall was spared, in order to afford a camp for such as were to lie in garrison; as were the towers also spared, in order to demonstrate to posterity what kind of city it was, and how well fortified, which the Roman valor had subdued; (3) but for all the rest of the wall, it was so thoroughly laid even with the ground by those that dug it up to the foundation, that there was left nothing to make those that came thither believe it had ever been inhabited. (4) This was the end which Jerusalem came to by the madness of those that were for innovations, a city otherwise of great magnificence, and of mighty fame among all mankind.
Josephus, F., & Whiston, W. (1987). The works of Josephus: complete and unabridged (pp. 750–751). Hendrickson.
Including the entire commentary of Matthew 24, Luke 21 and Mark 13 would be too long of a post, and then, to add the historical writing of Josephus and others would add to the burden of the reader in absorbing all the information and making sense of it. I wanted to point out things that are considered fulfilled and those things which are yet to occur. There was things Jesus spoke about that took place during the life of the Apostles and then there are those areas that are yet to be fulfilled. One such prophecy Jesus gave was that this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the entire world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come, Matthew 24:14 (NIV). Some scholars believe this prophecy only concerns the then Roman Empire and in Matthews case that may be true; however, if this were the case, the end would have come during the times of the Apostles. So, this is yet to be completed, and could be completed during the current generation.
If interested, here is a link to a table showing the difference in Jesus’ prophecy between the Synoptic Gospels: Click here.
What should be of importance is to recognize the signs of Jesus’s return. We should be ready, and each church should be reminding their members of this. Furthermore, teachers should teach or lecture on what Jesus prophesied, and that continuous prayer is needed in preparation for His appearing. I understand that most teachers are reluctant to teach eschatology since some delusional types have come forward and made proclamations that Jesus would return on a specific date and time. All that nonsense should not deter teachers from discussing the signs Jesus gave us. We will not know the hour of His return, but Jesus told us what to watch for. When Jesus came the first time the world failed to recognize Him, and I’m concerned that pastors and teachers who refuse to discuss these signs Jesus left for us will cause believers to not recognize Jesus’s return and knowing the signs Jesus gave us will also alert us to the phony prophets and fake messiahs, because the devil will have his own signs and wonders; he cannot replicate the timing of the signs Jesus left for us to discern. Don’t get me wrong here, we are not to focus on these signs, we are to be made aware of them and recognize them, not be alarmed by them, or make wild speculations about the return of Jesus. There will be many events through life that may appear to be one of the signs Jesus spoke about, and it is important to realize that they do not happen one at a time.
Be prepared do not despair Jesus will always let us know when He will come for us.
Go to work and get stressed; read the news and get depressed; read the Bible and get blessed.
Have a great life with the very present help of Yeshua at your side.
Mike
22 April 2022
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