Harmony of the Olivet Discourse Part 4

Olivet Discourse (Matt. 24-25; Mark 13; Luke 21:5-36; 17:22-37)   The last half of the Tribulation is the most horrible for Israel. The nation will see pressure from all sides, the whole world will come against her. The absence of the word of God will result in man turning into a dominating tyrant; trade, national sovereignty, and an earth full of catastrophic natural disasters bring in a global leader with its confederacy holding a heavy hand on society. The last half of the Tribulation will see the final hours of the earth in labor pains – can you imagine? Woe for the day.    The Last Half of the Tribulation (24:15-22) 15 Whenever, therefore that you might see the abomination of desolation, the one being poured forth through the prophet Daniel, having stood in [the] holy place. The one reading, understand! 16 At that time those in Judea flee over the mountain. 17 The one on the rooftop do not come down to take away anything out from his house, 18 and the one in the field do not return afterwards to carry away his clothes. 19 But woe to those holding in her womb, and to women who are breast feeding in the day. 20 But yourselves pray in order that your flight might not be of winter and not on the Sabbath day. 21 For at that time it will be great tribulation such as has not been from [the] beginning of [the] world until this time and never be 22 and if those days had not been shortened no flesh would be saved, but for the chosen ones, these days will be shortened.                                                      In verses fifteen through twenty-two, the Lord provides a warning and a great woe! The warning starts with a transitional conjunction "therefore" and is given with a sign, whenever, therefore that you might see the abomination of desolation.  The use of the aorist subjunctive "you might see" is significant here. The idea is, "there is a constant possibility, so always be watchful." Never let your guard down, because the abomination of desolation is a possibility that can occur at anytime. The word for "see" is to "see with the eyes." What must be known are the details of what the prophet Daniel describes. What is declared an abomination to the Lord is extensive, but here Daniel details a particular abomination or "detestable thing." The Lord is speaking of what was spoken through the prophet Daniel (Dan. 12:11).  Daniel says the signs will be, (1) the daily sacrifice will be taken away, then (2) the abomination that makes desolate will be set up. The Hebrew that Daniel uses is "a detestable thing, an idol." Daniel could be translated "the idol, the one that makes desolate, [is] put up"  (cf. Dan. 9:24-27). Both Mark (13:14) and Luke (21:20) leave out Daniel as the source of the prophecy (by the NA27 text and Vulgate, but the Textus Receptus identifies Daniel in Mark), and Luke omits the description of the Temple's abomination, speaking only "when the armies surround Jerusalem," then the desolation is near. But it seems that both Matthew and Mark point the reader to a clearer understanding by adding "let the reader understand." The Lord points them to the writings of Daniel. He says, in essence, "go, read Daniel again, so that you will know and recognize the sign!"  But a second interpretation is that Jesus is anticipating the written recording of His words, and the reader should always keep these words that He speaks in mind, they are after all rooted in Daniel's prophecy.    Dr. Toussaint comments: Since the Lord's statement concerning the abomination of desolation is based on Daniel's prophecy of the seventy weeks, it is well to note the chronology of Daniel 9:24-27. Daniel prophesies that from the decree of Artaxeres – given to Nehemiah to restore and rebuild Jerusalem – until the coming of Israel's King is the period of sixty-nine weeks of years. This period of time was culminated when Christ made His triumphal entry into Jerusalem. But because Israel rejected its King, the calendar of events of the seventieth week had to be postponed. Consequently, the great time of tribulation spoken of in connection with that period of time (Daniel 12:1) has been put off into the future. This future period of time will be inaugurated with the signing of the covenant by the nation Israel with the wicked prince that shall come. In the middle of the week, or after three and a half years, that wicked prince will cause the temple worship at Jerusalem to cease. At that time, the abomination of desolation will be introduced in the temple. (Stanley Toussaint, Behold the King: A study of Matthew, p. 274) Notice that for the sacrifices to be stopped, sacrifices must be present in that day. This brings great problems to those who believe in a future fulfillment. There is no temple in Israel today and, in fact, there seems no chance one will or can be built. Although for those believing this is a past event have bigger problems since there are large holes where things that clearly have not come to pass have to already have taken place – and they have not! It is far more reasonable to believe that Israel will build a temple and institute sacrifices than to believe in an allegorical fulfillment of the events. After all, is God not big enough to get the Temple built?        One final note concerning the abomination, it seems that the abomination spoken of refers to a person who sets himself up as God in the Temple (cf., 2 Thes. 2:3-9; Mark 13:14; Rev. 13:11-18). This event is claimed to have taken place by Josephus, but it should be noted that Josephus was not an unbiased historical writer. Dr. Price notes his political motivation: The writings of Josephus, while generally considered accurate in most details, such as architectural and cultural descriptions, are famous for their Roman political bias and openly antagonistic attitude to the aspirations of Jewish nationalism. Josephus's involvement in the Great War was primarily on the side of the Romans, a fact that caused him to be regarded as a traitor by his own Jewish nation… In keeping with his rejection of Jewish nationalism, Josephus scorned popular movements, especially messianic movements whose hopes included an earthly kingdom for Israel…This lack of eschatological hope evidently influenced Josephus to make unwarranted historical compromises and concessions. For example, despite the fact Joesephus accepted the Maccabean interpretation that Antiochus IV Epiphanes fulfilled a prophecy of Daniel concerning the "abomination of desolation" in the Temple, when he wrote his history of the Roman conquest of Jerusalem, he abridged this view to "make room" to incorporate Titus and the Romans as "also" fulfilling Daniel's prophecy… (Randall Price, in Tim Lahaye & Thomas Ice gen. ed., The End Times Controversy, pp. 357-358)  This is not the first time the Jews were not able to bring sacrifices during Israel's history. It should be noted that the Temple was desecrated many times in history: In 720 BC, Ahaz closed the temple, used its furnishings to pay Assyria tribute and defiled it with a Syrian alter (2 Kings 16:8-18). Idols were placed in the Holy of Holies by King Manasseh around 695-642 B.C. (2 Kings 21:1-11). Antiochus IV (Epiphanes) pillaged the Temple, defiled it, and stopped sacrifices (175-165 BC). Then again Aristobulus in 67 BC substituted a pig for a sheep and stopped sacrifices (67 BC). Emperor Pompey conquered Jerusalem and entered the Holy of Holies (63 BC).  Roman emperor Caligula fails in his attempt to defile the Temple by erecting a statue of himself (40 AD). Roman general Titus destroys Temple and carries off treasures (70 AD). Hadrian retakes Jerusalem, destroys Bar Kokhba Temple, and desecrates Temple mount by erecting statue of himself at the site of the Holies of Holies (135 AD).   Though Daniel does prophesy concerning Antiochus IV (Epiphanes) in chapter 11, he goes beyond him to a "type" of him that is even more evil, whose self-worship holds no room for the worship of Greek gods (as Antiochus did), nor will this one show any regard or desire for women. This Antiochus type will be the evilest of the evil.   At that time those in Judea flee over the mountain. The language is strong as the Lord uses the imperative – "Flee!" or "seek safety by flight!" It has a future sense but made stronger by use of the imperative. The starting location is identified as Judea.  The term Judea represents the Hellenizing of Judah which took place following the conquests of Alexander the Great. Judea is the Greek word for the Hebrew Judah. A network of Hellenistic cities surrounded the province of Judea so one by one the cities took Greek names. Geographically, the term can mean two things, (1) the political region ruled by the Romans, or (2) a general term representing the traditional land known as Judah. At its root is the term Jewish or that which belongs to the Jewish nation. Most translations treat the preposition epi as genitival meaning "on or upon" (contact or position is implied), while others translate as a locative meaning "in" (position is implied), but the usage is accusative meaning "over or across" (motion is implied). They are to flee over the mountain, beyond the Jordan valley.      The one on the rooftop, do not come down to take away anything out from his house. And the one in the field, do not return afterwards to carry away his clothes. The idea is to flee immediately! Stress is placed upon the person's normal daily life, either working on the rooftop or the field. "The roof, which was flat, was used for prayer, drying vegetables and other functions. The staircase from the roof was on the outside of the house; one could descend without entering the house." (Craig Keener, The IVP Bible Backgrounds Commentary NT, p. 112)  The command is to leave now and don't look back! The image is that of the story of Lot and his wife who are also told to escape for your life! Do not look behind you nor stay anywhere in the plain. Escape to the mountains lest you be destroyed" (Gen. 19:17).  The imperative mood with the third person usually is translated using the word "let" so the common translation "let him who is on the rooftop not go down to take anything out of the house."           But woe to those holding in her womb, and to women who are breast feeding in the day.  But yourselves pray in order that your flight might not be of winter and not on the Sabbath day. This interjection "woe" is a primary exclamation of grief and as Dr. Glasscock notes, "instead of reflecting pain resulting from impending judgment (as in 23:13-29), this 'woe' more than likely attests to pity on the part of the Lord." (Glasscock, p. 470)  There is a poetic rhythm to these two verses. The "woe" of verse nineteen contrasts with the "pray" of verse twenty. The woe of the one who starts out with a heavy burden contrasts with,  pray unto God that the day does not occur on an unfortunate travel day where bad weather hampers, or supplies are not found, for there may not be a way to cross the mountains and escape alive. The Jews in the area of Judea will be allowed to worship for a time in the Temple, so their adhering to the Law and practice thereof will again be administered by the priest. A revival of the Jewish religious establishment will flourish, so when the ruler puts a stop to Jewish worship, putting himself in the Temple, Judea will experience a sudden shock. Jews will be persecuted again with a fury as in the days of the first and second destructions of the Temple. God in His infinite sovereignty has made a day – the 9th of Av, a day of sober remembrance for the loss of both the First and Second Temples. Both the Solomonic (586 BC) and the Herodian (AD 70) Temples were destroyed some 656 years apart and on the same day! Is this by chance or design? Will the people find themselves fleeing around the 9th of Av in some kind of prophetic destructive type? Will the people find the Lord return to the Millennial Temple on the 9th of Av as some kind of prophetic reconstructive type?       Dr. Gill notes: When days are short, and unfit for long journeys, and roads are bad, and sometimes not passable, through large snows, or floods of water; and when to dwell in desert places, and lodge in mountains, must be very  uncomfortable….the word "day" is not in the Greek text; and some have been of opinion, that the "sabbatical year", or the seventh year, is meant, when no fruits would be found in the fields, and a great scarcity of provisions among people; who would not have a sufficiency, and much less any to spare to strangers fleeing from their native places; but rather the Sabbath day, or "day of the Sabbath", as the Persic version reads it, is designed; and Beza says, four of his copies read it in the genitive case: and so four of Stephens'. And the reason why our Lord put them on praying, that their flight might not be on the Sabbath day, was, because he knew not only that the Jews, who believed not in him, would not suffer them to travel on a Sabbath day more than two thousand cubits; which, according to their traditions, was a Sabbath day's journey; and which would not be sufficient for their flight to put them out of danger. (John Gill, Gill's Commentary on the Whole Bible).   For at that time it will be great tribulation such as has not been from [the] beginning of [the] world until this time and never be. This period is characterized as "great" in the sense of intensity and degree. The timing is given as "at that time" referring back to the sign and, hence, the three and a half years, or the last half of the tribulation - the Great Tribulation. Some have used this to say the Great Tribulation only involves this last half of the seven years, and the first part can only be called the Tribulation. But recognize that the whole seven years is referred to the tribulation. (cf. Daniel's 70th week; Dan. 9:24-27)!  The word thlipsis means literally "a pressing," but metaphorically, "oppression, affliction, tribulation." The root word means, "to press (as grapes), press hard, rub"  (cf. Isa. 22:5). So great is this troubled day that nothing like it has ever been seen, nor will it ever be! The aorist subjunctive "to become, come into existence" used with the double negative expresses "emphatic negation" and may be translated "by no means" or "never."    And if those days had not been shortened no flesh would be saved. The final three and a half years will see a great deal of death. So severe will be the period that no flesh would have survived. The final battle will involve great armies and be composed of an international array. So the word "flesh" is used, not only in a general ethnic sense, but provides the picture of dead bodies. This is not some sort of spiritual battle that is fought in everyone's lives, but a real physical battle that results in the death of the flesh – physical death. The local battle moves to a global battle that involves the whole world, the destructive force so strong that the world would be destroyed, every man, woman and child. Will mankind come up with some new weapon that he does not understand its destructive nature? Will mankind become so furious in his desire to kill every Jew that he will use such weapons in quantities that, if used, would destroy everything, even the Satanically controlled ruler?    But the Lord has a remnant that He loves and calls, for the chosen ones, these days will be shortened. This is a purpose clause, as the preposition dia is used with the accusative meaning "because of" the chosen ones, the elect ones, the "plucked out" or "called out" ones. These "chosen ones" are not the Church, but the original chosen ones – the sons of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob – Israel. These days will be kept short. Three and a half years is a long time when you are the one hiding out in the mountains. The whole world will be looking for Jews in a great genocide – the greatest genocide ever, like has never been seen before. Truly, a time of Great Tribulation! A time of hatred and any remnant of God's word will be removed. Can you imagine a world without the word of God to hold down sin? False Christs and Prophets (24:23-26) 23 Then if any one might say to you, see, here is the Christ or here there, do not believe. 24 For false Christs and false prophets will be aroused and they will give great signs and miracles insomuch that, to lead astray, if  able, even the elect. 25 Behold, I have told to you before. 26 Therefore if they say to you behold, he is in the wilderness. Do not go, behold, in the storerooms, do not believe.                The Lord returns to the topic of false christs and prophets. In His previous discussion (vv. 4-5), the false christs had proud, boastful language, but now these false christs and prophets will perform what appear to be miracles – counterfeit miracles. For false Christs and false prophets will be aroused. As before, these christs are pseudo-christs and the prophets are not real but are pseudo-prophets. The Greek puts the stress upon the arousal for it is placed at the head of the sentence! The future passive verb indicates that they are not arisen yet, but moreover, that they are aroused in the sense of (1) to be stirred up (emotionally), (2) to bring before the public, or simply (3) to erect. Either way one takes this, they are passive participants and are "being" aroused with the result of visually appearing on the scene. They will give great signs and miracles. Literally, "and they [the false christs and prophets] will give signs, great ones." A sign is a "mark" it says something about its originator. In antiquity, the common sign, if one can call this common, was the signet ring which was used to make an identifying mark on a wax seal of a document. The idea is, there is a message and it is authenticated by the originator's mark. Our modern freeway signs are exactly that, they give a message and the advertiser's name is given. A miracle is a wonder. It is something that makes the observer wonder how it is possible. The Greek word for miracle is of unknown origin and is used here as Dr. Gill notes,  …make an appearance of doing them, though they really did them not: so that Jonathan, before mentioned, pretended to show signs and sights; and Barcochab made as if flame came out of his mouth; and many of the Jewish doctors in these times, and following, gave themselves up to sorcery, and the magic art; and are, many of them, often said to be, "expert in wonders", or miracles. (John Gill., op. cit.)           Though these signs and wonders are given by pseudo-christs and pseudo-prophets, they are so impressive in their genuineness as to lead astray, if able, even the elect. Of course this is not possible, but as the great grammarian Dr. Robertson notes, "These charlatans will be so skilful that they will, if possible (ei dunaton), lead astray the very elect. The implication is that it is not possible. People become excited and are misled and are unable to judge the results. Often it is post hoc, sed non propter hoc." (A.T. Robertson, Robertson's Word Pictures)   The Lord tells them in essence, "they have been warned! Take note, and do not listen to them."  The elect refers to the nation Israel. But one may argue, what is Jesus doing warning the nation Israel, have they not rejected Him? The elect of this day will hear the voice of the Lord. The elect of this day is the remnant, a special people elect unto God and will be saved on the last day, and this group will be Jewish. It is the great promise of the Old Testament that a remnant will be saved out of the house of Judah (cf., Isa. 10:20-11:16; Micah 2:12-13). This doctrine of the "elect" being out of Israel is not without controversy. Replacement theology has thrown Israel out of the picture altogether. Notice what Dr. Pentecost says, Until the present eschatological controversy, prophetic writers were in general agreement on the existence, the nature, the mission and the preservation of a remnant of Israel during the tribulation period. At the present time the doctrine of the remnant is being attacked by the amillennialist, who can not admit the existence of the remnant, since he affirms the church is fulfilling the covenants and no further fulfillment is possible. It is also being attacked by the posttribulation rapturist, who can not admit the existence of the remnant, for he affirms that the church is going through the tribulation so it will be the witnessing remnant. Although for different reasons, the amillennialist and the posttribulation rapturist join hands in attacking this doctrine.     The remnant of Israel is tied to the covenant made with Abraham which is an everlasting (eternal) and unconditional (only God passed through the cut animal, cf. Gen 15:4-21) covenant. The covenant contains a land (national Israel), seed (Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, i.e., ethnic seed), and blessing (that God would be their God and they would be His people). The outworking of the Abrahamic covenant (Gen. 12:1-3; 13:14-17; 15:4-21; 17:1-8; 22:17-18) is the Land covenant promising Israel a land (Deut. 30:1-9; Jer. 32:36-44; Ezek. 11:16-21; 36:21-38), the Davidic covenant promising Israel a King to rule in the land (2 Sam. 7:10-16; Jer. 33:20-21; Ps. 89), and the New covenant promising Israel restoration as a nation, forgiveness of sins and a new heart (Jer. 31:31-34; Ezek. 16:60; Isa. 59:20-21; Hos. 2:14-23). It should be noted that there has always been a believing remnant of Israel as far back as the nation was called out and established by God (cf. Isa. 41:8-10). Some would say that God rejected Israel when they rejected Him, but the New Testament makes it clear that God has not cast out the nation. God has created a new thing, the Church made up of both Jew and Gentile and called it a mystery (something not revealed in the OT, but now revealed, cf. Rom. 11:25; Eph. 1:9; 3:1-21). This is the blessing part of the covenant that the Gentile partakes in, a spiritual blessing which brings new life to the one who believes the gospel of Christ (1 Cor. 15:1-5). Today Israel is predominately secular. This seems to continue as she will enter the Tribulation as an unbelieving nation. She will be brought back to the land and God will deal with the nation to bring her to repentance. Today, the whole seventieth week of Daniel is a period of preparation for the coming of the her King. The nation will receive a multitude of witness of various kinds so that individuals will experience salvation (Rom. 11:26-27). Brethren will overcome by the blood of the Lamb and the word of their testimony (Rev. 12:10-11). The remnant of the Tribulation will be the witnessing body during the Tribulation testifying of Jesus Christ (Rev. 12:11,17). This will satisfy the original purpose of Israel in the Old Testament to be God's witness to the nations on earth which they failed to do, but now will perform in boldness as the world comes against them.    The next article will bring the coming of the Son of Man on the scene and the wonderful parables for us to live by today.