When God's (YHWH's) Kingdom Starts Ruling:
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Transcript of When God's (YHWH's) Kingdom Starts Ruling:
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When God's (YHWH's) Kingdom Starts Ruling:
[gracious thanks to Bible Scholar Nat for sending me much of the data
for this article]
INTRODUCTION:
This is a matter over which many have different opinions, so let's let
the Bible, the Word of God (YHWH) clear up the matter for all.
First, there are two distinct phases to when God's (YHWH's) Kingdom
starts to rule. The first phase is when it starts ruling in heaven
and the second phase is when it starts ruling over the earth.
Second, the first phase has already occurred, and this is spoken of in
Revelation 12:1-11, " And there was war in heaven: Michael and his
angels [going forth] to war with the dragon; and the dragon warred and
his angels; 8 And they prevailed not, neither was their place found any
more in heaven. 9 And the great dragon was cast down, the old serpent,
he that is called the Devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world;he was cast down to the earth, and his angels were cast down with him.
10 And I heard a great voice in heaven, saying, Now is come the
salvation, and the power, and the kingdom of our God, and the authority
of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, who
accuseth them before our God day and night. 11 And they overcame him
because of the blood of the Lamb, and because of the word of their
testimony; and they loved not their life even unto death." (American
Standard Version; ASV). This article shall show when this occurred.
Third, there is the second phase which is yet to occur that all pray
for in the Lord's Prayer as recorded at Matthew 6:9-15, "After this
manner therefore pray ye. Our Father who art in heaven, Hallowed be thy
name. 10 Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, as in heaven, so on earth.
11 Give us this day our daily bread. 12 And forgive us our debts, as we
also have forgiven our debtors. 13 And bring us not into temptation,
but deliver us from the evil [one.] 14 For if ye forgive men their
trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. 15 But if ye
forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your
trespasses." (ASV).
UNDERSTANDING MATTHEW 16:28:
Let's look at this scripture and its significance, Matthew 16:28,
"Verily I say unto you, there are some of them that stand here, who
shall in no wise taste of death, till they see the Son of man coming in
his kingdom." (ASV).
Now here is the understanding on this scripture:
"The Transfiguration Builds Faith
The transfiguration was a prophetic event. Said Jesus: "The Son of man
is destined to come in the glory of his Father with his angels . . .
Truly I say to you that there are some of those standing here that will
not taste death at all until first they see the Son of man coming in
his kingdom." (Matthew 16:27, 28) Did some of the apostles actually see
Jesus coming in his Kingdom? Matthew 17:1-7 states: "Six days later
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Jesus took Peter and James and John his brother along and brought them
up into a lofty mountain by themselves. And he was transfigured before
them." What a dramatic event! "His face shone as the sun, and his outer
garments became brilliant as the light. And, look! there appeared to
them Moses and Elijah, conversing with him." Also, "a bright cloud
overshadowed them," and they heard God's own voice saying: "'This is my
Son, the beloved, whom I have approved; listen to him.' At hearing this
the disciples fell upon their faces and became very much afraid. Then
Jesus came near and, touching them, said: 'Get up and have no fear.'"
This awesome event likely took place on one of the ridges of Mount
Hermon, where Jesus and the three apostles spent the night. The
transfiguration evidently occurred at night, making it especially
vivid. One reason Jesus called it a vision was that long-dead Moses and
Elijah were not literally present. Only Christ was actually there.
(Matthew 17:8, 9) Such a dazzling display."
This gave Peter, James, and John a spectacular foregleam of Jesus'
glorious presence in Kingdom power. Moses and Elijah find parallels in
Jesus' anointed joint heirs, and the vision powerfully reinforced histestimony about the Kingdom and his future kingship.
The transfiguration helped to strengthen the faith of the three
apostles who were to play a leading role in the Christian congregation.
Christ's shining face, his glistening garments, and God's own voice
declaring that Jesus was His beloved Son to whom they should listen-all
of this served its purpose most effectively. But the apostles were to
relate the vision to no one until Jesus was resurrected. Some 32 years
later, this vision was still vivid in Peter's mind. Pointing to it and
its significance, he wrote: "No, it was not by following artfully
contrived false stories that we acquainted you with the power and
presence of our Lord Jesus Christ, but it was by having become
eyewitnesses of his magnificence. For he received from God the Father
honor and glory, when words such as these were borne to him by the
magnificent glory: 'This is my son, my beloved, whom I myself have
approved.' Yes, these words we heard borne from heaven while we were
with him in the holy mountain."-2 Peter 1:16-18.
Of utmost importance was God's proclamation: "This is my Son, the
beloved, whom I have approved; listen to him." This statement focuses
attention on Jesus as God's enthroned King, to whom all creation must
render obedience. The overshadowing cloud indicated that the
fulfillment of this vision would be invisible. It would be discernibleonly with the eyes of understanding on the part of those who recognize
"the sign" of Jesus' invisible presence in Kingdom power. (Matthew
24:3) In fact, Jesus' instruction not to tell the vision to anyone
until he had risen from the dead shows that his exaltation and
glorification would come after his resurrection.
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After referring to the transfiguration, Peter stated: "Consequently we
have the prophetic word made more sure; and you are doing well in
paying attention to it as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until day
dawns and a daystar rises, in your hearts. For you know this first,
that no prophecy of Scripture springs from any private interpretation.
For prophecy was at no time brought by man's will, but men spoke from
God as they were borne along by holy spirit." (2 Peter 1:19-21) The
transfiguration underscores the reliability of God's prophetic word. We
must pay attention to that word and not to "artfully contrived false
stories" that do not have divine backing or approval. Our faith in the
prophetic word should be strengthened by the transfiguration because
that visionary foreview of Jesus' glory and Kingdom power has become a
reality. Yes, we have undeniable evidence that Christ is present today
as a powerful heavenly King.[source - WT of 4/1/2000, page 12-14.]
And another source said:
"When Jesus Comes in Kingdom Glory
"Some of those standing here . . . will not taste death at all untilfirst they see the Son of man coming in his kingdom."-MATTHEW 16:28.
SHORTLY after Pentecost 32 C.E., three of Jesus Christ's apostles saw a
memorable vision. According to the inspired record, "Jesus took Peter
and James and John his brother along and brought them up into a lofty
mountain by themselves. And he was transfigured before them."-Matthew
17:1, 2.
The transfiguration vision came at a critical time. Jesus had started
to tell his followers that he was going to suffer and die in Jerusalem,
but they found his words difficult to grasp. (Matthew 16:21-23) The
vision strengthened the faith of Jesus' three apostles in preparation
for his coming death and also for the years of hard work and testing
that would follow for the Christian congregation. Can we today learn
something from the vision? Yes, because what it foreshadowed actually
takes place in our time.
Six days before the transfiguration, Jesus told his followers: "The
Son of man is destined to come in the glory of his Father with his
angels, and then he will recompense each one according to his
behavior." These words would be fulfilled at "the conclusion of the
system of things." Jesus further stated: "Truly I say to you that there
are some of those standing here that will not taste death at all until
first they see the Son of man coming in his kingdom." (Matthew 16:27,28; 24:3; 25:31-34, 41; Daniel 12:4) The transfiguration took place in
fulfillment of these latter words.
Exactly what did the three apostles see? The following is Luke's
description of the event: "As [Jesus] was praying the appearance of his
face became different and his apparel became glitteringly white. Also,
look! two men were conversing with him, who were Moses and Elijah.
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These appeared with glory and began talking about his departure that he
was destined to fulfill at Jerusalem." Then, "a cloud formed and began
to overshadow [the apostles]. As they entered into the cloud, they
became fearful. And a voice came out of the cloud, saying: 'This is my
Son, the one that has been chosen. Listen to him.'"-Luke 9:29-31, 34,
35.
Faith Strengthened
The apostle Peter had already identified Jesus as "the Christ, the Son
of the living God." (Matthew 16:16) Jehovah's words from heaven
confirmed that identification, and the vision of Jesus transfigured was
a foretaste of Christ's coming in Kingdom power and glory, eventually
to judge mankind. More than 30 years after the transfiguration, Peter
wrote: "It was not by following artfully contrived false stories that
we acquainted you with the power and presence of our Lord Jesus Christ,
but it was by having become eyewitnesses of his magnificence. For he
received from God the Father honor and glory, when words such as these
were borne to him by the magnificent glory: 'This is my son, mybeloved, whom I myself have approved.' Yes, these words we heard borne
from heaven while we were with him in the holy mountain."-2 Peter 1:16-
18; 1 Peter 4:17.
Today, our faith too is strengthened by what the three apostles saw. Of
course, events have moved on since 32 C.E. The following year, Jesus
died and was resurrected, ascending to the right hand of his Father.
(Acts 2:29-36) At Pentecost of that year, the new "Israel of God" was
brought forth, and a preaching campaign began, starting in Jerusalem
and later spreading to the ends of the earth. (Galatians 6:16; Acts
1:8) Almost immediately the faith of Jesus' followers was tested. The
apostles were arrested and severely beaten because they refused to stop
preaching. Soon Stephen was murdered. Then James, an eyewitness of the
transfiguration, was killed. (Acts 5:17-40; 6:8-7:60; 12:1, 2) Peter
and John, however, survived to serve Jehovah faithfully for many more
years. In fact, toward the close of the first century C.E., John
recorded further visionary glimpses of Jesus in heavenly glory.-
Revelation 1:12-20; 14:14; 19:11-16.
Since the beginning of "the Lord's day" in 1914, many of the visions
seen by John have been fulfilled. (Revelation 1:10) What of Jesus'
'coming in the glory of his Father,' as foreshadowed by the
transfiguration? This vision began to be fulfilled at the birth ofGod's heavenly Kingdom in 1914. When Jesus, like a daystar, rose on the
universal scene as a newly enthroned King, that was, as it were, the
dawn of a new day. (2 Peter 1:19; Revelation 11:15; 22:16) Did Jesus at
that time recompense some according to their behavior? Yes. There is
strong evidence that shortly thereafter, the heavenly resurrection of
anointed Christians began.-2 Timothy 4:8; Revelation 14:13.
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Soon, though, Jesus will arrive "in his glory, and all the angels with
him" in order to judge mankind as a whole. (Matthew 25:31) At that
time, he will reveal himself in all his magnificent glory and give to
"each one" just recompense for his or her behavior. Sheeplike ones will
inherit everlasting life in the Kingdom prepared for them, and goatlike
ones will depart into "everlasting cutting-off." What a splendid
conclusion that will be to the fulfillment of the transfiguration
vision!-Matthew 25:34, 41, 46; Mark 8:38; 2 Thessalonians 1:6-10.
Jesus' Glorified Companions
Jesus was not alone in the transfiguration. Moses and Elijah were seen
with him. (Matthew 17:2, 3) Were they literally present? No, for both
men had long since died and were asleep in the dust awaiting a
resurrection. (Ecclesiastes 9:5, 10; Hebrews 11:35) Will they appear
with Jesus when he comes in heavenly glory? No, because Moses and
Elijah lived before the heavenly hope opened up to humans. They will be
part of the earthly "resurrection of . . . the righteous." (Acts 24:15)
So their appearance in the transfiguration vision is symbolic. Of what?
In other contexts, Moses and Elijah are prophetic figures. As mediator
of the Law covenant, Moses foreshadowed Jesus, the Mediator of the new
covenant. (Deuteronomy 18:18; Galatians 3:19; Hebrews 8:6) Elijah
foreshadowed John the Baptist, a forerunner of the Messiah. (Matthew
17:11-13) Further, in the context of Revelation chapter 11, Moses and
Elijah foreshadow the anointed remnant in the time of the end. How do
we know that?
Well, turn to Revelation 11:1-6. In verse 3 we read: "I will cause my
two witnesses to prophesy a thousand two hundred and sixty days dressed
in sackcloth." This prophecy was fulfilled upon the remnant of anointed
Christians during World War I. Why two witnesses? Because the anointed
remnant perform works that, in a spiritual way, are like those of Moses
and Elijah. Verses 5 and 6 go on to say: "If anyone wants to harm [the
two witnesses], fire issues forth from their mouths and devours their
enemies; and if anyone should want to harm them, in this manner he must
be killed. These have the authority to shut up heaven that no rain
should fall during the days of their prophesying, and they have
authority over the waters to turn them into blood and to strike the
earth with every sort of plague as often as they wish." Thus, we are
reminded of miracles performed by Elijah and Moses.-Numbers 16:31-34; 1
Kings 17:1; 2 Kings 1:9-12.
Who, then, do Moses and Elijah foreshadow in the context of the
transfiguration? Luke says that they appeared along with Jesus "with
glory." (Luke 9:31) Clearly, they foreshadow Christians who have been
anointed with holy spirit as "joint heirs" with Jesus and who thereby
received the wonderful hope of being "glorified together" with him.
(Romans 8:17) Resurrected anointed ones will be with Jesus when he
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comes in the glory of his Father to "recompense each one according to
his behavior."-Matthew 16:27.
Witnesses Like Moses and Elijah
There are notable features that mark Moses and Elijah as fitting
prophetic pictures of Jesus' anointed joint heirs. Both Moses and
Elijah served as Jehovah's spokesmen for many years. Both faced the
wrath of a ruler. In a time of need, each was supported by a foreign
family. Both boldly prophesied to kings and stood firm against false
prophets. Moses and Elijah both saw demonstrations of Jehovah's power
on Mount Sinai (also called Horeb). Both commissioned successors on the
east side of the Jordan. And the times of both Moses (with Joshua) and
Elijah (with Elisha) saw the greatest number of miracles, apart from
those that occurred during the lifetime of Jesus.
Does not all of that remind us of the Israel of God? Yes, indeed. Jesus
told his faithful followers: "Go therefore and make disciples of peopleof all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the
Son and of the holy spirit, teaching them to observe all the things I
have commanded you. And, look! I am with you all the days until the
conclusion of the system of things." (Matthew 28:19, 20) In obedience
to these words, anointed Christians have served as Jehovah's spokesman
from Pentecost 33 C.E. until now. Like Moses and Elijah, they have
faced the wrath of rulers and have witnessed to them. Jesus told his 12
apostles: "You will be haled before governors and kings for my sake,
for a witness to them and the nations." (Matthew 10:18) His words have
been fulfilled repeatedly during the history of the Christian
congregation.-Acts 25:6, 11, 12, 24-27; 26:3.
Further, anointed Christians have been as fearless as Moses and Elijah
in standing for truth against religious falsehood. Remember how Paul
denounced the Jewish false prophet Bar-Jesus and tactfully but firmly
exposed the falseness of the gods of the Athenians. (Acts 13:6-12;
17:16, 22-31) Remember, too, that in modern times the anointed remnant
has boldly exposed Christendom and such witnessing has plagued her.-
Revelation 8:7-12.
When Moses fled the wrath of Pharaoh, he found refuge in the home of a
non-Israelite, Reuel, also called Jethro. At a later time, Moses
received valuable organizational counsel from Reuel, whose son Hobabguided Israel through the wilderness. (Exodus 2:15-22; 18:5-27; Numbers
10:29) Have members of the Israel of God been helped similarly by
individuals who are not anointed members of the Israel of God? Yes,
they have been supported by the "great crowd" of "other sheep," who
have appeared on the scene during these last days. (Revelation 7:9;
John 10:16; Isaiah 61:5) Foretelling the warm, loving support that
these "sheep" would offer his anointed brothers, Jesus said to them
prophetically: "I became hungry and you gave me something to eat; I got
thirsty and you gave me something to drink. I was a stranger and you
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received me hospitably; naked, and you clothed me. I fell sick and you
looked after me. I was in prison and you came to me. . . . Truly I say
to you, To the extent that you did it to one of the least of these my
brothers, you did it to me."-Matthew 25:35-40.
Further, the Israel of God had an experience comparable to that of
Elijah on Mount Horeb. Like Elijah at the time he was running from
Queen Jezebel, the fearful anointed remnant thought that their work was
done at the end of World War I. Then, also like Elijah, they had an
encounter with Jehovah, who had come to judge those organizations
claiming to be "the house of God." (1 Peter 4:17; Malachi 3:1-3) While
Christendom was found wanting, the anointed remnant was recognized as
"the faithful and discreet slave" and was appointed over all Jesus'
earthly belongings. (Matthew 24:45-47) In Horeb, Elijah heard "a calm,
low voice" that proved to be that of Jehovah, giving him more work to
do. In the quiet period of the postwar years, faithful anointed
servants of Jehovah heard his voice from the pages of the Bible. They
too perceived that they had a commission to fulfill.-1 Kings 19:4, 9-
18; Revelation 11:7-13.
Finally, have outstanding manifestations of Jehovah's power been
channeled through the Israel of God? After Jesus' death, the apostles
performed many miracles, but these gradually ceased. (1 Corinthians
13:8-13) Nowadays, we do not see miracles in a physical sense. On the
other hand, Jesus said to his followers: "Most truly I say to you, He
that exercises faith in me, that one also will do the works that I do;
and he will do works greater than these." (John 14:12) This had an
initial fulfillment as Jesus' disciples preached the good news
throughout the Roman Empire in the first century. (Romans 10:18) Even
greater works have been done today as the anointed remnant has
spearheaded the preaching of the good news "in all the inhabited earth
for a witness to all the nations." (Matthew 24:14) The result? The 20th
century has witnessed the ingathering of the greatest number of
dedicated, faithful servants of Jehovah in history. (Revelation 5:9,
10; 7:9, 10) What magnificent evidence of Jehovah's power!-Isaiah 60:22.
Jesus' Brothers Come in Glory
As the remnant of Jesus' anointed brothers finish their earthly course,
they are glorified with him. (Romans 2:6, 7; 1 Corinthians 15:53; 1
Thessalonians 4:14, 17) Thus they become immortal kings and priests in
the heavenly Kingdom. With Jesus, they will then "shepherd the peoplewith an iron rod so that they will be broken to pieces like clay
vessels." (Revelation 2:27; 20:4-6; Psalm 110:2, 5, 6) With Jesus, they
will sit on thrones judging "the twelve tribes of Israel." (Matthew
19:28) Groaning creation has eagerly awaited these events, which are
part of "the revealing of the sons of God."-Romans 8:19-21; 2
Thessalonians 1:6-8.
Paul spoke of the revelation of Jesus during the "great tribulation"
when he wrote: "He comes to be glorified in connection with his holy
ones and to be regarded in that day with wonder in connection with all
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those who exercised faith." (Matthew 24:21; 2 Thessalonians 1:10) What
a magnificent prospect that is for Peter, James, John, and all spirit-
anointed Christians! The transfiguration strengthened Peter's faith.
Surely, reading about it strengthens our faith too and fortifies our
confidence that Jesus will soon "recompense each one according to his
behavior." Faithful anointed Christians who have survived to this day
see their confidence confirmed that they will be glorified with Jesus.
Other sheep have their faith strengthened in the knowledge that he will
save them through the end of this wicked system of things into the
glorious new world. (Revelation 7:14) What an encouragement to stand
firm to the end! And this vision can teach us much more, as we will see
in the following article.[source - WT 5/15/1997, pp. 9-14].
And another source said:
"It was to the transfiguration of the Lord Jesus Christ. Sometime after
Passover of 32 C.E., the Son of God told his disciples: "Truly I say toyou that there are some of those standing here that will not taste
death at all until first they see the Son of man coming in his
kingdom." (Matthew 16:28) In a matter of days, those words of Jesus
were fulfilled. Taking with him the apostles Peter, James and John,
God's Son climbed a high mountain, presumably Hermon. On a spur of this
mountain, the following took place: "[Jesus] was transfigured before
them, and his face shone as the sun, and his outer garments became
brilliant as the light." Thus the three apostles had confirmed to them
that Jesus' coming in Kingdom power would indeed be glorious. Then a
"bright cloud" formed and a voice came out of it, saying: "This is my
Son, the beloved, whom I have approved; listen to him."-Matthew 17:1-
5." [source - A Hope With A Sure Guarantee, page 36-37].
IMPORTANCE TO US OF TODAY:
Fulfillment of Bible prophecy in our day indicates that Jesus' presence
in Kingdom power began in 1914 C.E. (Matt. 24:3-14; 25:31-33)
Obviously, Matthew 16:28 could not refer to this event, for Jesus there
spoke of something that would take place before the apostles all died.
Then what could that have been?
The Hebrew Scriptures had foretold that the Messiah was to be an
everlasting king. (Gen. 49:10; 2 Sam. 7:12-16; Isa. 9:6, 7) Daniel's
vision in particular gave Jews reason to expect the Messiah's reign to
be glorious, powerful, magnificent. (Dan. 2:44; 7:13, 14) But just who
was to be this Messianic king, and would he rule from an earthlythrone? Even Jesus' disciples who accepted him as the Messiah could
benefit from assurance that he would reign from heaven with power and
glory.-Matt. 16:16-22; Acts 1:6.
Accordingly, less than a year before he died Jesus explained that some
of the apostles would "see the Son of man coming in his kingdom," or,
as Mark phrased it, "see the kingdom of God already come in power."
(Matt. 16:28; Mark 9:1) After Jesus was no longer among them, the
disciples would be able to draw strength from their having been
eyewitnesses of his future heavenly presence in Kingdom power.
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But how were Jesus' words in Matthew 16:25 fulfilled? Often the meaning
of a verse is suggested by its context. In this case, all three Gospel
accounts of Jesus' promise about seeing him in his kingdom lead
immediately into the record of the transfiguration.
Now this opens the important question of when this will take place.
Of course we do NOT know the hour or the day as even God's (YHWH's)
Son, Jesus (Yeshua) stated that he did not know that at Mark 13:30-32,
"Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass away, until all
these things be accomplished. 31 Heaven and earth shall pass away: but
my words shall not pass away. 32 But of that day or that hour knoweth
no one, not even the angels in heaven, neither the Son, but the
Father." (ASV). But world conditions clearly show we are in the end
times and the culmination of the end times can not be very far in the
future.
Let's consider Matthew 24:33-35, "even so ye also, when ye see allthese things, know ye that he is nigh, [even] at the doors. 34 Verily I
say unto you, This generation shall not pass away, till all these
things be accomplished. 35 Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my
words shall not pass away." (ASV).
Comments by others on this scripture:
"These Things Must Take Place"
Do you know and understand Jesus' answer? It is found in three of the
Gospels. Professor D. A. Carson states: "Few chapters of the Bible have
called forth more disagreement among interpreters than Matthew 24 and
its parallels in Mark 13 and Luke 21." He then gives his own opinion-
just another of the conflicting human views. In the last century or so,
many such views reflected a lack of faith. Those offering them held
that Jesus never said what we read in the Gospels, that his sayings
were later corrupted, or that his prediction failed-views shaped by
higher criticism. One commentator even approached Mark's Gospel
'through the lens of Mahayana-Buddhist philosophy'!..
.
A Tragic Fulfillment in the Offing
The apostles knew that Jesus was the Messiah. So when they heard him
mention his death, resurrection, and return, they must have wondered,'If Jesus dies and goes away, how can he carry out the wonderful things
that the Messiah is expected to do?' Further, Jesus spoke of an end for
Jerusalem and its temple. The apostles might have wondered, 'When and
how will that occur?' In trying to understand these things, the
apostles asked: "When will these things be, and what will be the sign
when all these things are destined to come to a conclusion?"-Mark 13:4;
Matthew 16:21, 27, 28; 23:37-24:2
.
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Jesus foretold that there would be wars, famines, pestilences,
earthquakes, hatred and persecution of Christians, false messiahs, and
a widespread preaching of the good news of the Kingdom. Then the end
was to come. (Matthew 24:4-14; Mark 13:5-13; Luke 21:8-19) Jesus said
this early in the year 33 C.E. During the following decades, his alert
disciples could recognize that the foretold things were in fact
occurring in a significant way. Yes, history proves that the sign had a
fulfillment at that time, leading to a conclusion of the Jewish system
of things at the hands of the Romans in 66-70 C.E. How did that come
about?
During the hot Judean summer of 66 C.E., Jewish Zealots led an assault
on Roman guards in a fort near the temple in Jerusalem, sparking
violence elsewhere in the land. In History of the Jews, Professor
Heinrich Graetz relates: "Cestius Gallus, whose duty it was as Governor
of Syria to uphold the honor of Roman arms, . . . could no longer
witness the rebellion spreading around him without an effort to stem
its progress. He called his legions together, and the neighboringprinces voluntarily sent their troops." This army of 30,000 surrounded
Jerusalem. After some fighting, the Jews withdrew behind walls near the
temple. "During five successive days the Romans stormed the walls, but
were always obliged to fall back before the missiles of the Judæans. It
was only on the sixth day that they succeeded in undermining a part of
the northern wall in front of the Temple."
Just think how confused the Jews would have been, since they had long
felt that God would protect them and their holy city! Jesus' disciples,
though, had been forewarned that calamity awaited Jerusalem. Jesus had
foretold: "The days will come upon you when your enemies will build
around you a fortification with pointed stakes and will encircle you
and distress you from every side, and they will dash you and your
children within you to the ground, and they will not leave a stone upon
a stone in you." (Luke 19:43, 44) But would that spell death for
Christians inside Jerusalem in 66 C.E.?
When replying to the apostles on the Mount of Olives, Jesus predicted:
"Those days will be days of a tribulation such as has not occurred from
the beginning of the creation which God created until that time, and
will not occur again. In fact, unless Jehovah had cut short the days,
no flesh would be saved. But on account of the chosen ones whom he has
chosen he has cut short the days." (Mark 13:19, 20; Matthew 24:21, 22)So the days would be cut short and "the chosen ones" saved. Who were
they? Certainly not rebellious Jews who claimed to worship Jehovah but
who had rejected his Son. (John 19:1-7; Acts 2:22, 23, 36) The true
chosen ones back then were those Jews and non-Jews who exercised faith
in Jesus as Messiah and Savior. God had chosen such ones, and on
Pentecost 33 C.E., he had formed them into a new spiritual nation, "the
Israel of God."-Galatians 6:16; Luke 18:7; Acts 10:34-45; 1 Peter 2:9.
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Were the days "cut short" and the anointed chosen ones in Jerusalem
saved? Professor Graetz suggests: "[Cestius Gallus] did not deem it
advisable to continue the combat against heroic enthusiasts and embark
on a lengthy campaign at that season, when the autumn rains would soon
commence . . . and might prevent the army from receiving provisions. On
that account probably he thought it more prudent to retrace his steps."
Whatever Cestius Gallus was thinking, the Roman army retreated from the
city, with grave losses inflicted by the pursuing Jews.
That surprising Roman retreat allowed "flesh"-Jesus' disciples who were
at risk inside Jerusalem-to be saved. History records that when this
window of opportunity opened, Christians fled the region. What a
display of God's ability to foreknow the future and to ensure the
survival of his worshipers! Yet, what of unbelieving Jews who remained
in Jerusalem and Judea?
Contemporaries Would See It
Many Jews felt that their system of worship, centered on the temple,
would long continue. But Jesus said: "Learn from the fig tree . . .
this point: Just as soon as its young branch grows tender and it puts
forth leaves, you know that summer is near. Likewise also you, when you
see all these things, know that he is near at the doors. Truly I say to
you that this generation will by no means pass away until all these
things occur. Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will by no
means pass away."-Matthew 24:32-35.
In the years leading up to 66 C.E., Christians would have seen many of
the preliminary elements of the composite sign being fulfilled-wars,
famines, even an extensive preaching of the good news of the Kingdom.
(Acts 11:28; Colossians 1:23) When, though, would the end come? What
did Jesus mean when he said: 'This generation [Greek, ge·ne·a´] will
not pass away'? Jesus had often called the contemporaneous mass of
opposing Jews, including religious leaders, 'a wicked, adulterous
generation.' (Matthew 11:16; 12:39, 45; 16:4; 17:17; 23:36) So when, on
the Mount of Olives, he again spoke of "this generation," he evidently
did not mean the entire race of Jews throughout history; nor did he
mean his followers, even though they were "a chosen race." (1 Peter
2:9) Neither was Jesus saying that "this generation" is a period oftime.
Rather, Jesus had in mind the opposing Jews back then who would
experience the fulfillment of the sign he gave. Regarding the reference
to "this generation" at Luke 21:32, Professor Joel B. Green notes: "In
the Third Gospel, 'this generation' (and related phrases) has regularly
signified a category of people who are resistant to the purpose of God.
. . . [It refers] to people who stubbornly turn their backs on the
divine purpose."
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The wicked generation of Jewish opposers who could observe the sign
being fulfilled would also experience the end. (Matthew 24:6, 13, 14)
And that they did! In 70 C.E., the Roman army returned, led by Titus,
son of Emperor Vespasian. The suffering of the Jews who were again
bottled up in the city is almost beyond belief. Eyewitness Flavius
Josephus reports that by the time the Romans demolished the city, about
1,100,000 Jews had died and some 100,000 were taken captive, most of
those soon to perish horribly from starvation or in Roman theaters.
Truly, the tribulation of 66-70 C.E. was the greatest that Jerusalem
and the Jewish system had ever experienced or would ever experience.
How different the outcome was for Christians who had heeded Jesus'
prophetic warning and had left Jerusalem after the departure of the
Roman armies in 66 C.E.! The anointed Christian "chosen ones" were
"saved," or kept safe, in 70 C.E.-Matthew 24:16, 22.
Another Fulfillment to Come
However, that was not the finale. Earlier, Jesus had indicated that
after the city was devastated, he would come in Jehovah's name.
(Matthew 23:38, 39; 24:2) He then made this clearer in his prophecy
uttered on the Mount of Olives. Having mentioned the coming "great
tribulation," he said that afterward false Christs would appear, and
Jerusalem would be trampled on by the nations for an extended period.
(Matthew 24:21, 23-28; Luke 21:24) Could it be that another, a greater,
fulfillment was to come? The facts answer yes. When we compare
Revelation 6:2-8 (written after the tribulation on Jerusalem in 70
C.E.) with Matthew 24:6-8 and Luke 21:10, 11, we see that warfare, food
shortages, and plague on a greater scale lay ahead. This greater
fulfillment of Jesus' words has been occurring since World War I
erupted in 1914...
Referring to the tribulation just ahead of us, Jesus said: "Immediately
after the tribulation of those days [the destruction of false religion]
the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, and the
stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be
shaken. And then the sign of the Son of man will appear in heaven, and
then all the tribes of the earth will beat themselves in lamentation,
and they will see the Son of man coming on the clouds of heaven with
power and great glory."-Matthew 24:29, 30.
Hence, Jesus himself says that "after the tribulation of those days,"
celestial phenomena of some sort will occur. (Compare Joel 2:28-32;
3:15.) This will so startle and shock disobedient humans that they will"beat themselves in lamentation." Many will "become faint out of fear
and expectation of the things coming upon the inhabited earth." But
this will not be the case with true Christians! These 'will lift their
heads up, because their deliverance is getting near.'-Luke 21:25, 26,
28.
Judgment Ahead!
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Note that Matthew 24:29-31 foretells that (1) the Son of man comes, (2)
this coming will be with great glory, (3) the angels will be with him,
and (4) all the tribes of the earth will see him. Jesus repeats these
elements in the parable of the sheep and the goats. (Matthew 25:31-46)
Hence, we can conclude that this parable deals with the time, after the
opening outbreak of tribulation, when Jesus will come with his angels
and sit down on his throne to judge. (John 5:22; Acts 17:31; compare 1
Kings 7:7; Daniel 7:10, 13, 14, 22, 26; Matthew 19:28.) Who will be
judged, and with what result? The parable shows that Jesus will give
attention to all nations, as if they were assembled right before his
celestial throne.
Sheeplike men and women will be separated to Jesus' right side of
favor. Why? Because they used their opportunities to do good to his
brothers-anointed Christians, who will share in Christ's heavenly
Kingdom. (Daniel 7:27; Hebrews 2:9-3:1) In line with the parable,
millions of sheeplike Christians have recognized Jesus' spiritualbrothers and have been working in support of them. As a result, the
"great crowd" have the Bible-based hope of surviving "the great
tribulation" and then living forever in Paradise, the earthly realm of
God's Kingdom.-Revelation 7:9, 14; 21:3, 4; John 10:16.
What a different outcome there will be for the goats! They are
described at Matthew 24:30 as 'beating themselves in lamentation' when
Jesus comes. And well they should, for they will have built up a record
of rejecting the Kingdom good news, of opposing Jesus' disciples, and
of preferring the world that is passing away. (Matthew 10:16-18; 1 John
2:15-17) Jesus-not any of his disciples on earth-determines who the
goats are. Of them he says: "These will depart into everlasting
cutting-off."-Matthew 25:46.
Our progress in understanding the prophecy in Matthew chapters 24 and
25 has been thrilling. However, there is a part of Jesus' prophecy that
merits our further attention-'the disgusting thing that causes
desolation standing in a holy place.' Jesus urged his followers to use
discernment regarding this and to be ready to take action. (Matthew
24:15, 16) What is this "disgusting thing"? When does it stand in a
holy place? And how are our present and future life prospects involved?
The following article will discuss this.[source - WT 5/99/1999, page 8-
13].
USE OF 'GENERATION' BY JESUS (YESHUA):
Many scriptures confirm that Jesus did not use "generation" with regard
to some small or distinct group, meaning only the Jewish leaders or
only his loyal disciples. Rather, he used "generation" in condemning
the masses of Jews who rejected him. Happily, though, individuals could
do what the apostle Peter urged on the day of Pentecost, repent and
"get saved from this crooked generation."-Acts 2:40.
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In that statement, Peter was clearly not being precise as to any fixed
age or length of time, nor was he tying the "generation" to any certain
date. He did not say that people should get saved from the generation
that was born in the same year Jesus was or the generation that was
born in 29 C.E. Peter was speaking about the unbelieving Jews of that
period-some perhaps being rather young, others being older-who had been
exposed to Jesus' teaching, had seen or heard of his miracles, and had
not accepted him as Messiah.
That evidently is how Peter understood Jesus' use of "generation" when
he and three other apostles were with Jesus on the Mount of Olives.
According to Jesus' prophetic statement, Jews of that period-basically,
Jesus' contemporaries-were going to experience or hear of wars,
earthquakes, famines, and other evidences that the end of the Jewish
system was near. In fact, that generation did not pass before the end
came in 70 C.E.-Matthew 24:3-14, 34.
It must be acknowledged that we have not always taken Jesus' words in
that sense. There is a tendency for imperfect humans to want to bespecific about the date when the end will come. Recall that even the
apostles sought more specifics, asking: "Lord, are you restoring the
kingdom to Israel at this time?"-Acts 1:6.
In fact,
"Saved From a "Wicked Generation"
"O faithless and twisted generation, how long must I continue with you
and put up with you?"-LUKE 9:41.
WE LIVE in calamitous times. Earthquakes, floods, famines, disease,
lawlessness, bombings, horrendous warfare-these and more have engulfed
mankind during our 20th century. However, the greatest calamity of all
threatens in the near future. What is that? It is "great tribulation
such as has not occurred since the world's beginning until now, no, nor
will occur again." (Matthew 24:21) Yet, many of us may look forward to
a joyful future! Why? Because God's own Word describes "a great crowd,
which no man was able to number, out of all nations and tribes and
peoples and tongues . . . 'These are the ones that come out of the
great tribulation . . . They will hunger no more nor thirst anymore . .
. And God will wipe out every tear from their eyes.'"-Revelation 7:1,
9, 14-17.
The inspired record at Matthew 24:3-22, Mark 13:3-20, and Luke 21:7-24
introduces Jesus' prophetic description of "the conclusion of the
system of things." This prophecy had an initial fulfillment on the
corrupt Jewish system of things of the first century of our Common Era,
culminating in an unprecedented "great tribulation" on the Jews. The
entire religious and political structure of the Jewish system, centered
at Jerusalem's temple, was thrown down, never to be restored.
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Let us now consider the circumstances that surrounded the first
fulfillment of Jesus' prophecy. This will help us better to understand
the parallel fulfillment today. It will show us how urgent it is to
take positive action now in order to survive the greatest of
tribulations that threatens all mankind.-Romans 10:9-13; 15:4; 1
Corinthians 10:11; 15:58.
"The End"-When?
About the year 539 B.C.E., God's prophet Daniel was given a vision of
events that would occur during the final "week" of a period of "seventy
weeks" of years. (Daniel 9:24-27) These "weeks" began in 455 B.C.E.
when King Artaxerxes of Persia ordered the rebuilding of the city of
Jerusalem. The final "week" started with the appearance of Messiah,
Jesus Christ, at his baptism and anointing in 29 C.E. God-fearing Jewsof the first century C.E. were well aware of this time feature of
Daniel's prophecy. For example, concerning the crowds that flocked to
hear the preaching of John the Baptizer in 29 C.E., Luke 3:15 states:
"The people were in expectation and all were reasoning in their hearts
about John: 'May he perhaps be the Christ?'"
The 70th "week" was to be seven years of special favor extended to the
Jews. Starting in 29 C.E., it included Jesus' baptism and ministry, his
sacrificial death "at the half of the week" in 33 C.E., and another
'half week' until 36 C.E. During this "week," the opportunity to become
Jesus' anointed disciples was extended exclusively to God-fearing Jews
and Jewish proselytes. Then in 70 C.E., a date not known in advance,
the Roman legions under Titus exterminated the apostate Jewish system.-
Daniel 9:26, 27.
Thus the Jewish priesthood, which had defiled Jerusalem's temple and
conspired in the murder of God's own Son, was wiped out. Gone, too,
were the national and tribal records. Thereafter, no Jew could legally
claim a priestly or a kingly inheritance. Happily, though, anointed
spiritual Jews had been separated as a royal priesthood to "declare
abroad the excellencies" of Jehovah God. (1 Peter 2:9) When Rome's army
first besieged Jerusalem and even undermined the temple area in 66
C.E., Christians recognized that military force as "the disgusting
thing that causes desolation, as spoken of through Daniel the prophet,standing in a holy place." In obedience to Jesus' prophetic command,
the Christians in Jerusalem and Judea fled to the mountainous regions
for protection.-Matthew 24:15, 16; Luke 21:20, 21.
Those faithful Jewish Christians observed the fulfillment of Daniel's
prophecy and were eyewitnesses of the tragic wars, famines,
pestilences, earthquakes, and lawlessness that Jesus had foretold as
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part of the "sign . . . of the conclusion of the system of things."
(Matthew 24:3) But had Jesus told them when Jehovah would actually
execute judgment on that corrupt system? No. What he prophesied about
the climax of his future royal presence surely applied also to the
first-century "great tribulation": "Concerning that day and hour nobody
knows, neither the angels of the heavens nor the Son, but only the
Father."-Matthew 24:36.
From Daniel's prophecy, the Jews could have calculated the timing of
Jesus' appearing as the Messiah. (Daniel 9:25) Yet they were given no
date for the "great tribulation" that finally desolated the apostate
Jewish system of things. It was only after the destruction of Jerusalem
and its temple that they realized that the date was 70 C.E. However,
they had been aware of Jesus' prophetic words: "This generation will by
no means pass away until all these things occur." (Matthew 24:34)
Apparently, the application of "generation" here is different from that
at Ecclesiastes 1:4, which speaks of successive generations coming and
going over a period of time.
"This Generation"-What Is It?
When four apostles seated with Jesus on the Mount of Olives heard his
prophecy about "the conclusion of the system of things," how would they
understand the expression "this generation"? In the Gospels the word
"generation" is translated from the Greek word ge·ne·a´, which current
lexicons define in these terms: "Lit[erally] those descended fr[om] a
common ancestor." (Walter Bauer's Greek-English Lexicon of the New
Testament) "That which has been begotten, a family; . . . successive
members of a genealogy . . . or of a race of people . . . or of the
whole multitude of men living at the same time, Matt. 24:34; Mark
13:30; Luke 1:48; 21:32; Phil. 2:15, and especially of those of the
Jewish race living at the same period." (W. E. Vine's Expository
Dictionary of New Testament Words) "That which has been begotten, men
of the same stock, a family; . . . the whole multitude of men living at
the same time: Mt. xxiv. 34; Mk. xiii. 30; Lk. i. 48 . . . used
esp[ecially] of the Jewish race living at one and the same period."-J.
H. Thayer's Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament.
Vine and Thayer both cite Matthew 24:34 in defining "this generation"
(he ge·ne·a´ hau´te) as "the whole multitude of men living at the same
time." The Theological Dictionary of the New Testament (1964) gives
support to this definition, stating: "The use of 'generation' by Jesus
expresses his comprehensive purpose: he aims at the whole people and is
conscious of their solidarity in sin." Truly a "solidarity in sin" wasapparent in the Jewish nation when Jesus was on earth, just as it marks
the world system today.
Of course, Christians studying this matter guide their thinking
primarily by how Jesus used the Greek expression he ge·ne·a´ hau´te, or
"this generation." He used it consistently in a negative way. Thus, he
called the Jewish religious leaders "serpents, offspring of vipers" and
went on to say that the judgment of Gehenna would be executed on "this
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generation." (Matthew 23:33, 36) However, was this judgment limited to
the hypocritical clergy? Not at all. On a number of occasions, Jesus'
disciples heard him speak of "this generation," applying the term
uniformly in a far wider sense. What was that?
"This Wicked Generation"
In 31 C.E., during Jesus' great Galilean ministry and shortly after the
Passover, his disciples heard him say to "the crowds": "With whom shall
I compare this generation? It is like young children sitting in the
marketplaces who cry out to their playmates, saying, 'We played the
flute for you, but you did not dance; we wailed, but you did not beat
yourselves in grief.' Correspondingly, John [the Baptizer] came neither
eating nor drinking, yet people say, 'He has a demon'; the Son of man
[Jesus] did come eating and drinking, still people say, 'Look! A man
gluttonous and given to drinking wine, a friend of tax collectors and
sinners.'" There was no pleasing those unprincipled "crowds"!-Matthew
11:7, 16-19.
Later in 31 C.E., as Jesus and his disciples set out on their second
preaching tour of Galilee, "some of the scribes and Pharisees" asked
Jesus for a sign. He told them and "the crowds" who were present: "A
wicked and adulterous generation keeps on seeking for a sign, but no
sign will be given it except the sign of Jonah the prophet. For just as
Jonah was in the belly of the huge fish three days and three nights, so
the Son of man will be in the heart of the earth three days and three
nights. . . . That is how it will be also with this wicked generation."
(Matthew 12:38-46) Obviously, "this wicked generation" included both
the religious leaders and "the crowds" who never came to appreciate the
sign that was fulfilled in Jesus' death and resurrection.
After the Passover of 32 C.E., as Jesus and his disciples came into the
Galilean region of Magadan, the Sadducees and the Pharisees again asked
Jesus for a sign. He repeated to them: "A wicked and adulterous
generation keeps on seeking for a sign, but no sign will be given it
except the sign of Jonah." (Matthew 16:1-4) Those religious hypocrites
were indeed most reprehensible as leaders among the unfaithful "crowds"
whom Jesus condemned as "this wicked generation."
Toward the end of his Galilean ministry, Jesus called the crowd and hisdisciples to him and said: "Whoever becomes ashamed of me and my words
in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of man will also be
ashamed of him." (Mark 8:34, 38) So the masses of unrepentant Jews of
that time obviously made up "this adulterous and sinful generation."
Some days later, after Jesus' transfiguration, Jesus and his disciples
"came toward the crowd," and a man asked him to heal his son. Jesus
commented: "O faithless and twisted generation, how long must I
continue with you? How long must I put up with you?"-Matthew 17:14-17;
Luke 9:37-41.
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It was likely in Judea, after the Festival of Booths in 32 C.E., "when
the crowds were massing together" around Jesus, that he repeated his
condemnation of them, saying: "This generation is a wicked generation;
it looks for a sign. But no sign will be given it except the sign of
Jonah." (Luke 11:29) Finally, when the religious leaders brought Jesus
to trial, Pilate offered to release him. The record says: "The chief
priests and the older men persuaded the crowds to ask for Barabbas, but
to have Jesus destroyed. . . . Pilate said to them: 'What, then, shall
I do with Jesus the so-called Christ?' They all said: 'Let him be
impaled!' He said: 'Why, what bad thing did he do?' Still they kept
crying out all the more: 'Let him be impaled!'" That "wicked
generation" was demanding Jesus' blood!-Matthew 27:20-25.
A "faithless and twisted generation," egged on by its religious
leaders, thus played a key part in bringing about the death of the Lord
Jesus Christ. Fifty days later, at Pentecost in 33 C.E., the disciplesreceived holy spirit and started to speak in different tongues. Upon
hearing the sound, "the multitude came together," and the apostle Peter
addressed them as "men of Judea and all you inhabitants of Jerusalem,"
saying: "This man [Jesus] . . . you fastened to a stake by the hand of
lawless men and did away with." How did some of those listeners react?
"They were stabbed to the heart." Peter then called on them to repent.
He "bore thorough witness and kept exhorting them, saying: 'Get saved
from this crooked generation.'" In response, about three thousand
"embraced his word heartily [and] were baptized."-Acts 2:6, 14, 23, 37,
40, 41.
"This Generation" Identified.
What, then, is the "generation" so frequently referred to by Jesus in
the presence of his disciples? What did they understand by his words:
"This generation will by no means pass away until all these things
occur"? Surely, Jesus was not departing from his established use of the
term "this generation," which he consistently applied to the
contemporary masses with their "blind guides" who together made up the
Jewish nation. (Matthew 15:14) "This generation" experienced all the
distress foretold by Jesus and then passed away in an unequaled "great
tribulation" on Jerusalem.-Matthew 24:21, 34.
In the first century, Jehovah was judging the Jewish people. Repentant
ones, who came to exercise faith in Jehovah's merciful provision
through Christ, were saved out of that "great tribulation." True to
Jesus' words, all things prophesied occurred, and then the "heaven and
earth" of the Jewish system of things-the entire nation, with its
religious leaders and wicked society of people-passed away. Jehovah had
executed judgment!-Matthew 24:35; compare 2 Peter 3:7.
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Those Jews who had paid attention to Jesus' prophetic words realized
that their salvation depended, not on trying to calculate the length of
a "generation" or of some dated "times or seasons," but on keeping
separate from the evil contemporary generation and zealously doing
God's will. Though the final words of Jesus' prophecy apply to the
major fulfillment in our day, first-century Jewish Christians also had
to heed the admonition: "Keep awake, then, all the time making
supplication that you may succeed in escaping all these things that are
destined to occur, and in standing before the Son of man."-Luke 21:32-
36; Acts 1:6-8.
Today, "the great day of Jehovah . . . is near, and there is a hurrying
of it very much." (Zephaniah 1:14-18; Isaiah 13:9, 13) Suddenly, at
Jehovah's own predetermined "day and hour," his fury will be unleashed
upon the world's religious, political, and commercial elements,
together with the wayward people who make up this contemporary "wicked
and adulterous generation." (Matthew 12:39; 24:36; Revelation 7:1-3, 9,
14) How may you get saved out of "the great tribulation"? [source - WT
11/1/95, pages 10-15]
THE FACTS ON MATTHEW 10:23:
Matthew 10:23, " But when they persecute you in this city, flee into
the next: for verily I say unto you, Ye shall not have gone through the
cities of Israel, till the Son of man be come." (ASV).
Now, "What is the meaning of the following statement, recorded at
Matthew 10:23: "You will by no means complete the circuit of the cities
of Israel until the Son of man arrives"?
Jesus said that in the year 31 (A.D.). This was when he was sending out
his twelve apostles, in twos, to preach in all the cities of Israel. It
may have been, as in the case of the seventy evangelizers whom Jesus
also sent out to preach, that the apostles were sent in advance of
Jesus and that Jesus would later come to the places where they had
preached. (Luke 10:1) This, however, does not appear to be the thing
referred to by Jesus in Matthew 10:23, namely, that he would
personally, in the flesh, follow up his twelve apostles in the cities
in which they had preached.
It is evident that when Jesus gave his twelve apostles these preaching
instructions, he was doing so for the years that would follow his
death, resurrection and ascension to heaven, never to come back again
to the earth in the flesh. How is this evident? From the fact that
Jesus spoke to the apostles about their being mistreated in the
synagogues and being haled before governors and kings "for a witness to
them and the nations." (Matt. 10:17, 18) There is no record that suchthings occurred during the short preaching campaign in which the
apostles engaged in Israel exclusively, after which they returned to
Jesus and made their reports. At the time that Jesus gave them the
above instructions, he plainly told them not to go to the nations or
even to the Samaritans on this preaching campaign, but only to the
"lost sheep of the house of Israel."-Matt. 10:5, 6.
So it must have been because he looked ahead to their world-wide
preaching among outside nations after his ascension to heaven that
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Jesus said to the apostles: "You will be objects of hatred by all
people [not merely Israelites] on account of my name; but he that has
endured to the end is the one that will be saved. When they persecute
you in one city, flee to another; for truly I say to you, You will by
no means complete the circuit of the cities of Israel until the Son of
man arrives."-Matt. 10:22, 23.
On the occasion of saying those words, Jesus gave the apostles, for the
immediate preaching campaign, a local territory assignment. It took in
the territory of Israel in Palestine, namely, Judea, Galilee and
Peraea, and did not include Samaria. By covering this they would
"complete the circuit of the cities of Israel." So now Jesus used this
temporary, limited territory assignment as an illustration of their
final complete territory assignment. Before he ascended to heaven the
resurrected Jesus made their territory assignment the entire world, for
he said: "All authority has been given me in heaven and on the earth.
Go therefore [everywhere in the earth] and make disciples of people of
all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the
Son and of the holy spirit." (Matt. 28:18, 19) This enlarged their
territory assignment beyond the borders of Israel, yes, beyond the
borders of so-called Christendom and out into the so-called pagan worldthat does not belong to Christendom. Under Jesus' instructions, his
disciples were to undertake to complete the circuit of the whole
inhabited earth, preaching the good news of God's kingdom to all, to
Jewish people, to professed Christian people and to all the pagan
peoples.
By our consideration of Bible prophecy and modern events we discern
that the Lord Jesus Christ, in company with Jehovah God, came to the
spiritual temple in the spring of 1918. It was after that year,
particularly from 1919 forward, that the remnant of Christ's anointed
disciples began preaching the good news of God's kingdom as having been
established in the heavens in 1914. How long after the Lord's coming to
the temple must this preaching continue? Until the "Son of man arrives"
for the execution of Jehovah's judgment. This will be in the "war of
the great day of God the Almighty," at Armageddon. In connection with
that arrival Jesus said, in Revelation 16:15: "Look! I am coming as a
thief. Happy is the one that stays awake and keeps his outer garments,
that he may not walk naked and people look upon his shamefulness."
Accordingly, by means of his instructions to his twelve apostles Jesus
was prophetically telling us today that his anointed disciples or the
remnant of spiritual Israel would not complete the circuit of the
entire inhabited earth with the preaching of the message of God's
established kingdom before the glorified heavenly King Jesus Christ
would arrive as Jehovah's executional officer in the battle of
Armageddon. This means that Jehovah's servants today, who now include
hundreds of thousands of the "other sheep" or earthly companions of thespiritual remnant, will not be able to reach personally all parts of
the earth with the Kingdom message before the battle of Armageddon
breaks out. [source - WT 06/15/1907, page 184.]
THE FACTS ON MATTHEW 26:64:
Matthew 26:64 says, "Jesus said unto him, Thou hast said: nevertheless
I say unto you, Henceforth ye shall see the Son of man sitting at the
right hand of Power, and coming on the clouds of heaven." (ASV).
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"What is "the sign of the Son of man"?
However, there is evidently another major reason for Jesus' frequent
use of the expression "Son of man" as applying to himself. This is with
regard to the fulfillment of the prophecy recorded at Daniel 7:13, 14.
In vision, Daniel saw "someone like a son of man" coming with the
clouds of the heavens, gaining access to "the Ancient of Days," and
being granted "rulership and dignity and kingdom, that the peoples,
national groups and languages should all serve even him," his Kingdom
being an enduring one.
Because the angelic interpretation of the vision in Daniel 7:18, 22,
and 27 speaks of "the holy ones of the Supreme One" as taking
possession of this Kingdom, many commentators have endeavored to show
that the "son of man" is here a 'corporate personality,' that is, 'the
saints of God in their corporate aspect, regarded collectively as a
people,' 'the glorified and ideal people of Israel.' This reasoning,
however, proves superficial in the light of the Christian Greek
Scriptures. It fails to consider that Christ Jesus, God's anointed
King, made a 'covenant for a kingdom' with his followers that theymight share with him in his Kingdom, and that, while they are to rule
as kings and priests, it is under his headship and by his grant of
authority. (Lu 22:28-30; Re 5:9, 10; 20:4-6) Thus, they receive ruling
authority over the nations only because he has first received such
authority from the Sovereign God.-Re 2:26, 27; 3:21.
The correct understanding is made more evident by Jesus' own
statements. Regarding "the sign of the Son of man," he stated that
"they will see the Son of man coming on the clouds of heaven with power
and great glory." (Mt 24:30) This was clearly a reference to Daniel's
prophecy. So, likewise, was his answer to the high priest's
interrogation, saying: "I am [the Christ, the Son of God]; and you
persons will see the Son of man sitting at the right hand of power and
coming with the clouds of heaven."-Mr 14:61, 62; Mt 26:63, 64.
Therefore the prophecy of the coming of the Son of man into the
presence of the Ancient of Days, Jehovah God, clearly applies to an
individual, the Messiah, Jesus Christ. The evidence is that it was so
understood by the Jewish people. Rabbinic writings applied the prophecy
to the Messiah. (Soncino Books of the Bible, edited by A. Cohen, 1951,
commentary on Da 7:13) It was doubtless due to wanting some literal
fulfillment of this prophecy that the Pharisees and Sadducees asked
Jesus to "display to them a sign from heaven." (Mt 16:1; Mr 8:11) After
Jesus had died as a man and had been resurrected to spirit life,
Stephen had a vision in which "the heavens opened up" and he saw "the
Son of man standing at God's right hand." (Ac 7:56) This shows that
Jesus Christ, although sacrificing his human nature as a ransom for
mankind, rightly retains the Messianic designation "Son of man" in hisheavenly position.
The first part of Jesus' statement to the high priest about the coming
of the Son of man spoke of him as "sitting at the right hand of power."
This is evidently an allusion to the prophetic Psalm 110, Jesus Christ
having earlier shown that this psalm applied to him. (Mt 22:42-45) This
psalm, as well as the apostle's application of it at Hebrews 10:12, 13,
reveals that there would be a waiting period for Jesus Christ before
his Father would send him forth to "go subduing in the midst of [his]
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enemies." It therefore appears that the fulfillment of the prophecy of
Daniel 7:13, 14 comes, not at the time of Jesus' resurrection and
ascension to heaven, but at the time of his being authorized by God to
take action against all opposers in vigorous expression of his kingly
authority. The 'coming of the Son of man to the Ancient of Days,' then,
apparently corresponds in time to the situation presented at Revelation
12:5-10, when the symbolic man-child is brought forth and caught up to
God's throne. Then war breaks out in heaven, and the cry goes up: "Now
have come to pass the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our
God and the authority of his Christ."
Further prophetic visions in Revelation (17:12-14; 19:11-21) show the
exercise of full regnal power by the Messianic King over "peoples,
national groups and languages" (Da 7:14), and hence the one "like a son
of man" at Revelation 14:14 undoubtedly also represents Jesus Christ,
as does the one so described at Revelation 1:13.-Compare Re 14:14-20;
19:15; and 1:13-18; see KINGDOM OF GOD ("Kingdom of Our Lord and of His
Christ").
As to the 'Son of man's coming on the clouds' and being seen by "every
eye" (Mt 24:30; Re 1:7), see CLOUD (Illustrative Usage); EYE; PRESENCE.
[source - Son of Man, page 1002-1003].
And,
"Shortly before his death, Jesus told the Jewish religious leaders:
"From henceforth you will see the Son of man sitting at the right hand
of power and coming on the clouds of heaven." (Matt. 26:64) What did
Jesus mean by this?
He was referring to the Bible prophecy of Daniel about the promised
"son of man" who was brought before "the Ancient of Days," Jehovah God.
"To him there were given rulership and dignity and kingdom," the
prophecy says, "that the peoples, national groups and languages should
all serve even him." (Dan. 7:13, 14) This shows that the resurrected
Jesus Christ would rule in heaven, and that the whole earth will be the
territory over which he exercises authority as king.
But since God's kingdom is heavenly-its ruler Jesus Christ now being
invisible-many persons do not consider it to be a real government. Yet,
as we have seen, there is sound reason to believe that it is. [source -
WT 01/15/1979, pages 4-5]
THE FACTS ON 1 CORINTHIANS 10:11:
1 Corinthians 10:11, "Now these things happened unto them by way of
example; and they were written for our admonition, upon whom the ends
of the ages are come." (ASV).
"Completion of the Foretold "Sign" Nears
WE TODAY can be thankful that the apostles of Jesus Christ asked him
the question: "Tell us, When will these things be, and what will be the
sign of your presence and of the conclusion of the system of things?"
(Matthew 24:3) Their question led to his giving a lengthy, detailed
prophecy the accuracy of which leaves us amazed as we see the progress
of its fulfillment in this eventful twentieth century. This aids us in
determining with certainty where we are in the outworking of God's
purpose toward suffering mankind. We are strengthened in our belief
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that we are actually living during the invisible "presence" of Christ
in the spirit and in the "conclusion of the system of things," inasmuch
as we do see "the sign" that he foretold.
The "sign" in all its details is nearing its stage of complete clarity
with no room for any watching observers to be mistaken. The "sign" has
many features, as set out in Matthew's account, chapters twenty-four
and twenty-five, Mark's account, chapter thirteen, and Luke's account,
chapter twenty-one; and it has been almost the lifetime of a generation
of mankind for all the features of the "sign" to become manifest in
their fullness. In preceding chapters we have considered those features
of the sign as described in Matthew's account, chapter twenty-five. Now
we consider those features set out in chapter twenty-four, along with
the comparative accounts given by Mark and Luke.
When Christ's apostles opened up their inquiry by saying, "Tell us,
When will these things be?" they were referring to the things that
Jesus had said prophetically that same day of Tuesday, Nisan 11, of the
year 33 C.E. In Jerusalem's temple, after denouncing the hypocritical
religious scribes and Pharisees, Jesus went on to say: "Here I am
sending forth to you prophets and wise men and public instructors. Some
of them you will kill and impale, and some of them you will scourge inyour synagogues and persecute from city to city; that there may come
upon you all the righteous blood spilled on earth, from the blood of
righteous Abel to the blood of Zechariah son of Barachiah, whom you
murdered between the sanctuary and the altar. Truly I say to you, All
these things will come upon this generation. Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the
killer of the prophets and stoner of those sent forth to her,-how often
I wanted to gather your children together, the way a hen gathers her
chicks together under her wings! But you people did not want it. Look!
Your house is abandoned to you. For I say to you, You will by no means
see me from henceforth until you say, 'Blessed is he that comes in
Jehovah's name!'"
Before Jesus left the temple or house of worship, he added further
words of solemn prophecy, concerning which we read: "Departing now,
Jesus was on his way from the temple, but his disciples approached to
show him the buildings of the temple. In response he said to them: 'Do
you not behold all these things? Truly I say to you, By no means will a
stone be left here upon a stone and not be thrown down.'"-Matthew 23:34
to 24:2.
Just two days previously, on Sunday, Nisan 9, he had paused in his
triumphal ride toward Jerusalem and wept over her because of her coming
destruction. Predicting her terrible destruction by the Romans in 70
C.E., he said: "Because the days will come upon you when your enemies
will build around you a fortification with pointed stakes and will
encircle you and distress you from every side, and they will dash you
and your children within you to the ground, and they will not leave astone upon a stone in you, because you did not discern the time of your
being inspected."-Luke 19:41-44.
For natural, circumcised Jews, such as Christ's apostles were, those
were disturbing predictions. Upon the generation of which they were a
part, the innocent blood spilled in the course of Jewish history and
earlier was to be visited. Exactly when would these things be
fulfilled? They wanted to know. They believed and confessed Jesus to be
the Messiah or Anointed One, the Christ. But Jerusalem's predicted
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destruction indicated that he would not set up his Messianic kingdom in
that doomed city. He spoke of his not being seen "from henceforth," but
also of his coming "in Jehovah's name." When would he be present again
to carry out his Messianic role? The coming destruction of Jerusalem
and her temple must certainly spell the end of the Jewish system of
things. With no holy city and no holy temple the Jewish priesthood of
the family of Aaron the Levite might be among those of Jerusalem's
"children" who would be dashed "to the ground" or would at least be put
out of their temple service. No wonder the apostles asked, not only
about the destruction of Jerusalem and her temple, but also: "What will
be the sign of your presence and of the conclusion of the system of
things?"
Their questions were on proper points of inquiry, for Jesus did come in
the "conclusion" of the Jewish system of things. Other scriptures speak
of the situation in that same sense. Hebrews 9:26-28 shows that Jesus
did not need to make repeated sacrifices of himself and says:
"Otherwise, he would have to suffer often from the founding of the
world. But now he has manifested himself once for all time at the
conclusion of the systems of things to put sin away through the
sacrifice of himself. . . . so also the Christ was offered once for alltime to bear the sins of many." Also, 1 Corinthians 10:11 says: "Now
these things went on befalling them as examples, and they were written
for a warning to us upon whom the ends of the systems of things have
arrived." Counted from the year of Jesus' prophecy on the subject, the
Jewish system of things had thirty-seven years yet to go, less than a
generation with a life-span of forty years. Jerusalem was taken and
destroyed by the Romans on Elul 7 (or, August 30, 70 C.E., Gregorian
calendar time). How many of Christ's apostles escaped martyrdom and
survived till that horrible event, the Bible record does not say.
A TIME OF TESTING AND DISASTERS
In answer to the inquiry of his apostles, Jesus described first the
events leading up to the destruction of Jerusalem within that
generation. "And in answer Jesus said to them: 'Look out that nobody
misleads you; for many will come on the basis of my name, saying, "I am
the Christ," and will mislead many. You are going to hear of wars and
reports of wars; see that you are not terrified. For these things must
take place, but the end is not yet.'"-Matthew 24:4-6.
Jews would arise, not claiming to be Jesus returned in the flesh, but
claiming to be the promised Messiah or Christ. But neither the apostles
nor their fellow disciples should be misled by such self-styled
Messiahs or Christs, for their operations would not betoken the
"presence" or parousia of Jesus Christ nor bring deliverance to the
Jewish nation. The Jewish revolt against the Romans in the year 66 C.E.
was to be such a Messianic effort, but it led to Jerusalem'sdestruction and the scattering of the Jewish nation. The Messianic
hopes of these misled people were bitterly disappointed.
During this thirty-seven-year period there were to be a number of wars,
within earshot of the disciples or merely reported to them in the news.
But those wars, while affecting the situation of the Jewish nation,
were not the ones that directly brought on the end of the Jewish system
of things. So the disciples were not to be terrorized into taking any
premature action. "The end is not yet."
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"For," said Jesus in enlarging upon what he had just said about wars
and reports of war, "nation will rise against nation and kingdom
against kingdom, and there will be food shortages and earthquakes in
one place after another. All these things are a beginning of pangs of
distress."-Matthew 24:7, 8. Also, Mark 13:8.
Such calamities being merely a "beginning of pangs of distress," the
end was "not yet." Those calamities were merely indications, not the
final death throe. These things would affect the people in general, but
there were things that would come specifically upon Jesus' disciples
because they announced the true Messiah or Christ and followed in his
footsteps. Hence, Jesus went on to say:
"Then people will deliver you up to tribulation and will kill you, and
you will be objects of hatred by all the nations on account of my name.
Then, also, many will be stumbled and will betray one another and will
hate one another. And many false prophets will arise and mislead many;
and because of the increasing of lawlessness the love of the greater
number will cool off. But he that has endured to the end is the one
that will be saved. And this good news of the kingdom will be preached
in all the inhabited earth for a witness to all the nations; and then
the end will come."-Matthew 24:9-14. Compare Mark 13:9-13.
The Bible book entitled "Acts of Apostles" testifies to the fulfillment
of those prophetic words of Jesus Christ even within that generation,
for this book was written by the medical doctor Luke about the year 61
C.E. Other Bible books, inspired letters written by apostles and other
disciples before the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 C.E., confirm the
account in Acts of Apostles and add to the record of Christian
suffering under persecution and international hatred toward
Christianity. The good news of God's kingdom had penetrated beyond the
Middle East into Asia Minor, Continental Asia, Africa, Europe and the
islands of the Mediterranean Sea. The preaching of the Kingdom message
was being carried on in all the inhabited earth. Although not resulting
in world conversion to Christianity, a thing it was never purposed to
accomplish, it resulted in a witness to all the nations. (Colossians
1:6, 23) Before this praiseworthy exploit was accomplished by outspoken
Christian witnesses, the calamitous end could not come upon Jerusalem
and the Jewish system of things.
JERUSALEM'S SECOND DESTRUCTION INDICATED AS AT HAND
Having shown in considerable detail the preliminaries that were to
precede "the end," Jesus now specified the particular thing that would
indicate the close nearness of the end of Jerusalem and the system of
things that was centered in her and her temple. He said: "Therefore,
when you catch sight of the disgusting thing that causes desolation, as
spoken of through Daniel the prophet, standing in a holy place, (let
the reader use discernment,) then let those in Judea begin fleeing tothe mountains. Let the man on the housetop not come down to take the
goods out of his house; and let the man in the field not return to the
house to pick up his outer garment. Woe to the pregnant women and those
suckling a baby in those days! Keep praying that your flight may not
occur in wintertime, nor on the sabbath day."
Why the great need for the Christian Jews and proselytes in the Roman
province of Judea to get out of it at top speed, with no unnecessary
burdens, by direct route, at the opportune time, and take refuge in the
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mountains outside the mentioned province? "For then," Jesus continues
on to say, "there will be great tribulation such as has not occurred
since the world's beginning until now, no, nor will occur again. In
fact, unless those days were cut short, no flesh would be saved; but on
account of the chosen ones those days will be cut short."-Matthew
24:15-22.
This counsel of Jesus the apostles and other disciples should not
forget nor disregard. If any of them delayed their flight out of Judea
after seeing the disgusting thing standing in a holy place, it might
cost them their lives; they might not be among those comparatively few
who are spoken of as "flesh" that is saved only because the days of
tribulation are cut short. But what is the "disgusting thing" the sight
of which standing in the holy place would certify that not much time
was left now before the devastating "great tribulation" was right at
hand?
Jesus left no doubt as to what it was. He said it was the disgusting
thing "as spoken of through Daniel the prophet." (Matthew 24:15) The
"disgusting thing" that is foretold by the prophet Daniel in connection
with the second destruction of Jerusalem is the one described in Daniel9:26, 27 (especially according to the Greek Septuagint Version of the
Hebrew Bible text). Secular history reveals that "disgusting thing" to
be the pagan Roman armies under their "leader." That this is the proper
explanation of the prophecy is borne out by a comparison of Matthew's
account of Jesus' prophecy at this place with Luke's account at the
corresponding place in Jesus' prophecy. Luke 21:20-24 says:
"Furthermore, when you see Jerusalem surrounded by encamped armies,
then know that the desolating of her has drawn near. Then let those in
Judea begin fleeing to the mountains, and let those in the midst of her
withdraw, and let those in the country places not enter into her;
because these are days for meting out justice [or, days of vengeance],
that all the things written [including Daniel 9:26, 27] may be
fulfilled. Woe to the pregnant women and the ones suckling a baby in
those days! For there will be great necessity upon the land and wrath
on this people; and they will fall by the edge of the sword and be led
captive into all the nations; and Jerusalem will be trampled on by the
nations, until the appointed times of the nations are fulfilled."-
Compare also with Mark 13:14-20.
It was in the year 66 C.E. that the Christian Jews in Jerusalem and
Judea began to see the "disgusting thing that causes desolation, as
spoken of through Daniel the prophet," take a stand in a "holy place,"
namely, Jerusalem and its environs. It was in that year that the
unchristianized Jews revolted with Messianic aspirations against
further rule by the Roman Empire. In reaction to this, the Roman
general, Cestius Gallus, came down from Syria and surrounded Jerusalemwith "encamped armies." It was at the time that the Jews celebrated the
Festival of Booths (or, Tabernacles) from Tishri 15 to 21, which in
that year should have run for the seven days of October 22-28
(Gregorian calendar). General Cestius Gallus brought his armies up to
within "fifty furlongs" of the celebrating city. The Jews, well armed,
sallied forth in attack and inflicted some damage on the Romans.
There now followed a "wait for three days." Then General Gallus,
forcing the Jews back to Jerusalem, brought his troops up close to the
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city. But it was first on the last day of the month Tishri (about
November 5) that he got his troops into the city of Jerusalem. He was
indeed now in a place considered "holy" to the Jews. For five days the
Romans made an attack on the temple wall, and on the sixth day they
undermined the wall. This certainly was an assailing of what the Jews
considered most holy. Easily the Romans could have now captured the
whole city, but then, suddenly, without any valid reason for doing so,
General Gallus withdrew from the city and retreated. The elated Jews
went in hot pursuit and harassed the retreating Romans and inflicted
considerable harm, so that the retreat turned into a rout. This was a
stinging blow at the pride of the world-conquering Romans. Jerusalem
was liberated! And in commemoration the Jews coined some new silver
shekels bearing on one side the inscription "Jerusalem the Holy."
Were the Christianized Jews in Jerusalem and in the province of Judea
deceived by this reestablishing of the independence of this land of the
Jews? Not those who took to heart Jesus' prophecy and his counsel. They
had actually seen the holy city of Jerusalem surrounded by encamped
armies. They had seen the "disgusting thing that causes desolation,"
with its military standards that were idolized as gods by the soldiers,
standing "in a holy place," "standing where it ought not." (Mark 13:14)From this they were to "know that the desolating of her [Jerusalem] has
drawn near." (Luke 21:20) It was now high time either to get out of
Jerusalem or not to enter into her but to flee from all the province of
Judea to the mountains outside, for instance, eastward across the
Jordan River to the province of Perea. There, outside the doomed
territory, these Christianized Jews could continue their preaching of
the good news of God's true Messianic kingdom, instead of perishing
with the doomed unbelieving Jews.
The independence of the Jews in Judea proved to be of short duration.
Roman General Vespasian succeeded to General Gallus and reached
Palestine early in the following year, 67 C.E. His endeavors to get the
rest of the country under control allowed for the Jews to strengthen
their defenses. After the death of Emperor Nero in 68 C.E., Vespasian
was elevated to imperial power. Leaving Palestine, he reached Rome
about the middle of 70 C.E. He left his son General Titus in charge of
Roman military forces in Syria. The Jewish Passover of the year 70
approached, and the non-Christian Jews flocked to the city of Jerusalem
for the celebration. It was then that General Titus came with four
legions and bottled up the celebrating Jews inside the city. To starve
out the rebellious Jews, he did what Jesus had foretold, build a
fortified stockade, "a fortification with pointed stakes," about five
miles long all around the city, to prevent any Jews from escaping.
The straits of the cooped-up Jews inside Jerusalem became desperate.
The first-century Jewish historian, Flavius Josephus, in his writings,
vividly describes the horrors resulting from the Roman siege. The loss
of Jewish lives was mounting higher and higher. It appeared that, ifthe siege lasted too long, "no flesh" inside the besieged city would
survive. It was as Jesus had foretold concerning this "great
tribulation" upon Jerusalem and Judea: "In fact, unless Jehovah had cut
short the days, no flesh would be saved. But on account of the chosen
ones whom he has chosen he has cut short the days."-Mark 13:19, 20.
Providentially, the days of the siege proved to be relatively short,
just 142 days, counted from Nisan 14 to Elul 7, or parts of six lunar
months. That is to say, according to the Gregorian calendar, by August
30, 70 C.E., it was all over. Some Jewish flesh was permitted to
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survive, 97,000 Jews, according to Josephus' account, whereas he
reports that 1,100,000 perished in the siege. Were those 97,000
survivors the "chosen ones" on account of whom Jehovah had cut short
the days? Not unless you would call them chosen for captivity and
enslavement. For it was just as Jesus had said: "There will be great
necessity upon the land and wrath on this people; and they will fall by
the edge of the sword and be led captive into all the nations; and
Jerusalem will be trampled on by the nations, until the appointed times
of the nations are fulfilled."-Luke 21:23, 24.
No! the "chosen ones" on account of whom the number of days of
Jerusalem's "great tribulation" was cut short were not those 97,000
miserable Jewish captives, upon whom Jehovah's great "wrath" rested in
those "days for meting out justice." Jehovah's "chosen ones" were the
Christianized Jews, to whom he had given the signal to flee without
delay from all of Judea, including its capital Jerusalem. He desired
all of them to get safely out of the danger zone, by acting in faith on
Jesus' counsel to flee promptly after seeing the "disgusting thing that
causes desolation, as spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing in a
holy place." After Jehovah got all these "chosen" disciples of his Son
Jesus Christ out of the place upon which divine justice was to be metedout, he could let the execution of his vengeance upon the rebellious
Jews be of short duration. As it is written: "Jehovah will make an
accounting on the earth, concluding it and cutting it short." (Romans
9:28; Isaiah 10:23) Rightly, then, "on account of the chosen ones"
those days of great tribulation on Jerusalem were cut short.
Secular history records the accuracy of Jesus' prophecy. But with this
account of the destruction of earthly Jerusalem the prophecy of Jesus
does not end, for there is more to say concerning the "sign" of his
presence and of the "conclusion of the system of things." He looks
beyond the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 C.E., for he says, in Luke
21:24: "And Jerusalem will be trampled on by the nations, until the
appointed times of the nations are fulfilled." Jesus looked to the
fulfilled "end" of those appointed times of the nations, usually called
the Gentile Times. That means that he looked forward to the year 1914
C.E., for in that year the right of Jerusalem to have a Messianic
kingdom in the hands of the Permanent Heir of King David ceased being
trampled on by the nations. Why do we say this, inasmuch as in the year
1914 the rebuilt city of Jerusalem over in the Middle East was still
under control of the Mohammedan Turks? It is because, in that year, at
the close of the Gentile Times, Jehovah God enthroned the Permanent
Heir of King David, not in the Turk-controlled earthly Jerusalem, but
in the heavenly Jerusalem.-Hebrews 12:22.
FULFILLMENT UPON ANTITYPICAL UNFAITHFUL JERUSALEM
It becomes plain that, in his prophecy, Jesus was using the city ofJerusalem not only in a literal sense but also in a typical sense, as
prefiguring something else of greater proportions. Otherwise, he would
not have said concerning her destruction in 70 C.E., "then there will
be great tribulation such as has not occurred since the world's
beginning until now, no, nor will occur again." (Matthew 24:21; Mark
13:19) All informed persons know that Jerusalem's destruction in 70
C.E. was not the worst catastrophe since the world's beginning, for,
what about the global deluge of Noah's day? And as for the equal of
Jerusalem's destruction by the Romans never occurring after 70 C.E.,
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what about World War I and World War II in this twentieth century?
Jesus' language was not exaggerated, but evidently he was thinking of
Jerusalem as a prophetic type, as a warning example of something that
would embrace the whole world in a similar destruction. He was thinking
of the antitypical unfaithful Jerusalem, namely, one of modern times.
And what is that? It is Christendom with her hundreds of conflicting
religious sects.-1 Corinthians 10:11.
This application of Jesus' prophecy holds true, not only as to
Christendom's approaching destruction with all her political,
commercial, military and judicial paramours, but also as to the world
events that immediately lead up to her annihilation. Christendom now
lives in a period of time that resembles in her twentieth-century
experiences the period of time from Jesus' prophecy given on the Mount
of Olives until the Romans destroyed Jerusalem and her temple in 70
C.E. This particular corresponding period of time for Christendom began
at the close of the "appointed times of the nations" in the year 1914.
Consider world happenings since then.
What things did Jesus say would be a "beginning of pangs of distress"?
Were they not to be wars, food shortage, earthquakes, pestilences?(Matthew 24:7, 8; Mark 13:8; Luke 21:10, 11) What "wars" in the days of
Christ's apostles in the first century can compare with World Wars I
and II, not to speak of all the other wars since the close of World War
II in 1945 C.E.? Did the famines, earthquakes, pestilences of the years
33 to 70 C.E. surpass the food shortages, earthquakes and pestilences
Christendom and all the rest of the world have had since the end of the
Gentile Times in 1914?
Jesus also told his apostles that his disciples would be sorely
persecuted, being delivered up to tribulation and being killed, yes, of
their becoming an object of hatred by all the nations; also, of the
arising of false prophets, false Messiahs, and of the increasing of
lawlessness toward God with a consequent cooling off of the quality of
love on the part of the great majority of professed religionists; also,
of the need of Christian endurance during such a time as that. (Matthew
24:9-13; Mark 13:9-13; Luke 21:12-19) Such developments marked
apostolic times of the first century. And what about world developments
since the Gentile Times ended in 1914? Has the world become so
converted to Christianity that the persecution of Christ's true
disciples has ceased? Is there any religious minority that is more the
object of "hatred by all the nations on account of my [Christ's] name"
than Jehovah's witnesses? Are there any religious persecutions greater
than those heaped upon these Christian witnesses of Jehovah all the way
from 1914 down to the present time? A record is there for all to
consult.
There was another distinguishing feature about that apostolic period ofthe first century prior to 70 C.E. To his Jewish opposers in Jerusalem,
Jesus said: "The kingdom of God will be taken from you and be given to
a nation producing its fruits." (Matthew 21:43) Even with their false
Messiahs the Jews were not producing the fruits of God's kingdom by
proclaiming it to the Gentiles. Before Jerusalem's destruction, they
did not take up the message of John the Baptist and proclaim that the
kingdom of the heavens was at hand. No, for during his last visit to
the temple in Jerusalem Jesus said to the religious scribes and
Pharisees: "You shut up the kingdom of the heavens before men; for you
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yourselves do not go in, neither do you permit those on their way in to
go in." (Matthew 23:13) To whom, then, goes the credit for a
fulfillment before the year 70 C.E. of Jesus' dynamic words: "And this
good news of the kingdom will be preached in all the inhabited earth
for a witness to all the nations"? (Matthew 24:14; Mark 13:10) It goes
to those who were the "objects of hatred by all the nations on account
of my name"-his own disciples.
Similarly, in this corresponding period since the close of the Gentile
Times in 1914 C.E., it is those who are outstandingly the "objects of
hatred by all the nations on account of [Christ's] name" that are
bringing about a modern-day fulfillment of Jesus' prophecy concerning
the good news of God's kingdom. They are the ones who, despite hatred
and persecution, have filled the inhabited earth with the preaching of
the good news of God's Messianic kingdom for a witness to all the
nations. This is not the message of God's kingdom such as Christendom
has been preaching since the start of her existence in the days of
Emperor Constantine in the fourth century-a kingdom within her hundreds
of millions of church members, in their hearts, a kingdom that is
finally realized by world conversion to Christendom's churches. In
stark contrast, the kingdom preached by Jehovah's Christian witnessessince the end of the Gentile Times in 1914 is a real government that
was born in the heavens in that year. It is the established kingdom of
God in the hands of the Permanent Heir of King David, and it will put
an end to all the political governments of this earth and bless earth's
inhabitants with everlasting life, peace and happiness.
This remarkable accomplishment, the preaching of such good news in all
the inhabited earth for an international witness, by Jehovah's
Christian witnesses is significant. It is a brightly shining feature of
the "sign" that was to mark the "presence" or parousia of the reigning
King Jesus Christ in spirit. Since the year of his enthronement in the
heavens at God's right hand that preaching from door to door and by all
other means of modern communication has been carried on by Jehovah's
Christian witnesses for well over half a century, notwithstanding world
wars and other large-scale calamities. Evidently the completing of the
witness to all the nations concerning God's Messianic kingdom that is
about to take over all mankind's affairs must be very near. This
worldwide Kingdom-preaching was to precede "the end." All the inhabited
earth has now heard the Kingdom-preaching. No longer do "all the
nations" remain without a witness to them. "And then the end will
come," said Jesus, for this system of things! [source - Completion of
the Foretold "Sign" Nears, pages 293-308]
THE FACTS ON 1 JOHN 2:18:
1 John 2:18, "Little children, it is the last hour: and as ye heard
that antichrist cometh, even now have there arisen many antichrists;whereby we know that it is the last hour." (ASV).
By the last hour, John evidently meant that of the Apostolic age as he
was very old and all the other apostles had died, and that there would
be a falling away. John's statement shows that there are many
individual antichrists, though all together they may form a composite
person designated "the antichrist." Per 2 John 7, "For manydeceivers
have gone forth into the world, persons not confessing Jesus Christ as
coming in the flesh. This is the deceiver and the antichrist." (The
Kingdom Interlinear Translation of the Greek Scriptures; KIT).
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However the expreeion 'hour' refers to a period of time of undetermined
length. Thus, He thus did not restrict the appearance, existence, and
activity of such antichrist to some future time only but showed that
the antichrist was then present and would continue on per 1 John 4:3,
and every spirit that confesseth not Jesus is not of God: and this is
the [spirit] of the antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it cometh;
and now it is in the world already." (ASV).
And,
"The "last days" mentioned by Paul at 2 Timothy 3:1-7 refer to the time
after the apostasy had had its long day under the "man of lawlessness"
referred to at 2 Thessalonians 2:3-12. All the matters mentioned in 2
Timothy 3:1-7 are 'fruits' of apostasy that are grossly apparent in our
time. This does not refer to the first century, as the "man of
lawlessness" was not then evident. These "last days" are therefore
different from the "last hour" mentioned at 1 John 2:18, which refers
to the closing period of apostolic restraint against lawlessness. This
"restraint" was taken away at the death of John, the last of the
apostles.-2 Thess. 2:7." [source - WT 08/15/1976, page 512]
THE FACTS ON MATTHEW 23:26:
Matthew 23:26, "Verily I say unto you, All these things shall come upon
this generation." (ASV).
"When Jesus' apostles asked for a "sign" about his presence and the
conclusion of the system of things, he gave his famous prophecy about
coming wars, famines, earthquakes and the preaching of the good news of
the Kingdom before the end. (Matt. 24, 25; Mark 13; Luke 21) He also
said: "Truly I say to you that this generation will by no means pass
away until all these things occur."-Matt. 24:34
Based on the Bible and its fulfillment in history, Jehovah's Witnesses
have often pointed out that Christ's prophecy was to have two
applications: First, between 33 C.E. and the [minor fulfillment]
destruction of Jerusalem in 70 C.E.; second, a larger [or major
fulfillment] fulfillment in this "time of the end" since 1914 C.E.
However, some Bible commentators have failed to appreciate the dual
aspect of this prophecy. So they have held that by the term
"generation" Jesus meant a race or people, such as the Jewish people or
the class of wicked humans existing through the centuries. They might
even refer to 1 Peter 2:9, which, in the Authorized Version, speaks of
the anointed Christian congregation as "a chosen generation." However,
Bible scholars now recognize that the Greek word in 1 Peter 2:9 should
be rendered "race" and is different from the word rendered "generation"
in Matthew 24:34.
Jesus was not referring to a race of people over the centuries or just
to Christians. He was first of all referring to his listeners and other
Jews at that time. An indication of this is the fact that earlier that
day, when condemning the Jewish religious leaders, Jesus spoke of their
murdering the prophets and said: "All these things will come upon this
generation." (Matt. 23:36) These words came true on the contemporary
generation when in 70 C.E. the Jews in Jerusalem faced its fiery
destruction. (Luke 3:16, 17) That also marked the 'conclusion of the
Jewish system of things' in the first fulfillment of Christ's prophecy.
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This helps us to understand "generation" in Matthew 24:34. In common
English usage today "generation" might be used for (1) all persons who
were born and who live about the same time, or (2) the average span
between the birth of parents and that of their children, usually 20 to
30 years. Which did Jesus mean? Obviously not the latter, for in its
first application the "generation" ran from 33 C.E. until 70 C.E., or
at least 37 years.
Also, it is evident that by the word "generation" Jesus did not mean
just the Jewish children born in 33 C.E. Luke relates that after being
asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom was coming, Jesus told his
disciples: "[The Son of man] must undergo many sufferings and be
rejected by this generation." (Luke 17:20-25) That rejection certainly
was not by newborn babies. Likewise, the way things worked out shows
that the "generation" he spoke of in Matthew 24:34 included his
listeners and others who could discern the fulfillment of his words
from 33 C.E. onward until Jerusalem's destruction.
Thus, when it comes to the application in our time, the "generation"
logically would not apply to babies born during World War I. It appliesto Christ's followers and others who were able to observe that war and
the other things that have occurred in fulfillment of Jesus' composite
"sign." Some of such persons "will by no means pass away until" all of
what Christ prophesied occurs, including the end of the present wicked
system.
Jesus did not encourage his followers to try to calculate the exact
length of this "generation." (Ps. 90:10) Instead of trying to figure
how many more years, at the maximum, there may be until the end,
Christians should remember Jesus' warning: "Keep on the watch . . .
because at an hour that you do not think to be it, the Son of man is
coming."-Matt. 24:42-44.
We have ample evidence that Matthew chapter 24 is being fulfilled now,
during "the conclusion of the system of things." One proof is the
earth-wide preaching of the good news of the established Messianic
kingdom, which Jesus said must be done before the end comes. (Matt.
24:14) So, rather than being drawn into speculation about a date that
we cannot know, let true Christians actively share in that important
preaching, as they look forward confidently to the fulfillment of
Jesus' words about "this generation" at Matthew 24:34. [source - WT
10/01/1978, page 31].
THE FACTS ON LUKE 11:47 AND 51:
Luke 11:47, "Woe unto you! for ye build the tombs of the prophets, and
your fathers killed them" (ASV)..
And,
Luke 11:51, "from the blood of Abel unto the blood of Zachariah, who
perished between the altar and the sanctuary: yea, I say unto you, it
shall be required of this generation." (ASV).
Here, Jesus explained to his disciples the reason for his coming John
14:2-3 " In my Father's house are many mansions; if it were not so, I
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would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you. 3 And if I go
and prepare a place for you, I come again, and will receive you unto
myself; that where I am, [there] ye may be also." (ASV).
"Shortly before instituting the Lord's Evening Meal, Jesus told his
faithful apostles that he had to go away. He meant, of course, that
after he died later that day, he had to go his way to heaven. Peter
reacted by asking to be allowed to follow him. Thereupon Jesus said:
"Do not let your hearts be troubled. Exercise faith in God, exercise
faith also in me. In the house of my Father there are many abodes.
Otherwise, I would have told you, because I am going my way to prepare
a place for you. Also, if I go my way and prepare a place for you, I am
coming again and will receive you home to myself, that where I am you
also may be."-John 14:1-3.
What "abodes" needed to be prepared for the apostles? Some Bible
translators have rendered John 14:2 in a way that suggests that Jesus
was talking about the apostles' needing "resting-places" on their way
to heaven or their finding various rooms in heaven. Yet, W. E. Vine
says about the Greek word involved: "There is nothing in the word to
indicate separate compartments in Heaven; neither does it suggesttemporary resting-places on the road." The word means simply a place to
abide. So Jesus was promising abiding places in the spiritual heavens
where he was going to be with his Father.-Ephesians 1:20; 1 Peter 1:4;
3:21, 22.
But in what way would Jesus prepare such abodes for his loyal
followers? Having died a sacrificial death, Jesus went to heaven to
present before God the value of his lifeblood. This would first benefit
those who would be called to be joint heirs of heavenly life. The
apostle Paul wrote: "Christ entered, not into a holy place made with
hands, which is a copy of the reality, but into heaven itself, now to
appear before the person of God for us." (Hebrews 9:12, 24-28; Romans
6:5; 8:17) So when Jesus told the apostles that he was going to
"prepare a place for" them, he certainly would have in mind his
'appearing before the person of God for' them. Only after he did that
could they or other humans follow him to heaven.-Philippians 3:20, 21.
Did Jesus have to do other things to prepare a place for them? In time,
he would assume kingly power and would war against Satan, casting him
and his demons out of heaven. (Revelation 12:7-9) This would occur
prior to the start of the heavenly resurrection of the apostles and
other anointed ones sleeping in death. (1 Thessalonians 4:14-17)
Whether Jesus' comment about 'preparing a place for' his followers
included his casting Satan out of heaven, we cannot say.
Moreover, we do not know if Jesus had other assignments that had to do
with preparing a place in heaven for anointed Christians. Yet, at leastwe can be sure that Jesus did prepare the way for his anointed
followers by presenting to God the value of his "precious blood." (1
Peter 1:19) On the basis of that blood, the new covenant was
established between Jehovah God and spirit-anointed Christians. [source
- WT 05/15/1988 page 31].
"God's Kingdom Comes to Power in the Midst of Its Enemies
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FOR thousands of years men of faith have lived in eager expectation of
the day when God's kingdom would begin its rule. They have felt keenly
the need for God to take a direct hand in earth's affairs. Does this
mean that God has not been King during the centuries past? No, for
Jehovah has always been the Supreme Ruler of the universe. (Jeremiah
10:10) But here at the earth his rulership has been challenged. And, as
we have already seen, for sound reasons and with a loving purpose in
view, God has allowed human governments under the influence of Satan to
rule for a fixed period of time.
Jehovah promised, however, that at the end of that time he would take
direct action against all rebels and opposers of his rule. And he would
bring the earth and its inhabitants completely under his rule again.
How? By the Kingdom, a new heavenly government under his Son Christ
Jesus. So the coming of that kingdom to power means that great changes
are near at hand. It means that Jehovah God has given to his Son
"rulership and dignity and kingdom, that the peoples, national groups
and languages should all serve even him."-Daniel 7:13, 14.
That event has already taken place in heaven. Kingdom authority has
already been given to Jehovah's Son. Does that sound strange to you? Itmight, especially in view of the terrible conditions afflicting
mankind. But, really, it is because of these very conditions that we
can be certain that this is true. Why is this?
This is so because the coming to power of Jehovah's kingdom is not
welcomed by all creatures. Not everyone wants to live under a
government that insists on righteousness. (Luke 19:11-14) For this
reason, Jehovah long ago recorded in his Word that when he 'begins
ruling as king' toward the earth 'the nations would become wrathful.'
(Revelation 11:17, 18) He foretold that, at the time of empowering his
Son to act, it would be necessary for him to say: "Go subduing in the
midst of your enemies."-Psalm 110:2 [109:2, Dy].
Christ Jesus would then oust Satan from heaven, the seat of government,
hurling him down to the vicinity of the earth, in preparation for
putting him completely out of action. In the heavens the grand
announcement would then be made: "Now have come to pass the salvation
and the power and the kingdom of our God and the authority of his
Christ." But for the earth, what? "Woe . . . , because the Devil has
come down to you, having great anger, knowing he has a short period of
time." (Revelation 12:5, 7-10, 12) Full control of earth by God's
kingdom must soon follow! However, the start of the rule by God's
kingdom does not mean immediate peace and righteousness on earth. To
the contrary, it triggers a period of unprecedented trouble for earth's
inhabitants.
Realizing this, we can better understand the meaning of what Jesus toldhis followers about his second presence. They had asked him: "Tell us,
When will these things be, and what will be the sign of your presence
and of the conclusion of the system of things?" (Matthew 24:3) Jesus
then described, for their benefit and ours, what would take place on
earth when he would begin to rule in heaven. In this way, although the
events in heaven would be invisible to human eyes, there would be
visible proof that Christ was at last on the throne, taking action as
king. It would be proof that the wicked system of things that has
oppressed mankind for centuries had entered its "last days." (2 Timothy
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3:1) Although it was foretold that there would be ridiculers that would
try to belittle the facts, yet the evidence would be clear.-2 Peter
3:3, 4.
As we consider the evidence together, it is important to realize that
Jesus did not say that any one event, such as threat of war or a
terrible earthquake, would be the proof that "the end" was at hand.
(Matthew 24:6) Rather, he said: "Note the fig tree and all the other
trees: When they are already in the bud, by observing it you know for
yourselves that now the summer is near. In this way you also, when you
see these things occurring, know that the kingdom of God is near."
(Luke 21:29-31) If we see one tree put out its leaves in midwinter
because the weather is warm for a few days, we do not reason that
summer has come, do we? But when we see all the trees budding and the
days growing longer we know that summer has to be near. Likewise, when
all the things that Jesus described take place, we can know for sure
that Christ is on his heavenly throne and that his kingdom has, indeed,
begun active rule. When that happens, liberation is near!
FULFILLMENT OF "THE SIGN"
Exactly what did Jesus point to as marking his second presence and the
"conclusion of the system of things"? He said: "Nation will rise
against nation and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be food
shortages and earthquakes in one place after another." (Matthew 24:7)
Here Jesus tells us to look for a new kind of warfare-total war! The
war that began in 1914 fits his description. Not only did armies fight
on the battlefields; civilian populations too were organized to give
full support to the war. As Jesus foretold, entire nations and kingdoms
were fighting against one another. For the first time in history the
whole world was at war. Hence it is called "World War I." Of it the
book World War I said:
"In its scope, its violence, and above all, in its totality, it
established a precedent. World War I ushered in the century of Total
War, of-in the first full sense of the term-global war.
"Never before 1914-1918 had a war absorbed so much of the total
resources of so many combatants and covered so large a part of the
earth. Never had so many nations been involved. Never had the slaughter
been so comprehensive and indiscriminate."
The World Book Encyclopedia noted that the number of soldiers killed
and wounded was over 37,000,000, and added:
"The number of civilian deaths in areas of actual war totaled about
5,000,000. Starvation, disease, and exposure accounted for about 80 of
every 100 of these civilian deaths. Spanish influenza, which some
persons blamed on the war, caused tens of millions of other deaths."
This was just as Jesus foretold. Put together, these facts mark 1914 as
the beginning of the "last days" and the year that God's heavenly
kingdom began its active rule.-See also Luke 21:10, 11.
Also, after 1914 a series of earthquakes rocked the earth, causing
great damage. In 1915, in Italy, nearly 30,000 were killed. In 1920, in
China, 180,000 died. In 1923, 143,000 died in Japan. And major
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earthquakes have continued to take place with unusual frequency since
then. As Jesus foretold, they are another mark of the "last days."
However, Jesus said that the events that marked the beginning of the
"last days" in 1914 were only the "beginning of pangs of distress."
(Matthew 24:8) Greater trouble was to come. True to his prophecy, it
did. The World Book Encyclopedia says: "World War I and its aftermath
led to the greatest economic depression in history during the early
1930's. The consequences of the war and the problems of adjustment to
peace led to unrest in almost every nation." This paved the way for
World War II. And of that war the same source notes:
World War II killed more persons, cost more money, damaged more
property, affected more people . . . than any other war in history. . .
. It has been estimated that the number of war dead, civilian and
military, totaled more than 22,000,000. The number of wounded has been
estimated as more than 34,000,000."
Truly, the "pangs of distress" Jesus foretold have become greater as
the "last days" move toward their climax.
During and after World War II widespread food shortages added to thedistress. Shortly after the war Look magazine observed:
"A fourth of the world is starving today. Tomorrow will even be worse.
Famine over most of the world now is more terrible than most of us can
imagine. . . . There are now more people hunting desperately for food
than at any other time in history."
More recent reports have shown that a constant lack of adequate food,
resulting in chronic malnutrition, has become the "major world hunger
problem today." The London Times reported:
"There have always been famines, but the scale and ubiquity [presence
everywhere] of hunger today is on a totally new scale. . . . Today
malnutrition is said to affect more than a thousand million people;
perhaps as many as 400 million live constantly on the brink of
starvation."-June 3, 1980.
Jesus also foretold the "increasing of lawlessness" as a mark of the
"last days." (Matthew 24:12) And God inspired the apostle Paul to add:
"In the last days . . . men will be lovers of themselves, . . .
disobedient to parents, . . . without self-control, fierce, without
love of goodness, . . . lovers of pleasures rather than lovers of
God, . . . wicked men and impostors will advance from bad to worse." (2
Timothy 3:1-5, 13) These are the conditions that have developed at an
explosive rate since 1914! You have seen them with your own eyes, have
you not? Throughout the world lawlessness is running wild. Said one
lawyer: "Almost everywhere, including Soviet Russia, there appears to
be an increase in crime, and particularly, alas, in juvenile crime."
From nation after nation come reports such as the following:
"A wave of crime and rioting is sweeping across the United States . . .
In many cities, women are afraid to go out after dark. And they have
good reason. Rapes, assaults, sadistic outbursts of senseless violence
are on the rise. Crimes often seem to be committed out of sheer
savagery . . . Respect for law and order is declining."
As another feature of the "last days," Jesus spoke of great confusion
and fear among the nations and their leaders. He foretold: "On the
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earth anguish of nations, not knowing the way out . . . men become
faint out of fear and expectation of the things coming upon the
inhabited earth." (Luke 21:25, 26) The fulfillment of this prophecy is
evident in the news of our time. U.S. News & World Report said:
"Is the world in greater tumult than before World War II? No doubt.
"Shooting troubles, on the average, erupt once a month. Counting out
real wars like Korea and Vietnam, the record still shows over 300
revolutions, coups, uprisings, rebellions and insurrections worldwide
since the end of World War II."
Added to all these things is the fear of being destroyed by the huge
supply of nuclear weapons some nations possess. One news editor
commented: "The fact is that today the biggest single emotion which
dominates our lives is fear." It is just as Jesus foretold: mankind is
fearful and the nations are in anguish.
All the foretold marks of the "last days" are here. They prove beyond a
doubt that we have been in the "last days" since 1914. Hence it was in
that year that God's heavenly kingdom came to power!-Revelation 11:17,
18.
It is true that in past generations there were periods marked by
violence and much immoral conduct. The decline of the Roman Empire is
an example. But never before in human history have all the conditions
specified by Jesus been observed in the same generation. And never
before have they existed at the same time in every nation of the earth.
Today we live, not merely in the last days of one political empire, but
in the "last days" of the entire wicked system controlled by Satan.
1914 A MARKED YEAR
Years in advance Bible scholars realized that 1914 was to be a year of
great significance. Bible chronology specifically points to that year,
and careful students of God's Word knew that. They expected great
changes to take place, and the facts confirm that 1914 was, indeed, a
marked year.
Others with knowledge of world affairs fully agree that 1914 was a
marked year. The London Evening Star commented that World War I "tore
the whole world's political setup apart. Nothing could ever be the same
again. . . . some historian in the next century may well conclude that
the day the world went mad was August 4, 1914." Of the great change
1914 made, the historian H. R. Trevor-Roper said:
"It is instructive to compare the first World War with the second . . .
the first war marked a far greater change in history. It closed a long
era of general peace and began a new age of violence in which the
second war is simply an episode. Since 1914 the world has had a newcharacter: a character of international anarchy. . . . Thus the first
World War marks a turning point in modern history."
World leaders have also commented on the significance of the year 1914.
Former chancellor of West Germany Konrad Adenauer spoke of the time
"before 1914 when there was real peace, quiet and security on this
earth-a time when we didn't know fear." Then he added: "Security and
quiet have disappeared from the lives of men since 1914. And peace?
Since 1914, the Germans have not known real peace nor has much of
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mankind," Note, too, the comment in the book entitled "1914." The
author says: "In the year 1914 the world, as it was known and accepted
then, came to an end. Far more than any year before or since was this
the punctuation-mark of the twentieth century . . . from then on
nothing could ever be the same."
Satan the Devil and his demons know they have only "a short period of
time" left before their destruction. (Revelation 12:12) Even when Jesus
was on earth, the demons knew that someday they would be destroyed.
They showed a vicious disposition back then, and now that they know
their time is short they are more vicious and desperate than ever.
(Luke 8:27-33) They are out to stir up all the trouble that they can,
in order to direct the attention of mankind away from the kingdom of
God. That is why this wicked system of things has been behaving so
crazily since 1914. It is behaving like a top, a child's toy, that
wobbles crazily just before it tumbles to a complete stop.
Are we disheartened by this situation? Jesus said that his disciples
would have reason to lift their heads up. Why? Because they realize the
meaning of it all. They see in these events proof that deliverance is
near! (Luke 21:28) And they do not keep this joyful news to themselves,
but in all the earth they are preaching the thrilling news that thekingdom of God now rules. As Jesus foretold: "This good news of the
kingdom will be preached in all the inhabited earth for a witness to
all the nations; and then the end will come." (Matthew 24:14) This,
too, is part of the "sign." In North and South America, Europe, Africa,
Asia and the islands of the seas Jehovah's witnesses zealously keep
proclaiming this urgent message. In both large cities and small
villages you will find them, in all parts of the earth. Yes, this part
of the "sign" is also being fulfilled.
Beyond all doubt, the evidence points to 1914 as the year when the
kingdom of God went into operation, and that event is causing things to
happen here on earth. In that same year "the present wicked system of
things" entered its "last days." (Galatians 1:4) Soon, now, the prayer
for God's kingdom to "come" will be answered, when it displays its
great power by destroying Satan's entire wicked system. Then God's
kingdom alone will operate as the one government to rule the earth
throughout eternity. (Daniel 2:44) Taking direct control of all earth's
affairs, it will shower down on obedient mankind blessings of peace,
happiness and life. The prayer for 'God's will to take place, as in
heaven, also upon earth,' will have had glorious fulfillment, for God's
kingdom will have come to rule forever. And think of it! You may enjoy
eternal life under the loving rule of that kingdom.-Matthew 6:9, 10.
[source - The Truth, Chapter 10, pages 82-93]
CONCLUSION:
As can be seen, there is both a minor and a major fulfillment of all of
these prophecies.
Now to know the truth, go to:
1) http://religioustruths.yuku.com/
2) http://www.network54.com/Forum/403209/
3) http://religioustruths.lefora.com/
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If you wish more information and/or wish to ask a question or what
ever, contact me by leaving a PM (personal message) at
http://religioustruths.yuku.com/
Your Friend in Christ Iris89
Francis David said it long ago, "Neither the sword of popes...nor the
image of death will halt the march of truth."Francis David, 1579,
written on the wall of his prison cell." Read the book, "What Does
The Bible Really Teach" and the Bible today!