Lesson 7
Jesus spent the years of His ministry preparing His disciples for the coming of His kingdom.
He also prepared them for the coming judgment against the Israelite nation. All through the many generations and turbulent cycles of rebellion, punishment and repentance, God had always spoken words of comfort to His faithful children. He had provided and cared for them. Let’s consider some passages where we can see God’s reassurance to His faithful that He would take care of them even during the times He is punishing and causing great havoc in the lives of the rebellious. Remember that the enemies of God were always enemies to God’s faithful on earth as well. God’s enemies persecuted the faithful.
9. Name a faithful Israelite servant who lived during the time God punished Israel by sending them into Babylonian captivity.
Christ neared the end of His ministry on earth and God’s great wrath was ready to be poured out on the wicked of Israel who had rebelled against God. First Christ had to take great care that the righteous would not be harmed along with the evil. When God’s judgment came upon Israel this time, it would not be a mere dragging into captivity by the rings in their noses. This time when God poured out His wrath by the hands of human foes, whom He was preparing for this purpose, He planned to wipe the evil Israelites off the face of the earth.
The Israelites would suffer great famine, sickness, dying, and fires. In the process the Jewish system of religion, law and long lists of genealogy would also be destroyed. God planned to break their power and to purge the earth of their influence. This was in order that the slate would be clean and nothing would remain on earth to rule the hearts of men that had come from above except the Law of Christ from God’s dear Son.
As long as the Old Law remained with a powerful Jewish system to enforce it, as existed in Jerusalem at that time, it would always compete with Christ. It would always overshadow His power. God was bringing His Son into glory. His Wonderful, Glorious Kingdom was coming and it must shine and it alone!
God, therefore, had a plan to guarantee that His faithful children would not be wiped along with the evil ones when the day of His wrath came. Christ accomplished this plan by teaching His disciples concerning what He planned to do and then He gave them signs to look for so that they would know when the time of His vengeance was drawing near. By knowing this they would be able hurry away before the destruction began. Let’s take a look at a session Christ had with some of his disciples as He prepared them for the seven final plagues:
Christ and his disciples stood looking at the Temple buildings in Jerusalem:
10. And Jesus said to them, “Do you not see all these things? Assuredly, I say to you, not one stone shall be left here upon another, that shall not be ________ ________ .” (Matthew 24:2)
Christ had their attention.
11. So they asked Him, saying, “Teacher, but _______ will these things be? And what sign will there be when these things are ______ ___ take place?” (Luke 21:7)
Jesus then went with His disciples, Peter, Andrew, James and John and sat on the Mount of Olives opposite the Temple. He talked privately with them answering their questions about the coming destruction of Jerusalem:
12. And He said: “Take heed that you not be _______ . For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am He,’ and, ‘The time has drawn near.’ Therefore do not go after them. (Luke 21:8)
13.
But when you hear of wars and commotions, do not be terrified; for these things
must come to pass first, but the ____ will not come
__________ .” (Luke 21:9)
14. Then He said to them, “Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be great earthquakes in various places, and famines and pestilences; and there will be fearful sights and _____ _____ from heaven. (Luke 21:10-11)
After Christ returned to Heaven in the clouds the Church would begin in Jerusalem on the Day of Pentecost. The Apostles would receive the Holy Spirit and begin to teach how to become a Christian. The disciples would be given the ability to do many miracles and signs for the purpose of confirming the message they went everywhere teaching. Persecution would arise against the disciples. Christ taught them that it was during this time that they would hear of all kinds of rumors. Some would say that Christ had returned and that the time was drawing near for the destruction of Jerusalem to begin. Christ told them to ignore all of this.
15.
For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will
be earthquakes in various places, and there will be _____ and _____.These are
the beginnings of sorrows (Mark13:8)
16. “But watch out for yourselves, for they will deliver you up to councils, and you will be beaten in the ________. You will be brought before rulers and kings for My sake, for a ________ to them. (Mark 13:9)
17. And the gospel must first be preached to ____ ___ _______. (Mark 13:10)
Jesus foretold of all kinds of unrest and strange happenings that would come. “These”, He said, “Are the beginning of sorrows!” When they saw these things beginning to happen they would know that it was beginning!!! In Acts we learn of the persecution of Christians such as the stoning of Stephen and as Jesus foretold a great famine came upon the world:
18. Now those who were scattered after the __________ that arose over Stephen traveled as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus, and Antioch, preaching the word to no one but the Jews only. (Acts 11:19)
19. But some of them were men from Cyprus and Cyrene, who, when they had come to Antioch, spoke to the Hellenists, preaching the Lord Jesus. (Acts 11:20) And the hand of the Lord was with them, and a great number ________ and turned to the Lord.... And in these days prophets came from Jerusalem to Antioch. (Acts 11: 27)
20. Then one of them, named Agabus, stood up and showed by the Spirit that there was going to be a _______ _______ throughout all the world, which also happened in the days of Claudius Caesar. (Acts 11:28)
Christ told them of the persecutions they would face and that they would be brought before rulers and kings for His sake. We have evidence of Paul’s success in teaching the gospel in the royal places:
21. Then (King) Agrippa said to Festus, “I also would like to ____ the man (Paul) myself.” “Tomorrow,” he said, “you shall _____ him.” (Acts 25:22)
22. So the next day, when Agrippa and Bernice had come with _____ ______,
and had entered the auditorium with the commanders and the prominent men of the
city, at Festus’ command _____ was brought in.
(Acts
25:23)
23.
Then Agrippa said to Paul, “You ______ persuade me to become a
Christian.” (Acts
26:28)
24. And Paul said, “I would to God that not only you, but also all who hear me
today, might become both _______ and
_______ such as I am, except for these chains.”
(Acts
26:29)
25.
And Festus said: “King Agrippa and all the men who are here
present with us, you see this man about whom the whole assembly of the Jews
petitioned me, both at Jerusalem and here, crying out that he was not ____
____ ______ any longer. (Acts
25:24)
26. Now as he thus made his defense, Festus said with a loud voice,
“Paul, you are beside yourself! _____ ______
is driving you mad!”
(Acts
26:24)
27. But he said, “I am not mad, most ______ Festus, but speak the
words of truth and reason. (Acts
26:25)
28. And provide mounts to set Paul on, and bring him safely to Felix the _____.” (Acts 23:24)
29. And after some days, when Felix came with his wife Drusilla, who was Jewish, he sent for Paul and heard him ______ ___ _______ in Christ. (Acts 24:24)
30. Now as he reasoned about _______, ______, and the ______ to come, Felix was afraid and answered, “Go away for now; when I have a convenient time I will call for you.” (Acts 24:25)
31. Meanwhile he also hoped that _____ would be given him by Paul, that he might release him. Therefore he sent for him more often and conversed with him. (Acts 24:26)
Paul ended the book of Philippians with this greeting:
32. All the saints greet you, but especially those who are of ________ household (Philippians 4:22)
As Jesus explained all that would happen before the destruction of Jerusalem, he said:
33. And the gospel must first be preached to ____ the ______. (Mark 13:10)
After the gospel began to be preached, the Apostle Paul declared to the Colossians between A.D.60 and 64 that the gospel had been preached to all the world:
34. Because of the hope which is laid up for you in heaven, of which you heard before in the word of the truth of the gospel, which has come to you, as it has also in ___ ___ ____, and is bringing forth fruit,.. (Col.1:5-6)
Jesus continued as He instructed His disciples with what to look for and what to do:
35. But when they arrest you and deliver you up, do not worry beforehand, or premeditate what you will speak. But whatever is given you in that hour, speak that; for it is not you who speak, but the _____ _____. (Mark 13:11)
Jesus forewarned of difficult days ahead for His followers:
36. Now brother will _____ brother to death, and a father his child; and children will rise up ______ parents and cause them to be put to death. And you will be hated by all for My name’s sake. But he who _______ to the end shall be saved. (12-13)
Finally He told them how they will know that the time has come:
37. Luke in His account recorded that Christ told them:
“But when you see Jerusalem surrounded by _____, then know that its __________
is near. (Luke 21:20)
38. Matthew revealed these Words of Jesus: “Therefore when you see the ‘abomination of desolation,’ spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing in the _____ _____” (whoever reads, let him understand), “then let those who are in Judea _______ to the mountains. (Matt.24:15-16)
The “abomination of desolation” was probably an indication that the holy Temple would be profaned by a Gentile. I was reading in a book called Josephus last night. Josephus was a secular historian who was present and witnessed the destruction of Jerusalem 1st hand. His book records the things he witnessed. Although he was not inspired, the things he wrote reveal to us that what the Lord said would happen during the destruction of Jerusalem did indeed happen.
I had always heard that the “abomination of desolation” occurred when General Titus came into to Jerusalem with his army and roasted a pig in the Temple where the Jews had made their sacrifices to God. This would be considered an abomination since a pig was an unclean animal and Titus was a Gentile. Gentiles were not allowed in the temple. I will keep reading but last night I did not find the account of the “pig roast” sacrifice. I will share some of what I did find that I found interesting.
As I read Josephus, I saw several infringements by Gentiles that could have been considered “abominations of desolation”. Perhaps as I read more it will become clearer to me which one would have had enough other significant events surrounding that would indicate “the one” which Jesus warned them to be looking for. For instance, Josephus said that Caius Ceasar thought himself to be a god and desired to be recognized as such. He sent an army to Jerusalem and he had a statue of himself put in the Temple! (page 479) Matthew’s account said, “when you see the ‘abomination of desolation,’ ...., standing in the holy place”. I don’t think the “pig sacrifice” was standing but the statue was standing! I would think that would be an infringement significant enough to be called an “abomination of desolation”. But I will keep reading and perhaps I will let you know if I come to any hard and fast conclusions.
Reading about this event certainly brings to my mind a certain scripture in the NT and makes me look at it afresh while trying to discern its meaning. I will certainly let you draw your own conclusions (Note before you read this passage I want to make it clear that I do not believe that Christ came again during the destruction of Jerusalem in the same sense that He will come again at the end of time. He visited Jerusalem in judgment and vengeance through natural means and methods that would not be recognized by unbelieving observers (such as Josephus), as from the hand of God. (Josephus was a Jew and he thought God was on the side of the Jews). Now I give you the passage which the statue in the temple brought to mind:
39. Now, brethren, concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together to Him, we ask you, not to be soon shaken in mind or troubled, either by spirit or by word or by letter, as if from us, as though the _____ ___ ______ had come. (2 Thess. 2:1-2)
40. Let no one deceive you by any means; for ____ ______ will not come unless the falling away comes first, and the man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition, (2 Thess. 2:3)
41. Who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called ____ or that is _______ , so that he sits as God in the _____ of God, showing himself that he is God (2 Thess. 2:4)
Jesus gave specific commands for after they witnessed the gathering armies and the “desolation of abomination”. He said:
42.
”Therefore
when you see the ‘abomination of desolation,’ spoken of by Daniel the
prophet, _______ in the holy place” (whoever reads, let him understand),
(Matthew 24:15)
43. Then let those who are in Judea _____ to the mountains. (Matthew 24:16)
44. Let him who is on the _______ not go down to take anything out of his house. (Matthew 24:17)
45. And let him who is in the field not go back to get his _______ . (Matthew 24:18)
46. But woe to those who are ______ and to those who are nursing babies in those days! (Matthew 24:19)
47. And pray that your flight may not be in winter or on the ______ (Matthew 24:20)
Jesus told them that when they saw these signs it was time to get out of Jerusalem. He told them to pray that their flight not be in the winter because that would be dangerous. If women were pregnant or nursing this would cause them and their families difficulties. If it happened on a Sabbath, the city gates would be closed and they would not be able to leave.
Christ said:
48. For then there will be great ________, such as has not been since the beginning of the world until this time, no, nor ____ ____ ___. And unless those days were shortened, no flesh would be saved; but for the elect’s sake those days will be shortened. (Matthew 24:21-22)
This destruction which God was preparing to rain down upon Jerusalem was the worse destruction since the beginning of time and He said that it would be worse than anything that would ever happen again. This should put to rest any fears that we should have of Nuclear weapons destroying our world or any such calamity. Also, we have heard of the destruction of Japan when the bomb was dropped on them. Evidently the destruction that went throughout the land when Jerusalem was destroyed was a far worse destruction than even Japan experienced. Hitler’s massacre of the Jews was evidently not as bad as what was experienced in Jerusalem at that time.
In our last lesson we will look at last at the Symbolic prophecy of the destruction of Jerusalem and the “final 7 plagues”.