MATTHEW 24 * OLIVET DISCOURSE

Now that it would seem we are in Daniel's "time of the end" and the Lord has removed the seal from the book of Daniel, as those such as Isaac Newton and Matthew Henry so excitedly foresaw for our times, our understanding of the rest of Bible prophecy has been clarified as was never possible prior to the restoration of the Jews to their covenant land. Blessedly we have what would seem considerable mathematic al confirmation of the exegesis that follows.

The Olivet Discourse is one of the more important passages in scripture, and one's eschatology may succeed or fail, in the light of this section of scripture. This passage would seem Jesus' encapsulation of the Christian era. All churches teach the Gospel. Let's pray that the Holy Ghost will lead us to carefully consider, and teach the truth of, God's Holy Word.

Matthew 24:3 And as he sat upon the mount of Olives, the disciples came unto him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? and what [shall be] the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world?

Here Jesus was asked about 3 separate things by Peter, James, John and Andrew, who were listed in Mark. When shall the things be, what the sign of Christ's return would be, and of the end of the world.

And indeed war came and the temple was torn down and a million Jews were killed. The Christians were given warning by the Church, and perhaps to some extent by the "rumor of war" within the Church through prophecy, which allowed Christians a timely escape from the Roman swords. The Church later went on to thrive and grow in Jerusalem under Roman rule, in spite of, or perhaps because of, horrific persecution. Regarding the Christians being saved, this is the opposite of "desolate", since they were left unharmed in 70 AD.

The Coptic Church was, however, later desolated by Islam. Even their most impressive cathedral in Turkey, stands as an Islamic Mosque today. This Islamization of church buildings is desolation in the Lord's eyes as per Strong's definitions: 1b3a) of a flock deserted by the shepherd. It may be that the disciples were told not to be "troubled" in verse 6, in part, because the Lord was to save the Christians out of the conflagration of 70 AD. But since "to die is gain" to a Christian, that they were physically saved is unimportant, except as they could go forward to minister to the lost of the world.

Consider the offense of a few, that results in the removal of references to God from our public places, and hatred of Christians expressed by such, that we have witnessed increasingly during the times we live in.

There has been no shortage of these throughout the Christian era, the most significant one being Muhammad, still going strong after 1400 years, and claiming another 1.5 billion souls in the world as I write. Compelled to deny the crucifixion of Jesus Christ, and the blood that would save them, as an article of their faith in the false prophet Muhammad.

Verse 14 ends in reference to the end of the world, which concludes this first section of this passage, and answer to the question of "when shall these things be?". The answer being, after the laundry list that followed, had been accomplished. Regarding the gospel being preached, read Bruce Olson's "Bruchko" and Don Richardson's "Peace Child" and "Lords of the Earth" for thrilling modern day accounts of witnessing to the nations.

Verse 14 forms the transition from the historical and chronological section and answer to "when shall these things be" and verse 15 moves on to the subject of the sign "what [shall be] the sign of thy coming" and "end of the world" asked about in verse 3. The desolation of Jerusalem may have begun in 70 AD, when it was quite physically desolated and over a million Jews were killed, but the church went on to thrive and grow. However the Islamic conquest of Jerusalem in 639 AD resulted in spiritual desolation, as well as a profoundly more physical desolation that, by the early 1800s was virtually total.

The following "abomination of desolation" verses in the books of Matthew and Mark, are about an entire subject, in and of itself. They are about the sign. In Matthew and Mark we are prevented from plowing right on through our study by being cautioned "whoso readeth, let him understand". It also gives us a specific prophet to study, so we should have a good understanding of Daniel's 1290 "days" and 1335 days, related to the abomination of desolation, and perhaps Daniel's 70 "weeks" for confirmation, before we can presume to understand these verses in Matthew and Mark.

Matthew 24:15 When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand:) 16 Then let them which be in Judaea flee into the mountains

The term "mountains" can be a metaphor for nations as per Jeremiah 51:25. Calculating Daniel's 1290 days, mathematically, using the day=year language of prophecy, we find God's symbol in prophecy for the "end of the world" is the Dome of the Rock. Christians and Jews cannot deny that it is an "abomination" that was "set up" (beginning in 688) and "stands" "in" the "holy place". Over the course of 1200 years Islamization spiritually desolated Jerusalem. It left Israel a physically desolated and denuded barren desert/swamp wasteland by the 1800's.

"A History of the Jews" - Paul Johnson - page 321: "Between 1827 and 1839, largely through British efforts, the population of Jerusalem rose from 550 to 5,500 and in all Palestine it topped 10,000 - the real beginning of the Jewish return to the Promised Land. In 1838 Palmerston appointed the first western vice-consul in Jerusalem, W.T. Young, and told him 'to afford protection to the Jews generally'."

The Dome of the Rock blasphemes God's name by changing Yahweh, or the I AM, to Allah. The founding inscription and mosaic writing that encompass the building both inside and out have blasphemed God the Most High, with the repeated theme that God has no Son. For over 1300 years this symbol has stood representing antichrist Islam, and perfectly fits Strong's definitions of the terms used in the description of the abomination of desolation. The most important fundamental in Islam is "shirk" - that God has no Son. This is specifically "that spirit of antichrist. Islam, from the year 639 when their armies surrounded Jerusalem during the first Jihad, unto today in this second Jihad, is in the center of the subject of the "end of the world", the description of which begins after verse 14 above. Islam has been at war against the non-Islamic world, and has butchered, Christians and Jews - the "people of the book" - from Muhammad's day unto today.

Revelation 11:2: But the court which is without the temple leave out, and measure it not; for it is given unto the Gentiles: and the holy city shall they tread under foot forty [and] two months.

It was 42 prophetic months, employing the language of "each day for a year", from 688 to 1967 when the Israeli's regained control of Jerusalem from the Gentiles. Islam is center stage again today, through the second Jihad, in the image of the first Jihad.

Mark 13:14 But when ye shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing where it ought not, (let him that readeth understand,) then let them that be in Judaea flee to the mountains:

Christians and Jews cannot deny that the Dome of the Rock is an "abomination" that was "set up" (beginning in 688) and "stands" "in" the "holy place". How is the Dome of the Rock standing where "it ought not"? All of Islamic history and worship is centered around Mecca, while the blasphemy of the Dome of the Rock stands on the temple mount, in Jerusalem the Holy City, that has little to no historical significance in Islam (in fact only through ancient politics), but is the center of historical significance for Christianity and Judaism. That abomination stands where it ought not, in the holy place. Indeed the holy place - the Temple Mount - God's footstool - is maintained in a state of desolation today with Muslim prohibition of prayer, and "holy objects" such as Bibles may not be brought in by visitors to the temple mount.

Luke 21:20 And when ye shall see Jerusalem compassed with armies, then know that the desolation thereof is nigh 21 Then let them which are in Judaea flee to the mountains; and let them which are in the midst of it depart out; and let not them that are in the countries enter thereinto.

Jerusalem was surrounded by armies on many occasions before 70 AD, and on many occasions after, including 132 (wherein another 750,000 Jews were killed), 639, 1099, 1187, 1948, 1967 and indeed even as I write. Jerusalem was invaded by the Muslims in 639 AD during the Islamic First Jihad. It is a part of "holy" Jihad to kill or enslave men and women, and to force women and girls into sexual slavery in Arab harems. There are fates that are worse than death. Even today Wally Shobat, a former PLO terrorist - now Christian evangelist - was taught in his terrorist training that this is still valid today. Indeed his being taught that the rape of women during Jihad, is an act sanctioned by the god of Islam, was one of the things that led him to Christ.

If the Lord's interest were about the physical realm, then the events of 70 AD would make an interesting candidate with the sacking of Jerusalem. The slaughter of a generation (whether physical or metaphorical) of Jews numbering perhaps one million was certainly significant, but Jesus had declared almost 40 years earlier: "Behold, your house is left unto you desolate.", as we learn in Matthew 23. This verse likely referring to the temple, as well as most everything about the Pharisee nullifying the truth of God's Holy Word through their traditions. How could an already desolate temple - at least desolated by the Cross - have been desolated 40 years after the Cross? Besides, as we learned in Luke 21:20 it is JERUSALEM that is desolated, not the temple.

If the Lord's interest is in spiritual desolation then the conflagration of 70 AD may not be a very good candidate, particularly since ALL of the Christians in Jerusalem escaped and were saved out of it.

Muhammad himself pressed the wife of a Jew that had been slain, into service, who eventually found the opportunity to poison him. This is one of the reasons that Muslims hate Jews so much. Sex slavery and trade in young girls in countries like Saudi Arabia and the Sudan, where Muslims are in control, is practiced today.

The desolation of Jerusalem at the hands of Islam is certainly a better candidate for the spiritual aspect. Some time after 70 AD the Coptic Church grew and thrived in Jerusalem, and Jews resumed worship there as well, but Jerusalem was desolated by Islam - both physically and spiritually over the next 1200 years - resulting in the exile of both Christians and Jews. By the early 1800's there were only about 550 Jews left.

Beginning in the 19th century, the Jews began to end this long period of physical and spiritual desolation by developing Jerusalem through hard work and enterprise, as well as restoring the countryside from the physically desolated and abandoned desert/swamp wasteland that Islam had rendered it by the 1800's, into a physically regenerated garden that is the envy of the agricultural world today. Ezekiel 36:35 And they shall say, This land that was desolate is become like the garden of Eden; and the waste and desolate and ruined cities [are become] fenced, [and] are inhabited.

Relatively speaking when was Israel not physically desolated between 70 AD and the Jewish restoration of the 19th and 20th centuries? When during the period following 639 AD and the Jewish restoration was it not spiritually desolated? Islamic control - but not Islam - was interrupted briefly by the Crusades - one horn of the two horned beast that spoke as a Lambkin, and later by the other horn, the British mandate and western powers. The two horned beast controlled "in the presence" of the Islamic leopard-bear-lion beast.

In 1867 Mark Twain described it thus: “ ...[a] desolate country whose soil is rich enough, but is given over wholly to weeds-a silent mournful expanse....A desolation is here that not even imagination can grace with the pomp of life and action....We never saw a human being on the whole route....There was hardly a tree or a shrub anywhere. Even the olive and the cactus, those fast friends of the worthless soil, had almost deserted the country.”

Luke's verse is about timing. It is the only verse of the three that allows us to continue into the next verse without warning us to "understand" the subject of the abomination of desolation, through the prophet Daniel, first. Luke will offer us yet another important time pin of "when" later in this study by telling us that the period of exceptional tribulation ends with the times of the Gentiles fulfilled in Jerusalem.

As has been shown, the "what" and "where" of Matthew and Mark, find the book of Daniel pins the 1290 days - when used as prophetic years in the language of prophec y - to 688 AD, the founding year of the Dome of the Rock. The 1335 days of the next verse peg the zenith of the Islamic First Jihad in 732 AD, at the Battle of Tours, which confirms the method. Daniel's 69 weeks peg the Cross to the year further confirming the method. Daniel's math is precise and cross-confirmed to the year of 688 AD by John in the book of Revelation. The "where" the abomination of desolation sits, where it "ought not", is the temple mount in the Holy City of Jerusalem. This is a place of little historical significance to Islam, but of conspicuous historical importance to Judaism and Christianity. Importantly, when, from 70 AD to 1967, or for the 2500 years prior to 1967, was Jerusalem not controlled by, or trodden by, gentiles?

The Battle of Tours inflicted the mortal wound to the head of the advancing army of the first Jihad as it moved up through Europe, and also inflicted a head wound by killing the literal head of the army Emir Abd er Rahman. This was the death knell of the first Jihad. It wasn't until Western wealth transfer through oil purchase healed the leopard-bear-lion beast, that it was able to finance the second Jihad in the image of the first Jihad.

Please excuse such a big interruption with the above verse 15 study, but the abomination of desolation is one of the most controversial elements of Scripture. So the first two questions asked of Jesus regarding "when" and "what [shall be] the sign ..." (asked about in verse 3) have been addressed, and our passage continues on with Jesus' description of the Christian era up until His return and the gathering of the elect of verses 30-31 and "end of the world".

This period includes a period of tribulation "such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be". Let's continue on with the description of the "end of the world" asked about in verse 3.

Even beyond Judea these instructions would aptly apply to all of the fallen cities and states where Christians and Jews were slaughtered and enslaved by Muslims during the rape, pillage and plunder of the 152 years (5 prophetic months) of the imperialistic Islamic first Jihad conquest of nearly the whole world, until stopped in Tours France by Charles Martel in the Battle of Tours. It wasn't like the conquerers were traveling with their wives. Would you want to hang around Jerusalem until your nine year old daughter was pressed into sexual slavery in some Muslim's harem as a "wife" or abused as a concubine?

Bukhari B62 #64 Narrated 'aisha: that the Prophet married her when she was six years old and he consummated his marriage when she was nine years old, and then she remained with him for nine years (i.e., till his death).

Bukhari:V5B59N459 "I entered the Mosque, saw Abu, sat beside him and asked about sex. Abu Said said, 'We went out with Allah's Apostle and we received female slaves from among the captives. We desired women and we loved to do coitus interruptus.'"

The following report was chronicled near the zenith of the First Jihad as the Islamic armies moved up through Europe ".... according to one unidentified Arab, 'That army went through all places like a desolating storm.' sacking and capturing the city of Bordeaux, and then defeating the army of Duke Odo of Aquitaine at the Battle of the River Garonne - where the western chroniclers state, 'God alone knows the number of the slain'-[3] and Odo fled to Charles Martel, seeking help." Link

This great tribulation was not restricted to the first Jihad. It began perhaps when Stephen was stoned, but on a wider scale in 70 AD, and particularly the spiritual desolation of 639 AD with Islamization. The book of Luke serves, once again, as our time pin for WHEN it ended as follows:

Luke 21:24 And they shall fall by the edge of the sword, and shall be led away captive into all nations: and Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled.

Jerusalem was trodden down by the Gentiles from about 606 BC, until the Israelis retook the Holy City in 1967. But note that Jesus is talking about a Christian era gentile trodding in His future as evidenced by "shall be". 1967 marked the end of this great period of tribulation which began with the stoning of Stephen (since we are our brother John's companions in THE tribulation) and many others and slaughter of a million Jews in 70 AD, the 132 AD slaughter of another 750,000 Jews, the 152 year slaughter of Christians and Jews of the Islamic first Jihad, the Crusades, the Catholic Church persecution and murder of 4 to 20 million Christians, and the 8 million Jews, as well as many Christians, slain by the Nazis. Read Fox's Book of the Martyrs or Martyr's Mirror free online, for details.

Yet another recent example: Jose Luis de Jesus Miranda calls himself God. "A Puerto Rican minister says Christ 'integrated' with him." "'It's Jesus Christ himself!' a preacher onstage announces. 'Let's welcome Jesus Christ Man!'" Notice the conspicuous absence of this fraudulent Jesus' "coming in the clouds" in this sick YouTube (verse 24:30 below).

We have seen exponentially more false prophets as we have moved through this "time of the end". Remember "88 reasons Jesus is coming in 1988", etc. ad nauseam. An interesting Yahoo search in regard to the subject of great signs and wonders is "miracles of Islam". To get an idea of the lying wonders, perhaps we simply need to flip on our TV. Today the church is awash in false eschatology proffered by false prophets that has deceived the elect in regard to end-time doctrine.

Only recently did it dawn on me that this may not just be about folks making the claim that they are Jesus, or know where He is. A Hollywood documentary declared that the site where Jesus was buried had been discovered, and His bones and that of His family's were in the graves.

This is likely another reference to the Middle East desolated - two witnesses - Jewish and Christian, and perhaps more specifically the carcases of the abandoned Middle East churches and synagogues with some, including the grandest Coptic Church cathedral in Turkey, having been converted into mosques. The same Greek word (Strong's 4430 ptoma {pto'-mah}) that is used for carcase in Matthew 24:28 is translated as the "dead bodies" of the two witnesses in Revelation 11:8.

Considering the context of this verse, the word for eagles is likely better translated as vultures, because eagles don't generally feast on carrion, which is confirmed by Strong's. Thus it makes perfect sense that Islam would be the vultures feasting on the carcase of the spiritually desolated Middle Eastern church buildings.

Matthew 24:29 Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken:

So, if the great period of tribulation ended with Luke's time pin of the "times of the Gentiles" being fulfilled in Jerusalem in 1967, what happened to the events of verse 29 that come immediately after? Will the stars fall to the floor of the universe? I suppose some may simply spiritualize them away, others perhaps explain it away with some "well that will happen during some future someday'", but can we learn anything when we do a hermeneutic study?

We can see that as Matthew 24 is a picture of the Christian era in miniature, this verse is a chronological fit with the "falling away" or apostasy of the Church, mentioned in 2Thessalonians, and comes just before Christ's return of Matthew 24:30. When we do a word search for "sun" we find this very interesting verse in Malachi:

Revelation 1:20 The mystery of the seven stars which thou sawest in my right hand, and the seven golden candlesticks. The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches: and the seven candlesticks which thou sawest are the seven churches.

The Greek word here for angels means messengers. In these verses we could conclude that these are perhaps literal angels, overseeing the churches, but considering the context may we also conclude that these are messengers of the Churches, or leadership of the Churches?

Consider that the moon is a dead, dusty ball that emits no light. But what it does do is reflect the light of the sun. Then could our verse be suggesting that the moon is the church and all those that reflect the Sun/Son? The body of Christ? Isaiah 13:10 For the stars of heaven and the constellations thereof shall not give their light: the sun shall be darkened in his going forth, and the moon shall not cause her light to shine. The church is the bride.

Few can deny that at least western churches have been sinking into apostasy since 1948 (formation of the World Council of Churches, and Everson and McCollum decisions in the U.S.), and accelerating in the extreme after 1967 ("church" sanction of homosexuality and fornication). I am fully confident that this is THE falling away (more on this subject at ChristianEschatology.com). In either event, let's take another look at our verse in the context of this word study:

The tribulation of those days began with the stoning of Stepehn or perhaps in 70 AD, or with the first Jihad at Jerusalem in 639 AD, and go on up to 1948 - the beginning of the "time of the end", and immediately after the Allies shortened the days - while 1967 marked the fulfillment of the "times of the Gentiles" in Jerusalem. So does that put us now in the tribulation of these days - of the last era - of Daniel's "time of end"?

Who reads the Bible any more? Ask everyone you know, especially at work or some other secular environment, when the last time they read the Bible was. When was the last time they sat down and had a family Bible study? See "Falling Away" section.

Jesus has been relegated to an increasingly back seat role, even in Christian's lives, to the things of this world, whether Hollywood, fashion, houses, boats, cars, motorcycles or the like. When I grew up Leave it to Beaver was a prime time show. The biggest show in the world today is American Idol. Today some Christians don't give a second thought toward watching shows like Desperate Housewives or even more desperately depraved programming on HBO or "Hell's Best Offering". More in the "Man of Sin" section.

Compare Church evangelism of today with the period in the first half of the 20th century and before, going back to the Reformation. Look at the false doctrines and ecumenism that permeate our churches today. Look at how much of the Church has sunk into apostasy. Is the Church reflecting the truth of God's Holy Word, or has the truth been turned into fables?

How will an apostate church feel when Jesus returns? Isaia h 24:23 Then the moon shall be confounded, and the sun ashamed, when the LORD of hosts shall reign in mount Zion, and in Jerusalem, and before his ancients gloriously.

Church leaders? Any names come to mind? Perhaps some that so defamed themselves to the detriment of Christianity, on TV? One of these was responsible for the highest ratings in the entire history of Ted Koppel's Nightline. What about all the church leaders that have carried their Churches into apostasy, like those Bishops in the Episcopal Church U.S.A. that voted that Church further into apostasy?

On the other hand we are probably better off sticking to a regional ethnographic hermeneutic - a look through John's eyes in the middle east - for a real spine tingler. What does John's whole world look like today? Countries around Israel - the seat of the LBL beast - are 90 to 100% Muslim. Is the Sun of righteousness shining there?

Matthew 24:30 And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.

This "gathering" is what is sometimes referred to as the "rapture", shown at the LAST or seventh trumpet after we "see the Son of man coming in the clouds". If there were a "pre" "tribulation" rapture it would have had to have preceded Cain slewing Able. I will continue to be humbly honored to remain my Brother John's fellow partaker in THE tribulation and companion in THE kingdom of Jesus Christ.

(NASB) Revelation 1:9 I, John, your brother and fellow partaker in the tribulation and kingdom and perseverance which are in Jesus, was on the island called Patmos because of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus.

(Greek/English Interlinear (tr) NT) Revelation 1:9 | egw <1473> {I} iwannhV <2491> {JOHN,} o <3588> {WHO} kai <2532> {ALSO} adelfoV <80> {BROTHER} umwn <5216> {YOUR} kai <2532> {AND} sugkoinwnoV <4791> {FELLOW PARTAKER} en <1722> {IN} th <3588> {THE} qliyei <2347> {TRIBULATION}...

Matthew 24 verses 1-14 include some history, and in verse 15 we found mathematical and textual precision in the Lord's symbol for end-time prophecy - the Dome of the Rock - with Islam front and center, taking Jerusalem in 639 during the Islamic first Jihad, and now in the "time of the end" with the second Jihad in the image of the first jihad, that we bear witness to on the nightly news.

Scripture defines Fig Tree in: Hosea 9:10 I found Israel like grapes in the wilderness; I saw your fathers as the firstripe in the fig tree at her first time: [but] they went to Baalpeor, and separated themselves unto [that] shame; and [their] abominations were according as they loved.

So verse 32 discusses the "fig tree", putting forth leaves, which is a reference to the Jews, and all Israel, gathering again in the Holy Land, but perhaps not yet producing much fruit, with many returning Jews perhaps not even understanding what is pulling them there, since so many claim to be secular or even atheists. The Lord had withered the fig tree and did not allow it to bear any more fruit, and ever since, the Jews have not been allowed to evangelize Gentiles into the Jewish witness.

There is a parallel verse in Luke that reads: Luke 21:29 And he spake to them a parable; Behold the fig tree, and all the trees; 30 When they now shoot forth, ye see and know of your own selves that summer is now nigh at hand.

Since the fig tree represents Israel the reference to "all the trees" may well be to Israel and the surrounding countries in the Middle East, that we have seen rise in power and prominence with exploding Muslim populations. Yahoo Muslim population. It is a growing religion but this is because of population growth more than conversion.

When we look to Scripture for a definition of "tree" and "trees" we find: Zechariah 4:11 Then answered I, and said unto him, What [are] these two olive trees upon the right [side] of the candlestick and upon the left [side] thereof? ............... 14 Then said he, These [are] the two anointed ones, that stand by the Lord of the whole earth.

And also in Romans 11:17 And if some of the branches be broken off, and thou, being a wild olive tree, wert graffed in among them, and with them partakest of the root and fatness of the olive tree;

24 For if thou wert cut out of the olive tree which is wild by nature, and wert graffed contrary to nature into a good olive tree: how much more shall these, which be the natural [branches], be graffed into their own olive tree?

We find that this is a reference to the Jewish, or "good" or "cultivated" olive tree, and the Gentile "wild" olive tree branches that were grafted in, to partake with them in the fatness and the root of their tree. The Jewish and Gentile witnesses. In Revelation we find: Rev 11:3 And I will give [power] unto my two witnesses, and they shall prophesy a thousand two hundred [and] threescore days, clothed in sackcloth.: 4 These are the two olive trees, and the two candlesticks standing before the God of the earth.

Further confirmation that these are the Jewish and Gentile witnesses is demonstrated, since candlesticks are churches. Revelation 1:20 The mystery of the seven stars which thou sawest in my right hand, and the seven golden candlesticks. The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches: and the seven candlesticks which thou sawest are the seven churches.

Perhaps the olive trees and fig tree are what is meant by "all the trees" putting forth leaves. Perhaps especially well since many Jews are being restored to their land in unbelief, so Israel is putting forth leaves, but perhaps not so much fruit yet.

It is hard to imagine that there are some that consider this Jewish restoration to be some kind of colossal accident, simply because it doesn't fit their chosen eschatology! This in spite of the plethora of verses regarding the restoration of the Jewish people to their land.

Jewish migration began in the 1800's and grew exponentially. Jewish population increased from hundreds in the early 1800's, to about 28,000 by 1896 to about 100,000 by 1948 when they declared their independence, to over 500,000 in 2000, and today there are close to five million Jews and the number is rapidly growing. They raised their flag over Israel in 1948 and claimed Jerusalem in 1967. Since the things of this chapter may have been fulfilled up through verse 29, it would indeed seem that Christ's return is truly "at the doors".

The Greek houtos {hoo'-tos} translated as "this" in the verse above, is translated as "the same" on 28 other occasions. Perhaps "the same" might be a better translation here since the "times of the Gentiles" were not over until 1967.

(Greek/English Interlinear (tr) NT) Matthew 24:34 [g] amhn [e] <281> {VERILY} [g] legw [e] <3004> (5719) {I SAY} [g] umin [e] <5213> {TO YOU,} [g] ou [e] <3756> [g] mh [e] <3361> {IN NO WISE} [g] parelqh [e] <3928> (5632) [g] h [e] <3588> {WILL HAVE PASSED AWAY} [g] genea [e] <1074> [g] auth [e] <3778> {THIS GENERATION} [g] ewj [e] <2193> [g] an [e] <302> {UNTIL} [g] panta [e] <3956> {ALL} [g] tauta [e] <5023> {THESE THINGS} [g] genhtai [e] <1096> (5638) {SHALL HAVE TAKEN PLACE.}

Since it wasn't until the six day war in 1967, that the "times of the Gentiles" were fulfilled and Jews began their rule of Jerusalem, it could even refer to a generation that was born as late as 1967. Were the "times of the Gentiles" in Jerusalem fulfilled in 70 AD when a million Jews were killed, even though the Roman Gentiles killed another 750,000 Jews less than 70 years later? Let alone the Muslim Gentile conquest of Jerusalem in 639 that followed Roman Gentile rule.

What should at least be apparent is that the word translated as "this" can hardly be insisted upon as reason to construct an inverted pyramid of pile-on presumption, that requires Gnosticizing the rest of scripture away, by creating metaphors when literal scripture in literal passages becomes inconvenient for the initial premise.

It is not for me to speculate as to how long the generation referred to will last. If a literal generation is meant I heard one doctor say that folks in their 50's today, that take reasonably good care of themselves, may live to be 120 due to the rapid pace of medical advancement. So what date would the generation that was born in 1967 after all the things Jesus listed had taken place - that "shall not pass" - take us out to? Anywhere from today until the latter part of this century.

I have been witness to folks who try to use the single term "generation", as some sort of proof of preterism, but nothing can be proved by this term. It could even be metaphorical as in the vast majority of other instances that use the Koine Greed term "genea" in the New Teatament.

The verse could even be referring to the "generation" of Christians being spoken to for example. As in there will be no other eras to anticipate. Or even the generation of those mentioned previously as felling others with the sword and leading away captives, and the "generation" of false Christs and false prophets and other such.

Here's a link to one of our other sites, on Christian Eschatology, that examines all of the verses in the New Testament that use Koine Greek or Aramic terms that are translated as "generation".

Both definitions work for the exegesis proffered here. Not so for those who use it as a - perhaps the - primary pillar, under the 17th century anti-reformation invention of Jesuit Alcazar that is textually, mathematically, historically, chronologically, logically, hermeneutically, and Greek and Hebrew definition bankrupt, eschatology, of preterism.

Some look at these verses as describing folks simply being involved with their work-a-day-life, when Jesus will come unexpectedly and to many's eternal sorrow. Perhaps more poignantly the days of Noe were marked as a horrific period of hedonism and idolatry. Now consider the state of - particularly Western - society today. Leave it to Beaver was a prime time show when I was a kid. Today, Desperate Housewives is popular. Sluts in the City. Some swear words are censored, but taking the Lord's name in vain is perfectly acceptable on TV. Look at what we increasingly idolize, from football stars, to TV idols, to houses, boats, motorcycles, cars and even less significant things like clothing and jewelry. People have been killed for tennis shoes.

In their context, and following the Second Coming verse above, these verses are once again about the gathering of the elect at the last trump, and those forever "left behind". They are not about some "pre-trib" rapture. There are no second chances for the unrepentant, during John Darby's "7 year" tribulation.

Matthew 24:43 But know this, that if the goodman of the house had known in what watch the thief would come, he would have watched, and would not have suffered his house to be broken up.

"God is truth, so how well a person serves the Lord is not based on how good he is at defending his doctrine, but on how willing he is to seek out and follow the truth." - Ellis Skolfield.

Some say that the Roman army was the abomination of desolation. But an army does not fit the definition of abomination. From Strong's Greek: abomination - 1) detestable thing or idol, abominable thing, abomination, idol, detested thing.

Nor does it make sense that this "abomination of desolation" verse could be speaking of the temple being torn down, since the abomination is "set up". Muslims desolated Jerusalem and the Middle East spiritually through Islamization. Christians were saved out of the Roman swords of 70 AD and the Coptic Church came back to thrive and grow in Jerusalem, in spite of the Roman persecutions, until it was eventually virtually desolated by Islam.

Full Preterists believe that all of Revelation was fulfilled by 70 AD, including Jesus Second Coming. Besides the absence of any historical record of everyone seeing Jesus come in the clouds as He promised, this notion can be easily dispensed with by a single verse: Revelation 1:19 Write the things which thou hast seen, and the things which are, and the things which shall be hereafter; From this verse the truth should be painfully obvious. The events of 70 AD preceded John's return from the Isle of Patmos by 25 years, after Emperor Domitian (who had banished him) was killed in 96 AD. There would have been nothing left that "are" or "shall be" - to John - if they had all been fulfilled by 70 AD.

Additionally, Jesus had already declared the non-believing Jews "whole house" desolate almost 40 years before 70 AD as Matthew 23 recounts, which would presumably include the temple as well.

Still others believe that the abomination of desolation has something to do with a rebuilt temple. Some antichrist boogeyman sits in a smoky rebuilt temple. It seems this would be an abomination, since it would suggest that Jesus sacrifice on the Cross was not quite perfect enough, if the Jews needed to resume animal sacrifice, and particularly since some believe that Jesus has to come and beat Satan all over again.

This is the only temple where the "man of sin" and "son of perdition" can sit. There was never, and can never be, a singular "Antichrist", since there are billions in the world as I write, and there was no shortage of them even in John's day. The only singular reference to antichrist in scripture would seem to be in regard to "that spirit" of antichrist. Jesus sacrifice was perfect and He beat Satan forever. The struggle of the Christian era has been for truth, and it would seem that Satan as been doing pretty well in this battle, within the Church.

Salvation is offered to the Jew first. It wouldn't seem that it was animal sacrifice that saved the Old Testament Saints. It was a circumcision of the heart. When you search the term "spirit" in the Old Testament it becomes pretty obvious that believing Jews were filled with the Holy Spirit.

John 3:7 Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again. 9 Nicodemus answered and said unto him, How can these things be? 10 Jesus answered and said unto him, Art thou a master of Israel, and knowest not these things?

Since these were Jesus own words, folks were clearly born again before the Cross. Consider also that the Lamb was slain from the foundation of the world: Revelation 13:8 And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.

Do futurists really expect that yet a different 1.5 billion people will be specifically antichrist by religion, follow yet another antichrist false prophet, build yet another abomination on the temple mount, also blaspheme God by saying God has no Son, also blaspheme God's name by renaming him, also change times by inventing their own calendar, also change laws by ignoring the Sabbath and by imposing Sharia law in place of sovereign national laws, and also be marked with the number 666? Really?

The "messenger" Muhammad began the first Jihad just 13 years after he founded the religion of Islam. Killing and conquering non-Muslims, and "converting" at the point of a sword, is Islamic fundamentalism. "The Sword is the key of heaven and hell; a drop of blood shed in the cause of Allah, a night spent in arms, is of more avail than two months of fasting and prayer; whoever falls in battle, his sins are forgiven, and at the day of judgment his limbs shall be supplied by the wings of angels and cherubim."