In preparing for the summary talk on this lesson, I was amazed to discover some history of the Jewish temple and how many of Jesus' prophecies have been fulfilled in the destruction of Herod's temple in 70AD. I had always been taught that these passages were for the end times, like Revelation and Daniel passages, and would be fulfilled right before Jesus returns, maybe in the Rapture. The words were to be taken as metaphors to us, because we wouldn't be fleeing Judea or coming down from our rooftops or finding safety in the mountains. And like other things in the Bible we make applicable to our present world, this language was for the ones Jesus was talking to, and it would come true for the end times in a way that would be relevant to that present day culture.
Several sources online challenged that thinking as I did some researching. I first listened to a youtube sermon by Jonathan Welton on Matthew 24 and then downloaded his book Raptureless. In skimming through the book it was fascinating to discover how many of Jesus' words in Mark 13 were fulfilled in the total destruction of Jerusalem and the temple in 70 AD. Josephus, a Jewish scholar who lived during this time period, recorded these events in the Wars of the Jews in 75 AD. I had never read any of this before.
Just to point out a few prophecies that Jesus gave that were fulfilled in the destruction of the temple.
-not one stone will be left on another
Here's a paragraph from http://www.bibleresearch.org/articles/a11pws.htm:
"The magnificent Temple that Herod had built was completely destroyed as the fires raged inside and out. These fires were so hot that the gold fittings, and the gold gilding inside and on it's outside walls melted and ran into the cracks between and in the stones. During the pillaging of the Temple these stones were broken up to get at the gold."
-many false prophets would come, some claiming to be the Messiah
Several of the New Testament writers warn their churches about false prophets. Josephus mentions a "false prophet" trying to guide the people to safety during the temple burning, only to have those who followed trapped and destroyed.
-Jesus gives specific words about how to flee and where to flee (to the mountains) when the destruction would be imminent
Josephus and Eusebius, an ancient Church Historian, mention that very few Christians, if any, died in the destruction of Jerusalem. They had taken Jesus' words seriously and were prepared to leave quickly.
-Jesus said in verse 30, "Truly I tell you, this generation will certainly not pass away until all these things have happened".
The temple was destroyed in 70AD.-- (Interesting fact that the day this occurred corresponded exactly to the day and month of the destruction of the first temple by Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon) which would have been about 40 years after Jesus spoke these words. In the Bible, a generation was marked by 40 years passing. How like our God of mercy, and not wanting anyone to perish, to wait until the very end of those years.
These are just a few examples of the ways Jesus' words were fulfilled. Read Welton's book and Josephus to discover more interesting parallels. Not everyone agrees that Mark 13 was fulfilled and some who do, believe the prophecies could still be fulfilled in the future.
My purpose isn't to convince readers that this is the right way to view end time prophecy. But I am excited to consider how Jesus' warnings were meant to spare his listeners from destruction. If this is so, how comforting to me to know the One who knows all things to come, is eager to share with us now whatever we need to live in these times and to be prepared for the future. Jesus tells his disciples several times that he has told them things ahead of time so they will believe when it comes to pass. "So be on your guard; I have told you everything ahead of time". Mark 13:29
Jesus' words to watch, for we don’t know the day or hour, is a good word to
live by all the time. He wants to partner with us in bringing His kingdom into
our everyday world. He has jobs for us to do, people he wants us
to reach with His love and the good news, and none of us knows the length of
our days here on this earth. I don’t want to miss what he has for me,
tomorrow, next year, in the future.
Whatever the future holds and however it ends up, we know the Father has it perfectly planned.
No eye has seen, no ear has heard, what God has planned for those who love him. Love Him well!
