Mar 11-17-07 Destruction Of Jerusalem

Destruction Of Jerusalem

Matthew 24:1-51 MSG Jesus then left the Temple. As he walked away, his disciples

pointed out how very impressive the Temple

architecture was.


2 Jesus said, "You're not impressed by all this sheer

size, are you? The truth of the matter is that there's not a

stone in that building that is not going to end up in a pile of

rubble."


Other great temples are in ruins, but their ruins indicate their former

splendor. The Parthenon, the Acropolis, the temples of Karnak, Luxor, and Baalbec are examples; but to find even the foundations of the Jewish temple it is necessary to

dig beneath the modern city.


It has entirely disappeared from the face of the earth, and a Mahometan mosque stands on the spot where it

stood. (PNT)3 Later as he was sitting on Mount Olives, his disciples approached and asked him, "Tell us, when are these

things going to happen? What will be the sign of your coming, that the

time's up?"


There are three questions here:

1. When those things should take place.

2. What should be the signs of his own coming.

3. What should be the signs that the end of the world was near.


To these questions He replies in this and the following chapters. This He does, not by noticing them

distinctly, but by intermingling the descriptions of the destruction of Jerusalem and of the end of the world, so that it is sometimes

difficult to tell to what particular subject his remarks apply.


The principle on which this combined description of two events was spoken appears to

be, that “they could be described in the same words,” and therefore the accounts are

intermingled. (Barnes)


4 Jesus said, "Watch out for doomsday deceivers. 5 Many leaders are going to show up

with forged identities, claiming, 'I am Christ, the

Messiah.' They will deceive a lot of people.


Watch out for doomsday deceivers. By pretending to be

Christ. As they yet believed that Christ would surely return

to reign at Jerusalem, this admonition was needed.


claiming, 'I am Christ, the Messiah.' We learn from Josephus that

enthusiasts did come about the time of the end of Jerusalem,

claiming to be sent of God. Bar-cocheba, "the son of the star,"

appeared in A. D. 120. From time to time other deceivers have

appeared. (PNT)


6 When reports come in of wars and rumored wars, keep your head and don't panic. This is routine history;

this is no sign of the end.It is recorded in the history of Rome

that violent agitations prevailed in the Roman empire previous to the

destruction of Jerusalem.


Four emperors, Nero, Galba, Otho, and Vitellius, suffered violent

deaths in the short space of eighteen months. In consequence

of these changes in the government, there were

commotions throughout the empire.


Parties were formed, and bloody and violent wars were the

consequence of attachment to particular emperors. This is the more remarkable, as at the time that the prophecy was made, the empire was in a state of peace.


rumored wars, - Wars declared or threatened, but not carried into execution. Josephus says that

Bardanes, and after him Vologeses, declared war against the Jews, but it was not carried into execution, Antig. xx. 34.


He also says that Vitellius, governor of Syria, declared war against Aretas, king of

Arabia, and wished to lead his army through Palestine, but the death of Tiberius prevented the

war, Antiq. xviii. 5. 3.


this is no sign of the end. - The end of the Jewish economy; the

destruction of Jerusalem will not immediately follow. Be not,

therefore, alarmed when you hear of those commotions. Other signs will warn you when to be alarmed

and seek security. (Barnes)


7 Nation will fight nation and ruler fight ruler, over and over. Famines

and earthquakes will occur in various places.

At Caesarea the Jews and Syrians contended about the right to the city, and twenty thousand of the

Jews were slain.


At this blow the whole nation of the Jews was exasperated, and carried

war and desolation through the Syrian cities and villages. Sedition

and civil war spread throughout Judea; Italy was also thrown into civil war by the contests between Otho and Vitellius for the crown.


Famines and earthquakes will occur in various places, - There was a famine foretold by Agabus Acts 11:28, which is mentioned by

Tacitus, Suetonius, and Eusebius, and which was so severe in

Jerusalem, Josephus says, that many people perished for want of

food, Antiq. xx. 2.


Four times in the reign of Claudius (41-54 a.d.) famine prevailed in Rome, Palestine, and Greece.

Earthquakes, - In prophetic language, earthquakes sometimes

mean political commotions.


Literally, they are tremors or shakings of the earth, often

shaking cities and towns to ruin. The earth opens, and houses and people sink indiscriminately to destruction. Many of these are

mentioned as preceding the destruction of Jerusalem.


Tacitus mentions one in the reign of Claudius, at Rome, and says that in

the reign of Nero the cities of Laodicea, Hierapolis, and Colosse

were overthrown, and the celebrated Pompeii was

overwhelmed and almost destroyed by an earthquake,

Annales, 15. 22.


Others are mentioned as occurring at Smyrna, Miletus, Chios, and Samos. Luke adds, “And fearful sights and great

signs shall there be from heaven,” Luke 21:11.


Josephus, who had probably never heard of this prophecy, and who

certainly would have done nothing designedly to show its fulfillment,

records the prodigies and signs which He says preceded the

destruction of the city.


A star, says he, resembling a sword, stood over the city, and a comet

that continued a whole year. At the feast of unleavened bread, during

the night, a bright light shone round the altar and the temple, so that it seemed to be bright day, for

half an hour.


The eastern gate of the temple, of solid brass, fastened with strong bolts and bars, and which had been shut with difficulty by twenty men,

opened in the night of its own accord.


A few days after that feast, He says, “Before sunsetting,

chariots and troops of soldiers in their armor were seen running about among the

clouds, and surrounding of cities.”


A great noise, as of the sound of a multitude, was heard in the temple,

saying, “Let us remove hence.” Four years before the war began,

Jesus, the son of Ananus, a plebeian and a husbandman, came to the feast of the tabernacles when

the city was in peace and prosperity, and began to cry aloud,


“A voice from the east, a voice from the west, a voice from the

four winds, a voice against Jerusalem and the holy house, a voice against the bridegroom

and the brides, and a voice against this whole people!”


He was scourged, and at every stroke of the whip He cried, “Woe, woe to

Jerusalem!” This cry, Josephus says, was continued every day for more

than seven years, until He was killed in the siege of the city, exclaiming,

“Woe, woe to myself also!” - Jewish Wars, b. 6 chapter 9, section 3.

(Barnes)


8 This is nothing compared to what is coming. - Far heavier

calamities are yet to come before the end. (Barnes)


9 “They are going to throw you to the wolves and kill you, everyone hating

you because you carry my name.throw you to the wolves and kill you, To persecution. Soon literally fulfilled in the Jewish persecutions. The awful

persecution of Nero also soon followed.


Everyone hating you because you carry my name. Tacitus, describing Nero's persecution begun in A. D.

64, says "the Christians were haters of mankind." 10 And then, going from bad to worse, it will be

dog-eat-dog, everyone at each other's throat, everyone hating

each other.


To illustrate this point, one sentence out of Tacitus (Annal. l. xv). will

be sufficient, who, speaking of the persecution under Nero, says, At

first several were seized, who confessed, and then by Their

Discovery a great multitude of others were convicted and

executed. (Clarke)


11 “In the confusion, lying preachers will come forward and deceive a lot of people.lying preachers, - Also were to be raised

up; such as Simon Magus and his followers; and the false apostles

complained of by St. Paul, 2Co_11:13, who were deceitful workers, transforming

themselves into the apostles of Christ. Such also were Hymeneus and Philetus,

2Ti_2:17,18. (Clarke)


12 For many others, the overwhelming spread of evil will do them in--nothing left of their love but a mound of ashes.Love of the brotherhood gives way to

mutual hatred and suspicion. To breathe cool by blowing, to grow cold, “spiritual energy blighted or chilled by a malign or poisonous

wind” (Vincent). (RWP)


13 “Staying with it--that's what God requires. Stay with it to the end. You won't be sorry, and you'll be

saved.

In the profession of faith in Christ, notwithstanding the violent

persecutions of wicked men;


and in the pure and incorrupt doctrines of the Gospel, whilst many are

deceived by the false teachers that shall arise; and in holiness of life and conversation, amidst all the impurities of the age; and shall patiently bear all afflictions, to the end of his life, or to

the end of sorrows, of which the above mentioned were the beginning:


You won't be sorry, and you'll be saved; with a temporal

salvation, when Jerusalem, and the unbelieving inhabitants of it shall be destroyed: for those that believed in Christ, many of them, through persecution,


were obliged to remove from thence; and others, by a voice from heaven, were bid to go out of it, as they did;

and removed to Pella, a village a little beyond Jordan and so were preserved from the general calamity; and also

with an everlasting salvation, which is the case of all that persevere to the end, as all true believers in Christ

will. (Gill)


14 All during this time, the good news--the Message of the

kingdom--will be preached all over the world, a witness staked out in every country. And then the end

will come.The evidence that this was done is to be chiefly derived from the New

Testament, and there it is clear.


Thus Paul declares that it was preached to every creature under heaven Col 1:6, 23; that the faith

of the Romans was spoken of throughout the whole world Rom

1:8; that he preached in Arabia Gal 1:17, and at Jerusalem, and round about unto Illyricum Rom 15:19.


We know also that He traveled through Asia Minor, Greece, and Crete; that

he was in Italy, and probably in Spain and Gaul, Rom 15:24-28. At the same time, the other apostles were not idle;

and there is full proof that within thirty years after this prophecy was

spoken, churches were established in all these regions.


A witness staked out in every country. - This preaching the

gospel indiscriminately to “all” the Gentiles shall be a proof to them,

or a witness, that the division between the Jews and Gentiles was

about to be broken down.


Hitherto the blessings of revelation had been confined to the Jews. They were the special people of

God. His messages had been sent to them only. When, therefore, God sent the gospel to all other

people, it was proof, or “a witness unto them,” that the special Jewish

economy was at an end.


And then the end will come. - The end of the Jewish

economy; the destruction of the temple and city.

THE MONSTER OF DESECRATION

15 “But be ready to run for it when you see the monster of

desecration set up in the Temple sanctuary. The prophet Daniel described this. If you've read Daniel, you'll know what

I'm talking about.


The monster of desecration, - This is a Hebrew expression, meaning an abominable or hateful destroyer.

The Gentiles were all held in abomination by the Jews, Acts

10:28. The abomination of desolation means the Roman army, and is so explained by Luke 21:20.


The Roman army is further called the “abomination” on account of the images of the

emperor, and the eagles, carried in front of the legions, and regarded by the Romans

with divine honors.


Set up in the Temple sanctuary. - Mark says, standing where it ought not,” meaning the same

thing. All Jerusalem was esteemed “holy,” Matthew 4:5.


The meaning of this is, when you see the Roman armies standing in the holy city or

encamped around the temple, or the Roman ensigns or standards in the temple.


Josephus relates that when the city was taken, the Romans brought their idols into the

temple, and placed them over the eastern gate, and sacrificed to them there, “Jewish Wars,”

b. 6 chapter 6, section 1.


The prophet Daniel described this. – Dan 9:26-27; Dan 11:31; Dan 12:11,

see the notes at those passages.If you've read Daniel, you'll know what

I'm talking about. - This seems to be a remark made by the evangelist to direct the attention of the reader

particularly to the meaning of the prophecy by Daniel.


16 If you're living in Judea at the time, run for the hills; 17 if you're working in the yard,

don't return to the house to get anything; 18 if you're out in

the field, don't go back and get your coat.


19 Pregnant and nursing mothers will have it especially hard. 20 Hope and pray this

won't happen during the winter or on a Sabbath.


If you're living in Judea at the time, run for the hills; For refuge.

If you're working in the yard, don't return to the house to get

anything; if you're out in the field, don't go back and get your coat.

All must be done without a moment's delay.


Pregnant and nursing mothers will have it especially hard. Because

not fit for flight and the hardships that must be endured.

Pray it won’t happen during the winter, Because the streams were then impassable torrents from the heavy rains and the weather cold

and wet, hard on homeless people.


or on a Sabbath. Because then the gates of the city were closed, preventing departure. History tells us that the army of Cestius Gallus enclosed

Jerusalem in A. D. 67, then deterred by its strength, retired to Cæsarea. This was the signal for which the

church waited, and it then fled beyond the Jordan. (PNT)


21 “This is going to be trouble on a scale beyond what the world has ever seen, or will see again. 22 If these days of trouble were left to run their course, nobody would make it. But on account of God's chosen people, the trouble will be

cut short.


Trouble on a scale beyond what the world has ever seen; or the Great tribulation. The account given by

Josephus, the Jewish historian who witnessed and recorded the war, is almost an echo of the predictions

of Christ.

THE ARRIVAL OF THE SON OF MAN

Women ate their own children from starvation; the Jews within the city

fought each other as well as the Roman army; on August 10, A. D. 70, the city was stormed and there was a universal massacre; 1,100,00

persons perished, and 100,000 survivors were sold into slavery.

(PNT)


If these days of trouble were left to run their course, nobody would make it. If such awful

work should continue, it would exterminate the human race.


But on account of God's chosen people, the trouble will be cut

short. On their account, because there is salt to save the earth, and end shall be put to the awful work

of death. The elect are the believers in Christ.

(Romans 11:5-7) (PNT)


23 “If anyone tries to flag you down, calling out, 'Here's the Messiah!' or points, 'There he

is!' don't fall for it.24 Fake Messiahs and lying preachers are going to pop up

everywhere.


Their impressive credentials and dazzling performances will pull the

wool over the eyes of even those who ought to know better. 25 But

I've given you fair warning.Impressive credentials and dazzling

performances, - That is, shall pretend to work miracles.


They will so nearly resemble prophets in their miraculous power as to render it difficult to detect the imposture. Josephus represents the

false Christs and prophets that appeared as “magicians and

sorcerers.”


He says they led the people out into the deserts, and promised to work miracles to deliver them, Antiq. b. 20 chapter 8, section 6. (Barnes)

During this period of tribulation, give no heed to false prophets,

false Christs, or to those who say Christ is here or there. (PNT)


26 “So if they say, 'Run to the country and see him arrive!' or, 'Quick, get downtown, see him

come!' don't give them the time of day. 27 The Arrival of the Son of Man isn't something you go to see.

He comes like swift lightning to you!


There will be no doubt about Christ's coming when he does come, no

discussion, no need that any one shall tell it. It will be manifest as the flash of lightning across the sky. There can be no mistake. Such language shows how much those err who claim that his coming was at the destruction of

Jerusalem. (PNT)


28 Whenever you see crowds gathering, think of carrion

vultures circling, moving in, hovering over a rotting

carcass. You can be quite sure that it's not the living Son of Man pulling in those crowds.


The term "carcass" well represents the utterly corrupted

Jewish state; the " Vultures" translated in KJV “Eagles” is a fit symbol of the Roman army, every legion of which bore the eagle as its standard. (PNT)


29 "Following those hard times,

Sun will fade out,

moon cloud over,

Stars fall out of the sky,

cosmic powers tremble.


Following those hard times, The first question, When shall

these things be? Has now been answered. Here begins the

answer to the second, concerning the coming of the

Lord.


For other passages on the second coming, see 1Th 2:19; 1Th 3:13; 1Th 4:15; 1Th 5:23;

2Th 2:1, 2Th 2:8-9;

1Co 15:23; Jam 5:7; 2Pe 1:16; 2Pe 3:12; 1Jo 2:28.


“Following," after the destruction of Jerusalem (the

tribulation) the series of events begins that leads to the coming

of Christ.


Sun will fade out, I take what follows to be symbolical, as is usual for prophecy, rather than

literal. Christ is "the Sun of Righteousness."


After the destruction of Jerusalem, the causes began to

work that led to the great apostasy of the church and

produced "the Dark Ages" of the church.


moon cloud over, The moon shines by reflected light of the sun and if it is darkened so will

be the moon. So, too, the church shines by the light of

Christ.


When Christ's light was darkened by taking the Bible from the people the church

give forth little light during the long night of the Middle Ages.


Stars fall out of the sky, Stars represent great teachers of the church, apostles and evangelists. See Rev 1:20. When

the apostles were dethroned by the Romish apostasy, "the stars fell from

heaven," figuratively. Other stars, great church lights who apostatized, fell from heaven in another sense.

(PNT)


cosmic powers tremble. meaning all the ordinances of the legal

dispensation; which shaking, and even removing of them, were

foretold by Hag 2:6 and explained by the author of the Epistle to the

Hebrews, Hebrews 12:26


whereby room and way were made for Gospel ordinances to take place, and be established; which shall not be shaken, so as to be removed, but remain

till the second coming of Christ. (Gill)


30 “Then, the Arrival of the Son of Man! It will fill the skies--no one will miss it. Unready people all over the world, outsiders to the splendor and power, will raise a

huge lament as they watch the Son of Man blazing out of heaven.


Then. After the long period of apostasy.

Arrival of the Son of Man! It will fill the skies--no one will miss it. Some sign of his coming that

every one will recognize when it is manifested.


Unready people all over the world, outsiders to the splendor and

power, will raise a huge lament Because of their sins.

Watch the Son of Man blazing out of heaven. It will be visible to every eye and will be in splendor. (PNT)


31 At that same moment, he'll dispatch his angels with a trumpet-blast summons,

pulling in God's chosen from the four winds, from pole to pole. angels with a trumpet-blast, Compare 1Thes 4:16.


Pulling in God's chosen, Before the judgment on the world. The

believers will be in all countries, mingled with the population of

earth, and then shall be separated.

four winds, from pole to pole. The four quarters of the earth. (PNT)


32 “Take a lesson from the fig tree. From the moment you notice its

buds form, the merest hint of green, you know summer's just

around the corner. 33 So it is with you: When you see all these things,

you'll know he's at the door.


Don’t take this lightly. I'm not just saying this for some future generation, but for all of you. This age continues until all

these things take place. 35 Sky and earth will wear out; my

words won't wear out.


36 “But the exact day and hour? No one knows that, not even heaven's angels, not even the Son. Only the

Father knows.

37 “The Arrival of the Son of Man will take place in times like

Noah's.


38 Before the great flood everyone was carrying on as

usual, having a good time right up to the day Noah boarded

the ark. 39 They knew nothing--until the flood hit and

swept everything away.


"The Son of Man's Arrival will be like that: 40 Two men will be working in the field--one

will be taken, one left behind; 41 two women will be

grinding at the mill--one will be taken, one left behind.


42 So stay awake, alert. You have no idea what day your Master will show up. 43 But you do know this: You know that if the homeowner had known what time of night the burglar would arrive, he would have been there with his dogs to

prevent the break-in.


44 Be vigilant just like that. You have no idea when the Son of Man

is going to show up.45 “Who here qualifies for the job

of overseeing the kitchen? A person the Master can depend on to feed the workers on time each

day.


46 Someone the Master can drop in on unannounced and always find him doing his job. A God-blessed man or woman, I tell you. 47 It won't be long before the Master will put this person in charge of

the whole operation.


48 "But if that person only looks out for himself, and the minute the Master is away does what he pleases-- 49 abusing the help and throwing drunken

parties for his friends--


50 the Master is going to show up when he least expects it 51 and make hash of him. He'll end up in the dump with the hypocrites, out in the cold

shivering, teeth chattering.

Watch out For Doomsday Deceivers

Luke 21:5-38 MSG One day people were standing around talking about the Temple, remarking how beautiful it was, the splendor of its stonework

and memorial gifts. Jesus said, 6 “All this you're admiring so much--the time is coming when every stone in

that building will end up in a heap of rubble."


7 They asked him, "Teacher, when is this going to happen? What clue will we get that it's about to take place?"

8 He said, "Watch out for the doomsday deceivers. Many leaders are going to show up with forged

identities claiming, 'I'm the One,' or, 'The end is near.' Don't fall for any of

that.


9 When you hear of wars and uprisings, keep your head and

don't panic. This is routine history and no sign of the end."10 He went on, "Nation will fight nation and ruler fight

ruler, over and over.


11 Huge earthquakes will occur in various places. There will be famines. You'll think at times that the very sky is falling. 12 “But before any of this happens, they'll arrest you, hunt you down, and drag you to court and jail. It will go from bad to worse, dog-eat-dog, everyone at your throat because

you carry my name.


13 You’ll end up on the witness stand, called to testify. 14 Make up your mind right now not to worry about it. 15 I’ll give you the words

and wisdom that will reduce all your accusers to stammers and

stutters.


16 “You'll even be turned in by parents, brothers, relatives,

and friends. Some of you will be killed. 17 There’s no telling who will hate you because of

me.


18 Even so, every detail of your body and soul--even the hairs of

your head!--is in my care; nothing of you will be lost. 19 Staying with

it--that's what is required. Stay with it to the end. You won't be

sorry; you'll be saved.

Vengeance Day

20 “When you see soldiers camped all around Jerusalem, then you'll

know that she is about to be devastated. 21 If you're living in

Judea at the time, run for the hills. If you're in the city, get out

quickly. If you're out in the fields, don't go home to get your coat.

Vengeance Day

22 This is Vengeance Day--everything written about it will come to a head. 23 Pregnant

and nursing mothers will have it especially hard. Incredible

misery! Torrential rage!

Vengeance Day

24 People dropping like flies; people dragged off to prisons; Jerusalem under the boot of barbarians until the nations

finish what was given them to do.

Vengeance Day

25 "It will seem like all hell has broken loose--sun, moon, stars, earth, sea, 26 in an uproar and everyone all over the world in a panic, the wind knocked out of them by the threat of doom, the

powers-that-be quaking.

Vengeance Day

27 “And then--then!--they'll see the Son of Man welcomed in

grand style--a glorious welcome! 28 When all this

starts to happen, up on your feet. Stand tall with your heads

high. Help is on the way!"

Vengeance Day

29 He told them a story. "Look at a fig tree. Any tree for that matter. 30 When the leaves

begin to show, one look tells you that summer is right

around the corner.

Vengeance Day

31 The same here--when you see these things happen, you know

God's kingdom is about here. 32 Don’t brush this off: I'm not just

saying this for some future generation, but for this one, too--these things will happen. 33 Sky

and earth will wear out; my words won't wear out.

Vengeance Day

34 “But be on your guard. Don't let the sharp edge of your expectation get dulled by parties and drinking and shopping. Otherwise, that Day

is going to take you by complete surprise, spring on you suddenly

like a trap, 35 for it's going to come on everyone, everywhere, at

once.

Vengeance Day

36 So, whatever you do, don't go to sleep at the switch. Pray constantly that you will have

the strength and wits to make it through everything that's

coming and end up on your feet before the Son of Man."

Vengeance Day

37 He spent his days in the Temple teaching, but his nights

out on the mountain called Olives. 38 All the people were

up at the crack of dawn to come to the Temple and listen

to him.

Doomsday Deceivers

Mark 13:1-36 MSG As he walked away from the Temple,

one of his disciples said, "Teacher, look at that

stonework! Those buildings!"

Doomsday Deceivers

2 Jesus said, "You're impressed by this grandiose architecture? There's not a

stone in the whole works that is not going to end up in a heap of rubble."

3 Later, as he was sitting on Mount Olives in full view of the Temple, Peter, James, John, and Andrew got him off by himself and asked, 4 "Tell us, when is this going

to happen? What sign will we get that things are coming to a head?"

Doomsday Deceivers

5 Jesus began, "Watch out for doomsday deceivers. 6 Many

leaders are going to show up with forged identities claiming, 'I'm the

One.' They will deceive a lot of people. 7 When you hear of wars

and rumored wars, keep your head and don't panic.

Doomsday Deceivers

This is routine history, and no sign of the end. 8 Nation will fight

nation and ruler fight ruler, over and over. Earthquakes will occur in various places. There will be

famines. But these things are nothing compared to what's

coming.

Doomsday Deceivers

9 “And watch out! They're going to drag you into court. And then it will go from bad to worse, dog-eat-dog, everyone at your throat

because you carry my name. You're placed there as sentinels to truth. 10 The Message has to be preached all across the world.

Doomsday Deceivers

11 “When they bring you, betrayed, into court, don't

worry about what you'll say. When the time comes, say

what's on your heart--the Holy Spirit will make his witness in

and through you.

Doomsday Deceivers

12 “It's going to be brother killing brother, father killing child, children killing parents. 13

There’s no telling who will hate you because of me. "Stay with it--

that's what is required. Stay with it to the end. You won't be sorry;

you'll be saved.

Run For The Hills

14 “But be ready to run for it when you see the monster of desecration set up where it

should never be. You who can read, make sure you

understand what I'm talking about.

Run For The Hills

If you're living in Judea at the time, run for the hills; 15 if you're working in the yard,

don't go back to the house to get anything; 16 if you're out in the field, don't go back to

get your coat.

Run For The Hills

17 Pregnant and nursing mothers will have it especially hard. 18

Hope and pray this won't happen in the middle of winter. 19 "These are going to be hard days--nothing like it from the time God made the world right up to the present. And there'll be nothing like it again.

Run For The Hills

20 If he let the days of trouble run their course, nobody

would make it. But because of God's chosen people, those he

personally chose, he has already intervened.

No One Knows the Day or Hour

21 “If anyone tries to flag you down, calling out, 'Here's the Messiah!' or points, 'There he is!' don't fall for it. 22 Fake

Messiahs and lying preachers are going to pop up

everywhere.


Their impressive credentials and dazzling performances will pull the

wool over the eyes of even those who ought to know better. 23 So

watch out. I've given you fair warning. 24 “Following those hard times, Sun will fade out,

moon cloud over, 25 Stars fall out of the sky, cosmic powers tremble.


26 “And then they'll see the Son of Man enter in grand style, his Arrival filling the sky--no

one will miss it! 27 He’ll dispatch the angels; they will

pull in the chosen from the four winds, from pole to pole.


28 “Take a lesson from the fig tree. From the moment you notice its

buds form, the merest hint of green, you know summer's just

around the corner. 29 And so it is with you. When you see all these

things, you know he is at the door.


30 Don’t take this lightly. I'm not just saying this for some

future generation, but for this one, too--these things will

happen. 31 Sky and earth will wear out; my words won't

wear out.


32 “But the exact day and hour? No one knows that, not even heaven's angels, not even the Son. Only the Father. 33 So keep a sharp lookout, for

you don't know the timetable.


34 It's like a man who takes a trip, leaving home and putting his servants in charge, each

assigned a task, and commanding the gatekeeper to

stand watch. 35 So, stay at your post, watching.


You have no idea when the homeowner is returning, whether evening, midnight, cockcrow, or morning. 36 You don't want him showing up unannounced, with

you asleep on the job. 37 I say it to you, and I'm saying it to all: Stay

at your post. Keep watch.

Mar 11-17-07 Destruction Of Jerusalem

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Transcript of Mar 11-17-07 Destruction Of Jerusalem