Simplified Scriptures Series (SSS / Triple-S)

In this series, I am going to present my views on various Scriptures and doctrines, in an attempt to present the simplest, best interpretations which don’t require looking for any secondary, secret meanings. Don’t get me wrong. I’m not saying that these Scriptures (or other parts of the Bible) never have secondary meanings or fulfillments, I’m just saying that my view is that it is safer, and more of a sure bet, to focus on the primary, surface-level meaning rather than going too far beyond what is written. My view is that in Matthew 24, Mark 13, and Luke 21, Christ’s words only applied to the destruction of the Jewish Temple by the Roman armies in 70 A.D. and do not have a hidden antitypical second fulfillment today. This would be in perfect agreement with Luke 21:5-7 (NET), which reads:

Now  while some were speaking about the temple, how it was adorned  with beautiful stones and offerings, Jesus said, “As for these things that you are gazing at, the days will come when not one stone will be left on another. All will be torn down!”  So they asked him, “Teacher, when will these things happen? And what will be the sign that these things are about to take place?”

This context clearly shows that Luke 21 (the parallel account of Matthew 24 and Mark 13) is Jesus and the disciples focusing only on the destruction of the Jewish Temple which they were looking at, not an antitypical future second fulfillment 2,000 years later. Continue down and look at Luke 21:20-28, Jesus explicitly says that these things will occur when the armies surround the city of Jerusalem, which was fulfilled in 66-70 A.D., concluding when the Roman General Titus destroyed the Temple.

Luke 21:20 (NET): “But when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then know that its desolation has come near.”

Earlier Christ had prophesied this same judgment and condemnation as a punishment on the Jews in Jerusalem for rejecting the Messiah during the time of the inspection/visitation. This is found in Luke 19:41-44 (NET):

Now when Jesus approached and saw the city, he wept over it, saying, “If you had only known on this day, even you, the things that make for peace! But now they are hidden from your eyes. For the days will come upon you when your enemies will build an embankment against you and surround you and close in on you from every side. They will demolish you  – you and your children within your walls – and they will not leave within you one stone on top of another, because you did not recognize the time of your visitation from God.”

Jesus continued to warn about this same event, the destruction of the Jewish Temple, in Luke 23:27-31. Jesus once again warned Jerusalem about its destruction. All of this, in my opinion, has nothing to do with some secondary antitypical fulfillment 2,000 years later.

This explains why Jesus said “this generation will not pass away until all these things occur,” (Matthew 24:34) “all of this will come upon this generation,” (Matthew 23:36) and “you will not finish preaching in the cities of Israel before I come.” (Matthew 10:23)

One more point to consider: Christ repeatedly said that when this “great tribulation” takes place, His disciples would be brought before the synagogues to be judged and condemned. Synagogues don’t have this legal authority today, but they sure did in the 1st Century A.D. (Matthew 10:17; Mark 13:9; Luke 12:11; John 16:2; Matthew 23:34)

Jesus used hyperbole and symbolism to describe this event of the Romans destroying the Temple in 70 A.D., by saying they would see Jesus in the clouds and at the right hand of God. This symbolizes Christ’s power and authority as King.

Matthew 26:64 (NET): Jesus said to him, “You have said it yourself. But I tell you, from now on you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Power and coming on the clouds of heaven.”

This is symbolism taken from Daniel chapter 7, where it was foretold that the Messiah (Son of Man, New Adam) would ascend from earth to heaven in order to sit at God’s right hand and receive all power and authority, including the authority to execute justice and vengeance on His enemies. The other symbolic and hyperbolic language used by Jesus was taken from Joel, Isaiah, Jeremiah, and other books of the Old Testament. The phrases about “signs in the heavens” and “the sun and moon not giving their light” and “stars falling,” were all used by various prophets in their messages representing the destruction that God was bringing upon a city or nation. Now, it is possible that these things had a literal fulfillment too, but it may have just been hyperbole and apocalyptic symbolism.

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{Photo Recognition: “Ercole de Roberti Destruction of Jerusalem Fighting Fleeing Marching Slaying Burning Chemical reactions b” by David Roberts – net. Licensed under Public Domain via Wikimedia Commons – http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Ercole_de_Roberti_Destruction_of_Jerusalem_Fighting_Fleeing_Marching_Slaying_Burning_Chemical_reactions_b.jpg#/media/File:Ercole_de_Roberti_Destruction_of_Jerusalem_Fighting_Fleeing_Marching_Slaying_Burning_Chemical_reactions_b.jpg}