Reading Matthew 23-25
I started doing a study on Revelation on Sunday night (after a SWEET FOOTBALL GAME). One of the things we did was re-look at Matt. 25 and the classic "rapture" passage, which actually says the opposite of what we often read. (Those taken are those taken in judgment; those left are those spared judgment. See the parallel language between those *taken* in the flood, and the ones *taken* from the field and while grinding grain.) Anyway, a little discussion took place then with a follow up email of good questions. I put my answer here. Bear in mind, a good deal of this is Wrightian, and some of it may be Wright verbatim. I don't claim it as my own, except that my fingers typed it--some from my brain, most from his. Read at your own leisure!
1. What are the disciples referring to with their question in 24:3 which
Jesus then answers?
The most obvious reference is the destruction of the temple which Jesus has just mentioned in 24:2. The addition of "...the sign of your coming and of the close of the age..." is unique to Matthew. Do the disciples have in mind the end of the space-time universe with "close of the age"? There is no reason to think so. The end of the universe is not a very Jewish idea. They were much more concerned with seeing Israel restored and not being under foreign reign. They have hitched their wagons to Jesus' claim to Messiahship (Kingship). The prediction of the temple destruction (much like Jeremiah) was not a unique thing to Jesus, but for those who said judgment was coming on Jerusalem (see the end of Matt. 23). So, the question is best understood as, "When will the destruction you have just prophecied take place, and what will be the sign of your enthronement (see below), and the end of ISrael's age in exile?"
Another word in question is "coming," which I have put above as "enthronement." Obviously this is not a literal translation, but showing the story that comes to mind from Zech. 14 (see below). The Greek word for "coming" here is "parousia" which has been almost always associated with "second coming." It itself, however, simply means "presence." The constant association of parousia with second coming is not a necessary one, nor, I think, most faithful to this text. The setting itself, the Mount of Olives, brings to mind Zech 14 which is about Jerusalem's last great struggle, the 'coming' of God, and the final arrival of the divine kingdom. Jesus has told many stories that are about God's visiting Israel in him...and now the disciples are asking about his coming and the restitution of Israel.
2. How do the signs which Jesus described in 24:4-8 relate to the
destruction of Jerusalem in 70AD?
It is apocalyptic language (actually stretching to v. 14), the like of which is found in many prophets. The message to stay true in spite of betrayal and persecution, just as Israel was called to at many times, and God will bring judgment against their enemies and vindicate them. Now, however, the people who are told to stay true are the disciples (v. 9--he is still talking to them).
But they need not endure only. Flight is appropriate at the proper time. Jesus has announced that Jerusalem will be destroyed in ch. 23 because they will oppose him (and killed the prophets), even though he wishes he could gather them and protect them. Without taking all the necessary time to spell it all out, the flight is abandonment of the temple cult and Jerusalem because faithfulness to them is apostasy to God. To be the true Israel, one now flees--showing allegiance to a new way to be God's people, the way which centered around Jesus.
3. How does 24:15 relate to any event which happened after Jesus spoke and
before the destruction of Jerusalem?
Now I'll have to flesh out a little bit of the previous answer! The reference is coming from Daniel, as you know. The mingling of the pagan and the sacred by Antiochus Epiphanes sacrificing a pig in the temple shows the corruption of the temple (not by Israel, though) is what is important to keep in mind. Jesus says when they see this happening--the corruption of the temple cult, and then says "let the reader understand" which is a euphemism for "Pay attention because this is now happening!" The corruption of the temple--which was first seen by Daniel--is now coming back and as a result, God is bringing judgment. Staying loyal to this system is going against God, so flee.
3. Who were the false Christs and false prophets who appeared before 70AD
and performed great signs and miracles?
Don't know. There always were lots of people making messianic claims and doing things to gather followings. It's also a regular biblical theme (Dt. 13, Jer. 6:13f., etc.). This is all in the context that the coming (see above) of the Son of Man will be obvious--just as he has predicted. Look now at v. 28, which both the KJV and NKJV translate 'eagles.' It's a strange statement translated eagles or vultures, unless it's a clever mentioning of the Roman military (eagles!) and their destruction of Jerusalem.
3. Is there any record of the sign of the Son of Man coming in great power
and glory, all the nations morning at His coming and the elect being
gathered from the four winds in the first century? Is it not reasonable
to assume that these prophecies are still to be fulfilled?
The issue is what makes the most sense of the text in its setting. I will say that it is not unreasonable to interpret this as you do. It is a legitimate interpretation. However, I don't think it makes the most sense of what's going on. Taking in mind what the Son of Man (vindication of Israel against other nations in Daniel, a notion taken up by Jesus for himself) 'coming' means as I have described above--enthronement as real King, vindication, etc. and that 'angeloi' is just as easily translated 'messengers,' then it makes sense that Jesus' coming (see Dan 7 where the Son of Man comes to heaven from earth, he comes **to** the Ancient of Days; the Gk word 'erchomenon' can be translated either 'coming' or 'going') is to heaven in vindication (not that he wasn't there after the Ascension, but is now enthroned because of the things he prophecied coming to be. It then makes perfect sense why Jesus would then say "this generation will not pass away until these things have happened" and why the hearers are to learn the lesson of the fig tree--"When you start to see what I have predicted, you'll know to be ready."
1. What are the disciples referring to with their question in 24:3 which
Jesus then answers?
The most obvious reference is the destruction of the temple which Jesus has just mentioned in 24:2. The addition of "...the sign of your coming and of the close of the age..." is unique to Matthew. Do the disciples have in mind the end of the space-time universe with "close of the age"? There is no reason to think so. The end of the universe is not a very Jewish idea. They were much more concerned with seeing Israel restored and not being under foreign reign. They have hitched their wagons to Jesus' claim to Messiahship (Kingship). The prediction of the temple destruction (much like Jeremiah) was not a unique thing to Jesus, but for those who said judgment was coming on Jerusalem (see the end of Matt. 23). So, the question is best understood as, "When will the destruction you have just prophecied take place, and what will be the sign of your enthronement (see below), and the end of ISrael's age in exile?"
Another word in question is "coming," which I have put above as "enthronement." Obviously this is not a literal translation, but showing the story that comes to mind from Zech. 14 (see below). The Greek word for "coming" here is "parousia" which has been almost always associated with "second coming." It itself, however, simply means "presence." The constant association of parousia with second coming is not a necessary one, nor, I think, most faithful to this text. The setting itself, the Mount of Olives, brings to mind Zech 14 which is about Jerusalem's last great struggle, the 'coming' of God, and the final arrival of the divine kingdom. Jesus has told many stories that are about God's visiting Israel in him...and now the disciples are asking about his coming and the restitution of Israel.
2. How do the signs which Jesus described in 24:4-8 relate to the
destruction of Jerusalem in 70AD?
It is apocalyptic language (actually stretching to v. 14), the like of which is found in many prophets. The message to stay true in spite of betrayal and persecution, just as Israel was called to at many times, and God will bring judgment against their enemies and vindicate them. Now, however, the people who are told to stay true are the disciples (v. 9--he is still talking to them).
But they need not endure only. Flight is appropriate at the proper time. Jesus has announced that Jerusalem will be destroyed in ch. 23 because they will oppose him (and killed the prophets), even though he wishes he could gather them and protect them. Without taking all the necessary time to spell it all out, the flight is abandonment of the temple cult and Jerusalem because faithfulness to them is apostasy to God. To be the true Israel, one now flees--showing allegiance to a new way to be God's people, the way which centered around Jesus.
3. How does 24:15 relate to any event which happened after Jesus spoke and
before the destruction of Jerusalem?
Now I'll have to flesh out a little bit of the previous answer! The reference is coming from Daniel, as you know. The mingling of the pagan and the sacred by Antiochus Epiphanes sacrificing a pig in the temple shows the corruption of the temple (not by Israel, though) is what is important to keep in mind. Jesus says when they see this happening--the corruption of the temple cult, and then says "let the reader understand" which is a euphemism for "Pay attention because this is now happening!" The corruption of the temple--which was first seen by Daniel--is now coming back and as a result, God is bringing judgment. Staying loyal to this system is going against God, so flee.
3. Who were the false Christs and false prophets who appeared before 70AD
and performed great signs and miracles?
Don't know. There always were lots of people making messianic claims and doing things to gather followings. It's also a regular biblical theme (Dt. 13, Jer. 6:13f., etc.). This is all in the context that the coming (see above) of the Son of Man will be obvious--just as he has predicted. Look now at v. 28, which both the KJV and NKJV translate 'eagles.' It's a strange statement translated eagles or vultures, unless it's a clever mentioning of the Roman military (eagles!) and their destruction of Jerusalem.
3. Is there any record of the sign of the Son of Man coming in great power
and glory, all the nations morning at His coming and the elect being
gathered from the four winds in the first century? Is it not reasonable
to assume that these prophecies are still to be fulfilled?
The issue is what makes the most sense of the text in its setting. I will say that it is not unreasonable to interpret this as you do. It is a legitimate interpretation. However, I don't think it makes the most sense of what's going on. Taking in mind what the Son of Man (vindication of Israel against other nations in Daniel, a notion taken up by Jesus for himself) 'coming' means as I have described above--enthronement as real King, vindication, etc. and that 'angeloi' is just as easily translated 'messengers,' then it makes sense that Jesus' coming (see Dan 7 where the Son of Man comes to heaven from earth, he comes **to** the Ancient of Days; the Gk word 'erchomenon' can be translated either 'coming' or 'going') is to heaven in vindication (not that he wasn't there after the Ascension, but is now enthroned because of the things he prophecied coming to be. It then makes perfect sense why Jesus would then say "this generation will not pass away until these things have happened" and why the hearers are to learn the lesson of the fig tree--"When you start to see what I have predicted, you'll know to be ready."
posted by Aaron Perry at
2:42 PM
3 Comments:
A man after my own heart!!!
I would have loved being "left-behind" in that day!
I actually have a power point presentation I made that goes verse by verse through Matthew 24:1-34 with a lot of historical stuff from Josephus and other sources.
I would DEFINITELY recommend an online commentary found at:
http://www.preteristsite.com
Just click the commentary tab once you get there. It works best with firefox, not internet explorer.
And I'd be glad to send you the PowerPoint via MSN if you are interested.
Enjoying your wonderful blog! I would love to have you do a blog on a web piece I ran across. Go to Yahoo or other search engine and type into it "Pretrib Rapture Diehards" - long hidden (but now revealed) facts about the history of the "pretrib" rapture view. Top scholars have endorsed the article writer's research (just type in "Scholars Weigh My Research"). His blessings on you! B.R.
spamspamspamspamspamspamspamspam wonderful spam!
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