MakingsenseofendtimesprophecyintheBibleDavidSnokeCityReformedPresbyterianChurch,Pittsburgh,PAThetimeoftrampling.Mystartingpointisapassagethatmightnotbethefirstonemanywouldchoosetotalkaboutendtimes,butisacrucialone:

Luke21:5‐24Andwhilesomewerespeakingofthetemple,howitwasadornedwithnoblestonesandofferings,hesaid,“Asforthesethingsthatyousee,thedayswillcomewhentherewillnotbelefthereonestoneuponanotherthatwillnotbethrowndown.”Andtheyaskedhim,“Teacher,whenwillthesethingsbe,andwhatwillbethesignwhenthesethingsareabouttotakeplace?”Andhesaid,“Seethatyouarenotledastray.Formanywillcomeinmyname,saying,‘Iamhe!’and,‘Thetimeisathand!’Donotgoafterthem.Andwhenyouhearofwarsandtumults,donotbeterrified,forthesethingsmustfirsttakeplace,buttheendwillnotbeatonce.”Thenhesaidtothem,“Nationwillriseagainstnation,andkingdomagainstkingdom.Therewillbegreatearthquakes,andinvariousplacesfaminesandpestilences.Andtherewillbeterrorsandgreatsignsfromheaven.Butbeforeallthistheywilllaytheirhandsonyouandpersecuteyou,deliveringyouuptothesynagoguesandprisons,andyouwillbebroughtbeforekingsandgovernorsformyname’ssake.Thiswillbeyouropportunitytobearwitness.Settleitthereforeinyourmindsnottomeditatebeforehandhowtoanswer,forIwillgiveyouamouthandwisdom,whichnoneofyouradversarieswillbeabletowithstandorcontradict.Youwillbedeliveredupevenbyparentsandbrothersandrelativesandfriends,andsomeofyoutheywillputtodeath.Youwillbehatedbyallformyname’ssake.Butnotahairofyourheadwillperish.Byyourenduranceyouwillgainyourlives.“ButwhenyouseeJerusalemsurroundedbyarmies,thenknowthatkitsdesolationhascomenear.ThenletthosewhoareinJudeafleetothemountains,andletthosewhoareinsidethecitydepart,andletnotthosewhoareoutinthecountryenterit,forthesearedaysofvengeance,tofulfillallthatiswritten.Alasforwomenwhoarepregnantandforthosewhoarenursinginfantsinthosedays!Fortherewillbegreatdistressupontheearthandwrathagainstthispeople.Theywillfallbytheedgeoftheswordandbeledcaptiveamongallnations,andJerusalemwillbetrampledunderfootbytheGentiles,untilthetimesoftheGentilesarefulfilled.

Inthispassage,Jesusmakestwomainpoints.Thefirstisthatthechurchshouldnotbeconstantlyontheedgeexpectingthattheendwillcomeatonce.Manydramaticandbadthingswillhappen,includingwars,earthquakes,famines,persecutions,falseprophets,andfalsemessiahs,butthesearejustprecursors,nottheend.ThesecondpointJesusmakesisinregardtohisstatementatthebeginningofthepassagethat“therewillnotbelefthereonestoneonanotherthatwillnotbethrowndown.”1ItisveryclearfromthispassagethatwhatJesusisprophesyinghereisthedestructionofJerusalembytheRomans,whichoccurredin70A.D.Thiswasamomentousevent,becauseiteffectivelyendedtheMosaiccovenantforever.NotonlywastheTempledestroyed,therecordsofthegenealogiesofthepriestswerelost,sothateveniftheTemplewasrebuilt,

thesacrificialsystemcouldnotbelegitimatelyrestarted.Inresponse,JewsofthedayeitherhadtobecomeChristians,acceptingJesusasthefulfillmentofthesacrificiallaw,orredefinetheirreligion,tomake“goodworks”equaltotheirsacrifices.ThislatterpathhasbeenthewayofallmodernJews,sothatonemaysaythatpresentdayJudaismisasdifferentareligionfromthelawofMoses,withitsintricatesacrificialsystematthecenterofthereligion,asChristianityis.TherearemanyotherpassagesinwhichJesusprophesiestheimmediatedestructionofthenationofIsrael,sometimesinveiledlanguage,sometimesnotsoveiled:

Matt.21:43“ThereforeItellyou,thekingdomofGodwillbetakenawayfromyouandgiventoapeopleproducingitsfruits.”Matt.22:1‐7AndagainJesusspoketotheminparables,saying,“Thekingdomofheavenmaybecomparedtoakingwhogaveaweddingfeastforhisson,andsenthisservantstocallthosewhowereinvitedtotheweddingfeast,buttheywouldnotcome.Againhesentotherservants,saying,‘Tellthosewhoareinvited,See,Ihavepreparedmydinner,myoxenandmyfatcalveshavebeenslaughtered,andeverythingisready.Cometotheweddingfeast.’Buttheypaidnoattentionandwentoff,onetohisfarm,anothertohisbusiness,whiletherestseizedhisservants,treatedthemshamefully,andkilledthem.Thekingwasangry,andhesenthistroopsanddestroyedthosemurderersandburnedtheircity.Luke13:34‐35“OJerusalem,Jerusalem,thecitythatkillstheprophetsandstonesthosewhoaresenttoit!HowoftenwouldIhavegatheredyourchildrentogetherasahengathersherbroodunderherwings,andyouwouldnot!Behold,yourhouseisforsaken.AndItellyou,youwillnotseemeuntilyousay,‘BlessedishewhocomesinthenameoftheLord!’“

TheapostlePaulalsoreferstothe“timeoftheGentilesbeingfulfilled”inRomans11:25:

Rom.11:25Lestyoubewiseinyourownconceits,Iwantyoutounderstandthismystery,brothers:apartialhardeninghascomeuponIsrael,untilthefullnessoftheGentileshascomein.

TheapostleJohn’sRevelationalsoreferstothistimeperiodof“trampling”bytheGentiles,or“nations”:

Rev.11:1‐3ThenIwasgivenameasuringrodlikeastaff,andIwastold,“RiseandmeasurethetempleofGodandthealtarandthosewhoworshipthere,butdonotmeasurethecourtoutsidethetemple;leavethatout,foritisgivenovertothenations,andtheywilltrampletheholycityforforty‐twomonths.AndIwillgrantauthoritytomytwowitnesses,andtheywillprophesyfor1,260days,clothedinsackcloth.”Rev.12:1‐6Andagreatsignappearedinheaven:awomanclothedwiththesun,withthemoonunderherfeet,andonherheadacrownoftwelvestars.Shewaspregnantandwascryingoutinbirthpainsandtheagonyofgivingbirth.Andanothersignappearedinheaven:behold,agreatreddragon,withsevenheadsandtenhorns,andonhisheadssevendiadems.Histailsweptdownathirdofthestarsofheavenandcastthemtotheearth.Andthedragonstoodbeforethewomanwhowasabouttogivebirth,sothatwhensheboreher

childhemightdevourit.Shegavebirthtoamalechild,onewhoistoruleallthenationswitharodofiron,butherchildwascaughtuptoGodandtohisthrone,andthewomanfledintothewilderness,whereshehasaplacepreparedbyGod,inwhichsheistobenourishedfor1,260days.Rev.13:5Andthebeastwasgivenamouthutteringhaughtyandblasphemouswords,anditwasallowedtoexerciseauthorityforforty‐twomonths.

Revelationishighlysymbolic,butnotimpossibletounderstand.ItisclearintheRev12passageabovethatthe“woman”isthenationIsrael,whogivesbirthtotheMessiahwho“rulesthenationswitharodofiron”(cf.Psalm2),andthenissentintothe“wilderness,”thatis,exile,whilethedevilhasalimitedtimeoflimitedauthority.Thisisequatedwiththetimeof“trampling”oftheTempleinRev11:3,whichisalsoreferredtoinLuke21:14,above.The“twowitnesses”inRev11mostlikelyrefertothechurch;alegalwitnessinthelawofMosesrequiredaminimumoftwowitnesses.InRevelation,thetimeperiodoftramplingbytheGentilesiscalledthe“1260days,”whichisequalto42monthsof30days.Thisnumberissymbolic,asaremanynumbersinRevelation;thesymbolismcomesfromthetimeperiodbeforeChristwhenAntiochusEpiphanes“desolated”theTempleinJerusalemfor3½years(42months=3×12+6).TheprophetDanielpredictedthisperiodinseveralplaces:

Dan8:13‐14“Forhowlongisthevisionconcerningtheregularburntoffering,thetransgressionthatmakesdesolate,andthegivingoverofthesanctuaryandhosttobetrampledunderfoot?”Andhesaidtome,“For2,300eveningsandmornings.Thenthesanctuaryshallberestoredtoitsrightfulstate.”

2300eveningsandmorningsequals1250days.InalaterpassageinDaniel,thiseventisclearlyconnectedwithAntiochusbythepreceding,fairlydetailedhistory,whichendswith

Dan11:31Forcesfromhimshallappearandprofanethetempleandfortress,andshalltakeawaytheregularburntoffering.Andtheyshallsetuptheabominationthatmakesdesolate.

LateroninDaniel12weencounteratimeperiodcalled“atime,timesandhalfatime,”whichcanbetakenas3½years(Dan12:7)whichisalsocalled1290days:

Dan.12:11Andfromthetimethattheregularburntofferingistakenawayandtheabominationthatmakesdesolateissetup,thereshallbe1,290days.

Theslightdifferencesbetween1250,1260,and1290mayrelatetodifferenttypesofcalendarsbeingused,rounding,orpossiblydifferentsymbolicintent.2Whatwehavethenisthefollowing:in168B.C.,AntiochusEpiphanessackedJerusalemanddesecratedtheTemplefor3½years,puttingpaganidolsthere.ThiswasanextremelysignificanteventfortheJews,knownasthe“abominationthatmakesdesolate,”or“theabominationofdesolation.”IntheNewTestament,atimeoftrampling,ordesolation,

oftheTempleispredicted.Thistimeoftramplingisreferredtobythesymbolicnumbersof1260daysand42months,whichareclosetotheactualnumberofdaysofthedesolationbyAntiochusEpiphanes,referredtointhebookofDaniel,whichwaswellknowntotheearlyChristians.ThistimeperiodreferstoalltheyearsofdesolationoftheTempleinJerusalem,uptothepresentday,inwhichtheTempleisstill“trampled”bytheGentilesandtheMosaicsacrificialsystemoftheTemplecannotberestored.ThistimeoftramplingisclearlyconnectedwiththedestructionoftheTemplein70A.D.,whentheTemplewastorndown,asJesuspredicted.Comingwiththeangels.WearenowinapositiontolookcarefullyatanotherpassageofprophecybyJesus,whichispartlyinparallelwiththeLuke21passagewestartedwithabove.ThisisthelongpassageinMatthew24and25.HereIwillexposititinsections.

Matt.24:1‐22Jesusleftthetempleandwasgoingaway,whenhisdisciplescametopointouttohimthebuildingsofthetemple.Butheansweredthem,“Youseeallthese,doyounot?Truly,Isaytoyou,therewillnotbelefthereonestoneuponanotherthatwillnotbethrowndown.”AshesatontheMountofOlives,thedisciplescametohimprivately,saying,“Tellus,whenwillthesethingsbe,andwhatwillbethesignofyourcomingandofthecloseoftheage?”AndJesusansweredthem,“Seethatnooneleadsyouastray.Formanywillcomeinmyname,saying,‘IamtheChrist,’andtheywillleadmanyastray.Andyouwillhearofwarsandrumorsofwars.Seethatyoudarenotalarmed,forthismusttakeplace,buttheendisnotyet.Fornationwillriseagainstnation,andkingdomagainstkingdom,andtherewillbefaminesandearthquakesinvariousplaces.Allthesearebutthebeginningofthebirthpains.Thentheywilldeliveryouuptotribulationandputyoutodeath,andyouwillbehatedbyallnationsformyname’ssake.Andthenmanywillfallawayandbetrayoneanotherandhateoneanother.Andmanyfalseprophetswillariseandleadmanyastray.Andbecauselawlessnesswillbeincreased,theloveofmanywillgrowcold.Buttheonewhoendurestotheendwillbesaved.Andthisgospelofthekingdomswillbeproclaimedthroughoutthewholeworldasatestimonytoallnations,andthentheendwillcome.“SowhenyouseetheabominationofdesolationspokenofbytheprophetDaniel,standingintheholyplace(letthereaderunderstand),thenletthosewhoareinJudeafleetothemountains.Lettheonewhoisonthehousetopnotgodowntotakewhatisinhishouse,andlettheonewhoisinthefieldnotturnbacktotakehiscloak.Andalasforwomenwhoarepregnantandforthosewhoarenursinginfantsinthosedays!PraythatyourflightmaynotbeinwinteroronaSabbath.Forthentherewillbegreattribulation,suchashasnotbeenfromthebeginningoftheworlduntilnow,no,andneverwillbe.Andifthosedayshadnotbeencutshort,nohumanbeingwouldbesaved.Butforthesakeoftheelectthosedayswillbecutshort.”

ThissectionishighlyparalleltotheLuke21passagegivenatthebeginning(andalsotoMark13:1‐23),andisverylikelyrecordingthesamespeechbyJesus.3Asdiscussedabove,Jesusmakestwopoints:first,thatthechurchshouldnotbeinatizzythinkingeverybadthingmeansJesusisreturning,andsecond,thatJerusalemwillbetrampledandtheyshouldwatchoutforit.Luke21:24isnotrepeatedhere,whichspecificallytalksofJerusalemandtheGentiles,butthereisnodoubtthatthispassageistalkingofthesame

eventasLuke21.JesusspecificallymentionstheabominationofdesolationofDanielasoccurring,whichmeansthedestructionoftheTempleworship.ThereisevidencehistoricallythatearlyJewishChristiansknewthisprophecyandindeeddidfleetothehillsin70A.D.whentheRomanssurroundedJerusalem.SomeJewswereangrywiththemfornotbeingcourageoustostandwithotherJews.Itwaswise,however,becauseessentiallyeveryoneinthecitywaskilled,withincrediblesufferingduringthesiege.Jesusthengoeson:

Matt.24:23‐35“Thenifanyonesaystoyou,‘Look,hereistheChrist!’or‘Thereheis!’donotbelieveit.Forfalsechristsandfalseprophetswillariseandperformgreatsignsandwonders,soastoleadastray,ifpossible,eventheelect.See,Ihavetoldyoubeforehand.So,iftheysaytoyou,‘Look,heisinthewilderness,’donotgoout.Iftheysay,‘Look,heisintheinnerrooms,’donotbelieveit.Forasthelightningcomesfromtheeastandshinesasfarasthewest,sowillbethecomingoftheSonofMan.Whereverthecorpseis,therethevultureswillgather.“Immediatelyafterthetribulationofthosedaysthesunwillbedarkened,andthemoonwillnotgiveitslight,andthestarswillfallfromheaven,andthepowersoftheheavenswillbeshaken.ThenwillappearinheaventhesignoftheSonofMan,andthenallthetribesoftheearthwillmourn,andtheywillseetheSonofMancomingonthecloudsofheavenwithpowerandgreatglory.Andhewillsendouthisangelswithaloudtrumpetcall,andtheywillgatherhiselectfromthefourwinds,fromoneendofheaventotheother.“Fromthefigtreelearnitslesson:assoonasitsbranchbecomestenderandputsoutitsleaves,youknowthatsummerisnear.Soalso,whenyouseeallthesethings,youknowthatheisnear,cattheverygates.Truly,Isaytoyou,thisgenerationwillnotpassawayuntilallthesethingstakeplace.Heavenandearthwillpassaway,butmywordswillnotpassaway.”

ThelasttwoparagraphsareincloseparallelwiththesucceedingpassageinLuke21:

Luke21:25‐33“Andtherewillbesignsinsunandmoonandstars,andontheearthdistressofnationsinperplexitybecauseoftheroaringoftheseaandthewaves,peoplefaintingwithfearandwithforebodingofwhatiscomingontheworld.Forthepowersoftheheavenswillbeshaken.AndthentheywillseetheSonofMancominginacloudwithpowerandgreatglory.Nowwhenthesethingsbegintotakeplace,straightenupandraiseyourheads,becauseyourredemptionisdrawingnear.”Andhetoldthemaparable:“Lookatthefigtree,andallthetrees.Assoonastheycomeoutinleaf,youseeforyourselvesandknowthatthesummerisalreadynear.Soalso,whenyouseethesethingstakingplace,youknowthatthekingdomofGodisnear.Truly,Isaytoyou,thisgenerationwillnotpassawayuntilallhastakenplace.Heavenandearthwillpassaway,butmywordswillnotpassaway.”

ThisisalsoparallelwiththesucceedingparagraphsinMark13:24‐31.Ourquestionsare:whendothesethingshappen,andtowhatdotheyrefer?Therearethreemainviewpoints:preterist,futurist,andpartialpreterist.Preterism.The“preterist”viewpointsaysthattheseeventsoccuratthetimeofthedestructionofJerusalem.Inthisviewpoint,Jesusisusingsymboliclanguagefornaturalevents.Aswehaveseen,therearelotsofreasonstotakepartofJesus’earlierdiscussionasreferringtothedestructionofJerusalem,andchurchfatherssuchasCalvinhavetakenitthisway.Buttheselaterparagraphsseemtobeprettyclearlytalkingoftheendofthisworld,andfinaljudgment.Thepreteristrejectsthisandsaysthatallofthislaterdiscussionissymbolic.Thepreteristviewisnotwithoutanymerit.Theyarguethatevensomethingasdramaticasthestarsfallingfromtheskycanbetakenassymbolic,andgiveexamplesfromtheOldTestament.Althoughtheseexamplesarenotoverlypersuasive,4onemightacceptthisimageassymbolic.However,thelaterdiscussionbyJesusinthesamenarrative,inwhichheagainrefersto“comingwithhisangels,”seemsclearlytorefertothefinaljudgment:

Matt.25:31‐34,“WhentheSonofMancomesinhisglory,andalltheangelswithhim,thenhewillsitonhisgloriousthrone.Beforehimwillbegatheredallthenations,andhewillseparatepeopleonefromanotherasashepherdseparatesthesheepfromthegoats.ThentheKingwillsaytothoseonhisright,‘Come,youwhoareblessedbymyFather,inheritthekingdompreparedforyoufromthefoundationoftheworld…Thenhewillsaytothoseonhisleft,‘Departfromme,youcursed,intotheeternalfirepreparedforthedevilandhisangels.…Andthesewillgoawayintoeternalpunishment,buttherighteousintoeternallife.”

Thepreteristcanargue,however,thatthe“coming”ofJesuscanrefertomorethanonething.ThefollowingpassagesareallparallelaccountsofdiscussionJesushaswithhisdisciplesafterPeteridentifiedhimastheChrist:

Mat.16:26‐28“Forwhatwillitprofitamanifhegainsthewholeworldandforfeitshislife?Orwhatshallamangiveinreturnforhislife?FortheSonofManisgoingtocomewithhisangelsinthegloryofhisFather,andthenhewillrepayeachpersonaccordingtowhathehasdone.Truly,Isaytoyou,therearesomestandingherewhowillnottastedeathuntiltheyseetheSonofMancominginhiskingdom.”Mark8:36‐9:1“Forwhatdoesitprofitamantogainthewholeworldandforfeithislife?Forwhatcanamangiveinreturnforhislife?Forwhoeverisashamedofmeandofmywordsinthisadulterousandsinfulgeneration,ofhimwilltheSonofManalsobeashamedwhenhecomesinthegloryofhisFatherwiththeholyangels.”Andhesaidtothem,“Truly,Isaytoyou,therearesomestandingherewhowillnottastedeathuntiltheyseethekingdomofGodafterithascomewithpower.”Luke9:25‐27“Forwhatdoesitprofitamanifhegainsthewholeworldandlosesorforfeitshimself?Forwhoeverisashamedofmeandofmywords,ofhimwilltheSonofManbeashamedwhenhecomesinhisgloryandthegloryoftheFatherandoftheholyangels.ButI

tellyoutruly,therearesomestandingherewhowillnottastedeathuntiltheyseethekingdomofGod.”

AllofthesepassagesendwithJesussayingthatsomethingisveryimmanent,whichisrecordedas“cominginhiskingdom”byMatthew,“thekingdomofGod…withpower”inMark,and“thekingdomofGod”inLuke.SomescholarshaveidentifiedthiseventwiththeglorificationofChristinthenextchapter,whenafewoftheapostlesseehimonthemountainbeing“transfigured,”butthisseemsastretchbecausethesepassagesclearlyfocusoncomingjudgment,anditmakesnosensetorefertothedisciplesstillbeingaliveforaneventthatoccursjustafewdayslater.ThesameargumentsspeakagainsttakingthispredictionasreferringtohisAscension,whichwasonlyabouthalfayearlater.Therefore,unlesswebelievesomeonehasbeenalivefor2000years,wemusttakethiseventasreferringtothedestructionofJerusalemin70A.D.,whichmakessenseasnearthelimitofthelifespanofthosealiveatthetimeofChrist,around30A.D.Thequestionthenbecomes,isthediscussionbyChristintheprevioussentenceinthesepassages,inwhichhetalksofcomingwithhisangelsinglorytojudgetheworld,thesameevent,oradifferentone?Thepreteristwouldsayitisthesameevent,butthereisreasontotaketheseasnotthesame.First,the“kingdom”isdiscussedbyJesusinmanyplacesasalreadystartingwhilehewaswiththem,e.g.Mat.12:12,Luke17:21.Asmanytheologianshavediscussed,thereisasenseinwhichthe“kingdom”iswithusalready,fromthetimeofChrist,andasenseinwhichitisstillnotyet,andwewaittoenteritinitsfullness.ItisnothardtoarguethatthekingdomstartedwithChrist,thencame“withpower”oncethekingdomofIsraelwassweptawayin70A.D.,andwillcome“inglory”inthefuture.ThisviewissupportedbythedifferentofterminologyinthelanguageofJesus;hetalksofthecomingofhis“kingdom”onearth,whichisalreadywithus,whilewhentalkingofthefinaljudgment,hespeaksofhiscomingin“glory.”Inthisview,then,intheabovethreeparallelpassages,Jesusisgivingtheapostlesawarningthattheymustfearhimmorethanman,becauseheisincharge,andhegivestwoexamplesofhowhewillexerthispower:inthefinaljudgment,andverysooninthejudgmentofIsraelanddestructionoftheTemple,whichaswehaveseen,isaveryimportantthemeintheGospels.5ReturningtoMatthew24,theonlythingthatcausessomeproblemforthisinterpretationistheword“immediately”inMatthew24:29.OnecanreadthisassayingthatimmediatelyafterthedestructionofJerusalem,whichJesushasdiscussed,hiscomingwiththeangelswilloccur.AliberaltheologianmightsayindeedthatthisiswhatJesuspredicted,andthathewaswrong,andafalseprophet.Iamoftensurprisedtofindmanyevangelicalsseemtothinkthesamething,thatalltheapostlesthoughtJesushadpredictedaveryearlyreturn.Thereareseveralargumentsagainstthisliberalview,andagainstthepreteristview,whichwouldsaythesamethingbutarguethatthecomingofJesuswithhisangelsreferstoanearthlyhistoricalevent,notthefinaljudgment.(Avariationofthisis“hyper‐preterism,”whichsaysthatthereisnoSecondComingotherthanthesymboliconein70A.D.Inother

words,thisviewdeniesthehistoricApostle’sCreedandNiceneCreedwhichsaythatwelookforwardtothedaywhenJesuscomesagaintojudgethelivingandthedead.)ThefirstargumentisthecontextofMatthew24‐25.Jesusfollowshisdiscussionwithseveralparablesthatallrefertoa“long”timetowait:

Matthew24:42‐25:19“Therefore,stayawake,foryoudonotknowonwhatdayyourLordiscoming.Butknowthis,thatifthemasterofthehousehadknowninwhatpartofthenightthethiefwascoming,hewouldhavestayedawakeandwouldnothavelethishousebebrokeninto.Thereforeyoualsomustbeready,fortheSonofManiscomingatanhouryoudonotexpect.

“Whothenisthefaithfulandwiseservant,whomhismasterhassetoverhishousehold,togivethemtheirfoodatthepropertime?Blessedisthatservantwhomhismasterwillfindsodoingwhenhecomes.Truly,Isaytoyou,hewillsethimoverallhispossessions.Butifthatwickedservantsaystohimself,‘Mymasterisdelayed,’andbeginstobeathisfellowservantsandeatsanddrinkswithdrunkards,themasterofthatservantwillcomebonadaywhenhedoesnotexpecthimandatanhourhedoesnotknowandwillcuthiminpiecesandputhimwiththehypocrites.Inthatplacetherewillbeweepingandgnashingofteeth.

“Thenthekingdomofheavenwillbeliketenvirginswhotooktheirlampsandwenttomeetthebridegroom.Fiveofthemwerefoolish,andfivewerewise.Forwhenthefoolishtooktheirlamps,theytooknooilwiththem,butthewisetookflasksofoilwiththeirlamps.Asthebridegroomwasdelayed,theyallbecamedrowsyandslept.Butatmidnighttherewasacry,‘Hereisthebridegroom!Comeouttomeethim.’Thenallthosevirginsroseandtrimmedtheirlamps.Andthefoolishsaidtothewise,‘Giveussomeofyouroil,forourlampsaregoingout.’Butthewiseanswered,saying,‘Sincetherewillnotbeenoughforusandforyou,gorathertothedealersandbuyforyourselves.’Andwhiletheyweregoingtobuy,thebridegroomcame,andthosewhowerereadywentinwithhimtothemarriagefeast,andthedoorwasshut.Afterwardtheothervirginscamealso,saying,‘Lord,lord,opentous.’Butheanswered,‘Truly,Isaytoyou,Idonotknowyou.’Watchtherefore,foryouknowneitherthedaynorthehour.“Foritwillbelikeamangoingonajourney,whocalledhisservantsandentrustedtothemhisproperty.Toonehegavefivetalents,toanothertwo,toanotherone,toeachaccordingtohisability.Thenhewentaway.…Nowafteralongtimethemasterofthoseservantscameandsettledaccountswiththem.

Ineachofthesestories,thethemeisthatthemaster(whorepresentsChrist)isgonealongtime,andpeoplebecomelazywhilewaiting.Theymustwaitforhimtocomeatanymoment,becausetheydonotknowwhenhewillcome.Thislessonwouldseemtocontradictthe“verysoon”and“athand”aspectofthecomingofkingdomwhichChristpreachesinmanyotherpassages(e.g.Mat.3:2,4:17,Mark1:15),ifeverythingistohappenimmediatelywithintheirlifetime.NotealsothatJesusinMat.24:21saysthatsuchasufferingasthetimeoftheabominationofJerusalemneverhasbeen,and“neverwillbe.”Thisseemstoimplyalongtimeafterwards.6

Also,inthesamespeech,inMat.24:36,Jesussays“Butconcerningthatdayandhour,nooneknows.”YetifwetakethiseventsashappeningatthesametimeasthedestructionoftheTemple,hehasessentiallytoldthemadate:beforeallofthemhavedied.Abasicquestionininterpretingthispassageiswhat“tribulation”whichJesuswasreferringto,whichhesaidwouldbefollowed“immediately”byhiscomingwithangels.CalvinandothershavearguedthathedidnotreferspecificallytothedestructionofJerusalemdiscussedinMat.24:15‐22,buttothegeneraltribulationdiscussedintheparagraphsprecedingandfollowing,inwhichJesusmakespreciselythepointthatmanybadthingswillhappenoveralongtimethatwillnotbetheendoftheworld.NotethatJesuscallsthegeneralpersecutionofthechurch“tribulation”inMatthew24:9.CalvinarguedthatJesusmeantthathewouldcomeimmediatelyafterthisgeneralperiodoftimewhichwehavecalledthe“tramplingoftheGentiles.”NotealsothatinbetweenthediscussionofthedestructionofJerusalemandthecominginglory,Jesusdiscussesnotbeingledastraybyfalsechrists.WhygivethiswarningifthecomingingloryoccursimmediatelyatthesametimeasthedestructionoftheTemple?Therewouldseemtobehardlyanytimetobeledastray.AnargumentagainstthepreteristwhosaysthatthetrumpetsandangelsofMat.24:31canbeviewedassymbolicofanearthlyhistoricaleventisthefactthattheapostlePaulclearlyconnectsthetrumpetandtheangelswiththefinaljudgment:

1Thess4:16‐17FortheLordhimselfwilldescendfromheavenwithacryofcommand,withthevoiceofanarchangel,andwiththesoundofthetrumpetofGod.AndthedeadinChristwillrisefirst.Thenwewhoarealive,whoareleft,willbecaughtuptogetherwiththeminthecloudstomeettheLordintheair,andsowewillalwaysbewiththeLord.

AfinalargumentagainstseeingthecomingingloryashappeningrightafterthedestructionofJerusalemisthatthereisnohistoricalrecordeitherofthechurchbewailingthefactthatJesushadnotcomeatthetimehepromised,asliberalswouldhaveusbelieve,orthechurchwidelyproclaimingthatJesushad,infact,comeatthattime,aspreteristswouldhaveusbelieve.ThechurchcontinuedtoproclaimthestatementoftheApostle’sCreed,thattheylookedforwardtohiscominginjudgmentinthefuture.Dispensationalistfuturism.Attheoppositeextremefrompreterism,thedispensationalistagreesthatthe“immediately”inMat.24:29impliesthatJesuscomesingloryimmediatelyafterthe“abominationofdesolation”eventsofMat.24:15‐22,butinsteadofputtingthecomingingloryofJesusinthefirstcentury,thisviewputstheabominationofdesolationandthedestructionoftheTempleinthefuture.Inthisview,atsomefuturepointtheJewsrebuildtheTempleandrestartsacrificialworship(itisunclearhowtheysolvetheproblemofthelossofthepriesthood)andthenafuturetyrantconquersthisTempleanddesecratesit.Therearemanyproblemswiththisview.First,itignorestheLuke21passagewhichwestartedwith,above,whichclearlyassociatesthedestructionoftheTemplewith“thetime

oftheGentiles,”whichPaulclearlysaysisnow,inRomans11:25.Thehugelyimportanteventin70A.D.isignoredandsubstitutedforanunknownfutureevent.ThecontextoftheprophecyofJesusaboutthedesolationoftheTempleisclearlythedestructionoftheTempleinJerusalematthetime,whichhepointedto,atthestartofthewholespeech.ThefuturistviewalsohasnoexplanationforwhatJesuswasreferringtowhenhesaidcertaineventsofthekingdomwouldhappenwithinthelifetimeofhislisteners(exceptforthedubioushypothesesthathereferredtohistransfigurationinthenextchapter,ortheAscension).Somedispensationalistsusethefollowingpassagetomaketheirargument.Tomaketheargument,wemustusetheNIVtranslation,becausetheESVtranslationwehavebeenusingitdoesnotsupportthisview.

Dan.9:25‐27(NIV)“Seventy‘sevens’aredecreedforyourpeopleandyourholycitytofinishtransgression,toputanendtosin,toatoneforwickedness,tobringineverlastingrighteousness,tosealupvisionandprophecyandtoanointthemostholy. Knowandunderstandthis:FromtheissuingofthedecreetorestoreandrebuildJerusalemuntiltheAnointedOne,theruler,comes,therewillbeseven‘sevens,’andsixty‐two‘sevens.’Itwillberebuiltwithstreetsandatrench,butintimesoftrouble.Afterthesixty‐two‘sevens,’theAnointedOnewillbecutoffandwillhavenothing.Thepeopleoftherulerwhowillcomewilldestroythecityandthesanctuary.Theendwillcomelikeaflood:Warwillcontinueuntiltheend,anddesolationshavebeendecreed.Hewillconfirmacovenantwithmanyforone‘seven.’Inthemiddleofthe‘seven’hewillputanendtosacrificeandoffering.Andonawing[ofthetemple]hewillsetupanabominationthatcausesdesolation,untiltheendthatisdecreedispouredoutonhim.”

ManycommentatorshavepointedoutthatthiscanbetakenasapredictionofthedateofChristifonetakesthese“sevens”asperiodsofsevenyears.7+62=69sevens,and69×7=483years,whichisquiteclosetothetimeperiodbetweenthebuildingoftheTempleaftertheExileandwhenJesuslived,dependingonthedateonepicksforthedecreetobuildtheTemple.Cyrusgaveafirstdecreein539B.C.,whileArtaxerxesgavethefinaldecreetoNehemiahin444B.C.Addingtheseup,weget444+30=474,whichiscloseto483.Inthedispensationalistview,thefinal“seven”occursafterChrist,andthereforecannotrefertothedesolationbyAntiochusEpiphanesin168B.C.,discussedabove,althoughthismightseemanaturalinterpretation,sincethateventwasstillinthefutureforDaniel,andaswehaveseen,lasted3½years,or“halfaseven”inthisaccounting.EvenusingtheNIVtranslation,onecouldtakethesecondparagraphasreferringtoeventsbeforeChrist,sinceitisnotnecessarilylinkedintimetothefirstpragraph.Alternatively,theESVtranslationsupportsputtingalltheseeventsbeforeChrist,thefirstpartreferringtotheanointingofZerubbabel,theheirofDavid(Ezra3:2,Hag.2:23,Zech.4:1‐14)andtherebuildingoftheTemple,whichtakes62realweeksofsevendays(theword“seven”isthecommonwordforaweekinHebrew),andthesecondparttoitsdesolationbyAntiochusEpiphanes:

Dan.9:24‐27(ESV)Seventyweeksaredecreedaboutyourpeopleandyourholycity,tofinishthetransgression,toputanendtosin,andtoatoneforiniquity,tobringineverlastingrighteousness,tosealbothvisionandprophet,andtoanointamostholyplace.KnowthereforeandunderstandthatfromthegoingoutofthewordtorestoreandbuildJerusalemtothecomingofananointedone,aprince,thereshallbesevenweeks.Thenforsixty‐twoweeksitshallbebuiltagainwithsquaresandmoat,butinatroubledtime.Andafterthesixty‐twoweeks,ananointedoneshallbecutoffandshallhavenothing.Andthepeopleoftheprincewhoistocomeshalldestroythecityandthesanctuary.Itsendshallcomewithaflood,andtotheendthereshallbewar.Desolationsaredecreed.Andheshallmakeastrongcovenantwithmanyforoneweek,andforhalfoftheweekheshallputanendtosacrificeandoffering.Andonthewingofabominationsshallcomeonewhomakesdesolate,untilthedecreedendispouredoutonthedesolator.”

OnecouldalsotaketheNIVtranslationandagreewiththedispensationalistthatthe69sevensrefertothedateofChrist,andtakethesecondparagraphasreferringtothedestructionoftheTemplein70A.D.Thatdestructiondidnotlastonly3½years,however,andalsowasseparatedfromChristby40years.Dispensationaliststhereforetakethefirst69sevensastakingustothetimeofChrist,andthensuspendthelastseven‐yearperiod(or,halfofthisperiod)untilatleast2000yearsintothefuture,whenanewIsraelwillbuildanewTemple,andanewtyrantwilldoexactlyasAntiochusEpiphanesdid,forexactlythesameperiodoftime.Partialpreterism.Toconcludethissection,theviewthatseemsmostnaturalistotakeneitheroftheseextremes,eitherputtingthereturnofChristat70A.D.(eitherreallyorsymbolically)orputtingthedestructionoftheTempleinthefarfuture.Instead,itisnotaleaptotakeJesusasdiscussingtwoseparateevents,whichareconnectedbythefactthatheissayingthatmanybadeventswilloccurwhicharenottheendoftime,andoneofthese,whichisquitesignificanttohislisteners,isthedestructionoftheTemple.Essentially,Jesusfirstgivesalistofanumberofthingswhichdonotindicatetheend:wars,famines,persecution,falsechrists,andeventhedestructionoftheTemple.Headvisesthechurchtosavethemselvesfromthatsiege,toliveagainforanotherday—whywouldhesaythatiftheendofallthingswastohappenrightaway?Thenhegivesthemalistofthingsthatdoindicatetheend:starsfallingfromthesky,thetrumpetcalloftheangels,theSonofMan(Jesus)visiblelikelighteningfromoneendoftheskytotheother.Inotherwords,“youcan’tmissit.”Whensuchsignsappear,weknowthetimeisreallyattheend,asweknowthefigsareripewhenthefigtreespreadsitsleaves.Theraptureandtheantichrist.WehavenotyetdiscussedapassageinMatthew24whichweskippedover:

Mat,24:36‐41Butconcerningthatdayandhournooneknows,noteventheangelsofheaven,northeSon,buttheFatheronly.AswerethedaysofNoah,sowillbethecomingoftheSonofMan.Forasinthosedaysbeforethefloodtheywereeatinganddrinking,marryingandgivinginmarriage,untilthedaywhenNoahenteredtheark,andtheywereunawareuntilthefloodcameandsweptthemallaway,sowillbethecomingoftheSonof

Man.Thentwomenwillbeinthefield;onewillbetakenandoneleft.Twowomenwillbegrindingoatthemill;onewillbetakenandoneleft.

ThishasaparallelpassageinLuke17,which,significantly,isnotpartoftheLuke21discussionwehavequotedabove,butoccursonadifferentday,indicatingthatthisteachingisnotintrinsicallyconnectedtotheeventofthedestructionofJerusalem:

Luke17:20‐35BeingaskedbythePhariseeswhenthekingdomofGodwouldcome,heansweredthem,“ThekingdomofGodisnotcomingwithsignstobeobserved,norwilltheysay,‘Look,hereitis!’or‘There!’forbehold,thekingdomofGodisinthemidstofyou.”Andhesaidtothedisciples,“ThedaysarecomingwhenyouwilldesiretoseeoneofthedaysoftheSonofMan,andyouwillnotseeit.Andtheywillsaytoyou,‘Look,there!’or‘Look,here!’Donotgooutorfollowthem.Forasthelightningflashesandlightsuptheskyfromonesidetotheother,sowilltheSonofManbeinhisday.Butfirsthemustsuffermanythingsandberejectedbythisgeneration.JustasitwasinthedaysofNoah,sowillitbeinthedaysoftheSonofMan.Theywereeatinganddrinkingandmarryingandbeinggiveninmarriage,untilthedaywhenNoahenteredtheark,andthefloodcameanddestroyedthemall.Likewise,justasitwasinthedaysofLot—theywereeatinganddrinking,buyingandselling,plantingandbuilding,butonthedaywhenLotwentoutfromSodom,fireandsulfurrainedfromheavenanddestroyedthemall—sowillitbeonthedaywhentheSonofManisrevealed.Onthatday,lettheonewhoisonthehousetop,withhisgoodsinthehouse,notcomedowntotakethemaway,andlikewiselettheonewhoisinthefieldnotturnback.RememberLot’swife.Whoeverseekstopreservehislifewillloseit,butwhoeverloseshislifewillkeepit.Itellyou,inthatnighttherewillbetwoinonebed.Onewillbetakenandtheotherleft.Therewillbetwowomengrindingtogether.Onewillbetakenandtheotherleft.”

IntheLukepassage,thedestructionofJerusalemisnotinviewatall—soitisreasonabletoassumeitisnotinviewintheparallelpassageinMattheweither.IntheLukepassage,Jesusononehandsaysthatthekingdomhasalreadystartedandisintheirmidst(sinceheistheking)butgoesontodiscusswhattheyreallywanttoknow,whichisthesignsoftheendtimes.Hismainpointsare,asinthelaterpartsofMatthew24,thatnooneknowstheday,whichwillcatcheveryonebysurprise,andthatourresponseshouldbetobefaithfulatalltimes.Heusestwoimagesofthatsurprisejudgment:thesuddenfloodatthetimeofNoah,andthesuddenfirefromheavenatthetimeofSodom.7Dispensationaliststakethenextcoupleofverses,whichtalkofonepersonbeingtakenandanotherleft,toarguefora“rapture”event,bywhichtheymeanthatChristianswillbemysteriouslytakenawayfromtheworld,toheaven,whiletherestoftheworldgoesonasusual.Thisisanoddviewofthepassage,tosaytheleast.Inthecontext,thewarningisthatjudgmentmayfallsuddenly.Peoplewhoarenotexpectingitwillbedestroyedsuddenly,asinSodom.Inthiscontext,onewouldexpectthattheone“taken”wouldbetheonedestroyed,orjudged,nottheChristian.TheChristianistakentoheaven,losinghislife,

whilethenon‐Christiangoesonblithelyasbefore,unaffectedandunjudged?ItismuchmorenaturaltotakethepassagesassayingthatasinthePassover,whentheangelofdeathkilledafirstborninonebedwhileleavingtheothersalive,God’sjudgmentwillseekoutwhomhewilldestroynomatterwherepeopleare.Paul’sdiscussionofthe“dayoftheLord”supportstheviewthatitisthenon‐Christianswhoaredestroyed,notChristianswhoareremoved:

1Thess.5:2‐3ForyouyourselvesarefullyawarethatthedayoftheLordwillcomelikeathiefinthenight.Whilepeoplearesaying,“Thereispeaceandsecurity,”thensuddendestructionwillcomeuponthemaslaborpainscomeuponapregnantwoman,andtheywillnotescape.

Peteralsosaysmuchthesame:

2Pet.3:10ButthedayoftheLordwillcomelikeathief,andthentheheavenswillpassawaywitharoar,andtheheavenlybodieswillbeburnedupanddissolved,andtheearthandtheworksthataredoneonitwillbeexposed.

Bothofthesepassagesassociatethe“thiefinthenight”imagewiththe“dayoftheLord”whichisclearlyatimeofdramaticdestructionandjudgment.ThissameimageisusedbyJesusinMatthew24:43‐44inconnectionwiththe“onewillbetaken”image:

Mat.24:40‐43Thentwomenwillbeinthefield;onewillbetakenandoneleft.Twowomenwillbegrindingoatthemill;onewillbetakenandoneleft.Therefore,stayawake,foryoudonotknowonwhatdayyourLordiscoming.Butknowthis,thatifthemasterofthehousehadknowninwhatpartofthenightthethiefwascoming,hewouldhavestayedawakeandwouldnothavelethishousebebrokeninto.

The“surprise”inviewisclearlyseenin1Thess.5:2‐3tobeajudgmentonthosewhorejectChristandignorehim,notaneventthatleavesthemuntouched,goingonastheyalwayshadintheworld.ThedispensationalistconceptoftheraptureisalsobasedonadiscussionbyPaulin2Thessalonians:

2Thess.2:1‐12NowconcerningthecomingofourLordJesusChristandourbeinggatheredtogethertohim,weaskyou,brothers,nottobequicklyshakeninmindoralarmed,eitherbyaspiritoraspokenword,oraletterseemingtobefromus,totheeffectthatthedayoftheLordhascome.Letnoonedeceiveyouinanyway.Forthatdaywillnotcome,unlesstherebellioncomesfirst,andthemanoflawlessnessisrevealed,thesonofdestruction,whoopposesandexaltshimselfagainsteveryso‐calledgodorobjectofworship,sothathetakeshisseatinthetempleofGod,proclaiminghimselftobeGod.DoyounotrememberthatwhenIwasstillwithyouItoldyouthesethings?Andyouknowwhatisrestraininghimnowsothathemayberevealedinhistime.Forthemysteryoflawlessnessisalreadyatwork.Onlyhewhonowrestrainsitwilldosountilheisoutoftheway.Andthenthelawlessonewillberevealed,whomtheLordJesuswillkillwiththebreathofhismouthandbringtonothingbytheappearanceofhiscoming.Thecomingofthelawlessoneisbythe

activityofSatanwithallpowerandfalsesignsandwonders,andwithallwickeddeceptionforthosewhoareperishing,becausetheyrefusedtolovethetruthandsobesaved.ThereforeGodsendsthemastrongdelusion,sothattheymaybelievewhatisfalse,inorderthatallmaybecondemnedwhodidnotbelievethetruthbuthadpleasureinunrighteousness.

Inthispassage,Paulgivesthefollowingteaching:1)asJesustaught,weshouldnotingeneralbealarmedbyallmannerofthings,thinkingthattheendisnear;2)amongtheunmistakablethingswhichwillpresagetheSecondComing,inadditiontothethingsmentionedbyJesuswhichwediscussedearlier,istherevealingofthe“manoflawlessness,”commonlycalledthe“antichrist,”whoproclaimshimselftobeGod;3)thepowerofthislawlessoneisalreadyatworkintheworld,butisrestraineduntilafuturetimewhenheisrevealedandreleased,and3)Godwillquicklydestroythismanonceheisrevealed.Dispensationalistsargue,first,thatthisevilmanproclaiminghimselftobeGodcorrespondstothetimeofthefuturedesolationofarebuiltTemple.Wehavediscussedproblemswiththisviewabove;aswehaveseen,therearemanyreasonstoviewthepassagesonthedesecrationoftheTempleintheGospelsasreferringto70A.D.Althoughthispassagein2Thessaloniansmentions“thetempleofGod,”itisnotastretchtotakethisasgeneric,notnecessarilyarebuiltTempleinJerusalem,sincethelawlessoneproclaimshimselftobeGod,i.e.,demandsworshipinatemple;hetakestheplaceofGod.Inaddition,dispensationalistsarguethattheonerestrainingtheantichrististheHolySpirit;theythenarguethattheonlywayfortheHolySpirittobetakenoutofthewayisforthechurchtobetakenoutoftheworld.FromthistheythenarguefortheremovalofChristiansfromtheworldwhiletherestoftheworldgoesonasalways,inthe“rapture”discussedabove.Toputitmildly,thechainofthislogicistenuous.Ifatanypointitbreaksdown,thewholechainfails.HowdoweknowthatremovingtherestraintofGodagainstlawlessnessmeansremovingtheHolySpiritfromthewholeworld?Howdoweknowthatthisimpliesremovingthechurchandleavingthenon‐Christiansbehind?Toputitsimply,thewell‐knowndoctrineofthe“rapture,”whichremovesChristiansfromtheworldwhichotherwisegoesonasusual,isnottaughtexplicitlyanywhereinScripture.Tosummarizethissection,themostnaturalreadingofScriptureisthatthereisone“dayoftheLord”whichcoincideswiththeSecondComingofChrist,whenhewillcomeunmistakablyonthecloudswithgreattrumpetsoundandangels,believersinChristwillmeethimintheair,thedeadwillrise,andthefinaljudgmentofallpeoplewillcommence.Foraveryshortperiodoftimebeforethat,Satanwillbeunshackledandrevealhisantichristwhowilldemandworship.Revelation13saysthatsomeChristianswillhavetoendurethattime,andsomewillbeslainforrefusingtoworshipthebeast(Rev.13:15).Thistimeperiodistobeaccompaniedbystrikingsignsintheheavens(Luke21:25)and“thesignoftheSonofMan”intheheavens(Mat.24:29‐30),sothatattheveryend,justbefore

Christreturns,wewillindeedhavesignslikethe“figleaves”thattheendisuponus.Butbeforethatveryclearlymarkedtime,weshouldnotjumptoconclusions.ThebookofRevelationandthemillennium.WehavenotyetdiscussedRevelationmuch,largelybecauseitissosymbolic,andotherpassagesintheNewTestamentareclearer.Thediscussionoftheantichristabove,however,bringsusnaturallytothisbook.Revelationisnotcompletelyimpenetrable,especiallyifonefollowswhatitsaysaboutitselfinorder.Revelation1‐3giveslettersofinstructiontothechurches.Revelation4‐5describeavisionofworshipinheaveninwhichtheLamb(Jesus)ispresentedastheonetoopenthe“seals”ofthe“scroll”.Revelation6presentstheopeningofthesesealsastheunfoldingofhistory.ThefirstfiveareeventswhichJesussaysarenormaltohistory,nottheend,butratherthe“birthpangs,”suchasearthquakes,famine,persecution,etc.Thesixthsealopensthefinalstagewhentherearedramaticsignsintheheavens,thestagementionedaboveatwhichthe“figleaves”arevisibleandpeopleknowthedayoftheLordisathand.Revelation7bringsusbacktoapictureofworshipinheaven,remindingisthatGodisinchargeofhistoryandwillprotecthispeople.(Thesealingofthe12tribesof12,000peopleissymbolicofhisprotectionofthechurch,since12isthenumbersymbolicofthepeopleofGodeverywhereinScripture.)Revelation8‐11givesusanexpandedviewoftheeventsoftheseventhseal,whicharetheseventrumpetsoftheangels(which,aswehaveseenabove,areclearlythemarkersofthedayoftheLord).Inthelatterstagesofthisprocess,evilSatanicforcesarereleased,asdiscussedabove,asaformofjudgmentinthemselves,andthechurchenduresthroughthis(Rev.11:7‐10).Finally,attheseventhtrumpet,thevictoryofGodisproclaimed.Revelation12‐13givesusthevisionofthe“eviltrinity,”whichisanewvision,notsomethingwhichsequentiallyfollowsaftertheeventsofRev.6‐11.InthisvisionwearepresentedwithSatan(the“dragon”inRev.12),the“beastofthesea”ofRev.13:1‐10,ofwhomitissaid“allonearthwillworshipit”(Rev.13:8),andthe“beastoftheearth”ofRev.13:11‐17,whoisalsocalledthe“falseprophet”(Rev.16:13,19:20,20:10).SatansetshimselfupasrivaltoGodtheFather,thesecondperson,knownas“thebeast”orthe“antichrist,”setshimselfupinoppositiontotheSonofGod,andthethird,who“givesbreathtotheimageofthe[first]beast”(Rev.13:15)andmakespeopleworshipit,playstheroleofanevil“spirit”.AllthreearetreatedinRevelationasrestrainedandboundinthepresentage,yetstilldangerous.InRevelation14‐16wereturntoavisionofheavenandGod’ssovereignty,andseven“finalplagues,”whichechoinmanywaystheplaguesofEgyptwhichfinallysetGod’speoplefree.Revelation17‐19presentsanothernewvision,thatofthe“womanonthebeast”andherdestruction.ItisnotabsolutelyclearthatthisbeastisthesameasthebeastoftheseaofRev.12‐13,sincethisisanewvision.Itisabundantlyclearinthispassage,however,thatthewomanonthebeastistheRomanEmpire.Rev.17:9saysthatthewomansitsonthecityofsevenhills,andthiswasawell‐knownnameforRome.Thedescriptionofthecity,whichrunstheworldanditsmerchantbusiness,e.g.Rev.17:18,alsoclearlydescribes

Romeinthatday.ItisalsopossibletoidentifythesevenkingsmentionedinRev.17:10asthesevenemperorsinRomebeforethedestructionofJerusalem.8ItmakessensethataspecialvisionwouldbegiventothedestructionofRome,becauseRomewasthemainpowerandoppressoratthetime.TheRomanEmpireisalsoclearlyindicatedinpropheciesinthebookofDaniel,asthe“fourth”empirerulingoverIsraelafterBabylon,Medo‐Persia,andGreece(see,e.g.,Dan.2:31‐44andDan.7).ManyReformationscholarstookthispassagetorefertotheRomanCatholicchurch,whichtechnicallywasthedescendentoftheRomanempire.OnecanalsotakeRomeastypologicalofGod’ssovereignjudgmentoverallempireswhichseeminvincible.InRevelation20,justbeforethefinaljudgmentandvisionofheaveninRev.21‐22,anewvisionisgiven,inwhichitissaidthatSatanandhisminionswillbereleasedforashorttime,fightagainstGod,andbequicklydefeated:

Rev.20:1‐10ThenIsawanangelcomingdownfromheaven,holdinginhishandthekeytothebottomlesspitandagreatchain.Andheseizedthedragon,thatancientserpent,whoisthedevilandSatan,andboundhimforathousandyears,andthrewhimintothepit,andshutitandsealeditoverhim,sothatshemightnotdeceivethenationsanylonger,untilthethousandyearswereended.Afterthathemustbereleasedforalittlewhile…Andwhenthethousandyearsareended,Satanwillbereleasedfromhisprisonandwillcomeouttodeceivethenationsthatareatthefourcornersoftheearth,GogandMagog,togatherthemforbattle;theirnumberislikethesandofthesea.Andtheymarchedupoverthebroadplainoftheearthandsurroundedthecampofthesaintsandthebelovedcity,butfirecamedownfromheavenandconsumedthem,andthedevilwhohaddeceivedthemwasthrownintothelakeoffireandsulfurwherethebeastandthefalseprophetwere,andtheywillbetormenteddayandnightforeverandever.

Thislastbattlecoincideswiththepicturewehavebeendiscussingabove,ashorttimejustbeforetheendwhentheforcesofevilarereleasedandquicklydefeated.Thethousandyearperiodmentionedhere(andonlyhere,inallofScripture)bringsustoanotherdebate.Whattimeperioddoesthis1000year“millennium”correspondto?Inparticular,whendoesitoccurinrelationtothe“dayoftheLord”whenChristreturns?Therearethreeviews:premillenial,postmillennial,andamillenial.Premillenial.Thisviewsaysthatthe1000yearperiodcorrespondstoagoldenagethatoccursafterChristreturns(inotherwords,Christreturnspre‐millenium).Inthisview,ChristdoesnotdefeatSatanorjudgethenationsforquitesometime,andreleasesSatanalongtimeafterhisreturn.Inthedispensationalistpremillenialview,ifyouhavekepttrack,therearethenthree“comings”ofJesus.First,the“secret”cominginwhichhe“raptures”believersawaybutleaveseverythingelsethesame.Then,anothercomingwhenhedefeatsmanyforcesofevilandsetsupthemillennium,butdoesnotraisethedeadorjudgetheworldyet.Then,finally,athirdcominginwhichhefinallydefeatsSatanandjudgestheworldandsetsupthefinalheaven.9

ThiscomplicatedscenarioisnevergiveninanydirectteachinginScripture.OneofthemainmotivationsforitistheattempttoequatethemillenniumwiththepromisesofaphysicalkingdomgiventoIsraelintheOldTestament,e.g.Zechariah8‐10.Butwhenwerealizethatheavenwillbeaveryconcreteandrealplace,withcitiesandhighways,gardens,etc.,itisnaturaltoseethesepromisesasfulfilledinheaven,i.e.,Rev.21‐22.DispensationalistsdrawaverystronglinebetweenthenationofIsraelandthepeopleofGod,however,andthereforeseeaneedforaseparateperiodjustforthefulfillmentofthepromisestoIsrael.YettheapostlePaulclearlysaysthatthereisnodivisionbetweenthechurchandIsrael,andweinthechurcharetheinheritorsofthepromisestoIsrael:

Eph.2:11‐15ThereforerememberthatatonetimeyouGentilesintheflesh,called“theuncircumcision”bywhatiscalledthecircumcision,whichismadeinthefleshbyhands—rememberthatyouwereatthattimeseparatedfromChrist,alienatedfromthecommonwealthofIsraelandstrangerstothecovenantsofpromise,havingnohopeandwithoutGodintheworld.ButnowinChristJesusyouwhooncewerefaroffhavebeenbroughtnearbythebloodofChrist.Forhehimselfisourpeace,whohasmadeusbothoneandhasbrokendowntinhisfleshthedividingwallofhostilitybyabolishingthelawofcommandmentsandordinances,thathemightcreateinhimselfonenewmaninplaceofthetwo,somakingpeace.Ephesians3:6ThismysteryisthattheGentilesarefellowheirs,membersofthesamebody,andpartakersofthepromiseinChristJesusthroughthegospel.Gal.3:29AndifyouareChrist’s,thenyouareAbraham’soffspring,heirsaccordingtopromise.

Allthesepromisescanbeseenasfulfilledinaveryconcreteandrealheavenandearthafterthefinaljudgment,describedinRev.21‐22.Postmillenial.ThisviewseesChristreturningafteragoldenageinwhichthechurchrulestheearth.Partofthemotivationforthisviewistheassumption,asinthepremillenialview,thatthephysicalpicturesofruleoftheearthintheBiblecannotbeequatedwithheaven.Postmillenialistsalsopointtoanumberof“conquest”versesintheBible,whichgiveaviewofthekingdomofGodexpandingandgrowinginthisworld,e.g.Daniel2:44,Mat.13:31‐33,1Cor.15:25,andevenMat.24:14,whichsaysthattheGospelwillbepreachedtoallthenations.ItislegitimatetoseethekingdomofGodasgrowingandconquering,inaway,inthisworld.Aswediscussedabove,the“kingdom”startswiththeadventofChristandeven“comeswithpower”withinthelifetimeoftheapostles.Butthepostmillennialviewdoesnotadequatelydealwithanequalnumberof“persecution”verseswhichwehaveseenabove,whichcontinuetotheendoftime.Italsodoesnotdealwellwiththe“otherworldly”natureofthekingdomwhichisstressedinseveralverses:

Luke17:20‐21BeingaskedbythePhariseeswhenthekingdomofGodwouldcome,heansweredthem,“ThekingdomofGodisnotcomingwithsignstobeobserved,norwilltheysay,‘Look,hereitis!’or‘There!’”John18:36Jesusanswered,“Mykingdomisnotofthisworld.Ifmykingdomwereofthisworld,myservantswouldhavebeenfighting,thatImightnotbedeliveredovertotheJews.Butmykingdomisnotfromtheworld.”2Cor.10:3‐4Forthoughwewalkintheflesh,wearenotwagingwaraccordingtotheflesh.Fortheweaponsofourwarfarearenotofthefleshbuthavedivinepowertodestroystrongholds.Col.3:22Setyourmindsonthingsthatareabove,notonthingsthatareonearth. 1John2:15‐17Donotlovetheworldorthethingsintheworld.Ifanyonelovestheworld,theloveoftheFatherisnotinhim.Forallthatisintheworld—thedesiresofthefleshandthedesiresoftheeyesandprideinpossessions—isnotfromtheFatherbutisfromtheworld.Andtheworldispassingawayalongwithitsdesires,butwhoeverdoesthewillofGodabidesforever.Heb.11:13Thesealldiedinfaith,nothavingreceivedthethingspromised,buthavingseenthemandgreetedthemfromafar,andhavingacknowledgedthattheywerestrangersandexilesontheearth.

Wearetosetourmindsonthings“above,”notconqueringinthisworld. Amillenial.Thisviewtakesthe1000yearsofRev.20assymbolicofthewholetimeperiodinwhichwenowlive.Itisnotagoldenage,butthechurchstillconquersandgrowsinmanyways.BoththeadvanceoftheGospelbeingpreachedthroughouttheworldandpersecutionsincrease.SomehavearguedagainstthisviewbecauseRev.20:4talksofChristianswhoweremartyredcomingtolifeandreigningduringthistime.ButthisagreeswiththeviewthatpeoplewhodiegotobewithGodinheavenrightway,andarenotjust“sleeping”inanunconsciousstate.SomealsoarguethatRev.20:3talksofSatanbeingrestrainedduringthistimesothathedoesnotdeceivethenationsanylonger,andthatcannotbetruenow.Butwehavealreadyseen,in1Thess.2,thatPaulsaysthatevilisbeing“restrained”evennow.WealsoknowthatJesusisreigningatpresent,attherighthandoftheFather:“ForGodhasputallthingsinsubjectionunderhisfeet”(1Cor.15:27).Furthermore,Judesaysthattheevilangelshavebeenput“inchains,”inthepasttense:

Jude6Andtheangelswhodidnotstaywithintheirownpositionofauthority,butlefttheirproperdwelling,hehaskeptineternalchainsundergloomydarknessuntilthejudgmentofthegreatday.

Thebasicpictureisthenthatoftheevilangels,i.e.demons,inchainsnow,i.e.,restrainedbutwithsomelimitedabilitytoact.Insupportofthisview,wecannotethatRev20appearstorecapitulatethestorytoldearlierinRev.9:

Rev.9:1‐3Andthefifthangelblewhistrumpet,andIsawastarfallenfromheaventoearth,andhewasgiventhekeytotheshaftofthebottomlesspit.Heopenedtheshaftofthebottomlesspit,andfromtheshaftrosesmokelikethesmokeofagreatfurnace,andthesunandtheairweredarkenedwiththesmokefromtheshaft.Thenfromthesmokecamelocustsontheearth,andtheyweregivenpowerlikethepowerofscorpionsoftheearth.

HerewehaveSatanalreadyfallen,beingreleasedattheendtime.Atthatendtimehisreleaseisdescribedwiththeimageofhimbeinggiventhekeytohisprison,toescape.InRev.20:1,wehavetheangelwiththekey,whothrowsSatandown.ThiscorrespondstothepictureinJude,Rev.9,andelsewhereintheBible,ofthedevilandhisdemonsbeingrestrainedinthepresentage.Thenin20:7,Satanisreleased,attheendoftheage.AsimilarpictureisgiveninRev.12:

Rev.12:7‐12.Nowwararoseinheaven,Michaelandhisangelsfightingagainstthedragon.Andthedragonandhisangelsfoughtback,buthewasdefeatedandtherewasnolongeranyplacefortheminheaven.Andthegreatdragonwasthrowndown,thatancientserpent,whoiscalledthedevilandSatan,thedeceiverofthewholeworld—hewasthrowndowntotheearth,andhisangelswerethrowndownwithhim.AndIheardaloudvoiceinheaven,saying,“NowthesalvationandthepowerandthekingdomofourGodandtheauthorityofhisChristhavecome,fortheaccuserofourbrothershasbeenthrowndown,whoaccusesthemdayandnightbeforeourGod.AndtheyhaveconqueredhimbythebloodoftheLambandbythewordoftheirtestimony,fortheylovednottheirlivesevenuntodeath.Therefore,rejoice,Oheavensandyouwhodwellinthem!Butwoetoyou,Oearthandsea,forthedevilhascomedowntoyouingreatwrath,becauseheknowsthathistimeisshort!”

Thedevilisherepresentedasdefeated,stillactiveinpestering,butnotconquering.Thisisthetimeinwhichwelive,aswehaveseeninthediscussionofthetimeof“trampling.”SummaryDespitethecomplicatedimageryofRevelationandsomeotherpassages,wehavearelativelysimpleunderstandingoftheprophecyoftheNewTestament:1)The“kingdomofGod”existedinseedforminthenationofIsrael,beganinopenformwhenitsking(Jesus)arrived,tookasteptoadvanceinpowertoreachthenationswhentheMosaiccovenantofIsraelwasdestroyedin70A.D.,andwillburstforthinglorywhenJesusreturnstojudgethenations.2)JesuspredictedthatJerusalemwouldbedestroyed,andthreatenedmanytimestotheJewsofhisdaythattheirnationwithitsMosaiccovenantwasnearitsend,andthe

kingdomofGodwouldbegiventootherpeople.Thechurchisnowthatkingdom;thereisonestoryofthepeopleofGodincludingbothJewandGentile,nottwoparallelstories.3)Fromthattimetothis,Jesussaidthattherewouldbemanybadthings,suchaswars,famine,poverty,persecutionofthechurch,etc.,whicharenotsignsoftheendbutjust“birthpangs”oftheeventualbirthofthefullkingdominheaven.Duringthistimeevilisrestrained,althoughstillactive.ChristiansshouldbeactiveingoodworksduringthistimeandexpectthattheGospelwilladvanceinallnations.4)Foraveryshorttime,Satanandhisminionswillbereleased,andliterally“allhellwillbreakloose”withsignsintheheavensandrampantevil.SomeChristianswilllivethroughthistimeandbemartyred.WewillbejustifiedatthattimeinexpectingthenearreturnofChrist.5)Christwillreturnonce,asvictorandjudge,willdefeatSatanandhisminionsandimmediatelyturntojudgeallthelivingandthedead,whowillberesurrectedforjudgment.6)Afterthejudgment,averyconcreteandrealsocietywillbesetupinheaven,inwhichwewillhave“spiritualbodies”(1Cor.15:44)andliveforeverwithGod.Itwillbelikeearthinmanyways,butmore“real”andeternal.Footnotes1Thosewhohaveseenthe“wailingwall”inJerusalemmaywonderifthisishyperbole,becauseafewstonesinthatwallarestilloneachother.Calvin,inhiscommentaryonthispassage,remarksthatJesuswasmostlikelyreferringtothe“noblestones”alsomentionedbyJosephus,whichwerehugeblocks.2Dan.12:12referstowaitinguntil“1335”days.Thismaysimplybeawayofsayingwaitjustalittlebeyondthetimeofdesolation,oritmayhaveadditionalsymbolismwhichislostonus.ThispassageinDan.12:7‐12mayrefertothedesolationofAntiochusEpiphanes,whichwasintheimmediatefutureforDaniel,oritmayrefertothelatertimeof“tramplingbytheGentiles”after70A.D.,whichwehavediscussedinthetext.ThislatterviewissupportedbyDan.12:7,“whentheshatteringofthepoweroftheholypeoplecomestoanendallthesethingswillbefinished.”Earlier,Dan.12:1‐2givesapredictionthat“atthattime,”therewillbeageneralresurrectionandjudgment.Thephrase“atthattime”isagenericprophetictermfortheendoftime,whichseemsdeliberatelyvague.ItcouldbereferringbacktoDan.11:36‐45.ThepassagewhichclearlyreferstoAntiochusEpiphanesseemstoendin11:35,whichsays“andsomeofthewiseshallstumble,sothattheymayberefined,purified,andmadewhite,untilthetimeoftheend,foritstillawaitstheappointedtime.”Dan.11:36‐39thenbeginswith“Thekingshalldoashepleases”anddescribesanewkingwhohonorsnewgods,whichmaybetakenastheRomanempire,whichfiguressoprominentlyasthe“fourth”empireinthebookofDaniel(Dan.2:40‐44saysthatthekingdomofGodcomesduringthisfourthempire,whichisdifferentinnaturefromtheotherthree;Dan.7:19‐25alsodiscussesthisfourthkingdomdifferentfromothers,andDan.7:9‐10and13‐14alsotalkofthekingdomofGodbeingsetupatthistime.ThiskingdomistohavepoweroverthepeopleofGod

for“atime,timesandhalfatime”(7:25)whichseemstorefertothetimeoftramplingbytheGentilesdiscussedinthetext.Wemaythensayweareinthe“ageofRome.”Dan.7:6callsthethirdempireabeastwithfourheadsandfourwings.ThisimageoffourfolddivisionisrepeatedinDan.8:8,andisclearlyareferencetothedivisionoftheGreekempireofAlexanderintofour;oneofthesebecamethekingdomofAntiochusEpiphaneswhodesecratedtheTemple.ThisempireisexplicitlycalledGreeceinDan.8:21,whiletheearlierkingdomisexplicitlycalledMedo‐Persiain8:20.ThisleavesnochoicebuttoidentitythefourthkingdomasRome.Dan.11:40‐45canbetakentosaythatthetwokingsofnorthandsouthfromtheremainderofGreecewillattackRomeandbedefeatedasRome“overflows”overthemandconquersthewholeworldincludingEgypt,LibyaandEthiopia.Thiskingwilleventuallybesuckedintotroublesfromthe“east”and“north”(thenorthernbarbarians?)andwillhave“greatfurytodestroy.”3Jesusoftensaidsimilarthingsondifferentoccasions,soitisnotalwaysobviouswhenaspeechisthesameindifferentGospels.TheGospelwritersvaryattimesinhowtheypresenthisspeeches,sometimesleavingoutparts,orsummarizingparts,sothatparallelaccountsofthesamespeechusuallyhavesomedifferencesorwording.4Is.13:10‐11says“Forthestarsoftheheavensandtheirconstellationswillnotgivetheirlight;thesunwillbedarkatitsrising,andthemoonwillnotsheditslight.Iwillpunishtheworldforitsevil,andthewickedfortheiriniquity;Iwillputanendtothepompofthearrogant.”Thiscomeswithinan“oracleconcerningBabylon”butcouldalsobetakenasreferringtothefinaljudgment,ofwhichthejudgmentonBabylonissymbolic.Is.34:2‐4says“FortheLORDisenragedagainstallthenations,andfuriousagainstalltheirhost;hehasdevotedthemtodestruction,hasgiventhemoverforslaughter.Theirslainshallbecastout,andthestenchoftheircorpsesshallrise;themountainsshallflowwiththeirblood.Allthehostofheavenshallrotaway,andtheskiesrolluplikeascroll.Alltheirhostshallfall,asleavesfallfromthevine,likeleavesfallingfromthefigtree.”LiketheIs.13:10passage,thiscanbetakenasaprophesyofthefinaljudgmentinthemidstofamorelocaljudgment,asageneralwarning,especiallysinceIs.34:2talksto“all”thenations.Ezek32:7saystoEgypt,“WhenIblotyouout,Iwillcovertheheavensandmakethestarsdark;Iwillcoverthesunwithacloudandthemoonshallnotgiveitslight.”ThiscouldbereferringtoamiracleofdarknessasintheplaguesofMoses,oritcouldbereferringtothefinaljudgmentinwhichEgyptisjudged.Finally,Joel3:12‐15says“LetthenationsstirthemselvesupandcomeuptotheValleyofJehoshaphat;forthereIwillsittojudgeallthesurroundingnation…Multitudes,multitudes,inthevalleyofdecision!ForthedayoftheLORDisnearinthevalleyofdecision.Thesunandthemoonaredarkened,andthestarswithdrawtheirshining.”Thisalsocantakenprettyeasilyasreferringtothefinaljudgment.Noneofthesepassagesclearlycanonlybetalkingofearthlyhistoricalevents. 5PreteristsalsoarguethatJesusstatementinMat.24:34andLuke21:32,“thisgenerationshallnotpassawayuntilallthesethingshavehappened”referstoeventsthatwillhappenwithinthelifetimeofhislisteners.Buttheword“generation”canalsobetranslatedas“race,”i.e.,thosebornofthesameblood.ThisusageisfavoredinMat.16:4(“anevilandadulterousgeneration”),Luke9:41(“ohevilandtwistedgeneration”),Luke16:8(“thesonsofthisworldaremoreshrewdindealingwiththeirowngenerationthanthesonsoflight”).6Ezekiel5:5‐11usesthesameformulaofneverasbadbefore,andneverasbadafterward,indiscussingwhatisclearlythedestructionofJerusalem.Thispassagemaybereferringtothe

desolationbyAntiochusEpiphanes,butsomeaspectsseemmorerelatedtothesiegeofJerusalemin70A.D.,suchasthecannibalismofchildren,andthesubsequent“scatteringtothewinds.”7Asaninterestingaside,thisLuke17passageusesphraseswhichcomeinthecontextofthedestructionofJerusaleminMatthew24,namely“lettheonewhoisonthehousetop,withhisgoodsinthehouse,notcomedowntotakethemaway,andlikewiselettheonewhoisinthefieldnotturnback.”Inthatcontext,itsoundslikegoodadvice:runforthehillsasfastaspossible,tosaveyourlife.Inthecontextofthefinaljudgment,itislessobvious—whydoesitmatterwhereyourunto?TheconnectioncanbeseeninthereferencetoLot’swife.Lot’swifewasjudgedfor“lookingback”—havingmixedmotives,wantingheroldlife.Jesusseemstobeusingthesestatementsasgenericstatementsalongthelinesof“donotlovetheworld.”Onotherwords,donotclingtothethingsofthisworld;instead,befoundobedienttotheveryend.8ThecommonlyaccepteddatesfortheemperorsofRomeare:Augustus(27B.C.‐14A.D.),Tiberius(14–37A.D.),Caligula(37‐41A.D.),Claudius(41‐54A.D.),andNero(54‐68A.D.)Thesefivecanbetakenasthe“fiveofwhomhavefallen”(Rev.17:10).ThenextisGalba(68‐69A.D.),whocanbetakenastheonewho“is,”meaningthatRevelationwaswrittenjustbeforethefallofJerusalem.ThenextwasOtho,whoruledforonlythreemonthsin69A.D.,andcanbetakenastheonewho“hasnotyetcomeandwhenhedoescomehemustremainonlyalittlewhile.”Rev.17:11talksthenofaneighthking,whichcanbetakenasVitellus,whoreignedforeightmonthsin69A.D.andthenwent“todestruction.”JerusalemwasdestroyedthenextyearunderVespasian.9The“classical”premillenialviewwhichwasknownthroughoutchurchhistoryremovesthe“rapture”eventandhasjusttwo“comings.”Thedispensationalpremillenialview,or“pre‐tribrapture”view,isrelativelyrecent,appearinginthe1800’s,largelythroughtheteachingofJohnDarby.