The Woman Who Loved Deeply

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When a certain immoral woman from that city heard he was eating there, she brought a beautiful alabaster jar filled with expensive perfume. Then she knelt behind him at his feet, weeping. Her tears fell on his feet, and she wiped them off with her hair. Then she kept kissing his feet and putting perfume on them. ~ Luke 7. 37-38

Right after uttering the words, “wisdom is shown to be right by the lives of those who follow it,” Jesus enters the house of a Pharisee to eat. The Pharisee neglects to offer a pail of water for Jesus to wash his feet, dirty after walking in sandals. He then neglects to greet Jesus with a kiss, still a pretty common greeting in the Middle East today. Then it must have slipped his mind to offer Jesus olive oil to anoint His head. As the men were reclining at the table a woman appears. She is called immoral or sinful, the implication is that she is a prostitute. She is carrying a vial or small jar of expensive perfume.

If you read carefully she comes up behind Jesus as He was reclining at the table to eat, His feet behind him. Other men were seated there, however this didn’t bother the woman in the least. She knelt down crying, surely drawing the attention of everyone in the room. As tears fell on his feet she dabbed perfume on them, and kissed them. I can hear the snickers and muffled laughs 2,000 years later. I can hear the disdain in the Pharisee’s voice as he says to himself, “if this man were a prophet, he would know what kind of woman is touching him. She’s a sinner!”

Jesus shares a story with the Pharisee. A certain man has loaned money to two other men, one he lent 50 pieces of silver, and to the other 500 pieces of silver. As time for repayment drew near neither could repay so the lender forgave both and cancelled their debts. Jesus then asks a simple question, who loved the money lender more after he forgave the debt?” Assuming both were of equal means the answer is pretty easy and the Pharisee answered correctly, “I suppose the one for whom he cancelled the larger debt.”

Next Jesus compares and contrasts the courtesy denied Him by the Pharisee with the love lavished upon Him by the woman. The Pharisee had denied Him water, the woman provided her tears. The Pharisee had denied Him a kiss on the cheek, the woman had yet to stop kissing His feet. The Pharisee had denied Him a drop of olive oil, the woman had poured an entire flask of perfume on His feet. Who loved Jesus more?

How much do you love Jesus? It is one thing to believe in Jesus, yet quite another to love Him. Can you see yourself kneeling at the feet of the Almighty washing off caked on dirt and sand with tears, kissing those feet as you pour perfume on them? Or does your thankfulness for what He has done for you not go that far? Perhaps you are still sitting at the table looking with shock and disdain at this woman who has clearly taken leave of her senses. Perhaps your share the thoughts of the Pharisee,  ”she has clearly forgotten her place, what a spectacle she has made of herself.”

On a cross 2,000 years ago Jesus showed how much He loved you. When was the last time you showed your love for Him? I’m not talking about lip service or telling someone how and why you believe in Him. Love and belief are two different things, even the demons have seen and believe, but they don’t love Him. Do you love Him? Will you show Him?

doulos ek Christos

Book Review: MAN ALIVE

This is a great read for any man, no matter your spiritual maturity, however it is a must read for every man who has never read The Man in the Mirror or is just getting started in their Christian walk.

There are two ways to learn lessons in life, first hand or second hand. That is you can either learn them the easy way by listening to those who have gone before you and heeding their warnings (second hand) or you learn them the hard way by experiencing them yourself (first hand).

Filled with practical and applicable wisdom this book will keep you interested and learning the whole way through.

In this slender, yet thought provoking book you’ll also learn about yourself, a hallmark of Morley’s ministry. According to Man Alive there are seven “deeply felt needs,” which include:

1. The need to feel you’re not alone
2. The need to believe that God knows and loves you
3. The need to know your life has purpose
4. The need to break free from destructive habits
5. The need to experience awe again
6. The need to love and be loved
7. The need to leave a legacy

Having felt the pang of these unmet needs myself, yet not quite knowing how to voice them without sounding ‘unMANly’ I strongly encourage each man to pick this book up and read it. I have no doubt that upon its release it will have the same kind of impact as The Man in the Mirror.

doulos ek Christos

Pure and Genuine Religion

Kathe Kollwitz, Widows and Orphans (1919)

Understand this, my dear brothers and sisters: You must all be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry. Human anger does not produce the righteousness God desires. So get rid of all the filth and evil in your lives, and humbly accept the word God has planted in your hearts, for it has the power to save your souls. But don’t just listen to God’s word. You must do what it says. Otherwise, you are only fooling yourselves. For if you listen to the word and don’t obey, it is like glancing at your face in a mirror.You see yourself, walk away, and forget what you look like. But if you look carefully into the perfect law that sets you free, and if you do what it says and don’t forget what you heard, then God will bless you for doing it. If you claim to be religious but don’t control your tongue, you are fooling yourself, and your religion is worthless. Pure and genuine religion in the sight of God the Father means caring for orphans and widows in their distress and refusing to let the world corrupt you. ~ James 1. 19-27, NLT

There are many things in this world that can make us angry, however in this passage James warns us that the anger of man does not produce the righteousness God desires. It is important for us mere mortals to first listen and then measure our words and control our anger before we do or say something we later regret, and may not be able to put back together later. And while this may seem a daunting task for some, the next verse is equally challenging.

The first step toward getting rid of the “filth and evil” in our lives is to accept the Word of God, for there is no other by which a man can be saved. James carefully distinguishes between listening and obeying though. It is not enough to hear a good sermon or read a good devotion and then go about your life as you always have. For believers in the 21st century we must come to the Bible on its own terms without bringing our own biases and doctrinal leanings into its interpretation. In this passage that means understanding that it is possible to accept the Word planted in our hearts and get rid of the evil and filth in our lives.

This week take a few minutes and look at yourself in the mirror by kneeling in prayer and asking God to search and reveal your present spiritual condition. A word of warning though, brace yourself for the pure truth! To ask God such a thing is dangerous, you probably won’t like what you hear. Do we practice pure and genuine religion? Do we esteem others or elevate ourselves? Do we favor some while looking down on others? These are problems that come from our heart, and we know from Jeremiah that our heart is deceitful above all things! James shines a bright light on our innermost thoughts and feelings and then hits us with the hammer blow- “Pure and genuine religion in the sight of God the Father means caring for orphans and widows in their distress and refusing to let the world corrupt you.”

So, how are you doing? The first step is acknowledging the truth. The second may be a proper understanding of salvation and what actually occurs when we are “born again.” For starters read Romans 6 and if you have any lingering doubts or questions don’t hesitate to contact me. This is important stuff with eternal consequences. Some of you may be doubting your salvation for good reason. If you find yourself failing to live up to the exhortations you see in Scripture it’s a good bet you have misunderstood what it means to be a follower of Christ. Let’s get it nailed down (pun intended!) so you can get on with the life God has planned for you.

Finally, how is your church doing? Sadly when I look around today I see few churches practicing “pure and genuine religion.” Very rare is the church who pledges more to benevolence than they pay their staff. More often than not just the utilities of the church in a single month dwarfs what is spent on those less fortunate in the community. It is often seen as more advantageous to pass the buck of caring for those in need to the local coop or governing body than for the body to roll their sleeves up and get about the work of caring for the orphans and widows.  This is one of the many reasons young people look carefully at the church, measure it against what the Bible says, and leave. They may not be scholars but they can tell a disobedient child when they see one!

It is not enough to say that more could be done. Tough decisions have to be made. The long line of churches who have backslid from relevance to “regalness” continues to grow. Will your church be one that goes against the tide by not just preaching pure and genuine religion but by budgeting for it as well, or will it suffer the same fate as others?

doulos ek Christos

The Humble Candidate?

For so very long now I have wondered what is wrong with this country? No matter who I’m speaking with, liberal or conservative, white or black, male or female, we tend to agree on one thing, namely that this country is not what it could be. We started out on the right track, our Constitution remains the envy of the world, and yet it seems we’ve done everything in our power since its adoption to undermine and sabotage the great promise and potential it affords us. Only recently have I stumbled upon what I believe to be the answer.

Studying the letter of James for an upcoming Bible study I wanted to sit and read through it in one sitting, much like I imagine the first century readers it was addressed to must have done upon receiving it. I pictured myself taking a seat in a small house somewhere in ancient Biblical times waiting impatiently to hear the news from Jerusalem. I soaked in every word, never stopping to read a verse twice or three times, I read right through without stopping and then asked myself, what jumped off the page? If I were sitting in the floor having heard it read aloud for the first time what would I raise my hand and ask the orator to read again? The answer was undeniable, sheepishly raising my hand in an apologetic way I mumble, “can you read that about who God opposes and favors again, I think I may want to write that down.”

Carefully reading back through the scroll the reader suddenly clears his throat, and reading very intentionally begins,

What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don’t they come from your desires that battle within you? You desire but do not have, so you kill. You covet but you cannot get what you want, so you quarrel and fight. You do not have because you do not ask God. When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures.

You adulterous people, don’t you know that friendship with the world means enmity against God? Therefore, anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God. Or do you think Scripture says without reason that he jealously longs for the spirit he has caused to dwell in us? But he gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says: “God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble.” So humble yourselves before God… (James 4.1-7, NLT)

Fast forward about 2,000 years and I’m sitting back in my basement following cross references and I see that God said something very similar in Proverbs, through another, perhaps wiser, man by the name of Solomon,

The LORD’s curse is on the house of the wicked, but he blesses the home of the righteous. He mocks proud mockers but shows favor to the humble and oppressed. The wise inherit honor, but fools get only shame. (Proverbs 3.33-35, NIV)

Being a decent study of the Word I remember another passage from Solomon’s musings about 7 things God hates and guess what tops the list? (Jeopardy song plays and softly times out) You guessed it, “haughtiness,” or “a proud look.” Used in this manner the meaning suggests arrogant ambition! The careful reader should note that God detests this and singles it out along with lying, murdering, scheming, coveting evil, a false witness, and one who sows discord in a family.

It appears to me God really detests, should I go so far as to say hates(?) pride. I don’t believe I overspeak here but if you should disagree please let me know. It is against this minddrop, for indeed even as I closed my Bible and put down my notes for the night did the Words of God continue to ruminate and take shape in my mind, that I turned on the tv to catch the Republican debate aired live.

The first camera angle was a wide shot showing all the potential candidates smiling and waving and generally putting on a good show of it. I grinned knowing they were all putting their best foot forward and gearing up to tell us why they were the most qualified candidate to lead this country forward. I listened to the first couple of questions and answers with a mild sense of mounting dismay and concern. There was something wrong with this picture but I couldn’t put my finger on it. There was something missing but just enough out of focus that I couldn’t yet tell what it was. Then a rather nasty spat broke out that soon had the whole bunch, minus one, in a testy who said what and to whom argument that brought the missing element into crystal clear view.

Of the one’s pointing fingers, trading insults, and haughtily eyeing the others on stage, there didn’t appear to be a humble one in the bunch, minus one.

I sat there watching this debacle with a growing sense of dread and apprehension. Our country, once founded upon the greatest Declaration and Constitution the world had even seen, once seeing itself ordained by God to bring liberty and freedom to an enslaved world, now rests in the hands of despots who will say anything to get the one thing they want from you- your vote. And yes, I know this is painful to hear, they will even utter the holy name of Jesus Christ and claim to be a follower just so you will close the drapes in the voting booth and cast that all important vote in their direction.

By the end of the night I sat sickened, unable to leave my seat. Perhaps I’ve got this all wrong I thought. Maybe humbleness isn’t what I think it is. I know one of the fruits of the Spirit is meekness but perhaps that fruit is somehow suspended for those running for office? Maybe because in this day and age a humble person can’t get elected and so God in His infinite wisdom lets these guys and gals slide on humility. And then I remember, “God opposes the proud,” and I realize that if one does not have the fruit it is a good chance they are not what they appear to be or say they are.

So, what does the Bible say about humility? Who are the humble and what do they look like? I think this is a fair question to ask during this election cycle don’t you? If one of the fruits of the Spirit is humility then I should think we would want someone with it to represent us, correct?

Those who are left will be the lowly and humble, for it is they who trust in the name of the Lord. (Zephaniah 3.12, NLT)

Anyone who becomes as humble as this little child is the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven. (Matthew 18.4, NLT)

[Believers] must not slander anyone and must avoid quarreling. Instead, they should be gentle and show true humility to everyone. (Titus 3.2, NLT)

So far it appears that humility is not thinking too highly of yourself. It appears to be an attitude of total trust in the Lord, childlike trust! Humility seems to truly care about others, not just what you can gain from them, but looks out for their best interests. It certainly esteems others as higher than ourselves. This sounds just like the President I want, now, where can I find an example of this?

In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death– even death on a cross! (Philippians 2.5-8, NIV)

My example is Christ. Would I really want Jesus as my President? You bet I would, but that wasn’t His reason for coming, He had a far more important mission than leading the proud USA. But in His steed I’ll take a humble man or woman who see themselves as servants of the people, who will look out for our best interests, who will wake each morning and search God and His Word for the answers of the day, who will esteem others as higher than he/she, who will admit when they are wrong, seek advice when they aren’t sure, who will be honest no matter what, who will seek peace and not war, who will stand for liberty and justice for all, who will govern with Godly wisdom and represent America with integrity and honor.

If we accept any less what does that say about us?

doulos ek Christos

Book Review: iShine Bible

The best thing this Bible has going for it is the translation. The New Living Translation (NLT) is very readable, well respected, and gaining in popularity. I also happen to like the Great Chapters of the Bible, Great Stories of the Bible, and the Great Verses of the Bible to Memorize located in the back. They have different colors for boys and girls but the material appears to be the same. The leatherlike texture of the Bible feels good in your hands. The Bible font on the inside however is extremely small so if your ‘tween has bad eyesight or doesn’t like reading this Bible may not be the one for them.

My biggest complaint with it is the incessant focus on i. Thankfully there aren’t that many notes or special sections in this Bible. There are three break out sections that stand out from the rest of the Bible due to their color pages, glossy finish, and ‘hip’ look. While I am not necessarily against those things it is the content that bothers me. The titles of these sections are as follows:

1. What matters to you?
2. Who are you?
3. Why are you here?

Perhaps I’d have been more pleased with these three sections:

1. What matters to Him?
2. Who is He?
3. Why He came?

At this age ‘tweens are cementing ideas and habits that they will take into their teenage and young adult years. I believe this Bible may send the wrong message to them. Instead of making the argument that we matter to God I believe a better tact would have been, why God matters to us? Elevating our importance in this equation at this young of an age could be dangerous.

-

I personally own three other NLT Bibles including their Study Bible (NLT Study Bible) and it is one of the best, if not the best I have ever used. I hoped the iShine Bible would do for ‘tweens what their other Bibles have done for teens and adults, sadly this is not the case.

doulos ek Christos

Book Review: Radical Together

This is the follow up to David Platt‘s first best selling book Radical.

I was anxious to read it as I have sensed a change in message from the current group of up and coming young pastors from their predecessors. Namely it is a call to the type of Christianity based on the Bible and that is seen in the book of Acts. It exemplifies a moving and giving faith versus a faith that sits in the pews and says Amen but does little afterward.

Platt does not disappoint with this follow up. It is well written and engaging with a well thought out and on target message. Platt uses the true stories of others to further drive home his point that the people of God should be about people not buildings.

Whereas the first book aimed to the heart of the reader this one aims for the heart of the congregation and is best shared in small groups. There is enough here to keep people talking for weeks!

I enjoyed it and wholeheartedly recommend.

I received this book for free from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group for this review.

doulos ek Christos

Judgment Day: Jerusalem (cont)

The Destruction of Jerusalem in A.D. 70

I tell you the truth, this generation will not pass from the scene until all these things take place. ~ Matthew 24.34

In the past few posts we have been dealing with the disciples BIG expectations as recorded in the NT, the time text of This Generation, and the first installment of a verse by verse analysis of Matthew 24. We will continue with that exposition today and see how it plays out.

“The day is coming when you will see what Daniel the prophet spoke about—the sacrilegious object that causes desecration standing in the Holy Place.” (Reader, pay attention!) “Then those in Judea must flee to the hills. ~ Matthew 24. 15-16

Jesus refers his listeners to Daniel 9.27. By utilizing the parallel passage in Luke 21.20 we can pinpoint when the abomination of desolation was to appear- when Jerusalem was surrounded by Armies, which occurred in AD 70.

Jesus is actually calling for a double fulfillment here of Daniel 9.27. The original fulfillment occurred in 167 BC when Antiochus IV ordered the people of Judea to cease all practice of Jewish worship in the Temple and instead practice pagan worship, on pain of death (see 1 Maccabees 1:41-63). In December 167 BC, Antiochus IV erected an image of Zeus atop the altar of burnt offering in the Temple court and sacrificed unclean animals there. The same phrase (abomination of desolation) is used in 1 Maccabees 1:54 to describe that altar and its sacrifices.

The double fulfillment Jesus refers to takes one of two forms:

1. The Roman general Titus put an end to the sacrifices and offerings in the Temple when he destroyed it in AD 70. After Titus destroyed the Temple in Jerusalem in AD 70, the Romans set up their idols in the Temple precinct and made sacrifices to their gods (see Josephus, War 6.6.1).
2. Another theory is that the Jews themselves defiled the temple by continuing to offer sacrifices after the sacrifice of Christ. The continued sacrifices of an apostate Judah were an abomination since they denied the atoning work of Christ.

“Then those in Judea must flee to the hills. A person out on the deck of a roof must not go down into the house to pack. A person out in the field must not return even to get a coat. How terrible it will be for pregnant women and for nursing mothers in those days. And pray that your flight will not be in winter or on the Sabbath. ~ Matthew 24. 16-20

The wording in v.16-20  is obviously local, “those in Judea must flee to the hills.” Decks located on roofs were commonplace throughout Jerusalem. Most roofs were flat with an outside staircase (Mark 2.4; Acts 10.9). They were designed for occupancy (Deut. 22.8), storage (Joshua 2.6), and rest in the evening (2 Samuel 11.2).

Also, consider the following:

• In the 1^st century many people made their living in the fields, today not so much.
• Today, not a big deal for pregnant women and nursing mothers. Hop in your vehicle and be on your way! It would have been a much different story back then.
• Definitely not a big deal if you travel in the winter now, your vehicle has a temperature control knob- just turn it to heat and turn the fan on! In the first century though this would have definitely been a consideration, also the Jordan River swells in the winter becoming more difficult to cross.
• Travelling on the Sabbath is no work now, we can go hundreds of miles without walking ¾ of a mile which was the maximum prescribed distance mandated by Pharisaical law, but back then ¾ of a mile was not far enough to get you out of harms way of anything.

Many Christian Jews did heed Jesus’ warning and flee Jerusalem when they heard Titus was on his way. The Jews who remained were slaughtered. Estimates put the number killed at 1 Million. Thousands more were captured.

For there will be greater anguish than at any time since the world began. And it will never be so great again. In fact, unless that time of calamity is shortened, not a single person will survive. But it will be shortened for the sake of God’s chosen ones. ~ Matthew 24. 21-22

The use of hyperbole (describing calamitous, extraordinary events in terms of superlatives) is used elsewhere in Scripture (Ex. 11.6, Ezek. 5.9, Dan. 9.12, 12.1, Joel 2.2, Rev. 16.18). All of these passages state they would be the worst that ever happened. Let’s consider especially the passage from Ezekiel 5.9, written prior to the destruction of the 1^st temple in 597 BC. “Because of your detestable idols, I will punish you like I have never punished anyone before or ever will again.” Now, let’s read Matthew 24.21 again, “For there will be greater anguish than at any time since the world began. And it will never be so great again.” This is no mere coincidence, Jesus is telling the disciples by quoting Ezekiel 5.9 (and anyone who reads this) the temple is going to be destroyed again!

Who was the elect or chosen ones: Jewish Christians. Had God allowed the Romans to continue their desolation not a single living Jew would have been left alive. The Romans did not distinguish between Jew and Christian at this time, that came later, the Christians were considered a sect of Judaism, and why not, they followed a Jewish Man after all! Furthermore the Romans didn’t march through Judah, leave every town untouched between Rome and Jerusalem, and then destroy Jerusalem leaving everything else standing. As they marched to Jerusalem they destroyed Jewish towns, killing their inhabitants, raping and killing their women, and bludgeoning their children as they went. They took captive many who were sent back to Rome for ‘sport’ in the arenas.

“Then if anyone tells you, ‘Look, here is the Messiah,’ or ‘There he is,’ don’t believe it. For false messiahs and false prophets will rise up and perform great signs and wonders so as to deceive, if possible, even God’s chosen ones. See, I have warned you about this ahead of time. “So if someone tells you, ‘Look, the Messiah is out in the desert,’ don’t bother to go and look. Or, ‘Look, he is hiding here,’ don’t believe it! ~ Matthew 24. 23-26

Another warning regarding false prophets (see 24.5) likely indicates that there would be an immediate rise of false prophets immediately following the resurrection of Christ, and another 2^nd wave of false prophets in the days leading up to the destruction of Jerusalem. When times are the hardest people are willing to put their faith and trust in anyone that offers hope and promises change!

For as the lightning flashes in the east and shines to the west, so it will be when the Son of Man comes. ~ Matthew 24.27

Jesus tells the disciples He will come quickly and without warning. Furthermore, in the Bible, lightening often signifies the presence of the Lord or His coming in judgment (see Ex. 19.16, 20.18, Job 36.30, Ezekiel 21.15, 28, Zechariah 9.14, Deuteronomy 33.2).

“So it will be when the Son of Man comes,” this is a chilling thought, Jesus will participate in the judgment on Jerusalem. The Romans would serve as God’s agents of destruction on Jerusalem just as the Assyrians had been sent by God to judge the Israelites in the Old Testament (Isaiah 10.5).

In Luke 23.27-31, Jesus tells the daughters of Jerusalem to weep for themselves and their children, there was no future generation in sight here.

Just as the gathering of vultures shows there is a carcass nearby, so these signs indicate that the end is near. ~ Matthew 24.28

The vultures will feast on the bodies of those in the streets. There is also more OT imagery here from the prophet Jeremiah (see Jeremiah 7.33 & 19.7)

“Immediately after the anguish of those days, the sun will be darkened, the moon will give no light, the stars will fall from the sky, and the powers in the heavens will be shaken.” ~ Matthew 24.29

Cosmic upheaval and darkness are common images for the day of the Lord and often portend a time of God’s judgment, consider:

The heavens will be black above them; the stars will give no light. The sun will be dark when it rises, and the moon will provide no light. ~ Isaiah 13.10

The heavens above will melt away and disappear like a rolled-up scroll. The stars will fall from the sky like withered leaves from a grapevine, or shriveled figs from a fig tree. ~ Isaiah 34.4

The earth quakes as they advance, and the heavens tremble. The sun and moon grow dark, and the stars no longer shine. ~ Joel 2.10

Similar apocalyptic language is used frequently in the OT for describing political disasters and the collapse of a government as cosmic judgments from God:

“Son of man, mourn for Pharaoh, king of Egypt, and give him this message:

“You think of yourself as a strong young lion among the nations, but you are really just a sea monster, heaving around in your own rivers, stirring up mud with your feet.

Therefore, this is what the Sovereign Lord says: I will send many people to catch you in my net and haul you out of the water.

I will leave you stranded on the land to die. All the birds of the heavens will land on you, and the wild animals of the whole earth will gorge themselves on you.

I will scatter your flesh on the hills and fill the valleys with your bones.

I will drench the earth with your gushing blood all the way to the mountains, filling the ravines to the brim.

When I blot you out, I will veil the heavens and darken the stars. I will cover the sun with a cloud, and the moon will not give you its light.

I will darken the bright stars overhead and cover your land in darkness. I, the Sovereign Lord, have spoken!

“I will disturb many hearts when I bring news of your downfall to distant nations you have never seen. Yes, I will shock many lands, and their kings will be terrified at your fate. They will shudder in fear for their lives as I brandish my sword before them on the day of your fall. ~ Ezekiel 32. 1-10

See also, Isa 13:9-16, Joel 2:1-17, and Amos 8:7-10.

And then at last, the sign that the Son of Man is coming will appear in the heavens, and there will be deep mourning among all the peoples of the earth. And they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. ~ Matthew 24.30

All the peoples of the earth could be translated all the tribes of the land. The term used here is not the usual Greek term for Gentile nations (ethnoi), but a term used frequently of the tribes (phulai) of Israel (the land), suggesting that a national disaster for Israel is in view.

God often showed himself in the OT by the physical presence of clouds ( Exodus 13.21, 14.24, 19.9, 20.21 33.9, 34.5. 1 Kings 8.12).

As the people stood in the distance, Moses approached the dark cloud where God was. ~ Exodus 20.21

The Bible also refers to clouds in reference to God’s judgment, (Ezekiel 30.3, Joel 2.1-2, Nahum 1.3, Isaiah 19.1).

Look! The Lord is advancing against Egypt, riding on a swift cloud. The idols of Egypt tremble. The hearts of the Egyptians melt with fear. ~ Isaiah 19.1

An essential part of Jesus’ enthronement was the necessary covenant transfer of the kingdom from the unbelieving Jews to the universal church, made up of believing Jews and Gentiles. The destruction of Jerusalem in AD 70 marked this transfer. Also note, in the NT every time a disciple uttered a description of Jesus seated or standing in the place of honor the religious leaders reacted violently, they understood the implication!

And he will send out his angels with the mighty blast of a trumpet, and they will gather his chosen ones from all over the world—from the farthest ends of the earth and heaven. ~ Matthew 24.31

The Greek word angelos translated angels or messengers is used throughout scripture for human messengers (2 Chron 26.15-16, Haggai 1.13, Mal 2.7, 3.1, Matt 11.10, Mark 1.2, Luke 7.24, 27, Luke 9.52, James 2.25).

The Great Trumpet is the call of the gospel, reminiscent of Numbers 10.1-10 where silver trumpets were made to call the people together for worship and set them on their march. It is also used in Isaiah 27.12-13 to represent bringing the nation together as a unified people. Now all are united under Jesus Christ.

The “four winds” is a reference to the entire world, under the new covenant His elect are gathered from everywhere.

“Now learn a lesson from the fig tree. When its branches bud and its leaves begin to sprout, you know that summer is near. In the same way, when you see all these things, you can know his return is very near, right at the door. ~ Matthew 24. 32-33

The fig tree is a symbol of Israel (Jeremiah 8.13, Hosea 9.10, Nahum 3.12). When Jesus cursed the fig tree He symbolically cursed Israel, there would be no more repentance for Israel, judgment was coming soon. The temple was pretty and looked fruitful, but upon closer inspection no fruit was found, only lawlessness. Jesus is also telling the disciples that when leaves begin to sprout on a fig tree summer is near, in a similar way when they see these signs taking place, the end is near! For more on this please see my post: The Fig Tree is Dead.

I tell you the truth, this generation will not pass from the scene until all these things take place. ~ Matthew 24.34

This is the natural place to end our study of the ‘Olivet Discourse.’ Jesus gives us another indication of the time in which these things will take place, the very generation He is speaking to! The plain literal interpretation leaves no room for a future generational fulfillment, notice how Jesus ties everything together with, “this generation will not pass from the scene until all these things take place.”

doulos ek Christos

Sources and Recommendations

• Holy Bible (NLT), Life Application Study Bible, NLT Study Bible
• Is Jesus Really Coming Soon and Last Days Madness by Gary Demar
• The Apocalypse Code by Hank Hanegraaff
• Before Jerusalem Fell by Kenneth Gentry
• The Last Days According to Jesus by R.C. Sproul

Judgment Day: Jerusalem

Titus Destroying Jerusalem by Wilhelm von Kaulbach

Do you see all these buildings? I tell you the truth, they will be completely demolished. Not one stone will be left on top of another! ~ Matthew 24.2

In the prior 2 posts, The Great Happening and This Generation, we concluded that the disciples did indeed expect something BIG to happen in their lifetime and that Jesus had warned them that something would, the judgment of God would fall on the temple, Jerusalem, and all of Israel. She would be left utterly desolate and abandoned. Today Jesus gives the disciples more details regarding the coming judgment, a little encouragement, and some advice. We’ll go through the passage related to the judgment verse by verse and the full weight of Jesus’ pronouncement will become crystal clear.

As Jesus was leaving the Temple grounds, his disciples pointed out to him the various Temple buildings. But he responded, “Do you see all these buildings? I tell you the truth, they will be completely demolished. Not one stone will be left on top of another!” ~ Matthew 24. 1-2

Standing in the temple Jesus announced to the religious leaders their house would be left to them abandoned and desolate (Mt. 23), now walking out of the temple, Jesus identifies the house that would be left desolate: the temple. Josephus tells us why one stone was not left upon another: when the Roman soldiers caught the temple on fire the enormous amounts of gold that decorated the temple began to melt and spread into the seams and cracks of the walls, the soldiers were then ordered to take the temple apart to recover the gold!

Later, Jesus sat on the Mount of Olives. His disciples came to him privately and said, “Tell us, when will all this happen? What sign will signal your return and the end of the world?” ~ Matthew 24.3

Here the scene changes, but the audience (disciples) and subject (pending judgment) remain the same. The disciples asked of Jesus 3 questions:

• When will this happen?
• What signs will signal your return and the end of the world?

The question the disciples ask reveals what they understood Jesus to mean with his proclamation to the religious leaders and His later announcement regarding the temple- to them the destruction of the temple and His second coming was the end of the world! The destruction of the temple would dramatically mark the end of the age, or covenant. The old covenant redemptive system with its sacrifices and rituals would end. The economies built up around Jerusalem to support that system would also collapse. In the new covenant Gentiles would be included and the temple was replaced by Jesus (John 2.19-22) and the church (believers) (2 Corinthians 6.16).

Jesus told them, “Don’t let anyone mislead you, for many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am the Messiah.’ They will deceive many. And you will hear of wars and threats of wars, but don’t panic. Yes, these things must take place, but the end won’t follow immediately. Nation will go to war against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in many parts of the world. But all this is only the first of the birth pains, with more to come. ~ Matthew 24. 4-8

Reading the parallel passages of Mark 13 and Luke 21 notice the continued emphasis of Jesus utilizing the word, ‘you.’ He is addressing His disciples and seems to be making the point that they are to expect these signs. History reveals there were many false messiahs in the 1st century. There are several examples in the book of Acts- see 5.36- Theudus, 5.37- Judas of Galilee, 8.9-11- Simon, the Great Power of God, 13.6- Bar-Jesus. Extra biblical sources and trusted historians Eusebius and Josephus speak of other false messiahs “who seduced the masses and played on the gullibility of the people.”

Additionally there were many instances of ‘wars’ and ‘rumors of wars’ recorded in the 1st century. The Annals of Tacitus, an historical work covering the period from AD 14 thru the death of Nero in 68, describes “disturbances in Germany,” “commotions in Africa,” “commotions in Thrace,” “insurrections in Gaul,” “intrigues among the Parthians,” “the war in Brigantia,” and “the war in Armenia.”

Furthermore, regarding famines, the Great Famine announced by Agabus (Acts 11.27-29) that affected the entire Roman world was so horrific that churches as far away as Corinth sent relief into Judea. Trusted historian and senator Tacitus of Rome records about the year AD 51, “this year witnessed many repeated earthquakes…and a shortage of corn, resulting in famine…” Josephus records for us conditions in Jerusalem leading up to the destruction of the temple, “then did the famine widen its progress, and devoured the people by whole houses and families, the upper rooms were full of women and children that were dying by famine, and the lanes of the city were full of dead bodies of the aged, the children also and the young men wandered about the marketplaces like shadows, all swelled with famine, and fell down dead wheresoever their misery seized them.”

About earthquakes we read in Acts 16.26 of a MASSIVE earthquake. Many historical accounts reveal a staggering number of earthquakes throughout the Roman empire. Josephus again records that earthquakes were common calamities and describes one earthquake in Judea of such magnitude “that the constitution of the universe was confounded for the destruction of men.”

Finally in in Luke 21.25 we read about “roaring seas and strange tides.” It is actually Luke that records for us an account of a nasty “Northeaster” in Acts 27.14, in which they did not see sun or stars for many days. The ship was broken up by the force of the waves 27.41). Tacitus records in AD 65, “the Gods also marked by storms and diseases a year made shameful by so many crimes. Campania was devastated by a hurricane…houses were filled with dead bodies, the streets with funerals.”

“Then you will be arrested, persecuted, and killed. You will be hated all over the world because you are my followers. And many will turn away from me and betray and hate each other. And many false prophets will appear and will deceive many people. Sin will be rampant everywhere, and the love of many will grow cold. ~ Matthew 24. 9-12

Jesus warns the disciples of escalating crisis- severe persecutions, falling away, betrayal, false prophets, & increased lawlessness. Jesus had earlier warned the disciples that those who hated Him would also hate them (see John 15.18 & Matthew 23.34).  The list of the followers of Jesus who were arrested, flogged, beaten, warned not to preach in the name of Jesus under penalty of death, stoned, crucified, etc…contained within the pages of the Bible is sufficient to make this point- consider all of the disciples minus 1 (Judas- who suffered in his own way) encountered some if not all of the above listed persecutions.

During the reign of Nero Christians were blamed for the burning of Rome and were rounded up and killed. Nero, in fits of delusional power, would set groups of Christians in the arena and let lions feed on them and gladiators slay them to the roars of the Roman crowds. In addition, Nero had constructed a huge palace and courtyard for himself. When ceremonies were held at night he would attach Christians to high poles, slather them in pitch, and set them aflame to light the expansive courtyard while they were alive. It was good sport in those days to torture and kill Christians.

Jesus warns the disciples that many will fall away, and they did. Just read 1 Timothy 1.15, 1 Timothy 4.16, Galatians 1. 6-10, 2 Peter 2.1, 2 Corinthians 11.13, 2 Timothy 2.18, 1 John 4.1, and 1 John 2.19. Jesus also warns of increased lawlessness and the NT is filled with admonitions for believers to act in a way becoming of Christ. Immorality was indeed running rampant, homosexuality was on the rise, adultery, fornication, and murder are all soundly condemned. Paul exhorts in 1 Corinthians 5. 1-2 to put a man out of the church who had married his father’s wife!

But the one who endures to the end will be saved. ~ Matthew 24.13

A promise within the judgment: those endure all of this will be saved.  The end of the Old Covenant would culminate with the destruction of the temple. Jesus had made clear in Matthew 21.43 that the kingdom of God would be taken away from them to be “given to a people producing the fruit of it.” Following that statement in 21.45 the chief priests and Pharisees “understood he was talking about them.”

And the Good News about the Kingdom will be preached throughout the whole world, so that all nations will hear it; and then the end will come. ~ Matthew 24.14

Some folks think this is where my view falls apart but what am I to take away from verses like these:

This same Good News that came to you is going out all over the world. It is bearing fruit everywhere by changing lives, just as it changed your lives from the day you first heard and understood the truth about God’s wonderful grace. ~ Colossians 1.6

But you must continue to believe this truth and stand firmly in it. Don’t drift away from the assurance you received when you heard the Good News. The Good News has been preached all over the world, and I, Paul, have been appointed as God’s servant to proclaim it. ~ Colossians 1.23

Let me say first that I thank my God through Jesus Christ for all of you, because your faith in him is being talked about all over the world. ~ Romans 1.8

But I ask, have the people of Israel actually heard the message? Yes, they have: “The message has gone throughout the earth, and the words to all the world.” ~ Romans 10.18But now as the prophets foretold and as the eternal God has commanded, this message is made known to all Gentiles everywhere, so that they too might believe and obey him. ~ Romans 16.26

Without question, this is the great mystery of our faith: Christ was revealed in a human body, and vindicated by the Spirit. He was seen by angels, and announced to the nations. He was believed in throughout the world and taken to heaven in glory. ~ 1 Timothy 3.16

But the Lord stood with me and gave me strength so that I might preach the Good News in its entirety for all the Gentiles to hear. And he rescued me from certain death. ~ 2 Timothy 4.17

We’ll continue our exposition on the judgement passages of Matthew 24 in our next post.

doulos ek Christos

This Generation

Christ and the Pharisees

I am sending you prophets and wise men and teachers of religious law. But you will kill some by crucifixion, and you will flog others with whips in your synagogues, chasing them from city to city. As a result, you will be held responsible for the murder of all godly people of all time—from the murder of righteous Abel to the murder of Zechariah son of Barachiah, whom you killed in the Temple between the sanctuary and the altar. I tell you the truth, this judgment will fall on this very generation. ~ Matthew 23.34-36

In yesterday’s post, The Great Happening, it seems pretty clear that the writers of the New Testament knew without a doubt that something BIG was coming. Today we will begin to open up what that ‘Happening” was and why they spoke about the coming judgment in such imminent terms.

In the gospels the teachers of religious law, Pharisees, and Sadducees had sought to trap Jesus with cleverly designed questions. Their intent is spelled out in several places, they sought a reason to kill Him. Preceding the woes pronounced upon them in Matthew 23 Jesus had answered all of their questions and according to Matthew 22.46, “ No one could answer him. And after that, no one dared to ask him any more questions.”

In Matthew 23 Jesus then turns to the crowds and His disciples. He openly condemns their practices and pronounces a divine judgment upon their heads. These are referred to as the 7 woes, they are harsh, direct, and clear. The judgment of God will be felt by that very generation.

The 7 Woes

…woe to you, experts in the law and you Pharisees, hypocrites! You keep locking people out of the kingdom of heaven! For you neither enter nor permit those trying to enter to go in. ~ Matthew 23.13 (NET)

Woe to you, experts in the law and you Pharisees, hypocrites! You cross land and sea to make one convert, and when you get one, you make him twice as much a child of hell as yourselves! ~ Matthew 23.14 (NET)

Woe to you, blind guides, who say, ‘Whoever swears by the temple is bound by nothing. But whoever swears by the gold of the temple is bound by the oath.’ Blind fools! Which is greater, the gold or the temple that makes the gold sacred? And, ‘Whoever swears by the altar is bound by nothing. But if anyone swears by the gift on it he is bound by the oath.’ You are blind! For which is greater, the gift or the altar that makes the gift sacred? So whoever swears by the altar swears by it and by everything on it. And whoever swears by the temple swears by it and the one who dwells in it. And whoever swears by heaven swears by the throne of God and the one who sits on it. ~ Matthew 23. 16-22 (NET)

Woe to you, experts in the law and you Pharisees, hypocrites! You give a tenth of mint, dill, and cumin, yet you neglect what is more important in the law – justice, mercy, and faithfulness! You should have done these things without neglecting the others. Blind guides! You strain out a gnat yet swallow a camel! ~ Matthew 23. 23-24 (NET)

Woe to you, experts in the law and you Pharisees, hypocrites! You clean the outside of the cup and the dish, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence. Blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup, so that the outside may become clean too! ~ Matthew 23. 25-26 (NET)

Woe to you, experts in the law and you Pharisees, hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs that look beautiful on the outside but inside are full of the bones of the dead and of everything unclean. In the same way, on the outside you look righteous to people, but inside you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness. ~ Matthew 23. 27-28 (NET)

Woe to you, experts in the law and you Pharisees, hypocrites! You build tombs for the prophets and decorate the graves of the righteous. And you say, ‘If we had lived in the days of our ancestors, we would not have participated with them in shedding the blood of the prophets.’ By saying this you testify against yourselves that you are descendants of those who murdered the prophets. Fill up then the measure of your ancestors! You snakes, you offspring of vipers! How will you escape being condemned to hell? ~ Matthew 23. 29-33 (NET)

Note, by saying that they would not have participated in the killing of the earlier prophets this generation reveals what liars they are. They have been plotting to kill Jesus almost from the beginning. Their hearts were bent on it. Jesus warns them the actions they are about to take will condemn them to judgment and asks them openly how they plan on escaping from being condemned to hell.

In verses 34-35 Jesus tells them He will send even more prophets, wise men, and teachers, but they will kill them, flog them, and chase them down. History shows us that they did. There are accounts of the persecution in almost every book of the New Testament. As a result they (the Pharisees, Sadducees, and teachers of the law) will be held accountable for the murder of all Godly people of all time (from Abel to Zechariah). This charge will call for a great judgment, a judgment of apocalyptic proportions. And then, as if Jesus needed to make Himself more clear, He clarifies when this judgment will take place.

I tell you the truth, this judgment will fall on this very generation. ~ Matthew 23.36

In the Greek that verse reads, “all these things will come on this generation.”

Then Jesus, like the many prophets before, laments the loss of Jerusalem. By identifying the city in this manner, in this context, under these circumstances Jesus also leaves no doubt about the city to be judged, Jerusalem will be crushed! God longed to hold Jerusalem, protect her, lead and guide her, but she would not have it! Jerusalem rebuked God at every turn, periodically she enjoyed moments of revival, but then she would her turn her back on God and follow her own desires, paving the road of her destruction.

Jesus stands in the temple as He utters this prophetic prediction of Jerusalem’s demise. In verse 38 He proclaims the unthinkable, “look, your house is abandoned and desolate.” Jerusalem will be forsaken by God!

No doubt after this discourse the disciples heard ringing in their ears the words of Christ in Matthew 16. 27-28.

“For the Son of Man will come with his angels in the glory of his Father and will judge all people according to their deeds. And I tell you the truth, some standing here right now will not die before they see the Son of Man coming in his Kingdom.”

Next we’ll take a look at the ‘Olivet Discourse’ in Chapter 24.

doulos ek Christos

The Great Happening

Acts of the Apostles

This is all the more urgent, for you know how late it is; time is running out. Wake up, for our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed. The night is almost gone; the day of salvation will soon be here. ~ Romans 13. 11-12

Read the New Testament very long and it will become apparent that its writers were expecting something BIG to happen, and soon!

Consider:

The Acts 2 church sold everything they owned…

And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers. Then fear came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were done through the apostles. Now all who believed were together, and had all things in common, and sold their possessions and goods, and divided them among all, as anyone had need.  So continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved. ~ Acts 2. 42-47 (NKJV)

Paul tells Christians to live right because time is running out…

This is all the more urgent, for you know how late it is; time is running out. Wake up, for our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed. The night is almost gone; the day of salvation will soon be here. ~ Romans 13. 11-12

Paul further encourages Christians in Rome to stay innocent of wrong doing for Satan will soon be crushed…

The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. ~ Romans 16.20 (ESV)

Paul encourages 1st century Christians not to marry for the world will soon pass away…

Because of the present crisis, I think it is best to remain as you are. ~ 1 Corinthians 7.26

But let me say this, dear brothers and sisters: The time that remains is very short. So from now on, those with wives should not focus only on their marriage. Those who weep or who rejoice or who buy things should not be absorbed by their weeping or their joy or their possessions. Those who use the things of the world should not become attached to them. For this world as we know it will soon pass away. ~ 1 Corinthians 7.29-31

Paul believed he would still be alive for the return of Christ…

According to the Lord’s word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep. ~ 1 Thessalonians 4.15

Paul says rejoice for the Lord is coming soon…

Always be full of joy in the Lord. I say it again—rejoice! Let everyone see that you are considerate in all you do. Remember, the Lord is coming soon. ~ Philippians 4.4-5

Paul assures the Colossians that the wrath of God is coming…

Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. On account of these the wrath of God is coming. ~ Colossians 3.5-6 (ESV)

The Hebrews writer exhorts Christians not to neglect the assembling of the saints for the time is near…

And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near. ~ Hebrews 10.25

and in just a little while He comes…

For yet in a very little while He who is coming will come, and will not delay. ~ Hebrews 10.37 (NASB)

James exhorted that the Judge was standing at the door…

You, too, must be patient. Take courage, for the coming of the Lord is near. Don’t grumble about each other, brothers and sisters, or you will be judged. For look—the Judge is standing at the door! ~ James 5. 8-9

Peter also taught the imminent return of Christ…

Christ was chosen before the world was made, but he was shown to the world in these last times for your sake. ~ 1 Peter 1.20 (NCV)

The end of the world is coming soon. Therefore, be earnest and disciplined in your prayers. ~ 1 Peter 4.7

For the time has come for judgment, and it must begin with God’s household. And if judgment begins with us, what terrible fate awaits those who have never obeyed God’s Good News? ~ 1 Peter 4.17

For some judgment wasn’t coming fast enough…

Most importantly, I want to remind you that in the last days scoffers will come, mocking the truth and following their own desires. They will say, “What happened to the promise that Jesus is coming again? From before the times of our ancestors, everything has remained the same since the world was first created.”

They deliberately forget that God made the heavens by the word of his command, and he brought the earth out from the water and surrounded it with water. Then he used the water to destroy the ancient world with a mighty flood. And by the same word, the present heavens and earth have been stored up for fire. They are being kept for the day of judgment, when ungodly people will be destroyed.

But you must not forget this one thing, dear friends: A day is like a thousand years to the Lord, and a thousand years is like a day. The Lord isn’t really being slow about his promise, as some people think. No, he is being patient for your sake. He does not want anyone to be destroyed, but wants everyone to repent. But the day of the Lord will come as unexpectedly as a thief. Then the heavens will pass away with a terrible noise, and the very elements themselves will disappear in fire, and the earth and everything on it will be found to deserve judgment.

Since everything around us is going to be destroyed like this, what holy and godly lives you should live, looking forward to the day of God and hurrying it along. On that day, he will set the heavens on fire, and the elements will melt away in the flames. But we are looking forward to the new heavens and new earth he has promised, a world filled with God’s righteousness.

And so, dear friends, while you are waiting for these things to happen, make every effort to be found living peaceful lives that are pure and blameless in his sight.

And remember, our Lord’s patience gives people time to be saved. This is what our beloved brother Paul also wrote to you with the wisdom God gave him— speaking of these things in all of his letters. Some of his comments are hard to understand, and those who are ignorant and unstable have twisted his letters to mean something quite different, just as they do with other parts of Scripture. And this will result in their destruction.

I am warning you ahead of time, dear friends. Be on guard so that you will not be carried away by the errors of these wicked people and lose your own secure footing. Rather, you must grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. ~ 2 Peter 3. 3-18

John understood the rise in ‘antichrists’ were a sign of the last hour…

The world is passing away, and also its lusts; but the one who does the will of God lives forever. Children,  it is the last hour; and just as you heard that antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have appeared; from this we know that it is the last hour. ~ 1 John 2. 17-18 (NASB)

John has some advice for those about to meet the Lord…

And now, dear children, remain in fellowship with Christ so that when he returns, you will be full of courage and not shrink back from him in shame. ~ 1 John 2.28

It’s pretty apparent from Luke to John that something was up in the 1st Century. What was it? What did they expect? Had Jesus alerted them to the fact that something BIG was going to happen?

doulos ek Christos