346. THE OLIVET PROPHECY AND TODAY
"Watch ye therefore and pray always"
The disciples had listened to the terrible denunciation of the Jewish rulers and had heard the Lord's conclusion: "Behold your house is left unto you desolate" (Matt. 23:38).
While he was in the Temple his attention was drawn, apparently casually, to its grand masonry and imposing architecture. Perhaps his earlier words about its coming desolation seemed incredible. In any case Jesus' reply was a strong confirmation of them: "As for these things which ye behold, the days will come in the which there will not be left one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down" (Lk. 21:6). These fearful words lingered in the minds of the disciples as they followed the Lord eastward, down the Kedron Valley and began to ascend the Mount of Olives towards Bethany. While resting upon the Mount, Peter, James, John and Andrew took the opportunity to further question the Lord: "Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign when all these things shall be fulfilled?" (Mk. 13:1-4). Jesus' answer is the "Olivet Prophecy", recorded at length in all synoptic gospels. In it he reveals the events leading up to AD 70, when the Romans desolated the city. But more importantly he sweeps forward to the end of the times of the Gentiles, when the calamities preceding his coming would be world-wide, and the time of the judg ment at hand.
The prophecy may therefore be divided thus:
- Lk. 21:8-24. Signs leading up to the desolation of Jerusalem in AD 70.
- Lk. 21:25-28: Events prior to the establishment of the Kingdom of God.
- Lk. 21:29-33: The parable of the Fig Tree.
- Lk. 21:34-38: Warning to Watch.
The aim of this lesson is to see that Jesus accurately prophesied events which were fulfilled in AD 70, and that he has also foretold the events we see taking place today at the end of the times of the Gentiles € which are a warning to us.
Luke 21:5-36
SIGNS LEADING UP TO JERUSALEM'S DESTRUCTION (Lk. 21:8-24).
1. False Christs (v.8): This prediction was amply fulfilled in a number of people claiming to be Messiah. One, an Egyptian, is mentioned in Acts 21:38. He represented himself as a prophet and led a great company to the Mount of Olives, claiming that the walls of Jerusalem would fall, giving them the city. Felix attacked and routed them, but the Egyptian escaped. Later, Simon bar Kochbar claimed to be Messiah, and led the Jews against Rome. He was con quered by Emperor Hadrian (134 AD) who ploughed Jerusalem as a field. He sowed it with salt, changed its name and erected a tem ple to Jupiter on its site.
2. Wars and Political Unrest (vv. 9-10): Jewish unrest, the result in part of the false Messiahs, made it necessary for Rome to forcibly quell the uprisings. Tacitus (AD 58-120) describes the time as "rich in disasters, frightful in its wars; torn by civil strife; and even in its peace, full of horrors".
3. Earthquakes, Famine, Pestilence and Signs (v.11): An earthquake accompanied the Lord's death (Matt. 27:51) and one such famine was prophesied by Agabus (Acts 11:28). Josephus mentions a number of fearful sights which were taken as omens of doom by those who dwelt in Jerusalem (Wars 6:5:3). He records, for exam ple,that a star, shaped like a sword, hung over the city; that there was a comet that continued a whole year.
4.Political Persecution and Unrest (vv.12-15): The Lord warned his disciples that the preaching of the gospel would generate the an tagonism of Jew ("the synagogue") and Gentile ("kings and rulers"). As he would suffer at the hands of both, so would they. The record of Acts amply demonstrates the combined opposition of Jew and Gentile in exactly the same way as the Lord foretold: the persecution was often instigated by the Jews who then aroused the Gentiles. How true this was in the life of Paul (cp. Acts 21-26). The Lord told them that persecution would provide the Truth with a witness. Thus, instead of persecution being a discouragement, it would provide a testimony to him, and they would be strengthened, knowing that his words had come to pass (Acts 5:41). Not only so, but he would stand by and provide them with irrefutable answers (cp. Acts 4:13; 5:33; 26:31-32).
5. Hatred and Death by Friends and Relatives (vv. 16-19): Earlier Jesus had said his coming would produce division (Lk. 12:51-53). The gospel would inevitably separate men into classes depending on their response to it. Its demands would lead to separation and dedication with the resultant rifts in families and persecution, even to the point of betrayal and death. In forewarning them, Jesus was allaying any disillusionment that might have arisen.
6. Greatest Sign: The Armies of the Desolation (vv. 20-24): The clearest sign that the time had come for the destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple would be the presence of the Roman ar mies. In Matthew 24:15 Jesus is also recorded as saying that these armies were the "abomination of desolation spoken of by Daniel the Prophet", and that they would stand in "the holy place" or Temple. Jesus commended an understanding of Daniel, and in relating that prophecy to the Roman armies, he has sealed much of its interpretation (cp. Dan. 8:11, 12, 13, 24; 9:27).
Jesus warned the believers to flee Jerusalem when those Roman legions approached and surrounded the city. Opportunity was provid ed for believers to escape: Josephus and Eusebius say that the Romans made their first advance to Jerusalem under Costius Gallus, but that they withdrew suddenly in a most unexpected and impolitic way, for then the city might easily have been taken. By this means the signal was given to the Christians to flee. Because of this admonition many did, some to Pella and others to Mt. Libanus, and so they preserved their lives.
Jesus went on to say that these judgments would comprise the "days of vengeance". Earlier he had proclaimed "the acceptable year of the Lord" to Israel but many had "done despite to the spirit of grace", in rejecting God's Son, and so vengeance would follow (Lk. 4:19; Heb. 10:26-29; Isa. 61:2).
Because he knew that famine would overtake the besieged city, and that in desperation even children would be consumed, Jesus said: "Woe unto them that are with child, and to them that give suck, in those days" (v.23, cp. Deut. 28:53). Subsequent history has confirmed the accuracy of these words.
He then went on to prophesy the crushing of the Jewish revolt, and of the survivors being "led away captive into all nations" (v.24). This came to pass and the Jews lived in exile for almost 1900 years, and Jerusalem during that time was trodden under the heel of a succession of Gentile oppressors. How wonderfully accurate are all of these words: not one has failed of fulfilment € prophecy has become history.
But Jesus did not say that the exile of Jewry and the downtreading of Jerusalem would continue forever: he gave a time limit: "until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled" (v.24).
EVENTS PRIOR TO THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE KINGDOM OF GOD (Lk. 21:25-28).
Over the last 100 years Jews have been flowing back to the holy land in accordance with the demands of prophecy (Jer. 30:10-11; Ezek. 37; Zech. 12:9-10); and on 14th May, 1948 the state of Israel was pro claimed and established by international law. But Jerusalem was not set free from the heel of Gentile oppression until June, 1967, in the "Six Day War". Thus ended that long period of Gentile oppression of Jerusalem which commenced in B.C. 333, when the city submitted to Alexander the Great. The years between B.C. 333 and 1967 total 2300, and this is significant as this is the period allotted by God for the city's downtreading (Dan. 8:14). Surely we live in dramatic days!
Jesus went on to speak of other signs which would characterise the end of the "times of the Gentiles". He spoke of signs in the "sun and in the moon, and in the stars". These heavenly bodies are symbolical of political and religious powers, for they control the orbit and movements of the earth in the same way as rulers govern the peoples of the earth (cp. Isa. 24:23; Joel 2:10-11, 30-31; 3:15; Isa. 1:2, 10). That political unrest and chaos is indicated by there being signs in the "sun and in the moon and in the stars" is clear from the literal phrase which follows: "and upon the earth distress of nations with perplexi ty". The birth of free thinking, given impetus by the fall of the established authority of State and Church in the French Revolution (1790) has spawned the world-wide communist movement. This cause has as its dictum, "Liberty, Equality and Fraternity", and it calls upon the "workers of the world to unite" and throw off the age-old shackles of established order. Thus subversion and revolution have been fostered and exported to all countries. These are the "three unclean spirits like frogs working miracles". A general instability and madness has confused men and nations, which are now well nigh ungovernable and the grand finale will be the "gathering of them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty" (Rev. 16:13-14). Roar ing seas churning up dirt and mire, speak of the restless agitation caus ed by subversive activities (v.25; Isa. 57:20-21).
Jesus says that the effect of such utter hopelessness will cause men's hearts to fail or expire (R.V. Margin). There will not even be a glim mer of hope on the horizon for those who are unenlightened (v.26). At such a time of universal despair, when the great super-powers are shaping up for the last and final clash upon the mountains of Israel, "the Son of Man will come in a cloud with power and great glory", in flicting further fear in the hearts of those who have rejected him (Rev. 1:7).
But for the saints the growing distress will cause joy and not fear, for the day of their salvation will be nearer: "And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh" (v.28).
THE PARABLE OF THE FIG TREE (Lk. 21:29-33).
All of these signs would be like the shooting forth of the leaves of the fig tree, which testify that summer is nigh. But there seems to lie veiled in this sign another, for the fig tree is frequently used as a figure of Israel in the prophets (Jer. 8:13; 24:1; 29:17; Joel 1:7, 12) and especially by the Lord himself (Lk. 13:7; Mk. 11:13-14). The shooting forth of the fig's leaves then becomes a sign that there will be life again in the "dead" trunk of Israel in these days (cp. Isa. 6:13). The re-establishment of the state of Israel is the fulfilment.
WARNING TO WATCH (Lk. 21:34-36).
In view of the despair prevailing, men are pictured in the Old Testa ment counterpart and background to this prophecy, Isaiah chapter 24, giving themselves over to all forms of sensual pleasure (Isa. 24:6-9). This mad pleasure-seeking is soon to be turned to confusion with the great earthquake (v.1), and judgment (vv. 17-22). But the danger for the saints of the last days lies in the fact that they, too, might be ensnared in the materialism and pleasures of this affluent time. Thus the Lord gives an urgent warning to us: "Take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting (gluttony), and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares" (v.34).
In verse 35 he directly quotes Isaiah 24:17 which shows how unex pected that day will be. The awful picture of perplexity in Isaiah shows a man running for fear, falling into a pit, and emerging only to be trapped in a snare! How frightening that day will be for all who have not put on the sin-covering name of the Lord and walked in his steps! It will truly be seen then that labour in the Lord is the only labour which is not in vain (1 Cor. 15:58).
In conclusion he counsels his brethren to watchfulness and constant prayer, so that they might not be taken off guard, and that they might stand approved before him (v.36).
LESSONS FOR US:
- God's Word is true as evidenced by prophecies which have now become history.
- We live in the hour of judgment, following the establishment of Israel as a nation and the freeing of Jerusalem from Gentile hands.
- It is important to relate the political realities of our day to Christ's Olivet prophecy.
- We will perish if we fraternise with the world and follow its lead.
- Watchfulness and constant prayer are necessary for approval.
ESSAY QUESTIONS:
- What signs did Jesus give his disciples of the coming desolation of the Temple? How were these fulfilled?
- In the Olivet Prophecy Jesus gave many signs of the times before his advent in power. Show how these signs are being fulfilled today. What warnings does he give our generation?
- Show how the prophecies in the Olivet Prophecy have come to pass: €
- in the year A.D. 70 when the Temple and Commonwealth of Israel were destroyed by the Romans;
- in these last days of the Gentiles.
4. Write an essay on the significance of the Olivet Prophecy to you.
REFERENCE LIBRARY:
"The Ways of Providence" (R. Roberts) € Chapters 24-26
"Wars of the Jews" (Josephus)
PARAGRAPH QUESTIONS:
1. What warnings does Jesus give our generation in the Olivet Pro phecy.
- Jesus said that Jerusalem would be "trodden down of the Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled". How was this fulfilled in the Six Day War in 1967?
- How is Isaiah 24 quoted or alluded to in the Olivet Prophecy in Luke 21?
- Jesus said in the Olivet Prophecy, "When these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth near". What did he mean?