10/12/08: Matthew 27
Ted: Jesus was flogged, had a crown of thorns placed on His head, was beaten, and then had His hands and feet pierced in crucifixion (Matthew 27:26,29-31). Compare all of this with Isaiah's prophecies centuries before these things took place (Isaiah 52:14, 53:3-5).
10/11/08: Matthew 24
Ted: Matthew 24 is one of the most prophetic chapters in the Bible about end-time events, specifically the final seven years (70th week, prophesied in Daniel 9:27). Jesus called the attention of His disciples to the temple and surrounding buildings, telling them that there would be a time when not one stone in them would be left on another (Matthew 24:1,2). Many have assumed that this was prophetic of the destruction of the second temple, by the Romans, in 70 A.D.
However, as Jesus sat on the Mount of Olives (which is why the remainder of this chapter often is referred to as the "Olivet Discourse"), His disciples said, "Tell us, when will this happen, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?" (Matthew 24:3). It seems as though they were equating the destruction of the temple, along with Jesus' next coming, with the end of the age. Thus, it would seem that they understood that there would be a destruction of the temple at the end of the age. If so, and since the second temple is gone, then this would seem to imply that a third temple will be standing at the end of the age, and that it would be destroyed.
Jesus proceeded to give what I believe was a summary of most of the final seven years of this age, prior to his appearance in the clouds (which will be the next "coming" about which His disciples had an interest). In fact, I feel that His description in Matthew 24:5-31 parallels John's description of the first six seals in Revelation 6:1-17 (see Parallels Between the Six Seals and the Olivet Discourse and Chronology of the Olivet Discourse).
Specifically, Matthew 24:15 is a direct reference to the "abomination that causes desolation, spoken of through the prophet Daniel." In Daniel 9:27, this "abomination" is something that is set up in the third temple in the middle of the final seven years. Concurrently, this is when the Antichrist "will oppose and will exalt himself over everything that is called God or is worshiped, so that he sets himself up in God's temple, proclaiming himself to be God" (2 Thessalonians 2:4). This "beast" will be "given a mouth to utter proud words and blasphemies and to exercise his authority for forty-two months [3˝ years]" (Revelation 13:5).
It is after the midpoint, Jesus noted, that "there will be great distress, unequaled from the beginning of the world until now—and never to be equaled again" (Matthew 24:21). Most Bible translations read "great tribulation" rather than "great distress." It is a referral to the period of the Great Tribulation, which will begin in the middle of the final seven years--a time of great persecution of believers (Revelation 6:9-11).
For the sake of the elect, that dreadful period will be "cut short" (Matthew 24:22) when, immediately after the distress or tribulation of those days, the cosmic disturbances of the Sixth Seal will take place (Matthew 24:29; Revelation 6:12,13). This will be the "sign" Jesus' disciples asked about, signifying His imminent return in the clouds at the Rapture, to gather His elect to be with Him (Matthew 24:30,31), yet causing the remainder of the "left behind" world to be terrified--knowing that God's wrath is forthcoming (Revelation 6:15-17).
Many have believed that the timing of the Rapture event cannot be known, because of this statement by Jesus: "No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father" (Matthew 24:36). Yet, it is more likely that Jesus was signifying something very specific with that statement.
Rosh haShanah, the Jewish new year, takes place on a new moon. Before methods were available to calculate the exact time of each new moon, no one knew the day or hour of the new moon until two witnesses, peering into the sky, detected the first tiny sliver of the waxing moon. Upon their announcement, Rosh haShanah, officially, would begin. Thus, when Jesus said, "No one knows about that day or hour [of His appearance in the sky]...," He most likely was making an explicit reference to Rosh haShanah--which one, only the Father knew.
Even if we could know in which year Jesus’ aerial appearance will be, Rosh haShanah, traditionally, is observed on two consecutive days. A shofar (ram's horn or "trumpet"—Psalm 81:3, 98:6; Joel 2:1,15) is blown on both days. So we would not know on which of those two days, nor at what hour, Jesus will materialize.
However, as Jesus sat on the Mount of Olives (which is why the remainder of this chapter often is referred to as the "Olivet Discourse"), His disciples said, "Tell us, when will this happen, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?" (Matthew 24:3). It seems as though they were equating the destruction of the temple, along with Jesus' next coming, with the end of the age. Thus, it would seem that they understood that there would be a destruction of the temple at the end of the age. If so, and since the second temple is gone, then this would seem to imply that a third temple will be standing at the end of the age, and that it would be destroyed.
Jesus proceeded to give what I believe was a summary of most of the final seven years of this age, prior to his appearance in the clouds (which will be the next "coming" about which His disciples had an interest). In fact, I feel that His description in Matthew 24:5-31 parallels John's description of the first six seals in Revelation 6:1-17 (see Parallels Between the Six Seals and the Olivet Discourse and Chronology of the Olivet Discourse).
Specifically, Matthew 24:15 is a direct reference to the "abomination that causes desolation, spoken of through the prophet Daniel." In Daniel 9:27, this "abomination" is something that is set up in the third temple in the middle of the final seven years. Concurrently, this is when the Antichrist "will oppose and will exalt himself over everything that is called God or is worshiped, so that he sets himself up in God's temple, proclaiming himself to be God" (2 Thessalonians 2:4). This "beast" will be "given a mouth to utter proud words and blasphemies and to exercise his authority for forty-two months [3˝ years]" (Revelation 13:5).
It is after the midpoint, Jesus noted, that "there will be great distress, unequaled from the beginning of the world until now—and never to be equaled again" (Matthew 24:21). Most Bible translations read "great tribulation" rather than "great distress." It is a referral to the period of the Great Tribulation, which will begin in the middle of the final seven years--a time of great persecution of believers (Revelation 6:9-11).
For the sake of the elect, that dreadful period will be "cut short" (Matthew 24:22) when, immediately after the distress or tribulation of those days, the cosmic disturbances of the Sixth Seal will take place (Matthew 24:29; Revelation 6:12,13). This will be the "sign" Jesus' disciples asked about, signifying His imminent return in the clouds at the Rapture, to gather His elect to be with Him (Matthew 24:30,31), yet causing the remainder of the "left behind" world to be terrified--knowing that God's wrath is forthcoming (Revelation 6:15-17).
Many have believed that the timing of the Rapture event cannot be known, because of this statement by Jesus: "No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father" (Matthew 24:36). Yet, it is more likely that Jesus was signifying something very specific with that statement.
Rosh haShanah, the Jewish new year, takes place on a new moon. Before methods were available to calculate the exact time of each new moon, no one knew the day or hour of the new moon until two witnesses, peering into the sky, detected the first tiny sliver of the waxing moon. Upon their announcement, Rosh haShanah, officially, would begin. Thus, when Jesus said, "No one knows about that day or hour [of His appearance in the sky]...," He most likely was making an explicit reference to Rosh haShanah--which one, only the Father knew.
Even if we could know in which year Jesus’ aerial appearance will be, Rosh haShanah, traditionally, is observed on two consecutive days. A shofar (ram's horn or "trumpet"—Psalm 81:3, 98:6; Joel 2:1,15) is blown on both days. So we would not know on which of those two days, nor at what hour, Jesus will materialize.
10/10/08: Matthew 21-22
Ted: Jesus told His disciples to go find a donkey and a colt (Matthew 21:2-5). This was prophesied centuries before it happened (Zechariah 9:9). This "triumphal entry" of Jesus into Jerusalem oon Palm Sunday (also described in Luke 19:28-44) fulfilled the coming of the Anointed One written about in Daniel 9:25. Later that week (Good Thursday), Jesus was crucified or, according to the prophecy, "cut off." This concluded 69 of the 70 "weeks" of years, causing the time count to stop.
The 70th and final week of years was prophesied to begin when Israel engaged in a 7-year agreement, confirming a previous covenant. This very well may have happened in October 2006, with the establishment and funding of the European Neighbourhood Policy. If so, the 70 weeks of years will conclude in the Fall of 2013.
After Jesus entered Jerusalem, He went to the temple and drove out those who were buying and selling there (Matthew 21:12,13). The reason for this was that the Passover was in a few days away (Jesus was crucified on Passover), and those at the temple selling animals for the traditional sacrifices were charging the people outrageous prices. This made Jesus angry, so He got rid of them.
The original Passover lambs were chosen on the 10th of the month (of Nisan) and examined to make sure that they were free of defects (Exodus 12:3,5). Then they were slaughtered on the 14th of the month (12:6). Likewise, Jesus, the ultimate Passover Lamb (1 Corinthians 5:7) was questioned and found to be perfect and free of "defects" (Matthew 22:15-46) between the time He entered Jerusalem on Sunday the 10th and was crucified on Thursday the 14th.
The 70th and final week of years was prophesied to begin when Israel engaged in a 7-year agreement, confirming a previous covenant. This very well may have happened in October 2006, with the establishment and funding of the European Neighbourhood Policy. If so, the 70 weeks of years will conclude in the Fall of 2013.
After Jesus entered Jerusalem, He went to the temple and drove out those who were buying and selling there (Matthew 21:12,13). The reason for this was that the Passover was in a few days away (Jesus was crucified on Passover), and those at the temple selling animals for the traditional sacrifices were charging the people outrageous prices. This made Jesus angry, so He got rid of them.
The original Passover lambs were chosen on the 10th of the month (of Nisan) and examined to make sure that they were free of defects (Exodus 12:3,5). Then they were slaughtered on the 14th of the month (12:6). Likewise, Jesus, the ultimate Passover Lamb (1 Corinthians 5:7) was questioned and found to be perfect and free of "defects" (Matthew 22:15-46) between the time He entered Jerusalem on Sunday the 10th and was crucified on Thursday the 14th.
