Destruction of Temple Mat. 24
Armageddon, and the “End of the Ancient World”
It is fair to state that, even by the most stringent standards of research, the correlation between biblical prophecy and the collapse of the ancient world can only be described as compelling. It is critical to keep in mind when studying the Bible, that it is an ancient world text; therefore, when it predicts “the end of the world,” it refers to the end of the ancient world.
In the Old Testament, King David foretold a time when the evil forces who ruled the ancient world would be destroyed, and the meek (humans) would inherit the earth. In the New Testament, Jesus told his followers that the event prophesied by King David would coincide with the destruction of the temple and the desolation of Jerusalem. These prophecies came true in A.D.70. Notwithstanding, two thousand years later, Judeo-Christian religions claim these events are yet to happen. For the current doctrines of Judeo-Christianity to be correct, Jesus and King David would both have to be wrong.
It is obvious that the doctrines of Judeo-Christianity stand in direct opposition to the biblical prophecies; therefore, either the prophets were wrong, or our current religious beliefs are mistaken. Simple honesty prevents us from having it both ways. If Judeo-Christianity is right, then the prophets were wrong; and if the prophets were right, then our religious beliefs are wrong.
In the following pages, I will present some of the verses in which the Bible clearly states that the second coming of Jesus would coincide with the destruction of the temple in Jerusalem. Please notice how often the terms: “we,” “shortly,” “quickly” and “the time is at hand” are used when referring to the end times in these verses.
The New Testament
But when they persecute you in this city, flee ye into another: for verily I say unto you, Ye shall not have gone over the cities of Israel, till the Son of man be come. Mat. 10:23.
In this verse the Messiah tells his disciples that they would not visit all the cities of Israel before the second coming
Verily I say unto you, There be some standing here, which shall not taste of death, till they see the Son of man coming in his kingdom. Mat. 16:28. See also Mat. 26:64, 23:39. Mk. 9:1, Luke 9:27.
In this verse the Messiah tells his disciples that some of the men standing with him would not die before his second coming!
Jesus saith unto him, Thou hast said: nevertheless I say unto you, Hereafter shall ye see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven. Mat. 26:64.
In this verse Jesus tells the high priest that he will see the Son of man coming in the clouds. See Mat. 24:30
Matthew Chapter Twenty-Four
Matthew twenty-four is recognized as the key chapter on the “end time” prophecies. It ties the second coming of Jesus to the destruction of the temple, desolation of the city of Jerusalem and the end of the ancient world.
The chapter begins as Jesus is leaving the temple. The disciples praise the magnificence of the buildings, and Jesus says to them:
See ye not all these things? verily I say unto you, There shall not be left here one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down.
3 And as he sat upon the mount of Olives, the disciples came unto him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be and what the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world? Mat. 24:1-3.
The questions the disciples asked Jesus tie three things together, the second coming of Messiah, the destruction of the temple, and the end of the world. The temple was the center of the Jewish life, its destruction would signify the end of their world. Please note that Jesus does not correct them for making this assumption; instead, he proceeds to give them the signs by which they will recognize his return. In Mat 24:15 – 16, Jesus tells them that when they see the abomination of desolation spoken of by Daniel they should flee Judea because the fulfillment of the rest of the prophecies would be imminent.
When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place,
16 Then let them which be in Judea flee into the mountains. Mat. 24 15-16.
Judea was a Roman province, neither Rome nor Judea exist today. That confines the fulfillment of this prophecy to days of the ancient Roman Empire.
In order to understand this prophecy of Jesus, we must understand the prophecy of Daniel. In the Old Testament Daniel tells us precisely when his prophecy of the “Abomination that maketh Desolate” would take place.
And from the time that the daily sacrifice shall be taken away, and the abomination that maketh desolate set up, there shall be a thousand two hundred and ninety days. Dan 12:11.
The daily sacrifice was performed by the temple priests every day. That sacrifice ended over two-thousand years ago. Shortly after, the temple in Jerusalem was destroyed to its foundation stones, and the city of Jerusalem was left utterly desolate; thus, fulfilling the prophecies of both Daniel and Jesus.
Returning to Mat. 24, in verse 32 Jesus says;
Now learn a parable of the fig tree; When his branch is yet tender, and putteth forth leaves, ye know that summer is nigh;
33 So likewise ye, when ye shall see all these things, know that it is near, even at the doors.
34 Verily I say unto you, this generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled. Mat. 24:32-34. See also Mk. 13:30, Luke 21:5-36, Mat. 16:28.
The “ye” in verse 33 and the “you” in verse 34, are personal pronouns, and refer to the people to whom Jesus was speaking. That should make it perfectly clear that Jesus is referring to the generation of his disciples. Had he meant his comments for a future generation, he would have said “that generation” in verse 34. To the contrary, Messiah distinctly states that “this generation,” meaning the current one to whom he was speaking, would experience the fulfillment of his prophecy. (See also the use of the word “generation” in Mat. 12:38-45 and Mk. 8:12. They all refer to the present tense.)
All of the events prophesied in Matthew chapter 24, have to occur in the same generation. It is impossible to deny that two of those predictions, the destruction of the temple and desolation of Jerusalem, occurred in AD70. Consequently, it is equally impossible to deny that all of the events foretold in Mat. 24, including the second coming of Messiah and the end of the (ancient) world, occurred at that time.
Christianity tries to make the case that the words “this generation” apply to the modern generation of believers. To the contrary, when speaking to the Pharisees of his day, Messiah tells them that his prophesied judgment would come on their generation.
Verily I say unto you, (the scribes and Pharisees) All these things shall come on this generation. Mat 36:36.
Here the Messiah tells the scribes and Pharisees that their generation would experience the fulfillment of the prophecies. By addressing this admonition to the leaders in the ancient city of Jerusalem, Jesus time-locks his prophecy to the days of the Pharisaic Jews of ancient Israel. The Pharisaic system of ancient Israel ended with the destruction of the temple in a.d.70; therefore, it cannot possibly refer to a future generation.
Christianity tries to make the case that all of these events will happen again; however, Jesus clearly states that his prophecy pertained to the destruction of the temple the disciples showed him. There is no scriptural prophecy for an additional temple to be built in the future! In fact, in Mat 21:18-19, Jesus cursed the fig tree (symbol of ancient Israel) and said it would never again bear fruit.
The New Testament portion of ancient Israel’s history clearly states that the second coming of Jesus is tied to the destruction of the temple and desolation of Jerusalem. Precisely as prophesied, in a.d.70, that temple was destroyed to the very foundation stones, and the city of Jerusalem was left utterly desolate. It is no longer possible for religious leaders to deny the implications inherent in that historical reality!
Precisely as prophesied, the second coming of Messiah Jesus coincided with the destruction of the temple and desolation of Jerusalem in a.d.70. At that point, the satanic forces who ruled the ancient world were destroyed and the meek (lowly humans) inherited the earth in the Dark Ages of the early modern world. Ps.37:11 & Mat. 5:5.
We recommend that you read our post on the “Rapture” next
This biblical prophecy states that, at the second coming of Messiah, the Apostles and Disciples of Jesus would be removed from the earth; yet alive. Christianity teaches that this is a future event. We provide empirical evidence that the “Rapture of the Saints,” coincided with the cataclysmic events surrounding the destruction of the temple and fall of Jerusalem, in a.d.63-70.
Some additional revelatory questions
The Bible is an ancient world text; consequently, when it prophesies the “end of the world,” it refers to the ancient world; did that world come to an end as prophesied?
The God of Abraham authorized King Solomon to build a Temple in Jerusalem as His dwelling place on the earth; What is meant by the destruction of that Temple to the very foundation stones?
The Messiah told his Apostles and Disciples that, in conjunction with his Second Coming, the Temple and Jerusalem would be destroyed to the foundation stones. In a.d.63-70 that prophecy was fulfilled to the letter of his words. If, as Christianity proposes, the Apostle John was still on the Isle of Patmos in a.d.90 and the rest of the Apostles were scattered throughout the ancient world; Why did they fail to record the cataclysmic destruction of that Temple in their writings?
In 1 Thes. 4:13-18, the Apostle Paul promised his disciples that, at the Second Coming of Messiah, they would be removed from the earth while yet alive; Why is there no record of the death of the Apostles and Disciples in the Bible, and why did they fail to record the destruction of the Temple and the desolation of Jerusalem precisely as prophesied by the Messiah?
Why are we no longer recording the interaction between God and the Israelites in the Bible?
The Bible
Not one word has been added to the Bible since the “Rapture of the Saints” in a.d.63. The Bible is a closed history of God’s interaction with our ancestors in the ancient world. It is not a handbook for religion, an ongoing revelation, or a “myth,” as disparaged by the atheists and theologians of science and religion.
And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.
John 8:32.
Study the Bible as history, and you will know the Truth that set you free from the indoctrination and violence imposed on us by ideological science and religion.
If you have not read the synopsis, please click on the Discovery link before leaving the website.
We ask you to use our new Face Book link below to discuss this wonderful discovery with your family and friends, and send us your comments: Contact the Realists.