okShall we bow
our heads for prayer?
00:00:34.84\00:00:37.51
Father in heaven, what a joy
it is to be in Your presence.
00:00:37.54\00:00:41.37
And, Father, as we
open Your holy word, we ask,
00:00:41.40\00:00:45.05
we plead for the
guidance of Your Holy Spirit.
00:00:45.08\00:00:48.37
Give us, Lord,
clarity of thought
00:00:48.40\00:00:50.92
and give us also willing
hearts to receive Your word.
00:00:50.95\00:00:54.64
And we thank you for hearing
and answering our prayer,
00:00:54.67\00:00:56.74
for we ask it in the
precious name of Jesus, amen.
00:00:56.77\00:01:02.62
The title of our study today is
"The Abomination of Desolation."
00:01:02.65\00:01:08.90
Now in our last study
we touched briefly upon
00:01:08.93\00:01:11.90
the abomination of
desolation as it related
00:01:11.93\00:01:15.26
to the first destruction
of Jerusalem in the year 586.
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But in our study
today we're going to deal
00:01:19.97\00:01:22.34
with the second destruction
of Jerusalem in the year 70 A.D.
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And we cannot understand
the destruction of the city
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unless we understand
the events that led up
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to the destruction of the city.
00:01:35.46\00:01:37.51
And so what we're going to do is
begin our study in Matthew 24:5.
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And we're going to notice
00:01:44.25\00:01:45.70
a clear line of
events in sequence,
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one event right after another.
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Also, I must warn you
that we're not going to read
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text exclusively from
the Gospel of Matthew.
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Wherever Mark or
Luke add information
00:02:00.51\00:02:03.76
to what we have in Matthew
I'm going to also include
00:02:03.79\00:02:07.26
the perspective
of Mark and Luke.
00:02:07.29\00:02:10.84
So we're going to
study the sequence of events
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that led up to the
destruction of Jerusalem
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from the perspective
of the three gospels.
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Let's begin our
study at Matthew 24:5-8.
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This is what I call
the preliminary signs.
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It says, "For many will
come in My name, saying,
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'I am the Christ,'
and will deceive many.
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And you will hear of
wars and rumors of wars.
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See that you are not
troubled, for all these things
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must come to pass,
but the end is not yet.
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For nation will
rise against nation,
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and kingdom against kingdom,
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and there will be
famines, pestilences,
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and earthquakes
in various places.
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All these are the
beginning of sorrows."
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Notice that these
are preliminary signs.
00:03:01.79\00:03:03.85
The worst is yet to
come, is what Jesus is saying.
00:03:03.88\00:03:08.20
Notice some more signs
here, false Christ, wars,
00:03:08.23\00:03:11.85
rumors of wars,
nation rising against nation,
00:03:11.88\00:03:15.33
famines,
pestilences, and earthquakes.
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Now what I would like to
do is take each of these signs
00:03:19.32\00:03:22.04
individually and show
you how in the New Testament
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and also in history,
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primarily through
the writings of Josephus
00:03:27.84\00:03:30.32
and the Roman historian Tacitus,
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these signs were
fulfilled leading up
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to the destruction of Jerusalem.
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First of all let's talk about
00:03:37.88\00:03:39.58
false Christs
and false prophets.
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Notice Acts 5:36 and 37.
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Here we find the names,
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the specific names of
two of those false prophets
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that arose
between the death of Jesus
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and the
destruction of Jerusalem.
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It says there,
"For some time ago
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Theudas rose up,
claiming to be somebody.
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A number of men,
about 400, joined him.
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He was slain, and
all who obeyed him
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were scattered
and came to nothing.
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After this man, Judas of Galilee
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rose up in the
days of the census,
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and drew away
many people after him.
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He also perished, and all
who obeyed him were dispersed."
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So you have two false
prophets that are mentioned here
00:04:27.38\00:04:30.05
by name or false Christs,
Theudas and Judas of Galilee.
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Now in Acts 8:9 and 10 we
find another false prophet.
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His name of course, Simon
Magus or Simon, the magician.
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Notice Acts 8:9 and 10.
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"But there was a
certain man named Simon,
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who previously
practiced sorcery in the city
00:04:51.38\00:04:55.11
and astonished
the people of Samaria,
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claiming that he
was someone great,
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to whom they all gave heed,
00:05:00.26\00:05:02.55
from the least to
the greatest, saying,
00:05:02.58\00:05:05.26
'This man is the
great power of God.'"
00:05:05.29\00:05:09.55
In the book "The
Desire of Ages," page 628,
00:05:09.58\00:05:13.61
where Ellen White describes
the destruction of Jerusalem
00:05:13.64\00:05:16.92
she says this, "Many
false messiahs will appear,
00:05:16.95\00:05:21.68
claiming to work miracles,
00:05:21.71\00:05:23.98
and declaring that the
time of the deliverance
00:05:24.01\00:05:26.75
of the Jewish nation has come.
00:05:26.78\00:05:29.84
These will mislead many."
00:05:29.87\00:05:32.62
Then she says,
"Christ's words were fulfilled.
00:05:32.65\00:05:36.65
Between His death and
the siege of Jerusalem
00:05:36.68\00:05:40.55
many false messiahs appeared."
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Notice also the
testimony of Flavius Josephus
00:05:44.90\00:05:48.05
who was a Jewish historian
born in the year 37 A.D.,
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several decades before
the destruction of Jerusalem.
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He said this, "Moreover,
impostors and deceivers
00:05:55.93\00:06:00.73
called upon the mob to
follow them into the desert.
00:06:00.76\00:06:04.49
For they said that
they would show them
00:06:04.52\00:06:06.57
unmistakable marvels and signs
00:06:06.60\00:06:09.36
that would be wrought in
harmony with God's designs."
00:06:09.39\00:06:13.87
Also in the book
"Wars of the Jews,"
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Josephus says this,
"Deceivers and impostors,
00:06:17.14\00:06:21.35
under the pretense
of divine inspiration
00:06:21.38\00:06:24.66
fostering revolutionary changes,
00:06:24.69\00:06:27.36
they persuaded the
multitude to act like madmen,
00:06:27.39\00:06:31.02
and led them out into the desert
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under the belief
that God would give them
00:06:33.65\00:06:36.51
tokens of deliverance."
00:06:36.54\00:06:38.90
Once again Josephus in his
work "Antiquities of the Jews"
00:06:38.93\00:06:42.52
had this to say
about false prophets
00:06:42.55\00:06:45.11
that led up to the
destruction of Jerusalem.
00:06:45.14\00:06:47.56
He said, "In Judea
matters were constantly
00:06:47.59\00:06:50.77
going from bad to worse.
00:06:50.80\00:06:53.30
For the country was again
infested with bands of brigands
00:06:53.33\00:06:57.45
and impostors who
deceived the mob."
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So there were false
Christ and false prophets
00:07:01.33\00:07:04.31
by the testimony of scripture
00:07:04.34\00:07:06.08
and also by the
testimony of Flavius Josephus,
00:07:06.11\00:07:09.89
the Jewish historian.
00:07:09.92\00:07:11.63
Now what about wars and rumors
of wars and social unrest?
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There was much of that as well.
00:07:16.48\00:07:18.77
You know, Jesus was
born during the period
00:07:18.80\00:07:21.27
of what has come to be
known as the Pax Romana.
00:07:21.30\00:07:24.39
In other words, the Roman peace.
00:07:24.42\00:07:26.55
And according
to Roman historians
00:07:26.58\00:07:29.64
this period from 17 B.C.
00:07:29.67\00:07:32.53
during the
emperorship of Augustus
00:07:32.56\00:07:35.04
all the way till
the year 67 under Nero
00:07:35.07\00:07:38.19
there was an unparallel peace in
the history of the Roman Empire.
00:07:38.22\00:07:43.42
That is until
Nero sent Vespasian,
00:07:43.45\00:07:47.78
his General, to
quelch the rebellion
00:07:47.81\00:07:50.91
that was taking place
in the city of Jerusalem
00:07:50.94\00:07:53.59
and then
everything fell into disarray.
00:07:53.62\00:07:57.21
Everything fell apart
00:07:57.24\00:07:59.00
and no longer was
there peace anywhere.
00:07:59.03\00:08:01.18
There were natural
disasters everywhere
00:08:01.21\00:08:03.52
as we're going to notice.
00:08:03.55\00:08:05.51
In fact, there were
many wars because Vespasian,
00:08:05.54\00:08:09.12
as was his policy,
as he went to Jerusalem
00:08:09.15\00:08:12.57
he finished off every
nation that he found in the way
00:08:12.60\00:08:16.34
so that they would not interfere
in the destruction of Jerusalem.
00:08:16.37\00:08:19.80
In fact, Josephus says
that it was his strategy
00:08:19.83\00:08:23.38
to leave nothing
outside of Jerusalem behind him
00:08:23.41\00:08:27.06
that might
interrupt in the siege.
00:08:27.09\00:08:30.66
There are many wars.
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Notice "Desire
of Ages," page 628,
00:08:32.43\00:08:36.11
"Prior to
thedestruction of Jerusalem,
00:08:36.14\00:08:39.00
men wrestled for the supremacy.
00:08:39.03\00:08:42.19
Emperors were murdered.
00:08:42.22\00:08:44.87
Those supposed to be standing
next to the throne were slain.
00:08:44.90\00:08:49.99
There were wars
and rumors of wars."
00:08:50.02\00:08:53.72
In fact, we know
that the Jews themselves
00:08:53.75\00:08:56.45
had battles
with the Ascalonians,
00:08:56.48\00:08:59.21
the Samaritans,
the Alexandrians,
00:08:59.24\00:09:01.26
and the Syrians just a few years
00:09:01.29\00:09:03.47
before the
destruction of Jerusalem.
00:09:03.50\00:09:06.05
Tacitus, the
great Roman historian,
00:09:06.08\00:09:08.52
who lived from the year
55 till the year 117 A.D,
00:09:08.55\00:09:13.30
had this to say
about this period.
00:09:13.33\00:09:15.58
He said, "The history
on which I am entering
00:09:15.61\00:09:18.61
is that of a
period rich in disasters,
00:09:18.64\00:09:22.11
terrible in battles,
torn by civil struggles,
00:09:22.14\00:09:26.13
horrible even in peace.
00:09:26.16\00:09:28.42
Four emperors
failed by the sword.
00:09:28.45\00:09:31.18
There were three civil
wars, more foreign wars
00:09:31.21\00:09:34.68
and often both
at the same time."
00:09:34.71\00:09:38.03
And Josephus had this to say,
00:09:38.06\00:09:40.40
"All was in disorder
after the death of Nero."
00:09:40.43\00:09:45.50
And so there were great numbers
of wars and rumors of wars
00:09:45.53\00:09:50.11
that led up to the
destruction of Jerusalem
00:09:50.14\00:09:52.52
both according to scripture
00:09:52.55\00:09:54.52
and also according
to the Jewish historian,
00:09:54.55\00:09:57.94
Josephus and the
Roman historian, Tacitus.
00:09:57.97\00:10:01.81
Now what about
famines and pestilences
00:10:01.84\00:10:04.60
between the death of Jesus
00:10:04.63\00:10:06.05
and the
destruction of Jerusalem?
00:10:06.08\00:10:08.46
In Acts 11:28,
00:10:08.49\00:10:10.76
we find the mention of one
of these horrendous famines.
00:10:10.79\00:10:14.48
It says there in Acts 11:28,
00:10:14.51\00:10:17.77
"Then one of them, named Agabus,
00:10:17.80\00:10:21.13
stood up and
showed by the Spirit
00:10:21.16\00:10:24.48
that there was
going to be a great famine
00:10:24.51\00:10:27.53
throughout all the world,
00:10:27.56\00:10:29.46
which also happened in
the days of Claudius Caesar."
00:10:29.49\00:10:34.49
By the way, Josephus calls
this famine, the great famine.
00:10:34.52\00:10:39.41
And if you read in
"Antiquities of the Jews"
00:10:39.44\00:10:41.94
as well as in Josephus'
book "Wars of the Jews"
00:10:41.97\00:10:44.86
he mentions many other famines
00:10:44.89\00:10:47.20
that also took place
around the same time.
00:10:47.23\00:10:50.86
Ellen White, in the
book "The Great Controversy,"
00:10:50.89\00:10:53.40
page 32 concurs with
Josephus with these words,
00:10:53.43\00:10:58.38
"Thousands"
speaking about Jerusalem,
00:10:58.41\00:11:01.17
"Thousands perished
from famine and pestilence.
00:11:01.20\00:11:05.33
Natural affection
seemed to have been destroyed.
00:11:05.36\00:11:09.07
Husbands robbed their
wives, and wives their husbands.
00:11:09.10\00:11:13.56
Children would be
seen snatching the food
00:11:13.59\00:11:17.64
from the mouths of
their good parents."
00:11:17.67\00:11:21.30
In fact,
Lamentations 4:10 were sung,
00:11:21.33\00:11:26.74
as I mentioned
in our last lecture,
00:11:26.77\00:11:28.48
in conjunction with this
destruction of Jerusalem.
00:11:28.51\00:11:31.63
And the Book of
Lamentations 4:10
00:11:31.66\00:11:34.85
speaks about mothers
eating their children
00:11:34.88\00:11:38.11
because of a severe famine.
00:11:38.14\00:11:40.13
Notice what it says there,
00:11:40.16\00:11:41.62
"The hands of the
compassionate women
00:11:41.65\00:11:44.16
have cooked their own children.
00:11:44.19\00:11:47.06
They became food for them
00:11:47.09\00:11:48.92
in the destruction of
the daughter of my people."
00:11:48.95\00:11:52.29
In fact, this was a fulfillment
00:11:52.32\00:11:53.86
of one of the
curses of the covenant
00:11:53.89\00:11:55.96
that are mentioned in
Deuteronomy 28:56 and 57.
00:11:55.99\00:12:00.77
God had said that if
Israel did not obey His voice
00:12:00.80\00:12:04.13
and follow His covenant that
things like this would occur.
00:12:04.16\00:12:09.05
Ellen White in
"Great Controversy,"
00:12:09.08\00:12:10.59
page 31 describes the
hunger in the city this way.
00:12:10.62\00:12:14.96
"So fierce were
the pangs of hunger
00:12:14.99\00:12:18.50
that men would gnaw
the leather of their belts
00:12:18.53\00:12:22.71
and sandals and the
covering of their shields.
00:12:22.74\00:12:26.89
Great numbers of the
people would steal out at night
00:12:26.92\00:12:30.50
to gather wild plants
growing outside the city walls,
00:12:30.53\00:12:34.61
though many were seized
00:12:34.64\00:12:36.57
and put to death
with cruel torture,
00:12:36.60\00:12:39.55
and often those
who returned in safety
00:12:39.58\00:12:42.23
were robbed of what they
had gleaned at so great peril."
00:12:42.26\00:12:47.64
So there were severe
famines, terrible hunger,
00:12:47.67\00:12:50.43
especially once the city
of Jerusalem was besieged.
00:12:50.46\00:12:54.73
Now what about earthquakes
and supernatural phenomenon?
00:12:54.76\00:12:58.74
We're following the
order of the phenomenon
00:12:58.77\00:13:01.56
that we read at the
beginning of our study.
00:13:01.59\00:13:04.66
Tacitus, the Roman historian,
00:13:04.69\00:13:06.75
in his book "The
Annals of Tacitus"
00:13:06.78\00:13:09.87
describes
earthquakes in Crete, Rome,
00:13:09.90\00:13:12.91
Apamea, Phrygia, Campania,
and Laodicea and also Pompeii
00:13:12.94\00:13:18.98
just before the
destruction of Jerusalem.
00:13:19.01\00:13:21.75
That's a lot of
earthquakes in a lot of places.
00:13:21.78\00:13:24.98
In fact, Tacitus described
one of these earthquakes
00:13:25.01\00:13:28.80
during the
emperorship of Claudius.
00:13:28.83\00:13:31.00
He says this,
00:13:31.03\00:13:32.40
"Houses were flattened
by repeated earthquakes,
00:13:32.43\00:13:36.54
and as terror spread,
00:13:36.57\00:13:38.41
the weak were trampled to
death by the panic stricken."
00:13:38.44\00:13:43.64
The Roman writer,
Seneca speaks of quakes
00:13:43.67\00:13:46.88
that took place in Asia,
Achaea, Syria, and Macedonia.
00:13:46.91\00:13:52.20
In fact, Ellicot,
the great commentator,
00:13:52.23\00:13:55.11
said this about this period
between the death of Jesus
00:13:55.14\00:13:58.42
and the
destruction of Jerusalem.
00:13:58.45\00:14:00.32
These are his words,
00:14:00.35\00:14:01.72
"Perhaps no period in
world's history has ever been
00:14:01.75\00:14:05.98
so marked by these
conditions, that is earthquakes,
00:14:06.01\00:14:09.35
as that which intervenes
between the Crucifixion
00:14:09.38\00:14:12.79
and the
destruction of Jerusalem."
00:14:12.82\00:14:16.20
Flavius Josephus says
this about this period
00:14:16.23\00:14:20.03
and the supernatural phenomenon.
00:14:20.06\00:14:22.63
I quote, "There broke out a
prodigious storm in the night,
00:14:22.66\00:14:27.66
with the utmost
violence, and very strong winds,
00:14:27.69\00:14:31.45
with the largest showers of
rain and continual lightnings,
00:14:31.48\00:14:35.90
terrible thunderings,
and amazing concussions
00:14:35.93\00:14:39.97
and bellowings of the earth,
that was in an earthquake."
00:14:40.00\00:14:44.95
In fact, Josephus as he
observed all these signs
00:14:44.98\00:14:48.02
he reached the
conclusion that these signs
00:14:48.05\00:14:51.11
must be
indicating something terrible
00:14:51.14\00:14:53.85
that was gonna
happen to Jerusalem.
00:14:53.88\00:14:55.61
These are his words.
00:14:55.64\00:14:57.17
"These things were
a manifest indication
00:14:57.20\00:15:00.62
that some
destruction was coming upon men,
00:15:00.65\00:15:04.51
when the system of the world
was put into this disorder,
00:15:04.54\00:15:08.43
and anyone would guess
that these wonders foreshadowed
00:15:08.46\00:15:12.39
some grand
calamities that were coming."
00:15:12.42\00:15:16.91
Now there's a detail
that's not mentioned in Matthew.
00:15:16.94\00:15:19.26
And I brought this out
in our first study together
00:15:19.29\00:15:22.30
and that is, that there
were also going to be troubles.
00:15:22.33\00:15:26.12
The word "troubles"
describes social unrest.
00:15:26.15\00:15:30.28
Notice Mark 13:8.
00:15:30.31\00:15:33.14
Mark 13:8, there
were be gonna troubles
00:15:33.17\00:15:35.76
and riots and
tumult and civil unrest.
00:15:35.79\00:15:40.29
This is what Mark 13:8 says,
00:15:40.32\00:15:42.68
"For nation will
rise against nation
00:15:42.71\00:15:44.92
and kingdom against kingdom.
00:15:44.95\00:15:47.17
And there will be
earthquakes in various places,
00:15:47.20\00:15:50.06
and there will be famines."
00:15:50.09\00:15:51.46
And then it says what?
00:15:51.49\00:15:52.86
"And troubles. These are
the beginnings of sorrows."
00:15:52.89\00:15:56.32
That word
"troubles" is the same word
00:15:56.35\00:15:58.60
that is used to
describe the mob that cried out,
00:15:58.63\00:16:01.86
"crucify Him, crucify Him."
00:16:01.89\00:16:04.22
You know, where there
was more and more disorder
00:16:04.25\00:16:06.52
and more tumult among the crowd.
00:16:06.55\00:16:10.65
Now Josephus tells us
that during this period
00:16:10.68\00:16:13.23
there was a great
increase in messianic movements
00:16:13.26\00:16:16.53
in the Judean wilderness.
00:16:16.56\00:16:18.70
In fact, Josephus says
that during the reign of Felix
00:16:18.73\00:16:23.33
that a succession of
deceivers and impostors
00:16:23.36\00:16:27.34
fermented revolutionary changes
00:16:27.37\00:16:30.42
under the pretext
of divine inspiration.
00:16:30.45\00:16:35.24
Ellen White vividly
describes this period
00:16:35.27\00:16:38.59
in "Great Controversy,"
page 28 with these words.
00:16:38.62\00:16:42.10
"Satan aroused the fiercest
00:16:42.13\00:16:44.95
and most debased
passions of the soul.
00:16:44.98\00:16:48.45
Men did not reason.
00:16:48.48\00:16:50.44
They were beyond
reason-controlled by
00:16:50.47\00:16:52.86
impulse and blind rage.
00:16:52.89\00:16:55.53
They became
satanic in their cruelty.
00:16:55.56\00:16:58.50
In the family and in the nation,
00:16:58.53\00:17:00.85
among the highest and
the lowest classes alike,
00:17:00.88\00:17:04.26
there was
suspicion, envy, hatred,
00:17:04.29\00:17:07.00
strife, rebellion, and murder.
00:17:07.03\00:17:09.83
There was no safety anywhere.
00:17:09.86\00:17:12.00
Friends and kindred
betrayed one another.
00:17:12.03\00:17:15.14
Parents slew their children
and children their parents."
00:17:15.17\00:17:21.28
Does this sound impressive,
what was happening shortly
00:17:21.31\00:17:24.26
before the
destruction of Jerusalem?
00:17:24.29\00:17:26.14
It's unbelievable and
yet we need to understand
00:17:26.17\00:17:29.29
that this is
going to occur again.
00:17:29.32\00:17:32.28
And is going to
occur on a global scale
00:17:32.31\00:17:35.87
in the order in which we
have studied these things.
00:17:35.90\00:17:39.33
And yet Jesus goes on to say,
00:17:39.36\00:17:41.41
"Don't worry, folks,
00:17:41.44\00:17:42.93
these are only the
beginning of sorrows."
00:17:42.96\00:17:46.53
You say, "Wow.
00:17:46.56\00:17:47.93
If this is the beginning
of sorrows what comes next?"
00:17:47.96\00:17:51.31
Well, the fact is that
all of these calamities,
00:17:51.34\00:17:54.57
according to Matthew, were going
to be blamed upon God's people.
00:17:54.60\00:18:00.21
Notice Matthew 24:9.
00:18:00.24\00:18:04.00
Immediately after
all of these disasters
00:18:04.03\00:18:06.56
and when Jesus says,
00:18:06.59\00:18:07.96
"this is but the
beginning of sorrows,"
00:18:07.99\00:18:10.10
we find the hidden agenda of
the devil causing these things.
00:18:10.13\00:18:14.27
It says there in Matthew 24:9,
00:18:14.30\00:18:16.96
"Then they will
deliver you up to tribulation."
00:18:16.99\00:18:20.73
Is there a connection between
the previous signs and this?
00:18:20.76\00:18:23.41
Yes, "Then they will
deliver you up to tribulation
00:18:23.44\00:18:27.42
and kill you,
and you will be hated
00:18:27.45\00:18:30.64
by all nations
for My name's sake."
00:18:30.67\00:18:35.29
So all of these calamities
are actually caused by Satan
00:18:35.32\00:18:39.00
with the intent
that God's people
00:18:39.03\00:18:41.27
would be blamed for everything
00:18:41.30\00:18:43.31
that was happening
in the natural world,
00:18:43.34\00:18:45.66
in society and in
the political world
00:18:45.69\00:18:48.31
as well as in
the religious world.
00:18:48.34\00:18:51.15
Between the death of Christ
00:18:51.18\00:18:52.79
and the destruction of Jerusalem
00:18:52.82\00:18:54.90
God's people were
mercilessly persecuted.
00:18:54.93\00:18:58.91
For example, in Acts 5:41,
00:18:58.94\00:19:02.08
we find Peter and
John being persecuted.
00:19:02.11\00:19:05.16
It says there in Acts 5:41,
00:19:05.19\00:19:07.95
"And they departed from
the presence of the council,
00:19:07.98\00:19:10.74
rejoicing that
they were counted worthy
00:19:10.77\00:19:13.29
to suffer shame for His name."
00:19:13.32\00:19:15.09
See, the shame is
for the name of Jesus.
00:19:15.12\00:19:18.19
In Acts 8:1 we find reference
to a great persecution.
00:19:18.22\00:19:22.64
It says there, "Now Saul
was consenting to his death,"
00:19:22.67\00:19:26.82
that is Stephen's death.
00:19:26.85\00:19:28.52
"At that time a
great persecution arose
00:19:28.55\00:19:32.21
against the church
which was at Jerusalem.
00:19:32.24\00:19:35.28
And they were all
scattered throughout
00:19:35.31\00:19:37.10
the regions of
Judea and Samaria,
00:19:37.13\00:19:39.80
except the apostles."
00:19:39.83\00:19:42.24
We all know
about the persecutions
00:19:42.27\00:19:44.49
of Saul of Tarsus
against the church of God.
00:19:44.52\00:19:47.64
By the way, Jesus
had predicted this,
00:19:47.67\00:19:50.30
that many individuals would
seek God's people to kill them
00:19:50.33\00:19:54.00
thinking that they were
actually doing God a favor.
00:19:54.03\00:19:57.21
Do you remember
the words of Caiaphas,
00:19:57.24\00:19:58.85
where Caiaphas says,
00:19:58.88\00:20:00.25
"It's necessary
for one man to die
00:20:00.28\00:20:02.24
and not for the nation to
disappear or to be destroyed?"
00:20:02.27\00:20:06.59
There he
revealed that he thought
00:20:06.62\00:20:08.76
that Jesus was going to lead
to the destruction of Jerusalem
00:20:08.79\00:20:12.35
and they needed
to get rid of Jesus.
00:20:12.38\00:20:14.89
But by getting rid of Jesus,
that eventually led to what?
00:20:14.92\00:20:19.83
That eventually led
00:20:19.86\00:20:21.23
to the destruction of
the city of Jerusalem.
00:20:21.26\00:20:24.61
By the way, we know
that Peter was crucified
00:20:24.64\00:20:30.47
and we know that
Paul was beheaded.
00:20:30.50\00:20:33.15
Both of them because of
their faith in Jesus Christ.
00:20:33.18\00:20:37.62
In John 16:1 and 2,
Jesus predicted that
00:20:37.65\00:20:41.65
many of God's
people will be persecuted
00:20:41.68\00:20:44.19
in the name of righteousness.
00:20:44.22\00:20:46.36
It says there,
00:20:46.39\00:20:47.76
"These things I
have spoken to you,
00:20:47.79\00:20:50.46
that you should
not be made to stumble.
00:20:50.49\00:20:53.21
They will put you
out of the synagogues.
00:20:53.24\00:20:55.73
Yes, the time is
coming that whoever kills you
00:20:55.76\00:20:59.36
will think that
he offers God" what?
00:20:59.39\00:21:02.77
"That he offers God service."
00:21:02.80\00:21:05.72
Now you notice as we
compare the Gospel of Mark,
00:21:05.75\00:21:09.83
that this persecution would
lead God's people to be taken
00:21:09.86\00:21:13.77
before kings and rulers
to witness for their faith.
00:21:13.80\00:21:17.59
In other words, the calamities
would cause persecution
00:21:17.62\00:21:21.06
but the persecution
would lead God's people
00:21:21.09\00:21:23.69
to be in the
presence of kings and rulers
00:21:23.72\00:21:25.81
to testify before them.
00:21:25.84\00:21:27.81
Notice Mark 13:9,
00:21:27.84\00:21:32.09
"But watch out for yourselves,
00:21:32.12\00:21:34.43
for they will
deliver you up to councils,
00:21:34.46\00:21:36.99
and you will be
beaten in the synagogues.
00:21:37.02\00:21:39.67
You will be brought before
rulers and kings for My sake,
00:21:39.70\00:21:45.04
for a testimony to them."
00:21:45.07\00:21:46.95
In other words, the
persecution was meant to
00:21:46.98\00:21:49.20
get rid of God's
people but by the persecution
00:21:49.23\00:21:52.72
actually God's people
were led to give testimony
00:21:52.75\00:21:55.99
before the great political
00:21:56.02\00:21:57.52
and religious
rulers of the world.
00:21:57.55\00:22:00.52
And thus it was that the Apostle
Paul appeared before Felix.
00:22:00.55\00:22:05.22
Notice Acts 24:24 and
25. Acts 24:24 and 25.
00:22:05.25\00:22:13.06
It says, "And after some days,
00:22:13.09\00:22:15.14
when Felix came
with his wife Drusilla,
00:22:15.17\00:22:17.62
who was Jewish, he sent for Paul
00:22:17.65\00:22:19.73
and heard him
concerning the faith in Christ.
00:22:19.76\00:22:22.99
Now as he reasoned about
righteousness, self-control,
00:22:23.02\00:22:26.55
and the judgment to come,
Felix was afraid and answered,
00:22:26.58\00:22:30.64
'Go away for now.
00:22:30.67\00:22:32.32
When I have a convenient
time I will call for you.'"
00:22:32.35\00:22:35.79
Notice that he was
shaken up by the message
00:22:35.82\00:22:38.42
that the Apostle Paul gave him.
00:22:38.45\00:22:40.00
The question is
why was he shaken up?
00:22:40.03\00:22:42.64
The reason is very simple.
00:22:42.67\00:22:44.62
God gave Paul and Peter
00:22:44.65\00:22:47.86
and all those who
appear before the kings
00:22:47.89\00:22:50.15
the gift of the Holy Spirit
00:22:50.18\00:22:51.76
so that they could
witness with power.
00:22:51.79\00:22:54.69
Notice also the
testimony of the appearance
00:22:54.72\00:22:57.03
of the Apostle Paul
before King Agrippa.
00:22:57.06\00:22:59.60
Notice, for his faith
he's appearing before the king.
00:22:59.63\00:23:02.77
It says in Acts 26:1-3,
00:23:02.80\00:23:06.97
"Then Agrippa said to Paul,
00:23:07.00\00:23:09.23
'You are permitted
to speak for yourself.'
00:23:09.26\00:23:11.53
So Paul stretched out his
hand and answered for himself.
00:23:11.56\00:23:15.53
I think myself
happy, King Agrippa,
00:23:15.56\00:23:18.06
because today I shall
answer for myself before you all
00:23:18.09\00:23:22.18
concerning the things of
which I am accused by the Jews,
00:23:22.21\00:23:26.09
especially because you
are an expert in all customs
00:23:26.12\00:23:30.35
and questions which
have to do with the Jews.
00:23:30.38\00:23:34.08
Therefore I beg you
to hear me patiently."
00:23:34.11\00:23:37.18
And we're told in the
book Acts of the Apostles
00:23:37.21\00:23:39.57
that also King
Agrippa shook at the testimony
00:23:39.60\00:23:44.71
that the Apostle Paul gave him.
00:23:44.74\00:23:46.33
And he even said
00:23:46.36\00:23:47.93
"almost persuadest
thou me to be," what?
00:23:47.96\00:23:51.34
"To be a Christian."
00:23:51.37\00:23:52.95
We know also
that the Apostle Paul
00:23:52.98\00:23:55.11
appeared before
the Emperor Nero.
00:23:55.14\00:23:57.68
Now it was in God's providence
that these calamities take place
00:23:57.71\00:24:02.03
and that persecution
come so that God's people
00:24:02.06\00:24:05.25
could be in the courts
of kings to witness for God.
00:24:05.28\00:24:08.47
And when the emergency
came God gave His people wisdom
00:24:08.50\00:24:13.19
and the Holy Spirit
to speak with power.
00:24:13.22\00:24:15.43
I want you to
remember all of these things
00:24:15.46\00:24:17.37
because the pattern in the
end time will be identical.
00:24:17.40\00:24:21.45
Notice Mark 13:11. Mark 13:11.
00:24:21.48\00:24:26.21
Notice how they receive
the aid of the Holy Spirit.
00:24:26.24\00:24:30.30
And by the way, this is in
the same sequence of Matthew 24.
00:24:30.33\00:24:34.10
"But when they arrest
you and deliver you up,
00:24:34.13\00:24:36.99
do not worry beforehand,
00:24:37.02\00:24:39.26
or premeditate
what you will speak.
00:24:39.29\00:24:41.86
But whatever is given
you in that hour, speak that,
00:24:41.89\00:24:45.75
for it is not you who speak,"
00:24:45.78\00:24:47.81
but whom? "But the Holy Spirit."
00:24:47.84\00:24:50.46
What did God give them the power
of the Holy Spirit to speak?
00:24:50.49\00:24:54.46
Yes. Is this gonna
happen in the end time also?
00:24:54.49\00:24:57.27
Is God gonna pour out His spirit
so that God's people can speak
00:24:57.30\00:25:01.17
in the midst of
huge persecutions?
00:25:01.20\00:25:03.45
Yes, I'm getting a
little bit ahead of myself
00:25:03.48\00:25:05.58
but I want you to be thinking
forwards, not only to history.
00:25:05.61\00:25:08.82
This is the
foundation, this is the bases
00:25:08.85\00:25:11.60
for what we're
gonna study in the future.
00:25:11.63\00:25:13.16
See, you can't know what's
gonna happen in the future
00:25:13.19\00:25:15.94
unless you see the pattern
as it occurred in the past.
00:25:15.97\00:25:18.34
Are you
understanding what I'm saying?
00:25:18.37\00:25:19.98
Now notice Luke 21:14 and 15.
00:25:20.01\00:25:22.97
We find another example of this
00:25:23.00\00:25:25.06
and how God gives wisdom to
speak in times of emergency.
00:25:25.09\00:25:29.31
Luke 21:14 and 15, "Therefore
settle it in your hearts
00:25:29.34\00:25:36.81
not to meditate beforehand
on what you will answer."
00:25:36.84\00:25:40.26
In other words,
don't prepare your speech.
00:25:40.29\00:25:42.74
"For I will give
you a mouth and wisdom
00:25:42.77\00:25:46.74
which all your
adversaries will not be able
00:25:46.77\00:25:50.17
to contradict or resist."
00:25:50.20\00:25:52.49
Isn't that marvelous?
00:25:52.52\00:25:53.89
In other words, your
wisdom which will be My wisdom
00:25:53.92\00:25:57.65
will be so powerful that no one
will be able to contradict it.
00:25:57.68\00:26:02.41
We're also told that as
a result of this testimony
00:26:02.44\00:26:05.86
which was given, God's people
00:26:05.89\00:26:08.31
would be hated with an
even greater hatred than before.
00:26:08.34\00:26:12.27
In fact, we're told that
Christians would be betrayed
00:26:12.30\00:26:17.40
by their own friends
and by their own relatives.
00:26:17.43\00:26:20.44
Notice Mark 13:12.
00:26:20.47\00:26:22.60
I want you to remember
this because in the end time
00:26:22.63\00:26:24.71
God's people are
also gonna be hated
00:26:24.74\00:26:26.41
by their relatives
and by their friends.
00:26:26.44\00:26:28.73
Mark 13:12, it says,
00:26:28.76\00:26:31.82
"Now brother will
betray brother to death,
00:26:31.85\00:26:34.83
and a father his child.
00:26:34.86\00:26:36.84
And children will rise
up against their parents
00:26:36.87\00:26:39.98
and cause them
to be put to death."
00:26:40.01\00:26:42.36
You say this is
impossible, Pastor Bohr,
00:26:42.39\00:26:44.51
that children would
betray their parents to death.
00:26:44.54\00:26:47.34
That's exactly what happened.
00:26:47.37\00:26:48.88
And that's exactly what's
gonna happen in the end time
00:26:48.91\00:26:51.25
as well to those
who truly follow Jesus.
00:26:51.28\00:26:54.85
Notice also Matthew 10:34-37,
Jesus had predicted this.
00:26:54.88\00:27:00.20
Matthew
10:34-37, Here Jesus says,
00:27:00.23\00:27:05.41
"Do not think that I came
to bring peace on the earth.
00:27:05.44\00:27:09.42
I did not come to
bring peace but a sword.
00:27:09.45\00:27:12.44
For I have come to set
a man against his father,
00:27:12.47\00:27:16.11
a daughter against her mother,
00:27:16.14\00:27:18.20
and a daughter-in-law
against her mother-in-law.
00:27:18.23\00:27:21.15
And a man's enemies will be
those of his own household."
00:27:21.18\00:27:26.28
You see, Jesus and His
message brings division.
00:27:26.31\00:27:29.77
It brings hatred.
00:27:29.80\00:27:31.17
And God's people had to testify
00:27:31.20\00:27:33.19
in the midst of
great opposition.
00:27:33.22\00:27:35.62
In the book "Desire of Ages,"
00:27:35.65\00:27:37.03
page 629, we find
this vivid description.
00:27:37.06\00:27:40.96
"Fathers and mothers
betrayed their children.
00:27:40.99\00:27:44.11
Children betrayed their parents.
00:27:44.14\00:27:46.40
Friends delivered their
friends up to the Sanhedrin.
00:27:46.43\00:27:50.11
The persecutors wrought
out their purpose by killing
00:27:50.14\00:27:53.73
Stephen, James,
and other Christians."
00:27:53.76\00:27:57.55
Now the next sign that's
mentioned in Matthew 24 is
00:27:57.58\00:28:00.59
that when persecution came
and God's people had to testify
00:28:00.62\00:28:05.20
many of God's people
would be offended at Jesus
00:28:05.23\00:28:08.97
and would be shaken out.
00:28:09.00\00:28:11.34
There was gonna be a
shaking in other words.
00:28:11.37\00:28:13.67
There were gonna be
many who were in the faith
00:28:13.70\00:28:15.93
that would forsake the faith.
00:28:15.96\00:28:18.12
Notice Matthew
24:11. Matthew 24:11.
00:28:18.15\00:28:24.47
By the way, this is in
the context of the persecution
00:28:24.50\00:28:26.99
that is mentioned
in the previous verses.
00:28:27.02\00:28:29.66
It says, "And then,"
notice the word then.
00:28:29.69\00:28:32.69
"Because of the persecution
then many will be," what?
00:28:32.72\00:28:37.08
"Will be offended."
00:28:37.11\00:28:38.66
In other words,
they're gonna leave the faith.
00:28:38.69\00:28:40.28
Will be offended,
will betray one another,
00:28:40.31\00:28:43.45
and will hate one another."
00:28:43.48\00:28:46.98
By the way, this
happened in real cases
00:28:47.01\00:28:49.18
between the death of Jesus
00:28:49.21\00:28:50.58
and the
destruction of Jerusalem.
00:28:50.61\00:28:52.13
You remember
when the Apostle Paul
00:28:52.16\00:28:53.85
was in his second
imprisonment in Rome
00:28:53.88\00:28:56.29
there was an individual
who had embraced the faith.
00:28:56.32\00:28:59.40
His name was Demas.
00:28:59.43\00:29:00.83
And notice what the Apostle
Paul had to say about Demas.
00:29:00.86\00:29:03.81
2 Timothy 4:10, "For
Demas has forsaken me,
00:29:03.84\00:29:08.98
having loved this present world,
00:29:09.01\00:29:11.58
and has departed
for Thessalonica."
00:29:11.61\00:29:14.75
In fact, the
Apostle Paul says that
00:29:14.78\00:29:16.52
during his second imprisonment
nobody was with him.
00:29:16.55\00:29:19.54
Everyone had forsaken him.
00:29:19.57\00:29:21.50
Notice 2 Timothy 4:16.
00:29:21.53\00:29:24.76
The Apostle Paul says,
00:29:24.79\00:29:26.16
"At my first defense
no one stood with me,
00:29:26.19\00:29:29.14
but all forsook me.
00:29:29.17\00:29:31.30
May it not be
charged against them."
00:29:31.33\00:29:34.90
Actually, the Apostle
John had described this moment.
00:29:34.93\00:29:38.27
He described the
case of many people
00:29:38.30\00:29:40.23
who were among God's people but
were not part of God's people.
00:29:40.26\00:29:44.74
Notice 1 John 2:19. 1 John 2:19.
00:29:44.77\00:29:50.63
Here John says,
"They went out from us,
00:29:50.66\00:29:53.46
but they were not of us,
for if they had been of us,
00:29:53.49\00:29:57.32
they would have
continued with us.
00:29:57.35\00:29:59.78
But they went out that
they might be made manifest,
00:29:59.81\00:30:03.65
that none of them were of us."
00:30:03.68\00:30:07.62
Now in this context
also Jesus predicted
00:30:07.65\00:30:10.58
that many false
prophets will arise.
00:30:10.61\00:30:13.09
In fact, these false prophets
00:30:13.12\00:30:14.83
especially were those who
told the people in Jerusalem,
00:30:14.86\00:30:18.45
"Don't worry, God is with us.
00:30:18.48\00:30:20.36
God is gonna
deliver us from the Romans."
00:30:20.39\00:30:22.74
In fact, they
preached, "Peace. Peace."
00:30:22.77\00:30:26.02
This is the same thing
that the false prophets did
00:30:26.05\00:30:28.19
leading up to the destruction
of the first Jerusalem
00:30:28.22\00:30:31.05
as we noticed in
our previous study.
00:30:31.08\00:30:33.23
Matthew 24:11.
00:30:33.26\00:30:35.73
Notice what Jesus had to
say about false prophets rising
00:30:35.76\00:30:39.45
and trying to get God's people
00:30:39.48\00:30:41.41
to abandon the
faith and to follow them.
00:30:41.44\00:30:44.46
"Then many false prophets
will rise up and deceive many."
00:30:44.49\00:30:50.81
Ellen White, in her
book, "Desire of Ages"
00:30:50.84\00:30:53.34
page 631 says this
about the false prophets.
00:30:53.37\00:30:57.36
And I quote, "False prophets
did rise, deceiving the people,
00:30:57.39\00:31:02.35
and leading great
numbers into the desert.
00:31:02.38\00:31:05.97
Magicians and sorcerers,
claiming miraculous power,
00:31:06.00\00:31:10.86
drew the people after them
into the mountain solitudes."
00:31:10.89\00:31:14.90
By the way, in the end time
00:31:14.93\00:31:16.30
there are also
gonna be false prophets.
00:31:16.33\00:31:18.38
We'll notice this when we
study Matthew 24:23 and 24,
00:31:18.41\00:31:21.56
"False prophets will arise and
they will deceive if possible,"
00:31:21.59\00:31:25.48
Jesus said,
"Even the very elect."
00:31:25.51\00:31:29.84
In "Great Controversy"
page 29, Ellen White said this.
00:31:29.87\00:31:33.47
She said "The religious leaders
00:31:33.50\00:31:35.31
bribed false
prophets to proclaim,
00:31:35.34\00:31:38.91
even while Roman legions
were besieging the temple,
00:31:38.94\00:31:42.30
that the people were to
wait for deliverance from God."
00:31:42.33\00:31:45.84
Even while the
temple was being destroyed,
00:31:45.87\00:31:47.77
these false
prophets were saying,
00:31:47.80\00:31:50.35
"We are going to
be delivered by God."
00:31:50.38\00:31:53.30
And Flavius
Josephus had this to say.
00:31:53.33\00:31:56.10
"Now it came to pass, while
Fadus was procurator in Judea,
00:31:56.13\00:32:01.48
that a certain magician,
whose name was Theudas,
00:32:01.51\00:32:04.85
persuaded a great
part of the people
00:32:04.88\00:32:06.90
to take their effects with them,
00:32:06.93\00:32:08.90
and follow him
to the river Jordan.
00:32:08.93\00:32:11.15
For he told them he was a
prophet, and that he would,
00:32:11.18\00:32:14.05
by his own
command, divide the river,
00:32:14.08\00:32:16.66
and afford them passage over it.
00:32:16.69\00:32:18.98
And many were
deluded by his words."
00:32:19.01\00:32:23.08
By the way, the Book Acts--
the Book of Acts of the apostles
00:32:23.11\00:32:26.50
mentions one of
these false prophets.
00:32:26.53\00:32:29.20
Acts 13:6 says this,
00:32:29.23\00:32:33.57
"Now when they had gone
through the island to Paphos,
00:32:33.60\00:32:37.37
they found a certain sorcerer,
00:32:37.40\00:32:39.80
a false prophet, a Jew
whose name was Bar-Jesus."
00:32:39.83\00:32:45.64
Peter also predicted false
prophets during this period.
00:32:45.67\00:32:48.86
2 Peter 2:1,
00:32:48.89\00:32:52.01
"But there were also
false prophets among the people,
00:32:52.04\00:32:54.96
even as there will be
false teachers among you,
00:32:54.99\00:32:58.45
who will secretly bring
in destructive heresies,
00:32:58.48\00:33:02.26
even denying the
Lord who bought them,
00:33:02.29\00:33:04.84
and bringing on
themselves swift destruction."
00:33:04.87\00:33:09.86
Jesus also spoke about
00:33:09.89\00:33:11.80
a tremendous
increase in lawlessness
00:33:11.83\00:33:14.84
and He said that the
love of many would grow cold.
00:33:14.87\00:33:18.29
Now it's interesting if
the love was gonna grow cold,
00:33:18.32\00:33:21.05
it must mean that at
one time they had love
00:33:21.08\00:33:22.94
and that the love was warm
00:33:22.97\00:33:24.34
because something can't grow
cold unless it was warm before.
00:33:24.37\00:33:27.96
And it's because of
the increase in lawlessness
00:33:27.99\00:33:30.78
that the love grows cold.
00:33:30.81\00:33:32.65
In fact, notice Matthew 24:12,
00:33:32.68\00:33:36.25
"And because
lawlessness will abound,
00:33:36.28\00:33:39.19
the love of
many will grow cold."
00:33:39.22\00:33:43.00
And so now Jesus
calls for endurance.
00:33:43.03\00:33:45.48
The Lord Jesus says,
"You're going to need endurance,
00:33:45.51\00:33:48.00
mainly for three reasons."
00:33:48.03\00:33:49.67
Because according to the context
there has been persecution.
00:33:49.70\00:33:53.83
There has been deception.
00:33:53.86\00:33:55.77
And there has been
a love growing cold.
00:33:55.80\00:33:58.36
And so Jesus is gonna say,
00:33:58.39\00:33:59.87
"Now if you're
gonna remain firm,
00:33:59.90\00:34:01.91
you're going to need
patience or endurance."
00:34:01.94\00:34:05.89
You can't allow persecution.
00:34:05.92\00:34:07.77
You can't allow deception.
00:34:07.80\00:34:09.47
And you can't allow
your love to grow cold.
00:34:09.50\00:34:13.13
Let me ask you, does
the Book of Revelation
00:34:13.16\00:34:15.15
speak about a
special patience or endurance
00:34:15.18\00:34:18.04
that God's people are
gonna need in the end time
00:34:18.07\00:34:20.89
in order not to be deceived,
00:34:20.92\00:34:22.67
in order for
their love to stay hot,
00:34:22.70\00:34:24.68
in order for them to withstand
persecution when it arises?
00:34:24.71\00:34:29.08
You know that text.
00:34:29.11\00:34:30.48
Here is the
patience of the saints.
00:34:30.51\00:34:32.40
Here are they who keep
the commandments of God
00:34:32.43\00:34:34.78
and the faith of Jesus.
00:34:34.81\00:34:38.60
So Jesus calls for endurance.
00:34:38.63\00:34:41.53
In fact, in Luke 21:19
we find a parallel passage.
00:34:41.56\00:34:47.36
Luke says, "By your
patience posses your souls."
00:34:47.39\00:34:53.15
And then comes a
very important sign.
00:34:53.18\00:34:56.38
It's found in Matthew 24:14,
00:34:56.41\00:35:00.19
and probably
you've read this verse.
00:35:00.22\00:35:01.69
You can recite it from memory.
00:35:01.72\00:35:03.43
"And this gospel of the kingdom
00:35:03.46\00:35:06.07
will be
preached in all the world
00:35:06.10\00:35:08.35
as a witness to all the nations
and then the end will come."
00:35:08.38\00:35:14.02
In others words, God's
people will preach the message
00:35:14.05\00:35:16.81
and the message will reach
00:35:16.84\00:35:18.21
every corner of
the world at that time.
00:35:18.24\00:35:22.31
Now the word
"world" that is used here
00:35:22.34\00:35:24.49
is not the
common word for world.
00:35:24.52\00:35:26.26
You know, you
have the word "cosmos"
00:35:26.29\00:35:28.56
which refers to
the planet itself.
00:35:28.59\00:35:31.47
You have also the word "ion"
00:35:31.50\00:35:33.67
which refers to the world
in its temporal composition.
00:35:33.70\00:35:36.28
The word here is "oikumene."
00:35:36.31\00:35:38.59
It refers to
the inhabited world.
00:35:38.62\00:35:41.07
In other words, when it says
00:35:41.10\00:35:42.47
and this gospel of the kingdom
00:35:42.50\00:35:43.87
will be
preached in all the world
00:35:43.90\00:35:45.27
it's speaking about the
inhabitants of the world.
00:35:45.30\00:35:47.28
Now let me ask you the question.
00:35:47.31\00:35:48.68
Was the gospel
preached to the whole world
00:35:48.71\00:35:50.86
in apostolic times before
the destruction of Jerusalem?
00:35:50.89\00:35:53.57
Yes, it was.
00:35:53.60\00:35:54.97
Notice Colossians
1:23. Colossians 1:23.
00:35:55.00\00:36:00.68
"If indeed you
continue in the faith,
00:36:00.71\00:36:04.09
grounded and
steadfast and are not moved away
00:36:04.12\00:36:08.39
from the hope of the
gospel which you heard."
00:36:08.42\00:36:11.63
Now notice this, the
Apostle Paul is speaking.
00:36:11.66\00:36:13.88
He says, "Which was preached
to every creature under heaven,
00:36:13.91\00:36:19.89
of which I, Paul,
became a minister."
00:36:19.92\00:36:23.50
So did the gospel
go to every creature
00:36:23.53\00:36:26.32
before the
destruction of Jerusalem? Yes.
00:36:26.35\00:36:28.29
Is it going to go to the
whole world at the end of time?
00:36:28.32\00:36:31.47
Yes, it is. Notice Romans 1:8.
00:36:31.50\00:36:34.74
Romans 1:8 repeats the same idea
00:36:34.77\00:36:37.58
that the gospel
went to the whole world.
00:36:37.61\00:36:40.70
Here the Apostle Paul says,
00:36:40.73\00:36:42.10
"First, I thank my God through
Jesus Christ for you all,
00:36:42.13\00:36:45.65
that your faith
is spoken of," where?
00:36:45.68\00:36:48.88
"Throughout the whole world."
00:36:48.91\00:36:52.61
Now we've come to the
point that we want to dedicate
00:36:52.64\00:36:55.95
most of our study to
and that is Matthew 24:15.
00:36:55.98\00:37:01.46
Have you noticed all
of the preliminary things
00:37:01.49\00:37:03.52
that are taking place here?
00:37:03.55\00:37:04.92
Have you gathered
the sequence of events
00:37:04.95\00:37:07.43
that are taking place here?
00:37:07.46\00:37:08.83
You have all of these disasters.
00:37:08.86\00:37:10.95
These disasters lead to what?
00:37:10.98\00:37:13.05
They lead to persecution.
00:37:13.08\00:37:14.70
God's people witness.
00:37:14.73\00:37:16.34
God gives them the power
of His Holy Spirit to witness.
00:37:16.37\00:37:19.21
He gives them a wisdom
which cannot be withstood.
00:37:19.24\00:37:23.33
They preach the
gospel to the whole world.
00:37:23.36\00:37:26.11
False prophets
and deceivers arise.
00:37:26.14\00:37:28.88
Many are offended.
00:37:28.91\00:37:30.28
Many drop away from the faith.
00:37:30.31\00:37:32.74
Does this scenario
sound similar to something
00:37:32.77\00:37:35.12
that you've heard
about the end time?
00:37:35.15\00:37:36.91
You know, it is a blueprint
00:37:36.94\00:37:38.90
of what is going to
take place in the end time
00:37:38.93\00:37:41.14
as we'll notice
in our next studies.
00:37:41.17\00:37:43.39
Now we want to deal with
"The Abomination of Desolation."
00:37:43.42\00:37:46.83
It's mentioned in Matthew 24:15.
00:37:46.86\00:37:49.34
Go with me there, Matthew 24:15.
00:37:49.37\00:37:52.78
And we touched upon
this in our previous lecture.
00:37:52.81\00:37:56.21
It says here,
"Therefore when you see."
00:37:56.24\00:38:00.92
Is the abomination
something that can be seen?
00:38:00.95\00:38:03.73
According to this, yes.
00:38:03.76\00:38:05.16
"When you see the
'abomination of desolation,'
00:38:05.19\00:38:09.05
spoken of by," whom?
00:38:09.08\00:38:11.02
"By Daniel the
prophet, standing," where?
00:38:11.05\00:38:14.51
"In the holy place whoever
reads let him understand."
00:38:14.54\00:38:18.15
Four things that I
want us to know it's here.
00:38:18.18\00:38:19.91
First of all, it could be seen.
00:38:19.94\00:38:21.59
Secondly, it's called the
abomination of desolation.
00:38:21.62\00:38:24.37
Third, it was
spoken of by Daniel.
00:38:24.40\00:38:26.68
And fourth, it
stands in the holy place.
00:38:26.71\00:38:29.23
Now where do we need to go
00:38:29.26\00:38:30.74
to know what this
abomination of desolation is?
00:38:30.77\00:38:33.76
Obviously, we would
have to go back to Daniel
00:38:33.79\00:38:36.14
because it was spoken
of by Daniel, the prophet.
00:38:36.17\00:38:39.03
Now do you
remember in our last lecture
00:38:39.06\00:38:40.59
that we studied
about how Daniel predicted
00:38:40.62\00:38:43.86
that Jerusalem would be
destroyed a second time?
00:38:43.89\00:38:46.62
How it was
destroyed by Nebuchadnezzar
00:38:46.65\00:38:48.44
but after 70
years, there were promises
00:38:48.47\00:38:50.71
that God's people
were gonna return.
00:38:50.74\00:38:52.48
They were gonna
rebuild the temple.
00:38:52.51\00:38:54.07
They were gonna
rebuild the city.
00:38:54.10\00:38:55.50
They were gonna
rebuild the walls.
00:38:55.53\00:38:56.90
And God was gonna
give them another chance.
00:38:56.93\00:38:59.79
Another chance to obey His voice
00:38:59.82\00:39:01.84
and follow His
covenant, you remember that?
00:39:01.87\00:39:04.33
But also we noticed
at the end of Daniel 9
00:39:04.36\00:39:07.44
that Jerusalem was
going to be destroyed a what?
00:39:07.47\00:39:10.19
A second time. Let's read that.
00:39:10.22\00:39:12.74
Daniel 9:26, 27, the
famous prophecy of the 70 weeks.
00:39:12.77\00:39:18.42
It says, "And after the 62
weeks Messiah shall be cut off,
00:39:18.45\00:39:23.01
but not for Himself,
and the people of the prince
00:39:23.04\00:39:26.24
who is to come shall destroy
the city and the sanctuary."
00:39:26.27\00:39:29.05
Was Jerusalem gonna be destroyed
again according to this?
00:39:29.08\00:39:31.35
Absolutely.
00:39:31.38\00:39:32.93
"The end of it
shall be with a flood,
00:39:32.96\00:39:36.12
and till the end
of the war," what?
00:39:36.15\00:39:40.37
What's the word there?
00:39:40.40\00:39:41.77
"Desolations are determined."
00:39:41.80\00:39:44.43
Verse 27, "Then he shall confirm
a covenant with many for 1 week,
00:39:44.46\00:39:48.35
but in the middle of the week
00:39:48.38\00:39:49.75
He shall bring an end
to sacrifice and offering."
00:39:49.78\00:39:53.15
And notice what the result is.
00:39:53.18\00:39:54.92
"And on the wing of," what?
00:39:54.95\00:39:56.97
"Abominations shall be one who
makes," there's the word again,
00:39:57.00\00:40:01.13
"desolate, even
until the consummation,
00:40:01.16\00:40:03.80
which is determined, is
poured out upon the," what?
00:40:03.83\00:40:07.66
"Desolate."
00:40:07.69\00:40:09.06
Did you notice the
number of times that the word
00:40:09.09\00:40:10.46
abomination and desolate
are used in these verses?
00:40:10.49\00:40:13.40
Is this referring to what
was gonna happen with Jerusalem
00:40:13.43\00:40:16.79
when it was going to be
destroyed the second time?
00:40:16.82\00:40:18.93
Absolutely.
00:40:18.96\00:40:20.33
Abomination would lead to what?
00:40:20.36\00:40:22.88
Would lead to desolation.
00:40:22.91\00:40:24.46
But the question is
what was this abomination
00:40:24.49\00:40:27.59
that led to desolation?
00:40:27.62\00:40:29.38
Well, Luke 21:20 gives us
the explanation and the answer.
00:40:29.41\00:40:34.95
That's why it's nice to
have more than one gospel.
00:40:34.98\00:40:37.68
Luke 21:20.
00:40:37.71\00:40:42.42
Here Luke expresses
it in a different way.
00:40:42.45\00:40:45.28
"But when you see."
00:40:45.31\00:40:46.79
Was that in
Matthew, seeing? Yes.
00:40:46.82\00:40:49.32
"When you see Jerusalem
surrounded by," what? "Armies."
00:40:49.35\00:40:55.89
What is the abomination then?
00:40:55.92\00:40:58.56
Is Jerusalem, what?
"Surrounded by armies."
00:40:58.59\00:41:01.83
So they could see.
00:41:01.86\00:41:03.23
When they saw the abomination
of desolation which was, what?
00:41:03.26\00:41:06.64
"The surrounding
of Jerusalem by armies
00:41:06.67\00:41:11.41
then know that its," what?
00:41:11.44\00:41:13.63
"Then its desolation is near."
00:41:13.66\00:41:16.97
So let me ask you,
was the abomination
00:41:17.00\00:41:20.64
set up inside the
city or outside the city?
00:41:20.67\00:41:24.10
It was outside.
00:41:24.13\00:41:25.50
It was where the
Roman armies were.
00:41:25.53\00:41:27.87
When you see armies
surrounding Jerusalem
00:41:27.90\00:41:31.44
which is the abomination,
you can know that the desolation
00:41:31.47\00:41:34.60
of the city of
Jerusalem is near.
00:41:34.63\00:41:39.15
Now the question is what
is it that these armies had
00:41:39.18\00:41:43.55
that could be
called an abomination?
00:41:43.58\00:41:47.12
The fact is folks
that were told by Josephus
00:41:47.15\00:41:52.19
as well as other historians that
what the people in the city saw
00:41:52.22\00:41:58.47
was the Romans coming
and placing their standards
00:41:58.50\00:42:02.84
in the ground as they surrounded
the city of Jerusalem.
00:42:02.87\00:42:06.95
And then they bowed
00:42:06.98\00:42:08.73
and they
worshipped the standards
00:42:08.76\00:42:11.48
that they carried in
front of their legions.
00:42:11.51\00:42:15.59
In other words,
they worship them.
00:42:15.62\00:42:17.78
Saying that the--being that
was represented by the standards
00:42:17.81\00:42:23.47
was actually going
to give them the victory
00:42:23.50\00:42:26.57
over the city of Jerusalem.
00:42:26.60\00:42:29.15
Now allow me to read
you from Luke 19:41 to 44,
00:42:29.18\00:42:33.38
how Jerusalem was
going to be destroyed
00:42:33.41\00:42:36.94
because of their
rejection of the Messiah.
00:42:36.97\00:42:40.01
Luke 19:41 to 44.
00:42:40.04\00:42:42.79
It says, "Now as He
drew near," Jesus that is,
00:42:42.82\00:42:46.35
"He saw the city and
wept over it, saying,
00:42:46.38\00:42:49.66
'If you had known, even you,
especially in this your day,
00:42:49.69\00:42:54.49
the things that
make for your peace.
00:42:54.52\00:42:56.74
But now they are
hidden from your eyes.
00:42:56.77\00:42:59.04
For days will come upon you
00:42:59.07\00:43:02.62
when your enemies will
build an embankment around you,
00:43:02.65\00:43:06.26
surround you and close
you in on every side.'"
00:43:06.29\00:43:09.56
Is that the same surrounding
of Jerusalem in Luke 21? Yes.
00:43:09.59\00:43:13.27
Verse 44, "And level you,
00:43:13.30\00:43:16.19
and your children
within you, to the ground,
00:43:16.22\00:43:19.42
and they will not leave in
you one stone upon another,
00:43:19.45\00:43:23.26
because you did not know
the time of your visitation."
00:43:23.29\00:43:29.81
Now you say what did
those standards have on them?
00:43:29.84\00:43:33.49
Here we're reaching a very
important point in our study
00:43:33.52\00:43:35.61
that we need to remember
because in our next lecture,
00:43:35.64\00:43:37.98
we're gonna come back to this
in the context of the end time.
00:43:38.01\00:43:41.74
"Great Controversy" page
26, we find this description
00:43:41.77\00:43:44.86
and then I'm going to read you
00:43:44.89\00:43:46.26
a statement a little
bit later on from Josephus.
00:43:46.29\00:43:49.24
Ellen White says this,
00:43:49.27\00:43:51.14
"When the idolatrous
standards of the Romans
00:43:51.17\00:43:56.28
should be set up
in the holy ground,
00:43:56.31\00:43:59.96
which extended some
furlongs outside the city walls,
00:43:59.99\00:44:06.31
then the followers of Christ
were to find safety in flight.
00:44:06.34\00:44:11.91
When the warning
sign should be seen,
00:44:11.94\00:44:14.93
those who would
escape must make no delay."
00:44:14.96\00:44:20.27
What was it that
they saw in the standards?
00:44:20.30\00:44:22.88
An ego. Interesting.
00:44:22.91\00:44:26.04
She says, "When the idolatrous
standards of the Romans."
00:44:26.07\00:44:29.03
In fact, "Great
Controversy" page 41,
00:44:29.06\00:44:31.21
she speaks
about these standards.
00:44:31.24\00:44:32.64
And she says, "The gospel
penetrated into the regions
00:44:32.67\00:44:36.77
that were inaccessible,
even to the eagles of Rome."
00:44:36.80\00:44:42.20
What was the ensign
that Nebuchadnezzar had
00:44:42.23\00:44:44.31
when he came to destroy
Jerusalem in the Old Testament?
00:44:44.34\00:44:46.57
Do you
remember? It was an eagle.
00:44:46.60\00:44:49.43
Now you have a new
general, pagan general,
00:44:49.46\00:44:51.64
who's coming also with what?
00:44:51.67\00:44:53.84
With eagles for the
second destruction of Jerusalem.
00:44:53.87\00:44:57.18
Now allow me to
give you a little history
00:44:57.21\00:44:59.13
about the Roman
standard with the eagle
00:44:59.16\00:45:01.57
and tell you a little about it.
00:45:01.60\00:45:04.35
Italia 104 B.C.,
00:45:04.38\00:45:06.99
the Romans had many different
animals on their standards.
00:45:07.02\00:45:11.63
You know, some standards
had bulls or snakes or lions
00:45:11.66\00:45:14.98
or vultures, many
different kinds of animals.
00:45:15.01\00:45:17.71
But after the year 104
B.C., they standardized it
00:45:17.74\00:45:22.37
and all of the Roman legions
had eagles on their standards.
00:45:22.40\00:45:26.93
In fact, in the year 63,
00:45:26.96\00:45:29.30
the Great Roman General
Pompey deified the standards.
00:45:29.33\00:45:33.09
In other words,
he made the standard
00:45:33.12\00:45:37.14
represent the God
that was on the standard.
00:45:37.17\00:45:40.97
And by the way, that
God was the sun god Mithra.
00:45:41.00\00:45:44.47
It was the same
god that was worshiped
00:45:44.50\00:45:47.42
by Constantine the Great
00:45:47.45\00:45:50.12
both before and after
he became a Christian.
00:45:50.15\00:45:54.28
Now the interesting thing is
00:45:54.31\00:45:55.68
that if you look
at the Roman standard
00:45:55.71\00:45:57.36
and in the DVD presentation
00:45:57.39\00:45:59.08
there's going to be
an illustration of it.
00:45:59.11\00:46:01.04
You'll find an
eagle on the standard.
00:46:01.07\00:46:04.08
And the eagle is facing right.
00:46:04.11\00:46:06.11
The head of the
eagle is facing right.
00:46:06.14\00:46:08.75
The wings of the
eagle are outstretched.
00:46:08.78\00:46:12.48
And surrounding the eagle
00:46:12.51\00:46:13.93
is a circular
wreath which is golden.
00:46:13.96\00:46:19.23
In other words, it is
a golden wreath round.
00:46:19.26\00:46:24.39
In the talons of
the eagle it has arrows.
00:46:24.42\00:46:29.57
Now that's interesting.
00:46:29.60\00:46:31.01
You have an eagle facing right,
it has around it a golden wreath
00:46:31.04\00:46:36.52
which by the way
represents the orb of the sun.
00:46:36.55\00:46:40.37
And then you have the
eagle with arrows in its talons.
00:46:40.40\00:46:48.17
Now why is this important?
00:46:48.20\00:46:50.57
Because we're gonna
notice it later on in history
00:46:50.60\00:46:52.85
there's another nation
represented by an eagle
00:46:52.88\00:46:55.82
who's gonna do
something relating to the sun.
00:46:55.85\00:46:59.27
And as a result this abomination
00:46:59.30\00:47:02.56
will ultimately
lead to desolation,
00:47:02.59\00:47:05.26
not of Jerusalem
but of the whole world.
00:47:05.29\00:47:08.43
Notice what Josephus had to
say about the Romans standards.
00:47:08.46\00:47:11.44
He said, "Then came the ensigns
encompassing the eagle which,"
00:47:11.47\00:47:17.63
he says this, "The eagle,
00:47:17.66\00:47:19.25
which is at the head
of every Roman legion."
00:47:19.28\00:47:24.72
What was at the head of
every Roman legion? The eagle.
00:47:24.75\00:47:29.20
"The king and the strongest of
all birds, which seems to them,"
00:47:29.23\00:47:34.54
that is to the
Romans, "a signal of dominion,
00:47:34.57\00:47:38.05
and an omen that
they shall conquer
00:47:38.08\00:47:41.04
all against whom they march."
00:47:41.07\00:47:44.29
By the way, do you know that
00:47:44.32\00:47:45.69
Peter referred
to Rome as Babylon?
00:47:45.72\00:47:50.22
Rome was the new Babylon.
00:47:50.25\00:47:51.96
Notice 1 Peter 5:13.
00:47:51.99\00:47:55.51
Actually we won't read that.
00:47:55.54\00:47:56.91
Well, let's do read it.
00:47:56.94\00:47:58.90
1 Peter 5:13.
00:47:58.93\00:48:02.65
Here Peter says,
"She who is in Babylon."
00:48:02.68\00:48:08.09
By this time Babylon had been
destroyed, the literal Babylon.
00:48:08.12\00:48:11.85
"She who is in Babylon,
elect together with you,
00:48:11.88\00:48:16.35
greets you, and
so does Mark my son."
00:48:16.38\00:48:19.59
Practically every scholar agrees
00:48:19.62\00:48:21.78
that when Peter
speaks here of Babylon,
00:48:21.81\00:48:24.30
he's cryptically
speaking about Rome,
00:48:24.33\00:48:27.31
because Rome is the new Babylon.
00:48:27.34\00:48:29.82
And so you have the new
Babylon with the eagle ensigns
00:48:29.85\00:48:33.55
coming against
the seed of Jerusalem.
00:48:33.58\00:48:36.57
By the way, the
gospel of Matthew
00:48:36.60\00:48:39.53
actually mentions the eagles.
00:48:39.56\00:48:41.96
Have you ever read
Matthew 24:28, where it says,
00:48:41.99\00:48:46.02
"Where the eagles are, there
will the carcasses be found."
00:48:46.05\00:48:51.44
In other words, the
eagles are actually mentioned
00:48:51.47\00:48:54.53
in Matthew 24:28,
the eagles of Rome.
00:48:54.56\00:48:58.78
But you'll say, "Okay,
00:48:58.81\00:49:00.18
so the Christians
that were inside the city,
00:49:00.21\00:49:02.09
they would see
this sign of the Romans
00:49:02.12\00:49:04.77
bringing their standards
with the eagle and the sun on it
00:49:04.80\00:49:07.55
represented the sun god Mithra
00:49:07.58\00:49:09.12
and they would
worship the sun god Mithra.
00:49:09.15\00:49:12.20
And they would see this
sign but how could they escape
00:49:12.23\00:49:16.25
if the city of Jerusalem was
surrounded by the Roman armies?
00:49:16.28\00:49:20.23
Well, the fact is
by a miracle of God
00:49:20.26\00:49:23.00
there was a temporary
retreat by the General Cestius.
00:49:23.03\00:49:27.45
Allow me to read you from
"Great Controversy" page 30
00:49:27.48\00:49:30.48
and then I'm
gonna read from Josephus
00:49:30.51\00:49:31.92
because Ellen White is simply
referring here to Josephus.
00:49:31.95\00:49:36.27
"Great Controversy"
page 30, Ellen White says,
00:49:36.30\00:49:38.95
"After the Romans under
Cestius had surrounded the city,
00:49:38.98\00:49:42.70
they unexpectedly
abandoned the siege
00:49:42.73\00:49:46.32
when everything seemed favorable
for an immediate attack.
00:49:46.35\00:49:50.58
The besieged, despairing
of successful resistance,
00:49:50.61\00:49:54.48
were on the point of surrender."
00:49:54.51\00:49:55.97
In other words, the Jews
were at the point of surrender
00:49:56.00\00:49:57.91
"When the Roman
general withdrew his forces,
00:49:57.94\00:50:00.78
without the
least apparent reason."
00:50:00.81\00:50:04.81
Flavius Josephus adds,
00:50:04.84\00:50:07.18
"Without having
received any disgrace
00:50:07.21\00:50:10.08
Cestius retired from the city
00:50:10.11\00:50:13.06
without any
reason in the world."
00:50:13.09\00:50:17.53
And of course, the Jews pursued
the Roman armies who had left.
00:50:17.56\00:50:21.51
They said, "This
is the sign of God."
00:50:21.54\00:50:22.93
The false prophets
said, "See, we told you
00:50:22.96\00:50:24.67
that God was going
to perform a miracle
00:50:24.70\00:50:26.91
and that the
Romans were gonna leave."
00:50:26.94\00:50:28.36
They pursued them. And
they killed many of the Romans.
00:50:28.39\00:50:30.88
Why did the Romans flee?
00:50:30.91\00:50:33.08
Till this day it's a
mystery except for the fact
00:50:33.11\00:50:36.40
that we know that
Jesus had said in Matthew
00:50:36.43\00:50:39.15
that there was
going to be a sign.
00:50:39.18\00:50:40.67
And when His people saw the sign
they should flee from the city.
00:50:40.70\00:50:44.07
But how could they flee
00:50:44.10\00:50:45.47
if the Roman armies
surrounded the city?
00:50:45.50\00:50:48.05
The Roman armies had to leave
so that God's people could flee.
00:50:48.08\00:50:52.36
And then, by the way,
the Roman armies came back
00:50:52.39\00:50:56.96
and they did not retreat again.
00:50:56.99\00:50:59.28
And everyone who
stayed in the city,
00:50:59.31\00:51:02.77
who did not flee from the city,
00:51:02.80\00:51:04.86
was destroyed in
the city of Jerusalem.
00:51:04.89\00:51:08.41
In fact, Josephus tells us that
approximately 1.1 million Jews
00:51:08.44\00:51:14.79
were crucified
outside the city of Jerusalem.
00:51:14.82\00:51:18.00
But we're told by
the spirit of prophecy
00:51:18.03\00:51:20.73
that not one Christian perished
in the destruction of Jerusalem
00:51:20.76\00:51:26.83
because they had
seen the eagle and the sun
00:51:26.86\00:51:30.54
and the warship
of the Roman armies.
00:51:30.57\00:51:32.61
They had seen the abomination.
00:51:32.64\00:51:34.20
They knew desolation
was coming because of that.
00:51:34.23\00:51:37.00
And therefore when the
Roman armies retreated,
00:51:37.03\00:51:40.08
they picked up and they left.
00:51:40.11\00:51:42.19
And therefore when the
Roman armies came back,
00:51:42.22\00:51:46.83
they were safe and sound.
00:51:46.86\00:51:48.41
In fact, after this they
actually fled to the mountains.
00:51:48.44\00:51:53.93
Have you ever studied before
that there's gonna come a time
00:51:53.96\00:51:57.46
when in a certain country
whose emblem is the eagle,
00:51:57.49\00:52:01.27
having something
to do with the sun,
00:52:01.30\00:52:03.40
that a decree is
gonna be given against them
00:52:03.43\00:52:06.87
and they're gonna have
to flee to the mountains?
00:52:06.90\00:52:08.52
Have you ever
heard anything like that?
00:52:08.55\00:52:11.13
Where did Ellen White
get such an idea from?
00:52:11.16\00:52:13.71
Preposterous,
right? Not preposterous.
00:52:13.74\00:52:16.71
It's typology. What
happened will happen.
00:52:16.74\00:52:19.97
And we're gonna study
this in our next lecture.
00:52:20.00\00:52:22.82
In fact, notice
Matthew 24:16-18.
00:52:22.85\00:52:26.88
Immediately after the
abomination of desolation
00:52:26.91\00:52:29.18
is put up when the eagle
and the sun is worshiped.
00:52:29.21\00:52:33.98
Immediatel it says,
00:52:34.01\00:52:35.38
"Then let those who are in
Judea flee to the mountains.
00:52:35.41\00:52:38.14
Let him who is on the housetop
00:52:38.17\00:52:40.21
not go down to take
anything out of his house.
00:52:40.24\00:52:43.43
And let him who is in the field
not go back to get his clothes."
00:52:43.46\00:52:48.87
In "Great Controversy,"
page 30 we find these words,
00:52:48.90\00:52:51.62
"But God's merciful
providence was directing events
00:52:51.65\00:52:55.11
for the good of His own people.
00:52:55.14\00:52:56.82
The promised sign had been
given to the waiting Christians
00:52:56.85\00:53:01.73
and now an opportunity was
afforded for all who would,
00:53:01.76\00:53:06.31
to obey the Savior's warning."
00:53:06.34\00:53:08.51
Let me ask you, is it
important to watch the signs?
00:53:08.54\00:53:11.95
Only those who watched the
sign escaped from the city.
00:53:11.98\00:53:16.37
There are some
people today saying,
00:53:16.40\00:53:17.77
"Oh, I'm not
interested in what's coming.
00:53:17.80\00:53:20.15
I'm only
interested in who's coming."
00:53:20.18\00:53:22.89
Well, let me tell you if you're
only interested in who's coming
00:53:22.92\00:53:26.15
and not what's coming, you're
going to accept the wrong who.
00:53:26.18\00:53:30.08
I can assure you that
because the signs are necessary
00:53:30.11\00:53:34.28
so that we will not be deceived.
00:53:34.31\00:53:36.89
Jesus started
this sermon by saying,
00:53:36.92\00:53:39.07
"I give this to you so
that you will not be," what?
00:53:39.10\00:53:42.66
"So that you
will not be deceived."
00:53:42.69\00:53:47.04
By the way, how many groups
in the city of Jerusalem? Two.
00:53:47.07\00:53:54.47
Was there a separation
before the destruction?
00:53:54.50\00:53:57.12
Yes, there was.
00:53:57.15\00:53:58.52
Was there a separation
00:53:58.55\00:53:59.92
before the destruction
in the Old Testament story?
00:53:59.95\00:54:02.02
Was there a sign placed
upon God's people? Absolutely.
00:54:02.05\00:54:05.68
Were they spared when
the destruction came? Yes.
00:54:05.71\00:54:08.42
Also with the second destruction
of Jerusalem, the same happened.
00:54:08.45\00:54:14.11
Ellen White says in
"Great Controversy" page 30,
00:54:14.14\00:54:17.00
"Not one Christian perished in
the destruction of Jerusalem."
00:54:17.03\00:54:24.28
Isn't that interesting?
Not one Christian perished.
00:54:24.31\00:54:27.11
They were all sealed,
00:54:27.14\00:54:30.20
marked by God as His
people and they escaped.
00:54:30.23\00:54:33.43
They came out.
00:54:33.46\00:54:35.44
And therefore, they were spared.
00:54:35.47\00:54:38.57
In fact, Josephus describing
the destruction of the city
00:54:38.60\00:54:41.79
had this to say, "The
misfortunes of all men,
00:54:41.82\00:54:47.81
from the
beginning of the world."
00:54:47.84\00:54:50.43
He's almost quoting Jesus.
00:54:50.46\00:54:51.83
"From the
beginning of the world,
00:54:51.86\00:54:54.05
if they be compared
to these of the Jews
00:54:54.08\00:54:57.38
are not
considerable as they were."
00:54:57.41\00:55:00.54
Now this was the worst calamity
00:55:00.57\00:55:02.50
since the beginning of the world
is what Josephus is saying.
00:55:02.53\00:55:06.79
Now I want you to notice
one final thing in closing.
00:55:06.82\00:55:11.35
Do you know that all of
those who fled from Jerusalem
00:55:11.38\00:55:15.50
kept a very special day?
00:55:15.53\00:55:19.31
You say, "They did?"
00:55:19.34\00:55:21.69
Was the Sabbath involved
00:55:21.72\00:55:23.09
in the destruction of
Jerusalem in the Old Testament?
00:55:23.12\00:55:26.14
Those who were spared
were they Sabbath keepers?
00:55:26.17\00:55:28.42
Was the city destroyed
00:55:28.45\00:55:29.94
because it did
not keep the Sabbath?
00:55:29.97\00:55:32.07
Yes. You say, "oh, but the
Jews, they kept the Sabbath."
00:55:32.10\00:55:34.45
Yeah, they kept a
counterfeit Sabbath.
00:55:34.48\00:55:36.80
They kept their own Sabbath
that the Pharisees had created.
00:55:36.83\00:55:40.15
But it wasn't God's Sabbath.
00:55:40.18\00:55:41.91
It was a counterfeit Sabbath.
00:55:41.94\00:55:43.79
But God had a people who kept
the true Sabbath of the Bible.
00:55:43.82\00:55:48.28
In fact, notice Matthew 24:20,
00:55:48.31\00:55:51.78
Jesus is speaking about
the destruction of the city.
00:55:51.81\00:55:55.07
And He says to His
followers when they see the sign
00:55:55.10\00:55:58.12
and they have to flee.
00:55:58.15\00:56:00.03
He says, "And
pray that your flight
00:56:00.06\00:56:03.05
may not be in
winter or on the Sabbath."
00:56:03.08\00:56:10.28
Do you think that might
be true in the end time also?
00:56:10.31\00:56:13.24
Pray that your
flight may not be in winter
00:56:13.27\00:56:15.98
because it will be
very cold or on the Sabbath?
00:56:16.01\00:56:18.50
Are God's end time people
going to be Sabbath keepers?
00:56:18.53\00:56:22.41
What about all the rest?
00:56:22.44\00:56:23.86
What was the other sign?
00:56:23.89\00:56:26.12
An eagle with
what? With the sun.
00:56:26.15\00:56:30.32
And people
worshipping the eagle, sun god,
00:56:30.35\00:56:33.72
the abomination
that led to desolation.
00:56:33.75\00:56:36.89
By the way, national apostasy
00:56:36.92\00:56:40.36
on the part of
Israel led to what?
00:56:40.39\00:56:44.09
To national ruin.
00:56:44.12\00:56:46.46
In other words, the
abomination led to desolation.
00:56:46.49\00:56:52.65
Is what we've
studied clear this evening?
00:56:52.68\00:56:55.16
Is it vitally important
for us to understand history
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in order to understand
what's gonna happen in prophecy?
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Yes. Because this prophecy
has a twofold fulfillment.
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Two questions were
asked by the disciples.
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What will be the sign
of these things happening
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and also the sign of your
coming and the end of the world?
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In our next study
we're going to take a look
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at the fulfillment
of this in the future.
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The parallel is amazing.
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And I pray to God
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that we will all be
prepared for what will come.
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