Did our Lord, or did He not answer the disciples two questions

[Joe]

Matthew 24, Mark 13, and Luke 21 all record the same conversation and prophecy from our Lord, with the disciples asking him the same two questions about it in all three accounts.

The two questions have to do with what our Lord said about the temple and it's buildings of their day just after walking out of it: "not one stone shall be left here upon another, that shall not be thrown down".

The disciples first question is the same in all three accounts, and it is a timing question for when the temple and it's buildings will be destroyed: "When will these things be?"

Their second question is the same in all three accounts, for they involve asking for an indicator that signifies the destruction when near, but Matthew's account is for a Jewish audience so he uses Jewish expressions: "what will be the sign of Your coming, and of the end of the age". Basically asking, what will be the sign of your presence coming in judgement and the ending of the Jewish Mosaic age.

In example, Isaiah 19:1 "Behold, the LORD rides on a swift cloud, And will come into Egypt". When you read Isaiah 19, you will understand that God pronounces judgement upon Egypt and causes them to fight amongst themselves and their nation collapses. He gives them over to Nebuchadnezzar and then the Persians afterwards. Like the unbelieving Jewish people of 70 AD, Egypt didn't see the LORD riding on a cloud either, but they both certainly experienced His judgement.

Another example is when our Lord stood before the high priest Caiaphas, the chief priests, the elders, and all the council after His arrest: "And the high priest answered and said to Him, "I put You under oath by the living God: Tell us if You are the Christ, the Son of God!" Jesus said to him, "It is as you said. Nevertheless, I say to you, hereafter you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Power, and coming on the clouds of heaven."

Notice what our Lord said, "I say to you, hereafter you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Power, and coming on the clouds of heaven." Now did Caiaphas and the rest of them visually see Jesus sitting at the right hand of God? Did they visually see Jesus coming on the clouds of heaven? No. Then why did Jesus say this to them? The Greek word that was used for "see" means, "To see, perceive with the eyes, to look at; implying not only the mere act of seeing but also the actual perception of what one sees". Our Lord was telling them He truly is the Son of God and very shortly He will sit on the right hand of power and come in judgement against them ending them and the Mosaic age. This is something they will perceive with their eyes in the near future.

The same two answers were given in all three accounts concerning the our Lord's judgement against the worldly Jewish people, and the utter destruction of the temple and it's buildings, "not one stone shall be left here upon another, that shall not be thrown down".

The answer to the disciples first question concerned timing, "When will these things be?"

• Matthew 24:34-35: Assuredly, I say to you, this generation will by no means pass away till all these things take place. Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away.
• Mark 13:30-31: Assuredly, I say to you, this generation will by no means pass away till all these things take place. Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away.
• Luke 21:32-33: Assuredly, I say to you, this generation will by no means pass away till all things take place. Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away.

All three accounts give the same timing answer, the generation of their day. Followed with the Lord's statement that Heaven and earth will pass away, but what He said by no means will. And true to His Word, what He said in all three accounts took place.

The answer to their second question concerns an indicator right before it happens, "what will be the sign of Your coming and the end of the age", "what will be the sign when all these things will be fulfilled?"

• Matthew 24:15-16: "Therefore when you see the 'ABOMINATION OF DESOLATION,' spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place" (whoever reads, let him understand), (16) "then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains.
• Mark 13:14: "So when you see the 'ABOMINATION OF DESOLATION,' spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing where it ought not" (let the reader understand), "then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains.
• Luke 21:20: "But when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then know that its desolation is near.

All three accounts give the same answer, albeit Luke being a Gentile writing to Gentiles does so in a direct manner. The abomination of desolation is the idolatrous Roman armies that encircled Jerusalem and eventually entered the temple and it's most sacred parts. The pagan Roman armies desolated the city, the temple, and the Jewish inhabitants and visitors. This is documented history. There is an arch to this day in Rome that was erected in 81 AD honoring Titus for his victory in the war against the Jews. It even depicts instruments of the temple being carried away.

The coming judgement of our Lord against the evil and wicked Jewish people of His day is documented in OT prophecies and most certainly by our Lord. History records His judgement against the Jewish people, with Luke's account in verse 22 of our Lord saying, "For these are the days of vengeance, that all things which are written may be fulfilled." Malachi, Joel, Daniel, and Zechariah to name a few contain the prophecies of God's judgement upon the unbelieving Jewish people.

The question proposed to you is: Did our Lord, or did He not answer the disciples two questions about the destruction of the temple in their day?..."not one stone shall be left here upon another, that shall not be thrown down"?

Or did the Lord ignore their questions and begin telling them about something else?

God Bless

 

[Dizerner]

We should give Jesus a little more credit.

He was smart enough to "kill two birds with one stone," as it were.

Both warn his disciples of the temporary judgment on Jerusalem, and also all his followers of the world system set against them.

 

[Joe]

We should give Jesus a little more credit.

He was smart enough to "kill two birds with one stone," as it were.

Both warn his disciples of the temporary judgment on Jerusalem, and also all his followers of the world system set against them.

You stated, "warn...all his followers of the world system set against them."

I would take what you stated as the body of text in Matt 24:4-14, Mark 13:6-13, & Luke 21:8-19. If this is so, I have no complaint that the early church especially benefited from the warnings. Of course decades had passed by the time the Gospels were written. Matthew 60-65 AD, Mark 55-65 AD, and Luke 60 AD.

It seems you acknowledge the Lord answered the disciples questions concerning the destruction of the temple, it's buildings, and the judgement of our Lord upon the unbelieving wicked Jews of their day....Is this accurate?

God Bless

 

[Dizerner]

It seems you acknowledge the Lord answered the disciples questions concerning the destruction of the temple, it's buildings, and the judgement of our Lord upon the unbelieving wicked Jews of their day....Is this accurate?

You put your Preterist spin on what Jesus said here:

"and of the end of the age?" (Matt. 24:3 NKJ)

You made it into "Mosaic age," which is not how the NT uses the end times or last age.

They specifically asked about what Jesus often talked about—the end of all things, not just the temple going bye-bye.

And many of the descriptions can only be squeezed into a temple destruction by the most outlandish of metaphors.

An honest reading simply cannot fit them all into some Romans tearing down a temple.

Jesus talks about world-effecting events very purposefully and his final coming to all mankind.

 

[Joe]

You put your Preterist spin on what Jesus said here:

"and of the end of the age?" (Matt. 24:3 NKJ)

You made it into "Mosaic age," which is not how the NT uses the end times or last age.

They specifically asked about what Jesus often talked about—the end of all things, not just the temple going bye-bye.

And many of the descriptions can only be squeezed into a temple destruction by the most outlandish of metaphors.

An honest reading simply cannot fit them all into some Romans tearing down a temple.

Jesus talks about world-effecting events very purposefully and his final coming to all mankind.

It really is a simple question. Did our Lord answer the disciples questions or not?

God Bless

 

[Dizerner]

It really is a simple question. Did our Lord answer the disciples questions or not?

Exactly.

He answered THEIR questions.

Not YOURS.

Jesus spoke to ALL and make a big point of it—all without exception.

And what I say to you, I say to all: Watch! (Mk. 13:37 NKJ)

 

[Joe]

Exactly.

He answered THEIR questions.

Not YOURS.

Jesus spoke to ALL and make a big point of it—all without exception.

And what I say to you, I say to all: Watch! (Mk. 13:37 NKJ)

You do realize that the Lord was telling the believers of that generation not to fall back into worldliness, "because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold." Its not that we shouldn't be ready, we all should examine ourself. Its that, He was telling them what their future society looked like and said be watching for me, don't fall back into lawlessness.

Just so you know, the Lord answered my questions about Matthew, Mark, and Luke when I once believed the late 19th century deception called futurism. Thankfully the Lord would not allow me to bypass His statement and the disciples questions. The timing of this generation would not leave my mind. The Spirit of the Lord kept pointing that out and asking me what that meant, although Futurism bypassed right over it with a lie.

It took decades for me to realize that one of the greatest signs of all times that Jesus Christ is Lord is the witness of 70 AD. Like He said, "Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away". He meant what He said and it happened just as He said!

You can say whatever you want towards me. The truth is right in front of our noses. I see the awe and truthfulness of the reality as foretold by the Lord.

So, the Lord did answer their questions. And everything happened in the time period of 70 AD, just as He said.

God Bless