This message looks at other proofs of being in the last days: famines, pestilences, earthquakes, heavenly signs and fearful sights.
In Jesus’ Last Days Prophecy, we learnt that the last days finished in one generation as He promised.
False Christs and prophets abounded forty years after Jesus’s prophecy. There were more wars affecting the Jews in the first forty years than any other time in history. The armies of Rome and other Jews killed a higher percentage of the Jewish population in forty years than in the Second World War.
If Jesus’ prophecies were fully fulfilled (as they were), then we need to be careful not to say that pestilence, famines, earthquakes occurring today are the last days’ proofs.
MATTHEW 24:7 …AND THERE WILL BE FAMINES, PESTILENCES, AND EARTHQUAKES IN VARIOUS PLACES.
Last Days’ Proofs of Famines
One of the last days’ proofs Jesus predicted were famines. Were there famines during the generation that Jesus said would happen?
Looking at a biblical generation being either forty or one hundred years, let us see if it was a time of increased famine.
Caesar Claudius During the reign of Caesar Claudius (41-54AD), there was a famine lasting a long time. The famine included Jerusalem, Judea and extended to Greece and Italy. Agabus prophesied this in 45AD.
ACTS 11:28 THEN ONE OF THEM, NAMED AGABUS, STOOD UP AND SHOWED BY THE SPIRIT THAT THERE WAS GOING TO BE A GREAT FAMINE THROUGHOUT ALL THE WORLD, WHICH ALSO HAPPENED IN THE DAYS OF CLAUDIUS CAESAR.
It was so severe that the church in Antioch sent Paul and Barnabas with funds to help the church in Jerusalem.
ACTS 11:29-30 THEN THE DISCIPLES, EACH ACCORDING TO HIS ABILITY, DETERMINED TO SEND RELIEF TO THE BRETHREN DWELLING IN JUDEA. THIS THEY ALSO DID AND SENT IT TO THE ELDERS BY THE HANDS OF BARNABAS AND SAUL.
Jewish Wars
The Jewish wars killed approximately 32% of the Jewish population in the first 40 years after Jesus’ prophecy and 14% over the next 60 years. This loss of workers drastically reduced the population’s ability to produce food.
The Roman armies would take the Jew’s food sources to feed their troops as they warred with the Jews. The ensuing lack of animals and crops brought further starvation to the Jewish population.
Recent History
It would seem from today’s media that the world is starving. However, looking at calories per person for each country, data to 2017 deteriorating food intake is not accurate, with no country declining calorie intake and many developing countries increasing their calories per day.
Pestilences
Many have said that The Covid 19 pandemic is a last days’ proof. Another of the last days’ proofs Jesus predicted were pestilences.
Were there pestilences during the generation that Jesus said would happen? Looking at a biblical generation being either forty years or one hundred years, let us see if it was a time of pestilence.
Covid 19 is not a Sign of End Times
The number of deaths from Covid 19 is minuscule compared to others since Jesus was on earth. The world population stalled for one century (zero growth for the next one hundred years at an estimated world population of 178million) due to the pestilences Jesus prophesied.
Pestilence From Italy to India 40 to 54 AD
Tacitus and Pliny refer to a catastrophic famine and pestilence that extended from Italy nearly as far as India. It was so profound that the pestilence severely depopulated Babylon. In the same plague: TACITUS- “MOST OF THE OFFICERS OF ROME DIED OF THIS PLAGUE.”
Rome 65AD Tacitus, Suetonius Nero and Orosius referred to the Roman plague of 65AD when 30,000 Romans died.
TACITUS “THE HOUSES WERE FILLED WITH THE DEAD, AND THE STREETS WITH FUNERALS. NEITHER AGE, SEX, NOR CONDITION WAS EXEMPTED FROM IT.
Pliny and Orosius said the diseases were exceedingly fatal.
Rome 77AD Orosius refers to a plague that hit Rome 12 years later in 77AD.
Vesuvius 79-80AD An unprecedented plague breaks out following the eruption of Vesuvius, killing 10,000 citizens of Rome per day.
Jewish Wars Pestilence
The Jewish wars were the most dangerous times to be alive for both Jew and Christian alike. The Jewish wars killed millions in Judea and Samaria in that first generation. Besides the dead, many more were injured, and not enough people to bury the dead. Dead bodies filled rivers. As a result, the pestilences were horrific. Pestilences in the first generation were indeed Last Days’ proofs, as Jesus predicted.
Josephus refers to the pestilence and famine in Jerusalem during the siege of 70AD:
JOSEPHUS OF THE WAR. BOOK IV, CH. 1 THUS DID THE MISERIES OF JERUSALEM GROW WORSE AND WORSE EVERY DAY; AND THE SEDITIOUS WERE STILL MORE IRRITATED BY THE CALAMITIES THEY WERE UNDER, EVEN WHILE THE FAMINE PREYED UPON THEMSELVES; AFTER IT HAD PREYED UPON THE PEOPLE. AND INDEED THE MULTITUDE OF CARCASSES THAT LAY IN HEAPS ONE UPON ANOTHER WAS AN HORRIBLE SIGHT; AND PRODUCED A PESTILENTIAL STENCH; WHICH WAS AN HINDRANCE TO THOSE THAT WOULD MAKE SALLIES OUT OF THE CITY, AND FIGHT THE ENEMY. BUT AS THOSE WERE TO GO IN BATTLE ARRAY, WHO HAD BEEN ALREADY USED TO TEN THOUSAND MURDERS, AND MUST TREAD UPON THOSE DEAD BODIES AS THEY MARCHED ALONG, SO WERE NOT THEY TERRIFIED, NOR DID THEY PITY MEN AS THEY MARCHED OVER THEM.
First 500 Years
It does not take much research to find that pestilences ravaged humanity for the first 500 years. There is no comparison between the suffering from Covid and other diseases today and what there was then.
Recent History
Now that we have seen Jesus prediction that last days’ proofs of pestilence would be complete within one generation was correct, we need to see if the epidemics today are worse. Because if they are not worse, then we do not live in the Last Days.
Because of access to social media, it Is easy to think that diseases are prevalent. However, the opposite is true.
Infectious diseases are all on the decline:
Cancer rates have been declining worldwide since 1990. HIV is declining everywhere except in Russia. No diseases are more prevalent, with only minor Tuberculosis maintaining its prevalence.
Declining infectious diseases has resulted in child mortality dropping. Some would expect the world population to continue to increase. However, this is not the case, with the world population growth peaking in 1988:
By 2052 the only continent still experiencing population growth will be Africa.
Health is Much Better now than in the Past.
You may ask why I say these things. Popular thinking is that things will worsen as Jesus’s return approaches. However, this futurist view is of a coming great tribulation, forgetting Jesus said that the great tribulation would happen within one generation and would never happen again.
I have an optimistic view on eschatology that we have a loving Father who wants to bless us, not harm us.
EPHESIANS 1:4-5 JUST AS HE CHOSE US IN HIM BEFORE THE FOUNDATION OF THE WORLD, THAT WE SHOULD BE HOLY AND WITHOUT BLAME BEFORE HIM IN LOVE, HAVING PREDESTINED US TO ADOPTION AS SONS BY JESUS CHRIST TO HIMSELF, ACCORDING TO THE GOOD PLEASURE OF HIS WILL,
Pestilences today (like Covid 19) do not provide Last Days’ proofs, they prove the opposite. There are fewer pestilences today compared to the first one hundred years. Jesus was a true prophet.
Last Days’ Proofs of Earthquakes
Jesus also prophesied that earthquakes would be Last Days’ proofs, stating that they would occur within one generation of His Last Days Prophecy.
In the first generation after Jesus’ prophecy, there was an unusually high incidence of earthquakes. The New Testament refers to four of them.
Earthquake at Jesus’ Death
The Last Days begins at His death with the first earthquake.
MATTHEW 27:51-52 THEN, BEHOLD, THE VEIL OF THE TEMPLE WAS TORN IN TWO FROM TOP TO BOTTOM; AND THE EARTH QUAKED, AND THE ROCKS WERE SPLIT, AND THE GRAVES WERE OPENED; AND MANY BODIES OF THE SAINTS WHO HAD FALLEN ASLEEP WERE RAISED;
We looked at Jesus preaching to those in Hades in the message Judgement of God (on my website).
Earthquake at Jesus’ Resurrection
Three days later, another earthquake hit Jerusalem.
MATTHEW 28:2 AND BEHOLD, THERE WAS A GREAT EARTHQUAKE; FOR AN ANGEL OF THE LORD DESCENDED FROM HEAVEN, AND CAME AND ROLLED BACK THE STONE FROM THE DOOR, AND SAT ON IT.
Earthquake at the Start of the Church
A few months later, another earthquake occurred when the Holy Spirit descended upon the disciples again with boldness.
ACTS 4:31 AND WHEN THEY HAD PRAYED, THE PLACE WHERE THEY WERE ASSEMBLED TOGETHER WAS SHAKEN; AND THEY WERE ALL FILLED WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT, AND THEY SPOKE THE WORD OF GOD WITH BOLDNESS.
Paul and Silas Released from Prison in 49AD Paul and Barnabas were obeying the Macedonian call end up in prison for preaching the gospel to the Philippians.
ACTS 16:26 SUDDENLY THERE WAS A GREAT EARTHQUAKE, SO THAT THE FOUNDATIONS OF THE PRISON WERE SHAKEN; AND IMMEDIATELY ALL THE DOORS WERE OPENED AND EVERYONE’S CHAINS WERE LOOSED.
Earthquake During Claudius Reign 41-54AD
The historian Tacitus refers to the earthquake of Rome in 51AD. In 53AD, another in Apamea, Syria, was so severe that Claudius cancelled tribute to Rome for five years. The tribute amnesty allowed the community to rebuild from Apamea. There were additional earthquakes in Smyrna, Miletus, Chios, and Samos.
Earthquakes During the Reign of Nero 54-68AD.
In 61AD, a massive earthquake destroyed Laodicea, Colosse, and Hierapolis. The quake was so huge that the citizens never rebuilt Colosse (where we get the epistle of Colossians from) or Hierapolis.
The towns of Pompeii and Herculaneum both suffered significant damage in the Pompeii earthquake of 62AD, with damage to some buildings also reported from Naples and Nuceria.
Seneca wrote the death of a flock of 600 sheep that he attributed to the effects of poisonous gases. The earthquake produced a tsunami that destroyed 200 ships at Ostia.
Earthquakes Do Not Provide Any Evidence we Live in the Last Days.
The popular rhetoric is that earthquakes and other disasters are rising today, proving that we live in the last days.
Firstly, referring to earthquakes, Jesus was only referring to the one generation after He prophesied it.
Secondly, the percentage of world-population killed in the last 100 years has three, positioned 8th, 9th and 10th. The table does not account for the lack of reporting in the Americas, India, Pacific rim, Africa or Russia before 1700AD.
The 2004 earthquake and tsunami did not even make 10th position.
The last three earthquakes added together, including the 220,000 killed in the 2004 Indonesian earthquake, do not add up to the 6th earthquake by itself.
Yes, there are natural disasters in our lifetime. Paul talks about creation groaning.
ROMANS 8:22 FOR WE KNOW THAT THE WHOLE CREATION GROANS AND LABOURS WITH BIRTH PANGS TOGETHER UNTIL NOW.
Earthquakes are Not Getting Worse
However, we also note that Paul limited it to the age he lived in.
As we have looked at the different things Jesus said would happen within one generation, creation did groan, especially in those first forty years after the prophecy. But what was the purpose of that groaning and birth pangs? We find the answer in the previous verses:
ROMANS 8:19 FOR THE EARNEST EXPECTATION OF THE CREATION EAGERLY WAITS FOR THE REVEALING OF THE SONS OF GOD.
Creation is waiting for us to realize the Father’s original intention: to have sons and daughters who are holy and blameless.
EPHESIANS 1:4-5 JUST AS HE CHOSE US IN HIM BEFORE THE FOUNDATION OF THE WORLD, WE EXSIT HOLY AND WITHOUT BLAME BEFORE HIM IN LOVE, HAVING PREDESTINED US TO ADOPTION AS SONS BY JESUS CHRIST TO HIMSELF, ACCORDING TO THE GOOD PLEASURE OF HIS WILL,
The outworking of being sons and daughters is that we grow from glory to glory:
2 CORINTHIANS 3:18 BUT WE ALL, WITH UNVEILED FACE, BEHOLDING AS IN A MIRROR THE GLORY OF THE LORD, ARE BEING TRANSFORMED INTO THE SAME IMAGE FROM GLORY TO GLORY, JUST AS BY THE SPIRIT OF THE LORD.
There is No earthquake evidence pointing to this being the Last Days. There is massive evidence that Jesus Last Day’s prophecy of earthquakes in the first forty years was correct.
Last Days’ Proofs: New Testament Heavenly Signs and Fearful Sights
Recent blood moons have given more ammunition to the rhetoric of living in the last days. However, like everything else in this series of messages so far, we need to weigh signs and fearful sights against Jesus’ Last Days’ Prophecy that said all these things would happen within one generation.
There were as many blood moons around the time of Christ as there is now. The text for signs and fearful sights is from Luke:
LUKE 21:11 AND THERE WILL BE GREAT EARTHQUAKES IN VARIOUS PLACES, AND FAMINES AND PESTILENCES; AND THERE WILL BE FEARFUL SIGHTS AND GREAT SIGNS FROM HEAVEN.
Jesus then talks about the destruction of Jerusalem, using the same terminology as in Matthew. The destruction of Jerusalem and the need to flee the city put it in the same timeframe as Matthew, one generation.
So again, we need to ask, were there fearful sights and great signs in the heavens? The answer is a resounding yes.
At Jesus Death: The Last Days Begin.
The first of the last days’ proof is at the instant Jesus dies. The first earthquake of the last days was at the death of Jesus Christ. Alongside the quake, the tearing of the veil from top to bottom must have been terrifying to the priesthood.
MATTHEW 27:51 THEN, BEHOLD, THE VEIL OF THE TEMPLE WAS TORN IN TWO FROM TOP TO BOTTOM; AND THE EARTH QUAKED, AND THE ROCKS WERE SPLIT,
The first fear that the Jewish priesthood would have experienced was that all present would immediately die. Only the high priest could go in behind the veil; if anybody else did so, then the presence of the Lord would cut them down. An example of this was Uzzah:
2 SAMUEL 6:6-7 UZZAH PUT OUT HIS HAND TO THE ARK OF GOD AND TOOK HOLD OF IT, FOR THE OXEN STUMBLED. THEN THE ANGER OF THE LORD WAS AROUSED AGAINST UZZAH, AND GOD STRUCK HIM THERE FOR HIS ERROR; AND HE DIED THERE BY THE ARK OF GOD.
The priesthood tied a rope around the ankle of the high priest so that if he did not perform his duties correctly by the letter of the law, and he died, then he could be dragged out by his ankle because anybody else who went in was not the high priest and would likewise perish.
Why Are We Still Alive?
The next fearful thought would have been, what does this mean? Why are we still alive? The Old Covenant had been in force since the time of Moses. If they were still alive, then what had happened to the law? Had everything they believed was a lie? Were they deceived? The reason they were alive was that the law, its decrees, and requirements had all been nailed to the cross.
COLOSSIANS 2:14 HAVING WIPED OUT THE HANDWRITING OF REQUIREMENTS THAT WAS AGAINST US, WHICH WAS CONTRARY TO US. AND HE HAS TAKEN IT OUT OF THE WAY, HAVING NAILED IT TO THE CROSS.
Over the next forty days, the Pharisees, lawyers, Sadducees, and priests would discuss this sign in detail. Some would have dismissed it, whilst others came to their senses and believed in Jesus Christ.
ACTS 15:5 BUT SOME OF THE SECT OF THE PHARISEES WHO BELIEVED ROSE UP, SAYING, “IT IS NECESSARY TO CIRCUMCISE THEM, AND TO COMMAND THEM TO KEEP THE LAW OF MOSES.”
The Graves Open
What a fearsome sight it must have been when people were raised from the dead and started walking around Jerusalem.
MATTHEW 27:52 AND THE GRAVES WERE OPENED, AND MANY BODIES OF THE SAINTS WHO HAD FALLEN ASLEEP WERE RAISED;
Holy Spirit Comes Upon 120
The next of the fearful sights and heavenly sign giving last days’ proofs was on Pentecost.
The sound of a mighty rushing wind,
Followed by a multitude hearing everybody speaking in their own language.
Tongues of fire falling on their heads
Appearing to be drunk
The first question may have been, why did fire fall on 120 unimportant people?
This could reference the hundred and twenty priests at the inauguration of Solomon’s temple being unable to stand because of the glory.
The Pentecost multitude accuses the one hundred and twenty of being drunken. Their appearance is not the effect of alcohol; instead, it is because of the weight of glory upon them.
2 CHRONICLES 5:11-17 AND IT CAME TO PASS WHEN THE PRIESTS CAME OUT OF THE MOST HOLY PLACE … AND WITH THEM ONE HUNDRED AND TWENTY PRIESTS SOUNDING WITH TRUMPETS… AND WHEN THEY LIFTED UP THEIR VOICE WITH THE TRUMPETS AND CYMBALS AND INSTRUMENTS OF MUSIC, AND PRAISED THE LORD, SAYING: “FOR HE IS GOOD, FOR HIS MERCY ENDURES FOREVER,” THAT THE HOUSE, THE HOUSE OF THE LORD, WAS FILLED WITH A CLOUD, SO THAT THE PRIESTS COULD NOT CONTINUE MINISTERING BECAUSE OF THE CLOUD; FOR THE GLORY OF THE LORD FILLED THE HOUSE OF GOD.
At the first Pentecost, God says that the glory has come into temples of the Holy Spirit – believers in Jesus Christ. Temples moving from a building to living persons was the heavenly sign that Jesus referred to in Matthew:
MATTHEW 16:4 A WICKED AND ADULTEROUS GENERATION SEEKS AFTER A SIGN, AND NO SIGN SHALL BE GIVEN TO IT EXCEPT THE SIGN OF THE PROPHET JONAH.” AND HE LEFT THEM AND DEPARTED.
It was the sign that Jesus referred to when He said:
JOHN 2:19 JESUS ANSWERED AND SAID TO THEM, “DESTROY THIS TEMPLE, AND IN THREE DAYS I WILL RAISE IT UP.”
The Holy Spirit declares the priesthood is on all who believe in Jesus Christ with this sign.
Fire Falls
We have just seen that the sign of the priesthood has come upon the 120 disciples. Now we see another sign that further confirms this priesthood of believers. Crucial to the Jewish leaders was their position of honor and power. The Jews knew the story of Korah’s sons who rebelled against Moses. Fire fell on 250 and consumed them:
NUMBERS 16:3 THEY GATHERED TOGETHER AGAINST MOSES AND AARON, AND SAID TO THEM, “YOU TAKE TOO MUCH UPON YOURSELVES, FOR ALL THE CONGREGATION IS HOLY, EVERY ONE OF THEM, AND THE LORD IS AMONG THEM. WHY THEN DO YOU EXALT YOURSELVES ABOVE THE ASSEMBLY OF THE LORD?”
They were challenging Moses, who established the Old Covenant under God. God gets annoyed with them as a result. The earth opens up and swallows them, and fire consumes them!
NUMBERS 16:31-32, 35 NOW IT CAME TO PASS, AS HE FINISHED SPEAKING ALL THESE WORDS, THAT THE GROUND SPLIT APART UNDER THEM, AND THE EARTH OPENED ITS MOUTH AND SWALLOWED THEM UP, WITH THEIR HOUSEHOLDS AND ALL THE MEN WITH KORAH, WITH ALL THEIR GOODS. AND A FIRE CAME OUT FROM THE LORD AND CONSUMED THE TWO HUNDRED AND FIFTY MEN WHO WERE OFFERING INCENSE.
Tongues was a Sign of Last Days’ Proofs
Paul teaches that tongues are a heavenly sign to unbelievers, and thus one of the last days’ proofs:
1 CORINTHIANS 14:22 THEREFORE TONGUES ARE FOR A SIGN, NOT TO THOSE WHO BELIEVE BUT TO UNBELIEVERS;
Interestingly, “unbelievers” is used sparingly in reference primarily to the Jews of that generation. For example:
MARK 9:19 HE ANSWERED HIM AND SAID, “O FAITHLESS GENERATION, HOW LONG SHALL I BE WITH YOU? HOW LONG SHALL I BEAR WITH YOU? BRING HIM TO ME.”
Now we will look at historical instances of heavenly signs and fearful sights.
Sign of the Coming of Jesus
The reference most used regarding the coming of the Son of Man is in Matthew:
MATTHEW 24:30 THEN THE SIGN OF THE SON OF MAN WILL APPEAR IN HEAVEN, AND THEN ALL THE TRIBES OF THE EARTH WILL MOURN, AND THEY WILL SEE THE SON OF MAN COMING ON THE CLOUDS OF HEAVEN WITH POWER AND GREAT GLORY.
The context is still within the one generation of Jesus Last Days’ Prophecy. It is crucial to recognize that Matthew 24:30 is not referring to Jesus’ final and future return.
It is a sign, not the return itself. The New Testament refers to six different times of Jesus’ coming, and that parousia is not only referring to the future return of Jesus Christ.
Several signs and fearful sights occurred in 66AD that fulfilled this prophecy.
Sword Over Jerusalem
Josephus refers to a meteor over Jerusalem for a whole year.
FLAVIUS JOSEPHUS, THE WARS OF THE JEWS – WILLIAM WHISTON, A.M., ED. THUS THERE WAS A STAR RESEMBLING A SWORD, WHICH STOOD OVER THE CITY, AND A COMET, THAT CONTINUED A WHOLE YEAR.
The sword is Halley’s comet of 66AD, four years before the destruction of Jerusalem.
Sun Shines Within the Temple
Next, Josephus refers to bright shining light as bright as the sun within the temple precinct.
FLAVIUS JOSEPHUS, THE WARS OF THE JEWS – WILLIAM WHISTON, A.M., ED. THUS ALSO BEFORE THE JEWS’ REBELLION, AND BEFORE THOSE COMMOTIONS WHICH PRECEDED THE WAR, WHEN THE PEOPLE WERE COME IN GREAT CROWDS TO THE FEAST OF UNLEAVENED BREAD, ON THE EIGHTH DAY OF THE MONTH XANTHICUS, [NISAN,] AND AT THE NINTH HOUR OF THE NIGHT, SO GREAT A LIGHT SHONE ROUND THE ALTAR AND THE HOLY HOUSE, THAT IT APPEARED TO BE BRIGHT DAY TIME; WHICH LASTED FOR HALF AN HOUR. THIS LIGHT SEEMED TO BE A GOOD SIGN TO THE UNSKILLFUL, BUT WAS SO INTERPRETED BY THE SACRED SCRIBES, AS TO PORTEND THOSE EVENTS THAT FOLLOWED IMMEDIATELY UPON IT [DESTRUCTION OF THE TEMPLE]
This brightness refers to the New Covenant’s glory replacing the Old Covenant’s glory.
2 CORINTHIANS 3:7-8 BUT IF THE MINISTRY OF DEATH, WRITTEN AND ENGRAVED ON STONES, WAS GLORIOUS, SO THAT THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL COULD NOT LOOK STEADILY AT THE FACE OF MOSES BECAUSE OF THE GLORY OF HIS COUNTENANCE, WHICH GLORY WAS PASSING AWAY, HOW WILL THE MINISTRY OF THE SPIRIT NOT BE MORE GLORIOUS?
Heifer Gives Birth to a Lamb
The next sign is a heifer bringing forth a lamb as they walked her to the sacrificial altar:
FLAVIUS JOSEPHUS, THE WARS OF THE JEWS – WILLIAM WHISTON, A.M., ED. AT THE SAME FESTIVAL ALSO, A HEIFER, AS SHE WAS LED BY THE HIGH PRIEST TO BE SACRIFICED, BROUGHT FORTH A LAMB IN THE MIDST OF THE TEMPLE
Again this is of great significance. Currently, people are looking for a red sacrificial heifer. The future “third” temple building is not worthwhile without the red heifer.
Through this sign, God is saying that sacrifices are no longer profitable because the lamb of God has already been. It is an abomination in the sight of God to offer sacrifices when Jesus has made the ultimate atoning sacrifice.
ISAIAH 66:3 “HE WHO KILLS A BULL IS AS IF HE SLAYS A MAN; WHO SACRIFICES A LAMB, AS IF HE BREAKS A DOG’S NECK; HE WHO OFFERS A GRAIN OFFERING, AS IF HE OFFERS SWINE’S BLOOD; HE WHO BURNS INCENSE, AS IF HE BLESSES AN IDOL. JUST AS THEY HAVE CHOSEN THEIR OWN WAYS, AND THEIR SOUL DELIGHTS IN THEIR ABOMINATIONS,
The East Gate to the Temple Swings Open
Another fascinating sign happens at this time:
FLAVIUS JOSEPHUS, THE WARS OF THE JEWS – WILLIAM WHISTON, A.M., ED. MOREOVER, THE EASTERN GATE OF THE INNER 3 [COURT OF THE] TEMPLE, WHICH WAS OF BRASS, AND VASTLY HEAVY, AND HAD BEEN WITH DIFFICULTY SHUT BY TWENTY MEN, AND RESTED UPON A BASIS ARMED WITH IRON, AND HAD BOLTS FASTENED VERY DEEP INTO THE FIRM FLOOR, WHICH WAS THERE MADE OF ONE ENTIRE STONE, WAS SEEN TO BE OPENED OF ITS OWN ACCORD ABOUT THE SIXTH HOUR OF THE NIGHT.
Could this be related to the reference to the prince coming in through the east gate?
EZEKIEL 46:8 WHEN THE PRINCE ENTERS, HE SHALL GO IN BY WAY OF THE VESTIBULE OF THE GATEWAY AND GO OUT THE SAME WAY.
It would seem too far-fetched until we read about an event happening three days later:
The Son of Man Coming on the Clouds of Heaven
Three different historians refer to the most unique and fearful sight around Jerusalem: Josephus account:
JOSEPHUS THE WARS OF THE JEWS 6.5.3 ON THE TWENTY-FIRST DAY OF THE MONTH OF ARTEMISIUS [JYAR], A CERTAIN PRODIGIOUS AND INCREDIBLE PHENOMENON APPEARED; I SUPPOSE THE ACCOUNT OF IT WOULD SEEM TO BE A FABLE, WERE IT NOT RELATED BY THOSE THAT SAW IT, AND WERE NOT THE EVENTS THAT FOLLOWED IT OF SO CONSIDERABLE A NATURE AS TO DESERVE SUCH SIGNALS; FOR, BEFORE SUNSETTING, CHARIOTS AND TROOPS OF SOLDIERS IN THEIR ARMOR WERE SEEN RUNNING ABOUT AMONG THE CLOUDS, AND SURROUNDING OF CITIES
Tacitus account:
TACITUS THE HISTORIES 5.13 “IN THE SKY APPEARED A VISION OF ARMIES IN CONFLICT, OF GLITTERING ARMOUR.”
The account of Pseudo-Hegesippus:
PSEUDO-HEGESIPPUS 44. “A CERTAIN FIGURE APPEARED OF TREMENDOUS SIZE, WHICH MANY SAW, JUST AS THE BOOKS OF THE JEWS HAVE DISCLOSED, AND BEFORE THE SETTING OF THE SUN THERE WERE SUDDENLY SEEN IN THE CLOUDS CHARIOTS IN THE CLOUDS AND ARMED BATTLE ARRAYS BY WHICH THE CITIES OF ALL IUDAEA AND ITS TERRITORIES WERE INVADED.”
Jesus appearance in the clouds in 66AD happened within one generation, as He predicted it would. We cannot use the account in Matthew 24 or Luke 21 for a future appearance of Jesus in the clouds over Jerusalem as it has already been fulfiled. I am not saying that Jesus will not come again in the same manner, but I am saying those scriptures cannot be used for the future return of Jesus.
LUKE 21:27 THEN THEY WILL SEE THE SON OF MAN COMING IN A CLOUD WITH POWER AND GREAT GLORY.
Angelic Visitation
The next in last days’ proofs were the angels preparing for the judgment of Jerusalem.
FLAVIUS JOSEPHUS, THE WARS OF THE JEWS- -WILLIAM WHISTON, A.M., ED: MOREOVER, AT THAT FEAST WHICH WE CALL PENTECOST, AS THE PRIESTS WERE GOING BY NIGHT INTO THE INNER [COURT OF THE TEMPLE,] AS THEIR CUSTOM WAS, TO PERFORM THEIR SACRED MINISTRATIONS, THEY SAID THAT, IN THE FIRST PLACE, THEY FELT A QUAKING, AND HEARD A GREAT NOISE, AND AFTER THAT THEY HEARD A SOUND AS OF A GREAT MULTITUDE, SAYING, “LET US REMOVE HENCE.”
What does this mean? Paul, writing to the Hebrews, makes it clear. He warns the Jews to leave Jerusalem a few years before Titus surrounds it.
HEBREWS 13:13-14 THEREFORE LET US GO FORTH TO HIM, OUTSIDE THE CAMP, BEARING HIS REPROACH. FOR HERE WE HAVE NO CONTINUING CITY, BUT WE SEEK THE ONE TO COME.
The angels’ departure is because the law becomes obsolete once the final sacrifice occurs on August 9th, 70AD.
A false prophet declares that God will destroy the Roman army if everybody comes into the temple. Six thousand Jews perish inside the temple courts, and the following day Vespasian sacrifices a pig, and the Romans destroy the city and the temple.
Jesus, Son of Ananus.
Starting in 62AD, whilst Jerusalem was in a time of peace and prosperity, a very unpopular prophet of God spoke against the city for four years.
FLAVIUS JOSEPHUS, THE WARS OF THE JEWS – WILLIAM WHISTON, A.M., ED. BUT, WHAT IS STILL MORE TERRIBLE, THERE WAS ONE JESUS, THE SON OF ANANUS, A PLEBEIAN AND A HUSBANDMAN, WHO, FOUR YEARS BEFORE THE WAR BEGAN, AND AT A TIME WHEN THE CITY WAS IN VERY GREAT PEACE AND PROSPERITY, CAME TO THAT FEAST WHEREON IT IS OUR CUSTOM FOR EVERYONE TO MAKE TABERNACLES TO GOD IN THE TEMPLE, BEGAN ON A SUDDEN TO CRY ALOUD, “A VOICE FROM THE EAST, A VOICE FROM THE WEST, A VOICE FROM THE FOUR WINDS, A VOICE AGAINST JERUSALEM AND THE HOLY HOUSE, A VOICE AGAINST THE BRIDEGROOMS AND THE BRIDES, AND A VOICE AGAINST THIS WHOLE PEOPLE!”
He continued proclaiming these woes for seven years and two months, despite beatings, until just before the fall of the city, where he predicted his death:
FLAVIUS JOSEPHUS, THE WARS OF THE JEWS – WILLIAM WHISTON, A.M., ED. THIS CRY OF HIS WAS THE LOUDEST AT THE FESTIVALS; AND HE CONTINUED THIS DITTY FOR SEVEN YEARS AND FIVE MONTHS, WITHOUT GROWING HOARSE, OR BEING TIRED THEREWITH, UNTIL THE VERY TIME THAT HE SAW HIS PRESAGE IN EARNEST FULFILLED IN OUR SIEGE, WHEN IT CEASED; FOR AS HE WAS GOING ROUND UPON THE WALL, HE CRIED OUT WITH HIS UTMOST FORCE, “WOE, WOE TO THE CITY AGAIN, AND TO THE PEOPLE, AND TO THE HOLY HOUSE!” AND JUST AS HE ADDED AT THE LAST, “WOE, WOE TO MYSELF ALSO!” THERE CAME A STONE OUT OF ONE OF THE ENGINES, AND SMOTE HIM, AND KILLED HIM IMMEDIATELY; AND AS HE WAS UTTERING THE VERY SAME PRESAGES HE GAVE UP THE GHOST.
We have seen that Jesus Last Days’ Prophecy limited His message to within one generation.
We know that False Christs and Prophets were prevalent during the first forty years as Jesus prophesied and that false teaching was commonplace as the apostle’s warned.
Wars and Rumors of Wars were so prevalent during the first forty years that the Jewish wars killed a higher percentage of Jews than during World War 2.
In this message, we found likewise that famines, pestilences, earthquakes, signs, and sights were widespread during the first 40 years. Jesus was not a false prophet.
There is no reason to continue the rhetoric of Futurists that we are living in the last days. Depending on your generation’s interpretation, the last days finished 70AD or 130AD.
We may be approaching the end of the age, but as the apostle’s taught, the last days were during the time of the New Testament’s writing.