Immortality or Resurrection (Updated) by William West (reading strategies book .TXT) 📖

destroy the Jewish
nationality” J W McGarvey, New Testament Commentary, Matthew and Mark, page 92.
“It would take place before all the cities of Israel should be evangelized, hence it would mean
the coming of Christ to destroy the Jewish nationality” H Leo Boles, The Gospel According To
Matthew, page 230, Gospel Advocate, 1954.
(f) MANY DISCIPLES WILL FALL AWAY, BUT THOSE WHO REMAIN
FAITHFUL SHALL BE SAVED [Matthew 24:13-14].
(g) THE GOSPEL SHALL BE PREACHED TO THE WHOLE WORLD [Matthew
24:14]. The persecution against the church in Jerusalem scattered the saints abroad, and
they went about preaching the word everywhere. [Acts 8:1-4]. The gospel was preached
throughout the world, as it was known before A. D. 70. “The word of the truth of the
gospel, which is come unto you; even as it is also in all the world” [Colossians 1:6]; and
"The hope of the gospel which you heard, which was preached in all creation under
heaven" [Colossians 1:23]. Paul says to the Romans, "Your faith is proclaimed
throughout the whole world" [Romans 1:8]. In Romans 10:18 he says, "Their voice has
gone out into all the earth, and their words to the ends of the world." "World" as it is
used in the New Testament is all the civilized world of that day, the entire known world.
See Luke 2:1; Acts 11:28. "Now there were dwelling at Jerusalem Jews, devout men,
from every nation under heaven" [Acts 2:5]. The devout Jews came from all over the
world to Jerusalem for Pentecost and when Pentecost was over, they returned to all
nations under heaven and some that believed the preaching of Peter and others took the
Gospel with them. "The mystery...has been made known to all the nations" [Romans
16:25-26].
[4] THEN COMES THE END OF THE NATION OF ISRAEL
(a) THEN COMES THE END WHEN THEY SEE THE ROMANS IN JERUSALEM.
"When; therefore, you see the abomination of desolation, which was spoken of through
Daniel the prophet [Daniel 9:27], standing in the holy place" [Matthew 24:14-15]. The
parallel passage in Luke 21:20 says, "But when you see Jerusalem compassed with
armies, then know that her desolation is at hand." There will be no armies in Jerusalem
to see at the second coming of Jesus. In the Old Testament the worship of other gods is
an "abomination" [Deuteronomy 7:25; 12:31; 17:3]. The Romans worshiped many gods.
The idolatrous army of Rome in Jerusalem was an "abomination of desolation" to them.
Daniel speaks of an "abomination of desolation" at a time when the regular sacrifice were
abolished because of Israel going into captivity [Daniel 12:11; 9:27].
(b) "THEN LET THEM THAT ARE IN JUDAEA FLEE UNTO THE MOUNTAINS"
[Matthew 24:16]. The last signs the disciples were to look for was the Roman army in
Jerusalem. After going through the country around about Jerusalem and destroying the
cities and killing many thousand of the Jews, Cestius Gallus came to within one mile of
Jerusalem, then after about four days entered the city but fled with many Jews pursuing
him. THE DISCIPLES WERE TO FLEE UNTO THE MOUNTAINS WHEN THEY
SAW ALL THE ABOVE SIGNS. If this passage were speaking of the second coming of
Christ, as many Premillennialists say it is, why were Christians told to flee to the
mountains? In Luke Christ is speaking of the coming destruction of Jerusalem and tells
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the disciples, "But watch at every season, making supplication, that you may prevail TO
ESCAPE all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man"
[Luke 21:36]. They did watch and escape by fleeing to the mountains beyond the cities of
Israel.
"After this disaster had befallen Cestius, the more opulent of the Jews (says Josephus)
forsook Jerusalem as men do a sinking ship. And it is with reason supposed that on this occasion
many Christians, or converted Jews, who dwelt there, recollecting the warnings of their divine
Master, retired to Pella, a place beyond Jordan, situated in a mountainous country, whither
(according to Eusebius, who resided near the spot) they came from Jerusalem, and settled,
before the war (under Vespasian) began. Other providential opportunities for escaping
afterwards occurred, of which, it is probable, those who were now left behind availed
themselves; for it is a striking act, and such as cannot be contemplated by the pious mind
without sentiments of devout admiration, THAT HISTORY DOES NOT RECORD THAT EVEN
ONE CHRISTIAN PERISHED IN THE SIEGE OF JERUSALEM. Enduring to the end faithful to their
blessed master, they, gave credit to his predictions, and escaped the calamity. Thus were fulfilled
the words of our Lord, Matt. 24. 13. 'He that shall endure unto the end (i. e. of the scene of this
prophecy) shall be saved,' i. e. from the calamities which will involve all those who shall continue
obstinate in unbelief" George P. Holford, "The Destruction of Jerusalem."
"It is very remarkable that not a single Christian perished in the destruction of Jerusalem,
though there were many there when Cestis Gallus invested the city; and, had he persevered in
the siege, he would soon have rendered himself master of it; but, when he unexpectedly and
unaccountably raised the siege, the Christians took that opportunity to escape." Adam Clarke,
Commentary on Matthew.
At the second coming of Jesus no one will see the Roman army and flee to the
mountains. Premillennialists believe and teach that the rapture will be at the time of this
great tribulation, therefore, the saints could not flee to the mountains for they would be
"up in the sky with Christ" in the rapture; but Jesus clearly told them to flee to the
mountains when the tribulation begins. Christians were to (and did) flee from Jerusalem;
from the very place where Premillennialists say Christ will come to and set up His
kingdom, and if this passage were about a millennial coming, they were told to flee from
Jerusalem at the very time when many Millennialists say He will be coming to Jerusalem
to set up His kingdom.
That this is not the second coming of Christ is shown by the fact that both living and
dead believers did not meet the Lord in the air in A. D. 70, but that only the living
believers were to flee to the mountains.
INSTRUCTIONS AND WARNING TO THE DISCIPLES
Matthew 24:17-20: "Let him that is on the housetop not go down to take out the things
that are in his house: (18) and let him that is in the field not return back to take his cloak.
(19) But woe unto them that give suck in those days! (20) And pray you that your flight be
not in the winter, neither on a Sabbath; for then shall be great tribulation, such as has
not been from the beginning of the world (aion-age) until now, no, not ever shall be. (22)
And except those days had been shortened, no flesh would have been saved: but for the
elect's sake those days shall be shortened. (23) Then if any man shall say unto you, Lo,
here is the Christ, or, Here; believe it not. (24) For there shall arise false Christs, and
false prophets, and shall show great signs and wonders; so as to lead astray, if possible,
even the elect. (25) Behold, I have told you beforehand. (26) If; therefore, they shall say
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unto you, Behold, he is in the wilderness; go not forth: Behold, he is in the inner
chambers; believe it not. (27) For as the lightning comes forth from the east, and is seen
even unto the west; so shall be the coming of the Son of man. (28) Where so ever the
carcass is, there will the eagles be gathered together."
"For then shall be great tribulation, such as has not been from the beginning of the
world (aion-age) until now, no, not ever shall be." This is speaking of the Jewish age, not
all time. Not of the destruction of the flood before the Jewish age and not speaking of any
war after the end of the Jewish age. Daniel 12:1 says, "And there will be a time of distress
such as never occurred since there was a nation until that time." Daniel vision was about
Israel and Michael was speaking only of Israel and should be understood as "since there
was a nation of Israel." It is speaking only of the wars and captivities of Israel.
(a) Those in Jerusalem were to flee without taking time to take things from their
house, and those in field were not to take the time to return to their house for things
[Matthew 24:18-19]. "But when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then recognize
that her desolation is at hand. Then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains, and
let those who are in the midst of the city depart, and let not those who are in the country
enter the city" [Luke 20:20-21].
No one, saved or lost, will be able to flee to the mountains to escape at the second
coming of Jesus. The saved will not want to and the lost will not be able to. Neither will
armies surround Jerusalem at the second coming of Christ. Nevertheless, Millennialists
attempt to make this be an army of Satan surrounding Christ and His saints in the
Millennial Kingdom. Would those who were with Christ in Jerusalem be told to flee to
the mountains to escape the army of Satan? If they were, it would give Satan more power
than Christ has for He would not be able to protect them from Satan.
The saints that were to flee to the mountains would be in the mountains at the time of
rapture, not ruptured to Heaven where the Millennialists say they will be. Although this is
a key passage to the Millennia theory it is an undeniable contradiction to the rapture
theory.
(b) Woe unto them that have a small child [Matthew 24:29]. Those with a child would
have hardships in fleeing to the mountains, but at the end of the world this will be no
problem, no woe to those who will be caught up to meet Jesus in the air.
(c) They were to pray that it not be in the winter or on a Sabbath for the gates of
Jerusalem were closed, and no one could depart from the city [Matthew 24:20]. Because
the streams were then impassable from the heavy rains, the cold wet weather would be
hard on those who were fleeing. The gates of Jerusalem have never been closed after A.
D. 70 and it will be no problem if the gates of Jerusalem, or any city was closed at the
second coming, nor will impassable streams or cold weather be a problem at the second
coming.
Hindrances to flight from Jerusalem in A. D. 70 that would be no hindrances at the
second coming.
• Having a small child [Matthew 24:19]
• In the winter and bad weather [Matthew 24:20]
• On a Sabbath day with the gates of Jerusalem closed [Matthew 24:20]
(d) There would be a greater tribulation than had been from the beginning of the age.
[Matthew 24:20-22].
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(e) There would be many false Christs and prophets that would show great signs
[Matthew 24:23-27]. But, when Christ came in judgment on Israel He was seen by all
through His judgment. False Christs and prophets will not be a sign of His second coming
at the end of the world.
(f) Where so ever the dead body of Israel was (the carcass) the eagles would gather
[Matthew 24:28]. The Jewish nation was a dead and rotting carcass with its birds of prey.
• First: many false Christs.
• Second: Christ coming seen by all.
• Third: Then the dead carcass of Israel. That Christ being seen by all is the coming
of Christ in judgment on Israel and not His second