PROPHECY UPDATE NUMBER 100
December 28, 2002
THE FINAL 1260 DAYS OF THE GENTILE AGE SERIES
Events 1 to 8 were covered in whole numbered Updates 92 to 99
Luke 21:24
[24] And they shall fall by the edge of the sword, and shall be led away captive into all nations: and Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled.
Jerusalem’s inhabitants fell by the edge of the sword in A.D. 70 as Christ predicted some 40 years earlier, and were then led away captive into all nations by the troops of Titus, the Roman Prince, son of Vespasian, the Emperor of Rome. And the old city of Jerusalem was indeed trodden down continuously by non-Jews (Gentiles) until June of 1967, at which time Jewish troops took it back for the first time since A.D. 70.
Revelation says that the old city will once again be conquered by the Gentile nations for a brief period of 1260 days. Zechariah advises us the casualty count across Israel will be high when the city falls, but that a remnant (residue) will not be cut off forever. The remnant will return to the city at the end of the 1260 days. Revelation advises us that Israel will be driven into the Negev wilderness for 1260 days, and that two witnesses will testify a message among the remaining one-third during that same period. It is quite likely that the 144,000 in Revelation 7 are the remnant of the woman’s seed in Revelation 12, her seed being Jesus Christ, and the two witnesses are the leaders of the 144,000.
Revelation 11:2
[2] But the court which is without the temple leave out, and measure it not; for it is given unto the Gentiles: and the holy city shall they tread under foot forty and two months.
Zechariah 13:8 to 14:2
[8] And it shall come to pass, that in all the land, saith the Lord, two parts therein shall be cut off and die; but the third shall be left therein. [9] And I will bring the third part through the fire, and will refine them as silver is refined, and will try them as gold is tried: they shall call on my name, and I will hear them: I will say, It is my people: and they shall say, The Lord is my God. [1] Behold, the day of the Lord cometh, and thy spoil shall be divided in the midst of thee. [2] For I will gather all nations against Jerusalem to battle; and the city shall be taken, and the houses rifled, and the women ravished; and half of the city shall go forth into captivity, and the residue of the people shall not be cut off from the city.
Revelation 12:6
[6] And the woman fled into the wilderness, where she hath a place prepared of God that they should feed her there a thousand two hundred and threescore days.
Revelation 11:3
[3] And I will give power unto my two witnesses, and they shall prophesy a thousand two hundred and threescore days, clothed in sackcloth.
Revelation 7:4
[4] And I heard the number of them which were sealed: and there were sealed an hundred and forty and four thousand of all the tribes of the children of Israel.
Revelation 12:17
[17] And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.
In Prophecy Updates 55, 56, 57, and 58 I gave a scriptural exposition as to why I believe what we call the tribulation period, or the unfulfilled part of Daniel’s 70th week, is only 1335 days in length.
In Prophecy Updates 73A, 77, 77A, 77B, and 77C I gave an exposition as to why I believe the rapture will not occur until the blowing of trumpet number seven.
In the book of Daniel three interesting numbers are introduced for the first time in the Bible, a time, and times, and the dividing of time, which equals 1260 days, plus the two other numbers, 1290 and 1335.
Daniel 7:25
[25] And he shall speak great words against the most High, and shall wear out the saints of the most High, and think to change times and laws: and they shall be given into his hand until a time and times and the dividing of time.
Daniel 12:11, 12
[11] And from the time that the daily sacrifice shall be taken away, and the abomination that maketh desolate set up, there shall be a thousand two hundred and ninety days. [12] Blessed is he that waiteth, and cometh to the thousand three hundred and five and thirty days.
I Thessalonians 5:2, 3
[2] For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night. [3] For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape.
SPECIAL PROPHECY UPDATE NUMBER 101B
January 8, 2003
Why Only a False Peace Can Eventually Come in the Middle East!
The only way the sons of Jacob, the sons of Ishmael, the sons of Moab, the sons of Ammon, and the sons of Keturah can ever have a true peace, is by the arrival of the promised seed of Abraham, Jesus Christ. He is the only one who can bring true peace to the Middle East. I do not make any bones about it, I am pro-Israel, and will freely admit it. I recently read one of the many releases from FLAME, a non-profit educational organization, based in San Francisco. The article states the facts as to the reason the turmoil has, is, and will continue to exist in the Middle East. The article is quoted as follows:
“ISLAM’S HATRED AGAINST THE WEST”
“We Americans are reluctant to criticize or even to discuss the religions of others. We consider it a personal matter. But the hatred of the Arab-Moslem world against the west, especially against the United States (the “Great Satan”) and Israel (the “Little Satan”) can only be explained by comprehending the psychology and the principle religious tenets of the Islamic faith. Islam is a worldwide religion, but it originated in Arabia in its purest form, unaffected by any outside influences. The policies of the Arab countries are dominated by Islam. Islam believes itself to be in possession of the holy truth, in the name of which any act of violence is permitted and encouraged. It is only with that understanding that the acts of savagery, the suicide bombers in Israel, the bombing of the World Trade Center, and other acts of murderous fanaticism all over the world can be explained.”
“DECLINE AND RISE OF THE ARAB MOSLEMS”
“For the first six centuries after the Moslems spilled forth from Arabia, they conquered much of the world. The Arab Moslems did, in their ascendancy, give rise to a substantial civilization. But, beginning with their expulsion from Spain, a long decline set in that lasted until the early 20th century. That decline was the more bitter, because it was inflicted by the despised “infidels.” It was something that had to be remedied by whatever means. Injured pride had to be saved; the enemies who caused this humiliation and this injury had to be destroyed.”
“The 20th century brought national independence to the Arab states. Two other fundamental events occurred: (1) The discovery of the vast oil deposits, the world’s largest, under the Arabian peninsula, and (2) The creation of the state of Israel in 1948, which ever since its birth has been the concentrated focus of the hatred and venom of all Moslem Arabs, a hatred that unites them, that even surpasses their hatred against each other, and that has launched them into disastrous wars against Israel. Even the rape of Kuwait was explained as being a step towards the ‘liberation of Palestine,’ a claim so bizarre, so patently absurd, that it can only be comprehended and given credence by a mind obsessed with the ideology of Arab Islam.”
“MOSLEM ARABS OBSESSED WITH ISRAEL”
“The obsession of the Moslem Arabs with Israel is totally irrational. To have Israel as an independent country in the middle of the Arab-Moslem world is utterly intolerable to them. That is the reason that, making allowance for the very cold peace with Egypt and Jordan, the 21 Arab states, among them the richest countries in the world, with a combined population of more than 200 million and a land area greater than that of the U.S., have concentrated obsessive ferocity by military, economic, ideological, political, diplomatic, and any other means to destroy the tiny state of Israel – only 5 million people, in a country just one-half the size of San Bernardino County in California.”
END OF FLAME ARTICLE
I believe this year, after some 55 years of what you have just read above, those Islamic nations, and all the terrorist groups associated with them, who have the common goal of driving Israel out of all the land from Dan to Beersheba, will finally come to realize this cannot be accomplished by the practices they have been using. They have never had more than 6 Arab nations directly involved in a war against Israel. Israel was certainly caught napping in the Yom Kipper War of 1973, but it was in a state of readiness, and quickly took back what they lost by napping. The terror attacks have kept Israel wide awake, and are doing nothing to meet the final objective of driving Israel out of the land from Dan to Beersheba.
To accomplish their objective three things must be done, (1) The Islamic terrorist groups must stop their attacks temporarily, (2) A false peace must be agreed upon to lull Israel into a false sense of security, and (3) The attack must involve a Palestinian state inside Israel, operating in a well-planned attack by at least nine other Islamic countries. The plan must be kept secret by strict internal security by all the parties involved. Only the Palestinians and the other nine countries can know of the plan. This is the only way that Israel can be driven out of biblical Israel, which is the land from Dan to Beersheba. They can be driven into the Negev Wilderness, which is the land from Beersheba to Eilat (Aela).
I Thessalonians 5:3, 4
[3] For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape. [4] But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief.
Revelation 12:6
[6] And the woman fled into the wilderness, where she hath a place prepared of God that they should feed her there a thousand two hundred and threescore days.
While I freely admit that no one can tell exactly when this false peace will finally come in, but that it will is certain, and I believe it will come in this year. From the very first Prophecy Update issued in 2001, I have kept on saying, “WATCH THE TERRORISTS, WHEN THEY FINALLY CALL A TEMPORARY HALT IN ISRAEL, WE ARE NOT FAR FROM THE BEGINNING OF THE TRIBULATION PERIOD.”
PROPHECY UPDATE NUMBER 102
January 10, 2003
THE FINAL 1335 DAYS OF THE GENTILE AGE
Events 1 to 10 were covered in whole numbered Updates 92 to 101
A Final Brief Summary of the Major Events
Diagram of Events of the Final 1335 Days of the Gentile Age
I Thessalonians 5:3 – FALSE PEACE
[3] For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape.
Daniel 11:41 – ANTICHRIST ATTACKS ISRAEL
[41] He shall enter also into the glorious land, and many countries shall be overthrown: but these shall escape out of his hand, even Edom, and Moab, and the chief of the children of Ammon.
I Corinthians 15:51 + Revelation 10:7 + Revelation 11:15, 18 – RAPTURE
[51] Behold, I show you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, [7] But in the days of the voice of the seventh angel, when he shall begin to sound, the mystery of God should be finished, as he hath declared to his servants the prophets. [15] And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, the kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever. [18] And the nations were angry, and thy wrath is come, and the time of the dead, that they should be judged, and that thou shoulders give reward unto thy servants the prophets, and to the saints, and them that fear thy name, small and great; and shoulders destroy them which destroy the earth.
Daniel 12:11 – ABOMINATION OF DESOLATION
[11] And from the time that the daily sacrifice shall be taken away, and the abomination that market desolate set up, there shall be a thousand two hundred and ninety days.
Revelation 16:16 – ARMAGEDDON
[16] And he gathered them together into a place called in the Hebrew tongue Armageddon.
Daniel 12:12 – SECOND ADVENT OF JESUS ENDS ARMAGEDDON
[12] Blessed is he that waited, and cometh to the thousand three hundred and five and thirty days.
Daniel 12:13 – DANIEL STANDS IN HIS MILLENNIAL ALLOTMENT
[13] But go thou thy way till the end is: for thou shalt rest, and stand in thy lot at the end of the days.
SPECIAL PROPHECY UPDATE NUMBER 102B
January 15, 2003
Who Are Palestinians?
By Yoshiro Sagamori
The Palestinians and the Islamic world claim that the Palestinians have been the occupants of all the land “from Dan to Beersheba” through most of recorded history. I have received numerous queries via e-mail asking me “who are the Palestinians?” I have answered each query giving much the same information supplied in this Update. I came across this article on an internet site today, and it provides a very complete answer to this question. Since you may well be asked this same question, I decided to make it into Update 102B, in order to refer back to it if I receive more queries concerning the origin of the Palestinians.
ARTICLE BY YASHIKO SAGAMORI BEGINS
| If you are so sure that “Palestine, the country, goes back through most of recorded history”, I expect you to be able to answer a few basic questions about that country of Palestine:
When was it founded and by whom? What were its borders? What was its capital? What were its major cities? What constituted the basis of its economy? What was its form of government? Can you name at least one Palestinian leader before Arafat? Was Palestine ever recognized by a country whose existence, at that time or now, leaves no room for interpretation? What was the language of the country of Palestine? What was the prevalent religion of the country of Palestine? What was the name of its currency? Choose any date in history and tell what was the approximate exchange rate of the Palestinian monetary unit against the US dollar, German mark, GB pound, Japanese yen, or Chinese yuan on that date. Have they left any artifacts behind? Do you know of a library where one could find a work of Palestinian literature produced before 1967? And, finally, since there is no such country today, what caused its demise and when did it occur? You are lamenting the “low sinking” of “once proud” nation. Please tell me, when exactly was that “nation” proud and what was it so proud of? And here is the least sarcastic question of all: If the people you mistakenly call “Palestinians” are anything but generic Arabs collected from all over — or thrown out of — the Arab world, if they really have a genuine ethnic identity that gives them right for self-determination, why did they never try to become independent until Arabs suffered their devastating defeat in the Six Day War? I hope you avoid the temptation to trace the modern day “Palestinians” to the Biblical Philistines: substituting etymology for history won’t work here. The truth should be obvious to everyone who wants to know it. Arab countries have never abandoned the dream of destroying Israel; they still cherish it today. Having time and again failed to achieve their evil goal with military means, they decided to fight Israel by proxy. For that purpose, they created a terrorist organization, cynically called it “Palestinian people” and installed it in Gaza, Judea, and Samaria. How else can you explain the refusal by Jordan and Egypt to unconditionally accept back the “West Bank” and Gaza, respectively? The fact is, Arabs populating Gaza, Judea, and Samaria have much less claim to nationhood than that Indian tribe that successfully emerged in Connecticut with the purpose of starting a tax-exempt casino: at least that tribe had a constructive goal that motivated them. The so called “Palestinians” have only one motivation: the destruction of Israel, and in my book that is not sufficient to consider them a “nation” — or anything else except what they really are: a terrorist organization that will one day be dismantled. In fact, there is only one way to achieve piece in the Middle East. Arab countries must acknowledge and accept their defeat in their war against Israel and, as the losing side should, pay Israel reparations for the more than 50 years of devastation they have visited on it. The most appropriate form of such reparations would be the removal of their terrorist organization from the land of Israel and accepting Israel’s ancient sovereignty over Gaza, Judea, and Samaria. That will mark the end of the Palestinian people. What are you saying again was its beginning? You are absolutely correct in your understanding of the “Palestinians'” murderous motives. I am afraid however that you, along with 99% of the population of this planet have missed the beginning of WWIII (the enemy call it Jihad) quite a few years ago. The siege of the US embassy in Tehran in 1979, an event to which the latest Nobel Peace Prize winner had so miserably failed to respond, can be very well used as the day WWIII stepped out of the pages of the Koran and into the current events. I pray the United States and Israel lead the world to victory in this war. Come to think of it, there is no choice, be you a Christian, a Jew, or even, believe it or not, a Muslim. ARTICLE BY YASHIKO SAGAMORI ENDS |
PROPHECY UPDATE NUMBER 103
January 17, 2003
The Olivet Discourse
Part 1
The Olivet Discourse by Jesus is found in Luke, Mark, and Matthew. I have read hundreds of expositions of the discourse by many different men. I can truthfully say, without reservations or hesitation, that many positions are held on the discourse and wide differences do indeed exist between them. Some believe it was all fulfilled by 70 A.D., some say most of it was fulfilled by 70 A.D., and some say most of it is yet to be fulfilled. Some say it only applies to the Jews, and some say it applies to both Jew and Gentile. In this exposition I will attempt to weave a pattern based on all three discourses, with the account of Luke serving as the basic document to explain Matthew and Mark’s accounts.
Matthew 24:1, 2 – And Jesus went out, and departed from the temple: and his disciples came to him for to show him the buildings of the temple. [2] And Jesus said unto them, See ye not all these things? Verily I say unto you, There shall not be left here one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down.
His statement shocked the first church members to the depths of their souls. They had been required from their teens to annually come to this temple for the three Feasts of Passover, Pentecost, and Tabernacles. It represented all that was holy to them, and many times they had met as a local church in its courtyards to worship God in the presence of their head, Jesus Christ. So, it is very easy to understand why, as soon as they were alone, they would be certain to ask him to elaborate on his shocking proclamation. They asked him a three-part question.
Matthew 24:3 – And as he sat upon the Mount of Olives, the disciples came unto him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? And what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world?
Question Number 1 – When shall these things be? When will the temple be leveled?
Question Number 2 – And what shall be the sign of thy coming? What things can we look for to let us know that you are soon to establish your kingdom?
Question Number 3 – And what shall be the sign of the end of the world (this age)? What things can we look for to let us know this age of Gentile domination is drawing to a close?
Christ began by telling them of two common things that would precede the leveling of the Temple Mount. They were to see many claiming to be the Messiah who could deliver them from the Romans, and there would be many rumors of wars within, and all around the periphery of, the borders of the great Roman Empire. This is precisely what happened from his crucifixion to 135 A.D., by which time Hadrian had placed the final touches on the prior leveling of the Temple Mount and the city of Jerusalem by Titus in 70 A.D.
Matthew 24:4-6 – And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you. [5] For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many. [6] And ye shall hear of wars and rumors of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, BUT THE END IS NOT YET.
Mark 13:7 – And when ye shall hear of wars and rumors of wars, be ye not troubled: for such things must needs be; BUT THE END SHALL NOT BE YET.
Luke 21:9 – But when ye shall hear of wars and commotions, be not terrified: for these things must first come to pass; BUT THE END IS NOT BY AND BY.
Jesus clearly told them not to use these two things as the signs that were to mark his answers to questions two and three. These things would mark the period up to the last gasp of Jerusalem as a Jewish city, when it was given a new Roman name by Hadrian. Referring to question three, he stated very clearly: “but the end (of the age) is not yet, but the end (of the age) shall not be yet, but the end (of the age) is not by and by.” And even though he told them, and us, not to use these two things to mark his coming and the end of this age of the Gentiles, they are the very things we have repeatedly used right up to the present time. We have always had false messiahs and rumors of wars in all the ages since the cross and, while Scripture indicates false messiahs are to increase in the last times, they should not be used to teach that the coming of Jesus and the end of this Gentile age is rapidly approaching. So, just what should we use? I will cover this in the next article, Lord willing.
SPECIAL PROPHECY UPDATE NUMBER 103A
January 19, 2003
A Supplement to Special Prophecy Update Number 100B
The Meetings Continue Across the Islamic World
In four previous Prophecy Updates, the last one being Special Prophecy Update 100B, I detailed four previous meetings of the Palestinian terror groups in Egypt. The fifth meeting is scheduled to convene on January 22nd, five days before the inspector’s first formal report on Iraq, and six days before the Israeli elections. I began Update 100B with the statement “I strongly suspect that all of these meetings are the initial stages of an attempt to lure Israel into the false sense of security described by Paul in I Thessalonians 5:3, 4.” This plan of lulling Israel into a false sense of security is an “evil thought,” which leads to a false peace, and allows the Islamic nations to catch them dwelling in what they think is safety.
I Thessalonians 5:3, 4 – For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape. [4] But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief.
Ezekiel 38:10, 11 – Thus saith the Lord God; It shall also come to pass, that at the same time shall things come into thy mind, and thou shalt think an evil thought: [11] And thou shalt say, I will go up to the land of unwalled villages; I will go to them that are at rest, that dwell safely, all of them dwelling without walls, and having neither bars nor gates,
I closed Update 100B by stating: “I had hoped these meetings would bring in a ceasefire before 2002 ended, but it does appear they will eventually bring it in this year.” You may read Special Prophecy Update Number 100B, by clicking on “Prophecy Archive Reviews” at the top of this page.
The hopeful conclusion of this Wednesday meeting in Cairo, according to Palestinian officials, is “to approve a joint declaration that will include a promise to halt attacks on Israeli civilians.” Egypt is trying to get at least an informal agreement to halt all attacks on civilian and military persons in all of Israel. A draft document is to be presented to the terror groups. The largest terrorist group, Hamas, has supposedly agreed to the draft prepared by Fatah, and the hope is that Islamic Jihad will follow the lead of Hamas. However, I have serious reservations about either Hamas or Islamic Jihad accepting the present draft. I believe it will take several more meetings, and a further smashing of the terrorist infrastructure in Israel by the IDF, before all the terrorist groups in Israel accept any kind of a ceasefire agreement.
Palestinian sources said invitations were sent to Hamas, the Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine, Fatah, the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, and the Islamic Jihad. The Egyptian Intelligence Chief, Omar Suleiman, is trying to broker the talks at the direction of Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak. The Egyptians are pressing to have the ceasefire in place before representatives of the United States, Russia, the United Nations, and the European Union meet in February to discuss a roadmap for the resumption of negotiations leading to the creation of a Palestinian state.
All five meetings have been sponsored by Egypt, and each one has slowly inched toward a ceasefire arrangement that Ariel Sharon might accept. However, I do not believe this meeting will produce the kind of ceasefire that would be acceptable to Israel. In fact, I really do not expect it to even produce a ceasefire. But I do believe that pressure from the Islamic nations, which sponsor the terrorist groups, will produce a ceasefire this year, and this action will eventually lead to a false peace. I believe it will take several meetings before a ceasefire agreement can be reached that is acceptable to Israel.
At the same time the previous meetings were being conducted, the Syrian President, Bashar Assad, has been skipping across Europe and the Arab world, as has Turkish Prime minister, Abdullah Gul. The culmination of their purpose in this is likely to be manifested in a meeting of Islamic foreign ministers this week in Turkey. At present it appears that the primary purpose of this meeting is to obtain a peaceful solution of the Iraqi crisis, based on the implementation of UN Resolution 1441. At present it appears the meeting will include foreign ministers from Syria, Egypt, Jordan, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, and Iran, but others might also be added before the meeting.
The past period of some 54 years in the Middle East has been a maze of hatred, brutal slaughter, political madness, and mass confusion beyond unraveling. Quite frankly, if I did not know that the Scriptures teach a false peace must come to the area before Armageddon, I would sincerely believe it impossible for even a false peace to come to pass in this hostile zone of sheer madness. Without the Scriptures, I would predict that one day Armageddon would break out, and the entire Middle East would be aflame in the final battle of this age. But the Scriptures clearly teach that a false peace will come in for a brief period of time before the last three and one-half years preceding the final battle of Armageddon. Terrorist activity in Israel must cease before even a false peace can come in. And the terrorist activity will only cease when the Islamic nations sponsoring the terrorist groups pressure them to stop. And, even then, unless these sponsoring nations promise them a future surprise Jihad to drive Israel out of all of the land from Dan to Beersheba, there are certain extremely vicious splinter groups that will not cease their activities. I do expect three things to happen in the following order between 2003 and 2008.
1. Cessation of terrorist activity in Israel.
2. A peace settlement between Israel and the Palestinians
3. A lightning surprise Jihad attack against Israel by 10 Arab states.
PROPHECY UPDATE NUMBER 104
January 24, 2003
The Olivet Discourse
Part 2
In Part 1, an exposition of Matthew 24:1-6, Mark 13:7 and Luke 21:9 was given. The exposition revealed that the disciples asked Jesus three specific questions involving events associated with the establishment of his kingdom on the earth. They were: (1) When will Herod’s temple be leveled?, (2) What things can we look for to let us know your kingdom is soon going to be established?, and (3) What things can we look for to let us know the present age of Gentile domination is drawing to a close? He began by first addressing the signs that would precede the leveling of the temple of Herod. He stated in Matthew 24:5,6, Mark 13:6,7, and Luke 21:8,9 that two things could be expected to draw their attention before the destruction of Herod’s temple: (1) Many would come claiming to be the promised Messiah, and (2) There would be many wars throughout the Roman empire, both internal, and around the vast expanse of its long borders. History confirms that is precisely what happened during the time frame before the destruction of the temple. Jesus was very clear in his instructions for them to NOT use these two things as the signs that would precede the other two questions they had asked, as he stated: “but the end (of the age) is not yet, but the end (of the age) shall not be yet, but the end (of the age) is not by and by.” So, having given them a partial answer to question one, which he will answer more completely later in the discourse, he launches into his answer to question two. How can I be sure he starts a new discourse in the next verse?
Luke 21:9, 10 – But when ye shall hear of wars and commotions, be not terrified: for these things must first come to pass; but the end is not by and by. [10] THEN SAID HE unto them, Nation shall RISE AGAINST nation, and kingdom against kingdom:
The English words “THEN SAID HE” are “TOTE ELEGEN.” TOTE ELEGEN points to a new beginning in discourse, which has the effect of dissociating the repeated mention of the previous disturbances (From the Expositor’s Greek Testament, Volume 1, Edited by W. Robertson Nicoll, M.A., LL.D.) Simply stated, it amounted to Jesus saying, now that I have told you what would precede the temple destruction, I will answer your second question, the question “And what shall be the sign of thy coming,” or “What things can we look for to let us know you are soon to establish your kingdom?”
It is very tempting, and only natural, to assume that the “wars” predicted in Luke 21:9, and “Nation shall rise against Nation” in 21:10, are one and the same, but I assure you, that is not the case for three reasons. First, to begin the new discourse, he says “TOTE ELEGEN.” Secondly, he has just advised them not to use “wars and commotions” except for a sign the temple was about to be leveled. And, last of all, because of the two Koine Greek words translated as “RISE” and “AGAINST.”
The root word used for RISE is EGEIRO, and it means to come to life, to rise from sleep, or to come into existence. It is used in the phrases taken from the following Scriptures.
Matthew 14:2 – He is RISEN from the dead.
Matthew 16:21 – And be RAISED again the third day.
Matthew 27:52 – And many bodies of the saints which slept AROSE.
Matthew 27:63 – After three days I will RISE again.
Matthew 27:64 – He is RISEN from the dead.
Matthew 28:6 – He is not here: for he is RISEN, as he said.
Matthew 3:9 – God is able of these stones to RAISE up children unto Abraham.
The word used for AGAINST is EPI, and it simply means “UPON” or “ON.” One of the first things I learned in seminary was the use of the Greek prepositions. They were all placed in positions relative to a cube, and the position of EPI was “ON” or “UPON” the top pf the cube. If a thing is “UPON” another thing, it is certainly resting “AGAINST” it, but the inference that the two objects are fighting “AGAINST” one another is not valid. EPI in the New Testament in the accusative is translated as UPON or ON some 219 times, as opposed to 33 times for AGAINST. Jesus would not advise them to disregard wars as a sign of his coming in one breath, and then tell them to do the opposite in the next, and indeed he did not, because he used TOTE ELEGEN to mark the beginning of a new discourse. He is answering the second question in verse 10, and advises that shortly before his second coming many new nations would come to life, rising one upon another, and ever increasing in number. Before the Great War I, the world consisted of vast colonial empires, and very few individual nations existed. Shortly before World War II, and much more rapidly after Japan’s surrender, new nations began to come to life like weeds across the earth, rising in number one upon another with the end of the colonial empires. When the United Nations began in 1945, some 51 nations became charter members. By 1989, as new nations were born one upon another, it had more than tripled to 160, and now the number of nations on the earth has reached 200. False Messiahs rose before Jesus, were here in the lifetime of Jesus, and have been numerous up to the present. There have been 24 that presented themselves to the nation of Israel since the crucifixion. I realize that in the last days they are to increase in number, but they have always been with us. Also, the worldwide wars and commotions reached an all-time record high of 25 in 1987, but have steadily declined since the drop in communist influence in the developing countries. I tracked war declines until 1993, at which time worldwide wars had declined to 10, but the number of nations has been steadily increasing since the end of World War I. The “EPI” in the Olivet discourse applies to nation rising upon nation as they increase in number, not to an increase in the number of wars.
Lord willing, in Part 3, I will be giving additional proof of what has been put forward in this article. So if you have reservations about the conclusions drawn in this article, hold your fire until you read Part 3.
PROPHECY UPDATE NUMBER 105
January 31, 2003
The Olivet Discourse
Part 3
In Part I, an exposition of Matthew 24:1-6, Mark 13:7 and Luke 21:9 was given. In Part 2, a thorough exposition of Luke 21:10 was given as it related to its disassociation from 21:9, because by the use of “tote elegen” for “then said he,” it indicated that a new subject was being introduced, so that the “wars” of verse 9 are not related to “nation shall rise against nation” in verse 10.
Luke 21:9, 10 – But when ye shall hear of wars and commotions, be not terrified: for these things must first come to pass; but the end is not by and by. [10] Then said he (tote elegen) unto them, Nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom:
In Part 2, a case was made to show the root word “egeiro,” translated as “rise” in verse 10, means to “come to life, to rise from sleep, or to come into existence.” And I showed numerous Scriptures where it was used in order to make that point. A case was also made to show that the word “against” is “epi,” and that its basic meaning is “on” or “upon.” So the claim was made that “Nation shall rise (egeiro) against (epi) does not in any way refer to war, but rather the ever increasing number of nations that have come to life in the last 53 years, rising one upon another from the 51 charter members of the United Nations in 1945 to 160 by 1989, and now at 200 in 2003. Nothing like this has ever happened in history. But I promised, at the close of part 2, to provide additional proof that “Nation shall rise against nation” does not refer to increasing wars, but rather to an increasing rise in the number of new nations every coming to life, and raising one upon another. And I will proceed to present additional proof at this time.
Immediately after Matthew and Mark list the signs that give the answer to the second question they asked him, which was, “And what shall be the sign of thy coming,” Jesus gives the general name for the four things he has listed in the expression, “All these are the beginning of sorrows.”
Matthew 24:7, 8 – For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in diver’s places. [8] All these are the beginning of SORROWS (ODIN).
The God-Breathed word for SORROWS is ODIN. You may look in any Greek Lexicon from any time period, and you will always find this listed centrally as the definition for ODIN – “The pains a woman suffers in the travail of childbirth, a woman’s birth pains.” The disciples knew quite well what ODIN meant. When the Olivet Discourse was written, they had no hospitals, no painkillers, and midwives delivered the babies. If a baby was lodged sideways in the womb, no one knew how to remove the baby through the stomach, and the mother and child died. The pain of normal childbirth is painful enough, but these men had listened to the shrill dying cries of women that traveled for great distances. They knew what ODIN meant. When true labor pains begin, the first pain hurts, but the next hurts a little more, the next more and closer to its precedent, and harder and closer, and harder and closer, and harder and closer, until finally the baby arrives. This is the manner the occurrence of the four things he listed as SORROWS would follow as signs his second coming was drawing near.
The four things he associated with the “sorrows” that are to be signs that his coming is drawing near are: (1) Nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, (2) Earthquakes, (3) Pestilences, and (4) Famines.
Luke 21:10, 11 – Then said he unto them, Nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: [11] And great earthquakes shall be in divers places, and famines, and pestilences; and fearful sights and great signs shall there be from heaven.
Luke did not refer to them as the “beginning of sorrows” because he added “fearful sights and great signs,” which are not a part of the time of sorrows, but rather a part of Christ’s answer to the third question. They will mark the end of the world (the Gentile age), and are associated with the 2nd Advent of Christ at Armageddon. I will be showing why this is the case in future expositions of the Olivet Discourse.
The number of new nations coming to life, and rising one upon another, started to increase like a woman’s birth pains at the end of World War II. Earthquakes started to follow the birth pains pattern in 1967. The pestilences began to follow the pattern in 1980. Famines began to follow the pattern in the early eighties, and dramatically increased after 1993. I will deal with each one of these separately, Lord willing, in future parts of the Olivet Discourse, but Part 4 will deal with Luke 21:12 to 17, and I promise you will find it interesting.
SPECIAL PROPHECY UPDATE NUMBER 105A
February 2, 2003
The Descendants of Ishmael and the Six Sons of Keturah
My first encounter with the descendants of Abraham’s last six sons and his first son, Ishmael, came in 1952 in the Holy Land. Since that time I have attended schools with them, trained them, and worked with them up to 1971, when I retired from the National Security Agency USAF Branch. I have never known a people more emotionally involved in a fanatical hatred of the descendants of Abraham by his grandson Israel through Isaac, his only seed from Sarah. Nor have I ever encountered a people so emotionally involved in a religion that, at times, borders on fanaticism, in which inhumanity justifies the means. Many countries have weapons of mass destruction, but fanatical madmen with illusions of grandeur do not control them. I watched the development and spread of weapons of mass destruction during my military career and, while in the USAFNSA, knew who was developing what, where, when, and how much, to some degree. And I fully understand why President Bush does not want to reveal our sources of intelligence information.
For the last two years I have read thousands of reports from different foreign news releases from every country, sifting through those claiming to have certain intelligence gathering value with a fine comb. Some of the information has proven unreliable, but a few of the bits and pieces do sew together a hazy pattern of what Saddam possesses. He has a small, but deadly, arsenal of weapons of mass destruction. From the hundreds of tons of cyclosarin, sarin, VX, and tabun nerve gases he produced, he has surely been able to hide deep underground a couple of hundred tons of it in the vast wildernesses of Iraq. It is the nerve gas series that has been a matter of great concern to me. During the communist-democracy years of struggle, a nerve gas that dwarfed all the others, Novichok, was added to the stockpile of chemical weapons. And it is possible that Iraq’s scientists may have been able to produce this nerve gas since 1991. It penetrates all known gas masks, and is the most deadly of all nerve gases. Hopefully, Saddam does not have a delivery system that can get past our antimissile defense system in the Middle East. I am confident this is the case.
I am certain that Saddam Hussein possesses at least a sufficient number of chemical and biological weapons to take hundreds of thousands of the lives of innocent people, and he may be only a year or so away from the development of his first nuclear weapon. But, as I said earlier, his having them is not the problem, it is his willingness to use them against other countries and peoples. He, and his heartless inner-circle regime, is the problem. This is what must be replaced. The problem in 1939 was not the German people, nor was it the massive armed forces and weaponry it had developed. The problem was Hitler and his heartless inner-circle regime, and their willingness to use their weapons to destroy mankind. He was allowed by the treaty, which ended World War I, to only have a very limited number of weapons of war. If the other European nations had used force to stop him from developing them, then six million Jews would not have been butchered in World War II, and countless numbers of Allied troops would not have fallen in battle. As has often been stated, “The price of freedom is vigilance.” We must stop Saddam now!
PROPHECY UPDATE NUMBER 106
February 7, 2003
The Olivet Discourse
Part 4
In Parts 1 through 3, an exposition was given that covered Mark 13:1-8, Matthew 24:1-8, and Luke 21:5-11. It was established that Luke 21:10,11 referred to the second question that the disciples had asked Jesus about coming events in Matthew 24:3, that being “and what shall be the sign of thy coming?”
Matthew 24:3 – And as he sat upon the Mount of Olives, the disciples came unto him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? And what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world?
Luke 21:10, 11 – Then said he unto them, Nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: [11] And great earthquakes shall be in divers places, and famines, and pestilences; and fearful sights and great signs shall there be from heaven.
It was established in Parts 1 through 3 that this verse contains four signs that will be occurring before Christ returns for the saved. Now, please note carefully the first four words in the verse that follows Luke 21:11.
Luke 21:12 – BUT BEFORE ALL THESE, they shall lay their hands on YOU, and persecute YOU, delivering YOU up to the synagogues, and into prisons, being brought before kings and rulers for my name’s sake.
Jesus returns to answering the disciple’s first question, “when shall these things be,” that is to say, when will the temple be leveled?” He had given them two things already that would be occurring in Luke 21:8, 9 during their lifetimes before the temple was finally leveled. Then he changed the discourse in Luke 21:10 by using TOTE ELEGON (Then said he), and gave them the answer to their second question regarding his coming. But in verse 12 he goes back to answering their first question, and begins to tell them what is going to happen to them personally before the temple is leveled. He literally tells them, BUT BEFORE ALL THESE, that is to say, BEFORE THESE THINGS I JUST TOLD YOU THAT WOULD BE OCCURRING AS SIGNS TO LET YOU KNOW MY COMING IS NEAR, HERE IS WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN TO YOU AS MY DISCIPLES. And what he states in Luke 21:12 to 17 is precisely what did happen to them to fulfill this prophecy, and thereby answer their first question. This is not the first time Jesus had warned them what would be happening to them after his departure. He had warned them before he ever sent them out alone on their first assignment in Matthew 10:17-22. Let’s compare this with Luke 21:12 to 17.
Matthew 10:17-22 – But beware of men: for they will deliver you up to the councils, and they will scourge you in their SYNAGOGUES; [18] And ye shall be brought before governors and kings for my sake, for a testimony against them and the Gentiles. [19] But when they deliver you up, take no thought how or what ye shall speak: for it shall be given you in that same hour what ye shall speak. [20] For it is not ye that speak, but the Spirit of your Father which speaketh in you. [21] And the brother shall deliver up the brother to death, and the father the child: and the children shall rise up against their parents, and cause them to be put to death. [22] And ye shall be hated of all men for my name’s sake:
Luke 21:12-17 – But before all these, they shall lay their hands on you, and persecute you, delivering you up to the SYNAGOGUES, and into prisons, being brought before kings and rulers for my name’s sake. [13] And it shall turn to you for a testimony. [14] Settle it therefore in your hearts, not to meditate before what ye shall answer: [15] For I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which all your adversaries shall not be able to gainsay nor resist. [16] And ye shall be betrayed both by parents, and brethren, and kinsfolks, and friends; and some of you shall they cause to be put to death. [17] And ye shall be hated of all men for my name’s sake.
Luke 21:12-17 was fulfilled during the lives of the disciples right up to the leveling of Herod’s temple in 70 A.D. The account of their persecution is vividly portrayed in the book of Acts. It is precisely what Jesus foretold would happen to them long before the increase of the number of nations, earthquakes, famines, and pestilences. To those who believe Luke 21:12-17 has yet to be fulfilled, please note that the subjects of these verses are delivered up to SYNAGOGUES, and I have yet to read a commentary indicating that today’s believers are going to be carried by Jews to be tried in their synagogues. They will be under more persecution than true believers in the tribulation period.
The answer to question number 1 has already been fulfilled, and I will continue to elaborate on it, and on question 2, in Part 5.
PROPHECY UPDATE NUMBER 107
February 14, 2003
The Olivet Discourse
Part 5
In parts 1 through 4, an exposition was given that covered Mark 13:1-8, Matthew 24:1-8, and Luke 21:5-17. Part 4 completed Luke 21:12-17 as an answer to the first of three questions the disciples asked Jesus, which are found in Matthew 24:3, the first question being, “when shall these things be?” They wanted to know what signs would be occurring from that time until the temple was leveled.
Matthew 24:3 – And as he sat upon the Mount of Olives, the disciples came unto him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? And what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world?
Part 4 ended with Luke 21:17, so Part 5 will continue to answer this first question, beginning with Luke 21:18, which we know cannot be referring to physical hair, because of Luke 21:16.
Luke 21:16 – And ye shall be betrayed both by parents, and brethren, and kinsfolks, and friends; and some of you shall they cause to be put to death.
If some of them were to be put to death, then Luke 21:18 must refer to an application of the maintenance of their spiritual being.
Luke 21:18 – But there shall not an hair of your head perish.
After having advised the disciples of all the trials and tribulations they were going to experience before the temple was leveled in 21:12-17, he then assures them they will not be separated from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus. Even the smallest part of each one of them would forever be preserved, even down to their hair follicles.
Romans 8:36-39 – As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. [37] Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. [38] For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, [39] Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
He had advised them earlier not to be afraid of those who could kill their bodies, but to fear God who was the keeper of their souls. He also told them that they were much more valuable than the smallest of creatures offered in temple sacrifices, the sparrow. And since he kept track of even the smallest sacrifice offered they, being more valuable, would have their souls preserved through all tribulations by his power. And, even if they suffered physical death, not one spiritual hair of their being would ever be forgotten or forsaken.
Luke 12:4-8 – I say unto you my friends, Be not afraid of them that kill the body, and after that have no more that they can do. [5] But I will forewarn you whom ye shall fear: Fear him, which after he hath killed hath power to cast into hell; yea, I say unto you, Fear him. [6] Are not five sparrows sold for two farthings, and not one of them is forgotten before God? [7] But even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not therefore: ye are of more value than many sparrows. [8] Also I say unto you, Whosoever shall confess me before men, him shall the Son of man also confess before the angels of God:
All but Judas had repented of their sins, and confessed him as Messiah, so he assured them that not one of them, who would go through this time of great testing, would have his soul perish from his presence.
II Peter 3:9 – The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.
He then tells them, in essence and in context, in your endurance of all the trials I have just described, let your faith in me take possession, or take control, of your souls. Let your born again Spirit control your soul, in patient endurance, through all these trials
Luke 21:19 – In your PATIENCE POSSESS ye your SOULS.
The word used for PATIENCE is HEPOMONE, which means the act of ENDURANCE. POSSESS is KTAOMAI. SOULS is PSUCHE, which is frequently translated as LIFE. In their ENDURANCE, through all these trials, they were to spiritually POSSESS their souls. This is the process of spiritual growth in faith by a soul kept by God, as it grows by the trials it endures – more on this in Part 6.
PROPHECY UPDATE NUMBER 108
February 21, 2003
The Olivet Discourse
Part 6
Part 5 ended with a promise to continue the exposition of the answer that Jesus gave his disciples, concerning the events that they would personally experience from the time they asked the question, until the actual leveling of the temple mount. It was a time period of some 40 years, and the book of Acts validates that all the things found in Luke 21:12-19, did indeed come to pass exactly as Jesus had predicted.
Luke 21:19 – In your PATIENCE POSSESS ye your SOULS.
The word used for PATIENCE is HEPOMONE, which means “the act of ENDURANCE.” It is through trials and tribulation that our faith grows, and a growing faith is one in which the SOUL learns more and more to following the direction of the Spirit of Christ, which dwells alongside it to make up the heart of a saved man or woman. The word HEPOMONE is translated as ENDURE in II Thessalonians 1:4.
II Thessalonians 1:3-5 – We are bound to thank God always for you, brethren, as it is meet, because that your faith groweth exceedingly, and the charity of every one of you all toward each other aboundeth; [4] So that we ourselves glory in you in the churches of God for your patience and faith in all your persecutions and tribulations that ye ENDURE: [5] Which is a manifest token of the righteous judgment of God, that ye may be counted WORTHY of the kingdom of God, for which ye also suffer:
This is the process of spiritual growth in faith by a SOUL kept by God, as it grows by the trials it ENDURES.
I Peter 1:5-7 – Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. [6] Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations: [7] That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honor and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:
By ENDURING through the trials and tests of the period up to the time of their physical deaths, or the leveling of the temple mount, they were to POSSESS, or gain control, of their saved souls by faith through the spirit in the promises Christ had made them. This would assure them of the reward of the crown of life at the appearing of Jesus Christ. The word HEPOMONE is also translated as ENDURETH in James 1:12.
James 1:12 – Blessed is the man that ENDURETH temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.
The word KTAOMAI is used for POSSESS in Luke 21:19, and it is also used for POSSESS in I Thessalonians 4:4.
I Thessalonians 4:2-4 – For ye know what commandments we gave you by the Lord Jesus. [3] For this is the will of God, even your sanctification, that ye should abstain from fornication: [4] That every one of you should know how to POSSESS his vessel in sanctification and honor;
Here, the word POSSESS is used to refer to the post-salvation spiritual growth by a SOUL eternally kept by God as it grows through the trials it ENDURES. It is to gain control of its vessel, its physical body, in the abstaining from immoral acts in it, through obeying the Spirit of Christ that dwells alongside it in the body. Likewise, in Luke 21:19, in the disciple’s ENDURANCE through all the trials of 21:12 to 18, they were to practice the same thing. They were to spiritually grow by the trials and tests they experienced, gaining more and more control of their flesh through their souls growing confidence in Christ, who indwelled them.
The word for SOULS is PSUCHE, and PSUCHE is quite often translated as LIFE. That is the case in the following verses, which refer not to the new birth experience of the SOUL, or LIFE, but to the post-salvation acts of it. My SOUL is saved, and is definitely going to heaven. But I have a LIFE to live in my present LIFE. If I do not live it for Christ, I do not lose my salvation, but I do lose all the rewards I could have received, had I lived it by ENDURING in the faith.
Luke 9:23,24 – And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me. [24] For whosoever will save his LIFE shall lose it: but whosoever will lose his LIFE for my sake, the same shall save it.
If the disciples had saved their physical lives by denying him in failing to ENDURE through the trials before the leveling of the temple, they would have lost the rewards they had waiting for them. But if they ENDURED, they would be rewarded for having POSSESSED their SOULS during their time of testing.
Lord willing, I will continue beginning with Luke 17:20 in Part 7.
PROPHECY UPDATE NUMBER 109
February 28, 2003
The Olivet Discourse
Part 7
In Parts 1 through 6, an exposition was given that covered Mark 13:1-8, Matthew 24:1-8, and Luke 21:5 to 19. Part 6 completed Luke 21:12-19 as an answer to the first of three questions the disciples asked Jesus, which are found in Matthew 24:3, the first question being, “when shall these things be?” They wanted to know what signs would be occurring from that time until the temple was leveled.
Matthew 24:3 – And as he sat upon the Mount of Olives, the disciples came unto him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? And what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world?
Part 6 ended with the exposition of Luke 21:19, so Part 7 will continue to answer this first question, beginning with Luke 21:20.
Luke 21:20 – And when ye shall see Jerusalem compassed with armies, then know that the desolation thereof is nigh.
There were actually two surroundings of Jerusalem by Roman troops in the Jewish War. The first occurred in response to Menahem’s breaking open of Herod’s armory on Masada, after which he quickly distributed its weaponry to his fellow Jerusalem citizens and the wilderness bandits of Masada. The events that transpired after that are fully described in the account of the JEWISH WARS by Josephus, the great historian of the time. All of this culminated in the slaughter of the Jewish colony in Caesarea, capital city of the Governor, with more than 20,000 suffering death in the brutal slaughter. This event marked the true beginning of the Jewish War. The Jews, in response to this carnage, began their war against Rome. The Roman general Cestius Gallas was commissioned by Rome to put down the Jewish rebellion. He enjoyed great success in city after city, until he came to Jerusalem. After having put down the rebellion in areas north and west of Jerusalem, he came to set up his camp in a place called Gibeon, six miles from Jerusalem. Eventually, after several skirmishes, Cestius surrounded Jerusalem, and set his camp headquarters on Mt. Scopus. His troops kept the city surrounded for some time, thinking the Jews would surrender. Then, and even today, military strategists are amazed he did not attack the city, rather than surrounding it for some time. They say he could have almost walked into the city and the Jews would have capitulated. But suddenly he withdrew from around the city and headed north. When the Jews saw this, they took courage, and viciously attacked the rear flanks of his retreating army. The Jewish losses were negligible, but the Romans and their allies lost 5,300 infantrymen and 480 cavalrymen to death. The surrounding of the city, and the battle, occurred in 66 A.D., and incurred the wrath of the Emperor of Rome. Nero dispatched the Roman general Vespasian to Israel to put down the Jewish rebellion. Vespasian’s march across Syria and northern Israel is not pertinent to this exposition, so I will not list its events. He eventually smashed Jericho and all the smaller cities around Jerusalem, and would have gone against Jerusalem, but was recalled to Rome and declared Emperor in 69 A.D., leaving his son Titus in change of the Roman legions in Israel. Titus surrounded Jerusalem, and began his siege against it in March of 70 A.D., capturing the Fortress Antonia in July, firing Herod’s Temple in August, and desolating the entire city in September. The desolations of the Jewish War ended with Mesada’s fall to the Romans in 73 A.D., which had been in Jewish hands since being conquered in 66 A.D. by insurgents. So, when Jerusalem fell in 70 A.D., Vaspasian was the Emperor of Rome and his son Titus, as a Prince of Rome, came in like a flood and desolated the city, and until the end of the war desolations continued across southern Israel.
Luke 21:21 – Then let them which are in Judaea flee to the mountains; and let them which are in the midst of it depart out; and let not them that are in the countries enter thereinto.
After the first surrounding of Jerusalem by Cestius, Josephus indicates that “many of the most imminent of the Jews swam away from the city, as from a ship when it was going to sink.” It is quite likely that many believers left the city when he withdrew, and never returned, taking it as a fulfillment of the warning in Luke 21:20. When Titus came some four years later to surround it for the second time, some have written that very few believers were to be found in the city, since they believed the first surrounding was the sign of warning the city would soon be made desolate. However, since the siege began at the time of Passover, few believers would have been in the city. But there is no question that after Jerusalem was surrounded by Titus, it was made desolate some seven months later, and I am convinced this is the desolation that Jesus spoke of in Luke 21:20. In modern day terminology they were advised “to get out o’ town and head fo de hills, and don’t u’ cum bak no moe, no moe.”