| Author | Message | ||
| Jim02 Registered user Username: Jim02 Post Number: 142 Registered: 5-2007 |
Can anyone help me understand Matthew 10:23 23When you are persecuted in one place, flee to another. I tell you the truth, you will not finish going through the cities of Israel before the Son of Man comes. It is the latter part that is confusing me. I have read that it refers to the destruction of Jerusalem AD70. Do you agree? This is an example of a play on words. (Message edited by jim02 on July 13, 2007) | ||
| Asurprise Registered user Username: Asurprise Post Number: 30 Registered: 7-2007 |
Here's something that the friend who (with the Lord's help) led me out of Adventism. Thank you Phil for the instructions for copying and pasting  Quote: The Bible I have here at work doesn’t really shed much light on this it says… This difficult verse has been variously interpreted as referring to His coming in 1. the transfiguration 2. Pentecost 3. The destruction of Jerusalem A.D. 70 as coming judgment 4. The second coming the cities of Israel meaning the dispersed population of Israel 5. or Jesus was simply saying I will see you later. I like the forth explanation the best as if means to flee from city to city - the people of Israel were dispersed and did not have cities in Israel any more but established cities all over the world. Persecution of the Israelites will not end until Jesus returns The Jews have been forced from their home = persecuted for two thousand years the devil hates them and they will have to flee from city to city until the Lord returns. I hope this helps. | ||
| Asurprise Registered user Username: Asurprise Post Number: 31 Registered: 7-2007 |
The 4th suggestion makes the most sense to me too, because Israel did disperse. Also most of that nation rejected the gospel, making it difficult to witness to them. It's still trememdously difficult to witness to the people of Israel. It would be wonderful if that changed and the gospel spread like wildfire throughout their whole country! Dianne | ||
| Colleentinker Registered user Username: Colleentinker Post Number: 6288 Registered: 12-2003  |
Actually, that explanation makes the most sense to me, too. It is a difficult text, but it makes the most sense in terms of dispersed Israel and things still to come to pass. Colleen | ||
| Dennis Registered user Username: Dennis Post Number: 1153 Registered: 4-2000  |
Jim, In his classic book, THE HARD SAYINGS OF JESUS, F. F. Bruce devotes an entire chapter (#25) to Matthew 10:23. He concludes by saying that "it would be unwise to say" that the fall of Jerusalem "was the coming of the Son of man of which Jesus spoke." Dr. Bruce further adds, "that the evangelisation of Israel will not be completed before the end of the present age, which comes with the advent of the Son of man." Dennis Fischer | ||
| Jim02 Registered user Username: Jim02 Post Number: 143 Registered: 5-2007 |
All of you are so helpful. FAF is a gold mine ! Thanks, Jim | ||
| Mwh Registered user Username: Mwh Post Number: 634 Registered: 4-2006  |
Maybe the passage refers to Jews being persecuted in Israel in the last days, because they refuse to worship the Antichrist. Jesus is wonderful, Martin | ||
| Brian3 Registered user Username: Brian3 Post Number: 119 Registered: 8-2005 |
I think the language of the Lord coming on clouds would have had special meaning and they would have understood Christ coming in Judgement. Which leads me to 70 A.D. Isaiah 19:1-4 HCSB An oracle against Egypt: Look, the LORD rides on a swift cloud and is coming to Egypt. Egypt's idols will tremble before Him, and Egypt's heart will melt within it. (2) I will provoke Egypt against Egypt; each will fight against his brother and each against his friend, city against city, kingdom against kingdom. (3) Egypt's spirit will be disturbed within it, and I will frustrate its plans. Then they will seek idols, ghosts, spirits of the dead, and spiritists. (4) I will deliver Egypt into the hands of harsh masters, and a strong king will rule it. This is the declaration of the Lord GOD of Hosts. Matthew 10:23 HCSB When they persecute you in one town, escape to another. For I assure you: You will not have covered the towns of Israel before the Son of Man comes. Matthew 24:30-34 HCSB "Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky, and then all the peoples of the earth will mourn; and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. (31) He will send out His angels with a loud trumpet, and they will gather His elect from the four winds, from one end of the sky to the other. (32) "Now learn this parable from the fig tree: As soon as its branch becomes tender and sprouts leaves, you know that summer is near. (33) In the same way, when you see all these things, recognize that He is near--at the door! (34) I assure you: This generation will certainly not pass away until all these things take place. | ||
| Dennis Registered user Username: Dennis Post Number: 1172 Registered: 4-2000 |
The following commentary is very helpful:
Dennis Fischer | ||
| Colleentinker Registered user Username: Colleentinker Post Number: 6363 Registered: 12-2003 |
Thank you, Dennis. That is helpful. Colleen | ||
| Brian3 Registered user Username: Brian3 Post Number: 120 Registered: 8-2005 |
My biggest problem with the meaning of Matthew 10:23 being stretched to the future is the context. Who is the “You” in the verse? Matthew 10:1-5 HCSB Summoning His 12 disciples, He gave them authority over unclean spirits, to drive them out and to heal every disease and sickness. (2) These are the names of the 12 apostles: First, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother; James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother; (3) Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus; (4) Simon the Zealot, and Judas Iscariot, who also betrayed Him. (5) Jesus sent out these 12 ... Matthew 10:23 HCSB When they persecute you in one town, escape to another. For I assure you: You will not have covered the towns of Israel before the Son of Man comes. | ||
| Emr Registered user Username: Emr Post Number: 4 Registered: 7-2007 |
Matthew 10:23 isn't the only NT passage speaking about a looming Parousia in the lifetime of the disciples. As a matter of fact, the very notion of imminence is the norm, not the exception. Simply remember Jesús' indication that 'this generation'' would not pass before the fulfilment of his predictions came to pass, or the warning to the evil Jewish judges who partook in the mockery of a trial he was subjected to. Of course, the same thing is repeated by John the Revelator when he says that every eye will see Jesus on his Parousia, including those who pierced him. Actually, much of the book of Revelation, so intimately connected with the notion of the end times in Adventist parlance, is said by its inspired author to be about things that were going to happen 'soon' at the time it was written. Besides, the indications given in the book about the main actors in the drama –the harlot city where the blood of the prophets was found, the seven-hilled city where the seven-headed beast ruled and one of whose heads had recently been fatally wounded– seem to speak of the geopolitics of AD 69, immediately following Nero's demise and in the first few months of Vespasian's emperorship. The harlot city of Jerusalem was destroyed shortly afterwards, of course. Naturally, all these considerations take us to the debated realm of Preterism, whether full or partial/conditional. Eduardo |
