Food for thought for any end-time doom and gloomer

by ColdRedRain 2 Replies latest watchtower bible

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  ColdRedRain

  This is a little something I researched in a bout of insomnia.

  	Mat 24:7	For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places.
  	Mat 24:8	All these [are] the beginning of sorrows.
  	Mat 24:9	Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name's sake.
  	Mat 24:10	And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another.
  	Mat 24:11	And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many.
  	Mat 24:12	And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.
  	Mat 24:13	But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.
  	Mat 24:14	And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.
  	Mat 24:15	When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand:)
  	Mat 24:16	Then let them which be in Judaea flee into the mountains:
  	Mat 24:17	Let him which is on the housetop not come down to take any thing out of his house:
  	Mat 24:18	Neither let him which is in the field return back to take his clothes.
  	Mat 24:19	And woe unto them that are with child, and to them that give suck in those days!
  	Mat 24:20	But pray ye that your flight be not in the winter, neither on the sabbath day:
  	Mat 24:21	For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be.

  Notice how "Jesus" (Paul) claims that in the endtimes, there would be an unusual amount of earthquakes in the world. However, according to seismologists, the supposed rise of earthquakes are purely due to the advancement of seismographs, and not a true increase of earthquakes.

  http://www.berezin.com/sharon/

  Second, "Jesus" mentions the Sabbath day and makes a reference to Judea. Since when were Christians ever commanded to keep the Sabbath? Since he made a reference to Judea and the Sabbath, of course it's a reference to ancient Isreal, and not some date that's far off.
• 

  Leolaia

  Actually, the passage in Matthew does not describe an increase in earthquakes. It simply says "there will be earthquakes". The point is that all these things -- wars, famines, pestilences, earthquakes -- all happen together (i.e. at the same time), as the "beginning of the distress". The passage is clearly alluding to the events of AD 70, which is especially relevant to the reference to escape to the mountains in Judea. The expectation however is that the war against the Jews and the siege and destruction of Jerusalem would lead to closure of the present age. The best date for Matthew, imho, is AD 80-90, which comports well with the expectation Matthew 16:28 and 24:34, namely that the "generation" of those heard Jesus would "not taste death" until the Son of Man comes with his kingdom. It was the first century equivalent of the WATCHTOWER "Millions Now Living Will Never Die" prophecy.
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  cyberguy

  Thanks ColdRedRain, for this important topic! However, I?ve got another twist on this passage for your consideration.

  If you look at the first words after the disciples? questions, Jesus begins by giving a warning. Matt. 24:4 says, "And in answer Jesus said to them: ?look out that nobody misleads YOU.?" A similar response and recorded in Mark 13:5, and finally in Luke 21:8. With this in mind, it is more likely that what follows this warning is not part of a "composite sign" (an expression not found in the Bible), but rather, events or calamities that are NOT part of a "sign." In other words, he was warning his disciples that "earthquakes," "reports of wars," and "food shortages," etc., should not be used to conclude the "end" was "here!"

  I hope this helps!