hotcoffee
New Member
Matthew 24:26 “So if anyone tells you, ‘There he is, out in the wilderness,’ do not go out; or, ‘Here he is, in the inner rooms,’ do not believe it. 27 For as lightning that comes from the east is visible even in the west, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. 28 Wherever there is a carcass, there the vultures will gather.
If we keep remembering the setting, then we won't get lost here. Jesus is still talking about what will happen in Judea and Jerusalem in 70AD. One of the commentaries says this.
Jesus was driving home the point that his disciples should not be deceived either by world events or by people claiming to know when the "sign" of "the end" had occurred. Perhaps he was even meaning to tell them that the fall of Jerusalem and the temple were not the harbinger of "the end."
Another commentary puts it this way.
When a people, by their sin, make themselves as loathsome carcasses, nothing can be expected but that God should send enemies to destroy them.
Let's face it, people have gotten a lot more loathsome than they were back in 70AD. AND God has a track record for destroying evil people. First there was Sodom & Gomorrah and then there was Noah's flood. God promised He wouldn't use a flood again, but He didn't say He would just sit back and let us all get gross forever.
In another commentary we find this.
Is it not worthy of remark that our Lord not only foretold the appearance of these impostors, but also the manner and circumstances of their conduct? Some he mentions as appearing in the desert. Josephus says that many impostors and cheats persuaded the people to follow them to the desert, promising to show them signs and wonders done by the providence of God, is well attested. An Egyptian false prophet, mentioned by Josephus, and in the Acts, Acts 21:38, led out into the Desert four thousand men, who were murderers, but these were all taken or destroyed by Felix. Another promised salvation to the people, if they would follow him to the Desert, and he was destroyed by Festus. Also, one Jonathan, a weaver, persuaded a number to follow him to the Desert, but he was taken and burnt alive by Vespasian.
As some conducted their deluded followers to the Desert, so did others to the secret chambers. Josephus mentions a false prophet, who declared to the people in the city, that God commanded them to go up into the temple, and there they should receive the signs of deliverance. A multitude of men, women, and children, went up accordingly; but, instead of deliverance, the place was set on fire by the Romans, and 6,000 perished miserably in the flames, or in attempting to escape them.
As some conducted their deluded followers to the Desert, so did others to the secret chambers. Josephus mentions a false prophet, who declared to the people in the city, that God commanded them to go up into the temple, and there they should receive the signs of deliverance. A multitude of men, women, and children, went up accordingly; but, instead of deliverance, the place was set on fire by the Romans, and 6,000 perished miserably in the flames, or in attempting to escape them.
Jesus knew what was going to happen.