In this chapter, Matthew 24, there written about the matters of
end days.
Parallel articles are also written in Mark chapter 13 or Luke chapter
21. In these scriptures, Jesus talks about many events to be happened in
end days.
Please pay attention this fact that; Jesus starts His talk of end days
with very special way. On every book of Gospel, Matthew or Mark or
Luke, Jesus starts His talk of end days from the topic of temple's destruction.
Jesus begins His talking with the word "There shall not be left here one
stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down." And disciples asked
Him "when shall these things be? " And He began the explanation
about end days to them.
Among this fact, there is something hidden. What is the end days?
This fact indicates us;
end days is the days when temple is thrown down. In a meaning,
this is the most important sign in end days. So, we can imagine here is
something Bible talks through
destruction of temple.
Let's see the meaning of this. First meaning of "temple" is the building built by Jews in Jerusalem. But, presently there is no temple built by Jews in Jerusalem. Instead, there exists Muslim temple at the same place. Some people say about the day when new Jewish temple will be built after destruction of Muslim temple. They say, this new temple will be destructed after this. And this is the end days. Many people say like this. If it is true, it seems this time will not come soon. Because, till this time, we never see new Jewish temple. We never see even a stone of new Jewish temple.
We can surely expect the day when new Jewish temple will be built after Muslim temple. But,if temple of Jerusalem will be destructed, it seems this may not cause strong influence over Japanese Christians. But, if we see Mark 13:37, there written, " And what I say unto you I say unto all, Watch."
If we see this scripture, we can not say easily this destruction has no relation with Japanese Christians.
Concerning "temple", there is second meaning. It is the meaning of biblical
parable. Concerning first meaning of "temple", everybody talks about it.
So, today, we want to see the second meaning.
Concerning "temple", Jesus says like this;
John 2:19-21 " 19 Jesus answered and said
unto them, Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.
20 Then said the Jews, Forty and six years
was this temple in building, and wilt thou rear it up in three days?
21 But he spake of the temple of his body.".
In people's view, "temple" is the building. But, in Lord's view, "temple" is Jesus' body. And we have to think about one more matter. What is Jesus' body in this present age? As we can understand easily from New testament,present Jesus' body is His church.
Ephesians 2:19" Now therefore ye are no
more strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints, and
of the household of God;
20 And are built upon the foundation of
the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner
stone;"
This scripture also talks about church. In Biblical view, temple figures
church. And this Ephesians scripture is correctly corresponding to the
scriptures of Matthew 24.
Temple is consists of many stones. And this temple figures church.
This is built upon the foundation of the stones of apostles and prophets.
And Bible warns us the days when theses stones will be thrown down.
It is written "not be left here one stone upon another". This indicates
complete destruction.
What is it? This is the day when destruction of the church happens. So, what is the end days? Lord says, at first, this is the day when church will be destructed completely. Why destruction of church? This kind of idea complies with biblical teaching? We hope to see it.
Bible really talks about judgment and destruction of church frequently.
But, all of them are written as mystery or hidden truth. Therefore, this
idea sounds very queer for many people. But, important matter is to grasp
the truth of God correctly,if this is
parable or hidden truth.
2 thesalonicans 2:4" Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshiped; so that he as God sawtooth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God."
In this scripture, there also written about "temple". At the same time,
it is written about
anti Christ. If anti Christ appeared and just sits at the seat
in Jerusalem, it seems not so fearful for other countries' Christians.
But, if this temple means church, story is different. If so, this means
anti Christ will have the seat among the churches, and will declare that
he is God. And if we see other scriptures,this "temple" seems
to be interpreted as church;
In Daniel, there written like this;
Daniel 8:24 " And his power shall be mighty,
but not by his own power: and he shall destroy wonderfully, and shall prosper,
and practice, and shall destroy the mighty and the holy people."
There written about the time when God's people be destroyed by anti Christ. If "holy people" indicates Christians, and if Christians are destroyed by anti Christ, this is the time of destruction of church..
Daniel 8:10-12"10 And it waxed great, even to
the host of heaven; and it cast down some of the host and of the stars
to the ground, and stamped upon them.
11 Yea, he magnified himself even to the
prince of the host, and by him the daily sacrifice was taken away, and
the place of his sanctuary was cast down.
12 And an host was given him against the
daily sacrifice by reason of transgression, and it cast down the truth
to the ground; and it practised, and prospered."
In this scripture, there written, power of anti Christ become stronger,
and it reaches the host of heaven. What is the host of heaven or stars?
It talks about army of angels?
No, we, Christians are spiritually Israeli ties, and name of
Israel is "solider of God".
Children of Abraham is sand of sea and star of heaven. Therefore, we
must understand "host of heaven and stars" is the figure of Christians.
What does :"cast down to ground"? Though, we Christians live in this world,
but we live in heaven spiritually as per Ephesis " made us to sit on the
heaven". We are different from the earth people (people of this world)
Therefore, "cast down to ground" means fallen away of their
faith..
Therefore, this kind of fearful meaning is included in this scripture;
Because of power of anti Christ, some of Christian groups will be stumbled.
This verse
talks about this matter. Who is the leader of army? We, Christians
have only one leader.
He is Jesus Christ. He is the leader and General of us, Christians.
But, in this time, leader of church is replaced by anti Christ. In church,
people will worship anti Christ instead of Christ.And what is the "daily
sacrifice"? In this age, no Jews nor Christian offer sacrifice of
sheep or cow. Therefore, we have to know this is the figure.
Concerning "daily offering",
book of Numbers say like;
Numbers 28:3
"And thou shalt say unto them, This is the offering
made by fire which ye shall offer unto the LORD; two lambs of the first
year without spot day by day, for a continual burnt offering."
Concerning this offering, there is special meaning. We can know this
meaning from below
scriptures of Romans.
Romans 12:1 ｦ" I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service."
So, sacrifice or offering means to present our bodies unto God. And as the word "the daily sacrifice, it shall be offered every day. But, Bible says the day will come when this Christians' offering - dedication to Christ-will cease.
Bible says ; antichrist will stop the offering three and half
year.
Daniel 9:27 " in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice
and the oblation to cease,"
Within this period, service, faith to Christ is prohibited.
Concerning this anti Christ, Matthew writes like this;
Matthew 24:15" When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whose readeth, let him understand:)"
Why Matthew add the word (whose readeth, let him understand:)
when he described
"abomination of desolation"? We can never see this kind
of word upon on other scripture.
So, we have to know this is something special.
One reason is; this is the important truth by which end days Christians is divided between life and death. Other reason is; this is the verse easily misunderstood. Therefore, we may misunderstand the meaning of scripture by literal reading of Bible. Because, it uses parable.
For example, when we have Mathematics test in school, and if there
is a problem easily misunderstood, teacher give warning
to students.
(you have to read the test paper carefully and understand it!)
What is the misunderstand able point? This is the word "the holy
place" written in Matthew 24:15. This is the "temple" (Septiguanta)
written in Daniel. Many people misread this part
by latterly reading of Bible. Actually, this temple is the figure,
and the meaning of this figure is "church".
It talks about the day when antichrist have a seat within church.
Let's do Lord's will in this end time.
end.
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