And the End of the Age

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RETHINKING BIBLE PROPHECY IN THE LIGHT OF SCRIPTURE AND HISTORY

‘Eschatology’ is the study of last things. Christians should never fear having their eschatological ‘system’ scrutinised by the plain teaching of the Bible. If you subscribe to the currently popular “Left Behind” system of eschatology, prepare to be challenged by Scripture and history. Moreover, prepare to gain a greater respect for the integrity of the Bible. THE BOOK OF HEBREWS and the End of the Age

BY T IMOTHY M ILLER

But Jesus, turning unto them said, Israel concerning their relationship to God and a warning Daughters of Jerusalem, weep not for me, but weep for that the coming of their long-awaited Messiah would bring yourselves, and for your children. —Luke 23:28 fiery judgment upon them. “Behold, I send My messenger. And he will prepare the way he purpose of the Book of Hebrews, the nature of the before Me. And the Lord, whom you seek, will suddenly come kingdom of God and its entrance into the world and to His temple, even the Messenger of the covenant, in whom whether or not God has a future plan for the non- T you delight. Behold He is coming,” says the Lord of hosts. But Christian, Jewish people have all been topics of debate among who can endure the day of His coming? And who can stand theologians in recent years. These issues are all closely relat- when he appears? For He is like a refiner’s fire and like laun- ed and cannot be resolved without a careful reading of the derer’s soap. (Malachi 3:1,2 NKJV). Book of Hebrews in its historical context and an understand- ing of its background. In light of internal evidence, historical Malachi’s prophecy warns the Jews that even though they accounts, and other witnesses from scripture, I would argue delighted in the soon coming of the Lord, many would not be that, as the Jewish age was drawing to a close, the Book of able to stand when he appears. His appearance would be “sud- Hebrews was written as a final warning to professing Jewish den” and he would come to “His temple” as a judge. J. Stuart Christians not to reject entrance into the kingdom of God by Russell writes, “The temple was the center of the nation’s life, apostatizing from Christianity just before God’s covenantal the visible symbol of the covenant between God and His peo- wrath was to be violently poured out on the unregenerate, ple; it was the spot where ‘judgment must begin,’ and which rebellious nation of Israel during the destruction of was to be overtaken with sudden destruction.”1 Jerusalem in 70 AD. Malachi closes his short book with another prophecy of the A clear, early reference to the nature of the coming kingdom, coming of the Messiah and His forerunner which he ends which also provides background information regarding the with the words, “lest I come and strike the land with a curse” era in which the Book of Hebrews was to be written, can be (Malachi 4:6b NKJV). The Jews would be given a period of found in the Book of Malachi. The prophecy presented by time in which to repent of their rebellion against God, but Malachi brought a number of charges against the nation of their land would be stricken with a curse if they did not.

By persecuting the church, the Jews had aligned themselves against God. It was in this era that the Book of Hebrews was written to stir the church to maturity and warn the unbeliever that, for those who have rejected Christ, there is NO place left in the kingdom of God. Russell states, “The full import of this The Book of Hebrews contains some of prophesied to the unfaithful nation of ominous declaration is not at once the most strongly worded warnings Israel, their house was left to them des- apparent. To the Hebrew mind it sug- found in the New Testament outside of olate and, as far as the temple is con- gested the most terrible fate that could the synoptic gospels. These warnings cerned, remains so to this day. befall a city or a people. The ‘curse’ was contain an application to all readers The removal of the Jewish temple was the anathema, or cherim, which denoted throughout all ages but had a very real, absolutely necessary to relieve the stress that the person or thing on which the pending application to its original audi- on the first century Christians from per- malediction was laid was given over to ence. Hebrews 2:3 states, “how shall we secution from the Jews. J. Stuart Russell 2 utter destruction.” These passages from escape if we neglect so great a salvation, writes, “the annihilation of the Jewish Malachi are a foretelling of the fall of which was at the first began to be spoken nationality therefore removed the most Jerusalem and the destruction of the by the Lord and was confirmed to us by formidable antagonist of the gospel and temple, events which occurred shortly those who heard Him” (NKJV). Clearly brought rest and relief to suffering after the writing of the book of Hebrews. this passage applies to everyone who has Christians.”5 It is ironic that the prime John the baptist, Christ, and the apostle ever lived, yet notice the author’s use of example of martyrdom under Jewish Paul also warned of impending wrath. terms such as “we” and “us”. He also persecution was reported as teaching the John preached regarding the coming of pinpoints his own generation by stating destruction of the temple. When the Messiah, “His winnowing fan is in that they had heard the gospel through Stephen, one of the first deacons of the His hand, and He will thoroughly clean those who had heard Christ themselves. early church, began his ministry, the out His threshing floor, and gather His His warning here can certainly apply to Synagogue of the Freedmen “set up false wheat into the barn; but He will burn up the eternal torment awaiting in the witnesses who said, ‘This man does not the chaff with unquenchable fire” hereafter for those who reject Christ in cease to speak blasphemous words (Matthew 3:1 NKJV). Such a separation all ages, but history has provided us with against this holy place and the law; for of “wheat” and “chaff” occurred with the a foretaste, a concrete example, of the we have heard him say that this Jesus of destruction of Jerusalem. Those who wrath to come through an event that Nazareth will destroy this place and were followers of Christ heeded His occurred during the lives of those the change the customs which Moses deliv- warnings to them (see Matthew 24: apostle was addressing. This event exem- ered to us’” (Acts 6:13f). Stephen was 15,16) and fled just before the Roman plified the reality of the wrath of God later stoned to death by an angry mob army invaded, but the unbelievers were against those who stand in opposition to who rejected his preaching of the gospel. his kingdom. left to face the invasion without the The readers of the Book of Hebrews, covenantal protection of the God they The destruction of Jerusalem was so dev- probably residents of Jerusalem them- had rejected. The epistles of Paul con- astating and complete, Josephus, an selves, were not ignorant of these tain illustrations of this distinction ancient historian and eyewitness, promises from the Lord that the wheat between the true spiritual Jews (ie. the records: and the chaff would be separated. But Christians) and false Jews. Examples of Now, as soon as the army had no more peo- with the passing of the years and the this distinction in Paul’s writings can be ple to slay or to plunder, because there increase of persecution, they had lost the found in the Book of Galatians. remained none to be objects of their fury expectancy of it occurring in their own The synoptic gospels are filled with (for they would not have spared any, had lifetime, and, in their complacency, were Christ’s warnings of the wrath to come. there remained any other such work to be about to run the risk of being caught up done) Caesar gave orders that they should Probably the most well known of which in the judgment themselves, hence the now demolish the entire city and temple... it is the Olivet discourse of Matthew 24 was so thoroughly laid even with the ground urgency of the Epistle to the Hebrews. and parallels which we cannot look at in by those that dug it up to the foundation, The attitude of these Christians was far detail here. However, Christ was very that there was left nothing to make those from that of the earlier church members clear in His descriptions of how the pre- that came thither believe it had ever been who were even selling their soon-to-be- sent, unregenerate generation would inhabited.3 worthless lots of land in the Jerusalem end. This generation would hear and Josephus records 97,000 jews were taken area and distributing the profits out of reject the teachings and miracles pro- captive during the war with Rome (him- brotherly love to those of the church in duced in the ministries of John the bap- self included) and 1.1 million were need. The writer of Hebrews delivers an tist, Christ Himself and also the apostles. killed. The temple itself, the center and exhortation filled with warnings of the Of the generation present at that time, symbol of the nation of Israel’s covenan- consequences of rejecting Christ or of Jesus advised, “on you may come all the tal relationship to God, was completely failing to grow to maturity in Christ. righteous blood shed on the earth, from destroyed, despite Titus’ orders to the The basic argument of the Book of the blood of righteous Able to the blood contrary. Regarding this event, Kenneth Hebrews is an appeal by the apostle for of Zechariah, son of Berechiah, whom Gentry Jr. states, “No later era witnesses his readers to fully embrace the king- you murdered between the temple and any events that even approach the fun- dom of God and not to give in to pres- the altar. Assuredly, I say to you, all these damental covenantal significance of this sure from the Jews and turn back to things will come upon this generation” calamity. Such an analysis of the Judaism. The author shows the superi- (Matthew 23:35,36 NKJV). covenantal and redemptive import of the ority of Christ and that nothing is lack- Internal evidence suggests the Book of collapse of the Jewish order is demanded ing or inferior in the New Covenant Hebrews was written in part as a warn- by the nature of Christianity (cf. The when compared to the old. The kingdom ing to its original audience just a short Epistle to the Hebrews) and the nature of God finds its fulfilment in Christ and time before the fulfilment of these of the final new covenant (cf. Luke there is nothing to turn back to other prophecies of judgment would occur. 22:20; 1Cor. 11:25).” 4 As Christ had than the shadow of what is now fulfiled. There was a brief overlap of the two to the full assurance of hope until the rebellion. The apostle warns, “Beware, covenants during this generation as end, that you do not become sluggish, brethren, lest there be in any of you an exemplified in Paul’s willingness to but imitate those who through faith and evil heart of unbelief in departing from accommodate his Jewish Christian patience inherit the promises” (6:11,12 the living God,” and, “Let us therefore be brothers by taking a vow and entering NKJV). Considering that the original diligent to enter that rest, lest anyone the temple and his ministry in the syna- readers probably resided in the fall according to the same example of gogues. But this period was coming to a Jerusalem area, these verses had a par- disobedience” (3:12; 4:11 NKJV). Once close. The author states, “In that He says ticularly practical application for them again we see that the readers were in ‘A new covenant,’ He has made the first in light of the soon coming Roman inva- danger through their complacency of obsolete. Now what is becoming obso- sion. For those who had not fully falling into the same fate awaiting those lete and growing is ready to vanish embraced the kingdom of God or were who had rejected the gospel. away” (Hebrews 8:13 NKJV). John having second thoughts, the author By way of conclusion I would say that Brown states, “in a very few years it did warned: the coming of the kingdom of God was expire, with the flames which consumed For if we sin willfully after we have received preceded with the warnings of Malachi the holy city and the holier temple— the knowledge of the truth, there no longer and John the Baptist of judgment on vanished into a vapour and invisibility.”6 remains a sacrifice for sins, but a certain those of the Jewish economy who did The shadow of the new covenant was fearful expectation of judgment, and fiery not repent. The messages of Christ also exemplified by the Levitical priesthood indignation which will devour the adver- warned of judgment upon the very gen- and the temple. These were the centers saries. Anyone who has rejected Moses’ law eration hearing Him. After a 40 year of the Jewish economy and were soon to dies without mercy on the testimony of two period in which the Jews heard the be divinely removed. or three witnesses. Of how much worse pun- ishment, do you suppose, will he be thought preaching of the gospel through the A concern of the author is that his read- worthy who has trampled the Son of God apostles, the wheat and the chaff were ers not “vanish away” with the old underfoot, counted the blood of the about to be separated in a tangible way. covenant. It is clear from many passages covenant by which he was sanctified a com- By persecuting the church, the Jews had in Hebrews that the book was written mon thing, and insulted the Spirit of aligned themselves against God. It was grace?... It is a fearful thing to fall into the before the destruction of the temple. In in this era that the Book of Hebrews was hands of the living God (10:26-29,31 NKJV). several verses the Levitical priesthood is written to stir the church to maturity referred to in the present tense as if their His readers had indeed received the and warn the unbeliever that, for those work had not yet been interrupted (eg. knowledge of the truth. For nearly forty who have rejected Christ, there is no 5:1-5; 7:21; 7:27: 8:3f; 8:13; 9:6,9,13,25; years the inhabitants of Jerusalem had place left in the kingdom of God. 10:1-3;10:8,11; 13:10). He rebukes his been exposed to the preaching of the End Notes original readers by telling them, gospel. Yet the author warns them of 1. Russell, J. Stuart. The Parousia: A Critical Inquiry into the New “though by this time you ought to be becoming like those who had received Testament Doctrine of Our Lord's Second Coming. New ed. 1887. Reprint ed. Grand Rapids: Baker, 1983, p. 6. teachers, you need someone to teach you the blessings of God for forty years in the 2. Ibid., p. 7. 3. Josephus, Flavius. The Wars of the Jews. In The Complete Works. again the first principles of the oracles of wilderness and still rebelled through Translated by William Whiston. Reprint ed. Nashville, Thomas Nelson, 1998, p. 900. God” (6:12 NKJV). Their complacency unbelief and perished without entering 4. Gentry, Kenneth L., Jr. Before Jerusalem Fell: Dating the Book of was putting them in a dangerous posi- into canaan. Once again, at the end of Revelation: An Exegetical and Historical Argument for a Pre-A.D. 70 Composition. Tyler, Tex.: Institute for Christian Economics, 1989, p 143. tion. He encourages them to grow to this forty year period, God’s wrath was 5. Russell, The Parousia, p. 163. 6. Brown, John. Hebrews. Reprint ed. Carlisle, PA: The Banner of Truth maturity and “show the same diligence about to come upon those who were in Trust, 1994, p. 374.

Luke 16:19-31 a parable or a true story? angels carry away the bodies of the poor He considers it to be a parable, and I when they die but leave the rich dead to The Rich Man agree that it is figurative – either a para- be buried? Is Jesus teaching that the ble or an allegory. Regarding it as a para- redeemed dead actually go into & Lazarus ble, I previously thought the rich man Abraham’s arms in physical bodies and Lazarus were not real persons but immediately at their death, that the BY C ECIL H OOK that all other points of the story were lit- damned are cast into literal fire in their his interpretation of the story of eral. But parables teach hidden lessons, physical bodies the moment they die, the rich man and Lazarus was and many parables emphasize only one and that the saved and the lost can see T suggested to me by Byron point. An allegory is a sustained analogy, and communicate with each other? Is Bradfute, a local friend of sorts!). He a prolonged metaphor which suppresses Abraham in charge of the unseen world claims that it was an original idea of his; all mention of the principal subject as in and departed spirits? Does this give us so I accept it as such, for Brad is trust- the story that Nathan told David about the actual locations for those dubious worthy (at times). If you disagree with the rich man taking the poor man’s only diagrams about “Where are the dead?” Is this interpretation, give Brad all the ewe lamb. The subject was not men- Jesus teaching here that wealth is sinful credit for it. If you think it is a brilliant tioned in the allegory. and that poverty is virtue? revelation of truth, consider me as the Thinking that we might have missed In most of the parables, Jesus set forth one taking the rough stone which he some less obvious meaning, I would some veiled truth about the coming found and polishing it to such a sparkle. invite you to explore some more with kingdom. Some of those parables dealt Brad began by asking the question that I me. What are the veiled messages in this with the forthcoming rejection of the have been asked many times: Is the parable or the suppressed subject of this Christ and his kingdom by the Jews and account of the rich man and Lazarus in allegory? Are we to understand that their forthcoming rejection by God as a consequence. Let us think of this para- Gentile world that was ignored and dis- the prophets, the same testimonies that ble in such a framework. dained by the Jews. In his powerless would cause the Gentiles to believe, to Jesus said much about the Jews losing state, he was laid, not near the table or induce faith. Yet, to further accommo- their favored status with God. Early in the door, but outside the gate. Hear Paul date them, Jesus would call another his ministry, in commending the faith of concerning the condition of the Gentile: Lazarus back from the dead. Instead of the Gentile centurion, he said to the ‘Therefore remember that at one time their being convinced by that demon- Jews: “I tell you, many will come from you Gentiles in the flesh, called the stration, they began to consider how to east and west and sit with Abraham, uncircumcision by what is called the cir- put Jesus to death (John 11). After they Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heav- cumcision, which is made in the flesh by had killed Jesus and he was proven to be en, while the sons of the kingdom will be hands – remember that you were at that the Son of God by his resurrection, the thrown into the outer darkness; there time separated from Christ, alienated Jews still continued their rejection. men will weep and gnash their teeth” from the commonwealth of Israel, and No other messenger would be sent. (Matt. 8:11f). Is this not a parallel to the strangers to the covenants of promise, Jesus was the last prophet. The great account of the rich man and Lazarus? having no hope and without God in the chasm remains. The rich man cannot In the parable of the vineyard Jesus world. But now in Christ Jesus you who cross over. This is the last scene. Many warned, “He will put those wretches to a once were far off have been brought near modern disciples want to add another miserable death, and let out the vineyard in the blood of Christ” (Eph. 2:11-13). scene depicting the Jewish nation cross- to other tenants who will give him the While the Jews were enjoying the “cho- ing that great gulf and being restored to fruits in their seasons (Matt. 21:33-41). sen” status “near” to God, the Gentiles favor as a nation. But the curtain falls! In another parable, because they were “far off.” In the company of dogs Since beginning this essay, I have read of spurned the king’s invitation to the wed- (idols), they had repulsive spiritual others who put forth a similar explana- ding feast, the wedding hall was filled sores, soothed only by the licking of tion going all the way back to Augustine with others and “The king was angry, their pagan beliefs. While they were and Gregory the Great. So I feel a bit less and sent his troops and destroyed those starving, the smug Jews had little mis- uneasy. Maybe Brad is smarter than I murderers and burned their city” (Matt. sion even to toss them spiritual crumbs. thought, his ancient mind enabling him 22:1-14). The guests were not judged A few proselytes would find crumbs to think like the ancients! according to favored national or racial through which means they might be led This approach to interpreting this para- status but according to character depict- to become “twice as much a child of hell ble does no violence to other teachings ed by the wedding garment. Because of as yourselves” (Matt. 23:15). But now of the Scriptures, and it does eliminate their forthcoming rejection, Jesus pro- they would be welcomed by Abraham as puzzling questions which we raised ear- nounced woes against them prophetical- his children through faith and as the lier. ly declaring, “Behold, your house is chosen of God in him, along with indi- Now let me entice you further into this forsaken and desolate” (Matt. 23). vidual Jews who together would become uncertain course of interpretation. Let The account under study is generally the new spiritual Israel. us look backward in our context. The thought to be a lesson concerning the Even as the Jews trusted that they were Jews had been enriched by the mammon use of earthly wealth, and some of the children of Abraham and children of the of earthly blessings along with the context could support that approach. kingdom, they had become children of enrichment of spiritual advantage. But the context also speaks of the good disobedience, children of hell, and chil- While grasping the earthly promises, news of the kingdom (16:16). dren of their father, the devil. The roles they proved themselves unfaithful in lit- The rich man may well portray the were reversed so that Lazarus was in tle. They were not trustworthy of the Jewish leaders and their nation. Being Abraham’s arms and the rich man was much greater spiritual treasures (Luke clothed in the purple of royalty and fine rejected and “far off.” The Jewish nation 16:10-13). linen of the priesthood, they fared sump- with its earthly hopes was overthrown in Then look back to the perplexing parable tuously on spiritual advantages. Paul 70 A.D. when Jerusalem was destroyed of the dishonest steward (v. 1-16). wrote of this: “They are Israelites, and to and the Jews were dispersed among the Having failed their stewardship and their them belong the sonship, the glory, the Gentiles. In the succeeding centuries, loss of favor, they could still save them- covenants, the giving of the Law, the the rich man has been calling for mercy selves individually by dispensing the worship, and the promises; to them from Lazarus as he has been scattered grace of God in forgiving sins through belong the patriarchs, and of their race, and persecuted among the nations. This Christ like the Jewish apostles and evan- according to the flesh, is the Christ” allegory had an earthly and a spiritual gelists did. This individual acceptance (Rom. 9:2-5). Accepting these blessings meaning projecting into the centuries and proclamation of Christ would allow as though they deserved them, they and into eternity. them to be forgiven and to be received became smug, exclusive, and nationalis- This message was prophetic. Jesus was into eternal habitations. tic. They could argue among themselves not describing the condition that existed You could more easily swallow a whale as to which religious party among them at the moment, for their full rejection of than this interpretation? Well, some do was right without even considering that Jesus was yet to come. The rich man have mouths larger than their minds! a Gentile might qualify for God’s favor. asked that one be sent back from the You are still my beloved brother or sister Lazarus — whose name means “without dead to induce belief. Jews asked for even when we disagree. That’s what help” — pictures the spiritually starving greater signs, but they had Moses and counts.

For many walk, of whom I often told you, and now tell you even weeping, as enemies of Messiah’s torture stake, whose end is destruction, whose god is “appetite”, and who glory in their shame, who set their minds on earthly things. (Philippians 3:18-19)

Edited by Michael Bull (02) 4782 4695 PO Box 331 Katoomba NSW 2780 Australia The Last Days is available in PDF from www.bullartistry.com.au