What can we give to Jesus?

   In late November of 1996, I went on a unique trip one Saturday, driving all the way from my basement apartment in northern Virginia to West Virginia.  My sole mission was to take a picture of an old country church, which I planned to use for my Christmas photo card.  Beyond my overly crowded neighborhood inside the Washington, D.C., beltway, and beyond the rushed highway of I66, I drove country roads in an area I had never been before.  Driving those roads surrounded by lush forests and rolling hills was scenic.  But as I drove through a little town, I was feeling a bit lonely.  As someone who had been overly active in the Salt and Light ministry of The Falls Church for over five years, I still did not have a girlfriend.  Being on a solo Saturday trip emphasized that.  Yet as a young Christian who was steadily growing in my understanding of being in a spiritual covenant relationship with Jesus, my main focus became the Christmas music I played in the cassette tape deck in my car.  “Such a Small King,” written by Dr. C. Harry Causey, Director of The National Christian Choir for many years, was a beautiful choir song I had never heard before.  Driving along the country roads, I kept rewinding the tape to repeat that song.  Then I was most taken with another new song, the enchanting “Peace, Peace,” written by Rick and Sylvia Powell; more rewinding.  And my mission was accomplished when I found a neat country church.  I took a nice picture with my film camera.

   Jumping ahead to December 2002, (or possibly the year after), I was offered an invitation to a choir concert at Wheat Ridge High School from a student who had been a loyal member of our youth group when I was the youth minister at the Anglican church in Wheat Ridge.  (I had resigned that dream position in the wake of the loss of our devout and caring head minister, Reverend R.J. Hill.)  That student once sang a stanza for me after a youth group activity, since her sister convinced her to do so.  Her voice was utterly powerful!  So several years later, there I was in the packed auditorium of a public high school, where a Christmas spirit prevailed.  It was a blessing to listen to my young sister-in-Christ, and the entire choir, singing away.  Then the choir director had it planned for the students to station themselves space out around the perimeter of the auditorium.  And then, they sang “Peace, Peace.”  It was surreal; one of those experiences when, in a spiritual sense, God was bear hugging me.

   It is harder to detail such experiences from this past year, yet they happened, and I needed them.

   Back to my song soaking, “Such a Small King” offers us a Christmas message.  The lyrics of the song give consideration of what we can give to Jesus.  Now the Magi presented three gifts: gold, incense, and myrrh.  The gold represented the little baby was the King of kings, a title unveiled in the book of Revelation.  The incense represented that the little baby was the Great High Priest from heaven, Christ’s position which the author of the book of Hebrews explained.  I note that many interpret the incense to symbolize a deity offering.  Possible considering the action of the Magi: “…they bowed down and worshiped him” (Matthew 2:11).  The myrrh foreshadowed that little baby would soon give Himself as the atoning sacrifice for the sins of the world, the ultimate sacrifice made on the cross at Golgotha.

   Messiah is Hebrew for Anointed One.  Christ is Greek for Anointed One.  The Anointed One was destined to be the King, the Priest, and the Sacrifice.  Hebrew kings were anointed with olive oil.  Hebrew priests were anointed with olive oil.  Jesus, at His baptism, was anointed with the Holy Spirit.

   Now, what can we offer Jesus?  The answer is love.  Jesus died on a cross for the forgiveness of sins of anyone.  Jesus was the atoning sacrifice for the consequence of sins, which is spiritual death.  Jesus was then resurrected.  Then Jesus ascended into heaven.  If you believe in Jesus as your Savior and Lord, you will be saved, and you will have everlasting life in heaven.  And you will be enabled to live by His true love!  Jesus loves you!

Have a great Christmas!

love, Hunter

Jesus foretold the desolation time – Matthew 24

Matthew 24: 34-35 “I tell you the truth, this generation will certainly not pass away until all these things have happened.  Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away” (NIV).

   I confront this challenging and disputed passage.

   Jesus was simply returning to the first question posed by the disciples to foretell the time period when the destruction of the temple would take place.  And the answer: Within a generation!

   I learned in my “Interpreting the Bible” class at Colorado Christian University that Hebrew writers sometimes wrote in patterns.  One pattern is now coined a “concentric” pattern, which is “abcba,” (or such), with “c” being a pinnacle point.  Other patterns were “abba” or “abab.”  I think we have general “abab” pattern here:

a – As recorded in Matthew 24:15-28, Jesus addressed the first question of the disciples.

b – As recorded in Matthew 24:29-33, Jesus addressed the second question of the disciples.

a – As recorded in Matthew 24:34-35, Jesus shifted to conclude with the first question of the disciples.

b – As recorded in Matthew 24:36-51, Jesus shifted to conclude with the second question of the disciples.

   The first question asked by the disciples of Jesus was, “When will this happen?”  And “this” was the statement in Matthew 24:2 where Jesus foretold of the destruction of the temple.  I read once that Hebrews considered a generation to be a period of forty years.  If so, and considering forty years as a general number, Jesus was foretelling the fact that the temple would be destroyed within forty years.

   About forty years after this prophecy from Jesus, the rampage by the Romans against the Jewish people began, and then the temple was destroyed about three years later.  (Keep in mind our calendar is a bit off because apparently leap years were not taken into account in the original Christian calendar which is the root of the calendar still in use today in western civilization.  Thus A.D., which stands for “anno Domini,” actually started around 6 or 5 B.C., instead of year “one” as was intended by the studious yet human monk who developed the calendar.)

   Thus Jesus foretold that “the abomination that causes desolation,” which Daniel foretold would take place during the 70th week, was coming within a generation.  Indeed, this tribulation took place from 66/67 A.D. to 73/74 A.D., and the temple was torn to the ground by the Roman army.  Jesus was correct.

   May we be mindful that Jesus gave a time period prophecy for the second destruction of the temple, as recorded in this passage we have just examined, and that total disaster happened.

   Jesus gave a loving warning.

Hunter Irvine

Summer of Christ’s Love

Matthew 24: 32-33 “Now learn this lesson from the fig tree: As soon as its twigs get tender and its leaves come out, you know that summer is near.  Even so, when you see all these things, you know that it is near, right at the door” (NIV).

   In giving this analogy of the fig tree, Jesus speaks of summer.  For those who believe in Jesus, and who are here when the Second Coming of Christ takes place, it will be the grandest of “summer” days.  “Rapture celebration” is an utterly fitting phrase.

   For those who are not believers in Jesus, the rapture will be the start of a terrifying and deadly “winter.”

   The “end times” tribulation will not be an opportunity for a fun adventure for any sane person for any extended period of time.  It is logical that since the end result of the tribulation will be a military confederation of troops from all nations attacking Israel, which we know from Zechariah, then what will take place up to that point will be a mass rebellion against God.

   The book of Revelation, from chapter four up to the last few chapters, records a vision of the apostle John.  I am no authority on Revelation, yet I have pondered the book enough to be ever grateful to our Lord God Almighty that heaven is where I will be at the end of this age.

   So in summary, following the glorious epic event of the first stage of the Second Coming of Christ foretold by Jesus here in Matthew 24, the finale of God’s renewal is still to come.  Tragically, there will be that tribulation of judgment in the world.  Yet after that period of time, in continued glory, Christ will return into the world.  He will stand on the Mount of Olives, and rescue the Jewish people from that military attack.

   Then still to come will be Judgment Day.  Then Jesus will renew heaven and earth.

   It is all more than I can fathom.  Christ’s final judgment requires us to trust Jesus with all our heart.

   Heading to the finish line in the next month with this intense meditative study of Matthew 24, I do want to make the Biblical point that we have no idea when Jesus is coming back, as Jesus clearly states in Matthew 24:36.  To predict such is a sin.

   Yet the Second Coming of Christ is an event we should be anticipating in our hearts, because it will be a day of victorious celebration for all those who have been adopted as children of God by the mercy offered by Jesus, the Lamb of God!

   Jesus is God the Son, one with the Father and the Holy Spirit.

   Jesus said: “I am the Living One; I was dead, and behold I am alive for ever and ever!...” (Revelation 1:18).

   I close with quotes from the dialogue in a prison, between Paul and Silas and the jailer:

   “The jailer called for lights, rushed in and fell trembling before Paul and Silas.  He then brought them out and asked, ‘Sirs, what must I do to be saved?’

   They replied, ‘Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved – you and your household.’  Then they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all the others in his house” (Acts 16:29-32).

   Indeed, believe in Jesus as your Savior and Lord, and you will be saved!

Hunter Irvine

Rapture celebration – Matthew 24

Matthew 24:30-31 “At that time the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky, and all the nations of the earth will mourn.  They will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of the sky, with power and great glory.  And he will send his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of the heavens to the other” (NIV).

   Jesus continues with His answer to the second question asked by His disciples as recorded in Matthew 24:3.  That second question was: "What will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?"

   Now, Jesus reveals a phenomenal event which is the genuine “Rapture.”

   In my previous piece, I explained this “loud trumpet call” will represent a wealth of meanings, and celebration will be a key one.  Celebration will be certain for believers in Jesus as they will be ushered by angels into the full presence of our loving Lord God Almighty!

   Those angels will gather the “elect.”  Who are the “elect?”

   This single word in no way leads us to adhering to a doctrine of “predestination.”  As the apostle Peter stated, “For Christ died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God” (I Peter 3:18).

   The bottom line: No human was completely righteous, yet Christ died for us all; the atonement was unlimited.

   Peter did speak of election: “Therefore, my brothers and sisters, be all the more eager to make your calling and election sure” (2 Peter 1:10).  In the next verse, 2 Peter 1:11, Peter refers to Jesus as “our Lord and Savior.”  Anyone who receives Jesus as her or his Savior is elected to Christ’s kingdom, and is called to grow in the holiness of God.  God enables, since the moment a person believes in Jesus, she or he is baptized with the Holy Spirit.

   When the rapture comes, how will the elect be gathered?

   It will be an utterly supernatural matter.

   I simply offer one exclamation mark to the entire event: Our all-powerful Father, who can do anything good, “raptured” Jesus when Jesus ascended into heaven as recorded in Acts 1:9-11.

   Just as Jesus ascended into heaven, there will be the ascension of every single true believer in Jesus on that glorious day, and that ascension will involve angels.  All believers will be with Jesus in full for evermore!!!

   You can join that celebration, whether you are on earth or in heaven when the rapture takes place, a future time which only the Father knows.  You need to truly believe in Jesus.

   Jesus died on a cross for the forgiveness of sins of anyone.  He was the substitutional atonement for the consequence of sins, which is spiritual death.  Then Jesus was resurrected.  If you believe in Jesus as your Savior and Lord, then you will have eternal life.

Hunter Irvine

The Second Coming of Christ trumpet announcement – Matthew 24

Matthew 24:30-31 “At that time the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky, and all the nations of the earth will mourn.  They will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of the sky, with power and great glory.  And he will send his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of the heavens to the other” (NIV).

   The disciples of Jesus asked two questions, as recorded in Matthew 24:3.  Now we are reaching the fullness of Christ’s response to the second question!  The question was: What will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?

   The bottom line: What is now termed “The Second Coming of Christ” will take place in two stages, and Jesus has begun revealing the commencement of it all.

   Decades before Paul wrote his first epistle to the Thessalonians, Jesus revealed what is now commonly termed the “rapture.”

   Quite the opposite of an invisible and silent rapture, the “rapture” will involve “a loud trumpet call.”

   Decades later, Paul would give a detail which connected the revelation by Jesus recorded here in Matthew 24 with his own teaching about that event.  Paul told there will be “the trumpet call of God,” recorded in I Thessalonians 4:16.

   The word trumpet is found frequently in Scripture, and trumpet calls had a number of purposes.  I mention several here.

   First of all, as the LORD was descending upon Mount Sinai, a trumpet sound was involved: “…there was thunder and lightning, with a thick cloud over the mountain, and a very loud trumpet blast…” (Exodus 19:16).  The author of Hebrews even addressed this event as recorded in Hebrews 12:18-20.

   If you keep reading that Exodus passage through to Exodus 19:23, holiness is signaled.  The loud trumpet blast likely indicated the holiness of God.

   Trumpets were to be used in a feast which preceded the “Day of Atonement.”  “The LORD said to Moses, ‘Say to the Israelites: ‘On the first day of the seventh month you are to have a day of rest, a sacred assembly commemorated with trumpet blasts’’” (Leviticus 23:23-24).

   Nine days later, the “Day of Atonement” would take place.

   Trumpets here signified a sacred occasion and coming atonement.

   Plus in the year of jubilee: “Then have the trumpet sounded everywhere on the tenth day of the seventh month; on the Day of Atonement sound the trumpet throughout your land” (Leviticus 25:9).

   Trumpets here were a sound of celebration!

   Trumpets were used for the anointing of a king as recorded in II Kings 9:13 and I Kings 1:39.

   Regarding Solomon being anointed as king: “Zadok the priest took the horn of oil from the sacred tent and anointed Solomon.  Then they sounded the trumpet and all the people shouted, ‘Long live King Solomon!’” (I Kings 1:39).

   Trumpets here signified a celebration of royalty and rule.

   When the temple was dedicated: “… the priests blew their trumpets, and all the Israelites were standing” (2 Chronicles 7:6).

   Such an occasion involved a sacred dedication.

   When the prophet Isaiah spoke of bringing back Israelites to their homeland, he stated: “And in that day a great trumpet will sound.  Those who were perishing in Assyria and those who were exiled in Egypt will come and worship the LORD on the holy mountain in Jerusalem” (Isaiah 27:13).

   The trumpet here was a call to worship.

   The prophet Jeremiah asked: “How long must I see the battle standard and hear the sound of the trumpet?” (Jeremiah 4:21).

   Trumpets were often used as a call to battle.

   During my intense Lenten study of Joel, a trumpet call was invoked: “Blow the trumpet in Zion, declare a holy fast, call a sacred assembly” (Joel 2:15).

   Trumpets were used to call a sacred assembly.

   Progressing into the New Testament, Paul stated “the trumpet will sound” in I Corinthians 15:52.

   Resurrection is spoken of in this passage!

   Starting in Revelation 8:6, each angel sounds a trumpet!

   Trumpets indicate judgment in this context.

   And I must quote Revelation 11:15.  “The seventh angel sounded his trumpet, and there were loud voices in heaven, which said: ‘The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, and he will reign for ever and ever.’”

   Absolutely incredible that each of these specific purposes of a trumpet call will be signified in the Second Coming of Christ.  Jesus is God the Son, thus His very nature is holy and sacred.  Jesus made atonement for anyone on the cross, and all believers will be brought into His presence in full at this first stage of the Second Coming in a sacred assembly unlike any in history.  Indeed believers will share in the resurrection of Christ.  And in the wake of the “rapture,” Jesus will descend to the Mount of Olives.  The last battle call will be carried out, and Jesus will be victorious.  Final judgment will be carried out by Jesus as He judges the living and the dead, and His righteousness will be carried out.  Then Jesus will reign forever as the King of kings.

   And along with all the meaning of this epic trumpet call from God, the sound will blare out a call to celebration to every believer of Jesus.  People who follow Jesus will be united in full with their Savior and Lord on that glorious day! Celebration will be the result.

   Billions of human beings will celebrate eternal life, a grand blessing beyond any description I can offer.

   In this day and age of rock music, it seems a bit old fashioned to imagine a loud trumpet call blaring from heaven.  Yet though there is much symbolism behind the trumpet call, it will be a literal calling of victory and celebration.

   And you can celebrate eternal life even today.  What you need to do is believe in Jesus.

   Jesus Christ died on a cross for the forgiveness of sins of anyone.  Jesus was the atoning sacrifice for the consequence of sins, which is spiritual death.  Then Jesus was resurrected.  If you believe in Jesus as your Savior and Lord, you will be forgiven of your sins, and you will have eternal life!  And you will be able to celebrate in your heart the goodness of God, even today.

Hunter Irvine

The Second Coming of Christ on the horizon – Matthew 24

Matthew 24: 28-29   “Wherever there is a carcass, there the vultures will gather.  Immediately after the distress of those days -

‘the sun will be darkened, 

and the moon will not give its light;

the stars will fall from the sky, 

and the heavenly bodies will be shaken’” (NIV).

   Jesus has started to answer the second question which had been asked by the disciples.  The question was: “What will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?”

   After talking about false Messiahs, He made the above statement about “vultures.”  Ever since the ascension of Jesus and the fall of Jerusalem, there have been plenty of people who have taken advantage of other people in a “religious” manner in this fallen world.

   And I think this helps us understand the challenging question raised by the statement of Jesus: “Immediately after the distress of those days…” (Matthew 24:29).  The question: What are “those days?”  And what time period does “immediately” refer to?

   I think “those days” are a metaphor for the past 1,950 years and counting since the fall of Jerusalem.  These “days” have included continued suffering of the Hebrew people, and “religious” turmoil throughout the whole world due to many people rejecting Jesus.

   “Those days” do not refer to the fall of Jerusalem tribulation.  Jesus did not return after that seven year period.

   And "those days" do not refer to the “end times” tribulation.  Jesus is just starting to talk about the genuine rapture.

   Thus “immediately” should be interpreted as what will take place when a time comes, which will be one hundred percent deemed by God the Father, which will start the final period for the world.  Such will involve the first stage of the Second Coming of Christ, a final tribulation, the second stage of Christ’s coming which will entail a rescue of the Israelites from a military confederation of all nations, and the finale of “Judgment Day.”

   I conclude this piece by asking: What will be the nature of this astronomy event?

Jesus said: “…the sun will be darkened,

and the moon will not give its light;

the stars will fall from the sky,

and the heavenly bodies will be shaken” (Matthew 24:29).

   Prophecies regarding the sun, moon, and stars were addressed by me this past winter as I shared my study on the book of Joel.  I examined the three separate times Joel talks about a similar astronomical event.  Here is a fourth.  Yet though they are adding up, I advocate the statements about the sun and moon not giving light are more than literary metaphors.  I advocate they will be real astronomical events of some sort.

   Consider the statement by Jesus recorded in Luke, which is a statement from the same discourse recorded here in Matthew.  There in Luke 21:25, Jesus states: “There will be signs in the sun, moon, and stars.  On the earth, nations will be in anguish and perplexity at the roaring and tossing of the sea.  People will faint from terror, apprehensive of what is coming on the world, for the heavenly bodies will be shaken.”

   I do not know exactly what is going to happen.  I do know it will be something supernatural which rocks our fragile ecosystem, carried out by our all-powerful God!

   The point for us to focus on here is what this event is signaling.  In my writings on the book of Joel this past February and March, I made the key statement: “The sun and moon being darkened indicate an aspect of an event where there is judgment, followed by a grand blessing of God.”

   Looking ahead to the next verse, there is a general statement of judgment right from the start.  That is why Jesus states: “…and all the nations of the earth will mourn” (Matthew 24:30).  There will be guilt for many right from the top, because there will be a number of people from all nations who will fail to believe in Jesus.  They will fail to think Jesus is seated at the right hand of the father.  And they will fail to believe in His return to judge the living and the dead.  Yet there Jesus will be!

   On the flip side, there will be the grand blessing for all believers in Jesus!!!

   The redeemed-in-Christ will be united with Jesus forever!!!

   The rapture, a loud celebration, is coming!!!

   I am excited!!!

Hunter Irvine

Why is the doctrine of a secret rapture so popular?

Matthew 24:27   “For as lightning that comes from the east is visible even in the west, so will be the coming of the Son of Man” (NIV).

Why is the doctrine of a secret rapture so popular?

The answer: The root of the problem is a misinterpretation of Daniel 9:24-27.

   The angel Gabriel gave a prophecy to Daniel which involved 70 “weeks,” a “week” being a metaphor for 7 years.  The 69th week ended at the time of Christ’s ministry.  The misinterpretation, carried out by a number of theologians, is the conviction that the 70th “week” has not taken place yet.  They say the 70th week will not take place until an undetermined time in the future.  Detaching the 70th “week” by nearly 2,000 years and counting is a drastic error.

   (With no intention of degrading those theologians, in a supplemental piece which will be posted mid-January, I will get into specifics on one Biblical interpretation which became a major influence in the 20th century regarding the rapture.)

   So when Jesus starts talking about the prophecy in Daniel 9:24-27, boom, they deduct that Jesus is talking about the “end times” tribulation.

   They ignore the context of the first question by the disciples recorded in Matthew 24:3.  So their error leads them to think that what Jesus is revealing here in Matthew 24:27 and in upcoming verses has to do with the second stage of the Second Coming of Christ, when Jesus will stand on the Mount of Olives.  (They see the Mount of Olives arrival as the first time He is visible to all people since His ascension.)

   However, what Jesus is going to reveal in the upcoming verses does not fit the Mount of Olives return.  Jesus does reveal a rapture in Matthew 24:31.

   Confusing this Second Coming revelation in Matthew 24 with the Mount of Olives return, prophesied by Zechariah, their major details about the rapture go awry.  They designate a rapture which would be unseen and unheard by everyone but believers.  In their rapture, it would seem to people left behind that Christians suddenly disappeared.  There is no solid Biblical support for such.

   It all got on the wrong path with misinterpreting Daniel 9:24-27.

   Does this matter?  Yes.  Misinterpreting Scripture is always a problem.  Theologians are human, and not one of us has a perfect Biblical interpretation.  Yet we all need to keep learning.

   This secret rapture interpretation creates a false mystery about our relational Messiah, rather than putting an emphasis on the continued unveiling of Jesus Christ which will take place.

   And this secret rapture interpretation makes the rapture a bit creepy, as opposed to the fact that the rapture will be a glorious celebration for those who love Jesus.

   I close with one interesting fact, since it supports the general reality of a coming rapture.  However, even though it has been used to infer a “secret rapture,” it is not solid evidence of such.  In the book of Revelation, the focus of chapter two and chapter three is seven churches.  But then, from chapter four to near the end of the book, the word church is not used again.  Interesting.

   God makes the statement at the beginning of chapter four: “Come up here, and I will show you what must take place after this” (Revelation 4:1).

   So most theologians think the vision of John throughout the remainder of the book of Revelation takes place after the “rapture.”  I think this is reasonable.

   Yet the lack of any mention of the subject of the rapture in the book of Revelation does not establish a “silent rapture.”

   Thus from where we stand in learning from the discourse of Jesus here in Matthew 24, the rapture has yet to be foretold.  Yet brace yourself.  As Jesus continues to unveil His Second Coming, there will be a rapture essence to it.

   And that first stage of the Second Coming is going to be a loud, joyous celebration for all those who follow Jesus, our Savior and Lord!

Hunter Irvine

The Second Coming of Christ – Matthew 24

Matthew 24: 26-27 “So if anyone tells you, ‘There he is, out in the desert,’ do not go out; or, ‘Here he is, in the inner rooms,’ do not believe it.  For as lightning that comes from the east is visible even in the west, so will be the coming of the Son of Man” (NIV).

   Now Jesus starts answering question number two for the disciples.

   Their question was: “What will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?”

   When Jesus returns, everyone will know it.

   Jesus came to earth over 2,000 years ago, born as a baby in a barn.

   When Jesus returns, He will come in glory more visible than lightning.

   After centuries of pain and suffering in this world, Jesus promises that He is coming back!!!

   The apostles were reminded of this promise when an angel spoke to them as they stood in amazement when Jesus ascended into heaven.

   “Men of Galilee," they said, “why do you stand here looking into the sky?  This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven” (Acts 1:11).

   At Colorado Christian University, my adjunct professor for my New Testament survey class was a gifted teacher, and he made the class fun.  He clicked with us students.  He boldly stated the rapture will not be a disappearance of all Christians which is unseen and silent to all others, even though that was the popular teaching at the time.  He stated the rapture will be seen and heard by Christians and everyone else.

   That professor highlighted Matthew 24:27 and Matthew 24:30-31 to instruct that the rapture will take place with Jesus returning to the world in a visible majestic manner.

   I agree.

   But that professor never got into any details beyond his statement.  I will continue to get into details.  My next piece will examine why an unseen and silent rapture is such a popular doctrine at this time, even though it is off.

   Yet at this moment, we can start to celebrate in our hearts as we have received glorious revelations from Jesus in simply one single sentence.  Jesus is going to return!!!  And everyone will know it!!!

Hunter Irvine

False Messiahs – Matthew 24

Matthew 24: 23-25    “At that time if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Christ!’ or, ‘There he is!’ do not believe it.  For false Christs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and miracles to deceive even the elect – if that were possible.  See, I have told you ahead of time” (NIV).

   During that horrible seven year tribulation period from 66/67 A.D. to 73/74 A.D., it is likely some people suffered extreme despair and hopelessness.  And in the wake of the fall of Jerusalem, much despair surely sunk in for many Israelites.

   Tragically, certain people took advantage of such vulnerability.

   Justin Martyr was an early Christian writer who lived from 110 to 165 A.D.  Having keen ability and rare courage, Justin wrote an explanation of Christianity which was addressed to the Roman Emperor, the sons of the Emperor, the Roman Senate, and all Roman people.  In his written work entitled First Apology of Justin, in Chapter 26, he told of a man named Menander, who practiced magical arts.  Justin stated: “He persuaded those who adhered to him that they should never die, and even now there are some living who hold this opinion of his.” (1)

   Irenaeus, who became a church leader for both Lyons and Vienne, lived from 120 to 202 A.D.  Preserving some history of that period in his writing entitled Against Heresies, in Book 1, Chapter 23, he likewise told of the man Menander.

   Menander claimed to be the savior.

   Irenaeus stated: “…for his disciples obtain the resurrection by being baptized into him, and can die no more, but remain in the possession of immortal youth.” (2)

   Menander was one of a number.

   Jesus gave a warning.  Jesus was correct.  There has been the need to heed the warning of Jesus regarding both false Messiahs and false prophets at various junctures in history ever since His ascension.

   Yet let us continue to listen to this epic teaching of Jesus, as we are on the doorstep of a glorious revelation from Jesus of the truly glorious news regarding the fact that He will return!!!

Hunter Irvine

(1) Alexander Roberts and James Donaldson, eds.,

The Ante-Nicene Fathers: The Writings of the Fathers Down to A.D. 325

(1867; digital repr., Albany, Oregon: SAGE Software, 1996), 1:320.

(2) Alexander Roberts and James Donaldson, eds.,

The Ante-Nicene Fathers: The Writings of the Fathers Down to A.D. 325

(1867; digital repr., Albany, Oregon: SAGE Software, 1996), 1:718.

Jerusalem tragedy – Matthew 24

Matthew 24: 17-22

   Overloaded as a part-time student at Colorado Christian University along with my work as the Biblical Studies tutor in the fall of 2010, I wanted to learn about the fall of Jerusalem in 70 A.D., in order to support a point I intended to make in a research paper for my “History of Christianity” class.  Having an open hour one morning, I went into a “study room” at the CCU Library and read about the disaster detailed by the ancient historian Josephus from one of his writings entitled The Jewish War.

   The disaster there in 70 A.D. was horrible.  The rampage by the Roman military involved the murder of a least 1,100,000 Jewish people.  And the temple was demolished.  I could only read so much about the savage attack.

   In the 24th chapter of Matthew, Jesus foretold that Jerusalem would be ransacked.  Jesus was right.

   Regarding the disaster, Jesus made a huge claim.  Jesus said, “For then there will be great distress, unequaled from the beginning of the world until now – and never to be equaled again” (Matthew 24:21).

   How can this be?  So much tragedy has happened in human history since the Fall of humankind due to the disobedience to God by Adam and Eve.

   Such a claim by Jesus may be one reason why certain people think such a disaster has not even happened yet, which is their rationale for dislodging this passage from its’ context and then applying it to the end times tribulation.

   I make a strong suggestion: Jesus was referring to the fall of Jerusalem, and all the horror that fall entailed, as well as the result of the displacement of the Israelites from their homeland for 1,878 years.  In losing their homeland, Israelites were susceptible to future tragedies.  The Holocaust was an ultimate tragedy for the displaced Jewish people, and an ultimate tragedy in the entire history of humankind.  I think the pain and suffering caused by the fall of Jerusalem was being tied in with the pain and suffering of other events, especially the Holocaust, in the wake of the Israelites being ripped out of their homeland.

   The Scripture support for this is found where Luke records this same discourse by Jesus.  Now Luke added some statements by Jesus, while also leaving out some statements which Matthew recorded.

   Luke recorded: “…Jerusalem will be trampled on by the Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled” (Luke 21:24).  What is this period?  Did it end in 1948 when the Jewish people finally had part of their homeland re-established?  Or will it not take place until the rescue of the Israelites by the Messiah, which will complete the “end times” tribulation?  I do not know.

   Yet I do not think that period ended with the fall of the Roman Empire, because Jerusalem continued to be under Gentile control.

The Hebrew people have been through uncalculated tragedy in their history.

*   The fall of the ten northern tribes of Israel in 722-721 B.C was horrible.

*   The fall of Jerusalem to Babylon and King Nebuchadnezzar in 586 B.C. was horrible.

*   The fall of Jerusalem between 66/67 A.D. and 73/74 A.D., still stands as a central tragedy in Israelite history, because of the death and because of the displacement.

*   The Holocaust was a central tragedy in all humankind.

*   Today there is still tragedy in the realm of what was ancient Israel.

*   Finally, there is going to be a final battle in Israel during the end times tribulation, as was detailed by the prophet Zechariah.

Yet Jesus, God the Son, offers healing and hope!!!

*   Regarding the Babylonian exile, God did a miracle so the Hebrew people could return home.  In 536 B.C., Hebrews had the decree from King Cyrus of Persia to go home.  And many did.

*   Regarding the fall of Jerusalem in 70 A.D., Jesus, God the Son, offered a warning for Jewish people to flee the rampage by the Roman military.  And there were Jewish people who survived the fury of the Roman military.

*   Regarding 1948, God did a miracle so the Jewish people could regain some of their homeland after being absent for 1,878 years.

*   And regarding the end times tribulation, Jesus will descend from heaven to rescue the Jewish people from an attack which will be carried out by a joint military endeavor involving every nation.

   Thanks to Jesus, suffering is one day going to end for every single person who turns to Him!!  Thanks to Jesus, He is going to bring about an everlasting change in heaven and on earth.

Hunter Irvine

Abomination and desolation explanation – Matthew 24

   In reading my last piece, there is a high possibility you disagreed.  I understand.  British and American scholarship from well over a century ago had a different interpretation of Daniel 9:24-27 and thus Matthew 24.  That interpretation had a huge influence on much Christian literature of the past three decades.  Having read scholarly commentaries from as early as the year 1900, I got the scoop!

Daniel 9:26 states: “After the sixty-two ‘sevens,’ the Anointed One will be put to death and will have nothing.  The people of the ruler who will come will destroy the city and the sanctuary….” (NIV).

   A number of those sincere scholars advocated a gigantic gap of what would turn out to be over two thousand years between the events of these two sentences.  They acknowledged Christ’s crucifixion ended the sixty-nine “weeks,” (the seven “weeks” and the sixty-two “weeks,”) which was 483 years.  I agree.  But then they claimed that from that point on this prophecy was put on an indefinite hold.  They advocated the final seven years will not take place until the tribulation of the end times.  I disagree.  Jumping ahead more than two thousand years from the time of Christ to the end times is an erroneous departure from this text of Daniel in my opinion.

   Jesus taught the “abomination that causes desolation” marks the time of His prophecy of the destruction of the temple.  Thus an incorrect interpretation of Daniel 9:24-27 leads to terrible confusion on the teaching in Matthew 24:15.  Worse of all, it interferes with the correct interpretation of the rapture.  Let us instead strive for clarity.

   Dr. Charles R. Erdman was a special scholar and minister who taught at Princeton Theological Seminary from 1906 to 1936.  (He is not to be mistaken with the gentleman who founded Eerdmans Publishing Company in the early 1900s.)

   I appreciate that Dr. Erdman addressed this subject in a commentary published in 1920, and I note he made some good points.  But on this subject, his misinterpretation caused a mess.  Dr. Erdman claimed the teaching of Christ involves a double entendre.  Dr. Erdman stated: “…it is evident that our Lord is describing not one event, but two….” (1)

   A double entendre is asking for trouble from the start.

   Later on, he states: “This event is painted so vividly in colors borrowed from the destruction of Jerusalem by the Romans, that it is difficult to distinguish between the references to the two events.” (2)

   Jesus was not describing two events.

   Being on the wrong track, advancing into his commentary he furthers the confusion: “Even the generation then living was to witness the destruction of Jerusalem which was in itself to be a type and a sign of the greater event which lay in the more distant future.” (3)

   Yes, a “type” in biblical studies is an event which foreshadows a greater future event.  A delicate topic of study, these “types” were under the “Old Covenant” and they were leading to specific events within the “New Covenant.”  No, the mass murder of the Jewish people by the Roman Empire was not a “type.”  It was a tragic historic world event which Jesus foretold about and warned about.

   Jesus was answering the first question by the disciples!  The answer was a prophecy foretelling that Jerusalem would be ransacked by the Romans, a tragedy marked by a fulfilling of a prophecy of Daniel.  Jesus even stated, “For then there will be great distress, unequaled from the beginning of the world until now – and never to be equaled again” (Matthew 24:21).  Christ taught the fall of Jerusalem, and the resulting disastrous consequence of the Israelites losing their homeland, which I will address in my next piece, were more terrible than the disaster which will take place during the end times tribulation.

   Now there could be some parallelism between the tribulation which took place between 66/67 A.D. and 73/74 A.D., and the end times tribulation.  Yet if we want details about the end times tribulation which will follow the first stage of the glorious Second Coming of Christ, we need to look elsewhere in the Bible, such as the fourteenth chapter of Zechariah, or the book of Revelation after the start of the fourth chapter.  Though a delicate interpretation, since Revelation involves a vision, plus it is full of metaphors, Revelation does contain an end times prophecy.

   Even during the horrible event of Roman soldiers murdering over 1,100,00 Israelites around 70 A.D., God prevented the Roman Empire from extinguishing His covenant people.  God continued, as He still does, to give the Jewish people, whom He loves, opportunities to turn to Him.  God is the One who wants eternal life for us all.

Hunter Irvine

(1)  Charles R. Erdman, The Gospel of Matthew:

An Exposition (Philadelphia: The Westminster Press,

1920), 190.

(2)  Ibid., 192.

(3)  Ibid., 195.

The abomination that causes desolation – Matthew 24

Matthew 24:15-16 “So when you see standing in the holy place ‘the abomination that causes desolation,’ spoken of through the prophet Daniel – let the reader understand – then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains” (NIV).

   For five hours this past Friday, I studied some commentaries at the wonderful, though shrinking, library at Denver Seminary.  I had a great day!

   Perusing commentaries on such a challenging passage is interesting, because there are various views even among scholars with a high view of the sacredness and accuracy of the Bible.  Yet the study got intense as I realized my disagreement with many of those sincere biblical scholars from back in the early 1900’s.  The reason I felt so many were missing the correct interpretation regarding the “abomination” and the remainder of this passage, was due to their failure to stay rooted in the fact Jesus was answering two specific questions from His disciples.

   As I offer you this special piece, I say upfront that I was a bit surprised by the interpretation I think is correct.  Yet God’s faithfulness is revealed!!!

The disciples’ first question:

When will this happen?

   What is “this?”

   “This” is the destruction of the temple, as stated by Jesus as He was leaving the temple area, recorded in Matthew 24:2.

   And the answer by Jesus to “When will this happen?”: “…when you see standing in the holy place ‘the abomination that causes desolation…’” (Matthew 24:15).

   That event is also a striking point to signify when the terror would come to a point where fleeing was the hope for survival.

To understand this response by Jesus, we must address three more questions!

1.)  Which “abomination” from Daniel is Jesus referring to?

2.)  When did this “abomination” take place?

3.)  What was the “abomination?”

1.)  Which “abomination” from Daniel is Jesus referring to?

   Jesus is referring to the “abomination that causes desolation” recorded in Daniel 9:27.

   The “abominations” recorded in Daniel 11:31 and Daniel 12:11 were prophecies which had already been fulfilled, involving the desecration of the temple by a Greek ruler. (1)

2.) When did this “abomination” take place?

   The angel Gabriel gave an epic message to Daniel, as recorded in the book of Daniel 9:24-27.  And that message included a timeline, though using a time metaphor we must interpret.  The NRSV translates the Hebrew as “Seventy weeks.”  The NIV translates the Hebrew as “Seventy ‘sevens.’”  This ancient Jewish metaphor of “week” designates one day as a year, thus a week as seven years.  So 70 “weeks” is 490 years.  Thus the period up to when the Anointed One is cut off is 483 years.

   When did this 490 years start?  Gabriel states: “From the issuing of the decree to restore and rebuild Jerusalem…” (Daniel 9:25).

   I refrain from getting into the details on this, considering that certain sincere scholars devoted themselves to a study of this subject in years past, with their calculations being recorded in commentaries, some of which still sit on the shelves of theological libraries.

   I will make two points: First, note the time starts not with the decree for rebuilding the temple, rather the decree for rebuilding Jerusalem.

   Second, the calculation has challenges.  For starters, the Israelites used a lunar calendar, not a solar calendar.  The wild thing: In-spite of the variables, if you delve into this, plausible calculations bring us to the time of Christ!

3.)  What was the “abomination?”

   The desecration had to do with Titus.  To put this all into context: The final “seven” took place from 66/67 A.D. to 73/74 A.D.  (Scholars are not sure on the exact dates.)  (Also, these dates include the period after the terrible fall of Jerusalem, which involved a small but a determined number of Jewish citizens who held out at Masada.)

   Now that final seven years is separated a bit from the first 483 years, which ended around 27 A.D.  (Our calendar is off by about six years, because it did not take into account leap years.)  But the text of Daniel keeps it in the realm of the same age, thus 66/67 A.D. to 73/74 A.D. fits.

   The prophet implies the “abomination” took place in the middle of the final seven years of this prophecy, which would have been the time the Roman military overtook the Israelite military.  That specific Roman military commander was Titus, who was the son of the Roman Emperor Vespasianus.  (Actually the father and son had the same name, so scholars call one by the last name and one by the first name.)

   In 79 A.D., Titus would become the emperor, which is probably why Gabriel calls him in this context “the ruler who will come” (Daniel 9:26).  Under the military lead of Titus the temple was destroyed, thus he put an end to “sacrifice and offering” at the temple.  And there on the temple mount, Titus put up a statue of himself. (2)

   A statue of Titus does not sound overly dramatic to me.  Yet the temple was a place where there had been the special presence of God.  For Titus to do so was claiming that he was God.

   However, there is still a major outstanding question for me.  Who did Titus make a covenant with?  I do not know.  History is a humbling field to me.  Yet it is important.

   Before moving forward, I must address the fact that since Jerusalem was being besieged by the Roman Empire for three plus years before the ransacking of Jerusalem, the wise time to flee would have been back in the early period of the Jewish Revolt.  In knowing history, we know that all of those who fled to Masada ended up dying.  People needed to flee early and flee far.

   The abomination apparently was not meant to be the starting point for fleeing.  The abomination was the fulfillment of Daniel’s prophecy, and Jesus was confirming that.  We know this since the disciple Luke also recorded Jesus giving this discourse, and Luke included, “When you see Jerusalem being surrounded by armies, you will know that its desolation is near” (Luke 21:20).

   The warning which Jesus gives in following verses is a huge warning to signal to those willing to listen to leave at a prudent time.

   Jesus warned His followers, and anyone else who would listen!

Hunter Irvine

(1)  G.E.P. Cox, The Gospel According to Saint Matthew: Introduction and Commentary

(London: SCM Press Ltd., 1952), 145-146.

(2)  Ibid., 146.

Prophecy by the Christ – Matthew 24

Matthew 24: 1-14

   For years I was challenged as I tried to discern how Matthew 24:15-29 fits with Matthew 24:30-31.  When perplexed, it is all the more of an occasion to apply a key Biblical interpretation method: We need to take a verse in the context of the passage, and the passage in the context of the chapter, and the chapter in the context of the book, and the book within the context of all Scriptures.

   Thus what I needed to do was start from the beginning of the interaction.

   Understandably, I would jump into that extraordinary teaching by Jesus, trying to chronologically piece it together.  Yet in order to fully understand what He was teaching, I needed to go back to the questions which sparked this response! They are found in this passage of Matthew 24:1-14.

   A turning point for me was realizing the discourse of Jesus in this chapter fits the order of the two questions, thus those two questions establish context for Christ's big response.

The two questions:

1.)  When will this happen?

2.)  What will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?

   And remember that the questions were sparked by the prophecy from Jesus that the grand buildings of the temple complex would all be demolished.

   Jesus gives an opening, on the line of a preface, to His answers to the two questions.  This is not surprising for an ancient Jewish style of discourse.  The Ancient Near East involved an “oriental” style of discourse.  Different than a Greek style, the style often involved long statements, where you needed to focus in on key points.  A chronological manner was not an emphasis.

   Yet notice how direct Jesus was in this preface, more of a Greek style, which included letting His disciples know there would be horrible persecution, even personally for them.

   As I am eager to get into the following passages, since I am eager to discuss the rapture, I take a deep breath for a moment.  There are three important points which I must make here.

   First, Jesus was giving prophecies with intricate details, and He was doing so as the Christ.

   Jesus said: “For many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am the Christ…’ (Matthew 24:5).

   Jesus stated “in my name!”  In that ANE style, Jesus is stating He is the Christ.  Thus we appropriately address Him as Jesus Christ.  He is Jesus the Messiah.  (Messiah is Hebrew and Christ is Greek, and both mean Anointed One.)

   Second, Jesus was willing to give terrible news along with the great news.

   Here he is talking with His disciples, bluntly telling them that they, as a body of believers, are going to be persecuted.

   This happened.

   In the year 2006 and 2007, I read most of Ecclesiastical History, written by Eusebius.  He was the first person to write a comprehensive church history, most of it written in the early 300’s apparently.  His writing style was utterly awkward!  And as a man with access to an excellent library in Caesarea, he sometimes refrained from citing his materials, compiling a history unlike any modern Western scholar.

   Yet his history is a crucial piece in Christian literature, because his well researched and recorded history showed the influence of Christianity in the first three centuries after the life, death, resurrection, and ascension of Christ.

   And that history involved horrible persecution against Christians.  Encouragement came for me simply by the fact that Christians continued to flourish through the terrible waves of sick persecution.  It was a miracle from God that Christianity was not extinguished.

   Third, Jesus concludes this opening statement by stating: “And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come” (Matthew 24:14 NIV).

   I think Jesus was telling this to encourage followers of Jesus when circumstances were so bad that it seemed like Christianity could be ended.

   I note that in American in the 20th century, sending out missionaries to foreign countries was supported by many evangelical Christians.  I have read Christian history material where this passage was the motivation for Christians to focus on missionary work to “unreached” areas of the world.  They felt like this was needed before Christ could return.  But again, I think the point of Jesus was to encourage, rather than set a mark for His return.

   And our motivation should simply be the love of Jesus.

   And now with the Internet, the Gospel has reached people even in countries which were previously difficult to access.  The computer revolution has been far and wide.  The number of people worldwide with access to a cell phone, which is in essence a pocket computer, is astronomical.

   In my early Christian days, I felt my calling was to be a “missionary” in the United States of America, a country where I realized the Gospel was being increasingly neglected.  (And tragically, this neglect has increased at a disastrous rate ever since.)

   I have only physically been in a foreign country once.  Yet years ago, I looked at the monthly statistics for Scripture Love Blog.  It was so encouraging for me to learn there are people in countries other than my own who read my writings about the Bible.  I never expected my writings to be worldwide, yet I am honored and thrilled that this blog is read by people in an array of countries.

   Now there are still certain governments of certain countries which restrict Internet access among the citizens of their specific country.  Some governments engage in religious censorship.  There are still people out there who do not have access to a Bible in print or online.  And there are always people out there who need to hear the Gospel!

   And in my opinion, there is nothing which can replace the interaction of a loving Christian in person.

   Over the centuries, there have been countless unrecorded saints who have preached the Gospel throughout the world.  And today there are sermons by small town American preachers posted online which are reaching people even thousands of miles away.

   This prophecy of Jesus is taking place in our own time.

Hunter Irvine

Rebecca St. James

   On a Monday night in October of 2002, Rebecca St. James had a concert scheduled at a large church in Arvada, Colorado.  Having taken our youth group to her concert in 1999, I knew what an excellent singer she was.  More so, I knew of her love for Jesus and her passion for Jesus.

   Unemployed and short on money that month, come that Monday, I realized I would be willing to spend my last ten dollars to attend.  Knowing there was a possibility the concert could be sold out, with much motivation I drove there in the afternoon with the hope of securing a ticket.  Then I planned to return home to eat dinner before the performance.

   Entering the large church, the first person I talked with was a woman who was in charge of overseeing the concert.  Within our conversation, I told her I had been the youth minister for over two years at a church nearby.  I also told her I was unemployed and yet doing volunteer youth ministry work at that same church.  The woman invited me to join the “altar-call” team for that evening since she was short staffed.  Telling her I would be blessed to be on that team, I then explained I was really hungry due to my light lunch, thus I needed to go home and have dinner.  The next thing I knew, I was in the gym where there were a few tables set up, and on one table was a buffet dinner.  The dinner was for band members and volunteer staff members.

   I note that after dinner, David Smallbone, Rebecca’s dad, gave a devotional talk.  He was passionate about our need to rely on Christ.

   What happened during the course of the rest of that evening was surreal for several reasons.  I will spare you the many details of my very full and overwhelming occasion.  Yet I do tell that a personal highlight was a brief talk with Rebecca St. James long after the concert.

   Yet the point I share today: That very night, Rebecca carried out her incredible ministry work of a caring evangelist, just as she has over the course of many years into the present time.

   Now Rebecca has been known for advocating many wonderful causes, such as her relentless encouragement to teenagers to wait to participate in sexual relations until marriage.  Yet she has carried out the work of an evangelist for years, a ministry basic which is always needed.

   Near the end of the concert, in her utterly genuine manner, Rebecca told of the need for a person to give her or his heart to Jesus.  After her talk, she gave an invitation for people to turn to Christ right then and there.  Then she invited anyone wishing to give her or his life to Christ to come forward for a prayer.  121 people went forward!  Many of those people were teenagers.

   After the prayer, she told the folks they could go back to their seats if they wanted, otherwise, she encouraged those folks to go out to a side area next to the sanctuary, telling them that team members would be there to answer any questions anyone had about following Jesus.  Many teenagers did go to that area, led by us folks on the altar-call team.  An organizer had everyone sit on the floor in small groups with at least one alter-call team member in each group.  My small group, consisting of all teenage young men, had a short but nice discussion.  We closed with a prayer, and then each person was given a free booklet written by Rebecca St. James.

   The entire altar-call procedure was extremely well planned and well implemented.  I was honored to be a part.

   And I still have the album Rebecca gave me as a gift for being on that team.  She signed it, and she wrote “Psalm 121.”

   Rebecca St. James has made an eternal difference with her ministry work, because at age eight she gave her heart to Jesus, and since that time she has carried out her mission as a disciple of Christ using her gift as an evangelist.

   Evangelist is a word which has often been spoiled with a negative connotation.  You longtime readers of Scripture Love Blog know that linguistics is not my gift at all.  Yet years ago I started thinking about the beauty of this word, which means “bringer of good news.”  Within the word is “angel.”  And the word angel denotes “messenger,” or “one who announces.”  Angels give messages from heaven.  Evangelists tell the Gospel, the “good news” of Jesus Christ.

   And being an evangelist is a spiritual gift, as stated in Ephesians 4:11.

   The music ministry of Rebecca St. James has blessed countless people.  Personally, she is my favorite musical artist of all time.  May we followers of Jesus be encouraged by Rebecca to carry on using our spiritual gifts with a loving passion.  An eternal difference will continue to be the result.

Hunter Irvine

Just as Jesus said

Matthew 28:5-6 The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified.  He is not here; he has risen, just as he said.  Come and see the place where he lay.”

   After studying Matthew for years, I reflect on an import fact.  In the midst of His ministry work, within a short period of time, Jesus foretold of His death and resurrection three times!

   These occasions are recorded in:

Matthew 16:21

Matthew 17:9

Matthew 17:22-23

   Then soon before going to Jerusalem for His final Passover, Jesus foretold of His death and resurrection yet again.

   That occasion is recorded in Matthew 20:17-19.

   Here during this epic dawn, an angel rolled back the stone which covered the tomb.

   The appearance of that angel struck fear into the Roman guards, and they ended up fleeing their post.

   Then the women arrived.  Piecing together the details from the witnesses of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, we learn there were at least five women.  Their encounters with the angels were quite overwhelming to them.  Yet though they were overwhelmed, and though Mary Magdalene remained out of it until her direct encounter with Jesus, even in the midst of their amazement they remembered that Jesus had foretold of His death, as is stated in Luke 24:8.  (Mary Magdalene probably being the exception.)

   They did continue to be overwhelmed.  The first angel who spoke to them said, “Do not be afraid…” (28:5).  Yet soon thereafter Matthew states: “So the women hurried away from the tomb, afraid yet filled with joy, and ran to tell his disciples” (28:8).  (And note Mary Magdalene separated from the other women either before they started running or while they were running.)

   I understand that this divine miracle would be overwhelming.  Yet Jesus foretold of His resurrection!  Jesus is God the Son, and He knew what was going to happen.

   Why did Jesus not keep it a big surprise?

    Jesus wanted people to know that He was on a mission.  He wanted His followers to know that His atoning death and resurrection was His plan.

   But dying seems like a tragic plan.  Why was death His mission?  His purpose in dying: The atonement for sins so that we people can be forgiven of our sins.

   Jesus died on a cross for the forgiveness of sins of anyone.  Jesus was the atoning sacrifice for the consequence of sins, which is spiritual death.  Then Jesus was resurrected.

   If you believe in Jesus as your Savior and Lord, then you will have eternal life.

   Jesus loves you!

Hunter

I add I am grateful for your appreciation of Scripture Love Blog!

In case you are interested, below is a link to the sermon I offered on April 7th as a guest preacher in McClave, Colorado, which they posted on YouTube.

The 30 minute sermon expands on the subject addressed in this piece.

Enjoy!!

Jesus fulfilled His mission! 

The Atonement

   Nearly 2,000 years ago, Jewish people celebrated the Passover Feast in their homes one particular evening.  The Hebrew day always started at sundown, thus the Passover took place at the start of a new day.  And the Passover was the beginning of the Feast of Unleavened Bread.  That first day of the Feast was commonly termed Preparation day.  All that was permitted to be done during the sunlight hours on this day according to the Mosaic Law was a “sacred assembly,” and the preparation of food, as is stated in Exodus 12:16.

   If a Jewish person went out on his or her roof after eating the lamb feast that special night, in order to think, or to pray, or to look out into the night sky, he or she would have seen the full moon.  Israelites had a lunar calendar, and the Passover was in the middle of the moon cycle when it was “full.”  (That is why the Passover is on a different day in different years.)  The moon had the appearance of any average full moon I suspect.

   Yet under that shinning moon, outside of the Jerusalem city wall to the east, at some point Jesus was praying.  Being in agony, fully knowing that He was about to experience suffering beyond description, there in the middle of the night He was sweating.

   Hours later, at the “third hour,” which would be 9:00 am modern western time, Jesus was crucified, pierced with nails.

   Matthew records: “From the sixth hour until the ninth hour darkness came over all the land” (27:45).

   Luke adds: “for the sun stopped shining…” (23:45).

   Shortly after the ninth hour, 3:00 pm modern western time, Jesus died, physically and spiritually.

   Three times, Joel foretold of events when the sun would be darkened, as I discussed in one piece during the intense study and pondering of the book of Joel here during Lent of 2024.  However, the sun being darkened when Jesus was dying on the cross apparently is not one of Joel’s prophecies.  Joel does not even give a prophecy regarding the atonement of Jesus.  Yet Joel did foretell of the pouring out of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost.  And that historic event was only possible because of the sacrificial atonement made by Jesus.

   And Joel does tell the result of the atonement made by Jesus: “And everyone who calls on the name of the LORD will be saved…” (Joel 2:32).

   Salvation is available because of the sacrifice which Jesus made on the cross.

   Consider the fact that the entire righteous wrath of God, wrath for the terribly hurtful consequences of the sins of all people, including the wrath discussed in the book of Joel, was taken by Jesus in His heart on the cross.  Jesus was the substitute for the sins of people.  The result was that He physically and spiritually died.

   And then Jesus was resurrected.

   Jesus took that punishment for the sins of everyone of all time, because Jesus loves everyone.

   Because of the atonement made by Jesus, if you believe in Jesus as your Savior and Lord, you will be saved from spiritual death, and you will have eternal life!

   I invite you this day to give your heart to Jesus, the One who loves you.

Hunter Irvine

Joel 3:16-21 God is faithful

   The definition of a Mosaic covenant prophet is a person who spoke for God.  In order to do so, he or she had to listen to God.  Joel did.

   And Joel the writer was quite descriptive, with vivid imagery.  We were shown God’s righteous judgment through his creative metaphors.

   God is just.

   God is merciful.

   The last passage of this book displays the beautiful restoration carried out by God.  Joel’s keen writing gives descriptive phrases which create an emotional picture of prosperity:

“…hills will flow with milk;

all the ravines of Judah will run with water” (3:18).

   How interesting that the description by Joel of that restoration includes these two staples of life.  Water and milk were scarce after the locust invasion.  For the original readers of this book, the Hebrew people in the midst of a famine, this promise of an abundance of water and milk would have made a big impression.

   This restoration is a result of God’s faithfulness.

   At the base of Mount Sinai, in the 1400’s B.C., a covenant was established between God and the Hebrew people, with Moses as the mediator.  That covenant was grounded in God’s promise that if the Israelites obeyed His commandments, they would have a long life and prosperity in the land He was going to give them.

   In the history of the Israelites which followed, the Hebrew people often failed to obey the commandments of God, which was their duty under the covenant.  Disaster always resulted.  Such was the case in the time of Joel.  And such will be the case in the ‘end times.’  Yet judgment is not the end of the story for Israel.

   When shifting to talking about restoration after the disastrous locust invasion, Joel stated God is “abounding in love” (2:13).  And in love, God stated at the start of this chapter: “In those days and at that time, when I restore the fortunes of Judah and Jerusalem…” (Joel 3:1).

   God is going to rescue the Jewish people from the attack of wicked warriors from all nations.  And God is going to secure the land of Judah and Jerusalem for the Hebrews forever more.

   “…never again will foreigners invade her” (Joel 3:17).

   Tragedies and triumphs have both been a part of the Israelite’s history, yet because of God’s faithfulness, the end result will be final restoration for Israel.

   This special book by Joel ends with the subject of a pardon being given to the Jewish people.

   Here at the conclusion of this intense study, I will refrain from carefully examining the nature of the word “pardon.”  I will say the term “pardon” often has the definition of being an act of releasing someone from the punishment which was due to them, without any redeeming payment.

   Throughout the centuries, the Hebrew people have encountered tragic suffering.  Though being in a blessed position as people who were a part of the Mosaic covenant with God, the Hebrew people have also been a people who were in an extremely vulnerable position by being in the Mosaic covenant.  Thus this seems to be a unique pardon by our God at the close of the history of Israel in the fallen world in the ‘end times.’

   Yet personal redemption is still needed by every individual before our just God.  After the epic rescue on the Mount of Olives, Jesus will give the Israelites a grand opportunity to turn to Himself, the true Messiah.

   Even though Joel ends his book on the restoration of Israel, the ultimate “day of the LORD” will be after this.  ‘Judgment Day’ will involve permanent judgment and permanent mercy from our Holy God.

   Salvation was the pinnacle message of the book of Joel in 2:28-32.  And though Joel did not elaborate on the “day of the LORD” which will be the final judgment as revealed in the book of Revelation, Joel did give the key point: “And everyone who calls on the name of the LORD will be saved…” (2:32).

This salvation is possible because of all that Jesus did, which includes:

Jesus fulfilled the Mosaic Covenant.

Jesus died as the substitute for all human beings, taking upon Himself the judgment and punishment we deserved, when He died on the cross at Golgotha.

And now:

Jesus offers the forgiveness of sins.

Jesus offers the Jewish people a New Covenant.

Jesus offers anyone the New Covenant.

   Over 800 years later, an apostle of Jesus named Paul wrote:

“I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God, for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile” (Romans 1:16).

   Jesus made atonement for all sins on the cross.

   Any person who believes in Jesus has eternal life.

To truly believe in Jesus is to receive Jesus into your heart.

   God has been faithful to the Hebrew people all along.  And our loving God offers forgiveness to us all.

Hunter Irvine