Not One Stone Here Will Be Left
February/05/2008 Filed in: Daily Walk
Series
• New
Testament Reading: Matthew 24:1-41
• Old Testament Passage: Isaiah 13:10; 34:4; Ezekiel 32:7; Joel 2:10, 31
• Points to Ponder
“Not One Stone Here Will Be Left”
This is a much misused passage. It is not a prophecy concerning the second coming of Christ; it is a
prophecy concerning the destruction of Jerusalem in AD 70 at the hands of the Romans. This is
judgment language, used by virtually all the Old Testament prophets to predict God’s judgment
coming in time on nations or individuals who persisted in ungodliness. It sounds like “end of the
world” language because for those judged, it was the end of their world. But this is not a passage
about Christ’s coming at the end of time to judge the whole world.
To see that, consider first Jesus’ statement that initiated the disciples’ questions (23:37-24:2) -- the
destruction of the temple. Consider next the questions the disciples asked: “When will this (the
destruction of the temple) happen and what will be the sign (that this is about to happen)? Then
finally note the very specific statements that localize the event, especially in verses 15 - 23. None of
these instructions would be relevant if Jesus were speaking of his second coming. Historical sources
tells us that because of this warning, Christians understood the signs and were able to escape the
siege and destruction of Jerusalem.
• Questions to Consider: If this indeed is a passage about the destruction of Jerusalem in AD
70, what relevance does it have for the 21st century Christian? What do we learn here about
God’s will and God’s way and how we should be living?
• Old Testament Passage: Isaiah 13:10; 34:4; Ezekiel 32:7; Joel 2:10, 31
• Points to Ponder
“Not One Stone Here Will Be Left”
This is a much misused passage. It is not a prophecy concerning the second coming of Christ; it is a
prophecy concerning the destruction of Jerusalem in AD 70 at the hands of the Romans. This is
judgment language, used by virtually all the Old Testament prophets to predict God’s judgment
coming in time on nations or individuals who persisted in ungodliness. It sounds like “end of the
world” language because for those judged, it was the end of their world. But this is not a passage
about Christ’s coming at the end of time to judge the whole world.
To see that, consider first Jesus’ statement that initiated the disciples’ questions (23:37-24:2) -- the
destruction of the temple. Consider next the questions the disciples asked: “When will this (the
destruction of the temple) happen and what will be the sign (that this is about to happen)? Then
finally note the very specific statements that localize the event, especially in verses 15 - 23. None of
these instructions would be relevant if Jesus were speaking of his second coming. Historical sources
tells us that because of this warning, Christians understood the signs and were able to escape the
siege and destruction of Jerusalem.
• Questions to Consider: If this indeed is a passage about the destruction of Jerusalem in AD
70, what relevance does it have for the 21st century Christian? What do we learn here about
God’s will and God’s way and how we should be living?