FALSE CHRISTS AND PROPHETS DECEIVING MANY: (Matt. 24:5, 11, 24).
Josephus writes that many false prophets and false Messiahs appeared during the government of Felix (A.D. 53-60), deluding many. Such figures played a leading role in the Jewish revolt in late A.D. 66 that led to the Jewish War. (Antiquities 20.8.6, Wars 6.5.2)
WARS AND RUMORS OF WARS (Matt. 6-7). These would not have been perceived as an unusual sign during most periods of world history, but during the pax Romana war was extremely rare. E.g., Epictetus writes that "Caesar has obtained for us a profound peace. There are neither wars nor battles" (Discourses 3:13:9) Josephus and Tacitus both write of the unsettledness of the empire leading up to A.D. 70 (see below).
FAMINES (Matt. 24:7). Josephus writes that during Claudius' reign (A.D. 41-54) there were four seasons of great scarcity. In the fourth year of his reign, the famine in Judea was so severe that the price of food became enormous and great numbers died. Cf. Acts 11:28. He also describes starvation and cannibalism during the final five-month siege of Jerusalem (Wars 5.12.3 and 6.5.1)
EARTHQUAKES (Matt. 24:7). These occurred in Caligula's (A.D. 37-41) and Claudius' (A.D. 41-54) reigns. Josephus reports many earthquakes in A.D. 68 in the midst of the Jewish War. He describes one particularly terrifying quake and lightning storm, remarking, “anyone would guess that these wonders foreshadowed some grand calamities that were coming" (Wars 4.4.5). Tacitus reports them throughout Rome, also interpreting them as portents of impending divine judgment (Histories, 1.2-3)
PERSECUTION (Matt. 24:9-10) - Jesus predicts the coming persecution and martyrdom of the church, and Israel's impending judgment, adding: "I tell you the truth, all this will come upon this generation" (Mt 23:32-36). The NT reports the intense persecution of Christians by the Jews in Acts 8:1 and 1 Thess. 2:14-16.
APOSTASY (Matt. 24:10-13): Hebrews reflects Jews apostatizing and returning to Judaism (Heb. 2:1-3, 3:6 and 14, 6:4-6, 10:26-27). Cf. Gal. 5:4; 1 Jn. 2:18-20, and 4:3, but especially 2:24, all of which report apostasy during the time of the apostles. Also 1 Tim. 4:1, 2 Pet 2:1-2 and 20-21.
GOSPEL PREACHED IN ALL THE WORLD (Matt. 24:14): NT statements that this had taken place by A.D. 70 - Acts 24:5, Rom. 1:8 and Col. 1:6, 23: "All over the world this gospel is bearing fruit and growing. ... This is the gospel that you heard and that has been proclaimed to every creature under heaven, and of which I Paul, have become a servant."
ABOMINATION THAT CAUSES DESOLATION (15):
CHRIST REFERS TO THE HERODIAN TEMPLE, NOT SOME FUTURE ONE: Matt. 24:1-2, Matt. 24:34
JESUS' PROPHESY OF THE SIEGE OF JERUSALEM (Luke 21:20) AND DESECRATION OF THE TEMPLE IS CONFIRMED BY JOSEPHUS: "After the five month siege they breached the wall, burned the temple down and worshiped Caesar at its eastern gate" (Wars 6.6.1)
DISTRESS UNEQUALED AND NEVER TO BE EQUALED AGAIN (Matt 24:21, Lk 21:23)
LOSS OF LIFE: 1.1 million Jews died during the Jewish War (Wars 6.9.2)
JOSEPHUS REPORTS TERRIBLE CARNAGE: Jerusalem, the temple, the Mediterranean, Sea of Galilee, Jordan, and Dead Sea covered with blood and gorged with bodies (Wars 3.9.3; 3.10.9.529-531; 4.7.6; 4.1.10.72-80; 4.5.1.313; 5.1.3.16-20; 6.8.5.404-406). Rev. 8:8-11
JOSEPHUS reports the Romans laying waste to Israel, setting fire to towns, cities, and trees (Wars 6.1.1; 3.7.8; 5.6.2; 3.7.1; 3.7.8; 5.6.2; 3.4.1; 6.6.2; 7.5.5). Rev. 18:8
DISTRESS "UNEQUALED SINCE THE BEGINNING OF THE WORLD AND NEVER TO BE EQUALED AGAIN"? Such language is used elsewhere in Scripture (Ez. 5:9, 2 Kings 18:5, 23:25). This judgment upon Jerusalem was without equal.
CHRIST’S COMING ON THE CLOUDS (Matt. 24:27, 30):
CLOUD COMING AN O.T. IMAGE OF GOD COMING IN JUDGMENT (Is. 19:1, Ps. 18:7-15)
HEAVENLY ARMIES REPORTED BY JOSEPHUS (Wars 6.5.3) AND TACITUS: "In the sky appeared a vision of armies in conflict, of glittering armor" (Histories 5.13)
THE COLLAPSE OF THE UNIVERSE (Matt. 24:29): The same cosmic language is used of the destruction of Babylon by the Medes (Is 13:9-10), and a prophesy against the nations (Is.34:3-5), both of which Christ quotes. Similar language is used of a judgment of the "people of the earth" in Is. 21:18-23, of the judgment of Judah in Jer. 4:23-29, and of the Day of the Lord in Joel 2:30-31.
THE GATHERING OF THE ELECT (Matt. 24:31) The “catching up” of the elect from the four corners of the earth.
The perishable is clothed with the imperishable.(I Cor. 15:50-54)
The dead are raised and those who are alive are “caught up” so that all disciples meet Christ together. ( 1 Thes. 4:13-18)
