Behold He Cometh with Clouds V – The Destruction of Jerusalem
When Jesus was born and began to Minister in Judah and the surrounding countryside what Covenant was in force? It is imperative that we understand this. The law was in force. Jesus himself had to submit to its ordinances. After Mary’s purification according to the law Jesus was brought to the Temple that an offering to the Lord might be made.
Luke 2:22-24 “And when the days of their purification according to the law of Moses were fulfilled, they brought him up to Jerusalem, to present him to the Lord. 23 (as it is written in the law of the Lord, Every male that openeth the womb shall be called holy to the Lord), 24 and to offer a sacrifice according to that which is said in the law of the Lord, A pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons.”
My point in showing this in this study is to bring our attention to the fact that the Jewish people were still under the First Covenant when Jesus spoke. So, when Jesus spoke of the coming destruction as recorded in Luke 21 and Matthew 24, he was speaking in relationship to the what had been declared under the first Covenant. In Deuteronomy God spoke sharply to Israel in regard to not keeping his law, and having other God’s before Him. He set before them blessing and cursing and told them they would be blessed to the uttermost, but if they did not keep his law they would be under the curse. I challenge us all to read Deuteronomy 28 and to grasp that this Covenant was in force when Jesus came on the scene and when he declared the destruction of the Temple in Luke 21 and Matthew 24.
In Deuteronomy 28 we can see absolute parallels to what Jesus says in Luke 21 and Matthew 24, as well as what John writes in the Book of Revelation. For example, in verses 49 and 50 of Deuteronomy 28, it is declared that the Israelites will be destroyed by a fierce nation. When Jesus is born in Bethlehem, the fiercest of nations is in power in Jerusalem, with Rome having rule over them. Verse 52 is one of the most powerful parallels to Jesus saying, “But when ye see Jerusalem compassed with armies, then know that her desolation is at hand,” you will find in your Bible. This verse declares that a siege will be laid to the walls of Israel, and that they will come down. According to history Rome did this to Jerusalem.
The scriptures are so powerful when we see them line up in accordance with one another. Deuteronomy 28, also says that Israel will be destroyed with the sword, with famine, and pestilence. This sounds very familiar if I compare it with the four horses of Revelation, which John sees riding through the land. Deuteronomy 28 declares plagues upon Israel. The Book of Revelation is full of plagues. Deuteronomy 28 declares that their carcasses will be fed to the fowls of the air. Jesus speaks that where the carcass is there the fowls will be gathered together. There are so many similarities to what Jesus declares in Matthew 24 and Luke 21, what they Book of Revelation says, and what Deuteronomy says that it would be hard pressed to simply call them a coincidence. In fact, I believe we should rather take a closer look at what is said.
Now how does this relate to Coming in Clouds. In the Old Testament Cloud Comings speaks of the Glory Cloud filling the Temple as we have also seen, but also speaks of judgement to destruction. The Book of Joel makes this clear.
Joel 2:1-6 Blow ye the trumpet in Zion, and sound an alarm in my holy mountain: let all the inhabitants of the land tremble: for the day of the LORD cometh, for it is nigh at hand; 2 A day of darkness and of gloominess, a day of clouds and of thick darkness, as the morning spread upon the mountains: a great people and a strong; there hath not been ever the like, neither shall be any more after it, even to the years of many generations. 3. A fire devoureth before them; and behind them a flame burneth: the land is as the garden of Eden before them, and behind them a desolate wilderness; yea, and nothing shall escape them. 4 The appearance of them is as the appearance of horses; and as horsemen, so shall they run. 5 Like the noise of chariots on the tops of mountains shall they leap, like the noise of a flame of fire that devoureth the stubble, as a strong people set in battle array. 6 Before their face the people shall be much pained: all faces shall gather blackness.
“A day of clouds and thick darkness, a people great and strong.” This is speaking of the looming destruction of Jerusalem. Blow the trumpet and tremble for what is coming upon the land. So, when Revelation speaks of great judgements, and plagues, and destruction, could it be that it goes along with the rest of the Bible and the First Covenant? Could it be that God does what He says He will do?
Israel as a nation rejected Him. They were not keeping Covenant. When Messiah came, they did not receive Him as a nation. As many as did became sons of God, but as a nation they turned from him and rather declared “Let His blood be upon us.” In other words, they were responsible for His death, and they did not receive it as the sacrifice. They did it from a vengeful heart. Had they known they would not have crucified the LORD of Glory, for their power and place in the land was taken. Jesus was glorified and raised from the dead with all power and glory. He was then and now is the King of Israel and the King of the whole earth.
Let all the earth declare His Glory!
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