TEACHING NOTES Introduction The great tribulation has been the subject of many books and debates for the last 200 years. The popular view in western Christianity teaches that the tribulation is a future 7-year period that begins after the rapture. In this view, Matthew 24 is a description of the future tribulation. In this series, we have learned that in Matt. 24:1-35 Jesus is warning His disciples about events that would occur in their generation. In this session, we will focus on the tribulation that Jesus predicted and the historical fulfillment of those events. The History of The Great 7-Year Tribulation As stated in previous sessions of this series, the idea of the rapture and a 7-year tribulation is a fairly new doctrine made popular in the 1830s by John Nelson Darby and later others. Early Christians believed that Matt. 24 was mostly describing events that occured in Jerusalem in AD 66-70, which was 3 1/2 years long. Simply put, the idea that the tribulation is a 7-year period in the future is a new doctrine, totally unknown before 1830. Doesn’t the Bible describe a 7-year tribulation? Actually, while the Bible describes a period of great tribulation, it is always described as 3 1/2 years and never seven years. The 7-year tribulation is based on John Nelson Darby’s interpretation of Daniel 9:27 (the final week of Daniel’s 70 weeks). Darby inserted a gap in Daniel’s 70 weeks between the 69th and 70th week, even though there is no biblical reason to do so. Darby taught that Daniel’s 70th week is the 7-year time of tribulation. However, Jesus never spoke of a 7-year tribulation and neither does Revelation. In Revelation, we are repeatedly told that the time of tribulation is 3 1/2 years. More on that in the next series on Revelation. Where does “great tribulation” appear in the NT? Matt. 24:21 “For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been from the beginning of the world until now, no, and never will be.” Rev. 2:22 “Behold, I will throw her onto a sickbed, and those who commit adultery with her I will throw into great tribulation, unless they repent of her works,” Rev. 7:14 “I said to him, “Sir, you know.” And he said to me, “These are the ones coming out of the great tribulation. They have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.” What tribulation was Jesus predicting? It is clear from reading Matthew 24 in context, that Jesus was describing a time of great tribulation that would happen within 40 years. ​ Matthew 24:34 ESV 34 Truly, I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all these things take place. In Matt. 24:1-34, the “you” is the disciples who were standing there listening to Jesus. “This generation” is their generation. None of the Olivet Discourse would have made sense to the disciples if Jesus was talking about a generation living thousands of years later. Jesus was predicting the destruction of Jerusalem and the temple. Jesus predicted the events in the early 30s and it all happened within 40 years. Understanding what happened in history will help us see the accuracy of Jesus’ prophesy. This will also prepare us for understanding Revelation. The Great Tribulation of Matt. 24:1-35 The Jewish War (AD 66-70) [54-66] Pre-War Events: Nero becomes Emperor of Rome in 54. Class warfare between Pharisees and Sadducees leads to poorer priests being starved to death (56). Lunar Eclipse on March 61 (Sukkot) & Sept. 61 (Passover). James (brother of Jesus) stoned in Jerusalem (62). Prophet Jesus ben Ananus begins to pronounce woes on Jerusalem (63). Nero burns Rome, blames Christians, persecution begins in Nov. 64 that will continue for 42 months. Seven miraculous signs begin before Passover (65). Zealots see these as signs that God will give them victory over Rome. Faithful Jews see these as warning signs that God will allow Jerusalem to be destroyed. One of these signs was a loud voice in the temple saying “Let us leave this place.” Rabbi Jonathan wrote, “Three and a half years the Shekinah (glory of God) abode upon the Mount of Olives” (Midrash Rabbah, Lamentations 25). [66] Gessius Florus (Roman Governor of Judea in 64-66): Appointed by Emperor Nero in 64. Very antagonistic against the Jews. Credited by Josephus as being the primary cause of the Jewish war. In Caesarea, unclean birds were sacrificed in the Jewish synagogue making the place ritually unclean. The Jews then petition Florus and paid 8 talents (160 years wages) for his help. After accepting their money, he had them imprisoned. Entered the Jewish temple and stole 17 talents (340 years worth of wages) from its treasury in 66. For a Gentile to enter the temple was an abomination. Killed 3,600 citizens (Jews & Romans) during a 5-month period in 66. This emboldens the Zealots to revolt against the Romans. The revolt gets so bad that king Agrippa II and wife Bernice flee Jerusalem. [66] Cestius Gallus (Roman General from Syria): Nero sends Cestius to stop fighting Jerusalem in Nov. 66. The Jews are already fighting against each other in Jerusalem. Cestius sends out soldiers to destroy crops in villages around the city. Sets fire to the local timber market and upper city. After only six days of war, Cestius makes it to the temple then suddenly retreats. The Jewish Zealots see this as a sign from God that they will win. High Priests Ananus and Jesus (Joshua), along with many others, see this as a sign to stop the foolish war. This break in the war or “days cut short” (Matt. 24:22) gave Christians time to flee Jerusalem, which records show that many fled north to Pella across the Jordan River. Zealots in Jerusalem appoint 10 generals (Josephus over Galilee). [67] General Vespasian sent to Israel: Vespasian sent by Nero to finish what Cestius started with 20,000-30,000 Roman troops and forces from nations around Israel. Vespasian’s son Titus joins the war, coming from the south (Egypt). Vespasian begins in the north (Galilee) brutally killing thousands (15,000 in one day). Sea of Galilee becomes filled with bodies and the Jordan River is flowing with blood. The shores of the Sea of Galilee are filled with bodies and destroyed ships. People all over Israel flee to Jerusalem because it is the most fortified city. Vespasian begins to hear of a revolt in Gall against Nero. [68-69] Rome is Falling Apart: A revolt against Nero causes him to commit suicide in 68. Rome descends into civil war. The year 68-69 is named “the year of four emperors.” Galba is declared Rome’s 7th emperor but is killed only a month later by Otho who became the 8th emperor. Four months later, Vitellius attacks Rome and Otho commits suicide. Vitellius becomes the 9th emperor. Nine months later, Vespasian leaves Israel to attack Rome and becomes the 10th emperor. Vespasian leaves Titus to finish the war in Jerusalem. [68-69] Jerusalem’s Increasing Lawlessness: Simon bar Giora (a Gerasene) had laid waste to Idumea (to the south). Simon gained power over one faction in Jerusalem and controls the upper city. Simon incites civil war among the Jews. John of Gischala with Zealots & Idumeans take control of temple mount. Temple is desecrated by foreigners and bloodshed. Eleazar ben Simon (Zealot leader) works with John to fight against the Jews who want the war to end. Two priests (Ananus & Jesus/Joshua) are continuing to prophesy that Jerusalem will fall. Eleazar & John have the two priests/prophets killed and refuse to let them be buried. Instead their bodies are left in the street to be mocked. During one night, an earthquake followed by a violent storm incites the Idumeans to charge the temple. At the end of the storm 8,500 bodies lie dead in the temple courts. Jerusalem is filled with war and all kinds of abominations. The temple had been defiled multiple times and a counterfeit priesthood had been instated since the beginning of the war. [70] The Final 5-Month Siege of Jerusalem: Titus surrounds Jerusalem cuts down all the trees to build walls and siegeworks (catapults, ballistas, towers, ramps). Josephus writes that the entire region, that was once a flourishing forrest, now looked like a desert. Titus builds a wall around the entire city to prevent anyone from coming out at night to find food. This was a common tactic used to starve the enemy into surrender. Titus’ goal was not to destroy the city but to get them to surrender, but the Jews refused. Eleazar ben Simon burns the food supply in Jerusalem to encourage the population to fight. Mass starvation ensues and cannibalism begins. Had Eleazar not burned the food supply, the population could have survived for up to three years. John of Gischala betrays Eleazar ben Simon and they become enemies. Jerusalem is split into 3 factions: (1) Simon bar Giora (2) John of Gischala (3) Eleazar ben Simon. Now there are three opposing sides at war within the city. Temple is filled with so much blood of Jews and foreigners that blood is running down the steps out of the temple mount. On August 31, Titus defeats Jerusalem, sets up Roman idols in the temple, sacrifices pigs on the altar, rapes two women on a Torah scroll, and is worshiped as emperor and as a god. August 31 is the same day on which the temple had been destroyed previously. Of the 2,700,200 people who had come to Jerusalem during the war 1,100,000 were killed (approx. 1/3) and 97,000 were taken as slaves. Why are these events important? First, it helps us to understand the historical fulfillment of Jesus’ prophesy. It proves that Jesus was correct when He said “this generation will not pass away until all these things take place” (Matt. 24:34). Within 40 years of Jesus’ prophesy, everything in Matt. 24:1-34 occured. Second, there are multiple details of this period of history that also appear in the book of Revelation. It could be, and numerous scholars agree, that Revelation 6-19 is a more detailed description of Matt. 24, but given in apocalyptic visions. That doesn’t mean that everything in Revelation has already happened, but it could mean that many of the events are in the past. The only way to know is to read Revelation from a first-century point of view to see if there are similarities to historical events. Note: Those who believe that nothing in Revelation has been fulfilled criticize the first-century approach as merely trying to connect visions in Revelation to historical events. However, nearly all approaches to interpreting Revelation attempt to connect Revelation to historical events. Numbers to Remember Why? All of these numbers also appear in Revelation: 1,260 days / 42 months / 3.5 years / time, times, half a time 5 months (Florus’ 5-month terror, Titus’ 5-month siege) 10,000 or Twice 10,000 (number of troops) 6 (Nero is the 6th emperor of Rome) 1/3 (number of people killed)