And when ye shall see Jerusalem compassed with armies, then know that the desolation thereof is nigh.
When the city is seen encircled by hostile armies, its ruin is close at hand. That encirclement came when idolatrous Roman standards were planted on holy ground and when Cestius surrounded Jerusalem and then strangely withdrew, opening the way for all who heeded the warning to flee at once to the mountains and to Pella without turning back for possessions, so that about forty years after the warning not one obedient Christian perished in the city's fall. The doom fell because the people rejected Christ and despised the offer of salvation, when receiving Him would have kept the city secure and made it a center of peace for the nations. The warning of Jerusalem's fall was spoken in the same discourse with the coming of Christ and the end of the world, and its signs still testify that the end is near. As the surrounding of Jerusalem by Roman armies was the signal for flight, so national apostasy and a decree enforcing the false sabbath will warn God's people to leave the cities for retired homes among the mountains, for the limit of forbearance is reached and sudden danger is ahead, calling all to be ready, to hold means loose from the world, and to prepare for the heavenly country.
Sign and Historical Fulfillment
The appointed sign that desolation was near was the sight of Jerusalem compassed with armies. When the city should be seen thus surrounded, its ruin was to be known as at hand. That encirclement was fulfilled when Roman standards bearing idolatrous symbols were set up on holy ground outside the city walls.
The surrounding of Jerusalem by Cestius with the Roman forces, followed by his unexpected withdrawal, was the fulfillment that opened the way of escape. Those who trusted the warning recognized in that withdrawal the promised signal to leave, and before the siege was resumed they fled from the city to safety at Pella. In this manner belief of the warning secured deliverance from the coming destruction.
At that signal those in Jerusalem and Judea were to flee at once to the mountains without delay. None were to stop to gather belongings or to turn back for clothing, for delay would expose them to destruction and escaping was a matter of life. When the foretold sudden danger comes, believers must not go into the house to take out anything but must make their way to the mountains as fast as they can go. About forty years after the warning was given Jerusalem was destroyed. Christians who obeyed and fled escaped its fall, and no Christian perished in its destruction.
Cause and Judgment of Jerusalem
Jerusalem was doomed because its people rejected Jesus and His offer of salvation, rejected truth and despised God's messages, and did not heed the warning of coming destruction. The encirclement by armies was the sign that desolation was near, and the siege and destruction that followed came as the consequence of that rejection.
Had the city received Christ and His teaching, it could have been spared Roman rule and remained secure. Instead of ruin, it could have become a center of truth and a source of peace to the nations. The verse foresaw the Roman siege with famine, starvation, violence and suffering within the city, and the ruin of the city and temple left in ruins. Many Jews would die even while offering sacrifices in the temple.
At the destruction crucifixion was revived and the Jews themselves became its victims, with multitudes dying on crosses as the doom they had called down on Christ came upon them. The calamities suffered by individuals warned that a greater judgment was approaching the nation. The warning was given while there was still opportunity to repent, be saved, and find peace with God.
When starvation and other suffering came upon the city, the people remembered Christ's warning and understood the parable. Their suffering followed their neglect to share their God-given light with the world.
Prophecy and End-Time Application
The warning about Jerusalem surrounded by armies belongs to the prophecy of Jerusalem's destruction spoken together in one discourse with the prophecy of Christ's coming and the end of the world. Though the temple appeared strong, that strength could not prevent its ruin. The prophecy reaches beyond the fall of Jerusalem to the final judgment. The chapter containing this warning shows what may be expected, and its signs testify that the end is near.
The approach of the Roman armies was the sign that the limit of forbearance had been reached and judgment was about to fall. In the same way, national apostasy through the threefold union, the repudiation of righteous principles, and the enforcement of papal falsehood is the sign that the limit of God's forbearance is reached and the measure of national iniquity is full. Then the angel of mercy is about to depart never to return, the marvelous working of Satan begins, and the end with affliction and distress for God's people is near. As the encircling of Jerusalem by Roman armies was the signal for flight for Judean Christians, so the assumption of power in a decree enforcing the papal Sabbath will warn God's people to leave the large cities in preparation for leaving the smaller ones for retired homes in secluded places among the mountains. Like the early disciples, they will be forced to seek refuge in desolate and solitary places.
Christ's warning points to sudden danger ahead when the foretold signs take place. The time is short; what lies ahead is known, but when it will come and what may break forth cannot be told, for it comes suddenly. When those things happen believers must not go into the house to get anything out but must make their way to the mountains as fast as they can go. All must therefore be ready by humbling themselves day by day and imparting to others the light God gives them. Because that time is not far distant, it is no time to fix affections on the world, lay up treasure on earth, seek expensive dwellings, or tie up means in lands and worldly enterprises, but to economize, keep means in hand for God's cause, and prepare to move to a better, even heavenly, country.
When the city is seen encircled by hostile armies, its ruin is close at hand. That encirclement came when idolatrous Roman standards were planted on holy ground and when Cestius surrounded Jerusalem and then strangely withdrew, opening the way for all who heeded the warning to flee at once to the mountains and to Pella without turning back for possessions, so that about forty years after the warning not one obedient Christian perished in the city's fall. The doom fell because the people rejected Christ and despised the offer of salvation, when receiving Him would have kept the city secure and made it a center of peace for the nations. The warning of Jerusalem's fall was spoken in the same discourse with the coming of Christ and the end of the world, and its signs still testify that the end is near. As the surrounding of Jerusalem by Roman armies was the signal for flight, so national apostasy and a decree enforcing the false sabbath will warn God's people to leave the cities for retired homes among the mountains, for the limit of forbearance is reached and sudden danger is ahead, calling all to be ready, to hold means loose from the world, and to prepare for the heavenly country.
Sign and Historical Fulfillment
The appointed sign that desolation was near was the sight of Jerusalem compassed with armies. When the city should be seen thus surrounded, its ruin was to be known as at hand. That encirclement was fulfilled when Roman standards bearing idolatrous symbols were set up on holy ground outside the city walls.
The surrounding of Jerusalem by Cestius with the Roman forces, followed by his unexpected withdrawal, was the fulfillment that opened the way of escape. Those who trusted the warning recognized in that withdrawal the promised signal to leave, and before the siege was resumed they fled from the city to safety at Pella. In this manner belief of the warning secured deliverance from the coming destruction.
At that signal those in Jerusalem and Judea were to flee at once to the mountains without delay. None were to stop to gather belongings or to turn back for clothing, for delay would expose them to destruction and escaping was a matter of life. When the foretold sudden danger comes, believers must not go into the house to take out anything but must make their way to the mountains as fast as they can go. About forty years after the warning was given Jerusalem was destroyed. Christians who obeyed and fled escaped its fall, and no Christian perished in its destruction.
Cause and Judgment of Jerusalem
Jerusalem was doomed because its people rejected Jesus and His offer of salvation, rejected truth and despised God's messages, and did not heed the warning of coming destruction. The encirclement by armies was the sign that desolation was near, and the siege and destruction that followed came as the consequence of that rejection.
Had the city received Christ and His teaching, it could have been spared Roman rule and remained secure. Instead of ruin, it could have become a center of truth and a source of peace to the nations. The verse foresaw the Roman siege with famine, starvation, violence and suffering within the city, and the ruin of the city and temple left in ruins. Many Jews would die even while offering sacrifices in the temple.
At the destruction crucifixion was revived and the Jews themselves became its victims, with multitudes dying on crosses as the doom they had called down on Christ came upon them. The calamities suffered by individuals warned that a greater judgment was approaching the nation. The warning was given while there was still opportunity to repent, be saved, and find peace with God.
When starvation and other suffering came upon the city, the people remembered Christ's warning and understood the parable. Their suffering followed their neglect to share their God-given light with the world.
Prophecy and End-Time Application
The warning about Jerusalem surrounded by armies belongs to the prophecy of Jerusalem's destruction spoken together in one discourse with the prophecy of Christ's coming and the end of the world. Though the temple appeared strong, that strength could not prevent its ruin. The prophecy reaches beyond the fall of Jerusalem to the final judgment. The chapter containing this warning shows what may be expected, and its signs testify that the end is near.
The approach of the Roman armies was the sign that the limit of forbearance had been reached and judgment was about to fall. In the same way, national apostasy through the threefold union, the repudiation of righteous principles, and the enforcement of papal falsehood is the sign that the limit of God's forbearance is reached and the measure of national iniquity is full. Then the angel of mercy is about to depart never to return, the marvelous working of Satan begins, and the end with affliction and distress for God's people is near. As the encircling of Jerusalem by Roman armies was the signal for flight for Judean Christians, so the assumption of power in a decree enforcing the papal Sabbath will warn God's people to leave the large cities in preparation for leaving the smaller ones for retired homes in secluded places among the mountains. Like the early disciples, they will be forced to seek refuge in desolate and solitary places.
Christ's warning points to sudden danger ahead when the foretold signs take place. The time is short; what lies ahead is known, but when it will come and what may break forth cannot be told, for it comes suddenly. When those things happen believers must not go into the house to get anything out but must make their way to the mountains as fast as they can go. All must therefore be ready by humbling themselves day by day and imparting to others the light God gives them. Because that time is not far distant, it is no time to fix affections on the world, lay up treasure on earth, seek expensive dwellings, or tie up means in lands and worldly enterprises, but to economize, keep means in hand for God's cause, and prepare to move to a better, even heavenly, country.