Sign answers

Two patterns emerge in Jesus’s list of signs related to the Temple’s fall: they became more intense and more figurative (Mark 13:5–27). Regarding intensity, he began with signs that were not immediate precursors of that event. These would give way to signs that would affect the apostles directly. These would…

This brief post will make a single point—Jesus used standard prophetic imagery to describe the Temple’s destruction. The need to establish this point is clear. In the Olivet Discourse (Mark 13:1–27), Jesus spoke about the Temple’s destruction. His disciples asked two questions about this prophecy: when would “these things” happen…

In Mark’s version of the Olivet Discourse (Mark 13:1–37), Jesus told his disciples about the Temple’s destruction (Mark 13:1–2). They asked two questions about “these things”: when would they happen and what would be their sign (Mark 13:3–4)? Jesus answers the questions in reverse order. He gives the sign in Mark 13:5–27…

Looking at street signs in the rearview mirrors of our cars does not help us get to our destination in most cases. Nevertheless, we can benefit by looking back at the signs of which we have been writing. In our last post, we completed our examination of the individual signs…

Our effort to develop a biblical prophetic model has reached a critical juncture. We will use the imagery of Hebrews 3:1–6 to show the central idea of this post. In that passage, Moses’ house signifies his management of the Old Covenant. The writer of Hebrews said Christ’s house—his administration of…

How could we have missed an event as phenomenal as the end of the world? Reading Jesus’ final group of signs for the destruction of the Temple can lead us to the conclusion we did just that. Jesus said: For as the lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth…

On Tuesday of his final week on earth, Jesus sat on the Mount of Olives. He told his disciples about the Temple’s destruction. They asked for a sign pointing to that age-changing event (Matthew 24:1–3). Jesus answered their request with a straightforward list of signs.  We categorized these signs into…

This post examines one of the most interesting signs Jesus gave for the destruction of the Temple—”the abomination of desolation” (Matthew 24:15). If you have not read our previous posts, we recommend you begin with our “Start Reading Here” page. We are developing an improved (we trust) model for interpreting biblical…

Turmoil often accompanies the inauguration of a new government. Even stable nations sometimes experience disruptions to the social, economic, and political order during transitions of power. As contrasts between the new and the old become starker, the protests against the change become more severe. Jesus’ disciples understood how the inauguration…