Expert: Joe Norman - 1/25/2007

Question
My family and I have recently been trying to figure out what church we should go to. It seems one day I think Baptist the other Church of Christ. The one thing that holds me back from COC is there interpretation of Mat. 24:29-32. I believe it is a stretch to say that this is talking about the Roman Army. I have asked a couple other of the expert about this and one agreed with me, the other went way off in left field with his answer. I am not trying to talk bad about that expert, it is just things like that that make me nervous about making the wrong decision. I very much want to do what God wants me to do. Problem is it seems like the COC is all about you believing what they believe or your wrong an going to hell. I have to see proof in the Word of God. If I don't see it that way then I can't except that. What is your feeling on End Times and Mathew 24:29-32?

Answer
    I am very thankful that you are willing to let me have an opportunity to respond to you as well. The expert you thought went way off in left field is a friend, but I do not agree with him on much of what Matt.24:29-32 or Revelation means.  I am pretty sure that most people in the churches of Christ or any denomination will not agree 100% on Revelation or Matthew 24:29-32. Overall, we tend to agree on one thing and that is that what is referred to as Pre-Millennialism is completely incorrect. I really hope that you will not base your decision mostly on how we understand these highly figurative passages. The majority of the Bible is not figurative and needs no real interpretation. Yet, the passage that you are asking about is all figurative language. It’s important to remember that you cannot interpret anything in the Bible that the Bible itself does not interpret.

 Your question is not easy to answer quickly. I can understand your confusion. It is especially difficult to understand these passages for someone who is just beginning to study the Bible. I have studied the Bible since I was 12 yrs old and read cover to cover at least once a year.  Before you try to understand the passage in Matthew, I think it is important to keep in mind certain things that Jesus made very clear.

Matt.24:34
34“Assuredly, I say to you, this generation will by no means pass away till all these things take place.

Matt.24:
42-44
42“Watch therefore, for you do not know what hour your Lord is coming. 43“But know this, that if the master of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched and not allowed his house to be broken into. 44“Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.

John 18:36
36Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not of this world. If My kingdom were of this world, My servants would fight, so that I should not be delivered to the Jews; but now My kingdom is not from here.”


Next, look at Zechariah Chapter 14, Joel Chapter 2 and Zephaniah Chapter 1.

Also, consider Isaiah 64:10, 11
10Your holy cities are a wilderness, Zion is a wilderness, Jerusalem a desolation.11Our holy and beautiful temple, Where our fathers praised You, Is burned up with fire; And all our pleasant things are laid waste.

All these were Old Testament prophecies of a coming judgment on Israel. The destruction of the Temple was foretold: “house shall be desolate.” Some stones were 12 foot cubes (Matt.24:1; Mark 13:1; Luke 13:3f.) Now take careful note of what the disciples asked. They asked two questions of Jesus. The first was regarding time. “When shall these things be?” (Matt.24:3; Mark 13:1; Luke 21:7) This was answered in Matt.24:32-34 and Mark 13:30-32 and Luke 21:32. Jesus clearly stated that that generation would not pass away until all the things He spoke of took place.  The second question they asked was regarding signs. “What shall be the sign…?” Jesus answered this as well in Matt.24:15; Mark 13:14; and Luke 21:20.

Matthew 24 speaks of a different question - because in 23:33-39 - blesses is he that cometh in the name of the Lord. They knew of His coming and judgment on this people and this house, 23:39.  The things that Jesus talks about in Matt.24:4-14(also in Mark 13:6-13; Luke 21:8-19) are misunderstood as Signs of the end of the world. This is highly figurative language referring to the destruction of Jerusalem and judgment on the nation of Israel. The things that changed as a result of what occurred in A.D. 70 were that no longer was the nation of Israel able to trace their families to a certain tribe and no longer was the priesthood of Levi able to remain in place. It was also what ended their practice of animal sacrifice. This was what Jesus was referring to and it becomes clear when you first look at what was prophesied in the OT and compare what was written to what Jesus says here. Jesus did come figuratively in judgment on Israel. He stated that all would occur before that generation passed away. This is why we cannot accept the teaching that this is about the end of the world. Jesus clearly states it will happen in the lifetime of that generation- Matt.24:34, 35; Mark 13:30, 31; Luke 21:32, 33.

I hope that this has helped you. I also want to ask you to feel free to contact me directly. I recommend that you base your decision as to which church you should join on who is really seeking to be like the church of the first century. If you would like to study more with me I have a yahoo Bible Study group.

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/narrow_way/

You can also write me at joetenor1066@gmail.com

 I also would like for you to please not misunderstand the attitudes of some in the church of Christ to be the way all members are like. We are all human and have faults. There is no such thing as a church where all the members are at the same level of spiritual maturity either. All local churches of Christ are independent and autonomous. This is the way the original church was in the first century. We are striving to be as much like the church that was established in the first century as we possibly can. We seek for all to unite on God’s Word and believe that it is possible because it is what Jesus and the Apostles prayed and worked for constantly. Divisions were never wanted or pleasing and so the only way we can all truly unite is to get rid of all denominational doctrines and creeds. This is what we are all about. If you will be willing, I am more than open to studying more with you. I thank you for your deep desire to know the truth of God’s Word.


               In Christ, Joe Norman