Jesus—Son of Man, Son of God, and God the Son, has an extremely optimistic view of today and tomorrow. A victorious view of the outcome of His Church, fulfilling all things on the earth. It was a joy for Jesus to know by succeeding in His earthly mission—ministry, He would empower His Church through the infilling presence of His Holy Spirit, to succeed in hers.

 

Not a single time in history was Jesus ever defeated or a victim, Jesus was always the Victor! Jesus was not only victorious—the Victor, in His resurrection, ascension, and enthronement; Jesus was also victorious while Roman soldiers beat Him mercilessly at the whipping post, driving a crown of thorns deep into His skull. Jesus was victorious while willingly allowing violent men to nail His feet and hands to a splintered cross. Jesus was victorious as He thirsted for a drop of water and had a spear thrust into His side. Jesus was victorious when He cried out “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do!”

 

Jesus was victorious while descending into the lower regions of the earth as Victor, not a victim; gloriously triumphing over hell, death, and the grave. Christus Victor—Latin for “Christ is Victorious”.

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It was a literal joy for Jesus to know beyond a shadow of a doubt, the Church He builds, would not fail or be overtaken by the influences of evil. It was for this joy set before Jesus, that He willingly endured the cross, with all its sufferings and shame. At no time in history had the authorities or influences of evil defeated Jesus, not in His incarnation as the Son of Man or His earthly ministry. Neither in His death—dying as an atoning sacrifice for us, once and for all humanity.

 

The eschatology of Jesus—His view of the last things regarding His Church, is victorious. Just as Jesus the Son of Man was never defeated by evil, therefore His body—His Church, will never be defeated by evil. For the Church to fail in her global mission to disciple nations by causing the experiential knowledge of God’s glory to completely cover the earth, would mean Jesus failed in building His Church. A universal body of believers against which the gates of hades cannot prevail. Scripture portrays the Church—the body of Christ, that Jesus builds, as the Victor—more than conquerors but overcomers in this world.

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“Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, He was asking His disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” And they said, “Some say John the Baptist; and others, Elijah; but still others, Jeremiah, or one of the prophets.”  He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” Simon Peter answered, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”  And Jesus said to him, “Blessed are you, Simon Barjona, because flesh and blood did not reveal this to you, but My Father who is in heaven.  I also say to you that you are Peter, and upon this rock, I will build My church; and the gates of Hades will not overpower it.  I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall have been bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall have been loosed in heaven.”

Matthew 16:13-19

 

What if there was an event within biblical history that forever altered the lives of New Covenant believers? A single event within a moment in time, prophesied by the Old Testament Prophets, Jesus, and John the Baptist. An event so spectacular, it consumed the thoughts, intents, and writings of all the New Testament authors. An event that occurred forty years after the death and resurrection of Christ, significant to a new and better covenant with better promises. An event to which its fulfillment was spoken of and prophesied throughout the Old and New Testaments.[1]

 

As you read through the pages of this book, you will learn beyond a shadow of a doubt that such an event existed. A catastrophic event that took place in our past,[2] marked by a time of great tribulation such as the earth had never seen before, nor ever will again.[3]

 

“Then Jesus spoke to the crowds and to His disciples, saying “The Scribes and the Pharisees have seated themselves in the chair of Moses; therefore, all that they tell you, do and observe, but do not do according to their deeds; for they say things and do not do them. They tie up heavy burdens and lay them on men’s shoulders, but they themselves are unwilling to move them with so much as a finger. But they do all their deeds to be noticed by men; for they broaden their phylacteries and lengthen the tassels of their garments. They love the place of honor at banquets and the chief seats in the synagogues, and respectful greetings in the marketplaces, and being called Rabbi by men”.

Matthew 23:1-7

 

We read in Matthew 23:1-7, Jesus instructs the Jewish listeners, “Therefore, all that they tell you, do and observe, but do not do according to their deeds.” The Jews were still obligated to obey the Old Covenant, even though they were living in a New Testament. This is why Jesus instructed them to do and observe what they were told. At the same time, Jesus was warning the Jews not to follow in the footsteps of their leaders.

 

Scripture records that Jesus was the fulfillment of the Law and Prophets,[4] although He had not yet become humanity’s atoning sacrifice. He had not yet shed His blood for the remission of the world’s sins.[5] A new and better covenant with better promises had not yet been initiated and established. Jesus was still in the process of fulfilling His earthly ministry.   

 

It's important to understand that the sixty-six books of the Bible are divided into two separate Testaments—Old Testament and New Testament, and two separate covenants[6]—Old Covenant and New Covenant and speak of two separate ages[7]—present age and the age to come. The birth of Jesus brought an end to the Old Testament and established the beginning of the New Testament.

 

The Old Testament was a specific time, giving testimony or testifying of the Messiah to come. While the New Testament is a time giving testimony or testifying of the Messiah who had already come.

 

As we continue reading Matthew 23:1-7 we see that Jesus speaks concerning the condition of the heart of the Jewish leaders. He draws awareness to the hypocrisy of the Scribes and Pharisees. He deliberately exposes their self-righteous behavior and utter lack of respect for others and God. There could not have been a greater contrast between the message of God’s heart and love for His people—relayed through Jesus, compared to the self-preservation and disobedient actions exhibited by the teachers of the Law.

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JESUS DECLARES IMPENDING JUDGMENT ON APOSTATE ISRAEL

 

“Jerusalem, Jerusalem, who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, the way a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, and you were unwilling. Behold, your house is being left to you desolate! For I say to you, from now on you will not see Me until you say, ‘BLESSED IS HE WHO COMES IN THE NAME OF THE LORD!’"

Matthew 23:37-39

 

When you read throughout the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, you will discover that during Jesus’ three and a half year earthly ministry, He primarily ministered to the Jews.[8] The ministry of Jesus—Son of Man, Son of God, and God the Son, represented God’s grace made available to the Jewish people. God loved His chosen people with unconditional love,[9] and Jesus was no exception. Jesus was the Word made flesh,[10] the exact representation, and expression of Father God,[11] on earth.

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Jesus was the Son of God though also God the Son.[12] As one with the trinity, He was at the beginning of time and spoke ‘light’ into existence. Jesus walked with the Israelites every step of their covenantal journey.

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It was God; the Son; and Holy Spirit, who walked in a figure-eight pattern through the sacrifice prepared by Abram,[13] initiating the Abrahamic Covenant, while Abram was in a deep sleep. There was never a time when the Son of God was not present throughout Israel’s covenantal journey, all the way up until Jesus went to the cross. We can see as recorded in the Gospels that Jesus had an unfailing love for the Jewish people. He was heartsore, with an overwhelming desire to take care of them, comfort them, protect them, and save them.

  

Though because of the depths of the Scribe’s and Pharisee’s disobedient acts, and rebellious condition of the heart; Judgment would now come upon the House of Israel. A judgment that would lead to the complete annihilation of the Judaic System, with all its trappings, ceremonies, rituals, and animal sacrifices. All that the Jews had known since coming out of exile from Egypt, was soon to pass away.[14]

 

“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites, because you shut off the kingdom of heaven from people…”

Matthew 23:13

 

“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites, because you devour widows’ houses, and for a pretense, you make long prayers; therefore, you will receive greater condemnation.”

Matthew 23:14

 

“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites, because you travel around on sea and land to make one proselyte; and when he becomes one, you make him twice as much a son of hell as yourselves.”      

Matthew 23:15

 

“Woe to you, blind guides, who say, ‘Whoever swears by the temple, that is nothing; but whoever swears by the gold of the temple is obligated.’ You fools and blind men! Which is more important, the gold or the temple that sanctified the gold? And, ‘Whoever swears by the altar, that is nothing, but whoever swears by the offering on it, he is obligated. ’You blind men, which is more important, the offering, or the altar that sanctifies the offering? Therefore, whoever swears by the altar, swears both by the altar and by everything on it. And whoever swears by the temple, swears both by the temple and by Him who dwells within it. And whoever swears by heaven, swears both by the throne of God and by Him who sits upon it."

Matthew 23:16-22

 

“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you tithe mint and dill and cummin and have neglected the weightier provisions of the law: justice and mercy and faithfulness; but these are the things you should have done without neglecting the others. You blind guides, who strain out a gnat and swallow a camel!"

Matthew 23:23-24

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"Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you clean the outside of the cup and of the dish, but inside they are full of robbery and self-indulgence. You blind Pharisee, first clean the inside of the cup and of the dish, so that the outside of it may become clean also."

Matthew 23:25-26

 

“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs which on the outside appear beautiful, but inside they are full of dead men’s bones and all uncleanness. So, you, too, outwardly appear righteous to men, but inwardly you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness.”

Matthew 23:27-28

 

“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you build the tombs of the prophets and adorn the monuments of the righteous, and say, ‘If we had been living in the days of our fathers, we would not have been partners with them in shedding the blood of the prophets.’ So, you testify against yourselves, that you are sons of those who murdered the prophets. Fill up, then, the measure of the guilt of your fathers. You serpents, you brood of vipers, how will you escape the sentence of hell?”

Matthew 23:29-33

 

There was no resemblance of God to be found in the hearts or practices of the Scribes and Pharisees. Israel was a stiffed-neck people, an apostate[15] nation that no longer served the living God. They would soon seal their fate, thus bringing upon themselves the deserved retribution that Jesus prophesied, as He declared the eight individual Woes, against the House of Israel.

 

Jesus prophesies in Matthew 23:34 that He will send to the House of Israel prophets, wise men, and scribes to whom they will kill, crucify, and scourge. These representatives— sons, and daughters of God, will also be persecuted from city to city. This must come to pass, for Israel to fill up to overflowing the cup of the guilt of their fathers;[16] with the crucifixion of the Messiah as part of the righteous blood spilled.

 

As we’ll learn throughout the pages of “Eschatology Reimagined”, this prophecy was fulfilled between the time of A.D. 30 and A.D. 70, beginning with the death of Christ.  

 

“Therefore, behold, I am sending you prophets and wise men and scribes; some of them you will kill and crucify, and some of them you will scourge in your synagogues, and persecute from city to city, so that upon you may fall the guilt of all the righteous blood shed on earth, from the blood of righteous Abel to the blood of Zechariah, the son of Berechiah, whom you murdered between the temple and the altar. Truly I say to you, all these things will come upon this generation.”

Matthew 23:34-36

 

Eight woes Jesus declared upon the Scribes and Pharisees. Like a trial attorney presenting His case in court, Jesus carefully lays out His argument to indite. After presenting each charge, the evidence is overwhelming, and the verdict is rendered—guilty as charged.

 

As the verdict is read, Jesus prophesies not only the destruction to come as an impending judgment against the House of Israel but when it would occur.

 

“Behold, your house is being left to you desolate!”

 

“Truly I say to you, all these things will come upon this generation.”

 

Within a generation—forty years, Israel would be judged, a catastrophic event of utter destruction would take place, and all spiritual and physical existence of the Judaic System would no longer exist. Israel’s house would be left desolate[17] and the age of Moses—the Old Covenant age, would come to an end.

 

CONCLUSION

 

In this first chapter, we learned that Jesus told Peter that upon the revelation revealed to him by Father God—Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God; Jesus, “will build His church[18] and the gates of hades[19] will not overpower it.”[20]  

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This is a significant passage of scripture, conveying the optimistic view Jesus had of His Church and Her future on earth.[21] The influence of the enemy will not overpower the church. Jesus the Son of Man, Son of God, and God the Son prophesied that the church—ekklesia, He builds, the gates—authorities, of Hades—invisible underworld, will not overpower it—prevail against.

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The church Jesus prophesied He would build was not a local congregation or a church of the locality, over a city or region. Jesus was speaking of His assembly of believers, all believers, the universal Church, and one holy apostolic church. Jesus declared His body of believers, would not be overcome, overpowered, or overtaken by the influence of the enemy. This is Great News!

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We also learned of Jesus’ great love for Israel and His desire to comfort her, protect her, and ultimately save her. Though because of Israel’s self-serving desires and lack of repentance, reverence, and respect for the true and living God, she had brought desolation upon herself, utter destruction. The destruction and complete annihilation of the House of Israel were prophesied in both the Old and New Testaments. It is with this understanding that Jesus’ earthy ministry was to the Jews.

 

Jesus wanted to offer Israel every opportunity possible to repent and turn from their wicked ways—kiss the Son lest they perish.[22] The fact that Jesus primarily ministered to the House of Israel throughout His three and a half years of ministry, is not a reflection of His lack of love for all humanity. Though a reflection on His unfailing love for a nation that was soon to face a judgment so terrible, He wanted to save as many from the impending destruction as possible.

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In Matthew twenty-three, Jesus lays out His case for the destruction of the House of Israel, including an end to the Mosaic Law—the Law of Moses. Eight Woes were given as individual indictments against Israel. One by one, Israel was found guilty. The complete annihilation of the Judaic System was at hand, the entire existence of the Jew’s way of life since their exile from Egypt. Everything they had ever known, was soon to end abruptly.

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When will this take place? Jesus the Son of Man, Son of God, and God the Son prophesied in His foreknowledge, saying that it would happen within their—His, generation.[23]

 

“Truly I say to you, there are some of those who are standing here who will not taste death until they see the Son of Man coming in His kingdom.”

Matthew 16:28

 

In Matthew 16:28 Jesus the Son of Man, Son of God, and God the Son prophesies that some are standing there with Him while He is speaking, that would not taste death until they see the Son of Man coming in His Kingdom. As we’ll learn in future chapters, it was Jesus who came on the clouds in judgment against Israel using the Roman armies to carry out Israel’s destruction. Jesus would fulfill His prophecy, regarding the destruction of Israel.

 

Most believers today are unaware of the destruction of Israel as a nation, prophesied by Jesus the Son of Man, Son of God, and God the Son, that took place within Jesus’ generation. Or, of the great tribulation such as the earth had never seen before, nor ever will again, leading up to the complete annihilation of the very way and life of the Jewish people. Most believers today are not aware of when and how the Old Covenant came to an experiential end. Many of us simply haven’t learned church history in our local churches. And therefore, the very reason for writing, “Eschatology Reimagined”.