Jesus and Josephus
All of these things will happen before this generation passes away.
Key words
- Prior to: before a particular time or event
All utensils should be washed prior to use.
- Viper: a small, poisonous snake & a very unpleasant person who you cannot trust
When I started my new job, I didn't realize that I was walking into a nest of vipers.
- Shed: to make blood or tears flow
He didn’t shed one tear when his old car was stolen.
- Specifically: clearly, exactly, or in detail
She mentioned you specifically.
- Pass away: to die
Her father passed away last week.
- Supernatural: forces or events that cannot be explained by science
A supernatural light began to glow.
- Omen: an event that is thought to tell something about the future
Many people believe that a broken mirror is an omen of bad luck.
Read the article to find the answers
- What is the Olivet Discourse?
- What did Jesus say about 'this generation'?
- Who was Flavius Josephus?
- Which infamous city did he compare 'this generation' to?
The Olivet Discourse
As the Apostles were leaving the temple, one of Jesus's followers mentioned how impressive the buildings were. Jesus replied:
See these great buildings? They will all be torn down.
The Apostles were shocked and asked Him:
When will these things happen? What will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?
Jesus replied by giving them a list of events that would take place before He would return and end the age in which they were living. This is known as the Olivet Discourse.
The Olivet Discourse is found in chapters 24 and 25 of the Gospel of Matthew. In the Gospel of Mark, the parallel passage is found in chapter 13. In the Gospel of Luke, it is recorded in chapter 21.
In the Olivet Discourse, Jesus clearly warned the people to whom he was speaking directly that this disaster would happen to their generation. Prior to the Olivet Discourse, the Gospel of Matthew records Jesus criticizing the Pharisees, calling their generation evil and adulterous.
Generation of vipers, you cannot speak good things because you are evil. Your evil words flow from your evil heart. ... When it is evening, you say: "It will be good weather tomorrow because the sky is red." And in the morning you say, "It will be bad weather today because the sky is red." You hypocrites, you can see the signs in the sky, but you cannot see the signs of the times. A wicked and adulterous generation wants to see a sign, the only sign you will see is the sign of the prophet Jonas. ... Faithless and perverse generation, how long will I be with you? How long will I suffer you? ... O serpents, O generation of vipers, how can you escape the damnation of hell? I send you prophets and wise men, and you persecute and kill them. This generation will pay for all the righteous blood shed on the earth, from Abel to this day.
Jesus was clearly referring specifically to the people of Israel who were alive at that time. He told the Apostles in private that:
This generation will not pass away until all these things are done.
Flavius Josephus
The writings of Josephus, a Judeo-Roman historian of that generation who witnessed the destruction of Jerusalem, strongly agree with what Jesus said about the behavior of the people in Jerusalem at that time. Josephus wrote about how immoral they were. He wrote that their actions were so terrible that it was almost impossible to describe all the immoral things they did.
Josephus wrote that the moral corruption of this generation was even worse than that of the people of Sodom, who were notorious for their selfish wickedness. In the time of Josephus, moral corruption was everywhere, both in public and in private, and there was even a sense of competition to be the most disrespectful to God and unfair to one's neighbor.
Josephus also documented many supernatural events in Jerusalem before and during its destruction. He wrote:
The deceived and faithless ignored clear signs of impending doom, such as a sword-like star, a year-long comet, and a supernatural light. Despite these warnings, they remained blind and indifferent to Jesus's prophecy. A heifer giving birth to a lamb in the temple and the miraculous opening of a heavy temple gate were misinterpreted by the ignorant as positive omens, while the learned saw them as omens of impending disaster. There was also a strange event involving chariots and soldiers in the clouds, and during the feast of Pentecost the priests experienced a shaking and heard an invisible crowd urging them to leave.
Discussion questions
- Do you have any questions about any of the vocabulary or grammar in this article?
- Do you know the Bible passage quoted at the top of this article?
- What do you know about Abel?
- Have you read anything by Flavius Josephus?
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