Jesus’ followers had begun to think, just maybe he was the long-expected Messiah. He certainly spoke that way with his kingdom language, judgement parables, and emphasis on the hot topic, an apocalyptic cataclysm to usher in a new world order.
Jesus clearly expected God’s dramatic intervention in his own generation, when the the ‘Son of Man’ spoken of in the book of Daniel would overthrow evil and establish God’s kingdom on earth. Basing his interpretation on the gospel accounts, Bart Ehrman stands with a long line of scholars who interpret Jesus through the lens of 1st century Jewish apocalypticism. That the temple would be destroyed was unthinkable, – of course Jesus’ disciples felt compelled to ask, “when will these things happen?”
Even living under Roman occupation, the thought of the temple being destroyed and an end to the religious practices and worship connected to the temple was beyond belief. But the catastrophe became history when in 66 CE Emperor Titus gave the order to end the rebellion against the Roman occupation. Then in 70 CE following a gruesome siege which lasted five-months, Jerusalem was sacked and the temple destroyed just as Jesus had predicted.
Under siege, the people had been living under diabolical conditions when the end came, and the devastation was so complete that only a section of the Western Wall remained standing. The temple had been magnificent, an elaborate stone and timber structure, with extensive courtyards, ritual baths, and the Holy of Holies where God dwelt.
The term, ‘Wailing Wall’ came about because the Western Wall as it is called now is all that remains of the sacred site where devout Jews still pray for the rebuilding of the Temple and for personal issues such as health, etc.
Answering the disciple’s question, “when will these things happen?” Jesus listed catastrophic events and disasters that have occurred throughout human history and indeed the history of the planet. Depicted in primitive art and confirmed by historical and geological records, earthquakes, disease, famines, solar and cosmic events, and unspecified “fearful events” have occurred since the beginning of time. So also, violence and victimisation have dominated human history, and just as Jesus described, people have been dragged before authorities to give account of their beliefs and suffer the consequences.
The Roman historians Flavius Josephus and Publius Tacitus a senator and Proconsul of Asia, recorded earthquakes causing widespread destruction in 62 CE just eight years before the attack on Jerusalem. Josephus in his work The Jewish War, describes a comet-like star, visions of chariots in the sky, and a bright light over the then standing temple. Interpreting the phenomena as divine warnings, he writes “A star resembling a sword stood over the city, and a long-haired star (translated comet) continued for a whole year.” [Book 6, Ch.5, Section 3] He describes a bright light illuminating the temple for half an hour and records that “Before sun setting, chariots and troops of soldiers in their armour were seen running about among the clouds and surrounding cities.” (Bk 6, 288-300)
Tacitus describes extraordinary omens and celestial phenomena prior to the Roman siege of Jerusalem. “Contending hosts were seen meeting in the skies, and arms flashing, and suddenly the Temple was illumined with a bright light from the clouds. The doors of the shrine suddenly opened, and a superhuman voice cried, ‘The gods are departing.’” (Tacitus, Histories 5.13)
But Seneca the Younger a Roman philosopher, statesman, and advisor to Emperor Nero, in his Natural Questions, argues from a scientific perspective: “Men fear comets as if they were portents of some disaster…but they are part of the eternal order of nature.” (Naturales Quaestines 7:4.1. On Comets) He recorded, “Fiery darts” and “flaming sky trails” but unlike Josephus and Tacitus, he explains that comets are not omens but part of the natural order like planets and stars. Seneca provides a counterpoint to Josephus and Tacitus, explaining that the common people, political elites and rulers understood celestial observations as omens of disaster.
Without scientific knowledge a comet described as a “star like a sword,” and “chariots in the sky” resonated with popular superstition circulating rapidly and generating fear. “The nature, form and course of what are called comets are uncertain. But as soon as they appear, the common people tremble, and even kings fear for their fate” he observed in [Naturales Quaestines 7.16.2] Rejecting the idea that comets are portents of disaster, Senica, remarkably for his time, understood heavenly bodies follow predictable orbits.
Scholars interpret the reporting of otherworldly events as apocalyptic storytelling, symbolic narratives drawn from the same oral traditions, and strikingly like imagery in Daniel 7, and Luke 21:25-28 which continues on from our reading today. For early Christians, these events confirmed Jesus’ prophecies about signs in the heavens and the impending destruction of the temple.
There has always been violence and seismic events like those described by Jesus as “signs and wonders,” but today an eclipse, a comet, and a volcanic eruption can be accurately predicted.
The destruction of the temple is not of great interest to Christians today, but there are still those who look beyond that event anticipating the imminent return of Christ even though it is clear his foretelling was fulfilled in 70 CE. Enthusiasts have lived, prophesied and died and a new generation of end-time visionaries claim, “Jesus is coming back soon.”
In answer to the disciple’s question “when” Jesus said: “Watch out, and don't let anyone fool you. Many claiming to speak for me… will fool many people." Many would-be prophets have concluded the return of Jesus is immanent, but others who are not interested in prophecy are committed to making the world a better place. Helping to alleviate poverty, resolve conflicts, provide medical aid, and prevent crime and hatred is clearly more productive.
What really matters in life is how a person lives and in doing what we all can to promote kingdom principles such as living harmoniously with others and looking after the planet. Nearly everyone agrees we should all live by The Golden Rule. “Do to others what you would have them do to you,” is very ancient, appearing independently in multiple cultures and religions, and not excusive to any. [Matt.7:12 & Luke 19:18]
Today the world is facing the potential for global environmental collapse, food shortages, natural disasters, and rising oceans and temperatures linked to climate change – and tragically wars remain the story of human history. Our survival on planet Earth depends on resolving environmental issues, on our openness to growth, treating others with respect and empathy, and recognising the inherent value of diverse cultures and people. Our own small actions can make a big difference in other people’s lives, and we can make the world a better place.
None of the above depends on biblical prophecy or analysing world events from a predictive perspective, and maybe Christ in the world is not about a specific moment in time but about sharing the kingdom way with other people. By that I mean, living with integrity, growing in knowledge, compassion and wisdom and showing kindness, generosity, and forgiving those who need our forgiveness.
We can’t know the future, but we can live with integrity in the present and do our part to bring positive change wherever we go in this uncertain world.