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IT WASN’T ADDRESSED TO YOU

Suppose I told you that my great grandfather was a proud and noble German, who survived the first world war and began raising children before the second. I want you to imagine that sometime around the year 1920, my grandfather received a message from God, that he was commanded to write down and share with his children, which would detail events soon to take place in their lifetime and country.

In those letters, my great grandfather describes a rising German tyrant; a man who will reinvigorate the German economy, win an improbable election, convert many of their people into party loyalists, would build the greatest spy network in history to surveil his own people, and would kick off the bloodiest war ever waged by invading neighboring Poland. As the letter ends, imagine my great grandfather warns his oldest teenage son, “When you see these things happening, do not speak about them with anyone! Your own countrymen will certainly betray you. Instead, son, I want you to run for your life! Take your sisters and brothers and escape from the Fatherland. Do not speak to anyone and tell them what you are doing… Just go!”

If I were wise, I would see that my great grandfather perfectly predicted the rise of Nazi Germany and gave my grandfather a perfect road map to follow so that he and my family members would live. If I were a great fool I would begin reading that letter as if everything in it applied to me or some distant future generation.

Sadly, this is exactly what has happened in the study of eschatology. Many sit down and read the conversation notes between Jesus and His disciples in Matthew 24, where He was warning them with specific signs and evidence for the Roman invasion of Judah (that would happen in their lifetime) and ignorantly conclude: “yeah, this must be about me”.

To correct this egregious error, we have been studying the Biblical context of Matthew 24 and seeing how Malachi, Jesus, John the Baptist, and the immediate context of Matthew 21-23 all paint the same exact picture. Matthew 24 is not describing events that will happen in the far-off distant future. Jesus is not describing John Hagee’s blood moons, Left Behind’s Antichrist’s, Late Great Planet Earth’s tribulations, or locusts doubling as Apache helicopters. Matthew 24 is describing the downfall of Jerusalem by the invading Roman armies and today we will look at the first lines of evidence Jesus will give to His disciples.

THE APPEARANCE OF FALSE MESSIAH’S

After Jesus’ shocking prophecy of a destroyed Jewish temple (Matthew 23:37-24:2), His disciples come to Him asking questions such as: “when will these things happen?” In Matthew 24:4-5, Jesus begins answering His disciples' questions. He says:

“See to it that no one misleads you. For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will mislead many. - Matthew 24:4-5

Before we look into the history books to see if an emergence of false messiahs occurred between the giving of this prophecy and the downfall of the Jewish temple, there are a couple of phrases we need to look at to confirm our suspicions.

“SEE TO IT”

When Jesus looks at His disciples and says “See to it”, He is communicating an expectation that applies to them. He is not telling them to be on the lookout for events that will happen in OUR future, long after they are dead. He is using a word that means “to watch out for”, “to be prepared for”, or “to direct your attention carefully to what is in front of you”. Why? Because these events will happen in THEIR lifetime and they will need to be fully awake and on guard if they are going to see them!

“THAT NO ONE MISLEADS YOU”

Second, Jesus instructs His disciples on why they need to be on constant high alert. The reason is that liars and deceivers did arise in the days ahead, attempting to lead many of them away from Him. Jesus is saying, as the temple and Jerusalem are near imminent destruction, false messiahs will grow up in the land, among the people, and will attempt to lead many of them astray. Jesus warns them because He wants them to avoid such people at all costs so that they will be spared from their destruction. He does not mention this because He wants them to be worried about the future false messiahs that will be misleading all of us.

A BIT ABOUT “MESSIAHS”

Now, before I prove such a period of false messiahs occurred, I would like to give just a bit of history on why it happened. To do that, I want to talk about what the word “messiah” means, what expectations the word brings, and the historical events that created a messianic vacuum. Then, in conclusion, I want us to look and see how Jesus’ prophecy in Matthew 24 came true with shocking accuracy.

THE MEANING OF THE WORD MESSIAH

The word for messiah originally comes from “χριστός” (khris-tos') in the Greek and “הַמָּשִׁיחַ” (maw-shee'-akh) in the Hebrew. Instead of those words meaning a single person who is called “the Messiah”, both words originally just meant “a person who was anointed for service”. For instance, in the Old Testament, there were three kinds of people who would be anointed in Israel. There was the anointed high priest, who oversaw the worship of God at the temple. There was the anointed king, who made sure the enemies of God did not triumph over God’s people in the land. And then there were the anointed prophets, who called the people to repentance whenever they broke their covenant.

Here we see that the word messiah was a much older and more widely used word that was given partly to the high priests, partly the monarchs, and partly to the prophets of Old Testament Israel. Since the fullest expression of messianic identity included these three anointed roles, and since no Old Testament man held even one of these roles perfectly, the Old Testament anticipates a coming Messianic figure who would be anointed for all three, as true Prophet, Priest, and King.

THE SOCIO-POLITICAL EXPECTATION FOR MESSIAH

By the time Jesus burst upon the scene, many were trying to guess the identity and the role of the coming messiah. They were asking things like “Would he be the final anointed king who would throw off the tyranny of Rome? Or would he be the final prophet that leads the nation into covenant renewal and fellowship with God? Or would he be the final end-time priest that cleanses the people and ushers in an era of resurrection?” If you are interested, the first-century Jews have much to say within the Qumran writings about their expectations for the messiah.

And while no one at that time was thinking the Messiah would be the perfect embodiment of all three offices, they were anticipating an end-time priest, king, or prophet who would free them from their slavery to Rome and exalt them high above the other nations. Therefore, it should come as no surprise when the Pharisees ask John the Baptist if He is the messianic prophet they were looking for (John 1:19-23), or challenge Jesus if He had the authority of a messianic high priest to cleanse their temple (John 2:18). We should also not be surprised when the people attempt to coronate Jesus as messianic king by force (John 6:15) because the people were looking for a messiah.

Sadly, they missed the true Prophet, Priest, and King standing right in front of them!

THE MESSIANIC VACUUM AFTER THE DEATH OF CHRIST

After the death and resurrection of the true Messiah (Jesus), the Jewish expectation for a messianic figure did not wane but only wildly increased. According to prophecies in Daniel, the general sentiment was that the Messiah would show up in the first century and would lead the people to freedom against Rome. This is why Jesus so firmly warned the disciples not to follow the false messiahs because He knew they would be coming and that the people wanted them. He warned them saying things like:

“See to it that no one misleads you. For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will mislead many. - Matthew 24:4-5

Many false prophets will arise and will mislead many. - Matthew 24:11

Then if anyone says to you, ‘Behold, here is the Christ,’ or ‘There He is,’ do not believe him. For false Christs and false prophets will arise and will show great signs and wonders, so as to mislead, if possible, even the elect. Behold, I have told you in advance. So if they say to you, ‘Behold, He is in the wilderness,’ do not go out, or, ‘Behold, He is in the inner rooms,’ do not believe them. - Matthew 24:23-26

This advice would have proved especially helpful to those men at that time, since many false christs, promising freedom for Israel, actually did arise in those days taking raucous crowds of rabble-rousers out into the wilderness where they were ultimately slaughtered.

For instance, a few years after Jesus ascended into heaven a revolt broke out in Samaria led by a self-proclaimed messianic figure. This man called many of the people to follow him out into the wilderness before ascending Mount Gerizim with ambitions for war. A first-century priest, historian, and eye-witness to the downfall of Jerusalem tells us that Pilate (the same man who oversaw the crucifixion of Jesus) squashed that rebellion and killed many thousands of people who participated in it (See Flavius Josephus, Jewish Antiquities, 18.85-87).

A few years later in 44 AD, a Jewish fraud convinced a crowd of people that he was the messiah, and led them through the wilderness, to the river Jordan, where they all met their untimely demise. This same Jewish historian, named Josephus, recounts it for us this way:

“It came to pass, while Fadus was procurator of Judea, that a certain charlatan, whose name was Theudas, persuaded a great part of the people to take their effects with them, and follow him to the river Jordan; for he told them he was a prophet, and that he would, by his own command, divide the river, and afford them an easy passage over it. Many were deluded by his words. However, Fadus did not permit them to make any advantage of his wild attempt, but sent a troop of horsemen out against them. After falling upon them unexpectedly, they slew many of them, and took many of them alive. They also took Theudas alive, cut off his head, and carried it to Jerusalem.” - Flavius Josephus, Jewish Antiquities 20.97-98

It is important to note that Josephus was not only an eye-witness to these events but that he was also a Pharisee and priest. He was not a sympathizer of Christ or a lover of Christians, but instead was hoping for the true messiah while watching the proliferation of false ones. To think that Josephus records this rise of false prophets and false messiahs, which clearly contributed to the downfall of Judah, must have been an especially bitter and ironic end for him to preside over. He was waiting for a Messiah who would bring freedom and life. He witnessed false messiahs bringing slavery and death.

As the days drew closer to the destruction of Jerusalem, he says

“There were many who deceived and deluded the people under the pretense of Divine inspiration, but were in fact for the procuring of innovations and the changes of government. These men prevailed with the multitude to act like madmen, and went before them into the wilderness, pretending that God would there show them the signals of liberty.” - Flavius Josephus, Jewish War 2.259

Just as Jesus predicted, the Pied-Piping false messiahs would lead many like rats away to the slaughter. Josephus continues this story with a very specific example that happened in the year 58 AD, just ten years before the Jewish war began. Josephus says:

“There was an Egyptian false prophet that did the Jews more mischief than the former; for he was a cheat, and pretended to be a prophet also, and got together thirty thousand men that were deluded by him; these he led them round about from the wilderness to the mount which was called the Mount of Olives. He was ready to break into Jerusalem by force from that place; and if he could but once conquer the Roman garrison and the people, he intended to rule them by the assistance of those guards of his that were to break into the city with him.” - Flavius Josephus, Jewish War 2.261-262

In a separate work, Josephus describes the awful end this rebellious lot had fallen into.

Now when Felix was informed of these things, he ordered his soldiers to take their weapons, and came against them with a great number of horsemen and footmen from Jerusalem, and attacked the Egyptian and the people that were with him. He slew four hundred of them, and took two hundred alive. The Egyptian himself escaped out of the fight, but did not appear anymore. And again the robbers stirred up the people to make war with the Romans, and said they ought not to obey them at all; and when any persons would not comply with them, they set fire to their villages, and plundered them. - Flavius Josephus, Jewish Antiquities 20.170-171.

During this period of forty years, the Jewish people only grew in their madness. Instead of turning from their sins, learning their lessons, submitting to Rome, and keeping their nation, the people kept producing false messiahs they could follow to their deaths. For instance, about a year later, another would-be-messiah figure arose in the land, leading the people into the wilderness, promising freedom to the Jews, so that the Roman governor Festus had to violently put them down. Josephus says:

“Festus sent forces, both horsemen and footmen, to fall upon those that had been seduced by a certain impostor, who promised them deliverance and freedom from the miseries they were under, if they would but follow him as far as the wilderness. Accordingly, those forces that were sent destroyed both him that had deluded them, and those that were his followers also.” - Flavius Josephus, Jewish Antiquities 20.188

There can be no doubt, based on what we have already seen, that Jesus’ prophecy concerning the rise of false messiahs was dramatically fulfilled in the events of the first century. It can also be seen how deadly it would have been for those who followed them, but how grateful the disciples must have been that Jesus warned them in advance.

Nothing additional is needed to validate Matthew 24 as a past event. But, if you will allow me, since the topic is so interesting and since Jesus’ prophecy was so profoundly fulfilled, let me take a moment and brag on Jesus a bit more by sharing one final example.

THE JEWISH WAR AND THE FALSE MESSIANIC KING

The war that Jesus predicted in Matthew 24 began in the year AD 66. After years of Jewish uprisings, rebellions, and false messiahs leading the people against Rome, Nero Caesar finally declared war against them and sent four legions of Roman soldiers to lay Jerusalem to ruin under the command of his best general, Vespasian.

While the Roman legions were laying siege to the city, a well-connected man named Menahem gathered a crowd around him and led them more than sixty miles north into the wilderness. From there, they traveled to an old abandoned fortress of king Herod that was in Masada where they would raid it for equipment. The men who were there with him (composed mostly of thieves and criminals) broke into the armory of Masada, dawned themselves up for battle, and traveled back to the city of Jerusalem to take over the city and install Menahem as king. Josephus recounts this messianic event this way:

In the meantime, one Menahem, the son of that Judas, who was called the Galilean [...] took some of the men of note with him, and retired to Masada, where he broke open king Herod's armory, and gave arms not only to his own people, but to other robbers also. These he made use of for a guard, and returned in the state of a king to Jerusalem; he became the leader of the sedition. - Flavius Josephus, Jewish War 2.433-434

Upon return, Menahem took over the city briefly, besieged a few Roman fortifications, and killed the high priest Ananias, so that he would become their sole leader, sole priest, and lone messianic figure. This plan backfired on him since when everyone discovered what was done, the city responded with chaos. Soon, warring factions emerged, leaving the Romans fighting them outside of the city while they were killing each other on its inside (Flavius Josephus, Jewish War 2.442-448).

CONCLUSION

Just four years later the nation, its chief and holy city, and its most beautiful temple would be nothing more than smoke and ash that were seen rising from the distant Judean hills. John the Baptist had warned the people to repent before it was too late (Matthew 3:2). Jesus also came calling the rebels to repent, to lay down their lives, and follow Him to life instead of to destruction (Matthew 4:17). But when they refused Him, He pronounced dreaded woes upon their cities (Matthew 11:20-21; 12:41) and nation (23:13-36). He told them parables that vividly portrayed the downfall of their kingdom (Matthew 22:1-14).

In Matthew 24:4-5, Jesus began answering His disciples' questions about when these things would happen. He told them many false messiahs would arise in Judah and that they were to avoid such wicked men. The nation had rejected the true messiah. Now, it is only fitting that their demise came about at the hands of many false ones.

That is all we have time for today. As you can see, this passage has nothing to do with the future but was already accomplished in the past. Join us next week as we look at the second sign Jesus tells His disciples, which is “wars and rumors of wars”. Until then, may the Lord bless you as you follow the true messiah and build His Kingdom here on earth.