Tim Maas Retired Quality Assurance Specialist with the U.S. Army

Jesus' emphasis in these verses is on the speed that will be required to escape, if possible, the devastation that He is indicating will occur in the days to which He is referring. Under those circumstances, the hindrance to such speed that would be created for a woman either by being pregnant, or by still nursing a child who is not yet old enough to be independent of her, might mean the difference between being able to escape or not.

The possible climate conditions present during winter weather, as well as the shorter daylight hours, would present a similar impediment.

Also, for Jewish Christians (the audience to whom Matthew was primarily addressing his gospel) restrictions contained in the Law on the distance that could be traveled on the Sabbath, or the closing of gates and other possible escape routes that might occur because of the Sabbath, would create problems. (Mark, who wrote his gospel primarily for a Roman readership, did not include this aspect in his account of Jesus' words, since it would have had no meaning to Gentiles.)

September 07 2018 • 0 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report

Aurel Gheorghe

Reading Matthew 24:20 it’s easy to see why fleeing while pregnant or in the winter would be less than desirable. Being homeless is never easy, but it's especially hard when the weather is unpredictable and you are expecting a baby. 

However, why Jesus is telling them to pray that their flight is not on the Sabbath? After all, Jesus here is referring to the fall of Jerusalem in AD 70, almost 40 years after his resurrection. 

If we believe that with Jesus’ death, the Fourth Commandant was done away, the 7th-day Sabbath is no longer holy, and Sunday is now the new Sabbath, in honor of His resurrection - Jesus' warning would make no sense. Was Jesus still concerned with keeping the Sabbath day holy 40 years after His death? 

I strongly believe that Jesus mentioned the Sabbath because its relevancy, importance and sanctity still mattered to Him, even 40 years after His resurrection. The reason for its importance is the same as it was in the beginning (Gen 2:3) - a reason for keeping the Sabbath day a holy assembly to celebrate and worship the creator of “heaven, the earth and the sea” (Ex 20:11).

However, citing Nehemiah 13:19, some Bible commentators believe the reason why Jesus mentioned the Sabbath is because the gates of city would be closed thus making the escape difficult or even impossible. 

That's a problematic proposition as Jesus here makes an appeal not only to the people inside the city walls but also to “those who are in Judea” (Matt 24:16) who were outside the city gates – thus the city gates being closed or not is not relevant. 

Additionally, according with Josephus, a Jewish historian, the Jerusalem gates were not closed or guarded at the time Christians fled the city – looking 40 years into the future Jesus would have known that little detail. The army of Cestius Gallus enclosed Jerusalem in A D 67, then suddenly withdrew to Cæsarea. The Jews left the city in pursuit, which in turn gave the Christians the opportunity to flee beyond the Jordan. God made a way for them to flee on a Tuesday, in October – their flight was neither in the winter, nor on the Sabbath day. The Roman armies returned and on August 10, AD 70, the city was stormed and over one million people were killed, and 100 000 survivors were taken into slavery.

September 08 2018 • 0 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report

James Kraft 74 year old retired pipeline worker

I believe this is only for the Jews during the tribulation. When the antichrist breaks his covenant with the nation of Israel at the middle of the 7 year tribulation. They will flee to the mountains where God has made a hiding place for them.

Revelation 7, where 144,000 Jews, 12,000 from each tribe will be saved. Those saved during the tribulation are not the church. The Church age, the day of grace will end before the tribulation. We will be caught up to meet the Lord in the air. First Thessalonians 4:17.

During the first half of the 7 years the Jews will again be sacrificing animals in the temple. But then Satan takes over the temple so that everyone will worship him. That is when the Jews flee to hide themselves from the beast. 

The church age started at Acts on the day of Pentecost, and ends before the tribulation.

We are saved by faith alone like Abraham was. Romans 4:2.

The nation of Israel was under the Laws of Moses. We are no longer under the law but under grace. Ephesians 2:8-9 and Romans 11:6.

The Tribulation saints will have to persevere and not take the mark of the beast to be saved.

Sometimes the last days are for the church, when there will be apostasy, or a general departing from the faith. But the last days can also mean that 7 year period of tribulation.

February 01 2019 • 2 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report