ESCHATOLOGICAL HERMENEUTICS

PROPER HERMENEUTICS AND THE FOLLY OF THE "TWO CONVERSATION" ARGUMENT

Studying the Grammar and Contextual Flow of the Olivet Discourse
To Disprove the Doctrine of Dispensationalism

PART 9
Mike Blume
November 2010

After Jesus mentioned the regional events and the personal events, in all three Gospels He then stated there would be a sign for the believers in Judaea to flee to the mountains. Then we read of a series of events that we can classify as WARNINGS TO THOSE IN FLIGHT. Jesus listed several things that stand as warnings to those who must flee after the signal to do so occurs.

WARNINGS TO THOSE IN FLIGHT

Matthew mentions:

1) Those on the housetops do not attempt to enter your houses.
2) Those in the field do not return home to get clothing.
3) Woe to pregnant women and to women giving suck to their children.
4) Pray this day to flee is not on the Sabbath nor winter.

Mark mentions:

1) Those on the housetops do not attempt to enter your houses.
2) Those in the field do not return home to get clothing.
3) Woe to pregnant women and to women giving suck to their children.
4) Pray this day to flee is not in the winter.

Luke mentions:

1) Let them which are in the midst of it depart out; and let not them that are in the countries enter thereinto.
2) Woe to pregnant women and those who give suck to their children.

We all can say that the fourth warning in both Matthew and Mark is for prayer that their flight not be in winter. Matthew adds that they should pray their flight not be on the Sabbath either. But no one would say that warrants two different conversations in Matthew and Mark.

But, anyway, we have the REGIONAL EVENTS, PERSONAL EVENTS followed by WARNINGS TO THOSE IN FLIGHT listed in the same sequence in all three synoptic gospels.

After these three sets of events are listed we then read the following:

REASON FOR FLEEING:

Matthew 24:21 KJV For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be.

Mark 13:19 KJV For in those days shall be affliction, such as was not from the beginning of the creation which God created unto this time, neither shall be.

Luke 21:22 KJV For these be the days of vengeance, that all things which are written may be fulfilled.

Dispies claim Luke never commented on the days of vengeance being unparalleled as Matthew and Mark did concerning the tribulation/affliction. This is supposed to mean Luke wrote of an entirely different event apart from the tribulation/affliction of the other two gospels. We just pointed out, though, that Mark omitted reference to prayer for flight on the Sabbath. That did not inspire dispies to claim Matthew wrote of an entirely different tribulation than Mark did! Missing details of the conversation do not warrant us to consider more than one conversation due to how many number of missing elements exist in comparing all three accounts together.

And after the REGIONAL EVENTS, PERSONAL EVENTS, SIGNS TO FLEE and WARNINGS TO THOSE IN FLIGHT, and REASON TO FLEE, all three accounts say this:

Matthew 24:22-26 KJV And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect's sake those days shall be shortened. (23) Then if any man shall say unto you, Lo, here is Christ, or there; believe it not. (24) For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect. (25) Behold, I have told you before. Wherefore if they shall say unto you, Behold, he is in the desert; go not forth: behold, he is in the secret chambers; believe it not.

Mark 13:20-23 KJV And except that the Lord had shortened those days, no flesh should be saved: but for the elect's sake, whom he hath chosen, he hath shortened the days. (21) And then if any man shall say to you, Lo, here is Christ; or, lo, he is there; believe him not: (22) For false Christs and false prophets shall rise, and shall shew signs and wonders, to seduce, if it were possible, even the elect. (23) But take ye heed: behold, I have foretold you all things.

Luke 21:24 KJV And they shall fall by the edge of the sword, and shall be led away captive into all nations: and Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled.

Notice the difference between Luke and the other two gospels. Is this reason enough to believe Luke wrote of an entirely different conversation than Mark and Matthew?

Albert Barnes wrote of the words in Luke that differ from Matthew and Mark, saying this:

Luke 21:7-36
The account of the destruction of Jerusalem contained in this chapter has been fully considered in the notes at Matt. 24. All that will be necessary here will be an explanation of a few words that did not occur in that chapter.

In other words, Barnes believed the three gospel accounts were of one and the same discussion and Luke simply noted things the others did not record. This is seen to occur in all stories common to all three gospel accounts. But only dispensationalists make an issue out of this here as though this, contrary to the same in all other stories, means more than one conversation.

Matthew speaks of Jesus riding into Jerusalem in His triumphal entry and overthrowing the tables in the temple, leaving and returning the next day to curse the fig tree. Mark omits the overthrowing of tables in the temple in his eleventh chapter. That was a big event that Mark omitted. But no one believes that means Matthew wrote of an entirely different event than Mark did although Mark failed to mention some details. This is the same situation with Luke and the elements he failed to mention as well as though in Luke that the others failed to write about.

Barnes knew this and simply stated Luke mentioned words of Jesus that Mark and Matthew failed to mention from the same conversation.

Then we come to the CELESTIAL SIGNS.

Matthew 24:27-31 KJV For as the lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. (28) For wheresoever the carcase is, there will the eagles be gathered together. (29) Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken: (30) And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. (31) And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.

Mark 13:24-27 KJV But in those days, after that tribulation, the sun shall be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, (25) And the stars of heaven shall fall, and the powers that are in heaven shall be shaken. (26) And then shall they see the Son of man coming in the clouds with great power and glory. (27) And then shall he send his angels, and shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from the uttermost part of the earth to the uttermost part of heaven.

Luke 21:25-28 KJV And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring; (26) Men's hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken. (27) And then shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. (28) And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh.

After the celestial signs found in all three accounts, all three accounts then mention the FIG TREE PARABLE. So we have a SIXTH element (CELESTIAL SIGNS) as well as a SEVENTH element (FIG TREE PARABLE).