The Christians Fled to Pella

[sooda]

Here are the words of Jesus warning His followers of a time when they would need to flee:

“Therefore when you see the ‘abomination of desolation,’ spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place (whoever reads, let him understand), then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains… For then there will be great tribulation…” (Matthew 24:15-16, 21).

“But when you see the ‘abomination of desolation,’ spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing where it ought not (let the reader understand), then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains… For in those days there will be tribulation…” (Mark 13:14, 19).

“But when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then know that its desolation is near. Then let those in Judea flee to the mountains, let those who are in the midst of her depart, and let not those who are in the country enter her… For there will be great distress in the land and wrath upon this people” (Luke 21:20-21, 23).

 

[sooda]

Eusebius: "The members of the Jerusalem church by means of an oracle, given by revelation to acceptable persons there, were ordered to leave the city before the war began and settle in a town in Peraea called Pella." Book III, 5:4

AD 66-70 Flights from Jerusalem
Recorded by Josephus (Written in AD75)

[c. November 66] After this calamity had befallen Cestius, many of the most eminent of the Jews swam away from the city... Jewish War 2:20:1

Flavius Josephus (A.D. 75) (Opportunity Arises to Flee) "It then happened that Cestius was not conscious either how the besieged despaired of success, nor how courageous the people were for him; and so he recalled his soldiers from the place, and by despairing of any expectation of taking it, without having received any disgrace, he retired from the city, without any reason in the world." (Wars, II, XIX, 6,7)

Eusebius (325)
"But the people of the church in Jerusalem had been commanded by a revelation, vouchsafed to approved men there before the war, to leave the city and to dwell in a certain town of Perea called Pella. " (History of the Church 3:5:3)

"The whole body, however, of the church at Jerusalem, having been commanded by a divine revelation, given to men of approved piety there before the war, removed from the city, and dwelt at a certain town beyond the Jordan, called Pella. Here those that believed in Christ, having removed from Jerusalem, as if holy men had entirely abandoned the royal city itself, and the whole land of Judea; the divine justice, for their crimes against Christ and his apostles finally overtook them, totally destroying the whole generation of these evildoers form the earth. (Eusebius, 3:5.)

"After all those who believed in Christ had generally come to live in Perea, in a city called Pella of the Decapolis of which it is written in the Gospel and which is situated in the neighborhood of the region of Batanaea and Basanitis, Ebion's preaching originated here after they had moved to this place and had lived there." (Panarion 30:2)

"For when the city was about to be captured and sacked by the Romans, all the disciples were warned beforehand by an angel to remove from the city, doomed as it was to utter destruction. On migrating from it they settled at Pella, the town already indicated, across the Jordan. It is said to belong to Decapolis (de Mens. et Pond., 15).

"Now this sect of Nazarenes exists in Beroea in Coele-Syria, and in Decapolis in the district of Pella, and in Kochaba of Basanitis-- called Kohoraba in Hebrew. For thence it originated after the migration from Jerusalem of all the disciples who resided at Pella, Christ having instructed them to leave Jerusalem and retire from it on account of the impending siege. It was owing to this counsel that they went away, as I have said, to reside for a while at Pella" (Haer 29:7).

http://www.preteristarchive.com/StudyArchive/p/pella-flight.html

 

[sooda]

Hegesippus records that Saint James of Jerusalem had been cast down from the pinnacle of the Temple because he had claimed (in about AD 63) that the “Son of Man was coming on the clouds”.

Apparently, the authorities dramatically pushed Saint James off the top of the Temple in mockery of the descent of the “Son of Man”.



However, James was not wrong. Things were about to get bad in Jerusalem. Really bad.

The Church historian Eusebius recounts that the Jerusalem Christians were warned in a vision to depart Jerusalem because its destruction was near. According to the Jewish historian Josephus, writing in about AD 75, “many of the most eminent of the Jews swam away from the city” in AD 64 (Jewish War 2, 20, 1). In other words, this “exodus” from Jerusalem occurred three and a half years before the destruction of Jerusalem in AD 70.

Eusebius describes it like this:

“The whole body, however, of the Church at Jerusalem, having been commanded by a divine revelation, given to men of approved piety there before the war, removed from the city, and dwelt at a certain town beyond the Jordan, called Pella. Here those that believed in Christ, having removed from Jerusalem, as if holy men had entirely abandoned the royal city itself, and the whole land of Judea; the divine justice, for their crimes against Christ and his Apostles finally overtook them, totally destroying the whole generation of these evildoers form the earth.

– Eusebius, History of the Church 3, 5

And thus was fulfilled the words of Christ: “Truly, I say to you, this generation will not pass away till all these things take place” (Mt 24:34).

 

[URAVIP2ME]

Here are the words of Jesus warning His followers of a time when they would need to flee:
“Therefore when you see the ‘abomination of desolation,’ spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place (whoever reads, let him understand), then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains… For then there will be great tribulation…” (Matthew 24:15-16, 21).
“But when you see the ‘abomination of desolation,’ spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing where it ought not (let the reader understand), then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains… For in those days there will be tribulation…” (Mark 13:14, 19).
“But when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then know that its desolation is near. Then let those in Judea flee to the mountains, let those who are in the midst of her depart, and let not those who are in the country enter her… For there will be great distress in the land and wrath upon this people” (Luke 21:20-21, 23).

The ' abomination of desolation ' in the year 70 proved to be the Roman armies destroying un-faithful Jerusalem.
Thus, in the greater fulfillment of the 24th chapter of Matthew who will prove to be the modern-day ' abomination of desolation ' before the great tribulation of Revelation 7:14,9

 

[sooda]

The ' abomination of desolation ' in the year 70 proved to be the Roman armies destroying un-faithful Jerusalem.
Thus, in the greater fulfillment of the 24th chapter of Matthew who will prove to be the modern-day ' abomination of desolation ' before the great tribulation of Revelation 7:14,9

Does it make sense to you that the tribulation would be world wide?

 

[Hockeycowboy]

Does it make sense to you that the tribulation would be world wide?

Jesus was answering the question his disciples asked. It included, “....what will be the sign of your presence ?” (Presence, not coming.) Greek, “parousia”.

That didnt happen, back then.
Those ‘signs’ are particularly relevant — and happening — today.

 

[Hockeycowboy]

And, @sooda , don’t forget the rest of Matthew 24:21...”...such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be.”

What happened to Jerusalem in 70 C.E., was not the greatest tribulation ever, as the context indicates.

 

[sooda]

Jesus was answering the question his disciples asked. It included, “....what will be the sign of your presence ?” (Presence, not coming.) Greek, “parousia”.

That didnt happen, back then.
Those ‘signs’ are particularly relevant — and happening — today.

I can't find any real evidence for TWO tribulations or for a worldwide tribulation.

THE TRIBULATION WILL NOT BE WORLD WIDE | Right Word Truth

One reason to question the view that the tribulation will be world wide is the extremely Jewish character of the book of Revelation, which is the most extensive writing in the Bible about the tribulation.

THE TRIBULATION WILL NOT BE WORLD WIDE | Right Word Truth

 

[sooda]

And, @sooda , don’t forget the rest of Matthew 24:21...”...such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be.”

What happened to Jerusalem in 70 C.E., was not the greatest tribulation ever, as the context indicates.

They thought it was horrible with famine, sickness, death and war.

 

[Hockeycowboy]

They thought it was horrible with famine, sickness, death and war.

Yeah, you’re right. It was awful. The world has seen worse.

In post #8, you mention the book of Revelation talking about the tribulation....keep in mind, Revelation was written after Jerusalem’s destruction in 70 C.E.....Revelation was written by John in about 96 or 98 C.E..

Take care.

 

[sooda]

Yeah, you’re right. It was awful. The world has seen worse.

In post #8, you mention the book of Revelation talking about the tribulation....keep in mind, Revelation was written after Jerusalem’s destruction in 70 C.E.....Revelation was written by John in about 96 or 98 C.E..

Take care.

Yes.. I know.. and John says "your brother in tribulation". He says there is NO Temple..

Futurism is based on the Jesuit teachings and really doesn't make a lot of sense when you think about it.

 

[GoodbyeDave]

The events of year 70 occurred before the gospels, so they were hardly prophesied. As for the Christians fleeing, after the killing of James and viewing the increasing intolerance of the Jews leading up to the rebellion, it hardly took a divine warning to make it clear that this was no time to stick around!

 

[sooda]

The events of year 70 occurred before the gospels, so they were hardly prophesied. As for the Christians fleeing, after the killing of James and viewing the increasing intolerance of the Jews leading up to the rebellion, it hardly took a divine warning to make it clear that this was no time to stick around!

I can't argue that these dates for the NT and gospels are absolute, but take a look.

Early Christian Writings: New Testament, Apocrypha, Gnostics, Church Fathers

 

[GoodbyeDave]

That source confirms my claim: all the gospels are put after 70.

 

[sooda]

That source confirms my claim: all the gospels are put after 70.

Between 50-60 AD????

It also includes the Gnostic Gospels and the Apocrypha.

 

[URAVIP2ME]

Does it make sense to you that the tribulation would be world wide?

Yes, the great tribulation of Revelation 7:14 will be world wide.
I say that because once the political turns on the religious world it will start with Christendom (so-called Christians).
Since Christendom is wide spread, and as the tribulation escalates to other branches of religion the whole religious world will become involved.

 

[URAVIP2ME]

Between 50-60 AD????
It also includes the Gnostic Gospels and the Apocrypha.

However, those apocryphal books simply exclude themselves because of being out of harmony with the harmonious '66' Bible books which make up Bible canon.

 

[URAVIP2ME]

I can't find any real evidence for TWO tribulations or for a worldwide tribulation.
THE TRIBULATION WILL NOT BE WORLD WIDE | Right Word Truth
One reason to question the view that the tribulation will be world wide is the extremely Jewish character of the book of Revelation, which is the most extensive writing in the Bible about the tribulation.

I think you can find real evidence for 'two tribulations' as found in the 24th chapter of Matthew.
Please notice that the first tribulation of the year 70 upon un-faithful Jerusalem does Not match Matthew 24:21.
So, the tribulation of the year 70 had a limited or minor fulfillment of what would be future of Revelation 7:14.
Matthew 24:27 connects to the time of Matthew 24:37-39 the 'time of separation' of Matthew 25:31-33,37,40.
Thus, after Matthew 24:28, it bridges an undisclosed long period of time to the modern tribulation at Matthew 24:29.
So, the MAJOR or modern-day great tribulation is after the first tribulation of the year 70.
Remember: Revelation was written decades after the year 70 when the Roman armies destroyed Jerusalem.
So, there is No way the two tribulations are just one, and since unfaithful Christendom today corresponds to un-faithful old Jerusalem of the year 70, then Christendom will just be the first to go.
This is because 'spiritual house cleaning' will start with the ' House of God ' -1 Peter 4:17

 

[whirlingmerc]

Here are the words of Jesus warning His followers of a time when they would need to flee:

“Therefore when you see the ‘abomination of desolation,’ spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place (whoever reads, let him understand), then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains… For then there will be great tribulation…” (Matthew 24:15-16, 21).

“But when you see the ‘abomination of desolation,’ spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing where it ought not (let the reader understand), then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains… For in those days there will be tribulation…” (Mark 13:14, 19).

“But when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then know that its desolation is near. Then let those in Judea flee to the mountains, let those who are in the midst of her depart, and let not those who are in the country enter her… For there will be great distress in the land and wrath upon this people” (Luke 21:20-21, 23).

I don't think the classic preterist view gets it right.
The preterism view sees the destruction of Jerusalem in 70ad more towards a complete fulfillment of end time prophesies. Jesus did predict the fall of Jerusalem saying not one stone will be on another in the temple I would say partial preterism is true but only in part

 

[sooda]

I don't think the classic preterist view gets it right.
The preterism view sees the destruction of Jerusalem in 70ad more towards a complete fulfillment of end time prophesies. Jesus did predict the fall of Jerusalem saying not one stone will be on another in the temple I would say partial preterism is true but only in part

The abomination of desolation (Matthew 24:15) is another one of those prophetic topics that meets with a lot of misunderstanding and a lot of speculation. Some Christians, including theologians have said that it was Antiochus Epiphanes who sacrificed a pig in the temple nearly 200 years before Christ was even born.

The Abomination of desolation Jesus is speaking of is the Roman Garrisons that arrived from Syria under Vespasion.