Rumors of Wars

Study Session:  When you hear of Wars

In AD 70, how did the Christians know it was time to flee?  When the walls around Jerusalem were surrounded by the Romans, the Christians fled, but the others didn’t.   Christianity spread across the Roman world, but those remaining in Jerusalem were slaughtered.

There are 3 places in the New Testament where Jesus describes a series of events that sound very similar, until you start to look more carefully.

• Matthew 24:6: "And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not alarmed, for this must take place, but the end is not yet" (ESV).

• Mark 13:7: "And when you hear of wars and rumors of wars, do not be alarmed. This must take place, but the end is not yet" (ESV).

• Luke 21:9: "And when you hear of wars and tumults, do not be terrified, for these things must first take place, but the end will not be at once" (ESV). 

These seem very similar, and without a closer inspection of them, you might assume they referred to the same sequence of events. 

1.    Who was Jesus’ audience in each instance?  Each one of these statements was made to a different group of people.

2.    Where were they when the conversation occurred?  List the 3 locations where they were said.

3.    Each of the 3 verses describes a different point in time by using “Wars and Rumors of Wars” to mark a point in time.   What is the timeline they create?

4.    Which of these spoke about the destruction of Jerusalem in AD 70?

Thoughts: