We began yesterday by introducing the phrases in this passage that are difficult to interpret with consistency. There are two easy ways to solve these problems, but they have not commended themselves to all commentators.
I do not think there is any great difficulty understanding what Jesus says in the Olivet Discourse up to verse 28 of Matthew 24. He has warned the disciples about disruptive world events that will not be signs of his return, and he has predicted the fall of Jerusalem, which would be an exceptionally traumatic event, though even this would be merely another example of the kind of tragedies that will occur throughout history. But the easy part is over. Now we come to the part of the discourse that has given the most trouble to most Bible students and commentators.
Today we complete the story of Dr. Barnhouse and how his story teaches Jesus' lesson in Matthew 24. We find him in his hotel room waiting for his ride to the church.
We continue today with the story we began yesterday. We find Dr. Barnhouse on a train, traveling to Paris and back across France to the coast of London.
As we noted yesterday, Josephus describes the destruction of Jerusalem by the Romans, and it was indeed a time of distress unequalled in any previous destruction (The Jewish War, V, VI).
