13:23
The answer to these dangers is for the disciples to be “on their guard”. “I have told you in advance”. Sometimes God does miracles, or gives spiritual gifts, at other times He gives sound advice and expects us to use our godly wisdom and common sense. And when miracles happen we are still to use godly wisdom.
13:24,25
The quote comes from Isaiah 13:10; 34:4. Schnabel (and others) see 13:24-27 as marking a clear break from the destruction of Jerusalem and now refers to the very end times. As indicated earlier, I do not think there is any need to see things as referring only to AD 70, or only to the very end times. Some parts may focus more on one or the other, but there are lessons relevant to both. The language in the quoted texts is apocalyptic, but it can refer to actual events, or be a dramatic way of referring to great political upheaval. Again, I think we make a mistake if we think we have to see it as purely actual events, or purely metaphorical language to describe political/military events.
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