Matthew 24 Parallelism with Hyperbole

[Beck]

Many of the reasons people see two parts to Matthew 24 as to the destruction of Jerusalem in AD70 [temple no stone upon another] and the use of hyperbolic language those of verses 27-31 [son of man cometh as lightning] is that it is in two parts in parallelism, but some come to the conclusion that the hyperbole language must mean that this part is still in the future all the while it’s only repeating what was told by Jesus in the first part. To me this style of writting is used throughout the old testament and some in the new testament to bring more attention to the word spoken of the first member. In these cases they are called parallelism and in this case used hyperbolic language. Parallelism is the expression of one idea in two or more different ways. Hebrew poetry is also characterized by vivid figures of speech, Simile, Metaphor, Implication, Rhetorical question, and Hyperbole use of exaggeration to emphasize a point.

THE FIRST MEMBER OF THE PARALLEL

Matthew 24:5-26 KJV
5For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many.
6And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet.
7For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places.
8All these are the beginning of sorrows.
9Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name’s sake.
10And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another.
11And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many.
12And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.
13But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.
14And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.
15When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand.)
16Then let them which be in Judaea flee into the mountains:
17Let him which is on the housetop not come down to take any thing out of his house:
18Neither let him which is in the field return back to take his clothes.
19And woe unto them that are with child, and to them that give suck in those days!
20But pray ye that your flight be not in the winter, neither on the sabbath day:
21For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be.
22And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect’s sake those days shall be shortened.
23Then if any man shall say unto you, Lo, here is Christ, or there; believe it not.
24For 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.
25Behold, I have told you before.
26Wherefore 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.


THE SECOND MEMBER OF THE PARALLEL [HYPERBOLIC]

Matthew 24:27-31 KJV
27For 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.
28For wheresoever the carcase is, there will the eagles be gathered together.
29Immediately 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:
30And 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.
31And 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.



So lets review another usage of parallelism with hyperbole.

THE FIRST MEMBER OF THE PARALLEL

Matthew 19:23 KJV
23Then said Jesus unto his disciples, Verily I say unto you, That a rich man shall hardly enter into the kingdom of heaven.

THE SECOND MEMBER OF THE PARALLEL [HYPERBOLIC]

Matthew 19:24 KJV
24And again I say unto you, It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.

So the understanding is that when the writer used parallelism with hyperbole the hyperbole member of the parallel is to repeat and enforce the meaning expressed in the first member of the parallel. In theses cases both members express the same and is referred to as parallelism.

 

[Beck]

So we're all in agreement with my thesis, Great

 

[smaller]

So we're all in agreement with my thesis, Great

A little simplistic.

The difficulty when stepping onto this ground of understanding:

"Parallelism is the expression of one idea in two or more different ways. Hebrew poetry is also characterized by vivid figures of speech, Simile, Metaphor, Implication, Rhetorical question, and Hyperbole use of exaggeration to emphasize a point."

Simile, metaphor, parables, allegories etc are undoubtedly deployed throughout the text, and in fact I see the entirety of the text hinged on those deployments (not saying there were not physical realities as well.)

When peeling these matters open there are other keys that open understandings to all these matters, and at the same time 'some' are not meant to understand same. So even in the deployment obfuscation is intentional as is revealing.

So, you put out a principal and say: See?

I would say your see is in the purposefully obscured to 'not see' category.

If you think you SEE in a parable, metaphor, simile, allegory from scripture, there is one immediate scripture that should be at your side to understand them all. So, do you have it? And if so, what do you SEE in using that key parable?

SEE Mark 4:13 for reference. Then SEE how that scripture set may apply to the scriptures you cited as it (Mark 4:13) applies to ALL proper understanding of scripture. And it also reveals who is not meant to understand.

enjoy!

smaller

 

[Stormcrow]

So we're all in agreement with my thesis, Great

I might agree if I understood the concept better. I haven't studied anything like this enough to understand it.

But if this is simply another way of saying the later verses of Matthew 24 cannot be taken out of context from the earlier verses and be used to create a rapture or end-time doctrine out of whole cloth, I certainly agree with you.

 

[Beck]

I might agree if I understood the concept better. I haven't studied anything like this enough to understand it.

But if this is simply another way of saying the later verses of Matthew 24 cannot be taken out of context from the earlier verses and be used to create a rapture or end-time doctrine out of whole cloth, I certainly agree with you.

Yes that's correct. The bible is full of this style of poetry writting which employes parallelism. Here just a example where the first member is made stronger by the second member which repeats the thought of the first member.

"Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path". (Psalms 119:105)


This is simple parallelism which is called Synonymous Parallelism. While there are a number of types of poetry writtings. There are three types of parallelism that are most common, and also of most practical use to the Bible student:

• Synonymous
  Elements of the poetic lines are either synonymous or have overlapping semantic ranges in which the second line completes the meaning of the first.
• Antithetical
  Elements of the poetic lines are opposite to one another.
• Synthetic
  Elements of the poetic line build on one another, but are not related as synonymous or antithetical, for example, the first line states an event, and the second states a conclusion.

The usage of parallelism in Matthew 24 seems to be employing Synonymous Parallelism with Hyberbole as given the example in Matthew 19:23-24.

 

[reba]

So we're all in agreement with my thesis, Great

Guess ya dont need a moderator

 

[Beck]

Guess ya dont need a moderator

Thanks reba,

It seems no one will dedate something that they don't understand.

 

[reba]

When you fist showed up i wondered if your name was Becky or Rebecca, as i have been called Beck quite often. I guess not

Maybe if your start with smaller doses of your thoughts some one will get the points your trying to reveal.

Welcome to the forums :waving

 

[Elijah674]

Thanks reba,

It seems no one will dedate something that they don't understand.

No debate to straight facts as is documented in Eccl. 1:9-10 & seconded in Eccl.3:15 and [doubled] as is seen required in Gen. 41:32 by God, huh!;) (if Inspirition is believed!)

---Elijah

 

[Beck]

No debate to straight facts as is documented in Eccl. 1:9-10 & seconded in Eccl.3:15 and [doubled] as is seen required in Gen. 41:32 by God, huh!;) (if Inspirition is believed!)

---Elijah

HI Elijah

Some very good scriptures especially Genesis 41:32

 

[Beck]

When you fist showed up i wondered if your name was Becky or Rebecca, as i have been called Beck quite often. I guess not

Maybe if your start with smaller doses of your thoughts some one will get the points your trying to reveal.

Welcome to the forums :waving

I've been called Beck most of my life although it's my last name. So I'm okay with being called Beck.

I thought that was in size a small doses. :toofunny

 

[warfrog]

Revelation 20:4-6

"And I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and judgment was committed to them. Then I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for their witness to Jesus and for the word of God, who had not worshiped the beast or his image, and had not received his mark on their foreheads or on their hands. And they lived and reigned with Christ for a thousand years. 5 But the rest of the dead did not live again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection. 6 Blessed and holy is he who has part in the first resurrection. Over such the second death has no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with Him a thousand years."

So if the coming of the Son of man occured in 70 A.D and the beast and false prophet were cast into the lake of fire back then as you claim parallel for Matthew scriptures, how then do you explain these scriptures above?

Remember those souls being shown were beheaded for thier witness to Christ and the word of God, they were already saints and slain for it, so how can the spiritually being in Christ be beheaded and live again spiritually as we know in 70 A.D the saints did not bodily live again, as we dont have saints currently alive with us from 70 a.d. and the spiritually alive in Christ "His" cannot be spiritually killed when the are given life through Him, but can physically sleep (physical death) and await their resurrection at His coming as per Corinthians.
Those who accept the blood of the Lamb cannot be spiritually beheaded, noting can behead His from Him, His however can physically be killed but will be raised through Him, as He rose, in body, just as He was seen after the 3 days and so on until He ascended to heaven as the Word promised "Now when He had spoken these things, while they watched, He was taken up, and a cloud received Him out of their sight. 10 And while they looked steadfastly toward heaven as He went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel, 11 who also said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven.”

 

[Beck]

Revelation 20:4-6

"And I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and judgment was committed to them. Then I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for their witness to Jesus and for the word of God, who had not worshiped the beast or his image, and had not received his mark on their foreheads or on their hands. And they lived and reigned with Christ for a thousand years. 5 But the rest of the dead did not live again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection. 6 Blessed and holy is he who has part in the first resurrection. Over such the second death has no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with Him a thousand years."

So if the coming of the Son of man occured in 70 A.D and the beast and false prophet were cast into the lake of fire back then as you claim parallel for Matthew scriptures, how then do you explain these scriptures above?

Greeting warfrog,

Well first lets gather some information and details concerning whom these that were beheaded and where given to set on thrones with judgment. As I shown in my above thesis of parallelism I also believe that God used types and shadows of the antitypes. Here's what I mean concering theses. We know from Jesus discourse in Matthew 23 that the father's of the Pharisees and scribed of that generation had killed the Prophets and wise men that God had sent them. One instance can be found in Daniel 8 where many of the stars and host of heaven was casted down to the ground. This is a depiction of these saints that where martyred for the word of God in and around the year 168BC.

If we compared these martyred saints with those that would fall in the first century among these where the disciples. I believe we come to these mentioned in Revelation 20:4. So what is parallel about this two groups of martyred saints?

• Slain for the word of God
• The beast reign for time, times and half
• The beast made war against the saints and prevailed

These two groups of martyrs can be seen coming out of great tribulation.(Rev.7:14)and the first group awaited for their fellowservants until they were fulfilled. This can also be parallel to the Two Witnesses described in chapter 11.

The second part would consist of what Jesus told his disciples and followers that when the regeneration of the son of man comes that they should set on twelve thrones judging over Israel. The time of regeneration or reformation is when Jesus would ascend to be with his Father and sit on his right hand. Those that would become martyred from this time until the end of this thousand years reign would join him in judgment over Israel which came to pass in 70AD. So I see this thousand years consistance with the 40 years that God dealed with the lost children of Israel from Christ unto 70AD.

Remember those souls being shown were beheaded for thier witness to Christ and the word of God, they were already saints and slain for it, so how can the spiritually being in Christ be beheaded and live again spiritually as we know in 70 A.D the saints did not bodily live again, as we dont have saints currently alive with us from 70 a.d. and the spiritually alive in Christ "His" cannot be spiritually killed when the are given life through Him, but can physically sleep (physical death) and await their resurrection at His coming as per Corinthians.

I never claim that those where spiritually beheaded I'm not sure where you got that from my thread.

Those who accept the blood of the Lamb cannot be spiritually beheaded, noting can behead His from Him, His however can physically be killed but will be raised through Him, as He rose, in body, just as He was seen after the 3 days and so on until He ascended to heaven as the Word promised

Again I agree even the word 'soul' defines that it as well could mean Blood as in being killed. Nephesh the blood of Abel cryed out for revenge from the ground (Genesis 4:10). These three Breath, Blood and Soul all brings about Life.

Leviticus 17:11
For the life [H5315 nephesh] of the flesh is in the blood: and I have given it to you upon the altar to make an atonement for your souls: [H5315 nephesh] for it is the blood that maketh an atonement for the soul [H5315 nephesh].

The word nephesh occurs three times in that verse, and it is translated life, souls, and soul.
The word translated “souls” in Revelation 6:9 & 20:4 in the Greek is psuche, G5590 in Strong’s dictionary, which also has the meaning of Life or Breath. Since we have concluded that the blood carries the Life and Breath in Leviticus 17:11, and Life, Breath, Soul, and Blood are synonymous in this case.

"Now when He had spoken these things, while they watched, He was taken up, and a cloud received Him out of their sight. 10 And while they looked steadfastly toward heaven as He went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel, 11 who also said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven.”

Well, lets examine that passage from Acts 1:11 of which stated 'shall so come in like manner'.

Act 1:11(KJV) who also said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven.”

Strong's G5158 - tropos τρόπος (like manner) Strong's G3739 - hos ὅς (as)

Now one can takes this literally or figuratively, and one example would be that it is as figurative can be found in the use that Jesus referred to himself as a hen that would gather her chickens under her wings.


Matthew 23:37 “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the one who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing!



But more than this Jesus spoke of leaving to allow the Holy Spirit to come. It is in this 'manner' that I believe the ones speaking to the Disciples were using.

John 16:7 “Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you.”

John 16:16, 18-20 “A little while, and you will not see Me; and again a little while, and you will see Me, because I go to My Father.

18 I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you.

19 “A little while longer and the world will see Me no more, but you will see Me. Because I live, you will live also. 20 At that day you will know that I am in My Father, and you in Me, and I in you


Looking closely at the above verses it becomes clear that Jesus is speaking of going away and coming back in the same context as sending the Holy Spirit. He says He is going away so that He can send the Holy Spirit, then He says He is coming back to them and that He and the Father will make their home with them. So from that context it appears that the particular “coming” that Jesus is talking about to the Disciples is the “coming” of the Holy Spirit.

And if one wanted to view the manner in which Jesus was taken that of a cloud it could also be said of the coming of the Holy Spirit coming as a mighty wind.


Acts 2:2 And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting