Matthew 24:43-44 - Coming like a thief (1st century historical fulfillment?)

Matthew 24:43-44 (1st century historical fulfillment?)


Matthew 24:40-42 - One is taken one is left (1st century historical understanding and imminence?):
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Matthew 24:43-44

Matthew 24:45-51 - Faithful and wise slave (1st century imminence?):
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Matthew 24:43: "And you know that (saying), that if the house-master had-known (on) which watch the thief was-coming, he-would-have-kept-watch and would not have-allowed his house to-be-broken-into."

Matthew 24:44: "For this reason you also be prepared (ones) — because the Son (of) Man is-coming (at an) hour which you-do not expect."


1st century audience?

The same Greek words that are used in the various passages will be CAPITALIZED.

Jesus mentioned the DAY of their LORD COMING like a THIEF: "YOU-do not know (on) which DAY YOUR LORD IS-COMING. And YOU know that (saying), that if the house-master had-known (on) which watch the THIEF WAS-COMING, he-would-have-kept-watch" (Matthew 24:42-43). 

Jesus then added in the very next verse: "FOR THIS REASON YOU also be prepared (ones)" (Matthew 24:44). Who can be the "YOU" (Matthew 24:44) addressed in this passage? 

41 verses earlier, Jesus spoke to His 1st century disciples, as "THE DISCIPLES came to Him privately, saying, “Tell US" (Matthew 24:3) and "having-responded, Jesus said (TO) THEM" (Matthew 24:4) these things. 


1st century events

It is written in Matthew 24:43-44: "if the house-master had-known (on) which watch the thief WAS-COMING, he-would-have-kept-watch and would not have-allowed his house to-be-broken-into. For this reason you also be prepared (ones) — because the SON (of) MAN IS-COMING (at an) hour which you-do not expect". 

13 verses earlier, Jesus said talked about "the SON (of) MAN COMING on the clouds (of) heaven with power and great glory. And He-will-send-out His angels" (Matthew 24:30-31).


Historians wrote about an event that happened around AD 66, in which armies of glittering appearance were seen in the clouds around the start of the Jewish War that led to the destruction of Jerusalem and its temple. 

This event would have happened specifically in the night, before the setting of the sun, just like a thief would be expected to COME. 


The 1st century historian Josephus wrote in "The Wars of the Jews":

(6.5.3): "[o]n the twenty-first day of the month of Artemisius [Iyyar], a certain prodigious and incredible phenomenon appeared; I suppose the account of it would seem to be a fable, were it not related by those that saw it, and were not the events that followed it of so considerable a nature as to deserve such signals; for, before sunsetting, chariots and troops of soldiers in their armor were seen running about among the clouds, and surrounding of cities."

Here Josephus wrote that this was seen "before sunsetting".


Pseudo-Hegesippus, a conventional title for a 4th century adaptor of "The Jewish War" of the 1st century historian Josephus, described:

"a certain figure appeared of tremendous size, which many saw, just as the books of the Jews have disclosed, and before the setting of the sun there were suddenly seen in the clouds chariots in the clouds and armed battle arrays by which the cities of all Iudaea and its territories were invaded.".

Here it is written that this was seen "before the setting of the sun".


How could these people see that? 

How could people see these things? God may have opened their eyes momentarily to see that in a vision, as He did for example with the servant of Elisha when "Elisha prayed, and said, “LORD, open the eyes of the servant, and let him see.” And the LORD opened his eyes, and he saw; and, behold, the mountain (was) full of horses, and chariot(s) of fire round about Elisha!" (2 Kings 6:17).


For more details on this event:
Matthew 24:30 - Coming on the clouds with angels (1st century historical fulfillment?):
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