Heaven and Earth by the Big J"

[Larry Parsons]

According to the Jewish historian Josephus the 1st century Jew's that was living during the time of Christ look upon their Temple as "a Heaven and Earth" they believed that their Temple was at the very center of the earth and saw it as the place where heaven and earth came together,and where God met man. In the 24 chapter of Matthew verse 35 Christ told his disciples Heaven and Earth will pass away within the context of this chapter and according to Josephus report when Jesus said Heaven and Earth shall pass away but my word shall not pass away. I believe Jesus was refering to the destruction of the Temple. Do you any of you have any comments!
Thanks
Larry Parsons

[Eric Vail]

According to the Jewish historian Josephus the 1st century Jew's that was living during the time of Christ look upon their Temple as "a Heaven and Earth" they believed that their Temple was at the very center of the earth and saw it as the place where heaven and earth came together,and where God met man. In the 24 chapter of Matthew verse 35 Christ told his disciples Heaven and Earth will pass away within the context of this chapter and according to Josephus report when Jesus said Heaven and Earth shall pass away but my word shall not pass away. I believe Jesus was refering to the destruction of the Temple. Do you any of you have any comments!
Thanks
Larry Parsons

Very interesting question. Jon D. Levenson's research in Sinai and Zion might also add to your findings in Josephus. Nevertheless, the statement that "heaven and earth shall pass away" is not necessarily a statement that "the place where heaven and earth come together shall pass away." Your question definitely deserves further examination in light of the available literature from Second Temple Judaism and the early church. There is a danger of thinking we understand what a biblical text is saying based on the plain sense of the words to us (in our context) when they may have originally been refering to a whole contellation of ideas in their original context (unbeknownst to us).

[Billie Goodson]

I recall NT Wright making a statement about it would be the distinction of heaven and earth passing away in one sense. Kind of in line with Eric's statement about "the place where heaven and earth come together shall pass away", it was the distinction between the two. As Christians we are told to initiate the kingdom of heaven on earth. I will have to see if I can remember where that idea was developed. Perhaps "Simply Christian".

[Steven Burton]

You are using Josephus as the only reference for this or do we have another historian of the time to help confirm this? Does it give a time frame for when he wrote this? Is it before or after the sacking of Jerusalem in 70 A.D.? My question of this has to do with the idea that he was possibly writing for Vespasian, the Roman general at that time period, and it could have been a way to use the idea of the Jewish temple in a way to get him not to sack the temple, which history shows did not happen but speculation is out on the verdict that he ordered it or not.

Here is a list of other first century historians.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:1st-century_historians

[Larry Parsons]

I recall NT Wright making a statement about it would be the distinction of heaven and earth passing away in one sense. Kind of in line with Eric's statement about "the place where heaven and earth come together shall pass away", it was the distinction between the two. As Christians we are told to initiate the kingdom of heaven on earth. I will have to see if I can remember where that idea was developed. Perhaps "Simply Christian".
Billie, The disciples knew the Old Testament and would have understood that Jesus was speaking in prophetic language when he told them that Heaven and Earth would passing away. They knew that Jesus was not thinking of the physical earth but of the Old Covenant system passing away ( Matt,24:35 ). It is our understanding that the 24 chapter of matthew has nothing to do with the physical earth and the solar system being destroy. Even at Matt,5:18 you will you will notice that Jesus is speaking of the samething. " until heaven and earth pass away, What Jesus is saying here I believe that the Law of the Old Covenant system will remain until heaven and earth pass away speaking of the old covenant) which ended in 70 AD when the temple and the city of Jerusalem was destroy in 70AD
Thanks
Larry P.