The gospels are encrypted texts describing Jesus’ revolutionary activity in the years before and during the war against the Romans, including the extraordinary event which led Jesus’ messianistic Essene companions to proclaim him as the long-awaited messiah. The encryption technique of the synoptic Apocalypse consists of a writing style that obfuscates the reported events from the enemy but is comprehensible to insiders.
In my attempt to decode this apocalyptic chapter of the synoptic gospels I have put the versions of Matthew and Luke beside Mark’s, because by doing so they could reveal any historical references present. I have divided the fragment into different sections for ease of discussion. Introductory or less relevant verses have been omitted.
Section | Matthew 24 | Mark 13 | Luke 21 |
A | (1) Jesus left the temple and was going away, when his disciples came to point out to him the buildings of the temple. (2) But he answered them, “You see all these, do you not? Truly, I say to you, there will not be left here one stone upon another, that will not be thrown down. | (1) And as he came out of the temple, one of his disciples said to him, “Look, Teacher, what wonderful stones and what wonderful buildings!” (2) And Jesus said to him, “Do you see these great buildings? There will not be left here one stone upon another, that will not be thrown down.” | (5) And as some spoke of the temple, how it was adorned with noble stones and offerings, he said, (6) “As for these things which you see, the days will come when there shall not be left here one stone upon another that will not be thrown down. |
B | (4) And Jesus answered them, “Take heed that no one leads you astray. (5) For many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and they will lead many astray. | (5) And Jesus began to say to them, “Take heed that no one leads you astray. (6) Many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am he!’ and they will lead you astray. | (8) And he said, “Take heed that you are not led astray; for many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am he!’ and, ‘The time is at hand!’ Do not go after them. |
C | (6) And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars; see that you are not alarmed; for this must take place, but the end is not yet. | (7) And when you hear of wars and rumors of wars, do not be alarmed; this must take place, but the end is not yet. | (9) And when you hear of wars and tumults, do not be terrified; for this must first take place, but the end will not be at once. |
D | (7) For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be famines and earthquakes in various places: (8) all this is but the beginning of the birthpangs. | (8) For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom; there will be earthquakes in various places, there will be famines; this is but the beginning of the birthpangs. | (10) Then he said to them, “Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom; (11) there will be great earthquakes, and in various places famines and pestilences; and there will be terrors and great signs from heaven. |
E | (9) Then they will deliver you up to tribulation, and put you to death. | (9) But take heed to yourselves; for they will deliver you up to councils; and you will be beaten in synagogues; and you will stand before governors and kings for my sake, to bear testimony before them. | (12) But before all this they will lay their hands on you and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues and prisons, and you will be brought before kings and governors for my name’s sake. |
F | (10) And then many will fall away, and betray one another, and hate one another. | (12) And brother will deliver up brother to death, and the father his child, and children will rise against parents and have them put to death. | (16) You will be delivered up even by parents and brothers and kinsmen and friends, and some of you they will put to death. |
This analysis shows that the war of the Jews against the Romans, with world dominion at stake, is the dominant subject of the first part of the synoptic Apocalypse. In summary, we discern the following six elements: