John Wesley (1703-1791), was an English cleric and the leader of the Methodist movement.
Matt 24:2…There shall not be left here one stone upon another…
John Wesley: This was most punctually fulfilled: for after the temple was burned. Titus the Roman general, ordered the very foundations of it to be dug up; after which the ground on which it stood was ploughed by Turnus Rufus. (This should be about Terentius Rufus, mentioned in Josephus', Wars of the Jews 7:2:1)
Matt 24:5:For many shall come in my name…
John Wesley: First, false Christs, next, false prophets, Ver. 11; at length, both together, Ver. 24. And indeed never did so many impostors appear in the world as a few years before the destruction of Jerusalem; undoubtedly because that was the time wherein the Jews in expected the Messiah.
Matt 24:14 And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world…
John Wesley: Not universally: this is not done yet: but in general through the several parts of the world, and not only in Judea. And this was done by St. Paul, and the other apostles, before Jerusalem was destroyed. And then shall the end come - of the city and temple. Josephus' "History of the Jewish War" is the best commentary on this chapter. It is a wonderful instance of God's providence, that he, an eyewitness, and one who lived and died Jew, should, especially in so extraordinary manner, be preserved, to transmit to us a collection of important facts, which so exactly illustrate this glorious prophecy, in almost every circumstance.
Matt 24:15: When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation…
John Wesley: Daniel’s term is, "the abomination that maketh desolate," Dan 11:31; that is, the standards of the desolating legions, on which they bear the abominable images of their idols. Standing in the holy place - Not only the temple, and the mountain on which it stood, but the whole city of Jerusalem, and several furlongs of land round about it, were accounted holy; particularly the mount on which our Lord now sat, and on which the Romans afterward planted their ensigns. He that readeth, let him understand - whoever reads that prophecy of Daniel, let him deeply consider it.
Matt 24:16 Then let them which be in Judaea flee into the mountains:
John Wesley: So the Christians did, and were preserved. It is remarkable, that after the Romans, under Cestius Gallus, made their first advance toward Jerusalem, they suddenly withdrew again, in a most unexpected, and indeed impolitic manner. This the Christians took as a signal to retire, which did, some to Pella, and others to Mount Libanus.
Mat 24:20 But pray ye that your flight be not in the winter, neither on the sabbath day:
John Wesley: They did so; their flight was in the spring. Neither on the Sabbath on many accounts inconvenient: besides that many would have scrupled to travel far on that day. For the Jews thought it unlawful to walk above two thousand paces (two miles) on the Sabbath day.
Matt 24:22 And except those days should be shortened…
John Wesley: By the taking of Jerusalem sooner than could be expected. No flesh would be saved - the whole nation would be destroyed. But for the elect's sake - that is, for the sake of the Christians.
Matt 24:28 For wheresoever the carcase is, there will the eagles be gathered together.
John Wesley: Our Lord gives this as further reason why they should not hearken to any pretended deliverer. As if he had said: Expect not any deliverer of the Jewish nation; for it is devoted to destruction. It is already before God a dead carcass, which the Roman eagles will soon devour.
Matt 24:34 Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled.
John Wesley: The expression implies that great part of generation would passed away, but not the whole. Just so it was. For the city and temple were destroyed thirty nine or forty years after.
