Its pretty frustrating to me to imagine the faith of the Disciples and the early day Christians who in fact, themselves were Preterists, who expected the immenent return of Christ in there generation because Jesus told them to be ever vigilent for his return. For us, as there followers to malign there words is frustrating, indeed.
To believe that Christ never returned when he said he would is to make a mockery out of the words of Christ and the beliefs of the early Christians.
How do you manage to pretend that these verses are not relevant and true? Comments?
"Jesus made several references to the approximate time of his second coming, the resurrection, the judgment and the arrival of the Kingdom of Heaven:
...Jesus began to preach, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near." (Matthew 4:17, NIV throughout)
When you are persecuted in one place, flee to another. I tell you the truth, you will not finish going through the cities of Israel before the Son of Man comes. (Matthew 10:23)
For the Son of Man is going to come in his Father's glory with his angels, and then he will reward each person according to what he has done. I tell you the truth, some who are standing here will not taste death before they see the Son of Man coming in his kingdom. (Matthew 16:27-28)
I tell you the truth, all this will come upon this generation. O Jerusalem, Jerusalem…Look, your house is left to you desolate. (Matthew 23:36-38) [The temple was destroyed in A.D. 70.]
When you see these things happening, you know that it is near, right at the door. I tell you the truth, this generation will certainly not pass away until all these things have happened. (Mark 13:29-30)
When these things begin to take place, stand up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near. (Luke 21:28)
2. The New Testament writers, including the apostles, interpreted Christ's timing references to mean that the second coming, the resurrection, the judgment, the last days and the end of the age were a single package of events to be completed in their lifetimes:
…The hour has come for you to wake up from your slumber, because our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed. The night is nearly over; the day is almost here... (Romans 13:11-12)
The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. (Romans 16:20)
Do not look for a wife…What I mean, brothers, is that the time is short…this world in its present form is passing away. (1 Corinthians 7:27-31)
These things happened to them as examples and were written down as warnings for us, on whom the fulfillment of the ages has come. (1 Corinthians 10:11)
According to the Lord's own word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left till the coming of the Lord... (1 Thessalonians 4:15)
In the past God spoke to our forefathers through the prophets at many times and in various ways, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son (Hebrews 1:1-2)
Now he has appeared once for all at the end of the ages (Hebrews 9:26)
Let us encourage one another…as you see the Day approaching. (Hebrews 10:25)
In just a very little while, "He who is coming will come and will not delay." (Hebrews 10:37)
The Lord's coming is near…The Judge is standing at the door! (James 5:8-9)
The end of all things is near. (1 Peter 4:7)
…this is the last hour; and as you have heard that the antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have come. This is how we know it is the last hour. (1 John 2:18)
3. The apostolic interpretation cannot be wrong:
...the Holy Spirit…will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. (John 14:26)
…he will guide you into all truth…he will tell you what is yet to come. (John 16:13)
Even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel other than the one we preached to you, let him be eternally condemned!…I received it by revelation from Jesus Christ. (Galatians 1:8,12)
Therefore, the second coming and all related events must have occurred in the first century. Those taking the position that the apostles were mistaken presume to understand the timing of these events better than those who were:
· eyewitnesses to the ministry of Jesus,
· personally trained by him and
· promised divine revelation regarding the future.
To suggest the apostles were wrong implies:
· the Bible is seriously wrong in numerous places and
· Jesus was misleading the apostles or
· Jesus was wrong too.
The unfulfilled position presents a stumbling block for Jewish people who have no option but to reject this version of the gospel. For them, anyone making predictions in the name of God must be judged by Deuteronomy 18:20-22:
A prophet who presumes to speak in my name anything I have not commanded him to say…must be put to death. You may say to yourselves, "How can we know when a message has not been spoken by the LORD?" If what a prophet proclaims in the name of the LORD does not take place or come true, that is a message the LORD has not spoken. That prophet has spoken presumptuously. Do not be afraid of him.
This test would condemn Jesus and all of the apostles to death.
"God's household" was "built on the foundation of…holy apostles" with Jesus Christ as "the chief cornerstone" (Ephesians 2:19-20;3:5). The unfulfilled position presents a church founded by a band of classic false prophets.
There is only one acceptable conclusion: The apostles must have been right or we Christians are wasting our time studying their unreliable teachings in the supposed "inerrant," or "infallible" Word of God. All Scripture referring to "end-time" events must relate to the Jewish war with Rome during the period A.D. 66-70 which culminated in the destruction of the temple and the end of animal sacrifices. The promised second coming, resurrection and judgment must have occurred during that period. All "difficult" prophetic passages must be interpreted based on this premise.
James |
