Preterist Eschatology: What is It? Part 2

Part 1 closed with this paragraph: Why do we believe all these "End of the Age" events have already taken place? It merely comes down to accepting the Scriptures as they're written in regards to the "Timing" of their fulfillment. In addition to John (In the Revelation of Jesus Christ) writing in Revelation 1:1 & 22:6 that the things listed between would "Shortly come to pass" and "Shortly be done" we also have the very words of Christ Himself stating " Verily I say unto you, this (THEIR/THAT) generation would not pass till all these things be fulfilled" Matthew 24:34 in the Olivet Discourse but unfortunately; most people are not familiar with what exactly Christ meant when He said "all these things" this was simply an answer in response to part of the question(s) asked by the Disciples in verse 3 "Tell us; when shall these things be"

In the 1^st part of the Olivet Discourse (Matthew 24) Jesus is seen coming out of the Temple "And Jesus went out, and departed from the temple: and his disciples came to him for to show him the buildings of the temple" The Disciples were extremely proud of their Temple for it was claimed to be the House of God. The Temple was a magnificent building. Someone once stated that "Unless you had seen the Temple in Jerusalem, you have not seen a beautiful building" King Herod had the old dilapidated (war torn Temple) torn down; the Temple Mount expanded and constructed a glorious new Temple. This Temple was now called "Herod's Temple"

Jesus' response to the Disciples was "And Jesus said unto them, See YE not all these things? verily I say unto YOU, There shall not be left here one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down" The Disciples were dismayed & dumbfounded; verse 3 "And as he sat upon the mount of Olives, the disciples came unto him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? And what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the AGE?" We seem to have an immediate problem: Christ just mentioned the impending destruction of the Temple but in the Disciples' question, they asked "When shall THESE THINGS be"

Christ had only mentioned the destruction of the Temple (1 thing) so what were the "THINGS" the Disciples were asking about, in addition to the destruction of that Temple? This is where many fall short and fail to grasp the collective meaning of "all these things" Many make this mistake as they have been taught that the Olivet Discourse stands apart completely from the previous chapter; but does it? No!

Matthew 24 & 25; commonly called the Olivet Discourse does stand apart as a separate time of teaching but it is simply an extension, addition or addendum to what Christ had just taught in the Temple. If we back up to Matthew 21:23 and read it through Matthew 23:39 we find that this entire area of scripture is one continuous time of teaching. Christ enters the Temple at Matthew 21:23 and is not seen leaving the Temple until we get to Matthew 24:1. Jesus now expands upon those things He taught in the Temple.

Matthew 24:4-6: Jesus begins to answer their question(s) "And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceives YOU. For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many and YE shall hear of wars and rumors of wars: see that YE be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet"

Who is Jesus' audience here? To whom is He speaking? Jesus tells the Disciples that THEY are going to hear of wars and rumors of wars but He is also careful to point out that these wars and rumors of wars are not the magic sign but instead that these are things that must transpire before "The End"

Matthew 24:7-8 "For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in diverse places. All these are the beginning of sorrows" Jesus again reminds them, these things are just the beginning of sorrows. Matthew 24:9 "Then shall they deliver YOU up to be afflicted, and shall kill YOU: and YE shall be hated of all nations for my name's sake" Again; who is the audience here? Who is receiving this message? To whom is Christ addressing these admonitions? Does Christ say "You and those like you"? Christ tells the Disciples that THEY were going to be delivered up to be both afflicted & killed, for His name's sake. Scripture & History very clearly shows us these things did in fact happen to most of those Disciples.

Matthew 24:10-14 "And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another. And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many. And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold. But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved. And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come" Christ says once the Gospel of the Kingdom had been preached in all the world, that was when "The End" would come, but what "End"? Remember the Disciples asked about "The End of the Age"?

Most Christians today are more familiar with the wording of the King James Version in this verse (Verse 3) which is written as "End of the world" but as we are dealing with scripture; and more importantly Prophecy, we should be very clear here as to what Christ was in fact, referring to. As the KJV New Testament primarily if not exclusively comes to us from the Greek Manuscripts, let's see what the Greek says.

Matthew 24:3 shows "of the end of the world" in Greek as "sunteleia aion" These words are explained in Strong's Exhaustive Concordance as "suntelia" # 4930 and is defined as completion, consummation, end. "aion" #165 is defined as 1) for ever, an unbroken age, perpetuity of time, eternity 2) the worlds, universe 3) period of time, age. As we're given a multiple choice answer, we must decide and choose which definition best suits the context involved. So let's consider all 3 possibilities. Is there and end of #1) for ever, an unbroken age, perpetuity of time, eternity? No; Eternity makes this self-explanatory. Is there and end of #2) the worlds, universe? The Universe ceasing to exist would mean an absolute extinction of everything in existence, including God, space & time. Is there and end to #3) period of time, age? This is not asking if there is an end to time but to a period of time, better known as an age and yes; there is an end to any period of time so the Disciples were asking about an end to a specific period of time, or age and it is this period of time, or age, that Christ is referencing here as to when "The End" of that period of time, or age, would come.

Matthew 24:15 "When YE therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand :)" Again: To whom is Christ speaking to? Whom did He just say would see this "Abomination of desolation"? Did He mention a future time or people by saying "When THEY" or was He addressing His present day audience when He said "When ye, or you"?

Audience Relevance is one thing you will hear echoed by those who embrace the idea of Preterist Eschatology, whether they are Full Preterists or Partial Preterists. Who were the first people to hear this message and how would or does it apply to them? Would you open a letter addressed to your neighbor and believe it was also meant for you?

Speaking of this "Abomination of Desolation" Christ says that it is spoken of by "Daniel the Prophet" The phrase "Abomination of desolation" does not appear in Daniel but we do find this phrase "the abomination that maketh desolate" twice (Daniel 11:31 & 12:11) and I have no problem believing this is what Christ was referencing. Something happens that creates this "abomination that maketh desolate" but what? There are many theories to this idea and far too much to list in this small article but I will suppose one theory.

What is the abomination of beastiality? Having or performing sex on or with an animal. What is the abomination of incest? Relatives having sex with each other. What is the abomination of sorcery? Divination? Passing your son or daughter through the fire? Are these all not self-explanatory? So wouldn't an abomination of desolation be something considered to bring something to desolation?

Daniel 11:31 And arms shall stand on his part, and they shall pollute the sanctuary of strength, and shall take away the daily sacrifice, and they shall place the abomination that maketh desolate.

Apparently; this is something that was to be set-up in the Temple that would bring about its' desolation. What is meant by desolation? The Hebrew word used here for desolation is "shamem" is #08074 in Strong's Exhaustive Concordance and is given numerous meanings but essentially means barren, empty, waste, etc... Something was to be placed in the Temple that would cause it to become desolate: In other words, it would no longer be considered the House of God. Other than understanding what this abomination was to be; isn't it also as important to know whom Daniel & Christ said would see this come about? Didn't Christ tell the Disciples THEY would see this happen? In their time? "When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation"

Ye, You & Your appear some 23 times in Matthew 24. Who are the ye & you spoken of in this chapter? Isn't it the Disciples who were there? At that time with Christ? Wouldn't this mean it would happen in their lifetime? Their generation? Their Age? Why is the bulk of the Church teaching that this it yet to happen? Or at least that it will happen again? Did Christ ever mention this applying to a people or time future of those standing there? Then? With Him? Did Christ say it would be repeated? How does one completely remove the audience relevance here and routinely apply it to each successive generation, until one actually accepts that it has happened in their own generation? Time? Age?

Matthew 24:16-20 "Then let them which be in Judaea flee into the mountains: Let him which is on the housetop not come down to take any thing out of his house: Neither let him which is in the field return back to take his clothes. And woe unto them that are with child, and to them that give suck in those days! But pray YE that YOUR flight be not in the winter, neither on the Sabbath day"

Christ specifically mentions Judea here; doesn't mention another area of the planet and then follows this up by using audience relevance again. "But pray ye that your flight" Isn't Christ telling THEM yet again that these things would be coming on THEM? THEN? If Christ were referring to a people or time future to those standing there, then; wasn't He smart enough to say "But pray ye that THEIR flight"? Couldn't He have asked the Disciples to pray for THOSE people? Or the people of THAT time? Why would Christ bother warning THEM if this applied to people or a time that was not to be for yet another 2,000 + years and counting?

Matthew 24:21 "For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be" Christ tells them that during THEIR flight would be the time of "Great Tribulation" but the Futurist Church believes this Great Tribulation is yet to occur; some 2,000 years later. Doesn't this completely negate all the warnings & admonitions to those who were the first to receive them? Doesn't it ignore audience relevance?

Matthew 24:22 "And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect's sake those days shall be shortened" Doesn't the majority of the futurist Church teach that this is about the "End of the World"? If this were about the end of the world; the end of mankind and the end of time, why is God worried about saving SOME flesh? Doesn't God always leave a remnant?

Matthew 24:23-26 "Then if any man shall say unto YOU, Lo, here is Christ, or there; believe it not. For there shall arise false Christ's, and false prophets, and shall show great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect. Behold, I HAVE TOLD YOU BEFORE. Wherefore if they shall say unto YOU, Behold, he is in the desert; go not forth: behold, he is in the secret chambers; believe it not" 3 times: Christ again mentions THEM, those standing there specifically and warns THEM not to believe people who say such things. Again; no such time or people future of those standing there, then, are mentioned!

Matthew 24:27-29 "For as the lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. For wheresoever the carcass is, there will the eagles be gathered together. Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken" Here we find a section of scripture that seems to have been completely taken out of context by the majority of the Futurist Church.

Ezekiel 32:7-8 "And when I shall put thee out, I will cover the heaven, and make the stars thereof dark; I will cover the sun with a cloud, and the moon shall not give her light. All the bright lights of heaven will I make dark over thee, and set darkness upon thy land, saith the Lord GOD" Here we see nearly the exact same language being used: only here, it is about a localized judgment when Babylon was to come in and defeat Egypt. A simple reading of Ezekiel 32:1-11 should confirm this for the reader. Ezekiel 29:17-20 is also supportive information.

Isaiah 13:10 "For the stars of heaven and the constellations thereof shall not give their light: the sun shall be darkened in his going forth, and the moon shall not cause her light to shine" Here again we find this same symbolic language; also being used to show a localized judgment, only this time it is the Prophecy of the Medes (Media) coming in to conquer Babylon. A simple reading of this chapter should suffice as evidence for my claim.

Deuteronomy 4:19 "And lest thou lift up thine eyes unto heaven, and when thou seest the sun, and the moon, and the stars, even all the host of heaven, shouldest be driven to worship them, and serve them, which the LORD thy God hath divided unto all nations under the whole heaven" How do humans worship and serve the sun, moon and stars? Isn't man supposed to worship God? Could this be symbolic language?

Genesis 37:9 "And he dreamed yet another dream, and told it his brethren, and said, Behold, I have dreamed a dream more; and, behold, the sun and the moon and the eleven stars made obeisance to me" Most Christians should be familiar with this story but I'll ask anyhow. Obeisance comes from the word shachah #07812 and means bow down, worship, crouch, etc... so; did the sun, moon and stars worship Joseph? Could this also be symbolic language?

Provided one can see this same symbolic language is used to describe a Nation coming in Heavenly judgment; against another Nation, (Nation shall rise against Nation) controlled by, through & with God (Babylon on Egypt & Media on Babylon) is it really such a stretch to see this possibility in Matthew 24:29? Does it help to accept this by seeing that Jesus was saying that THEY would witness these things?

Matthew 24:30-31 "And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other" Would any Christian argue that these verses relate to the return & gathering?

Matthew 24:32 "Now learn a parable of the fig tree; When his branch is yet tender, and putteth forth leaves, YE know that summer is nigh" This is another verse that I believe has been savagely butchered to fit the "Constant postponement" of these Prophecies. Some within Futurism; teach, believe and are taught that this Parable refers to the time when Israel would officially become a Nation within the "Promised" Land. Depending on what year you accept, this is taught to have occurred in either 1948 or 1967.

What is a Parable? A Parable is a story that is used as a comparison to prove a point. A parable is something that uses a physical reality to teach a spiritual truth so if this parable is not about Israel becoming a Nation, what is it about?

Matthew 24:33 "So likewise YE, when YE shall see all these things, know that it is near, even at the doors" This is what the Parable was used for. First Christ gives the Parable, and many time he then gives the meaning and understanding (research this pattern Christ demonstrates) and who is it again that is told "So likewise YE, when YE shall see all these things, know that it is near, even at the doors"? Christ just finished reminding THEM that THEY were the very Generation that was going to see these things happen. Some may also wish to view or label this as a Similitude? Same thing.

Matthew 24:34 "Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled" This verse brings with it, the very answer; from the words of Christ, whom we claim as our Savior? Shall we change or add to the WORD?

Christ repeats this same admonition; nearly word for word, in the Temple in Chapter 23:36 "All these things shall come upon this generation"

"These Things & All These Things" These two phrases appear 5 times in Matthew 24 and all by verse 34: Repetition is often a sign of insistence, persistence or perseverance

in attempting to get a point across, Christ is well known for this trait. Christ said "see all these things" the Disciples asked "when shall these things be" Christ said "all these things must come to pass" Christ says "when ye (no future tense used, implied or inferred) shall see all these things" He then says "This (that/their) generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled" All these things included the Temple falling, it did. If the Temple fell in that generation; and Christ said all things mentioned would take place within the same generation, why is anyone arguing with the words of Christ? All these things also included Christ's Return, verse 30 makes this clear. "The End" was mentioned 4 times and it was "The End" of the Age, not the World!

Attempting to go elsewhere to disprove the clear context here is simply an effort to discredit, contradict or confuse the message. Matthew 21:23 - Matthew 24:34 is our Battle Ground. Let's not step off the field to try to win. Millions of people use countless Supportive Scripture for their Case. If four people witnessed a cold-blooded murder, would they need any other witnesses to corroborate their story to the authorities? NO! We have 4 witnesses to the same events here and they all agree on the timing of when these "End Time" events were to occur and who was their Teacher? Jesus Christ our Lord! Disproving the intended fulfillment of these events to have taken place within the same generation is sheer inability or unwillingness to see or accept the logical consequences of when Christ Himself said these events would transpire.