|
Bible
Doctrine:
First Century End Time
Time
Statements for a first century end time are
frequent throughout the New Testament. Jesus said he
would return again within His own generation, before all the disciples
passed away. The Second Coming was in the near future of the
disciples.
Christian
Dilemma
I.
Preterist: Defined
II.
The Dilemma: Time Statements
III.
The Paradox: End Time in the First Century
I. Preterist View Defined:
In Mt.24:1-3, Mk.13:1-4 and Lk.21:5-7 the disciples asked Jesus when
the
temple buildings would be torn down, and what would be the signs of His
coming and the end of the age. In Mt.24:4-35, Mk.13:6-31 and Lk.21:8-33
Jesus described the tearing down of the temple buildings, the signs of
His coming and the end of the age. Jesus also said, "...this generation
shall not pass till all these things be done." (Mt.24:34) The preterist
view shows a past fulfillment of all those things, specifically, a
fulfillment
in the late first century within the generation of the Apostles.
II. The Dilemma: Time Statements
The following is a list of some New Testament verses demonstrate the
Christian
dilemma. Jesus told His apostles and first century church they were
living
in the end time and some would live to see the Son of Man come gather
His
elect.
(All Scripture taken from the NASB.)
Jesus to His disciples: - ...until heaven and
earth pass away, not the smallest
letter or stroke
shall pass away from the Law, until all is accomplished. (Mt.5:18)
Jesus to His twelve apostles: - ...you shall
not finish going through the cities of
Israel, until the Son
of Man comes. (Mt.10:23)
Jesus to His disciples: - ...there are some of
those who are standing here who
shall not taste death
until they see the Son of Man coming in His kingdom. (Mt.16:27,28)
Jesus to His disciples: - ...this generation
will not pass away until all these
things take place.
(Mt.24:34, See Lk.21:32)
Jesus to the high priest: - ...hereafter you
shall see the Son of Man sitting at
the right hand of
Power, and coming on the clouds of heaven. (Mt.26:64)
Jesus to His disciples and the crowd: - ...there
are some of those who are standing here who
shall not taste death
until they see the kingdom of God after it has come with power. (Mk.9:1)
Jesus to the disciples: - ...there are some of
those standing here who shall
not taste death until
they see the kingdom of God. (Lk.9:27)
Jesus to His disciples and the crowd: - ...there
are some of those who are standing here who
shall not taste death
until they see the kingdom of God after it has come with power. (Mk.9:1)
Jesus to His disciples: - ...there are some of
those who are standing here who
shall not taste death
until they see the kingdom of God. (Lk.9:27)
Jesus to Nathaniel: - ...you shall see the
heavens opened, and the angels
of God ascending and
descending on the Son of Man. (Jn.1:51)
Jesus to Peter: - If I want him (John) to
remain until I come, what is
that to you? You follow
Me! (Jn.21:22,23)
Paul to all who were beloved of God in Rome: - ...it
is already the hour for you to awaken from
sleep; for now salvation
is nearer to us than when we believed. The night is almost gone, and
the
day is at hand. (Ro.13:11,12)
Paul to the church of God at Corinth: - ...you
are not lacking in any gift, awaiting eagerly
the revelation of
our Lord Jesus Christ, who shall also confirm you to the end, blameless
in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. (1Cor.1:7,8)
- ...the time has been shortened. (1Cor.7:29)
- ...the form of this world is passing away. (1Cor.7:31)
- Now these things ... were written for our
instruction, upon whom the
ends
of the ages has come. (1Cor.10:11)
- ...we shall not all sleep, but we shall be changed...
(1Cor.15:51)
- ...I hope you will understand until the
end...(2Cor.1:3)
Paul , Timothy and bond-servants of Christ, to all the
saints who
were in Philippi: - ...so that you may approve the things that
are
excellent, in order to be
sincere and blameless until the day of Christ... (Phil.1:10)
- ...we eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus
Christ... (Phil.3:20
- The Lord is near. (Phil.4:5)
Paul and Silvanus and Timothy to the church of the
Thessalonians: - ...we are of the day...(1Thes.5:8)
- Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you
entirely; and may your
spirit
and soul and body be preserved complete, without blame at the coming of
our Lord Jesus Christ. (1Thes.5:23)
- Faithful is He who calls you and He also will bring
it to pass.
(1Thes.5:24)
- ...Now we request you, brethren, with regard to the
coming of our Lord
Jesus Christ, our gathering together to Him...(2Thes.2:1,2)
Paul to Timothy: - I charge you ... that you
keep the commandment
without stain or reproach
until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ ... (1Tim.6:13,14)
- ...I am convinced that He is able to guard what I
have entrusted to Him
until that day. (2Tim1:12)
- ...The Lord may grant to him (Onesiphorus) to find
mercy from the Lord
on that day..(2Tim.1:18)
- If we endure, we shall also reign with Him...
(2Tim.2:12)
- I solemnly charge you in the presence of God and of
Christ Jesus, who
is
to judge the living and the dead, and by His appearing and His kingdom:
(2Tim.4:1)
- ...in the future there is laid up for me the crown of
righteousness,
which
the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day; and not
only
to me, but also to all who have loved His appearing. (2Tim.4:8)
Paul to Titus: - For the grace of God has
appeared, bringing salvation
to all men, instructing
us to deny ungodliness and worldly desires and to live sensibly,
righteously
and godly in the present age, looking for the blessed hope and the
appearing
of the glory of our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus; who gave
Himself
for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for
Himself a people for His own possession, zealous for good deeds. (Titus
2:11-14)
To the Hebrews: - God...in these last days
has spoken to us in
His Son... (Heb.1:1,2)
- For we have become partakers of Christ, if we hold
fast the beginning
of
our assurance firm until the end; (Heb.3:14)
- But whatever is becoming obsolete and growing old is
ready to
disappear.
(Heb.8:13)
- For Christ did not enter a holy place made with
hands, a mere copy of
the
true one, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God
for us;... (Heb.9:24)
- ...you see the day drawing near. (Heb.10:25)
- For yet in a very little while, He who is coming will
come, and will
not
delay. (Heb.10:37)
James to the twelve tribes who were dispersed abroad:
- Be patient, therefore, brethren, until the coming of
the Lord. (James 5:7)
- ...the coming of the Lord is at hand. ...the Judge is
standing right at
the door. (James 5:7-9)
- ..the Judge is standing right at the door. (James 5:9)
Peter to those who resided as aliens: - ...according
to His great mercy has caused us...who
are protected
by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be
revealed
in the last time. (1Pet.1:3,5)
- ...you...may be found to result in praise and glory
and honor at the
revelation
of Jesus Christ. (1Pet.1:6,7)
- ...grace to be brought to you at the revelation of
Jesus Christ.
(1Pet.1:13)
- He...has appeared in these last times for the sake of
you... (1Pet.1:20)
- Keep your behavior excellent among the Gentiles, so
that in the thing
in
which they slander you as evildoers, they may on account of your good
deeds,
as they observe them, glorify God in the day of visitation. (1Pet.2:12)
- ...but they shall give account to Him who is ready to
judge the living
and the dead. (1Pet.4:5)
- The end of all things is at hand...(1Pet.4:7)
- For it is time for judgment to begin with the
household of God...
(1Pet.4:17)
- Therefore I ... a partaker also of the glory that is
to be revealed,
(1Pet.5:1)
- And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive
the unfading
crown
of glory. (1Pet.5:4)
Peter to those who had received the faith: - But
according to His promise we are looking for new
heavens and a new earth,
in which righteousness dwells. (2Pet.3:13)
- Therefore, beloved, since you look for these things,
be diligent to be
found by Him in peace, spotless and blameless,... (2Pet.3:14)
John to those who believed in the name of the Son of
God: - ...the darkness is passing away, and the true light
is already shining.
(1Jn.2:8)
- And the world is passing away... (1Jn.2:17)
- Children, it is the last hour...from this we know
that it is the last
hour.
(1Jn.2:18)
- We know that, when He appears, we shall be like Him,
because we shall
see
Him just as He is. (1Jn.3:2)
- ...we may have confidence in the day of
judgment...(1Jn.4:17
The revelation of Jesus Christ communicated through
John to His
bond-servants: - The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave
Him to
show to His bond-servants,
the things which must shortly take place... (Rv.1:1)
- ...for the time is near. (Rv.1:3)
- ... He is coming with the clouds, and every eye will
see Him, even
those
who pierced Him...(Rv.1:7)
- I am coming quickly...(Rv.3:11)
- Because you have kept the word of My perseverance, I
also will keep you
from the hour of testing, that hour which is about to come upon the
whole
world, to test those who dwell upon the earth. (Rv.3:10
- ...things which must shortly take place. (Rv.22:6)
- ...I am coming quickly. (Rv.22:7)
- ...Do not seal up the words of the prophecy of this
book, for the time
is near. (Rv.22:10)
- Behold, I am coming quickly...(Rv.22:12)
- Yes, I am coming quickly. (Rv.22:20)
III. The Paradox
Clearly, Jesus taught that he would return a second time in the first
century.
His disciples also believed He would return again in their own
generation.
Clearly, those were the last days.
But is this possible? Is it possible Jesus returned to
gather His Elect
later in His own generation, without our knowledge? PROPHECY
PARADOX: The Case for a First Century End Time explores
both
ancient history and the Bible, and presents credible evidence for this
alternate version of history.
Our greatest challenge is to separate popular paradigms
from living
history, and know the difference.
PROPHECY
PARADOX: The Case for a First Century End Time is a
carefully
documented book which shows that all those things happened,
historically,
to those people nearly 2000 years ago in their generation. The "end
time"
was therefore future to them, but past to us. This book is supported by
extant Greek and Roman history in conjunction with biblical history.
Sources
for this book include The Life and Works of Josephus, a history
of Rome by Dio Cassius, the Dead Sea Scrolls and many others. This book
is unique in that the final climax is set in A.D.79 rather than A.D.70.
An event in A.D.79, witnessed by the entire known world at that time,
provides
a natural setting for the calamitous events heralding Christ's second
coming.
That event was the eruption of Mount Vesuvius.
Dilemma
Links:
(A first century time frame for the end and second coming.)
A Visible
Second Coming: This list of New Testament verses shows consistent
biblical
intent that first century Christians would live to see both a literal
and
visible return of Christ to gather His elect.
Creative
Christianity: New evidence is turning up that Jesus did indeed
return
for His elect, in power and glory during the first century. In our
attempt
to place the second coming of our Lord in OUR future, rather than the
generation
of the Apostles, are we creatively altering the Bible to suit our own
preference?
Read the
historic
fulfillment of prophecy: This site reviews PROPHECY PARADOX:
The
Case for a First Century End Time.
The
Seven Year
Tribulation Theory: True or False? A reevaluation of the Seven Year
Tribulation Theory: Numerous difficulties pose questions to its
credibility.
Bible
Prophecy:
Faulty Assumptions Faulty assumptions distort accurate assessment
of
Bible prophecy. Have you made any faulty assumptions? Check out this
list!
Tough
Questions
for Tough Christians If Jesus preached He would return a second
time
in the first century, perhaps we should consider He was right.
Link to other
preterist pages
The Preterist Archive
Order PROPHECY
PARADOX: The Case for a First Century End Time
through Amazon.com
or through the publisher.
|
