Disclaimer: This is not a photo of the destroyed Second Temple
The pandemic triggered a lot of delusions from among the Futurist camp – the belief that Jesus is yet to return in the future. Yes, Jesus promised His disciples He was coming in their generation. See my previous blog “Confused Christianity” for a better perspective on the topic.
Futurists believe the Second Coming of Jesus Christ would be preceded by a rebuilding of the Jewish Temple. Futurists are great storytellers on the said topic. Novels and movies have been made based on their narrative. However, there is no valid biblical passage to support such a claim. Nowhere in the Bible did Scripture promise the rebuilding of a Third Jewish Temple.
On the contrary, Jesus Christ spoke of the destruction of the Second Jewish Temple (Herod’s temple), and it came to pass in 70 A.D. See Matthew 24:1-2.
“Jesus left the temple and was going away, when His disciples came to point out to Him the buildings of the temple. 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.””
Jesus actually first spoke of its destruction in Matthew 23:36-38.
“Truly, I say to you, all these things will come upon this generation. “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to it! How often would I have gathered your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you were not willing! See, your house is left to you desolate.”
By “this generation”, Jesus points to the Jewish generation who saw and crucified Him. See Isaiah 64:10-11 for clarity about the “house” in Matthew 23:38.
Your holy cities have become a wilderness; Zion has become a wilderness, Jerusalem a desolation.Our holy and beautiful house, where our fathers praised you, has been burned by fire, and all our pleasant places have become ruins.
By “house”, Jesus Christ prophecied about the desolation of the temple. Hence, His mention of its destruction in Matthew 24:2 was to reiterate the fact that truly the temple would be destroyed for the second and final time.
The disciples, having heard Jesus saying twice “the temple would be destroyed”, understood its implication, so they asked:
“As He (Jesus Christ) sat on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to Him privately, saying, “Tell us, when will these things be, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?”” (Mat 24:3)
The disciples were able to connect the dots. Temple destruction means “The Return of Christ” and “The End of the Age”. Let me repeat: “IT’S THE END OF THE AGE, NOT THE WORLD.”
The Vine’s Complete Expository Dictionary of the New Testament defined “age, aion” Greek #165 “an age or era”. In other words, it’s the end of an era – the Old Covenant Israel.
It’s not only the apostles who understood that “temple destroyed = second coming = end of the age.” So do generations of Christians after the catastrophic event in Jerusalem. See the quotation about “Julian the Apostate’s attempt to rebuild the temple” below:
The Church Fathers embellished the story in various ways adding that the Jews received Julian’s proposal enthusiastically, coming in thousands to the Temple Mount with stones in their hands, but when the first stones were laid the Jews were threatened by earthquakes and hurricanes, and finally driven off by a heavenly fire and specter of Christ (Gregory of Nazianz, Contra Julianum, Oratio, no. 4, 2:149–50; Socrates, Historia Ecclesiastica, 3:196; Sozomenus, Historia Ecclesiastica, 5:214–5). Two important facts may be gathered from these sources: (1) Julian wished to rebuild the Temple to strengthen paganism against Christianity (he saw Judaism and paganism as having sacrificial rites in common); (2) he wished to refute Jesus’ prophecy concerning the Temple (Luke 21:6; Matt. 24:2).
If Julian the Apostate had succeeded in his effort to rebuild the Jewish temple, then Jesus would’ve failed to fulfill His promise of return. Jesus Christ, about His judgment against Old Covenant Israel, said:
““So when you see the abomination of desolation spoken of by the prophet Daniel, standing in the holy place (let the reader understand), then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. Let the one who is on the housetop not go down to take what is in his house, and let the one who is in the field not turn back to take his cloak. And alas for women who are pregnant and for those who are nursing infants in those days! Pray that your flight may not be in winter or on a Sabbath. For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been from the beginning of the world until now, no, and never will be.”(Mat 24:15-21)
One implied meaning was that the Jewish temple would never be rebuilt ‘cause its desolation wouldn’t be repeated. No surprise, the LORD spoke the same truth through Isaiah the prophet. See Isaiah 25:1-2.
“O LORD, you are my God; I will exalt you; I will praise Your name, for You have done wonderful things, plans formed of old, faithful and sure. For You have made the city a heap, the fortified city a ruin; the foreigners’ palace is a city no more; it will never be rebuilt.”
Remember that Scripture originally had no chapter or verse division. Hence, Isaiah 24 & 25 are in the same context. God was speaking of His judgment. For reference and clarity to the “city” mentioned in Isaiah 25:2, see Isaiah 24:5-12 below. Take note that “earth” should properly be translated as “land, Hebrew #776,” the land of Israel with whom God gave the Mosaic Law.
“The earth lies defiled under its inhabitants; for they have transgressed the laws, violated the statutes, broken the everlasting covenant. Therefore a curse devours the earth, and its inhabitants suffer for their guilt; therefore the inhabitants of the earth are scorched, and few men are left. The wine mourns, the vine languishes, all the merry-hearted sigh. The mirth of the tambourines is stilled, the noise of the jubilant has ceased, the mirth of the lyre is stilled. No more do they drink wine with singing; strong drink is bitter to those who drink it. The wasted city is broken down; every house is shut up so that none can enter. There is an outcry in the streets for lack of wine; all joy has grown dark; the gladness of the earth is banished. Desolation is left in the city; the gates are battered into ruins.” (Isaiah 24:5-12)
The Bible is unified in saying, “Old Covenant Jerusalem and its temple will be destroyed, and not be rebuilt.” Amazing to think: Julian the Apostate, despite his enormous power and authority as emperor of Rome, failed to rebuild a Third Jewish Temple. However, the Muslims successfully built the Dome of Rock on the precise site of the former temple.
In conclusion, let us see John’s story concerning Jesus’ words about temple. See John 2:19-22.
“Jesus answered them, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.” The Jews then said, “It has taken forty-six years to build this temple, and will you raise it up in three days?” But He was speaking about the temple of His body. When therefore He was raised from the dead, His disciples remembered that He had said this, and they believed the Scripture and the word that Jesus had spoken.”
There is no need for a rebuilt temple. The essence of the temple was to signify God’s presence with Israel. But with the New Covenant, God’s dwelling place is with His people. See 2 Corinthians 6:16.
“What agreement has the temple of God with idols? For we (Christians) are the temple of the living God; as God said, “I will make my dwelling among them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.” (2Co 6:16)
See also 1 Peter 2:4-5.
“As you come to Him (Jesus Christ), a living stone rejected by men but in the sight of God chosen and precious, you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.”
It is our prayer that everyone would abide in the words of Christ, discerning truth from myths.
“So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed Him, “If you abide in My word, you are truly My disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”” (Joh 8:31-32)
Blessings!
If you want to follow our journey of unlearning tradition and relearning Scripture and stay updated, you can head to our about page and subscribe directly to receive notifications in your inbox.
Without a doubt, 21st-century Christianity comes in many shapes and forms. Christians differ in doctrines, but they seem to be unified in believing that the return of Jesus Christ is still in the future, though it has been millennia since Jesus promised His apostles that He would be coming in their generation. See Matthew 16:27-28.
“For the Son of Man is going to come with His angels in the glory of His Father, and then He will repay each person according to what he has done. Truly, I say to you, there are some standing here who will not taste death until they see the Son of Man coming in his kingdom.””
The synoptic Gospels – Matthew, Mark, & Luke – have the same assurance concerning the imminent return of Christ:
“And He (Jesus Christ) said to them (apostles), “Truly, I say to you, there are some standing here who will not taste death until they see the kingdom of God after it has come with power.”” (Mark 9:1)
“For whoever is ashamed of Me (Jesus Christ) and of My words, of him will the Son of Man be ashamed when He comes in His glory and the glory of the Father and of the holy angels. But I tell you truly, there are some standing here who will not taste death until they see the kingdom of God.”” (Luke 9:26-27)
Not only that, Jesus Christ sending out the twelve apostles, instructing them on His message, said, “And proclaim as you go, saying, ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand.’” (Matthew 10:7)
“At hand” in the original Greek language means “near,” and near cannot by any means be thousands of years and continuing, as suggested by the Futurists. Jesus Christ did not just give them the message to proclaim, but He reinforced the message with the assurance that it was indeed occurring soon. See Matthew 10:23.
“When they persecute you (the apostles) in one town, flee to the next, for truly, I say to you, you will not have gone through all the towns of Israel before the Son of Man comes.”
As I researched the validity of Jesus’ words, it’s sad, actually disgusting, to find known Bible scholars saying, “No, Jesus was confused or hallucinating when He uttered those words.” Some dismissed the passages saying, “There must be another meaning for that, but we just have to find out.”
Funny that for as long as the passages or verses are convenient to their theological position, they adhere to the Words of Christ, but if it doesn’t, then it’s excuses after excuses. Scripture does not need affirmation from men; rather, the Bible is the dispenser of truth because it is the Word of God.
One of the key disciplines in interpreting Scripture involves recognizing “time statements.” However, Futurists often overlook these time statements in the Bible, particularly in the New Testament, and instead suggest that they refer to the future. It’s important to remember that what the apostles considered “the future” is no longer future to us today.
Hence, statements like “this generation” in Matthew 24:34 no longer make an impact on the readers, for time statements have been disregarded. See Matthew 24:29-34.
“29 Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, and the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken. 30 Then will appear in heaven the sign of the Son of Man, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. 31 And He will send out His angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather His elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other. 32 “From the fig tree learn its lesson: as soon as its branch becomes tender and puts out its leaves, you know that summer is near. 33 So also, when you see all these things, you know that He is near, at the very gates. 34 Truly, I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all these things take place.
So some have suggested “this generation” refers to the generation who saw the literal signs of Matthew 24:29-34. Yet, they miss out on John’s confession in Revelation that he was already in tribulation. See Revelation 1:9.
“I, John, your brother and partner in the tribulation and the kingdom and the patient endurance that are in Jesus, was on the island called Patmos on account of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus.”
Scripture is a unity. The apostles’ writings cannot be different from the Words of Jesus found in the Gospels, the Book of Acts, or the Book of Revelation. Jesus’ words have their foundation in the Old Testament Scripture. The entire Bible is a cohesive revelation concerning the declaration and fulfillment of God’s words.
See Luke 24:44.
Then He (Jesus Christ) said to them (The disciples), “These are My words that I spoke to you while I was still with you, that everything written about Me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled.”
In recent years, we have witnessed the rise of fake news online. Most people now get their news from the web, particularly from platforms like Facebook and YouTube. Unfortunately, fake news spreads easily because many individuals click to watch or read without considering the source or the intent of the uploader or poster.
Even if a Facebook post or YouTube video contains factual information, ignoring the date it was published can severely affect its relevance today. The same principle applies when reading and studying the Bible. It is essential to recognize the audience’s relevance, the timing of statements, and their historical accuracy. Failing to do so can lead to misinterpretations of Scripture, whether by inexperienced readers or poorly informed pastors.
Jesus Christ warned, “Can a blind man lead a blind man? Will they not both fall into a pit?” (Luke 6:39)
Find someone who can teach you the disciplines of studying Scripture. Avoid using human-tailored Bible study materials, as they often reflect human influence. It’s important to recognize that even within different Bible translations, traces of human interpretation can be found. Let me be clear: the Bible itself is perfect, infallible, and without error; the issues arise with the translations.
You don’t need to be a scholar of Greek, Hebrew, or Aramaic, but it is beneficial to read the Bible by comparing different translations. Additionally, learning to use language tools, such as lexicons, is essential for in-depth Bible study. There are many free lexicon tools available online or for download. You just need to find someone knowledgeable to guide you in using these tools effectively.
It’s never too late to start studying Scripture and practicing proper exegesis. Ultimately, Scripture reveals truths about salvation that extend beyond our physical needs and concerns, addressing both our current lives and eternity. Don’t let yourself become part of confused Christianity.
Peter, in the words of Acts 3:6, declared, “I possess neither silver nor gold, but in the name of Jesus Christ, I offer you what I have.” Share this article freely, for you freely receive. Take note, underlines and highlights are clickable links for definitions or Bible references. Stay updated by heading to our about page and subscribe directly to receive notifications in your inbox. Blessing!
The Lord Jesus Christ spent three years calling disciples to Himself. He ate, slept, and taught them the truths of the Bible. When the opportunity arose, He cautioned against living double lives and encouraged them to trust His Word and change for the glory of God. Nowhere in Scripture did He teach the disciples to enrich themselves with worldly goods but to be rich with treasures in heaven.
Many fail to understand that discipleship cannot be done en masse without sacrificing the truths of the Scripture. Certain discipline needs to be done first before truthful discipleship can ensue. Successful disciples are not attained by numbers, nor is it by water baptism; rather, it’s only when one’s life has been transformed for Christ. This is the ultimate goal of discipleship.
“Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership has righteousness with lawlessness? Or what fellowship has light with darkness? What accord has Christ with Belial? Or what portion does a believer share with an unbeliever? What agreement has the temple of God with idols? For we are the temple of the living God; as God said, “I will make My dwelling among them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they shall be My people. Therefore go out from their midst, and be separate from them, says the Lord, and touch no unclean thing; then I will welcome you, and I will be a Father to you, and you shall be sons and daughters to Me, says the Lord Almighty.”” 2Co 6:14-18
“I wrote to you in my letter not to associate with sexually immoral people— not at all meaning the sexually immoral of this world, or the greedy and swindlers, or idolaters, since then you would need to go out of the world. But now I am writing to you not to associate with anyone who bears the name of brother if he is guilty of sexual immorality or greed, or is an idolater, reviler, drunkard, or swindler—not even to eat with such a one. For what have I to do with judging outsiders? Is it not those inside the church whom you are to judge? God judges those outside. “Purge the evil person from among you.”” 1Co 5:9-13
The scriptures above explained one crucial discipline that needed to be learned and done. But we have double the problem if the entity supposedly engaging in discipleship was already compromised. Would anyone sincerely deny this truth? The invitation of Jesus Christ is clear, so He said “Come, follow Me.”
True discipleship then begins and ends with the person following Jesus Christ. This involves one’s full commitment to the word of God, notwithstanding its demands.
“So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed Him, “If you abide in My word, you are truly My disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” John 8:31-32
If you want to follow our journey of unlearning tradition and relearning Scripture, you can stay updated by heading to our about page and subscribe directly to receive notifications in your inbox.
Utopia – an imagined place or state of things in which everything is perfect.
I have previously written about my conversion to Christianity on my blog entitled “Regarding Wilmer”. A few days after my only son was buried, a Bible study was started at our home and continued every Monday evening, which lasted for two years. Since then, it has become my habit to read the Bible at every opportunity available to me. I must have read the whole Bible five times over and over – from Genesis to Revelation – to the point that I have practically memorized Scripture. I can easily quote Scriptural verses together with their chapter and verse number. Two pastors handled our Bible study, the first for six months, then I was entrusted to his pastor-brother, who mentored me one-on-one, so altogether two years. I must say, the two, of course, coupled with my regular reading of the Bible, were instrumental in my rapid growth in Christianity. I was then encouraged to study in a seminary for further equipping.
I had doubts about the idea of going to school again, considering my age and time limitation, since I also have to provide for my family, with two daughters still studying. After my conversion to Christianity, I have been so passionate about the faith, and wanting to learn more, so I would eagerly listen and watch every available Christian program, both on radio and television. It was then that I realized that there are a lot of different explanations for a single verse of the Scripture. I knew in my heart that God could not have meant different meanings for His Word, therefore some of the explanations must be erroneous but which one? So I decided to enter seminary study even just for a subject every semester. To make the long story short, I eventually entered full-time study four years later after my initial enrollment as a part-time student.
I remember the day we first arrived at the seminary premises, my youngest daughter – only nine years old at that time – uttered the word “Heaven”. She seemed to have a sense of euphoria knowing that we would be residing in the seminary until my graduation. But the feeling of euphoria was short-lived. We soon realized that’s not true. Looking back, I thank God my family didn’t backslide on their faith, though I don’t mean to say we had a totally bad experience in the seminary. Just as I have said in my previous blog, most of my professors and seminary staff have been kind and a blessing to us.
God truly is amazing. Our experience in the seminary prepared us for our next journey – my pastorate work. But this time, I was armed with my experience and reminded by the Words of Jesus, “Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves, so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves (Matthew 10:16).”
I have been out of the organized Christian congregation and organizations for more than six years now. Together with my wife and the support of my two daughters, we have been joyfully doing Bible studies in our own small and little way. Gone are the hurts and sad experiences of yesteryears. But as you can see from our about me webpage, we have gone independent and our ministry would primarily focus on Unlearning Tradition and Relearning Scripture. And we know that in doing so, we may have unintentionally stepped on the feet of other Christian ministries. Let us assure you that that was never our intention. Consider us your partner in further learning the truth of the Scripture.
Anyway, as I had said before, eschatology – the study of the last things (click here for a better understanding of eschatology) – has been my favorite. Having lost a son, I certainly want to know for sure what the Bible says on the topic of death. However, in the course of my study on the topic, both in the seminary and later on, the study of Jesus’ Second Coming came head-to-head with the supposed teaching on the final destination of the Christian death.
And on the topic of the Second Coming, it is common for Christians to have an idea of euphoria – it’s more of a utopia once Jesus Christ has returned. Here is the explanation of Got.Questions.Org
The second coming of Jesus Christ is the hope of believers that God is in control of all things, and is faithful to the promises and prophecies in His Word. In His first coming, Jesus Christ came to earth as a baby in a manger in Bethlehem, just as prophesied. Jesus fulfilled many of the prophecies of the Messiah during His birth, life, ministry, death, and resurrection. However, there are some prophecies regarding the Messiah that Jesus has not yet fulfilled. The second coming of Christ will be the return of Christ to fulfill these remaining prophecies. In His first coming, Jesus was the suffering Servant. In His second coming, Jesus will be the conquering King. In His first coming, Jesus arrived in the most humble of circumstances. In His second coming, Jesus will arrive with the armies of heaven at His side.
The Old Testament prophets did not make clearly this distinction between the two comings.This can be seen in Isaiah 7:14, 9:6-7 and Zechariah 14:4. As a result of the prophecies seeming to speak of two individuals, many Jewish scholars believed there would be both a suffering Messiah and a conquering Messiah. What they failed to understand is that there is only one Messiah and He would fulfill both roles. Jesus fulfilled the role of the suffering servant (Isaiah chapter 53) in His first coming. Jesus will fulfill the role of Israel’s deliverer and King in His second coming.Zechariah 12:10 and Revelation 1:7, describing the second coming, look back to Jesus being pierced. Israel, and the whole world, will mourn for not having accepted the Messiah the first time He came.
After Jesus ascended into heaven, the angels declared to the apostles, “‘Men of Galilee,’ they said, ‘why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven’” (Acts 1:11). Zechariah 14:4 identifies the location of the second coming as the Mount of Olives. Matthew 24:30 declares, “At that time the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky, and all the nations of the earth will mourn. They will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of the sky, with power and great glory.”Titus 2:13 describes the second coming as a “glorious appearing.”
The second coming is spoken of in greatest detail in Revelation 19:11-16, “I saw heaven standing open and there before me was a white horse, whose rider is called Faithful and True. With justice he judges and makes war. His eyes are like blazing fire, and on his head are many crowns. He has a name written on him that no one knows but he himself. He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood, and his name is the Word of God. The armies of heaven were following him, riding on white horses and dressed in fine linen, white and clean. Out of his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations. ‘He will rule them with an iron scepter.’ He treads the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God Almighty. On his robe and on his thigh he has this name written: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS.”
Merriam-Webster Dictionary defined “utopia” as a place of ideal perfection especially in laws, government, and social conditions. That is exactly the expectation and understanding of Christians once the Second Coming was fulfilled. So that explains why even well-known Christian writers and scholars would suggest that Jesus was hallucinating when He told His immediate disciples that He would be coming in their generation. See a statement made by famed Christian theologian C.S. Lewis.
Famed Christian theologian C.S. Lewis, author of The Chronicles of Narnia, said this about this passage:
“Say what you like,” we shall be told, “the apocalyptic beliefs of the first Christians have been proved to be false. It is clear from the New Testament that they all expected the Second Coming in their own lifetime. And, worse still, they had a reason, and one which you will find very embarrassing. Their Master had told them so. He shared, and indeed created, their delusion. He said in so many words, ‘this generation shall not pass till all these things be done.’ And he was wrong. He clearly knew no more about the end of the world than anyone else. It is certainly the most embarrassing verse in the Bible.” (C.S. Lewis, The World’s Last Night: And Other Essays, p.97)
As you can see, C.S. Lewis, in his book entitled “The World’s Last Night: And Other Essays” on pages 97-98 made that statement. Click here to read a free PDF copy of the said book. Herein are the passages that they denied as infallible – without error:
In Matthew 24:34, Jesus Christ assured His disciples – Peter, James, John, and the others – telling them the certainty of the destruction of Jerusalem together with the temple – the sign of His return in their generation. See Matthew24:2,15-31, saying “Truly, I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all these things take place.”
In Matthew 16:27-28, Jesus Christ told His disciples that He would build His church (Matt. 16:18-19), and about His impending death and resurrection (Matt. 16:21), then assuring the twelve that His return would be within their lifetime, saying, “For the Son of Man is going to come with His angels in the glory of His Father, and then He will repay each person according to what He has done. Truly, I say to you, there are some standing here who will not taste death until they see the Son of Man coming in His kingdom.”
In Matthew 10:23, Jesus Christ sent out the twelve to preach about the arrival of God’s kingdom (Matt. 10:5-6), telling them about the dangers and importance of their message, saying, “When they persecute you in one town, flee to the next, for truly, I say to you, you will not have gone through all the towns of Israel before the Son of Man comes.”
Do you understand the implication of isolating some of Jesus’ promises, making it appear it’s not true or He was wrong, simply because it does not conform to the idea of utopia once Jesus Christ had returned? In effect, C.S. Lewis and the likes have put the Words of Christ to the test. In Matthew 4:7, at the temptation of Jesus Christ, He told the devil, “Again it is written, ‘You shall not put the Lord your God to the test.’”
Are we free to pick and choose which promises of the Scripture are true or not, simply because it does not agree with our ideas? Don’t we understand that was precisely the temptation of Adam and Eve when the Serpent put the Word of God to a test?
The popular and prevailing understanding of Jesus’ Second Coming, without a doubt, is difficult to unlearn. But an in-depth study of the Scripture would certainly liberate us from the trap. Let us first take a second look at the statement of Got.Questions.Org on the topic of the Second Coming:
First, about GotQuestions.Org’s explainer on the topic of the Second Coming of Jesus Christ, “The Old Testament prophets did not make clearly this distinction between the two comings.”
What distinction?
The second coming of Christ will be the return of Christ to fulfill these remaining prophecies. In His first coming, Jesus was the suffering Servant. In His second coming, Jesus will be the conquering King. In His first coming, Jesus arrived in the most humble of circumstances. In His second coming, Jesus will arrive with the armies of heaven at His side.
That was a correct observation, but it does not mean the First and Second Comings would be separated by millennia and ongoing. The First and Second Comings actually refers to the fulfillment of Leviticus 23 Seven Jewish Festivals, which could be simplified as two Jewish Harvest Festivals – the Spring and Fall Festivals.
The Spring harvest festival began with both the Passover and Unleavened Bread feasts; next, the Feast of Firstfruit; and lastly, the Feast of Weeks or Pentecost. All four festivals had been fulfilled with the supposed “First Coming of Jesus Christ”.
For the Passover and unleavened bread, see 1 Corinthians 5:7-8.
Cleanse out the old leaven that you may be a new lump, as you really are unleavened. For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed. Let us therefore celebrate the festival, not with the old leaven, the leaven of malice and evil, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.
For the Feast of Firstfruit, 1 Corinthians 15:20.
But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.
And for the Feast of Weeks or Pentecost, Acts 2:1-4,12-21,38-41.
When the day of Pentecost arrived, they were all together in one place. And suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. And divided tongues as of fire appeared to them and rested on each one of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance. (Acts 2:1-4)
And all were amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, “What does this mean?” But others mocking said, “They are filled with new wine.” But Peter, standing with the eleven, lifted up his voice and addressed them: “Men of Judea and all who dwell in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and give ear to my words. For these people are not drunk, as you suppose, since it is only the third hour of the day. But this is what was uttered through the prophet Joel: “‘And in the last days it shall be, God declares, that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh, and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams; even on my male servants and female servants in those days I will pour out my Spirit, and they shall prophesy. And I will show wonders in the heavens above and signs on the earth below, blood, and fire, and vapor of smoke; the sun shall be turned to darkness and the moon to blood, before the day of the Lord comes, the great and magnificent day. And it shall come to pass that everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.’(Acts 2:12-21)
And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is for you and for your children and for all who are far off, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to himself.” And with many other words he bore witness and continued to exhort them, saying, “Save yourselves from this crooked generation.” So those who received his word were baptized, and there were added that day about three thousand souls. (Acts 2:38-41)
The second half of the Seven Jewish Feasts refers to the Fall Harvest Festival – namely, the Feast of Trumpets; the Day of Atonement; and lastly, the Feast of Booths, covering the supposed Second Coming of Jesus Christ. To read more about the Fall Harvest Festival, go to my blog “Let The Reader Understand”
Hence, Jesus in Matthew 24:29-35 said:
Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, and the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken. Then will appear in heaven the sign of the Son of Man, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. And He will send out his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather His elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other. “From the fig tree learn its lesson: as soon as its branch becomes tender and puts out its leaves, you know that summer is near. So also, when you see all these things, you know that He is near, at the very gates.Truly, I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all these things take place. Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.
Here goes the most embarrassing verse, according to C.S. Lewis. Jesus Christ told His disciples that His return would be upon “this generation” – the generation that would see all that He had spoken, mainly the destruction of Jerusalem and its temple. It happened in 70 A.D., therefore it was indeed witnessed by the first generation of Christians, possibly including John, a witness in the tribulation. See Revelation 1:9.
I, John, your brother and partner in the tribulation and the kingdom and the patient endurance that are in Jesus, was on the island called Patmos on account of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus.
John cannot be talking about any other tribulation because Jesus Christ said:
For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been from the beginning of the world until now, no, and never will be. (Matthew 24:21)
Here is an excerpt from Got.Questions.Org regarding Jerusalem Temple:
Cline states that the city was completely destroyed at least twice, once by the Babylonians under Nebuchadnezzar (2 Kings 25:8-10) and again by the Romans under Titus in AD 70.
The coming of Jesus Christ was the inauguration of the New Covenant, promised in the Old Testament Scripture, which will be completed upon His return. See first Jeremiah 31:27-34.
Behold, the days are coming, declares the LORD, when I will sow the house of Israel and the house of Judah with the seed of man and the seed of beast. And it shall come to pass that as I have watched over them to pluck up and break down, to overthrow, destroy, and bring harm, so I will watch over them to build and to plant, declares the LORD. In those days they shall no longer say: ‘The fathers have eaten sour grapes, and the children’s teeth are set on edge.’ But everyone shall die for his own iniquity. Each man who eats sour grapes, his teeth shall be set on edge. Behold, the days are coming, declares the LORD, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and the house of Judah,not like the covenant that I made with their fathers on the day when I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt, my covenant that they broke, though I was their husband, declares the LORD. For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, declares the LORD: I will put My law within them, and I will write it on their hearts. And I will be their God, and they shall be My people. And no longer shall each one teach his neighbor and each his brother, saying, ‘Know the LORD,’ for they shall all know Me, from the least of them to the greatest, declares the LORD. For I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.
Next, in Hebrews 12:22-26, the author of Hebrews speaking to believers awaiting the return of Christ Jesus said:
But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to innumerable angels in festal gathering, and to the assembly of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven, and to God, the judge of all, and to the spirits of the righteous made perfect, and to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel. See that you do not refuse Him who is speaking. For if they did not escape when they refused Him who warned them on earth, much less will we escape if we reject Him who warns from heaven. At that time His voice shook the earth, but now He has promised, “Yet once more I will shake not only the earth but also the heavens.”
So indeed, the coming of Jesus Christ was the arrival or commencing of the New Covenant. And it also said, “Yet once more I will shake not only the earth but also the heavens.” In other words, the shaking of the heavens and earth had occurred before, it’s not a happening only at the Second Coming of Jesus Christ. Since we adhere that the Bible is infallible, without error, then it demands that the statement is a truthful and factual.
In that case, if we follow the ideas concerning the Second Coming of Jesus Christ, then why are we still here? There seems to be no utopia after all.
You know what, it was because those were Hebrew covenant language. Yes, “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth (Genesis 1:1)“ was/is a covenant language.
Now see Isaiah 64:1-12. Isaiah, knowing that God’s judgment was upon Israel, the destruction of Jerusalem and its temple by the Babylonian and the Jewish exile, pleaded for God’s mercy said:
Oh that You [the LORD God] would rend the heavens and come down, that the mountains might quake at Your presence— as when fire kindles brushwood and the fire causes water to boil— to make Your name known to Your adversaries, and that the nations might tremble at Your presence! When You did awesome things that we did not look for, You came down, the mountains quaked at Your presence.From of old no one has heard or perceived by the ear, no eye has seen a God besides you, who acts for those who wait for him. You meet him who joyfully works righteousness, those who remember you in your ways. Behold, you were angry, and we [Israel] sinned; in our sins we have been a long time, and shall we be saved? We have all become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous deeds are like a polluted garment. We all fade like a leaf, and our iniquities, like the wind, take us away. There is no one who calls upon Your name, who rouses himself to take hold of You; for You have hidden Your face from us, and have made us melt in the hand of our iniquities. But now, O LORD, you are our Father; we are the clay, and You are our potter; we are all the work of Your hand. Be not so terribly angry, O LORD, and remember not iniquity forever. Behold, please look, we are all Your people.Your holy cities have become a wilderness; Zion has become a wilderness, Jerusalem a desolation.Our holy and beautiful house, where our fathers praised you, has been burned by fire, and all our pleasant places have become ruins.Will you restrain yourself at these things, O LORD? Will you keep silent, and afflict us so terribly?
In biblical history, Nebuchadnezzar is most famous for the conquering of Judah and the destruction of Judah and Jerusalem in 586 BC
The first destruction of Jerusalem and its temple was God’s rejection of His people, Israel. Isaiah said, that at His (first) judgment in 586 BC, the Babylonians destroyed Jerusalem (Isaiah 64:10-11), God came down (Isaiah 64:3), and the mountains quaked at His presence.
If we take the Hebrew language literally and follow the ideas of the traditional teaching on the Second Coming, God came down in 586 BC, so utopia follows – the history of mankind should have ceased right then and there. Don’t you think we truly need to Unlearn Tradition and Relearn Scripture?
The Son of Man coming in the cloud was a Hebrew metaphor for the coming final judgment of God against Old Covenant Israel. See Daniel 7:9-14.
As I looked, thrones were placed, and the Ancient of Days took His seat; His clothing was white as snow, and the hair of His head like pure wool; His throne was fiery flames; its wheels were burning fire. A stream of fire issued and came out from before Him; a thousand thousands served Him, and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before Him; the court sat in judgment, and the books were opened. “I looked then because of the sound of the great words that the horn was speaking. And as I looked, the beast was killed, and its body destroyed and given over to be burned with fire.As for the rest of the beasts, their dominion was taken away, but their lives were prolonged for a season and a time. “I saw in the night visions, and behold, with the clouds of heaven there came one like a Son of Man, and He came to the Ancient of Days and was presented before Him.And to Him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom, that all peoples, nations, and languages should serve Him; His dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and His kingdom one that shall not be destroyed.
The “Son of Man” is Jesus Christ. See Matthew 10:23.
When they persecute you in one town, flee to the next, for truly, I say to you, you will not have gone through all the towns of Israel before the Son of Mancomes.
See also Matthew 16:13-16,24-28.
Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, He asked His disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” And they said, “Some say John the Baptist, others say Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?”Simon Peter replied, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” … Then Jesus told His disciples, “If anyone would come after Me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow Me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it. For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what shall a man give in return for his soul? For the Son of Man is going to come with his angels in the glory of his Father, and then he will repay each person according to what he has done. Truly, I say to you, there are some standing here who will not taste death until they see the Son of Mancoming in His kingdom.”
Lastly, Matthew 24:27-35.
For as the lightning comes from the east and shines as far as the west, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. Wherever the corpse is, there the vultures will gather. “Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, and the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken. Then will appear in heaven the sign of the Son of Man, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. And He will send out His angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather His elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other. “From the fig tree learn its lesson: as soon as its branch becomes tender and puts out its leaves, you know that summer is near. So also, when you see all these things, you know that He is near, at the very gates. Truly, I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all these things take place. Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.
A lot of people who deny the Words of Christ, that He was coming in the lifetime of Peter, James, and John, do not realize that without the return of Jesus Christ, “salvation remains to be a promise, not yet a reality”. See Hebrews 9:28
So also Christ, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for Him.
See also Revelation 14:12-20.
Here is a call for the endurance of the saints, those who keep the commandments of God and their faith in Jesus. And I heard a voice from heaven saying, “Write this: Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on.” “Blessed indeed,” says the Spirit, “that they may rest from their labors, for their deeds follow them!”Then I looked, and behold, a white cloud, and seated on the cloud one like a Son of Man, with a golden crown on his head, and a sharp sickle in his hand. And another angel came out of the temple, calling with a loud voice to Him who sat on the cloud, “Put in your sickle, and reap, for the hour to reap has come, for the harvest of the earth is fully ripe.” So He who sat on the cloud swung His sickle across the earth, and the earth was reaped. Then another angel came out of the temple in heaven, and he too had a sharp sickle. And another angel came out from the altar, the angel who has authority over the fire, and he called with a loud voice to the one who had the sharp sickle, “Put in your sickle and gather the clusters from the vine of the earth, for its grapes are ripe.” So the angel swung his sickle across the earth and gathered the grape harvest of the earth and threw it into the great winepress of the wrath of God. And the winepress was trodden outside the city, and blood flowed from the winepress, as high as a horse’s bridle, for 1,600 stadia.
Do you realize what you have just read? Christians who have died have finally found rest, only after God’s final judgment on the city of Old Covenant Jerusalem. That is why, before Christ’s Second Coming and final judgment, Revelation 6:9-11 said:
When He [Jesus Christ] opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain for the word of God and for the witness they had borne. They cried out with a loud voice, “O Sovereign Lord, holy and true, how long before you will judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth?” Then they were each given a white robe and told to rest a little longer, until the number of their fellow servants and their brothers should be complete, who were to be killed as they themselves had been.
That is exactly what I have been explaining before the denial of Christ’s return has created an eschatological divide with the doctrine of Christian death. To understand further, go to my blog “The Eschatological Divide”.
Therefore, the Second Coming of Jesus Christ halted the Old Covenant, while the New Covenant was completed. So it’s not the utopia that follows but the fullness of the New Covenant, for we are now in the Christian age, and the Eternal Gospel must be proclaimed to all. And Scripture spoke of no end for the New Covenant or the Christian Age.
See 2 Corinthians 5:16-21. Here is an “already but not yet” statement from Paul. He asked the believers to focus on what’s about to completed, not on what’s passing away.
From now on, therefore, we regard no one according to the flesh [circumcision]. Even though we once regarded Christ according to the flesh, we regard Him thus no longer. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to Himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to Himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making His appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. For our sake He [God the Father] made Him [Jesus Christ] to be sin who knew no sin, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God.
See Revelation 14:6-8.
Then I saw another angel flying directly overhead, with an eternal gospel to proclaim to those who dwell on earth, to every nation and tribe and language and people. And he said with a loud voice, “Fear God and give Him glory, because the hour of His judgment has come, and worship Him who made heaven and earth, the sea and the springs of water.” Another angel, a second, followed, saying, “Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great, she who made all nations drink the wine of the passion of her sexual immorality.”
Old Covenant Jerusalem was Babylon the Great, not Rome, as it was traditionally taught and believed. See Revelation 17:3-5. Babylon the Great was the woman seated on a scarlet beast, which had seven heads and ten horns.
As you can see, if your compass is defective, you would never locate the right direction. The same may be said of Scripture. If you misidentify a biblical reference, off you go with your imagination.
The “seven heads” are seven mountains (or hills in Greek) on which the woman was seated. Revelation 17:9-10 says “The seven heads also are seven kings, five have fallen, one is, the other has not yet come, and when he comes he must remain only a little while.”
Rome is always known (click here) as the city on seven hills. The Seven heads were the Seven Kings or Emperors of Rome – namely: 1st, Julius Caesar (44 BC); 2nd, Augustus Caesar (27BC – 14AD); 3rd, Tiberius Caesar (14-37 AD); 4th, Caligula Caesar (37-41 AD); 5th, Claudius Caesar (41-54 AD); and finally, 6th, Nero Caesar (54-68 AD). Source: click here.
Note: Jews have always considered Julius Caesar as the first of Rome’s emperors. They are more inclined to call him king. See John 19:15 – “We have no king but Caesar.” It was said that under Julius Caesar, Judaism was officially recognized as a legal religion, a policy followed by the first Roman emperor, Augustus. Source: click here.
“Five have fallen, one is” – that was Nero Caesar. Therefore, the Book of Revelation was written by John during Nero’s reign, not in the late 90s as suggested again based on tradition.
The “woman,” “Babylon the Great”, also was the “great city”. See Revelation 17:18, where John revealed that it was the great city where Jesus Christ was crucified (Revelation 11:8); therefore it was Old Covenant Jerusalem. Isn’t it clear that all prophecies of Scripture had been fulfilled?
So what now? The apostle John in Revelation 22:7-20 has these remaining important last words from the Lord Jesus Christ.
And behold, I am coming soon. Blessed is the one who keeps the words of the prophecy of this book. I, John, am the one who heard and saw these things. And when I heard and saw them, I fell down to worship at the feet of the angel who showed them to me, but he said to me, “You must not do that! I am a fellow servant with you and your brothers the prophets, and with those who keep the words of this book. Worship God.” And he said to me, “Do not seal up the words of the prophecy of this book, for the time is near.(Revelation 22:7-10)
Note: Unlike Daniel who was told to seal the book, for the things he wrote refers to the time of the end (it’s the time of the end, not end times; see Daniel 12:9), John was told not to seal this book of the prophecy – meaning, it’s a revelation – for the time is near (see Revelation 22:10). It’s near to John and his audience, not to us who are millennia away from the time of Christ’s revelation. Next …
Let the evildoer still do evil, and the filthy still be filthy, and the righteous still do right, and the holy still be holy.” “Behold, I am coming soon, bringing My recompense with Me, to repay each one for what he has done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end.” Blessed are those who wash their robes, so that they may have the right to the tree of life and that they may enter the city by the gates. Outside are the dogs and sorcerers and the sexually immoral and murderers and idolaters, and everyone who loves and practices falsehood. (Revelation 22:11-15)
Note: See the urgency and certainty of Christ’s warning: “Behold, I am coming soon”. “Soon” by any means cannot be two thousand years ago and ongoing. It is also significant to understand that it was only upon His return that believers or Christians may have the right to the tree of life (eternal life) as well as to enter the city by the gates – the true Holy City, the New Jerusalem. See Revelation 21:2. And upon His return, outside the city are “the dogs and sorcerers and the sexually immoral and murderers and idolaters, and everyone who loves and practices falsehood” (Revelation 22:15). I don’t see any earth-ending scenario here but the separation of God’s people and those who love falsehood. Don’t you think it makes sense that the Eternal Gospel of Jesus Christ should still be preached even after God’s Final Judgment and the fall of Babylon the Great – again, Old Covenant Jerusalem? See Revelation 14:6-8.
Then I saw another angel flying directly overhead, with an eternal gospel to proclaim to those who dwell on earth, to every nation and tribe and language and people. And he said with a loud voice, “Fear God and give Him glory, because the hour of His judgment has come, and worship Him who made heaven and earth, the sea and the springs of water.” Another angel, a second, followed, saying, “Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great, she who made all nations drink the wine of the passion of her sexual immorality.”
Hence, Habakkuk 2:14 said:
Woe to him [Old Covenant Jerusalem] who builds a town with blood and founds a city on iniquity! Behold, is it not from the LORD of hosts that peoples labor merely for fire, and nations weary themselves for nothing? For the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the LORD as the waters cover the sea.
Habakkuk was referring to the eternal preaching of the Gospel spoken in Revelation 14:6. So we see despite attempts in history to silence the Bible and suppress the truth, the Word of God would always be proclaimed at any time, and any place. Next …
“I, Jesus, have sent My angel to testify to you [John] about these things for the churches. I am the root and the descendant of David, the bright morning star.” The Spirit and the Bride say, “Come.” And let the one who hears say, “Come.” And let the one who is thirsty come; let the one who desires take the water of life without price.I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: if anyone adds to them, God will add to him the plagues described in this book, and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God will take away his share in the tree of life and in the holy city, which are described in this book. He who testifies to these things says, “Surely I am coming soon.” Amen. Come, Lord Jesus!
Note: Can you see, underlined, the invitation for eternal life remains open? And the assurance and certainty of things written by John was attested by Jesus Christ Himself. Therefore, despite the lousyness of modern-day Christianity, let it not be a reason for anyone to reject the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Let us discern carefully what we have heard, by checking every declaration and statement vis-a-vis with the Word of God.
On the other hand, Jesus Christ also has warned against diversions or extractions of His Word, the Book of Revelation. Anyone who does so, judgment and forfeiture of eternal life would be the consequence. Surely, that is a scary end, so I embarked on studying the Scripture in-depth to know the truth and be assured of entrance to God’s kingdom.
I know my detractors would also be claiming they speak the truth, so it should be a prudent thing to listen to both sides of the argument and reflect on Scripture to see which one is the truth. Most of you have heard their side of the argument, so perhaps you can give my exposition of the Scripture a chance. At the end of the day, it’s about faith, our salvation, and eternity.
There was no utopia after all, but a New Covenant. But if you mean utopia as in Jesus Christ is Lord of lords and King of kings, make no mistake He was/is victorious (Revelation 17:14; Revelation 5:5), and He reigns now and forevermore (Revelation 19:6). Therefore, in Christ Jesus, we have eternal blessedness, now and beyond this present existence, indeed we are having it now.
Blessings!
If you want to follow our journey of unlearning tradition and relearning Scripture, you can stay updated by heading to our about page and subscribe directly to receive notifications in your inbox.
The Hastings’ Dictionary of the Bible defined “eschatology” as
The department of theology which is concerned with the “last things,” that is, with the state of individuals after death, and with the course of human history when the present order of things has been brought to a close. It includes such matters as the consummation of the age, the day of judgment, the second coming of Christ, the resurrection, the millennium and the fixing of the conditions of eternity.
The Book of Revelation has been the most neglected writings in the New Testament. It is rarely preached or taught from the pulpit due to the perception that it can cause division. Whenever it has been taught to Christians, controversies—often leading to arguments—ensue. As a result, many Christian congregations avoid the book, not by the members but at the insistence of their leaders. However, the relevance of Revelation cannot be ignored. Like the final words of a dying man, it conveys the last messages of Jesus Christ to the Old Covenant people of God.
The underlined phrase from Hastings sheds light on the current confusion surrounding eschatology. However, if we adjust this idea by replacing some words, we may be able to explore the unity of Scripture without contradictions. Please compare the statement below with Hastings’ original.
“Eschatology concerns the ‘last things,” with the state of individuals after death, and with the course of human history when the Old Covenant of God has been brought to a close.”
I simply change the phrase “the Old Covenant of God” to “the present order of things.” Oops! That statement could already spark controversy, though it might be nothing for ordinary readers.
Currently, biblical scholars recognize at least four different perspectives on the Book of Revelation and prophetic literature. None of these views is considered heretical or false teaching, as each is supported by passages from Scripture. The issue lies not with the Scripture itself, but with its interpretation. All four proponents of eschatology affirm the absolute authority and inerrancy of the 66 books of the Bible. Therefore, the problem ultimately stems from human error, a point on which all sides can agree.
Despite Christianity’s two-millennia-long history, many arguments and debates remain unresolved. This is why none of the four perspectives of eschatology are classified as heresy or false teaching; for now, they are simply considered “debatable.”
The four views of eschatology, namely the Futurist view, the Preterist view, the Historical view, and the Idealist view.
Christian Theology by Millard J. Erickson was a required reading for us during my time at seminary. It spanned four semesters in our Systematic Theology class. I have a particular interest in this subject, especially because it addresses the topic of death, which I feel compelled to explore in search of the truth about what happens after we die. If you’ve read all my blogs, you may know that I came to faith following the tragic death of my only son. I shared my journey in a blog post titled “Regarding Wilmer.”
Here is an excerpt from Christian Theology, by Willard J. Erickson:
At this point it will be helpful to note a system which is used to classify the various interpretations of prophetic or apocalyptic material in Scripture. While it is often most utilized as a means of classifying interpretations of the Book of Revelation or, more generally, all such prophetic literature, the system can also be applied to distinguish views of eschatology:
1. The futuristic viewholds that most of the events described are in the future. They will come to fulfillment at the close of the age, many of them probably clustered together.
2. The preterist viewholds that the events described were taking place at the time of the writer, Since they were current for the writer, they are now in the past.
3. The historical viewholds that the events described were in the future at the time of writing, but refer to matters destined to take place throughout the history of the church. Instead of looking solely to the future for their occurrence, we should also search for them within the pages of history and consider whether some of them may be coming to pass right now.
4. The symbolic or idealist viewholds that the events described are not to be thought of in a time sequence at all. They refer to truths which are timeless in nature, not to singular historical occurrences.
I understand that the definition provided can be difficult to grasp, even for those who deeply appreciate Scripture. This complexity often arises from the perceived vagueness of some biblical passages. That’s why attending seminary can be beneficial for many. Even after I left the organized religious system and began my ministry independently, I encouraged someone to enroll in the same seminary, and he did. He is now serving in a local congregation.
I would like to express my gratitude for my professors during my time at the seminary. They provided me with solid training and equipped me well for studying the Bible. However, it’s important to acknowledge that, much like learning to drive a car, while skills can be taught and acquired, true excellence comes with practice and real-world experience. I want to clarify that I am not claiming to have achieved excellence, but rather that I feel eligible to engage in exegesis (the critical explanation or interpretation of a biblical text) and to apply hermeneutics (the knowledge required for interpreting the Bible).
The futurist view is likely the most familiar perspective for many people. Scripture contains revelations and prophecies that speak of the future; to them only a portion of these prophecies has been fulfilled, while the rest are still pending. Since the 1970s, numerous novels and films have been created about the anticipated Second Coming of Christ, contributing to its popularity. Additionally, the Scofield Reference Bible from the early 1900s has had a significant impact on Christians for over a century.
In this context, there’s a video teaching by Bruce Gore that offers a comprehensive analysis of the dominant futurist view and explores its questionable origins. The futurist perspective comes in various forms and continues to evolve.
Herewith also is a shorter video from Ben Witherington III, a professor of New Testament Interpretation at Asbury Theological Seminary in Wilmore, Kentucky. However, I encourage you to invest the time to watch Bruce Gore’s more detailed video, as it is well worth it.
Many pastors today, being futurists, often claim that Jesus Christ is coming soon. However, many may not realize that according to the dispensational futurist view, the kingdom of heaven has yet to arrive. In contrast, Jesus Christ clearly stated the presence of God’s kingdom, as seen in Matthew 12:28.
But if it is by the Spirit of God that I [Jesus Christ] cast out demons, then the kingdom of God has come upon you.
Studying the Bible is essential. If you clicked on the link for the Scofield Reference Bible, you’ll find that GotQuestions.org offers positive remarks about it. However, Bruce Gore and Ben Witherington III have differing opinions. Their disagreement isn’t about the Bible itself, but rather about its notes and commentary.
It has been two millennia since the Book of Revelation was written, where Jesus promised He is coming soon, not just once, but repeatedly, as stated in Revelation 1:1-3.
The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave Him to show to His servants the things that must soon take place. He made it known by sending His angel to His servant John, who bore witness to the word of God and to the testimony of Jesus Christ, even to all that he saw. Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear, and who keep what is written in it, for the time is near.
“I am coming soon. Hold fast what you have, so that no one may seize your crown.” (Revelation 3:11)
“And behold, I am coming soon. Blessed is the one who keeps the words of the prophecy of this book.” (Revelation 22:7)
“Behold, I am coming soon, bringing My recompense with Me, to repay each one for what he has done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end.” (Revelation 22:12-13)
“He who testifies to these things says, ‘Surely I am coming soon.’ Amen. Come, Lord Jesus!” (Revelation 22:20)
Proponents of futurism, particularly the dispensationalist view commonly associated with contemporary Christianity, are known for their constant vigilance in searching for signs that could indicate the impending arrival of the Second Coming. In light of our current situation, the COVID-19 pandemic has sparked both excitement and fear, with many believing that Jesus Christ’s return is near. However, we can look back to the early 1900s when the “Spanish Flu” pandemic likely generated similar expectations. If that had been the case, Christians would have been proclaiming that Jesus was coming soon for a century now. I find it difficult to consider a hundred years as “soon.” Unfortunately, the futurist perspective may have become akin to the fable of “The Boy Who Cried Wolf.”
Here is a well-reasoned and valuable presentation by Bruce Gore on the historical context of the Book of Revelation. To view it, click on the highlight. I won’t delve deeper into this perspective, but it’s worth noting that it is also futurist, clearly overshadowed by futurist interpretations.
Below is an excerpt from GotQuestion.Org on the idealist view. Click the link to read.
In the idealist interpretation, the symbols in Revelation are not normally thought to refer to specific individuals and historic events but to typical individuals and events. For instance, every generation will have an “antichrist” and a “mark of the beast”—any number of individuals, world leaders, or empires who exalt themselves against God are the “antichrist,” and those who follow those leaders receive his “mark.” Some part of the church is always going through tribulation, and there will be martyrs in every generation. The idealist interprets Revelation as the ongoing struggle between God and His people and Satan and those who follow him.
The idealist perspective’s refusal to recognize a singular fulfillment of biblical prophecies, viewing them instead as repeated events throughout human history, may unintentionally align closely with the futurist approach. However, the issue arises from the implication that there would be no actual fulfillment of these prophecies, even if this conclusion has not been explicitly stated.
The Preterist view stands apart from the other three interpretations, but that shouldn’t lead us to dismiss it outright. I admit that I was once guilty of this during my seminary days. I recall a moment when my professor briefly introduced the idea that the second coming might have already been fulfilled. Not a single student in the class considered this possibility or took the initiative to reexamine the Scriptures; it was dismissed without thought. Perhaps that explains why the professor didn’t delve deeper into the topic.
The professor may find himself in trouble later for exploring and teaching certain ideas, given the strong influence of futurism among local congregations across the country. If you’re familiar with Martin Luther’s struggles during the Reformation in the 16th century, you can understand the potential challenges he might face if he were to delve deeper into the Preterist view. Herewith is a short video explaining the Reformation.
Looking back, despite its shortcomings, the Reformation opened the floodgate for believers to freely study and rediscover the original teachings of Jesus Christ and the apostles.
“And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers”
Yet, like any movement, left in the hands of man, combining Scripture and human ideas, the Reformation movement somehow went south. To read more about my perspective on the Reformation, click on this link “Reformation Went Poof!“
In formatting his eschatology, Dodd pays particular attention to the biblical references to the day of the Lord. He notes that whereas in the Old Testament the day of the Lord is viewed as a future matter, in the New Testament it is depicted as a present occurrence
“Present occurrence” means, at the time of its writing – first-generation Christianity.Herein lies the strong argument for a Preterist view of the Bible. It has been more than a decade since I became a Christian. As you can read from my blog “Regarding Wilmer,” it was due to the death of my only son that I became a Christian. The reality of death came staring at me. All my previous beliefs failed to answer a simple question about human existence – what happens after death? To make the long story short, my earnest desire to find the answer to life’s most practical question and in the course of studying and leading Bible studies, I was led back to that brief moment in the seminary when we were asked if we would consider the possibility that Jesus had returned.
It was a struggle. I often found myself wanting to ignore clear and obvious biblical passages that indicated Jesus had indeed returned, all to avoid rejection, ridicule, and persecution. However, I eventually surrendered to the teachings of Scripture. My quest to deepen my understanding of the Bible has been rewarding. I was able to reconcile the seemingly loose ends of biblical teachings, particularly regarding the unity of Scripture’s eschatology on the topics of death and the Second Coming of Jesus Christ.
A few years ago, my pastor friend, who also believes that Jesus has returned, and I had a friendly discussion with another pastor friend who is a futurist. We posed an important question: “Where do Christians go after death?” His response was, “There are actually three possibilities to that question.” He couldn’t confidently say, “A Christian goes straight to heaven,” even though we often hear that in funeral services. Is this idea just a cliché meant to comfort grieving families? Surely that was not the intention. The issue arises from conflicting passages that oppose each other, especially when we consider the eschatology surrounding death alongside the future return of Jesus Christ.
To support my point, I want to highlight that my futurist pastor friend is not alone in facing this dilemma. While some may confidently assert that Christians immediately go to heaven upon death, I challenge anyone making that claim—who also believes that Jesus has yet to return—to provide biblical passages that back it up. The reality is more nuanced. I’m quoting an excerpt from Thomas G. Long, a professor at Candler School of Theology, who addressed the question: “Do they go directly to heaven or hell, or to a holding place until Christ returns for the final judgment?”
“There are two images in the New Testament about what happens. First, the Resurrection Day, when the trumpet will sound and the dead will be raised up incorruptible. If you only had that image, what we would imagine is that when people die, they lie in some intermediate state awaiting the great Resurrection Day.
“The other image, however, is that death contains no victory over us at all. As soon as we die, we are with God. We get this in the Book of Revelation where John looks up and already the saints who have died are praising God around the throne. In terms of linear time, we can’t work this out. We’ve got two competing images: You either wait until the general resurrection or you go immediately to be with God.
“But the imposition of linear time on what is an eternal idea is what creates the contradiction. I don’t try to make a theologian out of Einstein, but he did show us that events that happen in sequence can also be events that happen simultaneously. If Einstein can imagine that in terms of physics, theologians can imagine it also in terms of the intrusion of eternity into linear time – that we are both immediately raised and raised together.”
With such an answer, it seems to me that there is no assurance that a Christian can immediately enter heaven after death. Don’t you think that poses a serious dilemma? If the Bible relies on science to explain its teachings, it raises significant doubts about the security of salvation. This is the impact of what could be called an “eschatological divide.” The doctrine of salvation is closely tied to the eschatology surrounding Christ’s return. Without a comprehensive understanding of this return, we may feel as if we’re left in a precarious situation. Clearly, the futurist perspective leaves us wanting for answers.
Fellow pastors, we can’t be pulling people’s legs just to comfort them. The Bible, in Ephesians 4:11-14, said:
And He [Jesus Christ] gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds [pastors] and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes.
Since we all affirm in unity that Scripture is true and authoritative in matters of life and death—without error—shouldn’t we approach justice with the Words of Christ? We ought to explain our declarations with firm conviction, supported by clear and valid Scriptural passages. After all, by faithfully fulfilling our duty to Christ Jesus our Lord, we will be rewarded accordingly with the unfading crown of glory.
“Shepherd the flock of God that is among you, exercising oversight, not under compulsion, but willingly, as God would have you; not for shameful gain, but eagerly; not domineering over those in your charge, but being examples to the flock. And when the chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory.“
It is a misconception to believe that this passage is no longer relevant if Christ has returned. Jesus Christ is the King Eternal, and His reign has no end. Therefore, pastors must continue to seek the approval of Christ Jesus, the Chief Shepherd of God’s flock.
I understand that many questions need to be asked and answered. However, I also recognize that it can be challenging to absorb everything at once. This is the goal of this blog: to unlearn traditional beliefs and relearn the teachings of Scripture. As the saying goes, “Patience is a virtue.” With time and dedication to reading and studying the Bible, you too will come to see the light.
In conclusion, all of my citations come from the futurist perspective, with the exception of Bruce Gore, who is a partial Preterist. If you find futurism lacking in substance, I recommend starting with a couple of videos: one by Bruce Gore and another by Kenneth Gentry, who is also a partial Preterist, discussing the dating of Revelation.
Disclaimer: We do not fully endorse all the sites or sources we have cited; our endorsement is limited to the ones we share here. Additionally, we cannot claim to have watched or listened to all the videos or teachings that those sites have posted. Over time, you will learn to discern which sources to embrace or disregard.
Blessings!
If you want to follow our journey of unlearning tradition and relearning Scripture, you can stay updated by heading to our about page and subscribe directly to receive notifications in your inbox.
In my last blog posting, I said, “The healed blind man did not only experience restored eyesight, but more importantly recovery from spiritual blindness.” Interestingly, John 1 also hinted on the idea of spiritual blindness. See John 1:10-11:
He [Jesus] was in the world, and the world was made through Him, yet the world did not know Him. He came to His own, and His own people did not receive him.
We will explore further the first chapter of John’s Gospel and see how the apostle had practically laid out the summary of his Gospel right there, right in the opening verses of chapter one, then compare it to John 9. But before we do, let us refresh our understanding of the ongoing context of John 9.
Jesus had a long discourse against the Pharisees and scribes in John 8. Actually the tension between Jesus Christ and the Sanhedrin was already mentioned as early as John 7:32. The Sanhedrin was the highest ruling religious body and court of justice among the Jewish people at the time of Jesus. The Sanhedrin comprised both the Sadducees and Pharisees, with the High Priest as its head – 71 members altogether. The Sanhedrin was abolished after the destruction of Jerusalem in AD 70.
Pharisees and scribes should be the best of the best when it comes to understanding the Scripture. The exchange of words between Jesus and the Pharisees and scribes may have started somewhere near the temple (John 8:2), but perhaps it ended inside the temple area, ’cause John 8:59 said, “So they picked up stones to throw at Him, but Jesus hid Himself and went out of the temple.” The discussion definitely turned ugly, for Jesus actually claimed divinity by saying, “Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I am” (John 8:58). Was Jesus wrong to have claimed He was the Great “I am” of Exodus 3:14? The LORD God spoke first to Moses in Exodus 3 asking him to lead Israel in Exodus out of Egypt. Let us now turn to consider John 1:1-5:
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him, and without Him was not any thing made that was made. In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.
Then, in John 1:14,16-18, the apostle wrote:
“And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen His glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth … For from His fullness we have all received, grace upon grace. For the Law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. No one has even seen God; the only God who is at the Father’s side, He had made Him known.”
Psalm 33:6,9 said, “By the Word of the LORD the heavens were made, and by the breath of His mouth all their host … For He spoke, and it came to be; He commanded, it stood firm.”
Both John and the Psalmist spoke of the Word; that is, Christ Jesus, the only Son of the Father. He spoke, then everything came to exist. Therefore, Jesus Christ, indeed is the Great “I am’” the Second Person of the Holy Trinity God.
Now see John 9:30-33:
The man answered, “Why, this is an amazing thing! You do not know where He comes from, and yet He opened my eyes. We know that God does not listen to sinners, but if anyone is a worshipper of God and does His will, God listens to Him. Never since the world began has it been heard that anyone opened the eyes of a man born blind. If this man were not from God, He could do nothing.”
Amazing, isn’t it? The blind man practically reiterated what John had declared in John 1:1-5; Jesus Christ is of divine origin. Exactly what Jesus told the Pharisees and scribes causing them wanting to stone him (8:58-59). It’s ironic that, though the Pharisees should know Scripture better, the former blind man appeared to be more discerning than them. Clearly a case of spiritual blindness, don’t you think?
Spiritual blindness, therefore, does not mean ignorance of the Scripture, rather having false beliefs.
Again in John 1:9-13:
The true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world. He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, yet the world did not know Him. He came to His own, and His own people did not receive Him. But to all who did receive Him, who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.
[The former blind man answered the inquiry from his fellow Jew], “The man called Jesus made mud and anointed my eyes and said to me, ‘Go to Siloam and wash,’ So I went and washed and received my sight.” (John 9:11)
The man born blind met Jesus, the True light, which gives light to everyone; that’s the reason why he was able to discern better than the Pharisees concerning the origin of Jesus. Oh yes, he also received his sight. A bonus, I should say.
So the Pharisees again asked him how he had received his sight. And he said to them, “He put mud on my eyes and I washed, and I see.” Some of the Pharisees said, “This man is not from God, for He does not keep the Sabbath.” But others said, “How can a man who is a sinner do such signs?” And there was a division among them. So they said again to the blind man, “What do you say about Him, since He opened your eyes?” He said, “He is a Prophet.” (John 9:15-17)
The blind man recognized the signs, so he said, “Jesus is the Prophet of God.” He believed Jesus, hence Christ gave him the right to become a child of God. Coincidence? Of course not! Everything comes by God’s divine providence. Scripture said,
But to all who did receive Him, who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God. (John 1:12-13)
The former blind man did not will to know Christ Jesus; rather it was Jesus who declared, “But that the works of God might be displayed in him” (John 9:3b). Again, the “work of God is for people to believe in Jesus Christ, whom the Father has sent” (John 6:29). Mission accomplished!
The blind man rightly declared Jesus to be the Prophet of God, ’cause the “Son of Man,” the Messianic title of Christ, would mean He is the Anointed One of God the Father; therefore, Jesus should fulfill all three: Prophet (Deuteronomy. 18:15), Priest (Psalm 110:4) and King (Psalm 2:6-9).
But wait, the Pharisees also had encountered Jesus Christ. Yet, they debated him in the temple area. In fact, the parents of the man born blind refused to say a word about Jesus Christ, especially to confess that Jesus is the Christ, ’cause the religious leaders – Pharisees included – had already agreed to cast out anyone confessing faith in the Son of Man (see John 9:22).
True enough, the former blind man was only able to confess faith in Jesus, for in the fulness of Christ he have received, grace upon grace (John 1:16). Indeed, such an amazing grace was displayed by Christ Jesus in John 9:35-38:
Jesus heard that they had cast him [the former blind man] out, and having found him He said, “Do you believe in the Son of Man?” He answered, “And who is He, Sir, that I may believe in Him?” Jesus said to him, “You have seen Him, and it is He who is speaking to you.” He said, “Lord, I believe,” and he worshiped Him.’“
The blind man was literally in darkness, and we may say he actually personified the whole nation of Israel in the story – blind spiritually. The healing of the man born blind indeed was an impossible task humanly speaking – exactly what the healed blind man said to the Pharisees: “Never since the world began has it been heard that anyone opened the eyes of a man born blind” (John 9:32). See Isaiah’s prophecy concerning Jesus Christ, the Anointed One of God the Father:
Behold My Servant, whom I uphold, My Chosen, in whom My soul delights; I have put My Spirit upon Him; He will bring forth justice to the nations. (Isaiah 42:1)
Thus says God, the LORD, who created the heavens and stretched them out, who spread out the earth and what comes from it, who gives breath to the people on it and spirit to those who walk in it: “I am the LORD; I have called You in righteousness; I will take You by the hand and keep You; I will give You as a Covenant for the people, a light for the nations, to open the eyes that are blind, to bring out the prisoners from the dungeon, from the prison those who sit in darkness. I am the LORD; that is My name; My glory I give to no other, nor My praise to carved idols. Behold, the former things have come to pass, and new things I now declare; before they spring forth I tell you of them.” (Isaiah 42:5-9)
The Pharisees, knowing the prophecies in Scripture concerning the Christ, certainly recognized the signs, yet many others refused to acknowledge Christ and called Him a sinner ’cause He healed on a Sabbath. See John 9:16:
Some of the Pharisees said, “This man is not from God, for He does not keep the Sabbath.” But others said, “How can a man who is a sinner do such signs?” And there was a division among them.
Pharisees upheld the Law of Moses. Jesus said to them,
For if you believed Moses, you would believe Me; for he wrote about Me. But if you do not believe his writings, how will you believe My words? (John 5:46-47)
The Pharisees failed to see Christ in Scripture due to their self-centeredness, believing that no matter what they do – they would always be God’s children. A false assumption. In Matthew 3, John the Baptist was baptizing in the Jordan River, and the Pharisees came to him. John said to them,
And do not presume to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father,’ for I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children for Abraham. (Matthew 3:9)
So again John 1:12-13:
But to all who did receive Him [Jesus Christ], who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.
Spiritual blindness can be deadly. The Pharisees comprehend all prophecies in Scripture. It was not that they can’t see the signs; they did. They were not a victim of unbelief; rather, they were enslaved by their false beliefs. See Mark 7:8-9, 13:
You leave the commandment of God and hold to tradition of men. You have a fine way of rejecting the commandment of God in order to establish your tradition! Thus making void the Word of God by your tradition that you have handed down. And many such things you do.
The Pharisees claimed to hold on to the teachings of Moses (John 5:46-47). They may have done partially, but in truth, they made their own traditions or teachings. Traditions, established by men, hindered them from seeing that Jesus Christ, “the Son of Man – is the Lord of Sabbath” (Matthew 12:8).
Similarly, the only way for anyone seeking or studying Scripture to find the True Christ of the Bible is to allow the Word of God to speak to us. Do not allow traditions or creeds of men to be our guide, rather Scripture alone!
The story of John 9 should inspire us to see it’s all by God’s grace that anyone can come to know Jesus Christ, the Son of Man. The former blind man, humanly speaking, lost a lot when he received his sight. He may have lost or was severed from his parents and the community, since he had been cast out of the synagogue. Yet, it is amazing how people who seemed to have lost a lot found it easier to find Christ.
P.S. Though there remain a lot to share within John 9, I decided to conclude my blogpost on “Spiritual Blindness,” a study of John 9, here. Lord willing, if ever, I will just write a supplementary blogpost if needed.
Blessings!
If you want to follow our journey of unlearning tradition and relearning Scripture, you can stay updated by heading to our about page and subscribe directly to receive notifications in your inbox.
This Sunday, for our house gathering, we did a study on the Gospel of John, a disciple of Jesus Christ, specifically chapter 9 of the said gospel.
The story of the man born blind appeared only in the Gospel of John. Following the flow of narrative presented by John, Jesus came to Jerusalem about middle of the Jewish Feast (John 7:14) – the Feast of Booths or Tabernacle (John 7:2). The following Spring Feast of the next Jewish year Jesus Christ was crucified.
The Jews had Seven Annual Jewish Feasts. Feast of the Passover and Unleavened Bread, Feast of Firstfruits and Feast of Weeks or Pentecost – these first four Jewish Feasts were Spring Feast. Spring in Palestine also was the beginning of the Jewish year. Then after a spread of four months (summer months), it will be followed by the last three Fall Feast: Feast of Trumpets, Feast of Atonement and Feast of Booths. The seven annual Jewish feasts was regulated by God in Leviticus 23.
It should be noted that all Seven Jewish Feasts would have its completion through Christ Jesus, the Son of Man. Scripture spoke of Christ’s fulfillment of the Feast of Passover and Unleavened Bread (1Co. 5:7). He then fulfiiled the Feast of Firstfruits by His Resurrection (1Co. 15:23). Next, by His ascension so the coming of Holy Spirit was fulfilled at the Pentecost, Acts 2.
The last half of the Seven Jewish Feasts would be the motive of the Second Coming of Jesus Christ: Judgement (Trumpets), Redemption (Atonement), and lastly Eden Restored (Tabernacle).
The central theme of John 9, Jesus’ healing of the blind man, was to demonstrate His offer of salvation through faith in the Son of Man, so we have John 9:39. “Jesus said, ‘For judgment I came into this world, that those who do not see may see, and those who see may become blind.’”
To be continued …
If you want to follow our journey of unlearning tradition and relearning Scripture, you can stay updated by heading to our about page and subscribe directly to receive notifications in your inbox.
Unlearning Tradition, Relearning Scripture 