@ Fisherman,
All Christians should be aware that the Parousia will happen and be ready when it does. But the timing can not be anticipated. And when it does occur no one will be wondering if it happened or not.
THE OLIVET DISCOURSE; Parallels: Luke 21:7, Mark 13:4
CENTRAL QUESTION:
Is it possible that Matthew 24 (verses 1-35) was entirely fulfilled in the first century?
Which
"generation" was Christ referring to in Matthew 24:34? (the
time text)
- To which generation was Christ referring in Matthew 23:36?
-
If the judicial sentence & prophetic woe of Mat.23:36
applies to Christ's generation, would not the exact same
terminology in Mat.24:34 have the same application?
CHRIST COULD HAVE INTENDED BY VERSE 34 THAT:
a. "all these things" were to happen to the 20th century generation exclusively.
Impossible: conversation centers on "these stones" which were knocked down in 70 AD.
Impossible Lu.21:23-24 states that subsequent to great distress, Jews were to be led captive to all nations which occurred immediately after the 70 AD destruction.
b.
"all these things" were to happen to both
Christ's generation and our generation. (dual fulfillment theory)
- Impossible: -these buildings and are already destroyed.
- Impossible -Jews are not to be led captive into all nations again at Christ's second coming.
- Impossible -Matt.24:21 precludes dual fulfillment.
c.
"all these things" were to happen to Christ's generation
exclusively.
Hmmm...possible only if it can be shown that "all these things" declared before verse 34 actually did happen to the generation Jesus addressed ?
QUESTION: Was Matthew 24: 1 - 35 entirely fulfilled in the first century?
ANSWER: Absolutely!
To disprove this conclusion one would have to find something in verses 1-35 that clearly did not happen in the first century A.D.