The Kingdom of God, Then: Session 1 – Did Jesus Return in AD 70?

Notes:

Did Jesus Return In AD 70?    See Session Slides Here

Some believe that all the prophecies of Jesus in Matthew 24 and Revelation were largely or completely fulfilled in the events of AD 70. They say Jesus returned spiritually in judgment. Preterism is from the Latin word preter meaning ‘past’. Many of the things we consider future they see as past. They say that the old covenant ended with the destruction of Jerusalem and God finished with Israel. Did Jesus return then?

The disciples asked 2 questions in Matt.24:3. 1)  When will the fall of Jerusalem be? 2) What will be the sign of your coming and the end of the age? They assumed the two were parallel or synonymous. Jesus said:

  • The destruction of Jerusalem would be in their lifetime and they would see it approaching, Matt.24:16-20
  • But end of the world would be at the end and no one knows the day or hour, Matt.24:36, 42. It would take place after the times of the Gentiles and the end of the gospel age, Matt.24:14; Luke 21:24

How do we know that…

  • Matthew 24 is not limited to the destruction of Jerusalem, and that this was not the Great Tribulation?
  • The destruction of Jerusalem was not the judgment of Israel, who are replaced by the Church?
  • The Bible’s references to ‘the last days’ are not referring to the last days of the Old Covenant?

1) The Christians alive during A.D. 70 believed the 2nd Coming was a future event

The oldest extra-Biblical Christian document known to exist is The Didache, written at the end of the 1st century. It was cited by many of the church fathers. This document shows that those who lived through the events of AD 70 regarded the events spoken of in Matthew 24-25 as yet to be fulfilled.

2) None of the Early Church leaders mentioned Christ’s 2nd Coming as having already occurred

None of the leaders in the Church of the first 3 centuries following the original disciples taught that Jesus returned in the 1st century. None! This idea was foreign during the first 5 centuries of the church and then only mentioned sporadically after that until about 400 years ago. This is a major point!

3) The Book of Revelation was written approximately 25 Years after the events of AD 70

There is compelling evidence for this.

4) The Great Tribulation is a worldwide catastrophe and not restricted to Jerusalem

Mt 24:21. The Great Tribulation will be unique and unprecedented.

5) The Old Covenant ended at the Cross, not the destruction of Jerusalem

‘In that He says, “A new covenant,” He has made the first obsolete’ (Heb.8:13). The new covenant began after the resurrection and replaced the old covenant. 2 covenants did not run concurrently for several years.

6) God has not finished with Israel

Matt.23:39. The Jews did not cry that while Titus and His armies were destroying their temple and city and took their wives and children into slavery! See also Rom.11:25. ‘All Israel will be saved.’ (Rom.11:26). Zech.12:10.

7) The ‘times of the Gentiles’ goes beyond the first century

They will last for as long as Jerusalem is occupied by Gentiles and the gospel is being preached to the nations

8) Jesus will return visibly

Matt.24:30. This verse is in all 3 of the Olivet accounts. See also Acts 1:9-11; Rev.1:7.

A similar teaching circulated in the Early Church and was refuted by Paul, 2 Tim.2:17-18;   2 Thes.2:1-3. It unsettled some and shook the faith of others. It is doing a similar thing today and needs to be rejected.