The Second Coming of Christ Already Occured? No End Times!?

Question

Matthew 24:34 (NKJV) "Assuredly, I say to "YOU", this generation will by no means pass away till all these things take place.

In this verse, Jesus is speaking directly to his disciples. Read carefully, He says "Assuredly, I say to YOU". He doesn't say, "Assuredly, I say to the people of the 21st century". Jesus gives no indication that He is speaking to any group of people in the future. Therefore, his disciples saw the spiritual second coming after 70ad when the church was established as foretold.

The whole Book of Revelation is written by John to the "Seven Churches of Asia", which no longer exist, but did at the time John wrote it.

Why do kooky evangelical Christians think that these verses are addressing us in the 21st century? They clearly are not.

Answer 1

Thank you for posting that. I thought I was the only one who wondered this. I believe that this theory was popularized in the 1800’s by John Nelson Darby; in my mind it’s a popular belief by people who don’t know the bible.

Answer 2

Very few still hold to the Preterist point of view. The term "generation" in the Greek is "genea", it is a derivative of "genos". This term means “kin” (abstractly or concretely, literally or figuratively, individually or collectively): - born, country (-man), diversity, generation, kind (-red), nation, offspring, stock.
So, it is understood that Jesus was saying the Jewish nation will not pass away before His second coming. You cannot say all the events in Matt. 24 have happened.

Mat 24:21 For there will be great affliction, such as has not happened from the beginning of the world until now, no, nor ever will be.
Really? Was the destruction of the temple in 70 ad the worst thing that ever happened? Have there not been greater afflictions in the world since then?

Read Rev. 19, that is the second coming of Christ. Are you seriously saying that occurred already? And since we know Revelation was written after 70 ad, it stands to reason the event spoken of in this book had not occurred yet.

Rev 1:19 Write what things you saw, and what things are, and what things are about to occur after these things.

Again, much of what was written in this book are the things yet to occur.

Answer 3

What, and true Christians living in the 21st century aren't his disciples?

Revelation was written for the end times; "the Lord's day" and "the appointed time" -Revelation 1:3, 10 The seven congregations represent the whole of God's congregation on earth today. Remember, Revelation was presented in "signs", or symbols. -Revelation 1:1

Matthew chapters 24 and 25 show what will happen in the last days. Matthew 25:46 says that wicked ones will "depart into evelasting cutting-off, but the righteous ones into everlasting life". Obviously that hasn't happened yet.

Answer 4

Jesus is actually referring to this spiritual "age of evil". The Bible speaks of three specific ages in man's history. The first is the period before the Flood, from the time of Adam to Noah. It is called in the Bible "the world that then existed." We read in 2 Peter 3:6 that "the world that then existed perished, being flooded with water."

The second age includes the time after the Flood until Christ's second coming. It is called in Scripture "this present evil age" (Galatians 1:4). Jesus' disciples wanted to know when this period would end. They asked Him: "Tell us, when will these things be? And what will be the sign of Your coming and of the end of the age?" (Matthew 24:3).

The third age of man will begin at Christ's second coming and is referred to in God's Word as "the world to come" (Hebrews 2:5). The third era will start with the resurrection of the righteous at Jesus' return to earth.

Speaking of this resurrection, the book of Revelation states: "Blessed and holy is he who has part in the first resurrection. Over such the second death has no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with Him a thousand years" (Revelation 20:6).

So, strictly speaking, the end time refers to a specific period just before Christ returns that will bring "this present evil age" to a close. It is the end of the age of Satan's dominance over humanity.

Jesus' disciples did not witness the time of the end. That was not the time God had established for it to occur. Only one generation will witness all the mounting global conditions described in God's Word. That generation will see the arrival of the specific 3 1/2 year period that will usher out "this present evil age" and usher in the Kingdom of God. But many will perish before those horrible days come to a close.

What, then, did Christ mean when He said "this generation will not pass away"? He was merely explaining that, once all the prophesied world conditions are present, they will not continue indefinitely. World conditions will be so threatening that they cannot continue indefinitely or we would be in danger of extinction.

These events will not pass from one generation to another. Once the prophesied conditions exist, all will be fulfilled—including the return of Jesus Christ—within the lifetime of one generation.

Answer 5

Matthew 24:
Let's read carefully:
3: And as he sat upon the Mount of Olives, the disciples came unto him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the SIGN of thy coming, and of the end of the world? (Yes, the disciples are the ones he is talking to. They are wondering when will be the SIGN of his coming & end of the world.)

4: And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you. (NO man; revelation comes from God not man)

5: For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many. (Many SHALL come in my name "Christ", saying, I am "Christ"ian)

33: So likewise ye, when ye shall see all these things, know that it is near, even at the doors. (Oh wait a minute, He just said "When ye shall SEE all these things", so this is a sign that his coming is even at the door. But who has SEEN these things he just talked about? Maybe he is speaking to some specific group that SEES all these things.)

34: Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled. (Oh I see; He is talking about the generation that SEES ALL these things, not the disciples. The generation that SEES these things shall not pass, till all is fulfilled.)

This chapter has 51 verses in it and you think that is rightly dividing the gospel. That’s 1/51 of the gospel of just the 24 chapter of Matthew not including Daniel concerning SEEING the abomination of desolation standing in the holy place.
I do totally agree that I don't know why kooky people think that they can take a verse to clarify the Whole Book of Revelations & the 2nd coming of Christ.

Answer 6

Context my friend. Context.

"Now learn this lesson from the fig tree: As soon as its twigs get tender and its leaves come out, you know that summer is near. Even so, when you see all these things, you know that it is near, right at the door. I tell you the truth, this generation will certainly not pass away until all these things have happened."

Jesus is talking about the fig tree, which some have identified as Israel (because of other Biblical references of Israel being identified as a fig tree), and that when it's twigs get tender and leaves come out, you know summer is near. In other words, Israel had to be reformed (happened in 1948) otherwise none of this could happen, and if it's talking about the twigs getting tender and leaves coming out, that would mean it's going to produce fruit. What kind of fruit Israel is supposed to produce? Probably spiritual.

But then Jesus continues on saying that when you see all these things happen you'll know that the time is near, that the generation that sees these things, will not pass away before the end of the age comes.

So you see, he's not talking about his disciples and their generation, but the generation to come that will see all the signs he mentions in Matthew 24.

Answer 7

Brother,

2 Peter 3
1This second epistle, beloved, I now write unto you; in both which I stir up your pure minds by way of remembrance:

2That ye may be mindful of the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets, and of the commandment of us the apostles of the Lord and Saviour:

3Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts,

4And saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation.

5For this they willingly are ignorant of, that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of the water and in the water:

6Whereby the world that then was, being overflowed with water, perished:

7But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men.

8But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.

9The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.

Answer 8

IF that were true, then the 1,000 year rein of Christ was over a long while back...where is the anti-Christ and the False Prophet? Why wasn't the Temple re-built yet? Why hasn't the sea and earth, etc.,. been rid of the portions spoken of happening before the final battle? Where's the marks? The ONE WORLD RELIGION all mankind will have? etc, etc.,.

Sorry, doesn't wash :)

May you find Peace :)

Answer 9

Well, I'm sure they've never been accused of being the most intelligent people on the planet. If I remember correctly, quite a few of them voted GWB into the highest position of power in the United States, and he can barely grasp the English language. If they felt he was good enough to lead their nation, well, I rest my case.

Answer 10

I am a Christian and I believe what the Bible says.

"But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father alone."

Believe me, that day has not come yet, but if and when it does, if I'm still living, I'll be ready! Will you?