70AD The Return of Christ with His Saints

Martyrs from Tribulation come to life and reign with Christ 1000 years

70AD Jerusalem the great is fallen, is fallen!

70AD: Jerusalem the great is fallen, is fallen!

Answers to the Old Testament fall of Jericho, Joshua 6

The blowing ot the trumpets for 7 days culminating in the fall of that great city, inaugurating the age of conquest of the Inheritance, the land of promise. Compare with the trumpets in Revelation culminating in the fall of that great city, "Babylon."

Timeline:

Martyrs from Tribulation come to life and reign with Christ 1000 years

70AD Fall of Jericho | Fall of Jerusalem

70AD: Comparing the Destruction of Jericho with the Destruction of Jerusalem
70AD: Destruction of Jericho | Destruction of Jerusalem

The book of Revelation refers to pre-70AD Jerusalem as "Sodom and Egypt, where also their Lord [Jesus] was crucified" while also branding it as "that great city" [an alusion to Nineveh in the book of Jonah] and "Babylon:" In keeping with these analogies to notorious cities suddenly destroyed under God's complete judgment, Jerusalem may also be compared with Jericho, that first great city destroyed as God's People received their promised Inheritance after 40 years of exodus tribulations.

Destruction of Jericho

Destruction of Jerusalem ("Bablyon")

Utterly destroyed, devoted, sacrificed to God.
Inaugurated the conquest of Canaan's Land for Israel.
First evidence that God was truly giving the entire promised land to Israel.

Utterly destroyed, devoted, sacrificed to God.
Inaugurated the conquest of the kingdoms of the World for Christ.
First evidence that God was truly giving the entire World land to Christ.

Joshua 6:1-21

6 Now Jericho was securely shut up because of the children of Israel; none went out, and none came in. 2 And the Lord said to Joshua: "See! I have given Jericho into your hand, its king, and the mighty men of valor. 3 You shall march around the city, all you men of war; you shall go all around the city once. This you shall do six days. 4 And seven priests shall bear seven trumpets of rams' horns before the ark. But the seventh day you shall march around the city seven times, and the priests shall blow the trumpets. 5 It shall come to pass, when they make a long blast with the ram's horn, and when you hear the sound of the trumpet, that all the people shall shout with a great shout; then the wall of the city will fall down flat. And the people shall go up every man straight before him."

6 Then Joshua the son of Nun called the priests and said to them, "Take up the ark of the covenant, and let seven priests bear seven trumpets of rams' horns before the ark of the Lord." 7 And he said to the people, "Proceed, and march around the city, and let him who is armed advance before the ark of the Lord."

8 So it was, when Joshua had spoken to the people, that the seven priests bearing the seven trumpets of rams' horns before the Lord advanced and blew the trumpets, and the ark of the covenant of the Lord followed them. 9 The armed men went before the priests who blew the trumpets, and the rear guard came after the ark, while the priests continued blowing the trumpets. 10 Now Joshua had commanded the people, saying, "You shall not shout or make any noise with your voice, nor shall a word proceed out of your mouth, until the day I say to you, 'Shout!' Then you shall shout." 11 So he had the ark of the Lord circle the city, going around it once. Then they came into the camp and lodged in the camp.

12 And Joshua rose early in the morning, and the priests took up the ark of the Lord. 13 Then seven priests bearing seven trumpets of rams' horns before the ark of the Lord went on continually and blew with the trumpets. And the armed men went before them. But the rear guard came after the ark of the Lord, while the priests continued blowing the trumpets. 14 And the second day they marched around the city once and returned to the camp. So they did six days.

15 But it came to pass on the seventh day that they rose early, about the dawning of the day, and marched around the city seven times in the same manner. On that day only they marched around the city seven times. 16 And the seventh time it happened, when the priests blew the trumpets, that Joshua said to the people: "Shout, for the Lord has given you the city! 17 Now the city shall be doomed by the Lord to destruction, it and all who are in it. Only Rahab the harlot shall live, she and all who are with her in the house, because she hid the messengers that we sent. 18 And you, by all means abstain from the accursed things, lest you become accursed when you take of the accursed things, and make the camp of Israel a curse, and trouble it. 19 But all the silver and gold, and vessels of bronze and iron, are consecrated to the Lord; they shall come into the treasury of the Lord."

20 So the people shouted when the priests blew the trumpets. And it happened when the people heard the sound of the trumpet, and the people shouted with a great shout, that the wall fell down flat. Then the people went up into the city, every man straight before him, and they took the city. 21 And they utterly destroyed all that was in the city, both man and woman, young and old, ox and sheep and donkey, with the edge of the sword.
NKJV

Revelation 11-19
...
15 Then the seventh angel sounded [his trumpet]: And there were loud voices in heaven, saying, "The kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ, and He shall reign forever and ever!" ...

Revelation 15:7
Then one of the four living creatures gave to the seven angels seven golden bowls full of the wrath of God who lives forever and ever. ...

Revelation 16:17-17:6

17 Then the seventh angel poured out his bowl into the air, and a loud voice came out of the temple of heaven, from the throne, saying, "It is done!" 18 And there were noises and thunderings and lightnings; and there was a great earthquake, such a mighty and great earthquake as had not occurred since men were on the earth. 19 Now the great city was divided into three parts, and the cities of the nations fell. And great Babylon was remembered before God, to give her the cup of the wine of the fierceness of His wrath. 20 Then every island fled away, and the mountains were not found. 21 And great hail from heaven fell upon men, each hailstone about the weight of a talent. Men blasphemed God because of the plague of the hail, since that plague was exceedingly great.

17 Then one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls came and talked with me, saying to me, "Come, I will show you the judgment of the great harlot who sits on many waters, 2 with whom the kings of the earth committed fornication, and the inhabitants of the earth were made drunk with the wine of her fornication."

3 So he carried me away in the Spirit into the wilderness. And I saw a woman sitting on a scarlet beast which was full of names of blasphemy, having seven heads and ten horns. 4 The woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet, and adorned with gold and precious stones and pearls, having in her hand a golden cup full of abominations and the filthiness of her fornication. 5 And on her forehead a name was written:

MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND OF THE ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH.

6 I saw the woman, drunk with the blood of the saints and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus. And when I saw her, I marveled with great amazement.
NKJV

Revelation 18:1-3
After these things I saw another angel coming down from heaven, having great authority, and the earth was illuminated with his glory. 2 And he cried mightily with a loud voice, saying, "Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and has become a dwelling place of demons, a prison for every foul spirit, and a cage for every unclean and hated bird! ...
NKJV

Timeline:

Martyrs from Tribulation come to life and reign with Christ 1000 years

70AD Last Trumpet

Matthew 24:30-31
"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. 31 And he will send his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of the heavens to the other.
NIV

1 Corinthians 15:50-53
I declare to you, brothers, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable. 51 Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed— 52 in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed.
NIV

1 Thessalonians 4:13-18
Brothers, we do not want you to be ignorant about those who fall asleep, or to grieve like the rest of men, who have no hope. 14 We believe that Jesus died and rose again and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him. 15 According to the Lord's own word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left till the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep. 16 For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. 18 Therefore encourage each other with these words.
NIV

Revelation 10:6-7
"There will be no more delay! 7 But in the days when the seventh angel is about to sound his trumpet, the mystery of God will be accomplished, just as he announced to his servants the prophets."
NIV

Revelation 11:15-18
15 The seventh angel sounded his trumpet, and there were loud voices in heaven, which said:
"The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ,
and he will reign for ever and ever."
16 And the twenty-four elders, who were seated on their thrones before God, fell on their faces and worshiped God, 17 saying:
"We give thanks to you, Lord God Almighty,
the One who is and who was,
because you have taken your great power
and have begun to reign.
18 The nations were angry;
and your wrath has come.
The time has come for judging the dead,
and for rewarding your servants the prophets
and your saints and those who reverence your name,
both small and great —
and for destroying those who destroy the earth."
NIV

That seventh angel sounding is the last mention of any kind of "trumpet" in the Bible, it is "the last trumpet."

Timeline:

' TRIBULATION

70AD The 1st Harvest: 2 SICKLES, 2 Gatherings: 1 for Righteous and 1 for Unrighteous

Mark 4:26-29
26 And He said, "The kingdom of God is as if a man should scatter seed on the ground, 27 and should sleep by night and rise by day, and the seed should sprout and grow, he himself does not know how. 28 For the earth yields crops by itself: first the blade, then the head, after that the full grain in the head. 29 But when the grain ripens, immediately he puts in the SICKLE, because the harvest has come."
NKJV

Revelation 14:12-20
12 Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.

13 And I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Write, Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours; and their works do follow them.

14 And I looked, and behold a white cloud, and upon the cloud one sat like unto the Son of man, having on his head a golden crown, and in his hand a sharp SICKLE.
15 And another angel came out of the temple, crying with a loud voice to him that sat on the cloud, Thrust in thy SICKLE, and reap: for the time is come for thee to reap; for the harvest of the earth is ripe.
16 And he that sat on the cloud thrust in his SICKLE on the earth; and the earth was reaped.

17 And another angel came out of the temple which is in heaven, he also having a sharp SICKLE.
18 And another angel came out from the altar, which had power over fire; and cried with a loud cry to him that had the sharp SICKLE, saying, Thrust in thy sharp SICKLE, and gather the clusters of the vine of the earth; for her grapes are fully ripe.
19 And the angel thrust in his SICKLE into the earth, and gathered the vine of the earth, and cast it into the great winepress of the wrath of God.
20 And the winepress was trodden without the city, and blood came out of the winepress, even unto the horse bridles, by the space of a thousand and six hundred furlongs.
KJV

At harvest time, TWO SICKLES:

a SICKLE that catches up the harvest of the grain, the righteous, the just

and

another SICKLE that mows down with wrath the tares, the wicked, the unjust.

What is interesting is this: they BOTH are harvested with a "sickle." Was the rapture-harvest of the Righteous their mass martyrdom's in the persecutions associated with the Roman-Jewish War?

Psalms 116:15
Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints.

James 5:7-8
Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord. Behold, the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until he receive the early and latter rain. 8 Be ye also patient; stablish your hearts: for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh.

Timeline:

Harvest & Threshing = Resurrection & Glorification

Threshing = Separating the Wheat (the inner, spiritual body) from the Chaff (the outer mortal-natural body)

Just as wheat is harvested and then threshed, the body is resurrected then changed (glorified).

At harvest, the grain is suddenly cut free from its earthly connection to lifeless soil.

At threshing, the outer hull (the hollow shell husk, chaff) is suddenly removed to reveal the real substance beneath, the grain. The grain had been changed, separated from its husk of unprofitable outer chaff.

Likewise,

At resurrection, the saint is suddenly cut free from his earthly bonds to death (the grave).

At glorification, the mortal-natural body (the outer-man, biological, physical body of flesh, blood & bone) is suddenly removed (symbolised by circumcision) to reveal the real substance beneath, the spiritual body that had been born at his "Born-Again" experience. His body is changed, separated from its unprofitable outer-man, the body of flesh, the mortal-natural body.

Matthew 3:12 & Luke 3:17 ~preached by John the Baptist around 27AD
"I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance, but He who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. 12 His winnowing fan is in His hand, and He will thoroughly clean out His threshing floor, and gather His wheat into the barn; but He will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire."
NKJV

Timeline:

http://www.preteristviewpoint.com/id64.html

70AD The Expectation and Logic of a 'Literal Catching Up' at AD 70

The Expectation and Logic of a ‘Literal Catching Up’ at AD 70

By Walt Hibbard

preteristAD70@uReach.com

Surrounding the discussion of what actually happened at the Parousia of Jesus Christ at the focal point of eschatological fulfillment, concerns the nature of this magnificent and long-awaited consummation of all that was written in Moses and the Prophets. There seem to be two main schools of thinking on this subject:

The Christians living in that day remained on earth throughout this Coming or Presence, did not experience any tangible relief from their persecution at the hands of the Jews and Romans, and those who were not martyred or taken captive, were allowed to die a natural death from various causes, OR
The Christians living in that day were literally removed from this earth, being caught away, or raptured by the Lord Jesus and taken to their newly-prepared home in Heaven.

The applicable Scripture passages for these two views are found, primarily, in John 14:3; I Cor. 15:50-56; II Cor. 5:1-4; I Thess. 4:14-17; II Thess. 1:3-7. The conclusions that both camps arrive at depend on whether a figurative or covenant interpretation is given to these verses or, on the other hand, whether a literal hermeneutic is applied. The big questions, therefore, are these: Which interpretation more closely fulfills the texts presented above? Further, which view seems to fit both the first century historical setting and the normal expectations of the Christians clinging hard to these promises?

Both of these questions have already been adequately answered by Edward E. Stevens in his book, Expectations Demand a First Century Rapture, and in Ian D. Harding’s book, Taken to Heaven in AD 70. So I will not attempt to repeat what these authors have already done so well. Rather, I want to take a different approach.

The balance of this brief article will occupy itself with supporting the literal view by showing that the literal fulfillment was the manner in which all the major New Testament soteriological and eschatological prophecies were consummated, beginning with the Incarnation of Jesus Christ.

The Incarnation: The taking upon Himself of human flesh by God the Son, Jesus Christ, was obviously an historically observable event. We have the Babe in Bethlehem, resting in a literal stable, with nearby farm animals, and literal shepherds keeping watch over their flocks by night. We have the frightened Herod seeking a way to destroy who he thought was a threat to his political reign, and bringing death and tragedy to his own countrymen in the process. Yes, the Incarnation of Jesus Christ was fulfilled literally.

The Baptism of Jesus: At the beginning of His ministry, Jesus submitted to the baptism of John the Baptist so that all righteousness might be fulfilled (re: Matt. 3:13-17). Jesus literally was baptized in water, saw the Spirit of God descending and alighting on Him, and heard the voice of the Father in Heaven expressing His words of pleasure. This was a literal water baptism, with many spiritual overtones and implications.

Gethsemane and Mock Trial: The sufferings of Jesus in the Garden were excruciating demonstrations of the enormous suffering as He was approaching His last days on earth. The trial before Pontius Pilate, with the Jewish chief priests and elders plotting His death, was as unjust a trial as history every witnessed. An innocent Man placed before His accusers, false witnesses brought in, even Pilate finding no fault in Him, nevertheless was pressured by the Jewish leaders to pronounce that dreadful sentence of death. These horrible events were real, literal, historically-verifiable happenings that drove the action to the next crucial and redemptively-necessary event in God’s amazing plan for the salvation of His people. Yes, this was literal suffering, both physical and spiritual.

The Crucifixion of Jesus: Then came the climax and focal point of His Incarnation; to die for the sins of His people, satisfy God’s justice in meeting the Law’s demands, and fulfilling all of the Old Covenant’s requirements for the putting away of sin by the sacrifice of Himself, which the sacrifice of the blood of bulls and lambs could never do. The intense suffering came about through the vehicle of the most extreme method of criminal execution ever devised by sinful human beings, crucifixion on a cross. This never-to-be-repeated saga was literal, fulfilling Old Covenant prophecy, but with many on-going redemptive effects and implications that would be central to the salvation interests over the entire past, then-present, and future generations of mankind, and would be forever efficacious. And it was literally accomplished before the very literal eyes of all to see. It was historically verifiable; it was an event that happened on this earth.

The Resurrection of Jesus: The third day God raised Him from the dead, for death could not hold Him. He had paid the penalty for the sins of God elect people, and justice under God’s Law had taken place. He was raised in the same body that He was crucified in, with the nail prints and wound in His side manifested for His disciples to see. It was a literal bodily resurrection of the Son of God. He was raised to life, never to die again, and He was seen by over 500 brethren at the same time; indeed, He had conquered death! And He became the firstfruits of all those who would follow in His train, for all whom the Father had given Him, to be the people of God forever!

The Ascension of Jesus: Forty days later, after giving ample proof of His victory over death, Jesus Christ ascended to Heaven as His disciples watched Him disappear into a cloud surrounding Him. He was the victorious Christ, ascending to the Throne of His Father in Heaven. The Beloved Disciple John recorded His words in John 14:2 “In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.” He ascended to present His efficacious sacrifice to His Father in an action of fulfilled accomplishment with respect to God’s Law, and to prepare a place for His chosen people to reside for all eternity. This was a literal Ascension of the visible Christ from this earth to the Heavenly realm.

The Parousia of Jesus: As the final pages of God’s prophetic disclosure began to unfold with the Roman armies battering at the gates of Jerusalem, the time of Jacob’s trouble bearing down upon the now-apostate city of Jerusalem, and with the Book of Revelation being disclosed before their eyes in stark reality, there was nothing remaining but calamity for what was once a great Jewish nation. God’s judgment had struck the generation of those who crucified God’s own Son sent to be the Messiah of Old Testament prophecy. It was a literal judgment of a literally God-defying people. But it was also a time of great expectancy for that small remnant of faithful believers in Jesus Christ, in Jerusalem and in the known Roman world of that day. These were God’s New Covenant people and those promises of relief from Jewish and Roman persecution that would soon be literally fulfilled. The Second Coming of Christ, the Resurrection of the Dead from out of Hades, the Judgment of the Sheep and the Goats, the Marriage Supper of the Lamb – all would take place literally and coinciding with the Roman armies march, immediately after the tribulation of those days. For then “the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ shall rise first. When we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air (I Thess. 4:16-17). This was a literal “catching up” of all true believers on earth at that time. They were taken from this earth, just as Jesus had promised, “And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also (John 14:3). They were literally given “rest” or “relief” from their persecutors (II Thess. 1:6-8), but note carefully that this promise was given only to those Christians who were living at the time; not to believers in forthcoming generations, who must historically live out their lives before joining that mighty thong of Christians in heaven with Jesus. And note that the promise our Lord gave to these first century believers was that they would be “caught up” to meet the Lord in the air – from off the face of this earth. They were gone!

Little wonder that the archives of post AD70 Christian literature is missing from the annals of early writers for perhaps 60 years or more after that magnanimous and historically-unique event. It was a literary vacuum caused by no seasoned Christian leaders in the church to write, but instead, newly converted, immature believers left to propagate the church leading into the centuries ahead. No wonder the church succumbed to rank doctrinal error, even displayed in the writings of the early Church Fathers. Surely, if the living believers of AD 70 had remained on the earth, not only would the I Thess. 4 prophecy not have been fulfilled, but these amazing early church errors would likely have never gotten a foothold in the church, occasioning spiritual declension for the next 1500 years of church history. There can be little doubt that the “catching up” to be with the Lord was literal, and not limited to a mere covenant or positional change, however true that may be from other aspects, occasioned by Christ’s Parousia.

Many preterists today are finding it difficult to believe that the AD 70 Rapture took place in a literal fashion. It is the purpose of this brief article to set forth the logic, or if you will, the inspired precedence of the Second Coming being a literal happening, even as all of the previous promises relating to salvation were also fulfilled literally. It should come as no great surprise that God has continually displayed His consummative events in such a manner that they would be logically and openly displayed, at least to the very same people to whom the promises were originally given. Nor was it necessary for our God to satisfy every possible speculation that might arise in the minds of unbelievers surrounding these catastrophic first century events. But from reading the promises from the lips of our Lord and His disciples that certain people or groups of people would actually witness Jesus’ Second Coming, we as Christians living today are required as believers in our Lord Jesus’ promises, by faith, to accept them as requiring a literal fulfillment. To do otherwise, would be to forsake the nature of fulfillment of the earlier major soteriological and eschatological events and say that the Second Coming, alone and for the first time, did not achieve a literal fulfillment that enabled the specific promises to find expression in a historically meaningful way. I, for one, do not wish to embark down that path!

THE END

70AD Check it Out!

From: http://www.preterist.org/articles/check_it_out.asp

by Ed Stevens

From time to time people write and ask how we can believe some of the things we do about Bible prophecy. We simply tell them that we're Bible students just like them, committed to following the truth as we understand it. All of us should be willing to re-study our beliefs and change them if good Biblical reasons can be given. The following shares some of the "Biblical reasons" why we believe Christ's return happened in the First Century. If you can show how we have misunderstood these passages, we will be forever indebted to you.

I have always felt a burden to understand all that the Bible had to say. I believed that all of the Bible (even the book of Revelation) could be understood. I knew that the thousands of interpretations could not all be right. Most (if not all) of them had to be wrong. I committed myself to understand Revelation. In my study I came across statements in Revelation and other prophetic writings which disturbed me. I had a professor in a Synoptic Gospels course in college who stirred my anxiety about these things even more.

The verses in Revelation that I'm concerned about are Rev. 1:1-3 and 22:6-20. These verses contain numerous references to the idea that the time of fulfillment for these things (in Revelation) was near in John's day (when it was written). Here's the way he says it:

The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave Him to show to His bond-servants, the things which must shortly take place; and He sent and communicated it by His angel to His bond-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 he who reads and those who hear the words of the prophecy, and heed the things which are written in it; for the time is near. (Rev. 1:1-3).

And he said to me, These words are faithful and true; and the Lord, the God of the spirits of the prophets, sent His angel to show to His bond-servants the things which must shortly take place. And behold, I am coming quickly. Blessed is he who heeds the words of the prophecy of this book (22:6,7) . . . And he said to me, Do not seal up the words of the prophecy of this book, for the time is near (22:10) . . . Behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me to render to every man according to what he has done (22:12) . . . He who testifies to these things says, Yes, I am coming quickly. Amen. Come, Lord Jesus. (Rev.22:20, emphasis mine, ES).

I try to put myself back in the first century and think what these words would've meant to saints who were suffering in the persecution. They must have had the impression that Revelation was speaking of events about to be fulfilled in that first century. John seemed so certain that these things "must take place shortly", and that the time of their fulfillment was "near". But this is not all. In numerous statements throughout the Gospels, Jesus promised His return within that generation. And, almost every NT writer indicates that Christ's return was imminent in their generation. If they had only said "maybe", "possibly" or "might" (indefinite), it would make me feel a little easier, but all these statements use definite affirmations like "must", "am" or "is".

It is easy for me to see why some theologians reject the inspiration of the NT. They reason this way: "The NT writers predicted the return of Christ would definitely occur within their generation. Since it didn't happen, they were obviously mistaken. And mistaken writings are not inspired." Here are other passages they use to justify their rejection of the inspiration of the NT:

You too be patient; strengthen your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand. Do not complain, brethren, against one another, that you yourselves may not be judged; behold, the Judge is standing right at the door. (Jas. 5:8,9 emphasis mine, ES).

The end of all things is at hand; therefore, be of sound judgment and sober spirit for the purpose of prayer. (1 Pet.4:7; cf. 1 Pet.4:17 where he says it was time for the judgment to begin).

For the Son of Man is about to come in the glory of His Father with His angels; and will then recompense every man according to his deeds. Truly I say to you, there are some of those who are standing here who shall not taste death until they see the Son of Man coming in His kingdom. (Matt. 16:27, 28).

Truly I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all these things take place. (Matt. 24:34; one of the "things" in the context is Christ's return).

I think you probably see why I'm concerned. The professor I spoke of above used these and numerous other passages to "prove" (?) that the NT writings could not be inspired since they contained false prophecies that weren't fulfilled within the time period they predicted. How could the NT writers teach so definitely that the end and Christ's return were near in their generation if those events were actually still thousands of years away?

The only reasonable explanation I have heard is the following. The writers of the NT did believe and teach that the end of the Jewish system and return of Christ was near in their generation. They were speaking about the same disastrous events as Jesus was in Matthew 24 where he spoke of the destruction of Jerusalem coming in their generation. Jesus indicated that some kind of "coming of the Son of Man" would happen in 70AD at the destruction of Jerusalem (see Matthew 24). Jesus and the NT writers never mention two different returns of Christ separated by thousands of years (one at 70 A.D. and one still future). So, it seems like we either have to place His second coming back there in the first century at the destruction of Jerusalem or admit that Jesus and the NT writers goofed in their prediction of an imminent return in their generation. The former idea makes more sense and leaves the inspiration of the NT intact.

This means that our traditional concepts of Christ's return will have to be re-examined! If Christ returned in 70AD, there are a lot of prophetic passages which need to be reinterpreted. There is a lot more symbolic and figurative language used in the prophetic books than we have ever realized. We have interpreted those things too physically and materialistically.

If you see these things differently, I hope you will love me enough to show how I've misinterpreted these things. Help me understand it the right way. I'm anxious to follow what the Bible teaches, just like you. But if you study these passages and come to the same conclusion I did, why not accept it? Isn't truth worth more than career, brotherhood prestige, popularity or materialistic security? What are you afraid of? Hasn't God promised to take care of those who follow Him? To what are you committed, TRUTH or TRADITION? We here at Kingdom Publications have books and other materials available which take this idea further and show how the whole Bible teaches it. Why not check it out?

70AD Rapture-Return accompanies the arrival of Christ with the New Jerusalem

I see room for a circa 70AD rapture of the sort Ed Stevens & Walt Hibbard describe from 1 Thessalonians 4:14-17 that accompanies the John 14:1-3 reality that Jesus brings the New Jerusalem with Him at His Return.

(And Rev 21-22's "New Jerusalem" is Hebrews 12:22's "Heavenly Jerusalem" which is Galatians 4:26's "Jerusalem which is above" which is the home Jesus goes away to prepare for us in John 14:1-3. I think we are agreed here, right? Interesting how at Mt. Sinai the leading men and Moses are called upward to meet the LORD at His coming to the Hebrews).

It was an interesting night when I happened through Ardmore, OK one Wednesday night to visit Don Preston's church. Don was trying his best to shoot down the idea of any rapture while preaching through the Greek of 1 Thessalonians 4:14-17. But the more evidence from the biblical Greek expressions around the term "parousia" that he brought out, the more he had to honestly admit how it is employed to speak of the ancient practice of local dignitaries meeting together up the road outside their town to welcome and accompany a visiting higher dignitary that final leg of journey. He also had to admit honestly that "air" in v17 is used in ancient Greek for "the atmosphere above." It was so ironic because, as he was quoting commentaries he was expressing his amazement at how the commentators often would occasionally end up providing better evidences for the positions they were straining to refute than the ones they were trying to promote. And here I was witnessing him doing the very same thing. May God bless Don Preston, he is a good guy, however, afterall. So I see a rapture occurring as Jesus is beginning His final descent of Return, (although I have not proved it here but merely mentioned it). And Don Preston inadvertently provided me with more support for my long-held position.

1 Thessalonians 4:14-17

For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. 15For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep.16For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: 17Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.

John 14:3

And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.

*Feel FREE to claim as your own anything I write - while I retain the right to do the same the same with it.*

And this is love: that we keep Christ's commandments ~ 2 John 6

Timeline:

Martyrs from Tribulation come to life and reign with Christ 1000 years

2 GROUPS BECOME 1: the Dead in Christ + those Christians who remain alive until Christ's Coming => BOTH CHANGED

Two groups become one when they are changed and presented together in the air at the Return of Christ.

[Group 1] those that die before Christ's Coming.

[Group 2] those that would remain alive unto His Coming.

[Groups 1 + 2] together

CHRIST ~to those who actually heard Him, that first generation of believers:
John 11: 25-26 Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die [Group 1], he shall live. 26 "And whoever lives and believes in Me [Group 2] shall never die. Do you believe this?''

Group 1: whoever believes and dies; shall live [in a new form, a spiritual body].

Group 2: lives and believes; Never die; shall never die [but still be "changed" into the same new form that Group 1 obtains, a spiritual body].

PAUL ~to those whom his letters were addressed, that first generation of believers:
1 Cor. 15: 35. But someone [of Group 2] will say, "How are the dead [Group1] raised up? And with what body do they [Group 1] come?''

1 Cor. 15:51. Behold, I tell you a mystery: We [Groups 1 + 2] shall not all sleep [like Group 1], but we shall all be changed [Groups 1 + 2] 52. in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead [Group 1] will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed [Groups 1 + 2].

2 Cor. 4:12-14 So then death is working in us [destined for Group 1], but life in you [destined for Group 2]. 13. But since we have the same spirit of faith, according to what is written, "I believed and therefore I spoke,'' we also believe and therefore speak, 14. knowing that He who raised up the Lord Jesus will also raise us [Group 1] up with Jesus, and will present us with you [Groups 1 + 2].

1 Thes. 4:16. For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout,with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ [Group 1] will rise first. 17. Then we who are alive and remain [Group 2] shall be caught up together with them [Group 1] in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord [Groups 1 + 2].

Note also that the events that happen to both groups together [Groups 1 + 2] happen AFTER the resurrection of the dead [Group 1].

This is affirmation that the "Resurrection of the Dead" cannot be seen as simply a corporate resurrection or an individual realization of salvation. It is also an indication that "changed" (glorification) is something that follows resurrection (just as, also, damnation).

Timeline:

Martyrs from Tribulation come to life and reign with Christ 1000 years

70AD FIRST RESURRECTION: Begin when? 2 Tim 2:17-18 and Rev 20:4-6

hello there,

Could someone please explain to me the resurrections at Rev20. I've read many of Don Preston's books, and this question keeps cropping up in my mind. Are the disciples part of the first resurrection or the second resurrection?

confused

[See also: /?q=node/146]

Nowhere does the Scripture ever use the term "The Second Resurrection."

Rev 20 refers to "The First Resurrection" and to that of "The Rest of the Dead," Rev 20:4-6
Jesus taught about "The Resurrection of Life" and of "The Resurrection of Damnation," John 5:28-29.
Paul predicted "The Resurrection of the Dead, of both the Just and the Unjust," Acts 24:15.

So, there is definitely Bible agreement of two, distinct resurrections:
The Resurrection of the Just Dead, (The First Resurrection, The Resurrection of Life)
and
The Resurrection of the Unjust Dead (Resurrection of the Rest of the Dead, Resurrection of Damnation).

Acts 24:15 ~ Paul, around 58AD, after being arrested in Jerusalem
15 And have hope toward God, which they themselves also allow, that there shall [future to 58AD] be a resurrection of the dead, both of the just and unjust.

John 5:28-29 ~ spoken around 28AD by Jesus Himself
28 Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice,
29 And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation.

Revelation 20:4-6 ~ penned around 63AD, foreseen in the predictive vision by John
I saw THE SOULS of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years. 5 (But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished). This is the first resurrection: 6 Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection, on such the second death hath no power, but they shall [future to 63AD] be priests of God and of Christ, and shall [future to 63AD] reign with him a thousand years.

[Around 63AD, John foresaw two upcoming resurrections. He is careful to declare that "blessed and holy" are the ones to inherit the first of these two resurrections. By saying in verse 5 above, "the rest of the dead," John indicates that the souls he just described previously in verse 4 were of people who also were dead, the dead in Christ, 1 Thess 4:16. And by saying that the rest of the dead "lived not again until..." John adds details to the resurrections foreseen in this vision: both groups of souls "lived again" both groups of souls experienced "resurrection." By labeling one of these "The first Resurrection," John distinguishes between these two resurrrections. By stressing that the partakers of the first Resurrection were "blessed and holy" and that they had refused the Beast & his mark, John indicates that the Rest of the Dead were NOT blessed and holy, for they HAD received the Beast & his mark. /?q=node/132 If the resurrection of the first group of souls was their "coming to covenant life" then the resurrection of the Rest of the Dead was their "coming to covenant life again," but that would be Universalism - everybody eventually comes to covenant life again. Since Universalism is false, then neither of these resurrections are describing people coming to covenant life. Resurrection in this context here can only be the souls of physically dead people coming to animate bodies again.]

So, to which of these two Resurrections was Paul striving to attain?

A) the blessed & holy First Resurrection
or
B) that of "The Rest of the Dead"

Philippians 3:10-13 ~ penned around 62AD by Paul in prison
10 That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death;
11 If by any means I might attain unto THE RESURRECTION OF THE DEAD.
12 Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus.
13 Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended:

2 Timothy 2:17-19 ~penned around 63AD
17 Their teaching will spread like gangrene. Among them are Hymenaeus and Philetus, 18 who have wandered away from the truth. They say that THE RESURRECTION has [prior to 63AD] already taken place, and they destroy the faith of some. NIV

Was it not the Resurrection to Life, the First Resurrection Christians were concerned about?

John 6:44
44 "No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him, and I will raise him up at THE LAST DAY.
NIV
WHO DID JESUS PROMISE TO RAISE UP AT THE LAST DAY? WHEN?

John 6:54-55
54 Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up AT THE LAST DAY.
NIV
So, WHEN does Preterism calculate the Last Day to have arrived? 70AD, right? Still within THAT GENERATION, right?

1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 ~penned around 51AD
16 For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and THE DEAD IN CHRIST will [future to 51AD] RISE FIRST.
NIV
Revelation 20:5-6 ~penned around 63AD
This is the FIRST RESURRECTION. 6 Blessed and holy are those who have part in the FIRST RESURRECTION. The second death has no power over them, but they will [future to 63AD] be priests of God and of Christ and will [future to 63AD] reign with Him for a thousand years.
NIV
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Timeline:

Martyrs from Tribulation come to life and reign with Christ 1000 years

70AD The Last Day and Christ arrived and His servants Resurrected to reign from the unseen realm

For many decades, we have all seen red lettering in many Bibles that make the Words of Jesus stand out. Here are color codes again to help us navigate clearly through the various time Texts:

RED = PRESENT or PAST tense, what they ALREADY HAD BEFORE the Lord’s 70AD Return.

BLUE = FUTURE tense, what they WILL HAVE AFTER the Lord’s 70AD Return.

Matthew 25:14-25 ~ as told by Jesus a few days before the Cross & Ascension around 30AD.

14 "For the Kingdom of the Heavens is like a man traveling to a far country, who called his own servants and delivered his goods to them. 15 And to one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one, to each according to his own ability; and immediately he went on a journey. 16 Then he who had received the five talents went and traded with them, and made another five talents. 17 And likewise he who had received two gained two more also. 18 But he who had received one went and dug in the ground, and hid his lord's money. 19 AFTER A LONG TIME THE LORD of those servants CAME and SETTLED ACCOUNTS (JUDGED) with them.

20 "So he who had received five talents came and brought five other talents, saying, 'Lord, you delivered to me five talents; look, I have gained five more talents besides them.' 21 His lord said to him, 'Well done, good and faithful servant; you WERE faithful over a few things, I WILL make you ruler (reign) over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.' 22 He also who had received two talents came and said, 'Lord, you delivered to me two talents; look, I have gained two more talents besides them.' 23 His lord said to him,'Well done, good and faithful servant; you HAVE BEEN faithful over a few things, I WILL make you ruler (reign) over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.'

24 "Then he who had received the one talent came and said, 'Lord, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you have not sown, and gathering where you have not scattered seed. 25 And I was afraid, and went and hid your talent in the ground. Look, there you have what is yours.'

26 "But his lord answered and said to him, 'You wicked and lazy servant, you knew that I reap where I have not sown, and gather where I have not scattered seed. 27 So you OUGHT TO HAVE (PAST TENSE) deposited my money with the bankers, and AT MY COMING [70AD] I would have received back my own with interest. 28 So take the talent from him, and give it to him who has ten talents.

29 'For to everyone who HAS, more WILL be given, and he WILL have abundance; but from him who does not HAVE, even what he HAS WILL BE taken away. 30 And cast the unprofitable servant into the outer darkness. There WILL BE weeping and gnashing of teeth.' NKJV

Remember, JESUS WAS THE ONE WHO SAID THESE THINGS back around 30AD, a few days before going to the Cross; then the Ascension 40 days later.

OBSERVATIONS:

Notice how THE SERVANTS ARE NOT MADE RULERS OVER MANY THINGS UNTIL AFTER THEIR LORD RETURNS.

Now WHEN DOES PRETERISM SAY THAT THE LORD RETURNED? 70AD, NO?

So then, WHEN WERE CHRIST'S DISCIPLES MADE RULERS WITH CHRIST? NOT UNTIL AFTER THEIR LORD RETURNED IN 70AD.

LESSON:

You do not get a kingdom without a king, and you do not reign with Christ before Christ Returns with His Kingdom to reign: 70AD.

RED = PRESENT or PAST tense, what they ALREADY HAD BEFORE the Lord’s 70AD Return.

BLUE = FUTURE tense, what they WILL HAVE AT the Lord’s 70AD Return.

1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 ~ written around 51AD.

We do not want you to be uninformed, brethren, about those who ARE ASLEEP (AT 51AD), that you may not grieve, as do the rest who have no hope. 14 For if we BELIEVE (PRESENT TO 51AD) that Jesus died and rose again, even so God WILL BRING WITH HIM (FUTURE TO 51AD) those who HAVE FALLEN ASLEEP (BEFORE 51AD) in Jesus. 15 For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive, and remain until the coming of the Lord, shall not precede those who have fallen asleep. 16 For the Lord Himself WILL DESCEND (FUTURE TO 51AD) from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet of God; and the dead in Christ WILL RISE FIRST (FUTURE TO 51AD). 17 THEN we who are alive and remain WILL BE (FUTURE TENSE) caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and thus we WILL (FUTURE TO 51AD) always be with the Lord. 18 Therefore comfort one another with these words. NASB

Remember, CHRIST’S APOSTLE PAUL WAS THE ONE WHO WROTE THESE THINGS back around 51AD.

Let us hold on to that mention of “the dead in Christ WILL RISE FIRST (FUTURE TO 51AD).”

Now let us see how this fits in with the 63AD account how Christ’s Apostle John foresaw the dead in Christ, the souls of those who had been slain for the Gospel, the souls of those who had refused to worship the Beast (Nero), refused to worship his image or refused to receive his mark. John foresaw the dead in Christ become enthroned and come to life and John declares that they WILL BE made to reign with Christ - all at the beginning of "The Thousand Years," (Revelation 20:4-6).

Here are the color codes again to help us navigate clearly through the various time Texts:

RED = PRESENT or PAST tense, what they ALREADY HAD BEFORE the Lord’s 70AD Return.

BLUE = FUTURE tense, what they WILL HAVE AT the Lord’s 70AD Return.

The dead in Christ.

We will pass over John’s personal narrative and just focus what he saw in this vision he had around 63AD. He employs past tense when recollecting the vision he had just seen, but that must not confuse our understanding of his use of past and future tenses: time Texts. Since this is a predictive vision that John saw around 63AD about “things that must shortly come to pass,” (Rev 1:1 and Rev 4:1), I have employed the use of the phrase, “I foresaw,” for the phrase, “I saw.” He foresaw all of the following that had not yet happened as of Revelation’s writing around 63AD. By Rev 20, John has just finished relating what he foresaw regarding the Nero-Beast-Tribulation followed by the Fall of Jerusalem-Babylon with Heaven’s celebrations when he relates the following:

Revelation 20:4-6 And I foresaw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given to them. And I foresaw the souls of those who HAD BEEN BEHEADED because of the testimony of Jesus and because of the word of God, and those who HAD NOT WORSHIPED the Beast or his image, and HAD NOT RECEIVED upon their forehead and upon their hand;and they came to life and reigned with Christ for a thousand years. 5 The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were completed. This is the first resurrection, ["The dead in Christ WILL RISE First," 1 Thes 4:16]. 6 Blessed and holy is the one who has a part in the first resurrection, ["The dead in Christ WILL RISE rise First" 1 Thes 4:16]; over these the second death has no power, but they WILL BE [future to 63AD] priests of God and of Christ and WILL REIGN WITH HIM [future to 63AD] for a thousand years.

We see above here in the vision Jesus gave to John that those who HAD BEEN beheaded for the Gospel's sake and HAD BEEN martyred because they HAD refused to worship the Beast (Nero) or his image, HAD refused to receive the Beast's (Nero's) mark upon their foreheads or hands, were foreseen to become enthroned, to come to life (John 6:54) and prophesied that they WILL BE made rulers (Matthew 25:19-23 and Luke 19:12-19) at Christ's 70AD Return upon arrival of the long anticipated "Last Day.” This was to be “the Resurrection the First,"(as the Greek puts it).

Christ's 70AD Return at “The Last Day” marks the Resurrection of those having eternal life, (being regular partakers of the Supper of the Lord), John 6:54, and the beginning of His reign with His faithful servants (Mat 25:19-23 and Luke 19:12-19). The last day of the week, the Lord’s Sabbath day, was a type and shadow of the long anticipated, “The Last Day" = “The Day of the Lord.” All fires were to go out on the last day of the week, the Sabbath: Moses stoned a man for gathering sticks. Upon arrival of “The Last Day,” all the fires of animal sacrifices, all the fires of the last physical Temple were once and for all put out. The last day of the Old Testament system at 70AD was the first day of the New Testament vindication & Judgment, the first day of Revelation 20:1-10’s sealing Satan bound & cast into the Bottomless Pit, the first day of the enthroning & Resurrection of the First (the Just), the first day of "The Thousand Years." Jesus raised up at the Last Day all those who already had eternal life, John 6:54, which occurred the moment He began His descent of Return, 1 Thess 4:16. This was the fulfillment of what John foresaw in the vision of Rev 20:4, that was still future according to Rev 1:1 and Rev 4:1. The Day of God, the Day of the Lord, the Day of Rest, the Last Day had finally arrived.

2 Peter 3:8-9 But do not let this one fact escape your notice, beloved, that:

With the Lord one Day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one Day.

NASB

Notice how Christ's Apostle Peter does NOT write, “Well, with the Lord one day is as a 1000 years, or as an even 40, maybe a shag less than 14 years, or not: the Lord really cannot tell time.” No, with godly fear Peter doggedly sticks to the formula given to him by inspiration, saying it two times, both ways, really emphasizing that no matter which way you come at it, no matter which way readers try to slice it or dice it, it is clear: “With the Lord: '1 Day' = 1000 years, 1000 years = '1 Day.'” And He says it twice because the matter is certain, Gen 41:32.

Gen 41:32
The reason the dream was given to Pharaoh in two forms is that the matter has been firmly decided by God, and God will do it soon.
NIV

RED = PRESENT or PAST tense, what they ALREADY HAD BEFORE the Lord’s 70AD Return.

BLUE = FUTURE tense, what they WILL HAVE AT the Lord’s 70AD Return.

The dead in Christ.

John 6:54 ~ Jesus, around 28AD

Whoso eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, HATH [present tense] ETERNAL LIFE; and I WILL [future tense] RAISE HIM UP AT THE LAST DAY [70AD]. ~Jesus about 28AD

Notice again how unmistakebly clear Jesus promised “those who HATH (present tense) eternal life" that “they WILL BE (future tense) resurrected by the Lord at the Last Day,” [70AD]. When? Did He say they will be raised a week later? A year later? In 5 years? He said he personally would raise them up AT THE LAST DAY.

When does Preterism calculate “The Last Day” to have come? 70AD.

"Finally, the final authority is Jesus Christ Himself. It is His words that we cannot add to concerning the fulfillment of all these things." ~ JK

Again, WHEN DOES PRETERISM CALCULATE "THE LAST DAY" TO HAVE COME? 70AD, RIGHT?

Be honest with yourself, now.

Gen 41:32
The reason the dream was given to Pharaoh in two forms is that the matter has been firmly decided by God, and God will do it soon.
NIV

Let us take a look at a second of Jesus' predictive parables, very similar to the first one at the top of this post.

RED = PRESENT or PAST tense, what they ALREADY HAD BEFORE the Lord’s 70AD Return.

BLUE = FUTURE tense, what they WILL HAVE AFTER the Lord’s 70AD Return.

Luke 19:11-28

11 And while they were listening to these things, He went on to tell a parable, because He was near Jerusalem, and they supposed that the kingdom of God was going to appear immediately, [Jesus tells this parable to correct their error = "they supposed the Kingdom of God was going to appear immediately"].

12 He said therefore, "A certain nobleman went to a distant country to receive a kingdom for himself, and then RETURN. 13 "And he called ten of his slaves, and gave them ten minas, and said to them, 'Do business with this until I come back.' 14 "But his citizens hated him, and sent a delegation after him, saying, 'We do not want this man to reign over us.' 15 "And it came about that WHEN HE RETURNED, AFTER RECEIVING THE KINGDOM, he ordered that these slaves, to whom he had given the money, be called to him in order that he might know what business they had done, [JUDGEMENT]. 16 "And the first appeared, saying, 'Master, your mina has made ten minas more.' 17 "And he said to him, 'Well done, good slave, because you HAVE BEEN [PAST TENSE] faithful in a very little thing, be in authority [REIGN] over ten cities.' 18 "And the second came, saying, 'Your mina, master, has made five minas.' 19 "And he said to him also, 'And you are to be [REIGN] over five cities.' 20 "And another came, saying, 'Master, behold your mina, which I kept put away in a handkerchief; 21 for I was afraid of you, because you are an exacting man; you take up what you did not lay down, and reap what you did not sow.' 22 "He said to him, 'By your own words I WILL JUDGE YOU, you worthless slave. Did you know that I am an exacting man, taking up what I did not lay down, and reaping what I did not sow? 23 'Then why DID [PAST TENSE] you not put the money in the bank, and HAVING COME [AFTERWARD], I would have collected it with interest?' 24 "And he said to the bystanders, 'Take the mina away from him, and give it to the one who has the ten minas.' 25 "And they said to him, 'Master, he has ten minas already.' 26 "I tell you, that to everyone who has [PRESENT TENSE] shall [FUTURE TENSE] more be given, but from the one who does not have [PRESENT TENSE], even what he does have SHALL BE [FUTURE TENSE] taken away. 27 "But these enemies of mine, who DID [PAST TENSE] not want me to reign over them,bring them here and slay them in my presence, [IN MY PAROUSIA]."

28 And after He had said these things, He was going on ahead, ascending to Jerusalem. NASB

Note: It should not go without mention that everything posted here has long been a studied, settled, and accepted by the broadest spectrum of global, historic Christianity. The ONLY novel or innovative concept here is the Preterist idea that places the arrival of "Tthe Last Day" at 70AD.

*Feel FREE to claim as your own anything I write - while I retain the right to do the same with it*

And this is love, that we walk after Christ's commandments~2 John 6

Timeline: