by Ron VanBenthuysen
Are Bible translations and lexicons affected by the theologies of the translators?
Are words translated in such a way as to coincide with the theology of the translator rather than what was meant by the writer?
In this article, we will look at Bible translations from three perspectives:
- Definition of the word(s). Translations can be subject to Greek-to-English errors when the Bible is translated from the original Greek document or English to English errors when we give an English word an un-natural meaning.
- Context of the word(s) in question. Do the translations really fit the context of the passage?
- Theology. Is it possible that a translation is made to fit theology even when context and definition suggest a different meaning?
I think as Christians we all desire to know the real Jesus and the message He has for us.
With so many differing ideas of what the Truth of the Bible really is, how can all the various theologies be correct?
If one theology is more correct than the others, what does that mean for us? Does it even matter?
To answer these questions, we will look at the following topics:
- Two differing theologies
- Josephus and the Bible. What the Priest Josephus recorded about the events of the Jewish/Roman war of 70AD.
- The history of Pre-millennialism
- Theologies and translations. How Bible translations can be swayed by theology
- How certain translations relate to differing theologies
- Why does it matter?
- But what about the stars falling from the sky?
- The immanency of the Parousia
By far, the predominant theologies in the United States today are the Futurist Type theologies which include the:
Pre-Millennial
Post-Millennial and
A-Millennial theologies
All three of these theologies would say that they are hugely different from one another but they all have in common the future fulfillment of eschatological (end times) prophecies.
The other theology group we will be looking at is the Fulfilled Prophecy (or Preterists) view. They believe all the eschatological prophecies of Matthew 24, Mark 13, Luke 21, Daniel 9, and all of Revelation, were fulfilled by the end of the Jewish/Roman War in 70AD.
The futurist theologies go something like this:
There will be a future tribulation period lasting seven years in which either before, in the middle of, or at the end of this seven year period, there will be a Rapture where the Saints are sucked up out of their shoes and float up to Heaven to meet Jesus. All that will be left of the raptured people is a pile of clothes and everyone on Earth will wonder what happened to them. There will then be a 1,000 year reign of Jesus on Earth where there will be no pain or suffering and a second chance of salvation will be offered to those “Left Behind.” At the end of this “Millennial” period, Jesus will return to judge whoever is left and then destroy the Earth in a fiery punishment. This scenario has been made very popular recently by Tim LaHaye and Thomas Ice in the ”Left Behind” book series and by Hal Lindsey in his book, “The Late Great Planet Earth.”
The A-Millennialists will be quick to point out that they believe we are in the “1,000 year reign” now, but it is not a literal 1,000 years, and at the end of the Millennial period there will be a tribulation with a rapture somewhere in there.
The Preterists believe that many Christians have missed the Parousia (Second coming) much like the Jews missed the first coming. They believe that Jesus came in 70AD and destroyed the Temple, Altar and Levitical Priesthood in a fiery punishment, effectively ending the Jewish age (Aeon).
Many of us were taught some variation of a futurist theology like Pre-Millennialism when we came to Christ, and we were also told that to question the Church’s theology was to question God Himself.
But what if Jesus was prophesying a judgment and subsequent destruction that would . . . as He said, “soon take place”. . . like in 70AD? That would have been about a generation after Jesus said, “I tell you the truth, this generation will certainly not pass away until all these things have happened.” We aren’t taught much about 70AD as Christians but I think we should be.
Josephus, an eye witness, tells us that the Roman Army surrounded the city of Jerusalem and destroyed the city, Temple and Altar. Josephus also tells us of the horrible atrocities of the war, of how bodies were stacked up six feet high and how certain false Prophets convinced the Jews to stay and fight at the Temple. . . but this is the opposite of what Jesus told them to do.
Luke 21: 20″When you see Jerusalem being surrounded by armies, you will know that its desolation is near. 21Then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains, let those in the city get out, and let those in the country not enter the city. 22For this is the time of punishment in fulfillment of all that has been written.” NIV
Jesus also warned them about false prophets.
Matthew 24: . 24″For false Christs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and miracles to deceive even the elect–if that were possible.” NIV
Here’s what Josephus tells us about the actual events of 70AD.
“A false prophet was the occasion of these people’s destruction, who had made a public proclamation in the city that very day, that God commanded them to get up upon the temple, and that there they should receive miraculous signs of their deliverance. Now, there was then a great number of false prophets suborned by the tyrants to impose upon the people, who denounced this to them, that they should wait for deliverance from God; and this was in order to keep them from deserting, and that they might be buoyed up above fear and care by such hopes. Now, a man that is in adversity does easily comply with such promises; for when such a seducer makes him believe that he shall be delivered from those miseries which oppress him, then it is that the patient is full of hopes of such deliverance”. . .
Thus were the miserable people persuaded by these deceivers, and such as belied God himself; while they did not attend, nor give credit, to the signs that were so evident, and did so plainly foretell their future desolation; but, like men infatuated, without either eyes to see or minds to consider, did not regard the denunciations that God made to them . . .
While the holy house was on fire, everything was plundered that came to hand, and ten thousand of those that were caught were slain; nor was there a commiseration of any age, or any reverence of gravity; but children, and old men, and profane persons, and priests, were all slain in the same manner; so that this war went round all sorts of men, and brought them to destruction, and as well those that made supplication for their lives, as those that defended themselves by fighting. The flame was also carried a long way, and made an echo, together with the groans of those that were slain ; and because this hill was high, and the works at the temple were very great, one would have thought that the whole city had been on fire. Nor can one imagine anything either greater or more terrible than this noise; for there was at once a shout of the Roman legions, who were marching all together, and a sad clamour of the seditious, who were now surrounded with fire and sword. The people also that were left above were beaten back upon the enemy, and under a great consternation, and made sad moans at the calamity they were under; the multitude also that was in the city joined in this outcry with those that were upon the hill; and besides many of those that were worn away by the famine, and their mouths almost closed when they saw the fire of the holy house, they exerted their utmost strength, and brake out into groans and outcries again: Perea did also return he echo, as well as the mountains round about, [the city,] and augmented the force of the entire noise. Yet was the misery itself more terrible than this disorder; for one would have thought that the hill itself, on which the temple stood, was seething-hot, as full of fire on every part of it, that the blood was larger in quantity than the fire, and those that were slain more in number that those that slew them; for the ground did nowhere appear visible, for the dead bodies that lay on it; but the soldiers went over the heaps of these bodies, as they ran upon such as fled from them.
Josephus tells us that about 1.4 million Jews were killed in this war. After the Temple was destroyed, the Romans scattered the Levitical Priests out of Israel, effectively ending all sacrifices. Without the Temple, Altar, Priesthood or Sacrifices, the Jews can’t accomplish the Law which means they can’t become righteous in God’s eyes anymore. “But wait,” you say, “We Christians know that you can’t become righteous in God’s eyes through the Law anyway!” Actually, before 70AD, you could, but the atonement only lasted until the next time you sinned. Now that the Temple is gone, atonement through ceremonial sacrifice is not possible. An interesting note is that the Temple has been gone for nearly two thousand years. . .who but God could keep it from being rebuilt for that long? Because of that, Preterists believe that 70 AD was the “End of the (Jewish) Age.”
Matthew 24:
24:1Jesus left the temple and was walking away when his disciples came up to him to call his attention to its buildings. 2″Do you see all these things?” he asked. “I tell you the truth, not one stone here will be left on another; every one will be thrown down.” 3As Jesus was sitting on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately. “Tell us,” they said, “when will this happen, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?”
The writer of the book of Hebrews explains why the Sacrifice System was phased out.
Hebrews 7: 11If perfection could have been attained through the Levitical priesthood (for on the basis of it the law was given to the people), why was there still need for another priest to come–one in the order of Melchizedek, not in the order of Aaron? 12For when there is a change of the priesthood, there must also be a change of the law. . . . 18The former regulation is set aside because it was weak and useless 19(for the law made nothing perfect), and a better hope is introduced, by which we draw near to God. . . . 26Such a high priest meets our need–one who is holy, blameless, pure, set apart from sinners, exalted above the heavens. 27Unlike the other high priests, he does not need to offer sacrifices day after day, first for his own sins, and then for the sins of the people. He sacrificed for their sins once for all when he offered himself. 28For the law appoints as high priests men who are weak; but the oath, which came after the law, appointed the Son, who has been made perfect forever.
So Jesus’ perfect sacrifice covers our future sins which is the essence of grace.
History of Millennial Theology:
The first form of Pre-Millennialism was called Chiliasm (Killy-ism). Chilioi means one thousand. Chiliasm was endorsed by Justin Martyr and Irenaeus of Lyons in the second century and Tertullian of Carthage in the third. But by the time of Augustine in the 4th century, Chiliasm had faded into oblivion mainly due to the fact that Chiliasm was actually a Jewish theology before it was adopted by the early Christians. The fourth century Christians reasoned that since the Jews didn’t acknowledge Jesus as the Messiah, their Chiliast theology probably was in error also. Chiliasm correctly realized that the souls of deceased people wouldn’t enter into the Kingdom of Heaven until after the Messiah comes in judgment (Parousia or 2nd coming) however, many early (and current) Christians disagree with this. The Chiliasts taught that the brothers who fell asleep went into Hades, or Paradise if they were righteous, to wait for the Parousia when the dead would be resurrected. Just about every Christian Pre-Millennialist will say that they believe when they die they will go immediately to Heaven. But then they will tell you that the following Corinthians verse says that the resurrection of the dead happens at the Parousia.
2 Corinthians 15: 52in 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. 53For the perishable must clothe itself with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality. 54When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: “Death has been swallowed up in victory.”
But, if the Parousia (second coming) is a future event, then how does anyone go immediately to Heaven?
Chiliasm (Millennialism) became unacceptable to most Christians by the fourth century Church including Augustine. Chiliasm was revived in 1790 when Manuel De Lacunza Y Díaz, a Roman Jesuit, wrote The Coming of the Messiah in Glory and Majesty. This manuscript was an attempt to bring Protestants back to Catholicism and more importantly used Chiliasm to explain how the Pope couldn’t be the anti-Christ (a rumor started in the 17th century). In Pre-Millennial theology, the anti-Christ comes after the rapture, so the Pope couldn’t be the anti-Christ until after the Parousia. A man named John Darby brought this revived theology to America in the 1850s. Cyrus Scofield popularized this system of belief with the publication of his Reference Bible and catapulted it into the Protestant mainstream.
The Tim LaHaye Pre-millennial theology tells us that Jesus was predicting the end of the world but why would Jesus say, “So when you see standing in the holy place `the abomination that causes desolation,’ spoken of through the prophet Daniel–let the reader understand– then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains.” ? What good would it do to flee to the mountains if the World was coming to an end?
The futurist theologies talk a lot about the rapture but is it clear doctrine? I think not! In this article, we will look at how futurism came to where it is today and hopefully provide a clearer view of what Jesus actually said. We will do this by using the oldest Greek NT Transcripts available to us today (Stephen’s Textus Receptus 1550 and Wescott-Hort 1881) and examining how some key words in passages were translated to English. We will then determine if the translation was made by definition of the word, context of the passage or theology of the translator. We will look at the King James Version (KJV), New International Version (NIV), New American Standard Bible (NASB) and New Living Translation (NLT).
The first example is the word “Yevea” which is translated as “generation(s)” by all the Bible versions and it is proper to do so.
Matthew 1: 17Thus there were fourteen generations (Yevea-Strong’s1074) in all from Abraham to David, fourteen from David to the exile to Babylon, and fourteen from the exile to the Christ.
In this case, Yevea (generations – Strong’s #1074) means exactly what you would expect. Note: the number after the underlined word is a reference to the Strong’s Greek Lexicon where you can look these words up for yourself.
But the next translation has somewhat of a theological problem.
Matt 24:1Jesus left the temple and was walking away when his disciples came up to him to call his attention to its buildings. 2″Do you see all these things?” he asked. “I tell you the truth, not one stone here will be left on another; every one will be thrown down.” 3 As Jesus was sitting on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately. “Tell us,” they said, “when will this happen, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?” . . .
34I tell you the truth, this generation (Yevea-Strong’s 1074) will certainly not pass away until all these things have happened. NIV (New International Version)
In this case it is often taught that Yevea (the same word as before) doesn’t mean what you would expect as in the first example. The word is still correctly translated as “generation” but we are told by some teachers that generation doesn’t mean what we know it actually does mean. Instead of the Webster definition – “All persons born about the same time; average time between two such generations (about 30 years)” . . . we are told that generation means “A race of people.” This is an interesting twist of words because if these teachers claimed that Yevea meant “Race”, that would be one thing but what they are claiming is that Yevea means “generations” but we just don’t know what “generation” means. Of course we know what “generation” means and it doesn’t mean “race!” Is this new definition of generation created out of definition, context or theology? Let’s put it to the test. If the question in Matthew 24 was: “When will this happen (destruction of the Temple), and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age? (Parousia). . .then an answer like, 34”I tell you the truth, this RACE will certainly not pass away until all these things have happened”. . .wouldn’t really satisfy the question. It doesn’t answer when these things will happen or what the sign will be.
But if we use the traditional sense of the word “generation,” like it was used in the first example as in an approximate 40 – year period of time (30 according to Webster)-then it answers the question perfectly. Jesus says that these things will happen within about forty years of this conversation. But this answer is not acceptable according to our most popular theologies, so therefore many teach that “generation” has to mean something different than what we know it means, even though it doesn’t make sense in the context. So in this case the Greek-to-English translation seems to be accurate but the English-to-English translation is twisted.
Thomas Ice (Co-writer with Tim LaHaye-The End Times Controversy: The Second Coming Under Attack (Tim Lahaye Prophecy Library)) interprets it yet another way.
Matt 24: 34 “I tell you the truth, this generation (meaning not the generation Jesus was talking to but the generation that would witness these things) will certainly not pass away until all these things have happened. “
Thomas Ice in his article, “HAS BIBLE PROPHECY ALREADY BEEN FULFILLED,” says:
“Those of us taking a consistently literal interpretation of the entire Olivet Discourse take a different literal interpretation of “this generation” than supposed by Dr. Sproul’s suggestion. I believe that the timing of “this generation” in Matthew 24:34 is governed by the related phrase “all these things.” In other words, Christ is saying that the generation that sees “all these things” occur will not cease to exist until all the events of the future tribulation are literally fulfilled. Frankly, this is both a literal interpretation and one that was not fulfilled in the first century. Christ is not ultimately speaking to His contemporaries, but to the generation to whom the signs of Matthew 24 will become evident. Dr. Darrell Bock, in commenting on the parallel passage to Matthew 24 in Luke’s Gospel concurs:”
‘What Jesus is saying is that the generation that sees the beginning of the end, also sees its end. When the signs come, they will proceed quickly; they will not drag on for many generations. It will happen within a generation. . . . The tradition reflected in Revelation shows that the consummation comes very quickly once it comes. . . . Nonetheless, in the discourse’s prophetic context, the remark comes after making comments about the nearness of the end to certain signs. As such it is the issue of the signs that controls the passage’s force, making this view likely. If this view is correct, Jesus says that when the signs of the beginning of the end come, then the end will come relatively quickly, within a generation.’ ”
This is an unusual interpretation to say the least! There are two problems with it. First: It is useless in it’s meaning at it’s best and insulting to Jesus at it’s worst. Of course the generation that is alive when these things happen will be alive when these things happen but that doesn’t tell us much. Secondly: the first thing Jesus said in the Olivet discourse of Matt 24 is;
Matt24:1 his disciples came up to him to call his attention to its buildings. 2″Do you see all these things?” he asked. “I tell you the truth, not one stone here will be left on another; every one will be thrown down.“
The generation Jesus was talking to witnessed the destruction of the Temple so by Thomas Ice’s own theory the rest of this prophesy should have happened in the same generation.
Let’s look at another example. . .the word “Aion.”
Matt 28: 16Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. 17When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. 18Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age (Aion –Strong’s165).” NIV
The NIV, NLT and NASB render Aion as “end of the Age” but in this same passage, the KJV (King James Version) renders Aion as world. . .
Matt28: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, [even] unto the end of the world (Aion –Strong’s165). Amen. KJV
The actual meaning of Aion according to Strong’s is:
165 aion ahee-ohn’ from the same as 104; properly, an age; by extension, perpetuity (also past); by implication, the world; specially (Jewish) a Messianic period (present or future):–age, course, eternal, (for) ever(-more), (n-)ever, (beginning of the , while the) world (began, without end). Compare 5550
So Strong’s says the proper meaning of “Aion” is a period of time, but by implication it means “End of the World.” The question should be, who implied it means “World,” and is it implied by context or theology? I think we will find as we go through this article that Aion is implied as “World” only by certain theologies and not by context. Why does it matter? Because, as we will find later, certain theologies (futurist type mostly) are based on this word meaning or implying “the known World” instead of a period of time. This same problem is found in other words that have to be “coaxed” into alternate meanings to fit the theology. If we accept that certain words mean what they actually don’t mean, then we can get an unnatural or skewed view of what Jesus is saying to us.
I’m not trying to pick on the King James Version but I will point out translations (in any version) that are based on theology rather than definition or context. The funny thing is that a lot of us were raised on the KJV and even when we read an alternate version of a verse like, “surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age,” (NIV) we still think, “End of the World.” (KJV) This schema is engrained in us.
Here’s a very curious use of this same word, “Aion,” by the KJV (King James Version)
Acts 15:14Simeon hath declared how God at the first did visit the Gentiles, to take out of them a people for his name. And to this agree the words of the prophets; as it is written,
16 After this I will return, and will build again the tabernacle of David, which is fallen down; and I will build again the ruins thereof, and I will set it up:
17 That the residue of men might seek after the Lord, and all the Gentiles, upon whom my name is called, saith the Lord, who doeth all these things.
18 Known unto God are all his works from the beginning of the world (S165). KJV
Here, KJV renders Aion, “From the beginning of the World.” Normally, the KJV uses the noun ‘World” for the Greek “Aion,” but it wouldn’t fit to say :
18 Known unto God are all his works of the world (S165).
That wouldn’t make sense because God’s works are not “of the World” so KJV included “World” in a phrase that means a period of time, “The end of the World.”
But the NIV has a better rendering of Aion because Aion is a period of time but doesn’t in any way suggest a period of time based on the age of the Earth. Here’s the same verse as above using the NIV (New International Version) translation:
Acts15:17that the remnant of men may seek the Lord,
and all the Gentiles who bear my name,
says the Lord, who does these things’
18 that have been known for ages(S165). NIV
So we see that the rendering of Aion as “The World” by the KJV is not implied by context but rather it is rendered as “The World” in some verses to fit a theology only. It is allowable in a “thought for thought” type of translation like the KJV and most of our English versions (except NASB), to use alternate meanings of words or to use words that aren’t actually there because the translator attempts to discover the true thoughts of the writer and relay them in an understandable way to the reader. But what if the translator’s theology is found to be incorrect on certain matters? There is nothing in the context of the preceding verses to indicate that Jesus was talking about the end of the Planet Earth . . .that has to be a theological decision. But what if Jesus really was talking about the “end of the Age,” like the NIV and NASB says? And if we discover that 70AD was the end of the Jewish or Mosaic age . . .how would that affect the way we understand the rest of the New Testament Bible?
In the next verse, KJV breaks form and renders this same word, Aion, as “ages” just like NIV and NASB have been rendering Aion all along!
Col 1:26[Even] the mystery which hath been hid from ages(Aion-S165) and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints: KJV
As we have seen, even in the King James Version, Aion is more likely a period of time (or age) rather than the noun “World”. This brings us to the second type of error. . .a Greek-to-English translation error caused by a desire to satisfy a theology. Let’s see why it makes a difference.
King James Version says;
Matt 24: 1And Jesus went out, and departed from the temple: and his disciples came to him for to shew him the buildings of the temple.
2And Jesus said unto them, See ye not all these things? verily I say unto you, There shall not be left here one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down. 3And 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 (Aion –Strong’s 165)? (KJV)
King James claims that the Disciples ask Jesus about the end of the world so it would make sense that Jesus’ answer would be relevant to the end of the world. But is that what the Disciples really asked Jesus? The NIV and New American Standard Bible’s translations have the Disciples asking Jesus when the end of the age will be. . .
Matt 24:1Jesus left the temple and was walking away when his disciples came up to him to call his attention to its buildings. 2″Do you see all these things?” he asked. “I tell you the truth, not one stone here will be left on another; every one will be thrown down.”
3As Jesus was sitting on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately. “Tell us,” they said, “when will this happen, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age (Aion –Strong’s 165)?” (NIV – NASB is similar)
If we go by definition and context. . .both would indicate that the subject of this conversation in Matt 24 was the Temple and more specifically. . .the destruction of the Temple, the sign of Jesus’ Parousia (2nd Coming) and the end of the age. It’s as if the Disciples connected all these events together into a coming, a judgment and subsequent destruction of the Temple which would signify the end of the Jewish age..
But many theologies would have us believe that during this discourse in Matthew 24, as Jesus answers His disciples questions, Jesus changes the subject from the coming destruction of the Temple to the distant destruction of the world. This might make sense if the end of the World was somehow connected to the destruction of the Temple but there is no connection. The Temple was destroyed (for good) in 70AD and the World is still here. The truth is, however, that there is no indication of a change of subject from the destruction of the Temple to the end of the World unless you incorrectly render “Aion” as “World.”
At the time the disciples asked their question about the destruction of the Temple, they were concerned not only about the Temple but the fate of Judaism itself. If the Altar were to be destroyed along with the house of God, a Jew might wonder how they would perform sacrifices and offerings to make themselves holy and clean. Remember, at the time, Jesus hadn’t been sacrificed and salvation through Jesus wasn’t an option yet! We can only imagine how this distressed the disciples.
Mark 13:1As he was leaving the temple, one of his disciples said to him, “Look, Teacher! What massive stones! What magnificent buildings!”
2″Do you see all these great buildings?” replied Jesus. “Not one stone here will be left on another; every one will be thrown down.”
Then, Jesus and the Disciples walked from the Temple to the Mount of Olives. When I was in Jerusalem, we rode a bus from the Temple to the Mount of Olives but I estimate it would be about a 20 minute walk. Then . . .
Mark 13: 3As Jesus was sitting on the Mount of Olives opposite the temple, Peter, James, John and Andrew asked him privately, 4″Tell us, when will these things happen? And what will be the sign that they are all about to be fulfilled?”
Mark tells us that the four closest Disciples approach Jesus for clarification. They have had time to think about it and are obviously concerned. Would Jesus answer them with a hidden, secret answer that they would never fully understand, an answer that only now, 2,000 years later, some claim to understand. Or would Jesus tell His Disciples in plain language, ”I will return soon to destroy the Temple and it will be the end of the Jewish Age. All this will happen within a generation from now.” As it turns out, the Temple was destroyed 40 years after Jesus prophesied it.
Matt 24: 34I tell you the truth, this generation(Yevea-Strong’s 1074) will certainly not pass away until all these things have happened.
Mark 13: . 30I tell you the truth, this generation will certainly not pass away until all these things have happened
Luke 21: 32″I tell you the truth, this generation will certainly not pass away until all these things have happened
Probably about now some readers are thinking that this article is heretical, but others are scratching their heads and thinking, “What if there is something to this?” I wrote another article that listed 100 verses quoting Jesus and the Apostles saying that Jesus would return Soon, Quickly, Within “this generation”, “Some here will see me,” The axe is at the root. . . Jesus says, “What if I want (John) to be alive when I return?” But people are quick to point out 2 Peter 3:8
2 Peter3: 8But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day.
What a shame to wipe out so many of our Lord’s words with this one verse. The ironic part is that, if we read the entire chapter of 2 Peter Chapter 3 we see that Peter makes it clear that the coming destruction is NOT the end of the World.
2 Peter3: . 4They will say, “Where is this `coming’ he promised? Ever since our fathers died, everything goes on as it has since the beginning of creation.” 5But they deliberately forget that long ago by God’s word the heavens existed and the earth was formed out of water and by water. 6By these waters also the world of that time was deluged and destroyed. 7By the same word the present heavens and earth are reserved for fire, being kept for the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men.
Peter compares the coming destruction with the flood of Noah’s day where the World was deluged and destroyed. . .but wait a minute! Isn’t the World still here? The only thing that was actually destroyed in Noah’s day was wicked men. If we look closely at the last four words of the verse above we see that the coming judgment is for “destruction of ungodly men.” NIV
Here’s what Peter taught in 1Peter 4
1Peter 4: 7The end of all things is near. Therefore be clear minded and self-controlled so that you can pray. 8Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.
What if Jesus’ answer in Matthew 24 was just what it appears to be? A discourse on the soon to come fate of the Temple, Altar and Levitical Priesthood. A prophecy of a horrible seven year war with the Romans in which in the middle of this 7 year war, the Temple is destroyed which causes all sacrifices to stop (see Dan9 and Matt24). Josephus tells us that’s what happened in 70AD.
The Disciples knew that if the Temple were destroyed it would be the end of the Mosaic Law and Jewish age. Why? Because without the Temple, Altar and Levitical Priesthood there can be no ceremonial sacrifices and therefore the Jews (outside of Jesus) can’t become righteous in GOD’s eyes. This would be the end of the (Jewish) age. No wonder Jesus was anxious about evangelizing the Jews! Jesus knew about the coming destruction. . .how could he not be obsessed with the soon-coming fate of the Jews? How could He not do everything possible to save as many Jews as possible prior to 70AD?
When the Disciples asked Jesus about what He meant when He said, “Do you see all these great buildings?”… replied Jesus. “Not one stone here will be left on another; every one will be thrown down,” would Jesus then take this opportunity to teach them about the coming judgment and destruction or would He baffle them with unintelligible riddles, hoping they would write them down correctly so we can decipher them thousands of years later? I think we all know that writing down things that you don’t understand rarely works well. It could be that Jesus’ entire speech in Matthew 24 was warning them about the quickly-approaching event that actually happened within a generation of Jesus’ saying so.
Let’s look at another example.
Matt 24:14And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world(oikoumene-Strong’s 3625) for a witness unto all nations (Ethnos S1484); and then shall the end come. (KJV)
In Matthew 24:14, the word “nations” (Ethnos) would appear to mean “nations of Israel” and oikoumene means whole or known world. Jesus is saying that by preaching to the Gentiles it will be a testimony to the Jews. However, some contend that Ethnos means “The nations of the World,” not “Nations of Israel.”
But it wouldn’t make sense to preach to the whole World (oikoumene) to be a testimony to the whole World (Ethnos). That would be like saying, “preach the Gospel of the Kingdom to the Gentiles (oikoumene) to be a testimony to the Gentiles (Ethnos). The context of the passage doesn’t support rendering Ethnos as the “Nations of the World.” But, ”Nations of Israel” fits, and the idea of being a testimony to the Jews (or nations of Israel) is expressed by Paul in Romans 11:11.
Romans11: 11Again I ask: Did they stumble so as to fall beyond recovery? Not at all! Rather, because of their transgression, salvation has come to the Gentiles to make Israel envious. 12But if their transgression means riches for the world, and their loss means riches for the Gentiles, how much greater riches will their fullness bring!
13I am talking to you Gentiles. Inasmuch as I am the apostle to the Gentiles, I make much of my ministry 14in the hope that I may somehow arouse my own people to envy and save some of them. 15For if their rejection is the reconciliation of the world, what will their acceptance be but life from the dead?
When Jesus said,
Matt28: 19Therefore go and make disciples of all nations (Ethnos -Strong’s 1484), baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
The same word “Ethnos” is used here as in the previous verse (Matt 24:14). Did Jesus mean to evangelize the whole world, or did He mean to evangelize the nations of Israel first and then, when as many Jews as possible were converted, take the Gospel of the Kingdom to the known World (Gentiles) as a testimony to the Jews? Why does this matter? Certain futurist theologies claim that the word for “nations” (Ethnos) means “the entire planet” or “nations of the world” but we see that it actually means “the Tribes of Israel.” This makes a huge difference in Jesus’ eschatological Prophecies, which we will see later.
Let’s see what Jesus says earlier about evangelizing the Jews.
Matthew10: 5These twelve Jesus sent out with the following instructions: “Do not go among the Gentiles or enter any town of the Samaritans. 6Go rather to the lost sheep of Israel. 7As you go, preach this message: `The kingdom of heaven is near (S1448).’ 8Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy, drive out demons. Freely you have received, freely give. . . . 23When you are persecuted in one place, flee to another. I tell you the truth, you will not finish going through the cities of Israel before the Son of Man comes (S2064). (NIV)
It would appear that Jesus told the Disciples that they should evangelize the Jews first because there is not much time left. Some say that Jesus first told the Disciples to evangelize the Jews and then later, told them to evangelize the entire world but the problem is, as we have seen, Ethnos doesn’t mean entire world and in fact the Disciples didn’t evangelize outside of Judah for 15 years after Jesus was crucified. So either the Disciples misunderstood Jesus or “Ethnos” doesn’t really imply “the whole world” as some would say.
How certain translations relate to differing theologies
Two differing theologies disagree on the meaning of the word “Ethnos.”
The Futurist theologies – which include Pre-millennial, Post-millennial, and A-millennial, would say Ethnos means the whole planet. The Disciples should go out and evangelize the entire world and in Matt 24 Jesus tells of a world-(Ethnos) wide event prior to the “End”.
Matt 24: . Such things must happen, but the end is still to come. 7Nation (Ethnos- S1620) will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places. 8All these are the beginning of birth pains.
Whereas the Preterist or fulfilled eschatology camp would say that Ethnos means the Nations (or tribes) of Israel, the Preterists believe Jesus was anxious to evangelize the Jews first because He knew of the coming destruction in 70AD where 1.4 million Jews would be slaughtered by the Roman armies who surrounded the city. Preterists believe that when Jesus means Tribes of Israel He says “Ethnos” (S1620) but when He means the known World or Roman Empire He says, “oikoumene” (S3625).
The problem is that a whole theology has been created out of a few mistranslated words. Christians have been waiting anxiously for the end of the Earth when really Jesus was talking about the end of a period of time, and more specifically, the end of the Jewish age.
Because of this misdirection of theology, I believe that Christians have allowed themselves to accept that the Bible has hidden messages about nuclear bombs and Cobra attack helicopters or worse yet, the Bible is in error due to the fact that the writers didn’t (or couldn’t) understand Jesus’ words.
For example: Certain theologies find hidden messages in the words of Matt 10:5-23 (see verses above) and say that “near” doesn’t really mean near and “you” doesn’t mean the people Jesus was talking to. To them, “near” means far and “you” means some other people in the far future will not have evangelized the Jews before the distant (not near) coming of Christ. But should we do that to the Word of GOD? Wouldn’t it be bad if the Word of God doesn’t mean what it simply says?
The verse:
Matt 10:23When you are persecuted in one place, flee to another. I tell you the truth, you will not finish going through the cities of Israel before the Son of Man comes (S2064). (NIV)
seems to imply that Jesus’ Parousia (coming with consequences) is going to happen so quickly that the Disciples won’t have time to finish going around Judea before He returns. But our popular theology won’t allow this explanation because obviously, the world didn’t end yet. But now that we know that the “end” Jesus spoke of was the end of an age (Aion) and not the world (oikoumene) (S3625) we can start to understand and believe what Jesus said to us.
But what about the stars falling from the sky?
When Jesus says in
Matthew 24: 29″Immediately after the distress of those days
” `the sun will be darkened,
and the moon will not give its light;
the stars will fall from the sky,
and the heavenly bodies will be shaken.
Wouldn’t that indicate the end of the “World?” It would seem so at first but we notice that Jesus is quoting Isaiah in this verse so we should go to Isaiah to find out what He was talking about. We’ll look at Isaiah Ch. 13, 19, 34 and Ezekiel 32:
Isaiah 19:1An oracle concerning Egypt:
See, the LORD rides on a swift cloud
and is coming to Egypt.
The idols of Egypt tremble before him,
and the hearts of the Egyptians melt within them.
This passage talks about a coming, a judgment and goes on to describe the subsequent destruction of Egypt. The Lord comes, judges, and destroys wicked men. This is the theme of many judgments starting back in Noah’s day. This prophecy in Isaiah 19 was fulfilled!
Isaiah 13:1An oracle concerning Babylon that Isaiah son of Amoz saw:
9See, the day of the LORD is coming
–a cruel day, with wrath and fierce anger–
to make the land desolate
and destroy the sinners within it.
10The stars of heaven and their constellations
will not show their light.
The rising sun will be darkened
and the moon will not give its light.
This passage tells of a coming, a judgment and goes on to tell about the subsequent destruction ofBabylon.This prophecy was also fulfilled! Notice the talk about the stars and the heavens. . .Jesus uses the same manner of speech in Matt 24
Ezekiel 32:1 a lament concerning Pharaoh king of Egypt
4I will throw you on the land
and hurl you on the open field.
I will let all the birds of the air settle on you
and all the beasts of the earth gorge themselves on you.
. . . I will cover the heavens
and darken their stars;
I will cover the sun with a cloud,
and the moon will not give its light.
8All the shining lights in the heavens
I will darken over you;
I will bring darkness over your land,
declares the Sovereign LORD.
This prophecy was fulfilled! Notice the talk about the heavens.
But this is what the OT says about Israel:
Malachi3:1″See, I will send my messenger, who will prepare the way before me. Then suddenly the Lord you are seeking will come to his temple; the messenger of the covenant, whom you desire, will come,” says the LORD Almighty.
2But who can endure the day of his coming? Who can stand when he appears? For he will be like a refiner’s fire or a launderer’s soap. 3He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver; he will purify the Levites and refine them like gold and silver.
4:1″Surely the day is coming; it will burn like a furnace. All the arrogant and every evildoer will be stubble, and that day that is coming will set them on fire,” says the LORD Almighty. “Not a root or a branch will be left to them. 2But for you who revere my name, the sun of righteousness will rise with healing in its wings.. . .
5″See, I will send you the prophet Elijah before that great and dreadful day of the LORD comes. 6He will turn the hearts of the fathers to their children, and the hearts of the children to their fathers; or else I will come and strike the land with a curse.”
This is the same theme we have already talked about. Evangelize the Jews before the “Great and dreadful day of the Lord.” Malachi makes it sound as though there is NOT much time between the messenger (Elijah) and the Parousia (coming with consequences or “2nd coming”).
But who was the messenger?
Matt 11: . 13For all the Prophets and the Law prophesied until John. 14And if you are willing to accept it, he is the Elijah who was to come. 15He who has ears, let him hear.
I love the last two verses of the Malachi excerpt above. If John the Baptist (The Elijah) can’t turn the hearts of the Jews around then, “I will come and strike the land with a curse.” This is one of those free-will options. It is a straight forward warning from GOD. . .either get your act together or else. Apparently, John couldn’t turn the Jews around.
Matt 3: 7But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to where he was baptizing, he said to them: “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath? 8Produce fruit in keeping with repentance. 9And do not think you can say to yourselves, `We have Abraham as our father.’ I tell you that out of these stones God can raise up children for Abraham. 10The ax is already at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.
This verse indicates two things: That the end is coming quickly and that being a Jew no longer qualifies a person to be a child of GOD. From this point on a child of GOD is someone who does the work of GOD.
John 6:28Then they asked him, “What must we do to do the works God requires?” 29Jesus answered, “The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent.”
But also we have to ask. . .Have we seen anything so far to indicate a gap of 2,000+ years between when Jesus talked about His coming, judgment and subsequent destruction and the actual event? Matt3:7 (see above) gives imminence to the Parousia by saying to the Pharisees, “Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath?” and again, “The ax is already at the root of the trees.”
Are we to believe that John the Baptist was talking to someone in the future when he said , Matt 3: 7But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to where he was baptizing, he said to them: “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath?
If we hadn’t been taught from childhood that Jesus was answering a question about the end of the world in Matthew 24:3. . .would we conclude that from the text? It sounds more like Jesus is talking about the destruction of the Temple and subsequent end of the Jewish age. But the disciples knew. . . and were warned that the destruction of the Temple would not happen with the approval of the Jews. There would be great distress preceding and following the fall of the Temple. See Matthew 24:3 through 51. Josephus gives an account of what actually happened in 70AD.
The Jews were given a choice. . .to get with the program or else.
Jeremiah18: 5Then the word of the LORD came to me: 6″O house of Israel, can I not do with you as this potter does?” declares the LORD. “Like clay in the hand of the potter, so are you in my hand, O house of Israel. 7If at any time I announce that a nation or kingdom is to be uprooted, torn down and destroyed, 8and if that nation I warned repents of its evil, then I will relent and not inflict on it the disaster I had planned. 9And if at another time I announce that a nation or kingdom is to be built up and planted, 10and if it does evil in my sight and does not obey me, then I will reconsider the good I had intended to do for it.
11″Now therefore say to the people of Judah and those living in Jerusalem, `This is what the LORD says: Look! I am preparing a disaster for you and devising a plan against you. So turn from your evil ways, each one of you, and reform your ways and your actions.’
Judah’s reply was. . .
Mark 6: 26The king was greatly distressed, but because of his oaths and his dinner guests, he did not want to refuse her. 27So he immediately sent an executioner with orders to bring John’s head. The man went, beheaded John in the prison, 28and brought back his head on a platter. He presented it to the girl, and she gave it to her mother. 29On hearing of this, John’s disciples came and took his body and laid it in a tomb.
So the Jews sealed their fate (filled the cup of wrath) by killing the prophets and ultimately Jesus.
Matt23: 29″Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You build tombs for the prophets and decorate the graves of the righteous. 30And you say, `If we had lived in the days of our forefathers, we would not have taken part with them in shedding the blood of the prophets.’ 31So you testify against yourselves that you are the descendants of those who murdered the prophets. 32Fill up, then, the measure of the sin of your forefathers!
33″You snakes! You brood of vipers! How will you escape being condemned to hell? 34Therefore I am sending you prophets and wise men and teachers. Some of them you will kill and crucify; others you will flog in your synagogues and pursue from town to town. 35And so upon you will come all the righteous blood that has been shed on earth, from the blood of righteous Abel to the blood of Zechariah son of Berekiah, whom you murdered between the temple and the altar. 36I tell you the truth, all this will come upon this generation.
37″O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing. 38Look, your house is left to you desolate. 39For I tell you, you will not see me again until you say, `Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.'”
Does the Bible have hidden codes or does it speak in simple truths? It would appear as though Jesus is talking about a judgment against Israel that is going to take place soon.
The Disciples were obviously confused by certain things Jesus said to them but 20 to 30 years later when they wrote the Gospels were they still confused or had they gained the insight needed to finally understand?
Matt 13:36Then he left the crowd and went into the house. His disciples came to him and said, “Explain to us the parable of the weeds in the field.”
37He answered, “The one who sowed the good seed is the Son of Man. . .
51″Have you understood all these things?” Jesus asked.
“Yes,” they replied.
In this passage, the Disciples were confused at first but understood after questioning Jesus privately.
John 21: 22Jesus answered, “If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you? You must follow me.” 23Because of this, the rumor spread among the brothers that this disciple would not die. But Jesus did not say that he would not die; he only said, “If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you?”
In this case, some Brothers were confused about what Jesus meant but the Gospel writer, John, either understood at the time Jesus said, “If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you? or at least sometime before writing his Gospel John understood the meaning of this passage. Did Jesus really intend to lead them to believe that it was possible that John could be alive when He returned or was Jesus just toying with their minds?
This would be a good time to point out a common objection. At the Olivet Discourse, Jesus says:
Matt24:36″No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. 37As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. 38For in the days before the flood, people were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, up to the day Noah entered the ark; 39and they knew nothing about what would happen until the flood came and took them all away.
But. . .
Revelation 22:10 … the time is near. Doesn’t imply a day or an hour
1 Peter 4: 7The end of all things is near Doesn’t imply a day or an hour
Hebrews 10:35 –37 “He who is coming will come and will not delay. Doesn’t imply a day or an hour
Revelation 1:3 . because the time is near. Doesn’t imply a day or an hour
Matthew 16:28 . 28I tell you the truth, some who are standing here will not taste death before they see the Son of Man coming in his kingdom.”
Doesn’t imply a day or an hour
1Corinthians 10:11 These things happened to them as examples and were written down as warnings for us, on whom the fulfillment of the ages has come.
Luke 21:22 . 22For this is the time of punishment in fulfillment of all that has been written. Doesn’t imply a day or an hour
Luke 21:32″I tell you the truth, this generation will certainly not pass away until all these things have happened. Doesn’t imply a day or an hour
But all these verses imply a time period that is soon to come. Again, in Matthew 24, the coming destruction is compared to the deluvian flood of Noah’s day. In Noah’s day the wicked people were warned about a judgment and subsequent destruction that happened in their generation not two thousand years later!
2 Thess 2: 1 Concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered to him, we ask you, brothers, 2not to become easily unsettled or alarmed by some prophecy, report or letter supposed to have come from us, saying that the day of the Lord has already come. 3Don’t let anyone deceive you in any way, for that day will not come until the rebellion occurs and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the man doomed to destruction. 4He will oppose and will exalt himself over everything that is called God or is worshiped, so that he sets himself up in God’s temple, proclaiming himself to be God.
Now this is a curious passage! Apparently, Paul had taught the Thessalonians everything he knew about the Parousia (2nd Coming) but they still were fooled into thinking that the Parousia had already happened. How can this be? If Paul had taught them what many of us were taught as children, then the Thessalonians would have known that there has to be a rapture before the Parousia could occur and then there has to be a destruction of the world. But that’s not what happened.
The most curious part is that Paul doesn’t correct them! Paul didn’t say, “There was no rapture. . .how could Jesus have come?” Paul simply says the day will not come until the rebellion occurs and the man of lawlessness is revealed. Wouldn’t this have been a perfect time to teach about the rapture and the fact that it wouldn’t happen for a long, long time?
When I ask people who subscribe to the futurist theologies (Pre, Post and A-Millennial) , they tell me that the Thessalonians were confused when they thought a Parousia (2nd coming) had occurred. That’s obvious . . . but what about Paul? He must not have taught them about a rapture otherwise the Thessalonians would have looked around and realized that nobody was gone. Paul must not have taught them about a destruction of the world, otherwise. . . well, you get the point.
But if Paul had taught the Thessalonians that there was going to be a coming, a judgment against Israel and a subsequent destruction of the Jewish nation, then the Thessalonians might have been fooled into thinking it could have happened. After all, they didn’t have satellite TV; they had to rely on word of mouth. And apparently the word they got was that the judgment against Israel had occurred.
I doubt that I have changed anyone’s mind about the theology of the Bible but hopefully we will all take a look at the Bible in a new way and understand it better. I believe the Bible is to be understood especially by the people it was written to back in the first century. I believe there are truths in it for us today even though the prophesies were fulfilled in 70AD.
1Corinthians 10:11 These things happened to them as examples and were written down as warnings for us (hemon-S2257), on whom the fulfillment of the ages has come.
Some would argue that “us” doesn’t mean the people Paul was talking to but you can’t get that from context or definition of the word “us.” “Us,” usually means the people surrounding the speaker and I believe that’s what it meant in this verse. The word would actually include Paul and the people he was talking to.
Pre-Millennial theology claims to be, “The eschatological system which most literally follows scripture under consistent and proper hermeneutics (Walvoord, 1978, p. 270 The Rapture Question, Zondervan,
Michigan.), and most closely represents the eschatological hope of the early Church.”
I don’t understand this claim or agree with it since every passage we have examined in this article has to be interpreted in a non-literal, figurative way to fit the Pre-Millennial theology.
I also believe that the Disciples, while they may have been confused at one time, understood what Jesus had told them by the time they wrote the Gospels and Epistles. If anybody is confused, it would be us ( I mean “us” living today and reading this article) not them (the people in the first century).
The first century Jews rejected Jesus as the Messiah because they couldn’t see how he could be the one to put an end to sin and transgressions. We as Christians understand that sin is still around but it has been nailed to the cross on our behalf but aren’t Christians doing the same thing as the Jews did in regard to the Parousia? The parousia didn’t happen as we planned so we reject it even though our Lord and Savior said in plain words,
Rev 1:1The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show his servants what must soon take place
And then again
Rev 22:20He who testifies to these things says, “Yes, I am coming soon.”
Amen. Come, Lord Jesus
Finally, we as believers in Christ, should ask the tough questions. .. be a Barbaric Christian like Erwin McMannus. Ask yourself this.
2Peter 3: 8But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day.
Why should this single verse wipe out all the things Jesus said about a quick and speedy return? Why would it wipe out everything that Jesus and the Apostles said in over 100 verses about the nearness of the Parousia?
The following passages indicate a soon coming of the Lord :
1. “I am coming soon!” (Rev 22:7)
2. the winnowing fork is in HAND Matt 3:12
3. “the fulfillment of the ages has come” . 1Corinthians 10:11
4. our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed. Romans 13:11
5. The night is nearly over; the day is almost here. Romans 13:11
6. you will not finish going through the cities of Israel before the Son of Man comes. Matthew 10:23
7. some who are standing here will not taste death before they see the Son of Man coming in his kingdom. Matthew 16:28
8. this generation will certainly not pass away until all these things have happened. Matthew 24:34
9. blessed are those who hear it and take to heart what is written in it, because the time is near. Revelation 1:3
10. even now many antichrists have come. This is how we know it is the last hour. 1 John 2:18
11. I tell you, he will see that they get justice, and quickly. Luke 18:6-8
12. His winnowing fork is in his hand, Matthew 3:12
13. I will soon come to you and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth. Revelation 2:16
14. hold on to what you have until I come (how long are they supposed to hold on?) Revelation 2: 25
15. By calling this covenant “new,” he has made the first one obsolete; and what is obsolete and aging will soon disappear. (like say. .. 70AD) Hebrew 8:13
16. We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed– 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. (“We” as in Paul and the people he’s talking to? Or “We” as in someone not even born yet?) 1 Corinthians 15:51-54
17. sent his angel to show his servants the things that must soon take place.” “Behold, I am coming soon! Revelation 22:6,7
18. “Do not seal up the words of the prophecy of this book, because the time is near. Revelation 22:10
19. be patient and stand firm, because the Lord’s coming is near. James 5:8
20. The Judge is standing at the door! James 5:8
21. For in just a very little while, “He who is coming will come and will not delay. (really? Or where they pulling our leg?) Hebrews 10:35 –37
22. when you see these things happening, you know that the kingdom of God is near. Luke 21:31
23. “I tell you the truth, this generation will certainly not pass away until all these things have happened.” (That’s not what they told me in Sunday School) Luke 21:31
24. If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you? John 21: 20-23
25. The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. Romans 16: 20
26. 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. (“We” as in Paul and the people he’s talking to or “We” as in someone not even born yet?) 1 Thes 4:15-18
27. I charge you to keep this command without spot or blame until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ (Paul was talking to Timothy – was Timothy supposed to be alive at the Parousia?) 1 Tim 6:14
28. As he approached Jerusalem and saw the city, he wept over it and said, “If you, even you, had only known on this day what would bring you peace–but now it is hidden from your eyes. 43The days will come upon you when your enemies will build an embankment against you and encircle you and hem you in on every side. 44They will dash you to the ground, you and the children within your walls. They will not leave one stone on another, because you did not recognize the time of God’s coming to you.” Luke 19: 41 RV Note: Josephus writes the account of this in his book: The War of the Jews. It happened in 70AD
29. but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom he made the universe. Acts 2: 15
30. He was chosen before the creation of the world, but was revealed in these last times for your sake. 1 Peter 1:20
31. Luke 19: 41As he approached Jerusalem and saw the city, he wept over it
For a full listing of the 100 verses see the article Parousia 70AD. By Ron Van