the last days according to jesus

PublishedbyBakerBooksadivisionofBakerPublishingGroupP.O.Box6287,GrandRapids,MI49516-6287www.bakerbooks.com

Neweditionpublished2015

Ebookeditioncreated2015Allrightsreserved.Nopartofthispublicationmaybereproduced,storedinaretrievalsystem,ortransmittedinanyformorbyanymeans—forexample,electronic,photocopy,recording—withoutthepriorwrittenpermissionofthepublisher.Theonlyexceptionisbriefquotationsinprintedreviews.

LibraryofCongressCataloging-in-PublicationDataisonfileattheLibraryofCongress,Washington,DC.

ISBN978-1-5855-8092-7

TheProprietorisrepresentedbytheliteraryagencyofWolgemuth&Associates,Inc.

ToGarrettBrown

CONTENTS

Cover1

TitlePage3

CopyrightPage4

Dedication5

ListofTablesandFigures9

Introduction11

1.WhatDidJesusTeachonMountOlivet?33

2.What“Generation”WillWitnesstheEnd?57

3.What“Age”WasabouttoEnd?79

4.WhatDidPaulTeachinHisLetters?103

5.WhatabouttheDestructionofJerusalem?123

6.WhatDidJohnTeachinRevelation?141

7.WhenIstheResurrection?163

8.WhoIstheAntichrist?185

9.WhenIstheMillennium?205

Appendixes

1.TheOlivetDiscourseaccordingtoMatthew219

2.TheOlivetDiscourseinMatthew,Mark,andLuke226

Notes241

Glossary251

BibliographyofWorksCited253

IndexofNames263

IndexofScripture267

AmongOtherBooksbyR.C.Sproul272

BackCover273

LISTOFTABLESANDFIGURES

Tables

1.1SignsofJesus’sComingandoftheEnd40

3.1TheWorldinMatthew13:38–4081

3.2TheNearnessoftheLastDaystotheApostles96

4.1ReferencestotheLastTimes115

5.1TheJudgmentonJerusalemaccordingtoHistory138

6.1Time-FrameReferencesinRevelation151

6.2SourcesofInformationConcerningJohnandRevelation154

6.3TheSixthKingofRevelation17:10160

7.1DifferencesbetweenPreterists168

7.2ThePartial-PreteristView183

8.1TheAntichrist198

8.2Nero’sNumber203

9.1AdvocatesofMillennialViews211

Figures

0.1TheEvolutionofIsrael’sReligionaccordingtotheReligiousHistoricalSchool21

6.1First-CenturyTimeline161

INTRODUCTION

YouwillnothavegonethroughthecitiesofIsraelbeforetheSonofMancomes.

Matthew10:23

JesusofNazarethwasafalseprophet!”ThissentimentexpressesaviewofChristthatgoesbeyondthebordersofslandertoflirtwiththesupremeformofblasphemyfromwhichthereisnorecovery.Itpeersintotheabyssinhabitedbylegionsofthedamned.ManywhoshrinkfromaffirmingthefulldeityofChristhedgetheirbetsby

applyingthehonorific“Prophet”tohisname.Fewareboldenoughintheirunbelieftohurlagainsthimthescurrilousepithet“falseprophet.”InIsraelthetermfalseprophetsignaledawarrantfordeathbystoning.ThefalseprophetwasascourgetothecommunitypreciselybecausehewasguiltyofmixingdrosswiththegoldofGod’struth,substitutingthecounterfeitforthegenuine,thelieforthetruth,andmisleadingthepeopleofGod,sometimesfatally.ThefalseprophetinIsraelwasdetectedbyhismakingfuturepredictionsthat

failedtocometopass.Thiswastheacidtesttoexposethedreamerwhoclaimedtheauthorityofthedivineoracletosanctionerroneouspronouncements.Godwasenlistedasanallyfordisinformation,indeed,claimedasthesourceorfountainofthepoisonouslie.Toprefaceone’sdeclarationwiththeclaim“ThussaiththeLord”wastoclaimdivineinspirationforamerehumanopinion,tograspforinfallibilitythatisnottheprovinceofuninspiredmen.ThechargeoffalseprophecyagainstJesusisnotmadelightlybysobermen.

Theconsequencesofsuchcalumnyaretoosevere.Ittakesabrashorsupremelyconfidentcritictoriskthistypeofjudgment.

SuchamanwasBertrandRussell.Russelldistinguishedhimselfasaworld-classphilosopherandmathematician.HeattainedpeerageintheBritishrealmforhismanyaccomplishments.Hewasfrequentlyinthenewsforhispassiveresistance

towar,particularlynuclearwar.Celebratedasoneoftheleadingintellectualsofhisera,Russellwastakenveryseriouslybytheintelligentsia.

Russell’sRejectionofChrist

Russell’slittlebookWhyIAmNotaChristian1setforthhispolemicagainstreligioningeneralandChristianityinparticular.Hewasconvincedthatreligionhashadanevilinfluenceonhumancivilization.“Thequestionofthetruthofareligionisonething,butthequestionofitsusefulnessisanother,”hewrote.“IamasfirmlyconvincedthatreligionsdoharmasIamthattheyareuntrue.”2ThoughRussellhedgeshisbetsalittlebydeclaringhisgeneralrespectforthe

moralcharacterofJesus,hedoesraiseobjectionstoJesus’srecordedbehavioratcertainpoints.Istressthepointof“recordedbehavior”becauseRussellwasskepticalregardingthebiblicalaccountofthelifeandteachingofChrist.“Historicallyitisquitedoubtful,”hesays,“whetherChristeverexistedatall,andifhedidwedonotknowanythingabouthim,sothatIamnotconcernedwiththehistoricalquestion,whichisaverydifficultone.”3Russellcontinues:“IamconcernedwithChristasheappearsintheGospels,

takingtheGospelnarrativeasitstands,andthereonedoesfindsomethingsthatdonotseemtobeverywise.Foronething,hecertainlythoughtthathissecondcomingwouldoccurincloudsofglorybeforethedeathofallthepeoplewhowerelivingatthattime.”4RussellcitesvarioustextsoftheNewTestamenttoprovehispoint:“There

areagreatmanytextsthatprovethat.Hesays,forinstance,‘YeshallnothavegoneoverthecitiesofIsraeltilltheSonofManbecome’(Matt.10:23).Thenhesays,‘TherearesomestandingherewhichshallnottastedeathtilltheSonofMancomesintohiskingdom’(Matt.16:28);andtherearealotofplaceswhereitisquiteclearthathebelievedthathissecondcomingwouldhappenduringthelifetimeofmanythenliving.Thatwasthebeliefofhisearlierfollowers,anditwasthebasisofagooddealofhismoralteaching....Inthatrespect,clearlyhewasnotsowiseassomeotherpeoplehavebeen,andhewascertainlynotsuperlativelywise.”5OneofRussell’schiefcriticismsoftheJesusportrayedintheGospelsisthat

Jesuswaswrongwithrespecttothetimingofhisfuturereturn.AtissueforRussellisthetime-framereferenceoftheseprophecies.RussellchargesthatJesusfailedtoreturnduringthetime-framehehadpredicted.ThereisironyinRussell’snegativepolemic.Oneofthemostimportant

proofsofChrist’scharacterandtheBible’sdivineinspirationisJesus’s

astonishinglyaccuratepredictionofthedestructionofthetempleandthefallofJerusalem,propheciescontainedintheOlivetDiscourse.Therecanbelittledoubtthatthebiblicalrecordofthispredictionantedatestheeventsthemselves.ItisnowalmostuniversallyacknowledgedthattheGospelsofMatthew,Mark,andLukewerewrittenbeforeAD70.Christ’spropheciesintheOlivetDiscoursediffersharplyfromancient

prophecieslikethoseoftheOracleofDelphi,whichwereexercisesintheartofstudiedambiguity.Theyleftfulfillmentsomewhatopenended,andtheywerecapableofdisparateinterpretation.Theseoraclesarenotunlikethepredictionsfoundinmoderndailyhoroscopes,whicharesufficientlybroadorambiguoustoallowforaccidentalfulfillment.NorcanJesus’sconcretepredictionsbeattributedtoeducatedguessesorthe

insightofafuturist.Tofirst-centuryJewsitwasunthinkablethatsuchcatastrophiceventsasthedestructionoftheHerodiantemple,thedevastationoftheholycityofJerusalem,andthedispersionoftheJewishpeopletothefourcornersoftheearthcouldtakeplaceintheforeseeablefuture.Sucheventswereeminentlynotforeseeable,savetoonewhohadinformationfromtheomniscientGodhimself.SotheveryprophecythatshouldconfirmboththecredentialsofJesusandthe

inspirationofScriptureis,ironically,theprophecyusedbycriticslikeRusselltodebunkbothJesusandtheBible.ProofforthetruthofScriptureandChristbecomesproofforthefalsehoodofboth.AsIshallpresentlyendeavortoshow,theskepticismexpressedbyRussellonthesemattersisbynomeanslimitedtohim,butistheaxethatisgroundbyahostofhigher-criticalscholarsoftheBible.Itwouldnotbeanoverstatementtosuggestthatthechiefgroundfortheradicalcriticismofmodernbiblicalscholarship,whichhasresultedinawholesaleattackonthetrustworthinessofScriptureandafar-reachingskepticismofourabilitytoknowanythingabouttherealhistoricalJesus,isthethesisthattheGospels’recordsofJesus’spredictionscontainglaringerrorsandgrossinaccuracies.ThemainproblemwithJesus’spredictionsintheOlivetDiscourseisthatthey

includenotonlypredictionsregardingJerusalemandthetemple,whichdidcometopasswithastonishingaccuracy,butalsopredictionsofhisowncominginglory,orhisparousia.ItisthesepredictionsregardingJesus’sreturnonwhichRussellseizedforfodderforhisnegativeapologia.ItistemptingtodismissRusselllightlywiththechargethat,thoughhewaseruditeandastuteinatleasttwomajoracademicdisciplines,hewasnotatrainedorskilledexegeteofScripture.Whenheexpressedhiscriticismsofthebiblicaltext,hewasspeakingoutsidethefieldofhisexpertise.Theproblem,however,isthatRussell’sisnota

lonevoiceinrecenthistory.Hiscriticismsareechoedbyamultitudeofhighlylearnedspecialistsinthefieldofbiblicalstudies.Imustincludeatthispointapersonalnote.Myownacademictrainingtook

placeforthemostpartatinstitutionsofhigherlearningthatarenotidentifiedwithconservativeorevangelicalChristianity.OneofmychiefprofessorsincollegewasadoctoralstudentunderRudolfBultmann.InseminaryIwasexposeddailytocriticaltheoriesespousedbymyprofessorsregardingtheScripture.WhatstandsoutinmymemoryofthosedaysistheheavyemphasisonbiblicaltextsregardingthereturnofChrist,whichwereconstantlycitedasexamplesoferrorsintheNewTestamentandproofthatthetexthadbeeneditedtoaccommodatethecrisisintheearlychurchcausedbytheso-calledparousia-delayofJesus.Inaword,muchofthecriticismleveledagainstthetrustworthinessofScripturewaslinkedtoquestionsregardingbiblicaleschatology.

Jesus’sTime-FrameReferences

Thetime-framereferencesoftheOlivetDiscourseareprominentinthedebateovertheintegrityofbothChristandtheBible.Markreportsthisdiscourseasfollows:

Thenashewentoutofthetemple,oneofhisdisciplessaidtohim,“Teacher,seewhatmannerofstonesandwhatbuildingsarehere!”AndJesusansweredandsaidtohim,“Doyouseethesegreatbuildings?Notonestoneshallbeleftuponanother,thatshallnotbethrowndown.”NowashesatontheMountofOlivesoppositethetemple,Peter,James,John,andAndrewasked

himprivately,“Tellus,whenwillthesethingsbe?Andwhatwillbethesignwhenallthesethingswillbefulfilled?”AndJesus,answeringthem,begantosay:“Takeheedthatnoonedeceivesyou.FormanywillcomeinMyname,saying,‘Iamhe,’andwilldeceivemany.Andwhenyouhearofwarsandrumorsofwars,donotbetroubled;forsuchthingsmusthappen,buttheendisnotyet.Fornationwillriseagainstnation,andkingdomagainstkingdom.Andtherewillbeearthquakesinvariousplaces,andtherewillbefaminesandtroubles.Thesearethebeginningsofsorrows.Butwatchoutforyourselves,fortheywilldeliveryouuptocouncils,andyouwillbebeateninthesynagogues.AndyouwillbebroughtbeforerulersandkingsforMysake,foratestimonytothem.Andthegospelmustfirstbepreachedtoallthenations.Butwhentheyarrestyouanddeliveryouup,donotworrybeforehand,orpremeditatewhatyouwillspeak.Butwhateverisgivenyouinthathour,speakthat;foritisnotyouwhospeak,buttheHolySpirit.Nowbrotherwillbetraybrothertodeath,andafatherhischild;andchildrenwillriseupagainstparentsandcausethemtobeputtodeath.AndyouwillbehatedbyallmenforMyname’ssake.Buthewhoendurestotheendshallbesaved.“Butwhenyouseethe‘abominationofdesolation,’spokenofbyDanieltheprophet,standingwhere

itoughtnot”(letthereaderunderstand),“thenletthosewhoareinJudeafleetothemountains.Andlethimwhoisonthehousetopnotgodownintothehouse,norentertotakeanythingoutofhishouse.Andlethimwhoisinthefieldnotgobacktogethisgarment.Butwoetothosewhoarepregnantandtothosewithnursingbabiesinthosedays!Andpraythatyourflightmaynotbeinwinter.Forinthose

daystherewillbetribulation,suchashasnotbeenfromthebeginningofcreationwhichGodcreateduntilthistime,norevershallbe.AndunlesstheLordhadshortenedthosedays,nofleshwouldbesaved;butfortheelect’ssake,whomhechose,heshortenedthedays.Thenifanyonesaystoyou,‘Look,hereistheChrist!’or,‘Look,heisthere!’donotbelieveit.Forfalsechristsandfalseprophetswillriseandshowsignsandwonderstodeceive,ifpossible,eventheelect.Buttakeheed;see,Ihavetoldyouallthingsbeforehand.“Butinthosedays,afterthattribulation,thesunwillbedarkened,andthemoonwillnotgiveits

light;thestarsofheavenwillfall,andthepowersinheavenwillbeshaken.ThentheywillseetheSonofMancominginthecloudswithgreatpowerandglory.Andthenhewillsendhisangels,andgathertogetherhiselectfromthefourwinds,fromthefarthestpartofearthtothefarthestpartofheaven.“Nowlearnthisparablefromthefigtree:Whenitsbranchhasalreadybecometender,andputsforth

leaves,youknowthatsummerisnear.Soyoualso,whenyouseethesethingshappening,knowthatitisnear—attheverydoors!Assuredly,Isaytoyou,thisgenerationwillbynomeanspassawaytillallthesethingstakeplace...”(Mark13:1–30).

ThemostcriticalportionofthistextisJesus’sdeclarationthat“thisgenerationwillbynomeanspassawaytillallthesethingstakeplace”(13:30).WhenRussellpointedtothispronouncement,hemadetwoimportantassumptions.Thefirstisthat“thisgeneration”referstoaspecifictime-framethatwouldberoughlyfortyyears.Thatis,theterminusforthefulfillmentofthisprophecyisfortyyears.IfJesusmadethisannouncementsometimebetweenAD30and33,thenthedestructionofJerusaleminAD70wouldfitperfectlywithinthetime-frame.ThesecondassumptionmadebyRussell(andothers)isthatthephrase“allthesethings”includesallofthesubjectmatterofhisfutureprediction,includinghiscomingincloudsofpowerandglory.Giventheseassumptions,theprimafaciereadingofthetextleadstothe

conclusionthat,withinthetime-frameoffortyyears,notonlywillthetempleandJerusalembedestroyed,butalsotheparousia(orcoming)ofChristwilltakeplace.Since,againaccordingtoRussell,theparousiadidnottakeplacewithinthistime-frame,bothChristandtheBiblearewrong.BothofRussell’sassumptionshavebeenchallengedinmanifoldways,aswe

willseelater.Fornow,however,wearefocusingonthefirst-glancereadingofthetextthatisheldbyRussellandothers.ItismyfearthatevangelicalstodaytendtounderplaythesignificanceoftheproblemsinherentinRussell’sassumptions.Toooftenwetakeafacileapproachtotheproblemthatrevealsourfailuretofeeltheweightofsuchobjections.ThisbecomesparticularlyacutewhenwerealizetheextenttowhichtheseproblemshavecontributedtotheentiremoderncontroversyovertheinspirationofScriptureandthepersonandworkofChrist.Togainabetterfeelfortheproblem,wemusttakeashortreconnaissanceofmodernviewsofeschatology.

TheCrisisinEschatology

ThoughmanyofthecriticalviewsofScriptureprevalenttodayoriginatedintheEnlightenment,characterizedbyarelianceonrationalisticandnaturalisticphilosophy,theydidnotreachtheiracme(ornadir)untilthedevelopmentofso-calledliberalismthatheldswayinthenineteenthcentury.ThiserawasmarkedbythedominanceofHegelianphilosophy,whichprovidedanevolutionaryviewofhistorythatworkeditselfoutintermsofadialecticalprocess.AsdistinguishedfromtheMarxistviewof“dialecticalmaterialism,”Hegelianismhasbeendubbed“dialecticalidealism.”Iftherewasabuzzwordinnineteenth-centurytheoreticalthought,itwasthe

wordevolution.Theideaofevolutionwasappliednotsimplytobiology,butalsotootherfieldsofinquiry.PoliticaltheorysawtheapplicationofHerbertSpencer’s“socialDarwinianism,”forexample.Itisimportanttorealizethatevolutionencompasseschieflyatheoryofhistorywherebynotonlybiologicalentitiesundergoaprogressivedevelopmentfromthesimpletothecomplex,butalsootherentitiesundergoasimilarsortofprogressivechange.Marriedtoevolutionaryphilosophy,theReligiousHistoricalSchoolofthe

nineteenthcenturyconsidereditaxiomaticthatallreligionsgothroughevolutionarystagesofdevelopment.Theymovefromthesimpletothecomplex.Inthisschemeallreligionsbeginwithprimitiveformsofanimismandmovetoamorecomplexlevelofsophisticatedmonotheism.Nineteenth-centuryscholarssuchasJuliusWellhausenappliedthisschemetotheOldTestament.TheybelievedIsraelitereligionevolvedthroughfourdistinctstages:animism,polytheism,henotheism,andmonotheism(seefig.0.1).Animism,themostprimitiveform,seesobjectsofnatureasbeinginhabited

byevilspirits.HintsofthiswereseeninthespeakingserpentofGenesis3andinAbraham’sconversingwithangelsbytheOaksofMamre.CriticsarguedthatAbrahamwashavingadialoguewithspiritsthatinhabitedthetrees.Polytheismaffirmstheexistenceofmanygodsandgoddesseswhohave

designatedfunctionssuchasthoseinRomanmythologyandtheGreekpantheon.Herewefinddeitiesofwar,wisdom,love,agriculture,andsoforth.PolytheismwasallegedtoexistintheOldTestament,particularlywithreferencetothe“ESource”ofthePentateuch(thefirstfivebooksoftheBible),inwhichthechiefnameforGodwasElohim,whichhasapluralending.Henotheism,atransitionstagebetweenpolytheismandmonotheism,isthe

ideathateachnationorethnicgroupisruledbyasinglegod.Sothereareasmanygodsastherearenationsorethnicgroups.Thiswasallegedtobethecase

inIsraelitereligion,whichpittedthenationalgod,Yahweh,againstthegodsofothernations,suchasBaal(Judg.2:11–13)orDagon(Judg.16:23).Finallytheideaofmonotheismemerged(relativelylateinJewishhistory),

whichviewedGodastheLordofallcreation.

Withthedevelopmentofnineteenth-centuryliberalismcameaseriousefforttomodifyorrevisetheessenceofbiblicalreligion.CentraltothisreconstructionoftheChristianfaithwastheattempttoredefinethebiblicalconceptofthekingdomofGod.Asscholarshavenotedinrecenttimes,themotifofGod’skingdomweavestogethertheOldandNewTestamentsandprovidesthecontinuitybetweenthem.Nineteenth-centuryliberalismsoughtaChristianfaiththatisdesupernaturalizedandessentiallyimmanentisticinitsoutlook.UndertheinfluenceofHegelianphilosophy,thekingdomofGodwasevolvingnaturallywithouttheintrusionofatranscendentGod.Elementsofthemiraculouswererejectedoutofhandbythinkerssuchas

DavidFriedrichStraussandWilliamWrede.ThemiraclesoftheBible,especiallythoseattributedtoJesus,wereexplainedinnaturalisticterms.Forexamplethefeedingofthefivethousandwasinterpretedinvariousways,includingthesetwo:(1)Jesusandhisdiscipleshadalargestoreoffoodconcealedinacave.Jesusstoodinfrontofasmallopeningthroughwhich

provisionsweresecretlypassedtohimbyhishiddendisciples,andwerethendistributedtothemultitudes.ThiscrassviewreducedJesustoaclevermagicianandacharlatan.(2)JesususedtheexampleoftheladwhohadofferedtoJesushismeagerprovisions,toexhortthosewhohadbroughtlunchestosharewiththosewhohadnot.Thus,thiswasnotamiracleofnaturebutan“ethical”miracle,persuading

thosewhohadmuch,tosharewiththosewhohadnothing.Theaccentonethicswasprimarytotheliberalrevisionofbiblical

Christianity.LeadingthinkerssuchasAlbrechtRitschleschewedtheinfluenceofGreekmetaphysicalthoughtontheformulationofhistoriccreedssuchasattributingtheequalityofdivineessencetomembersoftheTrinity.HesawtheessenceofJesus’steachingnotassupernaturalredemptionbutasethicalandmoralvalues.LiberalscholarsrecastJesusasthesupremeteacherofethicsratherthanastheincarnateSonofGodwhowasbornofavirgin,whodiedanatoningdeathofcosmicsignificance,andwhowasraisedbodilyfromthedeadandascendedintoheaven.Thesesupernaturalelementsofthebiblicalportraitwererejected,andintheirplacewassubstitutedthemoralistJewwhoadvocatedakingdomofvaluesandsocialresponsibility.Itwassomewhatfashionableinthenineteenthcenturytocomparetheworld

religionsinanefforttodiscernanddistilltheessenceofthemallintoabasiccommondenominator.HereChristianitysufferedfromreductionismwithavengeance.ChurchhistorianAdolfHarnackpublishedalittlebookontheWesen,the“essence”or“being,”ofChristianity,whichwaspublishedinEnglishasWhatIsChristianity?6InthisvolumeHarnackreducedtheessenceofChristianitytotwofoundationalconcepts:theuniversalfatherhoodofGodandtheuniversalbrotherhoodofman.

Schweitzer’sQuest

Againstthisbackdropofliberalism,AlbertSchweitzerwrotehiswatershedbook,TheQuestoftheHistoricalJesus,7whichappearedfirstin1906undertheGermantitleVonReimaruszuWrede(“FromReimarustoWrede”).AstheGermantitlesuggests,Schweitzergaveacriticalanalysisofdevelopmentsinnineteenth-centurythought.HeembracedmuchofthethoughtofJohannesWeiss,whohadattackedRitschl’sconceptofanethical-valuekingdomthatistotallyimmanentandevolutionary.WeissarguedthatthisconceptisrootednotintheNewTestamentbutinEnlightenmenttheologyandtheethicalphilosophyofImmanuelKant.

HermanRidderbossaysofWeiss:“...[He]arguedthatJesus’spreachingofthekingdomofGodcanonlybeunderstoodinthelightofandagainstthebackgroundoftheworldofthoughtofhistime,especiallyofthelateJewishapocalypticwritings.Onthisview,everyconceptionofthekingdomofGodasanimmanentcommunityincourseofdevelopmentorasanethicalidealisconsequentlytoberejected;foritbecomesclearthatthekingdomofGodisapurelyfutureandeschatologicalevent,presupposingtheendofthisworld;and,therefore,cannotpossiblyrevealitselfalreadyinthisworld.”8WhenWeissspeaksofthekingdom’seschatologicalcharacter,heusesthe

wordeschatologicaltomeanmorethan“thefuture”or“thelastthings.”Herethetermcarriestheideaof“anactionwroughtbyGodthatistranscendentandcatastrophic.”Itisnotafutureeventthatemergesthroughevolutionarydevelopment,butafutureeventthatisbroughtonsuddenlyfromabove,anintrusionoftheworkofGod.ThiseschatologicalconceptofthekingdomofGodwasembracedby

Schweitzer.HesawthisasthekeytounderstandingthelifeandteachingofJesus.Schweitzercalledthisview“consistenteschatology.”ThoughhesoughttointerpretthelifeofJesusagainstthebackdropofatranscendenteschatology,heconcludedthatJesus’sowneschatologicalexpectationshadbeenunfulfilled.ThehistoricalJesusbelievedthatthekingdomwouldbeinauguratedbyacatastrophicactofGod,butthisdivineactdidnotmaterialize.AccordingtoSchweitzer,Jesusunderwentaseriesofcrises.Heexpectedthe

dramaticcomingofthekingdomatdifferentpointsofhisministry,suchaswhenhesentouttheseventy.Jesushadtofacepostponementstohisexpectation.HefinallyhopedthathissubmissiontothecrosswouldprovokeGodtoact.Whenthatalsofailedtohappen,Jesuscriedoutindespair,“MyGod,MyGod,whyhaveYouforsakenMe?”(Matt.27:46).Thiswastheanguishedcryofadisillusionedman.ForSchweitzer,theeschatologyofJesuswasunrealized.Thisledto

Schweitzer’sconceptof“parousia-delay.”Thewritingsoftheapostolicchurchreflectanadjustmentinthinking,amovementfromanexpectationofChrist’simminentreturn(andtheconsummationofthekingdom)toanexpectationofhisdelayedreturnintheunknownfuture.ThoughSchweitzerrejectedtheconceptofanethicalkingdomasthemotifof

Jesus’steachingandself-consciousnessandreplaceditwithaneschatologicalview,itwasaneschatologythatremainedunrealized.Thoughhisviewdidnotprevailamongscholars,Schweitzer’sworkprovokedmanytheoriesthatwrestledwiththeproblemshehadraised.

Schweitzer’sworkwasfollowedbythatofC.H.Dodd,whointroducedafull-scalesystemof“realizedeschatology.”ForDoddtheeschatologicalkingdomofGodisusheredinduringtheministryofChrist.ThepresenceofthekingdomisacommonthemeinJesus’sparables,asDoddnotesinTheParablesoftheKingdom.9InanotherworkDoddsays:

TheeschatologyoftheearlyChurchhastwosides.OntheonehandwehavethebeliefthatwiththecomingofChristthe“fullnessoftime”hasarrived,thepropheciesarefulfilled,andtheKingdomofGodisinauguratedonearth.Ontheotherhandwehavetheexpectationofaconsummationstillpendinginthefuture.ThereissometensionbetweenthetwoinalmostallNewTestamentwritings.Theydifferamongthemselveswithrespecttotherelationconceivedtoexistbetweenthefulfillmentwhichisalready[a]matterofhistory,andthefulfillmentwhichbelongstothefuture.IntheFourthGospelthelanguageof“futuristeschatology”islittleused.10

ForDoddthekingdomisessentiallyaspiritualrealitythathasbeencompletelyrealizedinthepast.ThetensionbetweenrealizedandunrealizedeschatologyhasplaguedNewTestamentscholarsinourtime.AttemptstorelievethisstresshavebeenofferedbybothOscarCullmannandHermanRidderbos.BothscholarshavesoughttounderstandtheNewTestamentconceptofthekingdomofGodintermsofthepresentandthefuture.Ridderboshaspopularizedtheconceptofthe“already”andthe“notyet”of

thekingdom(thealsandthenogniet).WhenJohntheBaptistappearsonthestageofhistory,amomentofcrisisisreached.UnliketheOldTestamentprophets,whoannouncedthecomingofthekingdomintheunknownordistantfuture,Johnannouncesthatitsarrivalisimminent.Heistheheraldofthecomingkingdom.Johndeclaresthat“theaxislaidtotherootofthetrees”and“Hiswinnowingfanisinhishand”(Matt.3:10,12).Theimagesoftheaxeandthefanbothcallattentiontotheradicalnearnessofthekingdom.Theimageoftheaxedoesnotindicatethatthewoodsmanismerelythinking

aboutcuttingdownatreeorthathehasmerelybegunthetaskbystrikingattheouterbark.Theimageinsteadisthatthetaskisnearlycomplete.Theaxehasalreadypenetratedtothecoreofthetree,hintingthatonemoredecisivestrokewillmakeitfall.Thefanreferstothewinnowingforkusedbyafarmertoseparatethewheat

fromthechaff.Thefarmerisnotheadingtohisbarntogetthefan.Itisalreadyinhishandandheisabouttobeginwinnowing.TheradicalcharacterofJohn’sbaptismisalsoseeninthislight.Hecalled

JewishpeopletoundergothiscleansingritebecausetheirKingisabouttoappearandtheyaredefiledandunreadytomeethim.ConsequentlyJohncallsthepeopletorepentandbebaptized.“Thekingdomofheavenisathand”(Matt.3:2).WiththecomingofJesus,thekingdomisinaugurated,reachingitsNew

Testamentacmeinhisascension.Theascensionisnotmerelya“goingup”toheaven.Itisagoingupforaspecificevent,hiscoronationandinvestitureastheKingofKingsandLordofLords.InsofarasJesuspresentlyoccupiesthisseatofcosmicauthority,thekingdomofGodhascome.Yethisreignremainsinvisibletomen.Itisyettobemadefullymanifestonearth.AtthispointOscarCullmannintroduceshisfamousD-Dayanalogy.The

resurrectionandascensionofChristrepresentstheD-dayofthekingdom,thedecisiveturningpointinredemptivehistory.InWorldWarIID-Daywasnottheendofthewar,butitwassuchadecisiveturningpointthatforallintentsandpurposesthewarwasover.Whatwasleftwasamop-upexercise(theBattleoftheBulgenotwithstanding).Inlikemannerthedecisiveworkofthekingdomhasbeenaccomplished.WearelivingintheinterimawaitingtheconsummationthatwilloccuratChrist’sparousia.Inadditiontotheseviewsofthekingdomandeschatology,weencounter

modernDispensationalism,whichregardsthekingdomasfuture.ForDispensationalismthekingdomwillnotcomeuntiltheparousia.Likewise,variousformsofpreterismhaveemerged.Preteristsarguenotonlythatthekingdomisapresentreality,butalsothatinarealhistoricalsensetheparousiahasalreadyoccurred.

Preterism

PreterismTheKingdomisapresentreality.

RadicalPreterismAllfuturepropheciesintheNThavealreadybeenfulfilled.

ModeratePreterismManyfuturepropheciesintheNThavealreadybeenfulfilled.Somecrucialprophecieshave

notyetbeenfulfilled.

ModeratePreterism

Wemaydistinguishbetweentwodistinctformsofpreterism,whichIcallradicalpreterismandmoderatepreterism.RadicalpreterismseesallfuturepropheciesoftheNewTestamentashavingalreadytakenplace,whilemoderatepreterism

stilllookstothefutureforcrucialeventstooccur.Thepurposeofthisbookistoevaluatemoderatepreterismanditsviewofeschatology.PerhapsthemostimportantscholarofthepreteristschoolisJ.StuartRussell.

Russell’sbookTheParousia11firstappearedin1878,withasecondeditionfollowingnineyearslater.The1887editionwasreprintedin1983.Russellanticipatedmanyofthetheoriesthatwouldbepresentedbytwentieth-centuryscholars.Hischiefconcernwasthetime-framereferencesofNewTestamenteschatology,particularlywithrespecttoJesus’sutterancesconcerningthecomingofthekingdomandtoJesus’sOlivetDiscourse.Inhissummaryattheendofthebook,Russellwrites:

WithoutgoingoverthegroundalreadytraverseditmaysufficeheretoappealtothreedistinctanddecisivedeclarationsofourLordrespectingthetimeofhiscoming,eachofthemaccompaniedwithasolemnaffirmation:

1. “VerilyIsayuntoyou,YeshallnothavegoneoverthecitiesofIsrael,tilltheSonofmanbecome”(Matt.10:23).

2. “VerilyIsayuntoyou,Therebesomestandinghere,whichshallnottastedeath,tilltheyseetheSonofmancominginhiskingdom”(Matt.16:28).

3. “VerilyIsayuntoyou,Thisgenerationshallnotpass,tillallthesethingsbefulfilled”(Matt.24:34).

Theplaingrammaticalmeaningofthesestatementshasbeenfullydiscussedinthesepages.Noviolencecanextortfromthemanyothersensethantheobviousandunambiguousone,viz.thatourLord’ssecondcomingwouldtakeplacewithinthelimitsoftheexistinggeneration.12

ThecentralthesisofRussellandindeedofallpreteristsisthattheNewTestament’stime-framereferenceswithrespecttotheparousiapointtoafulfillmentwithinthelifetimeofatleastsomeofJesus’sdisciples.SomeholdtoaprimaryfulfillmentinAD70,withasecondaryandfinalfulfillmentintheyet-unknownfuture.Whateverelsemaybesaidofpreterism,ithasachievedatleasttwothings:(1)ithasfocusedattentiononthetime-framereferencesofNewTestamenteschatology,and(2)ithashighlightedthesignificanceofJerusalem’sdestructioninredemptivehistory.

TheLifeofJamesStuartRussell

1816 BornonNovember28inElgin,Morayshire.

1829 EnteredKing’sCollege,Aberdeen.

1835 ReceivedMAdegree.

1843 BecameassistantministerinCongregationalchurchinGreatYarmouth.Laterbecametheminister.

1843 AttendedthefoundingoftheEvangelicalAlliance.

1857 BecameministerinCongregationalchurchinTottenhamandEdmonton.

1862 BecameministerinCongregationalchurchinBayswater.

1878 PublishedTheParousiaanonymously.

1887 PublishedsecondeditionofTheParousiaunderhisname.

1888 Retiredfromtheministry.

1895 DiedonOctober5.

Contemporaryeschatologicaltheories,especiallythosefoundwithinevangelicalism,arekeenlyinterestedinthesignificanceofeventssurroundingmodernIsraelandthecityofJerusalem.KarlBarthonceremarkedthatthemodernChristianmustreadwiththeBibleinonehandandthenewspaperintheother.ThedramaticreturntoPalestineoftheJews,thecreationofthestateofIsraelin1948,andtherecaptureofJerusalemin1967haveprovokedafrenzyofinterestineschatology.Weseenosignofthisendinganytimesoon.Books(suchastheLeftBehindseries),websites,andotherresourcesinsistthatwearelivinginthelastgeneration.Thequestionpersists:WhatisthesignificanceofmodernIsraelandJerusalemtobiblicalprophecy?Whateverone’sviewofmodernJerusalem,itisessentialthatweexaminethe

significanceofitsdestructionbytheRomansinthefirstcentury.IfthereconstructionofJerusalemissignificant,itcanonlybesoinlightofitsearlierdestruction.Nomatterwhatviewofeschatologyweembrace,wemusttakeseriouslytheredemptive-historicalimportanceofJerusalem’sdestructioninAD70.InTheLastDaysaccordingtoJesuswewilldevoteconsiderableattentionto

NewTestamentpropheciesbearingonthedestructionofJerusalem,aswellastheeyewitnessaccountofitprovidedbyJewishhistorianFlaviusJosephus.PropheciesofthecomingofGod’skingdomandtheparousiaofChristare

linkedbiblicallywithpropheciesofthedayoftheLord.ThisdayisviewedtosomedegreeasadayofdivinejudgmentandthepouringoutofGod’swrath.Theseconceptsareinterconnectedandmustbeviewedinrelationtoeachother.FromtheEnlightenmentonward,thechurchhasbeengrippedbyasevere

crisisregardingthetrustworthinessofScripture.Thespiritofskepticismthat

reignsinsomanyquartersisadirectresultoftheavalancheofcriticismleveledagainsttheBible.EarlyinthiscenturyDutchtheologianAbrahamKuyperlamentedthatbiblicalcriticismhaddegeneratedintobiblicalvandalism.ThetaskinourtimeistoanswerthecriticswhohavescornedtheScripturesandgivenusaChristoftheirownimaginations.TheonlyChrististhebiblicalChrist.AllrevisionistChristsarebutshadowsoftheantichrist.DuetothecrisisinconfidenceinthetruthandauthorityofScriptureandthe

subsequentcrisisregardingtherealhistoricalJesus,eschatologymustcometogripswiththetensionsoftime-framereferencesintheNewTestament.

1WHATDIDJESUSTEACHONMOUNT

OLIVET?

ThenthesignoftheSonofManwillappearinheaven,andthenallthetribesoftheearth...willseetheSonofMancomingonthecloudsofheaven.

Matthew24:30

TheOlivetDiscoursetakesitsnamefromtheplacewhereJesusdeliveredit.ThisdiscourseisrecordedinallthreeSynopticGospels:Matthew(chap.24),Mark(chap.13),andLuke(chap.21).ThisisthelongestteachingdiscourserecordedintheGospelofMark.“IntheGospelofMarkthereisnopassagemoreproblematicthanthepropheticdiscourseofJesusonthedestructionoftheTemple,”saysWilliamL.Lane.“ThequestionsposedbytheformandcontentofthechapterandbyitsrelationshiptotheGospelasawholearecomplexanddifficultandhavebeentheoccasionofanextensiveliterature.”1WhatLanesaysofMarkcouldalsobesaidofMatthewandLuke.Biblicalscholarshavequestionedtheauthenticityofthediscourse,whichhas

beencalled“thesmallapocalypse.”VincentTaylorcitesthistheory,whichhasbeenadoptedbymanycriticalscholars:“Thesuggestionisthat,inanticipationofthehorrorsofthesiegeofJerusalem,someunknownChristianeditedasmallJewishorJewish-Christianapocalypseasakindoffly-sheettogiveencouragementandhopetotheChristiansofhisday,andincorporatedtherewitheschatologicalsayingsofJesus.”2Othertheorieshaveclaimedthatthediscourseiseithercompletelyinauthentic

orreflectstheworkofalaterredactor(“editor”),whofusedtogetherdifferent

strandsofanoraltraditionthatoriginatedintheteachingofJesus,butnotinthehomogeneousformfoundintheGospelsthemselves.

Thediscoursebeginswiththesewords:

JesusbeginstheOlivetDiscoursewithastatementabouteverystoneofthetemplebeing“throwndown.”Itisimportanttonotethattheentirediscourseisprovokedbyhiswordsaboutthedestructionofthetemple.Thedisciplesrespondtohispredictionbyaskingaboutthetime-frameforthisevent.

InallthreeGospelsthedisciplesasktwoquestions:(1)Whenwillthesethingsbe?(2)Whatwillbethesignoftheirfulfillment?Wenotice,however,

thatonlyoneofthethreeaccountsincludesthequestionaboutthecomingofChristandtheendoftheage.ThisquestionisreportedbyMatthewbutomittedbybothLukeandMark.InhisCommentaryonaHarmonyoftheEvangelistsJohnCalvinsaysthat

whatisexplicitinMatthewisimplicitinMarkandLuke:Markmentionsfourdisciples,Peter,James,John,andAndrew.ButneitherhenorLukestatesthemattersofullyasMatthew;fortheyonlysaythatthedisciplesinquiredaboutthetimeofthedestructionofthetemple,and—asitwasathingdifficulttobebelieved—whatoutwardsignofitGodwouldgivefromheaven.MatthewtellsusthattheyinquiredaboutthetimeofChrist’scoming,andoftheendoftheworld.Butitmustbeobservedthat,havingbelievedfromtheirinfancythatthetemplewouldstandtilltheendoftime,andhavingthisopiniondeeplyrootedintheirminds,theydidnotsupposethat,whilethebuildingoftheworldstood,thetemplecouldfalltoruins.Accordingly,assoonasChristsaidthatthetemplewouldbedestroyed,theirthoughtsimmediatelyturnedtotheendoftheworld....TheyassociatethecomingofChristandtheendoftheworldasthingsinseparablefromeachother....3

Calvinregardedaserroneousthedisciples’assumptionthatthedestructionofJerusalemwouldcoincidewiththecomingofChristandtheendoftheworld.ThismeansthatJesuswasansweringaquestionthatcontainedfalseassumptions.

QuestionsJesusAnsweredonMountOlivet

Question1Whenwillthesethingsbe?

Question2Whatwillbethesignofa)yourcomingandb)theendoftheage?

ThepreteristviewofJ.StuartRusselldifferssharplyfromtheviewofCalvin.Russellarguesthatthedisciples’assumptionwascorrect—withonecrucialqualifier:thediscipleswereaskingnotabouttheendoftheworld,butabouttheendoftheage.ThisdistinctioniscriticalnotonlytoRussell,buttovirtuallyallpreterists.TheendinviewisnottheendofalltimebuttheendoftheJewishage.

“Itisgenerallyassumed,”Russellwrites,“thatthedisciplescametoourLordwiththreedifferentquestions,relatingtodifferenteventsseparatedfromeachotherbyalongintervaloftime;thatthefirstinquiry,‘Whenshallthesethingsbe?’—hadreferencetotheapproachingdestructionofthetemple;thatthesecondandthirdquestions,‘Whatshallbethesignofthycoming,andoftheendoftheworld?’—referredtoeventslongposteriortothedestructionofJerusalem,and,infact,notyetaccomplished.”4RussellvoiceshisdissentbyarguingthatallthreeGospelwriterscorrectly

incorporateallthreethingswithinthesamegeneralhistoricalevent:“St.MarkandSt.Lukemakethequestionofthedisciplesrefertooneeventandonetime....Itisnotonlypresumable,therefore,butindubitable,thatthequestionsofthedisciplesonlyrefertodifferentaspectsofthesamegreatevent.ThisharmonisesthestatementsofSt.MatthewwiththoseoftheotherEvangelists,andisplainlyrequiredbythecircumstancesofthecase.”5

BooksbyJamesStuartRussell

ALeaffromtheEarlyHistoryoftheAncientCongregationalChurchinGreatYarmouth,1642–1670.Yarmouth,1850.

NonconformityintheSeventeenthCentury:AnHistoricalDiscourseDeliveredattheCelebrationoftheBicentenaryoftheCongregationalChurch,Wattisfield,Suffolk...WithanOutlineoftheHistoryoftheChurchbyItsPastor[W.Warren].Norwich,1854.

TheParousia:ACriticalInquiryintotheNewTestamentDoctrineofOurLord’sSecondComing.London:Daldy,Isbister&Co.,1878.

TheParousia:ACriticalInquiryintotheNewTestamentDoctrineofOurLord’sSecondComing.Newed.London:T.FisherUnwin,1887.

ClearlyRussellassumesthatthetextofScriptureisinspired,andheapproachesthequestionofharmonizingtheGospelaccountsoftheOlivetDiscourseonthatbasis.GiventhetrustworthinessoftheBible,itbecomesclearthatifallthreeeventsaremerelyimplicitinthedisciples’queryinMarkandLuke,theseeventsaretiedtogetherexplicitlyintheGospelofMatthew.Thedisciples’unambiguousquestionisatime-framequestion.ThedisciplesaskwhenthesethingswillcometopassandwhatisthesignofChrist’scomingandoftheend?

ASolemnWarningJesusbeginshisanswerwithasolemnwarningagainstdeception.Matthewrecordshisanswerasfollows:AndJesusansweredandsaidtothem:“Takeheedthatnoonedeceivesyou.FormanywillcomeinMyname,saying,‘IamtheChrist,’andwilldeceivemany.Andyouwillhearofwarsandrumorsofwars.Seethatyouarenottroubled;forallthesethingsmustcometopass,buttheendisnotyet.Fornationwillriseagainstnation,andkingdomagainstkingdom.Andtherewillbefamines,pestilences,andearthquakesinvariousplaces.Allthesearethebeginningofsorrows.Thentheywilldeliveryouuptotribulationandkillyou,andyouwillbehatedbyallnationsforMyname’ssake.Andthenmanywillbeoffended,willbetrayoneanother,andwillhateoneanother.Thenmanyfalseprophetswillriseupanddeceivemany.Andbecauselawlessnesswillabound,theloveofmanywillgrowcold.Buthewhoendurestotheendshallbesaved”(Matt.24:4–13).

Jesusfocusesinitiallyontheperilsposedbytheappearanceoffalsemessiahs.RussellarguesthatthedeceptiveclaimsofthesefalsemessiahswerefulfilledintheperiodbetweentheascensionofChristandthedestructionofJerusalem:“FalseChristsandfalseprophetsbegantomaketheirappearanceataveryearlyperiodoftheChristianera,andcontinuedtoinfestthelanddowntotheverycloseofJewishhistory.Intheprocuratorshipof[Pontius]Pilate(AD36),onesuchappearedinSamaria,anddeludedgreatmultitudes.TherewasanotherintheprocuratorshipofCuspiusFadus(AD45).DuringthegovernmentofFelix(AD53–60),[Flavius]Josephustellsus‘thecountrywasfullofrobbers,magicians,falseprophets,falseMessiahs,andimpostors,whodeludedthepeoplewithpromisesofgreatevents.’”6Calvinagreedthatarashoffalsemessiahsaroseintheearly-churchera.“For

shortlyafterChrist’sresurrection,therearoseimpostors,everyoneofwhomprofessedtobetheChrist,”Calvinwrites.“AndasthetrueRedeemerhadnotonlybeenremovedfromtheworld,butoppressedbytheignominyofthecross,andyetthemindsofallwereexcitedbythehopeandinflamedwiththedesireofredemption,thosemenhadintheirpoweraplausibleopportunityofdeceiving.

Norcanitbedoubted,thatGodpermittedsuchreveriestoimposeontheJews,whohadsobaselyrejectedhisSon.”7

Table1.1SignsofJesus’sComingandoftheEnd

Matt.24: Mark13: Luke21:

Falsechrists 5 6 8

Warsandrumorsofwars 6 7 9

betweennationsand 7 8 10

betweenkingdoms 7 8 10

Famines 7 8 11

Pestilences,troubles 7 8 11

Earthquakes 7 8 11

PersecutionofChrist’sdisciples 9–10 9,11–13 12–17

ApostasyofprofessingChristians 10

Falseprophets 11

Lawlessness 12

Gospelpreachingworldwide 14 10

Abominationofdesolation 15 14 20

Greattribulation,distress 21 19 23

Astronomicalphenomena 29 24–25 25

ThoughCalvinacknowledgedthattheproblemoffalsechristsplaguedtheearlychurchaftertheresurrectionofChrist,heappliedthewarningtothechurchofallages,notlimitingittothechurchofthefirstcentury.Thisapplicationisquitelegitimate,astheappearanceofimpostorsisaperennialproblem.Thequestion,however,isthis:WhatsignificancedidJesus’swarninghaveforandtohisimmediatehearers?ItisonethingforustoaskhowJesus’steachingappliestous;itisquiteanothertoaskwhatitmeantinitsoriginalcontext.WemustkeepinmindthatJesuswasansweringquestionsposedbyhisdisciples,questionsaboutwhenhispreviousutteranceswouldbefulfilled.Hiswordsweredirectedtothem.“Takeheed,”hesaid,“thatnoonedeceivesyou.”Hetoldhisdisciplesthattheywouldhearofwarsandrumorsofwars,andsoforth.ThecalamitiesJesusenumerates,includingfamines,pestilences,earthquakes,

andwars,aredescribedas“thebeginningofsorrows.”Immediatelyfollowing

thishesaidthatthedisciples(you)wouldbedelivereduptoaffliction,tobehatedandkilled.AgainthepreteristviewofRusselllinksthesecalamitiestoeventsthatactuallytookplaceintheinterimbetweenChrist’sresurrectionandJerusalem’sdestruction.

...InAlexandria,inSeleucia,inSyria,inBabylonia,therewereviolenttumultsbetweentheJewsandtheGreeks,theJewsandtheSyrians,inhabitingthesamecities....InthereignofCaligulagreatapprehensionswereentertainedinJudeaofwarwiththeRomans,inconsequenceofthattyrant’sproposaltoplacehisstatueinthetemple.InthereignoftheEmperorClaudius(AD41–54),therewerefourseasonsofgreatscarcity.Inthefourthyearofhisreign,thefamineinJudeawassosevere,thatthepriceoffoodbecameenormousandgreatnumbersperished.EarthquakesoccurredineachofthereignsofCaligulaandClaudius.Suchcalamities,theLordgavehisdisciplestounderstand,wouldprecedethe“end.”Buttheywere

notitsimmediateantecedents.Theywerethe“beginningoftheend”;but“theendisnotyet.”8

Jesusdescribedtheseeventsas“thebeginningofsufferings.”W.F.AlbrightandC.S.Manncommentonthisphrase:“Literally,the‘beginningsofbirth-pains,’analmosttechnicaltermforthesufferingswhichwouldimmediatelyprecedeanewage....TheageoftheMessiah’sreign,seeninthecontextoftheupheavalswhichsurroundedthespreadofthecommunity,wascertainlyusheredinwithmuchsuffering.”9InsimilarfashionWilliamL.Lanenotes:“ToexpressthisfactJesususeda

phrasewhichbecametechnicalinrabbinicliteraturetodescribetheperiodofintensesufferingprecedingmessianicdeliverance,‘thebirthpangs(oftheMessiah).’IntheOldTestamentthepangsofbirtharearecurringimageofdivinejudgment....”10Theyarementionedinthecontextofhisanswertothedisciples’question

concerningwhenJesus’sprophecieswouldbefulfilled.Russellarguescorrectlythattheseareprecursorsoffulfillment,thingsthatwillhappenbeforeJesus’swordsarefulfilled.IfthisprophecyincludesthepredictionofJerusalem’sdestruction,thenthenaturalmeaningofhiswordsisthatthesethingsmusttakeplacebeforeJerusalemandthetemplearedestroyed.PerhapsthemostcrucialquestionregardingJesus’swordsisthis:Whatdoes

Jesusmeanbytheend?Theendofwhat?IsJesusspeakingoftheendofthetemple?Theendoftheworld?Theendoftheage?Ishespeakingoftheendofoneofthesethings?Someofthesethings?Orallthethingsincorporatedinhisprophecy?

AWitnesstoAllNationsMatthewthenreportsmoreofthediscourse:“Andthisgospelofthekingdomwillbepreached

inalltheworldasawitnesstoallthenations,andthentheendwillcome”(Matt.24:14).

Jesuscitesanotherphenomenonthatmusttakeplacebefore“theend”comes:Thegospelwillbepreachedinalltheworld.This“sign”iswidelyregardedtodayasbeingunfulfilled,asthereremainremotetribesandpeopleswhohavenotyetheardthegospel.Russellargues,however,thatthisprecursortotheendwasalready

accomplishedinapostolictimes:“Oneother‘sign’wastoprecedeandusherintheconsummation,”writesRussell.‘Thegospelofthekingdomshallbepreachedinalltheworld(oikoumenē)forawitnessuntoallnations:andthenshalltheendcome.’Wehavealreadyadverted[oralluded]tothefulfillmentofthispredictionwithintheapostolicage.WehavetheauthorityofSt.PaulforsuchauniversaldiffusionofthegospelinhisdaysastoverifythesayingofourLord.(SeeCol.1:6,23.)ButforthisexplicittestimonyfromanapostleitwouldhavebeenimpossibletopersuadesomeexpositorsthatourLord’swordshadbeeninanysensefulfilledprevioustothedestructionofJerusalem.”11Thepassageinquestionreadsasfollows:“[Thegospel]hascometoyou,asit

hasalsoinalltheworld,andisbringingforthfruit,asitisalsoamongyousincethedayyouheardandknewthegraceofGodintruth...ifindeedyoucontinueinthefaith,groundedandsteadfast,andarenotmovedawayfromthehopeofthegospelwhichyouheard,whichwaspreachedtoeverycreatureunderheaven,ofwhichI,Paul,becameaminister”(Col.1:6,23).RusselllinksthisstatementwithJesus’searlierprediction:Hereitmaybe

propertocalltomindthenoteoftime,givenonapreviousoccasiontothedisciplesasindicativeofourLord’scoming:“VerilyIsayuntoyou,YeshallnothavegoneoverthecitiesofIsrael,tilltheSonofmanbecome”(Matt.10:23).Comparingthisdeclarationwiththepredictionbeforeus(Matt.24:14),wemayseetheperfectconsistencyofthetwostatements,andalsothe“terminusadquem”inboth.IntheonecaseitistheevangelisationofthelandofIsrael,intheother,theevangelisationoftheRomanempirethatisreferredtoastheprecursoroftheParousia.Bothstatementsaretrue....Thewidediffusionofthegospel,bothinthelandofIsraelandthroughouttheRomanempire,issufficienttojustifythepredictionofourLord.12

ThoughRusselllinksthiscomingoftheSonofManwiththeparousia,otherscholars,suchasAlbrightandMann,seeitasbeingfulfilledwiththeresurrectionofChrist,divorcingitfromthesecondcoming,orparousia,ofJesus.

TheAbominationofDesolationThefollowingsectionoftheOlivetDiscourseconcernsthemanifestationoftheabominationofdesolation:“Thereforewhenyouseethe‘abominationofdesolation,’spokenofbyDanieltheprophet,standingintheholyplace”(whoeverreads,lethimunderstand),“thenletthosewhoareinJudeafleetothemountains.Lethimwhoisonthehousetopnotcomedowntotakeanythingoutofhishouse.Andlethimwhoisinthefieldnotgobacktogethisclothes.Butwoetothosewhoarepregnantandtothosewithnursingbabiesinthosedays!AndpraythatyourflightmaynotbeinwinterorontheSabbath.Forthentherewillbegreattribulation,suchashasnotbeensincethebeginningoftheworlduntilthistime,no,norevershallbe.Andunlessthosedayswereshortened,nofleshwouldbesaved;butfortheelect’ssakethosedayswillbeshortened”(Matt.24:15–22).

Thissegmentofthediscourseiswidelyunderstoodtodaytorefertoaneventthathasnotyettranspired,aneventpopularlydescribedasthegreattribulation.Ithasgivenrisetoamultitudeofinterpretations,particularlywithindispensationaltheologyregardingthetimeoftherapture,whetheritisbeforethetribulation,inthemiddleofit,orafterit.Wewillexaminethequestionoftherapturelater.Forthepresentwemerelynoteinpassingthatahostofcontroversialeschatologicaltheoriescomeintoplaywithrespecttothistext.Thepreteristviewincludesthetribulationandtheabominationofdesolation

withsignsthattakeplacepriortothedestructionofJerusalem.“NoargumentisrequiredtoprovethestrictandexclusivereferenceofthissectiontoJerusalemandJudea,”Russellcontends.“Herewecandetectnotraceofadoublemeaning,ofprimaryandulteriorfulfillments,ofunderlyingandtypicalsenses.Everythingisnational,local,andnear:‘theland’isthelandofJudea—‘thispeople’isthepeopleofIsrael—andthe‘time’thelifetimeofthedisciples—‘WhenYEthereforeshallsee.’”13Russellgoesontoargueforafirst-centuryfulfillmentofthisprophecy:“Most

expositorsfindanallusiontothestandardsoftheRomanlegionsintheexpression,‘theabominationofdesolation,’andtheexplanationishighlyprobable.Theeaglesweretheobjectsofreligiousworshiptothesoldiers;and

theparallelpassageinSt.Lukeisallbutconclusiveevidencethatthisisthetruemeaning.WeknowfromJosephusthattheattemptofaRomangeneral(Vitellius),inthereignofTiberius,tomarchhistroopsthroughJudeawasresistedbytheJewishauthorities,onthegroundthattheidolatrousimagesontheirensignswouldbeaprofanationofthelaw.”14AlbrightandMannprovidethefollowingnotetothetextofMatthew24:15:

Matthew’straditionheremakesexplicitwhatisonlyhintedatinMark,whodoesnotmentionthepropheticoracle.Inaddition,Matthewspeaksoftheholyplaceandsoemphaticallyreferstothetemple.ThequotationisfromDaniel9:27.Cf.theidolaltarof1Maccabees1:54,59.WiththeexampleofAntiochusEpiphanesinmind,JesusrequiredneitherpresciencenorunusualinsighttoseewheretheriseofnationalismunderRomanoccupationwouldlead.Whethertheabominablesacrilegereferstoactualidolatry,ortotheentranceofRomanimperial-eaglestandardsintothetemplearea,isimmaterial.Itwascommonpracticethenandforlongcenturiesbefore,toassertsovereigntyoveranationbydethroningitsgodsandreplacingthembythoseoftheconqueror.15

JohnCalvinwritesconcerningthispassage:BecausethedestructionofthetempleandcityofJerusalem,togetherwiththeoverthrowofthewholeJewishgovernment,was(aswehavealreadysaid)athingincredible,andbecauseitmightbethoughtstrange,thatthedisciplescouldnotbesavedwithoutbeingtornfromthatnation,towhichhadbeencommittedtheadoptionandthecovenant(Rom.9:4)ofeternalsalvation,ChristconfirmsbothbythetestimonyofDaniel.Asifhehadsaid,ThatyoumaynotbetoostronglyattachedtothetempleandtotheceremoniesoftheLaw,Godhaslimitedthemtoafixedtime,andhaslongagodeclared,thatwhentheRedeemershouldcome,sacrificeswouldcease;andthatitmaynotgiveyouuneasinesstobecutofffromyourownnation,Godhasalsoforewarnedhispeople,thatinduetimeitwouldberejected.16

RussellthencommentsonthefollowingportionofMatthew’stext:“Thenifanyonesaystoyou,‘Look,hereistheChrist!’or‘There!’donotbelieveit.Forfalsechristsandfalseprophetswillariseandshowgreatsignsandwonders,soastodeceive,ifpossible,eventheelect.See,Ihavetoldyoubeforehand.Thereforeiftheysaytoyou,‘Look,heisinthedesert!’donotgoout;or‘Look,heisintheinnerrooms!’donotbelieveit.Forasthelightningcomesfromtheeastandflashestothewest,soalsowillthecomingoftheSonofManbe.Forwhereverthecarcassis,theretheeagleswillbegatheredtogether”(Matt.24:23–28).

Russellmaintainsthatthetextfollowsinunbrokencontinuityfromwhathasprecededit.

Theveryfirstwordisindicativeofcontinuity—“Then”[tote];andeverysucceedingwordisplainlyaddressedtothedisciplesthemselves,fortheirpersonalwarningandguidance.ItisclearthatourLordgivesthemintimationofwhatwouldshortlycometopass,oratleastwhattheymightlivetowitnesswiththeirowneyes.ItisavividrepresentationofwhatactuallyoccurredinthelastdaysoftheJewishcommonwealth....TheJewishhistorian[Josephus]states:“Ofsogreatamultitude,notoneescaped.Theirdestructionwascausedbyafalseprophet,whohadonthatdayproclaimedtothoseremaininginthecity,that‘Godcommandedthemtogouptothetemple,theretoreceivethesignsoftheirdeliverance.’”17

RussellarguesthatthecarcasswheretheeagleswillbegatheredreferstotheguiltyanddevotedchildrenofIsraelwhowillbedestroyedbytheRomanlegions.ThecarcassisIsrael,andtheeaglesareRome.

TheAppearingoftheSonCrucialtoRussell’sviewisthelinkbetweenMatthew24:28andthefollowingversesthatdescribethesignsoftheappearingoftheSonofManincloudsofglory:Immediatelyafterthetribulationofthosedaysthesunwillbedarkened,andthemoonwillnotgiveitslight;thestarswillfallfromheaven,andthepowersoftheheavenswillbeshaken.ThenthesignoftheSonofManwillappearinheaven,andthenallthetribesoftheearthwillmourn,andtheywillseetheSonofMancomingonthecloudsofheavenwithpowerandgreatglory.Andhewillsendhisangelswithagreatsoundofatrumpet,andtheywillgathertogetherhiselectfromthefourwinds,fromoneendofheaventotheother(Matt.24:29–31).

Thispassagedescribestheparousiainvividandgraphicimagesofastronomicalperturbations.Itspeaksofsignsintheskythatwillbevisibleandthesoundofatrumpetthatwillbeaudible.PerhapsnoportionoftheOlivetDiscourseprovidesmoredifficultiestothepreteristviewthanthisone.ThisportionleadsmanyinterpreterstoseeaclearhistoricaldivisionbetweenreferencestothedestructionofJerusalemandreferencestotheparousiaofChrist.TheseinterpretersgrantthatthedestructionofthetempleandJerusalemtookplacewithinthetime-frameofonegeneration,butinsistthatChristhasyet

toappearincloudsofglory.Thisistrueofinterpretersfromboththeliberalandtheconservativeendsofthetheologicalspectrum.ForthepreterismofRussellandotherstowork,theymustgiveacredibleexplanationforhowtheseversesfitintothetime-frameofthefirstcentury.BecauseMatthew24:29–31beginswiththeadverbimmediately,Russell

insiststhatthislinksthetribulation(inMatt.24:15–22)toanear-at-handmanifestationofChristinglory.Russellseesnopossibilityofanygreatintervaloftimebetweenthesetwoevents.Toarguethatthesecondeventoccurredinthefirstcentury,RussellmustdemonstratethatthetribulationreferstothecalamitysufferedbytheJewsduringthedestructionofJerusalem.Russellsays:

Butthesceneofthe“greattribulation”isundeniablyJerusalemandJudea(vv.15,16);sothatnobreakinthesubjectofthediscourseisallowable.Again,inv.30,wereadthat“allthetribesoftheland[pasaihaiphulaitēsgēs]shallmourn,”referringevidentlytothepopulationofthelandofJudea;andnothingcanbemoreforcedandunnaturalthantomakeitinclude,as[JohnPeter]Langedoes,“alltheracesandpeoples”oftheglobe.Therestrictedsenseofthewordgē[=land]intheNewTestamentiscommon;andwhenconnected,asitishere,withtheword“tribes”[phulai],itslimitationtothelandofIsraelisobvious.ThisistheviewadoptedbyDr.[George]CampbellandMosesStuart,anditisindeedself-evident.18

Manycommentatorsstronglydisagreewiththisassessmentofthetext.Tothemthemeaningofthereferenceisnotsoself-evident.Calvin,forexample,saidthat“thetribulationofthosedaysisimproperlyinterpretedbysomecommentatorstomeanthedestructionofJerusalem.”19Others,suchasA.W.Argyle,seetheconnectionbetweenthistextandthetextofZechariah12:10butgiveitawidermeaningthanthetribesofIsrael.20Thegraphicimageryoftheeventsaccompanyingtheparousiafunctionasthe

chiefreasonwhymany,ifnotmost,commentatorsviewthissegmentofthediscourseasbeingnotyetfulfilled.Russellwaswellawareofthis.

But,itisanswered,thecharacterofourLord’slanguageinthispassagenecessitatesitsapplicationtoagrandandawfulcatastrophewhichisstillfuture,andcanbeproperlyunderstoodofnothinglessthanthetotaldissolutionofthefabricoftheuniverse,andtheendofallthings.Howcananyonepretend,itissaid,thatthesunhasbeendarkened,thatthemoonhaswithdrawnherlight,thatthestarshavefallenfromheaven,thattheSonofmanhasbeenseencominginthecloudsofheavenwithpowerandgreatglory?DidsuchphenomenaoccuratthedestructionofJerusalem,orcantheyapplytoanythingelsethanthefinalconsummationofallthings?21

ThequestionsRussellanticipatesareexacerbatedwhenoneconsidersotherNewTestamenttextsthatrefertotheparousiaofChrist.OnesuchtextisfoundinthebookofActs:“Nowwhenhehadspokenthesethings,whiletheywatched,hewastakenup,andacloudreceivedhimoutoftheirsight.Andwhilethey

lookedsteadfastlytowardheavenashewentup,behold,twomenstoodbytheminwhiteapparel,whoalsosaid,‘MenofGalilee,whydoyoustandgazingupintoheaven?ThissameJesus,whowastakenupfromyouintoheaven,willsocomeinlikemannerasyousawhimgointoheaven’”(Acts1:9–11).Luke’srecordoftheascensionofChristmakesitclearthatforthedisciples

presentitwasavisualexperience.TheywatchedChristashewastakenupinthecloud.Theyremainedtransfixedbythesight,gazingupintoheaven.Whentheangelsappeared,theydeclaredthatJesuswouldcomeinlikemannerashehaddepartedfromthem.Thiswouldseemtoindicatethat,ifhisdepartureintheglorycloudwasvisible,thenhisreturnintheglorycloudwouldalsobevisible.Christ’sascensioncannotberegardedasaspiritualormysticalvisionwithoutdoingradicalviolencetothetext.Russellrespondsbyappealingtotheliterarynatureofprophecy.

...Symbolandmetaphorbelongtothegrammarofprophecy,aseveryreaderoftheOldTestamentprophetsmustknow.IsitnotreasonablethatthedoomofJerusalemshouldbedepictedinlanguageasglowingandrhetoricalasthedestructionofBabylon,orBozrah,orTyre?HowthendoestheprophetIsaiahdescribethedownfallofBabylon?“BeholdthedayoftheLordcometh,cruelbothwithwrathandfierceanger,tolaythelanddesolate:

andheshalldestroythesinnersthereofoutofit.Forthestarsofheavenandtheconstellationsthereofshallnotgivetheirlight:thesunshallbedarkenedinhisgoingforth,andthemoonshallnotcauseherlighttoshine....Iwillshaketheheavens,andtheearthshallremoveoutofherplace”(Isa.13:9,10,13).22

TheimageryemployedbyIsaiahisstrikinginitsparalleltothatofthelanguageusedbyJesusintheOlivetDiscourse.ThisisoneofthestrongestpointsofRussell’sargument.HecontinuesbycitingotherOldTestamentpassagesthatemploythesametypeofimagery:...TheprophetIsaiahannouncesthedesolationofBozrah,thecapitalofEdom,inthefollowinglanguage:“Themountainsshallbemeltedwiththebloodoftheslain....Allthehostofheavenshallbedissolved,andtheheavensshallberolledtogetherasascroll:andalltheirhostshallfalldown,astheleaffallethofffromthevine,andasafallingfigfromthefig-tree.Formyswordshallbebathedinheaven:beholditshallcomedownuponIdumea...”(Isa.34:3–5).

HereagainwehavetheveryimageryusedbyourLordinhispropheticdiscourse;andifthefateofBozrahmightproperlybedescribedinlanguagesolofty,whyshoulditbethoughtextravaganttoemploysimilartermsindescribingthefateofJerusalem?23

AtthispointwecannotaccuseRussellofdeviatingfromtheclassicalReformedhermeneuticthatrequiresustointerpretScripturebyScripture.Thisisaclearapplicationoftheanalogyoffaith.

ThoughCalvindoesnotapplythisimagerytothefallofJerusalem,hedoesacknowledgethatthislanguageispoetic:Inwhatmannerthesunwillbedarkenedwecannotnowconjecture,buttheeventwillshow.Hedoesnotindeedmeanthatthestarswillactuallyfall,butaccordingtotheapprehensionofmen;andaccordinglyLukeonlypredictsthattherewillbeSIGNSinthesun,andinthemoon,andinthestars.Themeaningthereforeis,thattherewillbesuchaviolentcommotionofthefirmamentofheaven,thatthestarsthemselveswillbesupposedtofall.Lukealsoaddsthattherewillbeadreadfulcommotionofthesea,theseaandthewavesroaring,sothatmenwillfaintthroughfearandalarm.Inaword,allthecreaturesaboveandbelowwillbe,asitwere,heraldstosummonmentothattribunal,whichtheywillcontinuetotreatwithungodlyandwantoncontempttillthelastday.24

RussellandCalvinagreethatthelanguageemployedinbiblicalprophecyisnotalwayscoldandlogicalasiscommonintheWesternworld,butadoptsakindoffervorcommontotheEast.ScripturecommonlydescribesthevisitationofGod’sjudgmentwithimagesofconvulsionandcataclysms.“Theconclusionthentowhichweareirresistiblyled,”Russelladds,“is,thattheimageryemployedbyourLordinthispropheticdiscourseisnotinappropriatetothedissolutionoftheJewishstateandpolitywhichtookplaceatthedestructionofJerusalem.Itisappropriate,bothasitisinkeepingwiththeacknowledgedstyleoftheancientprophets,andalsobecausethemoralgrandeuroftheeventissuchastojustifytheuseofsuchlanguageinthisparticularcase.”25ItremainstobeseenhowRusselldealswiththetextinActs,thelanguageof

whichisnotsosteepedinsuchcataclysmicterms.“Theexpression‘inlikemanner’mustnotbepressedtoofar,”writesRussell.“ThereareobviouspointsofdifferencebetweenthemanneroftheAscensionandtheParousia.Hedepartedalone,andwithoutvisiblesplendour;hewastoreturninglorywithhisangels.Thewords,however,implythathiscomingwastobevisibleandpersonal,whichwouldexcludetheinterpretationwhichregardsitasprovidential,orspiritual.ThevisibilityoftheParousiaissupportedbytheuniformteachingoftheapostlesandthebeliefoftheearlyChristians:‘Everyeyeshallseehim’”(Rev.1:7).26Russell’streatmentofthistextissomewhatterseandlessthansatisfying.

Thoughhedoesnotwishtopushthetexttoofar,itseemstomehehardlypushesitatall.HesaysJesusdeparted“withoutvisiblesplendor.”Whatwerethedisciplesgazingat?ThatJesusascendedinacloudsuggeststhepresenceoftheShekina,whichismanifestgloryandsplendor.RussellarguesthatJesus’sreturnwouldbewithgloryandwithhisangelsandthatthiswouldbenotably

differentfromhisascension.YetJesus’sascensionwasattendedbybothgloryandangels.Russellacknowledgesthatintherecordoftheascensionthereisnoreference

tothetimeofJesus’sreturn.ButhecontendsthatsincetheannouncementofJesus’sreturnwasmadetothedisciples,theycouldreasonablyassumethathewouldreturntotheminthisworldandthattheywouldseehimina“littlewhile.”RussellbelievesthisiswhythedisciplesreturnedtoJerusalemingreatjoydespitethefactthatJesushadjustbeentakenfromtheirmidst.

TheParableoftheFigTreeTheOlivetDiscoursecontinueswiththeparableofthefigtree:“Nowlearnthisparablefromthefigtree:Whenitsbranchhasalreadybecometenderandputsforthleaves,youknowthatsummerisnear.Soyoualso,whenyouseeallthesethings,knowthatitisnear,attheverydoors”(Matt.24:32–33).

Beforeutteringthemostcontroversialportionofthediscourse,thereferencetothepresentgenerationthatwillnotpassaway,Jesusgivesthebriefparableofthefigtree.Russellbelievesthisparablefunctionsasaprefatorystatementtothereferenceto“thisgeneration.”

But,asiftoprecludeeventhepossibilityofmisconceptionormistake,ourLordinthenextparagraphdrawsaroundhisprophecyalinesoplainandpalpable,shuttingitwhollywithinalimitsodefiniteanddistinct,thatitoughttobedecisiveofthewholequestion....Wordshavenomeaningifthislanguage,utteredonsosolemnanoccasion,andsopreciseand

expressinitsimport,doesnotaffirmthenearapproachofthegreateventwhichoccupiesthewholediscourseofourLord.Firsttheparableofthefig-treeintimatesthatasthebudsonthetreesbetokenthenearapproachofsummer,sothesignswhichhehadjustspecifiedwouldbetokenthatthepredictedconsummationwasathand.They,thedisciplestowhomhewasspeaking,weretoseethem,andwhentheysawthemtorecognisethattheendwas“near,evenatthedoors.”27

GaryDeMarnotesthatsomeinterpretersofthisparable,mostnotablyDispensationalists,thinkitpointsforwardtotheJewsreturningtoPalestineandbecominganationagain.Hedisagrees,pointingoutthatthereisnomentionintheentireNewTestamentofIsrael’sbecominganationagain.HeagreeswithRussellthattheparableislinkedtothefollowingpassage,thatJesuswouldcomewithinagenerationtodestroythetempleandJerusalem.28ThoughwehavenotyetreachedtheendoftheOlivetDiscourse,Iwill

concludethischapteratthisjuncturesowemayexploremorefullyinthenext

chapterthemeaningofJesus’sstatementthat“thisgenerationshallnotpassaway”(Matt.24:34).WecansummarizethepositionofRussellandmoderatepreterismtothispointasfollows:

1. TheOlivetDiscoursecontainsacontinuousandhomogeneousprophecyregardingthecomingdestructionofJerusalemandthetemple,andtheparousiaofChrist.

2. Severalsignswillportendtheseevents:theappearanceoffalsechristsandfalseprophets,greatsocialdisturbances,naturalcalamitiesandconvulsions,thepersecutionoftheapostles,theapostasyofprofessedbelievers,andthepublicationofthegospelthroughouttheRomanEmpire.

3. ThegreattribulationreferstothesiegeofJerusalem.4. TheOlivetDiscourseisnotabouttheendoftheworldbutaboutthe

endofadefinitetimeperiod,the“ageoftheJews”ortheJewishdispensation.

5. ThegraphiclanguageusedbyJesustodescribetheattendingeventsismetaphoricalandconsistentwiththepoetryoffervorusedbyOldTestamentprophets.

2WHAT“GENERATION”WILLWITNESS

THEEND?

Thisgenerationwillbynomeanspassawaytillallthesethingsarefulfilled.

Matthew24:34

AsImentionedintheintroduction,theskepticismofBertrandRussellandthe“consistenteschatology”ofJohannesWeissandAlbertSchweitzeraredirectlytiedtothetime-framereferenceoftheOlivetDiscourse.Thecrisisof“parousia-delay”eschatologyhasbeenfosteredinlargemeasurebythisproblem.Perhapsnootherproblemhasspurredtherevivalofdifferentstrandsofpreterismandrealizedeschatologymorethanhasthisone.TheOlivetDiscourseincludesthefollowing:...Assuredly,Isaytoyou,this

generationwillbynomeanspassawaytillallthesethingsarefulfilled.Heavenandearthwillpassaway,butMywordswillbynomeanspassaway.

Butofthatdayandhournooneknows,no,noteventheangelsofheaven,butMyFatheronly.ButasthedaysofNoahwere,soalsowillthecomingoftheSonofManbe.Forasinthedaysbeforetheflood,theywereeatinganddrinking,marryingandgivinginmarriage,untilthedaythatNoahenteredtheark,anddidnotknowuntilthefloodcameandtookthemallaway,soalsowillthecomingoftheSonofManbe...(Matt.24:34–39).

BeforeweexaminethepreteristviewofthisportionoftheOlivetDiscourse,wewillmakeareconnaissanceofvariousinterpretationsofthetime-framereferenceregarding“thisgeneration.”DavidHillcommentsonverse34:Thisverserecalls16:28,andaffirmsthat

someofthediscipleswouldlivetoseetheParousia.Thiswouldpresupposea

relativelyearlydatefortheevent,whereasv.36defiesallattemptstogiveaprecisechronology.

WasJesusinerrorinhispredictionofthenearnessoftheEnd,ifthissayingisregardedasauthentic?Attemptstoexplainthisdifficultyincludethearguments:(a)thatthereferenceisnottotheEnd,buttotheFallofJerusalem.Butarenottheaccompanyingwordsin35–36toosolemntorefersimplytosomespecifichistoricalevent?(b)that“thisgeneration”indicates“thepeopleofGod”whichwillsurvivetilltheendoftime.Itisprobablethatwehavehereanexampleofthat“shorteningofhistoricalperspective”whichissofrequentintheprophets.1

ItisinterestingthatHillseesverses35–36asbasicallyrulingouttheideathatthispassagereferstoJerusalem’sdestruction.Becausethedayandhourarenotknowndoesnotprecludetheapplicationofatime-frameaslengthyasahumangeneration.Someone,forexample,couldpredictthataneventwilltakeplaceinthenextfortyyears,andthenqualifythepredictionbysaying“Idon’tknowtheparticulardayorhour”withinthatspanoftime.Hill’sappealtothephenomenonofhistorical-perspectiveforeshorteningislikewiseproblematicwhenwerememberthatJesuswasansweringadirectquestionfromhisdisciplesregardingthe“when”ofhisprophecy.Thephrase“thisgenerationwillbynomeanspassaway”(Matt.24:34)is

repeatedinalmostidenticallanguageintheaccountsofMarkandLuke(seeappendix2).FirstwenoticethatJesusmadethisstatementtohisdiscipleswhowerealiveandpresentwithhimatthetime.TheyweretheprimaryaudienceJesuswasaddressing.IndeedsubsequentgenerationsofChristiansareincludedbywayofextensionintheaudienceofallofJesus’swords.Butitisdangerouseithertoexcludefromconsiderationtheoriginalaudienceortorelegatethemtoalevelofsecondaryimportance.J.StuartRussellarguesthat99personsinevery100wouldimmediately

understandJesustomeanthattheeventshewaspredictingwouldfallwithinthelimitsofthelifetimeofanexistinggeneration.Thismeans,notthateverypersonpresentwillnecessarilybealiveatthetimeofthefulfillment,butthatmanyorevenmostwillbe.

AnotherPredictionbyJesusThisimmediatelycallsattentiontoanotherofJesus’stime-framereferencesintheGospels:“FortheSonofManwillcomeinthegloryofhisFatherwithhisangels,andthenhewillrewardeachaccordingtohisworks.Assuredly,Isaytoyou,therearesomestandinghere

whoshallnottastedeathtilltheyseetheSonofMancominginhiskingdom”(Matt.16:27–28).

MatthewdeclaresthatsomewhowereinChrist’simmediatepresenceashewasspeaking(“somestandinghere”)wouldnot“tastedeath”beforetheywould“seetheSonofMancominginhiskingdom.”ThetermcomingthatappearsintheGreektextofMatthew16:28isnotthewordparousia.Nevertheless,Jesusdoesspeakofa“coming”oftheSonofMan.Theexpression“shallnottastedeath”clearlyreferstodying,sowemayrenderthetexttomeanthatsomewhowerehearingJesus’swordsonthisoccasionwouldnotdiebeforewitnessingsomekindofcomingofJesus.MatthewspeaksofthecomingofChrist“inhiskingdom.”Markspeaksof

theirseeingthekingdomofGodcome“withpower”(9:1),andLukesimplysaysthattheywillseethekingdomofGod(9:27).

TwoPredictionsbyJesus

Matthew16:28TherearesomestandingherewhoshallnottastedeathtilltheyseetheSonofMancominginhis

kingdom.

Matthew24:34Thisgenerationwillbynomeanspassawaytillallthesethingsarefulfilled.

Thequestionthen,withrespecttothesetexts,isthis:Whatwillthedisciplesobservebeforeallofthemdie?TheSynopticGospelslinkthiscomingoftheSonofManwithsomemanifestationofthekingdomofGod.Manycommentatorsseethismanifestationinvariouscriticalmomentsofredemptivehistory,suchasChrist’sresurrection,hisascension,orPentecost,allofwhichprovidesomeoutwardmanifestationofthekinglygloryofChrist.Manyspecifythetransfiguration,wherethecominggloryofJesusismademanifesttemporarily.WilliamL.Laneremarks:“Thetransfigurationwasamomentary,butreal

(andwitnessed)manifestationofJesus’ssovereignpowerwhichpointedbeyonditselftotheparousia,whenhewillcomewith‘powerandglory’(Mark13:26).ThefulfillmentofJesus’spromiseashorttimeafterthetransfiguration(Mark9:2)providedencouragementtotheharassedChristiansinRomeandelsewhere

thattheircommitmenttoJesusandthegospelwasvalid.”LanecitesJ.Schiersetoconfirmthelinkbetweenthetransfigurationandtheparousia.Thetwoeventsarebynomeansidentical,buttheformerbearswitnesstothelatter.2Thateventslikethetransfigurationandresurrectionaremanifestationsofthe

comingofGod’skingdomishardlyindisputeamongmostNewTestamentscholars.Theonlyproblemwiththislinkageisthetime-framereference.Inthiscase,however,itisnotthatthetime-frameistooremoteortemporallydisconnectedfromtheprediction.Ratheritisthatthetime-framereferenceistoonear.InMark’sGospeltheaccountofthetransfigurationissetintheverynextverse,andthisversebeginswithaspecifictimereference:“Aftersixdays...”(9:2).IfJesus’spredictiontothedisciplesisfulfilledwithinoneweek(orafewweeks,ifthepredictionreferstotheresurrection,ascension,orPentecost),whywouldhespecifythattheseeventswilloccurbefore“some[ofthem]standinghere...will...tastedeath”[9:1]?ItseemsstrangethatJesuswouldsay,“Someofyouwillnotdiethisweek.”OnecouldconceivablyarguethatJesusdidnotknowthis“coming”would

occursorapidly,thatheknewonlythatitwouldoccurbeforeallofhisdisciplesdied.Heobviouslyhadsomeideaofthetimespaninwhichhispredictionwouldbefulfilled.Thatmustbethecasetowarranthissayingthatitwouldoccurbeforeallofhisdisciplesdied.Butifthepredictioncametopassinjustsixdays,thiswouldindicateonJesus’spartaradicalmisconceptionoftheamountoftimethatwouldelapsebeforetheprophecywasfulfilled.ThisdoesnotmeanthatLane’sandothers’interpretationthatthisprophecyreferstothetransfigurationisimpossible.Itdoessuggest,however,thatitisunlikely.IfJesushadinviewthedestructionofJerusalem,itwouldmakemoresenseforhimtolocatethetime-framewithinaperiodofseveralyearsthanwithinafewdaysorafewweeks.Thetime-frameindicatedbythereferencetosomesurvivingdeathstronglysuggeststhattherewouldbeaninterludeofseveralyearsbetweentheprophecyanditsfulfillment.Theimportanceofthisconsiderationisitsrelationshiptoourunderstandingof

thedisputedtime-framereferenceintheOlivetDiscourse(Matt.24:34)regardingthepassingofageneration.IfJesushadinmindatime-frameofroughlyfortyyears,itcouldalsobesaidthatduringthistime-framesomeofhisdiscipleswouldnottastedeath.IftheOlivetDiscourserefersprimarilytoeventssurroundingthedestructionofJerusalemandifthewordgenerationreferstoaforty-yearperiod,thenitispossible,ifnotprobable,thatJesus’sreferencetohiscominginMatthew16:28referstothesameevents,nottothetransfigurationorotherclose-at-handevents.

WithrespecttoJesus’sremarksinMatthew16,J.StuartRusselltakesastrongposition:Thisremarkabledeclarationisofthegreatestimportanceinthisdiscussion,andmayberegardedasthekeytotherightinterpretationoftheNewTestamentdoctrineoftheParousia.Thoughitcannotbesaidthatthereareanyspecialdifficultiesinthelanguage,ithasgreatlyperplexedthecommentators,whoaremuchdividedintheirexplanations.ItissurelyunnecessarytoaskwhatisthecomingoftheSonofmanherepredicted.TosupposethatitrefersmerelytothegloriousmanifestationofJesusonthemountoftransfiguration,thoughanhypothesiswhichhasgreatnamestosupportit,issopalpablyinadequateasaninterpretationthatitscarcelyrequiresrefutation....

ItisenoughtosaythatsuchaninterpretationofourSaviour’swordscouldneverhaveenteredintothemindsofthosewhoheardthem....HowcouldtheresurrectionofChristbecalled—HiscominginthegloryofhisFather,withtheholyangels,inhiskingdom,andtojudgment?3

RussellalsoarguesthatJesus’smannerofspeakingwouldbettersuitanintervalofthirtyorfortyyears,atime-frameinwhichitwouldbereasonabletoexpectthatsomeofthosepresentwoulddie,butnotall.RussellalsoseesalinktoJesus’sstatementinMatthew10:“Butwhentheypersecuteyouinthiscity,fleetoanother.Forassuredly,Isaytoyou,youwillnothavegonethroughthecitiesofIsraelbeforetheSonofMancomes”(Matt.10:23).“Inthispassage,”writesRussell,“wefindtheearliestdistinctmentionofthat

greateventwhichweshallfindsofrequentlyalludedtohenceforthbyourLordandhisapostles,viz.,hiscomingagain,ortheParousia....Whocandoubtthat‘thecomingoftheSonofman’ishere,whatitiseverywhereelse,theformulabywhichtheParousia,thesecondcomingofChrist,isexpressed?Thisphrasehasadefiniteandconsistentsignification,asmuchashiscrucifixion,orhisresurrection,andadmitsofnootherinterpretationinthisplace.”4Again,ifRusselliscorrectinconcludingthatthecomingreferredtointhis

textistheparousiaofChrist,thentheprimarytime-framefortheparousiamustberestrictedtoaforty-yearperiod.ItsurelydidnottakethedisciplesmuchmorethanfortyyearstocovertheboundariesofPalestinewiththegospelmessage.

TheMeaningof“ThisGeneration”

Thetextswehaveexaminedarerelevanttothecentralquestionwearefacing:Whatismeantbythephrase“thisgenerationwillnotpassaway”intheOlivetDiscourse?Russellarguesthatitsprimafaciemeaningcanonlybeaperiodnolongerthanthelifespanofageneration,whichisthirtytofortyyears.Hesays:Far,however,fromacceptingthisdecisionofourLordasfinal,the

commentatorshaveviolentlyresistedthatwhichseemsthenaturalandcommon-sensemeaningofhiswords.Theyhaveinsistedthatbecausetheeventspredicteddidnotsocometopassinthatgeneration,thereforethewordgeneration(genea)cannotpossiblymean,whatitisusuallyunderstoodtomean,thepeopleofthatparticularageorperiod,thecontemporariesofourLord.Toaffirmthatthesethingsdidnotcometopassistobegthequestion,andsomethingmore.Butwesubmitthatitisthebusinessofgrammariansnottobeapprehensiveofpossibleconsequences,buttosettlethetruemeaningofwords.OurLord’spredictionsmaybesafelylefttotakecareofthemselves;itisforustotrytounderstandthem.5

GaryDeMartakesasimilartackwithrespecttothemeaningofthephrase“thisgeneration”:“ThefuturistinterpretersofMatthew24assertthat‘thisgeneration’doesnotmeanthegenerationtowhomJesuswasspeaking.Rather,itreferstoadistantgenerationaliveatthetimewhentheseeventswilltakeplace.”6IthinkDeMarcommitsabasicerroratthispoint.Futuristsdonottendto

arguethatJesuswasnotspeakingtothatgenerationofhiscontemporaries.Rathertheyarguethatthetermgenerationhererefersnottoaspecifictime-frameoffortyyears,buttoa“kind”or“sort”ofpeople.Someoftheseinterpreterssee“thisgeneration”asadescriptionofbelievers,whileothersseeitasadescriptionofthewicked.Thatis,JesusmaybesayingthatbelieverslikethediscipleswillnotpassfromtheearthbeforeJesusappearsinhisparousia.Thisdoesnotexcludetheoriginaldisciplesfrombeingnumberedamong“thisgeneration.”SimilarlyJesuscouldhavemeantthat,nomatterhowlonghetarriesbeforehisparousia,therewillbepresentgenerationsofwickedpeoplewhowillresistthekingdomofChrist.HermanRidderboschampionssuchaview:Afullerstudyandcloser

examinationofthispassagemay,however,favoradifferentview.Thegreatquestionis,doesJesusmentionaparticularterminaldate,ordoesheonlyspeakofthecertaintyofthethingshehasforetold?Thesuppositionthathemeansacertainterminaldatehereremainsstrikinginconnectionwiththefactthatamomentlaterhesays,“butofthatdayandofthathourknowethnoman”[Matt.24:36].Althoughweneednotspeakofadiscrepancy(as[W.G.]Kümmeldoes)becausewemightexplainthetextbysaying,“butofthedateandtheexactpointoftimenomanknows”;theforceofthispronouncementwouldbeconsiderablyweakenedbythisrestrictionofthefulfillmenttothecontemporarygeneration....Inthiscase,wemustnotattributeatemporalmeaningtothewords“thisgeneration,”butmustconceiveofitintheunfavorablesensein

whichitoccursalsoelsewhere,viz.,thepeopleofthisparticulardispositionandframeofmindwhoareaversetoJesusandhiswords.7

Ridderbosseesthephrase“thisgeneration”asreferringnottoaframeoftimebuttoaframeofmind.HearguesthatJesus’spurposeistounderlinethecertaintyofhiscomingandnotthetimeofit.OneofthechiefproblemswiththisinterpretationisthatJesuswasanswering

notaquestionofcertainty,butaquestionregardingchronology.Thediscipleswerenotaskingifthesethingswouldcometopass.Theywereaskingwhentheywouldcometopass.DeMararguesthattointerpret“thisgeneration”asmeaningsomethingother

thanthegenerationtowhichJesuswasspeakingistointerpretthewordgenerationinamannerthatisalientoitsprimarymeaningintheNewTestament.Hesays:...theuseof“thisgeneration”throughouttheGospelsmakesitclearthatitmeansthegenerationtowhomJesuswasspeaking.Itnevermeans“race,”assomeclaim,orsomefuturegeneration.Theadjectivethispointstothecontemporarynatureofthegeneration.Ifsomefuturegenerationhadbeeninview,Jesuscouldhavechosentheadjectivethat:“That[future]generationwhichbeginswiththebuddingofthefigtree[Israelregatheredtothelandofherfathers]willnotpassawayuntilallthesethingstakeplace.”

...“Ofthethirty-eightappearancesofgeneaapartfromLuke21:32//Matthew24:34//Mark13:30allhavethetemporalmeaning,primarilythatof‘contemporaries.’”8

DeMarthenquotesDavidChilton:“NotoneofthesereferencesisspeakingoftheentireJewishraceoverthousandsofyears;allusethewordinitsnormalsenseofthesumtotalofthoselivingatthesametime.Italwaysreferstocontemporaries.(Infact,thosewhosayitmeans‘race’tendtoacknowledgethisfact,butexplainthatthewordsuddenlychangesitsmeaningwhenJesususesitinMatt.24!)”9Russellarguesinasimilarmanner:Itiscontendedbymanythatinthisplace

thewordgeneashouldberendered‘race,ornation’;andthatourLord’swordsmeannomorethanthattheJewishraceornationshouldnotpassaway,orperish,untilthepredictionswhichhehadjustutteredhadcometopass....Itistrue,nodoubt,thatthewordgenea,likemostothers,hasdifferentshadesofmeaning,andthatsometimes,intheSeptuagintandinclassicauthorsitmayrefertoanationorarace.Butwethinkthatitisdemonstrablewithoutanyshadowofdoubtthattheexpression‘thisgeneration,’sooftenemployedbyourLord,alwaysreferssolelyandexclusivelytohiscontemporaries,theJewishpeopleofhisownperiod.Itmightsafelybelefttothecandidjudgmentofevery

reader,whetheraGreekscholarornot,whetherthisisnotso:butasthepointisoneofgreatimportance,itmaybedesirabletoadducetheproofsofthisassertion.10

Beforewelookattheseproofs,itisimportanttonoteRussell’ssurprisingclaimthattheuniversalmeaningof“thisgeneration”forChristcanbedemonstratedbeyondtheshadowofdoubt.Thisisstartlingbecausealternaterenderingsofthephrasehavebeenofferedbysomeofthemostrespectedscholars.OfcourseRussellisnotsayingthatnodoubtexistsonthematter.Ratherheisclaimingthathisviewisdemonstrablewithoutshadowofdoubt.Whatisindisputeamongscholarsshouldnotbeindispute,Russellcontends,andhepromisestoprovehispointconclusively.Russellmakesacrucialadmission,onethatmakesitallthemoredifficultto

provehispoint.HeadmitsthatgeneaiscapableofvariantshadesofmeaningandthatthereareinstancesintheSeptuagintandclassicalsourceswherethetermmeanssomethingotherthanacontemporarygroupofpeoplewholivewithinadefinitetime-frame.ToprovehispointhemustshowthateverytimeJesususestheterm,itrefers,solelyandexclusively,tohiscontemporaries.

Russell’sCaseLetuslookattheargumentRussellprovidestomakehiscase:

1. InourLord’sfinaladdresstothepeople,deliveredonthesamedayasthisdiscourseontheMountofOlives,hedeclared,“Allthesethingsshallcomeuponthisgeneration”(Matt.23:36).Nocommentatorhaseverproposedtounderstandthisasreferringtoanyotherthantheexistinggeneration.

2. “WhereuntoshallIlikenthisgeneration?”(Matt.11:16).Hereitisadmittedby[JohnPeter]Langeand[Rudolf]Stierthatthewordrefersto“thethenexistinglastgenerationofIsrael.”

3. “Anevilandadulterousgenerationseekethafterasign.”“ThemenofNinevehshallriseupinthejudgmentwiththisgeneration.”“TheQueenoftheSouthshallriseupinthejudgmentwiththisgeneration.”“Evensoshallitbealsountothiswickedgeneration”(Matt.12:39,41,42,45)....Surelythegenerationwhichsoughtafterasignwasthethenexistinggeneration;andcanitbesupposedthatitwasagainstanyothergenerationthanthatwhichhadresistedsuch

preachingasthatofJohntheBaptistandofChristthattheGentilesweretoriseupinthejudgment?ThereisonlyoneinterpretationofourLord’slanguagepossible,anditisthatwhichrefershiswordstohisownperverseandunbelievingcontemporaries.

4. “Thatthebloodofalltheprophets...mayberequiredofthisgeneration.”“Itshallberequiredofthisgeneration”(Luke11:50,51).

5. “Whoevershallbeashamedofmeinthisadulterousandsinfulgeneration”(Mark8:38).

6. “TheSonofmanmustberejectedofthisgeneration”(Luke17:25)....

Thesearealltheexamplesinwhichtheexpression‘thisgeneration’occursinthesayingsofourLord,andtheyestablishbeyondallreasonablequestionthereferenceofthewordsintheimportantdeclarationnowbeforeus....11

Wenoteasubtleshiftfrom“demonstrablewithoutanyshadowofdoubt”to“beyondallreasonablequestion.”Perhapstheshiftismerelystylistic,buttechnicallythereisadifferencebetweenprovingsomethingbeyondashadowofdoubtandprovingitbeyondareasonabledoubt.Weunderstandthisdifferencekeenlyinourmodernjudicialsystem,wherethejuryinacriminaltrialiscalledtoreachaverdictbeyondareasonabledoubt,whichclearlyislessthanbeyondashadowofdoubt.ItisonethingtosaythatRussell’sevidenceis“reasonable,”itisquiteanother

todeclarethatitisrationallycompelling.ThisisespeciallysignificantinthatRussellhassofarofferedamererestatementoftextsinwhichJesusreferstothisgeneration,providinglittlecommentary.RussellseemstoassumethatthemeaningofJesus’swordsinthesetextsisself-evident.Russellseekstobuttresshiscasebyusingtheclassicreductioadabsurdum

formofargument:Butsupposethatweweretoadopttherenderingproposed,andtakegeneaasmeaningarace,whatpointorsignificancewouldtherebeinthepredictionthen?CananyonebelievethattheassertionsosolemnlymadebyourLord,“VerilyIsayuntoyou,”etc.,amountstonomorethanthis,“TheHebrewraceshallnotbecomeextincttillallthesethingsbefulfilled”?ImagineaprophetinourowntimespredictingagreatcatastropheinwhichLondonwouldbedestroyed,St.Paul’sandtheHousesofParliamentleveledwiththeground,andafearfulslaughteroftheinhabitantsbeperpetrated;andthatwhenasked,“Whenshallthesethingscometopass?”heshouldreply,“TheAnglo-Saxonraceshallnotbecomeextincttillallthesethingsbefulfilled”!Wouldthisbea

satisfactoryanswer?Wouldnotsuchananswerbeconsideredderogatorytotheprophet,andanaffronttohishearers?Wouldtheynothavereasontosay,“Itissafeprophesyingwhentheeventisplacedataninterminabledistance!”ButthebaresuppositionofsuchasenseinourLord’spredictionshowsitselftobeareductioadabsurdum.Wasitforthisthatthedisciplesweretowaitandwatch?...Suchahypothesisisitsownrefutation.12

Russell’sargumentappliestotheinterpretationofgenerationas“arace.”Heacknowledgesotherinterpretationsofgenea,suchasagenerationofrighteouspeopleorofwickedpeople,buthebelievesthesealternativesrequirenoconsideration.Hethenproceedstoconsiderhowlongagenerationisusuallythoughttobe,concludingthat,thoughitisindefinite,itfallswithinthelimitsofapproximatelythirtyorfortyyears.HecitesOldTestamentreferencessupportingthisview.HeplacesthedestructionofJerusalemwithinthetime-frameof37yearsaftertheOlivetDiscourse.IdonotagreethatRussellproveshispointbeyondashadowofdoubt.Ido

think,however,thathegivesweightyevidencethatwiththephrase“thisgeneration”JesusreferstohiscontemporariesandthatJesuspointstoadefiniteperiodoftimewithinwhichthisgenerationwoulddie.

AdditionalEvidenceTheentryongeneainGerhardKittel’sTheologicalDictionaryoftheNewTestamentsaysthatingeneralusagegeneameans“birth”or“descent,”butthatitcanalsomean“generation.”TheSeptuagintusesitchieflytomean“‘generation’inthesenseofcontemporaries.”IntheNewTestament,“asapurelyformalconcept[genea]isalwaysqualified,”theentrydeclares.“Itmostlydenotes‘generation’inthesenseofcontemporaries.”13Thephrasethisgeneration“istobeunderstoodtemporally,butthereisalwaysaqualifyingcriticism”(suchas“adulterous,”“evil,”“unbelieving”).14

WilliamL.Laneagreesthatthephrase“thisgeneration”referstothecontemporariesofJesus.“Thesignificanceofthetemporalreferencehasbeendebated,”LanewritesinhiscommentaryonMark,“butinMark‘thisgeneration’clearlydesignatesthecontemporariesofJesus...andthereisno

considerationfromthecontextwhichlendssupporttoanyotherproposal.Jesussolemnlyaffirmsthatthegenerationcontemporarywithhisdiscipleswillwitnessthefulfillmentofhispropheticword,culminatinginthedestructionofJerusalemandthedismantlingoftheTemple.WiththiswordJesusrespondstotheinitialquestionofthedisciplesregardingthetimewhen‘thesethings’willtakeplace.”15Thereseemstobewidespreadagreementthat“thisgeneration”referstothe

contemporariesofJesusandnottosomefuturegroup.ThisviewisheldnotonlybypreteristssuchasJ.StuartRussell,butbycriticssuchasBertrandRussell,theconsistenteschatologyschool,andcontemporaryconservativescholarssuchasLane.Withthismuchsupport,onewonderswhytheOlivetDiscourseisnotseenashavingbeenfulfilledinthefirstcentury.WerememberthatforJ.StuartRussell’scasetohold,itisnecessaryto

concludenotonlythat“thisgeneration”referstoJesus’scontemporaries,butalsothat“allthesethings”includesJesus’sparousia.ToavoidRussell’sconclusion,somehavearguedthat“thisgeneration”meanssomethingotherthanJesus’scontemporariesorthat“allthesethings”refersexclusivelytotheeventssurroundingthedestructionofJerusalem.HermanRidderbosprovidesaninterestingsummaryofthis:Thephrase“all

(these)things,”however,isthengivenalimitinginterpretation.Thus[Seakle]Greijdanus,e.g.,writesthatthis“all”isofcoursenotunlimited;itisnotallthatmusthappentotheworldaccordingtothedivinecounsel,itisnotthewholeofthehistoryoftheworld,butthatwhichourLordannounceswithrespecttothegenerationthathementionshere,thatwhichisespeciallyconcernedwiththatgeneration,soinparticularthatwhichhehasindicatedandforetoldin[Matt.24]vv.20–24,namely,allthedistressthatwastocometotheJewishpeopleofthattimeandthatwoulddestroyandannihilatethem.Inviewofthisopinion,this“ofcourse”inGreijdanusapparentlymeans,“becausethispronouncementwouldotherwisenothavebeenrealized.”Sothisisanexplicatioexeventu.16

Ridderbosgetstothecruxofthematter.Attemptstointerpret“thisgeneration”asreferringtosomethingotherthanJesus’scontemporariesexclusively,ortorestrict“allthesethings”totheeventssurroundingJerusalem’sdestructionaredrivenbyadesiretopreservethebiblicaltextandthewordsofChristfrombeingprovenfalse.Theissueofparousia-delayinconsistenteschatologylurksnotfarbelowthesurface.ThoughRidderbosdoesnotacceptthepreteristview,favoringthe“alreadyandnotyet”hypothesis,heneverthelessarguesagainstrestrictingthephrase“allthesethings”tothedestructionofJerusalem.Hesays:Theremaybesomedoubtastowhetherthephrase“all

(these)things”denotesthewholeofthesigns,aswellastheparousiaoftheSonofMan.Theexpressioninthe33rdverseofMatthew24,“whenyeshallseeallthesethings,knowthatitisnear,evenatthedoors,”wouldseemtofavortheviewthat“allthesethings”referstothesigns.Ontheotherhand,thatwhichfollowsafterMatthew24:34,aswellasthataftertheparalleltextinMark13:30,clearlyreferstotheparousiaalso,“Butofthatdayandofthathourknowethnoman,”etc.Therefore,inouropinion,therigorousrestrictionofthewords“all(these)things”tothesignsalone,withtheexclusionoftheparousiaproper,isnotjustified....Buttoourmind,itisperfectlyarbitrarytorefusetotakethesesignsintoaccountinverses31and32.Thetextexplicitlysays“thesethings”and“all,”bothclearlyreferringtoallthathasgonebefore.Consequently,whateverdifficultiesthesepassagesmayoffer,itisnotpermissible,wethink,togetridofthembymakingarbitraryrestrictionsinthemeaningofthetext.17

Ifboth“thisgeneration”and“allthesethings”aretakenatfacevalue,theneitherallthecontentofJesus’sOlivetDiscourse,includingtheparousiahedescribeshere,havealreadytakenplace(insomesense),oratleastsomeofJesus’sprophecyfailedtotakeplacewithinthetime-frameassignedtoit.Evangelicalscholarshaveoptedforsomeformoftheformeroption,criticalscholarsforthelatter.

QuestionsforPreteristsIfitisagreedthat“allthesethings”describedinthediscoursetookplaceinthefirstcentury,thensomecrucialquestionsremain:(1)Howcanitbesaidthattheyinfactdidtakeplace?And(2)iftheydidtakeplace,whatabouttheChristian’shopeforafuturereturnofJesus?Thesetwoquestionsexerciseenormousinfluenceonthetheoriespresentedinresponse.

HowoneapproachesthecontentsoftheOlivetDiscoursedependslargelyonthehermeneutic(theprinciplesofinterpretation)employed.TheorthodoxProtestanthermeneuticfollowsMartinLuther’sviewofthesensusliteralis.Thereismuchconfusiontodayregardingthe“literalsense”ofScripture.LuthermeansthatoneshouldinterprettheBibleaccordingtothemannerinwhichitwaswritten,orinits“literarysense.”ThiswasanattempttopreventfancifulflightsintosubjectivismbywhichtheScripturesareturnedintoa“waxnose,”twistedandshapedaccordingtotheinterpreter’swhimorbias.Toguardagainst

subjectivism,Luthersoughtarulethatwouldguidetheinterpretertoanobjectiverenderingofthetext.TointerprettheBible“literally”intheclassicalsenserequiresthatwelearnto

recognizeinScripturedifferentgenresofliterature.Poetryistobeinterpretedaspoetry,anddidacticpassagesaretobeinterpretedaccordingtothegrammarofthedidactic.Historicalnarrativemustnotbetreatedasparable,norparableasstricthistoricalnarrative.Muchofbiblicalprophecyiscastinanapocalypticgenrethatemploysgraphicimaginativelanguageandoftenmixeselementsofcommonhistoricalnarrativewiththefigurativelanguageofpoetry.Partoftheconfusionconcerningbiblicalinterpretationstemsfrom

contemporaryusageofthetermliteral.Literaltodayusuallyrefers,nottothetechnicalsenseinwhichLutherusedit,buttotheinterpretationofpoeticimagesandthelikeasstraightforwarddidacticorindicativelanguage.Totakeeverytext“literally”inthissenseisnottointerpretitaccordingtothegenreinwhichitiswritten,buttointerpretitinaplainindicativesense.WhentheOlivetDiscourseissubjectedtosuchawoodenliteralism,thecrisisofparousia-delayiscreated.ThecataclysmiceventssurroundingtheparousiaaspredictedintheOlivetDiscourseobviouslydidnotoccur“literally”inAD70.Someelementsofthediscoursedidtakeplace“literally,”butothersobviouslydidnot.Thisproblemofliteralfulfillmentleavesuswiththreebasicsolutionsto

interpretingtheOlivetDiscourse:

1. Wecaninterprettheentirediscourseliterally.InthiscasewemustconcludethatsomeelementsofJesus’sprophecyfailedtocometopass,asadvocatesof“consistenteschatology”maintain.

2. Wecaninterprettheeventssurroundingthepredictedparousialiterallyandinterpretthetime-framereferencesfiguratively.Thismethodisemployedchieflybythosewhodonotrestrictthephrase“thisgenerationwillnotpassaway...”tothelifespanofJesus’scontemporaries.

3. Wecaninterpretthetime-framereferencesliterallyandtheeventssurroundingtheparousiafiguratively.Inthisview,allofJesus’spropheciesintheOlivetDiscoursewerefulfilledduringtheperiodbetweenthediscourseitselfandthedestructionofJerusaleminAD70.

Thethirdoptionisfollowedbypreterists.Thestrengthofthepreteristpositionisfoundpreciselyinthishermeneuticalmethod.Whenfacedwiththeoptionofinterpretingthetime-framereferencesliterallyorinterpretingthedescriptionof

theparousialiterally,thepreteristchoosestheformer.Thepreterist’schoiceisgovernedbyalargerhermeneuticalprinciple,namelytheprincipleofinterpretingScripturebyScripture(analogiafide).AsRussellhasshown,thereismuchbiblicalprecedentforinterpretingfigurativelyreferencestoastronomicalupheavalsinbiblicalpropheciesofcatastrophicevents.Ontheotherhand,thetime-framereferencesarenotclothedinsuchimagery,butareexpressedinstraightforward,ordinarylanguage.FollowingLuther’sviewofseekingthe“plainsense”ofaScripturepassage,preteristsinsistoninterpretingthetime-framereferencesintheirprimafacie(“plain”)sense.Thethreeoptionsmentionedabovedonottotallyexhaustthepossibilities.

Otheralternativeshavebeengiven.Aswewillseelater,somepreteristsarguefora“literal”fulfillmentoftheentirediscoursewithinthetimespanofasinglehumangeneration.Anothermethodistoapplytheprincipleofprimaryandsecondaryfulfillment

ofbiblicalprophecies(amethodRussellstronglyeschews).Advocatesofthismethodseeanearlyprimaryfulfillmentofprophecy(apartialfulfillment),followedatalatertimebyasecondaryfulfillment(thecompleteorultimatefulfillment).Thismethodhasbeenapplied,forexample,toIsaiah’spropheciesconcerningthevirginbirthandtheSufferingServantofGod.RussellreactsstronglyagainstsuchattemptstointerprettheOlivetDiscourse:

Thecommonlyreceivedviewofthestructureofthisdiscourse,whichisalmosttakenforgranted,alikebyexpositorsandbythegeneralityofreaders,is,thatourLord,inansweringthequestionofhisdisciplesrespectingthedestructionofthetemple,mixesupwiththateventthedestructionoftheworld,theuniversaljudgment,andthefinalconsummationofallthings....

Anobjectionmaybetaken,inlimine,totheprinciplesinvolvedinthismethodofinterpretingScripture.Arewetolookfordouble,triple,andmultiplemeanings,forprophecieswithinprophecies,andmysterieswrappedinmysteries,wherewemightreasonablyhaveexpectedaplainanswertoaplainquestion?CananyonebesureofunderstandingtheScripturesiftheyarethusenigmaticandobscure?18

ThesimplereplytoRussell’squestions,posedinrhetoricalfashion,isthatattimestheScripturesareenigmaticandobscure.LutherandthemagisterialReformersdidteachtheperspicuityofScripture,maintainingthattheScripturesasawholeareclear.Theydidnotdeny,however,thatcertainpassagesareindeedenigmatic.Hencetherulethatcallsforinterpretingtheobscureinlightoftheclear,ratherthantheclearinlightoftheobscure.Thesecondproblemposedbypreterism,andbyfarthemostcrucial,is

whetherthereremainsafuturehopeforthechurch.Isthe“blessedhope”forafuture,consummateparousiaofChrist,anarticleoffaithforhistoric

Christianity,afalsehope?Istheeschatologythatincludestheparousiatobereducedtoanutterly“realizedeschatology”?Thesequestionsrequirethatwedistinguishbetweenmoderatepreterismand

radicalpreterism.Moderatepreterism,thoughitseesthecomingofChristpredictedintheOlivetDiscourseashavingbeenalreadyfulfilled,stillbelievesinafutureconsummationofChristandhiskingdom,basedonotherNewTestamenttexts(whichwewillexplorelater).Radicalpreterism,ontheotherhand,seesvirtuallytheentireNewTestamenteschatologyashavingbeenrealizedalready.

3WHAT“AGE”WASABOUTTOEND?

JerusalemwillbetrampledbyGentilesuntilthetimesoftheGentilesarefulfilled.

Luke21:24

Closelylinkedtotheissuessurroundingthetime-framequestionoftheOlivetDiscourseisthequestionofthebiblicalmeaningof“theendoftheage.”Doesthisphrasepointtotheendofworldhistory,thefinalconsummationofthekingdomofChrist?Ordoesitrefertotheendofaparticulardivineeconomy,namelytheoneinwhichOldTestamentIsraelfiguresprominently?Inotherwords,doesthephrase“theendoftheage”refertotheendoftheJewishage?Fundamentaltopreterismisthecontentionthatthephrase“theendoftheage”

refersspecificallytotheendoftheJewishageandthebeginningoftheageoftheGentiles,orthechurchage.J.StuartRussellbeginshisexpositionofthisconceptbyreferringtothecontentofMatthew13:ThenJesussentthemultitudeawayandwentintothehouse.Andhisdisciplescametohim,saying,“Explaintoustheparableofthetaresofthefield.”Heansweredandsaidtothem:“HewhosowsthegoodseedistheSonofMan.Thefieldistheworld,thegoodseedsarethesonsofthekingdom,butthetaresarethesonsofthewickedone.Theenemywhosowedthemisthedevil,theharvestistheendoftheage,andthereapersaretheangels.Thereforeasthetaresaregatheredandburnedinthefire,soitwillbeattheendofthisage.TheSonofManwillsendouthisangels,andtheywillgatheroutofhiskingdomallthingsthatoffend,andthosewhopracticelawlessness,andwillcastthemintothefurnaceoffire.Therewillbewailingandgnashingofteeth.ThentherighteouswillshineforthasthesuninthekingdomoftheirFather.Hewhohasearstohear,lethimhear!

“Again,thekingdomofheavenisliketreasurehiddeninafield,whichamanfoundandhid;andforjoyoverithegoesandsellsallthathehasandbuysthatfield.“Again,thekingdomofheavenislikeamerchantseekingbeautifulpearls,who,whenhehadfound

onepearlofgreatprice,wentandsoldallthathehadandboughtit.“Again,thekingdomofheavenislikeadragnetthatwascastintotheseaandgatheredsomeof

everykind,which,whenitwasfull,theydrewtoshore;andtheysatdownandgatheredthegoodintovessels,butthrewthebadaway.Soitwillbeattheendoftheage.Theangelswillcomeforth,separatethewickedfromamongthejust,andcastthemintothefurnaceoffire.Therewillbewailingandgnashingofteeth”(Matt.13:36–50).

Verses38–40aretranslatedasfollowsintheKingJamesVersion:Thefieldistheworld;thegoodseedarethechildrenofthekingdom;butthetaresarethechildrenofthewickedone;theenemythatsowedthemisthedevil;theharvestistheendoftheworld;andthereapersaretheangels.Asthereforethetaresaregatheredandburnedinthefire;soshallitbeintheendofthisworld.

Russellcomments:WefindinthepassagesherequotedanexampleofoneofthoseerroneousrenderingswhichhavedonemuchtoconfuseandmisleadtheordinaryreadersofourEnglishversion[theKJV].Itisprobable,thatninety-nineineveryhundredunderstandbythephrase,“theendoftheworld”thecloseofhumanhistory,andthedestructionofthematerialearth.Theywouldnotimaginethatthe“world”inverse38andthe“world”inverses39,40,aretotallydifferentwords,withtotallydifferentmeanings.Yetsuchisthefact.Kosmosinverse38isrightlytranslatedworld,andreferstotheworldofmen,butaiōninverses39,40,referstoaperiodoftime,andshouldberenderedageorepoch....Itisofthegreatestimportancetounderstandcorrectlythetruemeaningofthisword,andofthephrase“theendoftheaeon,orage.”Aiōnis,aswehavesaid,aperiodoftime,oranage.ItisexactlyequivalenttotheLatinwordaevum,whichis

merelyaiōninaLatindress;andthephrase,synteleiatouaiōnos,translatedinourEnglishversion,“theendoftheworld,”shouldbe,“thecloseoftheage.”1

Russellarguesthattheendoftheagesignalsnotmerelyan“end,”butaconsummationofoneagethatisfollowedimmediatelybyanother.ThiswaspartofthetraditionalviewoftheJewswithregardtotheirMessiah.ThenewagethatwouldbeinauguratedbytheappearanceoftheMessiahwouldbecalledthe“kingdomofheaven.”TheexistingagewastheJewishdispensation,whichwasdrawingtoaclose.ThisideawascentraltothepreachingofJohntheBaptist,whospokeofthetimethatwas“athand.”TheNewTestamentviewstheincarnationofJesusasatimeofcrisis.The

Englishwordcrisiscomesfrom(andisatransliterationof)theGreekwordkrisis,theNewTestamentwordfor“judgment.”ThecomingoftheMessiahisdirectlylinkedtotheimpendingjudgmentofIsrael.JohncalledthenationtorepentanceandtocleansingbybaptismbecausetheJewswerenotreadyforthiscrisis,the“visitation”ofGodinthepersonoftheheavenlyJudge,theSonofMan.Thisvisitationwasatwo-edgedsword,atimeofredemptionforthosewhowelcomedhiscomingandatimeofjudgmentforthosewhorejectedhim.UndertheinfluenceoftheHolySpirit,Zachariasprophesied:“Blessedisthe

LordGodofIsrael,forhehasvisitedandredeemedhispeople”(Luke1:68).Thewordtranslated“visited”comesfromtheGreekverbwhosecorrespondingnounisthewordepiskopos.ThistermcomesintotheEnglishlanguageasepiscopal,whichreferstoatypeofchurchgovernmentwhereinauthorityislocatedinbishops.Thetermepiskopositselfismostoftentranslated“bishop.”InaliteralsensethevisitationofGodisadivineactofbishoping.InancientGreekcultureabishopwasnotareligiousfigurebutamilitaryone.Hereviewedthetroopstogaugetheirpreparednessforbattle.Ifthebishopfoundthetroopsunpreparedforbattle,sharppenaltieswouldbefallthem.Thewordepiskoposderivedfromtheroottermskopos,fromwhichwegetthe

wordscope.Ascopeisaninstrumentusedforlookingatsomething.Forexamplewehavemicroscopes,telescopes,andperiscopes.Weuseamicroscopetolookatthingsthataresmall(micro);atelescope,thingsthatarefaraway;andaperiscope,thingsthatare“around”(peri).Theprefixepi-,whenaddedtoaroot-word,servestointensifyitsmeaning.Thusthetermepiskoposreferstosomeonewholooksintently,closelyscrutinizingandevaluatinganobject.Thetermbishopdescribesa“supervisor,”onewhogives“supervision.”WhenGod“visits”hispeopleintheNewTestamentsense,hecomesto

examinetheircondition.Hecomestopraiseortojudge,toredeemortodamn.Hiscominginvolvesafinalexamination.

TheDayoftheLordTheideaofGodvisitinghispeopleiscloselylinkedintheOldTestamenttothecoming“dayoftheLord.”Thephrase“dayoftheLord”figuresheavilyinOldTestamentprophecy.Originallyitwasadayofredemptionthatthepeopleanticipatedwithgreatjoy.AsthefaithandpracticeofthenationofIsraeldegenerates,thephraseundergoesadevelopment.Itbecomesloadedmoreandmorewithforecastsofdoomandjudgment.Yetitalsoretainsanoteofhopeforthefaithful.

TheverylastprophecyintheOldTestamentisfoundinthebookoftheprophetMalachi:“Forbehold,thedayiscoming,burninglikeanoven,andalltheproud,yes,allwhodowickedlywillbestubble.Andthedaywhichiscomingshallburnthemup,”saystheLORDofhosts,“thatwillleavethemneitherrootnorbranch.ButtoyouwhofearMynametheSunofRighteousnessshallarisewithhealinginhiswings;andyoushallgooutandgrowfatlikestall-fedcalves.Youshalltramplethewicked,fortheyshallbeashesunderthesolesofyourfeetonthedaythatIdothis,”saystheLORDofhosts.“RemembertheLawofMoses,Myservant,whichIcommandedhiminHorebforallIsrael,withthestatutesandjudgments.Behold,IwillsendyouElijahtheprophetbeforethecomingofthegreatanddreadfuldayoftheLORD”(Mal.4:1–5).

Thecomingdayisa“burningoven”thatwillconsumethewicked,yetthisdaywillalsoheraldtheSunofRighteousness,whowillcomewithhealinginhiswings.Elijahwillappearbeforethis“greatanddreadful”day.ThedayoftheLordwillbeagreatdayforIsrael,butitwillalsobeadreadfulday.ThisisthecrisisofthecomingoftheSonofMan.HobartE.FreemanwritesaboutthedayoftheLordinthewritingofthe

prophetJoel:“ThecentralthemeofthebookistheemphasisuponthedayoftheLord.Thisuniqueeschatologicalphrase‘thedayofYahweh,’whichwasfirstnotedinObadiah(v.15),isreiteratedagainandagainbytheProphetJoel(1:15;2:1–2,11,31;3:14,18).Itsspiritualsignificanceistobefoundinthenatureandpurposeofthisday;itistobeadayofwrathandjudgmentuponthewickedandadayofsalvationtotherighteous.”2FreemanseesalinkbetweenJoel’sprophecyofthedayoftheLordand

Christ’spredictionsintheOlivetDiscourse.Freemanbelievesitreferstoaneventthatisyettooccurinthefuture:“ThedayofYahwehwillbeheraldedby

divineportents:‘AndIwillshowwondersintheheavensandintheearth:blood,andfire,andpillarsofsmoke.Thesunshallbeturnedintodarkness,andthemoonintoblood,beforethegreatandterribledayofYahwehcometh’(Joel2:30–31).QuiteevidentlysuchapocalypticphenomenadidnotfindfulfillmentatPentecost,butpointtothelatterdaysandthesecondadvent,asourLordhimselfconfirmsinMatthew24:29–30,whereheusesthesameapocalypticimageryinconnectionwithhissecondcoming.”3FreemanseesthelinkbetweenthedayoftheLordandthecatastrophicsigns

enumeratedintheOlivetDiscourse.Hearguesthatitis“quiteevident”thatthesethingswerenotfulfilledatPentecost.SurelyRussellandpreteristswouldagreethatPentecostdidnotmarktheconsummationofthedayoftheLord.Buttheywouldnotagreethatthisdaywillbedelayeduntiltheendoftheworld.TheyseethefulfillmentoccurringmuchclosertoPentecost,namelyinthedestructionofJerusalem.ItisbothfascinatingandrelevanttothepresentdiscussionthatPeter,as

reportedinthebookofActs,seesafulfillment(atleastinpart)ofJoel’sprophecyonthedayofPentecost:ButthisiswhatwasspokenbytheprophetJoel:“Anditshallcometopassinthelastdays,saysGod,thatIwillpouroutofMySpiritonallflesh;yoursonsandyourdaughtersshallprophesy,youryoungmenshallseevisions,youroldmenshalldreamdreams.AndonMymenservantsandonMymaidservantsIwillpouroutMySpiritinthosedays;andtheyshallprophesy.Iwillshowwondersinheavenaboveandsignsintheearthbeneath:bloodandfireandvaporofsmoke.Thesunshallbeturnedintodarkness,andthemoonintoblood,beforethecomingofthegreatandnotabledayoftheLord.AnditshallcometopassthatwhoevercallsonthenameoftheLordshallbesaved”(Acts2:16–21).

InthisdiscourseatPentecost,PetersaysthephenomenonpeoplehavejustwitnessedistheonespokenofbytheProphetJoel.Joel’sprophecyisoneaboutthelastdaysandaboutthesignsthatwouldsignalthecomingdayoftheLord.IfFreemaniscorrectinhisassessment,thenpartofJoel’sprophecywasfulfilledatPentecost,butthelargerportionofithasremainedunfulfilledforthousandsofyearssincethen.BeforeseeinghowRussellhandlesthepropheciesofJoelandMalachi,we

shalllookatotherOldTestamentpropheciesregardingthedayoftheLord.ThefirstisAmos’sfamoussummaryofthedayoftheLord:“WoetoyouwhodesirethedayoftheLORD!ForwhatgoodisthedayoftheLORDtoyou?Itwillbedarkness,andnotlight.Itwillbeasthoughamanfledfromalion,andabearmethim;orasthoughhewentintothehouse,leanedhishandonthewall,anda

serpentbithim.IsnotthedayoftheLORDdarkness,andnotlight?Isitnotverydark,withnobrightnessinit?”(Amos5:18–20).AmosusestheHebrewliterarydeviceoftheoracle.Thisisanoracleofdoom,

prefacedbythewordwoe.Graphicimagesdescribetheironythatwillbefallthosewhohaveafalseexpectation.Theywillbelikethemanwhofleesfromaliononlytobeconfrontedbyabear.BruceVawtercommentsonthistext:The“dayofYahweh”isanotherofthosebeliefsolderthantheprophets,towhichAmosrefers,astothe“remnant,”asneedingnoexplanation.ItwastobethedayofYahweh’sintervention,hissettlingofaccounts.FaithfulIsraelitescouldonlyyearnforsuchaday,whenthepeopleofGodwouldbevindicatedalongwithYahwehhimself.ButtheIsraeltowhichAmoswasspeakingwasnolongerthepeopleofGod.IfYahwehistotakevengeanceonhisenemies,whatwillhenotdotothatpeoplethathadbecomehisgreatestenemy,thathadrejectedhimnotunknowinglybutinthefulllightofknowledge?Inkeepingwithhisminimalviewoftheremnant,Amos’expectationofthedayofYahwehisentirelypessimistic.4

Amos’spessimismconcerningthedayoftheLordistemperedbyelementsofhopeinthepropheciesofHosea,Isaiah,andZephaniah.Zephaniahsays:...BesilentinthepresenceoftheLordGOD;forthedayoftheLORDisathand,fortheLORDhaspreparedasacrifice;hehasinvitedhisguests.“Anditshallbe,inthedayoftheLORD’Ssacrifice,thatIwillpunishtheprincesandtheking’schildren,andallsuchasareclothedwithforeignapparel.InthesamedayIwillpunishallthosewholeapoverthethreshold,whofilltheirmasters’houseswithviolenceanddeceit.Andthereshallbeonthatday,”saystheLORD,“thesoundofamournfulcryfromtheFishGate,awailingfromtheSecondQuarter,andaloudcrashingfromthehills.Wail,youinhabitantsofMaktesh!Forallthemerchantpeoplearecutdown;allthosewhohandlemoneyarecutoff.AnditshallcometopassatthattimethatIwillsearchJerusalemwithlamps,andpunishthemenwhoaresettledincomplacency,whosayintheirheart,‘TheLORDwillnotdogood,norwillhedoevil.’Thereforetheirgoodsshallbecomebooty,andtheirhousesadesolation;theyshallbuildhouses,butnotinhabitthem;theyshallplantvineyards,butnotdrinktheirwine.”

ThegreatdayoftheLORDisnear;itisnearandhastensquickly.ThenoiseofthedayoftheLORDisbitter;therethemightymenshallcryout.Thatdayisadayofwrath,adayoftroubleanddistress,adayofdevastationanddesolation,adayofdarknessandgloominess,adayofcloudsandthickdarkness,adayoftrumpetandalarmagainstthefortifiedcitiesandagainstthehightowers.“Iwillbringdistressuponmen,andtheyshallwalklikeblindmen,becausetheyhavesinnedagainsttheLORD;theirbloodshallbepouredoutlikedust,andtheirfleshlikerefuse”(Zeph.1:7–17).

ThisgrimportendofthedayoftheLordechoesthatofAmos.ButlaterZephaniahaddstoitanoteofoptimism:“Gatheryourselvestogether,yes,gathertogether,Oundesirablenation,beforethedecreeisissued,beforethedaypasseslikechaff,beforetheLORD’sfierceangercomesuponyou,beforethedayoftheLORD’sangercomesuponyou!SeektheLORD,allyoumeekoftheearth,whohaveupheldhisjustice.Seekrighteousness,seekhumility.ItmaybethatyouwillbehiddeninthedayoftheLORD’sanger”(Zeph.2:1–3).

RussellontheDayoftheLordInRussell’sviewtheOldTestamentpropheciesregardingthecomingdayoftheLordpointtothedestructionofJerusaleminAD70.Hewrites:Thatthisisnovagueandunmeaningthreatisevidentfromthedistinctanddefinitetermsinwhichitisannounced.Everythingpointstoanapproachingcrisisinthehistoryofthenation,whenGodwouldinflictjudgmentuponhisrebelliouspeople.“Theday”wascoming—“thedaythatshallburnasafurnace”;“thegreatandterribledayoftheLord.”Thatthis“day”referstoacertainperiod,andaspecificevent,doesnotadmitofquestion...andweshallmeetwithadistinctreferencetoitintheaddressoftheApostlePeterontheDayofPentecost(Acts2:20).ButtheperiodisfurthermorepreciselydefinedbytheremarkablestatementofMalachi...“Behold,IwillsendyouElijahtheprophetbeforethecomingofthegreatandterribledayoftheLord”[Mal.4:5].TheexplicitdeclarationofourLordthatthepredictedElijahwasnootherthanhisownforerunner,JohntheBaptist(Matt.11:14)enablesustodeterminethetimeandtheeventreferredtoas“thegreatandterribledayoftheLord.”ItmustbesoughtatnogreatdistancefromtheperiodofJohntheBaptist.Thatistosay,theallusionistothejudgmentoftheJewishnation,whentheircityandtempleweredestroyed,andtheentirefabricoftheMosaicpolitywasdissolved.5

RussellarguesthatthesepropheciesrefernottoChrist’sfirstcoming,buttoChrist’ssecondcoming—injudgmentonJerusalem.AtthispointwemustaskhowthedayoftheLordrelatestotheconceptofdivinevisitation(episkopos).WehavealreadynotedthatatthebirthofJohntheBaptist,Zachariassaidthat“theLordhasvisitedandredeemedhispeople”(Luke1:68).ItwouldseemthenthatthedayofvisitationatleastbeginswithinthecontextoftheincarnationofChrist,whoseheraldwasJohntheBaptist.LukeusesthelanguageofvisitationwithrespecttoJesus’searthlyministry.

Nowithappened,thedayafter,thathewentintoacitycalledNain;andmanyofhisdiscipleswentwithhim,andalargecrowd.Andwhenhecamenearthegateofthecity,behold,adeadmanwasbeingcarriedout,theonlysonofhismother;andshewasawidow.Andalargecrowdfromthecitywaswithher.WhentheLordsawher,hehadcompassiononherandsaidtoher,“Donotweep.”Thenhecameandtouchedtheopencoffin,andthosewhocarriedhimstoodstill.Andhesaid,“Youngman,Isaytoyou,arise.”Andhewhowasdeadsatupandbegantospeak.Andhepresentedhimtohismother.Thenfearcameuponall,andtheyglorifiedGod,saying,“Agreatprophethasrisenupamongus”;and,“Godhasvisitedhispeople.”AndthisreportabouthimwentthroughoutallJudeaandallthesurroundingregion(Luke7:11–17).

ClearlytheministryofJesuswasseenintermsofadivinevisitation.JesushimselfusedthesetermsinhislamentoverJerusalemonPalmSunday:...AndsomeofthePhariseescalledtohimfromthecrowd,“Teacher,rebukeYourdisciples.”Butheansweredandsaidtothem,“Itellyouthatiftheseshouldkeepsilent,thestoneswouldimmediatelycryout.”

Nowashedrewnear,hesawthecityandweptoverit,saying,“Ifyouhadknown,evenyou,especiallyinthisyourday,thethingsthatmakeforyourpeace!Butnowtheyarehiddenfromyoureyes.Forthedayswillcomeuponyouwhenyourenemieswillbuildanembankmentaroundyou,surroundyouandcloseyouinoneveryside,andlevelyou,andyourchildrenwithinyou,totheground;andtheywillnotleaveinyouonestoneuponanother,becauseyoudidnotknowthetimeofyourvisitation”(Luke19:39–44).

InthislamentJesusspeaksof“thisyourday”inwhichcertainthingswereunknowntothemandconcealedfromtheireyes.Thenhespeaksofthecomingdaysinwhichnotonestonewillbeleftonanotherbecausetheywereignorantofthetimeoftheirvisitation.I.HowardMarshallcomments:AsJesusseesJerusalemspreadoutbeforehim,heweepsoverthedestructionwhichwillcomeoveritunawares.Thecitycouldhavelearnedthewayofpeacefromhisteaching,butitwouldfailtorecognizeinhiscomingthegraciouspresenceofGodofferingalastopportunityofrepentance;theattitudeofthePharisees(Luke19:39–40)wouldprevail.Therewouldbeadifferentkindofvisitationinduecourse,ajudgmentinwhichenemieswoulddestroythecitystonebystone....

...thereisnoreasontodoubtthattheChristianinterpretationofthefallofJerusalemastheoutcomeoffailuretoacceptthemessageofJesusgoesbacktoJesushimself....

...HerethevisitationisintendedtobetheoccasionofsalvationasproclaimedbyJesus;unrecognizedassuch,thesamevisitationbecomesthebasisforajudgmentyettofollow.6

Weconcludethatthedayofvisitationreferspartlytotheincarnation.Thiseventbroughtadouble-edgedcrisis.Jesus’searthlyministrybroughtthegraciouspresenceofGod’sredemptiontothosewhoreceivedhim,butsetthestageforasoon-to-occurvisitationofwrathandjudgmenttoJerusalemandtheimpenitentchildrenofIsrael.Hereisan“alreadyandnotyet,”butonethatspansaboutfortyyears,notcenturiesormillennia.

ParablesaboutJudgmentRussellsees,then,thedayoftheLord’svisitationofwrathandjudgmentonJerusalemasthetimewhentheLordcomessuddenlytohistemple,predictedinMalachi3:1.HefindsJesus’sforecastsofthiscomingjudgment,notonlyintheOlivetDiscourse,butalsoinotherplaces,particularlyintherashofparablesJesusuttersneartheendofhispublicministry.

Withreferencetotheparableofthepounds(Luke19:11–27),Russellwrites:“ItcannotfailtostrikeeveryattentivereaderoftheGospelhistory,howmuchtheteachingofourLord,asheapproachedthecloseofhisministry,dweltuponthethemeofcomingjudgment.Whenhespokethisparable,hewasonhiswaytoJerusalemtokeephislastPassoverbeforehesuffered;anditisremarkablehowhisdiscoursesfromthistimeseemalmostwhollyengrossed,notbyhisownapproachingdeath,buttheimpendingcatastropheofthenation.”7RussellpointsbeyondtheparableofthepoundstoJesus’scursingofthefig

tree,parableofthewickedhusbandmen,parableofthemarriageoftheking’sson(Matt.22:1–14),secondlamentationoverJerusalem,andwoespronouncedon“thatgeneration”(Matt.23:13–30).RussellseesalloftheseasreferencestothecatastrophethatisabouttobefalltheJewishnation.Withrespecttotheparableofthepounds,RussellquotesAugustusNeanderfavorably:Inthisparable,inviewofthecircumstancesunderwhichitwasuttered,andoftheapproachingcatastrophe,specialintimationsaregivenofChrist’sdeparturefromtheearth,ofhisascension,andreturntojudgetherebelliousTheocraticnationandconsummatehisdominion.Itdescribesagreatman,whotravelstothedistantcourtofthemightyemperor,toreceivefromhimauthorityoverhiscountrymen,andtoreturnwithroyalpower.SoChristwasnotimmediately

recognizedinhiskinglyoffice,butfirsthadtodepartfromtheearthandleavehisagentstoadvancehiskingdom,toascendintoheavenandbeappointedTheocraticKing,andreturnagaintoexercisehiscontestedpower.8

Tounderstandthefullimportofwhatisbeingclaimedhere,weneedtolookatthecompletetextoftheparable:Nowastheyheardthesethings,hespokeanotherparable,becausehewasnearJerusalemandbecausetheythoughtthekingdomofGodwouldappearimmediately.Thereforehesaid:“Acertainnoblemanwentintoafarcountrytoreceiveforhimselfakingdomandtoreturn.Sohecalledtenofhisservants,deliveredtothemtenminas,andsaidtothem,‘DobusinesstillIcome.’Buthiscitizenshatedhim,andsentadelegationafterhim,saying,‘Wewillnothavethismantoreignoverus.’

“Andsoitwasthatwhenhereturned,havingreceivedthekingdom,hethencommandedtheseservants,towhomhehadgiventhemoney,tobecalledtohim,thathemightknowhowmucheverymanhadgainedbytrading.“Thencamethefirst,saying,‘Master,yourminahasearnedtenminas.’“Andhesaidtohim,‘Welldone,goodservant;becauseyouwerefaithfulinaverylittle,have

authorityovertencities.’“Andthesecondcame,saying,‘Master,yourminahasearnedfiveminas.’“Likewisehesaidtohim,‘Youalsobeoverfivecities.’“Andanothercame,saying,‘Master,hereisyourmina,whichIhavekeptputawayina

handkerchief.ForIfearedyou,becauseyouareanaustereman.Youcollectwhatyoudidnotdeposit,andreapwhatyoudidnotsow.’“Andhesaidtohim,‘OutofyourownmouthIwilljudgeyou,youwickedservant.YouknewthatI

wasanaustereman,collectingwhatIdidnotdepositandreapingwhatIdidnotsow.Whythendidyounotputmymoneyinthebank,thatatmycomingImighthavecollecteditwithinterest?’“Andhesaidtothosewhostoodby,‘Taketheminafromhim,andgiveittohimwhohasten

minas.’(“Buttheysaidtohim,‘Master,hehastenminas.’)“‘ForIsaytoyou,thattoeveryonewhohaswill

begiven;andfromhimwhodoesnothave,evenwhathehaswillbetakenawayfromhim.Butbringherethoseenemiesofmine,whodidnotwantmetoreignoverthem,andslaythembeforeme’”(Luke19:11–27).

AccordingtoRussell,Jesusgavethisparabletoinsurethathisdiscipleswouldnothopethatthekingdomwastocomeimmediately.Hedeclaredthatanintervaloftimemustintervenebeforetheirexpectationswerefulfilled.Thekingdomwasstill“athand,”butnotasnearasthedisciplessupposed.Christhadtodepart,or“goaway,”foralittlewhile.RusselldoesnotseeasanoptiontheideathatChristwoulddepartforalongwhile.Christ’sdepartureforashortperiodwasthehopeandfaithoftheearlychurch,anditwasnotadelusion.Russell’sthesisatthispointdependsheavilyontheassumptionthatthephrase

“theendoftheage”refersnottotheendofhistoryortheendoftheworld,buttotheendoftheJewishage.TherearefourreferencesinMatthew’sGospelto

“theendoftheage.”NoneexplicitlyspecifiestheJewishage.ThismustbesuppliedontheassumptionthatthephraseisellipticalandthetermJewishistacitlyunderstood.RussellandotherpreteristsdrawthisinferencefromindicationsthattheendoftheageisnearandfromNewTestamentreferencesto“theageoftheGentiles.”

TheAgeoftheGentilesSincetheNewTestamentdoesspeakoftheageoftheGentiles,itisreasonabletoassumethatthisageisincontrasttosomeageoftheJews,sincethecontextmakesasharpcontrastbetweenJewsandGentiles.

WefirstmeettheconceptoftheageoftheGentilesinLuke’sversionoftheOlivetDiscourse,whenJesusdescribesthedestructionofJerusalem:ButwhenyouseeJerusalemsurroundedbyarmies,thenknowthatitsdesolationisnear.ThenletthoseinJudeafleetothemountains,letthosewhoareinthemidstofherdepart,andletnotthosewhoareinthecountryenterher.Forthesearethedaysofvengeance,thatallthingswhicharewrittenmaybefulfilled.Butwoetothosewhoarepregnantandtothosewhoarenursingbabiesinthosedays!Fortherewillbegreatdistressinthelandandwrathuponthispeople.Andtheywillfallbytheedgeofthesword,andbeledawaycaptiveintoallnations.AndJerusalemwillbetrampledbyGentilesuntilthetimesoftheGentilesarefulfilled(Luke21:20–24).

HerethetimesoftheGentilesarerelatedtotheoccupationofJerusalembynon-Jewishpeople.ButthisGentileoccupationofJerusalemwillnotendureindefinitely.Thereisacrucial“until”mentionedhere.Thiswordfixesatemporalpointofcompletion.Thistextfiguredprominentlyineschatologicalexpectationsthatwererekindledin1967whenJewswrestedcontrolofJerusalemfromtheArabGentileswhohadcontrolledit.InLuke’saccountoftheOlivetDiscourse,thedescriptionoftheparousia

followsimmediatelyuponverse24.Thisraisesthequestion:WilltheparousiadescribedheretakeplaceafterthetimesoftheGentilesarefulfilled,i.e.,afterJerusalemisrestoredtotheJews?OrdoesLuke21:27refertoaparousiathatsignalstheendofoneageortime(theageoftheJews)andthebeginningofanewone,thetimesoftheGentiles?Variousschemashavebeenoffered.OneisthattheJewishdispensationwas

temporarilyhaltedinAD70,followedbyaninterimduringwhichthefocusis

onthemissiontotheGentiles,followedbytherenewalofJewishredemptionattheendoftime.AnotheristhatallChristianhistorybetweenthefallofJerusalemandtheparousiaofChrististhetimesoftheGentiles.AndathirdisthatthetimesoftheGentileswastheveryshortspanoftimebetweenthebeginningofthesiegeofJerusalemandthecity’sdestruction.Luke’sreferenceto“thetimesoftheGentiles”lendscredencetotheideathat

ScripturedistinguishesbetweenaJewishepochandaGentileepoch.Thisinturnsupportstheideathat“theendoftheage”mayrefertotheendoftheJewishage.

Table3.2TheNearnessoftheLastDaystotheApostles

TheGospels

Matt.10:23 You[thetwelve]willnothavegonethroughthecitiesofIsraelbeforetheSonofMancomes.

Matt.26:64 You[thehighpriest]willseetheSonofMancomingonthecloudsofheaven.

Paul’sLetters

Rom.13:11–12 Nowitishightimetoawakeoutofsleep....Thenightisfarspent,thedayisathand.

1Cor.7:31 Theformofthisworldispassingaway.

1Cor.10:11 On[us]...theendsoftheageshavecome.

Phil.4:5 TheLordisathand

GeneralLetters

James5:8–9 ThecomingoftheLordisathand....Behold,theJudgeisstandingatthedoor.

1Peter4:7 Theendofallthingsisathand.

1John2:18 Itisthelasthour...weknowthatitisthelasthour.

TheBookofRevelation

1:1 TheRevelationofJesusChrist...[showsthe]thingswhichmustshortlytakeplace.

1:3 Thetimeisnear.

3:11 Behold,Icomequickly!

22:6–7 His[theLordGod’s]angel...[showed]Hisservantsthethingswhichmustshortlytakeplace.Behold,Iamcomingquickly.

22:10 Thetimeisathand.

22:12 Behold,Iamcomingquickly.

22:20 SurelyIamcomingquickly.

TheLastDaysAccordingtopreterists“thelastdays”referstothetimebetweentheadventofJohntheBaptistandthedestructionofJerusalem.This“eschaton”refersnottoatimeinthedistantfuture,buttoatimethatisimminent.GaryDeMarsummarizestherelevantpassagesoftheNewTestamentwithemphasisontheradicalnearnessoftheeventspredicted:Somecataclysmiceventwasonthehorizon,andthefirst-centurychurchwasbeingwarnedtoprepareforit.Thereisnogettingaroundthislanguageandtheultimateconclusionthatmanyoftheversesthatmanybelieveareyettobefulfilledhavebeenfulfilled....

1. “AndyouwillbehatedbyallonaccountofMyname,butitistheonewhohasenduredtotheendwhowillbesaved.Butwhenevertheypersecuteyouinthiscity,fleetothenext;fortrulyIsaytoyou,youshallnotfinishgoingthroughthecitiesofIsraeluntiltheSonofMancomes”(Matt.10:22–23,emphasisadded).

2. “Jesussaidto[thehighpriest],‘Youhavesaidityourself[thatIamtheChrist,theSonofGod];neverthelessItellyou,hereafteryoushallseetheSonofMansittingattherighthandofpower,andcomingonthecloudsofheaven’”(Matt.26:64,emphasisadded).

3. “Andthisdo,knowingthetime,thatitisalreadythehourforyoutoawakenfromsleep;fornowsalvationisnearertousthanwhenwebelieved”(Rom.13:11).

4. “Thenightisalmostgoneandthedayisathand.Letusthereforelayasidethedeedsofdarknessandputonthearmoroflight”(Rom.13:12,emphasisadded).

5. “Fortheformofthisworldispassingaway”(1Cor.7:31,emphasisadded).6. “Nowthesethingshappenedto[Israel]asanexample,andtheywerewrittenforour

instruction,uponwhomtheendsoftheageshavecome”(1Cor.10:11,emphasisadded).7. “Letyourforbearingspiritbeknowntoallmen.TheLordisnear”(Phil.4:5,emphasis

added).8. “Theendofallthingsisathand;thereforebeofsoundjudgmentandsoberspiritforthe

purposeofprayer”(1Pet.4:7,emphasisadded).9. “Youtoobepatient;strengthenyourhearts,forthecomingoftheLordisathand.Donot

complain,brethren,againstoneanother,thatyouyourselvesmaynotbejudged;behold,theJudgeisstandingrightatthedoor”(James5:8–9,emphasisadded).

10. “Children,itisthelasthour;andjustasyouhaveheardthatantichristiscoming,evennowmanyantichristshavearisen;fromthisweknowthatitisthelasthour”(1John2:18,emphasisadded).

11. “TheRevelationofJesusChrist,whichGodgavehimtoshowtohisbond-servants,thethingswhichmustshortlytakeplace...”(Rev.1:1,emphasisadded).

12. “Blessedishewhoreadsandthosewhohearthewordsoftheprophecy,andheedthethingswhicharewritteninit;forthetimeisnear”(Rev.1:3,emphasisadded).

13. “Iamcomingquickly;holdfastwhatyouhave,inorderthatnoonetakeyourcrown”(Rev.3:11).

14. “Andhesaidtome,‘Thesewordsarefaithfulandtrue’;andtheLord,theGodofthespiritsoftheprophets,senthisangeltoshowhisbond-servantsthethingswhichmustshortlytakeplace”(Rev.22:6,emphasisadded).

15. “Andbehold,Iamcomingquickly.Blessedishewhoheedsthewordsoftheprophecyofthisbook”(Rev.22:7,emphasisadded).

16. “Andhesaidtome,‘Donotsealupthewordsoftheprophecyofthisbook,forthetimeisnear”(Rev.22:10,emphasisadded).ComparethisversewithDaniel12:4,whereDanielistoldto“sealupthebookuntiltheendoftime.”

17. “Behold,Iamcomingquickly,andMyrewardiswithMe,torendertoeverymanaccordingtowhathehasdone”(Rev.22:12,emphasisadded;cf.Matt.16:27).

18. “Hewhotestifiestothesethingssays,‘Yes,Iamcomingquickly.’Amen.Come,LordJesus”(Rev.22:20,emphasisadded).

Thesepassagesandmanyotherslikethemtellusthatasignificanteschatologicaleventwastooccurinthelifetimeofthosewhoheardandreadtheprophecies.9

ThepassageslistedbyDeMarareamongthosethathaveledhigher-criticalscholarstobeskepticaloftheNewTestamentandtoseewithinitattemptstoadjustthenarrativetoaccountforunfulfilledpropheciesandparousia-delay.WhensuchpassagesaregroupedtogetherasDeMarhasdone,theystronglysuggestanear-timefulfillment.Someofthemcanbehandledmoreeasilythanothers.Forexamplenumber2(Matt.26:64),whichgivesJesus’swordstoPontiusPilate,mayrefertoanindefinitefuture.Pilate’s“seeing”thecomingofChristinthe“hereafter”doesnotdemandafirst-centuryfulfillment.Oneofthemostcrucialpassagescitedabove,however,isthatfoundin

number6(1Cor.10:11).Hereismentioned“theendsoftheages”thathavecomeupontheJews.Thistextsupportsthethesisthat“theendoftheage”means“theendoftheJewishage.”Russellplacesstrongemphasisonthistext:Thephrase“theendoftheages”[tatelētōnaiōnōn]isequivalentto“theendoftheage”[tēssynteleiatouaiōnos],and“theend”[totelos].Theyallrefertothesameperiod,viz.thecloseoftheJewishage,ordispensation,whichwasnowathand....

ItissometimessaidthatthewholeperiodbetweentheincarnationandtheendoftheworldisregardedintheNewTestamentas“theendoftheage.”Butthisbearsamanifestincongruityinitsveryfront.Howcouldtheendofaperiodbealongprotractedduration?Especiallyhowcoulditbelongerthantheperiodofwhichitistheend?MoretimehasalreadyelapsedsincetheincarnationthanfromthegivingofthelawtothefirstcomingofChrist:sothat,onthishypothesis,theendoftheageisagreatdeallongerthantheageitself.10

4WHATDIDPAULTEACHINHIS

LETTERS?

YouturnedtoGodfromidolstoservethelivingandtrueGod,andtowaitforHisSonfromheaven.

1Thessalonians1:9–10

J.StuartRussellbeginshistreatmentoftheEpistlesbygivingattentiontotheThessaloniancorrespondence.Hefirsttreats1Thessalonians1:9–10:“Fortheythemselvesdeclareconcerninguswhatmannerofentrywehadtoyou,andhowyouturnedtoGodfromidolstoservethelivingandtrueGod,andtowaitforhisSonfromheaven,whomheraisedfromthedead,evenJesuswhodeliversusfromthewrathtocome.”ThisverseaccentuatestwocriticalmotifsoftheNewTestament:thechurch’swaitingforChristandChrist’sdeliveranceofhispeople“fromthewrathtocome.”RussellseesalinkbetweenPaul’sreferenceto“thewrathtocome”andJohn

theBaptist’swarningtohisgenerationto“fleefromthewrathtocome”(Luke3:7).“Itwouldbeamistaketosuppose,”Russellsays,“thatSt.Paulherereferstotheretributionwhichawaitseverysinfulsoulinafuturestate;itwasaparticularandpredictedcatastrophewhichhehadinview.‘Thecomingwrath’[hēorgēhēerchomenē]ofthispassageisidenticalwiththe‘comingwrath’[orgēmellousa]ofthesecondElijah;itisidenticalwith‘thedaysofvengeance,’and‘wrathuponthispeople,’predictedbyourLord(Luke21:23).Itis‘thedayofwrath,andrevelationoftherighteousjudgmentofGod,’spokenofbySt.Paul(Rom.2:5).”1

In1Thessalonians2:16Paulwrites,“...[theJewsare]forbiddingustospeaktotheGentilesthattheymaybesaved,soasalwaystofillupthemeasureoftheirsins;butwrathhascomeuponthemtotheuttermost.”Thisverse,whenplacednexttoPaul’sstatementinchapter1,issomewhatconfusing.Inthefirstchapterthewrathisfuture,whileinthischapterthewrathhasalreadycome.

Wrathin1Thessalonians1–2

FutureWrath(1:10) PresentWrath(2:16)

Jesus...delivers Wrathhascome

us[followersoftheLord] uponthem[theJews]

fromthewrathtocome. totheuttermost.

JohnCalvinsaysofthis:“[Paul]meansthattheyhaveabsolutelynohope,becausetheyarethevesselsofthewrathoftheLord.WhatheissayingisthatthejustvengeanceofGodbesetsandharriesthem,andwillnotleavethemuntiltheyperish.”2JonathanEdwardspreachedasermonon1Thessalonians2:16entitledWhen

theWickedShallHaveFilledUptheMeasureofTheirSin,WrathWillComeuponThemtotheUttermost.InthissermonhecommentsonthesignificanceofthetermuttermostasitrelatestothewrathofGod:

Thedegreeoftheirpunishment,istheuttermostdegree.Thismayrespectbothanationalandpersonalpunishment.Ifwetakeitasanationalpunishment,alittleafterthetimewhentheepistlewaswritten,wrathcameuponthenationoftheJewstotheuttermost,intheirterribledestructionbytheRomans;when,asChristsaid,“wasgreattribulation,suchasneverwassincethebeginningoftheworldtothattime”(Matt.24:21).Thatnationhadbeforesufferedmanyofthefruitsofdivinewrathfortheirsins;butthiswasbeyondall,thiswastheirhighestdegreeofpunishmentasanation....Bythisexpressionisalsodenotedthecertaintyofthispunishment.Forthoughthepunishmentwasthenfuture,yetitisspokenofaspresent:“Thewrathiscomeuponthemtotheuttermost.”Itwasascertainasifithadalreadytakenplace....Italsodenotesthenearapproachofit.ThywrathIScome;i.e.,itisjustathand;itisatthedoor;asitprovedwithrespecttothatnation;theirterribledestructionbytheRomanswassoonaftertheapostlewrotethisepistle.3

InthismannerEdwardstiestogether“thewrathtocome”ofchap.1withthe“wrath[that]hascomeuponthem”inchapter2.

Alsoinchapter2,andonlythreeverseslater,theapostlespeaksoftheparousiaofChrist:“Forwhatisourhope,orjoy,orcrownofrejoicing?IsitnotevenyouinthepresenceofourLordJesusChristathiscoming?”(1Thess.2:19).Inthecloseconjunctionofthesetwoevents,thecomingoftheuttermost

wrathandthecomingofChrist,RussellseesareferencetothepredictedeventthatwillbefataltotheenemiesofChristandajoyousvictoryforhisfriends.“EverywherethemostmalignantopposersandpersecutorsofChristianityweretheJews,”writesRussell.“TheannihilationoftheJewishnationality,therefore,removedthemostformidableantagonistoftheGospelandbroughtrestandrelieftosufferingChristians.OurLordhadsaidtohisdisciples,whenspeakingofthisapproachingcatastrophe,‘Whenthesethingsbegintocometopass,thenlookup,andliftupyourheads,foryourredemptiondrawethnigh’(Luke21:28).”4AtfirstglanceRussell’scommentsmayappeartobeanti-Semitic.Butthe

realityinthefirstcenturywasthatthemostintensepersecutionoftheChristianchurchcame,notfromtheRomans,butfromtheJewishcommunity.TheRomansandtheoutsideworldviewedtheChristiancommunityasmerelyasmallsectofJudaism.ChristianitydidnotspreadgloballyandbecomeaworldreligiousforceuntilafterJerusalemwasdestroyedandtheJewishpeoplewerescatteredamongthenations.Thesameapostlewhospeaksof“thewrathtocome”wasanythingbutanti-Semitic,asbecomesclearwhenhesayshewouldbewillingtoperishhimselfifitwouldmeantheredemptionofhis“kinsmenaccordingtotheflesh,”theIsraelites(Rom.9:3).TheThessaloniancorrespondencefiguresheavilyinbiblicaleschatology,

particularlybecauseofitsdescriptionoftherapture(1Thess.4:17)andofthecomingof“themanofsin”or“thelawlessone”(2Thess.2:3–10).Thesethemes,whicharevitallyimportanttoRussellandpreterism,wewillpassoverfornow,butwillanalyzelater.

EagerlyAwaitingtheLord

RussellnexttreatsthereferencestotheparousiaintheCorinthianletters.Herefersfirstto1Corinthians1:7–8,wherePaulthanksGodthattheCorinthianbelieverswill“comeshortinnogift,eagerlywaitingfortherevelationofourLordJesusChrist,whowillalsoconfirmyoutotheend,thatyoumaybeblamelessinthedayofourLordJesusChrist.”

PauldescribestheCorinthianbelieversas“eagerlywaiting”forChrist’scoming.IfPaulwrote1CorinthiansaroundAD57,itisremarkablethat,thirteenyearsbeforethedestructionofJerusalem,theearlyChristianswereinapostureofeageranticipation.Thisthemeisunderlinedinredbyhighercritics.TheyseeintheNewTestamentwritersastrongconvictionthatChristwouldcomeinthenearterm,anexpectationbasedonfalsehopes,hopesthatfailedtomaterializeastheyearspassed.Accordingtothesecriticsthisfailurerequiredthatthechurchreviseitsoriginaleschatologicalhopes.RussellnotesthattheGreektranslated“eagerlywaiting”isalsousedin

Romans8:19:“FortheearnestexpectationofthecreationeagerlywaitsfortherevealingofthesonsofGod.”LukeemploysitalsotodescribeSimeon’ssenseofexpectancyasheawaitedtheConsolationofIsrael(Luke2:25).RussellseesinthisattitudeaclearindicationthatNewTestamentbelievers

thoughttheLord’scoming,hisparousia,wasnear.Otherwise,theireageranticipationwouldmostsurelyendindisappointment.Inthissamepassage(1Cor.1:7–8)Paulrefersto“theend.”“Obviously,by

‘theend’theapostledoesnotmeanthe‘endoflife,’”Russellsays.“Itisnotageneralsentimentsuchasweexpresswhenwespeakofbeing‘truetothelast’;ithasadefinitemeaning,andreferstoaparticulartime.Itis‘theend’[totelos]spokenofbyourLordinhispropheticdiscourseontheMountofOlives(Matt.24:6,13,14).Itis‘theendoftheage’[synteleiatouaiōnos]ofMatthew13:40,49.Itis‘theend’(1Cor.15:24)....Alltheseformsofexpressionrefertothesameepoch—viz.,thecloseoftheaeonorJewishage,i.e.,theMosaicdispensation.”5Similarlyin1Corinthians3Paulreferstothecoming“day”:“...eachone’s

workwillbecomemanifest[clear];fortheDaywilldeclareit,becauseitwillberevealedbyfire;andthefirewilltesteachone’swork,ofwhatsortitis.Ifanyone’sworkwhichhehasbuiltonitendures,hewillreceiveareward.Ifanyone’sworkisburned,hewillsufferloss;buthehimselfwillbesaved,yetsoasthroughfire”(1Cor.3:13–15).InthispassagePaulmentionsagain“theDay.”Alreadyinchapter1Paulhad

spokenofwaitingforthedayoftheLord.Inchapter3hedescribesthemanifestationsthatwillaccompanythisdayandusestheimageoffire.Thedaywouldbeakindofcrucible,anordealoftestingbyfire.ItisclearthatthisdayissynonymouswiththedayoftheLordthatislinkedtotheparousiaofChrist.Thereferencetofirehasbeentakeninbothametaphoricalandaliteralsense.RussellpointstotheliteralburningofJerusalemasfulfillmentofthis.Later,inchapter7,Paulprovidesanothertime-framereference:“...thetime

isshort,sothatfromnowoneventhosewhohavewivesshouldbeasthough

theyhadnone,thosewhoweepasthoughtheydidnotweep,thosewhorejoiceasthoughtheydidnotrejoice,thosewhobuyasthoughtheydidnotpossess,andthosewhousethisworldasnotmisusingit.Fortheformofthisworldispassingaway”(1Cor.7:29–31).Pauldeclaresthat“thetimeisshort,”soshortthathisreadersshouldliveina

stylebefittinganemergencyorcrisissituation.CalvinandothersseethisasacompressionoftimebetweenthefirstadventofChristandhisstillfuturesecondadvent.Thisistheinterimofthelastdays.Theproblemwiththistraditionalviewisthetermshort.Thiswordcandefine

durationoftimeorlengthofspace.Inbothcasesitisarelativeterm.Wemayask,“Shortcomparedtowhat?”Fortyyearsisashorttimecomparedwith2,000years.Yet2,000yearsisashorttimecomparedwith15millionyears.Whenoneannouncestopeoplethataneventwilltakeplacewithinashorttime,however,theywouldhardlyunderstandthattomeanaperiodofmillennia.SurelytheCorinthianswouldnothaveunderstoodPaultobeurgingthemtodosomethingbecausethetimeisshortwheninfactitisthousandsofyearsaway.Inchapter10Paulspeaksagainoftheend:“Nowallthesethingshappenedto

them[allourfathers]asexamples,andtheywerewrittenforouradmonition,onwhomtheendsoftheageshavecome”(1Cor.10:11).Heretheapostlespeaksof“theendsoftheages”ashavingcomeuponthe

Jews.RussellseesthisasonemorereferencetothecloseoftheJewishage.“ItissometimessaidthatthewholeperiodbetweentheincarnationandtheendoftheworldisregardedintheNewTestamentas‘theendoftheage,’”Russellwrites.“Butthisbearsamanifestincongruityinitsveryfront.Howcouldtheendofaperiod...belongerthantheperiodofwhichitistheend?”6Laterin1CorinthiansPaultreatstheresurrectionofthesaints,whichisalso

soimportanttoChristianeschatologythatIwilldiscussitseparatelylater.FornowwewillcontinueabriefexcursionofrelevantpassagesintheEpistlesregardingthetime-frameofthecomingjudgment.

TreasuringUpWrath

InPaul’sEpistletotheRomans,wefindtwoimportantreferencestothedayoftheLordinchapter2:

Ordoyoudespisetherichesofhisgoodness,forbearance,andlongsuffering,notknowingthatthegoodnessofGodleadsyoutorepentance?ButinaccordancewithyourhardnessandyourimpenitentheartyouaretreasuringupforyourselfwrathinthedayofwrathandrevelationoftherighteousjudgmentofGod,who“willrendertoeachoneaccordingtohisdeeds”...(Rom.2:4–6).

...inthedaywhenGodwilljudgethesecretsofmenbyJesusChrist,accordingtomygospel(Rom.2:16).

Paulrefersto“thedayofwrath”and“thedaywhenGodwilljudgethesecretsofmen.”Presumablybothreferencesaretothesame“day.”Traditionalistsseethemasreferencestotheyetfuturelastjudgment.PreteristslikeRussellinterpretthesereferencesastheydoallotherreferencestothedayoftheLord:thisisthedarkdayofjudgmentthatbefellIsraelinthedestructionofJerusalem.Thoughtheabovetextslacktime-framereferences,theymayreasonablybe

linkedtolaterreferencesPaulmakesinthesameepistle:“Anddothis,knowingthetime,thatnowitishightimetoawakeoutofsleep;fornowoursalvationisnearerthanwhenwefirstbelieved.Thenightisfarspent,thedayisathand.Thereforeletuscastofftheworksofdarkness,andletusputonthearmoroflight”(Rom.13:11–12).Thispassageissomewhatenigmatic.Paulassumesthathisreadersknowthe

time.CharlesHodgeunderstandsthistomeansimplythatthereadersunderstoodsomethingofthesignificanceoftheredemptive-historicaltimeinwhichtheylived.Paulthengivesawake-upcallbasedontherelativenearnessofsalvation—itwasnearerthanwhentheyfirstbelieved.Hodgeprovidesthreealternativeinterpretationsofthispassage:

...Thefirstis,thatitmeansthatthetimeofsalvation,orspecialfavourtotheGentiles,andofthedestructionoftheJews,wasfastapproaching....Butforthisthereisnofoundationinthesimplemeaningofthewords,norinthecontext.PaulevidentlyreferstosomethingofmoregeneralandpermanentinterestthantheoverthrowoftheJewishnation,andtheconsequentfreedomoftheGentileconvertsfromtheirpersecutions.Thenightthatwasfarspent,wasnotthenightofsorrowarisingfromJewishbigotry;andthedaythatwasathandwassomethingbrighterandbetterthandeliverancefromitspower.Asecondinterpretation...is,thatthereferenceistothesecondadventofChrist.ItisassumedthattheearlyChristians,andeventheinspiredapostles,wereundertheconstantimpressionthatChristwastoappearinpersonfortheestablishmentofhiskingdom,beforethatgenerationpassedaway....Thethirdandmostcommon,aswellasthemostnaturalinterpretationofthispassageis,thatPaul

meantsimplytoremindthemthatthetimeofdeliverancewasnear....Thesalvation,therefore,hereintended,istheconsummationoftheworkofChristintheirdeliverancefromthispresentevilworld,andintroductionintothepurityandblessednessofheaven.7

Ofhisthreeoptions,Hodgefavorsthethird:thenearnessofthebelieverstoenteringintotheirheavenlyrest.Hisfirsttwooptions,whichhesharplydifferentiates,arecombinedbypreterists.ThedifficultywiththethirdoptionisthatPauldoesnotordinarilyspeakofredemptive“time”inthismanner.Hodgeisconcernedabouttheproblemsfacedinoptions1and2ofunfulfilledprophecy,andthisalmostforceshimtochooseoption3.C.K.Barretttakesadifferentview:

...Like“time,”“hour”isaneschatologicalterm,thoughitisnotcharacteristicofPaul....“Sleep”tooisametaphorwhichoftenoccursineschatologicaladmonitions(e.g.,1Thess.5:6–10).MenwholiveontheedgeoftheAgetoComecannotaffordtorelaxtheirvigilance....butPaulisnotthinkingofsalvationinapietisticwayassomethingthathappenstousinourexperience,butasauniversaleschatologicalevent.ThelapseoftimebetweentheconversionofPaulandofhisreadersandthemomentofwritingisasignificantproportionofthetotalintervalbetweentheresurrectionofJesusandhisparousiaatthelastday....Paulmeansthatthisagehasalmostrunitscourse,andthataccordinglytheAgetoComemustvery

soondawn.8

RussellcanvassesotherNewTestamentEpistles.HecitestworeferencesinPaul’sLettertotheColossians:“WhenChristwhoisourlifeappears,thenyoualsowillappearwithhiminglory....BecauseofthesethingsthewrathofGodiscominguponthesonsofdisobedience...”(Col.3:4,6).RussellseesalinkbetweenthesetextsinColossiansandPaul’steachingin

Romans8:19regardingtheglorythatisabouttoberevealed.Heseesthisasanallusiontothesameeventandthesametimeperiod.AgainthecontrastismentionedbetweenthecominggloryofthepeopleofGodandthecomingwrathontheenemiesofGod.

GatheringTogetherAllThings

ThenRussellturnshisattentiontoPaul’sLettertotheEphesians:

Inhimwehaveredemptionthroughhisblood,theforgivenessofsins,accordingtotherichesofhisgracewhichhemadetoaboundtowardusinallwisdomandprudence,havingmadeknowntousthemysteryofhiswill,accordingtohisgoodpleasurewhichhepurposedinhimself,thatinthedispensationofthefullnessofthetimeshemightgathertogetherinoneallthingsinChrist,bothwhichareinheavenandwhichareonearth...(Eph.1:7–10).

Twoelementsofthispassagerelatetotheissueathand.Thefirstelementisthetermmystery.Thisterm,afavoriteofPaul’s,referstothatwhichoncewashiddenbutisnowbeingrevealed.Thechiefmysteryofwhichhespeaks(particularlyinColossians)istheinclusionoftheGentilesinthebodyofChrist.ThesecondelementisPaul’sreferenceto“thedispensationofthefullnessofthetimes.”Thetermdispensationmaybetranslatedhere“economy.”Thiseconomyisrelatedto“thefullnessofthetimes”andincludesthegatheringtogetherinoneallthingsinChrist.Russellsaysofthis:

HesawthebarriersofseparationbetweenJewandGentile,theantipathiesofraces,“themiddlewallofpartition,”brokendownbyChrist,andonegreatfamilyorbrotherhoodformedoutofallnations,andkindreds,andpeoples,andtongues,undertheall-reconcilingandunitingpoweroftheatoningblood.Wecannotbemistaken,then,inunderstandingthismysteryofthe“gatheringtogetherinoneof

allthingsinChrist”asthesamewhichismorefullyexplainedinchapter3:5,6,“themysterywhichinotherageswasnotmadeknownuntothesonsofmen,asitisnowrevealeduntohisholyapostlesandprophetsbytheSpirit;thattheGentilesshouldbefellow-heirs,andofthesamebody,andpartakersofhispromiseinChristbythegospel.”Thisistheunification,“thesummingup,”orconsummation,towhichtheapostlemakessuchfrequentreferenceinthisepistle....9

C.LeslieMittoncommentsonEphesians1:7–10thattheplanforthefullnessoftimeisastrategycarefullydesignedbyGodandrootedinhiseternalplan.“ItwassomethingwhichGodhadlongintended,”Mittonsays,“somethinghewaitedtoimplementatthatprecisemomentwhenChrist’spresenceonearthwouldprovetobemosttimelyandeffective....Hewouldcomewhenthetimewasjustopportuneforhimtomakethemaximumimpact....Greekhadmorethanonewordfor‘time.’Thewordusedhereisonewhichwouldnotbeusedforavagueperiodoftime,amerelyuneventfulaccumulationofminutes,hoursanddays,butratherforsome‘time’ormomentofintensesignificance.”10MittonseesthelinkbetweenthesewordsandthewordsofJesusinMark

1:15:“Thetimeisfulfilled.”Russellseesitasareferenceto“theregeneration”ortimesofrefreshingmentionedinMatthew19:28and“thetimesofrestoration”mentionedinActs3:21.RussellarguesthatalloftheseeventstakeplaceatthecloseoftheJewishage.HecitestheobservationofW.J.ConybeareandJ.S.Howsonconcerning“theagestocome”mentionedinEphesians2:7:“‘Intheageswhicharecoming’;viz.thetimeofChrist’sperfecttriumphoverevil,alwayscontemplatedintheNewTestamentasnearathand.”11ReferencestotheparousiainthePastoralEpistlesarenumerous.Russell’slist

ofthesereferencestothelasttimesisreproducedintable4.1.Russellconcludesthatalloftheseversesrefertothesameperiodortime.Alleitherassumeordirectlyaffirmthattheirtime-frameisnotfardistant,thattheymustoccurwithinthelifetimeofthegenerationthatrejectedChrist,andthatthedestructionofJerusalemisthecloseoftheage,theend,andthedayoftheLord.12

Table4.1ReferencestotheLastTimes

TheEndoftheAge

Matt.13:39 Theharvestistheendoftheage.

Matt.13:40 Soitwillbeattheendofthisage.

Matt.13:49 Soitwillbeattheendoftheage.

Matt.24:3 WhatwillbethesignofYourcoming,andoftheendoftheage?

Matt.28:20 Iamwithyoualways,eventotheendoftheage.

Heb.9:26 Butnow,onceattheendoftheages,Hehasappeared.

TheEnd

Matt.10:22 Hewhoendurestotheendwillbesaved.

Matt.24:6 Buttheendisnotyet.

Matt.24:13 Hewhoendurestotheendshallbesaved.

Matt.24:14 Thentheendwillcome.

1Cor.3:13 Thedaywilldeclareit.

Heb.10:25 YouseetheDayapproaching.

ThatDay

Matt.7:22 ManywillsaytoMeinthatday,“Lord,Lord.”

Matt.24:36 Butofthatdayandhournooneknows.

Luke10:12 ItwillbemoretolerableinthatDayforSodom.

Luke21:34 Thatdaycomesonyouunexpectedly.

1Thess.5:4 ThatthisDayshouldovertakeyouasathief.

2Thess.2:3 ThatDaywillnotcomeunlessthefallingawaycomesfirst.

2Tim.1:12 HeisabletokeepwhatIhavecommittedtoHimuntilthatDay.

2Tim.1:18 ThathemayfindmercyfromtheLordinthatDay.

2Tim.4:8 Thecrown...whichtheLord...willgivetomeonthatDay.

TheDayoftheLord

1Cor.1:8 ThatyoumaybeblamelessinthedayofourLordJesusChrist.

1Cor.5:5 ThathisspiritmaybesavedinthedayoftheLordJesus.

2Cor.1:14 Youalsoareours,inthedayoftheLordJesus.

Phil.2:16 ThatImayrejoiceinthedayofChrist.

1Thess.5:2 ThedayoftheLordsocomesasathiefinthenight.

TheDayofGod

2Pet.3:12 LookingforandhasteningthecomingofthedayofGod.

TheGreatDay

Acts2:20 ThegreatandnotabledayoftheLord.

Jude6 Thejudgmentofthegreatday.

Rev.6:17 ThegreatdayofHiswrathhascome.

Rev.16:14 ThebattleofthatgreatdayofGodAlmighty.

TheDayofWrath

Rom.2:5 Treasuringupforyourselfwrathinthedayofwrath.

Rev.6:17 ThegreatdayofHiswrathhascome.

TheDayofJudgment

Matt.10:15 Itwillbemoretolerable...inthedayofjudgment.

Matt.11:22 Itwillbemoretolerable...inthedayofjudgment.

Matt.11:24 Itshallbemoretolerable...inthedayofjudgment.

Matt.12:36 Theywillgiveaccountofitinthedayofjudgment.

2Pet.2:9 Toreservetheunjust...forthedayofjudgment.

2Pet.3:7 Thedayofjudgmentandperditionofungodlymen.

1John4:17 Thatwemayhaveboldnessinthedayofjudgment.

TheDayofRedemption

Eph.4:30 Youweresealedforthedayofredemption.

TheLastDay

John6:39 Ishouldraiseitupatthelastday.

John6:40 Iwillraisehimupatthelastday.

John11:24 Hewillriseagainintheresurrectionatthelastday.

Closelyconnectedwiththetextsthatrefertothelastdaysarethosethatrefertotheapostasythatistocome.Russellsuppliesanevenlongercatalogueofreferencestofalseprophets,falseChrists,falseteachers,falseapostles,deceivers,andsoforth.Regardingthesereferences,Russellreachesthefollowingconclusions:

1. Thattheyallrefertothesamegreatdefectionfromthefaith,designatedbySt.Paul“theapostasy.”

2. Thatthisapostasywastobeverygeneralandwidespread.3. Thatitwastobemarkedbyanextremedepravityofmorals,

particularlybysinsoftheflesh.4. Thatitwastobeaccompaniedbypretensionstomiraculouspower.5. Thatitwaslargely,ifnotchiefly,Jewishinitscharacter.6. ThatitrejectedtheincarnationanddivinityoftheLordJesusChrist—

i.e.,wasthepredictedAntichrist.

7. Thatitwastoreachitsfulldevelopmentinthe“lasttimes,”andwastobetheprecursoroftheparousia.13

RussellnotesthattheevilsPaulwarnsaboutinthefuturearerepresentedbybothJohnandPeterasbeingactuallypresent.TheauthorofHebrewssaysGodhasspokenbyhisSon“intheselastdays”

(1:2).ClearlythepassageassignsJesus’searthlyministrytothe“lastdays.”Mightthequalifierthesehintatadistinctionbetweenthelastdaysthatincludedtheincarnationandsomeotherstill-futurelastdays?Regardlesssuchaninference,onethingiscertain:Jesus’searthlyministrybelongedtosomeaspectorcategoryofthelastdays.

AppearingaSecondTime

WhileexploringtherestoftheEpistletotheHebrews,wenotesomeimportanttexts,particularlyinchapters9–10.

Thereforeitwasnecessarythatthecopiesofthethingsintheheavensshouldbepurifiedwiththese,buttheheavenlythingsthemselveswithbettersacrificesthanthese.ForChristhasnotenteredtheholyplacesmadewithhands,whicharecopiesofthetrue,butintoheavenitself,nowtoappearinthepresenceofGodforus;notthatheshouldofferhimselfoften,asthehighpriestenterstheMostHolyPlaceeveryyearwithbloodofanother—hethenwouldhavehadtosufferoftensincethefoundationoftheworld;butnow,onceattheendoftheages,hehasappearedtoputawaysinbythesacrificeofhimself.Andasitisappointedformentodieonce,butafterthisthejudgment,soChristwasofferedoncetobearthesinsofmany.Tothosewhoeagerlywaitforhimhewillappearasecondtime,apartfromsin,forsalvation(Heb.9:23–28).

ThispassagereferstoboththefirstandsecondappearancesofChrist.Thecontextforhisfirstappearanceis“theendoftheages.”Yethisfollowersarestillwaitingforhimtoappearasecondtime.SimonJ.Kistemakercomments:“WhendidChristcome?TheauthorofHebrewswrites,‘attheendoftheages.’Thisdoesnothavetorefertotheendoftime,becauseinthesamecontextthewritersaysthatChristwillappearasecondtime(v.28).TheexpressionapparentlypointstothetotalimpactofChrist’scomingandtheeffectofhisatoningwork.Andbecauseofhistriumphoversin,weliveinthelastage.”14Thisexpositionisabitcurious.Kistemakerdrawstheconclusionthatthe

expression“endoftheages”neednotrefertotheendoftime.Thisseemstobemorethanamildunderstatement.IfChrist’sfirstcomingat“theendoftheages”hasalreadyoccurredandifconsiderabletimehaselapsedsincethatcoming,thenitisimpossibletoidentify“theendoftheages”withtheendoftime.Ifthe

secondappearingofChristherereferstohisjudgmentonJerusalem,itwouldstillfitintheframeworkof“theendoftheages”thatisnottheendofalltime.IfthesecondcomingreferstoJesus’scomingattheendoftime,thenwemustdistinguishbetweentwodifferent“lasttimes.”Orwemustcompressthetimethathaselapsedsincetheatonementintoalengthyinterimoflasttimesandconsiderourpresenttimeasacontinuationofthelastage,asKistemakerapparentlydoes.PhilipEdgcumbeHughestreatsthepassageinsimilarfashion:“Allthat

precededtheadventofChristwasleadinguptothisclimacticeventwhichisthefocalpointforthetrueperspectiveofallhumanhistory.Withhiscomingthelongyearsofdesireandexpectationareendedandthelast,theeschatological,eraofthepresentworldisinaugurated(cf.Heb.1:2).Consequently,wewholivesincehiscomingarethose‘uponwhomtheendoftheagehascome’(1Cor.10:11).”15IntheverynextchapterofHebrews,theauthorspeaksofthe“Day

approaching”:

Therefore,brethren,havingboldnesstoentertheHoliestbythebloodofJesus,byanewandlivingwaywhichheconsecratedforus,throughtheveil,thatis,hisflesh,andhavingaHighPriestoverthehouseofGod,letusdrawnearwithatrueheartinfullassuranceoffaith,havingourheartssprinkledfromanevilconscienceandourbodieswashedwithpurewater.Letusholdfasttheconfessionofourhopewithoutwavering,forhewhopromisedisfaithful.Andletusconsideroneanotherinordertostiruploveandgoodworks,notforsakingtheassemblingofourselvestogether,asisthemannerofsome,butexhortingoneanother,andsomuchthemoreasyouseetheDayapproaching(Heb.10:19–25).

ThistextincludesanexhortationthatfollowstheteachingoftheperfectsacrificeofChrist.Theexhortationisintensifiedinlightofthereader’svisionoftheapproachingday.Russell,ofcourse,seesthisasareferencetothenearnessofJerusalem’sdestructionandallthatthisentails.ThenearnessofChrist’scomingisreinforcedinverse37:“Foryetalittlewhile,andhewhoiscomingwillcomeandwillnottarry”(Heb.10:37).ItisdifficulttoescapetheconclusionthattheauthorofHebrewslinksthe

approachingdaywiththecomingofChristandsaysthatbotharecloseathand.Hughestreatsthisinthefollowingmanner:

Whenspokenofinthisabsolutemanner,“theDay”canmeanonlythelastday,thatultimateeschatologicalday,whichisthedayofreckoningandjudgment,knownastheDayoftheLord....ManyhavesuggestedthattheremaybeamoreproximatereferencebyourauthortotheimpendingdestructionofJerusalemandwithitoftheoldorderofthings(AD70),inadditiontotheeschatologicalconnotationoftheterm....While,however,theeventsofAD70wereinvestedwiththemostportentoussignificance(cf.Matt.24),andinthepropheticperspectivetherecouldbelesser“daysoftheLord”whichpointedtothecertaintyoftheultimatedayofjudgment,“theDay,”withoutanyqualificationandthereforeemphaticintheabsolutenessofitssignificance,mustbethedayof

Christ’sreturnwhenthispresentagewillbebroughttoitsconclusionandhiseverlastingkingdomoverthenewheavenandthenewearthuniversallyestablished.16

Hughesisemphaticthat“theDay”referstothefinalandconsummatedayoftheLord.Yethespeaksof“lesser”daysoftheLordsuchastheoneinAD70.Hefeelssomeoftheweightofthelanguageattachedtothiscomingdaysuggestingitsnearness.Hewrites:

But,itmaybeobjected,ifthewriterofHebrewsandhisreadersdidindeedbelievethatthisDaywasdrawingnear,itsnon-arrivalwouldseemtohavefalsifiedtheirexpectation.NearlytwomillenniahavenowpassedandtheDayhasnotcome:canitseriouslyberegardedasotherthanamistakenexpectationandanon-event?This,however,isnotatallanewprobleminthechurch....JustasthepromiseofthefirstcomingofChrist,thoughapparentlylongdelayedinitsfulfillment,wasprovedtruebytheevent,soitwillbewiththepromiseconcerningthedayofhissecondcoming....“TheperiodbetweenthefirstadventofChristandhisparousiaistheend-time,the‘lastdays,’the‘lasthour,’”writesF.F.Bruce.“Whateverthedurationoftheperiodmaybe,forfaith‘thetimeisathand’(Rev.1:3).EachsuccessiveChristiangenerationiscalledupontoliveasthegenerationoftheend-time,ifitistoliveasaChristiangeneration.”17

Thislineofreasoningbegsthequestion.Ifindeedthepromiseisfulfilledwhentheeventtranspires,thisdoesnotmeanthatthepromisedtime-frameisalsoproventrue.WhenF.F.Brucespeaksoffaithmakingthetimebe“athand,”thissoundsalltoomuchlikeRudolfBultmann’sfamoustheologyoftimelessness,whichremovestheobjectoffaithfromtherealmofrealhistoryandconsignsittoasupertemporalrealmofthealwayspresenthicetnunc.Russellcounteredsimilartheoriesinhisownday.“ItisnottruethattheParousia‘isalwaysnear,andalwaysreadytobreakforthuponthechurch,’”hesays,“anymorethanthatthebirthofChrist,hiscrucifixion,orhisresurrection,isalwaysreadytobreakforth.”18

5WHATABOUTTHEDESTRUCTIONOF

JERUSALEM?

Notonestoneshallbelefthereuponanother,thatshallnotbethrowndown.

Matthew24:2

TheNewTestamentwaswritteninGreekratherthanHebrew.ThiswasthecasebecausePalestinewasageopoliticalfootball,tossedtoandfroamongtheworldpowersofantiquity.Thistinynation,aboutthesizeofMarylandandonlyslightlylargerthanVermont,wassituatedonalandbridgethatconnectedthreecontinents,Europe,Asia,andAfrica.Whoevercontrolledthisbridgecontrolledthetraderoutesconnectingthesecontinents.IsraelexperiencedconquestanddominationbytheEgyptians,theAssyrians,

theBabylonians,thePersians,theGreeks,andtheRomans,tonamebutafew.TheNewTestamentwaswritteninGreekasaconsequenceofthemilitarytriumphsofAlexandertheGreat.AlexanderwasastudentofAristotle.Aristotle’spassionformetaphysicalandscientificunitywastranslatedbyhismostillustriouspupilintoapassionforculturalunity.PartofhiszealinmilitaryconquestwastoexportGreekculturetotheentireMediterraneanworld.AtthecloseoftheOldTestamentperiod,Palestinewasunderthecontrolof

thePersianEmpire.InthefourthcenturyBC,AlexanderconqueredthePersians.HealsowenttoEgyptandestablishedthecityofAlexandria(331),whichbecameacenterofHellenisticphilosophyandculture.In323AlexandermarchedtoBabylon,wherehecontractedafeveranddiedatage32.Hiskingdomwasdividedamonghisgenerals,themostimportantofwhomproducedthePtolemaicdynastyinEgyptandtheSeleuciddynastyinSyriaandtheeast.

PalestinewasannexedtoEgyptbyPtolemyIin320BC.ThisregimeallowedtheJewishpeopletopracticetheirreligionfreely.In198BCAntiochusIIIoftheSeleuciddynastywrestedcontrolofPalestinefromthePtolemiesandannexedittoSyria.TheSeleucidsembarkedonasystematicprogramofHellenizingPalestine.In175BCtheHellenizationprocessreacheditsapex(ornadir)under

AntiochusEpiphanes,whocapturedJerusalem,plunderedthetemple,andmassacredmanyofitscitizens.HeoutlawedobservanceoftheSabbath,thepracticeofcircumcision,andthepossessionoftheHebrewScriptures,declaringallthreetobecapitalcrimes.TheseextrememeasuresgaverisetotheMaccabeanrevolt,whichfinallyledtofreedomin142BC.ThisfreedomendureduntilPalestinewasoncemoreconqueredbyaforeignpower.PalestinewassubjugatedbytheRomansin63BC.ThoughtheNewTestamentwaswrittenintheGreeklanguage,itwaswritten

duringaperiodofRomandominion.JesuswasbornduringthereignofCaesarAugustusandlivedwhentheRomanofficialPontiusPilatewasprocurator.ThehistoryoftheNewTestamenteraisintertwinedwiththehistoryoftheRomanEmpire.Intherootsoftheseintertwininghistories,thereisanirony.TheProphet

IsaiahwascalledintheyearthatKingUzziahdied(Isa.6:1–13).Thatyearhasbeencitedas758BC.“ItwasinthisyearthatIsraelasapeoplewasgivenuptohardnessofheart,andasakingdomandcountrytodevastationandannihilationbytheimperialpoweroftheworld,”FranzDelitzschwrites.“Howsignificantafact,asJeromeobservesinconnectionwiththispassage,thattheyearofUzziah’sdeathshouldbetheyearinwhichRomuluswasborn;andthatitwasonlyashorttimeafterthedeathofUzziah(viz.754BCaccordingtoVarro’schronology)thatRomeitselfwasfounded!ThenationalgloryofIsraeldiedoutwithkingUzziah,andhasneverrevivedtothisday.”1AccordingtosomeinterpretersoftheOldTestament,theProphetDaniel

predictedthedominionoftheRomanEmpireinhisinterpretationofNebuchadnezzar’sdreamofthecolossus(Dan.4:19–27).SomeseethefourempiresdenotedthereasthoseofBabylon,Medo-Persia,Greece,andRome.2PalestinecameunderRomandominionin63BCwhenPompeytook

possessionofJerusalem.PompeyisfamousinWesternhistoryforbeingpartoftheFirstTriumviratein60BCwithJuliusCaesarandCrassus.Afterdissensiondevelopedamongthethree,Caesaremergedasthedictator.InWilliamShakespeare’sJuliusCaesar,Caesar,assassinatedintheRomanForumbyBrutus,fallsdeadatthefootofthebustofPompey.

WithPompey’sconquestofJerusalem,theJewishkingshipwasabolishedandJudeawasrequiredtopaytributetoRome.ForatimetheJewswereallowedtohavenativerulers.DuringthereignofJuliusCaesar,concessionsweremadetotheJewsregardingtaxationandexemptionfrommilitaryservice.CaesarnamedAntipater,anIdumeanruler,asprocuratoroftheJewishnation.AfterthedeathofCaesar,theSecondTriumviratewasformedbyMarkAnthony(ofAnthonyandCleopatrafame),Octavian(wholaterbecameCaesarAugustus),andLepidus.In27BCOctavianbecamethefirstemperorofRome,andhereigneduntilhis

deathinAD14.HewassucceededbyhisadoptedsonTiberius,whoreigneduntilAD37.TiberiuswasfollowedbythenotoriousCaligula,whoheldpoweruntilhewasassassinatedinAD41.HewasfollowedbyClaudiusI,whoreigneduntilAD54.ClaudiuswassucceededbyNero,whoruledfromAD54to68.FollowingthedeathofNero,theempirewasinupheavalandapowerstruggle

ensued.NerowassucceededbyGalba,whowassoonkilledandreplacedbyOthoinAD69.He,inturn,waskilledandreplacedbyVitellius.VitelliushadthesupportoftheSenate,butnotthemilitary.FollowersofVespasiancapturedRome,killedVitellius,andproclaimedVespasianemperor.VespasianruledfromAD69to79andwasemperoratthetimeofJerusalem’sdestruction.

TheJewishHistorian

AneyewitnesstoJerusalem’sdestructionwasFlaviusJosephus.JamesL.PriceoffersthefollowingsynopsisofthisJewishhistorian’slifeandcareer:

JosephuswasbornatJerusaleminAD37–38,thefirstyearoftheEmperorCaligula’sreign.Thetimeofhisdeathisnotknown,butheoutlivedHerodAgrippa,forJosephusrecordsthelatter’sdeathinAD100.Josephuswasthesonofapriest.HeclaimeddescentfromtheHasmoneans.AsayoungmanhewasattractedbytheteachingsofvariouspartiesandsectsinPalestinebuteventuallyhejoinedthepopularparty,thePharisees.DuringtheprocuratorshipofFelix,JosephuswenttoRometoobtainthereleaseofsomearrestedpriests.ShortlyafterhisreturntheJewishwarbegan.PerhapstheimpressionsofRomanpowerwhichhehadgainedledJosephustoattempttothwartthefoolishrebellioninPalestine.ButhewassweptintothemaelstromasapartisanandforatimeheldapositionofmilitaryleadershipinGalilee.AftertheRomanvictoriesinthisregionandhisarrest,Josephussoughttomediatebetweenthewarringgroups.ItwasnotapopularpositionforhewassuspectedbytheRomansandhatedbytheJews.Hewasable,nonetheless,toobservemuchofthewaratfirsthand.AfterwardshewitnessedthetriumphalprocessionofTitusatRome.Helivedthere,untilhisdeath,inordertoreceivecitizenshipandvariousprivileges,andtowritehis“apologies.”HeassumedthefamilynameoftheEmperorVespasian,Flavius.3

Josephuswrotefourmajorworks:TheJewishWar,TheAntiquitiesoftheJews,TheLifeofFlaviusJosephus,andAgainstApion.4Hewasacontroversialperson,asPricehasnoted,andwaszealoustovindicatebothhimselfasahistorianandhispeople,theJews.Hiscredibilityasahistorianwassharplycriticizedbynineteenth-centuryscholars.Hiswritingsreflectacertainbiasattimesandaformofself-aggrandizement.Hehasbeenchargedwithexaggerating,particularlythenumbersofthoseslaininvariousbattlesandevenmoreparticularlythenumberofpeoplekilledintheRomans’conquestofJerusalem.YetJosephusprovidesaninvaluableresourceforhistimes,especiallyasaneyewitnesstothefallofJerusalem.“WithoutthewritingsofJosephus,aconnectednarrativeofJewishhistoryinNewTestamenttimeswouldbeimpossible,”saysPrice.“Fewwoulddenyhimaplaceamongthegreatesthistoriansoftheancientworld.”5InhisprefacetoTheWarsoftheJews,Josephuspromisesanaccountthatis

accuratewithrespecttoboththeRomanconquerorsandhisJewishcountrymen:

Butifanyonemakesanunjustaccusationagainstus,whenwespeaksopassionatelyaboutthetyrants,ortherobbers,orsorelybewailthemisfortunesofourcountry,lethimindulgemyaffectionsherein,thoughitbecontrarytotherulesforwritinghistory;becauseithadsocometopass,thatourcityJerusalemhadarrivedatahigherdegreeoffelicitythananyothercityundertheRomangovernment,andyetatlastfellintothesorestofcalamitiesagain.Accordinglyitappearstome,thatthemisfortunesofallmen,fromthebeginningoftheworld,iftheybecomparedtotheseoftheJews,arenotsoconsiderableastheywere;whiletheauthorsofthemwerenotforeignersneither.Thismakesitimpossibleformetocontainmylamentations.But,ifanyonebeinflexibleinhiscensuresofme,lethimattributethefactsthemselvestothehistoricalpart,andthelamentationstothewriterhimselfonly.6

JosephuswaspassionatelyinvolvedinhisownaccountoftheRomanconquestofPalestine.Hehadaprofoundaffectionforhispeople,andhewaspersonallyinvolvedinthewaritself.ThedestructionofJerusalemdidnotoccurovernightbutwasthefinalblowinalengthyseriesofmilitaryexpeditionsagainstPalestine.BeforethesiegeofJerusalem,manybattleswerefoughtastheRomanssystematicallyandrelentlesslymovedacrossthelandlikeajuggernaut.Josephus’saccountofmanypreliminaryeventsreadslikeachronicleoffulfilledbiblicalprophecy.Hereferstotheriseoffalseprophets(2.13),amassacreinJerusalem(2.14),theslaughterofJewsinAlexandria(2.18),andtheinvasionofGalilee(3.4).OneofJosephus’smostfascinatingaccountsisthatofthesiegeandconquest

ofthecityofJotapata.HeprovidesvividinsightsintothestrategiesandtacticsemployedbytheRomanmilitary.Josephushimselfwasthegeneralinchargeof

defendingthecity.TheRomanattackerswereledbyVespasian(whowasnotyetemperor).Vespasiansurroundedthecitywithhistroopsandlaidsiegetoit.JosephusdescribesthebatteringramtheRomansusedonJotapata’s

fortifications:

Thebatteringramisavastbeamofwoodlikethemastofaship;itsfore-partisarmedwithathickpieceofironattheheadofit,whichissocarvedastobeliketheheadofaram,whenceitsnameistaken.Thisramisslungintheairbyropespassingoveritsmiddle,andishunglikethebalanceinapairofscalesfromanotherbeam,andbracedbystrongbeamsthatpassonbothsidesofitinthenatureofacross.Whenthisramispulledbackwardbyagreatnumberofmenwithunitedforce,andthenthrustforwardbythesamemen,withamightynoise,itbattersthewallswiththatironpartwhichisprominent;noristhereanytowersostrong,orwallssobroad,thatcanresistanymorethanitsfirstbatteries,butallareforcedtoyieldtoitatlast.7

JosephustellsoftheJews’ingeniousploystothwartthebattering-ramattack,suchaspouringsacksofchaffthatturnedasidethethrustsoftheram,andpouringscaldingoilontheRomansoldiersoperatingtheram.Thesiegewentonforoverforty-fivedaysuntiltheRomansbrokeinto

Jotapataandslayeditsinhabitants.TheRomanstookcaptive1,200womenandchildren,accordingtoJosephus.Duringthecourseoftheseevents,40,000wereslain.Josephushimselfsurvivedbyhidinginadeeppit.Buthewasbetrayedandwastakencaptive.Accordingtohisownaccount,JosephuswassparedbyVespasianbecauseofhisvaliantbehaviorduringthesiege.Thisledtoalong-termpersonalrelationshipbetweenJosephusandboth

VespasianandhissonTitus.ThisdevelopmentenabledJosephustoactasawitnesstobothsidesintheensuingstruggleoverJerusalem.Inthecrisissurroundinghiscapture,Josephusclaimedtohavedreamsofpropheticimport.Hisdescriptionrevealsmuchofhisownself-consciousnessregardingthedramaoftheseevents:

NowJosephuswasabletogiveshrewdconjecturesabouttheinterpretationofsuchdreamsashavebeenambiguouslydeliveredbyGod.Moreover,hewasnotunacquaintedwiththepropheciescontainedinthesacredbooks,asbeingapriesthimself,andoftheposterityofpriests:andjustthenwasheinanecstasy;andsettingbeforehimthetremendousimagesofthedreamshehadlatelyhad,heputupasecretprayertoGod,andsaid,“Sinceitpleaseththee,whohastcreatedtheJewishnation,todepressthesame,andsincealltheirgoodfortuneisgoneovertotheRomans;andsincethouhastmadechoiceofthissoulofminetoforetellwhatistocometopasshereafter,Iwillinglygivethemmyhands,andamcontenttolive.AndIprotestopenly,thatIdonotgoovertotheRomansasadeserteroftheJews,butasaministerfromthee.”8

ThistestimonyrevealsthatJosephusthoughtofhimselfasageneral,astatesman,ahistorian,apriest,andaprophet.ItalsoindicatesthathesawthehandofProvidenceinthetragiceventsunfoldingbeforehisveryeyes.

ThroughouthishistoryheindicatesthatthefortuneoftheJewsisthedirectresultofdivinechastisement.Inbook4JosephusrecountshowcertainEdomitesdesecratedthetempleinJerusalemandhowtheZealotsfulfilledancientprophecies:

Thesemen,therefore,trampleduponallthelawsofman,andlaughedatthelawsofGod;andfortheoraclesoftheprophets,theyridiculedthemasthetricksofjugglers;yetdidtheseprophetsforetellmanythingsconcerning[therewardsof]virtue,and[punishmentsof]vice,whichwhenthesezealotsviolated,theyoccasionedthefulfillingofthoseverypropheciesbelongingtotheirowncountry:fortherewasacertainancientoracleofthosemen,thatthecityshouldthenbetakenandthesanctuaryburnt,byrightofwar,whenaseditionshouldinvadetheJews,andtheirownhandshouldpollutethetempleofGod.Now,whilethesezealotsdidnot[quite]disbelievethesepredictions,theymadethemselvestheinstrumentsoftheiraccomplishment.9

TheRomanAttackontheCity

JosephusthentellshowtheinvasionwasinterruptedwhenthenewsarrivedofthedeathofNero.AfterVitelliuswaskilledandVespasianwasproclaimedemperorbyhistroops,VespasianmadeajourneytoRome.HissonTitusreturnedtoJerusalemtocarryonthewaragainsttheJews.MeanwhileVespasianreleasedJosephusfromhisbonds.Inbook5JosephusprovidesavividdescriptionofJerusalematthetimeofthe

war,givingsuchdetailsasthesizeofthewallsandthetowers.HecarefullydescribesthetempleitselfandthesizeofthestonesHerodhadusedinitsconstruction.Someofthestoneswereforty-fivecubitslong,fivecubitshigh,andsixcubitswide.InanearlyattacktheRomanscaststonesandshotarrowsatthecity.The

barrageofstonesfellonthecitylikehail.JosephusrecordstheJews’strangeresponse:“...theyatfirstwatchedthecomingofthestone,foritwasofawhitecolor,andcouldthereforenotonlybeperceivedbythegreatnoiseitmade,butcouldbeseenalsobeforeitcamebyitsbrightness;accordinglythewatchmenthatsatuponthetowersgavethemnoticewhentheenginewasletgo,andthestonecamefromit,andcriedoutaloudintheirowncountrylanguage,‘THESTONECOMETH’;sothosethatwereinitswaystoodoff,andthrewthemselvesdownupontheground;bywhichmeans,andbytheirthusguardingthemselves,thestonefelldownanddidthemnoharm.”10Thereisatextualdisputeconcerningtheoriginalwordingofthesentence

“Thestonecometh.”Certainmanuscriptsread“Thesoncometh.”J.StuartRussellseesgreatsignificanceinthelatterrendition,whichisprobablyoriginal.Hewrites:

ItcouldnotbutbewellknowntotheJewsthatthegreathopeandfaithoftheChristianswasthespeedycomingoftheSon.Itwasaboutthisverytime,accordingtoHegesippus,thatSt.James,thebrotherofourLord,publiclytestifiedinthetemplethat“theSonofmanwasabouttocomeinthecloudsofheaven,”andthensealedhistestimonywithhisblood.ItseemshighlyprobablethattheJews,intheirdefiantanddesperateblasphemy,whentheysawthewhitemasshurtlingthroughtheair,raisedtheribaldcry,“TheSoniscoming,”inmockeryoftheChristianhopeoftheParousia,towhichtheymighttracealudicrousresemblanceinthestrangeappearanceofthemissle.11

Inbook5Josephusrecordshisformerpleastohisownpeopletorepentoftheirsins.HesawthattheirfightwasultimatelynotagainsttheRomansbutagainstGod.“WhereforeIcannotbutsupposethatGodisfledoutofhissanctuary,andstandsonthesideofthoseagainstwhomyoufight,”Josephuswrites.“Nowevenaman,ifhebebutagoodman,willflyfromanimpurehouse,andwillhatethosethatareinit;anddoyoupersuadeyourselvesthatGodwillabidewithyouinyouriniquities,whoseesallsecretthings,andhearswhatiskeptmostprivate!”12IncastigatingtheJewsfortheirsins,Josephusclaimedthathisown

generationwasmorewickedthananygenerationbeforeit,anassessmentremarkablysimilartothatofJesus.Inbook6Josephusrehearsesthehorrorsthathadbefallentheinhabitantsof

JerusalemduringthesiegeunderTitus.Josephusdescribesawomanwho,inthemidstofthefaminecausedbythesiege,tookherbabywhohadbeensuckingatherbreastandkilledit.Shethenroastedherownchild,atehalfofitsbody,andofferedtheresttobystanders.Theyexpressedtheiruttercontemptforheractionsandleftthesceneinaspiritoftrembling.JosephusthendescribestheRomansburningthetempleandplacingJerusalem

undertheban:“Whiletheholyhousewasonfire,everythingwasplunderedthatcametohand,andtenthousandofthosethatwerecaughtwereslain;norwasthereacommiserationofanyage,oranyreverenceofgravity;butchildrenandoldmen,andprofanepersons,andpriests,wereallslaininthesamemanner;sothatthiswarwentroundallsortsofmen,andbroughtthemtodestruction....”13

Stars,Comets,andLights

Perhapsthemoststrange,evenbizarre,reportinJosephus’snarrativeisthesightingsofheavenlyapparitions:

Thuswerethemiserablepeoplepersuadedbythesedeceivers,andsuchasbeliedGodhimself;whiletheydidnotattend,norgivecredit,tothesignsthatweresoevidentanddidsoplainlyforetelltheirfuturedesolation;but,likemeninfatuated,withouteithereyestosee,ormindstoconsider,didnotregardthedenunciationsthatGodmadetothem.Thustherewasastarresemblingasword,which

stoodoverthecity,andacomet,thatcontinuedawholeyear.Thusalso,beforetheJews’rebellion,andbeforethosecommotionswhichprecededthewar,whenthepeoplewerecomeingreatcrowdstothefeastofunleavenedbread,ontheeighthdayofthemonthXanthicus[Nisan],andattheninthhourofthenight,sogreatalightshoneroundthealtarandtheholyhouse,thatitappearedtobebrightdaytime;whichlightlastedforhalfanhour.Thislightseemedtobeagoodsigntotheunskilful,butwassointerpretedbythesacredscribes,astoportendthoseeventsthatfollowedimmediatelyuponit.Atthesamefestivalalso,aheifer,asshewasledbythehigh-priesttobesacrificed,broughtforthalambinthemidstofthetemple.14

JosephussaystheseastronomicalphenomenatriggeredfalsepropheciesofhopeforJerusalemanditspeople.Othershaveseeninthemadifferentsignificance.ThebrightlightshiningroundthetempleareamayberelatedtothepresenceoftheShekinaglory,thesignofGod’spresence.FalseprophetsreaditinmuchthesamewaythatfalseprophetsinOldTestamenttimesviewedthecomingdayoftheLord—asatimeofunqualifiedweal,adayofpurebrightnessandglory.Theymissedthedreadfuldarknessthatwouldaccompanyitasasignofjudgment.Thereferencetoaheifergivingbirthtoalambisbizarreindeed,tothepoint

ofraisingdoubtsaboutJosephus’saccuracyasahistorian.Itissignificant,however,thatsignsintheskywerereportedbyotherhistoriansofeventssurroundingthedestructionofJerusalem.TheRomanhistorianTacitus,forexample,writesthis:

ThehistoryonwhichIamenteringisthatofaperiodrichindisasters,terriblewithbattles,tornbycivilstruggles,horribleeveninpeace.Fouremperorsfellbythesword;therewerethreecivilwars,moreforeignwars,andoftenbothatthesametime.TherewassuccessintheEast,misfortuneintheWest.Illyricumwasdisturbed,theGallicprovinceswavering,Britainsubduedandimmediatelyletgo.TheSarmataeandSuebiroseagainstus;theDacianswonfamebydefeatsinflictedandsuffered;eventheParthianswerealmostrousedtoarmsthroughthetrickeryofapretendedNero.Moreover,Italywasdistressedbydisastersunknownbeforeorreturningafterthelapseofages.CitiesontherichfertileshoresofCampaniawereswalloweduporoverwhelmed;Romewasdevastatedbyconflagrations,inwhichhermostancientshrineswereconsumedandtheveryCapitolfiredbycitizen’shands....Theseawasfilledwithexiles,itscliffsmadefoulwiththebodiesofthedead.InRometherewasmoreawfulcruelty....Besidesthemanifoldmisfortunesthatbefellmankind,therewereprodigiesintheskyandonthe

earth,warningsgivenbythunderbolts,andpropheciesofthefuture,bothjoyfulandgloomy,uncertainandclear.ForneverwasitmorefullyprovedbyawfuldisastersoftheRomanpeopleorbyindubitablesignsthatthegodscarenotforoursafety,butforourpunishment.15

ThoughquestionsmightbeposedaboutcertainpointsinJosephus’saccountofsignsinthesky,itisneverthelessclearthatsomeofhistestimonyiscorroboratedbyothers.Perhapsmostsignificantishisreferencetothecometthatappearedintheskyandremainedforayear.GaryDeMarcomments:

Theappearanceofcometsintheskywasoftentakenasawarningofsomeapproachingcalamityorasignofchangeinexistingpoliticalstructures....Werethereany“signsfromheaven”priortoAD70?AcometappearedaroundAD60duringthe

reignofNero.Thepublicspeculatedthatsomechangeinthepoliticalscenewasimminent:“ThehistorianTacituswrote:‘AsifNerowerealreadydethroned,menbegantoaskwhomightbehissuccessor.’”Nerotookthecomet’s“threat”seriously.“...Nerotooknochancesasanotherhistorian,Suetonius,related:‘...AllchildrenofthecondemnedmenwerebanishedfromRome,andthenstarvedtodeathorpoisoned.’...Nerosurvivedthatcometbyseveralyears....”ThenHalley’sCometappearedinAD66.NotlongafterthisNerocommittedsuicide.HistorianshavelinkedtheappearanceofHalley’sComet,notonlywiththedeathofNero,butwiththedestructionofJerusalemfouryearslater.16

Inadditiontohisaccountofthecomet,thesword-likestar,andsoforth,Josephusprovidesamostremarkablerecordofanevenmoreastonishingcelestialoccurrence,onesoextraordinarythatthehistorianhimselfseemsreticentaboutmentioningit:

Besidesthese,afewdaysafterthatfeast,ontheone-and-twentiethdayofthemonthArtemisius[Jyar],acertainprodigiousandincrediblephenomenonappeared;Isupposetheaccountofitwouldseemtobeafable,wereitnotrelatedbythosethatsawit,andwerenottheeventsthatfolloweditofsoconsiderableanatureastodeservesuchsignals;for,beforesun-setting,chariotsandtroopsofsoldiersintheirarmorwereseenrunningaboutamongtheclouds,andsurroundingofcities.MoreoveratthatfeastwhichwecallPentecost,asthepriestsweregoingbynightintotheinner[courtofthe]temple,astheircustomwas,toperformtheirsacredministrations,theysaidthat,inthefirstplace,theyfeltaquaking,andheardagreatnoise,andafterthattheyheardasoundasofagreatmultitude,saying,“Letusremovehence.”17

Ezekiel’sStrangeVision

WhatisremarkableaboutthistestimonyisitssimilaritytoincidentsrelatedintheOldTestament.WhenEzekielwasacaptiveinBabylon,hehadavisionofthechariot-throneofGod.Thefearfulsignsaccompanyingthistheophanyincludedagreatsound:

Thelikenessofthefirmamentabovetheheadsofthelivingcreatureswaslikethecolorofanawesomecrystal,stretchedoutovertheirheads.Andunderthefirmamenttheirwingsspreadoutstraight,onetowardanother.Eachonehadtwowhichcoveredoneside,andeachonehadtwowhichcoveredtheothersideofthebody.Whentheywent,Iheardthenoiseoftheirwings,likethenoiseofmanywaters,likethevoiceoftheAlmighty,atumultlikethenoiseofanarmy;andwhentheystoodstill,theyletdowntheirwings.Avoicecamefromabovethefirmamentthatwasovertheirheads;whenevertheystood,theyletdowntheirwings.Andabovethefirmamentovertheirheadswasthelikenessofathrone,inappearancelikeasapphire

stone;onthelikenessofthethronewasalikenesswiththeappearanceofamanhighaboveit.AlsofromtheappearanceofhiswaistandupwardIsaw,asitwere,thecolorofamberwiththeappearanceoffireallaroundwithinit;andfromtheappearanceofhiswaistanddownwardIsaw,asitwere,theappearanceoffirewithbrightnessallaround.Liketheappearanceofarainbowinacloudonarainy

day,sowastheappearanceofthebrightnessallaroundit.ThiswastheappearanceofthelikenessofthegloryoftheLORD.SowhenIsawit,Ifellonmyface,andIheardavoiceofOnespeaking(Ezek.1:22–28).

Table5.1TheJudgmentonJerusalemaccordingtoHistory

Destructionofthetemple

Heavenlyphenomena

• Astarresemblingasword

• Acomet(Halley’sCometappearedinAD66)

• Abrightlightshiningaroundthealtarandthetemple

• Avisionofchariotsandsoldiersrunningaroundamongthecloudsandsurroundingcities

Earthlyphenomena(reportedbypriests)

• Aquaking

• Agreatnoise

• Thesoundofagreatmultitudesaying,“Letusremovehence.”

Thechariot-throneismentionedagainlaterinthebookofEzekiel.Inchap.10Ezekielsawthechariot-thronewithitsresplendentglorydepartingfromthetempleandfromJerusalemviatheEastGate.

Andthecherubimwereliftedup.ThiswasthelivingcreatureIsawbytheRiverChebar.Whenthecherubimwent,thewheelswentbesidethem;andwhenthecherubimliftedtheirwingstomountupfromtheearth,thesamewheelsalsodidnotturnfrombesidethem.Whenthecherubimstoodstill,thewheelsstoodstill,andwhenonewasliftedup,theotherlifteditselfup,forthespiritofthelivingcreaturewasinthem.ThenthegloryoftheLORDdepartedfromthethresholdofthetempleandstoodoverthecherubim.

Andthecherubimliftedtheirwingsandmountedupfromtheearthinmysight.Whentheywentout,thewheelswerebesidethem;andtheystoodatthedooroftheeastgateoftheLORD’shouse,andthegloryoftheGodofIsraelwasabovethem(Ezek.10:15–19).

Ezekiel’svisionwasnotofthedestructionofJerusaleminAD70,butofthefallofJerusalemtotheBabyloniansin586BC.Itissignificantthatthisearlierdestructionoftheholycitywasmarkedbythiskindofvision-sign.Josephus’saccountofsoldiersrunningaroundinthecloudsalsoresemblesthe

sightwitnessedbyElisha’sservantwhenhiseyeswereopenedtobeholdtheangelsthatfoughtforElishainDothan(2Kings6:17).Theseangelswereaheavenlyarmybornebychariotsoffire.

JosephusobviouslyregardedthevoicethatthepriestsheardasthevoiceofGod.Heannouncedanimminentdeparture(“Letusremovehence”),declaringagrimandfatal“Ichabod”totheholycity.(ThiseventwasalsoreportedbyTacitus.)JosephusalsomentionsdirepredictionsmadeinJerusalemfouryearsearlier

byamanwhowasnamed,ironically,Jesus.Themanrepeatedlycriedout,“Avoicefromtheeast,avoicefromthewest,avoicefromthefourwinds,avoiceagainstJerusalemandtheholyhouse,avoiceagainstthebridegroomsandthebrides,andavoiceagainstthiswholepeople.”Thismanwastakenintocustodyandbeatenwithseverestripes.Witheverystrokeofthewhiphecriedout,“Woe,woetoJerusalem!”18Josephusconcludedhisnarrativeofthedestructionofthetempleand

Jerusalemwiththissummary:“Nowthenumberofthosethatwerecarriedcaptiveduringthiswholewarwascollectedtobeninety-seventhousand;aswasthenumberofthosethatperishedduringthewholesiegeelevenhundredthousand,thegreaterpartofwhomwereindeedofthesamenation[withthecitizensofJerusalem],butnotbelongingtothecityitself;fortheywerecomeupfromallthecountrytothefeastofunleavenedbread,andwereonasuddenshutupbyanarmy,which,attheveryfirst,occasionedsogreatastraitnessamongthemthattherecameapestilentialdestructionuponthem,andsoonafterwardsuchafamine,asdestroyedthemmoresuddenly.”19Josephus’srecordofJerusalem’sfallindicatestheradicalfulfillmentof

Jesus’sprophecyintheOlivetDiscourse.Aswehaveseen,preteristsseeinthiseventnotonlythedestructionofthetempleanditsattendingcircumstances,butalsotheparousiaofChristinhisjudgment-coming.RadicalpreteristsseeinthiseventthefulfillmentofallNewTestamentexpectationsforthereturnofChristandforthelastthingsofeschatology.Butherewefindsharpdisagreementamongpreterists.Moderatepreterists,suchasthosewhoholdtoapostmillennialviewofeschatology,insistthatthoughthebulkoftheOlivetDiscoursewasfulfilledinAD70,therestillremainsafuturecomingorparousiaofChrist.Theseviewswillbeconsideredinthefollowingchapters.

6WHATDIDJOHNTEACHIN

REVELATION?

TheRevelationofJesusChrist,whichGodgaveHimtoshowHisservants—thingswhichmustshortlytakeplace....Thetimeisnear.

Revelation1:1–3

SurelynobookoftheBiblehasbeenstudiedmorecloselywithregardtotheendtimesthanthebookofRevelation,whichissometimesreferredtoastheNewTestamentApocalypse.Becauseofitsarcaneliteraryform,thebookhasbeensubjectedtoamultitudeofimaginativeandevenbizarreinterpretations.Somefindthegenresopuzzlingthattheydespairofeverachievingasoundandconsistentinterpretationofit.EvenJohnCalvinfailedtoincludeitamonghisprodigiousliteraryoutputofbiblicalcommentaries.ManyquestionstormenttheinterpreterofRevelation.Somesuggestthatit

waswritteninthestyleofadrama.Otherscontenditwaswritteninsomeformofsecretcodetopreventhostileauthoritiesfromunderstandingitsmeaning.Manywritershaveofferedvarious“keys”tobreakthecodeandmakeitscontentcleartoustoday.Moretothepoint,however,isthecrucialquestionofthebook’saudience.

WastheRevelationwrittenchieflyforthebenefitofpeoplelivinginthefinaldaysbeforetheconsummationofthekingdomofChrist?Wasitwrittenchieflyforthefirst-centurychurch?Wasitwrittenforthechurchofallages?Thesequestionsarenotnecessarilymutuallyexclusiveintheirscope.Anothercrucialissueisthequestionofthebook’smeaning.Wasitdescribing

eventsthatliestillinthefuture?Wasitdescribingeventsthatwereunfoldingin

thefirstcentury?Stillanotherquestionthathasbeenraisedafreshinourdayiswhenthe

Revelationwaswritten.Ifthebookwaswritteninthefinaldecadeofthefirstcentury(thetraditionalview),thenitspropheciesprobablydonotconcernthedestructionofJerusalem,aneventthatwouldhavealreadytakenplace.Ontheotherhand,ifRevelationwaswrittenbeforeAD70,thenacasecouldbemadethatitdescribeschieflythoseeventsleadinguptoJerusalem’sfall.ThewhenandwhyquestionsoftheApocalypseareinseparablyboundtogether.WhenprobingthemeaningofthebookofRevelation,weareimmediately

facedwithasetofproblemsnotunlikethoseraisedbytheOlivetDiscourseintheSynopticGospels.Thechiefquestionisonceagainthatofthetime-framereferences.

TheNearnessoftheEventsUnderstandingthetime-framereferencesofRevelationiskeytoallpreteristinterpretationsofthebook.J.StuartRussellarguesthatthetruekeytoRevelationisfoundinitsreferencetothethencontemporaryissuesitaddresses.“Mustitnotofnecessityrefertomattersofcontemporaryhistory?”Russellsays.“Theonlytenable,theonlyreasonable,hypothesisisthatitwasintendedtobeunderstoodbyitsoriginalreaders;butthisisasmuchastosaythatitmustbeoccupiedwiththeeventsandtransactionsoftheirownday,andthesecomprisedwithacomparativelybriefspaceoftime.”1

Russell’sstatementsoundssomewhatstrange.Surelyhewasawareofthemanybiblicalpropheciesoffutureeventsthatwerenotfullyunderstoodbythoselivingwhenthepropheciesweregiven.Oronecouldarguethatafutureprophecycouldbeunderstoodbythosetowhomitwasoriginallygivenandthattheyunderstoodthatitwasindeedaprophecyaboutthefuture.Suchprophecywouldnotbeuselessorirrelevanttothecontemporarygeneration,aseverygenerationofbelieversisencouragedbyGod’spromisesregardingthefuture.Russellsurelyunderstoodthisprincipleandisnotarguingsimplythat,

becausetheApocalypsewaswritteninthefirstcentury,itscontentmustthereforeberestrictedtoeventsinthattimeperiod.Russellindeedseemstoargueinthismanner.“Yetifthebookweremeanttounveilthesecretsofdistant

times,”hesays,“mustitnotofnecessityhavebeenunintelligibletoitsfirstreaders—andnotonlyunintelligible,butevenirrelevantanduseless.”2IthinkRussellbecamecarriedawaywithhisrhetoricatthispointandoverstatedhiscase.IdoubtifhewouldhavemadeasimilarjudgmentaboutfuturepropheciesofIsaiahandJeremiah.WhatwasreallydrivingRussellatthispointwasapparentlythetime-frame

referencesinthebookofRevelation.FromthesetextsRussellattemptstobuildhiscase,notfromaprinciplethatfutureprophecymustberelevanttothegenerationfirstreceivingit.Russellsaysthisabouttheinternalevidenceoftime-frame:IftherebeonethingwhichmorethananyotherisexplicitlyandrepeatedlyaffirmedintheApocalypseitisthenearnessoftheeventswhichitpredicts.Thisisstated,andreiteratedagainandagain,inthebeginning,themiddle,andtheend.Wearewarnedthat“thetimeisathand”;“Thesethingsmustshortlycometopass,”“Behold,Icomequickly”;“SurelyIcomequickly.”Yet,inthefaceoftheseexpressandoft-repeateddeclarations,mostinterpretershavefeltatlibertytoignorethelimitationsoftimealtogether,andtoroamatwilloveragesandcenturies,regardingthebookasasyllabusofchurchhistory,analmanacofpolitico—ecclesiasticaleventsforallChristendomtotheendoftime.Thishasbeenafatalandinexcusableblunder.3

Thefirsttime-framereferenceoccursinthebook’sopeningverses:“TheRevelationofJesusChrist,whichGodgavehimtoshowhisservants—thingswhichmustshortlytakeplace.AndhesentandsignifieditbyhisangeltohisservantJohn,whoborewitnesstothewordofGod,andtothetestimonyofJesusChrist,andtoallthingsthathesaw.Blessedishewhoreadsandthosewhohearthewordsofthisprophecy,andkeepthosethingswhicharewritteninit;forthetimeisnear”(Rev.1:1–3).Verse1mentionsthings“whichmustshortlytakeplace.”Verse3speaksof

thetimebeingnear.Thesereferences(andothersthroughoutthebook)arehandledinvariouswaysbyscholars.

TheInterpretationsofScholarsGeorgeEldonLaddwrites:Thewords“whatmustsoontakeplace”containanechoofDaniel2:28.AlthoughJohnseldomquotedtheOldTestamentinaformalway,hisbookisfilledwithobviousallusionstothepropheticwritings.Hereisafactwhosesignificancemanymoderncriticsoverlook....

Theseeventsare“soon”to“takeplace.”...Thesewordshavetroubledthecommentators.ThesimplestsolutionistotakethepreteristviewandtosaythatJohn,liketheentireearlyChristiancommunity,thoughtthatthecomingoftheLordwasnear,wheninfacttheywerewrong.OurLordhimselfseemstosharethiserrorinperspectiveinthesaying:“Thisgenerationwillnotpassawaybeforeallthesethingstakeplace”(Mark13:30).Othershaveinterpretedthephrasetomean“theseeventsmustsoonbegin”;others“theymustcertainlybegin”;stillothers,“theymustswiftlytakeplace”;thatis,oncetheeventsbegin,theendwillcomequickly.However,thesimplemeaningcannotbeavoided.Theproblemisraisedbythefactthattheprophets

werelittleinterestedinchronology,andthefuturewasalwaysviewedasimminent....Thereisinbiblicalprophecyatensionbetweentheimmediateandthedistantfuture;thedistantisviewedthroughthetransparencyoftheimmediate.ItistruethattheearlychurchlivedinexpectancyofthereturnoftheLord,anditisthenatureofbiblicalprophecytomakeitpossibleforeverygenerationtoliveinexpectancyoftheend.4

Tobecandid,Ifindthistreatmentofthequestionsomewhatdisturbing.Laddgrantsthat“thesimplestsolution”isthepreteristview,buthebelievesthisviewdrivesustotheconclusionthattheentireearlyChristiancommunity,includingtheApostleJohnandourLordhimself,waswrong.Ofcoursethisisnotthepreteristview.Thepreteristargues,notonlythattheearlychurchbelievedtheLord’scomingwasnear(atleastwithrespecttohiscominginjudgmenttoIsrael),butalsothatthisbeliefprovedtobetrue.Laddgrantsthatthisexpectationwasvirtuallyuniversalintheearlychurch,

buthebelievestheearlychurch,includingJesus,was“rescued”fromafalseexpectationbythenatureofbiblicalprophecy.Herethequestionisbeggedwithavengeance.DidnotJesusandtheapostlesunderstandthenatureofbiblicalprophecy?Ifbiblicalprophecyisalwaysviewedasimminent,doesitnotfollowthatifthepropheciesdonotoccurimminentlythenthepropheciesthemselvesarefalse?IfearIamhearingsomethingthatLadddidnotmeantoconvey.Perhapsthe

errorisinmyunderstandingratherthaninhisarticulationofhispoint.Ifthecontrollingprincipleisthatprophecyisalwaysimminent,thentime-framereferenceswouldindeedbemeaningless.Ladd’sviewisechoedtoadegreebyG.R.Beasley-Murray:“Thetimeis

near,”i.e.,thetimeofthefulfillmentofthevisiondisclosedintherevelation.Suchistheconvictionofalllivingprophecy,as[Wilhelm]Boussetobserved,andnotleastofallNewTestamentprophecy(e.g.,Rom.13:11f.,1Cor.7:29f.,Heb.10:37,1Pet.4:7).Anumberoffactorsflowtogetherinthisforeshortening—onemightcallittelescopic—viewofhistory....Accordingly“measuringhumanaffairswithdivinemeasures”(Arethas,citedby[Ernst]Lohmeyer),hesetshisdayinthecontextofthelastday,andsointerpretstheissuesofhisdayinthelightofthelastday.InrealitythehumanmeasuresoftimedemandthatthetemporalrelationshipofJohn’sdaytothelastdaybecorrected.Nevertheless

John’sreadersinalltimesareundertheobligationoflettingthelightofthelastdayfallontheirs,andofrelatingtheissuesoftheirdaytothekingdomofGod.ItisincarryingoutthatdifficultexercisethatJohn’svisionceasestobeofarchaeologicalinterestandbecomes[the]wordofGodtocontemporaryman.5

AgainIamsomewhatpuzzledbythistreatmentofthequestion.Beasley-Murrayassertsthatthe“human”measuresinthetextmustbe“corrected.”Thenhecallsustoa“difficultexercise”bywhichJohn’svisionbecomesthewordofGodtous.WemustaskwhatitwasbeforeitbecomesthewordofGod.IgrantthattheexerciseBeasley-Murraycallsforisindeeddifficult,perhapseventortuous.Onemoreexampleofthisapproachtothetime-framereferencesisthatof

RobertH.Mounce.

Johnwritesthattheseeventswhichconstitutetherevelationmusttakeplaceshortly.Thatmorethan1900yearsofchurchhistoryhavepassedandtheendisnotyetposesaproblemforsome.Onesolutionistounderstand“shortly”inthesenseofsuddenly,orwithoutdelayoncetheappointedtimearrives.Anotherapproachistointerpretitintermsofthecertaintyofeventsinquestion.OflittlehelpisthesuggestionthatJohnmaybeemployingtheformulaof2Peter3:8(“withtheLordonedayisasathousandyears”).[G.B.]Cairdbelievesthatthecomingcrisiswasnottheconsummationofhistorybutthepersecutionofthechurch.Indeed,thatdidtakeplaceshortly.Themostsatisfyingsolutionistotakethewordinastraightforwardsense,rememberingthatinthepropheticoutlooktheendisalwaysimminent.TheperspectiveiscommontotheentireNewTestament.JesustaughtthatGodwouldvindicatehiselectwithoutdelay(Luke18:8),andPaulwrotetotheRomansthatGodwouldsooncrushSatanundertheirfeet(Rom.16:20).6

Mouncerejectsalternatemeaningsofshortlyandoptsinsteadfortheword’s“straightforwardsense.”Butthenheinterpretsshortlyinlightofthepropheticoutlookorperspectivethathesaysis“commontotheentireNewTestament.”Theword’s“straightforward”meaningisnolongersostraightforward.Itmeanssomethingotherthanitsstraightforwardmeaning.MouncejustifiesthiswithappealstoJesusandPaul,whousesimilarlanguageforeventsthatobviously(accordingtoMounce)didnottakeplace“withoutdelay”or“soon.”Thistypeofliterarygymnasticshasearnedforevangelicalsthescornof

critics,whoprefertobeevenmorestraightforwardanddeclarethattheteachingofJesusandPaulintheseinstancesissimplywrong.ThesetextsarethenaddedtothemultitudeofimminenttextsintheNewTestamenttodisputetheinspirationandauthorityoftheBible.PreteristsagreethatJesususedimminentlanguageintheparableoftheunjustjudgeandthatPauldidaswellinRomans16:20.ButpreteristshastentoaddthatJesusandPaularereferringtoeventsthatdidtakeplaceinthefirstcentury,bywhichthesufferingChristianswerevindicatedandacrushingblowwasdeliveredtoSatan.

PreteristinterpretationofRevelationfollowscloselypreteristinterpretationoftheOlivetDiscourse.ThoughpreteristsdifferonhowmuchoftheRevelationandofthediscoursereferstothedestructionofJerusalem,theyallregardthemainsubstanceofbothtorefertothesameevent:Jesus’scominginjudgmentontheJewishnation.Russell,likeotherpreterists,seestheexplicittime-framereferencesofthe

Apocalypseasthekeytointerpretingthebook.“Itmaytrulybesaidthatthekeyhasallthewhilehungbythedoor,plainlyvisibletoeveryonewhohadeyestosee,”hewrites.“Yetmenhavetriedtopickthelock,orforcethedoor,orclimbupsomeotherway,ratherthanavailthemselvesofsosimpleandreadyawayofadmissionastousethekeymadeandprovidedforthem.”7

GroupsofTime-FrameReferencesKennethL.GentryJr.,apostmillenarianpreterist,referstothetime-framereferencesintheApocalypsebylistingthemaccordingtothreebasiccategories.“Thetemporalexpectationreceivesfrequentrepetitioninthatitoccursnotonlyseventimesintheopeningandclosingchapters,butatleastthreetimesinthelettersinchapterstwoandthree”(Rev.2:16;3:11),Gentrywrites.“Thisexpectationisalsovariedinitsmannerofexpression,almostasiftoavoidanypotentialconfusionastothespecificityofitsmeaning.Itsvariationrevolvesamongthreewordgroups.”8

ThefirstwordgroupGentrytreatsisthatoftachos.Thistermisusuallytranslatedeither“shortly”or“quickly.”ItappearsinRevelation1:1;2:16;3:11;22:6,7,12,20.Gentrywrites:Thetranslationunderquestion(i.e.,inRev.1:1,althoughtheotherreferencescitedshouldbekeptinmind,aswell)hastodowiththeproperinterpretationoftheGreekphraseentachei.Tacheiisthedativesingularofthenountachos.Lexicographersseemtobeuniversallyagreedwiththetranslatorsastothemeaningoftheword.Accordingtothe[Bauer,]ArndtandGingrichLexicon,tachosisusedintheSeptuagint(andcertainnon-canonicalwritings)tomean“speed,quickness,swiftness,haste.”Intheprepositionalphraseentachei,thewordisusedadverbiallyintheSeptuagintandJosephustomean“quickly,atonce,withoutdelay.”TheNewTestamentusestachosinthismanner,says[Bauer,]ArndtandGingrich,inActs10:33;12:7;

17:15;22:18.InLuke18:8;Romans16:20;1Timothy3:14;Revelation1:1;and22:6,thislexicontranslatesit“soon,inashorttime.”9

GentrycitessimilarentriesfromJosephHenryThayer,G.Abbott-Smith,F.J.A.Hort,andKurtAland.10Gentryarguesthatcommentatorswouldrenderthetermdifferentlyfromthelexicographicalconsensusonlyifinfluencedbyaninterpretivecontrollingapriori.Thesecondwordgroupistheengysgroup.Thisterm,translated“near”or“at

hand,”isusedinRevelation1:3and22:10.Itisatime-framereferenceindicatingeventsthatareimminent.Gentryargues:HowcouldeventsrelatedtothecollapseoftheRomanEmpiretwoorthreehundredyearsinthefuturebeconsidered“athand,”asper[HenryBarclay]Swete,[Albert]Barnes,andothers?SeveralgenerationsoftheseChristianswouldhavewaxedandwanedoversuchaperiod.Evenmoredifficulttounderstandishoweventstwoorthreethousandyearsinthefuturecouldbeconsidered“athand,”asper[RobertH.]Mounce,[John]Walvoord,andothers.Howcouldsucheventssoremotelystretchedoutintothefuturebe“athand”?Butiftheexpectedeventsweretooccurwithinaperiodoffromonetofiveyears—asinthecasewithRevelationifthebookwerewrittenpriortoAD70—thenallbecomesclear.11

Thethirdwordgroupismellō,whichisfoundinRevelation1:19and3:10.“Certainlyitistruethattheverbmellōcanindicatesimply‘destined,’oritcanbeemployedinaweakenedsenseasaperiphrasisforthefuturetense,”Gentrysays.“Nevertheless,whenusedwiththeaoristinfinitive—asinRevelation1:19—theword’spreponderateusageandpreferredmeaningis:‘beonthepointof,beaboutto.’Thesameistruewhenthewordisusedwiththepresentinfinitive,asinRevelation3:10.ThebasicmeaninginbothThayerandAbbott-Smithis:‘tobeaboutto.’”12

Table6.1Time-FrameReferencesinRevelation

Shortly,quickly

1:1 ...thingswhichmustshortlytakeplace.

2:16 Repent,orelseIwillcometoyouquickly.

3:11 Behold,Icomequickly!

22:6 ...thingswhichmustshortlytakeplace.

22:7 Behold,Iamcomingquickly!

22:12 Behold,Iamcomingquickly.

22:20 SurelyIamcomingquickly.

Near,athand

1:3 Thetimeisnear.

22:10 Thetimeisathand.

Aboutto,onthepointof

1:19 Write...thethingsthatareabouttotakeplace.

3:10 ...thehouroftrial...isabouttocomeuponthewholeworld.

ThistriadofwordgroupspointstothenearnessofthethingsforetoldinthebookofRevelation.Thesetime-framereferencesfollowcloselythoseoftheOlivetDiscourse.Themajorobjectiontothisposition,however,regardsthedatingofRevelation.IfthebookwaswrittenafterAD70,thenitscontentsmanifestlydonotrefertoeventssurroundingthefallofJerusalem—unlessthebookisawholesalefraud,havingbeencomposedafterthepredictedeventshadalreadyoccurred.TheburdenforpreteriststhenistodemonstratethatRevelationwaswritten

beforeAD70.ThisburdenbecamethethesisofGentry’sdoctoraldissertation.HisbookBeforeJerusalemFellhasbeenwelcomedbothbyadvocatesofpreterismandbyitsopponents.JayE.AdamssaysofBeforeJerusalemFell:“Hereisabooksomeofushavebeenawaitingforyears!Nowthatitisherewecanrejoice.Mr.GentryconvincinglydemonstratesthefactthebookofRevelationwaswritten,asitinsomanywaysdeclares,priortothedestructionofJerusaleminAD70.Itshouldreceiveawidereadingandoughttorattlemanywindows.”13GeorgeW.Knight,whoisnotapreterist,saysthis:“BeforeJerusalemFellis

athoroughandoutstandingstatementofthecasefortheearlydateofRevelation.Thebookmakesoneawareoftheevidencefromwithinthebookandfromearlychurchsources,andsurveystheargumentsofNewTestamentscholarsofthiscenturyandpreviouscenturiesconcerningthequestion.Nostoneisleftunturnedtoresolvethequestion.”14Whenquestionsofdatingbiblicalbooksarise,onemustconsidertwomain

kindsofevidence:externalandinternal.Asthewordsuggests,externalevidencelookstomaterialapartfromandoutsidethebookitself,suchasthetestimonyofancientwritersorcitations,quotes,orallusionsfromotherwriters,andsoforth.ThesignificanceoftheexternalevidencefordatingRevelationhasoftenbeenhotlycontested.Scholarlyopinionhasvacillatedthroughtheyears.

Gentryreports:Around1800,datesfortheNewTestamentcanonrangedveryconservativelybetweenAD50andAD100.By1850,duetotheTübingenschoolofthoughtandunderthespecialinfluenceofF.C.Baur,therangeofdateshadwidenedfromAD50+toAD160+.RegardingRevelation’sdateundertheswayofTübingen,“itwasastrikingparadoxthattheTübingenSchoolwhichleftPaulwithonlyfouror,asputby[Adolf]Hilgenfeldinamoremoderateform,withonlysevenauthenticEpistles,andbroughtmostoftheNewTestamentdocumentsdowntoalatedate,shouldinthecaseoftheApocalypsehaveaffirmedapostolicauthorshipandadate[a]quarterofacenturyearlierthanthatassignedbytradition.”15

Thoughconcedingthatintwentieth-centuryscholarlycirclesthemajorityhaveplacedthewritingofRevelationwellafterAD70,Gentrylistsnumerousscholarswhoplaceitearlier.ThislistincludesGregL.Bahnsen,AdamClarke,F.W.Farrar,JohnA.T.Robinson,HenryBarclaySwete,MiltonS.Terry,WilhelmBousset,F.F.Bruce,RudolfBultmann,SamuelDavidson,AlfredEdersheim,JohannEichhorn,JosephA.Fitzmyer,J.B.Lightfoot,C.F.D.Moule,andAugustusH.Strong,tonamebutafew.16Twothingscanbesaidofthislist.First,itrepresentsscholarsfromevery

pointonthetheologicalspectrum.Andsecond,thelist,initself,doesnotproveanearly-datetheory,asthetheorycannotbedemonstratedbycountingnoses.Thelistdoesreveal,however,thatthenotionofanearlydateforRevelationisbynomeansanovelty.

IrenaeusandClementThechiefargumentforalatedateforRevelationrestsonexternalevidence,specificallythetestimonyofthechurchfatherIrenaeus(AD130–202).IrenaeusreferredtoRevelationinaworkhewroteneartheendofthesecondcentury,probablybetweenAD180and190.Irenaeus’scredibilityisenhanced,notonlybyhisimportantdefenseofthefaith,butalsobyhisclaimtobeapersonalacquaintanceofPolycarp,whointurnhadknowntheApostleJohnhimself.Irenaeus’stestimonyregardingRevelationisfoundinbook5ofhisfamousworkAgainstHeresies.ThisworkhasnotbeenpreservedinGreek,survivingonlyinLatintranslation.EusebiuscitedIrenaeus’s

commentsonRevelation,however,andGentryprovidesadetailedanalysisofthisGreektext.ThishasbeenrenderedinEnglishasfollows:“Wewillnot,however,incurtheriskofpronouncingpositivelyastothenameofAntichrist;forifitwerenecessarythathisnameshouldbedistinctlyrevealedinthispresenttime,itwouldhavebeenannouncedbyhimwhobeheldtheapocalypticvision.Forthatwasseennoverylongtimesince,butalmostinourday,towardstheendofDomitian’sreign.”17

Table6.2SourcesofInformationConcerningJohnandRevelation

Name Birth Death Placeofresidence

ApolloniusofTyana 1stcentury Greece

Clement c.101 Rome

Polycarp c.69 155 Smyrna

Papias 2dcentury Phrygia

Irenaeus c.130 c.202 Gaul

Clement c.150 c.215 Alexandria

Tertullian c.160 c.230 Carthage

Eusebius c.260 c.339 Caesaria

Epiphanius c.315 403 Palestine,Cyprus

Jerome c.347 c.420 Bethlehem

Arethas c.860 Caesaria

Theophylact c.1050 c.1109 Ochrida

Istheantecedentofthat(inthefinalsentence)thevision,orisitJohn,theonewhosawthevision?IsIrenaeussayingthatJohn’svisiontookplaceduringthereignofDomitian(whichwoulddatethebookofRevelationafterthedestructionofJerusalem)?OrisIrenaeussayingsimplythatJohn,wholivedintothereignofDomitian,wasseenatthatlatetime?Gentryoptsforthelatteralternative.HecitestheargumentofF.H.Chase:

Thelogicofthesentencesseemstometorequirethisinterpretation.ThestatementthatthevisionwasseenatthecloseofDomitian’sreignsuppliesno

reasonwhythemysteriousnumbershouldhavebeenexpounded“byhimwhosawtheapocalypse,”hadhejudgedsuchanexpositionneedful.If,ontheotherhand,wereferheōrathētoSt.John,themeaningisplainandsimple.Wemayexpandthesentencesthus:“Haditbeenneedfulthattheexplanationofthenameshouldbeproclaimedtothemenofourownday,thatexplanationwouldhavebeengivenbytheauthorofthebook.Fortheauthorwasseenonearth,helivedandheldconversewithhisdisciples,notsoverylongago,butalmostinourowngeneration.Thus,ontheonehand,helivedyearsafterhewrotethebook,andtherewasabundantopportunityforhimtoexpoundtheriddle,hadhewishedtodoso;and,ontheotherhand,sincehelivedonalmostintoourgeneration,theexplanation,hadhegivenit,musthavebeenpreservedtous.”18

ThoughsupportedbyotherinterpretersofIrenaeus,suchasJacobusWettsteinandJamesM.Macdonald,19Chase’sviewisspeculative.HedoesnotdemonstrateconclusivelythatthisiswhatIrenaeushadtomean.ChasemerelyindicateswhatIrenaeuscouldhavemeant,oratbestwhatIrenaeusprobablymeant.Chasedoesmakeclear,however,thatthewordsofIrenaeuscontainacertainambiguity.ThisprecludesthemfrombeingusedasdefinitiveprooffordatingtheApocalypseduringthereignofDomitian.Irenaeusalsoreferstothe“ancientcopies”ofRevelation.Thisdesignationis

difficulttosquarewiththeideaoftheoriginalautographshavingbeencomposed(accordingtoIrenaeus)“almostinourowngeneration.”OtherimportantexternalevidenceincludesthetestimonyofClementof

Alexandria(AD150–215).“Whenafterthedeathofthetyrant,”saysClement,“[Johntheapostle]removedfromtheislandofPatmostoEphesus,heusedtojourneybyrequesttotheneighbouringdistrictsoftheGentiles,insomeplacestoappointbishops,inotherstoregulatewholechurches,inotherstosetamongtheclergysomeoneman,itmaybe,ofthoseindicatedbytheSpirit.”20Whois“thetyrant”?Clementdoesnotnamehim.Gentryamassesevidenceto

supportthethesisthatthetyrantisnotDomitianbutNero.NerowasregardedasthequintessentialtyrantandwascommonlyknownbythenameTyrant.GentrycitesthetestimonyofApolloniusofTyana.“Inmytravels,whichhavebeenwiderthanevermanyetaccomplished,Ihaveseenmany,manywildbeastsofArabiaandIndia,”writesApollonius.“Butthisbeast,thatiscommonlycalledaTyrant,Iknownothowmanyheadsithas,norifitbecrookedofclaw,andarmedwithhorriblefangs....Andofwildbeastsyoucannotsaythattheywereeverknowntoeattheirownmothers,butNerohasgorgedhimselfonthisdiet.”21

TwootherstatementsbyClementalsolendsupportfortheearlydatingofRevelation.ThefirstisareferencetoJohnpursuingayoungapostateonhorsebackduringtheperiodafterJohn’sexile.IfhewasexiledduringthereignofDomitian,thenJohnwouldhavebeeninhisninetieswhenchasingtheapostate.Whilenotimpossible,suchafeatisnotlikely.ThesecondstatementcomesfromClement’sMiscellanies:“Fortheteaching

ofourLordathisadvent,beginningwithAugustusandTiberius,wascompletedinthemiddleofthetimesofTiberius.Andthatoftheapostles,embracingtheministryofPaul,endswithNero.”22SinceClementconsideredtheApostleJohntheauthorofRevelationand

ClementarguesthatapostolicrevelationceasedwithNero,ClementthereforebelievesthatRevelationwaswrittenbeforeNerodied.Aftercanvassingotherexternalsourcesfromantiquity,Gentryprovidesthe

followingsummary:“Therearesomewitnessesthatmayhintatapre–AD70datingforRevelation,suchasTheShepherdofHermasandPapias.Yet,othersourcesareevenmoresuggestiveofaNeronicbanishment:theMuratorianCanon,Tertullian,andEpiphanius.OthersseemtoimplybothdatesforJohn’sbanishment:Eusebius(cf.EcclesiasticalHistorywithEvangelicalDemonstrations)andJerome....Ontheotherhand,undeniablysupportiveofaNeronicdateareArethas,theSyriacHistoryofJohn,theSyriacversionsofRevelation,andTheophylact.”23Gentryrecognizesthattheexternalevidenceregardingthedatingof

Revelationisneithermonolithicnorhomogeneous,buthearguesthatthepreponderanceofthisevidencesupportsaNeronicdate.TheinternalevidenceforanearlydateofRevelationinvolvesthecontentof

theApocalypseitself,aswellasthelifesituationreflectedinitspages.J.StuartRussellseesRevelationastheApostleJohn’sextendedversionoftheOlivetDiscourse.GentrydeclaresthatthecentralthemeofRevelationisthecomingdestructionofJerusalemandtheendoftheJewishdispensation.Inadditiontothetime-framereferencesalreadyconsidered,hemakeshiscasebyanalyzingseveralmotifs.

TheIdentityoftheSixthKingReferencetothesixthkingisfoundinchap.17:Buttheangelsaidtome,“Whydidyoumarvel?Iwilltellyouthemysteryofthewomanandofthebeastthatcarriesher,whichhasthesevenheadsandthetenhorns.Thebeastthatyousawwas,andisnot,andwillascend

outofthebottomlesspitandgotoperdition.Andthosewhodwellontheearthwillmarvel,whosenamesarenotwrittenintheBookofLifefromthefoundationoftheworld,whentheyseethebeastthatwas,andisnot,andyetis.Hereisthemindwhichhaswisdom:Thesevenheadsaresevenmountainsonwhichthewomansits.Therearealsosevenkings.Fivehavefallen,oneis,andtheotherhasnotyetcome.Andwhenhecomes,hemustcontinueashorttime.Andthebeastthatwas,andisnot,ishimselfalsotheeighth,andisoftheseven,andisgoingtoperdition.Andthetenhornswhichyousawaretenkingswhohavereceivednokingdomasyet,buttheyreceiveauthorityforonehouraskingswiththebeast”(Rev.17:7–17).

Whoisthesixthking?Inthequesttoidentifyhim,oneencounterstwoproblems:(1)DoesthetermkingrefertoaRomanemperor?(2)Whatistheproperwaytocounttheseemperors?GentryandotherslinkthereferencetosevenhillswithRome,whichwasknownasthe“CityofSevenHills.”Ifthislinkageiscorrect,thenitwouldseemthatthekingisaRomanruler.Revelationspecificallymentionssevenkings.Fivearesaidtohavefallen.

Oneisreferredtointhepresenttense.Theseventhhasnotyetcome,andwhenhedoeshewillnotremainforlong.CharlesCutlerTorreysaysofthisreferencethat“thiscertainlyseemstoprovide,asexactlyascouldbeexpectedofanapocalypse,informationastothetime—theprecisereign—inwhichthebookwascomposed.”24ThoughJuliusCaesarpreferredthetitleCaesartoking,itwascommoninthe

ancientworldtorefertoRome’semperors,includingJulius,askings.EventheNewTestamentbearswitnesstothiswhenthechiefpriestsdeclaretoPontiusPilate,“WehavenokingbutCaesar”(John19:15).WearestillleftwiththequestionofthepropermethodofcountingtheRoman

rulers.Augustuswasthefirsttorefertohimselfasemperor.SincehefollowedJuliusCaesar,dowebegincountingwithJuliusorAugustus?Basicallytwodifferentapproacheshavebeenmadetothequestion.OneapproachistostartwithAugustus,asintable6.3,option1.InthislistthesixthkingisGalba,whosereignwasbrief.Thosewhousethisapproach,however,frequentlyskipoverGalba,Otho,andVitellius,sincetheywereinpoweronlybrieflyduringthestruggleforsupremacythatfollowedthedeathofNero.Iftheyareomittedfrom

thelist(seetable6.3,option2),thenthesixthkingisVespasian,duringwhosereignJerusalemwasdestroyed.IfthesixthkingisVespasian,thenwestillfallshortofthereignofDomitian,whichisthetime-frameusuallygivenforthelatedateofRevelation.Amorenaturalapproach,however,istobeginthelistofkingswithJulius

Caesar,aswasthecustomofancienthistorianssuchasJosephusandSuetonius,aswellasDioCassius.Inthisseries(seetable6.3,option3),thesixthkingisNero.IfheisthekingreferredtoinRevelationinthepresenttense,thenthisaddsconsiderableweighttotheargumentfordatingthebookinthemid-tolate-sixties.

Table6.3TheSixthKingofRevelation17:10

Option1 Option2 Option3 Reign

1.JuliusCaesar 49–44

1.Augustus 1.Augustus 2.Augustus 31–14

2.Tiberius 2.Tiberius 3.Tiberius 14–37

3.Caligula 3.Caligula 4.Caligula 37–41

4.Claudius 4.Claudius 5.Claudius 41–54

5.Nero 5.Nero 6.Nero 54–68

6.Galba 68–69

7.Otho 69–69

8.Vitellius 69–69

9.Vespasian 6.Vespasian 69–79

ThePresenceoftheTempleIfthebookofRevelationwaswrittenafterthedestructionofJerusalemandthetemple,itseemsstrangethatJohnwouldbesilentaboutthesecataclysmicevents.Grantedthisisanargumentfromsilence,butthesilenceisdeafening.NotonlydoesRevelationnotmentionthetemple’sdestructionasapastevent,itfrequentlyreferstothetempleasstillstanding.ThisisseenclearlyinRevelation11.“ThetimeoftheApocalypseisalsodefinitelyfixed,”writesBernhardWeiss(citedbyGentry),“bythefact

thataccordingtotheprophecyinchapter11itwasmanifestlywrittenbeforethedestructionofJerusalem,whichin11:1isonlyanticipated.”25

ArgumentsagainstWeiss’sthesisarebasedlargelyonthewritingsofClementofRome.TraditionhasitthatClementwroteduringthelastdecadeofthefirstcentury.DonaldGuthrieandRobertH.Mounce,forexample,arguethatClementspokeofthetempleasstillstandingandofsacrificesstillbeingmadeinJerusalem.26SomecontendthatClementwasspeakinginthe“idealpresent,”othersthathewasreferringtoongoingsacrificesbyaJewishremnantnearthetemplesite.ButifClementisactuallydeclaringthatthetemplestillstandsinJerusalem,thenwemustconcludeoneofthefollowing:(1)Hewaswrong;(2)JerusalemwasnotdestroyeduntilatleasttwentyyearsafterAD70;or(3)ClementwrotebeforeJerusalemwasdestroyed.

Theleastcredibleoptionisthesecond.TheAD70dateisoneofthebestattestedinallofancienthistory.Thefirstoptionisalsohighlyunlikely.SurelyClementwasawareofthetemple’sdestructionifhewroteinthenineties.Unlessweassumethathewasspeakinginsomeidealizedsense,themostlikelyoption

isthethird:thathewrotehisletterbeforeJerusalemfell.Gentrygivesimpressiveevidencetosupportthisconclusion.GentrycanvassesotherinternalevidenceforanearlydateofRevelation,such

asthequestionofemperorworship,theroleofJewishChristianity,theloomingJewishwar,andtheroleofNero(towhichwewilldevotemoreattentionlater).“Myconfidentconviction,”concludesGentry,“isthatasolidcaseforaNeronicdateforRevelationcanbesetforthfromtheavailableevidences,bothinternalandexternal.Infact,IwouldleantowardadateaftertheoutbreakoftheNeronicpersecutioninlateAD64andbeforethedeclarationoftheJewishWarinearlyAD67.AdateineitherAD65orearlyAD66wouldseemmostsuitable.Myhopeisthatthedebatewillberenewedwithvigorandcare,forthematterismorethanamerelyacademicorintellectualexercise;ithasramificationsintheareaofpracticalChristianity.”27

7WHENISTHERESURRECTION?

TheLordHimselfwilldescendfromheavenwithashout,withthevoiceofanarchangel,andwiththetrumpetofGod.

1Thessalonians4:16

Theresurgenceofpreterisminourdayhasappearedinvariousformsanddegrees.Itisanythingbutmonolithicinitsviewpoint,andithasengendereddebate,attimessharp,amongitsadvocates.Thedifferentschoolsofpreterismhavebeendescribedinvariousways.

KennethL.GentryJr.,forexample,distinguisheshispositionfromthatofJ.StuartRussell,MaxR.King,andothersbycallinghisownposition(aswellasthatofGaryDeMar,theearlyDavidChilton,andothers)orthodoxpreterism.Hereferstothepositionadvocatedbytheotherswithavarietyoftermsincludinghyper-preterism,consistentpreterism,andfullpreterism.Ihavesoughttodistinguishthetwocampsbyusingsuchtermsasradicalpreterismandmoderatepreterism.Asthedebatehasunfolded,thelabelsthemselveshavegeneratednosmall

degreeofdisagreement.EdwardE.StevenshasrespondedtoGentry’sessay“ABriefTheologicalAnalysisofHyper-Preterism”withabookletentitledsimplyStevens’ResponsetoGentry.1Thesetwoessaysputthedifferencesbetweenthetwoschoolsinboldrelief.StevenstakesumbrageatGentry’suseofthetermhyper-preterism.Hewincesatthepejorativeconnotationoftheprefixhyper-,whichoftensuggestsanextremistorunbalancedviewpoint.Thetermradicalsuffersfromthesamefate.WhenIusetheterm,Imean

“thatwhichholdssomethingasacorebelief.”ThetermradicalcomesfromtheLatinradix,whichmeans“root.”Buttermstendtotakeonnuances,andinour

culturethewordradicalconjuresupmorethanIwishtoimposeonanyschoolofpreterism.SoitisprobablybetterthatInowmodifymyowndescriptivelanguage.Beforeembarkingonhiscritique,Gentrymakesthisobservation:“...there

arenumerousexegeticalandtheologicalproblemsIhavewiththehyper-preteristviewpoint.Ideemmyhistoric,orthodoxpreterismtobeexegeticalpreterism(becauseIfindspecificpassagescallingforspecificpreteristevents);IdeemMaxKingandEdStevens’viewstobetheologicalpreterismorcomprehensivepreterism(theyapplyexegeticalconclusionsdrawnfromseveraleschatologicalpassagestoalleschatologicalpassagesbecauseoftheirtheologicalparadigm).”2Gentrydistinguishesbetween“exegeticalpreterism”and“theological

preterism.”Thisdistinctionisnotallthathelpful.Gentry’sviewisintenselytheological,andthatofStevensandothersisvitallyconcernedwithexegesis.Gentryischargingthatcomprehensivepreteristsaredriventotheir“consistent”viewpointbytheirtheologicalparadigm.StevensrespondstoGentry:

It’snotclearwhatGentryintendedtocommunicatewhenheusedtheterm“hyper”in“hyper-preterist.”Surelyheisnotusingitforridiculeorderisivepurposes,althoughothersontheInternethavesousedit.IfailtoseewhatpointGentryismaking,thatcouldnotbemadewithalesspejorativeterm.Whynotsimplystickwith“consistentpreterist”(asinhisopeningparagraph),or“comprehensivepreterist”(asinhisthirdparagraph)?Actuallytheterm“preterist”isallthatisneededtodescribeourview.“Preterist”meanspastinfulfillment.Onlythosewhotakeapastfulfillmentofalltheeschatologicalevents(e.g.,thereturnofChrist,resurrection,judgment)canrightlybecalled“preterist.”Thosewhobelievethemajoreschatologicalevents(i.e.,SecondComing,Resurrection,Judgment)arestillfuturearereallyjustanotherkindoffuturist.SoGentryandother“partialPreterists”shouldmoreproperlybelabeledamilorpostmillennialhistoricistsorfuturists.Onlysomeonewhoputsalloftheeschatologicaleventsinthepastcanrightlybecalled“preterist”inthetruesenseoftheterm....Theterm“preterist”belongstothe“fullpreterist,”nottothe“partialpreterist”futuristslikeGentry.3

Thisdebateoverlabelsmayseemlikeatempestinateapot.ItbringstomindthecontroversyJohnCalvinhadconcerningthetermsubstance.Calvinhadtowagewarontwofronts,debatingbothwiththosewhoarguedforthepresenceofthe“substance”ofChrist’sbodyinthesacramentandwiththespiritualistswhodeniedthepresenceofChristinthesacramentaltogether.Whenarguingwiththeformer,heavoidedthetermsubstancebecauseitconveyedtheideaofcorporalorphysicalsubstance.Whenarguingwiththelatter,heinsistedthatsubstancemeans,notthephysicalpresence,butthe“real”presenceofChristinthesacrament.Thisillustratesthatthepartiesinadisputeoftenuselanguageindifferent

ways.LikeCalvin,Gentryhasbeendebatingontwofronts.Ontheonesideheis

engagingDispensationalismwithitsfuturism.AgainstthemhearguesforalimitedpreterismwithreferencetospecificpropheciesthathebelieveswerefulfilledinAD70.Ontheothersideheisengagingfullpreterists.AgainstthemGentrystresseseventsthathebelieveshavenotyetbeenfulfilled.ThoughStevensprefersthatthetermpreteristbereservedforthosewho

believethatalleschatologicaleventshavebeenfulfilledinthepast,heneverthelessreferstoGentryasa“partialpreterist.”Maybethetermsthatbestdescribethetwopositionsarefullpreterismandpartialpreterism.Botharepreteristwithrespecttosomeeschatologicalevents,butbotharenotpreteristwithrespecttoalleschatologicalevents.Thetermsfullandpartialcanthenbesafelyappliedtothesetwopositions.

TwoKindsofPreterism

FullPreterism PartialPreterism

Consistentpreterism Moderatepreterism

Radicalpreterism Exegeticalpreterism

Theologicalpreterism Orthodoxpreterism

Hyper-preterism

PreterismandtheCreeds

Gentrycriticizesfullpreterismsharply,arguingthatitfallsoutsidethescopeoforthodoxChristianity.Atleastfromacreedalperspective,Gentrysaysitisheterodoxy(orheresy).“NocreedallowsanysecondAdventinAD70,”hewrites.“Nocreedallowsanyothertypeofresurrectionthanabodilyone.Historiccreedsspeakoftheuniversal,personaljudgmentofallmen,notofarepresentativejudgmentinAD70.ItwouldbemostremarkableiftheentirechurchthatcamethroughAD70missedtheproperunderstandingoftheeschatonanddidnotrealizeitsmembershadbeenresurrected!”4BeforeexploringStevens’sresponsetothechargeofheterodoxy,wemust

noteinpassingthatGentrysuccinctlysummarizesthetheologicalissuesinvolved:afutureparousia,afuturejudgment,andafutureresurrection.These

arecrucialeschatologicaleventsthatpartialpreteristssayhavenotyetbeenfulfilled.SurelyGentryiscorrectwhenassertingthatthehistoriccreedsofChristendomarevirtuallyunanimousinregardingtheseeventsasfuture.Stevensdefendsfullpreterismfromthechargeofheresy,notbyarguingthat

thecreedsinfactsupportthisposition,butbyarguingthatthecreedsarenotthefinaltestoforthodoxy.TheultimatetestisconformitytoScripture,nottothecreeds.HepointsoutthattheReformedtraditionisadamantaboutthis.TheReformationprincipleofsolaScripturawasforgedinthiscrucible.“FullPreteristsareReformers,”Stevenssays,“andassuchitshouldbeobviousthatwebelievetheearlychurchandthecreedscanbe(andhavebeenfoundtobe)mistaken.”5ObviouslythefullpreteristshavenodesiretodeviatefromScripture.They

beartheburdeninthiscontroversyofshowingthatcreedalorthodoxyhasbeenwrongatcrucialpointsofeschatologicalunderstanding.Thisisaweightyburden,anenormousonusofresponsibility.IdonotbelievethatGentryhasaslavishviewofthecreedsorthathethinksanyorallofthemhavetheauthorityofScripture.GentryisfullycommittedtotheReformationprincipleofsolaScriptura.ButstrongadvocatesofsolaScripturahistoricallyhavehadgreatrespectforthehistoriccreeds.Theseadvocateshavenotconsideredthecreedsinfallible,buttheyhaveheldthecreedsinextremelyhighesteem.

Table7.1DifferencesbetweenPreterists

FullPreterists PartialPreterists

AD70Attheendofhistory AD70

Attheendofhistory

Coming(parousia)ofChrist

yes no yes yes

Resurrectionandrapture

yes no no yes

DayoftheLord yes no yes yes

Judgment yes no yes yes

PersonallyIcringeattheideaofgoingagainstsuchaunifiedandstrongtestimonytothehistoricfaith,eventhoughIgrantthepossibilitythattheyarewrongatpoints.Allwhoareinclinedtodifferwiththecreedsshouldobservea

warninglightandshowgreatcaution.OfcoursethiswarninglightpalesincomparisontotheauthorityofScriptureitself.IwassomewhattakenabackwhilereadingStevensonthispointwhenhe

includedinhisargumentaquotefrommyownlips.“Ifwedon’ttakeafullpreteristapproach,”Stevenswrites,“weleavetheintegrityofJesusandtheNewTestamentwritersutterlydefenseless.Certainly,itimpugnstheinterpretativeaccuracyofthehistoricchurchinmattersofeschatology,butasR.C.Sproulobserved,‘...peoplehaveattackedthecredibilityofJesus.MaybesomeChurchFathersmadeamistake.Maybeourfavoritetheologianshavemademistakes.Icanabidewiththat.Ican’tabidewithJesus’sbeingafalseprophet.’[WeneedtostateitclearlyfortherecordthatR.C.Sproul,Sr.isnotafullpreterist,buthedoesseealotofmeritinthepartialpreteristapproachsimilartoKenGentry.]”6Itiscomfortingtobequotedaccurately.IdidsaywhatStevenssaysIsaid.I

agreewithallpreteriststhatwhatisatstakehereistheauthorityofJesus,andwemustbeconsumedwithmaintaininghisauthority.Tobecompletelycandid,ImustconfessthatIamstillunsettledonsomecrucialmatters.IamconvincedthatthesubstanceoftheOlivetDiscoursewasfulfilledinAD70andthatthebulkofRevelationwaslikewisefulfilledinthattime-frame.IshareGentry’sconcernsaboutfullpreterism,particularlyonsuchissuesastheconsummationofthekingdomandtheresurrectionofthedead.InthefinalanalysisIamconfidentthatbothStevensandGentryagreethatthesemattersmustbesettledonthebasisofbiblicalexegesis.Letusturnourattentionthentothebiblicalquestionsthatremainunresolvedbetweenpartialandfullpreterists.Thecentralissueisthis:WhateventsprophesiedintheBibleareasyet

unfulfilled?Fullpreteristsrefertothemselvesas“consistent”preterists,implyingthatpartialpreteristsare“inconsistent.”Fullpreteristsapplyastrictviewofthemeaningofparousia,endoftheage,andthedayoftheLord.WhilepartialpreteristsacknowledgethatinthedestructionofJerusalemin

AD70therewasaparousiaorcomingofChrist,theymaintainthatitwasnottheparousia.Thatis,thecomingofChristinAD70wasacominginjudgmentontheJewishnation,indicatingtheendoftheJewishageandthefulfillmentofadayoftheLord.Jesusreallydidcomeinjudgmentatthistime,fulfillinghisprophecyintheOlivetDiscourse.ButthiswasnotthefinalorultimatecomingofChrist.Theparousia,initsfullness,willextendfarbeyondtheJewishnationandwillbeuniversalinitsscopeandsignificance.Itwillcome,notattheendoftheJewishage,butattheendofhumanhistoryasweknowit.Itwillbe,notmerelyadayoftheLord,butthefinalandultimatedayoftheLord.Partialpreteristsunderstandthattherearenuancestobiblicalterminology

regardingthecomingofChristandthedayoftheLord,nuancesthatmakeit

possibleandnecessarytospeakofmorethanoneeventthatencompassesallthesethingsatonce.Fullpreterists,ontheotherhand,arguethatthisapproachisinconsistentand

arbitrary,resultinginmultiplecomingsofChristanddaysoftheLord.Theyinsistthattime-framereferencesintheOlivetDiscoursesupplythesupremekeytoNewTestamentprophecyandthatthiskeyappliestoallreferencestoeschatologicalevents.StevensobjectstoGentry’schargethat,accordingtoconsistentpreterists,“allprophecyisfulfilledintheAD70destructionoftheTemple,includingtheSecondAdvent,theresurrectionofthedead,thegreatJudgment,andsoforth.”7Stevenssaysthisisnot“exactlycorrect”becausefullpreteristsbelieveinan

ongoingfulfillmentofprophecyinthepresentkingdomofGod.Thisongoingfulfillment,however,doesnotincludespecificeventspredictedintheNewTestament.Thisseemstobeabitofaquibble.Gentryisclearlyspeakingaboutthefulfillmentofcertainpredictedevents.Whatcaneasilygetlostinthequibbleistheclearpositiontakenbyfullpreterists:thespecificeschatologicaleventspredictedintheNewTestament,suchasthesecondadvent,theresurrectionofthedead,therapture,andthelastjudgment,havealreadytakenplace.Thispositionisgreetedbypartialpreteristswiththechargeofheresyand

heterodoxy.Fullpreteristsagreethattheirviewsdepartfromcreedalorthodoxy,butinsisttheydonotdepartfrombiblicalorthodoxy.BothsidesagreethatinthefinalanalysisthetestfororthodoxymustbetheBible,notthecreeds.OnepointofcreedalorthodoxyistheApostle’sCreed’saffirmationofthe

resurrectionofthebody(carnisresurrectionem).ThisaffirmationreferstotheresurrectionnotofChrist’sbody(whichisaffirmedearlierinthecreed),butofourbodies.ItdeclaresthatChristianswillparticipateinthebodilyresurrectionofChristwhenourbodiesareraisedandglorifiedonthelastday.Thisviewiscategoricallyrejectedbyfullpreteristsandconstitutesamajordifferencebetweenthetwoviews.

TheResurrectionoftheBody

Thechieftextfocusingontheresurrectionofthebodyisfoundin1Corinthians15.

NowthisIsay,brethren,thatfleshandbloodcannotinheritthekingdomofGod;nordoescorruptioninheritincorruption.Behold,Itellyouamystery:Weshallnotallsleep,butweshallallbechanged—inamoment,inthetwinklingofaneye,atthelasttrumpet.Forthetrumpetwillsound,andthedeadwillberaisedincorruptible,andweshallbechanged.Forthiscorruptiblemustputonincorruption,

andthismortalmustputonimmortality.Sowhenthiscorruptiblehasputonincorruption,andthismortalhasputonimmortality,thenshallbebroughttopassthesayingthatiswritten:“Deathisswallowedupinvictory.”

“ODeath,whereisyoursting?

OHades,whereisyourvictory?”

Thestingofdeathissin,andthestrengthofsinisthelaw.ButthanksbetoGod,whogivesusthevictorythroughourLordJesusChrist.Therefore,my

belovedbrethren,besteadfast,immovable,alwaysaboundingintheworkoftheLord,knowingthatyourlaborisnotinvainintheLord(1Cor.15:50–58).

Fullpreteristsmaketwostrongassertionsaboutthistext:Itreferstoaspiritualresurrection,notabodilyresurrection;andthisresurrectionhasalreadytakenplace.Againthetime-frameiscrucialtothediscussion.Russellstressestheapostle’swordsinverse51:“Weshallnotallsleep,butweshallallbechanged....”“Towhomdoestheapostlereferwhenhesays,‘Weshallnotallsleep,’etc.?”Russellasks.“Isittosomehypotheticalpersonslivinginsomedistantageoftime,orisitoftheCorinthiansandhimselfthatheisthinking?WhyshouldhethinkofthedistantfuturewhenitiscertainthatheconsideredtheParousiatobeimminent?”8AccordingtoRussellmostofthosewhoreceivedPaul’slettertothe

Corinthianscouldhavelived,andwouldhaveexpectedtolive,longenoughtoseetheeventsPauldescribed.Tomaintainthattheseeventswereindeedfulfilledinthefirstcentury,onemustinterprettherelevantpassagesinawaythatmakesearlyfulfillmentpossible.Themostsevereobstacleistheabsenceofanyhistoricalrecordthattheraptureofthelivingandtheresurrectionofthedeadoccurred.SoRussellandotherfullpreteristsconceiveoftheresurrectionofthedeadinspiritualterms.Russellanticipatesthisobjection:

Buttheobjectionwillrecur,Howcouldallthistakeplacewithoutnoticeorrecord?First,asregardstheresurrectionofthedead,itistobeconsideredhowlittleweknowofitsconditionsandcharacteristics.Mustitcomewithobservation?Mustitbecognizablebymaterialorgans?“Itisraisedaspiritualbody.”Isaspiritualbodyonewhichcanbeseen,touched,handled?Wearenotcertainthattheeyecanseethespiritual,orthehandgrasptheimmaterial.Onthecontrary,thepresumptionandtheprobabilityarethattheycannot.Allthisresurrectionofthedeadandtransmutationofthelivingtakeplaceintheregionofthespiritual,intowhichearthlyspectatorsandreportersdonotenter,andcouldseenothingiftheydid.9

HereweseeamarkedchangeinRussell’sexegeticalapproachfromtheoneheappliedtothetime-framereferencesintheOlivetDiscourse.IntheOlivetDiscoursetheinterpreterfacestheproblemofdealingwithbothtime-frame

referencesandreferencestotheparousia.Aswehaveseen,somecommentators“spiritualize”thetime-framelanguageandseeitasbeingsomewhatfigurative,whileinterpretingimagesthatdescribetheparousiamoreliterally.Russelltreatsthetime-framereferencesliterallyandtheparousiaimagesfiguratively.InthisrespecthehastheprecedentofOldTestament–judgmentprophecyonhisside.WhenwegettotheCorinthiancorrespondence,wenoticetwothings

immediately.Thefirstisthatthetime-frameadoptedbyRussellisbasednotonanexplicitchronologicalreference,butonaninferencedrawnfromPaul’swords“weshallnotallsleep.”IfweconcludethatPaul,bydivineinspiration,ispredictingthattheresurrectionwilloccurwhileheisstillalive,thentheresurrectionoccurredatleastfiveyearspriortothedestructionofJerusalem(PaulwasmartyredunderNeroinAD65).Thefullpreteristmightarguethatthe“we”doesnotincludePaulhimself,but

simplysomewhoreceivedhisteaching.Butifthisisthecase,thenitislikewisepossiblethatthe“wewhoarealive”canbeevenmoreinclusiveandreferstoanyreaderoftheCorinthiantextinthefuture.The“we”passageof1Corinthiansisfarlessspecificconcerningthetimeof

theresurrectionthanareJesus’swordsintheOlivetDiscourse.Themoreseriousproblem,however,isthefullpreterists’treatmentofthecharacteroftheresurrection.Theyviewtheresurrectionasahidden,“spiritual”resurrection,andtheymustviewitthiswayforfullpreterismtowork.Weencountertwomore-seriousproblemswiththisview.Thefirstislogical,

thesecondtheological.Thelogicaldifficultyisthatitinvolvespropositionsandassertionsthatcanbeneitherverifiednorfalsifiedempirically.Tobesure,purelyrationalargumentsthatrestsolelyondeductiondonotrequireempiricalverification.Butifoneannouncesorpredictsthingsthatwilltakeplaceinthearenaofrealhistoryinvolvingphysicalreality,thenempiricalverificationbecomesrelevantandcrucial.Russelllaborsthepointthataspiritualbodyneednotberesurrectedunderthe

conditionsofempiricalobservation.Heasksifaspiritualbodycanbeseen,touched,orhandled?Paul’suseofthetermspiritualbodyiswhatgiveslicensetothistypeofspeculation.ItisunfortunatethattheapostlefailedtoalerttheCorinthians—andus,byextension—thathewasspeakingofasecret,hidden,spiritualresurrection.Hislanguagecertainlysuggestssomethingelse,particularlyasPaulsoclearlyconjoinstheresurrectionofourbodieswiththeresurrectionofChrist’sbody.TheresurrectedChrististhefirstfruitsofallwhowillberaised.TheapostleclearlyteachesthatourresurrectionswillbepatternedaftertheresurrectionofChrist:

ButnowChristisrisenfromthedead,andhasbecomethefirstfruitsofthosewhohavefallenasleep.Forsincebymancamedeath,byManalsocametheresurrectionofthedead.ForasinAdamalldie,evensoinChristallshallbemadealive.Buteachoneinhisownorder:Christthefirstfruits,afterwardthosewhoareChrist’sathiscoming.Thencomestheend,whenhedeliversthekingdomtoGodtheFather,whenheputsanendtoallruleandallauthorityandpower.Forhemustreigntillhehasputallenemiesunderhisfeet.Thelastenemythatwillbedestroyedisdeath(1Cor.15:20–26).

TheNewTestamentaccountsofChrist’sresurrectionrevealthatinhisresurrectedbodythereisbothcontinuityanddiscontinuity.Obviouslyhisbodyunderwentsomesortofchange.Itbecameaglorifiedhumanbody.Totheextentthatthisglorificationinvolvedchangeinhisphysicalcompositionwecanspeakofdiscontinuity.ButtheBiblelaysgreatstressonthecontinuityofthebodythatwasplacedinthetombwiththebodythatwasraised.Itwasnotabody.Itwasthesamebody.Myhumanbodyhasnotbeenglorified.Itundergoescertainbiologicaland

chemicalchangeseverymoment.Itisconstantlyandrelentlesslyaging.Butthoughmybodyisnevertotallythesamefrommomenttomoment,itisneverthelesssubstantiallythesame.ThebodyIhadyesterdaywasnotannihilatedandreplacedwithanutterlynewbodytoday.Despitethechangestakingplaceinmybodyatthemoment,thereremainsarealcontinuitywithmyformerbody.MypresentbodycontainsteeththatIhavehadfordecadesandscarsthathaveblemishedmyskinsincechildhood.WhenweassertofJesusthatthesamebodythatdiedonthecrossandwas

buriedinthetombwasthenresurrected,weacknowledgethathisbodyunderwentcertainchanges.Butitiscrucialthataftertheresurrection,thetombwasempty.TodaythegravesofthesaintswhohavediedsincethedestructionofJerusalemarenotempty.Ifthesebodieshadbeenresurrected,therewouldbearadicaldiscontinuitybetweenthemandthebodiesthathadbeenburied.Indeedthediscontinuitywouldbesoprofoundthatitwouldprobablybemoreaccuratetosaythattheyhadbeen“reincarnated”ratherthanresurrected,orthatresurrectionissuchaspiritualthingthatneitherthebodynorphysicalmatterofanytypehasanythingtodowithit.

InvisibleandUntouchable?

Russellsaysthatperhapsourspiritualbodiesmaynotbeseen,touched,orhandled.Ifthatisthecase,thennotonlyisthereradicaldiscontinuitybetweenourearthlybodiesandourheavenlybodies,butalsothereisaradical

discontinuitybetweenthenatureofourresurrectedbodiesandthenatureofChrist’s.InhisresurrectedstateChristwasseen,touched,andhandled.Againtoarguethattheresurrectionappliesexclusivelytotherealmofthe

spiritualistomakeitnonverifiableandnonfalsifiable.Thisisdangerousbusiness.Itsmacksofthetypeofargumentonehearsonbehalfofpoltergeists.Somearguethatpoltergeistsareallergictoscientistsandalwaysdisappearwhenonecomesnear.Somearguethatlittlegreenmenonthemoonhaveabuilt-inantipathytotelescopes.Theexistenceofsuchthingscanneverbefalsifiedbecausethetermsoffalsificationarelimitedattheoutset.ThisisnottosaythatRussellisarguinginidenticalformtothosewhoavow

theexistenceofpoltergeistsorlittlegreenmen.RussellistryingtodealseriouslywithScripture,whichhebelievesistheinfallibleWordofGod.Mypoint,however,isthathisargumentsconcerningresurrectionarefraughtwithperilandbegthequestion.ForRussell’sargumentstoworktheymustbesqueezedintoaframeworkthat

alsoraisesserioustheologicalquestions.Aswehavealreadyindicated,hisargumentsraisequestionsconcerningthenature,notonlyofourresurrectedbodies,butalsoofChrist’sresurrectedbody.Ifaspiritualbodycannotbeseen,touched,orhandled,isitabodyatall?Itisonethingtosaythatourresurrectedbodieswillbespiritualbodies,butquiteanothertoimplythatourresurrectedbodieswillbemerelyspirits.TheBiblespeaksofspiritualbodies.Thoughthebodywillundergochangesduringitsglorification,itwillstillbeabody.Russellconcludeshisanalysisof1Corinthians15byreducingtheproblemof

interpretationtothefollowingdilemma:(1)EitherPaulwasguidedbytheSpiritofGodandtheeventsPaulpredictedcametopass,or(2)theapostlewasmistakenandtheseeventsdidnottakeplace.Weagreethatiftheproblemisstatedinthismanner,option1ispreferable.Russell’sconclusion,however,stronglyimpliesthefallacyofthefalsedilemma,alsocalledthe“either/or”fallacy.Thismeansthattheoptionsarereducedtotwowhentheremaybemorealternatives.RussellimpliesinthecontextthatPaulcouldhavebeenspeakingthetruth

onlyifhewasspeakingofaspiritualresurrection.ThisapproachisdrivenbyRussell’sconvictionthatalleschatologicaleventspredictedintheNewTestamentfallwithintheframeworkofthedestructionofJerusalem.Heassumesthattheonlymeaningfor“theend”istheendoftheJewishageandthatnothingispredictedfortheendoftheworld.HeviewsthejudgmentofGodonIsraelasthelastandfinaljudgment.InourdayMaxR.Kinghaswrittenvoluminouslyinsupportoffullpreterism

andaspiritualresurrection.Hearguesthattherearethreesuccessivestagesin

theresurrectionofthedead.Hesetstheseforthasfollows:

Concerningstage1,theresurrectionofChristmarkedthebeginningoftheresurrectionofthedead.Hewasthefirstfruitsofthemthatslept(1Cor.15:20).HisMessianic(age-ending)reignbeganafterhisresurrectionbecausehiskingdomwasnot“ofthisworld”;i.e.,notoftheOldCovenantaeon(John18:36).Concerningstage2,thedeathandresurrectionofthepre–end-of-the-agesaintscoversthetimeof

Christ’spre-parousiareignfromthecrosstotheAD70endoftheage.Itisthecompletionofthefirstresurrection.ThefirstfruitsdieandrisewithChristinthesenseofdyingtotheoldaeonandrisingtothenew,hencetheyliveandreignwithhiminthateschatologicalperiodwhichanswerstothesymbolic“thousandyearreign.”TheyreignwithChrist(Rev.20[:4–5]).Concerningstage3,theuniversalresurrectionisconjoinedwiththeultimateestablishmentofGod’s

universalreignat“theend.”ThisendisthesameendasMatthew24:3,14—theendoftheJewishage.ThiswasthefocalpointoftheultimatecomingofthekingdomofGodinDaniel7,theOlivetDiscourseofChrist(Luke21:31),andthepost-Pentecostapostolicwritings(Acts14:22;Heb.12:28;2Pet.1:11;Rev.11:15).ItwasallachievedfromthebeginningofChrist’sreigntotheconsummatedcomingofGod’skingdom,withintheend-timeperiodofChrist’seschatologicalsayings(Matt.24:34;Mark9:1;Matt.16:27,28).10

Thisschemaindicatesasingleresurrectionthattakesplaceinthreedistinctstagesduringoneeschatologicalperiod.Forthisschematowork,thetraditionalideaofresurrectionmustbereplacedwithametaphoricalideaofresurrection,dyingtoanoldredemptiveageoreonand“rising”totheneweon.Thisendoftheageistheonly“end”withwhichbiblicaleschatologyisconcerned.“Wecontend,therefore,”Kingdeclares,“thatGod’sconsummationof

historicalIsraelthroughChristmarkedtheendofhistory....Wesuggestthattheproblemliesinthefailureofscholarstoidentifythehistorythatisinvolvedinbiblicaleschatology.Biblicalhistorydoeshavemeaning.ItsgoalhasbeenreachedinChrist.Theendforeseenbytheprophetshascome.Deathhasbeendestroyed‘inthemountainoftheLord.’TheperfectreignofGodthroughChristhasbeenestablishedin‘theagetocome.’”11WenoticeakindofequivocationhereinKing’suseofthetermend.Onthe

onehanditmeans“thecompletionofachronologicaltimeperiod.”Ontheotheritmeans“aim”or“goal.”Thetwoconceptsarenotinherentlyincompatible,becauseatemporalendmayindeedcoincidewithaparticularhistoricalgoal.ThisdistinctioniscrucialtoKing’sview,enablinghimtosaythattheconsummationofhistoricalIsrael“markedtheendofhistory.”Thisisastrangeassertion.Kingobviouslydoesnotmeanthatthebroader

movingofworldhistoryceasedinAD70.HemustmeanthattheredemptivehistoryofIsrael“ended,”thatithadreacheditsgoal.EdwardE.Stevensindicatesthatthefull-preteristviewoftheresurrectionis

notmonolithic.Hesays:

WithinthefullpreteristcommunitythereareatleastthreedifferentviewsregardingtheimplicationsoftheresurrectioneventfortheindividualChristian.Thatmaysoundlikealotofconfusionamongpreterists,untilyoulookatthelegionofviewsamongfuturists.MaxKinghassuggestedanapproachwhichfocusesalmostexclusivelyonthecollectivebodyofthechurchbeingraisedoutoftheOldTestamentJewishsystem.ThisviewhassomedifficultyexplainingthecontinuityofourresurrectionbodieswithChrist’sresurrectionbody,anditforcestheexclusivecollectivebodyconceptintopassageswhichmaybedealingwiththeindividualimplicationsoftheresurrectioninstead.J.S.RussellandMiltonS.Terryhavesuggestedaresurrection(intheunseenrealm)andaliteral(butunnoticed)raptureatAD70(the“change”)forwhich(sofar)nohistoricalevidencehassurfaced.Othershaveproposedaresurrectionofthedeadintheheavenlyrealmwithvisiblesignsbeinggiveninthephysicalrealm,andsaythattheraptureisjustanotherdescriptionoftheinvisible“gathering”intothepresenceofGodatAD70.Iwouldtendtofavorthislatterview,althoughRussellandTerry’sideacannotbelightlydismissed.12

StevensbristlesagainstGentry’schargethatfullpreterismslipsintoakindofgnosticismwithrespecttotheresurrection.StevenscitestheworkofMurrayJ.Harris13tosteeracoursebetweenatotallyspiritualizedviewoftheresurrectionandaviewoffullbodilyresurrection.ItseemstomethatStevensandotherfullpreteristshecitesgomoreinthedirectionofgnosticismthanHarrisdoes.

TheRaptureoftheLiving

ThedebateoverthenatureandtimeoftheresurrectioniscloselylinkedwithPaul’steachingregardingtherapture.PaulsetsthisforthinhisFirstEpistletotheThessalonians:

ButIdonotwantyoutobeignorant,brethren,concerningthosewhohavefallenasleep,lestyousorrowasotherswhohavenohope.ForifwebelievethatJesusdiedandroseagain,evensoGodwillbringwithhimthosewhosleepinJesus.ForthiswesaytoyoubythewordoftheLord,thatwewhoarealiveandremainuntilthecomingoftheLordwillbynomeansprecedethosewhoareasleep.FortheLordhimselfwilldescendfromheavenwithashout,withthevoiceofanarchangel,andwiththetrumpetofGod.AndthedeadinChristwillrisefirst.ThenwewhoarealiveandremainshallbecaughtuptogetherwiththeminthecloudstomeettheLordintheair.AndthusweshallalwaysbewiththeLord.Thereforecomfortoneanotherwiththesewords(1Thess.4:13–18).

RusselltreatsthistextregardingtheraptureinmuchthesamewayhetreatsPaul’steachingonresurrectionin1Corinthians15.Russellarguesthatthephrase“wewhoarealive”(1Thess.4:17)indicatesthattheapostleexpectedtherapturetooccurinhisownlifetime.RusselllinkstherapturewiththecomingofChristinjudgmentonJerusalem:“Itmaybesaidthatwehavenoevidenceofsuchfactshavingoccurredasareheredescribed—theLorddescendingwithashout,thesoundingofthetrumpet,theraisingofthesleepingdead,therapture

ofthelivingsaints.True,butisitcertainthatthesearefactscognisablebythesenses?Istheirplaceintheregionofthematerialandthevisible?”14Tomaintainapastfulfillmentoftherapture,Russellarguesfora“secret”

rapturethattakesplaceinthenon-physical,spiritualrealm.Headmitsthereisnoevidencethattheseeventsoccurredasdescribed.Butthisisbecausetheeventsdescribedtookplaceinthenon-sensoryrealm.Ifthisisthecase,whydidtheapostleusethelanguagehedid?Hesaidthe

Lordwoulddescendwithashout,butRussellsaysnobodycouldhearit.Thevoiceofthearchangelissilent,andthetrumpetofGodismute.Notonlythis,butthemultitudeoftherisingdeadwerecaughtupinvisiblyintoinvisiblecloudstomeettheinvisible,comingLord.Thisraisesseverequestionsofhermeneutics.Onecanlegitimatelytakethe

descriptivelanguageoftheOlivetDiscourseinafigurativeway,becausethelanguageissosimilartoOldTestamentpropheticimagery.ButPaul’slanguagein1Thessalonians4isclearlyofadifferentsort.HerethegenreofthetextmakesithighlyunlikelythatPaulwasdescribinganeventhiddenfromearthlyview.MaxR.Kingarguesthatthelanguageoftherapture,likethatoftheOlivet

Discourse,isapocalypticimagery.“IntheseandotherrelatedpassagesdealingwiththeEnd,ortheDayoftheLord,thesoundingofthetrumpetisnottobeunderstoodinaliteralsense,”Kingwrites.“Thelanguageissymbolic,callingattentiontotheeschatologicalactionofGodintheconsummationoftheage.BeingcaughtuptogetherinthecloudstomeettheLordintheairsimplyisaccommodativelanguagedenotingtheend-of-the-agegatheringtogetherofGod’select”(Eph.1:10).15KinglinksthetrumpetimagewiththatusedintheOlivetDiscourseinMatthew24:31.Inbothlociheseesitasthesymbolofaspiritualtruth.OthershavearguedthatthedescriptionoftheraptureadaptsaRoman

ceremonyofvictoryandisthereforesymbolic.Paulfrequentlyborrowssuchimagesfromthen-contemporaryculture,suchas“leadingcaptivitycaptive.”WhenlegionnairesreturnedtoRomefromamilitaryconquest,theywould

encamptemporarilyoutsidethecitywhilepreparationsweremadetocelebratethevictory.Garlandswerespreadinthestreetstoovercometheodorofthefilthyandsweatingslavesthatwouldmarchinbondageintothecity.Anarchwasconstructedthroughwhichtheconqueringarmymarchedina“ticker-tape”parade.Wheneverythingwasready,atrumpetalertedthecitizenstogooutandjointhereturningvictorsintheparade.ThesoldiershadcarriedintobattletheirbanneremblazonedwiththelettersSPQR,whichstoodforthemottooftheSenate

andthepeopleofRome.SincethesoldiersrepresentedtheSenateandthepeople,bothgroupswereinvitedtojointhevictoriousentourage.

Table7.2ThePartial-PreteristView

AD70 Stillfuture

Acoming(parousia)ofChrist Thecoming(parousia)ofChrist

AdayoftheLord ThedayoftheLord

Theresurrectionofthedead

Theraptureoftheliving

Ajudgment The(final)judgment

TheendoftheJewishage Theendofhistory

InlikemannertheraptureimagerymayhavebeendesignedtocommunicatethatthepeopleofChristwouldjoinhiminhistriumphantreturn.Theraptureimagerymaybesymbolicinthissense,intermsofwhattherapturerepresents.Buttheraptureimageryisnotsymbolicinthesensethattheraptureisaltogetherinvisible.Inconclusion,thechiefdifferencebetweenfullpreteristsandpartialpreterists

hastodowiththetimeofthegreatresurrection.DavidChilton(beforehisallegedconversiontofullpreterism)summeditupinthefollowingmanner:“WecanaddtothiswhattheApostlePaultellsusabouttheResurrection:itwillcoincidewiththeSecondComingofChristandtheRaptureoflivingbelievers(1Thess.4:16–17).Somehavetriedtoevadetheforceofthistextbysuggestingaseriesofresurrections—oneattheRapture,anotherattheSecondComing(perhapssomeyearslater),andatleastonemoreattheconsummationoftheKingdom,theendofhistory(whereitbelongs)....Obviously,intermsofthesetexts,therecanbeonlyoneResurrectionofbelievers.AndthisResurrection,whichcoincideswiththeRapture,willtakeplaceontheLastDay.”16Thedisputefocusesonthemeaningofthelastday.Forthefullpreteristall

referencestotheendandtothedayoftheLordpointtothedestructionofJerusalem.Thisistheonly“secondcoming”orparousiaofJesus.Partialpreteristsmakeasharpdistinctionbetween(1)thejudgment-comingofChristtotheJewsattheendoftheJewishageand(2)hisparousiaandfinalcomingtotheworldattheendofhistory.Forthefullpreteristthegreatresurrectionandtheraptureoccurredinthepast.Forthepartialpreteristtheyremaininthefuture.

8WHOISTHEANTICHRIST?

ThisisthespiritoftheAntichrist,whichyouhaveheardwascoming,andisnowalreadyintheworld.

1John4:3

PerhapsthereisnogreatermysteryassociatedwiththeNewTestamentrecordthantheidentityoftheantichrist.Theverymentionofthewordconjuresupdiabolicalcreaturessuchas“Rosemary’sBaby,”orofahumanbeingofsuchunrestrainedwickednessthattheverymentionofhisnameevokesterror.TheLeftBehindseriesofbooksdramatizedthecomingoftheantichristinthefictionalfigureofNicolaeCarpathia.Futuristsineschatologyregularlyannouncethelatestcandidateforthepositionoftheantichrist.JeaneDixonpredictedthatwewillseetheantichristinourgenerationbecausehehasalreadybeenborn.ThetermantichristisintroducedintheNewTestamentbytheApostleJohn.

Hespeaksoftheantichristinhisfirstepistle:“Littlechildren,itisthelasthour;andasyouhaveheardthattheAntichristiscoming,evennowmanyantichristshavecome,bywhichweknowthatitisthelasthour.Theywentoutfromus,buttheywerenotofus;foriftheyhadbeenofus,theywouldhavecontinuedwithus;buttheywentoutthattheymightbemademanifest,thatnoneofthemwereofus.ButyouhaveananointingfromtheHolyOne,andyouknowallthings”(1John2:18–20).Thispassageincludesseveralenigmaticelements.Thefirstisthetime-frame

reference:“itisthelasthour.”Thisuniquephraseissomewhatdifficulttounderstand.Wemustaskthequestion,“Thisisthelasthourofwhat?”Jesusspokeofhis“hour”(Matt.26:45),whichhasbeeninterpretedtomeanthehour

ofhisdeathorthehourofhisreturntoheavenlyglory,bothofwhichoccurredinthefirstcentury.ButhereJohnisspeaking,notofthelasthourofChrist,butofthelasthourofsomethingelse.IsitthelasthouroftheJewishAge?Isitthelasthourofworldhistory?Inotherwords,isitalasthourthathasalreadyelapsed,orisitthelasthourofallhumanhistory?Thosewhounderstandittobethelasthourofhumanhistoryfallintotwo

basicgroups.Firstarebiblicalcriticswhocitethisasonemoreexampleof“consistenteschatology,”aneschatologicalexpectationthatfailedtomaterializewithinthepredictedtime-frame.Secondarethosewhoarguethat“thelasthour”beganinNewTestamenttimesandcontinuestothisday.AlexanderRosssaysofthisphrase:Itisimportanttorememberthat,

accordingtotheNewTestament,withthecomingofChrist,withhisDeathandResurrectionandAscension,thelastperiodoftheworld’shistoryhasbegun.GodhasspokenhisfinalmessageinhisSon(Heb.1:2).Noeventintheworld’shistorycaneverequalinepoch-makingimportancethecomingofChristtillhecomesagain.TheChristianera,asithasbeenput,is“thelastontheDivineprogram;thenextwillbethecomingoftheLord.”Thatperiodhaslastedmorethan1900yearssinceJohnwrotethewordsbeforeusanditmaylastsometimeyet,but,apartfromitsduration,itcanbethoughtofbeing,inaveryrealsense,thelasthour.Itis“thelasttime,”as[John]Calvinsays,“inwhichallthingsaresocompletedthatnothingremainsexceptthefinalrevelationofChrist.”1

Tounderstandthisapproach,wemustdistinguishbetweenthetermlastinthisinterpretationandthetermfinal.PerhapsabetterwordtoexpresstheviewofCalvincitedbyRossisthatitisthe“main”or“chief”redemptive-historicalhour,butcertainlynotthe“final”hour.WhateverJohnmeansby“thelasthour,”heregardsitaspresent.Twicehe

saysitisthelasthour.Heassertsthatthisiscertainduetothepresenceoftheantichrist.Hespeaksoftheantichristinbothpastandfuturetenses.Ontheonehand,theantichristiscoming.Inthiscasethatwhichiscominghasnotyetarrived.HereJohnspeaksoftheantichristinthesingular.Butthenheadds,“manyantichristshavecome.”Hereantichristispluralandalreadypresentorpast.Basedonthepastappearancesofmanyantichrists,Johnsaysweknowthatitisthelasthour.

TheSpiritoftheAntichristJohnfurtherqualifieshisteachingregardingtheantichrist:Beloved,donotbelieve

everyspirit,buttestthespirits,whethertheyareofGod;becausemanyfalseprophetshavegoneoutintotheworld.BythisyouknowtheSpiritofGod:EveryspiritthatconfessesthatJesusChristhascomeinthefleshisofGod,andeveryspiritthatdoesnotconfessthatJesusChristhascomeinthefleshisnotofGod.AndthisisthespiritoftheAntichrist,whichyouhaveheardwascoming,andisnowalreadyintheworld.YouareofGod,littlechildren,andhaveovercomethem,becausehewhoisinyouisgreaterthanhewhoisintheworld(1John4:1–4).

InthistextJohnspeaksofthespiritoftheantichrist.Hisreadershadheardthattheantichristwascoming,butJohnsaysheisintheworldnowandalready.Acrucialquestion,however,isthis:Whatis“alreadyintheworld”?Isitthespiritoftheantichrist,ortheantichristhimself?Toanswerthisquestionwemustconsidervariousfactors.Inthefirstplacethe

Greektextdoesnotincludethefullphrase“AndthisisthespiritoftheAntichrist.”TheGreektextsimplysays,“AndthisisoftheAntichrist.”InthecontextJohnhasbeenspeakingofspiritsthatconfessChrist’scominginthefleshandofspiritsthatdenyit.Johnthenconcludesthat“thisisoftheAntichrist.”Translatorsaddthewordsthespiritinitalicstosignaltothereaderthattheyhaveaddedorsuppliedthewords.Giventhecontextualdiscussionconcerningspirits,bothpositiveandnegative,theadditionof“thespirit”seemstometobewarranted.Morecrucialisthisquestion:Whatistheantecedentofwhichinthephrase

“whichyouhaveheardwascoming,andisnowalreadyintheworld.”IsJohnsayingthat,whiletheantichrist’sspiritisalreadyintheworld,theantichristhimselfisnotyetintheworld?Ifso,thenthedoorisleftopenforafutureappearanceoftheantichristattheendofworldhistory.Thisseemstobetheviewofthemajorityofevangelicalscholars.Anotherpossibilityisthattheantichristhimself,andnotmerelyhisspirit,is

alreadyintheworldduringthefirstcentury.Inthiscase,twomoreoptionssurface.Oneisthattheantichrist,thoughappearingintheworldinthefirstcentury,hascontinuedhisactivitythroughoutworldhistorydowntoourday.ThisviewwoulddisqualifyanyhumanfrombeingtheantichristunlessGodaccordedthispersonmiraculouslongevity.

TheotheroptionisthattheantichristwaspresentintheworldwhenJohnwrotethisepistleandtheantichrist’sworkwaslimitedtothefirstcentury.Grammaticallyspeaking,theantecedentofwhichshouldbe“theAntichrist,”

notmerely“thespiritoftheAntichrist.”Ifthisiscorrect,thenwemustconcludethattheantichristofwhomJohnwroteappearedinthefirstcentury.EvenifJohn’santichristwasaspecificpersoninthefirstcentury,thisdoes

notprecludethepossibilityofotherantichristsappearingatvarioustimes,orevencontinuously,throughoutchurchhistory.ThisspeculationgainsatleastsomecredencefromJohn’sreferencetothe“manyantichrists”(1John2:18)whohadprecededtheantichrist.BecauseJohnrefersto“manyantichrists,”manyscholarshaveconcludedthat

thetermantichristrefersnottoaspecificindividualoraseriesofindividuals,buttoinstitutionsorasystemofteachinglinkedtofalseprophets.Someconcludethatantichristisaspecificpersonbyidentifyinghimwith“themanoflawlessness”mentionedbytheApostlePaul,orwiththebeastofthebookofRevelation.ButneitherPaulnortheApocalypsespecificallyusesthetermantichrist.Again,theonlyexplicitreferencestotheantichristoccurintheepistlesofJohn.DavidChiltonarguesthatthetermantichristrefersbothtoasystemof

unbelief(theheresythatdeniedtherealityoftheincarnation,particularlyinthemannerofearlyGnosticism),andtoapostateindividuals(likethefirst-centuryheresiarchCerinthus).“Puttingallthistogether,”Chiltonwrites,“wecanseethatantichristisadescriptionofboththesystemofapostasyandindividualapostates.Inotherwords,antichristwasthefulfillmentofJesus’sprophecythatatimeofgreatapostasywouldcome,when‘manywillfallawayandwillbetrayoneanotherandhateoneanother.Andmanyfalseprophetswillarise,andwillmisleadmany’(Matt.24:10–11)....Whenthedoctrineofantichristisunderstood,itfitsinperfectlywithwhattherestoftheNewTestamenttellsusabouttheageofthe‘terminalgeneration.’”2G.C.Berkouwersummarizesthedebatebysaying:“Acommonsolutionisto

distinguishbetween‘forerunners’(antichrists)andtheantichrist.The‘antichrists’arepresentlywithus;the‘antichrist’willappearattheendofhistory.Inthissense[Herman]Bavinckreferredtotheantichristianpowersthroughouthistory,butbelievedthatonedaythesepowerswouldbeembodiedinonekingdomoftheworld,theapotheosisofapostasy.Atanyrate,whetherJohnistalkingaboutantichristsortheantichrist,thecruxofhismessageisawarning.Thecentralmeaningoftheantichrist,accordingtoJohn,isthegreatlie,thedenialthatJesusistheChrist.”3

BerkouwerhimselfrejectsBavinck’sviewthattheantichristsaremere“forerunners.”Berkouwerseestheantichristasanalarmsignaltothechurchofallages.Thisdoesnotanswerthequestion,however,ofwhethertheantichristofwhomJohnwarnedwasaspecificpersonwhohadappearedinthefirstcentury.John’suseofthemasculinesingulartorefertotheantichristmilitatesagainsttheantichristbeingavagueinstitution,thoughitdoesnotprecludeitabsolutely.AlexanderRossstronglyavowsthattheantichristisnotaninstitutionbuta

person.HearguesthispointbylinkingJohn’santichristwithPaul’s“manoflawlessness,”whoclearlyisdescribedinpersonalterms.“If,asis...almostcertainlythecase,John’sAntichrististobeidentifiedwithPaul’s‘manoflawlessness’”(2Thess.2:3),Rosssays,“thepersonalityofAntichristisclearlyproved....OutsidetheNewTestament,wefindwriterslikeJustinMartyr,Irenaeus,Tertullian,andJeromedealingfrequentlywiththesubjectofAntichrist,andallofthesetakeAntichristtobeaperson.”4Thewordantichristiscapableofmorethanonemeaningornuance,

dependingonhowweunderstandtheprefixanti-.Theprefixnormallymeans“against”andsuggestssomeonewhoisinoppositiontosomething.InthissenseantichristreferstosomeonewhostandsinoppositiontoChristandwhoishisveryantithesis.WegenerallyusetheEnglishprefixanti-inthesamemannertorefertosomeoneorsomethingthatisagainstorinoppositiontosomethingelse.InGreektheprefixanti-canalsobetranslated“inplaceof.”Thatwhichis

“anti”mayfunctionasareplacementorsubstituteforsomething.Theologianscallthistheimitationmotif.SowemightviewtheantichristasafalseChrist,orasonewhoseekstousurptherightfulplaceofChrist.HeisafakeorcounterfeitChrist.Thus“imitation”referstothatwhichisnotgenuinebutcounterfeit.Itisnotnecessarytochoosebetweenthesenuancesoftheprefix.Itis

possible,ifnotprobable,thattheconceptofantichristcontainsbothelements.Attheveryleasttheantichristisonewhostandsandworks“against”Christ.If,however,healsoseekstobeasubstituteforChrist,thenthelinktothemanoflawlessnessisevenmoreenticing.

TheManofLawlessnessPaulintroducesthemanoflawlessnessinhisSecondEpistletotheThessalonians.

Letnoonedeceiveyoubyanymeans;forthatDaywillnotcomeunlessthefallingawaycomesfirst,andthemanofsinisrevealed,thesonofperdition,whoopposesandexaltshimselfaboveallthatiscalledGodorthatisworshiped,sothathesitsasGodinthetempleofGod,showinghimselfthatheisGod.DoyounotrememberthatwhenIwasstillwithyouItoldyouthesethings?Andnowyouknowwhatisrestraining,thathemayberevealedinhisowntime.Forthemysteryoflawlessnessisalready

atwork;onlyhewhonowrestrainswilldosountilheistakenoutoftheway.Andthenthelawlessonewillberevealed,whomtheLordwillconsumewiththebreathofhismouthanddestroywiththebrightnessofhiscoming.ThecomingofthelawlessoneisaccordingtotheworkingofSatan,withallpower,signs,andlyingwonders,andwithallunrighteousdeceptionamongthosewhoperish,becausetheydidnotreceivetheloveofthetruth,thattheymightbesaved.AndforthisreasonGodwillsendthemstrongdelusion,thattheyshouldbelievethelie...(2Thess.2:3–11).

Paul’smanofsinorlawlessnessisoftenlinkedtooridentifiedwiththeantichrist.Ifindeedbothnamesrefertothesamething,thenPaulhasshedconsiderablelightonthenatureandcharacteroftheantichrist.First,themanofsinisidentifiedasaman.Thiswouldtendtoeliminateinstitutionsfrombeingtheantichrist,exceptwhenaninstitutioncanbeembodiedinasingleindividual.TheReformerscommonlyconsideredthepapacyastheantichrist,aninstitutionthatcouldbeembodiedinaparticularpope.LikewisesomehaveseenthegovernmentoftheRomanEmpireastheantichrist,whichcouldbeembodiedinaspecificemperor.Second,themanofsin’slawlessbehaviorhasastrongreligiousdimension.

Heis“thesonofperdition”whonotonly“opposes”Godbutalso“exaltshimselfabove...God”(2Thess.2:3–4).Throughakindofself-apotheosis,thismanclaimsforhimselfnothingshortofdeity.Pauldoesnotcallhim“antichrist”here,butPauldoesdescribehisactivityintermsofbeingbothagainstChristandasubstituteforChrist.Paulsaysthemanofsin“sitsasGodinthetempleofGod”(2Thess.2:4).Thissuggeststhatthisarrogantpersonwillappearwhenthetempleisinplace,thoughconceivablythetermtemplemerelydesignatesareligiouslocale.JohnCalvin,forexample,hadnoproblemseeingthisasanallusiontothe

church.“Thisoneword[inthetempleofGod]fullyrefutestheerrororratherstupidityofthosewhoholdthePopetobethevicarofChristonthegroundthathehasasettledresidenceintheChurch,howeverhemayconducthimself,”Calvinwrites.“PaulsetsAntichristintheverysanctuaryofGod.Heisnotanenemyfromtheoutsidebutfromthehouseholdoffaith,andopposesChristundertheverynameofChrist.”5Third,Paulcommentsonwhenthemanoflawlessnesswillappear.Paulwrote

totheThessaloniansthatthe“dayofChrist”hadnotyetcome.Paulsaidthatdaywouldnotcomeuntiltheapostasy(orfallingaway)occursandthemanofsinisrevealed(2Thess.2:3).Whattheapostlesaysnextisthesubjectofgreatdebateregardingthetiming

ofthemanofsin’sappearance.Paulindicatesthatthe“restrainer,”whomhisreaderscanidentify,ispresent(2Thess.2:7).Thisonewhorestrainshasbeen

identifiedbymoderncommentatorsastheRomangovernment,Paulhimself,andtheHolySpirit.ThelatterisafavoritetheoryofsomeDispensationalistswhoseeinthistexta

thinlyveiledreferencetotherapture.Thatis,therapturemustoccurbeforetheantichristisunleashed.Fortheantichristtooperatewithoutrestraint,theHolySpiritmustbefirstremoved.ForthistooccurtheChristiancommunitymustbephysicallyremovedfromtheearth,becauseaslongasChristiansarepresentintheworldtheHolySpiritwhoindwellsthemislikewisepresent.Whoevertherestraineris,hemustbetakenoutofthewaybeforethelawless

onecanberevealed.PauldoesemploytemporaltermssimilartoJohn’swhenhedeclaresthat“themysteryoflawlessnessisalreadyatwork”(2Thess.2:7).Paulthenstatesthat“thelawlessone”willbeconsumedbytheLordanddestroyed“withthebrightnessofhiscoming”(2Thess.2:8).Thesestatementsimplythat,thoughthemanoflawlessnesswasalreadyatwork,hewasnotyetclearlymanifesttoPaul’scontemporaries.Thisman’sworkwouldcontinueuntilChristcameandhewasconsumed.Againthequestionoftime-framebecomescritical.WasPaulspeakingofa

first-centurypersonwhowouldsoonbemademanifestandthenbedestroyedbythejudgment-comingofChristinAD70?OrwasPaulspeakingofonewho,thoughalreadyatworkinthefirstcentury,wouldnotbefullyrevealeduntilsometimeneartheendofhistoryasaprecursortothecomingofJesus?BenjaminBreckinridgeWarfield,citedbyGaryDeMar,arguesthatPaul’s

manoflawlessnesswasacontemporary.Warfieldwrites:Thewithholdingpowerisalreadypresent.AlthoughtheManofSinisnotyetrevealed,asamysteryhisessential“lawlessness”isalreadyworking—“onlyuntilthepresentrestrainerberemovedfromthemidst.”Heexpectshimtositinthe“templeofGod,”whichperhapsmostnaturallyreferstotheliteraltempleinJerusalem,althoughtheApostleknewthattheout-pouringofGod’swrathontheJewswascloseathand(1Thess.2:16).AndifwecomparethedescriptionwhichtheApostlegivesofhimwithourLord’saddressontheMountofOlives(Matt.24),towhich,aswehavealreadyhinted,Paulmakesobviousallusion,itbecomesatonceinthehighestdegreeprobablethatinthewords,“hethatexaltethhimselfagainstallthatiscalledGod,orisworshiped,sothathesittethinthesanctuaryofGodshowinghimselfthatheisGod,”PaulcanhavenothingelseinviewthanwhatourLorddescribedas“theabominationofdesolationwhichwasspokenofbyDanieltheprophet,standingintheholyplace”(Matt.24:15);andthisourLordconnectsimmediatelywiththebeleagueringofJerusalem(cf.Luke21:20).6

DeMararguesthattheapostasyofwhichPaulspeaks(2Thess.2:3)wasalreadyinmotionandwasprobablyJewishratherthanChristianinnature.PaulisreferringtothefallingawayofJewswhorejectedChrist,nottoanapostasyofthechurchattheendofhistory.AgainDeMarquotesWarfield,whowrites:Inthisinterpretation,theapostasyisobviouslythegreatapostasyoftheJews,graduallyfillingupalltheseyearsandhasteningtoitscompletionintheirdestruction.ThattheApostlecertainlyhadthisrapidlycompletingapostasyinhismindintheseverearraignmentthathemakesoftheJewsin1Thessalonians2:14–16,whichreacheditsclimaxinthedeclarationthattheywerecontinuallyfillingupmoreandmorefullthemeasureoftheirsins,untilalreadythemeasureofGod’swrathwasprematurely...filledupagainstthemandwashangingoverthemlikesomeladenthunder-cloudreadytoburstandoverwhelmthem—addsanadditionalreasonforsupposinghisreferencetobetothisapostasy—aboveallothers,“the”apostasy—inthispassage.7

Inhistreatmentof2Thessalonians2:3–11,J.B.LightfootidentifiesaclearlinkbetweenJohn’santichristandPaul’smanoflawlessness.“OneoftheimportantfeaturesinthisdescriptionistheparalleldrawnbetweenChristandtheadversaryofChrist,”Lightfootwrites.“Bothalikeare‘revealed,’andtobothaliketheterm‘mystery’isapplied.Fromthiscircumstance,andfromthedescriptiongiveninverse4ofhisarrogantassumption,wecannotdoubtthatthemanofsininSt.PaulisidenticalwiththeAntichristofSt.John,theprepositioninthelattertermexpressingtheideaofantagonisticclaims.”8

TheBeastNowhereinScripturedowegetsuchagraphicpictureofawickedeschatologicalfigureastheApocalypseprovidesof“thebeast.”

ThenIstoodonthesandofthesea.AndIsawabeastrisingupoutofthesea,havingsevenheadsandtenhorns,andonhishornstencrowns,andonhisheadsablasphemousname.NowthebeastwhichIsawwaslikealeopard,hisfeetwerelikethefeetofabear,andhismouthlikethemouthofalion.Andthedragongavehimhispower,histhrone,andgreatauthority.Isawoneofhisheadsasifithadbeenmortallywounded,andhisdeadlywoundwashealed.Andalltheworldmarveledandfollowedthebeast.Sotheyworshipedthedragonwhogaveauthoritytothebeast;andtheyworshipedthebeast,saying,“Whoislikethebeast?Whoisabletomakewarwithhim?”Andhewasgivenamouthspeakinggreatthingsandblasphemies,andhewasgivenauthoritytocontinueforforty-twomonths.ThenheopenedhismouthinblasphemyagainstGod,toblasphemehisname,histabernacle,andthosewhodwellinheaven.Anditwasgrantedtohimtomakewarwiththesaintsandtoovercomethem.Andauthoritywasgivenhimovereverytribe,tongue,andnation.Andallwhodwellontheearthwillworshiphim,whosenameshavenotbeenwrittenintheBookofLifeoftheLambslainfromthe

foundationoftheworld.Ifanyonehasanear,lethimhear.Hewholeadsintocaptivityshallgointocaptivity;hewhokillswiththeswordmustbekilledwiththesword.Hereisthepatienceandthefaithofthesaints.ThenIsawanotherbeastcomingupoutoftheearth,andhehadtwohornslikealambandspoke

likeadragon.Andheexercisesalltheauthorityofthefirstbeastinhispresence,andcausestheearthandthosewhodwellinittoworshipthefirstbeast,whosedeadlywoundwashealed.Heperformsgreatsigns,sothatheevenmakesfirecomedownfromheavenontheearthinthesightofmen.Andhedeceivesthosewhodwellontheearthbythosesignswhichhewasgrantedtodointhesightofthebeast,tellingthosewhodwellontheearthtomakeanimagetothebeastwhowaswoundedbytheswordandlived.Hewasgrantedpowertogivebreathtotheimageofthebeast,thattheimageofthebeastshouldbothspeakandcauseasmanyaswouldnotworshiptheimageofthebeasttobekilled.Andhecausesall,bothsmallandgreat,richandpoor,freeandslave,toreceiveamarkontheirrighthandorontheirforeheads,andthatnoonemaybuyorsellexceptonewhohasthemarkorthenameofthebeast,orthenumberofhisname.Hereiswisdom.Lethimwhohasunderstandingcalculatethenumberofthebeast,foritisthenumberofaman:hisnumberis666.ThenIlooked,andbehold,aLambstandingonMountZion,andwithhimonehundredandforty-

fourthousand,havinghisFather’snamewrittenontheirforeheads...(Rev.13:1–14:1).

Perhapsnobiblicalriddlehasgrippedandfascinatedpeoplemorethanthis:whoisthebeastidentifiedbythedreadedcryptogram666?Thisriddlehasfueledendlessspeculationthroughoutchurchhistory,resultinginaplethoraofcandidates.Thisperson’snumberisreferredtoas“themarkofthebeast.”

Table8.1TheAntichrist

Author Description Reference

John AsyouhaveheardthattheAntichristiscoming,evennowmanyantichristshavecome,bywhichweknowthatitisthelasthour.

1John2:18

John EveryspiritthatdoesnotconfessthatJesusChristhascomeinthefleshisnotofGod.AndthisisthespiritoftheAntichrist,whichyouhaveheardwascoming,andisnowalreadyintheworld.

1John4:1–4

Paul Thatdaywillnotcomeunlessthefallingwaycomesfirst,andthemanofsinisrevealed,thesonofperdition,whoopposesandexaltshimselfaboveallthatiscalledGod.

2Thess.2:3–4

Paul Thenthelawlessonewillberevealed....ThecomingofthelawlessoneisaccordingtotheworkingofSatan,withallpower,signs,andlyingwonders.

2Thess.2:8–9

John Isawabeastrisingupoutofthesea,havingsevenheadsandtenhorns. Rev.13:1

John Theyworshipedthebeast,saying,“Whoislikethebeast?”...Andhewasgivenamouthspeakinggreatthingsandblasphemies.

Rev.13:4–5

John Authoritywasgiven[thebeast]overeverytribe,tongue,andnation.Andallwhodwellontheearthwillworshiphim,whosenameshavenotbeenwrittenintheBookofLife.

Rev.13:7

As“bestial”asthisfigureis,heisclearlyidentifiedasahumanbeing.“Ingeneral,moreattentionisgiventothe‘riddle’ofthisnumberthantothefactthatitis‘ahumannumber,’”Berkouwersays.“Inotherwords,thatallthesubhumanityofthebeastisstillhuman,proceedingfromamongmen,andsettingitselfupoveragainstGodandmen.”9KennethL.GentryJr.,whohaswrittenextensivelyregardingthedatingofthe

bookofRevelation,10hasalsowrittenanentiremonographconcerningtheidentityofthebeast.11GentryconcurswithBerkouwerthatthebeastwhosenumberis666isaman,whichexcludesdemonicbeings,philosophicalsystems,politicalmovementsorempires,oranythingotherthanaspecific,individual,humanperson.EvenacursoryreadingofRevelation13makesitclearthat,liketheantichrist

andthemanoflawlessness,thebeastisanextremelyevilandidolatrousperson.Gentryaddsthat,sincethebeastpossessesgreat“authority”(Rev.13:5,7)andwearstencrownsonhishead(Rev.13:1),hemustbeapoliticalfigure.(This,ofcourse,doesnotprecludeareligiousfigurewho,inadditiontohisecclesiasticalauthority,isalsoinvestedwithpoliticalauthority.Theideaofseparatingcivilandecclesiasticalauthorityhasnotbeenaconsistentnormthroughouthistory.)Gentryalsoarguesthatthe“name-number”(Rev.13:18)mustspeakofsomeonewhowasacontemporaryofJohn’s.Gentrybasesthisprimarilyonthetime-framereferencesintheApocalypse(whichwehavealreadyexamined).“Thisprinciplealone,”Gentrysays,“willeliminate99.9percentofthesuggestionsbycommentators.”12IfthebeastisoneofJohn’scontemporaries,Gentryargues,thenitnaturally

followsthatitissomeonerelevanttotherecipientsofJohn’sletter.Thisfurtherlimitsthecandidatesforthebeast.GentryagreeswiththosecommentatorswhoaffirmthatJohn’sportraitofthe

beastshiftsbetweengenericandspecificimagery.TheBeastisdescribedashavingsevenheads(Rev.13:1),whichindicatesacollectiveidentitysuchasakingdomorempire.Yetinthissamecontextthebeastisgivenaspecificidentityassociatedwiththecrypticnumber666(Rev.13:18).GentrypointsoutthatlaterinRevelationthesevenheadsaresaidtorepresent

sevenmountains(Rev.17:9):Hereisthemindwhichhaswisdom:Thesevenheadsaresevenmountainsonwhichthewomansits.Therearealsosevenkings.Fivehavefallen,oneis,andtheotherhasnotyetcome.Andwhenhecomes,hemustcontinueashorttime.Andthebeastthatwas,andisnot,ishimselfalsotheeighth,andisoftheseven,andisgoingtoperdition.Andthetenhornswhichyousawaretenkingswhohavereceivednokingdomasyet,buttheyreceive

authorityforonehouraskingswiththebeast.Theseareofonemind,andtheywillgivetheirpowerandauthoritytothebeast(Rev.17:9–13).

Somehavearguedthattheseven-hilledcityisJerusalem,identifiedwithBabylonbecauseofitsspiritualharlotry.Themajorityofcommentators,however,seethisasareferencetoRome,knownwidelyasthe“CityonSevenHills”or,asitwascalledinantiquity,theSeptimontium.

AFirst-CenturyCandidateWiththisbackgroundinmind,GentryconcludesthatthebeastisLuciusDomitiusAhenobarbus,morecommonlyknownbyhisadoptivename,Nero.13

GentrygivesasynopsisofNero’sviolence-studdedlife,includingthemurdersofhisownfamilymembers,thecastrationofaboyNero“married,”andthebrutalmurderofhispregnantwifebykickinghertodeath.BizarrebehaviorwasnotedbythehistorianSuetonius,whowrotethatNeroeven“devisedakindofgame,inwhich,coveredwiththeskinofsomewildanimal,hewasletloosefromacageandattackedtheprivatepartsofmenandwomen,whowereboundtostakes.”14NerobeganhisreignasemperorinAD54.Hisimperialpersecutionofthe

ChristiancommunitywaslaunchedinAD64,thesameyearasthefamousfirethatmanybelievewassetbyNerohimself.ItisoftenassumedthatthepersecutionofChristians,whomNeroblamedforthefire,wasadiversionarytactictoshiftblameforhisownactionstoothers.NerocommittedsuicideinAD68,whenhewasbut31yearsofage.Sincethebeast’sappearanceisoneofthe“thingswhichmustshortlytake

place”(Rev.1:1),Neroisatleastaprimafaciecandidatefortheroleofthebeast.Asdescribedbyancienthistorians,Neroisasingularlycruelandunrestrainedmanofevil.ManyancientwriterscitethebestialcharacterofNero,andGentrysummarizesthesereferences:Tacitus...spokeofNero’s“cruelnature”that“puttodeathsomanyinnocentmen.”RomannaturalistPlinytheElder...describedNeroas“thedestroyerofthehumanrace”and“thepoisonoftheworld.”RomansatiristJuvenal...speaksof“Nero’scruelandbloodytyranny.”...ApolloniusofTyana...specificallymentionsthatNerowascalleda“beast”:“Inmytravels,whichhavebeenwiderthanevermanyetaccomplished,Ihaveseenmany,manywildbeastsofArabiaandIndia;butthis

beast,thatiscommonlycalledaTyrant,Iknownothowmanyheadsithas,norifitbecrookedofclaw,andarmedwithhorriblefangs....Andofwildbeastsyoucannotsaythattheywereeverknowntoeattheirownmother,butNerohasgorgedhimselfonthisdiet.”15

InhismanifestlydepravedcharacterNerofulfilledtheportraitofthebeastwell.ThemostcriticalquestionconcerningNero,however,ishisrelationtothenumber666.Intheancientworldalphabetsoftendiddoubledutyasasystemofnumbering.WeareawarethatRomanletterssuchasX,C,M,andLalsofunctionedasnumbers.Gentrynotesthatnumerical“cryptograms”werefairlycommoninantiquity.“AmongtheGreeks,”hewrites,“itwascalledisopsephia(‘numericalequality’);amongtheJewsitwascalledgimatriya(‘mathematical’).Anygivennamecouldbereducedtoitsnumericalequivalentbyaddingupthemathematicalvalueofallofthelettersofthename.”16“AHebrewspellingof[Nero’s]namewasNrwnQsr(pronounced:Neron

Kaiser),”saysGentry.“IthasbeendocumentedbyarchaeologicalfindsthatafirstcenturyHebrewspellingofNero’snameprovidesuswithpreciselythevalueof666.[Marcus]Jastrow’slexiconoftheTalmudcontainsthisveryspelling....Agreatnumberofbiblicalscholarsrecognizethisnameasthesolutiontotheproblem.Isitnotremarkablethatthismostrelevantemperorhasanamethatfitspreciselytherequiredsum?”17

Table8.2Nero’sNumber

ThenumericalequivalentofoneHebrewrenderingofNero’sname,NrwnQsr(pronouncedNeronKaiser),is666.

Hebrewletter Numericalvalue

N נ 50

r ר 200

w ו 6

n נ 50

Q ק 100

s ם 60

r ר 200

TOTAL 666

OnefascinatingaspectofthiscryptogramisthatatextualvariantinRevelation13:18reads616ratherthan666.Textualanalystsaskifthisvariationwastheresultofacopyist’serrororanintentionalchangetoaccommodatereadersoutsidethescopeofRevelation’sinitialHebrewaudience.ThehighlyrespectedtextualscholarBruceM.Metzgersays:“Perhapsthechangewasintentional,seeingthattheGreekformNeronCaesarwritteninHebrewcharacters(nrwnqsr)isequivalentto666,whereastheLatinformNeroCaesar(nrwqsr)isequivalentto616.”18Itiswelldocumentedthatemperorworshipwaspracticedinfirst-century

Rome.InAD55astatueofNerowaserectedinRome’sTempleofMars.“ThatNeroactuallywasworshipedisevidentfrominscriptionsfoundinEphesusinwhichheiscalled‘AlmightyGod’and‘Savior,’”Gentrynotes.“ReferencetoNeroas‘GodandSavior’isfoundinaninscriptionatSalamis,Cyprus....Regardingtheimperialdevelopmentoftheemperorcult,Caligula(Gaius)andNero‘abandonedallreserve’inpromotingemperorworship.Infact,‘CaligulaandNero,theonlytwooftheJulio-ClaudianswhoweredirectdescendantsofAugustus,demandeddivinehonorswhiletheywerestillalive.’”19Whatshouldwemakeofthis?ManyscholarsviewthebeastinRevelationas

aprophecyofastillremotefuture.OthersseeNeroasa“type”ofonewhohasyettobemademanifest.Oftenthecommentator’sdecisionisgovernedbyhisviewofwhenRevelationwaswritten.EvenifGentryhasdatedRevelationcorrectly,thatstilldoesnotexcludethepossibilityofafuturemanifestationofthebeastinaccordwithaprimaryandsecondaryschemaofpropheticfulfillment.ButissuchaschemanecessaryiftheeventsforetoldinRevelationconcernedtheimminentjudgmentoftheJewishnationandthedestructionofJerusalem?

9WHENISTHEMILLENNIUM?

IsawthesoulsofthosewhohadbeenbeheadedfortheirwitnesstoJesus....AndtheylivedandreignedwithChristforathousandyears.

Revelation20:4

AshortpassageinthebookofRevelationhasbeenthesubjectofvasteschatologicalinvestigation.Itisthepassagethatspeaksofa“millennium.”Wholesystemsofeschatologicalthoughthavebeenlabeledandidentifiedinaccordancewiththeplacethemillenniumholdswithineachsystem.Eschatologicalviewshavebeencategorizedbroadlyintothefollowingschoolsofthought:historicpremillennialism,dispensationalpremillennialism,amillennialism,postmillennialism,andfullpreterism(orrealizedeschatology).Whatfollowsisabriefexplorationofthemaintenetsofthesevariouseschatologicalpositions,particularlywithreferencetothequestionsraisedbyfullandpartialpreterism.ThetextatthecenterofthemillenniumdebateisRevelation20:1–8:

ThenIsawanangelcomingdownfromheaven,havingthekeytothebottomlesspitandagreatchaininhishand.Helaidholdofthedragon,thatserpentofold,whoistheDevilandSatan,andboundhimforathousandyears;andhecasthimintothebottomlesspit,andshuthimup,andsetasealonhim,sothatheshoulddeceivethenationsnomoretillthethousandyearswerefinished.Butafterthesethingshemustbereleasedforalittlewhile.AndIsawthrones,andtheysatonthem,andjudgmentwascommittedtothem.AndIsawthesouls

ofthosewhohadbeenbeheadedfortheirwitnesstoJesusandforthewordofGod,whohadnotworshipedthebeastorhisimage,andhadnotreceivedhismarkontheirforeheadsorontheirhands.AndtheylivedandreignedwithChristforathousandyears.Buttherestofthedeaddidnotliveagainuntilthethousandyearswerefinished.Thisisthefirstresurrection.Blessedandholyishewhohaspartinthefirstresurrection.Oversuchtheseconddeathhasnopower,buttheyshallbepriestsofGodandofChrist,andshallreignwithhimathousandyears.

Nowwhenthethousandyearshaveexpired,Satanwillbereleasedfromhisprisonandwillgoouttodeceivethenationswhichareinthefourcornersoftheearth,GogandMagog,togatherthemtogethertobattle,whosenumberisasthesandofthesea...(Rev.20:1–8).

Thestandardmillennialpositions(eachbeingasystemofeschatologyinitsownright)maybesummarizedbrieflyasfollows:

1. Premillennialismteachesthattherewillbeafuture,literal,earthlymillennialkingdom,andthatitwillbeginwhenChristreturns.Thepre-indicatesthatChristwillreturnbeforethemillennialkingdomisestablished.

2. Amillennialismteachesthattherewillbenoliteralmillennialkingdom.Theprefixa-indicatesasimplenegation.

3. PostmillennialismteachesthatChristwillreturnafter(post-)themillennialkingdomconcludes.

Thesesimpledesignationsofpre-,a-,andpost-helptoestablishthechronologicalrelationshipbetweenthemillennialkingdomandChrist’sreturn.Butinthemselvestheyfailtocapturethefullmeasureofthealternatepositions.Whatisinviewisnotsimplychronology,butthenatureofthekingdomofGod.Thesepositionsalsodifferintheirunderstandingofhistory,whetheritbeoptimisticorpessimistic,andintheirviewsofthechurch’sstrategyinfulfillinghermission.Thereforemoredetailregardingthesevariouspositionsisnecessary.

Amillennialism

ThoughReformedtheologyisbynomeansmonolithicregardingeschatologicalsystems,themajorityreportamongReformedthinkerstendstobeamillennialism.AnthonyA.Hoekemadescribestheamillennialposition:

AmillennialistsinterpretthemillenniummentionedinRevelation20:4–6asdescribingthepresentreignofthesoulsofdeceasedbelieverswithChristinheaven.TheyunderstandthebindingofSatanmentionedinthefirstthreeversesofthischapterasbeingineffectduringtheentireperiodbetweenthefirstandsecondcomingsofChrist....AmillennialistsfurtherholdthatthekingdomofGodisnowpresentintheworldasthevictorious

ChristisrulinghispeoplebyhisWordandSpirit,thoughtheyalsolookforwardtoafuture,glorious,andperfectkingdomonthenewearthinthelifetocome...thekingdomofevilwillcontinuetoexistalongsideofthekingdomofGoduntiltheendoftheworld....Theso-called“signsofthetimes”havebeenpresentintheworldfromthetimeofChrist’sfirstcoming,buttheywillcometoamoreintensified,finalmanifestationjustbeforehisSecondComing.Theamillennialistthereforeexpectsthe

bringingofthegospeltoallnationsandtheconversionofthefullnessofIsraeltobecompletedbeforeChrist’sreturn.HealsolooksforanintensifiedformoftribulationandapostasyaswellasfortheappearanceofapersonalantichristbeforetheSecondComing.1

KennethL.GentryJr.citesthefollowingfeaturesofamillennialism:

1. ThechurchageisthekingdomeraprophesiedintheOldTestament,astheNewTestamentchurchbecomestheIsraelofGod.

2. SatanwasboundduringJesus’searthlyministry,restraininghimwhilethegospelisbeingpreachedintheworld.

3. InsofarasChristpresentlyrulesintheheartsofbelievers,theywillhavesomeinfluenceonculturewhilelivingouttheirfaith.

4. Towardtheendevil’sgrowthwillaccelerate,culminatinginthegreattribulationandapersonalantichrist.

5. “Christwillreturntoendhistory,resurrectandjudgeallmen,andestablishtheeternalorder.Theeternaldestinyoftheredeemedmaybeeitherinheavenorinatotallyrenovatednewearth.”2

DispensationalPremillennialism

Dispensationalism,arelativelyrecenteschatologicalsystem,firstappearedintheearlynineteenthcenturyinEngland.Ithassweptacrossthemodernworld,duelargelytothewideinfluenceofTheScofieldReferenceBible,publishedin1909.DispensationalismhasbecomeinourdaythemajorityreportamongevangelicalChristians.CharlesCaldwellRyriegivesthefollowingsynopsisofdispensational

premillennialism:

PremillennialistsbelievethattheirsisthehistoricfaithoftheChurch.HoldingtoaliteralinterpretationoftheScriptures,theybelievethatthepromisesmadetoAbrahamandDavidareunconditionalandhavehadorwillhavealiteralfulfillment.InnosensehavethesepromisesmadetoIsraelbeenabrogatedorfulfilledbytheChurch,whichisadistinctbodyinthisagehavingpromisesandadestinydifferentfromIsrael’s.Atthecloseofthisage,premillennialistsbelievethatChristwillreturnforhisChurch,meetingherintheair(thisisnottheSecondComingofChrist),whichevent,calledtheraptureortranslation,willusherinaseven-yearperiodoftribulationontheearth.Afterthis,theLordwillreturntotheearth(thisistheSecondComingofChrist)toestablishhiskingdomontheearthforathousandyears,duringwhichtimethepromisestoIsraelwillbefulfilled.3

Gentrysummarizesthekeytenetsofdispensationalpremillennialism:

1. ChristofferedtotheJewstheDavidickingdominthefirstcentury.Theyrejectedit,anditwaspostponeduntilthefuture.

2. Thecurrentchurchageisa“parenthesis”unknowntotheOldTestamentprophets.

3. GodhasseparateprogramsforthechurchandIsrael.4. Thechurchwillultimatelyloseinfluenceintheworldandbecome

corruptedorapostatetowardtheendofthechurchage.5. Christwillreturnsecretlytorapturehissaintsbeforethegreat

tribulation.6. AfterthetribulationChristwillreturntoearthtoadministeraJewish

politicalkingdombasedinJerusalemforonethousandyears.Satanwillbebound,andthetemplewillberebuiltandthesacrificialsystemreinstituted.

7. Neartheendofthemillennium,SatanwillbereleasedandChristwillbeattackedatJerusalem.

8. Christwillcalldownjudgmentfromheavenanddestroyhisenemies.The(second)resurrectionandthejudgmentofthewickedwilloccur,initiatingtheeternalorder.4

HistoricPremillennialism

PerhapsthemostnotedadvocateofhistoricpremillennialisminourdayhasbeenGeorgeEldonLadd.LaddhaswrittenextensivelyonthesubjectinsuchworksasATheologyoftheNewTestament,“HistoricPremillennialism,”andTheBlessedHope.5Inthelatterworkheprovidesanimportantcritiqueofpretribulationism(Dispensationalism)andanhistoricalperspectiveondifferencesbetweenDispensationalismandhistoricpremillennialism.

Table9.1AdvocatesofMillennialViews

Amillennialists Postmillennialists

JayE.Adams OswaldT.Allis J.GreshamMachen

G.C.Berkouwer Athanasius GeorgeC.Miladin

LouisBerkhof Augustine IainH.Murray

WilliamHendricksen GregL.Bahnsen JohnMurray

AnthonyA.Hoekema JohnCalvin GaryNorth

AbrahamKuyper RobertLewisDabney JohnOwen

BruceK.Waltke JohnJeffersonDavis R.J.Rushdoony

EdwardJ.Young JonathanEdwards W.G.T.Shedd

Eusebius AugustusH.Strong

A.A.Hodge J.H.Thornwell

CharlesHodge B.B.Warfield

J.MarcellusKik

DispensationalPremillennialists

HistoricalPremillennialists

GleasonL.Archer J.DwightPentecost W.J.Erdman

DonaldG.Barnhouse CharlesCaldwellRyrie FredericL.Godet

LewisSperryChafer JohnF.Walvoord Irenaeus

J.N.Darby JustinMartyr

M.R.DeHaan GeorgeEldonLadd

CharlesL.Feinberg Papias

NormanL.Geisler J.BartonPayne

HarryA.Ironside Tertullian

WalterC.Kaiser R.A.Torrey

HalLindsey TheodorZahn

“TheideaofapretribulationrapturewasnotseenintheScripturesbytheearlychurchfathers,”Laddargues.“Theywerefuturistsandpremillennialistsbutnotpretribulationists.ThisofitselfindicatesthatpretribulationismandpremillennialismarenotidenticalandthattheBlessedHopeisnotthehopeofarapturebeforetheTribulation.PretribulationismwasanunknownteachinguntiltheriseofthePlymouthBrethrenamongwhomthedoctrineoriginated....ThevocabularyoftheBlessedHopeknowsnothingoftwoaspectsofChrist’scoming,onesecretandoneglorious.”6Laddgoesontosay:

Finally,weconcludedthattheundueconcernwiththequestionofpretribulationismtendstocauseneglectofmoreimportantandvitalissueshavingtodowiththeBlessedHope;thatitisnotnecessaryforthepreservationofthepurifyinginfluenceoftheBlessedHope;thatittendstomisunderstandthemostfundamentalelementinthepurifyingHope;thatitsacrificesoneofthegreatestincentivesforworldevangelization;thatabiblicalattitudeofexpectancyisnotidenticalwithabeliefinanany-

momentcomingofChrist;thatitmisrepresentstheBlessedHopebydefiningitintermsofescapefromsufferingratherthanunionwithChristandthusmaybeguiltyofthepositivedangerofleavingtheChurchunpreparedfortribulationwhenAntichristappears;andthatpretribulationismisnotessentialtoapremillennialeschatology.7

Gentryprovidesaseven-pointsummaryofhistoricpremillennialism:

1. TheNewTestamenteraChurchistheinitialphaseofChrist’skingdom,asprophesiedbytheOldTestamentprophets.

2. TheNewTestamentChurchmaywinoccasionalvictoriesinhistory,butultimatelyshewillfailinhermission,loseinfluence,andbecomecorruptedasworldwideevilincreasestowardtheendoftheChurchAge.

3. TheChurchwillpassthroughafuture,worldwide,unprecedentedtimeoftravail.ThiseraisknownastheGreatTribulation,whichwillpunctuatetheendofcontemporaryhistory....

4. ChristwillreturnattheendoftheTribulationtorapturetheChurch,resurrectdeceasedsaints,andconductthejudgmentoftherighteousinthe“twinklingofaneye.”

5. Christwillthendescendtotheearthwithhisglorifiedsaints,fightthebattleofArmageddon,bindSatan,andestablishaworldwide,politicalkingdom,whichwillbepersonallyadministeredbyhimfor1,000yearsfromJerusalem.

6. Attheendofthemillennialreign,SatanwillbeloosedandamassiverebellionagainstthekingdomandafierceassaultagainstChristandhissaintswilloccur.

7. GodwillintervenewithfieryjudgmenttorescueChristandthesaints.Theresurrectionandthejudgmentofthewickedwilloccurandtheeternalorderwillbegin.8

Postmillennialism

Anadvocateofcontemporarypostmillennialism,Gentrypresentsseveralfeaturesofthisview.ThefirstisthatthemessianickingdomwasfoundedonearthduringtheearthlyministryofChristinfulfillmentofOldTestamentprophecy.TheNewTestamentchurchbecomesthetransformedIsrael,the“IsraelofGod”ofwhichPaulspeaksinGalatians6:16.

Thesecondfeatureisthatthekingdomisessentiallyredemptiveandspiritualratherthanpoliticalandphysical.Thethirdfeatureisthatthekingdomwillexerciseatransformationalsocio-

culturalinfluenceinhistory.GentryquotesGregL.Bahnsen:“Theessentialdistinctiveofpostmillennialismisitsscripturallyderived,sureexpectationofgospelprosperityforthechurchduringthepresentage.”9ThefourthfeatureisthatthekingdomofChristwillgraduallyexpandintime

andonearth.ThiswillbeaccomplishednotwithoutChrist’sroyalpowerasKingbutwithouthisphysicalpresenceonearth.ThefifthfeatureisthattheGreatCommissionwillsucceed.Gentrycites

Bahnsen:“Thethingthatdistinguishesthebiblicalpostmillennialist,then,fromamillennialistsandpremillennialistsishisbeliefthattheScriptureteachesthesuccessofthegreatcommissioninthisageofthechurch.”10ThisexpectationincludesthevirtualChristianizationofthenations.Atthispointinhissummary,Gentrymakesanimportantdistinctionbetween

twotypesorgroupsofmodernpostmillennialists:pietisticpostmillennialistsandtheonomicpostmillennialists.Thebasicdifferencebetweenthetwohastodowiththeapplicationofbiblicallaw.“Pietisticpostmillennialism(asfoundinBannerofTruthcircles),”Gentrysays,“deniesthatthepostmillennialadvanceofthekingdominvolvesthetotaltransformationofculturethroughtheapplicationofbiblicallaw.Theonomicpostmillennialismaffirmsthis.”11Theseventhfeatureisthatanextendedperiodofspiritualprosperitymay

endureformillennia,afterwhichhistorywillbedrawntoaclosebythepersonal,visible,bodilyreturnofChrist.Hisreturnwillbeaccompaniedbyaliteralresurrectionandageneraljudgment,usheringinthefinalandeternalformofthekingdom.

OtherDifferences

Thedifferencesdisplayedamongthevariousmillennialschoolsgofarbeyondtheirunderstandingofthemillenniumitself.Thedifferencesaresystemicandextendtoeveryaspectofeschatology.Someformofpreterismcouldconceivablybeincorporatedintoallofthem.OnepossibleexceptionisDispensationalism,althoughwithcertainmodificationsitcouldfitineventhere.Partialpreterismmaybeincorporatedinbothpietisticpostmillennialismand

theonomicpostmillennialism.Oneneednotbeinthetheonomiccamptoembracepartialpreterism.ThetermtheonomicreferstoaspecificschoolofthoughtwithincontemporaryCalvinism,toaspecificviewoftheOldTestament

lawanditsapplicationtocontemporaryculture.InabroadsenseallCalvinistsare“theonomic,”andinanevenbroadersenseallChristiansaretheonomic.Therootmeaningoftheonomyis“rulebythelawofGod.”EveryChristian

must,insomesense,agreethatGod’sruleissupremeovercreation.ButbynomeansdoallChristiansagreewithhistoricCalvinismthattheOldTestamentlawhasanongoingfunctionintheChristianlife.OfCalvin’sfamousthree-folduseofthelaw,thethirdisstillhotlydisputedamongevangelicals.Indenyingthe“thirduse”ofthelaw,thetertiususus,manyevangelicals,especiallythosewithintheDispensationalcamp,categoricallydenytheonomy.TheviewthattheOldTestamentlawisnotbindingonthebelieverinany

sense,aviewcalledantinomianism,iswidelyheld.TheproblemofantinomianismisaseriousthreattocontemporaryChristianity.OveragainstthisviewallCalvinistsstandtogetherinassertingtheongoingrelevanceanduseoftheOldTestament’smorallaw.ThedebateovertheonomyinitsnarrowsenseisanintramuraldebateamongCalvinists,whoagreeonmoreregardingtheOldTestamentlawthantheydisagreeon.Buttheonomyinthenarrowsenseisnot,asGentryhasindicated,essentialtopostmillennialism.Anothermajordifferencebetweenmillennialschoolsistheirattitudestoward

thefuture.Postmillennialismisthemostoptimisticconcerningthegospel’simpactonhistoryandculture.Whenonesurveyshistoryattheendofthetwentiethcentury,itmayseemsomewhatPollyannaishtoregardthechurch’sinfluenceintheworldwithmuchoptimism.Thisisespeciallytrueinlightofthefrequentassertionbysociologistsandhistoriansthatthisisthe“post-Christianera.”Theonlypost-ChristianeraknowntoScriptureiseternity,whichmaybe“post”withrespecttoanyspecificerainchurchhistory,butwillcertainlynotbeChristian.ThefuturebelongstothepeopleofGodandtothekingdomofChrist.SomeCalvinistsmaybepessimisticwithregardtotheimmediatefutureandevenwithregardtothegospel’simpactonculturebeforeChristcomesagain,butonecannotbeaCalvinistandapessimistabouttheultimatetriumphofChristandthegospel.

Conclusion

ThepurposeofTheLastDaysaccordingtoJesushasbeentoexamineandevaluatethevariousclaimsofpreterism,bothfullandpartial.Thegreatservicepreterismperformsistofocusattentionontwomajorissues.Thefirstisthetime-framereferencesoftheNewTestamentregardingeschatologicalprophecy.

Thepreteristisasentinelstandingguardagainstfrivolousandsuperficialattemptstodownplayorexplainawaytheforceofthesereferences.ThesecondmajorissueisthedestructionofJerusalem.Thiseventcertainly

spelledtheendofacrucialredemptive-historicalepoch.Itmustbeviewedastheendofsomeage.ItalsorepresentsasignificantvisitationoftheLordinjudgmentandavitallyimportant“dayoftheLord.”WhetherthiswastheonlydayoftheLordaboutwhichScripturespeaksremainsamajorpointofcontroversyamongpreterists.Thegreatweaknessoffullpreterism—andwhatIregardtobeitsfatalflaw—

isitstreatmentofthefinalresurrection.Iffullpreterismistogainwidecredibilityinourtime,itmustovercomethisobstacle.Withrespecttopartialpreterism,KennethL.GentryJr.hasdoneexcellent

workinforcingreconsiderationofthedatewhenthebookofRevelationwaswritten.IfheiscorrectinarguingforadatepriortoAD70,thensweepingrevisionsmustbemadeinourunderstandingofthisbook’scontentandfocus.DebatesovereschatologywillprobablycontinueuntiltheLordreturnsandwe

havetheadvantageofhindsightratherthanthedisadvantageofforesight.ThedivisionsthatexistwithintheChristiancommunityareunderstandable,consideringthatboththesubjectmatterandtheliterarygenreoffutureprophecyareexceedinglydifficult.ThisdoesnotmeanthatwemaypushtheBibleasideorneglectitseschatologicalsections.Onthecontrarytheinterpretativedifficultiespresentedbyeschatologicalmatterssimplycallustoagreaterdiligenceandpersistenceinseekingtheirsolution.AsIhaveindicatedthroughoutthisbook,oneofmyoverarchingconcerns

regardingthepointsindisputeistheauthorityofScripture.AstheinerrantWordofGod,itprecludesalleffortstoignoreordownplayanyaspectofitsteaching.TheevangelicalworldcannotaffordtoturnadeafeartotherailingvoicesofskepticismthatgutScriptureofitsdivineauthority,thatassaultthecredibilityoftheapostolicwitnessandevenofChristhimself.Wemusttakeseriouslytheskeptics’critiqueofthetime-framereferencesofNewTestamentprophecy,andwemustanswerthemconvincingly.

APPENDIX1THEOLIVETDISCOURSEACCORDING

TOMATTHEW

ThenJesuswentoutanddepartedfromthetemple,andhisdisciplescametohimtoshowhimthebuildingsofthetemple.AndJesussaidtothem,“Doyounotseeallthesethings?Assuredly,Isaytoyou,notonestoneshallbelefthereuponanother,thatshallnotbethrowndown.”NowashesatontheMountofOlives,thedisciplescametohimprivately,

saying,“Tellus,whenwillthesethingsbe?AndwhatwillbethesignofYourcoming,andoftheendoftheage?”AndJesusansweredandsaidtothem:

Takeheedthatnoonedeceivesyou.FormanywillcomeinMyname,saying,“IamtheChrist,”andwilldeceivemany.Andyouwillhearofwarsandrumorsofwars.Seethatyouarenottroubled;forallthesethingsmustcometopass,buttheendisnotyet.Fornationwillriseagainstnation,andkingdomagainstkingdom.Andtherewillbefamines,pestilences,andearthquakesinvariousplaces.Allthesearethebeginningofsorrows.Thentheywilldeliveryouuptotribulationandkillyou,andyouwillbehatedbyallnationsforMy

name’ssake.Andthenmanywillbeoffended,willbetrayoneanother,andwillhateoneanother.Thenmanyfalseprophetswillriseupanddeceivemany.Andbecauselawlessnesswillabound,theloveofmanywillgrowcold.Buthewhoendurestotheendshallbesaved.Andthisgospelofthekingdomwillbepreachedinalltheworldasawitnesstoallthenations,andthentheendwillcome.Thereforewhenyouseethe“abominationofdesolation,”spokenofbyDanieltheprophet,standing

intheholyplace(whoeverreads,lethimunderstand),thenletthosewhoareinJudeafleetothemountains.Lethimwhoisonthehousetopnotcomedowntotakeanythingoutofhishouse.Andlethimwhoisinthefieldnotgobacktogethisclothes.Butwoetothosewhoarepregnantandtothosewithnursingbabiesinthosedays!AndpraythatyourflightmaynotbeinwinterorontheSabbath.Forthentherewillbegreattribulation,suchashasnotbeensincethebeginningoftheworlduntil

thistime,no,norevershallbe.Andunlessthosedayswereshortened,nofleshwouldbesaved;butfortheelect’ssakethosedayswillbeshortened.Thenifanyonesaystoyou,“Look,hereistheChrist!”or“There!”donotbelieveit.Forfalse

christsandfalseprophetswillariseandshowgreatsignsandwonders,soastodeceive,ifpossible,eventheelect.See,Ihavetoldyoubeforehand.Thereforeiftheysaytoyou,“Look,Heisinthe

desert!”donotgoout;or“Look,Heisintheinnerrooms!”donotbelieveit.Forasthelightningcomesfromtheeastandflashestothewest,soalsowillthecomingoftheSonofManbe.Forwhereverthecarcassis,theretheeagleswillbegatheredtogether.Immediatelyafterthetribulationofthosedaysthesunwillbedarkened,andthemoonwillnotgive

itslight;thestarswillfallfromheaven,andthepowersoftheheavenswillbeshaken.ThenthesignoftheSonofManwillappearinheaven,andthenallthetribesoftheearthwillmourn,andtheywillseetheSonofMancomingonthecloudsofheavenwithpowerandgreatglory.AndHewillsendHisangelswithagreatsoundofatrumpet,andtheywillgathertogetherHiselectfromthefourwinds,fromoneendofheaventotheother.Nowlearnthisparablefromthefigtree:Whenitsbranchhasalreadybecometenderandputsforth

leaves,youknowthatsummerisnear.Soyoualso,whenyouseeallthesethings,knowthatitisnear,attheverydoors.Assuredly,Isaytoyou,thisgenerationwillbynomeanspassawaytillallthesethingsarefulfilled.Heavenandearthwillpassaway,butMywordswillbynomeanspassaway.Butofthatdayandhournooneknows,no,noteventheangelsofheaven,butMyFatheronly.But

asthedaysofNoahwere,soalsowillthecomingoftheSonofManbe.Forasinthedaysbeforetheflood,theywereeatinganddrinking,marryingandgivinginmarriage,untilthedaythatNoahenteredtheark,anddidnotknowuntilthefloodcameandtookthemallaway,soalsowillthecomingoftheSonofManbe.Thentwomenwillbeinthefield:onewillbetakenandtheotherleft.Twowomenwillbegrindingatthemill:onewillbetakenandtheotherleft.Watchtherefore,foryoudonotknowwhathouryourLordiscoming.Butknowthis,thatifthe

masterofthehousehadknownwhathourthethiefwouldcome,hewouldhavewatchedandnotallowedhishousetobebrokeninto.Thereforeyoualsobeready,fortheSonofManiscomingatanhourwhenyoudonotexpectHim.Whothenisafaithfulandwiseservant,whomhismastermaderuleroverhishousehold,togive

themfoodindueseason?Blessedisthatservantwhomhismaster,whenhecomes,willfindsodoing.Assuredly,Isaytoyouthathewillmakehimruleroverallhisgoods.Butifthatevilservantsaysinhisheart,“Mymasterisdelayinghiscoming,”andbeginstobeathis

fellowservants,andtoeatanddrinkwiththedrunkards,themasterofthatservantwillcomeonadaywhenheisnotlookingforhimandatanhourthatheisnotawareof,andwillcuthimintwoandappointhimhisportionwiththehypocrites.Thereshallbeweepingandgnashingofteeth.Thenthekingdomofheavenshallbelikenedtotenvirginswhotooktheirlampsandwentoutto

meetthebridegroom.Nowfiveofthemwerewise,andfivewerefoolish.Thosewhowerefoolishtooktheirlampsandtooknooilwiththem,butthewisetookoilintheirvesselswiththeirlamps.Butwhilethebridegroomwasdelayed,theyallslumberedandslept.Andatmidnightacrywas

heard:“Behold,thebridegroomiscoming;goouttomeethim!”Thenallthosevirginsaroseandtrimmedtheirlamps.Andthefoolishsaidtothewise,“Giveussomeofyouroil,forourlampsaregoingout.”Butthewiseanswered,saying,“No,lestthereshouldnotbeenoughforusandyou;butgoratherto

thosewhosell,andbuyforyourselves.”Andwhiletheywenttobuy,thebridegroomcame,andthosewhowerereadywentinwithhimto

thewedding;andthedoorwasshut.Afterwardtheothervirginscamealso,saying,“Lord,Lord,opentous!”Butheansweredandsaid,“Assuredly,Isaytoyou,Idonotknowyou.”Watchtherefore,foryouknowneitherthedaynorthehourinwhichtheSonofManiscoming.Forthekingdomofheavenislikeamantravelingtoafarcountry,whocalledhisownservantsand

deliveredhisgoodstothem.Andtoonehegavefivetalents,toanothertwo,andtoanotherone,toeachaccordingtohisownability;andimmediatelyhewentonajourney.Thenhewhohadreceivedthefivetalentswentandtradedwiththem,andmadeanotherfivetalents.

Andlikewisehewhohadreceivedtwogainedtwomorealso.Buthewhohadreceivedonewentanddugintheground,andhidhislord’smoney.Afteralongtimethelordofthoseservantscameandsettledaccountswiththem.Sohewhohad

receivedfivetalentscameandbroughtfiveothertalents,saying,“Lord,youdeliveredtomefivetalents;look,Ihavegainedfivemoretalentsbesidesthem.”Hislordsaidtohim,“Welldone,goodandfaithfulservant;youwerefaithfuloverafewthings,I

willmakeyourulerovermanythings.Enterintothejoyofyourlord.”Healsowhohadreceivedtwotalentscameandsaid,“Lord,youdeliveredtometwotalents;look,I

havegainedtwomoretalentsbesidesthem.”Hislordsaidtohim,“Welldone,goodandfaithfulservant;youhavebeenfaithfuloverafew

things,Iwillmakeyourulerovermanythings.Enterintothejoyofyourlord.”Thenhewhohadreceivedtheonetalentcameandsaid,“Lord,Iknewyoutobeahardman,

reapingwhereyouhavenotsown,andgatheringwhereyouhavenotscatteredseed.AndIwasafraid,andwentandhidyourtalentintheground.Look,thereyouhavewhatisyours.”Buthislordansweredandsaidtohim,“Youwickedandlazyservant,youknewthatIreapwhereI

havenotsown,andgatherwhereIhavenotscatteredseed.Thereforeyououghttohavedepositedmymoneywiththebankers,andatmycomingIwouldhavereceivedbackmyownwithinterest.“Thereforetakethetalentfromhim,andgiveittohimwhohastentalents.Fortoeveryonewhohas,

morewillbegiven,andhewillhaveabundance;butfromhimwhodoesnothave,evenwhathehaswillbetakenaway.Andcasttheunprofitableservantintotheouterdarkness.Therewillbeweepingandgnashingofteeth.”WhentheSonofMancomesinHisglory,andalltheholyangelswithHim,thenHewillsitonthe

throneofHisglory.AllthenationswillbegatheredbeforeHim,andHewillseparatethemonefromanother,asashepherddivideshissheepfromthegoats.AndHewillsetthesheeponHisrighthand,butthegoatsontheleft.ThentheKingwillsaytothoseonHisrighthand,“Come,youblessedofmyFather,inheritthe

kingdompreparedforyoufromthefoundationoftheworld:forIwashungryandyougaveMefood;IwasthirstyandyougaveMedrink;IwasastrangerandyoutookMein;IwasnakedandyouclothedMe;IwassickandyouvisitedMe;IwasinprisonandyoucametoMe.”ThentherighteouswillanswerHim,saying,“Lord,whendidweseeYouhungryandfeedYou,or

thirstyandgiveYoudrink?WhendidweseeYouastrangerandtakeYouin,ornakedandclotheYou?OrwhendidweseeYousick,orinprison,andcometoYou?”AndtheKingwillanswerandsaytothem,“Assuredly,Isaytoyou,inasmuchasyoudidittoone

oftheleastoftheseMybrethren,youdidittoMe.”ThenHewillalsosaytothoseonthelefthand,“DepartfromMe,youcursed,intotheeverlasting

firepreparedforthedevilandhisangels:forIwashungryandyougaveMenofood;IwasthirstyandyougaveMenodrink;IwasastrangerandyoudidnottakeMein,nakedandyoudidnotclotheMe,sickandinprisonandyoudidnotvisitMe.”ThentheyalsowillanswerHim,saying,“Lord,whendidweseeYouhungryorthirstyorastranger

ornakedorsickorinprison,anddidnotministertoYou?”ThenHewillanswerthem,saying,“Assuredly,Isaytoyou,inasmuchasyoudidnotdoittooneof

theleastofthese,youdidnotdoittoMe.”Andthesewillgoawayintoeverlastingpunishment,buttherighteousintoeternallife(Matt.24:1–

25:46).

APPENDIX2

THEOLIVETDISCOURSEINMATTHEW,MARK,ANDLUKE

Introduction1.BertrandRussell,WhyIAmNotaChristian:AndOtherEssaysonReligionandRelatedSubjects,ed.

PaulEdwards(London:Allen&Unwin/NewYork:Simon&Schuster,1957),vi.2.Ibid.,vi.3.Ibid.,16.4.Ibid.5.Ibid.,16–17.6.AdolfHarnack,WhatIsChristianity?LecturesDeliveredintheUniversityofBerlinduringtheWinter-

Term1899–1900,trans.ThomasBaileySaunders,2ded.(1901;reprint,NewYork:Harper&Row,1957).7.AlbertSchweitzer,TheQuestoftheHistoricalJesus:ACriticalStudyofItsProgressfromReimarus

toWrede,trans.W.Montgomery(1910;reprint,NewYork:Macmillan,1956).8.HermanRidderbos,TheComingoftheKingdom,trans.H.deJongste,ed.RaymondO.Zorn

(Philadelphia:PresbyterianandReformed,1962),xiii.SeeJohannesWeiss,DiePredigtJesuvomReicheGottes(1892);Englishtrans.,Jesus’sProclamationoftheKingdomofGod,ed.andtrans.RichardHydeHiersandDavidLarrimoreHolland,LivesofJesusSeries,ed.LeanderE.Keck(Philadelphia:Fortress,1971).9.C.H.Dodd,TheParablesoftheKingdom(London:Nisbet,1935).10.C.H.Dodd,TheInterpretationoftheFourthGospel(London:CambridgeUniversity,1953),7.11.J.StuartRussell,TheParousia:ACriticalInquiryintotheNewTestamentDoctrineofOurLord’s

SecondComing(London:Daldy,Isbister,1878).Newed.(London:Unwin,1887).Reprintofnewed.:TheParousia:AStudyoftheNewTestamentDoctrineofOurLord’sSecondComing(GrandRapids:Baker,1983).12.Ibid.,539–40.

Chapter1WhatDidJesusTeachonMountOlivet?1.WilliamL.Lane,TheGospelaccordingtoMark,NewInternationalCommentaryontheNew

Testament(GrandRapids:Eerdmans,1974),444.2.VincentTaylor,TheGospelaccordingtoSt.Mark:TheGreekTextwithIntroduction,Notes,and

Indexes,2ded.(1966;reprint,GrandRapids:Baker,1981),498.3.JohnCalvin,CommentaryonaHarmonyoftheEvangelists,Matthew,Mark,andLuke,trans.William

Pringle,vol.3(reprint,GrandRapids:Baker,1984),117.4.J.StuartRussell,TheParousia:ACriticalInquiryintotheNewTestamentDoctrineofOurLord’s

SecondComing,newed.(1887;reprint,GrandRapids:Baker,1983),57.5.Ibid.,58.6.Ibid.,69.RussellcitesasthesourceofthequotationfromJosephushisTheAntiquitiesoftheJews,

20.8.5–6.Whistontranslatesthefirstsentenceofparagraph5asfollows:“...thecountrywasagainfilledwithrobbersandimposters,whodeludedthemultitude.”Russell’sversionaccuratelysummarizes

paragraphs5–6.SeeFlaviusJosephus,TheAntiquitiesoftheJews,inTheWorksofFlaviusJosephus,trans.WilliamWhiston,vol.4(reprint,GrandRapids:Baker,1974),133(20.8.5–6).7.Calvin,CommentaryonaHarmony,3:120–21.8.Russell,TheParousia,69–70.9.W.F.AlbrightandC.S.Mann,Matthew:Introduction,Translation,andNotes,AnchorBible,ed.

W.F.AlbrightandDavidNoelFreedman(GardenCity:Doubleday,1971),292.10.Lane,TheGospelaccordingtoMark,458.11.Russell,TheParousia,70–71.12.Ibid.,71.13.Ibid.,72–73.14.Ibid.,73.SeeJosephus,AntiquitiesoftheJews,20(18.5.3).15.AlbrightandMann,Matthew,295.16.Calvin,CommentaryonaHarmony,3:131–32.17.Russell,TheParousia,75–76.Whiston’stranslationofthepassagefromJosephus:“Nordidanyone

ofthemescapewithhislife.Afalseprophetwastheoccasionofthesepeople’sdestruction,whohadmadeapublicproclamationinthecitythatveryday,thatGodcommandedthemtogetupuponthetemple,andthattheretheyshouldreceivemiraculoussignsoftheirdeliverance.”FlaviusJosephus,TheWarsoftheJews,inTheWorksofFlaviusJosephus,trans.WilliamWhiston,vol.1(reprint,GrandRapids:Baker,1974),453(6.5.2).18.Russell,TheParousia,77.JohnPeterLange,TheGospelaccordingtoMatthew,trans.PhilipSchaff,

CommentaryontheHolyScriptures,ed.JohnPeterLange(1866;reprint,GrandRapids:Zondervan1960),428;GeorgeCampbell,TheFourGospelsTranslatedfromtheGreek:WithPreliminaryDissertations,andNotesCriticalandExplanatory(Philadelphia:Bartram,1799);andMosesStuart[Russelldoesnotspecifythework].19.Calvin,CommentaryonaHarmony,3:146.20.A.W.Argyle,TheGospelaccordingtoMatthew,CambridgeBibleCommentary,ed.P.R.Ackroyd,

A.R.C.Leaney,andJ.W.Packer(Cambridge:CambridgeUniversity,1963),185.21.Russell,TheParousia,79.22.Ibid.,80.EmphasisisRussell’s.23.Ibid.EmphasisisRussell’s.24.Calvin,CommentaryonaHarmony,3:146.25.Russell,TheParousia,81–82.26.Ibid.,147.27.Ibid.,83–84.28.GaryDeMar,LastDaysMadness:TheFollyofTryingtoPredictWhenChristWillReturn

(Brentwood,TN:Wolgemuth&Hyatt,1991),122.

Chapter2What“Generation”WillWitnesstheEnd?1.DavidHill,TheGospelofMatthew,NewCenturyBibleCommentary,ed.RonaldE.Clementsand

MatthewBlack(London:Marshall,Morgan&Scott/GrandRapids:Eerdmans,1972),323.2.WilliamL.Lane,TheGospelaccordingtoMark,NewInternationalCommentaryontheNew

Testament(GrandRapids:Eerdmans,1974),314.SeeJ.Schierse,“HistorischeKritikundtheologischeExegesedersynoptischenEvangelienerläutertanMk.9:1,”Scholastik29(1959):520–36.3.J.StuartRussell,TheParousia:ACriticalInquiryintotheNewTestamentDoctrineofOurLord’s

SecondComing,newed.(1887;reprint,GrandRapids:Baker,1983),29–30.4.Ibid.,26–27.5.Ibid.,84–85.6.GaryDeMar,LastDaysMadness:TheFollyofTryingtoPredictWhenChristWillReturn

(Brentwood,TN:Wolgemuth&Hyatt,1991),32.

7.HermanRidderbos,TheComingoftheKingdom,trans.H.deJongste,ed.RaymondO.Zorn(Philadelphia:PresbyterianandReformed,1962),501–2.8.DeMar,LastDaysMadness,33–34.ThesecondparagraphisfromA.J.MattillJr.,LukeandtheLast

Things:APerspectivefortheUnderstandingofLukanThought(Dillsboro,NC:WesternNorthCarolina,1979),100.9.DeMar,LastDaysMadness,34.DavidChilton,TheGreatTribulation(FortWorth:Dominion,1987),

3.EmphasisisChilton’s.10.Russell,TheParousia,85.11.Ibid.,85–87.JohnPeterLange,TheGospelaccordingtoMatthew,trans.PhilipSchaff,Commentary

ontheHolyScriptures,ed.JohnPeterLange(1866;reprint,GrandRapids:Zondervan,1960),208;RudolfStier,TheWordsoftheLordJesus,vol.1,OurLord’sFirstWords,andtheGospelsofMatthew,Mark,andLukeSpecially,trans.WilliamB.Pope,rev.JamesStrongandHenryB.Smith(NewYork:Tibbals,1864),207.12.Russell,TheParousia,87.13.FriedrichBüchsel,“Genea,”TheologicalDictionaryoftheNewTestament,ed.GerhardKittel,trans.

anded.GeoffreyW.Bromiley,vol.1(GrandRapids:Eerdmans,1964),663.14.Ibid.15.Lane,TheGospelaccordingtoMark,480.16.Ridderbos,TheComingoftheKingdom,499.SeeSeakleGreijdanus,HetheiligEvangelienaarde

beschrijvingvanLucas,2vols.,KommentaarophetNieuweTestament,ed.SeakleGreijdanus,F.W.Grosheide,andJ.A.C.vanLeeuwen(Amsterdam:VanBottenburg,1940–41),2:1004.17.Ridderbos,TheComingoftheKingdom,500.18.Russell,TheParousia,54–56.

Chapter3What“Age”WasabouttoEnd?1.J.StuartRussell,TheParousia:ACriticalInquiryintotheNewTestamentDoctrineofOurLord’s

SecondComing,newed.(1887;reprint,GrandRapids:Baker,1983),23.2.HobartE.Freeman,AnIntroductiontotheOldTestamentProphets(Chicago:Moody,1968),145–46.3.Ibid.,146.4.BruceVawter,TheConscienceofIsrael:Pre-exilicProphetsandProphecy(NewYork:Sheed&

Ward,1961),94–95.5.Russell,TheParousia,4.6.I.HowardMarshall,TheGospelofLuke:ACommentaryontheGreekText,NewInternationalGreek

TestamentCommentary(GrandRapids:Eerdmans,1978),717,719.7.Russell,TheParousia,39.8.AugustusNeander,TheLifeofJesusChristinItsHistoricalConnexionandHistoricalDevelopement,

3ded.,trans.JohnMcClintockandCharlesE.Blumenthal(NewYork:Harper,1849),349(§239).QuotedinRussell,TheParousia,41.9.GaryDeMar,LastDaysMadness:TheFollyofTryingtoPredictWhenChristWillReturn

(Brentwood,TN:Wolgemuth&Hyatt,1991),21–23.10.Russell,TheParousia,197–98.Inafootnotetothesentencebeginning“Itissometimessaid...,”

Russellcitestwosources:(1)JohnPeterLange,TheGospelaccordingtoMatthew,trans.PhilipSchaff,CommentaryontheHolyScriptures,ed.JohnPeterLange(1866;reprint,GrandRapids:Zondervan,1960),422;and(2)HenryAlford,TheGreekTestament:WithaCriticallyRevisedText,aDigestofVariousReadings,MarginalReferencestoVerbalandIdiomaticUsage,Prolegomena,andaCriticalandExegeticalCommentary,4thed.,4vols.(London:Rivingtons,1859–61),2:556.

Chapter4WhatDidPaulTeachinHisLetters?

1.J.StuartRussell,TheParousia:ACriticalInquiryintotheNewTestamentDoctrineofOurLord’sSecondComing,newed.(1887;reprint,GrandRapids:Baker,1983),161.2.JohnCalvin,TheEpistlesofPaultheApostletotheRomansandtotheThessalonians,trans.Ross

Mackenzie,ed.DavidW.TorranceandThomasF.Torrance(GrandRapids:Eerdmans,1961),349.3.JonathanEdwards,WhentheWickedShallHaveFilledUptheMeasureofTheirSin,WrathWillCome

UponThemtotheUttermost,inTheWorksofJonathanEdwards,ed.EdwardHickman,2vols.(1834;reprint,Edinburgh:BannerofTruth,1974),2:122.4.Russell,TheParousia,163.5.Ibid.,192.6.Ibid.,198.7.CharlesHodge,CommentaryontheEpistletotheRomans(1886;reprint,GrandRapids:Eerdmans,

1950),410,412.EmphasisisHodge’s.8.C.K.Barrett,ACommentaryontheEpistletotheRomans,Harper’sNewTestamentCommentaries,

ed.HenryChadwick(NewYork:Harper&Brothers,1957),252–53.9.Russell,TheParousia,238–39.10.C.LeslieMitton,Ephesians,NewCenturyBibleCommentary,ed.RonaldE.ClementsandMatthew

Black(London:Marshall,Morgan&Scott/GrandRapids:Eerdmans,1973),55.11.Russell,TheParousia,244.W.J.ConybeareandJ.S.Howson,TheLifeandEpistlesofSt.Paul,new

ed.(1892;reprint,GrandRapids:Eerdmans,1953),708.12.Russell,TheParousia,250.13.Ibid.,254.14.SimonJ.Kistemaker,ExpositionoftheEpistletotheHebrews,NewTestamentCommentary(Grand

Rapids:Baker,1984),265.15.PhilipEdgcumbeHughes,ACommentaryontheEpistletotheHebrews(GrandRapids:Eerdmans,

1977),385.16.Ibid.,416.17.Ibid.,416–17.F.F.Bruce,TheEpistletotheHebrews:TheEnglishTextwithIntroduction,

ExpositionandNotes,NewInternationalCommentaryontheNewTestament,ed.F.F.Bruce(GrandRapids:Eerdmans,1964),256.EmphasisisBruce’s.18.Russell,TheParousia,273.

Chapter5WhatabouttheDestructionofJerusalem?1.FranzDelitzsch,BiblicalCommentaryonthePropheciesofIsaiah,trans.JamesMartin,3ded.,vol.1

(1877;reprint,GrandRapids:Eerdmans,1965),189.2.SeeEdwardJ.Young,AnIntroductiontotheOldTestament,rev.ed.(GrandRapids:Eerdmans,1960),

394.3.JamesL.Price,InterpretingtheNewTestament(NewYork:Holt,RinehartandWinston,1961),52.4.FlaviusJosephus,TheWarsoftheJews,inTheWorksofFlaviusJosephus,trans.WilliamWhiston,4

vols.(reprint,GrandRapids:Baker,1974),1:1–521;TheAntiquitiesoftheJews,inTheWorks,2:59–4:149;TheLifeofFlaviusJosephus,inTheWorks,2:3–58;andAgainstApion,inTheWorks,4:151–238.5.Price,InterpretingtheNewTestament,53.6.Josephus,TheWarsoftheJews,1:5(preface,4).7.Ibid.,1:244(3.7.19).8.Ibid.,1:257–58(3.8.3).9.Ibid.,1:321(4.7.3).WordsinbracketssuppliedbyWhiston.10.Ibid.,1:382–83(5.6.3).Whistontranslates“THESTONECOMETH”as“THESONCOMETH,”

thoughhementionstheformerrenderinginanote.11.J.StuartRussell,TheParousia:ACriticalInquiryintotheNewTestamentDoctrineofOurLord’s

SecondComing,newed.(1887;reprint,GrandRapids:Baker,1983),1:482(note).

12.Josephus,TheWarsoftheJews,1:400(5.9.4).13.Ibid.,1:451(6.5.1).14.Ibid.,1:453–54(6.5.3).15.Tacitus,TheHistories,trans.CliffordH.Moore,2vols.,LoebClassicalLibrary(London:

Heinemann/Cambridge:HarvardUniversity,1931),1:5–7(1.2–3).QuotedinKennethL.GentryJr.,TheBeastofRevelation(Tyler,TX:InstituteforChristianEconomics,1989),72.16.GaryDeMar,LastDaysMadness:TheFollyofTryingtoPredictWhenChristWillReturn

(Brentwood,TN:Wolgemuth&Hyatt,1991),48.ThetwoquotesarefromNigelCalder,TheCometisComing!TheFeverishLegacyofMr.Halley(NewYork:Viking,1980),12,13.Tacitus,TheAnnalsofImperialRome,ed.andtrans.MichaelGrant,rev.ed.(LondonandNewYork:Penguin,1971),324(14.22);Suetonius,TheTwelveCaesars,trans.RobertGraves,rev.ed.,revisedbyMichaelGrant(LondonandNewYork:Penguin,1979),234(6.36).17.Josephus,TheWarsoftheJews,1:454(6.5.3).BracketedwordssuppliedbyWhiston.18.Ibid.,1:455(6.5.3).19.Ibid.,1:469(6.9.2).BracketedwordssuppliedbyWhiston.

Chapter6WhatDidJohnTeachinRevelation?1.J.StuartRussell,TheParousia:ACriticalInquiryintotheNewTestamentDoctrineofOurLord’s

SecondComing,newed.(1887;reprint,GrandRapids:Baker,1983),366.2.Ibid.3.Ibid.,367.4.GeorgeEldonLadd,ACommentaryontheRevelationofJohn(GrandRapids:Eerdmans,1972),22.5.G.R.Beasley-Murray,ed.,TheBookofRevelation,NewCenturyBibleCommentary,ed.RonaldE.

ClementsandMatthewBlack(London:Marshall,Morgan,andScott,1974),52–53.ErnstLohmeyer,DieOffenbarungdesJohannes,HandbuchzumNeuenTestament,2ded.(Tübingen:Mohr,1953),8;andArethas,EchemgemseomneistemnApokalupsin,inCatenaeGraecorumpatruminNovumTestamentum,ed.JohnAnthonyCramer,8vols.(1840;reprint,Hildesheim:Olms,1967).6.RobertH.Mounce,TheBookofRevelation,NewInternationalCommentaryontheNewTestament,

ed.F.F.Bruce(GrandRapids:Eerdmans,1977),64–65.SeealsoG.B.Caird,ACommentaryontheRevelationofSt.JohntheDivine,Harper’sNewTestamentCommentaries,ed.HenryChadwick(NewYork:Harper&Row,1966),12.7.Russell,TheParousia,367.8.KennethL.GentryJr.,BeforeJerusalemFell:DatingtheBookofRevelation:AnExegeticaland

HistoricalArgumentforaPre-A.D.70Composition(Tyler,TX:InstituteforChristianEconomics,1989),133.Afootnotetothefirstsentenceadds:“Inaddition,thepresenttensepossiblyshouldbesounderstoodinRevelation1:7;2:5.”9.Ibid.,138.WalterBauer,WilliamF.Arndt,andF.WilburGingrich,AGreek-EnglishLexiconofthe

NewTestamentandOtherEarlyChristianLiterature,4thed.(Chicago:UniversityofChicago,1957),814.10.JosephHenryThayer,AGreek-EnglishLexiconoftheNewTestament,4thed.(1901;reprint,Grand

Rapids:Baker,1991),616;G.Abbott-Smith,AManualGreekLexiconoftheNewTestament,3ded.(Edinburgh:T&TClark,1937),441;F.J.A.Hort,TheApocalypseofSt.John1–3:TheGreekTextwithIntroduction,Commentary,andAdditionalNotes(London:Macmillan,1908),6;KurtAland,AHistoryofChristianity,vol.1,FromtheBeginningstotheThresholdoftheReformation,trans.JamesL.Schaaf(Philadelphia:Fortress,1985),88.11.Gentry,BeforeJerusalemFell,141.Gentryreferstothefollowingfourworks:HenryBarclaySwete,

TheApocalypseofSt.John:TheGreekTextwithIntroduction,Notes,andIndices,3ded.(1922;reprint,GrandRapids:Kregel,1977);AlbertBarnes,NotesontheBookofRevelation,inAlbertBarnes,NotesontheNewTestament(1884–85;reprint,GrandRapids:Baker,1996);RobertH.Mounce,TheBookofRevelation,NewInternationalCommentaryontheNewTestament,ed.F.F.Bruce(GrandRapids:

Eerdmans,1977),64–65;andJohnF.Walvoord,TheRevelationofJesusChrist(Chicago:Moody,1966),35,37.12.Gentry,BeforeJerusalemFell,141–42;Thayer,AGreek-EnglishLexicon,oftheNewTestament,

396;Abbott-Smith,AManualGreekLexicon,282.13.Gentry,BeforeJerusalemFell,vi.14.Ibid.15.Ibid.,27.QuotationfromArthurS.Peake,TheRevelationofJohn,HartleyLectures(London:Joseph

Johnson,1919),77.16.Gentry,BeforeJerusalemFell,30–38.Gentrycitesatotalof138scholars.17.Irenaeus,AgainstHeresies,inTheAnte-NiceneFathers:TranslationsoftheWritingsoftheFathers

downtoAD325,ed.AlexanderRobertsandJamesDonaldson,10vols.(reprint,GrandRapids:Eerdmans,1975),1:559–60(5.30.3).QuotedinGentry,BeforeJerusalemFell,46–47.18.F.H.Chase,“TheDateoftheApocalypse:TheEvidenceofIrenaeus,”JournalofTheological

Studies8(1907):431–32.QuotedinGentry,BeforeJerusalemFell,50–51.19.JacobusWettstein,NovumTestamentumGraecum,2vols.(1751–52;reprint,Graz,Austria:

Akademische,1962),2:746;JamesM.Macdonald,TheLifeandWritingsofSt.John,ed.J.S.Howson(London:Hodder&Stoughton/NewYork:Scribner,Armstrong,1877),151–72.20.ClementofAlexandria,TheRichMan’sSalvation,inClementofAlexandria,trans.G.W.

Butterworth,LoebClassicalLibrary(London:Heinemann/NewYork:Putnam’s,1919),357(par.42).QuotedinGentry,BeforeJerusalemFell,68.21.Philostratus,TheLifeofApolloniusofTyana,4.38.QuotedinGentry,BeforeJerusalemFell,70.See

Philostratus,TheLifeofApolloniusofTyana,theEpistlesofApolloniusandtheTreatiseofEusebius,ed.J.S.Phillimore,2vols.(Oxford:Oxford,1912),1:437–39.22.ClementofAlexandria,TheStromata,orMiscellanies,inTheAnte-NiceneFathers:Translationsof

theWritingsoftheFathersdowntoAD325,ed.AlexanderRobertsandJamesDonaldson,10vols.(reprint,GrandRapids:Eerdmans,1975),2:554–55(7.17).QuotedinGentry,BeforeJerusalemFell,84.EmphasisisGentry’s.23.Gentry,BeforeJerusalemFell,109.24.CharlesC.Torrey,TheApocalypseofJohn(NewHaven:Yale,1958),61.QuotedinGentry,Before

JerusalemFell,151.25.BernhardWeiss,AManualofIntroductiontotheNewTestament,trans.A.J.K.Davidson,2vols.,

ForeignBiblicalLibrary,ed.W.RobertsonNicoll(NewYork:Funk&Wagnalls,1889),2:82.QuotedinGentry,BeforeJerusalemFell,166.26.DonaldGuthrie,NewTestamentIntroduction,4thed.(Leicester:Apollos/DownersGrove,IL:

InterVarsity,1990),961;Mounce,TheBookofRevelation,35.27.Gentry,BeforeJerusalemFell,336.

Chapter7WhenIstheResurrection?1.KennethL.GentryJr.,“ABriefTheologicalAnalysisofHyper-Preterism,”ChalcedonReport,no.384

(July1997):22–24;EdwardE.Stevens,Stevens’ResponsetoGentry:ADetailedResponsetoDr.KennethL.GentryJr.’s...“ABriefTheologicalAnalysisofHyper-Preterism”(Bradford,PA:Kingdom,1997).2.Gentry,“ABriefTheologicalAnalysis,”22–23.3.Stevens,Stevens’ResponsetoGentry,2.4.Gentry,“ABriefTheologicalAnalysis,”23.5.Stevens,Stevens’ResponsetoGentry,9.6.Ibid.,12.EmphasisisStevens’.7.Ibid.,1.QuotesGentry,“ABriefTheologicalAnalysis,”22.8.J.StuartRussell,TheParousia:ACriticalInquiryintotheNewTestamentDoctrineofOurLord’s

SecondComing,newed.(1887;reprint,GrandRapids:Baker,1983),208.

9.Ibid.,210.10.MaxR.King,TheCrossandtheParousiaofChrist:TheTwoDimensionsofOneAge-Changing

Eschaton(Warren,OH:WritingandResearchMinistry,1987),410.11.Ibid.,417.12.Stevens,Stevens’ResponsetoGentry,28.13.MurrayJ.Harris,RaisedImmortal:ResurrectionandImmortalityintheNewTestament(London:

MarshallMorgan&Scott,1983/GrandRapids:Eerdmans,1985);andHarris,FromGravetoGlory:ResurrectionintheNewTestament:IncludingaResponsetoNormanL.Geisler(GrandRapids:Zondervan,1990).14.Russell,TheParousia,168.15.King,TheCrossandtheParousiaofChrist,641.16.DavidChilton,ParadiseRestored:ABiblicalTheologyofDominion(FortWorth:Dominion,1985),

Chapter8WhoIstheAntichrist?1.AlexanderRoss,TheEpistlesofJamesandJohn,NewInternationalCommentaryontheNew

Testament,ed.NedB.Stonehouse(GrandRapids:Eerdmans,1954),168.SeealsoJohnCalvin’scommentaryon1John,andspecificallyhiscommenton2:18;thetranslationisRoss’s.2.DavidChilton,ParadiseRestored:ABiblicalTheologyofDominion(FortWorth:Dominion,1985),

111.3.G.C.Berkouwer,TheReturnofChrist,trans.JamesVanOosterom,StudiesinDogmatics(Grand

Rapids:Eerdmans,1972),265.SeeHermanBavinck,GereformeerdeDogmatiek,4thed.,4vols.(Kampen:Kok,1928–30),4:659.EnglishtranslationinBavinck,TheLastThings:HopeforThisWorldandtheNext,ed.JohnBolt,trans.JohnVriend(GrandRapids:Baker,1996),113–14.4.Ross,TheEpistlesofJamesandJohn,169(n.2).5.JohnCalvin,TheEpistlesofPaultheApostletotheRomansandtotheThessalonians,trans.Ross

Mackenzie,ed.DavidW.TorranceandThomasF.Torrance(GrandRapids:Eerdmans,1961),402.6.BenjaminBreckinridgeWarfield,“ThePropheciesofSt.Paul,”inWarfield,BiblicalDoctrines(1929;

reprint,GrandRapids:Baker,1981),609–10.AlsoinWarfield,BiblicalandTheologicalStudies,ed.SamuelG.Craig(Philadelphia:PresbyterianandReformed,1952),472.QuotedinGaryDeMar,LastDaysMadness:TheFollyofTryingtoPredictWhenChristWillReturn(Brentwood,TN:Wolgemuth&Hyatt,1991),159.7.Warfield,“ThePropheciesofSt.Paul”(1929),612;(1952),474.QuotedinGaryDeMar,LastDays

Madness,159–60.8.J.B.Lightfoot,NotesonEpistlesofSt.Paul:1–2Thessalonians,1Corinthians1–7,Romans1–7,

Ephesians1:1–14,ed.J.R.Harmer(1895;reprint,GrandRapids:Baker,1980),111.9.Berkouwer,TheReturnofChrist,279.10.KennethL.GentryJr.,BeforeJerusalemFell:DatingtheBookofRevelation:AnExegeticaland

HistoricalArgumentforaPre-A.D.70Composition(Tyler,TX:InstituteforChristianEconomics,1989).11.KennethL.GentryJr.,TheBeastofRevelation(Tyler,TX:InstituteforChristianEconomics,1989).12.Gentry,TheBeastofRevelation,10.13.Ibid.,14.14.Suetonius,Suetonius:TheLivesoftheCaesars,trans.J.C.Rolfe,2vols.,LoebClassicalLibrary

(CambridgeandLondon:HarvardUniversity,1914),2:133(6.29).QuotedinGentry,TheBeastofRevelation,17.15.Tacitus,TheHistories,trans.CliffordH.Moore,2vols.,LoebClassicalLibrary(London:Heinemann

/Cambridge:HarvardUniversity,1931),2:17,15(4.8,7);Pliny,NaturalHistory,trans.HarrisRackhamandW.H.S.Jones,10vols.,LoebClassicalLibrary(London:Heinemann/Cambridge:HarvardUniversity,1938–63),2:537(7.8.46),6:359(22.46.92);Juvenal,Satires,inJuvenalandPersius,trans.G.G.Ramsay,

rev.ed.,LoebClassicalLibrary(CambridgeandLondon:HarvardUniversity,1940),177(8.223);Philostratus,TheLifeofApolloniusofTyana,4.38.QuotedinGentry,TheBeastofRevelation,42.Cf.Philostratus,TheLifeofApolloniusofTyana,theEpistlesofApolloniusandtheTreatiseofEusebius,ed.J.S.Phillimore,2vols.(Oxford:OxfordUniversity,1912),1:437–39.16.Gentry,TheBeastofRevelation,31.17.Ibid.,34.MarcusJastrow,ed.,ADictionaryoftheTargumim,theTalmudBabliandYerushalmi,and

theMidrashicLiterature,2vols.(1903;reprint,NewYork:Pardes,1950),2:909.18.BruceM.Metzger,ATextualCommentaryontheGreekNewTestament,correcteded.(Stuttgart:

UnitedBibleSocieties,1975),750.QuotedinGentry,TheBeastofRevelation,35.19.Gentry,TheBeastofRevelation,64–65.

Chapter9WhenIstheMillennium?1.AnthonyA.Hoekema,TheBibleandtheFuture(GrandRapids:Eerdmans,1979),174.Quotedin

KennethL.GentryJr.,HeShallHaveDominion:APostmillennialEschatology(Tyler,TX:InstituteforChristianEconomics,1992),56.2.Gentry,HeShallHaveDominion,57–58.3.CharlesCaldwellRyrie,TheBasisofthePremillennialFaith(NewYork:Loizeaux,1953),12.4.Gentry,HeShallHaveDominion,60–61.5.GeorgeEldonLadd,ATheologyoftheNewTestament(GrandRapids:Eerdmans,1974);“Historic

Premillennialism,”inRobertG.Clouse,ed.,TheMeaningoftheMillennium:FourViews(DownersGrove,IL:InterVarsity,1977);andTheBlessedHope(GrandRapids:Eerdmans,1956).6.Ladd,TheBlessedHope,162.7.Ibid.,163–64.8.Gentry,HeShallHaveDominion,63.9.GregL.Bahnsen,“ThePrimaFacieAcceptabilityofPostmillennialism,”JournalofChristian

Reconstruction3(Winter1976–77):66.QuotedinGentry,HeShallHaveDominion,71.EmphasisisBahnsen’s.10.Bahnsen,“ThePrimaFacieAcceptabilityofPostmillennialism,”71.QuotedinGentry,HeShall

HaveDominion,71.11.Gentry,HeShallHaveDominion,72.Inafootnotetothereferenceto“BannerofTruthcircles,”

Gentrywrites:“TheCalvinistswhoareassociatedwiththisgroupareself-consciouslyidentifiedwiththerevivalisticpostmillennialismofJonathanEdwardsratherthanwiththetheonomicpostmillennialismofthecolonialAmericanPuritans.”

GLOSSARY

analogiafide.Analogyoffaith;basedontheprinciplethatScriptureisitsownbestinterpreter,thisisthepracticeofinterpretingonebiblicalpassageinlightofanother.Page76.

Apocalypse,the.TheBookofRevelation.Apocalyptic.Biblicalbooksandpassagesdealingwitheschatologicalthemes;adistinctgenrewithmanyextra-biblicalexamplesaswell.

apologia.Apology,defense.Page15.apriori.Fromtheformer;deductively.Page150.carnisresurrectionem.Bodilyorphysicalresurrection.Page171.Consistenteschatology.Theviewthateschatologicaleventsaresudden,catastrophiceventswroughtbyGod,noteventsthatevolvethroughevolutionarydevelopment.Seepages24,57,72,73,75,186.

Dispensationalism.AneschatologicalsystemthatseesIsraelandthechurchasseparateentitiesandthatseesthechurchagebeingfollowedbyJesus’smillennialreignonearth.Seepages27,166,209–11,215.

Eschatology.Thedivisionofsystematictheologydealingprimarilywiththefuture,thelastthings.

explicatioexeventu.Explicationoutoftheevent.Page73.Hermeneutic.Asystemofbiblicalinterpretation.hicetnunc.Hereandnow.Page122.inlimine.Onthethreshold;attheonset.Page77.OlivetDiscourse.Jesus’sdiscoursetohisdisciplesneartheendofhisearthlyministry.Thisdiscourse,reportedinallthreeSynopticGospelsbutmostfullyinMatthew,wasdeliveredafterJesus“satontheMountofOlives,oppositethetemple.”

Parousia.Coming;usedmostoftenofJesus’ssecondcoming.

PastoralEpistles.ThreeofPaul’sletters:1Timothy,2Timothy,andTitus.Pentateuch.ThefirstfivebooksoftheOldTestament:Genesis,Exodus,Leviticus,Numbers,andDeuteronomy.

Preterism.Aneschatologicalviewpointthatplacesmanyoralleschatologicaleventsinthepast,especiallyduringthedestructionofJerusaleminAD70.Fullpreterismassignsalloftheseeventstothefirstcentury.Partialpreterismassignsmanyoftheseeventstothefirstcentury,butnotthesecondcoming,theresurrection,andthefinaljudgment.

Orthodoxpreterismisanothernameforpartialpreterism.primafacie.Atfirstappearance;plainorclear.Pages18,64,76,201.Rapture.Theraisingofthosewhoarealivewhenthedeadareresurrected.Realizedeschatology.TheviewthattheeschatologicalkingdomofGodwasusheredinduringtheearthlyministryofJesus.Seepages25,57,78,205.

reductioadabsurdum.Reductiontotheabsurd.Page70.sensusliteralis.Theliterarysense;thesenseofatext,interpretedinlightofitsliteraryformorgenre.

solaScriptura.Scripturealone.Pages167–68.SynopticGospels.ThefirstthreeGospels:Matthew,Mark,andLuke.terminusadquem.Theendtowhich;thefinallimitingpoint.Page44.tertiususus.Thethirduse(oftheLaw);theongoingfunctionofthemorallawintheChristian’slife.Page215.

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King,MaxR.TheCrossandtheParousiaofChrist:TheTwoDimensionsofOneAge-ChangingEschaton.Warren,OH:WritingandResearchMinistry,1987.

Ladd,GeorgeEldon.TheBlessedHope.GrandRapids:Eerdmans,1956.———.“HistoricPremillennialism.”InRobertG.Clouse,ed.TheMeaningoftheMillennium:FourViews.DownersGrove,IL:InterVarsity,1977,17–40.

———.ATheologyoftheNewTestament.GrandRapids:Eerdmans,1974.Macdonald,JamesM.TheLifeandWritingsofSt.John.EditedbyJ.S.Howson.London:Hodder&Stoughton/NewYork:Scribner,Armstrong,1877.

Mattill,A.J.,Jr.LukeandtheLastThings:APerspectivefortheUnderstandingofLukanThought.Dillsboro,NC:WesternNorthCarolina,1979.

Metzger,BruceM.ATextualCommentaryontheGreekNewTestament.Correcteded.Stuttgart:UnitedBibleSocieties,1975.

Neander,Augustus.TheLifeofJesusChristinItsHistoricalConnexionandHistoricalDevelopement.3ded.TranslatedbyJohnMcClintockandCharlesE.Blumenthal.NewYork:Harper,1849.

Philostratus.TheLifeofApolloniusofTyana.InPhilostratus.TheLifeofApolloniusofTyana,theEpistlesofApolloniusandtheTreatiseofEusebius.TranslatedbyF.C.Conybeare.2vols.LoebClassicalLibrary.London:Heinemann/NewYork:Putnam’s,1921–27.1:1–2:405.

Pliny.NaturalHistory.TranslatedbyHarrisRackhamandW.H.S.Jones.10vols.LoebClassicalLibrary.London:Heinemann/Cambridge:HarvardUniversity,1938–63.

Price,JamesL.InterpretingtheNewTestament.NewYork:Holt,RinehartandWinston,1961.Ridderbos,Herman.TheComingoftheKingdom.TranslatedbyH.deJongste.EditedbyRaymondO.Zorn.Philadelphia:PresbyterianandReformed,1962.

Russell,Bertrand.WhyIAmNotaChristian:AndOtherEssaysonReligionandRelatedSubjects.EditedbyPaulEdwards.London:Allen&Unwin/NewYork:Simon&Schuster,1957.

Russell,J.Stuart.TheParousia:ACriticalInquiryintotheNewTestamentDoctrineofOurLord’sSecondComing.Newed.1887.Reprinted.GrandRapids:Baker,1983.

Ryrie,CharlesCaldwell.TheBasisofthePremillennialFaith.NewYork:Loizeaux,1953.Schierse,J.“HistorischeKritikundtheologischeExegesedersynoptischenEvangelienerläutertanMk.9:1.”Scholastik29(1959):520–36.

Schweitzer,Albert.TheQuestoftheHistoricalJesus:ACriticalStudyofItsProgressfromReimarustoWrede.TranslatedbyW.Montgomery.1910.Reprinted.NewYork:Macmillan,1956.

Stevens,EdwardE.Stevens’ResponsetoGentry:ADetailedResponsetoDr.KennethL.GentryJr.’s...“ABriefTheologicalAnalysisofHyper-Preterism.”Bradford,PA:Kingdom,1997.

Stier,Rudolf.TheWordsoftheLordJesus.Vol.1,OurLord’sFirstWords,andtheGospelsofMatthew,Mark,andLukeSpecially.TranslatedbyWilliamB.Pope.RevisedbyJamesStrongandHenryB.Smith.NewYork:Tibbals,1864.

Suetonius.Suetonius:TheLivesoftheCaesars.TranslatedbyJ.C.Rolfe.2vols.LoebClassicalLibrary.CambridgeandLondon:HarvardUniversity,1914.

———.TheTwelveCaesars.TranslatedbyRobertGraves.Rev.ed.RevisedbyMichaelGrant.LondonandNewYork:Penguin,1979.

Tacitus.TheAnnalsofImperialRome.EditedandtranslatedbyMichaelGrant.Rev.ed.LondonandNewYork:Penguin,1971.

———.TheHistories.TranslatedbyCliffordH.Moore.2vols.LoebClassicalLibrary.Cambridge:HarvardUniversity/London:Heinemann,1931.

Thayer,JosephHenry.AGreek-EnglishLexiconoftheNewTestament.4thed.1901.Reprinted.GrandRapids:Baker,1991.

Vawter,Bruce.TheConscienceofIsrael:Pre-exilicProphetsandProphecy.NewYork:Sheed&Ward,1961.

Warfield,BenjaminBreckinridge.“ThePropheciesofSt.Paul.”InBiblicalDoctrines.1929.Reprinted.GrandRapids:Baker,1981,599–640.AndinBiblicalandTheologicalStudies.EditedbySamuelG.Craig.Philadelphia:PresbyterianandReformed,1952,463–502.

Weiss,Bernhard.AManualofIntroductiontotheNewTestament.TranslatedbyA.J.K.Davidson.2vols.ForeignBiblicalLibrary.EditedbyW.RobertsonNicoll.NewYork:Funk&Wagnalls,1889.

Weiss,Johannes.DiePredigtJesuvomReicheGottes.1892.Englishtranslation.Jesus’sProclamationoftheKingdomofGod.EditedandtranslatedbyRichardHydeHiersandDavidLarrimoreHolland.LivesofJesusSeries.EditedbyLeanderE.Keck.Philadelphia:Fortress,1971.

Wettstein,Jacobus,ed.NovumTestamentumGraecum.2vols.1751–52.Reprinted.Graz,Austria:Akademische,1962.

Young,EdwardJ.AnIntroductiontotheOldTestament.Rev.ed.GrandRapids:Eerdmans,1960.

Commentaries

IsaiahDelitzsch,Franz.BiblicalCommentaryonthePropheciesofIsaiah.TranslatedbyJamesMartin.3ded.Vol.1.1877.Reprinted.GrandRapids:Eerdmans,1965.

MatthewAlbright,W.F.,andC.S.Mann.Matthew:Introduction,Translation,andNotes.AnchorBible.EditedbyW.F.AlbrightandDavidNoelFreedman.GardenCity:Doubleday,1971.

Argyle,A.W.TheGospelaccordingtoMatthew.CambridgeBibleCommentary.EditedbyP.R.Ackroyd,A.R.C.Leaney,andJ.W.Packer.Cambridge:CambridgeUniversity,1963.

Hill,David.TheGospelofMatthew.NewCenturyBibleCommentary.EditedbyRonaldE.ClementsandMatthewBlack.London:Marshall,Morgan&Scott/GrandRapids:Eerdmans,1972.

Lange,JohnPeter.TheGospelaccordingtoMatthew.TranslatedbyPhilipSchaff.CommentaryontheHolyScriptures.EditedbyJohnPeterLange.1866.Reprinted.GrandRapids:Zondervan,1960.

MarkCalvin,John.CommentaryonaHarmonyoftheEvangelists,Matthew,Mark,andLuke.TranslatedbyWilliamPringle.Vol3.Reprinted.GrandRapids:Baker,1984.

Lane,WilliamL.TheGospelaccordingtoMark.NewInternationalCommentaryontheNewTestament.GrandRapids:Eerdmans,1974.

Taylor,Vincent.TheGospelaccordingtoSt.Mark:TheGreekTextwithIntroduction,Notes,andIndexes.2ded.1966.Reprinted.GrandRapids:Baker,1981.

LukeGreijdanus,Seakle.HetheiligEvangelienaardebeschrijvingvanLucas.2vols.KommentaarophetNieuweTestament.EditedbySeakleGreijdanus,F.W.Grosheide,andJ.A.C.vanLeeuwen.Amsterdam:VanBottenburg,1940–41.

Marshall,I.Howard.TheGospelofLuke:ACommentaryontheGreekText.NewInternationalGreekTestamentCommentary.GrandRapids:Eerdmans,1978.

RomansBarrett,C.K.ACommentaryontheEpistletotheRomans.Harper’sNewTestamentCommentaries.EditedbyHenryChadwick.NewYork:Harper&Brothers,1957.

Calvin,John.TheEpistlesofPaultheApostletotheRomansandtotheThessalonians.TranslatedbyRossMackenzie.EditedbyDavidW.TorranceandThomasF.Torrance.GrandRapids:Eerdmans,1961.

Hodge,Charles.CommentaryontheEpistletotheRomans.1886.Reprinted.GrandRapids:Eerdmans,1950.

Lightfoot,J.B.NotesonEpistlesofSt.Paul:1–2Thessalonians,1Corinthians1–7,Romans1–7,Ephesians1:1–14.EditedbyJ.R.Harmer.1895.Reprinted.GrandRapids:Baker,1980.

EphesiansMitton,C.Leslie.Ephesians.NewCenturyBibleCommentary.EditedbyRonaldE.ClementsandMatthewBlack.London:Marshall,Morgan&Scott/GrandRapids:Eerdmans,1973.

HebrewsBruce,F.F.TheEpistletotheHebrews:TheEnglishTextwithIntroduction,ExpositionandNotes.NewInternationalCommentaryontheNewTestament.EditedbyF.F.Bruce.GrandRapids:Eerdmans,1964.

Hughes,PhilipEdgcumbe.ACommentaryontheEpistletotheHebrews.GrandRapids:Eerdmans,1977.Kistemaker,SimonJ.ExpositionoftheEpistletotheHebrews.NewTestamentCommentary.GrandRapids:Baker,1984.

1JohnCalvin,John.TheGospelaccordingtoSt.John11–21andTheFirstEpistleofJohn.TranslatedbyT.H.L.Parker.Calvin’sCommentaries.EditedbyDavidW.TorranceandThomasF.Torrance.Edinburgh:OliverandBoyd/GrandRapids:Eerdmans,1961.

Ross,Alexander.TheEpistlesofJamesandJohn.NewInternationalCommentaryontheNewTestament.EditedbyNedB.Stonehouse.GrandRapids:Eerdmans,1954.

RevelationBarnes,Albert.NotesontheBookofRevelation.EditedbyRobertFrew.InNotesontheNewTestament.1884–85.Reprinted.GrandRapids:Baker,1996.

Beasley-Murray,G.R.,ed.TheBookofRevelation.NewCenturyBibleCommentary.EditedbyRonaldE.ClementsandMatthewBlack.London:Marshall,Morgan&Scott,1974.

Caird,G.B.ACommentaryontheRevelationofSt.JohntheDivine.Harper’sNewTestamentCommentaries.EditedbyHenryChadwick.NewYork:Harper&Row,1966.

Hort,F.J.A.TheApocalypseofSt.John1–3:TheGreekTextwithIntroduction,Commentary,andAdditionalNotes.London:Macmillan,1908.ReprintedinHort,F.J.A.ExpositoryandExegeticalStudies:CompendiumofWorksFormerlyPublishedSeparately.LimitedClassicalReprintLibrary.Minneapolis:KlockandKlock,1980.

Ladd,GeorgeEldon.ACommentaryontheRevelationofJohn.GrandRapids:Eerdmans,1972.Lohmeyer,Ernst.DieOffenbarungdesJohannes.HandbuchzumNeuenTestament.2ded.Tübingen:Mohr,1953.

Mounce,RobertH.TheBookofRevelation.NewInternationalCommentaryontheNewTestament.EditedbyF.F.Bruce.GrandRapids:Eerdmans,1977.

Peake,ArthurS.TheRevelationofJohn.HartleyLectures.London:JosephJohnson,1919.Swete,HenryBarclay.TheApocalypseofSt.John:TheGreekTextwithIntroduction,Notes,andIndices.3ded.London:Macmillan,1922.

Torrey,CharlesC.TheApocalypseofJohn.NewHaven:YaleUniversity,1958.Walvoord,JohnF.TheRevelationofJesusChrist:ACommentary.Chicago:Moody,1966.

INDEXOFNAMES

Abbott-Smith,G.,150–51Abraham,20,209Adam,175Adams,JayE.,152,211Aland,Kurt,150Albright,W.F.,42,44,46AlexandertheGreat,124Allis,OswaldT.,211Amos,86–88Andrew,16,35–36,227Anthony,Mark(MarcusAntonius),126AntiochusIII,124AntiochusEpiphanes(AntiochusIV),46,124Antipater,126Apion,127ApolloniusofTyana,154,156,202Archer,GleasonL.,211Arethas,146,154,157Argyle,A.W.,50Aristotle,124Arndt,W.F.,149–50Athanasius,211Augustine,211Augustus(Caesar),125–26,157,159–61,204

Bahnsen,GregL.,153,211,214Barnes,Albert,150Barnhouse,DonaldG.,211Barrett,C.K.,112Barth,Karl,30Bauer,Walter,149–50Baur,F.C.,153Bavinck,Herman,190Beasley-Murray,G.R.,146–47Berkhof,Louis,211Berkouwer,G.C.,190,199,211Bousset,Wilhelm,146,153Bruce,F.F.,121–22,153Brutus,125

Bultmann,Rudolf,15,122,153

Caird,G.B.,147Caligula,42,126–27,160,204Calvin,John,36–37,40–41,47,50,52–53,104,109,141,165–66,187,193,211,215Campbell,George,50Cerinthus,190Chafer,LewisSperry,211Chase,F.H.,155–56Chilton,David,67,163,184,190Clarke,Adam,153ClaudiusI,42,126,160ClementofAlexandria,153,156–57ClementofRome,154,160–61Cleopatra,126Conybeare,W.J.,115Crassus,125Cullmann,Oscar,25,27

Dabney,RobertLewis,211Daniel,17,45,47,99,125,179,195,220,231Darby,J.N.,211David,209Davidson,Samuel,153Davis,JohnJefferson,211DeHaan,M.R.,211Delitzsch,Franz,125DeMar,Gary,55,65–67,97,100,136,163,195DioCassius,159Dixon,Jeane,185Dodd,C.H.,25Domitian,154–57,159,161

Edersheim,Alfred,153Edwards,Jonathan,105,211Eichhorn,Johann,153Elijah,84,89,104Elisha,139Epiphanius,154,157Erdman,W.J.,211Eusebius,154,157,211Ezekiel,137–39

Fadus,Cuspius,40Farrar,F.W.,153Feinberg,CharlesL.,211Felix,40,127Fitzmyer,JosephA.,153Freeman,HobartE.,85–86

Galba,126,159,160Geisler,NormanL.,211Gentry,KennethL.,Jr.,149–50,152–58,160–70,180,199–204,208–9,212–14,216–17Gingrich,F.W.,149–50Godet,FredericL.,211Greijdanus,Seakle,72–73Guthrie,Donald,161

Harnack,Adolf,22–23Harris,MurrayJ.,180–81Hegesippus,132Hendricksen,William,211Herod(theGreat),132HerodAgrippaII,127Hilgenfeld,Adolf,153Hill,David,58–59Hodge,A.A.,211Hodge,Charles,111–12,211Hoekema,AnthonyA.,207,211Hort,F.J.A.,150Hosea,87Howson,J.S.,115Hughes,PhilipEdgcumbe,119–21

Irenaeus,153–56,191,211Ironside,HarryA.,211Isaiah,51–52,77,87,125,143

James,16,35–36,132,227Jastrow,Marcus,202Jeremiah,143Jerome,125,154,157,191Jesus,139–40Jesus(Christ),andpassim,11–17Joel,85–86John,16,35–36,117,144–47,154–57,160,185–91,194,196,198–200,227JohntheBaptist,26,69,82,89,90,97,104Josephus,Flavius,30,40,46,48,126–36,139–40,150,159JuliusCaesar,125–26,159–60JustinMartyr,191,211Juvenal,202

Kaiser,WalterC.,211Kant,Immanuel,23Kik,J.Marcellus,211King,MaxR.,163–64,178,180,182Kistemaker,Simon,J.,119Kittel,Gerhard,71Knight,GeorgeW.,152

Kümmel,W.G.,65Kuyper,Abraham,31,211

Ladd,GeorgeEldon,145–46,210–12Lane,WilliamL.,33–34,42,61–62,71–72Lange,JohnPeter,50,68Lepidus,126Lightfoot,J.B.,153,196Lindsey,Hal,211Lohmeyer,Ernst,146Luke,36,38,51,53,59–60,90,95–96,107Luther,Martin,74–77

Macdonald,JamesM.,155Machen,J.Gresham,211Malachi,84,86,89Mann,C.S.,42,44,46Mark,16,36,38,59–60Marshall,I.Howard,91Matthew,36,38–39,43,46,60Metzger,BruceM.,203Miladin,George,211Mitton,C.Leslie,114Moses,84Moule,C.F.D.,153Mounce,RobertH.,147–48,150,161Murray,IainH.,211Murray,John,211

Neander,Augustus,92Nebuchadnezzar,125Nero,126,131,135–36,156–57,159–62,174,201–4Noah,58,221,236–37North,Gary,211

Octavian(GaiusOctavius).SeeAugustus(Caesar),126Otho,126,159–60Owen,John,211

Papias,154,157,211Paul,43–44,97,104,107–13,117,147–48,153,157,172–75,177–78,181–84,189,191–96,198,213Payne,J.Barton,211Pentecost,J.Dwight,211Peter,16,35–36,86,89,117,227Pilate,Pontius,40,100,125,159Pliny,201Polycarp,154Pompey,125–26Price,JamesL.,126–28

PtolemyI,124

Reimarus,HermannSamuel,23Ridderbos,Herman,23,25–26,65–66,72–73Ritschl,Albrecht,22–23Robinson,JohnA.T.,153RomulusAugustulus,125Ross,Alexander,186,191Rushdoony,R.J.,211Russell,Bertrand,12–15,18–19Russell,J.Stuart,28–29,37–39,41–44,46–57,59,62–64,67–68,70–72,76–77,80–82,85–86,89,92,94–

95,100,103–4,106–10,112–15,117,120,122,132,143–44,148,157,163,172–74,176–78,180–82Ryrie,CharlesCaldwell,209,211

Schierse,J.,61Schweitzer,Albert,23–25,57Shakespeare,William,125Shedd,W.G.T.,211Simeon,107Spencer,Herbert,19Sproul,R.C.,169Stevens,EdwardE.,164–70,180–81Stier,Rudolf,68Strauss,DavidFriedrich,21Strong,AugustusH.,153,211Stuart,Moses,50Suetonius,136,159,201Swete,HenryBarclay,150,153

Tacitus,135–36,139,201Taylor,Vincent,34Terry,MiltonS.,153,180Tertullian,154,157,191,211Thayer,JosephHenry,150–51Theophylact,154,157Thornwell,J.H.,211Tiberius,46,126,157,160–61Titus,127,130–31,133Torrey,CharlesC.,159Torrey,R.A.,211

Uzziah,125

Varro,MarcusTerentius,125Vawter,Bruce,87Vespasian,126–27,129–31,159–60Vitellius,46,126,131,159–60

Waltke,BruceK.,211

Walvoord,JohnF.,150,211Warfield,BenjaminBreckinridge,195,211Warren,W.,38Weiss,Bernhard,160Weiss,Johannes,23,57Wellhausen,Julius,20Wettstein,Jacobus,155Wrede,William,21,23

Young,EdwardJ.,211

Zacharias,83,90Zahn,Theodor,211Zephaniah,87–88

INDEXOFSCRIPTURE

Genesischap.320

Judges2:11–132016:2320

2Kings6:17139

Isaiah6:1–1312513:9–105213:135234:3–552

Ezekiel1:22–2813810:15–19139

Daniel2:281454:19–27125chap.71799:274612:499

Joel1:15852:1–2852:11852:30–3185

2:31853:14853:1885

Amos5:18–2087

Obadiah1585

Zephaniah1:7–17882:1–388

Zechariah12:1050

Malachi3:1924:1–584

Matthew3:2263:10263:12267:2211510:1511610:2211510:22–239810:2311,13,28,44,63,9611:166811:2211611:2411612:3611612:396812:416812:426912:456913:36–508013:388113:38–408113:3981,11513:39–4081–8213:4081,108,115

13:49108,115chap.166216:2799,17916:27–286016:2813,28,58,60,62,17919:2811422:1–149223:13–309223:3668chap.2433,65,67,121,19524:1–234–3524:1–44226–3924:1–25:46219–2524:212324:335–36,115,17824:4–133924:54024:640,108,11524:74024:9–104024:104124:10–1119024:114124:124124:13108,11524:1441,43–44,108,115,17824:1541,46,19524:15–164924:15–2245,4924:20–247324:2141,10524:23–284724:284824:294124:29–308524:29–314924:3033,4924:3118324:32–335424:337324:3428,56–60,62,66,73,17924:34–395824:35–365824:3665,11626:4518626:6496,98,10027:462428:20115

Mark1:151148:38699:160,1799:2619:2760chap.133313:1–234–3513:1–301813:1–37226–3613:3–435–3613:64013:74013:84013:94013:104113:11–134013:144113:194113:24–254113:266113:3018,66,73,14513:31–3273–74

Luke1:6883,902:251073:71047:11–179010:1211611:506911:516917:256918:8147,15019:11–269419:11–279219:39–409119:39–4491chap.213321:5–634–3521:5–36226–3921:735–3621:84021:94021:104021:114021:12–174021:2041,195

21:20–249521:2341,10421:2479,9621:254121:279621:2810621:3117921:326621:34116

John6:391176:401176:441176:5411711:2411718:3617819:15159

Acts1:9–11512:16–21862:2089,1163:2111410:3315012:715014:2217917:1515022:18150

Romans2:4–61102:5104,1162:161108:19107,1139:31069:44713:1198,14613:11–1297,11113:129816:20147–48,150

1Corinthians1:7–8107–81:81163:13115

3:13–151085:51167:29–301467:29–31109,1467:3197–9810:1197–98,100,109,119chap.15171,177,18115:2017815:20–2617515:2410815:50–5817215:51172

2Corinthians1:14116

Galatians6:16213

Ephesians1:7–10113–141:101822:71153:5–61144:30117

Philippians2:161164:597,98

Colossians1:6441:23443:41123:6112

1Thessalonianschap.11041:9–101031:10104chap.21042:14–161962:16104–5,1952:19106

chap.41824:13–181814:161634:16–171844:17106,1815:21165:41165:6–10112

2Thessalonians2:3116,191,193,1952:3–4193,1982:3–101062:3–11192,1962:41932:71942:81942:8–9198

1Timothy3:14150

2Timothy1:121161:181164:8116

Hebrews1:2118–119chap.91189:23–281189:261159:28119chap.1011810:19–2512010:2511510:37120,14612:28179

James5:8–997,99

1Peter4:797–98,146

2Peter1:111792:91163:71163:81473:12116

1John2:1897,99,189,1982:18–201864:1–4188,1984:31854:17116

Jude6116

Revelation1:197,99,149–51,2011:1–3141,1441:397,99,121,150–511:7541:19150–512:16148–49,1513:10150–513:1197,99,149,1516:17116chap.1116011:116011:15179chap.1319913:1198–20013:1–14:119813:4–519913:519913:719913:18199,200,20316:1411617:7–1715817:920017:9–1320020:1–820620:420520:4–517820:4–620722:699,149–51

22:6–797,14922:799,15122:1097,99,150–5122:1297,99,149,15122:2097,100,149,151

Dr.R.C.SproulisfounderandchairmanofLigonierMinistries,aninternationalChristianeducationministrylocatednearOrlando,Florida.HeisalsocopastorofSaintAndrew’sChapelinSanford,Florida,chancellorofReformationBibleCollege,andexecutiveeditorofTabletalkmagazine.Dr.Sproul’steachingcanbehearddailyontheradioprogramRenewingYour

Mind,whichisbroadcastonhundredsofradiooutletsintheUnitedStatesandinmorethanfortycountriesworldwide.Hehasproducedmorethanthreehundredlectureseriesandhasrecordedmorethaneightyvideoseriesonsubjectssuchasthehistoryofphilosophy,theology,Biblestudy,apologetics,andChristianliving.Dr.Sproulhascontributeddozensofarticlestonationalevangelical

publications;hasspokenatconferences,churches,andschoolsaroundtheworld;andhaswrittenmorethanninetybooks,includingTheHolinessofGod,FaithAlone,andEveryone’saTheologian.HeisalsogeneraleditoroftheReformationStudyBible,andhashadadistinguishedacademicteachingcareeratvariouscollegesandseminaries.Dr.SproulholdsdegreesfromWestminsterCollege,PittsburghTheological

Seminary,theFreeUniversityofAmsterdam,andWhitefieldTheologicalSeminary.Heliveswithhiswife,Vesta,inSanford,Florida.

AmongOtherBooksbyR.C.Sproul

ChosenbyGodDefendingYourFaithEveryone’saTheologianFaithAlone

TheHolinessofGodHowThenShallWeWorship?TheInvisibleHandNotaChance

PleasingGodThePrayeroftheLordThePromisesofGodScriptureAloneSurprisedbySufferingTheTruthoftheCross

TruthsWeConfessWhatIsReformedTheology?

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