REFUTING THE A.D. 70 THEORY - 7
REFUTING TH E A.D. 70 THEORY - 7
Yeow Chin Kiong
The critical and basic error of A.D.70 proponents is their presumption that almost every mention of Jesus Christ's "coming" after His incarnation through the virgin Mary refers to His "second coming" as they define it. The fact of the matter is that the scriptures mean many things when Jesus' "coming" is referenced. Brother W. Terry Varner has listed 11 separate "comings" of our Lord in the New Testament ("THE GREAT JUDGMENT - Discussion Forum No.II" in Studies In The Revelation; The Third Annual Denton Lectures, November 11-15, 1984; Dub McClish, Editor; (Valid Publications, Inc., Denton, Texas, USA; p.514).
Brother Varner's list is as follows: " [1] The birth of Christ - Galatians 4:4; John 6:38; [2] His coming on Pentecost - Matthew 16:28; Acts 2; [3] His coming in human experience - Revelation 2:16, 3:20; [4] His coming in judgment on Jerusalem - Matthew 24:4-35; [5] His coming in His baptism - Acts 13:24; [6] His coming forth from the tomb - Matthew 28:6; John 11:43; [7] His coming to His apostles - John 14:18; [8] His coming to Saul (Paul) - 1 Corinthians 15:8; Acts 26:16; [9] His coming to John on Patmos - Revelation 1:12-18; [10] His coming in conversion - John 14:23 and [11] His coming at the end of the world - Matthew 24:42; 25:13; Mark 13:32". The word "coming" and its derivatives are translated from the koine Greek.
As we have previously seen, A.D.70 proponents equate the fall of Jerusalem in A.D.70 (Item 4 in Varner's list) with Christ's promised second coming at the end of the age (Item 11), presuming both events to have occured simultaneously. This bringing together of two separate and distinct events they feel to be proper because Jesus discussed both events in a single sermon or lesson (His Olivet Discourse of Matthew 24:4 to 25:46) using one Gresk word, PAROUSIA for both events (Matthew 24:27 and 24:37). They ignore the fact that Jesus was answering His disciples' multi-part question ("Tell us, when will these things be? And what will be the sign of your coming, and of the end of the age?" Matthew 24:3). More importantly, they ignore Jesus transition statement after he gave signs or indications of Jerusalem's fall in AD.70 - "BUT of that day and hour, no man knows, not even the angels in heaven, but my Father only" (Matthew 24:36). Jesus Himself could NOT give any time indication of WHEN the "end of the age" would happen ( as He did give approximate time indications of Jerusalem's fall, especially of its temple (Matthew 24:32-35).
It is not strange that Jesus could point to two separate and distinct "comings" in one address or lesson. On another occasion in the context of the time of His church's estblishment (Matthew 16:13-28 as well as its parallels in Mark 8:27 to 9:1 and Luke 9:18-27), Jesus specifically mentioned two separate and distinct "comings" of His within two connected verses each time (i.e. Matthew 16:27-28; Mark 8:38 and the following verse 9:1 and Luke 9:26-27. In those three passages, the first of the two verses refer to Jesus "coming" (ERCHOMAI) in His,- and the Father's,- glory, with the angels and bringing reward for the faithful. This must be His second coming at the end of the world (or "age") to judge mankind (2 Thessalonians 1:6-11), corresponding to the "coming" of Item 11 in Varner's list. "BUT" (as this contrasting conjunction is used in Luke 9:27) the second of the two verses categorically point to some of His hearers then being alive at another of His "comings" (also ERCHOMAI). Mark 9:1 adds that this second mention of Christ's "coming" was "... the kingdom of God present with power," which points to Christ's "coming" of Item 2 on Varner's list,- His coming on Pentecost in Jerusalem, 50 days after His resurrection, upon the establishment of the church (which was, of course, the main point of Matthew 16:13-19 within the context of Matthew 16:13-28).
The aforegoing discussion only makes the point that we must determine which of the many "comings" of Jesus Christ is meant by a particular passage of scripture by paying attention to the word's use in the immediate, close and remote scriptural context. It is patently wrong to presume, as proponents of the A.D.70 theory do, that all scripture references to Christ's "comings" point only to either His incarnation and birth OR His "coming" in a singular A.D.70 destruction of Jerusalem/end of the age event.