Their claim comes from this:
Matthew 24:34
Truly I tell you, this generation will certainly not pass away until all these things have happened
The 'all these things' include:
1.) wars and rumors of wars
2.) false prophets
3.) earthquakes
4.) famines
5.) pestilence
6.) Jerusalem and the temple's destruction
7.) end of the age
8.) the sign of the son of man
9.) angels Gathering the elect
1.)There were no wars/rumors of wars during the apostle's generation?
2.) There were no false prophets during the apostles' generation?
3.) There were no earthquakes during the apostles' generation?
4.) There were no Famines during the apostles' generation?
5.) There were no pestilence during the apostles' generation?
6.) Jerusalem and the temple were not destroyed during the apostles' generation?
7.) The apostles did not believe they were living at the end of the age or in the last days?
8.) The vineyard owner did come to slaughter the wicked tenants during the apostles' generation?
9.) No one is in heaven yet?
10.) None of this is mentioned in Revelation?
This is so typical of the claims of Preterists. Here,you have taken a few of the events prophesied as preliminary, concerning which Jesus explicitly said, "all
these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet." (Matthew 24:6) Plus the one event that all agree took place, and completely ignore the rest of the prophecy. The details you have ignored are:
First, that "this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come." (Matthew 24:14 ) The gospel has not, even yet, reached the entire world.
Second, the words "Therefore when you see the
'abomination of desolation,' spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place" (whoever reads, let him understand), then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. Let him who is on the housetop not go down to take anything out of his house. And let him who is in the field not go back to get his clothes. But woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing babies in those days! And pray that your flight may not be in winter or on the Sabbath." (Matthew 24:15-20) A few posts back, you tried to pretend that the armies of Rome were the "abomination of desolation." But the prophetic instruction was to flee with great haste when they saw the "abomination of desolation" standing in the the holy place. By the time the armies of Rome arrived at the holy place, it was far too late to flee. So that could not even possibly be what this prophecy was speaking of.
Third, the words "unless those days were shortened, no flesh would be saved." (Matthew 24:22) A war so terrible that it would literally kill everything, not just every human, was unthinkable until our generation. But it is common knowledge today that an all out nuclear exchange would literally kill all flesh on this earth.
Forth, the words "For as the lightning comes from the east and flashes to the west, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be." (Matthew 24:27) It is irrational to even try to pretend that the Lord himself appeared in any such way that all people saw Him, at any time since these words were spoken.
Fifth, the words "Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.
" (Matthew 24:30) Since these words were spoken, there has never been a time when "all the tribes of the earth" saw the Son of Man coming, and mourned when they saw Him.
Sixth, the words "And He will send His angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they will gather together His elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other." (Matthew 24:31) you pretend that this was fulfilled in the gospel going out. But the agency used of God to spread the gospel is mankind, not angels.
Seventh, the words "But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, but My Father only. But as the days of Noah
were, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be. For as in the days before the flood, they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, and did not know until the flood came and took them all away, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be. Then two
men will be in the field: one will be taken and the other left. Two
women will be grinding at the mill: one will be taken and the other left. Watch therefore, for you do not know what hour your Lord is coming. But know this, that if the master of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched and not allowed his house to be broken into. 44 Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect." (Matthew 24:36-44) The Roman destruction of the land and then the city and temple came on slowly and inexorably. All knew it was coming, and there was plenty of warning, so much so that the Christians withdrew before it came. So these words cannot even possibly be referring to that event.
You appeal to the words "Assuredly, I say to you, this generation will by no means pass away till all these things take place." (Matthew 24:34) As proof of your notion. But you have neglected the context of these words.
For what Jesus actually said was, "Now learn this parable from the fig tree: When its branch has already become tender and puts forth leaves, you know that summer
is near. So you also, when you see all these things, know that it is near--at the doors! Assuredly, I say to you, this generation will by no means pass away till all these things take place." (Matthew 24:32-34) Jesus was saying that the generation that saw it all begin to happen, would see it all completed. But the only events that were seen by that generation were some concerning which Jesus explicitly said, "all
these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet." (Matthew 24:6)
