Did Jesus Mess Up a Prophecy?

[Michie]

It might look that way...if you don’t read historical sources.​

Jimmy Akin

Because of certain statements Jesus made, some have thought he predicted the end of the world in his own day—wrongly, since the world didn’t end.

One statement is that “this generation will not pass away” before the events of the Olivet Discourse take place (Mark 13:30). However, Jesus wasn’t predicting the end of the world. When read in context, this statement referred to the events leading up to the destruction of the Jerusalem temple in A.D. 70.

Another statement also occurs in the Olivet Discourse, when Jesus describes the coming events and says, “And then they will see the Son of man coming in clouds with great power and glory. And then he will send out the angels, and gather his elect from the four winds” (Mark 13:26-27).

Since Jesus will return from heaven at the end of the world (Acts 1:11), many have understood this as a reference to the Second Coming. And, because prophecy can have more than one fulfillment, it may point to the Second Coming. However, this wasn’t what it referred to in the events leading up to the destruction of the temple.

Part of the confusion is caused by the fact that many only study their Bibles and don’t read the historical sources that reveal what happened when Jesus’ words were fulfilled.

The Jewish historian Josephus, who was an eyewitness of the events, reported that God gave great signs in the heavens to show that the temple would soon be destroyed. These included a star that resembled a sword hanging over the city, unexplained light shining around the temple and its altar, chariots and soldiers fighting in the clouds, and heavenly voices saying “we are departing” from the temple (Jewish War 6:3:5[288-310]). The same signs are mentioned by the Roman historian Tacitus (Histories 5:13).

Continued below.

Did Jesus Mess Up a Prophecy?

It might look that way, but we need to be aware that not all Scripture passages that speak of Christ as coming refer to the end of the world.

www.catholic.com

 

[AlexB23]

It might look that way...if you don’t read historical sources.​

Jimmy Akin

Because of certain statements Jesus made, some have thought he predicted the end of the world in his own day—wrongly, since the world didn’t end.

One statement is that “this generation will not pass away” before the events of the Olivet Discourse take place (Mark 13:30). However, Jesus wasn’t predicting the end of the world. When read in context, this statement referred to the events leading up to the destruction of the Jerusalem temple in A.D. 70.

Another statement also occurs in the Olivet Discourse, when Jesus describes the coming events and says, “And then they will see the Son of man coming in clouds with great power and glory. And then he will send out the angels, and gather his elect from the four winds” (Mark 13:26-27).

Since Jesus will return from heaven at the end of the world (Acts 1:11), many have understood this as a reference to the Second Coming. And, because prophecy can have more than one fulfillment, it may point to the Second Coming. However, this wasn’t what it referred to in the events leading up to the destruction of the temple.

Part of the confusion is caused by the fact that many only study their Bibles and don’t read the historical sources that reveal what happened when Jesus’ words were fulfilled.

The Jewish historian Josephus, who was an eyewitness of the events, reported that God gave great signs in the heavens to show that the temple would soon be destroyed. These included a star that resembled a sword hanging over the city, unexplained light shining around the temple and its altar, chariots and soldiers fighting in the clouds, and heavenly voices saying “we are departing” from the temple (Jewish War 6:3:5[288-310]). The same signs are mentioned by the Roman historian Tacitus (Histories 5:13).

Continued below.

Did Jesus Mess Up a Prophecy?

It might look that way, but we need to be aware that not all Scripture passages that speak of Christ as coming refer to the end of the world.

www.catholic.com

Jesus never makes mistakes, cos he is God.

Psalm 18:30 (ESV): "This God—his way is perfect; the word of the Lord proves true; he is a shield for all those who take refuge in him."

 

[HTacianas]

It might look that way...if you don’t read historical sources.​

Jimmy Akin

Because of certain statements Jesus made, some have thought he predicted the end of the world in his own day—wrongly, since the world didn’t end.

One statement is that “this generation will not pass away” before the events of the Olivet Discourse take place (Mark 13:30). However, Jesus wasn’t predicting the end of the world. When read in context, this statement referred to the events leading up to the destruction of the Jerusalem temple in A.D. 70.

Another statement also occurs in the Olivet Discourse, when Jesus describes the coming events and says, “And then they will see the Son of man coming in clouds with great power and glory. And then he will send out the angels, and gather his elect from the four winds” (Mark 13:26-27).

Since Jesus will return from heaven at the end of the world (Acts 1:11), many have understood this as a reference to the Second Coming. And, because prophecy can have more than one fulfillment, it may point to the Second Coming. However, this wasn’t what it referred to in the events leading up to the destruction of the temple.

Part of the confusion is caused by the fact that many only study their Bibles and don’t read the historical sources that reveal what happened when Jesus’ words were fulfilled.

The Jewish historian Josephus, who was an eyewitness of the events, reported that God gave great signs in the heavens to show that the temple would soon be destroyed. These included a star that resembled a sword hanging over the city, unexplained light shining around the temple and its altar, chariots and soldiers fighting in the clouds, and heavenly voices saying “we are departing” from the temple (Jewish War 6:3:5[288-310]). The same signs are mentioned by the Roman historian Tacitus (Histories 5:13).

Continued below.

Did Jesus Mess Up a Prophecy?

It might look that way, but we need to be aware that not all Scripture passages that speak of Christ as coming refer to the end of the world.

www.catholic.com

Those have long been my thoughts as well. Now, combine that with the amillennialist view of the Church.

 

[Michie]

Jesus never makes mistakes, cos he is God.

Psalm 18:30 (ESV): "This God—his way is perfect; the word of the Lord proves true; he is a shield for all those who take refuge in him."

A final statement that should be considered is, “There are some standing here who will not taste death before they see that the kingdom of God has come with power” (Mark 9:1; cf. Matt. 16:28; Luke 9:27).

This is not about the end of the world, for “the kingdom of God is in the midst of you” (Luke 17:21), and some of Jesus’ disciples were about to see it manifested in a powerful way. In each Synoptic Gospel (Matthew, Mark, and Luke), the Transfiguration immediately follows Jesus’ announcement (Matt. 17:1-9; Mark 9:2-10; Luke 9:28-36). Jesus takes three of the disciples—Peter, James, and John—up a mountain. His clothing becomes dazzlingly bright, Moses and Elijah appear beside him, everyone is enveloped in a cloud, and God the Father speaks from heaven, identifying Jesus as his Son and his Chosen, and declaring, “Hear him!”

This manifestation is the coming of the kingdom “with power” that Jesus referred to, and the text of each Gospel suggests that this is the way the evangelists understood it. Not only does the Transfiguration happen right after the announcement, but each Gospel says it was about a week later (Matt. 17:1, Mark 9:1, Luke 9:28—the slight difference in the number of days may reflect reckoning parts of days as wholes and counting days as beginning at sunset, midnight, or dawn). Peter, James, and John thus were the three who did not taste death before they saw the kingdom coming with power (see again Benedict XVI’s Jesus of Nazareth, vol. 1, ch. 9).

 

[AlexB23]

A final statement that should be considered is, “There are some standing here who will not taste death before they see that the kingdom of God has come with power” (Mark 9:1; cf. Matt. 16:28; Luke 9:27).

This is not about the end of the world, for “the kingdom of God is in the midst of you” (Luke 17:21), and some of Jesus’ disciples were about to see it manifested in a powerful way. In each Synoptic Gospel (Matthew, Mark, and Luke), the Transfiguration immediately follows Jesus’ announcement (Matt. 17:1-9; Mark 9:2-10; Luke 9:28-36). Jesus takes three of the disciples—Peter, James, and John—up a mountain. His clothing becomes dazzlingly bright, Moses and Elijah appear beside him, everyone is enveloped in a cloud, and God the Father speaks from heaven, identifying Jesus as his Son and his Chosen, and declaring, “Hear him!”

This manifestation is the coming of the kingdom “with power” that Jesus referred to, and the text of each Gospel suggests that this is the way the evangelists understood it. Not only does the Transfiguration happen right after the announcement, but each Gospel says it was about a week later (Matt. 17:1, Mark 9:1, Luke 9:28—the slight difference in the number of days may reflect reckoning parts of days as wholes and counting days as beginning at sunset, midnight, or dawn). Peter, James, and John thus were the three who did not taste death before they saw the kingdom coming with power (see again Benedict XVI’s Jesus of Nazareth, vol. 1, ch. 9).

I am not good with Eschatology, so I am backing out of this one. But remember, Jesus is never wrong. We should focus on the here and now as Christians and Catholics.

 

[Michie]

I am not good with Eschatology, so I am backing out of this one. But remember, Jesus is never wrong. We should focus on the here and now as Christians and Catholics.

Alex, I understand where you are coming from. But this article is extremely helpful to many. Let’s not forget we are all called to different tasks within the Body of Christ.

 

[AlexB23]

Alex, I understand where you are coming from. But this article is extremely helpful to many. Let’s not forget we are all called to different tasks within the Body of Christ.

That is true. Romans says we all have different gifts. Prophesy is not my cup of tea, cos everyone disagrees on it. We will find out who is right (pretrib, mid, posttrib, preterist and the futurists), when we pass away and meet Jesus in Heaven. I am not sure which "-ist" I am.

Romans 12:4-8 (NIV): "For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your faith; if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead, do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully."