Originally posted by Willis Deal
It is impossible that premillennialism was a 19th century invention since all the biblical authors in the first century were looking forward to the coming of Christ at a future time.
I've seen some quotes from early believers already, and in every instance they were making reference to the prophecy of the destruction of Jerusalem and the temple as being fulfilled. If you have some quotes from early christians stating that Jesus had already returned then that might make some interesting reading, since all the ones I've read were still looking forward to the return of Christ, resurrection of the dead, etc.
It is only dispensationalism with its Rapture view and Israel/Church distinction that was an invention of the 19th century.
Post-trib Premillennialism [Chiliasm] was held by a segment of early fathers such as Irenaeus, Justin Martyr, and Tertullian -- yet their view was opposed by a great many who were AMILLLENNIALISTS, and premillennialism was finally and officially denounced as a heresy in 431AD at the Council of Ephesus.
The early Church had very many well known figures who taught that the great tribulation was past. The Early Church Fathers knew that the AoD happened at that time that the Romans came in 66-70AD, and they also knew that the Christians did indeed flee Judaea in 66AD according to our Lord's prophecy. Here is a sampling of their statements:
Augustine (300s AD)
"Luke to show that the abomination spoken of by Daniel will take place when Jerusalem is captured, recalls these words of the Lord in the same context: When you shall see Jerusalem compassed about with an army, then know that the desolation thereof is at hand (xxi. 20). For Luke very clearly bears witness that the prophecy of Daniel was fulfilled when Jerusalem was overthrown."
Chrysostom (300s AD)
"For this it seems that the abomination of desolation means the army by which the holy city of Jerusalem was made desolate. Or because he who had desolated the city and the temple, placed his statue within the temple. For He brought in also a prophecy, to confirm their desolation, saying, 'But when ye shall see the abomination of desolation,spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place, let him that readeth understand.' He referred them to Daniel. And by 'abomination' He meaneth the statue of him who then took the city, which he who desolated the city and the temple placed within the temple, wherefore Christ calleth it, 'of desolation.' Moreover, in order that they might learn that these things will be WHILE SOME OF THEM ARE ALIVE, therefore He said, 'When YE see the abomination of desolation.' (On Matthew 24:1,2)
Eusebius (325)
"But the number of calamities which every where fell upon the nation at that time; the extreme misfortunes to which the inhabitants of Judea were especially subjected, the thousands of men, as well as women and children, that perished by the sword, by famine, and by other forms of death innumerable,--all these things, as well as the many great sieges which were carried on against the cities of Judea, and the excessive. sufferings endured by those that fled to Jerusalem itself, as to a city of perfect safety, and finally the general course of the whole war, as well as its particular occurrences in detail, and how at last the abomination of desolation, proclaimed by the prophets, stood in the very temple of God, so celebrated of old, the temple which was now awaiting its total and final destruction by fire,-- all these things any one that wishes may find accurately described in the history written by Josephus."
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