There is a Partial-Preterism Amil view that has a lot of respect in Sydney Anglican circles - but I'm not convinced. But it asks some very serious questions of the Olivet discourse.
Now, being Reformed Sydney Anglican Amil - we of course believe Jesus will return to judge the world. But that's more from other NT verses about this subject - especially in the Epistles. The Olivet discourse? Well, there's been a bit of a shift in thinking. Why is there such an emphasis on "This generation?" - the generation alive at the time Jesus was speaking to the disciples? At different times, depending on what I've been reading, I find myself drifting between the two positions.
Standard Reformed Amil:- That in the Olivet Discourse of Matthew 24, Mark 13, and Luke 21, two questions are being asked about two different periods of time. The first is of course the disciples - acting like country town bumpkins in the big city - exclaiming "Look at these huge buildings Jesus!" Then Jesus shocks them to the core - they're all coming down! I mean, WOW! To Jews that immediately makes them think of the end of the world. Isn't the temple the sign that God is with them? Surely the destruction of the temple must mean the end of Israel - the end of the kingdom of God - the end of the very WORLD?
So in the Standard view, Jesus answers two questions about two periods of time.
1. When would the temple be destroyed? The one the disciples could see before them with their very eyes. When would THAT temple be left with not one stone on another? Jesus answers that when they see "Nation will rise against nation" (Mark 13), "Jerusalem being surrounded by armies" (Luke 21), and an increase in persecution of the disciples - these were signs of the end of THAT temple. They were to get out of town! In other words, when THAT temple is about to be destroyed it will be
predictable,
local, and
avoidable. But don't be pregnant - or get out of town early if you are!
(Futurists trying to argue that is actually talking about a hypothetical third temple in this conversation is laughable and absurd. The disciples exclaimed about THAT temple, and Jesus answered about THAT temple.)
2. When would the LAST DAY happen? In contrast to AD70, the Last Day (or That Day) will be
unpredictable,
universal, and
unavoidable. In contrast to the false Messiah's gathering out alone in the desert, Jesus explains his return will be inescapable and obvious, like the lightning from the east to west. He hasn't quite finished talking about the temple ("these things"), but as he has just mentioned false Messiah's with false miracles - he wants to highlight how different his Return will be.
“At that time people will see the Son of Man coming in clouds with great power and glory. 27 And he will send his angels and gather his elect from the four winds, from the ends of the earth to the ends of the heavens."
Now he finishes talking about the end of the temple era. Luke 21 says:
"29 He told them this parable: “Look at the fig tree and all the trees. 30 When they sprout leaves, you can see for yourselves and know that summer is near. 31 Even so, when you see these things happening, you know that the kingdom of God is near.
32 “Truly I tell you, this generation will certainly not pass away until all these things have happened. 33 Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away."
Some suggest that the parable of the fig tree means they should recognise who Jesus is, and that his arrival should of course mean huge changes like the temple being destroyed and no longer necessary. It's not so much about recognising Last Days timing as simply recognising who Jesus is and what his being there means. Everything is going to change. His sacrifice on our behalf means the end of the temple system - all of which is going to happen in that generation. And it did!
But now we move on to the meat of the Last Day - as after talking about his sacrifice, Jesus answers their question about the end of the age. Luke 21:
32 “But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. 33 Be on guard! Be alert! You do not know when that time will come. 34 It’s like a man going away: He leaves his house and puts his servants in charge, each with their assigned task, and tells the one at the door to keep watch.
Matthew 24 mentions Noah's flood, the thief in the night, the parable of the wise and the unfaithful servant, and the next chapter has the bridegroom and the 10 maidens. Then the conversation moves on to bearing fruit for the kingdom while we wait as in the parable of the tenants - the bags of gold invested wisely for the master. Then there's the sheep and the goats - showing that Jesus return is Judgement Day.
Boltian Amil: (By Dr Peter Bolt of Moore Theological College - the Sydney Anglicans):
Now that we've briefly looked at the two questions and two time-periods in the Standard Reformed Evangelical view - it's time for the Boltian view. This one is more difficult - and involves tracing a LOT more symbolism through the bible than the Standard view.
But in summary - their question about the end of THAT temple brings Jesus to describe - in apocalyptic language - his death and resurrection and the chaos of the change in the ages. That one of the primary passages so many read as his Return to Earth is actually describing his glorious post-resurrection Return to the Father. Ask yourself as you read this - where is Jesus coming to - the Earth - or back into the throne room of the Ancient of Days?
Matthew 24 says: “Then will appear the sign of the Son of Man in heaven. And then all the peoples of the earth will mourn when they see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven, with power and great glory. 31 And he will send his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of the heavens to the other."
But what if we go back and investigate what is being quoted here, in context? Daniel 7:
"3 “In my vision at night I looked, and there before me was one like a son of man, coming with the clouds of heaven. He approached the Ancient of Days and was led into his presence. 14 He was given authority, glory and sovereign power; all nations and peoples of every language worshiped him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that will not pass away, and his kingdom is one that will never be destroyed."
Peter Bolt asks us to consider where the Son of Man is going? That basic comprehension question has potentially
staggering implications for our understanding of the passage. Because it is quite clear that the Son of Man is NOT coming on the clouds of heaven to earth but to the Ancient of Days - back to the Father! What if Jesus is saying the temple is going to be destroyed because JESUS is going to be killed - rise again - and go back to the Father to rule his kingdom spiritually (my kingdom is not of this world) through the church?
In that case:-
"All the peoples of the earth mourning" is about the gospel going into various people groups and languages and people mourning as the become Christians, mourn their sin, and mourn the horror that it took the sacrifice of the Son of Man on the cross to deal with their sin.
"Angels" can be messengers - declaring with a loud clear call the gospel - and gathering through their gospel work people from every tribe and tongue and nation.
Now, personally I was wavering and going back to the Standard view. But then recently - on these forums - I was discussing how we've been in the so-called "Last Days" for 2000 years and counting. Peter explains Pentecost as the start of the Last Days in Acts 2. But look what he quotes! There are the Apostles - having received the Holy Spirit in power for the first time - and declaring the gospel. But Peter goes and quotes something that sounds very Last Days in his explanation of the Apostles receiving the gospel and Holy Spirit! Acts 2:-
No, this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel:
17 “‘In the last days, God says,
I will pour out my Spirit on all people.
Your sons and daughters will prophesy,
your young men will see visions,
your old men will dream dreams.
18 Even on my servants, both men and women,
I will pour out my Spirit in those days,
and they will prophesy.
19 I will show wonders in the heavens above
and signs on the earth below,
blood and fire and billows of smoke.
20 The sun will be turned to darkness
and the moon to blood
before the coming of the great and glorious day of the Lord.
21 And everyone who calls
on the name of the Lord will be saved.’
The commentaries I read said that this 'wonders in the heavens' language is instability in the world and a sense of the finiteness of our time, and our turmoil in his world - and reminds people that we do not have forever. The gospel must be declared. Seeing such "last days" sounding language used by Peter to describe the gospel might just give the Boltian view more credibility. Also, if all that language really is about the gospel events - then it really did happen back in THAT generation.
This is a huge discussion in Sydney Anglican circles and I might not have done it justice. I have heard sermons from both the Standard and Boltian views on Olivet passages. I remain to be solidly convinced one way or the other. The main thing? Nothing here says anything about the end times will be predictable. Wars and rumours of wars and persecutions may have been specifically about what the disciples faced before AD70 - but also generically describe life in the last 2000 years. Which is also what I think Revelation is - a general description of life after Jesus ascended into heaven and before his Return.