What about the idea that the second appearance of Christ came 3 days after His death and continued for 40 days after that. This would make sense to me because this is recorded in the scriptures. Then the only other time that we would see Christ is when we stand before Him in judgement. Thoughts?
Also, about the argument you presented on the armies surrounding Jerusalem - there are still armies surrounding it, and I have heard the argument that since the aposltes are still alive in Heaven, that their generation isn't over - I think this is a pretty weak argument ( **very** weak) but the part about the armies is what intrigues me.
Hi Aggie.
The coming of Christ that is referred to in Matt 24 and Luke 21 cannot be connected to events like John 20 or 21, only 3 days after His crucifixion, because the Matt and Luke "coming" occurs
after the ascencion, not before. This can be understood when reading all of the signs that had to take place before Christ came back (Matt 24:5,6,7,9,13,14,15,21). All of these things did not take place within 3 days of His death.
Now, concerning the "
armies" of Luke 21. Jesus told his disciples that when they see "
Jerusalem compassed with armies, then know that the desolation thereof is nigh(v.20)". The purpose of this sign was to trigger a reaction from the Church, and the reaction was "
let them which are in Judea flee to the mountains; and let them which are in the midst of it depart out; and let not them that are in the countries enter thereinto. For these be the days of vengeance, that all things which are written may be fulfilled.(v.21,22)".
Jerusalem being "
compassed" by armies was sign that the desolation was close. So they were to flee to the mountains because the "
days of vengeance" were occuring and all things that were written were going to be fulfilled. And in 70AD Jerusalem was indeed compassed by armies (within the disciples generation), the desolation therefore was close, and the believers throughout Jerusalem heeded the signs and fled the city and the surrounding area because the days of vengeance were at hand.
One of the problems with taking Luke 21:20 beyond the 70AD generation is the fact that Jerusalem has been surrounded by armies numerous times throughout history (
the Turkish armies led by Saladin in 1187AD for example). And yet each time Jerusalem was surrounded over the past 2000 years the "
desolation" wasn't close, nor were "
all things which were written" fulfilled. The "compassing" sign was to prompt believers to
flee to the mountains because the "
abomination" and the "
days of vengeance" were at hand. This sign loses it's force if numerous sieges of Jerusalem can take place over hundreds of years without the desolation or the fulfillment of all scripture taking place. So when is the Church to flee?
There are no armies surrounding Jerusalem at this present time. To equate "
armies encompassing" Jerusalem with "
suicide bombers sneaking into coffee shops" is beyond outrageous (
I'm not saying your doing that, Aggie, but I've seen this interpretation before). Those Christians that espouse this view really don't believe it themselves, or else they would have already fled to mountainous areas to live the rest of their lives in caves or tents, surviving on roasted squirrel and rain water. Until Christians leave their lives and possessions behind to brace for the "
days of vengeance" that are upon them, then this interpretation is a lot of air with no substance. Until Christians actually
live out that interpretation, they don't really
believe it.
Also, there are those who say that Jerusalem is surrounded by armies
now simply because
Israel is surrounded by enemy countries. Again, Luke 21 says that when
Jerusalem is surrounded armies, not merely the borders of Israel, THEN the desolation is nigh. In 1948, Israel's borders were surrounded by armies from Egypt, Trans-Jordan, Syria, Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, Iraq and Yemen. I've never read of Christians heading to the hills then, and I don't see them doing so now. So until the day comes when all Christians everywhere start their own secluded mountain communities, because Israel has countries around them that do not like them, then this interpretation also has bark but no bite. Until they live it, they don't believe it.
He, he...the "
alive in heaven" idea is indeed so poor that I just don't even have the energy for it. I hope my "armies" explaination gave you some good insight, though. Fire back any questions you might have.
In Christ,
Acts6:5