He did come on the clouds, as He said. This generation means this generation.
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@DavidPT @BPPLEE @Timtofly @Jeffwhosoever @claninja @rwb
Scripture has to interpret scripture. The Olivet Discourse is not the hermeneutic tool given to us by Jesus to interpret all the New Testament. The New Testament must interpret the Olivet Discourse. So let's take a look at some important facts you leave out:
(By the way, I also believe that what the words used in Matthew 24:29-31 and Revelation 6:12-14 are metaphor, and I believe that the sun and moon and stars in those verses are metaphorically referring to the exact same things they are always referring to wherever they are employed as metaphor in Apocalyptic scripture, and where Genesis 37:9-10 and Revelation 12:1 tell us exactly what they represent. So I believe that the moon turning to blood is a metaphor for the great tribulation of the elect, and the stars falling from heaven are a metaphor for the apostasy of many saints).
But you leave out great chunks of Biblical scripture and interpret Matthew 24:1-34 without reference to any of the facts below, such as the fact that there is no record of any of the following occurring in A.D 70 or at any time since then:
THE APOSTASY AND THE MAN OF SIN IN GOD'S HOUSE:
2 Thessalonians 2
1 Now we beseech you, my brothers, with regard to the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together to Him,
2 that you should not be soon shaken in mind or troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word or letter, as through us, as if the Day of Christ is at hand.
3 Let not anyone deceive you by any means. For that Day shall not come unless there first comes a falling away, and the man of sin shall be revealed, the son of perdition,
4 who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God, or that is worshiped, so that he sits as God in the temple (naos) of God, setting himself forth, that he is God.
HOW WE KNOW FOR SURE THE ABOVE HAS NOT OCCURRED YET:
* Of the two Greek words used for temple (hieron, which refers to the entire temple complex, and naos, which refers to the place of the holy presence of God, i.e holy place and holy of holies), the last time the word
naós is used in reference to the temple in Jerusalem, is in the verses which talk about the tearing of the veil (Matthew 27:51; Mark 15:38; Luke 23:45). After this, the first time the word is used again is in Acts:
Acts 7:48a
But, the Most High does not dwell in temples (Greek: naos) made with hands.
Acts 17:24
The God who made the world and all things in it, since He is Lord of Heaven and earth, does not dwell in temples (Greek naos) made with hands.
Compare the above two verses with:
Hebrews 9
24 For Christ has not entered into the Holy of Holies made with (human) hands, which are the figures of the true, but into Heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us.
The word hierón continues to be used in all references to the temple at Jerusalem. But the word
naos is only used for the church and the temple in heaven after the verses which talk about the tearing of the veil:
1 Corinthians 3:16-17 & 1 Corinthians 6:19; 2 Corinthians 6:16; Ephesians 2:21; 2 Thessalonians 2:4; Revelation 3:12; Revelation 7:15; Revelation 11:1-2; Revelation 11:19; Revelation 14:15 & Revelation 14:17; Revelation 15:5-6 & Revelation 15:8; Revelation 16:1 & Revelation 16:17; Revelation 21:22
Revelation 11
1 And a reed like a rod was given to me. And the angel stood, saying, Rise up and measure the temple (naos) of God, and the altar, and those who worship in it.
2 But leave out the court which is outside the temple (naos), and do not measure it, for it was given to the nations. And they will trample the holy city forty-two months.
The word
naos is employed in the above verses for "temple".
"THE HOLY CITY":
There is no city mentioned in the Revelation other than:-
(i) New Jerusalem; and
(ii) Babylon the Great, or the city"spiritually called Sodom and Egypt, where also our Lord was crucified." (Revelation 11:8).
The word holy in the biblical sense means “set apart unto God” or “consecrated unto God”.
There is no verse in the Revelation where Babylon the Great is called "the holy city",
but the Revelation calls New Jerusalem the holy city three other times:- Revelation 21:2; Revelation 21:10; and Revelation 22:19.
* Revelation 11:2 is talking about the holy city. The other city referred to in Revelation chapter 11, is referred to as a city that is
"spiritually called Sodom and Egypt, where also our Lord was crucified." (Revelation 11:8).
BEHEADING AND RESURRECTION
Only twice does the word
beheaded appear in the New Testament. Both times it is associated with a resurrection from death. The first time is when Herod said,
"It is John, whom I beheaded. He has risen from the dead!" (Mark 6:16).
The second time is this:
Only twice is the worship of the beast and the mark of the beast mentioned in the Bible. The first time, it says
all who refuse to worship the beast or receive his mark will b e killed.
The second time John sees those who had been
beheaded for their testimony to Christ and refusal to worship the beast or receive his mark, living and reigning with Christ a thousand years, and then it adds:
"This is the first resurrection. Blessed and holy is he who has part in the first resurrection. The second death has no authority over these, but they will be priests of God and of Christ, and will reign with Him a thousand years." (Revelation 20:5-6).
1 Corinthians 15
22 For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ all will be made alive.
23 But each in his own order: Christ the first-fruit, and afterward they who are Christ's at His coming;
1 Thessalonians 4
13 But I would not have you ignorant, brothers, concerning those who are asleep, that you be not grieved, even as others who have no hope.
14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will also bring with Him all those who have fallen asleep through Jesus.
15 For we say this to you by the Word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord shall not go before those who are asleep.
16 For the Lord Himself shall descend from Heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ shall rise first.
17 Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air. And so we shall ever be with the Lord.
18 Therefore comfort one another with these words.
FACTS:
* The man of sin will seat himself up in the church (
naos), and he has not appeared yet, and he must appear before the return of Christ.
* The apostasy associated with the revealing of the man of sin has not occurred yet, and this apostasy is mentioned in connection with the return of Christ in 2 Thessalonians 2, and represented metaphorically as the stars falling from heaven in Matthew 24:29, where the moon becoming blood is a metaphor for the great tribulation of the elect.
* The resurrection of all who died in Christ and the others who are still alive being caught up has not occurred yet.
* The two witnesses being killed by the beast and rising from the dead has not occurred yet.
Scripture has to interpret scripture. The Olivet Discourse is not the hermeneutic tool given to us by Jesus to interpret all the New Testament. The New Testament must interpret the Olivet Discourse.
