Looking at Matthew 24 I'm not convinced the story is over yet. I'd think someone would have noticed all the tribes of the earth mourning or Christ coming "on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory" (24:30). And this would seem to "immediately follow" (24:29) a tribulation in 24:21, which follows an "abomination of desolation" "standing in the holy place" (24:15). And I don't think we can comfortably say even now that 24:14 is taken care of, the gospel being preached in all the world.
In Part 1, I looked at futuristic and preteristic views of Matthew 24 and observed that dispensational futurists tend to be literalists, while preterists preferred a hermeneutic which allowed Scripture to interpret Scripture. For example, the futurist would say the prophecy of the sun, moon, and stars being darkened (Matthew 24:29) has not been literally fulfilled and therefore could not have taken place yet. The preterist would point out that this verse is a direct quote of figurative passages which declared impending judgment in past biblical history (Is. 13:9-10; Is. 34:4; Ez. 32: 7-8; Joel 2:20 which is quoted in Acts 2:20; Amos 8:9, ). Consistent interpretation would require the expectation of fulfillment consistent with the quoted passages, i.e., a widespread destruction such as what occurred in Jerusalem in A.D. 70.From Matthew 24: Prophecies of Destruction - Pt. 2Preterists maintain their belief that the prophecies of Matthew 24 were fulfilled on the basis of passages such as v. 34: "Assuredly, I say to you, this generation will by no means pass away till all these things are fulfilled." This verse is a problem passage for futurists who must abandon a literal hermeneutic and claim that "generation" really means "race," even though the term is never used that way in Scripture.
Meanwhile preterists contend that Jesus' hearers believed His message and escaped the wholesale slaughter of Jerusalem. Had not Jesus warned his hearers (v. 15) to flee to the mountains? The parallel passage in Luke is very specific:
Coming in the CloudsFrom An Eschatology of Victory by J. Marcellus KikThe third and final clause of verse 30 says, "and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory." This clause has been thought to relate definitely to the second, visible, and personal coming of the Lord. But in the light of well-defined biblical language, the reference is rather to a coming in terms of the events of his providence in judgment against his enemies and in deliverance of his people.
It should be noted carefully that neither this verse nor this particular clause indicates a coming upon earth. Some have read into this clause that Jesus was actually descending to the earth for the purpose of taking up a reign in the city of Jerusalem. Nothing like that is indicated. As a matter of fact, there is not a single verse in the New Testament to indicate that Christ will reign upon a material throne in the material city of Jerusalem. This thought has been imported by a carnal interpretation of Old Testament passages. Christ is actually seated now upon his Messianic throne.
Many commentators have taken it for granted that the expression "coming in the clouds" refers to a visible coming of Christ. A careful study of the Scriptures, however, reveals that that is not a necessary interpretation. A similar expression occurs in Isaiah 19:1, "Behold, the Lord rideth upon a swift cloud, and shall come into Egypt: and the idols of Egypt shall melt in the midst of it." Although this passage speaks of the Lord riding upon a cloud and of his presence, nevertheless we know that the Egyptians did not see the Lord in a personal, visible way. The Lord riding upon a swift cloud indicated a coming in judgment against the Egyptians.
A similar type of expression concerning judgment is found in Psalm 97:2,3: "Clouds and darkness are round him: righteousness and judgment are the habitation of his throne. A fire goeth before him, and burneth up his enemies round about." In speaking of the mighty power of God the Psalmist uses this expression: "Who layeth the beams of his chambers in the waters; who maketh the clouds his chariot: who walketh upon the wings of the wind" (Ps. 104:3). The expression "who maketh the clouds his chariot," is no different from "coming in the clouds of heaven." In the Psalms there is no thought of a personal, visible coming of the Lord, but rather references to his judgment and power.
Following the well-defined biblical sense of such expression the last clause of verse 30 may well be interpreted then to indicate a coming in judgment and power: judgment against his enemies and power to the establishment of his kingdom.
We are all born with all we need to know of the Gospel, "for I shall write it in their hearts and on their minds," God said through the prophet. Only the devil would want to bring about the end of the world, and that is what my interpretation tells me will happen if said "gospel" is spread to the very last ear to hear.