“Matt 24 makes it clear that the events of Daniels 70 weeks culminate in the second coming of Christ ... that certainly did not happen in 70 AD.”
Matthew and Luke also make it clear that the Roman armies surrounding Jerusalem were the abomination of desolation, and that the prophecy applies to that time when “not one stone” of the temple should be left standing. It is an odd thing for God to give them a prophecy, and expect them to see the Roman armies surrounding Jerusalem, and the horrible judgment that fell there, without thinking back to Christ’s prediction! Especially when Jerusalem experienced so many signs and wonders leading up to the destruction, not just in the form of the Apostles and Christians performing miracles, but also as those reported by Titus and Josephus, and the destruction itself being incredibly dreadful and long lasting.
Luk 21:20-28 And when ye shall see Jerusalem compassed with armies, then know that the desolation thereof is nigh. (21) Then let them which are in Judaea 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. (22) For these be the days of vengeance, that all things which are written may be fulfilled. (23) But woe unto them that are with child, and to them that give suck, in those days! for there shall be great distress in the land, and wrath upon this people. (24) And they shall fall by the edge of the sword, and shall be led away captive into all nations: and Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled. (25) And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring; (26) Men’s hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken. (27) And then shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. (28) And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh.
Until the “time of the gentiles” be fulfilled is an important clue. While the language can be applied both to dreadful national judgments and the second coming of Christ, it is obvious that the scripture immediately referred to the destruction of the temple, and that we now are in “the times of the gentiles.” For almost 2,000 years Israel was “trampled” under foot by the gentiles, and only recently came again into their hands, though the Muslims still possess the Temple Mount and Israel is universally persecuted.
What you cited is not what is in the text. Apostolic healings does not constitute the signs in the text of Matthew 24. We are talking about cosmic signs in the sun, moon, stars ... global cosmic signs. Those signs are related to the second coming of Christ.
Are you really prepared to claim that the second coming occurred in 70 AD?
Honestly ... preterism is a house of cards and is the easiest eschatology to dispense with out of hand ...
The date of the book of Revelation is the kingpin ... and Hitchcock has dealt with Gentry so thoroughly that there is no longer any need to look through all the preterist arguments in Matt, Luke, et. al. ... preterist stands or falls on the date of the book of Revelation ... and it fell almost ten years ago with Hitchcocks dissertation.
Gentry's thesis no doubt fulfills the old saying "invention is the mother of necessity."
Reference:
Hitchcock, Mark L, "A Defense of the Dominitian Date of the Book of Revelation," PhD dissertation, Dallas Theological Seminary, 2005.
Google it ... its out there for free.