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//And of course Jesus came in AD 70?//

WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY ABOUT THE TIMING OF THE SECOND COMING?

While this view may be different from what most churches teach, we must be faithful to the Bible. We must accept what it says, and not what someone else tells us it says. Jesus made numerous statements about the timing of his Parousia (“Presence”). How we understand these determines whether Jesus was a true prophet or a false prophet.

Jesus told his disciples that he would return before they had finished going through the towns of Israel. (Matthew 10:23).

He told his disciples that his return would be while some of them were still alive (Matthew 16:27-28).

He told the Jewish leaders that THEY would personally see his return (Matthew 26:64; cf. Matthew 23:29-39).

He told his disciples that He would return in their generation (Luke 21:22, 32).

He told Peter and John that John would witness his return (John 21:22).

He told his disciples that all of the events surrounding his Second Coming were “about to happen” (Luke 21:36, Young’s Literal Translation).

He told John that the prophesied events “MUST SHORTLY TAKE PLACE” and the time of his return was “near” and “soon” (Revelation 1:1-3; 22:6-20).

Paul told the Thessalonians to whom he wrote that they would be alive at the Second Coming (1 Thessalonians 4:15, 17).

The writer of Hebrews said that Jesus’ return would happen in a “very, very little while” and “without delay” (Hebrews 10:37).

James said the Second Coming of Jesus was “at hand” (James 5:7-8).

How could this be any clearer? Do you realize that there are over 100 passages in the New Testament like these—demanding that the Second Coming was imminent in the first century? And there is NO mention of a far distant fulfillment of the last-days events! Out of dozens of passages about the Second Coming, there is only one that does not have a time-limitation of the first century (while some of Jesus’ contemporaries would still be alive―namely Acts 1:9-11.

This is a serious apologetics question. Perhaps the most persistent charge against Christianity is that Jesus and the New Testament writers were false prophets. This charge is made by Muslims, Jews, and atheists. Indeed, MOST CHRISTIANS ADMIT that Jesus and his followers thought He would return in their literal generation. Were Jesus and his disciples false prophets?! If so, they were not inspired! CS Lewis said this:

“Say what you like, we shall be told, the apocalyptic beliefs of the first Christians have been proved to be false. It is clear from the New Testament that they all expected the Second Coming in their own lifetime. And, worse still, they had a reason, and one which you will find very embarrassing. Their Master had told them so. He shared, and indeed created, their delusion. He said in so many words, ‘this generation shall not pass till all these things are done.’ And He was wrong. He clearly knew no more about the end of the world than anyone else. It is certainly the most embarrassing verse in the Bible.”

If Jesus and the writers of the New Testament were true prophets, the only explanation is the preterist view. Jesus came IN JUDGMENT against apostate Israel in AD 70, similar to how God came IN JUDGMENT against his enemies in the Old Testament.

After years of studying this question, including considering all objections, I finally decided to believe Jesus. IS YOUR CHURCH’S TEACHINGS ABOUT THE LAST DAYS CONSISTENT WITH THAT OF JESUS? For an explanation, see my articles here:

https://prophecyquestions.com/2016/02/01/articles-by-charles-meek/