[NATE4"ONE NATION"]

It appears to me that you have to engage at least in some "exegetical gymnastics" in determining what is literal and what is figurative as well as squeezing 1,000 years into a 40 year period.

You are right. This thesis is a starting point.
Numerous signitaries also differ with Mr. Noe on the 40 year gap.
The 70 weeks was to complete Christ's work.
Hebrews 2:8, 1 Cor 15 says His work was not yet complete.
The second coming was essential to our completed salvation. It was the time that all things would be put "under His feet."

I call it a "Christ determined waiting period." I agree with the dispensationalists on a church age (millenial period) but it's timing and context have to fall within scripture. Hebrews sheds awesome light on this.

It is not gymnastics to use "stars fall from heaven", "sun darkened", "clouds are His chariot," "Coming in the clouds" "1000 years" in light of the past prophetic hyperbole they were used before.
It is called consistancy.

[Jerry_M]

I guess that I just don't see it, especially your understanding that there will be no final consummation of history.

(Aren't we all glad that a complete understanding of eschatology is not a requirement for salvation?!?)

[Eastbound]

"The second coming was essential to our completed salvation. It was the time that all things would be put "under His feet."

Would that somehow relate to the fulfilling of the following scripture:

"Mr 12:36 David himself said in the Holy Spirit, The Lord said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand, Till I make thine enemies the footstool of thy feet."

If so, would that point to the possibility that the 'second coming' was more like an internal revelation given to the individual rather than an external manifestation to the masses?

Could history be used as a metaphor -- or a parable to understand what occurs to the indivdual in their spiritual quest and progress?

Assuming for the sake of illustration that this is true, that would make us, the natural mind, the footstool of the mind of Christ as carnal thinking atrophies -- carnality being defined as the attributes of a mind focused outward, unable and perhaps unwilling to discern and accept spiritual laws and concepts. Taking John the Baptist's words, we could say that we decrease while He increases in us on an individual basis.

Is the internalization of the 'second coming' where you are essentially coming from or leading up to?

Thanks for the nudge.