Acts 1:6 (The apostles speaking to Jesus after His resurrection)   "Lord, will You at this time restore the kingdom to Israel" ... "It is not for you to know the times or seasons which the Father has put in His own authority."

This follows up on Mat 24:36 (Mark 13:32) and occurred before the Book of Acts and the Epistles and the book of Revelations were written (ie between AD50 - AD67. Jesus had set a 40 year maximum time frame for the restoration of access to the kingdom of God for (spiritual) Israel in (Mat 24:34) which extended to AD73 at the latest. However later as time progressed and the deadline approached, the sense of imminence becomes clearer ending in the following declaration (in about AD65 when the last book of the New Testament was written .... 'Before Jerusalem Fell' by Kenneth Gentry)....

 

Revelations 1:1 "The Revelation of Jesus Christ which God gave Him to show His servants - things which must SHORTLY take place"

The timing of the events which before were not known by anyone other than the Father (Mat 24:36) ... were then in approx AD65 given to Jesus ... to show His servants what was about to happen. ALL the events which Jesus told His apostles about in Mat 24 including the persecution, wars and famines, the tribulation, false prophets and false christs, the second coming, the resurrection of the dead, and the final judgment (which comprised the total destruction of the temple and Jerusalem by the Romans with fire and vast numbers of Israelites being slaughtered and taken into captivity) ...were all to 'shortly take place' (1:1), 'the time was near' (1:3), things that were 'about to take place' (1:19), things which involved Jesus 'coming quickly' (22:7&12&20)  to let those in the seven churches of Asia minor ... prepare themselves for the promised events they were about to experience!

 

But from Acts to Revelations there are a large number of scriptures which show the unfolding imminence and confirming that what was going to happen was exactly what Jesus had said would happen in line with the Old Testament prophecies.

 

Acts 1:11 "This Jesus who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven."

The angels confirm that the Jesus who they knew, would return just as He said he would in Mat 24:30 (referring to Dan 7:13-14) 'on the clouds of heaven with great power and glory'. This verse also confirms that  some of them would see this event (as per Mat 24:34). The timing in Daniel 9:24-27 also confirms that it was to unfold on 'this generation'.

 

Acts 2:16 "This is what was spoken by the prophet Joel: '...it shall come to pass in the last days, says God, that I will pour out of My Spirit on all flesh."

The Holy Spirit being poured out at Pentacost confirmed the programme of events prophecied for the LAST DAYS was now unfolding on that generation (Acts 2:39-40) ... the very same generation that crucified Jesus ( vs 23) and said 'His blood be on us and our children'.  The last days was certainly never to be a 2000 year (or so) period (but according to Daniel 9:24-27 they were in the last week of the determined 70 weeks for Israel). It was specifically the period before 'the coming of the great and awesome day of the Lord' (2:20 and Mal 4:5) which unfolded on Israel in AD70.

Peter again points to what 'all His holy prophets have spoken since the world began' as being fulfilled ON ISRAEL (vs 23 and 25-26) and IN THESE DAYS (vs 24) The comments are NOT addressed to New Covenant believers or to events occurring 2000 years later. The apostles KNEW what these old covenant scriptures referred to as Jesus had shown them (Luke 24:27 and 45) ... they were certainly not mistaken about the imminence if one believes the scriptures.

Please also note how powerfully this event is confirmed In Acts 10:44-47 and 11:14-18 as a fulfillment of prophecies about the New Covenant being one in which Gentiles also would receive the Holy Spirit and become worshippers of God. 

 

Acts 4:28 "to do whatever Your hand and Your purpose determined before to be done"

The plan was specified as being upon Israel (vs 31) as spelled out in Daniel 9:24-27 and the DETERMINED or appointed time was AD70 when all the prophecied events were historically fulfilled.

 

Acts 7:55  (Stephen speaking to the high priest)...  "Look! I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God"

Stephen tells the Jewish leaders that Jesus who they killed is now the fulfillment of Daniel 7:13-14. The reference to Jesus standing comes from Is 3:13-14 and the context is the Lord arising for the coming judgment of Israel and its leaders which would involve a fiery judgment of Jerusalem (Is 4:4 and 5:3). 

 

Acts 9:15  (Jesus to Ananias about Saul)...  "Go, for he is a chosen vessel of Mine to bear My name before the Gentiles..."

The end of the Old Covenant was also to be signified by the gospel of the New Covenant being extended to the Gentiles (Is 60:3 & 66:23, Hos 2:23, Amos 9:11-12). This is thought to have happened somewhere between AD46-50.  

 

Acts 17:31  (Paul preaching to the the Athenians)...  " ... for He has appointed a day on which He will (mellei - is about to) judge the world in righteousness by the Man whom He has ordained".

Paul circa AD55 tells the Athenians of the coming judgment which he says was about to come on the world ... as per Daniel 9:24-27. This still would be within the generation that Jesus warned and certainly is not speaking of a  future event some 2000 years later.

 

Acts 24:15  (Paul preaching before Felix)...  " ... for I have hope in God .... that there will (mellei - is about to) be a resurrection of the dead, both the just and the unjust".

Paul circa AD55 tells the Felix of the soon coming resurrection which was to precede the judgment ... as per Daniel 12:1-3. This still would be within the lifetime of the generation that Jesus warned (Mat 25:31-32 and 46).

 

Acts 24:25  (Paul preaching to Felix)...  " ... as he reasoned about righteousness, ... the judgment (mellei - about) to come, Felix became afraid."

Paul in about AD55 tells the Felix of the soon coming judgment ... He would not have been afraid of an event which would not have been coming in HIS lifetime.

 

Rom 2:5  (Paul preaching)...  " ... you are treasuring up for yourself wrath in the day of wrath and the revelation of the righteous judgment of God."

Paul tells those under the Law of Moses who he is preaching to that THEY are going to face the day of wrath. 

 

Rom 8:18  ...  " For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall (Mellei - is about to) be revealed in us."

Paul circa AD55, tells the believers that they were going through the persecution which Jesus had said was coming before the end of the age (Mat 24:3). The glory about to be revealed is described in Mat 24:31 which was to occur before their generation passed away. (Mat 24:34).

 

Rom 8:19  ...  " For the earnest expectation of the creation EAGERLY waits for the revealing of the sons of God."

Paul circa AD55, tells the Jewish believers that the Old Covenant (i.e. 'creation' - 2 Cor 5:17) was about to be replaced by the New Covenant in which believers would be revealed to be 'sons of God' (Rev 3:9) (1 John 3:2). This promise was expected to be fulfilled SOON ... hence it was eagerly awaited.

'for the creation was subjected to futility'    Paul tells us in Rom 3:20 'by the works of the law no flesh shall be justified in His sight, for by the Law comes the knowledge of sin'. (see also vs 25)

'the creation itself will be delivered from the bondage of corruption'   Jewish believers still under the bondage of the Law would redeemed from curse of the Law.... and come to enjoy 'the glorious liberty of the children of God' ... rather than doing religion they would come to experience eternal life and righteousness and an intimate walk with their Father God .

 

Rom 9:22  ...  "God endured with much longsuffering, the vessels of wrath prepared for destruction."

This was the destruction prophecied by Daniel and Jesus to be fulfilled before AD73.

 

Rom 9:27 (Paul quoting Is 10:22-23)...  "though the number of the children of Israel be as the sand of the sea, the remnant shall be saved."

This was fulfilled when 90,000 believers fled Jerusalem in AD70 and 1.1 million Jews were slaughtered and another 90,000 taken into slavery. (Rom 11:4-5)  All Israel being saved in Rom 11:25 refers to all BELIEVING Israel...i.e. the remnant. 

 

Rom 13:11-12  ...  "knowing the time that NOW it is high time to awake out of sleep, for our salvation is nearer than when we first believed. The night is far spent and the day is at hand."

Paul says this circa AD55-57 to prepare the church for the coming judgment of AD70 which was rapidly coming closer.

 

Rom 16:20  ...  "And the God of peace will crush Satan under your feet shortly."

This was to console believers who were being persecuted because of the Jews. (Rev 3:9). This was to be in their lifetimes ...and soon  .... or Paul's words would not have been any consolation to the Roman church.

 

1 Cor 1:7-8  ...  "so that YOU eagerly waiting for the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ ...who will confirm YOU to the end, that YOU may be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ." 

Circa AD55 the Corinthian church was eagerly waiting for this event. The revelation of Jesus is what the book of Revelations is all about....and this was the END which as prophecied by Daniel and Jesus was be fulfilled before AD73.

 

1 Cor 7:31  ...  "for the form of this world is passing away." 

Circa AD55 the Paul reminds the Corinthian church Old Covenant religious system was in the process of 'passing away' (Heb 8:13). Believers would soon no longer go to Jerusalem to worship but would all worship the Father in spirit and in truth (John 4:23-24).

 

1 Cor 10:11  ...  "Now all these things happened to them as example and they were written for our admonition, UPON WHOM the end of the ages have come." 

Circa AD55 the Paul emphatically tells the Corintian church that the the ends of the ages HAD come upon THEM. This cannot be something applicable to us today.

 

1 Cor 15:22-24  ...  "even so in Christ all shall be made alive.... those who are Christ's at His coming. Then comes the END when He delivers the kingdom to God the Father." 

Circa AD55 the Paul reminds the Corinthian church what Jesus had taught in Mat 24:30-31. This was the END of the AGE which Jesus addressed  in Mat 24:1-3 (aionos) not the end of the world (cosmos).

 

1 Cor 15:51-52  ...  "Behold I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed. At the last trumpet the dead will be raised incorruptible and we shall be changed." 

Here Paul again reminds the Corinthian church about what Jesus had taught in Mat 24:30-31. Those who had died in faith would be raised at Christ's coming. BUT those who were still alive (the WE who Paul was addressing and those from the generation Jesus addressed in Mat 24:34) would be changed. They would be brought from being under the Law which caused death (vs 56) into the fullness of the covenant and receive eternal life (vs 53).

 

1 Cor 16:22  ...  "Maranatha... Our Lord COME!." 

This is an exclamation of the approaching and soon coming divine judgment they were expectantly waiting to see in their lives.

 

2 Cor 3:11  ...  "what is passing away was glorious, what remains is much more glorious." 

Paul tells the believers in Corinth circa AD 55 that the Law was already in the process of passing away ... and that when this was completed (i.e. at the destruction of the temple Heb 8:13) ... they would experience the glorious fullness of the New Covenant (vs 18).

 

Gal 1:4  ...  "(Jesus Christ) ...who gave Himself to deliver us from this present evil age." 

Paul tells the believers in Galatia circa AD 55 that they would be delivered from this present age which was the age of the Law (Mat 24:3, Gal  3:10-13, John 1:17). This was concluded at the destruction of the temple. Paul tells us that THEY, through the Spirit were at that time still EAGERLY waiting for the hope of righteousness which the New Covenant provided (Gal 5:5). (refer also 1 Pet 3:14)

 

Gal 4:4-5  ...  " But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, under the Law to redeem those UNDER THE LAW that we might receive the adoption as sons." 

Paul tells the believers in Galatia circa AD 55 that the appointed time spoken of by Daniel (Dan 9:24) HAD started when Jesus was born. The 'seventy weeks' was completed with the destruction of the temple. Paul tells us that the Jewish believers (i.e. WE ... those under the Law) were still waiting to receive 'the adoption as sons'.  This is what Jesus said was coming before AD 73 (Luke 21:28 and 32) 'look up,... for your redemption draws near'. (See also Rom 8:19, 23).

 

Phil 1:6  ...  "...He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ." 

Paul tells the believers in Philippi circa AD 60 that they would be perfected at the soon coming Day of the Lord. From then onwards they would be living in new heavens and a new earth (i.e. the New Covenant) in which righteousness dwells. (1 Pet 3:13)

 

Phil 3:20  ...  "...we also EAGERLY wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ." 

Paul tells the believers in Philippi circa AD 60 that they were to EAGERLY wait ... this describes a soon coming event.

 

Phil 4:5  ...  "The Lord is AT HAND." 

Paul tells the believers in Philippi circa AD 60 that the coming of the Lord was imminent.

 

Col 3:4  ...  "When Christ who is our life appears, then you will also appear with Him in glory." 

Paul tells the believers in Colossi circa AD 60 that the coming of they would see Christ appearing.

 

Col 3:6  ...  "the wrath of God is coming upon the sons of disobedience." 

Paul tells the believers in Colossi circa AD 60 that the coming of the Lord was imminent.

 

1 Thes 1:10  ...  "to wait for His Son from heaven, whom He raised from the dead, even Jesus who delivers us from the wrath to come." 

Paul tells the believers in Thessalonica circa AD 50 that they were to wait for the coming of the Lord where they would be delivered from the soon coming wrath. (Rev 3:10)

 

1 Thes 2:15  ...  "wrath HAS come upon them to the uttermost." 

Paul tells the believers in Thessalonica circa AD 50 that the very Jews who rejected killed Jesus were under judgment to face God's wrath (Mat 23:32, Luke 11:49-50).

 

1 Thes 4:15-17  ...  "WE who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord ...the Lord Himself will descend from heaven ... then WE who are alive and remain shall be caught up to meet the Lord in the air.... thus shall we always be with the Lord" 

Paul tells the believers in Thessalonica circa AD 50 that they would be alive and remain until the coming of the Lord ... and THEY would be caught up to meet the Lord in the air (the spiritual realm). There is no suggestion of a future rapture some 2000 years later for believers today in these verses.

 

1 Thes 5:4  ...  "But you brethren, are not in darkness, so that this day should overtake you as a thief." 

Paul tells the believers in Thessalonica circa AD 50 that they would not be caught up in the judgment.

 

1 Thes 5:23  ...  "may your whole spirit, soul and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ" 

Paul tells the believers in Thessalonica circa AD 50 that they would be bodily alive until the coming of the Lord.

 

2 Thes 1:5  ...  (God will ) "give you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven" 

Paul tells the believers in Thessalonica circa AD 50 that they receive rest from their persecutors...ie they would be alive until the revelation and or coming of the Lord. They are certainly not still waiting some 2000 years later.

 

2 Thes 2:7 ...  "for the mystery of lawlessness is already at work" 

Paul tells the believers in Thessalonica circa AD 50 that the man of sin was already at work in their lifetime.

 

1 Tim 6:14 ...  "that you keep this commandment, blameless until our Lord Jesus Christ appears." 

Paul tells Timothy that he will be alive at the coming of the Lord.

 

2 Tim 4:1 ...  "the Lord Jesus Christ who will (mello - is about to) judge the living and the dead at His appearing and His kingdom." 

Paul tells Timothy circa AD62-64 that the judgment (Daniel 12:1-3) and the coming of the Lord (Daniel 7:13-14) was about to happen (mello).

 

Titus 2:12-13 ...  "live godly ...in this present age, looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing our great God and Savior Jesus Christ." 

Paul tells Titus circa AD62-64 that the  coming of the Lord was about to happen at the end of the age of the Law which was soon to pass away.

 

Heb 1:1-2  ... "God... has in these LAST DAYS spoken to us by His Son."

The writer confirms in approx AD 60 that they were IN THE LAST days.

 

Heb 6:5  ... "have tasted of the good word of God and the powers of the age  (mello - about) to come."

The writer confirms in approx AD 60 that they had already tasted the powers of the age which was about to come upon them.

 

Heb 6:11  ... "We desire that each one of you show the same diligence .... until the end."

The writer confirms in approx AD 60 that they would see the END which Jesus spoke of in Mat 24:3, 6, &14. (see also Dan 11:40 and 12:1)

 

Heb 8:13  ... "In that He says a New Covenant, He has made the first obsolete."

The writer confirms in approx AD 60 that the passing of the Old Covenant which was made obsolete was near (this was to be verified by the destruction of the temple where Jews were still sacrifuces of bulls and goats).

 

Heb 8:13 (cont) ... "Now what is becoming obsolete and growing old is ready to vanish away."

The writer confirms in approx AD 60 that NOW they had would soon see the Old Covenant as represented by the temple and sacrifices vanish away as happened in AD70.

 

Heb 9:26-28  ... "But now, once at the end of the ages, He has appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself.... To those who eagerly wait for Him, He will appear a second time, apart from sin, for salvation"

The writer confirms in approx AD 60 that they were at the end of the ages (being the age of the patriarchs and the age of the Law)...and that He would appear to those who were EAGERLY awaiting His second coming. 

 

Heb 10:1... "For the law having a shadow of the good things (mello - about) to come."

The writer confirms in approx AD 60 that the New Covenant was, at that time, still about to come. This happened in AD70 when the destruction of the temple ended sacrifices and offerings....and from then on only the sacrifice of Jesus for us matters.

 

Heb 10:25  ... "as you see the Day approaching."

The writer confirms in approx AD 60 that those livng were seeing the day approaching.

 

Heb 10:27  ... "a certain fearful expectation of judgment .... which will (mello - is about to) devour the adveraries"

The writer confirms emphatically in approx AD 60 that in a little while Christ would come in judgemnt of the Jews as per the prophecies of Daniel.

 

Heb 10:37  ... "For yet a (very) little while, and He who is coming will come and will not tarry"

The writer confirms emphatically in approx AD 60 that in a very little while Christ would come.

 

Heb 13:14 ... " we have no continuing city, but we seek the one (mello - about) to come"

The writer confirms in approx AD 60 that they were expecting to see the destruction of Jerusalem just as Jesus had promised would happen in that generation (Mat 23:36-38)... and also looking forward to seeing the city about to come ...  that being the New heavenly Jerusalem (Rev 21:10) ... and also the New Covenant (Gal 4:24-26).

 

James 5:3  ... "You have heaped up treasure in THESE last days"

James confirms in approx AD 60 that they were in the last days.

 

James 5:8  ... "The coming of the Lord is at hand"

James confirms in approx AD 60 that the coming of the Lord was imminent.

 

James 5:9  ... "Behold the Judge is standing at the door"

James confirms in approx AD 60 that Lord was about to come in judgment of apostate Jerusalem.

 

1 Peter 1:5  ... "... kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time."

Peter in approx AD 65 confirms that the coming of the Lord bringing salvation was ready to be revealed.

 

1 Peter 1:13  ... "Gird up your loins of your mind .. rest your hope fully upon the grace that is to be brought to YOU at the revelation of Jesus Christ."

Peter in approx AD 65 tells the church to get ready for the REVELATION (ie coming) of Jesus Christ.

 

1 Peter 4:7  ... "But the end of ALL things is at hand."

Peter in approx AD 65 tells the church to get ready because the End of all things (prophecied) was at hand. (Mat 24:3)

 

1 Peter 4:17  ... "The time has come for the judgment to begin at the house of God."

Peter in approx AD 65 tells the church that the appointed time (kairos)(Dan 9:24) had come for the judgment of Israel and the destruction of the temple.

 

1 John 2:18  ... "Little children, it is the last hour, and as you have heard that the Antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have come, by which we know it is the last hour."

John tells the church in approx AD 65 that they are in the last hour before the appointed time (kairos)(Dan 9:24). The return of Christ (vs 28) and the judgment (4:17) were at hand.

 

Jude 18  ... "they (the apostles) told you that there would be mockers in the last time..."

Jude confirms Peters warning (2 Pet 3:3-4) about mockers/scoffers saying 'where is the promise of His coming' in the last days.

 

The opening and closing chapters of the Book of Revelation are in didactic form  (i.e. not in prophetic apocalyptic language) ... The repeated warnings of the imminence are emphatically literal and literally emphatic.

 

Rev 1:1  ... "The revelation of Jesus Christ which God gave Him to show His servants - things which must shortly take place"

The Father (who alone knew the day and the hour) revealed this information to Jesus ... so that He could show the apostles what was about to happen. This was given to John in AD65-67 ('Before Jerusalem Fell' - Kenneth Gentry).

 

Rev 1:3  ... "Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written in it; for the time is near.'

The 'heads up' was given to the seven churches in Asia minor concerning things THEY were about to face .. and for some the persecution had already commenced. This prophecy has NO relevance to the church anywhere in the world today.

 

Rev 1:7  ... "Behold He is coming with clouds, and every eye will see Him even they who pierced Him. And all the tribes of the earth will mourn because of Him.'

Jesus had promised the chief priests that they THEMSELVES would see him coming as per the vision of Daniel 7:13-14 and mourn (Mt 24:30). This event had to happen before this generation had passed away (Mt 24:34).

 

Rev 1:19  ... "Write the things which you have seen, the things which are, and the things which will (mello - are about to) take place after this.'

Jesus again confirms that the events of the prophecy were are about to take place.

 

Rev 3:10 ... "I will keep you from the hour of trial which shall (mello - is about to) come upon the whole world.'

Jesus again confirms that the tribulation was about to take place.

 

Rev 3:11 ... "Behold, I am coming quickly.'

Jesus again confirms that even His coming was about to take place. The emphasis is not on the speed at which Jesus would be travelling but on the imminence of His coming.

 

Rev 10:6 ... "and he (the angel) swore by Him who lives forever and ever.... that there should be delay NO LONGER.'

The delay on the timing for avenging the martyrs blood spoken of in Rev 6:10-11 was over (Mat 23:29-38). The measure of their guilt was 'filled up'.

 

Rev 22:12 ... "Behold, I am coming quickly.'

Jesus again confirms that these things are about to take place. The emphasis is not on the speed at which Jesus would be travelling but on the imminence of His coming.

 

Rev 22:20 ... "Surely I am coming quickly.'

Jesus again confirms that these things are about to take place. The emphasis is on the imminence of His coming.

 

Could God be any clearer in telling us in the scriptures that Jesus was to come before AD73?

 

(And a challenge to those who say there is still another (second) 'coming of the Lord' which is imminent for us today ..... 

Please list the scriptural passages which in anyway provide support for another return of the Lord to occurr almost 1900 years after the last people in the generation that Jesus said would still be alive to see this event, had passed away.

or  ... Acknowledge (with the same initial reluctance that many have had) ... that 'Preterism' is the only valid scriptural eschatology.)