Matthew 24:34 I Don't Understand?

[Dennis1209]

5 hours ago, Riverwalker said:

When I was in my twenties I 2was convince Christ was coming soon

When I was in my thirties I was sure

When I was in my forties I was   pretty sure

When I was in my 50's I was hoping

Now that I am in my 60's I am not sure, and If comes to meet me, or I go to meet Him its all good

There is no way of knowing. but you can keep yourself prepared

Evening there Riverwalker,

Since we're apparently about the same age, I'd like to render my viewpoint...

There's no signs that will precede the Rapture, it can come at any moment. The prophecies given are preceding Jesus 2nd coming and the coming Tribulation. Advanced human technology plays a major role in the end times. When I was in my 30's, 40's and 50's; the Tribulation technology needed was not possible, for instance.

Everyone viewing the "Two witnesses" in Jerusalem in real time was not possible [now live streaming, smart phones, satellites, etc.]. Sending gifts globally celebrating their deaths in a 3.5 day period was not possible [now Amazon, next day air, etc.].

The image of the beast is going to be created by human technology: Revelation 13:14 (KJV) And deceiveth them that dwell on the earth by the means of those miracles which he had power to do in the sight of the beast; saying to them that dwell on the earth, that they should make an image to the beast, which had the wound by a sword, and did live. [This is possible right now].

Controlling all buying and selling globally requires sophisticated technology. You can't hire enough humans to make instant decisions on commerce and distinguishing who worships the Beast and who doesn't. Your computers, smart phones, personal assistants, etc. now utilize artificial intelligence, and it's nearing perfection. 

Turkey and Iran were not long ago friends and allies, that's flip flopped. Russia has never had any historical involvement in the middle east. Now all the players listed in Ezekiel 38: 39: are aligning, have mutual defense treaties or soon will, and are positioned and building up forces on Israel's northern border. I could continue with dozens of other examples but...

The point I wanted to make is, we've never seen a "convergence" of everything prophetic all at once in our lifetime. Even the Pope is hard at work telling lies, promoting socialism and the ecumenical movement that all religions worship the same god, only called by different names in their culture. 

[LadyKay]

Wow. A lot of replies. I will have to take some time to read through them. 

[Justin Adams]

11 hours ago, Your closest friendnt said:

Jesus Christ acted and always will within his authority. 

Matthew 28:18

English Standard Version

18 And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me."

[Starise]

14 hours ago, Whyme said:

This (:

I know it's scholarly and deep but I suggest you read the article I linked. It gives all of the views and why people hold them.

Preterist, futurist, preterist-futurist 

There are inconsistencies in explanation for the first two. The preterist- futurist view is closest to my view. Jesus said certain things would happen in a certain time frame. THEN He says "This generation will not pass or ALL of these things will happen THEN He adds additional info AFTER this then it's a series of things happening at different times NOT necessarily within that original generational timeline.There is also the idea that ,similar to parables, there is another or a dual message.

I don't think we can deny there are similarities to what Christians are going through NOW on earth even though much of the chapter is dedicated to the prophesy underlining the destruction of the temple.

I'm not suggesting the message is cryptic.I am suggesting there's a bigger picture than a limited time slot and a bigger message than only to Jesus disciples at that time.

 

 

 

[Justin Adams]

The following is a quote taken from Foy E. Wallace Jr.’s The Book of Revelation: “In a short and concise Commentary On Revelation published prior to 1885, by Robert Young, author of Young’s Analytical Concordance, he states: “It [the Book of Revelation] was written in Patmos about A.D. 68, whither John had been banished by Domitius Nero, as stated in the title of the Syriac version of the book; and with this concurs the express statement of Irenaeus in A.D. 175, who says it happened in the reign of Domitianou-i.e., Domitius (Nero). Sulpicius, Orosius, etc., stupidly mistaking Domitianou for Domitianikos, supposed Irenaeus to refer to Domitian, A.D. 95, and most succeeding writers have fallen into the same blunder. The internal testimony is wholly in favor of the earlier date.” (Foy E. Wallace, Jr., The Book of Revelation, (Fort Smith, AR: Foy E. Wallace Jr. Publications, 1966), 23-24.)

The following is another quote taken from Albert A. Bell, Jr.’s The Date of John’s Apocalypse: Evidence of Some Roman Historians Reconsidered: “Irenaeus’ statement is the only direct evidence for dating the Apocalypse to 95-6. But ‘second-century traditions about the apostles are demonstrably unreliable’, (Adv. haer. 5. 30, 3. The Greek is preserved in Eus. HE 3. 1) and Irenaeus’ testimony is not without difficulties. (G. B. Caird, The Revelation of St. John the Divine (New York: Harper & Row, 1966), p. 4. A case in point is Irenaeus’ confusion of the apostle James with James, the brother of the Lord (Adv. haer. 3. 12, 14).)  Albert A. Bell also writes, “The fact that all later witnesses to this date seem to derive directly from Irenaeus makes him ‘ of minimal and negative value for determining the original context of the Apocalypse’.” (B. Newman, ‘The fallacy of the Domitian hypothesis’, N.T.S. x (1962-63), 138) If Ireneaus’ testimony is found to be so suspiciously in error in the above mentioned way, why is his testimony regarding the time of composition of Revelation held in such high regard?

[Alive]

20 hours ago, Riverwalker said:

If I have to go out of the bible  to see you making your point.....hard pass

 

But-----it is almost entirely because of Irenaeus that folks accept the late date of Revelation. This is a fact that needs to be considered. And as has been pointed out, Irenaeus was wrong on other points and not inspired as we commonly understand that term. So logic says, you can't have it both ways. Why do you believe Irenaeus?

He is "outside" scripture.

[Riverwalker]

2 hours ago, Alive said:

But-----it is almost entirely because of Irenaeus that folks accept the late date of Revelation. This is a fact that needs to be considered. And as has been pointed out, Irenaeus was wrong on other points and not inspired as we commonly understand that term. So logic says, you can't have it both ways. Why do you believe Irenaeus?

He is "outside" scripture.

I find this kind of evidence to be self fulfilling.  I have an desired goal (preterism) now what evidence can I find to support that? If that was the only thing keeping me from accepting preterism I certainly could not dogmatically say it was wrong.   But the bigger issue here is that Jesus said He would return IMMEDIATELY after the tribulation.  And that I cannot over look

[Justin Adams]

11 minutes ago, Riverwalker said:

He would return IMMEDIATELY after the tribulation.  And that I cannot over look

In typical OT language, clouds and doom etc. He returned and Judged the Jews.

It was a terrible tribulation the like had never happened to the Jews previously.

They would see Him in the clouds and horrors, fires and blood; and look upon whom they had pierced as He wrought vengeance. The Jews went crazy with blood lust and all manner of despicable things happened to them. It was very very nasty!

Read Josephus and especially 6:5:3 and the reports of many about the strange happenings and things they actually saw and reported. John seems to quote Isaiah and other OT prophets when he describes doom and destruction on Jerusalem. It was to the Jews and for the Jews that the Revelation and Daniel books were given. They both contain flowery and hyperbolic language typical of the prophets in the OT.

Scholars say it is the most OT book of the whole bible and there are more requotes of the prophets' doom and gloom that any other book.

There might be a hint of 'end of the world stuff' but it was to the Jews about their 'end of their age' that these books were focussed on.

[Guest kingdombrat]

4 hours ago, Alive said:

But-----it is almost entirely because of Irenaeus that folks accept the late date of Revelation. This is a fact that needs to be considered. And as has been pointed out, Irenaeus was wrong on other points and not inspired as we commonly understand that term. So logic says, you can't have it both ways. Why do you believe Irenaeus?

He is "outside" scripture.

And Josephus convinced his own troops to commit suicide but he cheated ensuring his name would be [LAST].  Then he convinced the last remaining soldier to surrender to Rome.   So you're taking the words of a man who sold out his own people.

 

I don't [solely] believe Irenaeus, I believe John's own Disciples Polycarp {Polycarp's Disciple was Irenaeus},  Ignatius , and Papias.

 

I would like to point out, [everyone knows Polycarp was John's Disciple], but Polycarp was not born till 69 A.D.   So are you proposing Polycarp was john's Disciple at his birth?  Polycarp's own BIRTH [69] A.D. proves John taught him at least 10 maybe 20 years LATER than the year 69 A.D.   And John placed Polycarp as Bishop over the Church of Smyrnia in the first Century.   So, how is John in Patmos and dead before 70 A.D. but able to Disciple Polycarp born in 69 A.D.?

Edited May 8, 2021 by kingdombrat

[Guest kingdombrat]

I would like to point out, [everyone knows Polycarp was John's Disciple], but Polycarp was not born till 69 A.D.   So are you proposing Polycarp was John's Disciple at his birth?  Polycarp's own BIRTH [69] A.D. proves John taught him at least 10 maybe 20 years LATER than the year 69 A.D.   And John placed Polycarp as Bishop over the Church of Smyrnia in the first Century.   So, how is John in Patmos and dead before 70 A.D. but able to Disciple Polycarp born in 69 A.D.?

Edited May 8, 2021 by kingdombrat