Signs of God's Coming

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Originally Posted by Aquila

I'll throw a wrench in things here. While I believe the Olivet Disourse covers the events of AD 70, I think Preterists fail to see something very important. Let's look at a part of the Olivet Discourse in Luke,

Luke 21:20-28
{21:20} And when ye shall see Jerusalem compassed with
armies, then know that the desolation thereof is nigh.
{21:21} 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.
{21:22} For these be the days of vengeance, that all things
which are written may be fulfilled. {21:23} 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. {21:24} 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.
{21:25} 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;
{21:26} 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. {21:27} And then shall
they see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and
great glory. {21:28} And when these things begin to come
to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your
redemption draweth nigh.

I believe we see how Jesus warned the disciples that when THEY saw Jerusalem surrounded by armies THEY were to know that it’s desolation was nigh. For this reason Christians fled Jerusalem at the first sight of the Roman armies gathering to surround the city. It’s been said that because they heeded this prophecy not a single Christian perished in the siege of Jerusalem.

But then we read something interesting. Jesus then describes the subsequent events AFTER the siege. Christ states,

“{21:24} 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.”

Jesus states that the surviving inhabitants of Jerusalem would be led away captive into all nations. This is known as the Diaspora. The Jewish survivors were led away captive from Judea and scattered across the Roman Empire. The Jews lived in this exile for nearly 2,000 years. This is why the Jews could be found in Germany and Russian during WWII. Jesus clearly said that this “Diaspora” would last “until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled.” That means that Christ’s words would encompass all of history leading up to the resettlement of Judea by the Jews after the nation of Israel was established in 1948. This would mean that the “times of the Gentiles” began closing in May of 1948.

First of all, it is ironic you base the yet future fulfillment upon Luke 21, since futurists believe Luke 21 was AD70 but Matt 24 is not restricted to AD70.

Anyway, I fail to see the conclusion you are making based upon the above passages. Jesus simply said the Jews would be scattered. What is the point? The duration of the scattering is of no consequence.

Are you saying that after the scattering shall the sun and moon change appearance? Why is not simply saying that the Jews alive at that time would be scattered, and then the celestial phenommenon would occur, which I explained elsewhere was a figure of speech and apocalyptic language for the downfall of a kingdom.

The next statement given by Jesus leads us forward from 1948 to the present day…

{21:25} 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;
{21:26} 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.

Here we are told that from 1948 until the Second Coming we’d see mysterious astrological phenomena,

Why do you insist this is not until 1948 and onward?

Indeed the disciples’ generation saw those things “begin to come to pass” in AD 70, thus fulfilling all written in Luke 21:20-24. However, they are not specifically told here in Luke that they would see the events following the Diaspora leading up to our present day.

But THIS GENERATION refers to people alive at that time.

Luk 21:28 CEV When all of this starts happening, stand up straight and be brave. You will soon be set free.

Jesus told those people ALL those things would occur in their generation. In their lifetimes.