That fact presents Christians with a dilemma: If Jesus was wrong in His prediction (as theological liberals have been saying for many years), we have a much bigger problem than an academic theological issue regarding the doctrine of Eschatology
Foreword to What Happened in AD70?
By David Chilton, M.Div., Ph.D.
1996
In this slim volume, Edward E. Stevens clearly and convincingly demonstrates that our Lord Jesus Christ predicted His Return within the lifetime of His first-century hearers. That fact presents Christians with a dilemma: If Jesus was wrong in His prediction (as theological liberals have been saying for many years), we have a much bigger problem than an academic theological issue regarding the doctrine of Eschatology – it means we can’t rely on Jesus for salvation, either! If we can’t trust Jesus in Matthew 24, we certainly can’t trust Him in John 3:16! As a well-known theologian recently said, “If Jesus is a false prophet, my faith is in vain.”
But Mr. Stevens shows that Jesus fulfilled His promise, explicitly and to the letter, in the “great tribulation” of A.D.70, in which God unleashed His covenant wrath against Israel, which had been threatened for centuries throughout the Old Testament Law and Prophets, and specifically applied to first-century Israel in the Gospels and Epistles of the New Testament.
I am particularly impressed by two arguments: First, Stevens provides a chart showing the harmony of Christ’s two separate discourses recorded in Matthew 24 and Luke 17 – demonstrating that any proposed division of Matthew 24 into two different “comings” is illegitimate, nugatory, and gossamer. Scripture foretells a Second Coming (Heb.9:28) – not a third!
Second, Stevens presses Christ’s declaration in Luke 21:22 to its limit: “Jesus said that all Old Testament prophecy would be fulfilled by the time Jerusalem was destroyed.” The more I pondered the awesome implications of Jesus’ words, the more I realized their truly revolutionary significance for eschatology. Without exception, every event foretold by the Biblical prophets was fulfilled within that generation, as Jesus had said (Matt. 16:27-28; 24:34).
Supplementing his Biblical thesis with testimonies from first-century witnesses such as the Jewish historian Josephus, the Roman historian Tacitus, the Talmud, and the fourth-century Christian historian Eusebius, Stevens presents a powerful case that the Second Coming of Jesus Christ occurred in A.D. 70.
David Chilton, M.Div., Ph.D.
Author of three other works on preterist eschatology, available from the same place you obtained this book: Paradise Restored (1985); Days of Vengeance (1987); The Great Tribulation (1987).
(To order a copy of What Happened in AD70?, please visit: International Preterist Association.)
Date: 19 Mar 2005
Time: 20:21:52
One quick comment.
The Apostle John was banished to the Island of Patmos, probably by the Emperor Domitian, a.d. 95 or 96.
When he writes about Christ’s coming (i.e. Rev 22:20 He who testifies to these things says, “Yes, I am coming quickly.” Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.) he writes in the future tense. Not as though it’s already happened. That right there is enough to make me doubt the validity of your statements.
Be extremely careful what you teach. As James 3:1 says: “Let not many of you become teachers, my brethren, knowing that as such we will incur a stricter judgment.”
Both quotes are from the NASB.
Date: 07 Apr 2005
Time: 07:28:51
I respectfully believe your thinking to be profoundly flawed because many your fundamental premises are erroneous. (Surely nothing you haven’t heard before)
I submit just ONE simple example of your flawed thinking…(one of many):
You say that based on Mt. 24: 27 that Jesus already came “invisibly” as the lightning comes in an almost imperceptible way (because of it’s speed it is barely seen, therefore Jesus was not VISIBLY seen).
I suggest that the analogy of the lightning refers NOT TO SPEED (invisibility) but to extreme VISIBILITY.
The Amplified bible clarifies this.
Mat 24:26 So if they say to you, Behold, He is in the wilderness (desert)–do not go out there; if they tell you, Behold, He is in the secret places or inner rooms–do not believe it.
Mat 24:27 For just as the lightning flashes from the east and shines AND IS SEEN as far as the west, so will the coming of the Son of Man be.
Jesus (in verse 26) is stating that his coming will not be done in secret places or in the interior of peoples hearts (inner rooms). He clearly states that in verse 27 that as everyone is able to SEE lightning from the extreme eastern sky to the extreme western sky, that is how openly and extremely VISIBLE the coming of the Son of Man will be. He will return in the same way he ascended…VISIBLY (Acts 1:11)
Based on your conclusions: we are now in the Millennial Kingdom. The reign of peace in which Satan is bound and the nations cannot be deceived (assuming you believe Satan to be a real entity and not just the “concept” of evil…. and assuming that anyone could possibly believe that the nations are not deceived?????). A simple word search of “deceived” in the New Testament shows that deception is the rule of the day in this present age.
Ultimately, of course interpretational errors will not matter because REALITY IS TRUTH. Error can only obscure truth temporarily.
Jesus will yet come to judge the nations while we continue to establish the Kingdom of God in our lives and in those we are able to influence.
Blessings,
CB
Date: 10 Dec 2005
Time: 22:48:58
Amazing! Jesus is quoted as saying that he is coming “quickly” and then the writer of the comment wants you to believe that means more than 2000 years later! Next the writer of the comments says the Revelation was “probably” written in 95 or 96 ad and then proceeds as if it were a fact! Then that writer goes on to quote James 3:1 without observing the “you” in the verse and does hiw own “update” to the 21st century for this one! No wonder the church is in a mess! Same for this other writer… who is the “you” in the verse–them, back then, not some 2,000 years later. Typical futuristic garble-de-gook!
Date: 10 Jan 2006
Time: 11:18:35
I really enjoyed the comments of the last post. I was going to say the same thing. Yet I want to add that yes we are in the Kingdom, The whole Old Testament is about the coming King and His Kingdom. And since Jesus fulfills all the requirements, and now sits at the right hand of the Father on His throne. I would say that the Kingdom is here. Besides the whole New Testament is about Jesus as the one who was to come, the savior who said Himself that He is the one and that the Kingdom was now here. I submit that the reason some can’t see the Kingdom is because it is of a spiritual nature and you would have to have been brought into it by the King Himself, oh wait the bibles says that not me. Oh well I guess just reading the Bible doesn’t help, you would have to have spiritual eyes that see. So there is no point in telling the blind man, why can’t you see.
David McCroskey
Date: 27 Aug 2006
Time: 20:32:12
hi!
could “all prophecies” not be restricted only to those pertaining the destruction of jerusalem, the ending of his covenant with her? isaiah 9:6, zech 14:2ff and a host of others pertaining to the time of the lord’s future coming has not seen fulfillment yet.
take care,
grace
Date: 24 Jun 2007
Time: 08:19:27
For sure, all the so called scholars and theologians never agree. My relationship with God is simply follow Jesus, never mind all these different viewpoints.
Look in your phonebook under churches,see all the steeples, open the door and see all the peoples. None of them agree. Better leave it alone, so called experts of God.
Not men, BUT angels stood by the apostles and told them that Jesus will so come in like manner as they saw him go away.
Jesus will return to earth again.
This is what we wait for; his return, not the latest book with another interpretation of the Bible by a rich preacher.
I truly believe that all the ministers who live high on the hog with offering money, have ministries named after them, publish Bibles with their names on them, telling us what this or that passage means is pride and arrogance and are in serious danger with God.
Their worldly lifestyles and inappropriate dress, their seeing the world on other’s hard earned money, their homes and cars…the list goes on is in no way following the Bible’s message to repent or perish.
Jesus message was simple, REPENT and be saved or go to hell.
The time is now that God is going to bring down what exalts itslef agaisnt him…it is being done when I see people believing a lie that God wants them rich, prosperous and dressed to kill.
It used to be a shame to be a Christian, now it is an honor, and it also means if you’re a movie star, you’re really blessed of God.
The more money you have, the closer you must be to God.
God is way too smart for the preachers and most of them he didn’t call and this is why the world is in the condition it is in now.
God help us all!
Date: 25 Jun 2007
Time: 22:24:18
I was a dispensationalist for years until I started serious study on Eschatology. Including reading Chilton’s books along with J. Stuart Russell’s “The parousia. Even though I don’t consider myself as a “Full Preterist”, as of this time, Though I don’t rule out being one in the future. Some days I am and some days I am not. I slip between being Partial Preterist and a full Preterist. The Scriptures can not be ignored. And the scriptures seem to teach Full Preterism.
Kenny Plummer