Bible Talk => Eschatology => Topic started by: RandyPNW on August 07, 2021, 02:45:54 PM
Title: What are the "Last Days?"
Post by: RandyPNW on August 07, 2021, 02:45:54 PM
I heard the term "last days," and see a basic confusion with many who are trying to understand this term. What are the "last days," if they were designated as such in the apostles' time, and are also used for the end of the age?
Really, I think we need to understand that the term often reflects the fall of a civilization, such as when Israel declines as a nation of God, and is close to national judgment. It involves a state of apostasy from the true faith, and is accompanied by an imminent judgment of God against that nation. That is why it is termed "the last days," because a nation is close to coming to an end.
The entire NT era is, as I often point out, a period of "great tribulation" for the Jewish People. In Jesus time, Israel was coming to an end. It was the "last days" for Israel in the present era. They were engaged in the worst kind of apostasy--the rejection of their own Messiah, and the rejection of his eternal atonement for their sins. They were insistent in living in their own sin nature, independent of God, and covering it up with a facade of allegiance to the Law of Moses.
Their judgment would come about 40 years after Jesus was crucified by the Romans, in 70 AD. Clearly, those were the "last days" for Israel, even though there remains a future Hope for Israel, when Messiah returns.
So Israel came into a time of punishment called "the Great Tribulation." They were destroyed as a nation by the Romans, and sent into an age-long exile called the "Jewish Diaspora." Some like to identify the "Great Tribulation" as only 3.5 years at the end of the age, when Antichrist rules, persecutes the Church, and brings all kinds of calamities upon the earth from God.
But the truth is, the "Great Tribulation" began with Israel's "last days," when Israel fell into great apostasy and lawlessness, and came under an age-long period of judgment. During this same period, the Gospel message has been extended to non-Jewish nations, to enable them to learn the same lessons that Israel has learned, with the same results. Nations rise, become Christian, and then they backslide, sin, and come under judgment. Their "last days" ensue.
I hope this helps you understand why, biblically, the "last days" started back in the time of Israel's Roman judgment and continues until today? It isn't just the Rule of Antichrist, or an end-time period in which plagues are sent out into the earth. No, this is an age-long process in which nations hear the Gospel, respond, and then ultimately fall away, with few remaining to be faithful to the Lord.
Title: Re: What are the "Last Days?"
Post by: Not Worthy on August 07, 2021, 03:39:24 PM
Here's a biblical definition of the last days:
"God, who at many times and in many ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, by whom also He made the worlds." (Hebrews 1:1-2)
So the last days does indeed, as you say, span the entire period in-between the ascension of Christ and His appearance in the clouds when He comes to gather His elect.
As far as Tribulation vs the seven last plagues is concerned, no one conflates the tribulation of God's people under the hand of Pharaoh with the plagues that were coming upon Egypt. Everyone knows that the judgment of Pharaoh and his armies was also the deliverance of God's people.
Of all the New Testament references to tribulation, affliction (whatever it's called where it appears), only two of those references are not talking about the tribulation experienced by saints: 2 Thessalonians 1:6 and Romans 2:9.
Even two of the only three verses that link the word megas (great) as an adjective to the word thlipsis (tribulation) are without doubt referring to the tribulation of Christians (Revelation 2:22 and Revelation 7:14). The only other reference to megas thlipsis (great tribulation) is the one found in Matthew 24:21 - and verse 9 of that passage starts talking about the tribulation to be experienced by the saints.
So I think the first step is to realize that it's just as much faulty terminology to call the wrath of God/seven last plagues"the great tribulation". as it is to call the plagues coming upon Egypt "the great tribulation of the Egyptians"
The second step is to understand that Daniel 12:7, Revelation 13:5 and Revelation 11:2 all speak of a period of 3.5 years immediately prior to the Lord's return, when He defeats the beast. I doubt that Daniel 12:7 is not talking about the same beast as Revelation 13:5-7. I also doubt that the 42 months described in-between the sixth and seventh trumpets in Revelation 11:2 is not also talking about the same period.
So I think that the saints are Christians, and Christians will face tribulation at the hand of the beast, just as Israel faced tribulation at the hands of Pharaoh.
I believe that the warning given by the Lord to His saints regarding armies gathering against Jerusalem was given for their benefit, not for the benefit of these, because these would not hear, anyway, since they did not believe:
Luke 21 22 For these are the days of vengeance, that all things which are written may be fulfilled. 23 But woe to those who are with child, and to those suckling in those days! For there shall be great distress in the land and wrath on this people. 24 And they shall fall by the sword's edge. And shall be led away captive into all nations. And Jerusalem shall be trodden down by the nations until the times of the nations is fulfilled.
It all depends on whether or not you regard those who are not in Christ as Israel. Personally, I don't believe God regards the Gentiles who are not genetically descended from Israel and are not in Christ through faith in Christ, as Israel any more than He regards those who are genetic descendants but are not in Christ through faith in Christ as Israel.
I've picked up that most of the few people in this forum disagree with me, if not all, so I'm aware of the fact that my views have already landed me in trouble with some, and possibly will land me in trouble again now.
Title: Re: What are the "Last Days?"
Post by: agnostic on August 07, 2021, 06:01:17 PM
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I heard the term "last days," and see a basic confusion with many who are trying to understand this term. What are the "last days," if they were designated as such in the apostles' time, and are also used for the end of the age?
The apostles believed their time was the end of the age/world. The NT says it bluntly multiple times.
Title: Re: What are the "Last Days?"
Post by: Fenris on August 08, 2021, 12:00:24 AM
Why do Christians feel that they can only justify their own faith by talking about how sinful the Jews are?
Title: Re: What are the "Last Days?"
Post by: Not Worthy on August 08, 2021, 04:15:49 AM
Why do some expect that we should regard the sins of the Jews as more special than the sins of any other nation?
Title: Re: What are the "Last Days?"
Post by: RabbiKnife on August 08, 2021, 09:46:54 AM
Why do Christians feel that they can only justify their own faith by talking about how sinful the Jews are?
The only sins anyone needs to be concerned with are one’s own.
That's right. My sins placed Jesus on the cross, but my home was not destroyed and I was not exiled because of it. So I got off much lighter than those among the Jews who lived 2,000 years ago who had rejected Christ (and we know that it wasn't every Jewish man and woman).
I guess the difference is between who believes and who rejects. Those who believe are given the free gift of eternal Life.
Title: Re: What are the "Last Days?"
Post by: RandyPNW on August 08, 2021, 07:38:47 PM
"God, who at many times and in many ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, by whom also He made the worlds." (Hebrews 1:1-2)
So the last days does indeed, as you say, span the entire period in-between the ascension of Christ and His appearance in the clouds when He comes to gather His elect.
As far as Tribulation vs the seven last plagues is concerned, no one conflates the tribulation of God's people under the hand of Pharaoh with the plagues that were coming upon Egypt. Everyone knows that the judgment of Pharaoh and his armies was also the deliverance of God's people.
Of all the New Testament references to tribulation, affliction (whatever it's called where it appears), only two of those references are not talking about the tribulation experienced by saints: 2 Thessalonians 1:6 and Romans 2:9.
Even two of the only three verses that link the word megas (great) as an adjective to the word thlipsis (tribulation) are without doubt referring to the tribulation of Christians (Revelation 2:22 and Revelation 7:14). The only other reference to megas thlipsis (great tribulation) is the one found in Matthew 24:21 - and verse 9 of that passage starts talking about the tribulation to be experienced by the saints.
So I think the first step is to realize that it's just as much faulty terminology to call the wrath of God/seven last plagues"the great tribulation". as it is to call the plagues coming upon Egypt "the great tribulation of the Egyptians"
The second step is to understand that Daniel 12:7, Revelation 13:5 and Revelation 11:2 all speak of a period of 3.5 years immediately prior to the Lord's return, when He defeats the beast. I doubt that Daniel 12:7 is not talking about the same beast as Revelation 13:5-7. I also doubt that the 42 months described in-between the sixth and seventh trumpets in Revelation 11:2 is not also talking about the same period.
So I think that the saints are Christians, and Christians will face tribulation at the hand of the beast, just as Israel faced tribulation at the hands of Pharaoh.
I believe that the warning given by the Lord to His saints regarding armies gathering against Jerusalem was given for their benefit, not for the benefit of these, because these would not hear, anyway, since they did not believe:
Luke 21 22 For these are the days of vengeance, that all things which are written may be fulfilled. 23 But woe to those who are with child, and to those suckling in those days! For there shall be great distress in the land and wrath on this people. 24 And they shall fall by the sword's edge. And shall be led away captive into all nations. And Jerusalem shall be trodden down by the nations until the times of the nations is fulfilled.
It all depends on whether or not you regard those who are not in Christ as Israel. Personally, I don't believe God regards the Gentiles who are not genetically descended from Israel and are not in Christ through faith in Christ, as Israel any more than He regards those who are genetic descendants but are not in Christ through faith in Christ as Israel.
I've picked up that most of the few people in this forum disagree with me, if not all, so I'm aware of the fact that my views have already landed me in trouble with some, and possibly will land me in trouble again now.
I don't have a problem with anybody stating their honest view, as long as they do is respectfully. WE all have a hard time doing that, though. There are a number of different issues you raise, but for now, I'd just like to focus on what the "Great Tribulation" is. Here is what I wrote to my brother:
Good points. These are two of the major sticking points I get when I share my view on the forums. The "Tribulation," if depicted as a "punishment," doesn't seem to fit the Church. And the "Tribulation" seems to fit a particularly terrible event, as opposed to a long exile.
I had the same issues, I'm sure. What prompted me to take the position I do now is simply Jesus' exact wording, that this is a severe tribulation and it is a Jewish punishment. So regardless of whether it is a punishment to the Church, it is in fact a punishment to the Jews. And even though the Tribulation is severe, the severity can be looked at not just as an isolated event, but also as the severity associated with the longest punishment in Israel's history, a severity associated with the danger of eternal abandonment by God.
What made this so difficult for me is that nobody seemed to share my view, and that's a red flag. Normally, I find a major stream in Christian history that carries a belief that I will embrace, because it is nonsensical to think God will establish a doctrine and nobody understand it or embrace it!
It's either that or what is believed can be viewed as of minor importance, and can be explained as being eclipsed by other more important agendas at different historical moments. In this case, I couldn't deny what Jesus said, and that is all important. So I figured that importance of the doctrine was likely eclipsed by other more important emphases in history until later. (I can explain this later. It has to do with the historical dominance of Amillennialism and with Premillennial Dispensationalism.)
Fact #1: Jesus called this a Jewish punishment.
Luke 21.22 For this is the time of punishment in fulfillment of all that has been written. 23 How dreadful it will be in those days for pregnant women and nursing mothers! There will be great distress in the land and wrath against this people.
It may be that we have falsely applied this Tribulation to the Church in the same way that it is applied to the Jewish People. It may be that the Tribulation has one kind of application to the unbelieving Jews, and a different kind of application to believing Jews? (This period, after all, is still focused only on the Jewish People.)
Jesus said the unbelieving Jews would be punished with the destruction of their city, the destruction of their temple, and with exile. The believing Jews would suffer in the same way that Jeremiah suffered when Babylon defeated Jerusalem. He was not the object of God's wrath, but rather, a victim of the sin of his society--a "martyr," as you will.
So, the "Tribulation" has a different effect on the believing Jews, as opposed to the unbelieving Jews. And yet they are all one people, suffering the destruction of their nation due to what the majority of the nation has done in rejecting Messiah. This would explain the difference between how unbelieving Jews and the Church should view this. One is a warning to repent to avoid judgment, and the other is warning to expect opposition to righteous living.
It is all Tribulation designed to afflict a society, whose majority has turned against God. As such, it may apply equally to Christian nations that backslide as to Israel, as it backslid in the time of Jesus. Although Jesus said this at a time when Israel still was the only chosen nation, Matthew, Mark, and Luke wrote the account for the Church, to learn from Jesus' message to Israel, which at the time had included both believing and unbelieving Jews.
As to the matter of the severity of the Tribulation, whether it was a limited episode or severe because of its long duration we have to look at more scattered facts, as well as fact #2.
Fact #2: Jesus said this Jewish Tribulation included the destruction of Jerusalem, the temple, a dispersion, and an age-long exile.
Since this Tribulation seems to encompass the entire NT age, the severity seems to have to due with the duration of Israel's exile, and the danger of extinction associated with it. Earlier exiles had been specifically counted for length of time, eg the 40 years in the Wilderness and the 70 years of Babylonian Captivity. Here, we have Jesus expressing this exile as *age-long.*
(Since this is Israel's final punishment in history, I call this exile the "Last Days." And it would mean that the "Last Days" incorporates both the time of Israel's fall and the entire age-long exile of Israel. Since these terms, "Last Days" and "Tribulation" were used by Jesus in the OT era, they had a particular emphasis on Israel's history. They apply to the Church by way of *example,* and not directly, in my view.)
Luke 21.24 They will fall by the sword and will be taken as prisoners to all the nations. Jerusalem will be trampled on by the Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled.
Although Jerusalem seemed to stop being trampled in 1967, as indicated by Hal Lindsey, in reality Jerusalem is still divided and therefore "trampled." I think Jesus was referring to the end of the age as the date when Jerusalem's "trampling" will be ended.
So these are my reasons, and they are based strictly on what Jesus said. I realize that everybody bases their beliefs on what Jesus said! ;) But nevertheless, without trying to coerce agreement from anybody, I'm just trying to satisfy my own conscience, regardless of whether anybody agrees, until God corrects me.
Title: Re: What are the "Last Days?"
Post by: RandyPNW on August 08, 2021, 07:44:38 PM
I heard the term "last days," and see a basic confusion with many who are trying to understand this term. What are the "last days," if they were designated as such in the apostles' time, and are also used for the end of the age?
The apostles believed their time was the end of the age/world. The NT says it bluntly multiple times.
I do think that some sort of folded time up like an accordian and saw the "Last Days" as happening pretty quickly, perhaps even during the ancient Roman Empire. Some, however, interpreted the 4th Kingdom of Dan 2 and 7 as indicative of an empire that is broken up into 10 kingdoms, headed by the Antichrist. They obviously would not have expected the end to happen imminently, since Antichrist's coalition had to take place 1st -- see 2 Thes 2.
Some in the Early Church apparently believed in the Millennial Day theory, and also could not have expected an imminent appearance of Christ's Kingdom. Jesus himself seemed to speak against an imminent appearance of his Kingdom--certainly not in his own time!
Luke 19.11 While they were listening to this, he went on to tell them a parable, because he was near Jerusalem and the people thought that the kingdom of God was going to appear at once.
Though it's popular, in some parts, to believe that Jesus' apostles thought the Kingdom was to appear imminently, I don't believe that's true. They want it to appear as if the apostles were foolish, with false expectations, or that Jesus' teaching was flawed. But as you can see, the criticism itself is flawed.
Title: Re: What are the "Last Days?"
Post by: RandyPNW on August 08, 2021, 07:49:48 PM
Why do Christians feel that they can only justify their own faith by talking about how sinful the Jews are?
Remember, friend, that Christians include in their own Bible the Jewish Bible! As such, Israel is viewed as prototypical for all Christian nations. What the Jews have had to learn, the Christian nations have had to learn, as well.
I do not join antiSemites in their hostility towards the Jews. I pray for the prosperity of the Jewish People, believing in their call from God to be restored. Jews who are unworthy of their religion I do not wish to see prospered. But there are many exemplary Jews, and many Jews who are mixed good and bad--I pray for God's love and mercy to draw out the good in these.
In other words, the Jews are like any other cultural group on earth. They deserve God's love and good will. I wish their ethnic group well.
In reality, we are all God's children. It's just that God Himself chose to separate the godly from the ungodly. Can I do any less?
All Jews are not alike. They are not all bad because they follow Judaism. They are bad if they act bad--same as any other group.
Title: Re: What are the "Last Days?"
Post by: RandyPNW on August 08, 2021, 07:52:20 PM
Why do Christians feel that they can only justify their own faith by talking about how sinful the Jews are?
The only sins anyone needs to be concerned with are one’s own.
That's right. My sins placed Jesus on the cross, but my home was not destroyed and I was not exiled because of it. So I got off much lighter than those among the Jews who lived 2,000 years ago who had rejected Christ (and we know that it wasn't every Jewish man and woman).
I guess the difference is between who believes and who rejects. Those who believe are given the free gift of eternal Life.
Actually, the difference is in the magnitude of the sin. Israel sinned as a nation, and therefore were exiled as a nation. And when they sinned, it was great sin, and not little sins.
If we, in Christian nations or in post-Christian nations, turn to wickedness, we also will be punished with destruction and with exile.
If you, as an individual, sin smaller sins, you can, of course, be forgiven. We are disciplined by the Lord daily, as Christians.
But it is a different thing to be part of a nation that is turning away from God. When that nation falls, we, as individuals, will fall with it. But the judgment is not directed against us, any more than God directed the Babylonian Judgment against Jeremiah.
Jesus simply warned believing Jews that they would go through tribulation together with the ungodly nation of Israel, simply because they are members of that nation. But the judgment was not being directed at them.
It is the same thing with those of us in Christian nations who suffer from the calamities falling upon our own ungodly peoples. We simply suffer what may be called "collateral damage."
Actually, it is God's will that we suffer in giving our testimony to show God's love and patience for those who do not deserve His mercy. It shows He's always willing to dispense mercy to the repentant.
Title: Re: What are the "Last Days?"
Post by: RabbiKnife on August 09, 2021, 06:06:24 AM
Exactly what is a "smaller sin"?
Title: Re: What are the "Last Days?"
Post by: Fenris on August 09, 2021, 10:05:49 AM
Why do some expect that we should regard the sins of the Jews as more special than the sins of any other nation?
Why do Christians obsess over the sins of the Jews? I've never heard a Christian say "Man, those Nazis really needed Jesus. Started a war that killed 50 million people, murdered millions of Jews in gas chambers." No, it's always the sins of the Jews that Christians are concerned about. And I think I know why. Because many Christians believe that there's only one sin: the rejection of Jesus. Mass murder? Genocide? Irrelevant. The Jews rejecting Jesus? How sinful!
Title: Re: What are the "Last Days?"
Post by: Fenris on August 09, 2021, 10:09:06 AM
I do think that some sort of folded time up like an accordian and saw the "Last Days" as happening pretty quickly, perhaps even during the ancient Roman Empire.
Since that is what "now," "soon," "near," "at hand," "presently," "upon us," "has come," "no more delay," and "this generation" cumulatively indicate. This idea of a folded accordion -- the analogy I always heard was mountain peaks and valleys, or "gap" theories -- is an after the fact justification for the first century expectations not coming to fruition. The need to explain away the delay of the end times is seen throughout the early centuries until amillennialism became the common view.
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Some, however, interpreted the 4th Kingdom of Dan 2 and 7 as indicative of an empire that is broken up into 10 kingdoms
Not in the apostles' generation, which is what I was referring to. The people after them came up with this view for the same reason as your accordion: to excuse the original expectations not coming to fruition by delaying the time of fulfillment. "We misunderstood all along! Not ten kings, but kingdoms! Much longer time than we thought before!"
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Antichrist's coalition had to take place 1st -- see 2 Thes 2.
This only talks about one man, not ten whole kingdoms. This is part of the original generation I was talking about.
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Some in the Early Church apparently believed in the Millennial Day theory, and also could not have expected an imminent appearance of Christ's Kingdom.
Another view that was invented after the apostles' generation's expectations didn't come to fruition.
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Jesus himself seemed to speak against an imminent appearance of his Kingdom--certainly not in his own time!
Not in his time, but in the lifetime of his apostles. "You won't reach all the cities of Israel before the son of man comes." "Some standing here will not taste death before the son of man comes" "Immediately after the tribulation of those days ... They will see the son of man coming in the clouds ... This generation will not pass away before all these things take place." A dozen new interpretations were invented after these expectations didn't come to fruition, to make them no longer about a first century time frame. (Like the mental gymnastics that go into claiming he was talking about his transfiguration.)
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Though it's popular, in some parts
It's pretty much universally accepted in academic circles. Even among devoted Christians. It's only about identifying what was being said, and not making up new rules of interpretation or wild accusations. "Soon" means "soon," not "well you see there's this cabal of Satan-worshipping university intellectuals who are bent on making accordions look bad..."
Title: Re: What are the "Last Days?"
Post by: Fenris on August 09, 2021, 10:59:19 AM
"last days"
War of Gog and Magog (Ez 38) Jews return to the land of Israel, king of David on the throne (Ez 37, Isaiah 11, Amos 9, Deut 30 and numerous other places) rebuilt temple (Ez 37, Ez 40-48, Is 11 and elsewhere) the nations realize that God sanctifies Israel (Ez 37, Is 53) universal peace and knowledge of God (Is 11 and elsewhere) resurrection of the dead (Is 25, Ez 37, Dan 12).
Title: Re: What are the "Last Days?"
Post by: Not Worthy on August 09, 2021, 12:30:51 PM
Their judgment would come about 40 years after Jesus was crucified by the Romans, in 70 AD. Clearly, those were the "last days" for Israel, even though there remains a future Hope for Israel, when Messiah returns.
I hope this helps you understand why, biblically, the "last days" started back in the time of Israel's Roman judgment and continues until today? It isn't just the Rule of Antichrist, or an end-time period in which plagues are sent out into the earth. No, this is an age-long process in which nations hear the Gospel, respond, and then ultimately fall away, with few remaining to be faithful to the Lord.
The "Tribulation," if depicted as a "punishment," doesn't seem to fit the Church. And the "Tribulation" seems to fit a particularly terrible event, as opposed to a long exile.
Fact #1: Jesus called this a Jewish punishment.
Luke 21.22 For this is the time of punishment in fulfillment of all that has been written. 23 How dreadful it will be in those days for pregnant women and nursing mothers! There will be great distress in the land and wrath against this people.
It may be that we have falsely applied this Tribulation to the Church in the same way that it is applied to the Jewish People. It may be that the Tribulation has one kind of application to the unbelieving Jews, and a different kind of application to believing Jews? (This period, after all, is still focused only on the Jewish People.)
I agree with the basis of your thinking, but I do think that you are failing to make a distinction between the word "tribulation" and the word "wrath". The two are not the same.
"Tribulation" is merely a noun given to the experience of humans whenever we experience a time of great trouble, either as individuals, or as nations, and this is the case whether we be Jews, Christians, or even non-Jews and non-Christians.
A period of tribulation being experienced by any people may or may not be what they are experiencing as a result of God's judgment, God's wrath.
So let's first understand the difference, because I think it's important:
(Greek) orgḗ ("wrath"): properly, desire (as a reaching forth or excitement of the mind), i.e. (by analogy), violent passion (ire, or (justifiable) abhorrence); by implication punishment:--anger, indignation, vengeance, wrath.
The word orgḗ is also used when talking about the seventh bowl of God's wrath coming upon the world in Revelation 16:19: "And the great city came to be into three parts, and the cities of the nations fell. And great Babylon was remembered before God, to give to her the cup of the wine of the anger (thymós) of His wrath (orgḗ)."
thymós: passion (as if breathing hard):--fierceness, indignation, wrath.
The word orgḗ is also found in 1 Thessalonians 5:9: "For God has not appointed us to wrath (orgḗ), but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ."
TRIBULATION
The word tribulation (thlîpsis) is used in Matthew 13:21:"But he has no root in himself, and is temporary. For when tribulation (thlîpsis) or persecution arises on account of the word, he immediately stumbles."
And again in Matthew 24:9: "Then they will deliver you up to tribulation (thlîpsis) and will kill you. And you will be hated of all nations for My name's sake."
And in Revelation 7:14, where it is accompanied with the word mégas (great): "These are the ones who came out of great tribulation and have washed their robes, and have whitened them in the blood of the Lamb."
And in Revelation 2:22: "Behold, I am throwing her into a bed, and those who commit adultery with her into great (mégas) tribulation (thlîpsis), unless they repent of their deeds."
It's also found in Matthew 24:21 "for then shall be great (mégas) tribulation (thlîpsis), such as has not been since the beginning of the world to this time; no, nor ever shall be."
It's also found in many other verses where it's referring to something that either would be, or had become the experience saints, for example in John 16:33: "I have spoken these things to you so that you might have peace in Me. In the world you shall have tribulation (thlîpsis), but be of good cheer. I have overcome the world."
So tribulation is merely a word which describes the experience of humans, whether they be Jews or Gentiles, believers or unbelievers. There is no "once-off" experience of tribulation.
Therefore any period in which Jews have experienced persecution at any time following 70 A.D (pogroms, being expelled from countries, having their goods plundered, and of course, the worst of all - the one that took place during WWII), is a time of tribulation.
The same goes for any period during which Christians have experienced tribulation (Nero, Christians in the former Byzantine Empire during periods of invasion by Islamic armies, etc).
However, there are periods in which the tribulation experienced by any group of people (Jew or Gentile) is so intense as to be called a great (mégas) tribulation (thlîpsis); and the only three times in the New Testament where the word mégas (great) is used as an adjective describing the thlîpsis (tribulation) have already been mentioned in this post. In the case of the Jews, A.D 70 would most certainly have been such a tribulation.
WRATH
God's wrath being poured out upon a people, on the other hand, is also a judgment of God, and we should bear in mind that tribulation when experienced by either Jews or Gentiles, is not necessarily being experienced as a result of God's wrath coming upon them (for example, the tribulation the Christians experienced under the hand of Nero was not God's wrath coming upon them).
God's wrath (i.e judgment) has fallen upon people and nations over the course of human history, but it's not necessarily upon the whole world, for example:
Exodus 15
3 "The LORD is a Man of war; Jehovah is His name. 4 Pharaoh's chariots and his army He has thrown into the sea; his chosen captains also are drowned in the Red Sea. 5 The depths have covered them; they sank into the bottom like a stone. 6 Your right hand, O LORD, has become glorious in power. Your right hand, O LORD, has dashed the enemy in pieces. 7 And in the greatness of Your excellency You have overthrown them that rose up against You. You sent forth Your wrath (Hebrew: chârôn), consuming them like stubble."
chârôn: a burning of anger: - sore {displeasure} fierce ({-ness}) {fury} (fierce) wrath (-ful).
The first time in the Bible that we read about God's judgment coming upon the whole world is in the account of the flood in Genesis, when only the an elect (Noah and his family) were saved. The last time we read about God's wrath coming upon all the rebellious nations of the earth is in the Revelation, when we read about fire coming dowm from heaven and destroying the armies of the rebellious nations who had surrounded the camp of the saints (Revelation 20:9).
The next time we read about God's wrath coming upon the nations is in the seven last plagues or bowls of God's wrath, and it's noteworthy that only the seventh bowl uses the word orgḗ:
"And the great city came to be into three parts, and the cities of the nations fell. And great Babylon was remembered before God, to give to her the cup of the wine of the anger (thymós) of His wrath (orgḗ)." (Revelation 16:19).
Now let's trace this backwards to the time Israel wandered in the wilderness for 40 years following their deliverance from Egypt:
The final plague that came upon Egypt which caused Pharaoh to let God's people go, was the death of the first-born in Egypt, and the Passover lamb is what saved the Jews from this fate, which is remembered every year at the Feast of Passover by Jews to this day.
Hebrews 3:
7 "Therefore, as the Holy Spirit says, "Today if you will hear His voice, 8 do not harden your hearts, as in the provocation, in the day of temptation in the wilderness, 9 when your fathers tempted Me, proved Me, and saw My works forty years."
17 "But with whom was He grieved forty years? Was it not with those who had sinned, whose carcasses fell in the wilderness?" 18 "And to whom did He swear that they should not enter into His rest, but to those who did not believe? 19 So we see that they could not enter in because of unbelief."
With the exception of Joshua and Caleb, the entire generation that had been delivered out of Egypt perished in the wildreness, without every entering the promised land.
Their judgment would come about 40 years after Jesus was crucified by the Romans, in 70 AD. Clearly, those were the "last days" for Israel, even though there remains a future Hope for Israel, when Messiah returns.
Earlier exiles had been specifically counted for length of time, eg the 40 years in the Wilderness and the 70 years of Babylonian Captivity. Here, we have Jesus expressing this exile as *age-long.*
Notice the Greek words used below:
Luke 21 22 For these are the days of vengeance (ekdíkēsis) , that all things which are written may be fulfilled. 23 But woe to those who are with child, and to those suckling in those days! For there shall be great distress (anánkē) in the land and wrath (orgḗ) on this people. 24 And they shall fall by the sword's edge. And shall be led away captive into all nations. And Jerusalem shall be trodden down by the nations until the times of the nations is fulfilled.
ekdíkēsis: vindication, retribution:--(a-, re-)venge(-ance), punishment. anánkē: constraint (literally or figuratively); by implication, distress:--distress, must needs, (of) necessity(-sary), needeth, needful. orgḗ ("wrath"): properly, desire (as a reaching forth or excitement of the mind), i.e. (by analogy), violent passion (ire, or (justifiable) abhorrence); by implication punishment:--anger, indignation, vengeance, wrath.
So even though A.D 70 was a time of great tribulation for the Jews (as was 1937-1945), and even though both Jews and Gentiles have experienced periods of tribulation in the world, nevertheless A.D 70 was it was a judgment - a judgment that can only come to an end this way:
Romans 11 23 "And those also, if they do not continue in unbelief, will be grafted in. For God is able to graft them in again."
There is a lot more that needs to be said about Romans 11, but this post is to point out that A.D 70 was not merely a great tribulation for (those genetically decended of) Israel who rejected Christ - it was indeed, a judgment that had come upon the nation - a judgment which, I believe, will indeed be reversed (if and when) they say, "Blessed is He who comes in the name of the LORD":
Matthew 23 38 "Behold, your house is left to you desolate. 39 For I say to you, You shall not see Me from now on until you say, "Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord."
Because, as Paul said,
Romans 11 28 "Indeed as regards the gospel, they are enemies for your sakes. But as regards the election, they are beloved for the fathers' sakes. 29 For the free gifts and calling of God are without repentance."
Note that Paul does not say, "as regards the election, they are SAVED for the fathers' sakes". He says they are BELOVED for the fathers' sakes.
Tribulation and judgment are not the same thing. Tribulation, on one hand, and wrath coming upon any people as a result of God's judgment (such as upon Pharaoh and his armies) on the other hand, are not the same thing.
Both Jews and Christians have experienced tribulation at various times and in various places since A.D 70, as have non-Jews and non-Christians (because tribulation is merely a word decscribing an experience of intense trouble, whereas as wrath comes upon a people as a result of God's judgment), and both Jews and Gentiles will no doubt continue to experience tribulation in some form or other, until Christ returns.
ISRAEL AND JUDAH
When God judged the house of Israel, He had mercy upon the house of Judah:
Hosea 1 6b "for I will no more have mercy on the house of Israel. But I will utterly take them away. 7 But I will have mercy on the house of Judah, and will save them by the LORD their God, and will not save them by bow, nor by sword, nor by battle, by horses, nor by horsemen."
Romans 11 30 "For as you also then disbelieved God, but now have been shown mercy through their unbelief, 31 even so these also have not believed now, so that through your mercy they may also obtain mercy. 32 For God has shut up all in unbelief, so that He might show mercy to all."
Romans 9 24 "whom He also called, not only us, of Jews, but also of the nations?
25 As He also says in Hosea, "I will call those not My people, My people; and those not beloved, Beloved." 26 And it shall be, in the place where it was said to them. "You are not My people; there they shall be called sons of the living God." 27 Isaiah also cries concerning Israel, "Though the number of the sons of Israel is as the sands of the sea, a remnant shall be saved. 28 For He is bringing the matter to an end, and cutting short in righteousness, because the Lord will make a short work on the earth." 29 And as Isaiah said before, "Unless the Lord of hosts had left us a seed, we would have been as Sodom, and would have been like Gomorrah."
30 What shall we say then? That the nations, who did not follow after righteousness have taken on righteousness, but a righteousness of faith. 31 But Israel, who followed after a law of righteousness did not arrive at a law of righteousness. 32 Why? Because it was not of faith, but as it were by the works of the Law. For they stumbled at that Stumbling-stone."
JESUS USHERED IN A NEW AGE
When Jesus died and rose again ans ascended in heaven, He brought about a completely new way by which any human can have a relationship with God
THE LAST DAYS FOR ISRAEL AS A SOLELY JEWISH NATION
I do believe that the period between the crucifixion and resurrection and 70 A.D was the last days for Israel consisting of only the house of Judah, and the 40-year period was a trial period, in exactly the same way that the 40 years in the wilderness was.
But at the same time, we have been living in the last days until Christ returns.
Title: Re: What are the "Last Days?"
Post by: Not Worthy on August 09, 2021, 01:04:31 PM
Why do some expect that we should regard the sins of the Jews as more special than the sins of any other nation?
Why do Christians obsess over the sins of the Jews? I've never heard a Christian say "Man, those Nazis really needed Jesus. Started a war that killed 50 million people, murdered millions of Jews in gas chambers." No, it's always the sins of the Jews that Christians are concerned about. And I think I know why. Because many Christians believe that there's only one sin: the rejection of Jesus. Mass murder? Genocide? Irrelevant. The Jews rejecting Jesus? How sinful!
What you claim is not true of me. In my case, it's a false accusation. And if it's not true of me and a false accusation regarding what I think, then it's not true of many other Christians, and a false accusation against many Christians (the way you put all Christians into the same basket).
The Nazis were never God's chosen nation - ever - and we know what the eternal destiny of Hitler was, as well as any German who knew what was going on and supported it and yet did not repent in sackcloth and ashes, so why should we bother ourselves with what happens to them? Their judgment is just.
The Jews, on the other hand, are just like Gentile Christians whose failings and faithfulness are both examples to us, whose history is an example to us, whose patriarchs we look up to and regard as our own, whose Messiah we adore, and whose apostles we hold in the highest esteem.
When we regard the failings of "the Jews" we are looking at what many Christians would have done, were it us. When we regard the faithfulness of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Moses and the prophets, king David and all the faithful Jewish kings & prophets, we are looking to the Jews as an example. When we read the books of the New Testament, we are being taught by Jews about the Messiah we love.
Of course we're obsessed with both the failings and the triumphs, the faith, the falling and the being restored again, of the Jews . When we look at you in the pages of scripture, we see ourselves. You are our mirror.
Why on earth should we be obsessed with the Nazis?
Title: Re: What are the "Last Days?"
Post by: Fenris on August 09, 2021, 01:39:08 PM
What you claim is not true of me. In my case, it's a false accusation. And if it's not true of me and a false accusation regarding what I think, then it's not true of many other Christians, and a false accusation against many Christians (the way you put all Christians into the same basket).
The Nazis were never God's chosen nation - ever - and we know what the eternal destiny of Hitler was, as well as any German who knew what was going on and supported it and yet did not repent in sackcloth and ashes, so why should we bother ourselves with what happens to them? Their judgment is just.
The Jews, on the other hand, are just like Gentile Christians whose failings and faithfulness are both examples to us, whose history is an example to us, whose patriarchs we look up to and regard as our own, whose Messiah we adore, and whose apostles we hold in the highest esteem.
This is just hand waving. If sin is of importance to you, then sin should be discussed. All sin. But all sin doesn't get discussed. There's a weird sort of double standard going on, where the Jews are expected to be perfect and everyone else is free to go about their business.
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Of course we're obsessed with both the failings and the triumphs, the faith, the falling and the being restored again, of the Jews . When we look at you in the pages of scripture, we see ourselves. You are our mirror.
This has not been my observation.
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Why on earth should we be obsessed with the Nazis?
Because there went a people who could use some God in their lives. Unlike the Jews, who have God; maybe not exactly as you would like it, but nevertheless.
Title: Re: What are the "Last Days?"
Post by: Not Worthy on August 09, 2021, 02:07:30 PM
What you claim is not true of me. In my case, it's a false accusation. And if it's not true of me and a false accusation regarding what I think, then it's not true of many other Christians, and a false accusation against many Christians (the way you put all Christians into the same basket).
The Nazis were never God's chosen nation - ever - and we know what the eternal destiny of Hitler was, as well as any German who knew what was going on and supported it and yet did not repent in sackcloth and ashes, so why should we bother ourselves with what happens to them? Their judgment is just.
The Jews, on the other hand, are just like Gentile Christians whose failings and faithfulness are both examples to us, whose history is an example to us, whose patriarchs we look up to and regard as our own, whose Messiah we adore, and whose apostles we hold in the highest esteem.
This is just hand waving. If sin is of importance to you, then sin should be discussed. All sin. But all sin doesn't get discussed. There's a weird sort of double standard going on, where the Jews are expected to be perfect and everyone else is free to go about their business.
Quote
Of course we're obsessed with both the failings and the triumphs, the faith, the falling and the being restored again, of the Jews . When we look at you in the pages of scripture, we see ourselves. You are our mirror.
This has not been my observation.
Quote
Why on earth should we be obsessed with the Nazis?
Because there went a people who could use some God in their lives. Unlike the Jews, who have God; maybe not exactly as you would like it, but nevertheless.
My answer is my answer.
I will admit to you that I have heard many who call themselves Christians who show by the things they say that they have made the grave error of thinking that in God's eyes "Jews bad, so God gave the kingdom to the nations". What they fail to realize, though (even though it stares at them in the face in the scriptures), is that in God's eyes, "Gentiles bad, Jews just as bad", because the Jews and the Gentiles are both equally useless because of the flesh to produce, and consistently produce, God's required standard of righteousness.
God is no respecter of persons. So if any Christian does not understand that when we are looking at the Jews in the pages of scripture, we are seeing ourselves, and that the Jews are our mirror, then they're in for a rude awakening one day.
But, with love and (genuine) respect to you, I will not change my mind because my thoughts and beliefs to do qualify for your pass-mark. Fenris. I'm only interested in if they qualify for remaining in the vine, who is Christ.
Title: Re: What are the "Last Days?"
Post by: RandyPNW on August 09, 2021, 02:09:30 PM
I agree with the basis of your thinking, but I do think that you are failing to make a distinction between the word "tribulation" and the word "wrath". The two are not the same.
There's really no need to compare "tribulation" and "wrath." Obviously, they are different words with their own meaning. But words can mean different things in different contexts.
I'm talking about a specific application in the Olivet Discourse. The period marked from the destruction of the temple to the Coming of Messiah is designated a time of "wrath against the Jewish People," and a time of "great tribulation for the Jewish People."
This was all given specifically to the Jewish People, both believers and unbelievers. Obviously, "wrath" is not coming to believers, but only to unbelievers. But "great tribulation" is happening to both groups, sometimes in the same way, but at other times, in different ways.
Christians are persecuted, whereas the Jewish People as a whole are suffering the loss of their homeland, both believers and unbelievers. Since not all the Jewish People are Christians. And so, not all the Jewish People suffer antiChristian persecution.
Title: Re: What are the "Last Days?"
Post by: RandyPNW on August 09, 2021, 02:12:23 PM
War of Gog and Magog (Ez 38) Jews return to the land of Israel, king of David on the throne (Ez 37, Isaiah 11, Amos 9, Deut 30 and numerous other places) rebuilt temple (Ez 37, Ez 40-48, Is 11 and elsewhere) the nations realize that God sanctifies Israel (Ez 37, Is 53) universal peace and knowledge of God (Is 11 and elsewhere) resurrection of the dead (Is 25, Ez 37, Dan 12).
I agree. This was my whole point, that the Jewish understanding of "last days" has to do with bringing to an end God's wrath against Israel, or bringing to an end the Jewish experience of oppression by the Gentile world.
This introduces the Hope of Israel, in which Israel will "never again" suffer the persecutions of the peoples. Israel will regain its place in history as "God's People," and will enter into glory together with God and with their Messiah.
Where we may or may not agree is on the Christian sense that the "last days" include the time beginning from 70 AD, when Rabbinic Judaism began waiting for Israel's resuscitation. These also were the "last days" to me.
It is Israel's final punishment from God in history. I know you reject any notion that Israel's exile came from rejecting their Messiah. But surely you see the Jewish Diaspora as a divine punishment, and not just a "Job's experience?"
Title: Re: What are the "Last Days?"
Post by: Not Worthy on August 09, 2021, 02:31:20 PM
I agree with the basis of your thinking, but I do think that you are failing to make a distinction between the word "tribulation" and the word "wrath". The two are not the same.
There's really no need to compare "tribulation" and "wrath." Obviously, they are different words with their own meaning. But words can mean different things in different contexts.
I'm talking about a specific application in the Olivet Discourse. The period marked from the destruction of the temple to the Coming of Messiah is designated a time of "wrath against the Jewish People," and a time of "great tribulation for the Jewish People."
This was all given specifically to the Jewish People, both believers and unbelievers. Obviously, "wrath" is not coming to believers, but only to unbelievers. But "great tribulation" is happening to both groups, sometimes in the same way, but at other times, in different ways.
Christians are persecuted, whereas the Jewish People as a whole are suffering the loss of their homeland, both believers and unbelievers. Since not all the Jewish People are Christians. And so, not all the Jewish People suffer antiChristian persecution.
I think there is a need, because I've heard many a Christian completely conflating the two.
I left this out in my last statement in my previous post, and so I had to correct the post:
THE LAST DAYS FOR ISRAEL AS A SOLELY JEWISH NATION
I do believe that the period between the crucifixion and resurrection and 70 A.D was the last days for Israel, but only in terms of the last days of Israel consisting of only the house of Judah, and the 40-year period was a trial period, in exactly the same way that the 40 years in the wilderness was.
But at the same time, we have been living in the last days for the current Age since the ascension, until Christ returns. The final 3.5 years is "the last of the last days".
Title: Re: What are the "Last Days?"
Post by: agnostic on August 09, 2021, 02:32:50 PM
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I will admit to you that I have heard many who call themselves Christians who show by the things they say that they have made the grave error of thinking that in God's eyes "Jews bad, so God gave the kingdom to the nations".
Antisemitism is kind of engrained in Christian theology. Catholic, Calvinist, Pentecostal, "1948 Israel is the chosen nation" pre-trib premil dispensationalism, "post-70 Judaism is apostasy" preterism, "we are the 144,000 Israelites" ascetic Jehovah's Witnesses, prosperity gospel... antisemitism has its claws in all of them to some degree or another.
On this forum, one person has been pushing supersessionist anti-Judaism pretty hard in almost every thread they've participated in. Another outright posted a "Rothschild" conspiracy theory in one thread and "God will cleanse the Jews from the holy land" genocide ideology (in as many words!) in another thread. A third person has made regular comments about "the Jews" and "Judaic misinterpretation". There's only been about eight regularly active people on this forum so far. Subtract the one Jewish user and the one agnostic user... 50% of the Christians here have dabbled in antisemitic language or beliefs.
Unfortunately, antisemitism permeates Christianity, even among those who sincerely don't think of themselves as harboring any disdain or bigotry toward Jews or Judaism.
Title: Re: What are the "Last Days?"
Post by: Not Worthy on August 09, 2021, 02:44:41 PM
War of Gog and Magog (Ez 38) Jews return to the land of Israel, king of David on the throne (Ez 37, Isaiah 11, Amos 9, Deut 30 and numerous other places) rebuilt temple (Ez 37, Ez 40-48, Is 11 and elsewhere) the nations realize that God sanctifies Israel (Ez 37, Is 53) universal peace and knowledge of God (Is 11 and elsewhere) resurrection of the dead (Is 25, Ez 37, Dan 12).
I agree. This was my whole point, that the Jewish understanding of "last days" has to do with bringing to an end God's wrath against Israel, or bringing to an end the Jewish experience of oppression by the Gentile world.
This introduces the Hope of Israel, in which Israel will "never again" suffer the persecutions of the peoples. Israel will regain its place in history as "God's People," and will enter into glory together with God and with their Messiah.
Where we may or may not agree is on the Christian sense that the "last days" include the time beginning from 70 AD, when Rabbinic Judaism began waiting for Israel's resuscitation. These also were the "last days" to me.
It is Israel's final punishment from God in history. I know you reject any notion that Israel's exile came from rejecting their Messiah. But surely you see the Jewish Diaspora as a divine punishment, and not just a "Job's experience?"
I believe there is a "last days" for each Age. Each Age has its own "last days". "The last days" of the old order viz Israel ended in 70 A.D (and, I believe, the crucifixion, and the period between the crucifixion and 70 A.D, was the fulfillment of Daniel 9:26-27). And yes, 70 A.D was judgment upon the part of Israel that had rejected Christ.
Title: Re: What are the "Last Days?"
Post by: Fenris on August 09, 2021, 02:47:10 PM
I agree. This was my whole point, that the Jewish understanding of "last days" has to do with bringing to an end God's wrath against Israel, or bringing to an end the Jewish experience of oppression by the Gentile world.
This introduces the Hope of Israel, in which Israel will "never again" suffer the persecutions of the peoples. Israel will regain its place in history as "God's People," and will enter into glory together with God and with their Messiah.
Where we may or may not agree is on the Christian sense that the "last days" include the time beginning from 70 AD, when Rabbinic Judaism began waiting for Israel's resuscitation. These also were the "last days" to me.
It is Israel's final punishment from God in history. I know you reject any notion that Israel's exile came from rejecting their Messiah. But surely you see the Jewish Diaspora as a divine punishment, and not just a "Job's experience?"
Of course it's a punishment. But we don't see it the way you do. One isn't punished for "rejecting the messiah" since there's no law in the bible that says that one has to "accept the messiah". That's Christian dogma and has nothing to do with Judaism.
Title: Re: What are the "Last Days?"
Post by: Not Worthy on August 09, 2021, 02:59:17 PM
I will admit to you that I have heard many who call themselves Christians who show by the things they say that they have made the grave error of thinking that in God's eyes "Jews bad, so God gave the kingdom to the nations".
Antisemitism is kind of engrained in Christian theology. Catholic, Calvinist,
Pentecostal, "1948 Israel is the chosen nation" pre-trib premil dispensationalism, "post-70 Judaism is apostasy" preterism, "we are the 144,000 Israelites" ascetic Jehovah's Witnesses, prosperity gospel... antisemitism has its claws in all of them to some degree or another.
On this forum, one person has been pushing supersessionist anti-Judaism pretty hard in almost every thread they've participated in. Another outright posted a "Rothschild" conspiracy theory in one thread and "God will cleanse the Jews from the holy land" genocide ideology (in as many words!) in another thread. A third person has made regular comments about "the Jews" and "Judaic misinterpretation". There's only been about eight regularly active people on this forum so far. Subtract the one Jewish user and the one agnostic user... 50% of the Christians here have dabbled in antisemitic language or beliefs.
Unfortunately, antisemitism permeates Christianity, even among those who sincerely don't think of themselves as harboring any disdain or bigotry toward Jews or Judaism.
Judaism is indeed a misinterpretation of the scriptures. There's nothing ant-Semitic in that statement, unless you sneakily and falsely equate Judaism with "the Jews" (i.e "all the Jews, as though there are no Jews who reject the Judaism expressed in the Talmud and in the official literature, synagogues etc).
Judaism is a religion. Jews are people. Most Jews believe the religion of the Rabbis. But not all Jews believe it. None of what you say makes stating the fact that Judaism is a misinterpretation of the scriptures, anti-Semitic. The basis of Judaism is was negated by Jesus and all twelve of His Jewish apostles too.
You can equate Judaism with "the Jews" all you like but you can't ever make it true - the entire New Testament is proof of that, aside from the many Jews who believe in Jesus.
As for the theology of certain churches, a great deal of their theology is as much a misinterpretation of the scriptures as Judaism is. And yes - much of that theology, unlike Judaism, does indeed lead to anti-Semitism.
But when Jews or anyone else goes looking for the anti-Semitism devil under every Christian rock and behind every Christian tree, one feels as though you'd love to get them some counselling.
Title: Re: What are the "Last Days?"
Post by: agnostic on August 09, 2021, 03:27:36 PM
Judaism is indeed a misinterpretation of the scriptures.
Judaism isn't an interpretation. It's a religion, within which many interpretations are offered. Many of those interpretations objectively understand the Old Testament text better than many Christian interpretations.
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There's nothing ant-Semitic in that statement,
Disagreeing with a religion is not antisemitic, no. For example, I don't follow Judaism anymore than I follow Christianity. There is something antisemitic in the statement that God intended to destroy the Jewish religion in year 70.
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The basis of Judaism is was negated by Jesus and all twelve of His Jewish apostles too.
Jesus and his apostles remained Jews, and remain in Judaism. They continued to to keep the commandments and to participate in the temple system, both before and after Jesus died. There is something antisemitic in Christians saying Jesus and the apostles left their religion for a "true Judaism" (or a new religion entirely). It's a denial of the inherent Jewish identity -- not just their ethnicity, but their religion, which in the first century was a key component of Jewish identity -- of those people.
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the entire New Testament is proof of that, aside from the many Jews who believe in Jesus.
The comparatively few Jews who believed in Jesus during the first century continued to participate in the temple system. They didn't see themselves as part of a different religion from Judaism. There is something antisemitic in saying they abandoned a part of their ethnic and cultural identity when, in fact, they never did.
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But when Jews or anyone else goes looking for the anti-Semitism devil under every Christian rock and behind every Christian tree, one feels as though you'd love to get them some counselling.
The religion that ended up covering the world followed after a very supersessionist, antisemitic form of Christianity that came about during the late first and early second centuries. Gentiles with little knowledge of Jewish religion started thinking they knew how to read the Jewish scriptures better than the Jews did... including the Jews who believed Jesus was the messiah. When supersessionist antisemitism has been ingrained in Christian theology from end of the first century all the way until today, it doesn't suddenly disappear because people claim it's not as big of a problem anymore. Three of the six Christians active on this forum (well, two, now that the pro-genocide guy got called out) are examples that antisemitism is still a problem in Christianity. No one's inventing antisemitism under every rock or under every tree... antisemitism is already present enough in saying God tried to destroy their religion, or that Gentiles know the Jewish scriptures better than Jews, etc.
Title: Re: What are the "Last Days?"
Post by: Not Worthy on August 09, 2021, 03:51:58 PM
The religion that ended up covering the world followed after a very supersessionist, antisemitic form of Christianity that came about during the late first and early second centuries. Gentiles with little knowledge of Jewish religion started thinking they knew how to read the Jewish scriptures better than the Jews did... including the Jews who believed Jesus was the messiah. When supersessionist antisemitism has been ingrained in Christian theology from end of the first century all the way until today, it doesn't suddenly disappear because people claim it's not as big of a problem anymore. Three of the six Christians active on this forum (well, two, now that the pro-genocide guy got called out) are examples that antisemitism is still a problem in Christianity. No one's inventing antisemitism under every rock or under every tree... antisemitism is already present enough in saying God tried to destroy their religion, or that Gentiles know the Jewish scriptures better than Jews, etc.
Judaism is no more antisemtic than the teaching of Jesus and His apostles, just because the two reject one another's interpretations of scripture. Jesus most certainly did reject the Pharisees' interpretations of scripture, especially the Law, and they rejected His. The Rabbis and the apostles likewise rejected one another's interpretations of scripture.
I have to grant you one thing though: Only if Jewish people are looking for the anti-Semtic devil under ever Christian rock and behind every Christian bush, would that be understandable. If anyone else who is not Jewish is doing it - whether the person be a "Christian Zionist" or any other - one feels the need to get them some counselling.
BUT if someone goes on and on and on and on in nearly every post about anti-Semitism (i.e Jew hatred or dislike of Jews just because they are Jews), it would make one worry about him too.
Title: Re: What are the "Last Days?"
Post by: Not Worthy on August 09, 2021, 04:02:14 PM
Three of the six Christians active on this forum (well, two, now that the pro-genocide guy got called out) are examples that antisemitism is still a problem in Christianity. No one's inventing antisemitism under every rock or under every tree... antisemitism is already present enough in saying God tried to destroy their religion, or that Gentiles know the Jewish scriptures better than Jews, etc.
Are you one of them, perhaps? Because pretending that you are not, and then going on and on and on in every post about anti-Semitism and making sure you call anti-Semtism out even when it's not there (for example claiming that it's "anti-Semitic" for someone to say that Jesus' apostles did not follow Judaism), is a sure sign that something may be amiss. Anyone who ever wanted to infiltrate any group anywhere would pretend to be intolerant of the things the group is intolerant of.
Your obsession with anti-Semitism and calling people anti-Semitic is indeed very strange.
Title: Re: What are the "Last Days?"
Post by: agnostic on August 09, 2021, 04:08:12 PM
Are you one of them, perhaps? Because pretending that you are not, and then going on and on and on in every post about anti-Semitism and making sure you call anti-Semtism out when it's not there (for example claiming that it's "anti-Semitic" for someone to say that Jesus' apostles did not follow Judaism), is a sure sign that something may be amiss. Anyone who ever wanted to infiltrate any group anywhere would pretend to be intolerant of the things the group is intolerant of.
Your obsession with anti-Semitism and calling people anti-Semitic is indeed very strange.
First the guy who sometimes agrees with Fenris is himself Fenris.
Now the guy who insists "cleanse the Jews from the holy land" is antisemitic is himself antisemitic.
Title: Re: What are the "Last Days?"
Post by: Not Worthy on August 09, 2021, 04:24:34 PM
Christians, remember the warnings and exhortations of the apostles of our Lord:
1 Peter 5:8 "Be sensible and vigilant, because your adversary the Devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking someone he may devour."
Ephesians 6:11-17 11 "Put on the whole armor of God so that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the world's rulers, of the darkness of this age, against spiritual wickedness in high places. 13 Therefore take to yourselves the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. 14 Therefore stand, having your loins girded about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness 15 and your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace. 16 Above all, take the shield of faith, with which you shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. 17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God."
One of the tricks of Satan against the saints, is to falsely accuse them, and wherever possible, he will do so day in and day out. It's only possible when he has someone to do his bidding, of course.
But we must remain aware. And we must not attack one another, falsely accusing one another based solely on the "evidence" of those who would want to bring charges against any of God's elect who may dare disagree with anything they say.
Title: Re: What are the "Last Days?"
Post by: agnostic on August 09, 2021, 04:28:02 PM
When unable to respond to the substance of something another person says, make up lies and conspiracy theories about them, and claim they serve Satan...
Title: Re: What are the "Last Days?"
Post by: Not Worthy on August 09, 2021, 04:44:44 PM
When unable to respond to the substance of something another person says, make up lies and conspiracy theories about them, and claim they serve Satan...
I'm glad you realize how evil it is to go around accusing whoever you please, of anti-Semitism.
Title: Re: What are the "Last Days?"
Post by: agnostic on August 09, 2021, 05:17:12 PM
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I'm glad you realize how evil it is to go around accusing whoever you please, of anti-Semitism.
I didn't "accuse whoever I please." I said antisemitism has been a pervasive issue throughout Christian history and is still found today, which are facts. And I gave examples of it rearing its head here on the forum, such as the guy who posted that God is going to "cleanse the Jews from the holy land" during the end times (which you defended, insisting it was ambiguous and needed to be clarified further, despite it being textbook antisemitic genocide language).
Meanwhile, across two or three threads, you've falsely accused the one Jewish guy here of being an evil, antisemitic, Satan-follower who has a second account where he pretends to be an agnostic. Like... you're unrepentantly making up these brazen lies, but insist it's others who need to follow the rules? I'm baffled by the transparent hypocrisy and gaslighting.
Title: Re: What are the "Last Days?"
Post by: Fenris on August 09, 2021, 05:33:17 PM
Judaism is indeed a misinterpretation of the scriptures.
Actually, Judaism is far closer to the plain text of the bible than Christianity is, as I have repeatedly demonstrated. Christianity hinges on the NT. With it, you have the religion. Without it, you don't. So at worst Judaism is a different interpretation of the scriptures.
Title: Re: What are the "Last Days?"
Post by: Not Worthy on August 09, 2021, 05:34:25 PM
I'm glad you realize how evil it is to go around accusing whoever you please, of anti-Semitism.
I didn't "accuse whoever I please." I said antisemitism has been a pervasive issue throughout Christian history and is still found today, which are facts. And I gave examples of it rearing its head here on the forum, such as the guy who posted that God is going to "cleanse the Jews from the holy land" during the end times (which you defended, insisting it was ambiguous and needed to be clarified further, despite it being textbook antisemitic genocide language).
Meanwhile, across two or three threads, you've falsely accused the one Jewish guy here of being an evil, antisemitic, Satan-follower who has a second account where he pretends to be an agnostic. Like... you're unrepentantly making up these brazen lies, but insist it's others who need to follow the rules? I'm baffled by the transparent hypocrisy and gaslighting.
Are you perhaps a closet anti-Semite? If so, that would explain your obsession with Antisemitism, going on and on (and on) about it post after post, and going around looking for anti-Semites everywhere, and accusing people of Antisemitism, to the point where you even actually count how many people on the board are.Antisemitic.
The same goes for repeatedly talking about someone who was already banned from the board days ago and going on and on (and on) about what he said. It's really odd.
You really need to get your reasons for your obsession with this checked out. You may be trying to suppress your own Antisemitism.
You need to know an individual personally, and really well, before you can know for sure whether the person is Antisemitic. Using shaky criteria like someone saying that the apostles of Jesus did not follow the Law does not suffice.
Did you know that Paul accused Peter of hypocrisy for living like a Gentile and then withdrawing from the table of Gentiles the moment the Jewish party arrived from Jerusalem? What did Paul mean exactly by saying Peter "lived like a Gentile"?
I don't really care about your answer to the question, because your obsession with Antisemitism post after post, to the point of counting how many members of the board are Antisemitic (in your "qualified" opinion), and then going around accusing whoever you please of something as evil as Jew-hatred or dislike of Jews (both are Antisemitism) is clouding your thinking. For your own sake, you need to get your obsession and the reasons for your obsession checked out.
Title: Re: What are the "Last Days?"
Post by: Not Worthy on August 09, 2021, 05:36:21 PM
I'm glad you realize how evil it is to go around accusing whoever you please, of anti-Semitism.
I didn't "accuse whoever I please." I said antisemitism has been a pervasive issue throughout Christian history and is still found today, which are facts. And I gave examples of it rearing its head here on the forum, such as the guy who posted that God is going to "cleanse the Jews from the holy land" during the end times (which you defended, insisting it was ambiguous and needed to be clarified further, despite it being textbook antisemitic genocide language).
Meanwhile, across two or three threads, you've falsely accused the one Jewish guy here of being an evil, antisemitic, Satan-follower who has a second account where he pretends to be an agnostic. Like... you're unrepentantly making up these brazen lies, but insist it's others who need to follow the rules? I'm baffled by the transparent hypocrisy and gaslighting.
Oh, so you're Jewish. I never realized that. My bad.
Title: Re: What are the "Last Days?"
Post by: Not Worthy on August 09, 2021, 05:39:40 PM
Judaism is indeed a misinterpretation of the scriptures.
Actually, Judaism is far closer to the plain text of the bible than Christianity is, as I have repeatedly demonstrated. Christianity hinges on the NT. With it, you have the religion. Without it, you don't. So at worst Judaism is a different interpretation of the scriptures.
Yes. I can live with the word different. The New Testament and Judaism are two different interpretations of the Law and its meaning. No problem with that statement in my book.
Title: Re: What are the "Last Days?"
Post by: RandyPNW on August 10, 2021, 01:20:19 AM
I do think that some sort of folded time up like an accordian and saw the "Last Days" as happening pretty quickly, perhaps even during the ancient Roman Empire.
Since that is what "now," "soon," "near," "at hand," "presently," "upon us," "has come," "no more delay," and "this generation" cumulatively indicate. This idea of a folded accordion -- the analogy I always heard was mountain peaks and valleys, or "gap" theories -- is an after the fact justification for the first century expectations not coming to fruition. The need to explain away the delay of the end times is seen throughout the early centuries until amillennialism became the common view.
On the contrary, I don't lump all those terms together, so I can't possibly be making the argument you're suggesting. Some things did happen relatively imminently, such as the 70 AD catastrophe. Some things were simply "near," such as eternal judgments, which had become immanent with the appearance of Jesus. The relative nearness of the Kingdom is indicated by the fact eternal atonement has already been made available, and by the fact those who reject its testimony place themselves in danger of immediate eternal judgment.
As for how long the NT period would last before Christ's return, Jesus made it clear that we are not to try to calculate times and seasons. Rather, we have to know the imperative that we warn people about Christ being the measure of their eternal judgment.
In his Olivet Discourse, Jesus didn't say that the judgment coming upon Jerusalem would be the end of the age. Rather, he said it would be the beginning of tribulations for the Jewish People. Instead of assuming an imminent end to the age, Jesus predicted the gospel message would be taken into all nations, until it it time for Israel to be restored.
Some, however, interpreted the 4th Kingdom of Dan 2 and 7 as indicative of an empire that is broken up into 10 kingdoms
Not in the apostles' generation, which is what I was referring to. The people after them came up with this view for the same reason as your accordion: to excuse the original expectations not coming to fruition by delaying the time of fulfillment. "We misunderstood all along! Not ten kings, but kingdoms! Much longer time than we thought before!"
No, Jesus told his apostles in his own generation not to be concerned with times and seasons, which includes the duration of time left in the present age, the "last days." They could not have been teaching, therefore, that the end was coming in their own generation.
Some in the Early Church apparently believed in the Millennial Day theory, and also could not have expected an imminent appearance of Christ's Kingdom.
Another view that was invented after the apostles' generation's expectations didn't come to fruition.
You're assuming what you wish to prove, that all the apostles expected Jesus to come back in their lifetimes. But Jesus had already indicated many of them would become martyrs, and certainly they understood that Jerusalem would fall, and after it, a great exile of the Jews would begin.
Jesus himself seemed to speak against an imminent appearance of his Kingdom--certainly not in his own time!
Not in his time, but in the lifetime of his apostles. "You won't reach all the cities of Israel before the son of man comes." "Some standing here will not taste death before the son of man comes" "Immediately after the tribulation of those days ... They will see the son of man coming in the clouds ... This generation will not pass away before all these things take place." A dozen new interpretations were invented after these expectations didn't come to fruition, to make them no longer about a first century time frame. (Like the mental gymnastics that go into claiming he was talking about his transfiguration.)
The Transfiguration is one theory. Another is that Jesus "came" in the sense of bringing a prophesied judgment in 70 AD--not his eschatological coming, but an historical coming in judgment against the Jewish People.
Jesus' coming in the clouds is to be distinguished from your other examples. It is clearly an apocalyptic coming at the end of the age. It is a reference back to Dan 7, where the Son of Man comes to establish God's Kingdom on earth.
It's pretty much universally accepted in academic circles. Even among devoted Christians. It's only about identifying what was being said, and not making up new rules of interpretation or wild accusations. "Soon" means "soon," not "well you see there's this cabal of Satan-worshipping university intellectuals who are bent on making accordions look bad..."
Soon means what it means *in context.* That's the rule in any interpretation. Biblically, "soon" can refer to the next thing after an important event. In this case, Jesus' atonement for sin makes eternal judgment the next big thing. It is "soon" for us all!
Title: Re: What are the "Last Days?"
Post by: Fenris on August 10, 2021, 09:33:27 AM
You're just filling in the blanks and making it up as you go. If something historical happened, then that's the "soon". If nothing historical happened, it means a spiritual or metaphorical "soon" that we can't see or detect.
The other thing is that almost all of the NT was written after the year 70 so those "predictions" were actually past historical events even in those times.
Title: Re: What are the "Last Days?"
Post by: agnostic on August 10, 2021, 11:57:26 AM
On the contrary, I don't lump all those terms together, so I can't possibly be making the argument you're suggesting.
I know you don't read those statements cumulatively. That's what I'm saying the problem is. You're compartmentalizing everything within a single book so that none of it means anything, while freely throwing together pieces of different books to force them to mean something entirely contrary to what the context requires.
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Some things did happen relatively imminently, such as the 70 AD catastrophe. Some things were simply "near,"
"Eternal" means "eternal" except when it's about the Law because you said so. "Soon" means "soon" except when it's about the end times because you said so.
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As for how long the NT period would last before Christ's return, Jesus made it clear that we are not to try to calculate times and seasons.
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No, Jesus told his apostles in his own generation not to be concerned with times and seasons, which includes the duration of time left in the present age, the "last days." They could not have been teaching, therefore, that the end was coming in their own generation.
He literally says "Truly I tell you, this generation will not pass away until all these things have taken place" right after talking his return and the signs that will precede it. This is the exact opposite of what you're claiming. He didn't pin down a day on the calendar for them, but he explicitly says it would "all" be fulfilled in the lifetime of "this generation."
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In his Olivet Discourse, Jesus didn't say that the judgment coming upon Jerusalem would be the end of the age. Rather, he said it would be the beginning of tribulations for the Jewish People.
And the very next things he said were "Immediately after the tribulation of those days" they would see the son of man appearing, and that "all these things" would be fulfilled before "this generation" had passed away. There is no ambiguity. Which generation? His and the apostles' generation, the one alive during "those days". Which days? The days they should pray were "cut short", the days of Jerusalem's defeat by the Romans.
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No, the one man in 2 Thes 2 is a reference to Dan 7, which refers to the "Little Horn" among 10 kings.
2 Thessalonians 2 doesn't mention or reference Daniel, a little horn, or ten kings.
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You're assuming what you wish to prove,
To assume is to accept something as true without evidence. I didn't come to this conclusion by assuming it. Years of study led me to this position. I changed my mind on the basis of evidence: the text, the words used, and the existence of other Jewish end times movements from the time who talked the exact same way.
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that all the apostles expected Jesus to come back in their lifetimes.
They directly say as much.
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But Jesus had already indicated many of them would become martyrs,
Jesus outright says them being martyrs was a sign of the end times. "As for yourselves, beware; for they will hand you over to councils; and you will be beaten in synagogues; and you will stand before governors and kings because of me, as a testimony to them. ... Truly I tell you, this generation will not pass away until all these things have taken place."
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and after it, a great exile of the Jews would begin.
Jesus says the very opposite. Jerusalem will fall, the heavens will be shaken, the son of man will come on the clouds, then he will send out his angels to gather the elect "from the ends of the earth to the ends of heaven." He's referencing Deuteronomy 30:3-4 (his wording is closer to the LXX), which is about the restoration of God's elect, Israel, from their scattering. "Truly I tell you, this generation will not pass away until all these things have taken place."
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The Transfiguration is one theory. Another is that Jesus "came" in the sense of bringing a prophesied judgment in 70 AD--not his eschatological coming, but an historical coming in judgment against the Jewish People.
An invisible, impossible-to-prove-or-disprove "coming" is extremely convenient when the burden of proof is on the person making the claim. It's literally just a Christian saying "That event was his coming because it is because I told you so."
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Soon means what it means *in context.* That's the rule in any interpretation. Biblically, "soon" can refer to the next thing after an important event. In this case, Jesus' atonement for sin makes eternal judgment the next big thing. It is "soon" for us all!
So "soon" means "soon" except for all those times it means "absolutely not soon, actually several thousand years later." You make language mean nothing when you make it mean whatever you want, including the opposite of how everyone uses it.
It strains credulity when the only way to make a claim work is to throw away every dictionary and lexicon and pretend words mean their exact opposite, but conveniently only in the exact occasions you need them to. It's self-serving nihilism. It's exactly the same thing as "it depends on what the meaning of the word 'is' is".
Title: Re: What are the "Last Days?"
Post by: RandyPNW on August 10, 2021, 05:38:19 PM
On the contrary, I don't lump all those terms together, so I can't possibly be making the argument you're suggesting.
I know you don't read those statements cumulatively. That's what I'm saying the problem is. You're compartmentalizing everything within a single book so that none of it means anything, while freely throwing together pieces of different books to force them to mean something entirely contrary to what the context requires.
That's a terribly misconceived notion. To just throw together all sorts of similar words to represent a single theology is on its face absurd, and should never be expected. Anticipation of the fall of Jerusalem in a single generation, and anticipation of the Kingdom of God are two very different things. And similar words describing how we are to anticipate them should not be confused. One had a more immediate expectation, and the other had a more general expectation.
Some things did happen relatively imminently, such as the 70 AD catastrophe. Some things were simply "near,"
"Eternal" means "eternal" except when it's about the Law because you said so. "Soon" means "soon" except when it's about the end times because you said so.
You're attempting to slip in a different conversation. I deal with that in another thread.
No, Jesus told his apostles in his own generation not to be concerned with times and seasons, which includes the duration of time left in the present age, the "last days." They could not have been teaching, therefore, that the end was coming in their own generation.
He literally says "Truly I tell you, this generation will not pass away until all these things have taken place" right after talking his return and the signs that will precede it. This is the exact opposite of what you're claiming. He didn't pin down a day on the calendar for them, but he explicitly says it would "all" be fulfilled in the lifetime of "this generation."
No, here in the Olivet Discourse Jesus was speaking of the 70 AD destruction of the temple, which would happen in one generation. Elsewhere, Jesus was saying that prognosticating about when various events would take place, including the restoration of Israel, was an exercise in futility--God controls those things.
In his Olivet Discourse, Jesus didn't say that the judgment coming upon Jerusalem would be the end of the age. Rather, he said it would be the beginning of tribulations for the Jewish People.
And the very next things he said were "Immediately after the tribulation of those days" they would see the son of man appearing, and that "all these things" would be fulfilled before "this generation" had passed away. There is no ambiguity. Which generation? His and the apostles' generation, the one alive during "those days". Which days? The days they should pray were "cut short", the days of Jerusalem's defeat by the Romans.
You are confusing prophecy of the destruction of Jerusalem, to take place in that generation, with the prophecy of the coming of the Son of Man. There were two questions, and two answers Jesus gave.
No, the one man in 2 Thes 2 is a reference to Dan 7, which refers to the "Little Horn" among 10 kings.
2 Thessalonians 2 doesn't mention or reference Daniel, a little horn, or ten kings.
It did mention that Paul had already addressed it earlier. No mention is really necessary, since there is only one reference to Antichrist in the Jewish Bible, Dan 7.
But Jesus had already indicated many of them would become martyrs,
Jesus outright says them being martyrs was a sign of the end times. "As for yourselves, beware; for they will hand you over to councils; and you will be beaten in synagogues; and you will stand before governors and kings because of me, as a testimony to them. ... Truly I tell you, this generation will not pass away until all these things have taken place."
The endtimes began with the final punishment of God upon Israel, which began in Jesus' generation. The endtimes lasts as long as Israel remains in Diaspora or under siege in their homeland.
and after it, a great exile of the Jews would begin.
Jesus says the very opposite. Jerusalem will fall, the heavens will be shaken, the son of man will come on the clouds, then he will send out his angels to gather the elect "from the ends of the earth to the ends of heaven." He's referencing Deuteronomy 30:3-4 (his wording is closer to the LXX), which is about the restoration of God's elect, Israel, from their scattering. "Truly I tell you, this generation will not pass away until all these things have taken place."
That's a corruption of what Jesus said. He did not say that immediately after Jerusalem's fall (70 AD) that the Son of Man will come. No, he said that after the "great tribulation" associated with the fall of Jerusalem the Son of Man will come.
In other words, there is a "great tribulation" associated with the fall of Jerusalem in 70 AD, which included the Jewish Diaspora of the present age. The Son of Man will only come when the Jewish Diaspora of the present age is ended--certainly *not* right after the 70 AD experience!
You may be taking some of this from Albert Schweitzer, who used these kinds of arguments? He was a questionable theologian and a questionable biblical interpreter. He certainly isn't on my list of "good Christians," except that he was a compassionate man.
The Transfiguration is one theory. Another is that Jesus "came" in the sense of bringing a prophesied judgment in 70 AD--not his eschatological coming, but an historical coming in judgment against the Jewish People.
An invisible, impossible-to-prove-or-disprove "coming" is extremely convenient when the burden of proof is on the person making the claim. It's literally just a Christian saying "That event was his coming because it is because I told you so."
No, I don't think you understand the nuances involved in Jesus speaking of his "coming." He uses it in both an eschatological sense and in the sense of more immediate judgments. You can see the latter in the letters to the 7 churches in the book of Revelation. You can also see it in Luke 17. Reference to his "coming" does not always refer to his eschatological coming. The fact you don't understand that disqualifies you from even framing the argument.
Soon means what it means *in context.* That's the rule in any interpretation. Biblically, "soon" can refer to the next thing after an important event. In this case, Jesus' atonement for sin makes eternal judgment the next big thing. It is "soon" for us all!
So "soon" means "soon" except for all those times it means "absolutely not soon, actually several thousand years later." You make language mean nothing when you make it mean whatever you want, including the opposite of how everyone uses it.
No, as I told you, different words describe different situations. Their similarity with one another should not cause us to confuse the different contexts in use.
It strains credulity when the only way to make a claim work is to throw away every dictionary and lexicon and pretend words mean their exact opposite, but conveniently only in the exact occasions you need them to. It's self-serving nihilism. It's exactly the same thing as "it depends on what the meaning of the word 'is' is".
I don't think you even read the lexicons and dictionaries. You seem to make arguments without even understanding what the arguments are!