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Your not actually taking Matthew 24 literally are you. Have you heard of something called Hebraic symbolism? Most of the apocalyptic literature in the Bible was written in highly symbolic, figurative and hyperbolic language. It's how the ancient Hebrews liked to write.
I will go over the verses you quoted:
The passing away of Heaven and Earth was the passing away of the Temple. The Temple was seen as a microcosm of the heavenly realm or the universe. Heaven and Earth could also mean the Old Covenant. Both came to an end in 70 AD.
Matthew 24, 29: The Tribulation happened in 70 AD with the destruction of the Temple. The reference to the sun, moon and stars was Hebraic symbolism for the destruction of an empire or nation. In this case it was the destruction of Old Covenant Jerusalem. The sun, moon and stars could be a reference to the Temple which symbolised the the heavenly realm. The Temple was thought to be the dwelling place of God here on earth.
Matthew 24, 30. The sign of the Son of Man in the heavens goes back to the book of Daniel. The Son of Man in Daniel was prophecised to have the same authority as God and was to pass judgement on apostate Old Covenant Jerusalem which was to bring about the end of the Mosaic age (Old Covenant age). To "come on the clouds of heaven" means to come spiritually in judgement. In the Old Testament one nation (Assyrians) were used to pass judgement on the Egyptians who were persecuting God's covernental people, the Hebrews. But God did not physically appears on clouds. It was a spiritual presence. The Son of Man in 70 AD was spiritually present when passing judgement on Old Covenant Jews who were persecuting and killing the early Christians. The sound of a trumpet symbolises judgement. The elect were those 1st century Christians who persevered through the persecutions and the tribulations, had faith in the coming of the Lord, and managed to escape Jerusalem after they remembered what the Lord said about fleeing Jerusalem when the Roman armies approached. The elect, after having fleed Jerusalem went on to establish the Church after they were blessed by the Son of Man.
Matthew 24, 32: This was a parable about what the elect had to look for as the tribulation of 70 AD was approaching.
Matthew 24, 33 This is a warning to be ready for the tribulation of 70 AD.
Matthew 24, 34 This is perhaps the strongest verse that preterism is true. If Christ was crucified in approximately 30 AD, then one generation later (40 years in Hebrew tradition) we end up with 70 AD. The timing was perfect. How could Jesus have known this unless He had devine revelation from God.
Matthew 24, 35. Another verse that I love. Heaven and Earth was the Temple. Destroyed in 70 AD and the words of Christ are still with us today 2000 years later.
Matthew 24 ,36 Jesus is saying He did not know the exact timing of the end of the age (Old Covenant age) but only the Father knows.
Matthew 24, 37 The coming of the Son of Man was to be unexpected, like in the days of Noah.
Matthew 24, 38-39 People were going about their normal business as usual before the wicked were destroyed. In this case it was the Old Covenant Jews who were persecuting the Church that were about to be destroyed in 70 AD.
Matthew 24, 40-41 Some will be killed by the Roman sword and others will be left behind (no, this is NOT the rapture!!!).
Matthew 24, 42. Jesus is telling His elect to be on their guard and look for the signs of His parousia (spiritual presence).
Matthew 24, 43 Jesus symbolises the "thief" and the "master of the house" were the scribes, pharasees and the Sanhedrin in the Temple, which was about to be destroyed. He was going to take the Jewish establishment by surprise.
Matthew 24, 44 The elect were to be on their guard at all times. The Son of Man was coming in judgement against apostate, corrupt, and ungodly Old Covenant Jerusalem, who were going to kill the Saints and were about crucify the Messiah. The result was Jerusalem was demolished. The elect of Christ had faith, received blessings, obeyed Christ, and established the Christian church we have today.
So there you have it! Preterism in a nutshell. I can't go over the verses in Revelation as I am getting repetitive strain injury with all this typing. Preterism is a wonderful concept because it means the victory belongs to Christ and His kingdom had been established whereas you and millions of others are still waiting for something to happen after 2000 years.
I will go over the verses you quoted:
The passing away of Heaven and Earth was the passing away of the Temple. The Temple was seen as a microcosm of the heavenly realm or the universe. Heaven and Earth could also mean the Old Covenant. Both came to an end in 70 AD.
Matthew 24, 29: The Tribulation happened in 70 AD with the destruction of the Temple. The reference to the sun, moon and stars was Hebraic symbolism for the destruction of an empire or nation. In this case it was the destruction of Old Covenant Jerusalem. The sun, moon and stars could be a reference to the Temple which symbolised the the heavenly realm. The Temple was thought to be the dwelling place of God here on earth.
Matthew 24, 30. The sign of the Son of Man in the heavens goes back to the book of Daniel. The Son of Man in Daniel was prophecised to have the same authority as God and was to pass judgement on apostate Old Covenant Jerusalem which was to bring about the end of the Mosaic age (Old Covenant age). To "come on the clouds of heaven" means to come spiritually in judgement. In the Old Testament one nation (Assyrians) were used to pass judgement on the Egyptians who were persecuting God's covernental people, the Hebrews. But God did not physically appears on clouds. It was a spiritual presence. The Son of Man in 70 AD was spiritually present when passing judgement on Old Covenant Jews who were persecuting and killing the early Christians. The sound of a trumpet symbolises judgement. The elect were those 1st century Christians who persevered through the persecutions and the tribulations, had faith in the coming of the Lord, and managed to escape Jerusalem after they remembered what the Lord said about fleeing Jerusalem when the Roman armies approached. The elect, after having fleed Jerusalem went on to establish the Church after they were blessed by the Son of Man.
Matthew 24, 32: This was a parable about what the elect had to look for as the tribulation of 70 AD was approaching.
Matthew 24, 33 This is a warning to be ready for the tribulation of 70 AD.
Matthew 24, 34 This is perhaps the strongest verse that preterism is true. If Christ was crucified in approximately 30 AD, then one generation later (40 years in Hebrew tradition) we end up with 70 AD. The timing was perfect. How could Jesus have known this unless He had devine revelation from God.
Matthew 24, 35. Another verse that I love. Heaven and Earth was the Temple. Destroyed in 70 AD and the words of Christ are still with us today 2000 years later.
Matthew 24 ,36 Jesus is saying He did not know the exact timing of the end of the age (Old Covenant age) but only the Father knows.
Matthew 24, 37 The coming of the Son of Man was to be unexpected, like in the days of Noah.
Matthew 24, 38-39 People were going about their normal business as usual before the wicked were destroyed. In this case it was the Old Covenant Jews who were persecuting the Church that were about to be destroyed in 70 AD.
Matthew 24, 40-41 Some will be killed by the Roman sword and others will be left behind (no, this is NOT the rapture!!!).
Matthew 24, 42. Jesus is telling His elect to be on their guard and look for the signs of His parousia (spiritual presence).
Matthew 24, 43 Jesus symbolises the "thief" and the "master of the house" were the scribes, pharasees and the Sanhedrin in the Temple, which was about to be destroyed. He was going to take the Jewish establishment by surprise.
Matthew 24, 44 The elect were to be on their guard at all times. The Son of Man was coming in judgement against apostate, corrupt, and ungodly Old Covenant Jerusalem, who were going to kill the Saints and were about crucify the Messiah. The result was Jerusalem was demolished. The elect of Christ had faith, received blessings, obeyed Christ, and established the Christian church we have today.
So there you have it! Preterism in a nutshell. I can't go over the verses in Revelation as I am getting repetitive strain injury with all this typing. Preterism is a wonderful concept because it means the victory belongs to Christ and His kingdom had been established whereas you and millions of others are still waiting for something to happen after 2000 years.
