Hey Dudley, do a little homework before you challenge an historian.
You don't know that a first century man has to use first century knowledge and terminology to convey his message? Why would a Preterist know that! We are told to watch and be sober throughout the NT. Don't let it fool you.
No, the Thessalonians were told to watch and be sober. Paul was writing to them. Where does Paul tell them that it would be thousands of years that they (or we) would have to wait?
Same goes for Jesus. In Mat 23 & 24 He said He would return to their generation. He said His return was "at the door!!" Did He stand at the door for 2,000 years? Is He still "at the door?" In Rev 1 Jesus tells John that He was showing him things that would "shortly take place" and that "the time is (was) near." John wrote specific messages to 7 specific churches. These messages contained instruction and encouragement and even threats. Why, for events that would not happen for thousands of years? In Rev 22:12 and 20 Jesus says He was coming quickly. On what planet is 2,000 years considered "quick?"
When Jesus answered the question in Mat 24, does He speak of a 2,000 year gap between some things and others? If so, please point it out to me.
I wonder how many wars and rumors of wars there were that passed between 33AD and 70AD where Christ was inspired to say, "but the end is not yet!!
There were a lot of little wars. Study some history. Have you heard about the Roman-Parthian War? How about the revolt of Boudica in Brittan? Do you know anything about the massive civil war in Rome from 68-69 AD, AKA, the "The Year of the Four Emperors?" There was also this little revolt in Israel that began in 66 AD. Maybe you heard about that one? You had two different Roman generals invade Israel, then leave before Titus came in Feb 0070 AD, the end (of Israel) was not yet. There was also a scuffle going on in Egypt prior to this and the Zealots were battling the Syrians in the north and Rome invaded the Transjordan to the east.
I wonder how many nations fought against one another between 33AD and 70AD, how many famine, pestilences, and earthquakes there were in several places in that short amount of time! Do you believe like the fool who tried to tell me that the 'earthquakes' mentioned in verse 7 are "the ground shaking events around 70AD!"
No, they were literal earthquakes and literal famines between 33-70 AD. Have you read the Bible or are you speaking only from Sunday School lessons, things like feeding the 5,000 and turning water into wine?
How did Paul and Silas get out of prison? When did this occur?
Acts 16: 26 Suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken; and immediately all the doors were opened and everyone’s chains were loosed.
Then if you read a little history such as the writings of the first century historian Tacitus we read a description of the conditions in A.D. 51 in Rome:
"This year witnessed many prodigies signs or omens... including repeated earthquakes." Josephus accounts that an earthquake in Judea was such a magnitude that
"the constitution of the universe was confounded for the destruction of men."
He also wrote wrote that earthquakes were
"a common calamity", and indicated that God Himself had brought them about for a special purpose. There were earthquakes in Crete, Smyrna, Miletus, Chios, Samos, Laodicea, Hierapolis, Colosse, Campania, Rome, and Judea. Paul started churches at Colosse and Hierapolis. However, these two cities, along with Laodicea, suffered a great earthquake in approximately A.D. 61. Laodicea was rebuilt soon after the earthquake, but Colosse and Hierapolis were not.
The earthquake at Hierapolis was so destructive that the emperor, in order to relieve the distresses of the inhabitants, remitted its tribute for five years. Both these earthquakes are recorded by Tacitus. There was one also, in the same reign in Crete. This is mentioned by Philostratus, in his Life of Apollonius, who says, that
'there were others at Smyrna, Miletus, Chios, and Samos; in all which places Jews had settled.' In the reign of Nero there was an earthquake at Laodicea. Tacitus records this also.
It is likewise mentioned by Eusebius and Orosius, who add that Hieropolis and Colose, as well as Laodicea, were overthrown by an earthquake. There was also one in Campania in this reign (of this both Tacitus and Seneca speak) and another at Rome in the reign of Galba, recorded by Suetonius; to all which may be added those which happened on that dreadful night. When the Idumeans were excluded from Jerusalem, a short time before the siege commenced. "
A heavy storm (says Josephus) burst on them during the night violent winds arose, accompanied with the most excessive rains and hail, with constant lightnings, most tremendous thunderings, and with dreadful roarings of earthquakes.
Rev 8:5: And there were noises, thunderings, lightnings, and an earthquake.
I would say that the above could be considered, "earthquakes in various places." What say you?
And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many.
I can imagine how many false prophets rose back then to deceive people, esp. during a time of severe Roman persecution. Only a real fool would have proclaimed himself a prophet.
Seriously?!?!? There were a ton of them as I showed you before. Are you even reading anything I write? I'm trying to help you.
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