The simple answer is, Daniel said the Kingdom of God would arrive in the time of the Roman Empire. Most expected a physical kingdom ushered in by the Messiah. But it did not happen. Jesus did not fit the model. So they thought the 70th week must still be future. The last chance for the Messianic Kingdom in Roman times must happen in a future time and place.
This would mean the Roman Empire must appear in the future. And a Temple complete with sacrifices must appear. So Antichrist, not Jesus (as in the LXX) can stop them. But the kingdom came as Daniel said it would.
The reason nearly all missed it is because the Kingdom is spiritual, not physical as once believed. Jesus taught only the born-again can see it which is not true of a physical kingdom. That it is within believers, another impossibility for a physical kingdom. And it is not of this world which makes it impossible before the end of the world. This was a real game-changer because it meant the Old Testament prophecies were not materialistic, but symbolic depicting spiritual realities.
Elijah was now John the Baptist. The Temple is Jesus, the temple made without hands. Ezekiel’s temple is now a symbol of Christ. The animal sacrifices a symbol for Christ’s atonement. And the promise to Abraham realized through the gospel preached to all nations.
So the main split in Christianity remains between those seeking a future physical kingdom of sight. And those who see the kingdom of faith, as viewed in scripture.
This would mean the Roman Empire must appear in the future. And a Temple complete with sacrifices must appear. So Antichrist, not Jesus (as in the LXX) can stop them. But the kingdom came as Daniel said it would.
The reason nearly all missed it is because the Kingdom is spiritual, not physical as once believed. Jesus taught only the born-again can see it which is not true of a physical kingdom. That it is within believers, another impossibility for a physical kingdom. And it is not of this world which makes it impossible before the end of the world. This was a real game-changer because it meant the Old Testament prophecies were not materialistic, but symbolic depicting spiritual realities.
Elijah was now John the Baptist. The Temple is Jesus, the temple made without hands. Ezekiel’s temple is now a symbol of Christ. The animal sacrifices a symbol for Christ’s atonement. And the promise to Abraham realized through the gospel preached to all nations.
So the main split in Christianity remains between those seeking a future physical kingdom of sight. And those who see the kingdom of faith, as viewed in scripture.
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