I'm afraid we're at odds on this, brother--we'll have to agree to disagree. I think there is some value to what you're saying, and I won't spend time explaining where we agree. But the major point we disagree on--I do believe Jesus was speaking of the generation of his apostles quite literally. There are several reasons for this, but I'm confident you've heard them. I guess your own arguments against this override my arguments for this?
What you are doing is believing and repeating a well known false teaching, which I have contended against for many years. They attempt to do this with the scripture which says, "There be some here who will not taste of death until they see the Son of Man come in His glory," stating this as proof that the Lord returned before those people died. However, they misinterpret that scripture as well, not understanding it.
"Then Jesus told them a parable: “Look at the fig tree and all the trees.
30When they sprout leaves, you can see for yourselves and know that summer is near.
31So also, when you see these things happening, know that the kingdom of God is near.
32Truly I tell you, this generation will not pass away until all these things have happened.
33Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will never pass away."
When you see the trees blossoming = Summer is near
When you see all of these things happening = The end of the age is near
If I was to paraphrase:
"Truly I tell you, this generation (the one where all those events take place) will not pass away
until all these things have happened."
The question of Matt.24 by the disciples was "what will be the sign of your coming and the end of the age." The end of the age is when the Lord visually and physically returns to the earth to bring the age to its end.
As I said, all of the seals, trumpets and bowl judgments mentioned in Revelation, but are not mentioned in detail in Matthew, are also those events which must take place, since the seals, trumpets and bowl judgments must all take place leading up to the Lord's return to the earth to end the age. It's just a matter of considering all of the scriptures together to get the full picture. And I can assure you that the world has not yet seen any of the seals, trumpets and bowl judgments.
The setting up of the abomination is one of those signs that must take place during the generation that Jesus is speaking of, which has not been fulfilled. Nether is the establishment of that seven year covenant with Israel. Furthermore, Jesus quoting of Daniel 9:27 sets the time period as being seven years in length, with the abomination being set up in the middle of the seven years. It is at the end of that seven years when the Lord returns to the earth to end the age.
Another event is the Lord's literal return to the earth, where all those on the earth will mourn when they see the Lord arriving on the clouds of heaven. Surely this has never happened and yet it is a part of those events which must take place.
Therefore, "this generation" is the generation where all of those events will begin to take place within that last seven year period, with Jesus' return to the earth bringing the age to an end.
Yes, the argument is that this is the "worst" punishment in Israel's history--therefore, it has to be worse than the 70 AD catastrophe. But my argument is not this.
well, it should be. What makes it the 'Great Tribulation' is as follows:
* During the first 3 1/2 of the seven year period, Israel will have rebuilt her temple and will have been making sacrifices and offerings.
* In the middle of the seven years, the ruler/antichrist, will put a stop to Israel's worship and will set up that abomination, i.e. that idolatrous object of worship which will be set up in the holy place within the temple. And is when the man of lawlessness/antichrist will stand in the temple proclaiming himself to be God.
* In the middle of the seven years is when the desolation takes place, which is when Israel flees out into the wilderness as described in Matt.24:15-22 and Rev.12:6, 14.
* It is also the time when the beast will make war and conquer the Gentile saints during the last 3 1/2 years (Rev.13:5-7)
* And at the same time that everything else is taking place above, the seals, trumpets and bowl judgments will have been on-going.
In Revelation 1:19, John was told to write:
What you have seen = Everything written from Rev.1:1 to 1:19
What is now = Represented by the letters to the seven churches, which also represents the entire church age
What will take place later = Everything that takes place after the "what is now," i.e. everything that takes place after the church period.
That said, we are still living in the "what is now" portion of what John was told to write. Once the Lord appears in the air and gathers the church, then the "What must take place later" will begin. Regarding this, in Rev.4:1 John hears the voice of the Lord which sounds like a trumpet saying "come up here and I will show you what must take place after this," which is synonymous with "what must take place later." Therefore, everything written after Revelation chapter 4 is yet future, with the majority of the information detailing the time of God's wrath, the Day of the Lord. It is this time of wrath that Jesus is referring to when He says:
"For at that time there will be great tribulation, unmatched from the beginning of the world until now, and never to be seen again. If those days had not been cut short, nobody would be saved. But for the sake of the elect, those days will be cut short."
