Realized Eschatology

The final coming of Christ and the promised

resurrection occurred in A.D. 70

(70 A. D. Doctrine)

Realized EschatologyBasic Position of the A. D. 70

Doctrine• That the final coming of Christ and the

promised resurrection occurred in A. D. 70.

1 Thessalonians 4:16 For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first.

Realized EschatologyBasic Position of the A. D. 70

Doctrine• That the final coming of Christ and the promised resurrection

occurred in A. D. 70.• This doctrine has far-reaching consequences upon the faith of

Christians!

Realized EschatologyBasic Position of the A. D. 70

Doctrine• If True:

– All who hope of a bodily, personal return of Jesus are deceived (1 Thessalonians 4:16)

• If True:– We cannot expect our bodies to be raised to

immortality when Jesus comes (1 Corinthians 15)

Realized EschatologyBasic Position of the A. D. 70

Doctrine• If False:

– Those holding this doctrine have erred and guilty of overthrowing the faith of others

2 Timothy 2:16-18 But shun profane and idle babblings, for they will increase to more ungodliness. 17 And their message will spread like cancer. Hymenaeus and Philetus are of this sort, 18 who have strayed concerning the truth, saying that the resurrection is already past; and they overthrow the faith of some. NKJV

• “Eschatology” – The doctrine of last things. The ideas entertained at any period on the future life, the end of the world (resurrection, judgment) and the eternal destinies of mankind (ISBE, James Orr, II: p. 972)

• “Realized” – signifies accomplishment.

Realized Eschatology:“A Doctrine of Completed Last

Things”

What Is Realized Eschatology

Preterism- is an interpretation of Christian eschatology which holds that most or all of the biblical prophecies concerning the End Times refer to events which have already happened in the first century after Christ’s birth. The system also claims that Ancient Israel finds its continuation or fulfillment in the Christian church at the destruction of Jerusalem in A. D. 70.

What Is Realized Eschatology

The terms, Eschatology, Preterism, and 70 AD Doctrine are sometimes used

interchangeably

What Is Realized Eschatology

Realized Eschatology teaches that according to its

interpretation of the Bible, the end times were realized and

accomplished in A.D. 70 at the destruction of Jerusalem.

What Is Realized Eschatology

1971 version of Max King’s Book, the following is stated:“There is no scriptural basis for extending the second coming of Christ beyond the fall of Judaism” - p. 105“....the end of the Jewish world was the second coming of Christ.” - p. 81“Prophecy found its complete fulfillment in the second coming of Christ, and now may be regarded as closed and consummated.” - p. 65

Max KingMax King, born in 1930, was a minister of churches of Christ for forty years.

• Not in bodily form– Content of Matthew 24 is the destruction of

Jerusalem. He did not appear bodily in A.D. 70 when Jerusalem fell.

– They would discern His presence when this destructive judgment occurred.

• A.D. 70 doctrine teaches:– End of Jewish world was the second coming– Coming of Christ was destruction of

Jerusalem

Did Jesus Come in the First Century After His

Ascension?

“Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.” (Matthew 24:30)

• Matthew 24:30 speaks of His presence in Jerusalem’s judgment. He authorized it, and brought it to pass just as He did on Egypt.

Did Jesus Come in the First Century After His

Ascension?

Isaiah 19:1 The burden against Egypt. Behold, the Lord rides on a swift cloud, and will come into Egypt; The idols of Egypt will totter at His presence, and the heart of Egypt will melt in its midst. NKJV

Matthew 24:30 … and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.

Did Jesus Come in the First Century After His

Ascension?

Isaiah 19:1 The burden against Egypt. Behold, the Lord rides on a swift cloud, and will come into Egypt; The idols of Egypt will totter at His presence, and the heart of Egypt will melt in its midst. NKJV

A.D. 70 doctrine teaches…• Every mention of the “coming of

the Lord” or “day of the Lord” means the same event, regardless of its usage in context

Passages Refuting A.D. 70 Doctrine“coming of the Lord” or “day of the Lord”• Acts 1:9-11; Luke 24:39; 1 Thessalonians

4:16-17– They “saw” his ascension – will return the same way

• 2 Peter 3:5-7, 10-11– The world will one day be destroyed by fire

• John 5:28-29– Graves are literal (proof of spiritual life is the ability

to give physical life (John 11:21-25 – Lazarus)• 1 Corinthians 15

– Teaches a future, bodily resurrection from the dead

Problems Concerning Worship

• The Lord’s Supper– 1 Corinthians 11:26 “proclaim the Lord’s

death until He comes”– As long as Christians are eating the Lord’s

Supper, the Lord has not come.• Singing of Songs (Ephesians 5:19; Colossians 3:16)

– Pertaining to second coming of Christ– Why sing about something that you believe has

already occurred?

Comforting Christians Concerning Christ’s Coming

• Apostle Paul Comforts the Saints 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18– Jesus “Himself” will descend from heaven

•Did NOT happen in A.D. 70– “we will ever be with the Lord” in a

resurrected, changed state•Did NOT happen in A.D. 70

– We can “comfort one another with these words”•No comfort in the words and doctrine of Realized Eschatology

Conclusion• A.D. 70 doctrine provides no final and decisive

solution to the sin problem humanity faces– It presents a world in sin which will forever continue

• The Bible reveals that with the Lord’s return:– This sin-cursed world will be destroyed (2 Peter 3:5-

12)– A new order will take place (2 Peter 3:13)

• Christians should be comforted in their hope of the future return of Jesus Christ our Savior!– 2 Thessalonians 1:10; Colossians 3:4

Conclusion2 Peter 3:7-10 But the heavens and the earth which are now preserved by the same word, are reserved for fire until the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men. 8 But, beloved, do not forget this one thing, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. 9 The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance. (con’t.)

Conclusion2 Peter 3:7-10 (con’t.) 10 But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up. NKJV

Conclusion

2 Peter 3:10 But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up. NKJV

2 Peter 3:7 But the heavens and the earth which are now preserved by the same word, are reserved for fire until the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men.

ConclusionIf the 70 A.D. Doctrine is true,1. Why worship God? The second coming

has taken place.2. If there is no judgment, there is no hell for

us to be concerned about, and no heaven for us to strive for.

3. Why worship a God that has abandoned us, and gone back on his promises?

Matthew 28:20 …and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

The Bible Showsand Proves the Existence of

God• God’s Word teaches the absolute God’s Word teaches the absolute

necessity of knowing who God really isnecessity of knowing who God really is– John 17:3John 17:3– 2 Thessalonians 1:7-92 Thessalonians 1:7-9

• ““knowing God” means more thanknowing God” means more thanhaving some understanding of Hishaving some understanding of Hisexistenceexistence

• It includes all concepts that lead toIt includes all concepts that lead toa right relationship with Goda right relationship with God

Faith Is Essential in Recognizing the True

God• Comments from a Theologian conference Comments from a Theologian conference

(2000)(2000)– ““God’s image is going to have to change God’s image is going to have to change

for all faiths if religion is to survive”for all faiths if religion is to survive”– ““We can’t enter the 21We can’t enter the 21stst century with the century with the

idea of the God we learned in Sunday idea of the God we learned in Sunday School”School”

There Really Is Only

One True God