Further to Ronmon in above post:
The NT is loaded with indicators that that generation was to be the last, the end of the world. Everything I find about the upheaval in Judea in the 1st century says that the end and final judgement were expected 'right after' it (the turmoil in Israel).
Even while speaking to people about marriage 4 countries away, in Corinth, Paul says the time is short, don't bother, pursue the mission.
Even so, there are many things going on today are nerve wracking enough to feel like it is the end, and then we learn that people have felt this way hundreds of times since Christ, for solid reason.
Matthew 24 does no such thing, you have just misunderstood Matthew 24, I have done a full Exegesis of Matthew 24 and there is a reason why Jesus mentions false chrits/false prophets and false christs and false prophets three distinct time . But for starters you suggesting "THE END" happened 2000 years ago because you can't understand the parable of the Fig Tree is a statement of why people today do not understand the scriptures.
The Fig Tree shows the SIGN of when Summer is NEAR...Jesus says LIKEWISE when YE (As in my Followers, not just the Disciples)see ALL OF THESE SIGNS, know ye that my coming is NEAR AT HAND. So what were the Signs? Why is this so hard to understand since Jesus points out about 12 signs in Matthew 24.
Matthew 24:1-6 is the period between when Jesus spoke that day, and A.D. 70. There are a few keys if we lay our pride down and see it as Jesus presents it. So Jesus starts out by telling the Disciples about the future of the Temples destruction, then they wanted to know about "those things" the "SIGN of his Coming" and the End if the World.
Jesus answered them of course, his first warning was take heed that NO MAN Deceive you. Many will come in MY NAME (as the Christ/Messiah) and WILL DECEIVE MANY........And you will hear of Wars and Rumors of Wars, but do not be Troubled, for THE END IS NOT YET..........This Ends at 70 AD. How/Why do I know this? WATCH
Jesus specifically tells them the End is not YET !! He had just told them many will come in my name, and deceive many, then Jesus said you will hear of WARS and Rumors of Wars, speaking unto his Disciples.
This couldn't be clearer, the Disciples would think this is the coming END, if Jesus had not of warned them THIS IS NOT THE END, so what event was happening? Jerusalem and the Temple was being Destroyed/sacked and that is basically what happens in the End Times, and the Messiah (Jesus) is supposed to save Israel. The Pharisees and Jewish leaders knew that Rome was the Fourth Beast so they were looking for the Soon to come Little Horn, not realizing he shows up 2000 years later, thus they tried to FORCE MESSIAHS onto the scene at that time, fulfilling Jesus' words. (BELOW)
John 5:43 I am come in my Father's name, and ye receive me not:
if another shall come in his own name, him ye will receive.
Of course Jesus wanted the Disciples to understand very clearly that this was NOT THE END (Not his Second Coming) because if they got caught up in this event in Jerusalem, they would probably be killed and not be able to fulfill their Work of bringing forth the Church unto the world. God needed them to know that this was NOT THE END, this was a false christ coming forth and these WARS they heard about was not him coming back, but only Jerusalem being destroyed and the Temple/its people being destroyed as he had prophesied. (First christ mentioned is EXPLAINED)
Now we move past 70 AD in verses 7-13 and maybe even verse 14 could be included here. For Nation will rise against Nation and Kingdoms against Kingdoms. This is a 2000 year Panoramic view from 70 AD until the coming Rapture. Jesus doesn't mention the Rapture here, but its hinted at from verse 36-51. The Rapture ministry was basically given unto Paul later on.
Anyhow, lets carry on. There will also be pestilences (Black Plague etc.) Earthquakes, Famines etc. etc. over this period of time known as the Sorrows. Then the Disciples are delivered up to be KILLED and Hated for Jesus' names sake, and of course most all of the Disciples were Martyred of course save John the Beloved.
Verse 11 here says Many FALSE PROPHETS will arise and deceive many, of course over this 2000 year period we have had many False Teachers/Preachers/Jewish Rabbis. Think Jim Jones/David Koresh types !! So this is mentioned again for a REASON, its about a totally different time period. Jesus tells them you must ENDURE (in the Faith) until the End (Run the full RACE) and he who does will be Rewarded/Saved. Then when the Gospel is preached unto ALL OF THE WORLD, the End will come.......then Jesus transitions unto the END TIMES by speaking of the Abomination of Desolation and the coming Tribulation period. (Rapture happens/Church Age Ends).
Revelation 24:14/15-27 is Jesus telling about a period of TROUBLES like never before or since. He starts by speaking of the Abomination of Desolation (AoD) and tells the Jews to FLEE to the Mountains when they see this. Of course the Jews who heed Jesus' words are those who have Repented and accept Jesus as their Messiah just as Malachi 4:5-6, Zechariah 12:10 and 13:1 says will happen. Then the TIME OF GREAT TROUBLES Happen, Jesus said if God had not Shortened (to a PRE-PLANNED 7 Years of course)this time period NO FLESH would be saved.
Then the REAL Anti-Christ and False Prophet are mentioned as doing REAL Miracles and Wonders, unlike verses 5 and 11 where they just DECEIVED People. Jesus warns the future Jews not to go unto these men in the Desert or in their Secret Chambers ( Of course Satan is trying to trick them into coming out of their PROTECTED ZONE where he can kill them )else they will be harmed, but alas, these ELECT will not believe the lies because Jesus has forewarned them that he will be coming in the EASTERN SKIES !!
So in essence, everyone of these SIGNS must be seen by the Generation that will see Jesus return. And you can SEE A SIGN and not be born until afterwards, I see Israel being REBORN as a Sign of Ezekiel's Prophecy of Dry Bones being fulfilled, just because I was not born until 1964 doesn't mean I do not SEE THE SIGN !!!
So the Temple was destroyed, the first false christ was seen, the rumors of Jerusalem's WARS came true. We saw the Kingdoms vs Kingdoms, pestilences, earthquakes and famine signs, the Disciples all murdered, and we are VERY NEAR to seeing the Gospel preached unto ALL THE WORLD !! What is left?
Well after the Rapture, that Generation will via History see everything above I just mentioned, then they will see the Abomination of Desolation, the Jews Flee to Petra, the TIMES OF GREAT TROUBLES, the Anti-Christ and False Prophet working Miracles. They will then see the Sun Darkened, the Moon turn blood red and the Stars falling from Heaven.
The Parable of the Fig Tree tells us we must see ALL OF THESE SIGNS, meaning those living in the Tribulation are the only ones who can see ALL OF THOSE SIGNS !!!
33 So
likewise ye,
when ye shall see all these things, know that it is near, even at the doors.
You guys change the meaning of the WHOLE PASSAGE by not understanding that YE means the Future people that see ALL OF THESE SIGNS. And they can only be Tribulation Saints (Jews).
When ye see these signs, then you will see the Son of Man coming in the Clouds of Heaven.
