Apologetics, not Apologies

The Olivet Discourse in Matthew 24, Mark 13, and Luke 21 is often understood to be predicting the second coming of Christ due to the references to "the end of the age" and the language used. However, when read in the proper context of the question Jesus was answering and the similar judgment language used by the Old Testament prophets, it can easily be seen to be exclusively about the destruction of Jerusalem and the temple that happened with that generation,  in AD 70.  For a detailed exposition, please see my article This Generation .  What does that imply about the doctrine of the second coming of Jesus? Why did the early church after AD 70 continue to teach that "Christ has died, Christ is risen, Christ will come again" and write it into the creeds?  The second coming is based on other verses such as the following: And while they were gazing into heaven as he went, behold, two men stood by them in white robes, and said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking ...

Introduction One of the more hotly contested Old Testament prophecies is the "70 Weeks" prophecy revealed to Daniel, as recorded in Daniel 9.  The dispensational framework of interpretation , as formulated by John Nelson Darby in the 1830s and popularized in the Scofield Reference Bible (1909, 1917), finds correlation between Daniel 9, the Olivet Discourse, and Revelation as all pointing to a future seven year period beginning with the rapture of the church and ending with the physical return of Christ.  This is inconsistent with the historic understanding held by the Eastern Orthodox, Roman Catholic, and many Protestant churches. This article intends to examine the evidence and determine which understanding holds up best in light of the scriptural and historical evidence.

  I have seen Romans 11:25-27 referenced to support the modern Dispensational teaching that there is a separate plan of salvation for Israel and for the Church, that after the church is raptured, the final seven years of Daniel's "70 weeks" will resume, after which all of Israel will come to faith in the Messiah that they rejected when Jesus appeared the first time. Here is the verse: Lest you be wise in your own sight, I do not want you to be unaware of this mystery, brothers: a partial hardening has come upon Israel, until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in.  And in this way all Israel will be saved , as it is written,  “The Deliverer will come from Zion, he will banish ungodliness from Jacob”; “and this will be my covenant with them when I take away their sins.” (ESV) Romans 11:25-27 This passage is immediately followed by what appears to be confirmation: As regards the gospel, they are enemies for your sake.  But as regards election, they are beloved f...