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THE END OF THE WORLD

With the coming of the AD 70 doctrine, there has been a considerable amount of confusion and heresy associated with the teachings of scripture regarding the end of the world.     The 70 AD doctrine basically holds to the belief that Jesus returned in AD70 and judged the world at that time.  This belief entirely depends on the redefinition of words and their meaning within scripture. 

The first and foremost issue which must be dealt with regarding this belief is that scripture which was written before 70 AD emphatically states that the present Christian age at the time is the last one.  In 1 John 2:18, the inspired apostle wrote regarding the then present dispensation, "Little children, it is the last time: and as ye have heard that antichrist shall come, even now are there many antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last time."  The Hebrew writer wrote in Hebrews 1:2, "...Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds".  Peter wrote in 1 Peter 1:20, "...Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you".  Other references to this can be found in 2 Timothy 3:1, 1 Peter 1:5, 2 Peter 3:3 and Jude 18.  Taken as a whole, these scriptures teach that there is only one Christian age and they were presently in it.  This age was referred to the "last time" or the "last days".  There is not a single scripture when taken in context and understood without redefining the terms that support more than one Christian age.  The AD70 doctrine teaches that there are two Christian ages, or Christian times, or Christian days.  It teaches a pre AD70 Christian age and a post AD70 Christian age. 

The day of the Lord, the end of the age, the last day, the end of the world and the close of this present age are terms that refer to the same event as seen in the passages of this study. 

The Earth and the Material Heavens Shall Be Destroyed

Psalms 102:25-26
25 Of old hast thou laid the foundation of the earth: and the heavens are the work of thy hands.
26 They shall perish, but thou shalt endure: yea, all of them shall wax old like a garment; as a vesture shalt thou change them, and they shall be changed:

Isaiah 34:4
And all the host of heaven shall be dissolved, and the heavens shall be rolled together as a scroll: and all their host shall fall down, as the leaf falleth off from the vine, and as a falling fig from the fig tree.

Isaiah 51:6
"
Lift up your eyes to the heavens, and look upon the earth beneath: for the heavens shall vanish away like smoke, and the earth shall wax old like a garment, and they that dwell therein shall die in like manner: but my salvation shall be for ever, and my righteousness shall not be abolished."

In Matthew 24:35, Mark 13:31, Luke 21:33, Jesus declared:
"
Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away."

Hebrews 1:10-11
10 "
And, Thou, Lord, in the beginning hast laid the foundation of the earth; and the heavens are the works of thine hands:
11 They shall perish; but thou remainest; and they all shall wax old as doth a garment"

2 Peter 3:10-12
"
But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.
11 Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness,
12 Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat?"

Revelation 20:11
"
And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them."

All of these verses speak to the entire earth with the heavens being destroyed.  The inspired record used words like Perish, dissolved, pass away, fled away and burned up.  Proponents of the AD70 theory claim that the entire earth and everything in the universe/heavens passed away in AD70 with the destruction of Jerusalem.  The problem with is that the destruction of Jerusalem was a localized event while the inspired language of the scriptures related to this topic speak of a universal event.  If this were true, one would have to ask why we still have so much archeological evidence of civilizations predating AD70?  If the earth and all that in it is were destroyed, then why do we still have this evidence with us?   In order to make their doctrine fit, they must change the meaning of the text.  In other words, the earth and the heavens in these contexts don't really mean the earth and the heavens.  

The earth and the heavens were not destroyed at the destruction of Jerusalem.  Not only do we still have archaeological evidence of earth's existence prior to AD70, there is not one word in the writings of Christians after AD70 which supports the idea that Christ's second coming happened in AD70.  There is no evidence from history which supports such an event.  One would have to think that if Christ did indeed return in AD70 there would be some evidence of that in the historical writings of Christians living after that event.  

The End of the Law of Moses

Some proponents of the 70 AD theory believe that the earth and other elements mentioned in the scriptures given in reference to the destruction of the heavens and the earth do not actually represent what they say, rather, the physical elements are really in reference to Judaism or the law of Moses.  It is claimed that the heavens and the earth are representative of the covenant law of Moses passing.  The claim is made that since the temple in Jerusalem was standing and in use until 70AD that the real passing of the law of Moses occurred then.  This belief flies in the face of inspired scripture which plainly indicates that the law of Moses passed with the death of Christ on the cross.  Please see:

Hebrews 9:14-17
14
How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?

15 And for this cause he is the mediator of the new testament, that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance.

16 For where a testament is, there must also of necessity be the death of the testator.

17 For a testament is of force after men are dead: otherwise it is of no strength at all while the testator liveth.
(KJV)

This context from Hebrews plainly shows that a number of things associated with the passing of the old covenant occurred with the death of Christ.   With the death of the mediator of the new covenant came the redemption of sin for all who lived under the old covenant.  In verse 16, the Hebrew writer wrote that the new testament, or new covenant which Christ is the mediator of came in to force with His death.  The destruction of the temple did not occur until roughly 40 years later. 

Ephesians 2:13-15
13
But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.

14 For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us;

15 Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace;
(KJV)

Paul clearly indicates that the abrogation of the law of commandments which is a reference to the law of Moses, coincided with the blood of Christ which was shed on the cross, not 40 years later with the destruction of the temple in Jerusalem.

The resurrection of the dead is said to happen with the destruction of the heavens and the earth.

In scripture the end of the earth and the resurrection and judgment of all mankind is said to happen at the same time. 

MATTHEW 13:40-50: Here Jesus declares that both the righteous and the wicked will be together until the end when the wicked will be separated from the just. 

JOHN 6:39,40,44,54: According to Jesus the resurrection will be on the last day. 

JOHN 5:28,29: Here Jesus says that ALL who are in the grave shall come forth, some to the resurrection of life and some to the resurrection of judgment. There are still people in their graves.  There are still people who have not been judged. 

MATTHEW 25:31-46: When Jesus returns all the nations will be before Him and He will separate the just and the unjust. The unjust will be sent into eternal punishment and the just to eternal life. We see the same happening in Revelation 20:11-15. All the nations of the earth were not gathered at the destruction of Jerusalem in AD70. 

The universal resurrection of the just and the unjust, the judgment of all nations and the destruction of the heavens and the earth are all things that happen with one single event. 

The Lord's Supper was commanded to continue until Christ came again.

1 Corinthians 11:26, "For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord's death till he come."  Christians were commanded to show the Lord's death through the Lord's supper until he comes again.  This implies that the Observance of the Lord's supper would cease upon Christ's return.  This certainly works in perfectly with the idea of the end of the heavens and earth and the resurrection of the dead occurring at the same time.  Why would Christians today be any less obligated to remember the Lord's death than Christians living before AD70? 

Justin Martyr, a Jewish historian that lived from 110 - 165 AD wrote of the Christians partaking of the Lord's supper:  "Then we all rise together and pray, and, as we before said, when our prayer is ended, bread and wine and water are brought, and the president in like manner offers prayers and thanksgivings, according to his ability".  One must ask, if the Lord's supper was to end at the second coming of Christ, then why do we have evidence of Christians partaking of this after AD70?  Paul said to do it till Christ came, so if Christ came in AD70, why are Christians living after AD70 still observing the Lord's supper?

There are only two advents of Christ mentioned in scripture.

HEBREWS 9:25-28: Here we see the two advents of Christ; He came the first time to die for our sins, and when he comes again it will be to bring salvation to all who wait His return. If He did this in AD70 then what about all the Christians living since then who are waiting?  What are they waiting for?

LUKE 19:11-27: In this parable we see again His two appearances. He came the first time to give gifts and instructions to His servants, then He leaves to receive 'kingly' authority. When He returns it will be to reward and punish. Compare Daniel 7:13,14 and Acts 1:9-11.  The rewards and punishment described in these verses are universal in nature. 

1 CORINTHIANS 15:35-58: In these verses and in 1 John 3:2 , we learn that at the resurrection we shall all be changed, in an instant, in the twinkling of an eye ... for everything material will be gone. What we shall be like has not yet been revealed, but we do learn that flesh and blood can have no part in the Christian's final victory over death!! We shall be like HIM!! 

There are people who have not been changed.  There are things which have not been revealed.  There are people still in their graves.  The heavens and earth are still here.  All nations have not been judged.  Christians still partake of the Lord's supper.  all of these things mentioned are inseparably connected with the second coming of Christ.  All of these things which are said to happen when Christ comes again have not happened.  The only logical conclusion that can be reached is that Christ has not come again to judge the nations, destroy the heavens and the earth and take the faithful home to heaven. 

There Is No Mention Of Christ's Physical Return In Early Church Literature.

If Christ literally returned in 70AD and accomplished the resurrection of the dead and all of the other events which are associated with His return, then why does none of the early church writings mention this?  The early church literature in regard to the coming of Christ all look to a future coming and not one that occurred in 70 AD.   This fact begs the question, If Christ literally returned in 70AD then why did nobody in the church living in that time period witness it or record it? 

Clement of Alexandria was born about 150 AD.  In a letter to newly baptized Christians he wrote:  "...wishing to make His power known to men, in the hope that, when they have come to full knowledge, they may return to God, and may enjoy eternal blessedness when the Son of God shall appear and restore good things to His own." 

Polycarp, born about 69AD was an elder in the church in Smyrna.  Being an infant in AD70 when the temple in Jerusalem was destroyed, his writings came after that time period.  It is believed that Polycarp was a contemporary and was familiar with the Apostle John and knew him.  His writing plainly indicate a future resurrection and judgment of Jesus Christ.  If Jesus came in 70AD as some claim, then how did that event get past Polycarp without his knowledge of it? 

Polycarp 2:1
Wherefore gird up your loins and serve God in fear and truth,
forsaking the vain and empty talking and the error of the many, for
that ye have believed on Him that raised our Lord Jesus Christ from
the dead and gave unto him glory
 and a throne on His right hand;
unto whom all things were made subject that are in heaven and that
are on the earth; to whom every creature that hath breath doeth
service; who cometh as judge of quick and dead; whose blood God
will require of them that are disobedient unto Him.

Polycarp 11:2
But he who cannot govern himself in these things, how doth he enjoin
this upon another? If a man refrain not from covetousness, he shall
be defiled by idolatry, and shall be judged as one of the Gentiles
who know not the judgment of the Lord, Nay, know we not, that the
saints shall judge the world
, as Paul teacheth?

Papias was born in 70AD, the year Jerusalem was destroyed.  In his writing, he plainly wrote of a future coming of Christ where the things mentioned in scripture were foretold. 

As the presbyters say, then those who are deemed worthy of an abode in heaven shall go there, others shah enjoy the delights of Paradise, and others shall possess the splendour of the city; for everywhere the Saviour will be seen, according as they shall be worthy who see Him. But that there is this distinction between the habitation of those who produce an hundredfold, and that of those who produce sixty-fold, and that of those who produce thirty-fold; for the first will be taken up into the heavens, the second class will dwell in Paradise, and the last will inhabit the city; and that on this account the Lord said, "In my Father's house are many mansions:" for all things belong to God, who supplies all with a suitable dwelling-place, even as His word says, that a share is given to all by the Father, according as each one is or shall be worthy. And this is the couch in which they shall recline who feast, being invited to the wedding. The presbyters, the disciples of the apostles, say that this is the gradation and arrangement of those who are saved, and that they advance through steps of this nature; and that, moreover, they ascend through the Spirit to the Son, and through the Son to the Father; and that in due time the Son will yield up His work to the Father, even as it is said by the apostle, "For He must reign till He hath put all enemies under His feet. The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death." For in the times of the kingdom the just man who is on the earth shall forget to die. "But when He saith all things are put under Him, it is manifest that He is excepted which did put all things under Him. And when all things shall be subdued unto Him, then shall the Son also Himself be subject unto Him that put all things under Him, that God may be all in all."

It goes on and on.  One must ask the question, if Jesus really did come in 70AD and accomplish all the prophecies associated with the end of the age, or the end of the world, then why are these early church leaders writing of a future coming of Christ?  Did they miss the fulfillment of the prophecies in associated with the second advent of Christ? 

WHAT HAPPENS WHEN CHRIST DOES RETURN?

Suddenly, and without warning, the Lord will descend from heaven with His angels and the dead and the living will rise to meet Him in the air, their bodies transformed. The present material creation will be destroyed by fire, replaced by a new heaven and earth of a spiritual nature. All nations will appear before Him. There will be a separation between those who loved truth and followed in the light of Christ's message and example, and between those who rebelled and rejected His words of love and mercy. Those who hid themselves behind the sacrifice of Christ will live eternally with the Lord and the redeemed. The rebellious and impenitent, along with Satan and his followers, will go into the lake of fire, the second death.


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