Not 2000 Years Later
According to what Christians have been taught, Jesus could come back at any time, any day. However, Jesus said “know that it is nigh, even at the doors” (Mat 24:33; Mk 13:29). When he said that, it meant “very near” or soon, not in 2000 years. He was speaking to his disciples, so obviously that meant in their lifetimes, not someone else’s 2000 years later.
“And Jesus said unto them, See ye not all these things? verily I say unto you, There shall not be left here one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down.” (Mat 24:2)
..the disciples came unto him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world?” (Mat 24:3)
End of the World
Now here it is his disciples that asked him about the end of the world. Jesus actually seemed to believe that the world was about to come to an end. The world was to end around the time the temple was to be destroyed — which we know from history, happened in around 70 AD — and which also was to be the time of his second coming.
(By the way, scholars believe the Gospels were written in the first century because the destruction of the temple is mentioned in them. Curious! According to Jesus the end of the world and his second coming was supposed to happen around that time also!)
The prophet Malachi prophesied that God would send Elijah before the coming of the Messiah on that great and dreadful day. Jesus, in no uncertain terms declared that John the Baptist was Elijah. Even John himself said that he was “the voice of one crying in the wilderness” that Isaiah prophesied of who was Elijah, even though he himself didn’t believe he was Elijah.
Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord (Mal 4:5)
But I say unto you, That Elias is come already, and they knew him not, but have done unto him whatsoever they listed. Likewise shall also the Son of man suffer of them.
Then the disciples understood that he spake unto them of John the Baptist. (Mat 17:12,13)
He (John the Baptist) said, I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness, Make straight the way of the Lord, as said the prophet Esaias. (Jn 1:23)
The “great and dreadful day of the Lord” is referring to the second coming of Christ, which according to Matthew 24 happens “immediately after the tribulation”, which is the “end of the world” — as we know it.
There appears to be a contradiction here since God is supposed to send Elijah at the Messiah’s first coming (unless Elijah is supposed to come twice). But according to Matthew 24 the “great and dreadful day of the Lord” refers to the second coming. Christ didn’t fulfill all the prophecies that were supposed to happen at his first coming nor did he even return when his second coming was supposed to happen! So now the thing is that the second coming hasn’t happened yet, because that’s when all those other prophecies are supposed to be fulfilled that haven’t been fulfilled yet!
First Century: Second Coming
Every century since then, Christians were told Jesus could come back at any time — and it never happened. However,
Jesus expected his second coming to be in the first century. This is very clear from his teaching, but Christians have been lied to and deceived for 2000 years!
Here is proof that Jesus believed his “second coming” would be in the first century:
Verily I say unto you, There be some standing here, which shall not taste of death, till they see the Son of man coming in his kingdom. (Mat 16:28)
It is evident that there are none of those standing there, that are still alive, when Jesus spoke those words. They may say that “the Son of man coming in his kingdom doesn’t mean his second coming”, but this is exactly what it was supposed to mean. Those that say this are false teachers, trying to invent a false interpretation since his “second coming” never happened.
Still more proof that Jesus believed his “second coming” would happen in the first century:
…Ye shall not have gone over the cities of Israel, till the Son of man be come. (Mat 10:23)
Many of those cities, at that time, that Jesus referred to don’t even exist anymore!
In Luke, Jesus said the kingdom of heaven was “nigh at hand”, which means “near”. Near doesn’t mean 2000 years later, it means a few years at most since he said “This generation shall not pass away till all be fulfilled“. He used the words “This generation” — the current generation of his day. If he was speaking of an event that would happen 2000 years later, he would have used the expression that generation.
So likewise ye, when ye see these things come to pass, know ye that the kingdom of God is nigh at hand.
Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass away, till all be fulfilled.
Heaven and earth shall pass away: but my words shall not pass away.(Lk 21:31-33)
Beware not to be deceived
And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you. (Mat 24:4)
Let no man deceive you. Jesus was speaking to his disciples. Not people who would become Christians 2000 years later.
For many shall come in my name, saying, (that) I am (the) Christ; and shall deceive many. (Mat 24:5)
“In my name” signifies that they are supposed representatives of Jesus. It is taught that the title “Christ” means Messiah. Christians have been deceived by many teaching in his name and that Jesus is the Messiah (Christ).
“…shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.” (Mat 24:24)
He wasn’t saying that there would be many crazy people going around calling themselves Jesus Christ and deceiving people into believing that they were actually Jesus — that doesn’t even seem likely.
Jesus even warned that false prophets would arise and even many of the very elect would be deceived (Mat 24:24)
Jesus wasn’t saying that there would be many claiming to be Jesus the Christ since he said:
“Wherefore if they shall say unto you, Behold, he is in the desert; go not forth: behold, he is in the secret chambers; believe it not.” (Mat 24: 26)
But he was warning his disciples of false prophets who would try to deceive them.
No Rapture
In Matthew chapter 24 verses 15 – 31, he was speaking of what is widely known as the “Great Tribulation”. This took place in Judea (vs 16), which is more evidence that Jesus believed that his second coming and the end of the world would be in the first century. (by the way, the Essenes fled into the mountains, from the Romans during a great persecution, where they died)
Then let them which be in Judaea flee into the mountains (Mat 24:16)
His “second coming” he said would come immediately after the “Great Tribulation”. The false prophets have taught Christians that they would be “raptured”, deceiving them that it would happen before the Tribulation and that they would not have to go through it.
Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken:
And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.
And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other. (Mat 24:29-31)
Conclusion:
- Jesus believed the end of the world was eminent — first century.
- He may have believed he was the Messiah prophesied by Old Testament prophets and would fulfill all the messianic prophecies at his second coming.
- He believed his second coming was near, during that generation — the first century. This generation shall not pass, till all these things (of the Great Tribulation)be fulfilled. (Mt 24:34)
- He warned his disciples not to be deceived by false prophets
- He believed that the rapture would happen after the Great Tribulation, which means that the rapture was to happen also in the first century. It didn’t happen and it never will.
- The one that was taken (Lk 17:34) is the one who is killed NOT raptured. The vultures represent the angels who are gathering together his elect from the four winds — remember this is the Great Tribulation where people are fleeing for their lives.
“Two women will be grinding grain together. The one will be taken, and the other will be left behind.” Then they asked him, “Where, Lord, will this take place?” He told them, “Wherever there’s a corpse, that’s where the vultures will gather.” (Lk 17:34,36,37)
“But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall (his life) be saved.“
“Then let them which be in Judaea flee into the mountains”
“And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect…”
“Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh (with his angels to gather together the elect home).” (Mt 24:13,16,31,44)