Re: [asa] A theology question (imminent return of Christ)

Sorry if this was addressed already but how can Matthew 16:28 refer to the
Transfiguration--which occurs just six days later? It seems hardly worthy a
divine mention that states, in effect, "some of you will be alive six days
from now."

If this was addressed, perhaps someone could point me to it off list.

David P. Heddle
Associate Professor of Physics
Christopher Newport University, &
The Thomas Jefferson National Accelerator Facility
On Mon, Oct 20, 2008 at 1:55 PM, David Campbell <pleuronaia@gmail.com>wrote:

> > If these texts were written after 70 AD,. after the temple was in fact
> > destroyed as he predicted, wouldnt the authors mention it? A pre 70 AD
> date seems more internally consistent with the text.
>
> The razing in 135 AD actually provides a better match with the exact
> prediction of "not one stone left on another", though the role of
> hyperbole in Scripture is often underappreciated (both by those trying
> to discredit Scripture and those holding to the inerrancy of their own
> reading).
>
> The disciples were hoping for an eschatological overthrow of Rome and
> immediate arrival of the new age before Jesus' death. It's not
> surprising that they would have some trouble thoroughly getting the
> idea that the ultimate end could take a while. However, the issue is
> not unique to the early church. Throught church history, the
> assumption that we live just before the end times is popular. On the
> one hand, there is the legitimate "be ready at any time" attitude, but
> there is also, often associated with more marginal groups, the claim
> to know that the paruousia will come in a particular year, month, day,
> etc. (In fact, a headline at the grocery checkout line claimed that
> all end time prophecies would be fulfilled this month.) An example is
> the history of interpretation of Revelation-reading it as forecasting
> all of history up to the time of the writer generally involves the
> assumption that the end is next. No one ever seems to say "Revelation
> predicts all of history, and we are right now about 2/5 through."
>
> The numerous cautions about not knowing the hour, do not be taken in,
> only the beginning, etc. invalidate any claim that Jesus clearly
> predicted that He would return within the century. Some statements
> could reasonably be taken as predictions of such a return, but others
> seem to negate them, and it's reasonable to assume that Jesus (as for
> any particular source) was internally consistent unless there is clear
> evidence against it.
>
> Interpreting "this generation" as inclusive of a broader group over a
> long period of time is hard to justify. However, interpreting Jesus'
> eschatological discourses as talking about two separate events-the
> destruction of Jerusalem, which serves as a vindication of Jesus'
> claims as well as foreshadowing the greater judgement to come, and an
> ultimate end. The development of the early church would be evidence
> to the eye of faith that the kingdom of God was indeed present and
> working in a new way, and that Jesus had achieved the salvation that
> He promised and was now enthroned in power. The "coming on a cloud"
> can thus be interepreted as into heaven rather than the ultimate
> return. The disciples would have seen evidence of the new kingdom
> beginning in their lifetimes, but did not see its completion.
>
> --
> Dr. David Campbell
> 425 Scientific Collections
> University of Alabama
> "I think of my happy condition, surrounded by acres of clams"
>
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Received on Mon Oct 20 18:03:48 2008