• The 2nd coming of Jesus is one of great importance and the Bible has a lot to say about it. Let’s look at some verses that talk about the nearness of Christ’s coming. Read the verses and answer the questions. 

1. Read Matthew 10:23. Jesus would come before the disciples had a chance to do what? _____________________________________________________________________________

The apostles would preach the gospel to the entire Roman Empire before 70 AD. Jesus said that he would come before they barely finished doing that. Mt 24:14 Jesus said that the apostles would preach the gospel throughout the world and then “the end would come”. Jesus was answering the question they asked him in 24:3 “what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age (aeon, a period of time; not kosmos which is the word for the physical world). The 2nd coming and end of the age occur at the same time. The apostles must finish their mission before that happens, and they did. When Paul wrote Colossians in about 62 AD, he said that the gospel had been proclaimed in all creation under heaven”.

2. Read Matthew 16:27-28. 

From verse 27. Jesus was going to come with His angels to do what? ______________________

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From verse 28. Jesus’ coming would be so soon that some of the disciples would still be what? _______________________________

2 points are critical here. 1) The meaning of the word mello. “Jesus is about to come” (mello). 2) Some listening to him predict this coming would still be alive when it came to pass.

Matthew 16:27-28.

• Depending on your translation, the verse says Jesus “Shall” come or “Will” come, etc… The original Greek word for “shall” or “will” is the word “mello.” 
• Mello always means “about to happen, about to be at a place”. Some say it just mean “certainly to happen, sure to happen”, but that is not how it is used over and over in the NT.
• Correctly translated verse 27 should read, “the Son of Man is about to come in the glory of His Father with His angels, and then He will reward each according to his works.”
• And according to verse 28, Jesus said that some of those he was talking to would still be alive to see Him coming in his kingdom.
• This is a judgment passage. Some say 16:27-28 was fulfilled on the day of Pentecost in 30 AD in Acts 2, but Acts 2 is not a coming in judgment passage. Acts 2 would occur within a year or so after Jesus spoke Mt 16:27-28. It doesn’t make sense that Jesus would add that “some would still be alive” if the event he was predicting would be within a year or so. But if the event was to occur 40 years later (which it did in 70 AD), then that would make more sense.
• As we go through the study keep the word “mello” in your mind.
• Uses of the word mello in the New Testament. 

USE OF “MELLO” TO WARN OF IMMINENT ACTIONS OR EVENTS.

That Greek word “mello” appears 110 times in various forms in the NT. Here are more examples: 

Matt 2:13 – Now when they had departed, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, “Rise, take the child and his mother, and flee to Egypt, and remain there until I tell you, for Herod is about to [Gk: μέλλει : mellei : is about to] search for the child, to destroy him.”

Matt 20:22 – Jesus answered, “You do not know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I am [Gk: μέλλω : mello : I am about to] to drink?” They said to him, “We are able.” 

Mark 10:32 – And they were on the road, going up to Jerusalem, and Jesus was walking ahead of them. And they were amazed, and those who followed were afraid. And taking the twelve again, he began to tell them what was [Gk: μέλλοντα : mellonta : about to] to happen to him 

Luke 7:2 – Now a centurion had a servant1 who was sick and at the point of death [Gk: ἤμελλεν : emellen : was about to], who was highly valued by him.

Luke 9:31 – who appeared in glory and spoke of his departure, which he was about to [Gk: ἤμελλεν : emellen : was about to] accomplish at Jerusalem.

Luke 9:44 – “Let these words sink into your ears: The Son of Man is about to [Gk: μέλλει : mellei : is about to] be delivered into the hands of men.”

Zacchaeus ran on ahead and climbed up into a sycamore tree to see Jesus, for he was about to (Gk:ἤμελλεν) pass that way …Luke 19:4

– CC Image courtesy of Good News Productions International and College Press Publishing … FreeBibleimages.org

Luke 10:1 – After this the Lord appointed seventy-two others and sent them on ahead of him, two by two, into every town and place where he himself was about to [Gk: ἤμελλεν : emellen : was about to] go.

Luke 19:4 – So he ran on ahead and climbed up into a sycamore tree to see him, for he was about to [Gk: ἤμελλεν : emellen : was about to] pass that way.

Luke 22:23 – And they began to question one another, which of them it could be who was going to [Gk: μέλλων : mellon : was about to] do this. 

John 4:47 – When this man heard that Jesus had come from Judea to Galilee, he went to him and asked him to come down and heal his son, for he was at the point of death [Gk: ἤμελλεν : emellen : was about to].

We can clearly see from the passages above that certain events were “ABOUT TO” happen… IMMEDIATELY or very SOON after.

• Matthew 2 – King Herod soon searched for the infant Jesus, just as predicted.
• Matthew 20, Mark 10, Luke 9 – The suffering and crucifixion of Jesus did occur within a short time, just as predicted.
• Luke 19 – Jesus did in fact pass the sycamore tree, soon after Zacchaeus climbed up to see him, just as predicted.

“Mello” means that something is IMMINENT and “ABOUT TO HAPPEN”. It never means “MANY YEARS FROM NOW” or “SOME TIME IN THE FUTURE” or “2000 YEARS FROM NOW”! Yet that is what some Bible translators want us to believe, whenever “mello” is used in a passage about the parousia (Second Coming) of Christ. It is never used to simply mean “certianly will happen” which is the way it is translated in most translations. Why would the translators not translate correctly as “about to happen”? They might translate it “about to happen” in passages that are not eschatological ones, but they would have problems translating the 2nd coming as “about to happen” b/c of almost 2,00 years of church dogma that said that the 2nd coming had not happened yet. A few translations like Young’s Literal Translation translate mello as “about to happen” correctly even in the eschatological passages we have discussed.

3. Read Matthew 24:29-34. 

From verse 29. What did Jesus say would happen to the sun, moon, and stars? _______________

______________________________________________________________________________

From verse 30. When this happened to the sun, moon, and stars, who or what did Jesus say would appear? _________________________________________________________________

From verse 34. When did Jesus say the things in verse 29 and 30 would take place? __________

______________________________________________________________________________

Bottom line, Jesus said that the stars would fall and the coming of the Son of Man would happen before “this generation would pass away”. So it is critical that we understand what the word genea means and how it is used in the New Testament.

The Greek word genea. 

• The word generation is from the Greek word “genea”.
• Genea always means a period of about 40 years
• This is very similar to how we use the phrases baby boomers generation or X generation.
• Genea never means the Jewish “race” with an indefinite time. Many try to define genea as the Jewish race but over and over the word is not used like that.
• In the chapter prior to Mt 24, Jesus had just predicted God’s vengeance on the Jewish nation b/c they had killed the prophets. Mt 23:36 “all these things will come upon this generation”. That obviously refers to the Jews living at that time, and not to the Jewish race in general. This is right before 24:34. Why would the word not mean the same in 24:34 as it does in 23:36?
• Matthew 1 is a good example of how the word “genea” is used.    
• Notice that Mt 1:2-16 list lists individual people who lived and died. 
• Each individual person represents a generation (genea).
• This is why verse 17 says, “So all the generations [genea] from Abraham to David are fourteen generations, from David until the captivity in Babylon are fourteen generations [genea], and from the captivity in Babylon until the Christ are fourteen generations [genea]”. The meaning of “genea” is a period of about 40 years or the people living in a period of about 40 years. We use the term tha way when we speak of the baby boomers’ generation, the x generation, the z generation, etc.
• And so when Jesus said in Matthew 24:34 that everything had to take place in that generation He was saying those things would take place in the lifetime of the people who lived at that time.

• If still uncertain about the meaning of genea, remember Mt 16:27-28. Jesus said some of those he was talking to would still be alive when he returned. That is clear and certain. 
• Here is a site of the use of genea in the New Testament. https://www.logosapostolic.org/greek-word-studies/1074-genea-generation.htm
• Matthew 1:17 So all the generations from Abraham to David are fourteen generations; and from David until the carrying away into Babylon are fourteen generations; and from the carrying away into Babylon to Christ are fourteen generations.
• 11:16 But to what shall I liken this generation? It is like children sitting in the markets, and calling to their fellows,
• 12:39 But he answered and said to them, An evil and adulterous generation seeks after a sign; and there shall no sign be given to it, but the sign of the prophet Jonah:
• 12:41 The men of Nineveh shall rise in judgment with this generation, and shall condemn it: because they repented at the preaching of Jonah; and, behold, a greater than Jonah is here.
• 12:42 The queen of the south shall rise up in the judgment with this generation, and shall condemn it: for she came from the utmost parts of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and, behold, a greater than Solomon is here.
• 12:43 When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he walks through dry places, seeking rest, and finds none.
• 12:44 Then he says, I will return into my house from where I came out; and when he comes, he finds it empty, swept, and garnished.
• 12:45 Then goes he, and takes with himself seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter in and dwell there: and the last state of that man is worse than the first. Even so shall it be also to this wicked generation.
• 16:4 A wicked and adulterous generation seeks after a sign; and there shall no sign be given to it, but the sign of the prophet Jonah. And he left them, and departed.
• 17:17 Then Jesus answered and said, O faithless and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you? how long shall I suffer you? bring him here to me.
• 23:36 Amen I say to you, All these things shall come upon this generation.
• 24:34 Amen I say to you, This generation shall not pass, until all these things are fulfilled.
• Acts 2:40 And with many other words he testified and exhorted, saying, Save yourselves from this crooked generation.
• Acts 8:33 In his humiliation his judgment was taken away: and who shall declare his generation? for his life is taken from the earth.
  Acts 13:36 For David, after he had served his own generation by the will of God, fell asleep, and was laid to his fathers, and saw corruption:
• Hebrews 3:10 Therefore I was grieved with that generation, and said, They do always err in their heart; and they have not known my ways.

Notice all the things in Mt 24 that Jesus said would happen in that generation.

• 24:14 The gospel would be preached to all nations and then “the end” would come. That can’t be the end of the world if it had to happen in that generation It refers to the end of the Jewish Age, a phase used in Daniel 12:4,9,13 to predict the end of the age in 70 AD. The gospel was indeed preached to all the nations before 70 AD according to Paul (Colossians 1:23). 
• 24:15 The “abomination of desolation” of the temple as predicted by Daniel 9:26,27; 12:11 would be fulfilled in that generation. That could only refer to the destruction of the temple by the Romans 40 years later in 70 AD. Daniel 12:11 the abomination of desolation would mark the “end”, the “end of the days” (12:13), just as in Mt 24.
• 24:21 “At that time” (the same time as the abomination of desolation) great tribulation would occur such as never before occurred. This was predicted also by Daniel 12:1 and referred to tribulation the Jews endured during the siege and destruction of Jerusalem in 70 AD. This does not refer to a tribulation that is still in our future as many claim in their pre and post tributlation theories of the 2nd coming. 24:21 refers to a tribulation of suffering the Jewish people would endure in the events of the destruction of the temple in 70 AD. According to Josephus, over a million Jews died through the famine in the city or at the hands of the Romans, and another 200 thousand were carried into captivity.
• 24:29-30 “Immediately after the tribulation of those days” the sun and moon will be darkened and the stars will fall, the tribes of the earth will mourn (i.e. the Jews who crucified Jesus), they (i.e. those tribes) will see the Son of Man coming in the clouds. Unless the stars literally fell in that generation, this must be figurative language, just as used to describe the fall of Babylon (Isaiah 13:10, 13 the stars cease giving light and the earth shaken out of its place), the fall of Egypt (Isaiah 19:1 the Lord riding on a swift cloud to come to judge Egypt), and the fall of Edom (Isaiah 34:4 the heavens will be rolled up like a scroll and all the hosts or stars will fall). That is typical figurative judgment language that is also used in Mt 24:29-30.
• 24:30 “the tribes will mourn and they will see the coming of the Son of Man in power and glory”. This had to occur within that generation, within the next 40 years. Jesus did come in judgment on the Jews in 70 AD. Did they actually see the body of Jesus coming on a cloud or does this simply mean that He came in judgment by sending the Romans to judge the Jews? It doesn’t matter. He came back within that generation and this must refer to 70 AD.
• Notice the chronological sequence of events as outlined above. The abomination of desolation, “at that time” a tribulation on the Jews, “immediately after the tribulation” the 2nd coming, “this generation will not pass away till all these things take place”. You can’t pull the tribulation out of that sequence and say that it is predicting something at least 2,000 years later.

Does Mt 24 discuss one coming back of Jesus or two? 

Many say that Mt 24:1-35 predicts events to occur in that generation, but that 24:36-51 changes to a discussion of a coming of Jesus in the distant future (going on 2,000 years now). 

• Why would anyone think that Jesus changed the topic of his predictions in 24:1-35? 
• Notice 24:40-41. One man taken, one left at the coming of the Son of Man, just like in the flood. One woman taken, one left. In the flood, the one taken was the wicked and they were destroyed. The one left was Noah and family, the righteous. That also fits the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 AD. The wicked Jews were destroyed and the righteous Jews escaped and went to Pella according to Eusebius. This shows that the discussion of 24:36-51 is still discussing 70 AD and not some distant future coming of Jesus. 
• Many try to use 24:40-41 to describe the rapture or taking up of the righteous at some future coming of Jesus, but that is just the opposite of the meaning of 24:40-41. 

Mt 23:34-36 In this passage spoken just before Mt 24, Jesus said that “generation” (genea) of Jews would be judged because of their killing of the Old Testament prophets and the apostles whom he would send out. Notice the use of genea in 23:36. 

The parallel account of the Olivet Discourse in Mt 24 is also found in Luke 21. Notice all the things that Luke said would happen within that generation (21:32).

• 21:20 When you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies (i.e. the Roman armies).
• 21:36 Pray that you have the strength to escape all the things that are about to take place (mello again). This confirms that the events in Mt 24 were “about to take place”.  This verse is critical. Luke 21 describes the same events as Mt 24. Lk 21:32 just like Mt 24:34 says that “this generation wll not pass until all has taken place”. But the addition of Lk 21:36 says that all the events predicted in Lk 21 were “about to take place”. That means that the word “generation” in 21:32 can’t mean just the “Jewish race” over the next 2,00 years. It must mean a period of 40 years and the Jews living at that time.

4. Read Matthew 24:62-64. 

From verse 64. What did Jesus say Caiaphas the high priest would see. ___________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

Jesus said that Caiaphas would see the Son of Man coming on the clouds. So did he? Did he live till at least the start of the Jewish War in 67 AD (the coming of the son of Man referred to the period of coming in judgment and not just one day in the year 70 AD when the tempe was finally destroyed). If Caiaphas did not live to see the coming of the Son of Man, then is Jesus a false prophet?

From revelation revolution.org this quote:

Caiaphas Probably Lived to Witness the Jewish War: Though it is not Known when Caiaphas Died, He may have lived to Witness at Least the Start of the Jewish War Since He was Probably Younger than His Father-in-Law Who was 87 when the Jewish War Began.

Historically the Jewish high priest served in this role for life.  However, this changed during the Roman Empire when high priests were essentially Roman puppets who served out their terms until they fell out of favor and were deposed.  Caiaphas served as high priest from A.D. 18 to around A.D. 36 when he was deposed by the proconsul Vitellius (Antiquities 18.95).  It is not known how long Caiaphas lived after this point;² however, I believe that it is likely that he lived to witness at least the start of the Jewish War.  Caiaphas was the son-in-law of the high priest Ananus.  Ananus served as high priest until A.D. 15 when he was deposed at the age of 36.  It is also not known when Ananus died, but if Ananus was 36 in A.D. 15 he would have been 87 at the start of the Jewish War in A.D. 66.  Since Caiaphas was Ananus’ son-in-law Caiaphas was probably younger than that at the time.  Though it is not known when Caiaphas died based on his probable age range it is certainly quite likely that he survived to witness the beginning of the Jewish War in A.D. 66.

Caiaphas and Ananus Probably Lived to Witness the Jewish War: The High Priest Addressed by Jesus in Mark 14:61-62 also appears to be Ananus.  Ananus also may have survived to see Jesus coming on the Clouds of Heaven. (Just like Jesus predicted).

That’s it! Those are the only 4 second coming predictions in the gospels! 

These are the only 4 passages in Matthew (or in the parallel gospels of Mark and Luke) where Jesus predicts a coming back. All 4 predict a coming back (2nd coming) within the lifetime or generation of those he was talking to. 

• Atheists, Muslims, and non Christian Jews all say that Jesus was a false prophet since they say his predictions of an imminent 2nd coming did not come true.
• William Miller predicted the 2nd coming would happen in 1843 AD but it did not happed (the event was called “the great disappointment”). Therefore he was a false prophet.
• There have been over 200 such predictions of the 2nd coming by various false prophets and none of those predictions came true. 

What do you think? If Jesus’ 2nd coming was not in that generation as he predicted, would he be a false prophet also? _________________________________________________________________________

The quote of C.S.Lewis is interesting. 

When referring to the predictions of Jesus concerning his 2nd coming, C.S. Lewis in his essay “The World’s Last Night” concludes that at least one of the prophecies of Jesus was a failed one:

“Say what you like,” we shall be told, “the apocalyptic beliefs of the first Christians have been proved to be false. It is clear from the New Testament that they all expected the Second Coming in their own lifetime. And, worse still, they had a reason, and one which you will find very embarrassing. Their Master had told them so. He shared, and indeed created, their delusion. He said in so many words, ‘This generation shall not pass till all these things be done.’ And he was wrong. He clearly knew no more about the end of the world than anyone else.” [the above paragraph is what C.S. Lewis puts in the mouth of imaginary critics. In the next paragraph, he responds to the criticism]

It is certainly the most embarrassing verse in the Bible. Yet how teasing, also, that within fourteen words of it should come the statement “But of that day and that hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels which are in heaven, neither the Son, but the Father.” The one exhibition of error and the one confession of ignorance grow side by side.

Not everyone can accept C.S.Lewis’ response and still have faith in Jesus

Here is the quote of an atheist, Bertrand Russell. 

Bertrand Russell, in his essay “Why I Am Not A Christian” says this:

For one thing, he certainly thought that His second coming would occur in clouds of glory before the death of all the people who were living at that time. There are a great many texts that prove that. He says, for instance, “Ye shall not have gone over the cities of Israel till the Son of Man be come.” Then he says, “There are some standing here which shall not taste death till the Son of Man comes into His kingdom”; and there are a lot of places where it is quite clear that He believed that His second coming would happen during the lifetime of many then living.

But maybe he predicted an imminent 2nd coming but delayed it. 

Many will admit that Jesus predicted that his 2nd coming would be in that generation, but they say that he “delayed” his coming.

• Hebrews 10:37 puts that theory to rest. For yet in a very little while, He who is coming will come and will not delay. 
• The reason many say he delayed his coming is because they, just like most of the Jews living when Jesus came the first time, are looking for Jesus to set up a physical kingdom when he comes the 2nd time. That is why most of the Jews rejected Jesus as the Messiah. 
• He did set up His kingdom in the first century. He preached “the kingdom (i.e. the kingdom of Daniel 2:44) is at hand”, so it had to come soon after that or he would be a false prophet. He said in John 18:36 that his kingdom was not of this world. He never intended to set up a physical kingdom, back then or any time in the future. 
• In Mt 16:28 he said that some would still be alive to see him coming “in his kingdom”.
• In Mt 16:16-18 He equated the kingdom with the church and gave Peter the keys to the kingdom. Did Peter use those keys to let people into the kingdom? Yes. In Acts 2 Peter preached the first gospel sermon and 3,000 were baptized, becoming Christians and entering the church kingdom.
• Paul said in Colossians 1:13 You have been translated into the kingdom of His beloved Son. 
• In Rev 1:6 John said that Jesus had formed the Christians into a kingdom, priest to God the Father. 

A Challenge:

Obviously the only “coming back”, i.e. a 2nd coming, that Jesus predicted was to occur within that generation of those living when he spoke to them. I challenge you to find a verse anywhere in the gospels where He predicted a coming (a 3rd coming?) that would not be within that generation (one that still hasn’t happened going on 2,000 years now). 

Write out the verse here and where you found it (if you find it). 

_____________________________________________________________________

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If you do not find it, then isn’t it strange that in the synoptic gospels that Jesus never predicted a coming back that would not happen within that generation? Why would church dogma for 2,000 years use these verses we have studied in this lesson to predict a coming back in our future except that they didn’t understand the passages correctly. They were looking for a 2nd coming that would end the world and a 2nd coming in 70 AD did not fit their expectations.

In the next lesson, we will look at what the apostles said about the 2nd coming.