Okay, this article gets into some serious Bible study so buckle up!

Daniel 9 begins with: 9:1 “In the first year of Darius the son of Ahasuerus, of Median descent, who was made king over the kingdom of the Chaldeans— ² in the first year of his reign, I, Daniel, observed in the books the number of the years which was revealed as the word of the Lord to Jeremiah the prophet for the completion of the desolations of Jerusalem, namely, seventy years.” Darius the Mede defeated Babylon and Belshazzar in 539 BC (Daniel 5:30). So in the 1st year of Darius in 539 BC the 70 years of Babylonian captivity is just about over (the 1st deportation in 606 BC to 536 BC when Cyrus the king of Persia allowed Jews to return to rebuild the temple). Daniel confesses the sins of the nation but asks God to fulfill His promise and let the Jews return to Palestine. Gabriel came to him and gave him what is called the “70 weeks prohecy” that goes way past the return in 536 BC.

Daniel 9:²⁴ “Seventy weeks have been decreed for your people and your holy city, to finish the wrongdoing, to make an end of sin, to make atonement for guilt, to bring in everlasting righteousness, to seal up vision and prophecy, and to anoint the Most Holy Place. ²⁵ So you are to know and understand that from the issuing of a decree to restore and rebuild Jerusalem, until Messiah the Prince, there will be seven weeks and sixty-two weeks; it will be built again, with streets and moat, even in times of distress. ²⁶ Then after the sixty-two weeks, the Messiah will be cut off and have nothing, and the people of the prince who is to come will destroy the city and the sanctuary. And its end will come with a flood; even to the end there will be war; desolations are determined. ²⁷ And he will confirm a covenant with the many for one week, but in the middle of the week he will put a stop to sacrifice and grain offering; and on the wing of abominations will come the one who makes desolate, until a complete destruction, one that is decreed, gushes forth on the one who makes desolate.”

Here is a great timeline of Daniel:

The best way to show what I believe is the correct interpretation of the 70 week prophecy is this chart:

Dates on the chart: Matthew 24 is critical in determining these dates as will be explained below.

1) 457 BC Decree to rebuild Jerusalem: 457 BC (when Artaxerxes allowed the Jews to finish rebuilding the walls and the city). Would be finished in 49 years (the 7 weeks)

2) 30 AD The Messiah cut off (died): 30 AD at the end of the 69th week (62 more weeks after the first 7 weeks for a total of 483 years from the decree to rebuild till the death of the Messiah Jesus)

3) 30 AD – 63 AD Gap (read below to see why there must be a gap)

3) 70 AD The destruction of the city(Jerusalem) and the sanctuary (the temple) and the abomination of desolation: 70 AD (the end of the 70th week and the last 7 years of the prophecy from 63-70 AD)

I do believe each week is a prophetic 7 year period, so 70 x 7 = 490 years from the decree to rebuild the Jerusalem ( 457 BC when Artaxerxes allowed the Jews to finish rebuilding the walls and the city as recorded in Ezra) to the end of the 70th week. 7 weeks (49 years) to rebuild the walls and the city, then 62 more weeks (434 years) till the Messiah Jesus is “cut off” (dies, is crucified) and that puts the end of the 69th week (after 483 years) it at about 30 AD. That date for the death of Christ can be off some since Jesus really was born in 4-5 BC instead of 0 BC/AD (you can google that!). But for sure the death of Christ is at the end of the 69th week and that just leaves one more week, the 70th week (7 years). But the 70th week cannot begin immediately after the end of the 69th week. Why not? B/c the end of the 70th week (490th year) is when the “the people of the prince who is to come will destroy the city and the sanctuary and that refers to the destruction of Jerusalem and the temple by the Romans and Titus in 70 AD. How do we know that? B/c Daniel 9:27 puts the “abomination of desolation” at the end of the 70th week, which refers to some desolation and destruction of the temple. So when was the “abomination of desolation”? We must go to Matthew 24 to get that answer. Jesus said in Matthew 24:¹⁵ “So when you see the abomination of desolation spoken of by the prophet Daniel, standing in the holy place (let the reader understand), ¹⁶ then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains.” But then he adds in Matthew 24:³⁴ Truly, I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all these things take place.” The Greek word for generation is genea and in the New Testament always refers to a 40 year period or the people living in. a 40 year period, just like we use the term the “x” generation. So Jesus is saying that the abomination of desolation predicted by Daniel in Daniel 9:27 had to occur within the next 40 years after he said these things in Matthew 24, and that could only be the destruction of the temple and Jerusalem by the Romans in 70 AD. So the end of the 70th week is the abomination of desolation. Daniel also predicted the abomination of desolation to occur at the “end time” in Daniel 11:31, 35, 40. Then in Daniel 12:11 Daniel again mentions the abomination of desolation at the “end time” (12:4, 9), the “end” (12:13) the “end of the age (12:13, i.e. the end of the Jewish Age). Again, we go to Matthew 24 to find when “the end” happened. Matthew 24:¹⁴ And this gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.” That “end” would also have to happen within the next 40 years before that generation passed away(24:34). That could only be the end of the Jewish theocracy and the end of the Jewish Age in 70 AD.

The bottom line is that the 70th week ended at 70 AD at the destruction of the temple and city by the Roman emperor Titus. That means that those who say that the 70th week is yet to be fulfilled in our future, still yet to be fulfilled, are wrong! This is a typical iinterpretation of the 70th week that futurists say is stll to be fulfilled in the future: “According to the biblical prophecy in Daniel 9, the “70th week” refers to a seven-year period where the Antichrist will rise to power, make a covenant with Israel that he will later break, and unleash a time of great tribulation upon the earth, ultimately culminating in the return of Jesus Christ at his second coming. The covenant will be broken halfway through the seven-year period, marked by the “abomination of desolation” which could involve the re-establishment of pagan worship in the Jerusalem temple (so the temple has to be rebuilt?). The 70th week is often seen as the final stage before the end times and the 2nd coming of Jesus.” I believe that the 70th wek has already been fulfilled by 70 AD in the first century.

The end of the 70th week also coincided with the 2nd coming of Jesus. We go again to Matthew 24:²⁹ “Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, and the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken. ³⁰ Then will appear in heaven the sign of the Son of Man, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.” That coming also had to happen within that generation (24:34). That is consistent with Jesus’ other predictions that his 2nd coming would be within the lifetime of those he was speaking to (Matthew 10:23; 16:27,28; 26:64), which could only refer to his coming in judgment on the Jews in 70 AD at the destruction of the temple. There are no other predictions by Jesus in the gospels of a “coming back” at some time beyond 70 AD or in our future.

Yes this view of the 70 weeks prophecy leaves a gap between the end of the. 69th week and the beginning of the 70th week. If not, then the 70th week would have to be the 7 years immediately following the death of Jesus at the end of the 69th week and that would not put the end of the 70th week to be 70 AD which we have established that it must be so. So the end of the 69th week is around 30 AD. The 70th week ends at 70 AD, so the 7 years of the 70th week must begin at 63 AD. That makes a gap of about 33 years. Why would there be such a gap? B/c even though Jesus predicted his 2nd coming to be within that generation, he also said that no one, even he, knew the exact time of the 2nd coming. So there had to be a gap where the 1st century Christians were waiting for the imminent 2nd coming but did not know the exact date. They had to be ready at all times. They could only watch for the signs of the 2nd coming such as the surrounding of Jerusalem by the Gentile army (the Romans) and the tribulation or suffering of the Jews during the wars of the Jews (67-70 AD). Those Jewish Christians who heeded Jesus’ warnings in Matthew 24 escaped the city before the final siege and safely fled to Pella according to Eusebius.

Daniel 12 also predicts a tribulation at the end of the age, at the end time. Daniel 12:1 “Now at that time Michael, the great prince who stands guard over the sons of your people, will arise. And there will be a time of distress such as never occurred since there was a nation until that time; and at that time your people, everyone who is found written in the book, will be rescued.” Again, Jesus said that tribulation surrounding the abomination of desolation was to happen within the generation he was speaking to. Matthew 24:²¹ For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been from the beginning of the world until now, no, and never will be.” He is saying that Daniel’s prediction of a tribulation at the end time was fulfilled in the tribulation experienced by the Jews in the destruction of Jerusalem. During Titus’ siege of the city, the Jews in the city suffered greatly with hunger, resorting to cannibalism. Josephus said that one million Jews died in the siege and another 200,000 were taken captive back to Rome as slaves. Those who say the tribulation of Matthew 24:21 is still to be fulfilled in our future are wrong! They mistakenly propose some tribulation just before Jesus comes back and begins his supposed millennial reign.

The 70th week wil also bring several Messianic blessings. Daniel 9:²⁴ “Seventy weeks have been decreed for your people and your holy city, to finish the wrongdoing, to make an end of sin, to make atonement for guilt, to bring in everlasting righteousness, to seal up vision and prophecy, and to anoint the Most Holy Place. The Messiah the Prince (9:25) finish the sins of the nation by judgment on the wicked Jews in 70 AD, end the grip that sin and death have on believers, provide atonement for sins through the death of Jesus, bring in righteousness imputed to believers through faith in Jesus, fulfill all the. prophecies of the Old Testament (Luke 21:22) and thus no more prophecies to fulfill after 70 AD, and anoint the new Most Holy Place in heaven when Jesus enters bringing His blood to the Father for our sins. If the 70th week hasn’t happened yet, then we don’t yet have these wonderful Messianic blessings. But by 70 AD, the plan of redemption was finished once for all time and believers have these blessings.

Finally, Daniel 12 also predicts a resurrection at the end time, at the end, at the end of the age. Daniel 12:² And many of those who sleep in the dust of the ground will awake, these to everlasting life, but the others to disgrace and everlasting contempt.” In the Old Testament, both the righteous and the unrighteous went to the hadean world, probably the state described in the parable of the rich man and Lazarus. The righteous would be in comfort in Abraham’s bosom and unrighteous would be in torment. As we have seen, Jesus’ words in Matthew 24 show us that this resurrection of Daniel 12:2 would occur at the end of the age in 70 AD. The dead of the OT would be raised in 70 AD to receive their final sentencing: eternal life or eternal contempt. Paul said that resurrection of Daniel 12:2 was the “hope of Israel” and that it was “about to happen” when he spoke in Acts 24: ¹⁴ `And I confess this to thee, that, according to the way that they call a sect, so serve I the God of the fathers, believing all things that in the law and the prophets have been written, ¹⁵ having hope toward God, which they themselves also wait for, [that] there is about to be (Greek word mello which always means “about to be” in the NT) a rising again of the dead, both of righteous and unrighteous” (Young’s Literal Translation). Where did the prophets predict a resurrection. In Daniel 12:2! Hades was thrown into the lake of fire and brimstone in 70 AD so hades no longer exist. Revelation 20:¹³ And the sea gave up the dead who were in it, Death and Hades gave up the dead who were in them, and they were judged, each one of them, according to what they had done. ¹⁴ Then Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire.” After 70 AD, believers would go directly to be with Jesus and enjoy eternal life.

If you are still reading, thanks. If all this is a little too much, just remember that Jesus basically said that the 70 weeks prophecy ended in 70 AD. That should ease your mind (or the mind of others whom you talk to who might be concerned due to false teaching) when you hear predictions about the 70th week being fulfilled in our future. It should also be comforting that we have all those wonderful Messianic blessings now. We are not still waiting for them to be delivered.

First, what is eschatology? Eschatology is the study of the end times and the “last things” (the 2nd coming, the resurrection, the judgement). There are 5 basic views of eschatology. The word “millennial” is based on the 1,000 years (a millennium) of Revelatioin 20 that Christ and the saints will reign for a thousand years, the end of which will be the battle of Armageddon.

1)A millennial –Realized Millennial. (Greek: a – “no” + millennialism) is the view in Christian eschatology which states that Christ is presently reigning through the Church and that the “1000 years” of Revelation 20:1-6 is a metaphorical reference to the present church age which will culminate in Christ’s return (the 2nd coming). .

2_ Post-Millennial – The 2nd coming will be at the end of the millennium. This was a popular view in the 19th and 20th centuries among abolitionists and social gospel reformers who hoped to create a 1,000 years of social reform that would enable the 2nd coming to happen.

3) Pre-Millennial – Historical. After the tribulation, the 2nd coming will be the beginning of the millennium. From gotquestions.org “Historic premillennialism was held by a large majority of Christians during the first three centuries of the Christian era. Many of the church fathers such as Ireneaus, Papias, Justin Martyr, Tertullian, Hippolytus, and others taught that there would be a visible kingdom of God upon the earth after the return of Christ. Historic premillennialism taught that the Antichrist would appear on earth and the seven-year tribulation would begin. Next would be the rapture, and then Jesus and His church would return to earth to rule for a thousand years When Christianity became the official religion of Rome in the fourth century, many things began to change, including acceptance of historic premillennialism. Amillennialism soon became the prevailing doctrine of the Roman Catholic Church.”

4) Pre-Millennial – Dispensational. A 2nd coming to rapture the church, followed by a 2nd coming with the church after the tribulation that will begin the millennium. 7 periods or dispensations are emphasized:

Here is a chart that compares the first 4 views of eschatology. There are several variations of some of these views, but this chart summarizes the basics.

5) Preterism. Preterism is a Christian belief that most or all Bible prophecies have already happened. The term comes from the Latin word preter, which means “past”. Full preterism believes that all have already happened by 70 AD when the Romans destroyed Jerusalem and the temple. The resurrection, the 2nd coming, and the judgment all happened at 70 AD. The millennium is the 40 year period from the beginning of the church on the day of Pentecost (Acts 2) in 30 AD to 70 AD (thus the 1,000 years of Revelation 20 is a figurative number, not a literal 1,000 years). The new heavens and new earth is the new Messianic system and age that replaced the old heavens and earth (i.e. the Jewish system and age). The new Jerusalem is the church that replaced the old Jerusalem that was destroyed in 70 AD. The new temple (Ezekiel 40-48) is the church in which God dwells.

Does eschatology even matter? Is it even important or worth the time to study eschatology? Isn’t faith in Jesus and living the Christian life all that really matters?

One’s view of eschatology is not necessarily a “heaven/hell” issue that a believer must understand correctly in order to be saved. No one will get to the pearly gates and be refused entrance b/c he/she misunderstood the correct view of eschatology above. One’s view of eschatology could, however, cause a believer to lose faith in the Bible prophecies and lose faith in the Bible being the inerrant word of God if that particular view of eschatology was proven to be false. That could in turn cause him/her to lose faith in the central message of the Bible, which is salvation by grace through faith in the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus as the sacrifice for our sins. If you think the Bible prophecies did not come true as predicted, then the Bible is full of false prophesy. Why would you believe that the Bible is right about the salvation part if you think it is wrong about the eschatology part?

I would encourage you to stop now and read this article https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Disappointment about the “great disappointment of 1843 AD. William Miller had predicted the 2nd coming would be in 1843 based on Daniel 8. People sold their possessions and waited on house tops on October 22, 1844 but nothing happened. “Henry Emmons, a Millerite, later wrote, ‘I waited all Tuesday [October 22] and dear Jesus did not come;—I waited all the forenoon of Wednesday, and was well in body as I ever was, but after 12 o’clock I began to feel faint, and before dark I needed someone to help me up to my chamber, as my natural strength was leaving me very fast, and I lay prostrate for 2 days without any pain—sick with disappointment’.” The followers of Miller were mocked after the prediction failed. Most of the Millerites did not lose their faith in the Bible. They came up with possible explanations for the failure and started new groups. One of those groups started when Hiram Edson theorized that Christ did return on Oct 22, 1844 but his return was an invisible event in heaven where he entered the Most Holy Place in the heavenly sanctuary and began investiagative judgment that would end in his visible 2nd coming. Ellen G. White became the prophetess of this group which became the Seventh Day Adventists. She taught that a major fault of Milerism was the church worship on Sunday instead of the sabbath day. The 7DA’s meet on Saturday.

Another interesting group that eventually resulted from the great disappointment was the Baha’i faith. “Members of the Baháʼí Faith believe that Miller’s interpretation of signs and dates of the coming of Jesus were, for the most part, correct. They believe that the fulfillment of biblical prophecies of the coming of Christ came through a forerunner of their own religion, the Báb, who declared that he was the “Promised One” on May 23, 1844, and began openly teaching in Persia in October 1844.”

Most of the Millerites still kept their faith in the Bible, which is good. I think that was b/c people just generally believed that the Bible was the inerrant word of God back in the 19th century. They might admit that Miller was wrong on his date for the 2nd coming, but they would never say that he was right on the date but that the Bible had made a false prophecy about that date. So they just came up with possible explanations for the failure, hoping that someone else would figure out the correct interpretation of the Bible on the 2nd coming prediction. There have been many since then who predicted date for the 2nd coming. The Jehovah’s Witnesses predicted 1975. Herbert Armstrong of the Worldwide Church of God predicted 1936, and then 1942, and then 1972. Jeane Dixon predicted 1962 and later changed it to 2020. Charles Manson predicted that Helter skelter, an apocalyptic race war, would occur in 1969. Chuck Smith, the founder of Calvary Chapel predicted that the generation of 1948 would be the last generation and the world would end by 1981. In late 1976, Pat Robertson predicted on his The 700 Club TV programme that the end of the world would come in that year, but later changed it to 2007. Edgar Whisenant predicted in his book 88 Reasons Why the Rapture Could Be in 1988 that the Rapture of the Christian Church would occur between 11 and 13 September 1988. Harold Camping predicted the Rapture would occur on 6 September 1994. When it failed to occur he revised the date to 29 September and then 2 October of 1994, but eventually changed it to 2011. Isaac Newton predicted that Christ’s Millennium would begin in 2000 in his book Observations upon the Prophecies of Daniel, and the Apocalypse of St. John. Yisrayl Hawkins, pastor and overseer of The House of Yahweh, predicted in his February 2006 newsletter that a nuclear war would begin on 12 September 2006 (that one interests me b/c one of the young men I trained in Trinidad to be a preacher later converted to the House of Yahweh). Hal Lindsey ublished a book, The Late Great Planet Earth, suggesting Christ would return in the 1980s, probably no later than 1988. During and before 1999, there were widespread predictions of a Y2K computer bug that would crash many computers at midnight of 31 December 1999, causing malfunctions that would lead to major catastrophes worldwide, and that society would cease to function.

Things have changed since the 19th century when most in the U.S. believe the Bible to be the inerrant word of God. Now, only about half believe that the bible is the “inerrant” word of God, i.e. without errors, fully inspired by God. About 1/4 of the world population are Muslims and 7% are atheist or agnostic. Then there are the non Christian Jews (only 0.2% of the world population). There are about 16% that are “religiously unaffiliated” (not connected to any particular rellgion) made up of atheists, agnostics, and even believers in God who aren’t connected to a church (the “nones” in religious surveys). These groups do not believe that the Bible is the inerrant word of God. So, when they read of a failed prediction of the 2nd coming, they tend to say that means that the Bible is full of failed prophecies, that it is written by fallible men who make false predictions. They say that the Bible is not reliable and cannot be trusted.

That leads us to the core of the full preterism eschatology. Jesus predicted his own return or 2nd coming only 4 times in the synoptics (Matthew 10:23; 16:27,28; 24:30-34; 26:64 and in the parallel passages in Mark and Luke). In all 4 predictions, Jesus predicted that he would return within the lifetime of the people he was speaking to. In Matthew 24 He predicted ²⁹ “Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, and the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken. ³⁰ Then will appear in heaven the sign of the Son of Man, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. ³⁴ Truly, I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all these things take place. The Greek word for “generation” is genea and always in the New Testament refers to a 40 year period or the people living in a 40 year period.

He even predicted: Matthew 16:²⁷ `For, the Son of Man is about to (the Greek word is mello which always in the New Testament means something about to happen although most translators incorrectly translate it “certain to happen”) come in the glory of his Father, with his messengers, and then he will reward each, according to his work. ²⁸ Verily I say to you, there are certain of those standing here who shall not taste of death till they may see the Son of Man coming in his reign.’ Jesus is not predicting, as some claim, his transfiguration which occurred after he made this prediction b/c the context is a coming in judgment and the transfiguration was not such a coming. It is a clear prediction of the 2nd coming within the lifetime of those he was speaking to and that some of the ones he was speaking to would still be alive to see his 2nd coming. There is no plausible way to avoid this interpretation of what Jesus was predicting. The Muslims, atheists, and non Christian Jews see this and conclude that Jesus was a false prophet. I mean, what do we conclude about all those failed predictions by men that I mentioned earlier? We conclude they were false prophets and we should not want to follow those false prophets in their varioius groups they started. Why would anyone follow Jesus and be a Christian if he was a false prophet? I wouldn’t.

BTW, there are no other predictions in the synoptics by Jesus of a return or coming back other than those 4 mentioned. I challenge someone to find a verse where he predicts a coming back that it not within the generation of those he was speaking to. Surely it would be there if this is a core teaching of Christianity for the past 2,000 years. BTW the apostles taught the same thing about the 2nd coming. James said the “coming of the Lord is at hand” (James 5:8). Peter said “the end of all things is at hand” (1 Peter 4:7). Paul taught that the 2nd coming was “already at work” as he was writing 2 Thessalonians 2. Paul said that “we (including the Christians he was writing to) shall not all sleep (be dead) but we shall all be changed” (1 Corinthians 15:51) when the resurrection would happen and believers, dead or alive, would be given immortality. John said they were living in “the last hour” (1 John 2:18). God told John that the predictions in Revelation would “soon take place, the time is near” (Rev 1:1-3) and tied that to Rev 1:⁷ Behold, he is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him, even those who pierced him, and all tribes of the earth will wail on account of him.” He repeated that in Rev 22:6 that the predictions “must soon take place” and added “behold, I am coming soon” (22:7). He added “the time is near” (22:10) and “surely I am coming soon” (22:20). Quotations from the ESV.

The predictions by Jesus and the apostles of an imminent 2nd coming within the lifetime of those they were speaking or writing to is obvious. If these predictions didn’t come true, then Jesus and the apostles were false prophets. One could say they were just “mistaken”, but if that was so then they are not inerrant and how could we trust any of the rest of the things they wrote?

But just as with the great disappointment, many Christians see this problem with those predictions but it doesn’t cause them to lose their faith in the Bible where those predictions are found. Even C.S.Lewis said that Jesus was wrong in his prediction of an imminent 2nd coming but he still chose to follow Jesus an Christianity. They come up with other possible interpretations of those predictions. Some say “yes, Jesus and the apostles predicted an imminent 2nd coming that would occur in their lifetime, but due to the Jewish rejection of Jesus He postponed or delayed that imminent 2nd coming”. The Hebrew letter refutes that idea. Hebrews 10:³⁷ For, “Yet a little while, and the coming one will come and will not delay.” They try to make the word “soon” in Revelation 1 and 22 to mean “soon in God’s time frame, which could be thousands of years”. But John says “Rev 1:³ Blessed is the one who reads, and those who hear the words of the prophecy and keep the things which are written in it; for the time is near.” It should be obvious that the reason the readers should keep the things written was that the time was soon or near in their lifeime. What if I told my students at school, “you better study hard on this new material b/c we are have a test on it soon”. I obiously mean “soon” in their time frame.

Such possible explanations of how Jesus and the apostles’ predictions did not come true might suffice most Christians and not cause them to lose their faith in Jesus or the apostles, but it would hinder my faith greatly. It also gives the atheists, skeptics, Muslims, and non Christian Jews plenty of arguments against Jesus and Christianity (which is the case in many of their writings). Instead, we are called to “always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you” (1 Peter 3:15). I, for one, am going to try to make a defense (apologia: Defense, Answer, Apology) on behalf of Jesus and God’s word. We get our word “apology” from that Greek word, but did not mean an apology for us being Christians. “ In the New Testament, “apologia” refers to a formal defense or justification of one’s beliefs, actions, or position. It is often used in the context of defending the Christian faith against accusations or misunderstandings. The term implies a reasoned argument or explanation, rather than a mere excuse.” Sometime it seems that Christians apologize for being Christians who claim that Jesus is the only way of salvation. For many, they seem to be apologizing for Jesus’ predictions of an imminent 2nd coming that didn’t come true, like “I know he said that but it didn’t really mean that or he didn’t really mean it like it sounds, but He is still the Savior”. I might say something radical that offends someone, and a friend of mine might try to apologize for what I said, “oh, he didn’t really mean that”.

Back to the 5 views of eschatology. The only view that fits the facts is the “full preterism” view. Again, this whole discussion might seem like a waste of time to some. “Interesting, but who cares. Eschatology doesn’t really matter”. But to some, a correct interpretation of Jesus and the apostles’ predictions of the 2nd coming might increase their faith in the Bible as the inerrant word of God. That in turn might increase their faith that the core message of salvation in Jesus is true. I had a friend recently tell me that this was indeed the case for her husband.

A correct understanding of all this should help us appreciate the church, which is the spiritual kingdom that Jesus said was “at hand” (Mark 1:15). He said ““My kingdom is not of this world. If my kingdom were of this world, my servants would have been fighting, that I might not be delivered over to the Jews. But my kingdom is not from the world.” (John 18:36). He never came to establish an earthly kingdom, nor will he come back to establish one in our future. Believing that Jesus will return to set up an earthly, physical kingdom (like the OT kingdom of David) keeps many from: Eph 3:²¹ to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever.” It puts an emphasis on possible future physical blessings instead of the spiritual blessings that we have right now in Jesus and in the church.

I hope this article is helpful to someone, or at least food for thought! Thanks for reading (i.e. if you made it reading it to the end!).

(AI) “Preterism is a Christian belief that some or all of the Bible’s prophecies have already happened in history. The word comes from the Latin word praeter, which means “past” or “beyond”.” Most Bible scholars are “partial preterists” b/c they beleve many Bible prophecies have already happened. Some even believe that many of the new testament prophecies were fulfilled at the 70 AD destruction of the temple and of Jerusalem (prophecies that are often said to have not happened yet as of today). Few are “full preterists” who say that all the Bible prophecies have already happened, including the 2nd coming, the resurrection of the dead, the 70th week of Daniel, the new heavens and earth, the new Jerusalem, etc. This article: what factors would make someone move from partial preterism to full preterism?

1. Jesus predicts that his 2nd coming would be within the lifetime of those he was speaking to. There are only 4 times in the synoptics where he predicts a 2nd coming or coming again: Matthew 10:23; 16:27,28; 24:30-34; 26:64. (My blog article “the 2nd coming of Jesus”). That either happened as Jesus predicted in the next 40 years after he predicted it (the word genea in Matthew 24:34 always means a 40 year period or tehe people living in a 40 year period in the NT), or else Jesus: 1) is a false prophet, or 2) he was mistaken (as C.S.Lewis claimed) which would make him a false prophet, or 3) he did predict an imminent 2nd coming but “delayed it” (Hebrews 10:37 refutes any delay theories: “³⁷ for yet a very very little, He who is coming will come, and will not tarry”). Matthew 16:27-28 and Mark 8:38-9:1 is a key point. Some of those he was speaking to would still be alive at his 2nd coming. Matthew 16:28 ²⁸ Verily I say to you, there are certain of those standing here who shall not taste of death till they may see the Son of Man coming in his reign.'” Matthew 16:27 even uses the word mello (which always means “about to”) “For the Son of Man is “about to come” (usually translated incorrectly as “will come” except in Young’s Literal Translation). Some say the was predicting the Mount of Transfiguration that would happen soon after in Mt 17, but notice that these 2 parallel passages are both “coming in judgement” passages (“and then he will repay each person according to what he has done”). There was no judgment on the Mount of Transfiguration. Jesus’ coming in judgment ( 2nd coming) in 70 AD to judge the evil Jews who rejected him as the Messiah fulfills Jesus’ predictions of an imminent 2nd coming. Those predictions involve some figurative language such as the “stars falling” (Matthew 24:29) which can easily be seen to have a figurative not literal fulfillment based on OT predictions that use the same language to describe the destruction of Babylon, for example (Isaiah 13).
2. I challenge you to find a verse in the gospels where Jesus predicts a “coming back” that is not to be fulfilled in the lifetime of those he is speaking to. Don’t you think that there would be a verse that did that? So why am I a “heretic” for defending Jesus’ credibility as a prophet just b/c I believe that what he predicted came true exactly as he predicted? I would never make full preterism a heaven or hell issue, just as I would not make any eschatological beliefs a heaven or hell issue (such as premillennialism or postmillennialism). But I just don’t understand why some would say I am a heretic for believing that Jesus’ predictions came true exactly as he predicted. The 3 options above if his predictions did not come true as predicted are just not acceptable. Some full preterists claim that it is heresy not to believe that the 2nd coming was in 70 AD but I don’t take that position although I think there is a lot at stake here. Unbelieving Jews, atheists, and Muslims all claim that Jesus is a false prophet b/c they say his predictions did not come true as predicted, and you can see why they would say that if indeed his predictions did not come true as predicted.
3. Believing that the resurrection of the dead occurred at 70 AD is one of the hardest hurdles to overcome in moving from partial to full preterism. But here are some points to consider. Acts 24:¹⁴ `And I confess this to thee, that, according to the way that they call a sect, so serve I the God of the fathers, believing all things that in the law and the prophets have been written,¹⁵ having hope toward God, which they themselves also wait for, [that] there is about to be a rising again of the dead, both of righteous and unrighteous” (YLT). Paul is saying 2 things: 1) the resurrection of the dead was “about to” (mello) happen, and 2) the Law and Prophets predicted this resurrection that was about to happen. So where did the prophets predict a resurrection of the righteous and unrighteous? Daniel 12:² And many of those who sleep in the dust of the ground will awake, these to everlasting life, but the others to disgrace and everlasting contempt. That is the only place in the OT that predicts this resurrection. And yet Paul says it is “about to happen”. So is Paul mistaken (which is untenable since it would make him not inspired and how would we know which of his writings are inspired and which are not?. Is Paul just another false prophet who thinks the 2nd coming and resurrection are imminent but is wrong? The whole chapter 12 in Daniel is about the “end time” , “the end”, the “tribulation of the Jewish nation” (which Jesus spoke of in Mt 24, a tribulation that had to occur within that generation Matthew 24:34), and the “abomination of desolation” (the destruction and desecration of the temple). Jesus said in Matthew 24:15 that the abomination of desolation as predicted by Daniel would be fulfilled within the lifetime of the generation living when he was saying this (Matthew 24:34 the word genea in the NT always refers to a 40 year period or the people living in a 40 year period). So Daniel 12:2 is also referring to a resurrection of the dead at the end of the age in 70 AD. Paul said that resurrection was about to happen. All the dead in the OT went to Hades to await their resurrection and final judgment of eternal life or eternal destruction in 70 AD. In 70 AD they were raised, not bodily to be seen, but spiritually just as Paul predicted. I believe that happened just as Paul predicted, or else Paul is a false prophet. Paul gives further detail on this resurrection in 1 Corinthians 15. He says that some of those he is writing to would still be alive at the resurrection. 15:⁵¹ Behold, I am telling you a mystery; we will not all sleep, but we will all be changed.” He says that the believers, whether dead or alive at the resurrection (the Daniel 12:2 resurrection) will be given “immortality”. 15:⁵³ For this perishable must put on the imperishable, and this mortal must put on immortality. ⁵⁴ But when this perishable puts on the imperishable, and this mortal puts on immortality, then will come about the saying that is written: “Death has been swallowed up in victory.” Is Paul mistaken about this prediction also? This resurrection to immortality occurred within their lifetime in 70 AD. All believers since that date receive immortality when they believe (they can lose it if they fall from grace) and as Jesus said in John 11, “they will live even if they die (physically)”. So the belief that the resurrection of the dead occurred at 70 AD is not only Biblical, but is not a big hurdle in going from partial to full preterism.
4.  The other NT writers and apostles also predicted an imminent 2nd coming. James 5:⁸ You too be patient; strengthen your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is near.” Is James a false prophet? 1 Peter 4:⁵ who shall give an account to Him who is ready (hetoimós: Ready, prepared) to judge living and dead… ⁷ The end of all things is near (eggizó: To draw near, to approach, to come near: same word as used in Mark 14:42 he who betrays me is “at hand”).” Is Peter the apostle a false prophet? What about the apostle John? He said that the events predicted in the book of Revelation were to take place “soon” (1:1), “the time is near (eggus: Near, close, at hand)” (1:3), “soon take place” (22:6), “the time is near” (22:10). The book is about the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 AD, a follow up of all that Jesus predicted in Mt 24, Mk 13, and Lk 21. But it is also about the 2nd coming: Rev 1:⁷ Behold, He is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see Him, even those who pierced Him; and all the tribes of the earth will mourn over Him. So it is to be. Amen.” John says repeated that Jesus said “I am coming quickly” (2:16; 3:11; 22:12,20)”. Some say that just means “swiftly” but it obviously means “soon” since the events were “about to happen” (mello which always means “about to happen” in the NT) (1:19; 2:10; 3:10,16; 6:11; 8:13; 12:5). So is John the apostle a false prophet also? Let’s throw in another prediction by Paul here. 2 Timothy 4:1I do fully testify, then, before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who is about to (mello) judge living and dead at his manifestation and his reign (YLT).” This fits an AD 70 judgment also.
5. The book of Hebrews also predicts the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 AD and the 2nd coming. Hebrews 9:²⁸ so Christ also, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time for salvation without reference to sin, to those who eagerly await Him.” But when would this 2nd appearing or coming happen? Hebrews 10:³⁷ For yet in a very little while,
   He who is coming will come, and will not delay.” That 2nd appearing or coming would be in a very little while. That can only refer to his 2nd coming in 70 AD or else the writer of the Hebrew letter is a false prophet. The letter also predicts that the old covenant is “about to disappear” (8:13), which would fit 70 AD when the temple was destroyed, no more animal sacrifices since then, no more priests, and replaced with the new covenant. The book was definitely written before 70 AD: Hebrews 9:⁸ The Holy Spirit is signifying this, that the way into the holy place has not yet been disclosed while the outer tabernacle is still standing.” The verb “is” indicates that the temple “is” still standing at the time the letter was written. It would be destroyed in 70 AD. Unfortunately a lot of the translations have “was still standing” which is not the accurate verb tense in Greek. Hebrews 6:5 predicts the new age (i.e. the Messianic Age) that is “about to come” (mello). Hebrews 13:14 predicts a city (i.e. the new Jerusalem) that is “about to come” (mello). We don’t know who wrote the Hebrew letter, but whoever wrote it (and Paul did not write it) did so before 70 AD and his/her predictions would come true in 70 AD. He/she was truly inspired by the Holy Spirit.
6. We must discuss 2 Thessalonians as a separate point since it is mainly about the 2nd coming. Chapter 1 says that Jesus will be revealed from heaven (i.e. the 2nd coming) to give relief to the Thessalonian Christians who are being afflicted or persecuted. Paul had said in 1 Thess 2:14 that they were being persecuted by their Jewish non believing countrymen but “wrath has come upon them (i.e. the Jewish unbelievers who were killed in 70 AD) fully.” (2:17). The main persecutors and killers of the Jewish Christians during the transition period from AD 30-70 were the Jewish unbelievers like Saul. Jesus’ 2nd coming in 70 AD would have the Romans killing a million evil Jews who rejected Jesus as the Messiah, so 2 Thess 1 certainly fits that context of giving the believers relief. It is always important that we. understand “audience relevance”, i.e. how does a passage relate to the audience it was written to. But some were saying that the 2nd coming “had already come” (2 Thess 2:2). Paul then goes on to say that before the 2nd coming there would be an “apostasy” (which could be a falling away of believers or it could be the Jewish revolt in years preceding 70 AD), and a “man of sin” would come with lying signs and wonders. This man of sin would claim to be god and would sit in God’s temple. This can only refer to Titus. Once the temple is destroyed in 70 AD, there is no temple for the man of sin to sit in, which eliminates all the many predictions of who the man of sin is (such as the papacy, some future Antichrist). Some person was holding that man of sin back at the time of writing, but 2 Thess 2:⁷ For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work; only He who now restrains will do so until He is removed. ⁸ Then that lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord will eliminate with the breath of His mouth and bring to an end by the appearance of His coming.” These verses tell us that this process was already at work at the time of writing. The man of sin was living at the time of writing. The man of sin (living at that time) would be judged at Jesus’ coming or appearing, which means the 2nd coming would have to be within the lifetime of those Paul is writing to.” Again, is Paul inspired? Did these things happen within the lifetime of those he was writing to or is he a false prophet? Paul had already spoken of the 2nd coming in the first letter to the Thessalonians: 1 Thess 1:10; 2:19; 3:13; 5:2. Would that no be the same 2nd coming that he gave further discussion on in 2 Thessalonians? I think so! So those verses in 1 Thess are talking about the 2nd coming within their lifetime, in 70 AD. That brings us to another somewhat of a hurdle to full preterism in 1 Thess 4:13-18. The early Christians in the transition period from 30-70 AD all expected Jesus’ 2nd coming to be imminent, in their lifetime. Why would they think that? As James Stuart Russell said, “because Jesus and the apostles told them it would be imminent in their lifetime!” So they were concerned when a few of their loved ones also believers, died before the 2nd coming (70 AD), that they would not be alive to receive and immortality at the 2nd coming. Paul says, “don’t worry about them. Jesus will bring them with him when he comes (1 Thess 4:14). Apparently during this transition period the dead believers (and martyrs) would go directly to be with Jesus when they died. They would not go to hades like all the dead in the OT. Revelation 20:4 speaks of this “first resurrection” of those martyred during the transition period as occurring at the beginning of the 100 year reign of Christ. The “rest of the dead”, i.e. the dead of the OT who were waiting in hades for their resurrection in 70 AD at the end of the age (Daniel 12:2; Acts 24:15), would not be raised till the end of the 1000 years which would be in 70 AD. At the end of the 1000 years, Gog and Magog (Rome) would “surround the beloved city (i.e. Jeruslem), so if that is something that has to happen “soon” or “shortly” then the end of the 1000 years would be the Romans sieging and detroying the city of Jerusalem. That means that the 1000 years is a figurative number (as often done in Revelation) and is the 40 years from AD 30 to AD 70. That destroys the theories about Christ coming in our future to set up a 1000 year reign on earth (the millennium) that many preach about today. BTW Jesus said that his kingdom was “not of this earth” (John 18:36); his kingdom that was “at hand” when he spoke (Mark 1:15) was the spiritul kingdom, the church, that began in 30 AD. Back to 1 Thess 4. Paul goes on to say that those already dead in Christ (those Jesus is bringing with him) will join those still alive to meet Jesus when he comes. Those alive would be caught up together with those dead to meet Jesus when he comes and “will always be with the Lord” (4:17). Some say this is the “rapture” of saints before or at the 2nd coming. Is this not the same 2nd coming as in 2 Thessalonians, which would be in 70 AD? If so, then this is not a prediction of some rapture of saints that will occur in our future at some future 2nd coming of Jesus. It is simply a reference to a common practice of that day. If a dignitary or king came to visit a city, the residents of the city would go out to meet the king and then the king would go with them into the city to be with them in person. Paul is saying that those living would figuratively meet Jesus as He came to earth in His 2nd coming, after which Jesus would go with them and abide with them in their presence. He is not taking anyone back to heaven. He is coming to make His presence with the believers on earth in the church. From the 2nd coming in 70 AD on Jesus has dwelt by faith in believers in the new Jerusalem, i.e. the church (Rev 21:1-4). But the main point here is that 1 Thess 4:13-18 must be talking about the same 2nd coming as in 2 Thess, which would be in their lifetime, in 70 AD. So forget all the rapture ideas that you here. We believers have already been caught up with Jesus’ presence in the church.
7. In closing, I hope this will be helpful for someone who is a partial preterist but is contemplating becoming a full preterist. If you do become a full preterist, you are not going to be a heretic, at least in my estimation even if some would consider that to be heresy. You must be willing to go where the Scriptures lead you even if it goes against 2,000 years of church orthodoxy and doctrine. I am more interested in what the Bible says than what people say that it says.
8. If you just don’t want to consider all this as worth studying, that’s fine. It is not a heaven or hell issue (no eschatological theory is a heaven or hell issue). Just keep trusting in Jesus for eternal life and doing good works to glorify God. That is what really matters, not eschatology. But some of us, like I, must study and teach about this issue in light of all the false teaching that is currently being taught. Thanks for reading and I hope this article has been helpful to some.

Jesus clearly predicted that his 2nd coming (coming back) would be within the lifetime of those he was speaking to and that some would still be alive at his 2nd coming (Mt 10:23; 16:27-28; 24:30-34; 26:64; Mark 8:38-9:1). See the article “Was Jesus a false prophet” for more discussion on that. If he did not return within their lifetime as predicted, then he is a false prophet (Deut 18:20-22). I believe he did just what he predicted and came back in judgment on the wicked Jews in 70 AD, killing 1 million Jews, destroying the temple and the city of Jerusalem. That was the “2nd coming” of Jesus, just as he predicted.

But those who say that he did not come back soon as he predicted must come us with an explanation as to why he did not. I think this would have started soon after 70 AD. If someone living in 70 AD did not understand that his 2nd coming was coming in judgment using the Romans in 70 AD, then that person would keep looking for his 2nd coming, thinking that it would still be soon just as Jesus predicted. That thinking might continue for, let’s say, another 25 years after 70 AD. But by the year 100 AD, it would be 70 years after Jesus made his imminent 2nd coming predictions, and that would be getting past that time that would be “within that generation that Jesus spoke to”. But maybe, they might say, give it a few more years. So in 120 AD, some are still looking for Jesus to come soon, but now it is 90 years after Jesus made his predictions and no longer “within that generation” and no one would still be alive to see his 2nd coming (Mark 8:38-9:1). Now Jesus’ credibility as a prophet starts to be called into question. But who is bold enough to say that Jesus was mistaken and that he is just another false prophet, which is what the unbelieving Jews and Muslims and atheists say about Jesus b/c he supposedly didn’t return soon like he predicted.

So another explanation is needed to make Jesus’ predictions not look like false predictions. So Maybe he did predict that would return soon, but he delayed that return because the Jews rejected him as the Messiah. Now we can’t ignore his predictions about the coming kingdom. He predicted that “the kingdom of heaven is at hand” (Mark 1:15). He predicted that some would still be alive to see him “coming in his kingdom” (Mark 9:1). That kingdom of God (or of heaven, the same) was the 5th kingdom in Daniel 2:44-45. Nebuchanezzar’s dream was a statue. Daniel said the statue was 4 kingdoms in succession: Babylon, Medo-Persia, Grecian, Rome. Daniel 2:44-45 God said that he would set up his kingdom, a 5th kingdom, in the days of the Roman Empire. Jesus, in 27 AD, said that 5th kingdom, God’s kingdom, was at hand which was indeed during the Roman Empire.

I include all that b/c the Jews expected the Messiah to set up a physical kingdom just like the kingdom of David with the Messiah exerting physical power over all the nations around them, including defeating the Romans. The Jews would have accepted Jesus as the Messiah if he did that, but he did not. Instead, he said: John 18:³⁶ Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not of this world. If my kingdom were of this world, my servants would have been fighting, that I might not be delivered over to the Jews.” But was the kingdom at hand as he predicted, or is he a false prophet on that prediction also? Was that kingdom established soon after his prediction? Yes, but not a physical kingdom. Instead, he established the church, a spiritual kingdom. That spiritual kingdom was established in Acts 2 in 30 AD when Peter preached the first completed gospel sermon and 3,000 were baptized and added to the church, which is “the saved”.

Thus we can see why most all the Jews, except for a “remnant” rejected Jesus as the Messiah b/c they didn’t think he established a physical kingdom. Also, if his imminent 2nd coming was to establish an imminent kingdom, you can see why they did not believe that he did indeed come back soon as he predicted. They would say that if the 2nd coming was in 70 AD, then he would have established a physical kingdom in 70 AD, but he did not (according to them). Therefore, according to them, his 2nd coming could not have been in 70 AD.

Thus the nature of the kingdom that Jesus established is tied directly to his predictions of an imminent 2nd coming. So in the 2nd century, most would still expect Jesus to come back in that century, a delayed coming but still relatively soon (instead of let’s say 2,000 years later). But they would also still expect his return to establish a physical kingdom.

Back to the delayed idea. Since, according to them, he did not establish a physical kingdom in 70 AD, then his 2nd coming could not have been in 70 AD. He did predict an imminent 2nd coming and imminent kingdom to be established, but since the Jews rejected him he must have delayed both his imminent prediction of his coming and his kingdom. But did he? There are no scriptures where Jesus or the apostles said that. he delayed those predictions. As a matter of fact, Hebrews 10 destroys that ided. Hebrews 10:³⁷ for yet a very very little, He who is coming will come, and will not tarry (delay)” That has to be referring to his 2nd coming. He wil not delay that coming. That destroys the “delayed coming” idea completely.

So, when did early Christians give up on the idea that Jesus was not coming back soon and that he wasn’t going to establish an earthly kingdom soon (as he predicted for both). Basically for 2,000 years many just tried to predict a date for the 2nd coming based on a variety of texts and world events.

180 AD, Montanism grew from the teaching of Montanus in Phrygia as a reaction against a growing laxity in the established church. Two women, Priscilla and Maximilla left their husbands to follow him. They desired to see the use of spiritual gifts to continue, emphasising tongues and prophecy. Initially they were accepted as part of the church and later considered as heretical.They expected the imminent end of the age and establishment of the millennium in Pepuza, a small village in Asia Minor.

180 AD. Around the time of Montanus at least two bishops, one in Pontus and one in Syria, were expecting the early return of Christ. One bishop in Pontus declared that the last judgement would come in two years and those who believe him ceased to cultivate their fields and rid themselves of houses and goods. The bishop in Syria led his flock into the wilderness to meet Christ. (Latourette p.128-129).

250 AD. Commodianus, who lived in Palestine, saw prophetic overtones to the persecution commanded by the emperor Decius (249-251). He listed seven persecutions that the church had suffered and likened them to the seven last plagues in the book of Revelation. The end of the world is at hand. Rome is the Antichrist, and this is the last persecution which represents the return of Nero. But Nero will be destroyed by a Jewish antichrist marching at the head of a Persian host. He in turn will be slain by angels and cast in to the lake of fire. The lost tribes will then return to Zion and God will come for judgement and to destroy the wicked. (Wand p.101).

500 AD. Both Hippolytus (c 170 – c 236) and Augustine (354 – 430) believed in the ‘Cosmic week’. Jesus had come in middle of sixth millennium, so they expected the end in AD 500.

1000 AD. An ancient chronicler tells us that it was widely believed that Jesus would return at the end of the first 1000 years of Christianity. As the last decade of the first millennium dawned, there was great apprehension and anticipation. With the birth of the year AD 999 certain amazing things began to happen. People began to listen to their church with whole-hearted seriousness. There was no stealing; cheating became almost unknown; bakers gave their bread away free of charge, and there was a constant cycle of confessions, absolutions, and communion.

1500 AD. Savonarola (1452-98) was a wandering prophet in Italy, predicting an imminent improvement on the earth before the final judgement. The social and political turmoil in Italy caused Savonarola to see the world as a battleground between good and evil. The last days were approaching with disaster for Florence and Italy, which would be averted if the people of Florence would repent. The coming antichrist would be defeated and the Turks and pagans would be converted. He saw Florence as Zion, the city of God, and himself as its prophet. He thought that Charles VIII of France was the last world emperor. He took control of Florence in 1494, before being defeated by the Medicis and being executed in 1498. (Kyle p.53).

1650 AD. Columbus’s motivation for exploration was partly religious. He wanted to sail west across the Atlantic Ocean in order to reach Asia directly. He did not know that America was in between. Inspired by the earlier crusades, his plan was to conquer Asia and take wealth from there to finance a crusade to the Middle East to capture the Holy Land from the Muslims, which he will lead himself. In order to persuade King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella of Spain to finance his fourth voyage to the ‘Indies’ he presented them with his ‘Book of Prophecies’. From the Bible, he had predicted that the world will end in 1650, and before then he would lead a crusade to liberate Jerusalem.

1666 AD. Many combined 1000 (the millennium) with 666 (the mark of the beast) to arrive at the date 1666. 1666 was the year of the plague followed by the Great Fire of London. The Quaker George Fox wrote that in 1666, every thunderstorm aroused end-time expectations (Kyle p.67-68).

1770 AD. In the late 1700s, the United Society of Believers in Christ’s Second Appearing also known as the Shakers, believed that the second coming of Christ would be through a woman. In 1770, Ann Lee became the leader of the Shakers and they believed she was revealed in “manifestation of Divine light” to be the second coming of Christ and was called Mother Ann.

1789 AD. Many English Bible interpreters thought that the French Revolution was the prophecies of Daniel chapter 7 and Revelation chapter 13 being fulfilled before their very eyes (Kyle p.72).

1843 or 1844 AD. William Miller (1782-1849) was a farmer from Western Massachusetts. After 14 years of intensive Bible study, he calculated the second coming in 1843 or early 1844. After it didn’t happen during that period, he re-calculated dates to 22nd October 1844. Many people were waiting in church on 22nd October, absolutely convinced that the Lord would appear during the service for all to see. His followers stayed together after the failed prediction and formed into the Seventh-Day Adventist Church. (Latourette p.1259) His calculations were quite elaborate, but his key was Daniel 8:14, the 2,300 days before the sanctuary will be cleansed. He said this described the second coming of Jesus, which would purge the world of evil and usher in the millennium. Miller took the 2,300 days to mean 2,300 years starting from 457 BC, when Ezra and 1,700 Jews returned to Jerusalem. This linked with the seventy weeks of years in Dan 9:24, so he counted back 490 years from AD 33 (the crucifixion) to arrive at 457 BC. Miller added 2,300 years to 457 BC to reach 1843. (Kyle p.89-93).

1874 AD (and several more). Charles Taze Russell (1852-1916), was the founder of the Jehovah’s Witnesses. He believed that Christ came in invisible form in 1874, and millennium had begun. (Latourette p. 1260). The Jehovah’s Witnesses are the most persistent date setters. The following years have been set by their leaders: 1874, 1878, 1881, 1910, 1914, 1918, 1925 and 1984 (Kyle p.93).

1890 AD. Joseph Smith of the Mormon church. In a revelation dated 2 April 1843, and published as scripture in Doctrine and Covenants 130:14–17, Smith states: “I was once praying very earnestly to know the time of the coming of the Son of Man, when I heard a voice repeat the following: Joseph, my son, if thou livest until thou art eighty-five years old, thou shalt see the face of the Son of Man; therefore let this suffice, and trouble me no more on this matter. I was left thus, without being able to decide whether this coming referred to the beginning of the millennium or to some previous appearing, or whether I should die and thus see his face. I believe the coming of the Son of Man will not be any sooner than that time”. Smith was born December, 1805, which would put that date at no earlier than 1890. 

1934 (and other dates) AD. Herbert W. Armstrong (Worldwide Church of God of Prophecy) had previously predicted^{[citation needed]} in a 1934 edition of The Plain Truth magazine that Christ would return in 1936. After that prediction failed, he stated in a 1940 edition of The Plain Truth^{[citation needed]} that “Christ will come after 3 1/2 years of tribulation in October 43.” After those failed predictions and loss of members he moved his operation from Oregon to Pasadena, California.

1988 AD. Hal Lindsey published a book, The Late Great Planet Earth, suggesting Christ would return in the 1980s, probably no later than 1988.

1988 AD. Whisenant wrote a book titled, ’88 reasons why the rapture will be in 1988′ which sold two million copies. He predicted the date of the rapture as being between the 11th and 13th September 1988. He reasoned that even though Jesus said that no one can know the day or the hour of his return, we can still know the month or the year. He even predicted the date of the beginning of World War III as 3rd October 1988.He later wrote another book titled ‘The Final Shout: Rapture Report 1989. What went wrong in 1988’, explaining errors in his calculations.

1994 AD. Harold Camping was the president of Family Radio in USA, predicted the world would end in September 1994. His book ‘1994?’, and its sequel ‘Are You Ready?’ used his own elaborate, rather unorthodox, system of dating, numerology and allegory pointing to the second coming being in September 1994. Even after the date, Camping still believed that Christ would return soon.

1999-2009 AD. Jerry Faldwell predicted the 2nd coming within these 10 years.

2020 AD. Jeane Dixon. The alleged psychic claimed that Armageddon would take place in 2020 and Jesus would return to defeat the unholy Trinity of the Antichrist, Satan and the False prophet between 2020 and 2037.^[48]

Most of these dates (and many more not included here) came from Julian Spriggs. Some of the dates came from Wikipedia.

https://www.julianspriggs.co.uk/pages/SecondComingDates. Sources: Carl E Armerding and W Ward Gasque – Handbook of Biblical Prophecy (Armerding/Gasque)
Richard Kyle – The Last Days are Here Again (Kyle)
Latourette – The History of Christianity (Latourette)
J.W.C. Wand – A History of the Early Church to AD 500 (Wand)

Obviously all of these predictions, and many others, failed. They failed b/c the 2nd coming was in 70 AD and there are no Biblical predictions of another “coming” (a 3rd?) after 70 AD.

So how did the views about the kingdom of God change over the centuries. Jesus had said the kingdom was “at hand” and that it was spiritual, not physical but Christians kept looking for a physical kingdom of God to be set up on earth. Many important authors from the first to fifth centuries believed in the Kingdom of God as a new age that would begin when Christ came (a physical kingdom on earth). The idea of the Kingdom of God was replaced by the idea of heaven or hell at death. Augustine’s rejection of the Kingdom in favor of heaven-at-death settled the matter for the Roman Catholic Church. We would call this view “a-millennial” (no millennial). Basically the Catholic Church became the kingdom on earth, a greedy physical kingdom. Groups on the margins of the institutional Reformation churches expected the Kingdom of God to come imminently. These groups formed sects based on this expectation of a physical kingdom to be set up on earth. Some groups today expect Christians to usher in the Kingdom of God on earth.

Most expect Jesus’ reign on earth to be 1,000 years (based on Revelation 20:⁴ And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given to them, and the souls of those who have been beheaded because of the testimony of Jesus, and because of the word of God, and who did not bow before the beast, nor his image, and did not receive the mark upon their forehead and upon their hand, and they did live and reign with Christ the thousand years.” Some believe that the 2nd coming will be before the millennium, thus premillennial. Others believe that the 2nd coming will be after the millennium, thus postmillennial. I believe the 1,000 years of Revelation 20:4 to be figurative, representing the 40 year period between 30 AD and 70 AD (the destruction of the temple and of the city Jerusalem). The end of the 1,000 years: Revelation 20:⁷ And when the thousand years may be finished, the Adversary shall be loosed out of his prison, ⁸ and he shall go forth to lead the nations astray, that are in the four corners of the earth — Gog and Magog — to gather them together to war, of whom the number [is] as the sand of the sea; ⁹ and they did go up over the breadth of the land, and did surround the camp of the saints, and the beloved city, and there came down fire from God out of the heaven, and devoured them.” This beloved city must be Jerusalem. All the events predicted in Revelation were to happen soon. Revelation 1:1 A revelation of Jesus Christ, that God gave to him, to shew to his servants what things it behoveth to come to pass quickly; and he did signify [it], having sent through his messenger to his servant John, ² who did testify the word of God, and the testimony of Jesus Christ, as many things also as he did see. ³ Happy is he who is reading, and those hearing, the words of the prophecy, and keeping the things written in it — for the time is nigh (near). Revelation 22: ⁶ And he said to me, `These words [are] stedfast and true, and the Lord God of the holy prophets did send His messenger to shew to His servants the things that it behoveth to come quickly. <sup>7</sup> Lo, I come quickly; happy [is] he who is keeping the words of the prophecy of this scroll.’ <sup>10</sup> And he saith to me, `Thou mayest not seal the words of the prophecy of this scroll, because the time is nigh. ¹² And lo, I come quickly, and my reward [is] with me, to render to each as his work shall be. ²⁰ he saith — who is testifying these things — `Yes, I come quickly!’ Amen! Yes, be coming, Lord Jesus!” Thus, the surrounding of the beloved city (Jerusalem) by Gog and Magog (Rome) had to happen soon after the time of writing (63 AD). That could only be fulfilled when Rome sieged Jerusalem in 70 AD. The end of the 1,000 year millennium would be 70 AD. So the millennium would be the 40 years from 30-70 AD. There is no future millennial reign of Christ to be set up on earth, a physical kingdom.

As you can see, there are so many false theories and predictions that contradict Jesus’ prediction of an imminent 2nd coming and his prediction of a spiritual kingdom that was “at hand” even as he spoke. All the false predictions and expectations had simply caused confusion and frustration among believers for the past 2,000 years.