Challenges Facing the 21st Century Church
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eschatology, literally “study of last things”
 “theology concerned with death, judgment, and
the final destiny of the soul and of humankind”
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70 A.D. false doctrine has been around since
the early 1900’s, though never popular
 saw a rise within the Lord’s church in the 70’s-80’s
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currently seeing a resurgence in churches
 sometimes causing divisions, sometimes not
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teaches that events we would associate with
the end of time figuratively occurred in 70 AD
with the destruction of Jerusalem
 second coming of Christ
 resurrection of the dead
 destruction of the world
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according to this doctrine, these have already
happened and will not happen again…
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essentially redefines all references to the end
of the world to be spiritual, not literal
 second coming of Christ  judgment on Jews
 resurrection of the dead  forgiveness of sins
 destruction of the world  end of Judaism

thus, prophecy was complete by 70 A.D. and
destruction of Jerusalem was pivotal event of
history, NOT death & resurrection of Christ
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concerning the second coming of Christ
 true, Scriptures speak of Christ coming to judge
Jerusalem (Mt. 24:29-31; cf. v.15-16, 33-34; Is. 19:1)
 second half of chapter speaks of different event,
literal coming at end of world (24:35-36; cf. v.1-3)
DESTRUCTION OF JERUSALEM
COMING OF THE LORD
“days” (v.19, 22, 29)
 “know” (v. 15, 33)
 abnormal times (v.4-13)
 warning (v.32-33)
 time to flee (v.16)
 limit, local (v.15-22)
 imminent (v. 15-16, 34)
 judgment on earth (v.15-18)
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“day” (v.36, 42, 44, 50)
 “know not” (v.36, 42, 44, 50)
 normal times (v.37-42)
 no warning (v.43-44)
 no time to flee (v.39)
 universal (25:31-46)
 delayed (v.48, 50; 25:5, 19)
 judgment in Heaven (25:31)

concerning the second coming of Christ
 true, Scriptures speak of Christ coming to judge
Jerusalem (Mt. 24:29-31; cf. v.15-16, 33-34; Is. 19:1)
 second half of chapter speaks of different event,
literal coming at end of world (24:35-36; cf. v.1-3)

2nd coming as literal as His going (Acts 1:9-11)
 clear sequence for the faithful (1 Thess. 4:13-18)
 clear sequence for the unfaithful (2 Thess. 1:6-10)
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concerning the resurrection of the dead
 true that Scriptures speak of spiritual resurrection
in certain contexts (Rom. 6:1-7)
 others are literal (Jn. 5:28-29)(Acts 23:6-8)
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our resurrection as literal as Christ’s (1 Cor. 15)
 no bodily resurrection = no hope (v.12-19)
 Christ first, then us at His coming (v.20-24)
 will be a bodily resurrection (v.35-49)
 some won’t die, but all will be changed (v.50-58)
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concerning the destruction of the world
 true that Scripture sometimes uses apocalyptic
language to indicate major events (Acts 2:14-21)
 others times it’s literal (2 Pet 3:1-13)

judgment fire as literal as Noah’s flood
 the material world will pass away (v.10)
 what is left, our spirits and resurrected spiritual
bodies, will then be sentenced (2 Cor. 4:16-5:10)
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if the truth is clear, why do some believe this?
 remember, Christians have long been deceived by
clearly false doctrines (Gal. 1:6-7; 3:1)(1 Jn. 4:1-3)
 including false teachings about the resurrection
(1 Cor. 15:12)(2 Tim. 2:16-18)
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ignoring contextual differences
 true that several prophecies, particularly OT, refer
to the destruction of Jerusalem
 if not careful, though, one may accept premise
that another passage must mean the same thing
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redefining simple passages from the difficult
 e.g. (1 Pet. 3:19; cf. 2 Cor. 5:10)
 instead, if you know the simple truth, let it bound
your understanding of difficult passages
 do not be distracted or deceived (2 Pet. 3:14-18)
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it must appeal to their desires in some way
 prideful in finding “new knowledge”? (Col. 2:1-8)
 quality of man’s heart is tested by truth of God’s
word (Mt. 13:18-23)
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are differences enough to affect fellowship?
 whichever one accepts, doesn’t affect their life or
their faith…or does it?
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70 A.D. doctrine has many consequences!
 overthrows faith (2 Tim. 2:16-18; cf. 1 Tim. 1:18-20)
 removes a source of hope and comfort
(1 Cor. 15:16-19)(1 Thess. 4:13-18), a reason for
pressing ahead (Phil. 3:11-12, 20-21)
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do we really have the same hope? (Eph. 4:1-6)
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how has such a non-lucrative false doctrine
troubled churches for so long?
 precisely because brethren have allowed it to
 if we allow false doctrine to go unchecked and
undisciplined, then should it surprise us when the
unlearned and unstable fall prey to it?
1
I charge you therefore before God and the Lord Jesus Christ,
who will judge the living and the dead at His appearing and His
kingdom: 2 Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of
season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and
teaching. 3 For the time will come when they will not endure
sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because
they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves
teachers; 4 and they will turn their ears away from the truth,
and be turned aside to fables. 5 But you be watchful in all
things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill
your ministry.