The AD 70 Doctrine: Realized Eschatology 6

Problems Regarding Resurrection

(1) Luke 20:34-36. NO marriage and no death after 70 A.D.! This consequence centers upon the view that the "last days" are to be defined as the closing period of the Jewish age, 30-70 A.D., with the "Eternal days" continuing from that point. "We are now (emp. King's) in that world 'which is to come' . . .instead of being in the last days (emp. King's) we are in eternal days (emp., King's), world without end (Eph. 3:21)" (Ibid., p. 81). So, in the New Testament, those who lived between 30-70 A.D. were in the "last days," while we now live in the "eternal days." However, in Luke 20:34-36, Jesus contrasts "this world" and "that world" following the resurrection of the dead, and concludes that while marriage occurs in "this world," it will not be so in "that world." Plus, those who "are accounted worthy to attain to that world, and the resurrection of the dead, . . . die no more" (vv. 35-36). Are people still marrying after 70 A.D.? Of course they are! Are they still dying? Most certainly! Is the period of Christianity in which we now live termed the "eternal days" in the New Testament? No! Otherwise, following 70 A.D., Christians would be prohibited from marrying, and neither could they die anymore! The A.D. 70 doctrine is false!

(2) Acts 24:15. The Pharisees and Paul looked for the same kind of resurrection. Here, it must be remembered that the A.D. 70 doctrine holds that the resurrection of the dead discussed in such places as 1 Corinthians 15 is the resurrection of Christianity out of Judaism (The Spirit of Prophecy, p. 200). But, if this is the truth of the matter, then the Pharisees held a very strange hope concerning the resurrection! Paul states that his accusers before Felix were looking for "a resurrection both of the just and unjust, " the same as- Paul. Must we conclude these Jewish accusers were looking forward to the day when Christianity would arise to dominance, while Judaism would be destroyed under God's wrath! Surely this is not what they were "looking for" (v. 15; Jn. 11:48-50), but we are told they were looking for the same resurrection Paul hoped for. Maybe the apostle Paul was wrong in his assessment of the Jews' hope, or, maybe the A.D. 70 doctrine is wrong in its assessment of the resurrection of the dead! What do you think!

(3) 1 Corinthians 15.20-23. The bodily resurrection of Jesus is called into doubt by this doctrine. Christ is presented as the "first fruits" (v. 20) of the dead, which identifies him as the beginning and the guarantor of a future, bodily resurrection (vv. 21-22,35-49). The resurrection of the dead endorsed by 1 Corinthians 15 is a future, bodily resurrection of mankind, based upon the fact of Christ's bodily resurrection. If, however, the body to be raised in 1 Corinthians 15 is "Christianity out of Judaism," why must we believe in the bodily resurrection of Christ? If the later fruit (resurrection of the dead – v. 21) is not the bodily resurrection of mankind, there is no real reason to believe the "first fruits" (vv. 20,23) was the bodily resurrection of Christ! (The first fruits and the later fruits must be the same type of fruit!) The whole issue of Jesus' bodily resurrection is called into doubt, and is a logical consequence of this doctrine. Are the proponents of the A.D. 70 doctrine ready to accept this consequence of their doctrine? If one will not accept the consequences of his position, he should renounce his position as the error that it is!

These are but three consequences regarding resurrection from the dead which logically result from the A.D. 70 doctrine. Like the error of Hymenaeus and Philetus (who said the resurrection is past already, 2 Tim. 2:16-18), the A.D. 70 doctrine "proceed(s) further in ungodliness," as it eats like a cankerous sore upon the souls of men, spreading its decay and overthrowing the faith of saints. The plea of this writer is that those who currently hold to this doctrine will see its destructive effects upon "the faith of some" (v. 18), and renounce their acceptance of it.

Problems Regarding Human Redemption

(1) Forgiveness of sins was not fully accomplished until 70 A.D. This doctrine. does not regard forgiveness of sins as an accomplished fact until 70 A.D. "When (emp., King's) would ungodliness be turned away from Jacob, or their sins be taken away? When Christ, the deliverer, came out of Zion. When (emp., King's) did Christ come out of Zion? Not at his first coming, but his second coming" (The Spirit of Prophecy p. 63; emp., King's). The cross of Christ is thus removed as the focal point and means of accomplishing forgiveness, and replaced by 70 A.D.! Such a consequence reduces the Scriptures to shambles, and makes deceptive the many appeals to people before 70 A.D. to receive the forgiveness of their sins through the death of Christ. In Acts 2:38, the apostle said, "Repent ye, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ unto the remission of your sins; and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit." This Jewish audience did not have to wait until 70 A.D. to have their sins remitted! Acts 22:16 gives instruction to Saul to "wash away thy sins, " by being baptized. Baptism puts one into the death of Christ (Rom. 6:3), to enable justification by his blood (Rom. 5:8-9). Forgiveness of sins was accomplished by the cross of Christ! In Romans 6:17-18, when the Romans "became obedient from the heart" to the gospel, they were "made free from sin, " and "became servants of righteousness." This happened long before 70 A.D.!

Referring back to the quote at the start of this article from page 239 of The Spirit of Prophecy, notice that Realized Eschatology says that our adoption, redemption and inheritance were accomplished at the fall of Judaism (70 A.D.). Yet Galatians 4:3-7 places the means of bur adoption at the first coming of Christ (vv. 4-5), and its reality prior to 70 A.D., when Paul says "ye are sons" (v. 6). Our redemption was accomplished at the cross (Gal. 3:13-14; Heb. 9:1112). Our inheritance as sons of God is thereby assured (Rom. 8:16-17; Gal. 3:18). Forgiveness and its blessings are ours today because of the cross of Christ, not because of the fall of Judaism in 70 A.D.

(2) Maturity or completeness in Christ was not possible before 70 A.D. So implies King's quote from page 239 of his book. However, Colossians 2:10 says "in him ye are made full." In chapter 1:27-28, Christ was being proclaimed "that we may present every man perfect in Christ. " They were not proclaiming the fall of Judaism in 70 A.D. as the means of perfection (completeness, full growth, maturity)! This doctrine concludes that no Christian could be mature in Christ before 70 A.D. – not apostles, not elders, not any child of God! The ramifications of that consequence are mind boggling.

Problems Regarding the Establishment of the Kingdom

By misapplying Hebrews 12:28, this doctrine concludes that the kingdom was not fully established until 70 A.D. However, we again find this doctrine at odds with revealed truth. In Isaiah 2:2, it was prophesied, "And it shall come to pass in the latter days, that the mountain of Jehovah's house shall be established on the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; and all nations shall flow unto it." Realized Eschatology would have God's house or kingdom only partially established in the "latter days," and only fully established at 70 A.D., their "eternal days." Isaiah implies full and complete establishment in verse 2, and reveals this would occur when the law and the word of Jehovah would go forth from Jerusalem (v. 3). The gospel of the kingdom was preached from Jerusalem unto all the nations following Jesus' ascension (Lk. 24:45-49; Acts 1:5; 2:14-26). Therefore, the kingdom predicted by Isaiah was established as he said it would be, on the day of Pentecost (Acts 2).

Jesus said the kingdom would "come with power," and that some of his disciples would not taste of death until they saw it come (Mk. 9:1). The "power" referred to must be the heavenly power of Holy Spirit baptism, received by the apostles on the day of Pentecost (Lk. 24:49; Acts 1:4-5,8; 2:1-4,33). There is no hint in the Scriptures that this was only partial power, or that the kingdom and its blessings were only partially present! Full power and full blessings amounted to a fully established kingdom on the day of Pentecost! What parts are missing? Its king (Lk. 1:32-33; 1 Tim. 1: 17; 6:15)? Its territory (Mk. 16:15)? Its subjects (Acts 10:34-35)? Its law (Mk. 16:15; Jas. 1:25)? People did not have to wait until 70 A.D. to fully possess the kingdom! They were being translated into the kingdom (Col. 1: 13) from Pentecost onward. To deny the full establishment of the kingdom before 70 A.D., is to deny the fulness of its king (Jesus), its gospel (power to save, Rom. 1:16), and its blessings (Eph. 1:34) before 70 A.D.! This is untenable and blasphemous!

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Author: jfm

2 thoughts on “The AD 70 Doctrine: Realized Eschatology 6

  1. I have liked your teaching expression.The wors should be preached in season and out of session. We ought to do our work and Jesus will perfume his duty.
    God bless all your endavors.
    In Christ we remain,
    Kenan and Oliver of His Grace mission Church-Uganda.

  2. The 70AD doctrine is so outragious on its face that it is a wonder anyone ever even listens to it. A few years ago when I was feeling out a new congregation I had two of the men over. When one asked me about it, he had to give me an exp-lanation beause I had not heard of it. I said  "why that is ridiculous!"   He agreed. But the point being – if I believed it he wanted no point of me – and I not knowing how he felt nevertheless knew that if he believed it I wanted no part of him!
    Keep it up.

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