The Sign of the Son of Man

After Jesus said not one stone of the temple would be left upon another His disciples equated this destruction of the temple with His return in judgment of the 12 tribes of Israel (His "Second Coming") [ref. Matthew 19:28].

They also asked "what" would be the sign of His coming and when it would happen.

 

Matthew 24:3  And as he sat upon the mount of Olives, the disciples came unto him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world?

Most preterists readily say that Jesus provided many "signs" in His Olivet Discourse- primarily Matthew 24:4-29... false christs, rumors of wars, famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, false prophets, the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place, the great tribulation,...

And then after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken in verse 29.

But then, in verse 30, after all these "signs" were predicted, Jesus said the sign of the son of man would appear in heaven:

 

Matthew 24:30  And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.

So therefore a specific "sign" was going to appear in heaven AFTER all these other "signs" were to take place.

 

I believe (it can't be proven) that the star that guided the Magi to Bethlehem, "His star" [ref. Matthew 2:2] was "the sign of the Son of man" and was the same star that must have reappeared over Jerusalem before its downfall and is the sign Jesus is referring to in Matthew 24:30.

 

Matthew 2:2  Saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him.

 

From Josephus' "The Jewish Wars" 6.5.3 288-309:
"Thus there was a star resembling a sword, which stood over the city, and a comet, that continued a whole year." 

I believe that the star that resembled a sword that Josephus described was the sign of the Son of man and is the sign the disciples were referring to and is the sign that Jesus was referring to in Matthew 24:30.

There Is No Sea

1 Kings 7:23  And he made a molten sea, ten cubits from the one brim to the other: it was round all about, and his height was five cubits: and a line of thirty cubits did compass it round about.

2 Chronicles 4:2  Also he made a molten sea of ten cubits from brim to brim, round in compass, and five cubits the height thereof; and a line of thirty cubits did compass it round about.

This is one of many statements futurists confront me with:

"When Jesus returns the earth will have no sea." They are referring to Revelation 21:1.

Then some of their fellow futurists go on and say the old earth will be destroyed when Jesus returns and a new earth will be created that will have no sea. 

Some acknowledge an earth... with no sea. 

And some say there will be no earth left so therefore the contradiction amongst the futurists. 

And when you point this out they bristle and tell me to shut up because they're tired of my preaching.

Revelation 21:1  And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea.

First of all, it is a "new heaven" and a "new earth" because heaven came down from above and is now on earth- making it a new heaven and a new earth. The new earth is new because heaven is now on earth and is no longer up there where it was before.

When Jesus returned He came down in His Kingdom*. He said He was going to return in His Kingdom in judgment*. John the Baptist said the Kingdom of Heaven was at hand**. Jesus said His Kingdom of Heaven was at hand***. Jesus' Apostles said the Kingdom of Heaven was at hand****. Jesus even told them to pray for the kingdom of heaven to come*****.

(* Matthew 19:28; ** Matthew 3:2; *** Matthew 4:17; **** Matthew 10:7; ***** Matthew 6:10, Luke 11:2)

Revelation 21:2  And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.

3  And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God.

The "holy city, new Jerusalem", is Heaven.

The "holy city, new Jerusalem", is the Kingdom of Heaven.

The "holy city, new Jerusalem", is the Kingdom of God.

The "holy city, new Jerusalem", is the "tabernacle of God".

The "holy city, new Jerusalem" (Heaven, the Kingdom of Heaven, the Kingdom of God, the "tabernacle of God")"is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God."

New Jerusalem is not only the holy city, is not only Heaven, is not only the Kingdom of Heaven, is not only the Kingdom of God, it is the tabernacle of God and is now on the new earth.

Let's look at New Jerusalem from the perspective of it being the tabernacle of God.

It is of great significance to realize that in Solomon's temple there was a "molten sea".

1 Kings 7:23  And he made a molten sea, ten cubits from the one brim to the other: it was round all about, and his height was five cubits: and a line of thirty cubits did compass it round about. 

24  And under the brim of it round about there were knops compassing it, ten in a cubit, compassing the sea round about: the knops were cast in two rows, when it was cast.

25  It stood upon twelve oxen, three looking toward the north, and three looking toward the west, and three looking toward the south, and three looking toward the east: and the sea was set above upon them, and all their hinder parts were inward.

2 Chronicles 4:1  Moreover he made an altar of brass, twenty cubits the length thereof, and twenty cubits the breadth thereof, and ten cubits the height thereof.

2  Also he made a molten sea of ten cubits from brim to brim, round in compass, and five cubits the height thereof; and a line of thirty cubits did compass it round about.

3  And under it was the similitude of oxen, which did compass it round about: ten in a cubit, compassing the sea round about. Two rows of oxen were cast, when it was cast.

4  It stood upon twelve oxen, three looking toward the north, and three looking toward the west, and three looking toward the south, and three looking toward the east: and the sea was set above upon them, and all their hinder parts were inward.

5  And the thickness of it was an handbreadth, and the brim of it like the work of the brim of a cup, with flowers of lilies; and it received and held three thousand baths.

This "sea" stood in the south-eastern corner of the inner court.

This "sea" was used by the priests to wash their hands and feet before they entered the temple.

The "sea" that was present in Solomon's temple was probably reproduced in Herod's temple in Jerusalem to be used by the priests for their ceremonial washing.

The temple in Jerusalem was destroyed with not one stone left upon another by Roman General Titus in AD70 and replaced with New Jerusalem, the tabernacle of God.  There was no need for the "sea" in God's new tabernacle because Jesus, the high priest of the new tabernacle, needed no ceremonial cleansing.

The "sea" spoken of in Revelation 21:1 is not the sea(s), the oceans, of the earth or even the new earth.  The "sea" that was once in the outdated old tabernacle(s) is now no longer needed in the new tabernacle of God, New Jerusalem.

New Jerusalem, the tabernacle of God, does not have a "sea", a "molten sea", in it.

There is no need for it in New Jerusalem, the tabernacle of God, because Jesus is the high priest there and Jesus does not need to be cleansed.

2 Corinthians 5:1  For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.

Hebrews 8:1  Now of the things which we have spoken this is the sum: We have such an high priest, who is set on the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens;

2  A minister of the sanctuary, and of the true tabernacle, which the Lord pitched, and not man.

Hebrews 9:11  But Christ being come an high priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building;

12  Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us.

New Jerusalem- Only Christians inherit what was promised to Abraham.

Only Christians inherit what was promised to Abraham.

This area is God's Kingdom New Jerusalem.

It is NOT of this world.

It is unseen and eternal.

It was established in AD70 when Yeshua returned in His Kingdom, New Jerusalem, in judgment of the 12 tribes of Israel.

Genesis 15:18  In the same day the LORD made a covenant with Abram, saying, Unto thy seed have I given this land, from the river of Egypt unto the great river, the river Euphrates:

19  The Kenites, and the Kenizzites, and the Kadmonites,

20  And the Hittites, and the Perizzites, and the Rephaims,

21  And the Amorites, and the Canaanites, and the Girgashites, and the Jebusites.

The illustration above is the landmass that was promised to Abraham and his SEED.

Abraham's seed was Christ:

Galatians 3:16  Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ.

Therefore, the landmass in the illustration is actually God's Kingdom and is inherited by Christians.

This area of land WAS NOT promised to Israel.  It was promised to Abraham and his seed, which is Christ.

Revelation 3:12  Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and I will write upon him my new name.

Revelation 21:1  And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea.

2  And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.

3  And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God.

Revelation 21:7  He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son.

8  But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.

Revelation 21:15  And he that talked with me had a golden reed to measure the city, and the gates thereof, and the wall thereof.

16  And the city lieth foursquare, and the length is as large as the breadth: and he measured the city with the reed, twelve thousand furlongs. The length and the breadth and the height of it are equal.

The dimensions of New Jerusalem are exactly those of the land promised to Abraham, a man of FAITH and not a man of the LAW. 

Those who "overcome (this world)" through BELIEF and FAITH in Jesus will inherit God's Kingdom- New Jerusalem. 

Those who do not "overcome" will not inherit God's Kingdom. They will inherit eternal torment in the "lake of fire"- which is the second death and of which there is no escape.

1 John 5:4  For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.

1 John 5:5  Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?

The Jews will not inherit God's Kingdom.

They are not overcoming the world.

They are building their kingdom of the world.

They are in the process of gaining the entire world.

But they are forfeiting their souls in the process.

2 Corinthians 4:18  While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.

Their visible kingdom will perish.

God's invisible Kingdom is eternal.

Revelation 21:4

Revelation 21:4  And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.

Before the Scofield Bible came on the scene with its dispensational theology Christian commentary readily pointed out that these conditions were true in New Jerusalem. NOT on planet earth.

Here's another passage that describes what those who were taken up into New Jerusalem experienced. These were experienced by those in New Jerusalem and NOT those left on planet earth:

Revelation 7:9  After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands;

10  And cried with a loud voice, saying, Salvation to our God which sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb.

11  And all the angels stood round about the throne, and about the elders and the four beasts, and fell before the throne on their faces, and worshipped God,

12  Saying, Amen: Blessing, and glory, and wisdom, and thanksgiving, and honour, and power, and might, be unto our God for ever and ever. Amen.

13  ¶And one of the elders answered, saying unto me, What are these which are arrayed in white robes? and whence came they?

14  And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.

15  Therefore are they before the throne of God, and serve him day and night in his temple: and he that sitteth on the throne shall dwell among them.

16  They shall hunger no more, neither thirst any more; neither shall the sun light on them, nor any heat.

17  For the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them, and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters: and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes.

Christians have been deceived into believing that the events of AD70 mean nothing. 

They believe the lies of the antichrists that Jesus did not return in His Kingdom, New Jerusalem, in judgment of the 12 tribes of Israel [ref. Matthew 19:28] during the disciples' generation [ref. Matthew 24:34] while some of them were still alive to witness His return in His Kingdom [ref. Matthew 16:28].

A serious Bible student should look up the origins of the Scofield Bible. And then reach some conclusions as to who Scofield was and who had primary influence on him and "his" Bible.

His Bible is nothing more than an interpretation of Scripture. And it is a wrong interpretation of Scripture. It totally contradicts the words of Jesus and His Apostles. 

If someone wishes to debate me on my claim I say bring it on.

Remember:

"A day is like a thousand years to God".

But also remember that

A thousand years are like a day to God.

Don't forget the second half of that verse.

Scofield did.

They Which Pierced Him

John 19:34  But one of the soldiers with a spear pierced his side, and forthwith came there out blood and water.

Revelation 1:7  Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen.

My defense of preterism continues.

John says that a Roman soldier pierced Jesus as He was hanging on the cross.

John also says in Revelation 1:7 that they which pierced Him would see Him coming in the clouds.

Therefore, the same soldier(s) who pierced Jesus during the crucifixion in AD30 were in Jerusalem 40 years later under the command of Roman General Titus during its seige in AD70.

There are some indisputable facts:

Jesus predicted the fall of the temple in Jerusalem "where not one stone would be left upon another."

• Matthew 24:2  And Jesus said unto them, See ye not all these things? verily I say unto you, There shall not be left here one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down.

His disciples equated the destruction of the temple with His return- His "2nd Coming" which was going to be in judgment of the twelve tribes of Israel.

• Matthew 24:3  And as he sat upon the mount of Olives, the disciples came unto him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world?

Jesus then told them that this would happen during their generation's lifetime.

• Matthew 24:34  Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled.

There are many other verses that prove Jesus was going to return during that generation's lifetime.

Forty years after Jesus predicted the fall of Jerusalem and the temple, 

Forty years after Jesus was crucified,

Forty years after His side was pierced while hanging on the cross,

those same Roman soldiers who were at the crucifixion and who pierced His side 

were at Jerusalem under the command of Titus and their eyes saw Him "coming in the clouds".

The Jews used Rome to crucify Jesus.

God used Rome to exact revenge on Jerusalem and the temple.

• Matthew 23:34  Wherefore, behold, I send unto you prophets, and wise men, and scribes: and some of them ye shall kill and crucify; and some of them shall ye scourge in your synagogues, and persecute them from city to city:
• 35  That upon you may come all the righteous blood shed upon the earth, from the blood of righteous Abel unto the blood of Zacharias son of Barachias, whom ye slew between the temple and the altar.
• 36  Verily I say unto you, All these things shall come upon this generation.
• 37  O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not!
• 38  Behold, your house is left unto you desolate.
• 39  For I say unto you, Ye shall not see me henceforth, till ye shall say, Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord.

Psalm 49

Psalms 49:1  Hear this, all ye people; give ear, all ye inhabitants of the world:
2  Both low and high, rich and poor, together.
3  My mouth shall speak of wisdom; and the meditation of my heart shall be of understanding.
4  I will incline mine ear to a parable: I will open my dark saying upon the harp.
5  Wherefore should I fear in the days of evil, when the iniquity of my heels shall compass me about?
6  ¶They that trust in their wealth, and boast themselves in the multitude of their riches;
7  None of them can by any means redeem his brother, nor give to God a ransom for him:
8  (For the redemption of their soul is precious, and it ceaseth for ever:)
9  That he should still live for ever, and not see corruption.
10  For he seeth that wise men die, likewise the fool and the brutish person perish, and leave their wealth to others.
11  Their inward thought is, that their houses shall continue for ever, and their dwelling places to all generations; they call their lands after their own names.
12  Nevertheless man being in honour abideth not: he is like the beasts that perish.
13  This their way is their folly: yet their posterity approve their sayings. Selah.
14  Like sheep they are laid in the grave; death shall feed on them; and the upright shall have dominion over them in the morning; and their beauty shall consume in the grave from their dwelling.
15  ¶But God will redeem my soul from the power of the grave: for he shall receive me. Selah.
16  Be not thou afraid when one is made rich, when the glory of his house is increased;
17  For when he dieth he shall carry nothing away: his glory shall not descend after him.
18  Though while he lived he blessed his soul: and men will praise thee, when thou doest well to thyself.
19  He shall go to the generation of his fathers; they shall never see light.
20  Man that is in honour, and understandeth not, is like the beasts that perish.