EarlyActs
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This may be discussed at Eschatology, but I think the reader will see it is a very important statement about the truth of Jesus. It happens to be regarding his generation and the future.
My conclusion after decades and with a master's in NT background and research, is that Matt 24:29 is a shift from 1st generation Judean events to the final day of judgement (FJD).
The evidence that the apostles expected the world to end in that generation are very wide; it is built-in to many, many sayings and passages. This may start from Mt 24:29, which is that 'right after (the Judean events of the chapter up to 29), there is the FJD' which is universe-wide.
The question of truthfulness then becomes: so what happened? How come the world goes on?
There are 3 explanations and one of them is here: 'only the Father knows.' I believe this is meant to be an act of grace.
2, there are 4 possible times when the 'Master' would return in the parallel passage of Mk 13. The world is going into a 'night' and he could return at any of 4 times during that.
3, the express purpose of 2 Peter 3. As you can see from the opening sentence, he is dealing with those who can't believe the Christian message because of this problem--a delay. (We must rule out that he meant the first coming or sacrificial act of Christ). He is not 'back there.' And his answer is that a delay is a sign or act of grace.
So, as it stands, the crisp declarations of things that would take place mostly in Judea (and all Judean-impacting if elsewhere) are an astounding proof of the NT. This has been observed by many down through history; it is exceptional, and it should be used for its full strength to defend the truth of Christ.
That's why this is an apologetics topic.
Like most NT passages, there are no elaborations about the FDJ that are Judaic, nor are they very long in duration. It is an 'hour' of judgement.
My conclusion after decades and with a master's in NT background and research, is that Matt 24:29 is a shift from 1st generation Judean events to the final day of judgement (FJD).
The evidence that the apostles expected the world to end in that generation are very wide; it is built-in to many, many sayings and passages. This may start from Mt 24:29, which is that 'right after (the Judean events of the chapter up to 29), there is the FJD' which is universe-wide.
The question of truthfulness then becomes: so what happened? How come the world goes on?
There are 3 explanations and one of them is here: 'only the Father knows.' I believe this is meant to be an act of grace.
2, there are 4 possible times when the 'Master' would return in the parallel passage of Mk 13. The world is going into a 'night' and he could return at any of 4 times during that.
3, the express purpose of 2 Peter 3. As you can see from the opening sentence, he is dealing with those who can't believe the Christian message because of this problem--a delay. (We must rule out that he meant the first coming or sacrificial act of Christ). He is not 'back there.' And his answer is that a delay is a sign or act of grace.
So, as it stands, the crisp declarations of things that would take place mostly in Judea (and all Judean-impacting if elsewhere) are an astounding proof of the NT. This has been observed by many down through history; it is exceptional, and it should be used for its full strength to defend the truth of Christ.
That's why this is an apologetics topic.
Like most NT passages, there are no elaborations about the FDJ that are Judaic, nor are they very long in duration. It is an 'hour' of judgement.
