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AD 70 Doctrine Examined Introduction: Different doctrines are mentioned in the Bible, 1 Timothy 4.1-4; Revelation 2.15. False doctrines are like cancer; they start small, grow, and unless stopped will result in death. We are to search the scriptures to see test the spirits and uphold the truth. I) The A.D. 70 Doctrine include: Realized Eschatology, Covenant Eschatology, and Transmillennialism A) AD 70 Doctrine created and popularized by Max King 1. "Unlike traditional dogma, Transmillennialism sees Christ's millennial reign in its first-century context, from the Old to the New Covenant, bringing about the transformation of the ages. It sees the thrust of the Bible's speaking about how heaven comes to earth, not primarily about how one gets to heaven." (The Transmillennial View, Timothy R. King, Jan. 15, 2002. 2. The 40 year period of AD 30- 70 was transitional, which fulfilled the end time prophecies and ushered in the "eternal days." a. "We are now in that world 'which is to come'... instead of being in last days we are in eternal days world without end (Ephesians 3.21). (The Spirit of Prophecy, Max King, page 81) b. This doctrine teaches that "out of the decay of Judaism arose the spiritual body of Christianity" (King, 200). c. It says that God's scheme of redemption was not complete until AD 70. The emphasis is not on the Day of Pentecost but the destruction of Jerusalem. d. The final coming of Christ and the promised resurrection occurred in AD 70. 3. Basic ideas a. All Bible prophecy was fulfilled at the destruction of Jerusalem in AD 70. b. The second coming of Christ occurred at that time. c. The resurrection of the dead occurred at that time. d. That was the day of Judgment. e. The Kingdom of Christ was not fully set up until 70 AD. f. This was the end of the world and the beginning of the "Eternal Days." B) Defining terms they are using 1. The "second coming" has nothing to do with a literal returning of Christ in the future, but a spiritual coming in 70 AD. 2. The "resurrection" does not involve the physical body, instead it refers to a resurrection of the Christian system (the church) from the persecution inflicted by the Jews between 30 to 70 AD. 3. The "end of the world" is not the passing of the earth, but is a reference to the dissolving of the Jewish world (age). World means age; regardless of its context. 4. The "judgment day" is not a time in the future when all will give account to God for their deeds done in the body, but the destruction of Jerusalem. 5. Eschatology: A Study of Last Things a. "By eschatology', or doctrine of last things, is meant the ideas entertained at any period on the future life, the end of the world (resurrection, judgment; ...) and the eternal destinies of mankind" (ISBE) b. Realized signifies accomplishment; Realized Eschatology is a doctrine of completed last things. C) The doctrine: All end time Prophecy fulfilled in AD 70 1. The end times were realized and accomplished in AD 70 at the destruction of Jerusalem. 2. "...the fall of Judaism (and its far reaching consequences) is, therefore, a major subject of the Bible." (The Spirit of Prophecy, Max R. King, page 239) 3. There is no basis for believing in the bodily resurrection of mankind followed by judgment. 4. "There is no scriptural basis for extending the second coming of Christ" (King, page 105. 5. "the end of the Jewish world was the second coming of Christ" (King, page 81). The fall of Judaism was the second coming of Christ. 6. "Prophecy found its complete fulfillment in the second coming of Christ, and now may be regarded as closed and consummated" (King, page 65). D) If true then... 1. All who hope in the actual, bodily, return of Jesus are deceived. 1 Thess. 4.14-16 2. We cannot expect our bodies to be raised to immortality when Jesus comes, 1 Cor. 15.22-23, 51-54. 3. Those holding it are wrong and are guilty of overthrowing the faith of others, as were Hymenaeus and Philetus, who also said, "the resurrection is past already" 2 Timothy 2.16-18. II) The Personal, Bodily Return of Jesus Did Not Happen in AD 70 A) Jesus did come in some senses in the first century but not bodily and visibly. 1. He came in His kingdom (Matthew16.28); with power (Mark 9.1); on the day of Pentecost (Acts 1.4-5, 8; 2.1-4, 33). 2. When the Holy Spirit was sent to His apostles, "I will come to you" (John 14.17-18) 3. In judgment against Jerusalem, Matthew 24.29-30. a. He authorized it, and brought it to pass (Isaiah 19.1). b. Similar language of judgment against Rome, Rev. 1.7; 19.11-21. B) The coming of the Lord (Day of the Lord) 1. AD 70 arbitrarily assigns only one possible application to the "coming of the Lord' regardless of its contextual usage. a. "laid hands on"; Arrest (Acts 4.3); heal (Luke 13.13); commend(Acts13.3); impart miraculous gifts (Acts 8.1; 19.6). b. Any future time text is inferred to be AD 70. In order to do this they maintain every book of the New Testament was written before AD 70. This cannot be proved or disproved. 2. Day of the Lord is often used to refer to a Day of Judgment from the Lord, Zeph. 1.14-18 a. Against Jerusalem in the Old Testament, Joel 2.1-2, 10-11. b. Against Babylon, Isaiah 13.1, 6-11 c. Against Jerusalem in the New Testament, Mal. 3.1-3; 4.5-6; Matthew 23.37-39; 24.3, 29-31. 3. The Day of Judgment referring to a day of judgment when the material universe will be destroyed, 2 Peter 3.4-13. a. The world that then existed (before the flood), ... that now exist (the one that we live in), 3.5-7 b. What will happen to "that now exists"? verse 7. c. This will be the day of the Lord, 3.10-12. d. New habitation of righteousness, heaven, 3.13. i. "We live in the new heavens and new earth that has come" The Transmillennial View, Timothy R. King, Jan. 15,2002. ii. AD. 70 "spiritualizies" away this passage, denying its actual, literal, future fulfillment. iii. Says it was fulfilled in AD 70 when the "world" or Judaism was removed in favor of the "eternal days" that now exist C) There will be a bodily and visible return of Jesus 1. Acts 1.9-11 a. They were watching and a cloud received Him out of their sight, v. 9 b. Looking into heaven, v. 10 c. This same Jesus... will come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven, v. 11. 2. Jesus was not seen bodily and visibly... a. Coming of His kingdom, Matt. 16.28 b. Sending of the Holy Spirit, John 14.18 c. In His judgment against Jerusalem, Matthew 24.29-30 3. Jesus will be seen bodily and visibly when he returns from heaven, 1 Thess. 4.16-17. D) There will be a bodily resurrection when Jesus returns, 1 Cor. 15. 1. AD 70 says 1 Corinthians 15 is the resurrection of Christianity out of Judaism i. "Thus, out of the decay of Judaism arose the spiritual body of Christianity that become fully developed or resurrected by the end-time. Hence, this is the primary meaning of Paul's statement 'It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body and there is a spiritual body." The Spirit of Prophecy, King, pages 199-200. 2. Refuting the AD 70 abuse of 1 Corinthians 15 a. Context; the writer is dealing with the bodily death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus, vv. 3-4. b. Paul speaks of the resurrection appearances of Christ, vv. 5-8 c. Bodily resurrection of Christ preached, v. 12 d. Those claiming there will be no "bodily resurrection of the dead" were proven wrong based on Christ's bodily resurrection, vv. 13-20. e. The bodily resurrection of Christ is our proof that we will be raised from the grave when He returns, vv. 21-26. f. If there is no bodily resurrection then our hope is in vain, vv. 29-34 g. The body of every dead person will be raised from the grave, vv. 35-49 h. Our future bodily resurrection is victory "through our Lord Jesus Christ" v. 57 Conclusion: This doctrine changes the establishment of the church, makes the law of Moses and Christ co-existent until 70 AD, teaches there will be no future resurrection. Let me add that it makes some things just plain confusing. For instance, the Lord's Supper. Should we be partaking of it now? For the kingdom is to be handed up to God when Christ returns and Jesus promised to take of the Lord's Supper in the kingdom. Or were the Christians in the years before AD 70 wrong for partaking of it because the Christian Age was not fully established? it is simply false doctrine. Christ will come, there will be a resurrection, and we will stand before the judgment seat of Christ. (Note; Much of the material was taken from J.T. Smith's articles on the AD 70 Doctrine, Almon L. Williams lecture "A.D. 70: The End?" in the 1986 Florida College Annual Lectures, and Joe Price's outlines at www.bibleanswer.com.)
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