Has Jesus Returned?, Part 3

Shawn McCraney discusses the interpretation of Matthew 24:6, emphasizing the Greek term "mello" which indicates that events like wars and rumors are imminent, yet do not signify the end of the age, and highlights various translations to clarify the timing of these prophecies. He cautions against rigid doctrinal views on end times, acknowledging multiple interpretations while affirming his stance that the Bible is clear about when Jesus should return.

The teaching emphasizes that Jesus, in Matthew 24, responded to Peter, James, John, and Andrew's inquiries about the signs of His coming and the end of the age, clarifying that the term "world" in translations is better understood as "age," focusing on the Jewish dispensation. Notably, Jesus referred to the "abomination of desolation" prophesied by Daniel, identifying events in the 60s and 70s AD, particularly the Roman siege of Jerusalem, as fulfillment of these prophecies, contrasting with interpretations linking these events to a future tribulation involving an Antichrist.

Jesus emphasized the importance of recognizing the sign of Jerusalem being surrounded by armies as a precursor to its impending desolation, urging those in Judea to flee and observe for their safety, as this event was prophesied to occur within their generation, understood to be approximately 40 years. The teaching challenges the futurist interpretation of Jesus' words, asserting that the term "generation" in the context of the New Testament consistently referred to contemporaries living during Jesus' time, rather than an extended race or nation.

Shawn teaches that Jesus' predictions about the fall of the temple and subsequent events in Matthew 24 were specifically fulfilled during the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 AD. He argues that interpretations suggesting these scriptures refer to distant future events are unfounded, noting the historical and textual evidence that aligns Jesus' instructions and warnings with the circumstances of that period, including the flight to Pella and the significance of Jesus' counsel to the people of Jerusalem.

Jesus' description of "great tribulation" in Matthew 24:21 is often understood through a lens of Hebrew hyperbolic language, suggesting dramatic emphasis rather than literal expectation; historical and biblical examples, such as those describing Hezekiah and Josiah, illustrate this tradition of exaggeration to stress significance. This teaching invites reconsideration of apocalyptic prophecies, like those concerning the destruction in 70 AD and Revelation's warnings, highlighting that such language has historically been used to convey profound spiritual and existential truths, rather than strictly factual accounts.

The teaching by Shawn examines the destruction of Jerusalem in 64-70 A.D., suggesting that it was a historical event marked by intense suffering attributed to God's wrath upon the city for rejecting His Son. Utilizing Flavius Josephus's accounts, it illustrates the extreme conditions such as starvation and infighting among Jews, and clarifies that terms like "Gehenna" used by Jesus refer to specific geographical locations near Jerusalem rather than the concept of hell, as commonly interpreted by futurist Christian teachings.

Shawn describes the extreme suffering and misery during the Roman siege of Jerusalem, where people faced starvation so severe that they consumed inedible waste, and the mass crucifixion of those trying to escape resulted in a shortage of crosses. He emphasizes the unparalleled wickedness and suffering of that generation, contrasting it with following human traditions over biblical teachings, while suggesting the power of music to internalize divine teachings.