Has Jesus Returned?, Part 7

The teaching highlights the belief that Jesus' coming in judgment occurred in AD 70 with the destruction of Jerusalem, fulfilling His prophecy in the Olivet discourse and signaling the end of the Jewish age. Shawn emphasizes that his ministry addresses challenging biblical topics which are often difficult to hear, leading to a lack of financial support, and encourages prayer as the greatest form of support.

The teaching highlights that Jesus provides signs indicating his return and the end of the age but emphasizes in Matthew 24:36 that the exact day and hour are known only by the Father, not even by him. Furthermore, the discourse challenges traditional Trinitarian views by presenting Jesus as subordinate to the Father, as he claims in John 14:28 and John 12:44-50, suggesting that Jesus' mission was to reflect God's will rather than possess equal knowledge or authority.

Shawn interprets Matthew 24 to illustrate that Jesus warned His followers to remain vigilant for His return, which will be sudden and unexpected like the onset of the flood in Noah's days, implying that the righteous will be taken, as in a rapture scenario, before Jerusalem’s destruction in 70 AD. He emphasizes the importance of being "faithful and wise servants" by fulfilling duties diligently, as believers who are prepared and alert will be blessed, while those who assume a delay in Jesus' return will face unexpected judgment.

Shawn's teaching suggests that the biblical passages in Matthew, particularly verses like Matthew 16:27-28, indicate Jesus's predicted return happened around 70 AD, as implied by both Greek terminology and contemporaneous events rather than describing a distant future event like Pentecost. He argues this interpretation aligns more closely with Jesus's direct audience and notably contrasts with futurist perspectives, which tend to associate the prophecy with the Holy Spirit's arrival during Pentecost.

Jesus consistently referred to Himself as the "Son of Man" when discussing His return, particularly concerning His relationship with the Jews, whereas Paul, the apostle to the Gentiles, exclusively called Him the "Son of God," highlighting a distinction in how His return was perceived between Jews and the rest of the world. In John 21 and Matthew 26, it is suggested that Jesus' return was expected within a reasonable timeframe rather than an indefinite future, challenging interpretations that involve prolonged or symbolic waits for His return.

Jesus prophesied that the nation represented by Caiaphas, the high priest, would witness the fulfillment of His words with His return in 70 AD, demonstrating that His predictions were accurate. Additionally, He assured His disciples that despite persecution, the Son of Man would come before they could cover all the towns of Israel, indicating that His teachings were misinterpreted by later readers.