Has Jesus Returned?, Part 10

Shawn McCraney explores the transition of his ministry from a focus on critiquing Mormonism and modern Evangelicalism to reaching a global audience eager to investigate both Mormonism and traditional Christian teachings. After being removed from a Christian television station due to controversial stances, his ministry expanded internationally, encouraging viewers to test all beliefs and highlighting the importance of direct engagement with religious teachings through a promotional offer including books, CDs, and a film.

Shawn argues that the events of the "end of the age" and the Second Coming of Jesus occurred in 70 AD, emphasizing that Jesus fulfilled his promise and that scripture's association of the Second Coming with judgment suggests judgment has already taken place. He challenges traditional Christian teachings on judgment and resurrection, questioning the logic of believers being in heaven pre-judgment and whether current doctrinal understandings align with biblical teachings.

Shawn emphasizes that the judgment Jesus passed on Jerusalem in 70 AD marks the culmination of a long history of God dealing with the disobedient House of Israel, characterized by rejection and killing of prophets and, ultimately, the Messiah. This judgment is seen as fulfilled through the destruction of the Jewish temple and nation by the Romans, as foretold in scriptures, ending the genealogical ties and marking a significant moment associated with biblical "last days."

The teaching emphasizes that Malachi's prophecy about Elijah's return was fulfilled by John the Baptist, who heralded a coming judgment that culminated in the destruction of Jerusalem, paralleling messages from the prophets Joel and Peter about the "great and terrible day of the Lord." This interpretation underscores a historical and contextual application of biblical prophecy, aligning the events of John the Baptist with thematic warnings across scriptures about impending divine judgment and the role of prophetic fulfillment.

The teaching emphasizes that biblical signs described in the New Testament, such as the coming of Elijah and the outpouring of the Spirit at Pentecost, were meant for the generation leading up to the destruction of Jerusalem, rather than future generations. It highlights the Greek word "mello," meaning "about to happen" or "shortly will happen," and criticizes the King James Bible translation for minimizing the immediacy of the anticipated judgment that was relevant to those historical contexts.

As Christians interpret the teachings from 1 Peter and James, they understand that the call for judgment is timeless, emphasizing the importance of spiritual readiness, prayer, and self-awareness, as the end of personal life is an unknown moment of reckoning. This spiritual perspective suggests that each individual's experience of judgment occurs upon death, mirroring the historical context of judgment faced by the House of Israel, leading either to eternal blessing or curse based on one's faithfulness.