The Purpose and Conclusion of Christ’s Return in 70 AD: Fulfilling the Old Covenant and Establishing the New Covenant
The events surrounding Christ’s return in 70 AD hold profound significance in Christian theology, particularly within the framework of fulfilled new covenant creation eschatology. This eschatological perspective asserts that Christ’s return in 70 AD marked the culmination of God’s redemptive plan and the transition from the Old Covenant to the New Covenant. In this article, we will explore the purpose and conclusion of Christ’s return in 70 AD, supported by multiple KJV scriptures and explanations.
The Old Covenant and Its Fulfillment
The Old Covenant, established through Moses, was a temporary covenant designed to reveal humanity’s sinfulness and need for redemption. It involved a complex system of rituals, sacrifices, and laws that pointed to a future Messiah who would fulfill its requirements. In the Old Testament, prophecies such as Daniel’s seventy weeks (Daniel 9:24-27) and Jesus’ Olivet Discourse (Matthew 24) foretold a time of great tribulation and the destruction of the Jerusalem Temple.
The Fulfillment of Prophecy
1. **Matthew 24:34 (KJV)** – “Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled.”
Explanation: Jesus’ statement that the events He described, including the destruction of the Temple, would occur within the lifetime of His contemporaries. This prediction was fulfilled in 70 AD when the Roman armies led by Titus destroyed the Jerusalem Temple, marking the end of the Old Covenant sacrificial system.
2. **Hebrews 8:13 (KJV)** – “In that he saith, A new covenant, he hath made the first old. Now that which decayeth and waxeth old is ready to vanish away.”
Explanation: The author of Hebrews indicates that the Old Covenant was becoming obsolete and would soon disappear. This aligns with the events of 70 AD, which marked the end of the Old Covenant era.
The Establishment of the New Covenant
Christ’s return in 70 AD not only signaled the end of the Old Covenant but also the establishment of the New Covenant through His redemptive work. The New Covenant, prophesied in Jeremiah 31:31-34, promised forgiveness of sins, a new heart, and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit.
1. **Hebrews 9:15 (KJV)** – “And for this cause he is the mediator of the new testament, that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance.”
Explanation: Christ’s sacrificial death fulfilled the requirements of the Old Covenant, offering redemption and eternal inheritance to those who believe. This marked the beginning of the New Covenant era.
2. **Matthew 26:28 (KJV)** – “For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.”
Explanation: Jesus’ words during the Last Supper highlight the significance of His blood as the means of forgiveness under the New Covenant.
3. **Luke 21:20-22 (KJV)** – “And when ye shall see Jerusalem compassed with armies, then know that the desolation thereof is nigh. Then let them which are in Judaea flee to the mountains, and let them which are in the midst of it depart out, and let not them that are in the countries enter thereinto. For these be the days of vengeance, that all things which are written may be fulfilled.”
Explanation: In this passage, Jesus foretells the impending destruction of Jerusalem and the fulfillment of prophetic writings. The reference to “days of vengeance” aligns with the events of 70 AD when Jerusalem was besieged and the Temple destroyed.
4. **Revelation 11:8 (KJV)** – “And their dead bodies shall lie in the street of the great city, which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt, where also our Lord was crucified.”
Explanation: This verse refers to the spiritual state of Jerusalem, comparing it to Sodom and Egypt. It emphasizes the significance of Jerusalem in the context of Christ’s crucifixion and its eventual judgment, which occurred in 70 AD.
5. **Revelation 21:1-2 (KJV)** – “And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea. And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.”
Explanation: Fulfilled eschatology interpret the new heaven and new earth as symbolic of the New Covenant era initiated by Christ’s work. The “new Jerusalem” descending from heaven represents the establishment of God’s dwelling place among believers.
6. **Romans 13:11-12 (KJV)** – “And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed. The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light.”
Explanation: This passage speaks to the urgency of the times, suggesting that the early Christians were living in an eschatological moment where salvation was drawing near. This sense of imminence was related to the events of 70 AD.
7. **Matthew 16:27-28 (KJV)** – “For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels; and then he shall reward every man according to his works. Verily I say unto you, There be some standing here, which shall not taste of death, till they see the Son of man coming in his kingdom.”
Explanation: In this passage, Jesus speaks of His coming in glory and the reward of individuals. The statement that “some standing here shall not taste of death” has been interpreted as referring to the events of 70 AD, indicating that some of His disciples would witness these events.
8. **Revelation 1:3 (KJV)** – “Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand.”
Explanation: The book of Revelation opens with a sense of immediacy, declaring that “the time is at hand.” Proponents of fulfilled eschatology argue that this sense of imminence points to the events of 70 AD as a fulfillment of the prophecies contained in Revelation.
9. **Revelation 22:6 (KJV)** – “And he said unto me, These sayings are faithful and true: and the Lord God of the holy prophets sent his angel to shew unto his servants the things which must shortly be done.”
Explanation: Revelation reaffirms the imminence of its prophecies, indicating that these events would “shortly be done.” This aligns with the view that the book’s prophecies had relevance to the first-century audience, including the events of 70 AD.
10. **2 Peter 3:10 (KJV)** – “But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.”
Explanation: Some proponents of fulfilled eschatology argue that Peter’s description of the “day of the Lord” may not refer to a future event but symbolize the judgment that befell Jerusalem in 70 AD.
11. **Matthew 10:23 (KJV)** – “But when they persecute you in this city, flee ye into another: for verily I say unto you, Ye shall not have gone over the cities of Israel, till the Son of man be come.”
Explanation: This verse is interpreted as the return of the Son of man would occur before the apostles had preached throughout all the cities of Israel. This aligns with the idea of a first-century fulfillment.
12. **Matthew 21:43 (KJV)** – “Therefore say I unto you, The kingdom of God shall be taken from you, and given to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof.”
Explanation: This verse reflects the transition from the Old Covenant, symbolized by the Jewish leadership, to the New Covenant, which would be extended to all nations. This transition was initiated in the first century.
13. **Mark 9:1 (KJV)** – “And he said unto them, Verily I say unto you, That there be some of them that stand here, which shall not taste of death, till they have seen the kingdom of God come with power.”
Explanation: Similar to Matthew 10:23, this verse has been interpreted that some of Jesus’ disciples would witness the coming of the kingdom of God in their lifetime, referring to the events of 70 AD.
14. **Matthew 8:11-12 (KJV)** – “And I say unto you, That many shall come from the east and west, and shall sit down with Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, in the kingdom of heaven. But the children of the kingdom shall be cast out into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”
Explanation: This passage can be understood as a reference to the inclusion of Gentiles in the kingdom of heaven, while some of the “children of the kingdom” (the Jews) would be rejected. This is seen as reflective of the transition from the Old Covenant to the New Covenant.
15. **Luke 17:20-21 (KJV)** – “And when he was demanded of the Pharisees, when the kingdom of God should come, he answered them and said, The kingdom of God cometh not with observation: Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you.”
Explanation: Jesus’ response to the Pharisees states that the kingdom of God is not a physical, observable entity but a spiritual reality. This emphasizes the nature of the New Covenant era.
Conclusion
In fulfilled new covenant creation eschatology, Christ’s return in 70 AD is seen as the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecies and the pivotal moment in God’s plan of redemption. The destruction of the Jerusalem Temple and the end of the Old Covenant sacrificial system served as a concrete sign of this transition. Simultaneously, the establishment of the New Covenant through Christ’s redemptive work ushered in a new era of forgiveness, grace, and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit.
Moreover, this perspective underscores the importance of understanding the cultural and historical context in which the Bible was written. It encourages believers to study the scriptures with a deeper awareness of the audience, the timing, and the intended message of each passage.
In summary, the purpose and conclusion of Christ’s return in 70 AD within the framework of fulfilled new covenant creation eschatology suggest a profound transition in the biblical narrative. It marks the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecies, the end of the Old Covenant era, and the establishment of the New Covenant through Christ’s redemptive work. While interpretations of eschatological events may vary, the significance of this historical period in Christian theology remains a subject of contemplation, discussion, and exploration for believers and scholars alike.