He Shall Have Dominion

Chung states: “For Jesus, then, ‘great tribulation’ refers neither to the
events of the second century BC nor to a period of time only just
preceding his return but, at least in part, to the distress at the time of the
destruction of Jerusalem, the burning of the city, and the razing of the
temple by the Romans in AD 70.” 118
That Matthew 24:4–33 en toto is already fulfilled seems quite obvious
on the two following bases. First, its introductory context strongly
suggests it. In Matthew 23 Jesus sorely rebukes the “scribes and
Pharisees” of his own day (Mt 23:2ff). He urges them finally to “fill up then
119
the measure of your fathers” who killed the prophets (23:31–32). Christ
says that they are a “generation” of vipers (23:33) that will persecute and
slay his disciples (23:34). He notes that upon them will come all the
righteous blood shed on the earth (23:35). He then dogmatically asserts:
“Truly I say unto you, all these things shall come upon this generation”
(23:36).
Then in Matthew 23:37–24:2 Jesus weeps over Jerusalem, and
declares that its temple will be destroyed stone by stone, despite his
disciples’ surprise. Regarding these actions and statements the disciples
ask, “When shall these things be?” As a matter of historical record we
know the temple was destroyed, stone by stone, in August, AD 70: “Since
that time [AD 70], the Temple has never been rebuilt, though the remains
of its foundation walls are an archaeological highlight of modern Jerusalem.”
120
Second, its express temporal indicators demand it. We must not miss
the clear references to the contemporary expectation. Enclosing the discourse’s
relevant portion, we have Christ’s own time designation. In
23:36 he dogmatically asserts “all these things shall come upon this generation.”
He closes this portion of his prophecy by repeating the time
frame: “Truly I say unto you, this generation shall not pass, till all these
things be fulfilled” (Mt 24:34). The Romans destroy Jerusalem and the
temple just forty years later. Contextually the “this generation” of
Matthew 24:34 must involve the same time frame as Matthew 23:36.
Presence of the Future, 310–11. Unfortunately, Bahnsen’s argument is marred by
whoever transcribed it after his death.
118. Chung in Blomberg and Chung, Historic Premillennialism, 73.
119. As did John Baptist before him (Mt 3:1–12).
120. Neusner, DJBP, 626. Unfortunately, “archaeological remains” of the temple
“are rather small” (625).