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Originally Posted by awareness
I don't know but that might be better than putting it on a torture rack, to make it say what you want it to say.
And when Jesus mentioned "coming" maybe he meant he'd show up the next day ... maybe "coming again" to the sea of Galilee ... on a clear day, with no clouds.
See what that torture rack can accomplish?
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You don't need any contortion to compare Matt 10 with Hosea 13. It is a round peg going into a round hole. Nor does it take any special myopic vision to see the coming Romans as God's judgement on the Jews for rejecting the Son of God. Jesus, Paul and the prophets were all quite clear on this point.
But what does defy many, many verses, what does require extreme myopic vision and contortionism is to suggest Jesus would return to Israel before their redemption.
Let's talk about the "torture rack" you are putting the Bible on. Why would anyone say "it is the red volkswagen" if you are talking about the only car in parking lot? The fact that you are giving terms like "red" and "volkswagen" suggest there are other cars. Likewise "coming with the clouds" would be completely redundant if there were only one coming. But there isn't, there are many comings of the Lord, coming judgements, coming blessings. It takes someone with a Phd in torture, someone who can cram 20 people into a volkswagen bug, to cram every coming into the Lord's coming in the clouds.
But I understand why they would do it. "Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks". If your agenda is to discredit the Lord of All you have to. Otherwise the alternative is to admit he could see the coming Roman invasion. He knew the time frame and he knew how long it would take his disciples to preach the gospel of redemption in Israel.
Here are some significant points of comparison [between Matt 10 and Luke 21].
(1) Both texts warn of an impending time of terrible persecution for the Lord’s disciples (Mt. 10:16; Lk. 21:12).
(2) Both passages affirm that persecution will come from the Jewish leaders, who will beat the Lord’s followers, even in their synagogues (Mt. 10:17; Lk. 21:12).
(3) Both texts declare that the disciples would be brought before governors and kings for the Savior’s sake (Mt. 10:18; Lk. 21:12).
(4) Both sections affirm that the disciples’ courage under persecution would turn out to be a compelling “testimony” in the interests of others (Mt. 10:18; Lk. 21:13).
(5) Both contexts declare that when the disciples are called upon to defend their case, they are not to be anxious about responding. Indeed, they are not to even think about preparation, for the appropriate words will be given to them by the Holy Spirit at the needed hour (Mt. 10:19-20; Lk. 21:14-15).
(6) Both texts warn that the coming crisis will be so great that even family members will yield to the temptation of delivering their loved ones over to the persecuting authorities (Mt. 10:21; Lk. 21:16).
(7) Both segments announce that the disciples will be hated by all men on account of Jesus’ sake (Mt. 10:22; Lk. 21:17).
(8) Both passages encourage endurance or patience, for deliverance will come eventually; there will be a “saving” or “redemption” for the Lord’s faithful (Mt. 10:22; Lk. 21:19).
(9) Both sections encourage the disciples that when the danger becomes life-threatening, they are to take flight (Mt. 10:23; Lk. 21:21f).
With these obvious parallels in mind, we now are ready to focus upon Matthew’s mysterious phrase, “till the Son of man comes” (10:23).The conscientious student asks: “What is the most likely meaning of this obscure phrase?”Luke’s conclusion is perfectly clear (and quite analogous to Matthew 24); Jerusalem will be surrounded by armies (the Romans) that will desolate the once-sacred city.Many Hebrews will fall by the sword; others will be taken captive.The revered city will be trodden down permanently (Lk. 21:20ff).There is no question.The destruction of Jerusalem in A.D. 70 is clearly the focus of this text.
In conclusion, let us remind ourselves of this well-known principle of biblical interpretation.When there are Scripture texts that treat the same general theme, and yet one passage is more obscure than the other, the more enigmatic text always is to be interpreted in the light of the clearer.
If we apply this principle to the situation at hand, it is reasonable to conclude that the phrase “till the Son of man comes” represents a “judgment” coming of the Savior upon the nation of Israel and the city of Jerusalem.It was a just punishment for their culminating act rebellion in rejecting their Messiah, the Son of God.