Why Jesus Was NOT A Failed Apocalyptic Prophet

Almost every Tuesday at 5pm PST join Mike Winger live as we tackle issues of theology and apologetics.
This video is an analysis of several statements of Jesus which are taken, by some, to mean that Jesus was supposed to return within the first century. I think that you will find a verse by verse study of those passages to be extremely helpful in understanding what Jesus meant by "this generation" and what delay He implied before His second coming.

- Mike

[michellehand]

"Maybe people will be watching this 5 years from now." Me here almost 7 years later! ✋️

[ReinhardSchneider]

I don't think you believe it yourself. You want to, but deep down you know the truth.

[justincole]

Mike brother I love you, genuinely love you. I’m so thankful for you.

[Shmuel.NX-]

Wow ! You definitely have the spiritual gift of teaching. May our Heavenly God and King and Saviour bless you, the ministry He entrusted to you, and your hearers !

[raimiranda]

Absolutely amazing talk. GOD Bless you

[alfonsomedilo]

This is a complex topic but I do think that the preterist have a case because the key argument that for me overrides all the passages that you've explained to prove your point is that Jesus' message was clearly to the disciples in front of him not to future readers of the Gospels like us, so when he said "this generation" it can't be the unknown generation of the future but the generation of those people he was talking to at that time.

[wattsizname]

I like your gracious spirit and heart for the truth, brother Mike,  but I have to disagree with this one. 1) Jesus made it very evident what he meant by 'this generation' in his indictment of the Jewish nation in Matthew 23:33-36; and this is just before the Olivet Discourse in chapter 24. 1st century Jerusalem would receive the judgment of all the righteous blood that had been shed since the time of judgment THAT CANNOT BE REPEATED. It has happened! 2) There WAS 'an abomination of desolation' that took place back then; when 'the Rebellion' began, the 'man of lawlessness' took over the temple and desecrated it. His name was Eleazar, captain of the temple guard, who had messianic pretensions. 3) The 'coming of the Son of Man with the clouds of heaven' is from Daniel 7; and it pictures a heavenly event in the Divine assembly in the spiritual dimension. IT IS NOT AN EARTHLY EVENT. Just some food for thought. Thanks for your teaching.

[lonestarstate]

Did Jesus really expect most of His followers to die within a week after making that statement in Matt. 16:28?

[anselmalmeida]

Mike, the H. Spirit in u might hv just saved me. Thanks for dat great podcast.

[ScotsThinker]

I've encountered people with this very objection you raised.
I'm so glad you elaborated on the answer to that objection.
*Jesus is Lord*

[mt.vernon]

I think that it is so great that on different doctrines such as eschatology that you’re willing to listen and learn but on the more serious doctrines you stay strong and won’t budge.

[ryze]

It's crazy how simple your solution is for the "this generation" misunderstanding. It never even crossed my mind, like I was very insecure about these verses and when I read about preterism, I started having doubts in my faith. I read many explanations but, this is the most logical and elegant explanation I've heard and yet so simple! It makes sense now. Thank you and I'm glad the Holy Spirit led me here!🙏🏾❤️

[briankelly]

30:00 he gets to the 'this generation' verse.

[cynthiaharris]

Just watched this video for the third time, I have learned so much more this time than I did the first two times. Thanks for all you do Mike Winger

[cypher]

I listen to your live sreams, they help me to better understand the word of God. I find it refreshing that you tell the truth when there are so many lies our there designed to try and put a wedge between us and the truth of the scriptures. Keep up the good fight Mike, I will be here 3 months from now when you return!

[andrewc]

The triumphal entry of Jesus mounted on a donkey could also be a fulfillment when he said some of you will not taste death before you see the son of man coming in his kingdom.

[upstairscandy]

Wow, 5 years and its is still a great video mike.

[wakingupatpm]

Great video, watching it 5 years later and even just the beginning is such as good explanation. The part in Matthew when he says truly some will not taste death before i come into my kingdon is referring to the transfiguration or the ascension. Not the second coming. But he also is talking about what the second coming is not.

[christopherpalios]

Why is it significant that in Rev.6:18 judgments came in sets of seven?

“Babylon the great” (Revelation 17:5) was the recipient of these judgments (Rev. 16:19; 18:2-8). Babylon was also known as “the great harlot” (Rev. 17:1) and the “great city” (Rev. 17:18), which was first identified as the place “where also our Lord was crucified” (Rev. 11:8), i.e, Jerusalem. Babylon was responsible for the bloodshed of the saints, prophets, and apostles (Rev. 16:4-7, 17:6, 18:20, 18:24). This is the same bloodshed which Jesus said the religious leaders of Israel would be held responsible and judged for in His own generation (Matthew 23:29-36).

In Deuteronomy 32:20, 29 God spoke of “the latter end” of Israel (see also Deut. 31:29), when there would be “a perverse and crooked generation…children in whom is no faith” (Deut. 32:5, 20; see also Matthew 17:17, Luke 18:8, and Philippians 2:14-15). Upon that generation He would “avenge the blood of His servants” (Deut. 32:43). In Leviticus 26, God repeatedly warned that Israel would one day receive seven-fold judgments:

“And after all this, if you do not obey Me, then I will punish you seven times more for your sins” (Lev. 26:18).

“Then, if you walk contrary to Me, and are not willing to obey Me, I will bring on you seven times more plagues, according to your sins” (Lev. 26:21).

“And if by these things you are not reformed by Me, but walk contrary to Me, then I also will walk contrary to you, and I will punish you yet seven times for your sins” (Lev. 26:23-24).

“And after all this, if you do not obey Me, but walk contrary to Me, then I will also walk contrary to you in fury; and I, even I, will chastise you seven times for your sins” (Lev. 26:27-28)

Interestingly, when Josephus described the spoils of war that the Romans took from Jerusalem in 70 AD, he wrote, “…These lamps were in number seven, and represented the dignity of the number seven among the Jews” (Wars 7.5.5).

Why did the judgments in the Book of Revelation come in the form of seven seals, seven trumpets, and seven bowls? These were the seven-fold plagues that God promised would come upon Israel in her latter days:

“…I will bring on you seven times more plagues, according to your sins” (Leviticus 26:21).

“…Come out of her, My people, lest you share in her sins, and lest you receive of her plagues… Therefore her plagues will come in one day…” (Revelation 18:4, 8).

These plagues were poured out during the Jewish-Roman War of 66-73 AD in fulfillment of what God promised in Leviticus 26 and Deuteronomy 28, 32. The seven seal, trumpet, and bowl judgments of the Book of Revelation have nothing to do with our future and they were never intended for the entire planet. They were for the final generation of Israel, the crooked and perverse generation of Jesus’ own day. The apostles, prophets, and all of heaven rejoiced when this was accomplished (Revelation 18:20).

[lucascallahan]

Thanks for linking the video Mike! Really enjoy your answers!