Doctrine of the Last Things: Part 12 - Parables of the Delay of the Parousia

"Defenders" is Dr. William Lane Craig's weekly Sunday school class on Christian doctrine and apologetics. This video is part 12 of the final locus in Defenders, Doctrine of the Last Things.

We welcome your comments in the Reasonable Faith forums:

[TestifyApologetics]

I was just thinking about these passages and had questions about the "this generation" objection that skeptics raise. Thanks, Dr. Craig!

[EyeToob]

Did you notice that in every parable the coming of the bridegroom or the master took place in the lifetime of those in the parables?
The delays did not go beyond the lifetime of those involved.

The greek word for delay (χρονίζω = chronizó) is used in the parables William Lane Craig mentioned in Matthew 24 (Mt. 24 : 18), Luke 12 (Lk. 12 : 45), & Matthew 25 (Mt. 25 : 5).
This greek word is also used in Hebrews 10 : 36 - 37 specifically about the coming of Jesus. Let us read what the author of Hebrews wrote to the believers in the first century.
"You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised.
For, “In just a little while, *he who is coming will come and will not delay.”*
What?!?
Did an inspired writer of scripture tell believers in the first century that Jesus would not delay his coming? Yes he did.

So no matter how many times William Lane Craig says there was a delay in the coming of Christ, we know the Bible tells us Jesus did not delay his coming.
Jesus returned just like he said he would. The misunderstanding most people have comes from most people not being familiar with the comings of God in the old covenant so they are not familiar with the nature of God's comings when bringing judgment on a nation. The coming of Jesus was in judgment on Israel and we know it occurred because the city of Jerusalem and its temple were destroyed in 70 AD. Jesus predicted these very things.

When commenting on Matthew 25 : 31 - 46 William Lane Craig said at the judgment when Jesus is on his glorious throne there were people present who had never seen Jesus personally. WLC claimed this is in direct contradiction to the passages of Matthew 16, Mark 9, and Luke 9 where Jesus says, "some who are standing here will not taste death before they see the kingdom of God / or the Son of Man coming in his kingdom." Nowhere in the Matthew 25 passage does it say all of these people have never seen Jesus personally. William Lane Craig is just adding to the scriptures here. He makes his assumption based on the questions they ask, but his assumption is not the only possible scenario at the glorious throne judgment.

[beedee]

I have a question:
Isn’t it possible that what Jesus is talking about in the beginning of Matthew 24 (verse 1-35) is the destruction of the temple, Jerusalem and the signs of that event (as the parallel passage in Luke 21:5-37 describes) and the latter part is another discourse that Jesus had in front of a different audience answering a different question (as the parallel passage in Luke 17:20-37 describes )?

If that is the case, it doesn’t describe a delay about “the last day” (that Jesus mentions in John 6 numerous times), but speaks of 2 different events to take place ...one in the immediate future (within “this generation”) and another when “no one knows the day of the hour.”

I really respect and love Mr. William lane Craig. I’ve watched all his debates, read 2 of his books, and just enjoy how he brings an intellectual importance back into Christianity. Loving God with our minds.
I would like to know if he has any thoughts about this idea.

[preteristpapers]

From the time Jesus told the disciples the second coming would be in their lifetime, to the destruction of the Old Covenant system (AD 70) was 40 years.  Forty years is a long time when thought of in the lifespan of a person, thus the “delay” parables.  The forty years (Jesus was a prophet like Moses)  was needed for the “filling up of iniquity” and spreading the gospel among the remnant and fulfill the Law and the Prophets.  Paul  stated that the gospel had been preached to all the world in the first century:  "Jesus promised the gospel would go into all the world (oikoumene).  In Romans 10:18 Paul stated that the gospel had gone (past tense) into all the world (oikoumene).   In Mark 16:15 Jesus prophesied that the gospel would go into all the world (kosmos).  In Colossians 1:6 Paul wrote that the gospel went (past tense) into all the world (kosmos).   In Mark 16:15 Jesus said the gospel would be preached to all creation (ktisis).   In Colossians 1:23  Paul said the gospel had been (past tense) preached in all creation, (ktisis).  In Matthew 28:19 Jesus told the apostles to teach all nations (ethnos). In Romans 16:26 Paul declared that the gospel was made known (past tense) to all the nations (ethnos).  In Acts 1:8 Jesus sent them to preach the gospel into all the world, (ge). In Romans 10:18 Paul says the gospel was heard (past tense) in all the world (ge)." (Quoted from “Beyond Creation Science” by Timothy P. Martin and Jeffery L. Vaughn.  Page 432)