Luke 21: 20-24 ESV
Jesus Foretells Destruction of Jerusalem
20 “But when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then know that its desolation has come near. 21 Then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains, and let those who are inside the city depart, and let not those who are out in the country enter it, 22 for these are days of vengeance, to fulfill all that is written. 23 Alas for women who are pregnant and for those who are nursing infants in those days! For there will be great distress upon the earth and wrath against this people. 24 They will fall by the edge of the sword and be led captive among all nations, and Jerusalem will be trampled underfoot by the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled.
Note verse 22 says to fulfill all that is written. This happens when Jerusalem is destroyed. The Roman war against the Jews which culminated in the destruction of the Jerusalem and the temple and brought the Old Covenant to a close lasted 3.5 years or as the bible says The time, times, and half a time.
Hence we know that Christ had to come back not to end the world or time but His coming back was in judgment against Jerusalem since as verse 22 says to fulfill all that is written at the time Jerusalem is destroyed. This would positively and totally rule out any coming of Jesus in the future that could be predicted in the bible since there is no mentioning of Jerusalem being rebuilt after 70 AD to be destroyed again.
All that was written including His second coming so to speak would have to have been fulfilled in 70 AD. To dispute that point is to blasphemy the inspired scripture and very words of Christ.
Don’t be a victim of futurism.
I would disagree. Jesus WAS speaking of the future. He is speaking of when he shall return and set foot on the Mount of Olives. The mountain will divide in two, creating a great valley where the Jews will escape. When Jesus returns it will be to defend Jerusalem and the Jews, not destroy it.
Zech 14:1 Behold, the day of the LORD cometh, and thy spoil shall be divided in the midst of thee.
2 For I will gather all nations against Jerusalem to battle; and the city shall be taken, and the houses rifled, and the women ravished; and half of the city shall go forth into captivity, and the residue of the people shall not be cut off from the city.
3 Then shall the LORD go forth, and fight against those nations, as when he fought in the day of battle.
4 And his feet shall stand in that day upon the mount of Olives, which is before Jerusalem on the east,
and the mount of Olives shall cleave in the midst thereof toward the east and toward the west, and there shall be a very great valley; and half of the mountain shall remove toward the north, and half of it toward the south.
5 And ye shall flee to the valley of the mountains; for the valley of the mountains shall reach unto Azal: yea, ye shall flee, like as ye fled from before the earthquake in the days of Uzziah king of Judah: and the LORD my God shall come, and all the saints with thee.
When Jesus returns it will be very similar to when Moses parted the Red Sea and the Jews escaped Pharaoh. The Mount of Olives will divide and create a great valley through which the remnant of Jews shall escape. And just as Pharaoh was destroyed when he pursued after the Jews, this great "flood" or army shall be destroyed when they pursue after the Jews.
This is where Preterism fails, when Jesus returns it shall be to fight for Jerusalem and to defend the Jews against all these nations that come against it, not destroy Jerusalem as happened in 70 A.D..
Zech 14:11 And men shall dwell in it, and there shall be no more utter destruction;
but Jerusalem shall be safely inhabited.