Question: Christ told the disciples he would return. Didn’t he do just that in most of their lifetimes just like he said he would do? Aren’t the prophecies about the end already fulfilled?

Wayne

Answer: Dear Wayne,

You ask a complex question – for it involves a number of ways of approaching and understanding not only the statements of Jesus but a number of other prophecies as well. Most Christians believe in the Second Coming – but some would believe that a number of events that he said would happen before his Second Coming have already happened – for example they cite Matthew 24 being fulfilled in the Roman destruction of Jerusalem in 69-70 A.D. Christians thoughout history have speculated about current events being signs of Jesus impending return -- and they have all been proven wrong to date. A look at Christian history shows a long list of date setting by various leaders, groups and movements, followed by disillusionment when the predicted events did not happen. A "Futurist" interpretation of prophecy is popular among Evangelical Christians -- but there are other, equallly valid ways that other Christians approach prophecy. Click here for a summary of those approaches. My book Revelation Revolution provides much more insight on prophecy and the "end times."

In Christ,

Greg Albrecht