Numbers 24:17 reads, “I see Him, but not now; I behold Him, but not near; A Star shall come out of Jacob; A Scepter shall rise out of Israel, And batter the brow of Moab, And destroy all the sons of tumult.”
This is a prediction of the coming of the Messiah before Israel entered the Promised Land. “I see him but now now.” He is not near. How long was it between Israel’s entrance into the Promised Land and the outpouring of the Spirit in the last days? The Promised Land to Pentecost is around 1500 years. The explanation is that He is not near because he is 1500 years away. Now, if fifteen hundred years is NOT NEAR, how can a larger figure of 2,000 years be considered NEAR or soon?
Peter refers to Jewish scoffers in 2 Peter 3:4, who mocked the promise of Jesus’ return, by stating that nothing has changed since their father’s fell asleep. We have proven that Jesus had promised an imminent return (Mat. 10:23, 16:28, 26:64, Luke 21:27-33) in which he would come in judgment against Israel and destroy their city within that generation (Mat. 24:34, Mark 9:1). If the disciples who were living then, did not expect the imminent return of Christ, why would they be mocked? Why would their enemies mock them for their belief that he might come in their lifetime or a thousands of years in the future? Nothing gained, nothing ventured. I can see how one might do that today about a prediction that was first made a thousand years ago and has not taken place, yet. But, why mock a prediction made in the same generation in which it was given concerning a future return of Christ? Instead, to mock a return within their generation makes perfect sense. You can hear them say, “It’s been over 30 years now and you people have been preaching this over and over that some of us will not die before He comes. We’re still waiting and your time is about run out.” New Testament Christians were not looking for a prediction far out in the future. They were expecting a return within their generation and were hoping they would be among those who would be alive when he came. We can just hear their enemies snicker when another would die, saying, “And, another one bites the dust.”