Consider some reasons why his return cannot refer to a final judgment day and the end of the world at some distant future.
(1) Time-Defining Terms
Logically speaking, how can we define the end of the age in Matthew 24 to refer to the end of time when Jesus comes to judge the world and destroy planet earth and still be fair to these prophetic time statements and descriptions? We have already pointed out that the prophecies relating to 600 years out do not pertain to the present audience, and that the words “soon”, “near”, or “at hand” do pertain to the present time within a certain generation. We should point out that those words do not exceed 40 years out. Why would God tell Daniel not to concern himself with matters that are 600 years out, while Jesus burdens his disciples about things that are over 2,000 years out? They would never see it. We have shown that there is no biblical basis to support that we are still in the last days and that the New Testament was wrong about its projections? I think I’d rather side with Jesus and His apostles over modern-day preachers of our time.
(2) Use of the Word “End” in Matthew 24
We have already noticed the word “end” and “coming” in our analysis of the questions the apostles asked Jesus, which provoked the teaching of Matthew 24. In conclusion, we want to notice two interesting facts about the use of these words.
First, since many take the view that the end of Matthew 24 shifts away from the destruction of Jerusalem to the final judgment at the end of the world, we would expect to find the word “end” somewhere in the text when that shift is made. However, Jesus’ use of the word is found in the first part of the text where all readily agree is a discussion of the destruction of Jerusalem. Consider the following uses:
• vs 6: “…for these things must needs come to pass, but the end is not yet.”
• vs 13: “But he that endureth to the end, the same shall be saved.”
• 14: “And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in the whole world,…and then shall the end come.”
As we have already noticed, these occurrences of “the end” are all before verse 34, where Jesus said, “This generation shall not pass away, till all these things be accomplished.” This is another reason why the end spoken of is not the end of the world, but the end of that present age and consummation of God’s plan.
Likewise, regarding the use of the word “coming” in this chapter, if Jesus used it of a distant future return, we would find its use in the latter part of the chapter; yet, it occurs throughout the chapter without regard to any supposed transition in verses 29 or 36. Thus, Jesus spoke of his “coming” both before and after any supposed transition.