“FOUR Reasons why I cannot BELIEVE THE 70AD
doctrine”
By Cougan Collins
Some
good brethren in the church have become obsessed with the 70AD doctrine to the
point of making it a hobbyhorse. Simply
stated, the 70 AD doctrine teaches that all prophecies were fulfilled by 70
AD. This means that the second coming of
Jesus, the resurrection, and the Day of Judgment happened at the destruction of
Jerusalem in 70AD. This may sound crazy
to most of us, but those who embrace this doctrine feel as if they have found
something new that sheds light on certain difficult verses in the Bible. However, this doctrine has many problems when
you honestly look at the word of God. I
once asked a prominent teacher of this doctrine if I would be lost if I did not
believe the 70AD doctrine. He simply
told me to turn to 2 Peter 3:16. This
scripture talks about how certain people were twisting the scriptures to their
own destruction, which had to do with the end times. Ironically, Paul informs us of how some were
doing this very thing. “And their message will spread like cancer. Hymenaeus and Philetus
are of this sort, who have strayed concerning the truth, saying that the resurrection
is already past; and they overthrow the faith of some. (2 Tim. 2:17-18)
Now let us look at several reasons why I cannot accept
the 70AD doctrine.
1. The 70AD doctrine teaches that the resurrection
happened at the destruction of Jerusalem and denies a bodily resurrection. Is this the case?
To answer this question let us examine Jesus’ resurrection. Apparently, some in the Corinthian church
were denying that Jesus had been raised from the dead. Paul set out to correct them in 1 Corinthians
15. He pointed out how over 500 people
had witnessed Christ bodily resurrection (vs. 4-8). Paul goes on to say that Christ, who was
raised from the dead, is the first fruits and when He comes again, those who
belong to Him will be raised from the dead as well (vs. 20-23). Since Jesus is the first fruits and his resurrection
was a bodily one, this would indicate that our resurrection is to be a bodily
one as well. The only way the 70AD doctrine could be true is if Jesus’
resurrection was not a bodily one.
We
learn from Paul that at the resurrection we will be changed in the twinkling of
an eye and we will have an incorruptible body (1 Cor.
15:50-54). Paul also tells us that a
Christian’s citizenship is in heaven and how they were eagerly waiting for
Jesus’ return so that he would transform their lowly bodies and conform them to
His glorious body (Phil. 3:20-21). John
agrees with this when he says, “when Christ is revealed, we shall be like Him
and see Him as He is” (1 Jn. 3:2). Have these things already happened as the
70AD doctrine teaches? If they have, I
personally am not impressed with this new glorious body that is suppose to be immortal and incorruptible. Are you?
Obviously, the resurrection has not happened yet.
During
Jesus earthly ministry, the Sadducees were trying to trap Jesus in a question
about the resurrection. Jesus responded
to them by saying, "The
sons of this age marry, and are given in marriage. But those who are counted worthy to attain
that age, and the resurrection from the dead, neither marry nor are
given in marriage; nor can they die anymore, for they are equal to the angels
and are sons of God, being sons of the resurrection” (Luke
20:34-36). Jesus’
words here are a big deathblow to the 70AD doctrine. Notice, at the resurrection we will not marry
or be given in marriage. We cannot die
anymore and we are equal with angels.
First of all, it’s obvious that we are still marrying, giving in
marriage, and we are still dying. Now if
the 70AD advocates try to make dying a spiritual concept, then this means we
cannot sin, because sin is what causes spiritual death (Rom. 6:23). Are you ready to accept such a notion? Did the resurrection happen in 70AD? Absolutely not!
2. The 70 AD
doctrine teaches that Jesus second coming and judgment was at the destruction
of Jerusalem. I
cannot accept this because this denies a visible return of Jesus Christ. Hebrews 9:28 is the only verse that
specifically mentions Jesus’ coming as being a second one. “So Christ was offered once to bear the sins of many. To those who eagerly wait for Him He will
appear a second time, apart from sin, for salvation” (Heb.
9:28).
How did Jesus appear the
first time? We know with out a doubt
that he appeared visibly. He lived and
died on this earth. How will he appear
the second time? The word “appear” gives
us a clue that we will see him when he comes.
We learn from Luke that Jesus’ disciples literally and visibly saw Jesus
taken up and received out of their sight (Acts 1:9). We also learn that Jesus will return a second
time in a like manner (Acts 1:11). John
makes it clear that Jesus’ second coming will be visible because he says that
every eye will see him (Rev. 1:7; see also Col.3:4). If the 70AD doctrine is correct, then we have
to deny that Jesus literally and visibly went up into heaven. Are you willing to accept that? I cannot.
At the second coming all will be resurrected (John 5:28-29;
Acts 24:15, 1Cor. 15:50-54), all will be judged (Mat. 25: 31-46; 2 Tim. 4:1;
Jude 15; John 12:48), and all the righteous will be caught up in the air with
Jesus and be with him forever (1 Thes. 4:17; John 14:2-3;
Phil. 3:20-21). When we all stand at the
judgment seat of Christ, we will all bow to him and confess to God that Jesus
is His Son (Rom. 14:10-11). There will
be no more death, tears, sorrows, or pains (Rev. 21:4; 1 Cor.
15:26). When Jesus comes, He will come
like a thief in the night and there will be no escape (1Thes. 5:1-3). The earth will be burned up with fervent heat
(2 Peter 3:10-13). Did any of these
things happen in 70AD? Of course not. If the
final judgment has already occurred, as the 70AD doctrine teaches, then
there is nothing we can do for the saved or the lost because everyone has
already been separated to eternal life or eternal punishment (Mat. 25:46).
Another big problem for the 70AD
doctrine is that it does not have any early historical evidence. There is not one shred of early Christian
writing to prove that Christians believed that Jesus’ second coming happened at
70AD. Instead, the following writers
from about 75 AD to 150 AD all spoke of Jesus’ second coming as a future event: Justin Martyer,
Clement of Rome, Ignatius, Polycarp (a student and
friend of the apostle John), Irenaeus, and Hippolytus. One would think he would find at least one
early church writer that expressed the 70AD view if it were true. However, one
cannot be produced. Was Jesus’ second
coming in 70AD? Absolutely not!
3. The 70AD doctrine
teaches that all prophecy was fulfilled by 70AD and that the law was still in
effect for the Jews until that time. To
make this
whole argument crumble all one needs to do is produce one prophecy that was
fulfilled after 70AD. Before I do that,
I want to show that the verse they take out of context to support their view
does not teach what they say it does. "For assuredly, I say to you, till heaven
and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle will by
no means pass from the law till all is fulfilled” (Matt.
5:18). Those who hold the AD 70 view will say, “see the law cannot pass away until all is fulfilled.” In order to understand what is being said
here lets examine the context. In Matthew
5: 17 Jesus said, "Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the
Prophets. I did not come to destroy but
to fulfill.” In this passage Jesus tells us that He did not
come to destroy the law but to fulfill it.
With this in mind, we can understand that in verse 18 the law will not
pass away until Jesus fulfills it. Jesus
wanted to make sure his disciples understood this, so after he was raised from
dead, he said the following.
"These are the words
which I spoke to you while I was still with you, that all things must be
fulfilled which were written in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms
concerning Me" (Luke 24:44). Jesus’ point that He is trying to get across to His
disciples is this. Remember when I said
the law would not pass away till all was fulfilled (Matt. 5:17-18)? That has now happened! This same thought is also found in Acts 13:27-29. This harmonizes perfectly with the numerous
Scriptures that state that the Old Covenant was replaced with the New Covenant
at the death of Jesus (Heb. 9:15; Heb. 8:6-7; Gal. 3:23-25). The handwriting of requirements of the law
were nailed to the cross (Col. 2:14) and put to death in his flesh (Eph.
2:14-16). Paul tells us that the
Christians before 70AD were no longer under the law (Rom. 6:15; Rom. 7:1-6;
8:1-4). Those Christians who believed in
Jesus and were led by the spirit were no longer under the law (Rom. 10:4; Gal.
5:18). Finally, Paul proclaimed that if
Christians tried to go back to the law for justification they would fall from
grace (Gal. 5:4). Although the law was
still being practiced by some of the Jews, its authority ended at the cross and
the New Covenant took its place. Contrary to the 70AD doctrine, we have clearly
seen that the law was fulfilled at the point of Christ’s death and not at the
fulfillment of all prophecy.
Now
let us look at one fulfilled prophecy that happened almost 400 years after
70AD. As we
look at this, please remember that if I can show one prophecy that was
fulfilled after AD 70, then the whole belief system crumbles. In Daniel 2, we four different kingdoms are
presented. The fourth kingdom is
described as having legs of iron and its feet being partly iron and clay (vs.
33). We learn that this fourth kingdom
would be in power at the time the church/kingdom would be setup (vs. 44). Without a doubt, this fourth kingdom is the
Roman Empire. In this prophecy, Daniel
informs us that the fourth kingdom will be destroyed (vs. 34-35; 44-45). Was the Roman Empire destroyed by 70AD? No, it wasn’t destroyed until 476AD. This one prophecy, by itself, destroys the
70AD doctrine. All prophecy was not
fulfilled by 70AD.
4. The 70AD doctrine
teaches that the kingdom started at Pentecost but did not come with power or
was not established until 70AD. Mark tells
us that some of those standing in the presence of Christ would not die before
the kingdom would come with power (Mark 9:1).
Luke tells us that the power and the spirit would come together (Luke
24:29; Acts 1:8). We learn that the
power and spirit came at the day of Pentecost (Acts 2:1-4) and that was when
the kingdom/church was established with power.
The kingdom did not have to wait until 70AD to have power or to be
established. The Bible does not speak of
the kingdom starting without power. The
Hebrew writer tells us that Jesus’ New Covenant was established on better
promises (Heb. 8:6). Notice, it did not
say that it was to be established, but that it was established. You cannot
find a biblical example where someone thought that the kingdom/church was
lacking power or was not yet established.
The church was established on the bedrock of Jesus Christ (Mat.
16:18). Jesus is the head of the kingdom/church
(Col. 1:18) and he has all authority over heaven and earth (Mat. 28:18). I do not see how anyone could say that
Christ’ kingdom was lacking power until 70AD.
Paul informs us that Jesus already had power and glory before 70AD
(1Cor. 5:4; Eph. 1:19-23; 1 Pet.1:20-21).
Paul didn’t view the church as lacking power or anticipating a future
power. Instead, he said that they had
the power now (Eph. 3:20). Paul told the
Colossians that God had delivered them out of darkness and had translated them
into the kingdom of the son of his love (Col. 1:13). Now the 70 AD advocates will say that the
kingdom was incomplete at this time, but notice what Paul says about these
Christians who had been translated into the kingdom. Paul said, “you are
complete in Him, who is the head of all principality and power” (Col.
2:10).
How
could Paul say that these Christians were complete in the kingdom if the
kingdom was not to be completed until 70AD?
The reason Paul could say this is because the Bible does not teach what
the 70AD advocates want it to teach.
Paul tells us that Jesus must reign until He comes again (1Cor.
15:23-25). At that time He will hand the
kingdom over to the Father and He will cease to be a mediator (1 Cor. 15:28). If this
occurred at 70AD, then we should not be praying in the name of Jesus but
directly to God. Please notice that Paul
tells us when this happens there will be no more death (1Cor. 15:26). I have pointed this out already, but it is
worth saying again. If this refers to
physical death then we should not be dying.
If it refers to spiritual death then we cannot sin.
The 70AD advocates try to use Luke 17:20-21 to support their
view. Notice what this passage says, “Now when He was asked by the Pharisees
when the kingdom of God would come, He answered them and said, "The
kingdom of God does not come with observation; nor will they say, 'See here!' or 'See
there!' For indeed, the kingdom of God is within you.” I
have no idea why the 70AD advocates even try to use these verses, because this
very passage disproves their doctrine.
We have to remember that the Jews were looking for a physical kingdom
and did not really understand that the kingdom would be a spiritual one (Acts
1:6). So, Jesus explains to them that
they would not be able to observe its coming.
Now remember, the 70 AD doctrine teaches that the kingdom came at the
destruction of Jerusalem. Now, I ask
you, do you think that the Jews could have observed the Roman armies coming to
destroy them? Of course they could. Jesus even warned his disciples to watch for
the armies coming so that they could escape (Mat. 24:15-16). So, if the kingdom could not come with
observation, it certainly could not come at the destruction of Jerusalem
because everyone saw that coming.
We could examine how the Bible teaches
that we are in the last days right now (Joel 2:28-30; Acts 2:16) or talk about
how we are to partake of the Lords Supper until he comes (1 Cor.
11:26).We could look at more arguments like these, but these four should be
enough to show that the Bible simply does not support the 70AD doctrine. If you have any questions or comments please
email me at bible@ardmoreweb.com.
Cougan
Collins