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The Gospel Observer

"Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations...teaching them to observe all that I commanded you, and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age" (Matt. 28:19,20).
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October 27, 2013
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Contents:

1) A.D. 70 Doctrine (J.T. Smith)
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A.D. 70 Doctrine
by J.T. Smith

The A.D. 70 doctrine is a new doctrine.  It is listed with several designations -- A.D. 70 doctrine, Realized Eschatology, and the Max King Theory (so named because Max King of Warren, Ohio is the father of it). His views are set forth in two books: The Spirit of Prophecy (1971) and The Cross and The Parousia of Christ (1987).  When I heard about it a number of years ago I dismissed it as being so far-fetched that no one in their right mind would deem it worthy of serious consideration.  Since that time some of our younger brethren, even among conservative churches of Christ, have "bought into it."  As a result, some in Ohio have had their support dropped as a result of this teaching.  

The doctrine, "in a nutshell," is that when the destruction of Jerusalem took place in A.D. 70, all Bible prophecy was fulfilled including: the second coming of Christ; the resurrection of the dead; the judgment day; and the end of the world!  If this theory doesn't make sense to you, it is because these common biblical terms have been redefined by King as he presents his theory.  For example:

1. The kingdom of Christ was not fully set up until A.D. 70.

2. The "second coming" has nothing to do with a literal returning of Christ in the future, but a spiritual invisible coming in A.D. 70.  

3. The "resurrection" does not involve the physical body; instead it refers to a resurrection of the Christian system (the church) from the persecution inflicted by the Jews between A.D. 30-70.  

4. The "end of the world" is not the passing of the earth, according to the theory, but is a reference to the dissolving of the Jewish world.  

5. The "judgment day" is not a time in the future when all will give account to God for the deeds done in the body, instead it is the destruction of Jerusalem.  

Definition of Words

The words "Realized Eschatology" are used to describe this theory.  The word "realized" means, "to make real or fulfill" (The American Heritage Dictionary).  Therefore things which have already occurred are realized.  

Second, the word "eschatology": "A belief or a doctrine concerning the ultimate or final things, such as death, the destiny of humanity, the Second Coming, or the Last Judgment" (Ibid).  Thus the doctrine of Realized Eschatology is the concept that all things in the Bible that we generally consider to be things that are "yet to come to pass" have already happened.  

The Kingdom Of Christ


The first aspect of this theory we will study is that of the kingdom of Christ.  When we say King teaches that "The kingdom of Christ was not fully set up until A.D. 70," we must preface that by saying that King says "it did not come in glory and power until A.D. 70."  The two words "glory" and "power" are the key words in this theory.  We must be careful to represent him correctly.  King and his followers theorize that the kingdom of our Lord came into existence on the day of Pentecost, fifty days after the death of Christ.  This point they concede.  They believe that the kingdom of Christ came on Pentecost, but not in its glory; not in its power.  It was not complete on Pentecost.  It did not receive its glory and power until God destroyed Jerusalem, the Jewish Temple and all that it entailed, in A.D. 70.  

First of all let's consider the fact that the kingdom and the church are composed of the same people (John 3:3-5 cf. Acts 2:38, 41, 47).  In Ephesians 3:20-21 Paul said, "Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever.  Amen."  Notice that both "power" and "glory" are mentioned as being in the church before A.D. 70.  

Second, if the kingdom did not come in glory and power until A.D. 70, then obviously it was because The King of this kingdom had no power until A.D. 70.  However, Jesus said after His death, burial and resurrection, "... 'All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth'" (Matthew 28:18).  Was it actually given then?  "And declared to be the Son of God with power according to the Spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead" (Romans 1:4).  But again, "and what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, far above all principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come.  And He put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be head over all things to the church, which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all" (Ephesians 1:19-23).  All authority was His -- when?  Notice verse 19: "according to the working of His mighty power which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places...."  When did The King and the kingdom receive power?  "When He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places."  This was before A.D. 70 -- Max King to the contrary notwithstanding.  

God knows the end from the beginning.  Therefore, He knew every false doctrine that would be advocated by man and gave the Scripture that will negate it regardless of who teaches it.  That includes Max King.  Since the kingdom did not come with power and glory in A.D. 70 but on the first Pentecost after the resurrection of Christ, let's go to the next point.

The Second Coming Of Christ

What about the second coming of Christ?  Is it yet future, or has it already past (A.D. 70)?  Paul told Titus, "Looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ" (Titus 2:13).  But according to this theory we need look no longer.  It has already happened.  

First of all we must take one very important point into consideration.  There are many times in the Scriptures that the "coming" of Christ is used in a figurative, symbolic, or spiritual sense -- not a literal one.  The first coming was literal when Jesus was born of the virgin Mary.  This was prophesied in the Old Testament:  "The scepter shall not depart from Judah, Nor a lawgiver from between his feet, Until Shiloh comes; And to Him shall be the obedience of the people" (Genesis 49:10).  "'Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel,' which is translated, 'God with us'" (Matthew 1:23).  To my knowledge none of King's disciples deny that this is the first coming of Christ.  

There is only one passage that specifically says that Christ will come a "second time."  "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" (Hebrews 9:28).  The question when will (did?) this "second time" take place?  Those who advocate "Realized Eschatology" say the second appearance of the Lord as stated in Hebrews 9:28 is figurative.  

Since it is almost impossible to discuss the second coming of Christ without discussing the resurrection (and since King believes both took place in A.D. 70) I am going to include the resurrection in this segment.  

Who (Or What) Is To Be Raised?

When King and those of his disciples speak of the resurrection, they talk about the resurrection of "the body."  However, when they speak of the resurrection of the body, they are not talking about the physical body of man.  They are speaking about a spiritual body, the church.  The theory is that the Lord's church (The Body) had been suppressed until A.D. 70 by the Law of Moses and its followers.  At the time of the destruction of Jerusalem the church was released from that suppression and in a figurative sense was "raised up."  Therefore, what we read about the resurrection in the New Testament has reference to this figurative resurrection.  In order to determine the truthfulness of this, let's look at some of the passages in the New Testament that speak of the resurrection.  

I Corinthians 15.  In his letter to the brethren in Corinth, Paul [speaks on] the subject of the resurrection in chapter 15.  He begins in verses 1-8 by showing that the facts of the gospel are very important.  They consist of the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus which he says must be believed.  As far as I know, King and his followers would not deny that this is speaking of the bodily resurrection of Jesus.  

Paul then continues by showing that the resurrection of Jesus guarantees our resurrection.  He says, "And if Christ is not risen . . . Then also those who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished" (Verses 17-18).  Notice Paul did not say that if Christ is not risen then the church has perished.  He said "those" (individuals) who have fallen asleep (died) have perished.  But Paul affirms, "But now Christ is risen from the dead, and has become the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep" (I Corinthians 15:20).  Notice he did not say "that (the church) which has fallen asleep," but "of those who have fallen asleep."  But again, "But someone will say, 'How are the dead raised up? And with what body do they come'?" (I Corinthians 15:35).  Again observe that Paul did not say "with what body does it (church) come."  He said, "with what body do they come."  He replies, "So also is the resurrection of the dead.  The body is sown in corruption, it is raised in incorruption" (I Corinthians 15:42).  Question: Was the church sown in corruption?  that it might be raised in incorruption?  I think not!  But again, "It is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body" (I Corinthians 15:44).  Was the church sown a natural body and raised a spiritual one? "Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed -- in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet.  For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.  For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality" (I Corinthians 15:51-53).  I wonder if according to King's theory the church was corruptible before A.D. 70?

John 5:28-29.  Here Jesus is speaking of the resurrection.  He says, "Do not marvel at this; for the hour is coming in which all who are in the graves will hear His voice and come forth -- those who have done good, to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil, to the resurrection of condemnation."  Who is coming forth?  "All who are in the graves" (plural) -- not "the church that is in the grave."  Friends, one does not have to have the brain of a rocket scientist to be able to see the utter foolishness of King's theory.  That being the case, someone might say, "Why spend time refuting it?"

Well actually, King and his followers are like those we read about in II Timothy 2:16-18.  "But shun profane and idle babblings, for they will increase to more ungodliness.  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."  Obviously this same thing is happening today.  Many other passages could be given, but I believe the above is sufficient.  

(Next: "the end of the world" and "the judgment day" as taught by those who promote Realized Eschatology).

--Via Gospel Truths, October 2010, Volume 1, Number 10
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The Steps That Lead to Eternal Salvation

1) Hear the gospel, for that is how faith comes (Rom. 10:17; John 20:30,31).
2) Believe in the deity of Christ (John 8:24; John 3:18).
3) Repent of sins (Luke 13:5; Acts 17:30).
4) Confess faith in Christ (Rom. 10:9,10; Acts 8:36-38).
5) Be baptized in water for the remission of sins (Mark 16:16; Acts 2:38; 22:16; Rom. 6:3,4; Gal. 3:26,27; 1 Pet. 3:21).
6) Continue in the faith; for, if not, salvation can be lost (Heb. 10:36-39; Rev. 2:10; 2 Pet. 2:20-22).
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Park Forest

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