Jesus is coming again.

The destruction of Jerusalem in 70 A.D. was NOT the return of Christ (his second coming) which is witnessed to throughout the New Testament.

In 70 A.D., Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, enforced the promised judgment against the temple in Jerusalem and nation of Israel for their apostasy. In one sense of the word, it is correct to say that Jesus came in judgment. However, this was not his second coming or glorious appearing promised in the New Testament.

When Jesus returns, there will be the bodily resurrection of those who look to him for salvation.

With that said, too many Christian ministers completely ignore the events that unfolded at the end of the Jewish temple era. Yet it is a big theme in the New Testament. The destruction of Jerusalem was prophesied by Jesus and the apostles warned their fellow Jews of the impending judgment which was quickly approaching.

Some of the texts that are interpreted as unfulfilled prophecy actually apply to the (then) coming destruction of Jerusalem which happened in the first century. Yet this does not mean that all warnings of judgment in the New Testament apply to that time period, and that is where some make a terrible mistake in interpreting scripture.

Those who make the destruction of Jerusalem and the temple the center of their Biblical hermeneutic often go into error regarding other very important biblical doctrines.Those who go into such error claim that Christ has already come and everything is fulfilled.

On the contrary, Jesus hasn’t come yet. The resurrection of the just and unjust hasn’t happened yet. The final judgment of the entire world hasn’t happened yet.

Here is one thing that can help you understand scripture better, and better interpret prophecy.

Know that what God has done with Israel serves as a microcosm of his dealings with the nations. In Romans 3, Paul says, “Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God.” v. 19

The law was given to Israel, yet it was given so that “all the world” may become guilty. Many have a view Israel as a witness of God’s favor. Yet in the New Testament, it is Israel’s judgment from God that serves as a witness to the nations.

Every soul of man will answer to God and this is witnessed of in God’s dealing with the people of Israel. The salvation of the Jews wasn’t national. It was individual. Only those who repented and believed that Jesus is the Messiah would be saved from God’s judgment which was hanging over the nation.

In much the same way, Jesus is going to judge the nations. Only those who repent and believe in Christ will be saved in the day of his wrath.