Introduction

The phrase end times is one of the most misunderstood ideas in Christianity. People think it means the end of planet earth or a future global cataclysm, but scripture already defined the end times as the closing period of the Old Covenant world. Jesus and His apostles placed every end time prophecy in the generation they were living in. The destruction of Jerusalem in 70 AD was the covenantal end of the age that was already passing away. The end times are behind us because Jesus fulfilled every prophecy exactly when He said He would.

The End Of The Age

Matthew 24:3
As He was sitting on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to Him privately, saying, Tell us, when will these things happen, and what will be the sign of Your coming, and of the end of the age

† Jesus never said end of the world, He said end of the age. The disciples understood that age to be the Old Covenant system centered on Jerusalem and the Temple. That was the world that was ending. Jesus was announcing the end of the covenant structure that had governed Israel for centuries. (Hebrews 8:13)

† Jesus defined the end of the age as the fall of Jerusalem, not the end of creation. (2 Corinthians 3:11)

The Last Days

Hebrews 1:1-2
God, after He spoke long ago to the fathers in the prophets in many portions and in many ways, in these last days has spoken to us in His Son

† The inspired writer said they were living in the last days, not future generations. The last days belonged to the final years of the Old Covenant. When people today claim we're living in the last days, they ignore every clear statement of scripture. (Acts 2:16-17)

† The last days were the final years of the Old Covenant, the generation Jesus addressed. (1 John 2:18)

The Time Was Short

1 Peter 4:7
The end of all things is near

† Near meant near to them. Peter wasn't talking about something thousands of years away. He was describing the approaching end of their covenant world, the same world Jesus said would end within that generation. (Romans 13:11-12)

† Near meant near for them, not near for us two thousand years later. (James 5:8-9)

The Coming Of The Son Of Man

Matthew 24:30
Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of the sky with power and great glory

† Jesus was quoting Daniel 7, which shows the Son of Man receiving dominion, not coming down to earth. This coming is a covenantal judgment. Jesus came in power through the events of 70 AD exactly as He promised. (Daniel 7:13-14)

† The coming of the Son of Man is His judgment on Jerusalem, fulfilling Daniel 7. (Matthew 26:64)

This Generation

Matthew 24:34
Truly I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all these things take place

† Jesus tied all end time prophecy to His own generation. He meant exactly what He said, and everything was fulfilled before that generation passed away. (Matthew 23:35-36)

† Jesus placed every prophecy in their generation, not ours. (Luke 21:32)

The Great Tribulation

Matthew 24:21
For then there will be a great tribulation, such as has not occurred since the beginning of the world until now, nor ever will

† The great tribulation was fulfilled in the Jewish War and the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 AD. Luke 21:20 makes this clear by linking the tribulation to the Roman armies surrounding the city. (Luke 21:20-24)

† The great tribulation was fulfilled in the destruction of Jerusalem. (Daniel 12:1)

This Generation In Luke's Account

Luke 21:32
Truly I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all things take place

† Luke repeats the same time statement Jesus gave in Matthew, proving both accounts point to the same generation. (Matthew 24:34)

† This destroys the futurist claim that this generation meant something symbolic. (Matthew 24:33-35)

Revelation's Nearness Statements

Revelation 1:1
The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave Him to show to His bond-servants, the things which must soon take place

Revelation 1:3
For the time is near

† Revelation opens by declaring its events would happen soon, not thousands of years later. (Revelation 22:6)

† Soon and near frame the entire book and place its fulfillment in the first century. (Revelation 22:10)

He Will Come Without Delay

Hebrews 10:37
For yet in a very little while, He who is coming will come, and will not delay

† The writer said Jesus would come in a very little while, leaving no room for a two thousand year delay. (Hebrews 10:36)

† This confirms the soon coming Jesus and His apostles consistently taught. (James 5:8-9)

The Gospel Was Preached To All Creation

Colossians 1:23
The gospel that you have heard, which was proclaimed in all creation under heaven

† Paul said the Great Commission was fulfilled before 70 AD. (Romans 10:18)

† This completes the requirement of Matthew 24:14 before the end came. (Matthew 24:14)

Historical References

† Josephus describes the siege of Jerusalem exactly as Jesus predicted. (Josephus, Wars of the Jews)
† Tacitus confirms the same events from a Roman standpoint. (Tacitus, Histories)
† Eusebius records that early Christians fled to Pella because they recognized Jesus warnings. (Eusebius, Ecclesiastical History)
† These early witnesses confirm that end time prophecy was fulfilled in their generation exactly as Jesus said.

How It Applies To Us Today

† We're not living in the end times, we're living in the age that came after the end. We're living in the New Covenant world where God dwells with His people. We're not expecting destruction or global collapse, we're living in the world after judgment, the world Jesus established when every prophecy was fulfilled. This removes fear, strengthens faith, and reminds us that we're already living in the Kingdom Jesus delivered. (Hebrews 12:22-28)

† This is the fulfilled perspective we proclaim at Fulfilled Prophecies †
© Fulfilled Prophecies - Dan Maines.

Source Index
† Matthew 24:3, 30, 34; Luke 21:20-24, 21:32; Hebrews 1:1-2, 10:36-37; 1 Peter 4:7; James 5:8-9; Revelation 1:1, 1:3, 22:6, 22:10; Colossians 1:23; Romans 10:18, 13:11-12; Acts 2:16-17; 1 John 2:18; Daniel 7:13-14, 12:1; 2 Corinthians 3:11
† Hebrews 8:13, 12:22-28
† Matthew 23:35-36, 24:14, 24:33-35, 26:64
† Josephus, Wars of the Jews
† Tacitus, Histories
† Eusebius, Ecclesiastical History