Full Preterism is a Christian eschatological view which interprets all prophecies of the Bible have already happened. In a previous post, we saw how Matthew and Mark mixed the events of both 70 AD and Christ’s second coming as a single discussion while Luke splits them into two separate discussions in two different chapters. Relying only on Mathew without comparing it with Luke can mislead someone to believe that everything or most of what Jesus spoke already fulfilled in 70 AD. In this post, we will compare the gospels and the old testament to fully understand what Matthew refers to as the coming of Son of Man.
Truly I say to you, there are some of those who are standing here who shall not taste death until they see the Son of Man coming in His kingdom.”
And He was saying to them, “Truly I say to you, there are some of those who are standing here who shall not taste death until they see the kingdom of God after it has come with power.”
But I say to you truthfully, there are some of those standing here who shall not taste death until they see the kingdom of God.”
Jesus took Peter, John, and James to fulfil what Jesus spoke in the above verse 8 days later (or 6 days as per Matthew and Mark). Reading Matthew alone makes someone believe that either these 3 disciples (or some other disciple among the 12) will live until the second coming of Jesus Christ. Btw, Jesus is going to come back in flesh (for He is not a spirit as Jesus said in Luke 24:39 to return spiritually). However, comparing other gospels – Mark and Luke, Jesus isn’t saying about His second coming but rather seeing the kingdom of God.
Disciples fleeing from Persecution
When they persecute you in this city, flee to another. For assuredly, I say to you, you will not have gone through the cities of Israel before the Son of Man comes.
Matt 10:23
The above passage which occurs only in Matthew suggests that the disciples will be alive and had gone through all the cities in Israel before Christ comes again.
Matt 10:21-23
Mark 13:12-13
Luke 21:16-17
Now brother will deliver up brother to death, and a father [his] child; and children will rise up against parents and cause them to be put to death. And you will be hated by all for My name’s sake. But he who endures to the end will be saved. When they persecute you in this city, flee to another. For assuredly, I say to you, you will not have gone through the cities of Israel before the Son of Man comes.
Now brother will betray brother to death, and a father [his] child; and children will rise up against parents and cause them to be put to death. And you will be hated by all for My name’s sake. But he who endures to the end shall be saved.
You will be betrayed even by parents and brothers, relatives and friends; and they will put [some] of you to death. And you will be hated by all for My name’s sake.
However, comparing the verse (in context) with other gospels, the verse occurs only in Matthew but Mark and Luke do not mention it. As the law says in Deut 19:15 and by Jesus in Matt 18:16, every matter will be resolved by 2 or 3 witnesses. We can clearly see that Matt 10:23 is simply untrue just like Matthew 2.
Son of Man Revealed?
Matt 24:27,37
Luke 17:24,26,30
For just as the lightning comes from the east, and flashes even to the west, so shall the coming of the Son of Man be. … For the coming of the Son of Man will be just like the days of Noah.
For just as the lightning, when it flashes out of one part of the sky, shines to the other part of the sky, so will the Son of Man be in His day. … And just as it happened in the days of Noah, so it shall be also in the days of the Son of Man. … Even so will it be in the day when the Son of Man is revealed.
Luke deals with the Coming of Christ (chapter 17:20-37) and the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 AD (chapter 21:5-36) separately. It is very interesting to note that there is no reference to Christ’s coming in clouds in Luke chapter 17 but rather “revealed”.
Coming on the clouds of heaven?
Matt 26:64
Mark 14:62
Luke 22:69
Jesus said to him, “[It is as ]you said. Nevertheless, I say to you, hereafter you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Power, and coming on the clouds of heaven.”
Jesus said, “I am. And you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Power, and coming with the clouds of heaven.”
“Hereafter the Son of Man will sit on the right hand of the power of God.”
Again Luke misses out ‘coming on the clouds of heaven’ when Jesus faced the Sanhedrin. In the above passages, Jesus is quoting Daniel showing that He is that Son of Man.
Glory of the Father
Glory of the Father
Clouds of Heaven
Matt 16:27
For the Son of Man will come in the glory of His Father with His angels, and then He will reward each according to his works.
Matt 24:30
Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.
Mark 8:38
For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him the Son of Man also will be ashamed when He comes in the glory of His Father with the holy angels.”
Mark 13:26
Then they will see the Son of Man coming in the clouds with great power and glory.
Luke 9:26
For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words, of him the Son of Man will be ashamed when He comes in His [own] glory, and [in His] Father’s, and of the holy angels.
Luke 21:27
Then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.
Son of Man coming on the clouds is used synonymously to Christ coming in His Father’s glory. In a previous post, we explored this in detail.
Conclusion
Only Matthew refers to Jesus coming in His Kingdom during the transfiguration event while Mark and Luke refer to seeing the Kingdom of God
Only Matthew mentions Christ’s second coming before His disciples could have a chance to flee to all the cities of Israel.
For Matthew, Christ’s second coming will be as the lightning comes from the east and flashes even to the west. But for Luke, this is how it will be in His day. Note that ‘His day’ is identical to the ‘Day of the Lord’ used for judgment for each nation in the old testament.
While Matthew and Mark mention Christ coming on the clouds of heaven during His trial, Luke doesn’t.
All three gospels refer to Christ’s second coming as Christ coming in the glory of His Father.
Many prophecies mentioned by Jesus both in the gospels and in Revelation are for both 70 and for end times that are yet to be fulfilled. We must discern carefully what already got fulfilled and what is yet to be fulfilled. It is also important for us to understand that the authors of the gospels may find themselves unable to discern the immediate judgment for Jerusalem and the judgment at the end of the age.
