While reading Hebrews 12:22–29 the other day, the language and references began to generate a series of familiar associations. Zion led to angels, angels to judgment, and judgment—almost inevitably—back to Matthew’s Olivet Discourse. From there, Daniel and Paul quickly came into view. Rather than feeling scattered, these connections reinforced a pattern evident across the New Testament, namely, that Scripture clarifies Scripture and in doing so shapes the contours of its own eschatological claims. Hebrews (12:22–29) speaks with striking confidence about where its readers already stand. They have come to Mount Zion, to the city of the living God, to the heavenly Jerusalem. This is not presented as a destination awaiting fulfillment, but as a present covenantal reality. What follows reinforces that point: angels gathered in festal assembly, the assembly of the firstborn, God identified as Judge, and the spirits of the righteous made perfect. The emphasis throughout is ...
A few days ago, I shared a brief statement from Gary DeMar on Facebook: “The great tribulation mentioned in Matthew 24:21 took place before that generation passed away. Verse 34 demands it.” I simply replied, “Yup.” Shortly afterward, a pastor who opposes preterism responded, claiming that “verse 34 does not demand it,” and posted a lengthy excerpt from an article to support his objection. What follows is a summary of the key ideas from his critique, and then my rebuttal. I do not address every minor detail of his post, because the central issue—his handling of “all these things” and the structure of the discourse—renders the rest of his points irrelevant. Before offering a response, it’s helpful to note the main thrust of the critique I’m addressing. The critic argues that “all these things” in Matthew 24:34 does not include the coming of the Son of Man in vv. 29–31, but refers only to preliminary first-century signs. On this basis, he separates vv. 29–31 into ...