Gary discusses a recent statement from a well-known faith-healer on the issue of preterism.
Matthew 24:33 tells us what audience Jesus had in view: “so, you too, when you see all these things, recognize that He is near, right at the door.” It’s obvious, and without any need for debate, that the first “you” refers to those who asked the questions that led to Jesus’ extended remarks (Matt. 24:2-4). Jesus identifies those who will “see all these things” by using “you.”
Thomas A. Howe spends a chapter in his book What the Bible Really Says: Breaking the Apocalypse Code, trying to convince his readers that it’s possible that Jesus’ use of “this generation” does not necessarily have to refer to the generation to whom Jesus was speaking. His argument comes down to the audience referent in Matthew 24:33. Is the meaning of Jesus’ use of “you” in this verse the same as the use of “you” throughout Matthew 24, or could it mean a different “you,” a future “you”? Here’s the way Howe argues his case:
One of these likely indicators [that Jesus’ use of “you”] is the prior statement of Jesus: “when you see all these things, recognize that He is near, right at the door” (Matt. 24:33). This statement seems to indicate that the referent of the word ‘generation’ is the ones who see all these things. This, of course, raises the question, “To what ‘things’ is Jesus referring?”
This is the second time Howe quotes Matthew 24:33 in his nearly 200-page book, and he misquotes it. Here’s the full passage, and note that “you” (plural) is used twice: “so, you too, when you see all these things, recognize [lit. know] that He is near, right at the door.” Why would Howe not include the first second person plural in his use of the verse? Because he would have to explain why the two uses of “you” are being used by Jesus to refer to different audiences separated by nearly two thousand years.
There is no debate over the meaning or “referent,” a term Howe uses frequently, of the first “you.” The first “you,” which he does not mention, refers to Jesus’ present audience. Howe claims the second “you” refers to a different audience, a supposed audience that “sees all these things,” which he argues is a future audience. Notice Howe’s equivocation: “this statement seems to indicate….” He knows he can’t say dogmatically, “this statement indicates” because it’s not self-evident to the reader that Jesus is referring to two different audiences separated by nearly two thousand years.
Wars and Rumors of Wars
Skeptics read the Olivet Discourse in the right way, but come to the wrong conclusion. Christian futurists read it the wrong way and come to a different wrong conclusion. Jesus predicted that He would return within the time period of that generation alone. Unfortunately, too many Christians are giving the wrong answer when skeptics claim Jesus was mistaken. Everything Jesus said would happen before that generation passed away did happen.
Buy NowGary discusses a recent statement from a well-known faith-healer on the issue of preterism. Andrew Wommack had an employee quit his ministry due to differences in eschatology. Wommack responds by appealing to Revelation 1:19, and Gary points out the problems with this, focusing on the Greek word “mello.”