Two and Two

An interesting point came up in Bible class today: the Olivet discourse (Matthew 24) contains two questions (from the apostles), and Jesus gives two answers. Confusion on this point is the main driving force behind non-dispensational eschatologies.

Jesus starts with a devastating statement (Matthew 24:2):

"But he answered and said unto them, See ye not all these things [the temple]? verily I say unto you, There shall not be left here one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down."

The apostles are stunned, they ask (verse 3):

"And as he sat on the mount of Olives, the disciples came unto him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world?"

1. When shall these things be?
2. What shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world?

"These things" refers to the destruction of the temple. That was in AD70, when the Romans destroyed it - everyone agrees on that.

The remaining question addresses the end times. No need for spiritualized interpretations to make "they shall see the Son of man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory" (verse 30b) occur in AD70.

It is a future event.