Please explain to me why Jesus several times promised his disciples that he would return within the lifetime of some of them.
First. Please explain to me why Jesus said this to his disciples before sending them on their mission to Israel: “When you are persecuted in one town, flee to the next. I tell you the truth, the Son of Man will return before you have reached all the towns of Israel.” (Mat 10:23)
My comments: There was an urgency for them to complete their task! Time was limited so they were to go only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel; not to carry money or extra clothing or waste time in places where their message was not received. URGENT! Jesus will return before they have reached all the towns of Israel.” Not centuries in the future!
Second. Please explain to me why Jesus told his disciples: “For the Son of Man will come with his angels in the glory of his Father and will judge all people according to their deeds. And I tell you the truth, some standing here right now will not die before they see the Son of Man coming in his Kingdom.” (Mat 16:27-28)
My comments: In this context, Jesus challenged these disciples to follow him. He warned them to be committed to the Kingdom of God and to be ready for his return before some of them had died.
His coming and the Kingdom of God was not centuries in the future, but a mere generation!
Third. Please explain to me why Jesus told his disciples: “And the Good News about the Kingdom will be preached throughout the whole world (Greek oikoumenē) so that all nations will hear it; and then the end will come. (Mat 24:14)
My comments: In the Olivet Discourse, Jesus once again emphasied the shortness of time to the listening disciples. The Greek oikoumenē (Strongs G3625) translates the phrase ‘the whole world’. This word, oikoumenē meant the civilised world, the Roman empire which Paul tells us happened– see Rom 10:18, 16:26; Col 1:6, 23. The End, his coming, he promised during the time of the apostles, in the Roman Empire. Not centuries in the future!
Fourth. Please explain to me why Jesus told his disciples to learn the lesson of fig tree. “When its branches bud and its leaves begin to sprout, you know that summer is near. In the same way, when you see all these things, you can know his return is very near, right at the door” (Mat 24:32-33)
My comments: Jesus knew their question about when The End comes. He responded by comparing the seasonal changes in the fig tree to the time of his return. They can see when summer is near,–only a short time away. Similarly, when they see things like the Abomination of Desolation and the great tribulation they can see how close is his return. It is very near. In fact it was right at the door!
Fifthly. Please explain to me why Jesus told his disciples I tell you the truth, this generation will not pass from the scene until all these things take place. (Mat 24:34)
My comments: Remarkably, once more in that discourse, Jesus emphasied the shortness of time to the listening disciples. The current generation of those disciples and others in Israel would not have vanished until events including the great tribulation and his coming have taken place. Within about 40 years. Not centuries in the future!

oh man my poor brain is not grasping all these things I’ve recently discovered/stumbled upon reformed theology and since then I questioned dispensationalism. I came from a dispy/charismatic/pentacostal family and my WHOLE LIFE have believed dispensationalism to be true until recently.
Then this article just about knocked my socks off.
Can someone please PLEASE just explain to me like I’m 10yo what the current situation is in the timeline of the earth and everything 🙈🫠. My 3am rabbit hole brain is melting with info overload.
Can I lose my salvation? I am elected? Is Jesus even coming back? What’s happening in the near future with all the horrible 15min Smart Cities, A.I microchipping mark of the beast vibes going on around us. Did we even land on the moon?🙈🫠.
Existential crisis is an understatement. All my life my family has been prepping us for the end times mark of the beast etc and now what’s going on?
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I understand your frustration.
I suggest you seek the Lord for guidance and the truth. “Heaven and earth may pass away, but my words will never pass away” (Jesus, Matthew 24:35). Seek Him! Do your own researching of the scriptures. Ignore the past–doctrines, reformed theology, famiiy, traditions, churches, preachers, bloggers, and Ian Thomson, can all be wrong.
“Let God be true and every man a liar”. (Rom 3:4).
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