As Jesus was sitting on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately. “Tell us,” they said, “when will this happen, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?” (Matthew 24:3)
Rather than one question, there could be as many as three separate questions.
- When Will This Happen– This appears to relate directly to Jesus’ comment about the destruction of the temple (see previous musing).
- What Will Be the Sign of Your Coming– This may be asking about the Rapture.
- What Will Be the Signs of the End of the Age– This could be asking about the Parousia.
It is highly unlikely at this point that the disciples would have grasped any distinction between the Rapture and the Parousia. It appears as though the disciples believed that all of these would take place simultaneously (or at least…
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