Three to Let Go

To understand God’s plans for history, three passages of scripture that Christians cling to must be taken of the mix, because they have already been fulfilled. Applying them to the future causes confusion.

1. Jesus Big Prophecy (Matt 24:3-35, Mark 13:3-31; Luke 21:5-33)
This prophecy was fulfilled within the lifetime of those who heard Jesus speak.

Truly I tell you, this generation will certainly not pass away until all these things have happened (Matt 24:34).

Jesus statement is very clear. This passage was fulfilled in AD 70, so it should not be used to explain the future (see Jesus Big Prophecy for more).

2. The Seventy Weeks of Daniel (Dan 9:20-27)
Daniel’s was praying for the end of the exile in Babylon. The angel told him what would happen in the next 490 years.

Seventy ‘sevens’ are decreed for your people (Dan 9:24).

These 490 years ended at the time of Jesus, so Daniel’s prophecy has been fulfilled. Some Christians insert a gap before the last week, but there is no biblical justification for this practice. Assuming that part of this vision still has to be fulfilled will produce confusion (see Seventy Sevens for more).

3. The Woman and the Dragon (Revelation 12)
The book of Revelation covers all of New Testament history. The birth and resurrection of Jesus are described in the vision of the Woman and the Dragon.

And her child was snatched up to God and to his throne (Rev 12:5).

The vision ends with Israel being scattered among the nations by the Roman Empire. Christians have confused themselves by applying this passage to the future (see Woman and the Dragon).

These passages are favourites of Christians who want to understand the future, but they have already been fulfilled, so it is time to let them go. We will not lose anything by doing this, as there are plenty of other passages that have not been fulfilled. Those who want to understand God’s plan for history should focus on these.

As long as Christians keep trying to push these three scriptures that have been fulfilled into the future, but ignore others that are relevant for the future, confusion is bound to continue.