And as he went out of the temple, one of his disciples saith unto him, Master, see what manner of stones and what buildings are here! And Jesus answering said unto him, Seest thou these great buildings? there shall not be left one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down... And when ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars, be ye not troubled... This generation shall not pass, till all these things be done... But of that day and that hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels which are in heaven, neither the Son, but the Father. Take ye heed, watch and pray...
Jesus predicts the temple's destruction—which occurred in 70 CE when Rome burned Jerusalem. He also speaks of cosmic upheaval, the Son of Man coming in clouds, and the gathering of the elect. How do these relate?
The interpretive puzzle: Jesus says 'this generation shall not pass till all these things be done.' Did he mean the temple's fall (fulfilled in 70 CE)? Or also his second coming (still awaited)? The text seems to blend near and far horizons.
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