What Happened in AD 70? What Happened at the Cross?

 

What Happened at the Cross: 

All of the following accrued to the immediate benefit of men from and after the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ.  AD 70 was irrelevant in terms of man’s salvation from the power of sin: Our glory is all the cross!

Atonement was made in full: “And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement” (Rom. 5:11).  [The verb tense is perfect, showing completed action in the past.] 

The debt of sin was expunged: “Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross” (Col. 2:14).  [Here the verb tense is historical present, showing what happened at the cross: viz., the debt of sin was blotted out.] 

Sins were remitted: “In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace” (Eph. 1:7).  

Sins were washed away: “And now why tarriest thou? Arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord” (Acts 22:16) [If sins are washed away in baptism, it is clear nobody need wait until AD 70 for salvation from sin!] 

Men were reconciled to God: “And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled in the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreprovable in his sight” (Col. 1:21, 22). [Verb tense is perfect, showing completed action in the past.] 

The Old Testament was annulled: “For there is verily a disannulling of the commandment going before for the weakness and unprofitableness thereof. For the law made nothing perfect…which stood only in meats and drinks, and divers washings imposed on them until the time of reformation” (Heb. 7:17, 19; 9:10).  Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances” (Eph. 2:15). 

Believers were freed from all obligation to the Old Testament:  “But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law” (Gal. 5:18). [Not under law.  What part of this would any man dare deny?] 

Circumcision, the Temple Ritual, and Ceremonial Law Legally Terminated:  “Let no man therefore judge you meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or the new moon, or of the Sabbath days” (Col. 2:16; cf. Gal. 4:9, 10). 

New Testament became of force: “For a testament is of force after men are dead: otherwise it is of no strength at all while the testator liveth” (Heb. 9:17). 

The New Testament replaced the Old Testament: “He taketh away the first, that he may establish the second. By the which will we are sanctified by the body of Jesus Christ once for all” (Heb. 10:9, 10). [No man can have two testaments in force at the same time.  The Old Testament was removed at the cross so that the New Testament could come into force.] 

Spiritual resurrection (acquittal from guilt) occurred at conversion: “And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses” (Col. 2:13). [Note: if spiritual resurrection to heaven (Eph. 1:20; 2:6) occurs at conversion, why do some say this did not occur until AD 70?] 

The veil of sin separating man from God was removed: “And, behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom” (Matt. 27:51). 

Saints admitted into legal & covenantal presence of God: “Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus…Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith” (Heb. 10:19, 22). 

Men stood perfect and complete before God: “For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified” (Heb. 10:14).  [Verb tense is perfect, showing completed action in the past.  Who, reading this, would dare assert that man was under the debt of sin until AD 70?]  

What Happened in AD 70: 

AD 70 was a time of eschatological judgment and wrath, as Jesus took up his reign from the right hand of God, putting his enemies beneath his feet, including Hadean death.

 

The kingdom came in power: “Verily I say unto you, That there be some of them that stand here, which shall not taste of death, till they have seen the kingdom of God come with power” (Mk. 9:1).  [“Coming in power” signifies Christ asserting his dominion by irresistible force.] 

The world entered a time of judgment: “Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained” (Acts 17:31). 

Jesus demonstrated his omnipotence and divinity: “That thou keep this commandment without spot, unrebukeable, until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ: Which in his times he shall shew, who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings, and Lord of lords; who only hath immortality, dwelling n light which no man can approach unto; whom no man hath seen, nor can see: to whom be honour and power everlasting.  Amen” (I Tim. 6:14-16). 

Christ came in judgment upon Daniel’s “little horn” [Nero]: “And I beheld, and the same horn made war with the saints, and prevailed against them; until the Ancient of days came and judgment was given to the saints of the most High; and the time came that the saints possessed the kingdom” (Dan. 7:21, 22; cf. II Thess. 2:3-9).  

The image of Nebuchadnezzar’s dream was broken to pieces: “And in the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed: and the kingdom shall not be left to other people, but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand for ever” (Dan. 2:44; cf. Ps. 2:8, 9). 

The political powers of the heathen were subjected to Christ:  “I will shake the heavens and the earth; and I will overthrow the throne of kingdoms, and I will destroy the strength of the kingdoms of the heathen” (Hagg. 2:21, 22).  [The “heavens and earth” are symbols for the social and political elements of the world.] 

The Jewish nation was destroyed: “That upon you may come all the righteous blood shed upon the earth, from the blood of righteous Abel unto the blood of Zacharias son of Barachias, whom ye slew between the temple and the altar” (Matt. 23:35). 

The Hadean resurrection occurred: “And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt…and when he shall have accomplished to scatter the power of the holy people, all these things shall be finished” (Dan. 12:2, 7; cf. Rev. 11:15-19). 

What did Not Happen in AD 70

Question: Does the fact that some prophecies and promises contained in the Old Testament scriptures were not fulfilled until AD 70 mean the ceremonial law was still valid, binding, and obligatory?   

Answer: No.  The shadow ends where the body begins; the body is of Christ (Col.2:17).  The temple ritual was a prophetic type and foreshadow, pointing to the sacrifice of Jesus. Once Jesus came and fulfilled the law’s demand, the law ceased. Not ONE verse can be produced showing the Old Testament was binding from and after the cross.  To the contrary, whole books (e.g., Galatians and Hebrews) are devoted to the subject that men were NOT to obey the ritual and ceremony of the Old law, including circumcision, which was the very essence of the Old Testament.  If circumcision was annulled, the whole ceremonial law was annulled.

Prophecies concerning the destruction of Jerusalem and wrath upon the nations did not derive their validity from the law. God was perfectly competent to remove the ceremonial law and old covenant, and still visit wrath upon the Jews and Gentiles who rejected the gospel and persecuted the church.  Indeed, it is the very fact that the Jews insisted the law was still valid and had to be kept that marked them as God’s enemies. 

“He that killeth an ox is as if he slew a man; he that sacrificeth a lamb as is he cut off a dog’s neck; he that offereth an oblation, as if he offered an oblation, as if he offered swine’s blood; he that burneth incense as if he blessed an idol. Yet, they have chosen their own ways, and their soul delighteth in their abominations.  I also will choose their delusions, and will bring their fears upon them; because when I called none did answer; when I spake they did not hear; but they did evil before mine eyes, and chose that in which I delighted not.  Hear the word of the Lord, ye that tremble at his word; Your brethren that hated you, and that cast you out for my name’s sake, said, Let the Lord be glorified: but he shall appear to your joy, and they shall be ashamed. A voice of noise from the city, a voice from the temple, a voice of the Lord that rendereth recompence to his enemies” (Isa. 66:3-6).

  

 

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