Is Matthew 24 Future or Fulfilled ? If Unfulfilled, Did Jesus Falsely State?

Gary DeMar and Barry Horner debated when the events of Matthew 24 were or would be fulfilled. Mr. DeMar takes the position that the Olivet Discourse is a prophecy of events that were fulfilled before that first-century generation passed away in the events leading up to and including the destruction of Jerusalem in A.D. 70. Dr. Horner argues that the prophecies of Matthew 24 were ongoing and would find their fulfillment beyond the time of that first-century generation. They remain to be fulfilled in completion. This three-disc set includes the opening statements by DeMar and Horner, a period of cross examination, and answers to questions from the audience. Also included are DeMar’s 70-page interpretive outline of Matthew 24 and Horner’s 61-page handout that he made available to the audience. 3 CDs, 180 minutes.

By Don White

The American Vision publishers of Powder Springs, Georgia have concocted a “controversy” and mock debate about a question that no one should dispute:

First, was Christ a prophet or the Son of God?

The facts are clear. He never portrayed himself as anything but the literal son of God, the Only begotten of the flesh. While he did and said many things that were prophetic, it is a terrible thing to merely call him a prophet. That belies his supernal role in the creation of the world, the atonement done for all mankind, the restoration of the gospel in these latter days, the resurrection and his ruling the earth for the 1,000 years during the great Millennium. Then it will be the Savior who will judge us at the bar of God. The Christian world, which includes all Mormons or Latter-day Saints, believes Christ to be the son of God. But that's what makes horse races, isn't it?

My many good friends of the Jewish religion and of Islam think he was but a prophet.

Of course, we understand that both of the above religions respect Jesus Christ as a great prophet but in no way the promised Messiah. Like other Christians, Mormons believe he is the Savior of mankind, the only begotten son of God.

Let me make myself very clear as author of this piece. I am here to testify to all of you that he was, indeed, the promised Messiah. He was the savior of mankind, he who atoned for all of our sins in both his intercessory prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane and on hill Golgatha where he was crucified the following day.

He died for our sins and he was raised from his grave or from the tomb three days hence, making him the first fruits of the atonement. He lived a perfect life and he testified of God the father and of eternal life that is possible by following his precepts. He died so that man might live forever, a free gift to mankind. His sacrifice includes, however, his horrendous suffering in the Garden of Gethsemane where he bled from every pore, taking upon himself the fears, concerns, infractions, shortcomings, and the sins of all of us. He lived courageously, a perfect life, the kind of life we should strive to live, knowing our imperfections; and he was the only begotten, thus singularly qualified to become the Savior of All Mankind.

Through latter-day prophesy – particularly the Prophet Joseph Smith – we learn more about the atonement and the gospel that he taught. We learned that after he would leave, there would be a general apostasy, a falling away from the true principles he taught. We learned that after the dark ages, in a free country specially prepared by God for this event, that there would be a restoration of all things; that when the young boy Joseph Smith, age 14 at the time, went into the woods to pray to determine which church to join, God the Father and Jesus Christ appeared to him, telling him to join no church because none was correct.

This led to the restoration of the gospel of Jesus Christ on the earth and the formation of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in New York, 1930 and to the translation of the Book of Mormon which further testifies, as does the Bible, of Jesus Christ and of his glorious gospel and plan of happiness for all of his children. There are now about 14 million members of his worldwide church today, called (by revelation) The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints with headquarters in Salt Lake City, Utah.

In Matthew 24, Jesus was referring to his second coming and the great war, the destruction of Jerusalem, and the grand re-appearance of Jesus Christ to defeat the aggressors who will by then have surrounded the Holy City and almost caused its total collapse. In other places, Jesus told his desciples that his temple, referring to his own body, would fall but would be reconstructed in three days. The Jews confused this with the buildings, but in that instance he was talking about his crucifixion and resurrection in three days where he would take up his body again.

In Matthew 24 he refers to his second coming. See versus 3-12 where he talks about much iniquity in the world, false prophets who would mislead, nations rising up against nations, and anti-Christs claiming to be Christ. “Be not deceived,” he says. The Jews would be hated by all people. Much of this is or has come about as iniquity continues to abound.

What is the Abomination of Desolations referred to in verse 15? According to Bruce R. McConkie in Mormon Doctrine, this refers to some great act or status of corruption and befoulment, and contamination and filthiness which would bring to pass destruction, ruination, and desolation. These conditions were to occur twice in fulfillment of Daniel the Prophet’s words, Dan. 11:31 and 12:11. The first was when the Romans under Titus laid siege to Jerusalem in 70 A.D., destroying and scattering the people, “leaving not one stone upon another in the desecrated temple, and spreading such terror and devastation that has seldom if ever been equaled on earth.”

Of those days Moses had foretold that the “straitness” of the siege would cause parents to eat their own children and great loathing and evil to abound (Deut. 28).

Then, speaking of the last days, following the restoration of the gospel, Jerusalem will again be under siege by “all nations.”

Somehow, I can’t believe America would be anything but a nation helping to defend the Jews, but that’s not what the prophets said. For a more complete explanation of these events I would refer you to McConkie’s book, page 12-13.

I think we have answered the debate. Is Gary DeMar correct or is Barry Horner correct. The fact is this. They are both correct, because Daniel and Matthew 24 refer to two separate occurrences of the desolation of the Temple and destruction of Jerusalem. The answer is, no, Matthew 24 is not completely fulfilled and won’t be until Christ appears a second time.