Hi Derrick,

Many scholars understand that what Jesus was referring to was the destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple in 70 A.D.

Mike

Hi, Derrick —

Mike is on the right track here. Let me just expound. With the destruction of the Temple, the Church finally ceased identifying Herself as a part if Judaism. There was no returning to the Temple worship. The Church is the Kingdom of God of which Christ refers to in the passages in question.

While the Church was born on Pentecost, one could say that Pentecost was the point of conception. Christ said that Temple would be destroyed in a generation ... which is 40 years.

Forty is a special number in terms of the Scriptures. It is almost always associated with a period of time which took place before some history-changing event occurred — most of the time related to some kind of new birth.

40 is also the number of months of human gestation. The Church after Pentecost also went through a similar period of incubation before She could cut the apron strings from Israel.

Another analogy could be made from current events.

Last week a new heir to the thrown was born in England. Were some tragedy to beset the Queen, as well as her Son, Charles, and Prince Harry, that new infant would be King though he could not rule as such until he had reached a certain age.

Hence, while it would be his Kingdom, it would not be established until he was ready for the crown.

John

Hi Derrick,

Yes . . . but don't forget the Church is present in:

1. Heaven
2. Earth, and
3. Purgatory

It's otherwise known as the Communion of Saints, which is not separated by death.

The Church is the Kingdom of God. That's pretty basic Ecclesiology 101.

On Earth, She is known as the Church Militant. It fights the battle for souls and is indeed the very presence of Christ Himself, the Sacrament of Salvation on the Earth.

In Heaven, She is known as the Church Triumphant.

In Purgatory, She is known as the Church Suffering.

Hope this helps,

John