Seriously.. whom is the tribulation actually for.

[Eugene]

Hello Kathi...The trib will last seven years in all, being the last of Daniel's prophecy of seventy weeks. One has to rightly divide the Word of truth and needs to look beyond the writings of Paul as well as Rev.Please read and study Daniel 9 to get the full understanding. The bible is very clear on a literal 7 year tribulation. I agree with you we need not have division over biblical writings in the bible. I do pray we all agree the basic's of salvation is through Jesus Christ alone.. his death,burial and resurrection and believe it from the heart.
In Christ Rich

knab70 - Can you show me the following contentions you make scripturally? Thanks.

knab70 – (1) The trib will last seven years in all, (2) being the last of Daniel's prophecy of seventy weeks.

Eugene – (1) Mat 24:22 And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect's sake those days shall be shortened.
How many days is the seven prophesied years to be shortened?

Eugene - (2) Dan 9:24 Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people and upon thy holy city, to finish the transgression, and to make an end of sins, and to make reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness, and to seal up the vision and prophecy, and to anoint the most Holy.

Dan 9:24 tells Israel of 490 years of blessings; not tribulation.
1. He's going to finish the transgression.
2. He's going to make an end of sins.
3. He's going to make reconciliation for iniquity.
4. He's going to bring in everlasting righteousness.
5. He's going to seal up the vision.
6. He's going to seal up the prophesy.
7. He's going to anoint the most Holy.

 

[jasonc]

when did the bible die? when did the power in Isiah, Daniel, Ezekiel and the other prophetic books die? old, old nothing. it always alive and fresh.

 

[Gary]

 

[JLB]

The biggest problem I see in this thread is:

Half the people don't believe this verse. :erm

"Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken. 30 Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. Matthew 24:29-30


The other half believe it already happened, but will happen again...


JLB

 

[reba]

About the same can be said for these words of Jesus..
Mat 24:34 Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled.

 

[Kathi]

The biggest problem I see in this thread is:

Half the people don't believe this verse. :erm

"Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken. 30 Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. Matthew 24:29-30


The other half believe it already happened, but will happen again...


JLB

The second coming...right JLB?

 

[Kathi]

Matthew 24:34
The partial preterist also appeals to Matthew 24:34 where it speaks of "this generation." They say that Christ was referring to those living at the time He spoke the words recorded in that passage. Christ was not referring to the people of that day but to the generation or people who would be witnesses to the events recorded in Matthew 24:15-31. That generation will be those who are witnesses to Christ's bodily return (v. 29-30).

The partial preterist viewpoint is unbiblical due to its inconsistent hermeneutics, subjective interpretation, and allegorization of many biblical prophecies that are best understood literally. While partial preterism is an attempt to explain difficult prophecies in Scripture, it causes far more problem than it solves.



Read more: http://www.gotquestions.org/partial-preterism.html#ixzz3Di9xhIgK

 

[reba]

The views of CFnet Sept 2 2012

In order to better distinguish preterism and discussions regarding this doctrine of eschatology, we've re-established this sub-forum of the End Times Forum. All threads on the topic of preterism should be posted in this Preterism Discussions Forum.

Quoting Wikipedia: "Preterism is a variant of Christian eschatology which holds that some or all of the biblical prophecies concerning the Last Days (or End Times) refer to events which actually happened in the first century after Christ's birth. The term preterism comes from the Latin praeter, meaning "past". Adherents of Preterism are known as Preterists. The two principal schools of Preterist thought are commonly called Partial Preterism and Full Preterism.

There is substantial disagreement over the terms used to denote these divisions of Preterist thought. Some Partial Preterists prefer to call their position Orthodox Preterism, thus contrasting their deference to the creeds of the Ecumenical Councils with what they perceive to be the Full Preterists' disregard for the same. Partial Preterism is also sometimes called Classical Preterism or Moderate Preterism. Some Full Preterists prefer to call their position Consistent Preterism, reflecting their extension of Preterism to all biblical prophecy and suggesting an inconsistency in the Partial Preterist hermeneutic. The correct labeling of the positions in relation to each other is a matter of heated dispute amongst some Partial Preterists and Full Preterists who would reject those labels and argue for others, most noteably, which view may simply be called 'preterism'."
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Preterism

Written April 10 2013
As of today, promoting the doctrine of Full Preterism is violation of the ToS. Every member is urged to stay current with our entire ToS, but contributors to this forum will need to be particularly aware of this change.

 

[reba]

Matthew 24:34
The partial preterist also appeals to Matthew 24:34 where it speaks of "this generation." They say that Christ was referring to those living at the time He spoke the words recorded in that passage. Christ was not referring to the people of that day but to the generation or people who would be witnesses to the events recorded in Matthew 24:15-31. That generation will be those who are witnesses to Christ's bodily return (v. 29-30).

The partial preterist viewpoint is unbiblical due to its inconsistent hermeneutics, subjective interpretation, and allegorization of many biblical prophecies that are best understood literally. While partial preterism is an attempt to explain difficult prophecies in Scripture, it causes far more problem than it solves.



Read more: http://www.gotquestions.org/partial-preterism.html#ixzz3Di9xhIgK

7) Do not post opinions of another member's claim of Christian faith. (ToS 2.4)
Publicly judging someone as not being a Christian and/or not following Christ unless they themselves claim not be a Christian is disallowed. That's between them and the Lord. This includes judgments against collective beliefs or groups in general.

2.4: No Trolling. Do not make an inflammatory remark just to get a response. Address issues not personalities. Respect where people are in their spiritual walk, and respect all others in general. Respect where others are in their spiritual walk, do not disrupt the flow of discussion or act in a way that affects others negatively including when debating doctrinal issues, in the defense of the Christian faith, and in offering unwelcome spiritual advice.

 

[Eugene]

Most folks will not accept the straight foreword clear statement of the Lord.

.Mat 24:34 Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled.

I would rather my thoughts my words fit into His words...

Mat 24:3 And as he sat upon the mount of Olives, the disciples came unto him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world?

Mat 24:21 For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be. I may be wrong, but historians I have read have estimated those killed to be around one million in 70 AD.

WW2 estimating sixty million killed seems worse that one million killed in 70 AD, but I’m not the best at math.

Mat 24:30 And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.

Mat 24:34 Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled. Is it possible this scripture applied to the time of the end of the world the apostles asked about? And then the generation that observed all these things would not pass until all be fulfilled?

Worse Tribulation Ever? Certainly not in 70 AD
I even read of a time when it will be worse than all the wars ever suffered in Rev 9:15 And the four angels were loosed, which were prepared for an hour, and a day, and a month, and a year, for to slay the third part of men.

Rev 9:16 And the number of the army of the horsemen were two hundred thousand thousand: and I heard the number of them.

 

[reba]

yup we can also get into what was meant by the word world... the same word world as in this verse.

Rom_1:8 First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for you all, that your faith is spoken of throughout the whole world.



was anything worse then all the world dead but 8 I have always wondered what that percentage was...

but this is taking this thread off topic...

 

[n2thelight]

Sooo....to answer the OP.The tribulation is for the unbelievers.

• Romans 5:3 (KJV)
  And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience;
• Romans 12:12 (KJV)
  Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer;
• Ephesians 3:13 (KJV)
  Wherefore I desire that ye faint not at my tribulations for you, which is your glory.
• Judges 10:14 (KJV)
  Go and cry unto the gods which ye have chosen; let them deliver you in the time of your tribulation.
• Mark 13:24 (KJV)
  But in those days, after that tribulation, the sun shall be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light,
• 1 Thessalonians 3:4 (KJV)
  For verily, when we were with you, we told you before that we should suffer tribulation; even as it came to pass, and ye know.
• 2 Thessalonians 1:4 (KJV)
  So that we ourselves glory in you in the churches of God for your patience and faith in all your persecutions and tribulations that ye endure:
• 2 Thessalonians 1:6 (KJV)
  Seeing it is a righteous thing with God to recompense tribulation to them that trouble you;
• Matthew 13:21 (KJV)
  Yet hath he not root in himself, but dureth for a while: for when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the word, by and by he is offended.
• Matthew 24:21 (KJV)
  For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be.
• John 16:33 (KJV)
  These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.
• Acts 14:22 (KJV)
  Confirming the souls of the disciples, and exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God.
• Romans 2:9 (KJV)
  Tribulation and anguish, upon every soul of man that doeth evil, of the Jew first, and also of the Gentile;
• Romans 8:35 (KJV)
  Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?
• 2 Corinthians 1:4 (KJV)
  Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.
• 2 Corinthians 7:4 (KJV)
  Great is my boldness of speech toward you, great is my glorying of you: I am filled with comfort, I am exceeding joyful in all our tribulation.
• Revelation 2:9 (KJV)
  I know thy works, and tribulation, and poverty, (but thou art rich) and I know the blasphemy of them which say they are Jews, and are not, but are the synagogue of Satan.
• Revelation 2:22 (KJV)
  Behold, I will cast her into a bed, and them that commit adultery with her into great tribulation, except they repent of their deeds.
• Deuteronomy 4:30 (KJV)
  When thou art in tribulation, and all these things are come upon thee, even in the latter days, if thou turn to the Lord thy God, and shalt be obedient unto his voice;
• 1 Samuel 10:19 (KJV)
  And ye have this day rejected your God, who himself saved you out of all your adversities and your tribulations; and ye have said unto him, Nay, but set a king over us. Now therefore present yourselves before the Lord by your tribes, and by your thousands.
• 1 Samuel 26:24 (KJV)
  And, behold, as thy life was much set by this day in mine eyes, so let my life be much set by in the eyes of the Lord, and let him deliver me out of all tribulation.
• Matthew 24:29 (KJV)
  Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken:
• Revelation 1:9 (KJV)
  I John, who also am your brother, and companion in tribulation, and in the kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ, was in the isle that is called Patmos, for the word of God, and for the testimony of Jesus Christ.
• Revelation 7:14 (KJV)
  And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.
• Revelation 2:10 (KJV)
  Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.

Really???I can't tell...............

 

[JLB]

The second coming...right JLB?

The Resurrection occurs at the Second Coming, the Rapture happens a moment after that.

so Christ was offered once to bear the sins of many. To those who eagerly wait for Him He will appear a second time, apart from sin, for salvation.

He comes a second time...

He comes once more.

When He comes, He will gather all His people at the Resurrection and then the Rapture, on the last Day.


Do you believe the last Day is before the tribulation?


JLB

 

[follower]

The Resurrection occurs at the Second Coming, the Rapture happens a moment after that.
so Christ was offered once to bear the sins of many. To those who eagerly wait for Him He will appear a second time, apart from sin, for salvation.
He comes a second time...
He comes once more.
When He comes, He will gather all His people at the Resurrection and then the Rapture, on the last Day.Do you believe the last Day is before the tribulation?
JLB

simple. Yhvh's Word. True. distorted by men a long time. unchanged. simple. true.
"He comes once more." the whole world will see (nothing secret about something like lightning seen from east to west - the greatest event in the whole world in 2000 years ! ) no indeed, nothing secret about it.

• Romans 5:3 (KJV)
  And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience;
• Romans 12:12 (KJV)
  Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer;
• Mark 13:24 (KJV)
  But in those days, after that tribulation, the sun shall be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light,
• 1 Thessalonians 3:4 (KJV)
  For verily, when we were with you, we told you before that we should suffer tribulation; even as it came to pass, and ye know.
• 2 Thessalonians 1:4 (KJV)
  So that we ourselves glory in you in the churches of God for your patience and faith in all your persecutions and tribulations that ye endure:
• 2 Thessalonians 1:6 (KJV)
  Seeing it is a righteous thing with God to recompense tribulation to them that trouble you;
• ......
• Matthew 24:21 (KJV)
  For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be.
• John 16:33 (KJV)
  These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.
• Acts 14:22 (KJV)
  Confirming the souls of the disciples, and exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God.
• Romans 2:9 (KJV)
  Tribulation and anguish, upon every soul of man that doeth evil, of the Jew first, and also of the Gentile;
• Romans 8:35 (KJV)
  Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?
• 2 Corinthians 1:4 (KJV)
  Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.
• 2 Corinthians 7:4 (KJV)
  Great is my boldness of speech toward you, great is my glorying of you: I am filled with comfort, I am exceeding joyful in all our tribulation.
• Revelation 2:9 (KJV)
  I know thy works, and tribulation, and poverty, (but thou art rich) and I know the blasphemy of them which say they are Jews, and are not, but are the synagogue of Satan.
• Revelation 2:22 (KJV)
  Behold, I will cast her into a bed, and them that commit adultery with her into great tribulation, except they repent of their deeds.
• Matthew 24:29 (KJV)
  Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken:
• Revelation 1:9 (KJV)
  I John, who also am your brother, and companion in tribulation, and in the kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ, was in the isle that is called Patmos, for the word of God, and for the testimony of Jesus Christ.
• Revelation 7:14 (KJV)
  And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.
• Revelation 2:10 (KJV)
  Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.

Really???I can't tell...............

yes. some people are told they don't and won't have to suffer pain, persecution, suffering, and so on. this was one of the first things used to get pagans into the power of the governmental and religions leaders when the apostles no longer were around to protect the ecclesia from the world / wolves. all of a sudden, in the swoop of a world's government power, 'everyone' was by world government's decree 'christian' - anyone not 'christian' was executed, imprisoned, or banished or had to flee or hide.

The biggest problem I see in this thread is:
Half the people don't believe this verse. :erm
"Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken. 30 Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. Matthew 24:29-30
The other half believe it already happened, but will happen again...
JLB

even a believer can believe things not found in, and even contrary to Scripture.
even a non-believer can believe things found in, and totally in line with Scripture.
what a person believes (for now just referring to 'facts'/'information') does not tell if they are a believer or a non-believer (for now referring to a believer as one not just believing in Yeshua but also alive and abiding in Him VS just believing like the demons do with a mental acknowledgment and no redeeming value) .
the famous (or infamous) phrase "having the form of religion but denying the power " admits that unbelievers may "have the form of religion" = outwardly look entirely like religion should look.

so as to these 'facts' about stuff in this thread, that's not anything in itself to make a determination or 'right ruling' or judgment or anything like that as if it was even possible.
someone may believe a tomato is a fruit, someone else may believe a tomato is a vegetable;
one is right.
.
Luke 4:25-27King James Version (KJV)
25 But I tell you of a truth, many widows were in Israel in the days of Elias, when the heaven was shut up three years and six months, when great famine was throughout all the land;
26 But unto none of them was Elias sent, save unto Sarepta, a city of Sidon, unto a woman that was a widow.
27 And many lepers were in Israel in the time of Eliseus the prophet; and none of them was cleansed, saving Naaman the Syrian.
King James Version (KJV) by Public Domain

 

[n2thelight]

Many Jews were blind of the first coming of Christ in the OT.And did not "see" that In the OT it showed He was coming twice....the suffering Servant and then the King. Many did not see the First coming in the OT.

The Church was a mystery in the OT and Hidden.

The mystery is revealed and we have 2 comings in the NT. Many do not "see" the rapture in the Church. Many see the King coming and setting up His Kingdom. But,Many do not see the rapture.

2 comings in the OT and many did not see the first one.

2 comings in the NT and many do not see the first one.

What were the two comings in the OT?

 

[Edward]

I haven't read this whole thread, but enough of it to get the gist of the division here. Personally, I thought it was fairly clear that the great trib is mainly for Israel. To push their backs to the wall so they will once again look unto their God. It will affect the whole earth, but there are many gentiles who are grafted into the vine of Israel.

That the great trib happened in AD70 is almost laughable, though not really. If it did, where's Jesus in his millennial reign? and why are we still here? (This world hasn't seen bad yet)

How and when the rapture fits in is unclear. Pre post? He gathers His entire church huh? Where's that in scripture? I thought He comes for His bride. Even if the rapture is pre, there will be believers here. Those not ready. Blemished ones who need more purification. Those who have not washed their robes completely white.

If it's post, then when does the marriage supper happen? Is it a snack lunch before He puts down Israels enemies in the valley of megiddo? Or is it after He puts them down but before the millennial reign? When He comes, He comes with His bride, and then puts them down. It says so. I found a new scripture also, that may or may not be a rapture scripture. What's this mean?

Isaiah 26: 20-21
20 Come, my people, enter thou into thy chambers, and shut thy doors about thee: hide thyself as it were for a little moment, until the indignation be overpast.
21 For, behold, the Lord cometh out of his place to punish the inhabitants of the earth for their iniquity: the earth also shall disclose her blood, and shall no more cover her slain./

Not go into your chambers (as if on earth), but come my people...as if taken away somewhere else to not have to see the indignation (wrath) that is to come.

What's your take on this brother?

 

[JLB]

I haven't read this whole thread, but enough of it to get the gist of the division here. Personally, I thought it was fairly clear that the great trib is mainly for Israel. To push their backs to the wall so they will once again look unto their God. It will affect the whole earth, but there are many gentiles who are grafted into the vine of Israel.

That the great trib happened in AD70 is almost laughable, though not really. If it did, where's Jesus in his millennial reign? and why are we still here? (This world hasn't seen bad yet)

How and when the rapture fits in is unclear. Pre post? He gathers His entire church huh? Where's that in scripture? I thought He comes for His bride. Even if the rapture is pre, there will be believers here. Those not ready. Blemished ones who need more purification. Those who have not washed their robes completely white.

If it's post, then when does the marriage supper happen? Is it a snack lunch before He puts down Israels enemies in the valley of megiddo? Or is it after He puts them down but before the millennial reign? When He comes, He comes with His bride, and then puts them down. It says so. I found a new scripture also, that may or may not be a rapture scripture. What's this mean?

Isaiah 26: 20-21
20 Come, my people, enter thou into thy chambers, and shut thy doors about thee: hide thyself as it were for a little moment, until the indignation be overpast.
21 For, behold, the Lord cometh out of his place to punish the inhabitants of the earth for their iniquity: the earth also shall disclose her blood, and shall no more cover her slain./

Not go into your chambers (as if on earth), but come my people...as if taken away somewhere else to not have to see the indignation (wrath) that is to come.

What's your take on this brother?

Good point about the trib and 70 AD.


The Temple and city had already been destroyed before 70 AD, by the Babylonians.

So, it is impossible for the tribulation to refer to that event.

For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the world until this time, no, nor ever shall be. Matthew 24:21

For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the world....


This phrase teaches us the tribulation is unique is magnitude and scope, which rules 70 AD as the tribulation, since that had already happened before.


JLB

 

[Edward]

Good point about the trib and 70 AD.


The Temple and city had already been destroyed before 70 AD, by the Babylonians.

So, it is impossible for the tribulation to refer to that event.

For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the world until this time, no, nor ever shall be. Matthew 24:21

For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the world....


This phrase teaches us the tribulation is unique is magnitude and scope, which rules 70 AD as the tribulation, since that had already happened before.


JLB

Ah there you are brother. You're right. That much seems clear. What's your take on that Isaiah passage I posted?

 

[Deborah13]

Mat 24:3 And as he sat upon the mount of Olives, the disciples came unto him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world?

Mat 24:21 For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be. I may be wrong, but historians I have read have estimated those killed to be around one million in 70 AD.

WW2 estimating sixty million killed seems worse that one million killed in 70 AD, but I’m not the best at math.

Mat 24:30 And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.

Mat 24:34 Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled. Is it possible this scripture applied to the time of the end of the world the apostles asked about? And then the generation that observed all these things would not pass until all be fulfilled?

Worse Tribulation Ever? Certainly not in 70 AD
I even read of a time when it will be worse than all the wars ever suffered in Rev 9:15 And the four angels were loosed, which were prepared for an hour, and a day, and a month, and a year, for to slay the third part of men.

Rev 9:16 And the number of the army of the horsemen were two hundred thousand thousand: and I heard the number of them.

yup we can also get into what was meant by the word world... the same word world as in this verse.

Rom_1:8 First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for you all, that your faith is spoken of throughout the whole world.



was anything worse then all the world dead but 8 I have always wondered what that percentage was...

but this is taking this thread off topic...

The Greek words translated into English as 'world' are not the same Greek word.

In Matthew 24:3 the Greek word is.....
G165 - aion - meaning 'age' "the end of the AGE"

In Romans 1:8 the Greek word is.....
G2889 - kosmos - an orderly arrangement of something ie. "The universe is an orderly arrangement, a Cosmos."

An 'aion' is not a world, as 'kosmos' is a world.
YLT
Mat 24:3 And when he is sitting on the mount of the Olives, the disciples came near to him by himself, saying, `Tell us, when shall these be? and what is the sign of thy presence, and of the full end of the age?'

They didn't ask about the end of the world. They asked about the end of the age.

 

[Deborah13]

Sorry, just had this thought.
What age could they have been asking about?
This was before the cross, before Pentecost, before the Church as we know it now.
Why would we think that they where asking about the "Christian Church" age when it didn't even exist at that point?