Matthew 24 addresses a 1st century Jewish audience. All its prophesies were fulfilled by AD 70.

Rebuttal:POINT ONE - AD 70 Pro confuses imminency for immediacy in an attempt force a 1St century fulfillment. As I established in round 2, the Olivet Discourse should be directly compared to the 6th chapter of Revelation. If Jesus were referring to 70 AD for the entire discourse, then we should see clear fulfillment of all the prophecies mentioned in Revelation 6 and Matthew 24 (war, death, famines, pestilence, earthquakes, etc.) during the Roman siege of Jerusalem. We do not. Accordingly, there are two options we must consider: 1. Jesus was wrong, or 2. My opponent’s interpretation of “this generation” is flawed.Futurists hold "this generation" refers to a generation which will see the tribulation, and not the generation Jesus was speaking to. I will leave this to the reader to determine. POINT TWO - Audience Relevance Respectfully, I disagree with my opponent. In Matthew 25, Jesus explains a judgment will be on Jews and Gentiles alike. The parable of the virgins refers to Jews. The “wise virgins” are believing Jews, and the “foolish virgins” are unbelieving Jews. In another parable, “the sheep” refer to believing Gentiles, and the “goats” refer to unbelieving Gentiles. In both parables, the unbelievers receive judgment. It is inappropriate to limit the scope of Jesus' judgment to Jews alone while offering Salvation to Jews and Gentiles. Matthew 25: 1-13 25 “Then the kingdom of heaven will be comparable to ten virgins, who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. 2 Five of them were foolish, and five were prudent. 3 For when the foolish took their lamps, they took no oil with them, 4 but the prudent took oil in flasks along with their lamps. 5 Now while the bridegroom was delaying, they all got drowsy and began to sleep. 6 But at midnight there was a shout, ‘Behold, the bridegroom! Come out to meet him.’ 7 Then all those virgins rose and trimmed their lamps. 8 The foolish said to the prudent, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’ 9 But the prudent answered, ‘No, there will not be enough for us and you too; go instead to the dealers and buy some for yourselves.’ 10 And while they were going away to make the purchase, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the wedding feast; and the door was shut. 11 Later the other virgins also came, saying, ‘Lord, lord, open up for us.’ 12 But he answered, ‘Truly I say to you, I do not know you.’ 13 Be on the alert then, for you do not know the day nor the hour. Matthew 25: 31-46 31 “But when the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the angels with Him, then He will sit on His glorious throne. 32 All the nations will be gathered before Him; and He will separate them from one another, as the shepherd separates the sheep from the goats; 33 and He will put the sheep on His right, and the goats on the left. 34 “Then the King will say to those on His right, ‘Come, you who are blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. 35 For I was hungry, and you gave Me something to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave Me something to drink; I was a stranger, and you invited Me in; 36 naked, and you clothed Me; I was sick, and you visited Me; I was in prison, and you came to Me.’ 37 Then the righteous will answer Him, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry, and feed You, or thirsty, and give You something to drink? 38 And when did we see You a stranger, and invite You in, or naked, and clothe You? 39 When did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?’ 40 The King will answer and say to them, ‘Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did it to one of these brothers of Mine, even the least of them, you did it to Me.’ 41 “Then He will also say to those on His left, ‘Depart from Me, accursed ones, into the eternal fire which has been prepared for the devil and his angels; 42 for I was hungry, and you gave Me nothing to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave Me nothing to drink; 43 I was a stranger, and you did not invite Me in; naked, and you did not clothe Me; sick, and in prison, and you did not visit Me.’ 44 Then they themselves also will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry, or thirsty, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not take care of You?’ 45 Then He will answer them, ‘Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to Me.’ 46 These will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.” POINT THREE - Three Questions "THESE THINGS" (and a soon fulfillment). My opponent asserts the prophecies of the discourse as fulfilled, yet apparently intends for me to argue with his source. Also, history does not support his assertion. The catastrophic events never occurred on Earth (or in Jerusalem) as the scope of Revelation clearly states time and again. Revelation 6:3 …it was granted to take peace from the earth… Revelation 6:7 …Authority was given to them over a fourth of the earth, to kill with sword and with famine and with pestilence and by the wild beasts of the earth. Revelation 6:9 …will You refrain from judging and avenging our blood on those who dwell on the earth? I believe it should be clear, but to drive the point home, “the earth” is used 5 times in chapter six of Revelation alone. "SIGN OF HIS COMING" Basically, Pro is arguing for a figurative meaning for the second coming of Jesus (Matthew 24:30). His understanding relies on an immediate fulfillment instead of an imminent one, as we discussed above. However, the major point a figurative return/coming of Christ overlooks is Acts 1:9-11 says Christ will return in the same method in which he ascended. 9 And after He had said these things, He was lifted up while they were looking on, and a cloud received Him out of their sight. 10 And as they were gazing intently into the sky while He was going, behold, two men in white clothing stood beside them. 11 They also said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into the sky? This Jesus, who has been taken up from you into heaven, will come in just the same way as you have watched Him go into heaven.”There is no mention of Jesus by historians, Gentiles, Jews, or Christians in or around 70 AD. "END OF THE AGE" The End of the Age refers to when the Heavenly Kingdom will be established. This is to be a time when Satan's control of this sin-filled world would end. Obviously, the world in which we live, and the world since 70AD, still has evil in it. I am unable to believe Jesus reigns. Certainly, Pro is welcome to dispute this meaning, but I question how he can insist the “End of Age” can refer literally to 70 AD (Luke 21:20), while at the same time insisting the fulfillment of the prophecies in the Olivet Discourse and Revelation are figurative. I believe a consistent interpretation is preferable and more descriptive of the world in which we currently live (one which contains sin and evil), and one in which the Kingdom of Heaven has not yet come. POINT FOUR - Covenants Pro begins by stating Jesus came to abolish the Law, and immediately cites Matthew 5:17-18 which states, in no uncertain terms, the Law shall not pass away until Heaven and Earth pass away. Jesus’ sacrifice fulfilled the requirements of the Law, in that mankind no longer needed to follow the Law in order to please God. In this way, the uncircumcised (Gentile) and circumcised (Jew) were on equal ground. The Kingdom of Heaven will available to all. However, the Law still exists through Jesus until a day in which he wipes out sin and Satan, and the New Heavens and Earth can be established. Pro mentions the eschatological language in three passages in the OT. In the interest of brevity, I will discuss Isaiah 13. Futurist maintain this prophecy of the destruction of Babylon was not fulfilled, and rightly so for three reasons. 1. The language such as “Day of the Lord” (13:6,9), and the signs in the heavens (13:10) and on the earth (13:9,11) line up with a fulfillment at the end of days. 2. Babylon will suffer a violent destruction (13:15-18), but no defeat of Babylon matches that description historically[1][2]. 3. The destruction of Babylon and the restoration of Israel (Isa 14:1-2) coincide. The restoration of Israel is thought to be an end of days event. If the prophecy has of Babylon has not been fulfilled, which appears to be the case, then Pro’s point is moot. Back to my Argument! 4. Nero as the Antichrist? Revelation 13:5-6 5 There was given to him a mouth speaking arrogant words and blasphemies, and authority to act for forty-two months was given to him. 6 And he opened his mouth in blasphemies against God, to blaspheme His name and His tabernacle, that is, those who dwell in heaven. 2 Thessalonians 2:3-4 3 Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; 4 Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God.Dan. 9:27 Then he shall confirm a covenant with many for one week; but in the middle of the week he shall bring an end to sacrifice and offering.1. Nero never sat in the Temple. 2. Nero’s reign was much longer than 42 months. 2a. If this 42 month period was to refer to the period from the beginning of the attacks of Jerusalem until Nero committed suicide, then this period is too short (23 months).2b. If this 42 month period was to refer to the period from the Great Fire of Rome/persecution of Christians to Nero's suicide, then this period would be too long (around 48 months). 3. The Antichrist is to establish a covenant with Israel and renege on it in the midst, which Nero never did.Nero does not fit a basic description of the beast.Back to you, Pro! [1]http://www.perseus.tufts.edu... [2]http://en.wikipedia.org... (Persia captures Babylon)