This episode rigorously examines the intricate relationship between Christ's promised return and the role of the Holy Spirit in the interim period following His ascension. The speaker articulates a compelling argument based on biblical texts, particularly Ephesians 4 and John 14-16, asserting that the spiritual gifts mentioned in Ephesians were intended to function until specific conditions were met—conditions that heralded the maturity of the body as the 'one new man' comprising both Jews and Gentiles. The critical moment of 70 A.D., marked by the destruction of Jerusalem, is posited as a pivotal fulfillment of prophecy that signifies the transition from an age characterized by miraculous gifts to one of spiritual maturity and unity. The speaker underscores that the Holy Spirit's presence, while vital during the apostolic age, was never meant to persist in the same capacity indefinitely. The episode emphasizes the importance of understanding the non-physical nature of Christ’s presence as it relates to His promise to remain with His followers through the Holy Spirit, thus reframing the concept of His return not as a future physical event but as a completed reality in the context of redemptive history.

Takeaways:

• The gifted men mentioned in Ephesians 4 were divinely appointed by Christ until specific conditions outlined in Ephesians 4:12-13 were fulfilled.
• The promise of the Holy Spirit, as articulated in John 14, signifies His role in guiding the Apostles during Christ's absence until His return.
• The destruction of Jerusalem in 70 A.D. serves as historical evidence of Christ's parousia, representing His presence rather than a physical return.
• Understanding the non-physical nature of Christ's presence during the destruction of Jerusalem is crucial for interpreting His promise to be with believers until the end of the age.
• The transition from the old covenant to the new is marked by the completion of revelation, which ended the necessity of miraculous gifts of the Spirit.
• Once the Holy Spirit's role in guiding and confirming the truth was accomplished, His peculiar function as "comforter" ended, indicating the completion of one era and the commencement of a new era.