[444Flyer]

“As noted, the Matthew 24 passages referring to Christ’s coming refer not to His future Bodily Return to Earth, but rather to His heavenly coming in judgment upon Jerusalem.”

Wowsers, that’s a leap! Don’t see any mention of a ‘heavenly’ return in Matthew 24.

[Christian_Capitalist]

Wowsers, that’s a leap! Don’t see any mention of a ‘heavenly’ return in Matthew 24.

Um, it's all about the "heavenly". The word "heaven" appears seven times in Matthew 24, several times in reference to Christ's location in the narrative; the word "earth" (not counting one reference to "earthquakes") only twice, and neither time in reference to Christ's location. Read it again:

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.

Here's some Josephus again, to reinforce the point:

The stones that were thrown were of the weight of a talent, and had a range of two furlongs and more. The shock, not only to such as first met it, but even to those beyond them for a considerable distance, was irresistible. The Jews, however, at the first, could guard against the stone; for its approach was intimated, not only to the ear by its whiz, but also, being white, to the eye by its brightness. Accordingly they had watchmen posted on the towers, who gave warning when the engine was discharged and the stone projected, calling out in their native language, "THE SON IS COMING!"...

...for, before sun-setting, chariots and troops of soldiers in their armour were seen running about among the clouds, and surrounding of cities. Moreover, at that feast which we call Pentecost, as the priests were going by night into the inner [court of the] temple, as their custom was, to perform their sacred ministrations, they said that, in the first place, they felt a quaking, and heard a great noise, and after that they heard a sound as of a great multitude, saying, "Let us remove hence". -- Josephus

Hope that helps.