The New Testament is saturated with the language of imminence. The first-century saints lived with a sense that Jesus’ coming in judgment and vindication was near at hand. Here are key passages:
| Author/Source | Verse |
| Jesus (Matthew 10:23) | “You will not have gone through all the towns of Israel before the Son of Man comes.” |
| Jesus (Matthew 16:28) | “Some standing here will not taste death until they see the Son of Man coming in His kingdom.” |
| Jesus (Matthew 24:34) | “This generation will not pass away until all these things take place.” |
| Jesus (Matthew 26:64) | “From now on you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of Power and coming on the clouds of heaven.” |
| Paul (Romans 13:11–12) | “Salvation is nearer… The night is far gone; the day is at hand.” |
| Paul (1 Corinthians 7:29, 31) | “The appointed time has grown very short… the present form of this world is passing away.” |
| Paul (Philippians 4:5) | “The Lord is at hand.” |
| Paul (1 Thessalonians 4:15, 17) | “We who are alive… until the coming of the Lord.” |
| Paul (Hebrews 10:37) | “Yet a little while, and the coming one will come and will not delay.” |
| James (James 5:8–9) | “The coming of the Lord is at hand… the Judge is standing at the door.” |
| Peter (1 Peter 4:7) | “The end of all things is at hand.” |
| John (1 John 2:18) | “Children, it is the last hour…” |
| John (Revelation 1:1, 3) | “The revelation… things that must soon take place… for the time is near.” |
| John (Revelation 3:11) | “I am coming soon. Hold fast what you have.” |
| John (Revelation 22:6–7, 10, 12, 20) | “Behold, I am coming soon… Surely I am coming soon.” |
The early church didn’t view these promises as “distant” or “thousands of years off.” They believed they were living in the last days (Acts 2:16–17; Heb. 1:1–2), awaiting the imminent vindication of Christ and the shaking of the old covenant order.
Read Mark 13 with first century glasses. What did they hear? What did it mean to them?