Following is a quote is from The Eschatology of the Warning in Hebrews 10:26–31 by Randall C. Gleason in which he expresses the belief that the phrase “as ye see the day approaching” in 10:25, refers not to the second coming as many assume,1”Most likely ‘the day’ has a connection with the Second Coming.” So says Dr. J. Paul Tanner in A Severe Warning Against Defection Hebrews 10:26-31. pg. App. B.24 but to the coming destruction of the Temple which took place in 70AD.
Though the ‘last days’ (1:2) had begun, the author exhorts his readers to hold fast to their confession (10:23) because ‘the day’ (τὴνἡμέραν) was yet approaching. Many claim that this can only refer to ‘that ultimate eschatological day … of Christ’s return’ (cf., 9:28). However, in the OT ‘the day’ was the common designation for a time
of destruction coming upon the land of Israel due to covenantunfaithfulness (e.g. Is. 24:21; Ezk. 7:7; Zp. 1:14–18; Joel 1:15; cf. Mt. 24:36). The word ‘day’ is modified in several ways in this verse. First, the use of the article (τήν) points back to a definite crisis understood by the readers. In the context this would most naturally refer to the coming destruction of the land (6:6) and Old Covenant symbols mentioned earlier (8:13; 10:9). Second, ‘the day’ is described as
‘drawing near’ (ἐγγίζουσαν) denoting by the present tense an event currently unfolding before the readers. This is consistent with the idiomatic expression—‘day(s) drawing near’—used in the OT to denote an event that would occur immediately (e.g. nearness of death, Gn. 27:41; Dt. 31:14; 1 Ki. 2:1; 1 Mac. 2:49). Third, the eschatological use of ‘drawing near’ (ἐγγίζουσαν) ties this event to the ‘nearness’ (ἐγγύς) of both the curse on the land (6:8) and the
destruction of the Old Covenant symbols (8:13). Finally, the nearness of the coming crisis is confirmed by the words ‘as you see’ (βλέπετε, present indicative), indicating that signs of the coming crisis were already visible to the readers. This parallels Jesus’ warning to his disciples ‘when you see all these things, recognise that He is near (ἐγγύς), right at the door’ (Mt. 24:33). Jesus’ warning referred to the destruction of the Temple which occurred within the lifetime of his
disciples (Mt. 24:1–15, 32–36). In like manner, the readers of Hebrews are urged to take heed to the warnings since they could see the crisis coming.
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