caller on Matthew 24/double fulfillment of prophecy

[steve]

It is possible.

[Joan]

Could it be that He answered their question according to what they meant and spoke of the far-distant future? I've been wondering if His prophesy might have both a fairly immediate fulfillment and another, more complete fulfillment later.

[darinhouston]

Could it be that He answered their question according to what they meant and spoke of the far-distant future? I've been wondering if His prophesy might have both a fairly immediate fulfillment and another, more complete fulfillment later.

I believe I have heard Steve suggest that to assume such would be on pretty shaky ground. I believe there are a few "double-fulfillments" in the OT, but that we really only have firm grounds to assume such when we have the Apostles' inspired suggestions that they are so. Without apostolic suggestion to the contrary, we really have no reliable basis to suggest a double-fulfillment, though there may be some.