In this offering from ASiteForTheLord, the purpose of the meme’s author is to claim that 2 Tim 4:1 is teaching us that four things are about to happen, undoubtedly to support the fullfilment of all biblical prophecy by A.D. 70.

He bases his assertion on the use of the Greek work “mello” (without presenting the entire passage, by the way), translated as “shall” in the KJV. He even references a well known and respected Greek lexicon!

Well, once again, let’s put 2 Tim 4:1 back in its original context, and include the second verse of Paul’s instructions to young Timothy for the carrying out his duties as a pastor:

“I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom; ²Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. (2 Tim 4:1-2)

2 Timothy 4 concludes Paul’s instructions to Timothy that were contained in both of his letters to the young pastor. Verses 1 & 2 are the prelude or prologue to the remainder of chapter 4, which gives us the why of his solemn charge to Timothy in vv. 3-5:

³“For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;  ⁴And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables. ⁵But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry.”

The remainder of chapter 4 includes a set of personal instructions and final greetings.

Let’s now take a look at both references for the term “mello”: Strong’s G3195, μέλλω,mellō

Strong’s

A strengthened form of G3199 (through the idea of expectation); to intend, that is, be about to be, do, or suffer something (of persons or things, especially events; in the sense of purpose, duty, necessity, probability, possibility, or hesitation): – about, after that, be (almost), (that which is, things, + which was for) to come, intend, was to (be), mean, mind, be at the point, (be) ready, + return, shall (begin), (which, that) should (after, afterwards, hereafter) tarry, which was for, will, would, be yet.

Thayer Definition:

1) to be about

1a) to be on the point of doing or suffering something

1b) to intend, have in mind, think to

Part of Speech: verb

Noted partial preterist Gary Demar, President of American Vision devoted an entire article on the use of “mello”, primarily in the book of Revelation, that can be read online here.[i]

As his conclusion, DeMar writes:

I’m raising this issue to demonstrate that there is some interpretive latitude on how mellō can/should be translated. It becomes an issue on the more eschatological passages like Acts 17:31 and 24:15.

Concerning 1 timothy 4:1, multiple commentaries all place the emphasis on Paul’s charge to young Timothy, not the specific timing of Christ’s second coming.:

Coffman

Facing the immediate prospect of death, as were so many others of the faithful Christians, Paul declared his solemn charge to be “before,” that is, “in the sight of” God and of Christ Jesus; but it was also very appropriate that his charge with attendant warnings should contain this powerful reminder of the eternal judgment to be faced by all men.

Dr. Constable’s Expository Notes

Paul wanted Timothy to proclaim the truth in his public ministry as well as to adhere to it in his personal life. He introduced the command in 2 Timothy 4:2 with a very solemn preamble in 2 Timothy 4:1 (cf. 1 Timothy 5:21; 1 Timothy 6:13). He reminded Timothy that God was watching him, as was Jesus Christ who will judge all people. He further reminded him that Christ will return (at any time implied) and set up His kingdom. Timothy should prepare to meet Him by carrying out Paul’s command (cf. Mark 13:34-35).

Albert Barnes

I charge thee therefore before God – See the notes on 1Ti_5:21.

Who shall judge the quick and the dead – That is, the Lord Jesus; for he is to be the judge of men; Mat. 25:31-46; 2Co_5:10. The word “quick” means “living” (See the Act_10:42 note; Eph_2:1 note); and the idea is, that he would be alike the judge of all who were alive when he should come, and of all who had died; see the notes on 1Th_4:16-17. In view of the fact that all, whether preachers or hearers, must give up their account to the final Judge, Paul charges Timothy to be faithful; and what is there which will more conduce to fidelity in the discharge of duty, than the thought that we must soon give up a solemn account of the manner in which we have performed it?

Bible Knowledge Commentary

It would be difficult to see how Paul could have made his charge to Timothy any more weighty (cf. 1Ti_5:21; 1Ti_6:13). He adjured Timothy, not only in the name of God and of Christ, but in the light of the coming judgment, Christ’s return (epiphaneian, appearing; cf. 1Ti_6:14; 2Ti_4:8; Tit_2:13), and the establishment of His millennial kingdom.

John Calvin

I charge thee, therefore, before God and the Lord Jesus Christ Here, as in a very weighty matter, Paul adds a solemn charge, exhibiting to Timothy, God as the avenger, and Christ as the judge, if he shall cease to discharge his office of teaching. And, indeed, in like manner as God showed by an inestimable pledge, when he spared not his only-begotten Son, how great is the care which he has for the Church, so he will not suffer to remain unpunished the negligence of pastors, through whom souls, which he hath redeemed at so costly a price, perish or are exposed as a prey.

Who shall judge the living and the dead More especially the Apostle fixes attention on the judgment of Christ; because, as we are his representatives, so he will demand a more strict account of evil administration.

Dr. Constable’s Expository Notes

Paul wanted Timothy to proclaim the truth in his public ministry as well as to adhere to it in his personal life. He introduced the command in 2 Timothy 4:2 with a very solemn preamble in 2 Timothy 4:1 (cf. 1 Timothy 5:21; 1 Timothy 6:13). He reminded Timothy that God was watching him, as was Jesus Christ who will judge all people. He further reminded him that Christ will return (at any time implied) and set up His kingdom. Timothy should prepare to meet Him by carrying out Paul’s command (cf. Mark 13:34-35).

Paul’s point was this. Jesus Christ will judge Christians at the judgment seat of Christ and then appear again at the Second Coming (cf. 2 Timothy 1:10) and set up His millennial kingdom on the earth. Consequently Timothy needed to herald the Word of God (2 Timothy 4:2) and faithfully carry out the ministry that God had given him (2 Timothy 4:5).

So how do I know that the meme introducing this article is a distinctly full preterist viewpoint? In the lower right hand corner we find the source:

While the meme didn’t specifically state that the four things that were going to happen occurred in 70 A.D., the carefully inserted note that Paul wrote his letter to Timothy in the mid to late 60’s A.D., coupled with the “Hmmm” at the end are subtly suggesting that the reader strongly consider that the appearance of the Lord, the resurrection, the judgment, and the arrival of the kingdom were all “surely about to happen.”

Finally, I would like to leave you with a quotation from an article by Dr. Kenneth Gentry, a partial preterist, concerning typical full preterist tactics for attracting believers to their doctrine:

“Sadly, the Full Preterist can gain a hearing among unsuspecting believers by engaging in a certain “craftiness” whereby the minds of the untrained are “led astray” (cf. 2 Cor. 11:3). Thus, unprepared Christians can be “tossed here and there by waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, by craftiness in deceitful scheming” (Eph. 4:14).”[ii]

[i] How Should the Greek Word ‘Mello’ be Translated? – The American Vision

[ii] Full Preterism is Full of Error