I have never heard this before or read this before and then within the last two weeks have heard it multiple times.

Is this a common historical argument that he was trying to foretell the end of times as coming imminently or is this a new catch phrase that is circling the internet?

I'm currently re-reading the gospels (in the middle of mark right now) and have always had a little struggle with the passages about the coming of the kingdom while everyone is still alive. But have read the interpretations as those who witness certain events would not perish before the kingdom comes.

Martin Q. Blank said:

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That certain event was the destruction of the temple. And yes, many disciples were alive to witness it. The beginning of Matt. 24 Jesus foretells its destruction, the disciples ask him when, and he answers.

Josephus recorded many of the things Jesus talks about. See Book 6, Chapter 5 The great distress the Jews were in upon the conflagration of the holy house. Concerning a false prophet; and the signs that preceded this destruction.
https://penelope.uchicago.edu/josephus/war-6.html

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Agree. That used to confuse me.

Bart Ehrman wrote a whole book on this topic, if you want that side of the argument.
https://www.bartehrman.com/jesus-apocalyptic-prophet-of-the-new-millennium/

Others have touched seriously on the idea including NT Wright I believe.

I don't think he's right, but it's an informed perspective, imho. Apocalyptic literature was an entire style of judaic writing common at the time, not limited to the book of Revelation. In fact, it's continued in various guises since, in christian times (see: Muenster in the 1530's etc).

Not sure why the sola scriptura crowd would need anyone to interpret anything for them but I like the old stuff.

https://www.newadvent.org/fathers/200175.htm

We watch a lot of The Great Courses at home (through Prime). We recently watched a lecture series Understanding the Old Testament by Robert Miller from The Catholic University of America.

There was a whole lecture dedicated to apocalyptic literature explained through the lens Daniel. Totally redefined how I understood the word "apocalyptic." I always equated apocalyptic with end of the world as opposed to a divine view of events on earth.

I've since heard it described that apocalyptic literature can be eschatological (end times) but it doesn't have to be; it can also refer to heavenly views of justice and retribution on earth, often through some pretty intense symbolism.

We've watched a lot of lecture series on TGC but this one has been one of my favorites overall not just for understanding apocalyptic literature but really how the bible as a whole is structured in different ways between books.

Drop everything you own because the end of the world is coming in your lifetime seems pretty obviously apocalyptic to me. I'm sure one can persuade themselves the plain meaning isn't how it should really be understood, though.

My interpretation of biblical prophecy: In most biblical prophecies, there are three relevant time periods:
1) Immediate future
2) later or distant future
3) eternal

The same prophesy come true three times. Generally, we are meant to understand the immediate one, don't understand the later one until after it has happened, and likely won't get the eternal meaning until we get there.

Jesus prophecies and Revalation are no different.