Everywhere I go, I hear "the time is near"

[TopherNelson]

Hi friends,

Is it just me or people are talking about revelation quite a lot lately? "The sixth trumpet had been blown..."

I do respect everyone's view. However, some are going too far into predicting when the Lord shall return. Did the Lord not say :
Matthew 24:36 "But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.
Then, there is the Pope and the antichrist. My friends, please remember that the Lord had said this :
Matthew 7:1-2 "Do not judge, or you too will be judged. 2 For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you."

Again, I respect everyone's view, but here are my two cents,
We should not worry about when the Lord will return, we should worry more about how we could do our best to help saving the souls of others from eternal damnation. The whole world would know when the Lord return, there is no point in bearing false witness. Clearly we will know who is from our Lord and who is from the antichrist.

And as for now, we could :
Matthew 5:42 "Give to the one who begs from you, and do not refuse the one who would borrow from you."

Chris

 

[pom2014]

People have been saying the end is nigh for two thousand years.

One day they'll be right.

 

[TopherNelson]

Agreed.

Chris

 

[Born_Again]

Agreed, as well. Just be prepared. In the mean time, to Chris's point, just be the example of Christ as we are commanded to be. :)


BA

 

[KingJ]

Jesus tells us the season of the end times in Matt 24. If He didn't want us to know the season, there would NOT be a Matt 24.

 

[TopherNelson]

We know the season, but we do not know the plot.
Who? What? When? Where? How?
Some people are going to far in saying something like : X is the antichrist.

Chris.

 

[KingJ]

Some people are going to far in saying something like : X is the antichrist.

Chris.

Granted many are ridiculous. But what's worse? Helping people get ready or the opposite? I believe those playing down these days as the last days are 100% agents of the devil.

These days are very evil. A simple history lesson from the bible teaches us as clear as daylight that when cities / world evil reaches full measure, God removes His people and destroys the rest Gen 15:16 vs Gen 19:24.

With today's media, the world is fast approaching 'full measure'. God does simply not tolerate these kinds of conditions for His children for long. Matt 24:22 If those days had not been cut short, no one would survive, but for the sake of the elect those days will be shortened.

Anyone who is sold on today's liberal teaching/ things continuing as they are for much longer need to explain to me what sin exactly they see angering God ....such that He would rather see them swimming in acid Gen 19:24 over continuing in it.

 

[brakelite]

While it is true that there have been, and I guess always will be, some who err in going over-board in picking dates and times, it would do us all well to remember and take heed to....
2 Peter 3: 3 ¶ Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts,
4 And saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation.

Not to prayerfully study prophecy, in particular Daniel and Revelation, would be a grave mistake. God has included such books in Holy Scripture for a purpose. He wants a people prepared, wise, and impervious to the most dangerous deceptions that will arise in the last days. In these two books in particular, (and in Matt 24 and others) God has provided much detailed information as to the character, the nature, and the practises of the enemy, and his arch representative, the 'antichrist'. From this detail we can garner enough information to accurately identify who it is. The reformers did it, and well known students and teachers of the Bible since their day agreed...it is only in the last 100 years that their teachings on this subject have been cast aside, unbelieved, and made ineffective in favour of clairvoyant prognostications on some imagined evil 'super-devil' of the future who they think they will recognise immediately and not be deceived. Already they are deceived!!!

 

[Guestman]

How can we know details of the "season" of when the "end" will come, such as "Who ? What ? Where ? How ?" ? This requires grasping intimately concerning God's Kingdom, so that it can be understood when it came to power and what would follow and how close we are to the "the end".

This necessitates that we "get the sense" (Jesus used the Greek word syniemi, rendered as "get the sense" that literally means to "mentally put the pieces together" at Matthew 13 some 6 times concerning God's Kingdom) of God's "sacred secrets of the Kingdom".(Matt 13:11, "mysteries of the kingdom", KJV)

Proverbs 25:2 says: "It is the glory of God to keep a matter secret, and the glory of kings is to search through a matter." Thus, our Maker, Jehovah God, has kept matters secret concerning the Kingdom, from the masses of mankind, those not worthy, including the churches of Christendom. However, "the glory of kings is to search through a matter" that God has hidden to most. This begs the question, Who are the kings spoken of at Proverbs 25, that can "search through a matter" of God ?

Jesus said in prayer to the Father, Jehovah: "I publicly praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and intellectual ones and have revealed them to young children."(Matt 11:25) Those with high academic skills, such as a university or college education from a seminary, are not the ones whom God selects to grasp details of the Kingdom, but rather this has been "revealed.....to young children", those who display child-like humility, allowing themselves to be "taught by Jehovah".(John 6:45; Isa 54:13)

Among these humble ones are those chosen for the "heavenly calling" (Heb 3:1) who will also concurrently serve as priests when reaching heaven after their resurrection.(Rev 1:6; these ones are anointed with God's holy spirit, being "sealed ....with the promised holy spirit, which is a token in advance of our inheritance", Eph 1:13, 14)

The apostle Paul wrote of such ones, that "a man should regard us as attendants of Christ and stewards of God’s sacred secrets."(1 Cor 4:1) These are privileged with gaining an understanding of the "sacred secrets " of God's Kingdom and revealing it to others. Paul says to some who were "puffed up with pride": "Are you already satisfied ? Are you already rich ? Have you begun ruling as kings without us ? I really wish that you had begun ruling as kings, so that we also might rule with you as kings."(1 Cor 4:6, 8)

Hence, Paul noted that becoming kings of God's Kingdom would be a reality for some (Rev 7:4 and 14:1 reveals that 144,000 are chosen from the earth to serve in the official positions of "kings and priests" or as "firstfruits", receiving "adoption as sons", Rom 8:15) and would be able to unveil "God's sacred secrets" concerning this heavenly government, such as when it became operational, who and how many are selected to be a "kingdom and priests to his God and Father."(Rev 1:6) This, in turn, will help us to grasp the closeness of "the end".

Here are some more of the details of the Kingdom, such as when it became operational. At Revelation 6, there is seen a rider on "a white horse" who has a "bow" and "a crown is given him." He then goes forth "conquering and to complete his conquest."(Rev 6:2) Who is this rider on "a white horse" ? Jesus Christ, for Revelation 19:11-13 identifies him as such.

But upon Jesus receiving "a crown" or becoming king of God's Kingdom (see Dan 7:13, 14 showing Jesus as "a son of man" being "given rulership, honor and a kingdom"), what quickly happens ? A rider on a "fiery-colored horse" appears that is "granted.....to take peace away from the earth so that they should slaughter one another and he (the rider) was given a great sword."(Rev 6:4) Why ?

Because of another war that took place unseen to human eyes, a war between Michael (or Jesus) and his army of angels and Satan and his angels. This resulted in Satan and his angels being cast down to the earth and confined to it (Rev 12:7-9), causing "woe for the earth and for the sea (or restless masses of mankind, Isa 17:12), because the Devil (has) great anger, knowing he has a short period of time".(Rev 12:12)

Is the ride of the "fiery-colored horse" that takes "peace away from the earth" just between nations, a regional war ? No. This war involves the whole earth, in which the symbolic rider on the "fiery-colored horse" is granted the authority "to take peace away from the earth so that they should slaughter one another" with "a great sword". Thence, an invisible war in heaven causes a visible war that encompasses the whole earth.

When in the history of mankind, for the first time, was the earth involved in a war that took away peace from the entire earth ? With the outbreak of World War I on July 28, 1914, when Austria-Hungary declared war on Serbia that very quickly escalated into a world war, so that by the end of this war, some 93 percent of the earth's population had become involved. Thus, began the "time of the end".

Hence, this is one of several features of the "sign of (Jesus) presence" (Matt 24:3) that Jesus spoke of at Matthew 24 and is the "beginning of pangs of distress" (Matt 24:7, 8) that began in 1914. Jesus paralleled his invisible "presence" or his becoming king of God's kingdom with "the days of Noah".(Matt 24:37)

He noted that most would be busy with the mundane affairs of life, marriage, eating and drinking, raising a family, but unwilling to take note that world conditions, both physical and moral, are changing.(Matt 24:38, 39) On the other hand, there would be a few who would be able to "mentally put the pieces together" and recognize that Jesus began ruling as king of God's Kingdom in 1914, the start of the "last days" of this "world".(Matt 24:27, 28)

For those who are cognizant of the time frame we are living in, he said: "Keep on the watch, therefore, because you you do not know on what day your Lord is coming."(Matt 24:42) We are now 100 years downstream of time since God's Kingdom became operational. So, we are rapidly reaching the end of this old "world" (or "system of things"). Collapse of morals on an unparalleled global scale is being seen. World war along with food shortages (due to war) and great earthquakes began the "pangs of distress", but the ride of the "four horsemen" are continuing until their ride ends with Armageddon in the near future.(Rev 6:2-8; 16:14, 16)

 

[TopherNelson]

No Angles are called the the Son.

 

[Guestman]

To discern that Jesus is also an angel, which literally means "messenger", it is important to realize that the name Michael (meaning "Who Is Like God ?") is applied only to one angel, the archangel or "chief angel".(Jude 9) At 1 Thessalonians 4, it says that "the Lord (Jesus, verse 14) himself will descend from heaven with a commanding call, with an archangel's voice and with God's trumpet, and those who are dead in union with Christ will rise first."(1 Thess 4:16)


Thus, Jesus is noted here as speaking with an archangel's voice. This points to Jesus as being Michael, who is also seen at Daniel 12:1 as "the great prince who is standing in behalf of your (Daniel's) people".(see also Dan 10:13, 21)


Michael is Jesus heavenly name while Jesus Christ is his name that emphasizes his specific role as the one through whom Jehovah will provide salvation for righteous ones (the name Jesus means "Jehovah is Salvation"). And with the attached position of Christ (Greek) or Messiah (Hebrew), it stipulates that Jesus is God's "anointed one" that is to serve in the dual role of king of God's Kingdom and the foretold "high priest" that Melchizedek foreshadowed.(Ps 110:4)


And it is of interest that the apostle Paul spoke of Jesus Christ as the angel that led the nation of Israel through the wilderness, saying: "Now I want you to know, brothers, that our forefathers were all under the cloud (see Ex 13:21) and all passed through the (Red) sea.....For they used to drink from the spiritual rock that followed them, and that rock meant the Christ."(1 Cor 10:1, 4)


At Exodus 14, it says that "the angel of the true God who was going ahead of the camp of Israel departed and went to the rear, and the pillar of cloud that was in front of them moved to the rear and stood behind them."(Ex 14:19) Thus, Jesus is Michael the archangel that fought an unseen battle in heaven with Satan and his angels in 1914, throwing them out of heaven and down to the earth, causing great "woes", for Satan knows he has only "a short period of time."(Rev 12:12)

 

[Born_Again]

And I know we have discussed this before, but we should take into consideration the concept of time in the Kingdom. 1,000 years to us is like a day to Him. We, being man, created our perception of time. So when Christ said the time was soon at hand, He was being quite literal. For the Kingdom, it is soon. Now, will this be in our life time? Maybe, maybe not. There are still a few things that need to happen. But I do believe we are approaching the end times. It depends how soon a few things happen.

Like we have mentioned, it is important to keep our eyes fixed on Him. He did provide the "signs" so we would not be deceived. Just continue to rejoice in the Father and know He is King and one day, He will return! :)

 

[JimParker]

Hi friends,

Is it just me or people are talking about revelation quite a lot lately? "The sixth trumpet had been blown..."

I do respect everyone's view. However, some are going too far into predicting when the Lord shall return. Did the Lord not say :
Matthew 24:36 "But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.
Then, there is the Pope and the antichrist. My friends, please remember that the Lord had said this :
Matthew 7:1-2 "Do not judge, or you too will be judged. 2 For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you."

Again, I respect everyone's view, but here are my two cents,
We should not worry about when the Lord will return, we should worry more about how we could do our best to help saving the souls of others from eternal damnation. The whole world would know when the Lord return, there is no point in bearing false witness. Clearly we will know who is from our Lord and who is from the antichrist.

And as for now, we could :
Matthew 5:42 "Give to the one who begs from you, and do not refuse the one who would borrow from you."

Chris

<<Is it just me or people are talking about revelation quite a lot lately?>>

No, it's not just you. Some folks have realized that a person can make a decent living teaching, preaching, and writing books about the end coming soon. That's what happened with "New Advent" movement of the 1800's which, after Jesus failed to show up at either the predicted or corrected arrival date, spawned the 7th Day Adventists and their spin-off, the Jehovah's Witnesses.

"Christ is coming soon!" is a very marketable topic for Christians with itchy ears who want something spectacular to gab about. In spite of the fact that Jesus was very clear in saying that we would not know the day of the hour, people have been marketing the preaching that the "signs tell us" the time is at hand.

Jesus said that what we are to be doing is to be about His business and not to worry about when He's going to show up. It will be a surprise.

Don't be found arguing about what which "sign" means and pre-, mid-, or post-trib when you're supposed to be found faithfully doing the "good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do." (Eph 2:10) That way, you won't have to answer Jesus when He asks you “Why did you call me, ‘Lord, Lord,' and did not do what I said?"
(Luke 6:46)

When He comes, be found giving drink to the thirsty, food to the hungry, clothing to the naked, shelter to the stranger, helping the sick and visiting the prisoner. Then He will say to you, "Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world." (Mat 25:34)

Jesus will show up when the time is perfect and not a moment before.

<<Then, there is the Pope and the antichrist.>>

Try not to be caught up in any of the trash-heap theology that has a lot of energy tied up in "what's wrong with them damn KATH-licks." It's a sure sign of ignorance and pride at the core of their teaching. Catholics worship Jesus Just like the rest of the Church.

1Jo 4:20 Whoever claims to love God yet hates a brother or sister is a liar. For whoever does not love their brother and sister, whom they have seen, cannot love God, whom they have not seen.