[SIZE=12pt]Although the fact of God’s coming doesn’t [/SIZE][SIZE=12pt]fit[/SIZE][SIZE=12pt] our human notions, [/SIZE][SIZE=12pt]his[/SIZE][SIZE=12pt] coming has indeed fulfilled the prophecies in the Bible. [/SIZE][SIZE=12pt]Every prophecy[/SIZE][SIZE=12pt] concerning God’s coming again [/SIZE][SIZE=12pt]is[/SIZE][SIZE=12pt] being fulfilled[/SIZE][SIZE=12pt].[/SIZE]
[SIZE=12pt]It is just that we only focus on this verse, “this same Jesus … shall so come in like manner as you have seen him go into heaven,” (Acts 1:11)[/SIZE]
[SIZE=12pt]but[/SIZE] [SIZE=12pt]neglect[/SIZE][SIZE=12pt] several other verses prophesying how the Lord will [/SIZE][SIZE=12pt]descend[/SIZE][SIZE=12pt], such as [/SIZE]
[SIZE=12pt]“If therefore you shall not watch, I will come on you as a thief….” (Revelation 3:3)[/SIZE]
[SIZE=12pt]“…for in such an hour as you think not the Son of man comes.” (Matthew 24:44) [/SIZE]
[SIZE=12pt]“The lord of that servant shall come in a day when he looks not for him, and in an hour that he is not aware of….” (Matthew 24:50)[/SIZE]
[SIZE=12pt]“Behold, he comes with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen.” (Revelation 1:7)[/SIZE]
[SIZE=12pt]We can easily[/SIZE][SIZE=12pt] discover that the [/SIZE][SIZE=12pt]scenes [/SIZE][SIZE=12pt]prophesied in these verses [/SIZE][SIZE=12pt]about the Lord’s coming[/SIZE][SIZE=12pt] again[/SIZE] [SIZE=12pt]are not the same. [/SIZE][SIZE=12pt]O[/SIZE][SIZE=12pt]ne says that he will come as a thief, without anyone knowing; another says that he will come [/SIZE][SIZE=12pt]with[/SIZE][SIZE=12pt] clouds, and every eye shall see him. Then, [/SIZE][SIZE=12pt]how[/SIZE][SIZE=12pt] exactly will the Lord come? Which one [/SIZE][SIZE=12pt]of them [/SIZE][SIZE=12pt]will be fulfilled? In fact, all these verses will be fulfilled, [/SIZE][SIZE=12pt]f[/SIZE][SIZE=12pt]or no word of God will fail. [/SIZE][SIZE=12pt]Besides[/SIZE][SIZE=12pt], these verses seem contradictory [/SIZE][SIZE=12pt]literally but[/SIZE][SIZE=12pt] are not contradictory[/SIZE][SIZE=12pt] in essence[/SIZE][SIZE=12pt]. Let’s [/SIZE][SIZE=12pt]consider[/SIZE][SIZE=12pt] two examples to see how the prophecies are fulfilled, and we will be clear about all this.[/SIZE]
[SIZE=12pt]First, let’s [/SIZE][SIZE=12pt]see[/SIZE][SIZE=12pt] how the Lord [/SIZE][SIZE=12pt]left[/SIZE][SIZE=12pt]. [/SIZE]
[SIZE=12pt]One verse records, “Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father….” (John 20:17)[/SIZE]
[SIZE=12pt]This is what the Lord Jesus said to Mary, who went to the tomb to see him when he was raised three days after his crucifixion. However, another verse records, [/SIZE]
[SIZE=12pt]“… Reach here your finger, and behold my hands….” (John 20:27) [/SIZE]
[SIZE=12pt]These are the words that the Lord Jesus said to Thomas, who didn’t believe he had been resurrected. What have we se[/SIZE][SIZE=12pt]en[/SIZE][SIZE=12pt] from these two verses? [/SIZE]
[SIZE=12pt]If Jesus had not ascended to the Father, how could he have [/SIZE][SIZE=12pt]let[/SIZE][SIZE=12pt] Thomas touch him? [/SIZE]
[SIZE=12pt]By[/SIZE][SIZE=12pt] this we know that the Lord Jesus had ascended to heaven once secretly before he did so publicly. [/SIZE]
[SIZE=12pt]That is to say, the Lord Jesus ascended to heaven twice altogether: one in a hidden way and the other in a public way. [/SIZE]
[SIZE=12pt]Thus, according to what the Lord said, “As I will go, so will I come,” won’t he also have to come twice[/SIZE][SIZE=12pt],[/SIZE] [SIZE=12pt]one [/SIZE][SIZE=12pt]in a hidden way and the other in a public way[/SIZE][SIZE=12pt]?[/SIZE][SIZE=12pt] [/SIZE]
[SIZE=12pt]In other words, God has come secretly now, and he will appear publicly [/SIZE][SIZE=12pt]soon[/SIZE][SIZE=12pt]. [/SIZE]
[SIZE=12pt]At this point, we [/SIZE][SIZE=12pt]should be able to [/SIZE][SIZE=12pt]understand that the [/SIZE][SIZE=12pt]above [/SIZE][SIZE=12pt]two verses [/SIZE][SIZE=12pt]actually [/SIZE][SIZE=12pt]don’t contradict [/SIZE][SIZE=12pt]each [/SIZE][SIZE=12pt]other[/SIZE][SIZE=12pt] though they [/SIZE][SIZE=12pt]seem contradictory literally. It is only that people didn’t understand their implications. [/SIZE]
[SIZE=12pt]Let’s [/SIZE][SIZE=12pt]reread these verses. [/SIZE]
[SIZE=12pt]Revelation 3:3 says, “… I will come on you as a thief….”[/SIZE]
[SIZE=12pt]Matthew 24:44 says, “…for in such an hour as you think not the Son of man comes.” [/SIZE]
[SIZE=12pt]And Matthew 24:50 says, “The lord of that servant shall come in a day when he looks not for him….” [/SIZE]
[SIZE=12pt]These three verses all refer to God’s doing the work in a hidden way when he comes again in the end time. [/SIZE]
[SIZE=12pt]In[/SIZE][SIZE=12pt] Revelation 1:7[/SIZE][SIZE=12pt], however, it[/SIZE][SIZE=12pt] says, “Behold, he comes with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen.” [/SIZE]
[SIZE=12pt]That will be the time for Almighty God to appear publicly and the time for God to punish people. [/SIZE][SIZE=12pt]This shows[/SIZE][SIZE=12pt] that when God [/SIZE][SIZE=12pt]does the work[/SIZE][SIZE=12pt] in a hidden way, he [/SIZE][SIZE=12pt]is saving people[/SIZE][SIZE=12pt], but when he appears publicly, he will begin to punish [/SIZE][SIZE=12pt]the [/SIZE][SIZE=12pt]evil and reward [/SIZE][SIZE=12pt]the [/SIZE][SIZE=12pt]good. [/SIZE]
[SIZE=12pt]As Matthew 24:37-39 says, “But as the days of Noe were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark, And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.” [/SIZE]
[SIZE=12pt]Why [/SIZE][SIZE=12pt]are [/SIZE][SIZE=12pt]the da[/SIZE][SIZE=12pt]ys[/SIZE][SIZE=12pt] of the Son of Man said to be the same as the days of Noah?[/SIZE]
[SIZE=12pt]Because b[/SIZE][SIZE=12pt]efore the flood came, the day was hidden and the people [/SIZE][SIZE=12pt]did[/SIZE][SIZE=12pt]n’t see the fact of God’s punishing [/SIZE][SIZE=12pt]the [/SIZE][SIZE=12pt]evil and rewarding [/SIZE][SIZE=12pt]the [/SIZE][SIZE=12pt]good, and when Noah preached that “the flood is coming,” none of them believed it and they all vilified him, but when the flood came, that is, when the day of God’s punishment came (the day was made public), they were all dum[/SIZE][SIZE=12pt]b[/SIZE][SIZE=12pt]founded; similarly, when God does the work in a hidden way, it is the time to save people, but when he appears publicly, it will [/SIZE][SIZE=12pt]be [/SIZE][SIZE=12pt]the time to punish [/SIZE][SIZE=12pt]the [/SIZE][SIZE=12pt]evil and reward [/SIZE][SIZE=12pt]the [/SIZE][SIZE=12pt]good. [/SIZE][SIZE=12pt]Here[/SIZE][SIZE=12pt] we can see that no word of the [/SIZE][SIZE=12pt]prophecy[/SIZE][SIZE=12pt] will fail but all will be fulfilled. It is only that when and how [/SIZE][SIZE=12pt]it[/SIZE][SIZE=12pt] will be fulfilled doesn’t [/SIZE][SIZE=12pt]fit[/SIZE][SIZE=12pt] our human imaginations. [/SIZE]
[SIZE=12pt]It is just that we only focus on this verse, “this same Jesus … shall so come in like manner as you have seen him go into heaven,” (Acts 1:11)[/SIZE]
[SIZE=12pt]but[/SIZE] [SIZE=12pt]neglect[/SIZE][SIZE=12pt] several other verses prophesying how the Lord will [/SIZE][SIZE=12pt]descend[/SIZE][SIZE=12pt], such as [/SIZE]
[SIZE=12pt]“If therefore you shall not watch, I will come on you as a thief….” (Revelation 3:3)[/SIZE]
[SIZE=12pt]“…for in such an hour as you think not the Son of man comes.” (Matthew 24:44) [/SIZE]
[SIZE=12pt]“The lord of that servant shall come in a day when he looks not for him, and in an hour that he is not aware of….” (Matthew 24:50)[/SIZE]
[SIZE=12pt]“Behold, he comes with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen.” (Revelation 1:7)[/SIZE]
[SIZE=12pt]We can easily[/SIZE][SIZE=12pt] discover that the [/SIZE][SIZE=12pt]scenes [/SIZE][SIZE=12pt]prophesied in these verses [/SIZE][SIZE=12pt]about the Lord’s coming[/SIZE][SIZE=12pt] again[/SIZE] [SIZE=12pt]are not the same. [/SIZE][SIZE=12pt]O[/SIZE][SIZE=12pt]ne says that he will come as a thief, without anyone knowing; another says that he will come [/SIZE][SIZE=12pt]with[/SIZE][SIZE=12pt] clouds, and every eye shall see him. Then, [/SIZE][SIZE=12pt]how[/SIZE][SIZE=12pt] exactly will the Lord come? Which one [/SIZE][SIZE=12pt]of them [/SIZE][SIZE=12pt]will be fulfilled? In fact, all these verses will be fulfilled, [/SIZE][SIZE=12pt]f[/SIZE][SIZE=12pt]or no word of God will fail. [/SIZE][SIZE=12pt]Besides[/SIZE][SIZE=12pt], these verses seem contradictory [/SIZE][SIZE=12pt]literally but[/SIZE][SIZE=12pt] are not contradictory[/SIZE][SIZE=12pt] in essence[/SIZE][SIZE=12pt]. Let’s [/SIZE][SIZE=12pt]consider[/SIZE][SIZE=12pt] two examples to see how the prophecies are fulfilled, and we will be clear about all this.[/SIZE]
[SIZE=12pt]First, let’s [/SIZE][SIZE=12pt]see[/SIZE][SIZE=12pt] how the Lord [/SIZE][SIZE=12pt]left[/SIZE][SIZE=12pt]. [/SIZE]
[SIZE=12pt]One verse records, “Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father….” (John 20:17)[/SIZE]
[SIZE=12pt]This is what the Lord Jesus said to Mary, who went to the tomb to see him when he was raised three days after his crucifixion. However, another verse records, [/SIZE]
[SIZE=12pt]“… Reach here your finger, and behold my hands….” (John 20:27) [/SIZE]
[SIZE=12pt]These are the words that the Lord Jesus said to Thomas, who didn’t believe he had been resurrected. What have we se[/SIZE][SIZE=12pt]en[/SIZE][SIZE=12pt] from these two verses? [/SIZE]
[SIZE=12pt]If Jesus had not ascended to the Father, how could he have [/SIZE][SIZE=12pt]let[/SIZE][SIZE=12pt] Thomas touch him? [/SIZE]
[SIZE=12pt]By[/SIZE][SIZE=12pt] this we know that the Lord Jesus had ascended to heaven once secretly before he did so publicly. [/SIZE]
[SIZE=12pt]That is to say, the Lord Jesus ascended to heaven twice altogether: one in a hidden way and the other in a public way. [/SIZE]
[SIZE=12pt]Thus, according to what the Lord said, “As I will go, so will I come,” won’t he also have to come twice[/SIZE][SIZE=12pt],[/SIZE] [SIZE=12pt]one [/SIZE][SIZE=12pt]in a hidden way and the other in a public way[/SIZE][SIZE=12pt]?[/SIZE][SIZE=12pt] [/SIZE]
[SIZE=12pt]In other words, God has come secretly now, and he will appear publicly [/SIZE][SIZE=12pt]soon[/SIZE][SIZE=12pt]. [/SIZE]
[SIZE=12pt]At this point, we [/SIZE][SIZE=12pt]should be able to [/SIZE][SIZE=12pt]understand that the [/SIZE][SIZE=12pt]above [/SIZE][SIZE=12pt]two verses [/SIZE][SIZE=12pt]actually [/SIZE][SIZE=12pt]don’t contradict [/SIZE][SIZE=12pt]each [/SIZE][SIZE=12pt]other[/SIZE][SIZE=12pt] though they [/SIZE][SIZE=12pt]seem contradictory literally. It is only that people didn’t understand their implications. [/SIZE]
[SIZE=12pt]Let’s [/SIZE][SIZE=12pt]reread these verses. [/SIZE]
[SIZE=12pt]Revelation 3:3 says, “… I will come on you as a thief….”[/SIZE]
[SIZE=12pt]Matthew 24:44 says, “…for in such an hour as you think not the Son of man comes.” [/SIZE]
[SIZE=12pt]And Matthew 24:50 says, “The lord of that servant shall come in a day when he looks not for him….” [/SIZE]
[SIZE=12pt]These three verses all refer to God’s doing the work in a hidden way when he comes again in the end time. [/SIZE]
[SIZE=12pt]In[/SIZE][SIZE=12pt] Revelation 1:7[/SIZE][SIZE=12pt], however, it[/SIZE][SIZE=12pt] says, “Behold, he comes with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen.” [/SIZE]
[SIZE=12pt]That will be the time for Almighty God to appear publicly and the time for God to punish people. [/SIZE][SIZE=12pt]This shows[/SIZE][SIZE=12pt] that when God [/SIZE][SIZE=12pt]does the work[/SIZE][SIZE=12pt] in a hidden way, he [/SIZE][SIZE=12pt]is saving people[/SIZE][SIZE=12pt], but when he appears publicly, he will begin to punish [/SIZE][SIZE=12pt]the [/SIZE][SIZE=12pt]evil and reward [/SIZE][SIZE=12pt]the [/SIZE][SIZE=12pt]good. [/SIZE]
[SIZE=12pt]As Matthew 24:37-39 says, “But as the days of Noe were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark, And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.” [/SIZE]
[SIZE=12pt]Why [/SIZE][SIZE=12pt]are [/SIZE][SIZE=12pt]the da[/SIZE][SIZE=12pt]ys[/SIZE][SIZE=12pt] of the Son of Man said to be the same as the days of Noah?[/SIZE]
[SIZE=12pt]Because b[/SIZE][SIZE=12pt]efore the flood came, the day was hidden and the people [/SIZE][SIZE=12pt]did[/SIZE][SIZE=12pt]n’t see the fact of God’s punishing [/SIZE][SIZE=12pt]the [/SIZE][SIZE=12pt]evil and rewarding [/SIZE][SIZE=12pt]the [/SIZE][SIZE=12pt]good, and when Noah preached that “the flood is coming,” none of them believed it and they all vilified him, but when the flood came, that is, when the day of God’s punishment came (the day was made public), they were all dum[/SIZE][SIZE=12pt]b[/SIZE][SIZE=12pt]founded; similarly, when God does the work in a hidden way, it is the time to save people, but when he appears publicly, it will [/SIZE][SIZE=12pt]be [/SIZE][SIZE=12pt]the time to punish [/SIZE][SIZE=12pt]the [/SIZE][SIZE=12pt]evil and reward [/SIZE][SIZE=12pt]the [/SIZE][SIZE=12pt]good. [/SIZE][SIZE=12pt]Here[/SIZE][SIZE=12pt] we can see that no word of the [/SIZE][SIZE=12pt]prophecy[/SIZE][SIZE=12pt] will fail but all will be fulfilled. It is only that when and how [/SIZE][SIZE=12pt]it[/SIZE][SIZE=12pt] will be fulfilled doesn’t [/SIZE][SIZE=12pt]fit[/SIZE][SIZE=12pt] our human imaginations. [/SIZE]
