Misconceptions
Until recently, I had many traditional ways of thinking about Jesus' return and the end of the age (end-times). Many ideas I once had were handed down to me by family or denominations,but they were not based in the clarity of the Word. Well-meaning people who loved Jesus believed them because they heard them from someone else they trusted. Until recently, I had never taken the time to find out if the Bible was clear on this very important issue.
The Bible was not written in code, but was written in a simple and straight-forward way. God gave the Word to all men. The vast majority of people throughout history have been uneducated. The Bible is clear and straightforward. It says what it means and means what it says. Where symbolism is intended, the Bible states it. When Jesus spoke in parables, the Bible states it. A dream is called a dream and a vision a vision.
Because of tradition, many have very wrong ideas about Jesus' return. Although there are 150 chapters in the Bible that clearly talk of the events of His return, the church is nearly illiterate about these events, relying mostly on hand-me-down "facts" rather than the word of God.
One of these hand-me-downs is that Jesus could come any minute. A quick study of the Bible easily shows this is simply untrue. Jesus would never break His word, and the Bible makes very clear statements about Jesus' return. Just a few things that MUST happen before Jesus says He will return are:
1. The nation of Israel will invite Jesus back as Messiah saying "blessed is He that comes in the name of the Lord." (Matthew 23:39) (a picture of this occurred with only Jesus' disciples, not the national leaders, in Luke 19:37).
2. The great falling away of the church must happen first (2 Thessalonians 2:3). As trouble increases, we are promised many will be offended by God and look for a man-made solution. The antichrist will offer the solution, resulting in many putting their faith in him rather than God.
3. The antichrist has to not only be revealed, but must sit in the temple in Jerusalem (yet to be built) and claim to be God. (Same passage in 2 Thessalonians).
4. The last trumpet must sound (1 Corinthians 15:52). This refers to the trumpets in Revelation. The seventh trumpet is in Revelation 11:15.
These are just a fraction of the events that must happen. Events that have been written out in great clarity, surrounding Jesus' brilliant and elaborate end-time plan.
With the Holy Spirit's help, WE can have great clarity on what is happening in the earth. Jesus over and over said to watch and understand what is happening. Paul said followers of Jesus would NOT be surprised by His return! (1 Thessalonians 5:4).
If you want to find out for yourself what the Bible has to say about this increasingly important concept, a good place to start is Matthew 24, then Thessalonians 1:5 and all of Thessalonians 2. Of course, the Book of Revelation is also essential reading.
This is so knowable, but God gives food to the hungry. If we get the basic framework of Jesus' plan, then we can start to see how the entire story of redemption points to this amazing transitional generation's story in the book of Revelation! It is the end-time books of Exodus and Acts written out in advance!
The Bible was not written in code, but was written in a simple and straight-forward way. God gave the Word to all men. The vast majority of people throughout history have been uneducated. The Bible is clear and straightforward. It says what it means and means what it says. Where symbolism is intended, the Bible states it. When Jesus spoke in parables, the Bible states it. A dream is called a dream and a vision a vision.
Because of tradition, many have very wrong ideas about Jesus' return. Although there are 150 chapters in the Bible that clearly talk of the events of His return, the church is nearly illiterate about these events, relying mostly on hand-me-down "facts" rather than the word of God.
One of these hand-me-downs is that Jesus could come any minute. A quick study of the Bible easily shows this is simply untrue. Jesus would never break His word, and the Bible makes very clear statements about Jesus' return. Just a few things that MUST happen before Jesus says He will return are:
1. The nation of Israel will invite Jesus back as Messiah saying "blessed is He that comes in the name of the Lord." (Matthew 23:39) (a picture of this occurred with only Jesus' disciples, not the national leaders, in Luke 19:37).
2. The great falling away of the church must happen first (2 Thessalonians 2:3). As trouble increases, we are promised many will be offended by God and look for a man-made solution. The antichrist will offer the solution, resulting in many putting their faith in him rather than God.
3. The antichrist has to not only be revealed, but must sit in the temple in Jerusalem (yet to be built) and claim to be God. (Same passage in 2 Thessalonians).
4. The last trumpet must sound (1 Corinthians 15:52). This refers to the trumpets in Revelation. The seventh trumpet is in Revelation 11:15.
These are just a fraction of the events that must happen. Events that have been written out in great clarity, surrounding Jesus' brilliant and elaborate end-time plan.
With the Holy Spirit's help, WE can have great clarity on what is happening in the earth. Jesus over and over said to watch and understand what is happening. Paul said followers of Jesus would NOT be surprised by His return! (1 Thessalonians 5:4).
If you want to find out for yourself what the Bible has to say about this increasingly important concept, a good place to start is Matthew 24, then Thessalonians 1:5 and all of Thessalonians 2. Of course, the Book of Revelation is also essential reading.
This is so knowable, but God gives food to the hungry. If we get the basic framework of Jesus' plan, then we can start to see how the entire story of redemption points to this amazing transitional generation's story in the book of Revelation! It is the end-time books of Exodus and Acts written out in advance!
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