When will Jesus return? Joseph Farah details evidence pointing to Christ coming back to Earth

WorldNetDaily.com ^ | Wednesday, December 22, 2004 | Joseph Farah

[JohnHuang2]

Wednesday, December 22, 2004

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When will Jesus return?

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Posted: December 22, 2004
1:00 a.m. Eastern

By Joseph Farah

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© 2004 WorldNetDaily.com

"For a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us; And the government will rest on His shoulders; And His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace. There will be no end to the increase of His government or of peace, On the throne of David and over his kingdom, To establish it and to uphold it with justice and righteousness. From then on and forevermore ..."

– Isaiah 9:6-7 (NASB)

As we celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ this week and prepare for 2005 next week, I can't help but think about how close we must be to the Second Coming – when the Lord will return for His church and personally rule over the Earth for 1,000 years.

Oh, I know, some of you don't believe in such things. You think it's just a bunch of silly superstition. Even some Christians don't believe in the Second Coming. Many prefer I stick to writing about news events of the physical world rather than arcane spiritual matters.

But, as a journalist, I can't ignore hard evidence – no matter where it may lead me. And the more I study the prophetic scriptures of the Holy Bible and look at the condition of our world today, the more convinced I become that we are nearing that time. In fact, I think we are very close.

For just as Jesus' virgin birth in Bethlehem was foretold by the Hebrew prophets hundreds of years earlier, so, too, was His return to Earth predicted. The only question is when.

The most dramatic evidence for His imminent return our generation has witnessed was the rebirth of the nation of Israel more than 50 years ago. The Jews, God's chosen people, were, as prophesied, scattered over the whole earth for nearly two millennia beginning shortly after Jesus' death on the cross. Yet, in my opinion, the scriptures leave no doubt that the Jewish state would exist once again before He returned.

Interestingly, Orthodox Jews have long taught that the world would last for 6,000 years before the Messiah would come and usher in a 1,000-year period of restful human history. Since God created the world in six days, according to Genesis 1:31, and rested on the seventh day, according to Genesis 2:1, they reasoned the world's history would climax the same way. They cite Psalms 90:4, which says: "For a thousand years in Thy sight are like yesterday when it passes by."

Likewise, Christians have looked to II Peter 3:8: "But do not let this one fact escape your notice, beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day."

The early church understood this "six-day theory" of world history. It was widely accepted teaching for the first three centuries of the church. From the time of Adam, we've got genealogical records to show that 4,000 years passed until the time of Christ. From Jesus' time until the present age represents another 2,000 years for a total of 6,000 years or six days.

There's also a three-day theory: Jesus rose on the third day. Would the beginning of the third millennium – or thousand-year period – not be the likely time for His return to Earth? There is even strong scriptural evidence for such a theory provided in Hosea 6:2: "After two days will he revive us: in the third day He will raise us up, and we shall live in His sight." Note that this prophecy is not about the Resurrection of Jesus – it's either about the resurrection of Israel after 2,000 years of dispersal or the physical return of the Lord.

In 1772, Edward Gibbons published "The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire," in which he cites early documents suggesting the Christian disciples of the first century were taught that Jesus would return after 2,000 years. We'll soon find out if they were right.

For many reasons, I believe Jesus is returning soon. But I'm especially drawn to II Timothy 3:1-5, which describes the state of the world in the "last days." Tell me if this doesn't sound like our world:

But realize this, that in the last days difficult times will come. For men will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, revilers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy, unloving, irreconcilable, malicious gossips, without self-control, brutal, haters of good, treacherous, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, holding to a form of godliness, although they have denied its power; Avoid such men as these.

To me, that sounds like our world today.

Christmas represents a time of great hope for Christians. Of course, we're grateful that Jesus came about 2,000 years ago and died for our sins. Now we should be hopeful and expectant of His imminent return.

Merry Christmas. And happy birthday, Jesus.

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[Quix]

You seem to preclude God sovereignly bringing members of all the 12 tribes of Israel into a Saving knowledge of Christ--as Scripture outlines . . .

THEY WILL LOOK ON HIM WHOM THEY PIERCED . . .

[Quix]

I think they've already been listed above. You are welcome to list them yourself.

[AmericanInTokyo]

When, in the history of mankind since Christ walked the earth 2000 years ago, have men and women NOT been "lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, revilers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy, unloving, irreconcilable, malicious gossips, without self-control, brutal, haters of good, treacherous, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, holding to a form of godliness, although they have denied its power;"??

In the larger scientific timeline of the cosmic universe, even looking at the presumed age of the earth and Mars for example, when put in relative terms, "the Last Days" could well span 5,000 to 6,000 years. So, it could come this coming Saturday, or it could come in the 23rd Century long long long after we are gone.

The fact is, one of the clearest Biblical phrases around on this is that NO MAN KNOWS WHEN THIS WILL OCCUR. A cottage industry still exists, though, when we are not to worry or theorize the time and day of the Return; only to be ready for it at all times.

[Baraonda]

"God declared that He would be the God of those who believed in Him just as He told Abraham. That is still in effect today. The Jews who do not believe in Christ are not in this covenant anymore than the unbeliever is. God's covenant is between Him and His people, and His people are Christians."

Exactly!

The jews broke the so-called covenant when they crucified and then later spurned Jesus Christ and His apostles. Jesus Christ made salvation available for everyone, including the jews, but there was no longer any special relationship for the people who rejected God and his Son. A new covenant was established between God and all who accepted the salvation of Christ. The Catholic catechism and most Protestant churchs persist in this view until now. The passages below are pertinent to this discussion.

For I could wish that I myself were accused and cut off for the sake of my brethren, my kinsmen by race...
But it is not as though the word of God had failed. For not all who are descended from Israel belong to Israel...
This means that it is not the children of the flesh who are the children of God, but the children of the promise are reckoned as descendands...
And indeed he says in Hosea,
Those who were not my people I will call my people,

...and in the very place where it was said to them, "You are not my people, they will call them sons of the living God...
What then? Israel failed to obtain what it sought. The elect obtained it, but the rest were hardened. (Romans 9:1-3, 6-8, 24-26; Romans 11:7-8)

[Galatians513]

Who wants to join me on the winning side of a cultural revolution?

I'm with you!

[Quix]

There's not a shred of Scripture which convincingly even hints, to me, that the Jews--Blood Israel from whatever tribe--have been written out, crossed out, excluded, canceled out of THE COVENENT ALMIGHTY GOD HAD AND HAS WITH ABRAHAM.

In a LOT of respects, it is a COVENANT WITH ABRAHAM regardless of his seed. As Christ said, God is well able to raise up rocks as blood children of Abraham.

But GOD MADE A PROMISE TO

HIS FRIEND.

HE does NOT break such promises.

That fact alone, for me, cancels out all the rubber Bible; rationalizations; doctrines of men; doctrines of demons etc. on the other side.

[Quix]

Those verses merely mention that no man shall know the day nor hour. And that so far, only The Father knows the time--likely to remain so until perhaps moments beforehand.

But CHRIST EXHORTED US TO WATCH AND WAIT AND BE AWARE. He chided the religious types for being able to predict, be aware of impending weather but not being able to be aware of the signs of the times.

CLEARLY CHRIST EXPECTED AND EXPECTS US to have our lamps trimmed and extra oil ready for HIS RETURN and other end times events.

God IS interested in catching satan and his forces unaware.

HOWEVER, HE WANTS HIS KIDS AWARE, WAITING, TRUSTING, FULL OF FAITH AND READY.

[Quix]

AMEN! ME 3!

[Quix]

DEAR ONES,

Here's a computer slide show type presentation that shows a lot of Chinese characters and how Biblical history is embedded in them. It makes a great CHRISTmas card. LUB,

http://www.wbschool.org/chinesecharacters.htm

[Quix]

BTW,

How's the quake prediction, research going these days?

There was an 8.1 between New Zealand and Antarctica the last day or so.

Be safe, Bro,

Merry CHRISTmas; Happy New Year and Gong Shee Fat Tsai!

[Elsie]

Commendable!


Most folks outlook on life determines how they view Scripture, rather than the other way around!

[Elsie]

How do you come up with an earthy reign at His coming from the mention of 1000 years?

 

 

Reveleation 20

 

 4.  I saw thrones on which were seated those who had been given authority to judge. And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded because of their testimony for Jesus and because of the word of God. They had not worshiped the beast or his image and had not received his mark on their foreheads or their hands. They came to life and reigned with Christ a thousand years.
 5.  (The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were ended.) This is the first resurrection.
 6.  Blessed and holy are those who have part in the first resurrection. The second death has no power over them, but they will be priests of God and of Christ and will reign with him for a thousand years.

 

 

The reigning with Him part - the first resurrection part - not happened yet.....

 

 

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He who knows nothing is closer to the truth
than he whose mind is filled with falsehoods and errors.

 

Thomas Jefferson

[Elsie]

There is nothing in the Gospels that even hints at a rapture.

True... but there are a few more books in the NT.

[Elsie]

As well, this "thousand year reign" actually began shortly after Christ's ascension!

Therefore it ended in approximately 1033.

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Have I missed something in my study of History????

[safisoft]

Most folks outlook on life determines how they view Scripture, rather than the other way around!

The longer I live, the more aware I become how far my life strayed from Scripture. The longer I study, the more aware I become that the world is hostile God's ancient paths... and that if I am to follow Him I will not see many other others on those paths.

Shalom Upon You and Your Home.

[Elsie]

However, I have often wondered if the one taken/one left didn't mean that the evil one was taken out of the world.

 

 

From THESE verses?????

 

 

 Luke 17:34-36
 34.  I tell you, on that night two people will be in one bed; one will be taken and the other left.
 35.  Two women will be grinding grain together; one will be taken and the other left. " 

 36.  Two men shall be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left.

 

 

[Quix]

Yes.

From those verses.

Not a big thing with me one way or the other. But just a wondering at times.

[Elsie]

So, the fables tell us.

 

They sure do!!!!!!

 

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NIV Jeremiah 31:31-32
 31.  "The time is coming," declares the LORD, "when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah.
 32.  It will not be like the covenant I made with their forefathers when I took them by the hand to lead them out of Egypt, because they broke my covenant, though I was a husband to  them, "  declares the LORD.

 

 

 

NIV Luke 22:20
 20.  In the same way, after the supper he took the cup, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you.

 

NIV 1 Corinthians 11:25
 25.  In the same way, after supper he took the cup, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me."

 

NIV 2 Corinthians 3:6
 6.  He has made us competent as ministers of a new covenant--not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.

 

NIV 2 Corinthians 3:13-17
 13.  We are not like Moses, who would put a veil over his face to keep the Israelites from gazing at it while the radiance was fading away.
 14.  But their minds were made dull, for to this day the same veil remains when the old covenant is read. It has not been removed, because only in Christ is it taken away.
 15.  Even to this day when Moses is read, a veil covers their hearts.
 16.  But whenever anyone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away.
 17.  Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.

 

NIV Galatians 4:24-26
 24.  These things may be taken figuratively, for the women represent two covenants. One covenant is from Mount Sinai and bears children who are to be slaves: This is Hagar.
 25.  Now Hagar stands for Mount Sinai in Arabia and corresponds to the present city of Jerusalem, because she is in slavery with her children.
 26.  But the Jerusalem that is above is free, and she is our mother.

 

NIV Hebrews 7:21-22

Because of this oath, Jesus has become the guarantee of a better covenant.

 

NIV Hebrews 8:6-10

 6.  But the ministry Jesus has received is as superior to theirs as the covenant of which he is mediator is superior to the old one, and it is founded on better promises.
 7.  For if there had been nothing wrong with that first covenant, no place would have been sought for another.
 8.  But God found fault with the people and said : "The time is coming, declares the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah.
 9.  It will not be like the covenant I made with their forefathers when I took them by the hand to lead them out of Egypt, because they did not remain faithful to my covenant, and I turned away from them,  declares the Lord.
 10.  This is the covenant I will make with the house of Israel after that time, declares the Lord. I will put my laws in their minds and write them on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people.

 11.  No longer will a man teach his neighbor, or a man his brother, saying, `Know the Lord,' because they will all know me, from the least of them to the greatest.
 12.  For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more."
 13.  By calling this covenant "new," he has made the first one obsolete; and what is obsolete and aging will soon disappear.

 

[ATOMIC_PUNK]

Please Lord come soon this mortal coil is weary of its existence on this cursed earth the biggest lie ever told was the one where satan says he don't exist and an overwhelming amount of people on this marble have swallowed it hook line and sinker i pray that their eyes are opened before your return

May God bless all and keep you in his loving embrace

Merry CHRISTmas and Amen

[Elsie]

To me the OT is a bunch of myths and fables. And, the perpetuation of them is one of the biggest lies told to humanity.

Then why are you wasting your time with us believers?

Surely you have better things to do, for we are merely wasting OUR time: trying to propagate this silly myth.