Posted on 12/21/2004 11:49:02 PM PST by JohnHuang2
Wednesday, December 22, 2004
By Joseph Farah
© 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.
YEA! THANKS.
AMEN!
The Ascension Scriptures COULD refer to the CATCHING AWAY meeting us in the air though they probably refer to the 2nd Coming.
Mat 24 could also hint at the catching away.
It was WAY before this!
TOOOOOOOOOOOO TRUE
for all perceptive people.
Thank you for your blessing!
Quite so.
Great list of Scriptures.
However, there's NOTHING in the list of Scriptures which would even hint that Blood Israel has been flushed down the toilet vis a vis
GOD'S COVENANT
WITH
!!!!ABRAHAM!!!!
When God promises something to His Friend, HE KEEPS HIS PROMISES.
AMEN!
(man, have we ever messed up His birthday celebration; but what can ya do???) ;^)
"The Bible says that in the last days it will be as in the days of Noah. Well, we all know that in the days of Noah there were eight believers."
Yes Christ said Himself that a sign of His return, Matthew 36 But of that day and hour knoweth no man, not the angels of heaven, but My Father only.
37 But as the days of Noe were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.
We have not had "the days" of Noe (Noah) yet.
However, in Matthew 24:22 Christ says about His return "And except those days should be shortened, there should not flesh be saved: but for the elect's sake those days shall be shortened."
Nothing is said about the events "signs" not going to take place only that "time" would be shortened, and yet IIPeter 3:10 "But the day of the LORD will come as a thief in the night; ......"
Christ instructs in Matthew 24:42 Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come.
43 But know this, that if the goodman of the house had known in what watch the thief would come, he would have watched, and would not have suffered his house to be broken up.
44 Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh.
What was going on during the days of Noe, that caused the flood?
Interesting that Christ Himself says a thief would come, be ready and Peter states that Christ's coming would be as a thief in the night.
It is also true that goodness is sweeping the world. The US helped bring freedom and justice to billions across the globe in the last 60 years. Nazis, dictators and Communists have been pushed back. Killers are being dealt with. The concepts of Justice from Western countries enables the work of Jesus to continue to be known.
If it will make you feel any better, He is already here, but can only be recognized by those the Blessed
LOL!
SAFE SHOPPING!
Ask Holy Spirit to help direct your steps, parking etc.!
Great Scripture list.
What's your own answer to your own question?
True.
Though I believe that the war on terror and even the Iraq war were all set-up and provoked as manipulations toward a global government by satan and the puppet masters.
I do believe we will have some relative peace for a relatively short time to WORK WHILE THERE'S LIGHT as the Bible instructs.
Then the increasing flood of darkness and evil will intensify and spread even more.
Thankfully, God has declared that when the enemy comes in like a flood, GOD WILL RAISE UP A STANDARD AGAINST IT.
That is a REALLY interesting site. Thanks for sharing it.
What was going on during the days of Noe, that caused the flood?
"What's your own answer to your own question?"
Genesis 6:1-8
Particularly by the humble, broken, contrite hearted, sacrificially giving, servant hearted . . . who love others as themselves and GOD WHOLLY.
Sorry forgot to add
Merry Christmas!
U R MOST WELCOME.
I like it, too. Am interested in seeing how many characters the DVD has related to such but I don't have a title or source tracked down yet.
You are not alone in that perspective as you may have read above.
Certainly 'other' beings are scr*wing around with humans against their will and likely to God's great displeasure.
And, I think the other immoralities are INCREASINGLY GREATLY intensified compared to the historical averages.
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