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.
i USUALLY read my Bible without study helps. Been like that my whole life.
Thanks for your thoughtful input.
We shall see what God unfolds.
Sounds good! Glad to hear that by the way. It's unusual. Most people first defer to books for a "default" interpretation or understanding and then seek to "make the facts fit." It's understandable, especially for young christians, but at some point it does cause one to come to the conclusion that most very "credentialed" Bible teachers/Pastors/Seminarians are just wrong due to mutually exclusive teachings among them. That's what got me pointed in the right direction.
Anyway, if you ever decide you want more of the insights that I've gleaned on this, just shoot me a private note.
Amen, Elsie. I've been on vacation for a couple of weeks and haven't been posting. Hope you had a wonderful CHRISTmas. Maryxxx
I'm so blessed to be in a church like you describe. We aren't perfect but we are working toward it (smile). Mxxx
And let's not even talk about the one that caused the tsunami that killed over 150,000 people. Cheez.
That sounds like my husband! I'm not there yet...sigh.
I don't believe we'll go through the wrath of God either but I don't believe in pre-trib rapture either. I'm more of a pre-wrath rapture thinker. Whatever, Christ will be with the believer and we shouldn't fear what man can do to us. Mxxx
It's always important to consider all of scripture and not just smorgasbord it, as we are prone to do. M
Wasn't it in the 1960s? I'm not sure, at this late date, what you are referring to but I am assuming the six day war that Israel went through?
Where do you live in AK? I've been to Anchorage twice. I love Alaska.
I agree. I believe God has always warned His people of these things and we don't know the day or the hour now, but if we read the road signs and listen to the HS, I believe we will know. It's important to be ready and prepared no matter when it happens.
(Shhh, Elsie. Don't give them any ideas.)
"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."
Were things any better in the 900's??? Europe was invaded fmo the north by ravening pagan Vikings, from the east by equally savage Magyars, form the south by the lunatic followers of Mohammad, and there was no central government.
How about the 1300's?? The Black Plague, international unrest, etc., etc.
The 1700's??
Things are always bad. The most you can do and hope for is to make things as good as possible for your own country.
As for Christ returning just now - If I were He, I wouldn't want to waste my time with such a bunch of whiners, criers, hypocrites, liars and traitors.
It's always important to consider all of scripture and not just smorgasbord it, as we are prone to do. M
That is the reason there are so many books being written. Someone takes a verse from Scripture and has a full blown opinion on how this verse dictates everything about what the Bible says. These actually become stumbling blocks to new converts.
Yeah.........
Nine more big waves and we'll have as many dead as the USA does, in a year, from CHOICE!
Exactly. I don't know how God has restrained Himself from saying to hell with all of us but He's a merciful and loving God and wants to give us all a chance to repent. ONE day though, that chance will end.
It gets so confusing, even for us older Christians. It's better to pray and let the Holy Spirit reveal what He wants to reveal and trust God for the rest. Most of this stuff isn't really all that important in the scheme of things. He's concerned with our hearts, with our salvation and with our service to others and our obedience. He'll take care of the rest. It's fun to have an opinion but we have to be careful that our opinion isn't coming against scripture.
I think you could be right - but I've been out of school too long to remember, and it's not important enough to research.
The date 1967 sticks in my mind for some reason. Mxxx
1967 - I think you're right!
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