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.
Thank you for proving my point about the difference between then and now.
Was that your point?
Sure, there's a difference between then & now, - mostly in perception.
The world is not ending.
Quix. A question for you.
Where do you think your place will be in the Messianic government ?
Where God designed for me to be.
Of course.
I tend to believe that the
START of the Messianic reign occurs
AFTER Christ returns in overt form.
The Anti-Christ doesn't count for starting the Messianic reign, in my book.
What happened to the Age of Aquarius?
Who says Moshiach is not present right now on Planet Earth, alive and breathing ?
"How Christians can think they have an idea when the end will come is opposed to Scripture since Jesus said no one knows when the end will come except the Father."
This scripture says that we do not know the day nor the hour, only the season. Your right in that regard. However, the last physical prophecy of a main event was the destruction of Jerusalem by the Romans. Jesus told the Jews to flee the city and only grab what they could as they were running. Jesus accurately foretold that the Romans would encircle the city and withdraw. It did however, take 3 1/2 years before the Romans returned to finally destroy the city. The point I am making? We may not know the day nor the hour but we very well are becoming apparent to the seasons around us as we are admonished to do.
Why would he be here now? what for?
I agree that it appears as if we are nearing or are in the end times. However, that should not make me stand back and say the end is near and wait. Rather it should make me more urgently spread the Gospel message to my fellowman, which is our duty to do at all times.
"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."
It has been like this since the beginning of time.
Stupid article.
....22. Who is the liar? It is the man who denies that Jesus is the Christ. Such a man is the antichrist--he denies the Father and the Son....
...1 John 2:22 Who is a liar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ? He is anti-christ, that denieth the Father and the Son....
My KJV Bible says he is anti-christ not he is the antichrist. Many are anti-christ but only one is the anti-christ.
1 John 4:3
...3. but every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you have heard is coming and even now is already in the world......
....1 John 4:3 And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Chrisrt is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world....
Once again the spirit of the antichrist applies to many, all those who follow after the spirit of the antichrist. You can read the verse without the word spirit as the word spirit is in italics which means it was inserted to help the meaning of the sentence in English.
2 John 1:7
...7. Many deceivers, who do not acknowledge Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh, have gone out into the world. Any such person is the deceiver and the antichrist.....
....2 John 1:7 For many deceivers are entered into the world, who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the Flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist....
Once again the KJV says a deceiver and an antichrist not the deceiver and the antichrist. There are many that follow after the spirit of antichrist and are minor antichrists but only one "the" antichrist. Also this illustrates why there really is a huge difference between versions of the Bible. Through much study I have come to believe that the KJV is the best version that is an English interpretation of the manuscript that I believe is the inspired one. Many of the other versions are compiled from many manuscripts and some of them are dubious. I am going to stick to the KJV myself. PTL!
Will the search for the second coming of the carpenter be as wasteful as all the money spent on SETI ?
Tick, tick, tick goes the divine clock.
2Pe 3:4 And saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as [they were] from the beginning of the creation.
2Pe 3:5 For this they willingly are ignorant of, that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of the water and in the water:
2Pe 3:6 Whereby the world that then was, being overflowed with water, perished:
2Pe 3:7 But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men.
2Pe 3:8 But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day [is] with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.
2Pe 3:9 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.
2Pe 3:10 But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.
2Pe 3:11 [Seeing] then [that] all these things shall be dissolved, what manner [of persons] ought ye to be in [all] holy conversation and godliness,
2Pe 3:12 Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat?
2Pe 3:13 Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.
2Pe 3:14 Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless.
OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE FEAR OF GOD IS THE BEGINNING OF WISDOM. ARE YOU GOING TO GET ON THE ARK WHICH IS TRUSTING IN JESUS CHRIST AS YOUR ALL AND ALL OR ARE YOU GOING TO PERISH AS THOSE THAT WERE LEFT OUT IN THE RAIN IN NOAH'S TIME. IF YOU DIE WITHOUT JESUS YOU WILL DIE IN YOUR SINS AND SEPERATED FROM GOD AND EVERY GOOD THING FOR ALL ETERNITY IN A PLACE CALLED HELL. IF YOU BELIEVE AND RECIEVE JESUS CHRIST AS YOUR LORD AND SAVIOUR YOU WILL SPEND YOUR ETERNITY IN A PLACE CALLED HEAVEN WITH THE LORD IN ETERNAL JOY BEYOND YOUR WILDEST IMAGINATION. THE CHOICE IS YOURS AND I VERY MUCH HOPE THAT YOU CHOOSE WISELY. YOU ARE ALSO THE INFLUENCE ON YOUR FRIENDS AND LOVE ONES THAT COULD MAKE THE ONLY DIFFERENCE FOR THEM THOUGH YOU OBEDIENCE, FAITH AND PRAYERS SO THE STAKES ARE NOT JUST LIMITED TO YOURSELF BUT ALSO TO THOSE YOU LOVE. EVERYDAY IS IMPORTANT AND YOU CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE. GOD LOVES YOU AND IS CALLING YOU INTO HIS ETERNAL KINGDOM. THE SPIRIT AND THE BRIDE SAY COME.
Jesus will not come back until after the tribulation which will last 7 years so go get a cup of coffee. Your mockery is thick but hopefully your heart is in better condition then your words suggest. It is a drink of living water that you need.
I'll be blessed to fill the role He has for me, wherever He has it for me.
I'm sure He knows much better about that than I do.
Red Sea Dream-on-er: Who says Moshiach is not present right now on Planet Earth, alive and breathing ?
I do.
And, essentially, so does Scripture.
The Anti-Christ is here and evidently leading your band from behind the scenes. That will eventually come to light. After a LOT of blood-letting.
But, you won't have any of the truth until it's rubbed in your face . . . sooooo, enjoy your construction on reality until it crashes down around your ankles.
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