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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[RobRoy]

Every time I see a bumper sticker that says, "Who would Jesus bomb?" I always think to myself, "Jesus will use a sharp two edged sword."

[RobRoy]

And that argument will be made on the day of his return - just before he returns.

[RobRoy]

What about the blood?

[RobRoy]

I'm with you on that one. I do believe the church will be spared the "wrath of God." However, I believe the "wrath of God" is the last half of the 7 year tribulation and begins basically at the beginning of Revelation 7, which also describes those raptured.

I am a "mid-tribulationist."

'Course, I could be wrong? 8^>

[RobRoy]

Did you know that at almost the exact same time Israel became a state, the dead sea scrolls thing happened?

[RobRoy]

it is a "degree" thing.

We used to have lots of capable public school teachers even though it didn't pay much...

[CyberAnt]

I don't know what I am .. I just know GOD's word says that as a Christian I have "not been appointed unto wrath". I guess I take that literally. I don't expect to be here during the tribulation which is the pouring out of GOD's wrath upon the heathen. But .. I could be wrong.

[CyberAnt]

Well .. I don't know what the "dead sea scrolls thing" is.

I do know - I remember listening to the radio that day when Israel became a nation - it was my birthday.

[RobRoy]

>>You remember in Revelations that there are 12000 from each tribe who are sealed on their foreheads, and then they are sent out to be missionaries after the rest of the saints are gone.<<

Yes, it is Revelation 7, and the beginning of the second half of the 7 year tribulation. This second half is also called the wrath of God. Notice also that the tribe of Dan is missing in action for some reason.

[Quix]

Certainly I believe all the Scriptures.

Nevertheless, I don't know that those Scriptures preclude recycled. Maybe it does. I don't think we have enough information to know.

I don't know that it matters at all to anything we have to be concerned about either way.


If a rock house is pulverized to gravel and a new house is made out of the gravel--isn't the new house quite new?

[Quix]

Thanks much.

[Elsie]

Maybe this will help ...

 

 

KJV Hebrews 9:27
 And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:

 

NIV Hebrews 9:27
  Just as man is destined to die once, and after that to face judgment,

[Elsie]

And then there is THIS:

 

KJV Luke 16:19-26
 19.  There was a certain rich man, which was clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared sumptuously every day:
 20.  And there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, which was laid at his gate, full of sores,
 21.  And desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man's table: moreover the dogs came and licked his sores.
 22.  And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham's bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried;
 23.  And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom.
 24.  And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame.
 25.  But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented.
 26.  And beside all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed: so that they which would pass from hence to you cannot; neither can they pass to us, that would come from thence.

 

 

NIV Luke 16:19-26
19.  "There was a rich man who was dressed in purple and fine linen and lived in luxury every day.
 20.  At his gate was laid a beggar named Lazarus, covered with sores
 21.  and longing to eat what fell from the rich man's table. Even the dogs came and licked his sores.
 22.  "The time came when the beggar died and the angels carried him to Abraham's side. The rich man also died and was buried.
 23.  In hell,  where he was in torment, he looked up and saw Abraham far away, with Lazarus by his side.
 24.  So he called to him, `Father Abraham, have pity on me and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, because I am in agony in this fire.'
 25.  "But Abraham replied, `Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, while Lazarus received bad things, but now he is comforted here and you are in agony.
 26.  And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been fixed, so that those who want to go from here to you cannot, nor can anyone cross over from there to us.'

[Quix]

YUP!

[Alamo-Girl]

You're quite welcome!

[Alamo-Girl]

Thank you for your reply!

Personally, I eschew the doctrines of tradition of men (Mark 7:7) whether Calvin, Arminius, the Pope, Billy Graham, Joseph Smith, esteemed theologians over the ages, etc.

The Scriptures are authenticated by the indwelling Spirit Who also brings them alive to me. Jesus Christ is the living Word of God (John 1, Revelation 19). He is all I want, all I need.

There is much contention among theologians but there is no confusion in Him.

[southland]

It will be sooner than when I began to write this epistle.!
Some hristians are really having a hard time in the Muslum world and other real bad situation now.

[southland]

ping

[timestax]

You forgot about the "two witnesses". They will be "witnessing" for , I think it says 1260 days, about three,and a half years, SO..........this has to come about FIRST...It has NOT started yet!!! SO , You have to figure 3 1/2 years into the mix,....then the end of this age occurs.
Get a concordance (Strongs Concordance) and look it up....

[southland]

I learned in a trip to Israel and Jordan about 24 years ago that many people in that area have glaucoma and really have at least one eye out.