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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[The Mayor]

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.

Amen, and Amen!

This also from the Bible, Matthew 24

3 And as he sat upon the mount of Olives, the disciples came unto him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world?
4 And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you.
5 For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many.
6 And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet.
7 For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places.
8 All these are the beginning of sorrows.
9 Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name's sake.
10 And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another.
11 And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many.
12 And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.
13 But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.
14 And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.
The Bible Gateway

[navygal]

No one knows when the second coming is, it could be tomorrow, it could be 50 years from now. But we must be ready when it does happen.

[Elsie]

I am one who does not believe in a 1,000 year reign of Christ on earth.

Ok......

Revelation 20

 

 1.  And I saw an angel coming down out of heaven, having the key to the Abyss and holding in his hand a great chain.
 2.  He seized the dragon, that ancient serpent, who is the devil, or Satan, and bound him for a thousand years.
 3.  He threw him into the Abyss, and locked and sealed it over him, to keep him from deceiving the nations anymore until the thousand years were ended. After that, he must be set free for a short time.
 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.
 7.  When the thousand years are over, Satan will be released from his prison
 8.  and will go out to deceive the nations in the four corners of the earth--Gog and Magog--to gather them for battle. In number they are like the sand on the seashore.
 9.  They marched across the breadth of the earth and surrounded the camp of God's people, the city he loves. But fire came down from heaven and devoured them.
 10.  And the devil, who deceived them, was thrown into the lake of burning sulfur, where the beast and the false prophet had been thrown. They will be tormented day and night for ever and ever.
 11.  Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it. Earth and sky fled from his presence, and there was no place for them.
 12.  And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Another book was opened, which is the book of life. The dead were judged according to what they had done as recorded in the books.
 13.  The sea gave up the dead that were in it, and death and Hades gave up the dead that were in them, and each person was judged according to what he had done.
 14.  Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. The lake of fire is the second death.
 15.  If anyone's name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.

[Elsie]

Why is God so obsessed with bizarre theatrics?

Because men are deaf to the 'still, small voice'?

[Elsie]

But of that day and hour knoweth no man

This is EASY!

Look at a globe: see that there are at least 24 different 'hours' on the globe at any time (time zones, DST), as well as two separate days (International Dateline)!

[patriot_wes]

As a believer in the two house theory I see many jewish people beginning to recognize their brother Ephraim. In Hosea 1:10 it says - Yet the number of the children of Israel shall be as the sand of the sea which can not be measured or numbered. 1:11 Then the children if Judah (Jews) and the children of Israel (Ephraim) shall be gathered together, and appoint for themselves one head (the Messiah). The last days are like the story of Joseph and his brothers. This is also a sign of the last days. Even Yeshua Jesus said "I have come for the lost sheep of the House of Israel (Matt 15:24) Blessings on you all my brothers! p_w

[Elsie]

 

 

ANTI-CHRIST!

 

 

What does the BIBLE say??

 

 

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1 John 2:18-26
 18.  Dear children, this is the last hour; and as you have heard that the antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have come. This is how we know it is the last hour.
 19.  They went out from us, but they did not really belong to us. For if they had belonged to us, they would have remained with us; but their going showed that none of them belonged to us.
 20.  But you have an anointing from the Holy One, and all of you know the truth.
 21.  I do not write to you because you do not know the truth, but because you do know it and because no lie comes from the truth.
 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.
 23.  No one who denies the Son has the Father; whoever acknowledges the Son has the Father also.
 24.  See that what you have heard from the beginning remains in you. If it does, you also will remain in the Son and in the Father.
 25.  And this is what he promised us--even eternal life.
 26.  I am writing these things to you about those who are trying to lead you astray.

 

1 John 4:1-3
  1.  Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world.
  2.  This is how you can recognize the Spirit of God: Every spirit that acknowledges that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God,
  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.

 

2 John 1:7-10
  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.
  8.  Watch out that you do not lose what you have worked for, but that you may be rewarded fully.
  9.  Anyone who runs ahead and does not continue in the teaching of Christ does not have God; whoever continues in the teaching has both the Father and the Son.
 10.  If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not take him into your house or welcome him.

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Are there MAJOR groups that say that JESUS is NOT the CHRIST??

 

Avoid them!!!

 

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666!

 

Revelation 13:11-18
 11.  Then I saw another beast, coming out of the earth. He had two horns like a lamb, but he spoke like a dragon.
 12.  He exercised all the authority of the first beast on his behalf, and made the earth and its inhabitants worship the first beast, whose fatal wound had been healed.
 13.  And he performed great and miraculous signs, even causing fire to come down from heaven to earth in full view of men.
 14.  Because of the signs he was given power to do on behalf of the first beast, he deceived the inhabitants of the earth. He ordered them to set up an image in honor of the beast who was wounded by the sword and yet lived.
 15.  He was given power to give breath to the image of the first beast, so that it could speak and cause all who refused to worship the image to be killed.
 16.  He also forced everyone, small and great, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on his right hand or on his forehead,
 17.  so that no one could buy or sell unless he had the mark, which is the name of the beast or the number of his name.
 18.  This calls for wisdom. If anyone has insight, let him calculate the number of the beast, for it is man's number. His number is 666.

 

(Notice NO mention of 'anti-christ' in Revelation!)

 

 

[CDHart]

I think this might apply as well -- so many people are dying from heart failure now.

Carolyn

Luk 21:26 Men's hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken.

[Strategerist]

I think this might apply as well -- so many people are dying from heart failure now.

Problem with that "prophecy" is that people aren't dying from heart failure from fear, they're dying from heart failure because medicine has advanced enough they're not dying from smallpox or cholera or something in their 20s and 30s, and living till their 50s and either having heart failure from genetic predisposition, or because they eat too much and don't get enough exercise.

[Drawsing]

Jesus and the apostles are clear on the subject of the chosen people. We who follow Christ are God's chosen people. See 1 Peter 2:9,10, Romans 11:5-24, Ephesian 1:3-6. Think about Jesus' parable of the big banquet and his parable of the rebellious vineyard tenants. Israel has a right to be where they are, and I support them, but I do not believe they are fulfilling any prophecies.

[Strategerist]

And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars

Interesting thing about that one is that currently in terms of warfare the world is about the most peaceful it's been in decades, and relative to world population it might be the most war-free worldwide right now in the history of the earth.

For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places.

With only a week left in the year the number of large earthquakes worldwide in 2004 is about 30% below average, and that number has been below average every year for the past five years.

Doubt you'll see either of the above touted by the FR apocalyptikook brigade.

[X-Servative]

The end of the world is where I beleieve free will comes into play. We do not know the time or the place of Christ's second coming because the choices that we and our leaders make can either expedite or push back those events. The choices we make, rather than a set time, are what will bring about end times.

[IGNATIUS]

That is a pretty good article. Most celebrity TV preachers promote this "rapture" heresy wherein Christians will be whisked away when it becomes nasty. It's attractive to the natural man---- indeed who wouldn't prefer to avoid persecution and physical death? And if it's once saved always saved you wont even face judgement. But such views are outside Historic Christianity. For a brief Orthodox Christian perspective on the rapture and end times paste this into your browser-- http://www.orthodoxonline.com/leftbehind.htm

[eccentric]

It's hard to get past that reconstitution of the State of Israel.

I have heard that the word 'generation' could also be translated 'age,' such 'age of technology.' It gives a much wider span that way.

[Antoninus]

Veni Dominus Iesus, Veni.

[JimRed]

Who's the anti-Christ? Don't we sorta need him in this deal?

Paging Secretary-General Bill Clinton; please pick up the red courtesy phone...

..."who is like unto the beast?"

[John O]

In reply let me reference a couple threads from long ago.

[Warning to modem users. thread 1 is 237 posts long and thread two is 122 posts long. ]

They lay out in great detail and much discussion why the rapture will be pre-trib. (and if I remember correctly, that it will be in the fall of whatever year it happens in)

When is the Rapture?

When is the Rapture? (Thread two)

[chronic_loser]

Amen, and so be it!

Is that supposed to be a refutation of the a-mil position?

In that case, have you read the a-mil interpretations on this verse?

It is not as though they are unaware of the passage you quoted.

[chronic_loser]

me? I am sorta pan mil. It will all pan out in the end.

I have read most of the "spokesmen" for the various positions and remain firmly unconvinced(!) by all.

I am sure that the dispensational approach is distinctively UNbiblical, but besides that, I really don't have an eschatology other than the famouse boy scout stuff "be prepared."

It is true, however, that the greatest missionary movement of the 17th 18th and 19th centuries were all post mil at their core. It is, as Marcellus Kik states "An Eschatology of Victory."

[Skooz]

Is that supposed to be a refutation of the a-mil position?

Nope. Just a statement of my position.

In that case, have you read the a-mil interpretations on this verse?

If I could find one who actually interprets the verse, and does not attempt to explain it away (there is a dramatic difference) I would be interested. The ones I have thus far read spend so much time trashing the millenial folks they never actualy get around to stating a logical position on the subject.

It is not as though they are unaware of the passage you quoted.

They just don't care to believe it.

I prefer to "interpret" the Bible as it is written, rather than force it through any preconceived denominational contortions. If the Word says "a thousand years," then my interpretation is "a thousand years."