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.
WOULD LOVE to have your list of Scriptures on the PROPHETIC SIGNS OF THE END TIMES thread.
Much agree with you!
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/1274030/posts?q=1&&page=1262#1262
Plenty truth in that perspective of seizing the day, hour, week . . . territory . . . and especially our kids from the globalists.
I accept that. I also accept,
"Rev 9:15 And the four angels were loosed, which were prepared for an hour, and a day, and a month, and a year, for to slay the third part of men."
Why didn't Jesus add "month and year" in Matthew 24?
Mocking satan and crew is one thing.
Mocking other believers because they are not identical to one's self is UnBiblical and unwise as well as being unloving.
The Blood of Jesus makes all believers blood brothers. We act like it far too little.
Sorry .. but the Holy Spirit is not resident in the believer in the Old Testament .. only the New Testament (because of Jesus).
There are 3 main groups of people on the earth - the Jews, the Nations, and the Church. I'm part of the church. God deals differently with each group. I'm not going to argue with God about how He chooses to deal with each group.
Revelations is using the word "tribe", because it's not talking about the church .. it's talking about the Jews. If the word "Saints" were being used - that would be the church, because "saints" represents the words "sanctified" = meaning a born again believer.
JESUS IS COMING FOR HIS "CHURCH" - not the Jews. But .. don't count the Jews out - God's purposes for them is different. Don't try to take the Jews part .. the Ecclesia (or church) is the best part.
Unless the Holy Spirit (LIGHT) leaves the earth - then the church didn't leave the earth - since the Holy Spirit is resident in us.
Feel free to join us at:
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/1274030/posts?q=1&&page=1262#1262
And remember, in Christs day, the religious leaders said Christ had turned the world upside down.
AMEN!
I'm 57. Israel became a nation again in a day in 1948.
I do believe that at least one person will be alive from that 1948 time who will see the close of history as we have known it.
But given the trend graphs on some key forces and dynamics, it looks to me like it's going to wind up a LOT sooner than say 255ish.
THX
AMEN!
I am a firm believer that Scripture TENDS TO BE ABIDINGLY LITERAL. That there are occasions when things are symbolic. More occasions when things are both symbolic and literal. And many more occasions when Scripture is fulfilled literally to the tiniest detail. Has always been so.
Will be so about prophecies yet to be fulfilled and those in the midst of being fulfilled.
VERY WELL PUT!
AMEN! AMEN! AMEN!
Jesus said no one will know the HOUR, but He also went on to admonish us to know the signs that we might know the SEASON. To me, this makes it crystal clear that we can't know the exact time, but we can indeed know the approximate ERA in which He will return. I believe the re-establishment of Israel as a state in 1948 started the endtime clock ticking. Our current state PERFECTLY matches the prophesied condition. And while others before have thought their time matched it, as well, they were always missing the keystone, the rebirth of Israel.
MM
1) A Church that is increasingly in apostasy. (check)
2) Israel back in the land. (check)
3) The Temple rebuilt. (not yet, but could be accomplished in a very short time)
4) A revived Roman Empire of some kind. (depends on your opinion of the EU)
5) The whole world with their hands on the Middle East, the region of Jerusalem and Babylon. (check)
6) Moral decay celebrated. (check)
7) The ability for the whole world to see certain events (like the death of the two witnesses or the Antichrist standing in the Temple) simultaniously, e.g. TV (check)
8) The foundation of an alliance between Russian, the Middle East, and parts of Europe. (check)
I could come up with some others easily enough, but just on the surface, it looks like we're pretty much in the right condition for the 70th Week to begin in the next few years. That's not to say that it must, only that it could.
I think that is going to escalate dramatically when the UFO/ET critter stuff hits overt forced acceptance.
And when they line up forcefully on the side of pushing the AntiChrist's globalist government, I hope Believers KNOW WHOM THEY HAVE BELIEVED IN . . .
A lot of shallow, pseudo Christians are likely to be in a world of hurt unless they know from experience THE WORD OF GOD AND HOW TO LISTEN TO CHRIST'S STILL SMALL VOICE/HOLY SPIRIT.
Scripture is full of "FEAR NOT!"
We need to draw ever closer to God; spend time in dialogue; grow in His love and a sense of His Love. Then we can have confidence of His protection and direction regardless.
I've read several news reports of individuals dying of fear. It's usually in response to some terror ir natural disaster incident. But it IS happening more just as stated. But I don't think it's near as bad as it's going to be.
Carolyn
Hmmmm? I've checked Zechariah and Zephaniah, and I cannot find your scripture.
Where ever that scripture may be .. it certainly was a prophetic word regarding the return of Jesus.
So what was your point about quoting that particular scripture ..??
I know a lot believe as you do.
It's preposterous to me. I can't wrap my mind around the phenomenon of folks reading Scripture and ending up with such a notion.
Scripture is FULL of God's emphasis on THE BLOOD. Scripture is FULL of God's emphasis on Abraham and Abraham's blood descendents.
Sure, we are GRAFTED-IN to that bloodline by the blood of Christ.
IN !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!NO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! WAY does that DISPLACE the Blood Children of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. That anyone could think otherwise is mind boggling to me. Absolutely mind boggling. What a deception from the enemy, as far as I'm concerned.
Paul is rather clear about the distinctions and the need for Gentile Believers to avoid being haughty or dismissive of the Blood Israelites. I don't know how logical, sensible believers can dismiss that exhortation of Paul's so glibly.
Certainly Israel was made a redemption for ALL CREATION THROUGH CHRIST COMING THROUGH BLOOD ISRAEL. It is NOT GOS' NATURE to then throw Israel away as so much used toilet paper. It's not HIS NATURE. It's NOT IN HIS WORD. It's not how HE FULFILLS HIS WORD TO ABRAHAM, HIS FRIEND about ABRAHAM'S BLOOD OFFSPRING. It's not how GOD makes ABRAHAM'S OFFSPRING MORE NUMEROUS THAN THE STARS and sands of the sea.
Sigh.
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