Posted on 05/21/2011 6:04:28 AM PDT by DouglasKC
A little-noticed prophecy in the biblical book of Revelation shows that Jesus Christ's return couldn't take place without a revolutionary change in global mass communications—a change that has taken place only in the last few years. I have in my office a newspaper from 1858. The front-page story is about how a mob in Lexington, Kentucky, broke into a jail and lynched an unfortunate prisoner. On the second page is a report about an upstart political candidate named Abraham Lincoln. In the 1850s it could take weeks, even months, for a news event from another part of the world to be published in a newspaper like this. Most people had little knowledge of events outside their own community. A simple technology like glass insulators made it possible to string tens of thousands of miles of wire for telegraph and telephone lines. Because of telephones and faster vehicles like trains, by the early 1900s the speed of communication was much faster than in the days of news delivered by horseback. Then came radio, and soon those with a receiver could listen to a news event halfway around the world the moment it happened. Everything changed. During World War II, people in New York City or on a farm in Iowa could listen to nightly reports of the Nazi bombings of London. In the mid-20th century the technologies of radio and motion pictures were combined to create what was called "the miracle of television." Now people could, in the comfort and safety of their own living room, watch earth-shaking events, first in black and white and then in "living color." People marveled in 1969 at the surreal images of the first man stepping onto the moon. Today, with computer networking technology, billions of people are connected through the Internet. Satellites, orbiting thousands of miles above the earth, make it possible to receive or send images from the most remote areas of the globe. With the advent of instant visual technology, there are few places where people can't learn of news as it happens. But did you know that this explosion in communication technology was foretold in a prophecy in the mysterious book of Revelation? Revelation, the last book of the Bible, is an advance newscast of events that will happen before Jesus Christ's return. In this book the apostle John writes about two "witnesses," two divinely appointed individuals who will announce to the world the urgent need to turn to God because Jesus Christ's return is imminent. According to Revelation, these two men will perform amazing miracles. John tells us, "And if anyone wants to harm them [these two witnesses], fire proceeds from their mouth and devours their enemies . . . These have power to shut heaven, so that no rain falls in the days of their prophecy; and they have power over waters to turn them to blood, and to strike the earth with all plagues" (Revelation:11:5-6). After 31⁄2 years of proclaiming the return of Jesus Christ, the two witnesses will be killed at the behest of the political and religious leaders who oppose them, and their bodies will be left in the streets of Jerusalem. John describes the scene: "Then those from the peoples, tribes, tongues, and nations will see their dead bodies for three-and-a-half days, and not allow their dead bodies to be put into graves. And those who dwell on the earth will rejoice over them, make merry, and send gifts to one another, because these two prophets tormented those who dwell on the earth" (Revelation:11:9-10). This passage reveals two important points if you want to know the answer to the question, Will Jesus return tomorrow? One is that these two men are killed and seen by the entire world. This wasn't possible until the explosion in satellite and computer technology. People in Beijing, the outback of Australia, the Amazon and the major cities of Europe will all see this event from Jerusalem. This prophecy now comes alive! Television, satellites, cell phones, computers—these kinds of technologies make it possible for those the world over—"the peoples, tribes, tongues, and nations" of this planet—to see the dead bodies of the two witnesses. There's another important point in these verses: Prior to their death, these two individuals will have achieved worldwide acclaim in announcing God's message for the nations, performing miracles and stirring up opposition among political and religious leaders and many of the common people. This also hasn't happened yet. So we're back to our original question: Will Jesus Christ return tomorrow? Since the two witnesses haven't yet appeared on the world scene, we know that Jesus isn't returning tomorrow. But the explosion in communication technology reminds us that key conditions foretold in Bible prophecy are coming into existence and that Christ's return is getting closer every day. He's not returning tomorrow, but the stage is being set for that dramatic, earth-changing event! By the way, the death of the two witnesses isn't the end of their story. Their bodies will lie in a street in Jerusalem for 31⁄2 days. The entire world will see them on their electronic devices like television sets, computers and cell phones. But then—all activity screeches to a halt as all human beings look to the sky and witness the majesty and power of the second coming of Jesus Christ! Life enters into the bodies of the two witnesses and they are resurrected to meet the Christ they were killed for proclaiming! So how does this prophetic information about technology and the biblical two witnesses affect your life? You are part of this big picture. The God of the Bible is the Creator of the universe. He is also the God of history. In all this human mess we see around us, the Creator has a plan. He has a plan for humanity. He has a plan for you. Your life can change. Christianity has enough adherents merely paying lip service. Jesus Christ wants committed disciples—men and women willing to emulate His way of life. If you're tired of powerless Christianity, it's time to find out what Jesus really taught and to live as He tells us to! Prophecy is one way that God shows us that He really does exist and that He is involved in His creation. It is also a way for God to show you that you can have a personal relationship with Him. He tells us the future. It's up to you to prepare for that future! GNCould Jesus Christ Return Tomorrow?
A prophecy unfathomable until our day
What does it matter?
In all this suffering and chaos you can actually become part of God's solution!
Well it wasn’t today!
No one knows the time or hour. Therefore he can return at any minute. One is as good as another.
>> No one knows the time or hour. Therefore he can return at any minute. One is as good as another.
A simple concept, but one that has profound implications for how we live our lives.
(or, at least, it *should*...)
No.
Technology aids in preaching the Good News all over the earth. Plus, with advancements in travel, mankind has been able to physically go to every square inch of the earth.
Just sayin'.
Yes. Will he? Only the Father knows.
He’s already here.
Awesome post, simple truths.
He is ALWAYS here.
Tatt
Yup good catch...the article talks about the spread of communication technology and how it relates.
Two seperate events. First the Rapture, then later in time the final judgement when Jesus Christ returns to the Mount of Olives.
I’m waiting for Patton...
He’s welcome in this house any time He wants.
He’ll be back in two weeks, since he just mowed my lawn yesterday.
Well, it’s gotta be 12/21/12 ... LOL ...
Jesus won’t return until after the Rapture and the end of the Tribulation when He sets foot on the Mount of Olives. Some people confuse the Rapture with the Second Coming.
Well, every day is Judgement Day for lots of people around the world. Best to be ready, for you do not know the time.
I don't think that the bible supports two separate events.
Mat 24:23 "Then if anyone says to you, 'Look, here is the Christ!' or 'There!' do not believe it.
We aren't supposed to believe anyone when they say that Christ has come or has already come.
Mat 24:24 For false christs and false prophets will rise and show great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect.
Because we're so easily deceived...
Mat 24:25 See, I have told you beforehand.
Mat 24:26 "Therefore if they say to you, 'Look, He is in the desert!' do not go out; or 'Look, He is in the inner rooms!' do not believe it.
Why not believe it?
Mat 24:27 For as the lightning comes from the east and flashes to the west, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be.
Because the 2nd coming of Christ will be visible. It will be unmistakable. There will be no confusion. His 2nd coming is the only one. There won't be a secret 2nd coming and then a 3rd visible coming.
Mar 13:24 "But in those days, after that tribulation, the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light;
The time setting is after the tribulation.
Mar 13:25 the stars of heaven will fall, and the powers in the heavens will be shaken.
Mar 13:26 Then they will see the Son of Man coming in the clouds with great power and glory.
No secret coming here. THEY will see him. Everyone.
Mar 13:27 And then He will send His angels, and gather together His elect from the four winds, from the farthest part of earth to the farthest part of heaven.
And then the elect are gathered. At his 2nd coming.
1Th 4:15 For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who are asleep.
1Th 4:16 For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first.
It's loud. It's visible. It's heralded by a trumpet. The world will know that Jesus Christ has returned.
1Th 4:17 Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord.
Pretribs like Camping can save themselves a lot of embarrasement if they would simply believe what 2 Thess. 2:1-4 says. The parousia (the coming of Christ) and the gathering together unto him (which pretibs call the rapture) can’t happen until there come a falling away first and the man of sin be revealed sitting in the temple of God.
First must come the tribulation, the antichrist being its central feature, then the coming of Christ and the rapture, when, as verse tells us, the antichrist/man of sin, is destroyed.
Verse 3 says “let no man deceive you” about this. Which means, plain and simple, those who teach Christ can come before the tribulation are deceivers.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.