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Posted on 07/25/2009 2:40:04 AM PDT by Quix
The Bible says we cannot know the time of the Lord's return (Matthew 25:13). But the Scriptures make it equally clear that we can know the season of the Lord's return (1 Thessalonians 5:2-6):
"You yourselves know full well that the day of the Lord will come just like a thief in the night... But you brethren, are not in darkness, that the day should overtake you like a thief; for you are all sons of light and sons of day. We are not of night or darkness; so then let us not sleep as others do, but let us be alert and sober."
This passage asserts that Jesus is coming like "a thief in the night." But then it proceeds to make it clear that this will be true only for the pagan world and not for believers. His return should be no surprise to those who know Him and His Word, for they have the indwelling of the Holy Spirit to give them understanding of the nature of the times.
Furthermore, the Scriptures give us signs to watch for — signs that will signal that Jesus is ready to return. The writer of the Hebrew letter referred to these signs when he proclaimed that believers should encourage one another when they see the day of judgment drawing near (Hebrews 10:25-27). Jesus also referred to the end time signs in His Olivet Discourse, given during the last week of His life (Matthew 24 and Luke 21). Speaking of a whole series of signs which He had given to His disciples, He said, "When you see all these things, recognize that He [the Son of Man — that is, Jesus] is near, right at the door" (Matthew 24:33).
A Personal Experience
Every time I think of "Signs of the Times," I am reminded of a great man of God named Elbert Peak. I had the privilege of participating with him in a Bible prophecy conference held in Orlando, Florida in the early 1990's. Mr. Peak was about 80 years old at the time.
He had been assigned the topic, "The Signs of the Times." He began his presentation by observing, "Sixty years ago when I first started preaching, you had to scratch around like a chicken to find one sign of the Lord's soon return."
He paused for a moment, and then added, "But today there are so many signs I'm no longer looking for them. Instead, I'm listening for a sound — the sound of a trumpet!"
The First Sign
One hundred years ago in 1907 there was not one single, tangible, measurable sign that indicated we were living in the season of the Lord's return. The first to appear was the Balfour Declaration which was issued by the British government on November 2, 1917.
This Declaration was prompted by the fact that during World War I the Turks sided with the Germans. Thus, when Germany lost the war, so did the Turks, and the victorious Allies decided to divide up both the German and Turkish empires.
The Turkish territories, called the Ottoman Empire, contained the ancient homeland of the Jewish people — an area the Romans had named Palestine after the last Jewish revolt in 132-135 AD.
In 1917 Palestine included all of modern day Israel and Jordan. In the scheme the Allies concocted for dividing up the German and Turkish territories, Britain was allotted Palestine, and this is what prompted the Balfour Declaration. In that document, Lord Balfour, the British Foreign Secretary, declared that it was the intention of the British government to establish in Palestine "a national home for the Jewish people."
The leading Evangelical in England at the time was F. B. Meyer. He immediately recognized the prophetic significance of the Declaration, for he was well aware that the Scriptures prophesy that the Jewish people will be regathered to their homeland in unbelief right before the return of the Messiah (Isaiah 11:11-12).
Meyer sent out a letter to the Evangelical leaders of England asking them to gather in London in December to discuss the prophetic implications of the Balfour Declaration. In that letter, he stated, "The signs of the times point toward the close of the time of the Gentiles... and the return of Jesus can be expected any moment."
Before Meyer's meeting could be convened, another momentous event occurred. On December 11, 1917 General Edmund Allenby liberated the city of Jerusalem from 400 years of Turkish rule.
There is no doubt that these events in 1917 marked the beginning of the end times because they led to the worldwide regathering of the Jewish people to their homeland and the reestablishment of their state.
Since 1917
Since the time of the Balfour Declaration, we have witnessed throughout the 20th Century the appearance of sign after sign pointing to the Lord's soon return. There are so many of these signs today, in fact, that one would have to be either biblically illiterate or spiritually blind not to realize that we are living on borrowed time.
I have personally been searching the Bible for years in an effort to identify all the signs, and it has not been an easy task to get a hold on them. That's because there are so many of them, both in the Old and New Testaments.
I have found that the best way to deal with them is to put them in categories, and in doing that, I have come up with six categories of end time signs. We will explore these catetories beginning in Part 2 of this series.
True enough for what? Foxe's Book of Martyrs?
Why, how wonderful that you are dearly loved by many! Amazing that you have been kind and generous in your lifetime! The best thing of all, is that I don't know you.
I wrote that I am offended at the attack on my church after the statements that it’s alright to flame and nitpick posters on the insult of one’s church.
And I get “whatever”.
Well, Bless your Heart.
Thanks...
Yeah, whatever.
Oh, we’d get along just fine. I guarantee it.
YES, dear.
There would be no need for that. Getting along requires proximity, which would not obtain.
One day when I stand before My Lord, the one thing I can count on is that in all the times that someone brought an offense before me, I made sure to apologize for that offense. Because no matter how “right” I felt at the time that I offended someone, The Lord dictated that I do unto other as I would have others do unto me. I personally have no problem with tactful correction, but I don’t like smary, self-righteous “teaching”.
I’m glad that The Lord gave me that bit of wisdom.
This has always troubled me. "All nations" include the U.S.A.
If my country (the U.S.A.) fights against Israel, will they, in effect, be fighting against God, who presumably will support Israel?
I want to be on the winning (God's) team, but I don't necessarily want to fight against my own country. Of course, if Obama has his way, I might have to.
***“For instance, Paul...did not refer to the Holy Spirit...Did Paul not know about the Holy Spirit?”
Time to break out your Bible, blow off the dust and delve in!***
My apologies; a rather hectic evening. I meant to refer to the Holy Spirit as God. Your quotes are good and true, yet none of them ever refer to the divinity of the Holy Spirit.
***“Paul wrote first and his Christology is certainly not explicit of even Christ’s divinity, much less addressing the Holy Spirit.”
From a less dusty copy, in about 30 seconds of looking:***
Let us examine them one by one.
***15 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. 16For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. 17And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. 18And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent. 19For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, 20and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross. - col 1***
Similar language was used to describe Adam and David. Nothing in this verse indicates divinity, only favoured status.
***8See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ. 9For in him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily, 10and you have been filled in him, who is the head of all rule and authority.***
A very indicative passage and yet this can easily, and without the Gospels would be, interpreted that the power of God was put within the body of a most favoured man.
***1Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy,
To the church of the Thessalonians in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ:
2 We give thanks to God always for all of you, constantly mentioning you in our prayers, 3remembering before our God and Father your work of faith and labor of love and steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ. 4For we know, brothers loved by God, that he has chosen you, 5because our gospel came to you not only in word, but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and with full conviction.***
Remember that the title Lord was and is a human title, reserved for one who has much power.
***True enough for what? Foxe’s Book of Martyrs?***
Mr Rogers posted correct facts; he simply did not post all of them.
INDEED.
I have long said that God was determined to be
ISRAEL’S ONLY CHAMPION.
HE’LL NOT HAVE THE ARM OF FLESH PROTECT HIS CHOSEN ANY LONGER, AT SOME POINT.
YES, IT WILL SIGNAL DISCIPLINE, HARSH DISCIPLINE FOR THE USA for forsaking God’s chosen.
Good Grief!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Paul writes, “For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him.”
You say the same was written of Adam and David???????? That this doesn’t indicate divinity???????
“For in him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily...”
You say that could be said of men????????
Yes, Lord can be used as a title for men, but the context makes it painfully obvious that Paul is NOT using it of a man, but God.
It is incomprehensible that someone would suggest Paul didn’t realize Jesus is God. I have heard folks incorrectly claim that JESUS didn’t teach he was God, and that it was Paul who first taught that he was God, but yours is the first time I’ve ever heard anyone claim that PAUL didn’t teach the divinity of Christ!
You’re still hitting on me? This kind of retaliatory abuse continues to indicate your Elim cult is as bad as Scientology.
Stop embarrassing yourself.
***Good Grief!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Paul writes, “For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him.”
You say the same was written of Adam and David???????? That this doesn’t indicate divinity???????***
Actually, no, it doesn’t.
***It is incomprehensible that someone would suggest Paul didn’t realize Jesus is God. I have heard folks incorrectly claim that JESUS didn’t teach he was God, and that it was Paul who first taught that he was God, but yours is the first time I’ve ever heard anyone claim that PAUL didn’t teach the divinity of Christ!***
If you look at the language, at the terms, at the description of Jesus by Paul, then, no, Paul does not come out and say that Jesus is God. Do you have any verses that indicate otherwise?
I’ve given you some. If you cannot see it, then you are beyond my help. I’ve never heard of a MAN who created all things, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible. I suggest thinking about what the word ‘God’ means...
***I’ve given you some. If you cannot see it, then you are beyond my help. I’ve never heard of a MAN who created all things, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible. I suggest thinking about what the word ‘God’ means...***
I would suggest looking at the terminology. All things were made for and through Him. This does not identify Him as God. All this does is identify Him as powerful.
Please note that I believe that Jesus is Divine and the second Person of the Trinity; it is just that Paul does not specifically identify Him as God.
It says all things were created BY Him. If God is not the Creator, then you might have a point.
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