"The Lord bless you, and keep you;
The Lord make His face shine on you,
And be gracious to you;
The Lord lift up His countenance upon you,
And give you peace." AMEN
Studies of the Holy Bible for the month of March
March 1st -Numbers 23-25 & Mark 7: 14-37 March 2nd -Numbers 26-27 & Mark 8: 1-21 March 3rd -Numbers 28-30 & Mark 8: 22-38 March 4th -Numbers 31-33 & Mark 9: 1-29 March 5th -Numbers 34-36 & Mark 9: 30-50 March 6th -Deuteronomy 1-2 & Mark 10: 1-31 March 7th -Deuteronomy 3-4 & Mark 10: 32-52 March 8th -Deuteronomy 5-7 & Mark 11: 1-18 March 9th - Deuteronomy 8-10 & Mark 11: 19-33 March 10th -Deuteronomy 11-13 & Mark 12: 1-27 March 11th -Deuteronomy 14-16 & Mark 12: 28-44 March 12th -Deuteronomy 17-19 & Mark 13: 1-20 March 13th -Deuteronomy 20-22 & Mark 13: 21-37 March 14th -Deuteronomy 23-25 & Mark 14: 1-26 March 15th -Deuteronomy 26-27 & Mark 14: 27-53 March 16th -Deuteronomy 28-29 & Mark 14: 54-72 March 17th -Deuteronomy 30-31 & Mark 15: 1-25 March 18th -Deuteronomy 32-34 & Mark 15: 26-47 March 19th -Joshua 1-3 & Mark 16 March 20th -Joshua 4-6 & Luke 1: 1-20 March 21st -Joshua 7-9 & Luke 1: 21-38 March 22nd -Joshua 10-12 & Luke 1: 39-56 March 23rd -Joshua 13-15 & Luke 1: 57-80 March 24th -Joshua 16-18 & Luke 2: 1-24 March 25th -Joshua 19-21 & Luke 2: 25-52 March 26th -Joshua 22-24 & Luke 3 March 27th -Judges 1-3 & Luke 4: 1-30 March 28th -Judges 4-6 & Luke 4: 31-44 March 29th -Judges 7-8 & Luke 5: 1-16 March 30th -Judges 9-10 & Luke 5: 17-39 March 31st -Judges 11-12 & Luke 6: 1-26
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May God give you rich blessings as you study His Word. yours in Christ, Rev. Deb*
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Sunday, February 24, 2013
We don't know when the Lord will return in the clouds for His bride, but remember this...it wasn't raining when God shut the door of the ark. We need to be ready for His return now, before the rain starts. Have you made a choice for The Lord Jesus Christ? You should do it now, we are not promised tomorrow.
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Amplified on the Battlefront: The Sign of the Image Given Life - By Nathan Jones
What will be the technology behind the Antichrist's image given the appearance of life?
On Sunday, January 6, 2013, at the
Future Congress 2 Conference in Dallas/Fort Worth, Texas, I was
interviewed by host Brian Thomas of Blessings to Israel Ministries on
the Rapture Ready Radio Network before a live studio audience. During
the 45-minute interview we discussed how the technology that we have
today is proof positive that we are living in the end times and so can
be expecting the soon return of Jesus Christ.
Brian
Thomas: When we talk about the Antichrist and the Tribulation and his
one-world system of government, do you think that robotics or holograms
will play a part or role in it at all? Of course, we can't be certain,
but could you see some of that technology being used by the Antichrist
and the False Prophet?
Nathan Jones: Oh, certainly. The
Antichrist will have the entire world under his power, and that means he
has control of the technology of that era.
We
can read in Revelation 13:13-15 what the False Prophet does next: "He
will perform great and miraculous signs, even causing fire to come down
from heaven in full view of men. Because of the signs he was given power
to do on behalf of the first beast, the Antichrist, he deceived the
inhabitants of the earth. He ordered them to set up an image in honor of
the beast that was wounded by the sword but yet lives. He was given
power to give breath to the image of the first beast so that they could
see and cause all who refused to worship the image to be killed."
This
story is very familiar to the story in Daniel about Nebuchadnezzar.
Nebuchadnezzar was given the prophecy about him being a great head of
gold, and it went literally to his head. Nebuchadnezzar decided to make a
great statue of himself and he told the people to worship it. Shadrach,
Meshach and Abednego refused to worship it. I don't know where Daniel
was at the time, but his friends were to be killed for refusing to
worship the image. The three were thrown into the fiery furnace, but God
saved them.
History
will repeat itself again with the Antichrist, and the people living
during the Tribulation will witness it. The Antichrist will have the
False Prophet create an image of him that people can worship. The False
Prophet is a deceiver and Satan is a deceiver, so they do not have the
ability to create life. The ability to create is in God's hands alone.
They can manipulate and they can pervert, but they cannot create. So,
this image which seems to be alive is just that - it seems to be alive,
but it's not really alive. And so, there has to be a technological way
the Antichrist can create a living image, and there are a few
technologies out there that fit the bill.
As for the fire falling down and
supposed miracles like that generated by the False Prophecy, well any
pyrotechnic expert could make that happen. There is a possibility that
the fire from heaven killing people could be laser satellite technology.
There are satellites up there from the U.S. military, though I'm no
expert on this, but I've read a number of articles, where the military
has claimed to be working on laser weapons stationed in outer space. Why
shoot a missile when you can just burn them directly with a laser.
Maybe that's the case, though I don't know for sure.
There
is a lot of talk about the "living" image of the Antichrist being a
robot. Robotics have excelled incredibly, especially in Japan. The
Japanese even use robots as dance instructors. Crazy enough, some guys
are using them as surrogate wives. I guess so you can turn your wife
off? I don't know, but I won't go there!
I
tend to think that the image of the Antichrist would best be suited as a
hologram. Recently, holographic technology has made huge advances in
looking realistic. For example, on YouTube I saw Hatsune Miku. She's a
Japanese 3D hologram with a vocaloid processor. She in appearances is
supposed to be a sixteen year old girl. She actually looks like she's
there live on the real stage. She's been given a bluish hue as that goes
with her manga look, but her creators could make her look totally human
if they wanted to.
Just think, I don't know if artificial
intelligence will develop enough by then, but if that type of computer
is given an interactive program which interacts with people, and there
are programs like that, that could give the hologram a whole
personality. Imagine how it could interact with people. It could be any
size you want, so many people could worship it all at the same time.
And
so, for me, I believe holograms seem to be the best bet as to the
technology behind the Antichrist's image. But, again, I don't know as
the Bible doesn't outright tell us. People ask, "Couldn't it be purely
satanic?" It well could be. It may be both, and I don't know if this is
possible, but maybe a demon could possess a hologram or a robot? The
liveliness could be demonic in origin and that's its source of life, so I
won't discount that. But, if we're talking technology, then robotics or
holograms are probably the best bet in making an image appear alive.
Brian
Thomas: I recently saw Britain's Prime Minister using holographic
technology. He was shown as a hologram, and it was very difficult to
tell that it was a hologram and not himself there. Then there's Pastor
Ed Young who actually preached a service and has several campuses, and
at one of the sites they had him there by hologram. His staff didn't
tell their people that was the case, and most of the congregation said
afterwards when it was revealed to them it wasn't him but a hologram,
said they couldn't tell.
The
amazing technology that we have today as we go further along I think is
going to improve more and more by the Antichrist's time. I can how very
well technology will be a means by which the Antichrist will deceive the
world into thinking that he has been killed and resurrected. I agree
with you in that I don't think that the Devil has the power to make life
or bring life back from the dead. Only God has the power to do so. So,
the deception could well be a hologram along with other forms of
technology. I wouldn't be surprised at all if holograms played into it.
I've
never heard the theory you gave about the pyrotechnics with the False
Prophet calling down fire. But, yes, I can really see that happening as
well. •
Sunday, February 17, 2013
TENSION IN THE HEAVENS, AND A WAVE OF DECEPTION APPROACHES
Outgoing
Deputy Foreign Minister Danny Ayalon is leaving his mark on Jerusalem. After years of negotiations with the Vatican over property and tax
issues, it seems that an historic breakthrough is near. Headlines in
the Jerusalem Post announced, "Jerusalem is on verge of signing agreement to formalize diplomatic relations with the Holy See".
However, there are conflicting and disturbing reports
regarding the status of the "Last Supper Room" (also referred to as the
"Upper Room", "Cenacle Shrine" or "Coenaculum"), which sits
above the traditional Tomb of King David and is a central part of the
Diaspora Yeshiva grounds on Mt. Zion. For many years the Catholic church
has been vying for ownership of the room which is considered by many
Christians to be the traditional site of the location of the last
supper. The room itself is a 12th century Crusader structure, built on
top of the traditional Tomb of King David.
Whereas The Jerusalem Post claims that the two sides have "essentially decided to agree to disagree on the matter", Israel Hayom is reporting that the agreement will grant the Pope "an official seat" in the Upper Room, as well as giving the Vatican "a special modicum of control over the site". Algemeiner reports that Israel "did not give up sovereignty", but "will allow the Vatican control over the site".
Jewishisrael contacted the Diaspora Yeshiva on Mt. Zion for their reaction to the incoming news reports. The Tomb of King David and the room of the purported last supper are on Yeshiva grounds.
For decades, the Diaspora Yeshiva has never interfered with the
considerable Christian tourism to the "Upper Room" and has even taken steps to renovate the area.
Rabbi Yisroel Goldstein, son of the Diaspora Yeshiva's
founder, who teaches at the institution as well as serves as the rabbi
of the community of Metzad in Gush Etzion, reacted with shock to the
possible compromising of the area. He told JewishIsrael that these reports infer "a change in the status quo and will disrupt the Yeshiva environment". He said that "church
chanting and services would disturb the Jews who come from all over
Israel and the world to pray and recite psalms at the tomb of King David
–which is directly below the Upper Room".
Rabbi Goldstein noted that the Diaspora Yeshiva directors
have never been consulted or included in the negotiations nor have they
been kept abreast of developments by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
We contacted Rick Halpern, director of the Mt. Zion Redevelopment Project,
who has been instrumental in developing and renovating the Diaspora
Yeshiva grounds and the area in and around the Tomb of King David. The
following is his response to the incoming reports:
"Having worked with the Diaspora Yeshiva to restore
several of their buildings on Mt. Zion, I am very disturbed to hear
this, though I am not surprised. One of the outstanding features of Mt.
Zion is the peacefulness of its setting. Though the Yeshiva maintains a
dominant presence, other groups from other denominations are also
there, and all have coexisted respectfully. The Vatican has
aggressively sought the Last Supper Room and other sites in Israel for
years, using whatever means they have to get them. Though the Last
Supper room has been a non-denominational tourist destination for
Christians of all sects, this latest move is an affront to that as
well. In the real estate business, location-location-location is the
key. The Vatican has their whole infrastructure in Rome, while
Jerusalem is where the "action" is. This strategic move by the Vatican
will be used to openly promote their agenda, regardless of the placid
Jewish environment & the non-denominational Christian atmosphere
that surrounds David's Tomb."
JewishIsrael has repeatedly expressed concern over any negotiations which would compromise Mount Zion. We have been especially concerned over Daniel Ayalon's position as chief negotiator on Vatican issues, since he is a maverick when it comes to ventures to grant Christians special status in Israel.
Both Daniel Ayalon and his wife, Anne, are intimately involved with the
Evangelical and Catholic communities and have comfortably appeared on missionary television . Anne has significant business and real estate dealings with the Christian community and was listed as a "Talking Head"
for the Pope's Visit on Christian-Israeli Relations” in a pamphlet put
out by The Israel Project (T.I.P.) at the time of Pope Benedict XVI’s
visit in May 2009.
In November 2005, this writer reacted to reports of an apparent swap deal between Israel and the Vatican which would grant the Vatican control of the Upper Room. I was in correspondence with David Chappell, then deputy managing editor of the Times of London, who confirmed my concerns of a draft agreement. At the time, a number of activists formed the Committee to Save Mt. Zion and effective pressure was exerted on the Israeli government to abandon the plans to relinquish control of the Upper Room.•
One of the great mysteries concerning bible prophecy and the
end times is the national identity of the Antichrist. This is an important
topic because it will eventually aid the last days generation of Christians in
the correct identification of the Antichrist. Fortunately, the Bible provides
us with several details regarding the nationalistic origins of this sinister personality.
His Roman Nationality
Although much debate surrounds his national identity, the
Book of Daniel clearly states that the Antichrist will come from among the
people whose armies destroy the Temple.
“A ruler will arise whose armies will destroy the city and
the Temple.”
Daniel 9:26 (NLT)
The City and the Temple
referenced in this passage were destroyed in A.D. 70 by Titus and the Roman
legions, but Titus was not the ruler referenced in this verse. Daniel 9:27
describes the ruler as one who will make a seven-year treaty with Israel, put
an end to the sacrifices and offerings, and set up a sacrilegious object that
causes desecration. These are events that will be fulfilled in the life of the
Antichrist. According to Daniel, the Antichrist will come from among the people
who destroyed the Temple.
Therefore, we can be certain that the Antichrist will come from among the Roman
people.
However, coming from among the Roman people does not
automatically mean that the Antichrist will be of Italian heritage or Roman
ethnicity. It simply means he must come from among those people who were part
of the Roman Empire at that time. From an
ethnic standpoint, this leaves the door open to countless possibilities. The Roman Empire covered most of the known world in its day,
and Roman citizenship was extended to many non-Italian peoples. So how do we
interpret this passage?
Most likely, Daniel 9:26 is a reference to the power base
from which the Antichrist will operate. The Book of Daniel clearly states that
the final world empire before the establishment of Christ’s Millennial Kingdom
will be a resurrected form of the Roman Empire.
In all likelihood, the Antichrist will be the ruler of this revived Roman Empire which will “devour the whole earth,” and in
this way, Christians will be able to identify him as the Antichrist.
Is the Antichrist
Syrian?
Daniel Chapter 8 provides us with further clues in regard to
the life and times of the Antichrist. In it, the angel Gabriel explains
Daniel’s vision of a Ram and Goat as events relating to the Greek Empire of
Alexander the Great. In a claim verified by history, Gabriel states that
following the death of Alexander, the empire will be divided into four parts.
From one of those four parts, the Antichrist will arise:
“The shaggy male goat represents the king of the Greek
Empire. The four prominent horns that replaced the one large horn show that the
Greek Empire will break into four sections with four kings, none of them as
great as the first. At the end of their rule, when their sin is at its height,
a fierce king, a master of intrigue, will rise to power. He will become very
strong, but not by his own power. He will cause a shocking amount of
destruction and succeed in everything he does. He will destroy powerful leaders
and devastate the holy people.” Daniel 8:21-24 (NLT)
Daniel Chapter 11 provides an in-depth examination of the
history of the breakup Alexander’s empire, describing historical events
relating to the King of the North and the King of the South. The latter part of
the chapter describes the Antichrist, identifying him with other historical
figures who have held the title “King of the North.”
This, along with the passage cited above, clearly links the Antichrist to the Northern Kingdom of the divided Greek Empire. This
kingdom was ruled by one of Alexander’s generals, Seleucus, who ruled the areas
of Syria, Mesopotamia, and Persia.
Therefore, it is reasonable to assume that the Antichrist will in some way be
linked to this geographic area of the Middle East.
Isaiah Chapter 10
In addition to Daniel 8, the prophet Isaiah also offers some
interesting insight concerning a “king of Assyria”:
“After the Lord has used the king of Assyria to accomplish
his purposes in Jerusalem, he will turn against
the king of Assyria and punish him – for he is
proud and arrogant. He boasts, ‘By my own power and wisdom I have won these
wars. By my own strength I have captured many lands, destroyed their kings, and
carried off their treasures. By my greatness I have robbed their nests of
riches and gathered up kingdoms as a farmer gathers eggs. No one can even flap
a wing against me or utter a peep of protest.” Isaiah 10:12-14 (NLT)
Although not directly identified by Isaiah, this king of Assyria bears a striking resemblance to the Antichrist.
Both the Book of Daniel and the Book of Revelation describe the Antichrist as
proud and arrogant, boasting arrogantly and blaspheming God Himself. His boast
that “no one can even flap a wing against me or utter a peep of protest” also
fits the description of the Antichrist as given in the Book of Revelation:
“They worshiped the dragon for giving the beast such power,
and they worshiped the beast. ‘Is there anyone as great as the beast?’ they exclaimed.
‘Who is able to fight against him?’” Revelation 13:4 (NLT)
Isaiah 10, coupled with Daniel 8, lends support to the idea
that the Antichrist will somehow be connected to political power in this region
of the world.
Is the Antichrist Jewish?
Is the Antichrist Jewish? Although there is no definitive
answer, two Bible verses provide us with good reason to believe he will be. The
first appears in the Book of Genesis when God prophesies the coming of Israel’s
Messiah and Satan’s Antichrist.
“From now on, you and the woman will be enemies, and your
offspring and her offspring will be enemies. He will crush your head, and you
will strike his heel.” Genesis 3:15 (NLT)
Later on, when Jacob is blessing his sons, he makes this
prophecy about Dan:
“Dan will govern his people like any other tribe in Israel. He will
be a snake beside the road, a poisonous viper along the path,
that bites the horse’s heels so the rider is thrown off.” Genesis
49:16-17 (NLT)
This reference to a serpent striking a heel may indicate
that the Antichrist will be a Jew from the tribe of Dan, but it isn’t certain
and many reasonable people are divided on this issue.
In addition to this reference to the tribe of Dan, the Book
of Daniel points out that the Antichrist will worship himself above all else:
“Neither shall he regard the God of his fathers, nor the
desire of women, nor regard any god: for he shall magnify himself above all.”
Daniel 11:37 (KJV)
This passage is often referenced by those who believe the
Antichrist will be of Jewish heritage. The fact that he will have no regard
“for the God of his fathers” is viewed as a reference to the monotheistic God
of the Jews.
Adding further fuel to speculation that the Antichrist might
be Jewish is the following passage from the Book of Revelation:
“Then I saw another beast come up out of the earth. He had
two horns like those of a lamb, and he spoke with the voice of a dragon.”
Revelation 13:11 (NLT)
This verse states that the Antichrist will “come up out of
the earth,” a biblical phrase often associated with the promised land and the
Jewish people. Throughout the Old Testament, the earth is used as a symbol for Israel, while
the sea is used as a symbol for the Gentile peoples:
“And now in my vision I saw beast rising up out of the sea.
It had seven heads and ten horns, with ten crowns on its horns. And written on
each head were names that blasphemed God.” Revelation 13:1 (NLT)
The verse above is a reference to the Antichrist’s kingdom,
which as stated before, will be a revived form of the Roman
Empire – thus emerging from among the Gentile people. But all the
authority of this kingdom will be exercised by “the beast from the earth”
referenced in Revelation 13:11:
“He exercised all the authority of the first beast. And he
required all the earth and those who belong to this world to worship the first
beast, who death-wound had been healed.” Revelation 13:12 (NLT)
The first beast, whose “death-wound had been healed,” is the
revived Roman Empire. The Book of Daniel
clearly states that this world empire will re-emerge in the last days, thus
becoming healed of its mortal wound. But the one who rules it will “come up out
of the earth.” Could this be a reference to the Antichrist’s Jewish heritage?
Will the Jews Accept the Antichrist as Messiah?
All the speculation surrounding the Antichrist’s possible
Jewish heritage lends itself to another question: Will the Jews accept the
Antichrist as their Messiah? Many believe that the following statement by Jesus
is really a prophecy that the Jewish people will accept the Antichrist as their
Messiah:
“I am come in my Father’s name, and ye receive me not: if
another shall come in his own name, him ye will receive.” John 5:43 (KJV)
The Antichrist would have to be Jewish in order to be
accepted by Israel
as the Messiah. Many believe this scripture points to a specific person in the
future who will “come in his own name” and be accepted as the Redeemer of
Israel.
Conclusion
It is an absolute certainty that the Antichrist will arrive
on the world scene as the ruler of a revived Roman empire.
However, it is less certain whether or not he will be of actual Italian descent
or some other ethnic background. Several scriptures offer the possibility that
he could be Assyrian, Greek, or Jewish. But none of them offer us the
definitive statement contained in Daniel 9:26.
So how do we rectify these seemingly contradictory
prophecies concerning the Antichrist’s nationality? Is he Roman? Italian?Jewish?Assyrian?Greek? He doesn’t necessarily have to be exclusively
one or another. He could be an Assyrian Jew born and raised in Italy, or any
number of possible combinations. We don’t know for certain, but history
indicates that each of these prophecies will be harmonized when the Antichrist
finally appears.
Two thousand years ago, the seemingly contradictory
prophecies of the first coming of the Messiah were all harmonized in the life
of Jesus Christ who was a Nazarene born in Bethlehem
who came out of Egypt.
With the benefit of hindsight, we can see how this was possible, but for the
Jewish scholars who lived before the birth and ministry of Jesus, these
prophecies were a topic of intense debate. Would the Messiah come from Nazareth, Bethlehem, or Egypt? The
answer, of course, was all three.
In similar fashion, a debate continues today in regard to
the prophecies of the Antichrist and his national identity. But no matter how
much we speculate on the ultimate meaning of the scriptures, we won’t know the
absolute truth until God’s appointed time. As such, it is wise to study these
prophecies and teach them to others, so that Christians of the Antichrist’s
generation will be able to positively identify him based on sound Scriptural
evidence.
May the Lord Jesus Christ, upon His Return, find us actively
engaged in teaching these truths to others. Until
then, live with a patient and enduring faith that His Return is soon upon us. •
May God richly bless you friends! Fasten your seat belts, we may be going Home soon!! -Rev.Debbie ♥
Monday, February 4, 2013
Imminency And The Any-Moment Rapture
by Thomas Ice
We
believe that our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ could come in the clouds at
any-moment and take His church to be with Him to His Father' s house (John
14:1-3). What a great hope, that while you are reading this article, our Lord
could return and rapture His church. We have come to call this any-moment hope
of the rapture an imminent event.
The
English word " imminent" (of Latin derivation) can be used in many ways, it is
used to note the New Testament teaching that Christ could return and rapture
His church at any-moment, without prior signs or warning. Use of the term
" imminency" entered the lexicon of American Evangelicalism around the end of
the last century in contrast to the dominate, but waning, postmillennialism
which taught that Christ' s coming was not imminent. Postmillennialism held
that Christ' s return must first await the Christianization of the world by the
Church. By the 1930s, it was common to pack into one theological
expression- imminency- all of the many New Testament ways in which Christ' s
coming for His Church is said to be possible at any-moment. Thus, imminency
and the any-moment return of Christ became synonyms for the pretribulational
rapture of the church.
In
fact, imminency is such a powerful argument for pretribulationism that it is
one of the most frequent and fiercely attacked doctrines by our opponents.
Non-pretribulationists sense that if the New Testament teaches imminency, then
pretribulationism is virtually assured.
DEFINITION OF IMMINENCY
What is the biblical
definition of imminency? Four important elements contribute to a
pretribulational understanding of imminency. First, imminency means that the
rapture could take place at any moment. While other events may take place before the rapture,
no event must
precede it. If prior events are required before the rapture, then the rapture
could not be described as imminent. Thus, if any event were required to occur
before the rapture, then the concept of imminency would be destroyed.
Second, since the rapture
is imminent and could happen at any moment, then it follows that one must be
prepared for it to occur at any time, without sign or warning.
Third, imminency
eliminates any attempt at date setting. Date setting is impossible since the
rapture is signless (i.e., providing no basis for date setting) and if
imminency is really true, the moment a date was fixed then Christ could not
come at any moment, destroying imminency. Fourth,
Renold Showers says, " A person cannot legitimately say that an imminent event
will happen soon. The term ' soon' implies that an event must take place ' within a short time
(after a particular point of time specified or implied).' By contrast, an
imminent event may
take place within a short time, but it does not have to do so in order to be
imminent. As I hope you can see by now, " imminent" is not equal to ' soon.' " 1 A. T. Pierson has
noted that, " Imminence is the combination of
two conditions, viz.,: certainty and uncertainty. By an imminent event we
mean one which is certain to occur at some time, uncertain at what time." 2
IMMINENCY
IN THE NEW TESTAMENT
The fact that Christ
could return, but may not soon, at any moment, yet without the necessity of
signs preceding His return, requires the kind of imminence taught by
pretribulationism.
What New Testament
passages teach this truth? Those verses stating that Christ could return at
any moment, without warning and those instructing believers to wait and look
for the Lord' s coming teach the doctrine of imminence. Note the following New
Testament passages:
• 1 Corinthians 1:7- " awaiting eagerly the revelation of our Lord
Jesus Christ,"
• 1 Corinthians 16:22- " Maranatha."
• Philippians 3:20- " For our citizenship is in heaven, from which
also we eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ;"
• Philippians 4:5- " The Lord is near."
• 1 Thessalonians 1:10- " to wait for His Son from heaven,"
• 1 Thessalonians 4:15-18- " 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, shall not
precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord Himself will descend from
heaven with a shout, with the voice of {the} archangel, and with the trumpet of
God; and the dead in Christ shall rise first. 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. Therefore comfort one another
with these words."
• 1 Thessalonians 5:6- " so then let us not sleep as others do, but let
us be alert and sober."
• 1 Timothy 6:14- " that you keep the commandment without stain or
reproach until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ,"
• Titus 2:13- " looking for the blessed hope and the appearing
of the glory of our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus;"
• Hebrews 9:28- " so Christ . . . shall appear a second time for
salvation without reference to sin, to those who eagerly await Him."
• James 5:7-9- " Be patient, therefore, brethren, until the
coming of the Lord. . . . for the coming of the Lord is at hand. . . . behold,
the Judge is standing right at the door."
• 1 Peter 1:13 - " fix your hope completely on the grace to be
brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ."
• Jude 21- " waiting anxiously for the mercy of our Lord
Jesus Christ to eternal life."
• Revelation 3:11; 22:7, 12,
20- " ' I am coming quickly!' "
• Revelation 22:17, 20- " And the Spirit and the bride say, ' Come.' And
let the one who hears say, ' Come.' "
" He who testifies
to these things says, ' Yes, I am coming quickly.' Amen. Come, Lord Jesus."
It is significant that
all of the above passages relate to the rapture and speak of the Lord's coming
as something that could occur at any-moment, that it is imminent. This is why
believers are waiting for a person- Jesus Christ- not just an event or series of
events such as those related to the tribulation leading up to Christ's second
advent in which He returns to the earth and remains for His millennial reign.
IMMINENCE
AND PRETRIBULATIONISM
Contemplation of the
above passages indicate that Christ may come at any moment so that the rapture
is actually imminent. Only pretribulationism can give a full, literal meaning
to such an any-moment event. Other rapture views must redefine imminence more
loosely than the New Testament would allow. Dr. Walvoord declares, " The
exhortation to look for ' the glorious appearing' of Christ to His own (Titus
2:13) loses its significance if the Tribulation must intervene first.
Believers in that case should look for signs." 3 If the pretribulational view
of imminence is not accepted, then it would make sense to look for signs
related to events of the tribulation (i.e., the anti-Christ, the two witnesses,
etc.) and not for Christ Himself. But the New Testament, as demonstrated
above, uniformly instructs the church to look for the coming of Christ, while
tribulation saints are told to look for signs.
The New Testament
exhortation to be comforted by the Lord' s coming (John 14:1; 1 Thess. 4:18)
would no longer have meaning if believers first had to pass through any part of
the tribulation. Instead, comfort would have to await passage through the
events of the tribulation. No, the church has been given a " Blessed Hope," in
part, because our Lord' s return is truly imminent.
MARANATHA!
The early church had a
special greeting for one another, as recorded in 1 Corinthians 16:22, which was
" Maranatha!" Maranatha consists of three Aramaic words: " Mar" (" Lord" ), " ana"
(" our" ), and " tha" (" come" ), meaning " our Lord, come." As with other New
Testament passages, Maranatha only makes sense if an any-moment or imminent
coming is understood. Such an understanding supports the pretribulationism.
No wonder these ancient
Christians coined such a unique greeting which reflects an eager expectation of
the Blessed Hope as a very real presence in their everyday lives providing a
motivation for godly living, evangelism, and world wide evangelism. The life
of the church today could only be improved if " Maranatha" were to return as a
sincere greeting on the lips of an expectant people. Maranatha! •
"The Lord bless you, and keep you;
