Hi,
Many want us to believe that the return of Christ
and the "last days" were thousands of years off
from when the statements in the New Testament
were made and that the Bible says that we are
the ones in the last days.
Is that true? Is that what the Bible leads us to
believe? Are we to ignore the common sense rules
of language, when we read our Bibles and toss
aside all reason, but only when we read the Bible?
Would we read, "soon", "near" and "at hand"
as anything other than what we all know they
mean, if it weren't the Bible that we were reading?
Is it "God time" that makes it all different?
Does "1,000 years = 1 day" to the Lord? Was Peter
being literal about that? Or was he merely saying
they needed to be patient?
If "1,000 years = 1 day" is "God time", then doesn't
that bind God to linear time?
Surely no one can insist on that and then deny
that it does.
And how would it be that God could experience
"days", when that involves solar timing as well?
What does Heaven revolve around? A "God Sun"?
And doesn't He hate those 500 year nights? :)
And how could there be night, if there is no darkness
where God is?
And no, I'm not being disrespectful to God. I am
however, being disrespectful to ridiculous notions,
just as I should be and just as Jesus was (Mat 15:3;
23:29-39).
You see, Peter was not being literal, he was merely
telling them to be patient. But remember, he was
telling THEM to be patient and we should NOT
read the Bible, as if it were written just yesterday,
just for us. We wouldn't do that with any other
writing and we all know that.
There are no "God days". God is outside of time
and so, to even suggest that there are "God days",
is to make a statement that is contrary to the truth.
And are we to assume that every other normal,
clear time statement should be taken figuratively,
because we want to take one fantastic statement
literally, that contradicts the truth that God is
not bound by ANY time, literally and call them,
"God days"?
Does that make any sense at all?!?!?! (:
And where did God say, "Make sure you abandon
all reason before reading My word." Anyone??? :)
No, He didn't say that. Rather, He said...
"Come, let us REASON TOGETHER..."
Note: REASON.
That means that we are to use reason.
Note: TOGETHER.
That means that it has to be something He is
communicating to us (reason TOGETHER),
that we CAN understand, using REASON.
Turning the language on its head and making
"soon = way far off", is not a "reasonable"
approach, nor would our God, Who said that
we are to "reason together", communicate
with us, in a way that means that we have to
adopt some "opposite definition" approach
to the language He gave us in the Bible!
Why would a God Who told us to "reason together"
do that? Please! (:
So what does the Bible say about the timing of
the "last days".
First of all, we should note that the last days
were not the end of time itself. The Bible says
that there would be another age to come and
an age denotes linear time. Therefore, an age
to come means more linear time to come, which
is something that humans are bound by, not God.
Hebrews 6:4-6
4) For it is impossible for those who were once
enlightened, and have tasted the heavenly gift,
and have become partakers of the Holy Spirit,
5) and have tasted the good word of God and
the powers of THE AGE TO COME,
6) if they fall away, to renew them again to
repentance, since they crucify again for themselves
the Son of God, and put Him to an open shame.
It is clear that there was, "an age to come".
Thus, the "last days" were the last days
of the Old Covenant system, which all Rabbis
agree, happened in 70 AD and all Rabbis
agree that "Biblical Judaism" ended in
70 AD.
The other reality to note, is that NOWHERE
in the NT, in the original Greek, is the Greek
word for the planet (kosmos) used, when describing
the destruction. An English translation does not
trump the original Greek! And Jesus said in
Luke 21:20-22, that when Jerusalem was destroyed,
that "all things written" were fulfilled at that point.
So when you try to put Daniel, for example, into
the future, you are contradicting what Jesus said,
since Daniel was, "written".
And when we read Isaiah, we see that after it all
was to happen, that life was still to go on...
He notes building homes (Is 65:20; 66:24).
He notes farming (Is 65:21-22).
He notes people having descendants, which means
that it cannot be just believers, with glorified bodies
that are no longer human (Is 65:23; 66:22).
He notes a new priestly group, which describes
the church, which is us (Is 65:24).
So let us see what the New Testament says about
the timing of it all, by first seeing if it tells us
when the last days were, remembering that it
was written in the first century, not the 21st...
The writer of Hebrews confirms that THEY
were in the last days. His statement is
present tense to when he wrote it, which was
in the first century...
Hebrews 1:1-2
1) God, who at many times and in many ways
spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets,
2) has IN THESE LAST DAYS spoken to us by
His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things,
by whom also He made the worlds,
Note: Not "THE" last days, but "THESE" last days.
Even John confirmed that they were the ones
in the last days and in fact, even said that it
was the last HOUR. That certainly doesn't
leave room for "thousands of years"!
"Little children, IT IS THE LAST TIME.
And just as you have heard that antichrist
is coming, even now many antichrists have
risen up, from which WE KNOW THAT IT
IS THE LAST HOUR." - 1 John 2:18
Note: Not "WILL BE" the last hour, but "IS"
the last hour.
The common response when this is pointed out,
is to do a quick shuffle and say, "Well, the last
days STARTED then, but they are still going on.".
We all know that's an attempt to dodge the facts
though. If that were what the futurists believe,
then we wouldn't see all of the claims they make,
which say that...
"We're the generation that's in the last days!".
"We're the generation that is seeing the last days!"
"The last days have begun! The signs are all
around us now, in this generation!"
If they have "begun" in OUR generation, then
how could they have started back then?
And the statement that WE are in the last days,
implies that they weren't! That's simple logic!
So no, that claim that "they started then, but are
still going on now" doesn't wash and is an obvious
copout retreat play, to avoid admitting to what
they were just shown, which makes it obvious
that their doctrine is more important to them
than what the Bible actually says about it. (:
I understand that for many, it is a matter of
the meaning of the Bible, if this has been
fulfilled. One person even said to me...
"If it has all been fulfilled, then what good
is the Bible?"
Now no matter how much I can understand
his statement, the cold hard reality of it is,
that he is saying that if it isn't all about him,
then the Bible is of no use and that is vanity.
Vanity based on fear maybe, but still vanity.
For me, the Bible is even more useful! I mean,
I can look at the Scriptures and show people
how they were fulfilled and how Jesus kept
His word!
Now many will say, "where's the Kingdom"
and "the planet hasn't been destroyed yet".
But those are separate issues and ignoring
the truth of what you have just been shown,
by bringing up other issues, does not erase
the truth of what you have just been shown
and all you're doing at that point, is pitting
the Bible against itself, because you can't
understand (but can't deny) that the Bible
says it was all fulfilled at that point, which
is exactly what Jesus said (Luke 21:20-22).
You can read the following link though
(whenever you have time), if you're interested
in studying those issues.
http://tinyurl.com/ckasy
Then read Luke 17:20-21, in which Jesus
is answering the Pharisees question about
when the physical kingdom is coming and
Jesus answers by telling them that it isn't
a physical kingdom, but a spiritual one.
You can also read the following, about Jesus
"ruling with a rod of iron" and what the Bible
says that means, if you wish...
http://tinyurl.com/dlool
....as well as the following one, that tells you
about what Peter meant by "the elements
melting with fervent heat"...
http://tinyurl.com/alqwe
And this one about the scoffers, since some
accuse me of scoffing against God and His
word, when I question their claims...
http://tinyurl.com/by46h
The fact is, the writers of the New Testament
consistently taught a soon, near, at hand return
of Christ and it is ludicrous to claim that they
consistently wrote the opposite of what they
were trying to convey, or that they were talking
in "God time talk"! (:
They said what they meant and they wrote to
people, so that those people could understand.
The Bible is not something that was written
and then stored away, just for you to open today.
The fact is, that it is vanity that says that we are
to open the Bible today and claim that His return
is near, because the Bible says so and then, when
it's pointed out how long ago it was written, to
try to make it "God time" and then, when you
go to church that following Sunday, to agree that
His return is near (in our time), because the
Bible says it is "near", as if it were just written
yesterday. That is also self contradictory and
hypocrisy, is it not? Of course it is. :)
We have been so brainwashed by the modern church,
that we actually think it's reasonable to believe that
Daniel, whose book was Messianic and about the coming
Messiah, was told to seal his book until the time of
the end and the Messiah came a few hundred years
later, which means that Daniel's book would have to
be opened at that point to show that the prophecy
came true and as I said, that was a few hundred years
later and that John, who was told NOT to seal his
book, because the time was "at hand", means that
it wouldn't be fulfilled for thousands of years!
In other words, the futurists of the modern church
want us to believe the following conversation would
be accurate...
God to Daniel: Seal the Messianic prophecy book until
the time of the end, which will take place in about 600
years.
God to John: Don't seal the book, because the time is
"at hand". Oh and by the way John, I know I'm saying
not to seal the book, because the time is "at hand",
but what I really mean, is that they are thousands
of years from now. You see John, I like to use a form
of backwards talking.
Again, God tells Daniel to seal the book, which was
to be opened when the Messiah arrived (opened
meaning applied) and that happened 600 years
later and John was told not to seal his book, because
the time was "at hand" and that means the events
are thousands of years off? Huh?!?!?! (:
The fact is, "the end times" were in the first century.
Daniel was told to seal his book until the time of the
end and his book mentions the arrival of the Messiah.
Thus, the arrival of the Messiah and the 70 weeks,
were about them, not us.
The Bible says "the last days". It does not say,
"the end of time". It says that it is speaking
of "the end of the age" and as I showed, Hebrews
says that another age was to come and it says
that they were in the last days, back then.
These things cannot be denied and so, any attempt
to do so, is to disbelieve God's word, plain and
simple!!!
In 70 AD, the Temple was burned and afterward,
was torn down, stone by stone, to retrieve the
melted gold that ran in between the stones,
thus fulfilling Jesus' words, to the letter (Mat 24:2)!
And again, let us not forget that JESUS SAID that
when Jerusalem was destroyed, that "all things
written" were fulfilled (Luke 21:20-22). Wasn't
Daniel, "written"? And as Jesus noted about
Judea, in the passages from Luke, the Roman
army did advance through Judea, taking the
cities, so that the Jewish armies could not come
up behind them, when they got to Jerusalem.
The question is, do you believe Jesus. or not?
So let us look and compare some of the statements
from The Old and New Testament and see what
conclusions they lead us to.
As I said, the Greek is important here and the
word that is translated as "Earth" in the English
translations of Revelation does not mean the
whole planet, but a region.
Earth = Ge - soil; by extension, a region.
And John knew the word for the planet, which was
the Greek word, "kosmos".
"That was the true Light which gives light to every
man coming into the world (kosmos)." - John 1:9
So yes, when John meant "the planet", he said,
"the planet" ("kosmos").
And so did Matthew (Mat 13:35 - "kosmos").
The word "earth" does not automatically mean,
"the planet", even today.
If I said that I planted a tree into the earth, does
that mean that I planted a huge tree, that covers
the whole planet? :)
And if I said that some mining company was
damaging the earth, does that mean that they
are destroying all soil on the whole planet? :)
No, of course that wouldn't be the case, in either
event and we shouldn't look at the Bible with the,
"I want it to be about that and about us" glasses.
So as I said, let's take a look and see what the Bible
says about the time frame given and whether or
not it leads us to believe, IN AN HONEST READING,
that they taught it would be thousands of years off.
Just as we do today, when we say "you" to someone,
we do not mean, "I am in reality, ignoring you and
speaking to someone who might be standing here
thousands of years from now". :)
Revelation 1:1,3,7
The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him
to show his servants what must SOON take place...
because THE TIME IS NEAR... Look, He is coming
with the clouds, and every eye will see him, EVEN
THOSE WHO PIERCED HIM; and all the peoples
of the earth will mourn because of him.
Those who pierced Him, had to "see Him" return.
And no, it can't be after they are resurrected,
since He comes and then people are resurrected
and this passage speaks about seeing Him coming.
Thus, this passage plants His return smack in the
first century!
Matthew 10:23, 16:28, 24:30,34, 26:63-64
When YOU are persecuted in one place, flee to
another. I tell you the truth, YOU will not finish
going through the cities of Israel before the Son
of Man comes... I tell you the truth, some who
are STANDING HERE will not taste death before
THEY the Son of Man coming in his kingdom."
"At that time the sign of the Son of Man will appear
in the sky, and all the nations of the earth will
mourn. THEY will see the Son of Man coming on
the clouds of the sky, with power and great glory...
I tell you the truth, THIS generation will certainly
not pass away until all these things have happened.
But Jesus kept silent. And the high priest said to Him,
"I adjure You by the living God, that You tell us
whether You are the Christ, the Son of God.". Jesus
said to him, "You have said it yourself; nevertheless
I tell you, hereafter YOU shall see the Son of Man
sitting at the right hand of Power, and coming on
the clouds of heaven."
Daniel 12:7-9
And I heard the man dressed in linen, who was above
the waters of the river, as he raised his right hand
and his left toward heaven, and swore by Him who
lives forever that it would be for a time, times, and
half a time; and as soon as they finish shattering
the power of the holy people, all these events will
be completed. As for me, I heard but could not
understand; so I said, "My lord, what will be
the outcome of these events?" And he said, "Go your
way, Daniel, for these words are concealed and sealed
up until the end time."
Revelation 10:5-7
And the angel whom I saw standing on the sea and
on the land lifted up his right hand to heaven, and
swore by Him who lives forever and ever, who created
heaven and the things in it, and the earth and the
things in it, and the sea and the things in it, that
THERE SHALL BE DELAY NO LONGER,
Now how can it be true that there IS NO MORE DELAY,
is it was "thousands of years off"???
CAN YOU ANSWER THAT???
Daniel 12:9
"But you, Daniel, close up and seal the words of
the scroll until the time of the end...." He replied,
"Go your way, Daniel, because the words are
closed up and sealed until the time of the end..."
Revelation 22:10
Then he told me, "Do NOT seal up the words of the
prophecy of this book, because the time IS NEAR."
Now remember, NO, THEY DID NOT teach that
"maybe it would be soon, maybe far off". The
Apostles taught a return within that generation
and that is clear in reading the New Testament.
Now either they were right and we CAN trust
our Bibles, or they were wrong about the thing
that (besides initial salvation) was the CENTRAL
FOCUS of the Bible!
And when people use the COPOUT that, "It isn't
that important of an issue anyway", when they
see that the Apostles did teach a return within
that generation, they are not being honest with
themselves. They are implying that they are
right and it's all about our time and that it's
okay for the Bible to be wrong and it must be
wrong, because they (people today) are right.
If that is not the same as saying, "The Bible
is wrong and I am right", then English isn't
English anymore. (:
The fact is, that they DON'T WANT to believe it!
THEY KNOW it is true and don't want it to be,
so they choose to ignore it! And then, they attack
me, for showing it to them and then claim to be,
"good Christians, who believe the Bible".
HYPOCRISY!!! (:
Not only this, but every time they refer to
the Bible to try to prove their case, they are
HYPOCRITES!
So you decide what you want to do.
1) Bow to God and believe His word.
2) Deny His word and claim you are right
and they were wrong.
There is no third option and any attempt to
create one, is an avoidance maneuver. (:
And so is quoting other Scriptures that
YOU THINK support your view, since all
you do, is pit the Bible against itself!
"Well, that can't be true, because this says...". (:
--
"Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass,
till all these things be fulfilled." - Matthew 24:34
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