Hebraic Musing – Bible says the “End Times” are coming, but When?
What do we know
for sure, and what do we NOT know for sure? And what’s a “Maybe”? (NKJV references)
Everyone knows and
agrees that there will be a sudden, bodily return of Christ:
· Matthew 24:44 “...for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not
expect.”
· John 14:3 “... I will
come again and receive you to Myself;”
· Acts 1:11 “This same
Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in like manner
....”
and 1 Thes.4:16 Heb. 9:28 James 5:8 2 Pet.3:10 1 John 3:2
Rev.22:20 Rev.1:7
Meanwhile we are,
and should be, eagerly expecting His return:
· Titus 2:12-13 “...looking
for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior...,”
· Philip.3:20 “For
our citizenship is in heaven,...we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord
Jesus Christ,”
But we do NOT know
when:
· Matthew 24:44
& Luke 12:40 “...for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not
expect.”
· Matthew 25:13 “Watch
therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour...”
· Mark 13:32-33 “...day and hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, ... you do not know...”
He will come back
at any time, but what must happen first?
Jesus gave us pre-conditions:
· Gospel preached to
all nations – Mark 13:10 “And the gospel must first be preached to all the nations.”
In the 1st century, that
was done! Or does Jesus mean today’s
world?
· Tribulation – Mark
13:7-8 “For many will come in My name, …But when
you hear of wars and rumors of wars, do not be troubled; for such things must
happen, but the end is not yet.”
& Matt.24:15-22 & Luke 21:20-24 Haven’t
we already had false prophets & increasing wars!?!?
· False Prophets –
Mark 13:22 “For false christs and false prophets
will rise and show signs and wonders to deceive,” Have
false religions already sprung up? And
deceived many?
· Signs in the
heavens Luke 21:25 “And there will be signs in the sun, in the moon, and in
the stars; and on the earth distress of nations, with perplexity, the sea and
the waves roaring;” Mark 13:24-25 & Matthew.24:29-30 What are
“global warming” and other media headlines about?
And Paul also provides more pre-conditions:
· Coming of the “Lawless
One” – In 2 Thess. 2:1-10 Are we already
seeing a serious increase in lawlessness?
· Salvation of
Israel – Romans 11:12 & 25-26 “For I do not desire, brethren, that you
should be ignorant of this mystery, …, that blindness in part has happened to
Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in. And so all
Israel will be saved,” Is “all Israel” literal, figurative, or all those
with the faith of Abraham?
How can we build a
confident view of “End Times” considering some of these questions?
1.
Have
all or some of the Pre-conditions been met?
2.
Two
different returns of Christ. For His
people or with His people? Who goes
first? Who is left?
3.
Maybe
all things have already happened, so Christ can come back anytime!
4.
Unilaterally,
Jesus Christ can do as He wills!
Points to Ponder
What action
is suggested? Is “Be Ready” an action?
Do you know anyone
who needs Heaven instead of Hell? What are
we supposed to do about it?
What think
you? What’s for sure and what’s “maybe”?
“Surely I am coming quickly.” Revelation 22:20
Yosef a.k.a. Joe Brusherd
October
31, 2023
Author: “Hebraic Insights – Messages
exploring the Hebrew roots of our faith”
“Biblical Marriage (by Yosef)”
Weekly “Hebraic Musings” insightsbyyosef.blogspot.com
Note - From teaching by Corey Corrick at
Emmanuel Baptist Church on October 1, 2023.
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