Ask me a question, about the times we are in, and I will answer you, to the best of my knowledge.

DO you have questions? Questions about why these are the last days? Why there will be a mark of the beast? Why the antichrist will come and why? What Jesus Tells us to do in these times? Will we be safe? Who does God say will be safe from the tribulation? What is the name of the beast and what is it? Ask a question and I will answer it for you to the best of my knowledge.
Jesus Never Turned His Back On Us. We Should Walk With Him Now..
Ask me a question, about the times we are in, and I will answer you, to the best of my knowledge.




[edit on 14-1-2005 by realorritt]

[edit on 14-1-2005 by realorritt]

Originally posted by realorritt
DO you have questions?

Yes.. why do you want the world to end?

Question 1:
Explain to me why Jesus referred to the end times as something that was going to occur in the lifetimes of those he was peaking to on at least three different occasions in the New Testament? There are a few statements as well in the Bible that Jesus did not himself make, but still support the end times occuring shortly after the death of Jesus...in the tens of years.

Question 2:
Where in the bible does it say that there will be a rapture...specifically. I am not looking for abstract interpretations. I want to know where the bible says that.

Question 3:
What day will the world end, in your opinion. So that I know when I can come back to you and call you crazy.

Originally posted by riley

Originally posted by realorritt
DO you have questions?

Yes.. why do you want the world to end?

I have not stated that I want the world to end, in fact it is the opposite, you see, the world will never end. As long as there are people, as long as children are born, as long as we all keep living , and dying,and being born, the world will contiue to go on. This world will never end, but, it will be a new world, one of peace and love, and one, where our Lord will sit in the temple and we shall see him with our own eyes for he will live on this earth. This world was created by God and shall always be his earth without end..

i have a question

who are you that you are able to answer these questions?

just curious

Originally posted by realorritt
I have not stated that I want the world to end, in fact it is the opposite, you see, the world will never end. As long as there are people, as long as children are born, as long as we all keep living , and dying,and being born, the world will contiue to go on. This world will never end, but, it will be a new world, one of peace and love,

I completely agree.

and one, where our Lord will sit in the temple and we shall see him with our own eyes for he will live on this earth. This world was created by God and shall always be his earth without end..

See.. this is where we run into problems. Religion has always proven to be an engine for war not peace.. and you are promoting religion so you are promoting war. 'Judgement day' usually infers the end of human kind not the continuation of it.

Sir:

How is the government of Christ expressed upon this world? Among what people will his government best be expressed in these times and in the times to come? What is the nature of his laws, and the virtue of his civil philosophies?

How will the expression of the government of Christ advance the culture of mankind? What will it do to the animals? Does it include the expansion of space faring technolgies and the colonization of the galaxy?

How will the people be organized under the government of Christ? What will the world do for food, water, biological necessities? Will money cease to exist, what about the means of production and processing?

Answer these, if you are a truthful spirit.

Arkaleus

[edit on 14-1-2005 by Arkaleus]

Ark,

I think I have figured your problem out. You assume that humankind is necessarily linked to your interpretation of a God figure. It isn't.

A wise man knows not to turn to a human being regarding the "end times". Only God is privy to such knowledge.

A wise man knows that he should study and abide by the precepts of the ten commandments and by the teachings of Jesus and his disciples in the new testament of the bible.

During every major catastrophy and the turn of every century, mankind has amongst them doomsayers who consider it the "end times". All interpretations of the bible by man are prone to error.

A wise man knows that if he remains in communication with God through frequent prayer and abides by the above things, that his main focus should be on leading an exemplary life as a witness to others and to pray for those who are not saved.

This is what bothers me....

You have people like aWoman who say to follow the teachings of Jesus when it comes to matters like the end times. Follow the teachings of Jesus....

Yet Jesus PERSONALLY SAID IN THE BIBLE THAT THE ENDTIMES WOULD COME IN THE LIFETIME OF THOSE PRESENT WITH HIM WHILE TALKING.
HE SAID HE WOULD RETURN IN KIND!!!!!

I still havent met anyone who was alive 2000 years ago. So his teachings are what we should follow aWoman? Then we already experienced the tribulation and the return of Jesus but missed it. Nice....

A wise woman once said.....a whole bunch of nonsense.

[edit on 1/14/2005 by Seapeople]

Uh, thanks Seapeople.

I think your problem is that you assume that I'm necessarily linked to mankind. I'm not. You are free to be independent in your estimation of God, as I am not accountable for what you do. If you are a wise soul, then offer your treasures for us to see, as this brave man has done by offering his spirit to us.

What I believe in is the ability of prophets to speak, and if this man has the ability to answer my questions, then I will find a brother and give honor to a wise man.

Only brave people who are filled with the spirit speak like this, and I encourage it whenever I see it. My questions are very difficult, but only the wisest of spirits can answer them. If no answer comes, then I know that the spirits we are dealing with here are of a more common variety, and not to be honored.

I must admit, that my questions are not entirely asked in the spirit of seeking new knowledge, because I can probably answer them myself. Thus I admit that I am inquiring after a fellow because I am curious of his nature. In this, I am behaving in a human fashion, and I apologize.

I think the virtue I am trying to express is that I love men who speak this way, and offer to answer things in the spirit, for them I honor because I know the value of it.

To atone for my questioning I will answer the questions in the Spirit that I myself have attained:

The Government of Christ is expressed upon this world as the increase of life and intelligence, and is joined to the spirit and glory of all life, at its most basic essence. The government of such a system of glories is expressed in joy, and adds fatness and health to the inhabitants of the earth. The spirits of this earth are gentle and meek, from the smallest mote to the largest beast, and these are already properly ordered.

As for this being expressed in the end times, I am doing so right here.

The virtue of his CIVIL philosophies are the expansion of men's understanding of the spiritual nature of life and how to properly exist and think within it. Nature is ordered after this form of government, and men should learn it and develop themselves within it as they have done for themselves in the past in their inferior understanding. Men will grow towards the best of their understanding, and if that understanding be perfect, they will grow in the most effective manner. The increase of Love and the elimination of envy and judgment and sin are the most important civic virtues I can recall now.

The advancement of our culture has been encouraged by the Celestial realm, and the Spirits of God delight in the accomplishments of virtue and science. If mankind also overcome the darker forces and the devil, his kingdom will flourish even into the stars. Such an expansion of virtue and accomplishment will necessarily open the heavens to man, and his children will inherit every space that he can reach among the stars.

The intelligence of Animals is expanded also under the direction of the Celestial Christ, they will communicate and rejoice with mankind. They hide from man now, and do not express themselves fully today. That will change in the future, as life attains it fullness.

The organization of the world under the Celestial government of Christ will be that of peaceful development, and the elimination of avarice and vice. Men will delight in the Spirit and will discard the baser elements in favor of the bliss of this fullness. Nation-States will be not be expressed as political forms, as a spiritual language and expression will displace the former methods of communication and organization. Laws are simplified and reduced to their most basic virtues, and the machinery of fraud and deception that the current world relies upon to rule will be destroyed.

The biological necessities of life will remain the same, and will only alter as our wisdom becomes complete. We will require the same sustenance for a long time, and as we become more perfect in our understanding of life and the systems of life we will need different things. Science will flourish under the Celestial Government of Christ. Money will not be useful in a spiritual world, but rather energy will become the focus of development. The production of energy will be refine and generalized, with societies fashioning works for the public good, or the progression of science and infrastructure. For a time, money will be a loathsome thing.

Hurrah for Huygens! Titan is revealed for the joy of mankind and the generations!

Arkaleus

Your questions are not difficult. You intentionally fill them with meaningless words and information that means nothing in reality. You do this as a way to seem more intelligent than the rest of us. In reality it is your lack of intelligence that causes you to feel insecure. Your insecurity is so severe that you are forced to make believe that you are something when you are really not that something.

This by the way is a known psychological event, that has been documented. Coincedentally, people on internet message boards and chat rooms are significantly more likely to fit this mold.

What a arrogant insult to those of us who come to this post with good intentions.

You don't offer answers to our questions, or post questions of your own, but instead antagonize and insult. I don't insult others, why do you feel the need to? Do you have any coherent goal, or are you just a wandering wolf?

I asked you to offer your treasures for us to see, like the others here did, but it is obvious to me that you have none to offer. Jesus once said:

"A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure brings forth evil. For out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks"

That is what I said about you, and you have proven Him quite correct.

Arkaleus


[edit on 14-1-2005 by Arkaleus]

And I can assure you that by your response, everyone can see for themselves that I am right.

You said this before:

Yet Jesus PERSONALLY SAID IN THE BIBLE THAT THE ENDTIMES WOULD COME IN THE LIFETIME OF THOSE PRESENT WITH HIM WHILE TALKING.

Don't know anything at all? Jesus' words were true. Jerusalem was destroyed by the Romans, the temple burnt, and the people of Israel scattered to the world. That occured well within the lifetime of those with Jesus. So indeed, the end of their time was accomplished, even as Jesus spoke it.

You viper, you wolf in sheep's dress, I know your wicked spirit and I call you out to proclaim your faith, or shrink back into the shadows you sprang from.

Arkaleus

holy cow man! seapeople i guess he told you!! lol!!
anywhoo i want to jump in here!

Arkaleus- why and how do you identify with christ and his words? you claim to be something other than human is that correct? why do you feel the need to talk over peoples heads when actually jesus got on peoples level? why do you always act super spiritual, like you are a great teacher/ do you feel this to be your calling? i ask you again how do you see yourself identified with christ enough to use his words as a guide? are you a christ follower?

realorritt- is your intention to spread the gospel? good for you!
some people will take this as being a know it all,and call you self righteous, its the way of the world.
I dont know yet what you believe completly, so i cannot say that i agree with you on your viewpoints, maybee you could post what you believe so people have an idea of where your coming from.


to anyone- i believe every generation should be ready for the return of christ and live like they are in last days! maybee you will die tomorow? maybee you will live to 100? either way get yourself ready to meet your maker! be dressed and ready!

Riley- does judgement = war?? i do not believe so! judgement and justice are part of love.

One of the most famous mysteries of Christ is that NO ONE REALLY UNDERSTOOD him. Even when he spoke parables, they were at many levels. His apostles asked the same thing, and Jesus said something like "When you are babes, you drink milk, but when you are able to eat meat, then you may learn the fullness of what I have said."

I am truly human. I speak that way because I claim no connection to this world or mankind. That was the commandment of our Lord, Ninki. I am not a teacher for everyone. I have come at the END of the work, so I am geared towards a fullness and I speak towards things that are already completed or full. Christ came in the earlier times, and laid the foundation and gave the first teachings. He is also in my words, but only a few people will understand that. I know I am hard to understand, I use large words and complex thoughts, that's because Christ invited me to HIS level.

I rarely use bible quotes, but this case requires it:

Matthew 19:28
And Jesus said unto them, Verily I say unto you, that ye which have followed me, in the regeneration when the Son of Man shall sit in the throne of His Glory, ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.

I Corinthians 6:2,4a
Do you not know that the saints shall judge the world? and if the world shall be judged by you, are ye unworthy to judge the smallest matters? Ye have judgment of things pertaining to this life. . . .

It would be an insult to Christ if we have not over the past 2000 YEARS developed our philosophies and faith to a higher level. It is an arrogant assumption that all men have not progressed in our understanding. That would make a fool of Christ, who promised to help us develop, especially in the last days, when He said he would pour his spirit upon the whole world. His spirit is UNDERSTANDING and WISDOM. Because I offer the words of this development, you do not recognize them, because you have been held back at the level of babes, and cannot understand the words of fullness.

Look at the things I said. That's the proof of what kind of spirit I am. Look at the words and understand the kind of things I am after. Christ is not stuck in the 1st century, don’t you believe that He is alive? Why then, are you so ready to accept that nothing new has been declared, or we have progressed at all? Only the Devil and his sons seek to restrain and men’s progression towards a more perfect understanding of Christ.

Ninki, you have asked me if I am a Christ follower before. I do not know how to answer you over and over again. If you cannot discern my nature from my words, then I cannot ever explain my faith to you. I began with Christ, I lived and learned under His guidance, and I am completed by Christ and will dwell with him and the rest of my kind in the place where He is.

Your religions don't prepare you for this kind of answer, but it is the only honest one for a Christian to give. You don't find new things in the Bible, You find them by reasoning with God and inquiring and building upon the wise and great things that have already come to pass.

What new things can you bring out of YOUR treasury? Why won't anyone answer me?

And also, shame on this crowd, for there came one man speaking prophecy in the spirit of God, and you have done him dishonor and have not treasured his offer, as is righteous for Christians to do. You have focused on me, because of your preponderance and confusion, and because I speak in strange ways to you.

Arkaleus

[edit on 14-1-2005 by Arkaleus]

Arkaleus- the word of god is all that we need! because jesus is the word of god made flesh! how dare you compare yourself to him?? Jesus is the christ messiah! you are totaly human and totaly just as lame as i am!
god did not come to save the self righteous, but to call all the sinners unto repentance! he came for me.
I see now what your saying, you say you cannot answer how you identify with christ, it is because you do not! our highest calling as a human is to be a SERVANT of the most high god! not to concider ourselves to be equal to god! you think more of yourself than you should, little human like the rest of us!!! on the issue of claiming no connection to this world or humankind, what a load of crap!!!! jesus came in the flesh to be identified with humanity! that is what makes him our savior, he was the lamb of god who took away the sin of the world! he fully identified with humanity!
christ invited you to his level? the level we need to be on with christ is on our knees, he is the almighty creator,jesus messiah.
i think you got a screw loose.

False Christians give the same sign as they approach. They recognize nothing holy, they tear down with their eyes, and smite with their words. They are filled with the persecutions of the adversary. They utter the name of God, and Christ, but in their heart is confusion, madness, and malice.

It is pointless to debate the matter with you. You ask of me because you seek to hear me conform to your understanding or to your particular religion, or give you some sign of kinship with yourself, but I am unable to do so. You do this with the reasonable expectation that if you cannot find something YOU recognize in me, then by your reasoning I am false, evil, a deceiver, etc. But the problem is, you never let it go, you never figure out that I cannot be contained by you. You may not be able to understand me at all, in which case I will only frustrate you. There are many kinds of men, and not all men are sinners and devils. Not that men never error, but it is commanded of them to correct themselves and progress. Christ did not judge men in that fashion, because he understood that men needed to survive past the judgments of the authorities if he was ever going to reach an exalted state. You are demonstrating the error of the authorities, who love judgment and wrath, and fear the progression of a man beyond what they can understand.

Do you think that Christ has not been able to raise up a single man to an exalted state? It is a foolish thing you utter. Because I give you the sign of my progression, and am not ashamed to reveal myself, you seek to be contrary and prosecute me on my words. You desire to knock everyone to their knees, instead of encouraging a man to fly and exceed all that came previous to him. Today we landed a probe on Titan! Titan is a moon of Saturn! Could we have accomplished such a wonder if we were all busy weeping and moaning, burying our face in the ground, groveling to Christ about how unworthy we are? No, we are not always wrong, we are not always unworthy, sometimes we get it right and do wonders. THAT is what you should encourage, rather than tear people down who are ahead of you. My intention for speaking these wonderful and sometimes original things here is to spark the true light of divinity within myself, and others. I don't want to keep defending myself against ignorant people who can never understand. Why don't you stop trying to "prove" me? I have proved myself MANY times, and have no intention of proving myself to someone who cannot ever be convinced.

For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.

I am not done growing, learning, or developing yet. I admit this freely, because there is no shame in it. Yet I can also honestly estimate myself to greatness, because I have pursued greatness in my heart and mind, and my words establish themselves as the fruit of such greatness. But I am not yet finished, and I will grow only more wise, more good, and more perfect before I am done. That is obedience to God, and the true Christian creed. Such words are pride only in the ears of men and women, who are only too eager to spend their remarks on those who do not bow to their limited minds, or their flawed systems.

My words and knowledge are a gift from God and His Christ, they are the development of my willingness to exceed my slower brothers and sisters and go beyond the imaginary fences you have drawn for yourself. This is so that I can meet up with the Truly Great, who are the teachers of mankind in all things. Christ never said, "You will only build so high." Or "You will only know so much, the rest is forbidden to you." But he invited all men to eat from his mouth, and drink from his wisdom, that they might be full even as he was. That is the word of a truly Great King, who has no envy for the growth of his children or brothers, but seeks to improve all things. Let us be more Like Christ, not more like men.

There is no better measure of a man than Christ himself, and if a man be compared to any, why should he not be compared to Christ? It is modern nonsense and false teaching that mankind should never know the Christ, or progress past his childhood and into divinity. That is the whole work of Christ, to bring men to perfection.

I am not going to debate this matter with you. Stop trying to prove that I am wrong, or this or that, what I am is not important to you. If I be wicked, then that is between me and God, let God speak for Himself. If you have an honest and true judgment of me, then speak it without your obvious anger and envy. I am not above error, but my intentions are perfected.

The most I could ever be is a mortal man made perfect, which is nothing new. Many men were uplifted to this state By Christ, even before Christ came there were perfect men who departed this world. Why do you seek to prevent them? They are done with you and your ways. Where is your faith to achieve all things, Christian? Are you done with Faith yet, that you have full knowledge? Or are you yet a babe, and must be reminded that you not able to judge full matters yet? I can judge many great things, for my understanding has been expanded by Christ. I know that it is for envy they slew Christ, and it is for envy that men and women quarrel with me.

I seek fullness, and I tire of those who cannot give it to me, for all they offer is the regurgitated meals of our ancestors, who themselves fell into error and destruction, having full share of hypocrisy and vanity. It is THEIR words you have been taught, not Christ’s, for their words proceed from envy, and a desire to control their offspring, and glory in themselves. Such as these I reject, and say that their time is ending. Christ is Greater than them all, and those he has chosen from our world are to be established over men and nations.

Where are the True Christians? I tell you truly, they are with Christ always, and there is nothing too hard for them.

Arkaleus

[edit on 14-1-2005 by Arkaleus]

[edit on 14-1-2005 by Arkaleus]

Originally posted by Seapeople

Question 1:
Explain to me why Jesus referred to the end times as something that was going to occur in the lifetimes of those he was peaking to on at least three different occasions in the New Testament? There are a few statements as well in the Bible that Jesus did not himself make, but still support the end times occuring shortly after the death of Jesus...in the tens of years.

Question 2:
Where in the bible does it say that there will be a rapture...specifically. I am not looking for abstract interpretations. I want to know where the bible says that.

Question 3:
What day will the world end, in your opinion. So that I know when I can come back to you and call you crazy.

Dear Child,
First let me say, please do not be so upset with your questions. Many people cannot interpret the bible if it is not read, and studied. Many have tried to xplain many things in the bible, but each religion has its own logical reason. Firstly I tell you, man made religion, not the Lord, do you not remember when he went into the temple -And Jesus went into the temple of God, and cast out all them that sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables of the money changers, and the chairs of them that sold doves:
And he saith to them: It is written, My house shall be called the house of prayer; but you have made it a den of thieves.
Jesus told his disciples to spread the news, and the "word", but the "Lord" did not say "Go and make confusion, and let there be different religions, with different beliefs in me, so their followers shall be tormented by confusion, as to which is the right religion." He said to spread the "word". Man took thta word, and now, today, we have many many different bibles, different religions, and many people who shall argue and spew words of hatred of the 'God" they worship. So what God do we worship? We worsip the one we cannot see, the one who died for us, the one who rose to show us there is life in the spirit, after death. To get an original bible you should look and ask around, but the one in Jerusalem, is right. Man made confusion everywhere, spreading his word, and how he interprets the "word", and how we should give money to the 'church'. but Jesus said it was a house of prayer, only! So, you should do some deep soul searching and then you will find the god you seek, the god we all seek, not the man who says he knows the things you should and should not believe in, as in the Jehovah Witness. Their religion believes that to get blood from another , even if it means that the child, woman, man may die, they believe God, their"God" will heal him or her. Christians believe that to get a vlood transfusion is an act of mercy and saving a life, which religion is right and which religion is wrong? did God teach not to take blood from others..no. Only that diseases can be spread by blood such as aids spreads, with its reaction to blood. But technology lets the patient know if the blood is safe to use or no safe. Too many religions and not enough thought about the bible.
I suggest you do whatever you can do to find a close to original copy of the bible, and read it. Then you have the will to believe and think what you want too.
In answer to your first question,
If you can step into the shoes of those being addressed here, nearly 2000 years ago, you would be led to believe that you were living in the end times and that you might live to see the Son of Man coming in His Kingdom. Clearly, Jesus taught that the timing of His "second coming" would be in the first century. His disciples also believed He would come again in the first century. Clearly, those were the last days.


John the baptist to Jews:


Matthew 3:2, "...Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven has drawn near."

Luke 3:7,9, "Then said he to the multitude..O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath about to come? And now also the axe is laid…every tree therefore which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire."





The Teachings of Jesus

Jesus to His twelve apostles (telling them to preach to Israel):


Matthew 10:7, "...preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven has drawn near. "

Matthew 10:23, "...In no wise will ye have completed the cities of Israel, until the Son of man be come."

Notice Jesus told these 12 apostles that they would not have completed preaching to first-century Israel when the Son of man comes, which was during the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 AD.


Jesus to Peter, James, John and Andrew…privately:


Matthew 24:30,34, " they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory…This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled."

Mark 13:24,25,30, " But in those days, after that tribulation, the sun shall be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, And the stars of heaven shall fall, and the powers that are in heaven shall be shaken....this generation shall not pass, till all these things be done. "

Luke 21:22,26,32, "For these be the days of vengeance, that all things which are written may be fulfilled... for the powers of heaven shall be shaken…This generation shall not pass away, till all be fulfilled. "

"This generation" refers to the generation then living at the time Jesus spoke these words.


Jesus to His disciples:


Mark 8:38, "Whosoever therefore shall be ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation; of him also shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he cometh in the glory of his Father with the holy angels."
What "generation" was Jesus referring to in this passage? Jesus said it was the adulterous and sinful generation that was then living while Jesus was alive! The above passage was spoken before this next passage (the following are all parallel verses):


Jesus to His twelve disciples (who were standing in front of Jesus):


Matthew 16:27-28, "For the Son of man is about to come in the glory of his Father with his angels; and then he shall reward every man according to his works. Verily I say unto you, There are some of those standing here, who in no wise shall taste of death, until they have seen the Son of man coming in his kingdom."

Mark 8:38 - 9:1, "…when he cometh in the glory of his Father with the holy angels....there are some of those standing here, who in no wise shall taste of death, until they see the kingdom of God having come in power. "

Luke 9:26-27, "... when he shall come in his own glory, and in his Father's, and of the holy angels…there are some of those standing here, who in no wise shall taste of death, until they have seen the kingdom of God. "

Notice how Jesus said that some of his disciples, who were standing right there in front of him, would not physically die by the time He came with his angels to reward every man according to his works (Revelation 22:12). John was one of these men who lived to see it...as you can see by the following verse...

Jesus to Peter:


John 21:22-23, "...If I (Jesus) desire him (John) to abide till I come, what is that to thee?" [John was one of the twelve apostles who was never martyred, and abided on earth well after 70AD. Therefore, John did abide until Christ came in 70AD, just like Jesus desired him to!]

John 14:3, "And if I go and prepare a place for you, I am coming, and will receive you unto myself;"


Jesus to the high priest:


Matthew 26:64, "...Hereafter shall ye see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven. "


Jesus to Nathanael:


John 1:51, "...ye shall see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of man. "


Jesus to Jews:


Matthew 4:17, "...Repent: for the kingdom of heaven has drawn near. "

Matthew 23:36,38, "Verily I say unto you, All these things shall come upon this generation. Behold, your house is left unto you desolate."

Mark 1:15, "...The time has been fulfilled, and the kingdom of God has drawn near: "


Jesus to the daughters of Jerusalem:


Luke 23:28-29, "…weep not for me, but weep for yourselves, and for your children. For, behold, the days are coming,"


Jesus to the Jews who sought to kill him:


Matthew 3:7, "...O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath about to come? "

John 5:25, "The hour is coming, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God: and they that hear shall live."


The Revelation of Jesus Christ, communicated through John, to the seven literal churches which were in Asia in the first century:


Revelation 1:1, "The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him, to shew unto his servants things which must take place shortly."

Revelation 1:3, "...the time is near."

Revelation 1:7, "Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him." (Those Jews who had crucified Jesus in the first century would see his coming!)

Revelation 2:16, "...I am coming to thee quickly, "

Revelation 2:25, "…hold fast till I shall come." (To the church in Thyatira, 1 of 7 real churches that existed in Asia Minor between 61 and 65A.D.)

Revelation 3:11, "Behold, I come quickly:"

Revelation 10:6, "And sware by him that liveth for ever and ever…that there should be no more delay:" (Jesus said he would not delay his coming to those living in the first century!)


(The remaining verses are from the very last chapter of Revelation, after all these prophesies have been revealed. Just when will all these things come to pass? This chapter tells us!)
Revelation 22:6, "…God of the holy prophets sent his angel to shew unto his servants the things which must come to pass soon."

Revelation 22:7, "Behold, I am coming quickly:"

Revelation 22:10, "...Seal not the sayings of the prophecy of this book: for the time is near. "

Revelation 22:12, "And, behold, I come quickly;"

Revelation 22:20, "...Surely I am coming quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus."
The Teachings of the Apostles

Paul to all who were beloved of God in Rome:


Romans 13:11-12, " And that, knowing the time,...now is our salvation nearer than when we believed…the day has drawn near: "

Romans 16:20, "And the God of peace shall bruise Satan under your feet shortly." (See this prophesy in Genesis 3:15).


Paul to Timothy:


1 Timothy 6:14, "That thou keep this commandment without spot, unrebukeable, until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ:"

2 Timothy 1:18, "The Lord grant unto him that he may find mercy of the Lord in that day:"


Paul to the Hebrews:


Hebrews 1:1-2, "God…Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son," (The scripture says the last days were in the first century, not 2,000 years later).

Hebrews 9:26, "For then must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world: but now once in the consumation of the ages hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself."

Hebrews 10:25, "...ye see the day drawing near. "

Hebrews 10:37, "...he that shall come will come, and will not delay." [Paul said that Jesus would not delay his coming!]


Paul to the Philippian church:


Philippians 4:5, "...The Lord is near. "


Paul to the church of Corinth:


1 Corinthians 1:7-8, "So that ye come behind in no gift; waiting for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ: Who shall also confirm you unto the end, that ye may be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ."

1 Corinthians 7:29, "...the time is short: "

1 Corinthians 7:31, "...the fashion of this world passeth away."

1 Corinthians 10:11, "Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the ages are arrived."


Paul, Silvanus and Timothy to the church of the Thessalonians:


1 Thessalonians 3:13, "To the end he may stablish your hearts unblameable in holiness before God, even our Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all his saints."

1 Thessalonians 4:17, "Then we the living who remain shall be caught away together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord."

1 Thessalonians 5:23, "...and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. "

2 Thessalonians 2:2:, "...the day of Christ is present. "

Paul to the Galatians:


Galatians 4:4, "But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law,"

Galatians 5:5, "For we through the Spirit wait for the hope of righteousness by faith."


James to the twelve tribes who were dispersed abroad:


James 5:7-9, "Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord. …the coming of the Lord has drawn near…behold, the judge stands before the door."


Peter to the elect scattered abroad:


1 Peter 1:7, "That the proving of your faith…might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:"

1 Peter 1:9-10, "Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls. Of which salvation the prophets have enquired and searched diligently, who prophesied of the grace that should come unto you:"

1 Peter 1:13,20, " Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the appearing of Jesus Christ; Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you," (Now Peter confirms that the last days were during the first century).

1 Peter 4:5, "Who shall give account to him that is ready to judge the quick and the dead."

1 Peter 4:7, "But the end of all things has drawn near:"

1 Peter 4:17, "For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God:"

2 Peter 3:9, "The Lord does not delay concerning his promise" (What promise is this verse talking about? The very next verse reads, "But the day of the Lord will come..." Peter wrote the Lord would not delay his promise concerning the Day of the Lord!]

2 Peter 3:12, "Expecting and hastening the coming of the day of God,"

Peter to the men of Judaea:


Acts 2:16-20, "But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel; And it shall come to pass in the last days…The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before that great and notable day of the Lord come:" (This confirms that the "last days" the Old Testament prophesized about took place in the first century).

Acts 3:24, "Yea, and all the prophets…have likewise foretold of these days." (Peter said ALL the prophets foretold of which days? "These days" of the first century, which were "the last days" of the Old Testament era).

John to those who believed in the name of the Son of God:


1 John 2:17-18, "And the world passeth away…Little children, it is the last hour…we know that it is the last hour." (John wrote these epistles sometime after 60 AD. Notice how, as 70.AD was very nearly approaching, John wrote that it is the "last hour", instead of the "last days.")

1 John 2:28, "And now, little children, abide in him; that, when he shall appear, we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before him at his coming."

1 John 3:2, "...when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. "




Conclusion

We saw that Jesus said he would come -- while some that were standing there were still living; in that generation; soon; quickly; at hand, has drawn near; he said his coming was near. Everywhere the scripture talks about the Lord's coming it gives us a time statement. The New Testament saints fully expected the Lord to come in their lifetime. How could we possibly miss this? Yet the majority of believers today, some two thousand years later, are still saying that the Lord will return soon. Can the same event be imminent at two different periods of time separated by two thousand years?

Someone said to me that they felt that the Lord said he was coming soon because he wanted every generation to be watching for Him. Think about that. What that means is that when he told the first century believers that he was coming back soon, he really didn't mean it; he was giving them false information to keep them looking for Him. Can you live with that? If that was the case, what else did he tell them that wasn't true? Do we have a God who intentionally deceives men? Isn't it much easier to simply believe what Jesus said and believe that he came back in the first century, just like everyone said he would?

What is at stake here is the inspiration of Scripture. If Jesus was mistaken, or if he lied to us, then what good is the rest of the scripture? There are those opponents who say that if you believe that Jesus came back in the first century then you don't need to read your Bible any more. I don't understand that argument, but if Jesus didn't come back in the first century when he said that he would, then you might as well throw your Bible out, because if it isn't inspired it isn't any good. Dear child, I believe that the scripture is the inspired Word of God and therefore without errors.


. God says in Isaiah chapter 1:18, "come now, let us reason together." This is important because you are a product of your thinking. Proverbs 23:7 says, " For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he:."


What is really frightening about this, is that, in our culture, thinking is not really that important. Do you realize this? We are not so concerned about thinking as we are about two other things, emotion and pragmatism. We're concerned about feelings, and we're concerned about success. We're not so concerned about thinking. People don't ask the question, 'is it true, is it right'? They ask the question, 'does it work' and 'how will it make me feel?'. Emotion and pragmatism. This is tragic, especially because it has taken over many believers, and filled them with doubt.

Even in theology, it's sad to say, the issue is not always is it right or true, but will it offend or upset someone. We worry about how the truth will make people feel. In Acts 17:11, the Bereans were noble because they searched the scriptures, not to see if these things felt good, or to see if these things worked, or even to see if these things would offend, but to see if these things were "so," to see if they were right and true.

Some folks have said to me, "If I believe that Jesus came back in 70 AD, it might effect some areas of my life. Such as; will a mission board take me, will I be accepted at certain colleges, could I work in a prestigious program?" Listen, please listen to me carefully. Those are the wrong questions! The first, the foremost, the only important question that we need to ask is: is it true? If it's true we'll have to live with the consequences that the Lord gives us, but the issue here is Truth. Is it true?




Mathew 10:23, "But when they persecute you in this city, flee ye into another: for verily I say unto you, Ye shall not have gone over the cities of Israel, till the Son of man be come