ALREADY BUT NOT YET By Tuese Ahkiong

ALREADY BUT NOT YET

By Tuese Ahkiong

A BIG problem that modern day Christians have in interpreting Scripture is that  

THEY DO NOT KNOW WHAT TIME IT IS 

or

WHO IS BEING SPOKEN TO 

What do I mean by this?  Most Christians believe the Scripture was written directly TO THEM. WRONG!  It was written to certain people, churches, like Timothy, Titus, The church in Rome, Galatia...  Most Christians are very egotistic in the sense that they substitute themselves in a passage whenever they see the pronoun "you," "we," "us," or "our."  This is so funny and super sad!  

When they see phrases like "I'm coming soon," "the time is near," "the end of all things is at hand..." they think these statements are pertaining to them. LOL.  I'm like if Yeshua said he was coming soon in around 65AD to the 7 churches in Asia, how the heck could his "I'm coming soon" statement last about 2000 years?  This is the point where futurists pull out there 2Peter 3:8 as their trump card and say God's time ain't our time.  -I'm like, so if God wanted us to know that He was coming soon, quickly, at hand, near..., what language would He then use ?  

Christians!  We IS reading other people's mail!!!

Ask yourself, What would this mean to the people to whom the letter was written to?  What would this mean to Timothy, Titus, the church in Corinth, Ephesus who were living in the first century under that culture and time?

The Already But Not Yet took place between 30 and 70A.D.  This was the transitional time period between covenants and when the Old and New Covenants overlapped.  It was also the betrothal/engagement period of the bride of Christ and Yeshua.  Upon faith in Yeshua, a person during this time period was redeemed, saved, made righteous before God, and SEALED for the day of Redemption.  

This took place in 70AD when it was consummated.  - Christ returned, executed judgment; slayed the dragon and his minions, the apostate Jews; saved His bride, married her and lives happily ever after...

Many of the writers and Christ speak of Salvation as already a present reality in the 1st century pre-70AD and not yet in the sense that ALL prophecies needed to be fulfilled but they were as good as fulfilled because Christ said they would happen within that 1st century generation!  This is called of prolepsis!!!

Definition of prolepsis

: ANTICIPATION: such as

a: the representation or assumption of a future act or development as if presently existing or accomplished

b

: the application of an adjective to a noun in anticipation of the result of the action of the verb (as in "while yon slow oxen turn the furrowed plain")  

The NT writers state that they were at the end of the age. 

1Corinthians 10:11

Now these things happened to them as an example, but they were written down for our instruction, on whom the end of the ages has come.

Hebrews 9:26

for then he would have had to suffer repeatedly since the foundation of the world. But as it is, he has appeared once for all at the end of the ages to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself.

**What ages was coming to an end?

**What age was coming to an end when the NT was being written?  Was it the New Covenant Age?  Absolutely not! It just got started!  What  ages did Yeshua appear at the end of? Not the New Testament because it just got started and btw, has no end.  He appeared at the close of the Old Covenant Age.  In fact,  Yeshua was born in the OC.



Galatians 4:3-6 

In the same way we also, when we were children, were enslaved to the elementary principles of the world. 4 But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, 5 to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons. 6 And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba! Father!”

1 Thessalonians 5:8-10 

But since we belong to the day, let us be sober, having put on the breastplate of faith and love, and for a helmet the hope of salvation. 9 For God has not destined us for wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, 10 who died for us so that whether we are awake or asleep we might live with him.

Hebrews 8:13 In speaking of a new covenant, he makes the first one obsolete. And what is becoming obsolete and growing old is ready to vanish away.

**The writer of Hebrews is essentially saying around 65AD that the first covenant is READY to vanish away. This happened in 70AD.

Hebrews 9:8  

The Holy Spirit is signifying this, that the way into the holy place has not yet been disclosed, while the outer tabernacle is still standing,

**Nobody went to heaven as long as that Temple stood. 

Hebrews 9:27-28

EnglishStandard Version (ESV)

27 And justas it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment, 28 soChrist, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to deal with sin but to save those who are eagerly waiting for him.

**Christ is The Ultimate High Priest.  He completes the ultimate sacrifice to YHWH in providing Himself before YHWH in heaven before THE TRUE HOLY OF HOLIES.  Part of the High Priest's job is to return to the People as a sign that their sins have been forgiven!

Christ appeared a second time in 70AD to bring SALVATION to that first century generation who were eagerly waiting for Him. 

John 3:13  

"And no one has ascended into heaven, but He who descended from heaven, even the Son of Man.    

***Christ came to FULFILL the OC before it, the old heavens and earth passed away. 

There are several prophecies in the OC that would have to be fulfilled connected to this time period before the OC would close. Daniel 12:2 The Resurrection,

Romans13:11-13

Besides this you know the time, that the hour has come for you to wake from sleep. For salvation is nearer to us now than when we first believed. 12 The night is far gone; the day is at hand. So then let us cast off the works of darkness and put on the armor of light. 13 Let us walk properly as in the daytime,…
 

**How is it that Paul can say salvation is NEARER to us (Paul and the church in Rome 1st Century) NOW than when they first believed?  The consummation was in 70AD.

What was“the night?”  The Old Covenant.

What was“the day” that was at hand?  The consummation of The New Covenant.

1 Peter 1:3-13

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled,and unfading, kept in heaven for you, 5who by God's power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. 6 In this you rejoice, though now for a little while,if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, 7 so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.8 Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him,you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, 9 obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls.

10 Concerning this salvation, the prophets who prophesied about the grace that was to be yours searched and inquired carefully, 11 inquiring what person or time the Spirit of Christ in them was indicating when he predicted the sufferings of Christ and the subsequent glories. 12 It was revealed to them that they were serving not themselves but you, in the things that have now been announced to you through those who preached the good news to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven, things into which angels long to look.

13 Therefore, preparing your minds for action, and being sober-minded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.

**Why would Peter say that salvation is ready to be revealed in the last time if they had salvation already?  Does Peter not say that this salvation will come at the revelation of Jesus Christ?

If Peter and the saints had grace already, what sense would GRACE be brought to the saints (v13) at the revelation of Jesus?

Galatians5:5 

For through the Spirit, by faith, we ourselves eagerly wait for the hope of righteousness.

**If Paul and Galatian church had salvation and the righteousness of Christ, in what sense were they eagerly waiting for the hope of righteousness?

Luke21:20-22

[ JesusForetells Destruction of Jerusalem ] “But when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then know that its desolation has come near.  . 21 Then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains, and let those who are inside the city depart, and let not those who are out in the country enter it, 22 for these are days of vengeance, to fulfill all that is written. 

Luke21:28

Now when these things begin to take place, straighten up and raise your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.”

Luke21:31

So also, when you see these things taking place, you know that the kingdom of God is near.

**Christ is prophesying to His disciples that they would SEE Jerusalem surrounded by armies and come to its DESOLATION.  

At the destruction of Jerusalem, THE DAYS OF VENEGEANCE, ALL THAT IS WRITTEN would be FULFILLED, THUS ALL PROPHESIES IN OLD AND NEW TESTAMENT FULFILLED IN 70AD at the Destruction of Jerusalem.

The covenant people would be REDEEMED

and they would SEE THE KINGDOM OF GOD COME!

Is not Yeshua connecting the redemption of the saints, arrival of the kingdom of God with the desolation of Jerusalem?

Romans 8:19

For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God.

Romans 8:23

And not only [so], but also we ourselves, having the first-fruit of the Spirit, we also ourselves in ourselves do groan, adoption expecting -- the redemption of our body;

**Were the true sons of God revealed and adopted and redeemed?  Yes.  The true sons of God are those who are in Christ; Christians, the body of Christ.
When does Scripture say that the redemption would take place?  Destruction of Jerusalem

Ephesians 4:30

And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.

**Is not the day of redemption connected to what Yeshua said about the desolation of Jerusalem by armies?

Philippians 1:27-30  Only let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving side by side for the faith of the gospel, 28 and not frightened in anything by your opponents. This is a clear sign to them of their destruction, but of your salvation, and that from God. 29 For it has been granted to you that for the sake of Christ you should not only believe in him but also suffer for his sake, 30 engaged in the same conflict that you saw I had and now hear that I still have.

2 Peter 3:11-14

Since all these things are thus to be dissolved, what sort of people ought you to be in lives of holiness and godliness, 12 waiting for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be set on fire and dissolved, and the heavenly bodies will melt as they burn! 13 But according to his promise we are waiting for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells.

14Therefore, beloved, since you are waiting for these, be diligent to be found by him without spot or blemish, and at peace.

**Is not Peter along with the dispersion saints who he is writing to, waiting for the New Heavens and New Earth???  Did the NHNE come or was Peter wrong to say that they were waiting for it?