KEEP IN MIND SOME BASIC HERMENEUTICS WHEN READING THESE VERSES:
A. CONTEXT Words in their context. Who is speaking and who is being spoken to. Plus, the what, where, when, why and how of events.
*REMEMBER, The Bible was not written TO us in 2010, but to those to whom the books were addressed. .
B. AUDIENCE RELEVANCE- Historical context
C. GENRE: poetry, narratives, prophetic language, apocalyptic language, wisdom
*Does QUICKLY, SOON, NEAR, ABOUT TO, AT HAND, LAST HOUR, SHORTLY
mean 2000 plus year detached from the audience who first received the message?
If God wants people to know that something will happen QUICKLY, SOON, NEAR, ABOUT TO, AT HAND, LAST HOUR, or SHORTLY what language would He then use?
The (*) STANDS FOR MY QUESTIONS CONCERNING THOSE WHO WOULD TAKE THESE VERSES OUT OF CONTEXT.
“You want the Truth. You can’t handle the truth!” -A Few Good Men
******************
1. Matt. 10:23 “You shall not finish going through the cities of Israel, UNTIL THE SON OF MAN COMES.”
*IF JESUS SAID THIS TO YOU WOULD YOU THINK HE WAS TALKING ABOUT SOMEONE ELSE IN THE FUTURE?
2. Matt. 16:27-28 “THE SON OF MAN IS ABOUT TO COME IN THE GLORY OF HIS FATHER WITH HIS ANGELS and will then recompense every man according to his deeds.” THERE ARE SOME OF THOSE WHO ARE STANDING HERE WHO SHALL NOT TASTE DEATH UNTIL THEY SEE THE SON OF MAN COMING IN HIS KINGDOM.”
3. Mark 8:38 9:1 38 “For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will also be ashamed of him when He comes in the glory of His Father with the holy angels.” 1 And Jesus was saying to them, “TRULY I SAY TO YOU, THERE ARE SOME OF THOSE WHO ARE STANDING HERE WHO WILL NOT TASTE DEATH UNTIL THEY SEE THE KINGDOM OF GOD AFTER IT HAS COME WITH POWER.”
4. Luke 9:27 “But I say to you truthfully, THERE ARE SOME OF THOSE STANDING HERE WHO WILL NOT TASTE DEATH UNTIL THEY SEE THE KINGDOM OF GOD.”
*DID “SOME” OF JESUS’ DISCIPLES WHO WERE STANDING WITH HIM WHEN HE SPOKE THE ABOVE WORDS, LIVE TO SEE THE SON OF MAN COMING IN HIS KINGDOM?
5. Matt. 21:40-41,43,45 “’When the owner of the vineyard comes, what will he do to those vine-growers?’ ‘....He will bring those wretches to a wretched end, and will rent out the vineyard to other vine-growers, who will pay him the proceeds at the proper seasons.’ ‘....THEREFORE I SAY TO YOU, THE KINGDOM OF GOD WILL BE TAKEN AWAY FROM YOU, AND BE GIVEN TO A NATION PRODUCING THE FRUIT OF IT.’ ....WHEN THE CHIEF PRIESTS AND THE PHARISEES HEARD HIS PARABLES, THEY UNDERSTOOD THAT HE WAS SPEAKING ABOUT THEM.”
See . Mk. 12:9,12; Lk. 20:15-16,19
*ACCORDING TO THESE VERSES WAS THE KINGDOM OF GOD TAKEN AWAY FROM THE JEWS?
6. Matt 22.1-7 Jesus spoke to them (The Pharisees) again in parables, saying: 2”The kingdom of heaven is like a king who prepared a wedding banquet for his son. 3He sent his servants to those who had been invited to the banquet to tell them to come, but they refused to come. 4”Then he sent some more servants and said, ‘Tell those who have been invited that I have prepared my dinner: My oxen and fattened cattle have been butchered, and everything is ready. Come to the wedding banquet.’ 5”But they paid no attention and went off—one to his field, another to his business. 6The rest seized his servants, mistreated them and killed them. 7 But THE KING WAS ENRAGED, AND HE SENT HIS ARMIES AND DESTROYED THOSE MURDERERS AND SET THEIR CITY ON FIRE.
*DID NOT GOD DESTROY THOSE WHO MURDERED JESUS AND THEIR CITY?
7. Matt 23:33-37 “You snakes! You brood of vipers! How will you escape being condemned to hell? 34Therefore I am sending you prophets and wise men and teachers. Some of them you will kill and crucify others you will flog in your synagogues and pursue from town to town. 35And so upon you will come all the righteous blood that has been shed on earth, from the blood of righteous Abel to the blood of Zechariah son of Berekiah, whom you murdered between the temple and the altar. 36I tell you the truth, ALL THIS WILL COME UPON THIS GENERATION.
Lk 11:49-51 “For this reason also the wisdom of God said, ‘I will send to them prophets and apostles, and some of them they will kill and some they will persecute, 50 so that the blood of all the prophets, shed since the foundation of the world, may be charged against THIS GENERATION, 51 from the blood of Abel to the blood of Zechariah, who was killed between the altar and the house of God yes, I tell you, it shall be charged against THIS GENERATION.’
See Rev. 16:6, 17:6, 18:24; 19:2
*IS JESUS NOT BLAMING THE PHARISEES THAT HE IS SPEAKING TO AND TELLING THEM THAT THEY WILL BE THE ONES TO DO THESE THINGS AND BE HELD GUILTY?
8. Matt. 24:34 “THIS GENERATION WILL NOT PASS AWAY UNTIL ALL THESE THINGS TAKE PLACE.”
See Mk. 13:30; Lk. 21:32
*IS JESUS NOT ANSWERING THE 3 QUESTIONS OF THE DISCIPLES FROM V3 IN V4-33 AND THEN STATING IN V34 THAT ALL THESE EVENTS FROM 4-33 WILL TAKE PLACE IN “THIS GENERATION” (THE GENERATION THAT JESUS WAS SPEAKING TO?
9. Matt. 26:63-64 But Jesus remained silent. The high priest said to him, “I charge you under oath by the living God: Tell us if you are the Christ, the Son of God.” {64} “Yes, it is as you say,” Jesus replied. “BUT I SAY TO ALL OF YOU: IN THE FUTURE YOU WILL SEE THE SON OF MAN SITTING AT THE RIGHT HAND OF THE MIGHTY ONE AND COMING ON THE CLOUDS OF HEAVEN.”
10. Mark 14:62 “I am,” said Jesus. “And YOU WILL SEE THE SON OF MAN SITTING AT THE RIGHT HAND OF THE MIGHTY ONE AND COMING ON THE CLOUDS OF HEAVEN.”
*IS NOT JESUS PRONOUNCING JUDGMENT ON THE JEWS OF HIS TIME? IS HE NOT STATING THAT THEY WILL SEE HIM? *IS HE NOT USING OLD TESTAMENT JUDGMENT LANGUAGE TO DIVINITY IN THAT GOD COMES ON THE CLOUDS OF HEAVEN AND THAT IS THE REASON THE PHARISEES WANT TO KILL HIM?
13. Lk. 3:7 “Who warned you to flee from THE WRATH ABOUT TO COME?”
14. Lk. 3:9 “The axe IS ALREADY LAID AT THE ROOT of the trees. “
15. Lk. 3:17 “HIS WINNOWING FORK IS IN HIS HAND to clear his threshing floor AND TO GATHER THE WHEAT INTO HIS BARN, but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire."
*IS NOT JOHN THE BAPTIST WARNING THE PHARISEES OF THE WRATH ABOUT TO COME? DOES HE NOT SAY THE AXE IS ALREADY LAID AT THE ROOT…? AND DOES HE NOT SAY THAT JESUS’ WINNOWING FORK IS IN HIS HAND…
18. Lk 12:37-40 “Blessed are those slaves whom the master will find on the alert when he comes truly I say to you, that he will gird himself to serve, and have them recline at the table, and will come up and wait on them. 38 “Whether he comes in the second watch, or even in the third, and finds them so, blessed are those slaves. 39 “But be sure of this, that if the head of the house had known at what hour the thief was coming, he would not have allowed his house to be broken into. 40 “YOU too, BE READY FOR THE SON OF MAN IS COMING AT AN HOUR THAT YOU DO NOT EXPECT.”
19. Lk 19:41-44 When He approached Jerusalem, He saw the city and wept over it, 42 saying, “If you had known in this day, even you, the things which make for peace! But now they have been hidden from your eyes. 43 “For the days will come upon you when your enemies will throw up a barricade against you, and surround you and hem you in on every side, 44 and they will level you to the ground and your children within you, and they will not leave in you one stone upon another, because YOU DID NOT RECOGNIZE THE TIME OF YOUR VISITATION.”
*WAS NOT JERUSALEM SURROUNED, THEN LEVELED TO THE GROUND IN 70A.D. B/C IT DID NOT RECOGNIZE JESUS AND SO MURDERED HIM?
21. Lk 21.20-28 20”But when YOU SEE JERUSALEM SURROUNDED BY ARMIES, then recognize that HER DESOLATION IS NEAR. 21”Then those who are in Judea must flee to the mountains, and those who are in the midst of the city must leave, and those who are in the country must not enter the city 22because THESE ARE DAYS OF VENGEANCE, so that ALL THINGS WHICH ARE WRITTEN WILL BE FULFILLED. 23”Woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing babies in those days for there will be great distress upon the land and wrath to this people 24and they will fall by the edge of the sword, and will be led captive into all the nations and Jerusalem will be trampled under foot by the Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled. 25”There will be signs in sun and moon and stars, and on the earth dismay among nations, in perplexity at the roaring of the sea and the waves, 26men fainting from fear and the expectation of the things which are coming upon the world for the powers of the heavens will be shaken. 27”THEN THEY WILL SEE THE SON OF MAN COMING IN A CLOUD WITH POWER AND GREAT GLORY. 28”But when these things begin to take place, straighten up and lift up your heads, because YOUR REDEMPTION IS DRAWING NEAR.”
*DID NOT THE ROMANS SURROUND JERUSALEM AND DESTROY IT IN 70A.D.?
23. Lk. 23:28-30 “Daughters of Jerusalem, stop weeping for Me, but weep for YOURSELVES and for YOUR CHILDREN. For behold, the days are coming when they will say, ‘Blessed are the barren, and the wombs that never bore, and the breasts that never nursed.’ THEN THEY WILL BEGIN TO SAY TO THE MOUNTAINS, ‘FALL ON US,’ AND TO THE HILLS, ‘COVER US.’”
24. Rev. 6.14-17 The sky receded like a scroll, rolling up, and every mountain and island was removed from its place. 15Then the kings of the earth, the princes, the generals, the rich, the mighty, AND EVERY SLAVE AND EVERY FREE MAN HID IN CAVES AND AMONG THE ROCKS OF THE MOUNTAINS. 16THEY CALLED TO THE MOUNTAINS AND THE ROCKS, “FALL ON US AND HIDE US FROM THE FACE OF HIM WHO SITS ON THE THRONE AND FROM THE WRATH OF THE LAMB! 17FOR THE GREAT DAY OF THEIR WRATH HAS COME, AND WHO CAN STAND?”
*SEE LEV. 26, HOSEA 10.8, ISAIAH 2.19-20. IN THE LUKE PASSAGE, WAS JESUS NOT SPEAKING TO ACTUAL WOMEN?
25. Lk. 24:21”We were hoping that He was the One who IS ABOUT TO REDEEM ISRAEL.”
*IS NOT THE TIMING OF ISRAEL'S REDEMPTION IN LINE WITH DANIEL 9.24-27?
26. Jn. 4:21-24 Jesus declared, “Believe me, woman, A TIME IS COMING WHEN YOU WILL WORSHIP THE FATHER NEITHER ON THIS MOUNTAIN NOR IN JERUSALEM. 22You Samaritans worship what you do not know we worship what we do know, for salvation is from the Jews. 23YET A TIME IS COMING AND HAS NOW COME WHEN THE TRUE WORSHIPERS WILL WORSHIP THE FATHER IN SPIRIT AND TRUTH, FOR THEY ARE THE KIND OF WORSHIPERS THE FATHER SEEKS. 24God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in spirit and in truth.”
*IS NOT JESUS STATING THAT PHYSICAL JERUSALEM IS NOT A PLACE NECESSARY FOR WORSHIP?
28. Jn. 21:20-23 Peter turned and saw that the disciple whom Jesus loved was following them. This was the one who had leaned back against Jesus at the supper and had said, “Lord, who is going to betray you?” When Peter saw him, he asked, “Lord, what about him?” Jesus answered, “IF I WANT HIM TO REMAIN ALIVE UNTIL I RETURN, WHAT IS THAT TO YOU? You must follow me.” Because of this, the rumor spread among the brothers that this disciple would not die. But Jesus did not say that he would not die he only said, “If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you?”
*HAVE YOU EVER WONDERED WHY JESUS WOULD ASK SUCH A QUESTION?
29. Acts 2:16-17 But THIS IS THAT WHICH HATH BEEN SPOKEN THROUGH THE PROPHET JOEL: AND IT SHALL BE IN THE LAST DAYS, saith God, I will pour out of My Spirit upon all flesh, and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams;
*IS NOT PETER STATING THAT THE DAY OF PENTECOST IS THE FULFILLMENT OF JOEL’S PROPHECY OF THE LAST DAYS?
27. Acts 2:19-20 AND I WILL GRANT WONDERS IN THE SKY ABOVE AND SIGNS ON THE EARTH BELOW, BLOOD, AND FIRE, AND VAPOR OF SMOKE. 20 ‘THE SUN WILL BE TURNED INTO DARKNESS AND THE MOON INTO BLOOD, BEFORE THE GREAT AND GLORIOUS DAY OF THE LORD SHALL COME.
See Matt 24:29
*DO YOU KNOW THAT THE OLD TESTAMENT OFTEN SPEAKS OF THE DARKENING OF THE SUN, MOON, AND STARS IN CONNECTION WITH JUDGMENT. SUCH LANGUAGE OCCURS MANY TIMES IN THE PROPHETS TO REFER TO THE HISTORICAL JUDGMENT OF NATIONS.
* IN GENESIS 1:14-19 GOD GAVE THE HEAVENLY LIGHTS TO MARK THE SEASONS AND GOVERN THE DAY AND NIGHT. IN GEN 37:9-11 JOSEPH DREAMS OF THE SUN, MOON AND STARS BOWING DOWN BEFORE HIM. THIS REPRESENTS HIS FAMILY, THE NATION OF ISRAEL. IN BIBLICAL TIMES AND TODAY, THE SUN, MOON AND STARS ARE SYMBOLIC OF NATIONS, I.E., THE USA FLAG HAS 50 STARS; JAPAN HAS A SUN; AND MUSLIM FLAGS HAVE A MOON AND STAR.
ISAIAH 13.10
Babylon Judged in 539 B.C.
ISAIAH 34.4
Edom Judged in 703 B.C.
EZEKIEL 32.7
Egypt Judged in 568 B.C.
JOEL 2.10
Judah Judged in 586 B.C.
28. Rom. 8:18“I consider that the sufferings of THIS PRESENT TIME are not worthy to be compared with THE GLORY THAT IS ABOUT TO BE REVEALED TO US.”
*HOW LONG IS "ABOUT TO?"
29. Rom. 13:11-12 “IT IS ALREADY THE HOUR FOR YOU TO AWAKEN FROM SLEEP FOR NOW SALVATION IS NEARER TO US THAN WHEN WE BELIEVED. The night is almost gone, AND THE DAY IS AT HAND.”
*IS NOT PAUL SAYING THAT SALVATION IS NOW NEAR TO THE 1ST CENTURY ROMAN CHRISTIANS?
30. Rom. 16:20 “The God of peace WILL SOON CRUSH SATAN under your feet.”
*HOW LONG IS SOON? IS SOON STILL GOING ON OR WAS SATAN CRUSHED?
31. 1Corinthians 1:7-8 so that you are not lacking in any gift, AWAITING EAGERLY THE REVELATION OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST, 8 who will also confirm you to THE END, blameless IN THE DAY OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST.
* WHAT SENSE WOULD IT MAKE TO THE CORINTHIANS FOR PAUL TO TELL THEM THE ABOVE IF JESUS WASN’T GOING TO SHOW UNTIL 2000 YEARS?
32. 1Corinthians 2:6 Yet we do speak wisdom among those who are mature a wisdom, however, NOT OF THIS AGE NOR OF THE RULERS OF THIS AGE, WHO ARE PASSING AWAY
* WHAT AGE ACCORDING TO PAUL WAS PASSING AWAY?
33. I Cor. 7.25-31 Now about virgins: I have no command from the Lord, but I give a judgment as one who by the Lord’s mercy is trustworthy. 26Because of THE PRESENT CRISIS, I think that it is good for you to remain as you are. 27Are you married? Do not seek a divorce. Are you unmarried? Do not look for a wife. 28But if you do marry, you have not sinned and if a virgin marries, she has not sinned. But those who marry will face many troubles in this life, and I want to spare you this. 29What I mean, brothers, is that THE TIME IS SHORT. From now on those who have wives should live as if they had none 30those who mourn, as if they did not those who are happy, as if they were not those who buy something, as if it were not theirs to keep 31those who use the things of the world, as if not engrossed in them. FOR THIS WORLD IN ITS PRESENT FORM IS PASSING AWAY.
*IS NOT THE PRESENT CRISIS THE PERSECUTION? THE TIME IS SHORT FOR WHAT? WHAT WORLD IS PASSING AWAY?
34. Gal. 1.4 who gave Himself for our sins so that He might rescue us from THIS PRESENT EVIL AGE, according to the will of our God and Father,
*IS “THIS” PRESENT EVIL AGE STILL PRESENT OR IS PAST?
35. Eph. 1:21 far above all principality, and authority, and might, and lordship, and every name named, not only IN THIS AGE, BUT ALSO IN THE COMING ONE;
*HAS THE AGE TO COME, COME?
36. I Thess. 5:23 “May your spirit and soul and BODY BE PRESERVED COMPLETE, WITHOUT BLAME AT THE COMING OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST.”
*WHY WOULD PAUL WRITE TO THE THESSALONNIANS AND PRAY FOR THEIR BODIES TO BE PRESERVED COMPLETE AT THE COMING OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST IF IT WASN’T GOING TO BE TRUE?
37. II Thess. 1:6-10 For after all it is only just for GOD TO REPAY WITH AFFLICTION THOSE WHO AFFLICT YOU, 7 and to GIVE RELIEF TO YOU who are afflicted and to us as well WHEN THE LORD JESUS WILL BE REVEALED FROM HEAVEN WITH HIS MIGHTY ANGELS IN FLAMING FIRE, 8 DEALING OUT RETRIBUTION TO THOSE WHO DO NOT KNOW GOD AND TO THOSE WHO DO NOT OBEY THE GOSPEL OF OUR LORD JESUS. 9 These will pay the penalty of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power, 10 WHEN HE COMES TO BE GLORIFIED IN HIS SAINTS ON THAT DAY, AND TO BE MARVELED AT AMONG ALL WHO HAVE BELIEVED—for our testimony to you was believed.
*WERE THE THESSALONNIANS AFFLICTED? DID PAUL NOT WRITE TO THEM THAT GOD WOULD GIVE THEM RELIEF WHEN JESUS WOULD BE REVEALED FROM HEAVEN…? IS PAUL A FALSE PROPHET OR DID JESUS AFFLICT THE THESSALONNIAN PERSECUTORS AND GIVE THE THESSALONIANS RELIEF?
38. II Thess 2:1-12 we request you, brethren, with regard to the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together to Him, 2 that YOU not be quickly shaken from your composure or be disturbed either by a spirit or a message or a letter as if from us, to the effect THAT THE DAY OF THE LORD HAS COME. 3 Let no one in any way deceive you, for it will not come unless the apostasy comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction, 4 who opposes and exalts himself above every so-called god or object of worship, so THAT HE TAKES HIS SEAT IN THE TEMPLE OF GOD, displaying himself as being God. 5 Do you not remember that while I was still with you, I was telling you these things? 6 And YOU KNOW WHAT RESTRAINS him now, so that in his time he will be revealed. 7 For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work only HE WHO NOW RESTRAINS will do so until he is taken out of the way. 8 Then that lawless one will be revealed whom THE LORD WILL SLAY WITH THE BREATH OF HIS MOUTH AND BRING TO AN END BY THE APPEARANCE OF HIS COMING 9 that is, the one whose coming is in accord with the activity of Satan, with all power and signs and false wonders, 10 and with all the deception of wickedness for those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth so as to be saved. 11 For this reason God will send upon them a deluding influence so that they will believe what is false, 12 in order that they all may be judged who did not believe the truth, but took pleasure in wickedness.
*SINCE 2 THESS IS WRITTEN WHILE THE TEMPLE WAS STILL STANDING, DID JESUS RETURN TO SLAY THE LAWLESS ONE OR WAS PAUL PREDICTING ANOTHER TEMPLE?
39. I Tim. 6:13-15 I charge YOU in the presence of God, who gives life to all things, and of Christ Jesus, who testified the good confession before Pontius Pilate, 14 that YOU keep the commandment without stain or reproach UNTIL THE APPEARING OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST, 15 which He will bring about at the proper time—He who is the blessed and only Sovereign, the King of kings and Lord of lords,
*WHO IS THE "YOU" IN THIS PASSAGE? IS IT NOT TIMOTHY?
40. 2 Tim 2:17-18 and their talk will spread like gangrene. Among them are Hymenaeus and Philetus, 18 men who have gone astray from the truth SAYING THAT THE RESURRECTION HAS ALREADY TAKEN PLACE, and they upset the faith of some.
*IF THE 1ST CENTURY CHRISTIANS BELIEVED THAT PHYSICAL BODIES WOULD COME OUT OF THE GROUND, HOW COULD HYMENAEUS AND PHILETUS UPSET THE FAITH OF SOME, WHEN ALL CHRISTIANS HAD TO DO IS GO DOWN TO THE LOCAL CEMETARY TO SEE IF BODIES HAD COME UP FROM THE GRAVE?
41. Heb. 2:5 “He did not subject to angels THE WORLD ABOUT TO COME.”
42. Heb. 6:5 and did taste the good saying of God, the powers also OF THE COMING AGE,
*DID YOU KNOW THAT HEBREWS WAS WRITTEN AROUND 65 A.D.? AND THAT THE WORLD ABOUT TO COME AND THE COMING AGE WAS IN THERE LIFE TIME?
43. Heb. 8:13 “When He said, ‘A new covenant,’ He has made the first obsolete. BUT WHATEVER IS BECOMING OBSOLETE AND GROWING OLD IS READY TO DISAPPEAR.”
* IS NOT THE OLD COVENANT THAT WHICH IS GROWING OLD AND READY TO DISAPPEAR?
44. Heb. 9:8-10“The Holy Spirit is signifying this, that the way of the [heavenly] Holy Places has NOT YET BEEN REVEALED, WHILE THE OUTER TABERNACLE IS STILL STANDING, WHICH IS A SYMBOL FOR THE PRESENT TIME. Accordingly both gifts and sacrifices are offered which cannot make the worshiper perfect in conscience, since they relate only to food and drink and various washings, regulations for the BODY IMPOSED UNTIL A TIME OF REFORMATION.”
*WAS NOT THE OUTER TABERNACLE THE JEWISH TEMPLE WHICH WAS SYMBOLIC OF THE JUDAISM?
45. Heb. 9:26-28 Otherwise, He would have needed to suffer often since the foundation of the world BUT NOW ONCE AT THE CONSUMMATION OF THE AGES He has been manifested to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself.27And inasmuch as it is appointed for men to die once and after this comes judgment, 28 so Christ also, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, WILL APPEAR A SECOND TIME for salvation without reference to sin, TO THOSE WHO EAGERLY AWAIT HIM.
46. Heb. 10:25 not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as a custom of certain [is], but exhorting, and so much the more as ye see THE DAY COMING NIGH.
47. Heb. 10:37 “For yet IN A VERY LITTLE WHILE, HE WHO IS COMING WILL COME, AND WILL NOT DELAY.”
*HOW LONG IS A VERY LITTLE WHILE?
48. Jms. 5:7 “BE PATIENT, THEREFORE, BRETHREN, UNTIL THE COMING OF THE LORD.”
49. Jms. 5:8 “You too be patient strengthen your hearts, FOR THE COMING OF THE LORD IS AT HAND.”
50. Jms 5.9 Don’t grumble against each other, brothers, or you will be judged. THE JUDGE IS STANDING AT THE DOOR!
*IF JESUS HAS NOT RETURNED TO THE 1ST CENTURY CHURCH JAMES WAS WRITING TO THEN HOW LONG HAS HE BEEN STANDING AT THAT DOOR? AND IS JAMES NOT A FALSE PROPHET ACCORDING TO MATT 24: ?
51. I Peter 1:5-7 who are protected by the power of God through faith for A SALVATION READY TO BE REVEALED IN THE LAST TIME. 6 In this you greatly rejoice, even though NOW FOR A LITTLE WHILE, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials, 7 so that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which is perishable, even though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor AT THE REVELATION OF JESUS CHRIST
*ARE THESE CHRISTIANS THAT PETER WROTE TO STILL WAITING FOR A SALVATION READY TO BE REVEALED?
52. 1Peter 1:13 Therefore, prepare your minds for action, keep sober in spirit, fix your hope completely on the grace TO BE BROUGHT TO YOU AT THE REVELATION OF JESUS CHRIST.
*WAS THIS GRACE BROUGHT TO THESE 1ST CENTURY CHRISTIANS AT THE REVELATION OF JESUS CHRIST? WAS JESUS REVEALED TO THE 1ST CENTURY CHURCH?
53. I Peter 2:12 Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and GLORIFY GOD ON THE DAY HE VISITS US.
*DID GOD VISIT THEM?
54. I Peter 4:5 “They shall give account to HIM WHO IS READY TO JUDGE THE LIVING AND THE DEAD.”
55. I Peter 4:7 “THE END OF ALL THINGS IS AT HAND therefore, be of sound judgment and sober spirit for the purpose of prayer.”
*WAS THE END OF ALL THINGS AT HAND DURING THE TIME OF PETER COME TO AN END?
56. 1 Peter 4:13 but to the degree that you share the sufferings of Christ, keep on rejoicing, SO THAT ALSO AT THE REVELATION OF HIS GLORY you may rejoice with exultation.
57. I Peter 4:17 “FOR IT IS TIME FOR JUDGMENT TO BEGIN with the household of God.”
58. I Peter 5:1 “…as your fellow elder and witness of the sufferings of Christ, and a partaker also of THE GLORY THAT IS ABOUT TO BE REVEALED.”
59. I Peter 5.4 And WHEN THE CHIEF SHEPHERD APPEARS, YOU WILL RECEIVE the crown of glory that will never fade away.
*WHO IS THE AUDIENCE RELEVANCE HERE?
60. II Peter 3:9-13 “THE LORD IS NOT SLOW ABOUT HIS PROMISE, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance. 10 But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, in which the heavens will pass away with a roar and the elements will be destroyed with intense heat, and the earth and its works will be burned up. 11 Since all these things are to be destroyed in this way, what sort of people ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness, 12 LOOKING FOR AND HASTENING THE COMING OF THE DAY OF GOD, because of which the heavens will be destroyed by burning, and the elements will melt with intense heat! 13 But according to His promise we are looking for new heavens and a new earth, in which righteousness dwells.
*WAS PETER NOT WRITING TO THE CHRISTIAN CHURCHES IN THE 1ST CENTURY?
61. I Jn. 2:17 “THE WORLD IS PASSING AWAY, and its desires.”
62. I Jn. 2:18 Children, IT IS THE LAST HOUR, and as you have heard that ANTICHRIST IS COMING, so NOW MANY ANTICHRISTS HAVE COME. Therefore we know that IT IS THE LAST HOUR.
*WERE NOT THE PRESENCE OF THE ANTICHRIST THE EVIDENCE JOHN POINTS OUT THAT IT WAS THE LAST HOUR DURING HIS TIME?
64. Jude 1:21 keep yourselves in the love of God, WAITING ANXIOUSLY FOR THE MERCY OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST TO ETERNAL LIFE.
*DID JUDE GIVE HIS FIRST CENTURY IMMEDIATE AUDIENCE A FALSE HOPE?
65. Rev. 1:1 The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show to his servants THE THINGS THAT MUST SOON TAKE PLACE. He made it known by sending his angel to his servant John,
* HOW LONG IS SOON?
66. Rev. 1:3 Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear, and who keep what is written in it, FOR THE TIME IS NEAR.
*THE TIME IS NEAR FOR WHAT? WHO?
66.1.Rev.1.4 John, To the seven churches in the province of Asia: Grace and peace to you from him who is, and who was, and who is to come, and from the seven spirits[a] before his throne,
WAS THE BOOK OF REVELATION WRITTEN TO 21ST CENTURY CHRISTIANS?
67. Rev. 1.7 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. So shall it be! Amen.
*ARE THOSE WHO PIERCED JESUS STILL ALIVE? DOES THIS TELL YOU SOMETHING ABOUT THE TIMING OF JESUS COMING IN THE CLOUDS?
68. Rev 1:9-11 I, John, your brother and partner IN THE TRIBULATION and the kingdom and the patient endurance that are in Jesus, was on the island called Patmos on account of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus. 10 I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s day, and I heard behind me a loud voice like the sound of a trumpet, 11 saying, “Write in a book what you see, and SEND IT TO THE SEVEN CHURCHES: to Ephesus and to Smyrna and to Pergamum and to Thyatira and to Sardis and to Philadelphia and to Laodicea.”
*DID YOU EVER NOTICE THAT JOHN SAID HE WAS IN THE TRIBULATION? DID YOU EVER NOTICE THAT THE BOOK OF REVELATION WAS WRITTEN TO THE 7 CHURCHES IN ASIA AND NOT TO YOU (IN THE 21ST CENTURY)?
69. Rev 2:5 ‘Therefore remember from where you have fallen, and repent and do the deeds you did at first or ELSE I AM COMING TO YOU and will remove your lampstand out of its place—unless you repent.
70. Rev 2:16 Repent therefore! Otherwise, I WILL SOON COME TO YOU and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth.
71. Rev. 2:25 “Nevertheless what YOU HAVE, HOLD FAST UNTIL I COME.”
72. Rev 3:3 ‘So remember what you have received and heard and keep it, and repent Therefore if you do not wake up, I WILL COME LIKE A THIEF, AND YOU WILL NOT KNOW AT WHAT HOUR I WILL COME TO YOU
*IS JESUS NOT PROMISING TO COME TO THESE CHURCHES?
73. Rev. 3:10“I also WILL KEEP YOU FROM THE HOUR OF TESTING WHICH IS ABOUT TO COME UPON THE WHOLE WORLD.”
*DID JESUS KEEP THIS CHURCH FROM THE HOUR OF TESTING?
74. Rev. 3:11 I AM COMING SOON. Hold fast what you have, so that no one may seize your crown.
*HOW LONG IS SOON?
75. Rev 11:1-2 Then there was given me a measuring rod like a staff and someone said, “Get up and MEASURE THE TEMPLE of God and the altar, and those who worship in it. 2 “Leave out the court which is outside the temple and do not measure it, for it has been given to the nations and they will tread under foot the holy city for forty-two months.
*DOES NOT JOHN STATE IN THESE VERSES THAT THE TEMPLE IS STILL STANDING?
76. Rev 11:18 “And the nations were enraged, and Your wrath came, AND THE TIME CAME FOR THE DEAD TO BE JUDGED, and the TIME TO REWARD YOUR BOND-SERVANTS THE PROPHETS AND THE SAINTS AND THOSE WHO FEAR YOUR NAME, the small and the great, and to destroy those who destroy the earth.”
77. Rev. 12:5 “And she gave birth to a son, a male child, WHO IS ABOUT TO RULE ALL THE NATIONS WITH A ROD OF IRON.”
*IS JESUS RULING NOW?
77A. Rev 13:18 This calls for wisdom. If anyone has insight, let him calculate the number of the beast, for it is man's number. His number is 666.
* IF YOU WERE PART OF THE FIRST CENTURY CHURCH WHO THE BOOK OF REVELATION WAS ADDRESSED TO, WHAT SENSE WOULD CALCULATING THE NUMBER OF THE BEAST MEAN TO YOU, IF THE BEAST WOULDN'T BE AROUND UNTIL 2000 + YEARS??? AUDIENCE RELEVANCE.
78. Rev. 16:6 FOR THEY HAVE SHED THE BLOOD OF YOUR SAINTS AND PROPHETS, and you have given them blood to drink as they deserve."
78A. Rev. 18:24 “And in her [the Great City Babylon] was found THE BLOOD OF PROPHETS AND OF SAINTS AND OF ALL WHO HAVE BEEN SLAIN ON THE EARTH.”
79. Rev. 19:1-2 After these things I heard something like a loud voice of a great multitude in heaven, saying, “Hallelujah! Salvation and glory and power belong to our God 2 BECAUSE HIS JUDGMENTS ARE TRUE AND RIGHTEOUS for He has judged the great harlot who was corrupting the earth with her immorality, and HE HAS AVENGED THE BLOOD OF HIS BOND-SERVANTS ON HER.”
*DID NOT JESUS SAY TO TEACHERS OF THE LAW AND PHARISEES THAT HE WOULD AVENGE THE BLOOD OF THE SAINTS (MATT. 23) UPON THAT GENERATION?
80. Rev. 22:6 And he said to me, "These words are trustworthy and true. And the Lord, the God of the spirits of the prophets, has sent his angel to show his servants WHAT MUST SOON TAKE PLACE."
81. Rev. 22:7 "And behold, I AM COMING SOON. Blessed is the one who keeps the words of the prophecy of this book."
82. Rev. 22:10 And he said to me, "Do not seal up the words of the prophecy of this book, FOR THE TIME IS NEAR.
83. Dan 8:26 “The vision of the evenings and mornings that has been given you is true, but SEAL UP THE VISION, FOR IT CONCERNS THE DISTANT FUTURE.”
84. Rev. 22:12 “Behold, I AM COMING QUICKLY.”
85. Rev. 22:20 “Yes, I AM COMING QUICKLY.”
*ARE SOON AND NEAR LONGER THAN 2000 YEARS? DOES I AM COMING QUICKLY MEAN HE’LL BE DELAYED FOR 2000 PLUS YEARS?
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