Jesus and Apocalyptic Expectations

Jesus and Apocalyptic Expectations

It is a widely held opinion among so called modern scholars that Jesus and His 1^st century followers were just one among many Jewish apocalyptic cults or sects that have come and gone over the centuries; consider the Essenes, “the sons of light” for example.

And so students in institutions of higher education are regularly exposed to pontifical drivel such as the following.

“There is nothing special or unique about the bible; yes, yes, isn't it amusing and quaint; just move along now, there is nothing to see here.”

This is the smug attitude of the eschato-phobic skeptics (eschato-phobic is my word meaning; holding to an unsubstantiated, unwarranted and biased rejection of Biblical prophecy concerning the end times). 

As we know; the thing that separates Biblical prophecy from all non canonical so called prophecy is accuracy.

The Bible has proven to be 100% accurate concerning all that was predicted to take place so far and so we have confidence that what remains will come to pass literally as well.

Not so with the others; such as the Essenes for example.

However, the blind guides in the ivory towers are not the only unbelievers concerning a literal understanding and acceptance of Biblical eschatology; the nominal Christian church is loaded with them; consider the dominance of the Amillennial position held by so many of the main line denominations.

This brief outline will deal with the topic of the “Signs of the Times” as predicted in scripture for the days leading up to the “End of the Age” and the “Second Coming of Christ.” It is intended to be an overview and to help eliminate confusion.

II Pet.3:3-10 – Know this first of all, that in the last days mockers will come with their mocking, following after their own lusts,

4. And saying, “Where is the promise of His coming? For ever since the fathers fell asleep, all continues just as it was from the beginning of creation.” (Aforementioned skeptics and non-literalists)

5. For when they maintain this, it escapes their notice that by the word of God the heavens existed long ago and the earth was formed out of water and by water,

6. through which the world at that time was destroyed, being flooded with water.

7. But by His word the present heavens and earth are being reserved for fire, kept for the Day of Judgment and destruction of ungodly men.

8. But do not let this one fact escape your notice, beloved, that with the Lord one day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years like one day.

9. 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. (Sounds pretty Apocalyptic to me!)

I Tim.4:1 – The Spirit clearly says that in later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons. (Cults and schisms allegedly begun by angelic visitation or through revelation by spirits; Islam, Mormonism, New Age, etc.).

  

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II Tim.3:1-5 – But realize this, that in the last days difficult times will come.

2. For men will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, revilers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy, 3. unloving, irreconcilable, malicious gossips, without self-control, brutal, haters of good, 4. treacherous, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, 5. holding to a form of godliness, although they have denied its power; Avoid such men as these. (Ya think?)

II Tim4:1- 4 – I solemnly charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by His appearing and His kingdom (yet future):

2. Preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with great patience and instruction (Lord give us strength!).

3. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires,

4. and will turn away their ears from the truth and will turn aside to myths. (Evolution, Amillennialism, etc.)

Mt.16:1-3 – The Pharisees and Sadducees came up, and testing Jesus, they asked Him to show them a sign from heaven.

2. But He replied to them, “When it is evening, you say, ‘It will be fair weather, for the sky is red.’

3. “And in the morning, ‘There will be a storm today, for the sky is red and threatening.’ Do you know how to discern the appearance of the sky, but cannot discern (recognize)

The Signs of the Times?

Is.11:10-12 – Then in that day the nations will resort to the root of Jesse (Jesus),
Who will stand as a signal for the peoples; And His resting place will be glorious.

11. Then it will happen on that day that the Lord Will again recover the second time with His hand (there will be no third or fourth time; this is it.) The remnant of His people, who will remain, From Assyria, Egypt, Pathros, Cush, Elam, Shinar, Hamath, And from the islands of the sea.

112. And He will lift up a standard for the nations and assemble the banished ones of Israel, and will gather the dispersed of Judah from the four corners of the earth.

Ezek.36:24-25 – “For I will take you from the nations, gather you from all the lands and bring you into your own land. 25. “Then I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean; I will cleanse you from all your filthiness and from all your idols.

Ezek.37:1-14 – The rebirth of the end times nation of Israel is a process; it began as a small rattling of dead bones, as it were, vss. 1-7; and then the nation will be “fleshed out” and be ready to be brought to life spiritually, vs. 8 (this is the current state of Israel);

vs.11 identifies the vision as being about “the whole house of Israel”, in other words, the nation as a whole.

Ø Notice the sequence again laid out for us in vss.12-14; first the gathering together of dead Israel out of the grave; followed by the peoples recognition of the fact that it was God who brought them back into their land; and finally God will breath His Spirit into them bringing new life to the nation, Spiritual life when they recognize their Savior!

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Amos 9:13-15 – “Behold, days are coming,” declares the LORD, “When the plowman will overtake the reaper and the treader of grapes him who sows seed; When the mountains will drip sweet wine and all the hills will be dissolved.

14.  “Also I will restore the captivity of My people Israel, and they will rebuild the ruined cities and live in them; They will also plant vineyards and drink their wine, and make gardens and eat their fruit. (Israel today is the leading exporter of produce in the Middle East).

15. “I will also plant them on their land, and they will not again be rooted out from their land which I have given them,” Says the LORD your God. (Once they are back, they are back to stay.)

Zech.12:2-3 – “Behold, I am going to make Jerusalem a cup that causes reeling to all the peoples around; and when the siege is against Jerusalem, it will also be against Judah.

3. “It will come about in that day that I will make Jerusalem a heavy stone for all the peoples; all who lift it will be severely injured. And all the nations of the earth will be gathered against it. (This is the exact situation that the world is facing today; surely this is the Lord’s doing!)

Mt.24:5-8 – The Birth Pangs; 1.False Christs, 2. Wars, 3. Rumors of wars, 4. Nation against nation (ethnic conflicts), 5. Kingdom against kingdom (political wars), 6. Famines, 7. And Earthquakes. [It is the increase in the frequency and in the intensity of these conditions (as with actual birth pains) along with their convergence with all of the previous signs mentioned that indicate, without a doubt, that we are living near the end of the last days.]

Mt.24:32-34 – “Now learn the parable from the fig tree: when its branch has already become tender and puts forth its leaves, you know that summer is near;

33.  So, you too, when you see all these things, recognize that He is near, right at the door. 34. “Truly I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all these things take place.

The generation that witnesses these end time signs will be the terminal generation.

Just as Israel will not be returned to the land over and over or many times; the message is clear these signs that produce these conditions will only converge like this once.

Lk.21:29-36 – Then He told them a parable: “Behold the fig tree and all the trees;

30. As soon as they put forth leaves, you see it and know for yourselves that summer is now near.

31. “So you also, when you see these things happening, recognize that the kingdom of God is near.

32. “Truly I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all things take place.

33. “Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will not pass away.

 34. “Be on guard, so that your hearts will not be weighted down with dissipation and drunkenness and the worries of life, and that day will not come on you suddenly like a trap;

35. For it will come upon all those who dwell on the face of all the earth (this is a technical, theological term for unbelievers; see Rev. 3;10; 6:10; 8:13; 11:10; 13:8).

36. “But keep on the alert at all times, praying that you may have strength to escape all these things that are about to take place, and to stand before the Son of Man.”

The Rapture and The Tribulation Period

Here is the next section of our prophecy outline.

Why the Tribulation and Why the Rapture?

I. What is the purpose of the Tribulation Period and who is it for?
To purify Israel and to call them to God; to punish and eliminate sinners.

Dan9:24 – Seventy weeks have been decreed for your people (Jews) and your holy city. 
(69 weeks are completed and one week remains to be fulfilled to accomplish the following),
1. to finish the transgression, 2. to make an end of sin, 3. to make atonement for iniquity,
4. to bring in everlasting righteousness, 5. to seal up vision and prophecy and 6. to anoint the most holy.

Jer.30:7 – Alas! For that day is great, so that none is like it: it is even the time of Jacob's trouble; but he shall be saved out of it (Jacob is Israel, not the Church).

Is.13:9 – Behold, the day of the LORD is coming, Cruel, with fury and burning anger, To make the land a desolation; And He will exterminate its sinners from it.

Dan.12:27 – 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.
(The purpose of the Tribulation Period in addition to that which is listed in Dan.9 and the punishment and elimination of sinners; is to eliminate the spirit of self- reliance from the Jews and to cause them to turn to God for deliverance. See Zech.12:7-14).

II. Is there a difference between general tribulation and the Tribulation period? Most definitely.

Mt.24:21-22 – For at that time there will be great tribulation, the kind that hasn't taken place from the beginning of the world until now and never will again! (Dan.12:1; Joel 2:2)

Jn.16:33 – “These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world.” (II Tim.3:12; I Cor.10:13; Jas.1:2)

III. Does the Bride of Christ require chastening or further purification; is the Church destined to suffer the wrath of God or the wrath of the Lamb (Christ)? No, the Church is made righteous through the finished work of Christ on her behalf.

Jn.3:36 – "He who believes in the Son has eternal life; but he who does not obey the Son will not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him." (The wrath of God is released upon the entire world from the very beginning of the Tribulation Period, not just the 2nd half – Rev.6:16)

I Thes.1:9-10 – you turned to God from idols to serve a living and true God,
10. And to wait for His Son from heaven, whom He raised from the dead, that is Jesus, who rescues us from the wrath to come.

I Thes.5:9 – For God has not destined us to receive wrath but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus, the Messiah,

I Jn.5:4-5 – For whatever is born of God overcomes the world; and this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith.
5. Who is the one who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?

Rev. 3:10 – Because you have kept the word of My perseverance, I also will keep you from (Gk. ek – out of; not dia – through) the hour of testing, that hour which is about to come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth (A technical phrase used throughout Rev. for unbelievers – 6:10; 8:13; 11:10; 13:8, 12, 14; 17:2, 8).

Lk.21:34-36 – But watch yourselves lest your hearts be weighed down with dissipation and drunkenness and cares of this life, and that day come upon you suddenly like a trap.
35. For it will come upon all who dwell on the face of the whole earth (unbelievers).
36. But stay awake at all times, praying that you may have strength (Mt.26:41; Jn.17:24)
to escape all these things that are going to take place, and to stand before the Son of Man.”

Jn.14:1-3 – “Do not let your heart be troubled; believe in God, believe also in Me.
2. “In My Father’s house are many dwelling places; if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you.
3. “If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself, that where I am, there you may be also” (Where believers will stand before the Son of Man; in heaven).
4. “And you know the way where I am going” (Jn.7:33).

IV. What are the birth pangs all about and who or what is about to be born? (The restoration of the Kingdom of Israel).

Jer.30:4-11 – Now these are the words which the LORD spoke concerning Israel and concerning Judah: (the Jewish people).
5. “For thus says the LORD, ‘I have heard a sound of terror, of dread, and there is no peace.
6. ‘Ask now, and see if a male can give birth. Why do I see every man with his hands on his loins, as a woman in childbirth? And why have all faces turned pale?
7. ‘Alas! For that day is great, there is none like it; And it is the time of Jacob’s distress,
But he will be saved from it.
8. ‘It shall come about on that day,’ declares the LORD of hosts, ‘that I will break his yoke from off their neck and will tear off their bonds; and strangers will no longer make them their slaves. 9. ‘But they shall serve the LORD their God and David their king, whom I will raise up for them. 10. ‘Fear not, O Jacob My servant,’ declares the LORD, ‘And do not be dismayed, O Israel; For behold, I will save you from afar and your offspring from the land of their captivity. And Jacob will return and will be quiet and at ease, And no one will make him afraid.
11. ‘For I am with you,’ declares the LORD, ‘to save you; For I will destroy completely all the nations where I have scattered you, Only I will not destroy you completely. But I will chasten you justly and will by no means leave you unpunished.’

Rev.12:1-2, 5-6, 13-14, 17 – A great sign appeared in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars; (Israel).
2. And she was with child; and she cried out, being in labor and in pain to give birth.
5. And she gave birth to a son, a male child (Christ), who is to rule all the nations with a rod of iron; and her child was caught up to God and to His throne (The ascension).
6. Then the woman fled into the wilderness where she had a place prepared by God, so that there she would be nourished for one thousand two hundred and sixty days (Last ½ of the Tribulation).
13. And when the dragon saw that he was thrown down to the earth, he persecuted the woman who gave birth to the male child.
14. But the two wings of the great eagle were given to the woman, so that she could fly into the wilderness to her place, where she was nourished for a time and times and half a time, from the presence of the serpent.
17. So the dragon was enraged with the woman, and went off to make war with the rest of her children (Jews), who keep the commandments of God and hold to the testimony of Jesus.

The Church Age

The Church Age - The Dispensation of Grace
Prophecy part 3

Mt.16:16, 18 – “Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.” 
“Upon this Rock I will build my Church; and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it.” 

Jesus Christ is the Rock and He alone is the only foundation upon which His Church is built. He and He alone has established and is building His Church. 
He founded it upon Himself and it stands securely upon the surety of His immutability and His steadfast righteousness.
No other foundation will do; no other could suffice or endure.
He purchased it with His precious blood; He keeps it through His almighty power; and He is building it through His Spirit by His grace; according to His loving-kindness and His mercy.

There is a confusion that has persisted for a time among some Christians concerning the preposition 
“of” , in Eph.2:20; there is no way to explain it or sort it out other than to get a little technical with the grammar; forgive me, but it is important.
The words “Apostles and Prophets” are the objects of the preposition “of”, and they are in the genitive case in the Greek; the genitive in the Greek is the same as the possessive in the English; so; “of” is to be correctly understood as, “belonging to”, as in “The word of God.”
The Apostles and Prophets are not the foundation; the foundation is Christ, the Cornerstone, and He is their foundation, just like He is yours and mine.

Ps.31:1-2 – In you, Lord, I have taken refuge; let me never be put to shame;
deliver me in your righteousness. Turn your ear to me; come quickly to my rescue;
Be my Rock of refuge, a strong fortress to save me.
Ps.62:1-2 – For God alone my soul waits in silence; from him comes my salvation.
He alone is my Rock and my salvation, my fortress; I shall not be greatly shaken.
I Cor.3:11 – For no man can lay a Foundation other than the One which is laid, which is Jesus Christ.

The Church age was not foreseen by the Old Testament Prophets; it was hidden from them
in the valley, as it were, between the mountain tops of the first and second coming of Christ.
As we have noted previously in our study; this is known as a Gap or more specifically a Parenthesis. A correct understanding of prophecy absolutely depends upon this principle.
Is.9:6 – “A Son will be given to us... (Gap) ...the government will rest upon His shoulders.”
Is.11:4 – “With righteousness He will judge the poor, and decide with fairness for the afflicted of the earth ... (Gap) ... He will strike the earth with the rod of His mouth, and the breath of His lips will slay the wicked.”

Other names for this Dispensation of time known as the Church age are;

“The Day of Grace” – The specific period of time between Pentecost and the Rapture; when God offers salvation to all men by grace, through faith in Jesus Christ; through the agency of the Church by means of the Gospel and the ministry of reconciliation (II Cor.5:18-20; 15:3-4).

“The (Day) Year of our Lord’s Favor” – Is.61:2a – This is a beautiful foreshadow of the work of Jesus Christ and the gracious offer of salvation that He brought to mankind at His first coming. This is a fine example of veiled prophecy; the scriptures are filled with them.
Other prefigures and foreshadows of this “Day/ Year” (see Is.63:4; day + year are synonyms in this context)
The year of the Lord's favor can be seen in:
Lev.25:10-11, 13; Ezek.46:17 – The Jubilee, The Year of Liberty, The Release; the return of property and the releasing of slaves every 50 years; after 7 times seven Sabbaths.
Deut.15:1; 31:10 – The Remission – “The Shemitta”; the forgiveness of debts every 7 years.

Events During the Church Age

I. The judgment of sin of all believers; the payment of the sin debt for all of mankind.

Jn.5:24 – "Truly, truly, I say to you, he who hears My word, and believes Him who sent Me, has eternal life, and does not come into judgment, but has passed out of death into life.

Col.2:13-15 – When you were dead in your transgressions and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He made you alive together with Him, having forgiven us all our transgressions, having canceled out the certificate of debt consisting of decrees against us, which was hostile to us; and He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross.
When He had disarmed the rulers and authorities, He made a public display of them, having triumphed over them through Him.

I Tim.4:10 – For to this end we toil and strive, because we have our hope set on the living God, who is the Savior of all people, especially of those who believe.

Heb.2:9 – But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man.

II. The birth of the Church.

Acts 2:1-4 – When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place.
And suddenly there came from heaven a noise like a violent rushing wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting.
And there appeared to them tongues as of fire distributing themselves, and they rested on each one of them.
And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit was giving them utterance.

Ro.8:9 – But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of His. (This is the definition of a Christian; this is how one becomes a member of the Church of Jesus Christ)

III. The cleansing of sin in the daily life of the believer.

I Jn.1:9 – If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

IV. The Birth Pangs.

Mt.24:4-8 – And Jesus answered and said to them, “See to it that no one misleads you.
“For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will mislead many.
“You will be hearing of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not frightened, for those things must take place, but that is not yet the end.
“For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom and in various places there will be famines and earthquakes.
“But all these things are merely the beginning of birth pangs.

V. The Rapture of the Church; The Day of Christ.

I Cor. 1:8; II Cor.1:14; Php.1:6, 10; 2:16;
Jn.14:1-3; Lk.21:36; Ro.5:9; I Cor.1:7; 15:51-58; Gal.5:5; Eph.4:30; Php.3:14;
I Thes.1:10; 4:13-18; 5:9; II Thes.2:1-3, 14; I Tim.6:14; II Tim.4:8; Titus 2:13; I Pet.1:7, 13.