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.”