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NASB | Matthew 24:3 ¶ As He was sitting on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to Him privately, saying, "Tell us, when will these things happen, and what will be the sign of Your coming, and of the end of the age?" |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | Matthew 24:3 ¶ While Jesus was seated on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to Him privately, and said, "Tell us, when will this [destruction of the temple] take place, and what will be the sign of Your coming, and of the end (completion, consummation) of the age?" |
Bible Question:
Do you think we will Be caught up soon Is Rapture in near futre |
Bible Answer: Depends if you believe in the Rapture or not (I will not go into the arguments for and against here unless someone really wants to know.) Generally, Jesus could come back at any time (Matt 24:42-44, Mk 13:32-33, Lk 12:40, etc.) The signs we should watch for: 1) Gospel preached to all nations - (Mk 13:10, Mt 24:14) 2) Great Tribulation - Mk 13:19-20 3) False Christs and Prophets - Mk 13:22, Mt 24:23-24 4) Signs in the Heavens - Mk 13:24, Mt 24:29-30, Lk 21:25-27 5) The coming of "the man of sin" and the rebellion - 2 Thes 2:1-10 6) Salvation of Israel - Rom 11:25-26 We are warned to watch and notice these signs as Jesus said, "But when these things begin to take place, straighten up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near." Lk 21:28. However, this wasn't to give as a warning He is coming, but to warn us of the false prophets and Christs who want to mislead us. Looking at the signs, it is easy to say that they are being fulfilled and we could be taken in the next few hours/months/years. You could also say that back in 1950 1) Gospel was available and preached in every continent and nation. 2) The slaughter of the First and Second World Wars was the Tribulation 3) The Spiritualist movement, started in the US in 1848, was on the increase. 4) The US and USSR were conducting atmospheric nuclear tests. 5) Hitler was The Man of Sin, The rise of Communism was the rebellion 6) New State of Israel proclaimed in 1948. My point is that although we need to watch, and we need to be on our guard, we cannot tell if Jesus is coming in 5 minutes or another 500 years. It is very easy to look at the world around us think the end times are upon us. Although I feel we are moving toward the end, one interpretation I have heard for the restoration of the state of Israel is that the Jewish poeple need to embrace Christ. We do not, can not and will not know the time of the return of Christ. Matt 24:44 "For this reason you also must be ready; for the Son of Man is coming at an hour when you do not think He will. Matt 25:13 "Be on the alert then, for you do not know the day nor the hour. Mark 13:32-33 "But of that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but the Father alone. "Take heed, keep on the alert; for you do not know when the appointed time will come." Live your faith like he could come in the next few minutes with prayers on your lips and praise in your heart, after all you could be hit by a truck tomorrow. But plan to live a long, wholesome, fulfilling life in Christ. He will come when the Lord our Father knows the time is right. Sean |