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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?" |
Subject: IsRapturenearfuture |
Bible Note: kalos, Thanks for the follow up - you give some excellent quotes. Just a few comments from myself. Firstly, on the doctrine of imminency, I think I need to clarify my position. I didn't use the word imminent and though I do believe that the return of Christ will be sudden and unexpected, I did not add "and soon" on the end of the it. I believe Christ will return, and it can be at any time of the Fathers choosing. I certainly did not intend to imply "he is coming soon." As I said "We do not, can not and will not know the time of the return of Christ." Scripture makes that clear in so many examples. The fictional historic examples I gave were to highlight that we can take any point in history after AD 70 and say "see how recent history fits Scripture, so the rapture is coming soon!" and be wrong. I was not trying to say the Rapture is imminent. My main concern is not that Christ will come tomorrow and I will not be ready, it is more that it is possible that tomorrow I may go to him and not be ready! To commute to work, I have to travel by motorbike down a road with a poor safety record - statistically I'm more likely to die young than get my "three score and ten." It kind of focuses my mind, but at the same time I'm paying a mortgage on a house, contributing to a pension and looking forward to watching my daughter grow up, leave home, marry, etc. As for your proof texts - keep them coming! There is a lot of interest in the rapture post 9-11 (in part due to the "Left Behind" series of books, partly the misery and suffering we see in the world all around us.) and it is at these times that we need clarity - the clarity that only Scripture can give us. God bless, Sean |