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NASB | Matthew 24:34 "Truly I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all these things take place. |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | Matthew 24:34 "I assure you and most solemnly say to you, this generation [the people living when these signs and events begin] will not pass away until all these things take place. |
Bible Question:
Is there any Biblical evidence for the 2nd Coming? For some unknown reason, Hank, I remembered that I had not responded to the message below. I had always meant to, but found it mildly disturbing, since I felt your earnest concerns. But then, perhaps, I overreacted. And because I consider the topic to be of the utmost importance—it is critical, in fact—I have returned to it, to the forum, to reconcile this omission. Always good thoughts… ---------------------------------- Note(Treadway) on the question you raise about our Lord's Second Coming and about the word 'soon.' As to His return, He said He would return. This constitutes a promise from the Son of God. Therefore, not to believe Him, not to take Him at His word, really does play havoc with our own personal trust in Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord, doesn't it?---------------------------------------------------- Hank, when you say “not to believe Him”, that may not be the crux of the scenario. It’s not a question of believing, but a question of understanding. For sure, those surrounding Jesus did believe what he said; and what he said was that he was coming back within their lifetime. His words, the disciples’ words, Paul, Peter, and John’s words, and the author of Revelations, all testify to that reality. The only contest to this reality is the statement that’s cited concerning that a day is like a thousand years to God. Other than an appeasement for the followers who were trying to narrow down the day and time, this statement has little bearing upon the “soon” emphases. In fact, the statement is even said in offhanded, incidental fashions. Second, you said that if what I’ve proposed is true, then, it “really does play havoc with our personal trust in Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior, doesn’t it?” Well, that would be an individual matter. What it also would do is create an arena of understanding. Yes, it would certainly cause some reflection. And that reflection might start a domino effect, but at the end would be understanding and knowledge about a great many things.------------------------------------------------------------------ (Hank). But this we know: that 'soon' each of us is going to cross the unavoidable bar that separates temporal life on earth from eternity. It will be too late then to speculate about our Lord's return; thus, to my mind, while it is important to watch and wait in expectation of His return, it is of more vital importance to place our total faith and total trust in Him here .' There can be no nobler calling in all of heaven and earth than 'just in simple faith to trust Him, just to take Him at His word.' ----------------------------------------------------- Hank, I agree with much of what you say. But when it becomes clear to me that something is simply not true, then, I must accept that clarity. I have spent much, much time in tracking down this “soon” business, and the conclusion is that the evidence is overwhelming that Jesus will not be coming back. Now, that doesn’t mean it can’t be wrong, but I have bounced this off of a multitude of people of different stripes, and so far, not one of them has been able to present anything that comes close to contradicting my findings. And, bolstering these findings overall have been forays into the Messianic prophecies. Not one prophecy suggests that Jesus will come twice—not one. If you, or anyone else knows of any, I’d be most appreciative to hear it. (The same goes for anything in the NT that refutes that the people in association with Jesus did not believe that He would come back within their lifetime). The Messiah of the Jews was to come once, and once only. This is the inconvertible message that does not waver in the prophecies. This, in and of itself, should be pause enough for serious reflection; but then couple it with “soon”, and the reality is overwhelming. I once believed, once thought it was cut and dried; but once I put my efforts into the Bible I learned it is just that—cut and dried—but just the opposite of all that I had been taught, and believed for oh so many years,. Anyway, interested to be shown otherwise, in the OT, or the NT. Good thoughts, Treadway |
Bible Answer: Greetings Treadway! Welcome back my friend! I am definitely saddened by the route you are taking my friend. You have progressed from abritraily deciding how long 'soon' is to deciding that 'soon' now means 'never'! :-( So, are we to now ignore all of the passages which emphatically state that Christ is returning simply because you don't think He came back 'soon' enough? For example: 1) Mt. 24:30 - "‘‘At that time the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky, and all the nations of the earth will mourn. They will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of the sky, with power and great glory." 2) Mt. 26:64 - "‘‘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.”" 3) John 14:3 - "And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am." 4) Acts 1:11 - " ‘‘Men of Galilee,” they said, ‘‘why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven.”" 5) Acts 3:19 - "Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord, 20 and that he may send the Christ, who has been appointed for you—even Jesus. 21 He must remain in heaven until the time comes for God to restore everything, as he promised long ago through his holy prophets." 6) 1 Thess. 5:15 - " According to the Lord’s own word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left till the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep. 16 For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first." 7) 1 Thess. 2:19 - "For what is our hope, our joy, or the crown in which we will glory in the presence of our Lord Jesus when he comes? Is it not you?" 8) 1 Thess. 3:11 - "May he strengthen your hearts so that you will be blameless and holy in the presence of our God and Father when our Lord Jesus comes with all his holy ones." 9) 1 Cor. 4:5 - " Therefore judge nothing before the appointed time; wait till the Lord comes. He will bring to light what is hidden in darkness and will expose the motives of men’s hearts. At that time each will receive his praise from God." 10) 1 Cor. 11:26 - "For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes." 11) 1 Cor. 15:23 - "But each in his own turn: Christ, the firstfruits; then, when he comes, those who belong to him." 12) 2 Thess. 1:10 - "on the day he comes to be glorified in his holy people and to be marveled at among all those who have believed. This includes you, because you believed our testimony to you." 13) 1 Thess. 5:23 - "May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ." 14) 2 Thess. 2:1 - "Concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered to him, we ask you, brothers," 15) 2 Thess. 2:8 - "And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus will overthrow with the breath of his mouth and destroy by the splendor of his coming." 16) James 5:7 - "Be patient, then, brothers, until the Lord’s coming. See how the farmer waits for the land to yield its valuable crop and how patient he is for the autumn and spring rains. 8 You too, be patient and stand firm, because the Lord’s coming is near." 17) 1 John 2:28 - "And now, dear children, continue in him, so that when he appears we may be confident and unashamed before him at his coming." 18) 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." Scripture is very clear - Christ is coming again! Unfortunately, your 'discoveries' about this issue are simply old complaints repeated over and over again: 2 Pet. 3:3 - "First of all, you must understand that in the last days scoffers will come, scoffing and following their own evil desires. 4 They will say, ‘‘Where is this ‘coming’ he promised? Ever since our fathers died, everything goes on as it has since the beginning of creation.”" Don't be deceived my friend! He is coming back again - "SOON"! :-) Your Brother in Christ, Tim Moran |