Bible Question:
I believe that God operates on a different time table than we do. See the following passages from Second Peter. 2PE 3:4 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." 2PE 3:5 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, 2PE 3:6 through which the world at that time was destroyed, being flooded with water. 2PE 3:7 But the present heavens and earth by His word are being reserved for fire, kept for the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men. 2PE 3:8 ¶ But do not let this one fact escape your notice, beloved, THAT WITH THE LORD ONE DAY IS AS A THOUSAND YEARS, AND A THOUSAND YEARS AS ONE DAY. NASB (Caps mine) I believe that the very words of scripture are Divinely Inspired. As such I cannot believe that God would make a statement in Scripture that would be misleading. We do have a sure thing that Christ will return, rest in that irregardless of when He returns. As far as eschatology is concerned we would do well to follow the instructions of our Lord in Acts 1:7-8 "It is not for you to know times or epochs which the Father has fixed by His own authority; but you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth. " NASB There will be a generation that will "remain alive" when the Lord returns for that generation His return will be imminent. I do however believe for us to say that we are that generation would be presumptuous at best. Mike Piles |
Bible Answer: But you avoid the problem. What about the scriptures that show that Paul 'thought' he would be alive at the Lord's return? I am not predicting anything, suggesting that I did is somewhat insulting. I am saying that NOTHING is holding our Lord back! He could come at ANY time, I never said a specific time! This, I believe is taught in scripture. Yes, at the end of their lives Paul and Peter knew they where going to die, and the fact that Peter had to include that section(2Pet. 3:4-8) in his second letter PROVES MY POINT!! Why would he have to say, "the Lord is not slack in His promise" if people where not saying that it should have already occured! Since it had not occurred, people were saying that it was not going to occur! You're correct! It is not for us to know times, but the Bible says clearly, BE ON THE LOOK OUT!! It says this because Jesus COULD come back at any minute! That is why, when the apostles were alive they thought that He would come during their own lifetimes. We should live everyday of our lives expecting the Lord to come, that day! In constant expectation! Do you see what I am saying and what I am not saying? There will be no predictions out of this mouth (or address, as it were!) Let me know what you think, do you have a profile? If not fill one out!! GOD bless!! |