Mark 13:31-37 31 "Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will not pass away. 32 "But of that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but the Father {alone.} 33 "Take heed, keep on the alert; for you do not know when the {appointed} time is. 34 {"It is} like a man, away on a journey, {who} upon leaving his house and putting his slaves in charge, {assigning} to each one his task, also commanded the doorkeeper to stay on the alert. 35 "Therefore, be on the alert-- for you do not know when the master of the house is coming, whether in the evening, at midnight, at cockcrowing, or in the morning-- 36 lest he come suddenly and find you asleep. 37 "And what I say to you I say to all, Be on the alert.
Why Didn t The World End Last Week? Mark 13:31-37 12-30-12 PM
Some predicted that after 5,125 Mayan years, the world would to cease to exist, and all of life was going to be utterly destroyed *accept for the small Turkish town of Sirence. (Interestingly near the site of the Bible city, Ephesus). Dec. 21, 2012 - Chichen Itza, MX.
Obviously, the end of the world is an important subject. There are basically three positions on what the Bible says will happen in the genuine end of time. Post- Millennialism Pre- Millennialism Amillennialism Serious Views of the End
Post-Millennialism is basically the belief that after a series of predicted events involving both tribulation and a great spiritual revival, Jesus will come again at the end of 1,000 years of peace and prosperity on the earth and take His church away. (Not popular today/ Alex. Campbell held this position) Second Coming Millennium Post- Millennialism
Pre-Millennialism dates back about 160+ years to a Plymouth Brethren leader named John Nelson Darby, (popularized by the Scofield Reference Bible). Darby s Dispensational Pre- Millennialism was more popular in the U.S. The Pre-Millennialist position is that Jesus will first rapture the saved and then after 7 years of tribulation will reign for 1,000 years on the earth. And then will come the end. Second Coming Tribulation Millennium Last Judgment Pre-Millennialism
Amillennialism teaches that the Kingdom of God will not be physically established on earth, that the number 1,000 is symbolic language for a many years (Ps. 90:4; Eccl. 6:6; 2 Pet. 3:8) etc. Symbolic Millennium Second Coming Amillennialism
Amillennialism states that Jesus is presently reigning from heaven, seated at the right hand of God the Father, (Symbolic Millennialism) that Jesus will remain in Heaven until the end of the world, as he promised at the Ascension and then without additional signs shall return at the Father s command to bring the saved home, (no earthly reign) that at Pentecost the millennium began, as is shown by Peter using the prophecies of Joel about the coming of the kingdom, to explain what was happening at that moment, and that, therefore the Church is called to spread the Good News of Christ's Kingdom and salvation Today. Amillennialism
Many have assumed this position to be true. Hal Lindsey and others have popularized it. It is in many books and movies (Left Behind Series) etc. But it is not substantiated by Scripture. RE: Pre-Millennialism
Jn. 14:16 I will come again Acts 1:10-11 Two men in white clothing tell the 11 Apostles, "Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into the sky? This Jesus, who has been taken up from you into heaven, will come in just the same way as you have watched Him go into heaven. 1Thes 4:16-17 For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of {the} archangel, and with the trumpet of God; and the dead in Christ shall rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and thus we shall always be with the Lord. Christ WILL Return- personally, visibly and bodily.
1 Cor. 15:24 - Christ = first fruit of the Resurrection. 24 then {comes} the end, when He delivers up the kingdom to the God and Father, when He has abolished all rule and all authority and power. Peter writes about it 2 Pet. 3:1ff - Unbelievers will mock, but God s promises are good 8 1,000 years = day. No issue of time. 10 But the day of the Lord will come like a thief and the earth and its works will be burned up. Christ WILL Return- personally, visibly and bodily.
If we SINCERELY believed that the skies were going to part on Dec. 21 and the Lord return, I dare say we would have taken that day much more seriously and prepared months if not years in advance IS REAL Must be VIGILENT!
Understand I claim no perfection of any kind. I claim the righteousness of Christ as my righteousness. I claim His blood as my propitiation. My hope is in the finished work of Jesus, which God provided to me (through faith and obedience) at my baptism. I am not independently righteous, (no man is), rather, I am made righteous by His marvelous grace. We MUST Live Ready!
The Amillennialist position is not a denial of Christ s imminent return, it is a rejection of the dual or binary plans of Christ rapturing some and re-establishing a people and thus rehabilitating others under a different system does not fit my understanding of God s justice. BUT -it is never a waste of time to consider the temporal nature of this life and the permanent nature of Heaven and Hell Amillennialism Not Denial
If famous men who names are associated with large religiously oriented organizations, continue to make false claims, and to set false dates, sooner or later ANY belief in the Second Coming is dismissed as hysteria. 2 Pet 3:4 - "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." The Danger of Predictions
September 6, 1994 May 21, 2011 October 21, 2011 Harold Camping
In March 2012, he even stated that his attempt to predict a date was "sinful", and that his critics had been right in pointing to the words of Matthew 24:36 (KJV) "of that day and hour knoweth no man". He added that he was now searching the Bible "even more fervently...not to find dates, but to be more faithful in [his] understanding." Harold Camping
Just weeks or months after Paul left them, some in the church begun to predict specific future dates for Christ s coming, and others were suggesting that the day of the Lord had already been missed. Thessalonica and the End Time
And as we know Paul even writes a 2 nd letter the Thessalonians, (2 Thes.), in which he identifies Domitian, [the Caesar who banished John to the isle of Patmos], and actually a whole series of Roman rulers which we describes using the generic term The Man of Lawlessness. Thessalonica and the End Time
2 Thes. 3:3-6 But the Lord is faithful, and He will strengthen and protect you from the evil {one.} And we have confidence in the Lord concerning you, that you are doing and will {continue to} do what we command. And may the Lord direct your hearts into the love of God and into the steadfastness of Christ. Now we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you keep aloof from every brother who leads an unruly life and not according to the tradition which you received from us. 3 4 5 6 STAY IN THE WORD. (Remain Steadfast) Paul s Conclusions RE. End Times
2 Thes. 3:7-13 7 For you yourselves know how you ought to follow our example, because we did not act in an undisciplined manner among you, 8 nor did we eat anyone's bread without paying for it, but with labor and hardship we {kept} working night and day so that we might not be a burden to any of you; 9 not because we do not have the right {to this,} but in order to offer ourselves as a model for you, that you might follow our example. (cont.) Paul s Conclusions RE. End Times
2 Thes. 3:7-13 10 For even when we were with you, we used to give you this order: if anyone will not work, neither let him eat. 11 For we hear that some among you are leading an undisciplined life, doing no work at all, but acting like busybodies. 12 Now such persons we command and exhort in the Lord Jesus Christ to work in quiet fashion and eat their own bread. 13 But as for you, brethren, do not grow weary of doing good. Paul s Conclusions RE. End Times
2 Thes. 3:7-13 STAY DISCIPLINED (Do not give in to the value system of the world.) WORK STAY VIGILENT DO GOOD (Never use the Bible as an excuse for NOT DOING YOUR JOB.) Paul s Conclusions RE. End Times
2 Thes. 3:14-16 14 And if anyone does not obey our instruction in this letter, take special note of that man and do not associate with him, so that he may be put to shame. 15 And {yet} do not regard him as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother. 16 Now may the Lord of peace Himself continually grant you peace in every circumstance. The Lord be with you all! STAY AWAY from PREDICTIONS AND PREDICTORS. Paul s Conclusions RE. End Times
Jesus is coming. He may come tonight. What are you waiting for? There will be no more signs. Come tonight and be saved. What are You Waiting For?