When Will Christ Return?

[eclipsenow]

Yes, that's my age! I think though that 1967 has to be included as the start point if we figure 70 years for a generation. Which would mean all of the prophecies must be complete by 2037. Sometime between now and then.
Doug

M'eh, too many wrong assumptions here to be bothered even trying. But here's one. Where do you get 70 years as a 'generation'? Here's another: what's 1967 got to do with anything? (Other than also being the year I was born!)

 

[eclipsenow]

.

I have already explained the things you mentioned above in my posts. I am not leaving the conversation because of the way you format your responses, but simply because I have said everything I've needed to say and we have not come to an agreement. There really is no reason for me to continue to say the same things again and again. So we are just going to have to agree to disagree.

Well, I for one am not really convinced by your answers. I'm not "agreeing to disagree" on the basis that my answers were somehow inadequate: if that's all you've got to argue your case, maybe you need to consider changing your mind on this issue? Because you still have not really addressed points 1 and 2 above.

 

[Douggg]

M'eh, too many wrong assumptions here to be bothered even trying. But here's one. Where do you get 70 years as a 'generation'? Here's another: what's 1967 got to do with anything? (Other than also being the year I was born!)

No, I really am 64. It is not an assumption.

70 years for a generation, Psalms 90, three score and ten. King David died when he was 70, btw.

1967, the Jews regained control over Jerusalem. So that Matthew 23:39 could be fulfilled, the generation that will see Jesus return.


Doug

 

[Daniel Gregg]

Agreed, but I think 2030's is still too soon:

1. Not enough time for Babylon to be rebuilt
2. Not enough time for horse culture to return (re: Ezek 38-39).

So, what year range do you think Jesus Christ will return? Vote in the poll and then post your reason for your vote.

I think Christ will return in the 2030s for several reasons:

1) The 2030s will be exactly 2000 years after Christ left. God has a thing with numbers, and Christ has a 1000 year reign. It could be that Jesus Christ returns 2000 years after he ascended into heaven.

2) The timing is simply not right at this moment. We need a one world government before anything in the book of Revelation can begin happening, and it is going to take some time to set up a one world government (many legal hurdles, etc.). As soon as the one world government is in place the antichrist will appear. I think this will begin in the mid-to-late 2020s.

 

[Daniel Gregg]

What about an option for "does it really matter"?

What matters is the appointed times of Scripture.

 

[Daniel Gregg]

I finally figured out why [bless and do not curse] keeps coming up in my posts! This unintelligent forum suspects all soft hyphens of being separators for curse words.

That's the exact reason I think it won't be until the 2030s. I just don't see a global government getting set up this decade.

I think that the tribulation might start at around 2027 (80 years since Israel became a nation - see Psalm 90). That would mean that the great tribulation would end 3.5 years later, which would be almost exactly 2000 years since Christ left.

Incidentally, there is an asteroid set to come very close to the earth in 2027 (from The Continuing Story Of Asteroid 1999[bless and do not curse]AN10):

" The new data allow a considerably improved orbit to be calculated for this potentially hazardous object, and the revised predictions indicate that this kilometer-size asteroid could pass particularly close to the Earth on August 7, 2027. The passage in 2027 could be as close as 37,000 km from the Earth's center (just 19,000 miles above the Earth's surface), but no closer. The miss distance is still very uncertain, and the asteroid could easily pass well outside the Moon's orbit. The probability of a collision in 2027 is essentially zero."

[FONT=&quot]57 And when it was later, there came a rich man from Ha̱[bless and do not curse]ra̱[bless and do not curse]ma̱[bless and do not curse]t̑a[bless and do not curse]yim, nam[bless and do not curse]ed Yo[bless and do not curse]se̱f, who him[bless and do not curse]self had also become a disciple of Yĕ̱[bless and do not curse]shu[bless and do not curse]‛a. 58 This man went to Pi̧[bless and do not curse]la̱[bless and do not curse]ţos and ask[bless and do not curse]ed for the body of Yĕ̱[bless and do not curse]shu[bless and do not curse]‛a. Then Pi̧[bless and do not curse]la̱[bless and do not curse]ţos order[bless and do not curse]ed it to be given over to him. 59 And Yo[bless and do not curse]se̱f took the body and wrapp[bless and do not curse]ed it in a clean linen cloth, 60 and laid it in his own new tomb, which he had hewn out in the rock; and he roll[bless and do not curse]ed a large stone against the entrance of the tomb and went away. 61 And Mir[bless and do not curse]ya̱m Ha-Mag[bless and do not curse]da[bless and do not curse]lit was there, and the other Mir[bless and do not curse]ya̱m, sitt[bless and do not curse]ing opposite the grave.

[/FONT]
57 And when it was later, there came a rich man from Ha̱ra̱ma̱t̑ayim, named Yose̱f, who himself had also become a disciple of Yĕ̱shu‛a. 58 This man went to Pi̧la̱ţos and asked for the body of Yĕ̱shu‛a. Then Pi̧la̱ţos ordered it to be given over to him. 59 And Yose̱f took the body and wrapped it in a clean linen cloth, 60 and laid it in his own new tomb, which he had hewn out in the rock; and he rolled a large stone against the entrance of the tomb and went away. 61 And Mirya̱m Ha-Magdalit was there, and the other Mirya̱m, sitting opposite the grave.
[FONT=&quot]

[/FONT]

 

[WingsOfEagles07]

Hello Brethren, it has been a while since I have posted on this forum. Ever since September of 2009, lol. Which is literally like a long time, I remembered about this site.

In my opinion, I see JESUS CHRIST coming back before 2020. With the rate at which things are going something is about to go down, rather it be in the middle east, economic collapse in America, or whatever it may be. I believe CHRIST is coming SOON! And I am gettin EXCITED! And when I leave, i'll look down at earth like and when I get to heaven before Jesus ill be like . But in the meantime, I will be til He comes again! Amen!

God Bless you all!

Matthew

 

[Interplanner]

re generation
why not 40, like in the wilderness, and like the children of the mothers who followed Jesus to the cross (Lk 23)?
--inter

 

[eclipsenow]

No, I really am 64. It is not an assumption.

70 years for a generation, Psalms 90, three score and ten. King David died when he was 70, btw.

Psalm 90 says how long a human life is. I was hoping there was evidence for how long Jews considered a 'generation' to be. I don't really have time to look through my Bible Encyclopedia's tonight. Maybe some other time.

1967, the Jews regained control over Jerusalem. So that Matthew 23:39 could be fulfilled, the generation that will see Jesus return.

37 “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to it! How often would I have gathered your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you were not willing! 38 See, your house is left to you desolate. 39 For I tell you, you will not see me again, until you say, ‘Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.’”


The temple will be abandoned by God, as Ezekiel 8-11 predicts and the first 20 Chapters of Jeremiah discuss.


The commentaries I read say the "Until you say" is deliberately conditional in the Greek. It's like a hypothetical 'if / when' than a prophetic "You WILL say!"


But even if the Greek could be read in another sense, there is still hope for Israel in the sense of 'all Israel' (Romans 11) which means the church. Israel, Palestine, Australia, America, all have hope if they receive the gospel and repent and declare ‘Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.’ when he returns!


But these chapters finish with a dreadful sense of imminent doom, and imminent it was. Roughly 40 years after this, the Romans encamp around Jerusalem exactly as Luke predicts, and the house is eventually left desolate, and abominations are performed. I thought there might be something about 'generations' being 40 years because of this rough historical correlation with the 40 years of judgement of Israel in the desert, such a strong number after 40 days and 40 nights of Noah and Jesus fasting for 40 days and nights. That's why I was asking about a Jewish perspective on 'generation'. But I'm too tired to continue for now.

 

[Achilles6129]

I just thought I would post these verses about the unexpected nature of Christ's return. It is very interesting that virtually every time that Christ talks about his return he talks about its sudden or unexpected nature. This links up with the book of Revelation in Revelation 16:15 where it says "Behold, I come as a thief." Here are the passages:

"5 As the bridegroom was delayed, all of them became drowsy and slept. 6 But at midnight there was a shout, ‘Look! Here is the bridegroom! Come out to meet him." Mt. 25:5-6 (NRSV)

This is interesting because it portrays the church as totally unaware of Christ's return - they are sleeping because he has delayed his coming. The passage indicates that the return catches the church nearly unawares, or that they're unaware until the very, very, end.

"37 For as the days of Noah were, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. 38 For as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day Noah entered the ark, 39 and they knew nothing until the flood came and swept them all away, so too will be the coming of the Son of Man." Mt. 24:37-39 (NRSV)

"42 Keep awake therefore, for you do not know on what day[i] your Lord is coming. 43 But understand this: if the owner of the house had known in what part of the night the thief was coming, he would have stayed awake and would not have let his house be broken into. 44 Therefore you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an unexpected hour." Mt. 24:42-44 (NRSV)

"45 “Who then is the faithful and wise slave, whom his master has put in charge of his household, to give the other slaves[j] their allowance of food at the proper time? 46 Blessed is that slave whom his master will find at work when he arrives. 47 Truly I tell you, he will put that one in charge of all his possessions. 48 But if that wicked slave says to himself, ‘My master is delayed,’ 49 and he begins to beat his fellow slaves, and eats and drinks with drunkards, 50 the master of that slave will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour that he does not know. 51 He will cut him in pieces[k] and put him with the hypocrites, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth." Mt. 24:45-51 (NRSV)

Here the reason for a surprise return is given again: The slave thinks his master is delayed and so he sees no urgent need to get ready. The master then returns at a totally unexpected hour and the slave is caught by surprise.

"33 Beware, keep alert;[a] for you do not know when the time will come. 34 It is like a man going on a journey, when he leaves home and puts his slaves in charge, each with his work, and commands the doorkeeper to be on the watch. 35 Therefore, keep awake—for you do not know when the master of the house will come, in the evening, or at midnight, or at cockcrow, or at dawn, 36 or else he may find you asleep when he comes suddenly. 37And what I say to you I say to all: Keep awake.”" Mk. 13:33-37 (NRSV)

"35 “Be dressed for action and have your lamps lit; 36 be like those who are waiting for their master to return from the wedding banquet, so that they may open the door for him as soon as he comes and knocks. 37 Blessed are those slaves whom the master finds alert when he comes; truly I tell you, he will fasten his belt and have them sit down to eat, and he will come and serve them. 38 If he comes during the middle of the night, or near dawn, and finds them so, blessed are those slaves.
39 “But know this: if the owner of the house had known at what hour the thief was coming, he[g] would not have let his house be broken into. 40 You also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an unexpected hour.”" Luke 12:35-40 (NRSV)

"45 But if that slave says to himself, ‘My master is delayed in coming,’ and if he begins to beat the other slaves, men and women, and to eat and drink and get drunk, 46 the master of that slave will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour that he does not know, and will cut him in pieces,[h] and put him with the unfaithful. Lu. 12:45-46 (NRSV)

"26 Just as it was in the days of Noah, so too it will be in the days of the Son of Man. 27 They were eating and drinking, and marrying and being given in marriage, until the day Noah entered the ark, and the flood came and destroyed all of them. 28 Likewise, just as it was in the days of Lot: they were eating and drinking, buying and selling, planting and building, 29 but on the day that Lot left Sodom, it rained fire and sulfur from heaven and destroyed all of them 30 —it will be like that on the day that the Son of Man is revealed." Lu. 17:26-30 (NRSV)

In other words, it is life as normal until the Son of man is revealed. This totally confirms the other passage we have looked at. The warnings given by Christ are very, very dire. He tells you in no uncertain terms to be ready because his return will be sudden and unexpected.

"34 “Be on guard so that your hearts are not weighed down with dissipation and drunkenness and the worries of this life, and that day does not catch you unexpectedly, 35 like a trap. For it will come upon all who live on the face of the whole earth. 36 Be alert at all times, praying that you may have the strength to escape all these things that will take place, and to stand before the Son of Man.”" Lu. 21:34-36 (NRSV)

"Now concerning the times and the seasons, brothers and sisters,[a] you do not need to have anything written to you. 2 For you yourselves know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. 3 When they say, “There is peace and security,” then sudden destruction will come upon them, as labor pains come upon a pregnant woman, and there will be no escape! 4 But you, beloved,[b] are not in darkness, for that day to surprise you like a thief; 5 for you are all children of light and children of the day; we are not of the night or of darkness. 6 So then let us not fall asleep as others do, but let us keep awake and be sober;" 1 Th. 5:1-6

"10 But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a loud noise, and the elements will be dissolved with fire, and the earth and everything that is done on it will be disclosed" 2 Pet. 3:10 (NRSV)

"15 (“See, I am coming like a thief! Blessed is the one who stays awake and is clothed,[a] not going about naked and exposed to shame.”)" Rev. 16:15 (NRSV)

This verse in Revelation confirms everything else we have seen in all the other passages.

So over and over and over again we are warned of the sudden and unexpected nature of the coming. We are told there will be dire consequences if we are not prepared (spiritually, obviously). We are told over and over and over again to keep alert. The coming must be sudden; it must be unexpected; it must take the world by surprise.

Very interesting things to ponder.

 

[eclipsenow]

I just thought I would post these verses about the unexpected nature of Christ's return. It is very interesting that virtually every time that Christ talks about his return he talks about its sudden or unexpected nature. This links up with the book of Revelation in Revelation 16:15 where it says "Behold, I come as a thief." Here are the passages:

"5 As the bridegroom was delayed, all of them became drowsy and slept. 6 But at midnight there was a shout, ‘Look! Here is the bridegroom! Come out to meet him." Mt. 25:5-6 (NRSV)

This is interesting because it portrays the church as totally unaware of Christ's return - they are sleeping because he has delayed his coming. The passage indicates that the return catches the church nearly unawares, or that they're unaware until the very, very, end.

"37 For as the days of Noah were, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. 38 For as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day Noah entered the ark, 39 and they knew nothing until the flood came and swept them all away, so too will be the coming of the Son of Man." Mt. 24:37-39 (NRSV)

"42 Keep awake therefore, for you do not know on what day[i] your Lord is coming. 43 But understand this: if the owner of the house had known in what part of the night the thief was coming, he would have stayed awake and would not have let his house be broken into. 44 Therefore you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an unexpected hour." Mt. 24:42-44 (NRSV)

"45 “Who then is the faithful and wise slave, whom his master has put in charge of his household, to give the other slaves[j] their allowance of food at the proper time? 46 Blessed is that slave whom his master will find at work when he arrives. 47 Truly I tell you, he will put that one in charge of all his possessions. 48 But if that wicked slave says to himself, ‘My master is delayed,’ 49 and he begins to beat his fellow slaves, and eats and drinks with drunkards, 50 the master of that slave will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour that he does not know. 51 He will cut him in pieces[k] and put him with the hypocrites, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth." Mt. 24:45-51 (NRSV)

Here the reason for a surprise return is given again: The slave thinks his master is delayed and so he sees no urgent need to get ready. The master then returns at a totally unexpected hour and the slave is caught by surprise.

"33 Beware, keep alert;[a] for you do not know when the time will come. 34 It is like a man going on a journey, when he leaves home and puts his slaves in charge, each with his work, and commands the doorkeeper to be on the watch. 35 Therefore, keep awake—for you do not know when the master of the house will come, in the evening, or at midnight, or at cockcrow, or at dawn, 36 or else he may find you asleep when he comes suddenly. 37And what I say to you I say to all: Keep awake.”" Mk. 13:33-37 (NRSV)

"35 “Be dressed for action and have your lamps lit; 36 be like those who are waiting for their master to return from the wedding banquet, so that they may open the door for him as soon as he comes and knocks. 37 Blessed are those slaves whom the master finds alert when he comes; truly I tell you, he will fasten his belt and have them sit down to eat, and he will come and serve them. 38 If he comes during the middle of the night, or near dawn, and finds them so, blessed are those slaves.
39 “But know this: if the owner of the house had known at what hour the thief was coming, he[g] would not have let his house be broken into. 40 You also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an unexpected hour.”" Luke 12:35-40 (NRSV)

"45 But if that slave says to himself, ‘My master is delayed in coming,’ and if he begins to beat the other slaves, men and women, and to eat and drink and get drunk, 46 the master of that slave will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour that he does not know, and will cut him in pieces,[h] and put him with the unfaithful. Lu. 12:45-46 (NRSV)

"26 Just as it was in the days of Noah, so too it will be in the days of the Son of Man. 27 They were eating and drinking, and marrying and being given in marriage, until the day Noah entered the ark, and the flood came and destroyed all of them. 28 Likewise, just as it was in the days of Lot: they were eating and drinking, buying and selling, planting and building, 29 but on the day that Lot left Sodom, it rained fire and sulfur from heaven and destroyed all of them 30 —it will be like that on the day that the Son of Man is revealed." Lu. 17:26-30 (NRSV)

In other words, it is life as normal until the Son of man is revealed. This totally confirms the other passage we have looked at. The warnings given by Christ are very, very dire. He tells you in no uncertain terms to be ready because his return will be sudden and unexpected.

"34 “Be on guard so that your hearts are not weighed down with dissipation and drunkenness and the worries of this life, and that day does not catch you unexpectedly, 35 like a trap. For it will come upon all who live on the face of the whole earth. 36 Be alert at all times, praying that you may have the strength to escape all these things that will take place, and to stand before the Son of Man.”" Lu. 21:34-36 (NRSV)

"Now concerning the times and the seasons, brothers and sisters,[a] you do not need to have anything written to you. 2 For you yourselves know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. 3 When they say, “There is peace and security,” then sudden destruction will come upon them, as labor pains come upon a pregnant woman, and there will be no escape! 4 But you, beloved,[b] are not in darkness, for that day to surprise you like a thief; 5 for you are all children of light and children of the day; we are not of the night or of darkness. 6 So then let us not fall asleep as others do, but let us keep awake and be sober;" 1 Th. 5:1-6

"10 But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a loud noise, and the elements will be dissolved with fire, and the earth and everything that is done on it will be disclosed" 2 Pet. 3:10 (NRSV)

"15 (“See, I am coming like a thief! Blessed is the one who stays awake and is clothed,[a] not going about naked and exposed to shame.”)" Rev. 16:15 (NRSV)

This verse in Revelation confirms everything else we have seen in all the other passages.

So over and over and over again we are warned of the sudden and unexpected nature of the coming. We are told there will be dire consequences if we are not prepared (spiritually, obviously). We are told over and over and over again to keep alert. The coming must be sudden; it must be unexpected; it must take the world by surprise.

Very interesting things to ponder.

Brilliant! And I guess the question is, how do we 'get ready'? Is it by coming up with all sorts of whacky end-times-tables to 'guess' when he's going to return, so that we are 'not surprised'? No! The verses above emphatically state that it WILL be a surprise so stay ready. I think the idea of being 'asleep' here is being spiritually dead. It's about being in denial of the need to get right with Christ and trust in his saving death on our behalf, and resurrection which guarantees the life to come. It's about not being a Christian in the first place! Once we are saved, we are to use these warnings to keep our fires burning and hearts glowing. We are to stay keen and passionate for the gospel. My fear is that all the whacky 'guessing games' of futurists, like Marantha's 22nd March prediction, will only disillusion Christians and harden non-Christians as predictions fail, and fail, and fail again. It WILL be a surprise. So I wish all those futurists would stop their guessing games and get back to the job at hand.

 

[Bible2]

Achilles6129 said in post 810:

It is very interesting that virtually every time that Christ talks about his return he talks about its sudden or unexpected nature. This links up with the book of Revelation in Revelation 16:15 where it says "Behold, I come as a thief."

Instead of Revelation 16:15 requiring that Jesus' return will be unexpected to all Christians, Revelation 16:15 can be linked up with Daniel 12:11-12 to point to the day of Jesus' return, as was shown in the "Rev. 16:15" part of post 455 and the "Daniel 12:11-12" part of post 403.

Jesus won't return as a thief for obedient Christians, for the reasons given in post 443.

Achilles6129 said in post 810:

"5 As the bridegroom was delayed, all of them became drowsy and slept. 6 But at midnight there was a shout, ‘Look! Here is the bridegroom! Come out to meet him." Mt. 25:5-6 (NRSV)

The "midnight" in Matthew 25:6 could represent mid-tribulation, for the reasons given in the "Matthew 25:6" part of post 403.

Achilles6129 said in post 810:

"37 For as the days of Noah were, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. 38 For as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day Noah entered the ark, 39 and they knew nothing until the flood came and swept them all away, so too will be the coming of the Son of Man." Mt. 24:37-39 (NRSV)

The unsaved people of the world will have no idea most of them are going to be killed at Jesus' 2nd coming until it happens (Mt. 24:37-39), for they could think the 2nd coming had already occurred with the coming into power of the Antichrist's miracle-working False Prophet (Rev. 13:13-14, 19:20), who could claim to be Jesus returned. And just as the people of the world shortly before Noah's flood, even though they could see or hear about Noah building his huge ark, no doubt rejected the idea YHWH had the power to actually cause a global flood which would kill them, so the people of the world at the end of the future tribulation could reject the idea YHWH has the power to actually defeat them.

For during the tribulation's latter half, the world will see the power of Lucifer (the dragon, Satan) and his fallen angels (Rev. 12:9), and the power Lucifer will give to the Antichrist to take over the entire earth (Rev. 13:4-8), and to utterly revile YHWH year after year without being destroyed (Rev. 13:5-6, Dan. 11:36), and to physically overcome and kill people in the church in every nation (Rev. 13:7-10, 14:12-13, 20:4-6, Mt. 24:9-13). And the world will see the amazing miraculous powers Lucifer will give to the Antichrist's False Prophet by which he'll be able to even miraculously call fire down from heaven in the sight of everyone (Rev. 13:13, cf. 2 Thes. 2:9).

And near the end of the future tribulation, the world will see the Antichrist's defeat of YHWH's amazingly-powerful two witnesses (Rev. 11:3-9), after which defeat the world will rejoice and make merry and send gifts to each other because the two witnesses had been sending plagues on the world (Rev. 11:10,6). And even though those plagues will be shortly followed by even more plagues from YHWH, poured out directly from heaven (Rev. 16, the tribulation's final stage), the people of the world won't lose their confidence YHWH can still be defeated. For after almost all the plagues from heaven are over, the world will see the amazing miraculous powers of some unclean spirits, convincing the world's armies to gather together for a battle against YHWH (Rev. 16:13-14, 19:19). And so the world could come to that battle at the very end of the tribulation with the same careless attitude as some people at the start of the American Civil War, who held picnics at the expected first battleground of Bull Run/Manassas to watch the battle and what they expected to be a quick and easy victory.

Achilles6129 said in post 810:

"42 Keep awake therefore, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming. 43 But understand this: if the owner of the house had known in what part of the night the thief was coming, he would have stayed awake and would not have let his house be broken into. 44 Therefore you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an unexpected hour." Mt. 24:42-44 (NRSV)

Regarding "Keep awake", see the "watch" part of post 445.

Regarding "you do not know on what day your Lord is coming", some Christians could come to know, for the reasons given in the "Matthew 24:36" part of post 401.

Achilles6129 said in post 810:

"45 “Who then is the faithful and wise slave, whom his master has put in charge of his household, to give the other slaves[j] their allowance of food at the proper time? 46 Blessed is that slave whom his master will find at work when he arrives. 47 Truly I tell you, he will put that one in charge of all his possessions. 48 But if that wicked slave says to himself, ‘My master is delayed,’ 49 and he begins to beat his fellow slaves, and eats and drinks with drunkards, 50 the master of that slave will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour that he does not know. 51 He will cut him in pieces[k] and put him with the hypocrites, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth." Mt. 24:45-51 (NRSV)

Regarding "My master is delayed", Mt. 24:48-51's evil servant became evil & was surprised by the Lord's return because when the Lord didn't return sometime before or during the tribulation, the evil servant thought the Lord was indefinitely "delaying" his return (Mt. 24:48). But in fact the Lord's return won't be delayed at all, but will occur "immediately after the tribulation" (Mt. 24:29-31). Also, even when we know this truth, we still need to live each day knowing any of us could die at any time (Lk. 12:20, Jas. 4:14).

 

[Marantha]

Eclipse said:

My fear is that all the whacky 'guessing games' of futurists, like Marantha's 22nd March prediction, will only disillusion Christians and harden non-Christians as predictions fail, and fail, and fail again. It WILL be a surprise. So I wish all those futurists would stop their guessing games and get back to the job at hand.

Simply put; you are wrong. This is no game. I am at the job at hand in many, many ways; with a King James Bible in hand. I am an unprofitable servant saved by Grace through Faith in Jesus Christ. We were told to watch....and if we watched; that day will not be a surprise. I'm watching.....along with MANY, many others.

Proof HERE March 22 2013 will come the abomination of desolation.

direct link

THE DANIEL TIMELINE (112 minutes)
http://danielstimeline.com/gallery1.htm

All Glory be to God
Marantha

 

[Achilles6129]

The "midnight" in Matthew 25:6 could represent mid-tribulation, for the reasons given in the "Matthew 25:6" part of post 403.

Why would Christ return mid-tribulation? It clearly represents Christ's final return, because it talks of a wedding, which is also a theme of Revelation 19 (his wife has made herself ready).

But what does 'midnight' mean? And what does Christ's statement about coming in the 'second or third watch of the night' mean? Is it some clue about the timing of his return? Incidentally, midnight is the second watch of the night (from midnight to 3 AM).

I believe night is used as a symbol for two reasons:

1) It symbolizes evil
2) It talks of the unexpectedness of the return (people are asleep at night, etc.)

It is interesting to think of these things - I do think they give us some clue as to the timing of Christ's return but I'm not sure exactly what.

 

[eclipsenow]

Eclipse said:

My fear is that all the whacky 'guessing games' of futurists, like Marantha's 22nd March prediction, will only disillusion Christians and harden non-Christians as predictions fail, and fail, and fail again. It WILL be a surprise. So I wish all those futurists would stop their guessing games and get back to the job at hand.

Simply put; you are wrong. This is no game. I am at the job at hand in many, many ways; with a King James Bible in hand. I am an unprofitable servant saved by Grace through Faith in Jesus Christ. We were told to watch....and if we watched; that day will not be a surprise. I'm watching.....along with MANY, many others.

Proof HERE March 22 2013 will come the abomination of desolation.

direct link

THE DANIEL TIMELINE (112 minutes)
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All Glory be to God
Marantha

Did you even read the verses above? 'Watching' is not about guessing games but about staying saved, staying in Christ's grace, staying spiritually alive. It's not about yet more failed predictions like March 22 will be.

 

[genetheking]

So, what year range do you think Jesus Christ will return? Vote in the poll and then post your reason for your vote.

I think Christ will return in the 2030s for several reasons:

1) The 2030s will be exactly 2000 years after Christ left. God has a thing with numbers, and Christ has a 1000 year reign. It could be that Jesus Christ returns 2000 years after he ascended into heaven.

2) The timing is simply not right at this moment. We need a one world government before anything in the book of Revelation can begin happening, and it is going to take some time to set up a one world government (many legal hurdles, etc.). As soon as the one world government is in place the antichrist will appear. I think this will begin in the mid-to-late 2020s.

I read somewhere how Obama tweaked an amendment and if they are altering the constitution now wouldn't surprise me if a one world govt was set up in the next few years

 

[Bible2]

Achilles6129 said in post 814:

Why would Christ return mid-tribulation?

It hasn't been said that he will.

Achilles6129 said in post 814:

It clearly represents Christ's final return, because it talks of a wedding, which is also a theme of Revelation 19 (his wife has made herself ready).

That's right. But the return doesn't have to happen at midnight. Instead, midnight (i.e. mid-tribulation) can be when people in the church will wake up and know when Jesus will return (see the "Matthew 25:6" part of post 403).

 

[Achilles6129]

It hasn't been said that he will.



That's right. But the return doesn't have to happen at midnight. Instead, midnight (i.e. mid-tribulation) can be when people in the church will wake up and know when Jesus will return (see the "Matthew 25:6" part of post 403).

Ah, I see - I misunderstood what you were saying. But the midnight = mid-tribulation point of view seems to be incorrect because the maidens do not have time to go and buy oil before the door is shut. That means there is not much time between the midnight cry and the bridegroom's arrival. Which means that the bridegroom basically arrives at midnight or very shortly thereafter.

If the midnight cry was mid-tribulation (i.e., 3.5 year mark or 1.75 year mark) then the maidens would have plenty of time to go and get oil (I'm thinking the oil is the Holy Spirit). It doesn't take years to obtain the Holy Spirit. So the midnight cry must be very, very close to when the bridegroom returns.

 

[eclipsenow]

I read somewhere how Obama tweaked an amendment and if they are altering the constitution now wouldn't surprise me if a one world govt was set up in the next few years

One world government would be AWESOME if it were democratic.

WORLD VOTE NOW - YouTube

For more on why I think we need a world Federation (with nations becoming more like States within a Federation) please see here.
Reform World | Eclipse Now

 

[Bible2]

Achilles6129 said in post 818:

But the midnight = mid-tribulation point of view seems to be incorrect because the maidens do not have time to go and buy oil before the door is shut.

Matthew 25:10 does not require that the virgins without extra oil had no time to buy more. Jesus is very merciful. He could give the foolish virgins enough time to repent (compare Revelation 2:21a) from their laziness, regardless of whether or not any of them will employ that time profitably (compare Revelation 2:21b).

Achilles6129 said in post 818:

(I'm thinking the oil is the Holy Spirit). It doesn't take years to obtain the Holy Spirit.

The ten-virgin's parable's extra oil (Mt. 25:4,9b) could represent the continued good works of believers, by which they'll be able to pass the judgment of the church (Mt. 25:19-30, Rom. 2:6-8) and enter the marriage of the church at Jesus' 2nd coming (Mt. 25:10, Rev. 19:7-21).