When Will the Lord Appear?

newton3005 · May 14, 2022

When will the Lord appear, and for what reason?

Throughout the Bible, it is stated that the Lord will appear to us, accompanied by destruction. Joel 1:15 says, “Alas for the day! For the day of the Lord is near, and as destruction from the Almighty it comes.” Similarly, Isaiah 13:6 says, “Wail, for the day of the Lord is near; as destruction from the Almighty it will come!” 2 Thessalonians 2:1-5 says that destruction from the Lord will be preceded by a rebellion, followed by “the man of lawlessness...who opposes and exalts himself against every so-called god or object of worship...proclaiming himself to be God.” Would such a man strive in ironic fashion to make something great again that never ceased to be great to begin with?

All we know is that throughout mankind there seems to have been enough to try the Lord’s patience. Sometimes He responded with devastating results from the Flood to Sodom and Gomorrah, to Egypt, and by proxy to people like Joshua who destroyed whole cities. But the Bible tells of a time when everything will be destroyed, and a new Kingdom of the Lord will take its place. Will the people who are left to witness the transformation be those that are referred to in 1 Thessalonians 4:17? Seems that Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy spent much time among the Thessalonians telling them of the Lord’s appearance to mankind in the future.

For whatever reason, perhaps, they felt it necessary to say what the Thessalonians can look forward to as a people of and under the Lord. Compared to other Books in the Bible, the three lean more toward what is to become, instead of just asking how the people are doing in abiding by the teachings of Jesus and his disciples and what they should be doing to stick to those teachings. Perhaps the Thessalonians were more adroit in abiding by those teachings than the other peoples that Paul and others spoke to. In a sense, maybe, the three went beyond the elementary doctrine not only of Jesus but of his disciples, giving the Thessalonians a vision beyond what they were taught by the disciples, and were now being told of the world to come as they step out of the classroom, so to speak, something akin to what is heard by the speeches of valedictorians at graduation ceremonies...A new world awaits, etc.

But some may be tempted to ask what the importance is of the world to come when we might not be around in our present form to appreciate it. Perhaps there’s always the possibility that the transformation could happen in a matter of months, if not weeks or days. But even if it should happen tomorrow, what does that mean for us? For it would be something that has never happened before, so it’s not something we can actually prepare for. All we can do is keep our faith in God and not be led astray, and we may be among those who are left to benefit by the transformation.

d taylor · May 14, 2022

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The Messiah will appear at the end of the tribulation. First, He will be seen as a bright light that illuminates the earth all people will be able to see this light, because the earth at this time will be enshrouded in darkness.

SkyWriting · May 14, 2022

newton3005 said:
When will the Lord appear, and for what reason?

Throughout the Bible, it is stated that the Lord will appear to us, accompanied by destruction. Joel 1:15 says, “Alas for the day! For the day of the Lord is near, and as destruction from the Almighty it comes.” Similarly, Isaiah 13:6 says, “Wail, for the day of the Lord is near; as destruction from the Almighty it will come!” 2 Thessalonians 2:1-5 says that destruction from the Lord will be preceded by a rebellion, followed by “the man of lawlessness...who opposes and exalts himself against every so-called god or object of worship...proclaiming himself to be God.” Would such a man strive in ironic fashion to make something great again that never ceased to be great to begin with?

All we know is that throughout mankind there seems to have been enough to try the Lord’s patience. Sometimes He responded with devastating results from the Flood to Sodom and Gomorrah, to Egypt, and by proxy to people like Joshua who destroyed whole cities. But the Bible tells of a time when everything will be destroyed, and a new Kingdom of the Lord will take its place. Will the people who are left to witness the transformation be those that are referred to in 1 Thessalonians 4:17? Seems that Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy spent much time among the Thessalonians telling them of the Lord’s appearance to mankind in the future.

They expected Jesus to return while they were still alive.
We are supposed to act as though it will be within our lifetime.

com7fy8 · May 14, 2022

newton3005 said:
When will the Lord appear, and for what reason?

Jesus says >

"'Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken.'" (Matthew 24:29)

So, to me this means it will be dark. And what will happen when all has become dark? > next verse >

"'Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.'" (Matthew 24:30)

So . . . according to what Jesus Himself says, here > all will become dark; then Jesus will appear in "heaven" and all people will see Him shining in great glory from heaven > when? > "immediately after the tribulation of those days", and after all has become so dark, except for how Jesus is shining from heaven.

And verse 31 says >

"'And He will send His angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they will gather together His elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.'" (Matthew 24:31)

So, Jesus says He will come when He has His angels gather the "elect" who are of Jesus.

Now, there are people who insist that Jesus will come immediately before that time of great tribulation. And ones explain that the return of Jesus "immediately after" will also happen, for taking up ones who get saved during the great tribulation. And there is arguing about this, and there are people for both views who have carefully found scripture and developed their arguments for what they insist is correct. But Jesus Himself, in any case, clearly says He will come "immediately after", and He will gather His people.

And then what? I plan to go more into your first post and offer what I have about this, in relation to things in your post. God bless you, and hope to see you

RaymondG · May 14, 2022

He shall appear when we are like Him..... and we shall see Him as He is.

He is only waiting for us to become like Him..... then He will reveal Himself to all man.... as they ready themselves.

com7fy8 · May 14, 2022

newton3005 said:
Throughout the Bible, it is stated that the Lord will appear to us, accompanied by destruction.

How I piece things together is that after Jesus removes His people from this earth, then the evil ones of Satan will be ruled for a thousand years, with a "rod of iron". But there is no indication that any of them will repent.

So, why would God want to have evil ones living on His earth for a thousand years? Well, if you read what happens during God's judgments, in the Book of Revelation, you can see how a lot of sinners will be killed during that time; and yet at then end battle there will be soldiers as "the sand of the sea" available to try to attack Israel.

So . . . how ever can this be . . . if so many have been killed during the tribulation? How can they all be killed, yet have enough soldiers to gather against Israel in numbers "as the sand of the sea"?

My practical opinion is that those thousand years will be used to have sinners make babies enough so there will be soldiers as the sand of the sea for doing what is prophesied in Revelation.

And so, you can see, I consider the thousand year reign to be an actual historical event, and a simply practical thing. But there are ones who deny this, and they can argue and insist, but I have not seen any scripture they use which says what they are saying. And God is practical, and very creative in how He handles practical matters, including turning everything dark so people can see Jesus in heaven when He appears and dark so this helps their attention to be nowhere else.

But right now our attention needs to be to what's happening inside ourselves . . . where Jesus appears to us if Jesus is growing in us as our new inner Person >

"My little children, for whom I labor in birth again until Christ is formed in you," (Galatians 4:19)

Paul does go into end-time matters, but the main focus of God's word has to do with how our Father wants us to become like Jesus and love like Jesus so we even are pleasing to our Father like His own Son is > this is God's main focus, as I think Romans 8:29 and Colossians 1:28-29 can show.

So, while we talk about your end-time questions, we need to stay with where our attention mainly belongs.

So . . . yes, Jesus will come, then there will be destruction for evil people during the great battle at the end of the thousand-year rule.

com7fy8 · May 14, 2022

newton3005 said:
2 Thessalonians 2:1-5 says that destruction from the Lord will be preceded by a rebellion, followed by “the man of lawlessness...who opposes and exalts himself against every so-called god or object of worship...proclaiming himself to be God.” Would such a man strive in ironic fashion to make something great again that never ceased to be great to begin with?

Well, if it is what a lawless person considers to be great, it is not truly great. So, what a lawless person is able to seek never was great "to begin with".

And what the lawless person seeks, then, can not be great, at all, compared with all which God will succeed in doing after He wipes evil and its people from the planet. All that Satanic people can do is change things, and this will always make things worse >

"But evil men and impostors will grow worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived." (2 Timothy 3:13)

So, nothing this world's kingdoms ever have done has been great; plus no matter how ideal things have been, they have broken down, because of how humans are in sin.

But after the thousand-year reign with a rod of iron, then will come the new earth with how our Father rules His people through Jesus. All He will be able to do with evil people is get a lot of babies so there will be the end-time battle. But on the new earth will be how blessedly He benefits His Son Jesus and His children.

com7fy8 · May 14, 2022

newton3005 said:
In a sense, maybe, the three went beyond the elementary doctrine not only of Jesus but of his disciples, giving the Thessalonians a vision beyond what they were taught by the disciples, and were now being told of the world to come as they step out of the classroom, so to speak, something akin to what is heard by the speeches of valedictorians at graduation ceremonies...A new world awaits, etc.

Yes, the Thessalonians were what ones call a model church. They did very well in doing God's word and His will. So, it seems you think that Paul and Silvanus and Timothy therefore rewarded them with a special glimpse at what was yet to come . . . a glimpse not shared with others who were not so obedient.

And it is true, how God teaches us things He knows we are spiritual enough and obedient enough to receive and appreciate, depending on how He knows we have matured.

But God knew we all would have opportunity to read the messages to the Thessalonians . . . even if we are not quite as obedient as they were.

Plus, in other letters we have glimpses of what will happen in the end.

For one example > Romans 8:20-21 > to me, this means God will resurrect the whole earth so it is new in resurrectional glory > in the "glorious liberty of the children of God" who will be in resurrectional glory.

So, if this is correct, then Romans brings out a different perspective of what Paul and Silvanus and Timothy have shared with the Thessalonians.

Different letters can give different parts, then.

But what gets the main attention has to do with how to become in our character and how we live . . . how we love. This prepares us to spend eternity with Jesus.

Gregory Thompson · May 14, 2022

Later, God will definitely appear later.

God will appear when it is the right time.

SkyWriting · May 14, 2022

newton3005 said:
When will the Lord appear, and for what reason?

He is expected soon. He always will be.

com7fy8 · May 14, 2022

newton3005 said:
But some may be tempted to ask what the importance is of the world to come when we might not be around in our present form to appreciate it. Perhaps there’s always the possibility that the transformation could happen in a matter of months, if not weeks or days. But even if it should happen tomorrow, what does that mean for us? For it would be something that has never happened before, so it’s not something we can actually prepare for. All we can do is keep our faith in God and not be led astray, and we may be among those who are left to benefit by the transformation.

Well, in 1 John 3:2 we have, "it has not yet been revealed what we shall be". And Paul says,

"But as it is written:
. .'Eye has not seen, nor ear heard,
. ..Nor have entered into the heart of man
. . The things which God has prepared for those who love Him'"
.. . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (1 Corinthians 2:9)

So, yes at this time we have not matured and developed spiritually enough to fully appreciate how it will be with Jesus on the new earth. And, the way we are now, it is possible for us to have misunderstanding about it. So, what we need now is to grow in Christ and how to love, so we are ready and able to benefit, by having the character of Jesus in us. Then we can relate as His family and share personally with Him in His way.

We see how the disciples could be wrong in how they related with Jesus, right while they were with Jesus. They could fight about who was the greatest, which was not the way to handle being in the presence of Jesus. They needed how God alone can change our character so we are capable of rightly sharing with Jesus and sharing as His family. And there is plenty about this changing in the New Testament . . . about how to be and how to love.

And so, what God is doing now is preparing us for the great time when Jesus will receive us. This is His main focus, since telling us future details can by itself not prepare us in our character. And this preparation is in His timing for exactly when He knows He will resurrect the body of Christ. So, when will He come? When God has the whole body of Christ conformed to the image of Jesus as much as this will be done by God before the resurrection.

roman2819 · May 14, 2022

SkyWriting said:
They expected Jesus to return while they were still alive.
We are supposed to act as though it will be within our lifetime.

Yes early Christians thought that Jesus would return in their times. But when they realized it might not happen , the apostles started to write the gospels to pass on to future generations.

roman2819 · May 14, 2022

newton3005 said:
When will the Lord appear, and for what reason?

Throughout the Bible, it is stated that the Lord will appear to us, accompanied by destruction. Joel 1:15 says, “Alas for the day! For the day of the Lord is near, and as destruction from the Almighty it comes.” Similarly, Isaiah 13:6 says, “Wail, for the day of the Lord is near; as destruction from the Almighty it will come!” 2 Thessalonians 2:1-5 says that destruction from the Lord will be preceded by a rebellion, followed by “the man of lawlessness...who opposes and exalts himself against every so-called god or object of worship...proclaiming himself to be God.” Would such a man strive in ironic fashion to make something great again that never ceased to be great to begin with?

All we know is that throughout mankind there seems to have been enough to try the Lord’s patience. Sometimes He responded with devastating results from the Flood to Sodom and Gomorrah, to Egypt, and by proxy to people like Joshua who destroyed whole cities. But the Bible tells of a time when everything will be destroyed, and a new Kingdom of the Lord will take its place. Will the people who are left to witness the transformation be those that are referred to in 1 Thessalonians 4:17? Seems that Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy spent much time among the Thessalonians telling them of the Lord’s appearance to mankind in the future.

For whatever reason, perhaps, they felt it necessary to say what the Thessalonians can look forward to as a people of and under the Lord. Compared to other Books in the Bible, the three lean more toward what is to become, instead of just asking how the people are doing in abiding by the teachings of Jesus and his disciples and what they should be doing to stick to those teachings. Perhaps the Thessalonians were more adroit in abiding by those teachings than the other peoples that Paul and others spoke to. In a sense, maybe, the three went beyond the elementary doctrine not only of Jesus but of his disciples, giving the Thessalonians a vision beyond what they were taught by the disciples, and were now being told of the world to come as they step out of the classroom, so to speak, something akin to what is heard by the speeches of valedictorians at graduation ceremonies...A new world awaits, etc.

But some may be tempted to ask what the importance is of the world to come when we might not be around in our present form to appreciate it. Perhaps there’s always the possibility that the transformation could happen in a matter of months, if not weeks or days. But even if it should happen tomorrow, what does that mean for us? For it would be something that has never happened before, so it’s not something we can actually prepare for. All we can do is keep our faith in God and not be led astray, and we may be among those who are left to benefit by the transformation.

After 2033, we are going into the third millenium (the beginning of the 3rd 1000 year. Christ second coming can be 30 years , 300 years or 500 years after 2033 ... until about 3000 maybe.

I believe there will be a rapture of believers. Only when Christians are gone from earth then a world government can be formed. Otherwise, Christians will oppose any one world government. However the world government would not rule long. It is said that Israel will start to believe inJesus after the rapture, and many non-believers want to turn to God after seeing their Christian friends raptured and gone.

Have you all seen Thomas Ice video in youtube? It is quite good, though he DID NOT say "After 2033, we are going into the third millenium (the beginning of the 3rd 1000 year. Christ second coming can be 30 years , 300 years or 500 years after 2033." Thats is just my view. The number 3 has a certain significance in the Scripture eg Jesus was resurrected on the 3rd day. So I believe he will return in the 3rd millenium though we don't know when.

Blade · May 14, 2022

roman2819 said:
Yes early Christians thought that Jesus would return in their times. But when they realized it might not happen , the apostles started to write the gospels to pass on to future generations.

I know how and why some of the NT was written and sorry I can't find that reason. Man I pray its NOW lol. But try to put your self there..Christ telling us Hes going to make us home so where He is we will be ..if it was not true He would have told us. Then tells us again where I go you know and how. So skipping ahead He now has risen just as He said he would. Then gets caught up in the clouds.. and angels say..why look up Hes coming back the same way.

So hmm when would I believe Hes coming back? A any minute now. For everything He ever said happened. As time passes GODs word has not changed.. WE did. We added to His word with DOUBT with unbelief.. by the enemy. We know Paul telling other brothers and sisters that.. no you didn't miss Him.. Paul said "WE which remain". Paul never said they or them he said WE which remain. Paul put himself in what GOD showed him. WHEN that is? I don't know I just KNOW it will happen and since I was not promised tomorrow I always look for Him now.

So lol I pray its now..I am ready watching.. I am looking out that window for the owner to come back.. there are allot not watching put praise GOD

SkyWriting · May 14, 2022

roman2819 said:
Yes early Christians thought that Jesus would return in their times. But when they realized it might not happen , the apostles started to write the gospels to pass on to future generations.

That's quite a story you spin.

SkyWriting · May 14, 2022

Blade said:
So hmm when would I believe Hes coming back? A any minute now. For everything He ever said happened. As time passes GODs word has not changed.. WE did. We added to His word with DOUBT with unbelief.. by the enemy. We know Paul telling other brothers and sisters that.. no you didn't miss Him.. Paul said "WE which remain". Paul never said they or them he said WE which remain. Paul put himself in what GOD showed him. WHEN that is? I don't know I just KNOW it will happen and since I was not promised tomorrow I always look for Him now.

So lol I pray its now..I am ready watching.. I am looking out that window for the owner to come back.. there are allot not watching put praise GOD

Paul died. 2000 years later the reality of that belief shows.

roman2819 · May 14, 2022

SkyWriting said:
That's quite a story you spin.

Why do you say its a story ? Are you rdferring to my statement that apostles realuzed that Jesus might not return in their times? Thats factual.

If you rrefer to my opinion that Jesus return is probablg between 2033 and 2533 or 3000 AD, well yez, thats my subjective opinion.

SkyWriting · May 15, 2022

roman2819 said:
Why do you say its a story ?

Because it's not one I've heard before. It's a new one for me.

bcbsr · May 15, 2022

Acts 1:7 "It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority."

roman2819 · May 15, 2022

SkyWriting said:
Because it's not one I've heard before. It's a new one for me.

Are you referring to my statement that apostles realuzed that Jesus might not return in their times? It i quite common knowledge.

If you rrefer to my opinion that Jesus return is probably between 2033 and 2533 or 3000 AD, well yes, thats my subjective opinion.

When Will the Lord Appear?

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