When Did Jesus Say He Would Come Again?

If Jesus is God, why did He not know when He would return?

Answer to the question Regarding the timing of His second coming, Jesus stated that ″no one, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father, knows what day or hour it will be″ (Matthew 24:36; cf.Mark 13:32).In the Bible, it is plainly stated that Jesus is God (John 1:1, 14), and we know that God is omnipotent (knowing everything).As a result, it is unusual that Jesus would claim that He had no idea when He would return.The essence of the Incarnation provides the key to explaining Jesus’ seeming lack of expertise on this area.

When the Son of God became a man, He retained all of His divine attributes while also acquiring authentic human characteristics.Although Jesus kept all of the traits of divinity, as a man, He chose to limit the extent to which they were used.According to Philippians 2:6–8, this was a component of the ″self-emptying″ or ″self-renunciation″ described in the passage.

At the time of His entry into our world, Christ relinquished the advantages that He had enjoyed in heaven.As an alternative to remaining on His heavenly seat, Jesus ″made himself nothing″ (as the NIV translates Philippians 2:7).His heavenly privileges were forfeited when He came to earth, according to the Bible (NLT).

It was He who decided to hide His splendor, and it was He who chose to take on the role of servant.John 2:25, 11:43–44, and other passages in the Bible describe instances in which Jesus openly demonstrated His supernatural wisdom and authority on earth.The manifestations of Jesus’ divinity on those occasions were guided by the Father, who was there.On other instances, He did not receive such a direction from the Father, and He chose to remain hidden in order to protect His honor.Jesus always followed the will of the Father: ″I always do what pleases him,″ he stated in response to a question (John 8:29).To put it another way, when Jesus stated that He did not know when He would return, He was actively humbling Himself and adopting the role of a servant (see Philippians 2:7–8).

Because no other human knows the exact moment of Jesus’ return—that information belongs alone to the Father (Matthew 24:36), Jesus chose to keep His knowledge on that subject to a bare minimum.According to the Bible, it was a part of Jesus’ obedience to the Father (see John 5:30; 6:38; 8:28–29) and His purpose to live a human life on the earth.During His earthly career, Jesus appears to have chosen to ″give up the rights″ to some information that He was otherwise entitled to know.One among those things was the knowledge of the day on which He will return.Jesus, who is now exalted in heaven, undoubtedly knows everything, even the exact day and time of His second coming.

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Frequently Asked Questions

• When will Jesus return? What is the duration of the Great Tribulation?
• What happened to those who lived before to the birth of Jesus?
• The Final Judgment will be based on the following criteria:
• What are the telltale signals that the end is approaching?
• What is the sequence of events that will take place during the end times?
• What will be the end of the world?
• Are we in the midst of the end days?
• Will there be a second chance for individuals to repent and be saved when Jesus returns?

Contents

Introduction Jesus Will Return in Power and Glory When Will Jesus Return to Earth?Prepare for the worst!Resurrection Conclusions and Recommendations The Creation of a New Heaven and Earth Topics that are not specifically related to one another The Antichrist is a figure who appears to be a threat to the world.The Time of the Great Tribulation The millennium is upon us.The apocalypse In popular culture, the Second Coming is referred to as

Introduction

According to the Bible, Jesus will return eventually, and the world as we know it will come to an end at that time.There are many different theories and viewpoints on the end of the world, but the Bible only provides a few specifics regarding what will take place.The Bible does not provide a straightforward response to the majority of issues.We are instead encouraged to be spiritually prepared for judgment at any time and to place our faith in God, knowing that He will make things right in the end.This article explains what the Bible actually says regarding the second coming of Jesus and the events that will take place in the lead up to it.

Jesus Will Come Again

A continuous process of redemption is depicted in the Bible as God’s redemptive effort.Throughout the Old Testament, He directs His chosen people in the direction of righteousness and truth.Jesus’ first and second comings marked the beginning of the last phase of the process of salvation, which will climax in the events surrounding His third and final coming.A final judgment will be passed on all persons, alive and dead, at the end of time.The devout will obtain new spiritual bodies that will enable them to live forever, while the wicked will be sent into hell for their sins.

It is inevitable that all evil – Satan, sin, sorrow, and death – shall be finally defeated and destroyed.The kingdom of God will come to its fullness at some point in the future.Jesus left no doubt that He would return to fulfill His purpose of redemption for mankind: ″I will come again, I will finish my work.″ ″Don’t let this bother you.

You put your faith in God; now put your faith in me.There are several rooms at my Father’s house, and I will make arrangements for you to have a place to stay.If this were not the case, I would inform you straight away.’ When everything is finished, I will come and pick you up so that you will always be with me no matter where I happen to be.″ (New Living Translation, John 14:1-4) Associated texts include: Matthew 23:39, Luke 18:8, John 14:18, 28-29, Acts 1:11, 3:120-21, 1 Corinthians 11:26, Philippians 4:5, Colossians 3:4, 2 Thessalonians 2:8, 1 Timothy 6:14-15, Titus 2:13, Hebrews 9:28, 1 John 2:28, 3:2, Revelation 3:11, 22:12, 22:20, 1 John 2:28, 3:2, Revelation 3:11 and

When Will Jesus Come Again?

The Bible predicts a slew of events that will take place before the Second Coming, all of which will serve as indicators that the end is close.There will be wars, famines, earthquakes, false prophets, persecutions, and an increase in evil, to name just a few things.First and foremost, the Gospel must be preached to all countries.The temple in Jerusalem would be completely demolished.However, the temple was ultimately demolished by the Romans in 70 A.D.

Many of Jesus’ disciples believed that He would return within their lives, and multiple passages in the Bible corroborate this belief, including the following: ″In all seriousness, I assure you that this generation will not pass away until all things are completed.Despite the fact that heaven and earth will pass away, My words will not be forgotten.″ According to the NAS, Luke 21:32-33) Alternatively, scriptures such as this one position the Second Coming considerably further into the future: ″And this gospel of the kingdom shall be proclaimed throughout all the globe as a testimony to all the nations, and then the end shall come.″ (Matthew 24:14) Matthew 24:14, according to the NAS.There has never been a wholly adequate answer to these inconsistencies in the Bible, and the time of the Second Coming has been a source of heated discussion within Christianity from its inception.

No one, including Jesus, predicted that no one would be able to foretell when He would return ″No one, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father is aware of the day or hour in which it will occur.Keep your wits about you!Keep your eyes peeled!

You have no way of knowing when that moment will arrive.″ (New International Version, Mark 13:32-33) If and when the event takes place, it will be fast and unexpected; thus, you must be prepared as well, for the Son of Man will arrive at an hour when you do not anticipate him.Matthew 24:43–44 (New International Version) Over the course of the past 2000 years, various attempts have been made to interpret contemporary events in light of the clues found in Scripture.There have been several prophecies indicating the Second Coming of Christ is on the horizon.Everyone has been proven incorrect.Verses that are related include Matthew 16:27-28, 24:1-51, 26:24, Mark 9:1, 13:1-36, 14:62, Luke 9:26-27, 21:5-36, 2 Thessalonians 1:7-10, 2 Peter 3:8-14, Revelation 1:7, and others.

Be Prepared!

Because no one knows when Jesus will return for the ultimate judgment, we must continually be on the lookout for signs and wonders.When Jesus spoke the Parable of the Ten Virgins (Matthew 25:1-13), He was speaking clearly about the need of being spiritually prepared for the last judgment, and a number of His other sayings reinforce this point.Verses to consider include: Matthew 24:42-51, Mark 8:38, 13:33-37, Luke 9:26, 12:35-47, and 21:34-36, 1 Thessalonians 5:2-3, 2 Timothy 4:8, Hebrews 9:28, 1 Peter 1:7, 13, 4:13, 2 Peter 3:10-14, and Hebrews 9:28.

Resurrection

In some manner, everyone who has ever lived will be brought back to life to face the last judgment with those who are still alive: Indeed, I declare to you, the hour has come, and it is now, when the dead will be able to hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear him will live.Due to the fact that the Father possesses life in himself, He has also provided the Son the ability to possess life in himself and has delegated to Him the authority to execute judgment as well, since He is the Son of Man.Do not be surprised; for the hour is coming when all those who are in the graves will hear His voice and come forth – those who have done good, to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil, to the resurrection of condemnation – and the world will be transformed.John 5:25-29 (New King James Version) Associated verses: Mark 12:18-27, Luke 14:12-14, Acts 4:2, 17:18, 29-32, 23:6; 24:15-16, 21; Romans 4:17, 5:17, 6:5, 8, 8:11, 11:15, 1 Corinthians 6:14-15, 15:23, 2 Corinthians 1:9, 4:14, 5:1-10, Philippians 3:10-11, 21, Colossians 1:18, 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18, 2

Final Judgment

We have every chance to repent as long as we are alive, or until Jesus returns to take us back to heaven (change our ways from evil to good).However, at the end of the day, we shall all be judged.Everyone, both the living and the dead who have been resurrected, shall be subjected to God’s judgment.Even those who pretend to be Christians will be judged according to the actions they have committed throughout their lives (Matthew 7:21-23; 2 Corinthians 5:10; etc.).It is predicted that those who have lived good lives will be awarded eternal life, but those who have lived bad lives would be sentenced to eternal punishment (Matthew 5:29-30, 25:31-46, Mark 9:43-48).

This is how the apostle Paul phrased it: ″As a result, we are constantly sure and aware that, so long as we are in the body, we are apart from the Lord.″ We do not live by sight, but rather by faith.″We are confident,″ I remark, adding that we would like to be gone from the physical body and at home with God.As a result, we set ourselves the objective of pleasing him at all times, whether we are in our physical bodies or not.

Because we must all come before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each of us may get what is due him for the things he has done while in the body, whether good or evil, during our time here on earth.(New International Version, 2 Corinthians 5:6-10) In exchange for their former earthly bodies, the righteous who are granted everlasting life will get new spiritual bodies that are in some ways similar to their old earthly bodies and in some ways distinct from their old earthly bodies.The same will be true in the case of the resurrection of the dead.

The body that is sown is perishable, but the body that is raised is imperishable; the body that is sown is dishonorable, but the body that is raised is glorious; the body that is sown is weak, but the body that is raised is powerful; the body that is sown is a natural body, but the body that is raised is a spiritual body.According to the New International Version (NIV), 1 Corinthians 15:42-44) Related verses: Matthew 7:1, 21-27, 16:24-27, John 3:16-21, 5:21-30, Acts 10:39-43, 17:29-31, Romans 2:5-16, 1 Corinthians 4:5, 15:23, 2 Timothy 4:1-8, James 2:12-17, 4:11-12, 5:7-9, Hebrews 2:12-17, 4:11-12, Hebrews 5:7-9, Hebrews 5:7-9, Hebrews 5:7-9, Hebrews 5:7-9, Hebrews 5: 1 Peter 4:1-6, Jude 1:14-15, Revelation 2:20-23, 20:11-15, 22:12-13, 2 Peter 4:1-6, Jude 1:14-15 The Bible has something to say about salvation, which you may read more about here.

The New Heaven and Earth

The ultimate effect of the Second Coming will be the fulfillment of all of God’s promises to those who believe in him and His kingdom.Death, sin, and pain will be eradicated, and there will be no more misery or death on the earth.And the devil, who had misled them, was cast into the lake of burning sulfur, where the beast and the false prophet had previously been cast.They will be tortured day and night for the rest of their lives.(New International Version, Revelation 20:10) It will be similar to how the weeds are pulled out and burnt in the fireplace at the end of the age.

″ After sending his angels forth into the world, the Son of Man will weed away from his dominion everything that leads to sin and everyone who does wicked deeds.They will toss them into the blazing furnace, where there will be crying and gnashing of teeth on both sides.Then the righteous will be like the sun in the kingdom of their Father, since they have done what is right.

″Let him who has ears hear what is being spoken.″ (New International Version, Matthew 13:40-43) Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the old heaven and the first earth were no longer there, and there was no longer any sea to be seen.It was as if I was seeing the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, come down from God’s throne, prepared like a bride who had been exquisitely clothed for her husband.In that moment, I heard a resounding voice from the throne declare, ″Now the abode of God is among mortals, and he will live among them.″ They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and serve as their God throughout the entire process.

Every tear will be wiped away from their eyes by him.Because the old order of things has gone away, there will be no more death, grieving, weeping, or suffering in this world.(New International Version, Revelation 21:1-4) Matthew 8:11, 19:28-30; Mark 14:25; Luke 13:29; John 14:2-3; Romans 8:18-21; 16:20; 1 Corinthians 2:7-10; 13:8-13; 15:20-26; 45-49; Colossians 3:4; Revelation 7:14-17; 11:15; 19:19-20; 22:1-5;

Miscellaneous Topics

Several themes are mentioned in the Bible less often than the ones listed above, yet they may give further insight into the events leading up to the Second Coming of Christ. In part because these themes are not clearly described in the Bible, a variety of diverse interpretations have developed, many of which go well beyond any Biblical foundation..

The Antichrist

The antichrist (1 John 2:18, 22, 4:3, 2 John 1:7) is described as a liar and a deceiver who denies that Jesus is the Christ (1 John 2:18, 22, 4:3, 2 John 1:7, etc.).Many antichrists were claimed to be already existing in the world at the time of the writing of 1 and 2 John, which took place at the end of the first century.It is unclear whether there will be another antichrist, but it is possible that his spirit is currently prevalent in the globe.The animals of Daniel 7:1-12, the beast of Revelation 13:11-18, or the ″lawless one″ of 2 Thessalonians 2:3 have all been suggested as possible candidates for the antichrist, although none of them are certain.Some groups have attempted to transform Bible prophesies into propaganda at various points in history by announcing their own interpretations of the identity of the antichrist.

Some of the people who have been given this honor include the Roman emperors Caligula, Titus, Nero, and Claudius; Muhammad (the prophet of Islam); popes; Protestant theologians; political leaders; and numerous other persons and groups.Such accusations, on the other hand, appear to be founded on little more than prejudice and hostility.The Bible does not provide any hints as to the identification of the antichrist, and it does not promote conjecture about his or her characteristics.

The Great Tribulation

As described in Revelation 7:14, the Immense Tribulation will be a period of great suffering and anguish that will take place in connection with the Second Coming of Jesus Christ.It is frequently interpreted as a fulfillment of the prophesy of Daniel 9:24-27, which is found in the Bible.Psalms 2:1-12, Matthew 24:15-51, Mark 13:14-25, Revelation 9:1-11, 16:13-16 are examples of related scriptures.

The Millennium

• It is depicted in Revelation 20:1-10 as a thousand-year era during which Satan is restrained and the resurrected believers reign with Christ before the last judgment. The Bible makes no other explicit reference of the millennium other than this one. Among Christians, there is a considerable deal of disagreement concerning the nature of the millennium, and ideas about it may be divided into numerous categories: Amillennialism considers the millennium to be a metaphor of the current period in which the Church continues Christ’s ministry and the bound of Satan has already been completed by Jesus in the past.
• After the century, postmillennialism envisions the earth being cleansed of evil and Christ ruling spiritually for a thousand years prior to the Second Coming of Jesus Christ.
• Premillennialism considers the millennium to be a thousand-year period between the Second Coming and the last judgment, which begins at the end of the Millennium. There are two subtypes of premillennialism that may be distinguished: Historic premillennialism considers the millennium to be the next stage in the expansion of God’s kingdom, occurring after the current era of the Church and before the establishment of the new heavens and earth.
• Dispensationalism believes that the millennium will be a time during which the promises made to the people of Israel in the Old Testament will be fulfilled. According to this viewpoint, the establishment of the State of Israel in 1948 is evidence that the Second Coming is on the way.
• The Rapture (as described below) will take place before the beginning of the Great Tribulation, allowing Christians to avoid experiencing that period of suffering.

The Rapture

• The departure of loyal Christians (the Church) to meet the Lord in the air (1 Thessalonians 4:13-17) is referred to as the Rapture in 1 Thessalonians 4:13-17 There are three different ideas as to when the Rapture will take place: Before the start of the Tribulation, the rapture occurs when John ascends to heaven (Revelation 4:1-2)
• during the Tribulation, the rapture occurs when the two prophets ascend to heaven (Revelation 11:11-12)
• after the Tribulation, the rapture occurs when the two prophets ascend to heaven (Revelation 20:11-12)
• The rapture will take place at the conclusion of the seven bowls (Revelation 16:17-21).

The Second Coming in Popular Culture

In recent years, the second coming of Jesus, the Rapture, and other Bible prophesies have produced an entire business dedicated to these topics.The Late Great Planet Earth, written by Hal Lindsey in 1970, as well as the Left Behind trilogy by Tim LaHaye and Jerry B.Jenkins, have been at the vanguard of this movement.There are also websites, TV preachers, lecture series, movies, and videos available in addition to the numerous publications.Others combine inventive and colorful embellishments of Bible predictions with current political and social theories to create a unique blend of the two.

The majority of these works go well beyond what is revealed in the Bible and should be regarded as fiction rather than Bible prophecy, as is the case.The Bible has something to say regarding the Rapture, which is covered in another article.

Did Jesus Say He Would Return in the 1st Century A.D.?

One topic that frequently arises while discussing the historical accuracy of the Gospels and the tales of Jesus is, ″Did Jesus foretell that he would return during the lifespan of his disciples?″ Skeptics sometimes point to a number of instances in the Gospels where it appears that Jesus could be doing so and say, ″Look, here is Jesus saying that he will return during the lifespan of his disciples and he did not follow through on it.″ As a result, it is impossible to have faith in what he claimed.″It is impossible for the Gospels to be true.″ That is a typical point of contention among skeptics.On a number of levels, I believe the argument falls short of the mark.The article, in my opinion, misunderstands eschatological terminology.Jesus did make mention of the possibility of his return at any time.

He did speak of the imminence of his return, but there is nothing in his words that connects him to the concept that he had to return while his followers were still alive in order to save them.Is it possible that he may have returned at any point?Yes.

The statement, however, was not made under duress or in violation of any prior commitments he had made.The thought that he had to return while his students were still living has no hold on him, and he has no reason to believe it.People sometimes use passages in parts of scripture, such as the Olivet Discourse, in which Jesus appears to state, ″Those standing here will experience these things,″ as evidence.

A closer examination of that passage will reveal that the experience that Jesus is speaking of does not refer to the second coming, but rather to the trials and tribulations of the inner advent period, specifically the destruction of the temple, as previously stated.That was something that the disciples were very aware of.They saw the persecutions and hardships that took place shortly after Jesus’ ascension.Many of them would have witnessed the fall of the temple as well as the fulfillment of Jesus’ prophecies.None of these factors, however, imply that Jesus was obligated to return within the lifetime of his disciples.When we read in the New Testament that Jesus is speaking about the last days, we must remember that the phrase ″last days″ does not refer to a specific period of time.

Eschatologically speaking, it is about the belief that the next thing that will happen on an eschatological level will be the return of Jesus Christ.As a result, we still yearn for it.That is something we are still looking forward to.We remain hopeful that he will return one day soon, and we pray that he will.

Dr. Michael J. Kruger

Dr. Michael J. Kruger (Ph.D., University of Edinburgh) serves as President of Reformed Theological Seminary in Charlotte, North Carolina, as well as the Samuel C. Patterson Professor of New Testament and Early Christianity at the seminary. You can keep up with him on Twitter.

The Lord Jesus said that He will return, and what will be the manner of His return?

References from the Bible include the following verses: ″Behold, I come in the disguise of a robber.Blessings are upon him who preserves his clothing, lest he roam around nude and people see his humiliation.″ (1 Thessalonians 4:15) ″If you do not keep watch, I will come on you as a thief, and you will not be able to tell what time I will come on you.″ (See also Revelation 3:3).″Therefore, be ready as well, for the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.″ (See Luke 12:40.) The Son of Man will be like lightning in His day, because just as lightning lightens from one part under heaven and flashes to the other part under sky, so shall also the Son of man be in His day.But first and foremost, He must endure a great deal and be rejected by this age.″ The Bible says (Luke 17:24–25).″And at twelve o’clock a shout was raised, saying, Behold, the bridegroom has arrived; run out to greet him.″″ (See Matthew 25:6 for further information.) When I stand at the door, I call out to anybody who would listen, and if he hears My voice, and opens the door, I will enter into his home and share his meal, and he will share my meal with me.″ (1 Thessalonians 3:20).

In such case, ″and then shall come in heaven the sign of the Son of Man: and then shall all tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of Man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory″ (Matthew 24:15).(Matthew 24:30).And everyone of the world will mourn as a result of His coming.

″Behold, He comes with clouds, and every eye will see Him, as well as those who pierced Him.″ Nevertheless, Amen″ (See also Revelation 1:7).God’s Words that are relevant today: For several millennia, mankind has yearned to be there at the time of the Savior’s entry on the scene.Humanity has desired to see Jesus the Savior riding on a white cloud as He descends among people who have pined and sought for Him for thousands of years, and now, finally, that desire has been fulfilled.

People have long desired for the Savior to return and be reunited with them; that is, they have wished for Jesus the Savior, who has been separated from them for thousands of years, to return and once again carry out the work of redemption that He performed among the Jews, to be compassionate and loving toward man, to forgive and bear the sins of man, and ultimately to bear all of man’s transgressions and deliver man from sin.That is what man longs for: that Jesus, the Savior, be the same as he was before—a Savior who is lovable, kind, and venerable, who is never wrathful toward man, and who never reproaches man, but who forgives and takes on all of man’s sins, and who, as before, will even die on the cross for man’s sake.Ever since Jesus’ death and resurrection, the disciples who followed Him, as well as all of the believers who were rescued in His name, have been frantically longing for Him and eagerly expecting His return.For all of those who have been rescued by the love of Jesus Christ during the Age of Grace, the exultant day in the end time when Jesus the Savior descends on a white cloud to appear before all people has been a dream come true.It goes without saying that this is also the collective aspiration of all those who today profess to be followers of Jesus the Savior.″I shall arrive just as I went,″ stated Jesus while on earth, and everyone in the universe who knows of Jesus’ redemption has been frantically longing for Jesus Christ to appear out of nowhere and fulfill that promise.

Man believes that, following the crucifixion and resurrection, Jesus returned to heaven on a white cloud to assume His seat at the right hand of the Most High, as described in the book of Revelation.The same way, Jesus will descend again on a white cloud (which corresponds to the cloud that Jesus rode upon when He returned to heaven), amidst those who have longed for Him for thousands of years, bearing the likeness of the Jews and dressing in Jewish garb.In return for His appearance to man, He will pour food upon them and cause life water to flow forth for them, and He will live among men, full of grace and love, vivid and genuine, and He will come to them in the form of a man.All of these beliefs are what individuals hold to be true.However, Jesus the Savior did not act in this manner; rather, He acted in the opposite manner from what man had imagined.

1. He did not arrive amid those who had longed for His return, and He did not appear to everyone while riding on a white cloud as some had speculated He would.
2. Despite the fact that He has already arrived, man does not recognize Him, and hence remains unaware of Him.
3. Humanity is merely waiting for Him aimlessly, completely unaware that He has already descended upon a ″white cloud″ (the cloud that contains all of God’s Spirit, all of His words, all of His disposition, and everything that He is), and that he is now among a group of overcomers that He will create during the final days.
4. The following is an excerpt from ″The Savior Has Already Returned Upon a ‘White Cloud,’″ which appears in The Word Appears in the Flesh (Volume 1).
5. It would seem that if Jesus returns in the manner that mankind imagines, and if he does so in the latter days, he would still be known as Jesus, and he will still arrive on a white cloud, descending among men in the image of Jesus, this would not be a duplication of His activity.

1. Is it possible for the Holy Spirit to cling to the old ways?
2. Man’s concepts and understanding are based on the literal meaning as well as his imagination; they are at war with the principles of the Holy Spirit’s operation and do not reflect God’s purposes.
3. The work of God would not be accomplished in such a manner; God is not so ignorant and stupid, and His task is not as simple as you may believe.
4. Jesus will come riding on a cloud, and he will descend into your midst, according to all that man has imagined.
5. You will see Him, who will come to you on the back of a cloud and tell you that He is Jesus.

You will also be able to see the nail marks on His hands, and you will recognize Him as being Jesus.And He will save you once more, and you will know Him as your powerful God.It is he who will save you, give you a new name, and give each of you a white stone, after which you will be permitted to enter the kingdom of heaven and be welcomed into paradise.Isn’t it true that such ideas are the creation of man?Does God operate in accordance with human conceptions, or does He operate in opposition to human conceptions?Isn’t it true that all of mankind’s ideas come from Satan?

Is it not true that Satan has perverted the entire human race?If God carried out His job in accordance with human expectations, would He not then be referred to be Satan?Wouldn’t He be of the same sort as His own creations, wouldn’t He.Given that God’s creations have now been so polluted by Satan that man has become Satan’s incarnation, wouldn’t it be fair to say that if God worked in line with the things of Satan, He would be considered to be in cahoots with the devil?What can a human being comprehend about God’s creation?As a result, God would never operate in accordance with human concepts, and he would never operate in the manner in which you conceive.

1. It has been said by some that God Himself stated that He will appear on cloud nine.
2. It is true that God Himself stated as such, but do you not realize that no human being can comprehend the intricacies of God?
3. Do you not realize that no human being can adequately convey God’s words?
4. Are you absolutely positive that you were enlightened and lighted by the Holy Spirit, without a shadow of a doubt?
5. Were you expecting the Holy Spirit to show you in such an immediate and direct manner?

Was it the Holy Spirit who gave you the instructions, or did your own preconceived conceptions cause you to believe that?When you said, ″This was said by God Himself,″ I thought you were serious.We, on the other hand, cannot use our own concepts and brains to evaluate God’s teachings.Is it possible for you to provide an absolutely certain explanation for the words stated by Isaiah?

Do you think you have what it takes to explain his words?After all, you aren’t even willing to explain the words of Isaiah, so why are you willing to explain the words of Jesus?Isaiah or Jesus, who is more elevated in your eyes?Given that Jesus is the answer, why do you need to interpret the words said by Jesus?Would you want God to inform you about His plans before they are completed?It is impossible for any creature, not even the messengers in heaven, nor the Son of Man, to know, so how could you have known?

The following is an excerpt from ″The Vision of God’s Work (3)″ in The Word Appeares in the Realm of the Living The appearance of God refers to His physical manifestation on earth in order to carry out His mission.He descends among men in accordance with His own personality and disposition, and in the manner that is inherent to Him, in order to carry out the function of starting an age and concluding an era.This type of appearance does not imply any kind of ceremony.It is not a sign, an image, a miracle, or any other type of big vision, and it is much less a religious procedure in the traditional sense.It is a genuine and tangible thing that everyone may come into contact with and witness.

• Instead of appearing for the sake of going through the motions or for any short-term task, this type of appearance is made in order to complete a stage of work in His overall management plan.
• The presence of God is always significant, and it always has some connection to His overall management strategy.
• In this context, ″appearance″ refers to an entirely different form of ″appearance″ from the kind of ″appearance″ in which God guides, leads, and enlightens man.
• Each time God exposes Himself, He is completing a stage of His grand plan of redemption.
• This work is distinct from any other work from any other era.

It is inconceivable to man, and no human has ever had the opportunity to witness it.In addition, it is labor that ushers mankind into a new era and brings an end to an old one; it is a new and improved kind of work for the redemption of mankind; and, last, it is work that ushers mankind into a new era.This is what God’s appearance symbolizes, according to the Bible.The following is an excerpt from the chapter ″The Appearance of God Ushers in a New Age″ in The Word Appears in the Flesh.

• The beginning of the new work of God, as well as the beginning of a new age, has now been signaled.
• God welcomes individuals who have been redeemed into His presence in order to begin His fresh work of salvation.
• This time around, the work of redemption is more extensive than it has been in the past.
• It is not the Holy Spirit operating within a person to lead him to change on his own, nor is it the physical body of Jesus appearing among mankind to do this task, and it is certainly not accomplished via any other method other than baptism.
• Rather, it is God incarnate who is carrying out the task and overseeing it from beginning to end.
• He does everything in this manner in order to guide man into the new job he has set for him.

Isn’t this a wonderful development?God does not carry out this job through a portion of people or through predictions; rather, God carries out this task Himself.Some may argue that this is not a significant development and that it will not provide man with ecstasy.However, I will tell you that God’s work is far more than this, and that it is something much larger and more than this.This time, however, God does not manifest himself in a spiritual body, but rather in a very ordinary one.Not only is it the body of God’s second incarnation, but it is also the body through which God returns to the physical world.

1. It’s a very ordinary piece of flesh.
2. You will not be able to see anything that distinguishes Him from others, but you will be able to learn facts from Him that were previously unknown.
3. God’s words are embodied in this insignificant body, which carries out God’s mission in the latter days and conveys the entirety of God’s disposition in a way that is understandable to men.
4. Do you not have a strong desire to encounter God face to face in heaven?

1. Do you not have a strong desire to gain a better understanding of the God of the universe?
2. Do you not have a strong desire to learn more about the final destination of mankind?
3. The secrets that no man has been able to tell you will be revealed to you by Him, and He will also reveal the facts that you are not aware of at this time.
4. In addition to serving as your gateway into the kingdom, he also serves as your guide into the new era.

• Many deep mysteries are hidden within such simple skin.
• You may find His deeds perplexing, but the overall goal of the work He does is sufficient to convince you that He is not, as many people believe, a simple piece of flesh.
• For He represents the will of God as well as the concern God has for mankind in these last days, and He is not merely a fleshly figure.
• Even though you cannot hear His words, which seem to shake the heavens and the earth, even though you cannot see His eyes as a flame of fire, and even though you cannot receive the discipline of His iron rod, you can hear from His words that God is wrathful and know that God is showing compassion for mankind; you can see God’s righteous disposition and wisdom, and, more importantly, you can realize God’s concern for all of mankind.
• The work of God in the last days is to enable man to see the God of heaven who is present among men on earth, and to enable man to know, obey, revere, and love the God who has revealed himself to him in heaven.
• It is for this reason that He has returned to the flesh a second time.

This is an excerpt from the book ″Did You Know?God has done a wonderful thing among men,″ as stated in The Word Appeares in the Realm of the Living Even while it is not difficult to enquire into such a matter, everyone of us must be aware of one fundamental truth: He who is God incarnate will hold the essence of God, and he who is God incarnate will possess the expression of God, respectively.Since God has taken on flesh, He will be able to bring out the task that He has set out to perform, and since God has taken on flesh, He will be able to explain who He is, and He will be able to convey the truth to man, bestow life upon him, and steer him in the right direction.There is no doubt that flesh that does not contain the essence of God is not the incarnate God; there is no question about that.If a person want to investigate whether or not the person in question is God’s incarnate flesh, he or she must confirm this by observing the disposition and words that the person displays.To put it another way, in order to determine whether or not anything is God’s incarnate body and whether or not it is the genuine method, one must differentiate on the basis of His essence.

As a result, rather than focusing on His exterior appearance, the key to establishing if it is the flesh of God incarnate is found in His essence (His activity, His utterances, His disposition, and many other attributes), rather than His visible look.Men are benighted and uninformed if they analyze merely the apparent aspect of God and as a result fail to recognize His true nature.The external look of something does not indicate its essence, and the work of God will never be able to adapt to the ideas of man.

Isn’t it true that Jesus’ external appearance went contrary to human expectations?Surely, neither his countenance nor his clothing were able to convey any hints as to His genuine identity?Notably, did not the first Pharisees resist Jesus exactly because they were only concerned with His outward appearance and did not pay attention to the words that He spoke?It is my hope that each and every brother and sister who seeks the appearance of God will avoid repeating the tragedies of history that have occurred in previous generations.

You must not follow in the footsteps of the Pharisees of our times and put God to the cross once more.You should give careful consideration to how you will greet the return of God, and you should have a clear understanding of what it means to be a person who submits to truth.Each and every person who is looking forward to Jesus’ coming on a cloud has a responsibility in this regard.Rather of being entangled in words of exaggerated imagination, we should massage our spiritual eyes to make them more visible.We should consider God’s practical work and the practical aspect of God’s being in our lives.Keep yourself from becoming overexcited or losing yourself in daydreams, always longing for the day when the Lord Jesus, riding on a cloud, suddenly descends among you and takes you who have never known or seen Him, and who have no idea how to carry out His will.

1. It is preferable to concentrate on more practical considerations!
2. The following is an excerpt from the Preface to The Word Appeares in the Realm of the Living You have no understanding of God, you have no understanding of Christ, you have no understanding of how to revere Jehovah, you have no understanding of how to enter into the work of the Holy Spirit, and you have no understanding of how to distinguish between the work of God Himself and the deceptions of man.
3. You are only aware of the need to condemn any word of truth spoken by God that does not accord with your own personal beliefs.

What happened to your humility?What happened to your obedience?Where has your commitment gone?Where has your desire to know the truth vanished to?Where has your awe and regard for God gone?

I assure you that individuals who believe in God because of signs will undoubtedly be among the categories that will be eliminated.Whoever is incapable of absorbing the teachings of Jesus, who has returned in flesh, is unquestionably the progeny of hell, the grandchildren of the archangel, and thus falls into the group of those who will be condemned to everlasting punishment.However, I still want to tell every so-called saint who follows Jesus that, when you see Jesus descend from the heavens on a white cloud with your own eyes, you will be witnessing the public appearance of the Sun of righteousness.

Many people may not care what I say, but I still want to tell them that Perhaps this will be a moment of tremendous excitement for you; nevertheless, you should be aware that the time when you watch Jesus descend from heaven will also be the time when you will be punished in hell.That will be the moment when God’s management plan will come to an end, and it will be the time when God will reward the righteous and punish the wicked.Because the judgment of God will have finished before man sees signs, and when there is simply the manifestation of truth, the judgment of God will have come to an end.

They will have returned to God’s presence and entered the arms of the Creator if they accept the truth and do not seek signs, and as a result, they will have been purified.One group of people will be subjected to everlasting punishment, and that group is those who continue to believe that ″the Jesus who does not ride upon a white cloud is a false Christ.″ They do so because they only believe in the Jesus who exhibits signs, and they do not acknowledge the Jesus who proclaims severe judgment and releases the true way and life.As a result, it is only possible that Jesus will deal with them when He returns on a white cloud in the sky.They are much too obstinate, far too self-assured, far too arrogant in their own abilities.

Jesus couldn’t possibly reward such despicable individuals.It is true that Jesus’ coming represents a tremendous redemption for those who are capable of receiving the truth, but it is also a symbol of condemnation for those who are not capable of accepting the truth.You should be free to select your own path, but you should never blaspheme against the Holy Spirit or reject the truth.You should not be an ignorant and arrogant person, but someone who obeys the instructions of the Holy Spirit and longs for and seeks the truth; only in this way can you profit.

Excerpted from ″By the Time You Behold the Spiritual Body of Jesus, God Will Have Recreated Heaven and Earth″ in ″By the Time You Behold the Spiritual Body of Jesus, God Will Have Recreated Heaven and Earth.″ The Word Appeares in the Realm of the Living

Jesus Said He’d Return Soon, So Where Is He?

Transcript of the audio Jesus promised that he will come soon.So, where has he gone?And why has the church had to wait for such a lengthy period of time?A listener called Ron had written in with a query.″Pastor John, please accept my heartfelt greetings.″ I’m writing to you from Switzerland, and I want to express my gratitude for the ministry you’ve provided for me.

I have a question about the notion in the New Testament that Jesus will return in a short period of time.When I was discussing with our children the need of evaluating prophets according to biblical principles, the following thought occurred to me: The Bible states in Deuteronomy 18 that a prophet whose forecasts do not come true is not sent by God and should not be feared for his or her predictions.Although we find no evidence of persons who we would label inspired in the New Testament, we do find evidence of people who clearly thought — and in some cases asserted — that Jesus would return soon, maybe even within the writer’s own lifetime.

For example, 1 Peter 4:7, Matthew 24:34, 26:64, 1 Corinthians 10:11, 1 Thessalonians 4:15–17, and 1 Corinthians 15:51 are all found in the Bible.How can we continue to regard them as authoritative while dismissing contemporary prophets whose prophesies do not come true?I’m a little concerned that our children may one day tell us that Paul was mistaken about 1 Corinthians 15:51 and that, as a result, he should no longer be regarded seriously.

″Do you have any advice for how to deal with this tension?″ I inquire.Yes, I do have one.It’s a complicated problem with many levels to it.Each one requires meticulous and thoughtful attention.On the surface, it’s quite simple to sift through the New Testament and compile a large number of verses that appear to imply a mistaken teaching about how swiftly the second coming of Jesus will occur.But if you examine each one, each text, or each group of texts with care and patience, and with the assistance of those who have perhaps given more thought to it, what I have discovered is that there are explanations for how to understand those texts that do not impute error or false prophecy to what Jesus or the apostles taught.

Read Carefully

Transcript of the Audio As Jesus said, he would come shortly.So, where exactly has he disappeared to these days?How did it come to this?And why has the church had to wait so long?We were asked this by an audience member called Ron, and his response is as follows: Father John, please accept my heartfelt condolences.

I’m writing to you from Switzerland, and I want to express my gratitude for the service you’ve provided for us.Regarding the notion in the New Testament that Jesus will return in a short period of time, I have a question for you.The following occurred to me when I was discussing with our children the need of evaluating prophets according to biblical standards.

The Bible states in Deuteronomy 18 that a prophet whose predictions do not come true is not sent by God and should not be feared for his or her actions.Although we find no evidence of persons who we would label inspired in the New Testament, we do discover evidence of people who clearly thought — and in some cases asserted — that Jesus would return soon, maybe even within the writer’s lifetime.For example, 1 Peter 4:7, Matthew 24:34, 26:64, 1 Corinthians 10:11, 1 Thessalonians 4:15–17, and 1 Corinthians 15:51 are all biblical passages that support the concept of rebirth.

How can we still regard them as authoritative while dismissing contemporary messengers whose prophesies do not come true?I’m a little concerned that our children may one day tell us that Paul was mistaken about 1 Corinthians 15:51 and that, as a result, he should not be taken seriously anymore.″Do you have any recommendations about how to deal with this stress?″ Do I have a problem with that?It’s a complicated problem with many facets to it.It is necessary to provide each individual individual attention with patience and care.On the surface, it’s quite simple to sift through the New Testament and amass a large number of verses that appear to imply a misleading teaching about how swiftly the second coming of Jesus will occur.

Nevertheless, if you examine each one, each text, or each group of texts, carefully and patiently, and study it out with the assistance of those who have perhaps given it more thought, what I have discovered is that there are explanations for how to understand those texts that do not impute error or false prophecy to what Jesus or the apostles taught.

Foreshadow

First and foremost, it is possible that the events that are predicted to take place shortly may not be the actual arrival of Jesus, but rather events building up to the arrival of Jesus.Here’s an illustration: Matthew 24:33-35, and ″In the same way, when you see all of these things, you know that he is close by, right at the gates.″ The next passage, and this is the verse that many people find difficult to understand: ″Truly, I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all these things have taken place″ (Matthew 24:34).″Through his life, death, and resurrection, the long-awaited Messiah has now arrived, definitively and definitively.″ The phrase ″all these things″ that are going to take place within a generation does not include the Lord’s actual arrival because it says in the previous verse, ″When you see all these things,″ which is the exact phrase from verse 34 that is used in verse 33, ″You know that he is near,″ not that he has arrived yet.However, just though these things will take place within a generation, such as the preparations for his arrival, does not always imply that his arrival will take place within that generation.

He Is Near

Second, it does indicate when they occur that ″he is close, at the very gates,″ which brings me to my second point: when the New Testament speaks of the Lord being near, at the gates, or at hand, it is not implying that there is a certain time limit for the Lord’s coming.This statement indicates that Christ, the long-awaited Messiah, has finally arrived and won the decisive victory through his life, death, and resurrection.He is the one who has won the great battle.He has begun the process of assembling a group of messianic individuals for the end times.Many end-time prophesies have been fulfilled via him.

Our time has come – it has been two thousand years — and Jesus is like a monarch in perfect command, standing outside the city walls with his army, ready to capture it and bring it into his kingdom.Except for his own will, there is nothing that can stand between him and that capture.When we read passages like 1 Peter 4:7, ″The end of all things is near,″ or James 5:8, ″The advent of the Lord is near,″ I believe we should interpret them in this way.

Alternatively, as Jesus says, he is at the gates (Matthew 24:33).That is, he has manifested himself.He had achieved a major win in his battle.

In the resurrection, he has demonstrated that he is sovereign and unstoppable.He has fulfilled a large number of Old Testament prophecies pertaining to the end of the world.He has the right to intervene whenever he wants.That’s the way I believe we should understand the terms ″close,″ ″at the gates,″ and ″at our fingertips.″

Coming Soon

Third, the term ″soon″ is used in a text, such as in the book of Revelation, where it reads, ″Behold, I am coming soon″ (Revelation 22:12).Now, the Greek term tachu, which means ″soon,″ does not always or definitely mean what we often think of when we say the word ″soon,″ which is to say, within a short period of time.Rather, it is used to refer to something that happens rapidly, abruptly, unexpectedly, or quickly.″Surely, we should proceed with caution when attributing to Jesus predictions of his imminent return in a specific period of time.″ The phrase ″so they withdrew immediately from the tomb″ is used, for example, in Matthew 28:8 in reference to the ladies at the tomb.That’s the term that’s been translated as ″soon.″ The question we must continually ask ourselves is: Is the Bible teaching that the Lord’s coming will be sudden, unexpected, swift, and fast when it occurs in that sense, rather than soon in the sense of, say, within twenty years of now?

The Time Is Unknown

Fourth, and perhaps most astonishingly, the gospel writers claimed that Jesus did not know when he would return.But it does indicate something that is an issue in and of itself, and we will deal with it later: that the human nature of Jesus was not provided knowledge of the coming, but the divine essence of Jesus was granted knowledge in some way, and this strange thing is acknowledged.According to Matthew 24:36, ″No one knows what day or hour it is, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father knows.″ Now, here’s the implication: it follows that we should proceed with caution when attributing to him predictions regarding what will happen in a specific period of time.According to the Bible, he has no idea.What exactly are we implying about him when we say he foresaw the events?

He would not have declared, ″I will be arriving in this time range,″ if he didn’t know what he was talking about.That is more than simply an issue of prediction; it is also a moral dilemma.We have a significant moral problem, which I am not going to blame on Jesus for.

When he says in Matthew 16:28, ″Truly, I say to you, there are those standing here who will not taste death until they see the Son of Man coming in his kingdom,″ what does he mean?Is this how we are going to address the problems?″’Soon’ might indicate that the Lord’s return will be abrupt, unexpected, rapid, and swift, rather than occurring within twenty years,″ says the Bible.

Here’s what’s so remarkable about it.What’s notable about this sentence is that it appears in all three gospels, Matthew, Mark, and Luke, and that it always comes shortly before the transfiguration.Throughout his second epistle, Peter, who was present with Jesus on the mountain during the transfiguration, portrays this experience of the transfiguration as a preview of the second coming — a validation, or as we would say today, a movie teaser — of the second coming.That was something you read.You can see in 2 Peter 1:16–17 that Peter sees the power and the coming of the Lord as a preview on the Mount of Transfiguration, which means that what Jesus was saying was that some of his disciples, specifically Peter, James and John, would not die before they saw the second coming, or the coming of the Son of Man, which will be manifested in what they will experience on the mountain in six days.

When He Comes

Finally, here’s something to consider: when Paul uses the word ″we″ to refer to those who may still be alive at the time of the Lord’s return — ″we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord″ (1 Thessalonians 4:15) — I don’t believe we should interpret this as Paul teaching that he must be alive at the time of the Lord’s return, and that the return of Jesus must take place within Paul’s lifetime.In the event that Paul truly intended to teach that when he used the term ″we,″ what are we to make of his statements in Philippians 1:20–23, where he states the following?That I will not be ashamed in any manner, and that Christ will be honored in my body, whether through life or death, is something I am looking forward to and hoping for with bated breath.I see living like Christ, and dying as gain in my eyes.If I are to continue to exist in the body, this means that I must engage in fruitful labor.

Nevertheless, I am unsure which option I will select.I’m torn between the two options right now.My objective is to leave this world and be with Christ, since that is infinitely superior.

Not at all like an apostle who believes it is a part of his teaching that he cannot die before the second coming of Christ.No way in hell.″We who are living…

till the Lord’s arrival,″ I believe Paul is simply speaking to people who will be alive at the time of the Lord’s coming, and he includes himself in that in hope, maybe expectancy, and generally, rather than with an attempt to demonstrate that Jesus cannot arrive before he dies.Those are my five suggestions, however my primary recommendation and the tips are only suggestions.They are nothing more than that.My key recommendation for Ron is that he take a very long time before concluding that the apostles and Jesus himself have revealed themselves to be false prophets as a result of a cursory and hurried study of the New Testament.Be patient and cautious at all times.There are solutions to some passages that appear to be problematic.

10 Things Jesus Really Said About His Return

Another bogus teacher has just joined the historic group of those who have arrogantly believed they had figured out when Christ is going to come back.There are two unfortunate aspects to this situation.First and foremost, there are many people who have been taken advantage of.A large number of individuals took the prognosis seriously and committed their time, energy, and money in disseminating it.Second, it’s terrible that many people will now take a turn toward the other end of the political spectrum.

They had already concluded that Jesus would not come very soon, and this erroneous prophesy serves as further assurance that he will not.This is a regrettable oversight on the part of the author.Jesus spoke a lot about his return, and one of the overriding messages was that His disciples should be prepared and ready to receive him when he returns.

Here are ten things that Jesus really said concerning his second coming.

1.  No one knows the day or the hour of my return.

At the end of Mark 13:32, Jesus, who had been instructing his followers about his imminent return, states, ″But no one knows when or at what hour he will come; not even angels in heaven know, nor the Son, nor the Father, but only the Father.″ ″You, too, must be prepared, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not anticipate,″ Luke says in his account of the event.(See Luke 12:40.) Even Jesus, who informed his disciples that He did not know when He would return, expressed uncertainty.During this period of history, God the Father was aware of the precise number of years, months, days, and seconds until Christ’s return, although Jesus was unaware of the same.We don’t have to conjecture about future events that Christ himself was unaware of.Jesus also applied this fact to their lives, saying, ″Be prepared.″ Despite the fact that Jesus didn’t know if he would return in their lives, his order to them is still his command to us about 2,000 years later.

Keep a close eye on everything.Keep your eyes open.

2.  There will be several signs, increasing in intensity, as my return draws near.

Christ’s disciples should be on the lookout for signals that he is about to return.When it comes to the specific day or hour, people should avoid speculation and pay attention to natural phenomena, as well as recognizing the probable fulfillment of Christ’s words as they occur.Jesus predicted that there will be battles and rumors of wars, famines, and earthquakes in various locations around the world (Matt 24:6-7).In addition, ″signs in the sun, moon, and stars, and on the earth anguish of countries in perplexity because of the roaring of the sea and the waves, people fainting with terror and foreboding of what is about to befall the world″ are mentioned.Because the forces of the sky will be shattered.

They will see the Son of Man approaching in a cloud with tremendous grandeur and majesty at that point (Lk 21:25-27).Additionally, Jesus referred to these indications as ″birth pangs″ in order to characterize them.As the day approaches, these indications will become more powerful and frequent, much like the pain of labor itself.

The Bible warns us to ″straighten up and elevate your heads, since your redemption is drawing close″ if we observe a rising frequency of earthquakes, tsunamis, tornadoes, and other natural calamities (Lk 21:28).Jesus reminds us once more to pay attention to the signals of His return in order to be prepared when He returns.

3.  Pray for the strength to escape the things that are going to take place.

The following is what Jesus instructed his disciples in Luke 21:36: ″But keep your eyes open at all times, hoping that you may have the strength to escape all of the horrors that are about to take place, and to stand before the Son of Man.″ In light of the context, it appears that the ″escaping″ Jesus alludes to is an escape from the judgment and vengeance that God will deliver upon people who reject Christ.Jesus instructs his followers to pray for the strength to flee from their captors.Too many Christians feel they will be saved by default, yet Jesus instructed his disciples to pray for the fortitude to flee, and this is exactly what we must do.

4.  It will seem like a normal day.

Luke 17:26-30 records Jesus comparing the day the Son of Man will be revealed to the day God judged Noah and Lot, respectively.In both of these instances, people were going about their daily lives as usual: eating, drinking, marr