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2 Peter 3:4
4 And [kai] saying [lego], Where [pou] is [esti] the promise [epaggelia] of
his [autos] coming [parousia]? for [gar] since [apo][hos] the fathers [pater] fell asleep [koimao], all
things [pas] continue [houto][diameno] as they were from
[apo] the beginning [arche] of the creation [ktisis]. KJV-Interlinear
4 and saying, Where is the
promise of His coming? For ever since the fathers fell asleep, all continues
just as it was from the beginning of creation. NASB
Beginning with Matt.
24:6, Jesus Himself identified the trends of history by which the
characteristics of our dispensation would be identified.Wars and rumors and earthquakes and so
forth.All these things are merely the beginnings
of trouble, and then, the big trouble (Tribulation) would come.And then, at the end of the Tribulation,
Jesus Himself will return in what we call the Second Advent.
Throughout the Old
Testament, the return of Christ in the Second Advent is prophesied.
The Rapture of the
Church Age believers is nowhere mentioned in the Old Testament.Only in the New Testament is it
mentioned.Our dispensation is called
the parenthetical insertion, or the hidden or mystery dispensation.Peter here is referring to the Second Advent,
not the Rapture.
Since the beginning of
time (since Adam), the return of Christ has been a part of Bible Prophecy.No one knows when that return will
occur.That is to say, no one in history
except those who will live during the Tribulation, will know when, or
approximately when the Second Advent will occur.
Since the Tribulation will
last only seven years (a shortened seven years), then once the Rapture occurs,
folks who remain behind for the Tribulation can guesstimate the approximate
time of Christs return.However, even
then, world troubles will be so great, that folks will most certainly be
spending most of their time just trying to survive, let alone trying to keep
track of the seven years until Christs return.And even then, the day and the hour cannot be known even to them.In those last few months and weeks and days,
the Armageddon war will have nearly everyone hiding for their lives.
During the Tribulation,
one-half of the worlds population will die from a variety of things (disease,
crime, executions, disasters, starvation, etc.).And in the end, nearly everyone else will die
from the ravages of war, not to mention Christs return, and His role in
executing all remaining evil in the world instantly upon His return.
Very few (mature believers
only) will live to enter into the Millennium.Perhaps hundreds, perhaps thousands, that number we don t know.But as for the billions, they will all be
gone.
We are currently in the
dispensation of the Church Age.Ours is
a dispensation of historical trends. Ours is the dispensation where God (the
Father), is preparing the enemies of Christ as a footstool for His feet.In our dispensation, there are no prophecies
except one the Rapture.
Far too many people get
the prophecies of the Tribulation and the Millennium, mixed up with our
dispensation, and that leads to mis-interpretations of historical events.
No, Obama is not the
anti-Christ.No, Hitler was not the
anti-Christ.No, Napoleon was not the
anti-Christ.No, the nation of Israel created
in 1948, is not the re-gathered nation of Israel.
What can we say about
or dispensation?Well yes, there is an
increase in earthquakes.Yes, there is a
dramatic increase in knowledge (technology, science, invention, etc.).Yes, there is a dramatic increase in
population.Yes, there are always wars
and rumors throughout the world, somewhere (Africa, Middle East).Yes, there is a dramatic rise in anti-God
sentiment, corruption, diminished integrity and so forth (in government,
business, social circles, etc.). And we could go on all night about the many
trends we see in our contemporary time.
But can anyone predict
the day or hour, or even the year of the Rapture?No.
The doctrine of the Rapture
is that it is always imminent.It could occur
at any time.Whether it will occur
tonight or a hundred years from now, we cannot know.But God has a timeline known only to
Himself.And on that timeline the
worlds nations, cities, villages, individuals are being made ready for that
next great event, the Rapture, and then the Tribulation.And Gods readiness spans generations, not
just months or weeks.
Since the time of the
Cross, approximately 1979 years have passed (2009-30).If you use 33 years as the average lifespan,
then we are in the sixtieth generation since the Cross.There were 75 generations from Adam to Mary, and
sixty generations from Adam to Joseph.Generations are typically counted through the fathers not the mothers.
Human history has
spanned about 6000 years (4000 before Christ and 2000 after). Ours is the
longest of all of the human dispensations.The world is fully populated today.Today, the gospel is preached in every country, in every language.
You can take these
tidbits and create any number of scenarios in your imagination, and they all
come up with only one conclusion that we are more near the ends times than we
were yesterday, and the day before, and the day before that.And that means what?Nothing to you, if you do not take God,
Christ, doctrine, and your spiritual life seriously.
You cannot travel down
the road for very long before you pass a church, a cemetery, or doctors office,
and such, and not see something that speaks of mans limitations.
But with all of the
evidence, we still have to contend with folks that come up with the most bizarre
ideas of Christ s second coming.Predictions come and go, with nothing but embarrassment and bad publicity
for Christianity.
Every time a crazy
comes up with an end of days scenario, they do more harm than good.People, tend to begin to disregard God,
doctrine, and Christianity in general.
People begin to mock
and ridicule Christians as a whole, as crazy people. Where is this savior? Where is God? And the ridicule doesn t stop there.All of Christianity is thought of as nothing
more than a cult of wishful thinking people. Or just another political group,
unlike any other group.
And, just like all who
lack doctrinal orientation, people look at history as nothing more than the
continuation of the natural forces of the universe.The seasons come and go. The sun rises and falls.Generations pass, and ours is the better
because, after all it is the twenty-first century!Grandma and grandpa did not have mp3 s and
computers, and cell phones and such.So
we must be better, right?
Anyway, gadgets do not
make a people better.Only Bible doctrine
can make a person better, regardless of when he or she lived in history.
Peter has a lot more to
say regarding these indifferent attitudes in the next few verses.And needless to say, your priority should be
on your spiritual growth, not on speculation of when things might occur in the
future.
Now is the time to post a prayer.
End Of Lesson
Study to show thyself approved (mature) unto God, a workman that needs not to be ashamed, rightly dividing (studying/discerning), the Word of truth.
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