When Will Jesus Return?

WND.com ^ | 12-23-03 | Farah, Joseph

[Theodore R.]

When will Jesus return?

Posted: December 23, 2003 1:00 a.m. Eastern

© 2003 WorldNetDaily.com

"For a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us; And the government will rest on His shoulders; And His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace. There will be no end to the increase of His government or of peace, On the throne of David and over his kingdom, To establish it and to uphold it with justice and righteousness. From then on and forevermore. ..."

Isaiah 9:6-7 (NASB)

As we celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ this week and prepare for 2004 next week, I can't help but think about how close we must be to the Second Coming – when the Lord will return for His church and personally rule over the Earth for 1,000 years.

Oh, I know, some of you don't believe in such things. You think it's just a bunch of silly superstition. Even some Christians don't believe in the Second Coming. Many prefer I stick to writing about news events of the physical world rather than arcane spiritual matters.

But, as a journalist, I can't ignore hard evidence – no matter where it may lead me. And the more I study the prophetic scriptures of the Holy Bible and look at the condition of our world today, the more convinced I become that we are nearing that time. In fact, I think we are very close.

For just as Jesus' virgin birth in Bethlehem was foretold by the Hebrew prophets hundreds of years earlier, so, too, was His return to Earth predicted. The only question is when.

The most dramatic evidence for His imminent return our generation has witnessed was the rebirth of the nation of Israel more than 50 years ago. The Jews, God's chosen people, were, as prophesied, scattered over the whole earth for nearly two millennia beginning shortly after Jesus' death on the cross. Yet, in my opinion, the scriptures leave no doubt that the Jewish state would exist once again before He returned.

Interestingly, Orthodox Jews have long taught that the world would last for 6,000 years before the Messiah would come and usher in a 1,000-year period of restful human history. Since God created the world in six days, according to Genesis 1:31, and rested on the seventh day, according to Genesis 2:1, they reasoned the world's history would climax the same way. They cite Psalms 90:4, which says: "For a thousand years in Thy sight are like yesterday when it passes by."

Likewise, Christians have looked to II Peter 3:8: "But do not let this one fact escape your notice, beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day."

The early church understood this "six-day theory" of world history. It was widely accepted teaching for the first three centuries of the church. From the time of Adam, we've got genealogical records to show that 4,000 years passed until the time of Christ. From Jesus' time until the present age represents another 2,000 years for a total of 6,000 years or six days.

There's also a three-day theory: Jesus rose on the third day. Would the beginning of the third millennium – or thousand-year period – not be the likely time for His return to earth? There is even strong scriptural evidence for such a theory provided in Hosea 6:2: "After two days will he revive us: in the third day He will raise us up, and we shall live in His sight." Note that this prophecy is not about the Resurrection of Jesus, it's either about the resurrection of Israel after 2,000 years of dispersal or the physical return of the Lord.

In 1772, Edward Gibbon published "The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire," in which he cites early documents suggesting the Christian disciples of the first century were taught that Jesus would return after 2,000 years. We'll soon find out if they were right.

For many reasons, I believe Jesus is returning soon. But I'm especially drawn to II Timothy 3:1-5, which describes the state of the world in the "last days." Tell me if this doesn't sound like our world:

But realize this, that in the last days difficult times will come. For men will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, revilers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy, unloving, irreconcilable, malicious gossips, without self-control, brutal, haters of good, treacherous, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, holding to a form of godliness, although they have denied its power; Avoid such men as these. To me, that sounds like our world today.

Christmas represents a time of great hope for Christians. Of course, we're grateful that Jesus came about 2,000 years ago and died for our sins. Now we should be hopeful and expectant of His imminent return.

Merry Christmas. And happy birthday, Jesus.

[Tax-chick]

Telling 12-year-olds that their opinions are dumb doesn't help, believe me ... it's like telling them to clean the bathroom :-).

But seriously, this whole topic suggests a disturbing premise: That if we knew the date of Jesus' ultimate return, we would do something different from what we do NOT knowing. It implies that we'd all be killing, stealing, coveting, and committing adultery - unless we know He's returning in this election cycle.

I think that's dangerous. We can assume none of us FReeping today will be around later than, say, 2100, even with the best medical care, so we'd better be prepared to face Him, even if the final end is thousands of years off.

[brewcrew]

When these stupid articles stop popping up.

Or sometime after or before.

[Pan_Yans Wife]

That if we knew the date of Jesus' ultimate return, we would do something different from what we do NOT knowing.

The faithful in Christ have already cast their lot. It is the unbelievers that need to waken. I think that is why prophesy is used as a tool of the church. If people don't believe that the world will end, they need to be cautioned.

[Texas_Dawg]

I don't have a problem with people hypothesizing about what Biblical prophecy is saying, as long as they are not doing what you outline in your last post.

[smith288]

Sorry if I offended you...it was meant as humor when people continually asking "when when when?" when its clear in the Bible... When nobody expects it.

[KarlInOhio]

If it's July, it will be CDT.

The elimination of Daylight Saving Time is one of the signs of the end times.

[Texas_Dawg]

It is the unbelievers that need to waken. I think that is why prophesy is used as a tool of the church. If people don't believe that the world will end, they need to be cautioned.

That sounds kind of like scaring them into "belief".

How about Jesus Christ just saving them by his own sovereign grace?

[Ff--150]

There's also a three-day theory: Jesus rose on the third day. Would the beginning of the third millennium – or thousand-year period – not be the likely time for His return to earth? There is even strong scriptural evidence for such a theory provided in Hosea 6:2: "After two days will he revive us: in the third day He will raise us up, and we shall live in His sight." Note that this prophecy is not about the Resurrection of Jesus, it's either about the resurrection of Israel after 2,000 years of dispersal or the physical return of the Lord.

My goodness, 4CJ, I did not read this before Freepmailing you. It's a blessing for you because I'm about to become speechless LOL!

[Tax-chick]

Free speech means people can say what they want; why don't you let them?

Nobody's suggesting stopping them.

to deride a person for his religous views, its anti-American in fact.

No, anti-American would be preventing him, legally or physically, from holding and expressing his religious views. Making fun of a person's opinions, if you consider them ludicrous, is FREE SPEECH.

Nothing in the Constitution or the traditions of America says, "Americans will never be rude or derogatory to one another." Liberals made that up. (You can tell you've unconsciously absorbed a liberal position when you make consecutive statements that contradict one another, as illustrated above.)

[Pan_Yans Wife]

But the humanistic approach rules out any sovereign grace.

I think prophesy can be added to the other tools that Christians can use. I also think it can be a powerful message that can catch people's attention. But the love and grace of the Lord should be stressed above any wrath of God. I think many people fear God, and never learn of His love.

[SeeRushToldU_So]

1914

[Mr. Mojo]

A Worldnetdaily article predicting the Second Coming? Whatever.......I'll believe it when Debka reports it.

[Seniram US]

The discussion made me think of something a Catholic priest once said on a television show: "If you want to make God laugh, tell him what your plans for the future are."

Then I thought of what Pope John Paul II recently said about the movie, "The Passion: "It is as it was."

And that made me think of Jesus, and what He once said: "I am."

Afterwards, I thought about the latter quote and concluded that Jesus is, which led me to another thought about something else Jesus said: "Trust in Me.

After discerning all the other predictions through the centuries, it seemed plausible to trust in Him.

Consequently, I decided to trust in Him and let others worry about His master plan.

Meanwhile, Merry Christmas to all and a Happy New Year to all, particularly those whom He will allow to be born as part of His master plan.

And it would seem to me, that as long as He continues to permit the birth of new babies, those who escape abortion, He just might not yet be in a hurry to abort the earth.

Nevertheless, He is. And He always will be.

Enjoy the Christmas Holidays (Holy Day) and trust in Him

[Tax-chick]

I'll believe it when Debka reports it.

But wouldn't you have to get confirmation from Al-Jazeera first? After all, the Moslems believe 'Isa will return to stomp the Christians for Getting It All Wrong.

[4CJ]

It's a blessing for you because I'm about to become speechless

ROTFGFETE (grinning from ear-to-ear!)

Co-inkydink? Nah!

[Mat_Helm]

Dieing, He destroyed our death.

Rising, He restored our life.

Lord Jesus, come in glory.

[KantianBurke]

I'm more worried about the coming of the "Great White Hankerchief" from the "Green Arkelseizure." :>

[pollywog]

Well I hope SOON...but He will return, with a " shout, a TRUMPET call" and every EYE shall see Him"........Hillary, Bill , all those here on FR that do NOT believe HE will come, ...........WILL SEE HIM, and will be forced to acknowledge Jesus Christ as LORD OF LORD and KING of KINGS.....The date and time we do not know, but the Bible gives us hints as to the day and age.....and we are in those days NOW !!!PRAISE GOD
opps...sorry got to shouting with joy here!! LOL!!!

[pollywog]

AMEN !!!!

[Texas_Dawg]

A Worldnetdaily article predicting the Second Coming? Whatever.......I'll believe it when Debka reports it.

Or World Tribune.