return of christ

The Return of The Christ

I could say that I hate to burst the bubble on this one, but I won’t as I want to burst the bubble. I personally believe that the world and system of religion called by men – Christianity – has completely gotten this wrong.

The error (and some outright lies) have been taught and repeated for so long, that it has been accepted as truth and as a matter-of-factly. Few have bothered to peer deeper into this subject and to question or challenge the existing teaching about the return of the Christ and the manner in which it will occur. It is almost as if some power (human and/or angelic) does not want the truth about it told and have gone to great lengths to keep it concealed.

There has been – and still are – heated discussions and debates as to when and the manner in which The Christ (The Messiah) will return to the earth. Much of the discussion falls into the reckoning that Christs’ return will occur very soon now because of the signs and events occurring on the earth. That at his returning, faithful Christians are suddenly raptured out of the world and will meet the Lord in the air where he will then extract his servants off of the earth and take them to heaven. (If Christ is in the air, then he never comes down to the earth. Something to think about).

Other religious organizations – such as the Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society – teach that Jesus’ return has already taken place in that he was installed invisibly as earth’s king in 1914. Thus, his presence on earth is already a reality and he is ruling invisibly amongst his enemies.

Yet, are these lines of reasoning – however well-intentioned – accurate? Has Jesus’ return already taken place or is it yet future? What exactly is the sign that Jesus spoke of that would signal his approaching or coming and the end of an age? Did the current religious system named by men – Christianity –  get this wrong? Are their time references skewed? And, if they are, what does that mean for you and me? Let us examine what Scripture says about all of this.

The best place to start is to examine the question asked of Jesus by his disciples concerning his return and the end of an age.

As Jesus was sitting on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately. “Tell us,” they said, “when will this happen, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?” (Matthew 24:3) (NIV)

The expression “end of the world” can be found in the Bible, primarily in the King James Version, but it is a prejudiced and bad translation. Almost invariably, in passages that speak of the end of the world, or of the world to come, the Greek word that is translated “world” is “aion” (or “aioon”), from which we get our word “eon.” While “world” may have had that connotation in 1611 when the KJV was published, a more accurate translation of this word for contemporary English is “eon” or  “age.”

So Christ’s disciples were not asking about the end of the world – as in the end of the earth – but the end of an age, eon, or span of time that would exist over the earth. Learning and understanding what that age is, is of vital importance. Vital importance!

What Age Were The Disciples Pointing To As Ending?

Jesus disciples were asking him was a two-fold question: “What will be the sign of your coming – which would signal the start of a new age –  and of the end of that age.

The period of time that the disciples were asking about ending was not the one we are existing in now, but one that is yet to come and must run its course on the earth. What period of time is that? Christ’s kingdom of 1000 years over the earth!  (Revelation 20:7-8)

Closer examination of Matthew 24:3 shows that nothing falls out of context. The subject of the question that the disciples asked their Master surrounded the sign of his return. Keeping in line with that subject, they also wanted to know when an age would end. The question now is to find out what age they were interested in knowing as ending.

Contrary to what many have been taught, the events Jesus mentioned from Matthew 24:4-29 was not an answer to the questions his disciples asked him because these are events. Jesus was leading them up the answer. Those events are events. Jesus’ disciples did not ask him for events, they ask him for an event – a sign; a single occurrence.

It is finally at Matthew 24:30, that Jesus gives them the answer; the single event; the sign:

Then will appear the sign of the Son of Man in heaven. And then all the peoples of the earth will mourn when they see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven, with power and great glory.

There are two expressions in Matthew 24:30 that provide powerful clues what that sign is. They are:

  • With Power and …
  • Great Glory

So Christ comes out of heaven down to the earth with power and great glory! What does that mean? It means he comes as a powerful and glorious king! His power and authority are given to him by His Father in heaven – as promised for a kingdom – and his glory as king will come from having done battle with Satan and his angels and abyssing them for 1000 years.

That this power is given to him by his Father in heaven means that Christ is acting on behalf of his Father. That is, his Father in heaven giving him the full authority to act on his behalf as if it is the Father acting! Here we see a Son doing the work on His Father.

When kings go to battle and are victorious, they are glorified are they not?

The Most High God promised His Son a Kingdom. We can see in the following series of Scriptures:

The LORD said to my Lord: “Sit at my right hand until I put your enemies under your feet.” (Matthew 22:44)

In Matthew 22:44, Jesus is quoting from Psalms 110:1. He is not referring to himself as LORD, but to a greater one, His Father in heaven. The instance of LORD and Lord are different. The one in all capital letters is JHWH or The name of the Most High God Himself.

The point here is that it is God who has told His Son to sit (wait) at His right-hand side until He puts Christ’s enemies under his (Christs) feet. Then what happens after God puts Christ’s enemies under his feet? God gives him a kingdom over the earth for 1000 years! That is, to act and do as he pleases with regards to the earth!

For he (Christ) must reign until He (God) has put all his (Christ) enemies under his feet. (1 Cor 15:25)

This above passage is in harmony with Matthew 22:44 as it shows that Christ must at some point in time have a rulership – a kingdom – but to this very day, he is still waiting for it to be given to him by his Father. Notice how Hebrews 10:12-13 puts it:

But when this priest had offered for all time one sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God, and since that time he waits for his enemies to be made his footstool.

What is the footstool? The Prophet Isaiah (and there are others) who answer that question. At Isaiah 66:1 The Most High God Himself speaks:

This is what the Lord says: “Heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool. Where is the house you will build for me? Where will my resting place be?

The earth itself is the footstool. So the above Scriptures show that this footstool – which is Gods – will be made Christ’s footstool for a one-thousand-year span of time.  In other words, be given to him by his Father in heaven to rule over for a specified period of time. That time period is what makes of the “age” in which his disciples were interested in as beginning and ending at Matthew 24:3.

When the Heavenly Father decides it is time for His Son to rule over the earth, it is only proper that a ceremony marking the formal investiture of Christ as King be given. That Christ lives in heaven, it would be the place that his coronation and placement of a crown on his head occur.

That is why we read at Matthew 24:30 that:

Then will appear the sign of the Son of Man in heaven.

So the sign is Christ’s coronation in heaven! It will be an event unseen and unheard by anyone on earth. Only those who reside in heaven will be witness to it; even Satan and his angels (the enemy) will also be in attendance. They will know who God has appointed King over the earth.

So the disciples were asking Jesus the question at Matthew 24:3, they were asking:  “What will be the sign of your kingdom beginning and when will it end?

That sign being Christ’s coronation as king and thus the beginning of his 1000 year reign over the earth (his coming).

This what many are not seeing.

The World Today Has Been Looking In The Wrong Time Period – And For A Very Long Time!

Much of the discussion and teaching by religious organization surrounding Christ’s return or presence with relation to what is written in Matthew Chapter 24, Mark Chapter 13, and Luke Chapter 21 has been centered around our time period today.

The events mentioned in Matthew 24:4-51 such as the arrival of many coming on the basis of his name saying that he is Christ, wars, and rumors of wars, nations rising against nations, kingdom against kingdom, food shortages, earthquakes, his followers being objects of hatred by all of the nations, the Great Tribulation, Armageddon and so forth are being applied to our time period. I believe this to be a gross error. With relation to the end of the age, the time period Jesus is referring to would be the end of his future 1000 year reign of the earth.

The beginning of that age is the sign that would be seen only in heaven (by those who reside in heaven) and not by anyone on earth would be Jesus installation and coronation as King. That is what his disciples were asking him.

Prior to asking Jesus the question about the sign of his presence and the end of his age, his disciples were being told by Jesus about the buildings of the temple and all of it being thrown down; not one stone will be left upon a thrown. What was Jesus really saying here?

The End of the World of Mankind

Jesus left the temple and was walking away when his disciples came up to him to call his attention to its buildings. “Do you see all these things?” he asked. “Truly I tell you, not one stone here will be left on another; every one will be thrown down. (Matthew 24:1-2)

Jesus used the analogy of the temple buildings being thrown down to illustrate the complete destruction of the world of mankind. The destruction of the world of mankind would mean the complete destruction of each and every nation (stones). And, not only that, the death of mankind itself.

Jesus was teaching that before he is installed as earth’s King and before he begins to rule, all of mankind would have to die and the nations must be destroyed; torn down and laid barren.

A Beginning and End of An Age

Jesus’ disciples essentially asked Jesus what would be the beginning of his Kingdom (the sign) and the end of it (the end of the age).

What occurs during that 1000 year reign by Christ the Scriptures are silent on. We do know that Satan is not destroyed for its duration and is abyssed for the one thousand year duration of Jesus’ reign over the earth from heaven. (Revelation 20:1-3)

Jesus disciples were keenly interested in what would occur after that age – Jesus’ one thousand year reign – would end. Why? Because Jesus will no longer be King, his 1000 year kingdom will have ended and Satan is released.

When the thousand years are over, Satan will be released from his prison and will go out to deceive the nations in the four corners of the earth —Gog and Magog —and to gather them for battle. In number they are like the sand on the seashore. (Revelation 20:7-8)

Mankind in those future days after Christs’ 1000 year kingdom over the earth ends will not have Christ over them as King. Mankind will be as Adam was in the beginning – standing directly before his Creator without a mediator. 

Satan is released upon the world of a new Eden, with mankind in it, once more.

Mankind Resurrected By Christ

At Matthew 24:1-2, Jesus had already told his inquiring disciples that the stones of the buildings of the temple would be thrown down. I had indicated that what Jesus was really telling them that the world of mankind that had been built up over the many thousands of years, will be destroyed. Not only will the nations and countries of the world, but all of mankind will go down in death. The earth itself will enter into a span of time when it will be completely devoid of human life.

Did not the Most High God pronounce the curse of death upon all born of Adam? This will have fulfillment. Even Jesus was subjected to this curse: He died. And, so will we as no slave is greater than his master. In other words, if the Master suffered death, so will we. We will not have an experience different from his. If one does, then he is the Master! There is no escaping death. No fabricated teachings of a rapture or never dying at all will prevent what God pronounced upon Adam from being fulfilled upon us all.

Jesus knew this and it was for that purpose he was sent. He was sent not to prevent mankind from dying, but to prevent mankind from perishing. (John 3:16) Those dead can be and will be resurrected. A resurrection from the dead is one of Jesus first acts as earth’s King when he begins to rule. This he promised.

Do not be amazed at this, for a time is coming when all who are in their graves will hear his voice and come out—those who have done what is good will rise to live, and those who have done what is evil will rise to be condemned. (John 5:28-29)

Notice that all will be resurrected.

All born since Adam – to include Adam – and persons all over the world who lived before, during, and after Jesus will be resurrected. When they stand up again alive, the earth in those future days will be populated with numbers of people so vast, that their numbers will be as the grains of sand on the seashore! Who can count grains of sand! Even Adam will be resurrected! Why? Because he did not perish, he died at the age of 930 years. Adams bones – and those of his wife Eve – are still on the earth to this very day and they both will be raised to life again thanks to Christ. (Revelation 7:9 and Revelation 20:8)

Many would ask, how could the earth populate so many? Good question.

A future time span will exist over the earth – like it was in the beginning – when the earth was devoid of life. (Genesis 1:2). It will be during this time that earth’s new King – Christ – will prepare the earth for the resurrection of all of mankind out of the graves. Jesus promised a man who was not his follower that he would be with him in his paradise. (Luke 23:43).

Christ did not tell this man that he would be resurrected and be a part in creating a paradise on earth, he said he would be in it. In other words, when this man is resurrected, the paradise condition will already be there. This is consistent with God preparing the Garden of Eden for Adam. God prepared the Garden and then placed Adam within it.

It is noteworthy to look at how Adam was created because it gives us insight on how man will be raised from the dead by Christ in the future. Adam was formed outside of the Garden from the dust of the earth. Adam existed in two stages: (1) As a dead soul and (2) as a living soul.

Adam did not become a living soul until God breathed into his nostrils and gave him life.

Likewise, in the future, all of mankind will find itself back in the dust of the earth; that is, dead (dead souls).

Per his promise at John 5:28-29, Christ resurrects all of mankind and all become living souls (again) and they are resurrected into a paradise on earth that Christ will have already prepared for them.

Note: The Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society of Jehovah’s Witnesses teach that survivors of Armageddon will be the ones who will restore a ravaged earth to paradise. This is incorrect! Did the Most High God task Adam with creating a Garden of Eden? Or, did God Himself, prepare it before placing the man within it? 

No, the righteous and good King Christ himself will be the one to prepare his kingdom for habitation for his subjects – who he will resurrect – not his subjects preparing the earth. Too, if Christ’s paradise is to be for 1000 years, it would take mankind many 1oos of those years to restore the earth to a paradise, maybe! And, they would not be living in a paradise for 1000 years because many of those years would be devoted to creating it!

No, mankind will not be tasked in those future days to create what is not theirs to create: A paradise on earth. Only Christ will do that. Notice what Christ says at John 14:2-3. I use this scripture because it shows who is the one doing the preparing:

In the house of my Father there are many abodes. Otherwise, I would have told YOU, because I am going my way to prepare a place for YOU. Also, if I go my way and prepare a place for YOU, I am coming again and will receive YOU home to myself.

See that? Christ does the preparing, not man.

The teaching that humans will restore the earth to a paradise is nothing but an Anglo-Greco-Roman desire for conquest and control over the various racial groups and people of the earth and real estate (the earth) that is not theirs to own. This notion is an extension of a mentality that exists in our time at present. Even in the Watch Tower Publications, it is White men who are featured as those “Kings of the Earth” who will be with Christ for the 1000 years. May God have mercy upon what is happening in the world at present as there is a definite murderous intrusion and invasion by the Gentile powers into the lands of other people. And, it is being done in the name of God. Here is an interesting video by journalist John Pilger entitled The War You Don’t See. It shows his mentally ill condition of the Gentile Powers and their allies.

This is a shameful, narrow-minded and arrogant mentality and it shows no respect for the Creator, His earth,  and the owner of mankind: Christ himself. (1 Cor 11:3)

Yet, no human knows how long mankind will be in the death state. It is irrelevant anyway because in the death state there is no recollection or knowledge of time. (Eccl 9:5, 10)

So at the time a person closes their eyes in death to the time they open them again, 7,000 years, for example,  could transpire but to them, it would be as if they blinked their eyes.

When all of mankind are resurrected back to life again (a Second Birth or being born again from the dead), they are resurrected into that age of 1000 years of Christ’s kingdom.

While Scripture does not tell us much as to what will occur during that 1000 year reign of Christ, we do know that the physical earth itself and the newly resurrected man will be restored to his Creator by the end of it. This new mankind will stand as Adam stood before his Creator, without the need of a savior or intermediary. This new man will stand before God knowledgeable and directly responsible to God for decisions and actions made after his restoration. This new man will be without excuse because Christ will have taught this new mankind righteousness.

Here are some facts: 

The majority of the Earth’s surface is covered by oceans – that makes up 71% of the surface of the Earth, with the remaining 29% is where we live. Of that 29% for land, large portions of it are uninhabitable such as deserts and the polar caps.

I believe in His Wisdom, God has purposefully stored up and reserved large portions of the earth for future habitation. When all persons born since Adam are resurrected, their numbers will be vast and uncountable! In preparing the earth for them, the new King Christ could make areas now uninhabitable blossom and habitable!

Imagine the land masses of the North and South Poles being transformed from a frozen block of ice into a lush warm climate. Areas today that desert become green, laden with vegetation, rivers, and lakes!

What of the 71% that is ocean? Imagine Christ – would have power and authority as earth King –  making more dry land appear (land masses) out of the oceans as he and His Father did in the beginning? (Genesis 1:9)

The earth will be prepared by its future King to make room for all ever born out of Adam.

The desert and the parched land will be glad; the wilderness will rejoice and blossom. Like the crocus,it will burst into bloom; it will rejoice greatly and shout for joy. The glory of Lebanon will be given to it, the splendor of Carmel and Sharon; they will see the glory of the Lord, the splendor of our God. (Isaiah 35:1-2)

The End of An Age

Jesus’ disciples were interested in the end of Jesus age or kingdom because they knew it would end. So what next?

Jesus then begins to tell them what will happen after his 1000 years reign ends. While Jesus does not tell them directly that Satan will be released from the Abyss, he does tell them the consequences of that release.

The events of Matthew 24:4-51 are primarily about the events that will occur on the earth after his one thousand year kingdom ends.

The end of the age- Christs’ 1000 year kingdom – begins the ascension of The Great Dragon out of the Abyss.

When the thousand years are over, Satan will be released from his prison and will go out to deceive the nations in the four corners of the earth —Gog and Magog —and to gather them for battle. In number they are like the sand on the seashore. (Revelation 20:7-8)

The nations that Satan goes out to deceive are not the nations of today. The nations of today will have long been destroyed by the time this Scripture has fulfillment. The nations spoken of here are the new nations of people: The resurrected and restored mankind that Jesus took 1000 years to prepare.

We do not know how long the Great Dragon will go forth to deceive the world, but it must be for some significant time period because he will establish a Wild Beast and Image upon the world in those future days. It will be through this Wild Beast, its image, and the collective False Prophet that the Great Dragon will deceive that future world. For what purpose?

Armageddon

The ascension of the Great Dragon out of the Abyss is synonymous with the ascension of the Wild Beast out of the sea. (Revelation 13:1)

The reason the Dragon goes out to deceive that new world of mankind in those future days is an attempt to align it to resist that which Satan knows is coming and will destroy him and his Beast: God’s Kingdom.

Armageddon is not a war between the nations as many religious organizations and the Motion Picture Industry depicts it as. Armageddon itself is not even a war, it is a place.  (Revelation 16:16)

That place is the earth itself. Who has rightful ownership of the earth and to establish everlasting things on it will be what the battle is about.  As God’s Kingdom will be announced as approaching by the angel in those future days (The Good News of the Kingdom), the entire earth that Satan will have deceived will resist its coming to be established. (Revelation 14:6)

That future world will not want to see their “peaceful and safe” conditions under the Beasts kingdom be upset. No carnal weapons are used in this war. None will exist. It is simply a resistance to seeing God’s Kingdom come down and replacing the Beast. This resistance involves a changing of one’s mindset. ( 1 Thess 5:3)

One must realize that the people existing under that beastly rule will view the Beast as invincible, second to none! Notice what Revelation 13:4 says:

And they worshiped the dragon because it gave the authority to the wild beast, and they worshiped the wild beast with the words: “Who is like the wild beast, and who can do battle with it?

That future world will be so conditioned that they will believe that NO ONE can do battle with it. I must admit, that beastly kingdom by the Serpent will be something to behold if people will not want to see it go away and believe that not even God and overthrown it! Unless they have been misled to think that it is from God.

The Great Dragon, upon his release from the abyss, will see what Jesus left behind: A perfect earth and a perfect and unified human family. He subtly usurps what Jesus took 1000 years to establish to cause that human family to resist what must come down: God’s Kingdom.

There is no doubt as a part of his deceiving work, the Great Dragon will convince the world that what is coming is an enemy. 

It must be understood that Satan’s Wild Beast system of rule will not be oppressive. It will be a system of peace and security for all who support it (except its mark). It will be a paradise. The Great Dragon will not make sudden changes to what Jesus took 1000 years to establish. He usurps it and uses it for his own purpose.

The people will not want to give up such a peaceful and secure system. I believe that many living within it will believe that they are living within what Jesus had established. They will not believe that something has entered into it and is ruling.

For the few in those future days who have been watchful and who have not allowed themselves to be misled, will not fare well under that system. The Great Dragon and his supports will seek to weed them out and done away with.

So Armageddon is an effort by the Great Dragon to turn a restored world of mankind against the establishment of God’s Kingdom over the earth. Satan will have deceived the world that what it has cannot be improved upon and that which is coming will remove the peace and security they enjoy.

It should be noted that Armageddon is an event that occurs after Jesus’ 1000 year reign over the earth ends and The Great Dragon begins his.

The Great Tribulation

How will that future world of mankind know that God’s Kingdom is coming upon it? Because an angel will be dispatched to announce it. Notice how Revelation 14:6 reads:

And I saw another angel flying in midheaven, and he had everlasting good news to declare as glad tidings to those who dwell on the earth, and to every nation and tribe and tongue and people

Contrary to what many have been taught, there is no Good News or Gospel message being preached at present. Those who say they are preaching one, are in gross error and have fabricated one. An angel – a solitary angel – will be given it and tasked with declaring it to all of the world. And, it will be done in those future days after Christ’s kingdom of 1000 years will have ended! It will be declared to the resisters of God’s Kingdom coming down. That is, to the throne of the Beast.

Ask ten people claiming to be of God and Christ what is the Gospel message, and you will get ten different answers and each answer an opinion and something not found in Scripture because it is not there.

That message or announcement that God’s Kingdom approaches will be one that The Great Dragon will have deceived that world of mankind to resist or war against.

That message – which has not been given yet – is The Good News of the Kingdom. The Good News of the Kingdom message has no application upon the present world. This world must pass away. Old mankind will die and raised again anew. It is in that future world after Christs’ Kingdom will have ended that the Good News of the Kingdom have application.

Those who think they are preaching it are preaching something they made up. They are preaching a program of their particular religious organization.

The contents of The Book of Revelation are all about the events that will occur after Christs’ 1000 year reign ends and The Great Dragon established his Wild Beast and its image.

The Great Tribulation is an event that will come, not upon unbelieving mankind, but upon those who are faithful to God. Notice what Jesus says at Matthew 24:9:

Then people will deliver YOU up to tribulation and will kill YOU, and YOU will be objects of hatred by all the nations on account of my name.

Matthew 24:9 is interesting because it says that Jesus’ faithful will be objects of hatred by all the nations. Think about that. This is telling us that a time period will come when all of the nations of mankind will be united. Why? Because all of them will hate Jesus faithful ones in those future days.

Matthew 24:9 also tells us that that time period is not at present because all of the nations today do not hate Jesus’ followers – specifically the faithful ones.

The source of tribulation upon Jesus’ faithful ones living within The Great Dragons Wild Beast system of rule, will be their former Brothers in the faith who will have been deceived by the Great Dragon and who will be supporting his Wild Beast and image.

So the Great Tribulation – like Armageddon – occurs in a future time period after Christs’ 1000 year age ends and within the Beastly system of the Great Dragon.
The Final End

You will be hated by everyone because of me, but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved. (Matthew 10:22)

Jesus associates a time period of his followers being hated by everyone with the end.

If one stands firm or endures to the end of The Great Dragons system of rule, they will be saved. The Great Trial or Tribulation is what we must endure through. Faithful endurance will bring the benefits of everlasting life on earth. Satan knows this.

“When YOU See These Things”

It was Jesus’ disciples who asked him the question at Matthew 24:3 concerning the sign of Jesus’ presence and the conclusion of the system of things or end of the age and it was to these men that Jesus answered.

Jesus did not provide anyone else the answer to this question other than those disciples with him on that day. None reading this article were being spoken to.

As shocking as this might appear to some, this provides us a valuable clue as to the time period or era in which Jesus was referring. Was it our present day one?

One must think: The men that Jesus was speaking to on that day, died nearly 2000 years ago. So will it be possible for them to see or witness the things Jesus said THEY would see and witness? Consider what Jesus said to them. (The bold text I added for emphasis).

For example, at Matthew 24:4-5 Jesus said to THEM:

Look out that nobody misleads YOU;  for many will come on the basis of my name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will mislead many.

At Matthew 24:6, Jesus said to THEM:

YOU are going to hear of wars and reports of wars; see that YOU are not terrified. For these things must take place, but the end is not yet.

At Matthew 24:9, Jesus said to THEM:

Then people will deliver YOU up to tribulation and will kill YOU, and YOU will be objects of hatred by all the nations on account of my name.

At Matthew 24:15, Jesus said to THEM:

Therefore, when YOU catch sight of the disgusting thing that causes desolation, as spoken of through Daniel the prophet, standing in a holy place …

At Matthew 24:20-21, Jesus said to THEM:

Keep praying that YOUR flight may not occur in wintertime, nor on the sabbath day;  for then there will be great tribulation such as has not occurred since the world’s beginning until now, no, nor will occur again.

At Matthew 24:23, Jesus says to THEM:

Then if anyone says to YOU, ‘Look! Here is the Christ,’ or, ‘There!’ do not believe it.

At Matthew 24:25-26, Jesus said to THEM:

Look! I have forewarned YOU. Therefore, if people say to YOU, ‘Look! He is in the wilderness,’ do not go out; ‘Look! He is in the inner chambers,’ do not believe it.

At Matthew 24:32, Jesus says to THEM:

Now learn from the fig tree as an illustration this point: Just as soon as its young branch grows tender and it puts forth leaves, YOU know that summer is near.

At Matthew 24:33-34, Jesus said to THEM:

Likewise also YOU, when YOU see all these things, know that he is near at the doors.  Truly I say to YOU that this generation will by no means pass away until all these things occur.

See the pattern?

So how can men who have been dead nearly 2000 years ago be on the lookout that nobody misleads THEM, or HEAR of wars and reports wars, or not be terrified, be delivered up to tribulation, be objects of hatred by ALL of the nations, catch SIGHT of the disgusting thing that causes desolation, or PRAY that their flight not be in the wintertime UNLESS they are alive?

This is a most valuable clue that pinpoints the age or era in which Jesus was referring. That age is NOT the present one!

The disciples to which Jesus was explaining all of these things to would be alive to see and witness them. How so? By being resurrected from the dead!

The great resurrection of all of mankind from the dead does not occur until Jesus is coronated has earth’s King. The resurrection of all of mankind from the dead being one of his official acts as King.

Included in that resurrection are these men – his disciples – that he was speaking to on that day sitting upon the Mount of Olives more than 2000 years ago. In fact, they will be the first to be resurrected from the dead into his paradise earth.

In this way, they will be alive to see and witness the things Jesus said would occur. 

This tells us then that the time period or era in which Jesus was referring was a future time period of after his age of 1000 years as earth’s King will have ended. For that was a part of the question his disciples asked him at Matthew 24:3:

Tell US, When will these things be, and what will be the sign of your presence and of the conclusion of the system of things?

The discussions and teachings – as popular as they might be – that we are in the last days and Jesus is soon to return (or has returned already) is in error.

The events on the earth such as wars, disease, earthquakes, famine, etc are not the signs Jesus was referring to. These occurrences have been going on since man has been on the planet. Besides these are multiple events. It would be a sign – not signs – that Jesus would provide to those he was speaking with that would signal his installation has King and the beginning of his 1000 year age. That sign is given at Matthew 24:30.

I personally know that the Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society (and other religious organizations as well) teach that the things Jesus mentions from Matthew 24:3-14 make up a composite sign. That is not what Jesus showed. Jesus did not say those things made up a composite sign. Jesus gave the sign at Matthew 24:30.

Where Do We stand At Present?

Jesus said it himself at Matthew 24:42

Keep on the watch, therefore, because YOU do not know on what day YOUR Lord is coming.

No one knows. No human. No human agency. No religious organization. No angel. Not even Christ himself. Only the Most High God knows because it is He who will decide the time to install his Son as earth’s King.

Christ, at present, stands at His Father’s right side awaiting his coronation. This will be a glorious event in heaven witnessed by the angelic host their. (Matthew 24:30)

Christs’ coming is not a coming in a physical sense. But an installation as King who can then act with the authority as a King over his subjects who he will resurrect from the dead.

At present, Satan the Devil and his angels are still in heaven and have free access to that realm. They have not yet been cast out yet as many have been taught. One of The Son of God’s first acts as King will be to war with Satan and his angels and cast them out of heaven and down to the earth and Abyss them for 1000 years so that they will not be able to interfere with his kingly administration over the earth.

These events have not occurred yet.

At present, we stand in a time period known in Scripture called The Appointed Times of the Nations. It is a time of men and their nations and governments. (Ezekiel 30:3)

The nations of the world are doing as they please and God is not interfering.

This time will have ended by the time Jesus begins his 1000 year reign over the earth.

A catastrophic event or events will lay barren all human life on the planet (possibly animal life as well). All of mankind will be in a literal death state before Christ is installed as King in heaven. This fulfills God’s pronouncement upon man at Genesis 2:17. And, that we are all sinners (born with sin), we must die.

For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 6:23)

Payment (wages) for being born in sin is death. This payment has to be made. In other words, death must occur. Happily, God provided us a way out: His Son who will resurrect all of mankind.

The only voice the dead will hear will be the voice of Christ calling them out of the death state when they are resurrected back to life on earth to enter into Jesus’ 1000 year age on earth as new creatures. (John 5:28-29

No One Knows But The Father
Any today who claims to know when Jesus has or will return are in error and cannot possibly know this. Any attempts to try to know goes against what Jesus stated at Acts 1:7:
He said to them: “It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority.
It is fruitless for any human or human agency to try to know what Jesus says that they cannot know. It is disobedience and arrogant for human and human agency to say “they know.” Instead, we are to be watchful because we “do not know.”
Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come.
What you have just read is the first step in being watchful; that is, being made aware of how Christ return will take place.
When Christ first came on the earthly scene, it was not a worldwide event. Even in the region of the Middle East, only a few men – Astrologers called the Magoi – saw a star. No one else. When Joseph and Mary arrived in Bethlehem, no one knew who they were. They could not even find decent lodging. The coming and birth of Joseph and his pregnant wife were unseen by all. The world at that time was – in a sense – dead to their arrival.
Likewise, the birth of Christ kingdom out of God’s Kingdom (the Mother) will be unseen as well.
Knowing this is being watchful and not letting yourself be deceived or misled by the popular teachings about Jesus’ return.
 
  1. I see where you are coming from, but I think Christ was speaking of a sign or an ensign or an insignia or logo. Isaiah 5 deals with this. Thanks
    Guy Funk

    1. I believe that the entire system of religion – called by men – Christianity – would rather go to a great extent to sell the idea of "visible" signs and occurrences and relating them to Christ return rather than teaching that it is what one will not see that will present itself as a sign.

      Christ disciples at Matthew 24:3 did not ask Christ when they would SEE him again. Rather, they asked what "sign" would indicate that he has been given his kingdom by God.

      Thus, indicating that they would not see anything up in the sky. That sign – as mentioned at Matthew 24:30 – would be seen in heaven, not seen on earth.

      So only those who reside in heaven – angels (good and bad) would with a witness to that sign. What is that sign? Christ coronation by His Father "in heaven" because that is where both the Father and His Son are.

      Unlike the disciples who spoke with Jesus at Matthew 24:3, the world today wants to "see" something.

      Isaiah Chapter 5 is far removed from what I had been discussing here. Besides, The Most High God did not tell us to listen to Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel or the other Prophets. He did not send them to us. The Most High God told us to listen to one much greater than these Prophets: His Son. (Luke 9:35)

      It is the machinations of the religious system called by men – Christianity – that is directing people to consult dead Prophets rather than listen to the one that He sent and who was resurrected and is alive. Christianity is not telling the truth. In fact, it does not know the truth about Christ to tell it. It teaches error. To teach error is to mislead. To teach a lie is to deceive.

      This is unfortunate because it keeps persons – no matter how sincere – on a treadmill that goes no where.

  2. Mathew 24:30~And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory

    "So the sign is Christs cornation in heaven! It will be an event unseen and unheard by anyone on earth. Only those who reside in heaven will be witness to it; even Satan and his angels (the enemy) will also be in attendance. They will know who God has appointed King over the earth"

    mathew 24:30 clearly states, that those on earth will see the sign of Jesus in heaven coming. I belive this verse proves you wrong in your view that the sign will only be visable to those in heaven.

    1. I suggest you read Matthew 24:30 again. AFTER the sign in HEAVEN appears … we are told that FIRST ALL of the tribes of the earth will BEAT THEMSELVES IN LAMENTATION and then they will “see” the SON OF MAN coming on the clouds of heaven.

      Why would ALL of the tribes of the earth “beat themselves in lamentation?” Because ALL of the tribes of the earth will be resurrected from the dead as Christ promised at John 5:28-29. They will “hear” his voice and will know that it was Christ who resurrected them.

      THEN we are told that “they” (those who beat themselves in lamentation) will see THE SON OF MAN coming on the clouds. Why did Christ not say they will see THE SON OF GOD? Because the Son of Man (the flesh and blood man, Jesus, died more than 2000 years ago and will not be literally seen again. No man can live or come out of heaven). So this “seeing” is not with literal eyes. It is a perceiving.

      Plus, look at how the Son of Man comes: He comes on the clouds. This is the same way he ascended. Clouds signify invisibility. Thus, Christs return will be invisible and unseen. It can only be perceived by the “watchful.”

      Jesus himself said this much at Matthew 24:42 as he told his disciples to “Keep on the watch, because YOU do not know on what day YOUR Lord is coming.”

      If one does not know when Christ is coming, how can they literally see him?

      So no, Matthew 24:30 DOES NOT clearly state those on earth will see the sign or see Jesus.

      Your religion might teach that, but that is not what Christ taught.

      Sorry.

  3. I took it as the ones at earth at that time(when christ comes) will see something significant and know that it is Jesus Christ. They would then realize that at that point their judgement was coming(beat themseleves in lamentation).

    The resurrection at John is refering to a earthly or heavenly ressurection?

    Im kind of new to the bible(havnt even gotten through it once yet) so forgive me for my ignorance. Im trying to find the truth in this very messy world and with all the opinions and interpretations out there it seems impossible.

     

     

    1. "Seeing" is not always with the physical eyes and when it comes to Christs return, it HAS TO ALWAYS INVOLVE FAITH. Why?

      Hebrews 11:1 teaches:

      "Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen."

      Jesus said at John 14:19:

      "Yet a little while, and the world seeth me no more; but ye see me: because I live, ye shall live also.'

      Jesus said at Matthew 12:39:

      "An evil and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given to it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas."

      At 1 Cor 5:6-7, the Apostle Paul said in the Lords absence that:

      "We are therefore always of good courage and know that, while we have our home in the body, we are absent from the Lord, for we are walking by faith, not by sight."

      In the above Scriptures we see that we must walk and see with the "eyes of faith" not by what we see with the physical eye. Jesus said that the world will "see" him no more.

      He also said that a "wicked" generation is the one that needs to see a "physical" sign. A faithful one will not need to see anything "physical" because he would exercise faith and "see" in that way.

      So with regards Christ return, no sign will be seen "on earth." The earth is wicked. Yet, we are told that the sign is "seen in heaven." In other words, by those who live in heaven (angels). That sign is Christs coronation as king and the location of that coronation is in heaven, not on earth.

      When we are told that "all the tribes of the earth will beat themselves in lamentation and they will see the Son of man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory" this means that when ALL TRIBES OF THE EARTH are resurrected by Christ, they will know without a doubt who it was who resurrected them.

      Notice that ALL of the tribes of the earth is spoken of here. Who do you think these tribes are? People who will be living then? No! ALL of the tribes of the earth are each and every person EVER born since Adam who were resurrected by Christ.

      Most of those persons will have no clue about who Christ is because he was unknown to them in their time periods. This is what the churches are not getting and teaching.

      Please permit me to help you get on the right path:

      1. Do not look to the Bible as the Word of God, ONLY Christ is the Word of God.
         
      2.  Do not seek answers from the Bible, you will not find them their. Seek answers from God by prayer "through" his Son and God will provide you with what you ask of Him "through" his Son. (Not through the Bible)
         
      3. Look to Christ as being the way, the truth, and the life. Not the Bible or a religious organization.
         
      4. Use prayer to the Father as your PRIMARY way to gain knowledge, wisdom, and understanding. You limit yourself if you think the Bible contains all of God's wisdom, knowledge and understanding.
         
      5. Know that none of Christs disciples had a book called "The Bible." They learned from Christ directly.
         
      6. Get as far away as you can from Christianity and chose to be Christs disciple as he directed us. Jesus never told anyone to create of join religions. Man did this. (You will be lonely as very few have such discipleship with Christ).
         
      7. Know that Christianity is the foretold misleader of the world. (Matthew 24:4-5) and that it is not of God and Christ. It is only pretending to be. It comes "truthfully" teaching that Jesus is Christ, but it will use that teaching to mislead people by teaching false things. If you do not take courage and free yourself from it, you will always be misled by it.
         
      8. Do not believe everything you hear about God and Christ (Not even me). Ninety-nine-point-nine (99.9%) of the things people claiming to be of God and Christ are really "hooks" and "hard sells" to get you to join THEIR religion. You MUST put what they say to the test as directed by the Apostle at 1 John 4:1.
         
      9. Your mission is to get close to and stick close to the one you cannot see, your Master Christ Jesus. (Like a sheep sticking close to the safety of his Shepherd). Christianity is an aggressive and ravenous wolf who will continually come after you to get you to believe it and join it. If you allow yourself to be taken captive by any religion (Christianity included), you will never get close to God and Christ. The religious organization will see to that. Their goal is to make you think that you are worshiping God and serving Christ but in reality you are serving the religious organization and doing what it says and believing what it tells you to believe.
         
      10. IMPORTANT. Pray to God (through Christ) every day and ask for His wisdom, His understanding and His knowledge. Then be prepared to receive something wonderful. It will come in God's time for you. You must be faithful and resist the urges to join a religious group. You MUST separate yourself from the entire world. That includes its religions.

      Note: Some people ask, "How else can I learn about God and Christ if it was not for the Bible?"

      Answer: Christ is alive and he said at Matthew 28:20:

      ".. and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen."

      So Christ is always with his disciples even if we cannot see him. So what logical reason does one have NOT to speak to him today and let him teach us? None.

      But the world with all of its religions have gone unfaithful and it turns to a book called the Bible and to their many religious organizations. This is what an unfaithful generation is and this is what it does.

      A faithful generation would "see" that Christ is ascended and alive and invisible to us.

      It is not by physical sight that Christs return will be seen.

  4. So in your opinion the bible is not the word of God? Its kind of hard for me to think this way when even Jesus went out of his way to refer to the bible accounts of the past. If you dont trust the bible then how can we trust the words found in it by Jesus? How can we even be sure Jesus existed? Also you seem to use the bible a lot in your articles.

    Tonight I will pray to God the way you recommended and ask for his help.

    1. You are doing the right thing by taking the step in asking God for help. But you must pray incessantly each day as this is how He will know that you want to know the truth. Your prayers are between YOU and God and know one else. What God gives you by way of answers are for YOU.

      You will eventually know the truth and it might not be a pleasant thing to accept and digest at first as it wil go against almost everything you were taught or told. But you will know that it is the truth and you will want to know more and when you ask, God will give it to you through His Son via Holy Spirit.

      Your path will be one only you can make. Nothing I say on my website, what is said or taught by any religious organization or person should go untested.

      Many will come to you in attempts to cling to the Bible and their religious teachings. You must be ever conscience that it is Christ and his teachings that you are to cling to. Do not make the mistake because an organization or person uses the name Christian, means that it is from God and Christ. Jesus NEVER told any of his disciples to be called “Christians.” He told them to be simply, “his disciples.” That’s it. Nothing more, nothing less. No fancy names or titles we see today.

      You will be up against an entire world. Your enemies will be – not those who have no association with God and Christ – but those claiming THEY DO. They are the ones who will coming after you. Many will smiling faces but with a hidden agenda to get you to join a religion. You will see. Religion controls. Christ liberates. (John 8:31-32)

      May I ask you: How could Jesus refer to “The Bible” when there was no Bible in his day? Neither Jesus or his disciples had a book called “The Bible.” No such book by that name existed. There was no book called “The Bible” that had 66 books (Malachi to Revelation) that Jesus referred to. The King James Version did not appear until the year 1611.

      Jesus did quote from existing scrolls such as Isaiah, but not what we call “The Bible” today.

      Our trust should be in Christ, not the Bible. Christ is NOT DEAD, he is alive and he promised at Matthew 28:20 that “I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world.” So Christ is ALIVE – even though we cannot see him – and he is able to teach us. So trust Christ, not a book. Men use this book to control YOU so that YOU will trust in THEM and THEIR religions. That is why they created it. God sent his son, not a book. THIS IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT TO UNDERSTAND.

      Neither God or Christ told us to put our trust in a book. If we do that, we might as well put our trust in a Golden Calf – something ALSO created by man back in Moses day. Out trust is to be in the “person” of Christ.

      Did Christ disciples 2000 years ago put their trust in a book? Of course not! They put their trust in their Lord.

      Suppose a person or persons come along AFTER Christs ascension and they decide to create or compile a book and give it a name such as The Scrolls of Morin. And, they convince the world that it is “The Word of God.”

      Why should I believe them?

      Well, that is exactly how the book “The Bible” came to be where it is stationed today. SOMEONE waited until the ONE WHO IS the Word of God ascended, AND THEN fashioned a book, gave it a name and told the world that it is The Word of God.

      I know who my Master is and ONLY HE is “The Word of God” and no book by any name can occupy that holy position of Christ.

      I am amazed at the defense a book get before Christ himself. Persons act as if Christ is dead and unable to teach us. (Matthew 28:20)

      I am equally amazed at the extent that persons go to NOT to listen to God who has told us to “Listen to His Son.” Why? Because that is who He sent to us. God did not send a book into the world, man did. (Luke 9:35)

      No, I will never accept that a book is the Word of God because no book can contain all of God’s wisdom, knowledge and understanding.

      I place faith in my Master that by prayer to the Father “through” him, there is nothing that I cannot gain knowledge of or understand.

      Think about this to: Satan and demons are quoted in this book called the Bible. Are THEIR  words the Word of God? They are in a book many claim is the Word of God are they not.

      The Serpent spoke with Eve. (Genesis Chapter 3) The Devil tempting Jesus. (Matthew Chapter 4)

      In his reply to the Devil at Matthew 4:4,

      “It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.”

      Not every word that comes out of a book.

      And since Jesus is Gods Word, we live by every word that comes out of HIS MOUTH.

  5. Your points are really making so much sense to me, I should be going through prayer to find my answers not the the words of imperfect men.

    I guess im just wondering if I should trust anything in the bible then? Should I even be reading it? And it seems that the bible is one of the only recorded accounts of Jesus so if i dont put some trust in the bible then how do we even know of his teachings? Are things like the moral codes and things something I should take seriously? Are the revelation prophecies soemthing I should take seriously? I gues at this point I can understand not following an organized religion but Im suprised to hear that we shouldnt put any faith in the the words of the bible. The bible has been the one thing latley for me that has been giving me hope in this world, that and prayer.

    I will continue to pray for Gods revealing of truth. Thanks for your help.

    1. Thank you! You are taking the right approach and attitude: Prayer to God through Christ for answers and guidance.

      You ask, should you trust anything in the Bible or should you be reading it? The answer is: Trust and put your hope and faith only God and Christ. (Acts 15:11 and Hebrews 2:13)

      Never should one put trust and hope in an inanimate object such as a book. It was not a book God sent to us to but trust and faith in. It was his Son that he sent.

      You ask, should you read “The Bible.” Sure you can read it, but know what it is not and what it is not a replacement of: It is NOT the Word of God. Only Christ is The Word of God and the Bible should have never been elevated to that lofty position. Listen to the one who IS The Word of God. How? By prayer. That is what he asked his disciples to do. “Ask and you will receive.” The receiving from God can only come through the same channel that that it was asked: Christ himself. If one thinks that God answers them “through” a book, then they are saying that “Christ is NOT the way.” (John 14:6)

      Notice what has replaced Christ as an object to putting “faith” in: The Bible.

      This is where so many have gone terribly stray. Before there was such thing as a Bible, who did Christs disciples put faith in? Jesus Christ!

      The problem today the masses have been cleverly and subtly duped (in Christs absence) to place faith in something else rather than the one that they should. The Bible is a modern-day “Golden Calf.”

      My friend, once you understand and realize that this is what has happened, you will be free and you will understand the freedom Christ spoke of.

      You are afraid NOT to put faith in the “words of the Bible.” Think: What has made you to feel that way? Your feelings about the Bible have been taken captive. You should want to place faith in words of Christ – who is your true teacher – rather than placing faith in the Bible. The Bible cannot save you, only Christ can.

      Prayer to God for increased knowledge, understanding and wisdom through Christ is the ONLY WAY one can grow mightily. The Bible cannot give you that because God did not send it. He told us to listen to the “person” he sent. I know that it works. (Luke 9:35)

  6. Peace be with the reader,

    The Son of man has already returned.

    He returned in 1984 like a thief in the night, and prophesied fro 1260 days.

    We are now in the time of the final judgment.

    The details can be found on the website.

    The faithful witness 

     

    1. No human or angel – not even The Son of God –  can know this. It is not because I say so, it is because Christ says it.

      I believe my Master and no one else.

      What did my Master say with regards dates, times and seasons?

      Matthew 24:36

      “Concerning that day and hour nobody knows, neither the angels of the heavens nor the Son, but only the Father.”

       

      Matthew 24:42

      “Keep on the watch, therefore, because YOU do not know on what day YOUR Lord is coming.”

      Acts 1:7

      “It does not belong to YOU to get knowledge of the times or seasons which the Father has placed in his own jurisdiction.”

      We are not in a time of judgment as all of mankind have been forgiven by virtue of Christs death. The time of judgment is in another time period when there is no more forgiveness of sins. That will be a time period when mankind “knows” good and bad and willfully sins. Today, we “do not know what we are doing.” Jesus even asked forgiveness for his persecutors and executioners. Why? Because they did not know what they were doing. Neither do we today. Today is not a time for judgment a time period of unlimited forgiveness (grace).

      When Christ restores all of mankind to their Creator, then what we do after that time is a basis for judgment.

      And what of the billions who were born and who lived and died since Adam. How are they judged? They are not. They are forgiven. Jesus died for them too. Obviously they do not know this because they are dead. They will be resurrected as Jesus promised at John 5:28-29 and eventually be restored to God and they will “know” good and bad.

      It is a very dangerous thing to play around with dates. Why? Because it shows one does not listen to Christ. He said: YOU do not know on what day YOUR Lord is coming.”

      1984 is false and one would do better by obeying Christ and simply “Keep on the watch.”

      Christ return will be as “a thief in the night.” A thief does not advertise or announce his coming to break into your house. He comes when you least expected. So a wise person would always “be on the watch” for a thief.

      If a thief told you that he was going to break into your house in 1984, you would be waiting for him and you would see him breaking in.

      There has been no return of Christ in 1984 or any other date since he said the date and time of his return is known only by the Father and the Father has not shared that information with anyone one. His sons return will be unannounced and unknown by all.

      Just like the flood of Noah’s day. When the rains came, people were caught off guard.

       

  7. Peace be with you!

    Thanks for your time to share wisdom!

    I have a few questions: What is the bible? We did not live in the time of Jesus and most of what we know of Jesus is throught the bible. What is right, and what is wrong in the bible? Can we disregard the bible completely, or is there some truth about it? When we try to take the bible as false or true, what is the reference, I mean based on what can we say this is true, this is bad?

    1. I will first answer what the Bible is NOT. It is NOT The Word of God. No book can be that. Just as there is only ONE GOD, there can only be one WORD OF GOD and he is a person. (Rev 19:13)

      The Bible is a book that came mysteriously out of the European Dark Ages. One race among mankind is the one who told the world “What it is.” No other race among the human family had no say so about it.

      It is an idol; an image that reflects a religious system that God and Christ did not authorize: Christianity.

      It was men – not God – who gave this book its name. It was men – not God – who gave it a lofty title as Word of God.  It was men – not God – who authorize it. It was men – not God – who call it Holy. This is blasphemous !!!

      For ANY who make the claim that what we know about Jesus is from the Bible are not thinking: No Bible (Genesis to Revelation) existed for almost 1500 years after Christ ascended. So how did those people from the time of his ascension until the creation of the first Bible (Gutenberg Bible) learn about Christ? We are talking 1500 years with NO BIBLE !!!

      I will tell you how: In the same manner as Christ himself and his early Disciples taught: By word of mouth and by “asking and receiving” from the Father in heaven,

      Does anyone really think that all of the knowledges and wisdom of God and Christ are contained in the pages of a book with about 1500 pages!

      This is faithless generation who acts as if Christ is dead and unable to teach his Disciples. They rely on what they can “see” : a book called the Bible.

      Jesus said that he is the way, the truth and the life and that on one comes to the Father but by him. He did not teach that some book or any religious organization are those things.

      I would rather spend my time defending Christ as the truth than waste it trying to defend the Bible as the truth.

      This is what I see lacking in many claiming to follow Christ: They go out of their way to defend a book rather than the one they claim to follow.

      They don’t see or relaize what they are doing.

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