Many times Christians think of faith as an idea or concept, not a way of life. So many say, “I still need to live, be rational and practical about life.” Consequently, they end up compromising their faith. But Scripture said, “And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who seek Him.” (Hebrews 11:6)
Christians cannot simply let wrongdoings, especially those that compromise the integrity of Christ and His Church, slide – even if it would have detrimental human consequences. For the Christian walk is a matter of faith and belief in Christ Jesus and His Word.
“Then Jesus told His disciples, “If anyone would come after Me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow Me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it. For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what shall a man give in return for his soul?” (Matthew 16:24-26)
Blessing!
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In the last 2000 years, the world remained as chaotic as before. Perhaps it’s true that with the advancement of medicine, technology, and civil society, living standards today are far better than the barbaric days of humanity. Yet, a quick look at world events would tell us it isn’t so. In the West, people have been shot dead by random shooters. In some other parts of the world, dictators continue to reign over its people. Hunger remains to be a problem all over the world and many more issues. With that, we Christians are left grasping for answers because many times we have been asked, “When would God rectify the wrongs in the world?”
God had done His part by sending His Son Jesus Christ to redeem people from the fall of humanity. Yes, I’m referring to Genesis 3, the fall of Adam and Eve. Jesus Christ came proclaiming, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand (Matthew 4:17).” It is sad though that most of present-day Christianity fails to see the reality of Christ’s pronouncement. Consequently, they also fail to communicate the true reality of God’s Word. See Revelation 11:15.
“Then the seventh angel blew his trumpet, and there were loud voices in heaven, saying, “The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ, and He shall reign forever and ever.””
The Book of Revelation was prophetic, not historical. It was written before the fall of Jerusalem in 70 A.D. Contrary to the popular view it was sometime in 90 A.D. Click and read my blog on “Dating of Revelation”. Notice that I present it in the past tense because the prophecy of Revelation 11 has been fulfilled. Revelation cannot be a historical narrative simply because it’s an “apokalupsis” (Greek for revelation). It’s a disclosure or unveiling of events to come in John’s time. See Revelation 1:9-10.
“I, John, your brother and partner in the tribulation and the kingdom and the patient endurance that are in Jesus, was on the island called Patmos on account of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus. I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s day, and I heard behind me a loud voice like a trumpet”
Next, see Revelation 1:19. “Write therefore the things that you have seen, those that are and those that are to take place after this.”
Take note that in Revelation 1:19, John was told the things that he was to see would take place after Christ’s revelation. In other words, it’s happening soon – soon to John, not to us living millennia after the writing of Revelation.
See further Christ’s warning regarding the time and any attempt to alter His word. See Revelation 22:16-20.
““I, Jesus, have sent My angel to testify to you (John) about these things for the churches. I am the root and the descendant of David, the bright morning star.” The Spirit and the Bride say, “Come.” And let the one who hears say, “Come.” And let the one who is thirsty come; let the one who desires take the water of life without price. I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: if anyone adds to them, God will add to him the plagues described in this book, and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God will take away his share in the tree of life and in the holy city, which are described in this book. He who testifies to these things says, “Surely I am coming soon.” Amen. Come, Lord Jesus!”
Now, what is the context of Revelation 11:15? It speaks of the judgment against Old Covenant Jewish Temple, see Revelation 11:1-2.
“Then I was given a measuring rod like a staff, and I was told, “Rise and measure the temple of God and the altar and those who worship there, but do not measure the court outside the temple; leave that out, for it is given over to the nations, and they will trample the holy city for forty-two months.”
So John foresaw the fulfillment of Jesus Christ’s words against Old Covenant Israel, see Luke 21:20-27.
““But when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then know that its desolation has come near. Then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains, and let those who are inside the city depart, and let not those who are out in the country enter it, for these are days of vengeance, to fulfill all that is written. Alas for women who are pregnant and for those who are nursing infants in those days! For there will be great distress upon the earth (in the Greek, it could alternately be translated as “land”) and wrath against this people. They will fall by the edge of the sword and be led captive among all nations, and Jerusalem will be trampled underfoot by the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled. “And there will be signs in sun and moon and stars, and on the earth distress of nations in perplexity because of the roaring of the sea and the waves, people fainting with fear and with foreboding of what is coming on the world. For the powers of the heavens will be shaken. And then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.”
What was the sin of Old Covenant Israel? They rejected the Lord Jesus Christ and killed His prophets and apostles. But how do we know Revelation 11 was about Old Covenant Israel? First, the introduction of chapter eleven spoke clearly of the destruction, (i.e., trample) of the Jewish Temple. Then, in verses 7 and 8, the murderers of God’s witnesses were inhabitants of the “great city” where Jesus Christ was crucified – so that’s none other but Jerusalem.
The “times of the Gentiles” pertain to the four Gentile empires ruling over Israel as prophesied and made clear in the Book of Daniel. Daniel identified the first three empires as Babylon, Mede Persia, and Greece (Daniel 2 & 8). John, on the other hand, prophesied about the events happening in the fourth and last Gentile empire ruling over Jerusalem, and that’s Rome (Revelation 13 &17).
The kingdom of the world of Revelation 11:15 pertains to the Old Covenant Jewish world, while the kingdom of our Lord and His Christ though spiritual is real and everlasting. Years before the fall of Old Covenant Jerusalem, the apostle Paul declared, “From now on, therefore, we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we once regarded Christ according to the flesh, we regard Him thus no longer. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.” (2 Corinthians 5:16-17)
God never neglects on His word and promises. Many like to suggest that Jesus Christ is yet to return fulfilling His word and promise. God forbid, but by their claim, they have made Jesus Christ to be a liar, not true to His word. For as long as our present world rejects Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, then it will always be chaotic because it is ruled by man, not God. Christians, on the other hand, should keep in mind that our citizenship is with heaven (Philippians 3:20). So indeed, we ought to walk by faith, not by sight (2Co. 5:7). We are troubled by the things around us, so we fail to see the reality that God is indeed with us.
Learn to see beyond the thorns then we will see the beauty of the Rose. That’s the reality of our Christian walk. The psalm below, written by David, is a Messianic Psalm. Memorized this psalm cause that’s the reality of living under Christ’s New Covenant.
“A Psalm of David. The LORD is my Shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for His name’s sake. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for You are with me; Your rod and your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the LORD forever.” (Psalms 23:1-6)
Blessings!
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Without a doubt, 21st-century Christianity comes in many shapes and forms. Christians differ in doctrines, but they seem to be unified in believing that the return of Jesus Christ is still in the future, though it has been millennia since Jesus promised His apostles that He would be coming in their generation. See Matthew 16:27-28.
“For the Son of Man is going to come with His angels in the glory of His Father, and then He will repay each person according to what he has done. Truly, I say to you, there are some standing here who will not taste death until they see the Son of Man coming in his kingdom.””
The synoptic Gospels – Matthew, Mark, & Luke – have the same assurance concerning the imminent return of Christ:
“And He (Jesus Christ) said to them (apostles), “Truly, I say to you, there are some standing here who will not taste death until they see the kingdom of God after it has come with power.”” (Mark 9:1)
“For whoever is ashamed of Me (Jesus Christ) and of My words, of him will the Son of Man be ashamed when He comes in His glory and the glory of the Father and of the holy angels. But I tell you truly, there are some standing here who will not taste death until they see the kingdom of God.”” (Luke 9:26-27)
Not only that, Jesus Christ sending out the twelve apostles, instructing them on His message, said, “And proclaim as you go, saying, ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand.’” (Matthew 10:7)
“At hand” in the original Greek language means “near,” and near cannot by any means be thousands of years and continuing, as suggested by the Futurists. Jesus Christ did not just give them the message to proclaim, but He reinforced the message with the assurance that it was indeed occurring soon. See Matthew 10:23.
“When they persecute you (the apostles) in one town, flee to the next, for truly, I say to you, you will not have gone through all the towns of Israel before the Son of Man comes.”
As I researched the validity of Jesus’ words, it’s sad, actually disgusting, to find known Bible scholars saying, “No, Jesus was confused or hallucinating when He uttered those words.” Some dismissed the passages saying, “There must be another meaning for that, but we just have to find out.”
Funny that for as long as the passages or verses are convenient to their theological position, they adhere to the Words of Christ, but if it doesn’t, then it’s excuses after excuses. Scripture does not need affirmation from men; rather, the Bible is the dispenser of truth because it is the Word of God.
One of the key disciplines in interpreting Scripture involves recognizing “time statements.” However, Futurists often overlook these time statements in the Bible, particularly in the New Testament, and instead suggest that they refer to the future. It’s important to remember that what the apostles considered “the future” is no longer future to us today.
Hence, statements like “this generation” in Matthew 24:34 no longer make an impact on the readers, for time statements have been disregarded. See Matthew 24:29-34.
“29 Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, and the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken. 30 Then will appear in heaven the sign of the Son of Man, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. 31 And He will send out His angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather His elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other. 32 “From the fig tree learn its lesson: as soon as its branch becomes tender and puts out its leaves, you know that summer is near. 33 So also, when you see all these things, you know that He is near, at the very gates. 34 Truly, I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all these things take place.
So some have suggested “this generation” refers to the generation who saw the literal signs of Matthew 24:29-34. Yet, they miss out on John’s confession in Revelation that he was already in tribulation. See Revelation 1:9.
“I, John, your brother and partner in the tribulation and the kingdom and the patient endurance that are in Jesus, was on the island called Patmos on account of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus.”
Scripture is a unity. The apostles’ writings cannot be different from the Words of Jesus found in the Gospels, the Book of Acts, or the Book of Revelation. Jesus’ words have their foundation in the Old Testament Scripture. The entire Bible is a cohesive revelation concerning the declaration and fulfillment of God’s words.
See Luke 24:44.
Then He (Jesus Christ) said to them (The disciples), “These are My words that I spoke to you while I was still with you, that everything written about Me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled.”
In recent years, we have witnessed the rise of fake news online. Most people now get their news from the web, particularly from platforms like Facebook and YouTube. Unfortunately, fake news spreads easily because many individuals click to watch or read without considering the source or the intent of the uploader or poster.
Even if a Facebook post or YouTube video contains factual information, ignoring the date it was published can severely affect its relevance today. The same principle applies when reading and studying the Bible. It is essential to recognize the audience’s relevance, the timing of statements, and their historical accuracy. Failing to do so can lead to misinterpretations of Scripture, whether by inexperienced readers or poorly informed pastors.
Jesus Christ warned, “Can a blind man lead a blind man? Will they not both fall into a pit?” (Luke 6:39)
Find someone who can teach you the disciplines of studying Scripture. Avoid using human-tailored Bible study materials, as they often reflect human influence. It’s important to recognize that even within different Bible translations, traces of human interpretation can be found. Let me be clear: the Bible itself is perfect, infallible, and without error; the issues arise with the translations.
You don’t need to be a scholar of Greek, Hebrew, or Aramaic, but it is beneficial to read the Bible by comparing different translations. Additionally, learning to use language tools, such as lexicons, is essential for in-depth Bible study. There are many free lexicon tools available online or for download. You just need to find someone knowledgeable to guide you in using these tools effectively.
It’s never too late to start studying Scripture and practicing proper exegesis. Ultimately, Scripture reveals truths about salvation that extend beyond our physical needs and concerns, addressing both our current lives and eternity. Don’t let yourself become part of confused Christianity.
Peter, in the words of Acts 3:6, declared, “I possess neither silver nor gold, but in the name of Jesus Christ, I offer you what I have.” Share this article freely, for you freely receive. Take note, underlines and highlights are clickable links for definitions or Bible references. Stay updated by heading to our about page and subscribe directly to receive notifications in your inbox. Blessing!
Unlearning Tradition, Relearning Scripture 