THE 2ND COMING OF JESUS CHRIST

A Comprehensive Study from the Scriptures

 

In this study of Christ's 2nd Coming I have attempted to present every verse in the New Testament about the 2nd Coming and comment on them. I did this by looking up the verses that contain the word COMING or the Greek words PAROUSIA, ERCHOMAI, APOKALYPSIS and EPIPHANEIA.

If you know of any verses about Christ's 2nd Coming that I have omitted please let me know.

PAROUSIA (COMING)

The word "COMING" is used 67 times in the King James Version of the New Testament.

It is translated from the Greek word PAROUSIA 22 times... 16 verses refer to CHRIST'S PAROUSIA.

PAROUSIA = STRONG'S G3952

Word Summary: parousia - a presence, a coming
Transliteration: parousia
Phonetic Spelling: (par-oo-see'-ah)
Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine
Meaning: a presence, a coming

Strong's Concordance: coming, presence.
From the present participle of pareimi; a being near, i.e. Advent (often, return; specially, of Christ to punish Jerusalem, or finally the wicked); (by implication) physically, aspect -- coming, presence.

The 22 verses in the New Testament that contain the Greek word PAROUSIA follow and are from the King James Version. The words translated from PAROUSIA are CAPITALIZED in RED.

1) Matthew 24:3  And as he sat upon the mount of Olives, the disciples came unto him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of thy COMING, and of the end of the world?

2) Matthew 24:27  For as the lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west; so shall also the COMING of the Son of man be.

3) Matthew 24:37  But as the days of Noe were, so shall also the COMING of the Son of man be.

4) Matthew 24:39  And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the COMING of the Son of man be.

5) 1 Corinthians 15:23  But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ's at his COMING.

* 6) 1 Corinthians 16:17  I am glad of the COMING of Stephanas and Fortunatus and Achaicus: for that which was lacking on your part they have supplied.

* 7) 2 Corinthians 7:6  Nevertheless God, that comforteth those that are cast down, comforted us by the COMING of Titus;

* 8) 2 Corinthians 7:7  And not by his COMING only, but by the consolation wherewith he was comforted in you, when he told us your earnest desire, your mourning, your fervent mind toward me; so that I rejoiced the more.

* 9) Philippians 1:26  That your rejoicing may be more abundant in Jesus Christ for me by my COMING to you again.

10) 1 Thessalonians 2:19  For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Are not even ye in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at his COMING?

11) 1 Thessalonians 3:13  To the end he may stablish your hearts unblameable in holiness before God, even our Father, at the COMING of our Lord Jesus Christ with all his saints.

12) 1 Thessalonians 4:15  For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the COMING of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep.

13) 1 Thessalonians 5:23  And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the COMING of our Lord Jesus Christ.

14) 2 Thessalonians 2:1  Now we beseech you, brethren, by the COMING of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him, 

15) 2 Thessalonians 2:8  And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his COMING:

* 16) 2 Thessalonians 2:9  Even him, whose COMING is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders,

17) James 5:7  Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the COMING of the Lord. Behold, the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until he receive the early and latter rain.

18) James 5:8  Be ye also patient; stablish your hearts: for the COMING of the Lord draweth nigh.

** 19) 2 Peter 1:16  For we have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the power and COMING of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of his majesty.

20) 2 Peter 3:4  And saying, Where is the promise of his COMING? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation.

21) 2 Peter 3:12  Looking for and hasting unto the COMING of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat?

22) 1 John 2:28  And now, little children, abide in him; that, when he shall appear, we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before him at his COMING.

PAROUSIA (STRONG'S G3952) is also translated as "PRESENCE" twice.

* 1) 2 Corinthians 10:10  For his letters, say they, are weighty and powerful; but his bodily PRESENCE is weak, and his speech contemptible.

* 2) Philippians 2:12  Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my PRESENCE only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.

* NOT about Christ's Coming
** Regarding Christ's 1st Coming

 

COMMENTARY ON THE 16 VERSES ABOUT CHRIST'S PAROUSIA (COMING)

Let's look at the 16 verses that pertain to the PAROUSIA of Christ using the New King James Version. The words translated from the Greek word PAROUSIA are CAPITALIZED in RED.

Verse 1:  Matthew 24:3  Now as He sat on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to Him privately, saying, "Tell us, WHEN will these things be? And what will be the SIGN of Your COMING, and of the END OF THE AGE?"

Notice how the disciples associate the PAROUSIA with the End of the Age.

Be sure to read my article "HOW THE BIBLICAL AGES PROVE THAT CHRIST'S 2ND COMING WAS IN THE PAST".

The Gospel of Mark reveals which disciples were with Jesus and the word "PAROUSIA" is not used at all in the Gospel of Mark... Mark 13:3  Now as He sat on the Mount of Olives opposite the temple, PETER, JAMES, JOHN, and ANDREW asked Him privately, Mark 13:4  "Tell us, WHEN will these things be? And what will be the SIGN when all these things will be fulfilled?

The Gospel of Luke does not use the word "PAROUSIA" either... Luke 21:7  So they asked Him, saying, "Teacher, but WHEN will these things be? And what SIGN will there be when these things are about to take place?"

We can conclude from the disciples questions that they wanted to know WHEN these things would happen and WHAT SIGN would precede them.

What were the "THINGS" that the disciples were referring to?

We know for sure that one of the main things was the Destruction of the Temple... Matthew 24:1  Then Jesus went out and departed from the temple, and His disciples came up to SHOW HIM THE BUILDINGS OF THE TEMPLE. Matthew 24:2  And Jesus said to them, "Do you not see all these things? Assuredly, I say to you, NOT ONE STONE SHALL BE LEFT HERE UPON ANOTHER, THAT SHALL NOT BE THROWN DOWN."

The parallel verses in the synoptic gospels follow:

Mark 13:1  Then as He went out of the temple, one of His disciples said to Him, "Teacher, SEE WHAT MANNER OF STONES AND WHAT BUILDINGS ARE HERE!" Mark 13:2  And Jesus answered and said to him, "Do you see these great buildings? NOT ONE STONE SHALL BE LEFT UPON ANOTHER, THAT SHALL NOT BE THROWN DOWN."

Luke 21:5  Then, as some SPOKE OF THE TEMPLE, how it was adorned with beautiful stones and donations, He said, Luke 21:6  "These things which you see—the days will come in which NOT ONE STONE SHALL BE LEFT UPON ANOTHER THAT SHALL NOT BE THROWN DOWN."

The Destruction of the Temple was only 1 thing so in order to know what other "things" the disciples were referring to we need to look at what Jesus said before they came out of the temple...

In Matthew Chapter 23 Jesus Proclaimed 7 Woes to the Scribes and Pharisees and he Prophesied that...

1) They would persecute, scourge and kill those (Disciples) that Jesus sent to them.
2) Judgment would come upon THEM (Scribes & Pharisees) in THAT GENERATION.

Matthew 23:34  Therefore, indeed, I send you prophets, wise men, and scribes: some of them you will kill and crucify, and some of them you will scourge in your synagogues and persecute (DIOKO) from city to city, Matthew 23:35  THAT ON YOU MAY COME ALL THE RIGHTEOUS BLOOD SHED ON THE EARTH, from the blood of righteous Abel to the blood of Zechariah, son of Berechiah, whom you murdered between the temple and the altar. Matthew 23:36  Assuredly, I say to you, ALL THESE THINGS WILL COME UPON THIS GENERATION.

DIOKO = STRONG'S G1377

Word Summary: dioko - to put to flight, pursue, by implication to persecute
Transliteration: dioko
Phonetic Spelling: (dee-o'-ko)
Part of Speech: Verb
Meaning: to put to flight, pursue, by implication to persecute

Strong's Concordance: ensue, follow after, persecute, suffer persecution.
A prolonged (and causative) form of a primary verb dio (to flee; compare the base of deilos and diakonos); to pursue (literally or figuratively); by implication, to persecute -- ensue, follow (after), given to, (suffer) persecute(-ion), press forward.

3) The Temple would be Destroyed... Matthew 23:38  See! YOUR HOUSE IS LEFT TO YOU DESOLATE;

The disciples had reason for concern since THEY would be Persecuted and the Judgment upon the Scribes & Pharisees and the Destruction of Temple would occur in THEIR GENERATION!

Jesus had already warned his 12 Apostles about their Persecution. Before Jesus sent the 12 Apostles to Preach to the cities of Israel he gave them instructions and warned them that THEY would be Persecuted...

Matthew 10:16  "Behold, I SEND YOU OUT AS SHEEP IN THE MIDST OF WOLVES. Therefore be wise as serpents and harmless as doves. Matthew 10:17  But beware of men, for THEY WILL DELIVER YOU UP TO COUNCILS AND SCOURGE YOU IN THEIR SYNAGOGUES. Matthew 10:18  YOU WILL BE BROUGHT BEFORE GOVERNORS AND KINGS FOR MY SAKE, as a testimony to them and to the Gentiles. Matthew 10:19  But when they deliver you up, do not worry about how or what you should speak. For it will be given to you in that hour what you should speak; Matthew 10:20  for it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father who speaks in you. Matthew 10:21  "Now brother will deliver up brother to death, and a father his child; and children will rise up against parents and cause them to be put to death. Matthew 10:22  And YOU WILL BE HATED BY ALL FOR MY NAME'S SAKE. But he who endures to the end will be saved. Matthew 10:23  When they persecute (DIOKO) you in this city, flee to another. FOR ASSUREDLY, I SAY TO YOU, YOU WILL NOT HAVE GONE THROUGH THE CITIES OF ISRAEL BEFORE THE SON OF MAN COMES (ERCHOMAI).

Notice what Jesus said in Matthew 10:23... He said that he would COME before they had gone through the cities of Israel.

Some people want to put this COMING before Jesus ascended to Heaven but that will not work because the Persecution of the Apostles did not really begin until after the Ascension and none had DIED before then except for Judas and he killed himself!

In the Gospel of Mark the Persecution of the Apostles mentioned in Matthew 10 is recorded in Mark 13 as part of the Olivet Discourse...

Mark 13:9  "But watch out for yourselves, for they will deliver you up to councils, and YOU WILL BE BEATEN IN THE SYNAGOGUES. You will be brought before rulers and kings for My sake, for a testimony to them. Mark 13:10  And THE GOSPEL MUST FIRST BE PREACHED TO ALL THE NATIONS. Mark 13:11  But when they arrest you and deliver you up, do not worry beforehand, or premeditate what you will speak. But whatever is given you in that hour, speak that; for it is not you who speak, but the Holy Spirit. Mark 13:12  Now brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child; and children will rise up against parents and cause them to be put to death. Mark 13:13  And YOU WILL BE HATED BY ALL FOR MY NAME'S SAKE. But he who endures to the end shall be saved.

The Persecution/Tribulation of the Apostles is mentioned again in the Olivet Discourse in Matthew 24... Matthew 24:9  "Then THEY WILL DELIVER YOU UP TO TRIBULATION (THILIPSIS) AND KILL YOU, and you will be hated by all nations for My name's sake. Matthew 24:10  And then many will be offended, WILL BETRAY ONE ANOTHER, AND WILL HATE ONE ANOTHER.

THILIPSIS = STRONG'S G2347

Word Summary: episynago: to gather together
Transliteration: episynago
Phonetic Spelling: (ep-ee-soon-ag'-o)
Part of Speech: Verb
Meaning: to gather together

Strong's Concordance: gather together.
From epi and sunago; to collect upon the same place - gather (together).

EPISYNAGO is also used in Matthew 24:31 and it seems to be referring to the same event... "And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall GATHER TOGETHER his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other."

Christ revealed WHEN this GATHERING TOGETHER would occur... Matthew 24:34  Assuredly, I say to you, THIS GENERATION WILL BY NO MEANS PASS AWAY TILL ALL THESE THINGS TAKE PLACE.

Verse 11:  2 Thessalonians 2:8  And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his COMING: 2 Thessalonians 2:9  Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, 2 Thessalonians 2:10  And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.

2 Thessalonians 2:8 refers to the destruction of the Man of Sin also called the Son of Perdition or the Lawless One who would be destroyed by Christ at his "COMING". Paul stated that the Falling Away (APOSTASIA) and the Man of Sin would come before they were gathered together with Christ and the saints (2 Thessalonians 2:3-4).

APOSTASIA = STRONG'S 646

Word Summary: apostasia - defection, revolt
Transliteration: apostasia
Phonetic Spelling: (ap-os-tas-ee'-ah)
Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine
Meaning: defection, revolt

Strong's Concordance: falling away, apostacy
Feminine of the same as apostasion; defection from truth (properly, the state) ("apostasy") -- falling away, forsake.

While we don't know for sure who the Man of Sin was, Paul stated that they knew what was restraining him and that the mystery of lawlessness was already at work (2 Thessalonians 2:6-7).

Verse 12:  James 5:7  Therefore be patient, brethren, until the COMING of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, waiting patiently for it until it receives the early and latter rain.

The Apostle James told the recepients of his letter to be PATIENT until the COMING of the Lord. Therefore, they were expecting it to occur in their lifetimes.

James was writing to the 12 tribes that were scattered abroad... James 1:1  James, a bondservant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, To the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad: Greetings.

Verse 13:  James 5:8  You also be patient. Establish your hearts, for the COMING of the Lord IS AT HAND. James 5:9  Do not grumble against one another, brethren, lest you be condemned. Behold, THE JUDGE IS STANDING AT THE DOOR!

Notice in these 2 verses that the Lord's COMING was AT HAND and THE JUDGE WAS STANDING AT THE DOOR!

Verse 14:  2 Peter 3:3  knowing this first: that scoffers will come in the last days, walking according to their own lusts, 2 Peter 3:4  and saying, "Where is the promise of His COMING? For since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of creation."

These verses are about the SCOFFERS in Peter's Day who were wanting to know "Where is the promise of His COMING?" If Jesus still hasn't come back after almost 2,000 years then the SCOFFERS were RIGHT!

The SCOFFERS of today are the Christians who argue with Preterists and say that Jesus hasn't come yet!

Verse 15:  2 Peter 3:11  Therefore, since all these things will be dissolved, what manner of persons ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness, 2 Peter 3:12  looking for and hastening the COMING of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be dissolved, being on fire, and the elements will melt with fervent heat? 2 Peter 3:13  Nevertheless we, according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells.

Peter told the recipients (Believers) of his letter to be looking for the COMING of the Day of GOD in which the Heavens would be Dissolved and the Elements would melt with fervent heat. Then they were to expect New Heavens and a New Earth in which righteousness dwells.

Peter is referring to the promise of New Heavens and a New Earth spoken of by the Prophet Isaiah...

Isaiah 65:17  For, behold, I CREATE NEW HEAVENS AND A NEW EARTH: and the former shall not be remembered, nor come into mind. Isaiah 66:22  For as the NEW HEAVENS AND THE NEW EARTH, which I will make, shall remain before me, saith the LORD, so shall your seed and your name remain.

In a previous letter Peter wrote: 1 Peter 4:7  But THE END OF ALL THINGS IS AT HAND; therefore be serious and watchful in your prayers... If the END of ALL THINGS was AT HAND almost 2,000 years ago then they can't be At Hand Now. Most Christians believe that 2 Peter 3 is referring to the END OF THE WORLD and they know that hasn't happened yet so they don't believe Christ's 2ND COMING has happened yet. If Peter was referring to the END OF THE WORLD then his timing was WRONG. Maybe he was WRONG about the WORLD ENDING. Maybe it's those who interpret 2 Peter 3 as being about the END OF THE WORLD who are WRONG!

GOD speaks of the Coming Destruction of Old Covenant Israel in Isaiah 65...

Isaiah 65:12  Therefore I WILL NUMBER YOU FOR THE SWORD, And you shall all bow down to the slaughter; Because, when I called, you did not answer; When I spoke, you did not hear, But did evil before My eyes, And chose that in which I do not delight." Isaiah 65:13  Therefore thus says the Lord GOD: "Behold, My servants shall eat, But you shall be hungry; Behold, My servants shall drink, But you shall be thirsty; Behold, My servants shall rejoice, But you shall be ashamed; Isaiah 65:14  Behold, My servants shall sing for joy of heart, BUT YOU SHALL CRY FOR SORROW OF HEART, AND WAIL FOR GRIEF OF SPIRIT. Isaiah 65:15  You shall leave your name as a curse to My chosen; FOR THE LORD GOD WILL SLAY YOU, AND CALL HIS SERVANTS BY ANOTHER NAME (Christians); Isaiah 65:16  So that he who blesses himself in the earth Shall bless himself in the God of truth; And he who swears in the earth Shall swear by the God of truth; Because the former troubles are forgotten, And because they are hidden from My eyes.

Jesus not only came to fulfill the law but the prophets as well so ALL had to be FULFILLED before the Old Heaven & Earth could pass away!

Matthew 5:17  "Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I DID NOT COME TO DESTROY BUT TO FULFILL. Matthew 5:18  For assuredly, I say to you, TILL HEAVEN AND EARTH PASS AWAY, ONE JOT OR ONE TITTLE WILL BY NO MEANS PASS FROM THE LAW TILL ALL IS FULFILLED.

If the "HEAVEN AND EARTH" that Jesus spoke of in Matthew 5:18 have NOT passed away then the "LAW" or Old Covenant has NOT passed away and we are still under the law!

ALL things were FULFILLED by A.D. 70, the END of the AGE of the Old Covenant and the END of Daniel's 70 Weeks Prophecy when the POWER of the Holy People was COMPLETELY SHATTERED... Daniel 12:7  Then I heard the man clothed in linen, who was above the waters of the river, when he held up his right hand and his left hand to heaven, and swore by Him who lives forever, that it shall be for a time, times, and half a time; and WHEN THE POWER OF THE HOLY PEOPLE HAS BEEN COMPLETELY SHATTERED, ALL THESE THINGS SHALL BE FINISHED.

The following is quoted from the book, BAMBOOZLED BELIEVERS by Michael Biehler, Kindle Edition...

"'HEAVEN AND EARTH' is a metaphor for the temple and the Jewish religion as it existed 2,000 years ago. These things did pass away as Jesus predicted in his Olivet Discourse.

Answering his disciples’ question about the destruction of the temple, he said: "Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away" (Matthew. 24 35). He was talking about the destruction of the temple and the end of the Old Covenant religion, not the end of the universe. Since the old 'heaven and earth' is a metaphor for the Old Covenant, it seems very likely that the 'new heaven and the new earth' is a metaphor for the New Covenant.

The simple truth is that the 'old heaven and old earth' passed away in AD 70. The 'old heaven and old earth' is imagery! We live in the age of grace; we are no longer under the Law. In his letter to the Ephesians - Paul tells us that Jesus abolished 'the law of commandments expressed in ordinances' (Ephesians 2:15). Since the law has passed away, 'heaven and earth' must have passed away also. The phrase 'heaven and earth' is a metaphor!

Many Futurists say that the Old Covenant (the old heaven and old earth) was abolished at the cross, but that is not the case; when the book of Hebrews was written, in about AD 63, the Old Covenant was 'growing old' and was ready to 'vanish away' - Hebrews 8:13. In AD 70 it did vanish away... in the siege of Jerusalem. Some of the people ate their children and they bowed down to the slaughter. Josephus describes these events in gruesome detail, reporting that 1,100,000 died and many survivors were sent to Egypt.

God’s people were called by a new name: 'Christians'. They ran away from the city when they saw armies approaching. They ran because Jesus had told them to run; in Luke 21 we see Jesus’ warning: 20 But when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then know that its desolation has come near. 21 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, 22 FOR THESE ARE DAYS OF VENGEANCE, TO FULFILL ALL THAT IS WRITTEN. Jesus says that those days of vengeance 'to fulfill all that is written'. Isn’t this another indication that the new heaven and new earth prophecy of Isaiah 65:17-25 was fulfilled in AD 70? Verse 20 of Isaiah 65 says that there will be sin and death in the new heaven and new earth: ...'for the child shall die an hundred years old; but the sinner being an hundred years old shall be accursed.' The simple, inconvenient truth is that Isaiah’s 'new heaven and new earth' is not the renovated planet with no suffering and no physical death. We are living in the New Covenant age... the 'new heavens and new earth.' Futurists don’t see the imagery: the wolf and the lamb feeding together is a metaphor for peace. Jesus, the prince of peace, has given us the peace that 'surpasses all understanding' (Philippians 4:7). Also, believers have 'passed out of death into life...' (1 John 3:14). Jesus 'hath abolished death, and brought life...' (2 Timothy 1:10) Jesus said it very clearly; at conversion, we pass from death to life. 'Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life' (John 5:24).

21 And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away; and the sea was no more (Revelation 21:1 ESV). In this passage the appearing of the 'new heaven and new earth' is associated with the passing of the first heaven and the first earth. We know that the first heaven and first earth is a metaphor for the Old Covenant temple-centered religion, so we conclude that the 'new heaven and new earth' is a metaphor for the New Covenant. Since this verse comes from a part of Revelation that is replete with imagery, there is a pretty good chance that it is not referring to a new planet."

(ESV) Psalms 78:69  He built his sanctuary like the high heavens, like the earth, which he has founded FOREVER.

Notice how in Psalms 78:69 GOD built his sanctuary like the heavens and the earth. Also notice that the earth was founded or established FOREVER!

Isaiah 51:16  And I have put My words in your mouth; I have covered you with the shadow of My hand, THAT I MAY PLANT THE HEAVENS, LAY THE FOUNDATIONS OF THE EARTH, And say to Zion, 'You are My people.' "

GOD is speaking about what he HAD done. He gave Israel the LAW (Mosaic Covenant) to plant the heavens and lay the foundations of the earth.

Obviously GOD is not speaking about the LITERAL Heavens and Earth since they were created long before Israel was given the Mosaic Law!

When describing "the Most Holy Place" (Holy of Holies} of the Tabernacle, the Jewish Historian, Flavius Josephus, referred to it as "a heaven peculiar to God" and the rest of the tabernacle was described as "sea and land, on which men live". 

"As for the inside, Moses parted its length into three partitions. At the distance of ten cubits from the most secret end, Moses placed four pillars, the workmanship of which was the very same with that of the rest; and they stood upon the like bases with them, each a small matter distant from his fellow. Now the room within those pillars was the most holy place; but the rest of the room was the tabernacle, which was open for the priests. However, this proportion of the measures of the tabernacle proved to be an imitation of the system of the world; FOR THAT THIRD PART THEREOF WHICH WAS WITHIN THE FOUR PILLARS, TO WHICH THE PRIESTS WERE NOT ADMITTED, IS, AS IT WERE, A HEAVEN PECULIAR TO GOD. But the space of the twenty cubits, is, as it were, sea and land, on which men live, and so this part is peculiar to the priests only. But at the front, where the entrance was made, they placed pillars of gold, that stood on bases of brass, in number seven; but then they spread over the tabernacle veils of fine linen and purple, and blue, and scarlet colors, embroidered. The first veil was ten cubits every way, and this they spread over the pillars which parted the temple, and kept the most holy place concealed within; and this veil was that which made this part not visible to any. Now the whole temple was called The Holy Place: but that part which was within the four pillars, and to which none were admitted, was called The Holy of Holies." - Antiquities Of The Jews by Flavius Josephus (Translated By William Whiston Book 3, Chapter 6, (CONCERNING THE TABERNACLE WHICH MOSES BUILT IN THE WILDERNESS FOR THE HONOR OF GOD AND WHICH SEEMED TO BE A TEMPLE.) Paragraph 4.

"When Moses distinguished the tabernacle into three parts, and allowed two of them to the priests, as a place accessible and common, he denoted the land and the sea, these being of general access to all; but he set apart the third division for God, because heaven is inaccessible to men." - Antiquities Of The Jews by Flavius Josephus  Book 3, Chapter 7, Paragrah 7 (Translated By William Whiston).

The Christian is a New Creation... 2 Corinthians 5:17  Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a NEW CREATION; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.

The New Jerusalem is the Church of Jesus Christ!

Hebrews 12:22  But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the HEAVENLY JERUSALEM, to an innumerable company of angels, Hebrews 12:23  to the general assembly and CHURCH OF THE FIRSTBORN WHO ARE REGISTERED IN HEAVEN, to God the Judge of all, to the spirits of just men made perfect, Hebrews 12:24  to Jesus the Mediator of the new covenant,

Revelation 21:2  Then I, John, saw the holy city, NEW JERUSALEM, COMING DOWN OUT OF HEAVEN from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. Revelation 21:3  And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, "Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God.

For an Excellent Teaching on Heaven & Earth Passing Away Watch This Video: Heaven and Earth Passed And No More Sea - Revelation 21

Verse 16:  1 John 2:28  And now, little children, abide in Him, THAT WHEN HE APPEARS, WE MAY HAVE CONFIDENCE AND NOT BE ASHAMED BEFORE HIM at His COMING. 1 John 2:29  If you know that He is righteous, you know that everyone who practices righteousness is born of Him.

John indicates that he was expecting the COMING of the Lord to occur in his lifetime. The "WE" in the verse does not include YOU or ME. It includes John and those he was writing to. The word "APPEARS" is translated from the Greek word PHANEROO.

PHANEROO = STRONGS G5319

Word Summary: phaneroo: to make visible, make clear
Transliteration: phaneroo
Phonetic Spelling: (fan-er-o'-o)
Part of Speech: Verb
Meaning: to make visible, make clear

Strong's Concordance: make manifest, show
From phaneros; to render apparent (literally or figuratively) -- appear, manifestly declare, (make) manifest (forth), shew (self).

 

ERCHOMAI (COMING)

The word "COMING" is translated from the Greek word ERCHOMAI 29 times in the KJV and NKJV. 10 verses are referring to CHRIST'S 2ND COMING. The words translated from ERCHOMAI are CAPTITALIZED in RED.

ERCHOMAI = STRONG'S G2064

Word Summary: erchomai - to come, go
Transliteration: erchomai
Phonetic Spelling: (er'-khom-ahee)
Part of Speech: Verb
Meaning: to come, go

Strong's Concordance: accompany, appear, bring, come, enter, fall out, go, grow
Middle voice of a primary verb (used only in the present and imperfect tenses, the others being supplied by a kindred (middle voice) eleuthomai el-yoo'-thom-ahee, or (active) eltho el'-tho, which do not otherwise occur) to come or go (in a great variety of applications, literally and figuratively) -- accompany, appear, bring, come, enter, fall out, go, grow, X light, X next, pass, resort, be set.

1) Matthew 16:28  Verily I say unto you, There be some standing here, which shall not taste of death, till they see the Son of man COMING in his kingdom.

2) Matthew 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.

3) Matthew 24:42   Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth COME (COMING in NKJV).

4) Matthew 24:44  Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man COMETH (COMING in NKJV) .

* 5) Matthew 24:48 But and if that evil servant shall say in his heart, My lord delayeth his COMING;

* 6) Matthew 25:27  Thou oughtest therefore to have put my money to the exchangers, and then at my COMING I should have received mine own with usury.

7) Matthew 26:64  Jesus saith unto him, Thou hast said: nevertheless I say unto you, Hereafter shall ye see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power, and COMING in the clouds of heaven.

* 8) Mark 6:31  And he said unto them, Come ye yourselves apart into a desert place, and rest a while: for there were many COMING and going, and they had no leisure so much as to eat. 

9) Mark 13:26  And then shall they see the Son of man COMING in the clouds with great power and glory.

* 10) Mark 13:36  Lest COMING suddenly he find you sleeping.

11) Mark 14:62  And Jesus said, I am: and ye shall see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power, and COMING in the clouds of heaven.

* 12) Mark 15:21  And they compel one Simon a Cyrenian, who passed by, COMING out of the country, the father of Alexander and Rufus, to bear his cross.

* 13) Luke 12:45  But and if that servant say in his heart, My lord delayeth his COMING; and shall begin to beat the menservants and maidens, and to eat and drink, and to be drunken;

* 14) Luke 18:5  Yet because this widow troubleth me, I will avenge her, lest by her continual COMING she weary me.

* 15) Luke 19:23  Wherefore then gavest not thou my money into the bank, that at my COMING I might have required mine own with usury?

16) Luke 21:27  And then shall they see the Son of man COMING in a cloud with power and great glory.

* 17) Luke 23:26  And as they led him away, they laid hold upon one Simon, a Cyrenian, COMING out of the country, and on him they laid the cross, that he might bear it after Jesus.

18) Luke 23:29  For, behold, the days are COMING, in the which they shall say, Blessed are the barren, and the wombs that never bare, and the paps which never gave suck.

** 19) John 1:27  He it is, who COMING after me is preferred before me, whose shoe's latchet I am not worthy to unloose.

** 20) John 1:29  The next day John seeth Jesus COMING unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.

* 21) John 1:47  Jesus saw Nathanael COMING to him, and saith of him, Behold an Israelite indeed, in whom is no guile!

* 22) John 5:7  The impotent man answered him, Sir, I have no man, when the water is troubled, to put me into the pool: but while I am COMING, another steppeth down before me.

* 23) John 5:25  Verily, verily, I say unto you, The hour is COMING, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God: and they that hear shall live.

24) John 5:28  Marvel not at this: for the hour is COMING, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice,

* 25) John 10:12  But he that is an hireling, and not the shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, seeth the wolf COMING, and leaveth the sheep, and fleeth: and the wolf catcheth them, and scattereth the sheep.

** 26) John 11:20  Then Martha, as soon as she heard that Jesus was COMING, went and met him: but Mary sat still in the house.

** 27) John 12:12  On the next day much people that were come to the feast, when they heard that Jesus was COMING to Jerusalem,

* 28) Romans 15:22  For which cause also I have been much hindered from COMING to you.

* 29) 2 Corinthians 13:1  This is the third time I am COMING to you. In the mouth of two or three witnesses shall every word be established.

* NOT about Christ's Coming
** NOT about Christ's 2nd Coming

 

COMMENTARY ON THE 10 VERSES ABOUT THE ERCHOMAI (COMING) OF CHRIST

Let's look at the 10 verses that pertain to the ERCHOMAI (COMING) of Christ using the New King James Version. The word COMING translated from the Greek word ERCHOMAI is CAPITALIZED in RED.

Verse 1:  Matthew 16:27  For the Son of Man will COME (ERCHOMAI) in the glory of His Father with His angels, and then He will REWARD EACH ACCORDING TO HIS WORKS. Matthew 16:28  Assuredly, I say to you, THERE ARE SOME STANDING HERE who shall not taste death till they see the Son of Man COMING (ERCHOMAI) in His kingdom."

Don't throw Audience Relevance out the window when you read the Bible. Jesus wasn't talking to YOU. You weren't THERE when he spoke those words!

Notice in verse 27 that Jesus said that when he comes he would "REWARD EACH ACCORDING TO HIS WORKS". This refers to the Great White Throne Judgment which occurs after the Resurrection... Revelation 20:11  Then I saw a GREAT WHITE THRONE and Him who sat on it, from whose face THE EARTH AND THE HEAVEN FLED AWAY. And there was found no place for them. Revelation 20:12  And I SAW THE DEAD, SMALL AND GREAT, STANDING BEFORE GOD, and books were opened. And another book was opened, which is the Book of Life. AND THE DEAD WERE JUDGED ACCORDING TO THEIR WORKS, by the things which were written in the books. Revelation 20:13  The sea gave up the dead who were in it, and Death and Hades delivered up the dead who were in them. AND THEY WERE JUDGED, EACH ONE ACCORDING TO HIS WORKS. Revelation 20:14  THEN DEATH AND HADES WERE CAST INTO THE LAKE OF FIRE. THIS IS THE SECOND DEATH. Revelation 20:15  AND ANYONE NOT FOUND WRITTEN IN THE BOOK OF LIFE WAS CAST INTO THE LAKE OF FIRE.

Matthew 16:28 reveals that this would occur BEFORE some of those Jesus was speaking to DIED!

Some want to put a gap of at least 2,000 years between verse 27 and 28 and say that verse 28 refers to the Transfiguration or Pentecost in order to make it work with their false doctrine of a FUTURE 2nd Coming of Christ. Be sure to read my article about this: WAS MATTHEW 16:27-28 FULFILLED AT THE TRANSFIGURATION?

Luke 9:27 is a parallel verse to Matthew 16:28: "But I tell you truly, there are some standing here WHO SHALL NOT TASTE DEATH till they see the kingdom of God." Notice how these verses are in harmony with what the Apostle Paul said: 1 Thessalonians 4:15  For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that WE WHO ARE ALIVE AND REMAIN UNTIL THE COMING OF THE LORD will by no means precede those who are asleep. 1 Thessalonians 4:16  For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. 1 Thessalonians 4:17  Then WE WHO ARE ALIVE and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And THUS WE SHALL ALWAYS BE WITH THE LORD.

The "WE" in 1 Thessalonians 4:15 & 17 does NOT Include YOU... It includes Paul and the Thessalonians. When you read 1 Thessalonians, you are reading a letter written to someone else... The letter is NOT addressed to YOU... You are reading someone else's mail!

Verse 2:  Matthew 24:29  "IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE TRIBULATION OF THOSE DAYS the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken. Matthew 24:30  Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, 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. Matthew 24:31  And He will send His angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and THEY WILL GATHER TOGETHER HIS ELECT from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.

Matthew 24:29-31 states that "IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE TRIBULATION OF THOSE DAYS" the Son of Man (CHRIST) would come on the clouds and then He will send His angels, and they will "GATHER TOGETHER HIS ELECT". This is referring to the RESURRECTION!

The "THINGS" mentioned in Matthew 24:29-31 are included in the "THINGS" of Matthew 24:34 that were to take place in the GENERATION of those to whom Jesus was speaking... Matthew 24:34  Assuredly, I say to you, THIS GENERATION will by no means pass away till all these things take place.

Notice the phrase "ALL THE TRIBES OF THE EARTH WILL MOURN". That phase is also used in Revelation 1:7... "Behold, He is COMING with clouds, and every eye will see Him, even they who pierced Him. And ALL THE TRIBES OF THE EARTH WILL MOURN because of Him. Even so, Amen." So you have Christ COMING (ERCHOMAI) on/with Clouds and All the Tribes Mourning in Matthew 24:30 and Revelation 1:7. Therefore these 2 COMINGS must be the same event.

The COMING of Revelation 1:7 was one of the "THINGS WHICH MUST SHORTLY TAKE PLACE"... Revelation 1:1  The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave Him to show His servants—THINGS WHICH MUST SHORTLY TAKE PLACE. And He sent and signified it by His angel to His servant John, Revelation 1:2  who bore witness to the word of God, and to the testimony of Jesus Christ, to all things that he saw. 

Revelation was a prophecy and the fulfillment was NEAR... Revelation 1:3  Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written in it; for THE TIME IS NEAR.

Verse 3:  Matthew 24:42  WATCH therefore, for you do not know what hour your Lord is COMING.

Futurists like to recite this verse and Matthew 24:36 when you point to scriptures where Jesus indicated WHEN he was COMING back... Verses such as Matthew 10:23, 16:28 and 24:34 do not indicate the day or hour but they do indicate that it would be in the LIFETIME of some of the Disciples!

Verse 4:  Matthew 24:44  Therefore you also BE READY, for the Son of Man is COMING at an hour you do not expect.

Remember WHO Jesus was speaking to in the Olivet Discourse... Peter, James, John and Andrew. He told THEM to WATCH and to BE READY. He wasn't talking to YOU! There's that Audience Relevance again.

The topic of Matthew 24:36-51 is the 2nd COMING. The Greek words PAROUSIA and ERCHOMAI are both used in this section of scripture and are translated as COMING.

Verse 5:  Matthew 26:63  But Jesus kept silent. And the high priest answered and said to Him, "I put You under oath by the living God: Tell us if You are the Christ, the Son of God!" Matthew 26:64  Jesus said to him, "It is as you said. Nevertheless, I say to you, hereafter you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Power, and COMING on the clouds of heaven."

According to Wikipedia Caiphas, the high priest, died in A.D. 46 but that doesn't matter. The resurrection of the just and the unjust was at Christ's 2nd Coming and then came the Great White Throne Judgment. Caiphas would have seen Christ when he was resurrected and at the Great White Throne Judgment.

Verse 6:  Mark 13:24  "But in those days, AFTER THAT TRIBULATION, the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; Mark 13:25  the stars of heaven will fall, and the powers in the heavens will be shaken. Mark 13:26  Then they will see the Son of Man COMING in the clouds with great power and glory. Mark 13:27  And then He will send His angels, and GATHER TOGETHER HIS ELECT from the four winds, from the farthest part of earth to the farthest part of heaven.

Mark 13:24-27 is parallel to Matthew 24:29-31 in Verse 2 above. Mark 13:24-27 refers to the same "THINGS" that would occur in THAT GENERATION... Mark 13:30  Assuredly, I say to you, THIS GENERATION will by no means pass away till all these THINGS take place.

Verse 7:  Mark 14:61  But He kept silent and answered nothing. Again the high priest asked Him, saying to Him, "Are You the Christ, the Son of the Blessed?" Mark 14:62  Jesus said, "I am. And you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Power, and COMING with the clouds of heaven."

Mark 14:61-62 is parallel to Matthew 26:63-64 in Verse 5 above.

Verse 8:  Luke 21:25  "And there will be signs in the sun, in the moon, and in the stars; and on the earth distress of nations, with perplexity, the sea and the waves roaring; Luke 21:26  men's hearts failing them from fear and the expectation of those things which are coming on the earth, for the powers of the heavens will be shaken. Luke 21:27  Then they will see the Son of Man COMING in a cloud with power and great glory. Luke 21:28  Now when these things begin to happen, LOOK UP AND LIFT UP YOUR HEADS, BECAUSE YOUR REDEMPTION DRAWS NEAR."

Luke 21:25-28 is about the 2nd COMING and is parallel to Matthew 24:29-31 and Mark 13:24-27. Remember that Jesus was speaking to Peter, James, John and Andrew on the Mount of Olives. Notice what he told THEM in Luke 21:28... "Now when these things begin to happen, LOOK UP AND LIFT UP YOUR HEADS, BECAUSE YOUR REDEMPTION DRAWS NEAR." I must remind you again that Jesus was NOT talking to YOU but to His Disciples!

Verse 9:  Luke 23:26  Now as they led Him away, they laid hold of a certain man, Simon a Cyrenian, who was coming from the country, and on him they laid the cross that he might bear it after Jesus. Luke 23:27  And a great multitude of the people followed Him, and women who also mourned and lamented Him. Luke 23:28  But Jesus, turning to them, said, "Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for Me, but WEEP FOR YOURSELVES AND FOR YOUR CHILDREN. Luke 23:29  For indeed the days are COMING in which they will say, 'Blessed are the barren, wombs that never bore, and breasts which never nursed!' Luke 23:30  Then they will begin 'TO SAY TO THE MOUNTAINS, "FALL ON US!" AND TO THE HILLS, "COVER US!" '

Notice in Luke 23:28 what Jesus said to the Daughters of Jerusalem... "WEEP FOR YOURSELVES AND FOR YOUR CHILDREN." That's their GENERATION he was Warning about!

Luke 23:30 is referring to the WRATH OF THE LAMB... Revelation 6:15  And the kings of the earth, the great men, the rich men, the commanders, the mighty men, every slave and every free man, hid themselves in the caves and in the rocks of the mountains, Revelation 6:16  and said to the mountains and rocks, "FALL ON US AND HIDE US from the face of Him who sits on the throne and from the WRATH OF THE LAMB! Revelation 6:17  FOR THE GREAT DAY OF HIS WRATH HAS COME, and who is able to stand?"

Read these excerpts from Don K. Preston's article titled: The Great Day of God’s Wrath and the End of the Millennium.

"Jesus also quoted from those very same verses of Isaiah 2, in Luke 23:28-31. There, in what is almost universally admitted to be a prediction of the impending fall of Jerusalem, Jesus quoted from the very verses that John cites in Revelation 6. The question therefore is, since Jesus applied the prophecy of the Day of the Lord in Isaiah 2 to AD 70 and since John quoted from the very same verses that Jesus applied to AD 70, upon what grounds would we radically change Jesus’ application in Revelation to an end of time event?

So, Isaiah 2 foretold the Day of the Lord when the Lord would “shake the earth” and vindicate the blood of the martyrs. Jesus cited Isaiah 2 to predict the vindication of his own suffering. Revelation cites that prophecy to speak of the coming Great Day of the Lord’s Wrath for the vindication of the martyrs.

We thus have John predicting the Day of the Lord’s Wrath for the vindication of the martyrs, that Jesus said would occur in the judgment of Jerusalem. We have John citing Isaiah 2 and the very verses that Jesus applied to the coming judgment of Jerusalem. This means that the destruction of heaven and earth in Revelation 6 cannot be referent to an end of time destruction of literal, material creation. It means that the Great Day of the Lord’s Wrath in Revelation 6 can be nothing other than the AD 70 coming of the Lord in judgment of the blood guilt of Jerusalem and Israel.

So, Revelation 6 is the Great Day of the Lord’s Wrath, which is to be conflated with Revelation 11, 16 and 20. The Great Day of the Lord’s Wrath in Revelation 6 is for the vindication of the martyrs and it is when the heaven and earth would be removed. The Great Day of the Lord’s Wrath in Revelation 11 is the time of the vindication of the slain prophets. The Day of the Lord’s Wrath in Revelation 16 is the time of the vindication of the prophets and saints when the heaven and earth flee away.

And in Revelation 20 the earth and heaven flee away, which is indicative of the Lord’s Wrath. There is clearly no justification for divorcing Revelation 6 from chapter 11, 16 and 20. This means that there is but one Great Day of the Lord’s Wrath in Revelation. Thus, to identify Revelation 6 as the judgment of AD 70 means, definitively, and irrefutably, that the Great Day of the Lord’s Wrath, at the end of the Millennium, was in AD 70." - Don K. Preston

Verse 10:  John 5:28  Do not marvel at this; for the hour is COMING in which all who are in the graves will hear His voice John 5:29  and come forth—those who have done good, to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil, to the resurrection of condemnation.

John 5:28-29 is referring to the 2nd Resurrection. The Apostle Paul wrote about 2 Resurrections... 1 Corinthians 15:22  For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ all shall be made alive. 1 Corinthians 15:23  But each one in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, afterward those who are Christ's at His COMING.

The Apostle Paul said that there was ABOUT TO BE (MELLO) a Resurrection of the Righteous and Unrighteous... (YLT) Acts 24:14  'And I confess this to thee, that, according to the way that they call a sect, so serve I the God of the fathers, believing all things that in the law and the prophets have been written, Acts 24:15  having hope toward God, which they themselves also wait for, that THERE IS ABOUT TO BE A RISING AGAIN OF THE DEAD, both of righteous and unrighteous; Acts 24:16  and in this I do exercise myself, to have a conscience void of offence toward God and men always. (Young's Literal Translation)

MELLO = STRONG'S G3195

Word Summary: mello: to be about to
Transliteration: mello
Phonetic Spelling: (mel'-lo)
Part of Speech: Verb
Meaning: to be about to

Strong's Concordance: to be about to
A strengthened form of melo (through the idea of expectation); to intend, i.e. Be about to be, do, or suffer something (of persons or things, especially events; in the sense of purpose, duty, necessity, probability, possibility, or hesitation) -- about, after that, be (almost), (that which is, things, + which was for) to come, intend, was to (be), mean, mind, be at the point, (be) ready, + return, shall (begin), (which, that) should (after, afterwards, hereafter) tarry, which was for, will, would, be yet.

The prophet Daniel states that there will be a Resurrection AFTER the Tribulation... Daniel 12:1  "At that time Michael shall stand up, The great prince who stands watch over the sons of your people; And THERE SHALL BE A TIME OF TROUBLE, SUCH AS NEVER WAS SINCE THERE WAS A NATION, Even to that time. And at that time your people shall be delivered, Every one who is found written in the book. Daniel 12:2  AND MANY OF THOSE WHO SLEEP IN THE DUST OF THE EARTH SHALL AWAKE, Some to everlasting life, Some to shame and everlasting contempt.

The prophet Daniel was also told when this would happen... Daniel 12:7  Then I heard the man clothed in linen, who was above the waters of the river, when he held up his right hand and his left hand to heaven, and swore by Him who lives forever, that it shall be for a time, times, and half a time; and WHEN THE POWER OF THE HOLY PEOPLE HAS BEEN COMPLETELY SHATTERED, ALL THESE THINGS SHALL BE FINISHED.

The Power of the Hebrews was the Old Covenant they had with GOD. That power was Completely SHATTERED with the Destruction of the Temple and Jerusalem in A.D. 70 at the End of the Age, the Mosaic Age, the Old Covenant Age.

49 VERSES ABOUT THE 2ND COMING THAT USE THE GREEK WORD ERCHOMAI

ERCHOMAI (G2064) is used 639 times in 601 verses in the King James Version.

In addition to being translated as "COMING" it is also translated as accompanied, brought, came, came over, camest, come, comest, cometh, entered, go, lighting, passing by, resorted, and went.

Other than the 10 verses in the section above which are translated from ERCHOMAI as COMING that refer to CHRIST'S 2nd COMING I found 49 other verses translated from ERCHOMAI that are also related to Christ's 2nd COMING. The words translated from the Greek word ERCHOMAI are CAPITALIZED in RED.

1) Matthew 10:23  But when they persecute you in this city, flee ye into another: for verily I say unto you, Ye shall not have gone over the cities of Israel, till the Son of man be COME.

2) Matthew 16:27  For the Son of man shall COME in the glory of his Father with his angels; and then he shall reward every man according to his works.

3) Matthew 23:35  That upon you may COME all the righteous blood shed upon the earth, from the blood of righteous Abel unto the blood of Zacharias son of Barachias, whom ye slew between the temple and the altar.

4) Matthew 23:39  For I say unto you, Ye shall not see me henceforth, till ye shall say, Blessed is he that COMETH in the name of the Lord.

5) Matthew 25:31  When the Son of man shall COME in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory:

6) Mark 8:38  Whosoever therefore shall be ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation; of him also shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he COMETH in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.

7) Mark 9:1  And he said unto them, Verily I say unto you, That there be some of them that stand here, which shall not taste of death, till they have seen the kingdom of God COME with power.

8) Mark 10:30  But he shall receive an hundredfold now in this time, houses, and brethren, and sisters, and mothers, and children, and lands, with persecutions; and in the world to COME eternal life.

9) Luke 9:26  For whosoever shall be ashamed of me and of my words, of him shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he shall COME in his own glory, and in his Father's, and of the holy angels.

10) Luke 12:37  Blessed are those servants, whom the lord when he COMETH shall find watching: verily I say unto you, that he shall gird himself, and make them to sit down to meat, and will come forth and serve them.

11) Luke 12:38  And if he shall COME in the second watch, or COME in the third watch, and find them so, blessed are those servants.

12) Luke 12:40  Be ye therefore ready also: for the Son of man COMETH at an hour when ye think not.

13) Luke 13:35  Behold, your house is left unto you desolate: and verily I say unto you, Ye shall not see me, until the time come when ye shall say, Blessed is he that COMETH in the name of the Lord.

14) Luke 17:20  And when he was demanded of the Pharisees, when the kingdom of God should COME, he answered them and said, The kingdom of God COMETH not with observation:

15) Luke 18:8  I tell you that he will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless when the Son of man COMETH, shall he find faith on the earth?

16) Luke 18:30  Who shall not receive manifold more in this present time, and in the world to COME life everlasting.

17) Luke 21:6  As for these things which ye behold, the days will COME, in the which there shall not be left one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down.

18) Luke 22:18  For I say unto you, I will not drink of the fruit of the vine, until the kingdom of God shall COME.

19) John 14:3  And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will COME again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.

20) John 14:28  Ye have heard how I said unto you, I go away, and COME again unto you. If ye loved me, ye would rejoice, because I said, I go unto the Father: for my Father is greater than I.

21) John 21:22  Jesus saith unto him, If I will that he tarry till I COME, what is that to thee? follow thou me.

22) John 21:23  Then went this saying abroad among the brethren, that that disciple should not die: yet Jesus said not unto him, He shall not die; but, If I will that he tarry till I COME, what is that to thee?

23) Acts 1:11  Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so COME in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven.

24) Acts 2:20  The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before that great and notable day of the Lord COME:

25) Acts 3:19  Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall COME from the presence of the Lord;

26) 1 Corinthians 4:5  Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord COME, who both will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and will make manifest the counsels of the hearts: and then shall every man have praise of God.

27) 1 Corinthians 11:26  For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord's death till he COME.

28) 1 Corinthians 13:10  But when that which is perfect is COME, then that which is in part shall be done away.

29) Ephesians 5:6  Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things COMETH the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience.

30) Colossians 3:6  For which things' sake the wrath of God COMETH on the children of disobedience:

31) 1 Thessalonians 1:10  And to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, even Jesus, which delivered us from the wrath to COME.

32) 1 Thessalonians 5:2  For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so COMETH as a thief in the night.

33) 2 Thessalonians 1:10  When he shall COME to be glorified in his saints, and to be admired in all them that believe (because our testimony among you was believed) in that day.

34) Hebrews 10:37  For yet a little while, and he that shall COME will come, and will not tarry.

35) Jude 1:14  And Enoch also, the seventh from Adam, prophesied of these, saying, Behold, the Lord COMETH with ten thousands of his saints,

36) Revelation 1:7  Behold, he COMETH with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen.

37) Revelation 2:5  Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will COME unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent.

38) Revelation 2:16  Repent; or else I will COME unto thee quickly, and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth

39) Revelation 3:11  Behold, I COME quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown.

40) Revelation 6:17  For the great day of his wrath is COME; and who shall be able to stand?

41) Revelation 11:18  And the nations were angry, and thy wrath is COME, and the time of the dead, that they should be judged, and that thou shouldest give reward unto thy servants the prophets, and to the saints, and them that fear thy name, small and great; and shouldest destroy them which destroy the earth.

42) Revelation 14:7  Saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is COME: and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters.

43) Revelation 14:15  And another angel came out of the temple, crying with a loud voice to him that sat on the cloud, Thrust in thy sickle, and reap: for the time is COME for thee to reap; for the harvest of the earth is ripe.

44) Revelation 16:15  Behold, I COME as a thief. Blessed is he that watcheth, and keepeth his garments, lest he walk naked, and they see his shame.

45) Revelation 18:10  Standing afar off for the fear of her torment, saying, Alas, alas, that great city Babylon, that mighty city! for in one hour is thy judgment COME.

46) Revelation 19:7  Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is COME, and his wife hath made herself ready.

47) Revelation 22:7  Behold, I COME quickly: blessed is he that keepeth the sayings of the prophecy of this book.

48) Revelation 22:12  And, behold, I COME quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.

49) Revelation 22:20  He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I COME quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus.

COMMENTARY ON THE 49 VERSES ABOUT THE 2ND COMING THAT USE ERCHOMAI

Let's look at the 49 verses above that pertain to the ERCHOMAI (2nd COMING) of Christ using the New King James Version. The words translated from the Greek word ERCHOMAI are CAPITALIZED in RED.

Verse 1: Matthew 10:23  When they persecute you in this city, flee to another. For assuredly, I say to you, you will not have gone through the cities of Israel before the Son of Man COMES. Matthew 10:24  "A disciple is not above his teacher, nor a servant above his master.

Jesus was talking to the 12 Disciples... Matthew 10:5  These twelve Jesus sent out and commanded them, saying: "Do not go into the way of the Gentiles, and do not enter a city of the Samaritans. Matthew 10:6  But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.

If Christ's 2nd COMING has NOT happened yet then either Jesus LIED or the Disciples are still ALIVE going through the cities of Israel.

Verse 2: Matthew 16:27  For the Son of Man will COME in the glory of His Father with His angels, and then He will reward each according to his works. Matthew 16:28  Assuredly, I say to you, there are some standing here who shall not taste death till they see the Son of Man coming in His kingdom."

I've already discussed Matthew 16:27-28 in Verse 1 under the section - COMMENTARY ON THE 10 VERSES ABOUT THE ERCHOMAI (COMING) OF CHRIST.

Verses 3 & 4: Matthew 23:29  "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! Because you build the tombs of the prophets and adorn the monuments of the righteous, Matthew 23:30  and say, 'If we had lived in the days of our fathers, we would not have been partakers with them in the blood of the prophets.' Matthew 23:31  "Therefore you are witnesses against yourselves that you are sons of those who murdered the prophets. Matthew 23:32  Fill up, then, the measure of your fathers' guilt. Matthew 23:33  Serpents, brood of vipers! How can you escape the condemnation of hell? Matthew 23:34  Therefore, indeed, I send you prophets, wise men, and scribes: some of them you will kill and crucify, and some of them you will scourge in your synagogues and persecute from city to city, Matthew 23:35 that on you may COME all the righteous blood shed on the earth, from the blood of righteous Abel to the blood of Zechariah, son of Berechiah, whom you murdered between the temple and the altar. Matthew 23:36  Assuredly, I say to you, ALL THESE THINGS WILL COME UPON THIS GENERATION. Matthew 23:37  "O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the one who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing! Matthew 23:38  SEE! YOUR HOUSE IS LEFT TO YOU DESOLATE; Matthew 23:39  for I say to you, you shall see Me no more till you say, 'BLESSED is HE WHO COMES IN THE NAME OF THE LORD!' "

Jesus told the Scribes and Pharisees that he would send them Scribes, Wise Men and Prophets and they would Kill and Persecute them. Jesus also told them that the guilt of "all the righteous blood shed on the earth" would come upon them, "UPON THIS GENERATION".

In Matthew 23:38 Jesus told the Scribes and Pharisees, "SEE! YOUR HOUSE (The Temple) IS LEFT TO YOU DESOLATE". Jesus was talking about the TEMPLE that they were in at the time and when Jesus and his Disciples exited the temple, Jesus said... Matthew 24:1  Then Jesus went out and departed from the temple, and His disciples came up to show Him the buildings of the temple. Matthew 24:2  And Jesus said to them, "Do you not see all these things? Assuredly, I say to you, not one stone shall be left here upon another, that shall not be thrown down."

Verse 5: Matthew 25:31  "When the Son of Man COMES in His glory, and all the holy angels with Him, then He will sit on the throne of His glory. Matthew 25:32  All the nations will be gathered before Him, and He will separate them one from another, as a shepherd divides his sheep from the goats. Matthew 25:33  And He will set the sheep on His right hand, but the goats on the left. Matthew 25:34  Then the King will say to those on His right hand, 'Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:

Matthew 25:31-46 is about the Great White Throne Judgment which is also mentioned in Revelation 20:11-15.

Verse 6: Mark 8:38  For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words in this ADULTEROUS AND SINFUL GENERATION, of him the Son of Man also will be ashamed when He COMES in the glory of His Father with the holy angels."

The parallel verse in Matthew 16:27 says... "For the Son of Man WILL COME IN THE GLORY OF HIS FATHER with His angels, and THEN HE WILL REWARD EACH ACCORDING TO HIS WORKS. As I have already mentioned the Great White Throne Judgment is WHEN people are REWARDED or JUDGED ACCORDING TO THEIR WORKS.

The parallel verse in Luke 9:26 says...  "For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words, of him the Son of Man will be ashamed WHEN HE COMES IN HIS OWN GLORY, AND IN HIS FATHER'S, and of the holy angels.

Notice in Mark 8:38 that Jesus called the GENERATION that he was living in an ADULTEROUS AND SINFUL GENERATION. He told the scribes and Pharisees that "AN EVIL AND ADULTEROUS GENERATION SEEKS AFTER A SIGN"...  Matthew 12:38  Then some of the scribes and Pharisees answered, saying, "Teacher, we want to see a sign from You." Matthew 12:39  But He answered and said to them, "AN EVIL AND ADULTEROUS GENERATION SEEKS AFTER A SIGN, and no sign will be given to it except the sign of the prophet Jonah. Matthew 12:40  For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the great fish, SO WILL THE SON OF MAN BE THREE DAYS AND THREE NIGHTS IN THE HEART OF THE EARTH. It is written in Luke 11:32 that "The men of Nineveh will rise up in the judgment with THIS GENERATION and condemn it, for they repented at the preaching of Jonah; and indeed a greater than Jonah is here."

Christ gave them a SIGN and he fulfilled the prophecy but the Chief Priests, Elders and Soldiers who had been guarding Christ's tomb CONSPIRED to HIDE the Fulfillment of Christ's Resurrection... Matthew 28:11  Now while they were going, behold, some of the GUARD came into the city and reported to the CHIEF PRIESTS all the things that had happened. Matthew 28:12  When they had assembled with the ELDERS and consulted together, THEY GAVE A LARGE SUM OF MONEY TO THE SOLDIERS, Matthew 28:13  saying, "Tell them, 'His disciples came at night and stole Him away while we slept.' Matthew 28:14  And if this comes to the governor's ears, we will appease him and make you secure." Matthew 28:15  So they took the money and did as they were instructed; and THIS SAYING IS COMMONLY REPORTED AMONG THE JEWS UNTIL THIS DAY.

Christ had already prophesied what would happen to those who REJECTED HIM... Luke 19:43  For days will come upon you when your enemies will build an embankment around you, surround you and close you in on every side, Luke 19:44  and LEVEL YOU, AND YOUR CHILDREN WITHIN YOU, TO THE GROUND; and they will not leave in you one stone upon another, BECAUSE YOU DID NOT KNOW THE TIME OF YOUR VISITATION." Jesus said in Luke 17:24-25... "For as the lightning that flashes out of one part under heaven shines to the other part under heaven, so also the Son of Man will be in His day. Luke 17:25  But first He must suffer many things and BE REJECTED BY THIS GENERATION.

The Wrath of the Lamb came upon THAT GENERATION also for the Vindication of the Martyrs... Matthew 23:32  Fill up, then, the measure of your fathers' guilt. Matthew 23:33  Serpents, brood of vipers! How can you escape the condemnation of hell? Matthew 23:34  Therefore, indeed, I SEND YOU PROPHETS, WISE MEN, AND SCRIBES: SOME OF THEM YOU WILL KILL AND CRUCIFY, and some of them you will scourge in your synagogues and persecute from city to city, Matthew 23:35  that ON YOU MAY COME ALL THE RIGHTEOUS BLOOD SHED ON THE EARTH, from the blood of righteous Abel to the blood of Zechariah, son of Berechiah, whom you murdered between the temple and the altar. Matthew 23:36 Assuredly, I say to you, ALL THESE THINGS WILL COME UPON THIS GENERATION.

On Pentecost the Apostle Peter Preached in Jerusalem and told them to "BE SAVED FROM THIS PERVERSE GENERATION." - Acts 2:40  And with many other words he testified and exhorted them, saying, "BE SAVED FROM THIS PERVERSE GENERATION." Acts 2:41  Then those who gladly received his word were baptized; and THAT DAY ABOUT THREE THOUSAND SOULS WERE ADDED TO THEM.

The Apostle Paul told the Philippians that they were "IN THE MIDST OF A CROOKED AND PERVERSE GENERATION"... Philippians 2:13  for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure. Philippians 2:14  Do all things without complaining and disputing, Philippians 2:15  that you may become blameless and harmless, children of God without fault IN THE MIDST OF A CROOKED AND PERVERSE GENERATION, among whom YOU SHINE AS LIGHTS IN THE WORLD, Philippians 2:16  holding fast the word of life, so that I may rejoice in the day of Christ that I have not run in vain or labored in vain.

Before Moses died he gathered the children of Israel together and told them what GOD said about their END... Deuteronomy 32:20  And He said: 'I will hide My face from them, I WILL SEE WHAT THEIR END WILL BE, FOR THEY ARE A PERVERSE GENERATION, CHILDREN IN WHOM IS NO FAITH. Deuteronomy 32:21  They have provoked Me to jealousy by what is not God; They have moved Me to anger by their foolish idols. But I will provoke them to jealousy by those who are not a nation; I will move them to anger by a foolish nation. Deuteronomy 32:22  For a fire is kindled in My anger, And shall burn to the lowest hell; It shall consume the earth with her increase, And set on fire the foundations of the mountains. Deuteronomy 32:23  'I will heap disasters on them; I will spend My arrows on them. Deuteronomy 32:24  THEY SHALL BE WASTED WITH HUNGER, DEVOURED BY PESTILENCE AND BITTER DESTRUCTION; I will also send against them the teeth of beasts, With the poison of serpents of the dust. Deuteronomy 32:25  The sword shall destroy outside; There shall be terror within For the young man and virgin, The nursing child with the man of gray hairs. Deuteronomy 32:26  I would have said, "I will dash them in pieces, I will make the memory of them to cease from among men," Deuteronomy 32:27  Had I not feared the wrath of the enemy, Lest their adversaries should misunderstand, Lest they should say, "Our hand is high; And it is not the LORD who has done all this." ' Deuteronomy 32:28  "For they are a nation void of counsel, Nor is there any understanding in them. Deuteronomy 32:29  OH, THAT THEY WERE WISE, THAT THEY UNDERSTOOD THIS, THAT THEY WOULD CONSIDER THEIR LATTER END! 

Verse 7: Mark 9:1 And He said to them, "Assuredly, I say to you that THERE ARE SOME STANDING HERE WHO WILL NOT TASTE DEATH till they see the kingdom of God PRESENT with power."

Compare the phrase "PRESENT (Erchomai) with Power" with the meaning of PAROUSIA which is a presence, a coming.

Mark 9:1 is the next verse after Mark 8:38. The numbers of chapters and verses are NOT in the original text and this is a terrible place for a chapter division since Mark 9:1 goes with the previous chapter.

The parallel verses to Mark 9:1 in the Synoptic Gospels of Matthew and Luke are as follows...

Matthew 16:28  Assuredly, I say to you, THERE ARE SOME STANDING HERE WHO SHALL NOT TASTE DEATH till they see the Son of Man COMING in His kingdom."

Luke 9:27  But I tell you truly, THERE ARE SOME STANDING HERE WHO SHALL NOT TASTE DEATH till they see the kingdom of God."

Verse 8: Mark 10:30  who shall not receive a hundredfold now in this time—houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands, with persecutions—and in the age to COME, eternal life.

The parallel verse in Matthew 19:29 says... "And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or lands, for My name's sake, shall receive a hundredfold, and INHERIT ETERNAL LIFE.

The parallel verse in Luke 18:30 says... "who shall not receive many times more in this present time, and IN THE AGE TO COME ETERNAL LIFE."

Jesus said that his followers would receive Eternal Life in the Age to Come so if that age has not yet come then how can Believers go to Heaven when they die?

Answer: We (You & I) are in what Jesus called the "Age to Come" or the Age of the New Covenant. The Old Covenant Age or Mosaic Age or Age of the Law PASSED AWAY in A.D. 70 with the Destruction of the Temple and Jerusalem. Jesus prophesied of the Destruction of the Temple and Jerusalem and this is what He said about those days in Luke 21:22...  "For these are the DAYS OF VENGEANCE, that ALL THINGS WHICH ARE WRITTEN MAY BE FULFILLED." For more information about this read my article: ALL PROPHECY HAS BEEN FULFILLED.

1 John 5:11  And this is the testimony: that GOD HAS GIVEN US ETERNAL LIFE, and THIS LIFE IS IN HIS SON. 1 John 5:12  He who has the Son has life; HE WHO DOES NOT HAVE THE SON OF GOD DOES NOT HAVE LIFE.

Do YOU have the SON? If not then BELIEVE ON HIM TODAY!

John 3:16  For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that WHOEVER BELIEVES IN HIM SHOULD NOT PERISH BUT HAVE EVERLASTING LIFE.

Verse 9: Luke 9:26  For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words, of him the Son of Man will be ashamed when He COMES in His own glory, and in His Father's, and of the holy angels.

WHEN was Christ supposed to COME in His and the Father's Glory? The next verse reveals the answer... Luke 9:27  But I tell you truly, THERE ARE SOME STANDING HERE WHO SHALL NOT TASTE DEATH TILL THEY SEE THE KINGDOM OF GOD."

Verses 10, 11 & 12: Luke 12:37  Blessed are those servants whom the master, when he COMES, will find watching. Assuredly, I say to you that he will gird himself and have them sit down to eat, and will come and serve them. Luke 12:38  And if he should COME in the second watch, or COME in the third watch, and find them so, blessed are those servants. Luke 12:39 But know this, that if the master of the house had known what hour the thief would COME, he would have watched and not allowed his house to be broken into. Luke 12:40  Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is COMING at an hour you do not expect." 

Since Christ's 2nd Coming was in the PAST we should NOT be WATCHING for His Coming but we should always be READY to Meet Him because we don't know when we will die and we do not want to be out of fellowship with Him when that happens!

Verse 13: Luke 13:35  See! Your house is left to you desolate; and assuredly, I say to you, you shall not see Me until the time comes when you say, 'BLESSED IS HE WHO COMES IN THE NAME OF THE LORD!' "

The parallel verse is Matthew 23:39 which I covered in Verses 3 & 4 above.

Verse 14: Luke 17:20  Now when He was asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would COME, He answered them and said, "The kingdom of God does not COME with observation; Luke 17:21  nor will they say, 'See here!' or 'See there!' For indeed, THE KINGDOM OF GOD IS WITHIN YOU."

I interpret this verse to mean that the Kingdom is a Spiritual Kingdom within the hearts of the Believers. The Kingdom is not visible here on planet Earth but it will be visible to the Believers in Heaven.

Here's an example from Ezekiel... Ezekiel 36:26  I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will take the heart of stone out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. Ezekiel 36:27  I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will keep My judgments and do them.

Verse 15: Luke 18:8  I tell you that He will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man COMES, will He really find faith on the earth?"

This verse is in the context of Avenging the Blood of the Martyrs... Luke 18:7 And shall God not AVENGE HIS OWN ELECT WHO CRY OUT DAY AND NIGHT TO HIM, though He bears long with them?

Jesus told the Scribes & Pharisees that GOD'S VENGEANCE would come upon them for ALL THE RIGHTEOUS BLOOD SHED ON THE EARTH... Matthew 23:32  Fill up, then, the measure of your fathers' guilt. Matthew 23:33  Serpents, brood of vipers! How can you escape the condemnation of hell? Matthew 23:34  Therefore, indeed, I SEND YOU PROPHETS, WISE MEN, AND SCRIBES: SOME OF THEM YOU WILL KILL AND CRUCIFY, AND SOME OF THEM YOU WILL SCOURGE IN YOUR SYNAGOGUES AND PERSECUTE FROM CITY TO CITY, Matthew 23:35  that ON YOU MAY COME ALL THE RIGHTEOUS BLOOD SHED ON THE EARTH, from the blood of righteous Abel to the blood of Zechariah, son of Berechiah, whom you murdered between the temple and the altar. Matthew 23:36 Assuredly, I say to you, ALL THESE THINGS WILL COME UPON THIS GENERATION.

In the Book of Revelation which I believe was written in the 60's of the 1st Century there are Martyrs seen by John in Heaven... Revelation 6:9  When He opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar THE SOULS OF THOSE WHO HAD BEEN SLAIN FOR THE WORD OF GOD and for the testimony which they held. Revelation 6:10  And they cried with a loud voice, saying, "How long, O Lord, holy and true, UNTIL YOU JUDGE AND AVENGE OUR BLOOD ON THOSE WHO DWELL ON THE EARTH?" Revelation 6:11 Then a white robe was given to each of them; and IT WAS SAID TO THEM THAT THEY SHOULD REST A LITTLE WHILE LONGER, until both the number of their fellow servants and their brethren, who would be killed as they were, was completed.

Later in the Book of Revelation we learn that MYSTERY BABYLON had shed the blood of the Saints and the Martyrs of Jesus... Revelation 17:5 And on her forehead a name was written: MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND OF THE ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH. Revelation 17:6  I saw the woman, DRUNK WITH THE BLOOD OF THE SAINTS AND WITH THE BLOOD OF THE MARTYRS OF JESUS. And when I saw her, I marveled with great amazement.

Be sure to read my article: WHO IS MYSTERY BABYLON IN THE BOOK OF REVELATION?

It's really not much of a MYSTERY regarding the identity of Mystery Babylon... Luke 13:33 Nevertheless I must journey today, tomorrow, and the day following; FOR IT CANNOT BE THAT A PROPHET SHOULD PERISH OUTSIDE OF JERUSALEM. Luke 13:34  "O JERUSALEM, JERUSALEM, THE ONE WHO KILLS THE PROPHETS AND STONES THOSE WHO ARE SENT TO HER! How often I wanted to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, but you were not willing!

Verse 16: Luke 18:30  who shall not receive many times more in this present time, and in the age to COME eternal life."

I covered Luke 18:30 in Verse 8 above.

Verse 17: Luke 21:6  "These things which you see—the days will COME in which not one stone shall be left upon another that shall not be thrown down."

I covered Luke 21:6 in Verse 1 under the section - COMMENTARY ON THE 17 VERSES ABOUT CHRIST'S PAROUSIA (COMING).

Verse 18: Luke 22:18  for I say to you, I will not drink of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God COMES."

The context of Luke 22:18 is the Lord's Supper... Luke 22:15  Then He said to them, "With fervent desire I have desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer; Luke 22:16  for I say to you, I will no longer eat of it UNTIL IT IS FULFILLED IN THE KINGDOM OF GOD." Luke 22:17  Then He took the cup, and gave thanks, and said, "Take this and divide it among yourselves;

Evidently, Christ and the Disciples would be Dining together in Heaven since the Disciples would be Sitting on Thrones, Judging the 12 Tribes of Israel... Luke 22:29  And I bestow upon you a kingdom, just as My Father bestowed one upon Me, Luke 22:30  THAT YOU MAY EAT AND DRINK AT MY TABLE IN MY KINGDOM, AND SIT ON THRONES JUDGING THE TWELVE TRIBES OF ISRAEL."

Verse 19: John 14:3  And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will COME again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.

This statement by Jesus led to a question by the disciple Thomas... John 14:5  Thomas said to Him, "Lord, we do not know where You are going, and how can we know the way?" John 14:6  Jesus said to him, "I AM THE WAY, THE TRUTH, AND THE LIFE. NO ONE COMES TO THE FATHER EXCEPT THROUGH ME. John 14:7  "If you had known Me, you would have known My Father also; and from now on you know Him and have seen Him."

Verse 20: John 14:28  You have heard Me say to you, 'I am going away and COMING back to you.' If you loved Me, you would rejoice because I said, 'I am going to the Father,' for My Father is greater than I.

Jesus ASSURED his disciples at least 3 times that some of them would still be alive when he returned...

1) Matthew 10:22  And you will be hated by all for My name's sake. But he who endures to the end will be saved. Matthew 10:23  When they persecute you in this city, flee to another. For ASSUREDLY, I say to you, YOU WILL NOT HAVE GONE THROUGH THE CITIES OF ISRAEL BEFORE THE SON OF MAN COMES. 

2) Matthew 16:27  For the Son of Man will come in the glory of His Father with His angels, and then He will reward each according to his works. Matthew 16:28  ASSUREDLY, I say to you, THERE ARE SOME STANDING HERE WHO SHALL NOT TASTE DEATH TILL THEY SEE THE SON OF MAN COMING IN HIS KINGDOM."

3) Matthew 24:31  And He will send His angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they will gather together His elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.

Matthew 24:34  ASSUREDLY, I say to you, THIS GENERATION WILL BY NO MEANS PASS AWAY TILL ALL THESE THINGS TAKE PLACE.

Either Jesus DID what he said he was going to do WHEN he said that he was going to do it or he LIED and is NOT the Messiah.

If you are a Christian I suggest that you BELIEVE JESUS and His Apostles!... DO YOU BELIEVE THEM?

Verses 21 & 22: John 21:22  Jesus said to him, "If I will that he remain till I COME, what is that to you? You follow Me." John 21:23  Then this saying went out among the brethren that this disciple would not die. Yet Jesus did not say to him that he would not die, but, "If I will that he remain till I COME, what is that to you?"

If Jesus wasn't coming back for 2,000 YEARS, would it make any sense for him to say what he did to Peter?

Verse 23: Acts 1:11  who also said, "Men of Galilee, why do you stand gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will so COME in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven."

Jesus left in a cloud and he would come back in like manner... Acts 1:9  Now when He had spoken these things, while they watched, He was taken up, and A CLOUD RECEIVED HIM OUT OF THEIR SIGHT.

After Jesus was arrested he was taken to the high priest... Matthew 26:57  And those who had laid hold of Jesus LED HIM AWAY TO CAIAPHAS THE HIGH PRIEST, where the scribes and the elders were assembled.

Jesus told Caiaphas that he would see the Son of Man (Jesus) COMING ON THE CLOUDS... Matthew 26:63  But Jesus kept silent. And the high priest answered and said to Him, "I put You under oath by the living God: Tell us if You are the Christ, the Son of God!" Matthew 26:64  Jesus said to him, "It is as you said. Nevertheless, I say to you, hereafter you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Power, and COMING ON THE CLOUDS OF HEAVEN." Matthew 26:65  Then the high priest tore his clothes, saying, "He has spoken blasphemy! What further need do we have of witnesses? Look, now you have heard His blasphemy!

This event is also recorded in the Gospel of Mark... Mark 14:61  But He kept silent and answered nothing. Again the high priest asked Him, saying to Him, "Are You the Christ, the Son of the Blessed?" Mark 14:62  Jesus said, "I am. And you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Power, and COMING WITH THE CLOUDS of heaven." Mark 14:63  Then the high priest tore his clothes and said, "What further need do we have of witnesses? Mark 14:64  You have heard the blasphemy! What do you think?" And they all condemned Him to be deserving of death.

According to Wikipedia Caiaphas died in A.D. 46 so how could it be possible for Caiaphas to see Jesus COMING ON/WITH THE CLOUDS?

Answer: Caiaphas would have seen Jesus during the Resurrection of the Just & Unjust and then sitting on his throne at the Great White Throne Judgment... Matthew 25:31  "When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the holy angels with Him, then He will sit on the throne of His glory. Matthew 25:32  All the nations will be gathered before Him, and He will separate them one from another, as a shepherd divides his sheep from the goats. Matthew 25:33  And He will set the sheep on His right hand, but the goats on the left.

The Great White Throne Judgment is also described in the Book of Revelation... Revelation 20:11  Then I saw A GREAT WHITE THRONE AND HIM WHO SAT ON IT, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away. And there was found no place for them. Revelation 20:12  And I saw the dead, small and great, standing before God, and books were opened. And another book was opened, which is the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to their works, by the things which were written in the books. Revelation 20:13  The sea gave up the dead who were in it, and Death and Hades delivered up the dead who were in them. And they were judged, each one according to his works. Revelation 20:14  Then Death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. Revelation 20:15  AND ANYONE NOT FOUND WRITTEN IN THE BOOK OF LIFE WAS CAST INTO THE LAKE OF FIRE. 

Verse 24: Acts 2:20  THE SUN SHALL BE TURNED INTO DARKNESS, AND THE MOON INTO BLOOD, BEFORE THE COMING OF THE GREAT AND AWESOME DAY OF THE LORD.

Peter spoke these words on the Day of Pentecost and he was quoting from the Prophet Joel... Joel 2:31  The sun shall be turned into darkness, And the moon into blood, Before the coming of the great and awesome day of the LORD.

Peter had already explained that the "Speaking in Tongues" that they had just witnessed was the fulfillment of what the Prophet Joel said would happen in THE LAST DAYS... Acts 2:14  But Peter, standing up with the eleven, raised his voice and said to them, "Men of Judea and all who dwell in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and heed my words. Acts 2:15  For these are not drunk, as you suppose, since it is only the third hour of the day. Acts 2:16  But THIS IS WHAT WAS SPOKEN BY THE PROPHET JOEL: Acts 2:17  'AND IT SHALL COME TO PASS IN THE LAST DAYS, SAYS GOD, THAT I WILL POUR OUT OF MY SPIRIT ON ALL FLESH; YOUR SONS AND YOUR DAUGHTERS SHALL PROPHESY, YOUR YOUNG MEN SHALL SEE VISIONS, YOUR OLD MEN SHALL DREAM DREAMS. Acts 2:18  AND ON MY MENSERVANTS AND ON MY MAIDSERVANTS I WILL POUR OUT MY SPIRIT IN THOSE DAYS; AND THEY SHALL PROPHESY.

Verse 25: Acts 3:19  Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may COME from the presence of the Lord, Acts 3:20  and that HE MAY SEND JESUS CHRIST, who was preached to you before, Acts 3:21  WHOM HEAVEN MUST RECEIVE UNTIL THE TIMES OF RESTORATION OF ALL THINGS, which God has spoken by the mouth of all His holy prophets since the world began.

Reading different translations of these 3 verses may cause you to have different interpretations of their meaning. Read the following translations to see what I mean...

(KJV) Acts 3:19  Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall COME from the presence of the Lord; Acts 3:20  And he shall send Jesus Christ, which before was preached unto you: Acts 3:21  Whom the heaven must receive until the times of restitution of all things, which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began (King James Version).

(Peshitta) Acts 3:19 - Repent, therefore, and be converted; that so your sins may be blotted out, Acts 3:20 - and times of rest may COME to you from before the face of the Lord; and he may send to you him, who was made ready for you, Jesus the Messiah: Acts 3:21 - whom the heavens must retain, until the completion of the times of those things, which God hath spoken by the mouth of his holy prophets of old (Syriac Peshitta translated by James Murdock)

(NAS) Acts 3:19  "Therefore repent and return, so that your sins may be wiped away, in order that times of refreshing may COME from the presence of the Lord; Acts 3:20  and that He may send Jesus, the Christ appointed for you, Acts 3:21  whom heaven must receive until the period of restoration of all things about which God spoke by the mouth of His holy prophets from ancient time (New American Standard).

The word "presence" in Acts 3:19 is not translated from the Greek word PAROUSIA but is translated from the Greek word PROSOPON.

PROSOPON = STRONG'S G4383

Word Summary: prosopon: the face
Transliteration: prosopon
Phonetic Spelling: (pros'-o-pon)
Part of Speech: Noun, Neuter
Meaning: the face

Strong's Concordance: countenance, face, appearance
From pros and ops (the visage, from optanomai); the front (as being towards view), i.e. The countenance, aspect, appearance, surface; by implication, presence, person -- (outward) appearance, X before, countenance, face, fashion, (men's) person, presence.

In Acts 3:19 the word "Lord" seems to be referring to GOD the Father since he is the one who may send Jesus Christ in Acts 3:20. However, the LORD told Moses that "NO MAN CAN SEE ME AND LIVE!"... Exodus 33:20  But He said, "You cannot see My face, for NO MAN CAN SEE ME AND LIVE!"

The "presence of the Lord" in Acts 3:19 may refer to the Holy Spirit since Jesus told his Disciples... Matthew 28:20  teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I AM WITH YOU ALWAYS, EVEN TO THE END OF THE AGE." Amen.

Adam Clarke's Bible Commentary says this about Acts 3:20... Which before was preached unto you - Instead of before preached, fifty-three others, both the Syriac, all the Arabic, the Armenian, Chrysostom, and others, have who was before designed, or appointed; and this is without doubt the true reading.

The word "restoration" or "restitution" in Acts 3:21 is translated from the Greek word APOKATASTASIS.

APOKATASTASIS = STRONG'S G605

Word Summary: apokatastasis: restoration
Transliteration: apokatastasis
Phonetic Spelling: (ap-ok-at-as'-tas-is)
Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine
Meaning: restoration

Strong's Concordance: restitution.
From apokathistemi; reconstitution -- restitution.

Robertson's Word Pictures Bible Commentary says this about Acts 3:21... Restoration - ...this phrase occurs in Jewish apocalyptic writings, something like the new heaven and the new earth of Revelation 21:1.

The Apostle John writes about the New Heavens, the New Earth and the New Jerusalem in Chapter 21 of Revelation which follows the Great White Throne Judgment of Chapter 20.

Jesus told his Disciples that they would Judge the 12 Tribes of Israel... Matthew 19:28  So Jesus said to them, "Assuredly I say to you, that IN THE REGENERATION, when the Son of Man sits on the throne of His glory, YOU WHO HAVE FOLLOWED ME WILL ALSO SIT ON TWELVE THRONES, JUDGING THE TWELVE TRIBES OF ISRAEL.

The word "regeneration" in Matthew 19:28 is translated from the Greek word PALINGENESIA.

PALINGENESIA = STRONG'S G3824

Word Summary: palingenesia: regeneration, renewal
Transliteration: palingenesia
Phonetic Spelling: (pal-ing-ghen-es-ee'-ah)
Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine
Meaning: regeneration, renewal

Strong's Concordance: regeneration.
From palin and genesis; (spiritual) rebirth (the state or the act), i.e. (figuratively) spiritual renovation; specially, Messianic restoration -- regeneration.

Verse 26: 1 Corinthians 4:5  Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord COMES, who will both bring to light the hidden things of darkness and reveal the counsels of the hearts. Then each one's praise will come from God.

The Apostle Paul had already written that they were EAGERLY WAITING FOR THE REVELATION OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST... 1 Corinthians 1:7  so that you come short in no gift, EAGERLY WAITING FOR THE REVELATION OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST, 1 Corinthians 1:8  who will also confirm you to the end, THAT YOU MAY BE BLAMELESS IN THE DAY OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST.

They would not be EAGERLY WAITING if Christ wasn't returning for 2,000 YEARS!

Verse 27: 1 Corinthians 11:26  For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord's death till He COMES.

Some Preterists believe that since Christ's 2nd Coming was in the past the communion ritual is no longer a requirement. Personally, I believe that while it may not be a requirement, it is a good thing since it reminds us that Christ, the Son of GOD, died for our sins.

Verse 28: 1 Corinthians 13:10  But when that which is perfect has COME, then that which is in part will be done away.

Read various Bible Commentaries and you will see various opinions about this verse. I like what Albert Barnes says... But when that which is perfect is come - Does come; or shall come. This proposition is couched in a general form. It means that when anything which is perfect is seen or enjoyed, then that which is imperfect is forgotten, laid aside, or vanishes. Thus, in the full and perfect light of day, the imperfect and feeble light of the stars vanishes. The sense here is, that “in heaven” - a state of absolute perfection - that which is “in part,” or which is imperfect, shall be lost in superior brightness. All imperfection will vanish. And all that we here possess that is obscure shall be lost in the superior and perfect glory of that eternal world. All our present unsatisfactory modes of obtaining knowledge shall be unknown. All shall be clear, bright, and eternal.

1 Corinthians 13:8-9 shows what "that which is in part" means... 1 Corinthians 13:8  Love never fails. But whether there are prophecies, THEY WILL FAIL; whether there are tongues, they will cease; whether there is knowledge, it will vanish away. 1 Corinthians 13:9  For we know in part and we prophesy in part.

Prophecy, Tongues and Knowledge were spiritual gifts by the Holy Spirit and I have not seen any evidence that these spiritual gifts still exist. However, I have seen a lot of FAILED Prophecies by the Prophecy Preaching Pimps who make a lot of PROFIT!

The word "fail" in 1 Corinthians 13:8 is translated from the Greek word KATARGEO and its use is different than how we normally use FAIL.

KATARGEO = STRONG'S G2673

Word Summary: katargeo: to render inoperative, abolish
Transliteration: katargeo
Phonetic Spelling: (kat-arg-eh'-o)
Part of Speech: Verb
Meaning: to render inoperative, abolish

Strong's Concordance: abolish, cease, cumber, do away
From kata and argeo; to be (render) entirely idle (useless), literally or figuratively -- abolish, cease, cumber, deliver, destroy, do away, become (make) of no (none, without) effect, fail, loose, bring (come) to nought, put away (down), vanish away, make void.

I believe "that which is PERFECT" has come but it's not here on earth but in heaven. When believers die they don't go to Abraham's Bosom and wait. They go straight to Heaven!

Verse 29: Ephesians 5:6  Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God COMES upon the sons of disobedience.

When would the WRATH OF GOD come upon the "Sons of Disobedience"?

In the Book of Revelation the WRATH OF GOD is poured out on BABYLON...

Revelation 15:1  Then I saw another sign in heaven, great and marvelous: seven angels having the seven last plagues, FOR IN THEM THE WRATH OF GOD IS COMPLETE.

Revelation 15:7  Then one of the four living creatures gave to the seven angels seven golden bowls FULL OF THE WRATH OF GOD who lives forever and ever.

Revelation 16:1  Then I heard a loud voice from the temple saying to the seven angels, "GO AND POUR OUT THE BOWLS OF THE WRATH OF GOD ON THE EARTH."

Revelation 16:19  Now THE GREAT CITY was divided into three parts, and the cities of the nations fell. AND GREAT BABYLON WAS REMEMBERED BEFORE GOD, TO GIVE HER THE CUP OF THE WINE OF THE FIERCENESS OF HIS WRATH.

To find out WHO BABYLON was read this article: WHO IS MYSTERY BABYLON IN THE BOOK OF REVELATION?

 

Verse 30: Colossians 3:6  Because of these things the wrath of God is COMING upon the sons of disobedience, Colossians 3:7  in which you yourselves once walked when you lived in them.

Mystery Babylon in the Book of Revelation was Old Covenant Jerusalem and it was Destroyed in A.D. 70.

The WRATH OF GOD came upon the Sons of Disobedience within a GENERATION just like Jesus told the Scribes and Pharisees... Matthew 23:34  Therefore, indeed, I send you prophets, wise men, and scribes: some of them you will kill and crucify, and some of them you will scourge in your synagogues and persecute from city to city, Matthew 23:35  THAT ON YOU MAY COME ALL THE RIGHTEOUS BLOOD SHED ON THE EARTH, from the blood of righteous Abel to the blood of Zechariah, son of Berechiah, whom you murdered between the temple and the altar. Matthew 23:36  Assuredly, I say to you, ALL THESE THINGS WILL COME UPON THIS GENERATION.

Verse 31: 1 Thessalonians 1:10  and to wait for His Son from heaven, whom He raised from the dead, even Jesus who delivers us from the wrath to COME.

The "us" refers to Paul, Silvanus, Timothy and the church of the Thessalonians. It is evident that they were expecting Jesus to return in their lifetime!

Verse 32: 1 Thessalonians 5:2  For you yourselves know perfectly that the DAY OF THE LORD so COMES as a thief in the night.

Christ's 2nd Coming was a DAY OF THE LORD, a time of GOD'S WRATH and it would not be expected by those who were in darkness... 1 Thessalonians 5:4  But you, brethren, are not in darkness, so that this Day should overtake you as a thief. 1 Thessalonians 5:5  You are all sons of light and sons of the day. We are not of the night nor of darkness.

Verse 33: 2 Thessalonians 1:10  when He COMES, in that Day, to be glorified in His saints and TO BE ADMIRED AMONG ALL THOSE WHO BELIEVE, because our testimony among you was believed.

While the Believers would ADMIRE JESUS at his Coming the Unbelievers would suffer his VENGEANCE and EVERLASTING DESTRUCTION... 2 Thessalonians 1:8  in flaming fire TAKING VENGEANCE ON THOSE WHO DO NOT KNOW GOD, AND ON THOSE WHO DO NOT OBEY THE GOSPEL OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST. 2 Thessalonians 1:9  THESE SHALL BE PUNISHED WITH EVERLASTING DESTRUCTION from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power,

Verse 34: Hebrews 10:37  "FOR YET A LITTLE WHILE, AND HE WHO IS COMING WILL COME AND WILL NOT TARRY.

The writer of Hebrews is alluding to Habbakuk 2:3:  "For the vision is yet for an appointed time; But at the end it will speak, and it will not lie. Though it tarries, wait for it; Because it will surely come, IT WILL NOT TARRY."

I don't believe "WILL NOT TARRY" can mean 2,000 YEARS! Do you?

This is what the previous 3 verses say... Hebrews 10:34  for you had compassion on me in my chains, and joyfully accepted the plundering of your goods, knowing that YOU HAVE A BETTER AND AN ENDURING POSSESSION FOR YOURSELVES IN HEAVEN. Hebrews 10:35  Therefore do not cast away your confidence, which has great reward. Hebrews 10:36 FOR YOU HAVE NEED OF ENDURANCE, so that after you have done the will of God, you may receive the promise:

Why would those Hebrews need ENDURANCE if Christ wasn't Coming for 2,000 YEARS?

Verse 35: Jude 1:14  Now Enoch, the seventh from Adam, prophesied about these men also, saying, "Behold, the Lord COMES with ten thousands of His saints, Jude 1:15  TO EXECUTE JUDGMENT on all, to convict all who are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have committed in an ungodly way, and of all the harsh things which ungodly sinners have spoken against Him."

Jude indicated that they were in the LAST TIME... Jude 1:17  But you, beloved, remember the words which were spoken before by the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ: Jude 1:18  how they told you that THERE WOULD BE MOCKERS IN THE LAST TIME who would walk according to their own ungodly lusts.

One of the Apostles Jude must have been referring to was Peter... 2 Peter 3:3  knowing this first: that SCOFFERS WILL COME IN THE LAST DAYS, walking according to their own lusts, 2 Peter 3:4  and saying, "WHERE IS THE PROMISE OF HIS COMING? For since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of creation."

The words "mockers" and "scoffers" are translated from the same Greek word EMPAIKTES.

EMPAIKTES = STRONG'S G1703

Word Summary: empaiktes: a mocker, by implication a false teacher
Transliteration: empaiktes
Phonetic Spelling: (emp-aheek-tace')
Part of Speech: Noun, Masculine
Meaning: a mocker, by implication a false teacher

Strong's Concordance: mocker, scoffer.
From empaizo; a derider, i.e. (by implication) a false teacher -- mocker, scoffer.

Verse 36: Revelation 1:7  Behold, He is COMING with clouds, and every eye will see Him, even they who pierced Him. And all the tribes of the earth will mourn because of Him. Even so, Amen.

The timeframe for Christ's COMING in Revelation 1:7 is given in Revelation 1:1: "The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave Him to show His servants—THINGS WHICH MUST SHORTLY TAKE PLACE."

In Revelation 1:7 the Apostle John seems to be referring to what Jesus said in Matthew 24:30: "Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, 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."

Jesus reveals WHEN this COMING would happen in Matthew 24:34:  "Assuredly, I say to you, THIS GENERATION WILL BY NO MEANS PASS AWAY TILL ALL THESE THINGS TAKE PLACE."

Verse 37: Revelation 2:5  Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent and do the first works, or else I will COME to you quickly and remove your lampstand from its place—unless you repent.

This Warning was written to the Church in Ephesus and may or may not refer to Christ's 2nd Coming.

Verse 38: Revelation 2:16  Repent, or else I will COME to you quickly and will fight against them with the sword of My mouth.

This Warning was written to the Church in Pergamum and may or may not refer to Christ's 2nd Coming.

Verse 39: Revelation 3:11  Behold, I am COMING quickly! Hold fast what you have, that no one may take your crown.

This was written to the Church in Philadelphia and in the previous verse Christ told them that he would keep them from the "THE HOUR OF THE TRIAL THAT IS ABOUT TO COME UPON ALL THE WORLD"... (YLT) Revelation 3:10  'Because thou didst keep the word of my endurance, I ALSO WILL KEEP THEE FROM THE HOUR OF THE TRIAL THAT IS ABOUT TO COME UPON ALL THE WORLD, to try those dwelling upon the earth (Young's Literal Translation).

The word "WORLD" is translated from the Greek word OIKOUMENE.

OIKOUMENE = STRONG'S G3625

Word Summary: oikoumene: the inhabited earth
Transliteration: oikoumene
Phonetic Spelling: (oy-kou-men'-ay)
Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine
Meaning: the inhabited earth

Strong's Concordance: earth, world.
Feminine participle present passive of oikeo (as noun, by implication, of ge); land, i.e. The (terrene part of the) globe; specially, the Roman empire -- earth, world.

Verse 40: Revelation 6:17  For the great day of His wrath has COME, and who is able to stand?"

The previous 2 verses say: Revelation 6:15  And the kings of the earth, the great men, the rich men, the commanders, the mighty men, every slave and every free man, hid themselves in the caves and in the rocks of the mountains, Revelation 6:16  and said to the mountains and rocks, "Fall on us and hide us from the face of Him who sits on the throne and 

Jesus indicated that this would occur within a GENERATION in Luke 23:28-30... Luke 23:28  But Jesus, turning to them, said, "Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for Me, but WEEP FOR YOURSELVES AND FOR YOUR CHILDREN. Luke 23:29  For indeed the days are coming in which they will say, 'Blessed are the barren, wombs that never bore, and breasts which never nursed!' Luke 23:30  Then they will begin 'TO SAY TO THE MOUNTAINS, "FALL ON US!" AND TO THE HILLS, "COVER US!" '

Verse 41: Revelation 11:18  The nations were angry, and Your wrath has COME, And the time of the dead, that they should be judged, And that You should reward Your servants the prophets and the saints, And those who fear Your name, small and great, And should destroy those who destroy the earth."

When the 7th Trumpet was blown the Wrath of the Lamb was finished. Other translations make it clear that the wrath was finished... (ESV) Revelation 11:18  The nations raged, but YOUR WRATH CAME, and THE TIME FOR THE DEAD TO BE JUDGED, and for REWARDING YOUR SERVANTS, the prophets and saints, and those who fear your name, both small and great, and for DESTROYING THE DESTROYERS OF THE EARTH.” (English Standard Version)

Christ had Warned the Scribes and Pharisees that Wrath/Judgment would come upon them... Matthew 23:34  Therefore, indeed, I send you prophets, wise men, and scribes: some of them you will kill and crucify, and some of them you will scourge in your synagogues and persecute from city to city, Matthew 23:35  that on you may come all the righteous blood shed on the earth, from the blood of righteous Abel to the blood of Zechariah, son of Berechiah, whom you murdered between the temple and the altar. Matthew 23:36  Assuredly, I say to you, ALL THESE THINGS WILL COME UPON THIS GENERATION.

Jesus WEPT over the city of Jerusalem and this is what he said... Luke 19:43  For days will come upon you when your enemies will build an embankment around you, surround you and close you in on every side, Luke 19:44  and level you, and your children within you, to the ground; and they will not leave in you one stone upon another, BECAUSE YOU DID NOT KNOW THE TIME OF YOUR VISITATION."

The 7th Trumpet was the Last Trumpet and it was the appointed time (KAIROS) for the Resurrection and Judgment of the Dead. The Believers would be Rewarded and the Unbelievers would be Destroyed... Revelation 20:11  Then I saw a great white throne and Him who sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away. And there was found no place for them. Revelation 20:12  And I saw the dead, small and great, standing before God, and books were opened. And another book was opened, which is the Book of Life. And THE DEAD WERE JUDGED ACCORDING TO THEIR WORKS, by the things which were written in the books. Revelation 20:13  The sea gave up the dead who were in it, and Death and Hades delivered up the dead who were in them. AND THEY WERE JUDGED, EACH ONE ACCORDING TO HIS WORKS. Revelation 20:14  Then Death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. Revelation 20:15  AND ANYONE NOT FOUND WRITTEN IN THE BOOK OF LIFE WAS CAST INTO THE LAKE OF FIRE.

KAIROS = STRONG'S G2540

Word Summary: kairos: time, season
Transliteration: kairos
Phonetic Spelling: (kahee-ros')
Part of Speech: Noun, Masculine
Meaning: time, season

Strong's Concordance: appointed time
Of uncertain affinity; an occasion, i.e. Set or proper time -- X always, opportunity, (convenient, due) season, (due, short, while) time, a while.

Verse 42: Revelation 14:7  saying with a loud voice, "Fear God and give glory to Him, for the hour of His judgment has COME; and worship Him who made heaven and earth, the sea and springs of water."

Symbolic language makes Revelation hard to understand and so do the recapitulations. In Revelation 11:18 we saw the last trumpet which occurs after the Wrath of the Lamb is Finished but in Revelation 14:7-8 we see the judgment of Babylon (Old Covenant Jerusalem)... Revelation 14:8  And another angel followed, saying, "Babylon is fallen, is fallen, that great city, because she has made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication."

Chapters 17-18 are also about Mystery Babylon and the 2nd Coming of the Lord follows its Destruction... Jesus said in Luke 21:20:  "But when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, THEN KNOW THAT ITS DESOLATION IS NEAR... After that he told them in Luke 21:27:  "Then they will see THE SON OF MAN COMING IN A CLOUD with power and great glory." That was the SECOND COMING!

After that he told them in Luke 21:32:  "Assuredly, I SAY TO YOU, THIS GENERATION WILL BY NO MEANS PASS AWAY TILL ALL THINGS TAKE PLACE."

That was the TIMEFRAME for WHEN but Futurists say, "It was NOT That Generation but a Future Generation that SEES those things!"

According to HISTORY the Jewish Temple and Jerusalem were DESTROYED in A.D. 70 which was in THAT GENERATION just as Jesus said.

So Please Explain HOW could some Future Generation SEE the Temple & Jerusalem Destroyed UNLESS they have a TIME MACHINE!

Jesus was NOT talking about some future temple. He was talking about the one they were looking at!

Jesus was NOT talking about some future city of Jerusalem either. A city named Aelia Capitolina was built around A.D. 135 on the ruins of Old Jerusalem by the Roman Emperor Hadrian.

Verse 43: Revelation 14:15  And another angel came out of the temple, crying with a loud voice TO HIM WHO SAT ON THE CLOUD, "Thrust in Your sickle and reap, for the time has COME for You to reap, for the harvest of the earth is ripe." Revelation 14:15  And another angel came out of the temple, crying with a loud voice to Him who sat on the cloud, "Thrust in Your sickle and reap, for the time has come for You to reap, for the harvest of the earth is ripe."

Revelation 14:14 reveals WHO was doing the Reaping... Revelation 14:14  Then I looked, and behold, a white cloud, and ON THE CLOUD SAT ONE LIKE THE SON OF MAN, having on His head a golden crown, and in His hand a sharp sickle.

Verse 44: Revelation 16:15  "Behold, I am COMING as a thief. Blessed is he who watches, and keeps his garments, lest he walk naked and they see his shame."

Christ's COMING as a Thief is in the context of a War. Here's the 2 verses before Revelation 16:15... Revelation 16:13  And I saw three unclean spirits like frogs coming out of the mouth of the dragon, out of the mouth of the beast, and out of the mouth of the false prophet. Revelation 16:14  For they are spirits of demons, performing signs, which go out to the kings of the earth and of the whole world, TO GATHER THEM TO THE BATTLE of that great day of God Almighty. And here's the following verse... Revelation 16:16  AND THEY GATHERED THEM TOGETHER TO THE PLACE CALLED IN HEBREW, ARMAGEDDON.

For more information on the Armies being gathered together read my article: THE 7TH TRUMPET OR THE LAST TRUMPET

Verse 45: Revelation 18:10  standing at a distance for fear of her torment, saying, 'Alas, alas, that great city Babylon, that mighty city! For in one hour your judgment has COME.'

The fall of Babylon (Old Covenant Jerusalem) and the reasons for it and the timing for its occurrence were prophesied by Jesus... Luke 19:43  For days will come upon you when your enemies will build an embankment around you, surround you and close you in on every side, Luke 19:44  AND LEVEL YOU, AND YOUR CHILDREN WITHIN YOU, TO THE GROUND; and they will not leave in you one stone upon another, BECAUSE YOU DID NOT KNOW THE TIME OF YOUR VISITATION."

Luke 21:24  AND THEY WILL FALL BY THE EDGE OF THE SWORD, AND BE LED AWAY CAPTIVE INTO ALL NATIONS. And Jerusalem will be trampled by Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled.

Luke 21:27  Then THEY WILL SEE THE SON OF MAN COMING IN A CLOUD with power and great glory.

Luke 21:32  Assuredly, I say to you, THIS GENERATION WILL BY NO MEANS PASS AWAY TILL ALL THINGS TAKE PLACE.

Matthew 23:35  THAT UPON YOU MAY COME ALL THE RIGHTEOUS BLOOD SHED UPON THE EARTH, from the blood of righteous Abel unto the blood of Zacharias son of Barachias, whom ye slew between the temple and the altar. Matthew 23:36  Verily I say unto you, ALL THESE THINGS SHALL COME UPON THIS GENERATION.

Revelation 18:24  And in her (Babylon) was found the blood of prophets and saints, and of all who were slain on the earth."

Verse 46: Revelation 19:7  Let us be glad and rejoice and give Him glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has COME, and His wife has made herself ready." Revelation 19:8  And to her it was granted to be arrayed in fine linen, clean and bright, FOR THE FINE LINEN IS THE RIGHTEOUS ACTS OF THE SAINTS. Revelation 19:9  Then he said to me, "Write: 'BLESSED ARE THOSE WHO ARE CALLED TO THE MARRIAGE SUPPER OF THE LAMB!' " And he said to me, "These are the true sayings of God."

The marriage of the Lamb occurs after the Destruction of Babylon (Old Covenant Jerusalem)... Revelation 19:2  For true and righteous are His judgments, because HE HAS JUDGED THE GREAT HARLOT WHO CORRUPTED THE EARTH WITH HER FORNICATION; AND HE HAS AVENGED ON HER THE BLOOD OF HIS SERVANTS SHED BY HER."

Revelation 21:2  Then I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, PREPARED AS A BRIDE ADORNED FOR HER HUSBAND.

Verse 47: Revelation 22:7  "Behold, I am COMING quickly! Blessed is he who keeps the words of the prophecy of this book."

At the Beginning of the Book of Revelation in verse 1 GOD said the Book was about "THINGS WHICH MUST SHORTLY TAKE PLACE" and near the end of the Prophecy in Revelation 22:6 he said it again... "Then he said to me, "These words are faithful and true." And the Lord God of the holy prophets sent His angel to show His servants THE THINGS WHICH MUST SHORTLY TAKE PLACE."

You will not find a verse in Revelation that says that any of the prophecy is far away from fulfillment!

Verse 48: Revelation 22:12  "And behold, I am COMING quickly, and MY REWARD IS WITH ME, TO GIVE TO EVERY ONE ACCORDING TO HIS WORK.

His COMING was so SOON that there wasn't time to change. Look at what is said in the previous 2 verses... Revelation 22:10  And he said to me, "DO NOT SEAL THE WORDS OF THE PROPHECY of this book, FOR THE TIME IS AT HAND. Revelation 22:11  HE WHO IS UNJUST, LET HIM BE UNJUST STILL; HE WHO IS FILTHY, LET HIM BE FILTHY STILL; he who is righteous, let him be righteous still; he who is holy, let him be holy still."

Remember WHEN Jesus said that he was COMING to "REWARD EACH ACCORDING TO HIS WORKS"?...  Matthew 16:27  For the Son of Man will come in the glory of His Father with His angels, and THEN He will REWARD EACH ACCORDING TO HIS WORKS. Matthew 16:28  Assuredly, I say to you, THERE ARE SOME STANDING HERE WHO SHALL NOT TASTE DEATH TILL THEY SEE THE SON OF MAN COMING IN HIS KINGDOM."

Verse 49: Revelation 22:20  He who testifies to these things says, "SURELY I AM COMING QUICKLY." Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus!

Either you believe that Jesus DID what he said he was GOING TO DO, WHEN he said that he was GOING TO DO IT or you DON'T!

Remember, without FAITH is is IMPOSSIBLE to Please GOD... Hebrews 11:6  But WITHOUT FAITH IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO PLEASE HIM, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.

 

APOKALYPSIS

The word "COMING" is translated from 13 Greek words other than PAROUSIA and ERCHOMAI 18 times.

Only 1 verse has to do with the 2nd Coming of Christ and it is 1 Corinthians 1:7... (KJV) 1 Corinthians 1:7  So that ye come behind in no gift; waiting for the COMING (APOKALYPSIS) of our Lord Jesus Christ:

APOKALYPSIS = STRONG'S G602

Word Summary: apokalypsis - an uncovering
Transliteration: apokalypsis
Phonetic Spelling: (ap-ok-al'-oop-sis)
Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine
Meaning: an uncovering

Strong's Concordance: appearing, coming, manifestation, revelation.
From apokalupto; disclosure -- appearing, coming, lighten, manifestation, be revealed, revelation.

(NKJV) 1 Corinthians 1:7  so that you come short in no gift, EAGERLY WAITING FOR THE REVELATION (APOKALYPSIS) OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST, 1 Corinthians 1:8  who will also confirm you to the end, that you may be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.

The Corinthians were EAGERLY WAITING for Christ's 2nd COMING. There's no doubt that they were expecting him to come in their lifetime.

APOKALYPSIS is used 17 other times and is translated as...

+ REVELATION(S) = 12 times
+ REVEALED = 2 times
+ APPEARING = 1 time
+ LIGHTEN = 1 time
+ MANIFESTATION = 1 time

The words translated from the Greek word APOKALYPSIS are CAPITALIZED in RED below:

* 1) Luke 2:32  A light to LIGHTEN the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people Israel.

** 2) Romans 2:5  But after thy hardness and impenitent heart treasurest up unto thyself wrath against the day of wrath and REVELATION of the righteous judgment of God;

** 3) Romans 8:19  For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the MANIFESTATION of the sons of God.

*** 4) Romans 16:25  Now to him that is of power to stablish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the REVELATION of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began,

*** 5) 1 Corinthians 14:6  Now, brethren, if I come unto you speaking with tongues, what shall I profit you, except I shall speak to you either by REVELATION, or by knowledge, or by prophesying, or by doctrine?

*** 6) 1 Corinthians 14:26  How is it then, brethren? when ye come together, every one of you hath a psalm, hath a doctrine, hath a tongue, hath a REVELATION, hath an interpretation. Let all things be done unto edifying.

*** 7) 2 Corinthians 12:1  It is not expedient for me doubtless to glory. I will come to visions and REVELATIONS of the Lord.

*** 8) 2 Corinthians 12:7  And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the REVELATIONS, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure.

*** 9) Galatians 1:12  For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the REVELATION of Jesus Christ.

*** 10) Galatians 2:2  And I went up by REVELATION, and communicated unto them that gospel which I preach among the Gentiles, but privately to them which were of reputation, lest by any means I should run, or had run, in vain.

*** 11) Ephesians 1:17  That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and REVELATION in the knowledge of him:

*** 12) Ephesians 3:3  How that by REVELATION he made known unto me the mystery; (as I wrote afore in few words,

** 13) 2 Thessalonians 1:7  And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be REVEALED from heaven with his mighty angels,

** 14) 1 Peter 1:7  That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the APPEARING of Jesus Christ:

** 15) 1 Peter 1:13  Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the REVELATION of Jesus Christ;

** 16) 1 Peter 4:13  But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings; that, when his glory shall be REVEALED, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.

** 17) Revelation 1:1  The REVELATION of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him, to shew unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass; and he sent and signified it by his angel unto his servant John:

* Regarding Christ's 1st Coming
** Regarding Christ's 2nd Coming
*** NOT about Christ's Coming

Let's look at the 7 verses above that use the Greek word APOKALYPSIS which pertain to the 2nd Coming of Christ using the New King James Version. The words translated from the Greek word APOKALYPSIS are CAPITALIZED in RED.

Verse 1: Romans 2:5  But in accordance with your hardness and your impenitent heart you are treasuring up for yourself wrath in the day of wrath and REVELATION of the righteous judgment of God,

The 2nd Coming of Christ was a time of WRATH and Righteous JUDGMENT. The verses that follow Romans 2:5 provide more information:

Romans 2:6  who "WILL RENDER TO EACH ONE ACCORDING TO HIS DEEDS": Romans 2:7  ETERNAL LIFE to those who by patient continuance in doing good seek for glory, honor, and immortality; Romans 2:8  but to those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness—INDIGNATION AND WRATH, Romans 2:9  TRIBULATION AND ANGUISH, ON EVERY SOUL OF MAN WHO DOES EVIL, of the Jew first and also of the Greek; Romans 2:10  but glory, honor, and peace to everyone who works what is good, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. Romans 2:11  FOR THERE IS NO PARTIALITY WITH GOD.

Verse 2: Romans 8:19  For the earnest expectation of the creation eagerly waits for the REVEALING of the sons of God.

After reading several Bible commentaries I see that there's a lot of different interpretations of what is meant by the word "creation" or "creature" as some versions translate it. The words, "creation" and "creature" are translated from the same Greek word "KTISIS":

KTISIS = STRONGS NUMBER G2937

Word Summary: ktisis: creation (the act or the product)
Transliteration: ktisis
Phonetic Spelling: (ktis'-is)
Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine
Meaning: creation (the act or the product)

Strong's Concordance: creation, creature
From ktizo; original formation (properly, the act; by implication, the thing, literally or figuratively) -- building, creation, creature, ordinance.

Based on the context of the verse, I interpret "creation" to be referring to particular humans. The 3 following verses use "creature" or "creation" to refer to humans.

Mark 16:15  And He said to them, "Go into all the world and PREACH THE GOSPEL TO EVERY CREATURE. Mark 16:16  He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned.

Colossians 1:21  And you, who once were alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now He has reconciled Colossians 1:22  in the body of His flesh through death, to present you holy, and blameless, and above reproach in His sight— Colossians 1:23  if indeed you continue in the faith, grounded and steadfast, and are not moved away from the hope of THE GOSPEL WHICH YOU HEARD, WHICH WAS PREACHED TO EVERY CREATURE UNDER HEAVEN, of which I, Paul, became a minister.

Galatians 6:15  For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision avails anything, but a new CREATION. Galatians 6:16  And as many as walk according to this rule, peace and mercy be upon them, and upon THE ISRAEL OF GOD.

Notice in Colossians 1:23 that Paul said that the Gospel had been "PREACHED TO EVERY CREATURE UNDER HEAVEN". Jesus said that the END OF THE AGE would come WHEN the Gospel had been "PREACHED IN ALL THE WORLD"... Matthew 24:14  And this GOSPEL OF THE KINGDOM WILL BE PREACHED IN ALL THE WORLD as a witness to all the nations, and THEN THE END WILL COME. The word "world" in Matthew 24:14 is translated from the Greek word "OIKOUMENE":

OIKOUMENE = STRONG'S G3625

Word Summary: oikoumene: the inhabited earth
Transliteration: oikoumene
Phonetic Spelling: (oy-kou-men'-ay)
Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine
Meaning: the inhabited earth

Strong's Concordance: earth, world.
Feminine participle present passive of oikeo (as noun, by implication, of ge); land, i.e. The (terrene part of the) globe; specially, the Roman empire -- earth, world.

Oikoumene is often used in the New Testament to refer to the territory of the Roman Empire.

Christians in particular were EAGERLY waiting for the Sons of GOD to be revealed. They were the New Creation, the true Israel of GOD. They were the ones being persecuted... Romans 8:18  For I consider that THE SUFFERINGS OF THIS PRESENT TIME are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.

Before Christ's 2nd Coming the Christians in Rome went through Great Persecution after the Roman Emperor Nero blamed the Christians for the great fire in Rome in A.D. 64 that burned one-third of the city.

ED STEVENS - March 17, 2013 Podcast: FIRE IN ROME & PERSECUTION

DOWNLOAD LINK for PODCAST NOTES

 

Verse 3: 2 Thessalonians 1:7  and to give you who are troubled REST WITH US when the Lord Jesus is REVEALED from heaven with His mighty angels, 2 Thessalonians 1:8  IN FLAMING FIRE TAKING VENGEANCE ON THOSE WHO DO NOT KNOW GOD, and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. 2 Thessalonians 1:9  THESE SHALL BE PUNISHED WITH EVERLASTING DESTRUCTION from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power, 2 Thessalonians 1:10  when He comes, in that Day, TO BE GLORIFIED IN HIS SAINTS AND TO BE ADMIRED AMONG ALL THOSE WHO BELIEVE, because our testimony among you was believed.

The "US" in verse 7 is NOT you and I! 2 Thessalonians was the 2nd letter written to the Church in Thessalonica and it was written by Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy... 2 Thessalonians 1:1  PAUL, SILVANUS, AND TIMOTHY, TO THE CHURCH OF THE THESSALONIANS in God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ: Therefore, the "US" includes the members of the Thessalonian Church and Paul, Silvanus and Timothy.

Paul had just said in 2 Thessalonians 1:6: "since IT IS A RIGHTEOUS THING WITH GOD TO REPAY WITH TRIBULATION THOSE WHO TROUBLE YOU," - They were expecting the 2ND COMING of CHRIST and RELIEF from Persecution when he returned.

Christ's 2nd Coming was a Time of Vengeance on those (the Unbelieving Jews) who had rejected him and persecuted his followers. After the Wrath of the Lamb came upon the Living, then came the Resurrection and Judgment of the Dead. The Believers would be Rewarded and the Unbelievers would be Damned... Luke 21:20  "But when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then know that its desolation is near. Luke 21:21  Then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains, let those who are in the midst of her depart, and let not those who are in the country enter her. Luke 21:22  FOR THESE ARE THE DAYS OF VENGEANCE, THAT ALL THINGS WHICH ARE WRITTEN MAY BE FULFILLED.

If Christ did not return during the lifetime of the Persecuted Thessalonians then the Apostle Paul LIED when he said that they would get RELIEF/REST "WHEN THE LORD JESUS IS REVEALED FROM HEAVEN WITH HIS MIGHTY ANGELS". Be sure to read my article: WAS THE APOSTLE PAUL WRONG?

Verse 4: 1 Peter 1:7  that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the REVELATION of Jesus Christ, 1 Peter 1:8  whom having not seen you love. Though now you do not see Him, yet believing, you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, 1 Peter 1:9  RECEIVING THE END OF YOUR FAITH—THE SALVATION OF YOUR SOULS.

Peter was writing to the ELECT or Christians who were Dispersed in various places and he said in verse 5 that they were "KEPT BY THE POWER OF GOD THROUGH FAITH FOR SALVATION READY TO BE REVEALED"... 1 Peter 1:5  who are KEPT BY THE POWER OF GOD THROUGH FAITH FOR SALVATION READY TO BE REVEALED in the last time. The "SALVATION" Peter was talking about that was READY TO BE REVEALED would happen with the 2nd Coming of Christ and the Resurrection. They were the ELECT so their Sins had been Forgiven because of their Faith in Jesus Christ but they were waiting to RECEIVE the END OF THEIR FAITH - THE SALVATION OF THEIR SOULS (1 Peter 1:9). It was RESERVED FOR THEM IN HEAVEN... 1 Peter 1:3  Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 1 Peter 1:4  TO AN INHERITANCE INCORRUPTIBLE AND UNDEFILED and that does not fade away, RESERVED IN HEAVEN FOR YOU,

Verse 5: 1 Peter 1:13  Therefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and rest your hope fully upon the grace that is to be brought to you at the REVELATION of Jesus Christ; 1 Peter 1:14  as obedient children, not conforming yourselves to the former lusts, as in your ignorance; 1 Peter 1:15  but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, 1 Peter 1:16  because it is written, "BE HOLY, FOR I AM HOLY."

Peter is encouraging the Believers to live holy lives as they wait for the REVELATION or 2ND COMING of Jesus Christ.

Verse 6: 1 Peter 4:13  but rejoice to the extent that you partake of Christ's sufferings, that when His glory is REVEALED, you may also be glad with exceeding joy.

1 Peter was written in approximately A.D. 63 which was only a year before the Great Persecution of Christians began in Rome. Peter had just said in the previous verse... 1 Peter 4:12  Beloved, do not think it strange concerning THE FIERY TRIAL WHICH IS TO TRY YOU, as though some strange thing happened to you;

Peter goes on to say... 1 Peter 4:16  Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in this matter. 1 Peter 4:17  FOR THE TIME HAS COME FOR JUDGMENT TO BEGIN AT THE HOUSE OF GOD; and if it begins with us first, WHAT WILL BE THE END OF THOSE WHO DO NOT OBEY THE GOSPEL OF GOD?

The end of those who did not obey the Gospel came in the Jewish-Roman War that began officially in the spring of A.D. 67.

Verse 7: Revelation 1:1  The REVELATION of Jesus Christ, which God gave Him to show His servants—THINGS WHICH MUST SHORTLY TAKE PLACE. And He sent and signified it by His angel to His servant John, Revelation 1:2  who bore witness to the word of God, and to the testimony of Jesus Christ, to all things that he saw.

Internal Evidence shows that the Book of Revelation was written in the early to mid 60's and it was written to show the servants of GOD - THINGS WHICH MUST SHORTLY TAKE PLACE.

Watch this video by Pastor Chuck Baldwin (Chuck is NOT a Full Preterist) to hear the Evidence: When Did John Write The Book Of Revelation?

 

MORE EVIDENCE FOR THE DATE OF THE BOOK OF REVELATION

The following information was obtained from this article: Research insights into the Date of Revelation

• The “Syriac version” of the New Testament, which dates back to the second century A.D., states that Revelation was written during the reign of Nero.

 

• The “Muratorian Fragment,” dating back to A.D. 170-190, states that this work of John was written during the reign of Nero.

• The “Aramaic Peshitta” version has a remark that places its date prior to A.D. 70. The title page of Revelation states this work of John was written right after the reign of Nero.

• The “Monarchian Prologues” that dates back to A.D. 250-350, claims that Paul also wrote to these seven churches (possibly Romans which was a “circular letter” that went out to many addressees) following John’s Book, thus, placing the book even before some of the other Pauline epistles.

ROMAN LAW OF EXILE: Nero Caesar exiled John on the island of Patmos. Nero died in A.D. 68 and according to Roman law, those banned by a prior Caesar would be released by the succeeding Caesar. Thus, John would have been released from Patmos around 68 AD. (John himself mentions he was at Patmos when he received the Revelation).

Ireneaus is the main spokesmen for the late date. He lived in the second century A.D., a principal “Early Church Father” who made a statement in A.D. 185 that the apostle John “saw the revelation… at the close of Domitian’s reign (A.D. 81-96). (Ref: Contra Haereses 5.30.3; ANF, 1:559-60 also called in the fifth book of his work “Against Heresies”.) The argument against this is that in context, his statement is not clear, rather ambiguous, but can be implicit in various ways.

Here it is: We will not, however, incur the risk of pronouncing positively as to the name of Antichrist; for if it were necessary that his name should be distinctly revealed in this present time, it would have been announced by him who beheld the apocalyptic vision. For that was seen not very long time since, but almost in our day, towards the end of Domitian’s reign.

There are at least four main problems with this statement...

1. It is actually a “second hand” account, which he quotes from Polycarp. Thus, it is not a direct quote from Irenaeus.
2. In context, this quote referred to Polycarp’s remembrance (also referred to by Eusebius) “that” sometime toward the end of Domitian’s reign there will be an antichrist (which simply means anyone who opposes Christ; here in a grand scale).
3. It is not clear from this statement to what Polycarp was referring or what he meant by “that was seen.” It could have been referring to Revelation or to a coming antichrist that was also implied by John.
4. Irenaeus suffers from credibility issues and/or textual and scribal errors. He also wrote when he was very old and/or made major mistakes. For example, in the same work as the aforementioned quote, he states that Jesus was crucified when he was fifty years old. Thus, the principle source for the late dating of the Book of Revelation has some significant holes.

 

EPIPHANEIA (APPEARING or BRIGHTNESS)

EPIPHANEIA is a Greek word that is used 6 times in the New Testament and is translated as "APPEARING" 5 times and "BRIGHTNESS" once. 

EPIPHANEIA = STRONG'S 2015

Word Summary: epiphaneia: appearance
Transliteration: epiphaneia
Phonetic Spelling: (ep-if-an'-i-ah)
Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine
Meaning: appearance

Strong's Concordance: appearance, brightness.
From epiphanes; a manifestation, i.e. (specially) the advent of Christ (past or future) -- appearing, brightness.

The words translated from the Greek word EPIPHANEIA are CAPTITALIZED in RED.

1) 2 Thessalonians 2:8  And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the BRIGHTNESS of his coming:

2) 1 Timothy 6:14  That thou keep this commandment without spot, unrebukeable, until the APPEARING of our Lord Jesus Christ:

* 3) 2 Timothy 1:10  But is now made manifest by the APPEARING of our Saviour Jesus Christ, who hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel:

4) 2 Timothy 4:1  I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his APPEARING and his kingdom;

5) 2 Timothy 4:8  Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his APPEARING.

6) Titus 2:13  Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious APPEARING of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; 

* Regarding Christ's 1st Coming

Let's look at the 5 verses above that use the Greek word EPIPHANEIA which pertain to the 2nd Coming of Christ using the New King James Version. The words translated from the Greek word EPIPHANEIA are CAPITALIZED in RED.

Verse 1: 2 Thessalonians 2:7  For THE MYSTERY OF LAWLESSNESS IS ALREADY AT WORK; only He who now restrains will do so until He is taken out of the way. 2 Thessalonians 2:8  And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord will consume with the breath of His mouth and destroy with the BRIGHTNESS of His coming. 2 Thessalonians 2:9  THE COMING OF THE LAWLESS ONE IS ACCORDING TO THE WORKING OF SATAN, with all power, signs, and lying wonders, 2 Thessalonians 2:10  and with all unrighteous deception among those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved.

There has been much conjecture about the identity of the MAN OF SIN or MAN OF LAWLESSNESS as some versions translate it but what we know for sure is that He was being RESTRAINED. Therefore, He was alive then and was Destroyed by the Lord "with the BRIGHTNESS of His Coming".

Verse 2: 1 Timothy 6:13  I urge you in the sight of God who gives life to all things, and before Christ Jesus who witnessed the good confession before Pontius Pilate, 1 Timothy 6:14  that you keep this commandment without spot, blameless until our Lord Jesus Christ's APPEARING, 1 Timothy 6:15  which He will manifest in His own time, He who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings and Lord of lords, 1 Timothy 6:16  who alone has immortality, dwelling in unapproachable light, whom no man has seen or can see, to whom be honor and everlasting power. Amen.

The Apostle Paul was writing to Timothy, "a true son in the faith" (1 Timothy 1:1-2) in approximately A.D. 63. According to 1 Timothy 6:14, Paul expected Timothy to be alive at Christ's APPEARING.

Verse 3: 2 Timothy 4:1  I charge you therefore before God and the Lord Jesus Christ, who will judge the living and the dead at His APPEARING and His kingdom:

The Greek word "MELLO" is included in the original text and it means ABOUT TO BE so here's a more accurate translation... (YLT) 2 Timothy 4:1  I do fully testify, then, before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, WHO IS ABOUT TO JUDGE LIVING AND DEAD at his MANIFESTATION and his reign— (Young's Literal Translation).

2 Timothy was written in approximately A.D. 63 so the Judgment of the Living would begin in just 3-4 years with the Jewish-Roman War.

Verse 4: 2 Timothy 4:8  Finally, there is laid up for me the CROWN OF RIGHTEOUSNESS, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His APPEARING.

The Apostle Paul was expecting to receive the CROWN OF RIGHTEOUSNESS at Christ's APPEARING. The REWARDING of the SAINTS would occur at the Great White Throne Judgment when people were Judged according to their works. Christ Revealed WHEN that would be... Matthew 16:27  For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels; and THEN HE SHALL REWARD EVERY MAN ACCORDING TO HIS WORKS. Matthew 16:28  Verily I say unto you, THERE BE SOME STANDING HERE, WHICH SHALL NOT TASTE OF DEATH, TILL THEY SEE THE SON OF MAN COMING IN HIS KINGDOM.

Verse 5: Titus 2:11  For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, Titus 2:12  teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age, Titus 2:13  looking for the blessed hope and glorious APPEARING of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, Titus 2:14  who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works.

Titus was a letter written by the Apostle Paul to Titus,  a true son in our common faith (Titus 1:4), in approximately A.D. 63. Paul instructed Titus to live righteously and godly "looking for the blessed hope and glorious APPEARING of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ".

 

Greek words translated as "COMING" other than PAROUSIA and ERCHOMAI

 

1) Mark 1:10 - ANABAINO = STRONG'S G305

* Mark 1:10  And straightway COMING UP out of the water, he saw the heavens opened, and the Spirit like a dove descending upon him:

2) Revelation 13:11 - ANABAINO = STRONG'S G305

*** Revelation 13:11  And I beheld another beast COMING UP out of the earth; and he had two horns like a lamb, and he spake as a dragon.

3) 1 Corinthians 1:7 - APOKALYPSIS = STRONG'S G602

** 1 Corinthians 1:7  So that ye come behind in no gift; waiting for the COMING OF our Lord Jesus Christ:

4) Acts 27:33 - GINOMAI = STRONG'S G1096

*** Acts 27:33  And while the day was COMING ON, Paul besought them all to take meat, saying, This day is the fourteenth day that ye have tarried and continued fasting, having taken nothing.

5) Acts 9:12 - EISERCHOMAI = STRONG'S G1525

*** Acts 9:12  And hath seen in a vision a man named Ananias COMING IN, and putting his hand on him, that he might receive his sight.

6) Acts 10:3 - EISERCHOMAI = STRONG'S G1525

*** Acts 10:3  He saw in a vision evidently about the ninth hour of the day an angel of God COMING IN to him, and saying unto him, Cornelius.

7) Acts 10:25 - EISERCHOMAI = STRONG'S G1525

*** Acts 10:25  And as Peter was COMING IN, Cornelius met him, and fell down at his feet, and worshipped him.

8) Acts 13:24 - EISODOS = STRONG'S G1529

* Acts 13:24  When John had first preached before his COMING the baptism of repentance to all the people of Israel.

9) Acts 9:28 - EISPOREUOMAI = STRONG'S G1531

*** Acts 9:28  And he was with them COMING IN and going out at Jerusalem.

10) Acts 7:52 - ELEUSIS = STRONG'S G1660

* Acts 7:52  Which of the prophets have not your fathers persecuted? and they have slain them which shewed before of the COMING OF the Just One; of whom ye have been now the betrayers and murderers:

11) Matthew 8:28 - EXERCHOMAI = STRONG'S G1831

*** Matthew 8:28  And when he was come to the other side into the country of the Gergesenes, there met him two possessed with devils, COMING OUT of the tombs, exceeding fierce, so that no man might pass by that way.

12) Luke 21:26 - EPERCHOMAI = STRONG'S G1904

** Luke 21:26  Men's hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are COMING ON the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken.

13) Luke 2:38 - EPHISTEMI  = STRONG'S G2186

*** Luke 2:38  And she COMING IN that instant gave thanks likewise unto the Lord, and spake of him to all them that looked for redemption in Jerusalem.

14) Revelation 21:2 - KATABAINO = STRONG'S G2597

** Revelation 21:2  And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, COMING DOWN from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.

15) Acts 17:10 - PARAGINOMAI = STRONG'S G3854

*** Acts 17:10  And the brethren immediately sent away Paul and Silas by night unto Berea: who COMING THITHER went into the synagogue of the Jews.

16) Luke 9:42 - PROSERCHOMAI = STRONG'S G4334

*** Luke 9:42  And as he was yet a COMING, the devil threw him down, and tare him. And Jesus rebuked the unclean spirit, and healed the child, and delivered him again to his father.

17) Luke 23:36 - PROSERCHOMAI = STRONG'S G4334

*** Luke 23:36  And the soldiers also mocked him, COMING TO him, and offering him vinegar,

18) 1 Peter 2:4 - PROSERCHOMAI = STRONG'S G4334

*** 1 Peter 2:4  To whom COMING, as unto a living stone, disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of God, and precious,

* Regarding Christ's 1st Coming
** Regarding Christ's 2nd Coming
*** NOT about Christ's Coming

 

Let's look at the 3 verses above that use Greek words translated as "COMING" other than PAROUSIA and ERCHOMAI which pertain to the 2nd Coming of Christ using the New King James Version. The words translated as COMING are CAPITALIZED in RED.

Verse 1: 1 Corinthians 1:7  so that you come short in no gift, EAGERLY WAITING for the REVELATION of our Lord Jesus Christ, 1 Corinthians 1:8  who will also confirm you to the end, that you may be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.

1 Corinthians was written by the Apostle Paul and Sosthenes to the Saints at the Church of GOD in Corinth (1 Corinthians 1:1-2) in approximately A.D. 57. Notice in verse 7 that the Corinthians were EAGERLY WAITING for the REVELATION or 2ND COMING of Jesus Christ. The phrase "EAGERLY WAITING" is translated from the Greek word APEKDECHOMAI.

APEKDECHOMAI = STRONG'S G553

Word Summary: apekdechomai: to await eagerly
Transliteration: apekdechomai
Phonetic Spelling: (ap-ek-dekh'-om-ahee)
Part of Speech: Verb
Meaning: to await eagerly

Strong's Concordance: to await eagerly
From apo and ekdechomai; to expect fully -- look (wait) foreign

There's no doubt that the Corinthians were expecting the 2nd Coming of Christ to occur within their lifetime. They wouldn't be EAGERLY WAITING if Christ wasn't going to return for 2,000 years!

The PULPIT Bible Commentary was Published in 1880-1897 and it has a very interesting comment about "WAITING" in 1 Corinthians 1:7...

Waiting; expecting, not fearing it, This was the constant attitude of the early Christians (Romans_8:19-25; Philippians_3:20; Hebrews_9:20; 1 Thessalonians_1:10; Colossians_3:4; Titus_2:13). Love for Christ’s manifestation was a Christian characteristic (2 Timothy_4:8). The revelation. Three words are used to express the second advent: apokalypsis (as here and in 2 Thessalonians_1:7; 1 Peter_1:7, 1 Peter_1:13); parousia (as in Matthew_24:3, Matthew_24:27, etc.; 1 Thessalonians_2:19; James_5:7, James_5:8, etc.); and epiphaneia, in the pastoral Epistles (1 Timothy_6:14; 2 Timothy_1:10; 2 Timothy_4:1-8; Titus_2:13). St. Paul, however, only uses parousia six times in 1 and 2 Thessalonians, and once in 1 Corinthians_15:23. All Christians alike expected the return of Christ very soon, and possibly in their own lifetime (1 Thessalonians_1:9, 1 Thessalonians_1:10, etc.; 1 Corinthians_15:51; James_5:8, James_5:9; 1 Peter_4:7; 1 John_2:18; Revelation_22:20, etc.). Their expectation was founded on the great eschatological discourse of our Lord (Matthew_24:29, Matthew_24:30, Matthew_24:34), and on his express promise that that generation should not pass away before his predictions were fulfilled. They were fulfilled in the fall of Jerusalem and the close of the old dispensation, though they await a still more universal fulfilment.

The Commentators should have provided scriptural evidence for the last phrase in the last sentence - "though they await a still more universal fulfilment" or they should have left it out. I have not found any scriptural evidence for a "still more universal fulfilment".

Verse 2: Luke 21:26  men's hearts failing them from fear and the expectation of those things which are COMING ON the earth, for the powers of the heavens will be shaken. Luke 21:27  Then THEY WILL SEE THE SON OF MAN COMING IN A CLOUD with power and great glory.

Scripture REVEALS that there were 2 groups of people that were supposed to see him at his 2ND COMING...

1) Those who were EAGERLY WAITING FOR HIM... Hebrews 9:28  so Christ was offered once to bear the sins of many. To THOSE WHO EAGERLY WAIT FOR HIM HE WILL APPEAR A SECOND TIME, apart from sin, for salvation.

John the Apostle said that "WHEN HE (CHRIST) IS REVEALED, WE SHALL BE LIKE HIM, FOR WE SHALL SEE HIM AS HE IS... 1 John 3:2  Beloved, now WE ARE CHILDREN OF GOD; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, BUT WE KNOW THAT WHEN HE IS REVEALED, WE SHALL BE LIKE HIM, FOR WE SHALL SEE HIM AS HE IS.

The WE are the CHILDREN OF GOD and when CHRIST was REVEALED at his 2ND COMING then THEY (the Children of GOD) would BE LIKE HIM (Christ) and SEE HIM AS HE IS.

Therefore, I believe this means that CHRIST would be seen in the SPIRITUAL REALM by the CHILDREN OF GOD and by the UNJUST who were raised out of HADES, JUDGED and THROWN in the LAKE OF FIRE.

2) Those who PIERCED HIM... Revelation 1:7  Behold, He is coming with clouds, and every eye will see Him, even THEY WHO PIERCED HIM. And all the tribes of the earth will mourn because of Him. Even so, Amen.

Don K. Preston did an excellent video series on Revelation 1:7. Here's the link to Part 1: Revelation 1:7 (Part 1)

The COMING in Revelation 1:7 is the same COMING as in Matthew 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."

Matthew 24:30 only mentions that the TRIBES would see him. I don't think that included the American Indian Tribes.

Jesus revealed WHEN they would see him... Matthew 24:34  Assuredly, I say to you, THIS GENERATION WILL BY NO MEANS PASS AWAY TILL ALL THESE THINGS TAKE PLACE.

Matthew 16:27  FOR THE SON OF MAN WILL COME IN THE GLORY OF HIS FATHER WITH HIS ANGELS, AND THEN HE WILL REWARD EACH ACCORDING TO HIS WORKS. Matthew 16:28  ASSUREDLY, I SAY TO YOU, THERE ARE SOME STANDING HERE WHO SHALL NOT TASTE DEATH TILL THEY SEE THE SON OF MAN COMING IN HIS KINGDOM."

The TRIBES were the ones who SAW HIM and MOURNED! The ones who died in the war realized who Jesus was at the Resurrection and mourned and the ones who survived mourned as well because of what happened in the war and immediately after the war... Luke 19:43  FOR DAYS WILL COME UPON YOU WHEN YOUR ENEMIES WILL BUILD AN EMBANKMENT AROUND YOU, SURROUND YOU AND CLOSE YOU IN ON EVERY SIDE, Luke 19:44  AND LEVEL YOU, AND YOUR CHILDREN WITHIN YOU, TO THE GROUND; AND THEY WILL NOT LEAVE IN YOU ONE STONE UPON ANOTHER, BECAUSE YOU DID NOT KNOW THE TIME OF YOUR VISITATION."

Luke 21:24  And THEY WILL FALL BY THE EDGE OF THE SWORD, AND BE LED AWAY CAPTIVE INTO ALL NATIONS. And Jerusalem will be trampled by Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled.

Luke 13:28  THERE WILL BE WEEPING AND GNASHING OF TEETH, WHEN YOU SEE ABRAHAM AND ISAAC AND JACOB AND ALL THE PROPHETS IN THE KINGDOM OF GOD, AND YOURSELVES THRUST OUT. Luke 13:29  THEY WILL COME FROM THE EAST AND THE WEST, FROM THE NORTH AND THE SOUTH, AND SIT DOWN IN THE KINGDOM OF GOD.

All of those who were RAPTURED and RESURRECTED (Just & Unjust) SAW HIM as well... Luke 21:36  WATCH THEREFORE, AND PRAY ALWAYS THAT YOU MAY BE COUNTED WORTHY TO ESCAPE ALL THESE THINGS THAT WILL COME TO PASS, AND TO STAND BEFORE THE SON OF MAN."

Matthew 24:31  AND HE WILL SEND HIS ANGELS WITH A GREAT SOUND OF A TRUMPET, AND THEY WILL GATHER TOGETHER HIS ELECT FROM THE FOUR WINDS, FROM ONE END OF HEAVEN TO THE OTHER.

Matthew 25:31 "When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the holy angels with Him, then He will sit on the throne of His glory. Matthew 25:32  ALL THE NATIONS WILL BE GATHERED BEFORE HIM, AND HE WILL SEPARATE THEM ONE FROM ANOTHER, AS A SHEPHERD DIVIDES HIS SHEEP FROM THE GOATS.

What makes the most sense to me is that Christ was only seen in the SPIRITUAL REALM. However, I was not there so I don't know for sure.

John 14:19  "A LITTLE WHILE LONGER AND THE WORLD WILL SEE ME NO MORE, BUT YOU WILL SEE ME. Because I live, you will live also. John 14:20  At that day you will know that I am in My Father, and you in Me, and I in you. John 14:21  He who has My commandments and keeps them, it is he who loves Me. And he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and MANIFEST MYSELF TO HIM." John 14:22  Judas (not Iscariot) said to Him, "LORD, HOW IS IT THAT YOU WILL MANIFEST YOURSELF TO US, AND NOT TO THE WORLD?" John 14:23  Jesus answered and said to him, "If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and WE WILL COME TO HIM AND MAKE OUR HOME WITH HIM.

I believe EVERY EYE will see Jesus but it will not be at the same time. Everyone must stand before the judgment seat of Christ... Romans 14:10  But why do you judge your brother? Or why do you show contempt for your brother? FOR WE SHALL ALL STAND BEFORE THE JUDGMENT SEAT OF CHRIST.

2 Corinthians 5:10  FOR WE MUST ALL APPEAR BEFORE THE JUDGMENT SEAT OF CHRIST, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.

While on earth Jesus said that he didn't know the Day or the Hour of his 2ND COMING but he didn't say that he didn't know the Week, Month or Year. He did REVEAL that it would happen in that GENERATION... Luke 21:32  Assuredly, I say to you, THIS GENERATION WILL BY NO MEANS PASS AWAY TILL ALL THINGS TAKE PLACE.

In order to be a FUTURIST you Must Believe in a Time Machine...

Luke 21:5  Then, as some SPOKE OF THE TEMPLE, how it was adorned with beautiful stones and donations, He said, Luke 21:6  "These things which you see—THE DAYS WILL COME IN WHICH NOT ONE STONE SHALL BE LEFT UPON ANOTHER that shall not be thrown down." Luke 21:7  So they asked Him, saying, "Teacher, but WHEN will these things be? And WHAT SIGN will there be when these things are about to take place?"

Jesus told Peter, James, John and Andrew that WHEN YOU SEE Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then KNOW THAT ITS DESOLATION IS NEAR (Luke 21:20).

That was a MAJOR SIGN!

After that he told them in Luke 21:27:  "Then they will see THE SON OF MAN COMING IN A CLOUD with power and great glory."

That was the SECOND COMING!

After that he told them in Luke 21:32:  "Assuredly, I SAY TO YOU, THIS GENERATION WILL BY NO MEANS PASS AWAY TILL ALL THINGS TAKE PLACE."

That was the TIMEFRAME for WHEN but Futurists say, "It was NOT That Generation but a Future Generation that SEES those things!"

According to HISTORY the Jewish Temple and Jerusalem were DESTROYED in A.D. 70 which was in THAT GENERATION just as Jesus said.

So HOW could some Future Generation SEE the Temple & Jerusalem Destroyed UNLESS they have a TIME MACHINE?

Verse 3: Revelation 21:2  Then I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, COMING DOWN out of heaven from God, PREPARED AS A BRIDE ADORNED FOR HER HUSBAND.

Revelation 21:9  Then one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls filled with the seven last plagues came to me and talked with me, saying, "COME, I WILL SHOW YOU THE BRIDE, THE LAMB'S WIFE." Revelation 21:10  And he carried me away in the Spirit to a great and high mountain, and showed me THE GREAT CITY, THE HOLY JERUSALEM, descending out of heaven from God, Revelation 21:11  HAVING THE GLORY OF GOD. Her light was like a most precious stone, like a jasper stone, clear as crystal.

The Marriage Supper of the Lamb occurs After the Judgment of the GREAT HARLOT (Mystery Babylon) who SHED THE BLOOD of the SERVANTS OF GOD... Revelation 19:2  For true and righteous are His judgments, because HE HAS JUDGED THE GREAT HARLOT who corrupted the earth with her fornication; and HE HAS AVENGED ON HER THE BLOOD OF HIS SERVANTS SHED BY HER."

Revelation 19:7  Let us be glad and rejoice and give Him glory, FOR THE MARRIAGE OF THE LAMB HAS COME, and His wife has made herself ready." Revelation 19:8  And to her it was granted to be arrayed in fine linen, clean and bright, FOR THE FINE LINEN IS THE RIGHTEOUS ACTS OF THE SAINTS. Revelation 19:9  Then he said to me, "Write: 'BLESSED ARE THOSE WHO ARE CALLED TO THE MARRIAGE SUPPER OF THE LAMB!' " And he said to me, "These are the true sayings of God."

Jesus also revealed that the Marriage Supper of the Lamb was after the Destruction of Jerusalem in the The Parable of the Wedding Feast in Matthew 22:1-14...

Matthew 22:2  "THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN IS LIKE A CERTAIN KING (GOD the Father) WHO ARRANGED A MARRIAGE FOR HIS SON (Christ), Matthew 22:3  AND SENT OUT HIS SERVANTS (Apostles & Prophets) TO CALL THOSE WHO WERE INVITED (Hebrews) TO THE WEDDING; AND THEY (Unbelievers) WERE NOT WILLING TO COME. Matthew 22:4  Again, he sent out other servants, saying, 'Tell those who are invited, "See, I have prepared my dinner; my oxen and fatted cattle are killed, and all things are ready. Come to the wedding." ' Matthew 22:5  But they made light of it and went their ways, one to his own farm, another to his business. Matthew 22:6  And the rest (Hebrew Persecutors) SEIZED HIS SERVANTS, TREATED THEM SPITEFULLY, AND KILLED THEM. Matthew 22:7  But when the king heard about it, he was furious. And HE SENT OUT HIS (Roman) ARMIES, DESTROYED THOSE MURDERERS, AND BURNED UP THEIR CITY (Jerusalem).

Jesus warned that instead of sitting down with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob at the Wedding Feast - the Unbelieving Hebrews would be CAST OUT OF THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN... Matthew 8:11  And I say to you that many will come from east and west, and sit down with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob IN THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN. Matthew 8:12  BUT THE SONS OF THE KINGDOM (The Hebrews) WILL BE CAST OUT into outer darkness. THERE WILL BE WEEPING AND GNASHING OF TEETH."

I believe that the Wedding and Wedding Feast were also after the Resurrection and Great White Throne Judgment.

 

MY SUMMARY OF THE 2ND COMING OF JESUS CHRIST

After spending many hours of studying the scriptures I have come to the conclusion that the 2ND COMING of Jesus Christ consisted of a period of time (3 1/2 - 4 1/2 years) in which he was PRESENT in the Clouds - Fulfilling Unfulfilled Prophecies. The 2ND COMING may have begun as early as the Spring of A.D. 66.

Luke 21:11  And there will be great earthquakes in various places, and famines and pestilences; and THERE WILL BE FEARFUL SIGHTS AND GREAT SIGNS FROM HEAVEN. Luke 21:12  BUT BEFORE ALL THESE THINGS, THEY WILL LAY THEIR HANDS ON YOU AND PERSECUTE YOU, DELIVERING YOU UP TO THE SYNAGOGUES AND PRISONS. YOU WILL BE BROUGHT BEFORE KINGS AND RULERS FOR MY NAME'S SAKE.

Did the FEARFUL SIGHTS AND GREAT SIGNS FROM HEAVEN in Luke 21:11 occur AFTER the GREAT PERSECUTION of the SAINTS but BEFORE the JEWISH-ROMAN WAR?

Read what the Jewish Historian JOSEPHUS wrote in Book 6, Chapter 5, Paragraph 3 in the WARS OF THE JEWS...

..."while they did not attend nor give credit to the signs that were so evident, and did so plainly foretell their future desolation, but, like men infatuated, without either eyes to see or minds to consider, did not regard the denunciations that God made to them.

1) Thus there was a star resembling a sword, which stood over the city, and a comet, that continued a whole year.

2) Thus also before the Jews’ rebellion, and before those commotions which preceded the war, when the people were come in great crowds to the feast of unleavened bread, on the eighth day of the month Xanthicus, [Nisan,] and at the ninth hour of the night, so great a light shone round the altar and the holy house, that it appeared to be bright day time; which lasted for half an hour. This light seemed to be a good sign to the unskillful, but was so interpreted by the sacred scribes, as to portend those events that followed immediately upon it.

8th of Nisan, 3826 = Sat, 20 March 0066 

3) At the same festival also, a heifer, as she was led by the high priest to be sacrificed, brought forth a lamb in the midst of the temple.

4) Moreover, the eastern gate of the inner [court of the] temple, which was of brass, and vastly heavy, and had been with difficulty shut by twenty men, and rested upon a basis armed with iron, and had bolts fastened very deep into the firm floor, which was there made of one entire stone, was seen to be opened of its own accord about the sixth hour of the night. Now those that kept watch in the temple came hereupon running to the captain of the temple, and told him of it; who then came up thither, and not without great difficulty was able to shut the gate again. This also appeared to the vulgar to be a very happy prodigy, as if God did thereby open them the gate of happiness. But the men of learning understood it, that the security of their holy house was dissolved of its own accord, and that the gate was opened for the advantage of their enemies. So these publicly declared that the signal foreshowed the desolation that was coming upon them.

5) Besides these, a few days after that feast, on the one and twentieth day of the month Artemisius, [Jyar,] a certain prodigious and incredible phenomenon appeared: I suppose the account of it would seem to be a fable, were it not related by those that saw it, and were not the events that followed it of so considerable a nature as to deserve such signals; for, before sun-setting, chariots and troops of soldiers in their armor were seen running about among the clouds, and surrounding of cities.

21st of Iyyar, 3826 = Sun, 2 May 0066

6) Moreover, at that feast which we call Pentecost, as the priests were going by night into the inner [court of the temple,] as their custom was, to perform their sacred ministrations, they said that, in the first place, they felt a quaking, and heard a great noise, and after that they heard a sound as of a great multitude, saying, "Let us remove hence."

The Apostle Paul revealed that not all of the Festivals had been fulfilled by Christ... Colossians 2:16  So let no one judge you in food or in drink, or regarding a festival or a new moon or sabbaths, Colossians 2:17  WHICH ARE A SHADOW OF THINGS TO COME, but the SUBSTANCE IS OF CHRIST. 

It was the final three feast days that were still waiting to be fulfilled when Paul wrote Colossians. All 3 were Fulfilled during Christ's 2nd Coming.

1) The Feast of Trumpets or Rosh Hashanah or Yom Teruah was associated with Judgment.

Leviticus 23:24  "Speak to the children of Israel, saying: 'IN THE SEVENTH MONTH, ON THE FIRST DAY OF THE MONTH, you shall have a sabbath-rest, a memorial of blowing of trumpets, a holy convocation.

Christ was in the clouds directing His Judgment or Wrath upon the Living Judeans because they Rejected Him and Persecuted the Saints. His Wrath was accomplished using the Roman Army during the Jewish-Roman War. This was Fulfilled by the time of the Feast of Trumpets in A.D. 70.

According to the Jewish historian, Flavius Josephus, the Jewish Temple was burned on the 9th & 10th of the month of Av. The 10th of Av converts to Sunday, August 3rd, A.D. 70 if the following Hebrew Calendar Converter is correct.

10th of Av, 3830 = Sun, 3 August 0070

Josephus said this about the Date of the Destruction of Jerusalem... AND thus was Jerusalem taken, in the SECOND YEAR of the reign of Vespasian, on the eighth day of the month Gorpeius [Elul]. - WARS OF THE JEWS, Flavius Josephus, Book 6, Chapter 10, Paragraph 1.

Vespasian's reign began in 69 AD during the year of the 4 Emperors so his 2nd year would have been A.D. 70.

DATE JERUSALEM WAS DESTROYED

According to the Hebrew Calendar, The Feast of Trumpets in A.D. 70 was on the 1st of Tishrei or Monday, 22 September 0070.

2) The Day of Atonement or Yom Kippur was associated with the Second Coming of Christ to Complete the Atonement.

Christ was the High Priest and Passover Lamb whose blood was shed for our sins and he entered the Most Holy Place (Temple in Heaven) with his blood and obtained our Eternal Redemption... Hebrews  9:11  But Christ came as High Priest OF THE GOOD THINGS TO COME, with the greater and more perfect tabernacle not made with hands, that is, not of this creation. Hebrews  9:12  Not with the blood of goats and calves, but WITH HIS OWN BLOOD HE ENTERED THE MOST HOLY PLACE ONCE FOR ALL, HAVING OBTAINED ETERNAL REDEMPTION.

Hebrews  9:15  And for this reason He is the Mediator of the new covenant, by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions under the first covenant, THAT THOSE WHO ARE CALLED MAY RECEIVE THE PROMISE OF THE ETERNAL INHERITANCE.

Hebrews  9:24  For Christ has not entered the holy places made with hands, WHICH ARE COPIES OF THE TRUE, but INTO HEAVEN ITSELF, NOW TO APPEAR IN THE PRESENCE OF GOD FOR US;

On the Day of Atonement the Hebrews waited eagerly for the high priest to come out of the Holy of Holies to let them know if their sins for that year had been forgiven.

The 1st Century Christians were EAGERLY WAITING FOR CHRIST'S RETURN to Complete the Atonement.

According to the Hebrew Calendar, The Day of Atonement in A.D. 70 was on the 10th of Tishrei, 3831 or Wednesday, 1 October 0070.

3) The Feast of Tabernacles or Booths or Sukkot or Ingathering was associated with the Resurrection and the Wedding of the Lamb.

Leviticus 23:34  "Speak to the children of Israel, saying: 'THE FIFTEENTH DAY OF THIS SEVENTH MONTH SHALL BE THE FEAST OF TABERNACLES for seven days to the LORD. Leviticus 23:35  On the first day there shall be a holy convocation. You shall do no customary work on it. Leviticus 23:36  For seven days you shall offer an offering made by fire to the LORD. ON THE EIGHTH DAY YOU SHALL HAVE A HOLY CONVOCATION, and you shall offer an offering made by fire to the LORD. It is a sacred assembly, and you shall do no customary work on it.

The 8th Day was known as Shemini Azterat and it represented the New Creation.

When was the Resurrection supposed to occur?

1 Corinthians 15:21  For since by man came death, by Man also came the resurrection of the dead. 1 Corinthians 15:22  For as in Adam all die, even so IN CHRIST ALL SHALL BE MADE ALIVE. 1 Corinthians 15:23  BUT EACH ONE IN HIS OWN ORDER: CHRIST THE FIRSTFRUITS, AFTERWARD THOSE WHO ARE CHRIST'S AT HIS COMING (PAROUSIA). 1 Corinthians 15:24  THEN COMES THE END, when He delivers the kingdom to God the Father, when He puts an end to all rule and all authority and power. 1 Corinthians 15:25  For He must reign till He has put all enemies under His feet. 1 Corinthians 15:26  THE LAST ENEMY THAT WILL BE DESTROYED IS DEATH.

1 Corinthians 15:23 REVEALS that the Resurrection occurs at Christ's COMING or PAROUSIA!

What more can we learn about the timing of the Resurrection?

Let's research the phrase LAST DAY... John 6:39  This is the will of the Father who sent Me, that of all He has given Me I should lose nothing, but should RAISE IT UP AT THE LAST DAY. John 6:40  And this is the will of Him who sent Me, that everyone who sees the Son and BELIEVES IN HIM MAY HAVE EVERLASTING LIFE; AND I WILL RAISE HIM UP AT THE LAST DAY.

John 6:44  No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I WILL RAISE HIM UP AT THE LAST DAY.

John 6:54  Whoever eats My flesh and drinks My blood HAS ETERNAL LIFE, AND I WILL RAISE HIM UP AT THE LAST DAY.

John 11:24  Martha said to Him, "I know that HE WILL RISE AGAIN IN THE RESURRECTION AT THE LAST DAY.

According to JESUS the Resurrection occurs AT THE LAST DAY.

The LAST DAY of WHAT?

It must be the LAST DAY of THIS AGE aka the AGE of the LAW aka the MOSAIC AGE aka the OLD COVENANT AGE.

WHY? Because it can't be the LAST DAY of the AGE TO COME aka the AGE of the MESSIAH aka the CHRISTIAN AGE aka the AGE of GRACE aka the NEW COVENANT AGE since that AGE has NO END!

And it can't be the LAST DAY of the WORLD because the WORLD has NO END!

Be sure to read my article - HOW THE BIBLICAL AGES PROVE THAT CHRIST'S 2ND COMING WAS IN THE PAST for more details!

"Sukkot is paralleled to a Jewish wedding feast. A Jewish wedding lasts for seven days and is filled with feasting and jubilation. The marriage takes place under a Chupah, a pavilion.

Thus, the Sukkah can be interpreted as that Chupah and the seven-day long observance of Sukkot can be interpreted as the Wedding Supper of the Lamb where the groom Yeshua is joined with His bride (the righteous)! What an outstanding parallel." - SUKKOT: A PROPHETIC LOOK AT THE FEAST OF TABERNACLES.

Revelation 19:7  Let us be glad and rejoice and give Him glory, FOR THE MARRIAGE OF THE LAMB HAS COME, and His wife has made herself ready." Revelation 19:8  And to her it was granted to be arrayed in fine linen, clean and bright, FOR THE FINE LINEN IS THE RIGHTEOUS ACTS OF THE SAINTS. Revelation 19:9  Then he said to me, "Write: 'BLESSED ARE THOSE WHO ARE CALLED TO THE MARRIAGE SUPPER OF THE LAMB!' " And he said to me, "These are the true sayings of God."

The Marriage Supper of the Lamb occurs After the Judgment of the GREAT HARLOT (Mystery Babylon) who SHED THE BLOOD of the SERVANTS OF GOD... Revelation 19:2  For true and righteous are His judgments, because HE HAS JUDGED THE GREAT HARLOT who corrupted the earth with her fornication; and HE HAS AVENGED ON HER THE BLOOD OF HIS SERVANTS SHED BY HER."

According to the Hebrew Calendar the Feast of Tabernacles in A.D. 70 was on the 15th of Tishrei, 3831 or Monday, 6 October 0070.

For more information on the FEASTS OF THE LORD read this article: THE 7TH TRUMPET OR THE LAST TRUMPET

 

This concludes my article on the 2ND COMING OF JESUS CHRIST. Thank you for taking the time to read it!