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We keep preaching Jesus is coming soon, but are we telling the truth ?

In fact some adventist left the church because of this, that Jesus is coming very soon.  but it never happened, are we being honest to our very own people ?  why are we misleading our people ?

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Permalink Reply by sir james on September 18, 2011 at 1:25am
do you care to join in on this discussion about this topic, Jesus is coming soon. And this was when i was a small, say 30 years ago. I am told, we were preaching this 50 to 60 years ago, and still Jesus hasn't come yet. Should we not say this, so we don't end up losing more souls to our church.
Permalink Reply by Ezra Moore on September 18, 2011 at 4:28am
James, out of Jesus' own mouth he is coming soon. Behold, I come quickly and my reward is with me to give to every man according as his works shall be. If Jesus has not returned yet it is because we are not ready and in mercy he delays his coming so that he does not have to destroy us. I suggest that you delete this thread as it is not biblical.
Permalink Reply by Sarah Sulton on September 18, 2011 at 4:34am
“Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour in which the Son of Man is coming."--Matthew 25:13

Yes, we as Christians and specifically Seventh-day Adventist Christians are preaching the truth by stating that Jesus is coming soon.
Permalink Reply by Ray Phillips on September 18, 2011 at 6:30am

Sir James

 

Having heard this message of the soon coming of Jesus for some 65 plus years, I still believe it even more today than any time before.

 

Two rules for understanding the book of Revelation are these.

  1. Prophecies in Revelation are not based on time, but on events.  There are no time prophecies in Revelation based on prophetic time (I.e. the day equals a year principle), after 1844.
  2. When you read "soon" in end time prophecies, it means: "As soon as." 

Since end time prophecies are based on events, not time, to become concerned about the length of time that has transpired is not part of the prophecy, therefore the fact that Jesus has not returned yet, does not negate the prophecy.

 

See, God is seeking to save all that can be saved.  Time is not a factor with God, only with humans.  God will hold the door of mercy open as long as possible with the hope that  one more will accept His lovingly offered salvation.  So, there is no time factor in when Jesus will come back. 

 

Also, time for a young child moves much slower than for someone my age.  One day until Christmas was like a very long years.  However, now it seems like Christmas will be here in about two weeks or so.  Here we are in the middle of September and it seems like the first of September was just a day or so ago. 

 

There is a reason for  this.  For a five year old, one day is 1/1800 of his life.  Or to put it another way, it is only one day out of 1,800 that he has experienced.  For me, one day is only one in well over 25,000 plus days.  So too it is the same with God.  One day for Him is only 1 in multiple billions of days and probably years.  Since He has no beginning and no end, one day is less than a micro second for us.  Not even a small child would consider a micro-second as being very long.

 

Which is why we have been warned never to set a time for the second coming of Jesus.  I made that mistake one time, or at least I got closer to it than I should have.  Back when I first started giving Revelation Seminars, the way events were going, it appeared that the sequence of events could wrap up in the next ten years or so, if they continued the way that they were going. 

 

However, they did not continue in that trend and instead changed course so that as we can readily see, many "ten years" have passed since that time long ago.  Today, the way events are going, the second coming of Jesus looks even more immient.  It seems like things could wrap up in a year or so.  But, again, time is not the factor.  The course of event could change again, as God allows a little more time for every one to have more than adequate time to made a full and complete choice as to where they want to spend eternity by who they will serve today.  Who do they want in control of their lives?  Themeslves or God?  So, for God to give them a little more time is only a micro-second with Him, while for us it may seem like a long wait.

 

But, let's look at another factor.

 

The concept of "soon" is a relative concept at best.  When I was a little child, I can remember going on some "long" road trips with my parents (50, 100 or 200 miles G).  I would ask: "How soon will we get there?"  They would say: "three hours" or "soon."  After a very long time, possibly as long as five minutes, I would ask: "How soon will we get there?"  Well, if you have had children in a road trip, you know the drill. 

 

However, if I would become involved in something other than wondering how long it would take, the time would pass very quickley and before I knew it, we would be at our destination.

 

The same is true about Jesus coming.  If we become involved in helping other people get ready, instead of saying:

"we are misleading people by telling them Jesus is coming soon,"

we will be saying:

"Please, Lord Jesus, just a little longer so these people I love and am working with, will have a chance to choose to be on your side." 

Some fret when loved one lay down their life and are taken in death.  We look at the time that is passing and long to see them again; I speak from experience.  Yet, for them, the next thought and sight they will have is seeing Jesus.  For them, it is like on that road trip, if I curled up in the back seat and went to sleep, the trip became very short indeed. 

 

So, no we are not misleading people; if we are not telling them that it will be a specific time, or time range.  But, if we tell people that the sequence of events is a fulfillment of the prophecies and that the next major event is His return. we are only telling them what the Bible tells us, which is always the safest thing to do.

 

Maranatha :)
Ray

 

 

 

 

 

 

Permalink Reply by Jason M. on September 18, 2011 at 8:31am

Wow ray , great stuff. You said...

"Since He has no beginning and no end, one day is less than a micro second for us"

lol, you meant...one day is less than a Planck time for us.( there are more planck time in a microsecond than there are seconds in 13.5 billion years)

Permalink Reply by David Mathew on September 18, 2011 at 10:48am

Death is sooner than we expect... and death is equivalent to Christ coming for that person....time suspended...

 

In other words preaching anything else is misleading....

 

yours sincerely

DM

Permalink Reply by Desmond Burke on September 19, 2011 at 7:03am
death is equivalent to Christ coming for that person
Permalink Reply by Matt Britten on September 18, 2011 at 10:59am
I'm wondering, did Jesus gave us any commands to preach His soon coming?
Permalink Reply by Jason M. on September 18, 2011 at 2:14pm

Of course he did , The whole bible is about his soon coming, read it then you will see 

 

  1. And the brother shall deliver up the brother to death, and the father the child: and the children shall rise up against their parents, and cause them to be put to death.
  2. And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved.
  3. 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. Matthew 10:21-23

Jesus is saying that it will be a very short time: "Ye shall not have gone over the cities of Israel, till the son of man be come". Here is another very interesting quote from Jesus:

  1. "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.
  2. 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." Matthew 16:27-28

Here Jesus says that some of them standing there will not see death till they see the seond coming.

I think that many have thought that what Peter James and John saw on the Mount of Transfiguration was what Jesus was talking about. However, in verse 27, Jesus specifically mentions that He will be coming in the glory of His Father and with His angels. This is the second coming, not merely the transfiguration on the mountain.

The prophets were not told by God when things were to occur. Could it be that Jesus Himself was not told the time when He was on Earth as a man?

  1. "But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. Mark 13:32

Jesus here tells His disciples that even He does not know when things are to occur. So, what He said, when He was on earth, is what He believed as a man but not as God with God-Knowledge. He received information from God just like the prophets did in their time. The Father did not tell Him everything.

After Jesus died and rose from the dead, He appeared to His disciples several times. The last time He is with them personally, they ask Him, "Are you at this time going to restore Israel?

  1. Therefore, when they had come together, they asked Him, saying, "Lord, will You at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?"
  2. And He said to them, "It is not for you to know times or seasons which the Father has put in His own authority.
  3. But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth." Acts 1:6-8

Jesus does not inform us whether He then knew, however, He did say that it is not for us to know tims or seasons before they happen.

All along, God has designed things so that God's book would always be relevant to God's people because the Bible is pointing to an event that is yet to happen. It is to happen in the last days of this Earth's history.

So, again I have to say that it was in love that God allowed first the writers and then the readers of the Bible to believe that God was coming in their day. So that made the Bible special to every generation that is able to read the books of the Bible. Because they felt God was coming in their day, it actually changed their whole outlook on life. Missionaries have covered the whole globe telling people about Jesus' soon coming. God has probably saved people's lives by doing this. It is one of the best gifts that God could have given us!

 

 


Permalink Reply by Matt Britten on September 18, 2011 at 10:52pm
Thanks for the texts. They all confirm that Jesus is coming again. (This goes without contention). But you may have misunderstood my question: "did Jesus give us any commands to preach His soon coming?"
Permalink Reply by Jierd on September 18, 2011 at 10:58pm
So what's your point?
Permalink Reply by Jason M. on September 18, 2011 at 11:07pm

The Apostles Thought that Jesus was Coming in Their Day

In the New Testament the evidence becomes easier to see. John the Baptist preached that the kingdom is at hand so repent.

  1. In those days came John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judaea,
  2. And saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.
  3. For this is he that was spoken of by the prophet Esaias, saying, The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight. Matthew 3:1-3

In Mark, we see that John is saying: "the time is fulfilled". So, John was saying that the time was right now.

  1. Now after that John was put in prison, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God,
  2. And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel. Mark 1:14-15

We see this same point in Matthew: "the time is fulfilled".

  1. Now when Jesus had heard that John was cast into prison, he departed into Galilee. . . .
  1. The people which sat in darkness saw great light; and to them which sat in the region and shadow of death light is sprung up.
  2. From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. Matthew 4:12,16-17.

Jesus also instructed the disciples to also preach that the Kingdom is at hand.

  1. These twelve Jesus sent forth, and commanded them, saying, Go not into the way of the Gentiles, and into any city of the Samaritans enter ye not:
  2. But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.
  3. And as ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand. Matthew 10:5-7.

In addition Jesus told his disciples that they would not have gone through the cities of Israel before the Son of Man comes. This is an amazing statement!

  1. And the brother shall deliver up the brother to death, and the father the child: and the children shall rise up against their parents, and cause them to be put to death.
  2. And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved.
  3. 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. Matthew 10:21-23

Jesus is not suggesting to the disciples that it will be years before He comes, but He is suggesting that it will be a very short time: "Ye shall not have gone over the cities of Israel, till the son of man be come". Here is another very interesting quote from Jesus:

  1. "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.
  2. 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." Matthew 16:27-28

Jesus actually said that some of them that were standing there would not die until they saw the second coming of Jesus!

The language of both Jesus and John the Baptist were very strong. They were both saying, the time is very near. It is now. You better repent!

  1. Now when John had heard in the prison the works of Christ, he sent two of his disciples,
  2. And said unto him, Art thou he that should come, or do we look for another? Matthew 11:2-3

What was John the Baptist looking for. Remember, much of John's talk had been on judgement and the end of the world. See what is recorded by Luke:

  1. Then said he to the multitude that came forth to be baptized of him, O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come?
  1. John answered, saying unto them all, I indeed baptize you with water; but one mightier than I cometh, the latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy to unloose: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost and with fire:
  2. Whose fan is in his hand, and he will throughly purge his floor, and will gather the wheat into his garner; but the chaff he will burn with fire unquenchable. Luke 3:7,16-17.

What was John looking for anyway!?

If you were to read the words of George Frideric Handel's Messiah, you will see that he mixed up the language of his music. Some words are on judgement of Christ's second coming. Other text, speak of the suffering of Christ's first coming. Could John the Baptist have done the same thing?

John was confused when Jesus didn't seem to be doing the right things. It is easy to see that John the Baptist confused these two groups of verses relating to Christ's two comings. John was also probably thinking of a literal Kingdom of Israel as well, just like the disciples of Jesus.

Jesus often spoke harsh words to those who had completely given themselves to the control of Satan. See what Jesus said to the scribes and pharisees.

  1. Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are like unto whited sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men's bones, and of all uncleanness.
  2. Even so ye also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but within ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity.
  3. Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! because ye build the tombs of the prophets, and garnish the sepulchres of the righteous,
  4. And say, If we had been in the days of our fathers, we would not have been partakers with them in the blood of the prophets.
  5. Wherefore ye be witnesses unto yourselves, that ye are the children of them which killed the prophets.
  6. Fill ye up then the measure of your fathers.
  7. Ye serpents, ye generation of vipers, how can ye escape the damnation of hell?
  8. Wherefore, behold, I send unto you prophets, and wise men, and scribes: and some of them ye shall kill and crucify; and some of them shall ye scourge in your synagogues, and persecute them from city to city:
  9. 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.
  10. Verily I say unto you, All these things shall come upon this generation.
  11. O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not!
  12. Behold, your house is left unto you desolate.
  13. 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. Matthew 23:27-39.

So Jesus spoke very plainly concerning His judgement on them. One phrase is very definite last day language: All these things shall come upon this generation. This phrase was just one of many evidences of the early church that the end was very near because it was to happen "in this generation".

  1. And it came to pass, when he was come nigh to Bethphage and Bethany, at the mount called the mount of Olives, he sent two of his disciples,
  2. Saying, Go ye into the village over against you; in the which at your entering ye shall find a colt tied, whereon yet never man sat: loose him, and bring him hither.
  3. And if any man ask you, Why do ye loose him? thus shall ye say unto him, Because the Lord hath need of him.
  4. And they that were sent went their way, and found even as he had said unto them.
  5. And as they were loosing the colt, the owners thereof said unto them, Why loose ye the colt?
  6. And they said, The Lord hath need of him.
  7. And they brought him to Jesus: and they cast their garments upon the colt, and they set Jesus thereon.
  8. And as he went, they spread their clothes in the way.
  9. And when he was come nigh, even now at the descent of the mount of Olives, the whole multitude of the disciples began to rejoice and praise God with a loud voice for all the mighty works that they had seen;
  10. Saying, Blessed be the King that cometh in the name of the Lord: peace in heaven, and glory in the highest. Luke 19:29-38.

Why would Jesus ride in to Jerusalem on a colt. That was a sign of royalty and that we was going to take command. Again we see that Jesus is giving some very interesting signs about the immediacy of His coming kingdom.

  1. And he said unto them, With desire I have desired to eat this passover with you before I suffer:
  2. For I say unto you, I will not any more eat thereof, until it be fulfilled in the kingdom of God.
  3. And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and said, Take this, and divide it among yourselves:
  4. For I say unto you, I will not drink of the fruit of the vine, until the kingdom of God shall come.
  5. And he took bread, and gave thanks, and brake it, and gave unto them, saying, This is my body which is given for you: this do in remembrance of me.
  6. Likewise also the cup after supper, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood, which is shed for you.
  7. But, behold, the hand of him that betrayeth me is with me on the table.
  8. And truly the Son of man goeth, as it was determined: but woe unto that man by whom he is betrayed!
  9. And they began to enquire among themselves, which of them it was that should do this thing.
  10. And there was also a strife among them, which of them should be accounted the greatest. Luke 22:15-24.

We see that Jesus speaks of not eating again until the kingdom is set up. Jesus spoke so much concerning the nearness of the Kingdom that His disciples thought that it was time to get their pecking order straight. They wanted to be ready, to know who would lead when the kingdom was actually set up.

Why would the disciples argue about their position constantly if they didn't think the kingdom was at that very moment, ready to be set up?

  1. And he said unto them, What manner of communications are these that ye have one to another, as ye walk, and are sad?
  2. And the one of them, whose name was Cleopas, answering said unto him, Art thou only a stranger in Jerusalem, and hast not known the things which are come to pass there in these days?
  3. And he said unto them, What things? And they said unto him, Concerning Jesus of Nazareth, which was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people:
  4. And how the chief priests and our rulers delivered him to be condemned to death, and have crucified him.
  5. But we trusted that it had been he which should have redeemed Israel: and beside all this, to day is the third day since these things were done. Luke 24: 17-21.

The disappointment of having Jesus die on the cross must have been terrible! They thought He had been the one to restore Judah. Now it seemed hopeless. How could anything happen with Him dead.

But Jesus rose again and was with the disciples for a little while. When He was about to leave them again, the disciples, above everything else, wanted to know when the kingdom would be set up. Let's read it.

  1. When they therefore were come together, they asked of him, saying, Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel?
  2. And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power.
  3. But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.
  4. And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight. Acts 1:6-9.

The disciples, not having received the answer they wanted and on top of that loosing Jesus all over again, this time to the clouds, were probably at the ends of their rope. What would they do after this?

Again we pick up the rest of the story.

  1. And while they looked stedfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel;
  2. 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. Acts 1:10-11.

There is no message that the disciples would die first. That they would have to be risen from the dead before they could see it. Again the message suggests that Jesus was coming back in their day.

After Jesus left, His disciples preached the soon appearing of Jesus.

  1. But Peter, standing up with the eleven, lifted up his voice, and said unto them, Ye men of Judaea, and all ye that dwell at Jerusalem, be this known unto you, and hearken to my words:
  2. For these are not drunken, as ye suppose, seeing it is but the third hour of the day.
  3. But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel;
  4. And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams:
  5. And on my servants and on my handmaidens I will pour out in those days of my Spirit; and they shall prophesy:
  6. And I will shew wonders in heaven above, and signs in the earth beneath; blood, and fire, and vapour of smoke:
  7. The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before that great and notable day of the Lord come:
  8. And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved. Acts 2:14-21.
  1. Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do?
  2. Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.
  3. For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call.
  4. And with many other words did he testify and exhort, saying, Save yourselves from this perverse generation.
  5. Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.
  6. And they continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.
  7. And fear came upon every soul: and many wonders and signs were done by the apostles.
  8. And all that believed were together, and had all things common;
  9. And sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need.
  10. And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart,
  11. Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved. Acts 2:37-47.

After Pentecost Peter is seen preaching the soon coming of Jesus Christ, saying we are living in the last days. The people who listen are cut to the quick and cry out what shall we do?

If these new Christians did not believe that Jesus was coming very soon, then why do we see them selling all of their possessions and the living together breaking bread with one another?

In much of the new testament, we see Paul who also warns of the nearness of Christ's return.

  1. And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed.
  2. The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light.
  3. Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying.
  4. But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof. Romans 13:11-14.

It is very interesting how Paul puts it: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed. It seems that maybe some were growing weary, and Paul wanted all to again realize the nearness of His coming.

In the next verses we see that Paul even recommends that it is not good not even to marry!

  1. Now concerning virgins I have no commandment of the Lord: yet I give my judgment, as one that hath obtained mercy of the Lord to be faithful.
  2. I suppose therefore that this is good for the present distress, I say, that it is good for a man so to be.
  3. Art thou bound unto a wife? seek not to be loosed. Art thou loosed from a wife? seek not a wife.
  4. But and if thou marry, thou hast not sinned; and if a virgin marry, she hath not sinned. Nevertheless such shall have trouble in the flesh: but I spare you.
  5. But this I say, brethren, the time is short: it remaineth, that both they that have wives be as though they had none;
  6. And they that weep, as though they wept not; and they that rejoice, as though they rejoiced not; and they that buy, as though they possessed not;
  7. And they that use this world, as not abusing it: for the fashion of this world passeth away. 1 Corinthians 7:25-31.

It is a good thing that they did not listen to Paul on this or else the church might not have survived the years ahead. Never the less, we see Paul saying that because the time is so short, it is better if you never got married. And those of you who are married, act as if you are not married!

Below, we see Paul instruct the people to be careful because they were living in the last days.

  1. Now these things were our examples, to the intent we should not lust after evil things, as they also lusted.
  2. Neither be ye idolaters, as were some of them; as it is written, The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play.
  3. Neither let us commit fornication, as some of them committed, and fell in one day three and twenty thousand.
  4. Neither let us tempt Christ, as some of them also tempted, and were destroyed of serpents.
  5. Neither murmur ye, as some of them also murmured, and were destroyed of the destroyer.
  6. Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come.
  7. Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.1 Corinthians 10:6-12.

Paul speaks to the corinthians assuring them that the coming of Christ was so near that "not all of us will sleep".

  1. Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,
  2. In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. 1 Corinthians 15:51-52.

After some time people started to get worried because one by one people were dying. Weren't we all to be here in the flesh when Jesus comes?

So Paul encourages them by showing them that those who will sleep (die) will be raised up when Jesus comes to see Him come!

  1. But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope.
  2. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.
  3. 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.
  4. For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:
  5. Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.
  6. Wherefore comfort one another with these words. 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18.

Notice the phrase: "we which are alive and remain". Paul thought that the time was extremely near.

  1. But of the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that I write unto you.
  2. For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night.
  3. For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape.
  4. But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief.
  5. Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness.
  6. Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober.
  7. For they that sleep sleep in the night; and they that be drunken are drunken in the night.
  8. But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation.
  9. For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ,
  10. Who died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with him.
  11. Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do.1 Thessalonians 5:1-11.

The following scripture speak of the closeness of Christ coming.

  1. If any man love not the Lord Jesus Christ, let him be Anathema Maranatha. 1 Corinthians 16:22. (Maranatha means, O Lord, come!)
  1. Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand. Philippians 4:5.
  1. For then must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world: but now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself. Hebrews 9:26.
  1. Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching. Hebrews 10:25.

James, I understand him to be one of the elder brothers of Jesus from Joseph's side, not Mary's side) speaks of the nearness of the end and the fact that all the possessions of the wicked will amount to nothing in the end.

  1. Go to now, ye rich men, weep and howl for your miseries that shall come upon you.
  2. Your riches are corrupted, and your garments are motheaten.
  3. Your gold and silver is cankered; and the rust of them shall be a witness against you, and shall eat your flesh as it were fire. Ye have heaped treasure together for the last days.
  4. Behold, the hire of the labourers who have reaped down your fields, which is of you kept back by fraud, crieth: and the cries of them which have reaped are entered into the ears of the Lord of sabaoth.
  5. Ye have lived in pleasure on the earth, and been wanton; ye have nourished your hearts, as in a day of slaughter.
  6. Ye have condemned and killed the just; and he doth not resist you.
  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.
  8. Be ye also patient; stablish your hearts: for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh.
  9. Grudge not one against another, brethren, lest ye be condemned: behold, the judge standeth before the door. James 5:1-9.

Peter, in addition to his first sermon recorded in Acts 2, often spoke of the nearness of the end.

  1. Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,
  2. To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you,
  3. Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.
  4. Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations:
  5. 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:
  6. Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory:
  7. Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls.
  8. Of which salvation the prophets have enquired and searched diligently, who prophesied of the grace that should come unto you:
  9. Searching what, or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow.
  10. Unto whom it was revealed, that not unto themselves, but unto us they did minister the things, which are now reported unto you by them that have preached the gospel unto you with the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven; which things the angels desire to look into. 1 Peter 1:3-12.
  1. Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers;
  2. But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:
  3. Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you, 1 Peter 1:18-20.
  1. But the end of all things is at hand: be ye therefore sober, and watch unto prayer.
  1. For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God? 1 Peter 4:7,17.

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