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When the Gospel has been preached unto every people, everywhere, it will come.
And, there's this to consider from Matthew 24: When Jesus speaks the parable of the fig tree, which most Biblical scholars believe is about the re-birth of Israel (so do I), He makes the comment about that generation not passing away until all things are fulfilled.
Israel was re-born in 1948, so how long is a "generation?"
Stillkit--No, most biblical scholars do NOT believe that about the fig tree. Jesus said "THIS generation will by no means pass away till ALL these things take place." EVERY, EVERY, EVERYtime Jesus used that expression (20X!!!), He meant His contemporaries. Always! Look them up, stillkit.
Furthermore, Jesus did NOT say that the Gospel had to be preached to "every people, everywhere in our day!" Read Colossians 1:5, 6, 23--Paul clearly established that the Gospel went out into all the world in that first-century generation! What was Jesus' frame of reference when He said "all the nations?" They were the nations of THAT first-century generation. There is NOTHING in this passage about a re-birth of Israel. When Jesus spoke these words, Israel was still very much a reality!
Also, Jesus told those very disciples right there with Him that THEY were to learn THIS parable from the fig tree (Luke adds "and ALL the trees"). THEY were to recognize the signs of His coming as easily as THEY recognized the signs of the coming of summer in the budding of the fig tree and ALL the trees. Jesus clearly said to THOSE disciples--"When YOU see all these things, [YOU] know that it is near--at the doors!" It is that simple, stillkit. That is the context. Again, there is NOTHING here about 1948--nothing! You are reading that into the text.
Stillkit--No, most biblical scholars do NOT believe that about the fig tree. Jesus said "THIS generation will by no means pass away till ALL these things take place." EVERY, EVERY, EVERYtime Jesus used that expression (20X!!!), He meant His contemporaries. Always! Look them up, stillkit.
Furthermore, Jesus did NOT say that the Gospel had to be preached to "every people, everywhere in our day!" Read Colossians 1:5, 6, 23--Paul clearly established that the Gospel went out into all the world in that first-century generation! What was Jesus' frame of reference when He said "all the nations?" They were the nations of THAT first-century generation. There is NOTHING in this passage about a re-birth of Israel. When Jesus spoke these words, Israel was still very much a reality!
Also, Jesus told those very disciples right there with Him that THEY were to learn THIS parable from the fig tree (Luke adds "and ALL the trees"). THEY were to recognize the signs of His coming as easily as THEY recognized the signs of the coming of summer in the budding of the fig tree and ALL the trees. Jesus clearly said to THOSE disciples--"When YOU see all these things, [YOU] know that it is near--at the doors!" It is that simple, stillkit. That is the context. Again, there is NOTHING here about 1948--nothing! You are reading that into the text.
Sincerely, Preterist
Question, what's next for you? There's no hope in His second coming, all things were already fulfilled, He was only speaking to a few, excluding you (or else, you would have been one of the THOSE, THERE, IN THAT PARTICULAR TIME PERIOD) so in light of your CONTEXT, what's NEXT for YOU?
Why are you still here? What is your purpose? It's all been said and done right, according to you right? What's next on Christ's agenda for you? No rapture, no second coming, no resurrection........what then?
Sincerely, Betsey
Last edited by Betsey Lane; 07-15-2009 at 03:22 PM..
How could I forget? 5. The ministry of the two witnesses
They are not people; they are two olive trees and two lampstands. (Rev. 11:4) What these represent I do not know, but they are not human. Fire cannot come out of any human's mouth to devour enemies.
Betsy, We are still here because the kingdom is here NOW!
A Kingdom without a king...... Oh, but wait! There is one that's ruling NOW and one that is to COME! To whom does you're allegiance lies?
I don't know about you, but when I'm reigning with my King, all the former things of this world, this kingdom, will be no more! Here's to pledging your allegiance to Our Soon Coming King!!
Who have ears to hear, let them hear what the Spirit is saying unto them...... It's not to late, but the hour, keep an eye on the hour.
Last edited by Betsey Lane; 07-15-2009 at 04:31 PM..
Ultimately, no one will be able to completely interpret Revelation correctly. It's too full of symbology, transliteration, metaphor, and everything else except a plain, straightforward revelation in simple-to-understand language of things to come--hence, over two thousand different interpretations available (at last count). Only God and John knew what the heck he was saying when he wrote it. It is the last record of God speaking directly to a man. Afterwards, it appears that God chose to go silent and cease the awe-inspiring miracles recorded in the Bible. Don't look for any supernatural acts that can be directly attributable to God in the rest of man's history. As Preterist and Jeapostle have told you, the kingdom of God is here--NOW! Humans will be born, grow old and die. If they are saved they go immediately to be with the Lord--THAT is our rapture. The rest of us down here will chug along until our time comes to join them. Of more importance than trying to figure out the rapture date is to figure out how to stop mankind from obliterating planet earth from overpopulation and despoilment, which is very real, very dangerous, and threatens mankind's survival. But, no, God is not going to jump in and stop man from destroying himself by supernaturally restocking all the natural resources and miraculously cleaning up the environment.
Ultimately, no one will be able to completely interpret Revelation correctly. It's too full of symbology, transliteration, metaphor, and everything else except a plain, straightforward revelation in simple-to-understand language of things to come--hence, over two thousand different interpretations available (at last count). Only God and John knew what the heck he was saying when he wrote it. It is the last record of God speaking directly to a man. Afterwards, it appears that God chose to go silent and cease the awe-inspiring miracles recorded in the Bible. Don't look for any supernatural acts that can be directly attributable to God in the rest of man's history. As Preterist and Jeapostle have told you, the kingdom of God is here--NOW! Humans will be born, grow old and die. If they are saved they go immediately to be with the Lord--THAT is our rapture. The rest of us down here will chug along until our time comes to join them. Of more importance than trying to figure out the rapture date is to figure out how to stop mankind from obliterating planet earth from overpopulation and despoilment, which is very real, very dangerous, and threatens mankind's survival. But, no, God is not going to jump in and stop man from destroying himself by supernaturally restocking all the natural resources and miraculously cleaning up the environment.
I can tell you what I do know....He's coming and I'm going!
Dear Betsy, Is Jesus the LORD (KING) of your life? What do you mean a kingdom without a king? The question should be, a king without a kingdom? Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son (Col.1:13)
Dear Betsy, Is Jesus the LORD (KING) of your life? What do you mean a kingdom without a king? The question should be, a king without a kingdom? Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son (Col.1:13)
Do you believe He's coming back just like He said He would? That He said: Behold, He is coming with the clouds, and every eyes shall see Him, eventhose who pierced Him?
Do you believe Him? That the message was given to ALL, ALLincluding them that pierced Him?
A Kingdom without a king...... Oh, but wait! There is one that's ruling NOW and one that is to COME! To whom does you're allegiance lies?
I don't know about you, but when I'm reigning with my King, all the former things of this world, this kingdom, will be no more! Here's to pledging your allegiance to Our Soon Coming King!!
Who have ears to hear, let them hear what the Spirit is saying unto them...... It's not to late, but the hour, keep an eye on the hour.
Betsy, I believe I asked you this before, but are you still looking for a kingdom that comes with observation? Jesus said the kingdom does not come with observation (Luke 17:20). The kingdom is not a physical, earthly kingdom based in an earthly city. The kingdom is not of this world. The kingdom is heavenly and spiritual.
How is Jesus "soon coming king today," and he was "soon coming king 2000 years ago? How is "soon" so soon now, yet the book of Revelation was "shortly to come to pass." 2000 years ago (Rev.1:1).
How was "the end of all things is at hand," (1 Pet.4:7) 2000 years ago, but "the end of all things is at hand," NOW.
How was Christ "coming quickly," 2000 years ago, and yet he is "coming quickly now."
Does language mean anything? Is the "soon" of 2000 years ago, the same "soon" of today?
Those who say the kingdom is coming soon deny that the kingdom came before the first century saints died.
"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 (Matt.16:28)
Jesus speaking to the twelve said, "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." (Matt.10:23)
Last edited by jeapostle; 07-15-2009 at 05:08 PM..
Reason: mispell
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Oh, but wait! There is one that's ruling NOW and one that is to COME! To whom does you're allegiance lies? 
