What will the disciples do if the Master tarries any longer?

[Purity]

Ever since the day of the Masters ascension we recognize as Acts 1 men and women have been in expectation of the Lord Jesus Christ’s return to the earth, this will be to re-establish the Kingdom of God on earth. To re-establish the throne of his father David.

But our God, in His wisdom, has made so that no one knows neither the day or thehour when Jesus will return. Some find the idea of not knowing very frustrating. Their belief is that it would better if Yahweh, who “has appointed a day” would tell us when that day will come. The thinking being that as the day approached our dedication would become stronger, our preaching would become more sincere and our behaviour would become more Christ-like.

But scripture tells us no one knows. And we do not have to think about this very long to recognize the wisdom of Yahweh. The disciples asked in Acts 1:6 “Lord, will you at this time restore the Kingdom to Israel?” It would have been so demoralizing if Jesus responded to them, It will not be for at least another two thousand years. Instead he said to them “It is not for you to know times or seasons that the Father has fixed by his own authority” (Acts 1:7)

tbc

 

[Arnie Manitoba]

I have considered that even Jesus Himself did not know the timing of it (so how could he tell the disciples)

He said ... "Only The Father knows"

He even excluded himself from knowing

Just some thoughts from me.

 

[KingJ]

Well Jesus may not know the day but He does tell us the year!

Matt 24:22 If those days had not been cut short, no one would survive, but for the sake of the elect those days will be shortened.
Luke 21:28 When these things begin to take place, stand up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.

Cut short is not 10 years. WW2 was 6 years. Heck, the people of Stalingrad must feel their 5 month siege was not 'cut short'.

When we are hunted like in the day of Nero or the world becomes a global village and is exposed / overwhelmed with immorality at the level of Sodom and Gomorrah....we can expect Jesus within that year! imho :).

 

[Purity]

Not knowing the time of his coming has not been a handicap, in fact, it has been a blessing for many generations of believers. Our brothers and sisters since the conclusion of the ministry of Jesus have believed that they were living in the last days and that the return of Jesus could happen at any moment. Their behaviour and actions were influenced by the thought that Jesus would return in their lifetime. The brethren and sisters of the ecclesia at Thessalonica were living with the expectation of Jesus’ return to be at any minute and the apostle had to encourage them to have patience until the day of his return. Read 1 Thess 5:12–23 We sense that their enthusiasm was running away with them.

From the discussions here at CB I sense Christians no longer share such enthusiasm, though I would like to be corrected.

 

[Arnie Manitoba]

Not knowing the time of his coming has not been a handicap, in fact, it has been a blessing for many generations of believers. Our brothers and sisters since the conclusion of the ministry of Jesus have believed that they were living in the last days and that the return of Jesus could happen at any moment. Their behaviour and actions were influenced by the thought that Jesus would return in their lifetime. The brethren and sisters of the ecclesia at Thessalonica were living with the expectation of Jesus’ return to be at any minute and the apostle had to encourage them to have patience until the day of his return. Read 1 Thess 5:12–23 We sense that their enthusiasm was running away with them.

From the discussions here at CB I sense Christians no longer share such enthusiasm, though I would like to be corrected.

I would agree that the "imminent Return" of Christ is good fuel to keep Christians in a state of expectation ..... even if thousands of years go by.

And we also must keep in mind that thousands of years may seem like a long time to us .... but God is in eternity (no time , no clock , no calendar)

We humans make a big deal about a slow God but it means extended salvation to Him.

 

[FHII]

I like what Purity said. In the spiritual and most important sense, however, the Kingdom has already come. It's within men, and the day Christ came to you the world ended for you (Luke 17:21). However, on the natural sense, people (myself included) are looking for the time when God gets tired of man's earthly kingdom and sets things right as described in the latter chapters of Revelation.

My opinion on that is every generation should act and assume that last generation is them. Many, if not all, generations before us had warning signs, and we do too. I'm not a doomsday prophet type, but we should be prepared for it.

I am certain of two things though: 1. When it does happen, it's not going to be pretty by man's standards; and 2. We are a lot closer than in any other generation!

 

[Purity]

The times we live in provide us so many signs that the day of the LORD is at hand and we fellow believers must be careful not to become indifferent to them. The greatest sign, the reestablishing of the nation of Israel and the return of the Jews to the land, was longed for by those who have gone before us, they would have the expectation that the day of the LORD was so close, OH so close. Does it cause expectation with us? Almost all of us have grown up with Israel living in their own land, has this amazing fulfillment of prophecy become less remarkable to us? What is our, where is our expectation?

The signs are clear, the day of the LORD is at hand. What should we be doing today fully expecting the day of the LORD to arrive at any moment? The Olivet prophecy encourages all of us to be watching. This prophecy occurs in a section of scripture that is dedicated to the signs and events of the last days, and two exhortations are provided for our consideration. The first is an encouragement to be watching, to be alert to the signs of the times. Jesus states in Mark 13:23 “Be on guard; I have told you all things beforehand”. We are a privileged community we have been told what will happen as time winds down to the day of the LORD. There are so few who have any idea that the day to day events in the world are leading to the day of the LORD and how Yahweh the God of Israel is like chess master placing all the pieces into position to herald the day of the return of the Lord Jesus Christ. We know the end, and we watch as each day another part is placed into position. The second exhortation is just as important as being awake, to be watching the signs. We need to be watching ourselves and our life style. READ Mark 13:32–37 ESV

In the parable there were ten virgins who were told to prepare, but only five were waiting in expectation. A summary of this principle is given in Luke 12:35–36 “Let your loins be girded about, and your lights burning; and you yourselves like unto men waiting for their lord, when he will return from the wedding; that when he comes and knocks, they may open unto him immediately”. This preparedness reminds us of the children of Israel on that first Passover night. They were told to eat with their loins girded, with their shoes on their feet and their staff in their hand. They were also instructed to eat quickly. Our watching includes us being ready to go when the call comes.

 

[veteran]

Since no man knows the day or hour of His coming, and we are His now and know He is going to return, then why should we even watch for His coming? Wouldn't we be just wasting our time trying to figure out that day with watching???

Why did our Lord Jesus and His Apostles command us to be on watch and remain sober? Watch what, and be sober because of what? Like our Lord Jesus said, if the goodman of the house had watched he would not have suffered his house of to be broken up.

So what was He warning to be on watch about???

 

[FHII]

Since no man knows the day or hour of His coming, and we are His now and know He is going to return, then why should we even watch for His coming? Wouldn't we be just wasting our time trying to figure out that day with watching???

Why did our Lord Jesus and His Apostles command us to be on watch and remain sober? Watch what, and be sober because of what? Like our Lord Jesus said, if the goodman of the house had watched he would not have suffered his house of to be broken up.

So what was He warning to be on watch about???

It seems to me there is a difference between "watching" and trying to figure out that day with watching". The former seems to suggest, "just be ready". The latter seems to say "figure out the day, then plan accordingly."

Just a theory, but God knows the general nature of humans to put off until tomorrow instead of doing what can be done today. I think he wants us to be instant in season and out of season.

 

[Purity]

Since no man knows the day or hour of His coming, and we are His now and know He is going to return, then why should we even watch for His coming? Wouldn't we be just wasting our time trying to figure out that day with watching???

Why did our Lord Jesus and His Apostles command us to be on watch and remain sober? Watch what, and be sober because of what? Like our Lord Jesus said, if the goodman of the house had watched he would not have suffered his house of to be broken up.

So what was He warning to be on watch about???

Many reasons to watch Veteran Heb 13:17...as you rightly state Jesus spoke of “watchfulness” (householder), “preparedness” (10 virgins), “use of abilities”(talents), and speaks of the inevitability of judgement Matt 25:31-46.

But lets not be weather watchers who were only conscious of economic factors and yet blissfully ignorant of spiritual factors!! Luke 12:55

Purity

 

[Arnie Manitoba]

I like what Purity said. In the spiritual and most important sense, however, the Kingdom has already come. It's within men, and the day Christ came to you the world ended for you (Luke 17:21). However, on the natural sense, people (myself included) are looking for the time when God gets tired of man's earthly kingdom and sets things right as described in the latter chapters of Revelation.

My opinion on that is every generation should act and assume that last generation is them. Many, if not all, generations before us had warning signs, and we do too. I'm not a doomsday prophet type, but we should be prepared for it.

I am certain of two things though: 1. When it does happen, it's not going to be pretty by man's standards; and 2. We are a lot closer than in any other generation!

I would disagree with (highlighted in red above)

The kingdom has not yet come , spiritually , imaginary , or otherwise.

If it has ,,, it is a pretty crappy kingdom. God's plans are for much more , and much better .

Would it not be better just to say we (believers) have a foot in the door (entrance) to the (future) kingdom ???

That's the way I see it anyway.

 

[mjrhealth]

satan and all his believe, they know the name of Jesus, satan even talks to God, yet they have no place in the kingdom of heaven. The church is asleep its going to get a loud wake up call.

In all his Love

 

[Purity]

satan and all his believe, they know the name of Jesus, satan even talks to God, yet they have no place in the kingdom of heaven. The church is asleep its going to get a loud wake up call.

In all his Love

The mystical notions you apply to satan have been placed their by ECF's who were carried away with platonic theory and Egyptian metaphysics.

In other words the above post is a load of codswallop. (said politely)

Purity

 

[FHII]

I would disagree with (highlighted in red above)

The kingdom has not yet come , spiritually , imaginary , or otherwise.

If it has ,,, it is a pretty crappy kingdom. God's plans are for much more , and much better .

Would it not be better just to say we (believers) have a foot in the door (entrance) to the (future) kingdom ???

That's the way I see it anyway.

Ok.... Well, thanks for sharing.

Purity: what are ECF's?

 

[Purity]

Ok.... Well, thanks for sharing.

Purity: what are ECF's?

Early Church Fathers

 

[DaDad]

I would offer two points:

1. It amazes me that people add to Scripture. Matt 24:36 and Mark 13:32 both say no man knows the DAY or the HOUR. So who is it that adds week, month, season, year, decade, score, century, millennia?!? Does Scripture really say we can't know the return of Christ to ANY specificity, or is this simply an excuse for ignorance?

2. There's a reason why Jesus does not know the DAY or the HOUR. -- Has anyone considered that because Jesus is the WORD (i.e., SCRIPTURE), that this information IS NOT FOUND IN SCRIPTURE?

In both cases above, I would argue that Scripture clearly provides the most elementary of students (i.e., ME) with the millennia, century, score, decade, year, and season. And if I were more studied, I could certainly ascertain the month and week. -- Of course this specificity is beyond my needs, and would simplly prove academic.


Jeremiah 33:3


DaDad

 

[KingJ]

I would offer two points:

1. It amazes me that people add to Scripture. Matt 24:36 and Mark 13:32 both say no man knows the DAY or the HOUR. So who is it that adds week, month, season, year, decade, score, century, millennia?!? Does Scripture really say we can't know the return of Christ to ANY specificity, or is this simply an excuse for ignorance?

2. There's a reason why Jesus does not know the DAY or the HOUR. -- Has anyone considered that because Jesus is the WORD (i.e., SCRIPTURE), that this information IS NOT FOUND IN SCRIPTURE?

In both cases above, I would argue that Scripture clearly provides the most elementary of students (i.e., ME) with the millennia, century, score, decade, year, and season. And if I were more studied, I could certainly ascertain the month and week. -- Of course this specificity is beyond my needs, and would simplly prove academic.


Jeremiah 33:3


DaDad

Interesting take. But Jesus does know the season and He does warn us that it will be early in that season (Matt 24:22). If He didn't... Matt 24 would read, 'I don't know anything', the end.

 

[Arnie Manitoba]

Jesus probably intended it this way .... none of us knowing when he will return .... he wants us all to think ... "soon" .... whether 1500 years ago or today.

Lets face it , if he told us he would return Jan 1st 2680 it would just make us even fatter and lazier than we are now.

Better for us to be unsure , he could come tomorrow , that way we are only slightly fat and lazy.

The bible does give us some hints about conditions just before he returns .... but then again , every generation in church history have claimed ... "now is the time"

 

[KingJ]

The bible does give us some hints about conditions just before he returns .... but then again , every generation in church history have claimed ... "now is the time"

Not sure why any generation prior to 1948 deduced that though.

 

[DaDad]

...

Better for us to be unsure , he could come tomorrow , that way we are only slightly fat and lazy.

The bible does give us some hints about conditions just before he returns .... but then again , every generation in church history have claimed ... "now is the time"

To presuppose that knowledge is either good or bad, preempts GOD's divine prerogative.

As it is, I would argue that where Scripture discounts knowing the DAY and the HOUR, it does not discount the week, month, season, year, etc. Furthermore, I would observe that knowing the year is elementary, and the season obvious. And if someone were well versed in the significance of the feasts, one could reasonably arrive to the week.

But if the church elects to remain ignorant, who am I to disrupt that "bliss".


DaDad