June 23rd 2019
Are We Entering The End Times Period Of Biblical History? Part 2 of 2
Hebrews 9:27-28 (NIV)
Just as man is destined to die once, and after that to face judgment, so Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many people; and he will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him.
It has been prophesied that Jesus is coming back to this earth, but it was also proclaimed that no one knows when Jesus will return. Only God the Father knows why and when Jesus will return. Despite this there have been many people who have predicted when Jesus will return, and as the date came and passed, Jesus did not return. As the selected verse says, (Jesus) “will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him.” The first time Jesus came to this earth He was born into this world in the normal way as a baby, just a member of mankind! However, when Jesus returns it will be anything but a normal mode. The next time Jesus comes back to this earth, He will not remain here, Jesus will instead take believers with Him, as He raptures them from this earth and takes them back with Him to join those believers who have already died, presumably to stay in the Paradise of God until Jesus again returns to this earth and stays here temporarily until the new earth replaces the current earth. This commentary is not going to try and predict when or how Jesus will come back to this earth, it will only present some of the Scriptures that offer descriptions of attitudes of people, which Jesus sited as evidence that Jesus needs to return.
There seems to be a common theme in these Scriptures that emphasize the attitudes of people, which are not that much different, but are just accentuated and are causing people to become more violent, and less trustworthy as time passes. Paul wrote to Timothy about traits to look for in those who would attend Timothy’s church services. But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God—having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with them. They are the kind who worm their way into homes and gain control over weak-willed women, who are loaded down with sins and are swayed by all kinds of evil desires, always learning but never able to acknowledge the truth. (2 Timothy 3:1-7). Did Paul believe that the end times were close to starting in that time? Of course, we are still reading these Scriptures, and Paul likely believed his writings would be studied by future believers!
Peter wrote similar comments about how people would become self-centered and ruthless and rude to each other. First of all, you must understand that in the last days scoffers will come, scoffing and following their own evil desires. They will say, "Where is this ‘coming’ he promised? Ever since our fathers died, everything goes on as it has since the beginning of creation." But they deliberately forget that long ago by God’s word the heavens existed and the earth was formed out of water and by water. By these waters also the world of that time was deluged and destroyed. By the same word the present heavens and earth are reserved for fire, being kept for the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men. But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance. But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything in it will be laid bare. Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming. That day will bring about the destruction of the heavens by fire, and the elements will melt in the heat. But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, the home of righteousness. So then, dear friends, since you are looking forward to this, make every effort to be found spotless, blameless and at peace with him. (2 Peter 3:3-14).
Peter is trying to convince all members of mankind to believe that God created everything, and Jesus is maintaining the universe until the time when Jesus will create the new heavens and the new earth. This goes far beyond just the second coming of Jesus to the current earth. What Peter is prophesying here is how people will reject the entire Bible accounts of creation through the Second Coming, and then, through the promise of a new earth, which is the promised heaven, where mankind will be living with God in that new earth. Peter is trying to convince people to repent and thus, become saved through the shed blood of Jesus in His perfect sacrifice. This is a big picture look and is being presented in the hope of convincing people to claim their salvation through Jesus Christ by believing the whole story of the salvation plan!
The writer of Hebrews is trying to evangelize too in the hope of convincing people to believe what the Scriptures report from God about this salvation plan. In the past God spoke to our forefathers through the prophets at many times and in various ways, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom he made the universe. The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven. (Hebrews 1:1-3). Remember, the Last Days started when Jesus was born into this current cursed world! Of course, Jesus had to die for our sins, and ascend into heaven to complete the perfect sacrifice required for salvation. All those who claim this salvation will through the grace of God eventually end up in heaven, also known as the new earth!
John wrote about this Greatest Gift of all from God to mankind, which is a Savior Who alone can grant salvation to everyone who can believe this is the only true story you may ever hear on this earth. How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him. Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when he appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is. (1 John 3:1-2). This commentary may not give you much evidence about how to recognize the Last Days, but hopefully it may convince you to tell someone, how having Jesus in your life, has already placed your name in the Lamb’s Book of Life!
If you are waiting for Jesus’ return believing it will occur sometime in the future, you are in good company of those who are called believers. Don’t worry, be happy! Just wait patiently! And the believers all lived happily ever after with Jesus Christ on the new earth, also known as heaven. You do not deserve it, but Jesus paid the price required for it be yours
Your brother in life through Adam, your brother in eternity through Jesus,
Bob Moak
Hebrews 9:27-28 (NIV)
Just as man is destined to die once, and after that to face judgment, so Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many people; and he will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him.
It has been prophesied that Jesus is coming back to this earth, but it was also proclaimed that no one knows when Jesus will return. Only God the Father knows why and when Jesus will return. Despite this there have been many people who have predicted when Jesus will return, and as the date came and passed, Jesus did not return. As the selected verse says, (Jesus) “will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him.” The first time Jesus came to this earth He was born into this world in the normal way as a baby, just a member of mankind! However, when Jesus returns it will be anything but a normal mode. The next time Jesus comes back to this earth, He will not remain here, Jesus will instead take believers with Him, as He raptures them from this earth and takes them back with Him to join those believers who have already died, presumably to stay in the Paradise of God until Jesus again returns to this earth and stays here temporarily until the new earth replaces the current earth. This commentary is not going to try and predict when or how Jesus will come back to this earth, it will only present some of the Scriptures that offer descriptions of attitudes of people, which Jesus sited as evidence that Jesus needs to return.
There seems to be a common theme in these Scriptures that emphasize the attitudes of people, which are not that much different, but are just accentuated and are causing people to become more violent, and less trustworthy as time passes. Paul wrote to Timothy about traits to look for in those who would attend Timothy’s church services. But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God—having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with them. They are the kind who worm their way into homes and gain control over weak-willed women, who are loaded down with sins and are swayed by all kinds of evil desires, always learning but never able to acknowledge the truth. (2 Timothy 3:1-7). Did Paul believe that the end times were close to starting in that time? Of course, we are still reading these Scriptures, and Paul likely believed his writings would be studied by future believers!
Peter wrote similar comments about how people would become self-centered and ruthless and rude to each other. First of all, you must understand that in the last days scoffers will come, scoffing and following their own evil desires. They will say, "Where is this ‘coming’ he promised? Ever since our fathers died, everything goes on as it has since the beginning of creation." But they deliberately forget that long ago by God’s word the heavens existed and the earth was formed out of water and by water. By these waters also the world of that time was deluged and destroyed. By the same word the present heavens and earth are reserved for fire, being kept for the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men. But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance. But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything in it will be laid bare. Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming. That day will bring about the destruction of the heavens by fire, and the elements will melt in the heat. But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, the home of righteousness. So then, dear friends, since you are looking forward to this, make every effort to be found spotless, blameless and at peace with him. (2 Peter 3:3-14).
Peter is trying to convince all members of mankind to believe that God created everything, and Jesus is maintaining the universe until the time when Jesus will create the new heavens and the new earth. This goes far beyond just the second coming of Jesus to the current earth. What Peter is prophesying here is how people will reject the entire Bible accounts of creation through the Second Coming, and then, through the promise of a new earth, which is the promised heaven, where mankind will be living with God in that new earth. Peter is trying to convince people to repent and thus, become saved through the shed blood of Jesus in His perfect sacrifice. This is a big picture look and is being presented in the hope of convincing people to claim their salvation through Jesus Christ by believing the whole story of the salvation plan!
The writer of Hebrews is trying to evangelize too in the hope of convincing people to believe what the Scriptures report from God about this salvation plan. In the past God spoke to our forefathers through the prophets at many times and in various ways, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom he made the universe. The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven. (Hebrews 1:1-3). Remember, the Last Days started when Jesus was born into this current cursed world! Of course, Jesus had to die for our sins, and ascend into heaven to complete the perfect sacrifice required for salvation. All those who claim this salvation will through the grace of God eventually end up in heaven, also known as the new earth!
John wrote about this Greatest Gift of all from God to mankind, which is a Savior Who alone can grant salvation to everyone who can believe this is the only true story you may ever hear on this earth. How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him. Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when he appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is. (1 John 3:1-2). This commentary may not give you much evidence about how to recognize the Last Days, but hopefully it may convince you to tell someone, how having Jesus in your life, has already placed your name in the Lamb’s Book of Life!
If you are waiting for Jesus’ return believing it will occur sometime in the future, you are in good company of those who are called believers. Don’t worry, be happy! Just wait patiently! And the believers all lived happily ever after with Jesus Christ on the new earth, also known as heaven. You do not deserve it, but Jesus paid the price required for it be yours
Your brother in life through Adam, your brother in eternity through Jesus,
Bob Moak
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