I don't see clearly the Bible speaking of Jesus returning before his second coming, can anyone sure what that is based on.
This is a post from my WordPress, (it is mostly John Gill
modified for reading by a modern audience)
showing how the Bible explains its own imagery, like
"blood, fire, vapor and smoke”.
( 9.0. > N.T. TEACHING & PARABLES, etc. ) THE DIVINE INTERPRETATION of The GODHEAD’S PLAIN, NEW TESTAMENT TEACHINGS, about JESUS’ LORDSHIP, Now, & JESUS’ SOON RETURN. – Aware of The Godhead
Adapted from Matthew 24 and the Great Tribulation
by Brian Schwertley.
…
STUDYING THE BIBLE is FUN when we Know
that we are ENABLED by THE HOLY SPIRIT
to arrive at a correct reading of
WHAT GOD WANTS US TO UNDERSTAND.
We can arrive at a correct understanding
of Matthew 24 and the Great Tribulation,
by Following The HOLY SPIRIT and READING GOD’S WORD,
It is in that WAY THAT THE HOLY SPIRIT SHOWS US
WHAT GOD WANTS US TO UNDERSTAND.
IN THAT WAY: STUDYING THE BIBLE is FUN.
ONE WAY THAT THE HOLY SPIRIT IS ENABLED to SHOW US
that STUDYING THE BIBLE is FUN
and WHAT GOD WANTS US TO UNDERSTAND
is by Following The HOLY SPIRIT and READING GOD’S WORD,
employing Important common sense Interpretive Procedures:
If one is to arrive at a correct understanding of the Olivet discourse,
he must follow Biblical Principles of Interpretation
(i.e. one must adopt a genuine
grammatical-historical theological hermeneutic,
meaning:
grammatical = WHAT DO THE WORDS SAY?
historical = WHAT WAS TAKING PLACE?
theological = THE STUDY of GOD,
hermeneutic = THE SCIENCE of “Interpretation”)
…
Some basic principles of Biblical Interpretation are as follows.
(1) The section of Scripture in question
( Grammatically = WHAT DO THE WORDS SAY?)
must be Interpreted in light of the original audience.
( Historically = WHAT WAS TAKING PLACE? )
For example, would a first century Jewish audience regard a phrase such as
“blood, fire, vapor and smoke”?
THESE ARE BIBLE WORDS and GOD PUT THEM THERE.
THE BIBLE CAN BE UNDERSTOOD.
When The Bible Passage includes the Words
“blood, fire, vapor and smoke”
THEY WERE WRITTEN TO PEOPLE IN THE BIBLE,
FOR THEM TO HEAR and UNDERSTAND, at THAT TIME.
Acts 2:19, 20;
“And I will show wonders in heaven above,
and signs in the earth beneath
— blood and fire and vapor of smoke.
notice also this imagery that will be associated;
“20 The Sun will be turned into darkness,
and the Moon into blood
before that Great and Notable Day of the Lord Come.”
…
Revelation 6:12; cf.;
“And I beheld when He had opened the sixth seal, and lo, there was a great earthquake, and the Sun became black as sackcloth of hair,
and the Moon became as blood;
"13 and the Stars of Heaven fell to the Earth,
even as a fig tree casteth her untimely figs
when she is shaken by a mighty wind.
“14 And the Heaven departed as a scroll
when it is rolled together,
and every mountain and island
were moved out of their places.”
…
Joel 2:28-32;
“And it shall come to pass afterward
that I will pour out My Spirit upon all flesh;
and your sons and your daughters will Prophesy, your old men shall dream Dreams, your young men will see Visions;
“29 and also upon the servants
and upon the handmaids in those days
will I pour out My Spirit.
30 “And I will show wonders in the Heavens
and in the Earth–
blood and fire and pillars of smoke.
“31 The sun will be turned into darkness
and the Moon into blood, before
The Great and The Terrible Day of The LORD Come.
“32 And it will Come to Pass,
that whosoever will call on The Name of The LORD will be delivered;
because in Mount Zion and in Jerusalem
will be deliverance, as the LORD Has Said,
and in the remnant whom the LORD Will Call.”
…
So, by INCLUDING ALL BIBLE PASSAGES,
and READING GOD’S WORDS,
“GRAMMATICALLY” and “HISTORICALLY”,
as to, “WHAT DID THOSE WORDS MEAN
to THE PEOPLE WHO THEY WERE WRITTEN TO?
we would we ‘come up’ with
“blood and fire and vapor of smoke”,
as ‘referring’ to ‘nuclear war’ (??)
or
that, “blood and fire and vapor of smoke”
are OLD COVENANT PROPHETIC IMAGES
THAT GOD HAS ALREADY PLACED in THE OLD TESTAMENT
TO “PICTURE”: God’s Impending Judgment on Israel!
In A.D. 70, on the Temple and Jerusalem,
the Abomination of Desolation.
See How FUN that is?
And How IMPORTANT it is, SIMPLY to READ THE BIBLE?
That was with One common sense Principle of Bible Interpretation.
…
The "wonders in Heaven"
& "The sun will be turned into darkness
and the Moon into blood,"
are associated with A.D. 70 and the destruction of Jerusalem
and may be seen as imagery of Governmental powers
and those in authority being displaced.
Therefore, "before The Great and The Terrible Day of The LORD Come",
refers to A.D. 70 and the destruction of Jerusalem, also.
