Eschatology of the Post-Apostolic Church

Should we take these time indicators as literal or should we spiritualize them?

1. "The Kingdom of Heaven is at hand." (Matt. 3:2)

2. "Who warned you to flee from the wrath about to come?" (Matt. 3:7)

3. "The axe is already laid at the root of the trees." (Matt. 3:10)

4. "His winnowing fork is in His hand." (Matt. 3:12)

5. "The kingdom of heaven is at hand." (Matt. 4:17)

6. "The kingdom of heaven is at hand." (Matt. 10:7)

7. "You shall not finish going through the cities of Israel, until the Son of Man comes." (Matt. 10:23)

8. "....the age about to come." (Matt. 12:32)

9. "The Son of Man is about to come in the glory of His Father with His angels; and will then recompense every man according to his deeds." (Matt. 16:27)

10. "There are some of those who are standing here who shall not taste death until they see the Son of Man coming in His kingdom." (Matt. 16:28; cf. Mk. 9:1; Lk. 9:27)

11. "'When the owner of the vineyard comes, what will he do to those vine-growers?' '....He will bring those wretches to a wretched end, and will rent out the vineyard to other vine-growers, who will pay him the proceeds at the proper seasons.' '....Therefore I say to you, the kingdom of God will be taken away from you, and be given to a nation producing the fruit of it.' ....When the chief priests and the Pharisees heard His parables, they understood that He was speaking about them." (Matt. 21:40-41,43,45)

12. "This generation will not pass away until all these things take place." (Matt. 24:34)

13. "From now on, you [Caiaphas, the chief priests, the scribes, the elders, the whole Sanhedrin] shall be seeing the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of Power, and coming on the clouds of heaven." (Matt. 26:64; Mk. 14:62; Lk. 22:69)

14. "The kingdom of God is at hand." (Mk. 1:15)

15. "What will the owner of the vineyard do? He will come and destroy the vine-growers, and will give the vineyard to others. ....They [the chief priests, scribes and elders] understood that He spoke the parable against them." (Mk. 12:9,12)

16. "This generation will not pass away until all these things take place.” (Mk. 13:30)

17. “Who warned you to flee from the wrath about to come?” (Lk. 3:7)

18. “The axe is already laid at the root of the trees. " (Lk. 3:9)

19. "His winnowing fork is in His hand…." (Lk. 3:17)

20. “The kingdom of God has come near to you.” (Lk. 10:9)

21. “The kingdom of God has come near.” (Lk. 10:11)

22. “What, therefore, will the owner of the vineyard do to them? He will come and destroy these vine-growers and will give the vineyard to others." …The scribes and the chief priests …understood that He spoke this parable against them.” (Lk. 20:15-16,19)

23. “These are days of vengeance, in order that all things which are written may be fulfilled.” (Lk. 21:22)

24. "This generation will not pass away until all things take place.” (Lk. 21:32)

25. "Daughters of Jerusalem, stop weeping for Me, but weep for yourselves and for your children. For behold, the days are coming when they will say, 'Blessed are the barren, and the wombs that never bore, and the breasts that never nursed.' Then they will begin to say to the mountains, 'Fall on us,' and to the hills, 'Cover us.'” (Lk. 23:28-30; Compare Rev. 6:14-17)

26. "We were hoping that He was the One who is about to redeem Israel.” (Lk. 24:21)

27. "I will come to you. …In that Day you shall know that I am in My Father, and you in Me, and I in you.' …'Lord, what then has happened that You are about to disclose Yourself to us, and not to the world?'" (Jn. 14:18,20,22)

28. "If I want him to remain until I come, what is that to you?" (Jn. 21:22)

29. “This is what was spoken of through the prophet Joel: 'And it shall be in the last days…'” (Acts 2:16-17)

30. “He has fixed a day in which He is about to judge the world in righteousness…” (Acts 17:31)

31. “There is about to be a resurrection of both the righteous and the wicked.” (Acts 24:15)

32. “As he was discussing righteousness, self-control and the judgment about to come…" (Acts 24:25)

33. “Not for [Abraham's] sake only was it written, that [faith] was reckoned to him [as righteousness], but for our sake also, to whom it is about to be reckoned.” (Rom. 4:23-24)

34. “If you are living according to the flesh, you are about to die.” (Rom. 8:13)

35. “I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is about to be revealed to us.” (Rom. 8:18)

36. "It is already the hour for you to awaken from sleep; for now salvation is nearer to us than when we believed. The night is almost gone, and the day is at hand." (Rom. 13:11-12)

37. “The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet.” (Rom. 16:20)

38. “The time has been shortened.” (I Cor. 7:29)

39. “The form of this world is passing away.” (I Cor. 7:31)

40. “Now these things …were written for our instruction, upon whom the ends of the ages have come.” (I Cor. 10:11)

41. “We shall not all fall sleep, but we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet; for the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed.” (I Cor. 15:51-52)

42. "Maranatha!" [The Lord comes!] (I Cor. 16:22)

43. "...not only in this age, but also in the one about to come.” (Eph. 1:21)

44. “The Lord is near.” (Phil. 4:5)

45. "The gospel …was proclaimed in all creation under heaven." (Col. 1:23; Compare Matt. 24:14; Rom. 10:18; 16:26; Col. 1:5-6; II Tim. 4:17; Rev. 14:6-7; cf. I Clement 5,7)

46. “…things which are a shadow of what is about to come.” (Col. 2:16-17)

47. “…we who are alive, and remain until the coming of the Lord… …We who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds… …You, brethren, are not in darkness, that the Day should overtake you like a thief.” (I Thess. 4:15,17; 5:4)

48. “May your spirit and soul and body be preserved complete, without blame at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.” (I Thess. 5:23)

49. “It is only just for God to repay with affliction those who afflict you, and to give relief to you who are afflicted and to us as well when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with His mighty angels in flaming fire.” (II Thess. 1:6-7)

50. “Godliness …holds promise for the present life and that which is about to come.” (I Tim. 4:8)

51. “I charge you …that you keep the commandment without stain or reproach until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ.” (I Tim. 6:14)

52. “…storing up for themselves the treasure of a good foundation for that which is about to come, so that they may take hold of that which is life indeed.” (I Tim. 6:19)

53. “In the last days difficult times will come. For men will be lovers of self… …Avoid these men. For of these are those who enter into households and captivate weak women… …These also oppose the truth… …But they will not make further progress; for their folly will be obvious to all…” (II Tim. 3:1-2,5-6,8-9)

54. “I solemnly charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is about to judge the living and the dead…” (II Tim. 4:1)

55. “God, after He spoke long ago to the fathers in the prophets in many portions and in many ways, in these last days has spoken to us in His Son.” (Heb. 1:1-2)

56. “Are they not all ministering spirits, sent out to render service for the sake of those who are about to inherit salvation?” (Heb. 1:14)

57. “He did not subject to angels the world about to come.” (Heb. 2:5)

58. “…and have tasted …the powers of the age about to come.” (Heb. 6:5)

59. "For ground that drinks the rain which often falls upon it and brings forth vegetation useful to those for whose sake it is also tilled, receives a blessing from God; but if it yields thorns and thistles, it is worthless and near a curse, and it's end is for burning.” (Heb. 6:7-8)

60. “When He said, 'A new covenant,' He has made the first obsolete. But whatever is becoming obsolete and growing old is ready to disappear.” (Heb. 8:13)

61. “The Holy Spirit is signifying this, that the way of the [heavenly] Holy Places has not yet been revealed, while the outer tabernacle is still standing, which is a symbol for the present time. Accordingly both gifts and sacrifices are offered which cannot make the worshiper perfect in conscience, since they relate only to food and drink and various washings, regulations for the body imposed until a time of reformation.” (Heb. 9:8-10; Compare Gal. 4:19; Eph. 2:21-22; 3:17; 4:13)

62. “But when Christ appeared as a high priest of the good things about to come…” (Heb. 9:11)

63. “Now once at the consummation of the ages He has been manifested to put away sin.” (Heb. 9:26)

64. “For the Law, since it has only a shadow of the good things about to come…” (Heb. 10:1)

65. “…as you see the Day drawing near.” (Heb. 10:25)

66. “…the fury of a fire which is about to consume the adversaries.” (Heb. 10:27)

67. “For yet in a very little while, He who is coming will come, and will not delay.” (Heb. 10:37)

68. “For here we do not have a lasting city, but we are seeking the one that is about to come.” (Heb. 13:14)

69. "Speak and so act, as those who are about to be judged by the law of liberty." (Jms. 2:12)

70. “Come now, you rich, weep and howl for your miseries which are coming upon you. …It is in the last days that you have stored up your treasure!” (Jms. 5:1,3)

71. “Be patient, therefore, brethren, until the coming of the Lord.” (Jms. 5:7)

72. “You too be patient; strengthen your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand.” (Jms. 5:8)

73. “…salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.” (I Peter 1:5)

74. “He …has appeared in these last times for the sake of you.” (I Peter 1:20)

75. “They shall give account to Him who is ready to judge the living and the dead.” (I Peter 4:5)

76. “The end of all things is at hand; therefore, be of sound judgment and sober spirit for the purpose of prayer.” (I Peter 4:7)

77. "For it is time for judgment to begin with the household of God.” (I Peter 4:17)

78. “…as your fellow elder and witness of the sufferings of Christ, and a partaker also of the glory that is about to be revealed.” (I Peter 5:1)

79. “We have the prophetic word …which you do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the Day dawns and the morning star arises in your hearts.” (II Peter 1:19)

80. “Their judgment from long ago is not idle, and their destruction is not asleep.” (II Peter 2:3)

81. “In the last days mockers will come. …For this they willingly are ignorant of…” (I Peter 3:3,5)

82. “But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, in which the heavens will pass away with a roar and the elements will be destroyed with intense heat, and the earth and its works will be burned up. Since all these things are to be destroyed in this way, what sort of people ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness, looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God.” (II Peter 3:10-12)

83. “The darkness is passing away, and the true light is already shining.” (I Jn. 2:8)

84. “The world is passing away, and its desires.” (I Jn. 2:17)

85. “It is the last hour.” (I Jn. 2:18)

86. “Even now many antichrists have arisen; from this we know that it is the last hour.” (I Jn. 2:18; Compare Matt. 24:23-34)

87. “This is that of the antichrist, of which you have heard that it is coming, and now it is already in the world.” (I Jn. 4:3; Compare II Thess. 2:7)

88. “For certain persons have crept in unnoticed, those who were long beforehand marked out for this condemnation. …About these also Enoch …prophesied, saying, 'Behold, the Lord came with many thousands of His holy ones, to execute judgment upon all, and to convict all the ungodly…'” (Jude 1:4,14-15)

89. “But you, beloved, ought to remember the words that were spoken beforehand by the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ, that they were saying to you, 'In the last time there shall be mockers, following after their own ungodly lusts.' These are the ones who cause divisions…” (Jude 1:17-19)

90. “…to show to His bond-servants, the things which must shortly take place.” (Rev. 1:1)

91. “The time is near.” (Rev. 1:3)

92. “Nevertheless what you have, hold fast until I come.” (Rev. 2:25)

93. “I also will keep you from the hour of testing which is about to come upon the whole world.” (Rev. 3:10)

94. “I am coming quickly.” (Rev. 3:11)

95. “And she gave birth to a son, a male child, who is about to rule all the nations with a rod of iron.” (Rev. 12:5)

96. "And in her [the Great City Babylon] was found the blood of prophets and of saints and of all who have been slain on the earth." (Rev. 18:24; Compare Matt. 23:35-36; Lk. 11:50-51)

97. “…to show to His bond-servants the things which must shortly take place.” (Rev. 22:6)

98. "Behold, I am coming quickly. " (Rev. 22:7)

99. "Do not seal up the words of the prophecy of this book, for the time is near." (Rev. 22:10; Compare Dan. 8:26)

100. "Behold, I am coming quickly.” (Rev. 22:12)

101. "Yes, I am coming quickly." (Rev. 22:20)

 

God and Time
In spite of the issue of the faithfulness of God some writers insist we must believe in what they call the "elasticity of prophetic chronology;" and that "time, in connection with prophecy, is an exceedingly relative matter." We are told that prophetic time may indicate imminence when in fact hundreds of years are involved. In order to demonstrate the utter falsity of this concept let us see how God has dealt with time statements in scripture.

In Numbers 24:17-18 Balaam the prophet made a prediction of Christ's coming: "I see him but not now, I behold him but not near." Notice he said Christ's coming was not near. It was not at hand. Why did he say this? Because Christ's coming was over 1400 years away, and 1400 years really is a long time. Here is a concrete example where God referred to a long time as just that.

In Daniel 10-12 is a vision encompassing a period of time from 536 BC to the fall of Jerusalem in 70 AD; about 600 years. Two times in this text Daniel was told "the appointed time is long" and "the vision refers to many days to come" (10:1,14). Remember, this vision was relayed to Daniel from God. While God is not bound by time, he was communicating to man who is bound to time. God called this 600 year period of time "long;" he said it involved "many days." God can most assuredly tell time and read a calendar!

Daniel contains another important example of how God used time words. Chapter 8 contains a prophecy that extends from 530 BC to about 165-164 BC and the death of Antiochus Epiphanes. The time covered is about 365 years. How did God express the prophecy? Did he say it was at hand? Did he say SOME of it was at hand while some of it was for a long time off? No! God viewed the prophecy as a whole. He said the vision "refers to many days in the future" (8:26). Here is a prophecy that covers 365 years and God called it "a long time." Friends, if God called 365 years a long time, how can man say that time, when God is speaking to man, means nothing?

This is an important question in light of the traditional interpretations of Revelation. Daniel was told to seal up his vision because the time for its fulfillment was a long time away — 365 years. John was specifically told not to seal up his vision because what he saw was at hand. John is told his vision, not part of his vision, was "at hand" and "must shortly come to pass!" Reader, did God call the 365 years for the fulfillment of Daniel's prophecy a "long time" and call the fulfillment of Revelation, which most commentators say has not been fulfilled after 2000 years so far, "at hand?" To say the least, this would hardly be consistent!

In Jeremiah 29:10 Jehovah told his prophet the Babylonian captivity would last for seventy years. In verse 28 the people complained that Jeremiah had told them "The exile will be long...." Here is an example of a prophet specifying a period of time, seventy years, and the people said the prophet, and remember the prophet was inspired of God, said the captivity would be "long." Why was seventy years called a long time by Jeremiah? Because to man seventy years is a long time. Thus, God used time words as man would normally understand them. God can tell time when speaking to man!

Many do not realize the Bible gives an example of man attempting to change the meaning of time words used by God; and God's response.

In Ezekiel 7, God through Ezekiel said the Day of the Lord was at hand. The Day of the Lord in this context was when God used Babylon to punish Israel for her sin. This is the concept of the Day of the Lord; it is not an "end of time" idea. It is when God used a nation to punish another as it related to his chosen people.

In chapter 11 Israel responded to the threat of coming judgment. They insisted that although Ezekiel said it was at hand it was really not. It was time to build houses, not worry about judgment. One can almost hear some of those people: "Well, yes, Ezekiel has said the Day of the Lord is at hand, but after all, 'one day is with the Lord as a thousand years and a thousand years is as a day,' Psalms 90:4"

When Israel "elasticized" God's words of imminence into relativity, ambiguity and meaning-less-ness, God responded. In Ezekiel 12:21ff, (Please, take the time to get your Bible and read it for yourself.) Adonai told Ezekiel to tell Israel that her days of changing the time for his predictions were over. He had said judgment was at hand; Israel said it was not at hand. Jehovah would not tolerate it.

Ezekiel was instructed to tell Israel that in that generation judgment would fall just as Jehovah had indicated when he said it was at hand. (Have you read those verses for yourself yet? If not, why not do it right now and see for yourself that what we are saying is true?) What we have then, is an example of man saying that while God had said something was imminent it really was not; it was for a long time off. We have God's response; when God said "at hand" he meant "at hand!" He did not mean hundreds or thousands of years; he meant "soon!"

 

Ken,

Up until about 4 years ago I only knew about Spurgeon from bits and pieces I heard from the pulpit in my church.

When I came to the realization that Calvinism was not evil word like my church had taught growing up and when I came to reject The Dispensational Premillienial System in favor of the Historic Premillennial System I really felt alone.

That is until I came across the writings and sermons of Charles Spurgeon. I had certain thoughts about theology and eschatology and when
I read Charles Spurgeon I found in him a kindred spirit.

I had come to my conclusions long before reading his material but it was so heart warming to find
a good conservative Baptist preacher who had come to the same conclusions(really alot more Baptist preachers as you go before the late 1800's rejected John Darby's new Dispensational Theological System but that is a different topic).

You probably have read this article but if you have not here is an interesting article on Spurgeon's eschatology.

http://www.spurgeon.org/eschat.htm

Talk to you later.

IFBReformer

 

Having studied pre/post/a and pre and post trib, I find these two reasons to be the most convincing reason for dispensational premillennialism. There is solid proof that the early church was premill, and no proof that they were not pretrib. In fact, the early church at Thessalonica was confused because they had been taught pretribulationism and when someone preached posttrib, they became disillusioned.

When we do the exegetical work, we find that the Scriptures are pretty clear on the issues that necessitate a pretrib rapture. The alternatives were born out of confusion about current events, not out of exegesis. There is no exegetical proof whatsoever for a post or amill scheme. The evidence is solidly behind the premill. Less conclusive, but still solid, is the evidence for a pretrib position.

 

Pastor Larry,

2 Thess 2:2 tells us, Christians in Thessolanica were confusion, and misunderstand by hear from the rumours on the timing of Lord's return. They were not rumour about tribulation. They were rumour about the TIMING of Lord's return. They thought Christ already arrived, they might miss Lord's coming. Apostle Paul told them, that Christ shall NOT come till we shall see apostasy(falling away) first and the revealed of Antichrist first - 2 Thess 2:3. It is very clearly teaching of posttrib coming.

In Christ
Rev. 22:20 - Amen!

 

that ye be not quickly shaken in mind, nor be troubled, neither through spirit, neither through word, neither through letters as through us, as that the day of Christ hath arrived; (2 Thess. 2:42)

Young's Literal Translation interprets this statement to mean that Paul was teaching the Thessalonians, not that the day of Christ had come, but that the day of Christ had arrived. It seems as though someone was scaring the Thessalonians into believe that the day of the Lord was beginning. There is no reason to conclude that Paul was teaching a Pre-Tribulation rapture of the church, a theory unheard of till about 200 years ago. Perhaps later than that.

 

Actually, both day of the Lord and day of Christ are same meaning and SAME event.

Paul told them, that we are appointed for tribulation - 1 Thess 3:3-4.

Day of Christ is second coming - Phil .1:6,& 10.
Day of the Lord is second coming for to judge the world.

Day of the Lord is NOT tribulation. Day of the Lord will not be occur till AFTER sun, moon, and stars become darkened - Joel 2:31 same with Matt 24:29.

Isaiah 2:10 tells us, people will flee and hide in the places from the face of the Lord. Do you know where this verse refers with? It refers with Rev. 6:15-16!

Isa. 2:11 tells us, the world will bow down confess that Jesus is the Lord IN THAT DAY.

Does the world is now bow to Jesus is the Lord? NO! The world do not bow him right now. Will the world bow and confess to Jesus is the Lord DURINGTribulation period? NO! The Antichrist will be presence on the earth, the world will bow worship to Antichrist.

So, in that DAY shall not come till AFTER sun, moon, and stars become darkened - Joel 2:31; and Matt 24:29.

Joel 2:9 tells us, people will flee and hide in the places from the face of the Lord. Do you know where this verse refers? It refers with Rev. 6:15-16!

Joel 2:10 tells us, sun, moon, and stars shall be darkened same with Joel 2:31 and Matt 24:29; and also Rev. 6:12-14!

JOel 2:11 tells us, "for the day of the Lord is great and very terrible; and who can abide it?" What verse refers with 'who can abide it?'? It refers with Rev. 6:17!!

Rev. 6:12-17 is very clear picture of the second coming!

2 Peter 3:10-13 telling us, day of the Lord shall come like as thief in the night. Day of the Lord is second coming, NOT tribulation. 2 Peter 3:10 tells us, heavens shall be pass away same with Rev. 21:1! Also, old earth will be burn away will be AT the Day of the Lord.

Premillennial teaches, a new earth will be created 1000 years later after the second advent.

But, 2 Peter 3:12-13 telling us,

"LOOKING FOR and hasting unto the COMING of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat? Neverthless we, according to his promise, LOOK FOR new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness."

2 Peter 3:12-13 telling us, we do not wait for new heavens and a new earth 1000 years later AFTER the second advent. We are look foward for new heavens and a new earth will be AT Day of the Lord - second coming.

Christians at Thessaolica were misunderstand and confusion hear from rumours on the timing of the day of Christ. They thought Christ might come anytime very soon, or miss Christ's arrival- 2 Thess 2:2.

Apostle Paul told them, do not be confusion and believe any rumours or teaching on the timing of Christ's coming. He told them, day of Christ shall NOT come till we will see apostasy(falling away) first, and the revealed of Antichrist - 2 Thess 2:3.

Interesting, many scholars, pastors, teachers saying on King James Version of 'day of Christ' is error or mistranslation, it should be correct saying, 'day of the Lord'.

Actually, 2 Thess 2:2 - 'day of Christ' of KJV is not error. It is correct, because it translated from Greek - Textus Receptus.

In fact, KJV is the ONLY version saying, 'day of Christ'. Many different versions saying, 'day of the Lord'.

Many pretribbers saying, 'day of Christ' means rapture before tribulation; 'day of the Lord' means Tribulation.

They are grave error interpreting on them.

Day of Christ is second coming for to gathering us together same as Day of the Lord is second coming to gathering us together.

Notice, Matt 24:39-41 and Luke 17:34-37 telling us, when Christ comes, all individuals shall be caught up by separately. To my understanding, that both believers and unbelievers shall be caught up by separately in the thief at the second coming.

Rev. 3:3 warns us, IF we do not watch... CHrist will come to thief us! Same with Rev. 16:15 tells us, that we are blessed who watch and ready, because Christ COME as a thief.

Both day of Christ and day of the Lord are same meaning, and SAME event.

In Christ
Rev. 22:20 - Amen!