THE TRIUMPHANT RETURN AND THE KINGDOM #8
From the book by Dr.Grant Jeffrey
The Imminent Return of Christ for His Church
"If any man love not the Lord Jesus Christ, let him be Anathema,
Maranatha" (1 Corinthians 16:22).
The word Maranatha was a very popular greeting used by the
Christians of the early Church when meeting fellow believers. It
demonstrated their ever-present hope for the imminent return of
Jesus Christ to resurrect His faithful followers.
Maranatha is formed from three Aramaic words: "Mar" means
"Lord," "ana" means "our," and "tha" means "come." In Aramaic,
Maranatha literally means "our Lord, come." In English, it
translates, "The Lord comes!" The widespread use of the Maranatha
greeting demonstrates the universal expectation of the early
Church that Christ would return at some point in time to
resurrect the saints and then, to defeat the Antichrist at the
end of the Tribulation and establish His kingdom on earth.
I believe that the clear teaching of the New Testament
demonstrates that the Holy Spirit taught His Church that Christ's
return for the saints to resurrect their mortal bodies
was imminent then and will remain imminent until the moment He
returns. The widespread use of the Maranatha greeting only makes
sense if these early Christians understood the teaching of the
apostolic Church to include the imminent coming of Christ.
What Do We Mean By His Imminent Return?
The word "imminent" means simply that an event is certain to
occur at some point in the future, that it could occur the next
moment, but that its precise timing is unknown. It also conveys
the assumption that no intervening event must occur before the
event takes place. While another event could occur before the
prophesied event, there is no requirement that it does. The
Webster's Ninth New Collegiate Dictionary defines "imminent" as
"ready to take place; esp.: hanging threateningly over one's
head." As my colleague Renald Showers noted in his book
"Maranatha Our Lord, Come!," "Other things may happen before the
imminent event, but nothing else must take place before it
happens. If something else must take place before an event can
happen, that event is not imminent."
(The word "imminent" in connection with the coming of Christ is
NOT used in the Bible. Word of men may try to make out it is, and
try to convey this to the mind of their readers, but the truth of
the matter is that though "Maranatha" is used "our Lord come"
there is no such word as "imminent" used in connection with it.
Imminent is "relative" to the subject as a situation in the "time
clock" of God the Father. Jesus clearly stated that ONLY God the
Father knows the day that Jesus will be sent back to this earth.
And further, contrary to what Jeffrey and others like him say on
the matter, CERTAIN EVENTS MUST take place BEFORE Christ can
return. If not, then there is no reason for Christ to have given
any signs of the times leading up to His coming, yet when asked
by His disciples for those signs, Jesus specifically gave a
number of them. And then later He inspired John to write the book
of Revelation, that goes into detail on those events, which will
lead up to the close of this age and the literal ONE ONLY visible
return of Christ. The only way for those events NOT to happen,
would be that the nations of the earth would REPENT, and that is
extremely unlikely given the present attitude of most people on
earth and the great deceptions of Satan - Keith Hunt)
It is therefore obvious that no one can possibly know with
certainty when an imminent event will actually occur. Therefore,
no one can count upon a certain amount of time-days, weeks,
months, or years - transpiring before the prophesied imminent
event finally occurs.
(Now that is a more sensible understanding using the word
"imminent" - Keith Hunt)
In recognition of this fact, we should always be ready for
the occurrence of an imminent event, such as the Second Coming,
to happen without warning at any moment.
(Nope, it will NOT happen just at any moment, or any minute as
fundamental prophets teach in their folly - Keith Hunt)
An excellent definition of "imminence" appears in the
writings of Arthur T. Pierson: "Imminence is the combination of
two conditions, viz.,: certainty and uncertainty. By an imminent
event we mean one which is certain to occur at some time,
uncertain at what time." An example of a current imminent event
would be the promise of a traveller to return to his family at
any
time between Thanksgiving and Christmas. Once Thanksgiving
occurs, his return is imminent. The traveller will return at any
moment after Thanksgiving but he promises that he will definitely
return before Christmas. No other event must occur before his
appearance in fulfilment of his promise.
(This use and example of "imminent" may have a certain connection
in the human world and mind-set, but to use this typology with
the Second Coming of Christ is another folly of the fundamental
prophets. It is just a fact of reading your New Testament, as a
child, and you will clearly see that no matter how the
fundamentals want to explain it, CERTAIN EVENTS MUST COME TO PASS
BEFORE JESUS WILL RETURN!! The fundamental prophets have to try
and convince you otherwise to get you to believe in the "secret
rapture" which they teach will come invisible and at any second -
Keith Hunt)
Christians who are obedient to Christ's command are watching
for Him to come in the air and resurrect their body. "For the
Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the
voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead
in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain
shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the
Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord" (1
Thessalonians 4:16-17).
(Notice these verses and what Jeffrey says, does not give any
notice to the literal open signs that accompany this coming of
Christ. Jesus comes with a SHOUT, with the VOICE of the
archangel, with the TRUMP of God. The resurrection takes place
indeed. It is the SAME EVENT of Matthew 24:29-31 and 1
Corinthians 15; it is the LAST TRUMPET; it is the trumpet of
Revelation 11:15-19. It is NOT some silent, invisible, secret
event at all. It is the ONE and ONLY one Second Coming of the
Lord; it is Revelation 19. It is NOT some "first-phase" of a
"two-phased" Second Coming of Christ - Keith Hunt)
If the New Testament's prophecies teach the imminent coming
of Christ to resurrect His saints at any moment,
(And the NT teaches no such thing, but teaches a sign filled
open coming, visible, glorious, lightning like coming of Christ,
preceded by other signs that give the true disciples of the Lord,
the knowledge that the end of this age is into the basic last 42
months before Jesus will come again - Keith Hunt)
then the Rapture must precede the Tribulation. If the prophecies
reveal the coming resurrection of the saints is imminent, then
logically it cannot be delayed until some point during the
prophesied events of the coming Tribulation (mid-Tribulation,
pre-wrath toward the end of the tribulation, or post-Tribulation
at Armageddon).
(Do you see what Jeffrey has done? He has led you long to
thinking that the word "imminent" is used in the NT with the
teaching of the return of the Lord. He has given you the "human"
definition of imminent and a human example and has put that
typology into your mind as belonging to the coming of Christ. He
has quoted a "resurrection" verse from 1 Thessalonians 4, left
off trying to explain the "shout" the "voice of the archangel"
and the "trump" - hoping you will read right over that part. He
has not put the Scriptures together from other parts of the NT -
hoping you will not do so either. He has led you down the garden
path into the thorns and brambles, making out to you that you are
still on the clear pathway. Ah yes, very clever, very deceitful
if you do not have your wits about you and if you are not
searching the Scriptures daily to see if these things be so -
Keith Hunt)
Scriptures Demonstrate the Imminence of His Return
The evidence presented in this chapter will demonstrate that
the New Testament Scriptures declare repeatedly that the
resurrection is an imminent event that can occur without the need
for any intervening prophetic warning events or signs. The
scriptural teaching of imminence is such a powerful argument in
favor of the pre-Tribulation timing of the resurrection that the
opponents of the pre-Tribulation resurrection vigorously deny
that the coming of Christ for His Church is imminent.
(The way that Jeffrey uses "imminent" - Yes I vigorously
disagree, for the simply fact that word "imminent" is NOT
anywhere used in the context of the Second Coming of Christ,
anywhere in the NT. In fact, try looking up the word "imminent"
in Strong's Concordance of the Bible. IT IS NOT USED AT ALL IN
THE NT! IT IS NOT THERE PERIOD! Keith Hunt)
Are there New Testament passages that clearly teach the
truth of His imminent return? There are many verses that state
that Jesus Christ might return at any moment, without any
warning. Other passages instruct Christ's followers to watch and
wait expectantly for the Lord's coming. Let us examine the
evidence from Scripture to determine the truth regarding this
vital doctrine of imminence.
(Well indeed let's see if these verses "exclude" that certain
events MUST happen before Jesus returns - Keith Hunt)
* "Blessed are those servants, whom the lord when he cometh
shall find watching: verily I say unto you, that he shall gird
himself, and make them to sit down to meat, and will come forth
and serve them" (Luke 12:37).
(You bet you are to watch, but this says nothing about certain
events NOT having to take place before Jesus returns - Keith
Hunt)
* "Be ye therefore ready also: for the Son of man cometh at an
hour when ye think not" (Luke 12:40).
(Yes, because Jesus said only the Father knows the day and hour.
So you better be ready. But this verse says nothing about certain
events NOT having to take place before Jesus returns - Keith
Hunt)
* "Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be
accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to
pass, and to stand before the Son of man" (Luke 21:36).
(This specifically knocks in the head Jeffrey's reasoning. We are
to watch and pray that we can be worthy to ESCAPE things that
SHALL COME TO PASS, and THEN stand before Christ - Keith Hunt)
* "And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the
firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within
ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of
our body" (Romans 8:23).
(I guess we do groan with longing to be in the resurrection. We
do pray as Jesus taught us, "Thy Kingdom come, thy will be done
on earth as it is done in heaven." This verse say nothing about
certain events NOT having to come to pass before we have body
redemption - Keith Hunt)
* "So that ye come behind in no gift; waiting for the coming
of our Lord Jesus Christ" (1 Corinthians 1:7).
(Of course we wait for the coming of the Lord Jesus, we have no
choice but to wait, it has not yet happened. This verses says
nothing about certain events NOT having to take place before
Christ returns - Keith Hunt)
* "Behold, I show you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but
we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye,
at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead
shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed" (1
Corinthians 15:51).
(My oh my Jeffrey must think you are really stupid readers of the
Bible. For this verse teaches you that the resurrection or change
for those alive TAKES PLACE AT THE ***LAST TRUMP*** and the book
of Revelation tell you as plain as the nose on your face, WHEN
the last trump comes; it comes AFTER the trumpets that are not
the last trump have sounded, which come AFTER the "seals" are
opened. The LAST trump is just that the last, not the first, or
second, not without events taking place, but with specific events
happening BEFORE the next trumpet sound, which leads us back to
the LAST trumpet, which comes after all the events of the
preceding trumpets and seals have come, which then makes the
resurrection at the last trump, not the first trump or before any
trump. How many times to do I have repeat the circle? It is
amazing how PhD guys can be so think-headed at times, but maybe
they have lost being a child because they are PhD fellows - Keith
Hunt)
* "Maranatha" (i Corinthians 16:22).
(We have seen what that word means, and it means nothing about
certain events NOT having to take place before Jesus returns -
Keith Hunt)
* "For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look
for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ" (Philippians 3:20).
(This is getting so silly as to Jeffrey's argument. Of course
Christ is coming from heaven. That what it says, it we are to
have our conduct in this life as Jesus is in heaven - we are to
aim for perfection or maturity as Jesus taught we should be
perfect or mature as the Father is - that teaching is in the so-
called "sermon on the mount- Matthew 5-7. There is no word here
about certain events NOT having to take place before Christ
returns - Keith Hunt)
* "Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at
hand" (Philippians 4:5).
(Being at hand in this verse can mean that our moderation,
balanced conduct of life should be clear to all, because we live
knowing Jesus is walking with us in this life. He is always as
close to us as the Holy Spirit dwelling in us is. Both the Father
and Christ live in us via the Holy Spirit [John 15:23]. There is
nothing in this verse saying certain events need NOT happen
before Jesus returns - Keith Hunt)
* "When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye
also appear with him in glory" (Colossians 3:4).
(And that is a fact, it is as true as the words make it clear.
But there is not one word here that says certain events need NOT
happen before Jesus returns - Keith Hunt)
* "And to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from
the dead, even Jesus, which delivered us from the wrath to come"
(1 Thessalonians 1:10).
(I guess we do wait, Jesus has not yet returned. We have to wait,
there is no choice. But there is not one word here about certain
events NOT having to happen before Christ returns - Keith Hunt)
* "Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch
and be sober" (1 Thessalonians 5:6).
(If you take the time to read the CONTEXT, you will see that this
verse clearly contradicts Jeffrey's argument and "proof texting"
that is no proof at all for his argument. The context is about
the coming "day of the Lord" and when they shall say "peace,
peace" there will be no peace but sudden destruction. Looks like
to me that certain things ARE to come before Jesus will return,
and we are not to be in darkness about them. Why we have the
whole book of Revelation to tell us certain things WILL happen
before Jesus will return. The book of Revelation as Jeffrey knows
was written in the 90s A.D. Jesus is revealing to us WHAT WILL
HAPPEN before and at His return ... "which MUST shortly come to
pass." Now those are Jesus' words! Who are you going to believe,
the words of men or the words of Christ? - Keith Hunt)
* "And the Lord direct your hearts into the love of God, and
into the patient waiting for Christ" (2 Thessalonians 3:5).
(We do have to wait, so as that is a fact, we better do it
patiently, and keep our hearts in the love of God. Not one word
here about certain events NOT having to happen before Jesus
returns - Keith Hunt)
* "That thou keep this commandment without spot, unrebukeable,
until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ" (1 Timothy 6:14).
(That is a teaching for all disciples of the Lord, for all ages,
for all time, for the Lord has not yet come. Those living in the
time when He does come, had better be doing what Paul instructed.
And Jesus coming is as close to you as your death. You die, the
next second of life for you is in the resurrection. You will have
no idea of the lapse of time, be it long or short. Did Paul KNOW
certain events would have to happen before the coming of Christ?
You bet he did! See 2 Thes.2 about the "man of sin" - this MUST
come, this man of sin will be alive at the coming of Christ.
Jesus will destroy him by the brightness of His coming, or as
Revelation 19:19,20, cast into the lake of fire. There is nothing
in this verse Jeffrey gives that says certain events need NOT
happen before Jesus returns - Keith Hunt)
* "Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing
of the great God and our Savior Jesus Christ" (Titus 2:13).
(It is a sure hope. And Jesus will return with a glorious
appearing, not some secret invisible rapture of some imagined
first-phase of His return. There is nothing in this verse to say
certain events need NOT have to happen before Christ returns -
Keith Hunt)
* "So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and
unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time
without sin unto salvation" (Hebrews 9:28).
(Yes, Jesus will appear the SECOND TIME, in ONE glorious OPEN
appearing, as the lightning blazes across the heaven. He will
appear [with the sound of the last trumpet] as described in
Revelation 19, riding on a white horse with His army of angels,
to resurrect the saints, instantly change the saints living on
earth, and with them, destroy in battle those who are destroying
the earth. Not one word in Heb.9:28 says certain events need NOT
happen before Jesus returns - Keith Hunt)
* "For yet a little while, and he that shall come will come,
and will not tarry" (Hebrews 10:37).
(The little while to God, can be a day as a thousands years and a
thousand years as a day. Those living in the very last years of
this age, will see this verse in a very real and dramatic way. It
is true for sure that Paul and all the apostles had no idea [not
even John in the 90s A.D.] that it would be at least 2,000 years
before Jesus would return. Not one word here says certain events
need NOT happen before Jesus returns - Keith Hunt)
* "Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the
Lord. Behold, the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of
the earth, and hath long patience for it, until he receive the
early and latter rain. Be ye also patient; establish your hearts:
for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh. Grudge not one against
another, brethren, lest ye be condemned: behold, the judge
standeth before the door" (James 5:7-9).
(Oh, James probably indeed thought Jesus would be returning in
the age of the first apostles. "The coming of the Lord draweth
nigh" is to God as a day is a thousand years and a thousand years
as a day. God does not look upon "time" as man does. What is
2,000 years to God? Only the fraction of the blinking of an eye.
Jesus in the book of Revelation says He stands at the door. The
very last words of Jesus in Revelation are "Surely I come
quickly!" Obviously what is quick to God, is long for mankind of
flesh and blood. Then Revelation is a LIVING book. For the people
who will see and experience the events of the book of Revelation,
they will know, surely the Lord is coming quickly. They will know
He stands before the door. There is not one word in James 5 that
says certain events need NOT happen before Jesus returns - Keith
Hunt)
* "Gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the
end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the
revelation of Jesus Christ" (1 Peter 1:13).
(We do have a sure hope of grace, now, and when Jesus shall
appear at His revelation, that is no where taught to be two-
phased, one secret and invisible to take the saints off to
heaven, and the other phase to return with a second-phase
time in open glory.
Only ONE second coming is foretold in the Scriptures and that one
is glorious triumphant, as the lightning shining, at the last
TRUMP, when the saints will receive the grace of being made
immortal, incorruptible, when they shall meet Christ in the air,
in the clouds, and on that same day, descend with Jesus to the
mount of Olives [Zech 14]. Nothing in 1 Peter 1 says that certain
events need NOT happen before Jesus returns - Keith Hunt)
* "There shall come in the last days scoffers,... saying,
Where is the promise of his coming? For since the fathers fell
asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of
the creation. For this they willingly are ignorant of, that by
the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing
out of the water and in the water" (2 Peter 3:3-5).
(Scoffers will arise, have risen. We have millions of atheists,
we have raised a generation that have never read the Bible, and
have no desire to read it. Indeed we have hundreds of millions
today who scoff at the Bible and the teachings of the Second
Coming of Christ. But nothing in these verses say certain events
are NOT to take place before Christ comes again - Keith Hunt)
* "We, according to his purpose, look for the new heavens and
a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness. Wherefore, beloved,
seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be
found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless" (2 Peter
3:13-14).
(And Jesus disciples do into look for the fulfilment of
Revelation 21 and 22. We look for the age to come that will also
in many resects be a new heaven and new earth. And all who look
for this, all who want to be IN that age, ruling with Christ
Jesus, will be diligent in living in their conduct pleasing to
God, desiring to be "perfect" or "mature" like the Father, as
Jesus taught us we should be [Matt.5:48]. Nothing in these verses
say certain thing need NOT happen before Jesus comes again -
Keith Hunt)
* "And now, little children, abide in him; that, when he shall
appear, we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before him at
his coming" (1 John 2:28).
(A person will live again, be resurrected if dying before Christ
comes, or be changed from mortal to immortal if alive when Jesus
returns. All people one day will live again [John 5:25-29]. We
being called and chosen in this life time, had better live in
attitude of mind, that when Jesus does come and we stand before
Him, we will not be ashamed, but that we shall stand before Him
as glorified beings, immortal, to receive our rewards according
to our works [Rev.22:12}. Nothing in 1 John says certain events
need NOT happen before Jesus returns - Keith Hunt)
* "And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself,
even as he is pure" (1 John 3:3).
(We do indeed live purifying ourself through the working of the
Holy Spirit in us, as we wait for the coming of the Lord. Nothing
here says certain events need NOT happen before Jesus returns -
Keith Hunt)
* "Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy
of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life" (Jude 21).
(And the love of God is interpreted in the books of 1,2,3, John
as keeping the commandments of God. What mercy it will be when
the saints live again in their glorified immortal form at the
LAST trump, when Jesus shall come with the voice of the
archangel, come like lightning, come in open power riding a white
horse, when the resurrection and instant change comes for the
saints of all ages, when the angels shall go forth and gather the
elect from the four winds of heaven, to take them to meet Christ
in the air, in the clouds. That will be mercy unto eternal life
indeed. Nothing in Jude says certain events need NOT happen
before the Lord comes - Keith Hunt)
* "Remember therefore how thou hast received and heard, and hold
fast, and repent. If therefore thou shalt not watch, I will come
on thee as a thief, and thou shalt not know what hour I will come
upon thee" (Revelation 3:3).
(If we fall away, if we forget all about the word and truths of
God, if we ignore it all, then if alive when Jesus comes, we
shall not know the signs of the times. Jesus' coming will be
for us as a thief, we will not see the signs leading up to His
coming, and we shall not be prepared for the hour of His return.
And secondly, if we hold not to the things heard and taught us in
God's word, the Second coming of Christ is as close to us as our
death, which also for most of us is unknown, for when we die, the
next second of life is in the presence of Christ, with no
knowledge of the time between the two events. We need always to
live in mind and heart as if death and resurrection is the next
second. Nothing in Revelation says that certain events need NOT
happen before Christ comes. In fact Revelation proves just the
opposite. It is to reveal to us that these are the things which
"MUST shortly come to pass" [Rev.1:1] before Jesus returns to
earth - Keith Hunt)
* "Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that
no man take thy crown" (Revelation 3:11).
(Yes, for in the days of the fulfilling of the prophecies of
Revelation, Jesus' coming will be quickly. 42 months, 1260 days,
plus some extra days added as Daniel was told in Daniel 12, is
"quickly" in the scheme of eternity. 42 months must be as NOTHING
to God in the ages of eternity. Nothing here to say certain
events need NOT happen before Jesus returns. The book of
Revelation proves just the opposite. It is to REVEAL to us the
EVENTS that "must shortly come to pass." Keith Hunt)
* "Behold, I come quickly: blessed is he that keepeth the
sayings of the prophecy of this book" (Revelation 22:7).
(Quickly to God, is obviously not as man sees the word "quickly"
for 1,900 years after the book of Revelation was written we still
await the Second Coming of Christ. When that "which
must shortly come to pass" in the book of Revelation IS A
REALITY, THEN JESUS WILL COME QUICKLY! Those alive had better be
keeping the sayings of this prophecy of this book! And for us who
die before the events of Revelation come on this earth, then
"quickly" will be "quickly" for after death is the resurrection,
and Christ's coming, with no idea of the time lapse between our
death and our living again in resurrection. Nothing here says
certain events need NOT happen before Christ returns. Just the
opposite, the book of Revelation tells us about the events "that
must shortly come to pass" before Jesus returns - Keith Hunt)
* "And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to
give every man according as his work shall be" (Revelation
22:-12).
(As above, I could repeat to give emphasis, but you should by now
be getting the picture. Quickly to God can be different than
quickly to us, these words have been here for 1,900 years and
quickly has not happened as yet. But in the last 42 months
quickly will be quickly as we view time. Nothing here .... you
know what I'm going to say - Keith Hunt)
* "He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come
quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus" (Revelation 22:20).
(When Revelation, all that is written therein, comes, "must
shortly come to pass" does come to pass, then it will surely be
"quickly" even in human terms, that Jesus will return in power
and triumphant glory. Nothing here says .... you know - Keith
Hunt)
As these numerous passages attest, Christ's return for His
saints is truly imminent. (The word "imminent" is not found in
the NT - and certainly not with the interpretation Jeffrey would
like you to believe - Keith Hunt)
The Holy Spirit commands believers to look expectantly for
our Lord's return at any moment and to continue living in
holiness awaiting the glorious redemption of our body. (The
teaching of Jesus and the apostle Paul for sure, was that certain
events "must shortly come to pass" before Jesus can return and
the resurrection of the saints take place. The book of
Revelation is the detail account from Christ of those events.
They must come to pass before His coming again to earth - Keith
Hunt)
The doctrine of the pre-Tribulation rapture accepts the full
and literal implications to the promise of an any-moment
resurrection event.
(An any moment resurrection, an any second resurrection just is
not taught in the Bible, no matter how people like Jeffrey
misunderstand, twist, or simply ignore the Scriptures, the
resurrection of the saints will NOT take place UNTIL the
prophecies of the book of Revelation must come to pass - Keith
Hunt)
Dr.John Walvoord, the acknowledged dean of prophecy
teachers, wrote: "The exhortation to look for 'the glorious
appearing' of Christ to His own (Titus 2:-13) loses its
significance if the Tribulation must intervene first. Believers
in that case should look for signs."
(Titus says we as Christians should live our lives looking for
the glorious appearing of Christ. Paul knew that some events had
to happen before Jesus returned, we see that in 2 Thes.2 and the
man of sin. It is quite possible Paul expected that prophecy to
be fulfilled in his life time, and that Jesus would come again in
his life time. Remember the book of Revelation was not YET
written. Paul was only given the prophecy of the falling away and
the man of sin to take place before Jesus returned. The
expectation for all the apostles, including John at this time,
while Paul was still alive, was probably the expectation of
Christ coming again in their life time. The apostles had no clue
whatsoever that at least 2,000 years was to unfold on this earth
before Jesus would return. John in 1 John 1:18 was still no doubt
looking to the prophecy of Paul about the man of sin, and
thinking the man of sin would come in his life time, as he said
many anti-christs were already there, so it was the last time.
John I'm sure realized the "last time" was probably not going to
be in his life, when the book of Revelation was inspired for him
to write down. He was a very old man by this time. Yet I'm sure
he died never dreaming that 1,900 years would go by and the book
of Revelation would still not have been fulfilled.
As I've said, the coming of Christ is as close as your death. We
need as Paul told Titus to live in righteousness, denying
ungodliness, worldly lusts, living soberly, righteously, in this
present world, for most of us do not know the day we shall die,
and the next second after death is the resurrection will not
knowledge of the time lapse between the two events. But of course
the fundamental prophets have no idea about that truth either, as
they teach everyone has an immortal soul, and we either go to
heaven or hell at death, still continuing to live in some form.
The truth of the matter on the subject of "death" can be found in
many in-depth studies on this Website - Keith Hunt)
The Gentile and Jewish tribulation saints who become
followers of Christ after the Rapture will experience the
catastrophic events of the seven-year tribulation period
described in the book of Revelation.
(Here we go again, with words that tell you the Bible teaches
this before tribulation secret rapture - which has to be for
those who teach it a two-phased coming of Christ, one in secret
to take the saints to heaven, the other "ex" years later to come
visibly to earth. And notice Jeffrey throws in for good measure,
the 7 year tribulation period "described in the book of
Revelation." I think Jeffrey has either never read the book of
Revelation or has "double vision" in reading, so to him 42
months, 1260 days, time, times, and half a time, equals SEVEN
years. You are free to read the book of Revelation - let me know
what chapter and verse contained the 7 year tribulation - Keith
Hunt)(
These tribulation saints will observe the fulfilment
of John's prophecies as signs of the final approach of Armageddon
and Christ's coming defeat of Antichrist. However, those saints
who belong to the Bride of Christ, the present Church of Jesus
Christ, do not need to look for preliminary prophecies as
preconditions to the imminent resurrection. They will obey the
command of our Lord to watch expectantly for His return: "Be ye
therefore ready also: for the Son of man cometh at an hour when
ye think not" (Luke -12:40). Rather than waiting fearfully for
the enduring of the seven years of the wrath of God during the
Tribulation, Christians who belong to the Lord are commanded by
God "to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the
dead, even Jesus, which delivered us from the wrath to come" (1
Thessalonians 1:10).
(All Christians are to look for the expectant return of Christ,
which could possibly be in their life time. Many in passed ages
have so thought and lived. The apostles no doubt thought Jesus
would return in their life time. Some of the signs of wars,
famine, earthquakes, false prophets, anti-christs, were around
them. John said it was the "last time" in 1 John 2:18. We are
given by Jesus that no one but the Father knows the day or the
hour that Jesus will be sent back to earth. The saints will be
delivered from the "wrath of God" to come. We have seen this in
the last verse of Revelation 6 and the following chapter seven,
when the saints on earth will be "sealed" in their forehead [see
Eph.1:13] and they are the saints "which have come out of great
tribulation" [verse 14]. The saints shall also be delivered from
the wrath of God's judgment by NOT experiencing the "second
death" [end of Revelation 20]. The secret rapture with an
invisible return of Christ before the Great Tribulation is a
false doctrine, it is no where taught in the Scriptures, as I
have proved already in past studies - Keith Hunt)
Historic Teaching of the Imminent Return
A reader might reasonably ask whether any historical
evidence exists to demonstrate whether any Christian leaders who
lived before the 1800s taught that the coming of Jesus Christ to
resurrect His saints was imminent. The answer is yes. As shown in
earlier chapters, early Church leaders from Papias onward looked
for an imminent return of Christ. For example, Cyprian (200-258)
wrote enthusiastically about the imminent coming of Christ: "We
who see that terrible things have begun, and know that still more
terrible things are imminent, may regard it as the greatest
advantage to depart from it as quickly as possible." Cyprian also
declared, "Let us greet the day which assigns each of us to his
own home, which snatches us hence, and sets us free from the
snares of the world, and restores us to paradise and the
kingdom." Clement of Rome taught, "Let us every hour expect the
Kingdom of God." Reverend Albert Barnes acknowledged in his
commentary on 1 Corinthians 2:7 that there was a widespread
longing for Christ's return within the early Church. "The earnest
expectation of the Lord Jesus became one of the marks of early
Christian piety."
(Barnes was correct, it is evident the apostles thought Jesus
would return in their life time. They had not yet been given the
book of Revelation. But all that being so, Barnes did not say the
apostles believed in a two-phase coming of Christ, the first
phase being an invisible secret rapture to heaven and then some 7
year tribulation on earth. The other guys ..... well as I told
you before when Jeffrey went through his historical records of
some teaching a secret rapture, Bible truth is not found in the
writings of men, it is found in the Scriptures, and you have to
do two things: 1. Search the Scriptures daily 2. Put the
Scriptures together correctly like dove-tailing pieces of wood.
The ideas of men mean nothing as to the truth of God's word -
Keith Hunt)
Though the imminence of the Second Coming fell out of favor
in the teaching of the Church during the medieval period, it
reappeared when the Reformers encouraged people to interpret the
Scriptures for themselves. Martin Luther looked for the speedy
and imminent return of Christ in the air to take His saints home
to heaven. In his comment on the resurrection as prophesied by
Daniel 12, Luther wrote: "I ever keep it before me, and I am
satisfied that the last day must be before the door; for the
signs predicted by Christ and the Apostles Peter and Paul have
all now been fulfilled, the trees put forth, the Scriptures are
green and flourishing. That we cannot know the day matters not;
some one else may point it out; things are certainly near their
end." Luther added, "We certainly have nothing now to wait for
but the end of all things."
(Luther was MISTAKEN. Luther did not understand the book of
Revelation. Luther was as out to lunch on prophecy as he was in
calling the book of James "an epistle of STRAW."
Every Christian must live life as if the Kingdom of God will come
quickly, as fast as their DEATH will bring it, for in death the
next second is the Kingdom of God, not because of having an
immortal soul, but because they SLEEP and will have no concept
of how long time has been since they closed their eyes in death
to opening their eyes in resurrection - Keith Hunt)
The question that must appear in the mind of every
thoughtful reader is this: Since the Scriptures teach that the
Second Coming of Christ for His Church is imminent, (the word
"imminent" cannot be found in the NT - Keith Hunt) why has
the Lord delayed His return for almost two thousand years?
Fortunately, the Scriptures provide the answer. "The Lord is
not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness;
but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should
perish, but that all should come to repentance" (2 Peter 3:9).
The reason Christ has delayed His return is to allow the
Church time to fulfil the Great Commission: "Go ye therefore,
and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father,
and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost" (Matthew 28:19).
(This is true. God's patience for 2,000 years is to bring more
elect into His family for that great resurrection day and the
coming of the Lord Jesus - Keith Hunt)
The growth of the Church in this last generation is witnessing up
to 85,000 new converts to Christ every day according to some
mission estimates.
(As shocking as it may sound to many, 99% of those so-called
converts to Christ, are following a false Christ, following false
ministers who come in the name of Christ, but are as Jesus said,
deceiving MANY, not the few, but the MANY - Keith Hunt)
Christ's mercy toward sinners has apparently motivated Him
to delay His return to provide an opportunity for the Church to
reach the world's population with the Gospel in these last days.
However, as the next chapter will demonstrate, after two thousand
years the prophetic signs in our generation should awaken every
Christian to His soon coming.
(We'll see the signs he gives, and I will answer. When I came to
Canada at age 18 in 1961, I found fundamental churches even then
talking about how Jesus will "come soon" - "any minute" - and the
rapture teaching. But "soon" - "quickly" - "last time" - "must
shortly come to pass" - in God's mind is obviously not the way
man thinks of these words. As the Lord said in Isaiah, "My ways are
not your ways, and my thought are not your thought, for as the
heaven is higher that the earth, so are my ways than your ways, and
my thoughts than yours thoughts." Time to God, who lives in
eternity, is not the time man lives in. We need to remember that
- Keith Hunt)
The Second Coming of Christ The Rapture of the Saints and the
Revelation of Christ
The Second Coming of Christ involves two major events
separated by at least seven years - first, the Rapture of the
resurrected saints, and second, the Revelation when Christ will
return to earth with His army of saints to set up His kingdom.
(Here we go once more. Jeffrey tells you this, he tells you the
teaching of the two-phased return of Christ. But saying it DOES
NOT MAKE IT SO!! Anyone can say anything. The truth is found in
the pages of your Bible, putting Scripture with Scripture, and
reading it as a child would. I have proven to you from the
Scriptures, dove-tailing them together for you, that this
fundamental teaching of an invisible secret rapture going to
heaven for "ex" years and a then coming of Christ in open glory,
is a FALSE DOCTRINE, that is no where taught in the Scriptures.
This teaching of an invisible first-phase coming of Christ is the
doctrine of DEMONS that Paul said would come on the earth in the
last days [1 Timothy 4:1] - Keith Hunt)
The numerous passages throughout the Bible that prophesy
about the Second Coming deal with either the Rapture or the
Resurrection. Some have suggested that the Second Coming cannot
involve two separate events occurring at two different times.
However, the First Coming of Christ involved hundreds of separate
historical events (Jesus' birth, ministry, trial, death, and His
resurrection) that took place over a period of thirty-three
years. All of these diverse events are included in His First
Coming. Therefore there is nothing illogical in considering both
the Rapture and the Revelation to be included in His Second
Coming.
(That is not the point. The point is how to put the NT Scriptures
TOGETHER to let them INTERPRET themselves. I did all of that for
you in the last study. It should be clear that the coming of
Christ is at the LAST TRUMP and the last trump is AFTER the first
trumpets, that are AFTER the seals, and so the simple truth of
Scripture with Scripture makes it abundantly plain that the
resurrection of the saints, the instant change of those living on
earth, the sound of the last trumpet, ALL happen at the SAME
TIME! A man telling you something, using human or clever
arguments on how long all the events of Christ's first coming
took, does not change the truth of NT Scripture with NT
Scriptures that give you a smooth one, two, three, structure of
events - Keith Hunt)
Unfortunately, many have misunderstood the nature of these
two key events in our future. If we wish to understand the truth
about the Second Coming, we need to examine the biblical
prophecies which describe these two critical and separate
prophetic events.
The Difference Between the Rapture and the Revelation
The Rapture and the Revelation are totally different in
purpose, character, participants, place, and timing.
The Rapture
For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so
them which also that sleep in Jesus will God bring with Him.
For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we
which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall
not prevent them which are asleep. For the Lord himself
shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of
the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in
Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain
shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet
the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.
(1 Thessalonians 4:14-17)
(I have already fully shown you the truth of these verses. This
resurrection and change for those living is not some
invisible, silent, secret coming of Christ; it is at the TRUMP of
God and more shouting and the voice of the archangel. It is the
LAST trump of Paul's resurrection chapter - 1 Corinthians 15. It
is the 7th Trumpet sound of Revelation chapter 11. It is the
coming of Christ's ONE and ONLY ONE glorious open coming, to
resurrect the saints and bring them with Him to the earth, to the
mount of Olives [Zech 14]. All in the very day that He returns,
the day only the Father knows - Keith Hunt)
The Revelation
And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he
that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in
righteousness he doth judge and make war. His eyes were as a
flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had
a name written, that no man knew, but he himself. And he was
clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is
called The Word of God. And the armies which were in heaven
followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white
and clean. And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that
with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them
with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the
fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. And he hath on his
vesture and on his thigh a name written, King of Kings, and
Lord of Lords. (Revelation 19:11-16)
(This is indeed the glorious coming of the Lord, the same time as
the last of the Seven trumpets, the Seventh one sounding in
Revelation 11:15. It is the Last trumpet of 1 Corinthians 15, the
Trump sound of 1 Thessalonians 4. All of which show the
resurrection of the saints at the same time, to be gathered by
the angels, after the tribulation of those days after the
heavenly signs, and be brought to meet the Lord in the clouds
[Matthew 24:29-31] and to be part of His army that shall descend
to the mount of olives IN THAT DAY [Zech.14] and to destroy those
who are destroying the earth at the battle of Armageddon
[Revelation 16] - Keith Hunt)
The differences between the Rapture and the Revelation when
Christ appears at Armageddon are enormous as the following
analysis reveals. The purpose of the Rapture is to resurrect the
bodies of all Christians, both the departed saints in heaven and
the believers living, at the time Christ comes in the air for His
Bride. He will supernaturally transform the bodies of all of the
saints into immortal, and incorruptible bodies fit for eternity.
(No, the saints are NOT in heaven, NOW, or THEN! The saints that
are dead are ASLEEP! They are in the gave. The truth about
"death" and the false teaching of the immortal soul is covered
IN-DEPTH with many studies on this Website. The resurrection of
the saints takes place at the Last Trump, which takes place at
the coming of Christ with shouting, like lightning, with open
glory. Jeffrey's theology on all this is, together with his PhD
cap on his head ... BOTTOM OF THE CLASS!! It is shockingly sloppy
and mind-blowing for an "educate" man - Keith Hunt)
The purpose of the Revelation is to defeat Satan's forces
and usher in the kingdom when Christ returns with His Bride (the
saints). The Rapture will occur when Christ descends in the air
to call all of the saints home to heaven.
(Oh this is becoming so laborious, it is pathetic. Christ
descends from heaven at the sound of the TRUMP. To raise the dead
saints and change the living saints, at the Last trumpet, which
is the 7th trumpet of Revelation, which comes after the seals and
the other 6 trumpets, which is all after the Great Tribulation
and Day of the wrath of God, when the angels go forth to gather
the elect from the four winds of earth, to guide them to where
Christ is in the air, in the clouds, and to descend to the mount
of Olives in THAT DAY [Zech. 14]. It is all so simple, when you
do away with the ideas of men, and dove-tail the Scriptures
together correctly - Keith Hunt)
The Revelation will witness Christ's return to earth at
Armageddon with His army of saints.
(Yes, because the saints will have been resurrected or instantly
changed for those living on earth, and will meet Jesus in the
clouds, at the Last Trumpet sound, when 1 Cor.15 and 1 Thes.4 and
Rev.11:15, and Matthew 24:31, will all take place at the SAME
time - Keith Hunt)
As detailed in the previous chapter the Rapture will
occur before the seven year Tribulation period, while the
Revelation clearly occurs at the conclusion of the Battle of
Armageddon which ends the Tribulation.
(As I told you before, there is not a 7 year period of anything,
it is 42 months, or 1260 days of Revelation, Daniel 12 adds a
few months or so longer. As detailed before for you, there is no
"secret rapture" before any time line of anything - Keith Hunt)
At the Rapture Christ will withdraw all Christians as His
ambassadors just before the seven year war erupts between Satan
and God.
(No Christian will disappear from this earth up to heaven at any
time, before or after any tribulation. Such an idea is just not
taught, when you dove-tail the Scriptures together correctly,
that many PhDs just seem they cannot do - Keith Hunt)
At the Revelation Jesus
Christ will return as conquering King of Kings together with
His ambassadors to rule and reign throughout the Millennium.
(This is true, but not in the way Jeffrey would like you to
believe - Keith Hunt)
The prophetic message of the Rapture is one of great comfort
and hope to the Church as the righteous saints receive their
glorious new immortal bodies.
(It is indeed a glorious hope, it is the Kingdom of God in
reality, but I think Jeffrey has another idea in mind when he
talks about the church having great comfort, for him it is
escaping what must come on the earth in the last days and being
invisibly swooped up to heaven. No such thing will happen. some
saints in the last 42 months of this age will be killed for their
faith, some saints will be taken to safety in the wilderness, not
heaven, just as Revelation 12 makes very clear - Keith Hunt)
However, the prophecies about the approaching Revelation
convey a message of terror to the unrepentant rebels who will
then face defeat and judgment by the Lord. The Scriptures
prophesy that the voice of an archangel will announce the
Rapture.
(They announce the coming of the Lord with a Trump and the
resurrection and change for the saints, loud shouting and a
trumpet sound; the same as 1 Corinthians 15 and Revelation 11:15.
All ONE event - Keith Hunt)
At the Revelation an army of angels will descend
triumphantly from heaven with Christ and His resurrected
saints to defeat Antichrist and establish His millennial kingdom.
(It is One revelation not a two-phased revelation, ONE coming of
Christ not some secret coming and then some glory coming - Keith
Hunt)
At the Rapture both the living and the departed saints will
be resurrected and return to heaven with Jesus Christ.
(At the last trump, the resurrection of the departed saints will
happen; at the last trump Jesus will return, and IN THAT DAY
[Zech 14] His feet will rest on the mount of Olives. He comes
with the saints for they have just be resurrected and changed and
have met Him in the clouds - Keith Hunt)
In contrast the Revelation will be a public event witnessed by
every one of the Jews and Gentiles throughout the world.
(Yes it will be OPEN and with signs and POWER, and AS LIGHTNING,
WITH THE LAST TRUMPET - ONE SINGLE EVENT ONLY - Keith Hunt)
The Revelation - The Glorious Second Coming of Christ
The Revelation of Christ at the end of the Battle of
Armageddon will transform life on earth for humanity forever. It
is important for us to understand the nature of His Second Coming
in light of the large number of scriptural passages that describe
His return.
How Will Christ Return at the Revelation?
A. Jesus' Second Coming will be literal: The return of Christ is
a literal event that will occur when Jesus physically returns in
His resurrection body from heaven to earth at the end of the
Battle of Armageddon. The angels told His disciples, "Ye men of
Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus,
which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like
manner as ye have seen him go into heaven" (Acts 1:11).
B. Everyone on earth will be aware of His triumphant return:
"Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and
they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall
wail because of him. Even so, Amen" (Revelation 1:7).
C. Christ will destroy the armies of the Antichrist: "And I saw
the beast, and the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered
together to make war against him that sat on the horse, and
against his army. And the beast was taken, and with him the false
prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived
them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that
worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of
fire burning with brimstone" (Revelation 19:19-20).
D. Christ will descend to earth: "Then shall the Lord go forth,
and fight against those nations, as when he fought in the day of
battle. And his feet shall stand in that day upon the mount of
Olives, which is before Jerusalem on the east . . ." (Zechariah
14:3-4).
E. Jesus will return with His resurrected saints: "And Enoch
also, the seventh from Adam, prophesied of these, saying, Behold,
the Lord cometh with ten thousands of his saints" (Jude 14).
(Indeed all this is true, for Jesus will come with His saints
because they will have been resurrected or changed if alive, at
the last trump, at the coming of the Lord, to meet Him in the
clouds and then IN THAT DAY to descend to the mount of Olives
[Zech.14] - Keith Hunt)
F. The Lord will return with His angelic army in judgment: "And
to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall
be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels, In flaming fire
taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the
gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ" (2 Thessalonians i:7-8).
(Jesus will come to destroy those who are destroying the earth,
the time will be cut short for the elect, or else no flesh would
be saved alive [Matt.24:22] - Keith Hunt)
The Time Relationship Between the Rapture and the Revelation
The diagram below illustrates the time relationships between
the future events as predicted by the biblical prophets.
Hopefully, the time line below will assist the reader to
understand the sequence of events that will culminate in the
return of Christ to establish His kingdom on earth.
Second Coming Time Line Showing the Rapture and the Revelation
Rapture - Christ comes for His saints
Antichrist Signs 7-year Treaty with Israel
Antichrist Defiles Temple
7-year Tribulation Period
Revelation - Christ Returns at Armageddon with His saints
Battle of Armageddon
Millennial Kingdom 1000 years
...................
NOTE:
The outline just given by Jeffrey is pretty well the standard
teaching of the fundamental church prophets.
I will LIFT UP MY VOICE LIKE A TRUMPET AND TELL YOU IT IS ALL
WRONG! - except the coming of Christ from the clouds with the
saints and angels to fight at the battle of Armageddon.
The Bible teaches no such doctrine as a LAST 7 YEAR TRIBULATION
with the anti-christ signing a 7 year treaty with the Jews. That
idea comes from complete misunderstanding of Daniel's 70th week
prophecy of Daniel 9. Here on this Website you can find the truth
about Daniel's 70 week prophecy, and it has NOTHING to do with
the last 7 years of this age. The NT book of prophecy -
Revelation - only gives 42 months, 1260 days, a time, times, and
half a time.
There will be no Temple with animals sacrifices build and
performed by the Jews. On this Website I go into detail in
various studies to show you that all prophecy can be fulfilled
without any need for a physical Temple and animal sacrifices. The
anti-christ defiles the holy city Jerusalem as Luke's explains in
his version of Christ's Olivet prophecy (Matthew 24 and Marl 13).
There is no 7 year Tribulation period. The last 42 months are
divided into the "Great Tribulation " and "The Day of the Lord"
(or the day of the wrath of God as written in Revelation 6:17).
Both total 42 months, 1260 days, and about 2 months added by the
prophecy in Daniel 12:9-13.
The Bible teaches no such idea as a "secret rapture" - an
invisible coming of Christ to take His disciples of all ages back
to heaven, where most are taught by the fundamentals they are
already in heaven but are "bodiless" (for the resurrection at the
rapture is supposed to give them their body) somehow. You talk
about crazy mixed up theology, this has got to take the cake!
There is ONLY ONE SECOND COMING taught in the Bible, not a two-
phased coming with years in-between.
JESUS CHRIST WILL COME ONCE, IN GLORY, POWER, AND TRIUMPHANT
RULERSHIP TO REIGN ON THIS EARTH FOR ONE THOUSAND YEARS.
THIS WEBSITE IS LOADED WITH STUDIES SHOWING YOU THE PROPHETIC
TRUTH OF ALL THE PROPHETIC WRITINGS OF THE BIBLE PROPHETS,
CONCERNING THE RETURN OF THE MESSIAH AND THE AGE TO COME!
Keith Hunt (February 2009)
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