Finding Jesus in the Bible…So We Can Follow Him in Life
Bible Reading Plans
- Plan One: New Testament Only
- Plan Two: New Testament + Psalms
- Plan Three: New Testament + History
- Plan Four: The Entire Bible – Year 1 of 3, Year 2 of 3, Year 3 of 3
Don’t know which plan? Go to A Christ-Centered Bible Reading Plan: Quick Start.
Extras
Verse of the Day, Audio Capsule, and Video Minute
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(Today’s Reading)
The Biblical Case for the Second Coming as Accomplished Fact
(Book Installment 16)
Part Two – The Timing of the Second Coming
Chapter 2 – What the Gospels Say
Other Signs To Be Fulfilled, Too (continued)
History will also tell us that there were wars, famines, and earthquakes that occurred, just as Jesus had said. We should probably not, however, regard these words as prophecy per se for these things have always occurred throughout human history with some periods of time being more intense with them than others. Jesus’ point, therefore, was that He didn’t want His
disciples distracted from their mission when wars, famines, and earthquakes arose with greater intensity – the disciples must keep on going with His message of love.
Just before His ascension into heaven, Jesus told His disciples,
“It is not for you to know times or epochs which the Father has fixed by His own authority…“ Acts 1:7
In other words, the disciples should not be concerned with which nation was rising against which nation, which would include not being concerned about which nation would be the one to destroy Israel.
Paul said the same thing to the believers in Thessalonica:
Now as to the times and the epochs, brethren, you have no need of anything to be written to you. 1 Thessalonians 5:1
Such curiosity would serve no useful purpose for God, and only distract the disciples from their mission of preaching the good news about Jesus.
Note how many of those who preach a “future, physical” Second Coming do this very thing Jesus and Paul said not to do. For example, such “prophecy experts” will say ”Iran is going to come against Israel in fulfillment of prophecy.” A quarter of a century ago, they uttered the same sentence except that it was the Soviet Union instead of Iran. God does not use His
people to be geopolitical prognosticators and commentators. Rather, He uses His people to proclaim His name and demonstrate His righteous character.
History also tells us that, just as Jesus predicted, the apostles were hated and persecuted on account of His name. Most of the twelve died a martyr’s death. If you look up an account of their lives, you will see that they left very little information about themselves. They devoted their all to making known their Master. Whoever succeeded at so difficult a mission, or at a greater personal price, as they did? What we don’t know about Jesus is our fault, not theirs.
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