Your Thoughts on this article: Signs of Christ Return!!!

Ed's short writing on Eschatological Dispenstationalism:

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Dispensation in the NT, KJV1769 version:

1 Corinthians 9:17 (KJV1769):
For if I do this thing willingly, I have a reward:
but if against my will, a dispensation of the gospel
is committed unto me.

Ephesians 1:10 (KJV1769):
That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might
gather together in one all things in Christ, both
which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him:

Ephesians 3:2 (KJV1769):
If ye have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God
which is given me to you-ward:

Colossians 1:25 (KJV1769):
Whereof I am made a minister, according to the dispensation
of God which is given to me for you, to fulfil the word of God;

The Holy Spirit hasn't shown me a lot more than is
here. I do know the Greek word being translated here
as 'dispensation' is the Greek word from which we get
'economy'.

I do know this is what the economy of God is like:

Bible Prophetic times:
'hour' = the appropriate time
'day' = the appropriate time
or '1 day' = 1,000 years
'½-week' = 3½-years
'1 day' = 'week' = 7 years
'month' = the appropriate time
year = the appropriate time

Other 'economy of God facts':

the blind see
the dead live
the deaf hear
the lame leap like deer
the first is last
the last is first
Jesus Saves (totally!)
There is still room for more in the Family of God
God Rules!!

Frequently the Bible discusses:

What is to be is discussed in either
present tense (is done) or past tense
(done already done).

 

Another sign that could be considered is the one given in Dan 7 regarding the judgment that takes place (according to that chapter) after the fall of the Roman Empire and just before the 2nd coming.

In Rev 14:6-7 it is shown to be given at the end of time, during a period like today when both good and bad people are still on the earth. "Fear God and give glory to him for the hour of his judgment HAS come".

Indeed - many have discovered that it "HAS come" and we are in that judgment hour - the final phase of which could bring us to the judgment of the living.

And as Peter notes "Judgment BEGINS with the house of God" - Ezek 9 makes the same point that "beginning with my sanctuary" and the elders that stand before the Lord - the sealing work begins.

The great tribulation of the dark ages mentioned in Matt 24 is already passed as also we see in Dan 7 and the 1260 years of the dark ages. We are passed that point today.

There is still the future matter of the Rev 16 seven-last plagues that has not happened. But we are running out of "more stuff to happen first"

in Christ,

Bob

 

TaliOrlando,

Those certainly are...without question....some of the "signs of the times" that make very clear that we are currently in the *season* of the culmination of all things, and the bodily 2nd coming of the Lord Jesus Christ.

PRAISE GOD that those of us who are born again have been "sealed" into the body of Christ, permanently, for "the day of redemption"...as we wait patiently for our translation into the heavenly realm!

God bless,

Mike

 

Acts 1:6-7 When they therefore were come together, they asked of him, saying, Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel? And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power.



I guess if the dispensationalist wants to get around this verse, they can say, "Jesus was talking to his disciples and not to us. So in reality we can know the season." Of course, I don't agree with their interpretation.

 

Peterotto,

If God does not want us to know when we are in the season of Christs return, than why did He gives us multitudes of scriptures...with specific signs...that are expressly for the pupose of enabling us to identify when Christs return is very near?

In other words, why would God say to us....

And then turn right around and say to us...

What we CANT do is identify *precisely* when...the day, month, year, etc...of Christs return.

But if God clearly gives us easilly understood "signs of the times", then He clearly wants us to be aware of when those "times" are near.

Grace and peace,

Mike

 

Do you have scripture to back up your claim? If you want me to agree with you, start with giving me Scriptures.

Revelation 1:3 [FONT=Arial, Geneva, Helvetica]Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear, and who keep what is written in it, for the time is near.

[/FONT] Revelation [FONT=Arial, Geneva, Helvetica]22:10 [/FONT][FONT=Arial, Geneva, Helvetica]And he said to me, Do not seal up the words of the prophecy of this book, for the time is near.

[/FONT]Mike, when Christ says the "time is near", what does "near" mean to you?

 

They haven't taken place...they ARE taking place as I type this!

 

He gave you Scripture...rearead the post.

The "time is near" is Christ's return. Near means what it says...near. The time of Christ's return is close. It was close 2000 years ago, as 1000 years are as a day to God...and it's close today.

 

The question was for Mike. And it still is.

TailOrlando, I have specifically asked you questions in other threads that you have not addressed. Maybe you should answer those first before jumping on others.


In summary TO, you are rendering the word 'near' meaningless. The time text phase like the ones in Revelation stand in stark contrast to your dispensationalist-rapture thinking. It forces you to disregard the words or even the verse, and come up with a spiritual meaning behind the word. When the plain, simple and literal approach would do just fine.

There is another problem to your thinking. In Genesis God created the World in 6 literal days. But wait! Dispensationalist like yourself will say 'Oh but a day to God could be a million years to us'. Do you now see the can of worms you have opened? Good luck defending your position.

I believe 'near' means 'near'........I know what you are thinking.......I know...I know....How can it be that simple?

Truly it is! Just think for a moment. God was speaking to us in a way we can understand. The time was 'near' to the disciples who first heard or read from Revelation. Not us.

 

TO gave scriptures, but I was talking to Mike. But your point is well taken. Mike is using the same as TOs.

Ah yes. A dispensationalist displaying his true colors. If you are consistent with your interpretation, God created the world in 6000 years. Which is fine for you, but I disagree.

near definition - ' Close in time, space, position, or degree'. It was close to the first century disciples. Not 'near' enough for us.

 

Hey, it's what Scripture says, not this "dispensationalist". What is more consistant with Scripture...that God created everything in 7 days...or 400 trillion years?
If I recall, when Adam was 4 weeks old...he didn't look anything like my son did at 4 weeks old. Not too many 4 week olds need to shave

Bottom line...we know God creates with age. There is no reason to believe the world cannot be 6000 years old...but with the age of a trillion year old planet built in. A grown man was 1 day old. An event to happen in 2000+ years is "near". It's Scripture...just accept it.

 

That post/article did get me thinking, however some of those signs have been around for over 50 years as someone said. I do however feel we are into the last hundred years - just a feeling that I have. I once met someone who reckons we have less than 10 years, bit silly to predict that but still. :laugh:

I don't think we can really predict, but most of the prophecies have been or are being fulfilled, so it's not impossible it could happen in some of our lifetimes.