Posts Tagged ‘Gospel of Matthew’

Olivet Discourse: Has the Kingdom of God Arrived?


ReExamination - Eschatology

Image by allthingsfulfilled via Flickr

Olivet Discourse: Has the Kingdom of God Arrived? Matthew, Mark and Luke, all record the Olivet Discourse. However, only one explicitly mention the coming of the kingdom of God. While all gospels speak of the coming kingdom, only Luke connected it with Jesus’ address on the Mount of Olives.

The kingdom is the reign of God in men’s hearts. Luke recorded Jesus’ words that during the Roman conflagration of Jerusalem in A.D. 70, the kingdom would be near. “So likewise you, when you see all these things, know that the kingdom of God has drawn near.”

The question we ask is did Jesus speak of the coming of the kingdom in Matthew or Mark or both? The importance of this question centers on the fact that Luke’s account is admittedly a reference to Jesus’ coming in the clouds during Jerusalem’s fall in the first century. Thus, to show a connection between Matthew and Luke demonstrates they both taught the soon arrival of the kingdom.

In order to establish that connection, let us consider a statement Jesus makes elsewhere in Luke concerning his kingdom. When the Pharisees asked when the (more…)

John Hagee – 10 Signs of the Final End, Are We The Terminal Generation?


Yitzhak Rabin, Bill Clinton, and Yasser Arafat...

John Hagee's Countdown to the End

Televangelist, John Hagee, Pastor of Cornerstone Baptist church in San Antonio, Texas and best selling author writes and speaks on Bible prophecy. In his Book, Beginning of the End, The Assassination of Yitzhak Rabin and the Coming Antichrist, he lists 10 reasons why our generation will see Christ’s return. In the following we survey John Hagee – 10 Signs of the Final End, Are We The Terminal Generation?

There appears to be no end to the numerous countdowns and endtime signs offered by modern day prophecy preachers. Every generation since the first have had their share of these grossly mistaken prophets. Hagee must join their ranks. Please understand, this is not a personal attack on the man. I do not know him and can only address what he writes and says about Bible prophecy. He is certainly very prominent and influential, and runs one of the most well organized Christian lobbies in the (more…)

How Did Every Eye See Him, Revelation 1:7?


Preterism_Eschatology_Every_Eye_Saw_Him_Revela...
Image by allthingsfulfilled via Flickr

When we share the message of Christ’s return in glory in A.D. 70, we often are asked, “How Did Every Eye See Him?, Revelation 1:7. Often the conversation degenerates with snickers and sneers from detractors. Quite often the response is, “I haven’t seen him, did you see him?”  The implied answer is no, of course. None living today saw Christ return in the clouds and therefore, it is assumed a ridiculous argument and proof that Christ’s coming remains a future event.

Such responses may gain the attention of the less serious bible student but have no value for those who are acquainted with reason and logic and the sacred text. Christ is unveiled in the Apocalypse in his glory. He is manifested as the Ancient of Days, a clear expression of his Divine nature. Crucified for his testimony that he would sit at the right hand of the Power (The Father) and come on the clouds of heaven, his testimony was regarded by the Caiaphas, the High Priest as blasphemy, (Matthew 26:64). However, that text is parallel to Revelation 1:7.

Christ told the High Priest that the latter would live to see him return upon the clouds. This means he would have to return in the lifetime of Caiaphas. In the same manner, not only would Caiaphas see him, reigning on the throne in the clouds, but many more would as well. In fact, all the land would mourn (more…)

What is the Abomination of Desolation?


In response to the inquiry of Peter, James, Andrew and John, (Mark 13:3), Jesus answered a question concerning events and the time of his coming. The question, broken down into two parts, focuses upon “when shall these things be, and what will be the sign of your coming (parousia)?  The “end of the age” is but part of the  same question, (Matthew 24:2).  Much of what is said in response hinges on the issue of what is the abomination of desolation?

Christ made a direct allusion to the prophecy of Daniel 9:24-27, the events of the 70 weeks of Daniel, particularly those of the last week. It is my understanding that Christ’s entire “last (more…)

Has the Last Trumpet Sounded?


Saint Matthew, from the 9th-century Ebbo Gospels.
Image via Wikipedia

Has the last trumpet sounded? By the
last trumpet we mean the eschatological
trumpet that consummates the last days
events.

According to Numbers chapter 10, Israel
learned the meaning of the use of the
trumpets through the instruction of Moses.

Specific details for the gathering of the
assembly, advancing, going to war and
in the accompaniment with the appointed
feasts were assigned to the blowing

(more…)

Parable of the 10 Virgins, Matthew 25, Future or AD 70?


Brautzimmer 1. Gemälde / brideroom 1st painting
Image by pittigliani2005 via Flickr

The Parable of the 10 Virgins, Matt. 25,
Future or AD70,
takes a look at the timing
of Christ’s return.

Here the Lord expands upon the teaching
of chapter 24:36, that no man knows the
day and hour
of his return.

Futurists believe Christ has not yet returned.
They yet look for that coming to be fulfilled.

Consequently, they use this as a proof-text
to support a future coming. (more…)

Did Paul Time The Great Tribulation?


In our previous post, we showed
the contextual correlation of Daniel
12 and Matthew 24. Here, we want
to know did Paul time the great
tribulation?

In answering this question, we explore
the Paul’s comments on Daniel 12
found in Romans 13:11–12.

This verse is significant in that it
further establishes the resurrection
within the first century generation.

Our interest here is that the great tribulation precedes the resurrection spoken of according to Daniel 12:1, 2 and Matthew 24:21, 31.

What does Paul write that suggests the imminence of Daniel 12:2 and therefore the imminence of the great tribulation, Mathew 24:21?

(more…)

The Great Tribulation Past or Future?


Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse, by Albrecht D...

The Great Tribulation

How do we determine whether the
great tribulation is past or future?

To answer this question, we will
consider parallel passages from
Daniel 12:1–2 and Matthew 24:21,
31.

A very weak case is made for the
Dispensationalist position on the
matter of eschatology in that it
argues that Matthew 24 is yet to
be fulfilled.

In order to pull this interpretive gymnastic maneuver, they must do a

(more…)

Is the Kingdom of God Present on Earth?


Kingdom of God.

Kingdom of God

Is the kingdom of God present on earth?
Perhaps you would ask why, if there is so
much evil in this world would anyone
think that God’s kingdom is here?

Or, how could God be reigning over men
while we yet live on earth? It seems we
have a world that has lost sight of the
unseen.

Perhaps only in the world of religion and
personal development (which is a practical
outworking of religion) do people give
more value to the existence of invisible
realities.

(more…)

Did Christ See Daniel’s Appointed Time?


Mosaic of the 12 Tribes of Israel. From a syna...

In this, our second installment on the
resurrection in Daniel, we examine the
Lord’s divine commentary on Daniel 12:2.
Did Christ See Daniel’s Appointed Time?

In the first segment we noted that
Daniel identified the “time of the end”
as the appointed time for the indignation
or anger of God against his people Israel.

(more…)

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