SPECIAL TOPIC: THE ANY-MOMENT RETURN OF JESUS vs. THE NOT YET (NT paradox)
- New Testament eschatological passages reflect Old Testament prophetic insight that
viewed the end-time through contemporary occurrences (see
SPECIAL TOPIC: PROPHECY [OT]).
- Matthew 24, Mark 13, and Luke 21 are so difficult to interpret because they deal with
several questions simultaneously (see
SPECIAL TOPIC: ANSWERS TO THE DISCIPLES' TWO QUESTIONS).
- when will the temple be destroyed?
- what will be the sign of the Messiah's return?
- when will this age end (cf. Matt. 24:3)?
- The genre of New Testament eschatological passages is usually a combination of apocalyptic
and prophetic language which is purposely ambiguous and highly symbolic (see D. Brent Sandy,
Plowshares and Pruning Hooks: Rethinking the Language of Biblical Prophecy and Apocalyptic; see
SPECIAL TOPIC: APOCALYPTIC LITERATURE).
- Several passages in the NT (cf. Matthew 24, Mark 13, Luke 17 and 21, 1 and 2 Thessalonians
and Revelation) deal with the Second Coming. These passages emphasize:
- the exact time of the event is unknown, but the event is certain
- we can know the general time, but not specific time, of the events
- it will occur suddenly and unexpectedly
- we must remain prayerful, ready, and faithful to assigned tasks.
- There is a theological paradoxical tension between
- the any-moment return (cf. Luke 12:40,46; 21:36; Matt.24:27,44) and
- the fact that some events in history must occur (F. below)
- The NT states that some events will occur before the Second Coming:
- the Gospel preached to the whole world (cf. Matt. 24:14; Mark 13:10)
- the great apostasy (cf. Matt. 24:10-13, 21; 1 Tim. 4:1; 2 Tim. 3:1ff.; 2 Thess. 2:3)
- the revelation of the "man of sin" (cf. Dan. 7:23-26; 9:24-27; 2 Thess. 2:3)
- removal of that/who restrains (cf. 2 Thess. 2:6-7)
- hopefully a Jewish revival (cf. Zech. 12:10; Romans 11)
SPECIAL TOPIC: SOON RETURN
SPECIAL TOPIC: DELAYED SECOND COMING
SPECIAL TOPIC: JESUS' RETURN
SPECIAL TOPIC: SECOND COMING (CHART)
Copyright © 2014 Bible Lessons International