End-Time Insights

The arrival of Jesus at the end of the age will result in our resurrection and the end of the last enemy, Death - 1 Corinthians 15:24-28. Certain members of the Corinthian congregation denied the future resurrection of the dead. In response, the Apostle Paul explained that bodily resurrection is fundamental to Christian salvation, and he pointed to Christ’s past death and resurrection as the precedent for our own resurrection.

Redemption includes our resurrection and the new creation, and the Spirit is the guarantee of the future inheritance . Paul presents Abraham as the model of faith. God justified him apart from the works of the Mosaic Law because of his faith in the promises of God. Likewise, we are acquitted by God “ through the faith of Jesus Christ ,” his faithful obedience unto death, and through him, we become heirs of the covenant promises– (Romans 3:21-24, 4:10-13, Galatians 2:15-21, 3:5-9).

Jesus is the anointed Son of God whose life and ministry are filled with the empowering presence of the Holy Spirit . The activity of the Spirit dominates the life, words, and deeds of Christ. He is “ Jesus, the one called Christ ,” the long-awaited Messiah of Israel. The angel informed Joseph that Mary carried a child “ conceived of the Holy Spirit ,” indicating that something more than just a miraculous birth was about to unfold.

Jesus is the herald who announces the Good News and inaugurates the Kingdom, the process that will culminate in the final harvest . Jesus proclaimed the imminence of God’s Kingdom and called men and women to repent and turn away from unrighteousness in response to this new reality. He is the Messiah who inaugurates the redemptive act of God, and this will conclude with the great harvest of souls when Christ returns “ on the clouds of heaven .”

The outpouring of the Spirit on the Day of Pentecost signaled the start of the Last Days and the time of fulfillment . The application of Joel’s prophecy to the events of the Day of Pentecost links the outpouring of the Spirit to the last days. The death, resurrection, and exaltation of Jesus inaugurated History’s final stage before the Day of the Lord, and now, he reigns and bestows the gift of the Spirit on his Church.

The conspiracy to unseat the Messiah is applied by the New Testament to the plot to destroy Jesus – Psalm 2:1-6. The Second Psalm is a key passage that the New Testament applies to Jesus, but when were the Psalm’s predictions fulfilled? Is the Messiah reigning now on David’s Throne or is the world waiting for his enthronement at a future date? What is the revolt of nations and kings against the Son of God?

The Church of Thessalonica began to serve the Living God and wait eagerly for the arrival of His Son from Heaven – 1 Thessalonians 1:8-10. The saints of Thessalonica responded to the preaching of the Gospel by turning “ from idols to serve the living and true God .” Their life orientation changed radically because of their new allegiance to Jesus Christ. Rather than a comfortable life in Macedonia, they chose a path that guaranteed opposition, trials, and even persecution.

When Jesus appears, faithful believers will rejoice exceedingly and participate fully in the glories of that day . In his first epistle, John exhorts his congregations “ to abide ” in Jesus. This is necessary so that “ whenever he is manifested, we may have boldness and not be shamed away from him at his arrival .” Believers are summoned to holy living because of the impending arrival of Jesus and the rewards that he will bring with him.

Jesus gave vital information enabling us to avoid deceptions propagated by false prophets and other deceivers . The final sermon of Jesus warns his followers about “ the many deceivers ” and “ false prophets ” who will work tirelessly to mislead them, among other things, by disseminating false information about his return and the end of the age. Constant vigilance is vital if we wish to avoid deception and apostasy.

Just as unprepared men were destroyed by Noah’s Flood, so unrepentant men and apostates will be overwhelmed by destruction when Jesus arrives . Jesus compared the final years before his return to the days of the Great Flood. “ Just as it was in the days of Noah, so it will be .” He also used the analogy of the “ thief in the night ” to stress our inability to know the timing of “ the coming of the Son of Man ,” and therefore, our need for constant preparedness and vigilance.

Instead of calculating times and seasons, followers of Jesus must always be prepared for his sudden arrival . Did Jesus command his followers to know end-time chronologies, the “ times and seasons ”? Must we decipher key “signs” and use them to calculate the time of his return so we may prepare ourselves in the nick of time for the end? Did Christ and his Apostles leave us with a comprehensive list of signs whereby we may decode prophetic timetables and cosmic signs?

Jesus warned of coming deceivers who will mislead many and spread false information about his return . Jesus began his final discourse with a sharp warning: Beware of the “ many deceivers ” who will come and spread false information about his return, including rumors about wars, earthquakes, and other calamities. They will “ deceive many .” Likewise, “ false prophets ” and “ false anointed ones ” will propagate lies about the whereabouts and the “ coming of the Son of Man .”

Paul does not provide detailed information about the times and seasons since the Lord will arrive like a thief in the night – 1 Thessalonians 5:1-3. Paul continues discussing the “ arrival ” or ‘ Parousia ’ of Jesus Christ in Chapter 5 of  First Thessalonians , where he addresses the question of its timing and how it will affect the prepared and the unprepared. Rather than signs and timetables, the Apostle reminds his readers that “ the Day of the LORD ” will come like a “ thief in the night .”

Jesus will arrive to gather his people on the Day of the Lord, and in the New Testament, this event becomes the Day of Christ . In his second letter to the Thessalonians, Paul refutes claims that “ the Day of the Lord ” is imminent. That day will only arrive after “ the Apostasy ” and the “ revelation of the Man of Lawlessness ” occur. Jesus will destroy this deceiver at his “ Arrival ” or ‘ Parousia ’, an event the Apostle links to this final day.

The arrival of Jesus will mean vindication for the righteous, but judgment and punishment for the wicked . The Son of Man will arrive “ on the clouds with   great power and glory ” at the end of the present age. He will send his angels to gather his elect and “ render judgment to each man according to his deeds .” Those men found worthy will hear Jesus declare, “ Come, you blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world ” – (Matthew 24:27-28, 25:34).

The arrival of Jesus will result in vindication and rest for the righteous, but everlasting loss for the wicked  - 2 Thessalonians 1:5-10. The “ revelation ” of Jesus from heaven will result in the reward of the faithful, but the punishment of those who have rejected the Gospel, including men and women who have abandoned the true faith. Christ's return will result in “ just judgment ” for the righteous and the unrighteous.

The Beast from the Sea is authorized to wage war on the saints on behalf of the Ancient Serpent, the Dragon – Revelation 13:6-10. The “ Dragon ” sent his “ Beast from the Sea ” to destroy the “ saints ,” and the Beast received authority over the nations to do so. In the Book of Revelation , humanity is divided into two groups: The “ Inhabitants of the Earth , ” the men who “ give allegiance to the Beast ,” and those who “ Tabernacle in the Heavens ,” namely, the “ saints .”

Jesus nachzufolgen erfordert die Bereitschaft, für ihn zu leiden. Verfolgung zu ertragen ist die höchste Ehre in seinem Reich . Vergeltung und Gewalt sind für den Jünger Jesu keine angemessenen Reaktionen auf Feindseligkeiten. Stattdessen müssen wir Bedrohungen und Angriffen mit Demut, Barmherzigkeit und Vergebung begegnen. Das ist es, was es bedeutet, " sich selbst zu verleugnen ", " sein Kreuz auf sich zu nehmen " und dem Lamm zu folgen, " wohin es auch führt ". Wenn wir unseren Feinden Gutes tun, werden wir " vollkommen wie unser himmlischer Vater ".

Following Jesus requires the willingness to suffer for him. Enduring persecution is the highest honor imaginable for his disciples . Retaliation and violence are not appropriate reactions to hostility for the disciple of Jesus. Instead, we must meet threats and assaults with humility, mercy, and forgiveness. This is what it means to “ deny yourself ,” “ take up his cross ,” and follow the Lamb “ wherever he leads .” Doing good to our “ enemies ” is how we become “ perfect as our Heavenly Father .”

Before the End, Satan will launch his final war to exterminate the Church, the men and women who have the Testimony of Jesus . At the end of the present age, Satan will launch his final war to annihilate the Church. Several passages in the  Book of Revelation  describe the ongoing cosmic battle between “ the Dragon ” and “ the Lamb ,” a process that will culminate in this last confrontation on “ the great day of God Almighty ” at the place called ‘Armageddon’.