Part 3
From the first two parts of this series it is abundantly clear from God’s
Word that both Jesus and Paul taught that Jesus could return at any time and
that his second coming was, and remains, imminent. In order to get a complete
picture we now need to turn to the books from Hebrews to Revelation.
The writer to the Hebrews urged them to be in fellowship “as you see the Day approaching” (Hebrews 10:25). Once again it is
clear that those who were alive at that time were being encouraged that the Lord
could appear in their lifetime. The writer was even more explicit when he said:
“For yet a little while, And He who is
coming will come and will not tarry” (Hebrews 10:37). The message to the
Hebrews was exactly the same as the rest of the New Testament: Jesus’ return is
imminent.
James said: “…for the coming of the
Lord is at hand… Behold, the Judge is standing at the door!” (James 5:7&9).
This means exactly what it says: The Lord is at the door. He is about to enter
the scene at any moment.
Peter confirms: “The end of all things
is at hand; therefore be serious and watchful in your prayers” (1Peter 4:7).
Literally, the end of the world can happen at any moment now! Peter continues: “The
Lord is not slack concerning His promise... But the day of the Lord will come as
a thief in the night… what manner of persons ought you to be in holy conduct and
godliness, looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of
which the heavens will be dissolved, being on fire, and the elements will melt
with fervent heat? …Therefore, beloved, looking forward to these things, be
diligent to be found by Him in peace, without spot and blameless; and consider
that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation–as also our beloved brother
Paul, according to the wisdom given to him, has written to you” (2 Peter
3:9-15).
In his epistles John urged the believers of the first century to be ready: “…when
He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is. And
everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure.” (1
John 3:2-3)
As we turn to the book of Revelation, we need to remember that the book was
written first to the seven churches of Asia in 96 A.D. It was secondly written
to all who would come after them – including
us. So, while the book is prophetic, its statements, messages and warnings are
relevant and applicable to everyone until the Lord’s actual arrival:
“Behold,
I am coming quickly!”
(Revelation 3:11)
“Behold, I am coming quickly!”
(Revelation 22:7)
“…the
time is at hand.” (Revelation 22:10)
“And
behold, I am coming quickly.” (Revelation 22:12-13)
“Surely
I am coming quickly.” Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus!” (Revelation
22:20)
The word “quickly” above is the Greek word “tachu”
and it means quickly, speedily and without delay.
The conclusion is that the idea of the Lord Jesus returning at any moment is
not a doctrine based on one or two verses. This is taught throughout the New
Testament. Every writer of the New Testament warns and encourages that the Lord
could come today. Every one of the over 40 texts I have quoted in these three
articles are simple and straightforward in their message. It is impossible to
understand these verses as saying anything other than the Lord’s return is
imminent.
The only way anyone can reject the idea of imminence is by rejecting the
inerrancy, inspiration, authority, and plain meaning of Scripture. There is no
other way. One so-called “teacher of prophecy” explains these texts this way:
“The apostles were confused in their thinking and they did not understand that
the Lord would not come till much later.” What this man says is that the Bible
is flawed and men wrote the Bible out of their confused and limited minds;
therefore nothing of the Bible can be trusted and it is not the infallible Word
of God. NO, a thousand times NO! The authors wrote the Bible by the inspiration
of the Holy Spirit, and every word is the Word of God and is the truth (2Timothy
3:16; 2Peter 1:21). There are no mistakes in the Bible. No matter whether it was
Paul, James, Peter or John who wrote, they wrote by the Holy Spirit, and what is
written is the truth.
Even if you reject the testimony of Paul, James, Peter and John you still
have to deal with the many direct statements of Jesus, in the Gospels and in
Revelation, that He is coming quickly, suddenly, and at an unexpected time. You
cannot reject imminence and claim to believe the Bible – it is logically
impossible.
Neither can you read “death” into these verses. Jesus did not say, “You will
see me soon in death.” He said “I am coming quickly.” There is a huge
difference. Yes, we can die at any moment, but it takes a lot of mental
gymnastics and twisting of Scripture to read
death into “coming.”
Death, by definition is “going” (to be
with Him), it is not Him “coming.”
I think you can see to what lengths men will go to strip the Bible of
uncomfortable doctrines and truths that conflict with their manmade doctrines.
Only one question remains: “Do you believe the Scriptures?” If you do, you
have no choice but to believe that the Lord Jesus could come today, without
delay and without warning. Therefore, “what
manner of persons ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness, looking for and
hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be
dissolved, being on fire, and the elements will melt with fervent heat?
…Therefore, beloved, looking forward to these things, be diligent to be found by
Him in peace, without spot and blameless; and consider that the longsuffering of
our Lord is salvation–as also our beloved brother Paul, according to the wisdom
given to him, has written to you.” (2 Peter 3:11-15)
To Be Continued…