Tim Maas Retired Quality Assurance Specialist with the U.S. Army

As Jesus Himself said in Matthew 24:36, the exact date of His return (and thus of the close of the present age) was not known even to Him (in His earthly incarnation), but only to God the Father. Even the signs that Jesus gave to the apostles in connection with the close of the age could be interpreted as timeless in nature (that is, events that would not necessarily be limited to one specific temporal era), with the intent that His followers should always be expecting His return as something that could happen at any time (as Christians -- including writers such as Paul and John in 1 Corinthians 7:29-31 and 1 John 2:18, respectively -- have done ever since His ascension to heaven nearly 2,000 years ago), and so that they would thus be in a continual state of spiritual preparedness for it.

One particularly insightful book on this subject that I have run across -- and that is fully viewable for free online -- is Journey Out of Time by the late Dr. Arthur C. Custance, which can be found at the website https://custance.org/Library/Journey/index.html

Briefly, Dr. Custance indicates that the return of Christ for each Christian occurs at the person's temporal death, at which point the Christian then enters a dimension "outside of time", and will immediately find himself or herself in a resurrected state at the close of the age (when time will no longer exist) at the judgment seat of Christ. Thus, each Christian, during his earthly life, is living in his own personal "end times".

As I have stated in previous postings on eBible.com, when I first encountered Dr. Custance's writings, I thought of passages from Scripture that seemed to raise questions with regard to them, but Dr. Custance's book directly addressed those questions in a manner that I found to be both persuasive and biblically-sound.

April 14 2020 • 1 response • Vote Up • Share • Report

Shirley H Wife, mother, veteran in the spiritual war we all face!

This verse Mark 13:14 is Jesus' response to the question of Mark 13:4.

In response to your question, I would suggest these verses:

See 1 Peter 1:2, "Grace to you and peace be multiplied...vs 7, "that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ." 1 Peter 1:13, "Therefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and rest your hope fully upon the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ"

1Peter 4:13, "But rejoice to the extent that you partake of Christ's sufferings, that when His glory is revealed, you may also be glad with exceeding joy."

1 Corinthians 1:7,8 "so that you come short in no gift, eagerly waiting for the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ, who will also confirm you to the end, that you may be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ."

Paul is confident that the Corinthians would stand blameless before God because of Grace.

Jesus Christ is Grace and Truth.

Christ reminds us John 15:18, "If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you."

Back in Peter's time, the last age, the end of history had already begun. It will be completed when the second coming of Christ appears. As Christians, we draw on our faith, while we are living in the age of Grace. We have the knowledge that Jesus imparted to us to stand firm in these end times.

April 18 2020 • 0 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report

Anand Mishra trying to be humane

We'll understand we're in the end times when we see wickedness, lawlessness, immorality and deceit rising. We should rise up, face the trial of tribulations, and remain grounded in faith, leaving doubts behind.

The words from the Lord are transcendental. However, as beings we are limited by our five senses. Ego, mind and intellect, they limit us as we are bound by time and place.

April 22 2020 • 0 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report