How many more prophecies must be fulfilled before Jesus returns?
Revelation 22:1 - 21
ESV - 1 Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, bright as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb 2 Through the middle of the street of the city; also, on either side of the river, the tree of life with its twelve kinds of fruit, yielding its fruit each month. The leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.
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Asked June 22 2013
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Sally Wood
Community answers are sorted based on votes. The higher the vote, the further up an answer is.
Allen Burnsworth
All prophesy with the exception of Christ returning to take us home so with that in mind He could return at any time. So my advice is that if you are not right with God now is the time to seek His face and come to the saving Grace of Jesus Christ our Lord, let Him rap His loving arms around you and love you as a brother or sister.
Pam Johnson
We still need to see the last 7 year period fulfilled before Christ's return and reign on earth for 1000 years. This is known as the tribulation. It is initiated by some kind of agreement with many.....probably a peace treaty with many nations which would definitely include Israel. During this 7 years period there are 7 trumpet judgments and 7 bowl judgments. Read Revelation chapter 4-22 about God's end plan for the earth and humans. Jesus told us that war and conflict would continue until the time of the end, that natural catastrophes would increase with frequency and intensity, that knowledge would greatly increase and that people would be very active in traveling on the earth. Ezekiel (prophetic book) chapter 1 describes the automobile and Ez 7 ends with telling us about God's return and the last chpts of Ez describe the 3rd temple being rebuilt in Jerusalem which also still needs to happen. The Jews are ready for this to happen and have all the temple articles already made, the Levitical priests chosen and trained and their holy gowns made with the ephods. God's word has reached all people on earth and we are seeing from Voice of the Martyrs that Christians have/are already being killed for their faith. This was also prophesied by Jesus Christ. We are seeing signs (natural catastrophes), wonders (air travel, vehicles, computers, cell phones, base jumping, parachuting, weapons of war, bullet trains, TV, movies, billionaires, etc) and counterfeit miracles (medical miracles done through man not God). Jesus prophesied signs, wonders, and counterfeit miracles before he returned in Rev. The pastors (shepherds) have been telling us throughout the 1900's that Jesus return was imminent. They saw the signs all around them and wrote books and recorded DVD's about Jesus coming back. Apocalypse was put out by the History Channel and a 5 DVD compilation of Prophecy and End Time Events put out in 2000 by Questar. The Lord of the Rings has become especially wonderful and essentially puts these facts into a fictional format. 2012 was and awesome account except the world isn't flooded into oblivion again (see Genesis ch 6 about Noah). The pyramidologists have deciphered the Pyramid of Giza which shows we are at the apex and the bottom (heaven/hell) and about to enter a different period of time. The Mayans said 2012 was the beginning of the end. Much more prophecy out there other than the Bible and all supports the Biblical prophecies. We are very, very, very, very close to the Lord coming back just as he promised he would.
Ronald Ingram
And when this Gospel (Of Jesus Christ) is preach throughout the whole World then shall His coming be. Through radio, television, the Word has been spread to every corner of the world so we know that His coming is soon. Like a thief in the night. Watch and pray
Merrill Beattie
Jesus said that He was coming soon. 2nd Peter 3:8 says to the Lord one day is as one thousand years, and one thousand years as is to one day. Using His calendar Jesus left earth a little over 2 days ago,and this country is almost to young to measure. Just remember that Jesus is coming soon. He has kept every other promise that he made in the Bible, and He will keep this one also.
Tim Scott
All, especially the one that concerns the United States. It will be the final piece in the puzzle. Then Jesus will come! Get ready! Get Ready! I believe, this is the final generation! As in the days of Noah so shall it be in the coming of the son of man. As in the days of sodom and Gomorrah so shall it be at the coming of The Lord. I do, believe we have come to this time in earth history! The signs are all here!
Carl Naitram
How can it ever be that the present time could be the age of Kingdom of God where Satan is bound with chains. So said Satan is like a dog in chains when the God through Peter tells us that he is as a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour. John tells is that when the devil is bound in chains he will also be cast into the abyss...bottomless pit. Paul tells us that the devil is the god of this present age. Paul tells us that Satan hindered him from going a particular place...that certainly is not like a dog on chains and that stopping the most powerful preacher of that day. Friend the gospel has been hindered in most muslim countries especially in what is refered to as the 10-40 window. It is unfortunate but the gospel is being preached mostly to those who have heard many times over. The kingdom age that is promised will be an age of peace...very unlike today. It will be an age of universal prosperity...very unlike today. It will be an age of healthiness where the child will live to be a hundred...very unlike today. It will be an age where the Lion and the lamb lie together and the child will play with the snake....very unlike today. It will be an age when Israel ..literal Israel will be at total peace with all nations and not what you inferred ...as only cults believe in replacement theology. The church is not Israel. There are numerous other things that God has promised about that age to come...that we call the Millenial Kingdom or the thousand year reign of Christ on this earth...that are not being expereinced today. We dont know when the Lord will return except to say it seems very soon and so let us live holy lives so we will not be ashamed at His coming and be able to say even so come Lord Jesus. Amen. God bless you
Anonymous
According to my understanding of scriptures Jesus could appear at any moment...My Lord allowed me to see the river of life and my home in heaven, We truly serve a mighty God.
Quentin Platt
Without getting into my personal interpretation of prophecy, there is but one universally accepted event which has yet to take place. Sadly, it is probably the most overlooked prophecy. This could be because it is dependent upon the work of us as Christians. Remember Matthew 28:19? "Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost." (KJV) Well, there was a red-lettered prophecy given in Matthew 24:14, "And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come." (NIV) Like I said, I believe there is still prophecy to be fulfilled as described in the books of Daniel and Revelation. E-mail me if you want to know more about the many prophecies contained in these books concerning our time. Want Jesus to come? Well he's still waiting for the gospel to be preached. So share it.
Samuel Reed
The thousand years is a symbolic number and not a literal number of years. We are currently living under the rule of Christ. The binding of Satan has been in effect since the Cross and will end shortly before Christ returns. I think the best explanation of End Times is written in a book by Anthony A. Hoekema "The Bible and The Future". I believe the kingdom of God is now present in the world through His church and this due to the victory of Christ at the cross/resurrection. Christ is ruling his people by His Word and Spirit but we also look forward to a future, glorious, and perfect kingdom. Consider the various places we read that Christ is "seated" in Heaven (Cor. 3). Then consider His role as "judge". When a judge comes into the courtroom everyone rises and when he sits down he is in total control from then on. I see this as a type and shadow of what is going on today. Christ is seated and in total control of His Kingdom. Currently Satan is like a dog on a chain. He is not able to deceive the nations to the fullest extent possible until he is loosed for a short time. Remember, before Christ the entire world was a pagan mess; except a small number of people (Jews). God had revealed Himself to the Jews and the rest of the world was totally deceived by Satan. The so-called "signs of the times" have been present in the world from the time of Christ's first coming and they will intensify until the Second Coming. Christians need to stop with all the newspaper eschatology claiming the latest headline in the news is the next surest sign of Christ's return. This is how scoffers get their energy to continue scoffing. The gospel will continue to be preached to all nations until the fullness of True Israel (God's chosen) is complete and the world will continue to grown in travail until Christ returns. I put this in another thread but I think it fits here too due to the preoccupation of looking at every news event and a sign of the times.
Mary Needham
This is what Wycliffe Bible College says ''Why is Bible translation so important? Because the Scriptures are essential for evangelism, discipleship, and church growth. Jesus told his followers to take the gospel to all the world, but there are still hundreds of language groups which don't have God's word in their mother tongue - the language they understand the best. History shows that there has never been a strong indigenous church without the translated written Scriptures used by indigenous leaders. Missionaries from every mission and denomination depend on Scriptures in the language of the people with whom they work to make a lasting impact.'' There is right now a revival going on in amongst Muslims in Africa/Egypt and surrounding areas, who are disillusioned by people like ISIS. In these countries the gospel has been prevented from being preached, but Jesus is appearing to them in visions and dreams despite this. The Temple does need to be re-built and the Jews have all they need to bring this about according to all that is required in the Law in the Tora/Scriptures. So, they are waiting for the right time. Noah's ark has been discovered in Turkey in the 70's (among other Biblical artefacts) and has been on documentaries, but not many know about this, see videos by Ron Wyatt, a truly humble man of God. Having researched some of the events at Cern in Geneva with the Hadron colider, in Switzerland, this Beast might very well be unleashed on us very soon from the bottomless pit, where he and others have been chained. The false miracles are more likely to be done by fallen angels than anything that man can do, I feel. Look at 2Thess2:"3 Let no one deceive you by any means; for that Day will not come unless the falling away comes first, and the man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition, 4 who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God or that is worshiped, so that he sits as God in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God.5 Do you not remember that when I was still with you I told you these things? 6 And now you know what is restraining, that he may be revealed in his own time. 7 For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work; only He who now restrains will do so until He is taken out of the way." this Scripture makes it clear that the anti-Christ can not come to power until the Holy Spirit is taken away...the HS is in those who believe, so this would seem to refer to the rapture of the saints/believers. Also we are not children of wrath so we are not going through the big tribulation. In Isaiah 57:1,2,"The righteous perish, and no one takes it to heart; the devout are taken away, and no one understands that the righteous are taken away to be spared." this Scripture is another indication of the Lord's mercy to those that are Christ followers who have the righteousness of Christ. We should not be afraid when we see the days drawing near...but for those that don't know the Lord yet, let Jesus Christ be Lord of your lives as He loves you so much, He died so that you won't have to die the 2nd death. He took on our poverty so that we might take on His riches. He is Life itself, the Way and the Truth. God does not want anyone to go to Hell, that place is meant for Satan and his fallen angels. God has made it possible for us to have life in abundance...He puts out his hands to us and says 'Choose life.' Don't refuse His offer of forgiveness, for eternity is a very long time to regret your decision. We all have fallen short of His glory, so His death was in our place. If we accept this we shall have His life in us and come to know the God of love.
Craig Mcelheny
Paul, the Apostle, answered this very question in his second letter to the Thessalonians. In his first letter to the Thessalonians, Paul elaborated on the Rapture (1 Thess. 4:16-17) – the only church that we know of to have received details about the Rapture. Within two months, the Thessalonians became alarmed that they had missed the Rapture and would now be faced with having to endure the Day of the Lord, or “the great day of His (NKJV) wrath” as it is stated in Rev. 6:17. The Rapture is the only vehicle that can save believers from God’s Wrath that is meted out to those people on earth who failed to acknowledge Jesus as Lord, even though they knew the truth. As it states in Heb. 10:31, “It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.” Thus, the Thessalonians had good cause to be fearful. This prompted Paul, within two months, to write his second letter to the Thessalonians in an attempt to alleviate their fears. Paul gives two prophetic events in 2 Thess. 2:3-4, that must take place before the Rapture can occur: The rebellion (ESV) or apostasy (NASB), and the seating of the “son of destruction” in the rebuilt Temple of God, proclaiming himself to be God. Now, our text (2 Thess. 2:3-4) states that “that day will not come” in reference to the Day of the Lord (2 Thess. 2:2). You should know that “the Day of the Lord” is in reference to an extended period of time, roughly 3 years, in which God’s Wrath is played out on the earth. There is a second “day of our Lord” that is in reference to the actual day of the Rapture (1 Corinthians 1:7-8) when the Lord Jesus is revealed to His Church. That day is referenced in 2 Thess. 2:1. You can discern that it is with respect to the Rapture by the words, “Now concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and our BEING GATHERED TOGETHER TO HIM”. Jesus originally used similar words when He described the Rapture in Matthew 24:31. The NKJV and the NASB both use the words “gather together” in Matthew 24:31. Regardless of whether “that day” in 2 Thess. 2:3 is the extended period of God’s Wrath, or the day of the Rapture, it is a mute point. The Rapture has to happen before God’s Wrath, and it is the only thing the Thessalonians were looking for. Paul gives them two events that they can observe, while here on the earth, to know that the Rapture is yet to come. You can argue about the “rebellion” – when it might occur and whether it is really “the Apostasy”, but you cannot argue about the timing of the Antichrist taking his seat in the rebuilt Temple of God, claiming to be God himself. It occurs at the mid-point of the still future seven year period of time known as the Tribulation. As for me, I believe there will be a great falling away from the faith during the last half of the Tribulation, because the Antichrist will ask believers to take the Mark of the Beast, or forfeit their lives. What could possibly test our faith more than that? I believe “the Apostasy” will last the duration of the last 3.5 years of the Tribulation, or what is known as the Great Tribulation. Thus, I believe we have to see the end of the Tribulation before the Rapture can occur.
Philo Ant
The ANTI-CHRIST is a person, male or female. This person is a player in the politics of the world during the last days. (S)he comes in as 'peace' oriented. But soon shows their true colors. (S)he sits on the [MERCY SEAT] (signifying 'the abomination of desolation' as written in Revelations), this is a feature of the lid on the ARK of the COVENANT. At this moment, I believe that the Ark has not been found, or at least it hasn't been revealed to the world. When it is revealed that the Ark has been found, it will be placed in the NEW TEMPLE built in Jerusalem. These events are still a ways away. - The new temple, the anti-christ, the return of the Ark, and other prophesies about the 'one-world government', the kings of the East and the 200Million man army all must take place during the 'tribulation'. So with these in mind, (...no man can know, not even the SON...), I am of the opinion that the tribulation is at least 40ish years away. That indicates that the 'rapture' is 33ish years away. Our world is certainly heading in the direction of the 'end times' very rapidly. But I want to point out that we (in America) still have the right to worship. I attend a beautiful worship center every week. I can still bow my head and give thanks to the Lord for his bounty when I have a meal in a public place. - I can still find Christians in every aspect of my life, work, sports leagues, etc. So as bad as our world has become, I foresee many years before the FINAL scenario where Christ returns to take HIS church out of here. Subsequently to return after to rescue his chosen people, Israel seven years later. - Look for the rapture sometimes around 2050, (my opinion).
Brandon Paul
Matthew 24:37, "But as the days of Noah were so shall also the coming of the Son of man be." Now, let's put this statement by Jesus in the context of the next two verses of Mat.24:38-39, "For as in the days before the flood 'they' were eating and drinking, until the day that Noah entered into the ark, and 'knew not' until the flood came, and took 'them' all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be." Today, no man knoweth the day or the hour of Christ's return. However, there are certain events in the Bible that tell us when it's close. The main one would be the signing of the covenant of Daniel 9:27. Jesus admonishes us several times to watch for the signs of the time. Why look for signs of the times if we're not going to be here? "Left Behind" Let's take a hypothetical situation where the pre-trib rapture happens: Most of us will have loved ones that would be "left behind", and assuming they survived the mass killing that takes place at the pre-trib rapture,(cars and planes crashing, etc.) are we really going to be happy, while family and friends are in these dark times facing the Antichrist? And facing him with limited knowledge of end time events, and fall for his deception and be forever lost, when instead we could be there guiding them, doing what the church was built for. Millions still have a chance to be saved during this time (Rev 7:9 13,14); we need to be there. When is the resurrection? Paul tells us in 1st Thes 4:15,16-17, "...we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord (rapture) will by no means precede those who are asleep...and the dead in Christ shall rise first...Then we who are alive.. shall be caught up (raptured) together with them..." The above is a combined Resurrection -Rapture because Paul said the Rapture will "by no means precede" the Resurrection of the dead in Christ. There is no scripture stating that the Resurrection happens seven years before the end of the age. The timing of the Rapture is linked to the timing of the Resurrection, and the Resurrection happens at the last day, not seven years before. Jesus tells us four times in John 6:39,40,44, 54, that He will be raising His people up at the last day. So we know the Resurrection will be after the tribulation. Rev 20:4, tells the same story because the first Resurrection also contains tribulation martyrs. So, the Resurrection and the Rapture, happen on the Last Day. Clearly, again this is a post-tribulation rapture at the second coming.
Ann Walsh
Jesus will return when those things written in the Bible are fulfilled, viz the building of the temple and the antichrist having made his appearance, and the ensuing 7 year period already spoken about. I do not believe Jesus will "rapture His church" prior to the end, because there are already many Christian people being killed because they are Christians right now, and if Jesus was going to rapture us prior to the end, those poor people would have been included. Personally I hope Jesus does come as soon as possible because life here is becoming intolerable. Sodom and gomorrah has nothing on 21st century existence.
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