rrobs
Well-Known Member
Speaking of his return to set up the everlasting kingdom on earth, Jesus said,
Matt 16:27-28,
27 For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels; and then he shall reward every man according to his works.
28 Verily I say unto you, There be some standing here, which shall not taste of death, till they see the Son of man coming in his kingdom.
Many say that the “end times” Jesus spoke of occurred in 70 A.D., when Herod’s temple was destroyed. On the one hand, that would certainly explain Jesus’ statement that some of those to whom he spoke would live to see them. But on the other hand, speaking of the end times, Jesus plainly said that at the end of the day there would not be one stone left on top of another (Matt 24:2). To this day there are some 45 layers of stone piled one atop another. Besides, when has history recorded Jesus coming in glory with his angels? Sorry, it just hasn’t happened. It’ll be hard to miss when it does happen! When Jesus spoke these words in Matthew he was referring to the events that will yet take place as recorded in Revelation.
So how can we explain Jesus’ words that some to whom he personally spoke would live to see his second coming? Do we have 2,000 year old (and counting) people walking this earth today? Of course not! There is a much better explanation: with the information that Jesus had when he was here for the first time, he was absolutely correct in his statement. But there was something about which he knew not.
The only scriptures Jesus had available to learn from were Genesis to Malachi. From those scriptures he understood that God promised Israel an everlasting Kingdom of which he would be the king. He also knew that before his glory he would have to suffer. There are tons of verses that taught him that very thing as he studied them and grew in stature and wisdom.
From the scroll of Daniel, Jesus ascertained that the time between his first coming and his second coming would be 7 years. That is why, to the best of his knowledge, he thought some of those to whom he spoke would be alive when he returned as King of Kings and Lord of Lords.
But Jesus did not know everything about his Father’s plan, the logos of John 1:1. Specifically he knew nothing about the administration in which we are currently living, which began on the day of Pentecost and will end when Jesus gathers us together (1 Thes 4:13) just before his second appearance as King of Kings and Lord of Lords, i.e the Book of Revelation. It is a very unique time that really has no parallels in the Old Testament, including the Gospels. Grace vs. law being perhaps the most notable difference, but there are many others. Jesus came for Israel (Matthew 15:24). That was the mission assigned to him by God. He knew nothing about Christians. The first Christians were not to be seen until the day of Pentecost, some 50 days after Jesus’ resurrection.
A few years after Jesus’ ascension; God gave Paul a revelation which the King James calls “the mystery.” The Greek word (musterion) is better translated as secret. A mystery may never be understood, but a secret, once revealed can easily be understood. Paul speaks of this mystery/secret many times in his Epistles. One only needs to look up the word “mystery” in a concordance.
Paul, by inspiration of God, said that the mystery was kept secret since the beginning of time (Ephesians 3:4-5, et. al.). God was the only one who knew about His complete plan (the logos). 1 Corinthians 2:8 says that the devil would not have crucified Jesus had he known the secret. Why? Part of God’s secret plan was that all born again believers would have Christ dwelling within (Col 1:25-27). Instead of one Jesus for the devil to keep track of, he now has many millions of people filled with the same power and authority Jesus had when he lived. That must have blown the devil’s mind when Paul finally revealed the secret in his Epistles. Of course he can largely mitigate his problem by keeping Christians from a knowledge of the mystery. Judging from a virtually total lack of teaching on the subject in our churches every Sunday, he seems to be doing a pretty good job of it. I’m amazed at how the vast majority of Christians I mention the mystery to stare back at me with an inquisitive look. “The what?,” they often say. And yet, the mystery is “what’s happening” in our day and age.
To get to the point of why Jesus thought some of those to whom he spoke would be around at his second advent, it is simply because Jesus knew nothing about the mystery/secret, God revealed later to the Apostle Paul. From the only scriptures he had at hand (he of course didn’t have Paul’s epistles) , he thought he’d be back in seven years. Of course we now know that this age of grace has lasted at least 2,000 years. How much longer will it last? I have no idea and neither does anybody else.
With the only information available to Jesus, he was spot on right about his statement. I think it is that simple.
Matt 16:27-28,
27 For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels; and then he shall reward every man according to his works.
28 Verily I say unto you, There be some standing here, which shall not taste of death, till they see the Son of man coming in his kingdom.
Many say that the “end times” Jesus spoke of occurred in 70 A.D., when Herod’s temple was destroyed. On the one hand, that would certainly explain Jesus’ statement that some of those to whom he spoke would live to see them. But on the other hand, speaking of the end times, Jesus plainly said that at the end of the day there would not be one stone left on top of another (Matt 24:2). To this day there are some 45 layers of stone piled one atop another. Besides, when has history recorded Jesus coming in glory with his angels? Sorry, it just hasn’t happened. It’ll be hard to miss when it does happen! When Jesus spoke these words in Matthew he was referring to the events that will yet take place as recorded in Revelation.
So how can we explain Jesus’ words that some to whom he personally spoke would live to see his second coming? Do we have 2,000 year old (and counting) people walking this earth today? Of course not! There is a much better explanation: with the information that Jesus had when he was here for the first time, he was absolutely correct in his statement. But there was something about which he knew not.
The only scriptures Jesus had available to learn from were Genesis to Malachi. From those scriptures he understood that God promised Israel an everlasting Kingdom of which he would be the king. He also knew that before his glory he would have to suffer. There are tons of verses that taught him that very thing as he studied them and grew in stature and wisdom.
From the scroll of Daniel, Jesus ascertained that the time between his first coming and his second coming would be 7 years. That is why, to the best of his knowledge, he thought some of those to whom he spoke would be alive when he returned as King of Kings and Lord of Lords.
But Jesus did not know everything about his Father’s plan, the logos of John 1:1. Specifically he knew nothing about the administration in which we are currently living, which began on the day of Pentecost and will end when Jesus gathers us together (1 Thes 4:13) just before his second appearance as King of Kings and Lord of Lords, i.e the Book of Revelation. It is a very unique time that really has no parallels in the Old Testament, including the Gospels. Grace vs. law being perhaps the most notable difference, but there are many others. Jesus came for Israel (Matthew 15:24). That was the mission assigned to him by God. He knew nothing about Christians. The first Christians were not to be seen until the day of Pentecost, some 50 days after Jesus’ resurrection.
A few years after Jesus’ ascension; God gave Paul a revelation which the King James calls “the mystery.” The Greek word (musterion) is better translated as secret. A mystery may never be understood, but a secret, once revealed can easily be understood. Paul speaks of this mystery/secret many times in his Epistles. One only needs to look up the word “mystery” in a concordance.
Paul, by inspiration of God, said that the mystery was kept secret since the beginning of time (Ephesians 3:4-5, et. al.). God was the only one who knew about His complete plan (the logos). 1 Corinthians 2:8 says that the devil would not have crucified Jesus had he known the secret. Why? Part of God’s secret plan was that all born again believers would have Christ dwelling within (Col 1:25-27). Instead of one Jesus for the devil to keep track of, he now has many millions of people filled with the same power and authority Jesus had when he lived. That must have blown the devil’s mind when Paul finally revealed the secret in his Epistles. Of course he can largely mitigate his problem by keeping Christians from a knowledge of the mystery. Judging from a virtually total lack of teaching on the subject in our churches every Sunday, he seems to be doing a pretty good job of it. I’m amazed at how the vast majority of Christians I mention the mystery to stare back at me with an inquisitive look. “The what?,” they often say. And yet, the mystery is “what’s happening” in our day and age.
To get to the point of why Jesus thought some of those to whom he spoke would be around at his second advent, it is simply because Jesus knew nothing about the mystery/secret, God revealed later to the Apostle Paul. From the only scriptures he had at hand (he of course didn’t have Paul’s epistles) , he thought he’d be back in seven years. Of course we now know that this age of grace has lasted at least 2,000 years. How much longer will it last? I have no idea and neither does anybody else.
With the only information available to Jesus, he was spot on right about his statement. I think it is that simple.
