The coming of Christ, not here or there, but everywhere
After a good study of the Bible I had a dream. In the dream I was in a bowling alley, it was full of people, and I walked into a back room. There was a large group of men, sitting to the right, and walking in further, I seen a smaller group of men sitting to the right of them, but straight forward. One man caught my eye, he looked like Jesus, and I walked up to him, fell on my knees, and he put out his hand, and I held his hand, then he asked me a question, and I must have answered right, because I heard cheers from everyone, all around, and he said "Isn't it amazing! I was within you the whole time, and you never even knew." I did not feel like he was speaking to me alone, as I understood it, it was for many. I woke up. As I thought about it upon waking, I realized it was Jesus answering to those who cry out "Come Lord Jesus, Come!", but mistakenly, expect to see him here or there.
Who can measure the dominion of the Word of God? No man can possibly know what day and hour dominion was achieved, not even in hindsight. Only God could possibly know. I am convinced this was within the generation of the Messiah though, just as he said it would be, over and over in different ways.
Behold, He has told you before:
Matthew 24:23-27 Then if any man shall say unto you, Lo, here is Christ, or there; believe it not. For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall show great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect. Behold, I have told you before. Wherefore if they shall say unto you, Behold, he is in the desert; go not forth: behold, he is in the secret chambers; believe it not. For as the lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.
Mark 13:21-23 And then if any man shall say to you, Lo, here is Christ; or, lo, he is there; believe him not: For false Christs and false prophets shall rise, and shall show signs and wonders, to seduce, if it were possible, even the elect. But take ye heed: behold, I have foretold you all things.
Luke 17:22-24 And he said unto the disciples, The days will come, when ye shall desire to see one of the days of the Son of man, and ye shall not see it. And they shall say to you, See here; or, see there: go not after them, nor follow them. For as the lightning, that lighteneth out of the one part under heaven, shineth unto the other part under heaven; so shall also the Son of man be in his day.
The coming of Christ the Lord; not here or there, but everywhere, all around, as the lightning lights up the sky from east to west. Christians are the light of the world. Shine on.
What Now?
John 14:23 Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.
This study pertains to the coming of Christ in the kingdom of God. Jesus said He would be coming in the kingdom (Mat 16:27-28). Jesus had said the time was fulfilled, and the Kingdom of God was at hand (Mark 1:15). Jesus said the Kingdom of God does not come with observation, that it is within you (Luke 17:20). Jesus said that "his day" comes "as lightning", but that his day will not come with observation (Luke 17:20-24). Jesus said that after Jerusalem was trodden by the Gentiles (Luke 21:24), that the Kingdom of God would come with power (Mat 16:28 luke 21:27).
Jerusalem was to be cleansed of all those that worked iniquity, then He would come in His kingdom. Jesus said "Then the righteous would shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father, He who has ears to hear , let him hear" (Mat 13:41-42).
It just may be that as the Spirit speaks, all is not as it seems! It can be said of many scriptures, and in that we may agree. It just may be that the day of the Lord had come as a "stealer" at "midnight"; in which "the abode of God passed away" with a "crash", and the "The former arrangement and orderly principles" were "put off" with "consuming fire", the "region" also and the "deeds" that were therein were "wholly consumed". And now, there is righteousness, in Christ, and the righteous shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father.
Jesus spoke of His "coming", as it was His to speak of, therefore we should definitely hear His words on this matter! This is what I will present to you, his words, and I hope you will find the time to read this entire study to the end. Because sometimes what we call "The End" is really just a new beginning.
Let's suppose for just a moment that Jesus definitely wanted the 1st century people He was among to understand that His coming was imminent; that He was even going to come in their generation. What sort of things do you suppose He could say so as to best convey that message? Well, I would think that an expression such as: "Verily I say unto you this generation will not pass" would be good, or even to his disciples: "Ye shall not have gone over the cities of Israel, till the Son of man be come" would be good, perhaps: "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", would be good, or even: "These are things that must shortly come to pass" would be good. Surely, He could say: "The time is at hand, or near!" Or, He could even say: "Behold I am coming quickly!".
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"The Kingdom Of God", We are not talking "here" or "there", but everywhere. "The Kingdom Of God", KJV Dictionary:
Mat_6:33; Mat_12:28; Mat_19:24; Mat_21:31; Mat_21:43; Mar_1:14; Mar_1:15; Mar_4:11; Mar_4:26; Mar_4:30; Mar_9:1; Mar_9:47; Mar_10:14; Mar_10:15; Mar_10:23; Mar_10:24; Mar_10:25; Mar_12:34; Mar_14:25; Mar_15:43; Luk_4:43; Luk_6:20; Luk_7:28; Luk_8:1; Luk_8:10; Luk_9:2; Luk_9:11; Luk_9:27; Luk_9:60; Luk_9:62; Luk_10:9; Luk_10:11; Luk_11:20; Luk_12:31; Luk_13:18; Luk_13:20; Luk_13:28; Luk_13:29; Luk_14:15; Luk_16:16; Luk_17:20; Luk_17:21; Luk_18:16; Luk_18:17; Luk_18:24; Luk_18:25; Luk_18:29; Luk_19:11; Luk_21:31; Luk_22:16; Luk_22:18; Luk_23:51; Joh_3:3; Joh_3:5; Act_1:3; Act_8:12; Act_14:22; Act_19:8; Act_20:25; Act_28:23; Act_28:31; Rom_14:17; 1Co_4:20; 1Co_6:9; 1Co_6:10; 1Co_15:50; Gal_5:21; Col_4:11; 2Th_1:5;
All this talk about "the kingdom of God"! The Pharisees demanded an answer now! His people were convinced the Messiah was to establish a physical kingdom and earthly reign, the Pharisees were very intimidated by Jesus, they thought He was going to boot them off their little chairs called thrones. They alerted the Roman authorities that Christ claimed to be a king, hoping to provoke jealousy. Jesus made it clear, his kingdom was not to come with observation, not then, not ever, because it is within you:
Let's ask our king, Jesus the Lord about HIS coming...
*[Luke 17:20-24] And when he (JESUS) was demanded of the Pharisees, when the kingdom of God should come, he answered them and said, The kingdom of God cometh not with observation: Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you. And he said unto the disciples, The days will come, when ye shall desire to see one of the days of the Son of man, and ye shall not see it. And they shall say to you, See here; or, see there: go not after them, nor follow them. For as the lightning, that lighteneth out of the one part under heaven, shineth unto the other part under heaven; so shall also the Son of man be in his day.
Jesus said he would not be seen "here or there", and here or there is anywhere on earth. That includes a little chair somewhere in Jerusalem. I reckon His throne of glory is not a little chair here or there. As the lightning lights up the sky all around you, so too is the kingdom of God, not here or there but everywhere.
So I sing; "Jesus he reigns in the kingdom of God, the kingdom is inside of meeeeeee".
Jesus said the kingdom of God would not come with observation, and that He would not be "here" or "there", and "here" or "there" is anywhere, Jesus even said "behold, I have told you before" . Jesus said he was coming in his kingdom, and his kingdom was not to come with observation, therefore his reign is not a literal physical reign on planet earth, and therefore His "coming" was not to be a physical literal coming as well.
Jesus said is that they would not see his days, and that "His day" comes as lightning, That's what Jesus said, So this "lightning" is not something to see. Jesus went on to say he would not be seen "here' or "there", as the lightning lights up the sky from one end of heaven to another, so too is his throne of glory, not here or there, but everywhere.
In first century Jewish thought it was a metaphor for "covering all", "power", "vengeance", "wrath of God", total and complete power covering all, the light of Christ overcoming the darkness of the world, just as when Jesus said He seen Satan fall "as lightning" (Luke 10:17) it represented his falling out of "power", losing the "war", so likewise, this coming "as lightning" surely represents coming in power, covering all.
"Jesus, He reigns in the kingdom of God, the kingdom is inside of me"
"The kingdom is [inside] of me"...What does that mean?
*Strong's Concordance-[G1787 ἐντός entos en-tos' - From G1722; inside (adverb or noun): - within.]
The Greek word used for "within" in Luke 17:21 means "inside".
So I say as I know, and I hope you will sing along, because it is a mighty fine song! The kingdom of God, what a mysterious thing!
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How can this be? Jesus spoke more of this to his disciples saying...
Joh 14:19 Yet a little while, and the world seeth me no more; but ye see me: because I live, ye shall live also.
Joh 14:20 At that day ye shall know that I am in my Father, and ye in me, and I in you.
Joh 14:21 He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him.
Joh 14:22 Judas saith unto him, not Iscariot, Lord, how is it that thou wilt manifest thyself unto us, and not unto the world?
Joh 14:23 Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him,
and make our abode with him.
Jesus told his Apostles that because he would live, they would live. The Apostles had heard His words, they had his commandments, but the world at that time did not. And so it is, if a man will hear his words and keep his words, what was preached to us by Messiah and His Apostles, The Father and Son and Holy Spirit will then make their abode in you. That would make you an abode of God, a temple of God. Jesus, coming soon to a heart near you.
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(Mat 16:27-28) 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. 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.
Jesus promised He would return within the lifetime of the Apostles. We know this, because Jesus said SOME (at least one, not most) would be alive when this happened.
This is not the Transfiguration. There was no coming with the Father's angels and no judging every man according to His works and they were all still alive.
This is not Pentecost. There was no coming with the Father's angels and no judging every man according to His works and they were all but one, still alive.
Now see a verse that no one argues is about His Second Coming and see that this is what Jesus was referring to, in Matthew 16:27-28.
"And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be." - Revelation 22:12
JESUS was telling them some would be alive at His coming, and that His coming was a day of vengeance. Some say "taste of death" does not mean dying (twist-twist)...But can you taste an apple without biting into it? Ever heard the expression "Never say die"? Well Jesus, He never said "die" concerning the death of a believer! (Only to an unbeliever) He said "taste of death" because only the body dies, the Spirit does not die for the believer, for those who are His, they will never die. Do you believe this?
Joh 11:25-26 Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?"
Yes Lord, I believe it! Though my flesh will die, my spirit will not die, because you are the resurrection and the life. Because eternal life is the promise, there is no more death.
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"Why stand ye gazing at the sky"?
I think many spend too much time looking up at the sky. If you were standing looking up at the sky as Jesus disappeared out of sight, and an angel came and asked "why stand ye gazing at the sky?", would you think the angel wanted you to continue gazing at the sky? As I see it, the angel was saying, "why stand ye looking at the sky", "you should not be", Or in the same manner, "Going into heaven", out of sight", "coming from heaven, out of sight". Truth is, the manner Jesus ascended into heaven was out of their sight, and the angel said the manner they seen him go into heaven was the manner in which he would come, not the manner he was taken up, but the manner he went into heaven:
Act 1:9-11 And having said these things he was taken up, they beholding him , and a cloud received him out of their sight. And as they were gazing into heaven, as he was going, behold, also two men stood by them in white clothing, who also said, Men of Galilee, why do ye stand looking into heaven? This Jesus who has been taken up from you into heaven, shall thus come in the manner in which ye have beheld him going into heaven.
In my search for truth within the scriptures concerning this matter, I go to the source and consider everything Jesus said about His coming, after all, it is His. Jesus said the same thing as the angel in many ways. Jesus said He would not be "here or there", that they would long to see one of His days, but they would not see His day, right?
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Jesus was instructing His disciples and said:
Mat 10:5 "These twelve Jesus sent out, instructing them"...( Yes, "instructing them" - all throughout)
Mat 10:23 But when they persecute you in this city, flee ye into another: for verily I say unto you, Ye shall not have gone over the cities of Israel, till the Son of man be come.
We know Jesus was not pertaining to His rising from the dead after three days, three days was not long enough to go over the cities of Israel, and Jesus never said "Son of Man" comes pertaining to his Resurrection- I have searched the Bible over, every time He spoke of Himself as "Son of Man" COMING, it was pertaining to His second coming.
So Jesus told them it would be soon, and they all expected it soon, there are countless scriptures that reveal this. (see below)
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Jesus also said this:
(KJV) Mat 24:29 Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken:
1. "the sun be darkened"
2. "the moon shall not give her light"
Literal or Spiritual?
As for the contention that this should be read literally, note the following passage from the Old Testament...
Ezekiel 32:7-8,15
7) And when I shall put thee out, I will cover the heaven, and make the stars there of dark; I will cover the sun with a cloud, and the moon shall not give her light.
8) All the bright lights of heaven will I make dark over thee, and set darkness upon thy land, saith the Lord GOD.
15) When I shall make the land of Egypt desolate, and the country shall be destitute of that whereof it was full, when I shall smite all them that dwell therein, then shall they know that I am the LORD.
This prophecy was FULFILLED when Egypt was destroyed. This is the Spirit speaking symbolism. In Jewish thinking in those days, Sun is symbolism for the light of God. The Moon reflects the light of the Sun onto Earth and in the same way, the world was covered in darkness even as like the sun and moon refused to give their light, that this means the light of God would refuse to shine for a time as the wrath of God was poured out.
And again, note the following:
Isaiah 13:9-10
9) Behold, the day of the LORD cometh, cruel both with wrath and fierce anger, to lay the land desolate: and he shall destroy the sinners thereof out of it.
10) For the stars of heaven and the constellations thereof shall not give their light: the sun shall be darkened in his going forth, and the moon shall not cause her light to shine.
This was FULFILLED when Babylon was conquered by the Medes and Persians. Note the similarity of language used compared to the quote from Matthew above. It's saying the same thing about a FULFILLED prophecy that was not "literally" seen.
And besides that, it is a clear promise of God that as long as the earth remains, there will always be literal day and night, cold and heat, summer and winter. That's pretty clear:
(KJV)Gen 8:21-22 And the LORD smelled a sweet savor; and the LORD said in his heart, I will not again curse the ground any more for man's sake; for the imagination of man's heart is evil from his youth; neither will I again smite any more every thing living, as I have done. While the earth remaineth, seedtime and harvest, and cold and heat, and summer and winter, and day and night shall not cease.
So we must accept what is easy to understand, and reason what may contradict, what is deep, the hard to understand words of Spirit, as a prophet speaks.
Consider the meaning of the sun and moon as the house of Israel, as Joseph's dream revealed this:
Genesis 37:9: And he dreamed yet another dream, and told it his brethren, and said, Behold, I have dreamed a dream more; and, behold, the sun and the moon and the eleven stars made obeisance to me.
What did it mean? Joseph's father Israel knew the sun moon and stars represented his house, as he replied to Joseph:
Genesis 37:10: Shall I and thy mother and thy brethren indeed come to bow down ourselves to thee to the earth?
So to say the sun and moon would not give their light is to say the house of Israel was in darkness as the wrath of God was poured out. They really needed the Light! Not a flashlight, Jesus, the Word, the Light from the very beginning.
Continued...
(KJV) Mat 24:29 Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken:
3. "the stars shall fall from heaven"
4. "the POWERS of the heavens shall be shaken"
The "heavens" were "shaken", as to say "kindled in anger", The "powers" of heaven that is!:
Mar 13:25 And the stars of heaven shall fall, and the powers that are in heaven shall be shaken.
Have you ever seen Hulk Hogan "shake in anger"? God shook in anger when Jesus was crucified, and Jerusalem was trodden, mashed, just 40 years after Jesus said this. And "the stars of heaven" surely represent mighty ones, angels. Looks to me like the "powers of heavens" were "shaken", as to say "kindled in anger", and angels were sent from heaven:
Rev 9:1 And the fifth angel sounded, and I saw a star fall from heaven unto the earth: and to him was given the key of the bottomless pit.
It is not fitting to give a clump of matter a "key" to the "bottomless pit", nor to call a clump of matter a "he", and captives are NOT given keys! This angel was sent from heaven to do a deed.
Mat 24:30 And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.
Ever since the days of Moses, clouds were used to symbolize God's presence, especially in judgment. Look at Isaiah 19:1, a fulfilled prophecy regarding when God used the Assyrians to judge Egypt. No one saw God physically and bodily riding on a cloud. :) A "cloud" represents a vessel of both blessings or wrath in God's presence, So just as Jesus ascended into power, His "coming" was to be in power, even wrath and vengeance, "in the clouds".
Isa 19:1 The burden of Egypt. Behold, the LORD rideth upon a swift cloud, and shall come into Egypt: and the idols of Egypt shall be moved at his presence, and the heart of Egypt shall melt in the midst of it.
We are not talking a literal giant cloud and giant Jesus that the whole wide world will see at once. This is not even possible because the earth is round. There is the ol' line of sight problem that must be considered as well. It is the Holy Spirit's way of saying "coming in judgment". His coming was in judgment. Truth is, his coming was the judgment. That is why it was so important to see the signs. He came as a thief to take what was his to take. Thiefs are not seen here or there.
The orderly principles of the religious system set in place within the temple in Jerusalem were officially put off in judgment by the year 70. It was not just a war, it was an act of God. Those who know of it know it well, and wail every day because of it. Ever heard of the wailing wall? See this study, and you will hear of the amazing events of the The Siege Of Jerusalem
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"EVEN THOSE WHO PIERCED HIM"...
*Revelation 1:7 Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen.
Some may say the reason those who pierced Him were to see Him is because in the resurrection of the dead, all would see him, as the resurrection of the dead was an immediate result of his coming. Still one could say that the reason those who pierced him would see him is because they would still be living at that time of his coming, live to see his day, the great and terrible day of the Lord.
The word "kindreds" or "tribes" (Rev 1:7) is translated from the word "phule", which is always used in the NT, to note the Jewish tribes. See James 1:1, for a perfect example of this and it also applies to Matthew 24. The word "earth" does not mean "the whole wide world", as in the planet Earth. It comes from the word "ge", which means "soil", or by extension, "a region". It does not mean the planet, anymore than my saying that I planted a tree into the earth means that the tree takes up the whole planet.
Remember that this is a Jewish text and to a Jew, you were either "in the land", or "out of the land", which meant their land. These are Jewish texts and we have to think like Jews. This ties to Luke 21:20-22, in which Jesus speaks of Jerusalem and Judea and we need to note, that the Roman army came up through Judea and took the cities there, so that when they arrived at Jerusalem, the Jewish armies would not be able to come up behind them, to attack. Thus, when Jesus came into power, His reward being with Him, all the tribes of the earth did wail, meaning, "all the Jewish tribes of the region" did "wail".
(See The Siege Of Jerusalem
Would the Spirit say "every eye shall see Him, even those who pierced Him", and yet tell His disciples they would not see his day? No way. That is very revealing, He was telling them they would desire to see Him here or there, but they would not, and "here or there" is anywhere. He was to come as a thief in the night, and thief's are not seen here or there as they gather their possessions, but the effect is seen...
1Th 5:1 But of the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that I write unto you.
1Th 5:2 For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night.
1Th 5:3 For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape.
(See The Siege Of Jerusalem
Some may still say His "coming", or "presence" (Parosia) was to be a physical coming, yet Jesus hinted of a spiritual coming, saying he would come in his kingdom, yet the kingdom would not come with observation, saying He would NOT be seen "here or there", and "here" or "there" is anywhere, but as the lightning lights up the sky from one end of heaven to the other, not here or there, but everywhere.
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Parousia
I noticed that Jesus nor any other NEVER said "return", concerning Christ's "coming", but always "come", "coming", "coming in power", "with clouds", "as lightning". This is the Greek word most often translated "come", "coming"...
Mat 24:26-28 Wherefore if they shall say unto you, Behold, he is in the desert; go not forth: behold, he is in the secret chambers; believe it not. For as the lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west; so shall also the coming [G3952] of the Son of man be. For wheresoever the carcass is, there will the eagles be gathered together.
G3952
παρουσία
parousia
par-oo-see'-ah
From the present participle of G3918; a being near, that is, advent (often, return; specifically of Christ to punish Jerusalem, or finally the wicked); (by implication) physical aspect: - coming, presence.
And many other times, the English translation "coming" is from the Greek word:
G2064
ἔρχομαι
erchomai
er'-khom-ahee
Middle voice of a primary verb (used only in the present and imperfect tenses, the others being supplied by a kindred [middle voice] word, ἐλεύθομαι eleuthomai or ἔλθω elthō; which do not otherwise occur); to come or go (in a great variety of applications, literally and figuratively): - accompany, appear, bring, come enter, fall out, go, grow, X light, X next, pass, resort, be set.
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My testimony to you...
Christ reigns right now and forever, His reign has no end, His reign is not of this world, The Throne of David was established before the throne of God in heaven, Jesus sits at the right hand of the power of God now and forever. Jesus rebuilt the temple in three days, it was not made with hands. The kingdom of God is with us, within us, God lives within mankind. It did not come with observation. It is the Holy City of God and the Lamb. Jesus, He reigns in the kingdom of God, the kingdom is inside of me. The kingdom of God what a mysterious thing!
See The gospel of The kingdom of God
-<>-
And the grand finale, THE APOSTLE WHO REMAINED - By Jim Gunter - 2004 - with format, scriptural, and other slight edits by Jerry Henson:
In the Gospel of John, chapter 21, verse 15-24, the Apostle gives us a rare and brief autobiographic moment with the risen Savior, and fellow-Apostle, Peter.
Joh 21:15 So when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my lambs.
Joh 21:16 He saith to him again the second time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my sheep.
Joh 21:17 He saith unto him the third time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, Lovest thou me? And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep.
Joh 21:18 Verily, verily, I say unto thee, When thou wast young, thou girdedst thyself, and walkedst whither thou wouldest: but when thou shalt be old, thou shalt stretch forth thy hands, and another shall gird thee, and carry thee whither thou wouldest not.
Joh 21:19 This spake he, signifying by what death he should glorify God. And when he had spoken this, he saith unto him, Follow me.
Joh 21:20 Then Peter, turning about, seeth the disciple whom Jesus loved following; which also leaned on his breast at supper, and said, Lord, which is he that betrayeth thee?
Joh 21:21 Peter seeing him saith to Jesus, Lord, and what shall this man do?
Joh 21:22 Jesus saith unto him, If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee? follow thou me.
Joh 21:23 Then went this saying abroad among the brethren, that that disciple should not die: yet Jesus said not unto him, He shall not die; but, If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee?
Joh 21:24 This is the disciple which testifieth of these things, and wrote these things: and we know that his testimony is true.
Here, John is following along behind them as Jesus has just signified to Peter by what kind of death he (Peter) would glorify God (v 18,19). As Jesus then directs Peter to, "Follow me," Peter turns around, sees John following, and then asks his Lord, "And what about this man?" (v 20,21) The Lord gives Peter a most interesting answer to his question: He says in vs. 22, "If I want him to remain until I come, what is that to you? Follow Me!"
Now let me say to you that there was a time in the past, when I understood this account as a sort of light-hearted moment; not really taking Jesus seriously, but thinking that maybe He was, in effect, simply telling Peter to just mind his own business and not concern himself with such trivial things but to just pay attention to Him!
And, among most of the other disciples I knew, they, too, seemed to take a similar view of this. So, what about you? Had you ever given this much thought? Just what are we to think about this incident? Well, according to vs. 23, there was a saying that went out among the followers of Jesus that He was telling Peter that John would not die! However, John quickly dispels that rumor; he simply repeats to his readers that The Lord told Peter only that if he wanted John to remain until he comes, what is that to him.
Now folks, I don't know just how you understand this account. However, in light of the fact that a misunderstanding of these words from The Master precipitated this erroneous saying among the followers of Jesus, it seems to me that this would be cause for a serious consideration, or perhaps re-consideration of that statement's meaning. So, for that reason, and because Jesus, no where else, engaged in idle or meaningless chatter, it certainly stoked my interest, and caused me to take a deeper look into these words of our Lord.
And so, after reconsidering these words in the light of so many other passages which also speak of the coming of Jesus, my thinking has undergone a metamorphosis. Beloved, after I finish laying out what my present understanding of this passage is, it may be that you disagree with me, and that's fine! And you may even find my understanding to be strange! Well, that's fine too! But, what I now see in view here, is exactly what Jesus expressed to Peter; that John would indeed remain until he returned!
Now, this is not to say that I believe there's a 2,000 year old apostle walking around among us today! What it means is that my understanding of the "time-frame" of Jesus' "return" has changed. Of course, we are speaking of His "Parousia" (Greek for presence, coming, or arrival), or as many express it; "the second-coming" of Jesus! I had always viewed His Parousia to still be in "our" future, just as many other believers also do. However, upon consideration of many of the passages which speak of His "Parousia,"
I now see it as not in "our" future, but in the "near" future of those disciples in the 1st century. As I continue to study the New Covenant Scriptures, I become increasingly aware that the expectations of those 1st century disciples to whom Jesus spoke, and those to whom the apostles wrote, were the expectations of an [imminent] coming or return of The Lord; a coming which would occur in their generation, which was during those "last days" of The Old Covenant Age!
And so now, after immersing myself, for sometime now, in the study of Bible eschatology, I am now persuaded that the occurrence of this monumental, world-changing event is in our past, having occurred along with "the fall of Jerusalem" in 70. A.. Yes, I believe that when Jerusalem fell, there was much, much more that took place than simply the destruction of Jerusalem.
Beloved, I realize that this may sound very strange to some of you, for once it would have sounded strange to me as well. It would seem strange because a serious student of our Father's Word understands that if His "coming, or presence" has already occurred, then so have "The Resurrection and The Judgment," seeing that the occurrence of all three of these events are inextricably connected. And it is such passages as Matthew 10:23 that really grab my attention! Here Jesus said to His disciples: "But when they persecute you in this city, flee ye into another: for verily I say unto you, Ye shall not have gone over the cities of Israel, till the Son of man be come. "
Folks, do you see what I mean? I certainly would not understand our Lord to be saying here that it would be disciples in the 21st century who should expect this. Surely, we can see a 1st century context in those words! And now, please consider this: Our Lord also said this to His apostles in Matthew 16:27,28: "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. 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."
Yes, beloved, it's for the reason of such passages as this, that I now have a different view of those words of Jesus to Peter about John "remaining" till He comes! I find this passage we just read to be quite revealing: First of all, He is personally speaking to His disciples of His "parousia." And, He says that when He comes, He is going to "recompense every man according to his deeds." Obviously, Jesus is speaking of The Judgment here! And, The Judgment, of course, would necessitate "The Resurrection." Then He declares that some of those to whom He was speaking (which would include John) would not "taste of death" (die physically) before seeing Him at His "parousia." And I believe that John would have been one of those who did live to see Him when He returned!
You may recall the words of the Hebrew scribe, who wrote his epistle in about 65 A.D.. In Hebrews 9:28, he wrote to those 1st century disciples who were "eagerly awaiting His coming!" And, of this "coming," he said that it would be a "second" appearing of Christ, and that this coming would not be "with reference to sin," as His "first" coming was. But this "second" coming would be "for salvation."
Heb 9:26 For then must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world: but now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself.
Heb 9:27 And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:
Heb 9:28 So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation.
Yes, it would be just like Jesus Himself had declared when preparing His apostles for the fall of Jerusalem, the temple, and the world of Judaism in Luke 21:28. He said: "And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh."
Folks, I understand their redemption to have been drawing near at that time because it was then, that all those things which stood in the way of the Old Covenant Age completely passing away, would be removed. Then there "salvation" would be completely consummated. I believe that this is why Paul told the saints at Rome (Rom 13:11-12): "And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed. The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light."
Isn't that marvelous? Can't you just hear the excitement in Paul's pen and see the joy across his face!! Folks, see also 1Pet.1:5; Heb.8:13; Heb.9:8...etc
1Pe 1:5 Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.
Heb 8:12 For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more.
Heb 8:13 In that he saith, A new covenant, he hath made the first old. Now that which decayeth and waxeth old is ready to vanish away.
Heb 9:8 The Holy Ghost this signifying, that the way into the holiest of all was not yet made manifest, while as the first tabernacle was yet standing:
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The following are just a few more of the passages that, when all considered, are so persuasive to me that John did indeed "remain till the coming or Parousia of Jesus":
(1) Malachi 3:1,2,5--The sending of John The Baptist before the "great day of Judgment!"
Mal 3:1 Behold, I will send my messenger, and he shall prepare the way before me: and the Lord, whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to his temple, even the messenger of the covenant, whom ye delight in: behold, he shall come, saith the LORD of hosts.
Mal 3:2 But who may abide the day of his coming? and who shall stand [when he appeareth]? for he is like a refiner's fire, and like fullers' soap:
Mal 3:3 And he shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver: and he shall purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer unto the LORD an offering in righteousness.
Mal 3:4 Then shall the offering of Judah and Jerusalem be pleasant unto the LORD, as in the days of old, and as in former years.
Mal 3:5 And I will come near to you to judgment; and I will be a swift witness against the sorcerers, and against the adulterers, and against false swearers, and against those that oppress the hireling in his wages, the widow, and the fatherless, and that turn aside the stranger from his right, and fear not me, saith the LORD of hosts.
(2) Malachi 4:1,5,6-- More on this great Judgment of God on His own people, Israel:
Mal 4:1 For, behold, the day cometh, that shall burn as an oven; and all the proud, yea, and all that do wickedly, shall be stubble: and the day that cometh shall burn them up, saith the LORD of hosts, that it shall leave them neither root nor branch.
Mal 4:2 But unto you that fear my name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in his wings; and ye shall go forth, and grow up as calves of the stall.
Mal 4:3 And ye shall tread down the wicked; for they shall be ashes under the soles of your feet in the day that I shall do this, saith the LORD of hosts.
Mal 4:4 Remember ye the law of Moses my servant, which I commanded unto him in Horeb for all Israel, with the statutes and judgments.
Mal 4:5 Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the LORD:
Mal 4:6 And he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the earth with a curse.
(3) Acts 2:16-21--During the "last days of The Old Covenant Age, Peter's quoting of Joel 2:28-32 to verify his message to those on Pentecost:
Act 2:14 But Peter, standing up with the eleven, lifted up his voice, and said unto them, Ye men of Judaea, and all ye that dwell at Jerusalem, be this known unto you, and hearken to my words:
Act 2:15 For these are not drunken, as ye suppose, seeing it is but the third hour of the day.
Act 2:16 But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel;
Act 2:17 "And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams:
Act 2:18 And on my servants and on my handmaidens I will pour out in those days of my Spirit; and they shall prophesy:
Act 2:19 And I will shew wonders in heaven above, and signs in the earth beneath; blood, and fire, and vapour of smoke:
Act 2:20 The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before [that great and notable day of the Lord come]:
Act 2:21 And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved."
It's very interesting here, that in the same "last days" in which Joel prophesied "the pouring out of God's Spirit (Pentecost)," he also prophesied that great fall of Jerusalem and God's Judgment! Please see the use of the same colorful, prophetic language in Isaiah 19 concerning God's judgment on Babylon in 538 B.C. as He used the Medes to execute His judgment on them.
(4) Matthew 3:7-10--John The Baptist to the Jewish rulers:
Mat 3:7 But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees come to his baptism, he said unto them, O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come?
Mat 3:8 Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance:
Mat 3:9 And think not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father: for I say unto you, that God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham.
Mat 3:10 And now also the axe is laid unto the root of the trees: therefore every tree which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.
(5) Matthew 10:23--Jesus to the apostles, sent out to preach the Gospel of The coming Kingdom:
"But when they persecute you in this city, flee ye into another: for verily I say unto you, Ye shall not have gone over the cities of Israel, till the Son of man be come."
Please compare this with Mat.24:14, where Jesus said: "And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come."
(6) Matthew 16:27,28--Jesus to His apostles:
"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. 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."
Another interesting side-note: Some have attempted to explain this as Jesus' appearing on the "Mount of Transfiguration." However, since the incident on the "Mount of Transfiguration" took place only five or six days after Jesus spoke those words, it would seem quite senseless, at least in my view, for Him to tell them that some of them would still be alive five or six days later. Beloved, really, how could there possibly be any significance in that? I just cannot even fathom our Lord speaking in those terms! Another reason why I would have to reject that notion is because on the "Mount of Transfiguration, Jesus did not come with any angels, and neither was there Judgment meted out to anyone. Therefore, my dear friends, I really don't see any basis for such an explanation as that!
(7) Matthew 23:31-36--Jesus to the Jewish rulers for the murdering of the prophets. Jesus told them:
Mat 23:31 Wherefore ye be witnesses unto yourselves, that ye are the children of them which killed the prophets.
Mat 23:32 Fill ye up then the measure of your fathers.
Mat 23:33 Ye serpents, ye generation of vipers, how can ye escape the damnation of hell?
Mat 23:34 Wherefore, behold, I send unto you prophets, and wise men, and scribes: and some of them ye shall kill and crucify; and some of them shall ye scourge in your synagogues, and persecute them from city to city:
Mat 23:35 That upon you may come all the righteous blood shed upon the earth, from the blood of righteous Abel unto the blood of Zacharias son of Barachias, whom ye slew between the temple and the altar.
Mat 23:36 Verily I say unto you, All these things shall come upon this generation.
(8) Matthew.24:34--Jesus to His apostles regarding the coming judgment on Israel, prophesied by Joel in [Joel 2:28-32]:
"Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled."
Some have argued that "generation" simply means "race," and so they reason that Jesus is simply saying that the Jewish "race" would not pass away till these thing take place. Beloved, in the New Covenant Scriptures, the word "generation" (Greek---genea) is used some 36 times. And if one would only take a simple concordance and look at all of the other 35 verses where the word is employed, one will learn that it is [never] used to indicate a "race" of people. So, if "genea" is not used in the other 35 verses to indicate "race," then why should it suddenly come to mean "race" in this one verse? Linguists tell us that the word "genea" is indicative of all the people living in the same period of time. The Greek word for a "race" or "nation" of people is shown to be "genos"
(9) Acts 17:31-- Paul to the Athenians in the Areopagus:
"Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead."
(10) Acts 24:15,25-- Paul before the governor, Felix:
Act 24:15 And have hope toward God, which they themselves also allow, that there shall be a resurrection of the dead, both of the just and unjust.
Act 24:16 And herein do I exercise myself, to have always a conscience void of offence toward God, and toward men.
Act 24:17 Now after many years I came to bring alms to my nation, and offerings.
Act 24:18 Whereupon certain Jews from Asia found me purified in the temple, neither with multitude, nor with tumult.
Act 24:19 Who ought to have been here before thee, and object, if they had ought against me.
Act 24:20 Or else let these same here say, if they have found any evil doing in me, while I stood before the council,
Act 24:21 Except it be for this one voice, that I cried standing among them, Touching the resurrection of the dead I am called in question by you this day.
Act 24:22 And when Felix heard these things, having more perfect knowledge of that way, he deferred them, and said, When Lysias the chief captain shall come down, I will know the uttermost of your matter.
Act 24:23 And he commanded a centurion to keep Paul, and to let him have liberty, and that he should forbid none of his acquaintance to minister or come unto him.
Act 24:24 And after certain days, when Felix came with his wife Drusilla, which was a Jewess, he sent for Paul, and heard him concerning the faith in Christ.
Act 24:25 And as he reasoned of righteousness, temperance, and judgment to come, Felix trembled, and answered, Go thy way for this time; when I have a convenient season, I will call for thee.
..."Having a hope in God which these men cherish themselves that there is about to be (Young's Lit. Trans.) a resurrection of both the righteous and the wicked"...And as he was discussing righteousness, self-control and the Judgment about to be (Young's Lit. Trans.), Felix became frightened and said, "Go away for the present, and when I find time, I will summon you'" Just a logical question here: Would Felix have become so frightened (The KJV even uses the word trembled) if this Judgment was to be 2,000 years down the way?
(11) Romans 8:18-- Paul to the disciples at Rome:
"For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us."
(12) Romans 13:11,12--Again, Paul to the disciples at Rome:
"And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed. The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light."
(13) 1Corinthians 1:7,8--Paul to the disciples at Corinth:
"So that ye come behind in no gift; waiting for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ: Who shall also confirm you unto the end, that ye may be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ."
Please take note that Paul did not say that Jesus would confirm them till their death, but rather until his revelation!
(14) Philippians 1:6,10--Paul to the disciples at Philippi:
Php 1:6 Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:
Php 1:7 Even as it is meet for me to think this of you all, because I have you in my heart; inasmuch as both in my bonds, and in the defence and confirmation of the gospel, ye all are partakers of my grace.
Php 1:8 For God is my record, how greatly I long after you all in the bowels of Jesus Christ.
Php 1:9 And this I pray, that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and in all judgment;
Php 1:10 That ye may approve things that are excellent; that ye may be sincere and without offence till the day of Christ;
It's interesting that, again, Paul speaks here of the good work that God had begun in them and that Paul was confident God would continue to do so, not until their "death" but rather until the day of Christ Jesus! Same thing regarding their "being sincere and blameless"; it would be until the soon to come, "day of Christ Jesus."
(15) Philippians 3:20--Again, Paul to the Philippians:
"For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ:"
In this passage, it seems that the apostle Paul, at this point in time, even considered the possibility that he might be among those still living at Christ's coming.
(16) 1Thessalonians 1:9,10--Paul to those in Christ of the Thessalonians:
"For they themselves shew of us what manner of entering in we had unto you, and how ye turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God; And to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, even Jesus, which delivered us from the wrath to come."
(17) 1Thessalonians 4:15--Again, Paul to those in Christ of the Thessalonians:
"For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep."
Here, still, Paul considers the possibility that he might be among those still alive at Christ's coming!
(18) 1Thessalonians 5:23--Again, Paul to those Christians at Thessalonica:
"And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. Faithful is he that calleth you, who also will do it."
Please note that Paul says that not only their "spirit and soul" be preserved complete until the Lord's coming, but also their bodies as well! Isn't that remarkable? But how could there "bodies" be preserved complete unless the Lord's coming was imminent?
(19) 1Timothy 6:14-- Paul to Timothy:
"That thou keep this commandment without spot, unrebukeable, until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ:"
Clearly here, Paul expected Timothy to be among the living when Jesus returned!
(20) 2Timothy 4:1--Paul to Timothy:
"I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom;"
(21) Titus 2:13--Paul to Titus:
"Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;"
(22) Hebrews 10:37--The Hebrew scribe to Jewish Christians of the 1st century:
"For yet a little while, and he that shall come will come, and will not tarry."
(23) James 5:8,9--James to the dispersed Jewish disciples scattered abroad, who were being greatly persecuted by the Judaizers:
"Be ye also patient; stablish your hearts: for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh. Grudge not one against another, brethren, lest ye be condemned: behold, the judge standeth before the door."
(24) 1Peter 4:5--Peter also to Jewish disciples scattered over the land:
"Who shall give account to him that is ready to judge the quick and the dead."
(25) 1Peter 4:7--Peter again to the Diaspora:
"But the end of all things is at hand: be ye therefore sober, and watch unto prayer."
(26) 1Peter 4:17--Peter, once more to the Diaspora:
"For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?"
(27) Revelation 1:1--The apostle John was shown that those things being revealed to him in The Apocalypse were:
"The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him, to shew unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass; and he sent and signified it by his angel unto his servant John:"
Here in verse 3, John admonishes 1st century servants; "The time is at hand":
"Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand."
(28) Revelation 2:16--To the church at Pergamum, John was instructed to write:
"Repent; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth."
(29) Revelation 2:25--To the church at Thyatira, John was told to write:
"But that which ye have already hold fast till I come."
(30) Revelation 3:10,11--To the church at Philadelphia, he was instructed to write:
"Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth. Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown."
(31) Revelation 22:6,7--John wrote that:
"And he said unto me, These sayings are faithful and true: and the Lord God of the holy prophets sent his angel to shew unto his servants the things which must shortly be done. Behold, I come quickly: blessed is he that keepeth the sayings of the prophecy of this book."
(32) Revelation 22:10--John was warned by the angel:
"And he saith unto me, Seal not the sayings of the prophecy of this book: for the time is at hand."
(33) Revelation 22:12--John was told again to write:
"And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be."
(34) Revelation 22:20--And finally, John testified that Jesus said yet again, "Yes, I AM COMING QUICKLY."
Rev 22:20 He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus.
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Surely he wanted you to know he was coming quickly!
My dear friends, if you followed, very carefully, all the many warnings in Revelation, by both the angel and also The Lord Jesus Himself, you certainly would have taken notice of one inescapable fact and that is the thunderous sound of "imminence" of our Lord's coming. With the many expressions such as: "Things that must soon take place; the time is at hand; behold, I am coming quickly," how could we see the many expressions like that, and yet come away with the understanding that they are things that are yet 20 centuries into their future?
Let's suppose for just a moment that Jesus definitely wanted the 1st century hearers of his word to understand that His coming was imminent; that He was even going to come in their generation. What sort of things do you suppose He could say so as to best convey that message? Well, I would think that an expression such as: "This generation will not pass until all be fulfilled" would be good, or "There are some standing here who will not taste of death until the Son of man comes in his kingdom", good, "You shall not go over the cities of Israel before the Son of man comes in his kingdom", would be good, "These are things that must shortly come to pass" good. Surely, He could say: "The time is at hand, or near!" Or, He could even say: "Behold I am coming quickly!" My dear brethren, please don't think that I am trying to be a "wise-guy" here! I'm only pleading that we allow His Word to simply interpret itself. That's all.
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