New Page 1

<body> <div align="center"> <center> <table border="0" width="671"> <tr> <td width="201"><P><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/bible?version=KJV&passage=Acts+1:1-11" target="_blank" name="Top">Acts 1:1-11 </a><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/bible?version=KJV&passage=Matt+24:1-3" target="_blank">Matt. 24:1-3</a>   </P> </td> <td width="342"> <p align="center"> <B><font size="4">Times or Dates</font> </B></td> </center> <td width="108"><P align="right">  7/18/99</P> </td> </tr> </table> </div> <P>Intro: Prophecy always interests us. We want to know ahead of time what and especially when.</P> <P>The questions that triggered Jesus’ Olivet discourse were "when will this happen and what will be the sign of your coming and the end of the age". Again in Acts the apostles asked Jesus, "Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel".</P> <P>To this specific question Jesus gave a very definite, "It is not for you to know…". It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority". </P> <P>Yet Paul writes to the Thessalonians,<a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Thes+5:1-4">1 Thes. 5:1-4</a>  <I>Now, brothers, about times and dates we do not need to write to you, [2] for you know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. ...</P> </I> <P>I conclude that "times and dates" were revealed and some were not. Times and dates pertaining to our Lord’s return to earth have not been revealed. Even Jesus said he did know the time of his return.</P> <blockquote> <blockquote> <B><P>Prime Question of Matthew 24</P> </blockquote> <P>First Question Regarding the destruction of the temple.</P> </B> <P>Parallel passages in Mark 13 and Luke 24 do not even mention "the sign of your coming"!</P> <P><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mark+13:1-2">Mark 13:1-2</a>, <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/bible?version=KJV&passage=Luke+21:1-7"> Luke 21:1-7</a></P> <B><P>Prime focus.</P> </B></blockquote> <P>1. Because subject was temple where they were</P> <blockquote> <P>The end of the age may not have been a popular topic.</P> <P>They were looking for Jesus to "restore the kingdom to Israel" . <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/bible?version=KJV&passage=Acts+1:6"> Act. 1:6</a></P> <blockquote> <B><P>Second and secondary Question</P> </blockquote> <P>"Sign of coming and end of the world"</P> </B> <P>Two "End of the world" from sunteleia, soon-tel'-i-ah, Greek 4930; from Greek 4931 (sunteleo); entire completion, i.e. consummation (of a dispensation) :- end. </P> </blockquote> <P>2. <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/bible?version=KJV&passage=Matt+13:39"> Matthew 13:39</a> and the enemy who sows them is the devil. The harvest is the end of the age, and the harvesters are angels. </P> <P><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/bible?version=KJV&passage=Matt+13:49">Matthew 13:49</a> This is how it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come and separate the wicked from the righteous </P> <P><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/bible?version=KJV&passage=Matt+28:20">Matthew 28:20</a> and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age." </P> <blockquote> <B><P>Jesus never once used that word in answering their questions.</P> </B> <P>Only- telos, tel'-os, Greek 5056; from a primary tello (to set out for a definite point or goal); properly the point aimed at as a limit, …. </P> </blockquote> <P>2. Used "end" verses 6, 14 <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/bible?version=KJV&passage=Matt+24:6"> Matthew 24:6</a></P> <P> You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come. </P> <P><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/bible?version=KJV&passage=Matt+24:14">Matthew 24:14</a></P> <P> 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. </P> <P>a) <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/bible?version=KJV&passage=Rom+1:8"> Romans 1:8</a> First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for you all, that your faith is spoken of throughout the whole world. </P> <P>b) <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/bible?version=KJV&passage=Coll+1:5"> Col. 1:5</a>. All over the world this gospel is bearing fruit and growing, just as it has been doing among you since the day you heard it and understood God's grace in all its truth. </P> <P>3. <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Pet+4:7"> 1 Peter 4:7</a> The <B>end</B> of all things is near. Therefore be clear minded and self-controlled so that you can pray. </P> <blockquote> <blockquote> <B><P>Abomination In the Holy Place (<a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/bible?version=KJV&passage=Matt+24:15">Matt. 24:15</a>, <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mark+13:14"> Mark 13:14</a>)</P> </blockquote> <P>What is the "Abomination and Holy Place?</P> </B> <P>Matt & Mark say "let the reader understand"</P> <P>Luke spells it out.</P> <P><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/bible?version=KJV&passage=Luke+21:20">Luke 21:20</a> "When you see <B>Jerusalem</B> being <B>surrounded by armies</B>, you will know that its desolation is near. </P> <P><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/bible?version=KJV&passage=Dan+9" target="_blank">Dan. 9</a> speaks of Jerusalem as the "holy mountain" and "holy city"</P> <P>"place" is <I>topos </I>from which we get topography simply meaning a locality.</P> <P>Not the "temple"</P> <blockquote> <B><P>TIME OF WRATH <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/bible?version=KJV&passage=Luke+24" target="_blank"> Luke 24</a>:</P></blockquote> <P>Luke "wrath against this people" v.23-24</P> </B> <P>"Flee to the mountains"</P> <P>Josephus states that not one Christian perished in that terrible siege.</P> <B><P>"Day of the Lord" </P></DIR> </B><P>1. <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Thess+5:1-4"> 1 Thes. 5:1-4</a> ... for you know very well that the <B>day of the Lord</B> will come like a thief in the night. ... </P> <blockquote> <B><P>"Time of God’s Wrath"</P> </B> <P><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jeremiah+46:10,20">Jeremiah 46:10, 20</a> & <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ezek+30:30"> Ezekiel 30:30</a> Judgment against Egypt from Babylon</P> <P><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isaiah+13:9,17">Isaiah 13:9, 17</a> Judgment against Babylon by the Medes and Persians</P> </blockquote> <B><P>D . Notice "<I>will come on </B>them</I> </B><I>them</I>" -<B>i.e.</B>; not the world.</P> <B><blockquote> <P>"</B>say Peace and safety then sudden destruction</P> <P>Armies of Titus pulled back from their siege</P> <P>Christians had a chance to flee ("<I>when you see Jerusalem being surrounded</I>", wouldn’t that be too late?)</P> <blockquote> <B><P>"This Generation Shall not Pass Away"</P> </blockquote> <P>Jesus was not addressing the "end of the world" but the end of Jerusalem and Judea.</P> </B> <P>Because we are not to know "<I>the times and dates</I>" (pertaining to the sitting up of the kingdom)</P> </blockquote> <P>Conclusion: Men are forever trying to figure out the "times and dates" of our Lord’s return. It is a fascination. Think how many times already people have forecast the return of Christ. Now many are saying that around the year 2000 the lord will come since it marks 6000 years of man’s rule to be followed by the 1000 year reign of Christ, the 7<SUP>th</SUP> millennium marking the "day of the Lord.</P> <P>Our Lord told the apostles and us that we are not to know the times and dates. But to be witnesses of him unto the ends of the earth. What apostle would have dreamed that the Lord would not return for 2000 years?</P> <p><a href="#Top" target="_self">Top</a></p> </body>