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“The Second Coming of Christ Already Happened
and Christ is not Coming Again”
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1 = a dangerous heresy which should not be taught publicly
5 = not sure whether it’s a good or bad idea; need further study
10 = a very good idea which every Christian should take to heart
Atheist Bertrand Russell, in his book Why I Am Not A Christian, discredits the inspiration of the New Testament based on the failed prediction of Christ and the Apostles:
I am concerned with Christ as He appears in the Gospels . . . and there one does find some things that do not seem to be very wise. For one thing, He certainly thought that His second coming would occur in clouds of glory before the death of all the people who were living at the time. There are a great many texts that prove that. He says, for instance, “Ye shall not have gone over the cities of Israel till the Son of Man be come.” Then He says, “There are some standing here which shall not taste death till the Son of Man comes into His kingdom”; and there are a lot of places where it is quite clear that He believed that His second coming would happen during the lifetime of many then living. That was the belief of his earlier followers, and it was the basis of a good deal of his moral teaching.
Bertrand Russell, Why I Am Not A Christian (New York: A Touchtone Book by Simon & Schuster, 1957), p. 16.
101 “Any Moment” Verses
1. “The
2. “Who warned you to flee from the wrath about to come?” (Matt. 3:7)
3. “The axe is already laid at the root of the trees.” (Matt. 3:10)
4. “His winnowing fork is in His hand.” (Matt. 3:12)
5. “The kingdom of heaven is at hand.” (Matt. 4:17)
6. “The kingdom of heaven is at hand.” (Matt. 10:7)
7. “You shall
not finish going through the cities of
8. “....the age about to come.” (Matt. 12:32)
9. “The Son
of Man is about to come in the glory of His Father with His angels; and will
then recompense every man according to his deeds.” (Matt. 16:27;
10. “Verily I
say unto you, there are some of those who are standing here who shall not taste
death until they see the Son of Man coming in His Kingdom.” (Matt. 16:28; cf.
11. “‘When the owner of the vineyard comes, what will he do to those vine-growers?’ ‘....He will bring those wretches to a wretched end, and will rent out the vineyard to other vine-growers, who will pay him the proceeds at the proper seasons.’ ‘....Therefore I say to you, the kingdom of God will be taken away from you, and be given to a nation producing the fruit of it.’ ....When the chief priests and the Pharisees heard His parables, they understood that He was speaking about them.” (Matt. 21:40-41,43,45)
12. “This generation will not pass away until all these things take place.” (Matt. 24:34)
13. “Hereafter, you [Caiaphas, the chief priests, the scribes, the elders, the whole Sanhedrin] shall be seeing the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of Power, and coming on the clouds of heaven.” (Matt. 26:64; Mk. 14:62; Lk. 22:69)
14. “The
15. “What will the owner of the vineyard do? He will come and destroy the vine-growers, and will give the vineyard to others. ....They [the chief priests, scribes and elders] understood that He spoke the parable against them.” (Mk. 12:9,12)
16. “This generation will not pass away until all these things take place.” (Mk. 13:30)
17. “Who warned you to flee from the wrath about to come?” (Lk. 3:7)
18. “The axe is already laid at the root of the trees. “ (Lk. 3:9)
19. “His winnowing fork is in His hand.” (Lk. 3:17)
20. “The
21. “The
22. “What, therefore, will the owner of the vineyard do to them? He will come and destroy these vine-growers and will give the vineyard to others.” The scribes and the chief priests understood that He spoke this parable against them.” (Lk. 20:15-16,19)
23. “These are days of vengeance, in order that all things which are written may be fulfilled.” (Lk. 21:22)
24. “This generation will not pass away until all things take place.” (Lk. 21:32)
25. “Daughters
of
26. “We were
hoping that He was the One who is about to redeem
27. “I will come to you. In that Day you shall know that I am in My Father, and you in Me, and I in you.’ ‘Lord, what then has happened that You are about to disclose Yourself to us, and not to the world?’” (John 14:18,20,22)
28. “If I want him to remain until I come, what is that to you?” (John 21:22)
29. “This is
what was spoken of through the prophet Joel: ‘And it shall be in the last
days’” (Acts
30. “He has
fixed a day in which He is about to judge the world in righteousness” (Acts
31. “There is about to be a resurrection of both the righteous and the wicked.” (Acts 24:15)
32. “As he was discussing righteousness, self-control and the judgment about to come” (Acts 24:25)
33. “Not for
[Abraham’s] sake only was it written, that [faith] was reckoned to him [as
righteousness], but for our sake also, to whom it is about to be reckoned.” (
34. “If you are
living according to the flesh, you are about to die.” (Rom.
35. “I consider
that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the
glory that is about to be revealed to us.” (Rom.
36. “It is
already the hour for you to awaken from sleep; for now salvation is nearer to
us than when we believed. The night is almost gone, and the day is at hand.” (
37. “The God of
peace will soon crush Satan under your feet.” (Rom.
38. “The time has been shortened.” (I Cor. 7:29)
39. “The form of this world is passing away.” (I Cor. 7:31)
40. “Now these things were written for our instruction, upon whom the ends of the ages have come.” (I Cor. 10:11)
41. “We shall not all fall sleep, but we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet; for the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed.” (I Cor. 15:51-52)
42. “Maranatha!” [The Lord comes!] (I Cor. 16:22)
43. “...not only in this age, but also in the one about to come.” (Eph. 1:21)
44. “The Lord is near.” (Phil. 4:5)
45. “The gospel
was proclaimed in all creation under heaven.” (Col.
1:23; Compare Matt. 24:14; Rom.
46. “things which are a shadow of what is about to come.” (Col. 2:16-17)
47. “we who are alive, and remain until the coming of the Lord We who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds You, brethren, are not in darkness, that the Day should overtake you like a thief.” (I Thess. 4:15,17; 5:4)
48. “May your spirit and soul and body be preserved complete, without blame at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.” (I Thess. 5:23)
49. “It is only just for God to repay with affliction those who afflict you, and to give relief to you who are afflicted and to us as well when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with His mighty angels in flaming fire.” (II Thess. 1:6-7)
50. “Godliness holds promise for the present life and that which is about to come.” (I Tim. 4:8)
51. “I charge you that you keep the commandment without stain or reproach until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ.” (I Tim. 6:14)
52. “storing up for themselves the treasure of a good foundation for that which is about to come, so that they may take hold of that which is life indeed.” (I Tim. 6:19)
53. “In the last days difficult times will come. For men will be lovers of self Avoid these men. For of these are those who enter into households and captivate weak women These also oppose the truth But they will not make further progress; for their folly will be obvious to all” (II Tim. 3:1-2,5-6,8-9)
54. “I solemnly charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is about to judge the living and the dead” (II Tim. 4:1)
55. “God, after He spoke long ago to the fathers in the prophets in many portions and in many ways, in these last days has spoken to us in His Son.” (Heb. 1:1-2)
56. “Are they not
all ministering spirits, sent out to render service for the sake of those who
are about to inherit salvation” (Heb.
57. “He did not subject to angels the world about to come.” (Heb. 2:5)
58. “and have tasted the powers of the age about to come.” (Heb. 6:5)
59. “For ground that drinks the rain which often falls upon it and brings forth vegetation useful to those for whose sake it is also tilled, receives a blessing from God; but if it yields thorns and thistles, it is worthless and near a curse, and it’s end is for burning.” (Heb. 6:7-8)
60. “When He said, ‘A new covenant,’ He has made the first obsolete. But what is becoming obsolete and growing old is ready to disappear.” (Heb. 8:13)
61. “The Holy
Spirit is signifying this, that the way of the [heavenly] Holy Places has not
yet been revealed, while the outer tabernacle is still standing, which is a
symbol for the present time. Accordingly both gifts and sacrifices are offered
which cannot make the worshiper perfect in conscience, since they relate only
to food and drink and various washings, regulations for the body imposed until
a time of reformation.” (Heb. 9:8-10; Compare
Gal. 4:19; Eph.
62. “But when Christ
appeared as a high priest of the good things about to come” (Heb.
63. “Now once at the consummation of the ages He has been manifested to put away sin.” (Heb. 9:26)
64. “For the Law, since it has only a shadow of the good things about to come” (Heb. 10:1)
65. “as you see the Day drawing near.” (Heb. 10:25)
66. “the fury of a fire which is about to consume the adversaries.” (Heb. 10:27)
67. “For yet in a very little while, He who is coming will come, and will not delay.” (Heb. 10:37)
68. “For here we do not have a lasting city, but we are seeking the one that is about to come.” (Heb. 13:14)
69. “Speak and so act, as those who are about to be judged by the law of liberty.” (James 2:12)
70. “Come now, you rich, weep and howl for your miseries which are coming upon you. It is in the last days that you have stored up your treasure!” (James 5:1,3)
71. “Be patient, therefore, brethren, until the coming of the Lord.” (James 5:7)
72. “You too be patient; strengthen your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand.” (James 5:8)
73. “salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.” (I Peter 1:5)
74. “He has appeared in these last times for the sake of you.” (I Peter 1:20)
75. “They shall give account to Him who is ready to judge the living and the dead.” (I Peter 4:5)
76. “The end of all things is at hand; therefore, be of sound judgment and sober spirit for the purpose of prayer.” (I Peter 4:7)
77. “For it is time for judgment to begin with the household of God.” (I Peter 4:17)
78. “as your fellow elder and witness of the sufferings of Christ, and a partaker also of the glory that is about to be revealed.” (I Peter 5:1)
79. “We have the prophetic word which you do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the Day dawns and the morning star arises in your hearts.” (II Peter 1:19)
80. “Their judgment from long ago is not idle, and their destruction is not asleep.” (II Peter 2:3)
81. “In the last days mockers will come. For this they willingly are ignorant of” (II Peter 3:3,5)
82. “But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, in which the heavens will pass away with a roar and the elements will be destroyed with intense heat, and the earth and its works will be burned up. Since all these things are to be destroyed in this way, what sort of people ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness, looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God.” (II Peter 3:10-12)
83. “The darkness is passing away, and the true light is already shining.” (I John 2:8)
84. “The world is passing away, and its desires.” (I John 2:17)
85. “It is the last hour.” (I John 2:18)
86. “Even now many antichrists have arisen; from this we know that it is the last hour.” (I John 2:18; Compare Matt. 24:23-34)
87. “This is that of the antichrist, of which you have heard that it is coming, and now it is already in the world.” (I John 4:3; Compare II Thess. 2:7)
88. “For certain persons have crept in unnoticed, those who were long beforehand marked out for this condemnation. About these also Enoch prophesied, saying, ‘Behold, the Lord came with many thousands of His holy ones, to execute judgment upon all, and to convict all the ungodly’” (Jude 1:4,14-15)
89. “But you,
beloved, ought to remember the words that were spoken beforehand by the
apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ, that they were saying to you, ‘In the last
time there shall be mockers, following after their own ungodly lusts.’ These
are the ones who cause divisions” (Jude
90. “to show to His bond-servants, the things which must shortly take place.” (Rev. 1:1)
91. “The time is near.” (Rev. 1:3)
92. “Nevertheless what you have, hold fast until I come.” (Rev. 2:25)
93. “I also will keep you from the hour of testing which is about to come upon the whole land.” (Rev. 3:10; cf. Matt. 2:6,20,21)
94. “I am coming quickly.” (Rev. 3:11)
95. “And she gave birth to a son, a male child, who is about to rule all the nations with a rod of iron.” (Rev. 12:5)
96. “And in her [the Great City Babylon] was found the blood of prophets and of saints and of all who have been slain on the earth.” (Rev. 18:24; Compare Matt. 23:35-36; Lk. 11:50-51)
97. “to show to His bond-servants the things which must shortly take place.” (Rev. 22:6)
98. “Behold, I am coming quickly. “ (Rev. 22:7)
99. “Do not seal up the words of the prophecy of this book, for the time is near.” (Rev. 22:10; Compare Dan. 8:26)
100. “Behold, I am coming quickly.” (Rev. 22:12)
101. “Yes, I am coming quickly.” (Rev. 22:20)
No End of the World
In 1611, the translators of the King James Bible mistranslated a few passages. These translations reflected their theological biases. Their biases were different from the biases that dominate today.
Ephesians
Unto Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without
end. Amen.
“World without end” strikes modern ears as horribly aberrant. (The Greek is literally translated “to all the generations of the age of the ages.”)
Isaiah 45:17
But
The phrase “world without end” obviously didn’t shock the KJV translators. Does the Bible teach that the world will never come to an end? Most Christians would say NO! because of the many occurrences of the phrase “the end of the world.” But again this is a mistranslation.
Every occurrence of the phrase “end of the world” (in the King James Version) should be translated “end of the age” (Greek: aion).
1. Matthew
The enemy that sowed them is the devil; the harvest is
the end of the world age; and the reapers are the angels.
2. Matthew 13:40
As therefore the tares are gathered and burned in the
fire; so shall it be in the end of this world age.
3.
Matthew
So shall it be at the end of the world
age: the angels shall come forth, and sever the wicked from among the just,
4.
Matthew 24:3
And as he sat upon the mount of Olives, the disciples
came unto him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end
of the world age?
5.
Matthew 28:20
Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have
commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world
age. Amen.
6.
1 Corinthians
10:11
Now all these things happened unto them for examples: and they are written for
our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world age are
come.
7. Hebrews
For then must he often have suffered since the
foundation of the world [Gk: kosmos]:
but now once in the end of the world age hath he appeared
to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself.
There is no passage in the Bible that speaks of the end of the world, that is, the end of planet earth. The verses above signify the end of the Old Covenant, not the destruction of the planet.
The phrase “the last days” does not mean the last days of
the planet earth. Throughout the New Testament, the apostles plainly
declared that they were at that time living during “the last days,” and
if they meant that the planet earth would be destroyed in their lifetime, they
were mistaken and the New Testament is untrustworthy. They meant the last days
of the Old Covenant. The “last days” of the Old Covenant were the first days of
the New Covenant. The Old Covenant was completely destroyed when
·
Acts
· 2Timothy 3:1 - This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.
· Hebrews 1:2* - Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds;
· James 5:3 - Your gold and silver is cankered; and the rust of them shall be a witness against you, and shall eat your flesh as it were fire. Ye have heaped treasure together for the last days. 7 Therefore be patient, brethren, until the coming of the Lord. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand. 9 Do not grumble against one another, brethren, lest you be condemned. Behold, the Judge is standing at the door!
· 1Peter 1:5 - Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.
·
1Peter
· 2Peter 3:3 - Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts,
·
1John
·
Jude
The defining characteristic of “the last days” is not the destruction of planet earth, but the destruction of the Old Covenant religious/social order, the creation of a new order, and the resistance the new order would meet at the hands of those committed to the old order.
The Destruction of the Old Covenant World by Fire
In his parables Jesus spoke of the destruction of His enemies:
Matthew 22:7 But when the king heard about it, he was furious. And he sent out his armies, destroyed those murderers, and burned up their city.
He prophesied the soon destruction of
Luke 21:20-32
“But when you see
25 “And there will be signs in the sun, in the moon, and in the stars;
and on the earth distress of nations, with perplexity, the sea and the waves
roaring; 26 men’s hearts failing them from fear and the expectation of those
things which are coming on the earth, for the powers of the heavens will be
shaken. 27 Then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and
great glory. (see Matthew 16:27-28) 28 Now when these things begin to happen,
look up and lift up your heads, because your redemption draws near.”
29 Then He spoke to them a parable: “Look at the fig tree, and all the trees.
30 When they are already budding, you see and know for yourselves that summer
is now near. 31 So you also, when you see these things happening, know that the
Paul comforted the saints with the promise of the soon destruction of Jewish persecution
2 Thessalonians 1:3-8 We are bound to thank God always for you, brethren, as it is fitting, because your faith grows exceedingly, and the love of every one of you all abounds toward each other, 4 so that we ourselves boast of you among the churches of God for your patience and faith in all your persecutions and tribulations that you endure, 5 which is manifest evidence of the righteous judgment of God, that you may be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which you also suffer; 6 since it is a righteous thing with God to repay with tribulation those who trouble you, 7 and to give you who are troubled rest with us when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with His mighty angels, 8 in flaming fire taking vengeance on those who do not know God, and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ.
1. Which prophecies in the New Testament cannot possibly have been fulfilled at or before AD70, and could only be fulfilled at least 1,930 years later?
2. Which verses in the New Testament cannot possibly have been fulfilled after the death of the last member of that generation?
3. Does the number of verses which cannot be fulfilled for at least 1,930 years outnumber the number of verses which cannot possibly have a fulfillment beyond the lifetime of that generation?
4. If the verses in #2 above dramatically outnumber the number of verses suggested in #1 above, is it not likely (or at least possible) that the verses in #1 have been misinterpreted, and have in fact already been fulfilled?
The Parousia by J. Stuart Russell (1878)
While Charles Spurgeon did not share the eschatological views of J. Stuart Russell or the final conclusions of his book, in an 1878 issue of his magazine The Sword and the Trowel, Spurgeon wrote a short review of The Parousia:
The second coming of
Christ according to this volume had its fulfilment in the destruction of
Jerusalem and the establishment of the gospel dispensation. That the parables
and predictions of our Lord had a more direct and exclusive reference to that
period than is generally supposed, we readily admit; but we were not prepared
for the assignment of all references to a second coming in the New Testament,
and even in the Apocalypse itself, to so early a fulfilment….
Though the author's theory is carried too far, it has so much of truth in it,
and throws so much new light upon obscure portions of the Scriptures, and is
accompanied with so much critical research and close reasoning, that it can be
injurious to none and may be profitable to all.
The founder and chairman of Ligonier Ministries, Dr. R. C. Sproul also wrote regarding The Parousia:
I believe that Russell's work is one of the most important treatments on Biblical eschatology that is available to the church today. The issues raised in this volume with respect to the time-frame references of the New Testament to the Parousia are vitally important not only for eschatology but for the future debate over the credibility of Sacred Scripture.
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 |
1 = a dangerous heresy which should not be taught publicly
5 = not sure whether it’s a good or bad idea; need further study
10 = a very good idea which every Christian should study