Wrap up Discussion on Gospels
Prologue
The diagram below shows the general framework we will be working with based on descriptions from the Gospels. Everything we see from other sources in the Bible need to me reconciled with diagram. Several points need to be made based on various viewpoints by major denominations. Did we miss his return? How many resurrections of the righteous are there? What does it mean when Jesus states no man knows the hour? And finally, How should we live?
Did We miss his return? No!
In 2 Thes 1:5-10 ESV – when Jesus is revealed he will judge the earth with flaming fire and repay the affliction of His saints when he comes on the day of judgment. In 2 Thes 2:1-3 ESV, Jesus tells us this day will not come “…unless the rebellion comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed”.[i] Neither of these events have happened! Jesus tells us in Matt 24:29 -30 that the powers of the Heavens will be shaken and then the sign of the Son-of-Man appears in Heaven and He returns. This event cannot be missed. [ii]
Are there two resurrections? Bible only mentions one for the righteous!
Jesus Christ was the first fruits of the righteous who have fallen asleep (I Cor 15:20-25.) There is only one resurrection of the righteous (Luke 14:14, John 11:24-26). Acts 24:15 states there will be a resurrection of the righteous and the wicked. But, the resurrection of the wicked does not occur until the end of the millennium when death and hades/sheol are thrown into the lake of fire. (John 5:28-29, Rev 20:4-6, Rev 20:11-14). This is one thousand years after the tribulation as stated in multiple times in Rev 20:1-5.
Matthew 24 states the elect are gathered at the end of the tribulation. If, in fact, they were gathered before the tribulation, you would need a second resurrection of the dead at the end of the tribulation. There are some early Christian writings such as the Didache also known as The Lord’s Teaching Through the Twelve Apostles to the Nations. This document was used in the 1st and 2nd century, prior to the Bible, to provide instructions for Churches on rituals like baptism, fasting, and Communion. It also includes moral instructions for Christians, such as the commandments against murder, adultery, theft, and coveting. The last chapter of this text has an account of the end times very similar to Matthew and Mark. Estimate writing late 1st to 2nd century. It stands as representative of the earliest instructions/doctrine which means these end time events were not referring to the 70AD destruction of the temple.
“Assemble yourselves together frequently to seek the things that benefit your souls, for all the time of your faith will not profit you unless you are perfect at the last. For in the last days, false prophets and seducers will increase, turning the sheep into wolves; and love will be turned into hate. For lawlessness will increase and they will hate and persecute and betray one another. They will hate and persecute and betray one another. AND THEN The deceiver of the world will appear as though he were the Son of God, and he shall do signs and wonders and the earth shall be delivered into his hands; and he will commit immoralities which have never been done since the age began. Then shall the race of men come into the fire of proving trial and many shall be made to stumble and perish. But those who remain established in their faith shall be saved under the very curse. And then the signs of truth shall be revealed. First, a sign spread out in heaven; then a sign of the sound of a trumpet; and third, the resurrection of the dead, but not all of the dead. But as it was said, “the Lord shall come and all His Holy Ones with Him.” Then the world shall see the Lord coming in the clouds of heaven.“[iii]
Bottomline: There is only one resurrection of the righteous; so it must occur at the end of the tribulation during the second coming of Christ.
No Man Knows the Hour
Jesus states we will not know the hour of his coming (Matthew 24:36). But in Matt 24:29-31 Christ discusses His return and when He will send the angels to gather the Elect. He tells us the signs of his coming and in the same chapter he tells us to watch for the abomination of desolation. As we reviewed in the previous section on parables, in Matt 24:32-35 on the “Parable of the Fig Tree”, we are told to Watch!
Imminency vs Watching
The parables told us to watch for the master’s return and to work as if he might return at any moment so we can be prepared to greet him. This strongly implies we continue the work of the Great Commission as if he could return at any time; but it also tells us to watch for his return.
Christians who watch will not be caught off guard. When Jesus states he will come like a thief in the night, it is for those who are not watching.
The concept of imminency is the idea that the return of Jesus Christ could happen at any moment. The term is used to describe the Rapture and the coming of Jesus Christ for His Church. Many theologians will use this in connection with no man knows the hour located in Matthew 24:36 and Mark 13:32. A Pre-tribulation theological doctrine on imminency is an assertion that nothing specific or certain can be known about the development of God’s prophetic program before the rapture happens. However, than is counter to our being told to watch for the signs of his return such as the abomination of desolation. We believe the Pre-tribulation theological doctrine of imminence violates the teaching of Christ on watching
Does the Old Testament, such as Daniel and Jeremiah, talk about the tribulation? Daniel 12:1b NIV “And there will be a time of distress such as never occurred since there was a nation until that time.”[iv] Jeremiah 30:7 NIV “How awful that day will be! No other will be like it. It will be a time of trouble for Jacob, but he will be saved out of it.”[v] The word tribulation means a time of distress or trouble. It is derived from the word thlipsin (Greek) or ṣārāh/tṣārāh/tsar (Hebrew). The old testament furth supports the resurrection and judgment of the wicked in Daniel 12:2 ESV “many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt.“ Further, in Jer 30:9 ESV, it states the resurrection of Kin g David “But they shall serve the LORD their God and David their king, whom I will raise up for them.”[vi]
Bottomline: Judgment is toward the end of the tribulation both in Old and New Testament.
Epilogue
Jesus supplies us with a sequence of events in the Gospels. The elect are gathered after the abomination of desolation. Nowhere in the Bible does it talk about two resurrections of the righteous. Therefore, do as Jesus Christ stated and watch for the signs of his coming. Further, continue to make disciples.
References
[i] “Scripture quotations throughout this document are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved. The ESV text may not be quoted in any publication made available to the public by a Creative Commons license. The ESV may not be translated in whole or in part into any other language.”
[ii] Ibid
[iii] The Didache https://www.silentwaters.org/the-didache/ Jan 1, 2023 Translation by Tim Sauder Note: (this statement from webpage with translation) You are free to copy and paste this translation of the Didache for non-commercial use. All we ask is that you print the copyright notice with it, together with the location of our website: www.scrollpublishing.com
[iv] Scripture quotations taken from The Holy Bible, New International Version® NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. Used with permission. All rights reserved worldwide. https://www.biblegateway.com
[v] Ibid
[vi] “Scripture quotations throughout this document are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved. The ESV text may not be quoted in any publication made available to the public by a Creative Commons license. The ESV may not be translated in whole or in part into any other language.”