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James Peterson | PentecostalTheology.com
Can God Tell Time?
(Grateful acknowledgments to Don K. Preston)
Everyone admits there are numerous New Testament passages that say “The coming of the Lord is at hand;” or in other ways indicate Christ’s return was imminent–and that was almost two thousand years ago! One of the ways men have dealt with the problem is to say “Yes, the Bible said the coming of the Lord was ‘at hand’ in the first century, but time doesn’t mean anything to God therefore ‘at hand’ didn’t really mean it was imminent.”
Do you see the problem? The problem is real and has troubled honest Bible students for centuries. The question is “Can God tell time?” As we have seen, when God uses time words he does not have a special hidden meaning unknowable to man! Prophetic time statements are not so “elastic” that the words “near” and “at hand” can encompass hundreds, or even thousands of years! At hand means at hand whether it referred to the coming of the kingdom or the coming of the Lord!
There is no question that “time” is nothing to God. A thousand years are like yesterday to Him (Psa. 90:4). In II Peter 3:8, we find the statement about “one day being as a thousand years,” etc. [By the way, please note the verse does not say one day IS a thousand years with the Lord]. In verse 9 we find a forgotten statement: “The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness;” The word “slack” means “slow” [Greek “braduno”]. Peter’s point is that if God sets a time for fulfillment, God fulfills on time! He is not slow; God can tell time and knows how to keep his promises on time! This verse asserts in no uncertain terms that God is a God who keeps his promises!
But time is nothing only to God. When God communicates time to man, He reasons with His creation in a way that man can understand Him. But in the scripture, God spoke to MAN! The time statements about the kingdom’s establishment were made to MAN! The time statements in the Bible were spoken to man to encourage or to warn man. If God did not mean TIME when he used time words, what did he mean? Since man thinks in time when “a long time” or “at hand” is used, would it not have been misleading on God’s part to say something was not going to happen for a long time when in fact it was imminent? Conversely, would it not have been misleading for God to say something was at hand when it was really not to happen for centuries?
The question here is one of communication. Can God communicate with his creation in an understandable way; or does God speak in purposely ambiguous ways? Does the Lord hold out a carrot stick of imminent blessings to his hurting creation while knowing all the time he is not really going to bring the promises soon? Did God constantly threaten nations with imminent judgment and not punish them for centuries? Where then is the reality of the threat to the wicked? Does God’s transcendence over time prevent him from speaking to man in words that convey genuine nearness?
Here is a question to consider: if God is in the practice of saying something is imminent when in reality it may not transpire for centuries, why is there not one single Old Covenant prophecy of the kingdom that said it was “at hand?” Daniel said the kingdom would be established in the days of the Roman empire; he called it “the last days” (Dan.2:28). From Daniel’s perspective, it was several hundred years away. From God’s perspective of course, it was only a moment; but that is not the issue. God was speaking to Daniel about things to happen in man’s world–not in timeless eternity. This is why God did not cause Daniel to say the kingdom was “near,” “at hand,” “right at the door,” or coming “very, very soon.”
It was not until John the Baptist came that the message “the kingdom of heaven is at hand” was preached; and the kingdom was established in the very generation that heard John say it was at hand! In other words, God did not allow his prophets to say the kingdom was at hand until it was REALLY AT HAND! It would have been something less than honest if God had said the kingdom was imminent when it was really hundreds of years away!
Why did Isaiah, who wrote over 600 years before the birth of the Messiah, never say his coming was at hand? Would it not have been terribly distressing for the Jews to have heard a constant message of the imminence of the kingdom and their savior yet hundreds of years roll on and on without fulfillment? The writer of Proverbs correctly noted mankind’s attitude toward waiting for fulfillment of promises “Hope that is deferred makes the heart sick” (Prov.13:12).
It is one thing for God to promise something and not give any indication as to when he would fulfill the promise, for then man has no indication of when to expect fulfillment. It is an entirely different thing for God to indicate a time frame for fulfillment and not bring the promise to fulfillment in that indicated time frame! This involves a basic attribute of the nature of God.
We are told that prophetic time may INDICATE imminence, when in fact hundreds of years are involved. In order to demonstrate the utter falsity of this concept let us see how God has dealt with time statements in scripture.
In Numbers 24:17-18, Balaam the prophet made a prediction of Christ’s coming: “I see him but not now, I behold him but not near.” Notice he said Christ’s coming was NOT NEAR; IT WAS NOT AT HAND. Why did he say this? Because Christ’s coming was over 1400 years away, and 1400 years really is a long time! Here is a concrete example where God referred to a long time as just that.
In Daniel 10-12 is a vision encompassing a period of time from 536 BC to the fall of Jerusalem in 70 AD; about 600 years. Two times in this text Daniel was told “the appointed time is long” and “the vision refers to many days to come” (Dan.10:1,14). Remember, this vision was relayed to Daniel from God. While God is not bound by time, he was communicating to man who is bound to time. God called this 600 year period of time “long;” he said it involved “many days.” God can most assuredly tell time and read a calendar!
Daniel contains another important example of how God used time words. Chapter 8 contains a prophecy that extends from 530 BC to about 165-164 BC and the death of Antiochus Epiphanes. The time covered is about 365 years. How did God express the prophecy? Did he say it was at hand? Did he say SOME of it was at hand while some of it was for a long time off? No! God viewed the prophecy as a whole. He said the vision “refers to many days in the future” (Dan.8:26). Here is a prophecy that covers 365 years and God called it “a long time.” Friends, if God called 365 years a long time, how can man say that time, when God is speaking to man, means nothing?
This is an important question in light of the traditional interpretations of Revelation. Daniel was told to seal up his vision because the time for its fulfillment was a long time away–365 years. John was specifically told not to seal up his vision because what he saw was at hand (Revelation 22:10)! John is told his vision, not part of his vision, was “at hand” and “must shortly come to pass!” Reader, did God call the 365 years for the fulfillment of Daniel’s prophecy a “long time” and call the fulfillment of Revelation, which most say has not been fulfilled after 2000 years so far, “at hand?” To say the least, this would hardly be consistent!
In Jeremiah 29:10, Jehovah told his prophet the Babylonian captivity would last for seventy years. In verse 28, the people complained that Jeremiah had told them “The exile will be long….” Here is an example of a prophet specifying a period of time, seventy years, and the people said the prophet, and remember the prophet was inspired of God, said the captivity would be “long.” Why was seventy years called a long time by Jeremiah? Because to man seventy years IS A LONG TIME! Thus, God used time words as man would normally understand them. God can tell time when speaking to man!
Many do not realize the Bible gives an example of man attempting to change the meaning of time words used by God; and God’s response. In Ezekiel 7, God said the Day of the Lord was at hand. The Day of the Lord in this context was when God used Babylon to punish Israel for her sin. This is the concept of the Day of the Lord; it is not an “end of time” idea. It is when God used a nation to punish another as it related to his chosen people.
In chapter 11, Israel responded to the threat of coming judgment. They insisted that although Ezekiel said it was at hand it was really not. It was time to build houses, not worry about judgment. One can almost hear some of those people: “Well, yes, Ezekiel has said the Day of the Lord is at hand, but after all, ‘one day is with the Lord as a thousand years and a thousand years is as a day,’ (Psalms 90:4).”
When Israel “elasticized” God’s words of imminence into relativity, ambiguity and meaning-less-ness, God responded. In Ezekiel 12:21ff, [Please, take the time to get your Bible and read it for yourself!] God told Ezekiel to tell Israel that her days of changing the time for his predictions were over. He had said judgment was at hand; Israel said it was not at hand. God would not tolerate it.
Ezekiel was instructed to tell Israel that in that generation judgment would fall just as God had indicated when he said it was at hand. [Have you read those verses for yourself yet? If not, why not do it right now and see for yourself that what we are saying is true?] What we have, then, is an example of man saying that while God had said something was imminent it really was not; it was for a long time off. We have God’s response; when God said “at hand” he meant “at hand!” He did not mean hundreds or thousands of years; he meant “soon!”
Another example of man changing the meaning of God’s time words is in Amos 6:3. God warned Israel the time had come for her to be judged (Amos 8:2). In spite of the warnings, Israel “put far off the evil day.” Isaiah 56:12 shows they were saying “tomorrow shall be as today.” In spite of God’s warning that judgment was at hand they insisted “All things continue as they were,” II Peter 3:3-4! They refused to believe God meant “near” when he said “at hand!” As a result God said “Woe” to them!
Reader, what is the practical difference between Israel of Old denying “at hand” meant “soon,” and Bible students today who read the New Testament time statements and say they did not mean “soon?” What is the difference between those in Isaiah’s day who denied the warnings of imminent judgment, saying life was going to go on as usual, and those today who read the time statements made in the first century and say the predicted events were not truly imminent? Those who deny the first century application of the at hand time statements of the New Testament are doing the same thing as the Israelites of Old–denying that “at hand” meant “soon!”
Has God changed his vocabulary? Is it true that “at hand” once DID mean “at hand” but now it can mean “a long time?” If so, where is the evidence for the change? Surely, the honest student can clearly see there has been no such change in God’s vocabulary. God can tell time; God can read a calendar. When God says something is at hand it is near. For man to argue otherwise is to reject the inspiration of the scriptures; it is to impugn the faithfulness of God; it is to impugn the ability of God to communicate; it is to do the very thing Israel of old did and for which they were condemned!
Think about this: certain Christians say “Well, you can’t take “generation” and “at hand” literally because God’s time is not our time.” Then what do they do? They go and interpret the thousand years in Revelation as literal! Do you see the problem here?
If, as the amillennialist insists, it is dangerous to deny the time for the coming of the kingdom, why is it not equally dangerous to deny the time-frame for the coming of the Lord? It is clear to us that to deny either the fact or the time for the coming of the Lord is to deny the inspiration of the scriptures. This is a serious matter indeed.
This one fact remains. Jesus promised to return in the generation of his disciples. Language could not be clearer. We have demonstrated above that when God used time words he meant what the words suggest. “At hand” means “at hand;” a “long time” means a “long time.” This being true one must acknowledge
1 Jesus lied
2 He failed
3 He was mistaken
4 or He came!
The scripture is either inspired or it is not–we believe it is inspired. I believe Jesus also did not lie, fail, or make a mistake. This is why we have changed our mind about the nature of the coming of the Lord. God truly can tell time; he can read a calendar. In the clearest language possible he predicted the time, not the day or hour, but the generation of Christ’s return. That was the first century generation. The only way to maintain a belief in the inspiration of the scriptures and Jesus is to be willing to believe he kept his words; this means a change in your beliefs about the nature of the coming. Are you willing to change?
Preterism
Jo Kelly
I pray these can be helped to see truth as the Lord is coming and will be a swift witness of those who deny the events that must soon come to pass, as written, regardless of time He rules literally, bodily, seen by men on earth. The 1000 years of the Millennial is literal, and will be carried forth in a Theocracy government, from Jerusalem, with Jesus ruling as Lord over all.
Christopher Campbell
Judy Peterson James Peterson You sent me an article on Armageddon that said in the last line Armageddon had a future fulfillment. Are you now agreeing that Armageddon does have a future fulfillment in the Book of Revelation or are you disagreeing with the article you sent?
Also, what is the name of the Church you attend?
Arawaia Kakoroa
Eschatology
The Second Coming
Purgatory
Hell
Zionism
Arawaia Kakoroa
The Second Coming…………….You are here: Home / Eschatology / The Second Coming
The Second Coming…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..I. The Time is Unknown
Matt. 24:36 – many sects try to predict the coming of Christ. But Jesus says, “no one but the Father knows the day and the hour.” The sects that try to predict Christ’s coming ignore these words.
Matt. 24:36 – we should also note that Jesus’ statement does not mean than Jesus does not know the day of His Second Coming. Jesus does know, because He is God. With this statement, Jesus explains that He chose to know by His human knowledge only that which He wanted to know for His mission of salvation. In other words, Jesus could have chosen not to know everything by His own human knowledge, but Jesus knew everything in His human knowledge through its hypostatic union to His eternal and infinite divine knowledge.
Matt. 24:44 – Jesus warns us that the Son of Man is coming at an hour we do not expect.
Matt. 25:13 – Jesus says “watch therefore, and be prepared, for you know neither the day nor the hour.”
Mark 13:35-37 – Jesus says “watch because you do not know when the Master of the House will come – watch!”
Luke 12:46 – the Master will come on a day and at an hour when He is not expected.
Acts 1:7 – Jesus says it is not for us to know the times or seasons which the Father has fixed by His own authority.
1 Thess. 5:2; 2 Peter 3:10; Rev. 3:3 – the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night.
James 5:7 – be patient until the coming of the Lord. Those who try to predict disregard this inspired teaching.
Rev. 22:20 – Jesus says He is coming soon, but He does not tell us when He is coming. Because Jesus says we do not know the day or the hour and will be surprised at His coming, it is silly, and disobedient, for people and groups to predict His coming. We, instead, need to be about the business of growing in holiness, so that we are prepared for our Lord when He comes again, no matter when that will be.
I. The Time is Unknown
Matt. 24:36 – many sects try to predict the coming of Christ. But Jesus says, “no one but the Father knows the day and the hour.” The sects that try to predict Christ’s coming ignore these words.
Matt. 24:36 – we should also note that Jesus’ statement does not mean than Jesus does not know the day of His Second Coming. Jesus does know, because He is God. With this statement, Jesus explains that He chose to know by His human knowledge only that which He wanted to know for His mission of salvation. In other words, Jesus could have chosen not to know everything by His own human knowledge, but Jesus knew everything in His human knowledge through its hypostatic union to His eternal and infinite divine knowledge.
Matt. 24:44 – Jesus warns us that the Son of Man is coming at an hour we do not expect.
Matt. 25:13 – Jesus says “watch therefore, and be prepared, for you know neither the day nor the hour.”
Mark 13:35-37 – Jesus says “watch because you do not know when the Master of the House will come – watch!”
Luke 12:46 – the Master will come on a day and at an hour when He is not expected.
Acts 1:7 – Jesus says it is not for us to know the times or seasons which the Father has fixed by His own authority.
1 Thess. 5:2; 2 Peter 3:10; Rev. 3:3 – the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night.
James 5:7 – be patient until the coming of the Lord. Those who try to predict disregard this inspired teaching.
Rev. 22:20 – Jesus says He is coming soon, but He does not tell us when He is coming. Because Jesus says we do not know the day or the hour and will be surprised at His coming, it is silly, and disobedient, for people and groups to predict His coming. We, instead, need to be about the business of growing in holiness, so that we are prepared for our Lord when He comes again, no matter when that will be.
Arawaia Kakoroa
II. The Rapture
1 Thess. 4:16-17 – Paul writes that “we will be caught up in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air.” Many Protestants call this experience the “rapture” (even though the word “rapture” is not found in the Bible, although is derived from the Latin vulgate of this verse – “rapiemur”). John 14:3; 1 Cor. 15:52 – these are other passages that Protestants use to support the rapture experience. The question Protestantism has raised is “when will the rapture occur?” They have developed three theories – (1) post-tribulation; (2) pre-tribulation; and, (3) mid-tribulation. We address these theories later on. But first, here is some more background.
Rev. 20:2-3; 7-8 – John sees the vision of an angel who seizes satan and binds him for a period of a thousand years. Protestants generally call this period of a thousand years the “millennium.” The “millennium” is a harbinger of the end of the world, and the theories of when the “rapture” will occur center around this period of time. We should also note that the “thousand years” language is part of apocalyptic literature and should not be interpreted literally. For example, in Psalm 50:10, we see the cattle on a “thousand hills.” The word “thousand” here obviously means a lot of hills. In Dan. 7:10, a “thousand thousands” served him. Again, “thousand” means a lot. In 2 Peter 3:8, with God one day is a “thousand” years and a “thousand” years is one day. “Thousand” is symbolic for a long time. It is not to be taken literally.
There are three ways that Protestants interpret the meaning of the thousand year “millennium” (and the interpretation leads to answering when they think the rapture will occur).
(1) Post-millennialism – this view interprets the “thousand years” as a very long time. This view also holds that God’s kingdom is being advanced in the world by His grace and the world will eventually be Christianized. Then Christ will return at the close of this period during a time of righteousness and peace. The problem with this view is that the Scriptures do not teach that the world will be even relatively Christianized before the Second Coming. For example, in Matt. 13:24-30;36-43, Jesus says the wicked and the righteous will co-exist until the end of the world, when they will be judged, and either inherit eternal life, or be thrown into eternal fire.
(2) Pre-millenialism (also called “millenarianism”) – like post-millennialists, this view also interprets the “thousand years” as a golden age on earth when the world will be Christianized. But they believe that this period will occur after Christ’s second coming, during which time Christ will reign physically on earth. They believe the Final Judgment occurs when the millennium is over. But Scripture does not teach that there is a thousand year span between the Second Coming and Final Judgment. Instead, Jesus said that when He comes a second time in glory, He will immediately repay every man for what he has done. Matt. 16:27. When Jesus comes, He will separate the sheep from the goats and render judgment. Matt. 25:31-46. There is nothing about any period of time between His coming and final judgment.
(3) Amillennialism – this view also interprets the “thousand years” symbolically, but, ulike the pre and post views, not as a golden age on earth. This view believes the millennium is the period of Christ’s rule in heaven and on earth through His Church. This is because the saints who reign with Christ and to whom judgment has been committed are said to be on their thrones in heaven. Rev. 20:4; cf. 4:4; 11:16. During this time, satan is bound and cannot hinder the spread of the gospel. Rev. 20:3. This is why, they explain, Jesus teaches the necessity of binding the “strong man” (satan) in order to plunder his house and rescue people from his grip. Matt. 12:29. This is also why, after the disciples preached the gospel and rejoiced that the demons were even subject to them, Jesus declared, “I saw satan fall like lightening from heaven.” Luke 10:18. Nevertheless, during this period, the world will not be entirely Christianized because satan, though bound, is still in some sense able to prowl around and attack souls. cf. 1 Peter 5:8. Of the three, this position is most consistent with Catholic teaching (the pre and post-millennium views have been rejected by the Church).
2 Thess. 2:1-4 – concerning the Second Coming of Christ, Scripture teaches (and most Protestants believe) that Christ’s coming will be preceded by a time of rebellion, lawlessness and persecution. Protestants often refer to this period as the “tribulation” (although the word “tribulation” cannot be found in the Scripture passages Protestants use to support the “rapture”). So the question is, when will the 1 Thess. 4:16-17 “rapture” occur, in light of the tribulation and Christ’s Second Coming? Here are the three theories previously mentioned:
(1) Post-tribulational view – this view holds that the rapture will occur right after the tribulation and immediately before the Second Coming of Christ. This view can be consistent with Scripture and Catholic teaching to the extent it holds that the rapture and Christ’s Second Coming occur together, after the tribulation and the Church Militant on earth. See, for example, Matt. 24:29-31; Mark 13:24-27; 2 Thess. 1:1-12.
(2) Pre-tribulational view – this view holds that the rapture will occur before the tribulation. The problem with this view is that it requires three comings of Christ – first, when He was born in Bethlehem; second, when He returns for the rapture before the tribulation; third, when He returns at the end of the tribulation and establishes the millennium. Scripture rejects three comings of Christ. In Heb. 9:28, it is clear that Christ will appear a second and final time, when he comes in glory to save us. This view also is inconsistent with Matt. 24:24-31; Mark 13:24-27; and 2 Thess. 2:1-12 where the rapture and the Second Coming occur together.
(3) Mid-tribulational view – this view holds that the rapture will occur during the middle of the tribulation. The problem with this view is that it also requires three comings of Christ – first, when He was born in Bethlehem; second, when He returns for the rapture during the middle of the tribulation; third, when He returns at the end of the tribulation and establishes the millennium. As seen in Heb. 9:28, Scripture rejects three comings of Christ. The view is also inconsistent with Matt. 24:24-31; Mark. 13:24-27; and 2 Thess. 2:1-12.
2 Peter 3:8-15 – instead of worrying about when the rapture will occur, Christians should follow Peter’s instruction to repent of their sins, live lives of holiness and godliness, be zealous and at peace, and wait for the Lord’s coming with forbearance and joy!
Christopher Campbell
Arawaia Kakoroa You send all these scriptures and not one of them contain the word “Purgatory.” Is the word “Purgatory” ever used by YHWH, His Son or any man or women of faith in the Scriptures?
Dees Samy
Just before being crucified Jesus said… ,now the prince(satan) of this world comes…..now is the judgement.. So at present all are judged….He also conqured death & set the prisoners free…He descended after death &ministered to the dead (prisoners/captives) .He even said ‘those who hear His words & know the One who sent Him…will not be judged…& will passover from death to life.. So in my opinion,whats left is Jesus will come to destroy Satan & his followers for keeps-forever!
Jo Kelly
Dees Samy, Who did Jesus descend and make a proclaimation, or announcement, to? It was to those who were disobedient in the days of Noah, that were wicked tares taken away then by his judgment. No second chances given these who were not righteous ,as Noah. Yes, Jesus will come to earth and all the tares will be taken away, first, as the righteous are with him. The nations will be judged of the world. “Hereafter I will not talk much with you: for the prince of this world cometh, and hath nothing in me.”.
Dees Samy
Jo Kelly; if the tares are taken away, the righteous will be caught up with Jesus with the resurrected ones, then who will be the ones that will be ruled on earth for a thousand years…it seems no one will be left here!
Gerardo Mamaril
The promise of return of Jesus tru angel said at the mount of galilee will turn 2000 years of age in yhe year 2033. Acts chapter 1
Jo Kelly
Dees Samy….Read truth of Bible Prophecy….as to those living on earth who will turn and rebel with Satan, at or near the end of the 1000 years on earth. There is nothing confusing as to this truth. Rev. 20: 7 And when the thousand years are expired, Satan shall be loosed out of his prison,
8 And shall go out to deceive the nations which are in the four quarters of the earth, Gog, and Magog, to GATHER THEM TOGETHER to battle: the NUMBER OF WHO is as the SAND of the SEA.
9 And they went up on the breadth of the earth, and compassed the camp of the saints about, and the beloved city: and fire came down from God out of heaven, and devoured them.
Robert Speake
Maybe “at hand” is a measure of availability , not a measure of time. As in “The tools where at hand to do the job” … This changes the entire premise , and puts the onus on us to act and bring about the change , not God. He has been waiting for us to act , in his name , with the tools supplied , yet we have done nothing
Kelly McArthur
Time is within the mind of the animal, time is within man and his days are numbered, marked by the beast.
Vernon Reuben
I think we can all agree that we’re at the “Time of the End” and certainly the signs are here. Chaotic weather patterns, war, famine, hunger, desease, moral and spiritual decay as well as the increasing isolation of Israel. We are to watch for the “signs” of Christ’s return as pointed out in Matthew 24, Luke 13 and 21 and also the books of Revelation and the Old Testament books of prophecy. The following may be considered as generally accepted by Biblical scholars: 1) The Rapture of the Church. 2) The rise of a political leader from within the EU (Revived Roman Empire in Daniel chapter 2). 3) The political leader brings Israel and Palestinians together in a Peace Treaty for a period of 7 years (Daniel 9:27). 4) The first 3 and a half years there will be peace. 5) The political leader will remove the mask of the peace maker and dishonor the Peace treaty over the next 3 and a half years making war against Israel and Tribulation believers. 6) The antichrist (political leader) will lead a global army against Israel. 7) The antichrist and his army will be defeated by Jesus. 7) The Second Coming of Jesus Christ and his 1000 Year Reign. None of these events have been fulfilled but are awaiting fulfillment. Watch closely: Israel is God’s Timeclock. Of the 490 weeks (literal years of prophecy concerning Israel) 483 years have been fulfilled. The moment the Peace Treaty is confirmed God’s Timeclock will start ticking again to the final countdown of the final “week” (final 7 years) of prophecy.