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guest (guest)
20 Oct 2009
Posts:
As A relatively new Christian, I have often heard the end times which seems to imply the end of our world, but Paul said they were living in the end times back then. In revelation 20:2 satan is locked in a bottomless pit for a thousand years and then let out for a while.
I take it that satan has not yet been locked in the pit so can we assume that the end as we know it is at least another thousand years. If this is the case why are bible scholars saying that there are signs that the end is near? The world has been through similar things during the past centuries so what makes our time different?
Where do all the prophesies fit in with satan being locked up for a thousand years?
I take it that satan has not yet been locked in the pit so can we assume that the end as we know it is at least another thousand years. If this is the case why are bible scholars saying that there are signs that the end is near? The world has been through similar things during the past centuries so what makes our time different?
Where do all the prophesies fit in with satan being locked up for a thousand years?
Hi there.
How did you guess I'm preaching on some of this subject come Sunday!
There is no way I can adequately answer all the questions within your question, sorry. But lets look at one or two things.
The end, as taught in the Bible, has two parts. The first part is to do with the return of Jesus. He does a number of times during this return, one of which is to establish his rule on earth. This rule will last a thousand years, during which time Satan will be locked away, as you have mentioned.
After a thousand years, humans will once again rebel against God (we're consistent aren't we!), led by Satan who will have been released for a short while. This time everything will be once and for all wrapped up, judged, and done away with, and all evil will be taken out of the picture permanently.
Jesus gives a number of 'signs' for us to look out for which indicate the first part of the end will be coming soon.
You are partially right in saying the world has been through similar things during the past centuries. But what is different now is these things are happening on a world wide scale never before seen or experienced. Having said that, however, we haven't yet seen anything like what the future will be just before the return of Jesus.
Pulling together various bits and pieces from different Scriptures show, for example, that some 3/4 of the world's population will be killed just before his return. Now we are nowhere near any disaster of such magnitude as yet. But a lot can happen very quickly I guess.
Scholars say that there are now no more Bible prophecies that need to be fulfilled before Jesus can return, so he could start the wrap up anytime.
If my Sunday message turns out OK, I will put it on the resources>audio page, so have a look early next week for it. If I mess it up, of course, I won't be loading it up at all!
Lord bless.
How did you guess I'm preaching on some of this subject come Sunday!
There is no way I can adequately answer all the questions within your question, sorry. But lets look at one or two things.
The end, as taught in the Bible, has two parts. The first part is to do with the return of Jesus. He does a number of times during this return, one of which is to establish his rule on earth. This rule will last a thousand years, during which time Satan will be locked away, as you have mentioned.
After a thousand years, humans will once again rebel against God (we're consistent aren't we!), led by Satan who will have been released for a short while. This time everything will be once and for all wrapped up, judged, and done away with, and all evil will be taken out of the picture permanently.
Jesus gives a number of 'signs' for us to look out for which indicate the first part of the end will be coming soon.
You are partially right in saying the world has been through similar things during the past centuries. But what is different now is these things are happening on a world wide scale never before seen or experienced. Having said that, however, we haven't yet seen anything like what the future will be just before the return of Jesus.
Pulling together various bits and pieces from different Scriptures show, for example, that some 3/4 of the world's population will be killed just before his return. Now we are nowhere near any disaster of such magnitude as yet. But a lot can happen very quickly I guess.
Scholars say that there are now no more Bible prophecies that need to be fulfilled before Jesus can return, so he could start the wrap up anytime.
If my Sunday message turns out OK, I will put it on the resources>audio page, so have a look early next week for it. If I mess it up, of course, I won't be loading it up at all!
Lord bless.
kiwikid (guest)
21 Oct 2009
Posts:
Hi Terry, what I am having trouble with, is that if satan is going to be locked up for a thousand years, do we not have at least a thousand years of grace? I don't see how scholars can say that there are no more prophecies that need to be fulfilled before Jesus can return. As satan has not been locked up yet we could have another thousand years at least. Maybe the world will come around in that time.
Hi kiwikid,
I don't know how the 'experts' decide what is prophecy and what isn't.
I could, for example, make two predictions about you: 1. Tomorrow you will be still breathing, and 2. tomorrow you won't be still breathing.
Both these statements are predictions, but only one will be right. I could hardly claim either to be prophetic.
In all the lists of prophecies I have read about, I have never seen listed the one about Satan being locked up. So I guess somehow it is outside the guidelines of what qualifies as a prophecy.
To refer to your suggestion about grace being available for another 1,000 years - no it won't. The age of God's grace will finish at the 1st return of Jesus. From then on, the world will be ruled with a 'rod of iron'. Revelation 19:15 is, I think, the reference for this.
God would love the whole world to come around, as you wondered. This is, why he is waiting so long to wrap it up. The Bible teaches that he doesn't want anyone to go to Hell. But he will not wait for ever. He has 'set a day' when he will judge the world. That day has to arrive sometime, and many believe that sometime is real soon.
I don't know how the 'experts' decide what is prophecy and what isn't.
I could, for example, make two predictions about you: 1. Tomorrow you will be still breathing, and 2. tomorrow you won't be still breathing.
Both these statements are predictions, but only one will be right. I could hardly claim either to be prophetic.
In all the lists of prophecies I have read about, I have never seen listed the one about Satan being locked up. So I guess somehow it is outside the guidelines of what qualifies as a prophecy.
To refer to your suggestion about grace being available for another 1,000 years - no it won't. The age of God's grace will finish at the 1st return of Jesus. From then on, the world will be ruled with a 'rod of iron'. Revelation 19:15 is, I think, the reference for this.
God would love the whole world to come around, as you wondered. This is, why he is waiting so long to wrap it up. The Bible teaches that he doesn't want anyone to go to Hell. But he will not wait for ever. He has 'set a day' when he will judge the world. That day has to arrive sometime, and many believe that sometime is real soon.
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