Barnabas

[RandyK]

This is just for your interest--unknown author. I don't know who "Barnabas" was.
From "The Epistle of Barnabas," written sometime between 70 AD and 132 AD. He enjoys comparing Israel under the Law with truth for the Christian Church.

And in another place he says: "If my sons guard the Sabbath, then I will bestow my mercy upon them." He speaks of the Sabbath at the beginning of the creation. "And God made the works of his hands in six days, and finished on the seventh day, and rested on it, and sanctified it." Observe, children, what "he finished in six days" means. It means this: that in six thousand years the Lord will bring everything to an end, for with him a day signifies a thousand years. And he himself bears me witness when he says, "Behold, the day of the Lord will be as a thousand years." Therefore, children, in six days--that is, in six thousand years--everything will be brought to an end. "And he rested on the seventh day." This means: when his Son comes, he will destroy the time of the lawless one and will judge the ungodly and will change the sun and the moon and the stars, and then he will truly rest on the seventh day.

Interesting huh? This guy has the timing of the Lord at the very least pretty close! It is also done reflecting a Postrib viewpoint, which in my opinion was the predominant early position in the Church. There was no thought that Christ would come "at any time" in this message!

 

[for_his_glory]

This is just for your interest--unknown author. I don't know who "Barnabas" was.
From "The Epistle of Barnabas," written sometime between 70 AD and 132 AD. He enjoys comparing Israel under the Law with truth for the Christian Church.

And in another place he says: "If my sons guard the Sabbath, then I will bestow my mercy upon them." He speaks of the Sabbath at the beginning of the creation. "And God made the works of his hands in six days, and finished on the seventh day, and rested on it, and sanctified it." Observe, children, what "he finished in six days" means. It means this: that in six thousand years the Lord will bring everything to an end, for with him a day signifies a thousand years. And he himself bears me witness when he says, "Behold, the day of the Lord will be as a thousand years." Therefore, children, in six days--that is, in six thousand years--everything will be brought to an end. "And he rested on the seventh day." This means: when his Son comes, he will destroy the time of the lawless one and will judge the ungodly and will change the sun and the moon and the stars, and then he will truly rest on the seventh day.

Interesting huh? This guy has the timing of the Lord at the very least pretty close! It is also done reflecting a Postrib viewpoint, which in my opinion was the predominant early position in the Church. There was no thought that Christ would come "at any time" in this message!

No one knows when Christ will return as only God knows when the time is perfect so for now we just need to be prepared before Jesus returns for His Bride.

Mat 24:36 But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only.
Mat 24:37 But as the days of Noe were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.
Mat 24:38 For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark,
Mat 24:39 And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.

Jesus did give us what to watch for

Mat 24:29 Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken:
Mat 24:30 And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.
Mat 24:31 And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.

 

[for_his_glory]

I don't know who "Barnabas" was.

Barnabas - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

 

[RandyK]

No one knows when Christ will return as only God knows when the time is perfect so for now we just need to be prepared before Jesus returns for His Bride.

We are in fact prepared now and every day until Christ returns, assuming we're already saved and living for Jesus each day. It is not being prepared in fear that he might arrive at any moment, but rather, just remaining vigilant against anything that may distract us from expectation that he is, in fact, coming.

Jesus did give us what to watch for

Mat 24:29 Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken:
Mat 24:30 And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.
Mat 24:31 And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.

Jesus told us to watch out for distractions and false Christs who would divert us from living loyally for him. We are not hoping to see him actually come from the clouds because Jesus surely realized that many Christians would die and not actually see his return.

We are not supposed to be counting days, or setting dates. We are rather told to be carrying out the mandate of the Gospel mission, which includes living for Jesus and participating in the advance of that message to all the world.

That is how we are to prepare for him, as the judge and jury over how well we've performed in this matter. It has nothing to do with trying to anticipate the specific moment of his return, even if some think that means we should expect him "at any moment." That is purely an exercise in vanity, or a distraction from our Kingdom business.

Any sort of alarmist expectation of his Coming leads to fanaticism and date-setting. There have been a number of them in history. Paul specifically warned the Thessalonians *not* to get alarmed over these kinds of sensationalist claims!

So we are expecting him to come to judge us for our deeds. Preparation, therefore, consists of getting saved, and then living by the principles of that coming Kingdom.

 

[RandyK]

Barnabas - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

I know who that Barnabas was. This is a different "Barnabas."

 

[for_his_glory]

Jesus told us to watch out for distractions and false Christs who would divert us from living loyally for him. We are not hoping to see him actually come from the clouds because Jesus surely realized that many Christians would die and not actually see his return.

1John 4:1 Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.
1John 4:2 Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God:
1John 4:3 And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world.
1John 4:4 Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.
1John 4:5 They are of the world: therefore speak they of the world, and the world heareth them.
1John 4:6 We are of God: he that knoweth God heareth us; he that is not of God heareth not us. Hereby know we the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error.

Act 1:9 And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight.
Act 1:10 And while they looked stedfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel;
Act 1:11 Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven.

Rev 1:7 Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen.

 

[RandyK]

1John 4:1 Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.
1John 4:2 Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God:
1John 4:3 And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world.
1John 4:4 Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.
1John 4:5 They are of the world: therefore speak they of the world, and the world heareth them.
1John 4:6 We are of God: he that knoweth God heareth us; he that is not of God heareth not us. Hereby know we the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error.

Act 1:9 And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight.
Act 1:10 And while they looked stedfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel;
Act 1:11 Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven.

Rev 1:7 Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen.

Yes, in this time before the Kingdom comes we have exactly one chance to get it right. We can always be ready, however, simply by choosing to walk in the Lord's Spirit.

How "every eye" will see him at his Coming is a matter for speculation. Perhaps dead and alive will see him?

 

[for_his_glory]

Preparation, therefore, consists of getting saved, and then living by the principles of that coming Kingdom.

Mat 24:13 But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.

If you take notice of this verse it says, he that shall endure (meaning all the trials, temptations and persecutions we face) unto the end (end of what, end of time) the same shall be saved (saved from being cast into the lake of fire).

Being prepared for the return of Christ is that of first being Spiritually born again from above and indwelled with the Holy Spirit, John 3:5-7; Romans 10:9-10. The we remain obedient to His commands as we learn of them, which love is the greatest one of all as we love others and help others like Jesus left for us to follow in, Matthew 25:35-37.

 

[RandyK]

Mat 24:13 But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.

If you take notice of this verse it says, he that shall endure (meaning all the trials, temptations and persecutions we face) unto the end (end of what, end of time) the same shall be saved (saved from being cast into the lake of fire).

Being prepared for the return of Christ is that of first being Spiritually born again from above and indwelled with the Holy Spirit, John 3:5-7; Romans 10:9-10. The we remain obedient to His commands as we learn of them, which love is the greatest one of all as we love others and help others like Jesus left for us to follow in, Matthew 25:35-37.

Yea, interesting thought! I personally think we can know we're saved right now. Those who truly believe in Jesus, following him with a whole heart, can know they're already saved. That is, they won't have to wait for the end to know they're saved.

But since many follow Jesus with reservations, we don't really know who all are really saved. We can best know them by their continuing endurance, whether that requires they last until the end of the age or die well before, it is their prevailing in faith and in Christian works that will make their salvation clear.

Anyway, that's how I view it.

 

[for_his_glory]

Yes, in this time before the Kingdom comes we have exactly one chance to get it right. We can always be ready, however, simply by choosing to walk in the Lord's Spirit.

How "every eye" will see him at his Coming is a matter for speculation. Perhaps dead and alive will see him?

Scripture says that every eye will see Jesus return, Rev 1:7, even those who pierced Him over 2000 years ago that are long dead in their grave. When Christ returns on the last day He will call forth all that are a sleep in the grave (not talking about soul sleep) and they will be raised up together those who are Christ own and those who rejected Him, but with two different judgements as per John 5:28-29 and John 6:40.