Christian Destinies

[Selah]

Revelation 19. The beasts, the kings of the earth and their armies are setup against... Jerusalem and Israel. Jesus returns just before what would be the final battle, and destroys them. Consider that if Jesus waited until all was fulfilled, then there would have been no life left on Earth as He said of the Great Tribulation in Matthew 24. That storyline would have been the armies gathering, then they attack and wipe out Israel/Jerusalem, and then Jesus returns and wipes them out. No life left. However, Jesus comes back before Satan can finish.

I’m not following. You say that “Jesus comes back before Satan can finish.” Can you clear that up a little? …can finish what exactly?

 

[Selah]

…because Revelation 11:3 outlines the last three and a half days before Jesus Christ's return, with the church still present, by the way. The two witnesses, clothed in sackcloth, will prophesy for God for the entire thousand two hundred and threescore days, warning mankind of their sins.

s e l a h

 

[mikesw]

I’m not following. You say that “Jesus comes back before Satan can finish.” Can you clear that up a little? …can finish what exactly?

I have a fundamental problem with that claim that Satan is controlling any outcomes. He might enter someone and influence a key person that, for example, leads many into battle. But we find in the prophets that the wars and turmoil were designated by God for judgment of the Israel people and of the surrounding nations. Even the Christians were to go through persecution as part of a refiner's fire for purification. So, whatever powers Satan is given, they are within the prophetic limits that God has given -- not something that is out of control and random. The scary part is how people think in a dualistic sense of two equal powers (God and then Satan) fighting it out to the end.
Edited in: Maybe Satan thinks he can act as a full opponent of God with equal abilities. But Christians should not agree with Satan's view of himself.

 

[Selah]

.

I have a fundamental problem with that claim that Satan is controlling any outcomes. He might enter someone and influence a key person that, for example, leads many into battle. But we find in the prophets that the wars and turmoil were designated by God for judgment of the Israel people and of the surrounding nations. Even the Christians were to go through persecution as part of a refiner's fire for purification. So, whatever powers Satan is given, they are within the prophetic limits that God has given -- not something that is out of control and random. The scary part is how people think in a dualistic sense of two equal powers (God and then Satan) fighting it out to the end.
Edited in: Maybe Satan thinks he can act as a full opponent of God with equal abilities. But Christians should not agree with Satan's view of himself.

Amen, Mike. God is in control of all these things that’ll be happening during these latter days when Satan comes pretending to be God. Well, Christians who have studied the book of Revelation will not be deceived by Satan’s antics because we have already been foretold by Jesus what’s going to happen. Satan’s going down, down, down, all the way down into the pit. This is the time when the saints (Christians) shine. …and our gospel armor will be shining, too. s e l a h

Revelation 19:11-16 (NKJV) 11 Now I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse. And He who sat on him [was] called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and makes war. 12 His eyes [were] like a flame of fire, and on His head [were] many crowns. He had a name written that no one knew except Himself. 13 He [was] clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God. 14 And the armies in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, followed Him on white horses. 15 Now out of His mouth goes a sharp sword, that with it He should strike the nations. And He Himself will rule them with a rod of iron. He Himself treads the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. 16 And He has on [His] robe and on His thigh a name written: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS.

 

[civic]

Do you think all scripture's mentions of an "end" refer to the same end? Do you think all mentions of "last days," or "last times" refer to the exact same event? When scripture states an end has occurred, do you think it is appropriate to read that text to mean the end is still ending?

1. Do you think all scripture's mentions of an "end" refer to the same end?
2. Do you think all mentions of "last days," or "last times" refer to the exact same event?
3. Do you think the phrases, "last days" and the "last times" are synonymous?
4. When scripture states an end has occurred, do you think it is appropriate to read that text to mean the end is still ending?

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the last days began with Jesus 1st coming and will reach its consummation at His 2nd Coming which is still future.

 

[mikesw]

Do you think all scripture's mentions of an "end" refer to the same end? Do you think all mentions of "last days," or "last times" refer to the exact same event? When scripture states an end has occurred, do you think it is appropriate to read that text to mean the end is still ending?

1. Do you think all scripture's mentions of an "end" refer to the same end?
2. Do you think all mentions of "last days," or "last times" refer to the exact same event?
3. Do you think the phrases, "last days" and the "last times" are synonymous?
4. When scripture states an end has occurred, do you think it is appropriate to read that text to mean the end is still ending?

.

I do not find much of anything of different ends, only a single end.

I do not find anything of last times except Jud 1:18. The last days would be the same events. We have terms like latter end and last days that appear to be the same.

Then on #4 the end is a specific moment not a continuing process. The latter days (Acts 2:17 reflecting on Joel 2:28-32) does reflect a period of time leading to the end of the Mosaic era.