Hi ERIC,
hERICtic writes:
You didnt answer the question. You threw out a ton of info, but actually avoided the question. You gave what the signs are, but not what their purpose is.
But I did give you the answer.
You asked what is the purpose of the foretold events (signs).
I said " His Church warning them of things to come and how they could avoid problems and loss of rewards."
Your answer was "To let his disciples know when when the end times are to occur and when Jesus is returning."
No man not even the angels know when Jesus is going to return.
Mat 24:36 But of that day and hour knoweth no [man], no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only.
We can not know the day or the hour. We can get close if we are there by knowing what is happening. But the purpose is for us to be ready. There will be those who are asleep and will miss out on many rewards.
hERICtic writes:
Luke proceeds to describe the desolation: Luke 21: When you see Jerusalem being surrounded by armies, you will know that its desolation is near.
This occured in 70ad. Do you agree?
I agree that Luke was talking about the destruction of the Temple in that took place in 70 AD.
Luke 21:6 As for these things which ye behold, the days will come, in the which there shall not be left one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down.
21:7 And they asked him, saying, Master, but when shall these things be? and what sign will there be when these things shall come to pass?
Luke only addressed the first question he did not even record the other two question. He did record some of the things pertaining to the other two questions. But his main attention was the destruction of the Temple and the Jews being scattered over the entire earth. Many being killed, made slaves, and the city would be trodden down until the time of the Gentiles be fulfilled.
We are almost at that point today.
Luke does not mention the desolation spoken of by Daniel the prophet. Nor did he address the return of Jesus or the end of the world.
The first question the disciples asked was, when shall these things be?
Matthew did not record the answer to this question as he was always more concerned with the kingdom.
The second question was, "what shall be the sign of thy coming"?
The third question was, "what shall be the sign of the end of the world?
There is no question concerning the end times.
hERICtic writes:
But let me rephrase. Are the end times a one time event? Yes, it may take a certain amount of time, but is it an event that will occur one time? After this event, will Jesus return?
If there is such a thing as the end times they began when God created mankind in the image/likeness of God in Genesis 1:27. They will end when this universe melts with fervent heat and God creates a New Heaven and a New Earth. The amount of time passed would be like a pinpoint on a circle that goes around the universe if that circle represented eternity.
We think of that time as being a long time but to God it is all now.
jERICtic writes:
They are related. The end times are to occur, followed by the return of Jesus. So you're talking semantics here.
The end of time and Jesus return is at least a thousand years apart plus the time allowed for Satan to go out for his little season and deceive the nations to go up to Jerusalem to destroy it.
The end of time does not come until the Heavens and the Earth melt with fervent heat.
2 Peter 3:10 But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.
3:11 Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness,
3:12 Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat?
3:13 Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.
hERICtic writes:
Also, can you please show me where Jesus tells his disciples that they are his bride/church prior to Matthew 24.
Jesus never call the disciples his bride/church.
Church Greek word ekklsia means 1) a gathering of citizens called out from their homes into some public place, an assembly
So when Jesus called Andrew and Peter to come follow Him and He would make them fishers of men He had established His Church and it was with Him.
John the Baptist is the only one that refers to the disciples as the bride/church. He talks about Jesus having the bride and all he had was his called out disciples, which constituted a church.
Jhn 3:29 He that hath the bride is the bridegroom: but the friend of the bridegroom, which standeth and heareth him, rejoiceth greatly because of the bridegroom's voice: this my joy therefore is fulfilled.
I do tend to get long winded.
God Bless,
"John 5:39 (KJS) Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me."
™ Version 4.2
