The End Times, According to the Gospel

 

I was raised in Roman Catholicism. I remember a mantra that was always part of the liturgy of their mass that would be repeated, especially around Easter time, it went like this; 'Christ has died, Christ has risen, Christ will come again'. They even sang it during the 'high' mass. This they call the 'Mystery of Faith' and is the summation of their "gospel" message.

While the statement is all truth about faith in Jesus Christ, it is lacking in the fullness of the gospel message, and actually leaves out a very important part. 

While no one of the Faith can argue that 'Christ has died'- of course meaning Jesus died at the cross for our sins- this is well understood and believed by the saved. And, no one of the Faith would argue either that 'Christ has risen'- meaning Jesus rose from the dead on the 3rd day and made the way for our salvation, also believed by the faithful. But the final part of the mantra 'Christ will come again' suddenly falls short of the fullness of the message Jesus gave to his Apostles, who in turn have given it to us.

Of course, no Christian of true faith would argue either that Jesus is coming again, yes he is, but it is not a singular event like his death and his resurrection were, no, this is a 2 part event and to leave one out is actually the preaching of a false gospel! This is where most who profess Faith in Jesus Christ fall short, and actually do not fully understand what the Scripture teaches about his return, or the end times, at least not in the order that he has proclaimed in his complete gospel message.

First, before sharing the scriptures that speak of a 2 part coming of our Lord, I must first emphasize what is meant by the word 'gospel'. In the New Testament it is the Greek word 'euangelion' which is defined as 'good tidings' or 'the glad tidings of salvation through Christ'.  Webster's defines it as 'the message concerning Christ, the kingdom of God, and salvation.' 

Traditionally, Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John have been called the 'Gospels' (note the capital G) and that is a truth, but all the writings of the New Testament are actually also the 'gospel' message and cannot be left out of consideration as applying them to the teachings of Jesus Christ. It is important to note that the word 'gospel' found in the New Testament is never capitalized, it was later capitalized when referring to the first 4 books of the NT after they were considered as the 'Gospel of Matthew...' etc.

We must understand that when Jesus told his disciples to "wait for the Holy Spirit to come and he will remind you of everything I have taught you" (Acts 1:4-5) he was speaking to all of them, which would also include the writings of Peter, James, the other letters by John, and also the book of Acts. Paul actually wrote the majority of NT letters and these also count as 'gospel' (by definition) because he too was taught directly by Jesus, just at a later time after his resurrection and ascension. Jesus expounded upon and clarified some truths to Paul that he taught his disciples during his ministry on the Earth, and Paul also referred to his writings as the 'gospel'. (Galatians 1:11-12) I will clarify more on this in a bit.

Getting to the 2 part teachings on the second coming, I will start with where Jesus introduced this to his disciples during his Earthly ministry. In the book of Matthew, chapter 24, Jesus was with his disciples up on the Mount of Olives overlooking the Temple mount and they asked him "...what will be the sign of your coming, and of the end of the age?" It is important to note here that Jesus was speaking to full, practicing Jewish men here. Yes, they were his followers, but they did not understand fully what Jesus intended for 'his Church', and would not fully be part of it until after he died, rose again, and they were filled by the Holy Spirit. So this teaching both then, and now, is given for instruction to the Jew. Certainly we all are expected to understand it, and learn from it, but it is one of those times where Jesus is speaking to the generation currently listening to him, and also to a future generation to come.

He started his answer by saying this; "See that no one misleads you." I think it is important to stop here and examine why he said this immediately before actually answering their question. Jesus wanted to really get their attention focused on what he was about to tell them, and understand that, down the road, there will be men who will come and propose a different, or incomplete assessment of his answer to their question. Therefore, we too, as followers of Jesus and NT disciples of his Word need to also 'see that no one misleads us' and read and understand his words carefully.

First he directly answered their question about all the 'signs' of his coming as it relates to the approaching end of the age. This would be known as 'His second coming' or his second 'return to Earth'. He starts out by giving them a general statement about what actually will be going on prior to the time in which he will then return. (Mt. 24:5-14) This can apply from the time he physically ascended into heaven (later on) right up until today. So yes, this stuff has been gong on for many, many years! He in no way could have been speaking to them as if these things would only happen in their time and THEY themselves would physically see these things happen, but wanted them to understand that one day these will all culminate as 'the signs' leading up to his return. 

Then starting in verse 15 of chapter 24, Matthew records that Jesus now gets very specific with the details so they (future generations of Jewish men, like themselves) would know when the time is at hand, or is very close. Read verses 15 through 31 and you get the distinct indication that the entire world would be able to see, feel and know these things are happening. You could follow each step, or event as it is written and recorded here, and very easily determine that Jesus is about to return. You would be, as a believer, expecting it, even begging and pleading for it! 

Jesus started out the details speaking about the 'ABOMINATION OF DESOLATION' spoken of through Daniel the OT Prophet (Daniel 9:27), which is referring to the Anti-Christ defiling the (3rd) Jewish Temple at the mid point of this 7 year tribulation period, and Matthew emphasized in verse 15 this > (let the reader understand). We are supposed to understand that this was prophesied to happen years before Jesus came the first time, and still holds true even now being a couple thousand years after he ascended. There are some out there that believe Nero's destruction of the 2nd Temple in 70AD fulfilled this prophesy, but it cannot be because none of the signs following this have taken place, yet. Also, Jesus said the tribulation of this time period would be 'such as the world has never seen before' (v21), but Israel was destroyed as a nation and their 1st Temple ransacked, destroyed and abominated, so how can Jesus be referring to the 2nd Temple when the Jews already knew of such destruction? This theory holds no water. There are many more specific details here, and I will touch on them in a bit.

This brings us to the second part of his teaching of his return, which actually is the first part of his actual return (or phase of the end times), but here in this account by Matthew, Jesus does a 'flash-back' to the 'flash-forward' he just told them. Why did he do this? I think it is quite simple, and a very common way to teach on a topic if you want the listener to pay attention, and then find the answers that they were hoping to find. Jesus understood that what he was telling them would be quite shocking, almost unbelievable, remember, he was not yet their 'Savior' and 'Lord'. They were his followers, yes, but he sill had not been crucified and resurrected, and he knew they still faced rejecting him, and still had yet to fully understand who he was (is). He understood that they needed to know, after hearing about this very devastating event coming in the future, that there was a way to avoid this 'great tribulation that has not ever been seen by any man' and 'if not cut short by his return, no life would be spared'. 

In verse 32 he starts out with the parable of the fig tree. This is a whole other topic that can be expounded upon with much detail, but I will not be getting into that here, other than to say that the fig tree represents Israel, and more specifically the 'awakening' or 'rebirth' of Israel. We know from recent history, this happened in May of 1948 when Israel, after being scattered as a nation for many centuries, the UN passed a resolution allowing Israel to be a sovereign nation, and the Jewish people, in part, could return to their nation from all over the world. This was the first sign he told them to pay attention to, specifically. 

In verse 34 he said, speaking to his Jewish followers, "Truly I say to you, this generation will not pass away until ALL these things take place". Some have taken this to mean that the disciples generation would not pass away, but that is not at all what he was saying, it could not be. Why? Well for one, they never saw 'destruction that no man had ever seen before', they never saw the sun darken or moon stop reflecting light and stars fall out of the sky, nor was it ever recorded in any history books or religious books of any kind that the SON OF MAN appeared in the sky where all people, all around the globe, saw him. That has not yet EVER happened and it is some 2000 years later! So what generation of Jews was Jesus talking about? It's very clear, it is the generation that sees Israel become reborn into a nation again, remember he is specifically speaking to the Jews here in this chapter. There are still Jews alive today that saw this actually happen, or were born around the time when it happened, so we are nearing the end of that generation, but not quite yet. Remember, this generation (of Jews) must see ALL these signs take place before he physically returns back to Earth.

Now, from verse 36 to the end of chapter 24 in Matthew, this is where Jesus teaches his disciples about the first part of his 'second coming' which is his return for his Church (not Israel or the non-Messianic Jew), what is commonly referred to as the Rapture, or 'taking away of the (Church) Saints'. I will later in this article get into where the Apostle Paul expounds on this more clearly, as he was taught by Jesus himself, as I mentioned. Clearly here in these verses Jesus is describing a time that seems 'normal', where men and women are going about their days unaware anything is coming. Buying, selling, marrying, celebrating etc. until suddenly, without any warning, people (meaning those of the faith, the true followers of Jesus Christ) will be suddenly taken away, snatched up if you will. 

He also made it very clear that nobody, including even himself, would know the day or the hour in which this would happen (notice he didn't say year or month? He kind of left that open ended wouldn't you say?). This is in very stark contrast to his previous explanation of his physical return, as he laid out many details of that time so that these two events could not possibly be misunderstood, yet they are by many! Does anyone honestly believe that when the sun has been darkened, the moon is gone, and stars are literally falling out of the sky to Earth that people are going to weddings, and to the stores and restaurants? They will be running to the caves and mountains just as Jesus said they would trying to avoid being obliterated! There are many more signs and details, and even prophesies in the book of Daniel and Revelations, that help us understand more details of the events of his second physical return to Earth. They even identify the very day it happens, so he cannot possibly be speaking about his return for his Church, or the Rapture. These are two separate, distinct events separated by a known length of time of a minimal of 7 years, likely more.

So, those are the recorded words of Jesus, written down by the Apostle Matthew as he was reminded of them by the Holy Spirit quite a few years after Jesus spoke them and ascended to the Father. His words throughout agree with the other NT gospel writers in doctrine, and each of them wrote their letters, or books as we know them, at different times, some separated by many years. Now I would like to get into the words of the Apostle Paul about the end times as he teaches what he has learned from the Lord, to clarify what Jesus initially taught his disciples while still on this Earth. As I mentioned above, Paul states in Galatians 1:11 that he was taught the gospel message specifically from the Lord, and was taught this BY NO MAN. 

In 1 Thessalonians Paul (with Silvanus and Timothy) is addressing the Church of the city of Thessalonica in his first letter to them. In the first chapter he speaks commendations to them on how their faith is known, not only in that city or region, but everywhere they have brought and shared his message (the gospel). Right at the end of that chapter he comforts them with these words "to wait for his (God's) Son from Heaven, whom he raised from the dead, that is Jesus, who recues us from the wrath to come." What wrath to come? Martyrdom? I don't think so, as by the time this letter was written, many many people of the faith and some Apostles were already martyred, so they would have questioned why didn't they get spared or rescued? Apparently they understood there would be a wrath of God poured out on mankind, one day, and it would be such a tribulation that men would tremble at the thought of it, lest they knew, by faith, they could be recused from it. Paul was reminding them of what he taught them earlier to comfort them, this should comfort us as well. 

They understood clearly what Paul was saying, though they thought this would happen in their lifetime, because they questioned why they would be rescued, but all the ones who came before them, who either died in the faith naturally or were martyred, what would happen to them? Up until this point, or the teachings of Paul that is to say, nobody knew of a bodily resurrection of the Saints, and Paul was about to teach them about this. In 1 Thes.4:13-18 Paul expounds to them on the resurrection of the past Saints when the 'taking up of the (living) Saints' occurs. He continues in chapter 5 and details how things will be at the time the Rapture does occur, which is exactly how Jesus described these times to his disciples in Mt. 24. Nobody will know the time, it will come as a thief, a complete surprise. Keep in mind, most scholars agree that Matthew wrote his gospel letter between 80-90AD, and Paul wrote this letter to the Thessalonians around 50AD. Paul was not copying information from Matthews letter, obviously, and the verses I shared in Matthew's letter are 'red letter' words, meaning the actual words of Jesus. Matthew did not borrow the concept from Paul's letters, Jesus taught it to both men separately.

Paul then writes a second letter to the Thessalonians because, as further proof they understood there will be a taking up of the Saints and a second coming of the Lord, they got confused and thought they missed them both by some wayward, false teachers that he warned them about. Reading in 2 Thes.2:2 Paul makes it clear that these brethren had received some sort of message or letter that was presented to them as "from Paul and Timothy" and it suggested that these things already occurred. Sound familiar? These same false teachers exist today and have caused equal confusion among the body of Christ. He then speaks of an apostasy, meaning a great falling away which Jesus also mentions in Mt.24:10-12, and the 'man of lawlessness' which is the same man Jesus referred to as 'the abomination of desolation'. Again, Paul's teachings and Jesus' words in perfect harmony, hard to deny the truth here.

So in conclusion, I wanted this article to bring to light two things. Number one, that a Rapture or a 'taking up of the Saints' is in fact an important part of the gospel message of Jesus Christ, and the second point, the fact that it is not just 'OK' to have your end times understanding twisted and confused by false teachers as if that cannot cause any harm. Most pastors and teachers out there today are quick to say that this is not a salvation issue, and I understand that is true for those who are the ones BEING confused or misled by the false teachers. However, I believe it can be a salvation issue (or better yet, an indication of error) for those who teach a doctrine opposite of what Jesus and his Apostles clearly taught us in Scriptures. Why? Because Gods Word is our gird, or our belt, if we don't have it secure, we will be unable to fight and will be unprepared for action and exposed to these or other false doctrines. His gospel message is our shoes, in the same way, if we don't have our shoes properly shod, we wont be able to go to battle when the terrain is rough and the way is difficult (slip/fall), meaning we wont be able to meet our goals or objectives.  Certainly we would need the whole armor of God, but I believe that the proper understanding of his Word is essential for any of the other elements of his armor to be effective. As a professed believer, what good would the helmet of salvation do if you thought you could earn salvation on your own? What good would the sword of the Spirit do if you did not believe the Spirit is your strength? What good would the breastplate of righteousness do if you thought your own righteousness was good enough? I think you get the point. They all need to work together and agree with the Word for true salvation to even exist.

Put on the whole armor of God. Believe what his Word teaches us. For those who are saved, we have hope, and that hope is not in our salvation, because that has been given to us already through our faith. Our hope is in his coming, and his rescuing of us from what is to come. It is not an escape, it is a promise. Believe it, and accept it.

God Bless

Mark