Communion With the Christ:: The End is at Hand

"From the earliest times in Christian history there have been those who were convinced that they were, or are, living in the last days. Some Christians anticipated that our Lord Jesus Christ would return during the life time of the Apostle St John."

In the first century Christian Church many viewed the conditions which they were facing as evidence that the end of the world was at hand.

In the early church there was a belief that the Apostle St. John would be alive when Jesus would return and extend the rule of God over all things. This view was circulated around the church and was based on an exchange which St. Peter had with the risen Jesus there on the shore of the Sea of Galilee

"Peter turned and saw that the disciple whom Jesus loved was following them. (This was the one who had leaned back against Jesus at the supper and had said, “Lord, who is going to betray you?”) When Peter saw him, he asked, “Lord, what about him?”

Jesus answered, “If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you? You must follow me.” Because of this, the rumor spread among the believers that this disciple would not die. But Jesus did not say that he would not die; he only said, “If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you?” Jhn: 21:20-23

John Saw Coming & Died

Some believe that in one sense St. John did see our Lord's coming as he was moved to pen the Book of Revelation in the 90s AD. St. John sees and interacts with the living Lord Jesus Christ through the Holy Spirit as he was in exile on the Island of Patmos in the Aegean Sea.

"Behold, he comes 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." Rev: 1:7

"And I turned to see the voice that spoke with me. And being turned, I saw seven golden candlesticks; And in the middle of the seven candlesticks one like to the Son of man, clothed with a garment down to the foot, and girt about the breasts with a golden girdle. His head and his hairs were white like wool, as white as snow; and his eyes were as a flame of fire; And his feet like to fine brass, as if they burned in a furnace; and his voice as the sound of many waters. And he had in his right hand seven stars: and out of his mouth went a sharp two-edged sword: and his countenance was as the sun shines in his strength". (12-16)

St. John sees Jesus at the onset of the Book, and again at the very end in Revelation: 19. St. John has long died and Jesus has not yet descended from the Havens in the way that Christians have traditionally believed that He would.

Trend of History

In the Olivet prophecy, found in the synoptic Gospels, Matthew:24, Mark:13 and Luke:21, which was given by our Lord Jesus himself and reveals to us the general trends and conditions of human history from that time until the end of human civilization.

The stream of human history is filled with religious and spiritual deception, wars, natural upheavals, famine, epidemics and more. Each of these ebbs and flows gathering moment and then reseeding and then again gathers intensity as the years go by resulting in conditions that, if God would not send his Son humanity would destroy themselves.

The End Time

Are we living in the "End Time”? the answer is yes, we are. Do we know how long that time will be?..no we do not know. What we do know is, that we are in the "general time period" of "the end". We do not know how long it will be nor is there an undiscovered code within Scripture that will allow us to pin point when our Lord will return. What we can know is that Jesus will return and the world will end, that is, human misrule under the deceptive sway of satan will terminate at some point in the future.

Predictions made by different ministers many times come with books, CDs, DVDs and others items described as "vital" for the believer's understanding, which as you obtain them it becomes apparent that they are designed to offer you even more books, CDs DVDs and others items which again offer more items all "vital to your understanding" and again more items that you need to buy; you might say that the end of the world sells.

Every time a "time frame" is presented that Jesus will return within, he does not come. Often dates are picked or strongly hinted at, often these dates revolve around the Holy days found under the Old Covenant.

Others believe that there is a cryptic encoded message hidden within the Bible itself that will enable you to determine when Jesus will come.

Even in recent decades predictions have been made, the dates come and are gone, yet , those who make them and their followers never seem not to notice. New dates are figured and predictions are updated and again, Jesus does not come.

Often this habit of predictions gathers some attention, and when the prediction fail, then skepticism in the Christian message increases and gives the enemies of Christianity ammunition to denounce us, not for a message about our Lord, but for failed predictions.

We need to stay riveted upon Jesus not events. It’s important that we understand the times, but it’s even more important to know Jesus. In many ways the Kingdom of God has come already in the person of Jesus and through the Holy Spirit into the lives of Christians around the world.

Some have made ministries dedicated to the study of prophecy, yet, their spiritual conditions are, in some cases, stunted. Rather than preaching that the "end is at hand" let us boldly preach Jesus that he has come, is come and, yes will come.

This is the ultimate fulfillment of prophecy and the whole point of the Apostolic Church message. Jesus was and is the message, who he is, and all that he has and will do. The Christian message should be a "person message" about Jesus not an "event message" about destruction. When Jesus is preached prophecy is being fulfilled.

"for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy" . Rev:19:10c

If you do not join in the prediction of "end time" events often you are accused of "not believing the Bible" or as some will retort that those who do not join in are "scoffers" such as the Apostle St. Peter says would arise in "the last days".

"Above all, you must understand that in the last days scoffers will come, scoffing and following their own evil desires. They will say, “Where is this ‘coming’ he promised? Ever since our ancestors died, everything goes on as it has since the beginning of creation.” 2Pet:3:3-4

Those who make such charges often do so as a ploy, I suspect in an attempt to force others to go-along with them or appear to be a "scoffer".

I knew a man in one of the churches which I had pastored, this man made bold "predictions" of things that he had confidently affirmed would come to pass, he even had dates set that he "knew things were going to happen on". The dates came and went.

This man never got over that he had been wrong, he sat forlorn looking at is feet, his hopes dashed, "events" did not play out as he predicted. He never was the same again.

This constant preoccupation with "end time" events however has one effect that those who delve into them may not realize.

When we focus on events we are not focused on our Lord. When we make our mission to proclaim events we diminish our Lord Jesus down to a mere participant in those events.

All forms of legalism, whatever the type, arises from either a diminishing of the person of Jesus or a distortion of who Jesus is. When we lose sight of Jesus' full humanity or full deity then we have to compensate for it through something done on the believers' part. In every case where there is a form of legalism there is a diminishing or distortion of who Jesus is in some way.

The Great Disappointment

In America, during the 1800s a man named Col. William Miller became interested in prophecy. Col. Miller was a good and sincere Christian; he came to believe that he could by studying the Scripture know when Jesus would return. Col. Miller arrived at a date; he shared his findings with others they became convinced that Jesus' return was at hand.

Col. Miller and his followers, called Millerites, waited, some having sold homes and lands believing that they would no longer need such things. The date came and went, and Jesus did not return, many were crushed and dishearten.

Col. Miller returned to his calculations. Col. Miller did his calculations again and he came to believe that Jesus would return the following year. One year later Jesus did not return. This episode in American church history became known as the Great Disappointment.

Again, let me say that YES! we are in the "general time" of "the end", but we do not know how long that time will be, it could be ten years or one hundred and ten. So when did the "end time" begin?

"And it shall come to pass in the last days, said God, I will pour out of my Spirit on all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams:" Acts:2:17

St. Peter quotes the Prophet Joel's prophecy regarding the "last days". St. Peter interprets the day of Pentecost, approximately 33 AD, as the start of the "last days”. If that be true, then "the end" is transpiring all around us and has been for the last two thousand years, we can witness all that Jesus spoke of taking place around us. This is sometimes called the Inaugurated Eschatology, which means that, through the Apocalyptic events surrounding the life death and resurrection of Jesus and the manifestation of the Holy Spirit, the Kingdom of God has come into the lives of Christians, and in a very real sense the world as a whole, and is here and now not just some day.

When we look out at a world in disorder, we should not allow this to eclipse our view of our Lord, all the more our voices should raise all the louder that Jesus is Lord that he is God's uniquely born Son the one and only Savior of humanity. This should be our message in all and every time, all about Jesus all the time, not events, not even "end time" events.

No Need to Fear

From speaking to many believers who are intensely interested in "the end”, it seems that eventually what comes out is fear! They are afraid that if they do not "pay attention" to what is going on they will get caught up in it, or they will not have "done enough" to be found "good enough" to escape, yet, our Lord Jesus tells us not to be afraid. Jesus tells his disciples, and to we today.

"I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But do not be afraid for I have defeated the world.” Jhn: 16:33

And to the aged Apostle St. John on Patmos in the Aegean Sea while under house arrest for preaching about Jesus around 90-95 AD.

“Do not be afraid." Rev: 1:17c

Christians do not have to fear, not even the "end of the world”, our Lord is with us in all and every time, even the "end time”.

I have heard ministers even admit fear at the prospects of facing "the end" of the world. It is true that the closing years of human civilization will be difficult, yet our Lord can and will see His people through them. The most often repeated admonition in all Scripture is "do not be afraid”.

In Jesus, our God has accomplished the salvation of any who will but freely receive it. Jesus has won the victory over all that would or could keep us from experiencing this salvation. Even the devil is defeated, and he knows it. Jesus did this through the incarnation and his death for us all.Satan and even death have been conquered.

"For as much then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil; And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage" Heb:2:14-15

Victory

Through Jesus the fallen world and its unseen rulers are already defeated and victory over the world is ours already, not just someday, but ours now, today! For the Christian, when we came to believe in Jesus, we experience this victory that is already ours in our Lord. For us, the world has ended in Jesus. What we are witnessing in the world around us, is the outworking of the world's defeat which Jesus has already wrought on our behalf.

"But thanks be to God, which gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ" 1Cor:15:57

Even now, we Christians walk as citizen of his kingdom, not just some day.

"Who has delivered us from the power of darkness, and has translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son:" Col:1:13

The reality that we now are under the rule of our God should inspire us to walk in a way that bring glory to our Lord and points others to Jesus not to "events".

"That you would walk worthy of God, who has called you to his kingdom and glory." 1Thess:2:12

What Do We Know?

Again, yes, the world will end, human history will conclude, Jesus Christ will personally come again descending from the heavens in great glory. There are moments under human misrule in which we live when the "end" seems to be very close at hand, and other times when it does not, it ebbs and flows.

What can we know regarding these things? We can know that we are in the "general season of the end”, that this " general season" will be characterized by difficult times. Lk: 21:30-31. There will be, and is, deception spiritually, politically, educationally and many others ways. Matt: 24:4-8. Mk: 13:29.

There will be wars, natural disasters of every sort. The challenges for humanity will intensify. Social problems will increase, humanity will become more harden and selfish looking more to the gratification of the flesh.

There Will Always be a Nero

Being confronted with these challenges will lead humanity to look to itself, and to a "personality" which will emerge at the end of human history, for answers. Reve:13.

Many early Christians believed that this "personality" would be the Emperor Nero returned from the deadly wound of assassination. This belief was circulating with in the church even in the 400s AD. St. Augustine of Hippo wrote of this anticipation of Nero's return among some Christians especially in the eastern churches.

This belief was known as the Nero Redivivus (Again) Legend. The legend of Nero's return lasted for hundreds of years after Nero's death, even Augustine wrote as late as the 400's AD that there were Christians who believed in the Nero Again theory.

Yet, this "personality”, this "Nero" of the years ahead, whom much of humanity will look to for answers, will bring only more tyranny and suffering increasing the severity of humanities problems with increased conflicts and power struggles, until, if our Lord does not intervene, humanity, for which the Son of God gave himself, would be destroyed.

Jesus Christ will return from the heavens and the rule of God will extend over all things and there will finally be peace. Rev: 19:11

Nero Impostors

The civil war during the "Year of Four Emperors" in 69AD, was described by some ancient historians as a troubling period. Tacitus, attributed this instability was due to the fact that emperors could no longer rely on the legitimacy of the imperial bloodline, as Nero and those before him did.

Galba's short reign began with the execution of many who were allies of Nero and any possible future enemies. One was Nymphidiue Sabinus who laid claimed to be the son of emperor Caligula.

Otho overthrew Galba. Otho was said to be liked by many legionnaires because he had been an ally of Nero's and looked like him and was somewhat like Nero in temperament. It had been reported that the common Roman hailed Otho as Nero himself. Otho assumed Nero as a surname and made many statues to Nero.

Vitelius overthrew Otho. Vitellius began his time of rule with a funeral of much fanfare for Nero complete with songs composed by Nero himself.

After Nero's suicide, or assassination, in 68 AD, there was a widespread belief, especially in the eastern provinces of the Roman Empire that Nero was not really dead and somehow would return.

At least three Nero importers emerged leading rebellions. The first, who sang and played the cithara or lyre and whose face was similar to that of the dead emperor, appeared in 69 AD during the reign of Vitellius. After persuading some to recognize him, he was captured and executed.

Sometime during the reign of Titus around 79–81 AD there was another impostor who appeared in Asia and also sang to the accompaniment of the lyre and looked like Nero as well, but he too, was killed. Twenty years after Nero's death, during the reign of Domitian there was a third pretender who was supported by the Parthians.

There is, and always will be a "Nero" who is claiming to be able to bring what only our Lord Jesus can.

Nearer Then Yesterday.

So, as to the timing of "the end", in one sense the "end" has come for those who believe, but for the world at large, these things are yet to play out; as to when? we do not know, and if one asserts to know the day we can only refer you to the words of our Lord.

"But of that day and hour knows no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only." Matt: 24:36

But there is also this reassurance, of the coming of our Lord Jesus and the end of human misrule is " nearer than when we believed." Rom: 13:11

The coming of Lord is near at hand therefore we should go forth with godly confidence and preach the message about our Lord Jesus Christ and all that God has done for each and all who will but freely receive it.

The Apostles themselves asked about the "end”, they and we are naturally curious about such things, but Jesus directed them, and we, to our primary mission which is telling others everywhere about Jesus, regardless of what takes place in the world around us.

"Then they gathered around him and asked him, “Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?”

"He said to them: “It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” Acts: 1:6-8

Our Lord Jesus' coming is at hand and the end is come.

Benediction: May we each and all ever have our eyes upon our Lord Jesus regardless of what takes place in the world around us, today, tomorrow and forevermore. Amen.