My good friend took these verses very seriously as he is a true student of the Bible. But He found these verses to be at odds with what he has been taught and what the popular view is. So, as I asked him, I ask you, the reader, after reviewing these passages:
- Has Jesus come on the clouds within His generation, as He said He would, to His disciples, the Jewish council and to the readers of the Book of Revelation?
- Are we in the kingdom yet? John told his readers they were made to be a kingdom.
- In general, how are we to interpret the Bible? Read it for what it says, take these verses and interpret in a literal sense? We did!
- What do we do when our theology/eschatology does not match what Jesus said? Change what Jesus said or study His Word and bring our eschatology in line with what He said?
- Most importantly: Is Jesus a Liar, Lunatic or Lord? We all know this answer. But the popular view of eschatology today may be in conflict with what Jesus says.
- How many times must Jesus say it for us to believe it? There are many other passages that point to a different conclusion than what most of us have been taught.
Be a Berean and study the Word!
Paul R. Lopez is a longtime educator, coach, and student of the Word. Because he, too, was raised to believe the popular view of eschatology, he welcomes your questions or comments.
