Friday, January 13, 2023
Advent, JTB, Second coming, Elijah, Malachi etc…Notes
(Along with some new commentary
Remember that these were originally "notes"
for a presentation that was done a few years back.)
Advent, JTB, Second coming, Elijah, Malachi etc…
(From the "Encyclopedia of bible words")
I) Advent: Advent is a Christian season of preparation for the Nativity of Christ at Christmas. It is the beginning of the liturgical year in Western Christianity.
The name was adopted from Latin adventus "coming; arrival", translating Greek parousia. In the New Testament, this is the term used for the Second Coming of Christ. Thus, the season of Advent in the Christian calendar anticipates the "coming of Christ" from three different perspectives: the physical nativity in Bethlehem, the reception of Christ in the heart of the believer, and the eschatological Second Coming. (# ways, get it? 3? Holy trinity?
Joyful (sustained happiness) anticipation…like a child at Christmas…(Bridgette)
II) APPEARANCE OF JESUS: THE SECOND COMING (Encyclopedia of bible words)
The news that Jesus had to go away stunned the disciples. But Jesus immediately reassured them, "Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust too in me. In my Father's house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am" (John 14:1-3). These words of promise have brought comfort to generations of believers since the first century. Jesus lives. He is preparing a place for us. And when the time is right he will return for those who trust in him.
The promise of Jesus return is found In the early church's proclamation of the gospel (Acts 3:19-21) and the Epistles are aglow with excitement at the prospect of his appearing.
Acts 3:19-21
19 Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord. 20 And he shall send Jesus Christ, which before was preached unto you: 21 Whom the heaven must receive until the times of restitution of all things, which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began.
(Would seem to point to Enoch would it not?)
"all his holy prophets since the world began"
Jude 14
And Enoch also, the seventh from Adam,
prophesied of these, saying,
Behold, the Lord cometh with ten thousands of his saints,)
Why is he coming? Often Gets overlooked, three main reasons (Teacher seminary told students don’t preach on it or book Rev, watered down, diluted makes it not as effective…)
1. Coming to be present with us
2. Coming to intervene in history
3. Coming to unveil reality
4. Summary
A) Coming to be present with us. One of the Greek words associated with Jesus' second coming is parousia. The word means "presence" or "coming" and emphasizes both the idea of "being there" and the idea of "having come."
Paul uses the word in its everyday sense when he observes that some of the Corinthians say of him, "His letters are weighty and forceful, but in person [parousia tou somatos-"his bodily presence"] he is unimpressive" (2 Co 10:10). Parousia is sometimes used in a technical sense as the term for an official visit or the arrival of a person of high rank. But even then the word does not normally emphasize the person's arrival but the fact of that person's physical presence with those to whom he or she has come. (1 Corinthians 16:17; 2 Co 7:6,7; Php 2:12).
When parousia is used to describe the return of Jesus, our thoughts are directed to the fact that he will return in person and that his being with us will have a transforming impact on our lives.
Parousia is found four times in the Olivet Discourse (Mt 24:3,27,37,39). The context makes it clear that Jesus' initial appearing is intended, for the disciples asked how they would recognize the sign of his coming. Jesus explains that he will appear suddenly (v. 27), unexpectedly (v. 37), and with devastating impact on those who do not believe (v.39 the flood came and took them all away). Yet the emphasis in the total passage (Mt 24- 25) is not on the meaning of the second coming but on the fact that, until Jesus does come, we are to watch, committing ourselves to serve our absent Lord (cf. the four illustrations in Mt 24: 42-25:46).
The NT's basic passage on resurrection is 1 Co 15. "When he comes" (15:23 each in turn: Christ, the firstfruits; then, when he comes, those who belong to him), his appearance in person will initiate our own resurrection and mark the beginning of history's end. Jesus, our resurrected Lord, and savior, being here, he "must reign" and must destroy every competing authority. No enemy can stand in the overpowering presence of the glorified Son of God.
(It is what we are witnessing the start of:
"he "must reign"
and must destroy every competing authority.
Evil, Nations, Militaries, Political Leaders
every last bit of it, put your hope in those?
You will be devastatingly disappointed.)
First Thessalonians three times refers to Jesus coming as a parousia. Paul speaks of the joy he will know when he sees his dear converts standing in Jesus' presence when Jesus is again present with us (2:19). He asks God to strengthen the converts so they will be blameless and holy at that time (3:13). But it is in 4:13-18 that Paul unveils more of the exciting meaning for us of Jesus' return." Paul describes the resurrection of the believing dead and the transformation of those who are still alive when the trumpet of God (Not an angels) announces the return of Jesus. Caught up and transformed to meet the Lord in the air, "we will be with the Lord forever" to experience the joy of his presence.
Second Thessalonians corrects misunderstandings of the Thessalonian church, which was confused by the teaching of some that Jesus had already come (2:1- 2). Paul explains that Jesus will not appear in person until the Antichrist (called the "lawless one" here) has been clearly identified by his actions (2:3-12). Then Jesus will return and "by the splendor of his coming" (the splendor of Jesus personally being here) will destroy this satanically energized enemy.
James views Jesus' return in a different perspective. He observes the injustice and oppression experienced by God's people and calls for patience. When Jesus is personally present (5:7-8), the oppressed will experience a rich harvest of reward.
Peter speaks of the parousia three times in his epistles, He recalls his experience on the Mount of Transfiguration (Mt 17 Mk9, Lk 9), where he witnessed Jesus shining in the unveiled glory that will be seen at his coming, Peter exposes the foolishness of those who hold the physical universe and it’s laws are all there is to reality and of those who deride the promise of a personal appearance by Jesus (2 Pe 3:4)
For unbelievers Jesus promised presence holds out no hope, for they can expect only the certainty of cataclysmic judgement (2 Peter 3:5-7) For us who believe, however the prospect of Jesus return glows w hope. We are moved to live close to him “so that when he appears we shall be confidently and unashamed before him at his coming (1 Jn 2:28, 2 Pe 3:11).
Parousia, then, (1) emphasizes the fact that when Jesus appears again, he will come in person to be with us, and (2) it focuses our attention on the impact that Jesus' return will have on believers. We will be transformed at his coming to share the glory of his resurrection and to participate in the joy that comes when the world is at last set right. (He is coming to be with us…)
B Coming to intervene in history. The word epiphaneia (ep-if-an'-i-ah) means quite simply "appearing," or "appearance." As a religious term, it indicates a visible manifestation of a hidden deity, either in person or by some great act through which his presence is revealed. Jesus will come in a starburst of power, burning his image on the retinas of faithless, blinded humanity. The kindness and love of God have already appeared (Tit 2:11; 3:4), but our "blessed hope" is focused on the day when Jesus himself will appear in glory to all (Tit 2:13).
Titus makes the point that our experience of saving grace has taught us to reject ungodliness and worldly passions, for we have been redeemed from wickedness that we might be purified as God's own people (2:11-14). Having recognized the glory of God in Jesus' first coming, we have also seen the warped and twisted shape of a sin-filled world. But to those without faith, only the personal intervention of Jesus at his return will expose the corruption.
In 2 Th 2:8, Paul combines epiphancia (ep-if-an'-i-ah) and parousia in a most instructive way. He writes of the Antichrist, whom Jesus will overthrow and destroy "by the splendor [epiphaneia-flaming, visible manifestation of power) of his coming (parousia-personal presence]." The presence of Jesus, which means comfort and joy to us, means the overthrow of the evil personage who typifies the sinful world system.
In 2 Timothy Paul again contrasts the glory visible to the eyes of faith and the glory that will be unmistakable at Christ coming. The eyes of faith recognize the birth of life and immortality in Jesus first coming (1:10). When Jesus and his kingdom appear at last, in unmistakable power, all will be subject to judgement (4:1). There will be a crown for those who have seen beyond this world's illusions and who long for Jesus' appearing as something that will shatter the hopes of humanity and evaporate empty values by which this world operates.
Epiphaneia (ep-if-an'-i-ah) then, emphasizes the fact Jesus return will constitute a disrupting intervention in a world that remains blind to God's grace. Shattered by his appearance, the world system of today will be replaced by the long- awaited kingdom of righteousness, and evil will be judged. For the believer, Epiphaneia (ep-if-an'-i-ah) contains a challenge. We are to look at the ways of the world in which we live and to utter a decisive NO! to society's values. We are to commit ourselves simply to doing good while long for Jesus to return to intervene and at last restore the tangled world to its tended beauty.
That was #2 Coming to intervene in history…
C. Coming to unveil reality. The last linked word closely with Jesus' appearance at his second coming is apokalypsis. means "to disclose, or bring to light." the Bible, apokalypsis is used particularly to mean the disclosure of supernatural secrets- the unveiling of truths that people unaided could not have discovered but that the Holy Spirit shared with through Scripture (1 Co 2:10). Revelation Associated with Jesus' second coming, apokalypsis highlights the that while information about Jesus has been shared with humanity and recorded in the Bible, it is Jesus himself who will be disclosed when he comes again. Then all preceding revelation about him will be unmistakably confirmed. The coming of Jesus as God's final culminating discourse will vindicate every promise and affirmation of the Word of God.
Lk 17:22-35 describes the shock of that day when Jesus is suddenly revealed, visible to all mankind in his second coming. As at the devastation of Sodom, humanity will again be caught unaware, engrossed in daily affairs. Again in 2 Thessalonians, the disclosure of Jesus to all mankind is associated with judgement (1.7). Jesus will be seen then in blazing fire, accompanied by his powerful angels, punishing with "everlasting destruction" those who have refused to respond to the gospel.
Drewism added lol…Luke 21:26 Men’s hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken.
Ro 8:19 makes it clear that we too will one day be disclosed as children of God. Thus, we will share in Jesus' glory (1 Pe 5:1), while he will be "glorified in his holy people" and "marveled at among all those who have believed" (2 Th 1:10).
Written against the background of the sufferings we experience in the present world; 1 Peter also stresses the fact that Jesus' return will display to all people the glory of a personal relationship with the Lord. The trial of our faith will result "in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed" (1:7 “genuineness of your faith” 😊). That we may know "an inexpressible and glorious joy" (1:8). Then all that we experience subjectively will have its objective manifestation. (Tree example). Knowing this, we rest the full weight of our hope on the return of Jesus and long for "the grace to be given [us] when Jesus Christ is revealed" (1:13). If we participate today in Jesus' sufferings, we will "be overjoyed when his glory is revealed" (4:13).
(Thinking you get "poofed out of here" somehow before the tribulation starts isn't exactly participating in his sufferings now is it?
The wheat gets separated from the chaff during the tribulation.
"So soon will find out who is
the real revolutionaries"
RNM)
Apokalypsis, then, emphasizes the following facts: (1) Jesus' return will be witnessed by all, his glory at last unmistakable. (2) For the unsaved, this unveiling of Jesus initiates the day of vengeance; for believers, Jesus' unveiling means that the moment of fulfilled hope has come. (3) For God, Jesus' final disclosure as Lord means full vindication of his gospel and his warnings to humanity. Jesus will come. Every eye will see him. Every knee will bow before him. And every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father (Php 2:10-11).
(Takin bout advent, joyful anticipation and why hes coming…😊. That was # three “To unveil reality as it really is…99.9999999999996 empty space, (atoms) walking around in 96% of something we aren’t able to experience...)
4.Summary. The second coming of Jesus is a rich and complex NT theme. Like Jesus' first coming, it does not take place as a single act but stretches over a span of time as God's many purposes are worked out at time's end. But NT words associated with Jesus' reappearance help us to see what that return means for us and for others.
The most wonderful truth for believers is that Jesus will come in person for them. In the resurrection, we will be transformed, enabled at last to share fully in joyful fellowship with God forever.
(Energy can not be destroyed but only "transformed", law of nature yo.)
For unbelievers, Jesus' appearing will constitute a jarring intervention. All mankind's values and hopes, settled as they are on the narrow confines of this life, will be exposed as empty and meaningless.
(Kinda like they already have been
right now in the time we are living in.)
The glory of our personally present Lord will dispel the illusions that captivate humanity, and mankind will come face to face with reality at last. By yearning for this intervention, believers can escape the passions that move the lost, and they can learn to say no to evil and yes to good.
Finally, the return of Jesus is God's final and ultimate self-disclosure. All that God has shown us in the words of Scripture will be experienced then by all mankind. Both the delayed judgments and the delayed rewards will be given out, and God will become all in all. As we meditate on Jesus' appearance, we find our own lives enriched. Our present sufferings seem increasingly unimportant in view of the glory to come. We toss aside the playthings of the world, with childhood's toys, and we build our lives on those solid realities that, when Jesus comes, will remain.
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