Quote:
Originally Posted by Lafon
I am in agreement with everything you've stated, that is with the exception of the bolded portion. The following is my "take" concerning our Lord's statement about the "sign of Jonas" that is found recorded in Matthew 12:39 & 16:4..... (this is somewhat "off topic," but is something that I believe to be worthy of note)
My comments about this matter is not intended to "hijack" this thread, and indeed, should perhaps be posted in another which pertains to eschatological issues instead, however, I did want to take a few moments to provide you with some of my thoughts about this matter, and would ask you to pause and consider their merits. |
I appreciate what you are saying.
I’ll reiterate my previous post; the emphasis on all NT prophecy was and is the Lord Jesus Christ and Him alone, NOT some future taking away of the church, restoration of the nation of Israel or impending Great Tribulation.
I honestly believe most people believe the footnotes in their Darby or Scofield Bibles more than the words of scripture.
Mt 24:4
¶ And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you.
Mt 24:5
For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ…
Referring to those Jews that would come later on claiming to be the Messiah. Jesus is saying, Don’t listen to them, they are NOT me!
Later in the chapter Jesus says,
Mt 24:11
And many
false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many…the deception being that many would believe these false prophets’ false claims of being the Messiah.
The false prophets were ones saying there were
OTHER Messiah’s. Jesus warned his disciples not to be fooled, because
“if it were possible” they (the elect) themselves could be fooled into believing the claims of those false prophets.
By reading Mt 24;
Mk 13 and
Luke 21, we already understand that the “abomination of desolation” standing in the holy place was
completely fulfilled when the Roman army sacked Jerusalem.
Lu 21:20
And when ye shall see Jerusalem compassed with armies, then know that the desolation thereof is nigh.
Mt 24:15
When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand
Mr 13:14
But when ye shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing where it ought not, (let him that readeth understand,) then let them that be in Judaea flee to the mountains:
It is historically correct to say that there were no Christians in Jerusalem when the armies finally entered.
Now some NT will say that there is a “double application”, which is a very recent or modern development.
It is very possible that some NT prophet's ministries exist through their identification with
Zionism or the future
rapture of the Church followed (or preceded, depending upon your point of view) by a
Great Tribulation.
However the above mentioned scriptures do not, imo, represent any of those events.
Prophecy for the NT is completely wrapped up, in and around Jesus Christ alone, imo.
Consider again the words of Jesus,
Mr 13:21
And then if any man shall say to you, Lo, here is Christ; or, lo, he is there; believe him not:
Mr 13:22
For false Christs and false prophets shall rise, and shall shew signs and wonders, to seduce, if it were possible, even the elect.
And
Mt 24:22
And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect's sake those days shall be shortened.
Mt 24:23
Then if any man shall say unto you, Lo, here is Christ, or there; believe it not.
In other words, contradicting Jesus' words about Himself.
Mt 24:24
For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.
They would follow
another Jesus.
The Lord Jesus is reminding his disciples of how tough things would be in a very short time. He was warning, equipping and at the same time preparing them for the terrible days ahead.
Again, the context is Jesus warning about following "other" Christs, and when the city was circled about by the Roman armies to NOT be deceived by their smooth sayings of comfort, or that God would deliver them. Jesus gave his followers a "heads up" as to what to do when the abomination of desolation ocurred.
The prophet Jeremiah had this to say about false prophets that prophesied against the will of God for Israel.
Jer 14:14
Then the LORD said unto me, The prophets prophesy lies in my name: I sent them not, neither have I commanded them, neither spake unto them: they prophesy unto you a false vision and divination, and a thing of nought, and the deceit of their heart.
We need to remember that the lies these prophets were telling had to do with God’s deliverance. They kept saying deliverance would come from this direction, or that direction. One prophet, Chenaiah, (I think) physically assaulted Jeremiah over his difference of opinion. The facts were that Israel was destined for 70 years of judgment. Jeremiah preached both judgment and deliverance to the nation of Israel.
A person that actually believes there is a different standard for Jew vs Gentile today, or that the Church is subordinate to the nation of Israel and prophesies such, is imo, preaching deliverance to Israel not unlike those false prophets in Jeremiah’s day.
There is not a parenthetical Church subordinate to the Jewish race or nation. This doctrine is found in many footnoted bibles, but not in the words of Peter, or even John.
2Pe 1:16
¶
For we have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of his majesty.
Peter is talking about Jesus here, not the “end-times”.
2Pe 1:17
For he received from God the Father honour and glory, when there came such a voice to him from the excellent glory, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.
2Pe 1:18
And this voice which came from heaven we heard, when we were with him in the holy mount.
2Pe 1:19
We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts:
2Pe 1:20
Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation.
2Pe 1:21
For the prophecy came not in old time [/I](read O.T.)
by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.
2Pe 2:1
But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction.
That “more sure word” of prophecy was all about Jesus Christ and the gospel He brought to the world by His incarnation.
The disciple John had this to say about false prophets.
1Jo 4:1
Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.
1Jo 4:2
Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God:
1Jo 4:3
And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world.
Again, a false prophet was someone that preached that Jesus was not come in the flesh and the Messiah, the way, truth and the life.
We can’t prophesy by modifying scripture to line up with current events nor can we prophesy unless Jesus Christ is the focal point of all prophecy. There are no examples to be found in the NT. I didn’t even touch on I Thessalonians!
The question of this thread concerns NT prophecy. There is A LOT of false prophecy being taught as denominational foundation as well as in our bible colleges and seminaries. I can cite several examples but one most apostolics my age will remember was at ABI, the teaching of Jesus’ return in the 1980s, using scripture and current events to justify predicting a specific date of the Return of the Lord. Now, if these proponents had lived in the days of the judges and kings, they’d be dead by stoning. Thank God for His longsuffering in the light of such foolishness.
Jesus would be greater served by preaching about Him as the fulfillment of all the sufferings and shortcomings of man. This is what I mean by being a NT prophet.
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