Dr Paul Allen

The apostles were convinced that they were living in the last days. In the Old Testament, the expression “the last days” refers to the future time of God’s final intervention in Israel ’s history and in the history of the world.1 The earliest Christians dated the beginning of the end times to the coming of Jesus , particularly his death and resurrection and the giving of the Holy Spirit , a complex of events that constitutes the fulfillment of God’s promises of Israel’s restoration and humanity’s salvation. The End Times Have Begun with Jesus’ Coming: Acts 2:16–21 One important passage in the New Testament teaching that the end times began with Jesus’ coming is found in Peter’s speech given on the day of Pentecost. After clarifying for the Jews who had gathered from around the world that the speaking in unlearned languages by Jesus’ followers is not the result of drunkenness (Acts 2:15), Peter asserts that the audiovisual phenomena of the sound from heaven, the tongues of fire, and ...

English: Diagram of the major tribulation views in Christian theology (Photo credit: Wikipedia ) When Jesus predicts the siege and destruction of Jerusalem (Matt. 24:15–22), he asserts, “For then there will be great distress [thlipsis megalē], unequaled from the beginning of the world until now” (v. 21 NIV ). The expression translated “great distress” ( NRSV and NET translate “great suffering,” NLT “greater anguish”) is rendered “great tribulation” in older and a few recent translations ( KJV , RSV, NASB, ESV). The expression “great tribulation” or “great distress” refers to the period of horrific extreme suffering during the siege of Jerusalem. This “great tribulation” was a local event, a fact that made it possible for Jesus’ followers to flee. Neither Jesus’ listeners nor Matthew’s readers would have related this prophecy to a much later period of time unrelated to the Jerusalem temple of the first century. Revelation 7:14 The expression “great tribulation” o...

Unrepentant sinners are rejected by Jesus . This means they are excluded from the kingdom of God , from the messianic banquet, indeed from the very presence of God. The Bible describes their fate as “destruction” symbolized by both fire (which destroys) and darkness (which does not allow life). Unrepentant sinners who all end up in hell may feel sorry for their fate, but they continue to express anger and hostility, perhaps because they blame others for their fate, still unable and unwilling to accept responsibility for their actions. To be cast into Gehenna (hell) is far worse than physical death because it evidently involves eternal torment . Schnabel, E. J. (2011). 40 Questions about the End Times . (B. L. Merkle, Ed.) (p. 303). Grand Rapids, MI: Kregel Academic & Professional. Related articles Connie's Cakes: Chocolate Cake Day (fox17online.com) Is the Soul Destroyed in Hell? (godsbreath.net) Fashion and Tea programs return to Grand Rapids Public Museum with...

When Christians encounter Jesus at his second coming , on the day of judgment , they will be accepted by him as they have been his followers, having persevered in their loyalty to him despite opposition and persecution. They will receive life in God ’s eternal presence on a new earth in the New Jerusalem . Believers are spared the eternal punishment of unrepentant sinners because they have been rescued from God’s wrath through Jesus’ death and resurrection. On the day of Jesus’ second coming, believers will enter the kingdom of heaven because they live under God’s reign. More than that, they receive kingship, the authority to participate in God’s rule over the new earth. Believers will take part in the banquet of the Messiah , enjoying the fullness of blessings in the company of all the saints. And believers will receive a greater responsibility: while this is not specified, it certainly means the enjoyment of participating in God’s rule over the new, perfect creation. Schnabel, ...

The time of Jesus ’ return and of the end of the age is unknown. Only God the Father knows the date, and he has revealed it neither to Jesus nor to the angels, nor will he reveal it to Jesus’ followers. The consequences of this fact are obvious: Christians must be ready for Jesus’ return, which will happen suddenly and unexpectedly. It can happen any time, after the signs that Jesus described in Matthew 24:4 –28 are being observed. Since the one specific event that Jesus prophesied —the siege and destruction of Jerusalem (Matt. 24:15–22)—took place in A.D. 70, and since the other signs of the end that Jesus listed could be observed even before A.D. 70, Jesus could return any time after A.D. 70. Because the day of Jesus’ return is (and will remain) unknown to his followers, speculations are not only fruitless and irrelevant but positively rebellious. The biggest mistake of some end-time “specialists” is the production of (ever new) prophecies of the date of Jesus’ return. Follo...

The Bible teaches the transcendence of God . His ways and thoughts are far beyond ours ( Isa. 55:9; Rom. 11:33). Human beings are infinitesimal in view of God’s infinity. God must “stoop down” in order to speak to us. However, this divine act of adaptation to our finitude never involves accommodation to our error. For God cannot err (Heb. 6:18). God uses anthropomorphisms (a true expression of who God is that is couched in human terms) to speak to us, but he does not use myths. He sometimes gives us only part of the truth but that partial truth is never error (1 Cor. 13:12). He reveals himself progressively, but never erroneously. He does not always tells us all, but all that he tells us is true. Geisler, N. L. (1999). In Baker encyclopedia of Christian apologetics (p. 1). Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books. Related articles Snodgrass on Reading Backwards (cwoznicki.com) The End of Theology: Adoration & Worship (memoirandremains.wordpress.com) Attributes of God - Self Exis...

The Resurrection of Christ (Photo credit: Wikipedia ) Many scholars believe that Christ died and rose from the dead again in AD 30 (see our April 7 story). Even more prefer a date in AD 33, although champions of several other dates can also be found. If the events recorded in the gospels took place in AD 33, then  this day, April 23, 33  is the probable date for Christ's resurrection . No other event like it has been recorded in history. The significance of the first Easter is breathtaking. In fact, the witness of the apostles and believers across the ages is that without the resurrection, there could be no Christianity. The cross of Christ makes no sense without his triumphant restoration to life. It was the resurrection which explained his death as a sacrifice for sins. It was the resurrection which vindicated his teaching: he was no liar. It is the resurrection that gives us hope of a new, eternal life: as Christ rose, so will we. It is the one fact that the apostles and ...