Are We Living in the Last Days? Part 4

Matthew 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.” As the temple literally was burning, Josephus records, “Of so great a multitude, not one escaped. Their destruction was caused by a false prophet, who had on that day proclaimed to those remaining in the city, that “God commanded them to go up to the temple, there to receive the signs of their deliverance.” There were at this time many prophets suborned by the tyrants to delude the people, by bidding them wait for help from God, in order that there might be less desertion, and that those who were above fear and control might be encouraged by hope. Under calamities man readily yields to persuasion; but when the deceiver pictures to him deliverance from pressing evils, then the sufferer is wholly influenced by hope. Thus it was that the impostors and pretended messengers of heaven at that time beguiled the wretched people.” (Jewish War, bk.vi.c.v.s2., Acts 13:6)

Matthew 24:25 “Behold I have told YOU before.” The warnings are throughout the epistles as well. Working of lying wonders are mentioned in 2 Thes. 2:9. Even among the many statues and images of Nero, Rome would send it's workers to pipe voices through the statues to try and make it appear as though the image was speaking. (Revelation 13:15)

Matthew 24:26 “Wherefore if thy shall say unto YOU, Behold, he is in the desert; go not forth: behold, he is in the secret chambers; believe it not.” Once again looking for Jesus in a physical way, in a physical location. ( 2 Cor. 5:16)

Matthew 24:27 “For as the lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.” The Greek word for coming is parousia. Its simply means COMING PRESENCE. His coming presence would strike fast, fierce, and be visible for all to discern, perceive, and understand. Revelation 1:7, with every eye seeing him, is not referring to mechanical sight, but perceived insight. His coming presence would set things right, by His judgment upon that wicked generation and it's corrupt system of death. Even Caiaphas would see/discern this parousia/coming presence upon figurative clouds of judgment. (Mt.26:64, Isaiah 19:1, Psalms 18:11-14 This passage in Psalm 18 has CLOUDS and lightnings in figurative since, describing David's deliverance from Saul.

Matthew 24:28 “For wheresoever the carcase is, there will the eagles be gathered together.” The cross reference to this can be found in Luke 17:37. Luke 17:34-37 says, “I tell you in that night there shall be two in one bed; the one shall be taken, and the other left. Two shall be grinding together; the one shall be taken, and the other left. And they answered him, Where Lord? And he said unto them, Wheresoever the body is, thither will the eagles be gathered together. Know first that the entire “Left Behind” book series (65 million sold) is based upon this passage of scripture. What does “one taken, and the other left,” really mean here. WHERE ARE THEY TAKEN? THIS IS THE QUESTION BY THE DISCIPLES, “WHERE LORD?” Can it get any clearer as to what they are asking? WHERE DOES JESUS SAY THEY ARE TAKEN? TO BECOME CARCASES!!! “ Taken” is a bad thing here. It's not being taken in a rapture, but as captures to be slaughtered! In Matthew 24:39,40 it says, “And knew not until the flood came, and TOOK them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. Then shall two be in the field; the on shall be TAKEN, and the other left. Two shall be grinding at the mill; the one shall be TAKEN, and the other left.” Being left here is the preferable option. It was the Roman Armies, whose troops were broken down in to groups of “eagles”. They would even have an eagle tattooed upon their arms and would raise a pole with an eagle on it as they went to battle. We already mentioned one such pole being erected within the temple. This was just another pagan practice in worship to one of their many god's. It was the Roman Armies who would TAKE them to become carcases! Those TAKEN in the flood became carcases in the same manner of a judgment. 

    Once again, the pre-millennial futurist “gospel” is exposed for what it is, the BAZARO GOSPEL. Taken is good in this “gospel“, and being left is bad. What's good is bad , and what's bad is good with this twisted “gospel”.

Matthew 24:29 “Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of THE HEAVENS shall be shaken:” We're back to the sun, moon, and stars mentioned in our examination of Acts 2:16-21. After this tribulation period, 64 A.D to 70 A.D., when the dust had settled, the ruling authorities would be rearranged. Romans 13:1 refers to these authorities as powers, as does this verse. Again, “THE HEAVENS” are darkened over various ruling authorities through out the Old Testament. Ultimately, THE HEAVENS do rule, and God is orchestrating the ruling authorities. (Daniel 4:26) Refer back to the notes on Acts 2:16 for a list of the many Old Testament scriptures about the sun, moon, and stars being used in a figurative, non physical manner. (Here's just a few, Gen. 37:9,10, Ecc.12:1,2, Is.13:9,10, Ez. 32:7, 8, Amos 8:9) 

Genesis 37:9,10 “…I have dreamed a dream more and; and, behold the sun and the moon and the eleven stars made obeisance to me…Shall I and thy mother and thy brethren indeed come to bow down ourselves to thee to the earth?” We see the prophetic, apocalyptic language beginning all the way back in Genesis. First was the natural sun, moon, and stars, to rule the day and the night. First the natural, then the spiritual (1 Corinthian 15:44). “And God made two great lights; the greater light (sun) to rule the day, and the lesser light (moon) to rule the night; he made the stars also. (Genesis 1:16) So those who had ruled over Joseph, would one day bow to the rule and authority of Joseph. Therefore, we understand that the sun, moon, and stars are used in the scriptures figuratively and metaphorically to communicate ruling authority.

Ecclesiastes 12:1,2 “…in the days of thy youth…While the sun, or the light, or the moon, or the stars be not darkened, nor the clouds return after the rain.” This usage of the sun, moon, and stars, communicates once again the strength and authority in ones youth. It is not communicating a thing to do with astronomy.

Isaiah 13:9,10 “Behold the day of the Lord cometh cruel both with wrath and fierce anger to slay the land desolate and he shall destroy the sinners thereof out of it. For the stars of heaven and the constellations thereof shall not give their light: the sun shall be darkened in his going forth, and the moon shall not cause her light to shine.” These words are communicating a judgment against Babylon (Isaiah 13:1), and all scholars would agree that these words are not to be taken astronomically, but figuratively concerning Babylon. It was lights out for Babylon, the Medes would bring them down (Isaiah 13:17)! If this prophecy was using figurative and prophetic language familiar to the Jewish mind, then why can't we understand the same prophetic language that Jesus, a Jewish prophet of prophets, is using when He quotes this passage in Matthew 24:29? Jesus is communicating through prophetic and apocalyptic language intended to be understood figuratively???!!! It was lights out for a particular nation in Jesus' day, BABYLON, THE GREAT CITY, JERUSALEM, ISRAEL (Revelation 11:8, 14:8,16:19, 17:5, 18:2,10,18,19,21, 19:2, Isaiah 1:21, Jeremiah 3:8,22:8, Lamentations 1:1)

EZEKIEL 32:7 “And when I shall put thee out, I will cover the heaven, and make the stars thereof dark; I will cover the sun with a cloud and the moon shall not give her light. All the bright lights of heaven will I make dark over the, and set darkness upon thy land, saith the Lord God.” This passage is describing a judgment against Pharaoh king of Egypt (Ezekiel 32:2). Did anything described here happen in the physical heavens, to the sun, moon, and stars, when Pharaoh was judged? No, it was lights out for Pharaoh's glory and rule!

AMOS 8:9 “And it shall come to pass in that day, saith the Lord God, that I will cause the sun to go down at noon, and I will darken the earth (land) in the clear day.” This is a judgment against the land of Israel, where her glory and light would be put out and brought down!  

By the way, a question for staunch literalists here, what would happen if a single star would fall from heaven and strike the earth? Here's a hint, our sun is a star, right? You see these same stars in Rev.6:13. 

Such uses of these terms meant something entirely different to a Jew in the first century, than it does to us westerners in the twenty first century today. God's highest (“heavenly”) authority upon earth, his covenant people, experienced a changing of the guard. The Old Covenant spiritual Egyptians/persecutors (Revelation 11:8, Galatians 4:29) could not stop the bringing forth, birthing ,and deliverance of the New Covenant Spiritual Israelites. (Mt.3:9, 21:43, John 8:33,39,41, 44, Romans 2:28,29, 4:3,11, 9:8, Gal.3:7,16, 4:22-31, 6:15,16, Col.3:11, Heb.12:22, Rev. 2:9, 3:9) These New Covenant/New Jerusalem citizens became “fruitful, and increased abundantly, and multiplied, and waxed exceeding mighty; and the land was filled with them.” (Exodus 1:7) Again, this is not “replacement theology”, but rather EXPANSIONIST THEOLOGY to broaden the boarders of God's covenant people to the uttermost parts of the earth! Through this theology, “the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea!” (Isaiah 11:9) The great commission has never changed. Adam was instructed to, “Be fruitful , and multiply, fill the earth, and subdue it, and take dominion…”                (Gen.1:28) Abraham was told “Lift up now thine eyes, and look from the place where thou art northward, southward, and eastward, and westward: For all the land which thou seest, to thee will I give it, and to thy seed forever. (Gen. 13:14,15, John 4:35, Gal.3:16) The “LAND FOREVER” has transitioned from a physical promise land, as has “CIRCUMCISION FOREVER” into an everlasting covenant, which is now within the heart. (Gen.17:7-13,Rom.2:28, 29, Gal. 6:15) THE LAND IS NOW PEOPLE, MADE FROM THE LAND/DUST, WHO ARE GODS BOUGHT LAND/FIELD! (Mt.13:44) Many will say, “But Israel didn't possess all the land that God promised them, so this needs to happen in the future over in the middle east in order for “Bible Prophecy” to be fulfilled.” Joshua 21:43-45 says, “AND THE LORD GAVE UNTO ISRAEL ALL THE LAND WHICH HE SWARE TO GIVE UNTO THEIR FATHERS; AND THEY POSSESSED IT, AND DWELT THEREIN…ACCORDING TO ALL THAT HE SWARE UNTO THEIR FATHERS…THERE FAILED NOT OUGHT OF ANY GOOD THING WHICH THE LORD HAD SPOKEN UNTO THE HOUSE OF ISRAEL; ALL CAME TO PASS.”

    IF TODAYS BIBLE PROPHECY TEACHERS COULD ONLY SEE THAT GOD'S HEART IS NOT BEATING OVER SOME LAND/SAND OVER IN THE MIDDLE EAST! RATHER, ITS LONGING OVER INDIVIDUALS CREATED FROM THE LAND/DUST, WHICH HIS HEART LONGS TO POSSESS! WE NEED TO GET OUR HEADS OUT OF THE SAND!

    Joshua is given the same charge in his generation, “Every place that the sole of your foot shall tread upon, that have I given unto you, as I said unto Moses.” (Joshua 1:3) Jesus has now expanded the charge, with the power to carry it out from Jerusalem, to Judea and Samaria, unto the uttermost part of the earth.” (Acts 1:8, Lk.24:45-47) So are we now to be faithful in our generation, in our sphere of influence, to expand our boarders from our Jerusalem, Judea and Samaria, to the uttermost parts of the earth! “All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and TEACH ALL NATIONS, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: TEACHING them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, Lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.” The disciples fulfilled this in their generation. (Col.1:5, 6, 23, Romans 1:8, 16:26, Acts 24:5) Will we in ours? Or, are we TEACHING disciples about flying out of here, rather than steady plotting to take the land little by little? He is with us no differently than He was with those first century disciples. Are the giant evils of immorality, the media, the education system, and terrorism to big for God? Are they supposed to be there, as part of “Bible Prophecy”? Are we spreading the EVIL report of worse and worse, darker and darker unto the imperfect day? (Prov.4:18) Have we misunderstood THE TEACHER'S HEART and understanding concerning His word? HAVE WE TAUGHT that the kingdom's tree of life is really a refuge for EVIL? (Mt.13:33, Dan. 4:11,20, 21, Ez. 17:23, 31:4) Have we taught that the leaven, which spreads HIS kingdom is really the spread of EVIL? When it's rather the permeating power of HIS kingdom? We have received another gospel, the gospel of prevailing EVIL, in truth the bazzaro gospel!

    The changing of the guard was also taking place with the Roman authorities/powers as well. The shaking of their powers was at work with much political instability. Many civil wars even broke out during this tribulation period, and Rome was feeling the penetration of the “Stone cut out without hands” beginning to penetrate its empire, the feet. This penetration would sink deeper and deeper into Rome's forehead, and transform this giant's thinking forever. Rome would shortly be broken to pieces, and become like chaff, and carried away by the wind of The Spirit. This Stone would become a mountain (kingdom), that filled the whole earth , and consumed all other kingdoms! (Daniel 2:35,44)  

Matthew 24:30 “And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth/land mourn, and they shall see the Son of man COMING in the CLOUDS of heaven with power and great glory.” (Mt. 6:13) The clear cross reference to this verse is Revelation 1:7. “Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pieced him: and all kindreds/tribes of the earth/land shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen.”

    First we have to understand how a Jew in the first century would understand the phrase, “COMING in/with the CLOUDS OF HEAVEN.”   

Isaiah 19:1. The burden of Egypt, Behold, the Lord rideth upon a swift CLOUD, and shall COME into Egypt: and the idols of Egypt shall be moved at , HIS PRESENCE and the heart of Egypt shall melt in the midst of it.” The Greek word for the COMING of the Lord in the New Testament is “PAROUSIA,” which means COMING PRESENCE. In this pronounced judgment upon Egypt, the Lord is COMING IN CLOUDS of judgment into Egypt. Not physically, but His presence is going to set things right there by judging Egypt through the armies of another nation. We will examine many other Old Testament scriptures using the imagery of clouds in an apocalyptic way, a little bit later. It's simply prophetic language conveying coming judgment. The Sun won't be shinning for that land that is to be judged. Darkness will cover it etc.. The coming judgment upon the tribes of the land would be with figurative clouds of judgment, orchestrated by the Son of Man. In Matthew 26:64, Jesus says to Caiaphas the high priest, “…nevertheless I say unto YOU, Hereafter shall YE SEE the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power, and COMING in the CLOUDS of heaven.” There would be this SHAKING OF THE POWERS THAT BE. (Luke 21:26, Romans 13:1, Hebrews 12:26.27) Caiaphas would be dethroned from his “seat” of authority, and The Great High Priest Jesus, would be SEEN/PERCEIVED by all the tribes. It would be “SEEN” that He was the Messiah, and that they need therefore, mourn in repentance, as one mourns for his only son. This last part about mourning for him , as one mourns for his only son, is from the rest of the passage in Zechariah 12:10, which is being quoted in Revelation 1:7. One major point in understanding this passage in Revelation 1:7 is the definition of the word “SEE”, when it says “EVERY EYE SHALL “SEE” Him. The word for “SEE” is “OPTOMAI”, which is only used a few times or so, in the New Testament. It is defined as being different from seeing merely with mechanical vision. It means to DISCERN CLEARLY, to experience, TO PERCEIVE with UNDERSTANDING. The TRIBES, which aren't around today by the way, would discern and perceive that Jesus was the Messiah at the time of the city's, and temple's destruction. THE BLINDNESS TO ISRAEL/THE TRIBES (Romans 11:25) WOULD BE LIFTED, SO MUCH SO, THAT EVEN THEIR CORRUPT HIGH PRIEST WOULD “SEE”/ PERCEIVE JESUS' AUTHORITY ON THE RIGHT HAND OF POWER!

Matthew 26:64 “Thou hast said: nevertheless I say unto YOU, Hererafter shall YE SEE the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power and COMING IN THE CLOUDS of heaven.”

    Here is a list of Old Testament Scriptures where “COMING IN CLOUDS” is used to describe coming judgment.

Exodus 13:21 “And the Lord went before them by day in a pillar of A CLOUD, to lead them the way; and by night in a pillar of fire, to give them light; to go by day and night:” The cloud was to bring blessing, shade and leading for the people of God. It was seen by the Egyptians as a sign of coming judgment. 

Exodus 19:9 “And the Lord said unto Moses, Lo, I come unto thee in a THICK CLOUD, that the people may hear…” Here, in giving the people the law, which was the ministration of judgment and death, the people are on the receiving end of the condemnation that comes from the law. (2 Cor. 3:7)

Exodus 24:15,16 “And Moses went up into the mount, and a CLOUD covered the Mount. And the GLORY of the Lord abode upon mount Sinai…” Here, the CLOUD OF GLORY was to bear witness to the establishment of the Old Covenant, with it's judgment pronounced upon all. In like manner, Jesus would come in CLOUDS OF GLORY to confirm to all that the Old Covenant System of the Law and it's house, had been transitioned into His house, one greater than that temple (Mt.12:6), that is, the temple of His Body, the Church (Colossians 1:24). Jesus' body is the temple not made with hands!

1 Kings 8:11,12 “ So that the priests could not stand to minister because of the CLOUD: for the GLORY of the Lord had filled the house of the Lord. Then spake Solomon, The Lord said that he would dwell in the thick darkness.” The Lord's glory would dwell in this temple with the ministration of judgment and condemnation, thus the darkness. (2 Cor.3:7) When this Old Covenant temple would be brought down, it would be the Lord's glory expanding from the temple's limited confines, to dwell in a temple not made with hands. This temple in every nation, to cover the earth with the knowledge of the Lord. (Heb.9:8, 2 Corinthians, chapters 3 and 4) After the temple would be brought down in 70 A.D. , it would be clear as to who the true Son's of God were. Were they the Old Covenant Jews, or this new “sect” that was testifying that there is a New Covenant, which doesn't require one to live under the law? The wheat would be clearly seen and the tares exposed at the end of the age (Mt.13:38,39) with the destruction of the Old Covenant temple. All of the murkiness would become crystal clear. 

Psalm 18:11,12 “He made darkness his secret place; his pavilion round about him were dark waters and THICK CLOUDS of the skies. At the brightness that was before him his thick CLOUDS passed, hail stones and coals of fire.” This Psalm is David's description of his deliverance from Saul. Nothing happened here with the physical elements. Psalm 18:6-19 uses all of the usual apocalyptic language and imagery. The earth shook (vs.7), the smoke went out of His nostrils (vs.8), He bowed THE HEAVENS (verse 9), with hail stones (Rev.16:21) and lightnings in verse 13 and 14. Prophetic language and imagery are at work here, as David was a prophet (Acts 2:30). This Old testament usage of such terms, as is mentioned in this chapter, must be understood when approaching the Olivet Discourse and the book of Revelation. Otherwise, one can easily walk away with the Koresh/Manson commentary on eschatology.

Psalm 104:3 “Who layeth the beams of his chambers in the waters: who maketh the CLOUDS his chariot: who walketh upon the wings of the wind:” God is spirit, and functions from the invisible realm into the visible. His word uses physical imagery which we can relate to, such as dark clouds etc., in order to bring us understanding concerning His doings. 

Isaiah 19:1 “The burden of Egypt, Behold, the Lord rideth upon a swift CLOUD, and shall COME into Egypt: and the idols of Egypt shall be moved at HIS PRESENCE (Parousia, coming presence in the Greek) , and the heart of Egypt shall melt in the midst of it.”

Isaiah 64:1-3 “Oh that thou wouldest rend THE HEAVENS, that thou wouldest COME down, that the mountains might flow down at thy PRESENCE, As when the melting fire burneth, the fire causeth the waters to boil, to make thy name known to thine adversaries, that the nations may tremble at thy PRESENCE! When thou didst terrible things which we looked not for, thou CAMEST down, the mountains flowed down at thy PRESENCE.” No clouds here, but His COMING PRESENCE (Parousia) in judgment.

Ezekiel 30:3, 4 “For the day is near, even the day of the Lord is near, a CLOUDY DAY; it shall be the time of the heathen. And THE SWORD SHALL COME upon Egypt…” Again, CLOUDS are used to describe coming judgment, by the sword, upon a nation. That is, by the armies of another nation.

Ezekiel 32:7 “And when I shall put thee out, I will cover the heaven, and make the stars thereof dark; I will cover the sun with a CLOUD, and the moon shall not give her light,” It was lights out for Pharaoh, king of Egypt. (vs.2)

Ezekiel 38:16 “And thou shalt come up against my people of Israel, as a CLOUD to cover the land;” An invading army is described as a “CLOUD.”

Ecclesiastes 12:1,2 “Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth, while…the sun, or the light of the moon, or the stars, be not darkened, nor the CLOUDS return after the rain:” “The CLOUDS returning” is a negative thing here, which as we've seen above ,could only be referring to judgment. 

Joel 2:1,2 “Blow ye the trumpet in Zion, and sound an alarm in my holy mountain: let all the inhabitants of the land tremble: for the day of the Lord COMETH, for it is nigh at hand; A day of darkness and of gloominess, a day of CLOUDS and of thick darkness…” No questions here about CLOUDS OF JUDGMENT.

Micah 1:3 “For, behold, the Lord COMETH forth out of his place, and will COME down, and tread upon the high places of the earth.” No clouds here, but coming down to make things right by abasing the exalted.  

    In conclusion, a Jew in the first century understood the Old Testament imagery of “COMING IN THE CLOUDS. As for westerners in the 21st century, we must pull our head's out of the CLOUDS to SEE this!  

Matthew 24:31 “And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.” The angel's sent are not angelic beings here, but rather messengers of The Gospel, which went into all the “world”/Oikuamene.” Refer back to the notes on Matthew 24:14. They would gather a harvest at the end of the Old Covenant age. (Mt.13:39) Those of us in the “Full Preterist camp”, as well as those with a pre-millennial post tribulation rapture understanding, are the only positions to connect the most obvious of connections here. That is, that the CLOUDS AND COMING of Matthew 24:30, and the TRUMPET AND GATHERING of Matthew 24:31, are referring to the same event, which uses the same terms in 1 Thes.4:13-18. 

1 Thessalonians 4:13-18. Those in the “Partial (partially correct) preterist” camp, as well as those in the(now) popular “pre-tribulation camp”, have some real “splanin” to do. They leave us with another “THE COMING OF THE LORD” (1 Thes.4:15/Mt.24:30), in different CLOUDS                              (1 Thes.4:17/Mt.24:30), in a different GATHERING (1 Thes.4:1/Mt.24:31), sounded off by a different TRUMPET (1 Thes.4:16/Mt.24:31)! How many times can He appear a second time? These popular views leave us with a serious math problem! Those with the consistent preterist view do not have such a problem. This is the same coming in judgment upon that generation. God comes through out history to make things right by intervening and ruling in the kingdoms of men. In chapter two of Revelation (2:16), Jesus warns of His coming to set things right in the church. One thing remains strange about the pre-trib rapture propagators. And that is, the question of how they would label those of us in the preterist camp as heretics, because we see an invisible, not a bodily or physical COMING of Christ in 70.A.D.? This is beyond hypocritical, because they themselves believe in an invisible, not a bodily or physical COMING of Jesus in 1 Thes.4, when it speaks of “THE COMING OF THE LORD”  (1 Thes.4:15). This is A COMING of Jesus for His Church in the rapture, they maintain. Yet, in this COMING, “THE COMING OF THE LORD”, they too believe in A COMING that is not bodily or physically, but rather AN INVISIBLE COMING OF JESUS!   

(For more details about 1 Thessalonians 4 , and the term “air” there, and the “we” who would experience this event, go to one of our articles, which includes this chapter, or go to “Radio Teachings” with this chapter listed in it's title.)

Acts 1:9,11 Says “…he was taken up; and a CLOUD received him out of their sight …Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so COME  IN LIKE MANNER AS ye have seen him go to heaven.”  Again, God/Jesus is           “COMING IN CLOUDS” of Judgment as we see Him doing throughout the scriptures. A major point here may be made in the simple definition of the Greek word for “ in like manner as.” The Greek word is “TROPOS.” Strong's Greek Lexicon defines tropos in the following manner: “a turn, i.e. (by implication) mode or style (especially with preposition or relative prefix as adverb, like) ; FIGURATIVELY, department or character.--(even) as, conversation, (+like) manner, (+by any) means, way.”

The etymology of the English word TROPE is derived from this root word TROPOS. Webster's (on line) defines TROPE as follows: “Etymology: Latin tropus, Greek TROPOS, turn, way, style, TROPE, from trepein, to turn. 1 a): a word or expression used in a FIGURATIVE SENSE; figure of speech. <The usual horror        

                movie tropes>

          b): a phrase or verse added as an embellishment or interpolation to the sung parts of the mass in the  

           Middle Ages. .” Dictionary.com defines it in the following way: “Literary or rhetorical device, AS METAPHOR, or metonymy use of words IN OTHER THAN THEIR LITERAL SENSE, NONE LITERAL SPEECH.” One such example of the word being used in this manner is when Jesus says, “O Jerusalem…how often would I have gathered thy children together, EVEN AS (TROPOS) a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not.” (Mt.23:37) Jesus was not desiring to be transformed into a large hen in order to gather Jerusalem. Instead, He was METAPHORICALLY communicating His desire to tend unto the city, the city who would not be gathered to Him, and would therefore suffer desolation. So TROPOS is used in Acts 1:11 concerning His COMING in CLOUDS of Judgment upon the same city, it's temple and nation, in that Generation.

   “Oh but we interpret this passage literally.” To press the literal is to arrive at the same conclusion. I'll explain. If Jesus is to come in like manner, then he will come invisibly because that is what they saw. They saw a cloud receive Him out of their sight. (Acts 1:9) Also, according to the literalist interpretation of Rev.1:7, every eye shall see him, is referring to physical, mechanical “seeing”. (This is not the case by the way, the word for “see” is Optomai, which means to discern, perceive, and understand, not to mechanically “see”.) Only a small group saw Him ascend, if the literal is pressed here, then there would be a contradiction with every eye seeing him coming in the clouds. This, because the hard core literalist would have the exact manner of the ascension played out in Jesus coming in like/exact manner in the clouds, with the same small group gathered in the same literal spot. That is, if hard core literalism is consistently followed to the letter. 

   Another problem for the literalist pressing for the exact manner is that the coming of Jesus in Rev.19:11-16 says that He is riding a white horse, wearing many crowns, with a sword coming out of His mouth, with “King of Kings, and Lord of Lords” written on His vesture and on His thigh. Was He described as riding a white horse, wearing many crowns, with a sword coming out of His mouth, with “King of Kings, and Lord of Lords” written on His vesture and on His thigh in His ascension? No, therefore we must conclude that the figurative language of “in like manner as” (Tropos) is to be taken in a non-literal and non-exact sense. We must take Tropos literally as it is defined to mean non-literal. The very word literal is taken from the word literature. What does the rest of the literature, the whole council of God's word, tell us concerning COMING IN THE CLOUDS? And, what is the true meaning of each individual word, such as tropos within that literature, tell us? It tells us that Jesus would COME in the CLOUDS, in LIKE/FIGURATIVE (TROPOS) manner. 

 TROPOLOGY is the practice of trope in language. One definition of TROPOLOGY is simply spelled out as “FIGURATIVE CHRISTIAN DOCTRINE.” Another defines it as “The use of FIGURATIVE LANGUAGE in speech writing. A treatise on FIGURES of speech, or TROPES.” 

Acts 1:9,11 has Jesus disappearing in a CLOUD. He would then be seen COMING IN LIKE/FIGURATIVE MANNER. That is, COMING IN THE CLOUDS of judgment. These must be the same CLOUDS and the same COMING as is seen in Mt.24:30.

 

“So the “SECOND COMING” already happened?” To start from scratch, we must avoid all non-biblical terms. I will quote George Eldon Ladd who points this out, “The words “return” and “second coming” are not properly speaking Biblical words in that the two words do not represent any equivalent Greek words”. (George Eldon Ladd, The Blessed Hope, p.69) We must return to “Sola Scriptura”, and forsake Sola Scriptura y tambien. “Second Advent” is another example of this, yet we can conclude that the New Testament highlights one primary “coming” of Jesus. Yet, Jesus is God and King (1 Timothy 6:15, Revelation 1:5-ruler of the kings of the earth- NOW) who comes (parousia-coming presence, it literally is NOT defined as, “COMING BODILY, PHYSICALLY, OR VISIBLY”, but as “coming presence”. Take this word literally, Mr. Literalist) at various times, to various peoples (and individuals), communities, and countries, for various reasons, putting some down, while exulting others (Jeremiah 1:10). 

F.W. Farrar (1886) uses one of these unbiblical terms, in it he has in mind the eminent event coming upon the first century reader of the New Testament, “The Coming of the Lord”. He states, “THE FALL OF JERUSALEM WAS IN THE FULLEST SENSE, THE SECOND ADVENT OF THE SON OF MAN, which was primarily contemplated by the earliest voices of prophecy.” (Vol.2, p.489)

George Fox (Founder, Society of Friends, Quakers) states, “By which SECOND COMING thou and you understand His outward coming, …Now we say, He did come according to His Promise, in a spiritual and inward way of appearance in their hearts”. Keep this in mind with 1 Thessalonians 1:10, “When He shall COME to be glorified IN HIS SAINTS…” Those in the first century would experience the glory, within themselves, of the victory of Jesus' vindication (Isaiah 61:2-Luke 21:22) and that of His exultation (Dan.7:13-Son of man came UP with the clouds of heaven-Matthew 24:30)!!! Note that Jesus does not descend in clouds in Daniel 7:13, but that He comes UP to be exulted and honored before the Ancient of Days! 

Matthew 24:32  “Now learn a parable of the fig tree; When his branch is yet tender, and putteth forth leaves, YE know that summer is nigh” It was not for them to know the times, or seasons, until after they had gotten the spirit and matured, then they would know. (Acts 1:7, 1 Thes.5:1) Is Jesus trying to convey something here to His disciples about the re-birth of the nation of Israel in 1948 by figuratively mentioning Israel with the term “fig tree”? The parallel account in Luke21:29-32 tells us, “And he spake to them a parable: Behold the fig tree, AND ALL THE TREES; When they now shoot forth, YE see and know of your own selves that summer is now nigh at hand. So likewise YE, when YE shall see these things come to pass, know ye that the kingdom of God is nigh at hand. Verily I say unto YOU, THIS GENERATION ( NOT “THAT GENERATION” ) shall not pass away, till all be fulfilled.” 

    With this parallel account, it is clear that Jesus is not emphasizing the kind of tree, by referring to the fig tree in this parable, but rather “these things”/events mentioned in the previous verses. If the main point of the passage was in regard to the type of tree, the fig tree, then Luke would have mentioned it! The time for the kingdom's full establishment (Lk.21:31) would follow “these things.” These things would be the sign, just as clear as when “a” tree brings forth leaves, summer is near, so would the kingdom of God be near, immediately (nigh at hand) following the unfolding of “ these things”, mentioned in the previous verses up to this point in the chapter. To insist that the fig tree is always referring to Israel, is to only confirm that it was to be cursed, and that no fruit would grow on that nation henceforward FOREVER! (Mt.21:19) And that kingdom of God had been taken from that nation, and given to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof. (Mt.21:43) Also, if the fig tree is referring to Israel, then all the trees would be referring to all the nations. With this interpretation we are left with “when Israel becomes a nation, and all the nations become nations.”

Matthew 24:33 “So likewise YE, when YE shall see all these things, know that it is near, even at the doors.” “These things here are the same “these things” in verses 3-32. We must see that in verse 3 the disciples ask Jesus about “these things”, only in the context of the temples doom. Again Mark's “these things” (Mk.13:4) are the same things to do only with the temple, with no mention of the sign of Jesus' coming, and the end of the age. Only the temple is in play in Mark, and if you can handle the truth, only the temple is in play in Matthew 24!

Matthew 24:34 “Verily I say unto YOU, THIS GENERATION shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled.” The phrase, “THIS GENERATION” is mentioned about a 17 times in the New Testament. All would agree that not one time is it referring to a race, or some distant generation in any other passage of the New Testament. “But in this passage of the Olivet Discourse, it means something different here”, say those  with a pre-millennial, and preconceived notion toward the futurist view. The use of the phrase “THIS GENERATION” is even different here from it's usage a few verses before the “Olivet Discourse”, in Matthew 23:36 , they maintain. Can we reason together? The word GENERATION/“Genea” is used about another 20 times in the New Testament, and never means race, or some distant generation, in any of those passages as well. “Genos”, not genea, is always used when referring to race or genealogy. Can you say denial here? Are they saying, “I object your honor” as Jim Carey does in “Liar Liar.” “Why are you objecting”? Asks the judge, “because this evidence is devastating to my case”, declares the now truth telling lawyer. How could so many be misunderstanding this passage, if it's so undeniably clear. How could so many in NAZI Germany be so mislead? The answer is “long enough and loud enough” said Hitler, and people will believe anything. Doctrines of men, and traditions of men have substituted for Sola Scriptura. The Pope and Priest have been replaced by Protestant Popes of Prophecy, and Last Day's PROFITS, and pastors with a gospel of world wide disasters! This change from priest to pastor is an example of true replacement theology.  Where have all the Berean's gone, that will say, “LET GOD BE TRUE AND EVERY MAN A LIAR! (Acts 17:11, Romans 3:4) Is the crowd/majority in the wrong once again, and the remnant pointing out the truth of these matters?

 

“To write the same things to you, to me indeed is not grievous, but for you it is safe:” (Philippians 3:1) 

Matthew 3:7 “…O GENERATION of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come?

Matthew 11:16 “But whereunto shall I liken THIS GENERATION?

Matthew 12:41 “The men of Nineveh shall rise in judgment with THIS GENERATION…”

Matthew 12:42 “The queen of the south shall rise in judgment with THIS GENERATION…”

Matthew 12:45 “Even so shall it be also unto “THIS WICKED GENERATION.”

Matthew 16:4 “A WICKED AND ADULTEROUS GENERATION seeketh after a sign…”

Matthew 23:33 “Ye serpents, ye GENERATION OF VIPERS,…”

Matthew 23:36 “All these things shall come upon THIS GENERATION.”

Matthew 24:34 “THIS GENERATION shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled.”

Mark 8:12 “There shall no sign be given unto THIS GENERATION…”

Mark 8:38 “…ashamed of me and of my words in THIS ADULTEROUS, AND SINFUL GENERATION…”

Mark 9:19 “He answered him, and saith, O FAITHLESS GENERATION…”

Luke 7:31 “Whereunto then shall I liken the men of THIS GENERATION ?”

Luke 9:41 “…O FAITHLESS AND PERVERSE GENERATION.”

Luke 11:30 “…as Jonas was a sign unto the Ninevites, so shall also the Son of man be to THIS GENERATION.”

Luke 11:31 “The queen of the south shall rise up in judgment with the men of THIS GENERATION.”

Luke 11:32 “The men of Nineve shall rise up in the judgment with the men of THIS GERERATION.”

Luke 11:50 “That the blood of all the prophets, which was shed from the foundation of the world, may be required of THIS GENERATION.”

Luke 11:51 “…the blood…It shall be required of THIS GENERATION.”

Luke 17:25 “But first must he suffer many things, and be rejected of THIS GENERATION.”

Acts 2:40 “…Save yourselves from THIS UNTOWARD GENERATION.” 

Hebrews 3:9,10 “…forty years. Wherefore I was grieved with THAT GENERATION.” God clarifies here, that He is NOT speaking about “THIS” PRESENT GENERATION, by using “THAT” GENERATION within the context of “your fathers.”.  

    Are WE living in the last days? No, the New Testament writings referring to the “last days” are in relation to the last days of the Old Covenant system of the law, and it's old temple, city, and nation. It's not referring to the last days of the earth, of time (Rev.10:6 “time no longer” , is “delay no longer.” Daniel 12:4,9,13 speaks of “the time of the end” of something, that something being the Old Covenant. Note, that it does not say, “the end of time” , but rather, “the time of the end.”), or of the New Covenant. The transition from the Old to the New was a tumultuous one for the people living at the time of this cataclysmic change. The Old Covenant people themselves would have to transition and adapt in relating to God very differently. All of their outward practices that they had observed in the visible, were now to be SEEN and experienced inwardly, thru the spirit, in the invisible realm. All of this with in an invisible, spiritual kingdom, that didn't involve a physical overthrow of the Roman Empire. A now invisible King, ruling from a spiritual city (Galatians 4:22-31, 6:16, Hebrews 12:22), gathering his people in a spiritual temple, in a spiritual nation (1 Pet. 2:9, Mt.21:43) ,was not what the doctor/doctrine of the day ordered. Neither is it in our day. 

     Yes, the same misunderstanding of this kingdom is at work today. When did Jesus ever talk about a physical utopian kingdom? Yet, millions of Christians are on the organizing committee to make sure that this indeed comes to pass in the Middle East. They maintain that all opposing forces must be overthrown by the sword to insure this carnal concept of a kingdom. They contend that Israel is God's favored Nation, and that the Arab nations are not. Why is it that Muslims are the least likely people to ever consider the gospel of Christ? Maybe this is a big part of the reason! Maybe, the Christian Church, particularly in the United States, is laying out this stumbling block for about ONE BILLION MUSLIMS! Is not this attitude towards Middle East foreign policy similar to that of the Crusaders? Did they not believe that the “Holy Land” must be secured first, in order for Jesus to set up this same carnal concept of a kingdom? 

    The gospel of the kingdom is the EXPANSION of the kingdom, going FROM the limited confines of the boarders of Israel, to the Messiah's reign, which would cover and fill the earth. (Daniel 2:35, Isaiah 9:7, 11:9,10) Yes, all nations would be included in this kingdom, which was also difficult for first century Jews to accept. Perhaps this same difficulty remains today for millions of evangelicals. They would say, “After all, those Arab nations are part of Bible Prophecy, and are predetermined to be destroyed by God, because He's for Israel, and we must support Israel in every way so as to help God fulfill these prophecies. And by the way Arabs, Jesus loves you.” Is His House not to be a HOUSE OF PRAYER FOR ALL NATIONS? (Isaiah 56:7) Was not His kingdom to expand FROM Jerusalem, to Judea and Samaria TO the uttermost part of THE EARTH. Why do we think that the increase of his kingdom/government is really decreasing? (Isaiah 9:7) Why are we thinking that His kingdom is going backwards, back to Samaria, Judea and will eventually get back to PHYSICAL JERUSALEM, it's “headquarters”?  WAS THIS NOT THE HEADQUARTERS OF THE OLD COVENANT? (Galatians 4:24-26) Are not Bible Prophecy Teachers of the day returning to this Old Covenant bondage, and it's city/headquarters? This backwards, Bizarro Gospel must be stopped!

      The Covenant that promised circumcision in an everlasting covenant (Genesis 17:13) , was transitioned into an inward circumcision of the heart. (Romans 2:29) The covenant that promised land (Genesis 17:8 ) transitioned into the purchased possession of the land/field (Matthew 13:44) of peoples hearts, people of all nations, tribes, and tongues! (Rev.7:9) THE EARTH IS THE LORDS AND THE FULNESS THEREOF; THE WORLD, AND THEY THAT DWELL THEREIN! ALL LIMITATION S AND BOUNDARIES OF GEOGRAPHY, ETHNICITY, AND RACE, ARE LIFTED AND EXLUDED (Rom.3:27), AND NOW IT'S ALL ABOUT THEY THAT DWELL THEREIN! Psalm 24:1) Now its, WHOSOEVER BELIEVES ON HIM SHALL NOT BE ASHAMED, FOR THERE IS NO DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE JEW AND THE GREEK, AND THE ARAB! FOR THE SAME LORD OVER ALL IS RICH UNTO ALL THAT CALL UPON HIM!!! (Romans 10:11,12, Joel 2:32, Acts 2:21)