Jesus Warns Us to Be Ready

This is another in a series of excerpts from What Every Christian Should Know About the Return of Jesus, released by High Street Press and available at Amazon. 

Famous last words. William Brahms catalogued the final sayings of 3,500 prominent figures in his work, Last Words of Notable People. Other researchers also have captured the pithy statements of people on their deathbeds. A sampling:

  • While slipping towards the end of his life, Irish wit Oscar Wilde expressed disdain for the surroundings in his Paris hotel room. “Either that wallpaper goes, or I do,” he blurted. Wilde went first, but hotel management noted his grievance and later refurbished the suite.
  • Standing before a firing squad, convicted murderer James W. Rodgers was asked if he had a final request. His reply: “Bring me a bullet-proof vest.”
  • With death drawing near, television announcer Charles Gussman quietly removed his oxygen mask and whispered, “And now for a final word from our sponsor .…”
  • Leonardo da Vinci, who gave us such masterpieces as the Mona Lisa, was awkwardly modest as he faced death, saying only, “I have offended God and mankind because my work did not reach the quality it should have.” 
  • Drummer Buddy Rich, being prepped for a major surgical procedure he wouldn’t survive, was asked by his nurse, “Is there anything you can’t take?” His response: “Yeah, country music.”
  • Finally, Karl Marx reputedly offered these last words: “Get out of here and leave me alone. Last words are for fools who haven’t said enough already.”
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A Festive Gathering

This is another in a series of excerpts from The Book of Life: What the Bible Says about God’s Registry of the Redeemed from High Street Press and available at Amazon. This except comes from Chapter 15: Assembly of the Firstborn: Hebrews 12:23.

In previous posts [read #1; read #2], we spent considerable time exploring John’s vision of New Jerusalem, which the writer of Hebrews describes as “Mount Zion … the city of the living God” (Heb. 12:22). Now, with this setting in view, we may better envision the inhabitants of the heavenly Jerusalem.

First, we see “myriads of angels.” The Greek word translated “myriads” is myrios. It may mean “ten thousand,” as in Jesus’s parable of the unforgiving servant, who owed his master ten thousand talents (Matt. 18:24). It also may mean a large number, as in Paul’s first letter to the Corinthians, where he tells them, in exaggerated terms, they may have “countless instructors” (myrios paidagogos; 1 Cor. 4:15). Or it may mean a number so large, it cannot be counted; this seems to be the application in Hebrews. 

Angels are created spirit beings who dwell in the unseen realm. Holy angels surround God’s throne in heaven, battle fallen angels in the heavenlies, and come to earth at God’s command as “ministering spirits sent out to serve those who are going to inherit salvation” (Heb. 1:14). In his vision of heaven, John sees a vast host of angels: “Then I looked and heard the voice of many angels around the throne, and also of the living creatures and of the elders. Their number was countless thousands, plus thousands of thousands”(Rev. 5:11). Moses tells the Israelites that God came to him from Mount Sinai with “ten thousand holy ones” (Deut. 33:2).

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Can Christians Hasten the Return of Jesus?

This is another in a series of excerpts from What Every Christian Should Know About the Return of Jesus, released by High Street Press and available at Amazon. 

Is it possible for followers of Jesus to hasten his return? In seeking to answer this question, let’s examine two seemingly paradoxical New Testament passages regarding the coming day of the Lord.

First, Paul ends his address on Mars Hill with these words:

Therefore, having overlooked the times of ignorance, God now commands all people everywhere to repent, because he has set a day when he is going to judge the world in righteousness by the man he has appointed. He has provided proof of this to everyone by raising him from the dead (Acts 17:30-31, emphasis added).

Not long before his death, in seeming contrast to Paul, Peter writes:

But the day of the Lord will come like a thief; on that day the heavens will pass away with a loud noise, the elements will burn and be dissolved, and the earth and the works on it will be disclosed. Since all these things are to be dissolved in this way, it is clear what sort of people you should be in holy conduct and godliness as you wait for the day of God and hasten its coming. Because of that day, the heavens will be dissolved with fire and the elements will melt with heat. But based on his promise, we wait for new heavens and a new earth, where righteousness dwells (2 Pet. 3:10-13, emphasis added).

So, Paul tells us God has set a day for the judgment of all people, while Peter seems to imply that Christians may “hasten” that day. Are Paul and Peter at odds in their understanding of God’s revealed plan for the ages? Both apostles claim divine inspiration for their writing. So, why do they seem to take different approaches to the Day of the Lord?

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Key Features of New Jerusalem – Part 2

This is another in a series of excerpts from The Book of Life: What the Bible Says about God’s Registry of the Redeemed from High Street Press and available at Amazon. This except comes from Chapter 15: Assembly of the Firstborn: Hebrews 12:23.

The previous post intoduced us to some of the key features of Mount Zion, also known as New Jerusalem. Now, we examine more features of the heavenly city.

New Jerusalem lacks a temple, stellar lights, a closing time, and anything unclean (Rev. 21:22-27)

After a detailed description of New Jerusalem’s exterior, John turns his attention inside the city walls. He notes first the absence of a temple “because the Lord God the Almighty and the Lamb are its temple” (v. 22). 

Historical Jerusalem is known as the city of God because his presence resides there in the temple (1 Kings 8:10-13). The people of God approach him through a mediator, a high priest who offers atoning sacrifices for the peoples’ sins in the holy of holies on the Day of Atonement. 

The atoning blood is carried through a thick veil and sprinkled on the mercy seat, above which the Shekinahglory blazes. There, the wrath of God is satisfied, and his mercy is extended to sinful creatures. All this activity inside the cube-shaped holy of holies bears forward-looking significance. The day is coming when God himself provides a sacrifice: the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world (John 1:29).

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Christ’s Return: Soon, Shortly, Speedily

This is another in a series of excerpts from What Every Christian Should Know About the Return of Jesus, released by High Street Press and available at Amazon. 

As we continue studying the imminent return of Jesus, it may help to look more closely at the Greek word often translated “soon,” or “quickly,” in the New Testament. The adverb tachys means shortly, speedily, or without delay. It usually refers to a brief period of time, focusing on the speed of an activity or event. It does not necessarily mean immediately, nor does it specify a precise moment, although it may describe a relatively brief time subsequent to another point in time. 

Tachys is found numerous times in the New Testament. For example, an angel at the empty tomb of Jesus instructs two women to go “quickly” (tachy) and tell Jesus’ disciples the good news. As they depart hastily with fear and great joy, they encounter the resurrected Christ (Matt. 28:7-9). 

Paul expresses his desire to send Timothy to the Philippians “soon” (tacheos; Phil. 2:19). And in his final instructions to Timothy, an abandoned Paul urges the young pastor to come to him “soon” (tacheos; 2 Tim. 4:9). 

In Jesus’ parable of the lost son, the father wants the celebration – featuring robe, ring, sandals, and a fattened calf – to begin without delay, for he addresses his servants with the command, “Quick!” (tachys; Luke 15:22). 

James reminds us that we should be “quick (tachys) to listen, slow to speak, and slow to anger” (Jas. 1:19). 

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