Will this Generation see the End of the Age? (merged)

[politically_incorrect]

Genesis 15: 12-16

12 As the sun was setting, Abram fell into a deep sleep, and a thick and dreadful darkness came over him. 13 Then the LORD said to him, "Know for certain that your descendants will be strangers in a country not their own, and they will be enslaved and mistreated four hundred years. 14 But I will punish the nation they serve as slaves, and afterward they will come out with great possessions. 15 You, however, will go to your fathers in peace and be buried at a good old age. 16 In the fourth generation your descendants will come back here, for the sin of the Amorites has not yet reached its full measure."

Could this mean a generation is 100 years?

[Zerozx]

I've read on this board a few times that since Israel has been "reborn," we are living in the "Last Generation" ? Have I read posts correctly to come to that conclusion, or is there something wrong with that statement?

If that is correct, what does it mean, exactly? Does it mean the rapture is going to happen in my lifetime? :idunno

It seems like someone also said that a generation, or this generation, will be 70 years long? :scratch I'm not trying to set dates here, but does that mean the rapture will happen sometime soon? :idunno

If someone could clear up whatever I'm trying to say/ask here (:hehee), and provide Scripture to show me where it says these things, it would be greatly appreciated.

[KaiafromBergen]

Jack Kelly has some good information on this:

http://gracethrufaith.com/ask-a-bible-teacher/why-count-from-1967/#more-2657


Q. I really enjoy your mp3 studies. It seems they don’t come fast enough.

Having listened to your Prophecy 2008 series, I am curious about something you said. You mentioned the window of opportunity for the Lord’s Return as being sometime between 2018 & 2037; adding 70 years (the lifespan of a generation) to 1948 & 1967.

Why would you say that? Doesn’t the beginning of the signs of the End Times start with the rebirth of Israel, since it came before the retaking of Jerusalem? Why the confusion? Adding 70 years to 1967, is like saying the rebirth of Israel was not that significant to count as the beginning of signs.

A. There are two reasons why I included the 1967 date. First, I was only trying to create a range of time, not establish a specific date. I believe that 2037 is the latest possible date for all end times prophecy to be fulfilled.

My second reason is that in the Lord’s first coming, prophesied in Daniel 9:24-27, the 483 year count down began when the order was given to restore and rebuild Jerusalem, not when the Israelites were re-gathered in the Land. History has a way of repeating itself.

But remember, I’m talking about all end times prophecies including the 2nd Coming. The Rapture is not dependent upon any other end times event and can still happen any day.



Related Posts:

Is The End Of The Age Still On Schedule? (http://gracethrufaith.com/ask-a-bible-teacher/is-the-end-of-the-age-still-on-schedule/)
How Do You Know Jesus Was Referring To Our Generation? (http://gracethrufaith.com/ask-a-bible-teacher/how-do-you-know-jesus-was-referring-to-our-generation/)
Why Is God Waiting So Long? (http://gracethrufaith.com/ask-a-bible-teacher/why-is-god-waiting-so-long/)
Say That Again One More Time? (http://gracethrufaith.com/ask-a-bible-teacher/say-that-again-one-more-time/)
Generations And Lifespans (http://gracethrufaith.com/ask-a-bible-teacher/generations-and-lifespans/)

[Zerozx]

Great links Kaia, I read all of them. Thanks.

This leads me to my next question, where in Scripture does it specifically say that the Rapture could happen at any time? I'm familiar with the verse that says "in the twinkling of an eye," but this doesn't help me understand why it can happen at any time.
Why are these events not needed?

[Hootmon]

Why are these events not needed?Because none are listed.

[sirgak]

Great links Kaia, I read all of them. Thanks.

This leads me to my next question, where in Scripture does it specifically say that the Rapture could happen at any time? I'm familiar with the verse that says "in the twinkling of an eye," but this doesn't help me understand why it can happen at any time.
Why are these events not needed?

Bible teachers have looked to the prophetic type of the Jewish wedding feast, and likened it to Christ's coming for His bride in a like manner. I am sure there's probably a thread here on the forum that covers it in-depth, but just quickly, in the Jewish wedding custom, after a couple has been engaged, then the father sets a time when his son goes to fetch his bride. It is a custom still practiced today, and it considered great fun to have the bridegroom come at some unannounced time, suddenly, and the bride is supposed to have herself in readiness at all times, so that whenever he comes for her, whether in the morning or late at night, she would be ready for him. Then the bridegroom would bring her back to his father's house for the wedding. In the time between the betrothal and the unexpected coming, the bridegroom would have been preparing a home for his anticipated new bride.

These parts of the Jewish wedding custom all fit Scriptural descriptions of the relationship between Christ and the Church.

The Church is betrothed to Christ.
2 Corinthians 11:2
2 For I am jealous for you with godly jealousy. For I have betrothed you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ.

Christ is preparing a home for His intended bride:
John 14:1-3
1 “Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. 2 In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.

Christ is coming for His bride at some unexpected time:
Matt 25:6 “And at midnight a cry was heard: ‘Behold, the bridegroom is coming; go out to meet him!’
(By the way, in the parable of the ten virgins in Matt 25 cited above, the Church is NOT the 10 virgins, but the Bride. The 10 virgins are the people of Israel who are going through the Tribulation period, the "time of Jacob's trouble," and the mix of some virgins being prepared and some not, represent some modern Israelites coming to faith in Jesus Messiah and some not.)

Then, in the Father's house, the wedding happens:
Rev 19:7-9
7Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready.
8And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints.
9And he saith unto me, Write, Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb. And he saith unto me, These are the true sayings of God.

The Bride dwells in the New Jerusalem, a glorious city:
Rev 21:9-10
9And there came unto me one of the seven angels which had the seven vials full of the seven last plagues, and talked with me, saying, Come hither, I will shew thee the bride, the Lamb's wife.
10And he carried me away in the spirit to a great and high mountain, and shewed me that great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God,

Note: Jesus is not married to real estate. New Jerusalem is where we dwell, and in order to see the inexpressible multiple millions that have trusted in Christ, when you look at the city, you are looking at the totality of all the members of the Church.

I hope these verses help show why the Rapture's time is unknown and unguessable. Just as only the earthly father would know the time he was reserving for his earthly son to go get his earthly bride, so our heavenly Father has reserved the right to set the date when His Son, Jesus Christ, will go get His Bride, the Church.

By the way, the "mystery" of the Rapture in 1 Cor 15 has NOTHING to do with the time of the Rapture, but rather was a revealing of a new teaching that Paul was giving on the resurrection. The Old and New Testaments revealed there would be a resurrection of the dead. What Paul was revealing for the first time, what the mystery is, is that there will also be a resurrection of the living, meaning the resurrection of still-living Christians (ie had not died yet) that will occur when Christ comes in the Rapture for His Bride.

[Zerozx]

Thanks Hootmon, you always give a simplistic but yet brilliant, to-the-point answer.

Sirgak, thanks for the explanation and also the Scripture. :hat

[Hootmon]

I am nothing if not simplistic. :hehee

[WaitingonHisreturn]

OK i had alway thought that when you are Saved your name is written in the Book of Life.. Yesterday my preacher said something to the point that everyones name is written in the Book of Life when you are born, and that if you do not accept Christ before you pass away then your name is blotted out . Are their diffrent views to this

[WaitingonHisreturn]

Meant to post this as a new Thread not a reply....Mods can you move it for me?