Our Mission:
|
Bible Witness Ministries is a ministry that is not associated with any single denomination. The information contained on this website is for ALL believers who seek knowledge and truth rooted in the word of God.
We believe that all people will be judged by what they know to be spiritually true and by what is found within each person's heart. True knowledge of spiritual things can only be found by reading the word of God and by the Holy Spirit. The holy bible is an awesome gift to mankind from God; compiled over generations to lead each soul to salvation. The bible is our road-map to life. |
New Release: The Final Judgment - The Final Return of Christ
|
The Final Judgment - The Final Return of Christ
In Jesus' day and age, the people were preoccupied with the troubles and trials in their own lives to take notice of prophecy that was unfolding right before their eyes. The priest read the scriptures daily but didn't recognize how special their generation was. This book aspires to prevent the past from repeating itself by taking the reader on a journey through the Bible to discover the narrative of what's to come. |
The Second Coming of Christ - As Revealed in the Word of God
|
The Second Coming of Christ - As Revealed in the Word of God
Explore teachings surrounding Christ's Second Coming, the way Christ and His apostles taught them long ago. This book highlights routinely overlooked end-time Bible texts and explains them without any biases. Key Bible prophecies, testimonies, and an in-depth look at symbolic language will shed light on this heavily debated topic. |
Online Bible Study Resources
The End Times Bible Study Series
Learn exactly what the bible has to say about the End Times
|
|
|
|
|
Address any questions or comments that you may have concerning this bible study series, using the form provided here. Be sure to specify which bible study your question is referring to.
|
Kingdom Requirements
1. Accept Christ as Your Lord & Savior
2. Forgive Those Who Have Done You Wrong
3. Ask The Lord To Forgive You for Your Sins
2. Forgive Those Who Have Done You Wrong
3. Ask The Lord To Forgive You for Your Sins
And they shall come from the east, and from the west, and from the north, and from the south, and shall sit down in the kingdom of God.
Luke 13:29 KJV
Common End-Time Misconceptions
#1 - The Second Coming of Christ will occur in the near future
- This is a very common misconception within many denominations today. However, although Jesus did not tell His disciples the day or the hour of His Second Coming, He was very clear as to what generation it would occur in. (See Matthew 24:34 KJV)
- The book of Revelation confirms that those who pierced Christ on the cross would be alive to see the second coming of Christ come to pass. (See Revelation 1:7 KJV)
- After receiving the Holy Spirit, the apostles preached that some of them would not die before the second coming/first resurrection/end of the old covenant world would come to pass; just as Jesus told them in Matthew 24:34. (See 1 Corinthians 15:51-52 KJV)
(1 Corinthians 10:11 KJV) (Hebrews 9:26 KJV)
#2 - The Time of Tribulation is soon to come
- In Matthew 24:34, Jesus told His disciples that everything that He told them to look out for, including the time of tribulation, would occur in their generation. When the time came to pass, the apostle John confirmed that He was indeed living in the time of tribulation along with the rest of the brethren. (See Revelation 1:9 KJV)
- However, there will be another "time of trouble" in the future, but it will not affect God's people to the degree that the Great Tribulation affected Old Covenant Israel. In the days of Great Tribulation, in 70AD, at the end of that age and during the time of the Roman/Jewish War, Old Covenant Israel was heavily persecuted. The people, including the saints, were hunted down and many were killed. (See Daniel 7:21 KJV)
- In the future time of trouble, believers will be protected from the terrifying events that will unfold here on the Earth. The bible says TRUTH will be our shield and buckler and nothing will come nigh our dwellings. (See Psalm chapter 91 KJV)
#3 - The "Rapture" will occur in the future and all believers
will escape the time of trouble
- Matthew 24:40-41 and Luke 17:34-36 both confirm the occurrence of a rapture, but Matthew 24:34 and Luke 21:32 are clear that the "rapture" of the saints would take place in the generation of the disciples/apostles. Jesus did not tell them the day or the hour, but He was clear about what generation would witness the great event.
- Only the "firstfruits", the 144000 saints from old covenant Israel, were taken to heaven during the Second Coming of Christ. All of those saints were chosen from the old covenant nation of Israel. (See Revelation 7:1-8 KJV) (Revelation 14:1-5 KJV)
Note: Although the "world" offers us no proof that these events took place, we know that God's words are true
and that Satan is the master of lies and deception
#4 - The "Rapture" was a secret event
- The bible is clear that all those who were alive, during the rapture, saw the event come to pass. We know that the "rapture" of the saints (144000) took place when Jesus said it would take place (Matthew 24:34 KJV), because it is also written that even those who pierced Him on the cross would still be alive to see it come to pass. (see Revelation 1:7 KJV)
#5 - Heaven will be the eternal home of all believers
- The bible is very clear that when Christ returns with the saints to judge the world, during the Final Judgment, He will set up the Kingdom of Heaven/The City of God/New Jerusalem here on the Earth. Those who are found worthy will be allowed to enter through the gates of the city and have access to the Tree of Life
(See Zechariah 14:9 KJV) (Matthew 25:31-34) (Revelation 11:15 KJV) (Revelation 22:14 KJV)
- Technically, the Kingdom of Heaven will be the home of all believers, but it will not be found up in the heavens, it will be down here on the Earth.
(See Psalms 25:13) (Psalms 37:9, 11, 22) (Isaiah 49:8) (Matthew 5:5)
(Revelation 21:2)
Trust and Believe the Word of God
& Keep the Faith of Jesus
End Time Prophecies Passed & Still Yet to Come
Bible Prophecies Fulfilled & Already Passed
- The Great Tribulation (PASSED)
(The saints were overcome - See Daniel 7:21 KJV, Revelation 13:7 KJV )
(Confirmed by the apostle John - See Revelation 1:9 KJV)
- The Second Coming of Christ (PASSED)
(Matthew 24:34 KJV)
- The End of the Old Covenant World (PASSED)
(1 Corinthians 10:11 KJV, Hebrews 9:26 KJV)
- First Resurrection/Judgment of Old Covenant Israel (PASSED)
(The dead from the House of God , Old Covenant Israel, raised to face judgment - See 1 Peter 4:17 KJB)
- The Saints (144000) Taken up to Heaven (PASSED)
(See 1 Corinthians 15:51-52 KJV )
- Satan Bound for 1000 Years (PASSED)
(See Revelation 20:2 KJV)
- Satan Released to Deceive the World for a Season (PASSED/CURRENT)
(See Revelation 20:3 KJV)
Bible Prophecies Still to Come in the Future
- A Time of Trouble/Havoc on Earth (Still to Come)
(Believers protected by God - See Psalm 91 KJV)
- The Return of Christ with the Saints (144000) to Judge All Nations (Still to Come)
(See 1 Corinthians 6:2 KJV)
- The Final Resurrection/Judgment of All Nations (Still to Come)
(The dead from all nations raised to face judgment - See Revelation 20:12-13 KJV)
- The Establishment of New Jerusalem Here on Earth (Still to Come)
(Revelation 21:1-3 KJV)
- All Believers Gain Entrance into New Jerusalem (Still to Come)
(Revelation 22:14 KJV)
- Satan and His Army Battle Christ & His Army (Still to Come)
(Revelation 20:9-10 KJV)
- Satan and All Unbelievers Take Their Place in the Lake of Fire (Still to Come)
- The Earth Made New (Still to Come)
(See Revelation 21:5 KJV)
- God our Father & Christ Will Dwell With All Believers on the Earth Made New
(Still to Come)
(Revelation 21:3 KVJ)
- The Great Tribulation (PASSED)
(The saints were overcome - See Daniel 7:21 KJV, Revelation 13:7 KJV )
(Confirmed by the apostle John - See Revelation 1:9 KJV)
- The Second Coming of Christ (PASSED)
(Matthew 24:34 KJV)
- The End of the Old Covenant World (PASSED)
(1 Corinthians 10:11 KJV, Hebrews 9:26 KJV)
- First Resurrection/Judgment of Old Covenant Israel (PASSED)
(The dead from the House of God , Old Covenant Israel, raised to face judgment - See 1 Peter 4:17 KJB)
- The Saints (144000) Taken up to Heaven (PASSED)
(See 1 Corinthians 15:51-52 KJV )
- Satan Bound for 1000 Years (PASSED)
(See Revelation 20:2 KJV)
- Satan Released to Deceive the World for a Season (PASSED/CURRENT)
(See Revelation 20:3 KJV)
Bible Prophecies Still to Come in the Future
- A Time of Trouble/Havoc on Earth (Still to Come)
(Believers protected by God - See Psalm 91 KJV)
- The Return of Christ with the Saints (144000) to Judge All Nations (Still to Come)
(See 1 Corinthians 6:2 KJV)
- The Final Resurrection/Judgment of All Nations (Still to Come)
(The dead from all nations raised to face judgment - See Revelation 20:12-13 KJV)
- The Establishment of New Jerusalem Here on Earth (Still to Come)
(Revelation 21:1-3 KJV)
- All Believers Gain Entrance into New Jerusalem (Still to Come)
(Revelation 22:14 KJV)
- Satan and His Army Battle Christ & His Army (Still to Come)
(Revelation 20:9-10 KJV)
- Satan and All Unbelievers Take Their Place in the Lake of Fire (Still to Come)
- The Earth Made New (Still to Come)
(See Revelation 21:5 KJV)
- God our Father & Christ Will Dwell With All Believers on the Earth Made New
(Still to Come)
(Revelation 21:3 KVJ)
Bible Witness Ministries Featured Video Slide Presentation
Kingdom of Heaven on Earth Video Q & A
Q. What is the time frame for the second coming of Christ and what is the time frame for when
God's kingdom will be present on the earth?
A. The bible is clear that Christ was to return for all GOD appointed saints in the same generation that the apostles liven in (see Matthew 24:34 KJV and Matthew 10:23). The kingdom of heaven will be set up here on Earth at the very end of time, after the final time of tribulation and after the Second Resurrection (see Revelation 11:15 KJV and Revelation 7:14-15).
Q. When Jesus said this generation shall not pass, what generation was he referring to?
A. Jesus was specifically talking to His disciples at that time, so He was referring to the generation that the disciples were living in. He was not talking about our generation that is so far removed from the time that He made the statement in Matthew 24:34 KJV; it is a common misconception in many churches today. In fact, the next prophetic event to come on this earth is the establishment of Christ's kingdom here on this earth, not His second coming.
Q. What is the time frame for the second coming of Christ and what is the time frame for when
God's kingdom will be present on the earth?
A. The bible is clear that Christ was to return for all GOD appointed saints in the same generation that the apostles liven in (see Matthew 24:34 KJV and Matthew 10:23). The kingdom of heaven will be set up here on Earth at the very end of time, after the final time of tribulation and after the Second Resurrection (see Revelation 11:15 KJV and Revelation 7:14-15).
Q. When Jesus said this generation shall not pass, what generation was he referring to?
A. Jesus was specifically talking to His disciples at that time, so He was referring to the generation that the disciples were living in. He was not talking about our generation that is so far removed from the time that He made the statement in Matthew 24:34 KJV; it is a common misconception in many churches today. In fact, the next prophetic event to come on this earth is the establishment of Christ's kingdom here on this earth, not His second coming.
Q. In the article, “The Second Coming of Christ and The Kingdom to Come: Chapter 8 Bible Study Message and Concepts,” “Paul” mentioned writes; “BUT YE, BRETHREN, ARE NOT IN DARKNESS, THAT THAT DAY SHOULD OVERTAKE YOU AS A THIEF. Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness. (1 Thessalonians 5:1-5 KJV) How do we reconcile what Paul said in 1 Thessalonians with the following scriptures, is he suggesting that we supposed to know the day? ::: But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. Take heed, watch and pray; for you do not know when the time is. It is like a man going to a far country, who left his house and gave authority to his servants, and to each his work, and commanded the doorkeeper to watch. Watch therefore, for you do not know when the master of the house is coming—in the evening, at midnight, at the crowing of the rooster, or in the morning. (Mark 13:32-35) “Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour in which the Son of Man is coming. (Matthew 25:13) Behold, I come as a thief. Blessed is he that watcheth, and keepeth his garments, lest he walk naked, and they see his shame. (Revelation 16:15) But know this, that if the goodman of the house had known in what watch the thief would come, he would have watched, and would not have suffered his house to be broken up. (Matthew 24:43) But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up. (2 Peter 3:10)
A. It's true that texts that you references seem to contradict, to a certain degree. But when you look deeper, they all fall into place. The premise of the book "The second Coming of Christ and the Kingdom to Come" is to use the bible to separate end time prophetic texts and place them in their proper order in time. Then allow the reader weigh the biblical evidence, while using their faith to believe all that is written concerning the end times.
What Paul wrote in 1 Thessalonians 5:1-5 and what Jesus said in Mark 13:32-35 may seem to be contradicting, but when you look closer, and use other scripture to pull both texts together, you can see how well they mesh together. The first thing to notice is that both Jesus and Paul are talking in terms that let the people know that His second return (for His saints) will occur in their current generation. Paul says it will not take THEM by surprise which backs up Jesus' words telling THEM to actively be watching for the “harvest”. This is also apparent in John 4:35 (KJV)... Say not ye, There are yet four months, and then cometh harvest? behold, I say unto you, Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest. Both Jesus and Paul give the people the same immanent warning; Be ready for it. The contradiction is not with the message but with the mistranslation of the word “Day”. The word “day” can be taken literally (24 hours) or symbolically to mean “a period of time” or “an age”. In Mark 13:32-35, Jesus is telling the people that they will not know the exact literal “day”. They knew the time period, because Jesus gave them the signs that they should be looking out for in their generation (Matt 24:34). In 1Thessalonians 5:1-5, Paul is not referring to the literal “day”, but instead he is telling the people that they do indeed know the “time period” because they can see the signs coming to pass in their own generation. This same concept concerning the root word “day” can be seen when Jesus told the thief on the cross that “ToDAY shalt thou be with me in paradise” (Luke 23:43). Jesus didn't mean that the thief was going to heaven on that very day (Jesus didn't even go up to heaven on that very day), He meant that in that same time period or age, the man would be taken up to heaven and would be counted among the saints (see also Romans 11:5).
Now this is where things become very relevant to us living in this present day and age... Revelation Chapter16 and Matthew chapter 25 are both prophetic chapters referring to Christ's final return (not the second coming), during the time of the final Judgment; still yet to come. We know this because the judgement being described includes ALL the nations (not just old covenant Israel) and Jesus is sitting on His thrown in the everlasting kingdom down here on Earth (see Matthew 25:31-32). Jesus' final return to reclaim the Earth, sit on His throne down here, and rid the Earth of all evil, will come upon those who dwell on the earth (us) by surprise. For the most part, those who are a part of the body of Christ are not together in the truth. Some believe a certain teaching and others believe a different one, which tells us that there is much darkness in the world today; spiritually and generally.
We are the ones living in “darkness”; not the first century church. The time of Christ's final return is going to take the present day church, and the whole world by surprise; like a thief. The first century church didn't know the exact literal day or exact hour that Jesus was going to appear in the sky (to take away the saints)... but they did know the generation that it was going to occur in. So Jesus came upon them like a thief in that sense of the matter. Our generation on the other hand knows nothing; not the day, not the hour or the generation of His final return (to judge the whole world with His saints), unless we FULLY believe what is written in the scriptures. The enemy of God has committed his final act; satan has deceived the whole world and has pulled a veil over the truth. Jesus foretold of this time while He taught His disciples... John 9:4 I must work the works of Him that sent Me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work. Today there are many teachers teaching a word... but not the truth as it concerns the end of all "things".
So Paul (being influenced by the Holy Spirit) was speaking the truth and his words were not in contradiction to what Jesus taught. It may look like it on the surface, because of the way the bible has been translated, but the truth can still be found; by the grace of God.
A. It's true that texts that you references seem to contradict, to a certain degree. But when you look deeper, they all fall into place. The premise of the book "The second Coming of Christ and the Kingdom to Come" is to use the bible to separate end time prophetic texts and place them in their proper order in time. Then allow the reader weigh the biblical evidence, while using their faith to believe all that is written concerning the end times.
What Paul wrote in 1 Thessalonians 5:1-5 and what Jesus said in Mark 13:32-35 may seem to be contradicting, but when you look closer, and use other scripture to pull both texts together, you can see how well they mesh together. The first thing to notice is that both Jesus and Paul are talking in terms that let the people know that His second return (for His saints) will occur in their current generation. Paul says it will not take THEM by surprise which backs up Jesus' words telling THEM to actively be watching for the “harvest”. This is also apparent in John 4:35 (KJV)... Say not ye, There are yet four months, and then cometh harvest? behold, I say unto you, Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest. Both Jesus and Paul give the people the same immanent warning; Be ready for it. The contradiction is not with the message but with the mistranslation of the word “Day”. The word “day” can be taken literally (24 hours) or symbolically to mean “a period of time” or “an age”. In Mark 13:32-35, Jesus is telling the people that they will not know the exact literal “day”. They knew the time period, because Jesus gave them the signs that they should be looking out for in their generation (Matt 24:34). In 1Thessalonians 5:1-5, Paul is not referring to the literal “day”, but instead he is telling the people that they do indeed know the “time period” because they can see the signs coming to pass in their own generation. This same concept concerning the root word “day” can be seen when Jesus told the thief on the cross that “ToDAY shalt thou be with me in paradise” (Luke 23:43). Jesus didn't mean that the thief was going to heaven on that very day (Jesus didn't even go up to heaven on that very day), He meant that in that same time period or age, the man would be taken up to heaven and would be counted among the saints (see also Romans 11:5).
Now this is where things become very relevant to us living in this present day and age... Revelation Chapter16 and Matthew chapter 25 are both prophetic chapters referring to Christ's final return (not the second coming), during the time of the final Judgment; still yet to come. We know this because the judgement being described includes ALL the nations (not just old covenant Israel) and Jesus is sitting on His thrown in the everlasting kingdom down here on Earth (see Matthew 25:31-32). Jesus' final return to reclaim the Earth, sit on His throne down here, and rid the Earth of all evil, will come upon those who dwell on the earth (us) by surprise. For the most part, those who are a part of the body of Christ are not together in the truth. Some believe a certain teaching and others believe a different one, which tells us that there is much darkness in the world today; spiritually and generally.
We are the ones living in “darkness”; not the first century church. The time of Christ's final return is going to take the present day church, and the whole world by surprise; like a thief. The first century church didn't know the exact literal day or exact hour that Jesus was going to appear in the sky (to take away the saints)... but they did know the generation that it was going to occur in. So Jesus came upon them like a thief in that sense of the matter. Our generation on the other hand knows nothing; not the day, not the hour or the generation of His final return (to judge the whole world with His saints), unless we FULLY believe what is written in the scriptures. The enemy of God has committed his final act; satan has deceived the whole world and has pulled a veil over the truth. Jesus foretold of this time while He taught His disciples... John 9:4 I must work the works of Him that sent Me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work. Today there are many teachers teaching a word... but not the truth as it concerns the end of all "things".
So Paul (being influenced by the Holy Spirit) was speaking the truth and his words were not in contradiction to what Jesus taught. It may look like it on the surface, because of the way the bible has been translated, but the truth can still be found; by the grace of God.
Help Us Spread the Good News
Of The Coming Kingdom of Heaven
Matthew 24:14 KJV
And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world
as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.
And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world
as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.
