What Do We Have Since the First Covenant World Passed Away?

We believe that Jesus of Nazareth is the Son of God Hits: 605

ABCs of Atavist Bible Eschatology The Triumph of the Second Covenant till the ages of the ages

Alarm, Dread, and Fear Can Come Over Us If We Do Not

Acknowledge That the Book of Revelation is Both About an Ending and a Beginning

by Mark Mountjoy

One of the hardest things we have to deal with when talking about realized prophecy with other Christians is what's left and what we can hope for in life if Jesus already came back a second time long ago.  Most people think that once Jesus comes back, everything on Earth ends, there's nothing left to do, and everything should be perfect. But that's not true, and people might think it hasn't happened yet and they should keep waiting for the Second Coming, which has already lasted over 2,000 years.

But we believe that in the last days of the Second Jewish Commonwealth, God, through his Holy Spirit, was building a spiritual world - a conceptual world, a world that lasts forever. This world is made up of a family of believers who are united both in heaven and on Earth.

What we have on Earth is a church and kingdom where we think, talk, and live by the Spirit (Galatians 5:16). The saints who have died now have the new Jerusalem, which the Bible says is a huge city that's 1,500 miles (2,414.02 km) wide, long, and tall (in Revelation chapters 21-22). Even though we haven't experienced what's coming yet, everything will be ours if we stay faithful to Christ until we die (Revelation 2:10 and Revelation 21:7).

But when it comes to what we have on Earth, the chart below will give you a good understanding of the conceptual framework we're in. We should feel confident that if we live according to the teachings of the New Testament, we have every reason to live this life victoriously, no matter what challenges, disappointments, or hardships come our way.

new kingdom of god conceptual world gif rszd to 290

Revelation 11 and the Kingdom of God

To show you that the Book of Revelation isn't just about the end of the Second Temple system, we only need to look at Revelation 11:15. It says that God's kingdom came with power at the start of the Jewish civil war that began in late 66 AD. See how the angel says that God and Christ will rule forever and ever? How could that happen if the Book of Revelation was meant to get Christians ready for the end of the world of the Law AND GOD'S KINGDOM? You see, God's kingdom comes with power and takes over from the Jewish Temple (it doesn't fall with it or disappear with it either).

Revelation 14 and the Gospel

Revelation chapter 14:6 shows a similar idea, but this time an angel is seen flying through the sky, announcing the "everlasting Gospel." Have you ever noticed that? How could the Gospel be everlasting if it was only good for a short 40 years (as some people say)? How could it last forever if it lost all its power to save or give meaning, direction, and hope to life after the disaster that happened between 66-70 AD? 

No, that's not what Revelation 14 is saying. Actually, according to Revelation 14:7, the message was that judgment had come and everyone should worship God and only God. But verse 8 says something really serious about how the Holy City was going to be destroyed soon.  And verses 9, 10, and 11 give warnings and tell off those people who would dare to worship idols to help the rebels.  The rebels were using magic and worshipping idols to try to make their ideas about prophecy and their wrong ideas about the Messiah come true.

Despite this, in Revelation 14:12-13, Christians are once again given hope and encouragement. They are told not to give in to any unethical practices, but to understand that if they die in the Lord, they are blessed "from now on." The Spirit also says, "Yes, they will rest from their labors, and their deeds will follow them." To me, my dear Christian friends, this sounds like God wants Christians to live with the hope of blessings and rest, and that our actions will have lasting consequences, just as the actions of those early Christians did.

Revelation 19 and the Marriage of Christ

The Book of Revelation highlights something entirely new on a third occasion: the marriage of Christ to the Church. This was announced and took place after God destroyed Jerusalem for her sins, iniquities, and transgressions. Take note of Revelation 14:1-4 and then observe Revelation 19:7-9. When the old was found to be unfit, punished, and removed (as seen in Revelation 19:14-21), the Lord then established a new relationship with His new people, which is what we witness in Revelation 19.

Revelation 21-22 and Our Eternal Home With God

Finally, Revelation chapters 21 and 22 describe in some detail, the glories that await us in a city so beautiful and bright that our earthly minds cannot easily wrap around what it could possibly look like.  Even those who have had unusual experiences with death or medical emergencies have admitted that to describe this city is quite impossible.  But this, too, is a beginning and not something we should allow anyone to convince us has passed away or that it does not belong to us who walk with the Lord.

Lastly, Revelation chapters 21 and 22 provide a detailed description of the glories that await us in a city so magnificent and radiant that our earthly minds struggle to comprehend its possible appearance.  Even those who have had extraordinary experiences with death or medical emergencies have conceded that describing this city is nearly impossible.  However, this too is a beginning, and we should not allow anyone to persuade us that it has vanished or that it does not belong to those of us who walk with the Lord.

The New Testament offers several insights on this matter; consider the following passages and verses: Matthew 6:19-20; 22:23-30; 1 Corinthians 2:9 and 6:9; 2 Corinthians 5:1-4; Hebrews 10:10, 14-16; and 1 Peter 1:4.  Additionally, endeavor to grasp the significance of Revelation chapters 21 and 22 as you contemplate the word of God.  The remarkable aspect of the New Testament is its historical nature, allowing you to delve into antiquity and archaeology to discover evidence that the foretold Bible events transpired as anticipated.

Once you acknowledge that God can be trusted with the things you can reference or examine, you will undoubtedly be more inclined to entrust your soul's eternity to things you cannot physically touch or prove, other than the fact that the world that crucified the Lord no longer exists, despite its best efforts to revitalize itself in a Herculean revolutionary renaissance that the direct intervention of Jesus Christ caused to ultimately fail.

The Perception of Loss and

the Reality of Gain

First Edition

Perceptiion

An Essay about Discovery, Disappointment,

Mourning, Acceptance, Insight, Reorientation, and Serenity

by Mark Mountjoy

 

Introductory Remarks

From as long ago as many of us can remember the idea of our being in the “last and evil days” just before “the glorious return of our Lord” has permeated every memory we have on this mysterious subject.  And we largely see the world through lenses that were handed down to us by our Christian forebears.

 
We did not attain or obtain this knowledge, logic, or reasons for our beliefs through careful processes of reasoning or deliberation but by passive acceptance from what we heard people say when we were too small to have a say or have any other choice.
 
Then when we reached adolescence and adulthood many of us began to either question and refine our core beliefs or else challenge and reject them to one degree or another.  Now, it is in college or university where teacher or peer challenges to faith in God itself fueled doubts about the validity of Christianity, that we, for the most part, inherited by our parents, relatives, or society, that were cherished as esteemed wisdom—and undebated and unquestionable.
 
Which means that it will come as something of a rude and unwelcome surprise if we ever discover that some major aspect of our Christian convictions is based on a thin line of reasoning or if, after repeated failures, is obviously false.  In such a case, it is understandable that a perception of loss will arise and initially prevail to be followed by disappointment (perhaps anger) disbelief, and mourning.  At this stage the strongest temptation may arise to throw the baby out with the bathwater—to abandon faith altogether as a project of ‘wishful’ thinking and purely superstitious lore.  Agnosticism and atheism may at this time look ever so attractive, but l would like to suggest in this essay a different avenue altogether.
 
Why Not Atheism & Agnosticim?
 
A troubled Christian may think that ditching Christ and throwing out Christianity will bring on truth, certainty, and stability, but that is not at all true!
 
The fact is this: Theism, Agnosticism, and Atheism are all beliefs and as beliefs are subject to changing definitions, tenets, and claims.  Once upon a time Scientism claimed, with pontifical authority, that the moon orbited the earth in outer space, existed in a vacuum, and was devoid of water.  Now they are acknowledging what the Bible already said: the moon is in the firmament and is part and parcel of the earth’s macro-ecosystem—not separate from it.1  And just the other day transmissions from the James Webb telescope beamed in images which show very definitely that THERE WAS NO BIG BANG.2 
 
Moreover, in more shocking recent Science news it has been discovered that in the quantum realm something can come1920 science final 4k compositematteo from nothing!3  To add one more discovery to this fascinating mix, Scientists have found that there are immense structures in the universe that suggest planning, order and purpose, rather than accident, randomness, and self-organization.4
 
This is Not the Time to Foresake Theism
 
These cases demonstrate one thing: Though Scientists seek to suppress the knowledge of God all their exploration, discovery, and research has caused them to come full circle back to God.  It is he that made the heaven and the earth and put the Sun, the greater light by day, in the firmament.  He also put the moon, the lesser light by night, in that same firmament.5
 
God also, by his word, created everything Ex Nehilo—as the Word of God has already declared (2 Maccabees 7:28 RSV).
 
This new discovery about the quantum field PROVES, perhaps once and for all, that two opposite quantum forces can create something brand new—which tells me and you that an Intelligence could make the worlds, universes, and all the many things we see in nature by things that do not appear.6  No longer can we countenance the belief that a Big Bang, from absolutely nothing, without any sentience or intention, created gigantic clouds of dust that over vast stretches of time created elements—oxygen, helium, uranium, plutonium, gold, silver, and precious stones, water, a sense of order, beauty, morality, Laws, species, times and seasons, and aspiration for splendor, music, and a desire to live—as far as we have seen dust can turn into none of these things no matter how long we might be able to wait!  However, creation, God’s Word says, points to GOD’s power and Divinity leaving mankind without excuse (Romans 1:20).
 
So what to do when one discovers a more exact understanding of “last and evil days” and a “return of our Lord” which is highly likely situated in Jewish and Israelite antiquity? 
 
One, if true this is but more unexpected reasons why Christianity is really true and not false.
 
Two, resist the urge to throw the baby out with the bath Baby Out RSZDwater.  Put your trust in God, if you are already a Christian fortify and strengthen your faith and personal relationship with him (John 17:3). 
 
Three, Christianity is a gigantic tree so the question about which branch is the right one is largely moot.  Focus on the essentials (which are listed below).7  Be a Christian, above all and fear the Lord and eschew all evil (1 Peter 3:11-13 cf. 1 Peter 4:16).  We would also advise Christians to avoid strange teachings that are likely NOT Biblical and will almost certainly lead to embarrassment and regret.8  If you are serving in ministry, rededicate yourself to your vocation and calling.
 
Four, if you are living a double life surrender to Jesus and give him all your life, your soul, your mind, and your strength (1 Peter 2:1 cf. Mark 12:30-31).  From this will come acceptance, insight, reorientation, and serenity in Christ.  But if you walk away from the Lord, be sure of this: Scientists, in increasing numbers, are coming to the Lord precisely because of their Scientific observations that tell them that there is an Intelligent Designer.  
 
 Conclusion
 
Aside from questions about the Bible history timeline and the differences Christians entertain about what those promises really mean, your faith in Almighty God and his Son will be deeper, wider, and higher if you never get your sights off the central figure in the Bible: God and your responsibility to know him and love him. 
 
Your way forward will be lit by the bright light that the Holy Spirit will shine to guide you on your way and the end, just beyond the veil, will be more than you could have hoped for and God has promised his people: We will not be disappointed because if our Lord really already accomplished what he said he would shortly do, this dear brothers and sisters, is really not a loss for any of us but a gain only. Whereas if he failed to accomplish all in no long time, that would genuinely devastate our New Testament faith.  Meditate and reflect on this and may God bless you.
 
Endnotes
 
1 Surprise! Earth’s Atmosphere Extends Far Beyond the Moon  https://www.space.com/earth-atmosphere-extends-beyond-moon.html
2  James Webb Telescope FINALLY Proves The Big Bang Theory Is Wrong! (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vAxgaTvYA7Y)
3  70-year-old quantum prediction comes true, as something is created from nothing:  https://bigthink.com/starts-with-a-bang/something-from-nothing/
4  ‘Giant arc’ stretching 3.3 billion light-years across the cosmos shouldn't exist  https://www.livescience.com/giant-arc-in-space.html
6 See, Hebrews 11:3.
Related
 
 
Caption credits: Perception. Source: psypost.org
Throwing the baby out with the bath water.  Source: vocal media.
Quantum field.  Source: https://bigthink.com/starts-with-a-bang/something-from-nothing/Credit: Matteo Ceccanti and Simone Cassandra)