By Jonathan Brentner
July 29, 2024
Living in the last days has its challenges, to be sure. We see wickedness, lawlessness, and deception increasing at an exponential clip. As violence erupts all around us, I pray daily for the safety of our children and their spouses as well as for all our grandchildren.
On the other hand, we live at a time like no other. I recently read Matthew chapters 12 and 13 and as I did, a coupe verses reminded me of the wonder of being alive at such a time as this.
But blessed are your eyes, for they see, and your ears, for they hear. For truly, I say to you, many prophets and righteous people longed to see what you see, and did not see it, and to hear what you hear, and did not hear it. (Matthew 13:16-17)
The above verses, addressed to His disciples, were part of Jesus’ explanation for starting to teach with parables. His words came after the Pharisees blasphemed the Holy Spirit by attributing the power behind His miracles to the devil. They, unlike those close to Him, failed to experience the blessing of recognizing the significance of the day in which they lived. Many in previous generations had longed to be alive at the time their Messiah walked among them.
The Savior’s words apply to us today. Just as those in first century AD Israel witnessed the fulfillment of many prophecies relating to Jesus’ first appearing, today we watch the unfolding of a great many prophetic events signaling Jesus’ imminent return for His church, the start if the Tribulation, and the Second Coming. Bible prophecy is bursting into life all around us that’s difficult to miss.
Jesus’ words in Matthew 13:16-17 reminded me of Bible scholars in the past who revitalized beliefs in the pre-Tribulation Rapture and Jesus reign over the nations from a restored Israel.
the perils of our day to the fulfillment of Bible prophecy (see Matthew 16:1-4). They read the same passages that we do, but remain blind to the evidences of Jesus’ soon return. They miss the blessing of watching Bible prophecy come to fruition and sadly, deny many believers that same privilege.
In Philippians 3:14, Paul wrote these words concerning what I’m convinced was his expectation of the Lord’s imminent appearing:
Although we don’t know what the future holds, let alone the next day (James 4:13-17), the fact that we are ever so close to the start of the seven-year Tribulation tells us that the moment of the Rapture is as close as we dare imagine. We have a reasonable expectation of being alive at Jesus’ appearing to take us home to glory.
Similar to those who rejoiced at the fulfillment of Scripture when Jesus first appeared, we also have the wonder of witnessing as the pieces fall into place for God’s sovereign plan of the ages to overthrow Satan’s rule and replace it with the righteous reign of His Son over the nations!
Don’t fall for the lies that deny our hope of Jesus’ imminent appearing. We live at a time like no other because we have the great privilege of watching the pieces of Bible prophecy fall into place.
www.jonathanbrentner.com
July 29, 2024
Living in the last days has its challenges, to be sure. We see wickedness, lawlessness, and deception increasing at an exponential clip. As violence erupts all around us, I pray daily for the safety of our children and their spouses as well as for all our grandchildren.
On the other hand, we live at a time like no other. I recently read Matthew chapters 12 and 13 and as I did, a coupe verses reminded me of the wonder of being alive at such a time as this.
But blessed are your eyes, for they see, and your ears, for they hear. For truly, I say to you, many prophets and righteous people longed to see what you see, and did not see it, and to hear what you hear, and did not hear it. (Matthew 13:16-17)
The above verses, addressed to His disciples, were part of Jesus’ explanation for starting to teach with parables. His words came after the Pharisees blasphemed the Holy Spirit by attributing the power behind His miracles to the devil. They, unlike those close to Him, failed to experience the blessing of recognizing the significance of the day in which they lived. Many in previous generations had longed to be alive at the time their Messiah walked among them.
The Savior’s words apply to us today. Just as those in first century AD Israel witnessed the fulfillment of many prophecies relating to Jesus’ first appearing, today we watch the unfolding of a great many prophetic events signaling Jesus’ imminent return for His church, the start if the Tribulation, and the Second Coming. Bible prophecy is bursting into life all around us that’s difficult to miss.
OUR EXPECTATION
As believers, we have a valid expectation of being alive at the time of the Rapture. As events point the rapid approach of the Tribulation, we know that the time of meeting Jesus in the air is ever so close. When Paul penned the letters to Thessalonians, he expressed the hope, the possibility, that he might take part in this momentous event before his death. Notice his words in 1 Thessalonians in 4:17:At the end of his ministry, the apostle recognized that he would die before the Rapture. Regardless, he wrote of the reward that Jesus would give to him because of his love for Jesus’ appearing (2 Timothy 4:8).
Jesus’ words in Matthew 13:16-17 reminded me of Bible scholars in the past who revitalized beliefs in the pre-Tribulation Rapture and Jesus reign over the nations from a restored Israel.
the perils of our day to the fulfillment of Bible prophecy (see Matthew 16:1-4). They read the same passages that we do, but remain blind to the evidences of Jesus’ soon return. They miss the blessing of watching Bible prophecy come to fruition and sadly, deny many believers that same privilege.
In Philippians 3:14, Paul wrote these words concerning what I’m convinced was his expectation of the Lord’s imminent appearing:
Just as Jesus said, those who witnessed his earthly ministry were “blessed.” At the same time, I can’t help but think that it’s also wonderful to watch Bible prophecy unfold before our eyes.
Although we don’t know what the future holds, let alone the next day (James 4:13-17), the fact that we are ever so close to the start of the seven-year Tribulation tells us that the moment of the Rapture is as close as we dare imagine. We have a reasonable expectation of being alive at Jesus’ appearing to take us home to glory.
Similar to those who rejoiced at the fulfillment of Scripture when Jesus first appeared, we also have the wonder of witnessing as the pieces fall into place for God’s sovereign plan of the ages to overthrow Satan’s rule and replace it with the righteous reign of His Son over the nations!
Don’t fall for the lies that deny our hope of Jesus’ imminent appearing. We live at a time like no other because we have the great privilege of watching the pieces of Bible prophecy fall into place.
Don’t Miss the Blessing of Watching Bible Prophecy Come To Fruition — Jonathan Brentner
Living in the last days has its challenges, to be sure. We see wickedness, lawlessness, and deception increasing at an exponential clip. As violence erupts all around us, I pray daily for the safety of our children and their spouses as well as for all our grandchildren. On the other hand, we live a
www.jonathanbrentner.com
