Christ's Return -- When?

A letter I received:
"I have looked at a bit at your blogs and they are interesting. I suppose I feel I understand where I am with what I believe. I just was interested in what you may have been about. I personally don't believe that Jesus' presence has begun. I don't think that Satan has been thrown down yet.
 I believe jws have carried the truth to a point, but the apostasy is lurking in the house of jehovah -who is the man of lawlessness.
 I believe that if the ones that know the real truth, can be there to guide the confused innocent jws, and help to help explain what has happened, when the organization finally comes crashing down. The letter u wrote to your old congregation was really nice by the way. I thought I'd explain what I believe so you can understand me better.
Thanks for reading my letter."

My Reply:

Hello again,

Sorry for the delay in replying. I am caring for an elderly parent, and don't get to do all I wish.

I was pleased to receive your last letter, expressing your perspectives, but especially glad to read what you wrote in your first letter, about searching for the real truth of the Bible. It is with scripture, that I hope to give you more information about the presence of Christ, and how it relates to the presence of the Man of Lawlessness, whom you seem to believe is now present.

I hope you will take your time with this response. There is a lot contained in it. It will be critical that you read the scriptures as you come to them. I truly hope that you get some benefit from all my effort. If you also give effort to reading it, I think you will enjoy the final result. Please let me know how you do with the information.

In my last letter, I did not tell you when I believe Christ returns. I only mentioned that he promised to be with his Temple priests "all the days until the end". But he also promised that when "two or more" gather for the purpose of Christ, he would be with them.

These two beliefs are clearly established in Christ's recorded words (Matt.28:20; 18:20).

Yet as I stated in the last letter, Jesus also spoke of another time that he would "arrive" and be "present".

He said,

"Now learn the parable from the fig tree: when its branch has already become tender and puts forth its leaves (Leaves), you know that summer is near; so, you too, when you see all these things, recognize that He is near, right at the door." (Matt.24:32-33)

Even though we may not be able to know the day and hour, we are able to recognize when Christ is at the door, when we "see all these things".... just as when we can know when Summer is near.

What are "all these things" that those awake and sober will be able to discern / recognize.

One of those signs is mentioned at Matt.24:15...

“So when you see the abomination of desolation spoken of by the prophet Daniel, standing in the holy place (let the reader use discernment),".

In the same conversation when Jesus tells us how to recognize his return, and tells us that discernment is needed to recognize that "season" (times-seasons);

He also says that it is time to use our discernment, to recognize the "the abomination of desolation" standing "in the Holy Place". That is one of the signs that Jesus is near, "right at the door" (Rev.3:20; Luke12:37).

Now in your letter, you said;

"but the apostasy is lurking in the house of jehovah -who is the man of lawlessness".

Does that mean that you believe that the Man of Lawlessness is present, now?

Because if you do, I wonder if you discern that the Man of Lawlessness, IS "the abomination of desolation", standing in the Holy Place. Please see this from scripture...

2Thess.2:4 describes the Man of Lawlessness as "set up"/stands/takes his seat, as God over the Temple of God.

Do you know that the Temple of God, IS the Holy Place?

Do you know that to "be seated" (on a throne)/"set up"/"stand", is to rule over? (Luke 22:69; Matt.28:18)

Other prophecies about this same time of the end, tell us that Gentiles are trampling the Holy Place (Rev.11:2).

These scriptures which contain various parables, are talking about the same thing.

If we go to the prophet Daniel, we see that he too, talked about the man of lawlessness.

What he said, can help us to see when Christ is present.

First, to see that Daniel is talking about the man of lawlessness, it is good to compare 2Thess.2:4, to Dan.11:36-37 and Dan.8:11,24...

"Then the king will do as he pleases, and he will exalt and magnify himself above every god and will speak monstrous things against the God of gods; and he will prosper until the indignation is finished, for that which is decreed will be done. 37"He will show no regard for the gods of his fathers or for the desire of women, nor will he show regard for any other god; for he will magnify himself above them all." (Dan.11:36-37)

"It even magnified itself to be equal with the Commander of the host; and it removed the regular sacrifice from Him, and the place of His sanctuary (Temple) was thrown down." (Dan.8:11)

"He will become very strong, but not by his own power (Rev.13:14-15; 19:20). He will cause astounding devastation ("desolation") and will succeed in whatever he does. He will destroy those who are mighty, the holy people".

"He will oppose and will exalt himself over everything that is called God (divinity) or is worshiped, so that he sets himself up in God’s temple, proclaiming himself to be God/divine. (2Thess.2:4)

Mark called the Man of Lawlessness, a "disgusting thing standing where it does not belong" (Mark 13:14).

It does not belong to Gentiles/nations (Rev.11:2), to be in the midst of God's Temple (2Chron.23:6; Num.3:10). 
Even worse, to rule over it and trample it down.

Yet we see in the time of the end, God's Temple priesthood is trespassed and taken over, by the Gentiles... the Man of Lawlessness.

It is important to know what God's Temple is today, or else, how will we recognize when it is being trampled?

1Cor.3:16 shows that God's Temple, is the hearts of his anointed and faithful priests...

"you know that you yourselves are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit lives within you?" (1Cor.3:16)

 "Now He who establishes us with you in Christ and anointed us is God, who also sealed us and gave us the Spirit in our hearts  as a pledge of what is to come." (2Cor.1:21-22)

So when we are looking for the man of lawlessness setting himself over God's Temple,

we should be looking for that one, setting himself up over the anointed priests belonging to God's Temple, and those under-priests of Christ, accepting domination in their heart.

I hope you can see, that God's Temple is not the "Watchtower" corporation,

but God's Temple are the anointed that are under the NON-anointed overseers/elders, of the "Watchtower".

Unless they are also anointed, they are Gentiles... not spiritual "Jews" (Rom.2:28-29; Rev.2:9) ("Jew" / "Gentile")

Those who are elders in each congregation, are set up over God's anointed, and have the power to disfellowship them if they refuse to be submissive to them.

What else does Daniel tell us, about when the Man of Lawlessness rises above the Holy Ones? (Dan.7:25; 8:24; Rev.13:7,10; Col.2:8) 

It tells us what Jesus does about it.

When Jesus said that he would be with his anointed brothers "all the days until the end"...

what would he be doing for them?

See what job Jesus has over those chosen by God...

"I have revealed you to those whom you gave me out of the world. They were yours; you gave them to me and they have obeyed your word. During my time here, I protected them by the power of the name you gave me. I guarded them so that not one was lost" (John17:6,12)

"Of those whom You have given Me I lost not one." (John18:9) 
 (Heb.2:12-13; John 6:39; Isa.8:18) (John17:2; 10:29,28) (Luke 21:20,24,22; Rev.13:7,10; Isa.49:24-25; Mal.4:2; Isa.60:1; Rev.2:28; 22:16)

Can you see that Jesus works to educate and protect God's children/people? 
God's sons/people, are His priests/Temple (1Pet.2:9-10,5; Gal.3:26,27,29).

As High Priest, Jesus oversees the welfare of God's priesthood, and protects it from spiritual dangers.

So what will he do to defend them, when they are being trampled by the man of lawlessness? What will he do when he... "the Commander of the Lord's army" ( the "Prince of princes"), is being robbed of his sanctuary and it's sacrifices (Dan.8:11,25)? 

Dan.8:25 says that the Man of Lawlessness will be destroyed/broken,... "but not by human power".

2Thess.2:8 tells us what power Jesus will use to destroy the Man of Lawlessness...

"And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus will overthrow with the breath of his mouth and destroy by the splendour of his coming."

We learn a lot from that verse.

What is the "breath" of Jesus mouth? We are told, at John20:22... "Jesus breathed on them and said, ‘Receive the Holy Spirit.' ".

Holy spirit is "not.. human power".
(Rev.19:15; Eph.6:17; Heb.4:12; Zech.4:6)

Holy spirit and the Word of God, 
will expose, reveal, and destroy the man of lawlessness. When?

"by the splendor of his coming" (2Thess.2:8).

When we see the Man of Lawlessness being identified and revealed /uncovered/exposed...
When the Chosen ones are then able to recognize/discern that one, standing over them,
...then we know that Christ is near.... "even at the door".
(Rev.3:20; Luke12:37) He arrives to each heart, who hears him knocking (Rev.2:7; Isa.29:18; Rev.22:10,14; Eph.5:14), and lets him in. He promises, to then "feed" them (John6:27,33,40,57; 14:21; 2Pet.1:19; Matt.25:10).

How will Christ use God's spirit of truth through his mouth, to reveal the man of lawlessness to God's anointed?

He will do it through those who serve him at that time (Mal.3:1; Matt.10:40,20; Luke21:15; Rev.22:16,6)...

See Zech.4:6,14; Rev.11:3-5; 1Cor.1:27 

("World-wide" gospel - How?)

But Daniel also tell us about how the protector and guardian of the Holy Ones, defends his Temple.

See Dan.12:1...

"At that time Michael, the great prince who protects your people, will arise. (new-name)(Who-chief-princes?)
There will be a time of distress such as has not happened from the beginning of nations until then. But at that time your people – everyone whose name is found written in the book – will be delivered."

"Delivered" from what? Delivered from the trampling of the Man of Lawlessness.

How? By the holy spirit of Jesus mouth, exposing and revealing who really is over the anointed.

When the anointed realize/recognize/discern, that the Man of Lawlessness (the abomination), 

"does not belong" standing over them- (the Holy Place) (Mark13:14) (disgusting-thing) 
they will "discern" that it is "the season" 

to get out, and "flee to the mountains" 
(Matt.24:15-16; Eze.36:8; Isa.56:7; 25:6; 2:2; Matt.22:2; Rev.19:9).
(is-leaving-city-enough?)

Why then does it say that the protection the Great Prince brings, will result in a time of "unprecedented distress"?

We recognize that period as the Great Tribulation, because it has the same description as Dan.12:1, "a time of distress such as has not happened from the beginning of nations until then". (See Matt.24:21; Joel 2:2) (Grt-Trib.-why?) (who F.P. gives breath?)

First of all, the Gentiles/Man of Lawlessness, can only trample the temple, if it's priests are in a weakened condition (Matt.5:13; Isa.51:23; Ec.10:7; Prov.19:10) (2Cor.11:4,13,20; Rev.2:20,16) (Trampled-how?). 

Those being trampled, have lost the strength of their covenant of salt with God... to be kings (2Chron.13:5). As Jesus said at John18:37, the chosen are to use their royal authority and power just as Jesus did, and take their stand for truth, to the death (Rev.6:9-11; Mark 8:35). If they lost the strength of that conviction and allow themselves to be mislead and enslaved into idolatry; then they lose their connection to Christ without whom, they can do nothing (John15:5) to resist Satan's Great Tribulation.

When an "abomination" / "disgusting thing" enters God's weakened Temple priesthood (Rev.3:2), the Temple becomes unclean (Ps.79:1; 74:3; Eze.44:6-9). When Jesus returns, his Temple must be cleansed, before it is fit to resume it's service to God.

Mal.3:1-3 tells us about that...

" 1 I will send my messenger (Greek: "angel"), who will prepare the way before me (Zech.4:9; Rev.22:6,16). Then suddenly the Lord you are seeking will come to his temple; the messenger of the covenant, whom you desire (Zech.4:7-9), will come,’ says the Lord Almighty.

2 But who can endure the day of his (the messenger's) coming? Who can stand when he appears? (Luke21:36) For he will be like a refiner’s fire or a launderer’s soap. 3 He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver; he will purify the priests and refine them like gold and silver. Then the Lord will have men who will bring offerings in righteousness." (Mal.4:1; Rev.11:3,5; Jer.5:14)

Do you see the Chosen ones, subverted under the man of lawlessness, being disciplined by the coming and appearance of Christ's messenger? (John13:20; Rev.22:6,16) (covenant-angel)

Do you see some of his "Temple" stones (1Pet.2:5) being "brought back to it's rightful condition" (Dan.8:13-14)... evidenced by repentant anointed ones once again working for the truth of Christ.... serving in his spiritual Temple (Rev.7:15-17,14; Heb.13:15), and now liberated from their previous chains? (Rev.13:10; Col.2:8; Luke 21:24)

Jesus will need to discipline his priests at his return, for apathetically accepting a head over them (Rev.3:16), other than he 
(Eph.5:23; 2Cor.11:2-4,20; Rev.2:20; Zech.8:17).

They will have to be "refined" by fire (Zech.13:9; Isa.48:10; 1Pet.4:1; Eze.16:39; Rev.3:17-18; Hosea 12:6-8).

As Jesus says at Rev.3:19 ...

"Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest and repent."

The discipline Christ brings when he returns, is not easy to perceive, nor pleasant to accept (Heb.12:5-13).

In fact, Christ must discipline them with "a rod of iron" 

(Micah 6:9; Prov.23:13-14; Rev.2:27; Hosea 6:5; Jer.23:29; 5:14; Rev.11:5; 2Pet.3:7,10).

"Iron" is the precise identity that is trampling them, in the time of the end (Dan.2:40,34,44).
("Iron" and "Clay")
("Iron and Clay" 2)
("Molded Clay")

God allows the very Idol they are serving, to discipline, beat, and trample them. (trample-how-does-it-happen?)

That is, the Great Tribulation 

(the-greatest-tribulation-what-and-why).

(Isa.5:5-6; Rev.11:6; Zech.13:9; Isa.48:10-11; 6:11-13 (Rev.11:13); Dan.12:6-7)
The way that God and Christ discipline and refine the repentant, is to allow the Master they have chosen, to mistreat them. Then the remnant, will return to their husbandly owner 
(Jer.2:2-5,11-14,17,26; Hosea 13:6; 2:7-9,16-17,19-20; Isa.26:16-21; 40:2-3; Dan.12:7; Rev.6:11; Ps.66:12; Luke12:37; Isa.25:6; John16:13,8).

So you see,

if you recognize a current presence of the man of lawlessness, debasing, trampling, and raising themselves up over God's Temple priesthood; 
and you also see repentant anointed priests waking up, taking their rightful stand, and willing to "die" to uphold the truth that exposes the man of lawlessness (Mark 8:35; Rev.12:10-11; 6:9-11; John16:2; Rev.13:15; 11:7) (seeks-to-save-lose)...
then I hope you also see the connection to when Jesus returns (2Thess.2:8).

I don't know what you think Christ's return will look like (Luke 17:20-21; 1Cor.2:9-10,12-14)...

but the scriptures tell us that "he is coming on the clouds of heaven" and "all the angels with him".

That is another lesson, but the clouds of heaven who have been given the spirit of Christ's mouth, (to reveal the man of lawlessness), are partly, his "two witnesses" (Luke21:27; Matt.5:19; Heb.12:1; Rev.11:3; Matt.16:27; 1Thess.3:13; Jude 1:14-15; Dan.7:22). 
The "angels"/messengers and "holy ones" Jesus arrives upon, are those to inherit the kingdom. (see previous scriptures)
(your-king-comes-to-you-humble)  (2Cor.12:9; Rom.8:17; John1:14; 1Pet.4:13)("Glory")
(Matt.24:43-44; 25:13; Luke 21:36). 
(search?q=clouds+of+heaven)

(the-sign-of-son-of-man)
(Great Tribulation)
(Great Tribulation - What and Why?)

I hope I have not burdened you too much with all this information, but really, it was made much shorter.

I did not want to reply in a shoddy way, but give you enough scriptures, so that you could see more of the Bible's prophecies about Christ's return.

If you have anymore questions about any of this, you can write me again, or else do a search at the Blog.

(for example; search, "trample", "great tribulation", "marriage feast", clouds of heaven", etc.)

Many of the things I bring up in this letter, are explained better, there.

About when Satan was thrown down, and should we stay inside the apostate empire for the reason that we are there to help others when the collapse comes...
these are other subjects.

Here are some previous posts that help to address those subjects:

(FLEE!)
(hide-or-herald?/Stay or Flee?)
(Give a warning!)
(Is-leaving-enough?)

(when-does-satan-fall?)
(the-kingdom-when?)
(satans-fall-heaven-seven-spirits-of-god)

God bless you in your search for truth, and the life that results.

Love in Christ,

Pearl

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