The Return of Christ

QUESTIONS I RECEIVED:

Regarding Matt 24. ---What were the disciples actually asking Jesus? What will be the sign of your presence and the conclusion of the system of things? I understand that the sign comes first in the way of birth pangs, before God’s Kingdoms arrival, but in what way is that Christ’s presence? He has already ruled for the symbolic 1000 years from the first century..... 
                (LINK) [for more-(LINK)], 
.....just a bit unsure what his presence means in our time, with the GT and Armageddon now in play. 

MY REPLY:

We know that the apostles did expect a return of Christ, after his ascension (see John21:14,22; Matt.10:23; 24:30; Rev.22:7,12).
As you can see from the foregoing scriptures; Jesus pointed to a return that would occur *after* the fall of Jerusalem in 70 CE, because Revelation was written after that, and the return he spoke of, contained features that did not occur in the first century.
In the mind of the apostles, the "end of the system" applied to the Jewish system and covenant with God (Acts 1:6-7; Luke 19:11; John 16:12-13; Mark 9:12).
They were not wrong, because as Matthew chapter 24 begins, it is a continuation from the end of Matt.23, where the apostles are talking to Jesus about the fall of the Jewish Temple. But by Jesus response, we see that he was describing the pattern to expect, when both God's covenants are fulfilled, and end. At the conclusion of them, there will always be those who were faithful, and those who were not (and the interaction between those two groups). They did not fully understand that there would also be an end to the New Covenant, because covenants are also called promises, and God eventually fulfills His promise. 

http://4womaninthewilderness.blogspot.com/2013/01/in-response-to-jan.html

Jesus not only answered the apostles question about the imminent end of the Old Covenant, but included the signs regarding the end of the New.
The sign of Jesus' presence has many components. But Jesus told us, not to expect the signs to be fulfilled in an obvious way (Luke 17:20)
The very term, "sign of your presence", means, that it will occur through signs and symbols, not seen in a physical way... but perceived and recognized by means of insight, discernment, and spirit of prophecy... leading to understanding for those who listen (Mark 13:14; Rev.1:1; Eph.3:3-5; Amos 3:7; 1Cor.14:32; Rev.22:6-7; 1Cor.2:10-14).
(please click on the footnote for "signified it" in Rev.1:1 according to the HCSB translation. You will see that the original Greek said, "made it known through symbols") --- (https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Rev.1%3A1&version=HCSB)

So at the end of the New Covenant, the "sign of your presence" will occur in symbolic ways, made discernible through the spirit of Christ's angel/prophet, whom he would send to reveal his message.
-- But what did Jesus mean, by "presence"? The word means, "to be alongside", as in a yoke (Matt.11:28-30). There is much that could be said about what this means.... even about how the Wild Beast is said to be "alongside" those who are working with it, but do not recognize what actually is under the yoke of slavery, with them (Greek of Rev.17:8)(2Cor.6:14)... directing them in the demonic persecution of God's anointed.
Now to understand the connection between Jesus' presence, and the birth pangs (Great Tribulation and the Battle to result)....
There is much information to explain this. I am going to simplify it for the sake of this comment. But each point I make, should be researched and proven through the scriptures by an article on each subject. That first being understood, I will address that part of your question:...
1. Wormwood falls from heaven through a compromise of truth. When this false prophet chooses to teach lies, that is represented by opening Satan's abyss.
2. When Wormwood opens the abyss, Satan escapes his captivity, and the bonds previously imposed upon him by Christ, are loosed. Satan is then able, to mislead the body of Christ. They become captives of the abyss (Rev.13:7,10; Luke 21:24; Col.2:8), through trampling by it's agents.
3. Christ is appointed as head of the body, and charged by God to protect it, feed it, and defend it, as a husband does his wife. He assured us, that "I have not lost a single one which the Father has given me" (John 17:12; Luke 15:4; Ps.30:1-5; 40:1-4).

Dan.12:1 describes it this way;
"At that time Michael, the great prince who protects your people, will arise. 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."
--
Here you can see the connection between the unprecedented "time of distress" (Great Tribulation), and the "standing up" of "Michael" (the presence of Christ) to rescue "the remaining ones of the woman's seed".
("I protected them by that name you gave me" -John17:12; Rev.3:12; 12:7; 20:7-9; 17:14; 12:15,17; Matt.24:7-8)
Dan.12:3-4,9-10 and Rev.20:12, describes the result:
Can you see that "knowledge will increase", and "scrolls are opened"? This is the same event (Luke 24:45).
This increase of knowledge of the truth (opening scrolls, including the scroll of Revelation)... is actually the cause of Armageddon. When God's priests gain the dawn through the standing up of Jesus to defend against Satan's river of lies... the faithful stand up to the deception, and in imitation of Jesus, defend the truths they are receiving (2Cor.10:3-5; Rev.20:7-8; 16:13-16; 17:14; 19:11,14,8; Jude 1:14; Matt.26:64; Heb.12:1).
Mark 9:11-12 reads;
"11 And they asked Jesus, “Why do the scribes say that Elijah must come first?” 12 He replied, “Elijah does indeed come first, and he restores all things. Why then is it written that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected?"

https://4womaninthewilderness.blogspot.com/2013/02/the-sign-of-son-of-man.html
When Jesus "returns" and is *again present with his priesthood* (sanctuary restored/priests working again under the high priest); those final priests must battle against wicked spirit forces in the heavenly places (Eph.6:10-12). Naturally, this will not occur under pleasant circumstances... because Satan is unleashed, along with all his powerful hoards of both spirit and flesh. The result of this demonic attack, becomes manifest and discernable, by those able to recognize the "birth pangs" of the Great Tribulation...
            (https://pearl-laborpains.blogspot.com)
...and the spiritual symbolism as the means by which, those signs are truly manifested among the anointed (Rev.12:2; John 16:19-23; Dan.9:24-27)
https://pearl-sign.blogspot.com-------
For any questions, please try the search box. For any questions that remain, all are welcomed to contact me.

 

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