becauseHElives
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End Times
11 Soon afterward he went to a city called Na'in, and his disciples and a great crowd went with him. 12 As he drew near to the gate of the city, behold, a man who had died was being carried out, the only son of his mother, and she was a widow; and a large crowd from the city was with her. 13 And when the Lord saw her, he had compassion on her and said to her, "Do not weep." 14 And he came and touched the bier, and the bearers stood still. And he said, "Young man, I say to you, arise." 15 And the dead man sat up, and began to speak. And he gave him to his mother. 16 Fear seized them all; and they glorified God, saying, "A great prophet has arisen among us!" and "God has visited his people!" 17 And this report concerning him spread through the whole of Judea and all the surrounding country. (Luke 7:11-17)
How does this passage relate to eschatology (end times)? There are a couple of connections that can be made. If we call the city of Nain heaven, (figuratively speaking), then all those who follow Christ are on their way in to enjoy eternal life. Those who are not following Christ are doomed to follow eternal death and the grave. Notice also that those following death are a LARGE crowd, showing the significance of a world of sin and the fact that being a Christian means taking up your cross versus being popular to the world. Similar to Jesus going to the dead man and touching the coffin, He comes to us out of compassion and touches us with his body and blood. Similar to Jesus giving the raised man back to his mother, His victory over death gives us back to our Heavenly Father. And an interesting note that they meet at (or near) the city gate where kings traditionally would meet with their people and hand out judgments, blessings, etc., making the city gate the metaphor for judgment day.
The Old Testament predicts 7 areas of eschatology: the coming of a future Redeemer, the coming of the Kingdom of God, a New Covenant, the restoring of Israel, an outpouring of the spirit, the bringing of God’s wrath to the wicked and salvation to the believers, and finally a New heaven and a New Earth.
Jesus is the center of fulfillment for all of these. He is the Redeemer who has rescued his people from sin, death, and Satan. The kingdom of God has appeared to man in the life, death, and resurrection of Christ. The New Israel is those who believe in Christ. The outpouring of the spirit began in Acts 2 with Pentecost. Christ took on the judgment and wrath of God on our behalf, and it is in Him that we are a new creation. After the ascension of Jesus into heaven, all Christians await His second coming when all believers will go to heaven and all non-believers will be sent to hell, and heaven and earth will be restored.
William Hiskey
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Strive to enter in at the strait gate:for many, I say unto you will seek to enter in, and shall not be able. ( Luke 13:24 )
Posts: 4578 | From: Southeast Texas | Registered: Jun 2002
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