Meaning of Jesus' Teachings from Matthew: Second Coming

Showing posts with label Second Coming. Show all posts

“Brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child ..." (Matthew 10:21-23)

“Brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child; children will rebel against their parents and have them put to death. All men will hate you because of me, and he who stands firm to the end will be saved. When you are persecuted in one place, flee to another. I tell you the truth, you will not finish going through the cities of Israel before the Son of Man comes." (Matthew 10:21-23)

What is Jesus warning about?

In sending out his disciples and students to teach the message that Jesus was handing down to them, Jesus is warning them about their future persecution at the hands of the Roman and temple officials.

He is also discussing the effects of the brewing violence in the decades to come against the Judean people by the Romans, in what historians refer to as the Jewish-Roman Wars.

During those years, the Romans burned Judean towns and cities and murdered thousands if not millions of Judean citizens in Jerusalem and the surrounding towns and cities. It was a massacre of massive proportions - during which Jerusalem was burned to the ground - and the Judean people scrambled to stay alive. This sometimes pitted them against their own family members as the Romans began interrogating people, looking for rebel instigators.

Have some teachers misled us about the end of the world?

Yes. Just consider a shortlist of the many sectarian teachers who have misled their followers about their interpretation of the "second coming" of Jesus and impending apocalypse. They have been wrong for over 1,600 years:

Hilary of Poitiers: 365 AD (predicted doomsday date)
Martin of Tours: 375 to 400 AD (predicted doomsday date)
Hydatius (Bishop of Aquae) 482 AD (predicted doomsday date)

Sextus Julius Africanus: 500 AD (predicted doomsday date)
Hippolytus of Rome: 500 AD (predicted doomsday date)

Beatus of Leibana: 793 AD (predicted doomsday date)

Gregory of Tours: 799 to 800 AD (predicted doomsday dates)

Thiota: 847 AD (predicted doomsday date)

Pope Sylvester II: 1000 AD (predicted doomsday date)

Gerard of Poehlde: 1147 AD (predicted doomsday date)
John of Toledo: 1179 AD (predicted doomsday date)
Joachim of Fiore: 1205 AD (predicted doomsday date)
Pope Innocent III: 1284 AD (predicted doomsday date)
Joachimites: 1290 and 1335 AD (predicted doomsday dates)

Jean de Roquetaillade: 1368 and 1370 AD (predicted doomsday dates)

Amaldus de Villa Nova: 1378 (predicted doomsday date)

Thomas Muntzer: 1525 AD (predicted doomsday date)

Johannes Stoffler: 1524 AD (predicted doomsday date)

Hans Hut (Anabaptist): 1528 AD (predicted doomsday date)

Melchior Hoffman (Anabaptist): 1533 AD (predicted doomsday date)
Jan Matthys (Anabaptist): 1534 AD (predicted doomsday date)

Martin Luther (Augustinian monk): 1600 AD (predicted doomsday date)

Christopher Columbus: 1658 AD (predicted doomsday date)

Joseph Mede: 1660 AD (predicted doomsday date)

Sabbatai Zevi: 1648 and 1666 AD (predicted doomsday dates)

Fifth Monarchists: 1666 and 1673 AD (predicted doomsday dates)

Benjamin Keach (Baptist): 1689 AD (predicted doomsday date)

Pierre Jurieu: 1689 AD (predicted doomsday date)

John Mason (Anglican): 1694 AD (predicted doomsday date)

Johan Heinrich Alsted (Calvinist): 1694 AD (predicted doomsday date)

Cotton Mather (Puritan): 1697, 1716 and 1736 AD (predicted doomsday dates)

Henry Archer (Fifth Monarchist): 1700 AD (predicted doomsday date)

Cardinal Nicholas of Cusa: 1700 to 1734 AD (predicted doomsday dates)

Camisards: 1705 and 1708 AD (predicted doomsday dates)

William Whitson: 1736 AD (predicted doomsday date)

Emanuel Swedenborg (Lutheran): 1757 AD (predicted doomsday date)

The Shakers (Ann Lee): 1792 and 1794 AD (predicted doomsday dates)

Cardinal Pierre d'Ailly: 1789 AD (predicted doomsday date)

Charles Wesley (Methodist): 1794 AD (predicted doomsday date)

Christopher Love (Presbyterian): 1805 AD (predicted doomsday date)

Margaret McDonald: 1830 AD (predicted doomsday date)

Joseph Smith (Mormon): 1832 and 1891 AD (predicted doomsday date)
Johann Albrecht Bengel (Lutheran): 1846 AD (predicted doomsday date)

John Wesley (Methodist founder): 1836 AD (predicted doomsday date)

William Miller (Millerites founder): 1843 and 1844 AD (predicted doomsday dates)
George Rapp (Harmony Society founder): 1847 AD (predicted doomsday date)

Harriet Livermore: 1847 AD (predicted doomsday date)

Ellen White (Seven Day Adventists): 1850, 1856 and "early 1900s" AD (predicted doomsday dates)

John Cumming: 1862 AD (predicted doomsday date)

Joseph Morris (Mormon): 1862 AD (predicted doomsday date)

John Wroe (Christian Israelite Church): 1863 AD (predicted doomsday date)

Jonas Wendell and other Adventist preachers: 1863, 1874, 1870 AD (predicted doomsday dates)

Mother Shipton: 1881 AD (predicted doomsday date)

Wovoka (Ghost Dance): 1890 AD (predicted doomsday date)

Catholic Apostolic Church: 1901 AD (predicted doomsday date)

Watchtower Bible and Tract Society (Jehovah's Witnesses): 1914, 1915, 1918, 1920, 1925, 1941, 1975, 1994 and others more recent. (predicted doomsday dates)

Margaret Rowen (Seventh-Day Adventist): 1920 AD (predicted doomsday date)

Spencer Perceval (Catholic Apostolic Church): 1926 AD (predicted doomsday date)

Wilbur Glenn Voliva: 1935 AD (predicted doomsday date)

Herbert Armstrong (Worldwide Church of God founder): 1936 AD (predicted doomsday date)

Florence Houteff (Branch Davidians): 1959 AD (predicted doomsday date)

Johann Bischoff (New Apostolic Church): 1951 and 1960 AD (predicted doomsday dates)

Jim Jones (People's Temple cult): 1967 AD (predicted doomsday date)

George Williams (Church of the Firstborn): 1969 AD (predicted doomsday date)

Herbert Armstrong (Worldwide Church of God): 1972 AD (predicted doomsday date)

John Wroe (Christian Israelite Church): 1977 AD (predicted doomsday date)

William Branham (evangelist): 1977 AD (predicted doomsday date)

Chuck Smith (Calvary Chapel): 1981 AD (predicted doomsday date)

Pat Robertson (evangelist): 1982 and 2007 AD (predicted doomsday dates)

Lester Sumrall (Pentecostal): 1985 AD (predicted doomsday date)

Edgar Whisenant: 1988 AD (predicted doomsday date)

Elizabeth Clare (Summit Lighthouse): 1990 AD (predicted doomsday date)

Rollen Stewart: 1992 AD (predicted doomsday date)

David Berg (The Family): 1993 AD (predicted doomsday date)

Harold Camping: 1994, 1995, 2011 AD (predicted doomsday date)

Ronald Weinland (Church of God): 2011 and 2012 AD (predicted doomsday date)

Aggai: 1997 AD (predicted doomsday date)

Marshall Applewhite (Heavens Gate cult): 1997 AD (predicted doomsday date)

Archbishop James Ussher: 1997 AD (predicted doomsday date)

James Gordon Lindsay (Christ for the Nations): 1999 AD (predicted doomsday date)

Jerry Falwell (evangelist): 2000 AD (predicted doomsday date)

Ed Dobson: 2000 AD (predicted doomsday date)

Lester Sumrall: 2000 AD (predicted doomsday date)

Jonathan Edwards (Congr. Protestant): 2000 AD (predicted doomsday date)

David Meade: 2017 and 2018 AD (predicted doomsday dates)
These misleading ("false prophet") predictions have continued to this day.

Why do we continue to believe these false prophets and their predictions? It is because they base their prediction on an erroneous interpretation of Jesus' statement here and elsewhere.

What does 'before the Son of Man comes' mean?

Jesus is speaking of what will come for his followers in the decades to come. We know he is talking about an event that will occur within decades, because he says, "you will not finish going through the cities of Israel ..." This is not describing an apocalypse to come thousands of years later. It is describing something that will occur for them personally, in their generation.

Indeed, this statement would make no sense unless Jesus is speaking of something that will occur within a short time from the time he is saying it. When Jesus says, "you" he is speaking to those around him. Obviously, he is speaking of events that will occur during their lifetimes.

What event will be occurring within decades that bears this appearance of Jesus? And how does this relate to his disciples completing going through all the towns of Israel? And how is it connected with the coming persecution of his disciples, which Jesus is saying that "he who stands firm to the end will be saved"? What does Jesus refer to when he says to his disciples "to the end"?

Many have proposed that Jesus is speaking of his "second coming" - construed as a time somewhere in the distant future when he will return when the end of the world comes and gather all his faithful and bring them to heaven. They usually depict Jesus arriving on the clouds - sometimes on horseback - carrying a big sword to chop everyone's heads off.

This is speculation. Jesus never described such an event. In this conversation, Jesus is speaking specifically to his disciples, as he instructs them to go out and pass on his teachings. He knows that he will soon be departing his body and returning to the spiritual world, and he wants his disciples to continue spreading his teachings. Remember that just before this he says:

"But when they arrest you, do not worry about what to say or how to say it. At that time you will be given what to say, for it will not be you speaking, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you." (Matt. 10:19-20)

So Jesus is instructing his disciples how to deal with the coming events they will each directly deal with as they speak on God's behalf.

The word "comes" is being translated from the Greek word ἔρχομαι (erchomai). This word can mean "to come" or "to appear" when used in a practical, physical sense according to the lexicon. But when used metaphorically as Jesus is speaking, it can mean "find place or influence" and to "be established."

Jesus is not speaking to people thousands of years into the future as some would like to imagine. Rather, he is speaking of something that would happen in the coming decades, as the Romans slaughter the Judeans.

Jesus is telling them that his teachings and influence will become established and will arise as things get heavy with the Romans. As they scramble for survival, they will take refuge in Jesus' teachings. His teachings will provide them with refuge, and a pathway back home at the time of death.

Was Jesus speaking of their time of death?

Jesus is telling them that his teachings and influence will become increasingly established. As they teach, and later scramble for survival, they will increasingly take refuge in Jesus' teachings. His teachings will provide them with refuge, and a pathway to God at the time of death.

The phrase "the Son of Man comes" is better translated to "the Servant of Humanity will arise." (Here is an explanation of the translation to "servant of humanity")

Jesus is speaking of both possibilities with this metaphorical reference. If they survive, he will provide them with the solace of his teachings. But if they are killed, he will be there for them at their time of death - as he will escort them back to the spiritual realm.

In modern language, we often use a similar type of metaphor. We may say, "your time will come" when something will happen to them that they deserve. Or one may say, "when the opportunities arise." In either case, what will transpire in the future is conceptual. It is related to influence or occurrences in the future.

Remember that Jesus says before this, "All men will hate you because of me." In other words, he is telling them that if they stand firm in their conviction to Jesus' teachings, even though they will be hated and persecuted because of it, he will be there for them. This can happen as they withstand persecution or at their time of death if they get killed. In either case, Jesus will be effectively saving them.

Jesus' statement is connecting their coming persecution to his teachings providing refuge to them "in the end" when he says, "When you are persecuted in one place, flee to another."

What does Jesus mean by 'in the end'?

Yet they will not be able to "flee" "in the end." What does this mean? This means their body will eventually be killed.

In this way, Jesus is specifically connected with their persecution and potentially death at the hands of those who "hate you because of me."

Instead of simply saying they will be killed, he uses the word "arise." Why?

Jesus did not teach that when the body dies, it is all over.

He also did not teach that we would wait around in some imaginary purgatory state for some speculative time thousands of years in the future when the end of the world would come.

He taught that the spirit (the self or personality) within the body moves on after the physical body dies. This can be observed scientifically because when we see a dead body, the life (the self) is gone from that body. The body becomes lifeless because the spirit-person self has left. And for those who have dedicated their lives to following Jesus' instructions, he will be coming for them after death.

The fact that we leave our bodies at the time of death has been scientifically confirmed in clinical death experiences. In many of these cases, many have described the same event: Being met by Jesus after their time of death.

This means that Jesus appeared to them at the time of death.

Jesus also clarifies here what being “saved” is. Some sectarian institutions and their teachers often teach that being “saved” means professing our allegiance to Jesus in a proclamation that states something like “I surrender to Jesus.” This proclamation is often portrayed emotionally in a public place for everyone to see, qualifying that person to be accepted by their fellow church members. In other words, this act is often used simply to gain the respect of others.

Jesus describes clearly how a person is saved: "he who stands firm to the end will be saved." He is telling his disciples that despite being persecuted, ridiculed and threatened, the person who remains committed to following Jesus' teachings will be saved. This means having determination. It means follow-through.

Will we be saved if we proclaim that we surrendered to Jesus?

Consider Jesus' view of the public proclamations of "I surrender to Jesus" currently encouraged by many sectarian institutions:

“Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will come to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles? Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!” (Matt. 7:21-23)

So it isn't enough to make proclamations about Jesus. It isn't enough to do lofty deeds in the name of Jesus, even if they include healing people, driving out demons, and other 'miracles.'

What matters to Jesus, and what ultimately saves a person is described clearly by Jesus:

"only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven."

A person who does the will of another wants to please that person. This is love. Love means wanting to please someone else. Jesus wants his disciples - and all of us - to learn to love the Supreme Being and live to please the Supreme Being.

According to Jesus, if we "stand firm" in our efforts to devote ourselves to God, we will ultimately be saved.

“Go back and report to John what you hear and see...” (Matthew 11:4-6)

“Go back and report to John what you hear and see: The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is proclaimed to the poor. Blessed is anyone who does not stumble on account of me.” (Matthew 11:4-6)

What does Jesus mean by 'good news'?

Jesus is referring to teaching the "good news" just as John the Baptist taught:

And with many other words John exhorted the people and proclaimed the good news to them. (Luke 3:18)

But we should also note that Jesus is practically quoting Isaiah's statement about bringing 'good news to the poor.' Here is Isaiah's statement:

The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me, because the LORD has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners, to proclaim the year of the LORD's favor and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn, and provide for those who grieve in Zion— to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the LORD for the display of his splendor. (Isaiah 61:1-3)

The core statement about 'good news' by Isaiah includes more of his statement for context. Isaiah is speaking of his being a messenger for God. He is speaking of his teachings providing comfort to those who are empty and saddened by the physical world.

We also find that the "good news" has a root in the more ancient texts:

“My lord the king, hear the good news! The LORD has vindicated you today by delivering you from the hand of all who rose up against you.” (2 Samuel 18:31)

Even as he was speaking, Jonathan son of Abiathar the priest arrived. Adonijah said, “Come in. A worthy man like you must be bringing good news.” (1 Kings 1:42)

Light in a messenger’s eyes brings joy to the heart, and good news gives health to the bones. (Proverbs 15:30)

So we find there is a tradition in using this phrase to indicate, even metaphorically, that the messenger of God can deliver information to us that will comfort us and bring us spiritual health.

Not only does Jesus' statement reflect this along with Isaiah's sentiment. He also quotes Isaiah's statement during a sermon in a Temple:

"The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free, to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor." (Luke 4:18-19)

So we find that Jesus is not just stating his role in preaching the "good news" here. He is suggesting that this act of giving people the "good news" is something that comes from a tradition of God's messengers, to give hope to those of us who are lost without that "good news."

But what is the “good news”?

"Good news" is actually a poor translation for the Greek word εὐαγγέλιον (euaggelion) - which directly relates to the teachings of the Prophets - and "the gospel." Jesus, John, Isaiah, Samuel and other Prophets weren't paper boys handing out the news: They were preaching God's message. And what was that message?

" 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' This is the first and greatest commandment." (Matt. 22:37-38 and Deut. 6:5)

Why did John the Baptist's disciples question Jesus?

This statement of Jesus follows a question from John the Baptist's disciples for Jesus:

When John heard in prison what Christ was doing, he sent his disciples to ask him, “Are you the one who was to come, or should we expect someone else?” (Matthew 11:2)

This question from John the Baptist’s disciples reveals a lot about the relationship between Jesus and John the Baptist, and the lineage of God's representatives. Remember that Jesus is also one of John the Baptist’s disciples. This we know because John the Baptist baptized Jesus.

The New Testament does not elaborate much on their relationship. But we know there was a close relationship between them, as Jesus went to see him. Then he heard his teachings and became baptized by him. We also know that John the Baptist was a teacher of the "good news," and that many people traveled far distances to hear his teachings.

Consider this description of the birth of John the Baptist from Luke 1:5-18:

In the time of Herod king of Judea there was a priest named Zechariah, who belonged to the priestly division of Abijah; his wife Elizabeth was also a descendant of Aaron. Both of them were upright in the sight of God, observing all the Lord's commandments and regulations blamelessly. But they had no children, because Elizabeth was barren; and they were both well along in years.

Once when Zechariah's division was on duty and he was serving as priest before God, he was chosen by lot, according to the custom of the priesthood, to go into the temple of the Lord and burn incense. And when the time for the burning of incense came, all the assembled worshipers were praying outside.

Then an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing at the right side of the altar of incense. When Zechariah saw him, he was startled and was gripped with fear. But the angel said to him: "Do not be afraid, Zechariah; your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you are to give him the name John. He will be a joy and delight to you, and many will rejoice because of his birth, for he will be great in the sight of the Lord. He is never to take wine or other fermented drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit even from birth. Many of the people of Israel will he bring back to the Lord their God. And he will go on before the Lord, in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers to their children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous—to make ready a people prepared for the Lord." (Luke 1:5-18)

Did John have a teacher?

The scriptures indicate that John the Baptist's father, the priest Zechariah, was John's teacher. This illustrates a lineage of teachings passing from teachers to students, who then become teachers.

We also can see that John was to become empowered by God to deliver people back to God - to save people, in other words.

After John's birth, Zechariah made this prayer:

"Praise be to the Lord, the God of Israel,
because he has come and has redeemed his people.
He has raised up a horn of salvation for us
in the house of his servant David
(as he said through his holy prophets of long ago),
salvation from our enemies
and from the hand of all who hate us—
to show mercy to our fathers
and to remember his holy covenant,
the oath he swore to our father Abraham:
to rescue us from the hand of our enemies,
and to enable us to serve him without fear
in holiness and righteousness before him all our days.
And you, my child, will be called a prophet of the Most High;
for you will go on before the Lord to prepare the way for Him,
to give His people the knowledge of salvation
through the forgiveness of their sins,
because of the tender mercy of our God,
by which the rising sun will come to us from heaven
to shine on those living in darkness
and in the shadow of death,
to guide our feet into the path of peace." (Luke 1:67-79)

Was Jesus part of a lineage of priests?

We know that Zechariah and John the Baptist were ardent followers within the lineage of teachers descending from David. In Luke 1:39 we come to understand that Mary knew Elizabeth because Mary went to see Elizabeth in her home and they sat together prior to the birth of Jesus.

Both families were obviously among a society or tribe that strictly worshiped the Supreme Being, as confirmed by the statements above about Elizabeth and Zechariah. Many call this association the Nazarenes, repeatedly in the New Testament Jesus is referred to as "Jesus of Nazareth" which could also be translated to "Jesus the Nazarene."

Others say that Jesus and John were part of the Essenes, who mostly lived in the wilderness, away from the cities.

Regardless of the group, we can see from their activities and teachings that they were strictly following the teachings ("commandments") that had been handed down through generations of prophets, to worship the Supreme Being and devote their lives to the Supreme Being.

This, in fact, is the meaning of "prepare the way for Him." We do not need to wordsmith this as some have done to try to suggest that John's purpose was only to introduce Jesus. John was teaching his followers how to come to love and serve the Supreme Being - to devote one's life to the Supreme Being.

To "prepare" for God means to get our heart and life in order so that we can return to the Supreme Being after the lifetime of this body is over.

How did John become empowered?

We can see this in Luke's description of John's empowerment by the Supreme Being:

In the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar—when Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea, Herod tetrarch of Galilee, his brother Philip tetrarch of Iturea and Traconitis, and Lysanias tetrarch of Abilene—during the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the word of God came to John son of Zechariah in the desert. He went into all the country around the Jordan, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. As is written in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet:
"A voice of one calling in the desert,
'Prepare the way for the Lord,
make straight paths for Him.
Every valley shall be filled in,
every mountain and hill made low.
The crooked roads shall become straight,
the rough ways smooth.
And all mankind will see God's salvation.' ". (Luke 3:1-6)

What is this "word of God" that came to John in the desert? This is certainly the Supreme Being's empowerment to become God's representative. We can see from his statements that the intention was to save people: "God's salvation" means re-establishing our relationship with the Supreme Being.

The interpretation of "prepare the way for the Lord" has been grossly mistranslated by some who miss the entire wisdom contained in John's and Jesus' teachings. To "prepare the way for the Lord" means to redirect our lives towards developing our relationship with the Supreme Being. To "make straight paths for Him" means to focus on God and begin to act in ways that are pleasing to the Supreme Being - by following His commandments.

In direct statements by John the Baptist, we can also see that John's focus was to save people by teaching them about re-developing their relationship with the Supreme Being:

The people were waiting expectantly and were all wondering in their hearts if John might possibly be the Christ. John answered them all, "I baptize you with water. But One more powerful than I will come, the thongs of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire. His winnowing fork is in His hand to clear His threshing floor and to gather the wheat into His barn, but He will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire." And with many other words John exhorted the people and preached the good news to them. (Luke 3:15-18)

John is obviously referring to the Supreme Being here, as he describes His "barn" - the spiritual realm.

The ancient historian Josephus characterized John's life in his own historical writings:

[18.116] Now some of the Jews thought that the destruction of Herod's army came from God as a just punishment of what Herod had done against John, who was called the Baptist.

[18.117] For Herod had killed this good man, who had commanded the Jews to exercise virtue, righteousness towards one another and piety towards God. For only thus, in John's opinion, would the baptism he administered be acceptable to God, namely, if they used it to obtain not pardon for some sins but rather the cleansing of their bodies, inasmuch as it was taken for granted that their souls had already been purified by justice.

[18.118] Now many people came in crowds to him, for they were greatly moved by his words. Herod, who feared that the great influence John had over the masses might put them into his power and enable him to raise a rebellion (for they seemed ready to do anything he should advise), thought it best to put him to death. In this way, he might prevent any mischief John might cause, and not bring himself into difficulties by sparing a man who might make him repent of it when it would be too late.

[18.119] Accordingly John was sent as a prisoner, out of Herod's suspicious temper, to Machaerus, the castle I already mentioned, and was put to death. Now the Jews thought that the destruction of his army was sent as a punishment upon Herod, and a mark of God's displeasure with him.

What is baptism?

The word "baptize" comes from the Greek word βαπτίζω (baptizō), which means to "immerse" or "submerge" and "to overwhelm" according to the lexicon. This is a word that can be used literally, as in immersing in water (or even pickles, as the Greek word has been used to describe) - or may describe an immersion with the Supreme Being - surrendering oneself to the Supreme Being: Taking shelter of God.

The interpretation that John is referring to Jesus in Luke 3:15-18 - "One more powerful than I" is questionable. It is the Supreme Being who baptizes with the Holy Spirit, because the Holy Spirit is the Supreme Being moving within the physical world. In other words, God's baptism - or immersion - with the Holy Spirit and with fire - refers to taking shelter of God and establishing our unique loving relationship with Him. This type of "baptism" is given only by the Supreme Being.

Also, we know from the timing of John's statement, Jesus had already been baptized by John. Therefore, if John was referring to Jesus, he would have said that he had already come, because he had already been born by then and even had been baptized.

Thus John could not be referring to Jesus in Luke 3:15-18.

The Holy Spirit is not some kind of an object or trophy that can be handed to someone. The Holy Spirit is the communication mechanism of the Supreme Being, who is a Person. God is an Individual, with Whom we can have a relationship. Why would Jesus say that the first and foremost commandment is to love God if there is no prospect of a relationship between two individuals: ourselves and God? One cannot love a vague wisp of wind. There has to be a relationship for love to exist. This means that God must be an Individual.

Furthermore, God, the Supreme Person, cannot just be given away in a baptism by someone, like one might hand a person a trophy after winning a race. God must come out of His own volition. This means that the Supreme Being makes a decision to extend Himself to us. And what makes Him make this decision? Love. He is attracted by our love. If we come to love Him, He will open up to us, and His true 'baptism' will take place as He embraces us and brings us back to Him.

Many institutional teachers, beginning with the mistranslations and misinterpretations begun in Rome in the fourth century - when Emperor Constantine ordered Bishop Eusebius to put together and translate a collection of texts that fit with the politically-oriented positions of the Roman Empire - in the decade following Rome's legalization of Christianity.

Prior to its legalization in 313 AD, Christianity was illegal in the Roman Empire. Anyone practicing it was subject to arrest and persecution by the Roman government. Now, suddenly, Christianity was the darling of the Roman Empire. And the Latin Bible - which fathered other Bibles - was put together for the eventual approval of Emperor Constantine.

This Bible was thus carefully manipulated to fit the agenda of the Roman Empire and Emperors - to define Jesus as God (via the Nicene Creed's Trinity's "God the Son") and minimize the Supreme Being that Jesus and John (and all the Prophets) were trying to teach us about.

Who was John referring to as the 'One greater'?

John was referring to the Supreme Being. He was telling the people that once they re-establish their relationship with the Supreme Being, they will have the ultimate salvation.

Consider for a moment those who might not have had the opportunity to hear from Jesus. Would John simply be preaching in order to tell people to go worship Jesus?

Just as every other prophet before John, including his father, and all the way up the lineage of teachers including David, Moses, Abraham, Jacob and many others, John was teaching his followers to re-establish our own relationship with the Supreme Being. They were not playing word games about the coming of some future savior of all humanity. The coming "Messiah" that they have been awaiting is the Supreme Being Himself.

All they have to do is hear the teachings of the prophets that have already appeared (come), and follow in their footsteps, to establish their own personal relationship with the Supreme Being. Awaiting a future "Messiah" is futile if those messengers of God who already appeared gave us the final solution to love and cherish the Supreme Being.

It is certainly ironic that the politically-oriented Pharisees of the institutional temple, whom Jesus was so critical of, were also proposing the future "messiah" concept, theoretically drawn from the sayings of the Prophets.

Consider the consequences of the only savior of the entire world coming at a future time, long after our lifetimes are over. How does that provide hope or resolution?

This is saying that God is impotent. Almost any man can have multiple sons and multiple messengers. But the Supreme Being can only have one?

This means that, for most people, no one, not even Abraham, Jacob, David, Moses, Solomon and so many other Prophets who had an intimate relationship with the Supreme Being (all of whom "walked with God"), has been saved. It means that all their teachings - all their words - were in vain.

This would mean that all those billions of people who worshiped the Supreme Being before Jesus came were not saved. All of these billions of people, regardless of their faith and their spiritual progression, all have to wait for the savior to come? Where will they wait?

Do we have to wait in purgatory?

Some claim that no one can return to heaven (the spiritual realm) until Jesus comes again. They claim that everyone will have to wait somewhere after they die, until either the savior comes, or the savior comes again. Wasn't it enough that the messiah came the first time? (This proposition implies that Jesus' first coming wasn't enough. He will have to come again for people to really be saved.)

Where is this purgatory location? And how would we wait? In our bodies? What happens when our bodies decompose?

Yes, some also believe in Peter Pan and Santa Claus. Really - they really believe in them. It doesn't mean they exist though.

There are three types of "comings" described among the books of the New Testament - translated to "coming" from the word ἔρχομαι (erchomai) - which actually means "to appear" or "to make one's appearance."

This expression is used metaphorically to describe different spiritual scenarios.

One occurs when the physical body dies. At this point, our spirit-persons leave our bodies and appear in the spirit world and embrace our spiritual connections with God and His angels. At this point, we are judged for our lives. This is when the spiritual self comes out of the physical body and arrives in the spirit world.

The second type of "coming" is the appearance of the Supreme Being in our hearts. This takes place when each of us individually surrenders our lives to the Supreme Being. Upon this surrender, the Supreme Being "comes" into - appears in - our lives, and our lives become driven by this renewed relationship with the Supreme Being. In other words, when we surrender our lives to the Supreme Being, God comes into our lives.

Another type of "coming" relates to the Supreme Being empowering one of His loving servants to become His representative. Here the reference is derived from the notion of the Supreme Being sending someone to teach us His message. When the Supreme Being sends someone to teach, we are at the receiving end. Therefore we can refer to this empowered representative of God as "coming" (appearing) from the Supreme Being.

There are many disagreements between different sects about whether Jesus was the only "messiah" (the "coming") they have wordsmithed from the teachings of the prophets. These two sects are reading from the same books of the Old Testament, yet those who claim to follow Jesus say that this "coming" of the Messiah already took place (yet curiously, he still must come again) while Talmud priests teach that the Messiah hasn't come yet.

Both of these positions would mean that every prophet and teacher, from Jesus to John the Baptist, to Zechariah to Moses, to Abraham, to Noah, to David, Solomon and many others who tried to teach us and show us by example that our happiness lies in loving and serving the Supreme Being, has all been in vain.

Each of these teachers has been a messiah in the truest sense of the word. They have delivered to their time and society God's teachings - by their words and their lives, to encourage us to turn to the only real Messiah: God Himself.

What does 'Christ' mean?

The Greek word Χριστός (Christos) - used only four times in the four Gospels - also means "messiah." But it also means "savior" according to Thayer's lexicon.

Ultimately, the Supreme Being is our Ultimate Savior. But those who represent the Supreme Being are also saviors, in that they can deliver God's invitation to us to return to Him.

John the Baptist was also a savior. And so was Moses. And so was David. And so was Abraham. Those messengers of God had developed a loving relationship with the Supreme Being and were empowered ("sent") by the Supreme Being.

With this in mind, we can better understand the question John's disciples asked Jesus and Jesus' answer.

The fact that John sent his disciples to ask Jesus the above question indicates that there was an expectation and hope by John that one (or more) of John’s followers would become an empowered representative of the Supreme Being.

This journey and question by John's disciples indicate that John was not sure if Jesus was empowered. He may have heard some things. This is why John asked his followers to visit with Jesus and ask this question. He did not want to go on rumor alone.

This also confirms that John was not preaching about Jesus in his teachings. It confirms that John was referring to the Supreme Being when he said:

"I baptize you with water for repentance. But after me comes one who is more powerful than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor, gathering his wheat into the barn and burning up the chaff with unquenchable fire." (Matthew 3:11-12)

Besides, there is no evidence that Jesus would have a "winnowing fork" and a "threshing floor" where he would be "gathering his wheat." These are all metaphors used to describe how God separates those who worship Him from those who do not.

Periodically the Supreme Being sends us (or empowers) His messengers to teach on His behalf. Such an empowered person is typically also a follower within a lineage of teachers, illustrating the relationship between the Supreme Being and those with whom He has a relationship.

This forms a lineage of loving teachers throughout time. Each teacher has handed the Truth to followers, some of whom decide to take the teachings to heart and humbly submit themselves to the Supreme Being.

Such submission may prompt the Supreme Being to empower those persons to teach on His behalf.

So the question being asked by John’s disciples is whether Jesus (as Jesus also was one of John's disciples) had become an empowered messenger of God, as John had been.

Jesus answers the question of John’s disciples by describing his trying to heal people and teach people “the good news” (as did John, remember the above?). He indicates the "dead are raised," and so on. This has a double meaning to some degree, as Jesus indicates that he is enlightening people by teaching the Truth. With respect to the "dead are raised," consider this statement of Jesus:

“Follow me, and let the dead bury their own dead.” (Matt. 8:22)

Then Jesus humbly states to John's disciples, “Blessed is the man who does not fall away on account of me.” Why?

Jesus is saying here to his fellow disciples of John that he hopes his teachings will help people. This might be akin to the modern-day saying, “we’ll be lucky if I don’t mess things up.” This indicates that Jesus thought of himself not as the savior of the world, or as if he was God. But he thought of himself as a humble teacher, trying simply to do God’s will.

One final note about John. One might wonder why he was in jail. John was in jail because of his devotion and commitment to teaching this message. He too was telling people to love and serve God, and that we will never be happy without our relationship with the Supreme Being.

For this reason, John was jailed and eventually beheaded. In other words, like Jesus, John sacrificed his physical life to bring us those teachings. He gave his life for God and for others, illustrating a tradition of service and sacrifice to the Supreme Being that was also illustrated in Jesus’ life.

"For the Son of Man is going to come in his Father's glory ..."” (Matthew 16:27-28)

"For the Son of Man is going to come in his Father's glory with his angels, and then he will reward each person according to what they have done. Truly I tell you, some who are standing here will not taste death before they see the Son of Man coming in his kingdom."” (Matthew 16:27-28)

What does 'the Son of Man is going to come' mean?

The phrase, "Son of Man" comes from the Greek phrase, υἱὸς τοῦ ἀνθρώπου. The word υἱὸς can only mean "son" "in a restricted sense, the male offspring (one born by a father and of a mother)" according to the lexicon. It can also mean, according to the lexicon, "used to describe one who depends on another or is his follower."

In this context, the word refers to a "follower" or "servant."

The word τοῦ means "of". And the word ἀνθρώπου can mean either "mankind" or "humanity."

Because we know Jesus was not a follower of humanity, this means this phrase is better translated to "Servant of Humanity." This is consistent with the fact that Jesus' coming to teach is a service to all of humanity.

What about 'going to come' then? The word "come" is translated from the Greek word ἔρχομαι which means - when used metaphorically as Jesus is using it - "to come into being, arise, come forth, show itself, find place or influence."

What does 'in his Father's glory with his angels' mean?

Jesus is saying this in conjunction with his previous phrase. Does it mean that Jesus will be riding across the sky on horseback with a big army of angels as depicted by some institutions?

No. Jesus is speaking about the time of death. That moment when the spirit-person leaves the physical body and the body turns lifeless.

It is at this moment when the spirit-person is judged for the things the person has done in their life, along with their state of consciousness.

What does 'he will reward each person according to what they have done' mean?

This prospect of "reward" relates to what a person does with their life. What are we doing with our life? Are we hurting others? Are we chasing the mighty dollar? Are we focusing our attention upon our own selves at the expense of others?

Or are we putting our focus and attention upon the Supreme Being? Are we trying to follow Jesus' teachings?

This is what will be rewarded at the time of death. That point when our next destination is determined.

How do we know Jesus is speaking of the time of death rather than some glorious moment sometime in the distant or near future that some institutions and their teachers have been promoting for the past 2,000 years which has never come?

What does 'will not taste death before they see the Son of Man coming in his kingdom' mean?

This statement clearly indicates that Jesus is referring to the time of death of the physical body. The word "death" here is translated from the Greek word θάνατος (thanatos), which refers to, according to the lexicon, "that separation (whether natural or violent) of the soul and the body by which the life on earth is ended" as well as, "with the implied idea of future misery in hell."

Strong's lexicon goes on to say, "since the nether world, the abode of the dead, was conceived as being very dark, it is equivalent to the region of thickest darkness i.e. figuratively, a region enveloped in the darkness of ignorance and sin."

This means that Jesus is saying that at the moment of the death of the physical body, the spirit-person who has dedicated their lives to following Jesus will not have to "taste" this kind of death - that leads to "misery in hell."

The body is a temporary vehicle for the spiritual self. Each of us is a spiritual being, and we will each leave our temporary physical bodies after the body gets old and/or diseased. This has been scientifically established by thousands of clinical death or near-death experiences (NDE). Once we leave the body, the body decomposes. The body will exist no more.

Our spiritual selves will continue to exist, however. After the death of this body, we will be escorted either to another physical body depending upon our activities in this life. Or, if we have turned to God and developed our love for God (as Jesus asks us to do), we will return to the Supreme Being, back to the spiritual world.

Furthermore, a self-centered person who has performed painful acts upon others will likely take on a specific body whereby they suffer precisely the same pains that they inflicted upon others ("as you sow, so shall you reap"). This is also confirmed by Jesus' statement above that everyone will be “rewarded according to what he has done.”

What does this mean for the purported "second coming"?

We can conclude that the "second coming" of Jesus is somewhat different than the popular depiction. (The popular depiction typically consists of Jesus riding through the clouds on horseback with a big sword, slaying all those who haven't joined a particular church or sect.)

Each of us has an opportunity to experience Jesus' "second coming" at the time of the death of our body. For those who have dedicated their lives in truly following Jesus' instructions will be escorted back to the Supreme Being at the time of the death of the physical body. They "will not taste death". Because they gave up the chase for the self-centered pleasure chase and the quest for the admiration of others and authority over others, Jesus will be there for us to guide us home.

And what was Jesus' most important teaching?

" 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' This is the first and greatest commandment." (Matt. 22: 37-38)

“To be sure, Elijah comes and will restore all things ....” (Matthew 17:11-12)

The disciples asked him, “Why then do the teachers of the law say that Elijah must come first?” Jesus replied, “To be sure, Elijah comes and will restore all things. But I tell you, Elijah has already come, and they did not recognize him, but have done to him everything they wished. In the same way the Son of Man is going to suffer at their hands.” Then the disciples understood that he was talking to them about John the Baptist.(Matthew 17:10-13)

Why does Elijah must come first?

Jesus is discussing a verse in Malachi:

"See, I will send you the prophet Elijah before that great and dreadful day of the LORD comes.” (Malachi 4:5)

Some claim that God was foretelling that the prophet Elijah would come again before the “messiah” will come. They interpret "that great and dreadful day of the LORD comes" as the day the "messiah" comes down to the earth and everyone will at the same time be judged for their sins and their faith in God.

This may be based upon words of scripture, but the interpretation is incorrect. Let's clarify this.

Here is the complete statement in the Book of Malachi on this topic:

“You have said, ‘It is futile to serve God. What did we gain by carrying out His requirements and going about like mourners before the Lord Almighty? But now we call the arrogant blessed. Certainly, the evildoers prosper, and even those who challenge God escape.’”

Then those who feared the Lord talked with each other, and the Lord listened and heard. A scroll of remembrance was written in His presence concerning those who feared the Lord and honored His Name.

“They will be mine,” says the Lord Almighty, “in the day when I make up my treasured possession, I will spare them, just as in compassion a man spares his son who serves him. And you will again see the distinction between the righteous and the wicked, between those who serve God and those who do not.

“Surely the day is coming; it will burn like a furnace. All the arrogant and every evildoer will be stubble, and that day is coming will set them on fire,’ says the Lord Almighty. “Not a root or a branch will be left to them. But for you who revere My Name, the sun of righteousness will rise with healing in its wings. And you will go out and leap like calves released from the stall. Then you will trample down the wicked; they will be ashes under the soles of your feet on the day when I do these things,’ says the Lord Almighty.

Remember the law of My servant Moses, the decrees and laws I gave him at Horeb for all Israel.

“See, I will send you the prophet Elijah before that great and dreadful day of the Lord comes. He will turn the hearts of the fathers to their children, and the hearts of the children to their fathers; or else I will come and strike the land with a curse.” (Malachi 3:14-4:6)

Who is Elijah?

The prophet Elijah of the Old Testament (Kings - before Malachi) was a servant of the Supreme Being.
Elijah's devotion to God is captured with his name:

The word Elijah arose from a translation of:
“He who comes in the Name of God,”
or “He who reveres the Name of God,”
or “Yahweh is my God.”

Thayer states the following about Elijah:

"Elijah, a prophet born at Thisbe, the unflinching champion of the theocracy in the reigns of the idolatrous kings Ahab and Ahaziah. He was taken up to heaven without dying, whence the Jews expected he would return just before the advent of the Messiah, whom he would prepare the minds of the Israelites to receive."

Thus we see from Jesus' quoting of Malachi and this statement that Elijah is supposed to appear just prior to the advent of a certain Messiah. In this context, it relates to the appearance of John the Baptist appearing just prior to Jesus.

How could Elijah come again as John the Baptist?

The verse in Malachi combined with Jesus' statement regarding John the Baptist also means something else. It means that Jesus and his disciples accepted reincarnation as a reality.

How else could Elijah have come again as John the Baptist?

This is why Jesus says, "they did not recognize him." The reason they didn't recognize him is because the spirit-person is unseen by the physical eyes. The spirit-person (or soul) exists in another dimension - even though it is the source of our consciousness.

So how did Elijah become John the Baptist? The key is understanding that the physical body is not the same as the spirit-person. The physical body is like a car that the spirit-person gets into and drives for a few decades.

After the physical body wears out or is otherwise killed, the spirit-person leaves that physical body. Just as a driver of a car gets out of the car after he parks the car and turns the keys off.

Just as a person can get out of one car and then get inside another car and drive it around, the spirit-person or soul leaves the physical body at the time of death. Then that spirit-person can return to the physical world, but in a different body.

This is apparently what has taken place in the case of Elijah. The spirit-person of Elijah reincarnated into the physical body of John the Baptist.

This is not the first indication that Jesus' disciples accepted that reincarnation was a reality. Remember in John 9 the question asked by Jesus' disciples:
“Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” (John 9:2)

Because the man would have had to live before in order to have sinned, and he was 'born blind' we know this question specifically relates to the acceptance of reincarnation. That is the only way the man could have sinned prior to this lifetime.

What is the 'great and dreadful day'?

Notice that in Malachi above, God says that Elijah will come before the “great and dreadful day.” God will be sending, prior to this “day,” one of His loving servants (as we know that God has many loving servants, not just one), who will represent Him, and teach His message.

So what is this “day” anyway? If we were to assume the interpretations that many Christians make of Malachi and Jesus’ statement here, then the “day” where all the evildoers would be trampled to ashes would have had to be when Jesus came, since that “day” would follow “Elijah” - who Jesus states here has already come, and the disciples understand Jesus to be referring to Jesus' teacher, John the Baptist.

So when did the "great and dreadful day" occur during Jesus' life? Jesus does say that Elijah has already come. So when did the wicked get trampled, and the fires burn them to ashes? Did it occur during Jesus' life? How about when he was crucified? How come the wicked seemed to do just fine after the crucifixion? The Romans went on to control the region and eventually control the new sectarian church - they certainly did not get trampled.

Could they have also been wrong about their interpretation of the 'great and dreadful day'?

In reality, this “day of reckoning,” quite simply, is the day our physical body dies.

Each of us is wearing a physical body that will one day, die. This “day” will be the point of reckoning for each of us. We will have to reckon with the decisions and actions we made throughout our physical lives.

For those who lived their lives trying to grow in their love and faith for God, this “great and dreadful day” will be a great day. As God said through Malachi: “But for you who revere my Name, the sun of righteousness will rise with healing in its wings. And you will go out and leap like calves released from the stall.”

Let’s think about this clearly: For each of us, this day is coming for each of us: It would simply not make sense to say that this day is coming at a time in the future after we were dead.

That would mean that we (and billions upon billions of others) would have to wait around in some kind of fictitious waiting room ("purgatory?") after we died for this day, which occurs thousands of years after some of these people have died. Does this make any sense? Is God limited to having just one day of reckoning?

Why hasn't this 'day' come?

So we must now ask, why has this “day” not come yet? Why has the world not been destroyed, and everyone trampled? Hasn't Elijah in the form of John the Baptist come?

Even more puzzling is that according to the institutional temple teachers, the “messiah” (and the "day") has not come yet. They are still awaiting the Messiah, and maintain that Jesus was not the messiah.

Some sectarians maintain that while the Messiah came, he didn't really come in the way foretold in Malachi. In other words, Jesus is supposed to come again: A second coming.

According to their interpretation, it is this "second coming" that will supposedly bring upon the earth the trampling and burning of the wicked.

Many institutions and their teachers who claim to follow Jesus insist that the 'second coming' will also take place at the 'end of the world.' Yet as Jesus states, Elijah already came a second time, in the form of John the Baptist.

This means the institutional temple officials didn't recognize Elijah when he appeared again.

What is judgment day?

The day of reckoning is also spoken of as a day of judgment: "Judgment day." Yes, each of us will be judged for our lifetimes at the time of death. This is our judgment day. God also says through Malachi that the day will be preceded by Elijah. Yes, God sends His loving servants to the earth to pass on His message throughout time - as confirmed by Jesus in Matthew 17:11-12.

If we desire to hear the truth about God and desire to return to Him, we are shown this person. For those who do not wish to return to God, they will not be paying any attention because they are too focused upon the mad chase for the illusory pleasures of the physical world.

Those who utilize this human form of life to harm and abuse others without repentance will face a "dreadful day" upon leaving the body. At the time of death, when those beings leave their dying bodies, they will be faced with the consequences of their actions.

As for those who decide they want to return to God during this lifetime, they will be guided back to their loving relationship with God. For them, the time of death ("day") will not be dreaded. On this day, God and some of His servants will come to embrace and welcome that person back into the spiritual world. Carefully consider these statements from Malachi:

A scroll of remembrance was written in His presence concerning those who feared [honored] the Lord and honored His Name. “They will be mine,” says the Lord Almighty, “in the day when I make up my treasured possession, I will spare them, just as in compassion a man spares his son who serves him. And you will again see the distinction between the righteous and the wicked, between those who serve God and those who do not. (Malachi 3:16-17)

For Jesus and his disciples, they all accepted John the Baptist as that great Teacher of the Truth who came in the Name of God, to teach them the truth, just as Elijah did.

Jesus was a close follower of John the Baptist. Jesus accepted John as his teacher, evidenced by John's baptism of Jesus. And since Jesus also baptized his followers, we see there is a linkage between John's teachings and Jesus' teachings.

Also by his statements, it is obvious that Jesus was a devoted follower of John the Baptist.

How is this about John the Baptist?

After Jesus says that Elijah already came again, Jesus proceeds to discuss the life of John the Baptist, whom he considered a Prophet.

Jesus is condemning those who persecuted John the Baptist along with those who stood by and did nothing. This is the mark of a devoted student. Jesus was, as he wanted each of his disciples to pass on his teachings as he had passed on the teachings of those before him. This continues the succession or lineage of prophets and teachers, allowing this ancient knowledge to be passed on even to today.

Many think of the Old Testament as a history of Israel, but rather, it was intended to be a history of a lineage of devoted servants of God, who also taught others to be devoted to God. That is, until institutional scribes misinterpreted and mistranslated this important history. Jesus was part of this lineage, and he wanted his students to also be part of it.

Certainly, Jesus' humility regarding the position of Elijah ("one who comes in the Name of the Lord") is illustrated here. Jesus condemns those who heard the teachings of John the Baptist and disregarded those teachings: "Elijah has already come, and they did not recognize him."

Jesus certainly did not disregard John's teachings. Like a faithful student and loving servant of God and his teacher, Jesus passed those teachings on, and asked his students to pass them on further. This is evidenced by these three verses:

In those days John the Baptist came, preaching in the wilderness of Judea and saying, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near." (Matthew 3:1-2)

From that time on Jesus began to preach, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.” (Matthew 4:17)

[Jesus instructing his students] "As you go, proclaim this message: ‘The kingdom of heaven has come near.’" (Matthew 10:7)

"... to suffer at their hands.”

This statement illustrates that just as John the Baptist had to suffer for his teachings and service to God, Jesus too would suffer for those same teachings and service. Why did they suffer? They suffered so that we might listen and learn the Truth.

Who, then, is the "Messiah?" The true Messiah (Savior) is the Supreme Being Himself - Christos in Greek. Thus anyone the Supreme Being empowers as His representative and teaches and lives His message is, by virtue of representing God, delivering the message of the Messiah - our Savior. And what is that central message the Messiah delivers? An invitation back home, into God's loving Arms:

" 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' This is the first and greatest commandment." (Matt. 22:37-38)

"But many who are first will be last, and many who are last will be first.” (Matthew 19:30)

What does 'first will be last' mean?

This statement by Jesus follows his response to Peter regarding his followers' fate - regarding the fact that they "will inherit eternal life." (Matt. 19:29)

Jesus adds this statement - the reason why the word "but" is inserted. This indicates that this is an additional requirement to enter the spiritual realm.

The key Greek words in the sentence are εἰμί (whoever), πρῶτος (first in line or succession), and ἔσχατος (last). In other words, εἰμί is defined in the Greek lexicon as "to be, to exist, to happen, to be present" in the singular person. In other words, the use of the word "many" in this translation would be inappropriate.

We are talking singular. In other words: each person - every person.

So the better translation of this statement in this context would be something like:

anyone who is first will be last.

Jesus is speaking of a basic part of the consciousness of those living within the spiritual realm and using a double entendre with respect to the concepts of first and last.

A person who considers themselves as first considers themselves the most important person in their lives. This is also spoken in modern English as 'consider yourself first.'

It is a matter of priority. What is our priority in life? Do we retain the position of first in our lives? When we make a decision, do we first consider what we will get in return? And is this our main consideration?

If it is, then we are considering ourselves first. And according to Jesus, with such a consciousness, we will be the last to, as Jesus stated with the previous verse, inherit eternal life.

This is because eternal life is a consciousness of love and humility. Because of their love for God, each citizen of the spiritual realm puts the Supreme Being and His children first. That means they are putting themselves last.

As such, a person who develops this consciousness - of putting God and God's children first and being last - will be the first to inherit eternal life.

And this is precisely why we are here, away from God in the first place: Because we began to consider ourselves first: We became self-centered.

Is this also described in Genesis?

This is actually detailed in the Book of Genesis - symbolized by the fruit. The fruit that Adam and Eve ate - which led to their being tossed out of the Garden (the spiritual realm) and forced to wear "garments of skin" (these physical bodies) - symbolizes self-centeredness: The rejection of our loving relationship with the Supreme Being - a loving relationship where He is first.

Jesus' point also refers to returning to the spiritual world first. This indicates that not everyone who leaves their body after death will necessarily return to heaven - the spiritual world - immediately. Otherwise, how could there be a first and a last?

These words indicate a time factor. It is not that when they are in the spiritual world they will be last in line or something. We are talking about when we get to go home, back to the spiritual world. This indicates that people return to the spiritual world at different times.

This concept of returning to heaven at different times means that some people may return to the spiritual world immediately after leaving this body, while others will return to the physical dimension.

This later factor is also speculated upon by the teachings of many sectarian institutions as purgatory. These speculative teachings propose that no one, not even those who have followed Jesus, will return to the spiritual world immediately after the death of this body.

This speculative philosophy maintains that after death everyone will all have to wait in some kind of waiting room somewhere for the supposed second coming of Jesus.

What about the second coming of Jesus?

This supposed second coming has been speculated upon by many for many centuries. It is based upon a few mistranslated and misinterpreted statements by Jesus and those from the Book of Revelations, specifically near the end, when it says:

"Behold, I am coming soon! My reward is with me, and I will give to everyone according to what he has done." (Rev. 22:12)

and later, at the second to last verse in Revelations,

He who testifies to these things says, "Yes, I am coming soon." Amen. Come, Lord Jesus. (Rev. 22:20)

The key Greek word in these sentences (and others) is the word "coming." This is being translated from the Greek word, ἔρχομαι (erchomai). While the first and most direct meaning of ἔρχομαι is 'to come or to arrive,' there is also a second, metaphorical meaning in the Greek lexicon. Here is the exact Greek lexicon on the metaphorical meaning of ἔρχομαι:

2) metaphorically - a) to come into being, arise, come forth, show itself, find place or influence; b) be established, become known, to come (fall) into or unto

"Metaphorically," means a definition that utilizes some figurative language. The Book of Revelation is a figurative text; one that uses a variety of analogies regarding "beasts" and so on. Thus we can conclude that the translation of the Greek word, ἔρχομαι would also be its metaphorical translation.

If we translate the text with the metaphorical translation of ἔρχομαι within the context of the statement, we can understand that the discussion is about arriving at a state of awareness regarding Jesus.

This is also consistent with other verses, such as:

“Then will appear the sign of the Son of Man in heaven. And then all the peoples of the earth will mourn when they see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven, with power and great glory. (Matthew 24:30)

This is a metaphorical description that relates to the realization of Jesus' glory during a time of distress.

Is this about a change of heart?

These verses are discussing a moment in time when a person will become conscious of Jesus' spiritual relationship with God. This is also commonly referred to as a spiritual awakening or a change of heart.

This is referring to an internal change for a person. A moment of spiritual realization, when a person's heart changes, and they see Jesus and his relationship with God.

This concept of "coming," in fact, could well be compared to the word "seeing." Many of us might say, for example, "I see," when we realize a new understanding about something. Similarly, when a person "sees" God, or "sees" Jesus, is this about seeing in the physical sense, with the physical eyes? Is this about an apparition of seeing God appear like we might physically see a ghost?

God can certainly physically appear if He wants to. But this kind of "seeing" is when a person has a realization of God.

When a person "sees" God, they are "seeing" with the heart. They "see" with understanding. They "see" with consciousness. They "see" with awareness:

"Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.” (Matthew 5:8)

In this context, a better translation than "coming" would be "appearing". This is connected to seeing - or arriving at a state of consciousness or realization of who Jesus really is and his relationship with God.

This is why Revelation 22:17 discusses "The Spirit and the bride..."

Who are the 'Spirit and the bride' in Revelation 22:17?

Certainly, the text is using some symbolism here. But who is the "Spirit" who is the "bride"?

"The Spirit and the bride" refers to God and His loving servant, in this case, Jesus.

The full text of Revelation 22:17 is:

The Spirit and the bride say, "Come!" And let the one who hears say, "Come!" Let the one who is thirsty come; and let the one who wishes take the free gift of the water of life.

Note that both the Spirit and the bride are saying the same thing: "Come!"

This means that the "bride" is echoing the same thing that the Spirit says.

We can also note that "the one who hears" can also say "come!"

This means that someone who hears can also echo what the Spirit says and the bride says. Why?

Because God wants us to come home to Him. He wants us to return to Him. This is the "water of life" that is being referred to.

And Jesus also wants us to return to God. And those who receive this understanding - and hear God and Jesus - can also call us back home to return to God.

Jesus is the loving servant of God. He and God have a loving relationship - much as is assumed between a bride and her husband. And those who hear and follow Jesus can take on the role of Jesus' assistants, helping Jesus serve God.

The bottom line is that this supposed "second coming" of Jesus is a misinterpretation of the original scriptures. The reference is to a moment in time when we come to realize that we are completely lost without the teachings of Jesus - and we take refuge in them. This realization - hearing God and Jesus calling us home ("Come!") is the "coming" - the appearing of Jesus within our hearts.

What is the primary teaching of Jesus?

“ ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' This is the first and greatest commandment.” (Matthew 22:37-40)

"Watch out that no one deceives you. For many will come in my name ..." (Matthew 24:4-13)

"Watch out that no one deceives you. For many will come in my name, claiming, 'I am the messiah,' and will deceive many. You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come. Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places. All these are the beginning of birth pains. Then you will be handed over to be persecuted and put to death, and you will be hated by all nations because of me. At that time many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other, and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people. Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, but he who stands firm to the end will be saved." (Matthew 24:4-13)

What is Jesus talking about?

The context of Jesus' statement is critical. This statement comes in response to an exchange between Jesus and his disciples. Here is the exchange that resulted in this statement:

Jesus left the temple and was walking away when his disciples came up to him to call his attention to its buildings. "Do you see all these things?" he asked. "Truly I tell you, not one stone here will be left on another; every one will be thrown down."
As Jesus was sitting on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately. "Tell us," they said, "when will this happen, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?" (Matthew 24:1-3)

The question asked by Jesus' disciples and Jesus' response has been mistranslated and misinterpreted over the past 17 centuries by many within institutions claiming to represent Jesus.

This mistranslation threatens the end of the world. But this is not what Jesus is talking about. The question being asked related to Jesus' statement about the temple buildings being destroyed. And just as predicted, the temple was destroyed within 30 years of Jesus' saying this.

Now Jesus' statement relates to what will happen at the disciples' time of death: As their spiritual guide, Jesus would escort them back to the spiritual world where they would be reunited in their relationship with God.

This is indicated by the Greek. The word "coming" is translated from παρουσία (parousia). 'Coming' is a stretch for this word. παρουσία actually means 'presence.' It can also mean 'advent' or 'arrival,' but these are its secondary meanings. The primary is presence.

Jesus was promising his upcoming presence to his disciples. He promised that he would be with them at their scariest moment, the time of death. Jesus asked that his disciples pass on his teachings to others, and this will be followed by him escorting them back to heaven "at the end".

What does 'end of the age' mean?

This term, the "end of the age" is derived from the Greek phrase συντελείας τοῦ αἰῶνος. συντέλεια means 'completion, consummation, end.' It is often used to denote death - the end of the life of the temporary physical body. αἰῶνος or its root αἰών can mean 'forever, an unbroken age, perpetuity of time, eternity, worlds, universe' or a 'period of time' according to the lexicon. In other words, at the end of their lifetimes: when their bodies died.

Consider an earlier statement Jesus made to them:

"I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven." (Matthew 16:19)

By the time these texts were translated into Latin and combined into the Bible in the Fourth Century, the events Jesus predicted in these verses had already taken place.

The interpretation that Jesus is discussing the 'end of the world' and his 'second coming' in Matthew 24 evolved from a conspiracy by the Roman government. Their mission was first, to scare the citizens of the growing Christian world into their control.

Secondly, the Romans wanted to erase their persecution of the Israelites, which erupted into the Jewish-Roman wars that lasted between 66 AD and 135 AD. During these wars, the Israelites and the Christians were overwhelmingly slaughtered by the Romans.

Yes, the Israelites did manage to fight off the Romans during some of these wars. But the result was the sacking and complete destruction of Jerusalem. And hundreds of thousands if not millions of Israelites and early Christians were killed. And most of the survivors were scattered among other regions.

This was followed by the Romans developing a strategy to control religious thought throughout the region in the coming centuries.

What was Jesus predicting?

Jesus is talking with his disciples about their days to come. He is also discussing where they will stand if they hold on to their loving relationship with God, despite the hellish nature of the coming years of bloodshed and hatred. He tells them that they will return to the spiritual world:

"Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, but he who stands firm to the end will be saved."

Jesus is talking about a personal end: the end of their respective physical lives. Not the end of some kind era thousands of years into the future.

The question the disciples urgently asked indicates their fear of not only Jesus' prediction that the temples will fall, but also for their very lives. They wanted to know their own fate when the temples collapse.

This was brought up when Jesus spoke about the temporary nature of the physical world and even the temple buildings. They were concerned because they wanted to be sure that the place Jesus promised for them in heaven was going to be there for them at the end of their lives.

The "end of the age" is not the end of some kind of global era thousands of years after these disciples had passed away. The "end of the age" was simply the end of their physical lifetimes.

How could "stands firm to the end" mean thousands of years into the future for these disciples? That is sure a long time to stay "standing." How could his disciples have remained "standing" for thousands of years?

Rather, the "to the end" means the end of their lifetimes within their respective physical bodies. Others might "turn away from the faith and betray and hate each other," during their lifetimes. But those who "stand firm" by continuing to follow Jesus' instructions would be following Jesus back to the spiritual world.

Such persons would be joyfully passing on Jesus' teachings through the end of their physical lifetimes. As such, they would be reuniting with Jesus (παρουσία) and resuming their loving service relationship with the Supreme Being. This is what Jesus refers to as being "saved."

Did the "end of the world" ever come?

Is it possible that Jesus could have been talking about the end of the world or the end of the universe to his close disciples? This has also been called the doomsday prediction.

Let's consider this prediction logically. It is now over 2,000 years after Jesus' statement, and the world - despite the hundreds of predictions by ecclesiastical preachers in the meantime - still has not come to an end. And so many have predicted it. Just consider a shortlist of end-of-the-world predictions and the date the world was supposed to have ended: