Tag Jerusalem

Evidence for our Faith: Jesus, Right on Time

The Preacher 1 Comment

The birth of Jesus Christ stands as one of history’s most profound events, not merely because of who He is, but because of when He came. The Old Testament, written centuries before His arrival, contains precise prophecies about the timing of the Messiah’s appearance. These predictions, fulfilled in Jesus, provide compelling evidence that He is the promised Christ. As Paul declares in Galatians 4:4, “But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law.” These prophecies build unbreakable confidence in the Gospel today and obeying the gospel of the Kingdom of Christ is the right path because Jesus arrived precisely as foretold.

One of the most astonishing prophecies is Daniel’s 70 weeks (Daniel 9:24-27). Given around 538 BC, this vision outlines “seventy weeks” (or “sevens”) determined for the Jewish people to finish transgression, to make an end of sins, and anoint the Most Holy. Scholars widely interpret these as weeks of years; totaling 490 years. The prophecy begins “from the going forth of the command to restore and rebuild Jerusalem” until “Messiah the Prince.”

The clearest timing prophecy appears in Daniel 9:24–27. Daniel wrote during the Babylonian exile, yet he predicted the coming of “Messiah the Prince” with astonishing precision. He spoke of “seventy weeks” (symbolic weeks of years) counting from the decree to restore and rebuild Jerusalem. Daniel declares that after the sixty-nine weeks, “shall Messiah be cut off, but not for himself” (Daniel 9:26). This sets a specific window when the Messiah would appear and give His life as a sacrifice. History confirms that from the Persian decrees to rebuild Jerusalem to the first century AD fits Daniel’s prophetic timeline exactly; placing the arrival of the Messiah squarely at the time of Jesus of Nazareth. No other figure in history appears within that window fulfilling the works of the Messiah. That timing alone anchors our faith: God promised, and God delivered. Modern statisticians estimate 1 in 10^17 for Daniel’s Messianic prophecies alone.

Another key timing indicator is Genesis 49:10: “The scepter shall not depart from Judah, nor the lawgiver from between his feet, until Shiloh comes.” Jacob prophesied that Judah’s tribal authority would endure until the Messiah (“Shiloh,” meaning “He whose right it is”). Judah retained self-governance, including the right to execute capital punishment, until around AD 6-7, when Rome stripped the Sanhedrin of this power under Archelaus’ deposition. Jesus, from Judah’s line (Matthew 1:1-16; Luke 3:23-33), was crucified shortly after; precisely when the “scepter departed.” Had the Messiah come later, Judah would have lost its authority too soon.

The period between Malachi (c. 430 BC) and Jesus also aligns prophetically. After Haggai, Zechariah, and Malachi, a 400-year prophetic silence ensued; no major prophets arose in Israel. This “silence” heightened anticipation, as Malachi promised Elijah’s return before the great day of the Lord (Malachi 4:5-6). John the Baptist fulfilled this as the forerunner (Matthew 11:13-14; Luke 1:17), announcing Jesus. The silence ended exactly when the Messiah appeared.

These timings were no coincidence. The Roman Empire (also a predicted kingdom Dan 2:44) provided roads and peace (Pax Romana) for Gospel spread; Greek language unified communication; Jewish synagogues worldwide prepared diaspora hearts. Jesus came in the “fullness of time;” politically, culturally, and spiritually ripe.

Today, this evidence strengthens faith. If God orchestrated history with such precision (down to years and events) then Jesus is undeniably the Christ. He fulfilled not just timing prophecies, but many, many more: born in Bethlehem (Micah 5:2), of a virgin (Isaiah 7:14), from David’s line (2 Samuel 7:12-16). His life, death, and resurrection confirm the Old Testament’s promises.

Believer, take heart: Obeying the Gospel of the Kingdom of Christ is sound because history proves Jesus arrived at the predicted moment. The same God who timed the Messiah’s birth can be trusted for eternal life.

Agape

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Jesus is not coming back…

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…to sit on a throne in Jerusalem

On Thursday, President Trump officially recognized Jerusalem as the capital of Israel. This had been a broken campaign promise of each of the last 3 presidents dating back to the 90’s. With this announcement comes renewed interest in Jerusalem and the supposed 1,000-year reign of Jesus.

Jesus is not coming back…to reign from Jerusalem.

The doctrine that Jesus will reign on a throne in Jerusalem for 1,000 years prior to the Judgement is called “PREMILLENNIALISM.” To understand it requires a lot of squinting and taking very complex liberties with the Biblical Record. As a result, answering this error has been just as complex. Fortunately, it has a very simple solution.

Before we look at the answer, a little bit of background is necessary. Premillennialists hold many variants, but this is the one held by most: Jesus will first come invisibly, unknown by all except the righteous in an event they call the “RAPTURE.” Following this will be a 7-year period called the “tribulation.” After the 7 years the battle of “ARMAGEDDON” occurs and Jesus will visibly return to defeat the forces of evil and to establish His kingdom, physically upon the earth in Jerusalem, and reign as King for 1,000 years from Jerusalem. After this ‘millennium’ Jesus will raise the wicked to face the judgement.

3 Simple Answers

FIRST, it contradicts the prophetic Word of God. If this theory is true, then God goofed when He told Jeremiah,  “Thus saith the LORD, Write ye this man childless, a man that shall not prosper in his days: for no man of his seed shall prosper, sitting upon the throne of David, and ruling any more in Judah.” [Jer 22:30;]. This was a prophecy regarding the last king of Judah, Coniah (also called Jeconiah & Jehoiakim). This man is also found in the genealogy of Jesus in Matthew 1:12. No descendant of this man, which would include Jesus, could sit on a physical throne in Israel. At Pentecost, Peter preached, by the Holy Spirit, that Jesus was on a throne and that throne is in Heaven. [Acts 2:34, Psalm 110:1, Mt 22:44; 1Co 15:25; Eph 1:20; Heb 1:13].

SECOND, it has been promised that the next time anyone sees Jesus it will be very visible and incredibly loud. Just before Pentecost in Acts 1, Jesus ascended into heaven. As the Apostles stood gazing at the clouds, 2 men in white apparel said, “Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven” [Acts 1:11]. Later, the Apostle Paul wrote: “For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God:” [1Thessalonians 4:16]. The context continues into chapter 5 where it points out that the arrival of Jesus will bring destruction [5:3].

THIRD, all of mankind will be raised to face the judgement at one time. When premillennialists say that only the righteous will be raised, they’re in direct contradiction of Jesus. He said, “Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which ALL that are in the graves shall hear his voice, And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation.” (emphasis mine) [John 5:28-29]. Paul thought that everyone, the just and the unjust, would be raised at once [Acts 24:15].

I would encourage everyone to continue to study the truth about the 2nd coming of Christ, but I believe these are sufficient proofs. Sometimes the best answer is the simplest.

Bonus answer: Jesus said, “Assuredly, I say to you that there are some standing here who will not taste death till they see the kingdom of God present with power.” [Mark 9:1]. If His kingdom has not been established already, there are some very old folks walking around!