Welcome to Episode #180 of the Way of the Bible podcast. This is our fourth of eight episodes in our Twenty-Third mini-series entitled The Return of Jesus Christ [2]. On today’s episode, we’ll return to the Old Testament passages and look at the period of time most written about in the Bible, the return of Jesus Christ to judge the world in righteousness on the Day of the Lord [4].
As I introduced last episode, and really, throughout the history of this podcast, what we are chasing through the Scriptures is directly related to a matter-of-fact statement God made to the serpent when pronouncing a curse on him in the Garden of Eden. Genesis 3:15 – And I [God] will put enmity between you [the serpent] and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will crush your head, and you will strike his heel.”
The prophetic Scriptures tell of a day yet to come when Jesus, the offspring of the woman, will do away with the serpent who enslaves mankind to do his will because of their fear of death. Because Adam ate the forbidden fruit in defiance of God’s command, sin entered the world and death through sin. In consequence, corruption to decay also came upon the entire created cosmos.
Jesus Christ was sent by God the Father to bring salvation to all mankind, to be the judge of all mankind, and to reconcile all things in heaven and on earth back to himself (back to God). The most important passage to remember also contains the likely most recognizable verse. Listen carefully to John 3:16-18 – For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. 18 Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son.
Jesus did not bring universal salvation (everyone is saved and goes to heaven – universalism). He brought salvation to all who would believe. As verse 18 plainly states, “whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son.” Jesus is returning to judge the world in righteousness (judge those who do not believe) and establish his kingdom of heaven on earth. We’ll cover on a future episode soon the Harpazo’, the snatching away of belivers, as we will not be here when the wrath of God is unleashed on the earth.
A little bit more background before we get into today’s readings and lesson. Why in 2025 do we give a rip about what is happening in Israel or about the Jews? Why not just let the region work it out? If it includes driving out and/or exterminating the Jews from the River to the Sea should we let it be so? Oh my friends, let us never consider such a thought, or support those who do. Pray, and I mean pray for Jerusalem and the people of God who live there and be blessed. Psalm 122:6-9 – Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: “May those who love you be secure. 7 May there be peace within your walls and security within your citadels.” 8 For the sake of my family and friends, I will say, “Peace be within you.” 9 For the sake of the house of the LORD our God, I will seek your prosperity.
In order to know what is happening today, we need to know our context to the whole. We are not merely living in a linear timeline, but is a space-time continuum that God sees from the end to the beginning. All things in creation are unfolding without error as described in his holy word. So let’s get up to speed where we are, and why we need to focus on what is happening in Israel today!
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