We must always remember that every last scripture in the Bible is truth and perfect.
As such, it is not possible to use one scripture to denounce another. There are no contradictions in the Bible. If you hold a doctrine or belief that cannot agree with the rest of the Bible – that is, every last verse – then you hold a false doctrine.
If you believe that you have a contradiction then you are missing part of the picture.
Likewise, if you present a doctrine as truth – yet another can provide scripture that does not agree with your doctrine, and it is confirmed by the full context of the presented scripture – then your doctrine has been proven false. Also, if two present different doctrines, yet a third provides scripture that conflicts with one doctrine, yet agrees with the other doctrine – then the doctrine proven wrong is indeed wrong.
Understand that every doctrine in the Bible must have a minimum of three scriptures that completely – with full context – agree with that doctrine. Likewise, the three scriptures taken both separately and together must also agree 100 percent with the rest of the Bible. Absent three separate and distinct scriptures a doctrine cannot be truth.
With that said, here are three blocks of scripture that present an undeniable picture of the end times. Yet, they are either unknown to those that argue certain points, or If they are known then it is worse – they are ignored and discarded.
Each of these blocks of scripture deal with the return of the Lord. There are many questions as to the timing of his return. However, in addition to the normal run of verses typically thrown out in the “three verse scripture wars”, these three blocks of scripture must also be considered. They are central to every conversation regarding the return of the Lord.
They are the undeniable proof that Jesus Christ is indeed the Son of God, with all power in heaven and earth. You see, only God is capable of the promises of each of these. To deny them is to deny that he is who he says he is – or that he can do what he said he can do.
Luke 21:34-36 – And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares.
For as a snare shall it come on all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth.
Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.
Revelation 3:10-11 – Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth.
Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown.
1 Corinthians 15:23-24 – But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ’s at his coming.
Then cometh the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have put down all rule and all authority and power.
Consider this also from the same chapter, 1 Corinthians 15:
1 Corinthians 15:51-53 – Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.
For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.
It is no accident that Paul speaks of both the order of things in verses 23-24, followed by the rapture in verses 51-52. Both are a part of the same conversation.
Just drive home the point about scriptures that clearly present problems for rapture critics, we can add in several additional blocks of scripture:
Nahum 1-2:3 KJV – God is jealous, and the Lord revengeth; the Lord revengeth, and is furious; the Lord will take vengeance on his adversaries, and he reserveth wrath for his enemies.
The Lord is slow to anger, and great in power, and will not at all acquit the wicked: the Lord hath his way in the whirlwind and in the storm, and the clouds are the dust of his feet.
John 14:1-3 KJV – Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.
In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.
And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.
Hebrews 9:28 KJV – So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation.
There is another aspect to the return of the Lord which nobody ever considers. We are in fact the wife of Jesus Christ. He offered the wedding contract and paid the price on the cross. During the long absence, when the Bridegroom leaves the Bride, the Bride is legally a wife. It is a long process to complete. As the Bridegroom finishes the bridal chamber, where he and his wife will reside for seven days alone, his wife is already legally bound to him. It takes a bill of divorcement to break the contract. Also, if the wife defiles herself with another man then she is already guilty of adultery. This is a capital offense in the Law of Moses. It is a capital offense in the Law of God to this very day.
Why is this important? Simply put, once you accepted the new covenant promise that was offered and paid for by Christ you became his wife – legally. That means that Jesus Christ is now bound to the same marriage laws given by God that we are all party to in our lives in earth.
There is a reason Jesus reminds us that he came not to do away with the law – he came to fulfill it. There are several important pieces of the Law of Moses that remain to be completed, or fulfilled.
He will be tending to this very shortly.
Ask yourself this – which views of the return of the Lord violates the Laws of God? Which views of the return of the Lord complete and fulfill the Laws of God?
This alone will answer any questions you may have had on the subject.
Remember this always – Jesus Christ is perfect. As such, he has never – nor will ever – break a single Law of God.
There are many scriptures concerning the expected treatment of wives by their husbands. The Bible shows us that our wives are to be cherished and protected. We are to defend our wives, even unto our very own deaths. Christ died that his wife could live. She was never worthy to live. Nothing she could ever do would make her perfect or worthy.
It was death of her husband alone that could save her. Save her he did. Soon, the bridal chamber will be complete and he will snatch her away to the house of his Father. There, they remain for seven days. There the Bride will enter the Joy of her Lord.
Soon, the Father will call for the Bride to come to the wedding – according to his own Laws.
Here are several blocks of scripture concerning the honor with which the bride is held:
Ephesians 5:25-31 – Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word,
That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.
So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself.
For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church:
For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones.
For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh.
Now, consider the weight of the very next verse if you do not believe that the Bride of Christ is held in the same honor that God commands a husband to honor his wife:
Ephesians 5:32 – This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church.
1 Peter 3:7-9 – Likewise, ye husbands, dwell with them according to knowledge, giving honour unto the wife, as unto the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life; that your prayers be not hindered.
Finally, be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another, love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous:
Not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing: but contrariwise blessing; knowing that ye are thereunto called, that ye should inherit a blessing.
Colossians 3:18-19 – Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as it is fit in the Lord.
Husbands, love your wives, and be not bitter against them.
Now, consider the next block of scripture – but do so from the perspective of the wife of Jesus Christ. After all, is that not what we are?
Matthew 19:3-9 – The Pharisees also came unto him, tempting him, and saying unto him, Is it lawful for a man to put away his wife for every cause?
And he answered and said unto them, Have ye not read, that he which made them at the beginning made them male and female,
And said, For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife: and they twain shall be one flesh?
Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.
They say unto him, Why did Moses then command to give a writing of divorcement, and to put her away?
He saith unto them, Moses because of the hardness of your hearts suffered you to put away your wives: but from the beginning it was not so.
And I say unto you, Whosoever shall put away his wife, except it be for fornication, and shall marry another, committeth adultery: and whoso marrieth her which is put away doth commit adultery.
It really is no more complicated than this. There are many views on the timing of the return of the Lord. People throw out many scriptures to justify their position. Yet, it is much more than and simple return. It is the full promise of Christ.
It is the fulfillment of the marriage contract. It is the keeping of the Laws of God.
How would God judge you if you treated your own wife in the same manner that you expect Jesus to treat his own wife?
Would you be honored for how you treated your wife?
Would you be condemned by God for how you treated your wife?
Are you truly willing to accuse Jesus Christ of the abuse of his wife?
Would you want to stand before God if you threw your own wife into the darkened streets, to be beaten and murdered? Would you want to stand before God if you sacrificed your own wife because you felt that she was somehow unworthy and needed to be purged to meet your standards?
How would God judge you, if you destroyed the gift he gave to you?
Proverbs 19:14 – House and riches are the inheritance of fathers: and a prudent wife is from the Lord.
Do you really need anything more to understand this truth?
In the name of our most blessed Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.