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Listed below is a sampling of the many timing passages in the New Testament which indicate that the New Testament generation was looking for Christ's return within their lifetimes. This is an excerpt from the chapter This Generation in the book, Behind the Veil of Moses, by Brian L. Martin. Audience Relevance While the Bible is written for all people, it was not
written to all people. The book of 1 Corinthians was written to a
specific church in the first century. While there are timeless truths in it,
there are also time specific events. For example: Now concerning the
collection for the saints, as I have given orders to the churches of Galatia, so
you must do also: On the first day of the week let each one of you lay something
aside, storing up as he may prosper, that there be no collections when I come.
And when I come, whomever you approve by your letters I will send to bear your
gift to The timeless truth is that it’s prudent to lay aside money
ahead of time for various needs within the church. The time-specific event is
that Paul was going to send someone with the gift to Be anxious for nothing, but
in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your
requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all
understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
Phil 4:6-7 (emphasis
added) Do we not include ourselves in the your of this
passage? Was Philippians written to you or me? The your here is the
Philippian saints, not us. Does this mean that the truth communicated applies to
only them? Absolutely not! We merely illustrate how we unconsciously read
ourselves into the text. Consider the following: Then we went ahead to
the ship and sailed to Assos, there intending to take Paul on board; for so he
had given orders, intending himself to go on foot. And when he met us at
Assos, we took him on board and came to Mitylene. We sailed from
there, and the next day came opposite Here is an example a text we don’t read ourselves
into. Why? Because it is event-specific. It is not teaching a spiritual
truth. But aren’t the end of the age, and the Second Coming of
Christ event-specific items? Mustn’t we, then, use the same hermeneutic of
audience relevance in dealing with those events? Consider the following
passages concerning those events. The pronouns are in a bold font, and
the event is underlined. Remember that the audience is the first century
church: For the Son of Man will come
in the glory of His Father with His angels, and then He will reward each
according to his works. Truly I say to you, there are some of those who
are standing here who shall not taste death until they see the Son of
Man coming in His kingdom. Matt 16:27-28 Then Jesus went out and
departed from the temple, and His disciples came up to show Him the buildings of
the temple. And Jesus said to them, “Do you not see all these
things? Assuredly, I say to you, not one stone shall be left here upon
another, that shall not be thrown down.”
Now as He sat on the And if I go and prepare a
place for you, I will come again, and receive you to
Myself; that where I am, there you may be also. John 14:3 But this I admit to you,
that according to the Way which they call a sect I do serve the God of our
fathers, believing everything that is in accordance with the Law, and that is
written in the Prophets; having a hope in God, which these men cherish
themselves, that there shall certainly be (Gk.
implies about to be) a resurrection of both the righteous and the wicked.
Acts 24:14-15 NASU And this do, knowing the
time, that it is already the hour for you to awaken from sleep; for now
salvation is nearer to us than when we believed. The night is
almost gone, and the day is at hand. Let us therefore lay aside
the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light. Rom 13:11-12 NASB . . . so that you are
not lacking in any gift, awaiting eagerly the revelation of our Lord Jesus
Christ . . . .1 Cor 1:7 NASB Therefore do not go on
passing judgment before the time, but wait until the Lord comes who will
both bring to light the things hidden in the darkness and disclose the motives
of men’s hearts; and then each man’s praise will come to him from
God. 1 Cor 4:5 NASB [written
specifically to the Corinthians] But this I say, brethren,
the time has been shortened, so that from now on those who have
wives should be as though they had none; and those who weep, as
though they did not weep; and those who rejoice, as though they
did not rejoice; and those who buy, as though they did not
possess; and those who use the world, as though they did not make
full use of it; for the form of this world is passing away. 1 Cor Now these things happened to
them as an example, and they were written for our instruction, upon
whom the ends of the ages have come. 1 Cor Behold,
I tell 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 trumpet; for
the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we
shall be changed. 1 Cor Let your forbearing
spirit be known to all men. The Lord is near. Phil 4:5 NASB For they themselves
report about us what kind of a reception we had with you, and how you
turned to God from idols to serve a living and true God, and to wait for His
Son from heaven, whom He raised from the dead, that is Jesus, who delivers us
from the wrath to come. 1 Thess 1:9-10 NASB For who
is our hope or joy or crown of exultation? Is it not even you, in the
presence of our Lord Jesus at His coming? 1 Thess For if we believe
that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who have
fallen asleep in Jesus. For this we say to you by the word of the
Lord, that we who are alive, and remain until the coming of the Lord,
shall not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord Himself will
descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the
trumpet of God; and the dead in Christ shall rise first. Then we
who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds
to meet the Lord in the air, and thus we shall always be with the
Lord. Therefore comfort one another with these words. 1 Thess 4:14-18 NASB Now may
the God of peace Himself sanctify you entirely; and may your
spirit and soul and body be preserved complete, without blame at the coming
of our Lord Jesus Christ. 1 Thess This is a plain indication
of God’s righteous judgment so that you may be considered worthy of the
Now we request you,
brethren, with regard to the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and our
gathering together to Him, that you may not be quickly shaken from your
composure or be disturbed either by a spirit or a message or a letter as if from
us, to the effect that the day of the Lord has come.2 Thess 2:1-2 NASB [The
implication here is that there was such an expectation of the day of the Lord,
that some thought that it had already come. This also supports the argument that
they understood it to be a spiritual coming, not a physical one, as we shall
develop in a later chapter] I charge
you in the presence of God, who gives life to all things, and of Christ
Jesus, who testified the good confession before Pontius Pilate, that you
keep the commandment without stain or reproach until the appearing of our
Lord Jesus Christ. 1 Tim 6:13-14 NASB For the grace of God has
appeared, bringing salvation to all men, instructing us to deny
ungodliness and worldly desires and to live sensibly, righteously and godly in
the present age, looking for the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory
of our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus. Titus 2:11-13 NASB .
. . and let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good
deeds, not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but
encouraging one another; and all the more, as you see the day drawing
near. Heb 10:24-25 NASB For you have need of
endurance, so that when you have done the will of God, you may
receive what was promised. FOR YET IN A VERY LITTLE WHILE, HE WHO IS COMING
WILL COME, AND WILL NOT DELAY. Heb 10:36-37 NASB You
too be patient; strengthen your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is
at hand. Jas 5:8 NASB Know
this first of all [first century saints], that in the last days mockers
will come with their mocking, following after their own lusts, and saying,
“Where is the promise of His coming? For ever since the fathers fell
asleep, all continues just as it was from the beginning of creation.” 2 Pet
3:3-4 NASB Children, it is the last
hour; and just as you heard that antichrist is coming, even now many
antichrists have arisen; from this we know that it is the last hour.
1 John And now, little children,
abide in Him, so that when He appears, we may have confidence and
not shrink away from Him in shame at His coming. 1 John I am coming quickly;
hold fast what you have, in order that no one take your crown.
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