Author: jdwvaw2

Two of the most misinterpreted verses in the New Testament are John 14:1-2. “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 to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.” (NKJV) The typical interpretation usually sounds something like this: ‘I’m going to heaven where my Father is and I’m going to prepare a dwelling there for each of you, so that when you die, you’ll reside with me in heaven’. But is that really what Jesus is saying? Let’s examine these scriptures using sound hermeneutics allowing scripture to interpret scripture and considering context and the original intended audience.

Let’s start with the term “My Father’s house“. It is used directly only once elsewhere in the New Testament and is also found in the gospel of John. “And He said to them who sold doves, ‘Take these things away! Do not make My Father’s house a house of merchandise!'” (John 2:16). The NIV uses the same term when Mary and Joseph were searching for their son: “Didn’t you know that I had to be in My Father’s house? But they did not understand what He was saying to them.” (Luke 2:49). So, we see that these references are clearly to the temple in Jerusalem. Old Testament references also back this up. The temple in Jerusalem is frequently called “the house of the Lord” or “the house of God” or something similar. Therefore, Jesus was not referring to some place in the spirit realm, but to the physical temple when using the term “My Father’s house”. This is certainly how Jesus’s immediate audience (the disciples) would have understood Him.

The word “mansions” could be translated simply as rooms or abodes. This fits well with the temple complex, as there were many rooms on site to house the priests who were serving there. A little earlier, Jesus had told His disciples that they would serve with Him as priests judging the twelve tribes of Israel. “Assuredly I say to you, that in the regeneration, when the Son of Man sits on the throne of His glory, you who have foll0wed Me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.” (Matthew 19:28). (Also, Luke 22:30).

Jesus said He was going to prepare a place for them. (where He was going, they could not come; Matthew 13:33,36). Where He was going that they could not follow was to the cross to provide redemption for them followed by a short visit after His resurrection to the heavenly temple carrying His own blood into the holy of holies as the ultimate sacrifice. (Hebrews 9:11-12). That’s what prepared the “Way” for them to attain to the place designated by Jesus. He then spoke of His second coming when He will reign on the earth from the temple in Jerusalem. That’s when He’ll receive them to Himself so they can be where He is, residing in the priestly rooms of His glorious temple, judging the twelve tribes.

Be sure to look up all the scriptures I quoted above. I believe they will help you properly interpret John 14:1-2. Jesus is not in heaven building condos for His people as some interpret these verses.

Maranatha, Jim

It’s that time of the year again, and again I remind you, if you’re not already in the habit, to read thru the entire bible in 2024. It just might be the most significant accomplishment you complete next year. My wife and I are just completing reading thru the scriptures in 2023. There are many resources available to help you this. This year we used Bible Gateway and used the Old/New Testament reading plan in the NIV version. You can find it here: Bible Gateway – Reading Plans

I urge you not to ignore the primary method the Creator of this universe has chosen to communicate with His special creation. A thorough knowledge of His Word is imperative in these last days. Make 2024 a year of personal growth.

Maranatha, Jim

Session 3 of Chronological Eschatology is now posted on you tube. Its focus is still on pre-tribulation events, specifically the maturation of Mystery Babylon. The identification of MB is an important topic for the last-days church. This study is part 1 which will conclude with part 2 next week.

Chronological Eschatology: Mystery Babylon Part 1 (youtube.com)

This is the time we celebrate the first advent of our Lord which we call Christmas. This was the time He came as a babe into His creation in order to save us from our own self destruction through sin. Soon, and just around the corner, He will come again; a second advent. This time He will not come as a babe, but as a magnificent warrior king to destroy evil and establish His reign on the earth. This day of His coming will be forever remembered as the premier holiday of all ages. It’s the day when we, His followers, will be resurrected to immortality in our new bodies. From that point on, we will rule and reign with Him in His kingdom forever. This new holiday will be known forever as the “holiday of holidays”. It might be called “The Day of the Lord” or “The Second Advent” or “Parousia“. Whatever it is called, I’m sure it will be revered as a universal holiday by all creation throughout time. Now that’s a holiday I look forward to celebrating!

In the meantime, let’s enjoy this celebration of His first advent. To all reading this blog, have a merry and blessed Christmas and a new year filled with occasions to share Gospel of the Kingdom.

Maranatha, Jim

When discussing His second coming and all the events that signify the Parousia is near, Jesus told His Apostles: “Be dressed ready for service and keep your lamps burning.” (Luke 12:35) (NIV). Referring to those in authority, He added this: “Who then is the faithful and wise manager, whom the Master puts in charge of His servants to give them their food allowance at the proper time? It will be good for that servant whom the Master finds doing so when He returns.” (Luke 12:42-43). Reading on, we see the fate of the unwise manager who is not giving his charge their food at the proper time. “The Master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect Him and at an hour he is not aware of. He will cut him to pieces and assign him a place with the unbelievers.” (Luke 12:46)

The “wise managers” Jesus is referring to in these passages are those in teaching responsibilities in the Church such as, Pastors, church elders, bible study leaders, any whom our Lord has given authority for teaching His Word. “Food”, of course, means the substance of His Word as it appears in our Bible. “At the proper time” refers to the season when these end-time signs and events are beginning to occur. I personally do not doubt that this season is upon us. Your pastor or teaching authority should be currently preparing you for the tribulation to come very soon. Most Christian pastor/teachers adequately address salvation through the Blood of Christ but ignore eschatological topics for a variety of reasons. However, this is not the season to ignore end-time study. A period of unprecedented evil is just ahead of us, and we need our “food” to properly prepare. I would not want to be one of those pastors whose flock is unprepared when Jesus returns. It will not end well for him. If you are reading this and determine that you are not getting timely teaching about last-day’s events, approach your pastor respectfully and question him as to why. Feel free to share this blog with him or any other resource that might help to direct his path. You might consider giving him a copy of the book “Last Days Events-Sequence and Synchrony” found here: Last Days Events: Sequence and Synchrony by Weinert, J D (amazon.com)

Maranatha, Jim

Bible study session 2 of chronological eschatology has been posted. The topic is last days events just prior to the onset of Daniel’s 70th week.

Chronological Eschatology Pre-Tribulation Events (youtube.com)

In chapter 17, the prophet Isaiah penned a very clear prophecy concerning the Syrian city of Damascus. “The burden against Damascus. ‘Behold, Damascus will cease from being a city, and it will be a ruinous heap.’ ” (Isaiah 17:1). These bible prophecies always come to pass with certainty. The question is, has this already happened in the past or is it a future end-time event? Some bible commentators say it does indeed have a past fulfillment as described in 2nd Kings. “For the king of Assyria went up against Damascus and took it, carried its people captive to Kir, and killed Rezin.” (2 Kings 16:9). This verse, however, makes no mention of destruction of the city itself. It certainly did not become a “ruinous heap”, nor did it “cease from being a city”. In fact, Damascus is listed as one of the oldest cities on earth to have been continuously inhabited, if not the oldest. We know from the bible that Damascus existed in the time of Abraham. “But Abram said, ‘Lord God, what will You give me, seeing I go childless, and the heir of my house is Eliezer of Damascus?’ “ (Genesis 15:2)

Currently, Damascus is surviving, though it is a war-torn city. It’s been under seemingly constant attack since the establishment of modern Syria in 1920. It survived wars with France in 1920, 1925, and 1945. Also, three wars with Israel in 1948, 1967, and 1973. It survived an Islamist uprising by the Muslim Brotherhood which began in 1979. Then, there was the Lebanese civil war starting in 1975 that resulted in Syrian occupation of Lebanon from 1990 to 2005. All of this and more is now followed up by a Syrian civil war in an attempt to expel the current dictator Assad. This civil war started in 2011 and is still ongoing. Today, it’s allies include Russia, Iraq, Iran, and Hezbollah. Russia has a military presence there, and Iran uses Syria as a conduit to ship arms to Hezbollah in its fight with Israel. As a result, Israel is continually bombing targets in and around Damascus to stop Iranian arms shipments.

Results of all of these wars have left large sections of Damascus in rubble, but the city in its entirety is not completely a “ruinous heap”. This leaves only one conclusion; Isaiah 17 is describing a future complete destruction of Damascus. While it’s certainly possible this could happen before Daniel’s 70th week, it’s more likely to occur after the release of the four horsemen of the apocalypse at the beginning of the tribulation, or the sixth trumpet war that kills one third of mankind. Considering this late date, I would not want to establish a residency in Damascus!

Maranatha, Jim

Our Lord does not keep us, His people, in the dark concerning what He is about to do. Throughout history, He has imparted the knowledge necessary to understand the times we are living in for those who seek it. Some examples: “the sons of Issachar had understanding of the times, to know what Israel ought to do.” (1 Chronicles 12:32). They perceived that the Lord’s will was that David be installed as king of all Israel. Elsewhere; “Then the king said to the wise men who understood the times….” (Esther 1:13). King Ahasuerus knew whom to trust for godly advice. Further, the wise men from the east (Magi) understood the significance of Jewish prophecy and at the appropriate time journeyed to Jerusalem and asked the people; “Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we have seen His star in the east and have come to worship Him.” (Matthew 2:2)

Concerning this present time, the prophet Daniel records this: “Go your way, Daniel, for the words are closed up and sealed till the time of the end. Many shall be purified, made white, and refined, but the wicked shall do wickedly; and none of the wicked shall understand, but the wise shall understand.” (Daniel 12:9-10). Make no mistake, those with Godly wisdom will not be surprised by anything God is doing in these last days. They will have complete understanding of the nature and timing of end-time events. So that begs the question; who among you is wise? I can tell you confidently, it’s not those educated by the world’s standards. (1 Corinthians 2:6, 14). Wisdom that is true begins with “fear of the Lord” and followed by a humble heart and mind open to the teaching of the Holy Spirit. “Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit Who is from God, that we might know the things that have been freely given to us by God. These things we also speak, not in words which man’s wisdom teaches, but which the Holy Spirit teaches.” (1 Corinthians 2:12-13). Yes, as the Holy Spirit tells us of things to come and guides us into all truth (John 16:13), He will give us wisdom and understanding to discern the times. He gave us His book, lives in us, and has the mind of the Father.

Don’t let anyone tell you that we can’t understand end times prophecy. If they do, they’re just plain wrong.

Maranatha, Jim

Our Los Amigos winter bible study kicked off this week. The topic for this series will be “Chronological Eschatology”. It will generally be based on the book “Last Days Events-Sequence and Synchrony”. This first session will serve as an introduction. This is a weekly home bible study, so hopefully it will be recorded and posted here each week. I hope it will be of benefit to you, especially considering this late hour. Here is the introduction: Chronological Eschatology: Last Days Events – Introduction – YouTube

Maranatha, Jim

Jesus was bluntly critical of His Jewish brethren for not recognizing the time of His first coming. He castigated them for their lack of spiritual discernment. “Whenever you see a cloud rising out of the west, immediately you say, ‘a shower is coming’: and so, it is. And when you see the south wind blow, you say, ‘there will be hot weather’: and there is. Hypocrites! You can discern the face of the sky and of the earth, but how is it you do not discern this time?” (Luke 12:54-56). In fact, their failure to know the time of His coming resulted in the ultimate destruction of Jerusalem and the Holy temple in 70 AD. “If you had known, even you, especially in this your day, the things that make for your peace! But now they are hidden from your eyes. For the days will come upon you when your enemies will build an embankment around you, surround you and close you in on every side, and level you, and your children within you, to the ground; and they will not leave in you one stone upon another, because you did not know the time of your visitation.” (Luke 19:42-44).

Unquestionably, they had plenty information at their disposal to verify the advent of their Messiah. Consider the following:

The angelic visitation to the shepherds around Jerusalem announcing the Messiah’s birth.

The public prophecies of Zacharias, Simeon, and Anna around the time of Jesus’s birth.

The visit of the Magi from Babylon who saw the star of Jacob in Babylon, indication of the birth of the Jewish Messiah. Their arrival caused a public stir in Jerusalem coming to the attention of the religious leaders, and even Herod.

The public ministry of John the Baptist who was revered as a prophet and witnessed to all about the One coming after him.

The precise prophecy in Daniel that Messiah would come 69 “weeks” after the going forth of the command to restore and rebuild Jerusalem. (Daniel 9:25). This would have been very easy for the scholars of that time to determine.

All of the above and more, not to mention the 3+ years of ministry from Jesus Himself.

No doubt, they should have known, and were judged for not determining that time. This begs the question-are we able and even required to discern the time of His second coming? The answer, though it may seem contradictory to much modern teaching, is a resounding yes, definitely! Scripture is very clear. We need to study prophetic scripture, watch for the clear signs given us by Jesus and the prophets, and allow the Holy Spirit to teach us about things to come. (John 16:13). Jesus Himself directed us to read and understand the prophecies in the Book of Daniel (Matthew 24:15), gave us the Book of Revelation, and commanded us to watch: “And what I say to you I say to all: Watch!“(Mark 13:37).

It’s apparent to me from my study of the prophetic scriptures that we are given and will be given much more information related to the timing of His second coming then the Jews had for His first coming. We have, in addition to what they had, the New Testament, broad infilling of the Holy Spirit, and soon coming ministries of messengers from God such as the two witnesses of Revelation 11. We are now in a position to determine the “season” of His return and will soon be able to determine a precise date once certain prophecies such as the “Abomination of Desolation” are fulfilled. For more information about discerning the time scroll down to the permanently linked article “Discerning the Time of Jesus’s Second Coming.”

Don’t cause Jesus to think of you as a hypocrite! Study the prophetic scriptures to show yourselves approved and to prepare for what’s just ahead. And watch as Jesus commanded.

Maranatha, Jim