50 Reasons For a Pretribulational Rapture By Dr. John F. Walvoord
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Here is the text:
20 Peter turned and saw that the disciple whom Jesus loved was following them. (This was the one who had leaned back against Jesus at the supper and had said, “Lord, who is going to betray you?”)
21 When Peter saw him, he asked, “Lord, what about him?”
22 Jesus answered, “If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you? You must follow me.”
23 Because of this, the rumor spread among the believers that this disciple would not die. But Jesus did not say that he would not die; he only said, “If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you?”
I think the point Jesus was making is that John was none of Peter's business. Jesus had just told Peter to "Follow Me", 3 times. So Peter wanted to know what John was to do. Remember that Jesus had already been resurrected. So, what was Jesus referring to by His statement "until I return"? Since there are no other references in the NT about any return other than what is called the Second Avent or Coming, it seems obvious that Jesus was referring to His return to end the Trib and begin His Millennial reign.
btw, there's an interesting verse, Acts 3:21. My previous edition of NIV says "Jesus must remain in heaven until the restoration of everything". The latest edition says "Heaven must receive Him until...", which is what most translations have.
However, here are some translations:
New Living Translation
For he must remain in heaven until the time for the final restoration of all things, as God promised long ago through his holy prophets.
Amplified Bible
whom heaven must keep until the time for the [complete] restoration of all things about which God promised through the mouth of His holy prophets from ancient time.
Contemporary English Version
But Jesus must stay in heaven until God makes all things new, just as his holy prophets promised long ago.
Good News Translation
He must remain in heaven until the time comes for all things to be made new, as God announced through his holy prophets of long ago.
International Standard Version
He must remain in heaven until the time of universal restitution, which God announced long ago through the voice of his holy prophets.
So I looked up the Greek word for "receive". My Greek lexicon has "to receive, retain, to contain".
So even though some or most of the above translations are paraphrases, the word "keep" fits with my lexicon's definition.
So this verse teaches that Jesus will remain in heaven until the Millennium.
Since Peter wrote this in 2 Pter 3:8 - But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day., it seems to be an explanation of what Jesus meant by His "soon return".
It's been about 2,000 years since His First Advent. Given 2 Peter 3:8, one could reasonably say He's been gone only for a few days, relatively speaking. Keep in mind Peter's words were in the middle of a passage discussing creation. So the time comparison can be applied several ways.
First, we know from Genesis God worked for 6 days, and then rested the 7th. Apply that to human history, and we have about 6,000 years up to this point. What's left? The Millennium, a period of obvious rest for the earth.
Second, Jesus' comments about His "imminent" return can be understood by the relative comparison, so He's only been gone for several days.
If Jesus made a return to earth between His resurrection and the Millennial kingdom, is there a verse/passage that describes it?
20 Peter turned and saw that the disciple whom Jesus loved was following them. (This was the one who had leaned back against Jesus at the supper and had said, “Lord, who is going to betray you?”)
21 When Peter saw him, he asked, “Lord, what about him?”
22 Jesus answered, “If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you? You must follow me.”
23 Because of this, the rumor spread among the believers that this disciple would not die. But Jesus did not say that he would not die; he only said, “If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you?”
I think the point Jesus was making is that John was none of Peter's business. Jesus had just told Peter to "Follow Me", 3 times. So Peter wanted to know what John was to do. Remember that Jesus had already been resurrected. So, what was Jesus referring to by His statement "until I return"? Since there are no other references in the NT about any return other than what is called the Second Avent or Coming, it seems obvious that Jesus was referring to His return to end the Trib and begin His Millennial reign.
btw, there's an interesting verse, Acts 3:21. My previous edition of NIV says "Jesus must remain in heaven until the restoration of everything". The latest edition says "Heaven must receive Him until...", which is what most translations have.
However, here are some translations:
New Living Translation
For he must remain in heaven until the time for the final restoration of all things, as God promised long ago through his holy prophets.
Amplified Bible
whom heaven must keep until the time for the [complete] restoration of all things about which God promised through the mouth of His holy prophets from ancient time.
Contemporary English Version
But Jesus must stay in heaven until God makes all things new, just as his holy prophets promised long ago.
Good News Translation
He must remain in heaven until the time comes for all things to be made new, as God announced through his holy prophets of long ago.
International Standard Version
He must remain in heaven until the time of universal restitution, which God announced long ago through the voice of his holy prophets.
So I looked up the Greek word for "receive". My Greek lexicon has "to receive, retain, to contain".
So even though some or most of the above translations are paraphrases, the word "keep" fits with my lexicon's definition.
So this verse teaches that Jesus will remain in heaven until the Millennium.
Since Peter wrote this in 2 Pter 3:8 - But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day., it seems to be an explanation of what Jesus meant by His "soon return".
It's been about 2,000 years since His First Advent. Given 2 Peter 3:8, one could reasonably say He's been gone only for a few days, relatively speaking. Keep in mind Peter's words were in the middle of a passage discussing creation. So the time comparison can be applied several ways.
First, we know from Genesis God worked for 6 days, and then rested the 7th. Apply that to human history, and we have about 6,000 years up to this point. What's left? The Millennium, a period of obvious rest for the earth.
Second, Jesus' comments about His "imminent" return can be understood by the relative comparison, so He's only been gone for several days.
If Jesus made a return to earth between His resurrection and the Millennial kingdom, is there a verse/passage that describes it?
I imagine you bellowing in a Brian Blessed type voice.
I am wondering whether, if the hapless TDW got hacked and started writing
supreme dribble, you would continue your cult leader henchman act....
I am wondering whether, if the hapless TDW got hacked and started writing
supreme dribble, you would continue your cult leader henchman act....
And forgot the part where John explained why he wouldn't be.
Because Jesus said so
18 I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.19 Yet a little while, and the world seeth me no more; but ye see me: because I live, ye shall live also.20 At that day ye shall know that I am in my Father, and ye in me, and I in you.21 He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him.22 Judas saith unto him, not Iscariot, Lord, how is it that thou wilt manifest thyself unto us, and not unto the world?23 Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.
18 I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.19 Yet a little while, and the world seeth me no more; but ye see me: because I live, ye shall live also.20 At that day ye shall know that I am in my Father, and ye in me, and I in you.21 He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him.22 Judas saith unto him, not Iscariot, Lord, how is it that thou wilt manifest thyself unto us, and not unto the world?23 Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.
In plain sight - not even hidden
22 Jesus saith unto him, If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee? follow thou me.
23 Then went this saying abroad among the brethren, that that disciple should not die: yet Jesus said not unto him, He shall not die; but, If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee?
22 Jesus saith unto him, If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee? follow thou me.
23 Then went this saying abroad among the brethren, that that disciple should not die: yet Jesus said not unto him, He shall not die; but, If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee?
That part besides CHRIST in us, is not answered in the Bible, that I know of. It implies CHRIST emptied HIS Blood around the Altar of Sacrifice, as the earthy Altar is mirrored after the Heavenly, and is says we will have the Same Type of body as CHRIST HAS. That to me means the Glorified Body has NO BLOOD. It also say we will eat the Marriage Supper of the Lamb. BUT the food we eat, has to be different. No mention of a Toilet, or even an outhouse in heaven, so that could mean every bit of the food, must be totally digestible.
1 John 3:2 (NIV)
2 Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when he appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is.
1 Corinthians 13:12 (NIV)
12 Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.
That's not what He said. In v.18 He was referring to His Second Advent. In v.19 He was affirming the disciples that they had eternal life and would see Him again. This doesn't refer to the Second Advent, but the fact that they will be in heaven when they die, because He will already be there.
If you take v.18 to be a reference to the Holy Spirit, then there is no difference between Jesus and the Spirit. But there is. They are two separate but equal Personalities.
If you take v.18 to be a reference to the Holy Spirit, then there is no difference between Jesus and the Spirit. But there is. They are two separate but equal Personalities.
This poster seems totally unaware of Scripture. There is NOTHING about Jesus "emptying His blood at the cross". In fact, after He had already paid the sin debt by His own words, "It is finished" which means "paid in full" in the Greek, only then did He physically die.
So when the soldiers pierced His side, out came "blood and water". One thing is sure: Jesus didn't bleed to death.
People need to read more carefully.
So when the soldiers pierced His side, out came "blood and water". One thing is sure: Jesus didn't bleed to death.
People need to read more carefully.