Program 119: If Christ is coming “soon,” where is he?

A misunderstanding of what “soon” meant in the original context has led many to doubt Yahushua’s return.

Welcome to WLC Radio, a subsidiary of World’s Last Chance Ministries, an online ministry dedicated to learning how to live in constant readiness for the Savior's return.

For two thousand years, believers of every generation have longed to be the last generation. Contrary to popular belief, though, Christ did not give believers “signs of the times” to watch for. Instead, he repeatedly warned that his coming would take even the faithful by surprise. Yahushua urgently warned believers to be ready because, he said, “The Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.” [Matthew 24:44]

WLC Radio: Teaching minds and preparing hearts for Christ's sudden return.

* * *Part 1: (Miles & Dave)

Miles Robey: Hello! Welcome to WLC Radio! I’m your host, Miles Robey.

Dave Wright: And I’m Dave Wright. We’re glad you could join us today.

Miles: For today’s program, Dave is going to be talking about an issue believers have grappled with for, well, centuries. And that is: what does the Bible mean when it says Christ is coming “soon”? How do you define “soon” when, you have to admit, it’s been nearly 2,000 years!

Dave: If he’s coming “soon,” where is he?

Miles: Right! Two thousand years isn’t “quick” or “soon” by any definition of the word, so where is he and why does Scripture say his return will be soon?

Dave: All good questions that deserve a good answer. Before we get much further into that, though, let me just let our first-time listeners know about some terminology with which they may be unfamiliar.

At WLC, we prefer to use the personal name of God, which is Yahuwah, or Yah. “God” and “lord” are simply generic terms that can apply to any deity.

The Saviour’s name is very similar. His name is Yahushua, which means “Yahuwah’s salvation.” That’s what he is. He is, literally, Yahuwah’s salvation.

Miles: Hebrew names have so much meaning, don’t they? I like how so many of the Biblical names refer to Yah. There’s Jeremiah, which means “Yah will exalt.” And Zedekiah, which means “Yah is righteousness.”

Elijah: “Yah is El.”

Dave: El and Elohim are Hebrew titles that apply to Yahuwah, so you might hear those as well.

Miles: So, tell us, Dave: how can the Bible say Yahushua will return “soon” when, can’t deny, he still hasn’t!

Dave: It’s a fair question. A friend of mine had a great-aunt that lived in France during the first world war. Apparently, as a young woman, she needed a couple of more petticoats. However, like many at that time, she saw the “Great War” as a sign of the Saviour’s imminent return, so she decided that, since Jesus was coming so soon, she’d only spend the money to make one.

Miles: Hm. So, what happened?

Dave: Well, she made do with one petticoat. When she finally died at, I don’t know … 80 years of age in the 1970s? Yahushua had, obviously, still not returned.

Miles: This is a rather troubling issue because one of the hallmarks of a false prophet is when their prophecies do not come true. So, what are we to do with all these statements saying that Christ is coming soon? Yahushua himself in Revelation 22 says, “Behold, I am coming quickly.”

And yet, I don’t think any of us are prepared to accuse him of being a false prophet. So, how do we resolve this? How do we take these Scriptural statements of the nearness of Christ’s return and reconcile them with the fact that, lo these thousands of years later, he still hasn’t returned?

Dave: Unbelievers certainly like to mock.

Miles: Not just unbelievers! When my wife and I were getting ready to start a family, my wife got really upset when her mother said, “Are you really sure you should be starting a family now? You know, Christ said, ‘Woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing babies in those days!’” [Matthew 24:19]

Dave: I’m sure that went over well!

Miles laughs: One of those times you take a big step back and go, “Better your mum than mine!”

Dave: Well, let’s look at this. Let’s start with 2 Peter, chapter 3, and read verses 1 to 4. Peter is giving a warning, here, of a sign to watch for in the last days.

Miles: Okay … it says:

Beloved, I now write to you this second epistle (in both of which I stir up your pure minds by way of reminder), that you may be mindful of the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets, and of the commandment of us, the apostles of the Lord and Savior, knowing this first: that scoffers will come in the last days, walking according to their own lusts, and saying, “Where is the promise of His coming? For since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of creation.”

Dave: Scoffing, asking Okay, so where is he? … these are all signs of the end. And yet, when we read this passage in context, it becomes very clear that “soon” never meant “immediate.”

Miles: What do you mean?

Dave: Keep reading. What do the next three verses say?

Miles: Uhhh …

For this they willfully forget: that by the word of Yahuwah the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of water and in the water, by which the world that then existed perished, being flooded with water. But the heavens and the earth which are now preserved by the same word, are reserved for fire until the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men. [2 Peter 3:5-8]

Dave: In other words, Peter’s saying, the word of Yah never fails. Even if it is long delayed, it will still come true, just as it did when the flood finally came to wash away earth’s wickedness.

Now, it’s this next part that puts this whole issue into context and proves that “soon” never meant “immediate.” Read verses 8 to ten.

Miles:

But, beloved, do not forget this one thing, that with Yahuwah one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. Yahuwah is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.

But the day of Yah will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up.

Dave: One day with Yah is as a thousand years, and a thousand years is as one day. When we’re dealing with time, our perspective is much more narrow than that of Yahuwah’s.

Miles: So why does the Bible say he’s going to return “soon” if he wasn’t?

Dave: It doesn’t.

Remember: The Bible wasn’t written in modern English.

Miles: Soooo, how do we take this?

Dave: Whenever dealing with some issue we don’t understand, it’s always necessary to not only read in context, but read everything Scripture has to say on the subject. You’re not going to arrive at the truth if all you do is gather together a bunch of texts and impute to them the meaning you want them to have, the meaning that fits your preferred belief.

Miles: True. It’s easy to get off when we read into Scripture what we want it to say.

Dave: The New Testament has a number of ways of referring to the nearness of Yahushua’s return. Phrases such as being near, or at hand, or even at the gates.

The first thing to know is that some of these passages that are said to be soon, or near at hand, actually refer to events leading up to the Saviour’s return, rather than his actual appearing in the clouds of heaven.

Miles: So, they aren’t necessarily teaching a specific time frame for his appearance.

Dave: No! We’ve imputed that meaning to these passages because that’s how we want to interpret them. But not all of such passages refer to his actual appearance.

Another thing of which to be aware is that some of these passages are establishing that the long-awaited Messiah has come—past tense.

Miles: It’s a done deal.

Dave: Exactly. His life, his death, and his resurrection have decisively and for all time settled the conflict. Now, salvation is available to all who will simply accept it by faith.

Miles: The good news of the gospel: forgiveness and salvation are yours if you just accept it.

Dave: The thing to understand here is that Yahushua’s life, death, and resurrection set in motion a process by which a remnant were to be gathered. So, take 1 Peter 4:7, for example.

Miles: All right. Give me just a second to pull that up here.

1 Peter 4, verse 7. It says, quote: “But the end of all things is at hand: be ye therefore sober, and watch unto prayer.”

Dave: When you read this in context, it’s actually referring to the decisive victory that began the process of gathering a remnant. A few verses before, it’s talking about Christ’s sufferings and the victory won by his death.

Now turn to James 5, verses 7 and 8. These are also referring to the victory that began the process, rather than his actual appearing.

Miles: “Therefore be patient, brethren, until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, waiting patiently for it until it receives the early and latter rain. You also be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand.”

Dave: Again, this is referring to Yahushua’s decisive victory that began the process. And to Yahuwah, who is, and who was, and who is to come, it’s all alike to Him.

Miles: All right. But what about Matthew 24:33?

Dave: Do you have that? Why don’t you go ahead and read that for us. Start at verse 32.

Miles: “Now learn this parable from the fig tree: When its branch has already become tender and puts forth leaves, you know that summer is near. So you also, when you see all these things, know that it is near—at the doors!”

Dave: To put it another way, Yahushua has already appeared. He has fought and won a decisive victory. That’s what the resurrection proves. And in doing so, he fulfilled many of the Old Testament prophecies that relate to the end of time.

This is something most people don’t realize, or haven’t paid particular attention to, but many of these Old Testament prophecies foretelling the Messiah’s coming blend the prophecies of his life and death with prophecies of his ultimate triumph. Why? Because he triumphed at the cross! From that point on, it was, as you said earlier, a “done deal.”

Miles: Can you give us an example of a prophecy that blends the two?

Dave: Uhhh … yeah! Isaiah 53 is a good one. This is a really beautiful prophecy of the Messiah’s mission. Certain texts within this chapter are quite well known. For example, verse 3: “He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief …”

Miles: Verse 5: ^“He was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.”

Dave: Right. It’s beautiful. Powerful.

Now, down at the end of the chapter, is where we get the blending of the two. Read verses 10 to 12.

Miles:

Yet it pleased Yahuwah to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of Yahuwah shall prosper in his hand.

He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities.

Therefore will I divide him a portion with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong; because he hath poured out his soul unto death: and he was numbered with the transgressors; and he bare the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.

Dave: When we read the prophecies in context, and we don’t pick out a verse here and a verse there, we can see clearly that Yahushua’s life as the Messiah, his death and triumphant resurrection actually do fulfill many Old Testament prophecies of the end time. It’s like the prophets are saying: “This triumph is the beginning of the end.” He has appeared. He has triumphed, and in doing so, he has already fulfilled many of these prophecies.

* * *

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* * *Part 2: (Miles & Dave)

Miles: In talking about the nearness of Christ’s return, and just how soon is “soon,” you mentioned earlier that the New Testament wasn’t written in modern English. Are you saying some things have been lost in translation?

Dave: Yeah, I think it’s fair to say that whenever you translate from one language to another, nuances of meaning are going to be lost. That’s why I see the internet as such a blessing. Even if you don’t have a concordance or Bible dictionary, you can still obtain the information on line for free.

Now, in English, how do we define “soon”?

Miles: Well … in the near future … about to happen shortly, or in a little while.

Dave: Right. Any child, promised that he’ll get to have a treat “soon,” is going to very quickly infer what “soon” means.

Miles: And start pestering his mum or dad if “soon” doesn’t happen soon enough!

Dave chuckles: I hear the voice of experience there.

Miles: Oh, yeah!

Dave: Well, the word that is often translated as “soon” into English, comes from the Greek word, tachu. It can mean “soon,” but it also encompasses an entirely additional meaning other than “right away” or “in the near future.”

Miles: Really?? That’s interesting. I think a lot of this expectation of an immediate return of Christ is based on the misunderstanding that the Bible meant “in the near future.”

So, what else does it mean?

Dave: Tachu can also mean suddenly, by surprise or unexpectedly. This is how tachu is used in Revelation 22, verse 12. Why don’t you read that for us? You’ll notice that the word “soon” doesn’t appear in this text, but instead tachu is translated here as “quickly.”

You have it? Go ahead and read it.

Miles: “Behold, I come quickly and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.”

Dave: “Behold, I come quickly [tachu] and my reward is with me.” In other words, he’s saying, “I am coming suddenly; unexpectedly.”

Miles: Huh! Puts a whole different spin on it, doesn’t it?

Dave: It does. And that’s one thing Yahushua repeated over, and over, and over again: “Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come.” [Matthew 24:42]

Miles: “Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour in which the Son of Man is coming.” [Matthew 25:13]

Dave: That’s another one. Would you read Matthew 28 verse 8 now? Here, tachu is translated as “quickly” but it doesn’t mean “soon.” It just means fast.

Miles: All right, uh … this is about the women who came to the sepulcher on the resurrection morning.

It says quote: “So they went out quickly from the tomb with fear and great joy, and ran to bring his disciples word.”

Dave: So, with tachu, we’ve got a much broader definition than just “soon.” It also means fast, suddenly, and unexpectedly.

Miles: Another thing I just thought of: the gospel writers themselves taught that even Yahushua didn’t know when he was going to return. Listen to this text. It’s from Matthew 24. And remember, Matthew 24 is the chapter where Yahushua is explicitly explaining what the signs of his return and the end of the world would be. You’d think if he knew, now would be the time to say it!

But here, in verse 36, he says just the opposite. He says, quote: “But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only.”

Dave: If the Saviour himself did not know when he would return, he certainly couldn’t have predicted the precise time of his return, could he?

Miles: Nope! Acts 1:7 is another place where Yahushua could so easily have specified a time for his return. Not necessarily a specific day, but even a specific time-period. It’s his last conversation with his followers before his ascension, and what does he say?

Listen to this: Acts 1, verse 7. It says: “And He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or seasons which the Father has put in His own authority.”

Dave: So, again, we need to be careful that we don’t impute meaning that isn’t there. It’s not imputing meaning to say that Christ’s return will be sudden and unexpected. But clearly early Christians were imputing meaning to assume that his return was “in the near future.”

Miles: Yeah, but … let’s not be too hard on them. Didn’t Christ himself say that some people living in his day would still be alive when he came?

Dave: I’m glad you brought that up. That has got to be one of the most misunderstood passages of Scripture. Let’s take a look at that. It’s found in Matthew 16. Matthew 16, verse 28. Would you read that for us, please?

Miles: Okay, uh … Yahushua had just predicted his death and resurrection the third day. Then he talks about, if you want to follow him, you have to deny yourself, take up your cross, and follow him.

Then he says, quote: “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. Assuredly, I say to you, there are some standing here who shall not taste death till they see the Son of Man coming in His kingdom.”

Unquote. Now, how do you get around that? He said, very clearly—he just spelled it out, right there: “I say to you, there are some standing here who shall not taste death till they see the Son of Man coming.” How do you take that? Because, obviously, no one from the first century is still living!

Dave: Here’s the thing: Yahushua made this statement … before … the mount of transfiguration. In fact, these are the very last words recorded in Matthew 16.

Now remember, in the Greek, there were no chapter breaks. So, our chapter 17, the story of the transfiguration, is immediately following these words. This is important. Why don’t you read that for us?

Matthew 17, verses 1 to 6.

Miles:

Now after six days Yahushua took Peter, James, and John his brother, led them up on a high mountain by themselves; and he was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and his clothes became as white as the light. And behold, Moses and Elijah appeared to them, talking with him. Then Peter answered and said to Yahushua, “Lord, it is good for us to be here; if You wish, let us make here three tabernacles: one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.”

While he was still speaking, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them; and suddenly a voice came out of the cloud, saying, “This is My beloved son, in whom I am well pleased. Hear him!” And when the disciples heard it, they fell on their faces and were greatly afraid.

Dave: This, right here, is the fulfillment of Christ’s prophecy that some would not see death until they had seen him come in the Father’s glory.

This is what we call a “type.” Types are figures; they’re symbols. For example, the sacrificial lambs that were killed were all types of the Messiah.

Yahushua was the great anti-type that fulfilled all the other types. It’s why John the Baptist said of him … what?

Miles: “Behold the lamb of Yah which taketh away the sin of the world.” [John 1:29]

Dave: Right. Types come first. They point forward to an anti-type that will be a complete fulfillment. That’s what the mount of transfiguration was. It was a type of Yahushua’s coming in glory that is yet future.

Turn over to 2 Peter. If there is any doubt whatsoever that what I’m saying isn’t true, this should put that to rest. Peter states right out that he witnessed the glory of Yahushua.

Miles: And we know Peter’s dead! He was crucified upside down.

All right: 2 Peter what?

Dave: 2 Peter 1, verses 16 to 18.

Miles:

For we did not follow cunningly devised fables when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Yahushua Christ, but were eyewitnesses of his majesty. For he received from Yahuwah the Father honor and glory when such a voice came to him from the Excellent Glory: “This is My beloved son, in whom I am well pleased.” And we heard this voice which came from heaven when we were with him on the holy mountain.

Dave: Peter himself is stating that he witnessed the divine glory of Yahuwah at the transfiguration. So, this is the fulfillment of Christ’s prophecy that some present wouldn’t see death until they had seen him in glory. That prophecy was fulfilled at the mount of transfiguration, which was a type of his return at the end of the world.

Miles: Interesting. That’s very interesting.

All right. What about where Paul seems to include himself among those who are living when Yahushua returns? I don’t remember the text. Do you know it? It’s the one that says, “Then we which are alive and remain”?

Dave: That’s 1 Thessalonians 4. Apparently, some of the early believers in Thessalonica had died and those still living were afraid that they would never get to see them again, since they’d died before Yahushua’s return. Paul was writing to explain the resurrection to them. Read 1 Thessalonians 4, verses 15 to 17.

Miles:

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 will by no means precede those who are asleep. For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will 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.

Dave: Paul is not claiming that he would live to see Yahushua return. At this point, he didn’t know whether he would or not. He was simply using “we” as kind of a third-person, inclusive term.

He didn’t know whether he was going to live or die and frankly, he did not care either way. He says this beautifully in Philippians, chapter 1, verses 19 to 24. Would you read that for us?

Miles: Sure. Give me a second to find it . . . here we go. It says, quote:

For I know that this will turn out for my deliverance through your prayer and the supply of the Spirit of Yahushua Christ, according to my earnest expectation and hope that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ will be magnified in my body, whether by life or by death. For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain. But if I live on in the flesh, this will mean fruit from my labor; yet what I shall choose I cannot tell. For I am hard-pressed between the two, having a desire to depart and be with Christ, which is far better. Nevertheless to remain in the flesh is more needful for you.

Dave: Again, Paul’s saying: “I don’t care whether I live or die, I just want to magnify Christ. If I die, I am with Christ. If I live, I can work more for him. Either way is fine with me.”

Miles: Let me just insert here, Paul was not saying that at death, he expected to immediately go to heaven as many Christians assume. Scripture makes it clear: “The living know that they shall die: but the dead know not any thing.” [Ecclesiastes 9:5]

Dave: Yeah, no. I didn’t mean to imply that. Job says the same thing. He knew that he would die, but had no expectation of immediately waking up in heaven after death. In fact, in Job 19 he says, quote: “For I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth:

And though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see Yah: Whom I shall see for myself, and mine eyes shall behold, and not another; though my reins be consumed within me.” [Job 19:25-27]

Miles: Right. People sleep in the grave.

Dave: The point I’m trying to make is, there is no consciousness in death.

Miles: It’s why Yahushua referred to death as a sleep. Remember? He said, “Our friend Lazarus sleeps”? [John 11:11] But you’re not aware of what is going on around you when you’re asleep. The next thing you know, your alarm is blaring, or the sun is shining in your eyes, or the kids are pouncing, wanting their breakfast.

Dave: That’s how it is in death. For those who die trusting in the merits of Yahushua’s blood, the next thing they will know is waking up at the resurrection to see him, coming in glory at his return.

Miles: Don’t go away folks. When we return, we’ll be answering your questions sent in to our Daily Mailbag. Stay tuned!

* * *

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* * *Daily Mailbag (Miles & Dave)

Miles: Today’s question from our daily mailbag is coming to us from Trenton, New Jersey in the United States.

Why do you suppose Americans always add their state any time they give where they live? Australia has states; Mexico has states. They don’t ever say which state they live in.

Dave: I think Australians do, don’t they?

Miles: I don’t know. Maybe.

Dave: For Americans, I think it has to do with the way their state governments are set up. State governments have quite a bit of autonomy. Some things are legal in some states, that are illegal in others. In fact, some states have even legalized marijuana even though it’s still illegal according to the federal government.

Miles: Okay! I can see why there’d be so much emphasis on which state you came from, then. Sort of a “My state is better than your state because we can smoke weed here” mentality.

Dave: So, what’s the question?

Miles: Well, Juan Pablo Salinas asks: “Do you have any tips or advice on how I can make godly decisions in my daily life?”

Dave: You know, that is a really great question.

When it comes down to the important decisions in life, we all tend to be pretty good about asking for Yahuwah’s guidance.

Miles: You mean: when the consequences of not having His blessing are disastrous.

Dave: Basically … yeah. When we’re afraid, or the consequences of making the wrong choice are potentially disastrous, we’re very quick to seek Yah’s will.

But I like Juan Pablo’s question because such huge decisions don’t really come up that often in our day-to-day lives. And yet, as Juan Pablo clearly discerns, we need to know and do Yah’s will, we need to have His guidance in even the simple matters we deal with on a daily basis.

Miles: I think, foundational to everything, is simply choosing to trust Yah to know and to do what is best. It’s easy to trust Him in the big things. I mean, when your options are trusting Him, or losing everything: your life, your job, your marriage, whatever … most people are going to trust Yah then.

In fact, it’s a noticeable trend that people turn to religion in a crisis. And, sure, Yah can use that to draw people to Him. But remembering to trust Him in the littles? Remembering to make it a day-to-day habit, and not just an in-an-emergency-only time? That’s harder.

Dave: We do tend to think we can handle the small decisions on our own. But this is where making it a habit to trust Yah begins: on a daily basis. Furthermore, if we will trust Yah on that daily basis, in all the little things of life, we’re less likely to get into disasters of our own making that necessitate divine intervention.

Miles: Very true!

Dave: Turn to Proverbs 3, and read verses 5 and 6, would you please? This should be every believers rule of action, when it comes to making any decision, whether large or small.

Miles: Got it. It says, quote:

Trust in Yahuwah with all your heart,
And lean not on your own understanding;
In all your ways acknowledge Him,
And He shall direct your paths.

Dave: In all our ways we are to acknowledge the Father. When we do this, He will direct us in everything that pertains to our happiness. Psalms 32 verse 8 says: “I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will guide you with My eye.”

Miles: What a wonderful promise!

Dave: We can trust Him! In everything.

Miles: I want to share a promise from Jeremiah that I think really applies here. It’s Jeremiah 29 verse 11. It says, quote: “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says Yahuwah, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.”

Dave: That’s a powerful promise. Yah’s greatest desire is for your happiness, folks! You can trust Him with anything that perplexes, troubles, or hurts you.

Turn and read Romans 8, verse 28. This is another principle to keep in mind. If we will trust Yahuwah and surrender our wills to His, we can make decisions and choices without being afraid of the consequences.

Dave: Well, often people are so afraid of making the wrong choice, that they sit and spin their wheels in place, refusing to make any choice. If we will trust in Yah, we won’t be immobilized by fear like that. Romans 8:28 explains why. Go ahead and read that now.

Miles: “And we know that all things work together for good to those who love Yah, to those who are the called according to His purpose.”

Dave: When you know that Yahuwah can even take your mistakes and turn them to good, you will be able to relax and have complete confidence in Him and His ability to guide you through even the little daily matters most of us don’t even think to pray over.

One thing it’s easy to forget to do ahead of time is to simply remember to ask for divine wisdom when making a decision.

Miles: You don’t get what you don’t ask for.

Dave: Well, I believe Yahuwah wants to pour out blessings on everyone. But, as with Job, many times Satan—the “accuser of the brethren”—is right there, making accusations. We do need to ask. And don’t be afraid to ask! Yah wants to answer our prayers.

Why don’t you read James 1 verse 5 for us? This gives another unique perspective on asking Yah for what you need. James 1, verse 5.

Miles: James … James … where are you hiding, James?

Dave: Hard to find little book, isn’t it?

Miles: Here we go: hiding between Hebrews and 1 Peter. It says: “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of Yahuwah, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him.”

Dave: None of us have wisdom on a par with our Creator. We just don’t. We’re mortal; He’s immortal. We’re weak; He’s all-mighty. But that’s all right because in order to tap into that divine wisdom, James says, all we have to do is ask for it.

There’s no reason at all why Yah would not answer such a prayer.

Miles: That reminds me of a really powerful promise in 1 John 5. Let me look it up really quickly. This is one of those promises that can apply to any situation.

Here we go: it’s 1 John 5, verses 14 and 15. It says: “Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him.”

Dave: That’s a beautiful promise. And obviously, it will always be Yah’s will to share with us His divine wisdom, so you can know when asking for guidance, for help making daily decisions, your prayers will be answered.

Miles: You know, we ask for a lot of things in life:

• “Please help me get this job promotion.”
• “Please protect us while we’re traveling.”
• “Please heal my ailing child, spouse, parent, whatever.”

But when’s the last time any of us ever asked for Yah’s wisdom and help in making daily decisions?

Dave: An interesting topic for Bible study would be to look up every Bible verse that has the word “wisdom.”

One of the best verses is Proverbs 9, verse 10.

Miles: Oh, yeah. I know that one. It says: “The fear of Yahuwah is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.”

Dave: When we have a loving, reverential respect for Yahuwah, when we seek to know His will and live in submission to that, we will gain in wisdom and understanding and this will impact the decisions we make on a daily, even hourly, basis.

Miles: Psalm 25 verse 12 is another good one. It says, quote: “Who is the man that fears Yahuwah? Him shall He teach in the way He chooses.”

Dave: There’s another thing I want to point out that a lot of sincere people make a mistake and that is, if you want Yah to lead, you need to get up off that chair and start walking.

Miles: I’ve seen that before. Sometimes people are so afraid of making the wrong decision that they make no decision. But no decision is still a decision. It may be a decision by default, but it’s still a choice.

Dave: To lead is an action; so is to follow. If you want to be led, then you need to do more than spin your wheels in place. You have to get up and start moving forward. Maybe that first step is simply gathering information. But as you gather information, Yah can impress on your mind what the next step should be.

Miles: I think stepping out in faith can be scary. We want to see what the next step should be. To just start walking can be scary.

Dave: All right, then. Turn to Isaiah 30 and read verse 21. This should give anyone the courage to start walking.

Miles: Okay … it says:

Your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying,
“This is the way, walk in it,”
Whenever you turn to the right hand
Or whenever you turn to the left.

Dave: Whether Yah is leading you from ahead, or directing you from behind, you can trust in Him to give you the guidance you need to make good decisions. One last promise: Psalm 32, verse 8. Read that would you.

Miles: “I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will guide you with My eye.”

Dave: Romans 10, verse 8 says: “The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach.”

Miles: We enjoy hearing from our listeners. If you’ve got questions or comments, we’d like to hear from you. Go to our website at WorldsLastChance.com and click on Contact Us. We may not be able to address everything on air, but we’ll at least try to get it addressed in the Q&As on our website.

* * *Daily Promise

Hello! This is Elise O’Brien with today’s daily promise from Yah’s word.

It had been a tense and stressful day. Gary Copley and his friend had tracked down a kidnapper and would-be rapist, detaining him until the police could arrive. They were ready for some rest and relaxation to take their minds’ off of the day’s events.

They decided to take their wives out for dinner as a celebration of life, and the wonderful blessing of life, Yah’s protection, and the women he’d given them to be their wives. The evening out was everything they needed it to be and soon the stress of the day was relieved as the two couples recounted Yah’s blessings and the many things for which they were grateful.

On the drive home, Gary jovially announced that, in celebration of the moment, they should pull the car over to the side of the road and take a moment to kiss their wives. And that’s just what he did. A few moments later when he pulled back onto the road, everyone was laughing and in high spirits.

Almost immediately, however, the car fell silent. The road in front of them, the same road they’d traveled down just a couple hours earlier on their way to the restaurant, was completely blocked. Rising in front of them was a wall of mud at least 6 meters high. It had just narrowly missed a house. A woman dashed out of the house as they stared at the wall of mud.

“Are you folks all right? It didn’t hit you, did it?” She asked urgently. Seeing their confusion, she explained: “It just happened—just a few seconds ago. You didn’t see it at all? You didn’t see the landslide?”

Both couples were stunned. Had Gary not pulled the car over to kiss his wife, they would have been caught in the landslide, the car swept away by a flood of mud, boulders, and pine trees. It took the friends an hour to backtrack and wend their way home through back roads. Along the way, they met a road worker who, after he learned where they were going, asked if they would put up some road signs warning other drivers of the danger.

By the time they got to the other side, it was late and raining. In the dark, they couldn’t see very much, so they stuck the signs in and headed for home.

The next day, however, Gary, his wife and their friends decided to drive back out to their side of the landslide. What they saw appalled them. There was the landslide. There were the signs they’d left the night before. But the hillside beneath the road was completely gone, badly undercutting what remained of the road.

It had been too dark for them to see the night before, but their car had come mere centimeters from falling into the dark chasm of where the ground used to be. Twice in one night, Yahuwah had protected them from disaster.

In talking about that night, Gary says, quote: “I often think back to that kiss and encourage others to pay attention to those hunches and nudges of [Yah]. You never know what they might save you from and what they might lead you to. Sometimes they are obvious, sometimes not so much. And sometimes they let us be the rescuers while at other times it is we who are rescued. But whatever the outcome and whatever the plot, our God is always there, always calling us closer to him. Always.” Unquote.

Second Thessalonians, chapter 3, verse 3, declares: “[Yahuwah] is faithful, who will establish you and guard you from the evil one.”

We have been given great and precious promises. Go and start claiming!

* * *Part 3: (Miles & Dave)

Dave: There’s one final point I want to bring out about the Biblical prophecies and Yahushua’s coming and the setting up of the kingdom of Yah.

Turn to Isaiah 9. This is a prophecy of the Messiah and it sets out the parameters of his kingdom. Isaiah 9, verses 6 and 7.

Miles:

For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.

Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of Yahuwah of hosts will perform this.

Dave: That’s the prophecy. Now, let’s read the fulfillment in Luke 1.

This is when the angel went to Mary, to tell her she was going to be the mother of the Messiah. Read verses 30 to 33 of Luke 1.

Miles:

And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with Yah.

And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name Yahushua.

He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Yahuwah Elohim shall give unto him the throne of his father David:

And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end.

Dave: According to prophecy, the kingdom of Yahuwah requires that a human king sit upon the throne of his father, David, forever and ever. That requirement was met with Yahushua’s birth! The Messiah was always the one who was to reign forever from David’s throne. The certainty of Yah’s kingdom was then cast in stone.

This is why Yahushua could announce that the kingdom of Yah was at hand—because it was! The prophecies were already being fulfilled in a spiritual sense.

Read Luke 17, verses 20 and 21. The Pharisees of Christ’s day wanted a temporal kingdom. They rejected Yahushua because he brought a spiritual kingdom.

Miles: It says, quote:

And when he was demanded of the Pharisees, when the kingdom of Yah should come, he answered them and said, The kingdom of Yah cometh not with observation:

Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of Yah is within you.

Dave: Yahushua explained this to Pilate as well, just before his crucifixion. It’s in John 18, verse 36. Could you read that, please?

Miles: “My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is my kingdom not from hence.”

Dave: Again, the prophecies were already being fulfilled in a spiritual sense, so it was true and accurate to say that the kingdom of Yah was at hand because it was.

The prophecies of Yahushua’s coming aren’t found solely in the New Testament. They’re found in the Old, as well. There’s also a lot of overlap, when they describe the mission of the Messiah, and we haven’t seen this, because we didn’t fully grasp what it meant that the kingdom of Yah did come, it was established at Yahushua’s birth.

Miles: It’s why Matthew 4:17 says: “From that time Yahushua began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”

Dave: There you go. Yahushua’s acts—the miracles, the divine truths he taught anywhere he went, the loving, kind acceptance of sinners—all of this fulfilled the mission of the Messiah. His coming was a type that fulfilled in a limited sense the prophecies that will reach their ultimate fulfillment when the kingdom of Yahuwah is set up in the earth made new, following his return in glory.

Let’s look at one last prophecy: Isaiah 7:14. You might even know this already.

Miles: I do! It says, quote: “Therefore Yahuwah Himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.”

Dave: “Immanuel,” as most of us know, means “God (or El) with us.” Through Yahushua, Yahuwah was with us.

This type will meet its anti-type when Yahushua returns and Yahuwah brings the New Jerusalem down to be the capital of the new earth. Let’s read it! Revelation 21, verses 1 to 4.

Miles:

And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea.

And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from Yah out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.

And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of Yah is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and Yahuwah himself shall be with them, and be their God.

And Yahuwah shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.

Dave: This is the complete fulfillment of “Immanuel” – God with us.

Miles: For each of us, the Saviour’s return is as close as our last breath. The next conscious moment of awareness will be the resurrection at his return.

Make that surrender. Accept the gift of Yah’s grace. Then, whether you die or live to see Yahushua come, you’ll be at peace with Yah.

Join us again tomorrow, and until then, remember: Yahuwah loves you . . . and He is safe to trust!

* * *

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This program and past episodes of WLC Radio are available for downloading on our website. They're great for sharing with friends and for use in Bible studies! They're also an excellent resource for those worshipping Yahuwah alone at home. To listen to previously aired programs, visit our website at WorldsLastChance.com. Click on the WLC Radio icon displayed on our homepage.

In his teachings and parables, the Savior gave no “signs of the times” to watch for. Instead, the thrust of his message was constant … vigilance. Join us again tomorrow for another truth-filled message as we explore various topics focused on the Savior's return and how to live in constant readiness to welcome him warmly when he comes.

WLC Radio: Teaching minds and preparing hearts for Christ's sudden return.