End Time Talks

End Time Talks 11: Did the Great Tribulation and Jesus’ Second Coming happen in AD 70, Resulting in the End of Israel and the Jewish race?-Part 2.

November 5, 2023November 8, 2023 Dr. Kwadwo Omari

A foundation for the claim that the great tribulation and Jesus’ second coming has already happened (i.e., Preterism) is the false claim that Jesus Himself said the great tribulation and His second coming will happen in the first century. This results from a misrepresentation of what Jesus said in His Olivet Discourse (i.e. Jesus’ teaching on the Mount of Olives, e.g., in Matthew 24 &25, which include the signs that will precede His coming). Now, it is worth noting that the Olivet Discourse is also recorded in Mark 13 and Luke 21. At the end of His message in Mark 13, Jesus noted that He was not just speaking to His twelve disciples but to all (Mark 13:37). This includes everyone who will live before Jesus’ second coming. In Matthew 24:32-33, Jesus said, “Now learn the parable from the fig tree: when its branch has already become tender and puts forth its leaves, you know that summer is near; so, you too, when you see all these things, recognize that He is near, right at the door. Here, Jesus said that just as we can tell that summer is near when we see the fig tree and all the trees putting forth their leaves (Luke 21:29-30, Matthew 24:32-33), so must we also recognize that His coming is just around the corner when we see all the signs He said will precede His coming (i.e, Matthew 24:1-31). By this statement, Jesus expressed His expectation for those who will hear Him to know when He is standing right at the door: i.e., when they see all the signs he had mentioned. By this, Jesus also asserted that there will be a group of people alive, or a generation, that will witness not just some but all the signs He said will precede His coming. And that generation should know that He is standing right at the door. And He followed that statement by saying or adding this emphasis: “Truly I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all these things take place (Matthew 24:33)”. Which generation was He referring to? He already answered that in His previous statements: the generation or those that will see all the signs He said will precede His coming. That generation should not just recognize He is right at the door but they will also see His second coming. The Greek word translated “this” in Matthew 24:33 is “houtos”, which also carries the meaning “this or that”. Thus, Matthew 24:33, could also be rightly translated as “That generation will not pass away until all these things take place”. Thus, to claim Jesus said that the generation living in His day will see all the end time sings, including the great tribulation and His second coming, is false. And evidently, there was never a literal, bodily, resurrection of the dead in Christ in AD 70 coupled with a globally public appearance of Jesus that was seen by all humans in AD 70 (cf. 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18, Matthew 24:29-31,1 Corinthians 15). Additionally, there has never been any resurrected saints (including Paul, Peter, Abraham, Stephen, etc) who have been reigning with Jesus on this very earth for a thousand years or beyond since 70 AD (cf. Revelation 20). These are things Jesus said will accompany His second coming and thousand-year reign on this very earth with His saints. Consequently, to claim that Jesus’ second coming has happened, without any of these accompanying events, is biblically inaccurate.

Preterism (Partial Preterism) also teaches that we are already living in the Millennium or the thousand-year reign of Christ since 70 AD although it has been way over 1000 years since 70 AD. This also means that satan has been bound since 70 AD so that he can’t deceive any people group or nation on earth (Revelation 20). However, the age to come, after satan has been bound (i.e. the Millennium), is described as an age where there shall be no more wars between nations, righteousness will reign among the nations, great harmony will be in creation, and humans will live so long that the one who is hundred years old will be considered a youth (Isaiah 65:17-24, Isaiah 11:6-10, Isaiah 2:1-5, Revelation 20, Zechariah 14). The intensifying wars between nations as well as increasing sin and deception in our world today testify to satan being the god of this world (cf. 2 Corinthians 4:4), not one who is bound and unable to deceive. This is contrary to the righteousness and peace that prevail in the Millennium when satan is bound. After the Millennium, death and sin would cease in the new heaven and earth (Revelation chapters 20 -22). The obvious truth that sin abounds while humans continue to die are enough evidence that Full Preterism also has no biblical basis.

Another tenet of Preterism is the notion that God is done with Israel and has replaced Israel with the church or Jesus following the assumed great tribulation and Jesus’ second coming supposedly in AD 70. However, the Bible teaches the direct opposite. First of all, the biblical proof that the great tribulation and Jesus’ second coming hasn’t happened yet refutes this claim. According to the Scriptures, the great tribulation and the second coming of Jesus will rather result in Israel recognizing Jesus as their saviour and turning to Him to be saved. Consequently, Israel will move into the Millennium and live under Jesus as a saved nation with Jesus ruling the earth from Jerusalem (Zechariah chapters 12-14, Ezekiel chapters 38-39, Revelation chapters 19-20). This is in stark contrast to the assumed, historical great tribulation and Jesus’ second coming which obliterated and/or replaced the Jews—something the Bible calls an impossibility (Romans 11:1, Romans 11:11-12, Jeremiah 31:35-37). Paul affirms this salvation of Israel, with emphasis on the natural, people/nation of Israel, and states that all Israel shall indeed be saved after the fullness of the gentiles has come in: “I don’t want you to be ignorant of this mystery, brothers and sisters, so that you will not be conceited: A partial hardening has come upon Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in. And in this way all Israel will be saved, as it is written, ‘The Deliverer will come from Zion; he will turn godlessness away from Jacob. And this will be my covenant with them when I take away their sins’” (Romans 11:25-27). Thus, even if it were true that Jesus’ second coming has taken place and we are currently living in the Millennium or beyond, then we should rather be seeing a saved people and nation of Israel, with the whole nation that has turned to Jesus as their Lord and Saviour. This is obviously not the case today, proving that Jesus’ second coming has by no means taking place. And God is indeed not done with the Israel. We shall look more at this Replacement Theology in the next post.

Kwadwo Omari, PhD.
November 5, 2023.

A Very Important Message
For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life (John 3:16). For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord (Romans 6:23). Therefore, If you do not know Jesus Christ as your Lord and Saviour, I invite you to put your faith in Him. Pray the prayer below to accept Jesus Christ as your Saviour: “I come to you God in Jesus’ name and surrender my life unto you. I repent of my sins and I ask You to forgive me all my sins. I confess with my mouth that Jesus is Lord, and I believe with my heart that God has raised Jesus from the dead. I thank you God for saving me, in Jesus name, Amen”. If you sincerely prayed this prayer, believe and be assured that you are saved, for the Bible says that whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved (Romans 10:13, Romans 10:9-10, Acts 16:31). Find a Bible believing church to attend so that you can be taught and trained to grow in the ways of God. You can also email me (kwadwo.omari@gmail.com) and I will be happy to grow together with you in Christ. God bless you.

End Time Talks 10: Did the Great Tribulation and Jesus’ Second Coming happen in AD 70, Resulting in the End of Israel and the Jewish race? – Part 1.

October 25, 2023November 5, 2023 Dr. Kwadwo Omari

Preterism is the teaching that the great tribulation concluded in 70 AD and Jesus’ second coming happened in the same year so that we are currently living in the Millennium or thousand year reign of Christ (Partial Preterism) while Full Preterism teaches that the Millennium and even God’s final judgment are over. This means that, satan has already been thrown into the lake of fire, along with all those whose names are not written in the book of life, and we are currently living in the new heaven and new earth (cf. Revelation chapters 20-22). However, Preterism has tenets and implications which are refuted in Scripture proving that (i) Jesus never said He would come in the first century or in the generation that was alive in His day; (ii) the great tribulation, second coming of Jesus and the Millennium are yet to happen (iii) the Bible does not teach that the Jewish race/age has ended or will end with the second coming of Jesus, and (iv) God has not replaced Israel with Jesus or the church.

In Matthew 24, also recorded in Mark 13 and Luke 21, Jesus talked extensively about the sings that will precede His second coming. The teachings of Jesus in these passages are popularly referred to as the Olivet Discourse. In this discourse, Jesus, in plain language, not in parables, described how His second coming will look like: “But immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, and the stars will fall from the sky, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken. And then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of the sky with power and great glory. And He will send forth His angels with a great trumpet and they will gather together His elect from the four winds, from one end of the sky to the other (Matthew 24:29-31). In the words of Jesus, His second coming will be a public event, where all the tribes will mourn as every single human being see Him come in the clouds of the sky with power and great glory. However, there is absolutely no record and evidence in all of human history that the whole earth, and every single human being and tribe saw Jesus come in the clouds of the sky in AD 70. Additionally, the Scriptures teach that Jesus’ coming and the resurrection of the dead in Christ are tied together. Even before Jesus’ feet will touch the ground, the dead in Christ will be resurrected, and the resurrected saints and faithful believers who will be alive at that time will be caught up (raptured) to meet Jesus in the air (see 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18, Matthew 24:29-31). The saints that are resurrected from the dead when Jesus comes, including all those beheaded during the great tribulation, are resurrected to rule with Jesus on this very earth for a thousand years (see Revelation 20:4-6). This is an actual, bodily resurrection, without which the bible says the Christian faith is worthless (1 Corinthians 15:14-19). As per the Scriptures, to claim that this resurrection is not an actual, bodily resurrection from the dead, is to claim that not even Jesus has been resurrected, and the Christian faith is in vain and useless (1 Corinthians 15:14-18). Now, not only is there an absolute lack of record and evidence that every single human being and tribe saw Jesus’ come in the clouds of the sky in AD 70. But there is, and there has never been any resurrected saints of old like the Apostles Peter, and Paul, who have been resurrected bodily, and have ruled or are still ruling with Jesus in this earth for a thousand years. The Scriptures specifically teaches us to stay away from claiming that the resurrection has happened, when in fact it hasn’t, because to do so is to stray away from the truth and also undermine/destroy the faith of some (see 2 Timothy 2:18).

Furthermore, we learn from Revelation chapters 12-14 that the great tribulation is an event that is meant for the world, not just for Jerusalem or Israel. Although everyone can learn from and obey the command to not receive the mark of the beast during the great tribulation, this command was not just issued to Israel or the inhabitants of Israel. Rather, the command was for all faithful Christians, who can indeed be found worldwide not just in Israel: “…If anyone worships the beast and his image, and receives a mark on his forehead or on his hand, he also will drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is mixed in full strength in the cup of His anger; and he will be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels and in the presence of the Lamb... Here is the perseverance of the saints who keep the commandments of God and their faith in Jesus (Revelation 14:9-12). If the great tribulation were restricted to Israel alone, then it would be pointless for Christians worldwide to be commanded to refuse the mark of the beast. Thus, to claim that events that happened in Israel in the first century is the fulfillment of an event which is prophesied to come upon the world is biblically indefensible.

With these alone, we can see that two main supporting pillars of Preterism, i.e., the fulfillment of the great tribulation and Jesus’ second coming, are unsupported in Scripture and in history.

Dr. Kwadwo Omari
October 25, 2023

End Time Talks 9: Is Modern Day Israel the Same As Israel In Biblical Times?

October 19, 2023October 21, 2023 Dr. Kwadwo Omari

God Himself has declared in Scripture, not as an Old Testament Law but an eternal prophecy, that Israel, just as it was in biblical times, will never cease to be a nation or people before Him forever, no matter what they do. This is what the Scriptures say, “Thus says the LORD, Who gives the sun for light by day and the fixed order of the moon and the stars for light by night, Who stirs up the sea so that its waves roar; The Lord of hosts is His name: ‘If this fixed order departs From before Me,’ declares the Lord, “Then the offspring/descendants of Israel also will cease from being a nation before Me forever.” Thus says the Lord, ‘If the heavens above can be measured and the foundations of the earth searched out below, then I will also cast off all the offspring/descendants of Israel for all that they have done,’ declares the LORD (Jeremiah 31:35-37)”. This alone should put an end to any doctrine or theory, which claims that the Jewish nation and race, as it was in biblical times, has come to an end. If any such claim were true, then God would have lied. Yet, the Bible says, “God CANNOT lie” (Titus 1:2). As far as God is concerned, the nation and people of Israel, just as we find in biblical times, will never cease to exist despite modern-day teachings claiming their extinction.

Moreover, God Himself declared that in the last days, Israel will be gathered and restored to their Promised Land from all the nations where they were scattered (Ezekiel chapters 38 & 39), and at Jesus’ coming to rule the earth from Jerusalem, Israel will recognize the Messiah whom they rejected and repent, and all Israel shall be saved (Zechariah chapter 12-14, Romans 11). The gathering and restoration of the Jewish people to their Promised Land is a unique event in history, a miracle which occurred with the rebirth of the nation of Israel in 1948 after they were displaced from their land in AD 70. For all the years Israel were away from their land, it can never be said that God’s prophetic Word to always keep Israel as a nation and a people failed since it is impossible for God to lie (Hebrews 6:18). Thus, the claim that the destruction of Jerusalem in AD 70 and the resultant displacement of the Jews from their Land brought an end to the Jewish age and Jewish race is a claim which calls God a liar for failing to keep His Word. However, the Scripture says, “Let God be true and every man a liar” (Romans 3:4). Moreover, Israel’s displacement from their Promised Land in AD 70, was not the first time that had happened. God had declared that if Israel sinned, He will scatter them among the nations but will gather them from the nations and restore them to the land He gave their fathers (e.g. Jeremiah 16:14-15). We see this taking place in the days of Jeremiah, Ezra and Nehemiah. God kept His word then to preserve His people. And so has He kept His word now, and will always do so to keep Israel as a nation and a people before Him forever (Jeremiah 31:35-37, Ezekiel 38 &39).

If there were no “true” Israel today, then God’s end time purpose would have failed, and the second coming of Jesus could never happen. Way before the birth, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, the Scriptures foretold the end of this age with Israel’s unique role in the end times and the establishment of God’s kingdom on this earth in the age to come (e.g Daniel chapters 7-12, Zechariah chapters 12-14, Ezekiel Chapters 38-39). As prophesied, for example by the Prophet Daniel, a major target of the anti-Christ during the great tribulation [aside the church] is the Jews (Daniel chapters 7-12). If there is now no true Jewish nation as in biblical times, then bible prophecy could not be trusted since there would be no Jewish nation and people for the anti-Christ to pursue and wear down. And there would also be no true Jewish nation as prophesied, for Jesus to fight for at His return and liberate from all the gentile nations that would come against it to destroy it (Zechariah chapters 12-14, Revelation chapters 11-20, Ezekiel chapters 38-29, Daniel chapters 7-12). If there were indeed no true Israel today as in biblical times, then as Jesus said “how then would the Scriptures be fulfilled that say it must happen in this way? (cf. Matthew 26:54).

One of the “doctrines” which have been used, in some circles, to propagate the error that the Jewish race has ended and has been replaced is Preterism. This is the claim that the great tribulation and the second coming of Jesus happened in AD 70 so that we are already living in the Millennium (Partial Preterism) or a Post-Millennial era (Full Preterism). We shall look at how the Scriptures sharply refute this doctrine/teaching of Preterism in the next post.

Kwadwo Omari, PhD.
October 19, 2023.

End Time Talks 8: Is There Only One or Two Comings of Jesus—Is the Rapture and Second Coming the Same Event? [Part 3]

April 10, 2023April 10, 2023 Dr. Kwadwo Omari

In the previous two studies, we established from the Scriptures that there are two very distinct public comings or appearances of Jesus from heaven to earth, following His death, resurrection, and ascension into heaven. One of these comings is at the rapture (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18) and the other is Jesus’ return from heaven to earth with is His saints following the marriage of the Lamb (Revelation 19). Which of these two comings does the Bible refer to as the second coming of Jesus?

Hebrews 9:28 says this: “So also Christ was offered once to bear the sins of many; and He will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who eagerly await Him” (Hebrews 9:28, BSB). According to this text, Jesus’ first coming was when He came to the earth to die for our sins. Hebrews 9:28 adds that Jesus will come a second time, and at His second coming there will be people on the earth eagerly waiting for Him, who will receive salvation from Him. The Greek word translated as salvation, “soteria,” in this context, does not refer to believing in Jesus and being born again, since at Jesus’ second coming He comes for the benefit of those who are eagerly waiting for Him; these are those who are already saved (e.g., 1 John 3:2–3, Titus 2:13). “Soteria,” which is translated as salvation, also means redemption or deliverance from all earthly ills, and the associated blessings and benefits, after the visible return of Jesus. Jesus said in John 16:33 that in this earth you will have tribulations, but we are also promised in Hebrews 9:28 that Jesus will appear a second time and redeem or save us from all earthly ills, which includes all troubles, tribulations, and death. So, the defining attributes the Bible gives for the second coming of Jesus are the existence of God’s people on earth eagerly waiting for Him after His first coming, and Jesus bringing deliverance from all earthly ills to these saints. Now, let us look at Jesus’ appearing at the rapture and the appearing of Jesus after the marriage of the Lamb to see which of these two fits the biblical definition of the second coming.

After the marriage of the Lamb which takes place in heaven (Revelation 19), Jesus does not come down from heaven to meet His saints who had been eagerly waiting for Him since His first coming. Rather, He comes down from heaven with His saints to the earth to meet the anti-Christ and many sinners who are not waiting for His redemption but have gathered themselves to fight Him. Although there will still be opportunity for people to turn to the Lord after the rapture (e.g., Revelation 9:20), those who do so will not be those who were eagerly waiting for the Lord since His first coming, but those who got serious after Jesus had already appeared to deliver those who were eagerly waiting for Him. Also, before Jesus returns with His saints after the marriage of the Lamb in heaven, His saints who had been eagerly waiting for Him since His first coming will not be waiting to be delivered from any trouble or tribulation in heaven. They have already been delivered from all earthy ills or troubles at the rapture, and they are in heaven enjoying heavenly glory and bliss. Thus, according to the Scriptures, Jesus’ coming with His saints to the earth in Revelation 19 does not have anything in common with the defining characteristics of the second coming and does not constitute the second coming.

However, before Jesus appears at the rapture, the Bible teaches that the saints of God, who have been eagerly waiting for Him, will be on the earth, having experienced many afflictions and tribulations just as Jesus said they will (e.g., John 16:33 and Matthew 24). And when Jesus appears at the rapture, He delivers them from all earthly ills, including death. Those who receive this deliverance from Jesus at the rapture do not even include all believers, but only those who make themselves ready and eagerly await His return (Titus 2:13, 1 John 3:2–3, Matthew 24:43–44, Matthew 25:1–13). Therefore, according to the Scriptures, it is Jesus appearing at the rapture, which meets the defining attributes of the second coming given in Hebrews 9:28. Thus, the Bible definitely refers to Jesus’ appearing at the rapture as the second coming of Jesus. In other words, it is the second coming of Jesus that results in the rapture of the church.

So, how should we refer to Jesus’ return to the earth with His saints in Revelation 19? It has been referred to as the triumphal entry into Jerusalem. I believe this is consistent with the Scriptures since at that time Jesus defeats the anti-Christ and His army and all the nations that will come against Jerusalem, and Jerusalem becomes a glorious place where all the nations go to worship the LORD (Revelation 19, Zechariah 14). If some also choose to call it a third coming, I think that is also understandable since that is a subsequent, public, and visible appearance of Jesus following His second coming at the rapture.

Thus, the pre-tribulation rapture doctrine, which teaches that Jesus’ appearing at the rapture and the second coming are 7 years apart is biblically inaccurate. It is the second coming of Jesus, which results in the rapture of the church. In the words of Jesus, this will occur following the great tribulation (Matthew 24:21, 29-31, 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18, Hebrews 9:28). Therefore, let us get into the Scriptures and follow how Jesus and the apostles teach us to prepare for and triumph during the times head. This will save us from being deceived by a false hope of escaping what we have been forewarned to adequately prepare for.

Dr. K. Omari
March 22, 2023.

A Very Important Message
For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life (John 3:16). For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord (Romans 6:23). Therefore, If you do not know Jesus Christ as your Lord and Saviour, I invite you to put your faith in Him. Pray the prayer below to accept Jesus Christ as your Saviour: “I come to you God in Jesus’ name and surrender my life unto you. I repent of my sins and I ask You to forgive me all my sins. I confess with my mouth that Jesus is Lord, and I believe with my heart that God has raised Jesus from the dead. I thank you God for saving me, in Jesus name, Amen”. If you sincerely prayed this prayer, believe and be assured that you are saved, for the Bible says that whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved (Romans 10:13, Romans 10:9-10, Acts 16:31). Find a Bible believing church to attend so that you can be discipled to grow in the ways of God. You can also email me (kwadwo.omari@gmail.com) and I will be happy to grow together with you in Christ.

End Time Talks 7: Is There Only One or Two Comings of Jesus—Is the Rapture and Second Coming the Same Event? [Part 2]

April 10, 2023April 10, 2023 Dr. Kwadwo Omari

Last week, we saw that in the popular passage about the resurrection of the dead in Christ and the rapture (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18), Paul essentially repeated the very words of Jesus regarding His return in Matthew 24:29-31. In both passages, Jesus and Paul gave the unique characteristics that will mark Jesus’ initial return to the earth following His death, resurrection and ascension into heaven. Jesus also noted that this very return, which is associated with the resurrection of the righteous and the rapture will occur after the great tribulation(1 Thessalonians 4:13-18, Matthew 24:21-31).

When the saints meets with Jesus in the air following the rapture, we do not make a u-turn to earth with Jesus. Rather, the saints go with Jesus for the marriage of the Lamb, which the Bible specifically says takes place in the third heaven (Revelation 19:1-10). We are shown this in Revelation chapters 11, and 15-19. Following the blowing of the last trumpet at which point the saints are resurrected and raptured (Revelation 11:15-19, Luke 14:13-14, 1 Corinthians 15:51-52), John reported seeing the saints who had been victorious over the beast and his mark standing before the throne of God in heaven (Revelation 15:1-2; Revelation 4:6). While these saints are in heaven, the bowls of God’s wrath are poured out on the earth on sinners and the anti-Christ and his kingdom (Revelation chapters 15-18). After this, heaven opens, and John sees the marriage of the Lamb, between Jesus and His faithful saints taking place in heaven (Revelation 19:1-10).

After the marriage of the Lamb, John saw heaven open, and reported the following: “And I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse, and He who sat on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and wages war. His eyes are a flame of fire, and on His head are many diadems; and He has a name written on Him which no one knows except Himself. He is clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God. And the armies which are in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, were following Him on white horses. From His mouth comes a sharp sword, so that with it He may strike down the nations, and He will rule them with a rod of iron; and He treads the wine press of the fierce wrath of God, the Almighty. And on His robe and on His thigh He has a name written, “KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS” (Revelation 19:11–16). From this text, we are shown that Jesus does not leave heaven alone after the marriage of the Lamb. Rather He returns to rule on the earth with His armies in heaven clothed in fine linen. While there are angels that put on fine linen (Revelation 15:6), we also learn from this same chapter (Revelation 19) that the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints, which the Bride of Christ clothes herself with (Revelation 19:7–8). I believe this clearly emphasize that the armies who follow Jesus on white horses, from heaven to earth, include angels and the bride of Christ (God’s faithful saints). While heaven opened, and Jesus was descending from heaven to the earth, John also noted that: “And I saw the beast and the kings of the earth and their armies assembled to make war against Him who sat on the horse and against His army. And the beast was seized, and with him the false prophet who performed the signs in his presence, by which he deceived those who had received the mark of the beast and those who worshiped his image; these two were thrown alive into the lake of fire which burns with brimstone. And the rest were killed with the sword which came from the mouth of Him who sat on the horse, and all the birds were filled with their flesh” (Revelation 19:19–21).

So, in Revelation 19 and in Matthew 24:29-31 (also repeated in 1 Thessalonians 4:13–18; the famous rapture passage), the Bible gives two distinct appearances of Jesus, with distinct purposes, and mutually exclusive characteristics. First, at the rapture, the saints are caught up from the earth to meet Jesus in the air and they are taken to heaven (1 Thessalonians 4:13–18, Matthew 24:29-31, Revelation 11:18–19, and Revelation 15:1–2). Whereas after the marriage of the Lamb in Revelation 19, Jesus and His saints rather return from heaven to the earth. Second, at the rapture the saints are caught up, or pulled up with force (Greek word: harpazo), to meet Jesus in the air. There are no horses involved in carrying the saints from the earth to meet Jesus in the air. However, after the marriage of the Lamb in Revelation 19, the saints and Jesus return from heaven to the earth on white horses. Third, the appearing of Jesus at the rapture is accompanied by the blowing of the last trumpet which brings about the resurrection of the dead in Christ (1 Thessalonians 4:13–17 and 1 Corinthians 15:51–52; Matthew 24:29-31). But after the marriage of the Lamb in Revelation 19, we don’t find the blowing of the last trumpet to signal Jesus’ return to the earth and neither does Jesus’ coming in Revelation 19 result in the resurrection of the dead in Christ. Rather, in Revelation 19, the dead who have already been resurrected follow Jesus to the earth. Fourth, when Jesus appears at the rapture, His feet do not touch the earth or the ground. He appears in the air, and His saints are caught up to meet Him in the air, whereas after the marriage of the Lamb in Revelation 19, Jesus and His saints come to this very earth, and Jesus defeats the anti-Christ and His army on the ground, not in the air.

So clearly, there is no sameness between these two appearances of Jesus in Matthew 24:29-31(also repeated in 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18) and in Revelation 19 for us to classify them as one and the same event. According to the Scriptures, both appearances serve different purposes, and they also happen at different times after the great tribulation.

Dr. K. Omari
March 8, 2023.

A Very Important Message
For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life (John 3:16). For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord (Romans 6:23). Therefore, If you do not know Jesus Christ as your Lord and Saviour, I invite you to put your faith in Him. Pray the prayer below to accept Jesus Christ as your Saviour: “I come to you God in Jesus’ name and surrender my life unto you. I repent of my sins and I ask You to forgive me all my sins. I confess with my mouth that Jesus is Lord, and I believe with my heart that God has raised Jesus from the dead. I thank you God for saving me, in Jesus name, Amen”. If you sincerely prayed this prayer, believe and be assured that you are saved, for the Bible says that whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved (Romans 10:13, Romans 10:9-10, Acts 16:31). Find a Bible believing church to attend so that you can be discipled to grow in the ways of God. You can also email me (kwadwo.omari@gmail.com) and I will be happy to grow together with you in Christ.

End Time Talks 6: Is There Only One or Two Comings of Jesus—Is the Rapture and Second Coming the Same Event? [Part 1]

April 10, 2023April 10, 2023 Dr. Kwadwo Omari

The Scriptures foretell two very distinct public comings or appearances of Jesus from heaven to earth, following His ascension into heaven. These two appearances have distinct purposes and mutually exclusive characteristics, which exclude every possibility of merging both comings into one.

The first of these two appearances is at the rapture, where Jesus descend from heaven for His faithful saints or bride (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18) for the marriage of the Lamb, which takes place in heaven, not on the earth or in the sky (Revelation 19:1-10). The second of these two appearances takes place after the marriage of the Lamb with His bride, when Jesus returns from heaven with His saints to the earth, defeats the anti-Christ and his army, and sets up His thousand-year reign on the earth (Revelation 19:10-20:6). Moreover, the Scriptures refer to the rapture as the second coming, although the second coming has been commonly preached as being different from the rapture. Let’s look at these in detail from the Scriptures.

In Matthew 24, while Jesus taught on the signs that will precede His coming, He said the following: “…there will be a great tribulation, such as has not occurred since the beginning of the world until now, nor ever will…. But immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, and the stars will fall from the sky, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken. And then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of the sky with power and great glory. And He will send forth His angels with a great trumpet and they will gather together His elect from the four winds, from one end of the sky (Greek: ouranos – also means the vaulted expanse of the sky with all things visible in it) to the other” (Matthew 24:21, 29–31).

From this text, Jesus plainly said that His coming will be after the great tribulation. Which of His comings was he referring to here? We will address this shortly. Also, here in Matthew 24, Jesus specifically said that at His coming, His sign will appear in the sky, and He will come on the clouds of the sky (Matthew 24:29–31)—not with His saints or with horses. And after He appears, His elect or saints, who will be on the earth (Matthew 24:1–28) will be gathered together in the sky where He will appear. He also added that there will be angels and a great trumpet involved when His saints are being gathered together in the sky when He appears.

In the popular passage about the resurrection of the dead in Christ and the rapture, we find Paul actually repeating these very words of Jesus, which Jesus said will happen after the great tribulation: “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 will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain will be caught up [raptured] together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we shall always be with the Lord” (1 Thessalonians 4:16–17). Here, Paul also, in talking about believers being caught up or raptured in the clouds, after the trumpet has been sounded at Jesus’ appearing in the sky (cf. 1 Corinthians 15:52, 1 Thessalonians 4:16–17) simply repeated what Jesus had already said will happen after the great tribulation when He appears in the clouds of the sky and send forth His angels with a great trumpet to gather His saints in the sky. Paul also added that Jesus’ appearing will results in the resurrection of the dead in Christ.

So, in Matthew 24:21-31 and 1 Thessalonians 4:1-13, we find Jesus and Paul stating the unique characteristics or signs that will mark Jesus’ initial return to the earth following His death and resurrection and ascension into heaven. As shown, this return of Jesus is associated with the resurrection of the righteous and the rapture of the church, and Jesus Himself said that all these will happen after the great tribulation.

In Revelation 19, however, the Scriptures reveal another return of Jesus, with distinctly different characteristics compared to Jesus’ coming at the rapture (Matthew 25:29-31, 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18). Before we look at this other return, it’s important we address this question: When the rapture happens and the saints meet Jesus in the air, do they make a U-turn to the earth or go up to heaven with Jesus? We shall look at this in the next study.

Dr. K. Omari
March 1, 2023

A Very Important Message
For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life (John 3:16). For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord (Romans 6:23). Therefore, If you do not know Jesus Christ as your Lord and Saviour, I invite you to put your faith in Him. Pray the prayer below to accept Jesus Christ as your Saviour: “I come to you God in Jesus’ name and surrender my life unto you. I repent of my sins and I ask You to forgive me all my sins. I confess with my mouth that Jesus is Lord, and I believe with my heart that God has raised Jesus from the dead. I thank you God for saving me, in Jesus name, Amen”. If you sincerely prayed this prayer, believe and be assured that you are saved, for the Bible says that whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved (Romans 10:13, Romans 10:9-10, Acts 16:31). Find a Bible believing church to attend so that you can be discipled to grow in the ways of God. You can also email me (kwadwo.omari@gmail.com) and I will be happy to grow together with you in Christ.

End Time Talks 5: Mid-tribulation Rapture: Another Form of Pre-tribulation Rapture, Which the Bible Does Not Support [Part 2]

April 10, 2023April 10, 2023 Dr. Kwadwo Omari

In the words of Jesus, it is when the abomination of desolation, as spoken of by Daniel, shows up in the holy place (a designation in the Jewish temple—1 Kings chapters 6–8, Hebrews 9:1–5), that the great tribulation starts (see Matthew 24:15–21). Now, if it is in the middle of the last seven years that the abomination of desolation shows up (Daniel 9:27), and at this point the great tribulation begins, then the great tribulation only has three and a half years to run its course, not seven years as has been wrongly taught. This is the exact truth John corroborated when he wrote that the godless, global ruler or the anti-Christ who will come will be given authority to reign and war against the saints for forty-two months (Revelation 13:5–7), which equals three and a half years (Daniel 9:27) or 1260 days (Revelation 12:6) or time (one year), times (two years), and half a time (half a year) (Revelation 12:14, Daniel 7:25). Indeed, the great tribulation could never start at the beginning of the 7-year period nor end in the middle of the 7-year period, since the abomination of desolation, which marks the beginning of the great tribulation takes place in the middle of the seven year period.

Concerning the return of Jesus’, Paul noted that when Jesus appears, the dead in Christ will rise first, and the resurrected saints and the saints who did not die will be caught up together in the clouds to meet Jesus in the air (1 Thessalonians 4:13). Paul’s statements about Jesus’ appearing with the trumpet of God, and the saints being raptured or caught up in the clouds meet Jesus in the air, is a direct repetition of how Jesus had earlier described Hims coming: “But immediately after the tribulation of those days THE SUN WILL BE DARKENED, AND THE MOON WILL NOT GIVE ITS LIGHT, AND THE STARS WILL FALL from the sky, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken.“And then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the SON OF MAN COMING ON THE CLOUDS OF THE SKY with power and great glory. “And He will send forth His angels with A GREAT TRUMPET and THEY WILL GATHER TOGETHER His elect from the four winds, from one end of the sky to the other (Matthew 24:29-31). In the words of Jesus, this coming of His, when His saints are raptured or caught up to meet Him in the air happens after the great tribulation, not before or in the middle (Read Matthew 24:29-31 and 1 Thessalonians 4;13-18). John, also affirmed this truth in the book of Revelation. He noted that the first and only resurrection, which happens with the rapture of the church will also bring to life those who die in the great tribulation for refusing the mark of the beast (Revelation 20:4-6, Revelation 13). Thus, without the great tribulation there cannot be any first resurrection and consequently the rapture since the great tribulation has to happen first, for there to be those who will be martyred for refusing the mark of the beast, who will be resurrected at the first and only resurrection that happens with the rapture of the church.

So in the words of Jesus, the great tribulation will begin with the abomination of desolation [which happens in the middle of the seven year period according to the reference He provided in Daniel- see Daniel 9:27] and His return and rapture will happen after the great tribulation (Matthew 24:15-31). Thus, the mid-tribulation rapture, which places the rapture in middle of the 7-year period (or Daniel’s 70^th week – Daniel 9), essentially teaches that the rapture will happen just when the great tribulation starts so that the church escapes the great tribulation. This is just another form of pre-tribulation rapture, with a different length of the great tribulation period. This is important for us to understand so that we are not deceived by a false hope of escaping what we have been forewarned to adequately prepare for.

Stay closer to Jesus and develop intimacy with Him, and put away all lukewarmness. This is a strong foundation for how we are to prepare to triumph in the days ahead.

Dr. K. Omari
November 30, 2020.

A Very Important Message
For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life (John 3:16). For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord (Romans 6:23). Therefore, If you do not know Jesus Christ as your Lord and Saviour, I invite you to put your faith in Him. Pray the prayer below to accept Jesus Christ as your Saviour: “I come to you God in Jesus’ name and surrender my life unto you. I repent of my sins and I ask You to forgive me all my sins. I confess with my mouth that Jesus is Lord, and I believe with my heart that God has raised Jesus from the dead. I thank you God for saving me, in Jesus name, Amen”. If you sincerely prayed this prayer, believe and be assured that you are saved, for the Bible says that whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved (Romans 10:13, Romans 10:9-10, Acts 16:31). Find a Bible believing church to attend so that you can be discipled to grow in the ways of God. You can also email me (kwadwo.omari@gmail.com) and I will be happy to grow together with you in Christ.

End Time Talks 4: Mid-tribulation Rapture: Another Form of Pre-tribulation Rapture, Which the Bible Does Not Support [Part 1]

April 3, 2023April 10, 2023 Dr. Kwadwo Omari

Jesus’ return to this very earth and the catching up and gathering together of His saints to Him is a certainty (see Matthew 24:29-31 which Paul precisely iterates in 1 Thessalonians 4:13-17; see also Hebrews 9:28, Acts 1:11, 2 Thessalonians 2:1-4). So is the great tribulation, which Jesus defined as the greatest and most intense period of trouble the world will ever know (Matthew 24:21). The Pre-tribulation rapture doctrine teaches that the church will be raptured or caught up from the earth to escape the great tribulation, which will last for seven years. The major problem with this teaching is that there is not a single verse in the entire Bible which says so. The mid-tribulation rapture, on the other hand, teaches that the church will go through the first half of the “seven-year period towards the end of this age (Daniel 9)” but will be raptured at the mid-point of that period. Thus, the church escapes the last three and half years of that seven-year period, which the Bible expressly refers to as actual the great tribulation period (see below for details). Consequently, the mid-tribulation rapture, with its various forms, is essentially the same as the pre-tribulation rapture since they both preach the church’s escape from the earth before the actual great tribulation period, only that the pre-tribulation rapture has an earlier point of escape.

In Matthew 24, Jesus gave us the specific sign by which we will know that the great tribulation has started: “Therefore when you see the abomination of desolation which was spoken of through Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place (let the reader understand), then those who are in Judea must flee to the mountains. Whoever is on the housetop must not go down to get the things out that are in his house. Whoever is in the field must not turn back to get his cloak… For then there will be a great tribulation, such as has not occurred since the beginning of the world until now, nor ever will” (Matthew 24:15–21). From this passage, Jesus raised no alarm if people lived in Judea before the “abomination of desolation¹” or “the abomination that makes desolates” stands in the holy place. But WHEN that event happens, He warns that those living in Judea must flee. The reason for His urgent warning is because at that time, there will be a great tribulation, such as has never happened on the earth and never will. If the great tribulation were to happen before the abomination of desolation stands in the holy place, then Jesus’ warning would have been needless. But in the words of Jesus, it is when (at the time) the abomination of desolation happens that the great tribulation will begin, and they were to flee as a result. This truth is important to understand because the abomination of desolation standing in the holy place is the one single event Jesus gave, which signals the beginning of the great tribulation. So, what is this abomination of desolation? The passage specifically refers us to the words of Daniel to understand this (see Matthew 24:15). Therefore, let’s go to the Book of Daniel to see what Daniel said about this.

In Daniel 9, the Prophet Daniel received a visitation from Gabriel where He was shown certain events that were to take place within a time frame consisting of seventy sets of seven years. This is what the angel Gabriel said the last seven years or week will entail: “And he (i.e., the prince or ruler who is to come – Daniel 9:26) will make a firm covenant with the many for one week (i.e. seven years), but in the middle of the week he will put a stop to sacrifice and grain offering; and on the wing of abominations will come one who makes desolate, even until a complete destruction, one that is decreed, is poured out on the one who makes desolate” (Daniel 9:27). It is from this text that many have preached a seven-year great tribulation period. But this is not what the text said. Rather, the Bible says that in the last seven-year period, a ruler will come who will make a firm covenant with many for seven years. And in the middle (Hebrew—“khaytsee”—meaning half or middle) of the seven years, which equals three and a half years, this ruler will put an end to grain offerings and sacrifices, associated with Jewish customs and the Jewish temple, desecrate the temple, and the abomination that desolates or the abomination of desolation will come into effect (see Daniel 9:27 and Daniel 11:31).

This is the exact truth John corroborated when he wrote that the godless, global ruler or the anti-Christ who will come will be given authority to reign and war against the saints for forty-two months (Revelation 13:5–7), which equals three and a half years (Daniel 9:27) or 1260 days (Revelation 12:6) or time (one year), times (two years), and half a time (half a year) (Revelation 12:14, Daniel 7:25).

Moreover, the great tribulation could never start at the beginning of the 7-year period nor end in the middle of the 7-year period, since the abomination of desolation, which marks the beginning of the great tribulation takes place in the middle of the seven year period.

To be continued.

Dr. K. Omari
December 15, 2019.

A Very Important Message
For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life (John 3:16). For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord (Romans 6:23). Therefore, If you do not know Jesus Christ as your Lord and Saviour, I invite you to put your faith in Him. Pray the prayer below to accept Jesus Christ as your Saviour: “I come to you God in Jesus’ name and surrender my life unto you. I repent of my sins and I ask You to forgive me all my sins. I confess with my mouth that Jesus is Lord, and I believe with my heart that God has raised Jesus from the dead. I thank you God for saving me, in Jesus name, Amen”. If you sincerely prayed this prayer, believe and be assured that you are saved, for the Bible says that whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved (Romans 10:13, Romans 10:9-10, Acts 16:31). Find a Bible believing church to attend so that you can be discipled to grow in the ways of God. You can also email me (kwadwo.omari@gmail.com) and I will be happy to grow together with you in Christ.

End Time Talks 3: Can the Rapture Happen Anytime?

April 2, 2023April 5, 2023 Dr. Kwadwo Omari

One of the most prevalent teachings on the rapture is that it can happen anytime, even now. Interestingly, this new month, September 2022, has been considered as one of the most likely years for the rapture of the church, with many or at least some looking for a very possible rapture during the Jewish new year celebration (Rosh Hashanah; feast of trumpets), some time between September 25-27, 2022. How does this line up with Scripture?

First of all, the idea that the rapture can happen just about any time is strongly refuted in Scripture. In 2 Thessalonians 2:1-4, Paul wrote that “Now we request you, brethren, with regard to the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together to Him, that you 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. Let no one in any way deceive you, for it will not come unless the apostasy comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction, who opposes and exalts himself above every so-called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, displaying himself as being God” (2 Thessalonians 2:1–4). In this text, Paul begins by directly stating what He is addressing in the very first verse: “the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered together to Him” (2 Thessalonians 2:1). This directly refers to Jesus’ appearing, the resurrection of the dead in Christ, and the rapture of the church, which Paul had already mentioned to the Thessalonian church in his first letter to them (1 Thessalonians 4:13–18). Therefore, we cannot ignore or reject what Paul himself said he was addressing in the text above and replace that with something else. That will be an error. Additionally, it will make no sense for Paul to directly state what he is going to talk about in his opening statement, and then immediately refrain from addressing the very subject he said he was going to address when he starts making his address (2 Thessalonians 2:1–4) or for the rest of the chapter or entire epistle If Paul indeed did that, then Paul and the Scriptures would have lied, and we will have no basis to absolutely trust the Bible. However, the Bible says, “let God be true and every man a liar” (Romans 3:4) and “God cannot lie” (Titus 1:2). Thus, if the Bible said it was going to address the subject of Jesus’ coming and our being gathered together to Him in the text above (2 Thessalonians 2:1–4), then that is exactly what the Scriptures addressed.

Paul continued his message by saying that the appearing of Jesus and the rapture of the church will not happen unless there is first the apostasy (Greek word translated “apostasy” is “apostasia”, meaning a falling away or apostasy; defection or renunciation of faith—not a departure or catching away from the earth). The second sign he gave, which will precede the rapture, is the man of lawlessness or the anti-Christ being revealed, and he added that to think otherwise is to be deceived (2 Thessalonian 2:1–4). In other words, without the anti-Christ being revealed first, the resurrection of the dead in Christ and the rapture will not happen (2 Thessalonians 2:1–4). Yet, this chapter of the Bible is read and used to teach that the church must be raptured before the anti-Christ can be revealed. But the Bible actually says the direct opposite! So contrary to the popular teaching that the rapture can happen anytime, we find the Scriptures giving us two main signs that ought to happen first, without which there can be no rapture (2 Thessalonians 2:1-4). If these sings must happen first, then the rapture indeed cannot happen any time, according to the Scriptures.

In 2 Thessalonians 2:7–8, the Bible continues to say that “For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work; only he who now restrains will do so until he is taken out of the way. Then that lawless one will be revealed whom the Lord will slay with the breath of His mouth and bring to an end by the appearance of His coming” (2 Thessalonians 2:7–8). It is worth noting that 2 Thessalonians 2:7-8 makes no mention of the “Holy Spirit” or “the removal of any entity from the earth”. Rather, the text simply says that there is someone preventing or hindering the anti-Christ from being revealed but when he is removed from the way, the anti-Christ will be revealed. This text, and entire chapter, does not expressly tell us who the hindrance is. But even before we can attempt to find out who the hindrance is, the Bible specifically tells us early on in this same chapter what the hindrance is not. In the first four verses, the Bible specifically states that the appearing of Jesus and the rapture cannot and will not happen until the anti-Christ is first revealed, and to think otherwise is to be deceived. Thus, the Bible emphatically says that it is not the presence of the church on the earth that is hindering the anti-Christ from being revealed, and also refers to any escathological view which teaches that the church must be raptured before the anti-Christ can show up as deception (2 Thessalonians 2:1-4).

Not only will the church be on earth to see the revelation of the anti-Christ but the Scriptures expressly say in multiple places that the church will go through the entire duration of the anti-Christ’s reign in the great tribulation. For example, in Revelation 20:4-6, the Bible teaches that the FIRST resurrection, which happens with the rapture of church (1 Thessalonians 4:13-15; Revelation 20:4-6) will also bring to life those who died for refusing to take the mark of the beast. According to the Scriptures, the mark of the beast is enforced during the great tribulation (Revelation 13). This means that the great tribulation has to necessarily happen first for there to be faithful believers who will die through it for refusing the mark of the beast. And these believers will only come to life again at the FIRST resurrection, which happens with the rapture (Revelation 20:4-6; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18). In other words, the great tribulation is a prerequisite for the rapture to occur. For without the great tribulation happening first, there cannot be any FIRST resurrection or the resurrection of the dead in Christ (Revelation 20:4-6). And without the first resurrection there is no rapture (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18). So not only must the apostasy and revelation of the anti-Christ precede the rapture, but the great tribulation as well.

From the time the anti-Christ is revealed to the time he commits the abomination of desolation and sets in motion the great tribulation is three and half years (Matthew 24: 15-21; Daniel 9:27). And the great tribulation is also prophesied to last for another 3 and half years or 42 months or 1260 days, not seven years (Revelation 13:5, Daniel 9:27, Revelation 12:6). So in total, from the time the anti-Christ comes on the scene till the end of the great tribulation is seven years. After this seven-year period, the Bible gives us a time frame of months to even years before the first resurrection and the rapture can happen so that no one is able to indeed predict the exact day or hour of Jesus’ return and the rapture (see Chapter 8 of my book: https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B09M7CQHN9). Therefore, even if the anti-Christ should arise on the global scene today or the great tribulation were to “miraculously” start today, it will be after exactly 7 years or 3.5 years, respectively, before we can expect the rapture to take place. Thus, there is absolutely no possibility or likelihood of the rapture happening anywhere in September 2022 according to the Scriptures.

Therefore, instead of waiting for a false hope of escaping what we have been forewarned to adequately prepare for, let us actively get into the Scriptures and learn how we are admonished to survive and thrive in the last days. For lack of knowledge, My people perish (Hosea 4:6). But if we are filled with the knowledge of what God says, we shall survive, thrive and triumph even through the great tribulation.

Kwadwo Omari, PhD.
September 1, 2022.

A Very Important Message
For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life (John 3:16). For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord (Romans 6:23). Therefore, If you do not know Jesus Christ as your Lord and Saviour, I invite you to put your faith in Him. Pray the prayer below to accept Jesus Christ as your Saviour: “I come to you God in Jesus’ name and surrender my life unto you. I repent of my sins and I ask You to forgive me all my sins. I confess with my mouth that Jesus is Lord, and I believe with my heart that God has raised Jesus from the dead. I thank you God for saving me, in Jesus name, Amen”. If you sincerely prayed this prayer, believe and be assured that you are saved, for the Bible says that whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved (Romans 10:13, Romans 10:9-10, Acts 16:31). Find a Bible believing church to attend so that you can be discipled to grow in the ways of God. You can also email me (kwadwo.omari@gmail.com) and I will be happy to grow together with you in Christ.

End Time Talks 2: The Fig Tree Prophecy

April 2, 2023April 4, 2023 Dr. Kwadwo Omari

Did Jesus say that the generation that sees Israel become a nation again (i.e. in 1948) will not pass away until they witness His second coming?

In Matthew 24, the disciples of Jesus asked Him, saying, “Tell us, when will these things happen (i.e. when the Jewish temple will be utterly destroyed), and what will be the sign of Your coming, and of the end of the age?” (Matthew 24:3). Jesus proceeded to answer their questions in the verse following, and gave them very specific signs that will precede His coming and will also mark the end of the age (Matthew 24:4-31). After giving them these details, Jesus added this: “Now learn the parable from the fig tree: when its branch has already become tender and puts forth its leaves, you know that summer is near” (Matthew 24:32). This same account is also recorded in Mark 13 and Luke 21, and in Luke’s account we are shown the full extent of what Jesus said. The parable wasn’t just about the fig tree but all other trees as well: “Then He told them a parable: ‘Behold the fig tree and all the trees; as soon as they put forth leaves, you see it and know for yourselves that summer is now near’”(Luke 21:29-30).

If Jesus had left this parable with no interpretation, then we could come up with our own suggestions or opinions as to what the elements of the parable represent and what the entire parable means. The confusion would then be that because some words in the Bible have more than one unique meaning or application, different people can come up with entirely different meanings/applications for the elements in the parable based on their preference, and can therefore make the parable mean whatever they want it to mean based on their preferred narrative. But this confusion is totally cleared, when Jesus Himself tells us exactly what He means. And once He does that, we are forbidden to add to or take away from His words: “Every word of God is flawless…Do not add to His words, or He will rebuke you and prove you a liar” (Proverbs 30:5-6). See also Revelation 22:18-19.

Even so, concerning the parables of Jesus, this is what the Bible says:“and He did not speak to them without a parable; but He was explaining everything privately to His own disciples”. True to this Scripture, we find Jesus explaining this parable and how it must be applied to His disciples right after He gave it: “Then He told them a parable: “Behold the fig tree and all the trees; as soon as they put forth leaves, you see it and know for yourselves that summer is now near; so you also, when you see these things happening (or when you see all these things) recognize that the kingdom of God is near (or Jesus is near, right at the door). “Truly I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all things take place” (Luke 31:29-32; See also Matthew 24:32-34). In Jesus’ own words, just as putting forth leaves by the fig tree and all the other trees obviously and naturally indicates that summer is coming, so also when we witness all the signs He said will precede His coming (See Matthew 24:4-31), we should know that His coming is indeed very near. In other words, according to Jesus, the fig tree and all the other trees putting forth leaves represent all the signs He said will lead to His coming. And summer in the parable also represent His coming. The key application of this parable was also to get us to look, not just for a single or some random or some new sign, but all the very specific signs Jesus had just told them will precede His coming (see Matthew 24:4-31).

By this, Jesus also affirmed that there will be a group of people that will see all the signs He said will precede His coming; and when those people (or generation in existence at the time) see all those signs, they should know that He is right at the door (Matthew 24:33; see also Luke 21:31). He immediately followed this statement by saying, “Truly I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all things take place” (Matthew 24:34; see also Luke 21:32)”. Which specific generation was Jesus referring to? He indicated that in the preceding verse: ‘those group of people or the generation that will see all the signs He had talked about” (Matthew 24:33;Luke 21:31). So, in Jesus words, the generation that sees all the signs He mentioned should not just know that He is right at the door but will also not pass away until they see everything He had talked to them about, which included His second coming. In other words, all the end-time signs will be fulfilled in one generation. Those who see the beginning of the (actual) end time signs (i.e. the opening of the first seal – Revelation 6) will also witness His coming. Interestingly, in the words of Jesus, the signs He gave (i.e Matthew 24:4-29) were to precede His specific coming, where He will appear by Himself in the clouds of the air (not on a white horse) after the great tribulation, and His saints who will be on earth will be gathered from earth to Him in the air (not descend with Him from heaven on white horses), and at that time there will be angels and a great trumpet involved (Matthew 24:29-31). Paul quoted Matthew 24:29-31 almost verbatim, referring to that as the time when faithful believers will be caught up or raptured to meet Jesus in the air at His coming (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18).

However, the very interpretation and application Jesus Himself gave for His parable has been ignored. And the fig tree putting forth its leaves has been made to represent Israel becoming a nation in 1948. Consequently, the whole parable has been interpreted to mean that the generation that saw Israel become a nation in 1948 will not pass away until they see Jesus’ second coming. However, this interpretation largely contradicts the very interpretation Jesus’ Himself gave on many levels.

First of all, in the words of Jesus, the application of His parable was for us to consider not just a single sign, but all the signs He had previously mentioned. However, this other contrary interpretation ignores Jesus’ application of His parable and reduces the entire meaning and application of the parable to just looking at only a single sign; a sign which is not even mentioned in the list of signs Jesus gave to precede His coming. Jesus never listed Israel becoming a nation as one of the signs to precede His coming, and the interpretation He Himself gave for His parable makes no mention of Israel becoming a nation. Rather, the signs He gave included wars and rumours of wars, pestilences, earthquakes, famines, intense persecution and the great tribulation (see Matthew 24:4-31). Secondly, Jesus’ parable did not just refer to the fig tree putting forth leaves but all trees doing same. Therefore if we claim that the fig tree putting forth leaves is Israel becoming a nation again, then obviously, “all trees putting forth leaves” in the same parable must also represent “all nations becoming nations again”. Thus, it is not only Israel that must become a nation again but all nations as well—and the generation that sees both “Israel” and “all other nations” become nations again will not pass away until they witness Jesus’ coming. In 1948, all nations did not become nations again like Israel did. Thus, even if we ignore the very meaning Jesus gave for His parable and randomly interpret “putting forth leaves” as “becoming a nation again”, then 1948 cannot be the year to look at since in that year all the existing nations or nations that had existed prior did not become nations again. Thirdly, the fact that we can see the people of Israel metaphorically referred to as figs on a fig tree (e.g. Hosea 9:10) does not mean that every time we see a fig tree in the Bible, that has to definitely represent the nation of Israel. Fig tree in the Bible also refer to the natural plant, fig tree. For example in Mark 11, Jesus cursed a fig tree, saying “May no one ever eat fruit from you again!” (Mark 11:14). This was an actual tree Jesus cursed. Moreover, according to the Scriptures, this fig tree can never metaphorically refer to Israel. This is because whereas no one was ever to eat from this fig tree again and so this fig tree died and ceased to exist forever, the Bible says that God Himself will remove ungodliness from Israel in these last days, and all Israel will be saved (Romans 11). And Jerusalem will become a glorious land from where Jesus will rule over all the earth at His second coming, and all nations will go to Israel yearly to Jesus to celebrate the feasts of booth (See Zechariah chapters 12-14). Thus, whenever, we see “fig tree” appear in the Bible, the context must tell us exactly what it means, not we ascribing our preferred meaning to it. For example, fire in the Bible has been associated with the “Holy Spirit”, (Acts 2:1-4). Jesus also used fire in one of his parables and explained it to mean an actual fiery furnace where all the children of disobedience will be kept forever (Matthew 13:24-30 and Mathew 13: 36-43). Therefore, we are in error when we see the “fire” associated with all sons of disobedience (e.g. Matthew 13:36-43, Revelation 14:9-12, Revelation 20:15), and claim that this is the fire of the Holy Spirit (cf. Acts 2:1-4). Similarly, we are in error when we neglect context and claim every fig tree in the Bible has to definitely represent Israel. Fourthly, on what biblical grounds or Scripture, do we claim that “putting forth leaves” mean becoming a nation again? We cannot randomly assign meanings to biblical words, or force biblical words and phrases to correspond to current events. Of a truth, Scriptural text have deeper meanings associated with them. However, these deep meanings are not random. They are also not based on what appeals to us individually or logically while contradicting the entire biblical context. Israel becoming a nation in 1948 was indeed a glorious miracle which, I believe, can be linked to biblical prophecy. However, as shown above, Jesus neither listed this as one of the signs of His coming. Nor did he interpret “the fig tree and all other trees putting forth leaves” to mean all Israel and all other nations becoming nations again—events which have not happened yet, not in 1948 or 1967 (when Jerusalem was reunified under Israel following the six-day war).

When we look at the life of the Apostle Paul, he did not rule out the possibility that the rapture, also referred to in Scripture as the second coming of Jesus (Matthew 24:39-31, 1 Thess 4:13-18, Hebrews 9:28) could happen in His day (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; 1 Corinthians 15:51-52). This was something he looked forward to (1 Corinthians 16:22, Titus 2:13). This is the perspective every generation should have since Jesus noted that His end-time message was not just for his twelve disciples but for all of us to watch for His coming (Mark 13:37). However, although Paul expected the rapture or Jesus’ second coming in His day, we don’t find him preaching that Israel had to become a nation before he and his generation could qualify to witness the Lord’s coming. Obviously, Israel becoming a nation was not even an end-time sign he and those in his day could preach since Israel was a nation then, and they looked for the Lord’s return even at that time. Most especially, Jesus never mentioned Israel becoming a nation again as part of the end-time signs. Thus, compared to the scriptures, this sign of Israel becoming a nation in 1948 is a very recent end-time sign men have added to the list of signs Jesus’ gave to precede His coming. Meanwhile we are warned not to add to the words of Scripture lest God proves us liars (see Proverbs 30:5-6).

Jesus admonished that we should take heed to both how and what we hear/read because these two influence whether we will increase in true understanding or go deeper in error till we become void of understanding (see Luke 8:18, Mark 4:24). Thus, we are admonished to stick with exactly what the Scripture says, not adding to it or taking away from it (Proverbs 30:5-6, Revelation 22:18-19). Even so, if we stick with the totality of what Jesus exactly said in his end-time parable, I believe there is no way we can simply focus on just the “fig tree” and ignore “all the other trees” and come up with a conclusion that the generation that saw Israel become a nation in 1948 is the generation that will witness the Lord’s coming. As per Jesus instruction in Mark 13:37, I believe every generation that has and will exist after Jesus ascension to heaven is a candidate to witness His return. Thus, even if Jesus returns 40-120 years from 1948 or 1967, I don’t believe that biblically justifies the erroneous interpretation of the fig tree prophecy.

This doctrine of “Israel becoming a nation in 1948 representing the final generation” has been a common theme associated with the pre-tribulation rapture doctrine. Those who may have thought this generation should be 40 (Numbers 32:13) or 70 (Psalm 90:10) years from 1948 have already failed in their predictions. Others may be waiting for 80 to 100 or 120 years (Psalm 90:10, Genesis 15:13-16, Gensis 6:3) from 1948 or 1967 before they may be convinced that they misinterpreted the fig tree parable. But, if we have not stuck with exactly what Jesus said but have come up with interpretations that ignores and contradicts Jesus interpretation of His own parable (e.g. Luke 21:29-32), then how much of our end-times understanding has been based not on what the Scriptures say, but what we have made it out to be? For while, Jesus actually noted that the generation that sees the great tribulation will also witness His second coming (Mathew 24:29-31), some or all believers in the pre-tribulation rapture have substituted the “great tribulation” with “Israel becoming a nation in 1948”. This is an error, and will unfortunately deceive many, who will be left unprepared, thinking that they were to escape the great tribulation through the rapture.

Let us therefore heed the words of Christ and be careful not just what we hear but how we hear or read (Luke 8:18, Mark 4:24) lest we be deceived.

Kwadwo Omari, PhD
July 27, 2022

A Very Important Message
For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life (John 3:16). For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord (Romans 6:23). Therefore, If you do not know Jesus Christ as your Lord and Saviour, I invite you to put your faith in Him. Pray the prayer below to accept Jesus Christ as your Saviour: “I come to you God in Jesus’ name and surrender my life unto you. I repent of my sins and I ask You to forgive me all my sins. I confess with my mouth that Jesus is Lord, and I believe with my heart that God has raised Jesus from the dead. I thank you God for saving me, in Jesus name, Amen”. If you sincerely prayed this prayer, believe and be assured that you are saved, for the Bible says that whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved (Romans 10:13, Romans 10:9-10, Acts 16:31). Find a Bible believing church to attend so that you can be discipled to grow in the ways of God. You can also email me (kwadwo.omari@gmail.com) and I will be happy to grow together with you in Christ.