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Bible Q

What is the Parousia?

Parousia is a common Greek word for the arrival of an individual. The term occurs only twice in the Greek Old Testament (2 Maccabees 8:12 and 15:21), but is used 24 times in the New Testament. 7 of these concern the arrival of individuals; Paul (2 Corinthians 10:10, Philippians 1:26, 2:12), Stephanas, Fortunatus, and Achaicus (1 Corinthians 16:17), […]

Will any Gentiles be saved during the tribulation?

The idea of a period of tribulation preceeding is based upon a section of the Olivet Prophecy, which reads as follows: For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been from the beginning of the world until now, no, and never will be. And if those days had not been cut short, […]

In the parable of the wheat and tares, who are the tares? (Matthew 13:24-30;36-43)

Jesus describes who the “tares” (‘weeds’, ESV) are in Matthew 13:41. As the weeds in the parable would be gathered together and destroyed at harvest time, so, at Jesus’ return, ‘all causes of sin and all law-breakers’ will be destroyed: the weeds represent ‘all causes of sin and all law-breakers’. In contrast, the wheat represents […]

Did the world end on May 21, 2011?

Back on 23rd April, 2011, I answered the question, “Will Jesus return on 21 May 2011?”  That question alone has generated thousands of hits on this site, particularly in the last week or so (much more than any other question we’ve ever answered). Well, the world didn’t end — I think we would’ve noticed. Personally, […]

When will Jesus return?

Jesus himself, talking about his return, said that ‘concerning that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father only’ (Mat. 24:36). We do not know when Jesus will return; in fact, when he does return, it will be very sudden (Mat. 24:42-51; Mat. 25:13; 1 Thess. 5:2-6; Rev. […]

When did the last days begin?

The Bible uses the term “last days” in several different ways. For example: But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty. For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, […]

Are we living in the Last Days?

We cannot say for sure when Jesus will return: But concerning that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father only. Matthew 24:36 But when you read passages like 2 Timothy 3:1-5 it does feel like we are living in the “Last Days” before Jesus […]

Will Jesus return on 21 May 2011?

When Jesus left us and went to heaven, the disciples were given a prophecy: This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven. (Acts  1:11) Since then, Christians have waited, sometimes impatiently, for Jesus’ return. And because the Bible is full […]

What are the signs of the return of Jesus Christ?

Jesus referred to many signs of his return in the Olivet prophecy, recorded in Matthew 24, Mark 13 and Luke 21. The unmistakable signs are given in Matthew 24:29-30, “The sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, and the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens […]