Tag Archives: christianity

He Could Not Be Seen!

Posted on 16/05/2026 | Leave a comment

Many Christians believe in a future second return of Jesus. They hold that he will be seen optically in a future coming on the clouds.

But in this article I show that would be impossible.

First, I present a critical explanation of 1 Timothy 6:16, breaking down its components and significance within its context:

“who alone has immortality, who dwells in unapproachable light, whom no one has ever seen or can see. To him be honour and eternal dominion. Amen.”

 Context

  1. This verse concludes a majestic doxology (hymn of praise) about God (vv. 15-16) within Paul’s final exhortations to Timothy.
  2. The doxology itself is part of a larger charge to Timothy to fight the good fight of faith, keep the commandment unstained, and avoid the love of money (vv. 11-21).
  3. It directly follows the description of God as “the blessed and only Sovereign, the King of kings and Lord of lords” (v. 15).

Exegesis of Key Phrases

  1. “who alone has immortality”:
  1. Immortality (Grk-athanasia): Literally “deathlessness.” This signifies God’s essential nature. He is inherently eternal, without beginning or end, and utterly independent of the created order. Unlike created beings (angels or humans granted immortality), God is immortal in His very being. In fact, He is the source of all life and immortality (cf. 1 Tim 1:17, Rom 1:23).
  2. “Alone” (Grk-monos): This is emphatic. It distinguishes God absolutely from all created beings. No other entity possesses immortality as an inherent, un-derived attribute. This underscores God’s unique deity.
  3. “who dwells in unapproachable light”:
  1. “Dwells” (Grk-oikōn): Indicates God’s permanent, essential habitation, natural environment.
  2. “Unapproachable light” (Grk-phōs aprositon):
  3. Light (Grk-phōs): Throughout Scripture, light is a primary symbol of God’s holiness, purity, glory, truth, and revelation (Ps 104:2; Isa 60:19-20; John 1:4-5, 8:12; 1 John 1:5). It represents His utter moral perfection and radiant majesty.
  4. Unapproachable (Grk-aprositon): This is the key descriptor. It means inaccessible, impossible to draw near to or enter into. Why?
  5.       Holiness: God’s absolute purity and holiness are so overwhelming that sinful humanity cannot endure or approach directly (Ex 33:20; Isa 6:1-5; Hab 1:13).
  6.       Glory: The sheer brilliance and majesty of His being are beyond human capacity to withstand or comprehend.
  7.       Transcendence: God is wholly “other,” distinct and separate from His creation. His essential being is hidden from direct human perception. The light is not just bright; it is inherently inaccessible to mortal, sinful beings. That’s us.
  8. “whom no one has ever seen or can see”:
  1. This statement reinforces the concept of God’s unapproachable light and transcendence.
  2. “No one has ever seen”: While theophanies (appearances of God) occurred in the Old Testament (e.g., to Moses, Isaiah), these were manifestations mediated in a way that protected the human recipient (e.g., seeing God’s “back,” covered by seraphim, or veiled in cloud/fire – Ex 33:18-23; Isa 6:1-7). They did not constitute seeing God’s essential, unveiled being.
  3. “Nor can see” (Grk-oude idein dunatai): This is a present impossibility for humans in their current state. God’s essential nature remains hidden from direct sight due to both His infinite holiness and our inherent finitude and sinfulness. This phrase definitively states that direct, unmediated vision of God the Father is impossible for humanity (cf. Jn 1:18, 6:46; 1 Jn 4:12).
  4. Christological Implication: While affirming the Father’s essential invisibility, the New Testament simultaneously proclaims that Jesus Christ, the Son, is the visible image of the invisible God (Col 1:15; Heb 1:3) and the one who has made Him known (Jn 1:18, 14:9). This verse does not contradict those truths; it highlights the Father’s transcendence and the Son’s unique role as Revealer.
  5. “To him be honour and eternal dominion. Amen.”:
  1. Doxology: This concluding cry of worship flows naturally from the preceding description of God’s unique majesty, holiness, and transcendence.
  2. “Honour” (Grk-timē): Refers to reverence, respect, glory, and worthiness of worship due to God alone based on His attributes.
  3. “Eternal Dominion” (Grk-kratos aiōnion): Affirms God’s everlasting, absolute sovereignty and power over all creation, time, eternity. He is the “King of kings and Lord of lords” (v. 15).
  4. “Amen”: A solemn affirmation and agreement with this declaration of praise.

Significance & Application

  1. Affirms God’s Unique Deity: This verse powerfully declares God’s absolute otherness, self-existence, immortality, and holiness. It combats any view that diminishes God’s transcendence or uniqueness.
  2. Highlights Human Limitation & Need for Mediation: It starkly reminds humanity of its creaturely finitude and sinful state, which makes direct approach to the holy God impossible. This underscores the essential necessity of a mediator – Jesus Christ (1 Tim 2:5).
  3. Points to Christ: While emphasizing the Father’s invisibility, it implicitly points to the revelation of God in Jesus. We know and approach the Unapproachable through Christ (Heb 4:14-16, 10:19-22).
  4. Inspires Worship and Awe: The description of God’s majesty and holiness is meant to evoke reverent worship, awe, and submission (“To him be honour…”).
  5. Provides Comfort in Sovereignty: Affirming God’s “eternal dominion” assures believers that despite present circumstances, the utterly transcendent and holy God is ultimately and eternally sovereign.
  6. Contextual Purpose: In the letter’s context (warning against false teachers and greed), this doxology refocuses Timothy (and the church) on the true, majestic, holy God – the ultimate object of faith and source of life – contrasting sharply with the temporal, corruptible things (like wealth) that false teachers might peddle or that believers might wrongly pursue.

Of course, at His first coming Jesus was revealed as the image of the invisible God:

Hebrews 1:3   And He is the radiance of His glory and the exact representation of His nature, and upholds all things by the word of His power. When He had made purification of sins, He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high,

John 14:9  Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you for so long a time, and yet you have not come to know Me, Philip? The one who has seen Me has seen the Father.

John 14:16-17. I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper, so that He may be with you forever,the Helper is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it does not see Him or know Him; but you know Him because He remains with you and will be in you.

In essence, 1 Timothy 6:16 is a profound statement of God’s unapproachable light and transcendence. When Jesus returned in 70 AD, He could not be seen. What could be seen visibly was the destruction of Jerusalem and the whole system of the Mosaic Sinai Covenant.

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The Coming Kingdom of God—When? How?

Posted on 27/04/2026 | Leave a comment
Golden text reading The Kingdom of God with a radiant crown symbol on a purple starry background

In this article we discuss how Jesus dealt with an important question about the Kingdom of God. He was on his way toward Jerusalem with his students, teaching about discipleship, forgiveness, and God’s kingdom.

“… Asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, Jesus replied, ‘The coming of the kingdom of God is not something that can be observed, nor will people say, “Look, here it is,” or “There it is,” because the kingdom of God is in your midst.’”   Luke 17:20-21.

Let’s have a close look at this passage focusing on historical context, literary structure, themes and practical significance.

The audience were Pharisees and Jesus’ students (his disciples). Pharisees were Jewish leaders who were focused on ritual purity and expectations and the coming of Messiah. Their question reflected current Jewish apocalyptic hopes for a visible, political kingdom to overthrow Roman oppression. They expected dramatic signs (e.g., cosmic upheaval).

Jesus’ response was a correction to their thinking. The coming kingdom is “Not something that can be observed” (Greek: ou parakolouthetai). The kingdom’s arrival isn’t detectable through human calculation or spectacular events. It subverts expectations of a military revolt or public spectacle.

Thus it is a gross mistake for us today to expect the kingdom or its coming king Jesus to be something you can optically observe. What you can observe is its wonderful effects. Its results.

In this encounter Jesus redirects the listeners focus from “when?” to “how” the kingdom manifests. It’s about God’s authority, not human timelines.

“The Kingdom of God is in your midst” (Greek: entos hymōn): this is famously tricky. Older translations like the King James Version’s “within you” has sparked debates among scholars. There are two possible meanings:

Among you (relational): The kingdom is present where Jesus is, His ministry, miracles and presence.

Within you (internal): The kingdom transforms hearts e.g., repentance, faith. Luke 11:20 says:

If I am casting out demons by the power of God then the Kingdom of God has arrived among you. 

Scholarly consensus leans toward among you but it is both—Jesus embodies the kingdom’s arrival. The coming kingdom is already active but it is hidden in humility in Jesus. It is seen in Jesus’ healing, teaching, and sacrificial mission. The kingdom is both present “in your midst” and future. Jesus initiates it already in his earthly ministry. But its fullness awaits his return a second time—see more below.

In the kingdom of God, Jesus’ divine sovereignty transcends political and geographic boundaries. Jesus answered Pilate saying, “My kingdom is not of this world. If My kingdom were of this world, then My servants would be fighting so that I would not be handed over to the Jews; but as it is, My kingdom is not of this realm.” (John 18:36).  

True power lies in servant-hood, not conquest. “The kings of the Gentiles lord it over them; and those who have authority over them are called ‘Benefactors.’  But it is not this way with you, but the one who is the greatest among you must become like the youngest, and the leader like the servant. For who is greater, the one who reclines at the table or the one who serves? Is it not the one who reclines at the table? But I am among you as the one who serves. (Luke 22:25–27)

We can explore how this connects to other kingdom passages.

Matthew 13 has many parables about the Kingdom of Heaven. The disciples asked Jesus why he always spoke in parables. Jesus answered them, “To you it has been granted to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been granted. Mat 13:11.

‘Mysteries’ refers to divine truths that were previously hidden but are now revealed through Jesus Christ, particularly to his disciples. This term (Greek: mysterion) does not mean things inherently puzzling. These are truths that were kept secret from the foundation of the world and are now disclosed to those who are receptive. These mysteries pertain to the nature, present form, and future fulfilment of God’s sovereign rule, the Kingdom of God which Jesus began to unveil after his rejection by the religious leaders of Israel.

In Matthew 13:37-43 Jesus explained the parable of weeds to the disciples “The one who sows the good seed is the Son of Man, and the field is the world; and as for the good seed, these are the sons of the kingdom; and the weeds are the sons of the evil one; and the enemy who sowed them is the devil, and the harvest is the end of the age; and the reapers are angels.  So just as the weeds are gathered up and burned with fire, so shall it be at the end of the age.  The Son of Man will send forth His angels, and they will gather out of His kingdom all stumbling blocks and those who commit lawlessness, and they will throw them into the furnace of fire; in that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. Then the righteous will shine forth like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. The one who has ears, let him hear”.

Mark 1:14-15 says  Now after John had been taken into custody, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of God, and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.” The phrase ‘at hand’ (Greek engizō) strongly emphasizes closeness, soon, about to happen. It is urgent that his hearers repent and believe!

In John 3:3,5 we read Jesus said to the great teacher Nicodemus ‘unless you are born of the spirit you cannot see the Kingdom of God.’ The kingdom is within and unseen but its dramatic power is seen.

God’s reign, the Kingdom of God, is found where Christ is proclaimed, the Spirit transforms lives, and justice and mercy are practiced by his followers. Paul wrote for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. (Romans 14:17).

Jesus redefines the kingdom of God as a present reality centred on His person and work. It is not a future event. It operates subtly today through faith, repentance, and divine authority—already “among” those who receive Him. This invites us to participate in God’s reign through humility, service, and attentive faith, especially since He has already come in the first century and the Kingdom of God has now fully come!

I have shown in my many articles on this blog that Jesus has already come a second time as He promised (Mat 10:23, 16:27-28, 24:32-34). He came at ‘the end of the age’ (Mat 13:37-43)i.e., the end of the Mosaic age when the Jerusalem temple was destroyed by the Romans in 70 AD—in ‘the wrath to come’.

That wrath surely came in 70 AD fulfilling the baptiser’s words when Jesus came again in 70 AD just as He promised!

7 But when he [John] saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming for baptism, he said to them, “You brood of vipers, who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? . . . . . . .   The axe is already laid at the root of the trees; therefore every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 11 . . . . . . He who is coming after me is mightier than I . . . . . His winnowing fork is in His hand, and He will thoroughly clear His threshing floor; and He will gather His wheat into the barn, but He will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.” (Mat 3:7-12)

Come on Prove me wrong!

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“I Am Making All Things New”!

Posted on 28/03/2026 | Leave a comment

“I Am Making All Things New”!

A friend recently asked me “If Jesus has come, as you claim, then why is this world in such an increasingly parlous state? It doesn’t reflect him as King of the Universe. This puzzles many. My thoughts . . . . .

Jesus made certain promises about His second coming with his disciples. He prophesied the destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple, the end of the Mosaic system, fulfilment of all prophecy, etc.

But He did NOT promise everything would be okay as a result of His coming.

He never said that when He came he would stay! The Greek word for coming (Parousia) used many times in the NT means presence or visit. It can be used of a king who comes to a city for certain reasons and business. Then the king soon returns back to his palace in the capital city.

Jesus did not come to rule the world but to save us. His kingdom is not of this world. He returned to the Father and glory.

He has left his people in the world empowered with the Holy Spirit. We are to be salt and light in the world. As a result this world is becoming gradually transformed from a terrible state after his first coming.

The world continues to be blessed even today, though evil yet abounds. We are to be so thankful to have heard the good news and have received the promised Holy Spirit and eternal life.

We are promised a new heaven and earth now! That has come. Please see my recent post here:

https://ianthomsonian.org/?s=New+heaven+and+earth

What happens to this world in God’s future plans?

‘He will wipe away every tear from their eyes,’ and there will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the former things have passed away. And the One seated on the throne said, “Behold, I make all things new.” Then He said, “Write this down, for these words are faithful and true.” And He told me, “It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. To the thirsty I will give freely from the spring of the water of life. (Rev 21: 4-6.)

“Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.” Isaiah 43:19

Even in the midst of trouble, Jeremiah proclaims “The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.” Lamentations 3:22-23.

God will keep his promises: to restore peace and righteousness for ever. To perceive perfect peace and rightness in the world is hard to imagine. We cannot do this. We have to rely on the perfect Saviour to do that for us. And he has and he will.

Where in your life do you see God making all things new? Where in your life do you need Christ to intervene? What new things is he doing through Jesus now?

Paul wrote Behold, ALL things have become new. (2 Corinthians 5:17). Really, right now?

“I make all things new” means that all the old things are being refreshed and made better, for believing people.

This is discussed extensively by Paul in 1 Cor 15:35-49. There he predicted the time when his believing audience will all receive new resurrected bodies—not from rotting corpses.

We are now living in the New Covenant. Though based on the old covenant, Mat 26:28, Luke 22:20.  And in the same way He took the cup after they had eaten, saying, “This cup which is poured out for you is the new covenant in My blood.

The Hebrews author wrote back then: When He said, “A new covenant,” He has made the first obsolete. But whatever is becoming obsolete and growing old is ready to disappear. Heb 8:13

Then there is the New Jerusalem. This new reality is described in Revelation 21-22 as a place without death, mourning, pain, or crying, where God will dwell with humanity, and the New Jerusalem will descend from heaven.

This new creation is a restored, physical reality where believers live in glorified, resurrected bodies, ruling with Christ. The promise of a new earth is rooted in God’s original purpose for creation, as seen in Genesis, where humanity was commanded to fill and subdue the earth, a task thwarted by sin but now fulfilled in the new creation. This is the eternal home where God’s people will dwell with Him, experiencing a dynamic, purposeful existence free from the curse and the presence of sin.

With the tragic killing of Charlie Kirk we can still see the hand of the Lord. Though the Lord is indeed sovereign, He respects the power of choice, the freewill of all humans. Justice will certainly come. For now we celebrate Charlie Kirk’s amazing life and the unstoppable spiritual power of his widow and the TP organisation as a result! So much good has already ensued. The good news preached to hundreds of thousands, maybe millions.

There are revivals of Christianity in many places especially among young men, including Britain, The USA. In Iran we know of multitudes are tuning to Christ.

Every day I hear reports of people turning to Christ.

People brainwashed with dispensational premillennial eschatology will keep on seeing tragedy. These brothers and sisters see the world as something that is getting worse and worse. Such folk long for the day that God will supposedly remove His people from a wicked, ever worsening world. There is little incentive for someone with that world view to work to redeem and renew the existing.

But in the Bible we read and see this world as God’s Plan.

That is a plan that Jesus, through His people, is making new. He is making the world new in spiritual terms, but also in temporal terms. The regions in the world with the most Christian influence also have seen the largest advances in standard of living. The primary cause for the advance is loving one’s neighbour.

Which world view do you have? Are you an escapist?

Or an optimist, filled with the spirit and power.

Paul wrote Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your toil is not in vain in the Lord. 1 Cor 15:58.

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Silence after AD 70

Posted on 07/03/2026 | Leave a comment

When the persecution under Emperor Nero arose in AD 64, inspired New Testament writings appeared to have ceased. Then it was about another forty years before any writings from Christian believers appeared. That’s a total of 46 years of silence.

Many people ask this important question: If it is true that Christ returned in AD 70, why is there little documented evidence to show that this momentous event took place? 

This post attempts to answer this perplexing question.

To explain this silence, some would conclude that this lack of evidence proves Jesus did not come. If He had come surely there would be many documents to confirm this.

But the absence of any evidence cuts both ways—others might argue that this lack of evidence proves nothing as we will see. There are many reasons why this is so.

Firstly. It is possible that the majority of believers were killed in the persecution as they preached the Gospel of the Kingdom (Mat 24:9-11). The two most prominent leaders, Peter and Paul met their deaths under Nero’s watch. Their deaths were an enormous blow to the early believers.

Second. It is possible that many people fell away from Christ in the apostasy Jesus spoke about (Mat 24:10-13). Thus only a small remnant may have remained scattered throughout the Roman world. God only knows.

Third. Others were forced underground anxiously waiting for the tribulation to be cut short (Mat 24:22). Then shortly after, the remaining faithful in Jerusalem were saved by obeying Jesus’ warning to leave Jerusalem and Judea and flee to the mountains (Mat 24:15-16) before the wrath was poured out on their unbelieving persecutors (Mat 24:29-31; 1 Thes 1:10; 5:9). Thus the Jerusalem church ceased as the centre of Christianity.

Consider these Jesus words: 

-When the Son of Man comes, will he even find faith on the earth? Luke 18:8.

This statement about faith strongly suggests people will experience the second coming advent.

There are some standing here who will not taste death until they see the kingdom of God when it has come with power.” Mark 9:1.

Some of those listening to Jesus’ words must have experienced the advent of the second coming and of the kingdom of God come with power. But how many of these few could write? Many would now be elderly and have been around much longer, given their age.

Jesus said Then he will send angels and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from the ends of the earth to the ends of heaven. (Mark 13:27)  The Greek word for angels is angelos (messengers) and in this context that suggests believers would be preaching the Word and gathering people from around the Roman world into the kingdom! So an interesting question is how many of the elect were gathered? I think many, but how of them wrote about it?

Fourth. In the ancient world many documents were to have been destroyed for a number of reasons. Any extant document affirming the extraordinary events may have been destroyed by opponents of all kinds and all times. Since only a small percentage of the thousands of ancient writings have been translated, we simply do not know if any ancient sources recorded the fulfilment or not.

And there is more to understand about this question about the silence.

With Peter and Paul gone, John would be the central leader. He would have to keep in contact with the established churches. So one would expect to see letters from John to rebuild and strengthen the churches. Those letters would carry the news that Jesus’ promises were fulfilled. But where is such evidence?

Here are some more reasons for the silence

The ordinary believer did not write letters or document events. One might be expected to see such from wealthy places in the cities. But the early church composed mostly poor people from rural areas.

They were under Roman surveillance as a Jewish sect. It would be some time after the downfall of the Jews until they would have gained any significance.

So would we really expect to see much in the way of writings during this period? The inspired writers of the gospels wrote about Christ. But even they were more the exception than the rule among the people of God.

The majority of people whom Jesus impacted while here didn’t write anything. Those who could write wrote very little. Matthew and Mark wrote their gospels. Mark was very active assisting Paul and Peter but writing no more.

There is no more from Matthew. And Luke? We have only his gospel account and the book of Acts. Luke was a physician, so one must assume he would be more educated or more likely to write.

John wrote his gospel and while in exile, he wrote Revelation.  John was very busy spreading the gospel for 30 years during the prime of his life. But all we see are three short letters.

We only have two letters from Peter despite all his work in the early Church for a period of over 30 years.

There are few Pauline letters written in response or questions from Titus or Timothy. The early church of the mid first century was definitely in the first stages of establishing itself. There were few wealthy people able to engage historians to document everything.

Christians went underground in the years between AD 60 and AD 70. They were very troubled years, not only for the Jews, but also for the people of God. While the church was still tied to Jerusalem, the political upheavals that hit Jerusalem affected the church. Christians had become very unpopular with both the Romans and the Jews. In AD 64 Rome burned, and Nero blamed the Christians. Christians throughout the empire were forced to go underground, meeting secretly. Writing about anything was dangerous.

Then just a few years later, Titus’ army advanced on Jerusalem. The temple was destroyed, the ultimate devastation for Jews.

The Jerusalem believers had followed Jesus’ words and fled to the hills. Paul and Peter were dead. The church was left in disarray. Travel was still somewhat restricted. The churches that had been established were still in fear and less vocal and less open regarding their beliefs. They became much more isolated than they had previously been because of the increasing Roman control.

So we can now see many reasons that explain the long silence.

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The Day of the Lord

Posted on 01/03/2026 | Leave a comment

In a very recent post I dealt with the term ‘the last days’. In this post I deal with another end-time term “The Day of the Lord” which covers similar ground.

In the scriptures we can find the shortened term “Day” or “that Day” referring to the same period. 

“The Day of the Lord” or “The Day”  refers to a divinely appointed time or times when God intervenes in human history with decisive judgment and salvation.  

It is described as a day of both fear and hope, depending on one’s relationship with God. 

For the unrepentant and wicked, it is a day of terrible judgment and divine justice.

But for the faithful and redeemed, it is a day of hope, deliverance and fulfilment.

The Old Testament prophets described it as a day of darkness, war, and divine reckoning. They marked it by cosmic upheaval language, wrath, and destruction.  It has been used historically to describe events like the fall of Babylon (Isaiah 13:6–9 :21).

Joel portrayed it as a day of cosmic signs (darkened sun, blood moon) preceding divine intervention. Joel 2:1–11, 31.

Amos warned that the Day will bring darkness, not light, for those who are unrepentant. Amos 5:18–20.

In the New Testament these phrases point to a climactic day marking the end of the Old Covenant and the end of the Jewish nation. On this Day, God judges Israel, avenging Jesus’ rejection and death and establishing a new creation.  This includes:

The return of Christ (1 Thessalonians 5:2, 2 Peter 3:10).

The Great Tribulation (Mat 24:21, Revelation 6:17).

The resurrection and judgment (1 Corinthians 15:51-55). 

The inauguration of the New Covenant (Hebrews 8-10, Jeremiah 36)

So let’s examine the following passages.

1 Corinthians 1:8. . . . . you are not lacking in any gift, as you eagerly await the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ, who will also confirm you to the end, blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.

2 Corinthians 1:13-14.  . . . . . . . and I hope you will understand until the end;  just as you also partially did understand us, that we are your reason to be proud as you also are ours, on the day of our Lord Jesus.

Philippians 1:6. For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work among you will complete it by the day of Christ Jesus.

2 Thessalonians 1:10. . . . . .  when He comes to be glorified among His saints on that day, 

2 Thessalonians 2:1-2.  Now we ask you, brothers and sisters, regarding 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.

In each of these texts it is clear that Paul expected the day of the Lord coming in his lifetime. It was imminent.

My friends, those texts must mean that Christ has already returned sometime in the first century! Isn’t that clear?

Or like C S Lewis do you believe Jesus was mistaken? Here is C. S. Lewis in his own words:

“It is clear from the New Testament that they all expected the Second Coming in their own lifetime. And, worse still, they had a reason, and one which you will find very embarrassing. Their Master had told them so. He shared, and indeed created, their delusion. He said in so many words, ‘this generation shall not pass till all these things be done.’ And he was wrong. He clearly knew no more about the end of the world than anyone else”.

Don’t make the same mistake as Lewis. That mistake was to assume that His coming meant the end of the world. It is to assume you know more than Jesus and the plain words of scripture. Such arrogance! It is to assume Jesus would be visible to human eyes at His coming, something that is impossible.

All futurist views of eschatology say that Christ comes at the end of the current Christian age. However, the Bible is clear that the Christian age has no end! (Daniel 2:44-45, Isaiah 9:6-7, Luke 2:32-33).

Furthermore, the Bible, in spite of popular views of the end, identifies “the Day of the Lord” or “that Day” as the last generation of the Old Covenant Age of Israel. That age came to its cataclysmic end in AD 70!

Realising this changed the lives of countless believers, dispelling the fear that the Day of the Lord is near. No end of the earth! No great tribulation! No rapture!

As I have said, I write as one who joyously and thankfully realised this truth only several years ago. I have joined an ever increasing number of believers around the world.

There’s much to be done in the power of the Holy Spirit in us.

Or prove me wrong!

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New Heaven and New Earth

Posted on 05/02/2026 | Leave a comment

What does the Bible mean when it talks about a ‘new heaven and a new earth’?

This biblical concept is first seen by us in the prophet Isaiah. God promised to create “new heavens and a new earth,” We will look at several of many Isaiah text below.

This article will show that ‘new heaven and a new earth’ is fulfilled in the New Covenant! For Christians it is a present reality! Not something in the future. It is the passing of the old covenant system of the Mosaic era, the sacrificial system and the arrival of the new in AD 70.

Let’s turn first to the Old Testament where find many uses of the phrase in Isaiah.

First Isaiah 1:2-4  Listen, O heavens! Pay attention, earth!  . . . . “The children I raised and cared for have rebelled against me. . . . .  but Israel doesn’t know its master. My people don’t recognize my care for them.” 4 Oh, what a sinful nation they are . . . . 

This is a dramatic call, not mere poetic flourish—it invokes cosmic witnesses, a legal convention in ancient Near Eastern treaties where creation itself testifies to covenant violations (cf.  Deut 32:1; Mic 6:2).

The use of parallelism—“heavens” and “earth”—frames the message as universal and irrevocable. The structure reflects a prophetic indictment: God presents His case before creation, emphasizing the gravity of Israel’s betrayal.

God’s lament draws on the intimate metaphor of divine parenthood.  This father-child relationship underscores the depth of betrayal: Israel, as a privileged son (Ex 4:22; Hos 11:1), responds not with loyalty but rebellion. Not with mere boredom but with utter rejection. A profound spiritual blindness—a failure to acknowledge divine care and authority.

Next Isaiah 13:13. For I will shake the heavens. The earth will move from its place when the Lord of Heaven’s Armies displays his wrath in the day of his fierce anger.”

Next Isaiah 65:17. “Look! I am creating new heavens and a new earth, and no one will even think about the old ones anymore.  

(Note verse 8 in this context: For I still have true servants there. I will preserve a remnant of the people of Israel and of Judah to possess my land. Those I choose will inherit it, and my servants will live there.)

Lastly Isaiah 66:22 “As surely as my new heavens and earth will remain, so will you always be my people, with a name that will never disappear,” says the Lord.  

It is God’s new heaven and a new earth and is unlike what will pass away. True Israel will forever be his people, under the Lordship of Jesus.

Now let’s turn to the instances of the phrase in the New Testament.

Revelation 21:1: “Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away . . . . . . “

Believers whose names are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life (Rev 20:15) dwell there eternally. They reign with Christ, enjoy God’s presence, and experience eternal joy—free from death, sorrow, crying, and pain (Rev 21:4). This happened 2000 years ago!

This is the culmination of God’s redemptive plan—reversing the Fall, fulfilling His promises to Abraham, and restoring creation to its original purpose of being filled, ruled, and cultivated by obedient image bearers. 

It is the ultimate hope of the Christian faith, not a temporary state, but an eternal dwelling place. The phrase ‘new heaven and a new earth’ cannot be taken literally. Heaven is God’s home, thus will never change. The Bible is not about the physical universe or cosmology.

Jesus said I tell you the truth, until heaven and earth disappear, not even the smallest detail of God’s law will disappear until its purpose is achieved. Mat 5:18

So even the smallest detail of God’s law has now disappeared because it’s purpose has been achieved and fulfilled by Jesus. We know that Jesus has brought to an end the entire Mosaic law, bringing the New Covenant. Why would any detail of the law still be in effect? We are in ‘the new heaven and a new earth’ now! 

He also said Heaven and earth will disappear, but my words will never disappear. Mat 24:35

Here, in the Olivet Discourse, Jesus was not talking about a literal heaven or a literal earth. He was not talking about the end of the physical world. He was talking about a spiritual condition. Relationship with God. Jesus put the context of the passing of heaven and earth alongside his second coming and the judgment of Israel in the generation then alive.

With Peter we see talk about the imminent coming of the ‘new heaven and a new earth’:

. . . .   you should live, looking forward to the day of God and hurrying it along. On that day, he will set the heavens on fire, and the elements will melt away in the flames. But we are looking forward to the new heavens and new earth he has promised, a world filled with God’s righteousness. 2 Peter 3:11-13

This is apocalyptic language. Peter does not envisage a literal “melting of elements” or “heavens on fire”. But Peter and his readers eagerly look forward to what is soon to come. This is not about the future far away.

Many writers try to shoehorn these passages into a hyper-creedal “end of world history” philosophy and tradition. They are wrong. This ‘world’ may not look like a world filled with God’s righteousness. But there is an enormous contrast between the old and the new covenant for the genuine believer, then and today. The old has gone, obsolete. Now we enjoy the new heavens and a new earth. We must believe it and live it and rejoice in its benefits.

Have confidence in the Lord.

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He Has Come Again Long Ago

Posted on 15/01/2026 | Leave a comment

Jesus came again so long ago

How on earth can I possibly know?

Jesus came again so long ago

 ‘cos the Bible tells me so!

Jesus told his disciples many times that he would return before some of his listeners, had passed away.

Jesus Christ is the unchanging One, the only constant in this ever changing world. His integrity is critical. If he made one mistake or false prophecy, everything else he said would be suspect.

The Bible defines a false prophet as one who prophesies events that do not come to pass. If someone prophesied that a specific event/s would occur at a specific date or time and that time were to come and go without the event happening, he could legitimately be labelled as a false prophet. Read this . . . . .

But the prophet who speaks a word presumptuously in My name, a word which I have not commanded him to speak, or which he speaks in the name of other gods, that prophet shall die.’ And if you say in your heart, ‘How will we recognise the word which the Lord has not spoken?’ When the prophet speaks in the name of the Lord, and the thing does not happen or come true, that is the thing that the Lord has not spoken. The prophet has spoken it presumptuously; you are not to be afraid of him. Deuteronomy 18:20ff.

Jesus made many, many promises to his disciples. Some of these promises were prophecies about his second coming. For example, when Jesus sent out his disciples, he told them . . . . 

When you are persecuted in one town, flee to the next. I tell you the truth, the Son of Man will return before you have reached all the towns of Israel. Matthew 10:23. Later he said . . . . .

And then later, he said:

For the Son of Man will come with his angels in the glory of his Father and will judge all people according to their deeds. And I tell you the truth, some standing here right now will not die before they see the Son of Man coming in his Kingdom.” Matthew 16:27-28.

And then Jesus, after pronouncing the woes upon the leaders of Jerusalem, said:

“Therefore, I am sending you prophets and wise men and teachers of religious law. But you will kill some by crucifixion, and you will flog others with whips in your synagogues, chasing them from city to city. As a result, you will be held responsible for the murder of all godly people of all time—from the murder of righteous Abel . . . . . . I tell you the truth, this judgment will fall on this very generation. Matthew 23:34-36.

We know all those things actually happened –exactly as we read in the New Testament. They are history. And then only days before his passion he said . . . . .

I tell you the truth, this generation will not pass from the scene until all these things take place. Matthew 24:34.

And yes, ‘all those things’ Jesus spoke about in Matthew 24 were in the near future, but they happened in the 1st century! All of them! And before his generation had died out!

In Paul’s 1st letter to the Thessalonians 1written about AD 65, he says:

 And they speak of how you are looking forward to the coming of God’s Son from heaven—Jesus, whom God raised from the dead. He is the one who has rescued us from the terrors of the coming judgment. 1Thes 1:10

What judgment did Paul mean? These believers suffered persecution from the unbelieving Jews in their community. So we read 1 Thessalonians 2:14-16:

And then, dear brothers, you suffered persecution from your own countrymen. In this way, you imitated the believers in God’s churches in Judea who, because of their belief in Christ Jesus, suffered from their own people, the Jews.  For some of the Jews killed the prophets, and some even killed the Lord Jesus. Now they have persecuted us, too. They fail to please God and work against all humanity as they try to keep us from preaching the Good News of salvation to the Gentiles. By doing this, they continue to pile up their sins. But the anger of God has caught up with them at last..

If those Thessalonians were wrong by expecting Jesus to come within their lifetime, why didn’t Paul correct them? Why didn’t he write to them saying, ‘no, you’ve got it wrong, Jesus won’t be coming for a long, long, time!’

But Paul did not correct them. Instead, he continued to encourage them as he wrote this letter to encourage them and then followed it with another letter, Second Thessalonians, with further encouragements.

So why do you, dear reader, still expecting Jesus to return soon or in the future? That is logically impossible if you trust Paul’s letters to be the word of God. Paul reports similarly in Romans 12, 1 Corinthians 10, 2 Corinthians, Philippians 2 and in his other letters. And then there are what Peter wrote and James as well. They all expected Jesus to come very soon.

I know it is so difficult to throw off false teaching that has taken such a hold on Christians everywhere, such that people, including theologians, call Paul into question, saying that Paul was just wrong.

But why are the apostles of Christ, men filled with the Holy Spirit, the ones who are wrong? Why is it that we can be persuaded to think that Paul and the others were in error, rather than to question our own underlying premise of what we have been taught?

Who is it that is wrong – the apostles or the teaching of men that we have been exposed to?

What is more probable: that our understanding is wrong or that Paul’s was right?

And if not only Paul was wrong, but that Jesus must have lied to his disciples living in the first century, that he was coming back soon, before their generation had all gone.

Jesus said Heaven and earth may pass away but my words will never pass away. Mat 24:35

How can you keep on believing Jesus is still to come a second time?

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The Kingdom of Heaven

Posted on 03/12/2025 | Leave a comment

What is the Kingdom of Heaven?

It is God’s wonderful rule. It is so good that it is called the good news (gospel) of the kingdom–a desirable state.

It is a lifestyle into which Jesus called his disciples to enter and to live under. It is so precious, so important, that people are urged to enter it, no matter what it may cost (Mat 13:44-45).

Jesus said to his disciples:

“Most certainly I tell you, unless you turn, and become as little children, you will in no way enter into the Kingdom of Heaven.  Whoever therefore humbles himself as this little child, the same is the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven. Matthew 18:3-4

Let’s look closely at this passage:

Context:

This passage is part of a larger discourse in Matthew 18, often called the “Discourse on the Church”.”

The immediate context is that the disciples asked Jesus, “Who, then, is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” (Matthew 18:1). Jesus responds by calling a little child to stand among them (Matthew 18:2) and then speaks the words in verses 3-4.

Key Words and Phrases:

“Truly I tell you” (Amen lego humin): This term Jesus often used as for a solemn affirmation that what follows is important and true.

“unless you turn and become like little children”: Turning, the first step, is critical. The Greek word for “change” (strepho) can also mean “turn” or “convert.” It implies a fundamental transformation. The requirement is to become like a child.

“you will never enter the kingdom of heaven”: This is a strong statement about the necessity of this transformation for entering the kingdom of h  eaven and the salvation it brings.

“whoever humbles himself like this little child”: The Greek word for “humbling oneself ” (tapeinose) refers to humility, lowliness, or a state of being humble.

“is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven“: Jesus contrasted the world’s view of greatness (power, status) with the kingdom’s view — humility and childlike dependence.

What is it about a little child that Jesus should ask people to become in order to enter this kingdom?

It is humility. Lack of pride. Absence of self-reliance. Total trust in our heavenly Father.

Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do and he will show you which path to take.

Interpretation

The child is used as an example of humility, trust, and dependence. In the ancient world, children had low social status; they were dependent and without pretension.

Jesus is not saying that adults should be childish (immature) but childlike in their faith — trusting, humble, and without arrogance.

To “become like little children” means to abandon self-sufficiency and pride and to rely completely on God.

The transformation (“turn”) is a necessary condition for entering the kingdom — it is a call to conversion.

The reversal of values: the greatest in the kingdom is the one who is humble like a child.

Theological Themes:

Humility: Essential for discipleship and kingdom citizenship.

Kingdom access: Entry into the kingdom requires a change of heart and attitude.

Greatness in the kingdom: Defined by service and humility, not by power or status.

Application:

As followers of Jesus we must embrace humility and dependence on God.

Christian communities should value and practice humility, service, and care for and honour the weak.  

In the ancient world, children were considered weak and vulnerable. They are still vulnerable today.

Conclusion


Jesus uses a child as an object lesson to teach that humility and childlike trust are essential for entering and being great in the kingdom of heaven.

Today, this teaching still challenges worldly notions of control, power and status and calls for a transformation of the heart.

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The True People of God

Posted on 30/11/2025 | 1 comment

Here’s my exegesis of Matthew 21:43, considering its context, language and significance:

“Therefore I tell you, the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people producing its fruits.”

 

This verse is the concluding declaration of Jesus’ Parable of the Tenants (vv. 33-41), spoken directly to the chief priests and Pharisees (v. 45).

In the parable, a landowner (God) leases his vineyard (Israel; Isa. 5:1-7) to tenants (religious leaders). They reject/kill the owner’s servants (prophets) and finally his son (Jesus). Judgment falls on the tenants.

The leaders themselves pronounce judgment (v. 41): “He will put those wretches to a miserable death and let out the vineyard to other tenants”.

Jesus confirms their verdict (v. 43) and connects it to Psalm 118:22-23 (vv. 42, 44) about the rejected stone becoming the cornerstone.

Key Terms & Meaning:

 

“Therefore” (Greek: Dia touto): Links the verse directly to the leaders’ self-condemnation in the parable.

“Kingdom of God”: Refers to God’s reign/authority entrusted to Israel as His covenant people (Ex. 19:5-6; Dan. 2:44).

  • “Taken away from you”: “You” = Israel’s current leadership. They failed as stewards by rejecting God’s messengers and his Son.
  • “Given to a people” (Greek: ethnei): Ethnos typically means “nation” or “people”.
    • This people refers to a new covenant community (Jew + Gentile) under Christ (1 Pet. 2:9-10). This includes faithful Jews who accept Jesus (e.g., apostles) and Gentiles who are ‘grafted in’ to use Paul’s term (Rom. 11:17-24).

“Producing its fruits”: These include obedience, repentance, justice, and faithfulness (Matt. 3:8; 7:16-20). This contrasts with the leaders’ spiritual barrenness (Matt. 23:13-33).

 Theological Significance:

Divine Judgment: God’s kingdom is not irrevocably tied to ethnic Israel or its corrupt leaders. Stewardship requires faithfulness.

 

Inclusive Redefinition: The kingdom is transferred to a new people of God (the Church) centered on Christ (Eph. 2:11-22). This fulfils Abrahamic promises (Gal. 3:29).

Continuity & Fulfillment: Jesus is the “stone” (vv. 42, 44) establishing God’s kingdom (Dan. 2:44-45). The Church inherits Israel’s spiritual privileges (Rom. 9:6-8; Gal. 6:16).

Warning to All: Leadership in God’s kingdom demands fruitfulness, not just privilege (John 15:1-6).

 

Application:

 

To the Original Audience: A direct indictment of Israel’s leaders, warning that rejecting Jesus forfeits their role in God’s plan. Unbelieving Israel forfeits its chosen people status. Plainly, according to Jesus.

To the new People of God: This is a call to faithful stewardship, both Jew and Gentile. Privilege implies responsibility.

To Individuals: Entrance into God’s kingdom requires receiving Christ (John 1:12) and bearing spiritual fruit.

Connection to Jesus:

This verse underscores Jesus’ authority to redefine the people of God around Himself. His impending death/resurrection (which is implied in the parable) will inaugurate the new covenant community which replaces or replenishes Israel.

In Summary

Matthew 21:43 declares a monumental shift—the kingdom stewardship passes from unfaithful leaders to a new, multi-ethnic people under Christ, marked by responsive faith and spiritual fruitfulness. This is both a warning and a promise of God’s unfolding redemptive plan.

Jesus’ authority to redefine the true people of God around Himself is emphatically expressed and cannot be denied.

This redemptive plan falsifies the teaching of Dispensationalism. The nation state of Israel is not Paul’s “Israel of God.” (Gal 6:16)

Prove me wrong!

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The Apostles See Jesus No More

Posted on 19/11/2025 | Leave a comment

In the opening verses of the NT Book of Acts, Luke gives us the account of Jesus’ ascension. This is not the only account we have of the ascension in the Bible. In Luke 24:50-52 there is a brief account.

But this passage contains some valuable information which the casual reader may easily miss.

Let’s look at the passage.

6.  So when the apostles were with Jesus, they kept asking him, “Lord, has the time come for you to free Israel and restore our kingdom?”  

6. they kept asking him. Their question shows they thought just as the Jews thought –in terms of a Davidic messiah and an earthly kingdom of Israel free of Roman rule. They were still focused on Israel and its future. It was not about the kingdom of Israel. It was about the Kingdom of Heaven. This would all soon change with the inauguration of the new covenant in Jesus’ blood.

7. He replied, “The Father alone has the authority to set those dates and times, and they are not for you to know.

 The Father alone sets dates, times. Jesus had already told the disciples that the timing of His coming was unknown (Mat 24:36). Only the Father determines the times and seasons.

8. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere—in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

But: Grk, G235 alla, contrariwise, emphatic—the disciples will have to think differently—to radically change their mind.

My witnesses: Very soon they will see him no longer because he is going to the Father, where they cannot come (see John 14:28-29). Instead, they are to receive power with the coming of the Holy Spirit and be his witnesses everywhere.  This would be a huge refocus. 

9. After saying this, he was taken up into a cloud while they were watching, and they could no longer see him. 

  • taken up into a cloud. Jesus was hidden from their eyes by a cloud as he went into Heaven. Clouds denote God’s glory. These ‘clouds’ appear to shut heaven, or the sky, from human view. He was hidden from their eyes by cloud. Just as He was hidden from their eyes as He went into Heaven, so when he comes He will be hidden to human eyes by the clouds of glory (Mat 24:30).

10. As they strained to see him rising into heaven, two white-robed men suddenly stood among them. 

they strained to see him. The cloud made it very difficult to see him, then impossible to see him.

two white-robed men. One of the many references to angels in the NT suddenly appearing (cf Luke 24:4 at the empty tomb). 

11. “Men of Galilee,” they said, “why are you standing here staring into heaven? Jesus has been taken from you into heaven, but someday he will return from heaven in the same way you saw him go!”

Jesus has been taken. Note the past tense ‘has been taken’

taken from you. They will see him no longer.

Men of Galilee. Here is aninteresting detail: they were addressed as ‘men of Galilee’. It is they who were addressed and not us today. Context is critically important for correct interpretation.

Jesus will someday return. The two ‘men’ declared Jesus will ‘someday’ return from heaven. The disciples already knew he would soon return (Matthew 10:23, 16:27-28, 24:30), but the hour or the day was unknown (Mat 24:36). This was a confirmation for them.

In the same way. The disciples could not see him because he was hidden by the cloud of glory. In the same way when he returns he will come in clouds of glory again hidden from human eyes in his then ascended form.  

This story shows us today that the coming return of Jesus was to occur within the lifespan of those present, these “men of Galilee”. So it rationally follows that return has already occurred!

This passage and the Matthew 24:30-34 passage, teach us the same thing: Jesus returned within the lifespan of the disciples!  

The coming of Jesus that we read in both Acts 1:6-11 and in the gospels (Matthew 10:23, 16:27-28, 24:30-34) cannot possibly be a “coming” that will occur in our future, for indeed, it has already occurred in the generation of the disciples.

Go figure!

Please prove me wrong.

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