The Last Time

18 November 2014

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"Little children, it is the last time: and as ye have heard that antichrist shall come, even now are there many antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last time.” (1st John 2:19)

John makes a statement here that may be a shock to those who have given over to the popular view among Christians concerning the end of the world. John says that the “last time” was already happening during his lifetime! He also says that there are MANY antichrists, not just one.

John wrote this nearly 2,000 years ago so the last time obviously cannot mean the end of the world. So what does it mean?

A brief look back at the prophecy of the coming of the Messiah found in the Book of Daniel will help us understand what the “last time” is.

"And in the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed: and the kingdom shall not be left to other people, but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand for ever.” (Daniel 2:44)

Daniel helps Nebuchadnezzar remember his dream and then interprets it for him. The image of a statue represents four kingdoms of men that will be on the earth. History has shown that these four kingdoms came in succession just like Daniel said they would. They were the Babylonians, the Persians, the Greeks, and the Romans.

Daniel tells us that during the last kingdom, the Romans, God would set up a kingdom here on earth that would have no end. It will break in pieces every other kingdom that exists. When Jesus came to earth, that is exactly what God did. That is why Jesus and John the Baptist both said, “repent for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” They were not saying the kingdom was going to come after a 1,000 years or some other period of time. They were saying that the kingdom is here now!

This is what John meant by the phrase “last time.” The kingdom of the gospel age began during the time of Christ on earth, and it will continue until the Lord returns to take us home at the end of time. There will be no other kingdom that will bear rule like the others. And NOTHING will destroy the kingdom of God on earth!

Think about that the next time you go to church. The gospel church is the manifestation of the kingdom of God on earth. When you go to church, you are truly entering into His courts with praise and thanksgiving!

Jesus reigns today!

Tags: 1st_john, end_times, eschatology

Welcome

Brentwood Hills Primitive Baptist Church is a community of believers working together to transform our lives to the image of Jesus Christ. We believe it is our duty and privilege to live the gospel of the doctrines of grace in such a way as to edify the families within our church and other children of God in our community. Through regular worship based on strong Biblical principles, fellowship, admonishment, and outreach, we glory in the grace of the sovereign God working in our lives thereby showing the Spirit of God in the world.

Brentwood Hills was organized in 1906 in Fort Worth, Texas as Laodicea Primitive Baptist Church. You can find much of the history of the church, as well as other churches here: Primitive Baptist History Database

We identify ourselves as an old-line Primitive Baptist church. If you read our Articles of Faith, you’ll see that we hold to such doctrines as the inspiration and inerrancy of the Bible. We recognize the King James Version (KJV) as the only English translation worthy of being called the Bible. We believe in salvation solely by the grace of a sovereign God. We believe that Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of God, came to the earth to do the will of His Father, which was to deliver from the sentence of death all those the Father gave Him before the world began. We believe that Jesus fully satisfied the Father by atoning for all the sins of all His people. In time, we believe the Holy Spirit comes to each person that belongs to Jesus and regenerates them. Then (and only then) can anyone have faith, which is a fruit of the Spirit, by which you are able to believe the glorious gospel of Jesus Christ. Whether or not you ever hear the gospel, or believe it if you did hear it, or obey it if you did believe it, rest assured that Jesus will remain forever faithful to you because, if He died for you, He will never deny that you belong to Him.

We believe that everyone for whom Christ died will without fail be raised again from the dead to a glorified life. Even if we are alive when He returns to raise the dead, we shall be changed to a glorified life. All the Redeemed will meet the Lord in the air. Then He will take us to Heaven and there we shall forever be with the Lord. The wicked will be raised at the same time as the righteous, but the wicked shall go away into everlasting punishment along with Satan and his angels. Until that glorious day when Christ returns to raise the dead, He has provided a place for His people to find rest for their souls. This place is the Church. Jesus Christ set-up His church on this earth before His death on the Cross. The church is there for those of His people who have come to believe that God saved them by His Son, Jesus Christ. To believe that Christ “paid it all” gives believers the strongest motivation to serve Him. Once enlightened to this glorious truth, then the child of God should feel an obligation to become and remain an active member of the His church. To serve the Lord in His church makes for one of the great blessings to experience this side of Heaven. It fulfills you to serve in His church and it gives your life purpose and meaning.

Living in Liberty

Elder Bryce Lowrance

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