By Brian Knowles

It has long been taught in both Judaism and Biblical Christianity that God’s Anointed One was known by God from the beginnings of Creation. As A. Cohen writes in Everyman’s Talmud "The belief was general that the sending of the Messiah was part of the Creator’s plan at the inception of the Universe. ‘Seven things were created before the world was created: Torah, repentance, the Garden of Eden (i.e. Paradise), Gehinnom, the Throne of Glory, the Temple, and the name of the Messiah’ (Pes. 54a)" (p. 347).

Certainly the apostle Paul echoed at least some of these ideas in his letter to the Colossians: "He [the Messiah] is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For by him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him. And he is before all things, and in Him all things consist" (Colossians 1:15-17).

In John’s Gospel Jesus is recorded as praying about his own state prior to Creation: "And now, O Father, glorify Me together with Yourself, with the glory which I had with You before the world was" (John 17:5).

John himself makes it even plainer when he writes, "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God" (John 1:1). The "Word" is the Logos – the living Word of God, Jesus the Messiah.

In Genesis, we see the Creator speaking the universe into being. "And God said, ‘Let there be light" (Genesis 1:3). "And God called the light Day" (Genesis 1:5). This speaking, this calling into being, is the Logos – the Word -- in manifestation.

Through the prophet Isaiah, God describes himself as speaking his will into being: "For as the rain comes down and the snow from heaven, and do not return there, but water the earth, and make it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower and bread to the eater, so shall my word be that goes forth from my mouth; It shall not return to me void, but it shall accomplish what I please, and it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it" (Isaiah 55:10-11).

God wills. The Logos speaks. The Holy Spirit carries out the will of God that is spoken by the Messiah (Genesis 1:2).

In Revelation 19:13, Scripture states plainly of Jesus the Messiah, "…and his name is called The Word of God."

God the Word will once again appear upon the world scene to complete the commission given him by the Father. When will this glorious event occur?

During his earthly ministry Jesus himself did not know when he would actually return, only that he would. Speaking of his inevitable return, Jesus said to his disciples, "No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father" (Matthew 24:37).

Since the Messiah himself did not know when he would return, it is clear that no mere man or woman could know. Not only that, he is likely to come at a time when no one is expecting him – like a thief in the night: "…the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him" (Luke 12:40).

In spite of the plain statements of Jesus on the subject, prophetic prognosticators have from earliest times been seeking to establish precise dates for his return. Some of the charts are so complex they appear to rival one of Einstein’s chalkboard formulas. All such calculations are folly. Though most Jews do not believe that the Messiah came in the form of Jesus of Nazareth, about a million of them do believe it. They are known as "Messianic Jews." Jews of all types have long taught that it is folly to attempt to calculate the exact time of Messiah’s arrival, or return. A. Cohen writes, "Attempts to calculate ‘the end,’ i.e. the time of the Messiah’s coming, were deprecated by the majority of the Rabbis on the ground that they raised hopes which were ultimately falsified. There is the emphatic warning: ‘Cursed be they who calculate ‘the end,’ because they argue that since ‘the end’ has not come, he will never come; but wait for him, as it is said, ‘Though it (the appointed time) tarry, wait for it’ (Hab. ii. 3) (Sanh. 97b)" (Everyman’s Talmud, p. 351).

The quote is from the prophet Habakkuk. The message is plain: No matter how long we have to wait for God to fulfill his word, we can be sure it will happen. As the passage says, "…the revelation waits an appointed time; it speaks of the end and it will not prove false. Though it linger, wait for it; it will certainly come and not delay" (Habakkuk 2:3 NIV).

Though there were some in apostolic times that were already saying, "It’s not going to happen. Life is just going to go on the same as it always has. Might as well party hearty and have a good time while we’re here!" – they were wrong. The apostle Peter addressed this issue in his second letter: "First of all, you must understand that in the last days scoffers will come, scoffing and following their own evil desires. They will say, ‘Where is this "coming" he promised? Every since our fathers died, everything goes on as it has since the beginning of creation" (II Peter 3:3-4).

When it comes to the issue of Messiah’s return, Christians are all over the map. Some believe it will never happen. They have even abandoned fundamental Biblical teachings including the virgin birth of Messiah, the idea of a resurrection, and many other cardinal doctrines. In effect, they have become scoffers, skeptics and doubters of the Word of God. Without the authoritative teachings of Scripture to guide them, they have no moral or theological compass. In true postmodern fashion, they can and do create their own theological reality. It’s entirely arbitrary. It hangs by a skyhook.

On the other hand, there are those who make a handsome living crying "Wolf!" For them, the return of Christ is always "just around the corner." It is "near, at the doors." At any moment, the Church could be "raptured" off to heaven – even while driving a car with an unbelieving passenger in it. How many "gun laps" can the Church take before it becomes gun shy? How many "nineteen-year time cycles" do we have to go through before Messiah returns? Does "twenty short years" really mean twenty very long years? There is a right and wrong way to create a sense of urgency.

Within the Judaism of Jesus and the apostles, it was taught that we should all "repent one day before we die." The natural response was, "Well how can we know when we’re going to die?" The answer came back, "We can’t. That’s why we should always live in a state of repentance."

Living in a state of repentance – dying daily to the old, carnal self – is what being a true Christian is all about. Each day the indwelling Holy Spirit renews us at the level of the inner man. Progressively, incrementally, we "put on Christ" like we would put on a complete new outfit for a social event – i.e. a wedding feast. At the end of the process, we will look like our model, mentor and Messiah. To put on Christ, we must discard the soiled garments of sin and self. We do not know exactly when Messiah will come, only that he will. The prophecy will not fail. It will happen because the Word has gone out and it will not return void or empty. The responsibility of every Messianic Jew or gentile is to be found wearing the clean garments of righteousness.

Ultimately all of the 456 prophecies about Messiah contained in the TaNaKh – what Christians call the "Old Testament" – will be fulfilled. As Jesus said, "Everything must be fulfilled that is written about me in the Law of Moses [Torah], the Prophets [Nevi’im], and the Psalms [Ketuvim – writings]" (Luke 24:44b).

Messiah will return. But when he does, will he find faith on the earth? (Luke 18:8). Will he find his servants giving his flock "meat in due season"? (II Timothy 4:2; Luke 12:42 ff.). Will he find his church in a state of repentance, with its lamps full of oil, watching, praying, alert and ready?

The world – of which we are not truly a part (II Corinthians 6:17) – is hurtling toward a final crescendo of evil. The development of a global, authoritarian, superstate continues apace. The stage appears to be set for the formation of large regional power blocs – i.e. European, Asian, North American etc. etc. – which will eventually be folded into the Global State (Revelation 13:7b). Current UN meetings are revolving around the issue of "global governance." World leaders are making grandiose promises while they spout utopian visions for a world without war.

But war will come. Before the Messianic calm will come a final political storm. As Jesus said, "There will be wars and rumors of wars, but the end is not yet." In the final days of Satan’s dominion over the kingdoms originally intended for mankind, cataclysmic events will happen – both in the heavens and on earth. These events will be unprecedented in all of human experience. "Nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom," said Jesus, "There will be great earthquakes, famines and pestilences in various places, and fearful events and great signs from heaven" (Luke 21:10-11).

Even more awesome events will then follow: "There will be signs in the sun, moon and stars. On the earth, nations will be in anguish and perplexity at the roaring and tossing of the sea. Men will faint from terror, apprehensive of what is coming on the world, for the heavenly bodies will be shaken"(Luke 21:25-26).

The Jewish people have long known that the arrival of Messiah will not be a subtle event. As A. Cohen writes, "The time of his advent will be particularly marked by political unrest, culminating in bitter warfare" (Everyman’s Talmud, p. 350).

This conflict should not be cause for alarm and upset among the people of God. It should be a time of great joy. Why? Because, as Cohen writes quoting the Talmud, "If you see the kingdoms contending with each other, look for the foot of the Messiah. Know that it will be so, because it happened thus in the days of Abraham. When the kingdoms strove with each other (Gen. XIV) redemption came to Abraham’ (Gen. R. XLII. 4)."

Jesus agrees. After the events he described, he says, "At that time they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. When these things begin to take place, stand up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near" (Luke 21:27-28)

Remember again the Rabbinic admonition: "Repent one day before you die," and as world history comes to a climax, be listening always for the footsteps of Messiah.