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We Are Almost There
Arlen L. Chitwood
Watch therefore, for you do not know what hour your Lord is coming. . . . Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect. (Matthew 24:42, 44)
A Study about the Nearness of Christ’s Return for the Church and Succeeding Events Pertaining to Israel and the Nations, Leading into Christ’s Millennial Reign
CONTENTS
Foreword
Chapter 1. ALWAYS IN REMEMBRANCE (1) Things That Christians Should Know and Never Forget
Chapter 2. ALWAYS IN REMEMBRANCE (2) Things That Christians Should Know and Never Forget
Chapter 3. IT’S ALMOST OVER Man’s Day Has Almost Run Its Course
Chapter 4. IN SUCH A TIME The Son Of Man Coming At An Unexpected Time
Chapter 5. AT MIDNIGHT A Terminal Hour, Judgment, A New Beginning
Chapter 6. THE SELFSAME DAY God’s Set Times, Which Have And Will Come To Pass
Chapter 7. AFTER 2,600 YEARS That Future Time When Israel Will Again Hold The Scepter
Chapter 8. CHRISTIANS AND THE WORLD The Biblical Relationship Of Christians To The World
Chapter 9. GOD GAVE THEM OVER Terminal Actions In God’s Dealings With Christians
Appendix 1 Yad Vashem — “A Place and a Name”
Appendix 2 The Prophetic Calendar of Israel
SCRIPTURE INDEX (Hard Copy Edition Only)
FOREWORD
When Adam sinned in Eden almost 6,000 years ago, not only did “death” pass upon all future mankind (Romans 5:12), but the creation itself was subjected to “the bondage of corruption” once again (Genesis 3:4-19; Romans 8:21; cf. Genesis 1:2a). And the entire creation, since that time, has groaned and travailed in pain (Romans 8:22), waiting, with fallen man, a coming day.
The domain over which Satan ruled and continues to rule today — the earth — had been reduced to a ruin following his fall (Genesis 1:2a; cf. Isaiah 14:12-17; Ezekiel 28:14-16). Exactly how long the creation lay in this ruined state is unrevealed; it is unknown. But the day arrived when God, over six days-time, delivered the creation from this “bondage of corruption.” God restored the creation and then created man, with a view to man ruling the restored creation in the stead (place) of Satan and his angels (Genesis 1:2b-28).
But Satan, knowing the reason for man’s creation, brought about his fall, which resulted in a change not only in man; but, once again, in the creation itself (Genesis 3:4-19). Though Satan continued holding the scepter, he, once again, found himself ruling over a ruined domain.
The creation, again, found itself in a corrupted state, groaning and travailing in pain, awaiting deliverance. And this deliverance is seen occurring in Romans 8:19 at the time of “the manifestation of the sons of God.”
Contextually, “the manifestation of the sons of God” — a new order of sons — will occur in connection with and following “the adoption” (Romans 8:14-17, 23). And this has to do with an event following decisions and determinations made at the judgment seat, following the present dispensation but preceding the Tribulation. Christians who are to occupy positions as co-heirs with Christ during the Messianic Era will, at that time, be adopted into a firstborn status as sons (as God did with Israel in past time), for only firstborn sons can rule in the human realm.
And the manifestation of this new order of sons, which will occur following the Tribulation, once Man’s Day has run its course, is the event that the entire creation awaits. Until then the creation will remain in a corrupted state, groaning and travailing in pain.
But deliverance is in the offing, and the day will arrive when God is going to step in and begin bringing events to pass that will culminate in the entire matter being rectified. Only then will conditions as seen in the currently existing situation be straightened out.
In relation to that coming day when these things will be brought to pass, everything and everyone is presently out of place:
Christ is out of place. His rightful place is seen in Psalm 2:6, 7; Luke 1:32, 33 and Revelation 3:21 — seated, as God’s King, both on David’s throne here on earth in the midst of a restored Israel and on His own throne, with His co-heirs, in the heavens.
Satan is out of place. His rightful place is in the abyss, then the lake of fire, after he has been removed from the throne, relinquishing his crown and scepter (2 Samuel 1:10; 2:4; 5:3, 4; Isaiah 14:15-17; Ezekiel 28:16-19; Revelation 20:2, 3, 7-10).
Israel is out of place. The nation’s rightful place is occupying the land covenanted to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, in a restored state (following national repentance, conversion, and a restored theocracy), with the nations being ruled by and blessed by and through Israel (Genesis 12:1-3; Ezekiel 36:22-36; 39:25-29).
The Church is out of place. The rightful place for Christians is ruling and reigning as co-heirs with Christ, occupying the throne with Him (Romans 8:14-18; Revelation 2:26, 27; 3:21).
The Gentile nations are out of place. The rightful place for the nations is being ruled by and blessed through Israel (Genesis 12:1-3; Isaiah 52:13-15; 54:1ff; 60:1-3).
The creation itself is out of place. The rightful place for the creation is not groaning and travailing in pain but delivered from the bondage of corruption (Romans 8:19-22).
But all of this is about to change. Just how soon will these changes occur? Just how soon will God once again step into man’s affairs and begin straightening out the whole of the matter?
That’s what this book is about. |