[Sam V]

Tim,

Thanks. That’s what I thought, based on your previous explanations of Greek syntax. This supports an argument for a post-tribulation rapture, as you have noted on several occasons.

I find that the Greek text supporting the more modern versions (like the New American Standard 95 version (NASB95)) do not conform to the Greek text you quoted above, which is the Textus Receptus.

Blueletterbible.com shows the Greek for the NASB95 as τῆς σῆς παρουσίας καὶ τῆς συντελείας τοῦ αἰῶνος (with an extra article “τῆς” after καὶ), thus changing the phrase from a article-noun-kai-noun construction (TSKS) to an article-noun-kai-article-noun construction (TSKTS). This is disappointing, as it negates the joining of “coming” and “completion” in a single group or event.

In this case, the Textus Receptus seems to be the better text, as far as adherence to the doctrine of Christ’s return as taught by the Early Church Fathers.

[Sam V]

Tim,

Do the Granville Sharp rules have any application as far as interpreting the question posed by the disciples in Mt 24:3?

Matthew 24:3 NKJV
…what will be the sign of Your coming, and of the end of the age?

[Sam V]

Thank you. I just today saw your latest response today.

I’d been in quite a quandary about John 8:51 and other similar passages where that phrase occurs (John 6:51, 58; 11:26).

Your comment on the phrase in the footnote to Heb. 5:6 (LGV) just compounded my confusion.

Perhaps “unto the age” may also mean “in the distant future”, in the same way that “from out of the age” appears to mean “in the distant past”?

[Sam V]

To clarify, how would you recast the phrase “should certainly not see death unto the age” into English in another way?

PS. “He” in Jn 8:51 LGV should not be capitalized, right?

[Sam V]

I see that I should have been more clear in my last post.

I meant to say “When Christ returns all His followers will receive immortal bodies, per 1 Co 15:52. Therefore, none of them will be involved in procreation in the Kingdom (per Matthew 22:30).”

[Sam V]

Hi Raymond,

Yes, I agree with you. My concern was the following.

None of Christ’s followers will be involved in procreation in the Kingdom (per Matthew 22:30). Some other survivors of the great tribulation must enter into Christ’s kingdom in mortal bodies in order to repopulate the earth.

But the only people left to repopulate the earth will be unbelievers. And Christ ruled out the entry of unbelievers into His kingdom when He told Nicodemus “unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.”

How will the survivors who have not come to faith in Christ enter into Christ’s kingdom?

I think Zechariah provides the answer. (I just remembered this, when I woke up this morning.)

It seems that several things will occur between the glorious appearance of Christ in the air and the establishment of Christ’s kingdom in Jerusalem. Two of those things will be the destruction of the armies that have come against Jerusalem and the conversion to Christ of those in Jerusalem.

[Zec 12:9-10 NKJV] 9 It shall be in that day [that] I will seek to destroy all the nations that come against Jerusalem. 10 And I will pour on the house of David and on the inhabitants of Jerusalem the Spirit of grace and supplication; then they will look on Me whom they pierced. Yes, they will mourn for Him as one mourns for [his] only [son], and grieve for Him as one grieves for a firstborn.

Some of those who are converted to Christ will be sent to distant lands, resulting in the conversion of those who, as Isaiah 66:19 says, “have not heard My fame nor seen My glory.”

Thus, some mortal survivors of the great tribulation (who have not taken the mark of the Beast) will then believe in Christ and enter His kingdom.

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