Questions Concerning the First Advent of Christ.

  1. Looking at Matthew 21:1-9 what is the sign that Israel would see announcing the coming King of Israel?
    1. Right Answer!The King would come to Jerusalem riding on a very young donkey.
      • Yes, we see the prophesied sign in Zechariah 9:9.
      • Zechariah 9:9
        Rejoice greatly, O Daughter of Zion! Shout, Daughter of Jerusalem! See, your king comes to you, righteous and having salvation, gentle and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey. (NIV)
      • Usually in the Bible when you are told to see something, the something is a sign. This is the sign that announced the new King of Jerusalem.
    2. The people would all be singing and dancing for joy at his arrival.
      • No, the singing and dancing were not the prophesied sign that would inform Jerusalem of her new King.
    3. The Holy Spirit would descend upon him at his baptism announcing the fact that he is the Christ.
      • This was only shown to John the Baptist. This sign was not found in the Old Testament.
    4. He would be conceived in the womb of a virgin Israelite woman.
      • This was prophesied in Isaiah, but this miraculous event was hardly visible to the masses in Jerusalem. The hidden and highly personal nature of this fulfilled prophecy prohibits it from being an official announcing sigh.

     

     

  2. Why are the people calling Jesus the Son of David?
    1. Because Joseph was Jesus' Hellenistic name, but David was Jesus' father's Jewish name.
      • No, I just made that up.
    2. Because Joseph was a descendant of King David.
      • Yes, but there is a better answer. See the genealogy of Jesus Christ in Matthew 1.
    3. Because Mary was a descendant of King David.
      • Yes, but there is a better answer. See the genealogy of Jesus Christ in Luke 3.
    4. Because the kings of Judah, (the Jews), always came from the family of King David, and the people were hailing Jesus as the coming king.
      • Yes, but there is a better answer.
    5. It was prophesied in the Old Testament that the King that would establish Israel as the premiere nations would come from David's line.
      • Yes, but there is a better answer.
      • Zechariah 13:1-2
        "On that day a fountain will be opened to the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, to cleanse them from sin and impurity.
        2 "On that day, I will banish the names of the idols from the land, and they will be remembered no more," declares the LORD Almighty. "I will remove both the prophets and the spirit of impurity from the land. (NIV)
      • These promises are for the restored kingdom of Israel, that is, the Millennial Kingdom.
    6. (b.), (d.), (e.), but not (c.) and (a.).
      • No, (c.) is in fact true.
    7. (c.) and (a.), but not (b.), (d.), and (e.)
      • No, (b.) (d.) and (e.) are all true.
    8. Right Answer!All but (a.)
      • Yes.

     

     

  3. What kingdom did they mean in Mark 11:10?
    1. They meant the prophesied kingdom found in Daniel 2:44.
    2. They meant the kingdom that God promised David in 2 Samuel 7:16.
    3. They meant the kingdom mentioned in Daniel 7:18.
    4. It was the same kingdom that the disciples were asking about in Acts 1:6.
    5. Right Answer!All of the above.
      • Yes, all of the above are true.

     

     

  4. In Luke 19:38 the people are calling Jesus a King; why?
    1. Right Answer!Because Jesus is and was Israel's rightful King.
      • Yes, Jesus is and was there King.
      • Luke 19:41-44
        As he approached Jerusalem and saw the city, he wept over it 42 and said, "If you, even you, had only known on this day what would bring you peace -- but now it is hidden from your eyes. 43 The days will come upon you when your enemies will build an embankment against you and encircle you and hem you in on every side. 44 They will dash you to the ground, you and the children within your walls. They will not leave one stone on another, because you did not recognize the time of God's coming to you." (NIV)
      • When Jesus said that Jerusalem did not recognize the time of God's coming, he was talking about himself. Jesus and Jehovah are one and the same.
      • Matthew 27:11
        Meanwhile Jesus stood before the governor, and the governor asked him, "Are you the king of the Jews?"
        "Yes, it is as you say," Jesus replied. (NIV)
      • Jesus was Israel's King by virtue of his being their God.
      • 1 Samuel 8:6-7
        But when they said, "Give us a king to lead us," this displeased Samuel; so he prayed to the LORD. 7 And the LORD told him: "Listen to all that the people are saying to you; it is not you they have rejected, but they have rejected me as their king. (NIV)
      • The word LORD here is Jehovah. Jehovah said that Israel had rejected him as their king.
    2. Because Jesus looked like a powerful king.
      • No, this is completely not true. Jesus looked anything but a king.
      • Isaiah 53:2-3
        He grew up before him like a tender shoot, and like a root out of dry ground. He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to him, nothing in his appearance that we should desire him. 3 He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows, and familiar with suffering. Like one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not. (NIV)
      • This passage about the coming Savior says that he had NO beauty or majesty to attract us to him, and NOTHING in his appearance that we should desire him.
      • Jesus was born to poor parents in a bankrupt nation. He did not look like a king. Jesus had emptied himself of all of his glory so that what you see in the gospels is just the person of God.
      • Matthew 12:18-20
        "Here is my servant whom I have chosen, the one I love, in whom I delight; I will put my Spirit on him, and he will proclaim justice to the nations. 19 He will not quarrel or cry out; no one will hear his voice in the streets. 20 A bruised reed he will not break, and a smoldering wick he will not snuff out, till he leads justice to victory. (NIV)
      • Jesus did not make loud speeches. He was not a celebrity. Among the people of standing Jesus was mostly unknown.
      • Matthew 26:48-49
        Now the betrayer had arranged a signal with them: "The one I kiss is the man; arrest him." 49 Going at once to Jesus, Judas said, "Greetings, Rabbi!" and kissed him. (NIV)
      • Notice here that Judas arranged a signal to show those that were sent to arrest Jesus so that they would know who to arrest.
    3. Because Jesus Christ was wealthy and powerful and the people associated this with the authority of a king.
      • Jesus didn't have a dime to his own. People tend to think that he was this charismatic figure. But this is just applying what the world thinks is grand to the Lord.
      • Luke 8:1-3
        After this, Jesus traveled about from one town and village to another, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom of God. The Twelve were with him, 2 and also some women who had been cured of evil spirits and diseases: Mary (called Magdalene) from whom seven demons had come out; 3 Joanna the wife of Cuza, the manager of Herod's household; Susanna; and many others. These women were helping to support them out of their own means. (NIV)
      • It would not have been a mark of greatness to have been supported by a group of women during that time.
      • Jesus was not wealthy.
    4. None of the above.
      • No, (a.) above is correct.

     

     

  5. Considering these "Triumphal Entry" passages, when was Jesus announced to the Jews as the Coming King, relative to his death?
    1. Thirty years before his death.
      • No, the sign of his riding on a donkey was only about a week before his death.
    2. Thirty-three years before his death.
      • No, see (a.) above.
    3. Three and a half years before his death.
      • No, see (a.) above.
    4. Right Answer!Just before his death.
      • Yes.

     

     

    Questions about Daniel 9:24-27

  6. In Daniel 9:26 it says, "After the sixty-two 'sevens,' the Anointed One will be cut off and will have nothing." what is the nothing that the Anointed One will not have?
    1. His life.
      • This has some truth to it. Jesus was only temporally deprived of life however.
    2. Right Answer!His rightful kingdom.
      • Yes, he came as the King, but was rejected by the people and went back to heaven.
    3. His power and authority.
      • No, he received ALL power and authority at his resurrection. It was the kingdom that he did not receive at that time.
      • Matthew 28:18-20
        Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age." (NIV)
    4. He will be rejected by God, and be cast out of heaven.
      • No, Jesus was not rejected by God.

     

     

  7. Looking carefully at Daniel 9 when is the year of Jesus' Coming?
    1. Right Answer!The same year that he died.
      • Yes, after the seven 'sevens' and the sixty-two 'sevens', that is, after 49 years and 434 years, or 483 years, the prophecy says that the Anointed One would come, but be cut off. The "cut off" was during the same year of the same 'seven'. If Jesus "came" at the time of his birth or at the time of his baptism by John, then the 'sevens' would be different.
    2. Thirty years before he died.
      • No, see (a.) above.
    3. Thirty-three years before he died.
      • No, see (a.) above.
    4. Three and a half years before he died.
      • No, see (a.) above.

     

     

  8. When did Jesus actually start his earthly ministry?
    1. At the time of his "Triumphal Entry," just days before his death.
      • No, he started thereabouts three and a half years before that.
    2. Right Answer!At the time of his baptism by John, approximately three and a half years before his death.
      • This is the best answer. He actually officially started after John was put into prison, but he started making disciples right after his baptism.
      • Matthew 4:12, 17
        12 When Jesus heard that John had been put in prison, he returned to Galilee.
        17 From that time on Jesus began to preach, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near." (NIV)
    3. At the moment of his conception, approximately thirty-four years before his death.
      • No, see (b.) above.
    4. At the moment of his birth, approximately thirty-three years before his death.
      • No. see (b.) above.

     

     

    Questions Concerning the Second Advent of Christ.

  9. What is the sign that announces the Lord's Second Coming to Israel, that corresponds to the sign of his riding on a donkey at the First Coming?
    1. He will come riding on the clouds.
      • No, this is not a sign. When Jesus comes riding on the clouds it is for the Church. He will at that time "rapture" the true church, but this is not the Second Coming of the Lord for Israel.
    2. Lightning will flash in the east and be visible in the west.
      • No, it says that his coming will be unmistakable, like lighting that flashes in the east and is visible even in the west, but it does not say that there will actually be any lighting.
      • Matthew 24:27
        For as lightning that comes from the east is visible even in the west, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. (NIV)
    3. The heavens will be rent in two and the Lord will descend in splendor.
      • No.
    4. Right Answer!The sun will be darkened and the moon and stars will not be visible.
      • Yes, this is the sign of his Second Coming.
      • Matthew 24:29-30
        "Immediately after the distress of those days ""the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from the sky, and the heavenly bodies will be shaken.'
        30 "At that time the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky, and all the nations of the earth will mourn. They will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of the sky, with power and great glory. (NIV)
      • Now, you might say that they do see Jesus coming on the clouds of the sky, but the visible sign is the sun, and moon, and stars darkening. We can think of the "coming on the clouds" as being like the singing and dancing and palm branches of his First Coming. They were there, but the event that marked the Coming was the donkey.
      • The clouds here are symbolic for the hosts of heaven that will be accompanying Jesus.
      • 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17
        For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. (NIV)
      • This is a picture of the "rapture" and we see clouds there too. These clouds represent the Christians that have gone "asleep" over the year and have gone on to heaven to be with the Lord. They are brought back to the earth with Jesus and receive their new bodies just before those that are still alive in the flesh.

     

     

  10. When does this "official" sign occur relative to the sounding of the seventh trumpet?
    1. Right Answer!Three and a half years later.
      • Yes, the Lord comes at the midpoint of the seven years and gathers his body, then he dashes the nations with the iron scepter for three and a half years, then after the destruction of those days then the sun, moon, darken and the stars are not visible, then the Lord Comes as Israel's Deliverer.
    2. At the same time.
      • No, it is the Church that is taken then, and this is the start of the "Woman's" of Revelation 12 flight. That is the start of the tree and a half years of the beast.
    3. Three and a half years before.
      • No, this is the start of the two witnesses' ministry.
    4. Seven years after.
      • No, this is not correct.

     

     

  11. At Jesus' First Coming, his riding the donkey into Jerusalem was his "official" Coming sign, and his baptism by John accompanied by the Holy Spirit descending upon him like a dove was his actual start of ministry, what is the "official" and actual signs of his Second Coming?
    1. Right Answer!The official sign is the sun, moon, and stars being darkened, and his actual coming is three and a half years earlier at the sounding of the seventh trumpet, which occurs right after the abomination that causes desolation sign.
      • Yes.
    2. The official sign is the sun, moon, and stars being darkened, and his actual coming is at the same time, that is, when the lightening that comes from the east and is visible in the west is seen by everyone on earth.
      • No.
    3. The official sign is the sun, moon, and stars being darkened, and his actual coming is seen by his riding a white horse in the clouds which happens seven years before the official sign.
      • No.
    4. All of the above.
      • No.

     

     

  12. Thinking again of the Lord's First Coming, which sign was the more visible, the Official sign that was for the many in Israel, or the actual coming which was for the believers?
    1. The baptism by John.
      • No, only a hand full of people would have heard John say what he said, and only John actually saw the sign.
    2. Right Answer!Jesus riding the donkey.
      • Yes, this was in the prophecies. Many people saw this. If anyone knew the Scriptures they could have recognized the event for what it was.

     

     

  13. Considering his Second Coming, which event will be more visible to the people, the sun, moon, and stars darkening, or the sounding of the seventh trumpet and his coming in the clouds?
    1. Right Answer!The sun, moon, and stars darkening.
      • Yes, this will be visible to everyone on earth.
    2. The sounding of the seventh trumpet and his coming in the clouds.
      • No, the true Christians will only see this. Many people will see this coming after the fact and understand what it meant, that is, many that were left behind will know that the Lord has taken his body, and that they are now in for it.

     

     

  14. What is the point of this study?
    1. Right Answer!That like his First Coming, the Lord's Second Coming has two points, one the Official Coming, and the other the actual, so we should consider this when looking at the prophecies.
      • I am trying to point out that the sign most visible regarding the Second Coming of the Lord is not the coming for the gathering of the Church. I have had people point out to me that the Lord comes at the end of the day of the Lord and therefore the Church must go through it all, but this is not true. The Second Coming is just like the first.
      • At the First Coming of the Lord we see the Lord's witness preaching for some time before the Lord comes. John probably preached for three and a half years before he baptized Jesus.
      • John 1:7 7
        He (John), came as a witness to testify concerning that light, so that through him all men might believe. (NIV)
      • John 1:31
        I myself did not know him, but the reason I came baptizing with water was that he might be revealed to Israel." (NIV)
      • John prepared the hearts of the people for the coming of the Lord. Then he saw the Lord and said...
      • John 1:29-34
        The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, "Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! 30 This is the one I meant when I said, "A man who comes after me has surpassed me because he was before me.' 31 I myself did not know him, but the reason I came baptizing with water was that he might be revealed to Israel."
        32 Then John gave this testimony: "I saw the Spirit come down from heaven as a dove and remain on him. 33 I would not have known him, except that the one who sent me to baptize with water told me, "The man on whom you see the Spirit come down and remain is he who will baptize with the Holy Spirit.' 34 I have seen and I testify that this is the Son of God." (NIV)
      • At his First Coming we then see Jesus minister behind the scenes for three and a half years, then we see the official sign of the Coming King of Israel.
      • Well, the Second Coming is very similar.
      • First we see, not one, but two witnesses, to prepare the heart of the people. And after they have done so they too see the Lord's coming and say...
      • Jude 14-15
        Enoch, the seventh from Adam, prophesied about these men: "See, the Lord is coming with thousands upon thousands of his holy ones 15 to judge everyone, and to convict all the ungodly of all the ungodly acts they have done in the ungodly way, and of all the harsh words ungodly sinners have spoken against him." (NIV)
      • Then after the two witnesses, and the whole church, are taken up in glory, the Lord then works behind the scenes again for three and a half years before his Official Coming.
    2. There is no point, the writer just asks a lot of questions and who cares what the answers are.
      • If you think this is true, but what can I say?

 

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