Wait, I think they have the date right this time; now it will happen on December 21, 2009. So unwrap and return all of those Christmas presents you bought or give them away early, because we aren't going to see Christmas this year. Actually, considering the track record of the fella (gal?) running this website predicting the rapture, I wouldn't. Though I will be happy to take any early Christmas gifts if you want! Any guesses on what the next date will be?
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Anyone who has read the Gospels will know that Jesus said that of that day, no man knows the day or the hour, not even the angels in heaven but my Father only. The folks that predict these dates which fail to come to pass are bad witnesses of the Christian faith.
ReplyDeleteWhen Jesus said "no man," he meant "no man."
People need to get back to glorifying Jesus instead of trying to glorify themselves. Attempting to predict the date of the Christian rapture isn't glorifying anyone.
The New Testament is peppered with signs that indicate the end of the age. From the Gospels to Paul's writings, the signs are very clear. The Gospel of Luke tells us that when these signs begin to take place, look up for your redemption draws near. And as the end gets closer and closer, the signs will become more prevalent and evident, much like contractions prior to a birth.
Are we seeing the signs of the end of the age? I believe we're living in the last days, but we've been living in the last days for 2,000 years. What makes this generation so special is the reformation of the state of Israel, the return of Jerusalem as its capital, the recent attempts to divide Jerusalem and the reformation of the old Roman Empire in the form of the European and Mediterranean Unions. All of these things are spoken of as being in existence in the last days and, in the case of Jerusalem, it's described in the book of Zechariah as being a "burdensome stone" to all nations in the last days. Right now it's a centerpiece of Mid-east peace with talks of dividing it to create a Palestinian state.
I would say that when Jesus and Paul said that the end was near, they meant the end was near. The coming of the son of man is depicted, and was understood to be, as an event that was going to happen soon. This wasn't something that was far off into the future (especially 2,000 years into the future). Paul urged his new converts not to have families, why? Becuase as Paul believed, the end was coming soon. And when you look at the teachings of Jesus through the, what was popular at the time, apocalytic-Jewish-sect lense, then his teachings of the SOON arrival of the son of man makes perfect sense.
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That's a train of thought considered to be close to preterism.
ReplyDeleteIn Paul's writings, he was perfectly happy not being married. But he also said it was better to marry than to burn with passion. He never said not to have families because the end was near.
However, the rapture of the church has nothing to do with the second coming. The span of time between the rapture and the second coming is not defined in the Bible. The church could very well have been taken in the clouds 2,000 years ago. Hence, the urgency to always be ready for the Lord will come like a thief in the night. Peter preached this. Jesus also preached this.
As far as the "soon" arrival of the Son of Man, He hasn't come back yet so 2,000 years isn't out of the question. 2 Peter said scoffers would come in the last days saying, "where is the promise of His coming?" and that the Lord is not slack concerning His promise but is longsuffering toward us that none perish but all should come to repentance. 2,000 years may be a long time for humans, but is nothing to the Lord.
But haven't there been scoffers for 2,000 years now? I think that you are using some theological jujitsu to explain why the son of man has not come from the skies to judge all of humanity. Jesus was of the Jewish apocalytic belief that the world was being ruled by evil forces. But soon the kingdom of god was to come and establish itself on earth.....soon (not 2,000 years later). 2 Peter was written decades (around 100-150 c.e.) after Jesus and Paul lived. Therefore, the reason for mention of scoffers is because the son of man didn't return. It was made very clear that the son of man was to return within the life-time of these new converts. The son of man didn't return, so whoever wrote 2Peter (it wasn't written by Peter but by someone using his name) had to explain away why the son of man hadn't come back.
ReplyDeletethis whole thing is getting a little old, especially since Dec 21 is my birthday. so i'm tired of hearing that the world is going to explode and ruin my day. haha
ReplyDeleteI'm scratching my head wondering where in scripture you've found that it was "very clear that the Son of Man was to return within the lifetime of these new converts." Paul and Peter both said that the end of the age wouldn't occur until the son of perdition arrived/abomination of desolation took place and Paul even went so far as to quell rumors that Christ had returned.
ReplyDeleteTo this day, the son of perdition hasn't arrived and the subsequent abomination of desolation hasn't taken place. With Israel not having been a nation in a vast majority of the last 2,000 years, there has been no temple since 70 AD in which the antichrist could declare himself God. Even today, the third temple does not exist.
Knowing the exact number of years of the last days on earth and the last year of the second temple, the end of the age would have had to either occurred before 70 AD or it can only happen once the third temple is built. That's scriptural truth.
Anyway, the rapture is not an issue of salvation. I'll pray tonight that the Lord softens your heart. The happiest day of my life was when I found Him. And it gives me great joy every day knowing He loved me enough to die for me.
@ anonymous
ReplyDeleteWell I thank you for your input here. It is good to see some good ideas/perspectives being exchanged,and in a calm respectful way. Thanks for dropping by!
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