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Results from: Answered Bible Questions, Answers, Unanswered Bible Questions, Notes Ordered by Verse | ||||||
Results | Verse | Author | ID# | |||
1 | Will the 2nd Coming Ever Occur? | Matt 24:34 | Treadway | 55369 | ||
Is there any Biblical evidence for the 2nd Coming? For some unknown reason, Hank, I remembered that I had not responded to the message below. I had always meant to, but found it mildly disturbing, since I felt your earnest concerns. But then, perhaps, I overreacted. And because I consider the topic to be of the utmost importance—it is critical, in fact—I have returned to it, to the forum, to reconcile this omission. Always good thoughts… ---------------------------------- Note(Treadway) on the question you raise about our Lord's Second Coming and about the word 'soon.' As to His return, He said He would return. This constitutes a promise from the Son of God. Therefore, not to believe Him, not to take Him at His word, really does play havoc with our own personal trust in Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord, doesn't it?---------------------------------------------------- Hank, when you say “not to believe Him”, that may not be the crux of the scenario. It’s not a question of believing, but a question of understanding. For sure, those surrounding Jesus did believe what he said; and what he said was that he was coming back within their lifetime. His words, the disciples’ words, Paul, Peter, and John’s words, and the author of Revelations, all testify to that reality. The only contest to this reality is the statement that’s cited concerning that a day is like a thousand years to God. Other than an appeasement for the followers who were trying to narrow down the day and time, this statement has little bearing upon the “soon” emphases. In fact, the statement is even said in offhanded, incidental fashions. Second, you said that if what I’ve proposed is true, then, it “really does play havoc with our personal trust in Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior, doesn’t it?” Well, that would be an individual matter. What it also would do is create an arena of understanding. Yes, it would certainly cause some reflection. And that reflection might start a domino effect, but at the end would be understanding and knowledge about a great many things.------------------------------------------------------------------ (Hank). But this we know: that 'soon' each of us is going to cross the unavoidable bar that separates temporal life on earth from eternity. It will be too late then to speculate about our Lord's return; thus, to my mind, while it is important to watch and wait in expectation of His return, it is of more vital importance to place our total faith and total trust in Him here .' There can be no nobler calling in all of heaven and earth than 'just in simple faith to trust Him, just to take Him at His word.' ----------------------------------------------------- Hank, I agree with much of what you say. But when it becomes clear to me that something is simply not true, then, I must accept that clarity. I have spent much, much time in tracking down this “soon” business, and the conclusion is that the evidence is overwhelming that Jesus will not be coming back. Now, that doesn’t mean it can’t be wrong, but I have bounced this off of a multitude of people of different stripes, and so far, not one of them has been able to present anything that comes close to contradicting my findings. And, bolstering these findings overall have been forays into the Messianic prophecies. Not one prophecy suggests that Jesus will come twice—not one. If you, or anyone else knows of any, I’d be most appreciative to hear it. (The same goes for anything in the NT that refutes that the people in association with Jesus did not believe that He would come back within their lifetime). The Messiah of the Jews was to come once, and once only. This is the inconvertible message that does not waver in the prophecies. This, in and of itself, should be pause enough for serious reflection; but then couple it with “soon”, and the reality is overwhelming. I once believed, once thought it was cut and dried; but once I put my efforts into the Bible I learned it is just that—cut and dried—but just the opposite of all that I had been taught, and believed for oh so many years,. Anyway, interested to be shown otherwise, in the OT, or the NT. Good thoughts, Treadway |
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2 | Will the 2nd Coming Ever Occur? | Matt 24:34 | Reformer Joe | 55370 | ||
Welcome back, Treadway. Hope you don't mind me putting my pocket change in! You wrote: 'I have spent much, much time in tracking down this “soon” business, and the conclusion is that the evidence is overwhelming that Jesus will not be coming back.' I am sorry that you have not found anyone to adequately address your concerns. As a point of fact, there are many who believe that much of what Jesus predicts in Matthew 24 and what the apostles mention did indeed occur within the lifetimes of those hearing Jesus' words. In A.D. 70, Jerusalem and the temple were utterly destroyed, and the Jewish people were slaughtered wholesale by the Roman soldiers under the command of General Titus. Many hold that the first half of the chapter is describing this campaign against the Jews as the judgment Christ executes on the Jews for rejecting their Messiah. This view is known as "preterism" and comes in two different forms, which are normally termed "partial preterism" and "full preterism." Partial preterists believe that only some of the prophecies regarding Christ returning to the earth have been fulfilled, while others (such as Philippians 3:20-21 and 1 Corinthians 15 concerning the general resurrection at the end of the age) have yet to come to pass. Full preterists believe that Christ's return has already occurred during the first century, and that we should not expect Him to come back. So both preterist views hold that the "soon" and "within this generation" prophecies did indeed occur during the lifetime of the apostles. I myself cannot bring myself to accept a full preterist view at all, for several reasons. First of all, it results in the need to "symbolize" all of the passages which have not clearly happened yet, such as the ones I cited above. Also, if the resurrection of Christians has already taken place, what about believers now? Secondly, 2 Peter 3 makes it clear that God is patient, holding back the destruction until all have come to repentance. Since there are people that are repenting as I type this somewhere in the world (to the praise and glory of our great God), obviously that "all" hasn't been reached yet. Thirdly, there seems to be a "period of Gentiles" (Luke 21:24 and Romans 11) which will be followed by a resugence of Jewish people embracing their Messiah. We still have not seen such a thing yet. Lastly, the earliest church, even to the generation that succeeded the apostles, were anticipating the return of Jesus Christ. If A.D. 70 had been all there was to it, surely the apostles would have tipped the churches off that there was nothing left to wait for. Therefore, God is not slow as some count slowness, but will bring about the culmination of history in His own timing. For an examination of the partial preterist view, which you may or may not find enlightening, considering your questions, I recommend the book _The Last Days According to Jesus_ by R.C. Sproul. If anything, you will find a perspective that does not count "soon" as being 2000-plus years or "this generation" to mean the human race. Hope this gives you some new avenues for exploration! --Joe! |
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3 | Will the 2nd Coming Ever Occur? | Matt 24:34 | webb | 55385 | ||
Hey everyone, I am new here so I don't want to say too much. I believe Jesus was referring to current affairs in Matt. Also, in regards to Sproul's book, I also recommend it. I am starting to fall towards the view that Revelation was also written to address things that have already passed. I like I Thess. 4:13-18 in regards to the second coming. 'And so we will be with the Lord forever.' It says we meet Him in the air. Don't really understand that but just wanted to throw my 2 cents in. -Webb |
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