Posted on 01/21/2009 11:41:00 AM PST by TaraP
Based on Scripture? The Second Coming statement causing confusion and deception in the household of God is, “No one knows about that day or hour.”
Jesus made this statement about the exact time of His return during the Olivet Discourse. This expression has been incorrectly interpreted by many, thinking that it means we will be unable to determine the general time of the Second Coming.
The statement is clear and precise. It says, “No one knows about that day or hour.” It does not say, no one knows the general time of the Coming (THE YEAR). As a matter of fact Scripture does indicate that we will be aware of His Coming and we will not be surprised, “as you see the Day approaching” (Hebrews 10:25). Paul also said, “But you, brothers, are not in darkness so that this day should surprise you like a thief” (1 Thessalonians 5:4).
Repeatedly, Jesus told of the increasing deception that will come in the last days. He commanded us to watch and stay alert so we would not be deceived by the world and get caught off guard. This is what He said during the Olivet Discourse.
Noah with the unbelievers the “people,” “they” and “them.” Noah knew when that day was coming, God actually told him when to get in the ark. However, the world was caught completely by surprise even though Noah preached to them, 2 Peter 2:5.
Here is what He said,
No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. Be on guard! Be alert! You do not know when that time will come. It's like a man going away: He leaves his house and puts his servants in charge, each with his assigned task, and tells the one at the door to keep watch.
Therefore keep watch because you do not know when the owner of the house will come back--whether in the evening, or at midnight, or when the rooster crows, or at dawn. If he comes suddenly, do not let him find you sleeping. What I say to you, I say to everyone: 'Watch!' (Mark 13:32-37)
No
I hope I’m not around to see it. Point taken.
I think it shows more the power of mass communication and good PR, plus having people really sick of the way things have been going.
Of course.
We should always be on fire for Christ, HOWEVER we have way to many Lukewarm Christians, because they lack that fire, they do not believe Jesus is coming soon which makes them complacent. Jesus warned us of this as well...
Of course.
We should always be on fire for Christ, HOWEVER we have way to many Lukewarm Christians, because they lack that fire, they do not believe Jesus is coming soon which makes them complacent. Jesus warned us of this as well...
Then why did Jesus speak of so many Lukewarm Christians in the End Times?
The Church of Ladociea.
Complacency...Not wanting to see the SIGNS that Jesus is returning soon.
The only return of Christ we need to worry about is at our death. To paraphrase the angel speaking to the Apostles at the Ascension: Stop looking to the sky and get to work.
Then why did Jesus speak of so many Lukewarm Christians in the End Times?The Church of Ladociea.
Ummmm....the church at Laodicea was a real congregation in Asia that Jesus addressed a word to via John. The interpretation of the churches in Revelation as representing successive eras of the historic church leading down to us==Loadicea, is a stretch, and one reason for my tagline.
>> Then why did Jesus speak of so many Lukewarm Christians in the End Times? <<
Failure to evangelize, failure to repent, being distracted from their true calling, neglecting prayer, succumbing to social pressures to bow to false idols, taking the mark of the beast, neglecting the care of the poor...
>> Not wanting to see the SIGNS that Jesus is returning soon. <<
Yeah, that’s your burning issue, isn’t it? Mmmmmm... not really seeing it.
>> Then why did Jesus speak of so many Lukewarm Christians in the End Times? <<
Failure to evangelize, failure to repent, being distracted from their true calling, neglecting prayer, succumbing to social pressures to bow to false idols, taking the mark of the beast, neglecting the care of the poor...
>> Not wanting to see the SIGNS that Jesus is returning soon. <<
Yeah, that’s your burning issue, isn’t it? Mmmmmm... not really seeing it.
>> The Church of Ladociea. <<
See, the funny thing is the church of Ladociea was one of the seven sister churchs of Asia minor in the first century, to whom the Apocalypse of John was addressed. It’s not got anything to do with end times at all. In fact, Ladociea no longer exists.
No.
Then what is Jesus speaking of here?
Jesus said, “You can read the signs of the weather in the sky, but because of spiritual blindness you cannot read the signs of the times. ...
>> Jesus said, “You can read the signs of the weather in the sky, but because of spiritual blindness you cannot read the signs of the times. <<
He was talking to the Jews of his day who failed to recognize that He, the Messiah, was already in their midst. How could this passage POSSIBLY refer to recognizing the portents of the second coming??? He’s criticizing people for having missed them, not for not seeing them coming!
>> Jesus said, “You can read the signs of the weather in the sky, but because of spiritual blindness you cannot read the signs of the times. <<
He was talking to the Jews of his day who failed to recognize that He, the Messiah, was already in their midst. How could this passage POSSIBLY refer to recognizing the portents of the second coming??? He’s criticizing people for having missed them, not for not seeing them coming!
What is the event that tells us when the return is nigh.... What causes His return to be described as a ‘thief in the night’?
At this point these specific events have not yet happened but things sure are building... and Christ said that ‘time’ had been shortened...
Mat 24:1-25:46....Are you saying Jesus words were only for the Jews to understand on when he was to return to earth?
It seems to me that all generations could understand that there were signs that they could look for as Jesus returning, however if Israel was not Israel until 1948 doesn’t that tell us one more generation would be the generation to understand that the return of Jesus is imminent?
The Jews even believe that a Messiah has to return before the 6000 yr of Adam, and that he can come much sooner.
>> Are you saying Jesus words were only for the Jews to understand on when he was to return to earth? <<
No on several points:
1) I was only referring to one passage, not two whole chapters.
2) It was included in the bible because the general principle applies as a warning to all believers. So, no, it’s not only relevant to them. But he was addressing them, so whatever meaning you want to give it, that meaning must make sense in that context.
3) It has nothing to do with his second coming. He’s talking to those who aren’t recognizing his first coming.
>> however if Israel was not Israel until 1948 doesn’t that tell us one more generation would be the generation to understand that the return of Jesus is imminent? <<
Bad news: Go get a map of the core kingdom of Israel and Judah. Not the whole Solomonic empire, just the core kingdom. Notice the way that the core doesn’t include the coastline (Phillistia), the regions south of the Dead Sea and north of the Sea of Galilee? Now go get a map of Israel today. Notice how it includes ONLY the coastline, the region south of the Dead Sea, and a region north of the Sea of Galilee and South of Lebanon. The only overlap is a small strip of land west of Jerusalem. Even the ancient city of Jerusalem is entirely in “East Jerusalem,” the Muslim hands.
Sorry, but the ancient kingdom of Israel is still mostly in Muslim hands.
But then again, that has nothing to do with what we’re talking about, since the bible never says that the Jews repopulating Zion will announce the return of Christ.
>> The Jews even believe that a Messiah has to return before the 6000 yr of Adam, and that he can come much sooner. <<
Some Jews do. But why do you consider them expert on such matters? You yourself acknowledge that their counting is off 240 years. And as such, he should have come in 2005.
Then what is Jesus speaking of here?Jesus said, “You can read the signs of the weather in the sky, but because of spiritual blindness you cannot read the signs of the times. ...
What dangus said. Read it in context:
1 And the Pharisees and Sadducees came, and to test him they asked him to show them a sign from heaven.
2 He answered them, “When it is evening, you say, ‘It will be fair weather, for the sky is red.’
3 And in the morning, ‘It will be stormy today, for the sky is red and threatening.’ You know how to interpret the appearance of the sky, but you cannot interpret the signs of the times.
4 An evil and adulterous generation seeks for a sign, but no sign will be given to it except the sign of Jonah.” So he left them and departed.
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