Posted on 08/02/2009 7:09:23 PM PDT by TaraP
“Therefore you [Jesus’ disciples] also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you [Jesus’ disciples] do not expect.” (Matt. 24:44)
The author is plainly clueless and disregards the text in favor of his theology.
If, as Jesus said, He would come at a time when His disciples would LEAST EXPECT, how can any rational person say that folks can recognize His approach? Why do folks try to make themselves out to be more cleaver than Jesus?
And you’re gonna claim that today is Tuesday too, I suppose.
Oh hear you are...Yes I know this would be your response...:)
Do you know why we bother?
Bad eschatology has consequences that can go far beyond some amusing quirkyness about end times scheduling.
Last month we had the story about converts to Judaism who still think they believe in Jesus, in some sense. My guess is, a judeolotry typical of pop dispensationalism as led these people to take an action that calls their true salvation into question.
And just so you don't think I only pick on the dispensational target rich environment, Harold Camping's error (and I think he was some kind of Reformed amil guy before he went off the deep end) leads people away from the church, which is where God wants them fed. This is not safe for a Christian.
What I'll tolerate is actually pretty broad. See here for my usual rant.
If so, please consider:
1. Jesus could have used words other than day and hour, but He did not. He had "week" and "month" available, for example, but He restricted Himself to day and hour. Are we not free then to recognize the decade, year, month, and even week, if the Lord through His Spirit gives us the sensitivity and understanding to do so?
2. Does not the same Scr ipture which reports Jesus' unknowability of the day and hour also specifically permit and encourage us to recognize their increasing proximity? For in Hebrews 10 it says:
23 "Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. 24 And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. 25 Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching."
Jesus told His disciples, “Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.” (Matt. 24:44)
When you least expect it! Pretty clear, no? He is not fudging words like “exact hour” of His coming, as if we can know that it will be the month of July but not July 22 at 12:30 pm.
Can you explain what Matt. 24:44 means plainly and clearly without any “I can speculate on the timing” mumbo jumbo?
???
This could be a reference to the death of a believer or to the approaching judgment against Jerusalem when the temple would be destroyed. I think this is most likely, since the context is about the insufficiency of the old covenant sacrificial system against the Blood of the Lamb shed on our behalf. The old system was just a pointer to the new.
John Gill says this:
and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching; either of death, or the last judgment, or rather of Jerusalem's destruction; which at the writing of this epistle was near at hand; and was an affair that greatly concerned these Hebrews; and by various symptoms might be observed by them, as approaching; and which was no inconsiderable argument to engage them to a diligent discharge of their duty; unless the day of darkness, infidelity, and blasphemy in the last days of the world, should be intended, after which will succeed the latter day glory.The first half of Matthew 24 is also about the destruction of the temple in AD70 when Jesus gave definite signs of the event, including the “abomination of desolations” (aka Jerusalem being surrounded by armies, cf. Luke 21:22).
Many folks confuse that event, which had definite signs attached, with the Second Coming, which will be sudden and without warning, as a thief in the night.
Wednesday, August 05, 2009 4:04:53 PM · 148 of 148
???
Cool! Now I can get started on the bucket list.
I don't suppose you know a good IBM XT technician.
Plus the caps lock in the title is very convincing.
Kinda like the MegaMillions numbers myself.
Plus the caps lock in the title is very convincing.
SShhhhhhh! You'll wake the caps lock monster.
XT? Ohhh nooo!!
I think it’s faith and Biblical Scripture Interpetations and all religions have those 2 things....
I think it’s faith and Biblical Scripture Interpetations and all religions have those 2 things....
Oh-kayyyyy.
You're not trying to pull that lame old "all religions are equal" stuff? Are you trying to say it doesn't matter?
I gave you examples of two eschatologically related errors where it very much does matter, in things pertaining to salvation.
Ditch the numerology. Back to the basics.
"What's it say when your admin and technical contacts have a webtv email address?"
Or, in this case, an aol.com address.
This is one of the dumbest statements I've ever heard.
No I don’t believe all *religions* are the same..HOWEVER I do think the return of Jesus Christ is based on Judaic eschatology....
What do you mean by “judaic eschatology” and why do you believe this?
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