Jesus' Four Failed Prophecies About Him Returning In The Lifetimes Of His Apostles

[Colt]

Oddly enough, cOLTER that shows up as rationalization # 4 in the link that I provided.

Billions of other Christians get it.

 

[Trailblazer]

So, if God doesn’t come or go anywhere, why does the Bible speak so frequently of his kingdom “coming”?

The kingdom that is coming is that kingdom of God on Earth that Jesus asked us to pray for.
It is not God's kingdom but it is called the kingdom of God because it is the kingdom that God envisioned for humans from the very beginning, the kingdom God wants humans to build.

The kingdom of God will come to Earth when humans build that kingdom.

 

[SeekingAllTruth]

There is no failure, his coming is internal - a progression of illumination for those that are "alive and remain" pressing into the Light.

He said in Luke 17: 23 They shall say Lo Here and Lo There, believe them not, nor follow them.

He came in his Kingdom, when he was transfigured before them.

It's a matter of understanding what Heaven really is.
It's not some grand 'Hawaii in the Sky'.

Oddly enough, Light that shows up as rationalization # 1 in the link I provided. I hope you and cOLTER are aware that the vast majority of Christians--I'd say 98% believe in a literal 2nd coming of Jesus to earth to set up a millennial reign. That's how Tim LaHayne made all those 10's of millions of $$$$'s on his Left Behind series of 14 novels about the rapture and tribulation.

 

[SeekingAllTruth]

Billions of other Christians get it.

BILLIONs??????

I know that Tim LaHayne made billions on his Left Behind series of rapture and tribulation pulp fiction novels.

 

[SeekingAllTruth]

You are of course far from the first person to read things that way and so there are mountains of writings on it. For example,

"Technically, God doesn’t come or go anywhere (Ps. 139:7-10). God is the creator and sustainer of all time and space—nothing escapes his presence since, if it did, it would not exist. As St. Thomas Aquinas wrote, “Indeed, by the very fact that he gives being to the things that fill every place, he himself fills every place” (Summa Theologicae I.8.2).

So, if God doesn’t come or go anywhere, why does the Bible speak so frequently of his kingdom “coming”?

The Bible tells us about God and his actions in ways that we can understand. References to God’s eyes and ears, for instance, affirm that nothing is outside his awareness (e.g., Prov. 15:3, Ps. 116:2). But God doesn’t know things because light or sound waves enter physical organs. God “hears” and “sees” in a way that is appropriate to his infinite, spiritual mode of being. Since we can’t fully understand that, God speaks to us about himself in terms that we can understand.

God’s coming means, first of all, that his presence becomes noticeably manifest. God may come to his people, for instance, through a prophet, a special event, a miracle, or other means. The language of his coming, along with the dramatic and even shocking imagery that we often associate with John’s Apocalypse (Revelation, the final book of Scripture), is typical in the writings of the Hebrew prophets.

Jesus, continuing and deepening the Old Testament descriptions, spoke of the coming of God’s kingdom in various ways. Matthew sees Jesus’ birth in Micah’s prophetic words about a ruler who will come from Bethlehem (Micah 5:2). John the Baptist anticipated Jesus’ ministry: “he who is coming after me is mightier than I,” using striking apocalyptic language to speak of his purifying ministry: “the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire” (Matt. 2:6, 3:11-12)."


Have Jesus’ Predictions of His Coming Failed?

You have to tell this to about 2.5 BILLION Christians who are expecting his physical return any day now. Get this:

According to a 2006 survey by the Pew Research Center’s Forum on Religion & Public Life and the Pew Research Center for the People & the Press, fully 79% of Christians in the U.S. say they believe that Christ will return to Earth someday.

Christians’ Views on the Return of Christ

 

[LightofTruth]

Actually it appears to be. You are making a false idol of the Bible.

And believing just because you want to believe almost guarantees a mistaken belief.

I don't worship the Bible. I worship Him who inspired it.
The same can be said of Darwinism.

 

[Trailblazer]

Oddly enough, cOLTER that shows up as rationalization # 4 in the link that I provided.

Good website..... For the benefit of our viewers who don't have time to read on the link:

Rationalization #4: When Jesus said that some of his listeners would be alive to see him return, he was talking about the Day of Pentecost when the Holy Spirit descended on the church.
This is another explanation that is so far from rational that is it hard to accept that anyone sincerely believes it. The Book of Acts tells the story of the Holy Spirit appearing over the heads of the saints as tongues of fire endowing them with the magical ability to speak in unlearned languages. There is no mention of them seeing Jesus in the clouds with angels. The supposed event did not accompany the final judgment. None of the things Jesus said would occur at his return happened on the Day of Pentecost.

NOTHING could be closer to the truth. Also, there is no biblical basis for believing that the Spirit of Truth that Christians believe was sent at Pentecost was the Holy Spirit that came at Pentecost. It is true that the Holy Spirit came at Pentecost, but that was not the Spirit of Truth that Jesus was referring to in John Chapters 14, 15, and 16. There is no reason to believe that other than that is what Christianity has always taught.

John 14:17 Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.

John 15:26 But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me:

John 16:12-13 I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now. Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.

 

[Colt]

BILLIONs??????

I know that Tim LaHayne made billions on his Left Behind series of rapture and tribulation pulp fiction novels.

There are currently 2.4 billion Christians in the world. Generations over the last 2000 years have understood this.

 

[Primordial Light]

Oddly enough, Light that shows up as rationalization # 1 in the link I provided. I hope you and cOLTER are aware that the vast majority of Christians--I'd say 98% believe in a literal 2nd coming of Jesus to earth to set up a millennial reign. That's how Tim LaHayne made all those 10's of millions of $$$$'s on his Left Behind series of 14 novels about the rapture and tribulation.

Yup, they're ignorant of Jesus in Luke 17:23
They shall say Lo Here and Lo There, believe them not nor follow them.
and II Cor 5:16 No no man after the flesh, and even though we have known christ after the flesh, from here we know him no more.

Acts 1:11 is the nexus from knowing Jesus physically, to knowing him by the Spirit - Inside.

 

[Trailblazer]

According to a 2006 survey by the Pew Research Center’s Forum on Religion & Public Life and the Pew Research Center for the People & the Press, fully 79% of Christians in the U.S. say they believe that Christ will return to Earth someday.

Christians’ Views on the Return of Christ

I guess they never bothered to read their Bibles.

John 14:19 Yet a little while, and the world seeth me no more; but ye see me: because I live, ye shall live also.

John 17:4 I have glorified thee on the earth: I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do.

John 17:11 And now I am no more in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to thee. Holy Father, keep through thine own name those whom thou hast given me, that they may be one, as we are.

John 18:36 Jesus answered, My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is my kingdom not from hence.

 

[Subduction Zone]

I don't worship the Bible. I worship Him who inspired it.
The same can be said of Darwinism.

No one worships "Darwinism". It is merely reality. To deny it is rather foolish. Just as being careful along the edge of a cliff is not worshipping "Newtonianism". Or wait, that would be "Einsteinianism" now.

 

[SeekingAllTruth]

God said, "I will choose your delusions" - Isaiah 66:4.
The failures only exist in your own misinterpretations and translations of it. You don't see what you don't want to see.

The Bible does not fail, unenlightend minds fail to apprehend it's transcendental mastery.

The son quickens whom HE WILLS - John 5:21

If God really cared about all the disillusioned Christians who believe in Jesus' literal return to earth--79% according to a recent Pew Poll--wouldn't He send his holy spirit to clear up the illusion????

This question NEVER elicits a response from Christians. Just watch. No one will respond.

 

[Subduction Zone]

Yup, they're ignorant of Jesus in Luke 17:23
They shall say Lo Here and Lo There, believe them not nor follow them.
and II Cor 5:16 No no man after the flesh, and even though we have known christ after the flesh, from here we know him no more.

Acts 1:11 is the nexus from knowing Jesus physically, to knowing him by the Spirit - Inside.

Most atheists understand the Bible better than most Christians so I would not go around shouting "ignorance" if I were you.

 

[Subduction Zone]

If God really cared about all the disillusioned Christians who believe in Jesus' literal return to earth--79% according to a recent Pew Poll--wouldn't He send his holy spirit to clear up the illusion????

This question NEVER elicits a response from Christians. Just watch. No one will respond.

I predict a "you don't understand the Bible" response.

 

[LightofTruth]

The kingdom that is coming is that kingdom of God on Earth that Jesus asked us to pray for.
It is not God's kingdom but it is called the kingdom of God because it is the kingdom that God envisioned for humans from the very beginning, the kingdom God wants humans to build.

The kingdom of God will come to Earth when humans build that kingdom.

It's God's kingdom but it's not God's kingdom?

 

[Trailblazer]

the vast majority of Christians--I'd say 98% believe in a literal 2nd coming of Jesus to earth to set up a millennial reign.

Do you ever wonder why that many Christians believe this in spite of the fact that Jesus never promised to do any such thing?

I don't wonder because I know the reasons:
1. They misinterpret the Bible
2. They are so emotionally attached to the same man Jesus that that that will not even entertain the possibility that the same man Jesus is never coming back to Earth, even after I have proven it with their own Bible!

 

[LightofTruth]

Most atheists understand the Bible better than most Christians so I would not go around shouting "ignorance" if I were you.

Well, I haven't discussed it with most atheist, but I would certainly agree that most Christians don't understand it.

Most Christians are Trinitarian. Not taught by God.
Most Christians believe man was created with an immortal soul. Not taught by God.
Most Christians believe Satan is a fallen angel. Not taught by God.
Most Christians believe demons are also fallen angels. Not taught by God.
Most Christians believe Jesus did not have the same flesh as Paul. Not taught by God.
Most Christians believe in eternal torment in the center of the earth for non-believers. Not taught by God.

 

[Trailblazer]

If God really cared about all the disillusioned Christians who believe in Jesus' literal return to earth--79% according to a recent Pew Poll--wouldn't He send his holy spirit to clear up the illusion????

This question NEVER elicits a response from Christians. Just watch. No one will respond.

No Christians will respond but Baha'is will respond with a logical answer.

God did care about disillusioned Christians who believe in Jesus' literal return to earth and that is one reason God sent Baha'u'llah to clear up the disillusionment.

 

[SeekingAllTruth]

Paul had no idea when Christ would return...God told no one, not even Jesus. (Matthew 24:36)
He knew like all the other apostles that Jesus promised to return, but they did not know when. (John 14:1-3)

Really?????

Then what was Paul saying when he said, "The dead in Christ shall rise....then we which are alive will be caught up (modern day rapture term) with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air."

Clouds are in the air last I checked.

 

[Trailblazer]

Billions of other Christians get it.

In argumentation theory, an argumentum ad populum (Latin for "appeal to the people") is a fallacious argument that concludes that a proposition is true because many or most people believe it: "If many believe so, it is so."

This type of argument is known by several names,[1] including appeal to the masses, appeal to belief, appeal to the majority, appeal to democracy, appeal to popularity, argument by consensus, consensus fallacy, authority of the many, bandwagon fallacy, Argumentum ad populum - Wikipedia

The converse of this is that if many or most people do not believe it, it cannot be so, and that is also fallacious.