According to Christianity, what things must happen in the world for Jesus to return?
I am not a Catholic priest, so there may be some things I don't have access to, but we'll ignore that for now. I'll attempt to justify my reply.
The answer appears to be cryptically present inside of various passages!
I Corinthians has a passage which appears to insist upon physical resurrection of the dead, however it also appears to say something opposite: "The last enemy to be destroyed is death." In this case death is an enemy to be fought, however it says Christ (note it doesn't say 'Jesus') has been resurrected. Confused? Why doesn't it simply say Jesus has been resurrected? I find this significant and related to your question as well as the surrounding passage.
This passage in
1 Corinthians refers us to
Psalm 8 as does
Matthew 21 showing it has great significance to early Catholics. They probably quote it a lot in the (now burned) lost writings, since its appearing both in a gospel and a letter. I will use
Psalm 8 to decipher what the heck
I Corinthians means. This is not an attempt to bore anyone, but this is what it takes sometimes to answer questions. --> (Psa 8:2-6 NIV) "
2 Through the praise of children and infants you have established a stronghold against your enemies, to silence the foe and the avenger. 3 When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, 4 what is mankind that you are mindful of them, human beings that you care for them? 5 You have made them a little lower than the angels and crowned them with glory and honor. 6 You made them rulers over the works of your hands; you put everything under their feet:"
Here the Psalm appears to be filling in something which 1Corinthians hasn't literally explained, but it points us to Psalm 8. Christ is, in fact, not Jesus in this case but is a lot of people, people who are like mere children. He is referring to the Christians. In this letter Christ rules through these Christians who are unlearned, like infants. That is a theme in Christian passages, so I think its a reasonable guess. Perhaps the writer on 1 Corinthians wavers back and forth speaking of Christ as an individual but also as people. This also suits since Paul elsewhere says the Church is they body of Christ. Hence he can speak about them or about him in the same sentence.
Now perhaps having examined this I have got the ability to partially answer your inquiry though I am not trained in the traditional sense and don't have a degree! Revisiting you inquiry:
- Is there a certain number of people in the world that have to become Christian first?
- Are there certain people who must become Christian first?
- Are there certain things Christians must correct among themselves or do first?
- Are the 144,000 mentioned in the NT a part of this equation?
- Is it purely based on certain world events?
- Is it purely when the Christian God decides it will happen with no other factors involved, including the above?
(1Co 15:22-26 NIV) "
22 For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive. 23 But each in turn: Christ, the firstfruits; then, when he comes, those who belong to him. 24 Then the end will come, when he hands over the kingdom to God the Father after he has destroyed all dominion, authority and power. 25 For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. 26 The last enemy to be destroyed is death."
So firstly *all* will be made alive. This is a universalist kind of phrase, and in my opinion the early Christians are universalists. It suits me, but even if they aren't universalists the meaning here is that there is no number specified in this sense. Perhaps the 144000 idea you ask about is symbolic for more people? That's likely I think. Otherwise its inexplicable why its not repeated here. It also says "Each in turn". First the firstfruits*, then the harvest, then the end. The harvest in this context means "All." Everyone eventually. This is the belief not that people have to preach but that everyone will simply be drawn in and will join. We see this is the expected pattern as large numbers of Romans of all classes eventually start converting. This also means that is what the coming of the harvest means and is the meaning of "When he comes." The enemies are named: 'Dominion', 'Authority', 'Power' and 'Death'.
*Its likely that early Catholics count themselves as the firstfruits, since James uses this term in reference to them. Firstfruits is (to those who don't know) a type of offering mentioned in Leviticus, and the early Catholics here are re-using it to refer to first converts to Christ, themselves. Firstfruits is offered early in the growing season, well before the full harvest.
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Nutshell:
Is there a certain number of people in the world that have to become Christian first?
All
Are there certain things Christians must correct among themselves or do first?
Romans 16 says they must live in peace, among other things.
Are the 144,000 mentioned in the NT a part of this equation?
Probably a symbolic number representing all people in all nations, because its only mentioned in Revelation and nowhere else. I suspect there could be more info about it hidden at the Vatican or in a tomb somewhere.
Is it purely based on certain world events?
Independent of world events.
Is it purely when the Christian God decides it will happen with no other factors involved, including the above?
No.
