Return of Christ

[savagewind]

Why would Jesus tell his followers he would come like a thief? It doesn't make sense that he who fullfilled the law and did not come to destroy it would say his returning is as a sinner. I think he is much more careful with the words he uses than what you think.

 

[Sleeppy]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6TJnXkbqtsc

 

[savagewind]

It's 40 minutes

 

[InChrist]

he was speaking to his apostles in that verse.... and i dont think 'i will be with you always' means 'everyone will see me'

I don't think "I will be with you always" means everyone will see Him either.

Why do you think he says he comes 'as a thief'?


Do thieves usually come out visibly to everyone? Or do you think they come and go without anyone actually seeing them?

[/quote]


It is interesting that there are passages in the scriptures which speak of Jesus coming as a thief in the night and then there are those which show Him coming in such great power and glory with judgment upon the nations that no one will be unaware of His arrival. This may seem like a discrepancy, but the scriptures explain the reason for these two descriptions.

 

[savagewind]

It is interesting that there are passages in the scriptures which speak of Jesus coming as a thief in the night and then there are those which show Him coming in such great power and glory with judgment upon the nations that no one will be unaware of His arrival. This may seem like a discrepancy, but the scriptures explain the reason for these two descriptions.

I want to know the explanation please.

 

[InChrist]

Why would Jesus tell his followers he would come like a thief? It doesn't make sense that he who fullfilled the law and did not come to destroy it would say his returning is as a sinner. I think he is much more careful with the words he uses than what you think.

I believe the scriptures show that Jesus came the first time in humility as a human to fulfill the law on behalf of sinful humans who are incapable of doing so, but He will return in power and glory to rule and reign on the earth.

 

[InChrist]

I want to know the explanation please.

I will tell you my perspective...but I think it is better to read, study and pray about all the scriptures which refer to the coming of Christ and ask God to give you His wisdom.

I believe Jesus will come as a thief in the night to remove His church of believers from the earth, no one knows the day or the hour (Matt. 14:36), before the judgment and final tribulation begins.

For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord. Therefore comfort one another with these words.1 Thessalonians 4:16-18

After the tribulation He will come in power and glory, all will see and know...

Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken. Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. Matthew 24:29-30

 

[savagewind]

I believe the scriptures show that Jesus came the first time as in humility as a human to fulfill the law on behalf of sinful humans who are incapable of doing so, but He will return in power and glory to rule and reign on the earth.

OK. Power and glory are opposites of sin and stealing which a thief does is sin. Why does he describe his coming as a sinner?

 

[InChrist]

OK. Power and glory are opposites of sin and stealing which a thief does is sin. Why does he describe his coming as a sinner?

I don't know, but it is the terminology the Bible uses. I think it is because Jesus considers His church or also called the bride of Christ to be of great value and He is going to steal His precious bride away from this wicked world at some point. I don't think it is meant to indicate sinfulness on the part of Jesus because the church belongs to Him in the first place and secondly He cannot sin. So I think the word thief is used only to reveal the unexpected aspect of Him coming to take those who belong to Him and then the sudden beginning of the day of the Lord, tribulation and judgment upon the earth.

 

[savagewind]

I don't know, but it is the terminology the Bible uses. I think it is because Jesus considers His church or also called the bride of Christ to be of great value and He is going to steal His precious bride away from this wicked world at some point. I don't think it is meant to indicate sinfulness on the part of Jesus because the church belongs to Him in the first place and secondly He cannot sin. So I think the word thief is used only to reveal the unexpected aspect of Him coming to take those who belong to Him and then the sudden beginning of the day of the Lord, tribulation and judgment upon the earth.

OR the message he conveyed is so important he risked his reputation and said "Like a thief I come". What could be so important? If the Jesus you know is not the real Jesus then Jesus has come to you like a thief. Something is stolen. What? Your dedication to the real Jesus is not his, it was stolen. By whom? By the false teachers that you were warned would come. It seems many do not take the many warnings seriously.

What a person expects is more likely to happen. You hear Jesus saying "take care you are not misled". You expect it to happen, and it did. Did he say that? No! Why would he? What did he say? He said take care you do not mislead. Many have and still do.

 

[InChrist]

OR the message he conveyed is so important he risked his reputation and said "Like a thief I come". What could be so important? If the Jesus you know is not the real Jesus then Jesus has come to you like a thief. Something is stolen. What? Your dedication to the real Jesus is not his, it was stolen. By whom? By the false teachers that you were warned would come. It seems many do not take the many warnings seriously.

What a person expects is more likely to happen. You hear Jesus saying "take care you are not misled". You expect it to happen, and it did. Did he say that? No! Why would he? What did he say? He said take care you do not mislead. Many have and still do.

Those are interesting thoughts. I certainly do think there are many misleading false teachers who have led people to false Christs which Jesus did give strong warnings about. Nevertheless, I think the passage in Matthew 24 and also in the gospel of Luke clearly refers to Jesus as the thief who will be taking, I believe, the body of Christ or church away from this world and false teachers inspired by satan before His judgment is poured out on the earth.

 

[dawny0826]

I agree with your sentiments.

Amen.

 

[Bunyip]

I think it is becoming clear that God's kingdom is coming to earth soon and many of the biblical signs for the return of Jesus Christ to are in place and others are rapidly continuing to occur. Does anyone else sense the nearness of His return?


For He is coming, for He is coming to judge the earth. He shall judge the world with righteousness, And the peoples with His truth. Psalm 96:13


lBirth Pangs - ABC's of Prophecy

Jesus was due back 2000 years ago, he is not coming. As to the signs and portents of his return, those same signs and portents have been popping up for all of those 2000 years - in fact there has never been a time when those 'biblical signs' were not popping up.

People have been sensing the nearness of his return for 2000 years and dying of old age waiting.

 

[Ingledsva]

Jesus was due back 2000 years ago, he is not coming. As to the signs and portents of his return, those same signs and portents have been popping up for all of those 2000 years - in fact there has never been a time when those 'biblical signs' were not popping up.

People have been sensing the nearness of his return for 2000 years and dying of old age waiting.

Amen, LOL! :yes:


*

 

[Twilight Hue]

...knowing this first: that scoffers will come in the last days, walking according to their own lusts, and saying, “Where is the promise of His coming? 2 Peter 3:3-4

Seems those folks were let down. Looks like Jesus never came then either. How long now is it that people are saying the same thing generation to generation, century to century? I surmise it will continue on long after we are gone ourselves taking that Christianity is still around.

 

[InChrist]

It is true that people have mistakenly thought that Jesus would return in the past, but there are definite signs as given in the scriptures that have never been in place as they are in this present time and I believe it is the generation that sees these signs that will see the return of Christ.

 

[Bunyip]

It is true that people have mistakenly thought that Jesus would return in the past, but there are definite signs as given in the scriptures that have never been in place as they are in this present time and I believe it is the generation that sees these signs that will see the return of Christ.

Well that is certainly a very interesting claim - would you please give an example of a sign that has not been in place before?

 

[InChrist]

Well that is certainly a very interesting claim - would you please give an example of a sign that has not been in place before?

The nation of Israel.

Shortly after Jesus' death Jerusalem was destroyed and the people of Israel dispersed and for over 1900 years the Jewish people were without their homeland. Yet, they are now back in the land of Israel, just as foretold in the scriptures. No other nation of people in history has ever been dispersed from their native homeland for so long, retained their identity, and then returned to their original land as a nation again.

That is the most important sign, but there are others. It's late, though and I'm tired. Goodnight.

 

[Bunyip]

The nation of Israel.

Shortly after Jesus' death Jerusalem was destroyed and the people of Israel dispersed and for over 1900 years the Jewish people were without their homeland. Yet, they are now back in the land of Israel, just as foretold in the scriptures. No other nation of people in history has ever been dispersed from their native homeland for so long, retained their identity, and then returned to their original land as a nation again.

That is the most important sign, but there are others. It's late, though and I'm tired. Goodnight.

How is the Nation of Israel a sign?

 

[johnhanks]

Yet, they are now back in the land of Israel, just as foretold in the scriptures.

They are? Fewer than half of the world's 'core' Jewish population live in Israel - in fact, nearly as many live in the USA. Of the 'enlarged' or expanded Jewish population - including those with a Jewish father or spouse, or children living in a household with a Jewish step-parent - more live in the US than in Israel.

A certain proportion of the world's Jewish population has always lived in Israel; it's currently about 45% (or 34% of the 'enlarged' Jewish population). What value must it reach for scriptural prophecy to have been fulfilled?