Where is Jesus?

Residential Bob

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By biblical accounts, Jesus should have come by now.

Jesus said, “And this gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come” (Mt 24:14). In the first century, the Gospel was preached in all the nations (Rm 1:8; 16:26; Col 1:6, 23).

Jesus said that abounding lawlessness is another sign of the imminence of the end (Mt 24:12). In the first century, even before the end of the age, the mystery of lawlessness was already at work (2 Thes 2:7).

Israelites were anxious for Elijah’s return, for that was another sign of the end of the age (Mal 4:5-6). In the first century, Elijah returned (Mt 17:12).

Jesus said he would raise up a new temple within days of the current temple’s destruction (Jn 2:19). In the first century, the new temple was being raised (1 Pt 2:5).

Jesus said many false prophets would lead many astray (Mt 24:11). The New Testament canon is replete with such occurrences in the first century, such as Acts 5:36-37.

In the first century, prophecy seems to have been fulfilled. So where’s Jesus?
 

RaymondG

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He is in us, waiting to be revealed.....when we become like Him.

For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us"

"but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is."

"To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:"
 
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Petros2015

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Put yourself in Jesus shoes for a minute.
The last time you show up here, you get rejected and nailed to a cross.

...Are you in a hurry to come back?
 
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Residential Bob

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He is in us, waiting to be revealed.....when we become like Him.

For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us"

"but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is."

"To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:"
He's in us? Obviously, then, he's not a flesh-and-blood human being.

And if he's not revealed, how do you know he's in us?
 
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Residential Bob

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Put yourself in Jesus shoes for a minute.
The last time you show up here, you get rejected and nailed to a cross.

...Are you in a hurry to come back?
You paint a picture of a weak and dejected messiah.
 
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ViaCrucis

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Seated at the right hand of the Father in glory from whence He will come to judge the living and the dead.

But that's not about "location" as it is about His exalted status as the Lord and King Messiah who has been given all power and authority. As written in Daniel 7:13-14, where the Son of Man is taken up into heaven before the Ancient of Days and given everlasting dominion, as we see in the Gospels where Christ was taken up into heaven and seated at the right hand of the Father, for He says, "all authority has been given to Me", this is the Son of Man coming into His kingdom as the Lord Himself promised.

Concerning the Parousia, the Lord says no one knows the day or hour, because He comes at a time when we do not expect, like a thief in the night. It will be, He says, like it was in Noah's time where people are going about their daily lives, and when suddenly and without warning the flood came. So it will be with the return of the Lord, there will be no great signs preceding it--it will happen when we do not expect it, on a day and hour we do not know. Which is why the Lord gives us the parables of the Virgins and Talents as recorded in the 25th chapter of Matthew. That we should be faithful and vigilant, doing as our Lord has told us.

-CryptoLutheran
 
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Jonaitis

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There are some things I don't agree with in the premise of your argument, but with a mobile phone it is most difficult to reply.

But, I want to say that Acts 3:19-21 is something I've heard brought up for us to draw our attention to. Peter is speaking to his Jewish counterparts, or audience, about them repenting so that "times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, and that he may send the Christ appointed for" them. They want to connect this with Romans 11:25-26, that there must be a lifting up of God's hardening hand on the Jewish people, so that they may come to faith, as one of the final restorations, or "subjecting all things under him," besides death, for him to return. It is almost as if there is this optimism that God working this massive revival somewhere near our time with the current regathering to the modern state (non-divinely ordained to be sure).

I am critical of this position, but it has enough weight to be considered on the table as something to prayerfully meditate on.
 
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Petros2015

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You paint a picture of a weak and dejected messiah.

Well, I was being somewhat facetious. But in all honesty, does he have to come back? Don't we all go to him in the end? People have interpreted the Second Coming to be a long delayed global event. Maybe it was always meant to be a more personal one. Isn't this the same Jesus that said this:

Luke 17:20-21
20 And when he was demanded of the Pharisees, when the kingdom of God should come, he answered them and said, The kingdom of God cometh not with observation:
21 Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you.
 
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eleos1954

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By biblical accounts, Jesus should have come by now.

Jesus said, “And this gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come” (Mt 24:14). In the first century, the Gospel was preached in all the nations (Rm 1:8; 16:26; Col 1:6, 23).

Jesus said that abounding lawlessness is another sign of the imminence of the end (Mt 24:12). In the first century, even before the end of the age, the mystery of lawlessness was already at work (2 Thes 2:7).

Israelites were anxious for Elijah’s return, for that was another sign of the end of the age (Mal 4:5-6). In the first century, Elijah returned (Mt 17:12).

Jesus said he would raise up a new temple within days of the current temple’s destruction (Jn 2:19). In the first century, the new temple was being raised (1 Pt 2:5).

Jesus said many false prophets would lead many astray (Mt 24:11). The New Testament canon is replete with such occurrences in the first century, such as Acts 5:36-37.

In the first century, prophecy seems to have been fulfilled. So where’s Jesus?

He's in the sanctuary in heaven doing His high priest work. He will not return until there is nobody left on earth to be saved. As Jesus said ... like in the days of Noah.

Genesis 6

11 Now the earth was corrupt in the sight of God, and full of violence. 12And God looked upon the earth and saw that it was corrupt; for all living creatures on the earth had corrupted their ways.

13 Then God said to Noah, “The end of all living creatures has come before Me, because through them the earth is full of violence. Now behold, I will destroy both them and the earth.

and we are well on our way ... just be ready!

Although I may not agree with the specific prophesies listed as being "the specific indicators" of prophecies being fulfilled ... I would agree that all "time" prophecies have been fulfilled. There is yet a financial crisis to happen (ie buy or sell) and then of course anti-christ. Given the state of the current global financial status ... wouldn't take much to kick that one off.

God Bless. Even so, come Lord Jesus. Amen
 
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Artra

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By biblical accounts, Jesus should have come by now.

Jesus said, “And this gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come” (Mt 24:14). In the first century, the Gospel was preached in all the nations (Rm 1:8; 16:26; Col 1:6, 23).

Jesus said that abounding lawlessness is another sign of the imminence of the end (Mt 24:12). In the first century, even before the end of the age, the mystery of lawlessness was already at work (2 Thes 2:7).

Israelites were anxious for Elijah’s return, for that was another sign of the end of the age (Mal 4:5-6). In the first century, Elijah returned (Mt 17:12).

Jesus said he would raise up a new temple within days of the current temple’s destruction (Jn 2:19). In the first century, the new temple was being raised (1 Pt 2:5).

Jesus said many false prophets would lead many astray (Mt 24:11). The New Testament canon is replete with such occurrences in the first century, such as Acts 5:36-37.

In the first century, prophecy seems to have been fulfilled. So where’s Jesus?
You will be with Christ at the end of your life. The end of the world isn't something to wait for, and wickedness must always be overcome regardless of how far the world has fallen from God's Light.

Psalms 37:7
 
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Residential Bob

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Well, I was being somewhat facetious. But in all honesty, does he have to come back?
Well, he said he would. And he said he would after a certain few signs, some of which I pointed out. In fact, certain Jews - Caiaphas and members of the council, specifically - would see him in the clouds of heaven even before he was crucified (Mt 26:64).
Don't we all go to him in the end? People have interpreted the Second Coming to be a long delayed global event. Maybe it was always meant to be a more personal one.
So he has come back, then.
Isn't this the same Jesus that said this:

Luke 17:20-21
20 And when he was demanded of the Pharisees, when the kingdom of God should come, he answered them and said, The kingdom of God cometh not with observation:
Amen, Brother. I for one did not see the arrival of God's kingdom. Did anyone else?
 
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Monna

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In the first century, the Gospel was preached in all the nations (Rm 1:8; 16:26; Col 1:6, 23).
perhaps in "the world" of the Roman empire; but not the world as we know it today ... unless of course you have hard evidence that all nations in South, Central and North America were evangelized.

2 Peter 3:8-10 (NIV)
But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.

But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything done in it will be laid bare.
 
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Residential Bob

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perhaps in "the world" of the Roman empire; but not the world as we know it today ... unless of course you have hard evidence that all nations in South, Central and North America were evangelized.
Then "the world as we know it today" is irrelevant.
 
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RaymondG

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He's in us? Obviously, then, he's not a flesh-and-blood human being.

And if he's not revealed, how do you know he's in us?
Without faith, it is impossible to please God. Therefore we must first believe that He is and that He is a rewarder to then that diligently seek Him.

They that endure, the same shall be saved.

He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most high, shall abide under the shadow of the almighty....
 
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Halbhh

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“And this gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come”
Actually that's the verse that is most encouraging and electrifying, because only recently is this starting to become much closer to being so, for the first time ever! (It never meant something like 'in much of the world' or 'most places', but it meant instead what the words say, and keeping in mind 'nations' isn't our modern nation-state formally recognized in the U.N. only, but rather every grouping of people as best I understand, even tribes in the jungles generally. Basically that all peoples (not just many) would hear of the gospel, the Good News!)

(But I do not know how many isolated groups haven't yet heard the gospel, whether a few, how many, precisely)
 
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Residential Bob

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Actually that's the verse that is most encouraging and electrifying, because only recently is this starting to become so, for the first time ever! (It never meant something like 'in much of the world' or 'most places', but it meant instead what the words say, and keeping in mind 'nations' isn't our modern nation-state formally recognized in the U.N. only, but rather every grouping of people as best I understand, even tribes in the jungles generally. Basically that all peoples (not just many) would hear of the gospel, the Good News!)
Consider this also, that by and by the Israelites and Judeans considered their worldview or their lands to be the world.
 
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Halbhh

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Consider this also, that by and by the Israelites and Judeans considered their worldview or their lands to be the world.
Christ would know better. Not merely because he lived in such as Egypt, later traveled to region of the Gerasenes, or such, but because He knew more than only things men knew. It's makes sense He meant all groups of peoples.
 
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