Does Jesus' return mean apocalypse?

[Curious Atheist]

I am a bit unsure about a few things, hopefully you can clarify:

1. Do all Christians believe Jesus will return?
2. Does Jesus' return mean the world will end? (and believers go to heaven, everyone else goes to hell)
3. Why do many believe to be reading prophecies regarding this?
4. Do you believe the world will end 2012? If so why this year?

I am mostly interested in question 4. How many of you believe the end is coming? Do you believe it enough to sell your worldy belongings?

Thanks

 

[solarwave]

1. Do all Christians believe Jesus will return?

No

2. Does Jesus' return mean the world will end? (and believers go to heaven, everyone else goes to hell)

I would expect so.

3. Why do many believe to be reading prophecies regarding this?

Sorry, I don't know what you mean.

4. Do you believe the world will end 2012? If so why this year?

No.

 

[razeontherock]

2. Scripture plainly states Jesus' return will usher in "a 1,000 year reign," on Earth. Exactly what this might mean is up to interpretation, but it is significant that the early Church taught this was figurative in the here and now, not meant in any literal sense.

4. Mayans practiced human sacrifice, and were the last major population to engage in any type of bloody sacrifice AD. This is clear evidence of satanism! Worldwide, we see a drastic change in the practice of bloody sacrifice BC vs AD. This is because after Christ shed His blood, bloody sacrifice no longer had any Divine effect. (Merely satanic)

So no, I don't base my action, thoughts, beliefs, or plans on satanism.

3. Prophecy does indeed address this topic. I am hard pressed to say which is the more prophecied event, the coming of Messiah, or final Judgment. No wonder why Jews failed to see how the 2 could be separated, and still do to this day!

 

[elman]

I am a bit unsure about a few things, hopefully you can clarify:

1. Do all Christians believe Jesus will return?
2. Does Jesus' return mean the world will end? (and believers go to heaven, everyone else goes to hell)
3. Why do many believe to be reading prophecies regarding this?
4. Do you believe the world will end 2012? If so why this year?

I am mostly interested in question 4. How many of you believe the end is coming? Do you believe it enough to sell your worldy belongings?

Thanks

Most Christians would not believe the world will end next year. Many do not believe in a hell that is torture or pain after death. It may be that the return of Jesus occurs when we die, individually. I certainly do not believe in the mythology of the left behind books.

 

[Faulty]

I am a bit unsure about a few things, hopefully you can clarify:

1. Do all Christians believe Jesus will return?

They should. Scripture is clear He is returning, "And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also."

2. Does Jesus' return mean the world will end? (and believers go to heaven, everyone else goes to hell)

End of the world? No. It is a world without end. This age will end, however.

3. Why do many believe to be reading prophecies regarding this?

Because there are many prophecies unfulfilled that correspond to the time of, and right before, His return. And because there were many fulfilled prophecies concerning his first coming, including the exact day He would ride into Jerusalem as King, the exact form of His death, the very town of His birth, and even the exact sum of money payed to His betrayer and what would become of that money after the betrayers death. All of which (and hundreds of others) were fulfilled down to every last detail.

4. Do you believe the world will end 2012? If so why this year?

I am mostly interested in question 4. How many of you believe the end is coming? Do you believe it enough to sell your worldy belongings?

Thanks

The year 2012 is not found in the scriptures. It does say that of the day and hour knows no man, but we will know the season of His return. December 21st, 2012 will come and go, just like the dated from Harld Camping, and the proponents will just look silly.

If He does come back in 2012, it'll be due to His desire to do it alone. The Mayans have no say so in the matter.

 

[CryptoLutheran]

I am a bit unsure about a few things, hopefully you can clarify:

1. Do all Christians believe Jesus will return?

Yes. It's in the Creeds and confessions of all orthodox Christian churches.

2. Does Jesus' return mean the world will end?

The present age will come to an end. However the Christian hope is in the restoration of the world "a new heavens and a new earth".

(and believers go to heaven, everyone else goes to hell)

"Heaven" best describes the intermediate state, between death and resurrection. At least as usually understood. "World to Come" or "Age to Come" probably best describes the ultimate future state after the resurrection of the dead and Judgment.

3. Why do many believe to be reading prophecies regarding this?

The Prophet Isaiah looks forward to a time of new heavens and new earth, he also describes a time when carnivorous and herbivorous animals rest together in peace, where swords are beaten into plowshares and spears into pruning hooks. St. John the Divine's vision shares in Isaiah's description, namely of a new heavens and a new earth, of God making all things new at the consummation of history.

4. Do you believe the world will end 2012? If so why this year?

No. People who obsess over when the world will end and make predictions and the like are missing the point entirely. Nobody knows, and it's not our business to be trying to figure it out; rather we are to be vigilant in our obedience to Christ, helping those in need, and working on behalf of God's kingdom.

I am mostly interested in question 4. How many of you believe the end is coming? Do you believe it enough to sell your worldy belongings?

Thanks

-CryptoLutheran

 

[zaksmummy]

I am mostly interested in question 4. How many of you believe the end is coming? Do you believe it enough to sell your worldy belongings?

Thanks

The thing is that we dont know when Jesus will return, we wait in a state of hope that it will be soon, but how soon, no-one knows, so for now In sure that the vast majority of us will hold onto our worldly possessions so that we can carry on living whilst we wait.

 

[drich0150]

I am a bit unsure about a few things, hopefully you can clarify:

1. Do all Christians believe Jesus will return?

No.

2. Does Jesus' return mean the world will end? (and believers go to heaven, everyone else goes to hell)

Yes

3. Why do many believe to be reading prophecies regarding this?

Because many were written.

4. Do you believe the world will end 2012? If so why this year?

We are told the Lord will come like a thief in the night. no one will know the day or hour. So who knows.

I am mostly interested in question 4. How many of you believe the end is coming?

I do.

Do you believe it enough to sell your worldly belongings?

Why? the world will end whether we sell what we have or not. Besides do you think you can buy your way into heaven with this gesture? For those who Love God know Him. Those who do not, nothing in this world can be used to sell or barter their way into His good grace. God's grace is a gift, it is not something to be bought with your collection of G1 transformers.
Thanks[/quote]

 

[Curious Atheist]

[FONT=&quot]“I am a bit unsure about a few things, hopefully you can clarify:
1. Do all Christians believe Jesus will return?[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]No.”[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Does it not make it clear one way or another that he is returning? I was wrong as I thought it was at the roots of Christianity to believe Jesus would return. Thanks.[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]“2. Does Jesus' return mean the world will end? (and believers go to heaven, everyone else goes to hell)[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Yes”[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Thanks, does it give any reason as to why the world must end? Would every living thing die, or would everyone destined for heaven be taken and leave the sinners behind? [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]“3. Why do many believe to be reading prophecies regarding this? [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Because many were written.”[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Can you give an example of what prophecy was written, or is it open to interpretation?[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]“4. Do you believe the world will end 2012? If so why this year?[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]We are told the Lord will come like a thief in the night. no one will know the day or hour. So who knows.”[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]I thought there would be signs? Many people I have spoken to believe they have seen many signs of his return…including Muslims.

[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]“I am mostly interested in question 4. How many of you believe the end is coming?[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]I do.”[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Could it happen anytime, or do you believe it might happen in your lifetime?[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]“Do you believe it enough to sell your worldly belongings?[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Why? the world will end whether we sell what we have or not. Besides do you think you can buy your way into heaven with this gesture? For those who Love God know Him. Those who do not, nothing in this world can be used to sell or barter their way into His good grace. God's grace is a gift, it is not something to be bought with your collection of G1 transformers.
Thanks”[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Well if I was sure the world would end I would sell everything and either spread the word, or possibly make the most of the last days of my life on Earth. Would God not want you to try and save others? It isn’t like trying to bribe your way in if you were sincerely trying to save others from a terrible fate would it? [/FONT]

 

[oi_antz]

Well if I was sure the world would end I would sell everything and either spread the word, or possibly make the most of the last days of my life on Earth. Would God not want you to try and save others? It isn’t like trying to bribe your way in if you were sincerely trying to save others from a terrible fate would it? [/FONT]

Christians have been certain of "the end of the world as we know it", ever since Jesus told them about it. How this comes about is a story unfolding, it seems that Jesus' explanation of it can be contorted. Notice what He says in Matthew 25 and Revelation 20 though, this does show that Jesus will come with all the angels to resurrect the dead and then to judge the entire world.

Just wanted to point out to you here that although you got answers from a Christian, you are asking more questions. Notice that this is the opposite of what you said to me on the other thread: "saying 'God did it' kills questions".

One other thing I want to say is that due to the Christian teaching of the world's end, we are told to go and make believers of the nations. This has been the Christian mission ever since Jesus laid that mission upon us Matthew 16:24. Selling everything you have does not necessarily put you in a better position to spread the word, it just so happens that the story you take this idea from relates to a rich man. Since Jesus is everyone's judge, He has the ability to look at us and tell us what we need to repent of in order to follow Him. No-one else has that authority so don't just swallow what they want to spoon feed you with. There will likely be just one thing that you are hung up on and all the other sin's in your life will be easy. Jesus needs to break that pride of a hard heart, and He will hone on our greatest sin in order to do that. For me it was sex, I had to agree to give that up and everything else just happened as the time was right. I'm now beyond smoking and drinking, I'm presently battling with egocentrism. You might have noticed