Harsh wording of actual events

[Korean-American Christian]

No , both saved and not saved get resurrection and for not saved it's eternal damnation . Mark 9:48

I agree

 

[Korean-American Christian]

the prophecies of Jesus were pretty ominous, they made people have an urge to repent if they read or heard them, but we all know that Jesus coming was a much-needed thing and he preached a message of (mostly) peace.

Are you talking about Jesus the Christ who was revealed in the Holy Bible?

Repentance is the whole point of the Bible.

The message of the Bible - "Repent and turn from your sin and rebellion against God because He loves you. Because God loves you, He sent Jesus Christ (God in human flesh) to pay the penalty for your sin and rebellion against God. Jesus conquered death once and for all. Through a relationship with Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord, you are now a child of God"

 

[Symph]

I don't think that Hell is a place of literal flames, but if Christ used that language, did He not intend to paint a picture for us of a spiritual reality? Hell may not be literal flames, but it's at least as bad as that. If not, we accuse Christ is lying to us.

Oh no I totally agree with you that's it's horrible, and I absolutely don't want to see anyone go. That's not exactly what I was getting at, I mean more when we're talking about the plagues poured out on the earth, like... I feel like many of us think we're going to be hanging on to our faith by a thread because we'll be so riddled with fear over all we see etc, and I think God's got wonderful protective surprises for those who follow his ways, (and when I say that, don't think "works" following his ways to me is a life of faith and prayer and deep inner hope, I'm not talking about keeping the law) and then also people think because the bible says so few will enter the kingdom that most of humanity will be tormented forever in hell. I think that there are numerous possibilities of how that may not be the final outcome that our rigid thinking doesn't allow for, and thus leaves God a lot of room to surprise us without ever contradicting His word. I mean a person analyzing scripture before Jesus would have said "There is no WAY for anyone to be saved or be righteous it's impossible! We all have to die!" And what did God do? He pulled out something no one expected that surprised and delighted all His children and was far kinder than we could have imagined, a loop hole only he could see because only he perfectly knows His word. I just have this hunch he's gonna do it again.

 

[~Anastasia~]

Regarding God doing surprising things ... it might interest some to read about things that have happened in the lives of Christians not only in the early times, but even in the last century, when brought under terrible persecution. Russia and Greece have some fairly recent examples.

God has been in the rescue (or comfort) business in surprising ways since Old Testament times, and He doesn't change.

I don't tend to think forward in that matter, but it does make perfect sense.

 

[Symph]

Regarding God doing surprising things ... it might interest some to read about things that have happened in the lives of Christians not only in the early times, but even in the last century, when brought under terrible persecution. Russia and Greece have some fairly recent examples.

God has been in the rescue (or comfort) business in surprising ways since Old Testament times, and He doesn't change.

I don't tend to think forward in that matter, but it does make perfect sense.

I like the way you think, that's really all I have. I don't have some theory of HOW he's gonna surprise us, I wouldn't try to formulate it because my whole point is based on the fact that we CAN'T figure out the true depths of all he layers into His Word. But one thing that really gets me is just, the last book that was given in the old testament was apocalyptic, it talked of God's coming, said to look for it, said what he would do, and then when it came time for Him to actually fulfill what Malachi said would happen, the people had a literal and rigid interpretation of what they thought it would be, and therefore missed it.

Well, our last book is apocalyptic, I certainly see a lot of rigidity in how people think the event will literally go down, just seems to me like history may be about to majorly repeat itself...

 

[jimmyjimmy]

I like the way you think, that's really all I have. I don't have some theory of HOW he's gonna surprise us, I wouldn't try to formulate it because my whole point is based on the fact that we CAN'T figure out the true depths of all he layers into His Word. But one thing that really gets me is just, the last book that was given in the old testament was apocalyptic, it talked of God's coming, said to look for it, said what he would do, and then when it came time for Him to actually fulfill what Malachi said would happen, the people had a literal and rigid interpretation of what they thought it would be, and therefore missed it.

Well, our last book is apocalyptic, I certainly see a lot of rigidity in how people think the event will literally go down, just seems to me like history may be about to majorly repeat itself...

The problem with your theory is that He has already revealed the end. We know it. He can't contradict Himself, so I see no way this is escapable.

The thing that can't be lost is that no one is born desiring God. If offered, even after death, men would do what they have always done - hate, rebel, and run from Him.

 

[Symph]

The problem with your theory is that He has already revealed the end. We know it. He can't contradict Himself, so I see no way this is escapable.

The thing that can't be lost is that no one is born desiring God. If offered, even after death, men would do what they have always done - hate, rebel, and run from Him.

He already revealed exactly what Jesus would do in Malachi as well, and the people of that time had no problem totally misinterpretting how it would actually go down. I mean Malachi is telling you all about Jesus, it's not like he lied, it's not like he tricked them, he's just so much smarter than us no one was able to figure out what he had up his sleeve. Just because he's already told us the truth, doesn't mean we are discerning it perfectly, or grasping all angles. I just don't box God in man, I don't ever think (ESPECIALLY when it comes to visions and prophecies) that I can get a perfect understanding of exactly what it's gonna look like. Instead I memorize all the verses I can, try to get them deep in my spirit, and then I stay vigilantly watching, to see if reality begins to make sense of the visions/predictions given, be it in the literal way we all are expecting, or something deeper that only God would have thought of. I'm just open to it all really, and have this feeling God is far kinder than we imagine, even those of us who already think he's as kind as it gets.

 

[Symph]

I mean think about why people didn't realize Jesus was the messiah. It's cause for a long time they had all drilled a vision into their head of a leader coming out of nowhere and literally toppling over the roman government, and then setting himself up as a literal king. They were SO certain that that's what the prophecy meant, that when this amazing man speaking of his spiritual kingdom, is fulfilling all the prophecies before their eyes, they didn't see it cause they were still holding to THEIR interpretation. Still waiting on THEIR idea of what the messiah would look like. They weren't spiritually open, weren't using their spiritual eyes. If you don't think it's possible he could do the exact same thing again, why not? Doesn't he teach through example and say he never changes? Doesn't he want us to learn from history? I sure as heck am not gonna be somebody who misses God because I'm looking up into the clouds. I keep his words in mind, understand they are beyond me, and wait to see if God reveals them to me, however that is.

 

[JackRT]

Everyone who has a close relationship with Jesus Christ is guided by the Holy Spirit.

I have met quite a number of people who have a close relationship with Jesus Christ but who are guided differently by the Holy Spirit.

 

[Symph]

I have met quite a number of people who have a close relationship with Jesus Christ but who are guide differently by the Holy Spirit.

What do you mean by "differently"?

 

[jimmyjimmy]

I just don't box God in man

God boxed Himself in.

 

[Symph]

God boxed Himself in.

lol if you see it that way man. It's not like the people of Jesus' time could have guessed what he meant by "Kingdom" and "new government", I'm sure they thought there was no way to understand it other than what their interpretations told them, and they ended up fighting Jesus because of it. So just... I dunno that's all I'll add. It's something to think about.

 

[JackRT]

What do you mean by "differently"?

Shall we just say their "guidance" is contradictory.

 

[jimmyjimmy]

lol if you see it that way man. It's not like the people of Jesus' time could have guessed what he meant by "Kingdom" and "new government", I'm sure they thought there was no way to understand it other than what their interpretations told them, and they ended up fighting Jesus because of it. So just... I dunno that's all I'll add. It's something to think about.

According to Jesus, they should have known these things.

 

[Symph]

Shall we just say their "guidance" is contradictory.

Oh ok I got ya, I've been in some strange "spirit filled" churches myself.

 

[Symph]

According to Jesus, they should have known these things.

Which brings me back to what I was saying, I see history repeating itself. I see a lot of christians I think have the potential to be on the wrong side of this due to their ignorance of the true meaning of the scriptures. You seem to be saying "we've got it covered, we know what it means this time around" and I'm saying "I wouldn't be so sure about that.."

 

[Left]

Which brings me back to what I was saying, I see history repeating itself. I see a lot of christians I think have the potential to be on the wrong side of this due to their ignorance of the true meaning of the scriptures. You seem to be saying "we've got it covered, we know what it means this time around" and I'm saying "I wouldn't be so sure about that.."

I rated your post Informative, but couldn't get the "Winner" button to work on my phone.

 

[Symph]

I mean don't look for specifics from me in this, but when I see someone who thinks they can map

I rated your post Informative, but couldn't get the "Winner" button to work on my phone.

As long as I still know that, I still feel like a total winner. Thanks @TailsFox hehe

I don't like specifics but here's something I've thought of. Internet only existed in the last 30 or so years, it travels by electricity. For the rest of the history post Jesus, nothing like internet existed, such a concept would have seemed like fantasy or magic. So when Jesus said everyone will see him at once, like lightning flashes in one part of the sky, and is seen from far away in another place. Well isn't that how internet travels? Doesn't it shoot across the world like lightning and be seen from many different parts of the world? I'm not saying Jesus WILL show up as a man on the internet, but couldn't it be a possibility? Isn't it something we should at least say COULD happen? That's why I say I'm not going to miss anything because I'm staring into the clouds, I'll be testing the fruit and trying to see if MULTIPLE signs confirm what the scriptures say, and I'm willing to entertain it could not be the literal thing I believed as growing up.

 

[JackRT]

I rated your post Informative, but couldn't get the "Winner" button to work on my phone.

OK buddy, I've covered that for you.

 

[Symph]

OK buddy, I've covered that for you.

Hahaha TEAM WORK!