Jesus is not returning for a very long time yet...

[timewerx]

Well no one really knows when Jesus will return. I am convinced that some Christians,who are not enjoying their lives on this earth, are more eager for Christ's return. But,that does not mean that all Christians,who are living a "good life" does not want Jesus to return soon. Maybe they just wish for the "best of both worlds."
In the 1970's my father,a Deacon at out church,was very convinced that Jesus was going to return before the year 2000. I am glad,that I did not put my life on hold,in say 1975,thinking that Jesus was going to return before the year 2000. Because,for example,why should I go to college in order to educate myself if Jesus is going to come soon? Preparing for the future would have been a wasted effort.The year now is 2019. I rest my case.

I am both hoping for the Lord's return the soonest, and I'm also working very hard to succeed in my secular pursuits.

You can be both!

I just find not many Christian share the same perspective I have. Sometimes, they'd even be so blunt and honest with me and tell me, hoping that Jesus doesn't return yet so they can enjoy their good life and meet their grandkids or even great grandkids!

If someone loves their good life more than see Christ return within their lifetime, that can be a problem, a huge problem!

 

[JAM2b]

I believe the verse that says no one knows when He will come back except for God, not even Jesus Himself knows. I believe that He could come back today or He might not come back for thousands of more years. With this, I go through life believing like He's on His way, but try to handle the practical aspects of life like my descendants will still need this planet a thousand years from now. What faith do I want my sons to witness in me now? What kind of faith legacy do I want to leave behind? What kind of world do I want future generations to inherit?

 

[JAM2b]

Honestly though, I think of my own death more than I think of Jesus' return. I have had much suffering, both physical and emotional. I want to have a peaceful life and one without being in need. I want to experience the joys that this life has to offer, and I don't think it is wrong to be grateful or rejoice because of the good things, or to ask for them. However, why cling to something that is not good and will only get worse?

Very often my prayer is that if I can have peace and no suffering beyond what is reasonable, then I'd like to hang around and hope I have a relatively long life. But if my pain is going to get worse, if there is going to only be more chaos and little to no hope for more joyous things to come, then I'd like to check out. My greatest desire is to see both my boys grown, faithful, and independent. Beyond that, I could stay or go. I don't think it matters much what I want though, because God has His own set of plans, and regardless of what I ask in individual prayers, my overall attitude with God is basically He knows what I want and need but He also knows what is best for the overall scheme of things and I'll go with His decision. And really, what choice do I have? Much of the time I end desperate prayers with, "If it can't be the way I want, then I'm going to need help."

 

[timewerx]

With this, I go through life believing like He's on His way, but try to handle the practical aspects of life like my descendants will still need this planet a thousand years from now. What faith do I want my sons to witness in me now? What kind of faith legacy do I want to leave behind? What kind of world do I want future generations to inherit?

I've been doing all those actually, preparing myself for the Lord's Return, trying to build a successful business, and working to save Earth for the future generations.

In fact, the Bible does teach it!

So it would be wrong to prepare for the Lord but forget everything else here on Earth.

But it would also be wrong to get involved in practical aspects of life on Earth but not be prepared for the Lord's return.

 

[zxcv]

Time is such a worldly and subjective concept. Earth exists in a quantum state, just like the rest of the universe. Time is just a sun and Earth factor.

You could use the space time argument, but that's irrelevant beyond the realms of the observable universe where space time doesn't exist.

Lol, Reese Piece theories.

And yet, it's the only sane thing I've heard in this topic.

 

[S.O.J.I.A.]

be busy doing your Father's business and don't worry yourself about such things.

 

[Rigatoni]

"But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father . . ."

To set a definite date of Christ's return, or to claim it won't happen anytime soon, would both be in error according to scripture. We simply don't know when He will return, and no where in the Bible does it explain that the timing is relative to the population of the earth. The Doctrine of Imminency has been taught since the beginning of the church age, and I'm sure was an encouragement to the apostles waiting for Jesus to return. No one expected we would have to wait nearly 2,000 years. However, we know this was for a reason - it was a dispensation of grace to the gentiles.

Eventually, this dispensation will end, and God's focus will return to His people. With the all the craziness taking place around the world lately, that day seems to be approaching rather quickly. We don't know exactly when, but the encouragement the apostles had back then should be the same encouragement we have today. It would be wise to continue living as if His return was a ways off, yet be prepared as if it would take place today.

 

[CodyFaith]

1Th 5:3 For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape.
1Th 5:4 But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief.

And yet Paul also wrote in Romans that their salvation was "nearer than when they first believed", and it is clear he was talking of the second coming and not a personal salvation of enemies or anything, because of his choice of words "when we first believed" and the context.

So likewise, the verse I quoted was referring to Jesus second coming, and Jews at the time would have had no doubt about that because "the day of Yahweh" is a common term in the O.T. referring to the day of God's wrath when he judges the nations and once and for all redeems Israel.

Aswell, here's Jesus' words in Revelation 16:15,
"Behold, I come as a thief. Blessed is he that watcheth, and keepeth his garments, lest he walk naked, and they see his shame."

 

[CodyFaith]

I'd also like to say that Jesus specifically said we will not know the day or hour, but that does not mean those who are pre-end times cannot have knowledge of the time they are in and know a rough estimate of how long they have. We just will not know the exact day, time, year, etc... we can still see our times accurately if we are open enough and if God has specifically placed that knowledge within us. One of the reasons God has placed prophecy throughout the O.T. and N.T. is for this purpose - to discern times wisely.

Just because many people were wrong in the past doesn't mean everyone will always be wrong. That's not how it works.

Further, Jesus commanded Christians to watch for the signs of his coming. If Jesus really did just come out of nowhere with no signs or no way to determine the type of days one is in in regard to the end, he would not have commanded us to watch. Because what would we watch for is there is no evidence it is coming shortly?
Mark 13:37
And what I say unto you I say unto all, Watch.

One word, Watch. This also dismisses the idea that it doesn't matter and we should just obey God and if it happens it happens... because obeying Jesus is obeying his command to watch for it.

 

[Sketcher]

So far only a small percentage of the Earth is inhabited. There are still vast tracts of land to be inhabited. Look at Russia's wilderness and the deserts of the Middle East. Look at Canada's massive amount of land that is still to be inhabited and is just sitting there.

If those lands were that hospitable, there would be quite a few people living there by now.

I don't think Jesus is going to return until humanity is in the hundreds of billions on the planet and inhabits vastly greater pieces of land around the globe. There is still too much land to inhabit.

Be careful, don't fall into the trap of disbelieving that he may come soon:

Knowing this first of all, that scoffers will come in the last days with scoffing,following their own sinful desires. They will say, "Where is the promise of his coming? For ever since the fathers fell asleep, all things are continuing as they were from the beginning of creation." - 2 Peter 3:3-4​

 

[ewq1938]

I believe that He could come back today or He might not come back for thousands of more years.

Paul addressed that in 2Thess that Jesus can't just return at any moment and listed things that have to happen first before Jesus will return. He said the Apostasy has to happen and the man of sin be revealed before the second coming happens. None of those things have happened yet because they happen within the 42 month trib where the world is ruled by one government with the AC and ten new kingdoms that only exist for the GT.

 

[blackribbon]

To spend your days focused on trying to figure out when Jesus is coming again is to waste the time God has given to you to share His Love and to do what He has put you here to do. No one should be choosing God out of fear...like the fear of going to hell, but rather because that person realizes that they are nothing without God and need Him. The first one will not be a Christian because even the first commandment is to Love your God with all your heart and soul.

I believe that the verses about the end time are to remind us that our time here is limited and that we shouldn't pushing the limits because we don't know when He will return. We should be using each minute in such a way that we are prepared if we are called...but we should live each day like we are going to be here for a while (which is why we do get married and become educated and have kids...).

Only unhealthy people spend all their waking hours looking for and preparing for a thief. Most people simply lock their door and expect that their house will be in the same shape when they return. Wise people have insurance so they don't suffer a loss if the thief does come. Our insurance is our salvation...and how we live our lives. If you are truly saved then you have your insurance and do not need to focus on when He is coming. Live a life that glorifies Him. We are warned to be prepared both to keep our lives in order but to also care that our neighbor might not be prepared and our hearts should mourn that they will be left out and condemn to hell.

Live both like Jesus could come in 3 minutes but may not come for 3000 years. That means live a Christian life 24/7.

 

[exitstageright]

If those lands were that hospitable, there would be quite a few people living there by now.


Be careful, don't fall into the trap of disbelieving that he may come soon:

Knowing this first of all, that scoffers will come in the last days with scoffing,following their own sinful desires. They will say, "Where is the promise of his coming? For ever since the fathers fell asleep, all things are continuing as they were from the beginning of creation." - 2 Peter 3:3-4​

Remember,as we get older that same unit of time seems to go by quicklythan when we were children? Well,Jesus is older than all of us. I am glad that Jesus did not say that he is going to "take his time",before he will returns. But,He said,"Behold,I come quickly".

 

[ReesePiece23]

And yet, it's the only sane thing I've heard in this topic.

Yeah, it does make you wonder. For people who believe in an infinite being, Christians do seem to place the most limitations on things with their worldly concepts

I'd convert to Buddhism if I wasn't already so convinced of Jesus' works and SOLD on Christianity.

 

[JAM2b]

Thread like this always make me remember a bumper sticker I saw years ago. It said, "Jesus is coming! Look busy!"

It still makes me laugh.

 

[MehGuy]

Welcome back Nick, haven't seen you in a while.. lol.

God could come back in one second or 3 trillion years from now.