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

[nick garai]

I have heard that refrain so often that Christ can return at any time and yet the world keeps on ticking. God said in the Old Testament that He wants humanity to inhabit the wastelands of the Earth. 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. 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.

 

[CodyFaith]

Matthew 24:14
And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.

We are in the end times. Where has the gospel not reached? Very few places. We are to get right with God, and give our life to him so we can bring others to him. Time was always short, but now more than ever.

We do not have thousands of years. We do not have a hundred. We may not even have 50. Jesus is coming, praise God.

 

[timewerx]

No way, that is a terrible idea. Those forests are supplying our oxygen. What God commanded us about filling the Earth doesn't literally mean filling every square meter of it. It means mainly to spread across the entire Earth and that we already did a long time ago.

And our resources can only sustain a limited population if poverty is to be eliminated. A much bigger population would only make the problem of poverty and (immigration issues) a lot worse.

Go live in a 3rd world country and actually stay there and see what I mean.

 

[CodyFaith]

Revelation 22:12
And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.

1 Thessalonians 5:2
For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night.

 

[timewerx]

I've also often heard that statement of sounding like hoping Jesus doesn't return soon from Christians who love their lives here on Earth.

It's a symptom of a problem, a big problem and it's mentioned in the Bible.

John 12:25
Anyone who loves their life will lose it, while anyone who hates their life in this world will keep it for eternal life.

 

[timewerx]

There's also a large issue of indigenous human populations living in the forests. We'd basically be stealing the land from them if we move in. The things they used to have for free, they'd be forced to work for them, a concept that is alien to them.

Not to mention the animals that would be displaced. Jesus loves the animals too.

Many things about it that doesn't sound right and even God's command in Genesis doesn't explicitly say it either.

 

[ewq1938]

Revelation 22:12
And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.

1 Thessalonians 5:2
For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night.

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.

 

[Kenny'sID]

God said in the Old Testament that He wants humanity to inhabit the wastelands of the Earth.

Even if that was a thing, are you saying these waste lands are not inhabited to at least some extent? Did the bible say how many people it took to call an area inhabited?

IOW, a single person in America, means America is inhabited.

 

[timewerx]

IOW, a single person in America, means America is inhabited.

That's right. God also doesn't want a large number of people living close together - Tower of Babel in the Bible.

Even science supports it. Cities for example, displaces a large number of animals, pollution of the environment, massive damage to the natural environment and natural resources. Which in turn, further depletes our natural resources....

Only the rich and the greedy (lovers of money) benefits from these destructive activities. Scarcity of resources actually promotes more opportunities to make money, especially if you can afford to buy the land and manipulate resources or manipulate needs to take advantage of the weak. The same thing the merchants are doing at the temple that's why Jesus called them thieves!

 

[Kenny'sID]

That's right. God also doesn't want a large number of people living close together - Tower of Babel in the Bible.

Even science supports it. Cities for example, displaces a large number of animals, pollution of the environment, massive damage to the natural environment and natural resources. Which in turn, further depletes our natural resources....

Only the rich and the greedy (lovers of money) benefits from these destructive activities. Scarcity of resources actually promotes more opportunities to make money, especially if you can afford to buy the land and manipulate resources or manipulate needs to take advantage of the weak. The same thing the merchants are doing at the temple that's why Jesus called them thieves!

Agree, and I'm still not sure what exactly the "Wastelands" refers to?

 

[Radagast]

Look at Canada's massive amount of land that is still to be inhabited and is just sitting there.

The Canadian boreal forest is about as inhabited as its going to be. If (God forbid!) you chopped it down, it wouldn't be suitable for agriculture.

The Canadian tundra is even less suitable for settlement.

And as to the uninhabited areas of Australia, they're..... dry.

 

[Radagast]

.

 

[Niels]

We don't know when. What the future holds is up to God. I don't think there's much that we can to to speed up or delay his plans.

 

[( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)]

Does this mean that one day people will get to live in a world like many futuristic movies depict where robot people are going around as presidents?

 

[ReesePiece23]

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.

 

[bèlla]

I've also often heard that statement of sounding like hoping Jesus doesn't return soon from Christians who love their lives here on Earth.

I enjoy my life. I can’t predict what will happen next week let alone when He’ll return. And I’ve never thought about it. I’m too busy with the things God has asked of me. It never crosses my mind.

 

[exitstageright]

I've also often heard that statement of sounding like hoping Jesus doesn't return soon from Christians who love their lives here on Earth.

It's a symptom of a problem, a big problem and it's mentioned in the Bible.

John 12:25
Anyone who loves their life will lose it, while anyone who hates their life in this world will keep it for eternal life.

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.

 

[exitstageright]

I enjoy my life. I can’t predict what will happen next week let alone when He’ll return. And I’ve never thought about it. I’m too busy with the things God has asked of me. It never crosses my mind.

Now, I could be wrong. Since most biblical persons and things tend to come in threes. Jesus might just return in the year 3000.
However,one can truly say that,since Thursday is one of seven days of the week. The odds of Jesus returning on a Thursday, are 7 to 1.

 

[bèlla]

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."

I believe that's true in many instances. I think it's kind of morbid. Truly, the joy of the Lord is your strength. I'm happy and plan to stay that way.

The year now is 2019. I rest my case.

There's a whole subculture around that. I can't wrap my mind around it. I'm walking out my purpose and enjoying each day that God has graced me with. You have one go-round and might as well make the most of it.

I'd rather have a dinner party with great food and company and memories we'll never forget.

 

[bèlla]

Now, I could be wrong. Since most biblical persons and things tend to come in threes. Jesus might just return in the year 3000.

However,one can truly say that,since Thursday is one of seven days of the week. The odds of Jesus returning on a Thursday, are 7 to 1.

I can't think that way. It's strange. It's not me.

There's an author I like and she's Christian. She has a cooking club and gets together with her friends on a regular basis. Her husband's in ministry and she's a pastor's kid and she writes books for women. She tackles difficult subjects but the mood is good. And I love her.

But the reviews are brutal at times because she's not depressing or dwelling on the negative. She finds joy in the mundane and the imperfect. I see myself reflected in her words and can only laugh.

And that's hard to find. Know what I mean?