Did you really just ask him that? We have been causing some trouble at school, nothing major yet, maybe after christmas break...maybe.

We are getting dumped on with freezing rain at the current moment, then there's some snow on the way, looks like a white, icy christmas for the mid-west, our first white christmas in 8 years.

I have offically tried out for the Cavaliers...waiting for the results though and I've successfully written a full length song for piano, this will be sent off to a contest with a chance to win 5000 dollars, yeah me!

How is everyone else?

"No man shall know the day nor hour." But when you see these things come to pass, know that I am near, even at the door".

Sure he is. And I personaly cant wait.

Our history has recorded several congregations of religionists who have predicted that the end of the world would come at a specific time. Page Smith, in his book The Nation Comes of Age, recorded the religious group called Adventists, who, under the millennial theme, followed the preachings of William Miller and his prophecy that Christ's Second Coming would occur during the years 1843-1844. Thousands across the American Continent were convinced of this Apocalypse, and followed the teachings of William Miller. It was first prophesied that the end would come in 1843. When the time prophesied came and went, the time was set ahead further, and into the year 1844. It was recorded that: "Excitement mounted as several dates set for the advent came and went. Finally, Miller, under great pressure from the faithful, declared October 22, 1844, the fearful and joyous day. When it, too, passed many Millerites fell away...". Several Adventist churches formed from this group, predicting on their own when the end would be near.

It is recorded in the Bible, in Matthew 24, when Jesus and his disciples were leaving the Temple in Jerusalem, after Jesus had castigated the lawyers and Pharisees as hypocrites, that his disciples pointed to the temple buildings. Jesus said: "Yes, look at it all. I tell you this: not one stone will be left upon another; all will be thrown down." They went to the Mount of Olives to rest, and his disciples asked him "...when will this happen? And what will be the signal for your coming and the end of the age?" He gave them several signs to look out for; he noted that only the Father in Heaven knew of the "day and hour". He also said: "I tell you this: the present generation will live to see it all."

Many generations have passed away since that time; and, many generations believe that the Bible is speaking to them directly, as though this was the "present generation" that is mentioned. Jesus was speaking directly to his disciples; and the generation noted was the generation of that time.

It is recorded, in the book of the Revelation of John: "This is the Revelation given by God to Jesus Christ. It was given to him so that he might show his servants what must shortly happen. He made it known by sending his angel to his servant John, who, in telling all that he saw, has borne witness to the word of God and to the testimony of Jesus Christ. Happy is the man who reads, and happy those who listen to the words of this prophecy and heed what is written in it. For the hour of fulfilment is near."

The key words here, concerning this discussion, are: "what must shortly happen", and: "the hour of fulfilment is near". John was a part of the generation of those referred to by Jesus when he spoke the words: "I tell you this: the present generation will live to see it all." My Dictionary reveals the word "shortly", in this context, means: soon or in a short time. The word "near" means: at or to a time not far away.

In a letter to the Romans, the Apostle, Paul, wrote that the story of their faith was being told all over the world; Romans 1:8. This was confirmed, also, in a letter that he wrote to the Colossians; 1:6, and 1:23. In a letter to the Hebrews, it was noted that they were in the "final age"; Hebrews 1:2. James wrote a letter to "the Twelve Tribes dispersed throughout the world", in which he noted that "the coming of the Lord is near"; James 5:8. The Apostle Peter, writing to the congregations in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, wrote that "The end of all things is upon us", 1 Peter 4:7. John wrote that "this is the last hour"; 1 John 2:18. All of this follows the "revelation" of Jesus to his disciples that "the end" would come during the "present generation", being the lifetime of those living while he spoke.

Isaac Azimov wrote, in his book Azimov's Guide to the Bible, of these words of Jesus in Matthew 24:34, that the view of the Christians of the time was that the second coming was expected at any time while they lived; although this view is not now prevailing.

Jesus had noted that that generation would live "to see it all"; let me emphasize the "all"; not just one manifestation, but the whole "shooting match"; and, actually, this is not my theory, but only an iteration of the research of others before me, and it is not just a belief.

He's not coming…

Even if he isn't coming, chances are "we" are leaving. This planet has hit the eject button several times in the past, and this is the most failed "experiment" yet. It's time for "us" to go.

Wow, I guess you really did want to talk about it. Cool


Im well aware that MANY folks have claimed to know when the end would be. But if we are really to go by the teachings of Christ, as soon as someone through out a date, you can automaticaly assume its false, for "no man shall know the day or hour" However he gave clear signs as to what would start the "birth pangs" and what would follow.

He never said the "present" generation.

32"Now learn this lesson from the fig tree: As soon as its twigs get tender and its leaves come out, you know that summer is near. 33Even so, when you see all these things, you know that it[d]is near, right at the door. 34I tell you the truth, this generation[e] will certainly not pass away until all these things have happened. 35Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.

Looking at this scripture, what he meant by "this generation" is the generation that what? See's these things come to pass, of course. He wasnt talking about the generation at hand, but the generation that saw these things. The parable of the fig tree (Israel) tells us that when we see Israel alive again, we will know that the end is near. BTW there are MANY prophecies that deal with the rebirth of Israel, many coming true today.(including Israel being born in a single day, May 14th, That they would rebuild the ruins there fathers left, that Israel would become a major agricultural state, that they would never be ruled by a king again, that the whole world would be blessed through them, and there medical advancements alone are enough to prove that, let alone there invention of the cell phone, ect ect, that Jerusalam would be a major concern for the whole world, and that they would divide the land for peace, and last but not least Hebrew would be the nations offical language, which had be a dead language for over 1500 years) How do we know this, and what makes us in a better place than others in the past to more clearly see the signs? Jesus predicted that nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. Interpreting that correctly, what Jesus meant was war on a grand scale, including many nations, and kingdoms. At no time in history has there been such a war, on such a large scale, till ww1. The first birth pang. Followed by ww2, which was just a contunation of ww1. He also included famines and earth quakes, which have increases, and as far as earth quakes, have continued to increase right till this very day. So Jesus tells us that there will be world war, followed by the rebirth of Israel. Hmmm.

Then mathew 24 goes on to say.

9"Then you will be handed over to be persecuted and put to death, and you will be hated by all nations because of me.

this is increasingly happening in other countries, and the new hate for Christians can even be felt here in America. A prophecy in the works.

10At that time many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other,

You dont have to go any further than this very MB to see thats true.

11and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people.
That list can go on and on.

12Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold,
Again, one need look no further than our abortion section right here on this MB to see thats the truth.

13but he who stands firm to the end will be saved. 14And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.

It really surprises me how this prophecy is over looked. We are talking about a man raised by a carpender, raised in the getto, yet his words are finding there way in to every country to this very day. China of all places produces more bibles than any country in the world right now. Many have tryed to destroy the anvil that is Gods word, and every hammer to hit it, has been broken.

Again, not true. If it were true why would Jesus conclude chapter 24 by saying
42"Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come. 43But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what time of night the thief was coming, he would have kept watch and would not have let his house be broken into. 44So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.

Now if it were certain that Jesus would return in there life time, why the warning?? They would have expected him to come in there life times, they obviously would have been watching and waiting everyday. But Jesus clearly says to them, that he's coming at a time when they WONT be expecting him. How could that be unless he was coming at a time that they couldnt understand?

We have already covered the dishonesty of the word "present", cause it just isnt there. However, as far as "what must shortly happen" well, if a day to God is 1000 years, then its only been 2 days. Considering most of the end times prophecies (many many which are not included in this conversation) Are actualy happening today, than the 2 days, are in a "short time". On Gods time, not our own.

The confussion here isnt hard to understand. What the disciple were not aware of, was that the earth was FAR larger than they had thought. The disciples, were in confusion about when the coming of Christ would be, no doubt about that. But we are talking about men who had not yet understood that the gentiles had been invited to Gods table.

Its not prevailing, cause we now can see much further down the road then they were able to see at the time. And have watched in our generation prophecy after prophecy being fullfilled. Right before, and since the rebirth of Israel.

He said the generation that saw these signs all come together at once, would see it all. And that we will.

Quote:

He's not coming…

Yes, he is.

I'd also like to say that we havent even touched base of the end time prophecies in the bible, from old test to new, there is FAR more information to take in.

Hopefully you won't include all that rapture stuff.

Grace wrote:I quoted directly from the New English Bible, which is the present generation English version of the early parchments.

Now, wasn't Jesus speaking directly to his disciples? He was talking about the present generation in their time. The things he mentioned that were to happen didn't happen, and no amount of the twisting of the words will make them say what was not said.

He's not coming...