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well a lot of people know that jesus is coming for his people that have served him and devoted their lives for him <3 but people are going to stay.. I mean arent people scared when the anti-christ comes and rules and you have to have the 666 mark or else you wont be able to eat...and all the stuff that Apocolipsis says in the bible? and theres going to be CHAOS! in the world I really want to know what you think :/
**It is because their heart isn't in it. Some even read the Bible looking for flaws so they can argue with Christians, hoping to convince them God isn't real. **
We don't LOOK for flaws, they're blatantly obvious. And most of us don't care WHAT you believe. We know that you're deluded beyond reason; you're existing with a tinge of insanity, because it somehow makes your life better, makes it feel more worth while, makes you feel special and happy, which is something you CAN'T seem do on your own. Its a common problem among theists.
You've been given several opportunities to strengthen your faith, but you choose to be deaf and blind to new information about your religion. Do you REALLY think that knowing so little about your own god, is the best way to serve him? You view ANY words or literary findings that challenge your God to be a THREAT, and you cast it aside without a second thought (plugging your ears and humming). Because your faith is weak and you're afraid that you might falter. Instead of learning about the flaws of your religion (Yes, it has flaws, it was written by men; whether God wrote through them or not... in the end... written by MAN). There is NOTHING perfect in this world... including really really old books.
Maybe then, if you could learn about and accept those inconsistencies, you could at least UNDERSTAND why many people don't buy into your religion. Instead of acting so bewildered & insincere. You know, its okay to believe in God, even though there are some flaws in the literary history. But blinding yourself to those flaws, is a discourtesy to yourself AND God.
You're faith would be stronger in the end, if you were a little more courageous.
Revelation is certainly different from other books of the New Testament. It is also very different from any kind of writing that is familiar to most people today. Unfortunately, this has caused some people to shy away from the book; or on the other hand, to misuse it in propagating wild and fanciful theories. Most people conclude it is just too mysterious to understand. But it was actually written to make things clearer! The word "revelation" in the Greek is apokalupsis, which means "an uncovering" or "unveiling." It is therefore a book designed to uncover or unveil, not conceal.
Part of the challenge in understanding the book is that it is written in a style not familiar to modern man. It is an example of what is called "apocalyptic literature" which was quite popular from 200 B.C. to 200 A.D. As such, it was a type of literature well known to the Jews and Christians of the first century church. Features of apocalyptic literature include the use of highly symbolic or figurative language (cf. "signified", 1:1). It was normally written in times of persecution, usually depicting the conflict between good and evil.
There are other examples of apocalyptic literature in the Bible. In the Old Testament, for example, the books of Ezekiel, Daniel, and Zechariah each contain elements of this style of writing. In the New Testament, Matthew 24 contains apocalyptic elements.
You can read the rest of this wonderful artical here http://www.ccel.org/contrib/execoutlines/rev/rev00.htm
And No the Rapture does not scare me. . .
"it's accepted Christian belief that God can 'multi-task' on prophecies, and that whilst some elements of the visions are of the end of Judaism in Judea followed by the diaspora, others refer to events which have not yet happened."
I think all of the visions in Revelation can be explained by 1st century events. As discussed, part of the book refers to the destruction of the temple in 70 AD. Other parts of the book refer to persecution of early Christians by the Emperer Nero, after the great fire of Rome.
Reading the language of Paul and other early Christians, it's very clear they believed the return of Jesus would be within their lifetime. The notion that their words are prophecies referring to events hundreds, or even thousands of years into the future is not supported by the language of the scripture.
Every generation of Christians has believed they were living in the end times. We're still waiting.
"dont say we're wrong b/c my dad wouldn let him teach us if he didnt know what he was teaching bout"
Your Dad's wrong. There, I said it. After 2000 years, the only truth we have is this: every generation of Christians has believed they were living in the end times, based on their interpretation of the Bible. So far, all have been wrong. You are no different.
"youre all wrong who says its not real and its not in there, the signs of the end of time is in there too, if you dont know that then you DONT study the Bible"
You do realize the largely atheist audience you're addressing has studied the Bible more closely than most Christians? There is nothing in the Bible that makes prophecies about the end times. The reason is because all of the New Testament authors believed they were living in the era when Jesus would return.
krittytang you will see when that day comes that you are wrong...God isn meant to be explained...thats what people has to realize...God isn meant for us to know ALL about our human minds is not able to grasp all of it and he knows that...there will come a day when ALL tongues will confess to him, how do we know he exists, listen to the birds, look at the trees, the dew in the morning, you'll see God, but you may not get that since you dont believe, its a blessing to know him and if you dont know him youre missing out on a HUGE blessing...now as you can see by what I have sai no im not afraid, I wont be here I will be with him to reign, I am sad for the ones who rejects him, I dont understand how you can reject someone that laid down his life for you, if anyone needs to talk bout this or anything please feel free to funmail me :)
You know, it really saddens my heart, truly, that highly educated and intellectual people who have all this "head knowledge", but not the "heart knowledge".
I mean, they can analyze things (Bible) to death, soaking every bit of information out of it, being able to quote verses, hold their own with Bible students and teachers...but will miss the mark entirely. How? you ask...
It is because their heart isn't in it. Some even read the Bible looking for flaws so they can argue with Christians, hoping to convince them God isn't real.
God sends His Holy Spirit to each of us, but only those who are searching ("truth-seekers") will be taught by the Holy Spirit to understand what our Lord is all about.
Cintia, that is a very good question. This is my view: Believe it or not I am a Catholic. I was never taught to go to church every Sunday. This does not make me a bad person. I can pray and talk to God in other ways as well. Now, the [rapture]. The coming of Christ? Well, I've had a lot of experiences happen in my life good and bad. I'm sure everyone has. Of course, everyone would most likely be scared. But, I am not scared. As people say, you shouldn't be scared of God or Jesus in this matter. As long as your a good person you shouldn't have nothing to worry about. I promise you that. Now, I was taught some of the written materials in the bible are not fully correct. I tend to agree.
people who wrote the bible got it from God...he told them what to write...rapture= his 2nd coming which is in Revelation and NO my dad isn wrong he is a man of God, you dont know what youre talking bout..dont insult...it isn my interpetation of the Bible, its what God says...I cant help it if you dont know the truth which is very sad...there so many ignorant people on here...yea I said it ones who dont believe is ignorant and a fool, the Bible says who dont believe is a fool, look it up if you dont believe me...my dad ISN wrong, you are...are you going to argue with God when he comes back ad tell him he is wrong and his word isn true and isn right...if you think you are you are stupid
people, id know ia m a preachers daughter and my sunday school class has studied it, I know, im not in a "fantasy world" you will see...and you will see how wrong you are...I've been going to church all my life and I have studied like I said my dad is a preacher and my sunday school class has studied and dont say we're wrong b/c my dad wouldn let him teach us if he didnt know what he was teaching bout...dad knows what we were studyin my dad helped him and I told him too...youre all wrong who says its not real and its not in there, the signs of the end of time is in there too, if you dont know that then you DONT study the Bible
"the Bible says who dont believe is a fool, look it up if you dont believe me."
I've actually read the entire Bible, and I used to be a devout Christian UNTIL I read the Bible and started looking at my religion with an objective eye. And I happen to disagree that the Bible was inspired by God. I believe it was written by men, and is the product of their times and cultures. You can't just read the Bible in English and expect to understand it all. You have to study it within the languages and cultures it was written in. Or at least, it helps enormously to do that.
lish54 I agree with you when you say it is a tremendous blessing to know God; I too believe and follow Him, and am looking forward to His second coming.
Unlike you though, I believe that God will not sneak back to earth and snatch His children out of this world while allowing planes, trains, cars...to crash, killing people.
When God returns 'every eye shall see Him'. The graves will open and the dead saints will raise to Him and we, who are alive and remain, will meet them in the air.
I am so very much looking forward to this day!
DEAR RESPECTFUL BROTHERS AND SISTERS I WANTED TO ADD ONE THING MORE .IF you DON'T KNOW ABOUT IT IT IS GOOD FOR YOUR KNOWLEDGE THAT MUSLIMS ARE ALSO WAITING FOR JESUS (HAZRAT EASA).THEY ALSO BELIEVE ON JESUS THAT HE IS THE MESSENGER OF God but he is not the last messenger of God.and different is that Muslims says that he is not the son of God and God is not his father. this is the basic different between Muslims and Cristans . The different between Muslims and Cristans are not big then a small line.
GOD BLESS YOU ALL.
*** "toadaly, you must have never read Revelations..yes it is bout the end of time,"
Wrong. I have read it. Just as importantly, I've studied the history of the people who wrote it, and period writings that express similar allegorical symbolsim, so I actually know the context. ...something the scam artists pushing 'end times' books have not even bothered to do.
Live in your little fantasy world. It's funny, in a tragic sort of way, that adults believe such nonsense and waste their lives devoted to lies.
flossheal: There are several schools of thought even within Christianity on Biblical prophecy. Many Christians accept that Revelation was about 1st Century AD events. I do realize Christian doctrine holds that Jesus will eventually return. But I also realize that up until this point, there have been thousands of efforts to draw on the Bible in an effort to predict the date of that return, and that all of these have been wrong. It's just not the best track record.
kcblayer, me too.
"It is well with my soul" This is something I can honestly say with all my heart. God has changed me from a lost soul who was searching for something better, then I found Jesus. He saved me and set me free!
If only the lost could seek complete Truth! Only if they'd just pray earnestly for God to show Himself to them...If only...
Jesus Christ's second coming is very soon; won't you be ready to meet Him?
As usual toadaly's exactly right. Revelation is not prophecy. And the rapture is not a Biblical event, but a 19th century interpretation based on piecing together several verses out of context.
Also, one reason Revelation had to use all that symbolism was because it was so anti-Roman that it's authors and audience feared the Romans would persecute them for its content, should it be discovered.
There is a time-scale issue here. 'The End Times' refers, in my understanding, to the time period between Jesus' resurrection and His return. We have been living in the End Times for nearly 2000 years - I don't have a problem with that. I do have a problem with people either stating: 'It will happen in 200X' or 'It will not happen'. Both seem a bit presumptious to me.
toadaly, you must have never read Revelations..yes it is bout the end of time, if you have read it you would have known that and too al who dont believe you will see and you will beg for mercy which God will not grant you b/c you've had your chance and iam very sorry to you who dont you are really missing out on something great and I will be praying for you
I agree with orion.
I never MEANT to say that I didn't believe in God. I just highly doubt hes going to come and kill all the nonbelievers. And besides, rapture wont happen for many, many years (if it ever happens at all) because, don't we need world peace, and for all of the bad things going on in this world to end for rapture or the apocalypse to happen?
...and 'The Rapture' is not even in the bible. It was a term coined by 'some guy' regarding literary imagery found in several places in the New Testament. Funny enough, there is no similar imagery in Revelation, where you'd think it SHOULD be.
And to answer the original question: Nobody knows, because nobody has ever been 'raptured' before...
Whilst the prophecies of Revelation (and of Jesus too) clearly do refer to the demise of Jerusalem in AD 70, it's accepted Christian belief that God can 'multi-task' on prophecies, and that whilst some elements of the visions are of the end of Judaism in Judea followed by the diaspora, others refer to events which have not yet happened.
I love GOD- and I can't imagine having a life wihtout him--it must be sooo tough and im glad to be a beliver and never have to be in that situation!! God is SOOO AMAZING AND HE MAKES LIFE SO MUCH EASIER! I just pray for those that arn't scared- and that they fear that and put all their trust in GOD!!
god bless
Well, I agree in the unusual but wonderful combination of orion, rnealw, toadaly and captainassassin! Biblical evidence for 'The Rapture' does not hold together. I believe Jesus will return but this whole notion of 'The Rapture' is little more than a distraction from loving Him and serving our neighbours right now.
The 'end times', beside being cartoonishly absurd, is not even Biblical. Revelation is an allegorical story about the demise of Jerusalem in 70 CE. It's not a prophecy about the future.
Charlatans have spun a bizarre combination of Revelation and Daniel into a tale that sells books to the naive.
You are right flossheal, nobody knows the day or hour our Lord's second coming will happen, but the Bible does tell us signs to watch for so we would know when the time is near.
No where in history has any other time fit so perfectly the signs Jesus gave to us to watch for as being our day.
I am not going to ridicule your religion, but in my opinion, its all a lie. How do we even know that there's a christ and an anti-christ?
I mean, you have to be realistic. No one is going to just come down from the heavens and kill all the people who don't believe in him.
lish...
You're still young. And before you become too set in your ways, you need to understand one very critical issue:
'Dangling ETERNAL DAMNATION over other people's heads, will NOT make you more credible, and it won't make people want to listen to you.'
I'm far more concerned about the attitudes of some believers now (in all religions) who wish to push their views on society than I am in any mythical story about flying spirits.
I AM DEFINATLY NOT SCARED AT ALL god doesnt scare me its the asteroid that is going to wipe out the world that scares me hahahahahaha lol lol and anyway god is the sun.
Im not scared, im very excited, and hope it comes when im still alive
Yes, I know THEY didn't know... But I believe God did...
...and its 'Revelation' not 'Revelations'
I think its all rediculous
