Jesus Returning

[kurt73]

I'm curious on what people think about the returning of Christ. It has been brought up in conversation and everyone kind of had a different view or opinion. What do you think?

[TW]

I voted No. I don't expect Jesus to return within my remaining years. Because I am older than many on the forum I have a smaller time frame to be concerned with than most. Jesus himself said that no man knew the hour of his return. Even though I don't expect His return while I live, I must take care to live each day as if this were the day of His return.


TW

[oletimer]

I voted not sure because like TW I'm on the older side of life. Well as I set here to write this out, it occurred to me that my life time is not bounded to this world if I'm in Christ. But yes this body will probability be in the ground when Christ returns again, but that want matter any because that will give me a split second lead on meeting Christ in the air. Waiting on the trumpet sound. When want make any difference to those that are ready, but being ready will.

[JohnDB]

OK...someone here has to be the contrarian...

might as well be me.

Are you referring to earthly life or Heavenly life where we will get to live more fully and completely?

and since it is for every man to die and then face judgment (if earthly life) I would think no...I got to die first.

[pastorables]

Unequivocally, Yes.

Titus 2:13 speaks of "looking for the blessed hope", and 2 Peter 3:12 shares that we should "look for and eagerly wait for the day of the Lord"...

I'm eagerly looking for his return, and I do believe the seasons confirm that his "coming is nigh, even at the door" (Mark 13:29).

pa

[pastorables]

and since it is for every man to die and then face judgment (if earthly life) I would think no...I got to die first.

The bible states that we shall not all die, but we shall all be changed (1 Corinthians 15:51).

pa

[oletimer]

JohnDB wrote:

and since it is for every man to die and then face judgment (if earthly life) I would think no...I got to die first.

Joh 11:25
Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live:
Joh 11:26
And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?

1Pe 4:17
For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?

John, If we DIE IN THE FLESH, THEN WE LIVE IN THE SPIRIT.

This body or shell will either die or be changed at the "trumpet sound".

1Th 4:14
For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.
1Th 4:15
For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep.
1Th 4:16
For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:
1Th 4:17
Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.

Real life begains after we receive Christ.

[kurt73]

I'm glad to see that the majority of people live with an expectation of His return. We do not know the day or the hour, but the Bible does call us to be watchful and expectant.

[RamboPreacher]

I'm glad to see that the majority of people live with an expectation of His return. We do not know the day or the hour, but the Bible does call us to be watchful and expectant.

the poll is misleading though. I voted NO. Because I don't believe this "event" is going to happen in my lifetime. HOWEVER, I am expectant of His return, look fervently toward His return, am watchful for His return. I believe that it is near. I believe that it will happen, and I have hope and faith that He will return.

so an assumption that no means there is no expectation at all is an incorrect assumption.

[Gerald Creasy]

I'm glad to see that the majority of people live with an expectation of His return. We do not know the day or the hour, but the Bible does call us to be watchful and expectant.

the poll is misleading though. I voted NO. Because I don't believe this "event" is going to happen in my lifetime. HOWEVER, I am expectant of His return, look fervently toward His return, am watchful for His return. I believe that it is near. I believe that it will happen, and I have hope and faith that He will return.

so an assumption that no means there is no expectation at all is an incorrect assumption.

EXACTLY.


I wish he'd come this evening, hope he comes as quick as possible.....but I think it may not be for thousands of years.

[JohnDB]

Who said I don't think that I will changed in the twinkling of an eye and be in Heaven when my mortal coil is sloughed off like a scab?

I really don't expect to die die...just get rid of this body and get a new one...I shant be gone...just really born anew from above...

And when I die I shall be retrieved by Jesus...so in that time He will return for me.

after all...there is more than one way to skin a cat...

heh heh heh

[kurt73]

I'm glad to see that the majority of people live with an expectation of His return. We do not know the day or the hour, but the Bible does call us to be watchful and expectant.

the poll is misleading though. I voted NO. Because I don't believe this "event" is going to happen in my lifetime. HOWEVER, I am expectant of His return, look fervently toward His return, am watchful for His return. I believe that it is near. I believe that it will happen, and I have hope and faith that He will return.

so an assumption that no means there is no expectation at all is an incorrect assumption.

The poll was exactly what it said. Do you believe He will return in your lifetime.
My post/comment was exactly what it said. We all should expect the return of Christ. Others where posting their answer but explain that we should always expect His return so I was agreeing with them.

Do I think Christ will return in my lifetime. I think so based off what the bible says and the events that have took place so far. I believe we are truely in the last days. Rosh Hashanah is getting ready to take place!

[Paully_44]

I voted not sure because like TW I'm on the older side of life.

I am on the younger side of things and I still dont think it will happen while I am breathing here.

[bibleguy]

I'm glad to see that the majority of people live with an expectation of His return. We do not know the day or the hour, but the Bible does call us to be watchful and expectant.

First of all it never says that no man "CAN" know, only "no man knoweth" present tense. So no man, at the time of the writing and no doubt well beyond, knoweth. But let's look at Christ's 1st coming:

1. Zechariah and Elisabeth knew that their son was going to prepare the way for Christ. They knew that Messiah's coming was very near. Probably in the lifetime of their son's generation.

2. Mary & Joseph knew Messiah was coming a full 9 months prior to his birth.

3. Wise men and shepherds knew he was born, so they knew that He would be revealed -- if not in their own lifetimes (perhaps they were very old) then indeed in their children's generation.

4. When they brought the baby Jesus to the Temple, both Simeon and Anna knew that Messiah had been born, and that they had witnessed the generation that would see Messiah's work.

5. John knew to look for Messiah, because he would show up at the river one day, and John would recognize him by the Holy Spirit descending upon him.

This all means that people knew Messiah would be revealed and do his work some 30 years prior to the event.


Jesus said, "“And when ye shall see Jerusalem compassed with armies, then know that the desolation thereof is nigh. Then let them which are in Judaea flee to the mountains; and let them which are in the midst of it depart out; and let not them that are in the countries enter thereinto” (Luke 21:20-21). Now, of course He did not say, "In 70 A.D., when ye shall see...," but He let them know the sign of the destruction of Jerusalem, and told them that it would swiftly follow the sign, so they had no time to pack or anything just flee. They didn't know the timing of the sign, but they certainly had a heads up as to the destruction the sign would foretell.

Paul knew that Jesus' second coming would not be in his lifetime, because he said that the day was not yet at hand (2 Thess. 2:1-3; 2 Tim. 4:6-8)), and that after his death, the apostasy would come (Acts 20:29). He also knew that someone would see that day coming (Heb. 10:24-25).

When God called Noah, He didn't tell him when the flood would be, so Noah built an ark, knowing only one thing: God gave him enough time to get it built. As the time drew nearer, God told him to get in the ark because the flood would come in 7 days. Now Noah knew the day, a full week in advance.

Moses brought the children of Israel to Mount Sinai. God called Him up and told him to prepare the people for the third day, “for the third day the LORD will come down in the sight of all the people upon mount Sinai.” (Ex 19:11). Though they didn't know the day, they knew that they were going to meet the Lord when they left Egypt. Now they knew the Lord was coming three days before the event.

GOD NEVER CHANGES!!!

“Surely the Lord GOD will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets.” (Amos 3:7 AV)

Before the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah, the immutable God said, “And the LORD said, Shall I hide from Abraham that thing which I do” (Gen. 18:17), then He proceeded to inform Abraham of Sodom's impending doom.

Jesus said to His disciples, “Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you.” (John 15:15).

God told His friend Abraham (James 2:23) what he was about to do. Jesus told His friends all things which the Father told Him. Does God have no living friends today? No one to whom He would desire to tell the exciting work that He is doing/about to do? Are we to rejoice, and shout "PRAISE THE LORD, WE KNOW NOTHING, IT'S GOING TO BE A SURPRISE PARTY!"

What of Israel's tribe of Issachar? “And of the children of Issachar, which were men that had understanding of the times, to know what Israel ought to do; the heads of them [were] two hundred; and all their brethren were at their commandment.” (1 Chron. 12:32). Are there no such people today?

Yet we are often taught that those "left behind" will know precisely the return of the Lord following the "rapture." These apostates and sinners will know that He's coming seven years after that, but the Saints -- God's friends -- that were taken know nothing of time at all? That makes no sense at all!!

No dear brothers and sisters, before the Lord comes there will be signs. We will see things and know that it is near, even at the doors (Matt. 24:33). One of the greatest signs of Jesus' coming will be when "His wife hath made herself ready" (Rev. 19:7). He's not coming until she's ready, and she's not ready yet. But according to the will of the Lord she WILL be, and He will come very, very soon after that.

But reading the comments of those having an "expectation" of an event that they don't expect to happen in their lifetimes reminds me of the words of Jesus in Matt. 25:

“Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom. And five of them were wise, and five [were] foolish. They that [were] foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them: But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps. While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept.” (Matt. 25:1-5).

These thought He was coming, but He took longer than they thought He would have, so they all went to sleep. But at midnight a cry was made that he was coming. Midnight is near. A cry will preceed His coming. Are you wise or foolish? Will you be ready when Jesus comes? Will you hear the cry and respond? Will you enter into the chambers? or will you find yourself with the foolish on the outside?

[dolfan]

I don't know. I just don't. I don't even know what to expect, honestly. A blink and a flight? Awful, unspeakably horrific world conditions before that? It is so easy to just read the times, see the world around us and WISH, HOPE, etc., fervently, that He will return and make things right. Hoping He does just that is healthy, obedient, all good. Living like He will is, too. But, if you asked me my opinion "do I think Jesus will return to Earth, personally and bodily, in my lifetime?", I'd have to tell you I don't think so. So much time has already passed and He has not returned. Things have reached the fever pitch of disaster for all people great and small, and still He tarries. So, I trust His timing. This world, this order of things, makes me sick more and more every day. I'm probably impatient about His return. But, like Gerald, I have to acknowledge that it may very well be another two millenia, three, four, five .... I don't know.