The second coming

I can't believe I haven't noticed the Spirituality forum.

Anyways, I feel I need to write a huge disclaimer for this subject.

I am an agnostic person who was brought up on the Bible. The reason I believe this will be a civil topic is because I am not here to try and convert anyone, and I don't expect anyone to try and convert anyone else. No one will be arguing in this thread (I hope) and what I'm asking you for is simply your view point, and why you believe it (with passages if you so desire).

The reason I am intrigued by spiritual subjects is the same reason that I enjoy sociology and to an extent, politics: It gets into people, and why they think the way they do. So I just hope to get to know you a bit better. Again, I hold no malice toward anyone, and all I hope to get from this is an understanding of you as a person. I am using the Bible simply because it's the only religion I *kind of* know, so it's one that I can ask in depth questions about. I hope you can take these as just questions, and not as attacks, as they are not my intent

Ok, that was a long disclaimer, but i feel it's needed at times, as religious "debates" tend to heat up. But this will be different, there will only be a discussion of what you feel and why, with no rebuttles, just a collection of experiences and feelings :)


Ok, so one thing I'm wondering about is the second coming. What does the Bible say about false prophets, and how to distinguish the real second coming. Do you feel it's coming soon, or do you feel that there's just no way to tell? Thanks guys!

Well, the Bible doesn't say anything about how to distinguish false prophets from the real deal. It just says not to follow false prophets.

As for when Jesus is coming back, I'd say around the same time that Napoleon comes back, as in never. Dead people are dead, and they don't come back to life, no matter what the ancients wrote down in their mythologies and prophecies. There's no way out of that cold hard fact of biology, and taking it to heart is the only way to realize just how precious this one chance at life you have really is.

Even if, for argument's sake, I accept all the stuff Jesus says in the Bible about the Second Coming, how do I reconcile that with this verse?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Luke 9:27

But I tell you of a truth, there be some standing here, which shall not taste of death, till they see the kingdom of God.

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This is just one of many verses in the New Testament where Jesus claims that people living during his lifetime would still be around to see the Second Coming (for more examples see Matthew 16:28, Matthew 23:26, Mark 9:1, Mark 13:30 and Luke 21:32). This can only mean one of two things: (1) somebody from that time period is still alive, or (2) Jesus' predictions in the Bible are not accurate.

newb...

the bible does not give specifics on how to identify false prophets because in context that is an irrelevant question. it is irrelevant because it says that those "marked for christ" (aka saved) simply CANNOT be fooled, just as one cannot defy gravity of his/her own accord. it is more like a "spiritual law of nature." it just is. makie sense?

as far as my opinion on the second coming... i believe the bible is figurative. extremely valuable, but not literal. for me the book of revelation is not speaking of literal events but only symbolic of reoccuring patterns in human nature and history. it holds much truth and wisdom but is not talking about a literal antichrist, wrath judgements of god, etc..

that is why i think the christian society, generation after generation, always believe "these are the end times!" they believe this because they see signs that revelation talks about... that is because the signs are always there because it outlines patterns of human history. as we know history repeats itself over and over. that is because human nature is relatively unchanging, though expressions of it look different. greed, lust, hunger for power, compassion, love, hate, jealousy, honor, fight for justice, etc are universal and timeless. how all those things work together is very generally outlined. that is all. and it is not exact... it speaks of general truths but in and of itself it is not TRUTH. god is TRUTH (whatever form he/she/it actually is)...

Hardcore_newbie, as in all religions should be, I think it's just a matter of faith, and maybe some knowledge... I just think that if you know Jesus enough, and have enough faith, you won't be fooled...

Also, it comes to my mind this bible passage, and I think you will understand:

Quote:

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Matthew 7:16 (King James Version)
"Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?"

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Real "prophets" will be able to easily prove it by telling you what you had for lunch everyday for the past month if u wanted them to. The false prophet crap in the bible was just a thing keep those who are suffering from divine madness from thinking they are above god. I cannot explain it exactly but there is no doubt in my mind it is that. It's kind of pointless from the church's standpoint, they can think anything they want its only to help the one suffering. The "mark of the beast/reapeating 6" is acctually the mark of the soon-to-be master, churches are frightened by mastery, they are more like anti-holy.

I don't think we're looking at "false" prophets in the right context.

I believe the false prophets talked about in the Bible would be the Devil, or one of it's deamons.

The Devil will rise up and claim that he is God (Mind you the Devil is cunning, so I doubt there will be fire & horns. Instead, he will most likely put himself into a body that looks "Heavenly."

He will perform "miracles," which would in turn make a majority of the world believe in him.

If you were the Devil, wouldn't that be the best way to gather followers?

according to main stream interpretations false prophet is not talking about the devil. we know this because Revelations talks about the devil himself possessing the anti-Christ about midway through the tribulation and having a false prophet. the devil cannot be in two places at the same time. only god is omnipresent.

pureevil... a "prophet" might not know what you had for lunch or dinner because they are NOT omnipotent (all-knowing), they simply have a gift of precognition that is only limitedly under their control. it doesnt mean they know all, just certain things...

Jesus has come again as Ras Tafari - Haile Selassie I

Praise Jah

I was given the false prophet test and failed, then banned from the church because I was "insane" this insanity was divine madness, and I now understand that if that never happend then I'd be some psyco christian or somthing.

Personally, I think the Bible was written to control the masses.