Outsider wrote: ↑Thu Apr 29, 2021 6:22 pm
gcdonner wrote: ↑Thu Apr 29, 2021 5:57 pm
The Jews failed to note his first coming. Jesus told his disciples to watch and pray, not everyone else. How can we explain Rev 1:7 "Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and
they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him..." unless Jesus' statement regarding many of his disciples being yet alive when he returned?
Luk_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.
I don't take the "they also which pierced him" literally. "For as much as you have done to the least of these, you have done unto me."
And how do you determine what to take literally and what not to? I suppose that you also don't take the statement that Jesus made to John the revelator literally, when he said,
...for the time is at hand. Rev 1:3 orRev_22:10 And he saith unto me, Seal not the sayings of the prophecy of this book: for the time is at hand.
Or
Rev_3:11 Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown.
Rev_22:7 Behold, I come quickly: blessed is he that keepeth the sayings of the prophecy of this book.
Rev_22:12 And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.
Rev_22:20 He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus.
He who created time, speaks in time, with language relevant to time so that we human beings have no excuses for not understanding what he was saying. Let's make "at hand" in Revelation mean 2000 years and counting but not Paul's same statement in 2Tim4:6 (see below)? I guess Paul is still waiting for his departure yet.
Or how about Peter's statement:
1Pe 4:7 But the end of all things is at hand: be ye therefore sober, and watch unto prayer.
Mat_3:2 And saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.
Mat_4:17 From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.
Mat_10:7 And as ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand.
Mat_26:18 And he said, Go into the city to such a man, and say unto him, The Master saith, My time is at hand; I will keep the passover at thy house with my disciples.
Mat_26:45 Then cometh he to his disciples, and saith unto them, Sleep on now, and take your rest: behold, the hour is at hand, and the Son of man is betrayed into the hands of sinners.
Mat_26:46 Rise, let us be going: behold, he is at hand that doth betray me.
Mar_1:15 And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel.
Mar_14:42 Rise up, let us go; lo, he that betrayeth me is at hand.
Luk_21:30 When they now shoot forth, ye see and know of your own selves that summer is now nigh at hand.
Luk_21:31 So likewise ye, when ye see these things come to pass, know ye that the kingdom of God is nigh at hand.
Joh_2:13 And the Jews' passover was at hand, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem,
Joh_7:2 Now the Jews' feast of tabernacles was at hand.
Joh_11:55 And the Jews' passover was nigh at hand: and many went out of the country up to Jerusalem before the passover, to purify themselves.
Joh_19:42 There laid they Jesus therefore because of the Jews' preparation day; for the sepulchre was nigh at hand.
Rom_13:12 The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light.
Php_4:5 Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand.
2Th_2:2 That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand.
Paul himself fully expected to be alive when Christ returned. Perhaps it is our concept of the presence/parousia of Jesus that is lacking?
Did he?
2 Timothy 4:6-8
6 For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure is at hand. 7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. 8 Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing.