It's been more than 2000 years

[logician]

Originally Posted by ninerbuff

Think jesus or the messiah is still coming?

Even the unknown writers of the NT didn't imply the second coming could be thousand of years into the future. They implied it would be in their generation. Of course, it didn't happen. Thus the obvious "twist" of the story later on to make people think it could be anytime in the future. Just another tale to keep believers in the church.

[yourhopeboundheart]

Originally Posted by ninerbuff

Think jesus or the messiah is still coming?

he and i get together in the same bar every century, i cant believe he hasn't told you guys he's back.

Originally Posted by ninerbuff

Um using the bible scripture as proof isn't proof.

usually i would agree with you, but the only 'source' we have for the notion that jesus is coming back is the bible. so to rule out bible scriptures in a discussion about bible prophesy would be like ruling out telescopes in an astronomy debate. there's also the point that you said "think", and what other people think doesn't require proof that you would consider proof.

Originally Posted by fantôme profane

Is anybody else still waiting for the second coming of the Great Prophet Zarquon?

not til the end of the universe.

[Smoke]

Originally Posted by Riverwolf

Well, Kalki isn't supposed to come until about 426,888 A.D, according to my likely off calculations.

Originally Posted by Zadok

According to my understanding the time will not exceed a maximum of 200 years from our time. (the minimum possible has passed) Yes, I believe there is still time and but a few promises to be fulfilled.

Originally Posted by sandy whitelinger

We possibly might have another 18,000 to go.

I congratulate you all on having the good sense to hold opinions that cannot possibly be disproven in your own lifetimes. Much less embarrassing.

Originally Posted by sojourner

Not a failed prophecy. Prophecy isn't about predicting the future. It's a declaration about the way things are in a world where God is evident. God always comes. God is always among us.

Here, however, is a belief that cannot be disproven at all, and actually has meaning regardless of events. So I hold Sojourner to be the winner.

[Smoke]

Originally Posted by ZooGirl02

Of course Jesus is still coming back. The Bible says nobody knows the day or the hour of His return but only the Father. It also says it will be unexpected:

"Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, and the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken; then will appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory;
(Matthew 24:29-30 RSV)

For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the archangel's call, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first; then we who are alive, who are left, shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air; and so we shall always be with the Lord.
(1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 RSV)

Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour.
(Matthew 25:13 RSV)

Watch therefore--for you do not know when the master of the house will come, in the evening, or at midnight, or at cockcrow, or in the morning-- lest he come suddenly and find you asleep. And what I say to you I say to all: Watch."
(Mark 13:35-37 RSV)

You also must be ready; for the Son of man is coming at an unexpected hour."
(Luke 12:40 RSV)

The Lord is not slow about his promise as some count slowness, but is forbearing toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance. But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a loud noise, and the elements will be dissolved with fire, and the earth and the works that are upon it will be burned up.
(2 Peter 3:9-10 RSV)

Remember then what you received and heard; keep that, and repent. If you will not awake, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what hour I will come upon you.
(Revelation 3:3 RSV)

Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away. "But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father only.
(Matthew 24:35-36 RSV)

Oh, well, if somebody predicted it, it must be true. Do you also believe in the return of King Arthur and the Hidden Imam?

[yourhopeboundheart]

Originally Posted by logician

Even the unknown writers of the NT didn't imply the second coming could be thousand of years into the future. They implied it would be in their generation. Of course, it didn't happen. Thus the obvious "twist" of the story later on to make people think it could be anytime in the future. Just another tale to keep believers in the church.

it always seems necessary to postpone the end of the world from when you last KNEW WITH ABSOLUTE DIVINE CERTAINTY it would be, because once the date comes and goes you will realize that you actually KNOW WITH ABSOLUTE DIVINE CERTAINTY that it's later on a bit.

[AxisMundi]

Well ladies and gentlmen, I see nothing to date which will change my opinion that the entire "Second Coming" thing is merely another theopolitical control device built into the bible.

[Riverwolf]

Originally Posted by Smoke

I congratulate you all on having the good sense to hold opinions that cannot possibly be disproven in your own lifetimes. Much less embarrassing.

It's the same trick that any good author of futuristic stories does: don't give a specific date, and if you do, make it take place after everyone is dead so you don't look like an idiot.

[Riverwolf]

Originally Posted by AxisMundi

Well ladies and gentlmen, I see nothing to date which will change my opinion that the entire "Second Coming" thing is merely another theopolitical control device built into the bible.

I don't think I'd call it that, actually. Most religions have messiahs that "will come someday and make everything all better" that aren't used as control devices.

[Smoke]

Originally Posted by AxisMundi

Well ladies and gentlmen, I see nothing to date which will change my opinion that the entire "Second Coming" thing is merely another theopolitical control device built into the bible.

I don't think that's how it happened. I think the early Christians earnestly expected the imminent return of Jesus, and were sincerely disappointed. Already before the canon of the New Testament was completed, we see the author of 2 Peter trying to deal with that disappointment.

Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts, and saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation.

That's not to say that once adopted, it couldn't be used as a theopolitical control device.

[Smoke]

Originally Posted by Riverwolf

I don't think I'd call it that, actually. Most religions have messiahs that "will come someday and make everything all better" that aren't used as control devices.

Whenever religious authority and power are joined, religious teachings are used as control devices, even if that's not how they started.