May I Have Your Attention, Please?

[SalixIncendium]

Will the REAL Slim Shady please stand up?


Over the past few hundred years (perhaps longer), many have claimed to be, or have been touted by others to be, the Second Coming™ of Jesus Christ.

List of people claimed to be Jesus - Wikipedia

Granted, most, or more likely all, of the people mentioned in the article were false messiahs. But how do your feel the world would react if a nondescript person (perhaps a carpenter?) proclaimed themselves to be the Second Coming™?

More specifically for Christians: I'm especially curious of how you would react personally. Many Christians tell me that one has to have faith. They have to believe. Their faith requires them to do so with no empirical evidence. Would you be skeptical of such a person and require some evidence, or would your faith take the front seat and lead you to follow this person without any proof whatsoever that s/he is actually who s/he claims to be?

I personally feel that such person would be shunned by by society (yes, even by Christians) and labeled insane.

Who gets to make the final decision on the person who claims to be the Second Coming™ is legit?

What are your thoughts?

 

[Jeremiahcp]

I am still skeptical there was a first coming of Christ. How about we prove that one first then move on to the possibility of a second.

 

[bobhikes]

According to an interpretation of Revelations the Christian 2nd coming only the chosen will recognize the messiah. They are few. The rest will go through revelations and either become followers or be cast outs. This means you are probably right most would see the messiah and the followers as an insane cult yet every Christian believes they will know the messiah.

 

[SalixIncendium]

I am still skeptical there was a first coming of Christ. How about we prove that one first then move on to the possibility of a second.

It is entirely plausible that Jesus existed. What I'm skeptical of is his divinity.

 

[Kemosloby]

Well, the one who destroys the Earth with fire and resurrects all the dead people will be the real Messiah at the second coming.

 

[SalixIncendium]

Well, the one who destroys the Earth with fire and resurrects all the dead people will be the real Messiah at the second coming.

So you'll be waiting for this evidence prior to following this one?

 

[Kemosloby]

So you'll be waiting for this evidence prior to following this one?

There's enough evidence for the Jesus of the Bible, to follow him. Makes perfect sense actually, with a little mystery about the big picture, or the grand scheme of things.

 

[SalixIncendium]

According to an interpretation of Revelations the Christian 2nd coming only the chosen will recognize the messiah. They are few. The rest will go through revelations and either become followers or be cast outs. This means you are probably right most would see the messiah and the followers as an insane cult yet every Christian believes they will know the messiah.

So you're saying the messiah chooses the chosen? I'm reminded of the story of the boy that cried wolf. Christians will become so jaded from seeing so many false messiahs that when the real one comes along, s/he will likely be dismissed as all of the others (except the first one).

 

[Brickjectivity]

An important thing about Jesus is that he isn't here. He has left for a reason. Its a good reason and a good thing that he is not here.

 

[SalixIncendium]

There's enough evidence for the Jesus of the Bible, to follow him. Makes perfect sense actually, with a little mystery about the big picture, or the grand scheme of things.

Evidence in the Bible? I've read the Bible and have seen no evidence. Please explain what I missed.

 

[SalixIncendium]

An important thing about Jesus is that he isn't here. He has left for a reason. Its a good reason and a good thing that he is not here.

Do you mean not here on the forum or not here on Earth?

What do you think the reason is (in either case)?

 

[Brickjectivity]

Do you mean not here on the forum or not here on Earth?

What do you think the reason is (in either case)?

I will not venture a guess, but he's not returning until all of his goals have been accomplished, at which point he will return his authority to God and stand among equals -- or at least that is what one or more NT writers seem to think. Part of the charm of his ministry is that he is not here. It is unthinkable for him to be here before everything is done, and when he is here he will be among equals not lesser beings, no longer the vine and we the branches, no longer the author and the finisher of our faith, no longer the teacher or the leader or the master. No more 'King Jesus' at that time, and for him to return here and reign like a king would be evil, disastrous, insane, a complete reversal of what he stands for.

 

[Kemosloby]

Evidence in the Bible? I've read the Bible and have seen no evidence. Please explain what I missed.

It's all in how you look at it. Intentionally amibiguous, so that some will get it and some won't. Apparently you're not meant to get it just yet.

 

[SalixIncendium]

I will not venture a guess, but he's not returning until all of his goals have been accomplished, at which point he will return his authority to God and stand among equals -- or at least that is what one or more NT writers seem to think. Part of the charm of his ministry is that he is not here. It is unthinkable for him to be here before everything is done, and when he is here he will be among equals not lesser beings, no longer the vine and we the branches, no longer the author and the finisher of our faith, no longer the teacher or the leader or the master. No more 'King Jesus' at that time, and for him to return here and reign like a king would be evil, disastrous, insane, a complete reversal of what he stands for.

Interesting. I had never heard of Jesus returning as an equal to man. Is this mentioned in Scripture (I don't remember reading this) or is this your personal belief?

You've also piqued my curiosity. In order to be equal according to Christian belief, man would have to become enlightened or arrive at some sort of revelation in order to be equal to Jesus (even before his divinity). Either that or Jesus would have to devolve from what he had become. How do you view this arrival of equilibrium?

 

[SalixIncendium]

It's all in how you look at it. Intentionally amibiguous, so that some will get it and some won't. Apparently you're not meant to get it just yet.

Some people don't get the jokes I tell. I explain it to them if I'm in the mood to be amiable. I don't if I'm feeling a bit vexatious.

Are Christians sworn to not reveal their secrets to non-Christians? Is this why no Christian has helped me to "get it"? If this is the case, it kinda negates the purpose of proselytizing, no?

Or are Christians supposed to be vexatious by nature?

 

[Jeremiahcp]

It is entirely plausible that Jesus existed. What I'm skeptical of is his divinity.

Right, because there are no divine implications in the phrase "the coming of Christ".

 

[Brickjectivity]

Interesting. I had never heard of Jesus returning as an equal to man. Is this mentioned in Scripture (I don't remember reading this) or is this your personal belief?

You've also piqued my curiosity. In order to be equal according to Christian belief, man would have to become enlightened or arrive at some sort of revelation in order to be equal to Jesus (even before his divinity). Either that or Jesus would have to devolve from what he had become. How do you view this arrival of equilibrium?

I will let some other people reply for a while. Its not something I want to debate, so I'm leaving scripture out of my reply. There's absolutely zero percent chance (I think) that Jesus will return before his goals are accomplished or that he will return in charge of us. He's in charge while he's in heaven only.

 

[SalixIncendium]

I will let some other people reply for a while. Its not something I want to debate, so I'm leaving scripture out of my reply. There's absolutely zero percent chance (I think) that Jesus will return before his goals are accomplished or that he will return in charge of us. He's in charge while he's in heaven only.

No worries.

For the record, it was not my intention to debate Scripture with you. I was more interested in knowing if your response was a personal belief or something I may have misinterpreted in Scripture, and if the former, what led you to believe as such.

 

[Brickjectivity]

No worries.

For the record, it was not my intention to debate Scripture with you. I was more interested in knowing if your response was a personal belief or something I may have misinterpreted in Scripture, and if the former, what led you to believe as such.

Thanks! Best wishes.

 

[allfoak]

Will the REAL Slim Shady please stand up?


Over the past few hundred years (perhaps longer), many have claimed to be, or have been touted to be by others to be, the Second Coming™ of Jesus Christ.

List of people claimed to be Jesus - Wikipedia

Granted, most, or more likely all, of the people mentioned in the article were false messiahs. But how do your feel the world would react if a nondescript person (perhaps a carpenter?) proclaimed themselves to be the Second Coming™?
More specifically for Christians: I'm especially curious of how you would react personally. Many Christians tell me that one has to have faith. They have to believe. Their faith requires them to do so with no empirical evidence. Would you be skeptical of such a person and require some evidence, or would your faith take the front seat and lead you to follow this person without any proof whatsoever that s/he is actually who s/he claims to be?

I personally feel that such person would be shunned by by society (yes, even by Christians) and labeled insane.

Who gets to make the final decision on the person who claims to be the Second Coming™ is legit?

What are your thoughts?

It happens everyday.
You tube is full of people claiming to be the second coming.