Will Christianity Die?

[9-10ths_Penguin]

The church will be raptured out one day in the near future. Then, not long after, the millennium reign will get under way. Looking at the Bible it is difficult to say for that period in time what following the Lord Jesus Christ will be called. Will it be Christianity? No one knows, only God.

Is that the actual near future or Bible-style "any time in the next few thousand years plus" near future?

 

[Apostle John]

Is that the actual near future or Bible-style "any time in the next few thousand years plus" near future?

If you look at current worldwide events as well as the prophecies and the Olivet discourse in the Bible, there is obviously not too long to wait.

 

[9-10ths_Penguin]

If you look at current worldwide events as well as the prophecies and the Olivet discourse in the Bible, there is obviously not too long to wait.

So the second option, then.

 

[Apostle John]

So the second option, then.

It is both- the near future and what the Bible indicates. Israel is back in the land which hasn’t been the case for most of the past 2 millennia.

 

[shunyadragon]

The church will be raptured out one day in the near future. Then, not long after, the millennium reign will get under way. Looking at the Bible it is difficult to say for that period in time what following the Lord Jesus Christ will be called. Will it be Christianity? No one knows, only God.

The belief in a 'rapture?' of some sort is grounded in the mythology of the Bible an ancient tribal scripture, and out of touch with reality. Many Christians perpetually expect things tomorrow that will never happen. When the expectations fail well . . . it will happen tomorrow

 

[cataway]

"The church will be raptured out one day in the near future." Then, not long after, the millennium reign will get under way. Looking at the Bible it is difficult to say for that period in time what following the Lord Jesus Christ will be called. Will it be Christianity? No one knows, only God.

actually ,no . not saying no one will be taken to heaven ,some will . but as for all that consider themselves to be Christion ,no they will not be off to heaven . just telling you this so you won't be disappointed ,surprised or letdown .

 

[Pete in Panama]

The belief in a 'rapture?' of some sort is grounded in the mythology of the Bible an ancient tribal scripture, and out of touch with reality. Many Christians perpetually expect things tomorrow that will never happen. When the expectations fail well . . . it will happen tomorrow

It's impossible to observe that which has not happened yet, this means I can say ANYTHING I want about the future and it's impossible to argue against it. My take is that we can chat about God, heaven, all that stuff and still stay in the here and now.

 

[shunyadragon]

It's impossible to observe that which has not happened yet, this means I can say ANYTHING I want about the future and it's impossible to argue against it. My take is that we can chat about God, heaven, all that stuff and still stay in the here and now.

You of course can say ANYTHING you want about the future, but since you are basing it on an interpretation of ancient tribal scripture it is as likely as the existence of unicorns.,

 

[Apostle John]

The belief in a 'rapture?' of some sort is grounded in the mythology of the Bible an ancient tribal scripture, and out of touch with reality. Many Christians perpetually expect things tomorrow that will never happen. When the expectations fail well . . . it will happen tomorrow

No single tribe wrote the Bible, these ancients recorded reality at the time and also predicted the future through prophecy. I believe the prophecy of the rapture is looking good if one is able to read the signs properly.

 

[Pete in Panama]

...you are basing it on an interpretation of ancient tribal scripture...

huh. please tell me in what universe am I "basing it on an interpretation of ancient tribal scripture"?

 

[shunyadragon]

huh. please tell me in what universe am I "basing it on an interpretation of ancient tribal scripture"?

A universe and a planet billions of years based on science. Based on an ancient tribal scripture maybe 10,000 years old.

 

[shunyadragon]

No single tribe wrote the Bible, these ancients recorded reality at the time and also predicted the future through prophecy. I believe the prophecy of the rapture is looking good if one is able to read the signs properly.

Bing a ancient tribal scripture does not translate to one tribe wrote. Based on archaeology, historical linguistic, the Pentateuch evolved through ancient cultures with Mesopotamian mythology including texts from Sumarians, and Babylonians. The Hebrews wrote and compiled the Torah and used earlier written texts, and added their own traditional history and beliefs in an edited and redacted texts to come up with the Torah between the 10th and 4th century BC. Nothing has been found earlier.

The New Testament was compiled, edited and redacted from various sources and letters. between the ~3rd and the ~6th century AD. A possible simpler shorter gospel called Q may have existed earlier

 

[joelr]

The church will be raptured out one day in the near future. Then, not long after, the millennium reign will get under way. Looking at the Bible it is difficult to say for that period in time what following the Lord Jesus Christ will be called. Will it be Christianity? No one knows, only God.

The "rapture" was introduced to the Israelites during the 2nd Temple Period and slowly made its way into the theology ofJudaism and later Christianity. It was Persian first. The nation who occupied Israel.


Zoroastrians-Their-Religious-Beliefs-and-Practices-MaryBoyce.


Revelations

But Zoroaster taught that the blessed must wait for this culmination till Frashegird and the 'future body' (Pahlavi 'tan i pasen'), when the earth will give up the bones of the dead (Y 30.7). This general resurrection will be followed by the Last Judgment, which will divide all the righteous from the wicked, both those who have lived until that time and those who have been judged already. Then Airyaman, Yazata of friendship and healing, together with Atar, Fire, will melt all the metal in the mountains, and this will flow in a glowing river over the earth. All mankind must pass through this river, and, as it is said in a Pahlavi text, 'for him who is righteous it will seem like warm milk, and for him who is wicked, it will seem as if he is walking in the • flesh through molten metal' (GBd XXXIV. r 8-r 9). In this great apocalyptic vision Zoroaster perhaps fused, unconsciously, tales of volcanic eruptions and streams of burning lava with his own experience of Iranian ordeals by molten metal; and according to his stern original teaching, strict justice will prevail then, as at each individual j udgment on earth by a fiery ordeal. So at this last ordeal of all the wicked will suffer a second death, and will perish off the face of the earth. The Daevas and legions of darkness will already have been annihilated in a last great battle with the Yazatas; and the river of metal will flow down into hell, slaying Angra Mainyu (their Satan) and burning up the last vestige of wickedness in the universe.


Ahura Mazda and the six Amesha Spentas will then solemnize a lt, spiritual yasna, offering up the last sacrifice (after which death will be no more), and making a preparation of the mystical 'white haoma', which will confer immortality on the resurrected bodies of all the blessed, who will partake of it. Thereafter men will beome like the Immortals themselves, of one thought, word and deed, unaging, free from sickness, without corruption, forever joyful in the kingdom of God upon earth. For it is in this familiar and beloved world, restored to its original perfection, that, according to Zoroaster, eternity will be passed in bliss, and not in a remote insubstantial Paradise. So the time of Separation is a renewal of the time of Creation, except that no return is prophesied to the original uniqueness of living things. Mountain and valley will give place once more to level plain; but whereas in the beginning there was one plant, one animal, one man, the rich variety and number that have since issued from these will remain forever. Similarly the many divinities who were brought into being by Ahura Mazda will continue to have their separate existences. There is no prophecy of their re-absorption into the Godhead. As a Pahlavi text puts it, after Frashegird 'Ohrmaid and the Amahraspands and all Yazads and men will be together. .. ; every place will resemble a garden in spring, in which


there are all kinds of trees and flowers ... and it will be entirely the creation of Ohrrnazd' (Pahl.Riv.Dd. XLVIII, 99, lOO, l07).

 

[Apostle John]

Bing a ancient tribal scripture does not translate to one tribe wrote. Based on archaeology, historical linguistic, the Pentateuch evolved through ancient cultures with Mesopotamian mythology including texts from Sumarians, and Babylonians. The Hebrews wrote and compiled the Torah and used earlier written texts, and added their own traditional history and beliefs in an edited and redacted texts to come up with the Torah between the 10th and 4th century BC. Nothing has been found earlier.

The New Testament was compiled, edited and redacted from various sources and letters. between the ~3rd and the ~6th century AD. A possible simpler shorter gospel called Q may have existed earlier

The "rapture" was introduced to the Israelites during the 2nd Temple Period and slowly made its way into the theology ofJudaism and later Christianity. It was Persian first. The nation who occupied Israel.


Zoroastrians-Their-Religious-Beliefs-and-Practices-MaryBoyce.


Revelations

But Zoroaster taught that the blessed must wait for this culmination till Frashegird and the 'future body' (Pahlavi 'tan i pasen'), when the earth will give up the bones of the dead (Y 30.7). This general resurrection will be followed by the Last Judgment, which will divide all the righteous from the wicked, both those who have lived until that time and those who have been judged already. Then Airyaman, Yazata of friendship and healing, together with Atar, Fire, will melt all the metal in the mountains, and this will flow in a glowing river over the earth. All mankind must pass through this river, and, as it is said in a Pahlavi text, 'for him who is righteous it will seem like warm milk, and for him who is wicked, it will seem as if he is walking in the • flesh through molten metal' (GBd XXXIV. r 8-r 9). In this great apocalyptic vision Zoroaster perhaps fused, unconsciously, tales of volcanic eruptions and streams of burning lava with his own experience of Iranian ordeals by molten metal; and according to his stern original teaching, strict justice will prevail then, as at each individual j udgment on earth by a fiery ordeal. So at this last ordeal of all the wicked will suffer a second death, and will perish off the face of the earth. The Daevas and legions of darkness will already have been annihilated in a last great battle with the Yazatas; and the river of metal will flow down into hell, slaying Angra Mainyu (their Satan) and burning up the last vestige of wickedness in the universe.


Ahura Mazda and the six Amesha Spentas will then solemnize a lt, spiritual yasna, offering up the last sacrifice (after which death will be no more), and making a preparation of the mystical 'white haoma', which will confer immortality on the resurrected bodies of all the blessed, who will partake of it. Thereafter men will beome like the Immortals themselves, of one thought, word and deed, unaging, free from sickness, without corruption, forever joyful in the kingdom of God upon earth. For it is in this familiar and beloved world, restored to its original perfection, that, according to Zoroaster, eternity will be passed in bliss, and not in a remote insubstantial Paradise. So the time of Separation is a renewal of the time of Creation, except that no return is prophesied to the original uniqueness of living things. Mountain and valley will give place once more to level plain; but whereas in the beginning there was one plant, one animal, one man, the rich variety and number that have since issued from these will remain forever. Similarly the many divinities who were brought into being by Ahura Mazda will continue to have their separate existences. There is no prophecy of their re-absorption into the Godhead. As a Pahlavi text puts it, after Frashegird 'Ohrmaid and the Amahraspands and all Yazads and men will be together. .. ; every place will resemble a garden in spring, in which


there are all kinds of trees and flowers ... and it will be entirely the creation of Ohrrnazd' (Pahl.Riv.Dd. XLVIII, 99, lOO, l07).

Ancient scripture is different between tribes, there’s writings then there’s the Bible which is God’s Word. The rapture is different to resurrection although we Christians will get a resurrection body after a twinkling of an eye. God tells me in “two shakes of a lamb’s tail”, the latest idiom I’ve heard.

 

[joelr]

Ancient scripture is different between tribes, there’s writings then there’s the Bible which is God’s Word. The rapture is different to resurrection although we Christians will get a resurrection body after a twinkling of an eye. God tells me in “two shakes of a lamb’s tail”, the latest idiom I’ve heard.

Yes both stories are clearly the same with small differences. If Christians get a resurrection into a new body then it's THE SAME STORY?????
The Persian story was the first.
That's funny, Islam claims the Quran is Gods word. Mormons claim their updates is Gods word. Hindu say their scripture is Gods word.

Yet they all look like myths. In fact I just pointed out where the Revelation story clearly came from. You have no response except to make a claim.
Doesn't look like Gods words. So God has to borrow myths from older cultures?
Then do it again in the NT?
Baptism, eucharist, dying/rising saviors resurrecting in 3 days, souls that go to heaven after redemption..all Greek and Persian. Before Christianity.

The doctrines it looks like (existed before) that were then used by Judaism from the Persian religion:


Doctrines


fundamental doctrines became disseminated throughout the region, from Egypt to the Black Sea: namely that there is a supreme God who is the Creator; that an evil power exists which is opposed to him, and not under his control; that he has emanated many lesser divinities to help combat this power; that he has created this world for a purpose, and that in its present state it will have an end; that this end will be heralded by the coming of a cosmic Saviour, who will help to bring it about; that meantime heaven and hell exist, with an individual judgment to decide the fate of each soul at death; that at the end of time there will be a resurrection of the dead and a Last Judgment, with annihilation of the wicked; and that thereafter the kingdom of God will come upon earth, and the righteous will enter into it as into a garden (a Persian word for which is 'paradise'), and be happy there in the presence of God for ever, immortal themselves in body as well as soul. These doctrines all came to be adopted by various Jewish schools in the post-Exilic period, for the Jews were one of the peoples, it seems, most open to Zoroastrian influences - a tiny minority, holding staunchly to their own beliefs, but evidently admiring their Persian benefactors, and finding congenial elements in their faith. Worship of the one supreme God, and belief in the coming of a Messiah or Saviour, together with adherence to a way of life which combined moral and spiritual aspirations with a strict code of behaviour (including purity laws) were all matters in which Judaism and Zoroastrianism were in harmony; and it was this harmony, it seems, reinforced by the respect of a subject people for a great protective power, which allowed Zoroastrian doctrines to exert their influence. The extent of this influence is best attested, however, by Jewish writings of the Parthian period, when Christianity and the Gnostic faiths, as well as northern Buddhism, all likewise bore witness to the profound effect: which Zoroaster's teachings had had throughout the lands of the Achaernenian empire.

 

[Apostle John]

Yes both stories are clearly the same with small differences. If Christians get a resurrection into a new body then it's THE SAME STORY?????
The Persian story was the first.
That's funny, Islam claims the Quran is Gods word. Mormons claim their updates is Gods word. Hindu say their scripture is Gods word.

Yet they all look like myths. In fact I just pointed out where the Revelation story clearly came from. You have no response except to make a claim.
Doesn't look like Gods words. So God has to borrow myths from older cultures?
Then do it again in the NT?
Baptism, eucharist, dying/rising saviors resurrecting in 3 days, souls that go to heaven after redemption..all Greek and Persian. Before Christianity.

The doctrines it looks like (existed before) that were then used by Judaism from the Persian religion:


Doctrines


fundamental doctrines became disseminated throughout the region, from Egypt to the Black Sea: namely that there is a supreme God who is the Creator; that an evil power exists which is opposed to him, and not under his control; that he has emanated many lesser divinities to help combat this power; that he has created this world for a purpose, and that in its present state it will have an end; that this end will be heralded by the coming of a cosmic Saviour, who will help to bring it about; that meantime heaven and hell exist, with an individual judgment to decide the fate of each soul at death; that at the end of time there will be a resurrection of the dead and a Last Judgment, with annihilation of the wicked; and that thereafter the kingdom of God will come upon earth, and the righteous will enter into it as into a garden (a Persian word for which is 'paradise'), and be happy there in the presence of God for ever, immortal themselves in body as well as soul. These doctrines all came to be adopted by various Jewish schools in the post-Exilic period, for the Jews were one of the peoples, it seems, most open to Zoroastrian influences - a tiny minority, holding staunchly to their own beliefs, but evidently admiring their Persian benefactors, and finding congenial elements in their faith. Worship of the one supreme God, and belief in the coming of a Messiah or Saviour, together with adherence to a way of life which combined moral and spiritual aspirations with a strict code of behaviour (including purity laws) were all matters in which Judaism and Zoroastrianism were in harmony; and it was this harmony, it seems, reinforced by the respect of a subject people for a great protective power, which allowed Zoroastrian doctrines to exert their influence. The extent of this influence is best attested, however, by Jewish writings of the Parthian period, when Christianity and the Gnostic faiths, as well as northern Buddhism, all likewise bore witness to the profound effect: which Zoroaster's teachings had had throughout the lands of the Achaernenian empire.

The Bible is the only Scripture that is God’s Word. The rest are poor imitations likely set up by Satan causing all these tribal differences. Satan knows the future as well as God from the Garden of Eden. It’s why some tribes believed in resurrection but others didn’t before the Bible came to be.

 

[metis]

Then, not long after, the millennium reign will get under way.

We are already in it, imo.

 

[metis]

The Bible is the only Scripture that is God’s Word.

So, God ignored all the rest in the world, especially those who lived more than 2000 years b.p.?

 

[Apostle John]

We are already in it, imo.

No, that’s not correct but people do have strange opinions.

So, God ignored all the rest in the world, especially those who lived more than 2000 years b.p.?

No Enoch is said to have walked with God before the flood so God was made known to people from the beginning. It has always been like today, many in the world today ignore God.

 

[Pete in Panama]

...you are basing it on an interpretation of ancient tribal scripture...

huh. please tell me in what universe am I "basing it on an interpretation of ancient tribal scripture"?

--to which you replied...

A universe and a planet billions of years based on science. Based on an ancient tribal scripture maybe 10,000 years old.

ok, so as long as I based whatever on, well, things --I did it billions of years ago then at least I'm not doing whatever I'm doing here.

or something like that.

Cheers!