Riddle me this if you will

[BobRyan]

I also seldom care what anyone thinks of my Gods. I may twinge now and then when someone refers to them as comic book characters or demons.

[M. T. Cross]

What is your source of what the Divine is? Why do you see and from what source that the Divine is more than one Deity.

[M. T. Cross]

Originally Posted By: EmptyCross

I also seldom care what anyone thinks of my Gods. I may twinge now and then when someone refers to them as comic book characters or demons.

Have you read what God says about them in 1Corinthians 8?

[Gibs]

You reject Christianity though and of course Christianity if true Christianity rejects of course what you project.

You see I find that when Jesus Christ died on the cross and was raised the 3'rd day and raised many with Him and took them with him to Heaven, it proved all other religions false as none other has a Saviour as pedicted by their writings.

You must know I definitely am a hard core Christian. I mean by that I am so sure of the position I hold as rock solid built you might know upon Him the Rock of Ages.

Well EC that is where I'm from and I had to iron these things out at an early age and I could not have peace within until I did.

Take care, life is short, I know, I'm 81 yrs on this earth. Seems not a lot further than yesterday I was but a little kid.

1Jo 4:4 ¶ Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.

[M. T. Cross]

Actually there are other religions that do have saviour's predicted but I am not sure you are interested in hearing about them.

As is par for the course, this thread has deviated way off of the original topic.

The question still stands - Why does it matter when Christ returns, when the final judgement is and when any of the other stuff happens?

The only answer that I have received is so that one can be prepared.

That one does not hold much water to me. Should one simply not be prepared regardless of when it happens? Be it tomorrow or a million years from now?

So again I ask, why does the timeline bear such an important place, to some it seems to have more importance than the faith of the event itself.

[CoAspen]

Quote:

Should one simply not be prepared regardless of when it happens?

Yes!

Quote:

...why does the timeline bear such an important place...

Christ gave us some details so that humans, doubters that we are, would know that His promise's are true. The timeline was never meant to become more important than a faith/trust in God. When one remembers that Christ speaks about no 'knowing' and to be ready always, it changes the direction of a persons life.

You're quote above is the correct answer, prepared regardless of when....who knows when that big truck is going to come down the road in your lane!

(I think your background in SDAism taught you more than you realize!!..for the positive)

[LifeHiscost]

Quote:

"does it matter when it is that he decides that it is time?"

I think this might give some indication. If it didn't make any difference, why would the deceiver put so much effort into making it so easy to accept complacency?

"For He says: “In an acceptable time I have heard you, And in the day of salvation I have helped you.” Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation."2 Corinthians 6:2 NKJV

God blesses!

[LifeHiscost]

Quote:

...people just see it as a scare tactic. Would not the idea of the love of Jesus and a message of hope and salvation work a lot more efficiently than one of fear and panic?

Q.E.D. - you make a valid point except that should you not be prepared every day? Why does it matter if its very soon, soon or sometime way down the road?

I don't think the conclusion of what is more needed could have been any better expressed. I'm a believer and have found my time more wisely spent in being a servant to those Jesus came to save and leave the prompting of the Holy Spirit for the individual's cognizance after sowing some seed as Jesus might prompt to leave.

BTW, when one is traveling on the highway, they don't accept a warning of a bridge out ahead, to be a scare tactic. Just because judgment day has been imminent more years than we might like to accept, doesn't mean any individual alive can say for certain, their next heartbeat is guaranteed.

God blesses!

[LifeHiscost]

Quote:

but I gotta think that He will give everyone who ever lived a chance to see who He really is.

Got to agree with you!

"They know the truth about God because he has made it obvious to them. For ever since the world was created, people have seen the earth and sky. Through everything God made, they can clearly see his invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature. So they have no excuse for not knowing God.

Yes, they knew God, but they wouldn’t worship him as God or even give him thanks. And they began to think up foolish ideas of what God was like. As a result, their minds became dark and confused."Romans 1:19-21 NLT

" For I say, through the grace given to me, to everyone who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly, as God has dealt to each one a measure of faith."

Romans 12:3 NKJV

"Long ago God spoke many times and in many ways to our ancestors through the prophets. And now in these final days, he has spoken to us through his Son. God promised everything to the Son as an inheritance, and through the Son he created the universe. The Son radiates God’s own glory and expresses the very character of God, and he sustains everything by the mighty power of his command. When he had cleansed us from our sins, he sat down in the place of honor at the right hand of the majestic God in heaven."Hebrews 1:1-3 NLT

God blesses!

[JoeMo]

LHC, MT, and CoAspen:

very much! Animated, engaged, and consrtuctive discussion all the way around on a question that is very appropriate for our times. MT hit the nail on the head when he asked: "Should one simply not be prepared regardless of when it happens?"

MT - I was gonna say I agree with CoAspen when he stated: "I think your background in SDAism taught you more than you realize!!..for the positive". But upon reflection, I think your musings may be the universal musings of all - regardless of their "religion" - who are seeking an intimate relationship with the Divine; whatever name we choose to call Him (or "Her" or "It" - the Divine encomapsses traits of all genders). You are a motivated seeker of truth, and I admire and respect that, bud!

[Gibs]

Well the Jews, some of them didn't know who He was when He came to them and they ask Him, "Who art thou", well they couldn't see it.

Joh 8:25 Then said they unto him, Who art thou? And Jesus saith unto them, Even the same that I said unto you from the beginning.

Joh 8:26 I have many things to say and to judge of you: but he that sent me is true; and I speak to the world those things which I have heard of him.

Joh 8:27 They understood not that he spake to them of the Father.

Joh 8:28 Then said Jesus unto them, When ye have lifted up the Son of man, then shall ye know that I am he, and that I do nothing of myself; but as my Father hath taught me, I speak these things.

Joh 8:29 And he that sent me is with me: the Father hath not left me alone; for I do always those things that please him.

Yes we all have the chance to see from His Holy Word of Truth but many do not know who He really is.

Mt 11:27 All things are delivered unto me of my Father: and no man knoweth the Son, but the Father; neither knoweth any man the Father, save the Son, and he to whomsoever the Son will reveal him.

"And he to whomsoever the son will reveal Him".

Yes, yes it is all right there for all to take in.

1Jo 4:4 ¶ Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.

[CoAspen]

Quote:

"I think your background in SDAism taught you more than you realize!!..for the positive".

By that I meant that there were some good things he learned as well as the down side. But I would agree that the thoughts EC brings to the table can/are somewhat universal. My hope is that by gathering around the agreed upon beliefs people can see the good in others and embrace that individual in their quest for truth. We all have our (+) and (-)'s, but as Christ believers we should allow the H*S to guide everyone. Since I believe the H*S goes to everyone, I leave it up to that entity to accomplish what It can in others lives.

[Woody]

Quote:

Since I believe the H*S goes to everyone, I leave it up to that entity to accomplish what It can in others lives.

"I will draw all men unto me"

" I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh"

[CoAspen]

Some times we forget that and start thinking exclusivity.

[Woody]

Some times we forget that and start thinking exclusivity.

Shamefully we do do that.

[M. T. Cross]

Some times we forget that and start thinking exclusivity.

That's a downfall that can be found in every single religion I know of.

[Gibs]

Heh, heh, you see as Christians we know the parable of the 10 virgins, 5 were prepared and 5 were not.

I'm a beginning to wonder if it will be more than 50 percent not being ready, have gone to sleep on the job and runned out of oil for their lamps, that is spiritual readiness.

They were not expecting their Lords coming!

Sure He'll come sooner or later, but He may come sooner!

No, don't wait til the last minute to get ready, be ye everready!

1Jo 4:4 ¶ Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.

[BobRyan]

Originally Posted By: EmptyCross

I also seldom care what anyone thinks of my Gods. I may twinge now and then when someone refers to them as comic book characters or demons.

Have you read what God says about them in 1Corinthians 8?

[BobRyan]

None of this is the point though. What I don't understand is why so many people (there are pagans that do it too) get so hung up on what its all going to end. The Divine, the Gods, whoever, gave us this life to enjoy.

[JoeMo]

I'm teaching a SS Lesson on 10/27 on Matt. 24 and Luke 21 - about how these chapters describe 2 seperate events - the destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem and the Second Coming. There is a way to distinguish which verses pertain to which event. Tied into that will be the reason that the saved have nothing to fear about the end times; and how to know whether or not you are saved.

I ain't spilling the beans yet - someone on here might be from my SS class :)

[Gibs]

When the storm comes it will be seen which have built upon the Rock and which have built upon the sand.

Great fear will come upon all that have built upon the sand.

Those who have built upon the Rock howeever fear not. We must be of that number as that storm is coming. This is the generation Luke speaks of.

It is needed to read the context before this verse,

Lu 21:31 So likewise ye, when ye see these things come to pass, know ye that the kingdom of God is nigh at hand.

Lu 21:32 Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass away, till all be fulfilled.

1Jo 4:4 ¶ Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.

[CoAspen]

I see you have no answer yet to your question!

I can't answer it because for me there is not need to be always figuring out when, don't make any sense to me!

So, I would like to here the answer also!!!

Maybe someone will fess up and explain their or those who are obsessed with it....maybe....

[M. T. Cross]

So just as in the case of the world wide flood where God squashed all of life on planet earth that is not able to breathe water - so we are told in 2Peter 3 God is going to wipe out all life on planet earth again - only this time in a flood of fire - in fact according to Rev 20 "The Lake of Fire".

So your question about "why it matters" if we know what God is planning to do - is sidestepping "key details".

God is the one who decides how long things are allowed to keep going on.

And God is the one who decides what will be the Ark of safety and what will just be mankind and animals standing out in the rain and pounding on the door. Even Satan himself trembled during that event.

[M. T. Cross]

I see you have no answer yet to your question!

I can't answer it because for me there is not need to be always figuring out when, don't make any sense to me!

So, I would like to here the answer also!!!

Maybe someone will fess up and explain their or those who are obsessed with it....maybe....

I am beginning to have my doubts......

[Samie]

I see a lot of threads regarding the timeline of the end of earth, the second coming etc.

Now if we totally disregard Matthew 24:36 and think that it can be figured out, my question is this - Why does it even matter?

If you are secure in your belief, secure in that you are doing the best you possibly can to follow the mandate your God has set out before you, does it matter when it is that he decides that it is time?

It matters because the way we figure it out reflects whether we take the words of the Master Teacher seriously or not.

In consonance with your given verse, Mt 24:36, the WHEN of the 2nd Coming and the end of the world cannot be figured out exactly. But the Lord had given the signs (see Mt 24:14-31):

The end will come when the gospel is preached unto all nations. How will the end come? The abomination of desolation spoken of by Daniel the prophet will be set up and the great tribulation will start. The days of occurrence of the great tribulation will be shortened or no one will remain alive, and immediately after the great tribulation, unusual celestial phenomena will occur which will be capped by the 2nd Coming.

In reverse order, 1) 2nd Coming 2) unusual celestial phenomena 3) great tribulation 4) setting up of the abomination of desolation 5) preaching of the gospel in all the world.

There are myriads who believe the gospel had been preached, the abomination of desolation already set up, the great tribulation had passed, celestial phenomena had occurred and...

Still, the Lord had not come. Is He slack concerning His promise? No. Will He come as scheduled? Yes. But why Has he not come yet?

1. He still has not come because unusual celestial phenomena have not yet occurred.

2. Unusual celestial phenomena have not yet occurred because the great tribulation has not yet ended.

3. Great tribulation has not ended since it had not even started because the abomination of desolation had not been set up yet.

4. The abomination of desolation had not been set up because the gospel had not been preached yet in all the world as a witness unto all nations.

But the gospel had for long been preached!

Yes, but is the brand of gospel preached for so long, the everlasting gospel according to Scriptures which when preached will usher in the harvest of the earth depicted in Rev 14?