Post by ResLight on Aug 31, 2015 20:36:13 GMT -5
The End is Near
It is claimed that Jesus said that one should not follow one claims that the end is near.
My response:
Practically every generation of Christians has said that the end is near ever since the first century. (From a broad standpoint, the end has been near every since Christ came.) There is a difference, however, in saying one's expectation that the end is near and claiming some special authority to make such an announcement. What Jesus actually stated is, "Then if any man will tell you, 'Behold, here is the Christ,' or, 'There,' don't believe it." (Matthew 24:23) Why? Because, as Jesus stated, "The kingdom of God doesn't come with observation." (Luke 17:20) Jesus knew that when he was to come into his kingdom, it would not be with a visible observation. At the beginning of Jesus' parousia, the world does not recoginize that the days of the Son of the Man, has already begun. (Luke 17:26-28) Many have, even since Jesus died, come saying, "Look here!, I am Christ", or "Look here!, I am the way to Christ!", or "Look there! That man is Christ!", etc. (Luke 17:23) Yes, we should not follow after such men, since Christ does not return as such, nor does Jesus ever authorize anyone to make such a claim. However, Jesus, having sacrificed his flesh for sin (Hebrews 10:10), will never return in the flesh. (1 Peter 3:18) Jesus, knowing this, stated, "the world will see me no more". The "days of his flesh" are in the past. (Hebrews 5:7) Thus, Jesus' disciples should not be going around saying "Look here!" or, "Look there!", because the kingdom comes unobserved by the world in general, although it is in their midst. -- Luke 17:21.
I will state that the JW leadership, because they claim to be the sole authority for Christ, and since they do, in effect claim the authority of Christ, do place themselves in the category being spoken of in Matthew 24:23 and Luke 17:23. They claim that they are God's visible organization, in effect, that they are God's visible Kingdom, and that all must come to thier organization for salvation. Likewise, the so-call "orthodox" tradition makes similar claims, although this is not as widely known. Orthodoxy, however, has traditionally made the claim that only their views are "orthodox", thus proclaiming themselves to have special authority. They even denounce as not being Christian those who do not accept their views, especially regarding their trinity dogma.
I will also state that figuratively, the whole world (after Christ's parousia has begun, after Satan has been abyssed, and after the resurrection of the unjust has begun) will "see" Jesus in the cloud of glory, and then those who had pierced him will have been raised from the dead, so that they will figuratively look upon him whom they pierced.
For more details related to the above, see some of my studies regarding "Christ's Return":
rl-bibleinfo.com/?cat=56
It is claimed that Jesus said that one should not follow one claims that the end is near.
My response:
Practically every generation of Christians has said that the end is near ever since the first century. (From a broad standpoint, the end has been near every since Christ came.) There is a difference, however, in saying one's expectation that the end is near and claiming some special authority to make such an announcement. What Jesus actually stated is, "Then if any man will tell you, 'Behold, here is the Christ,' or, 'There,' don't believe it." (Matthew 24:23) Why? Because, as Jesus stated, "The kingdom of God doesn't come with observation." (Luke 17:20) Jesus knew that when he was to come into his kingdom, it would not be with a visible observation. At the beginning of Jesus' parousia, the world does not recoginize that the days of the Son of the Man, has already begun. (Luke 17:26-28) Many have, even since Jesus died, come saying, "Look here!, I am Christ", or "Look here!, I am the way to Christ!", or "Look there! That man is Christ!", etc. (Luke 17:23) Yes, we should not follow after such men, since Christ does not return as such, nor does Jesus ever authorize anyone to make such a claim. However, Jesus, having sacrificed his flesh for sin (Hebrews 10:10), will never return in the flesh. (1 Peter 3:18) Jesus, knowing this, stated, "the world will see me no more". The "days of his flesh" are in the past. (Hebrews 5:7) Thus, Jesus' disciples should not be going around saying "Look here!" or, "Look there!", because the kingdom comes unobserved by the world in general, although it is in their midst. -- Luke 17:21.
I will state that the JW leadership, because they claim to be the sole authority for Christ, and since they do, in effect claim the authority of Christ, do place themselves in the category being spoken of in Matthew 24:23 and Luke 17:23. They claim that they are God's visible organization, in effect, that they are God's visible Kingdom, and that all must come to thier organization for salvation. Likewise, the so-call "orthodox" tradition makes similar claims, although this is not as widely known. Orthodoxy, however, has traditionally made the claim that only their views are "orthodox", thus proclaiming themselves to have special authority. They even denounce as not being Christian those who do not accept their views, especially regarding their trinity dogma.
I will also state that figuratively, the whole world (after Christ's parousia has begun, after Satan has been abyssed, and after the resurrection of the unjust has begun) will "see" Jesus in the cloud of glory, and then those who had pierced him will have been raised from the dead, so that they will figuratively look upon him whom they pierced.
For more details related to the above, see some of my studies regarding "Christ's Return":
rl-bibleinfo.com/?cat=56