It seems that every few years, someone comes up with an 'end of the world' story and formula for eminent danger. But this one seems pretty serious. People are buying underground apartments for nearly $1 million, in anticipation of a world-wide disaster.
The strange thing is, typical Christians chastise the Doomsday Christians by saying "even Jesus doesn't know when he will return." But the Bible says he did, and he's already missed the deadline.
Matthew 16:28 "Truly I say to you, there are some of those who are standing here who will not taste death until they see the Son of Man coming in His kingdom."
Mark 9:1 Then [Jesus] said to them, "I tell you with certainty, some people standing here will not experience death until they see the kingdom of God arrive with power."
Luke 9:27 "But I say to you truthfully, there are some of those standing here who will not taste death until they see the kingdom of God."
So, Jesus is roughly 2,000 years late according to the Bible, but that's only if this is one of the times Christians choose to take the Bible literally or metaphorically. It's a bit of a wild card it seems.
Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John (The gospels) are all the same account written by 4 different people. Each account has different details in them. Some more and some less. They are all the account of Jesus' birth, life, ministry, death, and resurrection. All three passages you gave me are the same words Jesus said but recorded by 3 different Apostles: Matthew, Mark, and Luke.
ReplyDeleteSo here goes....
The bible, throughout speaks in the natural and spiritual, and sometimes in the same sentence. Also the English language is much too restrictive to completely convey what was originally spoken in Ancient Greek (The language the New Testament was written in). Hence the great need for serious study. In Ancient Greek there are 4 words for "Love": Agape-Godly Love, Eros-Sensual Love, Philia-Brotherly Love, and Storge-The type of love you have for your children. In English we might say "I love that bread" and people will know what you mean but turn around and use the same word to convey a deeper emotion for our wife. Therefore in Ancient Greece they would not have said "I Agape that bread". That being said, a word study needs to be done in some cases to reveal a deeper meaning. Jesus used metaphors mixed with natural meanings and used Parables, Earthly stories with Heavenly meanings to convey a message. They were sometimes cryptic in order to only be learned by those who wanted to learn as opposed to the "religious elite" who only wanted to use Jesus' words against Him.
In these passages, Jesus is not referring to the rapture. He is referring to some of them standing there that will see Him in His Heavenly Glory. Since Jesus came to earth as a helpless baby and a humble son of a carpenter (and then a carpenter Himself) He was seen as poor and of no importance by many. Jesus even said that He came to serve and not to be served-Mark 10:45. He was telling some of them that, before they died, they would see Him as Kingly. When He was ressurected on the third day He stayed on earth for 40 more days and was seen by at least 500 people in His "Glory of Heaven". He then "Ascended" to Heaven in all His glory and there were some who witnessed it.
For passages about the End Times, read Matthew 24:1-8 and verses 36-44. Luke 24:50-53 speaks of the Ascension and that there were witnesses to His Heavenly Glory.
I would also recommend reading "More than a Carpenter" by Josh McDowell. He poses this: Jesus is either Liar, Lunatic, or Lord. He was an atheist and shares the company of Lee Strobel and C.S. Lewis.
I love a good smart ass! The rapture was such crap just like all their other crappy views. Making people think one bumper sticker at a time...
ReplyDelete~ ;)
First, (NOT overly important); but Luke was NOT an apostle... apparently an early convert and wanted to "record" the events as he had "heard" of them; put them in some sort of "order." Then went on to record activities of the early Christians as they interacted with "their world."
ReplyDeleteBUT, regarding your "NOT drinking the 'wine' until in the Father's kingdom:" Various "terms" are used to refer to "the kingdom of God;" "the church" being one. "The church" began on Pentecost (fifty days after the resurrection) and among the three thousand who were baptized on that day were MOST likely some of these people. Then in Paul's letter to the Corinthians (1 Cor. 11:17-34) he is discussing "the communion" using an expression "...in remembrance of me." Bottom line, when "taking communion" we are "drinking wine" with Jesus.
Keep SEARCHING!!!
Recently saw an article concerning "the collider" and smashing particles against each other; to find evidence of, or identify, "the God particle!!! Of course, WHEN it is found... there is the question "From WHERE did it come"???
Thanks, (any thoughts?)
Buford Rowe (browe39@yahoo.com)