There have certainly been those of each generation who believed the return of Jesus to be imminent and desiring Jesus return should have us all crying MARANATHA.
Do you have any thoughts about the rest of the post?
just enjoyed the read through and some of the conversations
I just wanted to point out that the apostles taught that the end was very near even almost two thousand years ago and e whole New Testament doctrine instills a sense of urgency to repent and get right before it’s too late a
What I mean is the doctrine itself has this thought sewn into its fabric
“But of
that day and that hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels which are in heaven, neither the Son, but the Father.
Take ye heed, watch and pray: for ye know not when the time is.
For the Son of man
is as a man taking a far journey, who left his house, and gave authority to his servants, and to every man his work,
and commanded the porter to watch.
Watch ye therefore: for ye know not when the master of the house cometh, at
even, or at
midnight, or at the
cockcrowing, or in the
morning:
lest coming suddenly he find you sleeping. And what I say unto you I say unto all, Watch.”
Mark 13:32-37
at he feeling that it’s very near is part of the faith it presses us into repentance and doesn’t let us become complacent keeps us moving forward and getting ready
“
Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come. Therefore
be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh.
Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his Lord hath made ruler over his household, to give them meat in due season?
Blessed is that servant, whom his Lord when he cometh shall find so doing. Verily I say unto you, That he shall make him ruler over all his goods.
But and if that evil servant shall say in his heart, My Lord delayeth his coming; and shall begin to smite his fellowservants, and to eat and drink with the drunken; the Lord of that servant shall come in a day when he looketh not for him, and in an hour that he is not aware of, and shall cut him asunder, and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”
Matthew 24:42, 44-51
We don’t want to be the servant who starts acting like the master isnt coming home because he could arrive anytime and we want to be ready
Notice how each parable is different but is communicating the same concept
“Then shall
the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom. And
five of them were wise, and five were foolish.
They that were foolish took their lamps, and
took no oil with them: ( unprepared )?
but the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps. ( prepared )
While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept. And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him. Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps. And
the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out.
But the wise answered, saying,
Not so; lest there be not enough for us and you: but go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves.
And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and
they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut.
Afterward came also the other virgins, saying,
Lord, Lord, open to us. But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not. Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh.”
Matthew 25:1-13 KJV
“But of the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that I write unto you.
For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night. For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape. Therefore let us not sleep, as do others;
but let us watch and be sober. For they that sleep, sleep in the night; and they that be drunken are drunken in the night. But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation.”
1 Thessalonians 5:1-3, 6-8
My only intent was to offer the thought that the doctrine itself creates the belief that Jesus is coming to soon it’s meant to bring us to repentance
“
He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus.”
Revelation 22:20 KJV