Is Jesus coming back as a human?

Question

My pentecostal best friend (who keeps telling me to 'have fun in hell') confuses me totally when she talks about the rapture....
Do chritians believe that Jesus will come back as a human, preach, and then take them to heaven? Or will it go down like those 'Left Behind' books...where Jesus is not seen and everyone just dissappears....I hope Hell has cable.....

Answer 1

“Another parable put He forth unto them, saying, ‘The kingdom of heaven is likened unto a man which sowed good seed in his field: But while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat, and went his way. But when the blade was sprung up, and brought forth fruit, then appeared the tares also. So the servants of the householder came and said unto him, ‘Sir, didst not thou sow good seed in thy field? From whence then hath it tares?’ He said unto them, ‘An enemy hath done this.’ The servants said unto him, ‘Wilt thou then that we go and gather them up?’ But he said, ‘Nay; lest while ye gather up the tares, ye root up also the wheat with them. Let both grow together until the harvest: and in the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, Gather ye together first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them: but gather the wheat into my barn.’’” (Matthew 13:24 – 29 KJV)

Now that is an interesting story, and it can be a little confusing; fortunately, because the disciples found this story a little confusing they also and asked Jesus to explain if further. Because our God is not a God of confusion (1 Corinthians 14:33), Jesus explained what this parable meant.

“Then Jesus sent the multitude away, and went into the house: and his disciples came unto him, saying, ‘Declare unto us the parable of the tares of the field.’ He answered and said unto them, ‘He that soweth the good seed is the Son of man; The field is the world; the good seed are the children of the kingdom; but the tares are the children of the wicked one; The enemy that sowed them is the devil; the harvest is the end of the world; and the reapers are the angels. As therefore the tares are gathered and burned in the fire; so shall it be in the end of this world. The Son of man shall send forth his angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things that offend, and them which do iniquity; And shall cast them into a furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth. Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Who hath ears to hear, let him hear.’” (Matthew 13:36 – 42 KJV)

A closer study of this parable would seem to completely disprove the theory of a secret rapture of the church. Let’s take a look at what Jesus had to say about the time of the end through this parable. There are two groups on the earth represented by the wheat (the good or the church) and the tares (the evil). The workers of the field (probably representing angels) are troubled by the tares that the evil one (the devil) has planted. They ask the farmer (Jesus) if they should gather the weeds now and purify the field (the world). The farmer (Jesus) said that it should not happen that way because some of the wheat may come up with the tares. He then declares, “Let both grow together until the harvest (the end of the world): and in the time of harvest (the end of the world) I will say to the reapers, Gather ye together first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them: but gather the wheat into my barn.” I find it hard to be a proponent of a secret rapture for the church when Jesus said that both the good and the evil will grow together until the harvest (the end of the world). How can the church be raptured, leaving the evil on the earth, when Jesus said they will be together until the very end?

There is another issue raised by this parable. Many well intentioned Christians use the story in Matthew 24:40 & 41 and Luke 17:34 – 36 as key proof of a secret rapture for the church, but if we examine this story about the end times with the earlier story Jesus told about the end times in Matthew 13, we get a completely different picture from what most Christians interpret this story to mean. Let’s look at what Jesus said in these verses.

“Then shall two be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left. Two women shall be grinding at the mill; the one shall be taken, and the other left. Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come.” (Matthew 24:40 – 42 KJV)

“I tell you, in that night there shall be two men in one bed; the one shall be taken, and the other shall be left. Two women shall be grinding together; the one shall be taken, and the other left. Two men shall be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left.” (Luke 17:34 – 36 KJV)

Now I do not think that I am wrong in thinking that most Christians interpret these stories to mean that the man taken from the field, the woman that is taken while grinding, and the man taken in his sleep are the ones that belong to the group that is the church and are ruptured. This does not seem to be a plausible explanation however. Jesus gives an order for things to happen back in Matthew 13. “Gather ye together first the tares (the evil), and bind them in bundles to burn them: but gather the wheat (the good or the church) into my barn.” Jesus clearly says that the evil will be gathered first. If we take this understanding and apply it to Matthew 24 and Luke 17, we get a very different understanding. The ones that are taken are not in the group we want to be in. The ones who are taken are the tares (the evil) that are being gathered to be burned, but the ones that are left are the wheat (the good) that are saved.

There is another metaphor that many well intentioned Christians use to support a secret rapture for the church; I feel that this too is an invalid interpretation of a story.

“But know this, that if the goodman of the house had known in what watch the thief would come, he would have watched, and would not have suffered his house to be broken up. Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh.” (Matthew 24:43 & 44 KJV)

“And this know, that if the goodman of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched, and not have suffered his house to be broken through. Be ye therefore ready also: for the Son of man cometh at an hour when ye think not.” (Luke 12:39 & 40 KJV)

“For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night.” (1 Thessalonians 5:2 KJV)

“But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.” (2 Peter 3:10 KJV)

“Behold, I come as a thief. Blessed is he that watcheth, and keepeth his garments, lest he walk naked, and they see his shame.” (Revelation 16:15 KJV)

Here again, most Christians would attempt to say that this metaphor of a thief in the night is depicting a secret rapture for the church. I believe that most Christians have misinterpreted this too. First, Jesus explains what this metaphor means. He says that the meaning is not that the second coming is a secret but we do not know when it will occur. If we knew what day the Lord was to come, we would get ready the day before it, but since we do not know the day or the hour (Matthew 24:36), we must be ever ready! Just examine what Peter had to say of this metaphor in 2 Peter 3:10; he says that when the Lord comes as a thief,” the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, the elements shall melt with fervent heat, and the earth and the works that are therine shall be burned up.” Now I am not sure how all that could be kept a secret from anyone or how people would be able to live on the earth when it has passed away, burned up, and all the elements in it have melted.

Answer 2

First of all, your Pentecostal friend should not be condemning you to hell (unless she's saying it as a joke). She's also implying that hell is more fun than heaven, and that's not true. Hatred, isolation, and torture are not fun. Love, fellowship, and feasting are.

Jesus is still human, even in heaven. Once he took on a human form in Mary's womb, he kept it. When he was resurrected, he had a glorified human body which could no longer die. He talked about having "flesh and bones", which may indicate that he now had no blood. He still had his wounds, at least some of them, from the crucifixion. He ascended to heaven in this glorfied human body. He will come back the same way, descending, not as a baby born the second time, nor as a bodiless spirit.

Christians disagree about how the Rapture will happen. The book of Thessalonians describes believers as being "caught up in the air". The disagreement is when this will happen: before, during, or after the Great Tribulation of the end times? Based upon what I read in Jesus' description of the end, I think the Rapture will happen after the troubles; we Christians will not escape it unless we've already died.

Answer 3

If these "christians" are telling you to have fun in hell they are not true christians. There is this thing called the false church, the harlot and americans are the principle members. They wave thier right wing, close the borders, scream "the patriot act" and "just nuke em but dont take away my cable or bmw" flag around. That attitude is absolutely no different than what they are accusing the muslims of. They are hypocrites and phoneys. When you said that they preach the 'rapture' i knew right away what group of dummies you were dealing with. "The Rapture" is not supported by the Bible, neither is easter (look it up in the dictionary) nor is christmas which literally means "christ miss us" but they celebrate that too. This is the false church, organized secularized religion not the path to God. It is the "Just Us Club". Read the Bible for yourself. When you meet someone who speaks to you of Yahshua or Yahweh give them an ear, they might be on the right path. Yahshua will come back but He is no longer human, God incarnate in the flesh happened already. And the "Left Behind" series is written on a sixth grade level it is NOT reflective of the examined teachings of the Bible. It is a cartoonish, overview. It does has its place because it has caused people to ask questions which is the beginning of true enlightenment. You wont go to hell but if you do not seek the truth you will be left behind for the White Throne Judgement, which is the second judgement for those who didnt get it the first time. Then you have the option of choosing your eternal resting place should you not get it right now. I suggest you get some new friends, cause a real believer would not teach you what is not in his or her book nor would they tell you "have fun in hell" that is pathetic, unexcusable and downright moronic. This is why the christians will be persecuted again because of thier "just us" attitude. After the third world war, there will be such a backlash against religion and christianity in general mainly because of americans and thier brutish attitude that we own everything and have the god-given right to go around tromping on other countries rights, natural resources and beliefs, all while waving our flag in everyones face. Give your friend my email and i will be more than glad to open her eyes to the truth of the scriptures. Start with II Corinthians 15:51-53. The rapture!! what rubbish! metalsoft at sbcglobal.net

Answer 4

Jesus will come back, but that's seperate from the rapture. The rapture happens first, and the Bible says that Christians will be caught up to be with Jesus. The second coming is after the tribulation, just as the armies of the world are ready to destroy Israel. Jesus will return with His people and reign on earth 1000 years. The return w/believers is called the 2nd coming of Christ, and the angel said in Acts 1 that Jesus will return just as He left. So that means in the clouds and in human form.

Answer 5

Jesus said "Like the sun shines from the east to the west, so also shall be the coming of the Son of Man." He will come in Glory, you dont want to go to hell, hell is a place where you are tormented for eternity. Just believe in your heart that Christ is Lord and that God raised Him from the dead, and you will be saved. God bless

Answer 6

When Jesus comes back for his people he will not be coming back to this earth as a human, in fact he will not actually be on earth. The bible states that he will return as the lightening shines from the east to the west, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye. The dead in Christ shall rise first and those that remain will be caught up to meet the Lord in the air and so shall we ever be with the Lord. He will not set foot on this earth at that time we will go up to meet him. The bible says there will be two in the field, one will be taken and one left, two working one taken and one left ect.... I think the Left Behind series did a pretty good job of explaining it. But I have listed you some reference from the bible also.

1 Thessalonians 4
15For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep.

16For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:

17Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.

18Wherefore comfort one another with these words.

1 Corinthians 15
51Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,

52In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.

Matthew 24 (Words of Christ)

35Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.

36But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only.

37But as the days of Noah were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.

38For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark,

39And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.

40Then shall two be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left.

41Two women shall be grinding at the mill; the one shall be taken, and the other left.

42Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come.

Answer 7

Jesus ascended into Heaven and he will return by descending from Heaven.

Check out the first Chapter of Acts which describes the Ascension of Jesus.

Answer 8

I've always been taught that Jesus will return as a resurrected being (perfect body - one just like when he rose 3 days after he died on the cross). The day of his return is also referred to as "the great and dreadful day". It will be great for those who have followed Jesus' commandments and dreadful for those who have not followed his commandments because they will stare truth in the face (and will have not repented) and will be tormented such that they will burn in the presence of Jesus (because of Jesus' great glory or brightness). Hope that helps.

Answer 9

First off, the rapture has already happened. At least the first one, concerning the "dead in christ."

Secondly, Christ came to earth as a human male and died on the Cross, he died for 3 days and was raised to Immortality in heaven, so NO, he will not be coming back as a human male, but as a "Victorious Warrior King" and it will be NOTHING like those "left behind" books. Most of their information is "extra-biblical" and not from the bible. Sorry, since the Bible speaks of only 4 hells, and none of them "burning" (as that is a pagan hell, that Christians "borrowed" to frighten their followers millenia ago).

For one thing, the scriptures speak of 4 hells.

#1. Hades
#2. Gehenna
#3. Sheol
#4. The Lake of Fire

#1 HADES

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hades

The unseen world, translated hell in A.V., Matt. 11:23; 16:18; Luke 10:15; 16:23; Acts 2:27,31; Rev. 1:18; 6:8; 20:13,14. See Hell. Eventually, came to designate the abode of the dead.

#2 GEHENNA

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gehenna

Gehenna' is a word tracing to Greek, ultimately from Hebrew: גי(א)-הינום Gêhinnôm (also Gei ben-Hinnom (Hebrew: גיא בן הינום) meaning the Valley of Hinnom. The valley, which forms the southern border of ancient Jerusalem, is first mentioned in Joshua 15:8. Originally it referred to a garbage dump in a deep narrow valley right outside the walls of Jerusalem (in modern-day Israel) where fires were kept burning to consume the refuse and keep down the stench. It is also the location where bodies of executed criminals, or individuals denied a proper burial, would be dumped. Today, "Gehenna" is often used as a synonym for Hell.

#3. SHEOL

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sheol

Sheol (שאול) is the Hebrew language word denoting the "abode of the dead"; the "underworld", "the common grave of mankind" or "pit". It is also transliterated Sheh-ole, in Strong's Hebrew and Greek Dictionaries and Strong's Concordances. In the Hebrew Bible it is portrayed as a comfortless place beneath the earth, beyond gates, where both the bad and the good, slave and king, pious and wicked must go after death to sleep in silence and oblivion in the dust. In some sources, for example in Deuteronomy 32:22, Sheol seems to be synonymous with the "depths of the earth". Sheol is sometimes compared to the gloomy, twilight afterlife of Hades or Tartarus from Greek mythology. Sheol is the common destination of both the righteous and the unrighteous dead; the righteous Job sees it as his destination (Job 3). In the Book of Job, while Satan is portrayed as tormenting and testing the living, he does not appear to have any particular presidency over Sheol, or to dwell in Sheol.

#4 The Lake of Fire (which means the 2nd death, the lake of fire)

See (The Book of Revelation 20:14) and also Acts Ch. 5, the story of Ananias & Sapphira sinning against the Holy Spirit.

Here we see in The Book of Revelation Ch. 20:14 where "Death & Hades" or both DEATH AND HELL are thrown into the Lake of Fire, THE 2ND DEATH, to be destroyed eternally it says HERE! So, we see that the Lake of Fire is Symbolic for ETERNAL DESTRUCTION. Much the same way Gehenna was for the destruction it caused! Nothing that goes in comes out. Ananias and Sapphira in Acts 5 are both eternally destroyed for sinning against the "holy ghost/spirit" for lying to it. So, much like before they were born, they are now, neither knowing anything nor suffering.

Source(s):

There IS NO ETERNAL BURNING HELL. This is YET ANOTHER (OF MANY, MANY) apostasies brought INTO THE EARLY Christian church from pagan origins. As many have wondered, God is NOT so unkind to make someone suffer eternally for "simply" not accepting him or his son's sacrifice. Sooner or later anyone's sins would have been paid in that kind of hell according to a "righteous" God.

Answer 10

Hell has cable, but its basic only.

Jesus already came back and saw that none of us were worth saving. Saddened by this, he flew on a jet bound for Amsterdam. While enjoying some of the local brownies at the coffeeshop, he decided to get a place in Florence.

He's there now and it is rumored he opened a World Cup memorabilia kiosk.