Are we repeating the same mistakes made by the Israelites nearly 2000 years ago?

Question

Something to think about. Don't answer until you have taken the time to think about it.

Nearly 2000 years ago, despite fulfillment of prophesies showing that the Messiah had come and was present on Earth, most Israelites didn't believe it. This was because they expected to be taken in a Rapture and for Armageddon to take place. They didn't believe that there would be a space of time between events.

Nearly every Christian religion believes that the signs of the second "coming" of the Messiah and the last days began in the early 1900s. The problem with this is the Greek word that's translated as "coming" actually means presence/present, so if the signs are fulfilled, than Christ came nearly 100 years ago. They reject this for the same reason of the Jews, because they expected all Christians to be taken up in a Rapture, followed by Armageddon. In Bible versions, the word meaning presence/present is properly translated except where it refers to Christ.

So, are we repeating the same mistakes as the ancient Jews, is this not the last days?

Or, were the Jews right all along?

I might point out that a recent program on the History Channel about why Jews didn't accept Chist the first time is what made me think of this. Remember, current Jewish teachings are not the same as what they thought in ancient times. As a religion, they are as fragmented as any other religion, with different inerpretations of the scriptures. Some of my most interesting runs in the taxi have been with a Rabbi passenger. They are interesting to exchange pieces of minds with. I met my first one 30 years ago, when one helped me create a set of rock tablets that I used as a part of my Moses costume, for a party which I was Chaperoning.

Answer 1

The Bible was created in a time where people could not comprehend the reason for the existence of mankind, hence the fairy story.Why we are here and how we came to be remains a mystery. If we all just gave religion a wide berth the world would be a much better place to live. All religions promote peace yet they seem to dislike (mildly put) each other. Respect our planet and each other. Put religion back into the dark ages where it belongs

Answer 2

Yeah, we're repeating the same mistakes as the Jews, but not from 2000 years ago -- from 6000 or more years ago. The mistakes are that too many people believe in some made-up religion, full of ambiguous prophecies and scaring followers into doing what they're supposed to with promises of a "hell" for the unworthy. That's the mistake.

Lots of things wrong with your argument even if you are a fervent christian believer. First, "armageddon" is a concept out of the revelation of John, not one from the old testament -- same goes for "rapture" (which, by the way, is never mentioned in the bible). So the jews weren't waiting for a rapture and/or armageddon, those are christian concepts.

Second, if you propose jesus came 100 years ago, then he was awfully quiet about it. So quiet in fact that there's no evidence of it of any kind (nor will there ever be, but that's another answer). So if indeed he came as you say, nothing has changed -- so what's the point? If your idea of god's kingdom come on earth is that nothing changes, then by golly you might be right...but it makes no difference to anyone, so it's fine to ignore it.

Perhaps you should study some science instead of filling your mind with jesus-conspiracy-theories...you might actually learn something useful :)

Answer 3

The man named Jesus did NOT fulfill the prophecies at all. When the real Messiah arrives, everyone -- regardless of religion, nationality, and race -- will accept the Messiah. That hasn't occurred. When the Messiah comes, peace will reign on earth. If you even glance at the news, you'll see that this prophecy has not been fulfilled. Read the Torah in Hebrew, and you may gain a better understanding of how the Greek versions of the Christian Bible have not been translated correctly at all, as you've discovered.

Answer 4

I think you are confusing the first coming's characteristics with the Second Coming's characteristics. The Apostles were told that even as they had seen Christ disappearing on his final departure, so would the Second Coming be. In other words, it will be dramatic and obvious. It has yet to happen. I believe your question is insightful on another level, however, and this is why. The prophets in the Old Testament continually warned the people about getting caught up in heathen idolatry and fertility cult practices and forgetting the Lord and His commandments and the Sabbath day of rest. Everywhere you look, the same conditions seem to exist, and even the best Christians slide into practices which really are not conducive to their well-being. Fertility cults have been replaced by a very permissive culture, even trying to re-define marriage to mean whatever they want it to mean.

Answer 5

Some of the Israelites did believe. It was the religious leaders of the time that was the most upset because he was "rocking their boat". Just as the churches do today, they had the people all twisted up and confused, even fighting with one another over man made rules. They rejected him because he did not come in the way they expected. Just like people reject God today if he does not do what they think with their mind he should.
All the prophecies of the first coming of the Messiah were indeed fulfilled. Now we are seeing the prophecies of the second coming fulfilled. Knowledge is going to and fro in an instant, just like it said it would in the book of Daniel. The technology is either in place or nearly in place to control whether we will buy or sell, work or not, just like it says in the book of Revelation. Man has become lovers of themselves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, without natural affection, truce-breakers, false accusers, fierce, etc., just like it says in 2 Timothy. I would say we are living in the last days.

Answer 6

Sorry, but the 'Jews' did not believe, nor teach a 'rapture'. Their messiah according to them was to throw off the yoke of Rome, and establish a temporal kingdom with them as the rulers of all the earth. They ignored the scriptures as well as being blinded by Satan, so that they led many to disbelieve in Christ.
1844, not the early 1900's.
Jesus has not come yet. Why? Because, His coming will fulfill scripture. He will come so that All will see, hear, and know that He is here. The heavens will part, the voice of God will shake this earth so hard that the islands will flee, and the mountains will move out of their beds. Our water will be turned to blood, All of the water, the wicked will have very grievous sores on their body's, etc, etc.

Answer 7

I would disagree that most Christians believe the end times began in the early 1900's. I think if you look and research most that have knowledge of the end times would tell you that the end times started coming to fruition around 1948 when Isreal was declared a nation and the jews started migrating back to their own land. This is a key prophecy in the end times. I also think you will find that the end times have been predicted throughout history especially the heightened sense of the end tmies always occured around the turn of the century.

I could be wrong, but I would also disagree with the idea that the jews did not accept Jesus because of the lack of the Rapture or Armageddon. I agree with part of that (Armaggedon) in that many Jews believed that the coming Messiah would be someone who would lead them in a military revolt against their enemies, namely the Romans at the time.

Now as far as Christians making the same mistakes as the Isrealites, I would whole heartily agree with that on many levels. God has blessed Christians or even Gentiles in general on many levels just as He has with the Isrealites and as a whole we have turned our backs on Him just as they did in light of the evidence of who God is. Many times God has delivered us as individuals and as a people and we have still turned our backs on Him.

I am wondering though after reading through your question again and even deeper, I am wondering if you are asking...is the mistake we are making that resembles that of the Isrealites is the idea that we will not recognize Jesus when He comes again...is that close?

Answer 8

I do not believe Christ returned to earth 100 years ago, for reasons already described in other answers to your question. There is no Biblical basis for a secret rapture or a secret returning of the Savior. Your views seem to relate to a modern idea called dispensationalism - the idea that history is split up into sections, or dispensations, that represent varying ways of how God deals with mankind. According to this belief, we are currently in the "Church Age", after which the Jews will be restored in Isreal and accept Jesus as the Savior. This belief often calls for interpreting politics and world affairs as "signs of the end times", such as the stories represented in the Left Behind novels. It is difficult to find Biblical basis for this belief. The idea is extravagant and unsound. Indeed every generation has experienced "signs" of the end times.

I take more of a supercessionist view- that the Christain Church is the fulfillment of God's covenant and has been established for the salvation of Jews and Gentiles alike. We should not be looking for signs and wonders, but developing our faith in the One True God, who will not abandon us to the grave. It is an issue of the heart and the mind, not an issue of land or political power. Please see my references.

Answer 9

Your arguments and theories are based on a sound principles
and reasoning from the scriptures,and you are correct in your
belief that the Messiahs (presence) or coming into his role as
King did in fact take place invisibly in heaven in 1914.That same
year the devil and his demon(angels)were cast down to the
(vicinity) of the earth.Which of course as you know was the beginning of the pangs of distress for the earth and its inhabitants.
you can find that account at;Rev:12:7-10. you will of course get
alot of different answers in this forum,which most aren't really
worth your time,because they dont address the real issues and
many are just biased opinions that are not based on any scriptual
evidence or reasoning.for more info;www.watchtower.com...

Answer 10

It is only the JW's that think that Christ came to them in 1917. And NO I don't think we are making the same mistake. The Jews expected a political messiah and Jesus came to die for our sins, not reign as king.
When Jesus comes again every eye will see him and in 1917 nobody saw him. Only the JW's say he came in secret, and that is not spoken of in the bible..

Rapture or no rapture, we expect the great tribulation and one world govt.