Christians, some believe that Jesus open return could be at any moment...?

Question

Is that what the Bible teaches, or not ? Please use scripture to support your argument. Thanks in advance for all replies. May God bless you.

Avondrow -

Hi there. Thanks for taking the time to answer.

In regard to the Greek word translated "generation", it can also mean "nation". i.e. the Jews.

In regard to Luke 17:26 - 37 - This passage refers not to rapture, but to judgement. This is even clearer in Mattew 24:37 - 44. The context of the Lord's speaking is regarding judgement, see verses 37 - 39. Also, compare with Matthew 13:24 - 43.

Hi Sasi -
Well, due to misinterpretation of certain scriptures (above, for example) there are many Christians who believe in a "secret" rapture, i.e. Christ will first return invisibly to snatch away His church berfore the tribulation. The "open" return to which I refer is when the Lord is clearly seen by the whole world at His coming.

Can the Lord really return (invisibly and / or openly) at any moment ? I appreciate that He can come for us individually at any time (and we need to be ready), but in regard to His second coming... What about 2 Thessalonians 2:1 - 5 ? "Now, brethren, concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together with Him..."
What does this passage say ?

While no man knows the day or the hour, the Bible does give indication that certain things must be fulfilled before the Lord's return, right ? The apostasy must take place and antichrist be revealed. Watch!

Although valid points have been made through some of these answers, no - one actually mentioned the fulfillment of the 2 Thessalonians 2:1 - 5 as being necessary prior to the Lord's return. Therefore, I'm putting this one up for a vote. If anyone would like to discuss the fulfillment of the aforementioned passage, feel free to contact me. God bless you.

Answer 1

yes, that is what the Bible teaches. I'm not going to research the specific chapter and verse, but I'm sure someone will put it out there.

Answer 2

Many Christians who do not agree that there will be a pre-tribulation rapture of the Church point out that it is a relatively new doctrine, first popularized in the 1800s and elaborated on subsequently. There are whole denominations that reject it for this reason. The Roman Catholic Church and the Eastern Orthodox do not accept it either, as such a thing as "rapture" was never taught by any of their bishops, from the beginning. Instead of "being taken up into Heaven", these churches follow the scriptures (such as Isaiah) clearly describing a physical Kingdom of Heaven that will be on a renewed Earth, following the Great Tribulation, the Resurrection of the Dead, and Judgment Day. For all practical purposes no Christians held to the pre-tribulation rapture theory before Darby in the 1820s.

Answer 3

(Matthew 24:21-22) 21 for then there will be great tribulation such as has not occurred since the world’s beginning until now, no, nor will occur again. 22 In fact, unless those days were cut short, no flesh would be saved; but on account of the chosen ones those days will be cut short.
Before this time period we didn't have the ability to destroy all flesh off the earth but with nuclear bombs we can now do that.
But it also says we won't, God will step in and stop it.
But this also disproves the rapture. If he has to stop it for the chosen ones then they must still be here. If they were raptured out he could take as long as he wanted.
Would things be different when it happens?
Read Matthew 24:37 Just as before the flood things were going along pretty normal. Then all of a sudden it was here.
Saying it would be that way again. It is in the near future.

Answer 4

Absolutely. Scriptures already quoted in abundance. All I would say is that although we do not know the day or the hour, Jesus warned us to be prepared. Even the 1st Century Christians were eagerly looking forward to it.

Perhaps the real question to ask is how would you stand before the judgement seat if it came tonight, or tomorrow? Or what if, heaven forbid, you suffered a fatal heart attack today? We should be living our lives NOW as Christians, with a sense of urgency. Christ's second coming will happen in God's good time. We should not be concerned about WHEN that will be, only how we measure up TODAY.

Answer 5

The messianic elements of the gospels had a purely local context, geographically and temporally. They were only concerned about event in Roman-occupied Judea. There is no other meaning at all.

Just for one example, as you request, from the "Scripture";

In Matt 24:34 Jesus reportedly predicts that the end of the world and all the fantastic "signs" he describes will occur within the lifetimes of the "current generation" or those currently living at the time Jesus spoke those words. If there is any doubt, it is clarified with far greater specificity in I Thessalonians 4:15-17, that this refers to those contemporaneously living. Yet that generation died off and the second coming and all the signs and wonders of the end times have not been fulfilled and, like all previous generations, is still being waited for by our current generation.

Answer 6

I'm not sure what your question means, e.g. 'open' return? The opposite of 'closed'? I once read in a Watchtower magazine that Christ would return, cloaked in clouds of invisibility! Help! So I'm just going to concentrate on the single word, 'return', if you don't mind, and also because everyone else has covered the usual ground with his visible, second return to earth.

Christians believe Christ will return either visibly, with the angels and with great glory, or if they die before that event, he will return to receive them to himself on their death-bed. Untold billions of Christians have had this personal 'return' of the Lord to receive them into glory. It is as Jesus said, "Let not your heart be troubled... In my Father's house are many mansions:: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself, that where I am, there you may be also... You have heard how I said to you, I go away, and come again unto you" (Jn 14:1-3 & 28).

Later in John's gospel a strange conversation took place between Jesus and Peter who asked Jesus about John. Jesus replied, "If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you. You must follow me. Because of this, the rumour spread among the brothers that this disciple would not die. But Jesus did not say that he would not die..." (21:20-23) When I put both those passages together, I gain great comfort that Christ will return to receive his own, at just the right time, either before they die (at the second coming) or when they die. This takes away all concern about when, exactly, he will return. The timing will be exquisitely perfect!

Answer 7

Yes:
I cor 15: 50-52
50I declare to you, brothers, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable. 51Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed— 52in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed.

Answer 8

Matthew 25:13-Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh.

We watch by observing society and the planet and things happening around us.

Answer 9

Mat 24:6 And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all [these things] must come to pass, but the end is not yet.

Mat 24:7 For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places.


Mat 24:9 Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name's sake.

Mat 24:10 And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another.


Mat 24:11 And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many.


Mat 24:12 And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.


Mat 24:24 For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if [it were] possible, they shall deceive the very elect.

Mat 24:36 ¶ But of that day and hour knoweth no [man], no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only.

Mat 24:37 But as the days of Noe [were], so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.

Mat 24:42 Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come.

Answer 10

The coming of the Lord Jesus Christ will take place personally, powerfully, bodily, visibly, publicly and Instantly. Read Matthew 24:30-31 or 1 Thessalonians 4:13-5:3. It will be quicker than any e-mail. Here are words of Jesus: For as lightning flashes and lights up the sky from one side to the other, so will the Son of Man be in this day (Luke 17:24). He will come again, very soon.
http://www.chick.com/reading/tracts/5025/5025_01.asp

http://www.chick.com/reading/tracts/5024/5024_01.asp

http://www.chick.com/reading/tracts/0001/0001_01.asp

Answer 11

Well, that is what the Bible says. I'm at work so I don't have a Bible handy, but it's definetely in at least one of the 4 gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John.)