Why have all the christians of all time been convinced Jesus would return in their lifetime?

Question

We can see it in the historical records. We can see it in everyday posts on this forum. We know he has not returned so far.

Then how come almost all think it will happen 'soon'? It has been 'soon' for more than 2000 years?

Okay, replace that with "a lot of the christians" and then answer the question.

Einstein: read through some of the Q&As here sometime. You'll be surprised how often the "world is rotten, Jesus will return soon" pops up.

Quan: probably because they, like me, find it an interesting anomaly.

Answer 1

The very first "Christians", the 12 Apostles, were specifically told by Jesus that the second coming would occur in THEIR lifetime, so I guess it has been going on for a while.

Answer 2

That is an interesting question. I am not sure, however, that all Christians are convinced Jesus will return in their lifetime. I have met and talked with many professed Christians over the years who are convinced he will NOT return in their lifetime. And they plainly tell me so.

But he HAS to return in someone's lifetime, does he not? Of course, there would be no way of knowing when he would return unless he told us. Notably, the first century apostles were very curious about this return as well and they asked Jesus point blank when it would occur. He did not give them a day and hour but he definitely gave them a composite sign by which they could recognize that his presence had begun and the time was near. It appears in the Bible.

It may be that many, in considering this composite sign, have felt they were seeing its fulfillment. Professed Christians are so anxious for deliverance from all the badness that abounds, that they naturally want it to be in their lifetime. It may also be that some forget the sign is a composite one. All factors of the sign must be clearly discernable. It does not consist of isolated events in isolated areas. No, these events take place globally and all within the same time frame and beginning at a fixed point.

It also helps to remember that Jesus said his presence would be like the days of Noah. The days of Noah covered a long period of time - literally decades. It is also interesting to note that all facets of the composite sign begin with a particular watershed event and history indicates that this watershed event took place about 90 years ago.

For those who believe it is now "soon", there is sufficient evidence on which to base such a belief. I do wonder, however, which would people prefer - the guard on duty who pays attention and gets up to inspect every ominous sound in the night or the guard on duty who sits in a chair snoring soundly, only waving his hand in dismissal when he does hear a sound? I prefer the former. He won't get caught unawares.

Hannah J Paul

Answer 3

It is you who have convinced me we are in the last days...

2 Peter 3
...scoffers will come in the last days, walking according to their own lusts, and saying, “Where is the promise of His coming? For since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of creation.”

Remember, the completion of all things is only one lifetime away. When you die, you are no longer tied to the physical, you enter the spiritual world of timelessness. All time will be completed in an instant and within a millisecond the rapture of the church has taken place, the seven year tribulation has transpired and Christ's second coming has already saved Israel from her enemies. Now you stand before the judgment seat having to give an account for your scoffing at the only salvation you refused that was offered freely and at so great a cost.

Answer 4

Some bronze age Palestinian story teller wrote that dead people came out of their graves and started walking through cities (perhaps in search of brains) when this Yeshua dude got killed. Then he said that the guy that got killed (Joshua aka Yeshua, aka Jesus) rose from the dead and promised to come back and take all of his followers to Happy Land, where nobody ever dies! This was supposed to happen before the people of 'this generation/some of you standing here' tasted death. The confusion is really over what is meant by 'this generation/some of you standing here'. See, dead people don't return after years of death in real life, only in horror flicks and paperback fiction novels. Somehow, christians think this particular paperback novel is non-fiction.
Once they get over that, they'll realize the hero isn't coming back and hopefully will adjust their lives accordingly.

Who am I kidding, these people will believe it until they die. Let's just hope they don't pass of their delusional behavior to their kids.

Answer 5

Some of them not only think he's coming back in their life time, some of them I've known think every year Jesus might return and every year they bump the date up one more year. It's sad really that someone would expend that much energy into preparing for something that isn't ever going to happen.

I think it all boils down to wishful thinking on their part. They've made Jesus their whole life and seem to be in love with him, so they long for his return.

Answer 6

Well, the Apostles were convinced because they were going through "bad times" and figured HE would take all HIS people then....

Through out History, wars and Earthquakes and floods and famine and all the things have come to past...(But they havent rebuilt the temple in Jeruseleum yet, so, until then, it wont happen), and everyone looked for the signs and figured...HE "has" to come back because things are so "bad"... If they read the Book of Revelations, they would know "all" the signs and see that some havent been fulfilled yet.

I wish you well...

Jesse

Answer 7

Not all the Christians do that. I think it is because of the signs, but all these signs have been among all the generations. He just wants us to rmember that He is coming back and it could be any time. I think He is waiting so more people will come to Him.

Answer 8

I think that it refers to a verse in Revelations talking of the generation that won't pass away before his return, I think that it is referring to the generation that is alive when the turmoil starts when that will be and if we are that generation I have no idea but I think that a lot of generations of believers have though that they were in the end of times.

Answer 9

perhaps through the gift of the Holy Spirit, Jesus not only has returned, but is with us always.

I know this isn't the "Judgement Day" return that most people seek, but life on this here Earth isn't that bad, so I'll stick with what I've got.

Answer 10

God has never said the exact time. He asks us to be ready. The signs have been among us since Jesus rose up. So the last days have been here since then. : )

Everything happens in God's timing. "Soon" is totally different for Him than it is for us. : )