I need clarification on one point, please :) ?

Question

In my last question, I asked why God keeps the date of Jesus' return secret. Many answers stated that people would pretend to believe at the last minute if they knew the time of his return.
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=AnCAgyoWfrCJng1K8UDxbpbd7BR.?qid=20070809171126AA32TDk

But, what of God's omniscience? Surely he'd know who the fakes were? I just don't get it....

Answer 1

It's all about marketing. Remember when they were hyping the Segway, but they weren't telling anyone what it was or why they thought it was great?

That's what Jesus does!

Answer 2

Hello, I hope I can shed some light on this. If God reveiled the date and time when the Lord is going to return you would have people waiting to the last minute and that is the problem. It's not that they are faking it but rather waited to build and have that relationship with the Lord till the last minute and that is what God wants to avoid I think. Let me put it this way. I am married. I did not, and would not, put a gun to my wife's head to make her marry me, why? Because that wouldn't be love. She would have been forced and that is fake. I want my wife to come to me and marry me on her own, through her own submission. Then I would know the love is real. Make sense?
God does not want us to be forced in going to Him, He wants us to make up our own minds and come to Him willingly, submissively and in love. That is what a relationship is all about.

Now even though the date and time of the Lord's coming is not known He did give us the parable of the fig tree. To explain it quickly the parable basically means that when you see Christmas trees and decorations in the stores you know Christmas is right around the corner. But what else? When you see those decorations you also know that Thanksgiving is coming, closer then Christmas. So lets look at it like this.

In order to understand the Lord you must first be born again. Until then nothing really makes sense. Why? because you are void of the Holy Spirit which gives you understanding. But when the Holy Spirit does dwell in you hang on because it's a ride. Lets take the signs of the times for instance, wars and rumors of wars, things like that.
Because we read, see, trust and believe what is said and see what is going on in the world we know, by the Holy Spirit, that the Lord is coming and soon. Like the Christmas analogy. But we also know that means the rapture is coming even sooner. Like the Thanksgiving analogy.

I hope this makes a little sense to you and clears up some thoughts. I do not know if you know the Lord or not but I am glad to see you are thinking about Him at the least. If you do know Him just pray for Him to reveal answers to you, especially through the Bible. If you have not come to Him then may I suggest you open up and read the Bible, but while doing so ask Him to reveal Himself to you.
People often say, I found Jesus. No they did not! He was never missing or lost, they were. He is there right in front of you waiting for you to see Him. All they had to do was open their eyes. I pray that you open yours if they aren't.

Remember, being born again is not about joing a church or following some cult or religious movement. It is about you building a strong and mutual relationship with Jesus. That is why you have to read the Bible! He changes your heart not your personality so don't be worried. Please visit this site and watch the live messages when possable and listen to the archives, www.ccob.org

God Bless and I am praying for you (Just did)

Answer 3

Well if they knew at the very last minute, they would be seeing Jesus come back...they would know they were wrong and really would be upset out it that what they passed off as a fairy tale was an actual happily ever after for those who believed...

so they would begin to pray and ask for forgiveness truly meaning it...therefore they would be accepted as well.

Answer 4

Jesus will come with the rising of the Sun, and all those that don't believe before then will be burned. I don't know if that means literally or not, but there will be no " O there He is. I believe!" lol.

Answer 5

"people would pretend to believe at the last minute if they knew the time of his return. "

I don't know where they came up with that answer since it isn't found in the Bible. The Bible doesn't explain why God keeps it a secret. When the disciples asked Jesus about when He was coming back, in one passage He told them what to look for and in another passage He told then they didn't need to know.

Acts 1:6 So when they had come together, they asked him, "Lord, will you at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?"

7 He said to them, "It is not for you to know times or seasons that the Father has fixed by his own authority. 8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth." 9 And when he had said these things, as they were looking on, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight.

Matthew 24:3 As he sat on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately, saying, "Tell us, when will these things be, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the close of the age?"

Matthew 24:24 For false christs and false prophets will arise and perform great signs and wonders, so as to lead astray, if possible, even the elect. 25 See, I have told you beforehand. 26 So, if they say to you, 'Look, he is in the wilderness,' do not go out. If they say, 'Look, he is in the inner rooms,' do not believe it. 27 For as the lightning comes from the east and shines as far as the west, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. 28 Wherever the corpse is, there the vultures will gather.

29 "Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, and the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken. 30 Then will appear in heaven the sign of the Son of Man, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. 31 And he will send out his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.

32 "From the fig tree learn its lesson: as soon as its branch becomes tender and puts out its leaves, you know that summer is near. 33 So also, when you see all these things, you know that he is near, at the very gates.

It's more likely that Jesus didn't say when He was coming back because He wanted people who DO believe to always be ready for Him. If He told them way back in 33 AD that he wasn't coming for another 2,000 plus years then people might have slacked off and not been diligent to serve Him knowing that it was going to be a long time before He came and that they were going to die before seeing Him.

Matthew 24:38 For as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day when Noah entered the ark, 39 and they were unaware until the flood came and swept them all away, so will be the coming of the Son of Man.

40 Then two men will be in the field; one will be taken and one left. 41 Two women will be grinding at the mill; one will be taken and one left. 42 Therefore, stay awake, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming.

43 But know this, that if the master of the house had known in what part of the night the thief was coming, he would have stayed awake and would not have let his house be broken into. 44 Therefore you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect. 45 "Who then is the faithful and wise servant, whom his master has set over his household, to give them their food at the proper time? 46 Blessed is that servant whom his master will find so doing when he comes. 47 Truly, I say to you, he will set him over all his possessions.

48 But if that wicked servant says to himself, 'My master is delayed,' 49 and begins to beat his fellow servants and eats and drinks with drunkards, 50 the master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he does not know 51 and will cut him in pieces and put him with the hypocrites. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

Answer 6

gods just keepin a secret from us

i gotta read the god delusion. I really believe that people who believe in that stuff are delusional

Answer 7

It's about faith, rather than proof. Christians have no need to know that about Jesus because we believe in Him. When you have a strong faith, you don't need specific dates or evidence of miracles or anything like that because it's in your heart.

Answer 8

i must have gotten my answer in late before you wrote this....look at my answer.,.....

God has always known who the fakes would be...jesus warned there woudl be false messiahs....those who are truly studying the word of god will not be fooled...they will be guided by the holy spirit to avoid error.....

btw ..there are alot of fakes NOW....

Answer 9

Ask God that one.

Answer 10

yes He would. no one knows why He wants to keep it a secret.