Christians - How many of you REALLY believe the following Bible passages?

Question

*** Keep in mind that these were written in and about the 1st century ***

“Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass away, till all these things be accomplished. “ (Matt. 24.34a)

“The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show unto his servants, even the things which must shortly come to pass” (Rev. 1.1)

“for the time is at hand.” (Rev. 1.3b)

“And he saith unto me, Seal not up the words of the prophecy of this book; for the time is at hand.” (Rev. 22.10)

“Behold, I come quickly” (Rev. 22.12a)

“He who testifieth these things saith, Yea: I come quickly.” (Rev. 22.20a)

Remember, the Bible said that these things would happen soon and that these were written IN THE FIRST CENTURY.

If they did not happen in or near the first century, how could the Bible be true?
.

Jonathan - You wrote, "If you are looking for a sincere answer; you must look spiritually." - Why is that? I don't believe in spirits, so how am I going to look "spiritually"?

Answer 1

The NT was written after Jesus was killed by the Romans, and by people who never met him.

Really reliable source, then. Not.

Answer 2

Looks to me like your grasping at straws. What's wrong, didn't you have enough straw to build an actual straw man to tear down?

Mt 24:34 was talking about the generation that sees the fig tree blosson. This is OBVIOUSLY (based on OTHER scriptures, not just one passage taken TOTALLY out of it's contextual setting) - obviously referring to Israel becomming a nation again, and this occurred in 1948. The generation that sees this come to pass will not pass away till all is fulfilled. (a little historical perspective goes a long way, wouldn't you say?)

Rev 1:1 - and yes - it WILL shortly come to pass, but as the Scripture says, God is not slow concerning His promises, but a day to God could be like a thousand years. Even in the book of Acts, Peter says that these are the last days, using the famous Last Days prophecy of the prophet Joel, and the clouds of smoke were only realized with the advent of the atomic bomb. (Check out Joel 2:28 et al in the original Hebrew for a clearer understanding).

And yes, all these references that Jesus will come quickly, it will be suddenly. But in these last days, just as the Bible told us, people are asking "Where is his coming?" You fulfill the prophecies, which only means that His return is sooner than when you first asked your question.

Are you ready? Will He come to you like a thief in the night at a time you are unprepared to face Him?

When He DOES come, it will be suddenly and without any prior warning other than what has been given to us; but all will know, like lightning that is seen throughout the sky.

If you're NOT ready when He returns, Jesus said you will be cast into outer darkness, where there is weeping and gnashing of teeth. (btw this is not written as a threat, but a warning so you can be prepared). "If the master of the house had known what time the thief was coming to break in, he would have been prepared. Likewise, I say to you, be ready, for you know not what time the Lord shall return."

Even so, COME LORD JESUS!

Answer 3

Yahweh is Jehovah...Gods name.... Even some religious persons have questioned this account. The New Catholic Encyclopedia states: “In terms of modern science and modern theology it is just as impossible for God to obey man as it is for the sun to stand still.” (1967; Volume XIII, page 795) But on what basis can solar behavior be called “impossible”? No human, of course, not even one who believes the Bible, can definitely explain how the sun stood still. But should that shake one’s faith in the Bible? No. As we have seen, men today do not understand the mysterious astronomical events taking place right now. But who can deny that they do take place? No one. God could, as Creator, if he wished, stop the motions of the whole solar system. Or, he could stop the motion of only the earth so that sun and moon appeared to remain in the same position as viewed from the earth. On the other hand, it is possible that the sun, moon and earth all continued on in their regular movements, but that the light from sun and moon ceaselessly shone by some form of refraction that we do not now understand. In any event, this was a truly unique event, for the Bible says that “no day has proved to be like that one, either before it or after it, in that Jehovah listened to the voice of a man

Answer 4

If you are looking for a sincere answer; you must look spiritually; it is true that Christ said He will come quickly and at a time no one knows; however, "quickly" to us humans does not have the same implications as "quickly" to the LORD who is from everlasting to everlasting, a day to him is like a thousand years to us and vice-versa:

"8 But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day."


9 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.

10 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 3:8-10.

Also, I do not think you understand the meaning of the word "generation", in the original Greek langauage, ... generation could refer to a short period of time, but it can also refer to the generation of a race, such as the entire human race.

"Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled." - Matthew 24:34.

ajmh;n levgw uJmi'n o&ti ouj mh; parevlqh/ hJ genea; au&th e&wß a^n pavnta tau'ta gevnhtai.

The original Greek Word for generation is: geneav, Strong's #1074. Now let's pause for a minute here because this is where we come to a huge fork in the road, and to understanding the chapter. You see, the word "generation" in the original Greek can be used in more than one sense; it can be used:

1.) to denote a particular lifespan, normally 30 years or so or of all those living on the earth at the same time.

OR

2.) From Strong's Concordance: that which has been begotten, men of the same stock, a family; the several ranks of natural descent, the successive members of a genealogy; metaph. a group of men very like each other in endowments, pursuits, character; esp. in a bad sense, a perverse nation.

So now the question arises, to which of the ways is the correct one to understand how "generation" is to be used, and this without saying is very important to understanding the chapter.

The answer lies in the context of the scripture in which it is found. When reading Matthew 24, I believe the chapter to be highly parabolic, so lets look at the surrounding context.

Matthew 24:32-51

32 Now learn a parable of the fig tree; When his branch is yet tender, and putteth forth leaves, ye know that summer is nigh: 33 So likewise ye, when ye shall see all these things, know that it is near, even at the doors. 34 Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled. 35 Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away. 36 But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only. 37 But as the days of Noe were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. 38 For 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, 39 And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. 40 Then shall two be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left. 41 Two women shall be grinding at the mill; the one shall be taken, and the other left. 42 Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come. 43 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. 44 Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh. 45 Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his lord hath made ruler over his household, to give them meat in due season? 46 Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing. 47 Verily I say unto you, That he shall make him ruler over all his goods. 48 But and if that evil servant shall say in his heart, My lord delayeth his coming; 49 And shall begin to smite his fellowservants, and to eat and drink with the drunken; 50 The lord of that servant shall come in a day when he looketh not for him, and in an hour that he is not aware of, 51 And shall cut him asunder, and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

Christ here is without a doubt speaking about the last day, so going back to the word generation, we know it must be #2. In other words, this evil generation of mankind will not be totally destroyed until Christ has entirely fulfilled His good plans for the world.

Answer 5

Christ has not come because his people have been slack & NOT finished the work he commissioned us to do- the spreading of the Gospel through ALL the World. Mathew 24:14
(This is why it is important to read the entire chapter)

Answer 6

Because they were written as a warning and as encouragement to the end-time Church. That Church does not have the ability, other than thru the writings of the 1st Century Church, to speak person to person with the original disciples and Paul.

Answer 7

First, I think as a Christian, you either believe the entire Bible, or none of it. You can not pick and choose what to believe.

"For all scripture is God breathed..." 2Timothy 2:16

Second, I think soon is a relative term. God knows what soon means to him, it is not up to us to determine the timeframe.

Have a blessed day!

Answer 8

It is also stated that God's time table isn't the same as man's. A century to us can be a day to God. We invented the calendar.

Also, the Bible is God's word written down by man. Man is not perfect.

Answer 9

I believe all of it. I think it's a matter of frame of reference. Yes, to US none of this has happened quickly. After all ~2K years have passed since this was recorded. Our life is but a passing vapor in eternity. Those who believe dinosaurs roamed the Earth millions of years ago [and I have no problem with that] should not be so impatient to pin down the definition of 'quickly'. The events that are recorded in Revelation may not happen in our lifetime, but they WILL happen.
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Answer 10

as for all the rev. passages....God for years and years promised the isrealites a savior, and it took 400+ years for him to come to them, so when God says quickly...its not by our little God box as to what we think quickly means...its by his time, and what he considers quickly...1000yrs to us is one day to God.

as for Matthew 24, to understand it you need to look at is as a whole passage, not just one part of it,
and it says (for those who don't want to get a bible out, or who don't have one, and yes I'm going to post the whole thing)

As Jesus left the temple and was walking away, his followers came up to show him the temple's buildings, Jesus asked "do you see all these buildings?" I tell you the truth not one stone will be left on another, every stone will be thrown down to the ground" later as Jesus was sitting on the mt of olives his followers came to be alone with him, they said "when will these things happen? and what will be the sign that it is time for you to come again and for this age to end? Jesus answered "be careful that no one fools you, many will come in my name saying "I am the christ" and they will fool many people, you will hear about wars and stories of wars that are coming but don't be afraid, these things must happen before the end comes. Nations will fight against nations; kingdoms will fight against kingdoms, there will be times when there is no food for people to eat and there will be earthquakes in various place, these things are like the first pains when something new is about to be born. then people will arrest you and hand you over to be hurt and kill you they will hate you because you believe in me at that time, many will lose their faith and they will turn against each other and hate each other, many false prophets will come and cause many people to believe lies there will be more and more evil in the world so most people will stop showing their love for each other. But those people who keep their faith until the end will be saved. The good news about God's kingdom will be preached in all the world to every nation, Then the end will come.

okay, lets stop for a moment....in the first place, yes , this was written in the first century, but as we can clearly see....he is talking about a future generation, at this time, Jesus had what at the time was a large following, but nothing that would be considered all around the world, nothing at the time that would have made it to "all the nations" he talks of many people, and turning away from the faith of him...but at the time...there wasn't any, here he was talking about a future generation to come, however, in the beginning, he was talking of the temple, which was destroyed as he said it would be in AD70, during the generation of his followers. but after when they ask of his return...he speaks of a future Generation, not of their generation but a future one.

it continues as:
Daniel the prophet spoke about "the destroying terror" you will see this standing in the holy place: and then matthew writes "you who read this should understand" and then what Jesus says continues "at that time the people of Judea should run away to the mountains, if people are on the roofs of their houses they must not go down to get anything out of thier houses, if people are in the fields they must not go back to get their coats at that time how terrible it will be for women who are pregnant or have nursing babies, pray that it will not be winter or a sabbath day when these things happen and you have to run away because at that time there will be much trouble, there will be more trouble than there has ever been since the beginning of the world until now and nothing as bad will ever happen again. God had decided to make that terrible time short, otherwise no one would go on living but God will make that short time ot the people he has chosen. at that time some may say to you ..look there is the christ or another person might say there he is! but don't believe them, false christs and false prophets will come and perform great wonders and miracles they will try to fool even the people God has chosen, if that is possible. Now I have warned you about this before it happens.

he then continues on saying about how everyone will know he is returned...everyone, they will see him in the sky, and that in the end days, the sky will be darkened and the sun will grow dark, etc, and then he says : and in many bibles it worded differently so in mine it says "I tell you the truth all these things will happen while the people of this time are still living."

of this time...he doesn't mean of our time..or your (pointing at the apostles) but 'THIS" time, the time he has forespoken of...a later time, a time when the "good news of God's kingdome is "all around the world, in every nation"
now...he also speaks of a terror in the holy place....the holy place being "the temple" which would be destroyed in ad 70...can anyone tell me what now stands in the holy place?

Answer 11

They are true. I have been a believer for a while now. Ive seen a lot during this time. Yes all things happenening in this world are n the bible. Amazing iznt it? We better follow it, it even gives us advice if you can understand it