by purplesofa 18 Replies latest watchtower beliefs
I have been thinnking today, where in the bible does it say that Christ will come THE FIRST TIME. And I really wonder why there was such a long wait for his arrival. What purpose did it serve? What were humans supposed to be figuring out? Like right now everyone is waiting for all this stuff to happen for his reign.
God already knew that after Adams sin, man was imperfect. Did he decide somewhere along the timeline to give us Jesus. Couldnt he have done it much much sooner?
purps
Could have?
There are quite a few possible answers available.....
Outside the box or inside?
cheers
Borgia
Putting it all into perspective makes it weird, doesn't it?
First of all, he didn't travel to other continents to spread his message. Second, he had 33 years to make his message known. Fourth, only 12 guys became interested. Heck, even the dubs have better numbers than that!
If Jesus came back a second time, he'd build some furniture, tell some people some stories, and then die. He wouldn't become famous until someone dug up his diary (like Anne Frank). Jesus was pretty insignificant while he was on Erf the first time, so what will make his second visit significant?
And I really wonder why there was such a long wait for his arrival. What purpose did it serve? What were humans supposed to be figuring out? Like right now everyone is waiting for all this stuff to happen for his reign.
Heb 10:12 describes Christ's sacrifice as being one sacrifice for all times, including the times prior. So, according to this logic when it took place isn't really the issue.
I have heard theological ideas (can't rattle off scriptures off the top of my head on this though) that explain how faith (apart from the Law) had always been the basis for justification & salvation. In other words, Christ had people covered through their faith in God even though they predated his sacrifice.
As for the law, etc., Paul taught that the whole God-dealing-with-Israel thing was a case study to show how mankind falls flat under his own effort, illustrating the need for Christ. Hebrews 9,10 goes on to show how the whole legal sacrifice requirement was just an illustration of the real deal, Christ's sacrifice, and couldn't really wipe out sin itself.
Paul taught that the whole God-dealing-with-Israel thing was a case study to show how mankind falls flat under his own effort, illustrating the need for Christ.
So he comes..........does his thing for three years which is like a nanosecond in the scheme of things..........
Goes off, and we get the bible .........with thousands of years more of a case study,
I dont know........mankind sure bought into a bunch of BS
I dont know........mankind sure bought into a bunch of BS
I might suggest the book, "The Incredible Shrinking Son of Man" by Robert Price. It will blow your mind...
thanks everyone for your comments
I get so tired of thinking about all this some days
purps
So purps, are you saying you are ready for a new paradigm? The JW literalism runs into the same dead ends as that of many other sects and denomination of Xtianity.. carmel
I do not think you will find the expression "second coming" in the Scriptures. When speaking of the future manifestation, I think it only says "coming", without "second". Perhaps this indicates that the future manifestation is a continuum of his earthly ministry 2000 years ago?
Also, we need to be very careful when referring to Paul's use of "Law" (nomos). For example, I believe that the expression "faith apart from law" is not speaking about faith apart from Moses or the Hebrew Scriptures (two meanings for "law"), but is speaking of using obedience ("legalism") to earn favor from God. In other words, Paul is using "law" qualitatively.
His intent can be indicated in the Greek by his use of the definite article ("the") or not with "nomos". There are nuances in the Greek that are most difficult to transfer into the English idiom.
Doug
