Jesus second coming in the first century

by Jr 32 Replies latest watchtower bible

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  amicus

  “ May, 12
  How rarely I meet with a man who can be free, even in thought! We live according to rule. Some men are bed-ridden; all men are world-ridden. I take my neighbor, an intellectual man, out into the woods and invite him to take a new and absolute view of things, to empty clean out of his thoughts all institutions of men and start again; but he can’t do it, he sticks to his traditions and his crotchets. He thinks that governments, colleges, newspapers, etc., are from everlasting to everlasting.”
  -The Heart of Thoreau’s Journals
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  Jr

  Hi all:
  When we read the Greek scriptures we notice that much of it is written as to and for the contemporaries
  of the first century. Even though much of it had dual
  application, the conversations that the apostles had
  among themselves and with Jesus strongly indicate that they were
  concerned about their generation and events that
  affected them.
  
  “ So when they met together, they asked him, "Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?"” Acts 1:6

  The letters written to the congregations encouraged them
  also to be in expectation of events that would happening their lifetime.

  “According to the Lord's own word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left till the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. Therefore encourage each other with these words.” 1 Thess 4:15-18

  “Be patient, then, brothers, until the Lord's coming. See how the farmer waits for the land to yield its valuable crop and how patient he is for the autumn and spring rains. You too, be patient and stand firm, because the Lord's coming is near.” James 5: 7-8

  Scriptural indications are that Jesus coming was during the first century when many alive would witness certain events. This was most
  likely when those that would, see him "coming in a cloud with power and great glory". Matt 24:30

  “Jesus said to him: “Yourself said it. Yet I say to you men, from henceforth you will see the Son of man sitting at the right hand of power and coming on the clouds of heaven.” Matt 26:64

  He was talking to ones that would receive retribution for their treatment of Jesus. Not all would see him, because many would have passed away. As 1 Thess 4:15-18 mentions above. But others, including John may have been privileged to witness his coming. Jesus indicated
  this possibility at.

  “ Jesus answered, "If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you? You must follow me."” John 21:22

  It is reasonable to believe that he returned in 70 CE when Jerusalem was destroyed. This is probably the time Paul spoke of when he said,

  "For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever."

  It would be unlikely that Jesus would speak of such hopes if they would never realize them. It would be nice to think that the apostles were farsighted and unselfish, but the scriptures show otherwise. They were concerned about what would happen to them.

  “Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a longing fulfilled is a tree of life.“(Proverbs 13:12)

  Jr

  Edited by - Jr on 2 February 2001 14:50:4
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  Jr

  Another scripture that shows Jesus indicated that his coming was during their life time is John 16:16-19:

  "In a little while you will see me no more, and then after a little while you will see me." Some of his disciples said to one another, "What does he mean by saying, `In a little while you will see me no more, and then after a little while you will see me,' and `Because I am going to the Father'?" They kept asking, "What does he mean by `a little while'? We don't understand what he is saying."
  Jesus saw that they wanted to ask him about this, so he said to them, "Are you asking one another what I meant when I said, `In a little while you will see me no more, and then after a little while you will see me'?"

  Jesus was telling them that they would see him soon. If you examine this thread and the information posted by myself and Logical with an open mind, you will see an amazing statement from the bible concerning when Jesus second coming was. How would Jesus Kingdom reign manifest itself? More to come......

  Jr

  Edited by - Jr on 2 February 2001 14:45:57