I'm honestly struggling here. I've heard the arguments about the verses being about a future generation, but when they're all taken together, it just feels like a failed apocalyptic prophet and his followers who are in denial
I am having a difficult time with the delay of the Parousia in light of verses which seem to suggest that Paul and Jesus both believed the Second Coming was imminent and would occur within the lifetime of those present during his ministry. The writers of Hebrews, Revelation, and John likewise seem to believe that the Parousia is "soon", "imminent", etc.
“For the Son of Man is going to come in his Father’s glory with his angels, and then he will reward each person according to what he has done. I tell you the truth, some who are standing here will not taste death before they see the Son of Man coming in his kingdom.” – Mt. 16:27,28
Matthew 24), Mark 13, and Luke 21 all address the Second Coming and seem to suggest that all these amazing things will happen and then culminate with the Second Coming of Jesus - all of this will happen in the lifetime of some of those alive at the time of Jesus' ministry.
Clearly the early Christian communities believed that Jesus would be coming during their lifetime. In 1 Thessalonians 4, Paul addresses a common fear among the early Christians - that those who die before the Second Coming will not be 'saved' - 13 Brothers and sisters, we do not want you to be uninformed about those who sleep in death, so that you do not grieve like the rest of mankind, who have no hope. 14 For we believe that Jesus died and rose again, and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him. 15 According to the Lord’s word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep. 16 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. 17 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. 18 Therefore encourage one another with these words.
Submitted February 20, 2017 at 04:07PM by Unknown
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