...to have and to hold, from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, until death do us part.
One has trouble imagining anything more dishonest, not to mention despicable, than this promise.
Tuesday, April 1, 2008
...On Marriage, Again
One has trouble imagining anything more dishonest, not to mention despicable, than this promise.
Monday, March 31, 2008
Beating A Dead Horse...
The Bible shows God engaging in acts, that, if a man were to engage in, would be considered at minimum, sinful in nature.
Yet -- The Bible then states to emulate, and, "..Be perfect, as the Father in heaven is perfect."
Clearly, that doesn't make any sense.
Question:
How can one be perfect as God is and manage to avoid sin at the same time -- Since, by mimicking Gods acts, one would, ipso-facto, condemn oneself based on Gods own laws?
...On Marriage
I have made the conscience choice not to marry because I have never met a woman that I could have meaningful conversation with for the rest of my life.
Atheism Or Agnosticism?
a·the·ist /ˈeɪθiɪst/ Pronunciation Key - Show Spelled Pronunciation[ey-thee-ist] Pronunciation Key - Show IPA Pronunciation
–noun
a person who denies or disbelieves the existence of a supreme being or beings.
ag·nos·tic /ægˈnɒstɪk/ Pronunciation Key - Show Spelled Pronunciation[ag-nos-tik] Pronunciation Key - Show IPA Pronunciation
–noun
1. a person who holds that the existence of the ultimate cause, as God, and the essential nature of things are unknown and unknowable, or that human knowledge is limited to experience.
4. asserting the uncertainty of all claims to knowledge.
Definitively, I'm an agnostic. Since I'm neither convinced by A-Priori or synthetic metaphysical arguments for the existence of God, nor by the evidence educed from the physical world around us, nor by the claims made by various positive religions -- I cannot affirm the proposition, "There Is A God." This in no way implies an affirmation of the proposition, "There is no God." The means of verification seem to be unavailable to the human mind for either proposition. Therefore, I stand in a state of suspended judgement on the matter.
Friday, March 28, 2008
Prayer Healing?
WESTON, Wis. - Police are investigating an 11-year-old girl's death from an undiagnosed, treatable form of diabetes after her parents chose to use prayer rather than medicine to heal her.
An autopsy showed that Madeline Neumann died Sunday of diabetic ketoacidosis, a condition that left too little insulin in her body, Everest Metro Police Chief Dan Vergin said.
She had probably been ill for about a month, suffering symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, excessive thirst, loss of appetite and weakness, the chief said Wednesday, noting that he expects to complete the investigation by today and to forward the results to the district attorney.
The girl's mother, Leilani Neumann, said that the family believes in the Bible and that healing comes from God, but she said they do not belong to an organized religion or faith, are not fanatics and have nothing against doctors.
She insisted that her youngest child, a wiry girl known to wear her straight brown hair in a ponytail, was in good health until recently.
"We just noticed a tiredness within the past two weeks," she said Wednesday. "And then just the day before and that day [she died], it suddenly just went to a more serious situation. We stayed fast in prayer then. We believed that she would recover. We saw signs that, to us, it looked like she was recovering."
Her daughter - who hadn't seen a doctor since she got some shots as a 3-year-old, according to Vergin - had no fever and there was warmth in her body, she said.
The girl's father, Dale Neumann, a former police officer, said that he started CPR "as soon as the breath of life left" his daughter's body.
Family members elsewhere called authorities to seek help for the girl.
"My sister-in-law, she's very religious, she believes in faith instead of doctors," the girl's aunt told a sheriff's dispatcher Sunday afternoon in a call from California. "And she called my mother-in-law today . . . and she explained to us that she believes her daughter's in a coma now and she's relying on faith."
The dispatcher got more information from the caller and asked if an ambulance should be sent.
"Please," the woman replied. "I mean, she's refusing. She's going to fight it. . . . We've been trying to get her to take her to the hospital for a week, a few days now."
The aunt called back with more information on the family's location, emergency logs show. Police and paramedics arrived within minutes and immediately called for an ambulance that took her to a hospital.
But less than an hour after authorities reached the home, Madeline - a bright student who left public school for home schooling this semester - was declared dead.
She is survived by her parents and three older siblings.
"We are remaining strong for our children," Leilani Neumann said. "Only our faith in God is giving us strength at this time."
The Neumanns said they moved from California to a modern, middle-class home in woodsy Weston, just outside Wassau in central Wisconsin, about two years ago to open a coffee shop and be closer to other relatives. A basketball hoop is set up in the driveway.
Leilani Neumann said that she and her husband are not worried about the investigation because "our lives are in God's hands. We know we did not do anything criminal. We know we did the best for our daughter we knew how to do." *
There is something wrong with this picture -- I think it's prayer.
Wednesday, March 26, 2008
The Violent Scriptures
Supposedly the people of Judah shouted and God helped them kill ½ million Israelites:
God slaughters 70 men for simply looking into the Ark:
Korah questions Moses’ leadership and God makes the earth open up and swallow his people: men, women, and children:
Not Appeased Yet, God Burns Some More Followers:
...God is further angered:
God Commands And Assists In Genocide:
God throws boulders down from heaven onto fleeing Amorites:
More Genocide:
God threatens to punish the Israelites by forcing them to eat the flesh of their children:
God kills scores of innocent babies and children:
God kills a man for not impregnating his brother’s wife:
God allows Jewish babies to be dashed to pieces and pregnant Jewish women to be ripped open:
The Bible says to kill your wife, your daughter, your son, your brother, your friend, etc… if they worship other gods:
...And people still claim this is the WORD OF GOD?
[2 Chr 13:15 NRSV] Then the people of Judah raised the battle shout. And when the people of Judah shouted, God defeated Jeroboam and all Israel before Abijah and Judah.
[2 Chr 13:16-18 NRSV] The Israelites fled before Judah, and God gave them into their hands. Abijah and his army defeated them with great slaughter; five hundred thousand picked men of Israel fell slain.
Thus the Israelites were subdued at that time, and the people of Judah prevailed because they relied on the LORD, the God of their ancestors.
God slaughters 70 men for simply looking into the Ark:
[1 Sam 6:19 RSV] And he [God] slew some of the men of Beth-shemesh, because they looked into the ark of the LORD; he slew seventy men of them, and the people mourned because the Lord had made a great slaughter among the people.
Korah questions Moses’ leadership and God makes the earth open up and swallow his people: men, women, and children:
[Num 16:20-21 NRSV] Then the LORD spoke to Moses and to Aaron, saying: Separate yourselves from this congregation, so that I may consume them in a moment. They fell on their faces, and said, "O God, the God of the spirits of all flesh, shall one person sin and you become angry with the whole congregation?"
[Num 16:27 NRSV] […]and Dathan and Abiram came out and stood at the entrance of their tents, together with their wives , their children , and their little ones .
[Num 16:32-33 NRSV] The earth opened its mouth and swallowed them up, along with their households–everyone who belonged to Korah and all their goods. So they with all that belonged to them went down alive into Sheol; the earth closed over them, and they perished from the midst of the assembly.
Not Appeased Yet, God Burns Some More Followers:
[Num 16:35 NRSV] And fire came out from the LORD and consumed the two hundred fifty men offering the incense.
[Num 16:41 NRSV] On the next day, however, the whole congregation of the Israelites rebelled against Moses and against Aaron, saying, "You have killed the people of the LORD."
...God is further angered:
[Num 16:45 NRSV] "Get away from this congregation, so that I may consume them in a moment." And they fell on their faces.
[Num 16:49 NRSV] Those who died by the plague were fourteen thousand seven hundred, besides those who died in the affair of Korah.
God Commands And Assists In Genocide:
[City of Jericho][6:21] Then they devoted to destruction by the edge of the sword all in the city, both men and women, young and old, oxen, sheep, and donkeys.
[City of Ai][8:22]Israel struck them down until no one was left who survived or escaped.
[8:29] And he hanged the king of Ai on a tree until evening; and at sunset Joshua commanded, and they took his body down from the tree, threw it down at the entrance of the gate of the city …
[The Amorites] [10:10] …[the Israelites] inflicted a great slaughter on them at Gibeon …, and struck them down as far as Azekah and Makkedah.
God throws boulders down from heaven onto fleeing Amorites:
[10:11] As they fled before Israel, while they were going down the slope of Beth-horon, the LORD threw down huge stones from heaven on them as far as Azekah, and they died; there were more who died because of the hailstones than the Israelites killed with the sword.
[10:12-13] …Joshua spoke to the LORD; and he said in the sight of Israel, "Sun, stand still at Gibeon, and Moon, in the valley of Aijalon." And the sun stood still, and the moon stopped, until the nation took vengeance on their enemies. Is this not written in the Book of Jashar? The sun stopped in midheaven, and did not hurry to set for about a whole day.
[10:20] When Joshua and the Israelites had finished inflicting a very great slaughter on them, until they were wiped out.
More Genocide:
[11:1-4] People of Hazor, Madon, Shimron, Achshaph, northern hill country, Arabah, Naphoth-dor, Canaanites in the east and the west, the Amorites [again?], the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Jebusites and the Hivites unite against the Israelites.
[11:14] All the spoil of these towns, and the livestock, the Israelites took for their booty; but all the people they struck down with the edge of the sword, until they had destroyed them, and they did not leave any who breathed.
[11:20] For it was the Lord’s doing to harden their hearts [the Canaanites] so that they would come against Israel in battle, in order that they might be utterly destroyed, and might receive no mercy, but be exterminated, just as the LORD had commanded Moses.
God threatens to punish the Israelites by forcing them to eat the flesh of their children:
[Lev 26:27-28 NRSV] But if, despite this, you disobey me, and continue hostile to me, I will continue hostile to you in fury; I in turn will punish you myself sevenfold for your sins.
[Lev 26:29 NRSV] You shall eat the flesh of your sons, and you shall eat the flesh of your daughters.
[Jer 19:9 NRSV] And I will make them eat the flesh of their sons and the flesh of their daughters, and all shall eat the flesh of their neighbors in the siege, and in the distress with which their enemies and those who seek their life afflict them.
God kills scores of innocent babies and children:
[Exo 11:10 NRSV] Moses and Aaron performed all these wonders before Pharaoh; but the LORD hardened Pharaoh’s heart, and he did not let the people of Israel go out of his land.
[Exo 12:29 NRSV] At midnight the LORD struck down all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, from the firstborn of Pharaoh who sat on his throne to the firstborn of the prisoner who was in the dungeon, and all the firstborn of the livestock.
God kills a man for not impregnating his brother’s wife:
[Gen 38:9-10 NRSV] But since Onan knew that the offspring would not be his, he spilled his semen on the ground whenever he went in to his brother’s wife, so that he would not give offspring to his brother. What he did was displeasing in the sight of the LORD, and he put him to death also.
God allows Jewish babies to be dashed to pieces and pregnant Jewish women to be ripped open:
[Hosea 13:16 NRSV] Samaria shall bear her guilt, because she has rebelled against her God; they shall fall by the sword, their little ones shall be dashed in pieces, and their pregnant women ripped open.
The Bible says to kill your wife, your daughter, your son, your brother, your friend, etc… if they worship other gods:
[Deu 13:6-10 NRSV] If anyone secretly entices you–even if it is your brother, your father’s son or your mother’s son, or your own son or daughter, or the wife you embrace, or your most intimate friend– saying, "Let us go worship other gods," whom neither you nor your ancestors have known, any of the gods of the peoples that are around you, whether near you or far away from you, from one end of the earth to the other, you must not yield to or heed any such persons. Show them no pity or compassion and do not shield them. But you shall surely kill them; your own hand shall be first against them to execute them, and afterwards the hand of all the people. Stone them to death for trying to turn you away from the LORD your God.
...And people still claim this is the WORD OF GOD?
The Rapture Trap.
A Pentecostal Christian recently questioned me on my views about the idea of The Rapture. Here is my rather long, but educational response destroying such a notion.
While on Mt. Olivet, the Disciples remark on the magnificence of the Jewish temple. Jesus then responds to them with the sombre prediction that the temple will be destroyed. His disciples then ask him a two part question, which is, "Tell us, when will this be, and what will be the sign of your coming and the close of the age?"(Matthew 24:3)
Take note that the Disciples are asking a two part question. First, about the destruction of the temple. Second, about the SECOND coming of Christ.(Not a Second and Third, simply a Second.)
History proves that the Temple was indeed destroyed, in A.D 70. Obviously, the so called Second coming of Christ has not yet happened.
Take note of that, the two events are widely separated in time, which is why part of his answer is related to the Temple being destroyed, and part of it to his supposed Second Coming.
His response is troubling, and he describes some of the Tribulations that will occur. The details found in Luke 21:20 are quite obviously connected to the first part of the question, which is referring to the Temple being destroyed, and the siege of Jerusalem. The city was in fact invaded by Romans, the temple was destroyed, and the city destroyed as well. This occurred during the lifetime of many of Jesus' followers. I will quote scripture here to show you clearly his response to the first part of the question.
"Great distress shall be upon the earth and wrath upon this people; they will fall by the edge of the sword, and be led captive among all nations; and Jerusalem will be trodden down by Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled." (Luke 21:23-24) After the fall of Jerusalem to the Romans, these prophecies came to pass.
Other prophecies in the Olivet discourse have found their fulfillment time and again throughout the two thousand years of Church history: persecutions, martyrdoms, betrayals, false prophets, apostasies(Such as yourself), wars, earthquakes, famines(Matthew 24:9-14). Christ then follows with a dire warning: "For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been from the beginning of the world until now, no, and never will be. And if those days had not been shortened, no human being would be saved; but for the sake of the elect [that is, those God will save] those days will be shortened" (Matthew 24:21-22)
The principal which Jesus states clearly, here and elsewhere, is obvious: Not the one who is snatched out of tribulation but the one "who endures to the end will be saved."(Matthew 24:13; also 10:22) The days of trial are not a time of escape, but of sifting, proving, purging, strengthening the faithful and sorting them from the unfaithful, the wheat from the chaff.
You people go on and on about this "secret" rapture in which you will get snatched up, clothes remaining, people in cars disappearing(Refer to the absurd novels: Left Behind). But yet again, Scripture contradicts this utterly ridiculous position.
One of Jesus' main concerns in his warnings is that his followers would not be tricked into believing he has come when he hasn't. How will they know he has truly returned? Simple. He says, "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"(Matthew 24:27) The event will be universally recognized, visible, and unmistakable.
Even more: "Then will appear the sign of the Son of Man in heaven, 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; 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 another." (Matthew 24:30-31)
What is the "sign of the Son of Man in heaven?" Jesus doesn't say. But it is obviously a public event that prompts worldwide attention and is directly linked to history's end, and end that is clearly visible and recognizable to all: "the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory."(Verse 30) Add to this the angels and loud trumpets, and you have a reentry to Earth that is anything but secret.
Later, when Jesus was on trial, the Jewish elders asked him if he was, "the Christ, the Son of God"(Matthew 26:63). He replied: "Hereafter, you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of Power, and coming on the clouds of heaven."(Matthew 26:64; Mark 14:62). Keep in mind these two phrases: "the Son of Man... clouds of heaven."
Now you can refer to Daniel when he says, "I saw in the night visions, and behold, with the clouds of heaven there came one like a son of man, and he came to the ancient of days and was presented before him. And to him was given all dominion and glory and kingdom, that all peoples, nations, and languages should serve him"(Daniel 7:13-14)
The Jews understood completely what Jesus was referring to when he called himself, "The son of man... Coming on the clouds of heaven."
Whether it be from Daniel or from Christ, the prophecies state that the Judge comes on the "clouds of heaven", with loud trumpets, and angels who accompany his coming. This is by no means a SECRET COMING!
After the Gospels, the next reference to the second coming of Christ is found in Acts. After Jesus was "lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sights." Two angels appeared and offered one more reminded of what Jesus had told them before: "This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw Him go into heaven."(Acts 1:11) How would he return? ---- Coming with the clouds of heaven.
Take note that throughout Old Testament, the clouds of heaven were associated with the glory of god's presence. The term glory has several layers in scripture, a few examples are: brightness, splendor, praise, renown - the honor publicly given to someone of greatness. For further reference, look to Exodus 13:21, Exodus 40:34, 1 Kings 8:10-11, Ezekiel 10:3-4. In the new Testament, refer to Matthew 17:5.
Given the recurring form of "majestic glory", you should not be surprised when Jesus says he will return to earth "coming on the clouds of haven with power and great glory." He is describing an event of magnificent grandeur, such as could not be hidden, or secret, but one the entire world will see."
St. Paul, St. James, St. Peter, and St. John all speak of the second coming of Christ a number of times in their letters. Refer to: 1 John 2:28, James 5:8, 1 Peter 1:7, 1 Peter 4:7, and lastly, Titus 2:13(Most Protestants do not accept the Book Of Titus.)
St. Peter says reminds the Church in his second letter that the seeming delay of Christ's return demonstrates God's mercy, because the "day of the Lord" will be terrifying(2 Peter 3:2-17)
When St. Paul attempted to settle a controversy in Thessalonica about the lord's coming, he reminded them of a point he had already during a homily: "Do you not remember, that when I was still with you I told you this?" (2 Thessalonians 2:5).
The Christians at Corinth seem to have had questions, and even doubts, about the resurrection of the dead(See 1 Corinthians chapter 15). In explaining the nature of the resurrected and glorified body, St. Paul described how it will take place: "Christ has been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who have fallen asleep [that is, those who have died]. For as by a man came death, by a man has come also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive. But each in his own order: Christ the first fruits, then at his coming those who belong to Christ. Then comes the end, when He delivers the kingdom of god the father after destroying every rule and every authority and power" (1 Corinthians 15:20-24). The trio of closely connected events are simple: Christ's coming, the resurrection of the dead, and the judgement (His triumph over evil).
St. Paul then argues for the bodily resurrection. He describes the nature of the change, and then continues to describe the close of the age: "Lo! I tell you a mystery. We shall not all sleep [that is, die], but we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed" (1 Corinth 15:51-52)
We have already heard about the trumpet. Recall the words of Jesus: "They will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory; and he will send 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"(Matthew 24:30-31). The son appears in brilliant glory, on the clouds of heaven, he then sends his angels to do his bidding and to gather his people for resurrection and judgement.
The Christians at Thessalonica, like those in Corinth, had some questions about the resurrection of the dead as well. Would those believers who had already died have to wait longer to meet Christ than those who were still alive at his return (1 Thessalonians 4:15)? And what of the people who were saying that Judgement Day had already taken place (Thessalonians 2:1-2)?
With regard to the first question, he insisted that the saints -- those who had died in favor with God and whose souls were in heaven - would actually accompany Christ on his return to earth. Then, after a few exhortations to godliness and warnings about the judgement, he returns to the theme of the saints accompanying Christ:
"For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep... We who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, shall not precede those who has fallen asleep. For the lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the archangel's call, and with the sound of the trumpet of god. And the dead in Christ will rise first; then we who are alive, who are left, shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air; and so we shall always be with the Lord" (1 Thessalonians 4:14-17)
St. Paul gives enough details here to make it clear that he is not talking about a secret rapture, but about the same event we have already heard described by Jesus to his disciples and by the same apostle when he wrote to the Corinthians. Once again, we find Christ's descent from heaven, clouds, angels, the trumpet, and resurrection.
Three critical points should be noted: First, these descriptions of Christ's coming share enough common elements to indicate that they all refer to the same sequence of events. The sequence include Jesus' glorious second coming, the resurrection of the dead, and the judgement of the world. Second, the references to the trumpet, the blazing light, the glory of the saints, the judgement or conquest of evil, and the fact that people will "marvel," all show that his is no secret or hidden event.
Third, the text in 2 Thessalonians shows that this sequence takes place after the horrors of the Antichrist's deceptions and attacks on the Church. "For that day will not come, unless the rebellion comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of perdition, who opposes and exalts himself against every so-called god or object of worship, proclaiming himself to be God... The lawless one will be revealed, and the Lord Jesus will slay him with the breath of His mouth and destroy him by His appearing and His coming." (2 Thessalonians 2:3-4, 8).
One detail included in St. Paul's comments may raise a question. When Jesus and the saints come down from heaven, he insists, the faithful Christians who are still alive on the earth "shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air; and so we shall always be with the Lord"(1 Thessalonians 4:17). What is the significance of this?
First, note that this statement parallels Jesus' words about sending out the angels to "gather his elect from the four winds, from the ends of the earth to the ends of heaven," so they can be with "the Son of Man coming in clouds with great power and glory" (Mark 13:26-27, Matthew 24:31). In addition, St. Paul's remarks on the same subject in 2 Thessalonians are prefaced with a slightly different description of this meeting: "Now concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our assembling to meet Him" -- a day when "the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with his mighty angels in flaming fire" (2 Thessalonians 2:1; 1:7).
Again, as we have seen, the context of this references the angel, the trumpet, the clouds. This shows that St. Paul is writing about the glorious PUBLIC return of Christ. So, the question remains, what is the purpose of the faithful on earth being "caught up" in the glory of their descending Lord to meet him as he arrives in triumph?
The answer is simple when you recognize the ancient custom common in St. Pauls culture. When a hero, or military leader, made grand public entrances to a city, what is called a parousia(The same Greek term St. Paul and other biblical writers often use to write about Christ's glorious arrival at the close of the age, see for example: 1 Corinthians 15:25, 2 Thessalonians 2:8, 2 Peter 3:4, 1 John 2:28), he was often met by the citizens who wanted to go out to welcome him and then accompany him back into the city. It was a way for people to honor such a person's arrival and to take part in the celebration of his coming. This, in fact, was the custom that led to Jesus' triumphal entry into Jerusalem on the day we call the Passion, or Palm Sunday.
When you find that the Greek word translated here as "meet" or "meeting" (Apantesis) is the same term that was used for the gathering of citizens to meet the approaching celebrity, the passage makes perfect sense. Those who are still alive on earth when Jesus returns, will have a great privilege: They will be caught up in the clouds of glory to meet the approaching "King of kings and Lord of lords" (1 Timothy 6:15) and to join the saints whose souls have already experienced the rewards of living with him in heaven. They will then accompany him as he enters the world in triumph.
On that day, each faithful Christian will become "a partaker in the glory that is to be revealed" (1 Peter 5:1). Those who "suffer with him" (that is, for his sake) through the terrors of the last days will at that time "also be glorified with him." (Romans 8:17)
I will not point out that Christians, according to Scripture, will have to suffer through the great tribulation. That they will not be "plucked" out of the sky, but they themselves must suffer for Christ.
St. John has a vision of "the souls of those who had been slain for the word of God and for the witness they had borne," who were "each given a white robe and told to rest a little longer, until the number of their fellow servants and their brethren should be complete, who were to be killed as they themselves had been" (Revelation 6:9-11). But there was more. In answer to the question, "Whence have they come?" the elder declared: "These are they who have come out of the great tribulation; they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb." (Revelation 7:13-14)
What could be clearer? God did not pluck these faithful believers out of the horrors of persecution; in fact, he told them that others would be joining their ranks as martyrs.
Even Jesus' prayers for his followers at Gethesemane reflect this perfectly: "I do not ask that you take them out of the world, but that you keep them from the evil one." (John 17:15)
Summary:
Having showed what seem to be the most straight forward biblical passages about Christ's second coming, I can now summarize what we find there. First, Jesus' own instructions about the events to come are confirmed by the apostolic teachings of Sts. Peter, Paul, John, and James. In every scenario presented, the Second Coming is not a secret or invisible event. On the contrary, in various accounts as it's described, it is an unmistakably public, universally visible, glorious, full of splendor. The Lord returns on magnificent clouds of glory with brilliant angels and saints and a trumpet blast announcing their arrival; the faithful on earth are gathered to Him, while the rest of the world wails at the terrifying sight.
Second, Jesus and the Apostles warn that the Church will face severe tribulation before His second coming. The demonic forces that have resisted God from the beginning of history will launch ferocious attacks on his people. Christians will not be spared this adversity, but God will provide the grace to endure, and those who endure to the end through such cleansing and strengthening trials will be saved.
There it is folks. The idea of the rapture being rendered absolutely null and utterly void.
While on Mt. Olivet, the Disciples remark on the magnificence of the Jewish temple. Jesus then responds to them with the sombre prediction that the temple will be destroyed. His disciples then ask him a two part question, which is, "Tell us, when will this be, and what will be the sign of your coming and the close of the age?"(Matthew 24:3)
Take note that the Disciples are asking a two part question. First, about the destruction of the temple. Second, about the SECOND coming of Christ.(Not a Second and Third, simply a Second.)
History proves that the Temple was indeed destroyed, in A.D 70. Obviously, the so called Second coming of Christ has not yet happened.
Take note of that, the two events are widely separated in time, which is why part of his answer is related to the Temple being destroyed, and part of it to his supposed Second Coming.
His response is troubling, and he describes some of the Tribulations that will occur. The details found in Luke 21:20 are quite obviously connected to the first part of the question, which is referring to the Temple being destroyed, and the siege of Jerusalem. The city was in fact invaded by Romans, the temple was destroyed, and the city destroyed as well. This occurred during the lifetime of many of Jesus' followers. I will quote scripture here to show you clearly his response to the first part of the question.
"Great distress shall be upon the earth and wrath upon this people; they will fall by the edge of the sword, and be led captive among all nations; and Jerusalem will be trodden down by Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled." (Luke 21:23-24) After the fall of Jerusalem to the Romans, these prophecies came to pass.
Other prophecies in the Olivet discourse have found their fulfillment time and again throughout the two thousand years of Church history: persecutions, martyrdoms, betrayals, false prophets, apostasies(Such as yourself), wars, earthquakes, famines(Matthew 24:9-14). Christ then follows with a dire warning: "For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been from the beginning of the world until now, no, and never will be. And if those days had not been shortened, no human being would be saved; but for the sake of the elect [that is, those God will save] those days will be shortened" (Matthew 24:21-22)
The principal which Jesus states clearly, here and elsewhere, is obvious: Not the one who is snatched out of tribulation but the one "who endures to the end will be saved."(Matthew 24:13; also 10:22) The days of trial are not a time of escape, but of sifting, proving, purging, strengthening the faithful and sorting them from the unfaithful, the wheat from the chaff.
You people go on and on about this "secret" rapture in which you will get snatched up, clothes remaining, people in cars disappearing(Refer to the absurd novels: Left Behind). But yet again, Scripture contradicts this utterly ridiculous position.
One of Jesus' main concerns in his warnings is that his followers would not be tricked into believing he has come when he hasn't. How will they know he has truly returned? Simple. He says, "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"(Matthew 24:27) The event will be universally recognized, visible, and unmistakable.
Even more: "Then will appear the sign of the Son of Man in heaven, 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; 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 another." (Matthew 24:30-31)
What is the "sign of the Son of Man in heaven?" Jesus doesn't say. But it is obviously a public event that prompts worldwide attention and is directly linked to history's end, and end that is clearly visible and recognizable to all: "the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory."(Verse 30) Add to this the angels and loud trumpets, and you have a reentry to Earth that is anything but secret.
Later, when Jesus was on trial, the Jewish elders asked him if he was, "the Christ, the Son of God"(Matthew 26:63). He replied: "Hereafter, you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of Power, and coming on the clouds of heaven."(Matthew 26:64; Mark 14:62). Keep in mind these two phrases: "the Son of Man... clouds of heaven."
Now you can refer to Daniel when he says, "I saw in the night visions, and behold, with the clouds of heaven there came one like a son of man, and he came to the ancient of days and was presented before him. And to him was given all dominion and glory and kingdom, that all peoples, nations, and languages should serve him"(Daniel 7:13-14)
The Jews understood completely what Jesus was referring to when he called himself, "The son of man... Coming on the clouds of heaven."
Whether it be from Daniel or from Christ, the prophecies state that the Judge comes on the "clouds of heaven", with loud trumpets, and angels who accompany his coming. This is by no means a SECRET COMING!
After the Gospels, the next reference to the second coming of Christ is found in Acts. After Jesus was "lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sights." Two angels appeared and offered one more reminded of what Jesus had told them before: "This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw Him go into heaven."(Acts 1:11) How would he return? ---- Coming with the clouds of heaven.
Take note that throughout Old Testament, the clouds of heaven were associated with the glory of god's presence. The term glory has several layers in scripture, a few examples are: brightness, splendor, praise, renown - the honor publicly given to someone of greatness. For further reference, look to Exodus 13:21, Exodus 40:34, 1 Kings 8:10-11, Ezekiel 10:3-4. In the new Testament, refer to Matthew 17:5.
Given the recurring form of "majestic glory", you should not be surprised when Jesus says he will return to earth "coming on the clouds of haven with power and great glory." He is describing an event of magnificent grandeur, such as could not be hidden, or secret, but one the entire world will see."
St. Paul, St. James, St. Peter, and St. John all speak of the second coming of Christ a number of times in their letters. Refer to: 1 John 2:28, James 5:8, 1 Peter 1:7, 1 Peter 4:7, and lastly, Titus 2:13(Most Protestants do not accept the Book Of Titus.)
St. Peter says reminds the Church in his second letter that the seeming delay of Christ's return demonstrates God's mercy, because the "day of the Lord" will be terrifying(2 Peter 3:2-17)
When St. Paul attempted to settle a controversy in Thessalonica about the lord's coming, he reminded them of a point he had already during a homily: "Do you not remember, that when I was still with you I told you this?" (2 Thessalonians 2:5).
The Christians at Corinth seem to have had questions, and even doubts, about the resurrection of the dead(See 1 Corinthians chapter 15). In explaining the nature of the resurrected and glorified body, St. Paul described how it will take place: "Christ has been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who have fallen asleep [that is, those who have died]. For as by a man came death, by a man has come also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive. But each in his own order: Christ the first fruits, then at his coming those who belong to Christ. Then comes the end, when He delivers the kingdom of god the father after destroying every rule and every authority and power" (1 Corinthians 15:20-24). The trio of closely connected events are simple: Christ's coming, the resurrection of the dead, and the judgement (His triumph over evil).
St. Paul then argues for the bodily resurrection. He describes the nature of the change, and then continues to describe the close of the age: "Lo! I tell you a mystery. We shall not all sleep [that is, die], but we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed" (1 Corinth 15:51-52)
We have already heard about the trumpet. Recall the words of Jesus: "They will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory; and he will send 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"(Matthew 24:30-31). The son appears in brilliant glory, on the clouds of heaven, he then sends his angels to do his bidding and to gather his people for resurrection and judgement.
The Christians at Thessalonica, like those in Corinth, had some questions about the resurrection of the dead as well. Would those believers who had already died have to wait longer to meet Christ than those who were still alive at his return (1 Thessalonians 4:15)? And what of the people who were saying that Judgement Day had already taken place (Thessalonians 2:1-2)?
With regard to the first question, he insisted that the saints -- those who had died in favor with God and whose souls were in heaven - would actually accompany Christ on his return to earth. Then, after a few exhortations to godliness and warnings about the judgement, he returns to the theme of the saints accompanying Christ:
"For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep... We who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, shall not precede those who has fallen asleep. For the lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the archangel's call, and with the sound of the trumpet of god. And the dead in Christ will rise first; then we who are alive, who are left, shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air; and so we shall always be with the Lord" (1 Thessalonians 4:14-17)
St. Paul gives enough details here to make it clear that he is not talking about a secret rapture, but about the same event we have already heard described by Jesus to his disciples and by the same apostle when he wrote to the Corinthians. Once again, we find Christ's descent from heaven, clouds, angels, the trumpet, and resurrection.
Three critical points should be noted: First, these descriptions of Christ's coming share enough common elements to indicate that they all refer to the same sequence of events. The sequence include Jesus' glorious second coming, the resurrection of the dead, and the judgement of the world. Second, the references to the trumpet, the blazing light, the glory of the saints, the judgement or conquest of evil, and the fact that people will "marvel," all show that his is no secret or hidden event.
Third, the text in 2 Thessalonians shows that this sequence takes place after the horrors of the Antichrist's deceptions and attacks on the Church. "For that day will not come, unless the rebellion comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of perdition, who opposes and exalts himself against every so-called god or object of worship, proclaiming himself to be God... The lawless one will be revealed, and the Lord Jesus will slay him with the breath of His mouth and destroy him by His appearing and His coming." (2 Thessalonians 2:3-4, 8).
One detail included in St. Paul's comments may raise a question. When Jesus and the saints come down from heaven, he insists, the faithful Christians who are still alive on the earth "shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air; and so we shall always be with the Lord"(1 Thessalonians 4:17). What is the significance of this?
First, note that this statement parallels Jesus' words about sending out the angels to "gather his elect from the four winds, from the ends of the earth to the ends of heaven," so they can be with "the Son of Man coming in clouds with great power and glory" (Mark 13:26-27, Matthew 24:31). In addition, St. Paul's remarks on the same subject in 2 Thessalonians are prefaced with a slightly different description of this meeting: "Now concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our assembling to meet Him" -- a day when "the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with his mighty angels in flaming fire" (2 Thessalonians 2:1; 1:7).
Again, as we have seen, the context of this references the angel, the trumpet, the clouds. This shows that St. Paul is writing about the glorious PUBLIC return of Christ. So, the question remains, what is the purpose of the faithful on earth being "caught up" in the glory of their descending Lord to meet him as he arrives in triumph?
The answer is simple when you recognize the ancient custom common in St. Pauls culture. When a hero, or military leader, made grand public entrances to a city, what is called a parousia(The same Greek term St. Paul and other biblical writers often use to write about Christ's glorious arrival at the close of the age, see for example: 1 Corinthians 15:25, 2 Thessalonians 2:8, 2 Peter 3:4, 1 John 2:28), he was often met by the citizens who wanted to go out to welcome him and then accompany him back into the city. It was a way for people to honor such a person's arrival and to take part in the celebration of his coming. This, in fact, was the custom that led to Jesus' triumphal entry into Jerusalem on the day we call the Passion, or Palm Sunday.
When you find that the Greek word translated here as "meet" or "meeting" (Apantesis) is the same term that was used for the gathering of citizens to meet the approaching celebrity, the passage makes perfect sense. Those who are still alive on earth when Jesus returns, will have a great privilege: They will be caught up in the clouds of glory to meet the approaching "King of kings and Lord of lords" (1 Timothy 6:15) and to join the saints whose souls have already experienced the rewards of living with him in heaven. They will then accompany him as he enters the world in triumph.
On that day, each faithful Christian will become "a partaker in the glory that is to be revealed" (1 Peter 5:1). Those who "suffer with him" (that is, for his sake) through the terrors of the last days will at that time "also be glorified with him." (Romans 8:17)
I will not point out that Christians, according to Scripture, will have to suffer through the great tribulation. That they will not be "plucked" out of the sky, but they themselves must suffer for Christ.
St. John has a vision of "the souls of those who had been slain for the word of God and for the witness they had borne," who were "each given a white robe and told to rest a little longer, until the number of their fellow servants and their brethren should be complete, who were to be killed as they themselves had been" (Revelation 6:9-11). But there was more. In answer to the question, "Whence have they come?" the elder declared: "These are they who have come out of the great tribulation; they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb." (Revelation 7:13-14)
What could be clearer? God did not pluck these faithful believers out of the horrors of persecution; in fact, he told them that others would be joining their ranks as martyrs.
Even Jesus' prayers for his followers at Gethesemane reflect this perfectly: "I do not ask that you take them out of the world, but that you keep them from the evil one." (John 17:15)
Summary:
Having showed what seem to be the most straight forward biblical passages about Christ's second coming, I can now summarize what we find there. First, Jesus' own instructions about the events to come are confirmed by the apostolic teachings of Sts. Peter, Paul, John, and James. In every scenario presented, the Second Coming is not a secret or invisible event. On the contrary, in various accounts as it's described, it is an unmistakably public, universally visible, glorious, full of splendor. The Lord returns on magnificent clouds of glory with brilliant angels and saints and a trumpet blast announcing their arrival; the faithful on earth are gathered to Him, while the rest of the world wails at the terrifying sight.
Second, Jesus and the Apostles warn that the Church will face severe tribulation before His second coming. The demonic forces that have resisted God from the beginning of history will launch ferocious attacks on his people. Christians will not be spared this adversity, but God will provide the grace to endure, and those who endure to the end through such cleansing and strengthening trials will be saved.
There it is folks. The idea of the rapture being rendered absolutely null and utterly void.
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