Posted by mntzion on March 23, 1999 at 22:29:24 {MWogPEF3nda.o}:
In Reply to: ***THE MANNER OF HIS COMING... posted by Drake, Jr. on March 21, 1999 at 12:12:54:
Dear Drake,
Your point of getting over "Christiancentrism" is one I heartily endorse. For instance during the mid 1900's there was a great ferment amongst various Christian groups that had studied the bible and determined the second coming was eminant. I'm sure you are aware that many of the extant groups came out of that era. Mormanism, 7th Day Adventists, even the Witnesses can trace their roots to this period and the great anticipation. What's interesting is that this was not unique to Christianity. Most all the other "tribes" or major world religions had their own expectations of the "return" and that this period was a temporal convergence that is very interesting. You may recall the Millerites and their ascention robes, everyone selling their belongings and waiting on the hill tops looking to the skys? It seems that the Jews and Christians aren't the only ones anticpating the renewal of the world though a great spiritual leader that will be the one shephard with one flock.
Sorting out the symnbolic from the literal is an interesting exercise. For me it seems that God doesn't want people to be forced to believe, that the subtle and hidden once discovered become the most obvious. So what can be seen by all, so to speak, can at the same time be obscure and veiled. I also love the quotes of Jesus in the 24th chapter of Matthew re; his "return". Much of it is used by those who think they have the inside story to warn everyone eslse that their understanding is due to being deceived while they are the "true" believers. When Jesus talked about knowing the false prophets by their fruits, he also provided for measuring those that would not be "false prophets". What are the fruits of the spirit that He wants us to recognize? If all coming in His Name would be false, why provide a rod stick by which to measure them? If his coming was going to be so obvious to all why worry about judging them by their fruits? Clearly there seems to be more to the story than seeing the Messiah apear on television or the internet.
cheers, mntzion