Comment: – According to the Bible the second coming of Jesus was supposed to happen within his generation or very shortly thereafter — about 2000 years ago. This has not happened. This test of the New Testament authenticity has failed. Some say that the Bible states that the precise time of the return of Jesus cannot be predicted. Actually the Bible restricts the precision of this prediction to something more than a day. So, a year, a month, and a week precision can still be made for these predictions.. A few verses:
Mt 24:36 But of that day and hour knoweth no [man], no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only.
Mt 24:42 Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come.
Mt 24:44 Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh.
Mt 24:50 The lord of that servant shall come in a day when he looketh not for [him], and in an hour that he is not aware of,
Mt 25:13 Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh.
I remember sermons that I heard as a child (about 70 years ago) that predicted with complete certainty that Jesus would return within a few years of the sermon. The years went by, but it didn’t happen! Over the last 2000 years a number of Jesus Worshippers have predicted and believed Jesus return was imminent.
Recently, many predicted 1800, 1850, 1914, 1975, 2000. These predictions are all wrong, because the Bible predicted Jesus’ return within the generation that Jesus lived. Below are a few verses that relate.
I would say the next predicted times will likely be 2025, 2028, 2050, 2100 and so on as long as the Jesus as God belief survives.
The rapture will never happen. Why? Because Jesus was no different than you and me.
He didn’t know anything about the hereafter either.
*Peter 4:7
- 7. But the end of all things is at hand: be ye therefore sober, and watch unto prayer.
- *1Corinthians 7:29
- 29 But this I say, brethren, the time [is] short: it remaineth, that both they that have wives be as though they had none;
- *James 5:8
- 8 Be ye also patient; stablish your hearts: for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh.
- *Hebrews 10:37
- 37 For yet a little while, and he that shall come will come, and will not tarry.
- *1John 2:18
- 18. Little children, it is the last time: and as ye have heard that antichrist shall come, even now are there many antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last time.
- *Matthew 4:17
- 17 From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.
- Matthew 10:23
- 23 But when they persecute you in this city, flee ye into another: for verily I say unto you, Ye shall not have gone over the cities of Israel, till the
Son of man be come.
- Matthew 16:28
- 28 Verily I say unto you, There be some standing here, which shall not taste of death, till they see the Son of man coming in his kingdom.
- Matthew 24:34
- 34 Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled.
- Mark 1:15
- 15 And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel.
- John 5:25
- 25 Verily, verily, I say unto you, The hour is coming, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God: and they that hear shall live.
- John 21:21
- 21 Peter seeing him saith to Jesus, Lord, and what [shall] this man [do]?
22 Jesus saith unto him, If I will that he tarry till I come, what [is that] to thee?
follow thou me.23 Then went this saying abroad among the brethren, that that disciple should not die: yet Jesus said not unto him, He shall not die; but, If I will that he
tarry till I come, what [is that] to thee?
Naturalism and Religious Experience 