Why hasn't the world ended?

[juliod]

If christianity is true, why hasn't the world ended? Early christians expected the world the end shortly. And in every age since, christians have predicted the imminent end.

But isn't 2000+ years a bit long to wait? At what point is it OK to say that it was an absurd story, now known for a fact to be false? One thousand years ago?

Is there any biblical explanation as to why this unexpected delay?

DanZ

[spl_cadet]

Know this first of all, that in the last days mockers will come with their mocking, following after their own lusts,
4 and saying, "Where is the promise of His coming? For ever since the fathers fell asleep, all continues just as it was from the beginning of creation."
5 For when they maintain this, it escapes their notice that by the word of God the heavens existed long ago and the earth was formed out of water and by water,
6 through which the world at that time was destroyed, being flooded with water.
7 But by His word the present heavens and earth are being reserved for fire, kept for the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men.
8 But do not let this one fact escape your notice, beloved, that with the Lord one day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years like one day.
9 The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance.
2 Peter 3:3-9

[Sher]

/ot Score!

[The Laughing Man]

What is this? The "best" of the worst of skeptics' objections? What's tomorrow? The old "the Bible says pi equals 3" objection?

So... what? Is God supposed to follow what early Christians expected? Or Christians after them? Hey, guess what? They were wrong because they were human! Being Christian does not preclude one from making mistakes. The Bible is quite clear that no one knows when Christ will return.

[Justme]

Hi Joliod,

You asked why the world hasn't ended because some christians have said that it would.

Yes, some christians have said that. In fact the bible says it too.

2 Peter 3
10 But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, in which the heavens will pass away with a roar and the elements will be destroyed with intense heat, and the earth and its works will be burned up.

But as you see the bible doesn't say when this happens.

Science and logic say the same thing.

Feel better now?

Justme

[Dee Dee Warren]

The early Christians did not expect the world to end. They expected the age to end, and it did. No problem. Right on schedule.

[Joseph Alward]

DEE DEE WARREN
The early Christians did not expect the world to end. They expected the age to end, and it did. No problem. Right on schedule.

JOE ALWARD
Jesus told his disciples what one would expect to see when the end of the age (aion) came. I don't think the historical record shows that any of these things have happened yet. Here is what the Bible said:

And as he sat upon the mount of Olives, the disciples came unto him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world? And Jesus answered and said unto them…For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time

Jesus is saying that the end of the age will be accompanied by an apocalyptic suffering greater than any that has ever been experienced, but the record doesn't show anything like that, in my opinion. The suffering Jesus was speaking of would have to have been greater than any that had ever been suffered before, which means it would have to have been greater than that which was suffered by the tens of millions of men, women, children, and babies who drowned in the great flood. History does not record a suffering greater than that, so how could the end of the age Jesus described have come already?

…Immediately after the tribulation of those days…the stars shall fall from heaven…And then…shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet (Matthew 24:3-31)

There are no reports of stars having fallen from heaven, so how could the end of the age have already come? Furthermore, there is no record of all of the tribes of the earth, i.e., all of the societies on the face of the earth, having mourned at the same time, and neither are there reports of Jesus coming down from the clouds with angels and trumpet sounds. How could these things have happened without there being reports of them? If the reason that none of these things were reported is that they haven't happened yet, then how could the end of the age have already come?

[Nowhere357]

spl_cadet:
Know this first of all, that in the last days mockers will come with their mocking, following after their own lusts,

Are you saying that people have not followed their lust whilst mocking other beliefs, for the last 2000 years? This is a sign?

Not much of a sign.

[Nowhere357]

Jinx72:
The Bible is quite clear that no one knows when Christ will return.

How many years must pass before you start to think it's a myth? Would any amount of time be sufficient? 100 billion years?

[studyhound]

Hey there,

I am back, after a short break Dee Dee hunted me down and has been hounding me to come back. she beat me furiously into submission.

So I thought I would jump in here and steal her thunder.

Jesus is saying that the end of the age will be accompanied by an apocalyptic suffering greater than any that has ever been experienced, but the record doesn't show anything like that, in my opinion. The suffering Jesus was speaking of would have to have been greater than any that had ever been suffered before, which means it would have to have been greater than that which was suffered by the tens of millions of men, women, children, and babies who drowned in the great flood. History does not record a suffering greater than that, so how could the end of the age Jesus was described have come already?

If you take a literal approach, yes you have to have a worldwide slaughter of millions maybe billions of people. Or realistically you could look at it like it was meant as a metaphor or a hyperbole, like, I worked all day, did I work 24 hours. No I just used a hyperbole to explain a point. (the example is a weak I know but it gets my point across)

…Immediately after the tribulation of those days…the stars shall fall from heaven…And then…shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet (Matthew 24:3-31)

There are no reports of stars having fallen from heaven, so how could the end of the age have already come? Furthermore, there is no record of all of the tribes of the earth, i.e., all of the societies on the face of the earth, having mourned at the same time, and neither are there reports of Jesus coming down from the clouds with angels and trumpet sounds. How could these things have happened without there being reports of them? If the reason that none of these things were reported is that they haven't happened yet, then how could the end of the age have already come?

Joe I know you’re a smart guy I have see n your post before. I also know you have read the bible more than some Christians. So I would recommend you do a search in the prophets about the stars falling or not giving light, same with the moon and the earth being flattened.

The earth point always had me confused until I did a word study and found out that it was used in the OT in ref. to the land of Israel. Josephus’ War of the Jews was instrumental in me changing how I saw the “end of the world/age” especially in regards to Matt. 24, and Luke 21.

The angel’s don’t have to be heavenly beings but those who announce the coming conquer. The OT has several passages that say God is coming to judge a country, when in fact another nation was the one that conquered them. The image is God using the natural strength of a nation to judge another.

Now I am going to find a dee dee thread and spam the living daylights out of it.



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[Dee Dee Warren]

Thank you studyhound!!!

And I am currently dealing with that very question in the Tennis Court here:

http://theologyweb.com/forum/showthr...&threadid=6208

And jpholding dealt with the astronomical signs with Gordon Freeman here:

http://theologyweb.com/forum/showthr...&threadid=4524


In other words, this subject is more than dealt with in other threads, and to be honest is one of the more weak sceptical examples that could be brought forth on multiple grounds. Whether or not you guys agree with preterism, the FACT is that there is a very reaonable interpretation of those passaes. And ironically this objection helps prove first, the gospels were written before 70AD, and secondly, a legitimate preservation of Christ's words.

I really do not have the time to dedicate to this thread, but do invite the interested reader to the threads I referenced above. And Joe, JP is really into this stuff and would probably enjoy a Gym debate with you on the subject. I would invite you to a debate, but my hands are just so full with running this site.

[Joseph Alward]

DEE DEE WARREN
I would invite you to a debate, but my hands are just so full with running this site.

JOE ALWARD
I understand completely. You are doing a wonderful job running this site, in my opinion.

[Dee Dee Warren]

Thank you Joe, and you are a pleasure to have as a member. I do hope that you remain as a permanent resident here.

[$cirisme]

Nowhere357:

How many years must pass before you start to think it's a myth? Would any amount of time be sufficient? 100 billion years?

Humanity waited longer for the Messiah promised in Genesis. And, though I'm sure you disagree, it happened.

[Justme]

Hi,

After much clicking and jockeying around llinks, I think I saw where Jesus came in 70 for a judgment. I didn't agree with the logic of arriving at that conclusion. I think it's a bit hard to get judgment out of the greek word 'parousia, but there is much, much more.

But first, did I read this right in the first place?

Justme