Contrary to popular belief, most Christians believe the opposite of what Jesus really said. Take for an example and ask this question. "When did Jesus say He would return?"
The answer you get is "He didn't say when, nobody knows". Or They say "At the end of the world". They don't know that the bible tells us numerous times when He will return. And when you show them, they say "that means something else" or "that's not what that means" or they twist words to mean something else.
Don't let Church tradition continue in your already formed mind from others opinions. Let Jesus teach you. He will reveal truth to you. I believe a 3rd grader has a better chance of learning the truth of the bible rather than from another human?
Yes! it's a fact most churches will choose tradition over Scripture. I think we must be willing to be wrong before we can become right.
I believe to really be free in Jesus we have to lose the doctrines of men and listen to all views. Christian growth is the search for truth, not religion, tradition and man made creeds.
Were you taught that the world is coming to an end and Jesus is about to return? I was too. And if you still think Jesus will return in the future, I'm sorry to tell you, the bible does not teach this. Who are we to believe Man or Jesus? Jesus said "Truly I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all these things take place." Matthew 24:34 Why does man twist every word in this verse to mean something else? If you were standing right in front of Jesus when He said this, what would you think?
In previous studies we have proved that generation does not mean 2,000 years and does not mean "Race"
Let's look at what Jesus really said:
Matthew 23:36, "Verily I say unto you, All these things shall come upon this
generation. What generation? Answer "this" first century generation Not!
"that" 21 century generation.
Matthew 24:34, "Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass, till all
these things be fulfilled." All these thing included the Second
Coming see Matthew 24:3 It says His Coming!
Matthew 16:27-28, Jesus said that some of His disciples, who were standing right
there in front of Him, would not die until they have seen the Son of man coming
in His kingdom. And the apostle John is one of these apostles who lived to see
the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 A.D. Jesus said He is coming within the
lives of his audience. It's not hard to see, that Jesus would return before some
of them died.
Matthew 10:23 But whenever they persecute you in one city, flee to the next; for truly I say to you, you will not finish going through the cities of Israel until the Son of Man comes.
This is saying Jesus' disciples would not be able to finish their work in all the cities of Israel before Jesus returns. Now! did it happen or not?! A child can understand this why can't adults?
Luke 21:22 For these are the days of vengeance, that all things which are
written may be fulfilled.
Jesus said everything written would be fulfilled in His generation! Knowing this
has many more blessings, rather that some scary end times scenario.
Luke 21:32
Truly I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all things take
place.
Was Jesus mistaken when He told this to His disciples standing right in front of Him?
Matthew 23:35
That upon you may come all the righteous blood shed upon the earth, from the
blood of righteous Abel unto the blood of Zacharias son of Barachias, whom ye
slew between the temple and the altar.
Matthew 23:37 O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets...
Jesus identifies Jerusalem as Babylon and guilty of all " the blood of prophets,
and of saints, and of all that were slain upon the earth."
You can't have "all the righteous bloodshed" in two separate entities. Babylon
is Old Covenant Jerusalem. This will not happen in the 21st century.
Luke 11:51
From the blood of Abel unto the blood of Zacharias which perished between the
altar and the temple: verily I say unto you, It shall be required of this
generation.
Jesus was saying that the generation He was in would take the fall for killing
the prophets.
John 21:22 Jesus said to him (Peter), "If I want him (John) to remain until I come, what is that to you? You follow Me!"
Jesus told Peter "What is it to you if I keep John alive until my second coming? Jesus told those who were listening that they would live to see the Second Coming. (He was not speaking to you! He was speaking to the people standing right in front of Him.)
In Matthew 24:6 Jesus said "You will be hearing of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not frightened, for those things must take place, but that is not yet the end."
Now if this was not to happen in the first century don't you think Jesus' disciples would have asked "Why are you telling us if this is going to happen in 2,000 years?"
Don't make the same mistake that the Jews who crucified Christ made. They were the every eye will see him in Revelation 1:7 They were not satisfied with a spiritual kingdom; they had to have a literal, worldly, physical kingdom. That's why they rejected Christ's "first coming." I hope and pray that you do not make the same mistake about his so-called "second coming" and reject the fulfillment of the coming of His Kingdom that came in 70 A.D. His Kingdom is here now! If not, what kingdom is He the King of kings of?
Adapted in part from lots of other agreeing people.