How would you know?

[cheezgrits]

As most of you approach the Easter season, it has made me think...what if someone you didn't know walked up to you, said throw down what you're doing right now and follow me, I'm Jesus, back again. Would you? What if someone we've ignored or blown off as crazy may have been your Messiah come back to visit.

Yeah, I'm familiar with the stories in the Bible about how he is supposed to return...cloud, trumpet...but again, that's someone's multiple written interpretation of someone's dream, soooooo...yeah.

Many of you claim to know Jesus, are you comfortable enough with that to know him if you saw him, talked to him?

Not antagonizing...just thinking?

[Bird Dog (Premo)]

Originally Posted by cheezgrits

As most of you approach the Easter season, it has made me think...what if someone you didn't know walked up to you, said throw down what you're doing right now and follow me, I'm Jesus, back again. Would you? What if someone we've ignored or blown off as crazy may have been your Messiah come back to visit.

Yeah, I'm familiar with the stories in the Bible about how he is supposed to return...cloud, trumpet...but again, that's someone's multiple written interpretation of someone's dream, soooooo...yeah.

Many of you claim to know Jesus, are you comfortable enough with that to know him if you saw him, talked to him?

Not antagonizing...just thinking?

It would be very difficult, I hope I would know., but He said next time it would be different.

[ItalianScallion (Premo)]

Originally Posted by cheezgrits

As most of you approach the Easter season, it has made me think...what if someone you didn't know walked up to you, said throw down what you're doing right now and follow me, I'm Jesus, back again. Would you? What if someone we've ignored or blown off as crazy may have been your Messiah come back to visit.

Yeah, I'm familiar with the stories in the Bible about how he is supposed to return...cloud, trumpet...but again, that's someone's multiple written interpretation of someone's dream, soooooo...yeah.

Many of you claim to know Jesus, are you comfortable enough with that to know him if you saw him, talked to him?

Not antagonizing...just thinking?

This, again, is why we need to have one source for spiritual answers so we'll know what will happen and we won't be deceived. Jesus told us that He would NOT be back until the end of time (Matthew 24 v 23-27) so His followers won't be misled by the James Jones/David Koresh types.

He did, however, say that angels may take on human form and visit us here (Hebrews 13 v 2).

[hotcoffee]

Originally Posted by cheezgrits

As most of you approach the Easter season, it has made me think...what if someone you didn't know walked up to you, said throw down what you're doing right now and follow me, I'm Jesus, back again. Would you? What if someone we've ignored or blown off as crazy may have been your Messiah come back to visit.

Yeah, I'm familiar with the stories in the Bible about how he is supposed to return...cloud, trumpet...but again, that's someone's multiple written interpretation of someone's dream, soooooo...yeah.

Many of you claim to know Jesus, are you comfortable enough with that to know him if you saw him, talked to him?

Not antagonizing...just thinking?

First of all cheezgrits.... I believe that Bible is the word of God. Yes I know humans have been involved in re-writing it.... Once you have accepted Jesus Christ as your savior, though, the Holy Spirit comes to you. The Holy Spirit works as your interpreter.

When Jesus was Baptized.... the trinity was there in one scene.... Jesus in the Jordan, God in Heaven declaring Jesus as His only begotten Son, and the Holy Spirit descending as a Dove.

So I believe what I read in the Bible as the truth.... because God does the interpretation Himself.

It is written that when Jesus returns... everyone will know who He is....

Now... that said.... I don't know how to explain it.... but there is a peace you have when you become a believer. Jesus brings you an overwhelming sense of "it's all going to be fine". I believe that when I see Jesus.... that warm wonderful peace will announce Him before He says the first word.

I left everything before.... so yeah.... I'd drop everything and follow Him....

[migtig]

I'm highly suspicious of anyone claiming they will know Him when they see Him. The story is that a lot of folks will be fooled into thinking the Anti-Christ is the Anointed One, and by the time they figure out they've been fooled will be too late.

As I told my co-worker/friend recently, when two old men calling themselves Moses and Elijah (or Enoch and Elijah) are reported on the news making a fuss and trying to convert Jews at the Wailing Wall then I know the end times are a coming and we will have 3.5 years until the Anointed One comes and has his great battle. Until then, I won't worry about it.

I personally do not believe in the fundamentalist view about the Rapture, because it was made up in the 17th century by Puritian preachers Increase and Cotton Mather and seems to have caught on by many believers who think they'll be scooped up into Heaven. There may indeed by something that happens, according to Revelations, but in old English "rapture" pretty much means the resurrection and well that could mean lots of things.

IMHO, the "experts" have been saying Jesus would return every year since 1 AD. They've been saying that this that or the other thing is the sign of the prophecy. They've been wrong.

[Dondi]

Originally Posted by migtig

I personally do not believe in the fundamentalist view about the Rapture, because it was made up in the 17th century by Puritian preachers Increase and Cotton Mather and seems to have caught on by many believers who think they'll be scooped up into Heaven. There may indeed by something that happens, according to Revelations, but in old English "rapture" pretty much means the resurrection and well that could mean lots of things.

Whether or not one believes the Rapture, if you still believe what I Thessalonians 4:16-17 and I Corinthians 15:51-52, then we will know that it's Jesus since our bodies will change in a twinkling of an eye when the trump sounds. And also the promise:

"Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is." - I John 3:2 [Emphasis mine]

If you meet a bloke claiming he's Jesus and your not changed in an instant, then I'd back off.

[ItalianScallion (Premo)]

Did your question get answered cheezgrits?

[cheezgrits]

Yeah, pretty much. Proves exactly what I thought it would.

Thanks all.

[Zguy28]

Originally Posted by cheezgrits

As most of you approach the Easter season, it has made me think...what if someone you didn't know walked up to you, said throw down what you're doing right now and follow me, I'm Jesus, back again. Would you? What if someone we've ignored or blown off as crazy may have been your Messiah come back to visit.

Yeah, I'm familiar with the stories in the Bible about how he is supposed to return...cloud, trumpet...but again, that's someone's multiple written interpretation of someone's dream, soooooo...yeah.

Many of you claim to know Jesus, are you comfortable enough with that to know him if you saw him, talked to him?

Not antagonizing...just thinking?

While I agree with what others have said, and what you obviously know, about what the angels said, when He ascended, and what Paul says about Jesus' return, I do get where you are going.

In the Gospels, after the resurrection, Jesus often appears to the disciples and at least twice they do not recognize Him until He reveals Himself to them.

But, on the other hand, we do see Him every day amongst us. But do we recognize Him?

Matthew 25:31-46 HCSB
31 “When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the angels with Him, then He will sit on the throne of His glory. 32 All the nations will be gathered before Him, and He will separate them one from another, just as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. 33 He will put the sheep on His right and the goats on the left. 34 Then the King will say to those on His right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.

35 For I was hungry
and you gave Me something to eat;
I was thirsty
and you gave Me something to drink;
I was a stranger and you took Me in;
36 I was naked and you clothed Me;
I was sick and you took care of Me;
I was in prison and you visited Me.’

37 “Then the righteous will answer Him, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You something to drink? 38 When did we see You a stranger and take You in, or without clothes and clothe You? 39 When did we see You sick, or in prison, and visit You?’

40 “And the King will answer them, ‘I assure you: Whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of Mine, you did for Me.’ 41 Then He will also say to those on the left, ‘Depart from Me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the Devil and his angels!

42 For I was hungry
and you gave Me nothing to eat;
I was thirsty
and you gave Me nothing to drink;
43 I was a stranger
and you didn’t take Me in;
I was naked
and you didn’t clothe Me,
sick and in prison
and you didn’t take care of Me.’

44 “Then they too will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry, or thirsty, or a stranger, or without clothes, or sick, or in prison, and not help You?’

45 “Then He will answer them, ‘I assure you: Whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for Me either.’

46 “And they will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.”

Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)

Copyright © 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003 by Holman Bible Publishers, Nashville Tennessee. All rights reserved.

[hotcoffee]

Originally Posted by cheezgrits

Yeah, pretty much. Proves exactly what I thought it would.

Thanks all.

And what exactly was that, dare I ask?