Do Apostolics expect the Second Coming soon?
 

This is not a theological question as much as a sociological question and it doesn't have anything to do with whatever type of Second Coming you might believe in. What I want to know is: No matter what type of Second Coming you might believe in (pre-trib, post-trib, preterist), is it emphasized as much as I remember it being 30-odd years ago?

I remember back in my late teenage years (during the Disco Era, which on some days feels as long ago as the Jurassic) that preachers used to talk about how Jesus was coming back Real Soon Now. It was a big reason used by preachers during the altar call to get people down to the altar. "Y'all need to get right with JESUS!" and so on. I know it was a huge part of my mental imagination and I had dreams/nightmares that I'd missed the Rapture because I wasn't entirely faithful.

Granted, my experience today is rather minimal, but it just seems to me that Apostolic people don't seem to be hoping so much for Jesus to come back. It seems like it's gone from "Not of this world" and "Don't worry about that, Jesus is coming soon" to "Let's change the world by (various actions)."

What do you all think?

Re: Do Apostolics expect the Second Coming soon?
 

I do NOT expect His Second Coming to be soon as in this year or next.

I do want to be ready in case it is-- or in case of an untimely death.


For the most part, I don't think I live in fear of these things, but I am mindful of His return. I want my lifestyle to be motivated out of love and devotion to Him rather than fear.

Re: Do Apostolics expect the Second Coming soon?
 

No..I do not..I believe Matthew 24 has been fulfilled.

Re: Do Apostolics expect the Second Coming soon?
 

So you don't believe Jesus is going to come back in the clouds etc., etc.?

When I was 17, that was a big deal. I know I believed it was going to happen. Decades later I've read the opinions of scholars and theologians that when Paul wrote this, he really did expect this to happen in his lifetime and his readers would have believed that too--but it didn't happen.

I don't know if Paul and his readers were disappointed but I eventually got on with my life. If I was inclined to believe this, I'd tend to be more of the opinion that the meeting with Jesus will be after I die. I don't know that I'm inclined to believe it.

Re: Do Apostolics expect the Second Coming soon?
 

I really do expect Jesus to come very soon. :) I look at the clouds and wonder........will today be The Day?! :)

Re: Do Apostolics expect the Second Coming soon?
 

We have differences of opinion here.
Some of us still believe in a future coming of Jesus either as a rapture or to set up a kingdom but the trend seems to be some form of preterism that the "end" occurred in AD 70 and the Kingdom was set up then.

Re: Do Apostolics expect the Second Coming soon?
 

(I'm not focusing on this aspect of it, but I do lean towards a post-trib rapture view :-)

Next, let me say that we should not fear, because as long as we keep "our lamps filled with oil" (stay prayed up in the Holy Ghost) and stay faithful to the truth enduring to the end, that whatever God chooses to not protect us from He will give us the grace to endure.

Now for those who are not ready, a healthy dose of fear is sometimes needed, though not necessiarily the preferred method.

Jude 1:22, 23 And of some have compassion, making a difference: And others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh.

I keep up with what's going on enough to say that I would be surprised if the second coming did not happen by 2020 or sooner.

Now I am NOT saying for SURE what I am going to share next is going to happen on that timetable, only that it is an interesting POSSIBILITY -

Just a thought - we do not know the exact day and hour, but the scriptures do indicate that we can know things are getting very near, and the scriptures also tell us things to watch for so we can know that it is getting near.

"But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief." 1 Thessalonians 5:4

"Now learn a parable of the fig tree; When his branch is yet tender, and putteth forth leaves, ye know that summer is nigh:
So likewise ye, when ye shall see all these things, know that it is near, even at the doors.
Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled." Matthew 24:32-34

Many Bible scholars believe that the "fig tree" refers to Isreal's rebirth as a nation in 1948, and 70 years can be viewed as a generation, now that is not setting an exact day and hour, but it does tell us that it is getting very near "even at the doors".

1948 + 70 would bring us to the year 2018, also I have heard that the global elite are hoping to have their one world government in force by 2012, and 2012 + 7 years = 2019

This is simply an interesting POSSIBILITY to consider, I am NOT saying for SURE it will happen on that timetable.

The thing is to be ready now, and stay ready, and help others get ready, so whenever it happens we will be ready :-)

Re: Do Apostolics expect the Second Coming soon?
 

I believe Matt 24 was fulfilled, but that does not mean I believe the coming of the Lord is not soon.

Re: Do Apostolics expect the Second Coming soon?
 

I was saved at the age of 17. It happened on a Monday night, March 28, 1955. I became a new creature. My life was radically changed. I had been attending a liberal modernistic church and I left there and started attending a Baptist church. There under a pastor who had graduated from Moody Bible Institute and Wheaton College and who preached from a well marked up Scofield Bible, I was taught that Jesus was coming soon. I was taught that He was coming before a time of tribulation and He was going to snatch away His people before He poured out his wrath on the earth. I was taught that He could come at any time and nothing had to be fulfilled in the Scriptures before the rapture could take place. I believed it.

I have since been baptized in Jesus name and I have been baptized in the Spirit. I have sat for one year under Bro. S.G. Norris at the Apostolic Bible institute in St. Paul, MN and have sat under Bro. F.E. Curts in Cincinnati from 1957 to 1963 or 64 and they taught the same thing and I believed them.

I expected Jesus to come and rapture me at any moment for years. I was surprised and disappointed when 1960 came and He hadn't come yet to take me away. Now, many more years have come and gone and even the year 2000 and He didn't come. Now it's 2010 and I am 72 years old and it still didn't happen. I have never expected to die but to be alive at the rapture.

I still believe that Jesus could come at any moment and rapture me and I am confident in His grace that I will see Him face to face. But, I have finally come to the conclusion that I may not be alive when it happens. I hope I am, and I hope that it happens soon before my health declines and I die. It is still my daily hope.

But, whether I am alive or dead, I am confident in the hope of a rapture.

Now, I know that is not the opinion of all Christians and I respect your opinion if it differs from mine.

Re: Do Apostolics expect the Second Coming soon?
 

Where did He promise He is coming back Mike?..What verse do you have that you cling to? What would be the purpose?.Do you have Christ now? Is He not in the Kingdom He promised? Luke 17:20..within you..

Re: Do Apostolics expect the Second Coming soon?
 

I would say no. It is not emphasized nearly as much as it was when I was growing up in the 80's. I think people are just burnt out after so many false reports, supposed "signs of the times", needing therapy over thinking you missed the rapture, etc.

I do also think that there is a significant increase in the number of people embracing aspects of partial preterism which has an effect as well. I see way more of an emphasis on being ready because today might be YOUR day to meet The Lord - which I find to be an improvement.

Re: Do Apostolics expect the Second Coming soon?
 

Gary,

Excellent post! And I believe your post trib leaning will one day be vindicated.

Re: Do Apostolics expect the Second Coming soon?
 

Its true that the frantic teaching of a pre tribulation rapture that ignores the important signs which must still happen, along with the various aspects of preterism being embraced have confused many saints so they have no joy concerning his second coming.

Re: Do Apostolics expect the Second Coming soon?
 

Good question SRM. I look forward to this volley of thoughts.

Re: Do Apostolics expect the Second Coming soon?
 

This is a good example of the confusion being poured out today. Note the warning of Apostle Peter:

[3] Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts,
[4] And saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation. 2 Peter 3:3-4

They will be asking people "Where is the promise of his coming".

Re: Do Apostolics expect the Second Coming soon?
 

I Corinthians 15

Re: Do Apostolics expect the Second Coming soon?
 

Wow...things really have changed!

Preterism wasn't even in the rear-view mirror when I was a teenager. People argued over pre- versus post-trib rapture, with pre-trib definitely being the dominant view.

Is preterism common among Apostolics or is it an Internet phenomenon?

Re: Do Apostolics expect the Second Coming soon?
 

It is increasingly common and appears that it will continue to do so.

Re: Do Apostolics expect the Second Coming soon?
 

Good point Michael !

I have used that verse (among others) when discussing this topic elsewhere in the past to show that the return of Jesus is still a future event.

Re: Do Apostolics expect the Second Coming soon?
 

In your eschatology,what is next? How do you view the Millenium? The Tribulation? The Resurrection of the dead? The Great Judgement? The restoration of Israel.

Re: Do Apostolics expect the Second Coming soon?
 

The belief of an imminent return is one of the most distinctive characteristics of 20th and 21st Century Pentecostalism.

It's not just an idea in a vacuum either because it fuels theology in so many other areas.

Re: Do Apostolics expect the Second Coming soon?
 

1Co 15:23 KJV But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ's at his coming.

1Th 4:15 KJV For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep.

Joh 5:28-29 KJV Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, (29) And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation.

Heb 9:28 KJV So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation.

He is coming again to restore to us the physical immortality Adam lost in the fall, so we are whole spirit, soul and body forevermore, not 1/3 lacking. And Sin and satan and sinners will be removed from the earth to not so much as influence anyone in it.

Re: Do Apostolics expect the Second Coming soon?
 

:bliss :bliss :bliss