According to christian scriptures, the end of times was "imminent" at the time the bible was written, most likely in the lifetimes of the "apostles". There are a number of references which support this view:

8 …the coming of the Lord is near.
(James 5:8)

9 …the Judge is standing right at the door.
(James 5:9)

Children, it is the last hour;
and just as you heard thatantichrist is coming,
even now many antichrists have appeared;
from this we know that it is the last hour.
(1 John 2:18)

Moreover, Jesus was reported to have told his disciples, "Truly I tell you, this generation will certainly not pass away until all these things have happened."
(Matt. 24:34; Mark 13:30; Luke 21:32)

But after Christ did not return in the 1st century after his death, xtians have expected Christ's return at various times - some of the more prominent ones are:

1st Century CE: As per the "imminent" predictions in the bible
2nd Century CE: Prophets and Prophetesses of the Montanist movement predicted that Jesus would return sometime during their lifetime and establish the New Jerusalem in the city of Pepuza in Asia Minor.
1000-JAN-1 CE: Many Christians in Europe had predicted the end of the world on this date. As the date approached, Christian armies waged war against some of the Pagan countries in Northern Europe. The motivation was to convert them all to Christianity, by force if necessary, before Christ returned in the year 1000.
Around 2000 CE: Various predictions of Christ's return by Harold Caming, Jerry Falwell and others.

Even after all these failed predictions of Christ's return, xtians still hold on to the belief that he will miraculously appear to claim his "flock" of "chosen ones".

So I would like to run a little throught experiment here. Christ has not returned in year 100, 1000 or 2000 but xtians still believe. What if the year is 10,000 CE - would you still be an avid xtian expecting Christ's return? What if you lived in the year 20,000? 100,000? 200,000?

What would it take for you to finally admit that Christ is not returning and xtianity is false?

If religious people understood or cared about logic and probabilities, they wouldn't be religious in the first place.

You need to appeal to their emotions, not their brains.

(I use the term "brain" very loosely for the sake of this exercise)

After all, Jesus was crucified TWICE for their sins. Sez so in the Holy Bible, so it's gotta be true !!

Purportedly, many of the faithful will deny christ -has- come, or will call to him for help and be denied...because they did not know him.   

"Yeah...so, those assholes had it all wrong" - so sayeth the lord.  

........so it might just take the return of christ for some christians to admit that christianity was false, and since -that- day will never come.......

What's interesting here is the complete lack of response from xtians. Clearly the thought experiment is a little too much to take. Imagine living in the year 10,000 CE and Christ has not returned for each of the millennium anniversaries. That has got to hurt!

(December 6, 2017 at 6:12 pm)Bow Before Zeus Wrote: What's interesting here is the complete lack of response from xtians. Clearly the thought experiment is a little too much to take. Imaging living in the year 10,000 CE and Christ has not returned for each of the millennium anniversaries. That has got to hurt!

Give 'em time; they might show up. You make a good point. It's hard to argue that Jesus meant "thousands of years" in light of the verses you cited, but I'm sure someone will pull something out of his or her ass to validate the verses.

Or maybe they will wait 2,000+ years to show up... like "you-know-who."

(December 6, 2017 at 6:12 pm)Bow Before Zeus Wrote: What's interesting here is the complete lack of response from xtians. Clearly the thought experiment is a little too much to take. Imagine living in the year 10,000 CE and Christ has not returned for each of the millennium anniversaries. That has got to hurt!

You're asking people who believe the cracker and wine turn into flesh and blood to indulge themselves in a thought experiment? Good luck with that one.

(December 6, 2017 at 8:31 pm)Succubus Wrote:

(December 6, 2017 at 6:12 pm)Bow Before Zeus Wrote: What's interesting here is the complete lack of response from xtians. Clearly the thought experiment is a little too much to take. Imagine living in the year 10,000 CE and Christ has not returned for each of the millennium anniversaries. That has got to hurt!

You're asking people who believe the cracker and wine turn into flesh and blood to indulge themselves in a thought experiment? Good luck with that one.

Both require a great deal of imagination so, yes I am asking them to imagine!

(December 6, 2017 at 2:41 am)Bow Before Zeus Wrote: According to christian scriptures, the end of times was "imminent" at the time the bible was written, most likely in the lifetimes of the "apostles". There are a number of references which support this view:

8 …the coming of the Lord is near.
(James 5:8)

9 …the Judge is standing right at the door.
(James 5:9)

Children, it is the last hour;
and just as you heard thatantichrist is coming,
even now many antichrists have appeared;
from this we know that it is the last hour.
(1 John 2:18)

Moreover, Jesus was reported to have told his disciples, "Truly I tell you, this generation will certainly not pass away until all these things have happened."
(Matt. 24:34; Mark 13:30; Luke 21:32)

But after Christ did not return in the 1st century after his death, xtians have expected Christ's return at various times - some of the more prominent ones are:

1st Century CE: As per the "imminent" predictions in the bible
2nd Century CE: Prophets and Prophetesses of the Montanist movement predicted that Jesus would return sometime during their lifetime and establish the New Jerusalem in the city of Pepuza in Asia Minor.
1000-JAN-1 CE: Many Christians in Europe had predicted the end of the world on this date. As the date approached, Christian armies waged war against some of the Pagan countries in Northern Europe. The motivation was to convert them all to Christianity, by force if necessary, before Christ returned in the year 1000.
Around 2000 CE: Various predictions of Christ's return by Harold Caming, Jerry Falwell and others.

Even after all these failed predictions of Christ's return, xtians still hold on to the belief that he will miraculously appear to claim his "flock" of "chosen ones".

So I would like to run a little throught experiment here. Christ has not returned in year 100, 1000 or 2000 but xtians still believe. What if the year is 10,000 CE - would you still be an avid xtian expecting Christ's return? What if you lived in the year 20,000? 100,000? 200,000?

What would it take for you to finally admit that Christ is not returning and xtianity is false?

Riddle me this... did any f the people who wrote those words you quoted or anyone who read those words that are not still living Escape the judgement or anything written by dying?

No. So then can it then be said those words of warning were just as important then are they are now?

(December 7, 2017 at 3:42 pm)Drich Wrote: Riddle me this... did any f the people who wrote those words you quoted or anyone who read those words that are not still living Escape the judgement or anything written by dying?

Since there is no "judgement" of the type you are insinuating, the answer is yes, everyone escapes judgement.

Quote:No. So then can it then be said those words of warning were just as important then are they are now?

Oops, that No should be a Yes.

The words are less important as they are now because they have failed one simple test. The test of observation. They have not come to pass for over 2,000 years nor shall they do so over the next 10,000 years or 100,000 years.

An often quoted definition of insanity is to do the same thing expecting different results. Xtians have been praying and waiting for the return of their god but he refuses to return. That is the reason for my question. If we are now living in the year 100,000 CE and your god has still not returned, will you still be doing the same thing? Will you be praying and waiting for him to return?