A moral and ethical question for theists

[Redbeard The Pink]

The second coming of Jesus [does not equate with] damning humanity... :

I've extensively studied Revelation from a theistic point of belief, and yes, it does. The bible speaks of horrible tortures for humanity and doesn't schedule the rapture until that's already started. Furthermore, god only saves a fistful of Jews in that story; everyone else burns. Some think that the "multitude in white robes" represents Christians, but others think those are angels. Both claims are speculation, obviously, and the point is that when Jesus comes back, most of humanity is supposedly fucked by locust-lion-scorpion-human monsters.

[ignoramus]

But CL said that's a good thing, right?

[Longhorn]

Push it!! To hell with all of us!!

Plus, I want to punch godboy in the nuts

[Whateverist]

Let's just hope that Jesus' refractory period lasts a might longer.

[robvalue]

The problem with this is when someone in power sees nuclear weaponry as the red button. I'm actually amazed this hasn't happened already.

[Nope]

Revelation chapter 9

18A third of mankind was killed by these three plagues, by the fire and the smoke and the brimstone which proceeded out of their mouths.

When I was Christian, talk of Jesus' return used to bother me because I had read the bible and knew how many people were supposed to be killed. My friends used to just shrug when I asked why we should be happy over so much death. They usually focused on seeing Jesus. It is really a selfish and cruel mythology that seems to cause some people to ignore the future suffering of humanity.

[loganonekenobi]

let me ramble for a moment to ask a few questions of the knowlegable such as out dear Catholic_Lady (by the way Im not sure how to friend you on face book but I will try today...you are one of the few theists that discuss the topics instead of preach and shout. ) The first coming of Jesus was predicted for quite a while before his birth to the jews...yes? yet when he did come only 12 of these (and im not sure if all of them where jewish) believed the profiecy. The rest killed him.
Now if this second coming for which has also been foretold is going to happen how do you think it's possible for any of us to know if they didn't know back then? Even today the Jewish community only considers Jesus a prophit and nothing more.
Did you know there is a guy in some hispanic country that claims to be him? He is getting rich off of this claim which should be a dead give away that he is not but some follow him. May be they are right. I'm too lazy to look it up but i believe Charles Manson claimed this too.
Also what of this damning of humanity that is supposed to happen? I believe that revelations says something about allot of destruction but those "left behind" should still live to carry on humanity....right? Something about the meek? It may be post apocylicptic but hey that's how Star Trek started....(another nice fantacy).
According to many Christians when the second coming happens they will just die and their souls away to heaven while the rest of us suffer the great fires of the celestial wrath (for which earth has done in the past and still survives).
Just trying to define all this in my mind.
Of course I want humanity to carry on hopefully for the better.

[robvalue]

I think the bible makes it pretty clear that the return of Jesus was meant to be within the lifetimes of the people he was talking to. I think it takes mental gymnastics or just plain making up stuff to think it says otherwise.

His teaching were about letting go of worldly possessions, not getting married, giving your money away, and so on. All pointing towards an expected event in the near future. That's why people don't follow these parts of his advice (or pretend to follow them in some small way), because they are bad long term strategies.

[ignoramus]

[quote pid='987797' dateline='1436576156']
Because I think the second coming of Christ will be a good thing. Why wouldn't it be?

Cath, if you look at it in the cold light of day, is it possible that that you "need" this to be true? (at any cost)?
When people invest so much in an ideal, they are prepared to lose everything to justify their investment.

We love you, but it's crazy ideals like this, which is why would never give your "kind" control of the nuclear red button.

[dyresand]

The problem with this is when someone in power sees nuclear weaponry as the red button. I'm actually amazed this hasn't happened already.

Well considering we know the problems with nukes they cause to much collateral damage for now and the long run. 
Not to mention we know fucking up the earth is not benefiting anyone. Overall Bush was a stupid president but he was 
smart enough not to hit the nuclear option button.