Wandering Jew? and Failed Apocalypse
June 14, 2014 at 11:15 am
(This post was last modified: June 14, 2014 at 1:06 pm by Jenny A.)
Like many before and after him Jesus preached immediate apocalypse:
"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." Mathew 24:33-34 KJV
"So likewise ye, when ye see these things come to pass, know ye that the kingdom of God is nigh at hand. Verily I way unto you, This generation shall not pass away, till all be fulfilled. " Luke 21:31-32 KJV
The end did not come within a generation. Christian apologetics have been trying to explain that ever since. I have a plant in my yard called "The Wandering Jew" which is named after a very old apologetic for this statement. The idea is that there is still an unconverted Jew left living from Jesus' generation (it's a miracle) and until that poor wandering man dies, the apocalypse won't happen.
A more modern approach is to simply say that this generation means all of humanity---um, like Jesus didn't know the difference between a generation of people and humankind as a whole.
I don't find either very convincing. Certainly Paul, didn't hear it that way. He too thought the end was nigh.
So, since the prophesy failed roughly 2000 years ago, I can't say I give it much credence today. Why would anyone who actually reads The Bible instead of cherry picking it for current Christian dogma?
"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." Mathew 24:33-34 KJV
"So likewise ye, when ye see these things come to pass, know ye that the kingdom of God is nigh at hand. Verily I way unto you, This generation shall not pass away, till all be fulfilled. " Luke 21:31-32 KJV
The end did not come within a generation. Christian apologetics have been trying to explain that ever since. I have a plant in my yard called "The Wandering Jew" which is named after a very old apologetic for this statement. The idea is that there is still an unconverted Jew left living from Jesus' generation (it's a miracle) and until that poor wandering man dies, the apocalypse won't happen.
A more modern approach is to simply say that this generation means all of humanity---um, like Jesus didn't know the difference between a generation of people and humankind as a whole.
I don't find either very convincing. Certainly Paul, didn't hear it that way. He too thought the end was nigh.
So, since the prophesy failed roughly 2000 years ago, I can't say I give it much credence today. Why would anyone who actually reads The Bible instead of cherry picking it for current Christian dogma?
If there is a god, I want to believe that there is a god. If there is not a god, I want to believe that there is no god.
