Freethought & Rationalism Archive

Crowley · 03-04-2005, 12:30 PM

My question is fairly simple. Since I lack the historical knowledge or full understanding of Revelations, I thought I would ask the masses.

In our Modern times, Christians often point to Revelations and say "See, it is all coming to pass. The end times are upon us."

Now is this unique to these times, or have previous generations likewise believed the end times are here? What events did they cite that coincided with the prophecies of Revelations?

Basically, I want to know if Christians have been trumpeting the second coming of Jesus since he "left" or is it more recent that they believed the Apocalypse was ripe?

If this is more appropriate in another heading, I apologize.

Diogenes the Cynic · 03-04-2005, 01:28 PM

I think this is really better suited to GRD

funinspace · 03-04-2005, 02:47 PM

Not sure how reliable the site is, but it's pretty funny. It looks like it was going on in Paul's day, and never stopped. 200 quotes of gloom and doomers, just like the energizer bunny but more prickly than fuzzy.
http://www.bible.ca/pre-date-setters.htm

darwinbaby · 03-04-2005, 06:48 PM

The threat of the apocalypse is nothing new. From what I've read, people have been playing that card since Jesus died.

American Humanist · 03-04-2005, 09:56 PM

Actuallly, I've heard that the reason it took 70 years or more to get the gospels writen down is because the church founders assumed that Jesus would return within there lifetime, Paul even preached this. When their generation started to die off they realized that they needed to writen dpwn the gospels to preserve them.

zaitzeff · 03-05-2005, 11:02 AM

prior to 500Ad, many Christians and perhaps Jews calculated that 500AD would mark 6000 years since Adam and would therefore be the start of the millenium.

the same thing was believed around 1000 AD.

Around 1260 AD, Joachim of Fiore said that the 1260 days of revelation 13 were years and to be counted from the time of Christ to 1260Ad, after which we would have paradise on earth.

Alexander Campbell around 1820 and 1830 believed that the restoration movement would usher in the millenium.

William Miller used Daniel and Revelation to calculate the return of christ in 1843, then, when that did not take place, to be in 1844. His calculations led to a movement that latter gave birth to the Seventh Day Adventists and 40 years later to Charles Russell and the JWs.

Christians have picked a number of men as antichrist: Hitler, Reagan, Gorbachev and many others in the last 200 or 300 years.

cydonia · 03-06-2005, 08:50 PM

So much is happening in the Middle East, it reminds me of watching the late great planet earth years ago as a kid. I'm a non-believer, but even now when I watch the news about the middle east, there's that scary voice in the back of my head "it's happening, get right with god!"

MortalWombat · 03-07-2005, 08:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cydonia

So much is happening in the Middle East, it reminds me of watching the late great planet earth years ago as a kid.

Ah yes, because there has never been strife, political upheaval, wars, or rumors of wars in the Middle East until fairly recently.

cydonia · 03-07-2005, 07:23 PM

Yes, I think most of history has occured only since my lifetime.

There's always been crap going on, but things happening in Iraq, and whatever else will be happening in the Middle East in the next few decades, gives my family fuel to go "look, look! See!" I know it's irrational, but there's a lot of that fear still in me. I come here to get it out.

03-04-2005, 12:30 PM	#1
Crowley Regular Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: GA Posts: 114	Past Beliefs that Revelations was Occurring My question is fairly simple. Since I lack the historical knowledge or full understanding of Revelations, I thought I would ask the masses. In our Modern times, Christians often point to Revelations and say "See, it is all coming to pass. The end times are upon us." Now is this unique to these times, or have previous generations likewise believed the end times are here? What events did they cite that coincided with the prophecies of Revelations? Basically, I want to know if Christians have been trumpeting the second coming of Jesus since he "left" or is it more recent that they believed the Apocalypse was ripe? If this is more appropriate in another heading, I apologize.

03-05-2005, 11:02 AM	#6
zaitzeff Junior Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: ventura and seattle Posts: 44	the end times prior to 500Ad, many Christians and perhaps Jews calculated that 500AD would mark 6000 years since Adam and would therefore be the start of the millenium. the same thing was believed around 1000 AD. Around 1260 AD, Joachim of Fiore said that the 1260 days of revelation 13 were years and to be counted from the time of Christ to 1260Ad, after which we would have paradise on earth. Alexander Campbell around 1820 and 1830 believed that the restoration movement would usher in the millenium. William Miller used Daniel and Revelation to calculate the return of christ in 1843, then, when that did not take place, to be in 1844. His calculations led to a movement that latter gave birth to the Seventh Day Adventists and 40 years later to Charles Russell and the JWs. Christians have picked a number of men as antichrist: Hitler, Reagan, Gorbachev and many others in the last 200 or 300 years.

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03-04-2005, 01:28 PM	#2
Diogenes the Cynic Moderator - Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Twin Cities, Minnesota Posts: 4,639	I think this is really better suited to GRD

03-04-2005, 02:47 PM	#3
funinspace Contributor Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: North West usa Posts: 10,245	Not sure how reliable the site is, but it's pretty funny. It looks like it was going on in Paul's day, and never stopped. 200 quotes of gloom and doomers, just like the energizer bunny but more prickly than fuzzy. http://www.bible.ca/pre-date-setters.htm

03-04-2005, 06:48 PM	#4
darwinbaby Regular Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Pgh, PA Posts: 144	The threat of the apocalypse is nothing new. From what I've read, people have been playing that card since Jesus died.

03-04-2005, 09:56 PM	#5
American Humanist Junior Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: LA, CA, USA Posts: 86	Actuallly, I've heard that the reason it took 70 years or more to get the gospels writen down is because the church founders assumed that Jesus would return within there lifetime, Paul even preached this. When their generation started to die off they realized that they needed to writen dpwn the gospels to preserve them.

03-06-2005, 08:50 PM	#7
cydonia Veteran Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: southern california Posts: 1,002	So much is happening in the Middle East, it reminds me of watching the late great planet earth years ago as a kid. I'm a non-believer, but even now when I watch the news about the middle east, there's that scary voice in the back of my head "it's happening, get right with god!"

03-07-2005, 07:23 PM	#9
cydonia Veteran Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: southern california Posts: 1,002	Yes, I think most of history has occured only since my lifetime. There's always been crap going on, but things happening in Iraq, and whatever else will be happening in the Middle East in the next few decades, gives my family fuel to go "look, look! See!" I know it's irrational, but there's a lot of that fear still in me. I come here to get it out.

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