My Name is Jesus Christ

S & F, interesting question. Gotta remember folks belittling this, not all of us are religious or bible-versed. I would imagine the signs could be interpreted in different ways; literal or abstract.

Originally posted by Mykahel
reply to post by dPD89

 

Well, actually the Bible forewarns of people claiming to be the Christ, and that false Messiahs would come claiming to be him. So in that sense, to reject somebody as savior after they have made the claim is not denouncing your faith, but actually testing and refining it.

Matthew 24:4-6 (New International Version)

4Jesus answered: "Watch out that no one deceives you. 5For many will come in my name, claiming, 'I am the Christ,[a]' and will deceive many. 6You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come.

Faith is also not simply a matter of having it or not having it. There are also degrees of faith. Some are more convinced than others, but many would absolutely love to see some kind of sign to help encourage what they believe.

Back to the claiming to be Christ and its relation to faith. I think you would find that most Christians believe that when the Son of God returns, it will be unmistakable and there will be no doubt. He will not need to claim who He is, because we will know. The resounding of trumpets and bright glory like none other might be a good clue as well

Hope that helps a little. That's my take anyway.

[edit on 2-4-2010 by Mykahel]

Thanks for the reply and info.
Lets say the message and signs have been lost in translation throughout the years, and the message of Christ being visible to all is merely a metaphor, how would one discern between the true messiah and the imposters? Someone else pointed out that many will flock towards and follow the false prophet, I'm just curious if many devout folk flock to the false messiah, how can you be sure that you will know that you are going to follow the true messiah?

reply to post by Mykahel

The resounding of trumpets and bright glory like none other might be a good clue as well

What like a marching band with spotlights in your lounge sort of thing ?

reply to post by 911stinks


Um... where are you getting that from? Serious question, because being a Bible scholar myself I have never heard this theory and find it to be, no offense, quite unfounded. Jesus did show himself in a new, spiritual body, not one of flesh. This is how he was able to appear among them even though the house was shut up. He also ascended to Heaven to sit at the right Hand of the Father, where He still remains until the judgment of the world. His Spirit is here with us, and angels may appear in human form, but Jesus is not currently walking the earth in a fleshly body.

This is one of the most interesting topics I've seen in some time. A lot of people actually think you are claiming to be the 2nd coming. You aren't it's a hypothetical. So let's address it. I was raised catholic, my entire family is catholic whereas I'm on the agnostic side of things at this point. I have faith in God but I don't believe in man's version of things.

If you made the claim to be the 2nd coming you would be committed. You'd be treated as someone who claimed to be the Easter Bunny. You would 1st be denounced publicly and have your credibility assasinated. You would then be investigated by the Church. And you would be asked to perform various miracles to prove your identity. Your response would be, "This is a test of faith". Is your faith in science or what your heart tells you? If the investigation was public and you did perform a miracle the church would denounce you much to the outcry of the public. If it was a closed matter then you'd have a small sect of the church support you and try to place you in a seat of power.

Governments would try to kill you because your destabilizing their countries and inhibiting their ability to control the masses. Then once they see you trying to get people to eat your flesh and drink your blood you'd be history.

But on the more personal side. Faith would not inhibit a true Christian from questioning your credibility. Beware false..... yada yada yada. So you would be questioned because you'd most likey be viewed initially as a fraud or agent of Satan. And over time people would be convinced if you live long enough.

But it isn't against the Christian belief structure to question a prophet or saviour's integrity. Over the past couple thousand years there have been many who claimed to be the son of God. There have been many who have claimed they are the 2nd coming. I'd assume God wants you to make an educated decision. He didn't even ask that Jesus be blindly followed. He performed miracles and at that point you could make the determination of whether the miracles are legitimate or a fraud.

reply to post by dPD89


This is a very good question, and one that a good answer for was honestly quite hard to find.

I think the best way to identify the real Messiah among all of these false "christs" is to look at what he is doing. Jesus (Yeshua) made it well known that all that he did was to bring glory and honor to the father,not to himself. He even slipped away from the crowds at one point when the desired to set him up as king over them.

Any anti-christ or false messiah will be looking to glorify themselves. Even if they are capable of helping others and performing great signs, as a person in league with the devil or fallen angel may be able to do, they will be doing so in order to deceive and bring themselves glory.

Christ was all about bringing people to the Father because of His love for God and his love for people. This is what will mark the true Messiah. It is also what should identify his disciples.

John 13:35
"By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another." - words of Jesus

If the Bible has been corrupted, though I think it will always at least contain the basic truth of the good news, God will always display himself as a just, righteous and loving God. There is none other that I could follow.

reply to post by piedsniper


I was thinking a bit more heavenly or supernatural, like the kind of light that has no source but the Savior himself. I would bet that angels with centuries of practice would sound a bit better than the HS marching band as well...

Oops, sorry, posted to wrong thread .. forgive me please.

[edit on 2-4-2010 by Divinorumus]

It's all just energy... whether we give it a name or not is irrelevant...

Your arguing different sides of the same coin... All That IS - IS & Isn't

Energy (or word of your choosing) is merely transmuting. Alchemy Reigns




[edit on 2-4-2010 by SeraphSirius]

Originally posted by piedsniper
reply to post by socrates271

 

Dude, when an amputee follows your instructions in relation to prayers why do you refuse to keep your word did you lie or are you imaginary ?

All I am saying is that we wouldn't recognize him due to history obscuring original context. There is power behind belief. It can turn a pig farmer into an irate warrior, it can also turn an irate warrior back into a pig farmer. It all depends on your will to know truth. Most are content in their lives until an event throws them off balance, most seek comfort, but when few find it they continue on, searching for a shelter. Right now we are in the storm of a lifetime, shelter is running scarce.

Originally posted by dPD89
I find the notion of "faith" quite interesting, especially concerning religion. If, lets say a Christian, has faith in his religion and faith in his God, this person has a confident belief without proof or material evidence. Roughly around 2000 years ago, some people had faith in Jesus Christ, whilst others didn't. Those who had faith did not question him, they did not ask for proof.
Now I propose this question to those who rely solely on faith in their belief in God; if I was to claim to be the second coming of Jesus Christ himself, would your faith in your religion, your faith in God forbid you from questioning my claim to be your saviour.

You are Totally Confused.

GOD IS NEVER KNOWN BY FAITH WHICH IS JUST BELIEF.

BELIEF IMPLIES A SUBJECT AND OBJECT.

GOD IS NOT AN OTHER OR SUBJECT TO YOU.

GOD IS YOUR SOURCE.

GOD MAY ONLY BE INTUITED.

Adi Da:
I am not the one who, finding himself awake, does not know who he is. I am not the one who, finding himself in dreams and visions, thinks he has returned to his deeper self. I am not the one who, enjoying the bliss of deep sleep and meditation, thinks he has become free and should not move to any other state.

I am the one who is with you now. I am the one who speaks from his own silence. I am the one who always stands present in his own form. I am the one who always and already exists, enjoying his own form as all conditions and states. I am the one about whom there is no mystery and no deeper part. I am the one who always appears exactly as he is. I am the one who is always present. I recognize myself as every thing, every one, every form, every movement. I am always only experiencing my own bliss. I am neither lost nor found

......I hold up my hands.

To put it simply in laymens terms........
If you're Jesus I'll sit down have a drink with you, but my faith is only in God (The One).
We are all part of the One, some closer to the source than others.
Does this mean I should worship Jesus as God........no it does not.
Respected for being closer to the source....Yes.
Only God can be worshiped.

Well, dPD89, I think that no matter what Jesus were to say if He returned he would never be accepted. Only one small sect of Christianity would accept Jesus if He came down and spoke of His return. You have to look at the glaring differences in theology present in the diverse sects of Christianity.

The Jehovah's Witness believe a certain doctrine. Episcopalians believe in a different doctrine. Orthodox Catholics have yet another set of dogma. Evangelical Christians believe something else too. West Burrow Baptists believe something radically different. The Quakers and Amish have their own views on what Jesus did and was. Mormons, and Jews for Jesus are also different.

All of that is also just a tiny, tiny fraction of the diverse beliefs there are concerning Jesus. So, if Jesus was to return He would be denied by someone, somewhere who was a Christian. For instance, if he didn't despise Gays than West Burrow would not accept him. If He said the Saints are legitimate than the Evangelical sect would not believe He was He who is I am.

It is impossible, as of now, for Jesus to return.

Which is why we should all be Buddhists. The only difference there is some of us feel like it's OK to keep statues of the Buddha, while some of us prefer to just go by His teachings.

~ Wandering Scribe

Originally posted by 911stinks
Interesting question.

I figure Jesus will know who has faith, and who doesn't, so there will be no need for people accepting him.

I disagree that Jesus is somehow not on earth.

The Bible is mis-interpreted by the popular Christian religion.

The Bible says, after Jesus was crucified, he returned in a different form. That is why Peter did not recognize him, when he returned to sup with Peter.

So, Jesus is always on earth. In fact, there have been 22 reincarnations of Jesus.

It a number that coincides with chromosomes.

As Jesus walks the earth, he looks for good souls. He travels the planet as a homeless man. And those that help the least of them, have helped Jesus.

The 23rd Jesus will bring war and destruction to the earth, and only the most faithful will inherit the leftovers, with a new understanding of our importance to the universe.

How the hell do you know that Jesus has been reincarnated 22 times?

Hehe, nice one.
If you were Jesus, I would probably ask you the following.
How was/is heaven?
Are you here to judge or save us or clean up this mess we made?
Then I would want to verify if the "charlatans" and "pharisees" of today are the ones really running the show now and he's here to expose that truth, once and for all

[edit on 3-4-2010 by thereaintnospoon]

double post

[edit on 3-4-2010 by thereaintnospoon]

reply to post by dPD89


Well, Jesus was a straight up thug. Coming from the deepest darkest corner of the 'hood, he didn't know how to use a computer. So, you can't be Jesus Christ.

Case solved

reply to post by dPD89
The issue for you my friend is that just because you say you are Jesus Christ what proof do I have?. Jesus Christ was a charismatic character of his time who died on the cross for his belief. What have you done and what are you prepared to sacrifice?

You all spend way too much time with the bible.

It's a bunch of old constantly reedited stories, it's not even written that well.

Bibles, burn them, they are useless.

Originally posted by dww25
reply to post by dPD89

 

The issue for you my friend is that just because you say you are Jesus Christ what proof do I have?. Jesus Christ was a charismatic character of his time who died on the cross for his belief. What have you done and what are you prepared to sacrifice?

But you also believe in God with no proof. You rely on faith. Why not have faith in me?