The visibility of the return is not as important as to whom Jesus said would see the return... which was to his generation (Matt 24:34), those who pierced him (Rev 1:7) and namely, Caiaphas (Matt 26:64). The reason that the "tribes of the earth mourn" in Rev 1 is that "earth" is literally translated as "Land" which refers to Israel as the Promised Land and it is the tribes of Israel that will mourn at his coming. Ezekiel refers to Israel as this in similar judgment in 7:27, 12:19. (Dan 9:6)
Yes, it matters today because it means that God rejected that generation and gave favor to the saints and "the time came when the saints possessed the kingdom". This kingdom is everlasting and Christians today enter its gates upon grace received. It was advancing since John the Baptist, arrived on Pentecost and finally "possessed by the saints" fully after what was "obsolete" "disappeared" (Heb 8:13). The New Jerusalem replaced the condemned one.
Its important to recognize that the New Jerusalem was from God, and came down from heaven. It wasn't just a term like "Christian" that believers started to use to associate themselves with the faith. It was a direct gift from God, a direct title from God, and he gave it to only a few that "stayed awake" when God came like a thief against his enemies. The night is over and the day has come - we no longer live in shadows but God's redeemed reality (Rom 13:11-12, 1Thess 5:4-9).
Also, the New Jerusalem was founded upon the apostles. This is also important for today so that no man (like Joseph Smith) attempts to build another one on sand. Jesus Christ is the chief Cornerstone of this city that came down from heaven and will never end and never see darkness. That means our hope and redemption is complete and we have to settle this in our hearts and minds rather than getting "bored" or impatient with God and take matters in to our own hands like king Saul did.
However, it seems very apparent that you have already seen this.
In the early 1800s many Christians took their eyes off of Christ, began to long for a better world, saw the waves and proceeded to do something different.
Interesting that those of Acts 1:11 were the last to see that body Jesus had after He arose..His next appearance in scripture was to Paul yet if we could ask Paul to describe the Jesus He saw it would not match those of the Acts 1:11 crowd..
The promise to Abrahams seed is specifically and totally fulfilled in Christ (Galatians 3:16; Luke 1:67-79, Acts 3:13-26, Hebrews 12:2), and not necessarily to a literal national (Jeremiah 31:36, Hebrews 11:8-16, 12:28) people or ethnic race (see Matthew 3:9, 8:10-12, Luke 3:8,13:25-35, 19:2-11 John 8:33-58, Acts 3:18-26, Romans 2, 4:1-3, 8:13-9:13, Galatians 3:14-29, Ephesians 2:11-22, Revelation 2:9, etc.)
According to the New Testament, the seed of Gods promise points to Christ (Galatians 3:15-17, 4:22-31, Hebrews 2:9-16, 6:10-7:28, 11:1-12:28; also see Isaiah 29:22-24, 41:8-9, and Luke 1:43-74, 19:9, Acts 13:17-26, Ephesians 3:11, 2 Corinthians 1:20).
The visibility of the return is not as important as to whom Jesus said would see the return... which was to his generation (Matt 24:34), those who pierced him (Rev 1:7) and namely, Caiaphas (Matt 26:64). The reason that the "tribes of the earth mourn" in Rev 1 is that "earth" is literally translated as "Land" which refers to Israel as the Promised Land and it is the tribes of Israel that will mourn at his coming. Ezekiel refers to Israel as this in similar judgment in 7:27, 12:19. (Dan 9:6)
mooglecharmed 2 years ago
Where were the tribes of Israel in 70 AD?
Were they mouning as three factions set out to destroy each other within the walls of Jerusalem?
1.2 million Jews were destroyed then and those that were not carried off were not allowed to assemble religiously in Israel for 200 years.
Israel was assimulated by bordering nations and removed from the maps of that time. Jerusalem was givien a different name.
Does any of this matter to Christians today?
MrPeaceKey 2 years ago
Yes, the tribes were warring within Jerusalem.
Yes, it matters today because it means that God rejected that generation and gave favor to the saints and "the time came when the saints possessed the kingdom". This kingdom is everlasting and Christians today enter its gates upon grace received. It was advancing since John the Baptist, arrived on Pentecost and finally "possessed by the saints" fully after what was "obsolete" "disappeared" (Heb 8:13). The New Jerusalem replaced the condemned one.
mooglecharmed 2 years ago
Its important to recognize that the New Jerusalem was from God, and came down from heaven. It wasn't just a term like "Christian" that believers started to use to associate themselves with the faith. It was a direct gift from God, a direct title from God, and he gave it to only a few that "stayed awake" when God came like a thief against his enemies. The night is over and the day has come - we no longer live in shadows but God's redeemed reality (Rom 13:11-12, 1Thess 5:4-9).
mooglecharmed 2 years ago
Also, the New Jerusalem was founded upon the apostles. This is also important for today so that no man (like Joseph Smith) attempts to build another one on sand. Jesus Christ is the chief Cornerstone of this city that came down from heaven and will never end and never see darkness. That means our hope and redemption is complete and we have to settle this in our hearts and minds rather than getting "bored" or impatient with God and take matters in to our own hands like king Saul did.
mooglecharmed 2 years ago
Let me inform you of something!!
However, it seems very apparent that you have already seen this.
In the early 1800s many Christians took their eyes off of Christ, began to long for a better world, saw the waves and proceeded to do something different.
They took things into their own hands.
The effects are all around us.
MrPeaceKey 2 years ago
Interesting that those of Acts 1:11 were the last to see that body Jesus had after He arose..His next appearance in scripture was to Paul yet if we could ask Paul to describe the Jesus He saw it would not match those of the Acts 1:11 crowd..
OnlyTheScriptures 3 years ago
The promise to Abrahams seed is specifically and totally fulfilled in Christ (Galatians 3:16; Luke 1:67-79, Acts 3:13-26, Hebrews 12:2), and not necessarily to a literal national (Jeremiah 31:36, Hebrews 11:8-16, 12:28) people or ethnic race (see Matthew 3:9, 8:10-12, Luke 3:8,13:25-35, 19:2-11 John 8:33-58, Acts 3:18-26, Romans 2, 4:1-3, 8:13-9:13, Galatians 3:14-29, Ephesians 2:11-22, Revelation 2:9, etc.)
Bibletouchstone 3 years ago
According to the New Testament, the seed of Gods promise points to Christ (Galatians 3:15-17, 4:22-31, Hebrews 2:9-16, 6:10-7:28, 11:1-12:28; also see Isaiah 29:22-24, 41:8-9, and Luke 1:43-74, 19:9, Acts 13:17-26, Ephesians 3:11, 2 Corinthians 1:20).
Bibletouchstone 3 years ago