Jesus is coming. Look busy.

Associated Press poll: 25% of Americans anticipate the second coming of Christ in 2007. Would it be wrong of me to offer these people pennies on the dollar for their homes, with the stipulation that they can continue to live there until the rapture or December 31, 2007, whichever comes first?

Published by Waldo Jaquith

Waldo Jaquith (JAKE-with) is an open government technologist who lives near Char­lottes­­ville, VA, USA. more »

30 replies on “Jesus is coming. Look busy.”

  1. Hah! “No man knows the day or hour of His coming…”!

    I’m going to have a post up in a little bit on that subject… You may not agree, but you might want to listen to the podcast ;-) if only to give me a critique on my voice *smile*

    As I’ve said – best blessings to you and your Lady for the New Year!

    — Kat
    http://www.CatHouseChat.com

  2. Hah! “No man knows the day or hour of His coming…”!

    That’s precisely the passage that springs to mind every time that I see such dire predictions.

    You’d think people would realize that the rapture has been coming any day now for thousands of years. I have to wonder how this affects people’s decisions in life. Does this mean that 25% of Americans aren’t saving for retirement — or even next year — because, hey, Jesus is coming, so whatever? I’d really love to see a more in-depth survey/study as to how people’s planning is affected by a belief that the end of the world (due to rapture or otherwise) is coming real soon now.

  3. I’m part of the 25%. Because we do not know when it will happen we are instructed to keep watch and be ready. (Matthew 24:42-44)
    Anticipate means to give advance thought, to look forward to, or expect. I have thought about the second coming. I look forward to it and expect that it could happen any moment. I like to think that this affects all my decisions (especially when it comes to relationships with other people) but I am human and prone to sin so I mess up quite a bit.
    And NO, Waldo, I will not sell my possessions to you. Not that I have much you would want.

  4. You’d think people would realize that the rapture has been coming any day now for thousands of years. I have to wonder how this affects people’s decisions in life. Does this mean that 25% of Americans aren’t saving for retirement — or even next year — because, hey, Jesus is coming, so whatever?

    Since the rapture could be tomorrow or a thousand years or more away, how would one know what to do? Save? Be decadent? (in a dignified, Christian kind of way, of course)

    :)

  5. Since the rapture could be tomorrow or a thousand years or more away, how would one know what to do? Save? Be decadent?

    Though we all face that dilemma, given that any number of things could kill us at any time. Will I die in a car accident tonight? Or in my sleep at the age of 90? I could become a hedonist on the assumption that I won’t live past 30, but what happens if I do? The worst case is that I die rich, in which case my heirs should be pleased. The worst case with the hedonistic approach is that I will find myself deeply in debt and my body a wreck at the age of 31.

    The prudent path would seem to be assume that I’ll live a long life, and to prepare accordingly.

  6. Well, to put my additional 1/50th of a dollar in, *if* you believe (biblically speaking) that Christ could come back at any time – before I post this or “x” years from now – His Word says that He is to find you doing what He told you to do: loving God with all your heart and mind and soul and strength, and loving your neighbor as yourself…

    *sigh*

    Obviously, it’s something I still need to work on!

    ANYWAY if you want to hear my thoughts on the subject (and Yeah, I’m a Bible believer!) they’re here… No condemnation to anyone, ’cause He sure *knows* I need a lot of work… But if you’re interested. Be kind – as Waldo and I try to be to each other ;-)

    — Kat
    http://www.CatHouseChat.com

  7. 1/3 of Germans think Bush planned 9/11. (But to be fair to the Krauts, so probably do 10% of the posters here.)

    The difference is, of course, that Jesus really is coming back next year. ;)

    Saw a great bumpersticker that read: Warning: In case of rapture this car will be unmanned.

    Have a happy New Year, everybody.

  8. whackette: I don’t think you get the point of the survey. 25% of the Americans polled said they thought the Second Coming would be in these next 365 days. No sooner, no later. Your opinion is that it could be at any time, thus you are not part of that group.

  9. I’d really like to see the exact question asked. Survey results are often garbled when presented in the media, and I find it hard to believe that 25% actually said they believe it will happen in 2007.

  10. Waldo, since we do not see a quarter of the population selling their homes for pennies, perhaps we should wonder why we should take this Associated Press poll seriously.

    It stands to reason that Christians take the Bible seriously. Because Christians read the Bible, they know better than most that we do not know whether or not the second coming will be in 2007. However, as others have already pointed out, Christians have been warned to be ready. As a practical matter, what is involved is living every day as though it might be your last.

  11. Waldo, since we do not see a quarter of the population selling their homes for pennies, perhaps we should wonder why we should take this Associated Press poll seriously.

    I think you’re right. The fact that people are (apparently) not financially investing in this scenario indicates quite clearly that either they don’t believe what they’re saying, or they somehow separate out their religious beliefs from their other beliefs. This is just economics 101…isn’t it?

  12. “Because Christians read the Bible, they know better than most that we do not know whether or not the second coming will be in 2007.”

    The trick is finding the ones that have actually read it and not just followed what their pastor told them was the word. Most of the people I’ve met thus far in life that have tried to push their idea of christian morals on me have sadly not shown the kind of knowledge of the bible that I’d expect from someone telling me to live by it. Neither have most of the people who claim to oppose it for that matter.

  13. Cory, most people do not find the Bible an easy book to read and understand. I think that is one reason we have pastors. Whatever their faults, few pastors advocate that people should sell their homes in preparation for the Second Coming.

    Oddly, the Bible does seem to be relatively easy to listen to. That is why I usually “read” it by listening to a recording when commuting. If you have not read the Bible, you could try listening to a recording. You can probably get a recording from the library.

    Even you are not interested in becoming a Christian, understanding the Bible has great value. The affect Christian beliefs have had on world history is profound. Without the Bible and the religion taught by Jesus, our nation would not be the same.

    Of course, some say the absence of Christianity would be a great improvement. I think those people are wrong, but you can read the Bible and judge for yourself.

  14. I think you missed my point Tom. I never said I was agaisnt the Bible. I own a copy and do read it. I’m not even going so far as to say pastors are bad with this. I’ve known bad ones, sure, but I’m not one to judge a tree by what falls from one branch. My point is that their are a lot of people that present very strong feelings about the Bible that they don’t seem to follow up on. Yes, the book is hard to read. That’s not an excuse in my opinion, just a reason to work harder at it. People used to learn to read just so that they could read the Bible after all. If you are going to start telling people it is the way then you better know which way you are pointing. And if you are against the book, then you better know exactly what you are against. Because as much as I can find things I don’t agree with in the Bible, the people I have the biggest problems with in the world today are those that use it for profit, power, and/or a shield for their actions, not so much the ones trying to follow Christ.

    Even if someone is not running around judging everyone and trying to convert them. They still should study the book intensly if they claim to follow it and believe in it. If you believe it’s the word of G-d, then treat it like the word of G-d. I’m not saying run out and become a monk. I’m just saying it should be a Christian’s duty to pursue that understanding as a major part of their life. What I’m sick of is meeting Christians that are old enough to have read the book cover to cover many more times than once and don’t seem to know who Bathsheba is.

    As for audio Bibles, I wouldn’t trust my ears. It’s easy enough to misread a passage when you are looking at the actual words. More than once have I misinterperted something very drastically due to reading it too fast. Too fast for me (with the Bible) being about my normal talking pace. If it works for you, than great. Glad you found a way to make the time.

  15. Speaking of bad pastors… call me cold, but most of the time I blame the people that follow the nuts just as much for the problems that are caused in Christ’s. A good Christian should be able to think for themself enough to question who leads their congregation. Good pastors should aid in the search for the path and a good congregation should never mistake them FOR the path.

  16. Cory, I am pleased you have read the Bible. I suspect you achieve that accomplishment at an earlier age than I. In any case, you have my congratulations.

    Please do not judge your fellow man too harshly. It is because we have not achieve perfection that we strive for perfection. If you are looking for perfection in humanity, then you should expect to disappointed.

    The news media sets a bad example. The news media thoroughly enjoys presenting us evidence of our imperfections. There is a certain amusing irony in that. When we follow this example and put down the mass of humanity, we each do it as though we were not a part of that mass of fools. What sets any of us apart?

    Do Christians claim perfection? I think not. What Christians claim is that God became man to save sinners. Do Christians claim to be better than other people? I suppose some are so foolish, but the most any Christian can honestly claim is that their belief in Christ helps them to be a better person than they might have otherwise been.

  17. “Cory, I am pleased you have read the Bible. I suspect you achieve that accomplishment at an earlier age than I. In any case, you have my congratulations.”

    To be clear, I read the Bible; I have not read the Bible cover to cover though. It’s something I’m working on. I don’t consider myself a Christian, but respect Christ for his teachings as I understand them.

    So I get nervious when I can call on things that induce deer-in-headlights looks. I should never be able to win a debate about the Bible with someone that reads it daily, yet it seems to have happened.

    “Please do not judge your fellow man too harshly. It is because we have not achieve perfection that we strive for perfection. If you are looking for perfection in humanity, then you should expect to disappointed.”

    I’m really not as harsh as I might seem. I don’t trust a perfect world, just a sincere one.

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