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Early Church Apocalypticism


Petrus

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I have been wondering how to explain the early Church's belief in an impending second coming. I think the church believed this; am I mistaken? Where would they have gotten this idea, and was it valid; are there any implications about this belief?

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The early Church would have believed this because it is true. We still believe in an impending apocalypse, we know neither time nor place.

It would have been all the more real then because of the events predicted by Christ and the Revelation of St. John coming true within their lifetime or several generations before. i.e. Destruction of the Temple etc.

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cmotherofpirl

I have been wondering how to explain the early Church's belief in an impending second coming.  I think the church believed this; am I mistaken?  Where would they have gotten this idea, and was it valid; are there any implications about this belief?

Are you thinking of specific verses?

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"I mean, brethren, that the appointed time has grown very short; from now of, let those who have wives live as though they had none. . .and those who deal with the world as though they had no dealings with it. For the form of this world is passing away." 1 Cor. 7:29,31

"Let all men know your forbearance. The Lord is at hand." Phil 4:5

"For this we declare to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, shall not precede those who have fallen asleep." 1 Thess. 4:15

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I was taught they thought the second coming was coming right away; that's why they sold all their property and followed the apostles (shown in the Book of Acts).

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cmotherofpirl

Jesus said he didn't know the date of the Second Coming: this means his human nature did not have total access to the divine details. So neither did the Apostles.

Time is relative concept when referring to the actions of God.

"For a thousand years in his sight are as a watch in the night."

It is more important to be worried about our own particular judgement than the Second Coming. For us te Lord is always at hand.

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