Wednesday, February 20, 2008

Matthew, chapter 24

29 "But immediately after the tribulation of those days THE SUN WILL BE DARKENED, AND THE MOON WILL NOT GIVE ITS LIGHT, AND THE STARS ILL FALL from the sky, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken.
This is an extract of Jesus' big doomsday speech in this chapter. But this again clearly shows that he astronomical knowledge was very limited. The stars, being distant suns, cannot just fall from the sky. And who or what would be able to shake the sun or the moon? And how?
30 "And then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the SON OF MAN COMING ON THE CLOUDS OF THE SKY with power and great glory.
So the Son of Man will be like the Silver Surfer?
31 "And He will send forth His angels with A GREAT TRUMPET and THEY WILL GATHER TOGETHER His elect from the four winds, from one end of the sky to the
other."
A heavenly concert with angels playing trumpets? Or will all the angels play one great trumet? And where exactly does the sky start and where does it end?
36 "But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father alone.
Another statement of Jesus contradicting the concept of the Trinity. And another proof that he didn't think that the Son and the Father were the same.
42 "Therefore be on the alert, for you do not know which day your Lord is coming."
Jesus, being an apocalyptic preacher, thought of course that the end was imminent and only a matter of (short) time.
44 "For this reason you also must be ready; for the Son of Man is coming at an hour when you do not think He will."
He told his disciples to be ready since he expected the Return of the Son of Man during their lifetime.
50 the master of that slave will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour which he does not know, 51 and will cut him in pieces and assign him a place with the hypocrites; in that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
Is the cutting into pieces really necessary? Wouldn't simply have him killed or stoned be enough? Why this gory imagery, sweet Jesus?

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