What we see:
natural birth -> natural life -> natural death
"Well, what is next, I do not know. Nobody has ever come back." - Lee Kuan Yew on 2010-09-01 in an interview with Seth Mydans
The Bible tell us there are 2 paths - life and death:
Life - natural birth -> natural life -> new birth (John 3:3,3:5) -> new life (John 11:25-26) -> natural death -> first resurrection -> judgment seat of Christ (2 Corinthians 5:10)
Death - natural birth -> natural life -> natural death -> second resurrection -> great white throne judgement -> second death (Revelation 21:8)
He said to them, "Why are you troubled, and why do doubts rise in your minds? Look at my hands and my feet. It is I myself! Touch me and see; a ghost does not have flesh and bones, as you see I have." When he had said this, he showed them his hands and feet. And while they still did not believe it because of joy and amazement, he asked them, "Do you have anything here to eat?" They gave him a piece of broiled fish, and he took it and ate it in their presence. (Luke 24:38-43 NIV)
Then Jesus said to Thomas, "Put your finger here and look at My hands. Reach out your hand and put it into My side. Stop doubting and believe." (John 20:27 BSB)
After his suffering, he presented himself to them and gave many convincing proofs that he was alive. He appeared to them over a period of forty days and spoke about the kingdom of God. (Acts 1:3 NIV)
For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his. (Romans 6:5 ESV)
Showing posts with label Lee Kuan Yew. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Lee Kuan Yew. Show all posts
Wednesday, May 8, 2019
Sunday, April 5, 2015
Jesus, The Only One Who Came Back
In an interview done on 1st September 2010 with Seth Mydans for the New York Times and the International Herald Tribune, the late Mr Lee Kuan Yew spoke on what happened after death. "Well, what is next, I do not know. Nobody has ever come back."
This is not true. One person did come back. He is Jesus. The Bible testifies that "And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures: (1 Corinthians 15:4 KJV)" The resurrection of Christ was recorded by all the four Gospels in the Bible and also by Apostle Paul in his epistles.
Christians henceforth worshiped on the first day of the week or the Lord's Day (Revelation 1:10), to commemorate the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Thus whenever it is the first day of the week, now known as Sunday, we are reminded that there is one who did come back from the grave. Every year, we have 52 reminders.
Now that we know Jesus is the only one who had come back from the grave, would you not want to hear what He said? This was what He said:
Then he said to them, "These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you, that everything written about me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled." Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures, and said to them, "Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer and on the third day rise from the dead, and that repentance and forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things. (Luke 24:44-48 ESV)
And Jesus came and said to them, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age." (Matthew 28:18-20 ESV)
Why does Christ have to suffer?
Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. (1 John 4:10 KJV)
But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. (Romans 5:8 NASB)
Didn't Jesus said that "everything written about me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled. (Luke 24:44 ESV)" So here is one from the prophets, describing the suffering of Christ about six hundred years before it happened.
He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not. Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all. (Isaiah 53:3-6 KJV)
Here is one from the Psalms, talking about His crucifixion, nearly a thousand years before it happened.
For dogs have surrounded me; a gang of evildoers has closed in on me; they pierced my hands and my feet. I can count all my bones; people look and stare at me. They divided my garments among themselves, and they cast lots for my clothing. (Psalm 22:16-18 HCSB)
Finally, from the Law of Moses, about the Passover Lamb, establishing the concept of propitiation:
For I will pass through the land of Egypt this night, and will smite all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both man and beast; and against all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgment: I am the Lord. And the blood shall be to you for a token upon the houses where ye are: and when I see the blood, I will pass over you, and the plague shall not be upon you to destroy you, when I smite the land of Egypt. (Exodus 12:12-13 KJV)
Why do we listen to men, born of one man and one woman, fusion of sperm and egg, who after speaking great things, claiming to be somebody great, die and return to dust, like all men before and after him? He who cannot conquer death is like me, and no better than me. Why should I listen to him?
Why not believe in the only one in the world, who was born of a virgin, died and was resurrected, and will be returning again? Believe in Him who had conquered death, proving Himself to be different from all men.
Why believe in men who popped up without prior notice? Rather believe in Him, whose birth, death, resurrection and return, is already written in a book in advance.
And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent. (John 17:3 KJV)
He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life. (1 John 5:12 KJV)
He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him. (John 3:36 KJV)
And He shall return.
Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven. (Acts 1:11 KJV)
On that day his feet shall stand on the Mount of Olives that lies before Jerusalem on the east, and the Mount of Olives shall be split in two from east to west by a very wide valley, so that one half of the Mount shall move northward, and the other half southward. (Zechariah 14:4 ESV)
This is not true. One person did come back. He is Jesus. The Bible testifies that "And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures: (1 Corinthians 15:4 KJV)" The resurrection of Christ was recorded by all the four Gospels in the Bible and also by Apostle Paul in his epistles.
Christians henceforth worshiped on the first day of the week or the Lord's Day (Revelation 1:10), to commemorate the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Thus whenever it is the first day of the week, now known as Sunday, we are reminded that there is one who did come back from the grave. Every year, we have 52 reminders.
Now that we know Jesus is the only one who had come back from the grave, would you not want to hear what He said? This was what He said:
Then he said to them, "These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you, that everything written about me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled." Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures, and said to them, "Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer and on the third day rise from the dead, and that repentance and forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things. (Luke 24:44-48 ESV)
And Jesus came and said to them, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age." (Matthew 28:18-20 ESV)
Why does Christ have to suffer?
Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. (1 John 4:10 KJV)
But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. (Romans 5:8 NASB)
Didn't Jesus said that "everything written about me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled. (Luke 24:44 ESV)" So here is one from the prophets, describing the suffering of Christ about six hundred years before it happened.
He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not. Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all. (Isaiah 53:3-6 KJV)
Here is one from the Psalms, talking about His crucifixion, nearly a thousand years before it happened.
For dogs have surrounded me; a gang of evildoers has closed in on me; they pierced my hands and my feet. I can count all my bones; people look and stare at me. They divided my garments among themselves, and they cast lots for my clothing. (Psalm 22:16-18 HCSB)
Finally, from the Law of Moses, about the Passover Lamb, establishing the concept of propitiation:
For I will pass through the land of Egypt this night, and will smite all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both man and beast; and against all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgment: I am the Lord. And the blood shall be to you for a token upon the houses where ye are: and when I see the blood, I will pass over you, and the plague shall not be upon you to destroy you, when I smite the land of Egypt. (Exodus 12:12-13 KJV)
Why do we listen to men, born of one man and one woman, fusion of sperm and egg, who after speaking great things, claiming to be somebody great, die and return to dust, like all men before and after him? He who cannot conquer death is like me, and no better than me. Why should I listen to him?
Why not believe in the only one in the world, who was born of a virgin, died and was resurrected, and will be returning again? Believe in Him who had conquered death, proving Himself to be different from all men.
Why believe in men who popped up without prior notice? Rather believe in Him, whose birth, death, resurrection and return, is already written in a book in advance.
And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent. (John 17:3 KJV)
He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life. (1 John 5:12 KJV)
He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him. (John 3:36 KJV)
And He shall return.
Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven. (Acts 1:11 KJV)
On that day his feet shall stand on the Mount of Olives that lies before Jerusalem on the east, and the Mount of Olives shall be split in two from east to west by a very wide valley, so that one half of the Mount shall move northward, and the other half southward. (Zechariah 14:4 ESV)
Friday, September 24, 2010
Lee Kuan Yew's comments on various religions
In the transcript of the interview Seth Mydans had with Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew, for the New York Times and the International Herald Tribune held on 1 September 2010, Mr Lee gave his comments on various religions.
Agnosticism
"I am an agnostic."
The meaning of the word, from various dictionaries:
One who believes that it is impossible to know whether there is a God, who is skeptical about the existence of God but does not profess true atheism.
One who is doubtful, noncommittal or unwilling to commit to an opinion about something.
This website gave the origin of the word "Agnostic":
QUOTE
The word agnostic was coined in 1869 by Thomas Henry Huxley, the noted English biologist. Though the date of coinage is known, the specific etymology that Huxley had in mind has been a matter of debate for some years. The following portion of a letter dated March 13, 1881 (which has since disappeared) from R.H. Hutton was printed by the editors of the Oxford English Dictionary at the entry for agnostic:
Suggested by Prof. Huxley at a party held previous to the formation of the now defunct Metaphysical Society, at Mr. James Knowles’s house on Clapham Common, one evening in 1869, in my hearing. He took it from St. Paul’s mention of the altar to "the Unknown God."
The Greek form of the altar inscription given in Acts 17:23 is agnosto theo.
UNQUOTE
Chinese Traditional Religion
"I was brought up in a traditional Chinese family with ancestor worship. I would go to my grandfather’s grave on All Soul’s Day which is called “Qingming”. My father would bring me along, lay out food and candles and burn some paper money and kowtow three times over his tombstone. At home on specific days outside the kitchen he would put up two candles with my grandfather’s picture. But as I grew up, I questioned this because I think this is superstition. ... After my father died, I dropped the practice."
Being the former Prime Minister of Singapore, Mr Lee is aware of the importance of monetary policy. It is simply impossible that 阎罗王 (if he exists) would allow monetary exchange via burning of cheap paper. It is tantamount to allowing strangers to print legal currency.
Christianity
"My youngest brother baptised my father as a Christian. He did not have the right to. ... I do not know if my father was fully aware when he was converted into Christianity."
Islam
"The Muslims say that there are seventy houris, beautiful women up there. But nobody has come back to confirm this."
The 72 houris are found in what Muslims refer to as Gharib Hadiths (weak or strange Hadiths), so it is better not to believe them. However, the Quran does promise men young maidens for companions (Surah an-Naba' 78:31-34) in paradise but does not specify their exact number. I wonder what would the women get.
Buddhism
"The Buddhist believes in transmigration of the soul. If you live a good life, the reward is in your next migration, you will be a good being, not an ugly animal. It is a comforting thought, but my wife and I do not believe in it."
Buddhists do not believe in transmigration of the soul. Hindus do.
Agnosticism
"I am an agnostic."
The meaning of the word, from various dictionaries:
One who believes that it is impossible to know whether there is a God, who is skeptical about the existence of God but does not profess true atheism.
One who is doubtful, noncommittal or unwilling to commit to an opinion about something.
This website gave the origin of the word "Agnostic":
QUOTE
The word agnostic was coined in 1869 by Thomas Henry Huxley, the noted English biologist. Though the date of coinage is known, the specific etymology that Huxley had in mind has been a matter of debate for some years. The following portion of a letter dated March 13, 1881 (which has since disappeared) from R.H. Hutton was printed by the editors of the Oxford English Dictionary at the entry for agnostic:
Suggested by Prof. Huxley at a party held previous to the formation of the now defunct Metaphysical Society, at Mr. James Knowles’s house on Clapham Common, one evening in 1869, in my hearing. He took it from St. Paul’s mention of the altar to "the Unknown God."
The Greek form of the altar inscription given in Acts 17:23 is agnosto theo.
UNQUOTE
Chinese Traditional Religion
"I was brought up in a traditional Chinese family with ancestor worship. I would go to my grandfather’s grave on All Soul’s Day which is called “Qingming”. My father would bring me along, lay out food and candles and burn some paper money and kowtow three times over his tombstone. At home on specific days outside the kitchen he would put up two candles with my grandfather’s picture. But as I grew up, I questioned this because I think this is superstition. ... After my father died, I dropped the practice."
Being the former Prime Minister of Singapore, Mr Lee is aware of the importance of monetary policy. It is simply impossible that 阎罗王 (if he exists) would allow monetary exchange via burning of cheap paper. It is tantamount to allowing strangers to print legal currency.
Christianity
"My youngest brother baptised my father as a Christian. He did not have the right to. ... I do not know if my father was fully aware when he was converted into Christianity."
Islam
"The Muslims say that there are seventy houris, beautiful women up there. But nobody has come back to confirm this."
The 72 houris are found in what Muslims refer to as Gharib Hadiths (weak or strange Hadiths), so it is better not to believe them. However, the Quran does promise men young maidens for companions (Surah an-Naba' 78:31-34) in paradise but does not specify their exact number. I wonder what would the women get.
Buddhism
"The Buddhist believes in transmigration of the soul. If you live a good life, the reward is in your next migration, you will be a good being, not an ugly animal. It is a comforting thought, but my wife and I do not believe in it."
Buddhists do not believe in transmigration of the soul. Hindus do.
Thursday, September 23, 2010
Meditation
Lee Kuan Yew’s devout Christian friend, Ng Kok Song, taught him to meditate. This meditation involves the use of a chanting mantra, to keep the monkey mind from running off into all kinds of thoughts. Is there any basis in the Bible for such type of meditation?
But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking (Matthew 6:7 KJV).
This may not apply directly to meditation, but to prayer, but I believe the principle is the same. No vain repetitions.
For Lee Kuan Yew, the purpose of meditation is to achieve peace and serenity. For Christians, peace comes from God. "Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid (John 14:27 ESV)." We have our assurance of salvation, "for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day (2 Timothy 1:12 KJV)." The world has no peace, and they tried many ways to achieve it. They have no assurance. They are seeking for peace. They will not find it. "'There is no peace for the wicked, ' says the LORD (Isaiah 48:22 NASB)."
For Christians, the purpose of meditation is to know God, to know the Bible so that the Word of God will influence the way we act and we can be transformed by the renewal of our mind. We do not need to meditate to achieve peace and serenity. But our meditation of the Word transforms us, and in turn, transforms the world.
Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect (Romans 12:2 ESV).
But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking (Matthew 6:7 KJV).
This may not apply directly to meditation, but to prayer, but I believe the principle is the same. No vain repetitions.
For Lee Kuan Yew, the purpose of meditation is to achieve peace and serenity. For Christians, peace comes from God. "Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid (John 14:27 ESV)." We have our assurance of salvation, "for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day (2 Timothy 1:12 KJV)." The world has no peace, and they tried many ways to achieve it. They have no assurance. They are seeking for peace. They will not find it. "'There is no peace for the wicked, ' says the LORD (Isaiah 48:22 NASB)."
For Christians, the purpose of meditation is to know God, to know the Bible so that the Word of God will influence the way we act and we can be transformed by the renewal of our mind. We do not need to meditate to achieve peace and serenity. But our meditation of the Word transforms us, and in turn, transforms the world.
Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect (Romans 12:2 ESV).
Friday, September 17, 2010
八步平天下
Since we talk about Lee Kuan Yew, we must also quote Confucius:
QUOTE
禮記 大學第四十二
The Great Learning by Confucius---translated by A. Charles Muller
古之欲明明德於天下者、先治其國。
The ancients who wanted to manifest their bright virtue to all in the world first governed well their own states.
欲治其國者先齊其家。
Wanting to govern well their states, they first harmonized their own clans.
欲齊其家者先脩其身。
Wanting to harmonize their own clan, they first cultivated themselves.
欲脩其身者先正其心。
Wanting to cultivate themselves, they first corrected their minds.
欲正奇心者先誠其意。
Wanting to correct their minds, they first made their wills sincere.
欲誠其意者先致其知。
Wanting to make their wills sincere, they first extended their knowledge.
致知在格物。
Extension of knowledge consists of the investigation of things.
物格而后知至。
When things are investigated, knowledge is extended.
知至而后意誠。
When knowledge is extended, the will becomes sincere.
意誠而后心正。
When the will is sincere, the mind is correct.
心正而后身脩。
When the mind is correct, the self is cultivated.
身脩而后家齊。
When the self is cultivated, the clan is harmonized.
家齊而后國治。
When the clan is harmonized, the country is well governed.
國治而后天下平。
When the country is well governed, there will be peace throughout the land.
UNQUOTE
Confucius thinks that in eights steps, we can bring peace to the world:
格物、致知、诚意、正心、修身、齐家、治国、平天下
Confucius is quite smart to realise that knowledge (致知) must begin with investigation of things which are objects and observable (格物). With knowledge come truth and sincerity (诚意). There can be no peace without truth. So Confucius rightly put truth before peace.
While there is no doubt about the correctness and the logic of the steps, the question remain, is it doable? If it was so easy, why is there no peace on earth?
"For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do ... O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death? I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin. (Romans 7:19, 24-25 KJV)"
The problem is that men know what is right but they cannot do it, "but the righteous shall live by his faith (Habakkuk 2:4 ESV)."
"For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, "The righteous shall live by faith" (Romans 1:16-17 ESV)."
QUOTE
禮記 大學第四十二
The Great Learning by Confucius---translated by A. Charles Muller
古之欲明明德於天下者、先治其國。
The ancients who wanted to manifest their bright virtue to all in the world first governed well their own states.
欲治其國者先齊其家。
Wanting to govern well their states, they first harmonized their own clans.
欲齊其家者先脩其身。
Wanting to harmonize their own clan, they first cultivated themselves.
欲脩其身者先正其心。
Wanting to cultivate themselves, they first corrected their minds.
欲正奇心者先誠其意。
Wanting to correct their minds, they first made their wills sincere.
欲誠其意者先致其知。
Wanting to make their wills sincere, they first extended their knowledge.
致知在格物。
Extension of knowledge consists of the investigation of things.
物格而后知至。
When things are investigated, knowledge is extended.
知至而后意誠。
When knowledge is extended, the will becomes sincere.
意誠而后心正。
When the will is sincere, the mind is correct.
心正而后身脩。
When the mind is correct, the self is cultivated.
身脩而后家齊。
When the self is cultivated, the clan is harmonized.
家齊而后國治。
When the clan is harmonized, the country is well governed.
國治而后天下平。
When the country is well governed, there will be peace throughout the land.
UNQUOTE
Confucius thinks that in eights steps, we can bring peace to the world:
格物、致知、诚意、正心、修身、齐家、治国、平天下
Confucius is quite smart to realise that knowledge (致知) must begin with investigation of things which are objects and observable (格物). With knowledge come truth and sincerity (诚意). There can be no peace without truth. So Confucius rightly put truth before peace.
While there is no doubt about the correctness and the logic of the steps, the question remain, is it doable? If it was so easy, why is there no peace on earth?
"For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do ... O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death? I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin. (Romans 7:19, 24-25 KJV)"
The problem is that men know what is right but they cannot do it, "but the righteous shall live by his faith (Habakkuk 2:4 ESV)."
"For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, "The righteous shall live by faith" (Romans 1:16-17 ESV)."
Thursday, September 16, 2010
Lee Kuan Yew's birthday
Today is Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew's 87th birthday. In an interview done earlier this month (1 September 2010) with Seth Mydans for the New York Times and the International Herald Tribune, he spoke on what happened after death. "Well, what is next, I do not know. Nobody has ever come back."
This is not true. One person did come back. He is Jesus. The Bible testifies that "And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures: (1 Corinthians 15:4 KJV)" The resurrection of Christ was recorded by all the four Gospels in the Bible and also by Apostle Paul in his epistles.
Jesus is the most unique among the founders of religions. The other founders were born without warning, without giving us advance notice, born of a father and a mother like me, then they preached their religion out of the blue, and then they died, like any ordinary men.
The coming of Jesus was predicted in the Old Testament before He was born. The Bible declared that "Lo, I come (in the volume of the book it is written of me,) to do thy will, O God (Hebrews 10:7, quoting Psalm 40:7 KJV)."
He had a forerunner, John the Baptist, to herald His coming. Even the birth of the forerunner was predicted. "Prepare ye the way of the LORD, make straight in the desert a highway for our God (Isaiah 45:3 KJV)."
He was born of a virgin, and after preaching His religion, He died. "And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures: (1 Corinthians 15:4 KJV)".
He was the only Man who died and rose again. He walked about for forty days "and that He appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. After that He appeared to more than five hundred brethren at one time, most of whom remain until now, but some have fallen asleep; then He appeared to James, then to all the apostles; (1 Corinthians 15:5-7 NASB)." Last of all, He appeared to Paul the Apostle.
He will be coming again. "And after He had said these things, He was lifted up while they were looking on, and a cloud received Him out of their sight. And as they were gazing intently into the sky while He was going, behold, two men in white clothing stood beside them. They also said, "Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into the sky? This Jesus, who has been taken up from you into heaven, will come in just the same way as you have watched Him go into heaven. Then they returned to Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is near Jerusalem, a Sabbath day’s journey away." (Acts 1:9-12 NASB)." Jesus will come back again and "On that day his feet shall stand on the Mount of Olives that lies before Jerusalem on the east, and the Mount of Olives shall be split in two from east to west by a very wide valley, so that one half of the Mount shall move northward, and the other half southward (Zechariah 14:4 ESV)."
So the Aramaic phrase, "Maranatha", means "the Lord is coming", refers to this coming event. It is not some sound for meditation, like what some "devoted" Christian claimed. "If any man love not the Lord Jesus Christ, let him be Anathema Maranatha. (1 Corinthians 16:22 KJV)" or in a modern translation, "If anyone does not love the Lord, that person is cursed. Our Lord, come! (1 Corinthians 16:22 NLT)" Anyone who does not love Jesus is "Anathema", or cursed. Maranatha is a blessing to those who love Jesus, but a curse (Anathema) to those who don't.
"If anyone does not love the Lord, that person is cursed. Our Lord, come! May the grace of the Lord Jesus be with you. My love to all of you in Christ Jesus. (1 Corinthians 16:22-24 NLT)"
This is not true. One person did come back. He is Jesus. The Bible testifies that "And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures: (1 Corinthians 15:4 KJV)" The resurrection of Christ was recorded by all the four Gospels in the Bible and also by Apostle Paul in his epistles.
Jesus is the most unique among the founders of religions. The other founders were born without warning, without giving us advance notice, born of a father and a mother like me, then they preached their religion out of the blue, and then they died, like any ordinary men.
The coming of Jesus was predicted in the Old Testament before He was born. The Bible declared that "Lo, I come (in the volume of the book it is written of me,) to do thy will, O God (Hebrews 10:7, quoting Psalm 40:7 KJV)."
He had a forerunner, John the Baptist, to herald His coming. Even the birth of the forerunner was predicted. "Prepare ye the way of the LORD, make straight in the desert a highway for our God (Isaiah 45:3 KJV)."
He was born of a virgin, and after preaching His religion, He died. "And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures: (1 Corinthians 15:4 KJV)".
He was the only Man who died and rose again. He walked about for forty days "and that He appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. After that He appeared to more than five hundred brethren at one time, most of whom remain until now, but some have fallen asleep; then He appeared to James, then to all the apostles; (1 Corinthians 15:5-7 NASB)." Last of all, He appeared to Paul the Apostle.
He will be coming again. "And after He had said these things, He was lifted up while they were looking on, and a cloud received Him out of their sight. And as they were gazing intently into the sky while He was going, behold, two men in white clothing stood beside them. They also said, "Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into the sky? This Jesus, who has been taken up from you into heaven, will come in just the same way as you have watched Him go into heaven. Then they returned to Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is near Jerusalem, a Sabbath day’s journey away." (Acts 1:9-12 NASB)." Jesus will come back again and "On that day his feet shall stand on the Mount of Olives that lies before Jerusalem on the east, and the Mount of Olives shall be split in two from east to west by a very wide valley, so that one half of the Mount shall move northward, and the other half southward (Zechariah 14:4 ESV)."
So the Aramaic phrase, "Maranatha", means "the Lord is coming", refers to this coming event. It is not some sound for meditation, like what some "devoted" Christian claimed. "If any man love not the Lord Jesus Christ, let him be Anathema Maranatha. (1 Corinthians 16:22 KJV)" or in a modern translation, "If anyone does not love the Lord, that person is cursed. Our Lord, come! (1 Corinthians 16:22 NLT)" Anyone who does not love Jesus is "Anathema", or cursed. Maranatha is a blessing to those who love Jesus, but a curse (Anathema) to those who don't.
"If anyone does not love the Lord, that person is cursed. Our Lord, come! May the grace of the Lord Jesus be with you. My love to all of you in Christ Jesus. (1 Corinthians 16:22-24 NLT)"
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