Yesterday, I found an article written by a retired US Baptist minister Rev. Howard Bess, who lives in Palmer (Alska). In the article Bess challenges Christianity’s belief in the ’Advent‘ or the second-coming of Christ as a ‘Savior’. The word “Advent” comes from the Latin word adventus, which means “coming” or “visit”. Read Rev. Howard Bess’ article here.
“We are in the middle of Advent season though few Christians can explain what it is all about. In-depth understanding of Advent escapes most believers. The meaning of the season gets swallowed up by Santa Claus and the commercialization of Christmas. In fact, Advent does not appear in church history until the 8th Century when it surfaced as a response to a massive wave of anticipation of the return of Jesus Christ to establish a righteous kingdom on earth. People started feverishly to prepare themselves to greet the Messiah King who would rule the world. But Jesus did not return to earth in that century,”says Rev. Bess.
Then Rev. Bess makes a wake-up call to Christians, saying: “Write this down in bold type: Jesus is not returning to earth to set up a righteous kingdom.” Bess assertion seems to base on Talmudic teaching which claims that Jesus was hanged for being an “imposter” (sic) – and he is living in hell-fire.
Christians, especially the 65 million Evangelists, who believe that Christ will return only when Jews gather in the Holy Land and will convert them to Christianity by force or kill them. Catholics believe Jesus will establish a great Christian empire in the world and bring their ‘Salvation‘.
Muslims also believe that prophet Isa (as) will return to earth and die a natural death for being a human-being (creation of Allah). Furthermore, they expect him to lead Muslims against the tyrany of Dajjal (Anti-Christ).
“In the Bible material, God went looking for Abraham, Moses, David, the prophets, and Paul. Disciples did not come looking for Jesus; Jesus went looking for disciples. The God of the Bible is an intruder,” claims Rev. Bess.
This not true. All prophets were born for their future divine mission. In the life before claiming to be a ‘Messenger’, they all proved to be honest, truthful and pious people. Furthermore, St. Paul, though the founder of modern Christianity, never claimed to be a prophet. The God of Bible cannot be an “intruder”, because Bible is not His message, but written by the “interested people” as claimed by Dr. Robert Funk and many other Christian theologians.
Rev. Bess is author of the 1995 controversial book ‘Pastor, I Am Gay‘, in which he wrote: “Look back at the life of our Lord Jesus. He was misunderstood, deserted, unjustly accused, and cruelly killed. Yet we all confess that it was the will of God, for by his wounds we are healed. Could it be that the homosexual, obedient to the will of God, might be the church’s modern day healer-messiah?” I’m not sure if Rev. Bess agrees with some Jewish writers who believe that since both Jesus and St. Paul never married – they could have been gays!”
According to Rev. Dr. Mark D. Roberts, the “Advent” is considered a Catholic thing. Protestants don’t address it as it has no money value like Christmas – and Eastern Orthodox Christians do not recognize Advent at all.
A great majority of 1.8 billion Christians believe that Jesus died on Cross as a Savior of humanity. However, one finds several others, who too, are believed by some, died in similar circumstances to be ‘Saviors’. For example:
Mithras was god of Persia (600 BC). He died to make atonement for mankind, and to take away the sins of the world. He was born on the twenty-fifth day of December, and died hanging by a tree.
Tammuz was a god of Assyria, Babylonia and Sumeria where he was known as Dumuzi. He was crucified (1160 BC) as an atonement offering: “Trust ye in God, for out of his loins salvation has come unto us’. Julius Firmicus speaks of this God rising from the dead for the salvation of the world.
Wittoba is represented in his story with nail-holes in his hands and the soles of his feet. Nails, hammers and pincers are constantly seen represented on his crucifixes and are objects of adoration among his followers in the Travancore and other southern states of India in the region of Madura.
Iao (522 BC) was crucified on a tree in Nepal. The name of this incarnate god and oriental savior occurs frequently in the holy bibles and sacred books of other countries. Some suppose that Iao is the root of the name of the Jewish God, Yehouah (Jehovah), often abbreviated to Yeho.
The Celtic Druids depict their god Hesus as having been crucified (834 BC) with a lamb on one side and an elephant on the other, and that this occurred long before the Christian era.
Alcestos was the godess of Euripides, who died at a cross in 600 BC.
Quezalcoatl was a Mexican god. He was crucified (587 BC) on a mountain.
Quirinius was Roman savior (506 BC), who crucification story is much similar to biblical story of Jesus ““ For example: he was conceived and brought up by a virgin mother; his life was sought by the reigning king, Amulius; he was of noble blood, he was put to death by crucification, and he was resurrected, and ascends back to heaven.
Crite (Redeemer) was god of Chaldea, who is mentioned in Chaldean sacred books as the “˜Ever Blessed Son of God’, the “˜Savior of the Race’, the “˜Atoning Offering for an Angry God’. He died on a cross in 1200 BC.
Prometheus (547 BC) was god of Caucasus. Historian Seneca states that he was nailed to an upright beam of timber, to which were affixed extended arms of wood, and that this cross was situated near the Caspian Straits.
Thulis (Zulis) was god of Egypt, who died on a cross around 1700 BC on an island ‘Ultima Thule’.
Indra was god of Tibet (725 BC). His mother was a virgin of black complexion and he descended from heaven on a mission of benevolence, and ascended back to the heavenly mansion after his crucifixion. He was worshiped as a god who had existed as a spirit from all eternity, and his followers were called “˜Heavenly Teachers’.
Attis was god of Phrygia (1170 BC). He was hanged on a tree, died and was buried – but he rose from his grave later.
Bali (Baliu) was god of Orissa (Asia). Monuments of his crucification (725 BC) is allegedly buried amid the ruins of the the temple in old city of Mahabalipore.
Pastor: ‘Jesus is not returning to earth’ | Rehmat's World
“We are in the middle of Advent season though few Christians can explain what it is all about. In-depth understanding of Advent escapes most believers. The meaning of the season gets swallowed up by Santa Claus and the commercialization of Christmas. In fact, Advent does not appear in church history until the 8th Century when it surfaced as a response to a massive wave of anticipation of the return of Jesus Christ to establish a righteous kingdom on earth. People started feverishly to prepare themselves to greet the Messiah King who would rule the world. But Jesus did not return to earth in that century,”says Rev. Bess.
Then Rev. Bess makes a wake-up call to Christians, saying: “Write this down in bold type: Jesus is not returning to earth to set up a righteous kingdom.” Bess assertion seems to base on Talmudic teaching which claims that Jesus was hanged for being an “imposter” (sic) – and he is living in hell-fire.
Christians, especially the 65 million Evangelists, who believe that Christ will return only when Jews gather in the Holy Land and will convert them to Christianity by force or kill them. Catholics believe Jesus will establish a great Christian empire in the world and bring their ‘Salvation‘.
Muslims also believe that prophet Isa (as) will return to earth and die a natural death for being a human-being (creation of Allah). Furthermore, they expect him to lead Muslims against the tyrany of Dajjal (Anti-Christ).
“In the Bible material, God went looking for Abraham, Moses, David, the prophets, and Paul. Disciples did not come looking for Jesus; Jesus went looking for disciples. The God of the Bible is an intruder,” claims Rev. Bess.
This not true. All prophets were born for their future divine mission. In the life before claiming to be a ‘Messenger’, they all proved to be honest, truthful and pious people. Furthermore, St. Paul, though the founder of modern Christianity, never claimed to be a prophet. The God of Bible cannot be an “intruder”, because Bible is not His message, but written by the “interested people” as claimed by Dr. Robert Funk and many other Christian theologians.
Rev. Bess is author of the 1995 controversial book ‘Pastor, I Am Gay‘, in which he wrote: “Look back at the life of our Lord Jesus. He was misunderstood, deserted, unjustly accused, and cruelly killed. Yet we all confess that it was the will of God, for by his wounds we are healed. Could it be that the homosexual, obedient to the will of God, might be the church’s modern day healer-messiah?” I’m not sure if Rev. Bess agrees with some Jewish writers who believe that since both Jesus and St. Paul never married – they could have been gays!”
According to Rev. Dr. Mark D. Roberts, the “Advent” is considered a Catholic thing. Protestants don’t address it as it has no money value like Christmas – and Eastern Orthodox Christians do not recognize Advent at all.
A great majority of 1.8 billion Christians believe that Jesus died on Cross as a Savior of humanity. However, one finds several others, who too, are believed by some, died in similar circumstances to be ‘Saviors’. For example:
Mithras was god of Persia (600 BC). He died to make atonement for mankind, and to take away the sins of the world. He was born on the twenty-fifth day of December, and died hanging by a tree.
Tammuz was a god of Assyria, Babylonia and Sumeria where he was known as Dumuzi. He was crucified (1160 BC) as an atonement offering: “Trust ye in God, for out of his loins salvation has come unto us’. Julius Firmicus speaks of this God rising from the dead for the salvation of the world.
Wittoba is represented in his story with nail-holes in his hands and the soles of his feet. Nails, hammers and pincers are constantly seen represented on his crucifixes and are objects of adoration among his followers in the Travancore and other southern states of India in the region of Madura.
Iao (522 BC) was crucified on a tree in Nepal. The name of this incarnate god and oriental savior occurs frequently in the holy bibles and sacred books of other countries. Some suppose that Iao is the root of the name of the Jewish God, Yehouah (Jehovah), often abbreviated to Yeho.
The Celtic Druids depict their god Hesus as having been crucified (834 BC) with a lamb on one side and an elephant on the other, and that this occurred long before the Christian era.
Alcestos was the godess of Euripides, who died at a cross in 600 BC.
Quezalcoatl was a Mexican god. He was crucified (587 BC) on a mountain.
Quirinius was Roman savior (506 BC), who crucification story is much similar to biblical story of Jesus ““ For example: he was conceived and brought up by a virgin mother; his life was sought by the reigning king, Amulius; he was of noble blood, he was put to death by crucification, and he was resurrected, and ascends back to heaven.
Crite (Redeemer) was god of Chaldea, who is mentioned in Chaldean sacred books as the “˜Ever Blessed Son of God’, the “˜Savior of the Race’, the “˜Atoning Offering for an Angry God’. He died on a cross in 1200 BC.
Prometheus (547 BC) was god of Caucasus. Historian Seneca states that he was nailed to an upright beam of timber, to which were affixed extended arms of wood, and that this cross was situated near the Caspian Straits.
Thulis (Zulis) was god of Egypt, who died on a cross around 1700 BC on an island ‘Ultima Thule’.
Indra was god of Tibet (725 BC). His mother was a virgin of black complexion and he descended from heaven on a mission of benevolence, and ascended back to the heavenly mansion after his crucifixion. He was worshiped as a god who had existed as a spirit from all eternity, and his followers were called “˜Heavenly Teachers’.
Attis was god of Phrygia (1170 BC). He was hanged on a tree, died and was buried – but he rose from his grave later.
Bali (Baliu) was god of Orissa (Asia). Monuments of his crucification (725 BC) is allegedly buried amid the ruins of the the temple in old city of Mahabalipore.
Pastor: ‘Jesus is not returning to earth’ | Rehmat's World