questions about end times and current events

R

rainydaygirl Aug 5, 2014

i have a question, i have read over a number of news stories about currents things happening around the world and the possible connection to end times. what i find interesting is anytime a brother/sister tries to tell others about these things and the possibility of end times/persecution coming there are always those who come out and deny it. they dismiss it out right, its almost as if some of those who are Christians don't really believe the end times will happen or that Jesus is going to return.

wondering do people not believe in the end times or do they just believe its not going to happen in their life time?

rdg

sermonindex Aug 5, 2014

Hi RDG,

You are right, any time the subject is raised there are always those who who come out and deny it. I personally believe it is because they dont really believe it is actually going to happen. Not all of them of course, but many. Here is why I think that.

I study history, it is one of my favorite subjects. I have read and spent countless hours over the lat 30 years studying WW11 and the run up to it. I was always fascinated to see how a society slides into total depravity and what that looks like, so studying Germany prior to WW11 is a good study for that purpose.

Having done all that study, it was surprising to me that when I went to the Holocaust museum in Washington DC , my mind was struggling to comprehend the magnitude of what I was seeing. And this was something that had already happened and was extremely well documented. So, if the mind struggles to comprehend something so vile and so vast that has already happened and , at least in terms of history, just happened yesterday, I would argue that it would take a work of the Holy Spirit to impress upon the minds and hearts of His children just what is to come and the reality of it and the need to prepare for it in one's heart..........bro Frank

T

TMK Aug 5, 2014

RDG-

You are probably referring to me as one of the deniers. That's ok-- I understand.

I do no deny the second coming of Christ nor a coming judgment.

What I cannot tolerate is when people try to make the case that normal weather variations, unrest throughout the world etc NECESSARILY means we are in the end times. To me that is fear mongering.

There has always been crazy weather, there has always been unrest in the world and there has always been some strange sickness or virus to be afraid of.

I think it makes us look silly when every time there is a tornado or flu outbreak we claim it is a sign of the end times.

R

rainydaygirl Aug 5, 2014

tmk

actually i was not referring to you at all or anyone in this forum as being a denier. it was a general question. i was asking because i share often with young people(teens early twenty's) and they often don't believe anything is going to happen. some believe that end times is all symbolic while others believe it will happen but not in their life time. just so you know i wouldn't write a general post about people in the forum if i had a question or thought for one person i would write directly to them.

whats interesting is Jesus told us to live every day as if it were the end. He said to always be ready, so for Christians to say or share that time is short, that days are numbered and the time to turn to Jesus is now is actually exactly what He told us to all be doing. since none of us knows when His return will happen everyday could possibly be the day and every time could be the end times.

with that in mind its probably a wise idea to be considering how i live my life each day in Jesus.

rdg

R

rainydaygirl Aug 5, 2014

frank

i tend to agree with you, many people, especially young people don't seem to believe its going to happen. its almost like they don't want to see it, maybe because it would cause them to come out of their comfort zone in life. maybe its easier to turn and look the other way. the flesh certainly wants us to do that when it comes to sin in our life. i find young people especially seem to have an attitude about tomorrow, they can always get it done tomorrow. sad thing is, this is the attitude in their walk with Jesus too. i will read my Bible tomorrow, i will get serious about sin tomorrow,i will pray tomorrow, i will start really living for Jesus tomorrow, because after all they believe they have time.

i just always ask what if you don't have tomorrow, what if today was it, how would you spend it? what would you do?
what if these are the end times, how does that change who you are and how you live in Jesus?

by the way these are just questions running though my mind not directed at any one person.

rdg

sermonindex Aug 5, 2014

i'm ASSUMING a great deal of your post was meant for my consumption, disabuse if i'm wrong, as you wrote:

What I cannot tolerate is when people try to make the case that normal weather variations, unrest throughout the world etc NECESSARILY means we are in the end times. To me that is fear mongering.
There has always been crazy weather, there has always been unrest in the world and there has always been some strange sickness or virus to be afraid of.
I think it makes us look silly when every time there is a tornado or flu outbreak we claim it is a sign of the end times.

I have NEVER once stated that the Day of the Lord is coming, and for you to imply I have is a lie, as is accusing me of being a fear monger...or even to be arrogant as "suggesting" I take a vacation from posting.

What I do see is impending global war, and I have neither time nor inclination to walk out the stream of events with you , as I do react well with people who "cannot tolerate".

Times are so WRONG right now, and bad "things, bad news, are so rife in the air, even the most godless sinner is aware, and I know this, because I ACTUALLY talk with people...and listen. People in America are frightened, they are frightened, because they live life without God. Those who follow Jesus do so IN FAITH, where fear cannot live, where Love Hope and Faith is in the "currency" of Messiah.

I post on Ebola, because God has stirred something in my sprit by THE Holy Spirit. You can be a "denier" all you want....I PRAY with tears, I am wrong, as I have many family members in American urban area's.

I get very leery when I see a Gentile Christian use the words, "what I cannot tolerate", as for 2,000 years those very words, symbolize the failure of the small c "church", and paint the world with the blood of those they "cannot tolerate".

S

SHMILY Aug 5, 2014

The short answer:

Know this first of all, that in the last days mockers will come with their mocking, following after their own lusts, and saying, "Where is the promise of His coming? For ever since the fathers fell asleep, all continues just as it was from the beginning of creation.” ~ 2 Peter 3:3-4 NASB

Just my 2 cents. (The whole chapter/book is good. ;) )
REJOICE! =)
Mary

D

drifter Aug 5, 2014

"Therefore BE YE ALSO READY: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh. Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his lord hath made ruler over his household, to give them meat in due season? Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing. Verily I say unto you, That he shall make him ruler over all his goods. But and if that evil servant shall say in his heart, MY LORD DELAYETH HIS COMING; And shall begin to smite his fellowservants, and to eat and drink with the drunken; The lord of that servant shall come in a day when he looketh not for him, and in an hour that he is not aware of, And shall cut him asunder, and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth."
Matthew 24:44-51

If you are saying that Jesus isn't coming back soon, then the scripture makes it clear that you have a wicked heart.
Every christian should be saying "even so Lord, come quickly", not "yeah, people have been saying that for centuries; it won't happen in my lifetime."

sermonindex Aug 5, 2014

I think part of the problem lies in the general attitude, not only of young people, but most people, that since today was just like yesterday, then tomorrow will be like today.

In every disaster movie there is always one guy on the sidelines jumping up and down warning people that disaster is coming they need to be prepared. Of course they are never listed to and the disaster comes and the naysayers typically end up dead. :) Now, I believe that Christians have a duty to share and explain that there is an end to this world, there is a set time, that we do not know, but it does exist. Judgement is coming and it is not going to end well for the majority. Now, there have been so many crazy people out there in the past naming days and so on, that the world laughs and mocks and the very notion of the end of times. Talk about it at all and you are immediately put into the crazy category. I believe this is by design of the enemy to keep people asleep and unaware that " the Master returns." What should never occur is that we join in with the mockers when it comes to the issue of end times. It is a very serious issue of eternal life or death..........bro Frank

T

TMK Aug 5, 2014

Neil--

Just to clear the record it wasn't me who told you to take a break from posting-- actually whoever it was said to take a break from visiting sensationalist websites. That's none if my business.

I enjoy your posts and they do make me think.

But the bottom line especially when it comes to weather ang geological events that (thus far) there is nothing new under the sun. WHEN THE END IS NEAR WE WILL UNDOUBTEDLY KNOW IT.

It is dissppointing that just because I state the obvious (that there is nothing new under the sun when it comes to weather etc--YET) that I am labeled as a person who doesn't believe The Lord is coming soon (he sure might be) or that I do not think a person should be ready.

I have actually found that the best way for me to be ready is to turn off the news and rush Limbaugh and instead listen to sermons etc. I have been a much more peaceful and restful person since I have given up all but the most sparse news headlines.

People here have said it and I agree: if we are walking with The Lord we will be ready no matter what comes. We don't need to be obsessed with the news to be ready. Quite frankly I don't trust the news anyway.

D

dolfan Aug 5, 2014

Frank, well put my brother.

The commercial success of the Left Behind books and the casual glomming onto it by so many in our churches who could not piece together a biblical rationale for any explanation of the last things did great damage. As easily and non-biblically as they bore the left behind message, they just as easily left the scriptures themselves behind in this important topic after the novelty wore off and ridicule began to mount.

I disagree with the LaHaye view of things, but it is a biblically serious view. If LaHaye all the way back to the monk who seems to be the earliest best teacher of the pretrib Rapture view are wholly wrong they are, at least from our current perspective and limited knowledge, at least searching the Scriptures and treating them with due regard in reaching their views. I do not completely reject those views, but they have not carried the burden of persuasion that they are right, either. Nonetheless, they are faithful to the Word of God. If they are faithfully wrong, it should not make the whole discussion a back burner issue or one inviting ridicule as a general rule.

sermonindex Aug 6, 2014

I mean you both no ill will, or contentiousness in what I wrote.

if it came across as such, I beg your forgiveness. if you KNEW me in face to face Life, I do believe we would have profitable exchanges of fellowship, loving fellowship.

I don't focus on "End Times", what is crushing my spirit, is that the world CANT grasp the Second Royal Commandment, which is "Love your neighbor as yourself".

But then again, the world cant grasp THE FIRST ROYAL COMMANDMENT...."Love the Lord your God with all your heart mind body soul"....because one cant obtain the Second without the First.

and that's where we are now, the love of many has grown cold......and cruelty and darkness SEEM to expound exponentially, globally.

and that fact crushes my spirit...not my faith, just my heart and spirit. I weary of this world, and I don't mean in that in fleshly suicidal way. banish that thought, but I suffer greatly.

Father God shows me things....I know it is all a test, but I don't know why. I dream dreams that are horrific, see visions that are terrible....and right when it almost gets to be too much, He blesses me just enough, so that I can endure this fallen world. I love Him and He loves me, that I know....I just haven't been given my calling, if there , in His Sovereignty, to be one.

so please forgive me, Jesus be with your spirit, neil

T

TMK Aug 6, 2014

Thanks Neil-- peace to you.