The End is near...or is it?

[AxisMundi]

I agree the writers described what they saw, but I think they did it by inspiration of the Holy Ghost. John described things in Revelation which is about end times. I imagine trying to describe a tank, attack helicopter, or nuclear war would be pretty difficult. They used the language of their day to describe what God was revealing to them. I don't think one could look at all creation even if the earth were flat (which I don't believe its flat, of course). There are many scholarly theologians who have written about how to understand and rightly interpret the Bible and what all these things may mean. I enjoy studying it, of course I believe its God's Word and I know many do not, so we may have nothing really in common to discuss.

Reveleations was a contemporary dialogue describing the fall of the Roman Empire, the oppressors of the Hebrews.

 

[logician]

On another forum that I frequent(non-religious) there was a discussion going on about the current events in the middle east,particularily regarding Israel. Anyway,quite a few of the posters believe this is end times prophecy manifesting itself. My question is this-Do the current events really correspond with end times prophecy as laid out in the Bible? I don't really care if you believe it's true or not, but if you have a good knowledge of the Bible and it's end times prophecy I'd like to hear from you.
As far as I can see, Christians since the time of Christ have believed that the end is near. Is there any reason to think that the current events are more indicative of end times than any other time in history? It's been a while since I read the Bible,but from what I recall there are still many things left undone for the prophecies to be considered fulfilled. I think sometimes people see doom and gloom around them and think it's unprecedented and must therefore indicate some sort of impending apocalypse,but so far I'm not convinced.

End of what, mankind? Since we are killing off other species at a prodigious rate, that may be good for the rest of life on earth.

 

[URAVIP2ME]

Thanks for clarifying. However...
The writers of the bible had no idea of cosmoto;ogy. They would not ahve known that the light of the moon is reflected sunlight. They saw the moon as merely another lit object in the sky.
Secondly, the earth is described as a disk a few times, and there are a few verses mentioning "looking at all fo creation" from the tops of mountinas and tall trees. One cannot do that with a globe. BTW, a circle is a two dimensional shape.
The universe was also seen as a sphere,a roof, over the planet. Falling stars would have been literal in the writers minds.

The people could still look up and see the sun as a round ball and see the moon as a round ball. Both being in a circular shape.
The Hebrew word of Isaiah 40v22 is hhug or chug with has to do with the horizon or rotund which is where we get the word rotunda as in round but not flat.

Trees, heavens and mountains in Scripture can represent governments or kingdoms or rulerships because they are over or on top of subjects.
Even the 'stone' of Daniel [2vs34,35,45,44] becomes a great mountain or kingdom government.
-Isaiah 9v7;
-Dan 7vs13,14

 

[URAVIP2ME]

Is the end near? Ask me on 12 -22- 2012.

Interesting you should mention 2012. One person told me that her brother-in-law thinks the end is May 12,2012. She is already preparing to show up on his door step on May 13th with flowers and balloons to celebrate he is wrong.

She said he thinks that because the Mayan calender ends there.
She wondered if the Mayan civilization would have continued, wouldn't their calender have also continued?

Jesus was very clear at Matthew [24v36] that no human, no angel, only God knows that day or hour. Jesus only gave us the 'season', so to speak, when world conditions would be 'ripe' for the harvest. [verses 32,33]
So we know besides the worsening world conditions of Matthew 24 and Luke 21 that along with all that 'bad news', as Matthew [24v14] says there is also 'good news' being proclaimed world wide that God's kingdom in the hands of Christ Jesus is the solution to mankind's problems. God will involve himself into mankind's affairs before man can ruin himself off the face of the earth.
-Rev 11v18 B.
But as 1st Thess [5vs2,3] says it will come by surprise.

So is the end near? We are at the last days of badness on earth, or at the end times of all badness on earth before Jesus ushers in Peace on Earth toward men of goodwill, but no one, except God, knows the exact time.
-2Tim 3vs1-5,13

 

[URAVIP2ME]

End of what, mankind? Since we are killing off other species at a prodigious rate, that may be good for the rest of life on earth.

Jesus assures at Matthew [24v22] that if God would not involve himself into mankind's affairs we would not have hope. Revelation [11v18 B] assures God will bring to ruin those ruining the earth before life on earth is killed off.

Jesus comes by surprise [1 Thess 5vs2,3] so we will not know when to exactly expect action on mankind's behalf, but we do know the time is 'ripe' for the 'harvest' or separation of sheep-like ones of Matthew [25vs31,32] before Jesus ushers in Peace on Earth during his millennial reign over earth.

 

[AxisMundi]

The people could still look up and see the sun as a round ball and see the moon as a round ball. Both being in a circular shape.
The Hebrew word of Isaiah 40v22 is hhug or chug with has to do with the horizon or rotund which is where we get the word rotunda as in round but not flat.

Trees, heavens and mountains in Scripture can represent governments or kingdoms or rulerships because they are over or on top of subjects.
Even the 'stone' of Daniel [2vs34,35,45,44] becomes a great mountain or kingdom government.
-Isaiah 9v7;
-Dan 7vs13,14

A circle is not a globe, sorry.

And the passages I mentioned are in no way, shape, or form governments and/or nations.

Does your silly apologetics no ANY bounds?

 

[PolyHedral]

Do ya think our society will ever get to a point, say in a few hundred or thousand years, that know one will think of Jesus, a day when no one is saved ,no one remembers, on that day no one will be looking.

Of course. I would be very surprised if anyone will remember when machinery can achieve the same outcome.

 

[Sententia]

Of course. I would be very surprised if anyone will remember when machinery can achieve the same outcome.

I'm not so sure it will be soon though. Thousands of gods have died and doomsday predictions constantly fail but people always believe.

Here are some gods most religious people do not believe in but instead contend that it is their god that is true: Graveyard of the Gods Ministry - List of thousands of dead gods

 

[javajo]

Reveleations was a contemporary dialogue describing the fall of the Roman Empire, the oppressors of the Hebrews.

That is a preterist, amillenial view. I subscribe to a futurist, pre-millenial trib, and pre-trib rapture view. It makes sense in light of the many people who die at that time. Something like a third, then another third, then a fourth...and the whole world seeing the 2 witnesses, and the whole world needing the mark to buy and sell. John called to Heaven after the messages to the seven churches, then no more mention of the church until the last chapters, and Jesus telling John, things that will come to pass, all point to a future date.

 

[waitasec]

Interesting you should mention 2012. One person told me that her brother-in-law thinks the end is May 12,2012. She is already preparing to show up on his door step on May 13th with flowers and balloons to celebrate he is wrong.

She said he thinks that because the Mayan calender ends there.
She wondered if the Mayan civilization would have continued, wouldn't their calender have also continued?

Jesus was very clear at Matthew [24v36] that no human, no angel, only God knows that day or hour. Jesus only gave us the 'season', so to speak, when world conditions would be 'ripe' for the harvest. [verses 32,33]
So we know besides the worsening world conditions of Matthew 24 and Luke 21 that along with all that 'bad news', as Matthew [24v14] says there is also 'good news' being proclaimed world wide that God's kingdom in the hands of Christ Jesus is the solution to mankind's problems. God will involve himself into mankind's affairs before man can ruin himself off the face of the earth.
-Rev 11v18 B.
But as 1st Thess [5vs2,3] says it will come by surprise.

So is the end near? We are at the last days of badness on earth, or at the end times of all badness on earth before Jesus ushers in Peace on Earth toward men of goodwill, but no one, except God, knows the exact time.
-2Tim 3vs1-5,13

paul gave it away when he told his followers:
"What I mean, brothers, is that the time is short. From now on those who have wives should live as if they had none;" 1 cor 7:29
why would he say that? was he talking to future generations...ahh no.
he thought the end would happen in his lifetime...:faint:

 

[AxisMundi]

That is a preterist, amillenial view. I subscribe to a futurist, pre-millenial trib, and pre-trib rapture view. It makes sense in light of the many people who die at that time. Something like a third, then another third, then a fourth...and the whole world seeing the 2 witnesses, and the whole world needing the mark to buy and sell. John called to Heaven after the messages to the seven churches, then no more mention of the church until the last chapters, and Jesus telling John, things that will come to pass, all point to a future date.

To be frank, it only makes sence if one squints really hard when reading Revelations.

 

[javajo]

To be frank, it only makes sence if one squints really hard when reading Revelations.

There is a blessing promised to those who study Revelation. The Rapture is called, "The Blessed Hope of Every Believer", for there are many, who seeing the church in the first 3 chapters, then John called to Heaven in the 4th and the church absent til the end of the book, see a parallel there with other verses that tell us believers will be caught up to be with the Lord in Heaven and we will escape the wrath to come. Many Christians have great joy and great fervor for serving the Lord because we believe the time is short but that we will not go through the Tribulation.

 

[sniper762]

i sure hope im not called away. i would love to be hear during my lord's 1000 year reign while satan is bound.

 

[javajo]

i sure hope im not called away. i would love to be hear during my lord's 1000 year reign while satan is bound.

I believe that comes later. According to what I believe is the best interpretation, first there is the Rapture, then the Tribulation,then the 2nd coming and then the Thousand Year Reign of Christ while Satan is bound. Many Christians will rule and reign with Christ during that thousand years, their position depending on how well they served him in this life. This is determined at the Judgement Seat of Christ for rewards which takes place in Heaven after the Rapture and before the 2nd Coming at the end of the Tribulation. After the Thousand Years, Satan is loosed for one more go at it, he is beaten, then there is the Great White Throne Judgement of nonbelievers. Then we live forever on earth with God.

 

[URAVIP2ME]

paul gave it away when he told his followers:
"What I mean, brothers, is that the time is short. From now on those who have wives should live as if they had none;" 1 cor 7:29
why would he say that? was he talking to future generations...ahh no.
he thought the end would happen in his lifetime...

The Christian Greek Scriptures are mainly written for our day.
Paul mentioned reduced time in connection to Jesus words for our day at Matthew 24v33 that the end of all badness on earth is near by the events we see surrounding us. Verse 29 also connects directly to Jesus spiritual 'brothers' or those that will rule with Jesus in heaven. Rev 20v6; 5vs9,10.

Whether we are alive at the time of the living sheep-like ones of Matthew 25v32 and Jesus living spiritual 'brothers of verse 40, or having our 'days numbered', so to speak, Paul also wrote at Romans 13v11,12 it is high time to awaken from spiritual sleep. After all, we can die [have an end] at anytime.
The dead do not praise God.- Psalm 115v17.
The work Jesus did [Luke 4v43] is done by the living.

Peter also took the view of Jesus words that the end of all things is at hand and be sober minded. [1Peter4v7] Our end or the end times of all badness on earth.

Paul was also talking about being content with one's lot in life whether married, single or widowed. In other words, it is not necessary to change status in being or in becoming a Christian. Living as though not married was in connection to priorities or being unduly distracted. Married ones can devote exclusive time to each other and be so absorbed that could mean no time set aside for spiritual life or the fulfilling of Matthew 24v14 in telling others about the good news of God's kingdom that will bring an end to earth's woes.
So Paul was giving caution not to be caught up, or use the world to the full, but make room for the spiritual.
-1 Cor 7vs32-35.

 

[sniper762]

you speak of the christians that will rule with christ. that would be the 144,00, who are said to be virgins. THAT RULES ME OUT

 

[URAVIP2ME]

i sure hope im not called away. i would love to be hear during my lord's 1000 year reign while satan is bound.

Please notice [Matt 25vs31,32,46] at the time of Jesus 'glory' the living sheep-like people separated to Jesus right hand of favor, so to speak, are alive on earth and they can continue to remain alive on earth right into the start of Jesus peaceful 1000-year reign over earth with having everlasting life in view on a paradisaic earth.

Please also notice Proverbs 2vs21,22; 10v30 as to who will 'remain' on earth.

Those who have a heavenly calling know that for sure. They have no doubts.
To hope one is not called away indicates a desire to be part of the humble meek that will inherit the earth. Inherit forever not heaven but the earthly realm of God's kingdom. Psalm 37vs11,29,38; 92v7.

 

[sniper762]

you'll either be called away or remain here to experience jesus' reign. you cant have it both ways. i hope to be among the latter.

 

[URAVIP2ME]

you speak of the christians that will rule with christ. that would be the 144,00, who are said to be virgins. THAT RULES ME OUT

Spiritually speaking. Spiritual virginity. To be presented as a chaste spiritual virgin [ 2 Cor 11vs2-6] because as James [1v27] says without spot [stain] from the world. Not stained with spiritual immorality. Separate from the world's moral lack, and remaining religiously pure or clean from false religious practices.

 

[URAVIP2ME]

you'll either be called away or remain here to experience jesus' reign. you cant have it both ways. i hope to be among the latter.

Exactly. I like the way you say you can't have it both ways.
Either one is called to be part of those of Daniel 7v18,13,14
or be part of Micah [4vs3,4] who live in peace on earth
starting when Jesus ushers in Peace on Earth toward men of goodwill.