Are We In "The End Of Days"?

Not The End, But The Beginning Of The End...Your Thoughts?

from JoeUser Forums
It's been played through before, but I'm curious what other's observations might be. From subtle to not so subtle changes in everything from global warming to increases in persecutions, locutions, apparitions etc. Are we about there yet? Are the branches growing tender on the old fig tree? Should we start carrying our coats to the roof top? I'm looking for personal impressions, not a sermon or evangelization. Whadda ya think?
religion
12,698 views 47 replies
Reply #1 from JoeUser Forums Top
Yeah I think we're about "ripened in iniquity". The world will end one day. Why be so arrogant as to think it won't happen while we're still on it? I figure, if even a sparrow doesn't fall without God's notice, I'll let Him be in charge of annihilation. I'm not going to sweat it--not my job. I'll just keep putting one foot in front of the other and trying to be the kind of daughter God wants me to be.
Reply #2 from JoeUser Forums Top
Yeah I think we're about "ripened in iniquity".


Good choice of words! I suppose some (or many) would say that foks in ages past felt the same ("Good Lord Martha, a horseless carriage, it's the end of the world!"). It just feels like this time around there's a little bit of an edge to the times. Almost like forces are in play that were not there before. Thanks for the comment!
Ashes of the Singularity II
Reply #3 from JoeUser Forums Top
foks = folks, I really can spell, at least most of the time! Time to replace the batteries in the cordless keyboard me thinks!
Reply #4 from JoeUser Forums Top
On a religious note, I agree with Ms. Mitchell.

Also, I'm fascinated with how far technology has come in such a relatively short time. Until the 1900's, people traveled by foot or by makeshift buggies or animal power...lived off the land...long-distance communication was extremely limited. Thousands of years went by like that. Now look at us. Within just a short hundred years or so every aspect of life has been revolutionized. How much more advanced can we get? Something is definitely ripening.
Reply #5 from JoeUser Forums Top
Something is definitely ripening.


Hmmmm...cute, but insightful!
Reply #6 from JoeUser Forums Top
I agree with what both Ms. Mitchell and Angela have said here, but I still think that it´s a whys off. Too much still has to happen (if you´re a christian and believe what the bible has to say, we´re only about two thirds of the way there, prophecy wise) but I do think we´re getting close.
But they thought they were getting close at the beginning of the twentieth century, and that we would never make it until 2000. And here we are, in 2006. So I don´t really know.
My grandfather has always said that he believes that if he lives to ninety, he´ll see the second coming of Christ. He´s seventy-five now, so we´ll have to see.
I think we´re still a ways off.
Reply #7 from JoeUser Forums Top
God will have nothing to do with the "End of Days".
If it comes it comes from Man himself.

This is our paradise to Make or Break.
Reply #8 from JoeUser Forums Top
God will have nothing to do with the "End of Days".If it comes it comes from Man himself.This is our paradise to Make or Break


And from your perspective, from man or God, are we there yet?
Reply #9 from JoeUser Forums Top
But they thought they were getting close at the beginning of the twentieth century, and that we would never make it until 2000. And here we are, in 2006. So I don´t really know.


I believe the Mayan calendar ends at 2012. Biblically speaking, Jesus taught only the Father knew, however He said we would know when it was near just as we are able to tell summer was near by observing nature's signs (ie the fig tree). Personally I'm of the opinion that the "birth pains" began some where between the 1930s and 1960s. Some point as far back as the French Revolution. I would surmise that the Scriptural quote "When the Son of Man returns will He find faith on the earth?" may point to where we're headed, given the escalating religious persecutions and intolerance around the world. Do you think we've hit, to borrow a recent catch phrase, "the tipping point" yet?
Reply #10 from JoeUser Forums Top
I think we are very close. I look at the nations and how they are lined up. I look at the EU and think about Daniel's dream of the statue with the head of Gold. I keep my sights on Israel. It all started in that area and it's going to end there. As far as prophecy goes, and I've been reading it for a while, I don't believe there is anything left in the way for him to come back. I think Israel being situated in their land now was the last prophecy that had not been fulfilled before his second coming.

But we can't just sit around and just wait either. I look at it like waiting for a movie to come out in the distant future. When it gets here, I'll be ready for it. But until then, I stay busy doing what I'm supposed to be doing.
Reply #11 from JoeUser Forums Top
I don't know if it will happen or not, but same time, why worry? If you die, you die.
Reply #12 from JoeUser Forums Top
Nadeon: December 21st, 2012 AD to be exact.

I'm surprised the end of the world crowd haven't started about 06-06-2006 or 06-26-2006. Why the 26th? Something a high school english teacher once said about June 26 being the supposed birthdate of the anti-christ.
Reply #13 from JoeUser Forums Top
June 26 being the supposed birthdate of the anti-christ.


really? I wonder where that comes from?

I think too many are looking for the anti-christ instead of looking for Christ.
Reply #14 from JoeUser Forums Top
Yeah? My birthday happens to be 6/26/1976 (not really, but year is real.)

Truth be said, only way that will happen when public is misled into accepting "satan" into position of power.

Yes, I quoted satan. I don't believe in anything that require faith. That includes deities such as god, satan, santa claus, and tooth fairy.
Reply #15 from JoeUser Forums Top
My opinion is that the people who have the least to fear from a "second coming" are the people who are too busy living the right kind of life to be watching for it. My personal opinion, mind you, but Christians trying to figure out when the world is going to end is like a kid sitting around drumming his fingers wishing that his homework was done.

Every minute you waste trying to do the math and watch for "signs" is one less minute you have to do something substantial. Consider the monks back in the Middle Ages who were convinced it was all going to come to pass any day, and they watched for signs, and argued with each other about what was what. Then they died at a ripe old age, and probably had to account for all the wasted time...

Think about what you do when you are at work, staring off into space and see your boss walk into the room. You immediately look down and start acting like you are doing something constructive. Some bosses are harder to fool than others.
Reply #16 from JoeUser Forums Top
"I don't believe in anything that require faith. That includes deities such as god, satan, santa claus, and tooth fairy."


or hope, or charity, or kindness, or freedom, or liberty, or anything that you have to just believe pays off. After all, who is to say you wouldn't be better off if you were a fascist little prat? You must have some faith, or else you wouldn't risk believing that living a humane life actually meant something.
Reply #17 from JoeUser Forums Top

I don't remember for sure why my english teacher said 6-26 will be the "birthdate" of the anti-christ. Something about 26 meaning "two sixes." I guess it's to stop people from guessing the year and killing all babies born on a specific date in a specific year.

As for the whole 12-21-2012 thing, it's not really an end of the world but more of a "major transformation." The Mayan calendar is based on the phases of the moon, which a complete cycle occurs every 28 days. There are 13 cycles a year; 13 * 28 = 364 with the 365th day being a day of rest, celebration, or day to mark between years. There's some sort of significance with 12-21-2012 and the number 13. Google Mayan calendar for more.

Isn't there something about a "final" pope who will be a betrayor?
Reply #18 from JoeUser Forums Top
The earth is supposed to flip 120degrees on 12/21/2012, at 11am no less.
Proponents of this doomsday prediction believe that this happened 10,000 years ago and the evidence for it has been wrongly interoperated as an Ice Age. I admit finding a flash frozen mammoth in Siberia with tropical buds in their mouth is a bit of puzzle. The whole spiritual awaking and heightened consciousness sounds fun though. For the few that survive anyway
Link
Reply #19 from JoeUser Forums Top
Every minute you waste trying to do the math and watch for "signs" is one less minute you have to do something substantial.


Exactly. Much hot air has been expended on this subject.

or hope, or charity, or kindness, or freedom, or liberty, or anything that you have to just believe pays off. After all, who is to say you wouldn't be better off if you were a fascist little prat? You must have some faith, or else you wouldn't risk believing that living a humane life actually meant something.


I just think that this argument doesn't work. I believe in freedom. We are using it right now when we are arguing, and not in least bit worried about "disappearing".

All those you listed works. God? Doesn't work for me. Not only that, he always steal the credit of anything people attribute to him. For example: Bunch of people comes in and saves bigger bunch of people from some kind of bad event, and people says "thank god for this!". After all those humans did the hard work, god gets credit.
Reply #20 from JoeUser Forums Top
I just think that this argument doesn't work.


It does. Belief comes from the same place. Like one of my favourite authors wrote, you have to believe in the little stuff (god, santa, the easter bunny etc) before you can belief in the big stuff like fairness and liberty and freedom. Just like there's no physical proof that there's a god, there's no physical proof that any of those three exist either. They only exist for you because you believe in them.

On the End of Days...

I really doubt we're in the end of days. Even a mediocre student of history could tell you that the signs you see today of 'the end times' have been repeated every few centuries right the way back to the early days of Rome and probably before. I'm sure when the world ends it'll be a surprise to almost everyone. So there's no point worrying about it, and certainly no point hoping you'll get involved in the rapture. It's not your decision and it's a waste of time to waste time thinking about the ineffable plans of God.
Reply #21 from JoeUser Forums Top
Since God created it all....he should get the credit....
Reply #22 from JoeUser Forums Top
'I just think that this argument doesn't work. I believe in freedom. We are using it right now when we are arguing, and not in least bit worried about "disappearing".'


Then you obviously believe in things that require faith. Many people throughout the world believe that freedom is overrated, and that it is the cause of many of our ills. They can produce as many or more tangible examples of why that is as you can promoting freedom. You ahve faith that in the face of such evidence, freedom will still play out as superior as mankind evolves socially.

You just differentiate between spiritual and secular faith. As I have said elsewhere, every time we accept any kind of dogma, whether it be spiritual or scientific or political, we do so based upon faith that what is being purported to be true is actually true. Claiming that you don't rely on blind faith ignores the vast majority of the things you believe in, frankly, even if you don't believe in God.

Some would scoff at us for believing in the moon landing when they can present what they feel to be damning evidence that it didn't take place. People "believe" in the supposedly inalienable righst of, say, gay people to marry or women to have abortions. There's no more reason to believe in such "truths" than there is to believe in God, yet one is cool and the other is lame.
Reply #23 from JoeUser Forums Top
These words are only part time synonyms.

Faith is a stronger form of belief that is not easily challenged and rarely changed.

Belief is more personal experience leading you to think one-way or the other about someone or something and can be easily challenged and is often changed.

I can hope I win the lottery be charitable because It makes me feel better or for a tax write off. But I don’t and can’t know that the money I gave to that homeless person won’t be used to but the drugs that kill them.

Belief is also just your best guess on what to do and how to think.





Reply #24 from JoeUser Forums Top
I took a Bible class in school that studied the Old Testament as an account of history. The teacher told us all the clues of when the world would end. I did the math and the answer was 1982. So much for prophecy.
Reply #25 from JoeUser Forums Top
You suck at math too, evidently, iconoclast...