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Unfortunately the promises of "soon"" and "near" are taken very seriously by millions of trusting Christians who very often make life altering decisions based on those promises.
That might happen in extreme cases. Much of it is just talk by those who hope it will happen soon.
For approx. eight million Christians of a certain denomination it is a dead serious matter and not just talk. they predicted the end in 1914. Then it was predicted in 1975. Now they are still talking about the end as being near and soon. Is it indeed near and soon?
They do not encourage that extreme behavior. But the words soon and near are still used regularly.
Since I was part of that denomination I can assure you that it is far more than hope. It is a certainty and preached to others as a certainty because from their standpoint we have been living in the end of days since 1914.
If you are referring to who I think you are referring to then yes. I agree with you. However mainline Christian denominations that say it will be happening soon are not as extreme in their actions as the group you are referring to. In my opinion the group you are referring to is a cult and not a mainline denomination.
No it isn't mainline. Also, please note that it doesn't want to be considered mainline nor associated with Christendom in any way because it considers itself the restoration of true worship and considers all other denominations claiming Christianity as part of the great apostasy or Babylon The Great.
And this is why I believe they are a cult. A cult with many members but a cult nonetheless. Not to mention the fact that they believe that the 144,000 in the book of Revelation refers to them and them only.
Yes, the 144000 are believed to be chosen from among first century-Christians and others through history as well as from among them exclusively in modern times because they consider themselves the restoration of true worship after the apostasy suffered by Christianity after the death of the Apostles set in. Because of this they believe that God is presently in an exclusive relationship with them organizationally alone and that the kingdom message of God's Kingdom rule soon to arrive on Earth after these end times runs its course is delivered exclusively through them.
I prefer not to judge people based on the denomination that they choose to belong to but leave that kind of judgment in the hands of God who knows the heart. True, I don't agree with many things that some denominations do. But if the members accept Jesus as their Lord and Savior then to me they are Christians. So I disagree with both you and with them in the exclusive claims to Christ's Ransom sacrifice.
