Describing the End as Soon? Should we?

[Colter]

Should Christians preach to others that the end of this world is near? Some religious denominations are constantly using the words "near" and " soon" and creating an expectation that has in many cases never arrived. Is this recommendable?

For one, they don't really know, and two, they teach that because they don't have an attractive, positive message which inspires people to commit to a real loving God.

 

[effalo]

Should Christians preach to others that the end of this world is near? Some religious denominations are constantly using the words "near" and " soon" and creating an expectation that has in many cases never arrived. Is this recommendable?

Jesus very well described how the disciple should behave in anticipation of His second coming. I have had more than my fill of preaching of the second coming with hype that causes fear of being left behind. I'm sick of it!

But Jesus' telling us that the "harvest is plenteous and the laborers few (Matthew 9:37)" implies much work to be done on the part of His followers. As we "occupy until He comes (Luke 19:13)," we labor with the mind that time is short even though no one knows when it will be. As Jesus told us of signs, we were also warned not the be complacent because of the apparent delay as He said that some would be.

But the delay is only an act of grace. Even though the Biblical disciples said that time was short during their day, I am glad that time went on until I came to know God. So would a person lost today be glad for the delay until he came to God.

Withe the prophecy time clock well advanced, ministers should preach that the Lord is coming very soon even though none of us know.

Think about the lost individual that could die the next moment. Shouldn't he be encouraged to expedite his decision to go to God?

Earl

 

[Radrook]

I can't find the bible reference at this time. However, I do remember a scripture that advises us to live our lives as normal, preparing for the future and retirement sort of deal as if we were going to have the same life as our parents and grandparents. But, at the same time, be watchful and aware that Christ can return at anytime.

If anyone knows of this passage, could you help me out?

I believe that it warns us against selling everything and doing a full time job of warning everyone of the end, the way I have heard of some people doing.

However, if that is what you are called to do, fine. We do need missionaries to spread the gospel. But, standing on a street corner or going door to door as if you know that God is coming next week.... not a biblical principal.

Well, not next week but soon is actually the message that is spread. The problem I have with the "soon" concept is that after decades it begins to sound a bit hollow. So I would say that the words "soon" and "near" not be used in reference to the arrival of Armageddon but that we leave the sooness and nearness of the prophesied Apocalyptic event in God's hands lest we stumble someone via sheer frustration over an imminent expectation that never seems to arrive.

 

[Radrook]

For one, they don't really know, and two, they teach that because they don't have an attractive, positive message which inspires people to commit to a real loving God.

Actually, their message of a paradise Earth soon to come where most of mankind will dwell in perfect health and eternal youth, and where a resurrection of loved ones will occur under God's Messianic Kingdom is very attractive and one of the primary reasons that people become members of that denomination.

 

[Dwight55]

Should Christians preach to others that the end of this world is near? Some religious denominations are constantly using the words "near" and " soon" and creating an expectation that has in many cases never arrived. Is this recommendable?

If we are Christians, we believe the Bible, and what it says. That said, the Bible says that in the end times, there will be a temple built in Israel that will be called the "Temple of God" . . . not the Church of Jesus Christ. They will also re-institute a form of "daily sacrifice" which will be stopped by some sort of world ruler.

The temple (Revelation 11) is not built, and the ruler (2nd Thessalonians 2) has not been revealed.

When those two things come to pass, . . . mark it down in your little black book, . . . terra firma is 42 months from total destruction as we know it. Time will then be no more, . . . we will be re-united with our Christian loved ones who went on before us, . . . and we will be with Jesus Christ.

And then again, . . . near? Close? Well, honestly we have never been this near or this close before, now have we???

 

[JacksBratt]

Well, not next week but soon is actually the message that is spread. The problem I have with the "soon" concept is that after decades it begins to sound a bit hollow. So I would say that the words "soon" and "near" not be used in reference to the arrival of Armageddon but that we leave the sooness and nearness of the prophesied Apocalyptic event in God's hands lest we stumble someone via sheer frustration over an imminent expectation that never seems to arrive.

I think the best thing to do is to be ready, live your life like it's going to go on for a normal length of time and be open to the nudges of the Holy Spirit, as to when to talk to others about Christ.

After all, it may not be the coming of the Lord that takes us. It could be the coming of a big truck.....

Be ready.

 

[Jim Langston]

The only thing I personally know for a fact is that the sixth angel sounding will happen in my lifetime. I'm 52 years old so I'm not sure how "soon" or "near" that is.

 

[Goatee]

The only thing I personally know for a fact is that the sixth angel sounding will happen in my lifetime. I'm 52 years old so I'm not sure how "soon" or "near" that is.

How do you know 'for a fact' that it will happen?

Same age as me my friend!

 

[JackRT]

I believe it to be intellectually, emotionally and spiritually unhealthy to live your life in constant expectation of the "end times". It is far better to live your life in such a way as to make this a better world, not just today but into the far distant future.

 

[Radrook]

Jesus very well described how the disciple should behave in anticipation of His second coming. I have had more than my fill of preaching of the second coming with hype that causes fear of being left behind. I'm sick of it!

But Jesus' telling us that the "harvest is plenteous and the laborers few (Matthew 9:37)" implies much work to be done on the part of His followers. As we "occupy until He comes (Luke 19:13)," we labor with the mind that time is short even though no one knows when it will be. As Jesus told us of signs, we were also warned not the be complacent because of the apparent delay as He said that some would be.

But the delay is only an act of grace. Even though the Biblical disciples said that time was short during their day, I am glad that time went on until I came to know God. So would a person lost today be glad for the delay until he came to God.

With the prophecy time clock well advanced, ministers should preach that the Lord is coming very soon even though none of us know.

Think about the lost individual that could die the next moment. Shouldn't he be encouraged to expedite his decision to go to God?

Earl

Yes, I am familiar with the concepts involved in relation to how we humans might perceive God's promises as being slow to become a reality.

2 Peter 3:9 (NIV)
9 The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance

Peter 3:8 - But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day [is] with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.

Please also note that some Christians believe in sleeping in death to await the resurrection during the thousand year reign of Christ instead of an immediate one upon death. So for them meeting of loved ones again would require Armageddon to arrive and usher in God's Millennial reign.

 

[JackRT]

The only thing I personally know for a fact is that the sixth angel sounding will happen in my lifetime. I'm 52 years old so I'm not sure how "soon" or "near" that is.

Ahh for those youthful carefree days when I was only 52.

 

[Goatee]

Ahh for those youthful carefree days when I was only 52.

Oh, you 53 now?

 

[JackRT]

Oh, you 53 now?

73

 

[Radrook]

I believe it to be intellectually, emotionally and spiritually unhealthy to live your life in constant expectation of the "end times". It is far better to live your life in such a way as to make this a better world, not just today but into the far distant future.

There is the crux of the matter. For those who believe the very soon message there is no independent human- governed distant future because all earth's governments will be ousted and replaced with God's heavenly administration very soon. So any attempt at improving this present world is understood as striving to perpetuate a doomed satanically-corrupt system of things and totally contrary to God's will.

 

[DingDing]

Yep, Hal has been telling us this for decades. However, the question must be asked... do you warn people before or after the event?

Hal knows it's coming and knows that he doesn't know when, the day, hour, month or year. There have been signs and signals since the 70's that fit the biblical account. Telling people to be ready is a good thing, no?

The problem is that what people are being told is that they will be sucked outta here suddenly before all the bad stuff hits. But this is not what the bible says. Read Matthew 24. Jesus says to run when you see the Abomination of Desolation spoken of by Daniel. Paul also speaks of the coming persecution in 1st and 2nd Thessalonians. What people are not being prepared for is a time of intense persecution. The clowns (SBC, Calvary Chapel, and others) are preaching a watered-down gospel (easy-believism) and an early/easy escapism. Just what everyone wants to hear - but not what they need to hear. So, 'No', telling people lies ain't a good thing.

 

[Jim Langston]

How do you know 'for a fact' that it will happen?

Same age as me my friend!

God gave me a vision of the future. A few, actually, but this one let me know about the sixth trumpet. Which is why I said I personally, it is personal knowledge.

 

[JackRT]

God gave me a vision of the future. A few, actually, but this one let me know about the sixth trumpet. Which is why I said I personally, it is personal knowledge.

I do hope that you realize that a great many people, myself included, regard such "personal knowledge" with great skepticism. In the past there have been a very great many such claims that were either mistaken or fraudulent.

 

[Goatee]

God gave me a vision of the future. A few, actually, but this one let me know about the sixth trumpet. Which is why I said I personally, it is personal knowledge.

Can you explain more?

 

[Jim Langston]

Can you explain more?

I can, but usually when I explain more I'm greeted with silence. But here goes.

When I was young I used to read Revelation and Revelation 11 intrigued me. It told of two witnesses who would be stoned to death then rise in three days (3 1/2 but who's counting). I thought about it and what it must be like to be stoned. A few days later I tripped and hit my head and it hurt, then I imagined that same as many rocks hit me. It would be terrible, I certainly wouldn't want to be stoned to death. I mentioned it to my mother and she told me that the French invented the guillotine because it was more painless. I thought that would be a better way to die.

The next time I read the bible I read Revelation 11 and it said the two witnesses would be beheaded, come back in 3 1/2 days pick up their heads and walk down the street. I thought this was a new passage, that thete must be another two witnesses in the bible, ones who get stoned to death.

Years pass. I was talking with God, as I am apt to do, and told Him that I would like to experience my own death, but only if it changed. I wouldn't want the knowledge of how I was going to die. Soon when I slept I had a vision, I was in my own body in the future, me and one other person, and our hands were tied up. We were led to guillotines and beheaded, yes, a rather painless way to die. My vision jumps to the future (future) and I'm... somewhere else... and excaping. I come back into my beheaded body, pick up my head and walk down the street hoping the other one figures how to get out too. I walk for a ways not too comfortable, a head is not an easy thing to carry and I couldn't keep it on my shoulders without my arms getting tired, then I lie on the side of the road, realize there is no where else to go, nothing else to do, as the entire world hates me. I closed my eyes and died.

Many, many years later God tells me He wants me to change my future. At first I didn't understand what He wanted then I understood. I had a conversation with God that went something like, God, these two witnesses, if you love them so much why would you allow man to kill them? God agreed, the next time I read Revelation 11 it said the two witnesses werr killed as demons from hell over powered them. I quickly went to God, oh, you don't let men kill them but you let demons? How is that any better. And now it says what it says today.

Revelation 11:7And when they shall have finished their testimony, the beast that ascendeth out of the bottomless pit shall make war against them, and shall overcome them, and kill them.

Okay, so now the two witnesses die by the devil himself coming after us. I can't complain about that one.

There are a few other visions I've had of the future, some have taken place already, some have not.

 

[Jim Langston]

I do hope that you realize that a great many people, myself included, regard such "personal knowledge" with great skepticism. In the past there have been a very great many such claims that were either mistaken or fraudulent.

Yes, and there is nothing I can do about that.

People who claim to be prophets really irritate those of us who are.