Do You Think The End Is Near?

[Latter-Day Saint]

it seems like the end times are upon us. consider all the war and sin in the world. plus all the end time material becoming available today. on other sites they say that the Rapture will take place in 2006. and that all signs point to it. who's to say really. but don't rule out the possibility just yet.

 

[ONE WHO REMAINS]

Im not one to predict the end. But deep down in my gut I feel so strongly that it will start before I die. But I hope it does so bad, for I think GOD has a certian role he wants me to play in it.

 

[Mikeyfinn]

I recently visited Africa on a brief missionary project. However, before we left we attended a briefing which was held in a bible translation college (The wycliffe centre in london, Uk). My attention was captured by a poster which asked the question " Do you speak Swahili?...3000 languages to go...!.

People there are 3000 languages for the bible to be translated into! 3000 people groups, tribes and nations to be reached with the good news!

Unless we get our finger out and radically start reaching some people with the gospel, Jesus is not coming back for a while yet!

Only the father knows. The father knows because he knows all things but he has not SET the date. I believe that we have a major part in defining the return of christ because it us who ultimately have to get off our backsides and fulfill the great commission. HE'S not returning until every tribe and nation have been givin the opportunity to believe...And if theres 3000 languages to go...

 

[rogsr]

Does someone have to have a bible in their language to believe that Jesus Christ died for their sins?

 

[ONE WHO REMAINS]

For those not of God, you dont have the Holy Spirit guiding you in your walk. The Holy Spirit can best be compared to a mothers sense of knowing when their child is in danger, or has done something wrong, or if something is going to happen. So being in touch with it and opening up your heart and ears to it, lets you kinda feel whats going on, and to me it feels like it is coming. When I dont know but I know soon.

 

[Mikeyfinn]

Does someone have to have a bible in their language to believe that Jesus Christ died for their sins?

Does your christian life consist solely of believing jesus died for your sins? Thats just the beginning, mate...

I will not insult your intelligence by explaining the importance of the bible in our knowing God!

 

[meebs]

end times? - im not sure, like the one who remains i have a deep feeling in my gut! but suffering will be 1000s of times worse than now, i think i got a part to play, but i know im not ready. Right now i'd be very happy if i could bring one person to christ

keep on helping the poor and needy, give all you can, pray, and... DOWN WITH CORPERATE GREED!

 

[rogsr]

mikeyfinn,
I love the bible, I read it often, and am all for more copies of it being available to everyone, especially the suffering. However, it has nothing to do with my faith. I have faith because of the spiritual satisfaction I have expierienced since I first met my friend from galilee. The bible is important but it is not essential to what it means to have faith, which is something born in the soul not in a book. When I was a child I used to cringe at the very sight of a bible because I didn't have faith. Now, I see it as something like a comforting blanket--wonderful but not nessasarily essential. I always ask people that founded their faith in the bible what they would do if all the bible were gathered together and burned, if they would lose their faith? Sometimes they become angry with me and call me names, but that is because they miss the point. If your church was burned down and you were placed in a jail cell without your bible would you lose heart? Hopefully not, because all that you ever needed lived inside you all along. In my opinion, churches are great, and bibles are wonderful, but they are unnessisary in comparison to He who lives inside us. Don't put your faith in a book as if you need it to have faith in the first place. God does not live in a book He lives in our souls.

 

[tulc]

God does not live in a book He lives in our souls.

Amen.
tulc(and amen again!)

 

[Mikeyfinn]

Who said anyones faith was in a book? Who said God lives in a book? Im not sure what your point is. Its great that the bible is a 'comforting blanket' but its a little morethan that...

Dude, The bible is Gods written word! "All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness".

The Bible has a very clear and essential purpose in us getting to KNOW God. Its his revelation of himself to us! Going back to the original point of '3000 languages to go', are you saying it is Gods desire for us to stay as infants and a bible to read is insignificant?

Since you posed a question concerning the possibility of my house being burned or me without my bible, i recommend a book for you to read. Its called 'The heavenly man' and its about a christian in China who underwent severe persecution for his faith. Whilst in prison he recalls on countless occasion that words from scripture (which he memorised) gave him confidence and strengthened his faith throughout the suffering. Its not just a book mate...

 

[tulc]

Its not just a book mate

Well apart from Christs spirit it is, don't you think? Used wrongly it's just a book, don't you think?
tulc(reads his KJV everyday, man I love that book! but it's Jesus that gives it meaning, not the other way around.)

 

[rogsr]

are you saying it is Gods desire for us to stay as infants and a bible to read is insignificant?

I said nothing of the sort and you are taking what I said and twisting it to win an argument. Your words are growing angry and so I am done talking with you. If you choose to think that God Himself wrote the bible with His divine finger then that is your business.

God bless-

 

[Mikeyfinn]

I just wish people would be clear about the point they are making...

Sorry if u took things the wrong way.

Tulc. What point are you making? Does it relate to my earlier post regarding the abundance of people groups across the world who have yet to hear the gospel and have no bible to read in a language they understand? I agree that Jesus is vital to the integrity of the bible but you only recognise that because of the Bible itself! because you have read and heard about his life. If we could keep this discussion 'on topic' it would be great. ill summarise my point...

A great majority of the world have yet to have access to a bible. A bible which directs and draws the reader to a deeper and more intimate knowledge of God, through christ. In light of this fact and the knowledge that God requires everyone a chance to believe and, more importantly, Know Him, I do not believe Jesus will return anytime soon. There is still a great task at hand to fulfill the great commission...

 

[tulc]

Its called 'The heavenly man' and its about a christian in China who underwent severe persecution for his faith. Whilst in prison he recalls on countless occasion that words from scripture (which he memorised) gave him confidence and strengthened his faith throughout the suffering. Its not just a book mate.

The point I was trying to make (very poorly it appears) was: the book (the Bible) apart from Jesus's spirit is just a book. A great book but still a book. When we have a relationship with the author that changes everything. My relationship with Jesus is something apart from the Bible, I'm not denegrating the scriptures, I'm saying "If you take my Bible away from me I will still have a relationship with Jesus." I would prefer Jesus and my Bible, but if it get down to a choice I'll take Jesus. I'm not looking for a fight here, just wanted it brought out Jesus is there with or without my Bible.
tulc(have I cleared up what I was trying to say? I can continue if you don't understand.)

 

[Mikeyfinn]

Yes i get your point.

Like you i prefer the bible and Jesus and im willing to bet that God would have it that way too, hence the necessity for a bible to be translated in all tongues. Therefore, it is my deduction that Jesus wont be returning anytime soon...

You wouldnt have any relatonship with jesus, initially, if not for the bible!

 

[disciple00]

didn't jesus say in matthew chapter 28 ''behold i am with you alway, even until the end of the world'' i belive that jesus will come agian in glory, but remember that he never really left us in the first place. remeber when paul wrote that Christ was in us? never the less, it make no difference to me when jesus comming i glory will be, he's with me every day. thou it is a good idea to wait and watch for him patiently, if we believe in him we shoudl act like it too..

disciple00

 

[tulc]

You wouldnt have any relatonship with jesus, initially, if not for the bible!

Oh now I'm going to have to disagree with that (somewhat). I think we come to the Lord by being drawn by His Spirit and through (in my case anyway) by the example of love demonstrated by His people. My love for the Bible grew out of seeing the truths in it (as revealed by the Holy Spirit) and by watching the changes worked in me from my reading it. But it isn't the book doing the changing in me it's His Spirit using His book. apart from His Spirit though it (the Bible) is just dry bones. (IMHO)
tulc(who has lived as a "The BIBLE says!" kind of guy, and as someone lead by His Spirit. Prefers the Spirit led guy, thank you very much)

 

[tulc]

By the way? I very much enjoy talking to you! Thank you for making me articulate some of the things that have been rolling around in my head for a while!
tulc(hope your day is being blessed!)

 

[Mikeyfinn]

Cool, its good that you are enjoying this, as i am, because sometimes forums get a little intense.

You've mentioned this a few times now so id like you to explain to me further what you mean by " His spirit through the bible". Secondly, i stand my statement pointed out for rebuttal. If it were not for the bible then the gospel would not had endured throughout the centuries. Without a scriptural authority, an invitation to false teaching is evident (even with the existence of the bible this is true) and is even anticipated by Paul himself. false teaching ultimately leads people astray and away from a relationship with God.

I think i've identified your problem with this whole issue. God chose us to be his number 1 (and only) plan to reach the world with his gospel. Given that He utimately elects those he knows (as youve pointed out) but is essentially us who he commissioned in matt 28. I think the problem you have,is failing to recognise the grand resposibility and commissioning we have as the body of christ. An understanding of this brings a neccessity of the written word.

It is very rare that God himself "draws us" independantly without any reference from a biblical source directly or indirectly (word of mouth). knowledge of his existence and a means to salvation ultimately comes from a biblical source. Thus "You wouldnt have any relatonship with jesus, initially, if not for the bible!"...

I am aware that i may come across as 'bigging up' the bible as a priority above all things but i assure you i am not.

 

[tulc]

Hmm I understand what you are saying, I think where I'm coming from is Scripture is only one aspect of the revelation of Jesus. We (the body of Christ) are sometimes the only "Bible" some people will ever see until they get saved, if all we have to offer is a quick Bible referance why should they pay any attention to something that (while important to us) means nothing to them? We must live scripture not just quote it. I think we are actually a lot closer to what we are discussing then we realize.
tulc(how's your day been?)