End of the World is it real or just a fairy tale?

blackroses · Jan 26, 2004

i don't know if this is the Right place to put this at But i'll put it here anyways

i started a topic over at another website im a member of (i won't tell you what website since its kind of embarrassing ) But here is just what a few of the members had to say about the End of the World topic that i posted.

maverick83
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Registered: Mar 2002
Location: Eastern PA
Posts: 265
This planet will cease to exist as it currently does one day. That much is pretty much guaranteed. As Moses25 said, when the sun goes red giant, the Earth is as good as gone. As far as the "apocalypse", I have no opinion as to whether I think it will happen or not. I don't believe in the literal religious explanation, but I think a similar event may occur.

Admiral Trouser
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Registered: Aug 2002
Location: Aboard the HMS Bootleg
Posts: 364
Considering the sun isn't due to go nova for a fair few million yeras, I'd say the Human race stands a good chance of whiping itself out before some natural event nails us (although its worth thinking over the fact that we'd be long gone from earth by that time anyway should we survive and thrive).

Over-population, shrinking fossil fuel reserves paired with an increase in its demand *and* no infastructure in place to support us once its gone, plus a whole myriad of other Bad Things that we're totaly ignoring because we're too busy making money...*sigh*, I honestly can't see us lasting for much longer really.

Can't you tell that my glass is forever half-empty, eh? eh?

blackrosesvamp
Registered User

Registered: Jan 2004
Location: Oregon
Posts: 30
So none of you people that posted to this thread. Belive in the theory that Revelations like the Bible talks about? and if not then Why? just curious

Admiral Trouser
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Registered: Aug 2002
Location: Aboard the HMS Bootleg
Posts: 370
I'd imagine because the majority of what the Bible comes up with is metaphorical, and not to be taken literaly: It doesn't really give you too many detals about the whole affair, and what info it does reveal reads like the Horoscope From Hell...you could neither prove its predictions to be true or false. As with just about everything else in Religeon, beleiving in it is a matter of Faith more than anything else

MrMacphisto
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Registered: Feb 2002
Location: NC
Posts: 114

Admiral Trouser's got the right idea.... Most of the Bible is an allegory, because if you took it literally, it would contradict itself in many places. If indeed the Bible was inspired by God, I would think Revelations is the best explanation of the end of the world you could give an ancient society that obviously was unaware of the principles of astrophysics. It's like the creation story; if God had tried to explain the Big Bang to people back then, they would have been like, "What the f***?!" Creation and apocalyptic stories aren't supposed to be scientifically accurate, so don't take them literally....

the_Baron
TMF MASTER

Registered: Sep 2003
Location: the Garden state
Posts: 736
naturally, it seems, i take the opposing view.

for me, Revelation and related scriptural references speaks of a time when this current earth will pass away, and a new heavenly jerusalem will exist eternally

Ticklish9's
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Registered: Oct 2001
Location: Penn State Erie
Posts: 271
Hmmm...
I presume you were speaking of an apocalyptic "End of the World," rather than the (in my opinion, much more likely) scientific view of a world destroyed by the death throes of our sun. In which case, no. And yes.

While Revelations is surely an interesting read (and also the only book of the bible that promises you a blessing simply for reading it), I have to say that a lot of it must be taken HIGHLY figuratively. As such, I don't think it gives us much real insight into "how the world will end".

I also tend to think the end of the "World" is a mistranslation, because I suspect we as a species are going to have a lot more than just Earth to worry about within the next couple thousand years

Please read every members statements and Just share and discuss on what they had to say. Because i posted a thread about the ''End of the World'' and thats where i got theses members thoughts about the ''End of the world'' on that website im a member of

Thank you

if you really wanna know what website i got theses thoughts of off then you Can pm me and i'll tell you

Arikay · Jan 26, 2004

I agree with what they said. Not only was Rev contreversial when canonized (it still is) it often reads with heavy metaphor and allegory.

David Gould · Jan 26, 2004

Revelations is an Apocolyptic book.

In biblical teminology, an "apocalypse" is not an event, but a "revelation" that is recorded in written form:

it is a piece of crisis literature that reveals truths about the past, present, and/or future in highly symbolic terms;
the revelation often comes in dreams or visions, and usually needs to be interpreted with the help of an angel;
it is usually intended to provide hope and encouragement for people in the midst of severe trials and tribulations.
Definition of "Apocalypse" and Related Words

Philosoft · Jan 26, 2004

I've heard the end of the world starts with an earthquake, birds and snakes and aeroplanes. As we know it, of course.

ObbiQuiet · Jan 26, 2004

Philosoft said:
I've heard the end of the world starts with an earthquake, birds and snakes and aeroplanes. As we know it, of course.

And I feel fine.

This is so freaking weird, I'm listening to this song right now. REM was just next on my playlist, followed by their song, Losing my Religion.

LorentzHA · Jan 27, 2004

Q: End of the World is it real or just a fairy tale?

A: Very real, our star, The Sun will go Red Giant and we will be "sucked in" that is how the planet will end..of course life on the planet could be snuffed out way before this event for many reasons-an Asteroid strike, Over population, etc. etc.

Jet Black · Jan 27, 2004

I think about the only thing that could kill us is war. things like overpopulation and so on will deal with themselves. we might go a bit retrograde for a while once fossil fuels run out, but it shouldn't be too bad. Humans have a tendency to overcome problems.

LorentzHA · Jan 27, 2004

Jet Black said:
I think about the only thing that could kill us is war. things like overpopulation and so on will deal with themselves. we might go a bit retrograde for a while once fossil fuels run out, but it shouldn't be too bad. Humans have a tendency to overcome problems.

What about a fairly large Asteroid?

Jet Black · Jan 27, 2004

I doubt it. Haven't you seen Armageddon? all you have to do is send a team of miners up there, and one heroic guy with a nuke.

LorentzHA · Jan 27, 2004

Jet Black said:
I doubt it. Haven't you seen Armageddon? all you have to do is send a team of miners up there, and one heroic guy with a nuke.

yes, I have seen it....you are right, we need to keep Bruce Willis on stnd by. Of course I could always assist Ben Affleck if they need another crew member .

I met one of the guys who was in that movie, his name is Owen Wilson, he lives in Dallas (the blonde haired guy in the crew.)

iSearch4Answers · Jan 27, 2004

there will be no "end of the world" as in the world collapses, famines break out worldwide, the ozone layer tears, and so on. but i believe that judgement day is coming soon. how do i know that there wont be an end of the world? (as of the first sentence) because God is just. judgment day will come when His word is spread worldwide. he can not judge fairly to those who have not had a chance to hear the Word of God. he will come and take us with him to the paradise of heaven on that day. so the world will not collapse or any nonsense like that for God has stated He will come again.

Jet Black · Jan 27, 2004

so you say

LorentzHA · Jan 27, 2004

iSearch4Answers said:
he can not judge fairly to those who have not had a chance to hear the Word of God

Why has the God who is in control and all powerful not provided to all- the chance to hear, his word?

LorentzHA · Jan 27, 2004

iSearch4Answers said:
there will be no "end of the world"

To heck with stellar mechanics!

Jet Black · Jan 27, 2004

to paraphrase a comment made about Fusion power plants:

"The end of the world is coming soon, and it always will be"

for this interested, the original quote is:

"Fusion power is forty years in the future, and it always will be"

Meatros · Jan 27, 2004

This is off topic here, but Blackroses, do you post on another board as: BlackPedalRoses?

Nathan David · Jan 27, 2004

I was told (by Christians - my Baptist grandmother gave me a book of New Testament scholarship) that Revelation was not intended as a prophecy of the End Times, but as a letter of encouragement to Christians being oppressed by Rome.

Meatros · Jan 27, 2004

Nathan David said:
I was told (by Christians - my Baptist grandmother gave me a book of New Testament scholarship) that Revelation was not intended as a prophecy of the End Times, but as a letter of encouragement to Christians being oppressed by Rome.

Here's a post I wrote in another forum:

Actually, IIRC, the term rapture isn't in revelation, and the concept of Christians getting magically plucked into heaven is a relatively recent one (starting in the 1800's). Also, IIRC, the scholarly approach to revelation is that it was meant for people who were alive just after Christ died (hence the "this generation" comment) and the terms used to describe Satan (seven heads of the beast) actually referred to Nero (and crew). Some information.
Here is a good reference, from a few angles.

Among many critics, the beast from the sea that had received plenitude of power from the dragon, or Satan, is actually the Roman Empire, or rather, the Emperor, its supreme representative.
The token of the beast with which its servants are marked is the image of the emperor on the coins of the realm. This seems to be the obvious meaning of the passage, that all business transactions, all buying and selling were impossible to them that had not the mark of the beast (Rev. 13:17). Against this interpretation it is objected that the Jews at the time of Jesus had no scruple in handling money on which the image of Caesar was stamped (Matt. 22:15-22). But it should be borne in mind that the horror of the Jews for the imperial images was principally due to the policy of Caligula. He confiscated several of their synagogues, changing them into heathen temples by placing his statue in them. He even sought to erect an image of himself in the Temple in Jerusalem (Josephus, Antiquities, 18.8.2).
The seven heads of the beast are seven Roman emperors. Five of them are said to be fallen. They are Augustus, Tiberius, Caligula, Claudius, and Nero. The year of Nero's death is 68. The text goes on to say "One is", namely Vespasian, 70-79. He is the sixth emperor. The seventh "is not yet come. But when he comes his reign will be short". Titus is meant, who reigned but two years (79-81). The eighth emperor is Domitian (81-96); He is identified with the beast. He is described as the one that "was and is not and shall come up out of the bottomless pit" (xvii, 8). In verse 11 it is added: "And the beast which was and is not: the same also is the eighth, and is of the seven, and goeth into destruction".
All this sounds like oracular language. But the clue to its solution is furnished by a popular belief largely spread at the time. The death of Nero had been witnessed by few. Chiefly in the East a notion had taken hold of the mind of the people that Nero was still alive. Gentiles, Jews, and Christians were under the illusion that he was hiding himself, and as was commonly thought, he had gone over to the Parthians, the most troublesome foes of the empire. From there they expected him to return at the head of a mighty army to avenge himself on his enemies. The existence of a belief in a Nero redivivus is attested by Tacitus and Dio Chrysostom.

Click to expand...

Here's a few sites about it, from various denominations:
The Catholic's Opinion.
www.lcms.org/cic/rapture.html]Luthern Position.[/URL]
Stump the Canon's answer.

The Rapture
Dear Canon Carey:
I have friends who attend another church who asked me if Episcopalians believed in The Rapture. I didnt understand what they were talking about. Do we believe in the rapture?
I was asked that question by a lady who, seeing me in my clericals, came over to my table in a restaurant. When I said I didnt, she smiled sweetly, and said You are going to Hell, you know. And returned to her lunch.
The teaching known as the Rapture apparently grew out of what is called The Great Awakening, a revival movement in America during the 1800s, and was based on an interpretation of passages from the New Testament. This belief is that at the End Time those who are saved will be taken immediately into heaven, while the rest will be left on earth to die in their sins and go to Hell. For example, if an airplane were flying at that time of the Rapture, and the captain and crew were among the saved, they will be taken immediately into heaven, while the unsaved passengers would will die in the crash that follows and go to hell. One popular author has made a fortune on novels dealing with this subject, and there has been at least one movie. I personally feel that this reflects the fear and uncertainty of the times in which we live and does not in any way express the historic faith, the Good News we profess Sunday by Sunday.

Click to expand...

The Orthodox view.

Where Did the Term Rapture Come From?
All Christians up until the 1830s believed in basically the same things about the second coming of Christ. During the 1830s Margaret Macdonald, a Scottish member of a sect known as the Irvingites, made the first claim that there would be a trance (or rapture) and the faithful would be gathered to Christ before the period of persecution. The Protestant leader John Nelson Darby picked up this view. Cyrus Ingerson Scofield picked up Darbys views and placed them in the footnotes of his Scofield Reference Bible. This Bible was widely used in England and America and many who read it readily accepted the idea of rapture.
Since that time other views on rapture have started, but all are still based on the notion of the rapture itself.

Click to expand...

In the end, I suppose it's up to you in what you believe about the eschatology of Christianity. My opinion is that revelation was never meant to predict a rapture or a view of a far future destruction of the world.

Nathan David · Jan 27, 2004

Thanks, Meatros. I wish I could remember the name of the book my grandmother gave me.

LorentzHA · Jan 27, 2004

iSearch4Answers said:
but i believe that judgement day is coming soon.

Judgment regarding what? So this "all loving God" is going to now "judge" his creations that he made faulty and prone to sin in the first place-by HIS choice!!? I thought Jesus came to forgive all mankind? Now we are going to be judged??? Wow, nice Deity, sounds like a "set-up" to me!

End of the World is it real or just a fairy tale?

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