Needing help in understanding: End times

[albn]

I have not made too many posts here, but I would like to get some insight and some help in understanding God's word better. I am having trouble sleeping because I have been thinking about this, and the more I think about it, the more I wonder. How can I, as a new Christian, better understand God's word without making odd conclusions?

See, I have been thinking about Jesus' return. It has always been in the back of my mind, and now want to learn more and have a more "watchful eye". Yes, I understand nobody knows when Jesus will return, but the events leading to Jesus' return are laid out for us so we can better gauge and have that watchful eye.

Now comes the problems of that. Over different times in history, they have been labeled as "end times" such as the Great Depression, World War 2, Middle Ages, Dark Ages, and the list goes on and on. Now, I see it more than ever again with the war in the middle east, credit crisis, un-Godliness, famine, etc. However, war, famine, poverty, persecution and un-Godliness happened in other parts of history as well.

I pray to God for better understanding, and I will admit it is very difficult to know who to turn to to fellowship and discuss these things without getting misled and fed the wrong food?

Feedback and help would be very appreciated. Thank you.

 

[JPPT1974]

God will come back as He
Will send Jesus back one day
Knowing that only God knows
Not even Jesus nor the angels
As well as us knows. Seems like
Those times are now and more sooner
Rather than later. Hope that answers your question.
If it doesn't pm me or the mods.
Will be happy to help you!

 

[drich0150]

The end times aren't something for us to dread but to eagerly anticipate. "the bad things in revelations aren't meant to torment us, but to harold the second coming.. like labor pains prior to a birth.. What mother wouldn't gladly endure a torturous labor if it meant a healthy baby? So to are we set to face hardships and pain, so that the world may prepared for the birth of his coming kingdom... Separating the sheep from the goats, the wheat from the chaff, ect ect..

Plus Truthfully I think the second coming will really be like a thief in the night.. Chances are "We the body" will be looking for these over the top signs and wonders to mark the coming of the age, as did the pharisees the first time around, and like them we'll get it wrong. I think largely because hollywood has set an epic stage for the end times that most of us have bought into.. It didn't happen that way on his first coming, nor did it happen the way any of the "Holy Learned Scholars" thought it would either...
Then like now I think there will be a great number our "shepherds" and of us completely taken off guard when "it" does happen.. Because like anything else we become guard and desensitised to sin and what once shocked us, and the things written by John in Rev. Though shocking and disturbing at the time will be the stuff on fox news we fast forward past on our DVR's to get to the latest news about Brittany.

 

[JPPT1974]

As Christians we shouldn't worry about
The end times as when Jesus comes
To get us all, we will have an awesome
Reunion up in heaven with Him
If you accepted Him as Savior & Lord
And repent of your sins.

 

[Zecryphon]

I have not made too many posts here, but I would like to get some insight and some help in understanding God's word better. I am having trouble sleeping because I have been thinking about this, and the more I think about it, the more I wonder. How can I, as a new Christian, better understand God's word without making odd conclusions?

See, I have been thinking about Jesus' return. It has always been in the back of my mind, and now want to learn more and have a more "watchful eye". Yes, I understand nobody knows when Jesus will return, but the events leading to Jesus' return are laid out for us so we can better gauge and have that watchful eye.

Now comes the problems of that. Over different times in history, they have been labeled as "end times" such as the Great Depression, World War 2, Middle Ages, Dark Ages, and the list goes on and on. Now, I see it more than ever again with the war in the middle east, credit crisis, un-Godliness, famine, etc. However, war, famine, poverty, persecution and un-Godliness happened in other parts of history as well.

I pray to God for better understanding, and I will admit it is very difficult to know who to turn to to fellowship and discuss these things without getting misled and fed the wrong food?

Feedback and help would be very appreciated. Thank you.

Don't really worry about it too much. God is gonna do what God is gonna do with regards to the end times. Live every day as if Jesus were coming back today. Don't look for signs and wonders.

 

[JPPT1974]

Only God knows that
And that it is best to
Leave it to Him!

 

[plmarquette]

e each night repent for mistakes (1 John 1.8-9), ask for God's direction each day...

assess your life as you go ... what can I do better, different, or change in me to be more like Him ^^ (end of Psalm 139)

don't sweat the small stuff, one day at a time ...

 

[starrycc]

Many Bible teachers say the end times are all the time from when Jesus first came to his future second coming - we're always in the end times - it just looks like it's accelerating with more and more disasters - but who knows how many disasters went unnoticed when there wasn't the media. The greater the population the more impact natural and man made disasters have, so that's one way of seeing why it gets worse.

Like everyone else says no one knows when or how - and it's not worth fretting about it if we believe God is Sovereign and God is good - those who take refuge in him are safe, even if they have to go through all kinds of painful trials along the way.
Bad things happen - but God is good
He will work out everything in the end.

Some try to identify things in Revelation and other prophecies in the Bible with specific historical events but I think this is unhelpful. Some have tried to predict the end of the world..

I say 'be prepared' - for the end - or for a very long wait... or to prepare the next generation to be prepared for anything... scary but exciting?!

 

[starrycc]

PS Every day is a gift of God's grace - we're still here because we're living in the love of God - his love sustains the whole universe!
Any day could be the last, for us or for everyone, so we choose what to do with each day, keeping going trusting God and trying to live as his people.

We need grace every day!

"God's grace has brought me safe thus far and grace will lead me home!" (Amazing grace)

 

[scjohnson1973]

Try to live everyday as if Jesus is returning