On the apocalypse

[DarkProphet]

Do you believe in the apocalypse? if so, do you believe it will happen soon? if so, how does this belief affect your feelings toward maintaining long term sustainability for the human race?

 

[talitha]

Do you believe in the apocalypse?

I do believe that in the end spiritual reality will be uncovered (literal meaning of 'apocalypse'), and that there will be a permanent/eternal separation of those who belong to God and those who don't.

I'm not sure exactly what you were meaning by "apocalypse" - the end of the world? Yes, this will be the end of the world as we know it. Will it be annihilated by a nuclear bomb? I don't know.

...do you believe it will happen soon?

The calendar of the Mayans ends in 2012. I think that's the devil's best guess, and I think he's a pretty good (but not perfect) guesser. I think it's probably close.

if so, how does this belief affect your feelings toward maintaining long term sustainability for the human race?

It definitely makes me want to focus on eternity and not so much on the earthly plane. makes me concerned about how many of the human race will make it to the next level of existence, so to speak, life for ever with God. makes me want to support evangelical efforts. But I know that is not what you were talking about. I don't think we need to be terribly concerned about global warming. I don't think this epoch will end gradually, but rather suddenly.

blessings in Jesus
tal

 

[DarkProphet]

It definitely makes me want to focus on eternity and not so much on the earthly plane. makes me concerned about how many of the human race will make it to the next level of existence, so to speak, life for ever with God. makes me want to support evangelical efforts. But I know that is not what you were talking about. I don't think we need to be terribly concerned about global warming. I don't think this epoch will end gradually, but rather suddenly.

I suppose this is what troubles me because what if you are wrong? If no effort is spent on global warming (or any other global concern) then that would only speed up our demise.

 

[talitha]

There are probably enough people who agree with you that something will be done......

 

[DarkProphet]

There are probably enough people who agree with you that something will be done......

Not if that effort is blocked by people who believe as you do.

 

[CShephard53]

Do you believe in the apocalypse? if so, do you believe it will happen soon? if so, how does this belief affect your feelings toward maintaining long term sustainability for the human race?

OK, first off, God tells us to be GOOD STEWARDS of the earth. That DOES NOT in ANY WAY indicate that we do not care about 'global warming'. We do, should, and will, if we are Christians care about this world. God made it. Why should we not try to keep it clean?

Do I believe the world will end? Yes. Just as the Bible predicts. Does that mean we as Christians stop caring about what happens to the earth? Uh, no. A billion times, no. Never. Ever.

The calendar of the Mayans ends in 2012. I think that's the devil's best guess, and I think he's a pretty good (but not perfect) guesser. I think it's probably close.

Don't even try to predict things. It's God's timing, and He specifically told us that no one- not even the Son- knows the date. We know the precursors- war, famine, plagues, etc. We don't know the date, and to try and guess would be downright stupid. To even go along with another guess would be stupid.
Will it happen soon? I believe it may happen either in my lifetime or the lifetime of kids I might have some day. Why? Ezekiel 38-39 predicts an invasion of Israel by a couple countries, one of which is Persia- or Iran. With the things happening over there right now, that event could happen soon. And it takes place 'in the latter days', which usually referrs to the end times.

 

[DarkProphet]

OK, first off, God tells us to be GOOD STEWARDS of the earth. That DOES NOT in ANY WAY indicate that we do not care about 'global warming'. We do, should, and will, if we are Christians care about this world. God made it. Why should we not try to keep it clean?

The problem is that if you don't feel like the world is going to be around for much longer no matter what you do then there is no incentive to take care of it.

Don't even try to predict things. It's God's timing, and He specifically told us that no one- not even the Son- knows the date. We know the precursors- war, famine, plagues, etc. We don't know the date, and to try and guess would be downright stupid. To even go along with another guess would be stupid.
Will it happen soon? I believe it may happen either in my lifetime or the lifetime of kids I might have some day. Why? Ezekiel 38-39 predicts an invasion of Israel by a couple countries, one of which is Persia- or Iran. With the things happening over there right now, that event could happen soon. And it takes place 'in the latter days', which usually referrs to the end times.

The other problem with predictions is that they can be sometimes self fulling. Take your middle east example, if a Christian feels that a war is a precursor to the end times then they have little incentive to stop the war from happening, especially if they want the end times to come about.

 

[CShephard53]

Why are you bound and determined to discredit Christianity based on irrational assumptions? You're taking bits and pieces of what I'm saying about what the Bible says and ignoring the rest of what the Bible says- or what I say for that matter.
Is there a point to all these questions?

 

[ebia]

Do you believe in the apocalypse? if so, do you believe it will happen soon? if so, how does this belief affect your feelings toward maintaining long term sustainability for the human race?

Depends what you mean by the apocalypse.

Is God going to redeem creation, making a 'new heaven and a new earth', then yes.

Is this going to literally look like some people's literalistic reading of certain apocalyptic texts, no.

When? Only God knows.

 

[ebia]

I suppose this is what troubles me because what if you are wrong? If no effort is spent on global warming (or any other global concern) then that would only speed up our demise.

The tendancy for certain segments of Christianity to give up on their (biblical) duty of stewardship for the world because they believe the world is going to come to an end is dangerous, biblically unjustfiable, and a major stumbling block to spreading the Christian message in Islamic countries.

 

[DarkProphet]

Why are you bound and determined to discredit Christianity based on irrational assumptions?

What assumptions do you believe I am making?

You're taking bits and pieces of what I'm saying about what the Bible says and ignoring the rest of what the Bible says- or what I say for that matter.

I'm simply focusing on the less examined parts of the Bible, you'll notice that as big a book the Bible is only certain passages are often quoted. As for what you are saying I agree with you on many points but you do not speak for the whole of Christianity.

Is there a point to all these questions?

Is the asking of questions not why this forum exists? I ask questions to learn what I can.

 

[tapero]

Do you believe in the apocalypse? if so, do you believe it will happen soon? if so, how does this belief affect your feelings toward maintaining long term sustainability for the human race?

Hi, not familiar much with the word apocalypse, but I do think you are referring to the end times.

I believe that a rapture will occur, then a 7 year tribulation period, then Jesus' 1000 year reign, and then the final battle and then judgement of all men.

I hope it happens in that order, and believe so, but have not studied, so not sure if that order is right. However, I do believe it is right, but whether it happens in that order or not, does not trouble me.

According to scripture that I've read one clue which is one scripure regarding the end times.

12Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold

So we are in period of increasing wickedness, of which there has always been wickedness, but it gets worse as we go.

Sounds to me like the love of most will grow cold, may be referring to believers, however, I'm not sure.

But it might also be a reference to all man kind as well, or maybe only non christians.

As believers we can never lose our salvation.

I really haven't a clue on how long it will be before the end times events occur.

It's all in God's hands.

 

[ContentInHim]

Do you believe in the apocalypse? if so, do you believe it will happen soon? if so, how does this belief affect your feelings toward maintaining long term sustainability for the human race?

Yes and yes. That said, I believe that humans will exist on earth as long as God says so. I do not believe that global warming is a long range problem just as the coming ice age of the 1970-80's became a life-threatening problem.

 

[PhilosopherD]

Do you believe in the apocalypse? if so, do you believe it will happen soon? if so, how does this belief affect your feelings toward maintaining long term sustainability for the human race?

No, I'm mostly preteristic in my thinking on so-called 'end times'. I believe there could be an actual return of Christ, but like most preterists, I also believe that it is not necessarily going to happen next week.

 

[CShephard53]

Is the asking of questions not why this forum exists? I ask questions to learn what I can.

Learning knowledge doesn't do you any good unless you apply it.

What assumptions do you believe I am making?

You're assuming that because we think the world will end, we have no motivation to stop wars and clean up the earth. Those assumptions are irrational and inconsistant with the whole of Scripture.

I'm simply focusing on the less examined parts of the Bible, you'll notice that as big a book the Bible is only certain passages are often quoted. As for what you are saying I agree with you on many points but you do not speak for the whole of Christianity.

Only parts of it are quoted becuase only parts of it explain things in a blatantly obvious way that everyone understands. I do not speak for any religion. I speak about a relationship that is governed by the Bible. I speak in defense of my faith, and for the Bible. I say what the Bible says, infusing what I say with logic to back claims.

 

[MethodMan]

Do you believe in the apocalypse?

Yes

if so, do you believe it will happen soon?

Define what you mean by soon

if so, how does this belief affect your feelings toward maintaining long term sustainability for the human race?

Things are looking good.

 

[DarkProphet]

Define what you mean by soon

Within your lifetime

 

[heron]

Not if that effort is blocked by people who believe as you do.

I haven't seen anyone try to block efforts -- just to question motivations. Good intentions don't always end up with the best results.

Much of global warming relates to the cyclical movement of our planet in relation to the sun. Other factors involve the age of the earth, volcanic activity, and normal planetary cycles. Many people are picking up on various studies and using them to their advantage. But there are MIXED studies among scientists.

An example of agendas -- several studies have been done on the net value of producing ethanol ... some found that it takes more energy to produce than it's worth, some gave a 1:24 ratio. Studies have also shown that using corn for ethanl will drain our food supply of corn so badly that all sorts of prices will go up-- Corn Puffs, Doritos, Taco bell, dog food, horse food, plastics made of corn starch, oils, every food with corn syrup in it... we use corn in more things we can imagine.

Then we will have to worry about starving people in China because our grain prices went through the roof.

But on the agenda side, there are other political-economic benefits to "going green" on fuel.

A 2002 study showed that...
The U.S. Department of Agriculture has concluded that a 100 million gallon ethanol facility could create 2,250 local jobs for a single community.

Ethanol generates $555 million of net tax revenue for the Federal treasury annually through personal and business income tax collections

Ethanol contributes over $2 billion annually to the U.S. trade balance. (written in 2002)

While you're on the apocalyptic mindset, think about how much quiet nuclear testing has been done underseas, underground, in deserts, and north of Siberia. If any of these tests have disrupted the crust surface to expose magma, then these are also to blame for global warming.If you're hearing people resist some of the global warming hype, it's because they are trying to look deeper into the motivations of those spreading the panic, and not get swayed by possible corruption or deceit.

I recycle.
I reuse.

About your question, though, I'm sure there are some people who feel less devoted to the future of this earth. Everyone has core beliefs that drive their actions. But I haven't heard people say they don't want to be responsible.... some just have complicated lives and are overwhelmed with the enormity of a global issue.

What do you think people should be doing, to contribute to saving the planet?​

 

[kulenok]

Every christian believes in it. it is written and described in the last book of the Bible, revalation(my favorite book) and yes, I belive it will happen before I'm 16.Yes, it is still important to make long term plans for this earth,because it can happen ANY TIME. even tonight. so I'm just waiting. Hate to break it to you darkprophet, but it is VERY soon, and it is gonna be a bad time for non-believers. Not going into detais, but seriously it's gonna be bad. I deeply feel sorry for those who wont be saved then.

 

[DarkProphet]

Much of global warming relates to the cyclical movement of our planet in relation to the sun. Other factors involve the age of the earth, volcanic activity, and normal planetary cycles. Many people are picking up on various studies and using them to their advantage. But there are MIXED studies among scientists.

Not really there is only one scientist I can think of that does not believe in global warming but I forgot his name.

An example of agendas -- several studies have been done on the net value of producing ethanol ... some found that it takes more energy to produce than it's worth, some gave a 1:24 ratio. Studies have also shown that using corn for ethanl will drain our food supply of corn so badly that all sorts of prices will go up-- Corn Puffs, Doritos, Taco bell, dog food, horse food, plastics made of corn starch, oils, every food with corn syrup in it... we use corn in more things we can imagine.

Then we will have to worry about starving people in China because our grain prices went through the roof.

I agree, that's why ethanol is such a bad idea.

But on the agenda side, there are other political-economic benefits to "going green" on fuel.

A 2002 study showed that...
The U.S. Department of Agriculture has concluded that a 100 million gallon ethanol facility could create 2,250 local jobs for a single community.

Ethanol generates $555 million of net tax revenue for the Federal treasury annually through personal and business income tax collections

Ethanol contributes over $2 billion annually to the U.S. trade balance. (written in 2002)

Again I agree that there is political motivations behind ethanol.

While you're on the apocalyptic mindset, think about how much quiet nuclear testing has been done underseas, underground, in deserts, and north of Siberia. If any of these tests have disrupted the crust surface to expose magma, then these are also to blame for global warming.

Um... not really.

If you're hearing people resist some of the global warming hype, it's because they are trying to look deeper into the motivations of those spreading the panic, and not get swayed by possible corruption or deceit.

I would be inclined to believe that if the counter to global warming wasn't something along the lines of "it's not in the Bible".

About your question, though, I'm sure there are some people who feel less devoted to the future of this earth. Everyone has core beliefs that drive their actions. But I haven't heard people say they don't want to be responsible.... some just have complicated lives and are overwhelmed with the enormity of a global issue.

Many people are like that but what I'm talking about is something deeper. If you don't believe there is a future then you have no incentive to plan for it or even care about the consequences of your actions might have on future generations.

What do you think people should be doing, to contribute to saving the planet?

I have no answer for that but that is not really what this thread is about.
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