Is it the end of the world?

Question

With all the horrible stuff happening (tidal waves, hurricanes and forest fires, etc.) all around the world. I'm starting to wonder if this is the beginning of the end. What do you think?

Answer 1

Not knowing if you are referring to the end of the world in regards to the Biblical end of times or just end of the world as a non Judeo-Christian who may look at it from several aspects or scenarios. Since this is in the religious section I am going to assume (and I understand I maybe incorrectly assuming) that you are referring to the Biblical account of the coming end times. To fully understand and answer this question we would need to go through in great detail the prophesies as given to us in the bible, which would be quite cumbersome to do here, but to put a simple, are we living in the end times you ask? Yes it’s possible. Is it also possible that the end times will not happen in our lifetime or for many lifetimes? Of course. Throughout history it has been claimed many times that “the end is nigh” and I understand and acknowledge this. What makes this time period we are living in different than any other? My personal thought and belief based on extensive study of the topic is that if one were to truly study and understand as mentioned before, the end times as described and prophesied in the bible it would be hard not to believe that in this time in history we are closer to the end times and Jesus return than we have ever been, but we will never know for sure when this time will occur specifically any more than we will ever know when we will die, and we are not meant to know. There is a reason for this and put simply it is so that we will not wait until the last moment to come to God and fellowship with Him. Salvation is a gift given freely by God for us to accept at anytime and therein lies the problem with most of us. To prove my point on salvation look at the man dying on the cross next to Jesus, he knew that by the end of that day He would die and asked Jesus to remember him when Jesus entered the Kingdom of Heaven. Because he believed in whom Jesus was and repented of his sins, Jesus said "I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise." It is by FAITH through GRACE (of God) that we are saved (given salvation) and NOT THROUGH WORKS so that no man may BOAST. The point is that if salvation is a free gift given to us by God to be accepted at any time, then how would most people choose to live their lives if they knew either when Jesus would return during the end times or held the knowledge of our own death. I can guarantee most would live them for themselves and not for God. Do not most people live by the philosophy that it is sometimes better to ask for forgiveness than for permission? Of course they do. Left to our own accord we are a self-centered species who often does things because they please us or because they benefit us in some manner. With that knowledge who wouldn't live their life as they wish then turn to God at the last moment if they knew when that was going to occur to save themselves, but with that knowledge removed and if we lived our lives in a manner in which we acknowledge that we are not promised the next day then the hope by God is that we will turn to Him sooner. We will come to Him as opposed to gamble our souls away by not accepting His free gift because we waited to long. By not knowing these dates we are ingrained with a sense of urgency since either can occur at any moment.

I saw it mentioned that Christians have a lot of work to do and not to worry about tomorrow, etc. Keep in mind that yes we do have a lot of work to do, but the end times will not occur because our work is finished or as complete as we can get, but because His work is finished. The end times will occur on God's schedule not ours and as far as not worrying about tomorrow I would disagree and say that these are the exact things God wants us to think about. Worry about? No because we are not to worry in regards to things to which God will provide for us, but yes think about things that involve God, especially the end times. The bible discusses this topic specifically. You will see it in the Olivet Discourse (Matthew 24 - 25, Mark 13 & Luke 21) or Luke 12:35-47. Why should we think about these things? Because of what was mentioned earlier. It gives us a sense of urgency not only to accept his free gift but to spread the word so that others (Friends, Family, etc.) will also accept this free gift. It creates a revival in God's church.

Also understand this. Even though God didn’t give us the exact time, day or hour of Jesus return or when the end times would occur, He didn’t leave us totally in the dark either, and He didn’t want to. If you look in the passages mentioned before as well as other passages in the bible you will see that God wanted us to know the season and even gave us specific things to look for so those who did believe would know the answers to the questions when (in the since of timeframe), what, where, who and how. This is just an observation and means nothing more than my own meandering and personal contemplation, but have you noticed the increase in knowledge and speculation over the past few years of this topic. Now being that I was not around throughout history during the other times when the “end times” have been claimed and maybe in those times it was just as hot a topic as it is today, but for some reason it seems as though the events surrounding this topic aren’t the same, something seems different. In the question it was eluded to the increase in the number of natural disasters. Most would right those off as climate shifts, nothing more than has happened throughout the history of the earth. Everything runs in cycles right? So those prophecies can easily be dismissed. But what about some of the other major prophecies such as the return of the Jews to their homeland, Israel? In 1948 Israel was declared a country, how many Jews from all over the world have moved back since? What about the prophesy of a one world government, one world religion, one world currency? See anything like that in the world which might be the fulfilling of those prophecies? There just seems to be a huge parallel in what is happening in the world around us and the prophecies described in the bible. Sometimes the prophecies read as today’s current headlines. What about the mark of the beast as described in the bible? Will be placed in the forehead or the hand and you cannot buy or sell goods without it? See any technology currently in the news that might fulfill this prophecy? I am not telling you what to think, but only what I believe. Everyone is intelligent enough to research on their own and come up with their own conclusions without being influenced by the outside world. This is exactly the power God has given us through free will. We have the ability to come up with our own conclusions, especially in matters concerning God. He will not force Himself upon you, but requests that you come to Him willingly and of your own accord. There is a reason for that as well just as there is a reason why we do not know the hour or day of our death and just as we do not know the hour or the day of Jesus return. The answer lies in this simple question: what is worth more to you in life, the things you want/desire or the things you need? Is the answer not our wants and desires. The things we often strive for the most and set goals for are the things we want and desire not the things we need. God wants to be that to us. He wants us to want and desire to be with Him just as He wants and desires to be with you. Its not that God is an absentee landlord who doesn’t show up and participates in our lives just as He did back in the days of Moses, its that most of us refuse to allow Him that access to our lives either through direct defiance or through the sin in our lives. He can’t come to us unless we are ready to give up sin. Anyways before I get off on too much of a tangent and go on about a topic that is unrelated.

I would like to add this food for thought. In speaking of end times and whether we as a world in whole are in those times or not, people face end times everyday in the form of death. What are the end times ultimately? Judgment. Everyday through death people face this judgment as they go before God and answer for the sins they have committed in their lives. Whether we are in those times or not we all are faced with death ultimately and are never promised tomorrow. Now for those who do not believe in God or as some would put it the God that is described by Christianity you can simply put this off as my beliefs and the beliefs of others, it works for use, etc. and dismiss what is said. But let’s look at what is at stake. If you are right and I am wrong then ultimately my beliefs, your beliefs or anyone’s beliefs for that matter will not affect the outcome of death and no one is better or worse off either way. But, if I am right and God is who He says He is and who the bible describes then when it comes to judgment and facing Him either in the end of times or at our death there are going to be a lot of people both Christians and non-Christians who will be surprised and they have ultimately gambled their eternal soul on pride.

Answer 2

No, some scientists say that its just a cycle that the planet goes through every once and a while and the bible said that in the end times, the sun and moon will change drastically and we certainly haven't seen that yet.

We get a little closer each day but I wouldn't expect it to happen for awhile yet. We as Christians still have allot of work to do here on earth, and would be wise not to waste our time worrying about the "end times" so much.

Answer 3

Jesus gave descriptions of the way things would be just before the end of the system of things ruled by Satan. See Matthew 24:4-8 (wars and earth conditions) and 2 Timothy 3:1-5 (attitudes of the majority of the people).

Answer 4

No. Tidal waves, hurricanes, forest fires, etc. are hardly a new thing.

Answer 5

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Answer 6

I think that the planet is it's own living organism going through it's own cycles and season. I don't think the end of the world is here - I think that human kind on the brink of some really fantastic things.

Peace!

Answer 7

If your criteria denotes the end days, then we have been in said days for a looonggg time. If this interests you, you should check out some apocolypse mythology- Norse,Christian,Tibetian, et al. There are similar themes thoughout all of them, and this similarness could calm a worried heart/mind.

Answer 8

Why do the stars go on shining? Why does the sea touch the shore? Don't they know it's the end of the world, when you don't love me any more? Why does my heart go on beating? Why do these eyes of mine cry? Etc, etc. etc. Sorry, your question just reminded me of this song.

Answer 9

if you think all of that stuff is horible you sure would not have liked asteroid collisions and the like eh? The earth has been through a lot worse than humans can possibly do to it.

Answer 10

I do believe we are in the last days. Just look at all these polls and the mockery of God people do and that should be a eye opener, even for a atheist.

Answer 11

Does it matter? Is there really anything we could do if it is? I can't be bothered to worry about this stuff, I have a life to live.

I REALLY need to get off of YA then!