What makes Christians think we are at the "end times"??

Question

What is it that is so much worse than anything that has happened before?? IMO nothing is, we've had numerous periods throughout history that were MUCH MUCH worse than anything that is happening today, it you think things are bad today, you really need to pick up a history book. The world is an a virtual golden age compared to most past history.

Answer 1

There are basically two reasons for this:

1) You can project ANYTHING onto the future. You can believe basically anything you want about the future. Including that a beast with six heads will rise from the ocean.

2) Lots of Christian movements (evangelicals, fundamentalists, etc.) believe it is important for Christians to proselytize and recruit others to their cause, and saying things like that the Apocalypse will occur in our lifetime gives them extra impetus to do so.

Answer 2

You are asking a question that the Bible stated many would ask in the "last days"
"Knowing this first, that in the last days mockers shall come with mockery, walking after their own lusts, and saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for, from the day that the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation."-- 2 Peter 3:3-4
Satan & his demons were thrown out of heaven and soon after the whole world was at war and since 1914, the world has never been the same. Wars, terrorism, earthquakes and diseases have plagued the earth on a much grander scale than ever before. All the signs Jesus gave to his followers, we can see being fulfilled. The major one now being fulfilled is that the good news of God's Kingdom would be preached to the entire inhabited earth and then the end would come. This life-saving work is now being done in 235 lands and will continue until the Great Tribulaion begins.

Answer 3

Actually, the world as a whole has never been bad until recently. COUNTRIES and REGIONS were bad in the past, but today, though to some of us might think it's very nice, the world at large is really awful. The world as a whole is in worse shape than it has ever been throughout history. Look at how religions are becoming more homogenized. That's a sign that has never happened before. All of the signs are different now. We are on the verge of the unification of all countries into one global government and the enslavement of all of mankind. Look at how the countries are unifying. The EU has been created, despite HUGE outcry by the European citizens. The American Union is next. And an Asian union is already being created too. THAT is different than the claims of the past. Very soon, we will all be of the same government, controlled by the bankers. You can see the anti-Christ emerging very soon to take over the world.

Answer 4

Look, to everyone who's says "Christians always" or "Christians never" do whatever it is, we may believe in the same God but we don't share all the side issues. I agree with most of you that there's no true indication that the "end times" are near. And I also agree that there have been countless brutal and discouraging times before this one. We Christians were told to "love one another as I have loved you." We were also told that no one knows the day or hour. I don't see my fellow Christians following the first direction perfectly and I do see some of them (the highly publisized ones) spending an inordinate amount of time worrying about something they were told they couldn't know. But those folks aren't the only Christians in the world. Many, many of us use the Bible for inspiration to a better way of life, not as an historical document.

BTW, the agrument that this is a virtual golden age compared to most of recorded history is in general quite true. Anyone who loves history and reads it knows that even 100 years ago, life was chancier, smellier and less financially rewarding.

Answer 5

I agree with you. There isnt anything happening today that hasnt happened before and coincided with other events. Like natural distasters, wars, attacks etc. These have all happened before and coincided with eachother at one point.

Who knows what to take literally??? I think that sometimes people take a lot of what is in the bible too literally when a lot of it was maybe symbolism? That is just my opinion im not bashing anyone for their beliefs.

I just personally dont think that any of the recent events are linked to the end of the world (not that I really believe there will be an end of the world). All of this has happened before. We have had religious wars before and will continue to as long as there is religion. And youre right...there have been times where the world has been much worse.

It just reminds me of those silly tabloids that you see sitting on the shelves at the store. Since I was little I have seen them on the shelves with headlines "end of times?" "Is this the end?" "Armagedon". I think that people are entertained by the thought. Kind of a scary thing to be so entertained by.

Not sure if I answered your question but thats my 2 cents : )

Answer 6

Actually, I just heard a quote from an apostle of modern times who said that there is nothing going on today that didn't go on in Sodom and Gomorrah, so we are actually pretty bad.

I agree with you that there's room to get worse, but many of the prophecies about the last days have been fulfilled.

The whole point of the last days is that we should all be preparing for the coming of Jesus Christ. So if we're prepared, we'll be ready whenever He comes.

Answer 7

Instead of picking up History books, people should pick up their Bibles.
2 Timothy 3:1-5
Matthew chapter 24

Answer 8

Because predicting the imminent end of the world is a time proven means to draw in the "faithful" and get them to donate a LOT of money to the church.

In truth, only a small minority of Christians worldwide believe the end is near. But they tend to get the most press. The distinction is between "premillenialists" (who believe the end is near), "amillenialists" (who believe Jesus never left and therefore the whole discussion is moot), and "postmillenialists" (who believe Jesus already returned long, long ago).

Most mainstream Christians believe the concept of Christ's return has to do with what happens after you die, not anything having to do with this earth.

Answer 9

The expression “time of the end” does not mean an ‘end of time’ but denotes a period of time that culminates in the end or destruction, not of all things, but of the things mentioned in the prophecy.

That time itself will not end is made clear in the Scriptures. For example, the psalmist said concerning the earth: “It will not be made to totter to time indefinite, or forever.” (Ps 104:5) Since the earth will continue to exist, it necessarily follows that time, as an earthly “dimension” or measurement, will not cease. While it is true that Revelation 10:6 may be rendered “there should be time no longer,” the context indicates that this means no further grant of time; thus, a specific or allotted period of time terminates. (KJ) Other translations, therefore, read: “There should be no more delay.” (AT, RS) “There will be no delay any longer.” (NW) Commenting on this text, A. T. Robertson observes: “This does not mean that chronos (time) . . . will cease to exist, but only that there will be no more delay in the fulfillment of the seventh trumpet (verse 7), in answer to the question, ‘How long?’ (6:10).”—Word Pictures in the New Testament, 1933, Vol. VI, p. 372.
********************

“Tell us, When will these things be, and what will be the sign of your presence and of the conclusion of the system of things?”—Matt. 24:3.

HARVESTTIME usually brings great joy as the fruitage of months of labor is reaped and the crops are gathered in to provide for the months ahead. However, there is one harvest, a figurative one, that brings, not only joy to some, but also sorrow and weeping to others. This harvest is a worldwide one to which Jesus referred when he stated: “The field is the world . . . The harvest is a conclusion of a system of things.”—Matt. 13:38, 39.

When you hear expressions such as “the time of the end,” “the close of the age,” or “the conclusion of the system of things,” what is your impression of what will happen? Jesus was very emphatic that there would be an end to the present world system with all its troubles. He talked about the harvest as being a conclusion of a system of things. He told of the angels going out to separate the wicked ones from the righteous. He mentioned that the good news of the Kingdom would be preached and then the end would come. He told his disciples to continue preaching all the things he had commanded and that he would be with them until the conclusion of the system of things. But you may ask, What does it all mean? How can we identify “the time of the end,” and why should it be of interest to us now?—Matt. 24:14; 28:19, 20.

It is hard for many to imagine any marked change in the present system of things on earth. Yet this is just what Jesus spoke about. He told his disciples to pray for God’s kingdom to come, for His will to be done on earth. For this kingdom to rule with power and authority will mean a great change. Thus at Daniel 2:44 it was prophetically foretold that this kingdom would crush and put an end to all other kingdoms existing world wide at the “time of the end” and that it would stand forever.

We should not be surprised at what the Bible says about this. Why should we think that Jehovah God, the great Creator, would continue to let the earth be ruined and defaced, his name insulted and maligned, people saying, “Why doesn’t God do something? Maybe there is no God. Maybe he is dead”? Why should the Creator of the universe continue to let Satan mislead the people by means of a multitude of false religions that teach doctrines out of harmony with his will and purpose? Rather than letting such conditions continue, the Bible shows definitely that God has set a time limit and that he has determined a conclusion to this system of things. Thereafter by his kingdom he has promised to bring a better system with untold blessings to men of faith.—Ezek. 6:10; 2 Pet. 3:9.

In the meantime what do we see about us In the world? Troubles of all kinds—more and more crime and dishonesty. Many lands suffer from drought, hunger and plagues. People are afflicted by sickness, old age and death. War ravages many lands, with its resultant loss of life and property, its pitiful orphans and sorrowing widows. People are troubled by high taxes, poor housing, unemployment, inflation, and many other problems. Although Jesus foresaw such troubles, he confidently prayed to his heavenly Father and taught Christians to do the same, saying: “Let your will take place, as in heaven, also upon earth.” How will this come about? Not by the conversion of the world, but rather, as the apostle Peter said, by the conclusion of this system of things and the ushering in of a “new heavens and a new earth” in which righteousness is to dwell. (Matt. 6:10; 2 Pet. 3:13) It is interesting to note that exactly the same hope was recorded by inspired penmen at Isaiah 65:17 and Revelation 21:1. All three of these Bible writers, Isaiah, Peter and John, were inspired by God; so we have God’s definite promise that he is going to establish new heavens and a new earth—a new system of righteousness by means of his kingdom—and God does not lie.

Answer 10

2 Timothy 3:1-5 explains the "critical times hard to deal with" in these "last days". It's the attitudes of people that have been described for our days to indicate that we certainly are living in the "last days" of this wicked system of things. Soon the wicked people will be destroyed, not the earth itself. Psalms 37:10, 11