Serious question, please answer modestly without vulgar comments?

Question

I know that the Bible says that only God knows the time when the end of days will happen. But, Jesus also told this parable saying, "See the fig tree, and all the trees. When they are already budding, you see it and know by your own selves that the summer is already near. Even so you also, when you see these things happening, know that the Kingdom of God is near. Most assuredly I tell you, this generation will not pass away until all things are accomplished."

Based on this parable, I have 3 questions.
1.) Do you feel that you are seeing the fig tree budding and are noticing that summer is near?

2.) Or do you not see it budding at all?

3.) If you do see it budding, what sequence of events have you noticed happening?

http://www.bcbsr.com/survey/jpbl.html

Answer 1

1. I see many signs that lead me to believe that the "Summer is near.
2. As a Christian I a very sure that this will all end eventually.
3. It's a feeling in the air. It's the way that people are so casual about everything. There seems to be more hatred in the world. Even technology scares me.

I feel like technology is setting everything up for the Anti Christ to take over. When the time is right a New World Order will be formed. Everything is falling into place for this to happen.

Yet I urge you not to dwell on the subject. It can make you become obsessive and drive you crazy. Only concern yourself w/ being who you need to be for God. A teacher I had in high school told me that people have been thinking about the end times ever since Jesus died. So we truly do not know.

Answer 2

I just finished reading all 16 books in the Left Behind series by Tim LaHaye and Jerry Jenkins and granted it is fiction but I see a lot more now than I would have otherwise. I highly recommend reading that series if you want to know what is going on.

My belief is that global warming is far less a problem than they will make it out to be. The US has bans in place on certain chemicals and industrial o-zone stippers that other countries still use. Hence, a global crisis. The US only has so much power. So who's going to police the other countries from destroying our planet? Who has power like that? If we had a global government someone would have the power to ban the use of the o-zone stripping agents in all the world. (one world government is formed)
Earlier tonight someone was saying on the radio they heard an argument about the government deliberately dumbing down our kids in schools in order to have better control over future generations. Why would they do that unless their raising followers and not leaders? They would be creating sheeple. (those in favor of everything)
The weather is a factor. Severe and increasingly bizarre weather.
Politics have probably always been a joke but now look who's running in 08. I'm scared. But in these books there are a million little details that run so closely parelled to what is really happening in the world today its uncanny. I can see where we are headed and that in fact it has got to be soon. Even technology has its place in God's plan. And look around you it is advancing like crazy everyday.

Answer 3

I think people always think the end is near, look at history since Christ people have been predicting the end times. The most obvious statement in the parable is, "Most assuredly I tell you, this generation will not pass away until all things are accomplished." What does that tell you? It's been more than 2000 years any generation that was alive then is obviously long gone. I don't mean t be a jerk I'm just saying either the parable is talking about something else, or it simply isn't true.

Answer 4

I believe I am seeing the fig tree bud. Reasons:

1. World Trade Center

2. War in Iraq/Lebenon

3. Global warming

4. Running out of world resources

Smaller events:

1. Kids are getting younger when the have sex or doing dirtier deeds. (Think of Sodom and Gomorrah)

2. Other personal little things and events around the world that u can just look at or think quickly about and know its wrong or shouldn't be. Perhaps cloning

Answer 5

The fig tree is said to represent Israel and Israel becoming a nation again after over 1800 years is a major fulfillment of prophecy.

Israel is the center of the world in God's eyes and the unrest in the middle east bears watching.

God's timetable is His own and if a day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as a day, 15 minutes is approximately forty years.

This generation refers to the one that sees these things come to pass, not necessarily ours.

look up for your redemption draweth nigh

Answer 6

I don't follow Sheikhs or fatwas. Wearing abaya in USA, depending on where you are located, causes more attention than wearing Western clothing. Especially if you live in the Conservative Bible Belt of the South. Maybe in Dearborn, MI (I wouldn't mind living there), or a Muslim majority area a woman could wear abaya and not be looked at twice, but in general Americans stare at you if you look different. Not all the blame should be placed on the women. What about in Egypt where the Muslim women who wear hijab and abaya get sexually harassed on the streets? How does that Sheikh define that reason of logic? Men need to be accountable for not lowering their gaze as well as women not lowering their gaze. In some jobs, women are required to wear a skirt and blouse (like women lawyers or women business people). A employer of a Muslim has the right to dictate the dress for its male and female employees and can refuse to hire anybody who does not follow the dress code of the company.

Answer 7

In all honesty ...The weather is an indication that the end is near ....The weather is haywire ..Some winter monthes it's 65 degrees when it should be 50 .The out break of wars , famine , brother against brother , fights in your own back yard , diesease,the signs go on and on......Btw how much is a loaf of bread??

Answer 8

Very interesting thought provoking question.

Which leads to me to tell you this though.

Have you ever thought that the fig trees bud every year. So Christ comes every year or maybe every day or maybe all the time. However we are to narrow visioned to see this that we remain in our reality.

In other words - if you were like the prophet Enoch. Would you just disappear one day if God takes you. Maybe people will remember you or maybe they wont. Depending on what God wanted the people to remember

This really didnt answer your question but brought up something of interest.

Answer 9

The Messiah will come when all Jews are gathered into the Land of Israel.

Christians can expedite this by their support for the State of Israel against those who would destroy it.

The greatest danger to the whole world is the radical Islam, which would Islamize the whole world if left to their designs.


,

Answer 10

It's that "this generation will not pass away" bit that takes some working around, if it is a reference to the second coming, rather than (say) the destruction of Jerusalem.

From elsewhere (MK13) we see wars and rumours of wars, earthquakes and famines, but then, we always have.

The "Last Days" have now been going on for 2000 years.