Is is just me, or is there any one else...?

Question

...That sees the recent events of politics, rising prices for goods and food, and the persecution of Jews and Christians for our beliefs as the "birth pangs" or the begining of the "end times" as described in the Bible?

Are we as Christians pepared for even worse persecutions to come, before we are taken away by our Lord?

Finally are there too many pulpits in America that just won't talk about the subject Christ's return and the events that lead up to it?

Answer 1

I am with you Bob.

Answer 2

Gee Bob. Hall Lindsey thought the same thing in the 1970's. And surprise, surprise, Jesus didn't come back, did he?

Despite what you hear on Fox News, Jews and Christians are not being persecuted. At least not any more than any other religion. Muslims may be killing Jews and Christians, but Jews and Christians are killing Muslims at a far greater rate. Where exactly is the persecution?

There have always been "wars and rumors of war". There have always been floods, earthquakes and famine. Which is why EVERY GENERATION for the past 2,000 years has thought Jesus was coming back in their lifetime.

Face the music, Bob. Jesus never really existed. If he did, then he's already turned to dust. There isn't going to be a second coming.

Answer 3

Jesus himself said no one knows the day or the hour...so I'm not worrying about the "when". I am busy trying to walk the talk and answer the more important question: When the Son of Man returns, will He find faith on the earth?
Well if I can help it, yes he will. I will be as faithful as I can with His help. Whatever my hand finds to do, I will do it will all my might.
He also told us not to sweat about the When, not to pay attention when people said, "Look, He is here, He is there, He's outside the city"...because when He comes it will be like lightning, obvious and visible to all.
So I am going to do what I know and leave all the fear and fuss to others who have time for it. Onward and upward.

Answer 4

I'm always amazed at how things keep getting worse and worse and so many people deny what is happening. You hear the same old "every generation thought it was" rhetoric. What, do these people think the world is actually getting better? End times does not mean that we are saying the world will end tomorrow.

Yes, things are getting more and more like the bible descibed. People will mock Christians just like they did Jesus. I'm not really concerned, I know how this story ends.

Answer 5

It's not just you, brother. I believe many Christians (except, possibly, those who ascribe to Replacement Theology) faintly hear the voice of their Shepard as He prepares to return for us. He told us we can't know when, but remember: He COMMANDED us to know the season.

I believe the Ezekiel 38/39 invasion of Israel by Russia, Iran, et al, will happen very, very soon. At that time, God says He will glorify Himself before ALL the world. What a sight that will be! But in the meantime, we must be salt and light, and pray without ceasing.

You're right, alot of Pastors won't talk about it. To be honest, my feeling is that it's due to two factors: either they don't understand eschatology as they should, or they want to be "seeker friendly." Let's face it -- most would consider the possibility of being "Left Behind" as a scare tactic for conversion.

Answer 6

For me, the question isn't "are you ready for Jesus' return?", but "are you ready to give account of your actions before God?". The latter we will have to do whether these are the end times or not. Furthermore, it appears to be all too easy (and common) for Christians to read too much into current events. It seems like just about every other day, somebody comes out with a new list of just how close we are to Armageddon... and I have yet to recall one of them that got it right (anyone else here remember the Y2K scare?).

Answer 7

It isn't just you; but unfortunately, it is only a very few who are like you.

Church has been changed from training center to wellness center. No longer are we about the Gospel, but about therapy, and feeling good.

As to the persecutions to come, I would expect them here within a generation. It will come in the form (initially at least) of tolerance and diversity laws. Then it will be about anything that "offends." (Such as blessing your food at a restaurant.)

RESPONSE TO NONENZEDDER: You want names of people who have died for their faith in the last ten years? Here's a couple just from this past year: Christianah Oluwatoyin Oluwasesin was clubbed to death in Nigeria because she was a Christian, and had touched a Qur'an.

Magos Solomon Semere was imprisoned in Eritrea for being a Christian, and was placed in a cargo shipping container for months at a time. He died from torture and pneumonia.

There were more Christian martyrs in the 20th Century worldwide, than in the previous 19 centuries combined. The 21st century is well on its way to achieving a similar standard. You just don't hear about it in the nightly news.

Answer 8

People have found cause to believe the "end times" are coming in nearly every generation since Christ. The only thing clear to me is that I will never know the hour... So it's my job to spread the gospel, and worship, and not dwell on what is out of my hands. But, perspective teaches me it's not exactly the "end times" now.

Answer 9

No cause one persecution of any religion always happen.
Two Christians give it a break quit worrying about the end of time and live life

Answer 10

Prices have always risen, Jews and Christians have always been persecuted. Therefore, the end times have always been coming. Whether they will be here soon, no one knows but God.

Answer 11

You are not the only one. I can see the current events culminating into the return of Jesus, our Christ, indeed.

The verse that keeps stirring in my own heart is, 'To live is Christ, to die is gain." Philippians 1:21

Oh that I would have the spiritual courage to live out this verse in the days ahead.