So Anyways in the Parade Yesterday........?

Question

There was this little cartoon that showed this guy wearing a sign, that said "The End Is Near," and than another dude was telling him to "Stop giving us false hope." What are your thoughts on this? Do you agree or disagree? Rationalize it for your own benefit more than mine. Personally I think it made a point.

Answer 1

Hi Princess,

I think some people missed the boat on what you were asking. I found it very amusing myself. There is a lot of irony in the juxtaposition of the captions "The End is Near" and "Stop giving us false hope." Back when St. Paul was writing his letters (Epistles) around the year 60 or so, he had a belief that the return of Jesus was imminent. He believed he would see the Lord's return. Paul was wrong. Jesus did not return in his life time nor in many other saints lifetimes either. It has been nearly 2000 years since the death of Jesus and still we wait.

Many religions, not just Christianity consider these times we live in to be the end of a specific age. In Hinduism, this age is called the Kali Yuga (named after a demon, not the Goddess) it is a depraved, degenerate age that will end when Lord Shiva destroys all with fire. In Buddhism, this age is called the Third Age of Dharma. Like the Hindus, Buddhists believe this age is evil - marked by by the defilement of the three poisions (hatred/anger; lust/ greed; ignorance/ stupidity). Both religions agree that it is in this age that salvation is easiest to obtain. Why? Well it is a bit like what St. Paul said "Where sin abounds, grace abounds even more."

The Gods in Hinduism and the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas in Buddhism work very hard to save humanity and they are very gracious with their blessings. I believe that Christ also offered an easy road to salvation. Not easy in the sense that His teachings are easy to follow but easy in the sense that really to be a Christian involves a simple act of faith and is entirely dependent of God's grace. The thief who died along side Jesus said he was guilty and deserved to die. Nevertheless, he had faith in Jesus and His mercy. When he asked Jesus to "remember him" Jesus did more than that - he saved him and welcomed him that day into paradise. That is what grace really is. An undeserved gift.

From a Christian perspective, Christians have believed that since the death of Jesus people have been living in the "end times." Jesus himself gives rather vague signs of the end and states that really only God the Father knows when it will happen. So ultimately we don't know.

I was watching a documentary yesterday about the year 2012. There are apparently predictions of some kind of global cataclysm to occur at the end of that year. Am I worried? Not really. I have a different benchmark that I use to determine whether the return of Jesus is imminent. It is coming but I believe it will likely not come for many decades (earliest) or centuries (latest).

In the 1930's a Polish nun began to receive what are called "private revelations" from Jesus. These have become known as the Devotion to the Divine Mercy. They speak of Jesus' desire to save humanity through His Mercy. It is only been since the new millenium began that this devotion became approved by the Catholic Church. Now that it has been approved, there must be time to spread the devotion and bring it to its full fruition. This will take a long time. As I said, perhaps decades, but more likely centuries.

That belief does not make me a lax Christian for I will face my judgement upon my death which for me is far more likely to come than the end of the world.

I still smile about that line "stop giving us false hope." There are times I would like to imagine the end of ages when good triumphs and evil is destroyed. But I cannot hope for that anytime soon. I can work with others to achieve it, but I think it is unlikely I will see my work come to fruition for a very long time.

I have a passage of St. Paul's in the area where I pray. It reads: Rejoice in hope, endure in affliction, persevere in prayer. For me to rejoice in hope has always been the hardest part of that admonition to follow.

Peace,

VB8

Answer 2

The bible tells us to always be prepared for the end times. The purpose of this teaching is not to run around like crazy idiots, but so that we will always live our lives for God, and not waste time with earthly pursuits. The teaching applies the exact same way today as it did right after Jesus was crucified. The reality is that we can never be sure when the end times are coming, and therefore, we should always be prepared for them by living a holy life.

edit: of course if you're a fundie it's a great way to sell books.

Answer 3

I think that the coming of Christ is closer than even we Christians think. The signs of the times are bringing the end closer and closer. If you study the Bible you will see that it is very near. I think we are part of the generation that will see his return. I just hope that something, one question; or answer on this site helps someone get their thinking right, and find Christ. May God bless his children today and help those lost and dieing to find Him.

Answer 4

The bible tells us no-one will know the time or hour so be prepared. We do know that we are* living out the prophecies of the bible. The wars and rumors of wars, famine, earthquakes,persecution,false prophets,lawlessness,and hardening of hearts. All THESE THINGS ARE HAPPENING AS WE SPEAK.ARE YOU SAVE?

Answer 5

I agree if we don't start taking care of this planet

Answer 6

Are we Living in the End Times?

What will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age? This was a question the disciples asked Jesus.
Jesus answered: "Watch out that no one deceives you. For many will come in my name, claiming, 'I am the Christ, and will deceive many. You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come. Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places. All these are the beginning of birth pains. (Matthew 24:4-8)
Signs
Many will go here and there to increase knowledge. (Daniel 12:4) Right now technology increased so quick every thing in our houses is out dated in about half a year. We have so much knowledge available through the Internet; we will never be able to view it all on just one subject.
On that day, when all the nations of the earth are gathered against her, I will make Jerusalem an immovable rock for all the nations. (Zechariah 12:3) Just about everyone in the world is now against Israel. No one is able to destroy Israel once they become a nation again.
They will say, "This land that was laid waste has become like the garden of Eden; the cities that were lying in ruins, desolate and destroyed, are now fortified and inhabited." (Ezekiel 36:35) Before Israel came back to their promised land, the land was desolate. Now they are one of the biggest traders in the world in produce. Israel has rebuilt the entire city that was ruins. Israel has everything they need to rebuild the temple right now.
He will raise a banner for the nations and gather the exiles of Israel; he will assemble the scattered people of Judah from the four quarters of the earth. (Isaiah 11:12) This prophecy has already happened. Israel was scattered in 70AD. Now Israel has become a nation again.
He also forced everyone, small and great, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on his right hand or on his forehead, so that no one could buy or sell unless he had the mark, which is the name of the beast or the number of his name. (Revelation 13:15) this prophecy can now take place. We now have computers that can keep track of everyone in the world. The world is already trying to form a one world government and currency.
Their bodies will lie in the street of the great city, which is figuratively called Sodom and Egypt, where also their Lord was crucified. For three and a half days men from every people, tribe, language and nation will gaze on their bodies and refuse them burial. (Revelation 11:8-9) Now this prophecy can happen also. Everyone can now watch these people on TV. We now have satellites that can show everyone in the world what is happening in a single place.
They will fall by the sword and will be taken as prisoners to all the nations. Jerusalem will be trampled on by the Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled. (Luke 21:24) The time of the gentiles was 70A.D. until June 7, 1967. The 1967-generation is the generation that will see the Lord return. The bible says, "Now learn this lesson from the fig tree: As soon as its twigs get tender and its leaves come out, you know that summer is near. Even so, when you see all these things, you know that it is near, right at the door. I tell you the truth, this generation will certainly not pass away until all these things have happened. (Matthew 24:32-34) The fig tree is the symbol of Israel. The leaves coming out of the fig tree is the Jews becoming a nation again. Summer is referring to the days when Jesus will come back for the second time. The generation that sees this prophecy happen will not pass away until the Lord returns.
But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God— having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with them. (2 Timothy 3:1-5) This prophecy is happening today. This describes just about everyone today.
Friend we are living in the end times right now. If you were to die today would you go to heaven or hell? If Jesus were to come back tonight would you already be right with him?

Answer 7

It may make some people such as yourself think.

Answer 8

I agree.


...... forever is waaay to long to be wrong!

Answer 9

I don't think anyone will miss us.

Answer 10

the fact that you admitted to reading Parade Magazine is an indictment of your intellect, or lack thereof.