Are we actually getting real close to the end of the age?

[BibleStudent100]

On 4/17/2025 at 9:09 AM, other one said:

I decided to just live life and enjoy the wait.

I really enjoy this line!  I am going to use it.

Thanks for being so clever and poignant.

[Cyoder]

I don't think things are any worse than they have been in previous times in history.  Most things are significantly better.

[Vine Abider]

6 hours ago, Cyoder said:

I don't think things are any worse than they have been in previous times in history.  Most things are significantly better.

Here's something to consider - the tree of the knowledge of Good & Evil. When man partook of this tree, against God's direction, he was deciding to be independent from God.

So where has that gotten man?  Let's look at the last one hundred years or so.  In the 20th century there were amazingly good accomplishments, were there not?  The electrification of the major part of the planet, which brought tremendous advancements in comfort and utility.  The automobile, the air plane, telecommunication, space travel, the computer and internet. Greatly increased food production techniques. And exceedingly remarkable advancements in medicines, surgery and overall health care.  Knowledge has exploded. The standard of living was raised for much of the planet.  Things look quite good (from this perspective)!

But that's just the "good" side - there is also the evil side of that tree Adam chose.  Without too much detail: two world wars, killing tens of millions.  Genocides and torturous holocausts killing millions.  Abortions killing millions.  So much catastrophe on scales never seen before - more people dying from various man-made causes than ever before!

The point is, things have accelerated incredibly since around the mid 1800s in both good and evil.  I see this as God essentially saying, "Mankind chose the wrong tree instead of life (which life is just Me).  Now you must see what the full development of that tree's fruit means, so things from it must become fully manifested before I return.  I set before you death and life - now chose life!"

But hallelujah, we've read the end of the book and life fully triumphs over death!

[AnOrangeCat]

4 hours ago, BibleStudent100 said:

The question for us Bible students is if the UN can achieve ascendency and become a world player (some Bible students point to its rise to become the "Image of the Wild Beast," as stated in Revelation) and the only way it can achieve power is for the governments of the world to give their power/allegiance to the UN, in a "deal" that some would refer to as a "new world order."

Thoughts?

I think it's within the realm of possible, or for a similar organization to rise up and actually have teeth. This is all purely speculative on my part, but in the context of current events we're seeing a Europe that's both wary of Russian expansion and is experiencing diminished relations with the US. At the current trajectory it can't rely on the US so much for economic and military assistance, which could lead to a scenario where it becomes its own thing and significantly boosts its own military. Alternately, given current events, there could be a successful push at some point for the UN to get some sort of enforcement powers.

Ezekiel 38 is often considered prophecy regarding a future invasion of Israel, and in verse 13 we see various parties asking the question "Art thou come to take a spoil?" of the invaders. This really brings to mind the world's current approach to war, particularly where nuclear powers are concerned. Tell the attacker they're being bad, slap some sanctions on them, but don't get directly involved. When I was growing up the prophecy analysts at the time typically seemed to interpret that as meaning America had declined to the point where it was unable to intervene, though given the growing anti-Israel sentiment around the world I could see a scenario where the governments in play just don't care enough to make more than a token protest.

[Marilyn C]

On 5/16/2025 at 8:23 AM, AdHoc said:

Okay. That's easy. What's the date? No Joke. You've been a good Christian and well versed in scripture. Surely you should know. Or ...?

1. The problem with your first point is you dissolve Christ's humanity. He is still a Man. The Mediator between God and man is a MAN. Secondly, you detract from His divinity. It is only an omnipotent God that can leave out knowledge. His omnipotence is not established by what He knows, but the power to put something away. Thirdly, why should He know? He is dependent on the Father for all things. He can leave heaven for earth at a second's notice and not suffer any loss of dignity.

2. Ephesians 4 is an instruction on how the Lord works to bring His Church to (i) maturity, and (ii) steadfastness of doctrine. Not knowing the date is no weakening of this. It rather promotes FAITH. Knowledge of the date is counter-productive. It causes cramming - not a daily holy life.

3. It is the "day" AND the "hour" that is not known. He comes as the THIEF. Only that which is precious is taken. One is LEFT. The House is broken up. Except for the Thessalonians, no Church is predicted to be perfect. The Philadelphians are commended but also warned. There is not one indication in scripture as to the day and the hour. We see the day draw near by a MORAL CONDITION. But certain "SERVANTS" are slack and suffer a loss.

Hebrews 10:25 is a good argument, but it does not overturn the secrecy of the rapture. The very grammar is against that notion. Hebrews was written equally for Christians of 70 AD ... and 170 AD .... and 1970 AD. What did the date, if it was known, help these all? They, know the day would be 55 or more years later. This would be counter-productive.

Why not stick to our Lord's simple, direct, unambiguous and emphatic words; "YOU KNOW NOT the day nor the hour when your Lord comes"!

Hi Ad Hoc,

1. When Jesus was manifest on earth as a man He eventually died. He does not now have an earthly body but a spiritual body. (1 Cor.15: 44) 

Jesus is now exalted at the Father`s right hand and with the Father and Holy Spirit is - equal, in unity and of the same mind. It is only in function that there is a hierarchy.  

BTW is not Jesus GOD!

2 & 3. The time of the Lord coming for His mature Body is in God`s word - it is before the Day of the Lord. (1 Thess. 5: 4) And that `day` (period of time) is when the Prophet Joel says the great northern army is brought down to Israel`s mountains for judgment.

And IF that is next year the time will be late January or early February. You see the Prophet Daniel tells us that Israel`s fulfillment of the Feast of Purim, Israel`s National Deliverance is on the 15th of Adar, 1,335 days (1,260, + 30 + 30 + 15) after the A/C. 

So it is just a matter of counting back the 7 years to the Peace treaty. Obviously the war is before that which starts the Day of the Lord, (Joel 2: 1 7 2) and we will go before that.

[AdHoc]

21 hours ago, Marilyn C said:

Hi Ad Hoc,

1. When Jesus was manifest on earth as a man He eventually died. He does not now have an earthly body but a spiritual body. (1 Cor.15: 44) 

Jesus is now exalted at the Father`s right hand and with the Father and Holy Spirit is - equal, in unity and of the same mind. It is only in function that there is a hierarchy.  

BTW is not Jesus GOD!

2 & 3. The time of the Lord coming for His mature Body is in God`s word - it is before the Day of the Lord. (1 Thess. 5: 4) And that `day` (period of time) is when the Prophet Joel says the great northern army is brought down to Israel`s mountains for judgment.

And IF that is next year the time will be late January or early February. You see the Prophet Daniel tells us that Israel`s fulfillment of the Feast of Purim, Israel`s National Deliverance is on the 15th of Adar, 1,335 days (1,260, + 30 + 30 + 15) after the A/C. 

So it is just a matter of counting back the 7 years to the Peace treaty. Obviously the war is before that which starts the Day of the Lord, (Joel 2: 1 7 2) and we will go before that.

Greetings esteemed sister.

1. The word "spiritual" can mean that its SUBSTANCE is spirit. It can also mean that the Holy Spirit made it. I will let scripture speak for itself to a learned and honest person like you; 

39 Behold my hands and my feet, that it is I myself: handle me, and see; for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see me have (Lk.24:39)

1 For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens (2 Co.5:1).

2. Your calculation is for Messiah's return for ISRAEL - not the Body of Christ.

3. Nothing is said of Purim. It is a tradition of Jews who refused God's heart's desire to have a city and a House. It is instituted in shame and unbelief by men who could  not care less for the things of God. Of the tradition of the Jews our Lord said "they have made the Word of God of none effect". I would certainly advise striking it from your calculation.

4. Daniel's writings were sealed before two of the three periods were explained. they are for "Daniel's people" - not Christ's Body.

.

[Marilyn C]

2 minutes ago, AdHoc said:

Greetings esteemed sister.

1. The word "spiritual" can mean that its SUBSTANCE is spirit. It can also mean that the Holy Spirit made it. I will let scripture speak for itself to a learned and honest person like you; 

39 Behold my hands and my feet, that it is I myself: handle me, and see; for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see me have (Lk.24:39)

1 For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens (2 Co.5:1).

2. Your calculation is for Messiah's return for ISRAEL - not the Body of Christ.

3. Nothing is said of Purim. It is a tradition of Jews who refused God's heart's desire to have a city and a House. It is instituted in shame and unbelief by men who could  not care less for the things of God. Of the tradition of the Jews our Lord said "they have made the Word of God of none effect". I would certainly advise striking it from your calculation.

4. Daniel's writings were sealed before two of the three periods were explained. they are for "Daniel's people" - not Christ's Body.

.

Morning or evening for you bro Ad Hoc,

Christ`s glorified body (& ours) will not have blood to give it life, but be energized by the Holy Spirit - spiritual body.

And yes all calculations are for Israel and we, the Body of Christ are BEFORE that. The Feast of Purim is Israel`s National Deliverance Day, (Esther 9: 18 - 22) In Jerusalem it will be the 15th of Adar. What a day that will be when Israel will celebrate that Jesus, their Messiah has delivered them from all their foes. 

[AdHoc]

On 5/16/2025 at 5:05 PM, Vine Abider said:

But hallelujah, we've read the end of the book and life fully triumphs over death!

Nice posting. Fair answer. Death "REIGNED" .... Death is the last and great enemy of the living God. Death is proof of sin. Death is proof that God's will must still be brought to earth. If we measure the great trial of the ages in death, then there is presently only one valid observation - "As IN Adam ALL die ... ". This beautiful world is a great graveyard.. Man's most cherished aspirations always end in a rotting body.

Thank the Lord for Jesus. In His capacity of "Firstborn from the dead" ALL - yes, ALL are made alive - 1st Cor.15:22

[AdHoc]

11 minutes ago, Marilyn C said:

Christ`s glorified body (& ours) will not have blood to give it life, but be energized by the Holy Spirit - spiritual body.

I kinda agree. But call it semantics if you will - in Luke 8:55 it was the returning HUMAN SPIRIT that gave life. It was "her" spirit. But you're right about the blood. I would say that we are kept alive by "eternal life". The trick is dealing with the Nations who do not have eternal life - but will also be resurrected. Do you see them living by the "leaves of the Tree of Life"? Take Hitler as an example. What is his fate? 1st Corinthians 15:22 says "ALL who die will be made alive". If you judge the Beast to be more evil than Hitler, he too comes "out of the Abyss" and goes living into the Lake of Fire.

[Marilyn C]

2 hours ago, AdHoc said:

I kinda agree. But call it semantics if you will - in Luke 8:55 it was the returning HUMAN SPIRIT that gave life. It was "her" spirit. But you're right about the blood. I would say that we are kept alive by "eternal life". The trick is dealing with the Nations who do not have eternal life - but will also be resurrected. Do you see them living by the "leaves of the Tree of Life"? Take Hitler as an example. What is his fate? 1st Corinthians 15:22 says "ALL who die will be made alive". If you judge the Beast to be more evil than Hitler, he too comes "out of the Abyss" and goes living into the Lake of Fire.

Hi Ad Hoc,

Interesting discussion. I believe from God`s word that there is life suitable for the third heaven, (like Christ`s) and then there is life as Adam`s was on the earth. That is still part of God`s purposes. (Rev. 21: 24) 

As for the wicked, I don`t believe they will have a body, but will go into the `Lake of Fire` as spirit and soul.

The `Lake of Fire,` is symbolic of a contained area where the wicked go and have only their wicked conscience and thoughts for eternity.