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

[Vine Abider]

5 hours ago, Sower said:

 

 

Every so often one of these guys will show up on a nearby street corner sportin' a big sign much like that! This makes me want to throw Eve of Destruction by Barry McGuire on the turntable!  (BTW - many musicians who sang songs like this got born-again later as did brother Barry) 

EVE of DESTRUCTION

 

The Eastern world, it is explodin'
Violence flarin', bullets loadin'
You're old enough to kill but not for votin'
You don't believe in war, but what's that gun you're totin'?
And even the Jordan river has bodies floatin'

 

But you tell me
Over and over and over again, my friend
How you don't believe
We're on the eve of destruction

 

Don't you understand what I'm trying to say
Can't you feel the fears I'm feeling today?
If the button is pushed, there's no runnin' away
There'll be no one to save with the world in a grave
Take a look around you boy, it's bound to scare you, boy

 

And you tell me
Over and over and over again, my friend
How you don't believe
We're on the eve of destruction

 

Yeah, my blood's so mad, feels like coagulatin'
I'm sittin' here just contemplatin'
I can't twist the truth, it knows no regulation
Handful of senators don't pass legislation
And marches alone can't bring integration
When human respect is disintegratin'
This whole crazy world is just too frustratin'

 

And you tell me
Over and over and over again, my friend
How you don't believe
We're on the eve of destruction

 

And think of all the hate there is in Red China
Then take a look around to Selma, Alabama
Ah, you may leave here for four days in space
But when you return, it's the same old place
The poundin' of the drums, the pride and disgrace
You can bury your dead, but don't leave a trace
Hate your next door neighbor but don't forget to say grace

And you tell me

 

Over and over and over and over again, my friend
You don't believe we're on the eve of destruction
No no, you don't believe we're on the eve of destruction

[warrior12]

Let it be said again, I really don't know when the trumpet will sound.  

However, we can't ignore the deep things that are in the records and now in the history books.   The genome code was fully mapped in 2003, gene splicing can now be done and designer babies can or is being constructed today.  These are playing with the very life that man has been given in the image of God.

AI, according to the professors is promising futuristic senarios, which envisages man, to be out of work in the next five years, with some already at work.  Our world is changing before our very eyes "today".  These are profound changes that man today can read or hear about from the experts.     

Of course, we have a certain amount of interlect, which we can deduce  the outcomes as believers.  The tower of Babel was being built and it was destroyed, as is written.

What I have been through today and which I will not write about, reinforces the stated events that the Lord would destroy the nations with awesome power, as man dealing with the forces of evil disguised as pleasure have left fear of the Lord for a piece of the apple.   

It is not focusing on or about the last days, but the facts straight in our faces and having a discussion or putting out thougts to pen and fellowshiping.  Absolutely nothing wrong with that in my humble opinion. 

Edited April 18 by warrior12

[AdHoc]

16 hours ago, Locust said:

What does that mean

The author of the book used much the same data as Sir Robert Anderson did and then mixed it with the Jubilee years to come up with a date for rapture. The trouble with such endeavors is twofold. The Son of Man admitted that He does not know the date and Paul, who as specially trained to teach these truths, did not allude to a date. But he did pray that the Thessalonian saints be kept "whole" till the coming of the Lord (1st Thess.5:23). That was 1,950 years ago.

So either Paul played a guessing game, or he was giving a warning that the Lords return to meet us in the air could happen any time.

What often happens is that students of the Bible don't make a difference between Israel and the Church and apply Daniel 9 to the Church. This mistake could easily be avoided if they just read the words. The prophecy is to "YOUR (Daniel's) People". If the Jew read and believed the New Testament, there would be a day that the Beast takes office in Jerusalem. All he would have to do is count 7 Biblical years ahead and he would have the date for Matthew 24:31. But that is the day that our Lord bursts through the clouds like lightning - seen by all, east and west of the Mount of Olives. It is not the night in which the "Thief" comes.

So, no man, or angel, knows the date of the coming of our Lord to meet His Church in the air.

[Vine Abider]

Thanks to everyone that participated in this thread. It was intended as a casual conversation of fellow believers' perceptions, regarding how close we sense we are to the end-of-the-age.

If I may summarize, I think the consensus is twofold:

1) No man knows the exact date/time and to try is essentially folly

2) Things are bad in the world, but people on here are somewhat split on what this means:

   a) the evil is clearly accelerating and it's hard to see how things will continue much longer

   b) things are bad but they've always been bad

Regardless, the best advice is to watch for His return, pray, assemble with other believers all the more often as we see the day approaching, testify to unbelievers and build-up the body of Christ in love!

[tatwo]

On 4/18/2025 at 6:13 PM, Vine Abider said:

Thanks to everyone that participated in this thread. It was intended as a casual conversation of fellow believers' perceptions, regarding how close we sense we are to the end-of-the-age.

It was a nice “conversation” to be sure...thanks to everyone. I have questions and a thoughts about the summary however.

On 4/18/2025 at 6:13 PM, Vine Abider said:

If I may summarize, I think the consensus is twofold:

1) No man knows the exact date/time and to try is essentially folly

“No man knows the exact date/time” Is this in regards to the actual “end of the age”...or is it in reference to what many call the “secret pre-tribulation return of the Lord and the rapture of the church”...or is it possibly a reference to the “7^th trumpet?” I am not assuming anything here at this point...only looking for clarification.

In the mean time...as for “exact time” in terms of actual dates...such as Saturday April 26^th, 2025...you may be right. You may want to ask yourself however...what Kingdom benefit there is...to anyone...to make a blanket statement that there is “no man who knows this and that it is folly to think or try know it?” Given that you are but one man...albeit filled with the Holy Spirit...that alone may not qualify you to speak this as prophetic Truth.

For example Noah had a seven day advance warning that the doors of the Ark would be shut...Israel knew in the midst of the wrath of God against Egypt...that when things got to a certain point they would know when to head into Goshen and behind the blood...Simeon knew via the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Christ. The “wise men” knew at His birth that He was the eternal God-King and would one day rule creation...even though He was but an infant who was worthy of their worship.

This was just to name a few instances...there are more but the point is made. I have lightly affirmed that “men” indeed knew ahead of time when select prophetic events were going to transpire. All of these things were preceded with “signs or indications” if you will...from God. Whether they were seen in the heavens the Scriptures or spoken to His chosen men/women...He always alerted those who needed to know...as to what to do and when to do it...always in a direct choreography of God’s movement...the obedient followed suit. Why would anyone think of an event as monumental as His “return” would be treated any differently?

“and to try is essentially folly”...really...do you mean that? Am I to understand that you are suggesting that the Lord Yahshua Christ...“will not”...communicate the specifics about His return...like He has so many other prophetic events...prior their actual occurrence? Since you are the one saying these things Vine Abider...you include yourself in this belief...and perhaps others...and the “church?”

Rest assured...that it is ok by me if “you” choose to believe that...and I might agree that perhaps in relationship to “yourself” and the “church” you may be correct?

At the same time this thought that the Lord Yahshua is keeping and or will keep that which we need from us...seems completely inconsistent with both the “character and nature” of the Lord Himself...and it is inconsistent with our Fathers “original intent” for establishing creation to begin with. I urge you Brother VA and others who believe that our Lord “will not” or “has not” shown us the timing of His unfulfilled plans...to rather consider that...pure “folly?”

Do you realize who the “Body of Christ” is? Did you forget that His Head is the God and Father of creation...who knows the end of the matter from before its beginning? The plan of God including the events preceding His return...and including His return have been openly laid out the prophetic Scriptures.

The Body of Christ...including His Head...is the eternal spiritual “Son of God”...who when fully matured [during the end of the age] as Paul teaches...will come forth as the fulfillment of the Father’s original intention for creation...”a man in the image and likeness of God.” It is in this light that you might consider re-reading Yahshua according to John...emphasis mine...

“Therefore Jesus answered and was saying to them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of Himself, unless it is something He sees the Father doing; for whatever the Father does, these things the Son also does in like manner.  "For the Father loves the Son, and shows Him all things that He Himself is doing; and the Father will show Him greater works than these, so that you will marvel.”  John 5:19-20 NASB

And what would you Vine Abider have me do with this “Word” from the “Word” Himself?

“But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth; for He will not speak on His own initiative, but whatever He hears, He will speak; and He will disclose to you what is to come. "He will glorify Me, for He will take of Mine and will disclose it to you. "All things that the Father has are Mine; therefore I said that He takes of Mine and will disclose it to you.” John 16:13-15 NASB

I am fine with you and all who agree with you in this position Brother...really. However the first element of your summary looks suspiciously like patent “unbelief” to me. Just hear [read] me out...it may challenge you and your belief...but it will not in any way hurt you...but rather it may lift you up.

Regardless...to make the statement...“No man knows the exact date/time and to try is essentially folly” and broadcast that to and upon all men? No Brother...that does not set right with me based upon what the Lord Himself said and who I know my Lord to be. I see the first part of “your consensus” as questionable if only when compared to what the prophet Amos recorded in his writings this...“Surely the Lord GOD does nothing Unless He reveals His secret counsel To His servants the prophets.”

When the “return” as most call it...of the Lord Yahshua Christ is near...the entirety of the Kingdom of God both the earthly...and the heavenly families of God will be fully appraised and prepared. For they will have finished their testimony as the “Son of God” upon the earth and the Spirit and the bride will say “Come” and the Lord says...“Yes, I am coming quickly.” This will be no secret...for all of creation will understand this.

Thoughts questions?

Tatwo...:)

[tatwo]

On 4/18/2025 at 6:13 PM, Vine Abider said:

Regardless, the best advice is to watch for His return, pray, assemble with other believers all the more often as we see the day approaching, testify to unbelievers and build-up the body of Christ in love!

Before I can accept this as best advice...having already understood that you have no idea when the Lord will return and that you feel it is folly for man to even consider it...perhaps you could describe in reasonable detail what it is that you mean to “Watch for His return?” I think that I can grasp the concept of “prayer”...and again...perhaps you can offer me some explanation as to what exactly you “mean” by “assemble with other believers”...as well?

Tatwo...:)

[Vine Abider]

14 hours ago, tatwo said:

“and to try is essentially folly”...really...do you mean that? Am I to understand that you are suggesting that the Lord Yahshua Christ...“will not”...communicate the specifics about His return...like He has so many other prophetic events...prior their actual occurrence? Since you are the one saying these things Vine Abider...you include yourself in this belief...and perhaps others...and the “church?”

Let me just reply to this one paragraph as I think it may be the core of what you are wanting to convey.  When I stated that "to try is essentially folly" it's pertaining to something we would try to muster up with our own thinking and energies.  There certainly can be something genuine, if its source is the Lord. If we are just going to the word and trying to put together dates and times from our own energies and source, then yes, that is essentially folly I think. If it comes to us in revelation of the Lord's Spirit, then it is solid and we can "take it to the bank."

I think we all know of date setters who made specific predictions, only to crash and burn when it didn't come to pass at the time they predicted.  These instances were then shown to be something sourced in man's own doing and was certainly folly.

[luigi]

Before we get to the end of this age under Satan, the seven plagues in Revelation 8 onward have to occur. According to Revelation 9:20, these plagues due to the love mankind has for the things his hands produce, today are primarily produced by fossil fuel burning industries. As we are now ever increasing our use of fossil fuels, and thus approaching the 1/3 destruction of our environmental resources described in Revelation 8; when we reach this level of destruction, the star/angel Absalom/Apollyon, whose name means "the destroyer" shall then be given the key to access the bottomless less pit of power. As the power from the bottomless pit will cause the rise of the beast (Revelation 17:8); we then see the bottomless pit as another description for the sea in Revelation 13:1 from which the beast shall rise, that shall have the world worshipping both the beast, and the dragon for having provided mankind with this power (Revelation 13:4). This power is fusion; the same power that powers the stars. Deuterium, are hydrogen isotopes that the seas have a virtual bottomless pit of, thereby providing industry a virtual unlimited amount of energy in order to produce all the material goods (idols), mankind is enamored with having.

 Revelation 9:20 And the rest of the men which were not killed by these plagues yet repented not of the works of their hands, that they should not worship devils, and idols of gold, and silver, and brass, and stone, and of wood: which neither can see, nor hear, nor walk:

Revelation 17:8 The beast that thou sawest was, and is not; and shall ascend out of the bottomless pit, and go into perdition: and they that dwell on the earth shall wonder, whose names were not written in the book of life from the foundation of the world, when they behold the beast that was, and is not, and yet is.

Revelation 13:1 And I stood upon the sand of the sea, and saw a beast rise up out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns, and upon his horns ten crowns, and upon his heads the name of blasphemy.

Revelation 13:4 And they worshipped the dragon which gave power unto the beast: and they worshipped the beast, saying, Who is like unto the beast? who is able to make war with him?

[Edward429451]

We are nearing the end of the age. The end of the church age. 

The  end of the age of grace. 

As soon as that rapture happens, it wont be business as usual. Churches will be shut down, it's now a felony to possess a bible, and all hail the Beast! 

But I think everyone sees the end of the church age coming. When churches start having to organize armed security teams...that's a pretty big hint from the world that, we dont want churches. 

[tatwo]

On 4/24/2025 at 7:53 AM, Vine Abider said:

Let me just reply to this one paragraph as I think it may be the core of what you are wanting to convey.

With all due respect my Brother...unless I have missed something...it appears to me that you have missed me almost entirely....having said that...rest assured I take no offence either...you are doing your best.

Tatwo...:)