The Last Days?

[Starise]

There seem to be two main camps on the end times. In both cases we are still to be doing the work of the Lord. 

I often sense discomfort in some of my brothers when we discuss these things as if it's a place we really shouldn't go. I can see their angst because it can lead to disagreements, and yet we should be mature enough to agree to disagree. The other thought is that it detracts from us doing the work we are supposed to do, sort of like a truck spinning tires in a mud hole and never going any where. I can see that too.

I have to give some traction to the idea that there have been numerous claims all through history from well meaning people who thought it was the end when it wasn't, and really for the believer there will never be an end, but a new beginning, so I see all of this as more of a transition.Thy kingdom come.

We as humans tend to try and tie things to other things that seem to connect and make sense. So if I say that some things looks different now than ever before will I get that same wince? Is it just another world event we took the wrong way?

What I see-

Knowledge increasing exponentially like never before.In scripture

The nations taking away freedoms, even punishing Christian beliefs. In scripture

Global financial instability, possibly intentional. The alignment of a totalitarian 'system'.

Spiritual death all around us with people  mostly following their own empty whims.

Collapse or weakening of social programs in most nations with costs rising due to overhead.

The plans for a new temple are completed. A rebuilt temple soon it seems.

Constant friction with countries like Iran between the US and others.

Distractions and deceptions abound.

Some of it is simply, " as in the days of Noah", well most of it actually. This is a deeper rabbit hole many consider tin foil hat territory. I can see it.

Different in small ways and yet the same as the days of Noah. Every man for himself, the degrading of the human in various ways. Many of us can point to a "remember when" time not too long ago when things were much different.

Globally things are not getting better in my opinion. I don't see it. I see it all getting progressively worse just as Jesus told us it would right before He returns. Am I a pessimist? I am more of a realist.

To the believer fear isn't an option. We don't need it. It unermines our work. Our side won. It's the in between stuff that can show us things, or not.

[Michael37]

All quiet down my street. Really beautiful and peaceful at times. Sun shining, cats being curious or just lazing. Lawns and gardens looking nice. . . and no-one has taken the mark of the beast. 

I'm giving it a while longer until the apocalypse comes to its climax 

[Alive]

My view is different than many and I have seen it all for over 50 years. Some time ago, I came to think nobody but nobody alive today understands the book of Revelation. When it was first circulated the Church did because God gifted men at the time to explain it.

Much confusion has arisen over the years as men try to apply current events…I think it’s vain.

The Lord will return in time…meanwhile we occupy. It’s very simple to me.

[Starise]

1 hour ago, Michael37 said:

All quiet down my street. Really beautiful and peaceful at times. Sun shining, cats being curious or just lazing. Lawns and gardens looking nice. . . and no-one has taken the mark of the beast. 

I'm giving it a while longer until the apocalypse comes to its climax 

Same here. I'm going to continue to study while also doing what I believe I should be doing. 

1 hour ago, Alive said:

My view is different than many and I have seen it all for over 50 years. Some time ago, I came to think nobody but nobody alive today understands the book of Revelation. When it was first circulated the Church did because God gifted men at the time to explain it.

Much confusion has arisen over the years as men try to apply current events…I think it’s vain.

The Lord will return in time…meanwhile we occupy. It’s very simple to me.

I like that you said we will continue to occupy. The kingdom occupies and we are ambassadors to the coming kingdom. I have read over both major and minor prophets. I continue to read over it off and on. God wins, the dragon looses. We are on the winning side.

 God protects us, gives us good things. Could we even enjoy the end times if alive? If it comes to serious persecution I will see that as an honor. The soldier doesn't concern themselves with civilian affairs. I see myself as a soldier in the spiritual sense. We have the tools.We have the Lord. I feel often I live in two different worlds at the same time. The nice one I am currently experiencing and the unseen one that I continually engage or ignore when necessary in various ways. 

 

[Alive]

I Tend to think along the lines expressed here...

Stuart Olyott in his, Dare to Stand Alone: Daniel Simply Explained
 

“We must realize that some of the Bible’s teachings relating to the very last days will not be understood until we are in those days. That is why it is both unwise and dangerous to draw up detailed timetables of future events. Some parts of the Word of God will not become obvious in their meaning until the days of which they speak have dawned.” (p 166)

[Your closest friendnt]

4 hours ago, Starise said:

Same here. I'm going to continue to study while also doing what I believe I should be doing. 

I like that you said we will continue to occupy. The kingdom occupies and we are ambassadors to the coming kingdom. I have read over both major and minor prophets. I continue to read over it off and on. God wins, the dragon looses. We are on the winning side.

Not all God's people win. Not all of them are in the same equation. 

Many of the Israelites died in the wars to conquer the promish land. There were casualties. They never had the chance to enjoy the fruits of the land of milk and honey. Some they did and some they never got the chance. Some they spent their lives fighting. 

Some of them were wiped away by the plague. Some were not given the chance to grow older. 

It was never the same for everyone. All in good fortune or all in bad fortune or all in grave fortune. 

ALWAYS THE THINGS ON EARTH WILL BE IN THE SAME MODE. WILL NEVER BE THE SAME FOR EVERYONE. 

And only need to read the travel advisory. 

It's not only about wars. It also is about plague, natural disasters, about decent, about political and ethnically motivated  reasons and not to forget the religious and political reasons right now as we speak. Unless you want to live in isolation that God is with us and He is going to wipe away all our enemies. Which will never happen. 

Because God is not in control The Lamb of God is in control who died for all mankind and wish no one perish but to have the chance for everyone to have the chance to receive the eternal life. God has put JESUS CHRIST IN CONTROL. 

we are not in the Old. All things are made NEW.

WE DO NOT HAVE HADES since two thousand years ago. 

Edited May 19 by Your closest friendnt

[Your closest friendnt]

10 minutes ago, Alive said:

I Tend to think along the lines expressed here...

Stuart Olyott in his, Dare to Stand Alone: Daniel Simply Explained
 

“We must realize that some of the Bible’s teachings relating to the very last days will not be understood until we are in those days. That is why it is both unwise and dangerous to draw up detailed timetables of future events. Some parts of the Word of God will not become obvious in their meaning until the days of which they speak have dawned.” (p 166)

That's why we should rather say we are Ambassadors of Jesus Christ of the Gospel of reconciliation something Paul also talked about. Because it was something that had happened and continues to happen and will continue to happen. 

Something that was offered to people in the past and is being offered in the present and will continue to be offered in the future and will never seized. The forgiveness of sins in the name of Jesus Christ. 

[Starise]

19 hours ago, Alive said:

We must realize that some of the Bible’s teachings relating to the very last days will not be understood until we are in those days. That is why it is both unwise and dangerous to draw up detailed timetables of future events. Some parts of the Word of God will not become obvious in their meaning until the days of which they speak have dawned.” (p 166)

The only caveat I might change there for me personally would be that we can understand some, even a lot of some of it, but never all of it until it happens and we have that ahh haa moment. 
The fact that there are ties between all these prophetic books in various ways is an indicator to me that it was intended to be an understanding of those collective works, but alas many will attempt to read things in that aren’t there or miss some of it. Not that I have an absolute grasp of all of it. I see stuff in it. Important stuff. The kinds of things that line up. I know it isn’t a personal attempt to make something fit because it’s basically the same story told in different ways in different places and maybe similar to the gospels, there are details in one that advance the narrative totally.

The fall of Adam and following prophecy “ he will bruise your heel, but through you I will crush his head”

I believe all believers want to see the culmination that results in the new kingdom here in completion. I see that advancing globally. 
 

I see different tiers in this current and even past global game, in that we have the apparent leadership and then we have the real leadership in the other realms which is why current leaderships are doing what looks like really dumb stuff that seldom is for the people’s best interest. I’m talking globally here. The reasons they give for doing what they do don’t add up for most thinking people.

 

 

[Starise]

19 hours ago, Your closest friendnt said:

Not all God's people win. Not all of them are in the same equation. 

I guess this depends on what you mean by win. Christians have already won this and God is just working through the details. He wants more to come to Him and He is giving them a chance. 

Yes the Israelites have been a persecuted people no doubt and I think I can see why in scripture. Christians are being intensely persecuted and killed as I type this in other parts of the world. Currently in some Muslim areas entire churches have recently been massacred. Christians in western nations are beginning to be restricted in their freedoms. Some imprisoned in the UK for praying too close to abortion clinics. The big C was used to try and close churches down. It was effective in doing that in many areas. Many areas are meeting secretly in small groups. 
The new system they want to implement wants it to look like they are adopting Christianity, but it won’t really be Christian. It will be a bastardized version of it that somehow comes out in agreement with Muslims and Judaism. We know they are not the same and under no logical circumstance can they ever co mingle. Jesus said “ I am the way’ not I am a way. He is the only way. 
In certain areas real christians will be labeled extremists and persecuted.

[Your closest friendnt]

15 hours ago, Starise said:

I guess this depends on what you mean by win. Christians have already won this and God is just working through the details. He wants more to come to Him and He is giving them a chance. 

Yes the Israelites have been a persecuted people no doubt and I think I can see why in scripture. Christians are being intensely persecuted and killed as I type this in other parts of the world. Currently in some Muslim areas entire churches have recently been massacred. Christians in western nations are beginning to be restricted in their freedoms. Some imprisoned in the UK for praying too close to abortion clinics. The big C was used to try and close churches down. It was effective in doing that in many areas. Many areas are meeting secretly in small groups. 
The new system they want to implement wants it to look like they are adopting Christianity, but it won’t really be Christian. It will be a bastardized version of it that somehow comes out in agreement with Muslims and Judaism. We know they are not the same and under no logical circumstance can they ever co mingle. Jesus said “ I am the way’ not I am a way. He is the only way. 
In certain areas real christians will be labeled extremists and persecuted.

I didn't post about Christians and their various cultures and their hostilities toward  one another. That only they love those who give them their blind royalty and some of them they used the scriptures to extort from them a cut from their hard earned money often meant to be for the welfare of their parents and their children and the poor in their families. And the poor of the world. Those who are subject to famine. Is the famine one of the things to watch for the last days? 

And about this statement below. Jesus did not teach about the last days in the same mode as the statement below. 

"I believe all believers want to see the culmination that results in the new kingdom here in completion. I see that advancing globally."

What do you have to say to a Berean type of student who may asked you if your beliefs, which are not specifically indetify if they reflect the beliefs and teachings of Jesus?