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Do you believe we are living in the end times?

Skeptics say Christians have always talked about being in the end times. But the smart Christians know that certain events have to happen before that time. Included in those events before the "end" are:

1. The reestablishment of the State of Israel (came to pass in 1948).

Except, the State of Israel is not the kingdom of Israel. It is secular, and is without a King. A name is meaningless without the devotion of to the Torah, and a temple.

2. The Jews will inhabit Jerusalem (came to pass in 1967).

However, the prophecy is that the majority of Jews would return to Israel from the Diaspora, so that is a misrepresentation of the what was predicted.

Trying to shoe horn events into passages just doesn't cut it.
 
Well, everything ends and the earth will also. Perhaps sometime after homo sapiens disappear. Not a concern.
 
Well, everything ends and the earth will also. Perhaps sometime after homo sapiens disappear. Not a concern.

I just don't see the point of being concerned when you have no control and when the truth is that for any of us, today could be our last day.
 
Heck, I've been believing that ever since someone raised it with me in the year 1,000 or thereabouts.
 
A few days ago, I watched a documentary called Waiting for Armageddon. My reaction to it was that it was really good. It provided interesting insight into the complex beliefs, and many of people in it sounded like a few Christians I know.

One scene especially reminds me of somebody I know. She said she does not expect to experience becoming a grandma. Then she sat down at a table with the bible and her two teenage daughters and proclaimed, "All of the prophecies have been fulfilled... every single one!" Then had a dire conversation with them about the coming end.


Well, today, I checked the mail and I got a pamphlet and invite to a Christian event about about the end times, the prophecies, the bible, and all things related. I started to wonder how common this belief is.

And if you think the end is coming, are you worried or stressed out? It seems like something you shouldn't be preoccupied with if you think you will be saved. I don't understand the intense focus many Christians have on the concept.

Another group of people in the documentary seemed excited about the end coming, and want to encourage events in Israel believing it will trigger the end.

Thoughts?

We won't really know for sure unless Trump gets elected.

A more serious address to our topic later.
 
When time ends then I guess we will be living in the end of times, untill then all we can do is live.
 
A few days ago, I watched a documentary called Waiting for Armageddon. My reaction to it was that it was really good. It provided interesting insight into the complex beliefs, and many of people in it sounded like a few Christians I know.

One scene especially reminds me of somebody I know. She said she does not expect to experience becoming a grandma. Then she sat down at a table with the bible and her two teenage daughters and proclaimed, "All of the prophecies have been fulfilled... every single one!" Then had a dire conversation with them about the coming end.


Well, today, I checked the mail and I got a pamphlet and invite to a Christian event about about the end times, the prophecies, the bible, and all things related. I started to wonder how common this belief is.

And if you think the end is coming, are you worried or stressed out? It seems like something you shouldn't be preoccupied with if you think you will be saved. I don't understand the intense focus many Christians have on the concept.

Another group of people in the documentary seemed excited about the end coming, and want to encourage events in Israel believing it will trigger the end.

Thoughts?

As a christian, I take it all with a grain of salt. I get bored with shouts of "Armegeddon is here" everytime there is a war or "End times is here" everytime there is a major disaster.
 
I have a friend who thinks the rapture is coming... I feel sorry for him because he is going to be disappointed.

If he REALLY believes it he will have no qualms about legally signing everything he owns over to you.

P.S. He won't.
 
I thought the world ended on December 21, 2012. Oh, wait.........
 
Except, the State of Israel is not the kingdom of Israel. It is secular, and is without a King. A name is meaningless without the devotion of to the Torah, and a temple.

That's your opinion.

However, the prophecy is that the majority of Jews would return to Israel from the Diaspora, so that is a misrepresentation of the what was predicted.

You've got the wrong 'return'. Ezekiel's 'return' would be in the "latter years'.

"After many days thou shalt be visited: in the latter years thou shalt come into the land [that is] brought back from the sword, [and is] gathered out of many people, against the mountains of
Israel, which have been always waste: but it is brought forth out of the nations, and they shall dwell safely all of them." Ezekiel 38:8

The Diaspora wasn't the latter years.

Trying to shoe horn events into passages just doesn't cut it.

Once again you've failed. Your jack-legged theology is still best suited for the bottom of a bird cage.
 
We're definitely at a major crossroads of the likes we have never seen. Not sure that it's apocalyptic or anything.
 
I don't think the end of times for either us nor especially the planet are upon us but I do think we are in and have been in a major change in humanity for a while (relative to our life times.
 
I totally forgot about that, but I know who you are talking about. One night, I was watching the woman on TV and I was suddenly shocked. She said the end of the world was coming and was excited and happy. The entire segment seemed... well... crazy.


There is a couple the Van Impe who hit the TV every Sunday morning, been on for years. Every Sunday morning they sit there, all smiles and caffeine confidently predicting each new news item is yet another sign the end is nigh. Kinda creepy if you think about the delivery vs the message.

While I haven't kept up with all variations of the End Times- most seem to need the old Jewish Kingdom of David (boundaries very vague) restored which is why some think we support Israel holding onto the West bank.

My thought- I am not holding my breathe or taking to homespun clothing and other Old testament admonishments- and most 'true believers aren't as well...
 
Skeptics say Christians have always talked about being in the end times. But the smart Christians know that certain events have to happen before that time. Included in those events before the "end" are:

1. The reestablishment of the State of Israel (came to pass in 1948).
2. The Jews will inhabit Jerusalem (came to pass in 1967).
3. The Third Jewish Temple should be built (because the abomination of desolation that Jesus prophesied, occurs there).
4. The Gospel of the Kingdom will be preached unto all nations, then the end will come.

There's a few more but that's a decent sampling.

Skeptics generally ignore, or are ignorant, of these events when they make their 'end time' claims about what Christians believe.

Thank you for trying to clarify a few things.

Do all of the Jewish people need to return to Israel? That doesn't seem very realistic to me.

The last point is really vague too. Does it mean everybody in the world has to have heard the gospel, or there will be at least on Christian in every nation? I am confused.
 
Thank you for trying to clarify a few things.

Do all of the Jewish people need to return to Israel? That doesn't seem very realistic to me.

The last point is really vague too. Does it mean everybody in the world has to have heard the gospel, or there will be at least on Christian in every nation? I am confused.

Just the majority of them. That hasn't happened. Plus, it has to have a Jewish king.
 
Thank you for trying to clarify a few things.

Do all of the Jewish people need to return to Israel? That doesn't seem very realistic to me.

The last point is really vague too. Does it mean everybody in the world has to have heard the gospel, or there will be at least on Christian in every nation? I am confused.

Are you asking for the Christian or Jewish perspective on this?
 
I mean, the sun will eventually expand, decay, and implode in on itself, but that will be billions of years from now, so yeah. No need to worry.
 
A few days ago, I watched a documentary called Waiting for Armageddon. My reaction to it was that it was really good. It provided interesting insight into the complex beliefs, and many of people in it sounded like a few Christians I know.

One scene especially reminds me of somebody I know. She said she does not expect to experience becoming a grandma. Then she sat down at a table with the bible and her two teenage daughters and proclaimed, "All of the prophecies have been fulfilled... every single one!" Then had a dire conversation with them about the coming end.


Well, today, I checked the mail and I got a pamphlet and invite to a Christian event about about the end times, the prophecies, the bible, and all things related. I started to wonder how common this belief is.

And if you think the end is coming, are you worried or stressed out? It seems like something you shouldn't be preoccupied with if you think you will be saved. I don't understand the intense focus many Christians have on the concept.

Another group of people in the documentary seemed excited about the end coming, and want to encourage events in Israel believing it will trigger the end.

Thoughts?

It's a matter of perspective and I think attention to pop media (news, TV, etc.).
That isn't to denigrate or refute religious beliefs, but rather criticize what people characterize as "end time" events.
 
I totally forgot about that, but I know who you are talking about. One night, I was watching the woman on TV and I was suddenly shocked. She said the end of the world was coming and was excited and happy. The entire segment seemed... well... crazy.

If you believed you were going to an eternal paradise, wouldn't you be happy?
 
Thank you for trying to clarify a few things.

Do all of the Jewish people need to return to Israel? That doesn't seem very realistic to me.

The last point is really vague too. Does it mean everybody in the world has to have heard the gospel, or there will be at least on Christian in every nation? I am confused.

Hi, no, not every Jew needs to return to Israel, but millions have now. As for the "Great Commission," at the end it will reach all nations, though probably not every individual. For those that have not been reached with the Gospel of Christ, their consciences will bear witness either for or against them on the day of Judgment (Romans chapter 2).

God bless!
 
I am interested in hearing all perspectives. Thanks.

Sure, well first I suppose I should outline what the Messiah (the Mashiach) actually 'is' in the Jewish faith. In Judaism the Messiah is a political-religious leader who will be a skilled judge, military commander, political leader, and he will have a total mastery over Torah.

When he arrives he will gather all of the Jews (yes all) back to the Land of Israel, build the Third Temple, united the Land of Israel, disperse Israel's enemies, make it so that the Torah and its laws are known intuitively to all people in the world, and usher in a period of world peace. There are legions of details and events that will, as a result of these things, also come to pass but they aren't as important as those broad strokes.

Furthermore I should mention that it is axiomatic in Judaism that if an individual dies without accomplishing these objectives then they are not the Moshiach.
 
Originally Posted by SheWolf

I am interested in hearing all perspectives. Thanks.

Sure, well first I suppose I should outline what the Messiah (the Mashiach) actually 'is' in the Jewish faith. In Judaism the Messiah is a political-religious leader who will be a skilled judge, military commander, political leader, and he will have a total mastery over Torah.

When he arrives he will gather all of the Jews (yes all) back to the Land of Israel, build the Third Temple, united the Land of Israel, disperse Israel's enemies, make it so that the Torah and its laws are known intuitively to all people in the world, and usher in a period of world peace. There are legions of details and events that will, as a result of these things, also come to pass but they aren't as important as those broad strokes.

Furthermore I should mention that it is axiomatic in Judaism that if an individual dies without accomplishing these objectives then they are not the Moshiach.

With all due respect, though a lot of Jews belief that, the scriptures and ancient rabbis tell a different story - one that lines up precisely with Biblical Christianity and Jesus Christ.

First, I believe you're referring to Messiah ben David (the "Conquering King") above - which is Jesus at his 2nd Coming. But there's another type of "Messiah" in ancient Judaism - Messiah ben David (the "Suffering Messiah"). Isaiah chapter 53 presents a clear picture of this Messiah - that he will die and atone for the sins of his people. This is Jesus, the Suffering Servant / Messiah.

5 But he was pierced for our transgressions,
he was crushed for our iniquities;
the punishment that brought us peace was upon him,
and by his wounds we are healed.
6 We all, like sheep, have gone astray,
each of us has turned to his own way;
and the LORD has laid on him
the iniquity of us all.


Isaiah?s Prophecy of the Messiah « The Righter Report

Here's why Israel Missed it's Messiah (Jesus)

Isaiah 53 « The Righter Report

Here's what ancient Jewish rabbis said about Messiah ben Joseph - the "Suffering Messiah"):

Isaiah 53 Rabbinical Commentary

And here's where ancient rabbis knew the Messiah would be divine - God (which Jesus is):

Jeremiah 23:5-6 - The Messiah as God

Messianic Jews believe Jesus is the Messiah.

So, I believe the overwhelming evidence shows that Jesus is the Jewish Messiah, but others are welcome to their beliefs
 
In the post above, it should have read:

"But there's another type of "Messiah" in ancient Judaism - Messiah ben Joseph (the "Suffering Messiah"). Isaiah chapter 53 presents a clear picture of this Messiah - that he will die and atone for the sins of his people. This is Jesus, the Suffering Servant / Messiah.
 
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