Author Topic: Are We In End of Times??  (Read 1864 times)

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Offline libertybele

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Are We In End of Times??
« on: October 18, 2023, 12:44:38 am »
IIRC I started a similar thread a while back -- and couldn't find it -- so  -- once again, the question is "Are We In End of Times?

Are We In End of Times??

For thought/discussion:

For American Evangelicals Who Back Israel, ‘Neutrality Isn’t an Option’

Pastor Jared Wellman took the stage Sunday morning at Tate Springs Baptist Church, 7,000 miles west of Jerusalem, to talk to his congregation about Israel.

“Neutrality isn’t an option,” Mr. Wellman told the crowd, to murmurs of “Amen.” He traced the history of aggression and oppression against the Jewish people through ancient Egypt into the Roman Empire and then from Nazi Germany to the attacks on civilians last weekend by Hamas terrorists from Gaza, which he described as “acts conceived in the darkest pits of hell.”

American evangelicals are among Israel’s most ardent advocates, compelled in part by their interpretation of scripture that says God’s ancient promise to the Jewish people designating the region as their homeland is unbreakable. Some evangelicals also see Israel’s existence connected to biblical prophecy about the last days of the world before a divine theocratic kingdom can be established on earth.

Now, one week after at least 1,300 people in Israel were killed in Hamas attacks, and as the number of dead in Gaza soared past 2,400 in Israeli airstrikes, evangelical leaders across the United States are voicing that support in sermons, public statements and calls to action.

“There’s probably no greater friend to the state of Israel than American evangelical Christians,” said Daniel Darling, director of Land Center for Cultural Engagement at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth.

Conservative evangelicals have long formed the backbone of the Republican Party’s support of Israel. (Evangelicals cheered when President Donald J. Trump recognized Jerusalem as Israel’s capital in 2017, announcing that he would move the United States Embassy there.)

That support is not just abstractly political. American Christians flock to Israel as pilgrims, sometimes on trips sponsored by churches like Tate Springs, or led by guides who specialize in Christian history. Some tourists memorialize their trips with tattoos or get baptized in the Jordan River, where Jesus is said to have been baptized by John the Baptist.

At Tate Springs on Sunday, Mr. Wellman, after pointing to a new page on the church website directing prayers and donations to Israel, led the congregation in prayer: for peace, for justice and for “innocent people in Gaza, in the West Bank and in Israel.”.........

.............Peace between the Palestinian and Israeli people is not possible right now because of Hamas, he said, speaking ominously about future violence. “When they’re done with the Jews, they’re coming for Christians,” he warned. “Prepare your hearts for the rising storm because this isn’t calming down.”.................

https://www.nytimes.com/2023/10/15/us/american-evangelicals-israel-hamas.html



Romans 12:16-21

Live in harmony with one another; do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly, do not claim to be wiser than you are.  Do not repay anyone evil for evil, but take thought for what is noble in the sight of all.  If it is possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all…do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

Online bigheadfred

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Re: Are We In End of Times??
« Reply #1 on: October 18, 2023, 12:52:10 am »
 :bkmk:
She asked me name my foe then. I said the need within some men to fight and kill their brothers without thought of Love or God. Ken Hensley

Offline libertybele

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Re: Are We In End of Times??
« Reply #2 on: October 18, 2023, 01:15:59 am »
War in Israel: A fulfillment of Bible prophecy?

.........It is almost 50 years to the day the last time Israel was officially at war in what is known as the Yom Kippur War in 1973. That time, she was attacked by Egypt, Syria, and others. But this is a different kind of war.

Thousands of rockets rained on Israel from multiple directions, and Hamas gunmen invaded by land, sea and sky. Now, hundreds of people have been murdered and kidnapped, and they were using what we might describe as ISIS-like methods: targeting young women and children, launching massive indiscriminate rocket fire towards civilian population centers, as well as terrorist infiltration of cities and settlements close to the Gaza border.

They went literally home-to-home, door-to-door, looking for the young and for the elderly. They’ve taken hostages. Old women, little children, young women … Yes, they specifically targeted civilians in this attack. Some of the women they took as hostages were survivors of the Holocaust. To date (and this number tragically will only get larger) there are 1,500 dead and 6,000 wounded. This attack is simply without precedent, causing Prime Minister of Israel Benjamin Netanyahu, to say, “We are at war.”

Who is Hamas? They’re a terrorist organization funded by Iran. That’s not a secret.

A spokesman for Iran, Gahzi Hamad, told the BBC that terrorist group had received funding for the attack.

And Iran has for a long time stated that their objective is to destroy Israel. They have also signaled that they are developing a nuclear weapon. In the past they have threatened to, in their own words, wipe Israel off the face of the Earth.

One leader of Iran said, “They ask, ‘Is it possible for us to witness a world without America and Zionism?’ But you had best know that this slogan and this goal are altogether attainable, and surely can be achieved. The regime that is occupying Jerusalem must be wiped off the map.”

Interesting how it always comes back to Jerusalem. The Bible predicted, thousands of years ago, that the End Time events would revolve around Jerusalem. Not San Francisco. Not Los Angeles. Not Moscow. Not Paris.

But Jerusalem, this tiny little city, in this tiny sliver of land, will play a key role in the events of the last days. It’s the focal point of End Times events.

................But here’s where students of Bible prophecy should pay attention. The Bible tells us in the End Times that Israel would be scattered and regathered. This has happened, and this really was the sign that set the prophetic clock ticking.

On the heels of the Holocaust, who would have ever thought that these Jewish people who lost 6 million lives to the Nazis would somehow regather in their homeland? But it happened, against all odds. On May 14, 1948, Israel became a nation. I’m proud to say the United States was the first nation to acknowledge that.

But after Israel was regathered, the Lord said she would come under attack. Specifically in Ezekiel 37 and 38, the Bible speaks of the regathering of Israel, and then it speaks of a large force from her north attacking her. That force is identified as Magog. Who is Magog?

No one can say with absolute certainty. But many Bible students and prophecy teachers believe it’s modern-day Russia. I think you can make a very good case for that. If you get out a map of the Middle East and look to the north of Israel, you will find Russia. Why would Russia ever want to invade Israel? Well, there’s another thing the Bible says about Magog, if she is indeed Russia, and that is that her ally to march with her is Persia.

Persia is the ancient name for modern Iran.

So the Bible predicted hundreds of years ago that this large force from the north of Israel would attack her after she was regathered, and one of the allies that would attack Israel with Russia or Magog, whoever it is, would be Iran or Persia...............

...............But if you get up in the morning and read this headline, “Russia Attacks Israel,” fasten your seatbelt because you’re seeing Bible prophecy fulfilled in your lifetime before your very eyes.

What should Christians be doing in the light of all this? Two things.

Jesus said, “Now when these things begin to happen, look up and lift up your heads, because your redemption draws near” (Luke 21:28). That’s what we need to be doing, looking for the soon return of Jesus Christ.

But we also need to pray. The Bible tells us to pray for the peace of Jerusalem (Psalm 122:6). We want to pray that they arrive at some kind of peace. We want to pray that this horrific terrorism stops, and that they’re able to get their hostages back. And we want to pray that God places His hand of protection on the nation of Israel during this unprecedented war.

https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2023/oct/10/war-israel-fulfillment-bible-prophecy/

« Last Edit: October 18, 2023, 01:17:27 am by libertybele »
Romans 12:16-21

Live in harmony with one another; do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly, do not claim to be wiser than you are.  Do not repay anyone evil for evil, but take thought for what is noble in the sight of all.  If it is possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all…do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

Offline Texas Yellow Rose

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Re: Are We In End of Times??
« Reply #3 on: October 18, 2023, 01:29:16 am »
 :bkmk:

Offline Idiot

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Re: Are We In End of Times??
« Reply #4 on: October 18, 2023, 01:40:07 am »
 :bkmk:

Offline libertybele

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Re: Are We In End of Times??
« Reply #5 on: October 18, 2023, 01:41:31 am »
Again - another analysis with Russia mentioned -  perhaps Russia is a key player in the 'end of times'  - Long ago I watched the 'Prophecies of Nostradomus and it mentions that end the end times a treaty is broken -- perhaps Iran?  Perhaps Russia??

Israel, conflict and end times prophecy


A few times over the weekend I’ve seen/heard people ask whether the events in Israel over the past few days are pointing to the last days? Will it lead to Armageddon?  As I’m also doing some teaching on Revelation for the Faithroots Podcast at the moment, I thought it was worth taking a bit of time to look at that question.

Christians believe that Jesus will physically return bringing the final judgement, that the dead will rise and that Christ will reign forever over a new creation.  A lot of Biblical prophecy points to this event and much of it is associated with a time of great distress including famine, pestilence and war. It’s also focused heavily on the Middle East.  “Armageddon” is a corruption of Har Megiddo, the Mountain or hill country of Megiddo and refers to a specific plain where battles have historically been fought.  Revelation 16:6 speaks of a great battle happening there.

Meanwhile, Scripture also talks about a battle between two powers to the north, Gog and Magog and these references were frequently associated with Russia throughout the 20th Cenury Cold War.  Can we put things together and see a conversion of apocalyptic events, the economic crisis which began in 2008 with the Credit Crunch, a worldwide plague or pandemic through Coronavirus, the war in Ukraine and now events in Israel with the potential to draw in Lebanon, Iran, Egypt etc not to mention the US and UK who have both offered assistance to Israel and in the former case has already sent naval vessels to the region.

When described that way, the events doe seem to fit the Bible account don’t they?   However, this would also have been true of frequent events throughout history.  Observers in AD70 as the Romans entered Jerusalem, defiled the sanctuary and destroyed the city and temple might well have asked “Are the prophecies being fulfilled?”  Participants in the Crusades may also have felt that they were in the very last days.  We might also think of World War 1 and the end of the Ottoman Empire, the Six Day War in 1967, the Yom Kippur War 50 years ago or even the two Iraq Wars of recent times............

https://faithroot.com/2023/10/09/israel-conflict-and-end-times-prophecy/
Romans 12:16-21

Live in harmony with one another; do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly, do not claim to be wiser than you are.  Do not repay anyone evil for evil, but take thought for what is noble in the sight of all.  If it is possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all…do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

Offline The_Reader_David

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Re: Are We In End of Times??
« Reply #6 on: October 18, 2023, 01:55:44 am »
Well, I'm an Orthodox Christian, and we have always held that "the one who restrains" who must be removed for the "man of lawlessness" (the Antichrist) to be revealed was the Emperor.

In a matter of three years from 1917 to 1920, every possible claimant to the throne of the Caesars, the Tsar, the Kaiser, the Hapsburg Emperor (of a house which often occupied the throne of the "Holy Roman Empire") and the Ottoman Sultan (who when he wanted would style himself as a Muslim Roman Emperor, since he took the capital of the Empire, Constantinople, as his seat), were removed.  We've been living in the End of Times all of our lives. 

The only question is how long is the End of Times?  We have no way of answering, so the best advice is to ignore discussions like this, since as one of the first generation of Christian monks to go off into the Egyptian desert observe, thinking about the End Time only excite the passions, especially in the young. It is better to attend to one's own repentance.
And when they behead your own people in the wars which are to come, then you will know what this was all about.

Offline Smokin Joe

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Re: Are We In End of Times??
« Reply #7 on: October 18, 2023, 02:58:54 am »
I reckon we're going to find out.
How God must weep at humans' folly! Stand fast! God knows what he is doing!
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Online Weird Tolkienish Figure

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Re: Are We In End of Times??
« Reply #8 on: October 18, 2023, 03:05:08 am »
No.

Offline jafo2010

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Re: Are We In End of Times??
« Reply #9 on: October 18, 2023, 03:14:41 am »
Russia is not any time soon attacking Israel.  They can't deal with Ukraine.  Israel would devour Russia.  Russia is nothing more than a paper tiger.

My first trip to Russia was in 2000.  When I learned their military was souring the land, robbing the dachas so they could eat, I knew they were largely a joke.  A joke with nuclear weapons, but their manpower military is pathetic.  And sure enough, they have proven to be exactly that in Ukraine.

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Offline Gefn

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Re: Are We In End of Times??
« Reply #10 on: October 18, 2023, 03:37:36 am »
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Offline jafo2010

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Re: Are We In End of Times??
« Reply #11 on: October 18, 2023, 04:13:38 am »
I met a young Russian woman the other day, who came with her husband and son to the USA 9 months ago.  He fled Russia with the family to Mexico, and they crossed illegally into the USA all to avoid serving in the Russian military in Ukraine.  He is one of many.


Online Free Vulcan

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Re: Are We In End of Times??
« Reply #12 on: October 18, 2023, 04:48:42 am »
I reckon we're going to find out.

Yeah, it sure seems like things are in motion.
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Online Weird Tolkienish Figure

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Re: Are We In End of Times??
« Reply #13 on: October 18, 2023, 08:00:28 pm »
There is no end of times. Time never ends.

Offline mountaineer

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Re: Are We In End of Times??
« Reply #14 on: October 18, 2023, 08:15:16 pm »
I do not know, even after having studied the book of Revelation a bit. All we can do is study, watch and pray.
https://www.perhapstoday.org/chaos/11-answers-to-questions-about-the-end-times?tid=fbp_post-09.20.23_pp-planofsalvation
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Offline Kamaji

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Re: Are We In End of Times??
« Reply #15 on: October 18, 2023, 08:19:37 pm »
Well, I'm an Orthodox Christian, and we have always held that "the one who restrains" who must be removed for the "man of lawlessness" (the Antichrist) to be revealed was the Emperor.

In a matter of three years from 1917 to 1920, every possible claimant to the throne of the Caesars, the Tsar, the Kaiser, the Hapsburg Emperor (of a house which often occupied the throne of the "Holy Roman Empire") and the Ottoman Sultan (who when he wanted would style himself as a Muslim Roman Emperor, since he took the capital of the Empire, Constantinople, as his seat), were removed.  We've been living in the End of Times all of our lives. 

The only question is how long is the End of Times?  We have no way of answering, so the best advice is to ignore discussions like this, since as one of the first generation of Christian monks to go off into the Egyptian desert observe, thinking about the End Time only excite the passions, especially in the young. It is better to attend to one's own repentance.

Attending to one's own repentance is probably the best advice, and the best use of one's time, since that is a necessary act both during the end times as well as during normal times.

Offline roamer_1

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Re: Are We In End of Times??
« Reply #16 on: October 18, 2023, 09:36:54 pm »
Read though the Bible again... This time, drawing a distinction between 'End Times' and 'Time of the End'

It may change your view...

Offline Hoodat

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Re: Are We In End of Times??
« Reply #17 on: October 18, 2023, 09:40:01 pm »
Read though the Bible again...

The great mystery novel.  I peeked at the end.  The devil did it.
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Offline roamer_1

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Re: Are We In End of Times??
« Reply #18 on: October 18, 2023, 09:43:20 pm »
The great mystery novel.  I peeked at the end.  The devil did it.

And Yeshua wins. The trick is keeping yourself and as many as you can out of the way of it.  happy77

Offline libertybele

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Re: Are We In End of Times??
« Reply #19 on: October 18, 2023, 09:45:57 pm »
I think our Republic as we know her has ended and I don't see how with the millions that have come through our borders that we won't be destroyed from within.  We have very poor leadership; just ripe for a takeover.  Joe was a much needed place filler to accomplish the destruction of America.

I pray that I am wrong.
Romans 12:16-21

Live in harmony with one another; do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly, do not claim to be wiser than you are.  Do not repay anyone evil for evil, but take thought for what is noble in the sight of all.  If it is possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all…do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

Online berdie

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Re: Are We In End of Times??
« Reply #20 on: October 18, 2023, 10:05:10 pm »
Well, I'm an Orthodox Christian, and we have always held that "the one who restrains" who must be removed for the "man of lawlessness" (the Antichrist) to be revealed was the Emperor.

In a matter of three years from 1917 to 1920, every possible claimant to the throne of the Caesars, the Tsar, the Kaiser, the Hapsburg Emperor (of a house which often occupied the throne of the "Holy Roman Empire") and the Ottoman Sultan (who when he wanted would style himself as a Muslim Roman Emperor, since he took the capital of the Empire, Constantinople, as his seat), were removed.  We've been living in the End of Times all of our lives. 

The only question is how long is the End of Times?  We have no way of answering, so the best advice is to ignore discussions like this, since as one of the first generation of Christian monks to go off into the Egyptian desert observe, thinking about the End Time only excite the passions, especially in the young. It is better to attend to one's own repentance.



That's an interesting concept that I've never thought about. I'll have to do some cogitating on that.
Since the Bible says no man shall know, I've tried to keep my nose clean...and will continue to do so.

Online berdie

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Re: Are We In End of Times??
« Reply #21 on: October 18, 2023, 10:19:37 pm »
I think our Republic as we know her has ended and I don't see how with the millions that have come through our borders that we won't be destroyed from within.  We have very poor leadership; just ripe for a takeover.  Joe was a much needed place filler to accomplish the destruction of America.

I pray that I am wrong.


I feel much the same way and pray we are both wrong.
But the fact that this country may not exist as we know it doesn't really signal End Of Times. jmho
It's too bad we were gifted this great place/ideology and seem to be throwing it away.

But as the old saying goes...The first people plant the tree, the second generation enjoys the shade of the tree...the third generation cuts the tree down. We may not be the third generation, but we are darn close.

Online bigheadfred

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Re: Are We In End of Times??
« Reply #22 on: March 30, 2024, 08:43:38 pm »
Quote
An Assyrian clay tablet dating to around 2800 B.C. bears the inscription: “Our Earth is degenerate in these later days; there are signs that the world is speedily coming to an end; bribery and corruption are common; children no longer obey their parents; every man wants to write a book and the end of the world is evidently approaching.”
She asked me name my foe then. I said the need within some men to fight and kill their brothers without thought of Love or God. Ken Hensley

Offline Hoodat

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Re: Are We In End of Times??
« Reply #23 on: March 31, 2024, 03:20:39 am »
Jesus is coming.  Act busy.
If a political party does not have its foundation in the determination to advance a cause that is right and that is moral, then it is not a political party; it is merely a conspiracy to seize power.

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"The [U.S.] Constitution is a limitation on the government, not on private individuals ... it does not prescribe the conduct of private individuals, only the conduct of the government ... it is not a charter for government power, but a charter of the citizen's protection against the government."

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Online DB

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Re: Are We In End of Times??
« Reply #24 on: March 31, 2024, 03:37:14 am »
Turkey is the one to watch along with Iran. Together they threaten Israel to the extreme.