not this week
Submitted by F.O.D. on July 09 1999 at 15:34:14
In reply to end of the world Submitted by Dgennero on July 02 1999 at 09:07:58
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Hi Rio, well the end of the world doesn't seem to have occurred in the time it took me to get back to this post ;) The most helpful "Christian POV" on the End, in my opinion, can be found in Mark 13 or Matt 24. Jesus there talks a little about the conditions at the end. He says there will be wars, famines, earthquakes, all such things, but this is not the end (Mk 13:7,8). The end is approaching but is still yet to come. Now we have all these things happening today - wars, famines, earthquakes, so we can suppose the end is near. But it is not yet here. Jesus also talks about the state of the church. The love of most will grow cold (Mt 24:12). But I'd have said the love for God in the church was much colder in the middle ages than it is today. Some maybe the church has to fail more before we reach the end. There will be people claiming to be Christ (Mk 13:6). That seems to happen today somewhat regularly. I guess it has always happened. What I take to be the clearest clue is Matt 24:14 "And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come". cf Mk 13:10. This fits in with other parts of the Scriptures: "He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance" 2 Peter 3:9 The whole plan of God is call and save all those who accept his salvation. The end will come when all have heard and been called to repent, when all those who will accept God have accepted him. But for those who aren't listening, there will be no clear warning, no fire in the sky. People will be going about their ordinary business, and then the end will be upon them "Two men will be in the field; one will be taken and the other left." Matt 24:40. "While people are saying 'Peace and safety', destruction will come on them suddenly" 1 Thess 5:3. When will this be? Are there still whole groups of people around the globe that haven't yet heard what Christ has done for them? Are there still yet individuals who will believe, and be saved? I don't consider it helpful to try to measure timelines from Revelation. I think the whole message of Revelation is that there's going be tough times at the end, but Christ will prevail. But yes, God will call up the dead and judge them together with the living, like it says in Rev 20. |