Are we in the end times ?

  • Christian Chat is a moderated online Christian community allowing Christians around the world to fellowship with each other in real time chat via webcam, voice, and text, with the Christian Chat app. You can also start or participate in a Bible-based discussion here in the Christian Chat Forums, where members can also share with each other their own videos, pictures, or favorite Christian music.

    If you are a Christian and need encouragement and fellowship, we're here for you! If you are not a Christian but interested in knowing more about Jesus our Lord, you're also welcome! Want to know what the Bible says, and how you can apply it to your life? Join us!

    To make new Christian friends now around the world, click here to join Christian Chat.

JTB

Well-known member
Aug 31, 2021
2,269
737
113
I have never come across an explanation of “these last days” referring to nearly 2,000 years of history that doesn’t stretch credulity beyond the breaking point. That’s longer than the entire history of Israel from Abraham to Jesus.

It makes far more sense to me that “these last days” refers to the last days of ancient Israel and Levitical Judaism, not of humanity as a whole. All of the temporal indications are synonymous with “very soon”. Only on a (secular) geological timescale would 2,000 years be described as “very soon”.
God told the arrogant farmer that his life would be demanded of him that very night.

He was living his 'last days' right there and then.
 

glen55

Active member
Jul 10, 2021
168
26
28
69
Jesus makes it very clear what conditions will be like just prior to His return.

We will be hated by all for His name sake

The persecution will be so awful that children will deliver their parents up to death and parents their children, has there ever yet been such a persecution?, no.

People say that's for the Jews but it cannot be for if Jewish parents give up their children to death because they are Jews they will be delivering themselves up also, likewise the children, to give up their parents as Jews is to admit that they themselves are Jews.

No this is persecution of the church, we are told to flee persecution, but if we are hated by all men where will we flee to?

Jesus said this is the worst tribulation [persecution] since ever there was a nation and never will be again.

"In the world you will have tribulation" that is where tribulation comes from. It is not God's wrath.
The most astute book in the Bible is Ecclesiastes. In it we are told: “What has been is what will be and what has been done is what will be done; and there is nothing new under the sun. Is there a thing of which it is said, ‘See this is new? It has been already in ages before us, but there is no remembrance of former things, nor will there be remembrance of things yet to happen among those who come after.” This statement is difficult for man to grasp, for he is forever thinking of progress. Man sees things today and thinks they are new and wonderful because he cannot remember them. Just a century ago electricity was unknown. Now we have light powered by nuclear energy and think it was created for and by us, but scripture tells us it has always been! The play of life moves in a wheel, closed-circuited by time, and man with his short memory cannot remember other times.
 

justbyfaith

Well-known member
Sep 16, 2021
4,707
462
83
I think that there may have been electricity in the days of the book of Acts; for the sailors sounded into the water to see how deep it was (Acts 27:28). Does not that technology require electricity?
 

ewq1938

Well-known member
Oct 18, 2018
5,064
1,278
113
I think that there may have been electricity in the days of the book of Acts; for the sailors sounded into the water to see how deep it was (Acts 27:28). Does not that technology require electricity?

No.

To sound is to make use of a line tied to a piece of lead to ascertain the depth of water.
 

JTB

Well-known member
Aug 31, 2021
2,269
737
113
No.

To sound is to make use of a line tied to a piece of lead to ascertain the depth of water.
You sound 6 feet to a fathom if I remember right

But to answer the question, to sound using current technology would require electricity. I suppose a megaphone could be constructed to capture and amplify sound waves in the water, then activating some sort of clapper and listening for how fast the return arrives.
 
O

Oblio

Guest
In regards to the O.P., I believe that we are in the latter days of the end of the age of grace. One-world-government...the installation of the system that will enable the implementation of the mark of the beast...I don't know how anyone cannot see it. Except they don't want to.
 

justbyfaith

Well-known member
Sep 16, 2021
4,707
462
83
No.

To sound is to make use of a line tied to a piece of lead to ascertain the depth of water.
To sound has to do with using sound echoes to determine the depth of the water.
 

JesusLives

Senior Member
Oct 11, 2013
14,554
2,176
113
Matthew 24:
3As Jesus was sitting on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately. “Tell us,” they said, “when will this happen, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?”

4Jesus answered: “Watch out that no one deceives you. 5For many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am the Messiah,’ and will deceive many. 6You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come. 7Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places. 8All these are the beginning of birth pains.

9“Then you will be handed over to be persecuted and put to death, and you will be hated by all nations because of me. 10At that time many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other, 11and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people. 12Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, 13but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved. 14And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.

15“So when you see standing in the holy place ‘the abomination that causes desolation,’ spoken of through the prophet Daniel—let the reader understand— 16then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. 17Let no one on the housetop go down to take anything out of the house. 18Let no one in the field go back to get their cloak. 19How dreadful it will be in those days for pregnant women and nursing mothers! 20Pray that your flight will not take place in winter or on the Sabbath. 21For then there will be great distress, unequaled from the beginning of the world until now—and never to be equaled again.

22“If those days had not been cut short, no one would survive, but for the sake of the elect those days will be shortened. 23At that time if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Messiah!’ or, ‘There he is!’ do not believe it. 24For false messiahs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect. 25See, I have told you ahead of time.

26“So if anyone tells you, ‘There he is, out in the wilderness,’ do not go out; or, ‘Here he is, in the inner rooms,’ do not believe it. 27For as lightning that comes from the east is visible even in the west, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. 28Wherever there is a carcass, there the vultures will gather.

29“Immediately after the distress of those days

“ ‘the sun will be darkened,

and the moon will not give its light;

the stars will fall from the sky,

and the heavenly bodies will be shaken.’

30“Then will appear the sign of the Son of Man in heaven. And then all the peoples of the earth will mourn when they see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven, with power and great glory. 31And he will send his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of the heavens to the other.

32“Now learn this lesson from the fig tree: As soon as its twigs get tender and its leaves come out, you know that summer is near. 33Even so, when you see all these things, you know that it is near, right at the door. 34Truly I tell you, this generation will certainly not pass away until all these things have happened. 35Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.

The Day and Hour Unknown

36“But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. 37As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. 38For in the days before the flood, people were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, up to the day Noah entered the ark; 39and they knew nothing about what would happen until the flood came and took them all away. That is how it will be at the coming of the Son of Man.
 

JesusLives

Senior Member
Oct 11, 2013
14,554
2,176
113
1 Thessalonians 5:
1Now about the times and seasons, brothers, we do not need to write to you. 2For you are fully aware that the Day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. 3While people are saying, “Peace and security,” destruction will come upon them suddenly, like labor pains on a pregnant woman, and they will not escape.

4But you, brothers, are not in the darkness so that this day should overtake you like a thief. 5For you are all sons of the light and sons of the day; we do not belong to the night or to the darkness. 6So then, let us not sleep as the others do, but let us remain awake and sober. 7For those who sleep, sleep at night; and those who get drunk, get drunk at night. 8But since we belong to the day, let us be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love, and the helmet of our hope of salvation.

9For God has not appointed us to suffer wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ. 10He died for us so that, whether we are awake or asleep, we may live together with Him. 11Therefore encourage and build one another up, just as you are already doing.
 

BroTan

Active member
Sep 16, 2021
898
161
43
We are in the latter days, I believe!
Let's see if this is happening in 2 Peter 3: 1 This second epistle, beloved, I now write unto you; in both which I stir up your pure minds by way of remembrance: 2 that ye may be mindful of the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets, and of the commandment of us the apostles of the Lord and Saviour: 3 knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts,

Also Let's take a look at what Paul says in 2 Timothy 3: 1 This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. 2 For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, 3 without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, 4 traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; 5 having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away. 6For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts, 7 ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.

I see these things happening in large scales all over the world, yes we are in the last days.
 

Hann57

Junior Member
Jan 2, 2018
270
57
28
I read Paul's epistles only. As a saved member of the body of Christ that is all we have.
Anything outside of Paul's writings was not written to us.
To place Paul's words not only on the same level with but superior to the Lord Jesus Christ's is fraught with problems, and it appears to be what Hann is doing by rejecting the teachings of the Lord in the Gospels (Matthew and Mark specifically) as if they were not written to us. Rejecting the words of Christ in the Gospels yet affirming them in Paul is at the very least illogical, and at its worst deeply heretical.
Really ? You obviously do not consider whatever Paul wrote, he wrote "scripture" It was not " Paul's words" as you say.
2Ti 3:16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:

The scriptures are to be read as if they are the commandments of the Lord.

1Co_14:37 If any man think himself to be a prophet, or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things that I write unto you are the commandments of the Lord.

You might do well to listen to what Paul writes about salvation, because not only is all of Paul's writing scripture from God.
The gospel Paul preached was given to him by the Lord.

Gal 1:11 But I certify you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached of me is not after man.
Gal 1:12 For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ.

1Co 15:3 For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;
1Co 15:4 And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:
 

JTB

Well-known member
Aug 31, 2021
2,269
737
113
Any scripture outside of Paul's epistles is not for the church the body of Christ
Oh, you're a page ripper. Good luck with that.

The MRV.jpg
 

TheDivineWatermark

Well-known member
Aug 3, 2018
10,923
2,118
113
Oh, you're a page ripper. Good luck with that.
What I think he means is, that SINCE "Make for yourself an ark of gopher wood; make rooms in the ark and coat it with pitch inside and out" was not ADDRESSED to YOU [you "JTB"] is the REASON why we do not see [member] "JTB" (you) out there gathering up "gopher wood" in preparation of building an ARK / BOX-shaped BOAT today [/ in this era]. ;)


No one is proposing "CUTTING OUT" the passage (or ANY passage of Scripture) simply because it was not ADDRESSED to US (as INSTRUCTION directly FOR/ABOUT US [/the Church WHICH IS HIS BODY] *TO DO*)
 

JTB

Well-known member
Aug 31, 2021
2,269
737
113
What I think he means is, that SINCE "Make for yourself an ark of gopher wood; make rooms in the ark and coat it with pitch inside and out" was not ADDRESSED to YOU [you "JTB"] is the REASON why we do not see [member] "JTB" (you) out there gathering up "gopher wood" in preparation of building an ARK / BOX-shaped BOAT today [/ in this era]. ;)


No one is proposing "CUTTING OUT" the passage (or ANY passage of Scripture) simply because it was not ADDRESSED to US (as INSTRUCTION directly FOR/ABOUT US [/the Church WHICH IS HIS BODY] *TO DO*)
It still has meaning for us today.

God told Noah how to prepare for what was coming. Noah did as he was asked

God told my wife and I how to prepare for what is coming. We are doing what we have been asked (Primarily moving out of a population center into the wilderness, buying a home with a safe room, and stocking it with food water clothes and medical supplies).

Every time you think a scripture doesn't apply to you, rip that page out. Then at the end of a year, see how much of God's eternal word you have dismissed as no longer pertinent.

He's just reading the stuff Paul wrote and dismissing the rest as N/A.

Again, I wish him luck with that.
 

tanakh

Senior Member
Dec 1, 2015
4,635
1,041
113
77
Yup we are definitely at the end times anyone who thinks we are not must be living in a parallel universe
If you are among those who think otherwise I humbly ask how the hell you expect the supposed future
will shape up. Do you hope to be cloned' or live in some kind of mechanical duplicated robot. i hope we are in the end times because I wouldn't want to be around any longer than I have to..
 

Pilgrimshope

Well-known member
Sep 2, 2020
14,628
5,897
113
That's not what the bible says:

1Th 5:1 But of the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that I write unto you.
1Th 5:2 For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night.
1Th 5:3 For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape.
1Th 5:4 But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief.
1Th 5:5 Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness.
1Th 5:6 Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober.

The unsaved will be surprised by Christ coming for His Church at the Rapture but the Church will not be.

Christ coming for His Church at the Rapture -- expected, announced, and with much forewarning.
Amen because like Hannah they don’t think there are any signs to be seen but one would have to hear Jesus

“And as he sat upon the mount of Olives, the disciples came unto him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world?”
‭‭Matthew‬ ‭24:3‬ ‭KJV‬‬

“And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you. For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many. ( false doctrines would flourish and deceive many like Paul said 2 Timothy 4:3-5 and Peter also 2 Peter 2:1-3)

And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet.”
‭‭Matthew‬ ‭24:4-6‬ ‭KJV‬‬

“For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places. All these are the beginning of sorrows.

Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name's sake. And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another.

And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many. And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold. But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.”
‭‭Matthew‬ ‭24:7-13‬ ‭KJV‬‬

“And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.

For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect. Behold, I have told you before.”
‭‭Matthew‬ ‭24:14, 24-25‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken:

And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.

And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.”
‭‭Matthew‬ ‭24:29-31‬ ‭KJV‬‬

There’s plenty of signs so we aren’t in the dark but when you approach the Bible and start with Jesus words don’t apply to Christians one will come to the conclusion we’re in the dark because he and his word is our light.

when we cut out anything but one servant and apostles words there’s going to be a lot left out and one will come to ideas like a pre trib rapture , or that there’re are no signs of the end times

if we hear and believe the gospel we have light in a dark world that’s going to be caught off guard because they rejected the truth
 

Pilgrimshope

Well-known member
Sep 2, 2020
14,628
5,897
113
Where did you learn such nonsense? Certainly not in Scripture.
That’s all she ever posts about look up “ Paul Ellis “ or “ Joseph prince “ and you’ll see the source