Woe! A bunch of Dispies, cheering on the end. Instead of using the time to preach the gospel to the whole world, you are predicting "the END!" If you really believed the end was coming, you would be sharing the gospel with everyone, instead of navel gazing, or looking up at the sky. Isn't that what Jesus said?
"and [Jesus] said unto them, Occupy till I come." Luke 19:13
Plus, such a poor knowledge of history! Do you have any idea how many big empires grew and then were shattered since the time of Christ? Right from the Greek empire, under Alexander a few years before, who Hellenized the known world, which is why The NT was written in Koine Greek & the OT was translated into Greek - (the Septuagint or LXX) because Greek was the common language! Then moving on to the Roman Empire, the Ottoman Empire, the Mongol Empire, the Lithuanian Empire, the British empire, the Aztec & Inca empires in the Western Hemisphere, the Chinese empires, and African & Asian empires that I don't know anything about, to the Austrian-Hungarian empire, the German empire (the 3rd Reich) and yes these empires have all come and gone, while Christians said the end was coming, and it did NOT. And now the modern Communist Chinese Empire, not forgetting the short lived Soviet Empire, either. And especially the American empire, which seems to be imploding, with leftist lies & dominance!
The Crusades (backed by the Holy Roman Empire, first under Charlemagne) had an underlying principle of seizing Jerusalem back from the Muslims, so Jesus could return to a Christian empire & come down on the Mount of Olives, at the end of the 1000 year millennium from the time of Christ to 1000AD. At least they had a great timeline of 1000 years since Christ! Of course they were wrong, many were killed, although it did stop the encroachment of Islam into Eastern Europe.
Yet, despite cleverly interpreting the signs, these empires, from Rome to the present, were all wrong. We may well be seeing the end of the American empire, right now! The signs could be saying that! Not that Jesus is returning!
As for Jesus return and the end? What did Jesus say?
"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. 27 For as lightning that comes from the east is visible even in the west, so will be the coming of the Son of Man." Matt 24:26-27
"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." Matt 24:30
"Truly I tell you, this generation will certainly not pass away until all these things have happened. 35 Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.
36 But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father." Matt 24:34-36
There will be a sign, yes! Will it lead up to Jesus returning? NO! It will happen when Jesus returns, (at the same time!) and we don't even know what that sign or time is! To say nothing of the fact that it was predicted for the generation Christ was addressing, not the generation in 2023!
Too many of you live in an echo chamber. The more your pastor, friends, family affirm it is the end times, the more you believe it is!
And it may well be, that this is the time for Jesus to return! But we have no idea, because so many nations and empires have fallen & disappeared. I have total trust that Jesus will literally return. When the Father is ready.
Really, what is God waiting for!? Why hasn't he already returned? Why is it not now? Because he is waiting for the most possible people to be a part of the Kingdom of God!
"But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. 9 The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance. 2 Peter 3:8-9
So, what is the best & only way for us to be a part of bringing about the Second Coming of Jesus? Preach, (as in evangelize!) the gospel. People won't get saved, if they don't hear the message of salvation!
8 But what does it say? “The word is near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart,” that is, the message concerning faith that we proclaim:
9 If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved. 11 As Scripture says, “Anyone who believes in him will never be put to shame.” 12 For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile—the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him, 13 for, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”
14 How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? 15 And how can anyone preach unless they are sent? As it is written: “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives." Romans 10:8-15
The message that rings across the NT, is we are God's plan to speak the good news! To live the Great Commission, as Jesus commanded us to do!
"Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” Matt 28:18-20
PS Anyone who believes this is the end times AND preaches the gospel, is obeying God! This post is not for those faithful Christians. I know there a a great number of people on CC, who use their sense of urgency concerning the return of Jesus to be inspired to fulfill Jesus' commands.
My husband and I have a long time (over 40 years!) Christian friend. His theology is terrible in so many ways. He was not well educated as a child, because he was chronically ill. BUT, at page 92, he prays constantly for everyone to be saved. He shares the gospel with everyone he meets, even standing on a street corner, waiting for the light to change. And he would follow the person, till he felt sure they understood the gospel. His reward will be great in heaven, I believe! And so will all the others who are not standing idle, but are preaching the Plan of Salvation, and trusting God that their work will bear fruit!
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Amen?
