I feel no offense, but....

But what about the other religions of the world? What if they gave you the same warning according to what their religious books say about the end of times?

Look at how many times, JW's have predicted the end of the world over and over again,etc...

I think we're all looking to end up in the right place - I just don't necessarily think it'll happen according to a Tribulation map. I remember watching those rapture movies when I was a kid and they scared the crap outta me.

Live life. Be good people. Don't hate. Don't live in fright, that's not living...

-John 13:34-35
-Matthew 24:36

Just askin' that's all....

Thoughts?

Movies like that were shown in my church too, Matt, and they also scared the crap out of me. I don't think anybody should be driven to Christ out of fear.  Christ came to "draw" all men and women to himself, not to "drive" them to him. 

I'm a recovering right-wing fundamentalist Christian.  I'm trying to lose the bad part, and retain the good stuff.

I'm still trying to reconcile verses like "I am the way, the truth and the life, no man cometh unto the Father but by me," with my feeling of compassion for those genuinely and earnestly seeking spiritual truth, but on a different path than my own. 

I know what I would do, but I'm not sure what God would do.  I know he's merciful, and full of love, grace and compassion, but I also know he sent Jesus to earth for a reason, and that was to save souls.  He was presented as his "only son," not one of many.

I'm still struggling to understand these things, but I commend chrisyann7 for her courage in posting this. 

Churches I have attended over the years have never preached fear, nor rapture.  This time of year we always looked forward to Easter and blessings to come.

I did enjoy the "Left Behind" series, but I did not read the last Revelations one.

Shouldn't he have come when we had the Great Depression and WWII?  I don't think today is as bad as then.  Shouldn't he have come during the social turmoils that were happening that lead to our civil war?   Shouldn't he have come during the Plague when a third of the population was wiped out and the rest were left with hunger and despair?  Or shouldn't he have come during the most oppressive era of the Roman Empire, the time when the authors of the New Testament really thought he was coming soon? 

What about Mohammad?  The Koran pretty much says the same thing about when he's supposed to show up again.  How do we know that isn't true? 

Personally, I think we need to stop worrying about "end times" and really focus on what we need to do to make things right in THIS world.

Rob,

You've hit on many good points. You can easily throw tons of world catastrophes into the discussion. I guess it's easy for young people to say, "The end of the world is near!" But if you were to ask a Holocaust survivor, they'd probably say it ended a longtime ago or wish it had.

I think growing up in a very, very, very Catholic home gets me drawn to religious discussions. This stuff can drive you nuts, man!

I think it's always best to discuss our beliefs, without being judgemental...That ain't Christian...

LUKE ³²Only people who don't know God are always worrying about such things. Your Father in heaven knows that you need all of these. ³³But more than anything else, put God's work first and do what he wants. Then the other things will be yours as well.

    ³⁴Don't worry about tomorrow. It will take care of itself. You have enough to worry about today.

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH

and matt dont talk shit about Jehovahs Wittnesses. Only i cant do that. but yes you are right ;)

according to the BIBLE a sign is hunger, food shortages, earthquakes..... etc............. i see nothing differant. its a ploy to get you to behave. Civilizations come and go....So do people. I dont believe in Hell and that Jesus and God are the same person. Maybe a little research is in order before coming on here saying SAVE YOURSELF. Admitting you are a sinner isnt what "gets you into heaven" JESUS CHRIST!!!

Don't forget pestilence.

Oh yes, I did have a young pastor once who dismissed the other religions of the world by just saying that they were wrong.

We had a Christian pair come to our door just a couple days ago to tell us that the end of days is at hand. I simply looked at them and asked, "How many shopping days do we have left?"

Come to think of it, this might be a good time to stop paying that pesky mortgage.

Edited to add: Not that I really believe in hell, but I know I'm going there anyway. Chances are, I'm gonna see a lot of people I know...

I like to answer the door naked when I accept my religious tracks from well dressed strangers.

Heh, I chide of course. I'm only mostly naked....  with a ciggy and a bottle of mad dog 20/20.

What's your address, Sis, I'll be right over.  Praise God etc.  And oh yes, I 'm not paying any more income taxes either.  Praise Obama.

Matt, last night we watched an old movie "Sophie's Choice".  Have you seen that.  Makes you think.

I live in the high desert now Gramps. I like to think God has a huge sense of humor. I love thinking about how much God loves me and how the world is in End Times.

According to christians the world has been in End Times for the last two or three thousand years. Seriously though, when they come to my door I am polite. I listen, I smile and I take to heart their ernest efforts to save my soul and complete their mission.

I just do not care for organized religion at all. I do not care for shape-shifters who take pride in fleecing Gods flock.

Christians have not been in end-times for 3 thousand years because there was no Christ then.  But I agree, organized religion can be a pain.  Belief in goodness works for me.

And yes, God has a sense of humor.  He created us didn't He?

Haha! Thanks for catching that gramps. I was thinking humanity and typed christians instead. I like to picture God shirtless in a kilt and flip flops. Cracks me the hell up.