Are We Approaching The End Times?

[Littlejoe]

It underscores Jesus' "you will hear" these things happening (Matthew 24:6-8). The events themselves have no significance to any generation, including the generation Jesus was addressing because the events he describes were occurring even during and had occurred before Jesus spoke about it. There were always wars. There were always rumors of wars. There were always famines. There were always pestilences. There were always earthquakes (heck, there was an earthquake right when Jesus died on the cross). How we hear these things is the only thing about that passage that makes our generation unique than all others generations previous.

Ah! Ok...but, Jesus was talking specifically to the Disciples in private, in answer to their questions. Why do you think Jesus was addressing us and not them?

[seanD]

While you are 100% right about the 1st sentence, the boldened part isn't 100% true. I would say a cellphone accessing a Cell tower IS a special broadcasting network and it can be taken down very easily if the powers that be want to. Television with the CNN's etc. still rival the internet but I agree the depth of the available info is greater on the internet.

What significance to you place on the increased communications ability?

It underscores Jesus' "you will hear" these things happening (Matthew 24:6-8). The events themselves have no significance to any generation, including the generation Jesus was addressing because the events he describes were occurring even during and had occurred before Jesus spoke about it. There were always wars. There were always rumors of wars. There were always famines. There were always pestilences. There were always earthquakes (heck, there was an earthquake right when Jesus died on the cross). How we hear these things is the only thing about that passage that makes our generation unique than all others generations previous.

[Cow Poke]

Keep a window or skylight open too so you don't get stuck on the ceiling if the rapture happens while you are inside!

I have a hard head - I think I'll just crash on through.

[Sparko]

When I take a shower, I always keep a towel within arm's reach just in case.

Keep a window or skylight open too so you don't get stuck on the ceiling if the rapture happens while you are inside!

[Cow Poke]

When I take a shower, I always keep a towel within arm's reach just in case.

[Littlejoe]

A person in Russia can access the same information (even reatime events) that a person in the US can access, at the exact same time and in the exact same way. They don't even need a special broadcasting network to do it. Anyone with a cellphone and an internet connection can broadcast it. Even the invention of the television doesn't compare to the internet today in regards to access of realtime information to anyone around the world at any time.

While you are 100% right about the 1st sentence, the boldened part isn't 100% true. I would say a cellphone accessing a Cell tower IS a special broadcasting network and it can be taken down very easily if the powers that be want to. Television with the CNN's etc. still rival the internet but I agree the depth of the available info is greater on the internet.

What significance to you place on the increased communications ability?

[rogue06]

But He's still not telling us.

He'd make a formidable poker player

[Thoughtful Monk]

Provocative episode. Religious freedom, medical overreach, role of government.

And was first aired in April 1994. There really is "nothing new under the sun."

[NorrinRadd]

Thankee - I will make sure to watch it.

Provocative episode. Religious freedom, medical overreach, role of government.

[Cow Poke]

Absolutely agree.

Me too also.

[Cow Poke]

23:37:22!!!

and counting.

[Thoughtful Monk]

He didn't know. He does now.

But He's still not telling us.

[Thoughtful Monk]

How long is a generation? Twenty years? Maybe forty years? He might not return for another forty thousand years!

Agreed, He may not come for another forty thousand years or a billion years (the estimated time until the sun goes red giant and swallows the earth) or even 5 billion years (the estimated time until the universe dies). Or it is still possible He could come later today. The not knowing is what makes this such an interesting topic.

[Thoughtful Monk]

Yup. Either extreme is wrong. We should neither obsess over it nor ignore it.

The only difficulty that I see is that often the teaching morphs into obsession.

I agree. And this seems to be the area of theology that most likely makes someone obsessed.

[rogue06]

I agree with you when people can get over obsessed with eschatology.

Unfortunately we also have the flip side which is totally ignoring the subject which may indicate someone is drifting away from the faith.

Like most subjects in Christianity, it needs to be taught but not obsessed over.

Yup. Either extreme is wrong. We should neither obsess over it nor ignore it.

The only difficulty that I see is that often the teaching morphs into obsession.