The reason I wished to get some discussion going on this is that I am not convinced we are living at the very end of time.
The "signs" that are often touted ring true at first but upon closer review it appears they are not much different than they have been for hundreds or thousands of years prior....
Are there more earthquakes today than say... in the 1900's?
Is homosexuality much more prevalent today than in old Rome?
Are wars more commonplace now than in times when tens of millions died in inquisitions?
I dug out some old notes (so the stats are old, as well). Maybe I'll get the time to update the info. Nevertheless, in answer to your question about earthquakes, consider this:
a. From the 9th Century through the 17th Century, there were only 10 major earthquakes (over 7.0 on the Richter Scale – 6.5 is listed as “significant”).
b. In the 18th Century, there were 5, and in the 19th Century, there were Nine!
c. So far in the 20th Century (through 1997), there have been 1,960 major earthquakes!
(1) The World Almanac lists the following: from 1800 - 1896, (96 years) six of strength; 1897 – 1947 (50 years), 12-13; 1948 – 1956 (10 years), 7; 1957 – 1966 (10 years), 17; 1967 – 1976 (10 years), 50 of significant strength and 18 major earthquakes!
(2) The US Government gives the following: from 1977 - 1986 there were 116 MAJOR earthquakes, and 7 GREAT earthquakes! From 1987 - 1996, there were 142 major earthquakes, and 6 great earthquakes. (A “Great” Earthquake is above 8.0 on the Richter Scale.)
(3) The Us Geological Survey states that there is a 100% chance of an earthquake EVERY DAY. In fact, since 1900 the average annual number of earthquakes is as follows: Great (8+) – 1; Major (7-7.9) – 18; Strong (6-6.9) – 120; Moderate (5-5.9) – 800; Light (4-4.9) – 6,200; Minor (3-3.9) – 49,000; Very Minor (<3) – 9,000 PER DAY!
I dug out some old notes (so the stats are old, as well). Maybe I'll get the time to update the info. Nevertheless, in answer to your question about earthquakes, consider this:
a. From the 9th Century through the 17th Century, there were only 10 major earthquakes (over 7.0 on the Richter Scale – 6.5 is listed as “significant”).
b. In the 18th Century, there were 5, and in the 19th Century, there were Nine!
c. So far in the 20th Century (through 1997), there have been 1,960 major earthquakes!
(1) The World Almanac lists the following: from 1800 - 1896, (96 years) six of strength; 1897 – 1947 (50 years), 12-13; 1948 – 1956 (10 years), 7; 1957 – 1966 (10 years), 17; 1967 – 1976 (10 years), 50 of significant strength and 18 major earthquakes!
(2) The US Government gives the following: from 1977 - 1986 there were 116 MAJOR earthquakes, and 7 GREAT earthquakes! From 1987 - 1996, there were 142 major earthquakes, and 6 great earthquakes. (A “Great” Earthquake is above 8.0 on the Richter Scale.)
(3) The Us Geological Survey states that there is a 100% chance of an earthquake EVERY DAY. In fact, since 1900 the average annual number of earthquakes is as follows: Great (8+) – 1; Major (7-7.9) – 18; Strong (6-6.9) – 120; Moderate (5-5.9) – 800; Light (4-4.9) – 6,200; Minor (3-3.9) – 49,000; Very Minor (<3) – 9,000 PER DAY!
More on this later - Not everyone agrees that there is more sizemic activity now than in prior decades.
__________________ "It is inhumane, in my opinion, to force people who have a genuine medical need for coffee to wait in line behind people who apparently view it as some kind of recreational activity." Dave Barry 2005
I am a firm believer in the Old Paths
Articles on such subjects as "The New Birth," will be accepted, whether they teach that the new birth takes place before baptism in water and Spirit, or that the new birth consists of baptism of water and Spirit. - THE PENTECOSTAL HERALD Dec. 1945
"It is doubtful if any Trinitarian Pentecostals have ever professed to believe in three gods, and Oneness Pentecostals should not claim that they do." - Daniel Segraves
I worked on the church building all day long....and I am WORN OUT. Someone call Baxter, prophecy has been fulfilled!
The end is nigh... for you... (or your day at least)
__________________ "It is inhumane, in my opinion, to force people who have a genuine medical need for coffee to wait in line behind people who apparently view it as some kind of recreational activity." Dave Barry 2005
I am a firm believer in the Old Paths
Articles on such subjects as "The New Birth," will be accepted, whether they teach that the new birth takes place before baptism in water and Spirit, or that the new birth consists of baptism of water and Spirit. - THE PENTECOSTAL HERALD Dec. 1945
"It is doubtful if any Trinitarian Pentecostals have ever professed to believe in three gods, and Oneness Pentecostals should not claim that they do." - Daniel Segraves
The reason I wished to get some discussion going on this is that I am not convinced we are living at the very end of time.
The "signs" that are often touted ring true at first but upon closer review it appears they are not much different than they have been for hundreds or thousands of years prior....
Are there more earthquakes today than say... in the 1900's?
Is homosexuality much more prevalent today than in old Rome?
Are wars more commonplace now than in times when tens of millions died in inquisitions?
I pretty much agree with you. As a hugonaut if the king of France and the catholic church was wearing out the saints around 1550 or so.
homosexuality has risen and fallen a half dozen times since christ walked the earth.
men (including turtullian) have claimed to be Jesus since shortly after he assended to heaven.
End times? who knows.
__________________ If I do something stupid blame the Lortab!
Wearing out of the saints. This scripture speaks of it even if the context isn't exactly 100% applicable.
Dan 7:25 And he shall speak great words against the most High, and shall wear out the saints of the most High, and think to change times and laws: and they shall be given into his hand until a time and times and the dividing of time.
__________________ Smiles & Blessings.... ~Felicity Welsh~ (surname courtesy of Jim Yohe)
we are closer to the Age of Ages than ever before...
The time when all people shall be judged...
and the Christ supreme revealed...
AND TIME SHALL BE NO MORE.
__________________ "It is inhumane, in my opinion, to force people who have a genuine medical need for coffee to wait in line behind people who apparently view it as some kind of recreational activity." Dave Barry 2005
I am a firm believer in the Old Paths
Articles on such subjects as "The New Birth," will be accepted, whether they teach that the new birth takes place before baptism in water and Spirit, or that the new birth consists of baptism of water and Spirit. - THE PENTECOSTAL HERALD Dec. 1945
"It is doubtful if any Trinitarian Pentecostals have ever professed to believe in three gods, and Oneness Pentecostals should not claim that they do." - Daniel Segraves
Do you believe we are living in the very last days?
Are there signs, unique to our current age, that show the fat lady is about to sing?
Please share a few examples of what you believe are signs of the "End Time".
I find it interesting to note that each of the recorded instances where our Lord's response to the apostles' inquiry concerning what we are to look for which would be indicative of His return in bodily form to the earth at the end of the present age, that the word SIGN is used in the singular sense, and NOT in the plural (that is to say, ONE event, or happening, as opposed to "many") - see Matthew 24:3, Mark 13:3, & Luke 21:7.
I also find it worthy of note that the first words of our Lord's response to this SINGULAR "sign," contained the admonition/warning to exercise extreme caution that NO man deceive you concerning this matter. IMO I believe that the words comprising our Lord's initial response are meant to imply/infer that "widespread spiritual deception" would be the FOREMOST "sign" of the nearness of His coming again to the earth. Surely there can be NO disputing the fact that we are witnesses to the actual fulfillment of this prophetic utterance in the days in which we presently live. The abundance of "false prophets," constantly spewing out their erroneous, misleading teachings, are found in every nation today! For this "singular" reason I am convinced that we are living in the closing moments of the "last days."
This important factor is also why I believe a study of the remaining portion of our Lord's reponse to the inquiry of His chosen apostles regarding this matter, is not only relevant, but extremely crucial. I believe this most sincerely because not only is this the ONLY doctrinal teaching within the entire worldwide Oneness Apostolic Pentecostal movement in which a variety of error is to be found (and perhaps the only one that we hold in common with the worldwide Trinitarian "professing" Christian community), but our lack of a clearly defined, unified agreement concerning those events which are to precede the soon-coming appearance of our Lord and the subsequent bodily resurrection of the righteous dead, has heretofore severely hindered the OAP movement from its ability to recognize the critically important message it should be striving to deliver to the lost among us!
That message is simply that for these past 2,000 years since the ascension of our Lord to His throne in the heavens, He has been busy with the task of building an "ark" of safety (His church) as a haven for all His chosen people. Just as it was in the days of Noah, when that moment arrives that God arises and shuts the doors to His "ark," NO man will be able to enter after this event takes place. Surely that future moment will be the fulfillment of our Lord's prophecy, which warned that "the night cometh when NO man can work" (see John 9:4).
The great "falling away" foretold by apostle Paul in II Thessalonians 2:3, represents this same event. As far back as the days of Job we are able to read of this forthcoming event - "He taketh away the heart of the chief of the people of the earth, and causeth them to wander in a wilderness where there is no way. They grope in the darkness without light, and he maketh them to stagger like a drunken man" (Job 12:24-25). The word "darkness, or "night," is used throughout the Bible to indicate an absence of knowledge concerning things spiritual. This is also why we find it written in I Thessalonians 5:2 and II Peter 3:10 that "the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the NIGHT." I ask, does a thief come only under the cover of darkness? This phrase used by both Paul and Peter is one which is also used by Amos whenever he wrote of the day of our Lord's return (see Amos 5:18-20).
Jesus foretold of the arrival of a future moment when ALL those who do NOT possess an understanding of the TRUTH, would experience the REMOVAL from their minds, whatever degree of such understanding which they might "seem to have" (see Matthew 13:12; 25:29, Mark 4:25, Luke 8:18 & 19:26). Our Lord's prophecy regarding this event was clarified by Paul when he penned - "...for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believea lie:..." (II Thessalonians 2:11).
A careful examination of the manner in which the "righteousness" of God is applied throughout the Bible, and one finds that just as He rendered a judgment of "gross spiritual blindness" upon the Israelites who rejected Him, He MUST also impose this SAME penalty upon every Gentile who rejects Him as well. We find this prophecy mentioned in Lamentations chapter 1.
There exists so much more I could write about these things, and hope to do so in the days ahead. I urge all who occasion to read what I have written to prayerfully consider their scriptural merits.
May the love of God and the peace of the Holy Ghost ever abide with His chosen people!
I am 43 so I am half way home. No matter what verse we are passing through in Daniel or Revelations.
This is my view as well... Like smoke from a chimney, a vapor... life is here and gone.
The sixth seal has been brought down on me - evidenced by my balding head!
Life is short.
__________________ "It is inhumane, in my opinion, to force people who have a genuine medical need for coffee to wait in line behind people who apparently view it as some kind of recreational activity." Dave Barry 2005
I am a firm believer in the Old Paths
Articles on such subjects as "The New Birth," will be accepted, whether they teach that the new birth takes place before baptism in water and Spirit, or that the new birth consists of baptism of water and Spirit. - THE PENTECOSTAL HERALD Dec. 1945
"It is doubtful if any Trinitarian Pentecostals have ever professed to believe in three gods, and Oneness Pentecostals should not claim that they do." - Daniel Segraves
Hybrid Mode
