The End of the World - A Biblical Perspective

[tiki]

Hokey, I found this. But I don't really know what it means.

 

Ecclesiastes 3:19 NIV

Man's fate is like that of the animals; the same fate awaits them both: As one dies, so dies the other. All have the same breath [ Or spirit ] ; man has no advantage over the animal. Everything is meaningless.

[moimeme]

Oh and Tiki check out Biblegateway dot com. Which, since it ain't commercial, ought not be a sin to mention It's my favourite reference for Biblical word searches.

[tiki]

Originally posted by moimeme

Nothing to do with being 'self-righteous'. Just ranting because I'm so tired of people perpetuating the same old tired dumb beliefs. And not just yours. Frankly, it's frightening how little people know about stuff like this but how quick they are to judge/believe anyway. Is nobody on this planet ever taught to find out facts before they make decisions? Or did that go out of style?

 

Well, I'm all about learning. And I don't think being condescending is necessary. It's getting old.

 

And if you know everything, please try to explain it.

[moimeme]

How is it everybody but me gets to rant?

 

 

I'm NOT being condescending, DAMNIT.

 

Just FRUSTRATED.

[tiki]

Originally posted by moimeme

Oh and Tiki check out Biblegateway dot com. Which, since it ain't commercial, ought not be a sin to mention It's my favourite reference for Biblical word searches.

 

Thank you, I'll check it out.

 

Hope the other link was cool, I don't think they're trying to sell anything.

[blind_otter]

Originally posted by moimeme

How is it everybody but me gets to rant?

 

 

I'm NOT being condescending, DAMNIT.

 

Just FRUSTRATED.

 

There's a million different ways to phrase the same thing. Sometimes what sounds legitametly frustrated to you does sound condescending to others. Anyways why do you care so deeply about the ignorance of others? IMO there is ignorance from inexperience, and willful ignorance. And it don't do no good to punish either type.

 

I know, getting slapped on the wrists by nuns didn't really do anything but make me have a nun phobia.

[tiki]

Originally posted by moimeme

How is it everybody but me gets to rant?

 

 

I'm NOT being condescending, DAMNIT.

 

Just FRUSTRATED.

 

I think it's just your approach - or something.

 

I don't know what a Protestant is. I've never been taught what it was, I've been in church all my life. But that's part of why I have so much to learn, and there is so much TO learn. I'm assuming it's some part of Christianity, like being Church of Christ, Baptist, whatever.

 

If you have knowledge, you should share it. But you were getting ten shades of upset for some reason unbeknownst to me.

[blind_otter]

Originally posted by tiki

I think it's just your approach - or something.

 

I don't know what a Protestant is. I've never been taught what it was, I've been in church all my life. But that's part of why I have so much to learn, and there is so much TO learn. I'm assuming it's some part of Christianity, like being Church of Christ, Baptist, whatever.

 

If you have knowledge, you should share it. But you were getting ten shades of upset for some reason unbeknownst to me.

 

Originally there was just a buncha dude swho followed the teachings of Christ. Over time the followers of Christ have separated into various sects. The orthodox sect splintered in catholocism vs. eastern orthodox christians (I think over the issue of having the pope). Protestants "protested" the orthodoxy of catholocism (which is even less orthodox than eastern orthodox), and splintered into several sub-groups. Baptists, Episcopalians, etc - each have their own little tweaks that they did to the practice of the faith and their beliefs.

 

In catholic school we called protestants (we referred to non-catholic christians as all protestants b/c they were protesting catholocism) "catholocism lite" as a joke because they didn't have to observe the things we did, like lent, or doing the stations of the cross or saying the rosary, and their ministers didn't have to be celibate.

[moimeme]

It's not just you, Tiki. You are about the bazillionth poster to differentiate between 'Christians' and 'Protestants' or 'Catholics'. Without going into all the history (where's old Dyer when we need him?), 'Protestants' are called that because they protested various things about Catholicism. That is way simplistic but that's what it boils down to.

 

1st - Jews - believed in God, waited for a saviour to come

 

2nd - Christians - believed that Christ was the saviour. Catholics say that Catholicism was the first religion because the church which then emerged was composed of those people who followed Christ directly and their descendants. Peter the Apostle was our first Pope - or at least that's the teachings.

 

Catholicism was the Christian religion (not going into the Orthodox schism) until people like King Henry VIII and Martin Luther decided they thought Catholics were doing it wrong and came up with theologies they felt were more faithful to Christ's wishes - but they were all still believers in Christ, as are all the zillion sects of Protestantism - Mormons, Baptists, Anglicans, etc etc etc.

 

However there were always some sects who claimed to follow the Bible fully (read my rants on this someday - they don't) and those are the ones you hear about now. Bush is one as are a whole bunch of folks in Congress and they're trying to shove their 'Biblical' version of Christianity into the lives of everyone by, for instance, trying to repeal the laws permitting Abortion. But because they don't identify themselves as 'Baptists' or 'Presbyterians' (and in many cases belong to whole new churches started by individuals), they call themselves only 'Christians' - and now people who don't know the history are assuming that these 'Christians' represent all the tens of thousands of other sorts of Christians and they don't.

[BrotherAaron]

Unfortunately, is the fundamentalists that are making all the noise - so people assume they represent the majority of Christians. Turn on the TV, and who are you going to see? Probably Pat Robertson, talking about how homosexuals are responsible for 9/11, because God's angry at us. That's exactly who you want to listen to if you're looking for theories about how this surely must be the "end of times", because that guy's convinced that we're looking at the rapture within his life time.

[blind_otter]

Originally posted by BrotherAaron

Unfortunately, is the fundamentalists that are making all the noise - so people assume they represent the majority of Christians. Turn on the TV, and who are you going to see? Probably Pat Robertson, talking about how homosexuals are responsible for 9/11, because God's angry at us. That's exactly who you want to listen to if you're looking for theories about how this surely must be the "end of times", because that guy's convinced that we're looking at the rapture within his life time.

 

Early Christians assumed that the rapture would occur within their lifetimes - I think that's what the general tone of the scriptures kind of leans towards. That's why you can't take the bible literally. I don't see how you can anyways, having read it quite a few times, it's still a jumble in my head.

[Humbledog]

Originally posted by blind_otter

Humans are linear thinkers. The concept of compassion and forgiveness for a being that is omnipotent, omnipresent, and eternal, would not be anything that a human schmear could comprehend. We are like ants compared to a being like that, doncha know.

 

Again, I must ask.... Than are we just a splatter on a canvas that has no meaning

or concern or do we have a purpous? I believe all lifeforms have a purpous!!! Your statement has led me to believe that we are just here with no meaning!!! Not trying to challenge you, but your statement has made me curious, and I have some strong evidence that does not portray us as a totally disreguarded random act!!! It seems to me there is something to our exsistence..... Who knows......

But interesting viewpoint, just asking you to elaborate!!!

[Tony]

Jesus may not have come yet because He can't figure out just how to do it. First of all, there are plenty of rooms at quality hotels for the birth to occur. In doing his good works he would be competing against so many frauds who pay big bucks to be on TV each week healing people in prearranged fashion. Magician David Copperfield does some pretty compelling magic that Jesus was never into.

 

The news media is very cynical and it's not likely that a man claiming to be the "Son of God" would get a lot of air time. The Bible tells us we are all the children of God. Lawmen would probably jail him sooner than later if he persisted.

 

In my own personal opinion, we save ourselves by doing God's work here on earth while we are here. There is no good reason for Jesus to return. He came and left His message and now it's up to us to follow it: love other people; forgive; feed the poor, be kind, etc.

 

Jesus returns everyday in the good works of people who subscribe to his teachings. For those who don't, the coming of the most real of Jesuses out of the sky or wherever would be seen as a ploy from Steven Spielberg to promote one of his movies....or the fact that we had just eaten something laced with drugs.

 

Rather than wait for the return of Jesus, do his work for him here while he is absent and that should be satisfaction enough. If he does stop by, I'm sure he'll show up on Larry King Live.

[Humbledog]

If you happen to know his arrival date, I have some comped Hilton room coupons! Continental breakfast, although I'm sure that woud suffice!!~!

[moimeme]

Rather than wait for the return of Jesus, do his work for him here while he is absent and that should be satisfaction enough.

 

 

It's a pity that Tony doesn't post more often!

[westernxer]

Originally posted by Humbledog

If you happen to know his arrival date, I have some comped Hilton room coupons! Continental breakfast, although I'm sure that woud suffice!!~!

 

Will Paris Hilton make a house call while His Highness is sleeping?

[Chris777]

Originally posted by moimeme

AUGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHh

 

OK. The word 'Christian' refers to ALLLLLL people who believe that Christ is the Son of God. That means Protestants AND Catholics.

 

However, the evangelical and fundamentalist Christians have managed to usurp the word 'Christian' and people seem to be too f*&^%^$%& dumb to comprehend that FUNDIES ARE NOT THE ONLY CHRISTIANS.

 

I was going to post a couple of verses, but I just couldn't stop this whole chapted addresses several issues recently brought up in several discussions so i posted it

look at them carefully

 

Matthew 7

1Judge not, that ye be not judged.

 

2For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again.

 

3And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye?

 

4Or how wilt thou say to thy brother, Let me pull out the mote out of thine eye; and, behold, a beam is in thine own eye?

 

5Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother's eye.

 

6Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast ye your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn again and rend you.

 

7Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you:

 

8For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.

 

9Or what man is there of you, whom if his son ask bread, will he give him a stone?

 

10Or if he ask a fish, will he give him a serpent?

 

11If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?

 

12Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets.

 

13Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat:

 

14Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.

15Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.

 

16Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?

 

17Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit.

 

18A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.

 

19Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.

 

20Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.

 

21Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.

 

22Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?

23And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.

 

24Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock:

 

25And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock.

 

26And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand:

 

27And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it.

 

28And it came to pass, when Jesus had ended these sayings, the people were astonished at his doctrine:

 

29For he taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes.

 

I wanted to show the whole chapter, so that It woudln't be said that it was out of context

 

But do keep in mind , that many claim, to be christians, yet, what fruit, do you see budding from their stems?

 

Now, Fundies and some Protestant sects maybe believe in this Rapture crap, but if you read a Bible that has some SCHOLARSHIP in it and that has references, you will understand that this is an apocalyptic tale, a type of story which was extremely common in those days. It was not the only one of its kind in other words.

 

Besides, people have been predicting the end of the world since the time of Christ, when Paul and others warned people not to marry and to prepare themselves because they figured Christ would return in a few years.

 

The rapture is no more biblical, than a revival, or most so called christian holidays.

the bible speaks of the second coming, of christ, however, the "rapture" is almost exclusively tied to a false doctrine, where christ sneaks down snatches up the "saved" and removes them from the coming wrath that will be poured into the world similarly to the judgement of egypt.

 

the raprure doctrine only workd when those that teach it add and subtract from other verses in both the old and new testaments. besides we have a hard enough time convincing the lost to seek salvation, just imagine, if all christians were gone, from the face of the earth? (And before the "good riddance comments" re read the verses posted earlier)

as for the end being near, look at how many people wait till the last minute during minor trivial things, then transpose it onto more demanding, and even dangerous, such as evacuations, and such, and finally on the most important of all, their own souls.

[ConfusedInOC]

Originally posted by HokeyReligions

Someday the sun is going to burn out and the planet will die. There will be people on earth who see that as the second coming and the darkness and death of the planet as something described in the Bible and they will believe it; but it will still only be the burning out of the sun and the result will be the same.

 

1. Man will have left Earth well before our Sun goes Supernova.

2. The Earth's natural resources will run out far before then.

3. By that time, if man has not wiped itself off the Earth and Christ has not returned, we will have many "home" planets. Earth will be where man is from, but not where he lives.

4. Christ will return far before our Sun expires.

[Tony]

It would be nice that before the end of the world, at least for just one day every thread and post on LoveShack.org would conform to site terms of service and guidelines. Perhaps that happening would be a sign?

[Mr Spock]

How come no one ever asks about the anti-christ??

[moimeme]

Because it's Bush?

 

 

[Chris777]

Originally posted by moimeme

as are all the zillion sects of Protestantism - Mormons, Baptists, Anglicans, etc etc etc.

 

(i was planning on skipping the first part of your post, but i ran across the mormon bit )

Mormons are not Christians, they follow extremely different doctrines, and books.

mormonism is more like islam, false prophet. and interestingly enough look at the similarities between the 2 religions, it is almost as if the same demon inspired them both.

 

 

 

However there were always some sects who claimed to follow the Bible fully (read my rants on this someday - they don't) and those are the ones you hear about now. Bush is one as are a whole bunch of folks in Congress and they're trying to shove their 'Biblical' version of Christianity into the lives of everyone by, for instance, trying to repeal the laws permitting Abortion. But because they don't identify themselves as 'Baptists' or 'Presbyterians' (and in many cases belong to whole new churches started by individuals), they call themselves only 'Christians' - and now people who don't know the history are assuming that these 'Christians' represent all the tens of thousands of other sorts of Christians and they don't.

 

Bush is a methodist. Bush also kisses everyones behind, and follows some decidely un biblical views. I have been sickened , when he spoke about the prophet Mohammed, and other decidedly non christian viewpoints.

 

I could get into many, many reasons, why both Mohammed, and joseph smith are false prophets. But like others have already said look into it for yourself.

 

the problem with bush is he serves 2 masters, and if you know anything about the bible, you know that just doesn't work.

 

He reminds me of the preachers who get all fired up, and says all these seemingly good things, then, pulls a 180 and says something akin to a train wreck. (and no that was no dig on his inteligence)

but it could be likened to the Pat robertson 911 comment.

 

Cor 6:8-11

8Nay, ye do wrong, and defraud, and that your brethren.

 

9Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind,

 

10Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.

 

11And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.

 

as well as

Gal 5 :19-21

19Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness,

 

20Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies,

 

21Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.

 

 

that was a list of some sins, given by paul to the Corinthians and Galations note, that they were all excluded from entering the kingdom of heaven. So homosexuality, is not any more or less a sin, than murder, or witchcraft. fornication, is just as bad a sin as idolatry.

sin is sin.

 

I pity those, that were shocked by 911, because, it was nothing, compared to what is to come.

it was horrible, yes, but it is like every so called "wake up sign" very very few see it, the rest are still blind.

 

people look for excuses to continue in sin, and will do so up until the very end.

 

for people such as Bush, and Robertson, to "pick, and choose" what they wish to , well it just demonstrates, their

fruit is coming into season, and when it is ripe, all shall know the truth.

[Chris777]

Originally posted by moimeme

Because it's Bush?

 

 

 

Do you really think, that Bush is anything even close to the antichrist.

 

He sits like 50/50

 

The world Hates Jesus,

 

How do you really think it would truely react to the actual Anti christ?

[moimeme]

Mormons are not Christians

 

I am sorry but you are incorrect. The proper name of the Mormon church is The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints

 

And from one site on Mormonism

 

Latter-day Saints believe in Christ as the Savior, the Redeemer, the Son of God, the Creator of the earth, and the only source of salvation

 

 

Perhaps you're confusing 'Mormon' with 'Muslim'?

[Chris777]

Originally posted by moimeme

I am sorry but you are incorrect. The proper name of the Mormon church is The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints

 

And from one site on Mormonism

 

Perhaps you're confusing 'Mormon' with 'Muslim'?

 

Both are false

 

mormons believe that we are all "little gods" in training, and that we will each aquire our own planet to be the god of when we grow up.

 

again, just because someone claims to be something doesn't make it so