I am wondering if any of you Christians are thinking that we *may* either be living in, or getting close to, "End Times" as predicted in the Bible?

For example:

Our money has gone from cash, to checks, to credit cards, to debit cards, to online electronic wage deposits and bill paying ("cashless").  It seems more and more like actual "money" is becoming obsolete.  And it also seems that our money (American paper money) is looking more and more European...perhaps trying to phase all countries money into one?

Also, we have come so far in technology that a lot of people are hearing the Gospel of Christ...even amongst missionaries in remote places.

We have had wars, rumors of wars, a lot of natural disasters, etc.

I have been seeing great revival, especially in our (general) youth.

There is a great acceptance of "all religions" and beliefs (eventually to evolve into one world religion)...there have been many false "christs" (cult leaders--"Many will come in My name").

Anyway, I am curious as to what other Christians are thinking about the way scripture seems to be coming to pass before our eyes.  Not saying the end of the world is tomorrow or anything!  LOL!  Just curious about the obvious signs, and what others think.  :o)

I think we are close. Not tommorow or anything but next 200 years close. Just my opinion. Didn't the bible say that more tragic things would happen closer together? It seems like you hear more and more things daily that seem to be worse and worse.

Yeah, the world is definitely going downhill in a lot of ways...just makes me wonder.  Seems like humanity itself is getting worse every day, despite the fact that we have many more advantages and luxuries than past generations (well, in some countries, not all.)

Yep.

LOL

I'll elaborate more later, after Desperate Housewives and after homework.

See, that's just what we are talking about Michelle. Desperate Housewives being a priority. (Kidding!)

LOL Shannon.

Hey! I was doing my homework during it. ;)

OK. End times....

I believe in a Rapture, so I won't be here to see the end times. I believe that the Book of Revelation is pretty straight-forward in describing exactly how things will go. A lot is not revealed yet, such as:

Who are the two witnesses?

Who is the antichrist? (And despite all the assumptions about this, I believe that this will not be revealed until after the Rapture)

But lots of things *are* clear, like:

The mark of the beast, which will be required for all buying and selling.

The antichrist will be charismatic and politically well-liked, and have vast-reaching influence.

And then the best part: God wins.

I do believe that we are living in The Time of the End...I believe we will see things continue to change and this change can happen quickly.  I believe that we will either be asleep in the grave or alive to experience it...

Things are getting worse on a daily basis...I don't think it will be much longer...in fact I'm thinking in our lifetime...

Michelle, I also believe in the Rapture.  And I believe that the tribulation will occur afterward.  But I do see the beginning signs of things to come...I don't think we will be here for the worst parts of it though.

Christy, I've often wondered if it will be in our lifetime, especially since so much has changed in the last 100 years.  It seems things are progressing rather rapidly.  Of course, no one knows for sure when.  :o)

I am not asking this as a debate or to be argumentative but, could one of you that believe in the rapture give me scripture that you use to support this theory?  Thanks

The word "Rapture" isn't in the Bible, but the Bible does talk about a "catching away".  I'm not sure of the scripture, I'll have to look it up for you.  :o)

“And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the wedding; and the door was shut. ¹¹“Afterward the other virgins came also, saying, ‘Lord, Lord, open to us!’ ¹²“But he answered and said, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, I do not know you.’ ¹³“Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour in which the Son of Man is coming.
Matthew 25:10-13

"Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord.  Therefore comfort one another with these words."  I Thessalonians 4:17-18

These are just a few scriptures.  Not everyone believes in the Rapture, but that's ok.  It isn't necessary to believe in the Rapture to ensure Salvation...Believing in Jesus Christ ensures Salvation.  One thing IS for sure, and that is His return, whenever and however it may be.  :o)

Nancy, thanks for the scriptures, I'd forgotten about those.  :o)

Ok, so my next question is...are you referring to a secret rapture or the "rapture" that happens when Christ returns to take all of His people home?

It's not a "secret" Rapture (not sure exactly what you mean by that?). 

There are two events: Rapture and the Second Coming of Christ.

The Rapture will be the "harvesting" of the Church (the Church being born-again believers).  We will be "caught up" in the air and taken to Heaven.

The Second Coming is when Jesus Christ comes down to earth to judge man and set up His kingdom.

At least, according to what I believe.  :o)

The Church is removed from the Earth before the tribulation period, because the tribulation period is going to be a great time of pain and suffering and sorrow. Christ's second coming is not until the end of that time. No need to sit through all of that when our reward awaits! =)

I'm not sure, either, what you meant by secret rapture. Although that's the name of a really great perfume on my counter. Victoria's Secret Rapture. lol smells great. =)

Michelle, I think you explained that better than I did!  :D

Ok, I guess we have differing beliefs.  I believe that we are here on this earth until the time of Christ's return.

Revelation 22:12-15...(red letter, so Christ speaking)..."Behold, I am coming soon!  My reward is with me, and I will give to everyone according to what he has done.  I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last.  The Beginning and the End.  Blessed are those who wash their robes, that they may have the right to the tree of life and may go through the gates into the city.  Outside are the dogs, those who practice magic arts, the sexually immoral, the murderers, the idolaters and everyone who loves and practices falsehood."

If Christ's people are already in heaven (raptured) before the time of His return then what is the purpose of His coming and His reward being with Him because if I believed that I was already in heaven before His return then I would have already received my reward.

I do not believe that His people will be removed from the earth before the time of tribulation, would be interested in reading what scriptural evidence there is for that.  I do believe that His people will be protected during the tribulation and that is why we will be hunted, thrown in prison...those that are not His, those that follow others other that Christ will resent those that do follow Christ and will want to torment us because they will blame us for the torment they are experiencing.

Also, would like to ask (legitimate question, not trying to argue) how you explain 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17.."For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air and so shall we ever be with the Lord."

Has anyone looked at www.raptureready.com ?  (rapture index, a gauge of the endtimes)  I value your opinions.  What do you think about the site?

Thank you all - I had no idea what the rapture was until I read this, I must have been asleep during that discussion.All that I remember is the second coming. I don't know whether the church I grew up in or the Lutheran church believes in the rapture.

This is so irreverant - if anyone read my posts in the forum concerning nasty comments, we  had a woman where I used to work that really was obnoxious with her preaching. I had an old big Cougar with a huge windshield. When it would snow there would be a large round area that would not get covered over. The one young guy used to tell her that we were going up to the rapture in my Cougar, That would just incense her and everyone else would be laughing. Everytime it would snow, we'd check my windshield and it never got covered in that spot.

Florence, that is weird about the windshield!

Anna, I just glanced at the site briefly, but it looks interesting.  I'll have to look through it some more when I have more time.  Thanks for posting that.  :o)

YES!

There are several different views of the end times, rapture, the Second Coming, etc.  But, as Patricia said in an earlier post, salvation is dependant on our belief in Jesus Christ.  When DH and I first became Christians, our Pastor did a teaching on the different beliefs of the end times  and the rapture (pre-tribulation, mid-trib, post-trib,referring to when the Rapture may take place).  He made a comment that there was another option... "Pan-trib... it will all pan out in the end."  In other words, we won't really know for sure until it happens.  He also said that we shouldn't take the subject  lightly ... we should study the Scriptures carefully, and come to a determination as to what we believe about it.  Just thought that was an interesting way to look at the subject...

To answer the OP, it certainly does seem that , with the way things are in the world right now, the end times may be near. 

"He also said that we shouldn't take the subject  lightly ... we should study the Scriptures carefully, and come to a determination as to what we believe about it. "

That's a very good point.  :o)