When Will The End-Times Be And How Will We Know?

Signs and wonders are testable, aren't they? Will you ever learn? Belief is only permissible when there is no evidence.

The initial change was of an inner certainty. All of the questions which you endlessly ask--and which I can never answer for you--were answered and resolved in my own mind and heart. At that time, I knew very little about the Bible or comparative religions or the history of religion, but I knew that I was extremely happy and content---for the first time without need of any drugs or any sexual relationships or any alcoholic drinks or anything else that I once relied on in an informal daily basis to calm me and get me through my days. I was not blissfully brainwashed into a cult so much as I was hungry to learn what knowing God even meant.Granted the church I attended, and as I later found out organized evangelical Christianity in general was far from perfect. I will now admit that it can even be harmful as it is at its basic level exploitative. We used to always have a saying that there is no perfect church but there *is* a perfect God. God became knowable in the sense that if you really sought to know Him and get comfort, wisdom, and support from Him and His people, you truly could and would.
I have always been a bit of a rebel, however. I never fully trusted the church alone for my comfort, edification, and learning. I never would have fallen into belief in YEC, for example. It was just too silly and illogical to me...even though folk could sorta show that it was Biblical. And the questions that keep some of you from being respectful towards God and Christianity were no-brainers to me.Such as:
Why does God save some and not all? Because not all want it. Perhaps even because not all need it (or think they dont, currently)Now granted I became hooked on Christian radio and it was only through our discussions at EvC that I was able to wean off of that exclusively biased and jaded view of reality. I took off my rose-colored glasses and saw that yes, many of the top (popularity-wise) preachers and teachers in Christianity were quite obviously earning a comfortable living--which is not at all what Jesus would teach. I stared them in the face and realized that they were not sincere. It took awhile for me to become convinced, and by no means did I paint them all with the same broad brush. I became convinced that the key to being a noble and honest (and effective) Christian was in prayer, honesty, discipline and good works. ringo always accuses me of not doing what Jesus said, but I do...though I could always do more. I'm not quite strong enough nor persuaded to sell all that I have and await acceptance into the Kingdom.

You don't really believe that, do you?

Sure I do. Why cant he just admit that he isn't a believer since he claims that Jesus was a cultural mythos, that it is irrelevant anyway because Christianity is based only on humans following a message with no need of communion or transformation...yet he hangs on to that stupid club as a badge of honor telling him that he too is a Christian. At least you claim no such title.I refuse to let his propaganda taint the traditions that we (most of us) have always believed and see reconfirmed every day. He wants to let everyone in the club and redefine the rules of acceptance. You dont get to simply say a slogan and promise to do the message and get accepted without dropping your bad habits at the door.Edited by Phat, : No reason given.

Why should we accept that YOU are a believer? I've asked you many times what it actually MEANS to "believe". (Does it mean to mouth Lord! Lord! to the messenger or does it mean to obey the message?) You never answer.But I was challenging your claim to be in the majority of Christians. You'd be foolish to believe that. Your brand of Christianity is a small minority outside the US. Your vile exclusivity is NOT what Jesus taught. I'll quote it again:

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John3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.

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"Whosoever", not just the ones that YOU think are True Christians.

Yet that did not send up RED FLAG Warnings?Inner certainty should always be seen as a major warning and threat and something that needs to be tested.

Too funny.Phat, it is not a claim. I am a registered member of the Episcopal Church.And neither you or anyone else has every explained how communion or transformation is possible. Yet the evidence seems to show that that is EXACTLY what the Apologists and the CCoI market. "Not perfect but forgiven!"It's an easy sell.

Whosoever believes. Not simply whoever. that the world through him might be saved. Note: One must go through Him.One cannot simply waltz through the door because they fed the homeless people, all the while carrying in their beer and their cussing, and their own stubborn character traits that keep them in bondage to their flesh. (or their intellect)

And you never chose to accept it. You didn't want it. You were taught that being a Christian was about what you did. And you likely were taught that those who simply accept the easy sell of apologetic s were delusional and lost in fantasy with a god they created.You must have been taught that transformation itself was something *you* had to do. You clearly were taught that Paul was marketing a new religion. (from Vine's Expository Dictionary of Biblical Words, Copyright (c)1985, Thomas Nelson Publishers)Edited by Phat, : No reason given.

Hi Phat, I can't support Young Earth Creationism at all.
The only thing they teach that I can support is that "God did it", which is a conclusion on their part.Modern Young Earth Creation was invented by Ellen G. White in the 1800's after she had been hit on the head by a rock and was in a coma for 2 weeks. It is not supported by the Bible.I have argued with YEC"S here and on two other websites and no one has ever presented a scripture that supports their belief.They are just like the people who want to claim the universe is 13.5 billion years old, they have no supporting evidence . If the universe had a beginning to exist 13.5 billion years ago, and there was no existence before the universe began to exist, then where did it come from. Best answer given until this date is "We don't know". Then the argument goes on but we know what we believe and it has to be so.I did a search last night and found that they are still no closer to an answer than they were when I started posting on EvC 12 years ago.In fact the origin of the universe is classified as one of the most mysterious events that has ever occurred.There are more than 17 of those mysterious events in which no evidence is available to support the assumptions that have to be made to introduce them.No one knows how old the Universe is. Not scientist or religious people. That is the basis to start a life like Jesus lived. That is only the beginning but sadly for many they never grow and further. Because they do not study God's Word. Why does that surprise you? There are only two kinds of people in the world. People who have accepted God's offer of Eternal life and those who have not. God gave mankind a choice. So mankind either believes God and accept His offer or believes the lie that the devil sold to Eve in the Garden that she would become like God knowing good and evil. Every since them many have chosen to believe the devil and be their own god deciding what is good and evil for themselves.I would like to address the question in the OP as well as how I know God exists.I know that God exists because He saved me and I am no longer what I used to be. Message 1

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Could someone please enlighten me as to when the end-times will come and how you came to that conclusion?

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No one knows when the end will come but God. The angels don't even know.But we can know some events that will take place just prior to the end of time as we know it.We will have a world government.
It will be ruled by one man.
He will solve the middle east problem and make a pack with the Jews to rebuild the temple.
After a period of time he will break that pack and stand in the doorway to the Holy of Holies and declare himself to be God. Within 42 months the end will come.God Bless,

LOLYes Phat, that was what the author of John inserted and marketed.

And so your only response is to post nonsense that the Apologists try to market from the declared Apologists propaganda. Chose to accept what? You have never offered anything to accept or reject.Look at that so called definition. It is nothing but a collage of silly meaningless bumper stickers and even those are qualified."the renewing (of your mind)," (HUH?)the adjustment of the moral and spiritual vision and thinking to the mind of God (HUH?)which is designed to have a transforming effect upon the life (And demonstrated by ????????????????????????????)There is simply nothing there Phat except empty platitudes that have absolutely no meaning.Transformation is something that can be seen and evidenced. Transformation can only be changed behavior.

The Spirit of the living God. (yeah yeah I know...another bumper sticker ) Assuming you know how to read, I need you to clarify. Do you mean that the scriptures in Romans are empty platitudes and bumper stickers? If so, those Socratic intellectuals did more damage to your brain than I thought. Oh so you mean the Romans Road Bumperf Stcker? Gotcha. So several questions.
1) Do you believe that GOD exists?
Do you believe that Jesus was simply a human or do you believe He was more?Finally....you have read the Nicene Creed as well as other scriptures. Are you so dense as to not see the description of the Holy Spirit in scripture? Is it the fact that you think it was only written by humans limiting the possibility within your belief?or are you an intellectual widow standing forever at the altar waiting for Evidence to take you by the hand? Dont act glib with me. You know darn well what the phrase is suggesting. Quit trying to out intellectualize scripture. You are not that bright. No meaning for you because you rejected it. did Joe Wood teach you that? And remember the Warlord? Did the Warlord foirce feed everybody or did (or should) he have simply offered a plate to everyone who then had free will to eat or not? God does His part and we must do ours. Actually I can and will agree with you on this last point. Saying the sinners prayer does not complete transformation though it may well initiate it. (Not MY Will but THY Will be done.)Edited by Phat, : added jarberwocky

And?Is John any less part of the modern Bible than is Matthew 25?
Why is it one minute you claim to point out only what the book actually says and in the next minute attempt to single out the author of John and Paul the Apostle for starting a new religion and morphing it into a supernatural and attractive product?Are you not yourself picking and choosing?

Stephen Hawking claimed that the universe can and will create itself out of nothing. He is no prophet nor anywhere near on the par with inspired scripture, though these guys would worship his intellect and laugh at Isaiah. In the Beginning, GOD. Simple enough for me to understand, but the critics will claim that we are intellectually lazy and simply fall back on "God Did It". But what is the alternative to that statement? "Humans Figured It Out?" Science is a valuable skill and is given to us along with our brains. There are some things that humans are encouraged to figure out. Our mistake is in rejecting our Creator and assuming that our own minds will solve the mysteries of the universe little by little.I can see why many reject organized religion. Perhaps many of us come across as willfully ignorant or stupid. Only one thing comes to mind, in conclusion. That being said, I love debates and discussions at EvC> My flesh gets frustrated when nobody ever agrees with me, but in my spirit I feel as if we all are learning here.Edited by Phat, : No reason given.