Two Months 'Til Doomsday?

Ringo

A WATCHMAN
Two Months 'Til Doomsday? Mayan Apocalypse Set for Dec. 21 - Yahoo! News

2012 - It's Not Just the Mayans

According to Mayan legend, the deity Itzamna brought the knowledge of many things, including their series of calendars with cycles of different lengths. This system of calendars date back to the 5th century BC. and it rivals the accuracy and sophistication of our modern calendars that are based on the most precise astronomical measurements and observations. According to the Mayans, we are living in the fourth cycle of time, which began on August 11, 3114 B.C. (Gregorian), and will end on the December 21, 2012 winter solstice, when the next cycle will begin. The ancient Mayans believed that reaching the end of a 5,125 year cycle was an occasion for a great celebration, much like our New Years Eve celebrations, but there is no evidence to believe that the Mayans thought there would be an apocalypse of biblical proportions on this date. Any such notion is a modern fabrication and has nothing to do with the end of the world. Of course, those who the Mayan believed inhabited the earth during the first three cycles are long since extinct. They also believed that their flying dragon god Kulkulkan is going to return at the end of 2012.



If that is all that there was to the basis of the 2012 apocalyptic phenomena, then I would be the first to join in the mocking laughter of others. However, there is a little more to it. In the last chapter of their book, Petrus Romanus, The Final Pope is Here, Thomas Horn and Chris Putnam point out:

The Mayan calendar ends in 2012 with the return of their flying dragon god Kulkulkan.
The Aztec calendar ends in 2012 and their flying dragon god Quetzalcoatl returns.
The Cherokee Indian calendar ends in the year 2012 and their flying rattlesnake god returns. The "Cherokee Rattlesnake Prophecies," also known as the "Chickamaugan Prophecy" or the "Cherokee Star Constellation Prophecies," are part of a series of apocalyptic prophecies made by members of the Cherokee tribe during 1811-1812. Like the Maya, the Cherokee calendar ends mysteriously in the year 2012 when astronomical phenomena related to Jupiter, Venus, Orion, and Pleiades cause the "powers" of the star systems to "awaken."
According to ancient Mayan inscriptions, in 2012 the Mayan underworld god Bolon Yokte Ku also returns.
The Hindu Kali Yuga calendar ends in the year 2012 at the conclusion of the age of "the male demon."
According to the book, Apollyon Rising 2012, the prophecy of the Cumaean Sibyl on the Great Seal of the United States (novus ordo seclorum) points to the coming of the Antichrist in 2012.
Over two hundred sixty years ago, the leader of the first Great Awakening in America, Jonathan Edwards, tied the arrival of the Antichrist and Great Tribulation period to the timeframe 2012.
One hundred thirty years after that, in 1878, Reverend William J. Reid did the same, writing in his "Lectures on the Revelation" concerning the Papal system: ". . . we are prepared to answer the question, When will the Papal system come to an end? [It] will be destroyed in the year 2012."
Also of interest is the Web Bot Project, which was developed in the late 1990s for tracking and making stock predictions. This technology crawls the Internet, much like a search engine does, searching for keywords and following "chatter" in order to tap into "the collective unconscious" of the global community for tipping points regarding past, current, and future buying patterns. In 2001, operators began noticing what looked like more than coincidences, and that the "bot" was taking on a mind of its own, accurately predicting more than just stock market predictions, including June of 2001 when the program predicted than a life-altering event would be felt worldwide and would take place within sixty to ninety days. On September 11, 2001, the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center fell. The Web Bot also predicted the 2001 anthrax attack on Washington DC; the earthquake that produced the December 26, 2004, tsunami; Hurricane Katrina; and more. The Web Bot has now foretold global devastation for late December 2012.
In 2012, the United States will elect a President.
In 2012, the United Nations will get a new leader.
And in 2012, Petrus Romanus is predicted to arrive during a Final Conclave. (pp 483-485)



The Prophecy of the Popes was written by the bishop of Armagh, Saint Malachy, in 1139 AD, when he was summoned to Rome by Pope Innocent II. While he was in Rome, Saint Malachy had a vision in which all future popes were revealed to him. He wrote down Latin phrases which described all of the 112 future popes. Our current pope, Benedict XVI, is number 111 on the list. Malachy has been incredibly accurate so far. If he continues to be this accurate, Benedict XVI will be replaced by the final pope, Petrus Romanus (Peter of Rome) in 2012, and Rome will be destroyed sometime shortly after that. As a possible note to his credibility, Malachy was attributed to several miracles, and was the first Irish saint to be canonized by a pope.



I need to point out that some see the final pope as a possible candidate for the Antichrist, and others see the final pope as a candidate for the false prophet. Only time will reveal, which (if either) of these predictions are true.

The Zohar is a medieval Aramaic collection of books written over 700 years ago and are a part of the Jewish Kabbalah, which contain commentary on the Pentateuch (the five books of Moses, also known as the Torah). Authors Horn and Putnam note in Petrus Romanus:



In addition to interpreting Scripture, the "Vaera" section (volume 3, section 34) includes "The signs heralding Mashiach," or "The coming of the Messiah." The fascinating date for "his" appearance is set in the Zohar in late 2012! Given the rejection of Jesus by orthodox Jews as Messiah, Christians understand this "coming" would herald the unveiling of Antichrist in 2012. (p. 482)



Much has been said about various astronomical alignments, as well as speculation about a possible magnetic pole reversal (The north magnetic pole has increased the speed of its traveling to approximately 40 miles per year, and is accelerating). Authors Horn and Putnam also noted in Petrus Romanus :



The exact date of this [Mayan] calendar is December 21, 2012, when during the winter solstice at 11:11, GMT (Greenwich Mean Time), the New Age crowd says the sun will align with the galactic center of the Milky Way galaxy, an event that occurs only every thirteen thousand years. This precession of the equinoxes will conclude a twenty-six-thousand-year cycle, bringing the astrological Age of Pisces to an end and introducing the beginning of Aquarius, when the next cycle begins and the sun rises out of the mouth of the Ouroboros (great serpent of the Milky Way). (pp. 451-452)

As we can see, there is a lot more to the 2012 apocalyptic phenomenon than just the arbitrary ending date of the Mayan long count calendar. This, in itself, is more than enough to encourage those of us who believe that we are, indeed, in the "season" of the end of the Age of Grace and the rapture of the Church. We should not be discouraged because the last of the Jewish feast in 2012 has now passed and nothing has happened. After all, nobody told us that we would be able to guess the "day or the hour."



Even more encouraging, there are signs out there that may not specifically mention the year 2012, but are nevertheless shouting at us that we are not only in the last days, but that we are, in fact, in the "last" of the "last days." There has certainly been a huge up-tic in the frequency and intensity of signs in nature, such as earthquakes, volcanoes coming back to life, wildfires, floods, droughts, mass animal die-offs, strange sounds all over the planet we cannot explain, plagues, epidemics of all manner of diseases, record high temperatures, record low temperatures, record size hailstones, storms of such violence that we cannot remember the likes of, landslides, hurricanes, and typhoons. We have seen an incredible number of signs in the heavens. There have been a huge number of solar storms as well as solar and lunar eclipses, and blood moons, many of which have frequently occurred on prophetically significant Jewish feast days. We have seen the movements of the planets through the constellations that many feel portend apocalyptic significance. We have also seen the apocalyptic trifecta Japan experienced with Fukushima's earthquake, tsunami, and nuclear meltdown of three of their atomic reactors.



Israel was back in the land a generation ago. The worldwide economy is teetering on the brink of collapse in the greatest Ponzi scheme of all time. Political unrest can be found in every corner of our world as the people cry out for a leader to take them out of our economic morass. Morality has run rampant, with many calling good evil while calling evil good, and those who openly practice perversion demand to be recognized as a privileged class. There is a worldwide push to authorize every possible immoral lifestyle. Children are openly and legally slaughtered in their mother's womb literally by the millions. Other evil acts that are so heinous as to be unmentionable (as well as unthinkable) are now commonplace. Many Christians and church doctrines have departed from the faith. There has been a huge increase in blasphemy. Idolatry in all its forms has become acceptable. False christs and false prophets are everywhere, actively deceiving the very elect. Christians and Jews are hated for their faith and are being hunted down and slaughtered in many places throughout the world. Humanity has become increasingly materialistic and lovers of pleasure, bringing worldwide despair instead of happiness or contentment. Tiny, little, insignificant Jerusalem has become the point of contention that the entire planet is ready to go to war over. Israel became a nation in a single day and is once again speaking Hebrew (just as prophesied). RFID chips now make the prophesied mark of the beast a technological reality. The armies of the Middle East and aligned exactly as predicted by Asaph In Psalm 83 over 3,000 years ago, and by Ezekiel over 2500 years ago, as recorded in Ezekiel 38. Food is becoming increasingly scarce as the food supply is being attacked on every front. Fresh drinking water is also becoming increasingly scarce.



The Book of Acts (chapter 2) and the Book of Joel (also chapter 2) tells us that in the last days young men will see visions and old men will dream dreams. There certainly seems to have been a significant increase in dreams and visions in recent years. Of course, not all prophetic visions and dreams are from God, but scripture tells us that many are legitimate. One thing that I have noticed as of late is the building crescendo of urgency that time has run out, the door is just now slamming shut, and that both the rapture and the "sudden destruction" mentioned in the Bible is imminently imminent.

Based on all of this, I believe the question we should be asking is not if the rapture and sudden destruction will happen before the end of 2012. I believe the question should be how the rapture and sudden destruction could possibly delay until the end of 2012. Either way, something big is about to happen, and it is going to happen really soon. It's not just the Mayans. The earth and everything in it is screaming at humanity to get ready. That something is the rapture of the Church and the sudden destruction that will kick off a period of incredible tribulation such as mankind had never seen before. This deafening "screaming" has become so loud, and has been going on for so long, that we have become numb from it. It is coming at us from every conceivable direction. How much longer can it, or will it, continue? Are you ready???
 
Great read Ringo! Always like reading your posts like this. We indeed are living in very exciting times and I can't wait for the rapture.
 
Eh, I dont believe in the Mayan dooms day thing. Anyone remember Y2K? Either way, if it comes, I cant stop it, neither can any of us on here. It comes, it comes.
 
Ringo, I enjoy your posts. I don't always agree with them, but they are good reading. As far as December 21, 2012 being the Mayan doomsday, well, I'll miss the Mayans, but I'll be here reading on the 22nd.
 
Ahhhh humbug. They just ran out of room to continue the calendar ! Lol.

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Or maybe this guy is right.

3 comments

Why do many people believe a doctrine that has no biblical validity? Isn't it time you learned the real truth?


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Have you seen the bumper sticker, in case of rapture this car will be unmanned? Or perhaps after the rapture, can I have your car? Many believe that in the near future Christians who are going about their daily business, working, shopping at school or driving will suddenly disappear, they're gone, raptured away. Now is this what your Bible teaches? On Beyond Today we'll explore the origins of the rapture theory, we'll discover what information Jesus Christ left behind. And most importantly determine how this should change your life today. Stay tuned with us as we discuss the rapture, fact or fiction?
Millions have read novels about the rapture. They say families will be shocked by the strange disappearance of a father, mother or child. Planes will crash since pilots have vanished. Driverless cars will collide in the streets and only clothing an unworthy loved ones are left behind. Now is this what your Bible teaches? Is this idea of the rapture fact or fiction?
Now many popular books and movies are based on this disputed doctrine that essentially teaches that Jesus Christ will come initially to snatch believers away to heaven leaving the rest behind. Now stop right there. That says something very interesting doesn't it?
We live in a time when many people are comfortable getting their knowledge of religion second hand. Now what do I mean? Many allow a movie or a novel or a video to define what they believe. Now okay, stay with me for just a minute and let me explain what I mean. The problem is they don't go to the source. Should a popular novel or a movie be the foundation for what you believe? No, you can't afford to neglect your personal responsibility to look into it and prove the truth.
Now if you're willing to go beyond entertainment and take a careful look to the right starting point you'll see that the rapture theory doesn't really stand up to the scrutiny of the Word of God.
Example, fact or fiction the rapture is recorded in the book of Revelation, right? Wrong, that's fiction. Did you know that there's no mention of the rapture anywhere in the book of Revelation?
Now you may believe that Bible prophecy teaches the rapture but fact or fiction? The word rapture can't even be found in the Bible. That's a fact. Did you know that the word rapture isn't even in the Bible? You see just because millions of books have been sold about it doesn't make it true.
Now as we begin, let's notice what many believe about the rapture. The doctrine of the rapture incorrectly teaches that somehow Christ is going to secretly come and approach the earth but He won't actually return to it and what He'll do is seize true believers. He'll rapture them, and change them into spirit and then transport them to safety in heaven and up in heaven that's where they'll wait out the tribulation and all the difficulties that will be happening on the earth. Now the only evidence that it's occurred is the fact that Christians are gone, they're raptured away. And so the overall concept is that Christ literally snatches, or abducts or seizes those Christians up from the earth years before Jesus actually returns to earth. Now since the word rapture isn't found in the Bible where did all this come from?
Where did this idea of a supernatural sudden removal of believers originate? Well Jesus' disciples taught the doctrine of the rapture, fact or fiction? No that's not true. Did you know that the rapture is not even mentioned in any valid historical document before the 19th century?
The fact is that this word raptured and this whole concept, it's a new doctrine. It didn't come to light until the early 19th century. And you know what's interesting, how did it happen? Where did it come from?
Well it seems that a 15 year old English girl, Margaret McDonald had a vision with the idea of the rapture. By 1830 a British journal published that revelation. The publisher was Edward Irving, he was a charismatic preacher who began to publicly teach those ideas.
Now next thing that happened was an Irishman, John Darden, he was a minister in the church of England and he developed it, he expanded this theory of the secret rapture and he merged it into his prophetic teachings. Now this is where it gets interesting.
Do you know who gave the rapture theory its biggest boost? Cyrus Scofield, in fact you've probably heard of the Scofield Bible. In 1909 Scofield published the reference Bible that consisted of his commentary included in the text of the Bible. It also included the secret rapture of church into its study notes. And so you know what this did, this validated the idea of the rapture. It promoted the premise of the rapture.
Now you should believe Scofield because he was a doctor of theology, fact or fiction? That's fiction. In fact, he gave himself a theological doctorate degree. He never attended any theological schools. He had no formal Bible training what so ever. So there's hardly any doubt that Scofield produced his reference Bible only for the purpose of spreading Darby's rapture doctrine.
So does it make you wonder about the accuracy of the rapture theory? It should.
By the time you get to the 1970's we find the first modern writer to popularize this idea. Now if we fast forward to just 15 years ago we find the idea of the secret rapture re-popularized in the Left Behind series.
Now these books sensationalize, they capitalize on people's concerns, on their worries, their fears of world problems and their confusion about prophecy. So these stories are based on the idea that Christians will suddenly disappear when Christ secretly and He swiftly takes them away from the tribulation on the earth. And of course the ones that are left behind, those are the atheist, they'll be baffled by the Christians who have mysteriously disappeared. Now you add in political and sexual intrigue and that message just spreads to a very wide audience. And so the question is, is the Left Behind series fact or fiction? Well they claim some biblical basis but the truth is, it's fiction. They were written for anyone interested in a fascinating story and they can be fascinating but fiction. And so there's the fact that millions of books have been sold make it true. It doesn't. They don't explain the scriptural basis for the doctrine and they don't show how to prove it from the Bible. So when it comes to the truth, it leaves you with questions and confused.
Do you wonder about what is truly going to happen? Are you unsure of the answers? Remember you have to go to the source for the real story and that source is your Bible. Many mistakenly claim that the rapture is a part of Bible prophecy.
And of course there's no doubt that prophecy reveals information about the future but it can be difficult to know where to start. So to help we have a free booklet, it's You Can Understand Bible Prophecy . Now this booklet will help you really get a handle on what prophecy is all about. This booklet is absolutely free and it'll make it easier for you to unlock a proper understanding of prophecy. You can go on line to BeyondToday.tv to down load it, you can read it on line or you can order your fee copy of You Can Understand Bible Prophecy . So click or call us toll free, even the call is free, 1-888-886-8632 that's 1-888-886-8632. Prophecy is one of the most intriguing subjects in the Bible because it tells us specifically how God will intervene in world affairs. Now you don't want to be left unaware of what the future holds. Your copy is waiting for you, it's absolutely free. Click or call toll free 1-888-886-8632 or go on line to BeyondToday.tv to download it, read it, or order your free copy of You Can Understand Bible Prophecy . Now you may be somewhat acquainted with prophecy, this booklet will help you to truly understand it. Now if you're on the social networks you can follow us on Twitter and join our Beyond Today Facebook page.
Now some 20 to 40 million people believe there is a coming rapture. They say the righteous will be spirited away to heaven while the Godless remain on the earth. But what will become of all the pets? Now believe it or not for a fee there's a service out there that will place your dog or your cat in the home of a caring atheist at the rapture.
Now some books have been written, some are pretty satirical but they take advantage of those who mistakenly believe in such a doctrine. You can guess that of course you pay in advance.
Now does your Bible really teach of a time when Christians will be whisked away to heaven? Now will there be that time in the future that will really be happen? Is that fact or is that fiction? No it's fiction.
Now you may say there must be a place in the Bible where the teaching of the rapture is based. Now that is true. The main argument is based on one scripture and that scripture is found over in I Thessalonians 4:17 notice what it says
I Thessalonians 4:17 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.
You see some claim that this verse has a linguistic basis for the word rapture. Now here's why. The Greek for "shall be caught up" that phrase "shall be caught up" was translated into the Latin word rapio and that Latin word literally means to seize or to abduct or to snatch and so from this one solitary word comes the whole artificial construct for the rapture theory.
So we got to ask does the original Greek word for "caught up" express the sense of an abduction or a seizure? You see, it doesn't. It actually combines the ideas of force and suddenness seen in the irresistible power of God. That's from the Tyndale New Testament Commentaries .
So what we find is an entire doctrine that's based on a misunderstanding.
Remember no prophecy of scripture is of any private interpretation. That can only come from God. So how can we better understand what this particular verse really means and why would such a strong word be used? Well first we've got to notice the context of the passage.
You know what is all around this particular verse and why did the Apostle Paul write this particular section of scripture? Well why did he do it? He had to answer concerns of the Thessalonian Christians. They were grieving, they were hurt over the unexpected deaths of their members, of their family. Why? Because they thought that Jesus would return in their life time. They were caught unprepared for the death of the faithful people. You see they weren't worried whether Christ would return and rescue them. They weren't worried about their safety and the end of the age tribulation and they certainly weren't neglecting their spiritual readiness. We can know this by looking back at verse 13, I Thessalonians 4:13
I Thessalonians 4:13 But I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who have fallen asleep, (literally those who have died) lest you sorrow as others who have no hope.
So is it fact or fiction? The topic is those Christians who have died. You see that's a fact. God will bring the dead back to life. Let's go on, verse 14
I Thessalonians 4:14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus.
So did you notice the time reference here? It says, bring with Him. That is the second coming of Christ. Did he mean an approach by Christ or a rapture? No it could only be referring to Jesus' second coming. You see his point is that those who have died are not in any disadvantage at all. No wonder the Thessalonians could have hope because all Christians, living or dead are included in those verses. In fact look at verse 16 it says
I Thessalonians 4:16 For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first.

I Thessalonians 4:17 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.
And so we see this verse is talking about a resurrection it's not talking about a rapture and it's certainly not a secret. The return of Christ is heralded by the seventh trumpet, there is shouting going on and so true Christians dead and alive join the returning Christ in the air, that is in the clouds, in the atmosphere of the earth not in the heaven of God's throne.
You see it's talking about the first resurrection that's the main subject when we read the entire context of this particular section of scripture. And why did he use such a powerful strong word? Because he wanted to reassure God's people that at Christ's return God was going to unite the believers who were still alive with those who had already died.
You see, the dead won't be left behind in any way. So fact or fiction? When this verse says we'll meet the Lord in the air it means that Christ will make a pass near the earth and snatch those few people away and take them to heaven. No that's not there is it? That's fiction.
This word for meet , this is a very interesting word. It seems the special idea of the word was the official welcome of a newly arrived dignitary. Jamison, Fawcett and Brown Commentary says that this word refers to when a king enters his city the loyal go forth to meet him. Also the word meet is used of an official reception given to a visiting governor whom its citizens escort into the city from which they've come to meet him. So when we put all of it together it becomes very clear.
When Jesus returns, true Christians will be resurrected and rise to meet the King of Kings. As an escort of honor they'll officially welcome the newly arriving King and they'll accompany Him back to the earth where He'll rule from Jerusalem. They're destined to reign and to rule with Jesus Christ in His fantastic kingdom.
So that's what that passage in I Thessalonians is all about. Imagine the celebration, imagine the excitement. So it's no wonder that God's people could be encouraged with what the truth really is. Now there's also another aspect to consider. Is it fact or is it fiction? Did Jesus pray to the Father not to take us out of the world? Did you know that was a fact? You can read it for yourself in John 17:15
. It's interesting that Jesus prayed to the Father
John 17:15
I do not pray that You should take them out of the world, but that You should keep them from the evil one.
Now that's just the opposite of the rapture. The Bible doesn't promise that God will take believers to heaven and protect them from the troubles to come. In fact He prayed for our protection from evil while we're here on earth. So Jesus asked the Father not to take us, we're not going. There's no doubt Christ will return but be careful not to read into those prophecies words and ideas that just aren't in scripture. There is no rapture. There is a second coming.
Now there's so much more to discuss on this topic. Up next we'll be talking with the Beyond Today panel but first you've got to get this special free offer, it's the Good News magazine. This magazine contains important articles to help you understand the accuracy of important topics like the rapture, what does the Bible teach about future prophecies and how do you make sense of it. The Good News will give you the insight into those issues. That's why you need your free subscription to the Good News . It will help you with answers. Even the call is free 1-888-886-8632 that's 1-888-886-8632. Remember you can also visit us on the web at BeyondToday.tv where you can search on line for hundreds of related articles in our literature archives. Now the Good News magazine not only examines world events and Bible prophecy but articles will also help you with your every day life. So get your free subscription today. Call toll free 1-888-886-8632 or go on line to BeyondToday.tv. God has an amazing plan for man kind and for you personally. Understand it better by getting your free subscription to the Good News magazine. And remember you can follow us on Twitter and you can join our Beyond Today face book page.
Now we've been discussing the popular idea of the rapture. Will Jesus return as a thief to take His people away secretly and if so, why can't you find the rapture in the Bible? Well it's time for our Beyond Today panel to discuss the topic. So joining me now are fellow hosts of the program, Darris McNeely and Gary Petty.
(Steve Myers)

Now I spoke earlier about the misinterpretation of one of those passages that used to prove the rapture, I Thessalonians and we see the fallacy behind that. Now there's another one that's often cited and it's over in the book of Matthew. Its Matthew 24:36
and it says
Matthew 24:36
"But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, but My Father only.

Matthew 24:37
But as the days of Noah were, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be.

Matthew 24:40
Then two men will be in the field: one will be taken and the other left.

Matthew 24:41
Two women will be grinding at the mill: one will be taken and the other left.

Matthew 24:42
Watch therefore, for you do not know what hour your Lord is coming.
Now when we consider that particular verse some claim, boy that obviously is talking about the rapture. Well why not what does it really mean?
(Darris McNeely)

Well just look at what it does say Steve, it's really talking about it's emphasizing the fact of the uncertainty of the time that no one knows. Several times Christ referred to the fact that no one knows the hour or the day of His return not even the Son of man. It is in the hands of the Father only. So he's emphasizing that, that no one knows. So its useless to speculate or to dwell on that, trying to find out to determine when Christ is going to return which sometimes is a little bit of an adjunct to the idea of the rapture. But He's also emphasizing be prepared, be alert, be spiritually prepared for the times and even of our own life. He's also talking
(Steve Myers)

In that part you talk about where it says watch that's referring to that being ready?
(Darris McNeely)

He's also talking of a time of a judgment at the resurrection which is the truth of the scriptures. There is a time when there will be a separation in one sense, it's a time of judgment and so that's what also Jesus is referring to, one will be left and one will be taken in that sense not up into a rapture type of idea but it's really speaking to the judgment of God upon mankind.
(Gary Petty)

You know Darris, you were talking about context, it's very important to look at what Jesus says here in context. Let me borrow your Bible for a second here. You were talking about, you were reading at about verse 36 if you go back just a little bit before that in verse 30
Matthew 24:30
Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.

Mathew 24:31 And He will send His angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they will gather together His elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.
Now that's not secret, that's something everybody sees. So the idea of a secret rapture, people just disappearing in the context, that's not what Jesus was talking about at all. He was talking about His second coming in power and in glory and all nations see it.
(Steve Myers)

You've got trumpets, you've got a lot of noise and people are obviously noticing something's going on, so there's not secret. But one of the things that some will argue is that it's kind of like there's stages that Christ comes back and then takes these believers away and then some time later after all the troubles have been going on the earth, they come back and maybe that's what that is referring to but how do we know that that's not the case that there isn't stages?
(Darris McNeely)

You try to do that you're reading something into the scriptures regarding the return of Christ that is not there. The scriptures that talk about Christ's return are so very plain. Revelation 11:15
for one says that at the time of Christ's return the kingdoms of this world will become the kingdoms of our Lord and of our Christ. They all speak to a wholesale change over that is dramatic, that is sudden during that time of Christ's appearing, that second coming and there's nothing that indicates stages that's being discussed there. The whole idea of that one scripture you referred to of I Thessalonians 4 of people rising to meet Christ in the air you brought it out so well. There is a very interesting example of this. In the modern nation of Jordan the ancient city of Jarash is there and there in Jarash they have a huge triumphal arch that was built during a Roman period during the time of the reign of the Emperor Hadrian who was paying a visit to the city of Jarash and you can see that today. It's been reconstructed and you can get a visual of how the city fathers, the city officials would have gone out through that to meet that coming Emperor outside the city to meet him at a distance and to escort him back into the city to Jarash on his official visit which is exactly what the Apostle Paul was talking about there in I Thessalonians 4 to describe the saints rising in the air to meet Christ at His coming and then to return back to this earth to accompany Him as the King of Kings. It's a beautiful picture to illustrate exactly, Paul knew what he was talking about, it was not to take us up into heaven in some stages like that of a rapture, that you have to read into the scriptures.
(Steve

There's two other things to think about in I Thessalonians 4 in comparing Matthew 24 both happen at the sound of a trumpet and so they're the same event, then in I Thessalonians 4 the people who are alive don't proceed those that have already died so the resurrection happens at the same time, they are not two different events, they are not two different stages.
(Steve Myers)

Now one of the things that can kind of get mixed up into this whole thing is this idea of the protection in the tribulation and there is a section in Matthew 24:21
, the same chapter in the Bible, it says something interesting it says
Matthew 24:21
For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the world until this time, no, nor ever shall be.

Matthew 24:22



Because it puts the emphasis upon the individual to change, to be prepared. The idea of the rapture gets us very self centered thinking only on ourselves, saving our own skin to the exclusion of others we get into self righteousness.
Yeah so there's important things we need to have some help maybe to understand a little bit more thoroughly so remember our free offers today. They're designed to help you in your studies. You Can Understand Bible Prophecy will help you really grasp the truth about Jesus' return. It doesn't have to be a mystery. The booklet's free and it's written to help you know the facts. There's four ways your can get it, you can read it on line at BeyondToday.tv or you can download it, you can order your free copy of You Can Understand Bible Prophecy or you can call toll free 1-888-886-8632 and order your free booklet. And of course don't forget your subscription to the Good News magazine. It's a magazine that will help you understand Bible prophecy and how it applies to what's going on in our world. It's not only that the Good News will help you with prophecy but it will help you get to know your God even better with all kinds of articles that are relevant to your life. Are you ready for some Good News ? Get your subscription absolutely free by calling us toll free 1-888-886-8632 or go on line to BeyondToday.tv to download it, read it on line or order your free subscription. And don't forget our Beyond Today Facebook page and follow us on Twitter.
Now the idea of Christians being secretly raptured to heaven, it's a false teaching.
Remember just because millions of books have been sold about the subject doesn't make it true.
There's a frightening time of world trouble that lies ahead but your Bible teaches that Jesus will come again and set the world right. He will resurrect His people. People like you who obey His commands. When He returns we can meet Him in the air and escort Him back to the earth to reign and rule with Him. So now is the time to do something about it. It's time to act. Repent and obey God. Don't get caught up in a fictitious idea of a secret rapture. That's a false teaching that should be left behind.
 
It's fun to discuss the mechanics, technicalities, etc, of Bible prophesy, as long as its not taken TOO seriously. For example, there are those who are against cremation because of what they believe about the event that become commonly known as the rapture.

What will really be fun is when those of us who are Believers are discussing it AFTER THE FACT! Or, maybe it won't be important to us then... :grin:
 
. For example, there are those who are against cremation because of what they believe about the event that become commonly known as the rapture.
Whether one is dust, bones, or ashes makes no difference, dead is dead. The dead in Christ rise first, period.
 
Are We Near the End?

Are We Near the End?
by Dr. David R. Reagan​

I think it is clear that all the 2012 hysteria is unfounded. But would it be accurate to say that even if the 2012 date is wrong, we could very well be near the end of the world?

Well, that all depends on what is meant by "the end of the world." The only reliable source of information about the future is the Bible. We know it is reliable because it contains hundreds of very specific prophecies about persons, cities, and nations that have already been fulfilled in history. It also contains 109 specific prophecies about the Messiah that were fulfilled in the life of Jesus of Nazareth.23

The Bible prophesies the end of the current age, the end of the current world system, and the end of the natural world as we know it today. But it never prophesies the end of the world in the sense that the universe will cease to exist. In fact, it clearly states that planet earth will exist forever. Let's consider each of these in order.
The End of the Current Age

The Bible teaches that Mankind entered a whole new age on the Day of Pentecost in approximately 30 AD.24 On that day the Holy Spirit fell upon the Apostles and they were empowered to preach the Gospel (Acts 2:1-4). Peter preached the first Gospel sermon, and the Church was established when three thousand people responded and accepted Jesus as their Messiah (Acts 2:14-41). We have been living in the Church Age ever since.

The Age of the Last Days also began on the Day of Pentecost. The prophet Joel had prophesied that in the "last days" God would pour out His Spirit upon all mankind (Joel 2:28 and Acts 2:17). When the three thousand responded to Peter's sermon, they were filled with the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:38), and all believers have received that gift since that time. The writer of Hebrews referred to his day and time in the First Century as "the last days" (Hebrews 1:2). The Apostle Peter did the same thing in his writings (1 Peter 1:5 & 20). And the Apostle John called his day the "last hour" (1 John 2:18).

Before Jesus died and the Church Age began, He referred to His day as "the times of the Gentiles" (Luke 21:24). He was referring to the period of time when the Jewish people would live under Gentile domination without a king anointed by God. That period began in 586 BC when Israel was conquered by Babylon, the Davidic monarchy was ended, and the Jewish people were carried away into captivity. This period continues to this day simultaneously with the Church Age because the Jews still suffer from Gentile domination, and their God-anointed monarchy has not been restored.

The Church Age will conclude when the Church is taken out of this world on the day of the Rapture (1 Thessalonians 4:13- 18). The Second Coming of Jesus, approximately seven years later,25 will mark the end of the Age of the Last Days. It will also mark the end of the Times of the Gentiles.
The End of the Current World System

At the end of the Tribulation, when the Second Coming occurs, the current world system will also come to an end. When I refer to the "world system," I am talking about the way human society has operated since Adam and Eve were ejected from the Garden of Eden.

All the societies of the world, despite their particular forms of government and their types of economies have revolved around the ego of Man. They have thus been characterized by unrighteousness and injustice and war. Greed has ruled supreme. Power has always corrupted. The dispossessed have been exploited. Winston Churchill perhaps summed it up best when he observed, "Democracy is the worst form of government except all those other forms that have been tried from time to time."

Since the beginning of human history, people have yearned for a world of peace, righteousness and justice. Time and time again they have placed their hopes in politicians who have promised them the moon, and time and time again their hopes have been dashed. But the good news of God's Prophetic Word is that the current world system is doomed.

Jesus is returning to institute a radically new world system. It will be a theocracy characterized by the rule of the rod of iron (Psalm 2:7-9 and Revelation 2:27). He will reign as King of kings and Lord of lords from Mount Zion in Jerusalem (Revelation 19:16). His Word will be the law of all nations, and it will be enforced worldwide by those of us who will be reigning with Him in glorified bodies (Isaiah 2:2-4 and Daniel 7:13-14, 18, & 27).

There will be no political parties, pressure groups or legislatures. Greed will be replaced with decisions based on fairness and equity (Isaiah 11:4-5). Vulgarity will give way to holiness (Zechariah 14:20-21). Poverty will be swallowed up in abundance (Micah 4:4). Righteousness and justice will be fulfilled (Isaiah 11:3b-5). Peace will flood the world as the waters cover the seas (Micah 4:3).
The End of the Current Natural World

Many Christians believe that at the end of the Lord's millennial reign the cosmos will be consumed with fire and cease to exist. A corollary of this is a belief that since the material universe will cease to exist, the Redeemed will live eternally in a non-material, ethereal spirit world called Heaven.

These beliefs are derived from a passage in 2 Peter 3 that says, "The day of the Lord will come like a thief, in which the heavens will pass away with a roar and the elements will be destroyed with intense heat, and the earth and its works will be burned up" (2 Peter 3:10). If that's all the Bible had to say about the matter, then we could rightfully conclude that the material universe will one day come to an end.

But a few verses later the same passage states that according to the promise of God (Isaiah 66:22), we can live "looking for new heavens and a new earth, in which righteousness dwells" (2 Peter 3:13). Further, the same passage refers to the original earth as having been "destroyed" by water (2 Peter 3:5-6). This does not mean that it ceased to exist. What it means is that the original earth was radically changed by the Noahic Flood. In like manner, the current earth will be destroyed by fire, meaning it will be radically changed, not that it will cease to exist.

This interpretation is sustained by the fact that the Bible teaches that the current earth is eternal: "Generations come and generations go, but the earth remains forever" (Ecclesiastes 1:4; see also Psalm 78:69 and Psalm 148:6).

Chapter 21 of Revelation affirms that the Redeemed will live forever on a new earth in the presence of God. As verse 3 puts it, "the tabernacle of God" will be "among men." In other words, Heaven will come to earth — to the new, renovated and perfected earth that has been cleansed of all the pollution of Satan's last revolt at the end of the Millennium.
A Series of Earths

Most people are surprised to learn that the Bible reveals that we are currently living on earth number three and that there are two earths yet to come.



Earth 1

The first earth was the one created in the beginning (Genesis 1:1). It was perfect in every respect (Genesis 1:31). But because of Man's sin, God placed a curse upon the earth (Genesis 3: 17-19).

Have you ever stopped to think what a "perfect" earth must have been like? There certainly were no meat-eating animals or poisonous animals or poisonous plants. All of nature was at peace with itself and with Man. Adam and Eve did not have to strive against nature in order to produce their food. And there were no natural cataclysms like tornados, hurricanes, tsunamis, and earthquakes.

The Bible indicates that the curse radically altered the nature of God's original creation. Instead of Man exercising dominion over nature, as originally planned (Genesis 1:26, 28), nature rose up in conflict with Man, as poisonous plants, carnivorous animals and climatic cataclysms suddenly appeared.

Earth 2

The curse radically altered the original earth, but the second earth was still quite different from the one we live on today. There is much biblical evidence in both Genesis and Job that the second earth had a thick vapor canopy which shielded life from the ultraviolet radiation of the sun, contributing to the long life spans recorded in Genesis (see Genesis 2:5-6 and Job 38:8-11).

The whole earth was like a greenhouse with thick vegetation growing everywhere, even at the poles. There was also probably only one large land mass.

Once again the sinful rebellion of Mankind motivated God to change the nature of the earth (Genesis 6:11-13). The change agent this time was water. It appears that God caused the vapor canopy to collapse (Genesis 7:11). He also caused "fountains of the great deep" to break forth upon the surface of the earth (Genesis 7:11).

Earth 3

Like the curse, the flood radically altered the nature of the earth. It produced the third earth, the earth we live on now.

The earth tilted on its axis, forming the polar caps. The unified land mass was split apart, forming the continents as we now know them (which is why they fit together like a jigsaw puzzle — see Genesis 10:25). And the vapor canopy was so completely depleted that ultraviolet radiation began to reach the earth in unprecedented levels, resulting in greatly reduced life spans, first to 120 years and then to 70 years.

The Bible reveals that the current earth will be radically changed again at the Second Advent of Jesus. The change agents will be earthquakes on the earth and supernatural phenomena in the heavens.

The changes produced will so totally alter the earth and its atmosphere that Isaiah refers to "the new heavens and the new earth" which will exist during the reign of the Lord (Isaiah 65:17).

Earth 4

The fourth earth — the millennial earth — will be very different from the present earth. The earthquakes that will produce it will be the most severe in history.

Every valley will be lifted, every mountain will be lowered, and every island will be moved (Revelation 6:12-14 and 16:17-21). Jerusalem will be lifted up, and Mt. Zion will become the highest of all the mountains (Zechariah 14:10 and Micah 4:1).

The vapor canopy will likely be restored because life spans will be expanded to what they were at the beginning of time (Isaiah 65:20, 22).

Further evidence that the vapor canopy will be restored is to be found in the fact that all the earth will become abundant once again with lush vegetation (Isaiah 30:23-26 and Amos 9:13-14). The Dead Sea will also become alive (Ezekiel 47:1-9).

Most important, the curse will be partially lifted, making it possible for Man to be reconciled to nature and for nature to be reconciled to itself. The wolf will dwell with the lamb because the wolf will no longer be carnivorous. The nursing child will play with the cobra because the cobra will no longer be poisonous (Isaiah 11:8).

Earth 5

But Satan's last revolt at the end of the Millennium will leave the earth polluted and devastated (Revelation 20:7-9). Thus, at the end of the Lord's reign, God will take the Redeemed off the earth, place them in the New Jerusalem, and then cleanse the earth with fire (2 Peter 3:10-13).

In other words, God will superheat this earth in a fiery inferno and then reshape it like a hot ball of wax. The result will be the "new heavens and new earth" prophesied in Isaiah 66 and Revelation 21.

This will be the fifth earth, the perfected, eternal earth where the Redeemed will spend eternity in the New Jerusalem in the presence of God (Revelation 21:1-4). The curse will be completely lifted from this earth (Revelation 22:3).
Conclusion

There is no reason for you to fear the "end of the world" if you are a born-again child of God. You have the promise of living eternally with God on this earth after it has been redeemed and perfected.

But if you have never accepted Jesus as your Lord and Savior, you have every reason to fear the future. The signs of the times given in the Bible indicate beyond a shadow of a doubt that Jesus is about to return to take His believers out of this world in preparation for the pouring out of God's wrath during a period of seven years that the Bible refers to as the Tribulation.26 It will be a time of unparalleled horror on this earth, so terrible, in fact, that one-half of humanity will die during the first three and a half years!27

God does not wish that any should perish (2 Peter 3:9). That's why He has provided us with signs to watch for that will indicate the season of His Son's return. We are in the midst of that season. We are living on borrowed time. Don't delay. Give your heart to Jesus today (John 3:16 and Romans 10:9-11).
 
I'm ready. I'm making sure all my presents are at the front of the tree this year. That way if the world starts coming to an end, I can quickly rip the wrapping off all of them, see what I got, and die with a smile on my face.
 

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