Rev. Graham: ‘As I Read the News, I Can’t Help But Wonder if We're in Last Hours’

CNS News ^ | 9/4/14 | Michael W. Chapman

[Kartographer]

“As I read the news, I can’t help but wonder if we are in the last hours before our Lord Jesus Christ returns to rescue His church and God pours out His wrath on the world for the rejection of His Son,” said Rev. Graham in a post on the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association (BGEA) website.

“I don’t know if we have hours, days, months, or years—but as Christians, God calls us to take the truth of the Gospel to the ends of the earth,” said Graham. “Our job is to warn sinners of the consequences of sin and show them that God is loving and gracious, willing to forgive if we come to Him in repentance and faith.”

[GunRunner]

Maybe I don't want eternal life. I don't think 70-90 years is long enough to make a decision as to whether or not I want to live for 10 trillion years. Nor is it reasonable to think that anyone could do enough in that time period to merit eternal reward, or eternal punishment.

It's a strange and empirically false idea anyways, but I do have empathy for people who still take it seriously and are truly bothered by it, like our friend sushiman.

[GunRunner]

I don't have enough information to say whether or not I would want to go there.

I think it safer to return to where I was before I was born than to agree to an unalterable eternal contract.

[right way right]

And everything hateful they say only makes what Jesus said more true.
The signs are Everywhere!
The drastic changes in the middle east all line up for fulfillment of biblical prophesy. I guess the progressives call it all coincidence.and areI just blind to all the spiritual warfare.

[Yossarian]

Singing hymns would probably get old after the first trillion years.

I would agree, if Heaven were a place with the concept of time (other than the fact that you're doing it while bonded to the infinitely awesome God Almighty).

However, at least I was taught that there is no such thing as "time" in Heaven - and we know from science that time is just a flexible aspect of the framework of creation known as space-time.

The way I was told to think about it is that you're your ultimate positive essence when in Heaven, and you're that while being in literal union with God. What does "ultimate positive essence" mean? Imagine you're Dwight Clark, the wide receiver in the 80's SF 49ers football machine, and you get hit by a falling piano, and get sent to Heaven. Perhaps your "ultimate positive essence" would be the timeless manifestation of this:

[SaxxonWoods]

Reverend, never go full “last hours”.

[right way right]

You're funny.
The bible is all about you, and you don't even know it.

[ThisLittleLightofMine]

I say this with love in my heart, what you posted is contrary to what God has revealed to us through the bible. He says our deeds are like filthy rags before Him. We are unable to save our selves and any goodness we have is because we bear our Makers image. You may sincerely believe what you posted but Jesus has told the world,” No one comes to the Father except by Me.” I pray earnestly that you will investigate His claims and seek God while He may yet be found. You are a sinner, just like me and God has provided a way for you through Jesus, He desires that no one should perish, but that all should have eternal life. Blessings to you and yours.

[GunRunner]

It was written thousands of years ago by men living in the Iron and Bronze Ages. I wasn’t the subject of their mythmaking, I can assure you.

[GunRunner]

As a Cowboy fan, that picture is more of a perfect description of Hell than any positive essence.

I would ask though, who "taught" you these concepts? Who are these people who "told" you about the timelessness of Heaven and positive essences? Why should we listen to them, what is their evidence, and what information do they have access to that we don't?

I just find it unlikely that the universe is set up in such a bizarre way.

[righttackle44]

Heaven is not excluding you. You are excluding Heaven. And it seems you are not even giving your wife the opportunity to decide whether or not she might like to go there. So, it seems to me, that the problem is not that Heaven belongs to a select few—it’s that you have too much pride or anger to inquire honestly whether it might be a place for you and your wife.

[The Unknown Republican]

Yes, Christians believe that only followers of Christ will go to heaven. However, no true Christian believes they or anyone else (aside from Christ himself) is worthy of going there. Consider this, if God exists then he must be the standard by which man is measured. What do you believe is that standard and how do you support that conclusion? Is it based upon your gut or what you want to be true? The conundrum then is that if we accept that our own beliefs regarding that standard are legitimate, then there really is no standard at all and we’ve made man the master of God. If you accept the original premise that God exists, then it cannot logically follow that mankind has dominion over that standard, because you’ve now placed man above God and in effect have created a God that has no absolute moral authority...which really cannot be God.

[The Unknown Republican]

I’m afraid someone has sold you a pretty pathetic picture of what Heaven will be like. If you really want to know about Heaven, I suggest the following book:
http://www.amazon.com/Exploring-Heaven-Christian-Thinkers-Afterlife/dp/0060530685/ref=sr_1_cc_1?s=aps&ie=UTF8&qid=1409900044&sr=1-1-catcorr&keywords=exploring+heaven+arthur+roberts

[butterdezillion]

Critical thinking skills can’t serve jail time for somebody convicted of a crime, nor do critical thinking skills enable a guilty person to fool an all-knowing judge.

Trust your critical thinking skills only if you are completely innocent or if real justice doesn’t exist. Unless you are able to empirically prove either one of those things, any conclusions/deductions you reach are just a crap-shoot. If you’re willing to take that risk, fine, but acknowledge that you are going on faith just as much as I am. You just have faith in something different than my faith is in.

[butterdezillion]

So how are you going to get rid of the crud in your heart and mind? Do you believe you will ever be brought to justice for any of that?

[GunRunner]

Where is he getting his evidence, and why is it only available to him and not the rest of us?

[butterdezillion]

You’re going to get eternal life whether you want it or not. The only question is what kind of an eternal life it will be.

You want to spend it with the Muslims?

[GunRunner]

"Brought to justice?" So my mind/soul is going to pay an eternal penalty (or experience eternal reward) for what happened during 70-90 years of life?

Doesn't seem like justice to me in any conceivable or reasonable sense.

There's no rational reason that there needs to be eternal cosmic justice, and no evidence for it either. There's also no evidence for the mind existing after the brain is dead. Mind/body dualism has effectively been debunked.

[GunRunner]

You’re going to get eternal life whether you want it or not.

What evidence do you have of this?

[stars & stripes forever]

[If heaven allows in Christians only I don’t wish to go there]

Jesus paid the ultimate price for the sins of the world through his crucifixion on the cross. He died so we can live a victorious life here on earth and live in heaven for eternity. Salvation through Jesus Christ is a free gift. All that is required is to follow Him.

Following Jesus means you ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind’ and ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ (Mark 12:30)

Eternity is forever. Where will you spend eternity - heaven or utter darkness? The choice is up to you.

[Carthego delenda est]

“What evidence do you have of this?”

Pardon me, but I think perhaps you may find good information for your question in the book “Proof of Heaven”

http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/1451695195?pc_redir=1409830334&robot_redir=1

The author is obviously a very intelligent man, having dedicated his life’s work to science and physically opening up people’s brains. He makes a very compelling argument for the existence of heaven. His experience of it changed his life so much that he now finds his life’s mission to integrate his knowledge of science and the physical universe with the gift he was given, that is, the spiritual foundation of everything: Love.

Fellow FReeper, if I were to ask of you one thing in this life that I thought would answer your questions on this topic of life after death of your body, it would be to read this book.