[Rutles4Ever]

Couldn't almost anything then be taken as a clue that any point in history might be the end times?
Down through the years that’s true. But never the accumulation of events as we have today.

Ah, the perils of prognosticating Judgment Day. Frankly, Mr. LaHaye needs to pick up a history book if he thinks that today's events are somehow worse than, say, World War II and the following Stalinist regime in the USSR. The amount of carnage in the first half of the 20th century dwarfs anything we're seeing today.

Christ specifically warned that we're not entitled to know when He's going to return. Mr. LaHaye is selling books, and it's in his best interest to titillate the public with fantastic predictions. Our futures are better served looking both ways before crossing the street, than reading tea leaves of "the end times". We just don't know.

[Lurking in Kansas]

...World War II and the following Stalinist regime in the USSR. The amount of carnage in the first half of the 20th century dwarfs anything we're seeing today.

Exactly, he should have lived in Europe from 1939 - 1945, or in Japan in 1945. That would have seem like the "end times".

[ShadowAce]

The amount of carnage in the first half of the 20th century dwarfs anything we're seeing today.

Agreed, but the "End Times" aren't catagorized merely by the amount of carnage involved. Other things are happening as well that were not happening then.

We just don't know.

I can't agree more with this statement. We should live like He's coming this afternoon, and be alert. However, we should also live like we have time to get the word out and love our neighbors.

As I've always said about his subject--Hope for the best, but prepare for the worst.

[Joe 6-pack]

I Thessalonians tells us, ""For you yourselves know full well that the day of the Lord will come just like a thief in the night.

I believe this is true in many ways...the time of the thief's visit is indeed, not known, yet a household's behavior may either encourage or discourage a thief's visit, hastening or delaying the moment of truth. Likewise,when it does come, some people and their households are far better prepared for the thief's arrival than others.

With regard to the apocalypse, I think we would all do well to heed the admonition of CS Lewis in Mere Christianity, where he writes, "When the author walks onto the stage, the show is over."

[statered]

While we cannot know the time we can know the season. One prereq that makes folks think this may be the season is the existence of Israel. That wasn't the case during WWII.

[Hildy]

I saw a show on the History Channel featuring people who think we're in the End Times. It was fascinating. The the thing that sticks out in my mind is that they were talking about the antichrist and how when the Antichrist comes he will be wildly popular, like a ROCK STAR (that's what they said.). They said, slowly, but surely, he'll take over the world, running the one-world government. The only thing I could think of was Bill Clinton. He fits the description to a tee.

[Quix]

Uhhhhh, hello?

Not knowing the day or hour is

DIFFERENT

from knowing the year, season, era!!!!

I really do not understand the difficulty folks seem to have with basic concepts like

SAME, SIMILAR VS DIFFERENT, DISSIMILAR!

1. ISRAEL NEVER became a nation again in a day as BIBLICALLY PREDICTED

AFTER the 70 AD dispersion

UNTIL

drum roll . . . .

1948! Never. Not once.

2. In the 1800's and early 1900's Bible scholars pontificated about how the Biblical predictions about the king of the north; Gog; Magog; the King of the East etc. could not possibly come true unless and until some dramatic changes occurred. Then we saw the Soviet Union arise. China has arisen. India has arisen. The -stans have broken off and could easily join with China and/or India against Israel.

3. Given the nation of Israel again . . . JERUSALEM is a heavy weight around the neck of the whole world as Biblically predicted. Never has it been close being such as it is on that score today until our era.

4. There are dozens upon dozens of specifics in our era that never occurred before at all and certainly never occurred before in concert.

5. 3-4 SIMILAR things to Biblical prophecies about the End Times might have been construed as in a key direction in past eras. But most of the time, that was stretching things even then. The degree of MANY SPECIFICS lining up with Biblical prophecies literally to the letter has never occurred before in all history and certainly not after the AD 70 dispersion.

[af_vet_rr]

Mr. LaHaye is selling books, and it's in his best interest to titillate the public with fantastic predictions.

As it has been with those predicting the End Times for the past 1500+ years.

[steve-b]

Mr. LaHaye is selling books, and it's in his best interest to titillate the public with fantastic predictions.

I'm reminded of the DUmmie FUnnies thread William Rivers Pitt Vomits Up Apocalyptic Visions.

[Lazamataz]

If Christ comes, you know it will be sponsored by Anhauser-Busch and Arthur Daniels Midland.

And it will be on all the channels.

They may even have a Reality Show: "Christ Damns You!" Synopsis: 12 people and Christ are stranded on a desert island, and based on spiritual trials and feats of physical endurance/strength, Christ picks another "Apostle" which has to leave the island.

[tophat9000]

Ah, the perils of prognosticating Judgment Day. Frankly, Mr. LaHaye needs to pick up a history book if he thinks that today's events are somehow worse

With all do respect... bad times and end time are two different things... the Bible's end times are to be marked by a unique set of prophetic condition... this is no different then Christ would be known by meeting a set of prophetic condition...

I do not know if this is the end time.. but I do know that "end time" sign is not about seeming to be the worse times no more then Christ is about seeming to be the best

The Bible is very fair in this in it contents to prove it truth by predicting what unique condition will be seen preceding and event... this is no different then how we test any one else can they correctly call what you will see before something happens....

(A stock broker tells you if you see this and this and this it means that to do this or a scientist tell you if you see this and this and this it means this will happen and if they call it right you give them creditability they know what their talking about...But stock broker & scientist operate from knowing cause and effect...prophetic condition is not about cause and effect but marker to verify)

But again my point is not about if this is or is not the end times but I do content the end time are not about history's worst times

[American in Israel]

Christ told us what to look for when he returns, read Mathew 24 and Luke 18.

What you need to do is compare your history book to the Bible, say Isaiah 14 or Ezekiel 35-36. Both are stunningly accurate descriptions of Modern Israel's history.

While you are at it, read Revelations Chapter Six, study the seals and see how far you can get...

Blessings!

[fish hawk]

What you mean is, YOU just don't know. Don't speak for all of us. For instance, from your statement, I know a lot more than you do.

[alrea]

Christ specifically warned that we're not entitled to know when He's going to return.

nuff said.

[tang-soo]

Christ specifically warned that we're not entitled to know when He's going to return.

By the way, the name is Dr. LaHaye and yes, Christ said we will not know the day or the hour, not even He would know the time but only The Father. Many people quote that passage and miss the point by implying it is usless to consider the timing of the "coming day." Of course we are not to claim to be able to set a date, however, this passage from Mark 13 ...

28) Now learn this lesson from the fig tree:

29) Even so, when you see these things happening, you know that it is near, right at the door.

30) I tell you the truth, this generation will certainly not pass away until all these things have happened.

31) Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.

32) "No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.

33)Be on guard! Be alert! You do not know when that time will come.

It's clear that the fig tree metaphor strongly implies that we should recognize the "season" as it approaches. Like my Bible Study leader says, "It's time to get ready and to get others ready!". That's the important message.

Many point to war as the leading factor of End Times and as you rightly say, there have been larger catostrophic times than these days. However, there are many other factors that are significant such as 1) Israel is in the land - Ezekiel 37, 2) Only the last few decades have we had world-wide communication that would allow the simultaneous worldwide observation of the two witnesses

For three and a half days men from every people, tribe, language and nation will gaze on their bodies and refuse them burial. Revelation 11:9 (NIV).

3) The Gospel approaching worldwide proliferation for the first time "The Gospel will be heard by every tribe", 4)Nahum 2 says

The chariots storm through the streets,
rushing back and forth through the squares.
They look like flaming torches;
they dart about like lightning

Sounds like modern day travel to me.

5) Never has Paul's words to Timothy about men loving themselves been more true, 6) A great usage of Sorcery (actually in the original Greek Pharmacia or Drugs), and 7) The Earth is literally groaning with "birth pangs" awaiting the coming of Christ. This is a sign representing increasing frequency and magnitude (just like giving birth - so I'm told) that foretells the coming event. I'm no geologist but I've been told the number of severe earthquakes have dramatically increased over the last 50-60 years (and this takes into account the enhanced technology that detects earthquakes).

I too would critisize a "date setter", however, I would be just as critical of one who says we should not seek out and recognize the coming time. Just my $0.02.

[ladyinred]

I agree we don't know the day or the hour, but it is clear we can know the season. That is why the Bible is full of prophecy. I don't, btw, agree with Tim LaHaye on pretrib rapture, but I also had to say, we can know the general time and things to look for proceeding the return of Jesus Christ.