New Poll Asks: Are We Living in the Last Days? (Poll on Americans across political-religious lines)

Left Behind ^ | 21 September 2006

[NZerFromHK]

Learn what American attitudes toward current events and Bible prophecy are in this exclusive new poll.

Are We Living in the Last Days?

We asked: "Do you agree or disagree with the following statement: 'Events such as the rebirth of the State of Israel, wars and instability in the Middle East, recent earthquakes, and the tsunami in Asia are evidence that we are living in what the Bible calls the last days.'"

* 42% of all Americans agree
* 44% disagree
* 14% say they don’t know

Last Days—Gender

* 50 percent of women agree; 37 percent disagree;
* 14 percent don’t know
* 34 percent of men agree; 52 percent disagree; 15 percent don’t know

Last Days—Religion

* 58 percent of evangelical/born-again Christians agree; 30 percent disagree
* 50 percent of all Protestant Christians agree; 35 percent disagree
* 38 percent of Catholics agree; 52 percent disagree
* 31 percent of Jewish Americans agree; 56 percent disagree

Last Days—Ideology/Party Affiliation

* 30 percent of liberal Democrats agree; 57 percent disagree
* 39 percent of self-described moderates agree; 47 percent disagree
* 51 percent of conservative Republicans agree; 39 percent disagree

Last Days—Party Affiliation

* 39 percent of Democrats agree; 47 percent disagree
* 48 percent of Republicans agree; 39 percent disagree

Last Days—Race

* 75 percent of African Americans agree; 16 percent disagree
* 39 percent of whites agree; 47 percent disagree
* 33 percent of Hispanics agree; 56 percent disagree
* 14 percent of Asians agree; 86 percent disagree

Last Days—Income

* 60 percent of Americans earning under $20,000 per year agree; 26 percent disagree
* 43 percent of Americans earning between $60,000 and $75,000 per year agree; 49 percent disagree
* 16 percent of Americans earning $100,000 or more per year agree; 77 percent disagree

Last Days—Region

* 37 percent of Americans living in the East agree; 49 percent disagree
* 39 percent of Americans living in the Midwest agree; 48 percent disagree
* 51 percent of Americans living in the South agree; 35 percent disagree
* 35 percent of Americans living in the West agree; 50 percent disagree
* 35 percent of New Englanders agree; 51 percent disagree

Last Days—Age

* 57 percent of Americans aged 18–25 agree; 39 percent disagree
* 32 percent of Gen-Xers aged 26–40 agree; 49 percent disagree
* 43 percent of Americans aged 41–55 agree; 47 percent disagree
* 42 percent of Americans aged 56–65 agree; 44 percent disagree
* 46 percent of Americans aged 65 and over agree; 39 percent disagree

Israel: A Prophecy Come True?

We asked, "Do you agree or disagree with the following statement: 'The rebirth of the State of Israel in 1948 and the return of millions of Jews to the Holy Land after centuries in exile represent the fulfillment of Biblical prophecies.'"

* 52% of all Americans agree
* Only 22% disagree
* 26% say they don’t know

Israel Prophecy—Gender

* 54 percent of women agree; 18 percent disagree; 28 percent don’t know
* 49 percent of men agree; 27 percent disagree; 24% don’t know

Israel Prophecy—Religion

* 70 percent of evangelical/born-again Christians agree; 12 percent disagree
* 59 percent of all Protestant Christian affiliations agree; 16 percent disagree
* 52 percent of Catholics agree; 24 percent disagree
* 56 percent of Jewish Americans agree; 22 percent disagree

Israel Prophecy—Ideology/Party Affiliation

* 44 percent of liberal Democrats agree; 21 percent disagree
* 50 percent of self-described moderates agree; 28 percent disagree
* 65 percent of conservative Republicans agree; 18 percent disagree

Israel Prophecy—Party Affiliation

* 47 percent of Democrats agree; 24 percent disagree
* 61 percent of Republicans agree; 19 percent disagree

Israel Prophecy—Race

* 60 percent of African Americans agree; 17 percent disagree
* 52 percent of whites agree; 22 percent disagree
* 46 percent of Hispanics agree; 41 percent disagree
* 29 percent of Asians agree; 29 percent disagree; 43 percent don’t know

Israel Prophecy—Income

* 62 percent of Americans earning under $20,000 per year agree, 15 percent disagree
* 55 percent of Americans earning between $60,000 and $75,000 a year agree; 22 percent disagree
* 37 percent of Americans earning $100,000 or more per year agree; 37 percent disagree; 26 percent don’t know

Israel Prophecy—Region

* 45 percent of Americans living in the East agree; 29 percent disagree
* 52 percent of Americans living in the Midwest agree; 23 percent disagree
* 58 percent of Americans living in the South agree; 15 percent disagree
* 48 percent of Americans living in the West agree; 29 percent disagree
* 47 percent of New Englanders agree; 20 percent disagree

Israel Prophecy—Age

* 61 percent of Americans aged 18–25 agree; only 7 percent disagree, 32 percent don’t know
* 37 percent of Gen-Xers aged 26–40 agree; 33 percent disagree; 31 percent don’t know
* 53 percent of Americans aged 41–55 agree; 19 percent disagree
* 56 percent of Americans aged 56–65 agree; 22 percent disagree
* 59 percent of Americans aged 65 and over agree; 21 percent disagree

NOTE: The poll was conducted by McLaughlin & Associates, interviewing 1,000 randomly selected American adults (likely voters) on February 13, 2006.

[xzins]

Thanks for the links, DJ. I thought I was remembering something real, and not (again) something just banging around in my skull. :>)

[metesky]

It's always the last days for some poor sap...

[Raycpa]

It is bad FR manners to take issues from one thread to another.

[pepperdog]

Yes, I think it is definitely a comfort thing. For instance if a person is terribly poor and struggling it might be a comfort to think all their struggle would end and comfort and happiness would be their new station in their life as it has to be better than what they have now. On the other hand, if one is already comfortable there might be the concern that perhaps they may be a great deal less comfortable if judgment is at hand.

[CaptainCanada]

In GENERAL, the rich (a) don't feel the same need for God and faith as the poorer. When faced with lifes difficulties, the rich have the money to deal with it.

Agreed. In fact, the rich and powerful have always promoted religion because it promoted social control and harmony particularly within the poor and oppressed (e.g. obey your masters on earth and your reward wil be in heaven) - so it gave the poor comfort to know or believe that while life on earth was the shits, they were going to heaven for their reward while the rich and powerful were likely going to hell (the point you made).
My point was - take the religious aspect out of the poll results analysis and you see a very high correlation with earnings (which in turn is highly correlated to IQ and education) and race. That in and of itsel is interesting and begs the question.

[CaptainCanada]

Education and intelligent have little to do with spirituality.

It appears that the poll results suggest that education and intelligence does play a role in spirituality as there is very high correlation between income (which itself is highly correlated to IQ and education) and how they responded to the poll.

[trebb]

Wasn't it written somewhere something to the effect that "you'll know not the time nor the place"

Correct. But, it was also written that there will be signs such as wars, earthquakes and other natural disasters and good being called evil while evil is called good. Just as seeing the green leaves and shoots on a fig tree heralds the imminent coming of figs, so will the increasing signs herald the imminence of the final days.

[CaptainCanada]

This asian IQ crap is a myth.

Countries with IQ of 100 or higher:
107 - Hong Kong
106 - South Korea
105 - Japan
104 - Taiwan
102 - Austria, Italy, Germany, Netherlands
101 - Switzerland, Sweden, Luxembourg
100 - Belgium, China, New Zealand, Singapore. United Kingdom.

[RockinRight]

Nope. We're not. Islamofascism will be defeated.

[TypeZoNegative]

"...1799 definitely marks the beginning of 'the time of the end'.... 'The time of the end' embraces a period from A.D. 1799, as above indicated, to the time of the complete overthrow of Satan's empire....we have been in 'the time of the end' since 1799" (The Harp of God, 1928 ed., pp. 235-36, 239).

"The time of the Lord's second presence dates from 1874....From 1874 forward is the latter part of the period of 'the time of the end'. From 1874 is the time of the Lord's second presence... It was in the year 1874, the date of our Lord's second presence..." (The Harp of God, 1928 ed., pp. 236, 239-40).

"My accompanying angel said, 'Time is almost finished. Get ready, get ready, get ready.' ...now time is almost finished...and what we have been years learning, they will have to learn in a few months." -Ellen White

We've always thought that the "End" would be in our time, so nothing new under the sun.

[RockinRight]

Yup.

[CaptainCanada]

The statistics you showed show a rather weak correlations. Most people with an IQ of over 120 earn at about the same level as most who have an IQ of 100.

1. The poll results show a high correlation between income and responses.
2. It is a fact that the level of education (up to and including Masters degrees) are highly correlated to income. Beyond Masters degrees there may not be a continuing increase in income as PHD etc, are not as highly compensated as senior positions in business and politics and generally an undergrad or graduate degree is more sufficient for success in thos fields.
. 3. It is a fact that the level of education achievable is highly correlated to intelligence. Degree entry screening tests (e.g. SAT, GMAT, LSAT) are all highly correlated to IQ. In fact entry into Mensa (the high IQ club) is automatic if you score at the 95th percentile on the GMAT) and most good MBA schools won't let you in unless you score at the 85th percentile or better - as your ability to complete the degree successfully decreases with significantly the lower you score. 4. A IQ of 100 is unlikely to succeed in any Masters program (MBA, Law, medicine, etc), so I dispute you statement that a population of individuals with 100 IQ will earn at the same level as those with IQs of 120.
I assume you have data to back up your assertion?

[CaptainCanada]

He said that He would call His children home once more, and since 1948, Jews have returned to Israel from all over the world.

Well, we got lots of time then as only a little over 1/3 of all Jews are back in Israel. In fact the U.S. has more Jews than Israel.

[NRA2BFree]

Well, we got lots of time then as only a little over 1/3 of all Jews are back in Israel. In fact the U.S. has more Jews than Israel.

No, not at all. Don't be fooled into thinking we have a lot of time. God didn't say they would all answer His call and return home to Israel. He only said He would "call them back home to Israel." He had to "tear down that wall" of communism so the Jews could get out of those countries. He gives everyone their own "free will" so they could chose to stay where they were at that time, and if they were happy where they were, then that was OK, but for the thousands of Jews who wanted to return, they were finally allowed to. People from all of those communist countries poured into Israel after the wall fell. You would be surprised at how many Jews have left the US and returned to Israel. They KNOW in their spirits that the Messiah is coming soon.

[CaptainCanada]

No, not at all. Don't be fooled into thinking we have a lot of time.

Well time is relative. In the beginning there was a void. The approx 15 billion years ago the Universe was formed.
The earth came into being approc 4.5 billion years ago.
Various species of life have been roaming the waters and dry land on earth for well over 700 million years.
Various iterations of human or human like beings have been wandering the earth for 3 - 5 million years.
Jesus was here only 2000 years ago - a nanosecond in time - space continuum. So "coming soon" could be several million years off.

[CaptainCanada]

You would be surprised at how many Jews have left the US and returned to Israel

I might be... How many???

[CaptainCanada]

You would be surprised at how many Jews have left the US and returned to Israel..

Never mind I found the answer - and Yah, I am surprised by the number. Approx 5,000 per year have moved from North America (where the total Jewish population exceeds 6 million) to Israel..
More like a trickle than a flood, eh?. And more Israelis leave Israel for North America, so the net is negative. I guess God's children don't listen so good..

[photodawg]

On the other hand, if one is already comfortable there might be the concern that perhaps they may be a great deal less comfortable if judgment is at hand.

'''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''

When you're livin' large you don't want the party to end. I think the same holds for your support of capitalism and freedom. When you are using your opportunities well and reaping the benefits of a free capitalist society you have a tendency to support it's institutions. If you are at the bottom, you tend to favor more socialistic governmental answers to your plight, and resent those who have more than you do.

[Raycpa]

Why are you stalking me?