End times ???

[Dave M]

I here a lot of today's preachers saying we are in end times, this is the possibly the last generation. To me this is a red flag this simple yet revealing verse tells me we far from end times .

King James 2000 Bible Mark 13 -10
And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.

There are plenty of places all over the world that have never herd the name Jesus, so until all these people are reached we are not close to end times.

What are your thoughts on this?

 

[Ceptor]

Hmmm... jumped on the big bull early today didn't ya Dave? lol

I think you should keep your eyes on the clouds if you ask me. Watching the international news is a big key in realizing how close it is. There's a ton of information to cover on this subject and I've been reading and writing all night, so I might post links or references later though.

I can tell you this much.. I may die of a bullet, health issues, or some other injury, but I'm certain (within my own heart) I won't die of old age before Christ Jesus comes and gets me and everyone else. I've done what i consider a pretty fair portion of research on this subject, and you'll catch me looking up at the sky from time to time.

I don't just think it could happen soon personally.. I'm expecting it. It may not happen for a year..... may not for five years.... but I'll be looking in the sky until it does, and I know He's coming back before long. There is far too many things in the world that are pure evil, and I'm seeing more every day.

You can bet I'm ready, that's for certain.

 

[B-A-C]

Can you name a single country where the gospel hasn't been preached? If not right now, then at least some point in
the past?

 

[Ceptor]

Sorry BAC, but the man is right. I have recently considered going to a large number of countries, and still am considering it if God says to, and there are a number of people that haven't been preached to and heard the Word. They don't have Bibles in their language and no one has went to them. The statistics are actually far from everyone being preached to.

But that to me doesn't mean Christ isn't coming if I see the things He said were going to happen immediately before His return. It simply means to me we don't need to put restraints and certainties on the meaning of God's words with such limited mental ability to understand His plans.

Only God knows for certain if everyone He requires has been preached to. I don't think Jesus meant that every country would be evangelized like Babylon (United States). Nit picking "every" country is putting God in a statistical box that He absolutely doesn't fit in, nor do I think His statements concerning this subject. I think He meant that everyone as a majority (internet, most of the world...) would hear the news of His sacrifice and be offered repentance. Those that don't hear, He knocks at the door like Jesus states in Revelation. God is fully capable of giving people knowledge and chances to repent of their sins without it being through a physical paper and ink Bible.

You're going about it wrong anyway. You don't come demanding answers. You come and provide the answer or share in learning the answer with your brother.

Can you name off every country that has been preached to? There is a slight chance you could, but I'm shoving all my chips in on the bet that you can't. So, we shouldn't be demanding Dave to provide.

But since you're curious for details and facts. I did a quick google search. Here's the top of the list:

Has Everyone Heard? ::Joshua Project

There are a few more than one listed in there somewhere.

 

[B-A-C]

I don't think Jesus meant that every country would be evangelized like Babylon (United States).

The United States used to be a Christian nation... but has going in the wrong direction for the last 50 years or so.

Most of the countries that do not allow Christian evangelism ( the so-called 10/40 window) have all been evangelized
at some point in the past. There was Christianity in Egypt, Turkey, Syria, Ethiopia, Palestine, and even parts of
Saudi Arabia, Iraq, and Iran. As you say... they have never really been predominately Christian... but the gospel
has been preached in these countries.

 

[Ceptor]

Oh I'm not saying most haven't heard it in regards to population. I agree in that regard solely on the basis that I believe Christ is going to put the fear of God in all of unbelieving humanity soon and come and get us to go home for a big feast. That to me states God's threshold for "turkey is ready" has been met. But I'm not putting any certainty to it being tomorrow, just that I personally think it's soon.

And there are a total of 196 countries on the planet.. so if we go by that method of determination... Well, my opinion would be dead wrong and Dave is on to something.

But I believe like many statements Christ made, this idea of "every," isn't as we see it in our lowly minds.

Especially considering current world events. To me, either Christ comes back soon... or most of the world will be dead (including me which means I go home anyway!:laugh when He does.

Regardless.. I'm going home. That I pretty much know. It would be a humbling blessing to be the final ones alive after 6,000 years of people and get to see Jesus coming down and going up like Elijah and Enoch with Him...

 

[Dave M]

It would be my pleasure brother

Can you name a single country where the gospel hasn't been preached? If not right now, then at least some point in
the past?

 

[HAllyson]

Ecclesiastes 1:9 The thing that hath been, it is that which shall be; and that which is done is that which shall be done: and there is no new thing under the sun.


(These sound like great days):

Micah
Chapter 4
1 But in the last days it shall come to pass, that the mountain of the house of the LORD shall be established in the top of the mountains, and it shall be exalted above the hills; and people shall flow unto it. 2 And many nations shall come, and say, Come, and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, and to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for the law shall go forth of Zion, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.
3 ¶ And he shall judge among many people, and rebuke strong nations afar off; and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruninghooks: nation shall not lift up a sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more. 4 But they shall sit every man under his vine and under his fig tree; and none shall make them afraid: for the mouth of the LORD of hosts hath spoken it. 5 For all people will walk every one in the name of his god, and we will walk in the name of the LORD our God for ever and ever. 6 In that day, saith the LORD, will I assemble her that halteth, and I will gather her that is driven out, and her that I have afflicted; 7 And I will make her that halted a remnant, and her that was cast far off a strong nation: and the LORD shall reign over them in mount Zion from henceforth, even for ever.


What a thought: the house of the LORD exalted above the hills, and people flowing to it! Many nations wanting to learn the ways of God and walk in his paths!


Are we living in the last days? Yes, I think so. Do I, or anyone else for that matter, know when the end shall come? NO.

Matthew 24:
29 ¶ Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken: 30 And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. 31 And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other. 32 Now learn a parable of the fig tree; When his branch is yet tender, and putteth forth leaves, ye know that summer is nigh: 33 So likewise ye, when ye shall see all these things, know that it is near, even at the doors. 34 Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled. 35 Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.
36 ¶ But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only. 37 But as the days of Noe were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. 38 For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark, 39 And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. 40 Then shall two be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left. 41 Two women shall be grinding at the mill; the one shall be taken, and the other left.
42 ¶ Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come. 43 But know this, that if the goodman of the house had known in what watch the thief would come, he would have watched, and would not have suffered his house to be broken up. 44 Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh. 45 Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his lord hath made ruler over his household, to give them meat in due season? 46 Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing. 47 Verily I say unto you, That he shall make him ruler over all his goods. 48 But and if that evil servant shall say in his heart, My lord delayeth his coming; 49 And shall begin to smite his fellowservants, and to eat and drink with the drunken; 50 The lord of that servant shall come in a day when he looketh not for him, and in an hour that he is not aware of, 51 And shall cut him asunder, and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

 

[Dave M]

BAC many parts of India people have never herd the gospel, such as Yadav,, Shaikh,,, Brahman, I think India has the most unreached people on earth.

What prompted this post was a recent speaker I had the pleasure of listening to, named Jack Reid he has made it his mission to spread the word where it has never been herd before, he has been spreading the word in Nepal in the Himalaya mountains, people their have never herd the gospel before he made it his mission, I am talking about places where you can not drive to, it takes days on foot to reach some of these places. Truly amazing people doing this, giving their lives away to help spread the word of God. Their are many many places on earth like this.

 

[robaston]

including me which means I go home anyway!:laugh

funny mate - the breath of all mankind is in His hand. And think of the heavenly big mac's!

 

[Chad]

There may be some countries that have not heard the gospel yet but keep in mind the tremendous leap in global evangelism through the Internet, television, radio. There are initiatives also to bring Internet to underdeveloped nations including India for example.

Aside that don't forget the other signs of the end times including the falling away of the church, increase of natural disasters, many false prophets rising up and wars. Everything is getting worse but we as believers need to continue to spread the gospel. We need to be salt and light in a dark world .

 

[Ceptor]

Aside that don't forget the other signs of the end times including the falling away of the church, increase of natural disasters, many false prophets rising up and wars. Everything is getting worse but we as believers need to continue to spread the gospel.

Well said. The signs we sometimes attribute to it not being close to Jesus' return are often distractions or misinterpretations, when in reality the stage is set and the current situation is in all reality the exact setting for which Christ said He would be seen coming on the clouds in great glory. As in the days of Noah...

 

[KingJ]

I here a lot of today's preachers saying we are in end times, this is the possibly the last generation. To me this is a red flag this simple yet revealing verse tells me we far from end times .

King James 2000 Bible Mark 13 -10
And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.

There are plenty of places all over the world that have never herd the name Jesus, so until all these people are reached we are not close to end times.

What are your thoughts on this?

Look at how quickly technology advances Knowledge Doubling Every 12 Months, Soon to be Every 12 Hours - Industry Tap Soon every 12 hours!!

Media with news of Jesus will reach these places soon if not already.

I have always been a skeptic with the context of that verse. Nobody in the OT heard of Jesus yet many made it to Abraham's bosom over Hades. Studying the context there is on my to do list for the new year.

For me the best indicator of the end times is logical. It is an increase in evil. An increase in evil makes it unfair on the kids growing up and brings an unbearable level of persecution for the good. Throughout scripture / history God has always annihilated such a society (Noah's flood, Sodom, Hittites, Canaanites etc). Note how in Gen 15:16 God did not destroy the Amorites (yet) for their sin / wickedness was not 'full measure'.

Jesus said to the prophets Matt 10:23 When you are persecuted in one place, flee to another. Truly I tell you, you will not finish going through the towns of Israel before the Son of Man comes.

Now as the world becomes a global village...going to towns that don't persecute us becomes a problem. The world at large is wicked. It will be so easy for the anti-christ to demonize us Christians. It can happen in an instant. Our time is running out. Look at how the persecution of some Christians is already starting. It is already illegal to mention anything against the GLBT movement. For almost every country in the world.

Evil at full measure = nobody wants to repent = everyone doing right in their eyes = no respect for God's law = remove God from their thinking = sexual immorality + idolatry + persecute Christian bigots.

Sexual immorality is a very interesting sin. It is something that we can feel is not too evil as long as there are consenting adults. But you have to remove God from your thoughts completely to sleep at night whilst in it. So for me the GLBT movement is a good indicator of God's wrath toleration level being tested.

There are different interpretations of Matt 24:22 with regards to its timing being before or mid trib. But one un-debatable fact of it is that it is evidence of God's will being wanting to take us sooner rather then later, when times get rough.

 

[Ceptor]

Sexual immorality is a very interesting sin. It is something that we can feel is not too evil as long as there are consenting adults. But you have to remove God from your thoughts completely to sleep at night whilst in it. So for me the GLBT movement is a good indicator of God's wrath toleration level being tested.

Brother, you finally took the words out of my mouth. Well done...

I don't believe I could have put it any more straightforward.

 

[B-A-C]

BAC many parts of India people have never herd the gospel, such as Yadav,, Shaikh,,, Brahman, I think India has the most unreached people on earth.

...and yet the gospel has been preached in many parts of India.

 

[B-A-C]

There are many unknowns....

For example....
The man of sin will be revealed (the beast). 1 Thess 2:3;
But even though this will be a well known person... will everyone know he is the beast yet?
He might be revealed... but is he revealed as the beast?

The gospel will be preached to the ends of the earth ( Acts 1:8; )
But will this all be in one generation, or do the places the gospel was taught hundreds of years ago still count today?
Also, it says this must happen before Jesus returns ( Mark 13:10; Matt 24:14; ) but it doesn't
say it has to happen before the tribulation begins. This could still happen after the tribulation begins.

If you believe Matt 24:36; then even if all the gospel was preached to the entire earth this year, would
that mean Jesus is returning this year?
The next verse talks about as in the days of Noah....

Some people think we are already in the tribulation. But the times going on right now are nothing.
This is no where near how bad things will be during the tribulation.,

Others think the events of Revelation have already finished at some point in the past.
Yet, Jesus hasn't ruled the earth for a thousand years yet. Satan is still loose on the earth, and hasn't
been locked up for a thousand years yet.

 

[Dave M]

1.2 billion | Mission India

More than 400 million people currently living in India have never even heard the name of Jesus, making India the most unreached country on earth.

 

[hulahoop14]

The following verses occurred to me as I read this thread:

Romans 1:18-21 "For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness; because that which may be known of God is manifest in them: for God hath showed it unto them. For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead: so that they are without excuse. Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened."

 

[amadeus2]

I here a lot of today's preachers saying we are in end times, this is the possibly the last generation. To me this is a red flag this simple yet revealing verse tells me we far from end times .

King James 2000 Bible Mark 13 -10
And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.

There are plenty of places all over the world that have never herd the name Jesus, so until all these people are reached we are not close to end times.

What are your thoughts on this?

What God looking for is what is in a person's heart. There are people who know that the name, Jesus, refers to a man who walked on planet Earth about 2000 years ago, yet they have never heard his name, because what is his name?

Did Abraham, the father of faith, know the name of Jesus? Did David, the man after God's own heart, know the name of Jesus? I suspect that that they knew it better than some bearing the label of Christian today... even though they did not know the physical appellation which was to be applied to the Messiah.

Perhaps we should understand just what it is that people need to have their hearts before saying it has not happened yet.

What needs to be in the heart is NOT the five letter word spelled J.E.S.U.S. in English with variations in other languages.

Some people, many people do not have the "ears to hear" and the "eyes to see" what God has for whosoever will and they never will. God knows this but He does send someone with what is needed to anyone whose heart is hungry and thirsty. Consider that Philip was sent to the Ethiopian eunuch to provide the man, a gentile, with what was needed. God will do this whenever and wherever is necessary. He won't with consult us about it or advise us usually unless we like Philip are to be the vehicle to deliver the necessities.

 

[B-A-C]

What needs to be in the heart is NOT the five letter word spelled J.E.S.U.S. in English with variations in other languages.

I somewhat agree with this... yet, on the other hand. No one gets to heaven without Jesus.
Abraham may not have known Jesus' name. But he knew God, and trusted Him. He was obedient to God
in many things. Many people believe Abraham went to Paradise (Abraham's bosom) but he didn't go
to heaven until the time of Jesus.