Biblical Universalist Discussion Forum
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Matt
Jan 27, 06 - 7:47 PM |
End times
Hi all. It's nice to see another Universalist site up. God opened up my eyes to the realization of His plan for the salvation of all of his Creation back in 2001. I used to post back on the Tentmaker.org forum about 3 1/2 years ago before it was shut down. At any rate, I've been interested in learning about what will happen in the end times lately. For instance, who will the "Beast" be? I have two theories. One, which falls much in line with Seventh Day Adventist thinking, is that the Beast will be the Catholic Church/Papacy. However, I do not necessarily believe in the National Sunday Law aspect as many of them do, and I certainly do not agree with their Annihilationist viewpoint. My other theory is that the Beast is the Illuminati. I've read a great deal about them lately, and while I've always known they were bad news, I didn't realize how widespread and how insipid they really are. Also, what's it going to be like for Universalists during these times? I believe we are the only true (for lack of a better word) Christians. Will we have to endure persecution by our fellow Christians as well as the Beast? I don't remember the exact passage, but it says Satan deceives the whole-world. And I do believe that applies to our fellow Christians as well, at least those who use the KJV and preach eternal torment. (Just an FYI, I have absolutely NO use for the KJV.) What are the thoughts of some of you here? I'm glad there's another site with other Universalists to talk to. I've tried talking to my wife about it, but she's just not ready yet. :) |
Mike Burke
 Jan 28th, 2006 - 9:38 PM |
Re: End times
Welcome to the forum Matt. I believe the beast power will have some historical connection to the ancient Roman Empire (as do the EU, the WEU, and the Vatican.) It may be going a little too far to say that universalists are the only true Christians, but the beast will certainly persecute all who do not worship it. It wasn't only the Jews who suffered in Nazi Germany--Lutheran ministers (and I believe some Catholic clergy) who spoke out against the Nazis were put in concerntration camps along with them (as were the Jehovah's Witnesses, and anyone who was considered disloyal.) Most of the clergy accepted the Nazis, and some actually preached Hitler up as a kind of temporal messiah sent to deliver the German people from all their national woes. As to the illuminati, I can't say I really know a lot about them. I think they're believed to be some kind of elitest group (of the rich and powerful) working toward the goal of a "new world order," a world ecconomy, etc. I can see how such a group might have something to do with the emergence of a revived Roman Empire. Is that what you're suggesting? |
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Mike Burke
Mar 4th, 2006 - 11:20 AM |
Re: End times
Hi Matt; I see you chose to reply under another topic heading (Mystery Babylon the Great.) See my reply there. God Bless. |
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Maribel
Jun 23rd, 2007 - 7:27 PM |
Re: End times
Can we hasten the return of Christ(2 Peter 3:12) Some say we can while others say we can't because no one really knows the time except God alone(Matthew 24:36). |
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Mike Burke
Jun 23rd, 2007 - 8:03 PM |
Re: End times
[Quote] Can we hasten the return of Christ(2 Peter 3:12) Some say we can while others say we can't because no one really knows the time except God alone (Matthew 24:36). [unquote] waiting for and hasting to the presence of the day of God (2 Peter 3:12, Young's Literal translation.) 12. hasting unto--with the utmost eagerness desiring [WAHL], praying for, and contemplating, the coming Saviour as at hand. The Greek may mean "hastening (that is, urging onward [ALFORD]) the day of God"; not that God's eternal appointment of the time is changeable, but God appoints us as instruments of accomplishing those events which must be first before the day of God can come. (Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown) What must happen first? And this good news of the kingdom will be preached throughout the whole world as a testimony to all the nations, and then will come the end. (Matt. 24:14.) For I do not wish you to be ignorant, brethren, of this secret -- that ye may not be wise in your own conceits -- that hardness in part to Israel hath happened till the fulness of the nations may come in (Romans 11:25, Young's Literal Translation.) Before the day of the Lord can come, the good news of the coming kingdom must be preached to all nations, and the number of those called from those nations (to a special salvation, 1 Tim. 4:10) must be full. To the extent that the Church is instrumental in accomplishing these things, she is hastening the day of God. |
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BBrad
Jun 24th, 2007 - 8:49 AM |
Re: End times
Hi Matt, Here is something to consider. Take a look at Islamic eschatology; you'll be amazed regarding the similarities between what they believe and what most Churches believe regarding the end times. http://www.answering-islam.org/Authors/JR/Future/index.htm Consider also where the world is heading. According to the Yemen newspaper, the Yemen Times, the average women in Yemen has 6.8 children. (And Yemen is not the only Islamic country to have extraordinary growth rates.) Out of every thousand people 43 are born every year and 8 die. In 1950 Yemen had just over 4 million people, in the year 2000 it had 18 million people and now it has over 21 million. Yemen will have a larger population than Russia by the middle of this century if present rates of growth continue. The average age in Yemen is 15. Why is this significant? The public schools in Yemen can't keep up and the Islamist schools are only too willing to take in the young. So whether Islam is radical or not, many young Muslims in the Islamic world are being radicalized. The worlds demographics point to a very frightening future. It is no secret that the West has a very low birth rate (about 0.7% per person though this is higher in the U.S.); we have an ageing population. If the present rates of growth continue, 1/2 the children born into this world will be born into a Muslim family sometime around the middle of the century. The Islamic community will be overwhelmingly young, we will be old. With numbers comes confidence; extremism will flourish. The following videos highlight just how widespread the extremist problem is and how hostile they are towards Christianity. http://mypetjawa.mu.nu/archives/187002.php www.youtube.com/watch?v= vypKSWHlnKA http://littlegreenfootballs.com/weblog/?entry=24018_Dispatches-_Undercover_Mosque&only Consider also what is built where the temple used to be built. Did you know that Mecca is called "the city of seven hills"? Another article worth looking at is by Walid, a former Palestinian terrorist who became a Christian. see http://www.answering-islam.org/Walid/gog.htm As to what will really happen we won't know until it unfolds. But I do think that those who suspect Islam are definitely on to something. |
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