It's from my book but I don't have permission yet to post information about it.
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What's up with the world ending?
- Thread starter SabahTheLoner
- Start date
That's the tricky part. Everyone keeps trying to guess. Trust me everyone will know when it happens, it will be undeniable breaking news worldwide.
We announce the end of the current government system, not the earth/world per se. Although there are signs mentioned in the bible there are no dates indicated.
There were a few idiots who decided it was taking too long and they came up with numeric theories and supposed dates but nothing happened on those dates so I hope they finally accepted Mark 13:32 and stopped making the rest of us look bad.
YmirGF
Bodhisattva in Recovery
I know. When I was looking it up I saw that the "leadership" has moved away from this sort of self-induced embarrassment since the late 90's. I do remember though hearing on the radio when I was a kid how the Jehovah's Witness sect had announced the end of the world in 1975. Doh! I think the main thing they proved beyond all doubt was that they were not especially adept at making any kind of prognostications. At least they have shown more wisdom in recent years.
To make up to you for bringing this up. Years ago, I worked with a fellow, an Elder. He was our accountant and was actually a pretty nice guy in straight-laced boring sort of way. Anyways, we had an office birthday celebration and I knew not to include him, but after it was all over I took him in a piece of cake and asked if he'd like some as the "party" was over and it was, after all, just a piece of cake now. He smiled warmly, thanked me and accepted the cake. We got along quite nicely after that.
The Kilted Heathen
Crow FreyjasmaðR
I was already beaten to the Mayan calendar, so I'll tackle the Ragnarök. It's not the end of the world (literally). Ironically, we are entering the period of Ragnarök right now.
"...A lot of people tend to confuse Ragnarök with the Christian term 'Armageddon', which means 'The End of the World.' But, that is not the case here because in the Old Norse way of thinking, everything moved in cycles. So it's basically telling the story about a ring that ends, but also a ring that begins. So something needs to die, for something else to live. And these days, when the sun is turning, that is what it's about. To let die what needs to die. It's the end of the death cycle, of the year. Today, or in these days, this is when summer is born. This is when light of the year is born. In these days. So it's a very good opportunity ... to let die stuff that you don't need to carry around anymore. To make room for new stuff that you can reap during later this year." ~Einar Selvik
This encapsulates my sentiments on the Ragnarök. I agree with what Einar taught; the Ragnarök is not a future event to happen. Loki will not pull a 180° and betray the Æsir, leading his daughter's army of the dead against the einherjar. Rather, the Ragnarök describes what happens every year. In addition to things naturally dying, and the need to let things die, wisdom is devoured by rage. Strength is outdone by itself. The moon is devoured every month, and the sun progressively through the year as the night grows longer. Every year, the gods die, and every new year, they return again - just as the Earth herself dies and is reborn.
As you note, when most of us are going to burn horribly in the alleged destruction to come? Yeah, figs to your "end of the world" wishings. "Believe or be destroyed" is no healthy reason for belief.
LoL I worked that night. New Years Eve 1999. I was waiting for the power to go out, or for the computer to go glitchy. Nothing happened so anti-climatic.
All the major religions have an image of the new age/humanity/dispensation matching their religious beliefs whether it be Messiah, Second Coming, Kalki, Maitreya or Imam Mahdi/Jesus returning. Any member of any of these religions can look at this poem and see their view of their ideal. To me, the Truth is far beyond.
The storm clouds gather.
And the trees are bent before the wind.
People glance apprehensively at the sky
and then rush inside closing windows
and latching shutters.
Animals stop grazing and huddle nervously together
Seeking shelter in each others nearness.
But I have long been searching for this storm.
And I wander bare-headed across the fields
Searching the sky
wondering
In which flash of lighting
Will Your face be revealed.
The storm clouds gather.
And the trees are bent before the wind.
People glance apprehensively at the sky
and then rush inside closing windows
and latching shutters.
Animals stop grazing and huddle nervously together
Seeking shelter in each others nearness.
But I have long been searching for this storm.
And I wander bare-headed across the fields
Searching the sky
wondering
In which flash of lighting
Will Your face be revealed.
There is that as well, all things considered we are pretty screwed
BSM1
What? Me worry?
That's the tricky part. Everyone keeps trying to guess. Trust me everyone will know when it happens, it will be undeniable breaking news worldwide.
So, in your opinion, will there be some sort of pre-sign so we'll know this is the real sign?
Whether we acknowledge it or not...this earth is the property of its Creator, who is the rightful Sovereign over all intelligent creatures both in heaven and on earth.
We are not living here through any deliberate act of our own will, but by his deliberate creation of intelligent beings made in his image, to whom he gave procreative abilities. But rather than make us all boring puppets, he gave us the gift of free will.
We have the ability to love and be loved by the one who made us, but like our own children who sometimes make unwise and selfish choices, we can misuse our freedom and make others suffer under our will, instead of being able to exercise their own.
Rebels in the house just make everyone else's life a misery. Getting rid of the rebels out of the house brings peace to all the rest. Its not a case of "believe or be destroyed" at all......its a case of "do you want to live the life that comes as a reward for staying true to the Creator under pressure from others to abandon him"?
I believe that this life is an object lesson on how to use free will unselfishly. It's being able to see firsthand what happens when people 'do their own thing' rather than to obey God's reasonable rules. We are a long way from paradise...yet it remains in our hearts as an ideal. Have you never wondered why?
It's also about being able to appreciate how precious life is and how easily it can be lost or messed up by an unwise choice on somebody's part...even our own. There are so many lessons that we can learn, but unfortunately, the majority keep making the same mistakes as their parents.....and their parents before them. The wise learn from their experiences and do not repeat the mistakes.
God's instructions for life have always been there and we are endowed with a conscience that is supposed to be our moral compass, but ignoring it has become commonplace to the point where the compass now points in the wrong direction. God warns about this very thing in his word....but selfish humans do not want to listen. They are so busy whining about their life that they fail to appreciate the opportunity they have. It is an equal opportunity for all. And there are no failings or mistakes that are beyond the ability of our Creator to forgive, if we just change our thinking and our ways. His forgiveness is huge! Our destiny is not cast until we cast it ourselves.
In all the time of our existence we have been making a record with God. He observes our thought processes which result in our speech and actions and he is making decisions about our future based on these things. He has never left us without guidance and examples, (both good and bad) so that we can learn to use our free will to benefit others, not just ourselves. But he will never force us to do anything against our own will....it all has to be our own choices from our own hearts.
There is a "Book of Life" and if we have lived our life in accord with God's instructions, we could well find our names written in that book. The door of opportunity is not yet closed. But if we have no desire to live the life that God is offering, then he will not force us to live it. At the same time, he has no use for those who just want to use the gift without any responsibility towards others, or appreciation for the one who gave it. I think that is fair enough.
The Kilted Heathen
Crow FreyjasmaðR
According to you.
According to him actually.
He won't force you to do anything you don't want to do......but he does tell you about the results of not doing so.
If you do not wish to acknowledge his sovereignty, he will demonstrate it eventually anyway because he has a right to do that. He is giving us all a choice now....there will be no choices later. God's kingdom will "come" and his will shall "be done on earth as it is in heaven"....with us or without us. There is no room to argue with that....sorry.
Epic Beard Man
Bearded Philosopher
Eventually this planet will end but hopefully our species will wise up and ban together and colonize another world. It would be kinda cool to see what humans will look like after I'm gone.
Grandliseur
Well-Known Member
At least we agree on some things.
Grandliseur
Well-Known Member
It must be nice to be perfect in something; too bad it is in failing. It is also too bad they cannot listen to what the Bible teaches -'that day and hour is none of our business.'
The Kilted Heathen
Crow FreyjasmaðR
No, according to you, and your word (also Christians collectively) that your holy book (written by men) is the inerrant word of your god. The sky remains mum on any issue you all deign to bring forth, however, including the end of the world and spiritual damnation. That only ever comes from the lips of men. And scare tactics anymore are so Fifteenth Century. Meanwhile my gods speak louder than your book, and their actions remain evident for even the most spiritually blind to see. If we want to play a deity pissing match, pages of rice paper aren't going to stand up well at all.
BSM1
What? Me worry?
You'll know.
How? I would surely not want to miss it.
You won't.