just something to share

[threeangels]

I know war has been a lot more on many minds lately. I found this sight and wanted to share it with anyone who is interested.

I also want to say that any mumsnetters who have any family members going to war along with everyone else in the world will be in my thoughts and prayers.

Are We Nearing the End Times?
Did you know all the signs Jesus said would signify His second coming are occurring in our time?
The Rev. Billy Graham, Pope John Paul II and numerous Orthodox Jewish rabbis have all said they believe that the coming of the Messiah is very near. Why? Because so many Bible prophecies are being fulfilled.

When Jesus' disciples asked what would signal His return, He gave them several signs to watch for. He also taught that the time immediately before His coming would be known as the "beginning of sorrows" (Matt. 24:8), which in English means the "onset of labor pains."

Jesus was saying the signs of His coming would start out as mild pangs spaced widely apart like human labor and then gradually become closer together and more intense, like the birth process, until this seven-year period of suffering and judgment would culminate in the coming of the Messiah.

The Signs
Consider the signs that Jesus said would be the prelude to His return and notice how they've begun to occur in our time:

False Christs The past few decades have witnessed a huge upsurge in charismatic leaders claiming to be Christ or the Jewish Messiah, including the Moonies' Rev. Sun Moon, the Buddhist Dalai Lama, the Hindu Krishnamurti, and the Bahais' Baha Ullah, to name a few. Collectively, their followers number in the u millions. . Jesus replied to them, "See that none misleads you; for many will come in My name, saying, 'I am the Christ,' and will mislead many." Matt. 24:4,5
War War in the original Greek of Matthew 24 is ethnos, meaning ethnic or racial war. A recent editorial in Time magazine reported there are presently 67 wars being fought around the planet and most of them are ethnic wars, including the recent slaughter in Rwanda and Bosnia. According to the National Defense Council Foundation, conflicts around the globe have doubled since 1989. "... you shall hear of wars and rumors of wars..." Matt. 24:6,7
Famine The LA Times reported recently that more than one billion people suffer from serious malnutrition, exacerbated in the past months by worldwide drought. More than 35 million people living mostly in the southern states of Africa suffer from acute hunger and are threatened with imminent death. "There will be famines..." Matt. 24:7.
Pestilence The rate of infectious diseases has increased 58% since 1980, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control. Diseases once considered conquered are now reappearing, sometimes in drug-resistant forms. AIDS has become a worldwide scourge, and viral diseases such as Ebola pose an international threat because of transcontinental flight. "There will be pestilences." Matt. 24:7.
Earthquakes The number of dangerous earthquakes measuring 6.0 or greater on the Richter scale has been steadily increasing since the 1950s when there were nine. In the 1960s, there were 13. In the 1970s, 51. In the 1980s, 86. In the 1990s more than100 such serious earthquakes have already been recorded, according to the LA Herald Examiner. "There will be...earthquakes in various places." Matt. 24:7.
The Seas and Waves Roaring The Associated Press reports that the most recently completed Atlantic hurricane season produced 11 hurricanes, 8 tropical storms, and $7.7 billion in damage. Serious flooding has also occurred recently in the U.S., Russia, Japan, Mexico, China, Europe, Korea, and the United Kingdom, according to Barron's. "There will be bewilderment at the roaring of the sea and waves." Luke 21:25.
Great Signs in the Heavens The 1994 comet Shoemaker-Levy 9, a string of 21 space rocks that slammed into Jupiter with the power of thousands of nuclear explosions, could be a heavenly sign. Jupiter is the mythological king of the planets and in Christian symbolism it is a representation of Christ. The 21 explosions are reminiscent of the 21 judgments that will befall Earth during the seven-year period that ushers in the coming of the Messiah, according to the Book of Revelation. The comet Hyakutake has recently lit up the night sky, and what promises to be the spectacular comet Hale-Bopp, first sighted in 1995, is scheduled to come nearest to our sun in the spring of 1997. "Great signs shall there be from heaven." Luke 21:11.
Violence Since 1960 violent crime has increased in the U.S. by 560%, according to FBI statistics, and the number of reported cases of child abuse in the U.S. has risen from 670,000 in 1976 to nearly 3 million in the 1990s. Other nations are experiencing similar dramatic increases in violent crime, reports the San Francisco Chronicle. "...as the days of Noah were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be." Mt. 24:37. ("And God said unto Noah, '...the earth is filled with violence...'" Gen. 6:13.)
Gospel Preached to the Whole World Pope John Paul II has traveled to 70-plus nations during his pontificate, preaching the gospel to millions. The Rev. Billy Graham recently conducted a week-long crusade from Costa Rica translated into every language on the planet and broadcast via satellite around the globe. With Communism's collapse, Christian radio and TV are now reaching into almost every nook and cranny of planet Earth. "...and this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached to the whole world and then the end shall come." Mt. 24:14.
All of the signs that Jesus said would precede His return seem to be occurring in our time.

Other Prophecies Fulfilled
Other prophecies relating to this seven-year period of judgment, coming from many parts of the Bible, have also begun to be fulfilled:

Israel reborn as a nation in 1948 (Ezek. 4:3-6, Lev. 26:18)
Israel surrounded by hostile Arab countries (Psalm 83:4-8)
Jerusalem inhabited by the Jews (Luke 21:24)
Israel negotiates a peace treaty with her enemies (Daniel 9:27)
Doomsday weapons threaten earth (Joel 2:3)
Ecological devastation occurs (Rev. 11:18)
The Roman Empire revives as the European Union (Daniel 2:40-44)
Heresies become widespread (II Thess. 2:3)
Russia rises as a military power (Ezek. 38:1-12)
A hole in the ozone layer develops (Rev. 16:8.9)
TV communications are global (Revelation 11:9,10)
Satanic and cultic activity arises (I Tim. 4:1)
Sub-dermal microchips for identification purposes proposed by the U.S. military (Rev. 13:16,17)
Massive increases in wealth occur (Jas. 5:3)
GATT and World Trade Organization become possible forerunners of a world government (Rev. 13:7)
Asia possesses resources for a 200-million-man army (Rev. 9:14-16)
The Euphrates River can be dried up (Rev. 16:12-v 14) and a military highway linking Asia to the Middle East is being completed (Rev. 9:14)
Knowledge vastly increases (Dan. 12:4)
Russian and Ethiopian Jews return to Israel (Jer. 23:7,8; Zeph. 3:10)
The Hebrew language is recovered (Zeph. 3:9)
Jerusalem is rebuilt in nine specific directions (Jer. 31:38-40)
Levites and priests train for Temple service (Ezek. 43:14,15)
Israel's rainfall increases dramatically (Joel 2:23) and the country becomes fertile and blossoms (Isa. 27:6)
Men become more selfish, arrogant, abusive, ungrateful, fierce and treacherous (II Tim. 3:2,3)
Where We Fit In
Referring to these signs, Jesus said, "When these things begin to come to pass, then look up and lift up your heads, for your redemption draws near." (Luke 21:24-28).

If we are approaching that seven-year period that precedes the second coming of Christ - and all the signs indicate we are - the Bible tells us those years of judgment upon the earth will be accompanied by untold human suffering.

But believers in Christ who have sincerely placed their trust in Him can be certain of the redemption to which Jesus referred, for He promised His followers that "God has not destined us for wrath but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ" (1 Thess. 5:9).

So where does that leave you? Are you one of God's children who's been called to believe in His Son but has rejected each invitation? Where are you going to spend the seven years of God's wrath? And the rest of eternity?

Jesus told us that "God so loved the world that He gave His only Son, so that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life" (John. 3:16). But He went on to say that "...he who does not believe is already condemned because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God" (John. 3:18).

Is it too late for you to find salvation?
Not yet. God designed an "escape hatch" for us by offering His only Son to die a miserable death on a cross so that our sins could be blotted out in our Creator's sight and we could be reconciled to Him.

All we have to do is accept His Son as the perfect sacrifice for our sins. By doing this our loving Father promised that, "Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor heart imagined the wonderful things God has prepared for those who love Him" (1 Cor. 2:9).

Would you like to receive those "wonderful things" in the everlasting life Christ promised His followers? Do you want to know how to accept God's Son? It's simple. All you have to do is sincerely pray this prayer: "Lord Jesus, I know I'm a sinner and need Your forgiveness. I believe that you died for my sins and I want to turn away from my wrongdoing. Right now I'm inviting you to come into my heart and life. I want to trust and follow You, making You my Lord and Savior. Amen."

What Next?
If you prayed this and meant it, you need to start talking to God through prayer, reading the Scriptures daily to get to know God better, and find a church where Christians like you worship Christ and where the good news of the Bible is being preached.

Remember, you are now Christ's representative to a needy world that appears to be embarking upon the period of unimaginable suffering that precedes Christ's second coming. You can help lead others to the Truth you've discovered and enable them to avoid the agony to come. Don't put this off. Today is the day of salvation. Tomorrow may be too late. God bless you on your journey.

If you would like to pursue a more in-depth study of Bible prophecy, books by Hal Lindsey, Grant Jeffrey, Jack Van Impe, Peter LaLonde, and John Walvoord among others are available at most Christian bookstores.

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Other Christian Information Sites on the WWW:
ICL Net: Christian Literature on the Net
Bible Gateway
Christian Coalition Home Page
Jewish and Christian Links
Lions Den
Jack Van Impe Home Page
Zola Levitt Presents

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do you really think intolerance of another's opinion should not be allowed? i'm not prepared to tolerate, for example, racist opinions, which unfortunately have sometimes been aired on these boards.

bossykate - I would class racism as an intollerant opinion, and as such unacceptable - I see I'll have to pick my words even more carefully....
croppy - I'm with you in embracing robust debate

I am not remotely religious, but I have to agree with janeway about the false prophets business. I just think it's better not to assume that everyone is Christian. In fact my friends are either agnostic/aetheist or Japanese with a bizarre mix of religion (shinto which isn't realy and kind of agnostic buddhist)

I love reading the Watchtower though- i must be the only person who enjoys having Jehovah's Witnesses to visit.

Jimjams, I am with you on this one. I am the only one I know who invites the Jehovah's Witnesses into my house and we have quite nice chats and I am TOTALLY unreligious, but am still open to other people's views.

Bumblelion they always look faintly surprised when I don't just slam the door. I just find their ideas so bizarre I love hearing about them. I love reading the stuff they leave- the picutres look like something from the Lady magazine that my grandmother used to read!

Oh dear that sounds patronising. I wanted wto watch that programme on BBC2 the other day about the closed bretheren (??? can't remember their name), but I was exhausted and went to bed.

I did like the "religious" attitudes in Japan- laid back and relaxed.

threeangels, really sad to read that you think the world has gone down hill. I believe completely the opposite. I think the lot for human beings has definitely improved. Generally speaking we live longer, in better conditions and with better health than ever before. We have opportunities to do things our ancestors could not even have dreamed of.
I think we need to take greater care of the world we live in but I feel that this attitude is generally becoming more widespread and I feel hopeful for our future.

Why I feel the world is getting worse? I'm not refering to technology, health, and opportunities, etc etc. Agree. We live better then most areas of the world which we are so blessed. I'm talking more about the sins of the world. All Christians will testify to this and even most non-Christians too.

For those who beleive in the Almighty God. Don't you feel the world would be a much better place (Sin speaking) if more people had God in their lives. Theres no one better to learn from. I know in my life along with my family we are so much more grateful and content when we have a close relationship with God. We strive to do Godly things and to help others. I'm sure anyone onn this site would agree if they are a christian.

Still not quite with you Threeangels. The Christian faith has only existed for the last two thousand years. Need greater clarification as to when the world got worse.
I am glad that you find happiness through your beliefs, but I'm sure you will concede that faith is a very subjective matter.

I wonder Threeangels if you are looking at "the good old days" with rose-tinted specs. Do you have that expression in America? Bad things have always happened - old ladies burnt as witches, disabled children left to rot in asylums, many early apostles martyred etc etc.

I wonder Threeangels if you are looking at "the good old days" with rose-tinted specs. Do you have that expression in America? Bad things have always happened - old ladies burnt as witches, disabled children left to rot in asylums, many early apostles martyred etc etc.

Well, Bush, Blair, Saddam and Bin Laden would all claim to have God in their lives, I'm sure....

I think Bob Dylan did a song about that - can't remember which one, its going to bug me all afternoon...The catch phrase is " god on their side ". Anyone ?

More atrocities have been done and wars fought in the name of religion then anything else....

Threeangels - doesn't that make you think ?

this is an exceptionally interesting discussion ! as a reasonably active church goer ( C of E) and Christian ( obviously !) I actually think many Church officials , such as my vicar, would be pretty sceptical about this document.Not to dispute that these things are predicted in the Bible but to dispute that they tie up to current events which are a sure sign of the impending armageddon. I believe many of the events in the bible are metaphors or analogies and not designed to be taken as literal truth. And it is also very true, as has been pointed out, that awful things have been going on for centuries and loads of those are in the Bible itself ! people being stoned to death, crucified, burnt, having their eyes gouged out to name but a few. And those Spartans, they weren't exactly kind and loving to their kids !! just my point of view. And the schools for kids of atheists/ agnostics suggestion ? it would never work !! because absence of faith is no particular faith which is already catered for by non denominational schools. Or what would happen if a kid at a school for atheists discovered God and became very intensely religious????? the mind boggles ! what I do find very interesting is the number of parents who pretend to be religious in order to get their kids into a religious school and then bugger off as soon as they've succeeded.If they arent religious why do they want their kid to go to a school they don't support ? or if they really like the school and its ethos etc, why not embrace the religion seeng as they are implying support for it by sending their child there ??? someone please explain !!!!!!!! is it right to use religion in this manipulative way ?

My DS is not yet 2 so haven't got into the whole education minefield as yet. However, my room mate at work is a Catholic and I have seen him manipulate his religion to get a relations child into a Catholic school where he had connections. Why, because it was a better school with better results. My hairdresser, also a devout Catholic, again got her son into a Catholic primary school way out of her area through her relationship with her priest.

Why, did these parents do so ? If there had been repsected local non Catholic school closer to home would they have bothered. Of course not, they are quite rightly concerned about the education of their children. In this country church and state are quite rightly seperated, why should they not be seperated when it comes to state funded education.

My children will be discriminated against if they try and get into local faith schools because of my lack of faith. However, the children of Catholics will not be discriminated against if they try and get into local non faith schools. How exactly is that fair ?

I'd love to see a school for agnostics/atheists.

Can't agree with donnie that current state schools fulfil that - there's RE for starters which is quite christian-based through the National Curriculum even if teachers try and make it more multi-faithed. Quite a lot of literature in English refers to themes that require a knowledge of christianity to fully understand, then there's art - much of the western art cannon relies on christian understanding. Then there assemblies, after school activities like brownies etc etc.

All of which is fine if you want to bring your child up as christian or are not really bothered enough by it, but if you actively want to avoid your child learning these things until they are old enough to make a judgement for themselves it's tough with the UK school system.

sorry threeangels, probably shouldn't trespass on your thread to say this as it's obviously not appropriate to your beliefs!

Kaz33, as a Catholic trying to get my Catholic child into a Catholic school, I think your work colleague and hairdresser have been exceptionally lucky. My own experience and those of fellow Catholic mums is how very over-subscribed Catholic schools are and how you do seem to need to be a fairly genuinely practising Catholic to get your child in. In most Church schools it is my understanding that applications have to be considered by the Board of Governors and I'm surprised that a priest or relation could swing things to such an extent as to get a child who would not normally qualify into a school.
Surely, when you apply to a non denomenational school you are doing so on the basis that religion is irrelevant in the selection process, so the fact that one child has a faith and another doesn't has no bearing. In that sense there is no discrimination.

People will use any excuse for war and violence, even God. IMO it is not God who is the cause of many wars, but human nature. If you are a Northerner for instance, you will have a dig at Southerners. If you are from Manchester, you will also loathe Scousers, Yorkshire people, the Scots, the Welsh and anyone else who doesn't live in Manchester. If you live in Moss-Side you will hate those from Crumpsall, Salford, Oldham, etc. If you live on such a street, you will probably turn your noses down at those on the council estate up the road, or in the posh detached houses. My point is that it is in our nature to be one up on everyone else, religion is just a by-product of that. Please don't tell me that if we had no religion there would be no wars and no violence. So can we please not come out with that old rubbish again?

I too let the JW's in, and the Mormons, and anyone else who has the guts to knock on my door expressing their views. But as soon as they start to knock my religion then they're out. I believe in respecting people's views and religions, whatever they may be.

No, Bugsy I don't agree - I pay the same taxes but I have less choices when it comes to educating my children.

Also, if you had to choose between a Catholic school with bad results/reputation and a non faith school with good results/reputation which would you choose? Can you say with your hand on your heart that a Catholic education is that important to you.

Well - I can testify Bush has God in his life (the one and only true living God). My pastor has talked with him face to face. As far as Blair, don't know his testimony. For Saddamm and Bin ladin it's obvious to a person who beleives in Jesus Christ they certainly dont beleive in the same or they would be at Gods mercy for what they do. He's one that I sure fear. How can you not?

As far as the statement bad things have always happened they sure have. I am saying that years ago God was more in the lives of people. At least I felt that way when i was growing up. Now it's like "Who's he"? He's been tossed out like yesterdays garbage. People hear the word God and they run like it's the plague. Most at least beleive in God but they don't want anything to do with him. At our church we have a wonderful song called "heal our land" With a phrase saying, "heal our land, Hear us oh lord and hear our land, Forgive our sins and heal our broken land. Just reminds me of how the world truley has become. Much more of the song of course. Wish I could invite everyone to my church as guests because it would most definately help you to see where I'm coming from. There is a website for my church at www.faithforthefamily.com if interested. I'm sure most won't care but it's ok just something in my mind to share.

Rhubarb I totally agree with you. I think it is too easy to blame religion for war and definitely the root cause is in human nature.

Well - I can testify Bush has God in his life (the one and only true living God). My pastor has talked with him face to face. As far as Blair, don't know his testimony. For Saddamm and Bin ladin it's obvious to a person who beleives in Jesus Christ they certainly dont beleive in the same or they would be at Gods mercy for what they do. He's one that I sure fear. How can you not?

Certainly don't want a row with you threeangels but...

I take it you are not critical of Bush's actions?
How can I fear something I don't believe?

I agree, of course there would be wars if there was no religion, as most wars are about power, resources, money, fear, greed etcc.... the Iraq conflict being a current example. However, religion has been used as a shorthand for hatred and bigotry throughout human history - Islamic fundamentalism being the latest example.

It is important however to make a distinction between religion and faith. Faith is one man's personal relationship with his chosen beliefs and I will respect everyones right to believe in Jesus Christ, Allah, Haille Selaisse..., witchcraft, little men from outer space etc..,

However, I have no respect for organised religion of any sort. If I think about the Pope making pronoucements on contraception and abortion it makes my blood boil.

Was going to write more but will probably get me into trouble. This is a subject that I feel very strongly about so should probably retire gracefully, without hopefully having caused to much offence.

Mu post wasnt intended for anyone specific. Of course those who don't beleive don't fear. I'm talking to those on his sight who do beleive. I'm for anyone who loves God and has Christian morals. I may not agree with every single thing but then you really can't with anyone. Our church is all for Bush's actions and we pray for ever day in and out of church. Have you ever met him in person? Our church staff and a large amount of members have when he came to our state. They all saw a wonderful side that many against him don't see or haven't been able to see (other then on tv).

I think I will probally stop posting on this thread because I as a Christian have a duty to witness but not get into any scuffles. It's just not me as a person.

Threeangels while I do not agree with everything you say - I respect you for standing out with a minority view (at least as far as Mumsnet is concerned). And you have certainly provoked an interesting thread.

Sorry don't normally contribute to 'volatile' threads but purlease - Bush may think he's a Christian and most of the US may believe him but being responsible for the deaths of innocent people is not Christian. And there will be many many deaths. Even if some of Saddam's government officials are killed, does that make it right? If they have done wrong they should be brought to trial, not bombed. I also cannot agree that Bush or his brother or father are right when they sign the death penalty (but another thread me thinks).

There is not reason to invade Iraq - they have not invaded the US, or actually any other country. There is a mechanism for dealing with dictators and nations like Iraq, and the UN is it. What right does Bush (and Tony Blair for that matter) have to decide he wants to go bomb somewhere. The United Nations makes those sorts of decisions. The US is one country not the world.

If there is a need to get rid of Saddam, and I quite agree he is the most evil of people, why bomb the country, he could be taken out by the secret service, FBI or whoever, quickly and easily.

Oh I remember, that wouldn't secure the oil would it? Silly me!