Matthew 24?

[DutchOma]

What are people's thoughts on this one in view of recent world events?

I think that I should follow Our Lord's advice and be prepared but not scared or try to look for signs.

I'm currently hugely pregnant with my second child and due to give birth at Easter. If anything this reminds me that we are not in control of the future we can only do our very best in situations as they happen.

I agree with architien. I think there are some who go well over the top and scream at every 'sign' that the end of the world , is nigh, who take the 'Left Behind' series of books as gospel (I have read them and enjoyed them with a liberal pinch of salt )

But, I think if as Christians we are living the life modelled by Jesus, it doesn't really matter an awful lot. If we are being people of integrity and justice and compassion and love and believe in the grace of Christ then - well, let's just get on with doing that, and if the recent world events mean anything, all we should take from it is to be more intentional in following this life, in giving others a chance to hear, in loving people in action and word. If that is what this does then that can't be a bad thing.

Getting hysterical about imminent armageddon isn't particularly productive, perhaps we should leave that until it really is obvious that it is, in fact, imminent. Otherwise let's get on with living the life. :)

Not sure where the rogue comma came in there

People have spent the last 2000 years (and actually long before that too) looking out for the signs that the world's about to end. We'll need a lot more thna "nation rising against nation, famines and earthquakes" to know it's about to happen - those have happened every one of those years!

Yes, I think you are all right, only to me it seems it has got so terribly bad that, I don't know, we should DO something. I feel such a pain because it is so bad and getting worse. That's why I posed the question, to see what others feel.
Thank you for sharing in the discussion.

I know, it is so painful to think of all those affected, and wish we could do more :( I am thinking about it more, I have to say, but within keeping of what I have said above, I think. Thing is we can do something, we can pray, pray and pray some more, it is by no means hopeless. :) And that of course goes alongside doing what we can practically, if possible.

I totally agree with you Madhair

they are way too many people you worry about the end times and what heaven will be like and what the new heavens and new earth mean but forgoet that the most important thing is their own relationship to God

I heard it saiid that only when we are sure that we will get to heaven;that we should think about what it will be like and by the time we are sure, what it is like will be unimportant as we will be with Christ and being with him the details which seems so important now will fade away