There are several different Christian versions of the "end times" - there are the Premillenialists, the Post Millenialists, the Amillenialists, etc. I'm a "Pan-Millenialist" - I think it will all pan out in the end according to God's plan, whatever that plan is, and I believe God holds that plan pretty close to the vest.
The Bible speaks of quite a number of "antichrists". Now, I know that many Christians mean "THE Antichrist" when they speak thusly, the one mentioned by John in the Apocalypse of Revelations... but I also think that one has already come and gone, nearly 2000 years ago.
But let's assume I believe that THE Antichrist is coming soon, just for the sake of discussion. I'm not sure why I would care about that. I already have a God, so I wouldn't be worshiping another one. No reason to live in fear and dread, because what is gonna happen is gonna happen - nothing I can do to help or hinder it. So I don't understand why I would waste my time striving in either of those directions.
Really, I can't figure out a reason to get my drawers in a wad over any antichrists, including THE Antichrist. Wouldn't it make more sense to just make sure I'm right with my God, and let that mean old Antichrist worry over his own problems, rather than ME trying to worry over his problems and neglect God due tot that effort in the wrong direction?
So, I would neither cower in fear nor rejoice in promotion of the end. What the Antichrist does ain't none of my business - I don't belong to him, and I don't think any Child of God would belong to that Antichrist - that would be just a pull in opposite directions that would pull a man apart, no?
I think that whatever this Antichrist does or does not do, if one is a Child of God and refuses to allow himself to get sidetracked from that, then he or she will be ok in the end... and the end is the goal, the prize, the place you're supposed to keep your eye on, and persevere on to, isn't it?
Whether the "end times" came 2000 years ago, will come tomorrow, or 2000 years in the future, what is certain is that the end will come for us all, sooner or later, within usually 100 years or less. Best be ready for that end, because if you are, then none of the other ends will catch you by surprise.
No one knows when their own individual "end times" will come, whether in a massive world shaking apocalypse or whether with a quiet loss of one's next breath. So I believe the watchwords should be "semper preperatus" - always prepared. If you're always prepared, knowing that the end WILL come whether in a bang or a whimper, the"end times" won't matter so much - you'll be onward and upward in any case.
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The Bible speaks of quite a number of "antichrists". Now, I know that many Christians mean "THE Antichrist" when they speak thusly, the one mentioned by John in the Apocalypse of Revelations... but I also think that one has already come and gone, nearly 2000 years ago.
But let's assume I believe that THE Antichrist is coming soon, just for the sake of discussion. I'm not sure why I would care about that. I already have a God, so I wouldn't be worshiping another one. No reason to live in fear and dread, because what is gonna happen is gonna happen - nothing I can do to help or hinder it. So I don't understand why I would waste my time striving in either of those directions.
Really, I can't figure out a reason to get my drawers in a wad over any antichrists, including THE Antichrist. Wouldn't it make more sense to just make sure I'm right with my God, and let that mean old Antichrist worry over his own problems, rather than ME trying to worry over his problems and neglect God due tot that effort in the wrong direction?
So, I would neither cower in fear nor rejoice in promotion of the end. What the Antichrist does ain't none of my business - I don't belong to him, and I don't think any Child of God would belong to that Antichrist - that would be just a pull in opposite directions that would pull a man apart, no?
I think that whatever this Antichrist does or does not do, if one is a Child of God and refuses to allow himself to get sidetracked from that, then he or she will be ok in the end... and the end is the goal, the prize, the place you're supposed to keep your eye on, and persevere on to, isn't it?
Whether the "end times" came 2000 years ago, will come tomorrow, or 2000 years in the future, what is certain is that the end will come for us all, sooner or later, within usually 100 years or less. Best be ready for that end, because if you are, then none of the other ends will catch you by surprise.
No one knows when their own individual "end times" will come, whether in a massive world shaking apocalypse or whether with a quiet loss of one's next breath. So I believe the watchwords should be "semper preperatus" - always prepared. If you're always prepared, knowing that the end WILL come whether in a bang or a whimper, the"end times" won't matter so much - you'll be onward and upward in any case.
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“Trouble rather the tiger in his lair than the sage among his books. For to you kingdoms and their armies are things mighty and enduring, but to him they are but toys of the moment, to be overturned with the flick of a finger.”
― Gordon R. Dickson, Tactics of Mistake
― Gordon R. Dickson, Tactics of Mistake