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 | Blogs > Noah235 > PLOUGHMAN'S LUNCH > LAST DAYS: GOOD OR BAD? |
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Christians do not agree on exactly what will happen in the 'end times'. There are a wide range of views, but they can be broadly divided into two groups: 1) The first group believes that things in the world will get worse and worse, including severe persecution of the church, and when Jesus comes back he will overturn all of that and set up a 1000 year reign known as 'the millennium'. In this view the second coming is the end of the age but not the end of the world. 2) The second group believes that things in the world will get better and better, and by the time Jesus comes back he will have already established his kingdom through the church to such an extent that there will be almost nothing left for him to do. There are many variations but these two are the bare bones of it. When Jesus is asked about the signs of his return, one part of his answer would seem to support the pessimistic view: 'You will be handed over to be persecuted and put to death...many will turn away from the faith and betray and hate each other...the love of most will grow cold, but he who stands firm to the end will be saved' {Matthew 24 v 9, 10, 12, 13}. However his next words give hope for the optimistic view: 'This gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come' {Matthew 24v14}. Of course he only says the gospel will be 'preached', not 'believed', and it seems only fair that people in every country get to hear the gospel at least. Jesus expressed the belief that this worldwide preaching may not meet with universal success when he asked the disciples: 'When the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?' {Luke 18v8} I believe that there is room for a combination of the optimistic and pessimistic views. The evidence of history clearly favours the notion that persecution actually strengthens the church, whereas a period of revival always fades away, and the church becomes comfortable, lukewarm, wet and wishy-washy. One has only to look at certain parts of the church in Britain today to see the truth of the latter point! But how does persecution strengthen the church? By causing many professing Christians to fall away, then those who remain are more committed and can evangelise more effectively resulting in a stronger and overall more committed church than before. The church has always known persecution, but Jesus indicates that near the end it will intensify and many will fall away, but this will result in a stronger church that will be able to grow in numbers and maturity. This has certainly been happening in Communist and Islamic countries in the 20th Century, and is on the verge of happening now in the Western countries as well. It looks as if we are in for a really tough time from those who oppose the church, but also a really exciting time as many flock to join us in the last days! Peter  "Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth" 2 Timothy 2 v 15 |
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 7/24/2008 2:48 pm |
Sweethoney has also posted a blog on a similar topic: THE LAST DAYS CHURCH ....... APOSTATE Peter "Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth" 2 Timothy 2 v 15
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7/24/2008 2:59 pm |
Hi Peter, I thought that the last days are what`s discribed in Revalation?I suppose this is theology is it? i don`t understand but then hey you know me.I`m easily confused.  .God Bless, Wendy   Show me the way Sweet JESUS.Lead and i Will follow. 
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