Are we living in the last days?

[otseng]

From speaking with my brothers and sister, far from undermining our faith and causing confusion, the impact of coronavirus only serves to strengthen our conviction we are living in the last days and our resolve to preach the good news of the kingdom before the Lord tells us the work is complete.

For debate:
Are we living in the last days?

[Zzyzx]

.

For now, I'm convinced it's the last days of America as a great nation and the last days of many global structures.

I agree. The decline was gradual for a few decades but has accelerated greatly.

As evidence mounts, I'm getting more convinced it will be the Biblical last days as well.

I don't give much credence to biblical prognostications.

Our credit card balance is through the roof. Currently we have enough credit to pay for things by applying for more credit cards. But, when we are not able to apply for more credit cards, we will have to start missing our monthly payments.

Agree. Living on borrowed funds is a disaster in progress.

Yes, I agree there are no country currently with a military of that size. And most nations don't even have a population of that size. All I'm saying is China alone could it even be possible to have a military of that size. Would it happen? I do not know.

It no longer seems as though the number of soldiers is the deciding factor in military conflicts. Technology and weapons are more important than mere numbers.

All I stated was, "As for famines, even the secular media claims the Coronavirus pandemic 'will cause famine of biblical proportions'

It appears as though maldistribution of wealth is a (or the) primary cause of famine

The signs are pretty obvious to me that a V-shaped (or any shaped) recovery is not possible.

Recovery of the economy (irrespective of the stock market) is likely to take years. Perhaps a major restructuring will occur economically and politically (as well as socially).

[Danmark]

Periodically I find the need to remind us that this latest prediction is one of many.

"66"70 CE Simon bar Giora, Jewish Essenes The Jewish Essene sect of ascetics saw the Jewish uprising against the Romans in 66"70 in Judea as the final end-time battle which would bring about the arrival of the Messiah. By the authority of Simon, coins were minted declaring the redemption of Israel.
....
1284 Pope Innocent III Pope Innocent III (died 1216) predicted that the world would end 666 years after the rise of Islam in 618.
....
1792
1794 Shakers The Shakers, a Christian sect founded in 18th century England, predicted the world would end in 1792 and then in 1794.
....
[many pages later...]
9 Jun 2019 Ronald Weinland Weinland, who previously predicted the world would end in 2011, 2012, and then 2013, predicted in 2018 that Jesus would return on June 9, 2019. Prior to the date occurring he began to express some doubts regarding his own prediction."

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_d ... tic_events

I'm going to risk a prediction too. 7.5 billion years when the Sun absorbs the Earth.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Future_of_Earth

[2timothy316]

[Replying to post 212 by Danmark]

Yet these are attempts to predict the END. "The Last Days" are not the same as the "Last Day", thus the 's' at the end of day. The Bible describes what the last days would be like in Matthew chapter 24. What the Bible describes as the 'last day' is completely different as described in Revelation.

[Tcg]

"The Last Days" are not the same as the "Last Day", thus the 's' at the end of day.

Indeed. How convenient that is for those claiming we are in the last days. The word "days" of course can be claimed to be figurative language for some unspecified length of time. It could be referring to days, weeks, months, years, decades, centuries, millennia, etc., etc., etc.

When stretched to this degree it becomes a meaningless term. We are in the "last days" now and will be in them apparently endlessly.


Tcg

[Zzyzx]

.

"The Last Days" are not the same as the "Last Day", thus the 's' at the end of day.

Indeed. How convenient that is for those claiming we are in the last days. The word "days" of course can be claimed to be figurative language for some unspecified length of time. It could be referring to days, weeks, months, years, decades, centuries, millennia, etc., etc., etc.

When stretched to this degree it becomes a meaningless term. We are in the "last days" now and will be in them apparently endlessly.

When apologetic 'arguments' are shown to lack sense and support, the reaction is often word games and semantics -- often applying strange definitions to common words and/or blaming 'translation errors' (as though anonymous internet posters are better qualified than Bible translators and editors)

[2timothy316]

.

"The Last Days" are not the same as the "Last Day", thus the 's' at the end of day.

Indeed. How convenient that is for those claiming we are in the last days. The word "days" of course can be claimed to be figurative language for some unspecified length of time. It could be referring to days, weeks, months, years, decades, centuries, millennia, etc., etc., etc.

When stretched to this degree it becomes a meaningless term. We are in the "last days" now and will be in them apparently endlessly.

When apologetic 'arguments' are shown to lack sense and support, the reaction is often word games and semantics -- often applying strange definitions to common words and/or blaming 'translation errors' (as though anonymous internet posters are better qualified than Bible translators and editors)

It's not semantics or word games. Those that constantly read the Bible

[2timothy316]

.

"The Last Days" are not the same as the "Last Day", thus the 's' at the end of day.

Indeed. How convenient that is for those claiming we are in the last days. The word "days" of course can be claimed to be figurative language for some unspecified length of time. It could be referring to days, weeks, months, years, decades, centuries, millennia, etc., etc., etc.

When stretched to this degree it becomes a meaningless term. We are in the "last days" now and will be in them apparently endlessly.

When apologetic 'arguments' are shown to lack sense and support, the reaction is often word games and semantics -- often applying strange definitions to common words and/or blaming 'translation errors' (as though anonymous internet posters are better qualified than Bible translators and editors)

Or the apologetic is trying to correct a common mistake by those that do not study the Bible daily or point out that the person trying to predict some singular date is not paying attention to what the first page of this discussion was identifying the last days as a time period not a singular day...but whatever.

That being said. The last days are said to be a short time compared to all of mankind's history. viewtopic.php?p=1008292#1008292 This was already commented on but apparently it was missed.

[Zzyzx]

.

When apologetic 'arguments' are shown to lack sense and support, the reaction is often word games and semantics -- often applying strange definitions to common words and/or blaming 'translation errors' (as though anonymous internet posters are better qualified than Bible translators and editors)

Or the apologetic is trying to correct a common mistake by those that do not study the Bible daily

Those who study daily ancient folklore may become convinced that what it says applies to the real world of today. They often massage the words trying to make sense of nonsense. It might be prudent to add daily study of critical / analytical thinking and decision-making (based on verifiable information)

Is there verifiable evidence to show that Bible-studiers possess valid information about 'end times' / 'end days' / last day (whatever that may mean)

or point out that the person trying to predict some singular date is not paying attention to what the first page of this discussion was identifying the last days as a time period not a singular day...but whatever.

Last days is typically or traditionally assigned to some 'end of the world' or 'apocalypse' prognostication. Whether that means a specific date or range of dates seems to be the opinion of the prognosticator or supporters (and variable to fit whatever argument they try to make)

The End is popular speculation " hundreds of them are listed at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_d ... tic_events

That being said. The last days are said to be a short time compared to all of mankind's history.

Based on what authority?

[2timothy316]

Last days is typically or traditionally"

Who's typical tradition? Just because it's someone tradition doesn't mean it's the correct definition of 'last days'.

Based on what authority?

The Bible. Which is the better authority compared to common tradition.

[Zzyzx]

.

Last days is typically or traditionally"

Who's typical tradition? Just because it's someone tradition doesn't mean it's the correct definition of 'last days'.

Yes, let's play word games. Whose definition of 'last days' shall be ruled correct?

Based on what authority?

The Bible.

The Bible may be considered authoritative in TD&D or Holy Huddle sub-forums, but is no more authoritative than any other book in debates in this (C&A) sub-forum. Consult Guidelines if in doubt.