# We may truly be experiencing the end times. **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [February 18, 2010, 1:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-may-truly-be-experiencing-the-end-times/529461 "2010-02-18T13:28:53Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Clu-Me-In](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/dfb087/32.png) [@Clu-Me-In](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Clu-Me-In)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2010, 1:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-may-truly-be-experiencing-the-end-times/529461/1 "2010-02-18T13:28:53Z")
All the turmoil with the weather, climate change, Tsunamis, Earthquakes, un-ending wars, new wars starting, Conspiracy theorists and end times believers may just be right. We could truly be experiencing those things talked about in the Bible.šŸ˜• ---
**Author:** ![lieu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c2a13f/32.png) [@lieu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lieu)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2010, 1:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-may-truly-be-experiencing-the-end-times/529461/2 "2010-02-18T13:37:30Z")
I think you could probably go back to almost any time in manā€™s history since the books of the bible were recorded and find similarly distressing elements affecting our quality of life and our perception of it. Perhaps what weā€™re seeing now isnā€™t new but just a morphed iteration of things present in the past. ---
**Author:** ![Serenata67](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/serenata67/32/10646_2.png) [@Serenata67](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Serenata67)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2010, 1:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-may-truly-be-experiencing-the-end-times/529461/3 "2010-02-18T13:53:08Z")
Natural disasters will always happen. Itā€™s just with the media today, you can hear about a tsunami in Thailand when it happens. If we were living in the 1500s, you might never hear about it. Imagine living in England at that time; no stories of tsumanis, no earthquakes in America, maybe a random volcanic eruption in Italy might make the stories, but most people would never hear of it. Now, we know about all of those acts of God. Itā€™s not that theyā€™re happening more.\* \*havenā€™t had time to look up statistics to back that up, itā€™s an educated opinion. Really gotta to go to work now! ---
**Author:** ![Grey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b782af/32.png) [@Grey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grey)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2010, 1:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-may-truly-be-experiencing-the-end-times/529461/4 "2010-02-18T13:56:54Z")
Itā€™s not the end times, now stop gibbering under the blankets. ---
**Author:** ![garygnu](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/garygnu/32/2924_2.png) [@garygnu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/garygnu)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2010, 3:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-may-truly-be-experiencing-the-end-times/529461/5 "2010-02-18T15:55:35Z")
To back up **lieu** and **Serenata67** , check out _[The Pessimistsā€™ Guide to History](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/006143101X/ref=pd_lpo_k2_dp_sr_1?pf_rd_p=486539851&pf_rd_s=lpo-top-stripe-1&pf_rd_t=201&pf_rd_i=006095745X&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_r=09SY3XBVYNTGJRDSAPSV)_. In addition to the fact that bad shit happens all the time, ā€œprophetsā€ have been predicting the imminent destruction of the world throughout history. Itā€™s like the only time theyā€™re _not_ going Chicken Little on the general public is when a civilization _is_ on its way to collapse. ---
**Author:** ![FriarTed](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/friarted/32/1052_2.png) [@FriarTed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FriarTed)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2010, 4:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-may-truly-be-experiencing-the-end-times/529461/6 "2010-02-18T16:02:14Z")
I will say there are two reasons to think we may be near the End Times- the restoration of Israel and the globalization of everything. BUT there are at least six billion reasons for God to hold off- those people who donā€™t yet know Christ. I used to be a Rapturist. Now Iā€™m just committed to believe in the Lordship of Jesus over the world, the flesh & the devil- how that works out in the Final Conflict I donā€™t know. BUT I will also say- every day is The Last Day for lots of people, so keep watch for either Christ may come at a time you think not or you may go to Christ at a time you think not. Now turn in your hymnals to pageā€¦ _G_ ---
**Author:** ![Sunspace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunspace/32/1250_2.png) [@Sunspace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunspace)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2010, 4:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-may-truly-be-experiencing-the-end-times/529461/7 "2010-02-18T16:02:30Z")
Honestly, I sometimes think that believing in the end times is just a tactic people use to avoid responsibility for their part in the future. World going to end? Then I donā€™t have to clean up my garbage, fight injustice, or pay my bills. At other times, I think itā€™s a way to remain suspended in fear. Either way, it never seemed healthy to me. I can watch a disaster movie and have as much fun as anyone else, but then I set it aside and get back to work on making things better. And improving myself. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2010, 4:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-may-truly-be-experiencing-the-end-times/529461/8 "2010-02-18T16:15:54Z")
> [@FriarTed](#): > > I will say there are two reasons to think we may be near the End Times- the restoration of Israel and the globalization of everything. BUT there are at least six billion reasons for God to hold off- those people who donā€™t yet know Christ. I used to be a Rapturist. Now Iā€™m just committed to believe in the Lordship of Jesus over the world, the flesh & the devil- how that works out in the Final Conflict I donā€™t know. > > BUT I will also say- every day is The Last Day for lots of people, so keep watch for either Christ may come at a time you think not or you may go to Christ at a time you think not. > > Now turn in your hymnals to pageā€¦ _G_ Nice whoosh. Or true crackpottery. Either way, very entertaining. ---
**Author:** ![Gagundathar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a183cd/32.png) [@Gagundathar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gagundathar)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2010, 4:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-may-truly-be-experiencing-the-end-times/529461/9 "2010-02-18T16:29:10Z")
In my opinion, the belief in an end-time is a form of wish fulfillment. It can be quite dangerous when the believer is in a position of responsibility. ---
**Author:** ![MacTech](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c0e974/32.png) [@MacTech](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MacTech)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2010, 4:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-may-truly-be-experiencing-the-end-times/529461/10 "2010-02-18T16:34:20Z")
Nahh, not even _close_ to the End Times, thatā€™s just crazy talkā€¦ Now, the Zombie Uprising/Apocalypseā„¢, OTOH, _THAT_ is real, and is coming soon, hope youā€™re all prepared, remember the Rules to Surviveā€¦ šŸ˜‰ ---
**Author:** ![Frodo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/frodo/32/302_2.png) [@Frodo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frodo)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2010, 4:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-may-truly-be-experiencing-the-end-times/529461/11 "2010-02-18T16:52:50Z")
> [@MacTech](#): > > Nahh, not even _close_ to the End Times, thatā€™s just crazy talkā€¦ > > Now, the Zombie Uprising/Apocalypseā„¢, OTOH, _THAT_ is real, and is coming soon, hope youā€™re all prepared, remember the Rules to Surviveā€¦ > šŸ˜‰ Iā€™m good then. Except for that pesky cardiovascular thingā€¦ ---
**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2010, 5:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-may-truly-be-experiencing-the-end-times/529461/12 "2010-02-18T17:32:56Z")
> [@garygnu](#): > > To back up **lieu** and **Serenata67** , check out _[The Pessimistsā€™ Guide to History](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/006143101X/ref=pd_lpo_k2_dp_sr_1?pf_rd_p=486539851&pf_rd_s=lpo-top-stripe-1&pf_rd_t=201&pf_rd_i=006095745X&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_r=09SY3XBVYNTGJRDSAPSV)_. In addition to the fact that bad shit happens all the time, ā€œprophetsā€ have been predicting the imminent destruction of the world throughout history. Itā€™s like the only time theyā€™re _not_ going Chicken Little on the general public is when a civilization _is_ on its way to collapse. Thanks! I clicked on the Buy It Now icon pretty much automatically - that looks fascinating. And to quote Buffalo Springfield: > [@](#): > > Paranoia runs deep - into your hearts it will creep ---
**Author:** ![Ogre](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/ecb155/32.png) [@Ogre](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ogre)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2010, 5:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-may-truly-be-experiencing-the-end-times/529461/13 "2010-02-18T17:57:28Z")
The Earth doesnā€™t end. Itā€™s pure human arrogance to think that it will anytime before the Sun fritzes out. ---
**Author:** ![Chimera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Chimera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chimera)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2010, 6:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-may-truly-be-experiencing-the-end-times/529461/14 "2010-02-18T18:16:25Z")
Gosh, wouldnā€™t it be so much easier if it just ended and we didnā€™t have to deal with all the scary crap in the future? ---
**Author:** ![PoorYorick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ecccb3/32.png) [@PoorYorick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PoorYorick)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2010, 6:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-may-truly-be-experiencing-the-end-times/529461/15 "2010-02-18T18:23:09Z")
THE END IS NIGH! _hums and taps foot_ _looks at watch_ _crickets_ OK, THE END IS REALLLLY NIGH NOW! _more crickets_ (You do know that St. Paul thought that the end of times was going to be in his life time, right? Like other millenarismists, he kind of had to adjust his expectations). ---
**Author:** ![Clothahump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/51bf81/32.png) [@Clothahump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Clothahump)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2010, 6:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-may-truly-be-experiencing-the-end-times/529461/16 "2010-02-18T18:24:45Z")
> [@Clu-Me-In](#): > > We could truly be experiencing those things talked about in the Bible.šŸ˜• The bible is bullshit and lies. If you choose to believe them, that is up to you. The only ā€œend timeā€ that will occur is when our sun finally expands and consumes our planet, and thatā€™s not gonna happen any time in the near future. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2010, 6:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-may-truly-be-experiencing-the-end-times/529461/17 "2010-02-18T18:30:07Z")
> [@Clothahump](#): > > The bible is bullshit and lies. If you choose to believe them, that is up to you. > > The only ā€œend timeā€ that will occur is when our sun finally expands and consumes our planet, and thatā€™s not gonna happen any time in the near future. Well, thereā€™s that whole asteroid/meteor strike wild card thingy to worry about, so itā€™s not like we canā€™t maintain our level of hysteria. ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2010, 6:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-may-truly-be-experiencing-the-end-times/529461/18 "2010-02-18T18:41:56Z")
The Bible doesnā€™t actually describe any ā€œendtimesā€ scenario anyway. The stuff in _Revelation_ is all about ancient Rome, not about the distant future (relative to the tim of authorship). Not that I think Biblcal prophecy means anything, but for what itā€™s worth, Jesus says in the Gospels that when the end actually happens, you wonā€™t see it coming. ---
**Author:** ![pantheon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/6bbea6/32.png) [@pantheon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pantheon)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2010, 7:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-may-truly-be-experiencing-the-end-times/529461/19 "2010-02-18T19:03:38Z")
> [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](#): > > (relative to the tim of authorship). So Tim wrote Revelation, but his relative John took the credit? ---
**Author:** ![MacTech](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c0e974/32.png) [@MacTech](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MacTech)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2010, 7:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-may-truly-be-experiencing-the-end-times/529461/20 "2010-02-18T19:34:11Z")
Yes, he wrote it, when he wasnā€™t busy being an Enchanterā€¦ There are those that call himā€¦?Tim? [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-may-truly-be-experiencing-the-end-times/529461.md?page=2)