2012: What if...

Just wanted to open a discussion and see where it goes...

This is totally hypothetical and not a "Thus Saith" kinda thing, but what if 2012 was it ?

What would you be doing different if you knew for a fact that 2012 was the last year Christians were to inhabit earth ? Would you not change anything ? Would you seek God more ? Complain less ? Reach out to that unsaved person that's been on your heart ? Seek to accomplish a bucket list ? Stand on a street corner with a bullhorn ?
Really, would there be anything you'd do differently if you knew with the same certainty that Noah knew about the flood ?

Truthfully, I think we'd all do things differently if we knew the exact time of the end. Sadly, none of us are living that way.

Since this is a hypothetical thread, let me go a step further. Your question asks if you knew 2012 was the end. In your scenario, are you the only one who knows, or does the entire world know? I think that being the only one would have a greater impact.

Alldat = agreed. I guess to my shame I admit that I believe and KNOW we are on the edge of human history as we know it and I still go through the motions of daily life with no real "change" brought on by this Spiritual knowledge. Would things be different if we were told the "day and time" ?

Sab = that's deep. "Being the only one that knows" brings to mind the prophets who no one listened to anyways. Also being the only one who knew would seriously put a new kind of stress on you. You'd feel personally responsible for everyone alive... that's heavy.
Course, then there was Jonah (the "only one who knew" Ninevah was going down) - he turned tail and ran. I guess it's a matter of the person's heart as to whether he/she'd do anything differently.

I think if everyone knew, then the vast majority of people would be like PARTY!!!

Well since the end of the world is gonna be in three days, what's the point of this thread?

(As far as Dr Dufus the non-prophet, I guess if you keep guessing and don't give up, you'll eventually hit it.)

If everyone knew that 2012 was IT, I think it could turn into a nightmare. Riots, looting, overdosing, free-for-all on everything. On the other end would be massive Prosyletization from all extreme religious groups.

It's a good thing we DON'T know the day or hour.

I think if I knew that 2012 was going to be it, I would probably be more serious about sharing the gospel with the lost (so I should be more serious about it now). Not sure I would do anything else differently.

Up until a few years ago I didn't think that we were living in "the very end times". I suspected that we could still have 1000+ years before Christ's return. However, after some more study and given recent events in the last several years I feel like it is possibly just around the corner.

I agree. In my own studies I've come to believe that at this time in history, we are so close to the final prophecies that there isn't a lot of time left. (there is some merit to the numbers throughout scripture that point to times of fulfillments, but it's very dangerous, as many have proven, to be setting dates)
Here's some of what I've learned:

Matt. 24:33 -"Even so, when you see all these things, you know that it is near, right at the door."

All this began right after Israel became a Nation -

• The dispersed Jews have returned to Israel and became a Nation in 1948
Ezek. 36:24 ; Ezek.37 ; Isa.11:11-12 ; Amos 9:14-15
• The Jews recaptured the old city of Jerusalem in the 1967 Arab-Israeli war -Luke 21:24
• The rise of Russia as a powerful Nation and enemy of Israel – Ezek.38:1-2,15,16
• The rise of a military power in the Orient that can field an army of 200 million soldiers (Red China ALONE has this many) – Rev.9:16 ; Rev.16:12-16 (when this was written, there weren't 200 million people in the whole world!)
• Increase of wars, earthquakes, plagues, pollution, famine (this one's always debated, but I think we're seeing the beginning of them)– Matt. 24
• Major apostasy amongst the Christian churches – 1Tim.4:1-3 ; 2Pet.2:1 ; Matt.24:10,11,24 ; 2Thess.2:3
• Rise of many false prophets and teachers - Matt.24
• Move toward a one world religion Rev.13:8
• One world government – Rev.13:7 ; Dan.7:23
• Increase in lawlessness, breakdown of family unit – Matt.24:12 ; 2Tim.3:1-3 ; Lk.17:26 ( compare Gen. 6:11)
• Satellite TV – Rev.11:9
• Helicopters? -Rev.9:7-10
• Airplanes? -Rev.12:14
• Rise of a Ten Nation Confederacy - (I have a chart for this)
• A financial system described in REV.13:16,17 (impossible 20 years ago) is now being marketed
• Temple Reconstruction -Dan.9:27 ; Rev.11:1-2
• Nuclear weaponry - Zech.14:12 ; Rev.6:12-14 / Intercontinental Ballistic Warheads? - Rev.8:7
• Modern capability to dry up the Euphrates -Rev.16:12 (9:14-16)

Jesus said to "watch" for the signs.... I see them!
He could come get us anytime, there isn't much left in the prophecies to fulfill !

(I suppose I should've put this thread in Bible Discussions... oops)

It's okay. I think this thread will stay peaceful here, so let it stay. More of us will see it and possibly respond.

I think you all made some great points. Many unsaved people are just going to PARTY! when the end comes to cover their fear. Most religions will proselytize, but that will cause major persecution for Christians as Muslims and other hate filled religions spread their ilk by the sword. Many Christians would share the gospel more, but some would give up and walk away from the faith due to them thinking that nothing really bad can happen to them if they follow Christ.

How can you do things when you don't know what's going to happen.
In the Bible is written that you have to be prepared that Jesus comes back.

Guilty/Forgiven wrote:

(As far as Dr Dufus the non-prophet, I guess if you keep guessing and don't give up, you'll eventually hit it.)

If everyone knew that 2012 was IT, I think it could turn into a nightmare. Riots, looting, overdosing, free-for-all on everything. On the other end would be massive Prosyletization from all extreme religious groups.

It's a good thing we DON'T know the day or hour.

Sometimes I wonder if this is the reason God's not letting us in on this info.

I honestly don't know how close we are to the end. I see the list you made, and cannot deny those things happening, but honestly most of that stuff has been going on for centuries. This thread has brought me back to one very sobering thought (btw, thanks for bringing me down man ): everyday is someone's last day on earth, so what am I doing to make sure their next day is spent in the presence of the Lord?

True dat brother.

Last Friday, one of our youth leaders talked to me a bit about end times. He drew a link between Matthew 24:14 and the Great Commission.

Quote :

Matthew 24:14 And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come.

Quote :

Matthew 28:19 "…Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, (20) and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."