Worries Of The World

[hillsbororiver]

Hi Steve,

You have a lot of company Brother!

Peace,

Joe

[vanityandvexation]

             I remember reading an E-mail or Transcript of Rays, where he mentions trying so hard on his own to overcome bad desires or faults, he really wanted to stop, but couldn't do it until God decided for him to stop.
             

                                       Thanks again, Samson.

                P.S. I was typing this when three more replies came in, but it seems okay to submit.

Beautifully put..."he couldn't do it until God decided for him to stop."

The same could be said for the millions who "couldn't do it because God did not decide for them to stop."

"For it is God who wills..."
"The steps of a man are ordered by the Lord..."

What better explanation can you give that we have no control of ourselves?

[Little Joe]

Good thread,

These verses especially spoke to me:

Mat 6:34  Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil (worry) thereof.

I've been trying to apply these very verses lately, learning to live for the present, one day at a time.

Peace,

Joe 

[Samson]

Hello Vanity & Vexation,

                                   That was also from the DVD of the Nashville conference of 2005, which John from Johnstown was kind enough to send me via Mail to watch on my DVD player. He discusses that Forgiveness is first, Repentance is second and Cleansing is last. However he emphasizes that God " GAVE THEM UP " in regards to those who are overcome by Sin to a DISAPPROVED MENTAL STATE(their carnal desires). Not that he makes them Sin, because Humans are sinning machines and do a good job of it, but he GAVE THEM UP TO THEIR CARNAL DESIRES. Romans. 1:24-31 is the passage he was discussing in this part of the Bible Talk. Ray also brought James. 2:10,11 into the equation, If you break one of the Commandments, your guilty of them all. A good point in this presentation that I appreciated was the part where Ray mentions that we could have been like a Child Molester or Saddam Hussein if God had GIVEN US UP(GAVE THEM UP), BUT BY GOD'S GRACE, HE DIDN'T. We are no better than individuals who committed the most horrendous acts against other humans, IN THE SENSE THAT, GOD COULD HAVE GIVEN US UP TO OUR SINFUL DESIRES THAT COULD HAVE LED TO THESE TERRIBLE ACTS, BUT BY GOD'S GRACE, HE DIDN'T.

              Also, I liked the point where Ray mentions that all of us in our lives could point to events in our life where we were deliberately looking for trouble or to do something foolish and nothing bad happens, IT WAS THROUGH GOD'S GRACE, THAT IT NEVER HAPPENED. I meditated on this personally for an example and recalled the time where I dove off a cliff into the water to impress my girlfriend in 1989 and hit a ledge below that I didn't see, by all accounts I should have died, at least be unconscious, but only cut my forehead and received a broken nose and many sutures, I think back on that day, BY THE GRACE OF GOD, I wasn't paralized or anything like that(IT WAS A VERY FOOLISH ACT), all for vanities sake.

                Sorry for going off the topic track, but I was responding to VANITY & VEXATION (FORUM MEMBER).

                                            Your Brother in Christ, Samson.

[Roy Monis]

Hi! Steve.

When I'm tempted to worry about tomorrow I remind myself that tomorrow is not mine to worry about. He may require my soul tonight. Tomorrow's worries solved.......

"Come now, you who say, "Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city, and spend a year there and engage in business and make a profit. Yet you do not know what your life will be like tomorrow. You are just a vapor that appears for a little while and then vanishes away. Instead, you ought to say, "If the Lord wills, we will live and also do this or that." (Jas. 4:13-15).

God bless brother.

Love in Christ Jesus.

Roy.

[Deborah-Leigh]

  Roy

This one comes to mind for me ....Don't borrow sorrow from tomorrow! I prefer your one though!

Peace to you

Arcturus

[vanityandvexation]

I meditated on this personally for an example and recalled the time where I dove off a cliff into the water to impress my girlfriend in 1989 and hit a ledge below that I didn't see, by all accounts I should have died, at least be unconscious, but only cut my forehead and received a broken nose and many sutures, I think back on that day, BY THE GRACE OF GOD, I wasn't paralized or anything like that(IT WAS A VERY FOOLISH ACT), all for vanities sake.

                Sorry for going off the topic track, but I was responding to VANITY & VEXATION (FORUM MEMBER).

                                            Your Brother in Christ, Samson.

Hello Samson,

Thank you for your comments. I have not yet heard or seen the Nashville DVD, but I think I understand the point being made.

I do have a question though:

Would you respond as well, if their had been a different outcome of that day on the cliff -- where BY THE GRACE OF GOD you were paralyzed for the remainder of your life...?

"...for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content."

"...verily every man at his best state is altogether vanity."

[Samson]

For Vanity & Vexation,

                                I Don't Know, in answer to your question, as to how my reaction would have been, if I was left paralyzed. That was a long time ago, however, I brought that point across because Ray had said that sometimes when we going looking for trouble, we don't receive it, by Gods Grace. I applied that point to my experience. Many times in our lives, bad things happen and we might say to ourselves, poor me; but if we look back into our past experiences, we could come up with situations where things could have been alot worse and they didn't.

                               In my personal experiences, most of my hardships were related to a CAUSE that was emotional in origin. I don't know what God has in store for me, but least now I'm better equipped to accept whatever he WILLS for me. I pray to him for the desire to have control over my emotions and to accept and cope with what will befall me.

                                      May God's Grace abound with you, Samson.

[ez2u]

samson well said.  there is a balance to all things peggy

[Bradigans]

It is all too easy to get caught up in the frenzied hand wringing that the media joyfully promotes, perhaps I have become jaded from all the failed predictions of doom and gloom that have swirled about the past 50 something years of my life.

Air raid drills, getting under my desk or into a school basement as sirens blared, a bunch of young kids herded like sheep being prepared for that fateful day when the Soviet Union was going to blast Holy Redeemer Parochial School and Samuel A. Lattimore Public School # 11.....

Global Cooling, along with food shortages, impending world starvation as we return to another ice age, oh and those pesky Soviets and their ever growing army and munitions. The "Doomsday Clock" ticking away, 1 minute to Midnight and counting...

Double digit inflation, double digit interest rates and climbing! Gas rationing, sky rocketing prices, long lines at the gas station, the world is running out of oil! Unemployment over 8% and who knows where it will end.....

Bank failures, Savings and Loan Companies dropping like flies, Global Warming first rears it's ugly head, and of course don't forget the impending Y2K disasters on the horizon, you remember the Utility Company computers forgetting how to run the valves, gates and damns of our water supplies, the power grids of the electric suppliers shutting down, credit card, banking, traffic control systems all wiped out....

You remember that, or at least reading about it in history class? Oh, that's right we don't bother much with the dim realities people before us have dealt with, lived through and even eventually prospered in, that would take some of the edge off of the oh so dire circumstances of the present.

Yes we have had some problems to deal with but the predictions of doom did not come to pass but it sure did not slow down the authority with which the prophets of disaster spoke with, or the media's obsession with spreading this message.

Did our Lord have anything to say about this phenomena?

Mat 6:25  Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment?

Mat 6:31  Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed?

Mat 6:34  Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil (worry) thereof.

Luk 12:22  And he said unto his disciples, Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat; neither for the body, what ye shall put on.

I will close with this;

Joh 16:33  These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.

Amen!

Joe

AMEN, and alleluia!!!

IN HIS LOVE

[Bradigans]

I forgot to post the following in my previous post, we do not want the following Words applied to any of us.

Luk 8:13 They on the rock are they, which, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no root, which for a while believe, and in time of temptation fall away.

Luk 8:14  And that which fell among thorns are they, which, when they have heard, go forth, and are choked with cares and riches and pleasures of this life, and bring no fruit to perfection.

Luk 21:33  Heaven and earth shall pass away: but my words shall not pass away.

Luk 21:34  And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares.

His Peace and Wisdom to you,

Joe

AMEN and alleluia!!!

IN HIS LOVE

[Bradigans]

Matthew 6:34 - Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof. 


I love this verse. But i have a question for all of us. How many of us are living this verse, or how many of us are living according to the secular ideal. We have retirement plans, pension plans, life insurance policies, and even death insurance policies. How much money do you have in the bank? How many cars do you have in your driveway?

Again, i would like to ask how many are living Matthew 6:34 or just like to idea of Matthew 6:34? You know what James says right?

- James 2:18 - Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works.

Some of us have so much vested or invested in this life we're going to be like Lot's wife. We won't even see Christ.

IN HIS LOVE

IN HIS LOVE 

[Bradigans]

Amen, Joe! I was one of those, who being taught that "the fool" does NOT prepare....went and bought tons of grain to store up for Y2K...and 1 min after mid-night felt like a REAL FOOL! hehehe!

I was in Florida and watched the miles and miles of army jeeps headed for Miami when Cuba was supposed to be preparing to blast us off the map and invade Florida! I think the "conditioning" of the world is this: to keep everyone in a state of "preparedness/ i.e. FEAR" and then come up with some "doosey" cure for the "ailment" so that we "TRUST" in those with the money to "fix" things.

I am thankful for His peace and joy! My prayer is for this to remain in me and for others to have it always!
Joyce

Amen to you. That is so true, and i also believe it is a ploy of the merchants of the world to keep us in a state of fear, insecurity, and self consciousness.

- 2 Timothy 1:7 - For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind

Why do you think everybody is getting boob jobs, penile implants, hair transplants, is taking viagra. The merchants of the world are putting everybody into fear, insecurity (fear), and self consciousness (fear) to make merchandise. Satans fear tactic is a very effective ploy to keep enslaved, in bondage, and in delusion. Everybody wants to be with the in crowd. If you're in God's (CHRIST JESUS!!!)camp, you shouldn't want to be. Look at what HE has to say. 

- Romans 12:2 - And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

- Deuteronomy 14:2 - For thou art an holy people unto the LORD thy God, and the LORD hath chosen thee to be a peculiar people unto himself, above all the nations that are upon the earth.

- Titus 2:14 - Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.   

- 1 Peter 2:9 - But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light;

ALLELUIA!!!


IN HIS LOVE

[Bradigans]

Hello Joe,


             Thanks for your fine Post, I used to have an extreme issue with worrying. Quite often, I would read Matthew. 6:25-34 and try so hard to stop worrying about Tomorrow, realizing intellectually that I should focus on the day at hand, why worry about something that hasn't happened as of yet.

             I remember reading an E-mail or Transcript of Rays, where he mentions trying so hard on his own to overcome bad desires or faults, he really wanted to stop, but couldn't do it until God decided for him to stop. I apply this principle in regards to my worrying. Although I still occasionally worry, I'm not obsessed with it anymore, the truths at this Site have certainly helped me out.

             Formerly being a member of an Apocalyptic movement, didn't help much, it just made me more paranoid and very worried all the time. Also, being a child of the sixties and early seventies and those big Social changes added to all of this. I used to have more stress from the actual thought of bad and undesirable things happening to me, than the actual event, used to pray to God to remove this feeling of worrying and to stop thinking I'm subject to the catch 22 or self-fullfilling prophecy syndrome.

             Anyway, I think this is a good subject you started, because sometimes we can have worry and fear and this can affect us worse than the actual event.

                                       Thanks again, Samson.

                P.S. I was typing this when three more replies came in, but it seems okay to submit.

The only way to truly overcome anything is by and through the FAITH which comes through THE WORD.

- Romans 10:17 - So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

- 1 Peter 2:2 - As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby: 

- Hebrews 11:6 - But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

IN HIS LOVE

[Bradigans]

Amen Joe!
People always talk about the "good ole' days", but were they really that good? If you really think about it, has there ever been a time in the history of mankind when there hasn't been gloom and doom?  We have always been carnal, and have always suffered in some way because of it.
 
I think this is why Jesus tells us not to worry, it IS totally out of our hands. 
Thanks for helping me see the truth from a different perspective!

Matt

He told us in the world we shall have tribulation.

- John 16:33 - These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.

But a believer who is in Christ doesn't live (abide spiritually) in the world.

- John 3:7 - Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.    

- Matthew 6:21 - For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.

- 1 Corinthians 12:13 - For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit. 

ALLELUIA!!!

IN HIS LOVE

[Bradigans]

Amen Joe!
People always talk about the "good ole' days", but were they really that good? If you really think about it, has there ever been a time in the history of mankind when there hasn't been gloom and doom?  We have always been carnal, and have always suffered in some way because of it.
 
I think this is why Jesus tells us not to worry, it IS totally out of our hands. 
Thanks for helping me see the truth from a different perspective!

Matt

He told us in the world we shall have tribulation.

- John 16:33 - These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.

But a believer who is in Christ doesn't live (abide spiritually) in the world.

- John 3:7 - Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.    

- Matthew 6:21 - For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.

- 1 Corinthians 12:13 - For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit. 

ALLELUIA!!!

IN HIS LOVE

- John 3:6 - That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.

i believe we have ability to thrive in more than just one realm. We're three dimensional. Look at what Paul had to say.

- 1 Thessalonians 5:23 - And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

You're more than just this house (your body) that you live in. It's simply so you can thrive in THIS physical universe like when God was manifest in flesh.

IN HIS LOVE

[Bradigans]

Amen Joe!
People always talk about the "good ole' days", but were they really that good? If you really think about it, has there ever been a time in the history of mankind when there hasn't been gloom and doom?  We have always been carnal, and have always suffered in some way because of it.
 
I think this is why Jesus tells us not to worry, it IS totally out of our hands. 
Thanks for helping me see the truth from a different perspective!

Matt

He told us in the world we shall have tribulation.

- John 16:33 - These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.

But a believer who is in Christ doesn't live (abide spiritually) in the world.

- John 3:7 - Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.    

- Matthew 6:21 - For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.

- 1 Corinthians 12:13 - For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit. 

ALLELUIA!!!

IN HIS LOVE

- John 3:6 - That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.

i believe we have ability to thrive in more than just one realm. We're three dimensional. Look at what Paul had to say.

- 1 Thessalonians 5:23 - And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

You're more than just this house (your body) that you live in. It's simply so you can thrive in THIS physical universe like when God was manifest in flesh.

IN HIS LOVE

- John 10:34 - Jesus answered them, Is it not written in your law, I said, Ye are gods?

IN HIS LOVE 

[Bradigans]

Thank you all for your responses, it is amazing that people continue to give an ear to these predictions in light of what our Lord told us;

Mat 24:35  Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.

Mat 24:36  But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only.

Mat 24:37  But as the days of Noah were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.

Mat 24:38  For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered into the ark, (Note: They were not starving, thirsting and mourning)

Mat 24:39  And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.

Here are a few of the predictions from the world of Christianity, they tend to mirror the accuracy level of the secular world's end time predictions;

About 90 CE: Saint Clement 1 predicted that the world end would occur at any moment.

2nd Century CE: Prophets and Prophetesses of the Montanist movement predicted that Jesus would return sometime during their lifetime and establish the New Jerusalem in the city of Pepuza in Asia Minor.

365 CE: A man by the name of Hilary of Poitiers, announced that the end would happen that year. It didn't.

375 to 400 CE: Saint Martin of Tours, a student of Hilary, was convinced that the end would happen sometime before 400 CE.

500 CE: This was the first year-with-a-nice-round-number-panic.   The antipope Hippolytus and an earlier Christian academic Sextus Julius Africanus had predicted Armageddon at about this year.
   
1147: Gerard of Poehlde decided that the millennium had actually started in 306 CE during Constantine's reign. Thus, the world end was expected in 1306 CE.

1179: John of Toledo predicted the end of the world during 1186. This estimate was based on the alignment of many planets.

1205: Joachim of Fiore predicted in 1190 that the Antichrist was already in the world, and that King Richard of England would defeat him. The Millennium would then begin, sometime before 1205.

1284: Pope Innocent III computed this date by adding 666 years onto the date the Islam was founded.
 
1533: Melchior Hoffman predicted that Jesus' return would happen a millennium and a half after the nominal date of his execution, in 1533. The New Jerusalem was expected to be established in Strasbourg, Germany. He was arrested and died in a Strasbourg jail.

1669: The Old Believers in Russia believed that the end of the world would occur in this year. 20 thousand burned themselves to death between 1669 and 1690 to protect themselves from the Antichrist.

1689: Benjamin Keach, a 17th century Baptist, predicted the end of the world for this year.

1792: This was the date of the end of the world calculated by some believers in the Shaker movement.

1794: Charles Wesley, one of the founders of Methodism, thought Doomsday would be in this year.

1830: Margaret McDonald, a Christian prophetess, predicted that Robert Owen would be the Antichrist. Owen helped found New Harmony, IN.

1832?: Joseph Smith (1805-1844) was the founder of the Church of Christ, which became the Restorationist movement after many schisms. It now includes The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints -- a.k.a. the Mormons, and about a hundred other denominations and sects. He heard a voice while praying. He wrote, in Doctrines and Covenants section 130:

14: "I was once praying very earnestly to know the time of the coming of the Son of Man, when I heard a voice repeat the following:"

15: "Joseph, my son, if thou livest until thou art eighty-five years old, thou shalt see the face of the Son of Man; therefore let this suffice, and trouble me no more on this matter."

16: "I was left thus, without being able to decide whether this coming referred to the beginning of the millennium or to some previous appearing, or whether I should die and thus see his face."

17: "I believe the coming of the Son of Man will not be any sooner than that time." 14
The year in which this event occurred is not recorded. However, one commentator suggested 1832 or earlier. 16 Smith is later recorded as having said: "I prophesy in the name of the Lord God, and let it be written--the Son of Man will not come in the clouds of heaven till I am eighty-five years old."

Smith would have reached the age of 85 during 1890. Unfortunately, by that year, Smith had been dead for almost a half century, having been assassinated by a mob. Note that his prophecy is ambiguous. It can be interpreted that:

Jesus would return during 1890 (which did not materialize) or that 1890 would pass without Jesus' return (which did come to pass). Some anti-Mormon sources quote only verses 14 and 15, and draw the former conclusion -- that Smith's prophecy failed.

Here are some that I am very familiar with having studied Seventh Day Adventism for a few years;

1843-MAR-21: William Miller, founder of the Millerite movement, predicted that Jesus would come on this date. A very large number of Christians accepted his prophecy.

1844-OCT-22: When Jesus did not return, Miller predicted this new date. In an event which is now called "The Great Disappointment," many Christians sold their property and possessions, quit their jobs and prepared themselves for the second coming. Nothing happened; the day came and went without incident.

1850: Ellen White, founder of the Seven Day Adventists movement, made many predictions of the timing of the end of the world. All failed. On 1850-JUN-27 she prophesized that only a few months remained before the end. She wrote: "My accompanying angel said, 'Time is almost finished. Get ready, get ready, get ready.' ...now time is almost finished...and what we have been years learning, they will have to learn in a few months."
 
1856 or later: At Ellen White's last prediction, she said that she was shown in a vision the fate of believers who attended the 1856 SDA conference. She wrote "I was shown the company present at the Conference. Said the angel: 'Some food for worms, some subjects of the seven last plagues, some will be alive and remain upon the earth to be translated at the coming of Jesus."  That is, some of the attendees would die of normal diseases; some would die from plagues at the last days, others would still be alive when Jesus came. "By the early 1900s all those who attended the conference had passed away, leaving the Church with the dilemma of trying to figure out how to explain away such a prominent prophetic failure."

1891: Mother Shipton, a 16th century mystic predicted the end of the world: "...The world to an end shall come; in eighteen hundred and eighty-one."

1891 or before: On 1835-FEB-14, Joseph Smith, the founder of the Mormon church, attended a meeting of church leaders. He said that the meeting had been called because God had commanded it. He announced that Jesus would return within 56 years -- i.e. before 1891-FEB-15. (History of the Church 2:182)

1914 was one of the more important estimates of the start of the war of Armageddon by the Jehovah's Witnesses (Watchtower Bible and Tract Society). They based their prophecy of 1914 from prophecy in the book of Daniel, Chapter 4. The writings referred to "seven times". The WTS interpreted each "time" as equal to 360 days, giving a total of 2520 days. This was further interpreted as representing 2520 years, measured from the starting date of 607 BCE. This gave 1914 as the target date. When 1914 passed, they changed their prediction; 1914 became the year that Jesus invisibly began his rule.
 
1914, 1915, 1918, 1920, 1925, 1941, 1975 and 1994, etc. were other dates that the Watchtower Society (WTS) or its members predicted.  Since late in the 19th century, they had taught that the "battle of the Great Day of God Almighty" (Armageddon) would happen in 1914 CE. It didn't.
 
The next major estimate was 1925. Watchtower magazine predicted: "The year 1925 is a date definitely and clearly marked in the Scriptures, even more clearly than that of 1914; but it would be presumptuous on the part of any faithful follower of the Lord to assume just what the Lord is going to do during that year."

The Watchtower Society selected 1975 as its next main prediction. This was based on the estimate "according to reliable Bible chronology Adam was created in the year 4026 BCE, likely in the autumn of the year, at the end of the sixth day of creation."   They believed that the year 1975 a promising date for the end of the world, as it was the 6,000th anniversary of Adam's creation. Exactly 1,000 years was to pass for each day of the creation week. This prophecy also failed.
 
The current estimate is that the end of the world as we know it will happen precisely 6000 years after the creation of Eve. 9 There is no way of knowing when this happened.

1936: Herbert W Armstrong, founder of the Worldwide Church of God, predicted that the Day of the Lord would happen sometime in 1936. Nothing much happened that year, except for the birth of the compiler of this list -- who has been referred to as an Anti-Christ. When the prediction failed, he made a new estimate: 1975.

1940 or 1941: A Bible teacher from Australia, Leonard Sale-Harrison, held a series of prophesy conferences across North America in the 1930's. He predicted that the end of the world would happen in 1940 or 1941.

1957-APR: The Watchtower magazine quoted 6 a pastor from California, Mihran Ask, as saying in 1957-JAN that "Sometime between April 16 and 23, 1957, Armageddon will sweep the world! Millions of persons will perish in its flames and the land will be scorched.'

1959: Florence Houteff's, who was the leader of the Branch Davidians faith group, prophesied that the 1260 days mentioned in Revelation 11:3 would end and the Kingdom of David would be established on 1959-APR-22. Followers expected to die, be resurrected, and transferred to Heaven. Many sold their possessions and moved to Mt. Carmel in anticipation of the "end time". It didn't happen. The group almost did not survive; only a few dozen members remained.

Most Branch Davidians did die on 1993-APR-29 as a result of arson apparently ordered by their leader, David Koresh. They were not bodily resurrected -- on earth at least.

1967: During the six day war, the Israeli army captured all of Jerusalem. Many conservative Christians believed that the rapture would occur quickly. However, the final Biblical prerequisite for the second coming is that the Jews resume ritual animal sacrifices in the temple at Jerusalem. That never happened.

1970's: The late Moses David (formerly David Berg) was the founder of the Christian religious group, The Children of God. He predicted that a comet would hit the earth, probably in the mid 1970's and destroy all life in the United States. One source indicated that he believed it would happen in 1973.

1972: According to an article in the Atlantic magazine, "Herbert W. Armstrong's empire suffered a serious blow when the end failed to begin in January of 1972, as Armstrong had predicted, thus bringing hardship to many people who had given most of their assets to the church in the expectation of going to Petra, where such worldly possessions would be useless." 3 According to an article in Wikipedia:

"The failure of this prophetic scenario to take place according to this Co-Worker letter scenario, which was often repeated over the years in print by Armstrong, may have been one of the initial reasons why the church organization began to decline as unfulfilled expectations led to great disappointment. As events unfolded, it became obvious 1972 did not have the biblical significance that the church had anticipated for nearly two decades."
 
1978: Chuck Smith, Pastor of Calvary Chapel in Cost Mesa, CA, predicted the rapture in 1981.

1980: Leland Jensen leader of a Baha'i Faith group, predicted that a nuclear disaster would happen in 1980. This would be followed by two decades of conflict, ending in the establishment of God's Kingdom on earth.

1981:   Arnold Murray of the Shepherd's Chapel taught an anti-Trinitarian belief about God, and Christian Identity. Back in the 1970's, he predicted that the Antichrist would appear before 1981.
Rev. Sun Myung Moon, founder of the Unification Church predicted that the Kingdom of Heaven would be established this year.

1982: Pat Robertson predicted a few years in advance that the world would end in the fall of 1982. The failure of this prophecy did not seem to adversely affect his reputation.
 
1985: Arnold Murray of the Shepherd's Chapel predicted that the war of Armageddon will start on 1985-JUN 8-9 in "a valley of the Alaskan peninsula."
 
1986: Moses David of The Children of God faith group predicted that the Battle of Armageddon would take place in 1986. Russia would defeat Israel and the United States. A worldwide Communist dictatorship would be established. In 1993, Christ would return to earth.

1987 to 2000: Lester Sumrall, in his 1987 book "I Predict 2000 AD" predicted that Jerusalem would be the richest city on Earth, that the Common Market would rule Europe, and that there would be a nuclear war involving Russia and perhaps the U.S. Also, he prophesized that the greatest Christian revival in the history of the church would happen: all during the last 13 years of the 20th century. All of the predictions failed.

1988: Hal Lindsey had predicted in his book "The Late, Great Planet Earth" that the Rapture was coming in 1988 - one generation or 40 years after the creation of the state of Israel. This failed prophecy did not appear to damage his reputation. He continues to write books of prophecy which sell very well indeed.
 
1988-OCT-11: Edgar Whisenaut, a NASA scientist, had published the book "88 Reasons why the Rapture will Occur in 1988." It sold over  4 million copies.

About 1990:  Peter Ruckman concluded from his analysis of the Bible that the rapture would come within a few years of 1990.

His Peace and Wisdom to you,

Joe

AMEN! So true.

[Bradigans]

Hi Joe,

I guess every single generation since Christ was on earth thought He would return to them.  I think we all have to focus our attention on Him living in us now, so that we will be prepared at His appearing, if not in this lifetime then at our awakening at the resurrection.  Christ stated four times the kingdom was at hand;

Mat 4:17  From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.

Mat 10:7  And as ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand.

Mark 1:15  And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel.

Luke 21:31  So likewise ye, when ye see these things come to pass, know ye that the kingdom of God is nigh at hand.

I think the cares and worries of this world is the main reason many fall by the way side.  What did Jesus tell Martha?

Luke 10:40  But Martha was distracted with much serving, and she approached Him and said, "Lord, do You not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Therefore tell her to help me."
v. 41  And Jesus answered and said to her, "Martha, Martha, you are worried and troubled about many things.
v. 42  But one thing is needed, and Mary has chosen that good part, which will not be taken away from her."

mercy, peace and love
Kat

Amen! alleluia!!!

[Bradigans]

Hi Carol,

There is no denying what you said, but the world is still here!

I certainly understand where you are coming from, my point was not that there isn't any pain and suffering in this world, there is more than enough to go around for sure (we all have had first hand experience, some more than others).

My point is (as the scriptures teach us) take each day's trials and tribulation one day at a time. What is the point of harboring anxiety over what tomorrow might bring, or next month, or a year, or 10 years, especially when the Lord Himself admonishes us not to?

Are His people to be a beacon of light and good cheer to the world or to fuel the fire of fear and trepidation? What distinguishes the spiritual from the carnal if one is bogged down with the cares of this world? If we really have faith in God and in His plan what will worrying about the future do to our faith, will it grow while we harbor fearfulness? Are we following the commands of Christ while we concern ourselves with the possibilities of this physical experience rather than having faith that He is in control?

I am certainly no proponant of a pie in the sky earthly utopian paradise, it is not meant to be, but the knowledge that we are to be perfected by the troubles we face each day should be a source of security even joy. I know it is impossible without His Spirit, but becoming One with His Spirit is the point of this whole existence.

Act 14:22  Confirming the souls of the disciples, and exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God.

Look at the Lord's Words in Revelation, it really is something we should consider thoroughly;

Rev 21:8  But the fearful, and unbelieving, and abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.

It is something to meditate on when we see who tops the list of those who will have their place in the Lake of Fire. The following verse is worth repeating;

Joh 16:33  These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.

His Peace to you Sister,

Joe

Amen!!! alleluia!