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GOD'S LOVE VERSUS ARMAGEDDON FEARS
Many people wonder even
intensely worry about Armageddon. At Matthew 24 Christ gave signs to mark when he returned or was present
for full Kingdom power on Earth, namely: notable wars, diseases, famines, earthquakes. Some like the Watchtower
Society over Jehovah’s Witnesses, have said 1914, etc marked his return and within a generation of “70 or
80” years "Armageddon" destruction would follow ending human civilization as we know it or the lives of almost
all people on earth. The 9-11 terror destruction in New York, AIDS; prophecies or predictions by ancient Mayas, Nostradamus,
Newton, the Bahai’s and the Watchtower Society over Jehovah’s Witnesses; the H1N1 Swine Flu, tsunamis in
the Pacific and Indian Oceans, hurricanes in the Caribbean and the U.S. Gulf have also made people wonder, worry or fear.
Was 1914 a year marking the end of or the soon to come
end of human civilization in line with Armageddon? Consider: WARFARE: 40 million people died during 1850-64
in China, World War I slew 10-12 million, but World War II killed 54 million people, and Communist China 1925-76 had up to
100 million deaths. DISEASE killed 95 million Amerindians during 1500-1800, 100 million Mediterraneans died during 542-565
A.D. Spanish influenza killed only 20 million worldwide 1918-19, AIDS has so far killed more than 20 million from 1985
onwards. DROUGHT: In 1876-79 China had 9-13 million deaths. Thanks to international humanitarian efforts, nothing around
1914 or since has approached that figure. EARTHQUAKES did not increase in number or intensity during 1900-99
but yearly our ability to detect them has improved. Probably the worst known was a quake in 1201 which slew 1.1
million around the Mediterranean.
So the worst wars, diseases, droughts and earthquakes do not match the date
of 1914. There have been incorrect predictions with many other dates for Christ’s return and Armageddon throughout
history. This includes numerous mispredictions by the Watchtower Society and JWs, dates including 1874, 1925,
1975. (much published on the internet) etc. At Matthew 24:21 Christ said his return would also bring great tribulation
or persecution such as had not been since the world began. At Matthew 23:34-36 he explained that persons in his own generation
would see this start. From then until now we find a continuous persecution of Christians in land after land, among which
the Islamic-dominated nation of Sudan, Africa, is a recent example. This period of persecution or "Great Tribulation"
is great not only because of the deaths of some but also because of its length, having lasted some 2,000 years now.
It did not begin in 1914 or at any other fairly recent date but all the way back to the slaying of Christ, Stephen and other
early slain Christians.
Note
that Christ also said “a wicked generation keeps seeking a sign but it only gets Jonah’s sign”. Jonah
was inside a whale three days and Christ was in death three days before the Father resurrected him; so his resurrection is
the only sign needed.
Christ added that “NOBODY” can know the hour or day of the end of the "aion" (a Greek word
meaning age or time period) instead of "world" as some have mistranslated it. (Matthew 24:36) In fact God
has said in the Bible that men making false statements like the predictions of dates for the end of earth or civilization
as we know it are presumptuous men and we are not to fear them. (Deuteronomy 18:22)
So, if Armageddon predictions have ever scared you, it should
now be a lot easier to put those worries aside. Science and the Bible do agree that eventually our planet will not exist
but the Bible also adds that there will come to be a new heaven and earth and some scientists also believe that after our
planet and universe have ended a new heavens or universe and a new earth will come.
If you want to focus on having picnics
with your family, enjoying hiking, having an actual fun vacation, those are fine in the eyes of God. His
Way is love. Galatians 5:22 speaks of fruits of the Holy Spirit being love, joy, etc, all positive things.
Caution and concern are natural, but too much negativity
can only bring an increase in mental depression down upon oneself and others.
Too many people for way too many
years have wasted too much of their lives and the lives of others in needless fear. God’s will is that people
live normal, balanced, enjoyable lives. Please
don’t let Armageddon fears rule your lives, but rather let God’s Love rule. Feel free
to make and share copies of this.
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