What to say to protestants who believe we are in end days?

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I have a protestant co-worker who always says,“We are in the end days.” This is her answer to all bad that is happening in the world. I usually don’t say anything to this, because I am afraid that she will be raptured during the conversation and I may be left behind. 😉
In all seriousness, how should I respond to this?
 
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Jocelyn:
I have a protestant co-worker who always says,“We are in the end days.” This is her answer to all bad that is happening in the world. I usually don’t say anything to this, because I am afraid that she will be raptured during the conversation and I may be left behind. 😉
In all seriousness, how should I respond to this?
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You can let her know that we’ve been in the End Times for the last 2000 years 😉

Seriously, though, my mom always made the good point that regardless of when the “end times” are, whenever you die, that’s your personal end time. The upshot being that your time is better spent trying to lead your current life according to God’s grace rather than worrying over whether or not we are in the “end times.”
 
I wish I could tell you! I hear this from my friends and family all the time. The “last days” is the answer to everything for some people. I even heard one of friends say that the answer to the Problem of Evil (how can their be evil if God is good) was that God was preparing for the Tribulation, because we are in the last days. :rolleyes:

All this to say, I watching this thread. Can anyone think of a friendly way to answer? This would be a great help to me.
 
I would just tell them that the bible tells us we do not know when the end times are upon us.

Matt 24:42 Therefore, stay awake! For you do not know on which day your Lord will come.
 
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Jocelyn:
This is her answer to all bad that is happening in the world.
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Um, there’s always bad happening in the world. History is full of it. Christ Himself said that there will be natural disasters, wars and rumors of wars, but it will not yet be the end.
 
Ask if she’ll set you up as joint owner of her bank account!

Seriously, there’s nothing you can say to un-convince her. I sometimes listen to a radio show that specializes in “End Times.” The host points to a particular world event and says, "Aha! See? This could be it…! Then he covers his tail with a disclaimer.

You know what it is? It’s the same mentality that drives people to buy lottery tickets. Everyone who buys a ticket knows that someone will win–might be them. In the same way, we all know that Jesus is coming sometime, and this or that event may be the sign.

My suggestion: be an optimist. Be beautiful. Be Catholic. Point out that many things in the world have gotten better: life expectancies, awareness of prejudice, acceptance of women in the workplace. Be a “Witness to Hope”. You catch more flies that way.
 
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JohnPaul0:
Ask if she’ll set you up as joint owner of her bank account!

Seriously, there’s nothing you can say to un-convince her. I sometimes listen to a radio show that specializes in “End Times.” The host points to a particular world event and says, "Aha! See? This could be it…! Then he covers his tail with a disclaimer.

You know what it is? It’s the same mentality that drives people to buy lottery tickets. Everyone who buys a ticket knows that someone will win–might be them. In the same way, we all know that Jesus is coming sometime, and this or that event may be the sign.

My suggestion: be an optimist. Be beautiful. Be Catholic. Point out that many things in the world have gotten better: life expectancies, awareness of prejudice, acceptance of women in the workplace. Be a “Witness to Hope”. You catch more flies that way.
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I don’t know why they are hooked on end times. Can’t understand it myself. Yes, there is lots of bad in the world. But there is also lots of beauty. Blessings are granted everyday.
 
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Jocelyn:
I don’t know why they are hooked on end times. Can’t understand it myself. Yes, there is lots of bad in the world. But there is also lots of beauty. Blessings are granted everyday.
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Right! You already know everything I said. Be you, and don’t be afraid to speak respectfully. If she gets agitated, just let your silence speak for itself from then on. She’ll know.
 
I’ve had occasion to answer this only the one time it ever came up in real life for me. I answered back that I’m not worried whether it’s the “end times” or not. I try to live my life as if this were the last week I had to live anyway, and that I believe that is what Jesus asks of us anyway. I advised the person not to concentrate so much on end times rather than living your life the way He wants you to live it. That way there’s no worry for anyone.

PS: Unfortunately, I sin often, and sometimes stay in sin too long for the safety of my soul… I really should take my own advice and get back on track again! Thanks for reminding me.
 
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Jocelyn:
I have a protestant co-worker who always says,“We are in the end days.”
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We are. We’ve been in the “end days” ever since the Ascension.

– Mark L. Chance.
 
Philip P:
You can let her know that we’ve been in the End Times for the last 2000 years 😉

Seriously, though, my mom always made the good point that regardless of when the “end times” are, whenever you die, that’s your personal end time. The upshot being that your time is better spent trying to lead your current life according to God’s grace rather than worrying over whether or not we are in the “end times.”
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This is exactly what I tell people! It usually throws them for a loop, for some reason (perhaps because it wasn’t in the latest Tim LaHaye book?). 😃
 
Saint Paul was convinced they were in the end times 1950 years ago. I don’t think it’s all that awful for a Protestant to believe the same thing now. In God’s time, it’s all a flash in the pan anyway.
 
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Jocelyn:
I have a protestant co-worker who always says,“We are in the end days.” This is her answer to all bad that is happening in the world. I usually don’t say anything to this, because I am afraid that she will be raptured during the conversation and I may be left behind. 😉
In all seriousness, how should I respond to this?
Click to expand...
We already know the water is rising, what we need to do now is fill the sandbags.

Preparation and soul cleansing is what we need to focus on.

“Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand”

Andy
 
Well, I knew a woman who was Catholic and believed whole-heartedly that the end times were upon us. She had collected boxes and boxes of food and camping supplies, and her house was one of the dirtiest houses I have ever been in. She had dishes piled in the sink and seemed never to do any housework. I guess she thought “Why bother cleaning this mess when the end times might be here tomorrow?”

Saint Francis was asked what he would do if the world was ending tomorrow. He replied that he would tend his garden as usual. We should always be doing what God is calling us to do and not wait for the end times to scare us into action.

Ask your friend “Are you doing what God is calling you to do?” And if she says “yes,” then tell her she has nothing to worry about 🙂

Having said that, Mother Angelica also believes we are in the end of the end times, so she’s not in bad company! :cool:
 
Some of the Marian apparitions say we are at the end of an age, and embarking on a new age. Some also warn of chastisements if some things don’t change.

Regardless, for everyone, this life is limited to 100 or so years. For any one person it could end today or at most a hundred years from now.

Everyone should live their life as if today could be the last day of their life. What woudl you do differently, IF you knew for an absolute certainty that today was THE day or if next year was the day ???

IF you go through life thinking that you have many many years left, you may put off what is really important to you.

Live today as if it is your last, and you will be much happier for it. Life holds no guarantee for tomorrow for anyone.

We can all plan for tomorrow but you may not be here to enjoy it.
 
Is it just me or does it seem like the Left Behind series has turned a ton of Protestants into some sort of doomsday cult?
 
There are many who are stocking up and prepare for the end times. Jerry Farwell said a few years ago, that he thinks the anti-Christ is alive today.

No one knows, the end may be in a few years or it could be another 2000 years or more.

All we need to know is that for any one of us, our own personal end could be today or any number of days/weeks/years from now. IF we are ready for our own demise, it does not matter if we are living during the end times or not.

Hoarding, building shelters, stock piling food will avail us nothing, IF we have not prepared our hearts for accepting the Lord. Live for this day and let tomorrow take care of itself. IF you love God, you do not need to fear any sort of end times.
We can not and should not let fear rule our lives.
 
My MIL say’s this frequently (she’s Pentecostal). I say “I don’t worry about such things. The Bible says we will not the day nor the hour. The apostles thought the end times would come before the end of their life time and every generation since has seen “signs” of the end. As long as I’m doing what’s right and in God’s grace I see no reason to dwell on it.” SHe’s quiet about it for a while but eventually it comes up again and I repeat it again.

She hears that stuff in church everytime she’s there, it’s drilled into their heads. She gives us end time movies (which my FIL illegally copies:rolleyes: ), we just pitch 'em after they go home.
 
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