Why the End Times fervor?

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Grace_and_Glory

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I’ve noticed a lot of discussion/speculation about the end times in books, movies, magazines, and on this forum lately. My question is, why do you think there is so much focus on the end times? Why do other issues that deserve discussion lack the popular appeal of end times literature? Is interest in the end times increasing, or has it been here all along?
 
People make a lot of money selling books and movies on the end times, some of the writers are fairly talented and their books are readable.

I don’t know how much Hal Lindsey has made, but it has to be plenty.

With all of the marketing and info available it isn’t suprising that interest is increasing in the topic.
 
I have not always lived in my current sate, but I have spent most of my life living in the hurricane prone region. Prior to the end of 1999, all the stores here looked like a hurricane was coming because of the Bible-thumpers’ erroneous interpretation of scripture. Historically, the end of a century has often been ripe for apocalypitic predictions. So it stands to reason that such predicitons marked the end of a millenia.

There are those who originally said the end was coming in 2000, then moved it back to 2004, and the new date I have heard is 2008. This is an important topic though, because they are somewhat poltically cohesive and their beliefs of what needs to be done to hasten their secret rapture is reflected in the policies they support; predominantly they are American - Protestants overseas do not support this claims by and large.

The rapturists, people who believe in a secret rapture, give money to illegal settlers in Israel, the ones that the Israeli government is trying to convince to move becuase aside form their existance being illegal, their vigilante actions excite much violence. The rapturists also believe in antagonizing Europe, because they view the EU as the new Roman Empire, and the dolalr depriates more and more as a consequence.

As such, their misinterpretation has gross security and economic impact and needs to be countered.
 
It’s like a religious version of science fiction and horror mixed together. People like it for the same reasons.
Me…I figure we need to be about Our Father’s business. All the rest of that belongs to God.
 
I chose because they want to see the end of difficult times. My reasoning is based on how I felt before becoming a Catholic (I am in the RCIA program now) that there had to be a something better even if it meant the big sleep. The times we live in are hard. We face violence, sexual crime, and a lack of morality. These events are broadcast all over the world and the future of mankind seems so bleak if we continue the way we are. Anything that will bring relief to our current situation would be welcome. I personally now long for the second coming but do not believe that the majority of mankind believe that way 😦 . I hope this at least makes sense to why I voted the way I did.
 
Church Militant:
Me…I figure we need to be about Our Father’s business. All the rest of that belongs to God.
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A much better answer. :clapping: At the same time, I think that since the text uses more symbolism than most, it is one that requires more help while reaidn, which makes it a popular subject for books.

But in regards to it being discussed much on this forum, I would disagree, particularly when comparing it to the 200 threads on creationism/evolutions deate or the even more threads that address Mary and Joeseph’s relationship…or all the dialogues related to abortion and contraception.
 
In the Words of John Paul II

“We are now standing in the face of the greatest historical confrontation humanity has gone through. I do not think that wide circles of the American society or wide circles of the Christian community realize this fully. We are now facing the final confrontation between the Church and the anti-Church, of the Gospel versus the anti-Gospel. This confrontation lies within the plans of Divine Providence…It is a…test of 2,000 years of culture and Christian civilization with all of its consequences for human dignity, individual rights, human rights and the rights of nations.” *(Notable & Quotable, Karol Cardinal Wojtyla (who became Pope John Paul II), Wall Street Journal, Nov. 9, 1978.)

*“We have to be prepared to suffer, before long, great trials which will require of us the disposition to sacrifice even our life for Christ. Through your prayers and mine, it is still possible to diminish this trial, but it is no longer possible to avert it, because only in this manner can the Church be effectively renewed. How many times has the renewal of the Church been brought about in blood! It will not be different this time.” (John Paul II – November 1980.)

During the Ordinary Public Consistory held in St. Peter’s Square on February 21, 2001 in the presence of tens of thousands of faithful, Pope John Paul created 44 new cardinals. His speech emphasized the cardinals required fidelity to the Pope, the need to examine the ‘Signs of the Times’, and their commitment to remain loyal to the faith even unto the shedding of their blood. He said:

“Venerable Brothers, you are the first Cardinals to be created in the new millennium. After having drawn in abundance from the sources of divine mercy during the Holy Year, the mystical barque of the Church is preparing anew ‘to put out into the deep’, to bring the message of salvation to the world. Together let us unfurl her sails to the wind of the Spirit, examining the signs of the times and interpreting them in the light of the Gospel, to answer the ever recurring questions which men ask about the meaning of this present life and of the life to come”. (John Paul II, L’Osservatore Romano February, 21, 2001)
 
“The hour of the lay faithful has arrived,” the Pope said when meeting with bishops from the ecclesiastical provinces of Indianapolis, Chicago and Milwaukee, during their five-yearly visit to Rome…“Taking up this challenge, however, will require a realistic and comprehensive reading of the ‘signs of the times,’ in order to develop a persuasive presentation of the Catholic faith,” he observed…“Now is above all the hour of the lay faithful, who, by their specific vocation to shape the secular world in accordance with the Gospel, are called to carry forward the Church’s prophetic mission by evangelizing the various spheres of family, social, professional and cultural life,” the Holy Father said. (John Paul II, www.zenit.org May 28, 2004)

To certain bishops of the USA while making their ad limina visit to the Vatican, Pope John Paul II said: “…I leave two charges to you and your brother bishops.” The first is a fraternal encouragement to persevere joyfully in the ministry entrusted to you, in obedience to the authentic teaching of the Church, Can we not see in the pain and scandal of recent years both ‘a sign of the times’ and a providential call to conversion and deeper fidelity to the demands of the Gospel. – In her own way, the Church in the United States has been called to begin the new millennium by “starting afresh from Christ” and by making the truth of the Gospel clearly the measure of her life and all her activity.

“In this light, I once more praise your efforts to ensure that each individual and group in the Church understands the urgent need for a consistent, honest and faithful witness to the Catholic faith, and that each of the Church’s institutions and apostolates expresses in every aspect of its life a clear Catholic identity…”. (John Paul II, Vatican Information Service; December 10, 2004)
 
I think most armageddonists want to prove they were right in predicting it.
 
I think most armageddonists want to prove they were right in predicting it.
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Maybe, for some of them. Although it would be truly a Pyrrhic victory for them if they were right and ended burning in hell after the last great day.
 
Read the Prophecies of Lourdes and then see what Bush is planning to do to Iran (Persia)…there is no longer guess work.
He will bomb it…just as Lourdes Prophecies say he will.
 
I don’t think 95% of the people give a thought to end times, either their own or the end of the world, they go merrily on their way doing whatever it is people to do to survive, raise families, seek pleasure, do their work, acquire things, do good to others, choose sin, try to better the lot in life on earth. Preoccupation with end times is largely concerned with predicting what will happen to others (not of the elect) when the end comes, and with reassuring oneself that he, at least, will be saved.
 
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JesseJr:
Read the Prophecies of Lourdes and then see what Bush is planning to do to Iran (Persia)…there is no longer guess work.
He will bomb it…just as Lourdes Prophecies say he will.
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I don’t suppose you have a reliable source for this, as you don’t seem to have reliable sources for any of your other postings.
 
Read the Prophecies of Lourdes and then see what Bush is planning to do to Iran (Persia)…there is no longer guess work.
He will bomb it…just as Lourdes Prophecies say he will.
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We need to KIM that Lourdes, just as Fatima, Guadalupe are all “private” revelations. We are free to believe or not believe in them.

BTW, I never knew altar serving was an actual paying occupation. Gosh, I better run back to my priest and collect some back pay…😃
 
I personally think we cannot know the time–yet the times are pointing towards either the end, or at least a huge confrontation of some kind that will likely change the world, if not end it.
 
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puzzleannie:
I don’t think 95% of the people give a thought to end times, either their own or the end of the world, they go merrily on their way doing whatever it is people to do to survive, raise families, seek pleasure, do their work, acquire things, do good to others, choose sin, try to better the lot in life on earth. Preoccupation with end times is largely concerned with predicting what will happen to others (not of the elect) when the end comes, and with reassuring oneself that he, at least, will be saved.
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So true. I’ve heard so many times people wishing the world would end so that so-and-so “would get his comeuppance”.
 
Interest in the end times is high . . . because it’s pulp fiction – it sells books.
 
I tried to edit my post, but I guess it’s too late. I just wanted to let everyone know that you can pick more than one option on the poll.
 
Interest is high because we live in the most unique times in all of human history.
 
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TPJCatholic:
Interest is high because we live in the most unique times in all of human history.
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It seems that people often think that about the time in which they lived, regardless from what centruy they hail.
 
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