help please!

[onlooker]

I am new to this board, so I hope I'm posting in the right area.
I first need to introduce myself before asking my question. My name is Troy. I was raised Methodist until the age of about 10 and my family converted to Nazarene. I have not lost my faith in Christ, but have wandered soooo far from him ( those that know me would never believe I joined a Christian forum).
There is a thought that I have been dwelling on for a long time and would like some input on please!
I was taught that at some point in time the trumpets would sound and the Rapture would take place. Then comes the 7 year Tribulation. Then the Battle of Mt. Olive would mark the beginning of the Great Mellinium where Christ will rule for 1,000 years, and finally the White Throne Judgement. Now...not sure if anyone has heard, but archeologist have discoved Mayan calenders that suddenly end on 12/20/2012. They have also found similiar ones in Aztec and Incan ruins.
Now the question: Since recordable time as we know it will end at the beginning of the 1,000 year rule of Christ, and the Tribulation last for 7 years...doing the math...12/20/2012 minus 7 years puts it at 12/20/2005!!!
Now I know that it is written that no man knows exactly the day and time that Christ will return....but could the date 12/20/2005 be a pretty good educated guess, or am I worrying for nothing?!?!?
I'd like some sound Christian input please!

[sinner/SAVED]

You're wasting your time fretting over the wrong stuff. Tomorrow is not even in the thoughts of one whose heart is with Jesus today.

[ClementofRome]

Since I reject a literal 1000 year reign, I cannot be of much help with your cipherin'...but I would suggest that you pick up a copy of Anthony Hoekema's The Bible and the Future. But, in the meantime, here is a great article by him on the Internet:

http://articles.christiansunite.com/article3149.shtml

Additionally, I would not place a great deal of stock in Mayan or Aztec calendars...nor any calendar for that matter as they are all human fabrications of reality and serve no purpose except to tell me when my vacation begins and ends.

Blessings to you in your search.

[ContraMundum]

Start from scratch and review your ideas about this, Troy.

ClementofRome above has pointed you in the right direction of a sound theological book on the topic.

[alaurie]

I have not lost my faith in Christ, but have wandered soooo far from him ( those that know me would never believe I joined a Christian forum).


Get back into relationship with the Lord, and you'll find the specifics of end times issues will bother you less. You'll look more forward to his coming again than how it's all going to happen.

[NRG]

get back into a realtionship with God, read your bible and rededicate your life to christ.

Read PSALM 18v16-22 I feel it is relavent to you

[markbelieves]

Troy, The Lord uses interesting methods to pull us back to him. If I were you, that is how I would view the feelings you are having. Could that date be right? Sure it could, but it also could be tomorrow or the day after, or the day after that, or....

You get the picture.

The fact that you are worried means you know you need to turn to the Lord. Once you do that, you will not worry about the day.

Peace

Mark

[lindamarie]

Welcome Onlooker!

As you said, none of us have the answers... but I'm wondering what the "worst case senario" would be for you if December 20 was the day.

The second coming of Christ is part of what "scared" me into re-thinking my life... Is this possibly where you are?

linda marie

[Qyöt27]

Additionally, I would not place a great deal of stock in Mayan or Aztec calendars...nor any calendar for that matter as they are all human fabrications of reality and serve no purpose except to tell me when my vacation begins and ends.
I second the amillennial position. I was raised in a sort of mixed non-dispensational/Zionist premillennial, pretribulation environment, and the only thing it served to do was frighten me (I still am utterly terrified of the concepts of eternity and just the implications of the general premillennial position, since it was engrained so strongly in me when I was young, even though I've long since rejected it in favor of amillennial preterism).

Directed at the OP:

Not to mention that no one knows whether or not the Maya or Aztecs believed that 2012 was when the world would end. Just because it ends there doesn't mean they thought that's when time would end. My computer's calendar only counts up to 2099, many computers are like this (or contain sooner dates; I seem to remember our old Win95s only counting to 2027), but does that mean that the world will end when the computers' calendars run out? People have been claiming the end of the world for centuries, and I really don't see the point in trying to figure out these dates. I thought that was somehow spoken against in Scripture (although I do know the passage about 'no one knows the date or time'). When one focuses on the end of the world, they usually just worry themselves into a petrified rut that is incredibly hard to break out of. What kind of good comes from that? You can bet there's been more than one person that's gotten ulcers from it, though.

[onlooker]

I'm sorry it took so long to get back to all of you.

sinner/SAVED - I remember when my heart was with Jesus and I can remember when I never used to fret over such things.

ClementofRome - I will look more in depth to the works of Anthony Hoekema. Also, good point on the purpose that calendars serve.

ContraMundum - I am doing just that!

alaurie - like I told sinner/SAVED, I really miss the relationship I had with Christ and know I need to draw closer to Him.

NRG - I have always enjoyed the book of Psalms. I actually read all of Psalm 18. Thank you.

Markbelieves - I know, I just feel it is too late is all.

lindamarie - I think it's exactly where I am.

Qyot27 - point well taken!!

[sinner/SAVED]

It's not too late.

[lindamarie]

You are in a "good place" then... I'll be praying for you.

lindamarie

[Hediru]

People for years have been predicting the return of Christ and have been wrong. Jesus said that he would come as a thief in the night and no one would know the hour which he would come. But we should be ready for him to come any day. I personally believe that the tribulation has already started and that I will see Jesus' return. But we will never know until the day he comes.

[Onesimus85]

I gave up on trying to predict when God would come back when I was very young. I saw an article that said God would return in 1993, I kept that in mind, and when my 8 yr old brain figured out God didn't come back in 1993 I decided not to waste my time worrying about it. God is God, he'll come back when he wants to. Until then, I'm gonna do what I'm suppose to do and keep oil in my lantern.

[onlooker]

I want to thank everyone who has replied to this post. I now realize I need to invest much less time in trying to figure out when He is coming, and spend more time being ready and drawing closer to Him.

[onlooker]

well, by my clock it is exactly 12:00 a.m. 12/21/2005!!!
I feel like a fool, but it reaffirms everything I was taught!

[pibsts]

here's my thought. i was told no one will know...period. that old dude nostradoumus or whatever his name was said 12/20/12 as well...gee...wonder why. in my opinion he took the calandar thing too far as well...he couldn't predict a snowstorm in antarctica as far as i know. i believe the second coming is thousands of years away...what's it matter anyway. i live everyday the same, get up, brush my teeth, and hopefully make peace w/ God each day. i want to live as long as i can...til 100! and if the second coming is yesterday...then that would suck cus i can't live that long. in any event take a chill pill and pray. prayer is the most powerful tool given to us and sadly not everyone does. all ya have to do is talk to God in your mind and tell him what you think about things. as far as prophecies go...no one will know, not you, santa claus, michael jordan, or scott stapp. i dunno what else to say on this.

[AquilaGT]

Blessings to you onlooker. My prayer is that this season of Advent will be memorable for you because Jesus came to you in a new way!