we are living on the end times
@researchconsult (37)
Philippines
April 7, 2010 3:34am CST
I'm a Christian and our church has recently concluded its series of discussions about the end times. It's great to be informed about it so I can prepare myself for it. However, my mom and dad and siblings are not yet aware of it. They're serious roman catholic and are not too open to these kinds of discussion. But I need to share these with them. I wonder how I can start to approach them?
3 people like this
12 responses
@920212 (577)
• Malaysia
7 Apr 10
yes we living in the end time and its our job to remind those people around you. before you start this topic first of all you need to ask your pastor and church member to pray for your parents first.the most important thing you also need to pray about this so that their spiritual eyes be open to the word of god.before you start to preach to them you need to give some important verse from bible so that they know that everything you give is based on the word of god. if you do not have any experience preach the word of the lord to anybody i suggest you to bring along some of church leader or pastor to preach to them because i believe they have experience preach the word of god and i sure know that they have had go this kind of matter several time.so they must have certain method to face this kind situation. hope this help you.
1 person likes this
@Maggiepie (7816)
• United States
10 Apr 10
Excellent advice! I should have thought to add the caveat to be sure you can preach well, or get them to someone who can, if you can't. Not all of us are preachers. Still, it does help to start with Scripture. Christ always did!
Maggiepie
EVERYONE! GO TRY THE NEW CATEGORY: Open Mike! ALL opinions WELCOME!
@researchconsult (37)
• Philippines
15 Apr 10
I've started the end times series using the materials supplied by the church in the office. We just finished the 3rd session. But I still feel bad about not starting the topic with my parents. Sad that I can't even share the news with my own household and the ones I love the most.
@peavey (16936)
• United States
10 Apr 10
Start with prayer. Ask God to open the way and to show you how to approach them. If He doesn't right away, don't say anything, but continue to pray. He is able to open their hearts.
I understand you wanting to talk to them about it. If you care about people, you want them to know the truth and the seriousness of our present situation.
1 person likes this
@Maggiepie (7816)
• United States
10 Apr 10
Precisely correct! Always always ALWAYS "start with prayer!" Then, whatever happens, it's God's will. Plant the seed of truth, then let the Holy Spirit water it. But don't think you don't have the duty to "plant that seed." Tell them what's coming, & teach them how to be ready so they know how & why not to be afraid, then keep praying for them, & move on to the next one. Lather, rinse, repeat.
Maggiepie
EVERYONE! GO TRY THE NEW CATEGORY: Open Mike! ALL opinions WELCOME!
@flowerchilde (12529)
• United States
10 Apr 10
I find it easier to tell unbelievers than I do believers! I think the believer's theories are just a tiny bit off, but they're stuck there, but I think more has unfolded and been revealed (so I wrote a short book about it). You can see the trends in the world lining up with the book of revelation/apocapypse and bible prophecy, yet we christians think of the book of revelation characters as one, when they are five.. the u.s. iS in the book of revelation, at least twice.. the "fire" of rev 13 already occurred and it pinpoints the office where one important character comes from.. in revelation 13, it is two beasts, rev 13:1-10, and 11-18.. according to the last verses of the book of daniel, the great trib lasts 10 days.
1 person likes this
@rinzgca (316)
• Philippines
9 Apr 10
Well personally, I do not think that you should be sharing with your family because the end is near. I mean, it shouldn't be your motivation. Although it could be a good conversation starter that could lead to a topic on salvation. We talk about the end times because we want to be aware. But we do not dwell on it and base all our actions just because Jesus' coming is near. Knowing that the end is near should just motivate us to share about Jesus. Else, you'll just make a person accept Christ because they fear that the end is near and they want to be saved, not because they realized the love of God through the crucifixion of Jesus.
I think, that besides maybe sharing with them the Gospel by inserting little conversations about how God has been good to you with them, you can also show it in your life. Actions speak louder than words. Non-christians look at our lives. If they see changes in you or something different in you, they will naturally ask.
Anyway, just try sitting down with them at least once and sharing the gospel. Do not try to convert them. It is not you who will change their hearts but God. Share the gospel, show it in your life, pray about their salvation, and God will take care of the rest.
@Maggiepie (7816)
• United States
10 Apr 10
Point taken, however, we're running out of time for such gentle niceties!
I see no reason why you can't do both. I view those who are unaware the way I would view someone whose hair has caught on fire from a candle, & they don't yet feel or even smell it. I wouldn't hesitate one second to douse them with the nearest drink without a word of warning. As soon as they realized I was doing them a favor, they'd stop yelling at me & thank me.
People need to wake up. Yes, pray, yes, share the story of Christ with them, but be ready to toss your drink on them if that's what it takes. There's just not a lot of time to do things the slow way.
And remember this: if we don't inform people of what's coming, & urge them to get busy on preparing their souls for judgment while we still can, & they die before they eschew sin...we're held partly responsible for the state of their souls. Christ told us so!
Do you want those souls on your conscious? I surely don't!
Maggiepie
EVERYONE! GO TRY THE NEW CATEGORY: Open Mike! ALL opinions WELCOME!
@unstopabble (452)
• Philippines
9 Apr 10
painful it maybe,we have to admit that we are living on the end times. but we should not be afraid.as a christian i think we must rejoice that for so long. it will be a new beginning.for your question the best thing to do is pray fro them. pray that God will make a way so that you can share Christ's love with them
@suspenseful (40193)
• Canada
7 Apr 10
It is hard to discuss the end times with anyone, although it is easier to discuss them with people who at least have a Christian background such as Roman Catholics. The trouble is in discussing them, some think that we can no longer improve our economical situation because Christ will come soon, we have to put all our money into mission fields and live more frugally, or we have to dress more plainly and more humbling (dresses covering our necks to our ankles, etc.) but these are showing others.
I think what you have to do is to discuss in light of what they are aware of - I am sure they are aware of the persecution of Christians is increasing, that in some countries the crucifix is not allowed or illegal. I am sure they read their Bibles and concluded that this is a sign of the end and also that there would be a desire for more people to become Christians.
What you have to do is to wait for them to open up the discussion and to say something like "I heard that a priest was arrested in China again and there are more Catholics being tortured then before," and then you could reply that the same thing is happening to the Protestants as well. Then both sides could agree that it is the end times. In other words, wait for them to open up the subject.
@Margajoe (4746)
• Germany
7 Apr 10
I suggest not to approach them.
Respect there judgments, the way you want to be respected as well.
When the time is right, you will automatically say what you want to say.
Personally there is always an end time. To each life there is an ending.
To each ending there is a beginning.
So, to be prepared is always a good thing.
Take care.
@scheng1 (24649)
• Singapore
18 Apr 10
Hi Researchconsult, since your parents are attending church as well, you have to trust in God to guide them through the Bible.
The fact that your parents do not want to discuss it does not mean that they are not interested in it.
They probably done better in many areas that you are not even aware of. No point talking about end of the world whole day, and yet embracing materialism. It is better to keep quiet and live a worthy life.
@drkraven (521)
• Romania
15 Apr 10
I do not beleive this. If it s really happening than i can t wait... even thou i m having quite a decent life, a loving wife and all i would sacrifice all that to see the end of the world as it exists today. It is a disgrace. But trust me nothing will happen, at least not for now. Not that i do not beleive in a God, but no offense to anyone either he was busy in the last few hundred years and didn t see the atrocities that happened on earth, either he won t do anything about the ones these days or that will come in the future. My toughts :)
Hey look at the bright side we get to live some more :P
@eileenleyva (27560)
• Philippines
7 Apr 10
Hi, I am also a Catholic. Roman Catholic, too. Serious Roman Catholic, also, I guess. I am very much aware of the end times. I think your family knows it, too. But we don't dwell so much on discussing it because there's actually no point in doing so. We have to live for today. Let tomorrow take care of itself. When it comes, make it a great day and seize it. As in carpe diem!
@achilles2010 (3051)
• India
8 Apr 10
When it is time Jesus to come again it is not the end times, but it is the beginning of a new age. Jesus is the harbinger of a new era. New age begins with him. Let is wait for kingdom of heaven and not for the end times. It is the end times for the evil, and not for those who are waiting for Jesus to come again.
@Maggiepie (7816)
• United States
10 Apr 10
Semantically correct, but it doesn't address the question. ARE these the "end times" of evil?
Maggiepie
EVERYONE! GO TRY THE NEW CATEGORY: Open Mike! ALL opinions WELCOME!