R.E.M. should re-release their 1987 hit, "It's the end of the world as we know it (and I feel fine)."
The Facts
Harold Camping predicted the end of the world on May 21, 2011--and then again on Oct. 21, 2011. Kirk Cameron has made a second career out of the impending Rapture, launching the "Left Behind" series. Long before Cameron and Camping, however, were Nostradamus and the Mayan empire -- both predicting Dec. 21, 2012 as mankind's ostensible doomsday. While many dismiss the aforementioned personalities as fringe thinkers -- and few would argue otherwise -- who can argue that the thought of Judgment Day does not captivate our minds?
We portray these fantastic scenarios in movies, The Terminator, The Matrix, Armageddon, Deep Impact, The Day After Tomorrow, 2012 and the list continues. Although mankind's imminent physical extinction seems unlikely (thankfully), who can deny that the drastic changes we see before our eyes have not ended the world, as we knew it?
Is It the End of the World as We Know It?
Consider this. In the last three decades the frequency and magnitude of earthquakes, tsunamis, and hurricanes has increased manifold in an unprecedented manner. Coincidence? Maybe. But why stop at natural disasters?
Political, economic, and religious immorality is ever increasing. Corruption is rife in politics. Economically, countless suffer through perhaps the greatest worldwide recession in history with over half the world's population living in hunger. Greed and the lopsided distribution of wealth have caused devastating misery. The Holy Qur'an illustrates this as "he is passionate in his love for wealth" (100:9) and "Mutual rivalry in seeking worldly possessions diverts you from God." (102:2)
Religious extremism and sectarian violence is at an all time high. And bin Laden's death and Breivik's capture has not mitigated that a bit. Social unrest is rampant. Wars and famines are at their historical peak. Pew reports that nearly 4 billion live under oppression of the conscience. The UN reports that roughly 27 million live under physical slavery. Likewise, sex trafficking of young girls and women, international drug cartels, and illegal weapons sales are at an all-time high. Our historically advanced intellect and technology have failed to slow these morally degrading realities, which, in many ways are also at an all time high.
The Solution To Feel Fine
A solution exists--restore governmental, economic, and religious morality, be steadfast and patiently persevere. Perhaps nothing short of Divine intervention and sincere repentance can inspire such change.
Well, consider history. Divine intervention saved the people of Noah, liberated the people of Moses and averted destruction from the people of Jonah. So, where is our Divine intervention today?
Many scriptures speak of the latter days. Jesus Christ accurately foretold many of the aforementioned worldwide disasters (Luke 21), as did the Qur'an (Chapter 81). The Qur'an (like other scriptures) also provides a concise solution to the aforementioned problems in Chapter 103. "Surely man is in a state of loss. Except those who believe and do good works, and exhort one another to accept truth, and exhort one another to be steadfast." Indeed, Christ also said, "In your patience, possess ye your souls." (Luke 21:19)
The increasing worldwide upheaval is because man is at a state of loss precisely because of his misdeeds. A powerful convergence of forces, Divine and man-made, are starting to drive at a broad movement for unprecedented modern change. And our success or failure as a human civilization depends on whether we turn to Divine guidance during this change.
The Solution: Part Two
But the solution delves deeper. Muslims, Christians, and Jews and others await the Second Coming to revitalize mankind and usher in a new era of peace and harmony. If, in fact, The Second Coming is to mark salvation for those who accept him, then it behooves us to ponder and reflect on what Jesus said. The Holy Quran records Jesus' guidance, "And call to mind when Jesus son of Mary said 'O children of Israel, surely, I am Allah's Messenger unto you, fulfilling that which is before of the prophecies of Torah and giving glad tidings of the Messenger who will come after me, his name being Ahmad'" (61:7).
Some dismiss this solution as imaginary. Recall, however, that every civilization in history deemed itself as the pinnacle of human advancement. The Qur'an records their reaction to similar admonishment as, "Who, when Our Signs are recited unto him, says: 'Fables of the ancients!'" (83:14).
All Things Considered
Yes, it is the end of the world as we know it, and according to Christ, those who accept his return "shall not a hair of their heads perish." (Luke 21:18). Indeed, Divine intervention only benefits those who willingly make the choice to accept. By serving mankind, reforming ourselves, and pursuing truth with patience, can we ensure our survival and revival. It is the end of the world as we know it, be sure to feel fine.
Follow Qasim Rashid on Twitter: www.twitter.com/MuslimIQ
Kathryn Dawson: How Cable News Made Me Lose My Religion and My Mother
Second Coming of Christ - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Second Coming (Video 2009) - IMDb
Second coming of Jesus Christ and the End of the World
Divine intervention doesn't exist, and belief that it does exist only benefits those willing to take advantage of people with such beliefs. Like Harold Camping. Unless you consider the temporary comfort of delusion to be a benefit.
I know many more people who claim one religion or another who are just the opposite of the qualities listed above.
While one may find helpful inspiration in a perceived personal relationship with a believed entity, to wait for that entity to physically alleviate the pain and suffering we inflict on ourselves and/or others is just plain foolish.
People need to remember that the Bible, the Torah, the Koran and other Holy books were written by man. Yes, it is the supposed words of Gods and Prophets, but who is to say those words were interpreted correctly?
I could tell 15 people that the setting sun the previous night created a beautiful sunset with crimson, reds and pink hues filling the cloud scattered sky.
And there would be 15 different interpretations of that statement. While all were thinking of a sunset, the details and finer points would vary by person. So which person do you choose to relay the most accurate description of the sunset?
Then throw in how many time the various books have been rewritten. What about the Council of Nicaea, where a group of the elite, rich men of the time decided what books made up the Bible?
Man is fallible.
Words written by man are fallible.
-- Bertrand Russell
This would equal utter failure. Toss religion and the world would be such a better place for all.
It's a tool to rule, because believers are as gullible as sheep. The Nazis used to say 'Leader give us your orders and we will follow' - that's what they want, people who follow like sheep. Kneeling down for prayers is consciously invented behaviour to degrade you.
People degrade themselves without questioning and rebelling?!?!? People also don't even notice that they think other people's thoughts and enslave themselves. Very bizarre when you think about it, but very useful for those who like to rule over the common folk.
The USGS estimates that several million earthquakes occur in the world each year. Many go undetected because they hit remote areas or have very small magnitudes. The NEIC now locates
about 50 earthquakes each day, or about 20,000 a year.
As more and more seismographs are installed in the world, more earthquakes can be and have been located. However, the number of large earthquakes (magnitude 6.0 and greater) has stayed relatively constant.
The first coming, materialization and manifestation is when God outside of creation made or actually became creation, (the body, the God), since creation, the body, the reflection and offspring of God is of the same spirit (but in a different state of vibration) it contains the original consciousness of God, i.e., the God that is IN and AS creation is the SAME as the God that is un-manifested and prior to creation. The God outside and prior to creation is called the source or Father and the same God in and as creation is called the only begotten Son, the reflection of the Father, the offspring, the Son, the Christ-consciousness. First stage or phase of God.
The second phase of manifestation, materialization or coming is when God, now in creation, and now called the Holy Spirit when it is in a human being manifests and materializes through that human being. ALL human beings contain the Holy Spirit of God, (the inner SELF), and ALL HUMAN BEINGS ARE DIVINELY CREATED for the PURPOSE of the second coming, or second manifestation into creation. The second manifestation or coming is the final phase, as God becomes a living being.
The second coming of God is through ALL of humanity one by one in order to experience ITS own creation and to know ITSELF through the divinely created human race.
The second coming of God manifesting and materializing from INSIDE of creation, Spiritual-enlightenment, Nirvana, Samadhi, REVELATION....
Alternatively, did you read the article or just the title? Its not about the end of the world, its the end of the world "as we know it" and how that instead can correlate better with more moderate religious ideological beliefs about the so-called "end times."
I ain't afraid of no ghosts!
Blatantly untrue. Quakes and 'namis haven't increased at all, they're just more likely to strike populated areas, so they seem worse. Hurricanes are worse, maybe, but that is possibly only because we can track them better and keep better records of stuff.
You'll even hear Atheists quoting Matthew 24:36 to prove it:
"No man knows day or the hour"
However, did our Lord plainly said 10 verses before:
"Behold, I have told you beforehand ( in advance)"
God also declared in Amos 3: 7 that He revealed all world events and their dates to His prophets:
"Surely the Lord God will do nothing, but that He revealeth his secrets to his servants the prophets!"
So, let's tear this mountain down, showing our Lord Jesus meant the opposite; gave us the time of His return: on the Feasts of Trumpets 2018.
The saying "No man knows the day and the hour" is a Jewish aphorism.
The "Feast of Trumpets" alone, can only be calculated, when two witnesses sight the first sliver of the New Moon.
Therefore, within 24 hours, know one knows, accept God Himself.
Jesus then give the year in the Parable of the FIG TREE: representing NATIONAL ISRAEL
"When you see his branch is yet tender and putteh forth leaves, know...its at the door."
National Israel "bloomed" into a state in 1948.
"Verily, this GENERATION shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled."
Psalms 90: 10 tells us a generation is 70 years.
!948 plus 70 years= the Feast of the Trumpets: September 2018.
This past Feast of the Trumpets on September 2011 was the beginning of the Great Tribulation.
Don't you mean myth? As for history, what about all the folks divine intervention DIDN'T save? Victims of the Holocaust, the Asian tsunami, the earthquake in Haiti...
Once again God only gets credit for wins, not losses.