It will never end. People have claimed the world is ending since man first walked upright and looked at the death and destruction that constantly went on around him.
Simply state "You can die tomorrow, live a good life today". I can claim, rightfully so, that for this conditioned being called NorrisAlan, the world will end within 50-60 years, tops.
I think also, the public attention goes to a handful of usual suspects. They probably believe it. But they're a tiny % of pastors, let alone believers. They have their followers too but it just isn't that mainstream among Christians, at least in my experience
Technically we are "living in the last days" according to scripture but the ones that try to quantify that in any way are vastly in the minority
But that's been the message since the passing of Jesus. Humans will always be in the last days because what is described is just human nature and vague.
Do you not believe in the Tribulation and making of the new world as a literal event that will happen sometime in the future? Honest question.
They'll move the goalposts. Folks have been doing this for 2000 years (at least, probably more but I'm just most familiar with the Christian tradition of it. Muslims do it too, that's partly what ISIS is about).
Biblical Jesus stated that there were people alive that would see it (I think). That didn't happen so now it's a metaphor.
Matthew 16:28? "Truly I say to you, there are some of those who are standing here who will not taste death until they see the Son of Man coming in His kingdom."
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_dates_predicted_for_apocalyptic_events The one at the bottom of the list seems dubious to me, but I guess we will see.
Which in the context of that section is referring to his death and resurrection which would be the initiation of the kingdom, not the final fulfillment of new earth.
Why all the vagueness and need for interpretation? Always one of my pet peeves. Too many times, the same passage can be interpreted however you want it to be, based on the reality of the times. I am sure in the past many took Matthew 16:28 to mean that Jesus was supposed to come back and actually give out judgment, as in Judgment Day. Now, we know it didn't happen, so we just re-interpret and say "In the past, people just didn't understand what he meant and interpreted it wrong." Just speak in plain words, give me a list, and let me follow it.
Look, I'm not saying it isn't confusing, and quite frankly, there are times i wish it were straight forward or easier. But I will wholeheartedly say that if you piece the bible together, it works.
