Apocalyptic Predictions and How They're Shaping People's Hearts - by Aileen Sy

 A common question we ask as Christians is this: If people already know what will happen during the end times, and how they might be contributing to its fulfillment, can they choose to change their decisions and thus change the course of our destiny?  For example, if the Antichrist knows that there will be an Antichrist who
will dominate world politics and world religion, can he change his political and religious platforms in order to ward of the impending judgment on the world? Or, if people are well informed about specific Biblical prophecies about the end, about concrete things that we should watch out for, couldn't we all just repent and turn to the Lord in the hope of changing His mind?

What do you think?  With the May 21 Judgment Day Prediction gone "kablonk" and the many many more predictions about the exact date and time of the Lord's Coming that didn't pan out - stealing lives, properties, and even sanities - wouldn't people who are not steadfast and rooted in God's word be more than a little skeptical about the verity of the "End Times"?  What with global warming and the promise of democracy and universal peace that tries to explain all of the catastrophy that is befalling us nowadays, would people even pay attention to solid biblical truth that God calls us to believe in Him when those who have been using His name have brought nothing but failure, disappointment, and loss?

Read the internet and you will see millions of people who have become calloused to the thought of even acknowledging that there will be a day of judgment.  People who believe that Jesus Christ will return in His glory are now labeled as merely fancible beings, lunatics, who are stupid enough to believe in archaic records of prophecies made by ancient people. Because of these false predictions (that are rejected in the Bible "no one knows the day and hour" Matt. 24:36) people are starting to think altogether that this is not true and as long as we're dilligent enough, we can somehow save ourselves. 
The sad thing happening about all these "Apocalyptic Predictions" is that when the day does come, people have become hardened about it already. Like the Book of Jeremiah puts it, these "prophets" steal prophecies and make it their own thus confusing the people on which to believe in. So we shouldn't wonder why the Bible says that at the last times, God will show His wrath but people still wont turn to Him; and this is because of the hardening of their hearts. False prophets, this is your doing!
But the day of the Lord is true.  No amount of striving on our part will save us from that hour of testing but only the blood of Jesus Christ.  Why will people continue to reject the Lord even when He is already releasing His wrath? Because of their hardened hearts.  Why can't we fight our destiny? Because people are being deceived.  Apocalyptic Predictions do not call people back to the Lord, they only set people up for disappointment to the point of disbelieving the End Times altogether.  So let us keep watch, instruct one another according to the true and secure Word of God.  Let each one be wary, be aware, beware of False Teachers, False Prophets, and False Christ.  The antichrists ARE at work.
"Dear children, this is the last hour; ..... even now many antichrists have come.  This is how we know it is the last hour.  They went out from us, but they did not really belong to us.  For if they had belonged to us, they would have remained with us; but their going showed that none of them belong to us."  1 John 2:18-19
They may very well be using God's name to do their work, to turn people to the wrong, lead them to what is false, causing millions of other people from doing the only thing we need for our salvation: To BELIEVE.  Believe in Jesus Christ, the author and perfector of our faith.  He is the only One who can save us from the Day of the Lord. Hold fast to the truth which was given to us, according to the Word of God (not men, nor those who claim to be prophets), and do not let our hearts be hardened by all these things.

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