What would you say if one of your kids or a good friend asked you tomorrow: What does the Bible say about the End of The World.

One of E Bible’s more thoughtful contributors took a stab at answering it and I thought he did a good job considering that a full and complete answer of all the Biblical texts on the topic would fill several books and even then contain a fair amount of opinion. That said here’s Michael Houddman’s answer with one insert from yours truly.

The event usually referred to as “the end of the world” is described in 2 Peter 3:10: “The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything in it will be laid bare.” This is the culmination of a series of events called “the day of the Lord,” the time when God will intervene in human history for the purpose of judgment. At that time, all that God has created, “the heavens and the earth” (Genesis 1:1), He will destroy.

The timing of this event, according to most Bible scholars, is at the end of the 1000-year period called the Millennium. During these 1000 years, Christ will reign on earth as King in Jerusalem, sitting on the throne of David (Luke 1:32-33) and ruling in peace but with a “rod of iron” (Revelation 19:15).

Insert: Prior to the Millennial Kingdom the Bible teaches there will be two events here on the earth: The Tribulation and the Rapture. The Tribulation will be a time of suffering for all mankind as Evil rules the world. The later portion of The Tribulation will be particularly difficult on Christians as Satan will have placed himself on the Throne in the Temple in Jerusalem and will have free rule and reign on planet earth. Sometime – either before, during or after The Tribulation an event we call the Rapture will occur. Christ will appear and the dead in Christ will rise first to meet him in the air and then those of us who are alive and remain will go to be with them.

At the end of the 1000 years (The Millennium), Satan will be released, defeated again, and then cast into the lake of fire (Revelation 20:7-10). Then, after a final judgment by God, the end of the world described in 2 Peter 3:10 occurs. The Bible tells us several things about this event.

First, it will be cataclysmic in scope. The “heavens” refers to the physical universe – the stars, planets, and galaxies-which will be consumed by some kind of tremendous explosion, possibly a nuclear or atomic reaction that will consume and obliterate all matter as we know it. All the elements that make up the universe will be melted in the “fervent heat” (2 Peter 3:12). This will also be a noisy event, described in different Bible versions as a “roar” (NIV), a “great noise” (KJV), a “loud noise” (CEV), and a “thunderous crash” (AMP). There will be no doubt as to what is happening. Everyone will see and hear it because we are also told that “the earth and everything in it will be laid bare.”

Then God will create a “new heaven and a new earth” (Revelation 21:1), which will include the “New Jerusalem” (v. 2), the capital city of heaven, a place of perfect holiness, which will come down from heaven to the new earth. This is the city where the saints-those whose names were written in the “Lamb’s book of life” (Revelation 13:8)-will live forever. Peter refers to this new creation as “the home of righteousness” (2 Peter 3:13).

Perhaps the most important part of Peter’s description of that day is his question in verses 11-12: “Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming.” Christians know what is going to happen, and we should live in a way that reflects that understanding. This life is passing away, and our focus should be on the new heavens and earth to come. Our “holy and godly” lives should be a testimony to those who do not know the Savior, and we should tell others about Him so they can escape the terrible fate that awaits those who reject Him. We wait in eager anticipation for God’s “Son from heaven, whom He raised from the dead, even Jesus who delivers us from the wrath to come” (1 Thessalonians 1:10).

Read more at https://ebible.com/questions/2022-what-does-the-bible-say-about-the-end-of-the-world#Lv0BHq1oQ4uhwVEl.99

Larry

Someone in our US Government Leadership (no pun intended) had better wake up and open their eyes to what is going on all around us – literally to our north and our south. China – yes that’s CHINA will be one of the larger owners of oil and gas production in our part of the world – if this deal is approved.

The Chinese see the wisdom of owning and shipping oil and natural gas in our hemisphere – yet we can’t get Congress and President Obama to get a bill passed and signed – that for our security and economic development will get us off our liberal, environmental butts and start building these sorely needed natural gas transportation pipelines and confirming our oil reserves by drilling.

Uncle Larry

News Alert from The Wall Street Journal
China’s Cnooc will buy Canadian oil and gas producer Nexen for $15.1 billion in cash, in China’s largest overseas energy acquisition to date.
Cnooc will pay $27.50 a share for Nexen, representing a 61% premium to the Canadian company’s closing price Friday on the New York Stock Exchange.
State-owned Cnooc is China’s largest offshore oil company by production. The deal will give it ownership of oil and gas reserves in western Canada, the U.K.’s North Sea, the Gulf of Mexico and offshore Nigeria.

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10000872396390443437504577544470741886332.html?mod=djemalertNEWS

Here’s an article that I didn’t write but I wish I did and totally agree with – by Madlock and Viton for BusinessWeek (see site below). They point out the company employee tree always needs trimming. Which limbs do you look to cut first? Their answer:

1. The Victims
2. The Unbelievers
3. The Know it All

This piece is aimed and managers and business owners. Why did I read it? I’m an old retired guy who married Saint Marty 43 years ago to relieve me of all domestic decision making.

It seems to me there is a lesson here for us all. Think about the kinds of people you hang with. What sort of folks do you want for friends? What sort of friend potential do you have? Try this for the New Year – take a moment and look yourself in the psychological mirror – if you dare – ask ask yourself am I one of these three types of people? If not totally – do these kinds of tendencies creep into my life and expressions from time to time.

How can I be a better, more encouraging and attractive person to be with? For me it’s too late but you might still have a chance.

1. Do you sometimes play the victim card? Has life dealt you a bad hand and you readily share it with anyone who will listen? Do they really want to hear it?

2. Can you believe in your friend’s dreams and aspirations and support them – subduing any feelings of jealousy and be an encourager?

3. I know you can’t be a know it all or you wouldn’t have gotten this far in my note. Who can throw cold water on a dinner or golf conversation than a know it all?

Food for thought for 2012! Be sure to read their article when you have time.

Uncle Larry

http://www.businessweek.com/management/three-types-of-people-to-fire-immediately-11082011_page_2.html

Whether you favor Newt or Paul or Romney or Santorum or the fellow from Texas whose name I forget just now – the website below has a legitimate secular historical account of the term Palestine and Palestinians. If you read the article – only one page – you will see the term Palestine was used in secular history by Jews 2,000 years ago to describe the land where Jews lived during the rule of the Roman Empire.

You may remember that Caesar guy who sent out a decree that all the world would be taxed so Mary and Joseph went to Bethlehem where the Christ Child was born in a manger –  ah but I digress from the point at hand.

In 1964 a very clever and badly dressed terrorist – Yasser Arafat – stole this Jewish word and claimed it as his own – naming his terrorist group – Palestinian Liberation Organization or the infamous PLO. And as they say the “rest is history.”

In Newts’s defense this is what he referred to when to the Arabs who claim the name as frauds. Newt may be “unelectable” but I’ll wager he’s the only candidate that knew the historical facts.

Uncle Larry

http://www.jewishindy.com/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=16550

PS Merry Christmas to all my Christians friends and Happy Chanukah to our Jewish friends starting today 12/20 and running to the 28th.

Living in Florida we are less active outdoors in the summer and seem to gain weight that time of year. We got to the point where we knew we had to start dieting and are back on our old stand-by diet “low carbs.” As we all know low carbs generally mean high protein and fats and low on starch and sugar.

By most standards this pretty much eliminates what might seem like a healthy food group – fruit.

I have seen several studies recently on “Net Carbs” and using them in your dietary count instead of “Carbs.”

What is a net carb? I’m certainly no expert but it seems for the most part net carbs are determined in a food by taking the total carbs and subtracting the carbs in the food’s fiber, sugar alcohol (polyois) and glycerine. The reason being our bodies generally don’t process fiber – but pass it through – and the polysis & glycerine do not impact our blood glucose as sugar does.

What does this mean to you if you are dieting by counting carbs? Two things:

First, don’t just look for the “carbs” in a food but look for the “net carbs.” Sadly most products don’t list the net carbs because they are not required to do so by Federal Law. Big brother only cares about total carbs it seems. One simple way you can make this adjustment is to take the total carbs in a food item and subtract the fiber carbs and sugar alcohol and glycerine resulting in the net carbs. One problem I’ve seen reading Marty’s cans and frozen packages is not too many list the sugar alcohol or glycerine. Consequently, we’ve just been taking the total and subtracting the fiber. It’s really pretty simple but if you would like a source that has already done it for you I have attached a site – the latest “Atkins Carb Counter.” It lists everything you will need to know. You can buy this in print if you prefer hard copy to having it on your computer.

Second, don’t give up on fruit. Here are three interesting choices I saw looking at this today.

Florida Avocado – Total Carbs 9 – Fiber 6.4 – Net Carbs 2.6.

Blackberries 1/2 Cup – Total Carbs 6.9 – Fiber 3.8 – Net Carbs 3.1

Rasberries 1/2 Cup – Total Carbs 7.1 – Fiber 4.1 – Net Carbs 3

For those of you who love candy – especially chocolate do I have good news for you. Hoffman’s Chocolate Net Carbs – One piece of various types run from 2 to 3 net carbs but are high in sugar alcohol. They are made with Splenda. You can order them on line.

Sadly I have searched the internet high and low but I can not find a low carb Margarita of any kind when it’s made the way I like them. However, we did find a “no carb” Margarita mix and as we all know Tequila has no carbs so if you leave out the Grand Marnier, Quantro and Lime you are good to go.

So how are we doing? When I was twelve I was 5′-10″ and weighed 190. I went into the Army in 1968 at 205 and came back from Vietnam at 195. 200 pounds has been my life weight. I’m now 5′-8″ and was up to 205. In a little over a week I’m down to 198. Sadly the health guides say I should weigh 165 but my goal is 190. Marty has lost seven pounds and you can bet your — I won’t be telling you her weight or age.

The Atkins Carb Count site is below. It’s 50 pages but was easy to save on my desktop.

http://www.atkins.com/science/sciencearticleslibrary/articledetail.aspx?articleId=48