One commends the Guardian newspaper for its article titled “The Unending End-Time Prophesy, What other Signs Would Herald the End?”(Pg 40, Sunday January 31 2016).This article by Chris Irekamba and Omiko Awa, asks when the world will come to an end. This is exactly the nature of article that attracts robust debate, and is suitable for men who are seeking answers to the many questions of life.
The article acknowledges the fact that numerous prophesies exist about the expected “End-Times” ( ie. The end of the World, and the Last Judgement ). Numerous biblical passages also predict times of great strife, war, pestilence and earthquakes. It is thus supposed that since these predicted calamities are already raging, and since the world from day to day is observed to be in a state of strife, then the question arises “when will the actual end of the world occur?”
The views of respected clerics were sought on this topic, and the clerics posited that the “End times” are imminent, but that Almighty God is merely awaiting a while to gather together his “elect”(chosen ones).
The End –Time prophecies are closely related to the prophecies prevalent in Christianity that Jesus Christ will “return.” This belief is encapsulated in the phrase “The Second Coming of Christ.”But the modality of such a “Second coming of Christ” varies according to who is questioned, and such views blur as indistinctly as the colours of the rainbow. Thus the question arises “what is the proof that Christ will actually return?”And what will be the exact nature of such a return?
The dilemna about Christ’s purported Second Coming, has further counterparts in other contentious, vague and problematic tenets (and dogmas) in Christianity. Such tenets include “the virgin birth of Jesus Christ,” and His “resurrection” into heaven in a body of “flesh and blood.” The views and beliefs of these diverse phenomena are indeed overwhelming to persons seeking for the Truth.
But the idea of Christ’s “Second Coming” cannot be taken lightly, because according to the scriptures, Christ Himself warned His followers in so many passages, to expect a “Bridegroom,” or a “Comforter” or a “Spirit of Truth.”
In the bible there are also references to the Coming of a Personality called “The Son of Man.” Therefore the question arises “Who exactly is mankind to expect? The “Son of God,” or “The Son of Man?”
And as these questions remain unanswered, men remain in a state of limbo, not knowing what to believe in. All these factors go to show that a state of confusion exists in the numerous prophesies regarding the “End Times,” and hardly can any two views be made to coincide. The question is “Will Christ return,” or “Will He send another?”
In assessing the ability of the generality of men to make correct predictions on the advent of Divine Messengers, it is on record that when many have tried in the past to prophesy or to predict the advent of such Servants sent by God, they have invariably failed to arrive at the correct conclusions. At the time of Jesus Christ, for example, the Scribes, Pharisees, Zealots etc.( who all were the people who were most concerned about the predictions of Christ’s birth), these were exactly the last to know when this event actually occurred. And when the Three Kings of the Orient came to Jerusalem looking for Christ, they enquired of King Herod saying: “Where is He that is born King of the Jews? For we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him?” (Matthew 2:2). This showed that the very King of Judae did not have an accurate idea of the birth of Jesus, the expected king.
This thought brings to the fore the following anxious questions. “Who is one to approach when one seeks clarity in the prophecies concerning the Second Coming of Christ?” Who will provide information about “the End-Times?” Who will give clarity about “The end of the world?” How are the millions of Christians now expecting Christ, not sure that He has not already come and gone?
With respect to the diverse opinions concerning the Second Coming of Christ, and the resultant “End-Times,” no clearer answers exist than those stated by a certain Abd ru shin, the author of the monumental “Grail Message” (also titled “In the Light of Truth”). In his earth-shaking treatise, Abd ru shin states that Christ was actually crucified, but that Christ’s departure was a prelude to the coming of “another” Divine Messenger (Envoy) who Abd ru shin identifies as “Emmanuel,” or “The Son of Man.”Abd ru shin identifies Christ as “The Son of God,” and Emmanuel as “The Son of Man.” Abd ru shin clarifies that the Personality of Jesus Christ may not be confused with Emmanuel, as they are two different Personalities requiring two different fulfillments.
In his “lectures Abd ru shin is adamant that a confusing of “The Son of God,” with the expected “Son of Man” will only result in a generality of people missing the coming “Son of Man.”
But back to the Grail Message of Abd ru shin, Abd ru shin is a writer who communicates with a great deal of severity. In fact his lectures consist of both proclamations as well as warnings! Abd ru shin warns that that the opinions (and expectations) of men cannot over ride the decisions of Almighty God. Abd ru shin states that it does not lie within the purview of men to choose, select, elect or vote for any Divine Messenger, certainly not for the expected “Son of Man.”
So what is the attitude of Abd ru shin to the prophesised “End Times?”Abd ru shin states that the world (and its earth) have now reached in their development, a state of “over-ripeness” and are now in a state of metamorphosis (or change) towards a new birth. The world (and its earth) are reaching a state when they will decay, and a new fruit will emerge for a fresh cycle.
Abd ru shin additionally explains that the earth is now a battle-ground between two Great forces, Good and Evil, or Light and Darkness. He further explains that evil arose in the world because in His Creation God created man with a facility known as the “Free-Will,” in which men are enabled to make their own free decisions. And Abd ru shin explains how in a gradual yet sharp decline, men choose evil over good. It is in this choice that the great failure of mankind has arisen. Abd ru shin explains how in the manifestations of the present day, (such as earthquakes, tsunamis , wars, pestilences etc.) the “Forces of Nature” are making the great “alterations” as precursors towards a “New Time,” a time in which the evil that men have nourished will be violently overthrown, and when the only men that will be able to exist are those who live according to the “Will of God.” Therefore Abd ru shin acknowledges that the severe manifestations (disasters) that we witness all around are signs of the “End Times” which End Times will coincide with the prophesised “Final Judgement” of the Earth.
Abd ru shin states that men are meant to understand from the terrible events taking place on the earth, that these are warnings from God to men to behave better! Abd ru shin states:
“Let us take a glance around us. Terrible happenings accumulate from all sides. Catastrophes increase from one week to the next. He that does not wish to recognize in the great economic distress , nor see in the consequent confusion a disastrous setback, just because he himself still happens to have enough to eat and drink – such a person no longer deserves to be called man, for he must be inwardly corrupt and blunted to the suffering of others.
“All this has happened before!” That is what they thoughtlessly reply! It is true that such events have
taken place before, but singly, and not in the same conditions as today. Above all there was never such an accumulation of events! In past times a gap of years occurred between natural catastrophes. Such happenings excited all civilised nations and were talked and written about for months, while today they are dismissed from the mind within a few hours at a dance or in everyday conversation. The people must not be disturbed. That is the order which has gone forth. God wills that men should recognize these warnings which speak so plainly to them in the march of events. They are meant to awaken out of their irresponsible spiritual lethargy in order to reflect and retrace their steps in time before it becomes necessary for them to experience all the afflictions they can still see their fellow-men suffer. It is rebellion against God on the part of those who try to prevent this with comforting words.
(The Distorted Tool, Pg 631, The Grail Message by Abd ru shin)
