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For a few months now, I have been receiving unsolicited letters, pamphlets, and bulletins regarding the 'end times', 'coming prophetic storm', 'God's impending judgement', etc.

I have family members who are extremely concerned about Jonathan Cahn's bloodmoon judgement literature (he says the four recent lunar eclipses are a sign from God telling us something crazy is about to happen, I can't distinguish this from astrology).

It seems that a significant percentage of the Protestant church in America believes God will produce some type of upheaval, whether it's the Second Coming or a smaller-scale judgement event, very shortly. Have any Orthodox priests or deacons expressed this belief?

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    Actually a very small but very noisy percentage of the American Protestant church, believes this – DJClayworth Sep 28 '15 at 14:11
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    How would you define a "notable Orthodox Christian"? – Flimzy Sep 28 '15 at 17:58
  • @Flimzy I would prefer the source for the answer not to be your brother's facebook post (unless he's an authority figure or something). – sirdank Sep 28 '15 at 18:18
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    True Orthodox Christians know from the bible that we will not know the time God chooses for such things. I suggest that anyone who thinks they know is going against a direct declaration of Jesus and thus cannot be Orthodox. One day someone will say "the end is coming" and they'll be right, but that will simply be luck. For 2000 years certain Christians have thought the end was coming during their lives. There is nothing new or notable about it. – Adam Heeg Sep 28 '15 at 18:40
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    @sirdank: That's a pretty weak litmus test. -1 – Flimzy Sep 28 '15 at 21:23
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What @Adam Heeg said.

Matthew 24 is Jesus' description of things to pass before the end times (Ex: [verse 7] "For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places.").

But these are things that have been happening for a very long time.

And that same chapter (verses 35 - 37) states we won't know until it actually happens: "[35] Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away. [36] But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only. [37] But as the days of Noe were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be."

The point is to be presently alert and keep your soul prepared by doing things in the now that God commanded us to do.

BTW, Orthodox Priests do not read from Revelation as part of the yearly Liturgical readings. Nor do they discuss their own interpretations of it or "end times" in their homilies (sermons). Though Revelation may be quoted, or groups may have a bible study on it.

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  • BTW, Orthodox Priests never read > Your not, our yes. So dont say for all the priests =) – Малъ Скрылевъ Sep 29 '15 at 13:25
  • Really? A whole book of the Bible is never used in the Orthodox church? – DJClayworth Sep 29 '15 at 13:29
  • @DJClayworth - it's not that it's never used in the Church...people have bible studies on it or whatever. It's just not in the Liturgical readings or sermons. – Andy Sep 29 '15 at 14:05
  • @МалъСкрылевъ - if that is true, then my apologies. I was told that the Liturgical readings never include Genesis or Revelation, and that's also been my experience. Though I have heard Revelation quoted during a Homily before just regarding a description of Heaven. – Andy Sep 29 '15 at 14:08
  • Revelation really isn't being included into yearly readings in services, but in preach is included... – Малъ Скрылевъ Sep 29 '15 at 16:07

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