Is this the End of the World - as we know it...?

This is a quick post to simply say thanks to everyone who took the time to contribute to this discussion.

I was amazed when I got up yesterday morning and saw that this thread had made it to the front page of ATS. To be honest, I expected it to be largely ignored! Thank you all for being bold in consideration of the events that are taking place in the Middle East. The mainstream media are reporting on this only because they can't get away with not doing so. I've said it a few times now, but this is what ATS is all about. Places like ATS offer a true platform for freedom of speech, freedom of expression and knowledge-sharing. Social Media in general is what's prompted the scale of the demonstrations in Egypt, and from hereon out a lot more people are going to be looking for answers. ATS is the place to come for the alternative news and views, and the members are what make it such. Let's greet the next wave with maturity and confidence in who we are and what we do.

A big well-done, and an encouraging slap on the back to you all... Let's keep putting knowledge out there amongst our friends and contemporaries, making sure that people are walking into the future with eyes wide open!

Originally posted by FlyInTheOintment
reply to post by LanMan54

 

I agree with many of the points you're raising, in particular regarding the idea of prophecy and the need to seek God in all of this.

Thing is, the way you've been posting is quite aggressive and alienating. People aren't going to be molly-coddled into believing that God prophesied all of this; just present the scripture, and give a little exposition regarding why you believe it to be true.

You've been putting a load of irrelevant info into the thread, and several two line responses which don't do anything to build any kind of sympathetic bond between believers and non-believers.

Your post regarding '20 American finance problems' for example was entirely irrelevant to the thread, and possibly detracts from the main issues being discussed. I will be happy to see your ongoing contributions, but I would ask that you refrain from posting irrelevant info, and especially refrain from retaliating against people who don't have the same level of faith and belief that you do. To be 'humanist' is natural, until God reveals His presence. We are specifically warned by Christ against judging others.

When you make a post, try to collate a lot of different points in one post - don't add loads of posts each dealing with different points - it clogs up the thread and frustrates people, ultimately preventing people from wanting to be involved in the discussion - possibly harming their chances of taking any sort of faith-based outlook on the whole situation.

As I say, I want to work with you, but please tone it down a bit.


Cheers.

I don't exactly know how to respond to your suggestions, but I'll try. I don't see things from a 'human point of view' anymore, though I know what it is to think this way, just as Christ did when he was in human form. I try to remain sympathetic, but am extremely frustrated at the lack of understanding, and the lies that are being foisted on the public from a multitude of sources. Tried to make a point with the 20 time bomb post that the ways of the world are the reason for humanities increasing problems, and why this is leading to the '...end of the world, as we know it...'. Sorry if you and some of the readers misunderstand, or don't understand. Not trying to be authoritarian, but do you not know that the saints are to be the judges of this world? As far as a 'faith-based outlook', there is only one "Way" that a man can be saved. There are not a multitude of ways, i.e., through other 'faiths', whether its a faith based in humanities religions, or a faith based in humanities sciences and technologies, or a combination of all. Hope this makes sense to you, whoever you are.

These events are thoroughly described in the Book of Daniel. Pay close attention to the verses about The King of The South and The King of The North.

reply to post by LanMan54


yep you are one of those!!! its cool dude. Party on

Originally posted by VI0811

Originally posted by mike184ever

Originally posted by VI0811

Originally posted by Haydn_17
I dont think it's the end of the world.

If Israel did attack Iran or vice versa and nuclear weapons was used, the Allies, Europe, the US and Canada would reduce Iran and the other nations to sand.

Like it or not Israel has the full backing on the US and Europe, no nukes would reach America or Europe, our nuclear defence shields would be too hightech for low budget built iranian nukes.

Russia has no interest in backing Iran, neither does North Korea or China.

I totally concur. Sounds more like Doomsayers preaching scare tactics. My apologies, but that's what I get from that.

Wow you and the poster you commented on here have rose colored glasses on dont you. You see what happens over there and anything could really, has nothing to do with what we comment on here on ATS, does it.All the Dooms-day preachers can go on the corners of Main Street USA and preach till their faces turn blue and that will have no bearring on the outcome of the Middle East. Let me ask you if you have been to a hard line Arab Nation? I have.And we westerners and pond sucking scum licking Dogs as far as they are concerned.And it really is that bad,yes they do think of us that way. Kinda hard of us white people here in the USA to imagine that much hate but it is alive in other parts of the world. And in some Black communities and on some Indian Reservations here.Even the Reservations in So.Cal....The Arab nations are the hub of the world.Thats where it all started...Egypt is the hub for the Arab Nations...Whats going on right now very well could change the world and very fast...didnt say dooms day cause I dont really think we humans can destroy the planet..its just too big

Its to bad your experiences with Arab nations and other cultures are negative. Mine however, have been positive. I deal on a daily basis with many Middle easterners due to my business, both on site and via communication. Their will always be hate in every culture. Also, change can be a good thing. Its a good thing people in the middle east are standing up for what they believe in, and it doesn't matter that their beliefs are different from mine. That is what freedom is all about. But, to represent the End of the World, I think is preaching Doom. As far as the Hub of the world, I'm sorry, but it you know your history, modern human origins began in southern Africa .... ( research that please )

If you preach doom, think the worst, live by harsh judgment and hate, expect the same in return. The old saying " if you treat people like sh*t, you get sh*t in return.

What ever man we could go at it all day, Arabs are like Cruise Ship employees,they are only polite if you are in a position to tip them...you made my point. Unless they are in this country sucking up the good culter or you are in there shops doing business with them We westerners are scum licking dogs.... I bet survay says I am right. Be my guest and walk down the streets of Riyadh or Al Kaharr dressed as a westerner and dont speak their language...I rest my case

Originally posted by LanMan54
reply to post by LanMan54

 

20 economic weapons of mass destruction triggering ticking Global Debt Time Bomb

1. Federal Budget Deficit Bomb. The Bush/Cheney wars pushed America deep into a debt hole. Federal debt limit was just raised almost 100% with Obama's 2010 budget, to $14.3 trillion vs. $7.8 trillion in 2005. The Congressional Budget Office predicts future deficits around 4% through 2020. Get it? America's debt at 84% of GDP will soon pass that toxic 90% trigger point.

2. U.S. Foreign Trade Bomb. Monthly deficits actually dropped from $50 billion per month to roughly $35 billion. But the total continues climbing as $400 billion is added each year. Foreigners now own $2.5 trillion of America, with China holding over $1.3 trillion in Treasury debt.

3. Weakening U.S. Dollar as Foreign Reserve Currency Bomb. Fear China and other currencies will replace dollar as main foreign reserves. The dollar's fallen: The main index measuring dollar strength has gone from 120 at the Clinton-to-Bush handoff to below 80 today.

4. Cheap Money Bomb: Credit Ratings Down, Rates Up. Economists at S&P, Fitch and Moody's were totally co-conspirators of Fat Cat Bankers, misleading investors before meltdown: Soon, debt up, ratings down, interest rates soar.

5. Global Real Estate Bomb. Dubai Tower, new "world's tallest building" is empty. BusinessWeek warns that China's housing collapse could be worse than America's. Plus the U.S. commercial real estate bubble is now $1.7 trillion, a "ticking time bomb" bloating 25% of bank balance sheets.

6. Peak Oil and the Population Bomb. China and India each need 500 new cities. The United Nations estimates world population exploding 50% from 6 billion to 9 billion by 2050: Three billion more humans demanding more automobiles, exhausting more resources to feed their version of the gas-guzzling "America Dream."

7. Social Security Bomb. We have no choice; eventually we must either cut benefits or raise taxes. Politicians hate both, so they'll do nothing. Delays worsen solutions. Without action, by 2035 Social Security and Medicare benefits will eat up the entire federal budget other than defense.

8. Medicare: A Nuclear Bomb. Going broke faster than Social Security. Prescription drug benefit added an unfunded $8.1 trillion. In 5 years estimates rose from about $35 trillion to over $60 trillion now.

9. Health-care Insurance Bomb. Burden increasingly shifted to employees. Costs rising faster than inflation. Recent Obamacare plan would have cost $90 billion annually, paid to Big Pharma and insurers.

10. State and Local Government Budget Bombs. Deficits of $110 billion in 2010, $178 billion in 2011on top of more that $450 billion in underfunded state and municipal employee pension funds.

11. Underfunded Corporate Pensions Bomb. From $60 billion surplus in 2007 to $409 billion deficit in 2009. And a whopping 92% of the pension plans of companies are now underfunded. Defaults are guaranteed by taxpayers.

12. Consumer Debt Bomb. Americans are still living beyond their means. Even with a downturn, consumer debt rose from about $2.3 to $2.5 trillion. Fat Cat Bankers love it -- yes love making matters worse by gouging cardholders and mortgagees, blocking help in foreclosures and bankruptcies.

13. Personal Savings Bomb. Before the 2008 meltdown savings rate dropped from about 10% in the early 1980s to below zero. Now it's increasing, slowing retail recovery. Today, government's the big "unsaver."

14. War and Military Defense Deficits. Costs of Iraq and Afghanistan wars -- $200+ billion annually, $3 trillion minimum, with massive long-term costs for veteran medical care, equipment renewal, recruitment.

15. Homeland Insecurity Bomb. Security at airports, seaports, borders, vulnerable chemical plants all increase budgets.

16. Fed/Treasury Bailout Bombs. Tax credits, loans, cash and purchase of toxic assets from Wall Street banks estimated at $23.7 trillion as new debt was shifted from too-big-to-fail Fat-Cat banks to taxpayers.

17. Insatiable Washington Lobbyists Bombs. Paulson, Goldman, Geithner, Morgan and Wall Street banks, through their lobbyists and former employees working inside now have absolute power over government spending. Democracy and voters are now irrelevant in America's new corporate-socialism.

18. Shadow Banking: The Derivatives Bomb. Wall Street wants no regulation of this $670 trillion, high-risk, out-of-control casino that's highly leveraged versus the $50 trillion total GDP of all nations. We forget that derivatives almost destroyed global economies in 2008-09, finally will by 2012.

19. Dysfunctional Two-Party Political Bomb. Polarized partisanship increasing: Every day both parties show zero interest in cooperating for the public good. Instead they fight viciously, resisting everything and anything proposed by opponents. Only goal: Score political points, make the other side look bad.

20. The Coming Populous Rebellion Bombs. Nobody trusts anyone in authority. For good reason. So immediate gratification, short-term betting and a lack of long-term perspective wins for individual investors, consumers and taxpayers as well as Washington, Wall Street and Corporate America CEOs. Today: "Doing what's right for the common good and country" is just empty political rhetoric.

www.marketwatch.com...

well you wrote all this so here it is sitting as a quote....Its all meaningless while Oil is traded on the U.S Dollar...No? Isnt that the real seccess to the deal Nixon made with OPEC

Originally posted by FlyInTheOintment
I've been looking over the English Al Jazeera - Middle East Summary and I have to say, it's incredibly worrying that so much coordinated unrest is being seen throughout the region. Egypt is all over our mainstream news simply because it's risen beyond the PTB ability to reasonably contain the information. Social Media can be thanked for that.

Yemen, Tunisia, Jordan, Lebanon, Egypt. All have seen coordinated rioting and protests in the past week.

Iran just hanged two protestors (arrested in 2009 who had protested against an apparently rigged election); it seems they are making sure that nobody in their jurisdiction has the courage to follow the rest of the Middle Eastern Arab states in protesting their government's corruption.

I know from reading many responses in several Egypt-related threads that some people think it's an overreaction to say that this could be the spark that lights the touchpaper for large-scale war in the Middle East, possibly even leading to World War 3...

However - observe that Hezbolah are now positioned to gain governmental power in Lebanon. In itself, that's motivation for the US to step up its presence in the region.

Worse yet, it could be a simple matter of time before an Iranian-Syrian-Lebanese alliance forces military action by aggressing Israel. We all know that such an alliance is capable and extremely motivated to do so... Conversely, Israel gets edgy and issues preemptive strikes. That would be it - World War 3.

Also worth mentioning is that rumours abound concerning an Iranian fleet possibly readying itself to head up the Suez canal to moor off-coast from Lebanon. With Egypt in a state of chaos, who would prevent such a movement? (Discussed in this thread - Western Military Fleets are heading to Lebanon and Israel's army is on full alert...)

With Egypt impotent and ineffective as a result of these massive protests, not only would Iran have free passage into the danger zone, but the US would have two convenient excuses to step in and help the Israelis..

Also note the timing of the wikileaks of papers suggesting a greater level of collusion between the Palestinian Authority and the Israelis - see HERE. The old adage of a single puppetmaster drawing his tools of war into position starts to seem less than far-fetched when the leaks are taken in context with the Palestinian response to their contents and interpretation by Al Jazeera.

Special note - Have you noticed how the Western media tends to portray Al-Jazeera as an amateurish, terrorist-led network? Having read through their site for the first time today, I was extremely surprised, and ashamed that I'd been subconsciously affected to such a degree by the propaganda machine of the USA / UK.

In conclusion - the level to which, and order in which this massive unrest has grown in the region is possibly indicative of a deliberate act of collusion by certain PTB. We all know the conspiracy tales of the PTB wanting to recreate Biblical prophecy. We mostly are aware that in such prophecies, after a time of chaos, a leader, a man of peace would apparently emerge who would become either the Antichrist or the Mahdi, depending on your religious persuasion. Could such a time really be upon us? The signs are increasing, and I don't buy the old "nothing to see here, nothing new under the Sun in the Middle East, they've been at it for decades" line. The way in which these situations have escalated, and the incorporation of suspect wikileaks info at a critical moment in time, smacks of iron fists within slinky velvet gloves.

I work full time and make 12.75 an hour with 40 hour weeks. My rent is 285$/Month for a small studio. As of last month I have a hard time paying my rent, I don't have any food not even a single bread crumb at the end of the 2 weeks when I finally get paid. I'm only 20 years old, since my father is old fashioned, I am unable to live at home with my parents.... Something is seriously going wrong. The sad thing is, I'm so young and I'm noticing the world is taking a nose dive.as for you sheltered skeptics out there... Take a look around you can you not see what is going on. Open your eyes and you will see the truth. I recently noticed a huge "fallout shelter" sign above the entrance of the local court house. I thought that was kind of odd.... So as I sit here hungry waiting for Friday(payday) to come so I can have something to put in my stomach. I Ponder wondering... and I'M MAD AS HELL AND I'M NOT GOING TO TAKE IT ANYMORE!!!!

reply to post by Afterl1fe


I feel for you man - I've been in a similar position in the past. I was living in a flea-ridden men's hostel, unemployed until I found a basic job packing airline food in a factory. As soon as I started working, earning £170 for a 40hr week, the hostel started charging me £205 per week rent. Without any other costs being factored in.

The whole thing was set up as a scam, by which the 'charity' running the hostel could rip off the government for housing benefit payments for tenants who are unemployed. The minute the tenants get a job, they can't afford to live there. So they give up the job, as they have nowhere else to go, and no time/money left to save up a rental deposit, or even to buy food/ pay for travel to work.

There are too many examples of how people of a certain demographic (usually young males) are pushed into impossible positions, left to fend for themselves without the means to do so, and ending up unemployable/ homeless even if they try to take strides to further themselves.

I'm mad too - fortunately over time I've managed to better understand the system and the world we live in, the motivations of the 'providers' etc. I broke the cycle by living on the streets while I worked a crappy temp job to save up some money for a place to stay. After some back and forth, I ended up working 60-90 hour weeks for years because I didn't want to claim government benefits to top up my income. Overtime seemed preferable to 'taking'. As a result of that, I ended up hurting myself on the job, and became unable to work at all.

My life now consists of an attempt to become financially independent, via alternative means. It takes some 'out-of-the-box' thinking and perseverance, but it is possible (at least here in the UK) to break into an independent lifestyle. Not there yet, but will keep trying...

All the best of luck to you - try to resist the temptation for violent protest; I know how strong it can be.

VOILENCE IS NEVER THE ANSWER!!

be happy

reply to post by Eyes4Life


Did you misspell 'violence' on purpose?

To suggest an accent that sounds like someone from the Bronx perhaps?




Along with you and the smiley-party, I generally agree with the sentiments.

Unless forced to act in self-defence, or more crucially, in the defence of innocents...

reply to post by FlyInTheOintment

no im just a bad speller ,I agree with your views

reply to post by Eyes4Life


Sorry mate - wasn't having a crack or anything, I thought it sounded good in a Bronx accent anyway!

reply to post by FlyInTheOintment

thats fine
lission to this WHAT IS TIME? We can measure it and slice it up into millennia or nanoseconds, and we can sense our experience through it. The Encarta encyclopedia can define it as a “conscious experience of duration, the period during which an action or event occurs...” and we can even abstractly label it the fourth dimension. But all that really doesn’t bring us any closer to a true understanding of what time is... or how it works.
What we do have are some very peculiar stories of rare instances in which time doesn’t seem to flow in the way we normally experience it. People report gaps in time, jumps through time, missing time, and perhaps even glimpses into past or future events.
its cool isnt it found it on a website by the way im a girl....

reply to post by mike184ever


In case you haven't figured it out, the government of America based in Washington is about to collapse. All these problems are about to explode! Won't matter what kind of money you've got, it'll be worthless!

reply to post by LanMan54
...Oh really and how does that go down....and where is your proof...and how will that effect me. And why would you think you are any more "In The Know" about it than me or any body else....come on "Big Time" now is your moment to shine

reply to post by FlyInTheOintment


I think if the canal de suez closes then our gas prices are going tru the roof more than any price in europe.

reply to post by Eyes4Life


Hi - sorry Eyes4Life, couldn't tell from your user name whether you were male or female; glad to know!

Your post about time struck a chord with me; I had a dream last night (one of the psychic-spiritual type) which dealt with an upcoming 'event' where something happens to cause strange time distortions in local areas around the UK and probably in the world beyond. It was something to do with a phenomenon referenced as 'expansion'. Following the 'event', jet fighter planes from the North (Russia/ the Arctic circle) were sent in to drop a horrible nerve agent on the UK (it melted/disintegrated the physical form of people who inhaled it). Somehow the UK was at war with a fierce enemy from the regions I mentioned - it seemed that enemy was trying to kill off all the UK survivors - because one of the survivors had been the cause of the original 'event'.

It was a vicious post-apocalyptic landscape - all the local areas I'm familiar with, overgrown and derelict. Towns were separated due to complete breakdown in social order, and any attempt to travel more than a few miles led to armed conflict with vigilantes/ bandits and 'defence leagues' of one sort or other. Some of the survivors explained that certain groups in government had recruited them to work as 'agent provocateurs' prior to the 'event'

They had been tricked into carrying out deadly counter-civilian missions, but were now caught in a Catch 22 situation - they were a sort of authoritarian national security team, but their power was severely limited. If they set foot outside the UK they would be killed, so they were effectively under 'house arrest'.

Anyways, thought I'd lay it down as it seemed odd that you commented on time distortion after I had such a dream. It's a bit off-topic, to be fair, but there we go.

Originally posted by LanMan54

Originally posted by FlyInTheOintment
reply to post by LanMan54

 

I agree with many of the points you're raising, in particular regarding the idea of prophecy and the need to seek God in all of this.

Thing is, the way you've been posting is quite aggressive and alienating. People aren't going to be molly-coddled into believing that God prophesied all of this; just present the scripture, and give a little exposition regarding why you believe it to be true.

You've been putting a load of irrelevant info into the thread, and several two line responses which don't do anything to build any kind of sympathetic bond between believers and non-believers.

Your post regarding '20 American finance problems' for example was entirely irrelevant to the thread, and possibly detracts from the main issues being discussed. I will be happy to see your ongoing contributions, but I would ask that you refrain from posting irrelevant info, and especially refrain from retaliating against people who don't have the same level of faith and belief that you do. To be 'humanist' is natural, until God reveals His presence. We are specifically warned by Christ against judging others.

When you make a post, try to collate a lot of different points in one post - don't add loads of posts each dealing with different points - it clogs up the thread and frustrates people, ultimately preventing people from wanting to be involved in the discussion - possibly harming their chances of taking any sort of faith-based outlook on the whole situation.

As I say, I want to work with you, but please tone it down a bit.


Cheers.

I don't exactly know how to respond to your suggestions, but I'll try. I don't see things from a 'human point of view' anymore, though I know what it is to think this way, just as Christ did when he was in human form. I try to remain sympathetic, but am extremely frustrated at the lack of understanding, and the lies that are being foisted on the public from a multitude of sources. Tried to make a point with the 20 time bomb post that the ways of the world are the reason for humanities increasing problems, and why this is leading to the '...end of the world, as we know it...'. Sorry if you and some of the readers misunderstand, or don't understand. Not trying to be authoritarian, but do you not know that the saints are to be the judges of this world? As far as a 'faith-based outlook', there is only one "Way" that a man can be saved. There are not a multitude of ways, i.e., through other 'faiths', whether its a faith based in humanities religions, or a faith based in humanities sciences and technologies, or a combination of all. Hope this makes sense to you, whoever you are.

Actually you are very easy to understand as far as where you come from and where your points go. Its your suggestion of being equal with Christ and far are seeing with spiritual eyes that has me thinking your not all there. Could be that its all just a case of Karma,,you know suffering the conscequences...A pastor once said ."why are evanjalicals so angry"..."Doesn't the presence of the Holy Spirit remove all anger"

reply to post by Big Raging Loner


Do you guys see any similarities between what is happening in Egypt, and other muslim countries right now, with what the United States has been doing for over two decades to South America.

All I am seeing is the global "powers that be" trying tooth and nail to keep 3rd world countries from industrializing.

let me hear your thoughts on this ATS

you may well be familiar with a lot of the things mentioned on this blog, but it has some good points and points in the right direction.

memes.org...