The church I grew up in had at its very core this terrible philosophy: IT ONLY GETS WORSE. Their whole eschatology is centered around Matthew 24, which describes all the dreadful things that will occur in the last days of Earth's history. For the church of my denomination, you can never really enjoy any of the good things God has given us, because any moment now, the earth is going to go to Hell in a hand-basket, and the full fury of satan is going to explode against every God-fearing Christian.
My church has embraced a totally fatalistic approach to life that no matter what you do, this world is destined for the incinerator, and we Christians are unfortunately going to be scorched by Hell's fires when it does so. As far as my church is concerned, the dreaded prophecies of Matthew 24, Daniel 7 and Revelation 13 are all carved in stone, so there is nothing we can do but strap ourselves in, grit our teeth, and prepare for the worst.
It certainly is true that all the horrors of these prophecies will be completely fulfilled before Jesus returns, but what my denomination has failed to consider is that the Bible is ALSO filled with many POSITIVE PROPHECIES regarding the Last Days. That means if the church will begin using her authority that she has in Christ, the darkness of satan CAN be pushed back, allowing at least pockets of Heaven to be in the Earth in the midst of the coming Hell. Let me give you some examples of POSITIVE PROPHECIES regarding the Last Days that I can participate in, and thereby avoid much of the suffering that is coming. Here is such a prophecy:
"In the last days the mountain of the Lord's temple will be established as chief among the mountains; it will be raised above the hills, and all nations will stream to it. Many peoples will come and say, 'Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob. He will teach us his ways, so that we may walk in his paths.'" Isaiah 2:2,3
In the Last Days, entire NATIONS will be saved!
