Ever since I can remember people have been saying it was the end time. I bet people have been predicting it since the bible was first published. I thought the bible said no one knows when the end time will be.
Could the apocalypse warnings be there as a way to keep people in line?
No, peede coober 2, you are correct! and the specific scripture you are recalling, or one of them, is:
1 Thessalonians 5:1-2 (HCSB)
1 About the times and the seasons: Brothers, you do not need anything to be written to you.
2 For you yourselves know very well that the Day of the Lord will come just like a thief in the night.
and
Matthew 24:36-44 (NRSV)
36 "But about that day and hour no one knows, neither the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.
37 For as the days of Noah were, so will be the coming of the Son of Man.
38 For as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day Noah entered the ark,
39 and they knew nothing until the flood came and swept them all away, so too will be the coming of the Son of Man.
40 Then two will be in the field; one will be taken and one will be left.
41 Two women will be grinding meal together; one will be taken and one will be left.
42 Keep awake therefore, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming.
43 But understand this: if the owner of the house had known in what part of the night the thief was coming, he would have stayed awake and would not have let his house be broken into.
44 Therefore you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an unexpected hour.
Now with regards to your statement about people claiming the End Times for as long as you can remember. That also is correct and that will continue to happen as it has happened all through history since Christ ascended into Heaven. A lot of those who make such claims though are made out of ignorance. No offense intended but so many Christians make statements about what they think or what they have been told and not about what they read and study themselves thus they really don't know what they believe but are making statements based upon second-hand information or study, so to say. Even the comments I make here are my opinion(s) based on my own study and I encourage everyone, every student of Scripture, to go to the Scriptures, pray, and prove what you are taught or told. Be comfortable in your own faith based on your own research and what you choose to accept.
A few things about Matthew 24! First, this section, and the parallel passages to it, are the one place where Christ, Himself, directly answers His disciple's specific questions regarding the "END TIMES" vs.3 Matthew 24:3 (NRSV)
3 When he was sitting on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately, saying, "Tell us, when will this be, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?" So we know the answer was from Christ and the context was the "End Times" or "Last Days" or specifically the time when God's Wrath (Judgment) will fall upon Earth/mankind.
Also one thing I'd like to mention is people (Christians) have all too common a habit of thinking that we (America) is the center of God's Universe but in fact it's not America it is Jerusalem and Israel so what is written is written to God's people but centers around Jerusalem and Israel and such is the warning about future messiahs and persecutions and tribulations. While specifically directed and written toward Israel and the Jews Christians will be caught up in it and suffer as well and suffer almost as much and directly.
I also, do, believe that Kraven's original post, about the Antichrist being a Muslim is right on, in fact, I personally believe that the Antichrist, spoken of in Christian scriptures, is none other than the coming Muslim 12th Imam of Islam that is called the Mahdi. The 7 yr peace plan/agreement with Israel is what those looking for one big sign of the actual end times should be looking at/for. This will be one of the signs of the end times and one of the KEY verses is Matthew 24:15 (HCSB) 15 “So when you see the abomination that causes desolation, spoken of by the prophet Daniel, standing in the holy place” (let the reader understand), which references the 7-year agreement with Israel that the Antichrist will make as prophecied in Daniel 9:27 (Holman Christian Study Bibie) 27 He will make a firm covenant with many for one week, but in the middle of the week he will put a stop to sacrifice and offering. And the abomination of desolation will be on a wing of the temple until the decreed destruction is poured out on the desolator.” The "He" above is "The Antichrist" and while it is unknown exactly what this abomination is specifically it is something that will be apparent in that time, when it happens, and will specifically be horrible and unacceptable to Israel (the Jews) as it will happen in and to their Temple and most Holy places of worship. Remember Israel/Jews are the center (in prophecy and Scriptures), not the United States.
Those looking for the "End Times" to know when the season of the end times is upon us, should be aware, looking for certain events and things and the 7 yr agreement with Israel/Jews will be one (Matt 24:15) because it will be signed and brought about by "HE" the Antichrist. The breaking of it in approx 3 1/2 years into the agreement, by the antichrist, will bring about this abomination of desolation. THEN is when Christ tells the people who are alive, at the time of these forecasted events, to RUN, flee, make haste and don't delay. Matthew 24:16-18 (HCSB) 16 “then those in Judea must flee to the mountains! 17 A man on the housetop must not come down to get things out of his house. 18 And a man in the field must not go back to get his clothes. And the reason for this urgency is the pain, suffering, and attacks that are coming down against Israel, Jews, and Christians by the Antichrist and his army and soldiers (of Islam along with Islamic jesus). The events that will follow is what is described, by many, as "The Great Tribulation". and they will be so bad that Matthew 24:22 (HCSB) 22 Unless those days were limited, no one would survive. But those days will be limited because of the elect. This limitation or protection many believe will be God's Rapture of the Saints/saved. That Rapture is believed (by me) to be prophecied and taught about in Matthew 24:29-31 (HCSB) 29 “Immediately after the tribulation of those days: The sun will be darkened, and the moon will not shed its light; the stars will fall from the sky, and the celestial powers will be shaken.
30 “Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky, and then all the peoples of the earth will mourn; and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. 31 He will send out His angels with a loud trumpet, and they will gather His elect from the four winds, from one end of the sky to the other.
Other passages and scriptures, in the Bible (New Testament) that reference the same exact time/section/scripture, are found in 1 Corinthians 15:51-52 and 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18, and 1 Thessalonians 5:1-11, 2 Thessalonians 2:1-17 and of course Revelation 6:1-17 (Matthew 24:29 mirrors Revelation 6:12-14 (6th seal) along with many others but here (unlike with the pre-trib rapture) scriptures regarding the last days are taking literally and not figuratively and symbolically.
I'll make one last comment reaching back to the first point you made regarding mankind not knowing or it being impossible to know the day and hour that this will happen. I still believe that but I believe that to be taken far to generally. I DO BELIEVE that Christ is teaching that those who are alive at the time these events are happening, (events being those described by Christ in Matthew 24:15 and on) will be able to RECOGNIZE that they are in the times of the end days. They will be able to know who the antichrist is as they will know who signs the peace accord and agreement with Israel. They will be able to see certain signs and events and know that they were forecast, by Christ, and know that the times are upon them and the coming (God's) wrath is near. They can't know the exact time/day but they can know the season or know that the times are approaching. Compare these scripture passages about this very thing.
Compare Matthew 24:32-34 (HCSB) 32 “Now learn this parable from the fig tree: As soon as its branch becomes tender and sprouts leaves, you know that summer is near. 33 In the same way, when you see all these things, recognize that He is near—at the door! 34 I assure you: This generation will certainly not pass away until all these things take place. Christ foretold, to the Disciples, what would happen and how to recognize is (Matt 24:3) and he did this so they could teach the Churches, Christians, and pass it along so when those who see these signs will know they are truly in "This generation" and so will know what to expect and what to follow. Will know to ENDURE and persevere a little longer.
Remember also that first scripture I led with, the one about not knowing, and as a thief in the night ... 1 Thessalonians 5:1-2 (HCSB) 1 About the times and the seasons: Brothers, you do not need anything to be written to you. 2 For you yourselves know very well that the Day of the Lord will come just like a thief in the night. Compare that to the next two verses 1 Thessalonians 5:2-6 (HCSB) 2 For you yourselves knowvery well that the Day of the Lord will come just like a thief in the night. 3 When they say, “Peace and security,” then sudden destruction comes on them like labor pains come on a pregnant woman, and they will not escape. 4 But you, brothers, are not in the dark, for this day to overtake you like a thief. 5 For you are all sons of light and sons of the day. We do not belong to the night or the darkness. 6 So then, we must not sleep, like the rest, but we must stay awake and be serious.
What this tells me is those who aren't looking for the signs that were foretold and taught, by Christ, will be caught unaware as a thief. Christians, Brothers, those who were taught to look will though not be caught as a thief in the night and will know when the times are approaching, the times Christ taught about. They can't know the exact date/time but they can know when the seasons are approaching IF they know what to look for and that is scriptural.
My apologies for how long and involved the reply is but it is something I am passionate about. The apocalypse warnings are not there to keep people in line but so that Christians will know how to recognize the times approaching and be ready for the horrors of the Great Tribulation to come and be prepared to endure them for a short time until Christ comes and removes them BEFORE God's Wrath falls upon Earth and Mankind.