Fatalistic religion

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My sister, who is a homophobe, living in Anchorage, AK wrote me an email and is all worried about whether or not we are in the tribulation. Below is an excerpt of her email to me.

On another note I'm really getting concerned about world issues. I really do sense the end coming. I don't believe in the Pre-Tribulation rapture as many Christians do, and neither does dad anymore for that fact. I base it on what I understand from Scripture and I'm not alone in this belief. There is actually a term for it called Historical Pre-Millinialist. Anyway, with global warming and scientists saying that if the effects are not reversed, that within 30 years our planet will become uninhabitable (could this be what the "new heavens and new earth" speak of in Revelation?); With China now consuming more than a 1/3 of the world's oil supply, and increasing in that; with Iran's president saying he is the chosen one to preceed the coming of the "great one"(did you happen to catch this in the news last year when he made his famous statement about wiping Israel from the face of the earth? I did, and it is scary!) in the Islamic view of end times; Iran wanting a nuclear program and Russia supporting it; An asteroid the size of the state of New Jersey on a direct collision path with our planet by the year 2030; the new social security card already being made mandatory in several states to be able to purchase an airline ticket, file tax returns, engage in any federal business for that matter; the list goes on.... Can you see why I am concerned? Particularly with what Scripture says the Tribulation will be like (Matthew 24:3-28; Luke 21:5-36). I see this happening in this generation. In 30 years I'll be 72, but Lewis and Alex will only be in their 30s. Dad says to pray as instructed in Luke 21:36, and that's what I've been doing.


My question is this-Does this sound like fatalistic religion? I mean I don't know what I really believe about all this anymore. I grew up under my Dad's teaching, which is rather "grim" and "fatalistic" very Calvinistic. So now that I have come out of the closet, my theology is not so much grim as it is grace filled and I just don't concentrate on the negative. Fundamentalists are so gloom and doom anymore, it is depressing religion and what people need is hope.

Moreover, how do I respond to my sister and allay her fears, if possible. I am not sure she will listen a backslidden lesbian sister, who I am quite sure she has consigned to hell, much like my mother has....