How many times was the "end times" supposed to happen, anyway?

[Ahwatukee]

It amazes me the absolute certainty with which some people interpret Revelation, for example, in a literalistic manner, when the book is entirely symbolism.

Hi Angela,

The above is the problem! For the book of Revelation is not entirely made up of symbolism. In fact, the majority is literal with symbolism and metaphors laced throughout the book. When you read about an enormous red dragon with seven heads and ten horns, that is obvious symbolism, but that symbolism is explained right in the same book. Revelation should be read just like any other scripture until a symbolic interpretation is obvious and required. For example, one of the most common errors is when people have the idea that Revelation is all symbolic and so they ignore anything literal and automatically look for some symbolic meaning, when the answer is right in front of their face. The seals, trumpets and bowl judgments are all literal events of God's coming wrath, but because of the for mentioned, people go right to the symbolic.

People need to stop approaching the book of Revelation and end-time events in this manner, because by doing so, they will never understand it. Their conclusions will always be false. I don't have all of the answers to Revelation and eschatology, but I keep looking for them. The information that the Spirit has revealed to me, that I do know and that I can expound on. Just like the rest of his word, God gave us end-time events to be excited about and for us to dig into the details and he rewards those who diligently seek those answers. Consider what God is saying to the reader right in the very first verse and also at the end of the book:

"The revelation from Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show his servants what must soon take place. He made it known by sending his angel to his servant John, who testifies to everything he saw—that is, the word of God and the testimony of Jesus Christ

"Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear it and take to heart what is written in it, because the time is near."

"Look, I am coming soon! Blessed is the one who keeps the words of the prophecy written in this scroll"

The most frustrating thing for those of us who have put in the studies and the prayers to know this information, is when you tell people about these events and they don't believe you and this because they have adopted the popular practice of applying the symbolic meanings that they have been taught by others. And most of the time these are the people who have a mediocre, to little study in the book of Revelation and end-time events.

 

[weakness]

The op and ahwatukee response is the exact same situation as I had with someone on another forum yesterday the exact same verse and fulfillment of prophecy.[/QUOTEs I wonder what it is in every generation that pulls people this direction, aside from the false teacher saying where is the promise. I suppose in a way everyone has a lords coming when he passes on, I know that is differant. I think there is something close to each of us that has us watching for the lord, but let's hope it doesn't keep us from his work and purposes now.

 

[Babylonisfalling]

Interesting read! But I do believe that some have indeed made a religion of End Times, following cult leaders, from Darby and Scofield to Miller, White, and Russell; to Hal Lindsay and Tim Lahaye. Although the scenerios presented in both their books and the movie adaptations are classed as "fiction."

Being ready for Jesus to return does not mean twisting Scripture to fulfill a script written by men. It does not mean taking current events and using them backwards to show the prophecies in Revelation and some of the OT books such as Daniel and Zechariah are meant for today, rather than to those people and to the Christians of the New Testament. This end times cult has the worst possible hermeutics of any other Biblical topic.

Someone in this thread mentioned Israel being a nation "proved" that the end was near. Except this israel was not established by God, but by men in the United Nations. Israel is not a Jewish nation, but a secular one. Yes, many Jews live there and yes, I do believe the Jews needed a homeland. But is this state the one prophecied about? For one thing, the end was supposed to come within a generation of Israel being established. A generation is 40 years, and certainly, the end did not come in 1988, although many predicted it. In fact, the end has still not come and we are now 67 years since Israel was founded, and still no return of Jesus.

I believe the prophecy is true, because it is in the Bible. But that does not mean that this secular state is the one the Bible speaks about. Right now, with all the unrest in the Middle East, Israel might well be destroyed. I believe it could be possible that God would then step in and establish the true Israel, the one predicted in the Bible. But that is just a guess on my part, just like all the guessing and speculation I have seen throughout this thread.

It amazes me the absolute certainty with which some people interpret Revelation, <<---I don't see them as being very certain. for example, in a literalistic manner, when the book is entirely symbolism. And by literalistic, I do not mean literal. That would mean a dragon would actually fly through the sky.

For me, being ready for Jesus means drawing closer to Christ. Following him and obeying him with all my heart. Serving God, other Christians and preaching the gospel with boldness to the lost. I would prefer to spend my time doing the work God has given me to do, than worrying about which symbol means what, in a chancy attempt to interpret the Bible to mean what so many false prophets have said.

By all means, be ready for the return of Jesus! Get your hearts right before God each day you live. That is what keep your light burning bright for the bridegroom means. It means that the Holy Spirit is within our hearts and lives and we are being transformed as we walk with Christ.

They're usually just arguing their own personal interpretation with someone who has a slightly different interpretation. And they both NEED to be right, they both NEED to be the winner in the argument. It seems not to be based on discerning or truth seeking but rather, a desire to be the smartest dooms day guy in the room. You may be mistaking their "need to be right" with a certainty that they are right.