I believe in the second coming of Christ, but my views regarding the "end times" have changed. I believe that the book of Revelations is the revelation of Jesus Christ. It is a beautiful telling in pictures of what Christ already did for us. So much of it actually refers to Christ's death and resurrection, and how it has affected us all. People read so much into it that is not there. They take literally a book that is full of symbols. It is not a book of a wrathful God ready to pour out that wrath on the end time "lost". God already poured all of his wrath and judgment into His Son. He forgave us all, whether we receive it or not. God is not angry. Not at the unjust any more than he is the just. The redemption is complete. So why do so many preachers teach of a coming outpouring of wrath by God some time in the future? Because man cannot wrap his head around a God that has truly forgiven. Man, in his finite mind, judges those that have rejected, and is angry about it, and man expects God to behave as he does. But God is so full of love, even for those who have not chosen Him. Do you really think God hates an individual until the moment that individual turns, and suddenly, He loves him? No, God loved him all along. The whole message of the Bible is to bring humanity back to God. So why would he suddenly, after completing His work in Christ, go back and become full of vengeance again? Its like a person becoming born again, but then afterwards trying to "keep" his salvation through works. Either its grace or its works.
The number 666 is the number of man. Those who have not received Christ already have that mark. Its spiritual, not literal. And those of us who are born again are sealed in the forehead with the seal of God. We are safe already. There is so much hype in the Christian church about doom and gloom and scariness in the future. The future is bright. Stop being afraid. The tribulation already happened. In Matthew Jesus told his disciples about a period of great tribulation that would occur "before this generation passes away." Now use common sense, people. He was looking directly at THEM and said THIS GENERATION would not pass away....BUT THE END WILL NOT BE YET. So, what happened after His death and resurrection? What happened to followers of Christ? Martyrdom. Christians thrown into arenas with lions to be torn to shreds. Crucifixions. And Jerusalem. Laid waste. Have you read history? And all of this happened within the generation that watched Christ die and rise again. It happened. Its done. Now we await His return. But we don't need escapist theologies like the rapture to save us. We are in an exciting time full of hope. We need to stop worrying about the "scary, terrifying future" and start becoming a church that Jesus can come back for. Do you know the rapture was not even taught until the 1800's when a woman in Scotland came up with the doctrine? But Christians live in such fear that they have created this as a way to calm the dread they live with over misinterpretations of the book of Revelation. You need to check out the teaching by Bishop David R. Huskins on Revelation. He's from Cedartown, GA. It will change your view of the future. Don't buy into these dispensationalist teachings that only serve to spread fear. They called Reagan the antichrist. They called Gorbachev the antichrist. Now they call Obama the antichrist. Who will be next on the list? All the predictions regarding time tables with Israel, all of it has had to be re-done over and over again because it does not happen. The book of Revelation is a beautiful portrait of Christ. Preachers need to stop terrifying us all. I lived in terror for my adult life. But now I'm free of it and so happy to be. I'm not afraid of a New World Order. I'm not afraid of a microchip. You can't take away my salvation with a microchip implant. You can't take what you see going on around you and then use the Bible to create doctrines to fit your purposes. I'm sorry if I offend, but now I am just tired of all the "Christian" propoganda that has mislead so many. Stop living your life waiting for the rapture and start living life. Be a light to the world and trust God.
think about it, and give me ur thoughts about it.
