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Category: Eschatology (end times) You have viewing the Eschatology (end times) category! We invite you to join our website or login if you are already a member! The Forth Seal, a Pale Horse, and the Rider Posted by:  literalword   (Posted: 07/04/08 8:10am) INTRODUCTION: We have seen with the opening of each seal conditions on earth for mankind worsen. The rider of the black horse of the third seal brought in famine and economic collapse. The forth seal brings in the collateral damage of the first three seal judgments. THE TEXT: Revelation 6:7 - 8 (NKJV) When He opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth living creature saying, "Come and see." So I looked, and behold, a pale horse. And the name of him who sat on it was Death, and Hades followed with him. And power was given to them over a fourth of the earth, to kill with sword, with hunger, with death, and by the beasts of the earth. A PALE HORSE: When the forth seal is opened John sees a pale horse. The original word here for pale is "chloros". Chloros is translated as greenish. We get the term "chlorine gas" from this word. THE RIDER: The rider of the greenish horse is death. The forth seal ushers in mass death all around the world. Following the rider is Hades. Hades is translated as the place (state) of departed souls:- Grave, Hell. We see in... Read Full Entry  - Category: Eschatology (end times)  - 0 Comments  - Total Views: 17 I WANT to be Left Behind!!!! Posted by:  wormwood   (Posted: 07/03/08 11:37am) Most people are familiar with the Left Behind fictional book series discussing the end of the world. Being left behind seems to be a terrible thing according to many end times views. But I want to be left behind. Allow me to explain. The Left Behind series is based on a popular view of the rapture. Many Christians believe there will be a secret rapture that suddenly wisps millions of Christians from the face of the earth. Those who are left will have to go through part of all of what is known as the Great Tribulation (time of terrible suffering brought about by the rise of the Antichrist). The idea is that suddenly one day Christians are raptured and vanish, and those who are left are in for a great deal of suffering. Before I explain why I want to be left behind, lets first look at the concept of the "secret rapture." There is only one place in the Bible that the word for "rapture" would be used. Now note that rapture (as defined by end times theories) is not defined as bliss or relate to feelings at all. Rather, rapture in this sense is dealing with the... Read Full Entry  - Category: Eschatology (end times)  - 6 Comments (view first comment - view last comment by blessings2you)  - Total Views: 62 The Third Seal, a Black Horse, a Rider and Scales Posted by:  literalword   (Posted: 07/03/08 1:02am) INTRODUCTION: When considering the judgments in the book of Revelation one must understand that with each successive judgment things get worse. This holds true regardless of the kind of judgment we are referring to. Each succeeding seal judgment is worse than the preceding one. Each succeeding trumpet judgment is worse than the preceding one. Each succeeding bowl judgment is worse than the preceding one. With the opening of the first seal came an imposter on a white horse appearing to be the savior of the world, the messiah. It is troubled times and he brings peace to Israel and the world. Many people believe he is the messiah since he has ushered in peace, especially in the middle east where there has been no peace for thousands of years. Along with peace natural disasters have ceased. The world was being destroyed by floods, tornados , hurricanes, earthquakes, tsunamis, and other natural disasters until he arrived then peace, peace, wonderful peace. The nations and kingdoms are no longer warring with each other and nature is at peace with the earth. Most will believe this imposter is the messiah. His good guy façade will continue for the first 3 ½ years of... Read Full Entry  - Category: Eschatology (end times)  - 1 Comment (by blessings2you)  - Total Views: 39 Are we living in the LAST DAYS??? Posted by:  wormwood   (Posted: 07/02/08 11:26am) Are we living in the last days? You may have had someone ask you this question after viewing a terrible news story or seeing some great injustice in the world. In fact, you may have thought the same to yourself. But what does it really mean to live in the LAST DAYS, bibically? After all, Paul tells Timothy, "But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. 2 People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, 3 without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, 4 treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God- 5 having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with them" (2 Tim. 3:1-5). 2 Peter 3:3 says that scoffers will come in the last days as well. So do we see the last days as a result of the deterioration of the world? Is that what ushers them in? My opinion is "NO!" First, we need to remember that Paul's audience is Timothy. Even though the Holy Spirit inspired Paul to write the letter to Timothy and preserved it for... Read Full Entry  - Category: Eschatology (end times)  - 6 Comments (view first comment - view last comment by literalword)  - Total Views: 79 The Second Seal, a Red Horse, The Rider and a Sword Posted by:  literalword   (Posted: 07/01/08 9:35am) INTRODUCTION: The first seal judgment introduces the first half of the seven year tribulation period. The tribulation years begin when a seven year peace treaty is signed in the middle east. Daniel 9:27 (NKJV) "Then he shall confirm a covenant with many for one week; . . . " Obviously there will be much warring going on around the world prior to the revealing of the rider on the white horse (the anti-Christ). Matthew 24:6 - 9 (NKJV) And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not troubled; for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be famines, pestilences, and earthquakes in various places. All these are the beginning of sorrows. Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and kill you, and you will be hated by all nations for My name's sake. Then arrives this so called merchant of peace on the scene and his treaty brings relative peace to the entire world and specifically Israel. There has not been peace in the middle east in over 2500 years. There has always been... Read Full Entry  - Category: Eschatology (end times)  - 4 Comments (view first comment - view last comment by doulos)  - Total Views: 51 The First Seal, Horse, and Rider Posted by:  literalword   (Posted: 06/30/08 9:41am) INTRODUCTION: There are many who will tell you the book of Revelation is to be understood as a book of symbols. This is far from the truth and for the most part should be understood as plain language and interpreted in a literal sense. There is some allegory found in the book however where God is speaking through John allegorically, these places are clearly noted and the explanation can be found in Revelation or somewhere else in the bible. What I have seen in the ones who want to interpret the bible figuratively is not many of them agree on much and most find comfort in being able to change the simplistic literal meaning to what they want it to mean because they have a hard time accepting the literal truth. Theologians have done more harm to individual understanding of God's word than the devil himself. They want to complicate everything with deep meaning and cognitive complexity. Among the theologians are as many differing interpretations of simple doctrine as there are denominations. This my friends should not be. As an example I'm going to talk about the first four seals of the scroll and their meanings. It is clear in... Read Full Entry  - Category: Eschatology (end times)  - 4 Comments (view first comment - view last comment by tchable)  - Total Views: 64 The Final Antichrists Posted by:  drhee   (Posted: 06/28/08 6:09pm) There are many descriptions of the final days, and it is important to expose and discern these for the Lord has inspired many of His servants to reveal the hidden plans of the wicked. We know that an antichrist is any man or woman who denies that Jesus, the Messiah is the Word of God become flesh. However, there are some subtle heresies, that portray Jesus as an 'avatar' (a man embued with the virtue of a God.) This is denial of the Divinity of Jesus. To declare that Jesus is the Word Of God become flesh is to declare that Jesus is God become flesh. The Lord's Spirit is the Holy Spirit. Jesus appeared to John as the Angel of the Lord, who is called 'I AM'. Did you know all the angels of Heaven are named after Jesus? Did you know that every prophet and patriarch from Abraham to John the Baptist saw Jesus as the Angel of God? False prophets will deny that Jesus is God because Satan denies the divinity of Christ. As a soldier in Christ, a true servant should become informed of the enemy, Satan. Unless you are directly attacking the spirits of darkness... Read Full Entry  - Category: Eschatology (end times)  - 3 Comments (view first comment - view last comment by happytoberestored)  - Total Views: 34 Why Im Frustrated... Posted by:  wormwood   (Posted: 06/27/08 9:48am) I was having a recent discussion with someone about end times teachings in Scripture. The discussion started because the person was teaching a view that is popular, but debateble. The view was not presented as their view, but as the ACTUAL WORD OF GOD. Basically, if you dont agree with them you dont believe Scripture. Now Im not talking about whether or not Jesus will return bodily or some central concept like that, but about millenial issues. Dont you hate the arguement that if you dont agree with me than you dont believe the Bible...and dont bore me with your thoughts on the issue. Honestly, I think it is such a sad state of affairs that we cannot discuss these matters joyfully and intellectually without throwing stones or getting mad. No wonder Christians are labeled "narrow-minded" or "bible beating." We cant even talk with one another without trying to marginalize the other or try to silence the other person by force. I've learned its best to just say, "whatever" and leave. But my frustration comes in when people teach things that are debateable as though they are not. What if you teach something about the end times and it doesnt... Read Full Entry  - Category: Eschatology (end times)  - 10 Comments (view first comment - view last comment by wormwood)  - Total Views: 86 The Dragon with Seven Heads and Ten Horns Posted by:  drhee   (Posted: 06/01/08 8:00am) Our fight is not against flesh and blood but against principalities, powers and the rulers of darkness on the earth. The fight is spiritual - our weapons are spiritual words and our defences are spiritual thoughts - this is our faith in the Lord Jesus. And the fruit of faith is understanding of the Truth both personally and about the nature of the world we live in. The Book of Revelations describes the kingdom of Satan as a red dragon with seven heads and ten thorns. Each head is dressed with a ‘diadem' a round crown representing the binding power and authority of Satan. The Ten horns are the ten great kingdoms of the world which include: The founding civilizations of Mesopotamia: Sumer Akkad Assyria Babylon Plus five ancient world powers: Medes Persia Egypt Greece Rome And one kingdom being revealed: New World Kingdom (accelerated from 1990 through excessive global trading and monopolization by commercial entities). Thus there are 10 kingdoms (10 horns) organized under seven dominions (7 heads) each with a daemonic ruler. The Antichrist is described as the eighth king who plucks three - the three kingdoms that are plucked are Sumer, Akkad and Assyria which represent the... Read Full Entry  - Category: Eschatology (end times)  - 3 Comments (view first comment - view last comment by kraftykatz)  - Total Views: 122 Heaven or Earth Posted by:  mikejs   (Posted: 05/27/08 4:02pm) You hear people all the time say that we will go to heaven. But is this true? You read in Revelations that God will destroy This earth and heaven. Then He will create a new heaven and earth. Revelation 21 1And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea. 2And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. 3And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God. 4And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away. You never hear any one say anything about the new earth. Well here is the way that I see it. God had created the heaven and the earth the way He wanted it.... Read Full Entry  - Category: Eschatology (end times)  - 2 Comments (view first comment - view last comment by tchable)  - Total Views: 106 Hear Ye the Word of the Lord, America (If you dare) Posted by:  blessings2you   (Posted: 04/20/08 7:30am) The prophet Ezekiel was given specific words concerning the upcoming Babylonian conquest of Judah. What God had to say was straight to the point and could be understood by anyone if they choose to listen. When God tells us disaster is coming, He does not make it difficult to understand. The words given by Ezekiel at the time all came to pass. But, the words remain for us today as a "type" of what is coming. That which happened to Judah and Jerusalem SHALL happen to the United States of America as well as Israel VERY SOON. Hear Ye the Word of LORD reading from the TANAKH from Ezekiel 7: "The Word of the Lord came to me; You, O mortal, [say] Thus said the Lord God to the land of Israel: DOOM! DOOM is coming upon the four corners of the land. Now doom is upon you! I will let loose My anger against you and judge you according to your ways; I will requite you for all your abominations. I will show you no pity and no compassion; but I will requite you for your ways and for the abominations in your midst. And you shall know that... Read Full Entry  - Category: Eschatology (end times)  - 2 Comments (view first comment - view last comment by tchable)  - Total Views: 215 Update on Matthew 24 Signs of Christ's Coming Posted by:  blessings2you   (Posted: 04/15/08 8:03pm) No man knows the details of what is coming in this world, but there are strong indications that there is a season of intense birth pangs getting ready to transpire. These are not signs of the rapture, but these are signs given by Jesus Himself to alert people as to how soon before He returns to establish His kingdom on earth. EARTHQUAKES In quick succession, there was a major news story of "swarms" of mysterious earthquakes far under the ocean off the coast of central Oregon. These "swarms" are usually associated with volcanoes, but there are none in the area. I must admit that this term "swarms of earthquakes" is a new one to me and brings to mind images of insects and other groups of things too numerous to count. The story was followed up yesterday with various scientists in California saying the San Andreas Fault was long past due for a catastrophic quake, especially in southern California. They placed a very strong probability of at least a major earthquake hitting somewhere in California in the near future. The US Geological Society has an excellent website that documents every earthquake in the world in real time. Not a day... Read Full Entry  - Category: Eschatology (end times)  - 8 Comments (view first comment - view last comment)**  - Total Views: 283 Things to look out for Posted by:  pounders   (Posted: 03/10/08 8:14pm) Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come. But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what time of night the thief was coming, he would have kept watch and would not have let his house be broken into. 44 So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him (Matthew 24:42-44). Most people never mention the end times. Why? I don't know, but people need to realize the signs of the times. No one knows when the Lord will call the believers home. Not the Angels not the Saints not the people, but only God and God alone will know the day He calls us to be with Him. But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what hour the thief was coming, he would not have let his house be broken into. 40 You also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him (Luke 12:39-40). The Son of Man will come at an hour you do not expect Him. There... Read Full Entry  - Category: Eschatology (end times)  - 3 Comments (view first comment - view last comment by harvest)  - Total Views: 242 Our Glorious Hope; As I Understand It Posted by:  blessings2you   (Posted: 02/26/08 5:59pm) After Jesus was tempted by the devil, he taught in synagogues until he reached his "home town" of Nazareth where he had been brought up. As was his custom, on the Sabbath day he went to the synagogue and stood up to read. He was handed the book of the prophet Isaiah and he found a particular passage. He then read this passage, closed the book, gave it back to the attendant and sat down. The Bible says that the eyes of all who there were "fixed on Him". The passage Jesus read was what we know to be Isaiah 61:1 and 2 which says in NKJV: "The Spirit of the Lord God is upon Me, Because the Lord has anointed Me to preach good tidings to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound; To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord, and the day of vengeance of our God." Everyone in attendance that day knew how this section of Isaiah was to read. Everyone knew that when Jesus read it, as recorded in Luke 4:18 and 19, he did... Read Full Entry  - Category: Eschatology (end times)  - 5 Comments (view first comment - view last comment by literalword)  - Total Views: 296 Now is the time of Jeremiah Posted by:  tommae   (Posted: 02/02/08 8:44pm) Judge now what i say,,,,,,you who will listen. Did not the lord say that not one word of the prophets will be left undone? Then take him at his word. Jeremiah 50 spoke of Babylon's doom. Some say that prophecy has been fullfilled a long time passed but i say it has not. Read your bible carefully and take the lord at his word as it was written! Did he not say that none shall ever live there again,,,,,nor in the surrounding cities? A desolation forever and their thread of life will be cut. But yet if you google a map of Babel, zoom in and press "satellite" you can see thousands and thousands of dwellings, towns and complexes all within a 20 mile radius of where the tower itself stood for it's base still survives. So is it truth to say that the inhabitants yet remain in the land? So,,,,,,Open your bible to Jeremiah 50 and read on with the first gulf war in mind and when you come to the verse "give her medicine, perhaps she can yet be heeled" perhaps then you will see and judge rightly.... Read Full Entry  - Category: Eschatology (end times)  - 4 Comments (view first comment - view last comment by tommae)  - Total Views: 502 Today's Laodicean Church Posted by:  penguin   (Posted: 01/04/08 3:20pm) Recently, I have been thinking about what has been going on in the world and especially how the church of today is doing. That has led me to study the seven churches mentioned in Revelation 2 and 3. What strikes me about this church age is that many churches seem to be similar to the Laodicean church. That concerns me because Christians who attend these churches are not getting grounded in the Christian teaching. Let me begin with the passage of Revelation 3:15-18. Here Jesus is telling John to write to angel of this church. "I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! So, because you are lukewarm--neither hot nor cold--I am about to spit you out of my mouth. You say, 'I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.' But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitpoor, blind and naked. I counsel you to buy from me gold refined in the fire, so you can become rich; and white clothes to wear, so you can cover your shameful nakedness; and salve to put on your eyes, so you can see."... Read Full Entry  - Category: Eschatology (end times)  - 2 Comments (view first comment - view last comment by kraftykatz)  - Total Views: 268 Global Religion Posted by:  drtimgladu   (Posted: 12/29/07 8:12pm) It may seem difficult to imagine the world united under one ruler and one religion, especially with the bloody ethnic battles taking place in the world today. However, the violence caused by religious and cultural conflicts could in fact be the catalyst that brings about drastic change. The desire for world peace, the increased secularization of the Western world, and the restriction of religious freedom in the name of political correctness and human rights, could all pave the way for the emergence of a global religion. The Anti-Christ will come to power and will appear as the savior of the world. I know that we as Christians will be ruptured. I also know that God has given us the Bible to offer a warning to all men. We need to continue to witness to those that are lost. I believe that we as Christians need to be studying what is to come more and more. If we understand what is to come and the horrors of the Tribulation it will make our mission clear and concise. What is happening in the US and the world is Christians are letting those in the minority speak for us. We have reason to... Read Full Entry  - Category: Eschatology (end times)  - 2 Comments (view first comment - view last comment by twayne)  - Total Views: 252 Thy Kingdom Will Come Posted by:  tchable   (Posted: 09/18/07 12:25pm) Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done On earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, As we forgive our debtors. And do not lead us into temptation, But deliver us from the evil one. For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen. Jesus spoke to Israel telling them of His desire to gather them together as a hen does her brood placing them under her wings for comfort and protection, but they refused Him. Because of this Jerusalem would be destroyed and they would be scattered among all nations in the world. Jesus said they would not see Him again until the time when they say, "Blessed is he that comes in the name of the Lord." My friends that day is near. A landmark day occurred in 1948 when Israel once again became a sovereign nation. Since then Jews from all around the world have been returning to Israel. However, troubling times are coming before they see their King again. There will be years of tribulations and wars such as the world has not seen... Read Full Entry  - Category: Eschatology (end times)  - 0 Comments  - Total Views: 103 The Prophesy of the Popes Posted by:  tchable   (Posted: 09/16/07 9:16am) Have you heard of the Prophesy of the Popes? This prophesy is credited to Saint Malachy (Maelmhaedhoc O Morgair, 1094 - Nov 2, 1148). It is reported he was summoned to Rome in 1139 by Pope Innocent II. During this time he received a vision revealing a list of popes to come until the end of time. Reportedly the manuscript of this vision which identifies the final 112 popes was then placed in the Roman Archive and forgotten about until their rediscovery in 1590. The identification of the popes to come was composed of mystical titles which some say actually do identify the successive popes through the centuries either by their accomplishments, their birth, coat of arms, or through other means. According to the prophesy the pope to follow Pope Benedict XVI will be Peter the Roman (Petrus Romanus) which may either be an actual name or a name he chooses to take or in some other way identifies who he is. This pope is to reign during the final persecution of the Roman Catholic Church and will feed his sheep in many tribulations. When these things are finished the city on seven hills will be destroyed then comes the... Read Full Entry  - Category: Eschatology (end times)  - 0 Comments  - Total Views: 136 Destination Heaven - All Aboard? Posted by:  tchable   (Posted: 09/03/07 8:26pm) We serve a kind and loving God who is full of grace and tender mercies. Our God is not a God who would allow His children who love and believe in Him to be subject to His wrath which He is pouring out on the unjust. Noah was a man who loved God. Although Noah had to endure the evil world around him when it was time for God to pass judgment on the world, God saved Noah and his family out of it. Lot was a righteous man. Even though he had to endure the evil world around him when it was time for God to pass judgment on Sodom and Gomorrah, God saved Lot out of it. The truth of the scripture is that Sodom and Gomorrah could not be destroyed until the righteous was taken out. We are the Bride of Christ. Even though we have to endure the evil world around us when it comes time for God to punish the unjust, God will save His people out of it. There are many who believe it would be unfair of God to take the church out of this world before the tribulation years because of all... Read Full Entry  - Category: Eschatology (end times)  - 2 Comments (view first comment - view last comment by literalword)  - Total Views: 162 Bible and a calculator part 2 Posted by:  twayne   (Posted: 09/02/07 1:14pm) Have you ever wondered what the events depicted in the Book of Revelation would look like from the ground up? In the Bible, Revelation bounces back and forth between the events in heaven and the events on earth. We can section off the portions that deal with people on the earth and look at the events from their perspective. God gives us some hard numbers to work with concerning human death rates during that period of time. According to the U.S. Government the current world population is a little over 6.6 billion people. The official estimate is that by the year 2050 world population will be approaching 10 billion. [source: www.census.gov] In order to make any kind of calculations we must make some assumptions. The working number my research has generated is that about 1/3 of the world's population identifies themselves as Christians (about 2.2 billion people). I suspect this is a highly inflated number, but since it is the one we have I'll go with it. Now, lets assume the rapture (catching away) occur pre-tribulation and takes place tonight. Let's also assume that all 2.2 billion people go to meet the Lord in the air. That leaves 4.4 billion... Read Full Entry  - Category: Eschatology (end times)  - 0 Comments  - Total Views: 238 Distractions, Confusion, and Apathy...... Posted by:  greg48   (Posted: 09/01/07 4:31pm) We all know what caused the world to be destroyed by water and why Noah and his family were the only ones spared. We also have read why Sodom and Gomorrah were utterly devastated and removed from existence. But, have we compared the events of today to those events of the distant past. Jesus said that during the last days it would be as it was during the time of Noah. So, what is it like outside the confines of our homes and the sanctuary of our churches? All I can reveal are the things that I personally witness on a daily basis. I wonder what has become of things like modesty, good manners, and respect. I think I saw it all begin to dissolve during the "free love" era during the sixties when all these different groups started demanding "rights" and "recognition" for a variety of ideologies brought about by different leaders seeking change in society. Don't get me wrong, I believe in rights too, as long as they do not go against the will of God. Once all these rights were passed into law, things began to change drastically in the world. Now, it takes two incomes to... Read Full Entry  - Category: Eschatology (end times)  - 2 Comments (view first comment - view last comment by youaregolden)  - Total Views: 372 Heart of Evil Posted by:  tchable   (Posted: 08/18/07 12:32pm) The one who is to come known to us as the antichrist will be a personification of evil. There are some well respected Christian leaders who say when he first appears on the scene he will be a man who is evil through and through. They say that sometime after his introduction he will suffer a fatal wound and will return as the devil incarnate. People, who do not know God, will be in awe of him who was dead, yet he is alive. There are many thoughts on just who this person will be and how he will manage to draw so many into his lies and deceptions. I know for sure his identity will not be revealed until that which is restraining is removed and I know I'm part of that which is restraining, the body of Christ. Needless to say I'm sure I'll not be here when he is identified. However, I will be present, and will witness, his end. Many centuries ago the prophet Daniel shared with us the heart of the evil one who is to come in the end time. Here is some of what he said would be in the evil one‘s heart:... Read Full Entry  - Category: Eschatology (end times)  - 6 Comments (view first comment - view last comment by tchable)  - Total Views: 379 Eschatology Part Two: The Literal vs. Liberal Myth Posted by:  thehalpinatorlives   (Posted: 07/07/07 10:36am) I'm still not not finished with my paper for Scriptures class (I'm writing over the Seventy-Sevens passage in Daniel - it's a complicated passage), but I'm writing this next blog post anyways because if I don't do it now it won't happen for another 2 weeks. I grew up in a very conservative background, and I used to think that everything in the Bible had to be taken "literally." This was all that I knew. If we don't take the Bible literally, then we run the risk of spiritualizing the texts and not taking them seriously - or so I thought. This is an understandable concern, but it is an unnecessary concern. And here's why... The first issue in this regard revolves around the inspiration of scripture and how we interpret scripture. For many, if the Bible is truly the perfect inspired Word of God, then we have to take it literally because if it was not meant to be taken literally then we would not be able to really understand it. And if God authored the Bible, then He would write so that we could understand it. Tim LaHaye, for example, writes in his Unveiling Revelation that the rule... Read Full Entry  - Category: Eschatology (end times)  - 9 Comments (view first comment - view last comment by kraftykatz)  - Total Views: 469 Eschatology Part One: Hello All Posted by:  thehalpinatorlives   (Posted: 06/24/07 11:33pm) Hello all, I'm new to this particular blogsite. It looks interesting, and I'm excited about being a part of this internet community. I have a paper that I have to write for class this week, but after I'm finished I will be posting a series of entries on eschatology and reading apocalyptic literature. My goal is not to be controversial, but I do want to offer a different perspective than what I have seen so far on this website. Hopefully, we can generate some important conversation concerning these issues because I think it is an important theological topic as eschatology seems to play an important role in Christian life and practice. Often times, the way in which we view the "end times" dictates the the way we practice evangelism, the way we pray, the way we live, even the way we vote, and so on and so forth. Again, my goal will never be to ridicule anyone for having a particular viewpoint. My goals in these posts are twofold: to (a) start dialogue about important issues concerning eschatology and (b) inform people who simply do not know about the particular view of apocalyptic literature which I will posit. My second... Read Full Entry  - Category: Eschatology (end times)  - 3 Comments (view first comment - view last comment by thehalpinatorlives)  - Total Views: 359 Busy studying the book of Revelation. Posted by:  godsgal   (Posted: 06/21/07 11:21pm) Im busy studying the book of Revelation right now! Its very interesting! I am really enjoying it. Im using the Finnis Dake Bible its really cool! Im by chapter 5 right now. Wow the throne room of God is very interesting with the 24 elders of the sanhedrin and the 4 living creatures. The 4 living creatures here is different than the 4 cherubims in Ezekiel. And they are much different than ordinary angels. They are very unique and constantly worship and fall prostrate before God! Its so cool! Also the 24 elders of the heavenly sanhedrin is very interesting because I learned that they are actually raptured saints! So right now there is not 24 elders in the throne room until the rapture takes place. I never knew that until now when I started to study Revelation! Thats pretty cool! And the history of the 7 churches are very interesting because of where they come from, what they did, was God pleased with them or not, how did they react to Johns letter to them from God. Its all very interesting! I encourage all of you to make a study of the book of Revelation because right now we... Read Full Entry  - Category: Eschatology (end times)  - 2 Comments (view first comment - view last comment by sahm731)  - Total Views: 370 Finished the Project (almost)! Posted by:  reved   (Posted: 06/20/07 5:34am) Well, the study of Revelation is completed...almost. I'm calling it "The Beginner's Guide to the Book of Revelation". While the Sr. Pastor is away on sabbatical, I'll be teaching it on Sunday evenings. I say that it is almost done because I still have to make some small edits and complete my outline/notebook handout and finish up the power point presentation that goes along with it. The review of Revelation was an eye-opener for me. Throughout the study I was impressed by the fact that there will be people that will be allowed to accepted Christ during the tribulation. Sooo....I wondered. Some people today choose to live their lives with secular gusto, even knowing that the message of God is out there waiting for them to accept it. Will they have a second chance? According to Revelation, there is a multitude of people that will be saved, however, they are not sealed (like the 144,000) and have to endure tribulation like the others. Difference is, they will reside in the New Jerusalem with God. So, if you encounter a person "on the fence" with the excuse he/she can wait...tell them, "When the Lord returns for the faithful ones, it's too... Read Full Entry  - Category: Eschatology (end times)  - 5 Comments (view first comment - view last comment by reved)  - Total Views: 303 Where's the Watch and be Ready? Posted by:  ihs147   (Posted: 06/10/07 8:57am) As a deep evangelical Christian for 32 years, I have been struck with the ever increasing endtime events that are currently unfolding. It seems that 2007 is a pivotol year and may see major changes. The Presidential election seems unpresidented on whos running. We will probably have a choice between a Christian hating Female and liberal unethical man (or maybe a member of a false cult). What a choice! The Democrats are selecting a realy weird list of candidates to run. Never have I seem such an inexperienced and suspicous bunch. My interest in Prophecy seems to be growing and I have found several sites worth checking out for the serious watchers. They are ebacprophecy.com, watch.org, bible-prophecy.com. They have other links to help you find information. So much is happening, but many Christians have forgot Jesus' command to "watch and be ready" especially for the anti-Christ. The ebacprophecy,com site has the best analysis on that issue. Not so vague and general. They spell out a list of possibles that are not silly like some sites. Any thoughts out their on when and who?... Read Full Entry  - Category: Eschatology (end times)  - 2 Comments (view first comment - view last comment by gabbiebaby)  - Total Views: 281 Are we living in the last days? Posted by:  onfire4jesus