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The fetishization of the Apocalypse continues.

3000 years and still going strong.

APf

Reminds me of an earlier conversation I had on this topic:

With such a clear lesson before us in the Gospel, how is it possible to mischaracterize so many good, godly people as “glorifying Satan” simply because they believe the prophetic teaching of Jesus, that there will be a great darkness that comes before the dawn?

Actually, the prophetic teachings of Jesus were addressed to those who were listening to him, who would actually live to see his warnings come to pass. For us to embrace as a promise to us the curses Jesus pronounced against that generation of apostate Israel is a real buzz-kill! Since our Lord spoke truly and prophetically, His Words came to pass within the time period He assigned to them. The generation He spoke of was the generation He spoke to -- and to claim otherwise is to violate normal Greek grammar, as it applies every where else in the NT. As one who believes in the literal interpretation of Rev. 1:1-3, I think "soon" means "soon," "quickly" means "quickly," "at hand" means "at hand." Apart from the future resurrection of the body that all orthodox Christians look forward to, the New Testament contains a body of FULFILLED prophecies. Things that were in the future of those who heard Jesus and the apostles, but that are in our past.

Jesus gave us these words, not to make us long for evil (and no one I know does), but to enable us to endure the evil when it will most certainly come, as nothing but a small sorrow that necessarily precedes a transition to the direct and open rule of Jesus on Earth.

But ... but ... but ... the earliest two-word creed of the early church asserted that Jesus enjoys direct and open rule on earth right now, today, from the Father's right hand. Or don't you believe that "Jesus is Lord?" He rules the earth in a manner analogous to the way He rules our lives and souls -- by His Word. As we embrace and obey it, we are blessed. People and nations who defy it, are cursed. God has set up feedback loops within history that, over generations, redound to His glory.

How does Jesus rule your life today, my dear friend? (and I do appreciate the tone of your comments) Do you see Him visibly before you 24/7, telling you when to pee, when to eat, what to wear, when to make love to your wife? When you are rejoicing in the holy marital bed, is Jesus sitting in the armchair in your bedroom grinning at you and your spouse's marital arts? Or does His rule over us require us to walk by faith, and not by sight? And to thereby grow, over time, in maturity and grace?

Why should He not rule nations the same way? With the Sword that comes out of His mouth, His Word, applied in faith by fathers, pastors, jurors, and magistrates?

Whereas those who have been led to believe everything will just start getting better and better through human efforts will be like those doubting disciples of Jesus, shivering in fear and disappointment when the darkness rises, however temporarily, because they will think the dream is really dead, when it is not.

Actually, it is our job to proclaim and obey God's Word. It is His job to confirm His word, at times "with signs following." Each of us, applying our best efforts to our varied vocations, makes the world a better place. Else, why bother going to work? The godly man's family is one of his most powerful tools for advancing the Kingdom. As we have and home-school our kids, we equip them to brighten the corners where God puts them. As we open up our dinner tables to unbelieving friends, the caliber of our family life displays the gospel in action, and awakens in the elect a yearning to have a piece of that action.

One more thing: It is horrendous to me the way Christians can scratch at each other here.

Still, bad doctrine is a harsh taskmaster. If I saw someone exhorting the Christian parents of diabetic children to throw away their insulin, I'd cry the alarm. When I see people exhorting Christians to throw away the future God wants them to believe, work, and hope for, I cry the alarm. Those who practice prognostication promote a fatalistic attitude towards God's plan for our lives, and undercut the morale, and morality, of God's people. They are doing a wicked work, they are doing harm to God's dear children, they should be reproved.

Still, you are right, I should try to find kinder ways to reprove!