Posted on 01/24/2002 12:12:38 AM PST by BurkeCalhounDabney
Edited on 07/12/2004 3:36:54 PM PDT by Jim Robinson. [history]
I do watch and wait at events coming out of Jerusalem, particularly having to do with the old Temple site.
Actually, the Washington Times has written several positive articles about "Left Behind."
LOL!
Oh really?
When did Jesus mention that the coming of the Son of Man was going to happen TWICE?
no man knoweth.........I think i read that somewhere before...
Matthew 24
36 But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only.
37 But as the days of Noe were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.
2 Peter 3
3 First of all, you must understand that in the last days scoffers will come, scoffing and following their own evil desires.
4 They will say, "Where is this `coming' he promised? Ever since our fathers died, everything goes on as it has since the beginning of creation."
5 But they deliberately forget that long ago by God's word the heavens existed and the earth was formed out of water and by water.
6 By these waters also the world of that time was deluged and destroyed.
7 By the same word the present heavens and earth are reserved for fire, being kept for the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men.
8 But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day.
9 The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.
10 But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything in it will be laid bare.
11 Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives
12 as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming. That day will bring about the destruction of the heavens by fire, and the elements will melt in the heat.
I think that's the context in which you should view these books. As literature... well, let's not go there. But they do make some interesting characters, they do keep the action moving, they do at least make an attempt (IMHO) to take prophetic Scripture seriously and envision how it might play out.
You have to ask what an artist set out to do. Chicago's 25 or 6 to 4 is terrible as an oratorio. But it isn't an oratorio, it's rock -- and as rock, it's one of the best. How is Normal Rockwell, as a classic painter? Or Stephen King as a Novelist (note the cap)? Or Jim Carrey, as a Shakespearean actor?
So I just don't approach the books that way, so I'm able to enjoy them... mostly. I could really wish (=do really wish) that they'd done WAY more homework on the character of ben Judah, since he's so central. (More on that available on request.) I find some plot developments lurchy and inadequately-handled (though some are, I'll confess, totally page-turningly involving). But I have read every one, and I enjoy them as a light, speculative read.
BTW, Peretti has confessed that his quality needs work, and says he's trying very hard to hone his crat. Anyone seen the fruit?
Dan
"for where the rotting carcass is, the vultures will be gathered unto it" on the surface seems to be a call to judgement and moral rot... NOT transifiguration and teleportation to a glorius state of new beginnings. Or so it has been argued.
Fact is, only God knows a lot of this stuff. Those who imply they do know what it all means, and who is represented by what symbol, and when it all occurs and the timetable for the flow of events... are usually just liars raising big money from vulnerable saints, or one of the vulnerable sheep who is in denial over their most recent shearing.
Jesus will come when HE is good and ready... in the fullness of time. Eschatology, is a waste of 'right here' 'right now'. Stewardship as a biblical principle requires that we consider the future and invest ourselves in it as a matter of accountability, not waste our days pining away for an event that may or may not ever occur in the ways we have been taught.
God is NOT in a hurry. He waited for the last 2 millenia for each believer to hear the gospel, receive it, live and beget children, grow old in His grace, nurture families and work, grow old and die in His mercy. He waited for each generation to be "saved." He waited for me. He will wait for as long as it takes for HIS table to be filled to the full.
Until God says "enough! My dinner has more than enough family members for my feast to begin," we are going to do what every faithful generation of believers have done since the beginning of time: wait, be thankful, and live our lives as God gives us the grace to live them.
The rest of all the eschatology hub-bub is primarily a means for raising money and bilking older, blue-haired, kindhearted saints out of their pensions.
Oh yes, and trying to scare the "unbelievers" and the "unchurched" into "changing their evil ways" to avoid getting beheaded or something later on. Of course new followers usually bring with them, a measure of financial support and influence, two rather tangible and useful elements for the "personal kingdom builders" amoung us.
Always follow the money.
Gathering is for judgement.
BUMP
Because it hasn't happened when it is predicted, over and over and over and over again, means that each time it has been intimated, it was a lie, used to sell books, raise money, or build a following.
Men lie ya know, even alleged religious leaders. Some deceive and others ARE deceived. Believe what you want. We need to live for right here, in the present, where God dwells with us, not in some imaginary and uncertain event for the future. While it is still called today, we need to live our lives. Planning for the future in practical terms is good stewardship. Get a job, raise your kids, love your family and friends, and face the FACT, unless there is a miracle that has not occured for 2000 years, we are ALL going to die, and most likely there will be no "magic curtain" for us, just as there has not been for the MILLIONS upon MILLIONS of beleivers who have gone on before us.
That is not a bad thing, it's a good one.
No.
Dan
(c8
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