Who else besides me....

[Raven]

Can see how prophecies in revelation can now come to pass? For instance all the prophecies regarding the armies on horses! And the ones with people collecting wood from the rubble. With the oil thing escalating out of control, I can now see how the blood can rise to the horses bridle! Can you?

[Clint]

Yes. I sure can. We seem to be sliding closer and closer to that day.

[Ted]

Actually the book of Revelation is akin to a political cartoon except in writing. Its references are totally in relation to the Roman Empire at the time that John, whomever he was, wrote Revelation. "Introducing the New Testament: Its Literature and Theology. by Achtemeier, Green and Thompson.

Shalom
Ted

[Raven]

Ted honey.....thats bollocks.
You discount absolutely everything that has to do with prophecy in that book! Yet you profess to believe in a risen Christ that was prophesied throughout. Yet you refuse to believe a single word he says!
Maybe one day, you'll really let Him speak to you.

[Raven]

Originally Posted by Clint

Yes. I sure can. We seem to be sliding closer and closer to that day.

I dont know about you Clint.....but it still amazes me at how accurate and spot on those prophesies are. And they were made so long ago. Maybe it's just that we are so predictable.

[canaan]

Originally Posted by Raven

Ted honey.....thats bollocks.
You discount absolutely everything that has to do with prophecy in that book! Yet you profess to believe in a risen Christ that was prophesied throughout. Yet you refuse to believe a single word he says!
Maybe one day, you'll really let Him speak to you.

now Raven ... don't you know that "Achtemeier, Green and Thompson" are far more credible than any of the Apostles? Eye witness accounts should never be held in higher regard than the opinions of 3 random guys who read their writings 1900 years later.
Ted read a book that said "Its references are totally in relation to the Roman Empire at the time that John, whomever he was, wrote Revelation." So, it must be true!

[Raven]

LOL! Canaan, even though I hold ted in the highest regard, I thoroughly disagree with his theosophy! I truly wish he could see with his heart and not his head.

[Ted]

Unfortunately Jesus was not prophesy fulfilled but after his death and resurrection the deciples and the evangelists came to the conclusion that Jesus was indeed the Messiah. Thus they went to the OT to seek out prophesies that seemed to point to him and wrote the story up as such. It is called Midrash.

Canaan

There are many scholars who hold to the same belief as those three. I simply quote those three because I believe in supporting what I say with those who have done the research. Even J P Philips who completed a translation of the NT has said exactly the same thing.

Instead of trying to see everything in the Bible as historically true it is time to take the ancient Hebrews approach who were not concerned about "did it happen" but "what does it mean".

Shalom
Ted

[Ted]

I offer the following only to show that I am not alone in any way in my beliefs.

I have recently been appointed by my Bishop to the Eucharistic Ministry. Our local clergy have asked me to present information to the congregation on the modern approach to theology and understanding of the Bible.

Shalom
Ted

[actionfigurestepho]

Originally Posted by Raven

Ted honey.....thats bollocks.
You discount absolutely everything that has to do with prophecy in that book! Yet you profess to believe in a risen Christ that was prophesied throughout. Yet you refuse to believe a single word he says!
Maybe one day, you'll really let Him speak to you.

Actually, Raven, not all Christians believe that Revelation is a literal account of the future. In fact, most of Christ's words were parables...why would Revelation be any different from most of the other books of the New Testament? I just re-read the intro to Revelation in my own Bible and it says that "For the most part the book consists of several series of revelations and visions presented in symbolic language that would have been understood by Christians of that day, but would have remained a mystery to all others." Because at the time Christians were being so widely persecuted they had to write things "symbolically" to keep them from being destroyed. A lot of earlier Christians used a code to determine who was a disciple and who wasn't. So was Revelation political? Was it a parable? Is there any way to know for sure? That's open to interpretation. (The reference was from the New English Version "The Good News" Bible, which is a liberal study Bible.)

There are a lot of different beliefs even among Christians...don't discount someone else's just because it's different from yours! You have your fundamentalists and your liberals and your literalists and your extremists and your "born agains" and your period scholars...you get the picture!

During the world wars people also thought it was the End--fire and armies apply to history since the dawn of time.
I guess I've always believed that it doesn't really matter...we're not supposed to know (the Bible says no one WILL know) and I trust that. Those of us who practice religions will be prepared in our own way for what we believe is coming. Will that make a difference whether it comes tomorrow at lunch or in one hundred years from now?