| Author | Message | ||
| Jim02 Registered user Username: Jim02 Post Number: 795 Registered: 5-2007 |
Former SDA like myself use to filter daily events and trends in the SDA mindset, the EGW profile of prophecy. Even now, it haunts me. I wonder, did she get anything at all right? Were some things sure bets? Were some predictions a matter of special insights or simply guess work? Predictions , much like astrology, tend to be vague and wide open to variable interpretations. Some can be made to fit many situations. Some of the younger workers at my place of employemnt will make these comments about some popular source and they think there is validity to it. A new one is this 2012 scenario as well as a movie called 2012 coming out. My main inquiry becomes, when these young fellas start asking questions about prophecy, many of them are unchurched and are wide open to just about any story that sounds mysterious and impressive enough. Strangely enough, they don't want to read the Bible or even refer to it. It is not cool, not unique enough. So what does a Christian say or do in these situations? Do we even have a prophetic position? Do we know what to expect? Who's version is correct? Then there is that old SDA filter running in the back ground. The key teaching check lists. Among them: Persecution of Christians. SDA Christians, Sabbath Keepers being persecuted. Sunday Laws Failure of Mines and Real Estate in the economy. The Orwellian issue of National ID and paperless money, to wit, no man may buy or sell etc... All these and more. What do we do with these things? Do we even have a position or is this a hot potato and best left unspoken? Jim02 | ||
| Animal Registered user Username: Animal Post Number: 383 Registered: 7-2008  |
A prophetic position?? Sure do !!!...God knows the end from the beginning. All future events are in His capable hands. No need for us to be too concerned for the final events on planet earth. Jesus said to " seek ye first the kingdom of God". A person could understand all the prophecies of the Bible, but without the new birth such knowledge would profit them nothing. As christians, prophecy need not be our concern. Our focus is on Christ and helping others to come to know Him as we do. I trust God to run the Universe. His wisdom far excels mine. So relax and enjoy some rootbeer and a bag of popcorn. His faithfulnees will never disappoint us . ....Animal...God has the whole worlds in His hands !!! | ||
| Flyinglady Registered user Username: Flyinglady Post Number: 6291 Registered: 3-2004  |
Jim, I think the same as Animal: God knows the end from the beginning and I do not. So, I will leave it up to Him and I know that whatever happens, He will take care of me and all His children. One of the first things I gave up when I left adventism was the right to have all the answers. It is ok to say I do not know. Relax, have a root beer or a diet coke as I am having right now and some guacamole. Our awesome God does have the whole world in His hands. The best place for it. Diana L | ||
| Jim02 Registered user Username: Jim02 Post Number: 796 Registered: 5-2007 |
Well, I did have some pizza this evening with my youngest son.  I am not catching the ball for another fretting cycle. Anymore these days, there are just too many things happening to keep up with it. So why even start? The thing is , Revelation is part of the Bible. I don't think we should ignore it. On the other hand, other than being aware and familiar with the text. This is another area of endless debates and conjectures. I guess the main thing I was getting at was, when people express an interest in such things, it seems that we should have something to say from a Christian perspective. Especially to the unchurched and unread. Secondly, as with the rest of the bible. Every book matters. It has a purpose. I do believe that Revealtion holds many specific details and provides us with great expectation giving both hope,comfort and reassurance. It points to our collective futures. Jim02 | ||
| Flyinglady Registered user Username: Flyinglady Post Number: 6293 Registered: 3-2004 |
Revelation is part of the Bible, but I have not studied it in depth since I left adventism. I am not saying it is not important, but I do not know everything about it, like I did as an SDA. To me is is ok to say, I do not know, I have to study it more. Diana L | ||
| Asurprise Registered user Username: Asurprise Post Number: 594 Registered: 7-2007 |
Jim, only God knows the day or the hour. As to Sunday laws, there's nothing in the Bible to support that. It's more likely that secular humanism (which is being taught in public schools) would be more likely to gain the upper hand. Or..... what about the spread of Islam? That religion is very militant and it's spreading. If Ellen White had known more about Islam, she might have predicted a Friday law! Isn't the treasury department of the US Government considering sharia finance right now? | ||
| Animal Registered user Username: Animal Post Number: 388 Registered: 7-2008 |
Prophecy IS important. Every passage of Scripture IS important. But what do people need more now than anything? They need a Saviour. They need Christ. That is my focus as I witness to others. ...Animal...lift up Jesus everyday | ||
| Colleentinker Registered user Username: Colleentinker Post Number: 9249 Registered: 12-2003  |
The future is not clearly spelled out in Revelation. To be sure, the big picture is there, but not enough that we can know explicitly how things will look in advance. I'm convinced that prophecy is partly for giving us enough advance notice that when things happen, we'll not be surprised. It'll all make sense as things happen. Revelation is the "revelation of Jesus Christ". In other words, its primary purpose is to reveal Jesus to us in His glory and victory and authority even in the crashing events that precede his coming. Colleen | ||
| River Registered user Username: River Post Number: 3944 Registered: 9-2006  |
Jim, You got my curiosity up and I went to Sony Pictures website to watch the trailer, but it wasn't much of a trailer. From what I can glean off the internet this is based on an old Mayan calender. I guess we can look for survivalist to come out of the wood work. I guess people take a little Nostradamus, a little Mayan Indian lore and a little revelations to come up with a prediction of the future. Sort of a soup of information. As you said they won't look into the Bible as that would be uncool. I do like a good special effects movie every once in a while, but I never get time to go to the theater, but when it comes out on video I might rent it. You ask "Do we even have a prophetic position?" My prophetic position is that Jesus died to save sinners and today is the acceptable day to call on the Lord. I gotta go along with Animal. These people assume there is a future at least up to 2012, but take the scenario of the office worker who was shown falling out of that twin towers building, he probably kissed his wife and left for work as usual that morning and that was the end of his world. Before I can get finished typing this it will be someones "end of their world", perhaps even mine. Perhaps ask them at work if the have assurance they will see the year 2012 or tomorrow for that matter. I would have to ask anyone if they want to stake the safety of their immortal soul on the likes of EGW, Nostradamas or the Mayan Indians or any number of other kooks that pour out of the wood work. River | ||
| River Registered user Username: River Post Number: 3945 Registered: 9-2006 |
In fact Adventism is based on the words of a kook, a nut case if you will. A bunch of nut cases sitting around an old gal who went into a swoon and comes up saying "I saw." !!! doesn't that give a person pause for thinking? It reminds me of the old night time talk show where the guy holds up a letter in front of his fore head and makes a prediction, anybody remember his name? Oh yeah, Johnny Carson, EGW would have fit right in. Ha! Ellen was the spirit of kook. River | ||
| Animal Registered user Username: Animal Post Number: 390 Registered: 7-2008 |
Actually i dont wanna know all about the future events to roll down my alley... I like surprises !!! Makes life more interesting. So..let what happens..happen !!! Christ has me in His loving arms. He can take care of me !!! ...Animal...lets party till Jesus comes !!!!! | ||
| Flyinglady Registered user Username: Flyinglady Post Number: 6299 Registered: 3-2004 |
Hebrews 13 tells us that God will never leave us or forsake us, so I am trusting the future to Him. If He wants me to know about the future, He will let me know. I am sure it will be just a message for me and not for the whole world. I will not print it out and charge for it like some one else has done. It will be only for me, like when He TOLD me to go to the church I now attend. That was just for me. He is so awesome. Diana L | ||
| Philharris Registered user Username: Philharris Post Number: 1299 Registered: 5-2007  |
As it so happens, we are going through a series on the book of Revelation at church. We ended in Chapter Eighteen today. He is my thoughts on this topic: 1. As former Adventist, our first goal should be to replace Adventist theology with what the Bible actually says and teaches. 2. Our next goal should be a gain a understanding of what is said in Revelation, with an understanding that not all things are clear at this time. 3. Numerous things said can have more than one explanation. As we near these events, it will become clear as to what Jesus is telling us. 4. Those who live during the Tribulation will be able to take comfort in knowing God knew and warned of these things. 5. It all has a happy ending….Jesus will come again and set up his kingdom. Praise God! P.S. I am with River. I suspect the Church will not be involved. We have the Holy Spirit who will never leave us. The Tribulation is a time when God removes the restraining power of the Holy Spirit. But, as with other opinions, I could be wrong on this. On one thing I am sure…Jesus will soon return. Phil | ||
| 8thday Registered user Username: 8thday Post Number: 620 Registered: 11-2007  |
I concur with everyone above. My view of Revelation/prophecy/end times, from an undeducated, simple-minded point of view! ha. First of all, the book of Revelation says that you are blessed for just reading it, not for understanding it! =) Daniel predicts that in the end, some will have understanding and instruct many - and I know many people think that applies to them! ha. I personally don't think any Christian sect or teacher has it completely figured out. I read Revelation often, just to keep it all in my mind in heart, so when it comes time to really understand and recognize what God is doing, through the leading of His Spirit, and not my own intellect or wisdom - I will be better able to see it. When I look at the patterns of prophecy in the OT, especially those concerning Jesus' first coming - only those who had their eyes opened by the Holy Spirit were able to discern who He was - and even then, God had left a great deal of mystery to the nature of his first mission. After the fact, when Jesus opened up the scriptures and showed them how it all pointed to Him, then they were able to see. For us looking back, the prophecies are an amazing testimony us that God ordained and brought to pass all that He said. It gives us proof that Jesus was who He claimed to be. I personally believe Revelation will be much the same. We know it's something big, but not sure how it will all play out. I trust God will teach us and explain what we need when we need it - and until then we are told to keep watch, hold our positions, advance the kingdom, and know that at the core of everything, we have Jesus - it is about the full revelation of HIM, and for His glory. Sondra | ||
| Philharris Registered user Username: Philharris Post Number: 1307 Registered: 5-2007 |
Sondra, Amen, you got it. Phil | ||
| Flyinglady Registered user Username: Flyinglady Post Number: 6309 Registered: 3-2004 |
Sondra, That is how I understand Revelation also. Diana L | ||
| 8thday Registered user Username: 8thday Post Number: 623 Registered: 11-2007 |
I'm so undeducated, I can't even spell it!!! hahaha. I keep myself pretty amused. I basically said what Colleen said - I realized - just with more character - (ummm mistakes). (Message edited by 8thday on January 12, 2009) |
