Men and women have been waiting for the end of the world for centuries now. Over the years, I can't remember how many times I've read the world will end since the Book of Revelations was written 2000 years ago.
In the 20th century, a new type of doomster has joined the fray: the environmental doomsayer. Only these people are smarter. They claim to have science on their side.
I've always been of the opinion you could make something as ugly or as beautiful as you want. You can be pessimistic or optimistic. You can make the world look like it's about to end or you can draw it as just the beginning.
I'm not convinced, as you know, of two things: that global warming and high oil prices will destroy us and that the American empire will end in our lifetime. I was a bull when I was a broker and a bull I shall remain. You can call be delusional or naive. Or both. But that's the way it is with me. Something will happen in nature to make us all go, "Ah, the little..." and the Americans will realize that their work is not done. The Redeem Team is in Beijing but redemption and optimism seems to be a strong suit with the great republic.
A tipping point will take place somehow.
The bears and naysayers have been wrong for so long now it's amazing they still have an audience at all.
Meh. Now watch the world end tonight. Of course, the Book of Revelations and its supporters and defenders will say, "See, we told you so! We knew it!" After 2000 years your bound to be right at some point, no?
Anyway, so many smart people have tried to calculate the exact date (just like when I had stubborn clients who were convinced they had mathematically figured out the options market. They were, obviously, always wrong and usually lost money. They would then blame us for high fees and poor advice. Naturally) when the end of the world would come and so far, well...
I won't gloat.
It says here that according to a good preacher, "the ratio between eternally lost and saved would be 1 in 17 476."
I gotta say.
I like my chances.
Predicting the future from Revelation? There's a new style of preacher in Oakville, Ontario who pastors The Meeting House. With three services in its central location and one service at six other satellite locations in movie theatres across the Greater Toronto Area, it's the fastest growing church movement in Canada.
ReplyDeleteHis name is Bruxy Cavey. He teaches that instead of trying to read the books like Revelation FORWARD to determine what is GOING to happen, we should read prophecy BACKWARDS after the fact to see that God knew all along.
He uses the example of an apple seed. Tell an alien from another planet that the little seed you hold in your hand is going to grow into something that will provide food for your family, and the best he can imagine is that the seed itself grows into a giant seed. Nothing about the seed itself would ever hint at the concept of a tree.
Prophecy is like that. Stare at it all you want and you'll just see the equivalent of big seeds. But when things, "come to pass," so to speak, when the tree grows, you can look back and see if the prophet didn't have it right all along.
Paul, thanks for sharing that. Very interesting.
ReplyDeleteBut why are we using Revelations as part of Christian theology to begin with?