The Beginning of the End pt 1

Preamble

Before I just jump right into the topic at hand, I feel it necessary to discuss (somewhat more seriously) my purpose for this blog. I mentioned previously that the point of my blogging was for Eschatology-related discussion. That obviously leaves a lot on the table. So much so, that I have decided to break this up into two separate blog entries so that the information is more easily digestible. No worries though, I promise to post the main topic I mentioned in my last blog very soon.

First, I'll uphold my promise to define Eschatology for any reader who may have never heard the term. It is the study of Biblical Prophecy, specifically related to "The End Times"

Before you think, "Oh, this is some End of Days/Apocalypse nut", please understand that I believe the "End Days" started the moment Christ ascended into heaven leaving his disciples to continue on with his work. His work is what we know as the great commission.

In regards to the start of the End of Days,

Hebrews 1:2 But in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom he made the universe. (emphasis mine)

If he has spoken to us, what has he said?

Matthew 28:19-20 Therefore, go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. And teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age. (emphasis mine)

Seems simple enough to me. If we are and have been in the Last Days, then we should be doing all we can to complete the task given to us. That is the point of Prophecy. Not to frighten or to sensationalize or to confuse. But rather to keep us on track. That is why my first post is, my first post.

I do not believe there is any conspiracy to bring about something that was prophesied to happen by God thousands of years ago. Even if there were, that's how it was always going to happen. With that in mind, when you think (as I do) that there are a great many signs which point to these last days as an escalating certainty much like the signs that tell you "Winter is coming", you can make yourself ready so that you are not taken by the storms that are inevitably coming.

Some people do try to make everything out to be a sign which can disconnect you from the point of the signs, and some people ignore them altogether which is akin to putting your head in the sand. I like to fall somewhere in between and hopefully understand the times we are living in and what might it all mean for us. If the Last Days started 2000 years ago, we should be looking for the signs that point to the end of the last days, not the start as so many are wont to do. Discernment is the key. Don't be fooled by anyone.

2 Timothy 2:15 Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth. (emphasis mine)

Whether you know it or not, there are a vast number of blogs, websites, books, and videos on this topic. Some by very well known and respected Theologians, and some not. Why anyone would take the time to read and care about what I have to say or contribute to the conversation is not up to me to say. It seems that even Hollywood is getting in on the action as demonstrated by the many TV shows of an Apocalyptic nature. This seems to me one more sign that something is coming. All of mankind can feel it, but how we react is what is important.

For my part, I'm doing this primarily for myself. I (at any given moment) have a great many ideas floating around in my head relating to this topic in general, but rarely do I have an opportune moment to discuss them with anyone even remotely interested. By the time I would, I have usually forgotten what it was I was thinking about, or moved on to some other idea. In hopes of getting these thoughts out so as to spur thinking and conversation (even if only with myself) I figured it would be a good idea to blog them out. If you're reading this, please take anything I say with a grain of salt. If anything I put forward causes an interest and desire to study this topic, then I have done my job.

More formalities

What I am not.

1. Pastor, Minister, Preacher, Bishop, Priest, or any other kind of clergy. 
2. I hold no degrees in Theology, Ancient Languages of the Bible or any other such related (and appropriate) areas of study. 

I actually have a degree in Technology Project Management, but that doesn't really apply here. What I do have is

1. An intense interest and desire to know and understand the times we live in regarding
1. How it relates to Biblical Prophecy yet to be fulfilled and 
2. Of God's mechanisms for completing his objectives. 

This is an area that I have been studying for 10 years or so and am no closer to really understanding than when I first started. When I first began researching "The End Times" I had already developed some pretty strongly held opinions based only on a fictional book series and a very cursory instruction from my Pastor while growing up. I'm happy to say that after a decade of study, I have far fewer opinions than when I began, and the ones I do have I don't hold onto with much conviction. I say happy, because I hope that

1. It is a sign of humility and
2. Anyone who says they know exactly how something that has yet to happen will happen has only fooled themselves into believing in a wish

 Those last two points about what makes me happy might be because of the first two points I made about what I am not, but I digress.

In regards to the last point made,  my way of thinking and of discussing  is always to ask more questions when there doesn't appear to be a simple answer. I follow a more rhetorical style of debating and believe that while anyone might read my blog and agree with my ideas, unless they have come to their own conclusion by way of their own internal struggle with the presented information, it won't stand up to any type of challenge and may be easily replaced by any other idea that sounds more pleasing. I like to believe this is the way that Christ talks to us. The truth is almost never what we want it to be and there is a saying about why people will believe a lie.

A book series by Terry Goodkind, states a rules named "The Wizards First Rule".

It states that people believe a lie either because 

1. They want it to be true or
2. They are afraid it is true

From now on, I'll call this "The Prophets First Rule". The Apostle Paul covered this, and I'll get to it soon.

What I try to do is ask God the hard questions (I may not want answered). Hopefully I'll be patient enough to allow him to answer, and to be willing to accept it even if I don't like it.

Currently I'm still in the asking phase. I'll let you know if I get any clear answers. 

For the record, my personal belief is that God appreciates our taking the time to wrestle with this (and any questions we may have) and uses it as a way to get us to lean on him for guidance and understanding, and to trust that he will provide the answers as we need them. If we are quick to rush to an answer of our own, then we might think that we do not need God. When has that ever worked out well for us?

I'll leave us here for now, feeling like I have explained myself a little bit better, and I hope I have piqued your interest enough to continue reading. I will try and make my posts a bit more straight forward than the last (since my wife says it was very confusing) while maintaining my ever charming and humorous style.

Tetelestai

Properly Pontificating Pretense

Preface

In sticking with my "Modus Operandi" of being completely spontaneous and non-sequitur, (and perhaps even a little supercilious) I'm writing this blog as my first attempt at being a theological commentator of something so completely subjective (and moo) that to for me to even offer an opinion is a little bit like, well a cow's opinion I suppose.

3 points to make at this early point in my blog.

        1. Yes, that was the longest run-on sentence you've ever read.

        2. No, it wasn't on purpose, I just noticed it.

        3. Yes, I'm too lazy to fix it.

In my defense, words inside of parentheses (and quotes) don't count.

A forward

I've heard that it’s (almost) always a bad idea to write sarcasm in email (and probably sanctimonious blogs). For reasons being that those who read it may not realize it as such and falsely assume you’re being a bully. In this case, either: 

1.      No one has ever read anything by Dean Koontz,

or

2.      Those writing the sarcasm really are mean.

Just so you know, I'm a very nice person (just ask my cat) and Dean Koontz is one of my most favorite authors. But, just in case that means nothing to you, there are two things that should be considered when reading my blog.

1.      It is important for you dear reader to remember that when I am waxing philosophical about ideas which I can claim absolutely no formal knowledge of and/or enlightenment from on high, I will undoubtedly find it necessary to apply heavily sarcasm layered analogies and metaphors in order to make myself sound more learned and thus the authority on whatever opinions I am espousing.

2.      I really like long run-on sentences.

You have been warned.

Getting down to business. Maybe.

I believe the key to being a well-respected theological commentator is the ability to "properly pontificate pretense". This is the skill to righteously claim or imply a deep and personal emotion or observation in a way considered annoyingly pompous, dogmatic and not at all supported by fact. As a blogger, the most important thing to remember is that most people reading either:

1.   Don't care

or

2.  Don't know half as much about whatever it is you are:

a.   Obtusely (annoyingly insensitive) describing to the

b.   Philistines (those who despise or dis value art, beauty, intellect, and content)

The second most important thing to remember when ascending to the heights of Super-Bloggerdom is to completely and consciously ignore the first most important thing you were supposed to remember.

A distant third is to make superfluous lists of items. It not only makes you look well organized, but:

1.   Implies you have so much knowledge on the subject that it:

a.   Literally overflows into a stream of  random and sometimes non-related topics which:

                                                                        i.    Serves to keep your readers slightly off balance and:

1.   Incapable of formulating well-reasoned arguments to your main points.

A preview of whats to come. Definitely.

So, now that  I have issued all of the proper disclaimers  I'll give you just a little taste of whats to come. Be warned though, the following contains no sarcasm or anything even remotely funny. At least for now.

For my next (and first serious) blog, I'll be focusing on 3 particular verses in the Bible, and how I believe they relate to Eschatological matters. 

John 14:6

Jesus answered "I am the way the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me."

Romans 1:16

"For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile."

2nd Timothy 3:5

"Having a form of Godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away."

See. Nothing amusing about that at all.

~Tetelestai~