Here is a post I made in another thread that I think is worth discussing:
"I think it is wiser to let go of the 42 months thing. I believe that it is a symbolic time that looks 'back' at when Antiochus Epiphanes oppressed the Jews for their faith. However, paired with Rev 11:2, it would be among the Gentiles (times of the Gentiles, Luke 21:24).
Anyway, the global financial crisis, paired up with our insatiable craving for more wealth and possessions drives a point home that we are in the era of Laodicea (etymology meaning 'the people rule', same as democracy), in which Christ said, "As many as I love, I rebuke. Therefore, be zealous and repent." I believe that the trumpets will be our rebuke, while they weaken the nations and announce the glorious and triumphant return of Jesus.
I believe that we have far less time than we think we do. I think that we should stop looking for a temple to be built, an antichrist to start a treaty, and a seven year tribulation. Those ideas very well could be scripture being quoted to fit a preconception that the Bible doesn't strongly support. "
Could we have it all wrong? I think mainstream Christian eschatologists do have it wrong. Now, I often see many eschatologists looking at Bible prophecy in the guidelines of those doctrines, meaning that people read things with preconceptions about what is possible and isn't possible. I think that, since we live in a successful era of science, we should use the scientific method to formulate hypothesis about prophecy without viewing them in light of preconceptions. We could get far more accurate interpretations, IMO.
"I think it is wiser to let go of the 42 months thing. I believe that it is a symbolic time that looks 'back' at when Antiochus Epiphanes oppressed the Jews for their faith. However, paired with Rev 11:2, it would be among the Gentiles (times of the Gentiles, Luke 21:24).
Anyway, the global financial crisis, paired up with our insatiable craving for more wealth and possessions drives a point home that we are in the era of Laodicea (etymology meaning 'the people rule', same as democracy), in which Christ said, "As many as I love, I rebuke. Therefore, be zealous and repent." I believe that the trumpets will be our rebuke, while they weaken the nations and announce the glorious and triumphant return of Jesus.
I believe that we have far less time than we think we do. I think that we should stop looking for a temple to be built, an antichrist to start a treaty, and a seven year tribulation. Those ideas very well could be scripture being quoted to fit a preconception that the Bible doesn't strongly support. "
Could we have it all wrong? I think mainstream Christian eschatologists do have it wrong. Now, I often see many eschatologists looking at Bible prophecy in the guidelines of those doctrines, meaning that people read things with preconceptions about what is possible and isn't possible. I think that, since we live in a successful era of science, we should use the scientific method to formulate hypothesis about prophecy without viewing them in light of preconceptions. We could get far more accurate interpretations, IMO.