Machholtz Comet

[Bevlina]

Here it is in a website. I believe the comet is now visible to the naked eye...

http://www.kolumbus.fi/jkald/pages/mach3.htm

and another....

http://serviastro.am.ub.es/comets/c2004Q2_eng.html

and ... another.

http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2005/05jan_machholz.htm?list595414

 

[Dak man]

I'm watching and I love looking into this. But for over 1000 years people in the church have thought that the end was near, and I agree that we think there are more disasters now because we have the technology to know in an instant what is happening anywhere around the globe.

 

[Hitch]

....

 

[xenia]

Rev. 16:8 And I looked, and behold a pale horse: and his name that sat on him was Death, and Hell followed with him. And power was given unto them over the fourth part of the earth, to kill with sword, and with hunger, and with death, and with the beasts of the earth.

Ok... let's see if I can say this without being offensive. (Pray for me!)

One of the main distinctives for Christians who follow the dispensational methodology is their claim to interpret the Bible literally. Literally. They fault us Orthodox types for not taking the Bible literally, especially the books of prophecy like Isaiah and Revelation. Yet look at this comet example given to us here, in all sincerity. Is a comet a horse, pale or otherwise? Is there an entity sitting astride this comet named Death? Is Hell, with its endless fires and unsatisfied worms, following behind? Will this comet kill with a sword?

No, the poster is not taking Rev. 16:8 literally because it can't be taken literally. It's an allegory.

I would say that no church takes the entire Bible literally or you have absurdities. ALL churches pick and choose what parts of the Bible to take literally and which parts to believe are allegorical or poetry.

 

[Hitch]

Well said X

 

[Just The Facts]

Hi xenia

There is a simple rule ......all is literal unless you are given scriptural direction to take it out of the Literal. Without scriptural direction it is the Doctrine of Men.

Here is an Example

Daniel 2:34: Thou sawest till that a stone was cut out without hands, which smote the image upon his feet that were of iron and clay, and brake them to pieces.

here the word Stone is Used...................below is the scriptural direction to take this out of the literal

44: And in the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed: and the kingdom shall not be left to other people, but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand for ever. 45: Forasmuch as thou sawest that the stone was cut out of the mountain without hands, and that it brake in pieces the iron, the brass, the clay, the silver, and the gold; the great God hath made known to the king what shall come to pass hereafter: and the dream is certain, and the interpretation thereof sure.

Always look for scriptural direction to move out of the literal.

As for the comet being a horseman.......Na don't believe that. Jesus is the one who reveals ...............Matt 24 and the prophecy on the Mount is the key to understanding the seals. They are the same events event for event.

 

[xenia]

There is a simple rule ......all is literal unless you are given scriptural direction to take it out of the Literal. Without scriptural direction it is the Doctrine of Men.

However, I don't find this rule, this permission you mention, anywhere in Scripture. Can you give me a chapter/verse that clearly explains this rule of Biblical interpretation? Cuz if you can't find this rule clearly set forth in the Bible, according to your lights, it's just a Doctrine of Men.

You have given an example that you believe proves the rule; I would like to see the rule itself.

 

[Starcrystal]

I agree with Xenia.... a green comet does not mean it's the pale horse or death or any such thing. Just like I said that even the "white horse" that Christ "rides" in Revelation 19 is often interpreted as a literal horse. Modern fundamentalists often take the archaic symbols literally when they are actually symbolic language describing something the prophet saw. In many cases they had to use the only language available to them at the time. If Joel 2:20 & Acts 2 about blood, fire, and pillars of smoke really means nuclear explosions as some believe, then we see how the only description available to Joel was blood, fire & pillars of smoke. They had no words to describe "bomb" or "nuclear." Same with 2 Kings 2 about the "chariots" and "horsemen" of heaven that come when Elijah is taken up by a whirlwind. I doubt very much there were equestrian beasts and wheeled chariots flying out of the sky. But there were some kind of swift and powerful heavenly vehicles which the writer can only describe by using terms available to him at the time.

 

[Rafael]

I don't think one thing by itself makes up proof, nor does the scripture point to just one thing, as I gave the scripture from Luke. Even one scripture does not give us the balance of scripture or tell us to quit doing the will of God in life, learning Agape love. It is just one of many things that adds to a whole. What should we do different? Each person has to decide if they are ready for the Lord's appearance, and as for me....I wouldn't mind being found doing the will of God which may be something altogether different than His will for someone else.....
God bless

Lu 21:25 And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring;

 

[Starcrystal]

Raphe,
as for me....I wouldn't mind being found doing the will of God which may be something altogether different than His will for someone else.....

Right on! Gods will for one individual may be completely different for another. rather than judging whether someone is really doing Gods will we should keep in mind the fruit produced.
And you're right, there are many "signs" near the end of the age, not just one event - that is, until Christs actual return, then we are told there will be the "sign" of his appearing in heaven.

 

[Rafael]

The Biblical Astronomy website finally came out with the January 2005 newsletter about the Macholtz comet, for those interested:

http://www.atlbible.org/astronomy/astronomy1.htm