First and foremost, I don't consider myself to be christian. At one time, when I was younger, this all made sense to me. But I got older and started to question everything. And I apologize for the disjointed thoughts...its been a long day.
I've been recently been reading the bible (mainly new testament) and some of the things I am reading is bugging me. I've read a lot of things about "the end of times" and watching global news I guess you could say I am "seeing the signs". However, I have a question....the answer eludes me.
Reading a lot of things in Revelations and all other books dealing with the end of time.....Why does God go through such an elaborate process before he just "ends it"? Am I interpreting it wrong? The way I am reading it, it seems like
God does this...people die
God does that...people die
If you don't love and follow God....you will die (over and over for eternity but not really dying).
This whole thing goes on and on. I can't even begin to try and put a time period to it all.
I guess what I am getting at is this. Out of all the "End of time" prophecies....is God doing all this horrible things or is he just showing the prophets of what us people cause? I wish I knew more of the bible by memory to show some scripture about what I'm talking about. Take the part in revelations where it talks about the Mark of the Beast. If I don't take the mark, I won't be able to buy/sell things. If I do take the mark, I will burn in hell for all eternity.
I have a family that I am responsible for. I would, not for a second, make my children or family starve for anything. Am I literally supposed to simply "have faith" and potentially watch my family starve to death?
That's just the tip of the iceberg for me too. If God is doing all this just to prove a point....why? Why doesn't he just end it all? Why are we supposed to suffer before his return?
I've been recently been reading the bible (mainly new testament) and some of the things I am reading is bugging me. I've read a lot of things about "the end of times" and watching global news I guess you could say I am "seeing the signs". However, I have a question....the answer eludes me.
Reading a lot of things in Revelations and all other books dealing with the end of time.....Why does God go through such an elaborate process before he just "ends it"? Am I interpreting it wrong? The way I am reading it, it seems like
God does this...people die
God does that...people die
If you don't love and follow God....you will die (over and over for eternity but not really dying).
This whole thing goes on and on. I can't even begin to try and put a time period to it all.
I guess what I am getting at is this. Out of all the "End of time" prophecies....is God doing all this horrible things or is he just showing the prophets of what us people cause? I wish I knew more of the bible by memory to show some scripture about what I'm talking about. Take the part in revelations where it talks about the Mark of the Beast. If I don't take the mark, I won't be able to buy/sell things. If I do take the mark, I will burn in hell for all eternity.
I have a family that I am responsible for. I would, not for a second, make my children or family starve for anything. Am I literally supposed to simply "have faith" and potentially watch my family starve to death?
That's just the tip of the iceberg for me too. If God is doing all this just to prove a point....why? Why doesn't he just end it all? Why are we supposed to suffer before his return?