|
Home / Religion and Spirituality
The Sign of Signs - Who is That Fool on the Corner with the Sign about the End of the World?
By:Rev. Michael Bresciani
The Pope it is said condemned the use of the cross bow when it was first introduced. He apparently thought it could be the demise of the whole world because it was so deadly. When cannons were first invented some thought that marked the end of the world. Now we have a weapon that could bring an end to all life on the planet, the hydrogen bomb, and certainly there are people who still believe that it might yet bring about the end of civilization. Adding to this there has always been someone or some group insisting that their generation would surely be the last.
Who hasn’t seen the person wearing or carrying the sign that reads something like, Repent for the end of the world is near? Hollywood makes sure to show such people in the movies and usually they are depicted as neurotic and mentally deranged weirdoes who only need to be avoided and ignored. By now it is easy to understand why some Christians may he a little embarrassed to bring up the subject of the second coming of Christ. Add to this the fact that Jesus said that no one would know the day or the hour of his return and you have the right mix to produce the wholesale indifference that emerges among more and more of today’s believers.
The enemy certainly has been able to capitalize on these eccentric second coming enthusiasts with their spurious interpretations of scripture. But we would be foolish and remiss to allow him this victory because of the excess of a few, or our fear of embarrassment. The misinterpretation of a sign is possible with any theological position. One of the safest ways to be surer about the signs is to be patient and wait for them to unfold.
It is alright to speculate and watch as things begin to materialize but hold back on some conclusions and give God space to show us what he is doing. We must always keep in mind that some of the Jews missed the coming of their messiah because they had nailed down an exact path for his appearance without allowing that some of their speculation may not have been exactly on the mark.
For example, it was well known that messiah was to come from Bethlehem but Jesus was from Nazareth. A little research, questioning and openness could have resulted in finding the rest of the story. The birth of Christ was never meant to be a secret, and anyone making even cursory inquiries could have found out that he was actually born in Bethlehem. But many were clinging hard to their pet beliefs and would not allow themselves this knowledge. One might say that they missed salvation itself, not because they were so sinful but because they were so stubborn. They had created a formula, a viewpoint or a theory that by sheer force of time and repetition had become like an immutable law.
A lack of pliability in second coming doctrine is far more serious than rigidity in any other area of scripture. Much of eschatology is yet to unfold; being rigid about an unknown is foolishness on the level of finding moral guidance from the stories of ancient mythology. No one should think that guidance comes from make believe characters and events, unfortunately, they do! Many second coming buffs are also deriving some sort of guidance from events that haven’t occurred yet. The best answer to this dilemma is found in a single saying of the Lord Jesus concerning signs. Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled. Mt 24:34
This verse could he called, the sign of signs. It is a capstone or the key to all the events preceding the second coming of Christ. Jesus knew the second coming would not take place in his generation so it had to be some future and seemingly unspecified generation. Yet, it is specified. That generation, is the generation in which all the other signs happen together. They cannot be spread out over millennia, centuries or even more than one single generation. This sign is what qualifies all the other signs. Simply put, if all the signs are happening concurrently, that is the sign that it is the last generation, and it will culminate with the return of the Lord Jesus Christ. Here we are given a failsafe or a perfect way to keep from falling into error in today’s second coming doctrinal maze. If you haven’t checked lately, you might want to look again, because no generation in over twenty centuries has had all the signs happening at once, except this one.
Digg
del.icio.us
Blink
Stumble
Spurl
Reddit
Netscape
Furl
Article keywords: Pope, cannons, cross bow, second coming, Hollywood, theology, signs, scripture, Messiah, Bethelem, Nazareth, salvation, eschatology, Christian, books, doctrinal, speculation, generation, Christ, Jesus
Article Source: http://www.articles2k.com
Rev Bresciani is the author of two popular Christian books. He has also written dozens of articles both online and in print.
Please visit the website www.americanprophet.org
|
|
| Top Religion and Spirituality Articles |
- 1). Feng Shui Bathroom Wealth By : Mike Z. Wang
Feng Shui has tried, true, and time tested wealth strategies that integrate theories based on Feng Shui Elements. Feng Shui colors and tools such as the Feng Shui Baguato provide followers the secret keys to lasting prosperity. If you did a Feng Shui Study, you would be fascinated by the relationship Feng Shui establishes between the bathroom and wealth.
|
|
|
|
|
- 4). Differences: The Old and New Testament By : Christine Bettridge
The Bible is a Book that has two main divisions in - the Old Testament and the New Testament. Even though there are these distinct parts of the Bible - it still has only one theme - redemption. This is necessary to understand because the whole Bible revolves around this theme, and some have said that there is a scarlet thread (of blood) that runs form cover to cover.
|
- 5). Bible Road Map - Or the Road Less Traveled By : Rev. Michael Bresciani
In the last few years we have witnessed a woman who drowned her children just to keep her rich boyfriend. An ice skating competitor who had the legs of her top rival broken so she could win. We have seen a mother hire a hit man to eliminate her daughter’s competition in baton twirling championships. Another man destroyed his pregnant wife to be able to play the field, and live the life of a playboy.
|
- 6). God Has Pleasure When Christians Prosper By : Dr. Jay Snell
God did not create us and then leave us to ourselves. He is very much interested in what happens to his children, the Abrahamic Seed Group.
His interest in us caused Him to promise us healing, prosperity, family well being and salvation in the covenant He made with Abraham. (Gentile Christians are grafted into these Abrahamic blessing promises right along with Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and Israel.
|
- 7). My Prayer For Tonight By : CD Mohatta
God. Thank you for the day today. God, I tried to do everything to the best of my abilities. I may have done few things right and others wrong. Please forgive me, my mistakes and please reward me for my successes if you so desire.
God, I want to forget today and get up fresh tomorrow. I also want to forget all of my past. God, I want to love tomorrow as if it is my birthday.
|
- 8). Islam - Basic Beliefs and Concepts By : Mohamed Elsaied
Islam is the most growing religion on earth, There is more than 2 Billion humans all over the world called Muslims.
Islam Based on the Submission of human will to One God who is called in Arabic "Allah" The only One, The Superior and The Only Creator Of This Universe with no partners and all the existence under his own Control.
Islam was the religion given to Adam The first Man on Earth who was created by God, not as fallen being.
|
- 9). Why Dreaming Is the Most Altruistic Thing By : Saleem Rana
When we dream, we set into motion a whole sequence of causation that not only ennobles our own life, but that of other people as well. In fact, not to dream, not to act to fulfill it, and not to be true to yourself, is probably an act of selfishness.
|
- 10). Are we just physical beings? By : Shen Gerald
Here's something that I have discovered:
In the presence of a qigong or taiji master, a layperson may feel unusual, often discomforting sensations within their body. Some may feel giddy or develop stomachaches. Yet others may feel heat brewing within them. I know several qi-gong masters, so I am familiar with these sensations. How can somebody without.
|
| New Religion and Spirituality Articles |
- 1). Magic Spells By : John Layton
Magical spells rituals, their history and modern views on the practice of magic. A quick definition and an explanation on the origins of magic.
|
- 2). The Power Of Praise And Worship When Facing Infertility By : Veronica Anusionwu
Copyright 2006 The Lord Word On Healing Publications
Today I will love to share with you the importance of Praise and Worship in receiving your blessing from God. Do doctors tell you that you are infertile? Have low or no sperm count?
Have you been told you are too old to have a baby? If you answered "Yes," I am here to tell you that health, happiness, and a new family have all already been guaranteed to you.
|
- 3). Guided Meditation To Make You Whole By : Carl Walker
Guided meditation is a form of stress relief that is conducive to relaxing the whole body, in part by finding a way of peaceful and calming relaxation from within the body. Guided meditation may utilize soothing photographs or scenarios to enhance the ability of the mind to relax and guide the body to a point of relaxation so that the person in meditation can find a true sense of inner peace.
|
- 4). What is transpersonal psychology? By : Lana Marie Willie
Transpersonal psychology is an integration of psychology and spirituality. It includes all realms of being human, including realms that go beyond words and perceptions. It includes the awareness that we are spiritual beings living in physical bodies. When salt and water are mixed the salt is not observable and no longer takes up space but can be tasted as part of the water.
|
- 5). Mighty Warrior Crushed Enemy By : Veronique Belmar
Copyright 2006 Words of Life and Health
Hell to Shun Heaven to Gain
The streets are crowded, the shops are thriving, clubs filled with delights and pleasure. Immorality became the thing of the past and worldly pleasures took control. The sun shone, the rain poured, the wind blew, the lightning struck, the thunder roared, the earth quaked and the people rolled.
|
- 6). Did you know That Worry And Anxiety Can Lead To Infertility? By : Veronica Anusionwu
Copyright 2006 The Lord Word On Healing Publications
Worry and anxiety can lead to infertility by shutting down the body's system and causing it not to function properly.
During my years of working with couples facing infertility I discovered that many couples who faced infertility were victims of worry, anxiety, and unforgiveness. I always deal with these issues first before anything else.
|
- 7). Prevailing prayer By : David Cooper
It was September 1957, four young men began to pray regularly in a little school near Kells, Ireland. They persevered and prevailed in prayer, so someone was converted in January the next year. Following that, there was about one conversion every week. Twelve months later they had a weekly gathering of around fifty people at their meeting, and around a hundred other small prayer groups had sprung up in the area! They held a service the next year, which attracted a huge crowd, so they poured out onto the street.
|
- 8). Are We Approaching A New Era Soon? By : Shen Gerald
Unless one is living on another planet, one would have most likely sensed that our world is changing rapidly.
If you have been following my articles, you will know that I, at times, receive messages of a spiritual nature. Much of my dreams and visions had foretold personal and some global level occurrences.
The following is part of a messaged dream that I had in September 2005:
"In the dream, a huge leopard appeared and moved towards me.
|
- 9). 4 Gifts You Can Give To Christian Fathers On Father's Day By : Nicola Kennedy
Father's Day for Christian fathers is a special time. Not only are they celebrating the fact that they are blessed to be fathers, but also are giving thanks for having their Father, the Lord. Getting a gift for Father’s Day for Christian fathers is as simple as going to your local religious store, located in many malls and churches. Some great gifts.
|
- 10). Are we just physical beings? By : Shen Gerald
Here's something that I have discovered:
In the presence of a qigong or taiji master, a layperson may feel unusual, often discomforting sensations within their body. Some may feel giddy or develop stomachaches. Yet others may feel heat brewing within them. I know several qi-gong masters, so I am familiar with these sensations. How can somebody without.
|
|
|
