Christ's Return

I presume that I am entitled to an interpretive view of biblical prophesy as all Christians are. In other words we all have an opinion. Even if one's view is that of total obfuscation as to coming events, that we will have no clue at all, that in itself is an opinion. This particular blog is structured as if we were just sitting around a table and talking. My views are always subject to both change and to your scrutiny. I do believe that the Second Coming of Jesus Christ may be near, in our generation, and also that it should be the hope of every Christian that it is near. I have a difficult time with the everyday newspaper headlines. The violence, the suffering and pain throughout humanity is overwhelming, especially in this information age where it is constantly before us. How can the Christian not both proclaim (maranatha) and desire the Lord's return! But it is also the obligation of every Christian from every age to be prepared to live their life to the full should the Lord tarry and to follow Martin Luther's declaration to plant a tree even if he knew for sure that the Lord was to return the next day. It appears certain to me that those of that generation, whether it be ours or another, will live through a tribulation that will shake both the unbeliever and the most devout believer in what will happen and we should know that in advance. The rapture doctrine will have been no help at that time and possibly be very destructive on how Christians handle the events. What are those events? All the talk of liberty and freedom that we hear of today, none more so than in this blog, would be for naught, for one power will indeed govern this planet at that time. If it be our generation, are we ready for it? The Christian will not only be persecuted by the anti-believer but even be totally rejected by that which calls itself the church. If it be us on earth as Christ returns are we aware in advance of what to expect? Some grand delusion is in store for that generation. It could, just for example, be the appearing of what the world will believe to be a visitation of alien life forms. If so it will be anything but, but are we prepared to stand firm in the face of this or some such other delusion? I have been inclined to believe for some time now that should a nuclear holocaust envelop the earth, or a similar catastrophe, that this would not be the time of Christ's return but rather only an event that will lead to a world government and only a prelude to what is actually in store. The conversation on prophesy needs to be extended throughout the church, not in dogmatic scenarios but possible scenarios to exercise our minds in the eventuality of imminent events as opposed to predicting future events. If you have sampled any of this blog then it surely must be apparent that these beliefs have not stopped my efforts, minuscule though they may be, to seek God's mercy on America one more time, for one more period where at least one nation exalts Christ albeit in the hearts of its people if not on paper. I hope that nowhere in these essays have I shown anything but full confidence that our God controls every action and every consequence in this entire universe. There is no question whatsoever as to the final result. To every unbeliever, the day will indeed come when you will want to be back at this very moment once again for you will then see not only the omnipotence of God in His power and might but the omniscience of Him who knows our innermost thoughts and is willing to clarify to us the rebellion in them and provide a way of salvation that begins with a humble acceptance of that omnipotence. What comes close to making this conversation a moot point in the life of the individual is that none of us can number our days on earth and that therefore this... is the day for that humbling. Revelation 1:3 lays it out for us in "Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophesy, and blessed are those who hear, and who keep what is written in it, for the time is near." I trust that throughout this blog my occasional touching on the topic of prophesy has been in line with the essence of scripture in that we are to be well aware of where man is headed and that the joy of Christ's sure coming is only sobered but a little because of what humanity must first go through.