The Book of Revelation (grace, prophecy, atheist, pray, bible)

[onmybelief]

I happen to believe the words of Revelation Chapter 1:3
Blessed is the one who reads the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear it and take to heart what is written in it, because the time is near.

I would just like your input on this verse and on the book as a whole. Thanks.

[Linus]

The verse you quoted is pretty straightforward.

But much of the book of Revelation is difficult for me to grasp. So much of it is symbolic that it can be hard for me to tell what exactly is being said, and what the intended message is.

[MidnightBlue]

Originally Posted by onmybelief

I happen to believe the words of Revelation Chapter 1:3
Blessed is the one who reads the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear it and take to heart what is written in it, because the time is near.

I would just like your input on this verse and on the book as a whole. Thanks.

I believe that the book refers to events of the 1st Century, and that the time truly was near. I know that view is unpopular with the prophecy industry, but it makes far more sense than the fantasies of John Nelson Darby and those who followed in his wake, from William Miller to Charles Taze Russell to Hal Lindsey to Tim LaHaye.

[Scuba Pete]

Revelations befuddles me. There are some passages which I understand, but God hasn't seen fit to reveal all of it's meaning to me yet. For most of it, I ascribe to the notion of "Pannalenia Deos": It's gonna pan out just the way God wants it to!

[Scott1]

Originally Posted by NetDoc

Revelations befuddles me.

Phew... glad I'm not the only one! Reading Revelations reminds me of my atheist days trying to read the Bible = "What the heck is this stuff?" !!!

By God's grace I pray we all can help each other with it!

[Scuba Pete]

I have said it before Scott, that it would be best if more Christians would learn how to say "I simply don't know" instead of trying to prove how "Godly" they are. They inevietably show everyone just how arrogant they are instead!

[onmybelief]

In my opinion, since noone knows the exact time, we all should live out our lives as faithfully as we can and never mind when the time is. My main concern is to ready myself for the time whenever it may be.

[nutshell]

I believe Revelations is written in way so that God can reveal its meaning to the reader bit by bit as the reader becomes ready, willing, and able to understand the message God would impart.

It's a represenation of God's mercy. We can't be held to the standards of something we don't understand, but will be held accountable once the truths of Revelations are revealed to us.

[Scuba Pete]

Originally Posted by nutshell

I believe Revelations is written in way so that God can reveal its meaning to the reader bit by bit as the reader becomes ready, willing, and able to understand the message God would impart.

All of scripture is written this way. You can't fully understand it until you attempt living by it.

[DTrent]

Originally Posted by onmybelief

I happen to believe the words of Revelation Chapter 1:3
Blessed is the one who reads the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear it and take to heart what is written in it, because the time is near.

I would just like your input on this verse and on the book as a whole. Thanks.

Revelation, a Bible book of much symbolism and some literal events.
Actually, alot of Rev. has already been fulfilled...Babylon the Great has no real hold on people anymore and many have already 'gotten out of her' (false religion), the 4 horsemen have already ridden and are still riding, the good news of God's Kingdom is continually being preached earthwide, the world powers have come and gone except for the last one, which is OUR day, the feet of iron and clay on the huge image (which interestingly matches Daniel's decription of world powers).
We could probably take a million forums to discuss Rev, huh?