Realism is what we need for sure. However humanity has come a long way and it hasn't all been doom and gloom. In fact there have been profound social changes in the last one hundred years. We have greater equality between men and women, the oneness of humanity universally recognised despite race, nationality, and dare I say religion, much more of a global awareness, higher levels of education, and the rise of democratic institutions of governance rather than the empires of old. Slavery has been systematically abolished and technology has enabled us as two strangers to have this conversation. You can tell me about all the corruption, exploitation, materialism etc and that is a reality too.
We all have assumptions. Should we interpret all scripture literally? Perhaps the best starting point when approaching the so called apocalyptic scriptures is to consider those we know have been fulfilled to some extent. Examples of this are the extensive prophecies that Jesus fulfilled as compared to those He didn't, the book of Daniel in regards to various empires, and best of all from a Christian perspective the words of Jesus Himself, when spoken on Mount Olives.
So consider Jesus prophetic words as he speaks of the destruction of the temple, the terrible things that will befall the Jewish people, the floods and earthquakes, the great tribulation etc. It all applied to what actually happened to the Jewish peoples and the end of an era of Judaism with the temple and Jerusalem as its centre. He spoke of difficulties for the rise of the church, but also used this as a metaphor for events in the far off future....now! The gospels were preached at all nations, and the diaspora eventually ended.
It just makes it easier to have conversations when we can find common ground. I had a period of about 2 1/2 years where I took time to watch the wheels of the world go by and make sense of it all. I think all the prophets have had a period of reflection before their message. I'm not a prophet, just an ordinary man.
It sounds like familiarity breeds contempt. I haven't had too much to do with Jews so they are somewhat of an unknown quantity to me. I think secularisation in some ways has resulting in peoples of all faiths moving away from such extreme positions. It has happened in the West with Christianity and eventually Islam will have the same experience as with Judaism. That's a doubled edged sword as on one hand people move away from religious extremism, on the other a movement away from religion, period. The problem is the religions of old seem less and less relevant in a modern world.
Did you read 'Isaiah 24 & Isaiah 34 is the 6th seal of the Tribulation'...
People are about to cause complete annihilation (WW3, biosphere overload, there is nuclear radiation flooding the pacific, etc), thus at its peak, when all nations fight against Israel God steps in, this then causes earthquakes, whirlwinds, hail, thunder, lightening, and a holy fire that consumes all evil in its path.
Then God resets earth, and the remnant who are here after all that Tribulation, have been chosen to be Saints of the Most High for ever.
Yes I did read about the sixth seal and that's why I discussed just one aspect, the reference to the sun, moon, and stars that is a reference also to Isaiah and to Matthew 24. I think it is all just echoing the 10 plagues that the Egyptians suffered. Were the Egyptians wiped out? No. Will we suffer? Yes. Are we suffering now? Yes.
In regards to revelation 14:1
And I looked, and, lo, a Lamb stood on the mount Sion, and with him an hundred forty and four thousand, having his Father's name written in their foreheads.
The lamb is the Messiah.
The 144,000 are His followers from all lands and tribes. I think of the twelve tribes of Israel times another twelve representing all the tribes of the earth, times a thousand representing a great multitude. They don't have their Father's names literally written on their foreheads but the law or Tanakh written in their hearts (Jeremiah 31:34) and by their words and deeds are clearly associated with the Messiah for all to see.
The Mount Zion is the New Covenant the Messiah brings, which His followers are following. They are not all literally standing on Mount Zion on the outskirts of Jerusalem.
So not literal, metaphorical and happening as we speak.
