Posts Tagged ‘ Prophecy ’

Man-led End Times

Is God giving us more control of our destiny?

The movie The Adjustment Bureau taps into a Secular Theology understanding of eschatology. The basic premise is that God has been controlling history all along, but eventually we will get to a point where we are able to stand on our own and make our own informed decisions. Essentially, God works Himself out of His job.

First of all, that does not really jibe biblically.

Some may disagree that it speaks to the End Times before Christ returns, but many agree that Matthew 24 speaks about that time in which our Lord says,

“If those days had not been cut short, no one would survive, but for the sake of the elect those days will be shortened.” (Matthew 24:22, NIV)

There are several passages that speak to the end like this.

My question today is this:

What if God is indeed slowly stepping back?

Could He indeed be giving humanity more control of their destiny?

Now, before you jump straight into declaring me a heretic or blasphemer, consider some points of interest.

God is not giving up control, He is merely allowing us to make more of our own decisions in how history unfolds.

God is not making the bad things we do to ourselves and our planet happen, rather He does not intervene as much as He may have in the past. In The Adjustment Bureau, one of the “angels” says the last time “The Boss” allowed humanity to control their destiny was in 1914, and we nearly annihilated ourselves with World War I. He sent His people back in to help us. Instead of saying “World War I was God giving us more control and we failed,” perhaps there is truth that He did give us more control over events. He did step in to keep us from annihilating ourselves.

However, God intervenes to make sure we do not annihilate ourselves before all of His plans have been fulfilled. He allows us to have some control so that we gradually prove His truth that we cannot function (properly) without Him. He allows us control, in other words, to speed along His return. The more control we have, the worse things get over all. After things get so bad that mankind’s “every inclination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil all the time” He will step in finally. Christ will return to set up His Kingdom once and for all. (We can debate whether or not there is a literal millennium later)

What do you think? Is God allowing us more freedom in our choices to usher in the End? Am I being heretical? Or does this idea help explain why it seems things are truly getting worse in our world in spite of all our advances in technology, medicine, and knowledge?

2011
06/14
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CATEGORY
End Times
Free-will
Prophecy
Rapture
Sovereignty
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Weekend Words and Sunday Stanzas – 05/29/2011

I am in the Grand Canyon today! Therefore the second poem should be okay, says I. This first poem is “in honor” of those who give false prophecies (I am done picking on them for a while after this, I swear!):

translation
daniel m  klem

i am an oracle of the Lord
 i am a liar

the Lord says to do this
i do not mean this

He also says to do that
all of this is a bunch of lies

the Lord God sent me a vision
this was my dream last night

nothing will ever harm you
you will suffer

if you listen to my prophecies
if you do not listen to the Lord

therefore  do as i say
stop listening to me

and God will bless you
or God will not bless you

because i am an oracle of the Lord
because i am the biggest liar you will ever meet

Taken from simple words for God from a simple man of God by daniel m  klem, page 90.

And I know we are not on bikes this weekend, but I wrote this on a bicycle outing in which we did about 35 miles in a few hours before having food. It was so tough (poor, little me) …

perseverance
daniel m  klem

my friend and i
biking the trail
my legs weaker
wanting to bail
i want to ask
if we can break
all i want is
to stop and take
a breath of cool
refreshing air
who needs the wind
blowing my hair
but then I think
of what Jesus did
when He crossed
and took my sin
so  i will not quit
but keep going
as Jesus did so
we could keep growing
that we would love
God in Heaven
and join Him in
the greatest Haven
so i will pedal
throughout the day
because the Son
has shown the way

Taken from simple words for God from a simple man of God by daniel m  klem, pages 46-47.

2011
05/29
POSTED BY
CATEGORY
Discipline
False prophets
Poetry
Prophecy
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Balancing Our Prophet Deficit

Over the weekend the Rapture did not happen. I just thought I would fill you in case you were wondering. (For the record: Harold Camping is now saying that everything is happening on October 21. There is no longer a final Tribulation period, just the final act.)

Now we are faced with the question:

What do we do with Harold Camping?

Really, the question is “What do we do with false prophets and teachers, heretics, blasphemers, sinful brothers and sisters, and every other supposed Christian who messes up in some way?”

I have poked some fun at our friend Harold. I even do that for people with whom I agree! It is just the kind of great guy that I am. I must say, however, that I am quite put out by the number of people raking this guy over the coals. Do you not realize that this public display of renunciation in such a manner helps prove right those who want nothing to do with Christianity?

Do not get me wrong. He has done something that should not be condoned, and we should denounce his actions and teaching concerning this past weekend’s non-event. To ignore it or even praise it would send the signal to those outside the Church or those struggling within the Church that we are okay with dissenters and those who misuse Scripture and the name of God, and we are therefore deserving of their ridicule. To publicly call the guy names and attempt to smear his reputation is childish and exactly what we see happening in our culture with people every day. How is that the Church being better than the world?

Instead, we have two biblical models to follow:

  1. Tell the man to stop. If he refuses, simply have nothing to do with him. We should “hand him over to Satan” in hopes he will actually be purged of his sins (read the link). Then we respond to his claims so that the world knows what is going on, but we also make it clear he does not speak for all of us. Done. No name calling. No character assassination (admit it, a false prophecy is enough to do that). No helping the non-Christian masses with defaming our faith and our Lord.
  2. Tell the man to stop. If he refuses, treat him like a sinner. What are we supposed to do with sinners? Love them unconditionally in the hopes that they see their error, but we do not condone what they are doing.

Once again, I am guilty of what I am speaking against. I have joked around at his expense, albeit I kept it between myself and friends. I am not saying it is any better in God’s sight. I might still be guilty of leading others astray. However, we should strive to win over as many as possible through our love and loving actions towards each other.

Any thoughts on how we should treat Harold Camping, and any others who consistently sin? What does it mean to excommunicate a fellow believer in this day? Should we excommunicate him? (Quite honestly, it seems he already was by many Christians)

2011
05/24
POSTED BY
CATEGORY
Discipline
False prophets
Prophecy
Rapture
Religion
Resurrection
Wayward brother
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