From: bresson@cbnewse.att.com
Newsgroups: soc.religion.christian
Subject: Re: End times near?
Date: 9 Apr 92 08:07:11 GMT
Organization: AT&T

Moderator - I would just like to reply to a couple of recent postings before I
go off on holiday. Unfortunately I don't possess a NRSV so I would be
grateful to Rob if he could deal briefly for me with the following areas
below.

>
>In article 6069@dartagnan.rutgers.edu, bresson@cbnewse.att.com () writes:
>>
>- The Bible references occur in the last chapters of Daniel, where Daniel 
>>
>
>(deleted)
>
>I would refer the author to the NRSV, (Oxford), and beg him read the
>annotations below for latter chapters of Daniel.  Many people have
>misunderstood these chapters, and I found that the NRSV annotations
>cleared up not a few "modern" interpretations.  Daniel lived around
>(going from memory now, could be off) 700-600 B.C., and the prophecy
>about the four "beasts" (kingdoms) was about the period around 350 B.C., not
>today.  In other words, that prophecy already came about.  I don't have
>my NRSV in front of me, so I won't quote you verse, but do please read
>the aforementioned NRSV annotations.

There are however parts of Daniel that have NEVER been fulfilled to this day.
i) Daniel's seventith week (Dan 9.37-38) where a treaty for 7 years between
Rome (the people of the prince to come) and Israel.
The fruit of the seventy weeks of years has not come to pass yet - this
will occur in the millenium.
ii) the ten toes - a theme taken up in Revelations with 10 horns.
The 2 legs probably refer to the Eastern and Western parts of the Roman 
Empire, centred at Constantinople and Rome respectively.
Aside:
When people point to the fact that there are more member countries in the
EEC, I make the point that this confederacy has not fully formed yet: God
won't be wrong and Scripture cannot be broken.
iii) the battles in Dan 11. 38ff are still unfulfilled. The prince 
(man of lawlessness) arising on the European stage is still future.

>
>As for the other end-time predictions (Europe, etc.), they are more of
>the same that has been going on for over 1,000 years (ref. OFM's comment
>about the end-timers just before the year 1000 AD).  The whole point
>was made by both Jesus (and later) Paul when they insisted (ref. Matt.
>24-25, 2 Thess 2) that the end of the age is entirely unpredictable.
>We are to live and prepare for the end of the age at all times, in
>our daily lives.  When it comes, the prepared will be with Christ.
>How to prepare?  Short answer - Follow Him.

Jesus said some specific things and gave some pointed signs about the fig
tree putting forth its leaves.
Paul actually spoke of a rebellion that has not taken place.

>Rob

>Without even touching on any of the events and arguments in this thread, I'd
>just like to briefly remind folks of the Great Disappointment of 1844, out
>of which the Seventh Day Adventist and other religious movements sprang.
>Many folks may be aware of the preachings of William Miller, based on Biblical
>prophecy in Daniel and elsewhere, pointing to the close of the age in 1843-44.
>What is really remarkable about the history of this time is that Miller was
>not alone: a great many of finest and best Biblical scholars and theologians
>of the day were in agreement with the tenets of the End Time scenario based
>on Daniel's "week of years"; not only that, but these speculations were not
>reserved for theological discussion only.  They were the subject of front page
>articles in the secular press.  In some respects this time outstripped our own
>in the unanimity of opinion regarding the close of the age.  The subsequent
>"Great Disappointment" was just that, and it wreaked havoc with the faith of
>many.

The argument that others have been wrong before doesn't mean that we can't heed
the signs of our times. I am not advocating that we all go off and sit on
the top of Mount Olives in anticipation of His return - what I am drawing 
people's attention to is some of the things that are refered to in
Scripture and encouraging people to WATCH and pray. No timescales : if the
vision tarries wait for it but it is interesting to see what is going on
today : the latter part of the twentith (sp?) certainly isn't a dull time
to live !

>Just a cautionary note, I guess.  I have no problem personally accepting that
>we might be witnessing events leading directly up to the Return, but I hold
>firmly that that Return can be TODAY, before the sun sets.  

2 Thess 2.3 That day will not come, unless the rebellion comes first, and 
the man of lawlessness is revealed first ...

Peace be with the bretheren, and love with faith. (Eph 6.23)
Barney Resson
"Many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall increase"