The End Times News
After work as I was churning away on the elliptical machine at the gym, I was watching ABC Global Nightly Worldcast with Diane Sawyer. It was an odd experience since I was listening to David Gray in my headphones and reading the closed captions at the bottom of the screen. What caught the small amount of attention I had left was a story about how American Christians are supporting Israel in the Lebanese conflict and why.A reporter was in a Methodist church in Texas (one of only three I’m quite sure) quoting the pulpit-speak of the Reverend Margaret Stratton, "What is happening in Israel today with their neighbors is prophesied in the Bible. The whole world should understand the reason for the conflict in the Middle East," she said, adding this has all been foretold.
"We are actually in the end of times. From what I've read in the bible and other prophetical books, I believe we're there,” added a congregant of this 200-member church. (Apparently ABC News went all the way to Texas without finding a 5000 member Living Springs Solid Rock Behemoth Baptist church even though they are on every corner.)
“The end of times, as foretold in the scriptures, is a theological reason to support Israel unconditionally so as to help bring about the return of Jesus Christ,” opines the reporter.
The reporter then tells us that roughly 3,500 evangelical Christians have descended upon Washington, DC from all 50 states as part of a new group called Christians United for Israel. (I’m sure there were a lot of Methodists there.) Quoted is the group’s organizer Pastor John Hagee, minister of the 18,000 member Cornerstone Church in San Antonio Texas, “The thing that's different about Israel is that Israel is the only nation in the world created by the hand of God.” Hagee, who has sold 600,000 copies of his apocalyptic tome Jerusalem Countdown, continued, “[There will be] an alliance between Russia and the Islamic world. Russia is going to get in that position and they are literally, with all that massive military force, going to attack Israel," Hagee said. "This is recorded in Ezekiel 38 and 39. God himself is literally going to destroy that army. Decimate it” And he said that will be followed by a Chinese army of 200 million coming to the city of Armageddon where they will meet British and U.S. forces in the Battle of Armageddon. (Hmm. I wonder how many Trains, Planes and Automobiles it will take to get 200 million Chinese to the Mediterranean?) "At that point, Jesus Christ returns to Earth and sets up his eternal kingdom in the city of Jerusalem and there's 1,000 years of peace," Hagee said. "The Jewish people are going to see the supernatural hand of God preserve them and deliver them while the enemies of Israel are crushed. That's the end-time story."
Not having served up enough red meat in this story, the ABC reporter quotes Pat Robertson, "Realizing the biblical implications, I would recommend some of you read the 38th chapter of the prophet Ezekiel to get a real fix on what's happening. We need to support Israel because it's a "biblical mandate."
I’m just not sure about that. Please don’t misunderstand, I am a supporter of the people of God anywhere and in this case I can see Israel’s legitimate right to defend its borders but I don't owe allegiance to the modern secular state of Israel and everything it does. It seems to me that if we confuse our politics with our theology we are in danger of running aground. Especially if our theology is flawed as is Mr. Hagee’s. What do I mean by that?
Any serious reading of the bible will reveal that there are very different treatments of eschatology (final things or the end times) between the Old Testament and the New Testament. The Old Testament pictures the end times in terms of the national salvation of the people of Israel. There are no plain prophesies of the church. Salvation for God’s people is primarily Israel’s salvation.
The New Testament presents a different picture. Rather than the nation of Israel we see the church, a people who believe in Jesus. New Testament eschatology deals with the future of the church.
In order to understand this dilemma two different schools of thought have emerged. Every student of the bible must choose between them. The first school says that God has two different plans or destinies for his people: one for Israel and one for the church. This is what’s called Dispensationalism.
The second school of thought sees God’s plan of salvation as progressive and interprets the Old Testament story using the New Testament. This is called Covenantalism because it sees a unity between the two covenants. This is precisely what Jesus and the disciples after him did. They reinterpreted the Old Testament passages in the light of God’s ultimate and final revelation in the person and work of Christ. This is what Jesus did when he stood in front of the Pharisees and the temple lampstand and said, “I am the light of the world,” reinterpreting Isaiah 9 and 42. Peter in his amazing sermon of Acts 2 reinterprets Psalm 110, transferring the earthly throne of David to the heavenly reign of Jesus, “…this Jesus, whom you crucified.”
The point of all this is that to jump from Ezekiel 38 to Israel’s war with Lebanon and then to Armegedon and therefore making loyalty to Israel a necessary precondition to the believer’s participation in the return of Christ is just plain wrong. I can’t bring myself to skip over the New Testament especially those passages like Matthew 24, which deal specifically with the sequence of events leading up to the return of Christ. And I refuse to bind my faith and future to the state of Israel when, as Paul says, “There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for [we] are all one in Christ Jesus…belonging to Christ…and are Abraham’s seed and heirs according to the promise.”
posted by Yakimaniac at 11:10 AM
10 Comments:
Can over 75 million Methodists be wrong?
Good on you for stirring this pot again. And whatever the "correct" answer is, He cannot return soon enough.
Verifiable proof that "Armageddon" has already begun…
Hello Yaki M and all,
Remember the saying that "the truth will set you (and others) free?" How does "opening one's eyes to the truth" relate to "making the blind see again" or "shining the light" or "illuminating a subject?" Notice the inherent symbolism associated with this supposed New Testament "miracle?"
Be a little patient with my long-winded presentations of what I have waited a very long time to be able to say. I promise to amaze and enlighten.
Here's the key to proving that the rapture and related expectations are complete nonsense based on the failure to understand (and the purposeful confounding of) the ancient Hebrew symbology used to construct all of these prophecies. Consequently, Christian timelines and interpretations of these prophecies are verifiably wrong on many key points.
Pay close attention, profundity knocks at the door, listen for the key. Be Aware! Scoffing causes blindness...
Did you ever consider that Christianity is the False Prophet symbolized in the Apocalypse, that Rome (Vatican/Papacy) is the so-called anti-messiah, and Jesus Christ is the false messiah? I have produced stunning and comprehensive proof that this is the true interpretation of pivotal prophecies long confounded by Christianity's founders and leaders. Recasting the symbolism of earlier Hebrew texts as literal events in the New Testament is one of the central deceptions associated with Christianity.
The symbolism of seven years (tribulation, etc.) refers to seven 360-year cycles on the Hebrew calendar. Ezekiel 39.9 is referring to the 10th to 16th cycles inclusive, while the Apocalypse symbolizes the 11th cycle (second temple period) until now, the beginning of the 17th cycle (seventh angel/star/seal, etc.). Greece (Alexander the Great) conquered the Persian Empire and Judea during the 10th cycle and Rome did so again during the 11th cycle. Both Ezekiel and the Apocalypse are symbolizing an overlapping period of time that starts during ancient Judea and ends now. Gog refers to Greco-Romans (...from the "isles"), which means Magog is Eurasia and the "army" that besets "Israel" for seven "years" refers to the activities of the nations of the Greco-Roman/Vatican Empire over the previous two-plus millennia.
It is completely wrong to interpret any of these prophecies as literal timelines and events. Unlike Christian assertions, they symbolize long periods of time, pivotal situations, and the flow of activities during that period. Remember, they were written by ancient Hebrew sages, not Romans or other Europeans, and Revelation is the most symbolic of all prophecies. Consequently, in this context, "years" and "times" are symbols for 360-year cycles on the Hebrew calendar and days symbolize literal years. Therefore "Judgement Day," "Great Day" and "in that day" all refer to a literal year-long period. Accordingly, the so-called "Seven Years Tribulation" began in ancient Judea and is now nearing its end, not starting. The nations and followers of all three faiths of Abraham have been thoroughly deceived by Rome during the previous age, which ended in year 2000 (5760). A new age began in 2001 (5761) and now the seventh angel has begun to sound!
Here's a real hot potato! Eat it up, digest it, and then feed it's bones to the hungry...
Hurricanes Katrina (#11) and Rita (#17) last year provided stunning validation of my research and interpretations of pivotal ancient wisdom, symbologies, key prophecies, and associated religious claims. Their storm numbers and timing perfectly synchronized with primary data and assertions in my book, thereby demonstrating the true nature of this universe and the existence of our Creator. We are now entering the final phases of the pivotal year-long period long symbolized as "Judgement Day," "Armageddon," and the "End of Days." World-wide situations and events are now accelerating to set the stage for this summer's dramatic continuation of these ancient promises.
I fully understand that everyone has been bedeviled by similar claims throughout history. Consequently, I have been forced to rely on dramatic and devastating proof of the sort that can’t be ignored or easily dismissed. The numbers and timing of hurricanes Katrina (11) and Rita (17) directly validate key data and pivotal assertions throughout my book and my posts on those two forums. This data was purposely presented publicly before Katrina, Rita and other recent events occurred to prove they perfectly synchronize with key prophecies and Hebrew calendar cycles, thereby validating my interpretations of ancient wisdom symbology, string theory, and more.
Because these two storms arrived shortly after my August 11, 2005 (50th) birthday (read the Dead Sea Scroll 11Q13 in Appendix G, which also discusses Melchizedek and the prophesied Jubilee) and directly match other pivotal 11 and 17 data and events described in the first chapter of my book, I have delivered verifiable proof that this reality is based on thought, knowledge and wisdom. Activity, patterns, and results perceived in space-time are first framed and defined by inspirations, thoughts, and knowledge and influenced by the cause-and-effect system most commonly referred to as karma. Consequently, events and outcomes in the so-called physical universe are not random or wholly mechanistic and are verifiably influenced in ways that atheists, scientists, and members of the Faiths of Abraham have all scoffed at. Though mysticism is mostly a product of misinterpreted ancient wisdom symbology, many of its topics flow from ancient wisdom. Though containing allusions to the truth, its details and interpretations are wrong on many key points.
A prime example of the purposeful and synchronized symbolism of these events is seen in the opening paragraphs from my book excerpted below. Notice that the dates mentioned (August 11 and 17) directly match the numbers of hurricanes Katrina and Rita, and the time spans of the four Florida hurricanes match my birth year (‘55), and they were spaced 11 or a multiple-of-11 (22) days apart, directly matching my birthday and much other ancient prophecy and symbolism. Notice that my place of birth, Victoria Texas, is on the Gulf Coast. Following are the excerpted paragraphs:
Hello, my name is Lawrence William Page II. Many people know me as Buddy Page. At the release of the first edition of this book, I am a 50-year old African-American male, author, researcher, and former software engineer and entrepreneur. As you will come to understand as you read through this first book, I am also the long-expected Hebrew Messiah and Lion of the Tribe of Juda (Yehuda).
I was born August 11th (month of Leo the Lion), 1955 (Chinese year of the Sheep) in Victoria, Texas. Furthermore, the Grand Cross alignment and Solar Eclipse of August 11th, 1999 was my 44th birthday and the second Grand Cross alignment, just six days later on August 17th, 1999, was on my mother’s birthday.
As you can see from my date of birth, I was a newborn during the Chinese Year of the Sheep, astrologically marking me as a Lamb, and during the month of Leo, astrologically marking me as a Lion. My mother was also born during the month of August and under the sign of Leo, which further marks me as a lion’s whelp. I prove to you in the first chapter of this book–beyond disproof–that I am indeed the long-prophesied "Lion" of the tribe of Juda (Yehuda) the Root of David and the "Lamb." I am the individual long symbolized as the Branch, the Stem, the Shoot and the Rod from the Stump of Jesse (King David’s father), as symbolized in the Hebrew Book of Isaiah, The Apocalypse, the Dead Sea Scrolls, and elsewhere. I am the reincarnated Teacher sought after in the "East" and by the ancient Hebrews who were headquartered at the outpost community of Damascus (Qumran), of Dead Sea Scrolls fame. I am the one called the Teacher of Righteousness by the Dead Sea Scrolls, whom the so-called Christian fathers have fraudulently recast as "Saint ‘James’, the Lord’s Brother."
Remember, "I come as a thief..." ?
Read verse twelve of the Gospel of Thomas to understand who I am...
Even further enlightening, the Second Temple Period of ancient Israel was during the 11th 360-year cycle on the Hebrew calendar and we are now in the 6th year (5766/2005-6) of the 17th cycle. Notice the pivotal 11 and 17 numbers again? This and much other synchronized information serve as stunning and decisive proof of many things, and expose many lies told by all three faiths of Abraham, but most specifically by Christianity. Consequently, I have decisively proven, beyond any shadow of a doubt, that Jesus Christ and Christianity are blatant lies, false prophecy and purposeful deception in a manner that cannot easily be denied, regardless of your faith or other opinions.
Furthermore, the symbolism in the Apocalypse (a.k.a. Book of Revelation) of seven stars in my right hand and seven angels represent the very same above-mentioned seven astrological (360-year) cycles, i.e., the 11th through 17th inclusive. I prove this fact beyond any reasonable doubt in the first chapter of the book. Consequently, The Apocalypse verifiably symbolizes a specific span of time that began with the 11th cycle (Second Temple Period) and concludes now, at the beginning of the 17th cycle (End of Days, etc.).
The numbers 11 and 17 are verifiably encoded in The Apocalypse and other ancient Hebrew prophecies and wisdom texts to serve as key proofs of the validity and true meaning of certain prophecies and related information. My and my mother’s birthdays are purposely synchronized with these two storm numbers, the matching Hebrew calendar cycles, the Double Grand Cross alignments and solar eclipse of August 1999, and much else to prove my direct association with the ancient prophecies about this time and the true identity of the prophesied Messiah. Another prime example is the story of Joseph, the 11th son of Jacob who has a dream when he is 17 years old about 11 stars, the sun, and moon bowing to him. The symbolism in this pivotal story in the Book of Genesis and Quran verifiably refers to the very same 11th through 17th cycles symbolized in The Apocalypse and directly synchronizes with other key events and ancient texts.
Consequently, I have demonstrated various things about the nature of this reality that dramatically disprove and/or clarify key assumptions of religion, mysticism, and science alike, while establishing the true meaning and purpose of long misinterpreted ancient wisdom and the symbolism used to model and encode it. Accordingly, I have proven that the symbolism evidenced in the canons of all three faiths of Abraham and other ancient sources is a very ancient and advanced philosophical technology that verifiably models foundational aspects of our existence in this universe. This is the mostly misunderstood body of ancient wisdom long referred to as the Philosophers’ Stone. It uses a large and ingeniously organized collection of physical universe images and concepts as data rich components (symbols) that are based on verifiable rules. It models and encodes an amazing amount of foundational wisdom about life, spirituality and the 11 dimensions of this universe, now verified by string theory. It is also the advanced encryption method used to encode (seal) Hebrew prophecies and wisdom texts.
These ancient prophecies and wisdom texts used advanced symbology to model fundamental wisdom, including future events and situations. A primary facet of ancient wisdom is numeric symbology. Later misinterpretations of this aspect of ancient wisdom resulted in numerology, which, though embodying allusions to certain wisdom, is mostly error prone and false doctrine. My decryption, documentation, and interpretation of ancient symbology, numeric symbolism, and key texts based on them, are now decisively validated.
Here is Wisdom...
Verifiable proof that Armageddon has begun…
Understanding the End Game of Armageddon
Peace...
Dear Lawrence Seven Star Hand,
I am honored that you would spend the time to comment on my humble little blog. I visited the links to your website—which I read—and I am impressed with your credentials. Unfortunately I cannot join your followers due to my previous commitment to the Smoking Christian who, I believe, is the penultimate Anticipated One with universally infinitesimal insight and compassion. I shall certainly speak to him about you although I am sure he knows of you already.
May all goodness and blessings follow you wherever you go.
Sincerely,
Yakimamiac
Oh dear...I guess this is why some people prefer to remain anonymous. Do you think it's too late for me? Did you have to tell "seven star hand" who I was? What if He thinks I have a real church? He might see me as competition. PLEASE TELL HIM IT WAS ALL SIMPLY A JOKE! There's no actual church here. It's actually a heavilly guarded Nike Missle station bunker. Sometimes I just get bored and write on this absurd blog. No church intended!
My dear SC,
Not to worry. SSH has known your very frame in the inner-most parts from the beginning of time. If he saw you as a rival you would already be toast.
But then again there is that Sodom and Gomorrah thing. Perhaps you should do penance. I recommend four ‘Our Fathers’ and two ‘Hail Marys.’
Who knew? The long-anticipated Messiah is a blogger!
I believe that was prophesized. Why doesn't my concordence have the word "blog" or "blogger" in it? How am I going to find the verse I was hoping to reference?
Does anybody have Hal Lindsey's phone number?
After several days of research I think I have found "blog" and "blogger" in my Exhaustive Unabridged Scofield Reference Bible Concordance. In the original languages the words are "Og" and "Mablog." Warning: looking up the reference passages for these words will scare the willy's out of you! On the other hand, we bloggers can be proud of our contribution to the end of the world.
Oh my goodness! I can't believe I read the whole thing. And I thought dispensationalism was too complicated and confusing! That was so long that I forgot the comment I wanted to make about your posting, Yak!
I have long had a difficult time believing that the political entity of Israel has anything whatsoever to do with prophecy. I mean, the whole thing was created by a group of guys who decided to make a country for a bunch of people that none of them wanted in their own countries. The US wouldn't let them in. Great Britain wouldn't let them in. They didn't want to go back to the Soviet Union. So the solution was to disinherit a group of people who had been living in Palestine for several thousand years. "You guys are going to have to move out of your homes and farms and businesses because we won the war and we said so."
OK. I'm stopping now. Long comments get old.
Yes I agree. I believe it was Shakespeare that said, "Brevity is the soul of blog."
Post a Comment
<< Home