Once again, I hate to draw directly from the Bible.
It definitely gets some things right, but then there are inevitable issue you
run into with form time to time. I find in general they were good at
acknowledging situations, but not very good at interpreting them or figuring
out what kind of spiritual things were going on behind them.
But this is one of the best verses I found on “the
future” as it pertains to the Final Coming (Mathew 24:4-14). So let’s break it down piece by
piece to prevent confusion and cement reality.
4
Jesus answered: “Watch out that no one deceives you. Such things must happen,
but the end is still to come.
-Exhibit A: http://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/king-huckabee-false-facebook-post-undermines-real-hate-crimes-article-1.2876009
-Exhibit B: http://www.slate.com/articles/news_and_politics/politics/2016/11/the_democrats_are_already_screwing_up_the_trump_resistance.html
-Pizzagate: https://www.washingtonpost.
-Pizzagate: https://www.washingtonpost.
5 For many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am the Messiah,’ and will deceive many.
-Exhibit C: Honestly not quite sure about this one.
We do have random people from time to time claiming to be Jesus, but it’s
pretty clear they’re either on an ego trip or suffering from mental illness. No
one really listens to those kinds of people and there aren’t many around right
now. More like leaders in power who act like they’re gods. This might also be people holding picket signs saying the End is Coming years before it occurs.
6 You
will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed.
Such things must happen, but the end is still to come.
-Exhibit D: I call it the Middle East with Isis and
Africa with Boko Haram. God only knows what the combination of Kim Jung Un and
Donald Trump are going to do. It's also this tendency of dark movements
happening in other people's governments -like Brexit and the Philippines
electing its leader.
7 Nation
will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines
and earthquakes in various places.
-Exhibit E: Earthquakes, floods, mud slides, wild
fires… we’re pretty much covered globally on the natural disaster front. Most
recently it was New Zealand with earthquake and Florida with flood.
8 All
these are the beginning of birth pains.
-Exhibit F: This part hit me most and it was one of
the reasons I defer to this biblical reference more than any other. I have been
comparing all of this stuff to contractions now for about a year. I called it
birthing pains and now we’re in the “pushing to give birth” phase. Something big
is definitely coming. Although they left out the part of what I would call
“culture wars” of white supremacists against everyone of other races... and
gays... and women... and Muslims... and Jews...
9 “Then
you will be handed over to be persecuted and put to death, and you will be
hated by all nations because of me.
-Exhibit G: And here is where we have to make an
important distinction. He isn’t just referring to “Christians” alone here. He
is speaking about THE INNOCENT. He’s talking about what I have referred to as
the “clear-eyed, wiser souls”. And many HAVE been put to death, just look at
police brutality alone. Many are being killed -and not just in this country - all because they are deemed to be of lesser worth.
10 At
that time many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each
other,
-Exhibit H: I call it this newest generation.
Millennials and the up-and-coming iGeneration are far less religious in general
and a lot of them are agnostic or atheistic in part because religion frightens
them. They’ve seen the abuses of it and turn from it in great number. A lot of
older generations are the same as well. There’s also a lot of hate going around
in general right now. It’s a very toxic religious climate.
11 and
many false prophets will appear and deceive many people.
-Exhibit I: Again don’t know whether he’s referring
to actual guys wandering around claiming to be Jesus, or more like Politicians
and “Christians” who claim to be upholding the moral good while perpetuating
the cause of neo-Nazis and KKK members.
***Update 9-24-17: A better example of this came when an Indian "spiritual guru" was found to have raped 2 girls and his followers then took to the streets and murdered over 100 people. India is having some serious issues with fake "spiritual" men who are abusive towards others.
***Update 9-24-17: A better example of this came when an Indian "spiritual guru" was found to have raped 2 girls and his followers then took to the streets and murdered over 100 people. India is having some serious issues with fake "spiritual" men who are abusive towards others.
12 Because
of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold,
-Exhibit J: Got more information about this the other night actually. When the people you love,trusted, and were close then end up
“coming out” as being bigoted -or in the case of my family a lighter version of
white supremacist mentality being expressed -it hardens you to the world because you see it being echoed
throughout the country and love in general is hard to see and find. The world
turns cold and you get frozen by it and close up within yourself like a tree
will go into dormancy during winter. It hurts to see people numb to their own souls and the souls of others and it starts to effect you.
***Update 12-13-16: There are several passages in the Bible that speak of “hardening hearts” and wasn’t quite sure what that was outside of Pharaoh being numb to people’s suffering. Then it sort of hit today. A lot of people are following the atrocities being committed in Aleppo, but there’s very little reaction. It sort of feels like, “Well welcome to our planet, that’s kind of what happens hear.” Children and families are being blown up and destroyed and you can’t tell why you feel that numb, distant, and indifferent given you KNOW the gravity of what’s happening there. You want to feel and connect empathetically or emotionally and it’s just not happening. It’s a numbness to the “heart chakra” in that way.
***Update 12-13-16: There are several passages in the Bible that speak of “hardening hearts” and wasn’t quite sure what that was outside of Pharaoh being numb to people’s suffering. Then it sort of hit today. A lot of people are following the atrocities being committed in Aleppo, but there’s very little reaction. It sort of feels like, “Well welcome to our planet, that’s kind of what happens hear.” Children and families are being blown up and destroyed and you can’t tell why you feel that numb, distant, and indifferent given you KNOW the gravity of what’s happening there. You want to feel and connect empathetically or emotionally and it’s just not happening. It’s a numbness to the “heart chakra” in that way.
13 but
the one who stands firm to the end will be saved.
-Exhibit K: Kindness MUST persevere. Human
generosity, compassion, mercy, grace… these things are DEEPLY needed. They are
like air. Salvation from this world’s pains is called PEACE.
14 And
this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony
to all nations, and then the end will come.
-Exhibit
L: This last part seems a little odd. “The gospel of the kingdom” in my mind
would be TRUTH and FAITH and GLORY and POSITIVITY. Which is what’s trying to
come through right now to reassure people. But the way that this last part ends
seems a bit abrupt.
“Here’s all this stuff that will happen, and then
this stuff occurs, and then END. Without going into “The End”.
You know it’s all going to be a big transition. Plants don’t just pop out of the ground and break surface, it takes time for them to grow and slowly emerge. The END seems skipped over a bit and I’m not surprised. I don’t think this transition will be quite what people are expecting.
You know it’s all going to be a big transition. Plants don’t just pop out of the ground and break surface, it takes time for them to grow and slowly emerge. The END seems skipped over a bit and I’m not surprised. I don’t think this transition will be quite what people are expecting.
-Matthew
24:4-14
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