The Book of Revelation

[Deb_B]

It is lonely to have read the bible end to end almost 37 years ago and to still find that most people today would prefer not to speak to the reality that we’re living in (that’s perfectly described in this book)! In fact, the book of Revelation in particular seems to be a sure fire way to scare most people off - in my observations, many Christians don’t seem to truly believe what’s written in Revelation in spite of everything that’s been taking place these past several years and that just blows my mind!

But I get it, I used to feel so much fear over the idea of letting go of this world, it seemed like such a foreign concept to me having gotten myself really entangled to the things of this life. Like did Jesus really mean all the things He said about this world? However, with enough experiences, I saw that building upon this earthly foundation is fleeting at best, regardless of how successful you become and I’m finally recognizing it’s far better to be in the will of our Maker rather than to go on gathering up more riches of this realm.

I do struggle with whether it’s more compassionate to let someone stay comfortable in their reality bubble or if it’s more loving to help pull back the covers so that they might be able to see things more clearly. Like would it possibly break them if they were to be forced to look at the end of everything?

Anyways, I do understand that I am merely a peon in the grand scheme of things lol and have zero control over what other’s believe. I do trust more in the infinite wisdom of our Creator to sort this mess out, but am just curious if anyone else has witnessed the same thing for themselves with others, it’s very curious to say the least!!

[FallingLeaves]

after a long period of making trouble, i finally decided I simply don't have enough information to say what is best for others or for this world. I used to assume i did, but really I never did.

But I do have enough information to know for sure that I'm a troublemaker... so recently i haven't been so concerned about the experience of others as I have been about cleaning up my own act. Not that I don't care, i do, just that I don't know how to fix even myself so how am i gonna help anyone else out of this mess?

But I've seen enough to know god has it well in hand; in fact i don't know that there is a time when he hasn't. So I'm not too worried, might be choppy waters somewhere ahead or there might not but it will be fine nonetheless.

[Miss Hepburn]

Originally Posted by Deb_B

....I do struggle with whether it’s more compassionate to let someone stay comfortable in their reality bubble
or if it’s more loving to help pull back the covers ...

Hi, and Welcome here.
I'd say -follow the Golden Rule...so simple ...what would you like done to you?
For me, yes, talk to me about your beliefs...BUT, then leave it at that ...let me, then, pursue it if I chose to...and in my own time.

* Your post wasn't an 'article', so it was moved to General Beliefs - it will be seen more here, also. :)

[JustBe]

Originally Posted by Deb_B

It is lonely to have read the bible end to end almost 37 years ago and to still find that most people today would prefer not to speak to the reality that we’re living in (that’s perfectly described in this book)! In fact, the book of Revelation in

If you’re pulling the covers completely back off you, you’ll see their is always more to notice with regards to self, others and life. So I just continue to get clear in myself. Just be me as I feel comfortable in being and leading from that place. It’s less about what others are being and doing and more about leading from my own truth. If it’s compassion and love your building then build it as you, it has no agenda then..

[BigJohn]

From what I have seen, some Christians look at Revelation as a good thing and
a culmination of all the hopes and promises.

[saurab]

Originally Posted by Deb_B

I do trust more in the infinite wisdom of our Creator to sort this mess out, but am just curious if anyone else has witnessed the same thing for themselves with others, it’s very curious to say the least!!

The Creator of this wonderful universe is not God, as is popularly believed in the Christian scriptures. This universe and God's body and mind is made of cosmic energy which is the real creator of this universe. Some people might say that God created energy, but for that God must exist first, and if he exists first, what is his body and mind made up of, except for energy. Everything is a form of cosmic energy: rocks, trees, planets, galaxies, men, women, angels, and God. So, be brave, open up and speak what you really found disturbing about the Book of Revelations..... and various other books of the apostles. Because I feel that you are hesitating to share the truth of what you discovered in these books.

God wont be angry with you if you criticize him with sincerity, but I humbly request you to not judge him because that would be very wrong.

[Found Goat]

I reckon more potential converts would be drawn to Christianity had this woeful jeremiad been excluded from the official canon.

Indeed, there are those who believe this book made into the Bible surreptitiously, possibly having been inspired by an evil spirit or devilish archon. It certainly makes for macabre -- as opposed to lighthearted and high-minded -- reading, that's for sure.

The Gospels portray JC as a god of love and compassion. Revelation, meanwhile, depicts an entirely other side to the deity, one arguably misanthropic, if not diabolic, as if what we are dealing with is a schizoid multiple possessing a not so lovable alter. Hard to believe it is the same Jesus as presented in the Sermon on the Mount.

Revelation has always been my least favorite of the canonized 66 books. So, then, how to account for my currently listening to the audiobook version of Joel Richardson's Mystery Babylon, which, admittedly, is an excellent verse-by-verse commentary on chapters 16 and 17? Paradoxical of me, I admit. I suppose it has something to do with the fact that I've long had a somewhat morbid fascination with eschatology, as others the horror genre.

Not that I personally am awaiting with eager anticipation Armageddon (although, strangely, I do enjoy watching Christian-made films about this supposed future event), as are many evangelicals, who are quite looking forward to it, as it means for them being raptured to heaven, either before or during or just after the Great Tribulation. I for one do not get off on thinking about 95% of humanity being destroyed by God and sent to Hell. Here is where in my heart-of-hearts I long to side with the Christian universalists.

Incidentally, when it comes to examining Revelation, I feel one must always be wary of some of the commentaries that exist on it that are out there. Some are pure unorthodox bunk. As just one example, within the cultish sect I was raised in, we were required to read one such Bible study 'aid,' and yet this 'aid' only worked to add layer upon layer of outright nonsense to the scriptural source material, the latter a text riddled with symbolically vague passages quite open to various -- and sometimes outright ridiculous -- interpretations. This particular sectarian-published commentary I allude to is so far off the mark in its understanding of Revelation, it could only have been written by an overt false prophet, in my opinion. Said 'aid' is presently out-of-print and has been for years, perhaps because so few of its readers managed to get through it without chuckling and rolling their eyes.

It has been wondered by some whether this John of Patmos, said to be the inspired co-author of sorts of Revelation, was on some type of natural hallucinogen at the time of his having put ink to parchment. Methinks so. I certainly hope so! The alternative is simply too unsettling for the average human mind to contemplate.

I mean, c'mon now, multi-headed monsters and a whole assortment of other weird and freakish beasts, that makes the novels of H.P. Lovecraft seem like tame nursery rhymes by comparison. Strange hybrid locusts. Fallen angels. The Prince of Darkness. A pit of everlasting torment. Talk about extremely dark and downbeat content, not all that uplifting. Me, I prefer basking in the sunlight, or listening to a dulcet Classical piece, or tending to my botanical garden, over allowing my mind to dwell too long on such mentally unhealthy doom and gloom.

This is also nothing new, this idea that some people have in believing themselves to be living in the End Times. Since the very beginning of the AD time period, there've been Christ-followers in practically every century onward who've believed the same. A good book that goes into great detail on this multi-generational psychological phenomenon and well worth reading is Norman Cohn's The Pursuit of the Millennium.

Granted, this isn't to say we aren't living in the Last Days -- and there are times when I cannot help but feel that we are, with all this post-modern talk of AI and transhumanism -- and yet if you were to ask a preterist, they'd say that Bible prophecies have all been fulfilled. Now, just how these ones manage to get around the book of Revelation is beyond me, whether you regard this text as gospel or a work of deranged fiction.

[Miss Hepburn]

Originally Posted by saurab

The Creator of this wonderful universe is not God,
as is popularly believed in the Christian scriptures.

That's swell. ... but since you said this as a *fact...how do you know this?
If it is your opinion, theory, personal exp....ok.
That sentence could send someone into a tale spin of confusion.
Then, you know whay happens? We get PMd with all their
confusions, esp after finding some peace of mind
just getting out of the hospital on new Meds, sometimes.
Thank you...forgot to press Navy blue, Saying this as a Mod.
Notice how someone just said "I reckon"?
Did he get a post from me...No.