There have been less famines, pestilences, and wars than ever before in history. I legitimately can't begin to fathom what you're talking about?

Just to give an example of how completely asinine this discussion is:

In the 1300s we have the hundred year war. It lasted for 100 years, it's kind of a big deal. Not only were hundreds of thousands (the estimates vary so much I'll just leave it at this) killed on the battlefield the militarization of Frances and Englands population and the heavy taxation to pay for it destroyed these countries. People were starving to death because they couldn't afford food (due to it's scarcity) before an even bigger problem arose:

The Black Death. This pestilence wiped out 33% of Europes population.

Just to put things in perspective 12,000~ people have died from swine flu in the US. I'll let you do the math on that one, the population of the US is about 308 million right now.

As for earthquakes, well they had them then too but they didn't notice because they were too busy having seizures and vomiting up blood while their family members were slaughtered in war.



So tell me, you feel that now has more precursors for the end times than the 1300s?

torm maybe you should take a break from the bible for a while...

lol.

They would rather have us looking down and not paying attention. But we should be looking up.

depending on what you believe about the placement of psalms 83, Israel may have to completely wipe out its surrounding enemies in the middle east before the end times can start.
torm you seem really interesting in biblical prophesy, check out the book israelestine, interesting idea

Well, we are told that in the last days, Israel will be encompassed by armies, and that its desolation will come. I could see them putting up a bit of a fight, but being surrounded by Muslim countries that hate them, they won't stand much of a chance, as prophesied by Daniel and the others.

Its at that point now.

If anyone is going to have any hope whatsoever of unraveling the mystery of the Revelation, you are going to have to understand that it was written to an audience that would know what the message was and understand it the same as they did. God would no more write a letter to His children they could not understand than we would to our secret spy buddies in the spy games of our youth.

The first readers of John's Revelation were engaged in a life and death struggle against the forces of evil who were committed to their annihilation. Backing up and looking at this great book from a distance reveals that it is obviously a book of encouragement, perseverance and hope to an oppressed people. the general theme of the book is the bad guys lose and the good guys win. The book paints very vivid and horrific pictures of the fate that awaits the bad guys while likewise portrays the joy and happiness that rewards the good guys. Time and again, we are taken on a rollercoaster ride through the book with numerous scenes of God's wrath on His enemies and then His blessings and vengeful protection of his faithful children who are assured time and again that they will be victorious in the end and their enemies will suffer His eternal wrath.

The type of language used to write the Revelation is called "Apocalyptic". This word comes from the Greek word apokalupto (ap-ok-al-oop'-to), and simply means a "revealing" or to "reveal". This is where we get the word "Revelation". The book of Revelation is certainly not the only time God used this kind of language. The books of Daniel, Zechariah and others are instances where God used this kind of language in order to "reveal" what He wished to communicate. The words used in this kind of language have a symbolic meaning in the minds of the readers of the letter. For instance the word "Horn" is used in both Revelation and Daniel. To the Jews, the horn was an emblem of power (1 Kings 22:11). Samuel wrote, "and he shall give strength unto his king, and exalt the horn of his anointed" (1 Samuel 2:10). David wrote, "But my horn shalt thou exalt like the horn of an unicorn" (Psalms 92:10). The Jewish Christians who had converted from Judaism would be familiar with this and when they heard the word "horn" they would associate it with "strength and power" in their minds. So we see that the many words used as symbols in the Revelation have significant meanings to the people who would first read the letter. The symbolic meaning of the word "horn" would not be easily known to anybody who was not familiar with the Old Testament scriptures so those reading the letter would not be able to understand what it meant to the first readers of the letter. To you and I, a horn simply means the horn on some kind of animal like a rhinoceros or a water buffalo. So if we are to understand the Revelation, we must learn what the symbolic language contained therein meant to a particular group of the people who read the letter in the first century.

As long as Jesus doesn't return before I graduate grad school because that would suck! I wanted to do so much with my school counseling degree! :/

Only reason I wouldn't wany Jesus to come now is because my son is not saved. Other than that I wish he would come. Philippians 1:21-22 Paul says, "For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.22 But if I live in the flesh, this is the fruit of my labour: yet what I shall choose I wot not."

did you completely ignore my post?
at least do some research on psalm 83 before responding.
what about the 3 times israel has defeated its enemies that surround it since it was formed?

Matthew 24, Jesus warns the people of "Judea" to flee to the mountains in the end times (Now)