archangel,
The idea that I need someone else to straighten out my understanding of scripture is a setup for buying into what they have created from the book, not what the book actually says. As far as literal or symbolic interupertations, death and destruction are not something you can really water down by calling them symbolic.
God is going to slaughter most of mankind if Revelation is true, no way to sidestep this with symbolism. The road to life is cramped and narrow and few are the ones finding it, from Mathew. How can you water this down with symbolism? God is setting up an elite class of people who actually endure to the end and everyone else is pretty much screwed, no way to water this down with symbolic applications, sorry I just don't see it. Jesus says that God will judge all our works, so much for saved by grace that all the born again Christians are preaching, they are ignoring Jesus words in Mathew if they think thier works have no bearing in the issue. I know you are supposed to pray for Gods Spirit so you can read and understand what is there. I feel this is the first time I have read it for what is really there. What is there is not pretty, not comfortable, and not even rational. Read it with your heart I have heard, well God is pretty offensive to say the least, I would weep for those who will suffer for his vengence! I do not believe that any rational God could or would act like a the tyrant portrayed in these pages.
Sorry if I have offended any here who still put thier faith in the Bible. I think I shall re read the "Shariat Ki Sugamad" next. :)