PetrW, glad there are some
points of agreement. But what I miss from your post is your interpretation.
What do you think it all means? How is it all going to play out? Or are you
still working on your hypothesis? Because that is all we can do at this stage:
Work out a hypothesis according to available data. Put in into a theoretical
construct and apply the data in real time. Then allow for the repetition of the
experiment and/or peer review and see if it holds up to scrutiny.
The
biggest difference between my hypothesis/theory and those presented is the fact
that all my pieces are in on the chess board. Now I am watching them manoeuvre
to their assigned places. And the more I watch events unfolding, the more
convinced I am, I am on the right track.
For example, you are uncomfortable
with earth/clay suggestion. To me it fits well into the overall picture. It is
what we are seeing and experiencing at the moment:
Potter’s art work vs. Democratization: At the formation of the feet and toes of the statue, the first stage
would call for iron ingredients to be mixed with wet clay, for these to be
moulded into shape (cf. טִין). The second phase would call
for the image to be kiln-baked or sun dried (cf. חֲסַף).
Now the clay would be become rock hard, i.e., ceramic. As the image would be
growing older, the weight of the image would cause the clay component to become
brittle. During the initial stages of the democratization process, (government)
structures would be soft, malleable and pliable, like wet clay. After a time of
experimentation and implementation, these structures would mature and become
established, i.e., the ceramic stage. As these grew older, becoming more
liberal and top-heavy, i.e., badly balanced or proportioned, or heavily
indebted, these would become brittle.
The iron part of the image stands for autocratic governments. Is that
not what we are seeing today? For example China and Russia, as multipolar
nations (BRICS) vs. unipolar nations (West) give rise to a bipolar world. And on
such a shaky foundation stands the image. Even without the help of the stone,
it would have toppled and broken in any case. The image sums up the current
situation in a most excellent way.
Duran, it took me a while to work out your view. I believe in the
inspiration of the Bible, so I believe in all those scriptures, with just my interpretation
that differs. But now that you explained it, I am with you.
As I
explained to PetrW, my interpretation method uses history and current events. I
try and follow the logic. But is by no means perfect or the last word in
interpretation. This is what I wrote to someone else: “Of God Paul exclaims:
“O the depth of God’s riches and wisdom and
knowledge! How unsearchable his judgments [are] and past tracing out his ways
[are]! For who has come to know Jehovah’s mind, or who has become his counsellor?” (Rom. 11:33, 34; cf.
Is. 40:13, 14, 28b) I
do not have special esoteric knowledge as to the workings of the divine mind,
as some claim. I can only work with what I have. I do believe things will be
made clear in the near future, especially with the arrival of the two
witnesses, and even before then.
If you do not believe the horsemen have
started with their gallop, that’s fine by me. But recent and unique history does
fit the evidence. But that’s the difference between us, my pieces are on the
board. You are still waiting for your pieces to arrive on the scene. And that is
the case with many modern exegetes.
Even if WW III breaks out now, that
would be a continuation for me of the galloping horses. And I work out the
quarter of fatalities since WW I. Lot of people have died already from famine,
pestilence, war, etc. Agreed it might not be 2 billion as yet, but isn’t that
what the GT is all about? When the Bible refers to the GT, in means just that,
the greatest tribulation ever. For example, there are mega quakes in the
pipeline, amongst other disasters:
Gr. σεισμὸς μέγας, lit. a mega-quake. 1) The earthquake
that would occur after the breaking of the sixth seal. These would not flee to
underground structures immediately after a great earthquake (Rev. 6:12-17). 2) The earthquake of chap. 8:5. An angel, after scooping fire from the
heavenly altar, would throw it on the earth, accompanied by a great earthquake,
thunders, rumblings and lightning flashes. 3) The earthquake of chap. 11:13,
resulting in the death of seven thousand prominent individuals. 4) The
earthquake of chap. 11:19, mentioned alongside “a great hail.” 5) The same goes
for the earthquake of 16:17. This will be the biggest one yet, destroying the
cities of the nations (v. 18). It will be accompanied by a “plague” of unusually great hail stones (v. 21).
Because of the natural catastrophes
ahead I believe the UN will be invited to take over leadership of the nations,
to restore law and order. Not sure whether God will allow the nations to use
their nuclear weapons. That would ruin the earth and everything on it (cf. Is. 45:18). But I
might be wrong .
“After
WW1 the LON. After WW2 the UN. With WW3 UN gets authority to become 8th king.
(Rev 13:5; 17:13)”
At
least we agree on above sequence of events as well as the 42 months of
persecution. God’s people will be exempt from trumpet blasts and plagues, but
not from the coming persecution. This is confirmed by Daniel’s time, times and
half a time = 3 1/2 years. When Jesus comes, he will also sort out “the man of lawlessness,”
which I believe to be a group and not a specific individual (2 Thes. 2:2, 7, 8).
Kosonen,
I can only repeat what I said. For me all pieces are on the board and busy moving.
For you things must still happen. You are still waiting for the seven headed
beast to appear. To me it is an open and shut case. The current beasts are
working to control mankind. We have had a taste of it with COVID lockdowns.
That was an exercise, an exercise in control, and they were quite successful. In a report by the International
Energy Agency (IEA), it is stated: “The COVID crisis
demonstrated that people can make behavioural changes at significant speed and
scale if they understand the changes to be justified.” So with some
serious natural catastrophes ahead, I think that’s where we’re heading.
When will the GT start? I am wary to
put time and date on it. But the Bible is quite clear:
11 and there will be great earthquakes, and in one place
after another pestilences and food shortages; and there will be fearful sights
and from heaven great signs. 25 Also, there will be signs in sun and
moon and stars, and on the earth anguish of nations, not knowing the way out
because of the roaring of the sea and [its] agitation,
26 while men become faint out of
fear and expectation of the things coming upon the inhabited earth; for the
powers of the heavens will be shaken. (Lk. 21:11, 25, 26)
