Are we gonna debate this, literally?

For a couple weeks now I've been in Zechariah. I'm coming to the end of another trip thru God's Word and the final 3 books to go are all prophetic in nature, those being Zechariah, malachi and Revelation. I told my wife I wasn't looking forward to it, not because of the content of the books but because, when I have conversation with other believers concerning books such as these,  it gets to be quite challenging. 
Maybe it was because of some of that thinking, that might account for my struggling to get thru Zechariah these past 2 weeks. For some reason, my comprehension train slowed down but I think I got it up and running again tonight, thanks to finding a terrific resource on the Internet. So many things continue to amaze me.  Like the Internet and  the finding of the very things when I need them, and where these things are located ? Everywhere from a hokie sounding voice (TTB) to the corn fields of God's country (generationword.com)

When I think of some of the conversations I recently had , all I can do is scratch my head and wonder. One believer told me that any and all interpretation of scripture was right because it was the opinion of the one giving it and it needs to be respected. Kinda puts a lid on discernment thinkers for sure. It was after that conversation that I searched for and found those two sermons I posted earlier, on Zechariah. Two completely different views but to some, both acceptable. To that I say "not so fast  Charlie." 
But if anyone wants to liven up an otherwise dull christian party , one sure fire way too do so is to say something like "ya know, I don't think God is thru with the nation Israel yet".. then step back and watch the opinions fly. That party is no longer dull. 

Why? 

Good question. Because anybody n everybody has a view, and a different one at that. It's amazing. Some folks get touchy on this subject.  They politely disagree yet all the while, thinking of the other { oh u poor dear, how could u be so ill-informed} 
Of course, I myself, would never engage in such shenanigans (hack hack cough cough) 

It's because of conversations concerning Israel , I knew, as I read Zechariah, I'd have these discussions  and more times than not I'd welcome them. 
The subject will instinctively turn towards how one reads the Bible.. Literally or figuratively. Now the answer to the question of which one is correct, is.. "yes" 

How best to explain this. 
I routinely listen to like chapters , with opposing views , and in doing so it doesn't take a rocket scientist to see the dilemma. I'm gonna keep my opinions to myself for the moment mainly due to, if someone cares, they'll check things out themselves. 
The subject of Israel is not as complicated as we make it. Any newspaper could reveal that. 

But the thing that really floored me was when I was recently reminded, from Hebrews 6, that these matters of Escatolgy come under the heading of elementary teachings, not to be browbeat into the ground over the course of our lives but instead the writer of Hebrews encourages us to move on to maturity in such things as Christ as our High Priest. 

The subject of Israel is not to be approached with an open mind. More like an open Bible. There are several red flags to look for when an endless debate seems imminent but the foremost one could possibly be , when differing opinions hinge on the literal /figurative angle. Example :is the thousand years mentioned in Rev. literal or figurative? Trust me, no one ever wins that one. When this subject gets reduced to that, it gives more clarity to why Hebrews places it in th the elementary realm. 
Not to say it's not important. It's very important. It's the difference between knowing and not knowing the season of our Lords return. It may not be overly relevant to those in my age group, mid fifties, for it will be most likely be our grand children to live out these signs of the times, and having wise discerning grandparents that can point out more from our Scriptures what it means , just might come in handy if they ever would ask us.

The subject of Israel ain't going away anytime soon and I suspect that it's attraction to invite debate stems from.. that at some point , we stopped reading our Bibles in context, whole books at a time. We prefer our favorite belief from our favorite teacher. Guess none of us can escape that completely but the desire to shed past influences grows in me with each passing day, as well as each passing chapter I read. 
Best advice I can give anyone these days is ta shut up &... 

TryreadNit!