-Rev 14-18 (part 1)

This will be a tough post to do for some reason. 
These chapters depict the end of something as well as the beginning of something else yet so many people believe neither and I ask myself, does that matter?

I suppose, of the infinite blessings God (or whatever you believe) bestowed upon humanity is, the ability to believe whatever we want, free will I think we call it.

Upon the founding of America, that gift had value. But in a culture where words have no meaning, context has no meaning, is free will still a gift?

Revelation sure is a good place to exercise free will in interpreting.

There are many objections to this line of thinking. 
In other words, an opposite of free will (when interpreting this book) means we're all the same.

But given our new definitions of terms, straw man rebuttals are common place. 
Or arguments made surrounding things unintended by one with strong opinions.

Example : someone says to me, I must think God has feathers, or God doesn't want His will known. 

I too have beliefs concerning the climatic events unfolding in these chapters. 
I've been asking myself, why do I believe what the Bible says in a (and here's another redefined term) "literal" fashion.

Is it really because of how i grew up? 
That's probably not the case given I've said quite often that church talk made little sense growing up so why would revelation eschatology, etc, be any different?

I've been a Christian for nearly 50 years but 
I wouldn't read God's Word thru till I was 45 (eight yrs ago)

.. and as sad as a commentary that this might be, I would not seriously consider the Kingdom of God till just (let's say) a week ago, literally.

So am I now an expert?  Not hardly.

But eight yrs of vrs by vrs, line by line, reading and listening to God's complete 66 books,

clearly seeing God's central and only theme, Salvation,

has prepared me in unforseen ways.

I'd spend 8 yrs comparing everything to everything, looking for differences (not to mention, driving my wife nuts)

I'd find the covenants to be a starting point for radical differences in one's beliefs.

I'd see that how one views Israel would create radical differences in one's beliefs.

I'd take note of the language, the agendas, meanings and so many other things those with major differences use, to express there opinion

and believe it or not, I wasn't even trying.

All I did was ask and answer any questions I had. It's not that tough.

People avoid questions concerning God's Word. They like what they hear and build on it. 
Questioning what they built on is touchy stuff.

My first time thru God's Word, line by line, would demolish much of what i was supposed to build on.

Instead, because it made little sense, those things I grew up with, my hesitation in building on it proved right.

I'd come to verse by verse fresh, clean. I can't really boast on that because by ignoring so much in years past, even though it would pave the way for this clean start,  I can't help but wonder what I hi may have missed.

But I'm here now. That's all that (presently) matters.

Even as recently as this week, something I grew up with was shown to be false. 
It concerns that 70's movie 'Thief in the night'

The verses used to convey the movies plot was off, way off. 
Seems my generation confused Christ's return to the mount of olive with the removal of the saints.

No wonder I ignored both.

satan was pleased to have us think that the one taken (in Mt 24) is the one going to heaven when the opposite is true. The one taken is cast away and the one left enters the kingdom.

satans tactic is to reverse things. Like convincing the church not to judge others within the church by discerning the teaching of books, music, sermons , when in fact, we are to one Day, return with Christ, AS judges.

Given our being prone, to apply spiritual meaning to passages rather than just read it, 

by the time believers get to these passages concerning them judging the earth, we pass over it with glazed eyes.

These chapters I'm in is beyond the most intense language uttered to convey what God previously said in the preceeding 65 books. 
Words fail me in describing my thoughts on it.

-God's love for those who trust Him. 
-God's hatred of sin. 
-God's holiness.

But the greatest insight, for me is 

in this country, at this time, 

the abundance of grace & mercy that God's gift of salvation

 was given to me

 is paramount. 
This rises to the top of my interpreting this final book of God's Word. 

It motivates my sharing, my testimony. 
This takes precedence over what I may or may not believe concerning Revelations imagery.

 To consider all I've been spared

 simply because of when & where I was born. 

This staggers the mind, bends the will, humbles the heart,  comforts the soul.

As much as all that's true, and it is, being human, I also have an inquisitive nature.

More in next post.