Kirche Enterprises
Presents
An Analysis of the End Time
Much has been recently said in the media concerning the "end time" which is believed to usher in some rather foreboding events including worldwide calamities preceding the end of the world. Particular anxiety was generated by the arrival of the new millennium or the calendar year 2000 wherein many speculated that these events could well result from worldwide failure of computers, which were not programmed to handle the change in date format required by a new millennium.
In retrospect, it should be noted that concern for such computer failure was initiated only a few years before the year 2000. These years were so few that quite a few businesses were not sure that they had enough time to modify their computers and avoid the consequences of being unprepared. The prospect of such computer failure and the presence of computer-controlled nuclear weapons of mass destruction generated such concern that leaders of world nuclear powers took concerted effort to preclude such catastrophe.
Fortunately, this change took place without any such catastrophe or "end time" scenario. Nevertheless, belief in such an "end time" is based upon some worthwhile observations and is not to be dismissed as religious myth. The potential computer dilemma was only one of these observations and was in itself a convincing argument for these concerns. For many this experience was similar to that of previous historical anticipations of which there have been several.
Subsequently, a relative calm has settled on this subject and it has been archived by most to give priority to addressing routine day-to-day challenges. For some, however, it was a wakeup call to take a closer look at future world events in an "end time" context. For these, much of the previously noted indicators still exist and cannot be ignored. Worldwide catastrophe is still very possible and seems to be getting more probable with such things as global warming. Yes, it is true that a relative peace exists and the threat of worldwide nuclear war has diminished to a large extent. Nevertheless, world tensions are still very high and growing due to terror credited to acts of man and nature itself.
One does not want to lose hope in resolving the problems causing current world tensions. On the other hand, one does not want to regard them as routine either. We are facing unprecedented challenges that must be recognized as such. In so doing, most of us would probably agree that we have not yet experienced the unprecedented challenges of the "end time". That is some comfort, but the challenges we are experiencing require us to remain vigilant about such a possibility in the foreseeable future.
Thus, although we may not yet be living in the "end time", we may well be living in a "tend time" in which we must properly tend to "end time" matters to the best of our ability. That means we must continue to study Biblical teachings or prophecies that shed light on these matters. Some of us may feel that we have had enough of this study and "end time" prophets whose forecasts failed to happen, particularly around the year 2000. Still, we must remember that the Bible warns us about false prophets that shall precede the "end time". Although their prophecies may fail, their numbers lend testimony to a nearness of the "end time".
It is then still possible that an "end time" scenario could be in the near future. To determine if it is probable, we must be careful to analyze relevant teachings and prophecies based on sound reason and Biblical consistency. That truly is a big task for most of us and, as such, may even be regarded as unreasonable in itself. We would then look to recognized authorities for guidance. There are certainly any number of websites and books available that shed some light on these matters. Review of these sources does tend to enliven one's interest and curiosity, but generally leave the reader feeling that essential questions have not been answered. Finding answers to these essential questions in this manner can then lead to exhaustion.
To remedy this effect it is really necessary to begin with a treatment of basic issues upon which expansion can be made to provide a comprehensive treatment. Such are the objectives of this website as will be supported herein for those who will give it their attention. Unprecedented clarifications are really available for those who would do this. Written in a spirit of ecumenism for members of most religious sects, it relies as much as possible on innate logic and rationale common to most of us. Thus, it is intended to improve unity among these sects by resolving differences that have existed without sufficient cause and to lay the groundwork for resolving other differences as well. Constructive feedback comments are welcome and can be emailed by clicking here at our Mail Box .
Concern for the proximity of the "end time" has existed off and on for approximately 2000 years since the writing of the Book of Revelation and before. Similar scenarios of distress during this timeframe have caused noted authorities to forecast the proximity of the "end time" any number of times in the past. These forecasts, likewise, were erroneous which would tend to make the average believer more skeptical about each subsequent forecast. Their confidence in the credibility of these authorities would be progressively undermined by each erroneous forecast.
The passage of time, however, has availed the world of a prophet who has made convincing forecasts of events which took place centuries after his life span and who has also made forecasts of events for the new millennium concerning the "end time". His forecasts have then been tested by time and his credibility enhanced with each success. Add to these successes the fact that he has made "end time" forecasts and the average believer would once again focus in on these forecasts.
The authority referenced is the clairvoyant French seer Michel de Nostradamus (1503-1566 AD) who made such prophecies in his book "Centuries". These included past events related to the London fire of 1666, the French revolution in 1789, the rise and fall of Napoleon, Adolf Hitler, World War I, World War II outbreak over Poland and the fall of Russian Communism. Nostradamus then gained much recognition and credibility when these events transpired as he had prophesied. It is no wonder, then, that his prophecy of other future events would be taken seriously, particularly those related to "end time" events.
He made several prophecies about catastrophies, which resemble those contained in the Book of Revelation. However, these prophecies may have been based upon Revelation and, as such, are not so informative. What is significant is that he associated some prophesied events with the start of the new millennium. He did this in two sections of his book described as Century X Quatrain 72 which forecasts the descent of the King of Terror from the sky in the summer of 1999 and Century X Quatrain 74 which forecasts "Not distant from the great Millennium, when the dead will leave their graves." These two events can be readily associated with the "end time" prophesied by the Bible.
Recent discovery of an apparent code throughout the Hebrew rendition of the Bible has also revealed apparent prophecies of a number of events that have taken place in the recent past. These prophecies are indicated to be far more accurate than those made by Nostradamus and are growing in credibility. Much of this growth has been due to the traceability of recent significant events to related keywords found in proximity to each other in the Hebrew Bible, as made possible by current computer technology.
These forecasts coupled with other recent events give one due cause to believe that "end time" events may well be near. Nevertheless, it is important to express such belief only in terms of probabilities, since the Bible itself warns us against predicting the day or the hour when these events will take place. That warning, nevertheless, does not mean that we should stop anticipating these events or that we should not make reasonable attempts to discern their proximity. On the contrary, we should do these things. This understanding is supported by Luke 21: 29-31 "And he spoke to them a similitude. See the fig tree and all the trees: When they now shoot forth their fruit, you know that summer is nigh; So you also, when you shall see these things come to pass, know that the kingdom of God is at hand."
The Book of Revelation is also known as the "Book of the Apocalypse" taken from its prior rendition in Greek. The word "apocalypse" is derived from the Greek "apokalysis" for "the lifting of a veil" and therefore connotes revelation. The word "revelation" is taken from the Latin word "revelare", which means to "unveil" or "disclose". This book is commonly believed to address events leading up to the end of the world, otherwise know as "end time events".
Further, it provides warning of an unprecedented period of tribulation that will be brought on by the arrival of a tyrannical regime described metaphorically as a beast. Since essential parts of the book use such metaphors, much of it is rather ambiguous. Historically some have rejected it because of this ambiguity. On the other hand, some have recognized it as worthy of inclusion in the Bible. In view of this difference in positions, should we really be concerned about this book? Is its importance just a matter of opinion, or is there really a sound basis for considering it? Yes, there is. Rationale supporting this position and a summary of the book's forecasted tribulation are provided in the attached synopsis entitled "The Book of Revelation".
The tyrannical regime that will impose this "end time" tribulation is described as a beast that will have the attributes of the four beasts described in the Bible's Book of Daniel which is discussed in the attached interpretation entitled "The Book of Daniel". The beast of Revelation incorporates the features of all four of these beasts, which indicates that it will have all of the attributes of these beasts, such as size, strength, speed and ferocity. However, tyrannical regimes of the past have had these attributes to some extent. Those of the future could also have them to some extent. If we are to prepare for the predicted unprecedented tribulation, we should then be able to recognize this tyrannical regime when it does come.
Such recognition requires identification of unique characteristics of the beast of Revelation that would specifically identify it. Such identification is particularly challenging in view of the ambiguity of its metaphoric symbolism. Providence nonetheless wants us to eventually do this and gives us some unique clues in Revelation 13: 16-18 as follows:
"And he shall make all, both little and great, rich and poor, freemen and bondmen, to have a character in their right hand or on their foreheads: And that no man might buy or sell, but he that hath the character, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name. Here is wisdom. He that hath understanding, let him count the number of the beast. For it is the number of a man: and the number of him is six hundred sixty-six."
Some believe that this number 666 denotes the name "Caesar Neron" or Nero. Nero Claudius Caesar ruled Rome from 54 to 68 AD and was one of its most infamous emperors. Although he persecuted the Christians extensively there are a number of reasons why he did not qualify as the tyrant of Revelation. Other historical interpretations of this number have been quite ingenious, but also failed to qualify as the correct interpretation because they did not lead to a comprehensive interpretation of Revelation. This result is essential.
If any of these interpretations were the correct one, the Book of Revelation could be regarded as a history book. If view of shortcomings in historical interpretations, it is apparent that this tyrannical regime has not yet appeared. Consequently, this number refers to the name of a tyrannical regime of the future and correct interpretation of this number must yet be accomplished. One such name has been recently identified and serves as a good candidate for such an interpretation. Derivation of this name and rationale supporting the positions taken herein are provided in the attached analysis entitled "The Mark of the Beast".
In Christian belief the life of Christ marked the end of the old and the beginning of a new covenant that God had with the Jews and mankind. The period of the end of this old covenant therefore represented an "end time" during which some prophecies of extreme persecution and victory were fulfilled as prophesied in the Book of Daniel and reported in the Books of Machabees. Other prophecies were also related to the "end time", but were not fulfilled at the end of the old covenant. This indicates that they would be fulfilled within another "end time" period, commonly believed to be the end of the world. Since reference to the end time in Daniel is in general terms, it could be deduced that the prophecies fulfilled at the end of the old covenant, would also be fulfilled at the end of the world. In other words, the prophecies fulfilled at the end of the old covenant would prefigure their fulfillment at the end of the world and would be supplemented with the fulfillment of the remaining prophecies.
We are instructed to be vigilant for "end time" events by the words of Matthew 24: 32-33 "And from the fig tree learn a parable: When the branch thereof is now tender and the leaves come forth, you know that summer is nigh. So you also, when you shall see all these things, know ye that it is nigh, even at the doors." Still, we are told that we will not know the day or the hour of these events by the words of Matthew 24: 36 "But of that day and hour no one knoweth: no, not the angels of Heaven, but the Father alone."
Many feel that we are now living in the "end time" of the world, or that it is near at hand. These expectations are based to some extent on rational understanding of the signs of the times and to some extent on emotional intuition. These expectations are normal and have been experienced repeatedly in the past due to specific historical events that likewise indicated the "end time" was near. Since the "end time" did not happen, these expectations resulted in repeated disappointment. Current expectations can also result in disappointment, so a comprehensive analysis of the proximity of the "end time" has been conducted and is recorded in the attached analysis entitled "End Time Proximity". It indicates that we really do not know when the "end time" will occur.
As such, the "end time" may be in the near future or just as well in the far future. If it is in the near future, of course, we must be prepared as best we can. However, if it is in the far future and we prepare in a similar manner, we can exhaust ourselves over an extended length of time. This could then result in a reduction of our preparedness to a state of inadequacy, or even a termination of our effort. Our preparation in this case should then be reduced in advance, so that we do not exhaust ourselves. However, if we reduce our preparation too much we can lose adequate vigilance to deal with a near term scenario. We are therefore left between a rock and a hard place commonly called a dilemma. We feel we must maintain a state of preparedness, but do not know what it should be.
This dilemma, of course, is a source of anxiety which has been dismissed by a relatively new doctrine entitled "The Rapture Doctrine". It maintains that faithful Christians need not be anxious, since they will not have to endure this tribulation. (It would, of course, cause them to be unprepared for it if they did.) As yet this doctrine is accepted only by a minority of Christians, regardless of sect. This lack of acceptance is believed to be due to its newness, speculative character, and lack of support in historical Christian teachings and literature.
Such a doctrine has been appealing to some and was extended to teach that a new calendar would begin at Christ's second coming, just as it did at his first coming. The events in Revelation would then take place during the period of this new calendar. Such novel ideas are entertaining, but warrant a closer examination before acceptance. They were therefore analyzed as recorded in the attached analysis entitled "The Rapture Doctrine". This analysis has revealed that there are substantial flaws in this doctrine in that it contradicts itself as well as various verses in the Book of Revelation. As such, this doctrine is invalidated and we must therefore look elsewhere for guidance, particularly for preparation.
We then return to our dilemma. We feel we must maintain a state of preparedness, but do not know what it should be. It is therefore important to back up and put the "end time" in perspective. This time will certainly be a period of unprecedented tribulation, but it will also conclude with the second advent of Christ. He will return to be victorious over this tribulation and to reward His faithful with eternal life and happiness. There is then a silver lining to this dark cloud of the "end time" which helps to comfort us and reduce our anxiety over these matters. More importantly, this second advent is the predominant event of the "end time". As such, we should be asking ourselves first how we should prepare for this predominant event. If we are adequately prepared for it, then we should also be prepared for the events that precede it.
How do we know this? By analogy! The "end time" experience is quite similar to the routine passing from this life into the next and meeting the Lord. As a rule, the event of this passing includes some anxiety which is followed by the soul meeting the Lord. If the soul is prepared for the meeting, the anxiety which precedes it is alleviated. The soul may even welcome the passing to meet the Lord because it is optimistic about the happiness that will ensue. The basis of this optimism is the soul's confidence in its preparation for this meeting. It knows that it will be judged favorably because it has been faithful. Faithfulness is then the answer to how we should prepare. Furthermore, we should be faithful for this passing which we know is near. When we are, we also remain faithful for the "end time", regardless of when it occurs.
Some would say that they that they feel that they are faithful, but they are still anxious about death and the "end time". This condition is probably quite common. However, if we can agree that faithfulness alleviates these anxieties to some extent, then we should also be able to agree that more faithfulness should alleviate them even more, even to the point that we can disregard them. We should therefore strive to increase our faithfulness to reduce our anxieties and increase our optimism.
Some would say that faithfulness is something that you either have or do not have. They therefore believe that it cannot be increased beyond simply acquiring it. If that is the case, of course, our answer for preparation would be invalid. It is therefore essential that it be properly analyzed to determine if it can be increased. Such an anlysis is presented in the attached document entitled "Faithfulness". It concludes that a Christian's faith in Christ is much the same as faith in a country's government. A Christian is a citizen of the Kingdom of Heaven as well as a citizen of a country. A Christian must therefore be faithful to the Kingdom of Heaven as he or she is faithful to a country.
This faithfulness is manifested in obedience to its laws. If this obedience is repeatedly tested through compliance to these laws and this compliance results in a favorable outcome, then faithfulness to the government repeatedly increases. So it is with faithfulness to Christ and the Kingdom of Heaven. However, His laws are easier to obey. They are summed up in the two commandments to love God with all your ability and to love your neighbor as yourself. He has said "He who loves me keeps my commandments". In so doing we can increase our faith and our expectation to enter into the eternal happiness that is heaven. In so doing, we prepare ourselves more for future challenges and thereby find more peace in the present as well as the future. In so doing, we can even begin our heaven here on earth.
The preceding analyses have demonstrated that "end time" events are really challenges to faith and should be addressed in that context. Accordingly, only topics especially relevant to such challenges have been discussed. Other topics are also relevant in lesser degrees and are certainly of interest. For the sake of some brevity, however, it was necessary to defer discussion of these topics to a sequel provided in a newly released book published by Kirche Enterprises. This book is a composite of the material presented herein plus additional material addressing the balance of other topics. As such it is the most comprehensive and complete treatment of all of these topics available in today's marketplace. It is also presented in a sequential manner for more coherency and relevancy of these topics, making it is a very good reference for daily use. The book is entitled "The Tend Time" and is specifically identified under International Standard Book Number (ISBN) 978-0980202809. It can be readily ordered online at the Amazon.com Book Department by clicking here on its title The Tend Time .
