Tuesday, January 10, 2006

End Times and Miracles

{{___ Do you view the end times as a majorly supernatural event from beginning to finish, or a real life human antichrist who takes the world secretly? I just finished watching a documentary about the differing theories, and I am interested to know what my Christian friends believe...}}

Thanks for your question. Something I had not thought much about before.

Off the top of my head.

C.S. Lewis has pointed out that the line between natural and supernatural is somewhat artificial.

One can look at the supernatural as things outside both of human experience, and human theories about the regular operation of nature.

Perhaps a distinction that is more important is "signs and wonders". Things different enough to be noticed (and properly acted upon by the responsible).

The signs and wonders of Revelation may mostly be figurative but accurate language for events that will be explainable by the science of the time, including speculation about "creatures from outer space". One reason that figurative language is used, is because of ignorance of future technology. Figurative language is the best description.

God seems to want man to walk by faith, not by sight, in the present creation. This includes the end times.

The end times will include seasons of signs and wonders.

Just as seasons of signs and wonders have taken place in the past. Such seasons seem to be designed to offer a last chance to repent before a great judgment:

. Works done through Moses before judgments in Egypt and the wilderness.

. Works done through Elijah and Elisha before the collapse of the northern kingdom.

. Works done through Christ and His apostles before the ruin of the Temple, Jerusalem, and Israel under the sixth and seventh Roman precursors of the anti-Christ.

Those who wish for miracles should be instructed about the horrific judgments that follow the signs and wonders recorded in scripture.