Rebekah's Great Insight and Thoughts

This is fantastic insight that my friend Rebekah wrote on her facebook page. I got her permission to have this on here to share this with my readers :-) God's plan for The End... and how it boggles the mind Thursday, July 10, 2008 at 11:58pm For whatever reason, my mind has been preoccupied lately with things of an eschatological nature..... God's plan for Christ's return and the end of the world. My thoughts have been driven by the news of ever-rising tension in the Middle East, as Israel, Iraq, and Iran make headlines every day, as well as the large power-countries of the world who are involved in how it all plays out. As far back as I can recall, I've been fascinated and fearful of what Scripture has to say on this topic. I've been trying to do my own earnest searching for answers on who, what, when, etc., knowing that ultimately only the Father in heaven knows exactly. But when so many signs and events are depicted in Scripture, any person who reads these passages and possesses a working mind can see a progression. Here's my huge hangup this evening--- There are so many opposing schools of thought, each with their own "proofs" from Scripture. Which passages in the books of the prophets/Revelation describe the final future, and not just things that have already occurred? (Thankfully, there aren't too many passages where this is questioned.) To what extent are we allowed to define terms and phrases by something other than what is explicitly stated? (a literal vs. figurative scale.) I wholeheartedly agree with a literal approach to the words of prophecy, but this doesn't make anything easier. A specific topic is that of the Rapture. Skeptics claim that this is a wholly new (mid-19th-century and later) concept within the church, but I read a biblical commentary this evening from 1701 that used the term "Rapture" to describe the event in 1 Thess. that is commonly regarded as a clear description of this event. Even if we assume that the "Rapture" will happen, there are at least 4 differing ideas of when in relation to the tribulation that this will happen. I'll read one camp's justifications and can agree, and then I'll read the other views and their supports, and my mind can as easily concur. My eyes and brain are bleary at this point this evening, and I think all I have to say is this: God has a timeline for earth, and the end is clearly discussed, as well as Christ's sure return. When will it happen? What should Christians (including myself, friends, and family) expect to experience? Early rapture, or extreme pain and persecution--even death-- before we see Christ one way or the other? We can't know. For all our well-intended searching of Scripture, WE DON'T KNOW who is "right" and who is "wrong" in these theories and timelines that abound. We won't know unless these things begin to happen and we realize we're in the midst of it. Or unless we hear Christ's heralding shout and our lives on earth are cut short. And not by death. The one and only thing to do as I realize how unsure these things are is to proclaim Christ as LORD and surrender my heart, mind, actions, words, and future to Him. That is the only way to be prepared, regardless of what lies ahead. That is the only way any of us can be prepared.