We really do not need to invent a whole new vocabulary to speak about the future, because the final book of the Bible, the Apocalypse of John, has given us the words and mental imagery to do this. It is a prophecy that focuses on the final period of world history, and I suggest it can offer us, right now, a vision of great hope and comfo…
We really do not need to invent a whole new vocabulary to speak about the future, because the final book of the Bible, the Apocalypse of John, has given us the words and mental imagery to do this. It is a prophecy that focuses on the final period of world history, and I suggest it can offer us, right now, a vision of great hope and comfort - an alternative to the dystopia that is taking shape before our eyes. John foresees a centralized global government reigning for a short period ('the reign of the beast' for 42 months; Rev chs 13, 17-18) before being suddenly, totally, and eternally replaced by the Christ-conscious, 'meta-religious' humanity (Rev chs. 21-22). In traditional terms the 'singular transformation' point is called the 'final judgment' (Rev 20, 11-15), when all that is evil is condemned, discarded and burnt-up. The vision of the 'new heaven and new earth' in the last 2 chapters is well worth recalling when hardships overwhelm us and we are wondering why we are fighting - through peaceful resistance. That is what awaits us, when the spiritual battle has been won, and God will be living among his peoples, here on this planet. For anyone who wants to go into the details: https://www.academia.edu/44968082/THE_BOOK_OF_REVELATION_A_COMMENTARY_IN_THE_LIGHT_OF_THE_TEMPLE .
We really do not need to invent a whole new vocabulary to speak about the future, because the final book of the Bible, the Apocalypse of John, has given us the words and mental imagery to do this. It is a prophecy that focuses on the final period of world history, and I suggest it can offer us, right now, a vision of great hope and comfort - an alternative to the dystopia that is taking shape before our eyes. John foresees a centralized global government reigning for a short period ('the reign of the beast' for 42 months; Rev chs 13, 17-18) before being suddenly, totally, and eternally replaced by the Christ-conscious, 'meta-religious' humanity (Rev chs. 21-22). In traditional terms the 'singular transformation' point is called the 'final judgment' (Rev 20, 11-15), when all that is evil is condemned, discarded and burnt-up. The vision of the 'new heaven and new earth' in the last 2 chapters is well worth recalling when hardships overwhelm us and we are wondering why we are fighting - through peaceful resistance. That is what awaits us, when the spiritual battle has been won, and God will be living among his peoples, here on this planet. For anyone who wants to go into the details: https://www.academia.edu/44968082/THE_BOOK_OF_REVELATION_A_COMMENTARY_IN_THE_LIGHT_OF_THE_TEMPLE .