This is a great starting essay! Historical interpretation of torah and bible passages fascinates me, so, for my sake, feel free to dive in deeper to the 'mark of the beast' and Revelations and all associated history.
Also always shaking my head that the people who believe this stuff think they are "suffering" by being asked to do something mildly inconvenient.
Holy wow. This is probably the most well-written and in-depth essay I have ever seen on this topic. I was vaguely aware of some of this, but I had no idea how far spread and pervasive this issue has been in the Christian community. The only thing about this that disappointed me was myself when I clicked play on maybe the worst youtube video ever created,
Wow, I've been fascinated with premillennial dispensationalism for a while (shout-out to reading all of the Left Behind books before age 13!) and this historical treatment of the phenomenon is truly thorough. Thanks for a thought-provoking read!
I simply cannot understand these people. Why? They are not persecuted. Their own god asks them... no, commands them.. to love and serve others as they love and serve Him. And yet they do anything but that. What is it that draws them to want to see everything beautiful about the world their god created for them and everyone else completely destroyed? For spite? For sheer meanness? To "prove" something to someone else? And when you're dead, does it really matter anymore?
I truly don't understand death cults; I don't care whether it's Christian or Islamic. I just don't understand Extremism in the name of ANY religion. Death comes to us all soon enough. It's what makes life so precious. If I had to put a name to this people, I'd declare them evil.
But, if the mark could be on the forehead, wouldn't that refer to the MAGA hats? The hand could be the stamp received at TFG's rallies. So, yeah, turnabout?
very impressive work. i've just been asked to write something on covid and apocalyptic, and this really helps. what a wonderful example of what i call a rooster (see below).
just one clarification, although the train of thought suggests it, i didn't say (or mean to say) that gutenberg's press was seen as a mark of the beast, but, like all new means of communication, a great spur to apocalyptic thought of all kinds. the apocalyptic prophets, roosters as i call them (like this woman) are eager to use such new means. (true of radio and tv too.)
I would love to be enlightened on the meaning of a stylized long sword that appears as your talisman, disregarding the obviously trite phallic symbol of aforementioned sword.
Damn. I'm so glad you stated explicitly the way vaccination combines the fear of collectivism with the fear of new technology. I hadn't thought of it in those terms, but it's <i>so true</i>.
Do they not realize we've never had a thousand years of peace, ever? No reason to even worry until that happens. Spoiler. It won't happen, as long as humans exist.
Apocalypse Now
This is a great starting essay! Historical interpretation of torah and bible passages fascinates me, so, for my sake, feel free to dive in deeper to the 'mark of the beast' and Revelations and all associated history.
Also always shaking my head that the people who believe this stuff think they are "suffering" by being asked to do something mildly inconvenient.
Holy wow. This is probably the most well-written and in-depth essay I have ever seen on this topic. I was vaguely aware of some of this, but I had no idea how far spread and pervasive this issue has been in the Christian community. The only thing about this that disappointed me was myself when I clicked play on maybe the worst youtube video ever created,
Thanks for all the work, it shows.
Wow, I've been fascinated with premillennial dispensationalism for a while (shout-out to reading all of the Left Behind books before age 13!) and this historical treatment of the phenomenon is truly thorough. Thanks for a thought-provoking read!
I simply cannot understand these people. Why? They are not persecuted. Their own god asks them... no, commands them.. to love and serve others as they love and serve Him. And yet they do anything but that. What is it that draws them to want to see everything beautiful about the world their god created for them and everyone else completely destroyed? For spite? For sheer meanness? To "prove" something to someone else? And when you're dead, does it really matter anymore?
I truly don't understand death cults; I don't care whether it's Christian or Islamic. I just don't understand Extremism in the name of ANY religion. Death comes to us all soon enough. It's what makes life so precious. If I had to put a name to this people, I'd declare them evil.
having grown up in a family full of these whackos i can certify that this is real. terrifyingly real. true believers are the most dangerous of all.
A great read, very informative. This stack (blog? series?) is off to a fantastic start.
But, if the mark could be on the forehead, wouldn't that refer to the MAGA hats? The hand could be the stamp received at TFG's rallies. So, yeah, turnabout?
very impressive work. i've just been asked to write something on covid and apocalyptic, and this really helps. what a wonderful example of what i call a rooster (see below).
just one clarification, although the train of thought suggests it, i didn't say (or mean to say) that gutenberg's press was seen as a mark of the beast, but, like all new means of communication, a great spur to apocalyptic thought of all kinds. the apocalyptic prophets, roosters as i call them (like this woman) are eager to use such new means. (true of radio and tv too.)
And they wonder why religion is looked at as nothing more than an ancient fairy tale, relax, gos is imaginary.
I would love to be enlightened on the meaning of a stylized long sword that appears as your talisman, disregarding the obviously trite phallic symbol of aforementioned sword.
Damn. I'm so glad you stated explicitly the way vaccination combines the fear of collectivism with the fear of new technology. I hadn't thought of it in those terms, but it's <i>so true</i>.
Do they not realize we've never had a thousand years of peace, ever? No reason to even worry until that happens. Spoiler. It won't happen, as long as humans exist.