Summer 2009

elcome to Eschatology Today, your online revelation guide into the recorded parables, anointings, and dreams that make up the Bible's prophetic texts. Our aim in attracting your readership is not to convert you. We want to equip you to rightly divide God's prophetic word for yourself.

            That's right. For yourself. Too many within the church today approach the study of Bible prophecy through the eyes of a favorite "expert" instead of a researched observation of what Scripture actually says. Because this is true, many prophecy texts when "studied," go completely "unstudied," as words are sloppily overlooked and unconsciously read into passages to substantiate previously formulated doctrines or beliefs.

            Misreading the literal nature of Revelation's prophetic symbolism and misplacing its chronological sequence to fit particular perspectives; reversing to repeat the book's message at chapter 12 (regardless of literal trumpet/bowl differences); attributing its seven church letters to various church ages through which we have never historically passed; and disassociating its coming woes from the supernatural work of God (nuclear war) are all common "expert" views.

            These unsound interpretive ideas have evolved over the years from a common theological perspective that applies the literal rules of biblical interpretation (hermeneutics) to the Gospels and Epistles, but zones out into a nebulous hodge-podge of surreal fantasy when approaching the New Testament's only prophetic book.

            The God who revealed world history "in advance" simply isn't as confused as these teachings permit. Some of the visions and dreams recorded in Scripture are prophetic movies with a parabolic message regarding a person, place, or thing. Others are literal Holy Spirit snapshots given in real time. To understand either requires the presumption of God's literal intent.

            So we at Eschatology Today propose to make you an interpretive expert in the study disciplines of hermeneutics (the art and science of literal biblical interpretation) and pneumatology (study of the Holy Spirit) to give you the tools you need to interpret God's divine prophetic stream. Click on to our editorial and "Interpreting the Rules of Revelation" to get started.

        Since there is nothing more delightful than a good laugh, we at Eschatology Today also ensure our readers a regular dose of humor, to unstuff the spiritual cobwebs our religious motherboards are so often clogged with. The satire of "Pulpit Vacancy at Menlo Park," and "Shazbatz Benai and the Quest of the Windy Dune" should tickle your funny bone, if you've got one. I've found too many prophetically correct Christians don't have one. So get one. Laughter makes the heart merry like a medicine.

         And, of course, we keep our readers regularly informed on major world events that may or may not relate to key eschatological texts. If something in world news breaks that is worth eschatological consideration, our links will have it posted and we'll add commentary and analysis on occasion to stir our views into the mix.

          So, what are you waiting for? Go ahead. Click on to our editorial, then punch through this issue's offered pieces, and start becoming your own eschatologian —  today!