I’m observing emphasis on avoiding trouble of the end times competing with evangelism to save people from hell.
So, I repeat warnings about some things I see.

Honestly, I’m getting weary, even angry, over the super-learned teachers with every detail answer to every question, claiming it’s all so simple, with a verse for every detail—“just like this”.
So, where does that leave the rest of us who don’t get that ‘degree’ of ‘education’ ?

Verses quoted—where do they come from ?, context ?—teachers don’t have time (or don’t want to waste time) to explain how each verse’s context fits the(ir) big picture.

How could I start from scratch—with my Bible only, explaining itself—to arrive at the same conclusions, same specifics, same detailed time-line, same answers for everything ?
How much study on my own would it take (overwhelming, insurmountable) ?

– – –

Is everyone like me to be left with limited options about teaching on end-times ?
People are going to take one of these:

— Pick a leader/teacher (from the assortment out there that have each of their end-times time-lines nailed down) that sounds good, sounds like he might be right, sounds like he knows more than I can ever learn from my own Bible study, that gives me a clear picture to hold on to—because ‘Lord Knows’ how scary and complicated things are getting.

OR,

— (less likely) Diligently, fervently read my Bible (disengaging what I’ve heard from high education, from logic combined with Scripture, from frequent “I think” included, from “It’s simple, this way”), until I’m satisfied.
Satisfied that I have answers from my own study.
Satisfied that it’s okay to have remaining questions unanswered ?

OR,

— (more likely) ‘Check out’, get off the frenzied bandwagon of saturated talk that everybody’s supposed to be on because the end is near.
The excitement is wearing off, wearing down, losing my attention.

– – –

The ‘answer for every question’ scholars sure sound like it’s not okay, or not necessary, to still have questions—just ask them, and they’ll tell you.
Example: Descriptions of our roles on earth, with unimaginable detail—after it’s all over from the bad stuff.

– – –

+ Logic
I hear basic premises about rapture, etc., using logic to determine the way it has to be.
Just listening, I’m not so sure, with just the Bible.

+ Rationale
Reasoning seems pervasive, using verses to say it must mean this, and then building on that assumption to figure out everything else.
Building on . . ., building on . . ., rushing on to boatloads of exciting details, without taking time on the foundation—time to let the Bible itself carry its own weight.
Seems to me the interpretations outweigh the Bible—
Is that not true for most listeners ?
Following the teacher seems more important than “searching the Scriptures daily to see if those things were so, that were taught them.”
Seems it’s not kosher, polite, respectful, acceptable, . . ., to question the teacher who ‘obviously’ knows much more than the rest of us.
What if the teacher is not as right as he appears or claims ?

+ I think
Almost unnoticed in much end-time teaching is the frequent use of “I think” in answering questions.
At least they’re being a little honest, but the typical listener caught up in the scholarly answers does not pause to reflect and question, because he might miss something if he stops to think.
Most teaching proceeds with such a rapid pace, that listeners can’t stop to ask questions (by design perhaps, for that reason ?).
What a far cry from Billy Graham sounding out, “The Bible Says” over and over and over.
THAT GAVE HIS MESSAGE POWER ! ! !
Graham never said, “I think” in his messages—that weakens and dilutes what anyone has to say.

+ Consensus of theologians
If you have the clear authority of the Word of God behind you, you don’t have to refer to what most theologians say.
When does opinion of man, even a majority, ever validate a message from the Bible ?

(Just to think about, until I tackle another area of serious inefficiency, waste, fraud, theft that robs humanity of the truth and the life and freedom we could have.)

Department
Of
Spiritual
Efficiency

See also D.O.M.E.

(Just to think about, until I tackle another area of serious inefficiency, waste, fraud, theft that robs humanity of the truth and the life and freedom we could have.)

DEPARTMENT
OF
THEOLOGICAL
EFFICIENCY

See also D.O.M.E.