language can so easily be made to mean what we want, rather than what it really means…

Yes!!! And post-modernism - deconstruction doesn’t help any!

I will keep your husband and you for his back in my prayers tonight. Those are not easy to deal with.

Yes, I agree. Some have come to an understanding that there is a sudden departure in the imagery of that scripture. My study Bible liner notes tend to support the understanding that these are all means of God’s restrained judgement on mankind, his exercise of sovereign authority over the events of human history, even using enemies to accomplish this purpose that allows the giving of “one last chance” for unbelievers to come to Christ. This is so in keeping with a short essay on the difference between a threat and a warning that I read today. It made a clear distinction on the following: A threat is given by one who wants you to do what is in their best interest. A warning is given by one who wants you to do what is in your best interest. For those who regularly and roundly condemn God for using “fear” (in the morbid sense) to “control” them and “make” them obey, have either missed the point entirely in ignorance or are very well aware of it in all the perversity of their heart. As Chesterton often pointed out, language can so easily be made to mean what we want, rather than what it really means and the mind that has not been trained is not able to hear these “dissonances” of word tone precisely for what they are end up at a loss during rebuttal.

Interesting thing came to mind when I read your observations…in fact I was going to elaborate more in this particular post about one of the four horseman. That being the first one who comes to conquer, he is riding a white horse and he is wearing a crown. A lot of people say that this rider on the white horse is Christ, but I am of the understanding, from much more further study on this topic, that this is a counterfeit or the one that bears an image much like Christ.

Rev 6:1 Now I watched when the Lamb opened one of the seven seals, and I heard one of the four living creatures say with a voice like thunder, “Come!”
Rev 6:2 And I looked, and behold, a white horse! And its rider had a bow, and a crown was given to him, and he came out conquering, and to conquer.

So to the kingdom will attempt to be much like the kingdom of God and bears that image, but in reality it is man’s attempt.

I am limited in time, as my hubby is home with a back injury…

Definitely well stated from the scriptures! I am sometimes being reminded though, that what we see in some (though certainly not all) of these “doctrines” are the facets of God’s image somehow separated as one note is from a melody: it is the right note, just blown too loudly or off beat as when one instrument blows a note too loudly and out of rhythmn in a passage of symphony. Jesus did say the “kingdom of God is in your midst.” and indeed the King of that kingdom was and is still for He is risen and is living! Yet we cannot miss the fullness of the Gospel as you say. In a parallel thought, it is somewhat akin to being able to view an enemy bearing the image of God. So there is something of God in these things isn’t there! It is an aspect of Lewis’ observation of evil as “spoiled goodness.” As Hamlet would say: “Aye, there’s the rub!” I find myself increasingly disciplined to respect, yes, even love more, that for which I must stand firm for truth against. It is that “union of contrast” that the scottish theologian James Stewart spoke so eloquently about. Only the Holy Spirit can teach us how to reflect this splendor of the Lord in our difficult times! And sometimes, I think I shall never learn it….except through faith in faith that we all shall because God loves us.

Melly

But, they forget that Christ said His Kingdom is not of this earth, the love of many would wax cold because iniquity would increase, and He asked if there would be any faith in the world when He returns. (John 18:36, Matt 24:12, Luke 18:8).