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Religion & End Time Prophecy
Religion
Susan Milbrath writes (Star Gods of the Maya. pp. 1-3), "As the most highly developed ancient civilization in all of the Americas, the Maya had a sophisticated astronomy that was integrated with their religion. Like the ancient Greeks, Romans, Hindus, Chinese, Mesopotamians, and Egyptians, the Maya believed that the celestial luminaries were gods who influenced human destiny and controlled events on earth."While this is well said, the ancient people were not atheists nor pantheists. They believed that energy and spirit were generated in the universe and transferred to our galaxy which in turn transmitted this energy to our Sun from where it came to the planets of our solar system. This system involves a hierarchy of forces and stages to communicate the Creator's energy and purpose down to his creation. This system has been described in many cosmogonies in terms of demiurges, seraphim, cherubim, gods and goddesses, heroes, and so forth.
Eschatology
Eschatology is a branch of theology that is concerned with such final things as death and Last Judgment, Heaven and Hell, and the ultimate destiny of humankind (wordnetweb, Princeton 9/23/10).Eschatos = last + logos = logic or the study of: the study of the last things and the 'End Times'. Part of theology, philosophy, and futurology. First used in English in 1550 AD. Also regarding the Messiah and the Messianic Age (wikipedia 9/23/10).
The author of the article in the wikipedia says that eschatology deals with 'Ages' (Greek = Aeons). An Age and its realities may come to an end, to be replaced by a New Age and new realities. This author also mentions 'violent disruptions'.
These definitions demonstrate how far we have come from the source of things. Eschatology comes from the end of astronomical cycles and the creation of new ages, new gods, new themes, new cycles of climate and elemental forces.
Most religious movements evolve from a history and cosmogony which are founded upon astronomical timelines and cycles. Therefore the main concern of eschatology should be astronomy. However confusion prevails and is actively introduced -because some of these religious movements are driven by aggressive political agendas. The Culture of Astronomy examines 2012 end time, Greek Generations of the Gods, Legend of the Five Suns, Adam and Eve, and Biblical generations. It is important to study the cosmic physics behind these time-lines, and to seriously consider if the end of the world is near, or if political agendas are using cosmology to motivate their adherents and troops.
There is too much confusion. Evangelists say that there is nothing before Adam. Geologists say that telluric forces are working over millions and millions of years. Can astronomy shed light on these questions? Armageddon, the Second Coming of Christ, and Rapture are based upon on cosmogonies. Although we cannot resolve these problems in other people's minds, we can attempt to consider different astronomical cycles that are associated with Epochal Ages of Time.
The definitions below come from the Grace Institute of Biblical Leadership (2006). There is great debate among Christians concerning the time-line and sequence of events leading to the end-time and fulfillment of Christ. The prophet Daniel discusses 'the prince' who will set up the 'abomination of desolation' which Jesus calls the time of 'great tribulation'. This correlates with Paul's 'man of lawlessness' and John's 'the beast'. After tribulation comes the Millennium where Christ rules as King. Some of the time-line versions are:
Preterist -these events were fulfilled in 70 AD when Rome destroyed the Temple of Solomon.
Amillennialism -does not believe in the literal 1000 year reign of Christ. It was the view of St. Augustine that because Israel rejected Christ, that the church has replaced Israel, and has inherited the promise to Israel. Tribulation is either the destruction of the Temple or the struggles of the church throughout history. This is called 'replacement theology' and it is the predominant view in Christianity, the Roman Church, and the Reformed Church.
There are also many versions of these ideas such as Postmillennialism; and especially Premillennialism -a view held by Dispensationalists, Baptists, and most Evangelicals who believe in the literal reign of Christ with Israel over all the earth and in the geography of Israel.
The point at hand is that large contingents of politically active citizens firmly follow these views which contain within them a political mandate of consequential actions and foreign policy which may affect the lives of every person on earth.
www.originofculture.com, www.culture-of-astronomy.com & www.quakestar.org
copyright by Eartholder 2011
