End of days scenario

[haider]

This is directed toward the christians of this board.

I had a conversation with a person not too long ago (he is I think a secularish with an Islamic background) about the palestinian-Israel issue and he was expressing his hopelessness about the situation. He explained it as thus: that the Dome of the Rock, which is currently the site of the holiest Mosques of Islam, rests at the heart of the trouble NOT ONLY because of it's sacredness to the Jewish peopel but also because of another interesting reason that I never gave much credence to.

This reason is that the jewish claim to the Dome of the Rock, or the whole of Jerusalem is key to the end of days scenario. I'm not sure of all the details, but this will accelerate tensions between "good" and "evil," leading to much destruction and chaos in the world followed by Jesus's second coming (or third if u believe in the ressurection? dunno) and the rapture which will save all the believers while others have to suffer through hell on earth.

I believe the people who believe in this believe so due to contents of the book of revelations. I had always thought it was only a few christians (probably christian zionists and evangelicals?) who believed in such an end of days scenario, but my friend thought otherwise. So I wanted to pose this question christians and get some opinions on it. Do you believe in the above? and why? Do you believe most christians believe in this?

I hope that people will show respect in this thread toward all religions. Please start another thread if you wish to express such disagreements.

Thank you.

[Butterbean]

I'm under the impression that the location of the Dome of the Rock is, yes, important in end-time prophecy. 

Off the top of my head it has something to do w/the Jewish Temple being rebuilt and sacrifices will start up again (I think during the Tribulation period).  Apparently the Dome of the Rock is right where the Temple should be built.

I will try to look into it more to back up w/scripture when I have more time.

[haider]

I'm under the impression that the location of the Dome of the Rock is, yes, important in end-time prophecy. 

Off the top of my head it has something to do w/the Jewish Temple being rebuilt and sacrifices will start up again (I think during the Tribulation period).  Apparently the Dome of the Rock is right where the Temple should be built.

I will try to look into it more to back up w/scripture when I have more time.

Am I correct in saying that this is interpreted from the "Revelations"?

A christian friend of mine doesn't believe in the end times prophecies such as the one i described, and instead believes that revalations was written for contemparary times and heavily uses allegory that is now misinterpreted as being end times prophecy. For example, the number 666 thought to be the sign of the devil was actually code for the name of an extraordinarily evil Roman emperor of the times (the name starts with N... nero?).

[Butterbean]

Am I correct in saying that this is interpreted from the "Revelations"?

A christian friend of mine doesn't believe in the end times prophecies such as the one i described, and instead believes that revalations was written for contemparary times and heavily uses allegory that is now misinterpreted as being end times prophecy. For example, the number 666 thought to be the sign of the devil was actually code for the name of an extraordinarily evil Roman emperor of the times (the name starts with N... nero?).

Yes, it's mentioned in Revelation but also in other scriptures

Revelation 11:1-2  
I was given a reed like a measuring rod and was told, "Go and measure the temple of God and the altar, and count the worshipers there. But exclude the outer court; do not measure it, because it has been given to the Gentiles. They will trample on the holy city for 42 months.


A couple other scriptures that talk about the temple in the last days:

Zech 1:16
"Therefore, this is what the LORD says: 'I will return to Jerusalem with mercy, and there my house will be rebuilt. And the measuring line will be stretched out over Jerusalem,' declares the LORD Almighty.

Daniel 9:27
He will confirm a covenant with many for one 'seven.'  In the middle of the 'seven'  he will put an end to sacrifice and offering. And on a wing of the temple he will set up an abomination that causes desolation, until the end that is decreed is poured out on him.


I think Nero was a type of anti-christ but not "the" anti-christ.  But I see the book of Revelation as having a lot to do w/the future, unlike your friend.

Just to confirm, you are saying your friend believes that Revelation was written regarding the time of Nero and not modern or future times?

[loco]

This is directed toward the christians of this board.

I had a conversation with a person not too long ago (he is I think a secularish with an Islamic background) about the palestinian-Israel issue and he was expressing his hopelessness about the situation. He explained it as thus: that the Dome of the Rock, which is currently the site of the holiest Mosques of Islam, rests at the heart of the trouble NOT ONLY because of it's sacredness to the Jewish peopel but also because of another interesting reason that I never gave much credence to.

This reason is that the jewish claim to the Dome of the Rock, or the whole of Jerusalem is key to the end of days scenario. I'm not sure of all the details, but this will accelerate tensions between "good" and "evil," leading to much destruction and chaos in the world followed by Jesus's second coming (or third if u believe in the ressurection? dunno) and the rapture which will save all the believers while others have to suffer through hell on earth.

I believe the people who believe in this believe so due to contents of the book of revelations. I had always thought it was only a few christians (probably christian zionists and evangelicals?) who believed in such an end of days scenario, but my friend thought otherwise. So I wanted to pose this question christians and get some opinions on it. Do you believe in the above? and why? Do you believe most christians believe in this?

I hope that people will show respect in this thread toward all religions. Please start another thread if you wish to express such disagreements.

Thank you.

I don't believe that this would be "the heart of the trouble" between Jews and Palestinians.  As I understand it, most Jews in Israel are secular and are not even familiar with the details of Old Testament prophecies on this.  Only a minority, religious Jews, would take the Dome of the Rock that seriously.

As for New Testament prophecies, Revelations, etc., neither Jews nor Palestinians believe that stuff so again I don't see this as the heart of the problems between these two groups.

Many Christians do believe that the Bible is filled with prophecy, both in the Old Testament and in the New Testament, that Israel's Temple will be rebuilt at the site of the Dome of the Rock.  Some Christians believe this will happen after the Rapture and before Jesus sets foot on earth a second time.  Others believe that Jesus himself will rebuild the Temple upon his second coming.  

Either way, they believe that Jesus will sit in the Holy of Holies(the inner sanctuary of the Temple which could be entered only by the High Priest on Yom Kippur) and rule from there for 1,000 years of peace on earth.  After that, there will be a brief time of war between good and evil, then the end of the world will finally come and God will create a new Heaven and a new earth.