Blogging has been a bit tough lately. This post (like everything else I'm working on presently) is overdue. Some have asked for some comments about the validity of the gap theory - the idea that Genesis 1:1 speaks of the initial creation, while Genesis 1:2 describes...
eschatology
A (Really) Brief Return to Eschatology
Pardon me for the brief transgression. Came across an article you'll all be interested in today. It's called "Measuring the Temple of God: Revelation 11:1-2 and the Destruction of Jerusalem." Has obvious implications not only for the dating of the book of Revelation...
Understanding the Christian Fundamentalist View of UFOs and Aliens, Part 4
So far we've covered the first three of the four elements to a Christian fundamentalist view of UFOs and aliens (i.e., that UFOs that are not man-made or other natural phenomena are demonic and alleged alien life forms are demonic). The four were: 1. Abductee...
Where Angels Fear to Tread
Those of you who know me will know that one of my least favorite subjects is end times (eschatology). That might surprise you, given that I'm a Bible scholar. I mean it, though. Over on my other blog, The Naked Bible, I once wrote a short post on how everyone cheats...
The 2012 Phenomenon: New Age Appropriation of an Ancient Mayan Calendar
Such is the title of this sixteen page academic essay from Nova Religio: The Journal of Alternative and Emergent Religions. It is very worthwhile reading. The author discusses, among others, John Major Jenkins' ideas about 2012. Here's the abstract: ABSTRACT:...
An Imaginary Conversation with a Modern Nephilim Believer
One of the major trajectories in my new novel The Portent, is how Christians think about end times -- specifically, how some are prone to marry end times to conspiracies about UFOs and alien abductions, which they believe are really cover for the creation of a new...
Send Mike Lame Bible Prophecy Predictions for 2012
I just read through the comments and one reader asked about Ezekiel 29 -- how the passage is being used to predict yet future events (turns out in this case, before the 2012 doomsday; how ominous). I'm speaking at a conference in 2013 that may surprise some of you:...
Getting to Know Your 2012 Apocalyptic PaleoBabble
I came across this lengthy conversation (from this past August) recently. It's a good article that provides a number of links for understanding the history and past cultural applications of the 2012 Mayan "prophecy" nonsense. It's a good starting point for research...
More Eschatology: An Article on Reading Revelation as Recapitulation or Linear Sequence
Okay, don't roll your eyes. I really will get back to Genesis. Saw this today. Right in line with our recent discussion, so I thought I should post on it.
Done with Eschatology
Just wanted to sign off on this topic. I really can't muster any more interest in it. Changed my mind on sharing any personal thoughts, other than to say that I believe the reason that many positions can appear coherent is that they are all correct in certain...
Why an Obsession with Eschatology is a Waste of Time, Part 13
Previous post found here: Seventy Weeks Prophecy in Daniel 9: A Messianic Perspective I want to start this post with something I'd do in class during my teaching days at Christian colleges that I think will make this post -- which is about the question of whether...
Why An Obsession with Eschatology is a Waste of Time, Part 5
In the last two posts I've been making a simple observation: arguments defending a literal millennium that depend on the unconditionality of the Abrahamic and Davidic covenants are poor. The reasons are twofold: (1) each of those covenants also have clear conditional...
Why An Obsession with Eschatology is a Waste of Time, Part 3
To this point, we've talked about a single dispute that divides biblical scholars and students on eschatology: whether or Israel and the Church are to be kept distinct when interpretating prophecy. The question matters since any position that wants a literal...
Why an Obsession with Eschatology is a Waste of Time, Part 2
In the first installment of this series, I talked about how certain systems of eschatology need the New Testament to distinguish between the Church and national Israel for certain elements of their eschatological system to work. Let me unpack that a bit again here by...
Why an Obsession with Eschatology is a Waste of Time, Part 1
Naked Bible enthusiasts (and despisers) may recall that, long ago, I posted a list of presuppositions that are brought to the Bible that ultimately dictate one's position on eschatology ("end times"). I posted this because all too many Christians assume that their...