Citing Middle Eastern Prophecy Being Fulfilled

When God says He will "brandish His sword against them" does He literally mean His Sword? What use does God have for a Sword when He just has to speak the word and they will be snuffed out?Look at Revelation 9:3. When describing the Locusts, does it literally mean locusts with the features mentioned? Looking at it from the visionary's point of view, how would you describe the vision you are seeing with NO knowledge of what it is you are seeing?If you read Daniel, the dreams of Nebuchadnezzar were those of rams and goats with horns. When Daniel interpreted those dreams, they weren't referring to actual rams and goats, but each had a distinct meaning and referenced something that was to take place in the near future (To Nebuchadnezzar himself).There are many many references to bible prophecy, like in Daniel where it wasn't really meant for that time, so was vague to them and many times prophecies were revealed, the images were so frightening, the prophets nearly had heart attacks. They couldn't possibly understand what it was they were seeing and had no way of finding relative words to use to explain them except to call them what they were currently familiar with. i.e. stars falling from heaven.Edited by godservant, : No reason given.

What difference be the semantics when discussing events?It's all semantics. God used words people of that time and times after would understand yet laid events that would be obvious enough that scholars would be able to clearly identify given corresponding scripture and experience that they would be obvious to the spiritually enlightened and open to the word of God.You have to search the rest of scripture to examine it in a broader scope. Clearly, other prophets and the book of revelation all refer to the same events happening and can all validate one another in light of biblical and historical evidence.biblical scholars who try to identify exact events to happen in light of historic and present conditions still have much to learn, but as time goes on and world events ensue, it's easier to understand what the prophecies could be referring to and therefore, give us a better idea of when all these things will come to a head and who the end time players will be."You will know when it's near, even at the door".

So because He uses semantics that don't agree with what you would consider adequate for the time they specify, it invalidates them?Nowhere in the bible does it talk about tanks or rockets, but many can and have agreed that a great amount of the prophecies spoken of in the bible have yet to occur, so can be concluded they will therefore, take place in a time in the future, most likely utilizing more than just bows and arrows.If you study the Feasts in Leviticus, you can easily identify the meaning behind the feast to be a forecast of things to come and some of which have taken place. such as the Feast of firstfruits, the feast of Atonement and the Feast of weeks. There are yet at least 4 feast yet to come fruition.

I don't think the point of the prophecies was to be so blatantly obvious that anyone would get it. He's trying to build a sincere group of followers who will faithfully enquire and search for truth even in light of dissent.He wants to impart in us His spirit which in turn helps us to become open to the meaning behind the obscurity and thus acheive a revelation unbeknownst to the common man who could care less, or who would actually prefer a life apart from God. Not everyone who does receive the light of wisdom, will remain a faithful follower. Many will become blinded and turn from there faith as made apparent in New Testament verses and you see happening around you today. There is a power at work whose sole purpose is to pervert the word of God and deceive even the elect, after all, it's the elect he wants. He couldn't really bother with the unenlightened because he's already got them!! He's out to create dissention among believers and thus create such division amongst them so as to confuse them, (which you see amongst denominations today).It would be impossible for him to achieve this if the word of God was so outright blatant about his prophecy. What God wants however is not to scare anyone into submission, but to draw them to him in love. It's not until they're drawn to Him willingly by what He did for us do we really open up to what the rest of scripture has to say. It is these people who can read, study and understand what the scriptures are trying to tell us. To everyone else, it's just blubber.

I happen to think it is. The creation of the world I believe is simple and well-described. Man likes to make it more complicated than it is. Like I said, when it comes to prophecy, it's not meant to be known to just anybody. It takes careful study and cross-reference with other prophets speaking of the same times to put the puzzle pieces together. It's obscure for a reason.
God is not trying to scare people into submission. It's only after receiving the spirit and allowing God to speak to you do you understand what He's trying to say. Although much of it remains to be seen, it's generally understood who the key figures may be as well as how it may come about.Ezekial is just part of the puzzle. As you read the prophecies revealed to the other prophets, more pieces come to together and more of what's being spoken of comes to light. It's funny how all the prophets speaking of this time seem to be in general agreement who will be involved and how it will culminate. Even tho, they've never lived at the same time, nor spoken to eachother concerning their communications with God. The final pieces given by John the Apostle in Revelation just confirm those things.