Re: --answer--Big Government--

"Coming to a Christ consciousness together..."

I have heard that phrase but never uttered those words so I don't really have a clear understanding of what that means...

What is necessary is an individual returning to God and building an intimate personal relationship with God the Father (made possible by the sacrifice of Jesus). Do you disagree that this is what God desires?

The aggregate outcome of many individuals making this choice I cannot speak of. Whether or not this looks like the fully actualized Kingdom of Heaven on earth or looks like "enduring until Jesus returns" I cannot say for sure. But I do know that returning to God and existing in intimate communion with God is the first step.

What do you mean by the "Deity of Christ"?

I believe that the man that is referred to as Jesus Christ was the living incarnation of the Word of God. That he is with us still today in our hearts as the Living Word of God. That he will rule as the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords.

Is their something else that you require as a litmus test for acknowledgement the Deity of Jesus Christ?

Are you asking if I believe that Jesus is God the Father who is the Alpha and the Omega?

As far as the prophecies about Jesus' return in the Bible...the Revelation was communicated to John on the island of Patmos. Have you ever personally received of vision from God? I have not but I have a close friend of mine who receives them all the time. My experience in working with someone who is following visions is that it takes a tremendous amount of discipline for that person to not add to or make assumptions that are not true based on what was communicated.

My point is that John was writing to an audience that lived in very different times than we live in now about events that potentially were happening in the distant future. The language is highly symbolic so much so that without the assistance of the Living Word, one would probably misinterpret the writings. This has been done by the church over and over again as different prophetic leaders rise up claiming special knowledge or interpretation of the writings.

I have never met you but the general sense I get about you is that you are on the right path and that many times my corrections of the church in general do not apply to you.

The one thing that I would offer is to continue to be vigilant about connecting to God personally. If He leads you to do that through Bible study then more power to you, but acknowledge God the Father as the source and teach relationship with God mentioning the ways in which he relates to you (Bible study, prayer, worship whatever they may be).

All the while acknowledge God's sovereign power to choose individual ways in which He relates to each one of His children...how he speaks to me as I surf the web or how He speaks to my Buddhist friend in meditation or how He speaks to Moreless as he is gardening or how He speaks to another through books, movies, or things that come on the television.