The Real Apocalypse: The Revelation At the End of the Age

(Reposted from http://messenger.cjcmp.org/fulfillment.html - 12-22-2012 Revision)

"Apocalypse" is a Greek word that actually means to "uncover, reveal, or unveil" the truth that has been ignored, forgotten, misinterpreted and misunderstood, and the Greek phrase "apokalupsis eschaton" literally means "revelation at the end of the age." 

That, of course, is not what the most commonly accepted meaning is. According to that, Apocalypse means a cataclysmic event, all-consuming destruction, an epoch battle and war, and so on. That is painfully evident in all the books and movies that depict such horrible catastrophic events, and in all the "fire and brimstone" sermons of theocratic right-wing preachers.

The reason the original and true meaning was replaced was probably because most prophecies foresaw and foretold that prior to the revelation (or judgment) there would be terrible "signs" of its coming -- signs that would occur or appear as the end of the age approached, which would include horrible corruption, injustice and inequity, terrible conflict, wars and rumors of war, natural disasters and plagues, and many other terrible things.

That is true, because we have indeed been suffering from such horrible and terrible events and circumstances increasingly during the last hundred years. And with each passing day the world becomes more dark with fear, frustration, anger, conflict and suffering for more and more people who feel more and moire helpless and hopeless -- even as the relative few who rule the world live higher and higher in the lap of luxury.

Most of the prophecies of the world's religions envisioned this scenario, these circumstances andthis tribulation, and that includes Judaism and Christianity, upon which Islam was founded. For if we study the major world prophecies we can see that there is general agreement that the fulfillment of prophecy is about the world going through a terrible tribulation prior to a divine intervention, kind of like going through "labor pains" leading up to a new paradigm and greater civilization being born into the world. 

That divine intervention is brought about because of the revelation, the Apocalypse, and the intervention is also called an intercession, and a judgment, which will change the world.

However, all that is not generally known because most of the people within the religions and faith traditions of the world have been unaware of these truths. Instead, they have been led to believe in erroneous ideas and concepts established by the egos of men, by the patriarchs of the world's religions who have always been caught up in their idea that their understanding of their God, their religion, their culture, was the right one.

That is why religion is one of the two main causes of conflict and division in the world today. That is why there is a battle for God, so to speak, because people are fighting over their concept of God, over their concept of what God's "will" is, and over their interpretation of prophecies.

Prophecies of the major religions speak of a certain person who fulfills the prophecies. In the Mid-East and East the prophecies originally spoke of a Jewish Mashiach, a Christian Messiah, a Muslim Mahdi, a Hindu Avatar, a Buddhist Bodhisattva or Buddha, a Zoroastrian Saoshyant, and so on. 

Ancient prophets of the Western Hemisphere also prophesied about such a one. The Native American Hopi await Pahana, the True White Brother who will unite the world and end this great tribulation. The Mayans await the return of Kukulcan, the bearded white man. The Aztecs and Toltecs await the white man Quetzalcoatl, who will bring peace and harmony after a very long era of terrible trouble. 

As is explained in the article on Prophecies Regarding He Who Fulfills Them, all these prophecies spoke of the same person -- because otherwise there would simply be more chaos, and more competition for authority and power. But he does not compete for it. In fact, he shuns the limelight and rejects personal power, and instead empowers and liberates the people -- and in doing that he fulfills all religions, not just one, and brings the people of all religions and all nations together in common purpose, for the common good.

That is the ultimate result, however, and that result is not easily achieved. 

In fact, as Jesus of Nazareth foresaw and foretold, the person who fulfills prophecies will "first be rejected by his generation and suffer many things" (Luke 17:25) unlike Jesus. And, as the book of Isaiah foretells, the person who serves God as the messenger-counselor sends "his work before him" but is rejected so long he feels all his work is "in vain and for naught." (Isaiah 49:2-7) In other words, most people do not believe him, and according to Isaiah he is even "despised and rejected."

Most Christians are well aware of those quoted words, but they are not aware of who those words speak of. They have been led to believe that they speak of Jesus who will "come again," but that is not true. They speak of the person in this passage:

"(God) has made my mouth like a sharp sword; in the shadow of his hand has he hid me, and made me a polished shaft; in his quiver has he hid me. And God said to me, "You are my servant, O Israel, in whom I will be glorified.' But I said: 'I have labored in vain, I have spent my strength for naught and vanity; yet surely my right is with the Lord, and my recompense with my God. And the Lord that formed me from the womb to be a servant, to bring Jacob back, and that Israel be gathered, for I am honorable in the sight of the Lord, and my God is become my strength.' "Yes,' the Lord said, 'It is too light a thing that you should be my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob, and to restore the offspring of Israel. I will also give you for a light of the nations, that my salvation may be unto the end of the earth. For thus says the Lord, the Redeemer of Israel, the Holy One, to him who is despised of men, to him who is abhorred of nations, to a servant of rulers: kings shall see and arise, princes, and they shall prostrate themselves; because of the Lord that is faithful, even the Holy One of Israel, who has chosen you." -- Isaiah 49:2-7

When seen in the proper light, it becomes clear that speaks of a Messiah who is not like what the Jews and Christians and Muslims expect. Isaiah speaks not of a mighty warrior, but of a man who is hidden and has labored in vain, who is contrite of spirit and is spent. And he is despised, abhorred by nations, until something happens that he is finally recognized.

He is the same person Jesus of Nazareth was speaking of when he said the following about the coming of the son of man:

"The days will come when people will want to see one of the days of the son of man, and they shall not see it. So they will look here and there, but do not follow them. For as the lightning lightens all parts under heaven, so shall also the son of man be in his day. But first must he suffer many things, and be rejected by his generation." -- Luke 17:20-25

How could the son of man be like lightning seen all over? The Internet, of course. And Jesus was not speaking of himself in that instance, because Jesus said he had to go away and be seen no more. And he suffered only on the last day of his life, not first or beforehand, but only after he had completed his mission. 

That is why Jesus also said: "If any man shall say unto you, Lo, here is Christ, or there; believe it not. For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall show great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect. ... For as the lightning flashes from here to there, so shall also the coming of the son of man be." (Matthew 24:21-27)

All these prophecies about his rejection and suffering have been fulfilled, and, while he is still rejected, the people who have nearly ruined the world still rule.

We know why they still rule. They have most of the money, and they have perpetuated and expanded a political economic system which enables the wealthiest few to rule. And the servant-messenger of God is still rejected because of two major reasons: Most people dismiss him as just another religious nut, and many proud and militant Christians and Jews and Muslims insist that a holy messianic figure will come as a might warrior to conquer their enemies and win glory for their particular religion, over and above all others. 

The judgment and truth the world needs comes thanks to the gift of revelation given to the modern son of man, because he was shown not only the actual reality of God when he was 30 years old. In the 41 years since then he has been shown the true meaning of the prophets, including Jesus of Nazareth, and he was given the key to the door of our future, because he was also shown why and how the humble and meek shall inherit the earth.

He has provided that judgment, but he cannot impose it and he cannot even speak from behind a podium or pulpit to assume authority because he cannot exalt himself. Therefore, the responsibility for actually bringing about the needed changes yours collectively. For while he liberates you all, he also empowers you all, and shows you how to establish government that is truly of the people, by the people, and for the people.

However, it is not merely your responsibility to implement the plan. It is also your responsibility as a people and as members of the family of humanity to learn the lessons of history so that you do not keep repeating the same mistakes over and over again.

You see, what we are witnessing in the world has happened many times before, because people have always desired and they have always had to fight for equality, freedom and independence. And people are still doing it because their governments are ruled by the wealthiest few who have gained immense personal wealth and power, and abuse it at the expense of the majority.

Of course, in the "democratic" countries the people are pacified by the hope that their interests will be served if their partisan political party can win the next election. But that has increasingly proven to be a false hope and a false promise of democracy. Consequently, the people remain divided, the majority of them still struggle to keep their heads above water, and many of them suffer while the wealthiest few live in increasingly opulent luxury.

In fact, none of the traditional systems of leadership are working. For while some people think partisan party politics will do the trick if only they can achieve victory over the opposing party, some other people think the only answer is in some form of Communism, and while still other people think that Religious Theocracy will establish good and righteous government, they are all wrong.

First, partisan party politics and competition for the "throne" of chief executive only perpetuates conflict, division, and instability, and while it may create the appearance of having the "consent" of the people, that's simply not true. Secondly, while Marx was justifiably angered at the European capitalistic nobility and aristocracy, it was wrong to resort to violent revolution to overthrow and destroy the capitalists and even more wrong in establishing and perpetuating totalitarian rule. And thirdly, "good theocracy" is an oxymoron, because true servants of God do not seek to rule the people, but to counsel, encourage, liberate and empower them.

Thank God, the fulfillment of world prophecies will mean the end of the divisive vicious cycle of fighting for power over others, because the prophets foresaw and foretold that this state of conflict and division will end as soon as divinely inspired judgment is recognized and acknowledged. For it will provide intercession, and it will enable humanity to be empowered, liberated and united in common purpose.

Unfortunately, he cannot make it happen, just as God cannot make it happen. It will happen only when enough human beings get the message and abide by God's Universal Divine Imperative that we find in all of our religious texts, which is basically that we should treat others as we would want to be treated if we were them.

But happen it will, because the end of the age is drawing ever nearer. Whether you call the passing age the Christian Dispensation, the Piscean Age, the Kali Yuga, or some other term, it is coming to an end, and a new one will begin wherein all religions will become what they should be. 

We are in the "cusp" of change, and it is very gradual. We began to feel the effects of the new age at the beginning of the Twentieth Century, which have been steadily increasing, and we will still feel some of the lingering effects of the passing age during the Twenty-First Century, although they will decrease to the extent that we advance and progress.

All this was foretold in our religious texts and prophecies, but it would have happened and will happen anyway because human beings naturally desire peace and freedom, and wise human beings understand that in order to have peace and freedom, we must have equality, equity, fairness, and justice for all.

That's really what it's all about.

(Reposted from http://messenger.cjcmp.org/fulfillment.html - 12-20-2012 Revision)