happythoughts 0 #1 May 25, 2008 Back in 1970, Hal Lindsey wrote The Late Great Planet Earth. A Biblical preview of how the Apocalypse should work. The premise seemed to work. Lots of good tie-ins with current technology and geography. I'm not going to re-read a book that I thought wasn't worth reading the first time, so here are the finer points from memory. Armageddon - Har Megiddo, or more specifically the plain nearby was a historic site for battles. The US had a military installation there, that made it an excellent target in Cold War days (plus, the book buyers were initially the US). Russia - "Gog and Magog". "Kings of the North" would invade. At the time, great. Not so much now. Ethiopia - "Cush" will help Russia invade Israel. Ethiopia? China - back in the day, an army of millions wasn't a viable figure. In the 70s, the writer had an army of that size, but needed to bring them to the ME somehow. Europe - the beast with 10 heads, a couple of which died. Countries with dead kings. The EU had 10 countries at publishing time. Now, 27, that doesn't fit. The problem with good prophesy is that the events haven't happened, so, as the future progresses, the prophesies diverge from events. Accuracy wanes. So, the prophesy industry makes it very immediate. "Buy today. Apocalypse Special. Don't be left behind." I wonder if Hal Lindsey sits on his porch in Malibu and replies, "Oops, my bad, but I'm keeping the millions I made on my little inaccuracies." So, nearly 40 years later, who is publishing the revised prophesies these days ? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mnealtx 0 #2 May 25, 2008 QuoteSo, nearly 40 years later, who is publishing the revised prophesies these days ? I thought that was what chuteless was doing?Mike I love you, Shannon and Jim. POPS 9708 , SCR 14706 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Whiskeyboi 0 #3 May 25, 2008 Quote So, nearly 40 years later, who is publishing the revised prophesies these days? The media...in response to the U.S. government... Move along...nothing to see here... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SpeedRacer 1 #4 May 25, 2008 Correct me if I'm wrong, but I think he predicted the end time to be 1988 (forty years after the establishment of Israel.) Other people predicted 1988 as well: it was a big signpost for end times prophecies. So here it is 20 years later. Some things suck, but overall, the End of the World isn't as bad as it was depicted. And it's nice to have it out of the way, isn't it? Speed Racer -------------------------------------------------- Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
happythoughts 0 #5 May 26, 2008 QuoteCorrect me if I'm wrong, but I think he predicted the end time to be 1988 (forty years after the establishment of Israel.) Other people predicted 1988 as well: it was a big signpost for end times prophecies. So here it is 20 years later. Some things suck, but overall, the End of the World isn't as bad as it was depicted. And it's nice to have it out of the way, isn't it? That is because 1988 was 40 years, or one generation, after 1948. The best ones at this are the Jehovah Witnesses. The starting time for the counter was 1918, WWI. "Wars everywhere and rumors of wars" But, you had to be old enough to appreciate the events, so you had to be 18 in 1918. Then, the "one generation" was 20 years from 1918, so 1938 was the end. Then, it was 40, then 70. So, they got to use 1988 also. When someone mentions it to them, they just say, "No man shall know the hour or the day." Ok, if that is the case, why do you keep stating one? The thing that irked me was the idea, "Don't worry about college, Jesus will return before you can graduate." Collect some money, f-up peoples lives. What could be better? The basic idea is this, you pick a month in next year and then work the math backwards to get the correct calculation. A guy in St. Petersburg calculates a new one every year, usually ending in September or October. So, each June, the new mailing list goes out. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SpeedRacer 1 #6 May 26, 2008 QuoteThe thing that irked me was the idea, "Don't worry about college, Jesus will return before you can graduate." Collect some money, f-up peoples lives. What could be better? I don't worry about this too much. I think that the vast majority of people who even partially buy into this stuff, deep down on some level they know it's bullshit. So they probably don't change their plans re. savings/education or whatever, anymore than what they would have done anyway. How many people who bought into the Y2K hysteria actually cashed out their 401K/IRA in December 1999? Speed Racer -------------------------------------------------- Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jcd11235 0 #7 May 26, 2008 QuoteHow many people who bought into the Y2K hysteria actually cashed out their 401K/IRA in December 1999? I know of a Mormon DZO who sold his DZ, packed up his family and belongings, and moved to Salt Lake City. Does that count?Math tutoring available. Only $6! per hour! First lesson: Factorials! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites