What is to be taken literally?

Oh Yaro...you drive me nuts...:{ You know...you might have a pretty head on you, but it's one that's hard to reason with...lolIf only it were possible to speak in person to you, or in a one-on-one conversation, it might be easier to explain things to you in a way so that things make more sense. I'm sorry it is so hard for you to grasp anything that is related to christianity. I just can't stop shaking my head when I read your posts...wondering if it's hopeless. But I don't think it is, seriously.This message has been edited by Lysimachus, 11-07-2004 05:30 PM

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~Lysimachus

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and why organized religion is a money-grubbing whore.

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You hit the nail on the head brennakimi. True christianity was never meant to be a money making system, or turn itself into an organization. Catholics, Baptists, SDAs, Methodists, Lutherans, and many other Protestant demoniations---that's exactly what they are---money making organizations that just lull the people to sleep and don't really teach them.Jesus broke himself away from the Synagogue and preached to both Jews and Gentiles alike and taught his disciples. That's how he spent His time--not preaching to some congregation that sat in the pews weekly only to go home and fall back in their same old ways. God's true church is composed of those faithful bible-commandment keeping people of God, NOT a particular organization or structure that composes expensive buildings. This is why my family and I have "home church".

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~Lysimachus

Apollyon,

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If the book of Revelations can be taken symbolically (which most Protestants believe), why can' t the story of Creation? With that being said, the very nature of God must be somehow related allegorically to that story in Genesis (assuming it was inspired by God, of course.)

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You cannot compare the books of Daniel and Revelation with Genesis. Genesis is a book stating facts of the beginning of existence. Scholars know when the Bible is speaking symbolically. For example, when Daniel says "I saw" in his dream, we know that the dream is speaking symbolically of a future event. Revelation also speaks in symbols--for if it were to speak straightforward and say exactly in English what was to come to pass, then God would have no way of determining the sincerity of His people. The Bible was written in a way to allow critics as yourself the opportunity to unfold your true characteristics--where your rebellious heart really lies. Only the true searcher will be enlightened to decipher the hidden mysteries of God's word--and beable to differentiate between symbolic and literal phrases of scripture. But this cannot happen to you Apollyon unless you open up your heart to God. It is impossible to decipher the Bible correctly without this key ingredient in your life.When Christ comes in the clouds of glory, no man or woman will be able to say "I had no way to know".This message has been edited by Lysimachus, 11-16-2004 02:12 PM

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~Lysimachus