Eschatology - like a Cigar Box nailed Shut

Most of what is taught with great confidence about the end times is like people speculating on a cigar box full of various items nailed shut with cigar box experts telling you what is inside.

I got this story from a friend and immediately the Holy Spirit said..."tell them this is what they are doing". THE STORY:

A teacher gave each of his students a cigar box with several items inside. They were allowed to hold the box, sniff the box, shake the box, turn it upside down, turn it on end, listen to the sounds the box made when it was shaken, try to peek in the cracks, feel the weight of the box...they could do anything in the world to the box EXCEPT open it.

They were then told to try to explain and tell from their analysis what was inside the box. Of course as they did they were wrong. Some even foolishly. A few got close. Knowing the person who placed the items in the box helped understand what might be in there. Since the person who placed the items in the box was close mouthed about this...one could only speculate.

IF the one who filled the box were to give clues it might be worse. They would extrapolate the clues into all kinds of wild imaginations as to the contents based on them.

This is what has happened in the whole end times argument. This is what IS happening in the world of end times speculation. To carry the metaphor of the box a bit further, there are whole denominations of people who have taken a firm position on what is in the box. Others have written best selling books on the contents of the box and many people's opinions of the box's content are shaped by these books. Some groups have build great box churches by declaring the box contents to be thus and so. Some fear what is in the box. Some are hoping they will escape the box contents by a rapture. Some are looking forward to the opening of the box. Yet the box remains closed. Some even say the box is already open, but no one can find nor have they seen the open box. So the mystery remains.

IF we are wise, if we follow the lead of the Box Maker/Filler/Sealer, we will accept the idea that we do not know for sure. We don't know if or when the box will be opened. We can read the things that the Box Maker has written. Or the things he said about the contents of the box as clues. A few people were given revelations of what the box contains. That helps...but if I am going to speculate at all (understand anything I speculate about is just that and so is anything else said by others) I must be willing to admit my speculation is as good as the revelation I have received. Flawed probably. Speculation.

I reject the idea that anyone is certain of the contents of the box. I reject teaching that takes world events and twists them to get a clue as to the box and it's content. I reject the idea that any person has an edge on this or that one. I certainly reject the idea that for centuries people have taught the content of the box to be thus and so, therefore it must be true.

How we became so arrogant in our certitude of the content of the boxes we have is beyond me.

IF I am going to offer speculation it MUST come FIRST from the WORD of the boxmaker. No other author need apply. If you would instruct me as to the content of the box...consider everything the boxmaker said...everything. Taking one short passage from his writing or taking an implication of his sayings to prove a point won't carry much water.

The truth of the matter is we don't know. Thinking we do ends up with a Harold Camping moment. Thinking we do has preachers like John Hagee making a fortune on box speculation. Thinking we do has people at odds with each other in the Body of Christ.

Let's agree on this ONE THING....we don't REALLY know and we can't know until the box is opened. It hasn't happened yet. It will. We will all be surprised at what is really inside the box.