Originally posted by caughtout
Hi, I've been reading this thread for a couple of weeks now and i finally decided to join. I have read 2008 by RW and heard a few sermons and interviews. I can't say I totally believe him because his claims are very bold but I am a believer of God and I understand he can and will work through whoever he pleases so I know RW's claims shouldn't be totally ignored. While RW strikes me as an intelligent man with a lot of biblical knowledge i must take whatever he says with a grain of salt...
1-One of the issues i have with his prophecies are that they aren't all that specific. He says that certain places in the US will be attacked but the methods of attack he says sounds more like he's trying to give us an idea of what kinds of attacks they MIGHT be and doesn't sound like he's saying what attacks they WILL be.
2- Some of the prophecies are things that are likely to happen anyway which would be hard to use as a sign of the end days such as the dollar collapsing..
3-Notable celebrity deaths that he says are part of the 6th seal happen all the time, celebrities are people and people die every day...I can't claim to understand how God works through prophets but I'd like to think he could've been more specific like say "John Doe" will die in this month or "Jane Doe" will die in this specific and unusual way, that way when it does happen we can't just assume he made a lucky guess. The only specific mention is that the pope will not die in 3.5 years which isn't much prophecy cuz that wasn't likely to begin with.
4-I understand when people discover truths they feel God opened their minds, but i'm pretty sure if God wants to open minds he doesnt need someone to write a book for him so I dont like when people who post here say "you wont understand God hasnt opened your mind", there are books out there which make incredible claims so you guys have to understand there will be doubters whether RW is false or not and its up to RW to prove he's telling the truth. (Now i know you'll say he isnt trying to prove anything but nobody not out to prove anything writes two books about a subject)
5-I heard his last couple of sermons about April and the 7th seal and how major events might not necessarily occur right then and there which is in stark contrast to his attitude in earlier interviews where he makes it seem as though things might already be so bad at that point that it would be hard to communicate by the end of the month (correct me if i'm wrong)

I very much would like to believe the man as nothing would please me more than to know that the lord is returning soon...but what RW followers must understand is that the doubters aren't all being blinded by satan, prophecy is serious business and following a false prophet can ruin lives. For example if i have $10g saved in a bank and i totally believe RW then say was planning to buy a second car with that i'd reconsider. Its late february so i'd probably be thinking of investing in emergency equipment, first aid, stockpiling food, maybe even securing my home to protect from intruders should things get terrible and people try to steal my food...now say its april, may, june and nothing happens i'll never see that 10g back. And since I live in NYC what if i take his warnings seriously and move my family come april to avoid attack or use money to feed children to buy gas masks to protect them from chemical attack...

[edit on 19-2-2008 by caughtout]