reply to post by mmariebored
Jesus ... told in parables so his disciples wouldn't mess it up, held huge clues to this whole puzzle.
Like the The Parable of the Tenants. ""A man planted a vineyard, rented it to some farmers and went away for a long time...."
He came back to "collect", but what is meant by "fruit" I wonder.
What has become very abundant here?
The only thing that refuses to factor in my mind is, why? Why the mystery and secrecy?
You Ask:
What is the delay, what is missing in the inordinate length of time...
until the 'Owner' came back to 'collect', the fruits of the Vineyard...?
the scriptures tell us in Revelations !
when asked, the Angel tell John that the plagues & great tribulation will continue until the
blood of the all the Saints and Martyrs
has met-its-measure!.i.e.: when the continual massacre has met its quota !
Only then will the next tumpet/vial/bowl judgement be allowed to happen...
the way i read it-> the throne of the Almighty will keep a 'hands off' policy
until the alloted number of believers perish...
not as some would rationalize, as being that the stage where the Almighty reaches his breaking-point and stops the slaughter of the faithful &
believers....
no... the OT Almighty has a different viewpoint than the NT Christ...
the OT Almighty (Father) is bloodthirsty & vengeful...
thats the meaning of the vineyard parable, of the long delay, in disguised verbage
[edit on 1-2-2009 by St Udio]