My career as a fortune teller by reading tea leaves from the bottom of a tea cup was cut short by the introduction of the tea bag. So I was forced down a different path. ; reading the bubbles in a glass of beer. This is what I see. The truce between IBIJ and Jebus will not last for more than a few days. Jebus is about to come up with some scripture to prove beyond any doubt that IBIJ is a complete idiot. IBIJ will agree with most of what Jebus says. IBIJ will then pour over his bible until he eventually finds some point of difference. Meanwhile Grandpa13 is standing on the sidelines, trying to keep out of it, but in the end, can't help it, and wades in. Hall of mirrors and Gammaburst are busy reading the wall street journal to see if Israel has been wiped out yet.But all they get are articles on knitting with Kashmir wool in an Italian village by one armed nuns. Finally, Gammaburst can stand it no more and calls IBIJ a moron. IBIJ finds that interesting and tells everyone to go and read the bible properly. At this point the thread count is nearing 40 with all the decorum of a session of the Taiwanese parliament.Jebus will refuse to talk with Ibij ever again. Grandpa13 is going back to chess and Gammaburst hands the baton to Hall of mirrors. Hey Gamma , read about these nuns? It is all more transparent than an item of cotton clothing at a wet t shirt night, but not quite as interesting. Nothing really happens, nothing happens at all. The needle goes back to the start of the song, and we all play along like before.

Hey that's real good.
 
I was just thinking about posting an article about games people play. We really have some serious players on this site and I'm not talking about chess.
 
A guy named Eric Berne wrote a book back in 1964 called "Games People Play." It pretty well describes what you just wrote. It sold over 5000,000 copies.
 
grandpa13

..There Must be 'more than meets the eye' in our plane
of existence! Aside from the fact that 'quantum particle
entanglement' is {apparently} an established fact;
common sense would seem to indicate that that 'spooky'
scientific manifestation, is hiding a fact of the Universe,
that if its potentialalities were fully known, it would
probably 'blow all our minds' that much more!
 
..And lest anyone ask, what does this have to do with the
listed subject.. "Nostradamus"?; he, in arguably his most
famous prophecy, Almost Correctly named "Hitler," {in the
circumstances that would later match}.. as "Hister," about
500 years before Hitler's rise to power.
 
..Chalk up another conundrum, that even 'linear-time' doesn't
necessarily always apply, in ways that many of us might be
inclined to believe.
{With my apologies to 'IBIJ' for not coming up with a 'God-
affirming' link, to these three separate mysteries}.. For
that angle, perhaps I should mention {once again} Dr. Hugh
Ross', "Reasons to Believe," Web site!

Hi Grevillea
 
What an excellent post. I laughed a ton. If your not in comedy writing you really ought to be.
 
But what happened to IBIJ2?
 
Cheers
IBIJ
 
PS: Hey Hmmm... may I recommend the Holy Bible by God Almighty?

.. Oh, Really?!.. I know you think that your humor/sarcasm is
probably an asset, but, if it's indicative of how Other 7th-
Day Adventist advocates discourse with others who are Not
considered by your group to be potential converts to your way
of thinking, it doesn't say much for your own religious tolerance,
which has already 'come through' in your posts, many-a-time!!
 
..Of course, there's always the possibility that you didn't con-
sider your last riposte {I mean, post} as sarcasm; in which case,
certain existent spiritual forces have 'darkened' your own mind-
set, in ways that I hadn't 'appreciated'.. up til now, at least.
 
..For the record, just as your sect sincerely believes that Ellen White
merely 'points people towards God' And the Bible, without all the
'Bermuda-Triangle' pitfall, Bible passages.. that quite often result,
whenever an 'unbeliever' picks up the Bible to read, without any
spiritual-insight; in the same way {'imho'} Dr. Hugh Ross serves
that same purpose{!}.. if not better, to various groups of 'unbelieving-
skeptics'!
 
..Incidentally,{'IBIJ'}.. feel free to be your usual 'contrarian' self,
by dismissing my observation as invalid; but try telling that to your
average 'Caissa' unbeliever, who find the Bible {by itself} to be
so engrossing a 'read', that they can't put it down... N-O-T !!!!!!!!!

Hi Hmmmm
 
Nope, sarcasm is alla moi - Not an Adventist trait any more than those who have a handle on the talent in mainline denominations.
 
Since you are making the point that you do know and read the Bible, without looking can you tell me how many times the word "rapture" appears in the OT or NT no matter what version you use including Greek & Hebrew?
 
Cheers
IBIJ

Speculating from Hmmm's lack of response either he fell off the face of the earth, or the proverbial cat has certainly got his tongue.
 
Happy Sabbath
IBIJ

..Truth be known, 'IBIJ', I was unable to 'put it' any better,
than "Archangel"'s laughing emoticon, when it comes to summing-
up what Almost all of us think of you, and your peculiar fix-
ation and character-trait, that comes across on this 'BB'.
 
..To your credit {trying to look at things positively}, you're
No "Jeffery Dahmer"! {remember him?} { :

Nope, can say as I do, unless he was DMZ.
 
However, my question about how many times Scripture mentions the word rapture still remains unanswered by someone on this MISC BB. Any guesses who that might be?
 
Cheers
IBIJ

..Ye say that the "rapture" word has you stumped {in so many words}
because it's not in the Bible?
 
..I just came across an explanation of why that probably is, and was
even prepared to 'copy & paste' the somewhat long explanation;
but apparently, the Web site has some coded software, that pre-
vents one from copying their info.{!?}
 
Herewith, then.. is the next best thing; ie., a link to the precise
article I was just referring to.
..If per chance, this explanation isn't 'good enough' for you, then
you'll have to do Your OWN Research{!}.. by 'googling'.. guess
which word?! {Not all of those links, incidentally, are "rapture"
'concept-friendly'}..ie., They will probably be as 'music-to-your-
ears' in agreement with you. {Such is the Way the Scriptures peri-
odically are; ie., Subject to More than one interpretation; despite
your own strong {and repeated} assertions to the contrary.
 
..See, "Work out Your Own Salvation, with fear and trembling";
as 'JC' put it{!}
http://www.buzzle.com/editorials/1-15-2006-86392.asp

Hi Hmmmmm
 
I'm impressed. Good job on the research. You are 100% correct that the word "rapture" along with its concept doesn't even appear in the Bible.
 
Now... instead of immediately running to Google for an answer, can you tell me how many times the word "resurrection" appears in the Bible? Further, when the "resurrection" is spoken of is it always in relation to the resurrection of Christ Jesus our Lord and Savior?
 
Looking forward to your reply, though I anticapate a response from Jebus to also be in short order.
 
Cheers
IBIJ

'IBIJ', said: ... You are 100% correct that the word "rapture" ALONG
WITH ITS CONCEPT DOESN'T EVEN APPEAR IN THE BIBLE
{emphasizing, your misrepresenting portion, of what I copy & pasted!}
 
..and, my {limited.. in focus, reply} Huh?!..What?! ..If you're
going to misrepresent {polite word, for lie!} what I typed/'said',
as my reply, I see no further point in continuing this 'discussion'.
 
.. Incidentally, 'IBIJ'.. I've been aware, for some time now, that
it's as if your 'Life's sustenance' {along with, 'food & drink'} is
dependent on debating {and sometimes misrepresenting} what
'believer's with a Different-interpretation of God's Word, says;
even to the point of 'taunting them' if they decide Not to waste
their time by replying {'in good faith'} to your particular Bible-
beliefs; but, given that my words don't even 'pass-through' your
brain {or what 'passes' for a brain} without what I 'said' being
tinkered with, by you.. All I can say is, 'Taunt-Taunt-Away, to
your 'heart's content,' even; for it's {now} obvious to me that
you're a Sick {if 7th-Day Aventist, doctrinally-obsessed} 'man'!!?

Hi Hmmmm
 
It was early, and I hadn't even had my first glass of water yet. Yes, you are correct, upon looking back I did add to what you said. Please accept my apologies.
 
Now can we get back to the question at hand or do you choose not to answer the simple question that was posed to you in my last post?
 
Cheers
IBIJ