I think that the moves the Nazis and Communists made as they seized power were apparent to anyone who was paying attention. After all, both Hitler and Lenin were open about their intentions. Hitler laid it all out in Mein Kampf — a “Make Germany Great Again” manifesto that propagated the anti-Semitic conspiracy theories about secret Jewish cabals that were used to justify the Holocaust. Lenin publicly advocated a proletarian revolution in Russia long before 1917.Valerie wrote:I truly wonder how Hitler achieved his goal. Was anyone warning? We're they seen as conspiracy theorists? What about the spread of communism. Russia- was anyone connecting dots? Trying to warn? How wiill the AntiChrist eventually rise to his power? If the Church is going through the Great Tribulation like the Orthodox Church had always taught, will Christians be inclined to sense but way of the Holy Spirit what is happening & just put up ,& shut up, or will it be our Christian duty to use what we see happening as an open door to share our faith?Szdfan wrote:Then it’s no longer a conspiracy theory. Part of defines a conspiracy theory is that it relies more on faith instead of fact. Dots are connected with insufficient or no evidence. Relationships between disparate things are assumed without evidence that they are actually connected.Robert wrote:
What happens when a theory becomes fact?
If there’s adequate evidence to support these connected dots, it’s not a conspiracy theory.
Do you have examples of conspiracy theories that turned into fact?
Neither of these were shadowy forces manipulating history in secret even if they were conspiring to seize power. Again, conspiracies are not the same thing as conspiracy theories.
I’m a skeptic When it comes to End Times prophecies, not because I doubt the truth of Scripture, but because I doubt the interpretations of End Times “prophets.” My grandfather was seriously into eschatology and believed he would see Christ while he was still alive. He predicted several dates that Jesus would return. He thought Saddam Hussein was the Antichrist. He was wrong. The Millerites were wrong. Harold Camping was wrong. The Jehovah’s Witnesses were wrong. There’s been lots of connecting the dots over the past two thousand years and none of that dot connecting ended up being true.
I think both Daniel and Revelations are important and theologically rich books that have a lot to teach us about what it means to follow Christ in the midst of hardship and oppression. I don’t think they are roadmaps to the end of the world.
Christ himself says that he will return like a thief in the night and that not even the angels know the date of his return. Perhaps we should pay attention to that.