Accelerating on

Here's a symbolic summary. We are getting on a roller coaster/train. But, there are no seat belts and the seats are flat--no arm guards/rests or side rails. How well we stay on will depend on our spiritual and physical preparations. We need to hang on with all we have, and do what we can to help our families hang on. One view is the coaster/train cars are on the uphill, about to go down at anytime. A year ago, that was my thought. But I recently had another idea, which changed my perception from a roller coaster (which depends on gravity) to a train. In this perspective, the train is leaving and it is beginning to speed up and very soon the track will turn very quickly, and will continue to spiral with increased acceleration. And instead of dropping in the spiral, what if the spirals went up as the cars continue to accelerate? When the cars whip around the sharply curving tracks it will be all anyone can do to grab anything and hold on. What happens if you fall off? I don't know, except that you won't make it to the destination at the same time as the train, if you are able and choose to continue on. And there isn't just one spiral, but at least three. Many people could hold one through one, or maybe two, full 360 degree accelerating turns, but going through a third would tax the strength, determination, and endurance of most, due to the continued acceleration, and centrifugal forces pulling at the passengers . At this time, I'm not sure what is beyond the spirals, except that the train continues on, accelerating towards its destination, which is still a ways off.

Here is a great talk by President Benson

https://www.lds.org/new-era/1982/05/prepare-yourself-for-the-great-day-of-the-lord?lang=eng&query=Ezra+Taft+Benson+last+days+devotional

I wasn't even 10 years old when this talk was given, so it was of particular interest when I read these words:

"Youth of Zion, do you realize you are living in the days of the fulfillment of these signs and wonders? You are among those who will see many of these prophecies fulfilled. Just as certain as was the destruction of the temple at Jerusalem and the scattering of the Jews, so shall these words of the Savior be certain to your generation."

The youth President Benson was addressing are now in the 45-55 year old range. While a "generation" has many definitions, and no definitive number of years, my research puts a "generation" as being around 70 years in length (roughly). That is not saying other "generations" are not occurring during the same time period.

Many people want the days (years) of tribulation to happen soon, and to pass quickly. That would be really nice. But what if the Second Coming doesn't happen until 2033 or later? Basically it means there is more time, but it doesn't mean there is more time to become prepared.

I don't buy into the "seven years of tribulation." There is nowhere in the scriptures or from any prophets (at least that I have found) that says there will only be seven years of tribulation. The seven years comes from adding a couple of 3.5 year periods spoken of in the Book of Revelation. Many assume these events are sequential, happening one after another. 

But what if the events happen simultaneous? Then there would only be about 3.5 years of "tribulation."

If you add all the various lengths of time for events described in the Book of Revelation, I think it's around 10+ years. Most lump a couple of 3.5 year events together, as they seem to fit together, but what if they are separate?

Or, what if, as I think, there are spaces of time between these major events, and some may actually happen concurrently or overlap? This more aptly fits the description of a "woman in travail" (labor), where there are periods between the labor. With this view you cannot definitely say it will be seven years.

Anyone placing their faith in a period of "only" seven years of tribulation will find their faith sorely tried, which will definitely cause many to believe that the Savior is delaying his coming.

I believe that the Second Coming, like the Savior's birth, is at a fixed time. However, the timing of many of the major events leading up to that time may not have definite start/stop times. But these events will happen.

We want to place timelines on when things are going to happen, mostly because we don't like the fear of uncertainty. We want to be able to plan and prepare, but most of us will just end up procrastinating because other things will seem more important.

Most dreams and visions do not have specific times. Some will give seasons--spring, summer, fall, winter--but not a year. It is the tendency of most people to want to assign meaning to what they see in a dream or vision, which is okay as long as they make it clear to others that the "meaning" is their own interpretation and not what they were actually told in the dream.

Some will see themselves, a spouse, or children as being older and believe it is representative of how many years it might be, particularly if their children are older in the dream/vision. It is my opinion that others are seen as being older for the simple reason to tell the person that the dream/vision is in the future. If a child is seen as being really old, that child may not be recognized. I'm not saying this is always the case. I am simply saying that those who have a dream or vision and see someone who only appears a few years older can really only interpret the dream accurately by saying the person was older. How much older is really hard to determine, particularly as some people appear many years younger than they are, and other can look much older.

We need to be particularly cautious of interpretations of dreams, especially when it comes to the number of years in the future. Personally, I find the most reliable dreams/visions are those which are told as they were seen, without attempt to interpret specifics. However, if the person desires, a disclaimer should be made before they make any kind of interpretation that was not part of the dream or vision. It's not to discredit their interpretation, but to let others know it is their opinion of the meaning, and not necessarily the true meaning of what was seen. I find these personal-opinion-interpretations to be helpful.