Dear Tom,
I will try to make this brief, but let me say this; there are many brilliant people on both sides of this issue and many others who can't even fathom how either side even sees a relationship between the two. Until whatever happens or doesn't happen, none of us can claim to have "the truth".
One could go into great detail about the relationship between the anticipation of the year 2000 and the year 1000 (millennial expectation -- on the part of many religions, by the way); about the perceived lack of concern, as de Jaeger refers to the Europeans as "looking over the abyss and admiring the view" -- others discount this interpretation altogether; about the "simplicity" or the "complexity" of the problem (depending on whose school colors you bear); etc., etc., etc.
I originally became interested in the Y2K "problem" from a mere investing point of view. But, the Wall Street crowd disagreed (at least temporarily) with where I put my money. I watched my "sure bet" go to pot, and finally became convinced that by the time Wall Street was convinced there was a problem, it would be too late to turn Y2K into an investment. But that's another long story.
When I began to see the Biblical significance (in my mind, that is), the entire prospect became both frightening and humorous. Frightening if the perceived connection did exist and the "worse" scenarios played out. Humorous, in that it would be ironic if God chose this way to confound "brilliant" mankind once again (ie -- Babel). Man invents the computer with the desired goal to "be like a god". Super-intelligence controlled by man. But, oh, he forgot one little detail about 2 digits, and this would be the thing that ended this lifelong quest to "be a god".
I think the one thing to watch for is a peace treaty with Israel. If we see this in 1998, then it strengthens my "end-times" beliefs. I certainly hope for a pre-tribulation "rapture", but never count on anything that requires even a small amount of "interpretation" of Scripture.
The next few months could be interesting for those students of prophecy. Or it could just be another victorious chapter for the "the apostles thought the 2nd Coming was in their lifetimes also" very vocal, insecure, frightened, or in my opinion, deceived crowd.
I think God is very logical and ordered. That is why I "see" the relationships developing all around us since Israel became a nation. Interesting times lie ahead for those that know "the Way, the Truth, and the Light". Frightening in the short-term, but keep your eyes on the goal. For those that are lost, the scary will only get worse.
I remain,
SOROS
ps I see the IRS wants everyone to have the option of paying their taxes on credit cards -- interesting. |
