In some ways it is asking a similar question as to when did hominids become
human but looking at where we are going rather than from where we have
come. Obviously, eschatology has something to say to this, but some I meet
with and hear, would deny God and Jesus intervening in the sense of the
traditionally held views of the second coming, etc.
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In terms of integrating faith with science, there have been vast amounts
written on origins, but very little on eschatology. The current Big Bang
scenario has a physical origin at about 10^10 years ago, but also predicts
a continuation into the future of over 10^100 years, depending somewhat on
the curvature of spacetime. This implies that at present the universe is
VERY YOUNG, less than one ten billionth of its eventual age. What does
theology have to say about the rest of this time period? I don't know of
many who even want to speculate about matching this up with Christian
eschatology as described in the Revelation. Any takers?
Paul Arveson, Code 724, Signatures Directorate, NSWC
arveson@oasys.dt.navy.mil bridges@his.com
(301) 227-3831 (W) (301) 816-9459 (H) (301) 227-4511 (FAX)