My Eschatological Puzzle

 

 

 

Whether Idealist, Historicist,

Preterist or Futurist,

I am definitely positive

There is something they all miss.

 

With each of these four

There is an emphasis

And with their intended unique focus

Some information is dissed.

 

A focus on the past

As in the Preterist’s case

May very well overlook the future

In their eager haste.

 

Similarly, the Futurist,

Intent on their peculiar task

Could have inadvertently missed

The prophetic past.

 

Idealist and Historicist

Could be culpable too

Premising their summations

On a partial view.

 

 

Therein is my puzzle

Concerning any eschatology,

And thus, I refuse to be labelled

By any category.

 

I do believe, however,

Most prophecies are past

And I note that this is a position

Most have not grasped.

 

Prophecy fulfilled

Is a vindication of the Word

That God in his infinite knowledge

Has never deferred.

 

Not one has failed,

They all have come true

And the annals of history show

This to me and you.

 

 

Some have been distant

And some near at hand

But that some indication is given

Has always been God’s plan.

 

In Daniel he was told,

Shut up the words, seal the book,

Go now to Daniel 12 verse 4

And have a look.

 

The urgency was not then

But for a while after

And thus, the sealing of the vision

Until the time of the matter.

 

 

But not so in Revelation

In the vision given to John,

This was sent to seven churches,

Yes, to everyone.

 

It was a matter of urgency

Applicable to them

And that’s why with the Futurist

I have a problem.

 

I have a huge problem

With the Preterist as well,

Concerning the current believers,

What hope do they tell?

 

Hyper Preterist teach

Every prophecy is fulfilled,

There remains not a single one

Regarding God’s will.

 

No coming yet to come

And no physical resurrection,

What then, I am forced to ask,

Is my redemption?

 

Regarding life after death,

When does this life truly begin?

And, will there never ever be

Complete riddance of sin? 

 

I am still puzzled

But not unduly disturbed

For there is still much that I glean

From God’s Holy Word.

 

In the 1^st chapter of John

And in the third also,

A wonderful truth has been given

And this truth I know.

 

I am a child of God

Having received Him by faith,

Naught of any good I have done,

Only by God’s grace.

 

But as many as receive Him

Not one of them will perish,

For all will have everlasting life

And this I truly relish.

 

 

 

So though puzzled I may be

Concerning its working out,

That God will bring it all to pass

I have absolutely no doubt.

 

Stewart Russell © March 6, 2025

 

To Fix A Broken World

 

 

 

None can fix the world

Not one of us can,

But we are doing our best to destroy it

As though that’s our plan.

 

Every era has left it

Worse than the era before

As though in a competition

To get the worst score.

 

But the loser wins nothing

And the aftermath is grimmer

Yet there is this weird feeling

That he is a winner.

 

 

Our world is a broken puzzle

With pieces out of place

And given our so-called intelligence

This is a universal disgrace.

 

A Nobel winner for this

And A Nobel winner for that

Yet few can derive the benefits

And this is a sobering fact.

 

The masses are unchanged

In the barrel at the bottom,

And while a few enjoy the good life

For most it’s mostly rotten.

 

Those that try, pretend

That they are fixing the puzzle

But the sureties they put in place

Are not for ordinary people.

 

 

The world is a broken puzzle

For certain, a puzzle to me

And when I try to understand it

I experience futility.

 

None can fix the world,

None in this world I see

And they that reap the benefits

Are saying to leave it be.

 

It is fixed for the wealthy

And suited to the strong,

Only the vulnerable would say

Something has to be wrong.

 

For some it needs no fixing,

For others it is out of shape

But none of us knows how to fix it

Especially here of late.

 

 

Some pieces are hidden

For the benefit of a few

Thus, the majority can do little

Even if they knew.

 

There is one who will fix it

Though not fix it like we would,

And the change he has facilitated

Was purchased by his blood.

 

His is really not a fix

But a complete makeover anew:

Transformation from within

And also, a change of view.

 

 

Make the man right

And all will be rearranged,

This is not a fix, I must add,

But a genuine change.

 

Stewart Russell © September 7, 2021

 

Just a Regular Habit

 

 

 

Solve this puzzle

Figure this riddle

One is uncomfortable

It’s a real hassle

 

What is it?

A regular habit

Here’s a bit

And there’s a bit

 

In the muscles

And in the joints

Then in the bones

To make a point

 

It’s never tangible

So I cannot touch

I cannot see it

But I feel it so much

 

It’s all the time

Particularly with age

Respects no person

At any stage

 

A puzzle sometimes

As to source

But make no mistake

It’s a compelling force

 

It troubles the mind

And robs of sleep

You may doze

But nothing deep

 

Sometimes it’s masked

Sometimes deferred

Nothing one likes

Nothing to be desired

 

Medication helps

Only for a time

Soon it’s back

To mess with the mind

 

Babies have it

To the aged it’s habit

The youth a bit

To all it gives a fit

 

It’s a mechanism

In the system

But medication

Masks the problem

 

When it’s around

Something’s wrong

Affects the weak

As well as the strong

 

Robs of energy

Affects one’s health

Shows no respect

For those with wealth

 

 

Affects the living

Never the dead

Troubles the foot

Annoys the head

 

Solve this puzzle

Figure this riddle

One is uncomfortable

It’s a real hassle

 

Spoils your features

Lines you face

Makes you squirm

With every pace

 

Can be excruciating

Sometimes dull

Recessive sometimes

But often full

 

Can be long lasting

Or for a season

Or apparently sometimes

For no reason

 

Some will argue

That cannot be

Something is wrong

If it finds you or me

 

What is it?

A regular habit

Here’s a bit

And there’s a bit

 

In the muscles

And in the joints

Then in the bones

To make a point

 

Something’s wrong

Have it checked

If you don’t

You may regret

 

 

It’s just like sin

It will nag and nag

Get to the source

Do not lag

 

Fix the symptom

Won’t fix the problem

There is a source

From which it stemmed

 

Fix the source

Will fix the symptom

Jesus is the answer

To the sin problem

 

Back to the start

What is it?

I am sure by now

You have a bit

 

For the answer

Search yourself

You will find it

No matter your health

 

Be patient

And you’ll get it

And you will see

It’s a regular habit

 

Solve this puzzle

Figure this riddle

One is uncomfortable

It’s a real hassle

 

If not now

Just wait a while

It’s never out of fashion

Or out of style

 

Stewart Russell © 2017

 

From Puzzle to Picture

There were hundreds of pieces

Of varying size

But no picture to guide me,

That I truly despised.

How was I to fix this puzzle?

This was not even practical,

At least show me a picture

And that would be reasonable.

“There are guidelines there,”

An inner voice assured,

“The diversity of the pieces:

That is your open door.

If they were all alike

Would that have helped?”

Of course not I responded

And at least better I felt.

Of course I was having a chat

With that voice within me

And I dare say to all

That was no sign of insanity.

In my relaxed frame of mind

I searched for the corners

Then put the border together

To frame the picture.

Then I saw eyes and noses

A hairline then two

And then faces were formed

I found my working crew.

From puzzle to picture

It was beginning to form:

A community of working people

Just like the everyday norm.

The nurse and the police

The postman and the cleaner,

These and other community workers

Were all there in my picture.

  

There were children too

And mothers with infants in arms

And going about their daily business

Added to the overall charm.

The puzzle was almost complete

Just a dozen more pieces or so

From puzzle to picture, O yes!

With no picture at first to show.

Quite daunting at the beginning

Most satisfying in the end,

Like the challenges we face in life

And the daily effort we expend.

Nothing is more satisfying

Than a puzzle we have unraveled,

Particularly when at the beginning

It was truly a daunting puzzle.

The pieces were so out of place

As though they all were wrong

But when I got the workers together

I saw where each piece belonged.

If all our workers get together

And play their individual roles

Our puzzle would become a picture,

There would be no gaping holes.

Don’t hanker after another’s role

With yours do the best you can

Be a piece the puzzle can’t do without

Be a part of the master plan!

Stewart Russell © March 2019