Dear FRONTLINE,

Many people and scholars have their own interpretation of the Book of Revelation and none know what they are talking about since the book is full of symbols.

The major and minor prophets explain exactly what these symbols represent and there would not be any discusions concerning the book of Revelations if they would study the Major and Minor prophets with it.

I once had a vision and the end is coming very soon. The book of Revelations is a book where God is revealing the truth and not a Book of secrets as many think.

I would suggest that you wake up and quit trying to research God in a scientific manner for God's foolishness is greater than all of man's intelligence.

Dave T

Dear FRONTLINE,

I am a seminarian at the Lutheran Theological Seminary at Gettysburg. This evening four other seminiarians and I, along with a professor's wife, who has been a translator for large international ecumenical events, gathered to watch the show on the Apocalypse.

We were impressed by the content of the show, focusing, as it did, on historical, cultural and biblical background, as well as the surveying modern and contemporary apocalyptic movements.

I would like to congratulate PBS for producing a show which utilized intelligent and informed biblical research and exegesis. In the climate of apocalyptic fervor which "electronic church", it seems to dominate the is gratifying to see mainstream Christian scholarship presented on television.

Sincerely,

Kimberly A. Rapczak

Kimberly Rapczak
Gettysburg, PA

Dear FRONTLINE,

Thank you for presenting this timely subject. We are great believers and members of PBS and its excellent programming. We are also Christians and practice our faith. Interestingly, Revelations is the only book of the Bible that promises a blessing to anyone who reads it. It is baffling to me. I have read it many times. Some of the old Testament symbols and stories are repeated here and that helps to explain it. The rest is like a time capsule. According to John writing from Patmos, as events unfold, the meaning will be understood. So we must be ready spiritually not in a militaristic sense by trying to tell the Good News to everyone we can. When the whole world has heard the message, the end will come. Read the Old Testament a lot that will explain a great deal. The rest of it baffles me but I'm ready whether it's now or 10,000 AD. Matthew 24 says that at the end times there will be earthquakes in various places, then the gospel will be preached and then the end will come. I don't see any Antichrist deceiving Jews and standing in their temple desecrating it, do you? So I am not worried. I don't think we should hire in compounds and help the FBI to shoot us. Isn't the Gospel about love? Getting people scared and penning them up is nowhere near love. David K. was a kook!

Rosemarie Paulling
Charleston, SC

Dear FRONTLINE,

May the peace of Allah God be upon each of you this evening. I appreciate Frontline's efforts to research and bring topics such as the Day of Judgement to the attention of viewers. As a Muslim, I have a firm conviction in the Day of Judgement,the end of this world, and the hereafter of heaven and hell. The Qur'an is the muslim holy book. It is the divine revelation of Allah God to all of mankind, and it was revealed to the last Prophet Muhammadthe peace and blessings of Allah be upon himby the Angel Gabriel. There are over a billion Muslims worldwide with millions of them residing in the "West". Muslims believe in the Day of Judgement as described throughout the Qur'an. Numerous small chapters are devoted to this topic and the fate of the believers and non-believers. A Muslim's entire day is focussed on pleasing Allah through belief, prayer ,and good deeds in order to reach Paradise and avoid the punishment of the hellfire. As told to mankind in the Qur'an only Allah knows the time for this day. I found it disappointing that the Muslim perspective on the Day of Judgement was overlooked. Muslim beliefs on the Judgement Day have not changed since the Qur'an was revealed over 1400 years ago. It would've served as an interesting comparison to the changing Apocalyptic beliefs developed over time as presented in the documentary.

Thank you - May Allah bless and guide you.

Kareemah budeir

Dear FRONTLINE,

I watched the show tonight and I had a revelation. We are a such a stupid and ignorant race of arrogant little people. Someday, hopefully, history students will write and describe this era as the beginning of the end of the sectarian dark ages. This era of parochial spirituality reminds me of a bunch of pre-pubescent boys inventing gloomy stories in the dark trying to scare the crap out of each other. It is beyond me how any level-headed person of reason and common sense can subscribe to this litany of superstitious gobblygook.

Erwin Trzeciak
New York, NY

Dear FRONTLINE,

I was deeply impressed that you took on the tough subject of the Apocalypse! It is one that none of us know about, not any who have spoken his/her thoughts thus far tonight, not the "experts," no one really knows. I, however, am very impressed with the scholars that you did interview for tonight's show. I think that they have done a lot of studying on this subject, and that they could truly enlighten me. As for my own thoughts, I disagree with the 'Carolyn' from FL, because I do not think that the Apocalypse is an allegory. I believe that it is not used to "scare" people. However, I think that she definately has great developed arguments, and that of course, she is entitled to her thoughts. But, what if this whole "Apocalyptic Revelation" becomes true? What would her argument be then? Read "Left Behind," from Tim LaHaye, et. al I think that is how you say and spell it. As for Frontline, I am concerned, for I am a Christian of no particular denomination. I was once a member of the Apostalic Church. I know that not many of these members will be writing to you, because they do not own TV's, as I once did not. However, look at what they missed tonight! I am concerned that, because I am not Jewish, I will not be chosen. What do I do with this reconciliation? What is my fate, if I am not one of the 144,000 chosen? I realize that I may sound very ignorant, but I am a good listener, and I want to learn!! What do your experts have to say about this? Does not the New Testament, in its entirety claim that all who belief are saved? I am counting on this act, because I am just a lonely Gentile!!! I believe that if God can speak, and the Earth was formed, then surely one wretch like me can be saved. Or am I deceived? What am I to do?

Jacquelin Beachy
Fort Wayne, IN

Dear FRONTLINE,

The research in the report is undoubtedtly well done and extensive. I myself am interested in Biblical prophesy, yet am limited to the resources available to the lay-person. I do believe, though, in addition to the scholarly input by the professors, next timeif you ever run another show on similar matter again, you should also include the opinions of some Christians who have studied the Bible in the ways that most people do not. Prayer and seeking God's revelations to the meanings of the Bible can give a great deal more insight to the confusing messages relayed within, and without including actual modern Christian beliefs and opinions, the message is only a history of the literary aspects of the Bible.

John Carpenter
Seguin, Texas

Dear FRONTLINE,

It was taught to me in the Seminary that the early church writers did not know when the end of the world will come no more than we know today. The early church was under persecution which had influenced the early Christians. When the Christians were thrown to the lions it seemed to be the end of the world. This early persecution brought about the writings of the Book of Revelation. It is possible that because of the distance of history and cultures we may never understand what all the writings mean in the Book of Revelation.

Philip Giardino
Star Lake, NY

Dear FRONTLINE,

I am presently teaching a course of study on the "Apocalypse of Jesus" to His beloved Apostle John...This book known, perhaps, more popularly as "Revelation." It would have been very helpful to have interviewed a theologian who, like myself, approaches the "Apocalypse " from what is called the, "amillennial" point of view. As a Missouri Synod Lutheran pastor, I teach that the spectacular portents and signs which most see as taking place literally, and, only "...in the last days..." have, in fact, been taking place ever since the asension of Christ forty days after His resurrection from the dead. Those vivid images which have fueled the fires of so many pious imaginations through the ages, are in fact to be understood only through the clear words of our Lord Himself as He speaks about the, "...end of all things created..." in the more clear passages of the Bible, such as the Holy Gospels. "Revelation," is a completely different sort of "beast" when it comes to literary genres within the canon of the New Testament. In order to properly interpret this book of the Bible, on must have a good handle on sound principles of biblical interpretation in general, and a sturdy understanding of apocalyptic literature, specifically. Sadly, many have been led astray by so-called prophets of God who had little or no idea of either. The "Apocalypse" is only meant to be an encouraging final word from Christ to His Church, "Hold on! I am coming soon to take you home!" Even so, "Amen! Come Lord Jesus!" Bradley W. Ketcham, Pastor, Saint John Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod, Audubon, Iowa

Bradley Ketcham
Audubon, Iowa

Dear FRONTLINE,

The Waco atrocity demonstrated how dangerous it is when ego-centric fanaticism confronts virtually unlimited power which is held by those without historical perspective. Since education in the Liberal Arts enjoys so little respect in our society, we desperately need the kind of mass engagement with perspective and issues which your program provided tonight. You have fulfilled the function of public television, enlisting the best of scholars in the field. Thank you for the program--and its video.

Maurice Luker
Abingdon, Virginia

Dear FRONTLINE,

The apocalypse is an allegory. It was a way for people to explain the meaning of life which then as now, seemed unfair and cruel. Life is equally good and bad in all of the poetic ways. Those who think in terms of a modern destruction of life as we know it apocalypse seem to be governed by the darkest vision of the human condition.
We will be crossing a cognitive frontier when we can think beyond this narrow, destructive view to the true wisdom of the ancient writers. They can guide our judgement for the benefit of life and the entire, living planet.
The destruction of human life can only be a self fulfilling prophecy. I refuse to accept that kind of suicide as a rational basis for making decisions.

Carolyn Larke
Fort Lauderdale, FL

Dear FRONTLINE,

I've just come from watching the PBS program on the Apocalypse. I'm a 52 year old, male Christian and I don't believe in the apocalypse as they presented it. I can't see that there's any evidence that these so-called signs exist today, anymore than they have for the past two thousand years. This program was interesting for history's sake. It was very provocative and very entertaining, but I think it promotes believers of an imanent apocalypse. Although this was a valuable historical collection of beliefs, I have a minor problem that it will fuel peoples fears, and that a few radical believers will come forward to further their own interests as a result.

Finally, I greatly appreciate PBS for making this available.

Will Summers

Dear FRONTLINE,

I think that it should be pointed out that the Christians who believe that the Third Temple should be built as the first step of the Apocalypse, don't seem to have any problem with the idea of the creation of the Christian millenium out of the countless number of Jewish and Moslem dead which would result from the necessity of the destruction of Moslem holy sites on the Temple Mount.

alan gross

Dear FRONTLINE,

It was with great excitment that I awaited tonights airing of Frontline. I sat down expectantly and commented to my wife that I believed the the show would end with the mention of Apostolic Pentecostals. It did! Why? Perhaps it is because they belive exactly as did the original followers of Jesus, which would indicate that we have gone full circle, and are now living in the days which were prophesied in the book of Joel that in the last days God would pour out his spirit upon all flesh. Incredible that in todays world of techno gizmos that we as a society no matter how hard the media would want to bend our beliefs still believe that the bible is true and that Jesus is coming! It is highly doubtful that Jesus will come in the year 2000, because Jesus said it would happen at a time when no one expected it. Tonight was truly provacative!

Gary Bartlett
woodstock, New Brunswick

Dear FRONTLINE,

The program was very scholarly,and the participants were very articulate, but no room was given for the faith that millions of people have in God's Word. The knowledge that any human can predict the end of time is disproved by His Word that tells us no man knows the time of Jesus appearing, nor the time schedule of the happenings prophesied. We are told to wait, trust, and not to live in fear, but to wait calmly and see Him work His will. He will take care of those who believe and trust in Him.

Mary Juntunen
Cloquet, Minnesota