Expert: Griff Ruby - 4/9/2005

Question
Hello father! you know how we dont take thing in the bible literally, how do interpret the 3 days of darkeness,and theres something in the bible where it says earth will be burnt from fire, will these literally happen?
Do we believe in the end times, and that these are supposed to have many disasters like earthquakess and tsunami's? Does god make this happen
Will earth always be here according to the bible?
Will there be poeple alive after the second coming?
Is there a 1000 year reign of christ after the second coming? What about a white thron judgment after the 1000 year reign?

Answer
First of all, don't call me Father as I am lay.
As to prophetic interpretation, I do not profess to be any great expert in that.  While I have heard much about the "three days of darkness" practically nothing of it that I have heard is from any primary source.  As to the future of the earth, and if it will be burned, I know of no official Church interpretation that one is bound to believe.  The Bible speaks of a new heaven and a new earth, but whether the new earth draws something of its base material from the old earth, or else is something completely new and else, is something I would not even venture a guess at.
Disasters have always happened and will continue to always happen, and one need not make anything of them.
As to the judgements, there are some real doctrines here.  Each of us faces our own personal judgement when we die.  It is at that point that we learn our basic destiny (heaven, hell, purgatory...).  At the end of time, when the world as we know it ends and the new heavens and a new earth are founded, there then comes the Great White Throne judgement at which everything everyone has done is revealed to all and no secrets can be kept anymore.  In that we learn of the justice of God in how He has judged each soul.
Sorry I can't help you more, but this is what I know about the topics you raise.