hardthinkingben wrote:why wouldn't God give a direct answer in a vision or diologue?
Well, I believe that God has. He has revealed everything we need to know in His Word. Let me emphasize that word "need". The Bible does not tell us everything we "want" to know, even though it would be intriguing if it did. Just those things we need to know.
God also has a time schedule.
Ecclesiastes 3:1 (KJV) To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:
Jesus before He ascended to heaven in the book of Acts also said something about a time schedule:
Acts 1:7 (KJV) And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the
times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power.
And if you read the book of Daniel, it says quite a number of times that God's overall plan will eventually come to fruition in what Daniel terms as either the "latter days" and/or "time of the end."
Part of the discipline of being a Christian is waiting. Waiting takes discipline. The word 'disciple' comes from that word discipline. Just like waiting in line at a supermarket or at the shopping mall during Christmas, it does get frustrating but you eventually get to the check-out counter. Many people in the past waited for the return of Christ and when Christ didn't return during the time that they thought, they became disgruntled. Many of us Christians presently, wait patiently for God to ultimately bring justice and to reveal Himself fully, which is a promise God has made in scripture.
I really like Zephaniah, chapter three, verse eight. To my knowledge, it is the only verse in the Old Testament which contains within it, every letter of the Hebrew alphabet. It is written to those who wait patiently and contains the plan that God will eventually reveal in Christ's second advent. One day we'll see God face to face. That's a promise by Christ for believers, that you can take to the bank.
Zephaniah 3:8 (KJV) Therefore wait ye upon me, saith the LORD, until the day that I rise up to the prey: for my determination is to gather the nations, that I may assemble the kingdoms, to pour upon them mine indignation, even all my fierce anger: for all the earth shall be devoured with the fire of my jealousy.