Here are some brief thoughts to (I hope) ward off wild inference, rampant speculation, and all the other good stuff that surely will accompany this thread...
Question #1: For those who believe that the House of Joseph prophecy refers to modern times (Ephraim and Manassah representing the USA and UK),
OK, I am going to start this answer with a back to front answer. Last part first:
As I read it, much, maybe most, of the prophesy in the Bible is about the house of Joseph / Ephraim... specifically about its spectacular, almost complete annihilation.
A much more complete answer will follow. I have given no Bible study, no refs, etc... please wait until I have done so in order to ask questions, since, of course, they have to be Bible questions...
...how does that correlate with what the rest of the Bible has to say about last day events and the Second Coming of Christ? Where do "Babylon" and the "Mark of the Beast" fit into all of this?
This, as I see it is the central question... I have to lay a bit of foundation to get to this.
Question #2: Does the Bible set dates for any last day events? Does God give specific dates to people through visions and dreams?
As I understand the Bible, and from my experience, God gives marker events by which one might discern where / when in the procession of prophecies one stands... but there are times where the Bible gives dates. Herod the great had many followers that evidently thought he was the Messiah. They thought this for a number of reasons, but one of them was a specific date that was given to Daniel about when the Messiah was to come. Many figured that Herod would be the Messiah.
Here is a link that has a pretty good diagram of the date in Daniel... not sure about any of the rest of the site... but the diagram demonstrates the date that the Bible did indeed set for the coming of Messiah, the Prince.
Date set in Daniel...There are others as well... Elijah sealing the sky for three and a half years and prophesying that he would do so, Jacob being told that his descendants would be in Egypt 400 years, etc. There are also some set for / in the end times as well (specifically in Daniel and Revelation) which are relevant to specific events. I am not sure I have understood these completely, but will mention what I believe about these as well.
As regards dreams and visions, I believe the same patterns seen in the Bible will be seen in dreams and visions as well... if the dreams / visions are of God.
Question #3: Why is the Bible so cryptic? Why are some dreams like riddles? Why is not all spelled out so we can all be on the same page of understanding and make our choice accordingly?
To these three questions I have one answer that needs more explanation, but that I believe is true even at its simplest: The Bible is only for God's people. It's inherent design (as far as I can see) is to be incomprehensible to unbelievers. To believers, God instructs to seek and ask for wisdom, to have and increase in faith / belief, and to in every case fear God. As I see it, it is by these means that the "answers" in the Bible can be apprehended.
The great theologians and intellects who differ in their understanding of scripture can't all be right can they?
Luke 6:26 "Woe unto you, when all men shall speak well of you! for so did their fathers to the false prophets."
This verse doesn't really have its full impact out of context like this... read the whole of Luke 6 for a better perspective... but, I would simply say that the "great theologians and intellects" are pretty much universally wrong. I tell you truly that I do indeed have a strong mind... but I will also say that the things I have learned of God were not ascertained by intellect. No, but by fasting, praying, believing His word as it presents itself, asking God for wisdom and insight, and by fearing Him. You can have this too. In any case I believe it is promised like this in the Bible.
--gabe
