Time Is Near: Five Common Misinterpretations Of The Book Of Revelation

https://www.catholicculture.org ^ | Carl E. Olson

[NKP_Vet]

The book of Revelation, quipped Ambrose Bierce, is "a famous book in which St. John the Divine concealed all that he knew. The revealing is done by the commentators, who know nothing." And G. K. Chesterton wrote, "Though St. John the Evangelist saw many strange monsters in his vision, he saw no creature so wild as one of his own commentators."

Indeed, the book of Revelation, also known as the Apocalypse, is fascinating and mysterious. Like an enchanting woman, the book attracts admirers of every sort. Many attempt outlandish feats of interpretation in order to gain attention. They usually do more damage than good, their fevered explanations reflecting their biases and presumptions rather than any true insight.

Many popular commentators who obsess over the book of Revelation use it to support both implicit and overt anti-Catholic opinions. Fundamentalists, Mormons, and Jehovah's Witnesses have long associated the famed Whore of Babylon, "the mother of harlots" (Rev. 17:5), with the Catholic Church. Some also link the church of Thyatira (Rev. 2:18-25) with the Catholic Church since her members supposedly "practice immorality" and "eat food sacrificed to idols" (Rev. 2:20).

[CynicalBear]

One would think that the errors and contradictions in the apocrypha would cause an alert to Catholics. But alas they simply worship the Church.

[Iscool]

They can’t stand the thought of a man who was one of the most respected protestant theologians in the world

Oh, please....

[fabian]

What is hunting to you is actually helping people..to be still and separate from the thoughts on the mind...the playground of darkness. And I see it has done quite the job on your soul. Pretty sad what passes for Christians these last days.

[NKP_Vet]

Fact. Scott Hahn has forgotten more about scripture than most men will ever know. Plain and simple he’s despised by the good ole evangelicals because he used TO BE ONE!!

[Yosemitest]

"There is going to have to be some terrain changes to fit armies there."

Not necessarily.

Notice:

“And I saw three unclean spirits like frogs come out of the mouth of the dragon [Satan — Revelation 12:9],
and out of the mouth of the beast,
and out of the mouth of the false prophet.
“For they are the spirits of devils [demons],
working miracles,
which go forth unto the kings of the earth and of the whole world,
to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty.
Behold I come as a thief.
Blessed is he that watcheth, and keepeth his garments,
lest he walk naked,
and they see his shame.
And he gathered them together into a place called in the Hebrew tongue 'Armageddon ' ” (Revelation 16:13-16).

See Tel-el-Mutesellim (Hill of the Ruler)
“And at the time of the end [no question about the time setting of this prophecy] shall the king of the south push at him:
and the king of the north shall come against him like a whirlwind,
with chariots, and with horsemen, and with many ships;
and he shall enter into the countries [many nations in adjoining territories],
and shall overflow,
and pass over.
“He shall enter also into the glorious land [Palestine],
and many countries shall be overthrown [conquered by military force]:
but these shall escape out of his hand,
even Edom [probably Turkey, an Islamic state], and Moab, and the chief of the children of Ammon
[probably Iraq and Jordan.
The Hashemites of these Arabic countries are Islamic. “Amma” is the modern capitol of Jordan].
“He shall stretch forth his hand also upon the countries:
and the land of Egypt shall not escape.
“But he shall have power over the treasures of gold and silver, and over all the precious things of Egypt:
and the Libyans and the Ethiopians
[not the modern-day nations of this name, but “Cush and Put,” probably modern India, Bangladesh, and neighboring countries]
shall be at his steps [on his most distant borders].
“But tidings [intelligence] out of the EAST and out of the north [northeast of Palestine] shall trouble him:
therefore he shall go forth with great fury to destroy,
and utterly to make away many
[notice it is the “kings of the east” that are demonically inspired to advance to Megiddo.
Here, news of this advance “troubles” the “king of the north,” who has already occupied Palestine!].
“And he shall plant the tabernacles of his palace between the seas
[the Dead Sea and the Mediterranean␣in Jerusalem]
in the glorious holy mountain;
he shall come to his end, and none shall help him.” (Daniel 11:40-45). “When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation
[an abhorrent desecration which is abominable in God's sight which causes desolation, or destruction],
spoken of by Daniel the prophet [Daniel 9:27],
stand in the holy place [in the temple],
(whoso readeth, let him understand:)
then let them which be in Judaea flee into the mountains ... ” (Matthew 24:15,16).


See Antiochus Epiphanes, king of Syria, about 166-165 B.C.
He set up an altar to Jupiter Olympus in the temple, and caused unclean animals to be offered upon it.

Revelation 19:19-21
Zechariah. 14:4
Revelation 17:12-14

There's a lot more to this, that maybe I'll continue later.

[Zuriel]

**Welcome home Dr. Hahn, keep up the good work of spreading the true gospel.**

Well, one will keep bumping into ‘home’ when going around in circles. The man doesn’t even know who Jesus Christ is.

[fabian]

Wanting people to be still and know God is hunting now? Oh boy...you don’t have a clue.

[daniel1212]

>>Is that the Inquisition I hear?<<

Yes I can hear: “Doooo Yoooo CONFESS!!

Just as in the New Testament Rome claims she gave us, and thus assuredly knows what it means.

Once an area became infected by heresy, and the system moved in, large numbers of people became entangled in its toils. Children of heretics could not inherit, as the stain was vicarial; grandchildren could not hold ecclesiastical benefices unless they successfully denounced someone. Everyone from the age of fourteen (girls from twelve) were required to take public oaths every two years to remain good Catholics and denounce heretics. Failure to confess or receive communion at least three times a year aroused automatic suspicion; possession of the scriptures in any language, or of breviaries, hour-books and psalters in the vernacular, was forbidden.

Torture was not employed regularly until near the end of the thirteenth century (except by secular officials without reference to the Inquisition) but suspects could be held in prison and summoned again and again until they yielded, the object of the operation being to obtain admissions or denunciations. When torture was adopted it was subjected to canonical restraints - if it produced nothing on the first occasion it was forbidden to repeat it. But such regulations were open to glosses; Francis Pegna, the leading Inquisition commentator, wrote:

'But if, having been tortured reasonably (decenter), he will not confess the truth, set other sorts of torments before him, saying that he must pass through all these unless he will confess the truth. If even this fails, a second or third day may be appointed to him, either in terrorem or even in truth, for the continuation (not repetition) of torture; for tortures may not be repeated unless fresh evidence emerges against him; then, indeed, they may, for against continuation there is no prohibition.'

Once a victim was accused, escape from some kind of punishment was virtually impossible: the system would not allow it. But comparatively few were executed: less than ten per cent of those liable. Life-imprisonment was usual for those 'converted' by fear of death; this could be shortened by denunciations. Acts of sympathy or favour for heretics were punished by imprisonment or pilgrimage; there were also fines or floggings, and penance in some form was required of all those who came into contact with the infected, even though unknowingly and innocently. The smallest punishment was to wear yellow cloth crosses [mainly for Cathars] - an unpopular penalty since it prevented a man from getting employment; on the other hand, to cease to wear it was treated as a relapse into heresy. A spell in prison was virtually inevitable...

Food was the prisoner's own responsibility, though the bishop was supposed to provide bread and water in the case of poverty. The secular authorities did not like these crowded prisons, being terrified of gaol fever and plague, and thus burned many more people than the Church authorized. - Paul Johnson, History of Christianity, © 1976 Athenium, pgs. 253-255 . Old Time Roman religion, which Prots had to unlearn from them and the world.

[Graybeard58]

Unless humans can invent ways to go faster than the speed of light

You mean to say you missed this earth shaking news from CNN?

18 times the speed of light, now that right there is fast!

[redleghunter]

Good material. Thanks.

[Elsie]

Oh boy...you don’t have a clue.

;^)

[kinsman redeemer]

Elsie-

You are doing a good work-

I was caught up in the lies of the RC Church once. I was raised as a Roman Catholic. I attended the classes to learn about the God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit – along with the traditions of the Roman Catholic Church. From it all – the major benefit to me was a clear picture of God’s Holiness and Majesty but I never knew about a personal relationship with Jesus Christ or God’s simple plan of salvation.

Their dependence on traditions (which frequently change) and works (which form the stronghold that keeps them locked in the traditions and separated from God's Grace and Mercy) are evident.

I believe the RCC is one of Satan's principal tools for inhibiting the growth of His One True Church.

They are blind.

To be honest, those who are saved need to use the weapon that is most effective in dividing the lies from the truth.

Here, for the benefit of those reading, is a favorite passage of mine (since I have been freed from the bondage that once held me)"

"Did you receive the Spirit by works of the law or by hearing with faith? Are you so foolish? Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh?
For all who rely on works of the law are under a curse; for it is written, "Cursed be everyone who does not abide by all things written in the Book of the Law, and do them." Now it is evident that no one is justified before God by the law, for "The righteous shall live by faith." But the law is not of faith, rather "The one who does them shall live by them." Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us—for it is written, "Cursed is everyone who is hanged on a tree"— so that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might come to the Gentiles, so that we might receive the promised Spirit through faith."

There is so much from scripture that reveals their error. But their hearts are hardened. They have invested so much in their "faith" that they are almost (but not yet) beyond hope. Therefore, use the power of the Word of God alone.

For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm.
...and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication."

[kinsman redeemer]

... and I meant to add “Pray for them.” Because your are prying in accordance with God’s will - if you are praying for their souls.

[Zuriel]

**I was caught up in the lies of the RC Church once.**

Many are caught up in their lies, and are not official members of the RCC.

**I believe the RCC is one of Satan’s principal tools for inhibiting the growth of His One True Church.**

And what better way for Satan to build a false church than on a carnal understanding of the Godhead.

Consider:
Jesus Christ NEVER referred to himself as ‘God the Son’; he phrased his self desciption as the ‘Son of God’. (John 3:18; 5:25; 9:35; 10:36; 11:4) (of course, he also referred to himself as the ‘Son of man’).

The angel declared him to be the ‘Son of God’ (Luke 1:35)

His disciples/apostles NEVER addressed him, or referred to him, as ‘God the Son’, but ALWAYS phrased it the ‘Son of God’ (the list is long, but here’s a few: Matt 14:33; Mark 1:1; John 11:27; Acts 9:20; Romans 1:4; 2Cor. 1:19).

The scribes and Pharisees, blind to the revelation of Jesus Christ, nevertheless were taught to expect the appearing of the Son of God, for their words testify so (here’s a few: Matt. 26:63; 27:40,43; Luke 22:70; John 19:7).

Satan, and even the demons, that the Lord cast out, addressed him as the ‘Son of God’ (here’s a few: Matt. 4:3,6; 8:29; Mark 3:11; Luke 4:41; 8:28).

It’s really a proper understanding of defining the Godhead. When defining something, there is a proper way to do so, for example: Is it Missouri of St. Louis, or St. Louis of Missouri?

The Spirit teaches the truth properly, but, to varying degrees, unspiritual man cannot understand it.

[Elsie]

You are doing a good work-

I'm merely a messenger.

[Elsie]

...but I never knew about a personal relationship with Jesus Christ or God’s simple plan of salvation.

It is; isn't it!!!

---

 

John 6:28-29

Then they asked him, “What must we do to do the works God requires?”

Jesus answered, “The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent.”

---

1 John 3:21-24

Dear friends, if our hearts do not condemn us, we have confidence before God and receive from him anything we ask, because we keep his commands and do what pleases him. And this is his command: to believe in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ, and to love one another as he commanded us. The one who keeps God’s commands lives in him, and he in them. And this is how we know that he lives in us: We know it by the Spirit he gave us.

[Elsie]

...but I never knew about a personal relationship with Jesus Christ or God’s simple plan of salvation.

It is; isn't it!!!

---

Micah 6:8

He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you?
To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.

---

John 6:28-29
Then they asked him, "What must we do to do the works God requires?

 Jesus answered, "The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent."

---

1 John 3:21-23
Dear friends, if our hearts do not condemn us, we have confidence before God and receive from him anything we ask, because we keep his commands and do what pleases him.
And this is his command: to believe in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ, and to love one another as he commanded us.

---

James 1:27

Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.

[Karl Spooner]

You remind me of a pastor who once explained what a church Cult was.

It is when you find yourself in church being told what to think vs. a church teaching you how to think for yourself.

[kinsman redeemer]

...think for yourself.

Or learn what God says... (2Tim 2:15)