Posted on 03/28/2014 8:18:05 AM PDT by 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).
(Excerpt) Read more at catholicculture.org ...
Interesting idea. I have heard others express similar views. Looking at all of the things going on now, there seems to be alliances of strange bedfellow popping up rather frequently.
“In Catholic thinking there’s Catholics, and the rest of the world, who are all wrong to varying degrees”
You’re getting smart.
When Scott Hahn’s name is mentioned smoke starts coming out of most protestant’s ears. They can’t stand the thought of a man who was one of the most respected protestant theologians in the world converting to Catholicism. Yes sir, you will find no protestant with anything good to say about Dr. Scott Hahn, Catholic theologian par-excellence. Welcome home Dr. Hahn, keep up the good work of spreading the true gospel.
I've heard about it, don't know too much about Megiddo though. (And yes, I've read Revelation, multiple times… that doesn't mean that I understand it all, and I don't think [perfect] understanding is required to be blessed thereby: the Holy spirit will reveal what is hidden in its due time.)
I’ve seen others expound on the Mahdi 12th imam as antichrist. It is interesting that most who do see Turkey as Gog instead of the more common pointing to Russia.
A few years ago I looked at what the older preachers and theologians had to say in their commentaries dated before all the eschatology explosion of the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
In John Gill’s time a century before most were pointing to the big bad Turks as the Gog of Ezekiel 38-39. Yet what was consistent with most was that Rome and the papacy continued to be the Whore of Babylon. Let me dig it up and I will post it.
You probably have the link but take a look at Ireneaus Against Heresies Book V. All chapters as he is usually only quoted but in two chapters by most.
I don’t think there is a better literal approach to NT prophecy than his approach. Long before people had eschatological agendas and axes to grind.
It’s the Vulgate which brings us to the term “rapture” which is “caught up.” That term is clearly even in the DRA and NABRE.
So what’s your point?
Or was this a therapeutic post?
Here’s one to research...Which portions of the TaNaKh did Jesus Christ point the disciples to?
You spoke of a potential merger of the Vatican and Islam? Note this:
OUR LADY AND ISLAM: HEAVEN’S PEACE PLAN
Fr Ladis J. Cizik, Blue Army National Executive Director
“In the Koran, the holy name of the Blessed Virgin Mary is mentioned no less than thirty times. No other woman’s name is even mentioned, not even that of Mohammed’s daughter, Fatima. Among men, only Abraham, Moses, and Noah are mentioned more times than Our Lady. In the Koran, Our Blessed Mother is described as “Virgin, ever Virgin.” The Islamic belief in the virginity of Mary puts to shame the heretical beliefs of those who call themselves Christian, while denying the perpetual virginity of Mary. Make no mistake about it, there is a very special relationship between the Blessed Virgin Mary and the Moslems!”——Source EWTN..
https://www.ewtn.com/library/mary/olislam.htm
>>Why do they label? I am christian and I adhere to Christ example.<<
Well not all do. None of the Roman Catholics I actually know, family, friends and colleagues show the contempt you see here. Maybe behind closed doors behind a keyboard but never in person and we discuss the same issues. Not until coming here to FR have I seen the ugly underbelly of Roman Catholicism. I frequent other mixed Faith sites and although the debates are spirited, it hardly comes close to the bold assertions and bearing false witness I see here.
You start a thread on prophecy here and in just a few posts we see accusations of throwing out books of the OT, accusations that if you deny Mary the title of “Mother of God” you then deny Jesus’ Deity, to being a part of a mess of 60,000 different churches which all believe different doctrines. The false accusations and unfounded assertions mutate from there.
Which books “thrown out” from the OT were quoted by Jesus Christ? Which portions of OT scriptures did Jesus open the understanding of the disciples to? Hint Luke 24.
Well Jerome seemed to have no problem using Hebrew manuscripts for his OT. And it seems you don’t agree with his argued canon.
I guess you are asserting there never existed Hebrew written scriptures before the LXX? And as such never used by Jews in Judea? The same Jews who fought against Hellenism?
In Luke 4, is Jesus Christ reading from a Hebrew scroll or a Greek one? If a Greek scroll is He reciting Isaiah in Greek or Hebrew for all to hear in the synagogue?
Don’t forget you are on a never ending guilt trip, a vandal who should be exterminated.
Is that the Inquisition I hear?
>>We are to follow Christ, not what Self and Self Alone sees fit to accept. Following false doctrine is not following Christ, especially when that includes railing against and preaching against what is clearly spelled out in Scripture.<<
That’s the rub. I don’t see any of Christ’s teachings in your posts.
Plus did you see Jesus Christ or his apostles affirm Tobit’s formula for warding off demons? No. I don’t see many in the NT catching a fish and burning its entrails to ward off demons on a wedding night.
What about Daniel and the Dragon? Is that inspired?
Back to Tobit. We have people kneeling to an angel and the angel accepts the honor without rebuke. Is that ok to do? In Revelation John is told not to do that.
When do we read Jesus quote the Apocryphal books? He doesn’t. What did Jesus teach the disciples to understand in Luke 24? Nope not the Apocryphal books.
Yes Ireneaus was pre-millennial in the historic futurist sense.
Scott Hahn it seems is not the only one “coming home” to Rome:
OUR LADY AND ISLAM: HEAVEN’S PEACE PLAN
Fr Ladis J. Cizik, Blue Army National Executive Director
“In the Koran, the holy name of the Blessed Virgin Mary is mentioned no less than thirty times. No other woman’s name is even mentioned, not even that of Mohammed’s daughter, Fatima. Among men, only Abraham, Moses, and Noah are mentioned more times than Our Lady. In the Koran, Our Blessed Mother is described as “Virgin, ever Virgin.” The Islamic belief in the virginity of Mary puts to shame the heretical beliefs of those who call themselves Christian, while denying the perpetual virginity of Mary. Make no mistake about it, there is a very special relationship between the Blessed Virgin Mary and the Moslems!”——Source EWTN..
https://www.ewtn.com/library/mary/olislam.htm
Have you seen the actual Megiddo valley? You might fit a Brigade or two of a modern army there. There is going to have to be some terrain changes to fit armies there.
>>Is that the Inquisition I hear?<<
Yes I can hear: “Doooo Yoooo CONFESS!!
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