"The Bible itself alludes to a comparison between the Ark in the OT and the "Ark" in the NT, Mary."
It never ceases to amaze me, the Catholic stance of not regarding parts of the NT, but picking and choosing portions to make a doctrine.
"This is most explicit at the end of Revelation 11 into 12. Remember, there were no chapter separation when Revelation was written."
There was no chapter separation, but there was, and still is topic change.
Rev. chp.11, I believe the ark in heaven is the same ark that was the example that the Lord told Moses to copy. See Heb. 8:5 "...example and shadow of heavenly things..."
Rev. chp.12, This is plainly a condensed history of the 12 Hebrew tribes (12 stars).
The NT ark is the church of Jesus Christ. See 1 Peter 3:20,21.
If you missed them, please check my comments #93,135,& 137.
I intended to get a good nights sleep, and hit the road for a few days. But I just couldn't resist taking a peek at this thread before leaving. Bye all, have a good week.
"It never ceases to amaze me, the Catholic stance of not regarding parts of the NT, but picking and choosing portions to make a doctrine."
Explain your amazement, please.
"There was no chapter separation, but there was, and still is topic change."
Says you. The earliest Christians reading it didn't see it that way.
"The NT ark is the church of Jesus Christ. See 1 Peter 3:20,21."
It's not an EITHER/OR, but a BOTH/AND. Mary is referred to as a sign of the Church. She is our spiritual mother, as is the Church (via Baptism, Peter speaks a lot about Baptism in 1 Peter). The Bible does not have ONLY one meaning in a given verse. There are often several meanings within a verse, such as the literal meaning, and a metaphorical meaning. So Peter is correct, but so is the understanding that Mary is a representative of the Church.
Rev 12:5 "And she brought forth a man child, who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron: and her child was caught up unto God, and [to] his throne" Can we not say this refers to Israel AND Mary? You would be hard pressed to say no.
Regards