>>>That’s one of the problems with your Philip theology and the Preterist view. You don’t know what you are really saying. You said that Nero was the beast of Revelation. Well, the beast of Revelation was worshiped which is what I said.<<<
Actually, this is what you said, while implying I said it:
"So the Jews worshiped Nero and that’s why they bore the wrath of God?"
Will you please show us where I made such claims? You can't because I have not.
>>>Revelation 13: 4 And they worshipped the dragon which gave power unto the beast: and they worshipped the beast, saying, Who is like unto the beast? who is able to make war with him?<<<
There was no doubt there was widespread emperor worship under Nero, either real, or due to threat of death or persecution; but not among the Jews, that I am aware of. It is also a fact that there was a horrific persecution of Christians during the last three and one-half years (forty and two months) of Nero's reign.
>>>Now you accuse me of deflecting? By saying that Nero was the beast of Revelation you most certainly said that they worshiped him because that is what scripture says they did to the beast.<<<
Try not to misquote me, or spin what I say, and everything will be just fine.
>> Dr. Gentry is a Reformed Presbyterian Minister and Educator who has authored many great books on the Revelation and other topics, including his doctoral dissertation, "Before Jerusalem Fell," which is a classic.<<
>>>ROFLOL! Gentry is a self admitted Preterist. Yet you deny you are one but still rely on his interpretation of Revelation! Early on you claimed you relied on no one. Around here we have been through that Preterist nonsense before and they never last long.<<<
Well, Cynical Bear, there you go again. Dr. Gentry does admit he is a "partial preterist;" but he is in no way a preterist by your narrow-minded definition. And you and I can only dream of obtaining research skills approaching his. Besides, if I refused to seek information from scholars who only believe the way I believe, I would have zero references from outside the scriptures. LOL! No one believes the way I do: no one I am aware of. Dr. Gentry and I differ (major league) in our beliefs on the 2nd coming, and on a few other odds and ends. He is a traditional Reformed Presbyterian: even more of a postmillennialist than I.
You may have noticed that I use Matthew Henry commentaries from time to time, even though many things he believes I cannot verify in the scriptures. I also use John Gill and Adam Clarke a lot: and we are way apart in our beliefs. But all of them have performed verifiable research that I find useful. I even study dispensational material from time to time; and I always have handy my 1909 Scofield for debating purposes. But I don't believe a word Scofield writes: even when it is true, he always seems to have ulterior motives.
It is not personal. I go where the scripture leads me. I have found Ken Gentry a very scholarly writer, his interpretive skills are second to none, and his references are top-notched. So are many others; but he is the top scholar on the Revelation, in my opinion.
Philip
Lots of smoke so little clarity.
The generally presented possibilities for Babylon are: (1) Babylon, (2) Jerusalem, and (3) Rome.
I’ve always been drawn to the destruction of Babylon the Great and the ships looking on from afar lamenting the loss of great trade and wealth.
Since none of those were seaports, I was always puzzled.
As far as great wealth and power, that definitely didn’t describe either Jerusalem or Babylon of John’s era. It did fit Rome, of course. All three had in their times been guilty of the blood of prophets, Jerusalem moreso than the others.
But guilty of ALL the blood of the righteous? Hmmmmm. That doesn’t fit any of them.
7 heads are 7 mountains are 7 kings. The only thing that makes sense to me is some kind of system stretching over time with evil development as part of its nature.
If this was all settled in John’s day, I doubt the early Christians would have continued baffled about that great conclusion, but they were. They kept talking about it being future.
So, I tend to look to the future for these things to be fulfilled.
>> “It is not personal. I go where the scripture leads me” <<
.
Now we know you’re pullin’ our legs!
Do you even own a Bible?
Nothing you have ever posted here in any way touches scripture.
That should be a hint to any rational minded individual. That old “I’m right and the rest of the world is wrong” ey? Well, good luck with that.