Posted on 02/02/2016 6:34:46 PM PST by grumpa
Even many Christians misunderstand Revelation. For some, Revelation is so bizarre that they pretty much ignore it. Others mistakenly apply the symbolism of Revelation to our present day. But Revelation is really not so difficult once you grasp the context and symbolic language. Remember, it is part of the Bible and there is little, if anything at all, in Revelation that is not found elsewhere in the Bible. Indeed, there are hundreds of references in Revelation to the Old and New Testament.
Let's just take a quick look at the 144,000 of Revelation 7 and 14. These were the FIRST FRUITS to God and the Lamb, not some later group! They were the ones coming out of the Great Tribulation. John, the author of Revelation, said he was in the tribulation AS HE WAS WRITING (Revelation 1:9), in the early to mid sixties AD. There are many proofs that demonstrate that the Great Tribulation was the persecution of Christians under Nero and the subsequent Jewish Roman War that culminated in the destruction of Jerusalem and the temple in AD 70. And there are many confirming proofs that Revelation was written before AD 70.
There were twelve tribes of Israel, so the 144,000 can be understood for what it signified. The number 1,000 is symbolic of FULLNESS. So 12 times 12 times 1,000 equals 144,000. As the first fruits, the 144,000 represents the FIRST GENERATION CHRISTIANS (the righteous remnant of the twelve tribes of Israel) who experienced the Great Tribulation, culminating in the desolation of Jerusalem and the Jewish holocaust in AD 70! The 144,000 is clearly not to be taken literally, as, for example, Jehovah's Witnesses think. Romans 8:23; 16:5; 1 Corinthians 16:15; 2 Thessalonians 2:13, and James 1:18 further identify the first fruits as first-century believers.
Regarding your question about Armageddon, I doubt that there is much support for you AD 100 claim, but I’d be glad to hear your argument. I think that scholars agree that the major theme of Revelation is the destruction of Babylon. The question is, Who Is the Babylon of Revelation. I believe the evidence is strongly favor of biblical Jerusalem. I argue the case here: https://onedrive.live.com/view.aspx?resid=D3BD424B0B25B83F!14389&ithint=file%2cdoc&app=Word&authkey=!AEWBVjNPD0wcpdY
I was thinking about this last week and I recalled the coming of the locusts. Could the locusts be symbolic for the refugees who are plaguing Europe and coming to a city near you?
“Regarding your question about Armageddon, I doubt that there is much support for you AD 100 claim, but I’d be glad to hear your argument. “
That argument isn’t mine, it comes from Preterism, which isn’t something I find convincing.
Then where’s Jesus?
How do you interpret apocalyptic symbols literally?
Easy answer! 144,000 Jehovah’s Witnesses!!
The number 1,000 is symbolic of FULLNESS.
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I’ve never heard that before. Please explain.
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Gee, I get it 1,000 percent
I must respectfully disagree with you.
The 144,000 Israelites that are sealed in chapter 7 are 12,000 from each tribe of Israel. These will be protected during the tribulation times from the trumpet and bowl judgments. They will survive through this time of judgment here on the earth. It does not say that they are all male virgins, it just says 12,000 from each tribe. It is likely that they are men and women of Israel. They are seen on earth.
The 144,000 from chapter 14 are different. It plainly states the these 144,000 are chosen from among men (from every nation) and are male, and virgins. It says that they follow the Lamb (Jesus) wherever He goes, and that they sing a song that only they know. These are redeemed from among men as first fruits to God. They are seen in Heaven.
These two groups are clearly different.
V/R, coincheck
Thru the Bible Radio Ministry is currently in Revelation Chapter 7 (?) The late Dr. J. Vernon McGee’s straightforward approach eliminates the confusion.
LOL. I think the JWs would like everyone to believe that.
If you read the description, it appears to be a people who did not fail Christ, once they became married to Him.
It’s a different number than the multitude that cannot be counted that follows after, which is everybody else.
It is divisible by 6, which is man’s number.
I always liked ole J Vernon. He had a distinct sounding voice. I just listened to one of his sermons a few minutes ago.
Theyre Jews...
This is Apocalyptic literature. Once you understand what that is, the meaning becomes clear. Revelation is highly symbolic, like Ezekiel and Daniel. Yes, 12 (sons of Isreal) times 12 (Apostles) times 1,000 (symbolic for many). Twelve itself is symbolic a completeness and perfection. So there will be those who looked forward to the Cross (the Old Testament saints) and there will be those who look back to the Cross (New Testament saints) and there will be a vast number. A little later in Revelation the number of saints is described as a “multitude which no man can number.”
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There is absolutely nothing bizarre about the Revelation.
And almost nothing symbolic.
It mostly is a description of Yeshua destroying Satan’s grip on the Earth. We are currently at about the end of the fifth seal.
This article is ultra preterist garbage at best.
The tribulation of the saints is at the very last 3.5 years of Satan’s domination of earthly governments. It is definitely still future, but not by very much.
I listen every morning @ 6:00 during my commute to LAX. His career as pastor of Church of the Open Door provided much insight into human nature that he often conveys in the daily studies.
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How can it be symbolic?
Israel is the entirety of God’s elect, so the 144000 have to be actual Israel.
To bad the author did not no the 12 original tribes.
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No, they’re not Jews, they’re Israel.
Judah is only a small part of Israel, about 1-1/2 tribes.
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