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.
Christ returned in vengeance to judge those who persecuted Him and did not recognized Him. They, and the temple/old covenant, were destroyed.
I would say the most too late moment would be revelation chapter 6 seal six. When it rains asteroids, not water, as in the days of Noah, or fire, the days of Lot. That paragraph ties together many prophecies and concepts from throughout the entire Bible.
And it is a great observation on astrophysics and orbital planes differences in binary planet structures. (/Teaser)
+1
Revelation says that Har-Megiddo is where the "kings of the earth" gathered before making war on Jerusalem. The original battle of Har-Megiddo occurred in the OT, when Josiah the righteous king died in battle against the Egyptians.
Anyway, the ancient seaport closest to Har-Megiddo is Caesarea (look at a map; Caesarea is almost due west), which is where Josephus says Titus marshalled his forces prior to marching on Jerusalem.
The text in Revelation says that “the kings of the whole world” would gather there. And while Rome was certainly big it was ruled by one ‘king’, Caesar. The Parthian Empire sat right along its eastern border.
The Romans and Parthians had battled over possession of the Levant during the time of Julius Caesar but that was shortly before the birth of Christ. Seems odd that the “kings of the whole world” in AD 70 would omit Rome’s major rival within walking distance of Jerusalem.
Likewise where is it recorded in history about the mark on the hand or forehead to buy or sell?
And where was the flesh of people consumed off their bones?
And when did the Israelites flee to Petra?
“And when did the Israelites flee to Petra?”
I’m pretty sure that Petra is an assumption as to where they would flee. I don’t think it is mentioned by name.
I googled Dr. J. Vernon McGee and found many of his broadcasts at oneplace.com. Last night I listened to his broadcast on Rev. 7:1 before going to sleep. I was traveling this morning and then his broadcast on Rev. 7:2-4 came on the radio so I was able to pick right up where I left off last night.
Thanks for the information. Dr. McGee seems to have a wealth of information.
This is how I know Preterism is false, and those Protestants who follow it are blind heretics.
I believe in one God,
the Father almighty,
maker of heaven and earth,
of all things visible and invisible.
I believe in one Lord Jesus Christ,
the Only Begotten Son of God,
born of the Father before all ages.
God from God, Light from Light,
true God from true God,
begotten, not made, consubstantial with the Father;
through him all things were made.
For us men and for our salvation
he came down from heaven,
and by the Holy Spirit was incarnate of the Virgin Mary,
and became man.
For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate,
he suffered death and was buried,
and rose again on the third day
in accordance with the Scriptures.
He ascended into heaven
and is seated at the right hand of the Father.
He will come again in glory
to judge the living and the dead
and his kingdom will have no end.
I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life,
who proceeds from the Father and the Son,
who with the Father and the Son is adored and glorified,
who has spoken through the prophets.
I believe in one, holy, catholic and apostolic Church.
I confess one Baptism for the forgiveness of sins
and I look forward to the resurrection of the dead
and the life of the world to come. Amen.
Yes, He will come again in glory to judge the quick and the dead. Nothing I have said precludes this. But He also came to judge those who persecuted Him and His saints. They asked Him, “Tell us, when will this be, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the close of the age?” Matt 24:3
Note: The close of the age is the end of the Old Covenant as described in Hebrews 8:13, “In speaking of a new covenant he treats the first as obsolete. And what is becoming obsolete and becoming old is ready to vanish away.”
The answer to the disciples’ question comes in verse 34: “Truly, I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all these things take place.”
All we have to do is believe what Jesus said to his disciples when they asked Him this question and all becomes clear.
Quote -The close of the age is the end of the Old Covenant
It is fascinating that ‘today’, when Israel is to assemble for His Spring Feasts, the sign of 2 Fish is in His Sky overhead, when a couple thousand years ago, it was the adult Ram(Lamb)
And today, when Israel is to assemble for His Fall Feasts,the sign of the ‘Woman’ is in His Sky overhead, when a couple thousand years ago, it was a balance(a scale).
The old testament and the new testament in His Sky, set at His Feasts.
And we are nearing a change of that time too, a couple more wobbles of the earth, or one big one, and Israel will be assembling in the Spring for His Spring Feasts while the ‘water bearer’ is overhead. And in the Fall, for His Fall Feasts while the Lion is overhead..
Old testament- Lamb, spring/ Atonement Fall
New testament- fishers of men spring/Bride, Fall
What’s to come?
The pouring out of His Spirit on all flesh, Spring
And the return of the Lion from the Tribe of Judah, Fall
All up there for the world to see or to ignore. At His Feasts. His Heavens do declare His Glory!
Your theology adds a Third Coming of the Messiah, which of course is false. Which denomination or sect do you affiliate with ?
Where does it say “Second Coming” in the Bible. If you can show me that, I can answer your question.
Men have added words, such as Second Coming and Rapture, which are not Biblical and lead people to false expectations.
Jesus was clear in His discussions before Pilot, when He answered his disciples’ question about when this would happen, and in the first verse of Revelation: He would return with vengeance upon those who persecuted Him. Nowhere does this modify his appearance at the end of time.
You could answer the question now. Which denomination or sect are you affiliated with ? Are you too embarrassed to reveal it ?
Not at all - I am an Anglican (NOT Episcopalian). Did you find “Second Coming” in the Bible?
If what you teach were true, which it is not, the one holy catholic apostolic church would have been teaching three (or more) advents of the Messiah. This is how I know your teaching is false.
After much study, I have discovered the book is about the last days and the final consummation. It doesn’t fit neatly into our human concepts; so it is a story retold several times in the book (progressive recapitulation) to elicit a specific response if studied correctly. National Israel was a picture of the people of God. The saved have always look to Christ, even in the days of the picture we call national Israel and despite their having mostly types and shadows to guide them. They and we have to have divine revelation to see Him. God painted the picture, national Israel, in real human history because He is sovereign and He is glorious. He was showing what His election of a people and their perseverance looks like. The symbolism of Revelation can be used to deceive people, but it points to real spiritual warfare. This warfare is “more real” than our conceptions of the present world around us. Hebrews shows His final victory and so is very comforting. Last days and final consummation. Current (last days) and future (final judgement). That is the real timeline and anything else is for a devious purpose.
Jesus talked many times about coming again - i.e., a “second coming” - not sure why this is difficult to understand. As for rapture, see the following explanation - it is just a transliteration of a Latin word for a Greek phrase in the New Testament
There are too many people that fall for the secular worlds uninformed arguments - a little Google searching can help clear things up.
For the record, the word “rapture” comes from the Latin word rapturo, which is a translation of the Greek verb “caught up” that’s found in 1 Thessalonians 4:17. You can call it the “pre-trib rapture,” the “pre-trib rapturo,” or the “pre-trib caught up” - it’s all the same thing.
These 144,000 are called the “firstfruits to God and to the Lamb.” Rev. 14:4. If we are not the firstfruits (and we are not), then this had to happen before today or we have no hope. These are the Jews who survived the persecution of the early church - the firstfruits of salvation. And we, also, will follow.
I have no problem with “the rapture”, just with the belief that it sets up another new beginning. I believe that the work of Jesus is complete and needs to new phase. Satan has been thrown out of Heaven and is not longer the accuser before God.
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