Okay...lol Like I said...I feel like It's a lil heavy on the role of Rome as opposed to a more universal application but of the Visions we are looking at here. But such was the time in 1957 when this was written. Lots has happened since then and while I definitely see the role of Rome? I see it more as the whole of Western Representative Democracy etc...It's the Interpreters Bible Exegesis lol, not mine lol. But there's lots of good stuff here to learn and look at here so we are gonna keep trudging on through.
I also wanna point out that I was just gonna share the Exegesis on verse 15 which blew my mind, but then I thought the whole vision needed to be included and then that Vision relates to the one we just looked at (The Beast from the sea) lol so...Had to do the whole chapter...like I did back when I started this...tying it all etc.
Just imagine how much content I can generate when I can do it 24/7 in comfort. Look out, that day is fast comin. "He's not doing anything." I've heard forever now. Really? Where's the Encyclopedia of Knowledge any of them that have ever said that wrote? :-). Go start writing one today...Come to me when you get it finished...Explain to me how you weren't "doing anything" :-). It's just laughable at this point...
Okay anyway Onward...
F. Sixth Vision: The Beast Exercise His Authority (13:5-10)
Revelation 13:5-7
KJV
5 And there was given unto him a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies; and power was given unto him to continue forty and two months.
6 And he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme his name, and his tabernacle, and them that dwell in heaven.
7 And it was given unto him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them: and power was given him over all kindreds, and tongues, and nations.
5-7. Not only does the beast wear a name of blasphemy, but he has also been given a mouth to speaking great things., blaspheming God, his name and his dwelling and those who reside in heaven. Both the phraseology and the idea are taken from the description of an earlier Antichrist Antiochus IV Epiphanes, who had "a mouth speaking great things" (Dan 7:8) with which he would speak "words against the Most High". (Dan 7:25). That John had Daniel before him is supported by the statements in vss. 5 and 7 that the beast would exercise authority for forty two months and was allowed to make war on the saints and to conquer them. It was for this same period of time that Antiochus was permitted to wear out the saints of the most high (Dan 7:25) ;i.e., during this time he "made war with the saints, and prevailed against them" (Dan 7:21) . Furthermore, just as the forth Danielic beast "shall devour the whole earth, and shall tread it down, and break it to pieces" (Dan. 7:23) , so the beast symbolizing Rome was given authority over every tribe and people and tongue and nation.
Revelation 13:8
KJV
8. And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.
8 The observation that all dwellers on the earth would worship the beast is perhaps a justifiable hyperbole in view of widespread and general acceptance of the imperial cult throughout the empire. For all the subjects of the Roman Empire worshipped the emperors save the Jews, whom the author ignores, and the Christians, who were foreordained before the foundation of the world to have their names in the book of life of the lamb that was slain. (The word order of the KJV, which has followed the Greek to literally, is somewhat ambiguous.) The view expressed here is highly deterministic (cf also 6:11 and 7:4) . Only those whose names are in "the Lambs book of life" are to be permitted to enter the new Jerusalem (21;27) .
Revelation 13:9-10
KJV
9 If any man have an ear, let him hear.
10 He that leadeth into captivity shall go into captivity: he that killeth with the sword must be killed with the sword. Here is the patience and the faith of the saints.
9-10. If any one has an ear, let him hear is a reiteration of the exhortation which either precedes of follows the glowing promise to martyrs in the conclusion of the seven letters in chs. 2-3. Here it serves to preface a warning, almost like a chant, which is a paraphrase of Jeremiah's dire prediction that those who are destined for death will go to death; for the sword, to the sword; for famine, to the famine; and for captivity to captivity (Jer. 15:2; cf. Matt 26:52) . As used by John, the words are a reminder to Christians that if they are destined to captivity, they will go into captivity, i.e., if they are destined to be persecuted and martyred, this will be their fate, for they have been chosen for the lamb's book of life before the world was established. On the other hand, the persecutors are warned that those who slay Christians by the sword will themselves be killed by the sword, presumably by the two-edge sword projecting from the mouth of the conquering Christ with which he slays the nations in 19:15. The period of persecution that lies ahead, in which Christians will be slain. calls for endurance and faith, two necessary prerequisites for martyrdom, for with out patient steadfastness in a time of persecution and death, coupled with a sublime faith in the final outcome, few would become martyrs.
No comments:
Post a Comment