Continued from last...
USING THE KEYS GIVEN US
Dispensationalists tell us that we are supposed to interpret the book of Revelation literally. But this defies all logic and contradicts how Scripture itself tells us to interpret it. In Matthew 13, Jesus explained two of the parables He spoke, providing His disciples, and us, with keys as to how His other parables need to be interpreted in order to understand them correctly. With regard to parables, it should be noted that Luke is the only other book of the Bible to mention the name Lazarus (other than Lazarus the brother of Mary and Martha found in the book of John), and the account contained within chapter 16 is not a parable. First, nowhere is it identified as a parable. Second, Jesus does not use “like” or “as” when speaking it, comparing it with something else. While the two characters may or may not have been real people, the words He speaks are nonetheless truth on there own. When you label it as a parable, you are on the verge of denying a literal hell.
We have already looked at some of the keys found within the books of Daniel and Revelation, which were provided for us by certain angels. Believers throughout all centuries have almost unanimously agreed that Daniel 7, 2 Thessalonians 2, and Revelation 13 and 17 are connected. In Revelation 1:20, Jesus Christ Himself interprets the lampstands or candlesticks to be churches. In Revelation 11, the two witnesses are called “two olive trees” and “two lampstands.” Using Jesus’ key, the two witnesses represent the church. They are not individual persons, such as the Dispensationalists want us to believe. Such an interpretation does violence to the text and to the keys that are provided for us to arrive at a correct interpretation. You have to use what is given. You cannot be making things up as you go.
In Zechariah chapter 4, we have a lampstand with an olive tree on either side (vv.2-3) and olive branches that feed oil to the lamps (vv.11-14). When asked what the olive trees are, the angel responds, “These are the two anointed ones, who are standing by the Lord of the whole earth.” Olive trees are the source of olive oil. The church, represented by the lampstand, converts the olive oil it receives into light that may guide the footsteps of its members (Ps. 119:105). Consideration of these issues suggests that the olive oil represents the Word of God.
In Revelation 11:6, we encounter a deed of Moses and a deed of Elijah, which would suggest that a division exists between the Law and the Prophets. In the book of Zechariah, we encounter only a single lampstand among two olive trees. This implies the second lampstand was not present at the time. Therefore, it would seem that the two olive trees represent the Law and Prophets (as Scripture would seem to suggest: Luke 16:29, 31; 24:27, 24; John 1:45; Acts 26:22; 28:23), and that the two lampstands represent the Old Covenant church and the New Covenant church.
Likewise, the keys that were given in Revelation 17 will also help us to interpret Revelation 13 correctly. Since the “woman” in Revelation 12 represents Christ’s church, then the “woman” in Revelation 17 might represent Satan’s church, since the headquarters for this church are located in “the great city” and this city sits on seven hills, over “peoples and multitudes and nations and tongues,” and reigned over the kings of the Earth. Some would argue and say that this city is “rebuilt Babylon,” but nowhere in Scripture does it speak of such a thing. The verse says that her name is a mystery, which implies that the term “Babylon” is only symbolic, that she represents something similar in regard to Babylon. We are not to confuse this city with the Chaldean Babylon.
In Revelation 12:3, we are given an image of a “dragon” that represents Satan. In Revelation 13:1, we are given an image of a “beast” that shares a similar description to that of the dragon (with the exception of the crowns being numbered differently), which represents Satan’s helpers. This beast is in the image of the dragon. In Revelation 17, the woman is pictured on top of this beast. In other words, we might say that the beast is the foundation upon which the woman rests or is built. The symbol “beast” refers to a kingdom ruled by a man, and the Latin Church is without a doubt a kingdom on its own ruled by the pope.
THREE AND ONE HALF
I want you to know that none of these verses (Dan. 7:25; 12:7, 11; Rev. 11:2-3; 12:6, 14; 13:5) say anything about the return of Christ in any way, shape, or form, whether immediately or shortly thereafter; just as we observed in regard to 2 Thessalonians 2. They also say nothing about the length of reign the man of sin has outside of his given time of authority. There is also no 7-year period associated to any of these verses. It is generally agreed upon that all of these references refer to the same period of prophetic time and that they will all occur at the same time.
Daniel 7:25 says that the saints will be given into the hand of the Roman “little horn” for the duration of this time, while 12:7 is the length of time given as the answer to how long the “time of distress” (v.1) would last. Revelation 11:2 says that the outer court will be trampled by the nations for this length of time, while 11:3 says that the two witnesses will prophesy for this same period. Revelation 12:6 and 14 say that the “woman,” the church, will be nourished for this amount of time in the wilderness. Revelation 13:5 says that authority was given to the first beast for this length of time.
There are those individuals who would claim that we have in these prophecies three and one half literal years, but this seems a highly unlikely interpretation. Why? In Bible prophecy, brothers and sisters, one day equals one year: “According to the number of days which you spied out the land, forty days, for every day you shall bear your guilt a year, even forty years, and you shall know My opposition” (Num. 14:34); “When you have completed these, you shall lie down a second time, but on your right side, and bear the iniquity of the house of Judah; I have assigned it to you for forty days, a day for each year” (Ezek. 4:6). Several of the older writers, such as Matthew Henry and Matthew Poole, agree upon this principle. If we use this system, let us see what we arrive at.
History records that the Roman papacy exterminated three of the ten original tribes of divided Europe: the Vandals (454 A.D.), the Heruli (493 A.D.), and the Ostrogoths (538 A.D.). They were literally “pulled out by the roots” (Dan. 7:8, 24), seeing as how not a single bloodline today can be traced back to these kingdoms. The defeat of the Ostrogoths left the pope’s claim to ecclesiastical supremacy unchallenged, and so the Roman Catholic Church could now (and would) exercise her full authority. Philip Schaff writes, “Vigilius…ascended the papal chair under the military protection of Belisarius (538-554).”1 In 538 A.D., the papacy began its rule, becoming a sovereign state under the decree of Emperor Justinian and under the military protection of Belisarius. If we calculate 1260 years from this date, we arrive at 1798 A.D., when, under Napolean Bonaparte, “General Berthier made his entrance into Rome, abolished the papal government, and established a secular one” (Encyclopedia Britannica 1941 edition). Could this not constitute as a fatal wound?
In 1929, the Italian government recognized Vatican City once again as an independent state. The San Francisco Chronicle, Feb. 11, 1929, wrote, “The Roman question tonight was a thing of the past, and the Vatican was at peace with Italy... In affixing the autographs to the memorable document healing the wound of many years, extreme cordiality was displayed on both sides” (emphasis supplied). Do you see the prophetic language used here? The New York Times, July 7, 1929, wrote, “Rome, June 7.—From 11 o’ clock this morning there was another sovereign independent State in the world. At that time Premier Mussolini, as Italian Foreign Minister representing King Victor Emmanuel—the first Italian Premier ever to cross the threshold of the Vatican—exchanged with Cardinal Gasparri, Papal Secretary of State, representing Pope Pius XI, ratifications of the treaties signed at the Lateran Palace on Feb. 11. By that simple act the sovereign independent State of Vatican City came into existence” (emphasis supplied).
Although there are several different interpretive concepts about these verses (Dan. 7:25; 12:7, 11; Rev. 11:2-3; 12:6, 14; 13:5), this seems to be the best one. While I confess that I am unsure how to handle them myself, be assured that there is no valid reason to believe that this time period is yet future. We have 2000 years of Christian history to comb through first before we make such assumptions and predictions. Unless we are prophets who can predict the future with deadly accuracy, we are only adding to the Word of God.
1Philip Schaff, History of the Christian Church, 3:327.
Dispensationalists tell us that we are supposed to interpret the book of Revelation literally. But this defies all logic and contradicts how Scripture itself tells us to interpret it. In Matthew 13, Jesus explained two of the parables He spoke, providing His disciples, and us, with keys as to how His other parables need to be interpreted in order to understand them correctly. With regard to parables, it should be noted that Luke is the only other book of the Bible to mention the name Lazarus (other than Lazarus the brother of Mary and Martha found in the book of John), and the account contained within chapter 16 is not a parable. First, nowhere is it identified as a parable. Second, Jesus does not use “like” or “as” when speaking it, comparing it with something else. While the two characters may or may not have been real people, the words He speaks are nonetheless truth on there own. When you label it as a parable, you are on the verge of denying a literal hell.
We have already looked at some of the keys found within the books of Daniel and Revelation, which were provided for us by certain angels. Believers throughout all centuries have almost unanimously agreed that Daniel 7, 2 Thessalonians 2, and Revelation 13 and 17 are connected. In Revelation 1:20, Jesus Christ Himself interprets the lampstands or candlesticks to be churches. In Revelation 11, the two witnesses are called “two olive trees” and “two lampstands.” Using Jesus’ key, the two witnesses represent the church. They are not individual persons, such as the Dispensationalists want us to believe. Such an interpretation does violence to the text and to the keys that are provided for us to arrive at a correct interpretation. You have to use what is given. You cannot be making things up as you go.
In Zechariah chapter 4, we have a lampstand with an olive tree on either side (vv.2-3) and olive branches that feed oil to the lamps (vv.11-14). When asked what the olive trees are, the angel responds, “These are the two anointed ones, who are standing by the Lord of the whole earth.” Olive trees are the source of olive oil. The church, represented by the lampstand, converts the olive oil it receives into light that may guide the footsteps of its members (Ps. 119:105). Consideration of these issues suggests that the olive oil represents the Word of God.
In Revelation 11:6, we encounter a deed of Moses and a deed of Elijah, which would suggest that a division exists between the Law and the Prophets. In the book of Zechariah, we encounter only a single lampstand among two olive trees. This implies the second lampstand was not present at the time. Therefore, it would seem that the two olive trees represent the Law and Prophets (as Scripture would seem to suggest: Luke 16:29, 31; 24:27, 24; John 1:45; Acts 26:22; 28:23), and that the two lampstands represent the Old Covenant church and the New Covenant church.
Likewise, the keys that were given in Revelation 17 will also help us to interpret Revelation 13 correctly. Since the “woman” in Revelation 12 represents Christ’s church, then the “woman” in Revelation 17 might represent Satan’s church, since the headquarters for this church are located in “the great city” and this city sits on seven hills, over “peoples and multitudes and nations and tongues,” and reigned over the kings of the Earth. Some would argue and say that this city is “rebuilt Babylon,” but nowhere in Scripture does it speak of such a thing. The verse says that her name is a mystery, which implies that the term “Babylon” is only symbolic, that she represents something similar in regard to Babylon. We are not to confuse this city with the Chaldean Babylon.
In Revelation 12:3, we are given an image of a “dragon” that represents Satan. In Revelation 13:1, we are given an image of a “beast” that shares a similar description to that of the dragon (with the exception of the crowns being numbered differently), which represents Satan’s helpers. This beast is in the image of the dragon. In Revelation 17, the woman is pictured on top of this beast. In other words, we might say that the beast is the foundation upon which the woman rests or is built. The symbol “beast” refers to a kingdom ruled by a man, and the Latin Church is without a doubt a kingdom on its own ruled by the pope.
THREE AND ONE HALF
I want you to know that none of these verses (Dan. 7:25; 12:7, 11; Rev. 11:2-3; 12:6, 14; 13:5) say anything about the return of Christ in any way, shape, or form, whether immediately or shortly thereafter; just as we observed in regard to 2 Thessalonians 2. They also say nothing about the length of reign the man of sin has outside of his given time of authority. There is also no 7-year period associated to any of these verses. It is generally agreed upon that all of these references refer to the same period of prophetic time and that they will all occur at the same time.
Daniel 7:25 says that the saints will be given into the hand of the Roman “little horn” for the duration of this time, while 12:7 is the length of time given as the answer to how long the “time of distress” (v.1) would last. Revelation 11:2 says that the outer court will be trampled by the nations for this length of time, while 11:3 says that the two witnesses will prophesy for this same period. Revelation 12:6 and 14 say that the “woman,” the church, will be nourished for this amount of time in the wilderness. Revelation 13:5 says that authority was given to the first beast for this length of time.
There are those individuals who would claim that we have in these prophecies three and one half literal years, but this seems a highly unlikely interpretation. Why? In Bible prophecy, brothers and sisters, one day equals one year: “According to the number of days which you spied out the land, forty days, for every day you shall bear your guilt a year, even forty years, and you shall know My opposition” (Num. 14:34); “When you have completed these, you shall lie down a second time, but on your right side, and bear the iniquity of the house of Judah; I have assigned it to you for forty days, a day for each year” (Ezek. 4:6). Several of the older writers, such as Matthew Henry and Matthew Poole, agree upon this principle. If we use this system, let us see what we arrive at.
History records that the Roman papacy exterminated three of the ten original tribes of divided Europe: the Vandals (454 A.D.), the Heruli (493 A.D.), and the Ostrogoths (538 A.D.). They were literally “pulled out by the roots” (Dan. 7:8, 24), seeing as how not a single bloodline today can be traced back to these kingdoms. The defeat of the Ostrogoths left the pope’s claim to ecclesiastical supremacy unchallenged, and so the Roman Catholic Church could now (and would) exercise her full authority. Philip Schaff writes, “Vigilius…ascended the papal chair under the military protection of Belisarius (538-554).”1 In 538 A.D., the papacy began its rule, becoming a sovereign state under the decree of Emperor Justinian and under the military protection of Belisarius. If we calculate 1260 years from this date, we arrive at 1798 A.D., when, under Napolean Bonaparte, “General Berthier made his entrance into Rome, abolished the papal government, and established a secular one” (Encyclopedia Britannica 1941 edition). Could this not constitute as a fatal wound?
In 1929, the Italian government recognized Vatican City once again as an independent state. The San Francisco Chronicle, Feb. 11, 1929, wrote, “The Roman question tonight was a thing of the past, and the Vatican was at peace with Italy... In affixing the autographs to the memorable document healing the wound of many years, extreme cordiality was displayed on both sides” (emphasis supplied). Do you see the prophetic language used here? The New York Times, July 7, 1929, wrote, “Rome, June 7.—From 11 o’ clock this morning there was another sovereign independent State in the world. At that time Premier Mussolini, as Italian Foreign Minister representing King Victor Emmanuel—the first Italian Premier ever to cross the threshold of the Vatican—exchanged with Cardinal Gasparri, Papal Secretary of State, representing Pope Pius XI, ratifications of the treaties signed at the Lateran Palace on Feb. 11. By that simple act the sovereign independent State of Vatican City came into existence” (emphasis supplied).
Although there are several different interpretive concepts about these verses (Dan. 7:25; 12:7, 11; Rev. 11:2-3; 12:6, 14; 13:5), this seems to be the best one. While I confess that I am unsure how to handle them myself, be assured that there is no valid reason to believe that this time period is yet future. We have 2000 years of Christian history to comb through first before we make such assumptions and predictions. Unless we are prophets who can predict the future with deadly accuracy, we are only adding to the Word of God.
To be continued...
1Philip Schaff, History of the Christian Church, 3:327.