The Book of Revelation
I have written several blogs concerning my thoughts about this wonderful book. In my opinion, it is a book that has largely been misunderstood. I don’t mean to imply that I, only, have found the truth, but I do wish to say that much of today’s understanding contradicts Scripture. Certainly many people have studied the book of Revelation and saw in it prophecies about an end time political force that would engulf the world in its power–a political force that could be destroyed only by the second coming of Jesus.
Well, there may yet be such a political alliance; I don’t know, but I do know that the book of Revelation does not predict such a thing occurring before Jesus visible return to the Mount of Olives. The theme of the book concerns the 1st century CE and the politics that affected the world at that time. It largely reveals the judgments of Jesus upon the world as it existed in the 1st century.
I have listed below what I have written thus far about this book. Many may not agree with what I have claimed, but that’s okay with me. This is what I believe, and I haven’t written anything for the sake of impressing others or to defend any current tradition. I have simply written the truth as I believe it to be as it concerns the message of this wonderful book.
- Who are the Two Witnesses?
- The Two Witnesses
- The Death of the Two Witnesses
- The First Three Persecutions of the Church
- The Seven Headed Beast of Revelation 13
- The Ten Horns of the Beast
- The Mouth of the Beast
- The Little Horn of Daniel
- Who is the False Prophet?
- The Image of the Beast
- The Mark of the Beast
- The Mark of the Beast ~ Part 2
- The Mark of the Beast and 666
- The Number of the Beast ~ 666
- Mystery Babylon the Great
- What is the Millennium?
- Does the Millennium Last for 1000 Years?
- The Millennium and the Binding of Satan
- The Millennium and Reigning with Christ
- The Millennium and the Bottomless Pit
- The Millennium and the First Resurrection
alan
October 14, 2011 at 23:50
I have a question about Revelation 11. It says that Jerusalem will be trampled by the Gentiles for 42 months. Then the two witness (Jesus according to your post) will begin testifying. The 42 months is related by most scholars as the Jewish-Roman war from March 67 AD- September 70 AD. How is this 42 months of 3.5 years? I counted and its a little more. Maybe they used a different calendar.
If Revelation 11:1-2 is talking about the Jewish-Roman war, then why would it jump directly into a symbolic verse talking about Jesus and the two witnesses?
What did it mean that God brought an end to the age when he used the Romans to destroy Jerusalem? I understood how he brought an end to an age with the flood because he destroyed mankind, but he didn’t destroy the Jews. What happened that was so significant in 70 AD other than the fall of the city and temple that would be seen as the end of the age?
Ed Bromfield
October 15, 2011 at 08:11
I have a question about Revelation 11. It says that Jerusalem will be trampled by the Gentiles for 42 months. Then the two witness (Jesus according to your post) will begin testifying. The 42 months is related by most scholars as the Jewish-Roman war from March 67 AD- September 70 AD. How is this 42 months of 3.5 years? I counted and its a little more. Maybe they used a different calendar.
The text draws no such conclusion that the Two Witnesses begin their ministry *after” the 42 months. This is the time of their ministry. The 42 months represent the 3 1/2 years of Jesus’ ministry. You would be wrong to assume that my understanding of the text falls within the understanding of today’s scholarship. It does not. I am pointing out a different understanding in the text that I don’t believe has been considered. So, we aren’t jumping from 70 CE back to the ministry of Jesus.
If Revelation 11:1-2 is talking about the Jewish-Roman war, then why would it jump directly into a symbolic verse talking about Jesus and the two witnesses?
First of all, everything in Revelation is symbolic. It is the most symbolic book in the Bible. Secondly, as I said above I am not jumping back and forth.
What did it mean that God brought an end to the age when he used the Romans to destroy Jerusalem? I understood how he brought an end to an age with the flood because he destroyed mankind, but he didn’t destroy the Jews. What happened that was so significant in 70 AD other than the fall of the city and temple that would be seen as the end of the age?
Before the Church came into being, God dealt with the world through his people the Jews. While they are not completely cut off from him, the Church is what God uses today to teach the world. Thus, we are in a different age.
Alan
October 15, 2011 at 14:04
How is the 42 months the 3.5 years of Jesus’ ministry? When I looked at your “1260 days” post, I counted and it was 42 months and a couple days. So it wasn’t exactly 42 months.
Ed Bromfield
October 15, 2011 at 20:04
In prophecy all months are 30 days. 42 x 30 = 1260.
Alan
October 15, 2011 at 17:24
Or does 42 months not have to be EXACTLY 42 months like Revelation states. Because the 1260 days is 42 months and 24 and that’s 3.5 years of Jesus’ ministry like you said. Would this count as 42 months and satisfy Revelation?
Ed Bromfield
October 15, 2011 at 20:10
I’ve already replied to this. In prophecy all months are 30 days. 42 x 30 = 1260.
Alan
October 15, 2011 at 09:32
I am still confused. An order to measure the temple was given and then a statement about how the Gentiles will “trample over their city” for 42 months. How is this related to the ministry of Jesus and the two witnesses?
Ed Bromfield
October 15, 2011 at 19:39
Forty-two months are 1260 days. The one is expressed from a rebellious point of view while the other is not. The number 42 has to do with rebellion; ancient Israel who rebelled against Moses and God in the wilderness camped out in 42 different places. The number is used in Revelation 13 concerning the beast. Nevertheless 42 months = 3 1/2 years, just like the 1260 days, which is the length of the ministry of the Two Witnesses (Revelation 11:3). John is still speaking of the Temple when he speaks of the Two Witnesses (Revelation 11:4). There is no break in the thought here. They both describe the same period of time. One cannot be describing the events of Jesus’ ministry and the other the Jewish war with Rome.
Alan
October 15, 2011 at 19:48
But when you look back to the 1260 days in your post, the entire period was 42 months and a couple days. You only get 42 months when you have 30 days in every month. That’s not the case with the 1260 days in your post.
Ed Bromfield
October 16, 2011 at 06:01
It can be mathematically proved correct. You are playing my friend. I am no longer going to reply to this nonsense.
Alan
October 15, 2011 at 09:57
I feel when I read Revelation that the chapters about the seals and trumpets is that it applies to us in that it describes the current state of the the churches and mankind (both corrupt) and how God will judge them us. It is apocalyptic in that it talks about how God will judge us. The verses about famines and locusts are not literal but symbolic for sometime. What are your thought about this?
Ed Bromfield
October 15, 2011 at 19:48
By all means believe as you wish. Do not let me hinder you. I have a different point of view and I do not seek to impose it upon others.
Alan
October 15, 2011 at 19:43
I read all your posts concerning the millennium and the bottomless pit and the binding of Satan. I don’t know why but I don’t understand. Can you explain it to me in simpler terms? What does it mean that Satan is bound? Why is he bound? Why does God allow him to be released and tempted when released? What is the bottomless pit he’s in before he is released?
Ed Bromfield
October 16, 2011 at 05:59
Alan, you know what. I think you are playing. I think you need a different sandbox. Go for it, guy.