-Rev 14-18 (part 2)

(cont) 

The thing that takes center stage upon that inquisitive nature is in my asking,

how and when and on what criteria do many decide to apply spiritual meanings to otherwise clear yet perplexing, obvious yet unnerving, plainly spoken yet highly troubling passages of scripture?

It goes without saying, line by line thinking/reading is not overly favored in many who favor applying spiritual meaning. 
Quite often someone will clarify this meaning using Old Testament verses and that's ok because let's face it. 
Who has the time to read the entire chapter someone uses to explain a spiritual meaning. 

A majority of the time, after reading not only the chapter someone's explanation came from but the entire book, I find many explanations break down. 

I guess I've been enjoying line by line scripture reading so long now that I'll deal with any specific subject (in this case, eschatology)  when we get to it..starting point being Gen 1:1.

There are many ways to clarify literal meanings to scripture but they ALL take months, if not years to lay out. 

Line by line, is not the only way to learn, but it sure is the safest, given this current state of rampant delusion, word manipulation & apostasy we live in.

I tried looking up good definitions for the two methods I'm addressing, literally & figurative (or, applying spiritual meaning to chaps 14ff of Rev) but the definitions I found had elements that don't apply in the many friends I have so I'll hope my meaning will come through on my thoughts. 

Many of the resources used to arrive at these differing views, are employed by both methods, which only confuses the matter more. 



I can't help but consider, what if the wise men had read there texts applying spiritual meaning, or Daniel as he neared the end of captivity or Jesus, after resurrection as He walked with two men.

I sometimes think  the many generations past that also  lived in un revealed mystery. 
Appears the 21rst century has it (Revelation) figured out. 

Regrettable, select verses to explain select verses has become a standard method as to how to interpret scripture and all that's needed to solidify this method is to have an historical account assigned to a passage, and it's over.

No Biblical indication for this method needed. 
Here's another way to say this.

The Bible has 31,102 verses in it and no one is able to communicate via comparing this many verses.

Here's where the slippery slope of word games begins.

I could no more accurately convey my few short years on this earth with selected events from my life but I think I can discern God's plan of the ages using corrupted life applications as well as spiritual applications?

If not for God's Word telling us, believers might not know we're in a declining state as well as severe apostasy. 

So many want to help God by rallying the church to prepare society via, unifying religion while others believe we're in the Millennium. 

If chapters 14 thru 18 of Revelation has seen its fulfillment and if bringing that same line of thought to Isaiah and Ezekiel and Zechariah and Daniel and David, this clearly creates an abstract view of God's plan of salvation. 
Note : that's not an opinion!

It's more like an unfortunate testimony that exists to even this day. 

(defining 'abstract'  as well as 'delusion' and noting the origins of those words along with synonyms, helps here)

God's Word, as recorded, is consistent, front to back. 
The abstract is exchanged for a take it or leave it mindset.

Both methods I'm addressing here, have this same "take it or leave it" mindset, 

but in vrs by vrs, this mindset is a consequence.
When viewed figuratively ,this mindset is a necessity. 

If history records a "what goes around, comes around" cycle of human behavior, then why would the "what comes around" end with the 21rst century amidst apostasy & delusion?

Armageddon along with a Millennium didn't begin in Revelation, nor did it begin in Daniel. 
It began in Gen 1.

Believers can be content in Revelations mysteries,
Pray for its intended hearers,
and be strengthened from its promised restoration of what God began in the garden of Eden.



It is with much relief I have completed chaps 14 thru 18 and even though I have little gained understanding of these chapters, I can begin later next week chapters 19 to 22 anticipating the thoughts expressed in last paragraph I shared.

The question I must ponder now, as I prepare to enter the final chapters of God's most glorious Revelation of what awaits the believer in Jesus and His shed blood for our (my) many sins is :

Does a believers view,

(discerning, God fearing, Bible loving believers that is) 

in any age change or diminish the hope, joy, longing, desire, passion one is given upon reading these final four chapters?

Can believers who've moved on from prioritizing whose right and whose wrong,  those who sense God's Spirit active in there lives 24/7, those who have an intense awareness of what they were saved from and it shows in their daily walk..

Does a "view", be it literal or figurative diminish the majesty of what concluding chapters of God's complete Word promise the one who stands firm in Christ?

If differences in how true believers view this final Book could diminish the blessed hope that awaits us, as clearly seen in closing chapters, then satan gains a victory and I've wasted much time.

Thankfully though, a true believers assurance rests on so much more, than a "view."
Hebrews shows that! 
(note : no one verse given. Read the entire book of Hebrews. You'll see) 

I asked my wife earlier today, whose father is a minister, if she heard much kingdom talk as she grew up. 
She replied no. 
I noted, believers who are literal or figurative, have no problems discussing or thinking kingdom. 
There was a time these things were not preached.  
Maybe, for the legalistic christian, the blessings of Rev 19-22 has been diminished. Is it any wonder why so many middle aged believers lack hope. 

But that's not what I mean as I now prepare to conclude God's Word. I have this hope and it can only grow. 

I only thought  my question to my wife was an interesting side observation. 

I plan to take a few days to prepare for these final chapters. It's been a long time getting to this point again. Much has happened in my life since my last time here.

I'm left speechless and I haven't even begun to read it again yet. But I know it speaks of what's promised those who trust in God's Son for salvation.

I'm sensing something different this time, something refreshing as I finish God's Word . But I will wait. I need to wait. I'm eager to finish but the chapters I've just been thru have left me just as awestruck and I need time to digest that. 


I am (literally) finally ending this post ☺ tryreadnit! 

-Rev 14-18 (part 1)

This will be a tough post to do for some reason. 
These chapters depict the end of something as well as the beginning of something else yet so many people believe neither and I ask myself, does that matter?

I suppose, of the infinite blessings God (or whatever you believe) bestowed upon humanity is, the ability to believe whatever we want, free will I think we call it.

Upon the founding of America, that gift had value. But in a culture where words have no meaning, context has no meaning, is free will still a gift?

Revelation sure is a good place to exercise free will in interpreting.

There are many objections to this line of thinking. 
In other words, an opposite of free will (when interpreting this book) means we're all the same.

But given our new definitions of terms, straw man rebuttals are common place. 
Or arguments made surrounding things unintended by one with strong opinions.

Example : someone says to me, I must think God has feathers, or God doesn't want His will known. 

I too have beliefs concerning the climatic events unfolding in these chapters. 
I've been asking myself, why do I believe what the Bible says in a (and here's another redefined term) "literal" fashion.

Is it really because of how i grew up? 
That's probably not the case given I've said quite often that church talk made little sense growing up so why would revelation eschatology, etc, be any different?

I've been a Christian for nearly 50 years but 
I wouldn't read God's Word thru till I was 45 (eight yrs ago)

.. and as sad as a commentary that this might be, I would not seriously consider the Kingdom of God till just (let's say) a week ago, literally.

So am I now an expert?  Not hardly.

But eight yrs of vrs by vrs, line by line, reading and listening to God's complete 66 books,

clearly seeing God's central and only theme, Salvation,

has prepared me in unforseen ways.

I'd spend 8 yrs comparing everything to everything, looking for differences (not to mention, driving my wife nuts)

I'd find the covenants to be a starting point for radical differences in one's beliefs.

I'd see that how one views Israel would create radical differences in one's beliefs.

I'd take note of the language, the agendas, meanings and so many other things those with major differences use, to express there opinion

and believe it or not, I wasn't even trying.

All I did was ask and answer any questions I had. It's not that tough.

People avoid questions concerning God's Word. They like what they hear and build on it. 
Questioning what they built on is touchy stuff.

My first time thru God's Word, line by line, would demolish much of what i was supposed to build on.

Instead, because it made little sense, those things I grew up with, my hesitation in building on it proved right.

I'd come to verse by verse fresh, clean. I can't really boast on that because by ignoring so much in years past, even though it would pave the way for this clean start,  I can't help but wonder what I hi may have missed.

But I'm here now. That's all that (presently) matters.

Even as recently as this week, something I grew up with was shown to be false. 
It concerns that 70's movie 'Thief in the night'

The verses used to convey the movies plot was off, way off. 
Seems my generation confused Christ's return to the mount of olive with the removal of the saints.

No wonder I ignored both.

satan was pleased to have us think that the one taken (in Mt 24) is the one going to heaven when the opposite is true. The one taken is cast away and the one left enters the kingdom.

satans tactic is to reverse things. Like convincing the church not to judge others within the church by discerning the teaching of books, music, sermons , when in fact, we are to one Day, return with Christ, AS judges.

Given our being prone, to apply spiritual meaning to passages rather than just read it, 

by the time believers get to these passages concerning them judging the earth, we pass over it with glazed eyes.

These chapters I'm in is beyond the most intense language uttered to convey what God previously said in the preceeding 65 books. 
Words fail me in describing my thoughts on it.

-God's love for those who trust Him. 
-God's hatred of sin. 
-God's holiness.

But the greatest insight, for me is 

in this country, at this time, 

the abundance of grace & mercy that God's gift of salvation

 was given to me

 is paramount. 
This rises to the top of my interpreting this final book of God's Word. 

It motivates my sharing, my testimony. 
This takes precedence over what I may or may not believe concerning Revelations imagery.

 To consider all I've been spared

 simply because of when & where I was born. 

This staggers the mind, bends the will, humbles the heart,  comforts the soul.

As much as all that's true, and it is, being human, I also have an inquisitive nature.

More in next post.