Can We Really Exercise Free Will?
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I'll readily confess that I can't answer all your questions, but beginning with the proper understanding of the purpose of the book should point you in the right direction. Much of the language is symbolic so finding the imagery in the OT will help understand its use in the book.
That's correct, but Jesus is allowing satan to rule the world within the bounds set by God. The first 5 seals in Revelation are what Jesus authorizes satan to do.
Jesus spoke in figurative speech and satan he only rules in those who rule in him
I don't think we have the same definitions as to what constitutes total depravity.
You believe the flesh can do what Scripture says it cannot. I believe what Scripture says on the matter.
The mind of the flesh is death, but the mind of the Spirit is life and peace, because the mind of the flesh is hostile to God: It does not submit to God’s law, nor can it do so. Those controlled by the flesh cannot please God. Romans 8 v 6-8 This is what we speak, not in words taught us by human wisdom but in words taught by the Spirit, explaining spiritual realities with Spirit-taught words. The person without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God but considers them foolishness, and cannot understand them because they are discerned only through the Spirit. 1 Corinthians 2 v 13-14
No. Jesus is ruling if He is making the rules.
Where in Revelation do you find that?
The TEMPLE was destroyed in 70AD.
You find that also in Revelation?
I read that book alot with Daniel. With the judgments listed there i would think humans would have records of that some where is all. Especially who the ac was i think that name would be out there in the history books. I've heard Nero and that epanenes ( can't spell) who sacrificed a pig on the alter and started the macabellion revolt ( once again can't spell) Nero because of his name in Hebrew numbers the other because of the abomination of desolation. But the chief antagonist to God is Satan and his name is known. The chief antagonist to Jesus is the ac i would think his name would be known as well. As far as I can tell revaluations was written in 94-95 ad while John was exiled to patomos. 25 years after the destruction of Jerusalem. So I dont know how that time line fits either.
He's not doing a very good job of making the lamb and the lion lie down together
I have a revelation m
The only clear example satan had fallen in the bible is when he tried to make Jesus a king.
So there you have the man of lawlesness being revealed as in Thessalonians 2.
What say sherlock is satan a man of lawlesness or not.
The Biblical passage says the wolf will live with the lamb. People misquote it often.
Isaiah 11 verse 6 ~ The wolf will live with the lamb, and the leopard will lie down with the goat; the calf and young lion and fatling will be together, and a little child will lead them.
Revelation 1:3.
The destruction of Jerusalem and the temple was certainly included in the judgments on Israel. In Matthew 21:43, Jesus speaks of the kingdom being taken from Israel. The destruction of the temple, which symbolized the presence of God with Israel, pictured the kingdom being taken.
I can appreciate that there is a lot of information out there concerning the book of Revelation. Everyone has a take. And I certainly don't have all the answers. I've given you an outline of what I have garnered over the years. If you find it useful...awesome. If not, that's okay as well.
I am telling you what the Bible says. First comes the natural, then comes the spiritual.
I referenced a multitude of Scriptures. Do you not believe what the Bible says?
James 1 verses 14-15; 1 John 2 verse 16 Each one is tempted when by his own evil desires he is lured away and enticed. Then after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death. For all that is in the world- the desires of the flesh, the desires of the eyes, and the pride of life- is not from the Father but from the world. .
I believe what the Bible says. I believe For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
Matthew 18:3
And he said: “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.
I know that I could read the Bible my whole life and still not know everything about God. How could I , I am just a man. God is infinite. It says in Ecclesiastes "I also saw all that God has done. Nobody can understand what God does here on earth. No matter how hard people try to understand it, they cannot. Even if wise people say they understand, they cannot; no one can really understand it."
The best we allcan do is have child like faith.
Jesus says in john 15:15 I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you.
I believe God teaches us in ways we can understand. Because he knows us better then we know ourselves.
And when I study his word I will try to let it grow and transform me and try the best I can with the talents I been given (Matthew 25:14-30) and try and make an increase in this world
1 Corinthians 3:6-9
I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth. 7 So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth. 8 He who plants and he who waters are one, and each will receive his wages according to his labor. 9 For we are God's fellow workers. You are God's field, God's building.
And its one thing to know the Scriptures but its another thing to be transformed by the scriptures.
“You study the Scriptures diligently because you think that in them you have eternal life. These are the very Scriptures that testify about me, yet you refuse to come to me to have life.”
John 5:39-40 NIV
Its not in the Scriptures themselves that we are saved. Satan can qoute scripture. Its through jesus sacrifice that we are saved! If we love him keep his commands. Not just read them and be able to recite them.
1 Corinthians 13
13 If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. 2 And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. 3 If I give away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned,[a] but have not love, I gain nothing.
What are the 2 commandments that Jesus gave us?
Matthew 22-37-40
Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’[a] 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself. 40 All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”
I find this very amazing as the 10 commandments were written on "2" tablets. With the duties towards God and the duties towards man.
Anways my point here is that there is always someone who knows more about God then someone else and everyone will have their own unique experiences with God. We should be here to help each other learn and grow and support each other.
1 Peter 5:8 Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.
There is so much to learn about God !
John 21:25 Jesus did many other things as well. If every one of them were written down, I suppose that even the whole world would not have room for the books that would be written.
Let's help our fellow brothers and sisters in Christ together so we help each other produce more fruit and help each other store up more rewards in heaven! We are all unable to know it all ! Or to be perfect! Thats why jesus died for us !
There is a concept called gradualism in the Bible. When sin occurred, the entire effects of it weren't seen immediately. When God promised to send a redeemer, the Savior didn't come for 4000 years. Likewise, the effects of the cross are becoming more and more evident with the passing of time. It will continue this way until all things are restored.
B
Blue155
Guest
John Wesley wrote of Revelation, “Oh how little do we know of this deep book! At least how little do I know!” (Journal, 4:540). Elsewhere he confessed, “I by no means pretend to understand, or explain all that is contained in this mysterious book” (Notes, 650).
John Wesley (1703–91) writes: “It is scarce possible for any that either love or fear God not to feel their hearts extremely affected in seriously reading either the beginning or the latter part of the Revelation. These, it is evident, we cannot consider too much; but the intermediate parts I did not study at all for many years; as utterly despairing of understanding them, after the fruitless attempts of so many wise and good men: and perhaps I should have lived and died in this sentiment, had I not seen the works of the great Bengelius. But these revived my hopes of understanding even the prophecies of this book; at least many of them in some good degree: for perhaps some will not be opened but in eternity.”
Adam Clarke (1762–1832): “I do not understand the book; and I am satisfied that no one who has written on the subject knows anything more of it than myself.”
Adam Clarke “I had resolved, for a considerable time, not to meddle with this book, because I foresaw that I could produce nothing satisfactory on it: but when I reflected that the literal sense and phraseology might be made much plainer by the addition of philological and critical notes; and that, as the diction appeared in many places to be purely rabbinical, (a circumstance to which few of its expositors have attended), it might be rendered plainer by examples from the ancient Jewish writers; and that several parts of it spoke directly of the work of God in the soul of man, and of the conflicts and consolations of the followers of Christ, particularly in the beginning of the book, I changed my resolution, and have added short notes, principally philological, where I thought I understood the meaning.”
And regarding the millennial reign of Christ, Wesley wrote these words in a letter,
I have no opinion at all upon that topic. I can determine nothing about it. These calculations are far above, out of my sight, I have only one thing to do, to save my own soul and those that hear me.
R. H. Charles (1855–1931) reminds us that “school after school has essayed its interpretation, and school after school has in turn retired in failure from the task.” Charles was an Irish Anglican theologian, biblical scholar, professor, and translator from Northern Ireland.
The church father Jerome (AD 340–420) laments in Epistle 53:8 that it contains “as many mysteries as it does words.” Methodius (d. AD 311) in his Symposium 8:9 mentions “the greatness of the mysteries of the text.”
Gaius of Rome (d. 296) “For though I cannot comprehend it, I still suspect that there is some deeper sense underlying the words. And I do not measure and judge its expressions by the standard of my own reason, but, making more allowance for faith, I have simply regarded them as too lofty for my comprehension; and I do not forthwith reject what I do not understand, but I am only the more filled with wonder at it, in that I have not been able to discern its import” (Dion., Works 1:1:3).
“The book of Revelation is a fascinating book, and the debate regarding its interpretation will continue. Despite our various views, there are some common threads upon which Christians agree. {21}. All views believe that God is sovereign and in charge of all that occurs in history and its ultimate conclusion. Except for full preterism and some forms of idealism, all believe in the physical second coming of Christ. All views believe in the resurrection from the dead. All believe there will be a future judgment. All believe in an eternal state in which believers will be with God, and unbelievers will be separated from Him. All agree upon the importance of the study of prophecy and its edification for the body of Christ. Unfortunately, the debate among Christians has often been harsh and hostile. It is my hope that the debate would continue in a cordial, respectful manner which will challenge every believer to accurately study and interpret the Word. We all await the return of our Lord and together with the saints of all ages say, "Amen, come Lord Jesus!" (Rev. 22:20)
— Four Views of Revelation, 4-Views-of-Revelation.
Be careful with Revelation. It has confounded the minds of the greatest scholars.
John Wesley (1703–91) writes: “It is scarce possible for any that either love or fear God not to feel their hearts extremely affected in seriously reading either the beginning or the latter part of the Revelation. These, it is evident, we cannot consider too much; but the intermediate parts I did not study at all for many years; as utterly despairing of understanding them, after the fruitless attempts of so many wise and good men: and perhaps I should have lived and died in this sentiment, had I not seen the works of the great Bengelius. But these revived my hopes of understanding even the prophecies of this book; at least many of them in some good degree: for perhaps some will not be opened but in eternity.”
Adam Clarke (1762–1832): “I do not understand the book; and I am satisfied that no one who has written on the subject knows anything more of it than myself.”
Adam Clarke “I had resolved, for a considerable time, not to meddle with this book, because I foresaw that I could produce nothing satisfactory on it: but when I reflected that the literal sense and phraseology might be made much plainer by the addition of philological and critical notes; and that, as the diction appeared in many places to be purely rabbinical, (a circumstance to which few of its expositors have attended), it might be rendered plainer by examples from the ancient Jewish writers; and that several parts of it spoke directly of the work of God in the soul of man, and of the conflicts and consolations of the followers of Christ, particularly in the beginning of the book, I changed my resolution, and have added short notes, principally philological, where I thought I understood the meaning.”
And regarding the millennial reign of Christ, Wesley wrote these words in a letter,
I have no opinion at all upon that topic. I can determine nothing about it. These calculations are far above, out of my sight, I have only one thing to do, to save my own soul and those that hear me.
R. H. Charles (1855–1931) reminds us that “school after school has essayed its interpretation, and school after school has in turn retired in failure from the task.” Charles was an Irish Anglican theologian, biblical scholar, professor, and translator from Northern Ireland.
The church father Jerome (AD 340–420) laments in Epistle 53:8 that it contains “as many mysteries as it does words.” Methodius (d. AD 311) in his Symposium 8:9 mentions “the greatness of the mysteries of the text.”
Gaius of Rome (d. 296) “For though I cannot comprehend it, I still suspect that there is some deeper sense underlying the words. And I do not measure and judge its expressions by the standard of my own reason, but, making more allowance for faith, I have simply regarded them as too lofty for my comprehension; and I do not forthwith reject what I do not understand, but I am only the more filled with wonder at it, in that I have not been able to discern its import” (Dion., Works 1:1:3).
“The book of Revelation is a fascinating book, and the debate regarding its interpretation will continue. Despite our various views, there are some common threads upon which Christians agree. {21}. All views believe that God is sovereign and in charge of all that occurs in history and its ultimate conclusion. Except for full preterism and some forms of idealism, all believe in the physical second coming of Christ. All views believe in the resurrection from the dead. All believe there will be a future judgment. All believe in an eternal state in which believers will be with God, and unbelievers will be separated from Him. All agree upon the importance of the study of prophecy and its edification for the body of Christ. Unfortunately, the debate among Christians has often been harsh and hostile. It is my hope that the debate would continue in a cordial, respectful manner which will challenge every believer to accurately study and interpret the Word. We all await the return of our Lord and together with the saints of all ages say, "Amen, come Lord Jesus!" (Rev. 22:20)
— Four Views of Revelation, 4-Views-of-Revelation.
Be careful with Revelation. It has confounded the minds of the greatest scholars.
Seriously delusional. Evil is on the ascendancy. The only way it gets stopped is for it to be completely destroyed. Then the lord will set up his kingdom on earth.