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GENERAL COMMENTS
I used to struggle with many ideas about prophecy until I decided that
any idea generated during the past 150 years, or so, was focused toward
the Pre-Trib concept. Since Pre-Trib is incorrect, every detail of it
should
be questioned. I have concluded that none of the Pre-Trib scenario is
correct -- with one exception: there will be a Rapture. It's kinda like
wiping
out everything I thought was valid about prophecy teachings. Then,
everything started to fall into place!
I would like to encourage looking at Revelation as not being entirely in
chronological order. It makes so much more sense when considered to be
"iterative": i.e. explaining things over again with added
details. It's very
brief, but please try the following as examples.
In Revelation, John used an expression translated to : "And after
these
things...". This probably should be translated to: "Also, in
the midst of
these things...". What a difference!
"And" is kai (Strong #2532) which is "and or also".
"After" is meta
(#3326) meaning "amid, in midst, with, among or contiguous".
"These
things" is tauta (#5023) meaning "those things, these
things" or is used
to show a proximity to something. "After" is a correct
translation of
meta when a physical motion is involved -- like "... he followed
with
(meta) him..." (and not used that way very often). Even the
"scholars"
have indicated this is the situation and admit the "after"
usage is
maintained because of tradition!! How about modern day
Phariseeism!!!
Instead of telling us about something new (after), John has been telling
us more about what occurred among the previously described events.
This is the "iterative" approach where information is given
and then
more details supplied as a follow up. This little phrase of "and
after
these things" (or a variation) is used six times in Revelation. So,
there are six times when details are being provided about previous
information -- not information about subsequent, or new, activities.
Further explanation follows on the pages of "After vs With."
Close examination will also show that the "angel # 1" of the
trumpets is
the same "angel # 1" of the vials (and so on with the other
angel
numbers), where the trumpet is the start of an activity and the vial is
the completion. This is most obvious with angels #2 and #3.
When Revelation is presented in an iterative format, the details are in
agreement with the Olivet Discourse, Daniel, and Ezekiel with
Corinthians and Thessalonians thrown in. They all talk the same
subjects with each providing either the same, or additional, details.
The
exceptions are associated with Daniel and Ezekiel being totally focused
on Israel or Jerusalem, but even those activities parallel the
activities in
the other books which deal with the whole world.
Ezekiel "ate a book" and then "spoke" (Ezek 3:1-4)
about the same
issues as prophesied by John, but only as they pertain to Israel. John
"ate a book" and "prophesied again" (Rev 10:9-11)
for everyone.
The "prophesy again" is simply a statement that the previous
prophecies are to be discussed again. For instance, Rev 14 tells us the
endings of the Seven Seals: i.e. the Seals describe the start of an
activity,
whereas Chapter 14 includes descriptions of the activity completions.
There is Seal One -- Word of God (Rev 6:2 & 14:6): Seal Two -- start
and then the fall of Babylon (consider that almost all kingdoms on this
earth result from war) (Rev 6:4 & 14:8): Seal Three -- famine
resulting in
the mark of the beast for survival and a warning of the wrath it brings
(Rev 6:5,6 & 14:9-11): Seal Four -- tribulation brought by Death and
Hell (first and second deaths -- namely, antichrist and false prophet)
Rev 6:8 & 14:12-13; 19:20: Fifth Seal -- martyrdom and then the
resurrection and rapture as completion (Rev 6:9-11 & 14:14-16: Sixth
Seal -- God's Wrath which occurs when instructed by the
"seventh"
angel (Rev 6:12-17 & 14:14-16): Seventh Seal -- the vials of wrath
as
called for by the "seventh" angel where the seventh trumpet is
implied
(Rev 8,9,11 & 14:18-20).
In Chapter 14, John identified only angel three by number and used
"another" for angels 1,2,5,6 and 7. A "voice" is a
different approach for
angel #4, but angels are messengers and they give their messages by
speaking.
(Note: all quotation marks, underlining, and colour highlighting in
Scripture
quotations have been added.)
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