sovereigngrace
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Let's think this through. There are 3 aspects of the beast in question. 1) It was. 2) Is not. 3) Shall ascend out of the bottomless pit. Clearly, in regards to it's 42 month reign, that only fits 3). But assuming Amil is correct about the timing of the thousand years, that it began around the time of the cross, and that John the Baptist was beheaded before the time of the cross, per this scenario, that would place John the Baptist's martyrdom during 1), and certainly not during 3). But what about a martyr, such as Stephen? He was martyred post the cross, and that when John was given these visions, it was also post the cross. This would indicate, assuming Amil, that Stephen is martyred during the thousand years. But during the thousand years, assuming Amil, the status of the beast at the time would be is not. One can't then claim Stephen's martyrdom was directly because of this beast.
Per Premil though, and maybe other Premils might agree, and maybe they won't, but here's what I propose.
Revelation 20:4 And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years.
There are two groups of martyrs seen here.
1) them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God
2) which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands
As to someone, such as Stephen, his martyrdom fits 1).
Revelation 6:9 And when he had opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of them that were slain for the word of God, and for the testimony which they held:
10 And they cried with a loud voice, saying, How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth?
11 And white robes were given unto every one of them; and it was said unto them, that they should rest yet for a little season, until their fellowservants also and their brethren, that should be killed as they were, should be fulfilled.
In this passage here, we see these same 2 groups.
Verse 9 is referring to the martyrs in 1) above, which include martyrs, such as Stephen, and John the Baptist, as some examples. This part in verse 11 is referring to 2) above, and that the beast has to ascend of the pit before they can even be martyred because of it, and that they are undeniably already martyred before satan is even loosed from the pit----their fellowservants also and their brethren, that should be killed as they were, should be fulfilled.
Forget to add the rest of that verse, so I did so now. Notice what it says---should be fulfilled. Apparently, as of Revelation 20:4, and this is before satan is ever loosed from the pit, this has been fulfilled. Thus, no martyrdom of saints happening after the thousand years, except Amils need that be happening after the thousand years in order for their position to even work.
The issue is: Amils have repeatedly addressed this here (and on Bibleforums), but you continually avoid the evidence. Sadly, your pattern is: when your views are refuted you disappear from the discussion. You refuse to admit the obvious. That has been your pattern for years. What you do not realize is that the objective lurkers are not satisfied with that, and many end up embracing Amil.
I have already addressed this, and you have already avoided this. You havre to do this for your argument to survive. I will try again.
Firstly, the dragon, the beast, and the false prophet's activity are not simply restricted to 42 months before Christ's Coming, as you suggest. I didn't think anyone believed that, although, nothing shocks me in end-time discussion. Moreover, to attribute what you wrongly believe on this to the Amil position is wrong. Amils believe that they continue throughout the intra-Advent period (the millennium time).
Secondly, the beast represents the ongoing reign of Satan on the earth throughout time through the world secular anti-Christ system. It is not an end-time invention as Futurist's imagine.
Thirdly, Revelation is not chronological. It is a number of recaps describing the same intra-Advent period. The end of the millennium and Satan's "little season" corresponds with the end time persecution spoke elsewhere in Revelation and in other Scripture. The millennium does not follow Revelation 17-19 in time, but rather parallels it. Revelation 20 is the last of 7 recapitulations.
Fourthly, martyrdom was/is never limited to 42 months at the end as you claim. Every informed Bible student knows that. Martyrdom has occurred since the stoning of Stephen. Millions have been butchered by the beast system for their faith in the OT and NT, in the early Church, under the jackboot of Romanism, and right up until today. To limit martyrdom to 42 months at the end exposes your theological bias, your ignorance of history and your lack of objectivity.
Fifthly, there is good reason to connect Satan’s little season with the last 3.5 years (42 months/1260 days), found in Scripture. This does not demand a literal meaning in this most symbolic of books. This describes the final conflict between the kingdom of God and the kingdom of darkness. Satan and the beast will be loosed at the end to resist the people of God. That is when the restraint is simply removed. Right at the end, the kingdom of darkness is overthrew.
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