Another speculation and more private interpretations, Ronaldo.
The words which man's wisdom teaches "the many" concerning eschatology is as foolishness to God. The natural man, as a beast, the carnal man living by the flesh, the wicked man is without sound judgment and doesn't understand the Spiritual.
1st Corinthians 2:13-16
- "Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.
- But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.
- But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man.
- For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ."
You may have read the verses before, but have you really "heard" or "receive" those verses before? The Spiritual man judgeth by that Spirit, but the natural man is like a beast, because he is evil and without the image of God, he is without sound judgment. That most believe something does not make something sound.
Interpretation is not by committee. Interpretation is not by consensus. Interpretation is not by world history. It is bible history and by the sound exegesis of God's word compared diligently "with" God's word.
And no, you
cannot be right in this instance. God is not giving us a "literal" history lesson about Greece, Persia and Rome, but a "spiritual" history lesson about
a far more sinister spiritual rule. Christ is the prince of peace, what kingdom does He rule, Ronald?
Likewise, Satan is the Prince of this world, thus what kingdom does he rule? Their rules are not from physical nations or empires with international borders but from spiritual principalities. That's what you (and many) don't understand. Even though God has stated it in many diverse ways again and again and again. You still eschew the Spiritual nature of what God is speaking about.
Ephesians 6:12
- "For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places."
Whether we like it or not, God is here telling us that our battle is not against the power of empires or Islamic. It is not even physical. It is not political. It is not against nations. It is not against neighbor countries around nation Israel. Rather it is against a "spiritual principality, spiritual power, and spiritual wickedness." Yes, everyone reads these things but few take it to heart.
Colossians 2:14-15
- "Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross;
- And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it."
These Principalities and powers that Christ spoiled was not Rome. It was not Greece or Persia. It was not Islamic or Iran. But it was spiritual "Egypt" and spiritual principalities and rulers of the darkness of this world. The Christian must take his mind off the nations of this world and think on a nation from above and
just how it is being attacked. Take our eyes off this world and put them on Christ. We need to understand how the New Testament Congregation, the Church, which is NOW a representative of God's Kingdom on Earth since the Cross, is being attacked by the beast which the "empires" of the Old Testament that attacks Old Testament congregation of Israel
AS A TYPE!
Satan is thee beast, RULING THROUGH MEN, who are as "beasts." Just as Satan is thee antichrist, ruling in many antichrists, which is MEN! Not nations or empires. There is a principle her that you are missing in your misinterpretation of Scripture. You need to think about WHY does God call wicked men "serpents", and calls Satan the "serpent?" Why is Christ called the "Star", and we, His servants, called "stars?" The point I am making is that just because you cannot recognize Satan as the beast, and natural or carnal man as a beast, doesn't mean God doesn't. Look carefully with what Paul wrote:
1st Corinthians 15:32
- "If after the manner of men I have fought with beasts at Ephesus, what advantageth it me, if the dead rise not? let us eat and drink; for to morrow we die."
Did He wrestle with a physical bear, spar with a lion or tangle with a leopard? No, of course not. His fight was with
men who were "as beasts." Why? Because the beast often seen as "without moral values, judgment, knowledge or wisdom."
If I might digress for a minute. What separates man from the dumb beasts of the field is his reasoning and intelligence. Man was created in the image or likeness of God so that (unlike dumb beasts) man was instilled with a certain intellect, reason and the inherent knowledge of His creator.
Beasts have no reasoning, they have no knowledge, and they are not sensible. God often contrasts man with beast and even labels man a beast himself when
he acts foolishly or without reasoning, or in a ravenous or vicious way. God even goes so far as to speak of man as a beast when illustrating man
as unknowledgeable or simple (stupid, if you will). So the symbolism of a beast in the Bible, I believe, is to illustrate
man under influence of Satan acting without reason or knowledge, or
when lacking in wisdom and understanding, as one acting foolishly. In other words, carnal nature! For example, even King David admitted:
Psalms 73:22
- "So foolish was I, and ignorant: I was as a beast before thee."
Apparently, God thinks the foolish and ignorant man "IS" as a beast.
Now, the beast in Revelation, for example, that comes out of the bottomless pit is a
BODY of men with
SPIRIT of
ANTICHRISTS. They are false prophets and christs that Christ warned about in Matthew 24 who are lacking moral values and judgments. They are the beasts in God's Eyes! Corporately, they are the "beast" the Lord is talking about! They are actually attacking the church, bringing in their doctrines (lies) of the devil that helps bring the church into apostasy and desolation. Every wondering why there are more and more liberal church leaders out there today? The homosexuality pastors? Women pastors? "Your Best Life Now" pastors? The pastors who do not preach repentance and hell?
People like you are too busy trying to link beasts with 7 heads and ten horns with 7 world empires and 10 nations, not realizing that their churches are under the judgment of God. In case you haven't learned yet,
scripture interprets scripture,
not man, not history books, not popular opinion, and most certainly not Church tradition. Satan is the spirit and rule that contrasts the Spirit and Rule of God. He is the pseudo-Christ, the antithesis of God. So it is not only "not ridiculous," and, not only plausible, but these contrasting four creatures and four beasts reveal the truth of it.
The Bible is its own interpreter. Is not the waters that bring life contrasted with the poisons that bring death? Is not the lamb contrasted with the wolf? Is not the good tree contrasted with the bad tree? Israel with Israel, children with children, sacrifice with sacrifice? It is exactly what we would expect if we have been studying the scriptures and know the consistency of God in His perfect design, cryptic imagery, and Biblical harmony. The symbolism isn't new or different, only the meaning is. No, it's not odd that God's Kingdom construct is symbolized by four living creatures in Revelation. Eg. a Lion, a Lamb a Man and Eagle's wings, and Satan's kingdom construct is symbolized by four beasts, a Lion with wings, and Bear and a leopard, etc. It's not odd interpretation at all, it's in harmony with the interpretations seen throughout the whole Bible. That the wind of heaven brought these four is not odd either, as it illustrates God's immutible sovereignty over even this. God sends these four beast, which are DEFINITELY not four physical or literal empires/nations. Didn't you read Scripture?
Hosea 13:7-9
- "Therefore I will be unto them as a lion: as a leopard by the way will I observe them:
- I will meet them as a bear that is bereaved of her whelps, and will rend the caul of their heart, and there will I devour them like a lion: the wild beast shall tear them.
- Israel, thou hast destroyed thyself; but in me is thine help."
God will be unto Israel AS the Lion, the Leopard and the Bear, and come against Israel...for her unfaithfulness. Likewise with the New Testament congregation today, tell me, Ronald, HOW will God do this to her? With Islamic nations? With the European Union? With Russia? Seriously, Ronald?! The fact is that the real threat to the church is only found
WITHIN HER that God allows them (and their king, Satan) to come in as a judgment? Something that we can "see" them "AS A SIGNS"?!
Revelation 17:15-18 KJV
- And he saith unto me, The waters which thou sawest, where the harlot sitteth, are peoples, and multitudes, and nations, and tongues.
- And the ten horns which thou sawest upon the beast, these shall hate the harlot, and shall make her desolate and naked, and shall eat her flesh, and burn her with fire.
- For God hath put in their hearts to fulfil his will, and to agree, and give their kingdom unto the beast, until the words of God shall be fulfilled.
- And the woman which thou sawest is that great city, which reigneth over the kings of the earth.
Matthew 24:10-12 KJV
[10] And then
shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another.
[11] And
many false prophets shall rise, and
shall deceive many.
[12] And
because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.
Matthew 24:23-25 KJV
[23] Then if
any man shall say unto you, Lo, here is Christ, or there; believe it not.
[24] For
there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and
shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible
, they shall deceive the very elect.
[25]
Behold, I have told you before.
Jesus did NOT ask us to look for empire or nations to determine the battle of Armageddon here! He is talking about false prophets and christs, pretend to be anointed by Christ, who will deceive many with their deadly deception where no man can longer find salvation (Revelation 9:6). This spiritual deception is much more dangerous than any physical empire you can think of! They are the BODY of the beast! The false prophets and christs! And no, it has NOTHING to do with some physical guns and missiles! It has nothing to do with empires or nations. It has to do with a spiritual war within God's unfaithful congregation on earth AFTER all Elect has been secured first. This is a very important reason why Satan was bound at the Cross so that Christ could build his church! Once all Elect Christ wanted to seal has been sealed, Satan and beast will then comes out of the bottomless pit and be used by God to judge those unfaithful congregations. That is the battle of Armageddon! It is a spiritual war that only God's Elect can "see" being fulfilled in the Bible, while the secular and professed believers are wasting their time looking for literal nations, literal empires, a literal mark of the beast, a literal third temple, literal wars, an enemies for nation Israel (instead of spiritual Israel, the church), etc.
Selah!