- Feb 21, 2019
- 1,526
- 246
- 47
- Country
- United States
- Faith
- Non-Denom
- Marital Status
- Married
I saw you posted on another thread about the near/far prophecy, and remembered you had this thread. I have been studying Matthew 12:43-45 for a while and think it could be a near/far prophecy.
Matthew 12:43-45 When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he walketh through dry places, seeking rest, and findeth none. Then he saith, I will return into my house from whence I came out; and when he is come, he findeth it empty, swept and garnished. Then goeth he, and taketh with himself seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter in and dwell there: and the last state of that man is worse than the first. Even so shall it be also unto this wicked generation.
My interpretation is the man represents Satan’s house (the strong man’s house) and the unclean spirit going out of the man is Satan being bound. Satan then goes through dry places or is cast into the bottomless pit.
When he is loosed he returns to his house and finds it swept, empty, and garnished or put in order. This would then relate to the action that happened while the strong man was bound; which I think is referring to the Gentiles being saved and the house being empty meaning the fullness of the Gentiles or the total number that were written in the book of life have now been removed or saved from Satan’s house. Satan’s house has now been spoiled.
Satan then takes 7 other spirits more wicked than himself and they enter in and dwell there. The seven other spirits being more wicked than Satan could be understood using Matthew 23:15 as something similar happens where the scribes and Pharisees convert someone and he is twofold the child of hell than they are. The strong man’s house now has Satan and seven other spirits, this then seems to correlate with Revelation 17:11 where the beast is called the eighth, and is of the seven, and goeth into perdition; and also with Revelation 20:8 where Satan goes out and deceives the nations after the 1,000 years.
The last statement in the verses is “even so shall it be also unto this generation”. I’m interpreting this as meaning that there are 2 distinct groups this happens to, one being obviously this generation and I place the other as the Gentiles. I’m thinking that what happened in 70AD and the years prior to it is what is meant by the statement also unto this generation. I’m wondering if this could be a near/far prophecy. Have you looked at this or do you have any opinions on this?
Upvote
0
