Then you are simply denying the words of Jesus Christ in Mt. 24, Mk. 13, and Luke 21. And, just simply denying the plain meaning of the text itself.
No, I don't at all deny it. I believe every word but I
see/understand it in a figurative, spiritual, sense...not literal.
You are going to have to select one of my examples. I presented a ton of evidence that shows that the plagues must be literal.
Trialbyfire selected one...I answered it.
100 lb. hail will fall at the very return of Jesus Christ. This is also described in the Old Testament with the destruction of Gog (whom I believe is the antichrist), and elsewhere in the Old Testament. It's all literal. In addition, the mountain burning with fire that's cast into the sea is, in my opinion, an asteroid.
Ezekiel 13:10-11 Because, even because they have seduced My people, saying, Peace; and there was no peace; and one built up a wall, and, lo, others daubed it with untempered morter: Say unto them which daub it with untempered morter, that it shall fall: there shall be an overflowing shower; and ye, O great hailstones, shall fall; and a stormy wind shall rend it.
Those that seduced His people by lies, are those that daub the wall and they are,
in His words...."
ye O great hailstones."
The sea represents people, folks that follow the wrong path...where God created Leviathan to play.
Revelation 17:15 And he saith unto me, The waters which thou sawest, where the harlot sitteth, are peoples, and multitudes, and nations, and tongues.
Psalm 104:25-26 So is this great and wide sea, wherein are things creeping innumerable, both small and great beasts. There go the ships: there is that leviathan, whom thou hast made to play therein.
Job 41:1,34 Canst thou draw out leviathan with an hook? or his tongue with a cord which thou lettest down? (34) He beholdeth all high things: he is a king over all the children of pride.
Mountains are symbolic of nations.
Indeed. The plague is literal sores - a disease of some sort. There are several diseases which cause ulcers to appear on the skin.
Perhaps it is literal, perhaps both literal and spiritual. I don't yet know.
No, the very description shows that it is literal. They are gnawing their tongues for pain because of their sores. There is simply no reason to believe in a metaphorical interpretation of these verses, particularly considering Jesus Christ's comments in Mt. 24, Mk. 13, and Luke 21.
They could be literal but I see no verification of that in the above chapters. Perhaps you could quote a specific verse.
While indeed their minds are blinded, there is no question that the mark of the beast must be literal. I'll quote a few verses in a couple of minutes, but the physical symbolizes the spiritual. The fact that they're taking the mark of the beast in their right hand or forehead symbolizes their allegiance to the antichrist.
No, it is the opposite. The natural first and then...the spiritual. I agree the mark in the right hand symbolizes allegiance. It is a Hebraism meaning one works for him....they promote his vile religion. It isn't a literal mark.
Why the right hand or forehead? It's to convenience amputees - anyone who has had a hand or arm blown off in battle may take the mark in their forehead.
Again, you are cobbling together verses that aren't talking about the same thing. While the verse in Rev. 18:13 is speaking spiritually about the souls of men, this verse has no relation to the mark of the beast, which is fully literal. The verse itself is straightforward proof:
"16And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads: 17And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name." Rev. 13:16-17
How much more literal do you want it to get? You cannot buy or sell without the mark. The mark of the beast is something that's taken voluntarily - and anyone who takes it is lost forever.
Please see it spiritually. "
No man might buy or sell" except for those that "
receive" a mark. What do those men buy and sell in the market? He tells us.
Sheep, Wheat, Oil, Wine, the souls of men....all bought and sold, all symbolic.
Ezekiel 27:13 Javan, Tubal, and Meshech, they were thy merchants: they traded the persons of men and vessels of brass in thy market.
Mark 12:38 And He said unto them in His doctrine, Beware of the scribes, which love to go in long clothing, and love salutations in the marketplaces,
It is literal.
Firstly, nowhere in Revelation does it say take the mark or you're killed. It simply says that the false prophet causes everyone to take the mark of the beast. Obviously, this must be voluntary because some do not take it. They may be killed or imprisoned because of it (and probably are), but the book of Revelation is silent about that.
Revelation 13:15-17 And he had power to give life unto the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak, and cause that as many as would not worship the image of the beast should be killed. And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads: And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.
You're right, it is a voluntary thing. Voluntary as in "take it or go to jail or be killed." Technically, everything you do is voluntary. You don't have to pay money for your food. You don't have to fill up your car with gas. You don't have to obey the law. But you do, because there are consequences if you don't. The same thing applies to the mark of the beast - no one has to take it, but people will because the penalty for not taking it will probably be harsh. The mark of the beast must be something that is viewed as very beneficial to mankind.
Then we agree. People are deceived into taking the mark. Where we don't agree is that you see them being forced to take the mark and I see them being deceived into taking it. How? They will believe he is Christ. Remember, he comes in peaceably...love and peace.
Well obviously they are forced into an outward adoration towards the image of the beast, which probably also indicates their inward adoration for the image of the beast:
"15And he had power to give life unto the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak, and cause that as many as would not worship the image of the beast should be killed." Rev. 13:15
Also, everyone will worship the beast. Jesus Christ plainly says this, and the book of Revelation plainly says it. It's not something they will be forced to do, it's something that natural man will simply want to do:
"8And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world." Rev. 13:8
"24For 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." Mt. 24:24
No, everyone doesn't worship the beast. That isn't what Jesus said. He said "
all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him" and everyone "
not written in the book of life," shall worship him. We don't want to be in that gang. We are His elect, written in the book of life. We know the fake comes first and we wait for the true Savior.
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