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B
Well everyone learns at different stages, over time a person's view can change depending on what one has learned along the way.
I can believe that Mars is a real planet created by God yet many Christians can't reach that far because it's not written in the bible. Or that the word "prison" doesn't always have to mean to be locked up in jail, it can mean "observant" as well especially in older languages, so knowing word meanings of the now and then are quite useful to fully understanding how words where used and the context it's applied within the bible.
I can believe that Mars is a real planet created by God yet many Christians can't reach that far because it's not written in the bible. Or that the word "prison" doesn't always have to mean to be locked up in jail, it can mean "observant" as well especially in older languages, so knowing word meanings of the now and then are quite useful to fully understanding how words where used and the context it's applied within the bible.
Just read the bible. A reasonably decent translation (that's important). Avoid the new age translations which distort the word so much that it won't save a soul.
Ask the Holy Spirit to teach you. He is the Great Teacher.
You will be surprised how far the above will take you.
I have found that re-reading a chapter after completing it (sometimes 2-3 times) proves very useful in bedding down the truth in your heart and mind.
Ask the Holy Spirit to teach you. He is the Great Teacher.
You will be surprised how far the above will take you.
I have found that re-reading a chapter after completing it (sometimes 2-3 times) proves very useful in bedding down the truth in your heart and mind.
K
@BeyondET Thank you for your input I definitely want to check some of those versions out!
@Issachar92 I don't really understand how is it you interpreted that John had a "made up" vision.
And I don't want to keep repeating myself so this is the last time. READ CAREFULLY
John oversaw the churches. He praise most of the 7 for the good they do but then brings a Word that God has against each of them. For example the first church Ephesus was praised for holding true to sound doctrine yet they had lost their love. They are warned as are the other churches he writes to.
Throughout about half the book of Revelation is how he starts. He spoke in symbolic language to them about Rome so that Roman officials would not intercept a letter and persecute them even more. These Christians were being killed, rejected in social circles, and even lost out on economic opportunities. They opposed the Romans ways of living by the way they lived for Christ so that caused natural opposition. So John not only praises the churches for the good they have done but points out their flaws and corrects them with love as a good leader would so they would not continue down the wrong paths.
As Revelation continues he writes to the churches about visions he is having of the final moments to take place before Christ returns. Before that though he has a vision of the virgin birth and Jesus conquering the dragon and Jesus is taken up to heaven resulting in the dragon becoming infuriated and lashing out on the earth directed towards the prophets and saint. He even has a vision of a woman who drinks the blood of the saints. So he shows how powerful evil is and that anyone who insists on following the beast would receive the wrath of God poured out on them. In these visions God has mercy continually giving people a chance to repent but their blasphemy towards God grew worse. Until finally all the plagues and cups were poured out is when Jesus comes to destroy evil once and for all. In these visions of Jesus he doesn't depict a weak dying Jesus but a powerful king.
These visions of the end days are meant to encourage believers (of every generation) that even though we may suffer for the gospel that Jesus has the final Word and he will destroy evil once and for all giving victory and vengeance to the prophets and saints. We will be able to spend eternity with Christ forever. That is basically Revelation in a nut shell, it is all there in the book.
If you want to read Revelation as a book to figure out future events to know when exactly Jesus is coming you are reading it wrong and not only that your belief in that idea contradicts scripture. NO ONE KNOWS THE DAY OR HOUR, why is that so hard to grasp? God did not write a book for us to figure out the end times like I said that would contradict the Word. If that is what you want to believe I am sorry.
When I read Revelation just like it was intended I know that even though I am rejected for my faith, people may not want to hear about Jesus or whatever else may happen I know this world is temporary and that Jesus will return for me and I will be able to spend eternity in heaven with him. God bless.
@Issachar92 I don't really understand how is it you interpreted that John had a "made up" vision.
And I don't want to keep repeating myself so this is the last time. READ CAREFULLY
John oversaw the churches. He praise most of the 7 for the good they do but then brings a Word that God has against each of them. For example the first church Ephesus was praised for holding true to sound doctrine yet they had lost their love. They are warned as are the other churches he writes to.
Throughout about half the book of Revelation is how he starts. He spoke in symbolic language to them about Rome so that Roman officials would not intercept a letter and persecute them even more. These Christians were being killed, rejected in social circles, and even lost out on economic opportunities. They opposed the Romans ways of living by the way they lived for Christ so that caused natural opposition. So John not only praises the churches for the good they have done but points out their flaws and corrects them with love as a good leader would so they would not continue down the wrong paths.
As Revelation continues he writes to the churches about visions he is having of the final moments to take place before Christ returns. Before that though he has a vision of the virgin birth and Jesus conquering the dragon and Jesus is taken up to heaven resulting in the dragon becoming infuriated and lashing out on the earth directed towards the prophets and saint. He even has a vision of a woman who drinks the blood of the saints. So he shows how powerful evil is and that anyone who insists on following the beast would receive the wrath of God poured out on them. In these visions God has mercy continually giving people a chance to repent but their blasphemy towards God grew worse. Until finally all the plagues and cups were poured out is when Jesus comes to destroy evil once and for all. In these visions of Jesus he doesn't depict a weak dying Jesus but a powerful king.
These visions of the end days are meant to encourage believers (of every generation) that even though we may suffer for the gospel that Jesus has the final Word and he will destroy evil once and for all giving victory and vengeance to the prophets and saints. We will be able to spend eternity with Christ forever. That is basically Revelation in a nut shell, it is all there in the book.
If you want to read Revelation as a book to figure out future events to know when exactly Jesus is coming you are reading it wrong and not only that your belief in that idea contradicts scripture. NO ONE KNOWS THE DAY OR HOUR, why is that so hard to grasp? God did not write a book for us to figure out the end times like I said that would contradict the Word. If that is what you want to believe I am sorry.
When I read Revelation just like it was intended I know that even though I am rejected for my faith, people may not want to hear about Jesus or whatever else may happen I know this world is temporary and that Jesus will return for me and I will be able to spend eternity in heaven with him. God bless.
B
What intrigues me about James Murdock is that he was a very smart man, many schools, colleges etc. wanted him as head chair back in the day. but he walked away from all that fame and notoriety to pursue what he enjoyed the bible and he translated the Syriac peshito into English in 1852, he used quite a wide volcabuary, little KJV style with advance English words and just simple English phrases also. he was rarely seen in public in his laters years while studying and translating.
Does the Holy Spirit ever talk to us? All the time...Are we listening? Mostly not.
So The Holy Spirit does talk to us..The Holy Spirit teaches by 'downloads' We call it revelation...
The Holy Spirit will teach us in any way He has to in order to get the teaching across...IF we allow it, and submit to it..
While there is nothing wrong with intellectual learning, it is grossly incomplete, inadequate, without the teaching of the Holy Spirit
So The Holy Spirit does talk to us..The Holy Spirit teaches by 'downloads' We call it revelation...
The Holy Spirit will teach us in any way He has to in order to get the teaching across...IF we allow it, and submit to it..
While there is nothing wrong with intellectual learning, it is grossly incomplete, inadequate, without the teaching of the Holy Spirit
2 Timothy 2:15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
There are divisions to be made throughout the Bible. If one does not understand these divisions it could lead to doctrinal chaos. Doctrine for the body of Christ must go through what the Lord gave the Apostle Paul in his thirteen epistles. If it doesn't line up with what Paul taught, then that doctrine is directed to somebody else in a different dispensation. The Bible student must understand that the entire Bible is written for you, but not all of it is written to you.
There are divisions to be made throughout the Bible. If one does not understand these divisions it could lead to doctrinal chaos. Doctrine for the body of Christ must go through what the Lord gave the Apostle Paul in his thirteen epistles. If it doesn't line up with what Paul taught, then that doctrine is directed to somebody else in a different dispensation. The Bible student must understand that the entire Bible is written for you, but not all of it is written to you.
Which Israel or what kind of a Jew is that seeing all Israel are not born of the incorruptible Spirit of Christ as the new creatures? Just as in the same way which kind of Jew one outwardly of the flesh or inwardly of the Spirit
1Peter 1:23 Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.