After reading all four pages of this topic, I am left a little confused. Because to main topic got replaced.
Who says that the anti-Christ is a he? The original text, (interlinear Bible) says 'it' not he, or him. And this was the stand of the Church until the mid-eighteen hundreds or so. Which once again puts in question the so-called infalliblity of the KJV. But that is a locked forum, so I won't go there.
But has anyone even considered that it could just as easily, and more probably be figurative language? Not literal, at all.
The early scholars didn't believe what the mainstream teaches about the book of Revelation today. It's not in chronological order, it's not literal obviously because not one so-called prophecy teacher has ever been right, or even close. It's been a guessing game based on presuppositions.
I can't remember for sure who it was, but someone wrote a book called 88 Reasons Why Jesus will Return in Eighty Eight. Or something like that. Well, it didn't happen obviously. That book, as so many that proceeded it are just fuel for the fire.
If you already have a preconcieved idea about anything, it's next to impossible to be taught or accept anything new regardless of the abundance of information presented. Because it enters the comfort zone, and therefore is labeled heresy by those who have made up their minds, who think they understand Revelation. I don't, and am not claiming to.
But I do know some things through long and tedious study, and from having a good teacher.
No one here even stayed on the subject, it went from Revelation to whether or not we will have a physical body at the ressurection.
Is it okay to revive the original topic? I'll give it a shot.
Firstly, the Bible does not teach pre-trib rapture, that is a total lie. The bible says that we are going to be changed AT THE LAST TRUMP. I Cor 15:52
I'm no rocket scientist, but if I had one cookie on a plate, and my wife ate it. That's it no more cookies for me after that. Seven more cookies don't appear out of thin air. It's illogical. Or three and 1/2 if your a mid-tribber.
Figurative, NOT literal.
Revelation 17:1,3,5,9,15,18 -- I will show unto thee the Judgement of the great whore that sitteth upon many waters -- and I saw a woman sit upon a scarlet coloured beast -- having seven heads and ten horns - and upon her forehead was a name written, MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS -- the seven heads are seven mountains on which the woman sitteth -- the waters which thou sawest,
where the whore sitteth, are peoples, and multitudes, and nations, and tongues -- the woman which thou sawest is that great city which reigneth over the kings of the earth.
harlot - Greek: porne - idolator; to sell
Genesis 11:1,4 --The whole earth was of one language and one speech -- they said let us build us a city and a tower and let us make us a name
language - Hebrew: sepheth - lip or- boundary line.
speech - Hebrew: dabar - arrangement; spoken commandment
city and tower - considered a sovereign kingdom with its own boundary and law (commandment/instruction) (called a mountain)
name - Hebrew: shem - authority; honor; fame
Genesis 2:16 17 -- of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat - But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shall not eat of it.
Genesis 3:1,5 The serpent was more subtil than any beast -- (the serpent said) in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and "ye shalt be as gods" --
The sin of the harlot (self-worship) started with Eve and the original beast (the serpent). He ruled Eve and Adam by causing them to move the boundary of God (thou shalt) taking in forbidden boundary (thou shalt not). This established a new law of self-esteem (pride). Eve, the original harlot (idolator), rode upon the beast (serpent), polluting the people (Adam). After the flood, Nimrod reinstituted, at Babel (Babylon), the rebellion of Eden, setting up a new boundary (city and tower), and a new commandment (name or authority). Pride (let us make a name) is the foundation of "all" idolatry (spiritual harlotry) that has polluted the world for all time. It is the system of self-worship. (Repent means to turn from self to God). Babel began a series of "world order" beast (ruling) systems (Dan. 2:31-45; 7:3-7). These empires, (beasts) ruled all the civilized world and fell as one conquered the other (Babylon, Persia/Medes, Greece, Rome. etc). The harlot was the ancient Chaldean idolatry passed down through the empires in the form of Greek and Roman gods (mystery religions). Outlawed in Rome, the worship of idols was reinstituted in the Roman church by Constantine (the deadly wound healed - Rev. 13:3). America has dispensed with icon (statue) worship and retained the "self-esteem" (pride) system of Rome/Babylon and is polluting the world with it. Babylon fell once as a literal empire never to rise again (Jer. 51:26). The second time she will fall as a wicked idolatrous religious system of "self-esteem" and "pride". (Babylon is fallen, is fallen - Rev. 18:2). Revelation 18 shows that it is a material system of wealth and self. America is "New Babylon". The beast (world order), the waters (peoples, multitudes, nations, tongues) and the 7 heads (7 mountains- 7 world systems) are all the same throne where the harlot sits. A mountain was the seat of a ruling empire (Jer. 51:25). Throughout scripture, Babylon is a system of pride. Paul said that covetousness (wanting more for self) is idolatry (Eph. 5:5; Col. 3:5). The "new world order" will be the last "beast" that God will destroy. (Rev. 13:1; 19:19-20)
Anti-Christ, mean anyone, or any (system) that opposes God's boundry. His word, ALL of it is his boundry for us who believe in Him as our only savior. If we change, or try to move that boundry set up by God, we are by definition a Satan (an adversary one who withstands) as in Ps 109:6, or an anti-Christ!
This is enough for now. Any comments, rebuttals, name-calling, whatever. welcome.
a mathetes of Jesus.
