Revelation is for NOW, not the FUTURE?

[civic]

Revelation is all about His 2nd Coming which is still future. The Day of the Lord and the vengeance of His wrath upon the whole earth.

 

[Presby02]

Yes. Like Daniel was written to his peaople in his day.

yet many of daniels prophesies to this day are awaiting fulfillment

Are they?

 

[Presby02]

I think that is a YES and NO sort of thing.

YES ... there were clearly 7 real churches in those 7 real cities in a real geographic region that is now Turkey. The fact that they were near where John was imprisoned, that they knew John and John knew them, that the order in which the churches are addressed form a Travel Loop (circuit) around the geographic region, that they were all being persecuted at the time ... cannot be ignored given the context of Revelation.

NO ... the profound symbolism (7 lampstands = the complete church) (7 spirits = the 'complete' Spirit = Holy Spirit), and the universality of the issues they were facing ... point to a message TO them but FOR the entire church in all times.

Think about Jesus giving the Sermon on the Mount. Jesus was speaking to different specific groups of people gathered together that needed to hear different things to address their specific First Century problems (Roman oppression isn't the problem it once was) ... but the TRUTHS contained were for us because those TRUTHS were universal. We still face troubles and still struggle with sin and still need a savior.

So, too, the church [that means US, the people] still face issues in the world. We are still prone to falling into the same pitfalls that the seven churches in the letter fell into. Therefore, the advice from Jesus TO them is just as relevant FOR us.

So just like the Sermon on the Mount, it was TO THEM and FOR THEM and it was TO THEM and FOR US.
That's what I think all of Revelation is.
The whole focus on some "big bad" is going to happen in the FUTURE and will the RAPTURE come "before", "during" or "after" the "big bad" misses the whole point of Revelation. BAD things happen all the time in life, especially if you are in the Church ... what you need to remember is that the "bad" lasts a short time, Jesus wins, and then the "good" that follows lasts a VERY, VERY LONG TIME! That is the message we are supposed to take away (not a timeline of the future).

It was written to seven first century churches dealing with issues they were soon to face. John tells us these things " must soon take place." Chater 1 verse 3, "For the time is near" and so on. That, of course, does not mean we cannot learn from their experiences.

 

[civic]

It was written to seven first century churches dealing with issues they were soon to face. John tells us these things " must soon take place." Chater 1 verse 3, "For the time is near" and so on. That, of course, does not mean we cannot learn from their experiences.

So was Jesus return “ near “ , soon and we are still waiting for it to happen

 

[Eternally-Grateful]

Are they?

Most definitely.

the final beast of rome has not been defeated yet by the one who comes in the clouds.. thats but one

The abomination of desolation in the middle of the 70th week is another.

The great tribulation Jesus spoke of in matt 24 which was to occur AFTER the abomination of desolation.. and is only put to a stop when Christ returns, because of he did not. no flesh on earth would survive. is yet another related to daniel.

there is so much more

 

[Eternally-Grateful]

It was written to seven first century churches dealing with issues they were soon to face. John tells us these things " must soon take place." Chater 1 verse 3, "For the time is near" and so on. That, of course, does not mean we cannot learn from their experiences.

another interpretation of (soon take place) is "quickly take place"

again, Non of the things mentioned after the seals are opened, have taken place until this day.

 

[Selah]

My take?

The Book of Revelation, the final book of the New Testament, reveals a prophetic vision of the end times, revealing Christ's ultimate victory over evil. I believe God took John spiritually into the future (this is prophecy) and many of these events that John describes haven't happened yet, although if you watch closely, you’ll see how the world is changing and the days are certainly becoming more and more evil.

 

[atpollard]

the law is not prophetic. and has no bearing on prophecy. so your logic fails

Your definition of prophecy is flawed. Prophets of the OT very seldom offered announcements of future events. Far more often they offered a message FROM GOD to the PEOPLE. So even if you choose to view REVELATION as a 100% prophetic book, it is a flaw to assume that it MUST be a future prediction.

On top of that, the letter (REVELATION) opens with the word “apocalypse” in Greek (that is what “Revelation” means) and identifies it as a particular type of Hebrew literary style common from about 200 BC to 200 AD. Understanding what it is, tells us that it is a message of hidden spiritual meanings conveyed through symbolism common in the OT and other apocalyptic (revealing hidden meaning) literature. The classic example being Daniel’s statue with a hard of gold and feet of iron and clay … which was never literal, but symbolic of a succession of kingdoms.

 

[atpollard]

Deleted.

 

[TOTHALORDBEALLGLORY]

Everybody thinks they do this already.

We are talking about the proper INTERPRETATION.

Yes many do . But it so simple to prove whether one does or not .
Those who do not twist the scrips to mean something they dont mean .
You see the key is did we learn of men and their teachings .
Many have long learned under men who long ago twisted things .
Its why we have universalism , dispensastionalism , and a lot other isms .
IF anyone believes the bible is too hard to learn on their own
They already been programmed and deceived . You would be amazed
at what can happen when we regularly read and enjoy the scrips for ourselves .
Most dont know the bible that well at all . OH they know only cheat sheats and etc their pastor or etc
set up for them as they read it through their view .
But my oh my how suprised one would be IF they just start over FOR THEIR OWN selves .
You hear a teacher , a man or any saying
HEY you need greek , or hermes or whatever to be able to know the bible better . RUN .
YOU DONT .

 

[TOTHALORDBEALLGLORY]

Everybody thinks they do this already.

We are talking about the proper INTERPRETATION.

seems like many teachers had their own interpreations . why ya think we got tulip
why you think we got RCC
or JW , mormon or whatever else there is . TIS MEN THAT DID THIS .
TIME to bible up FOR OUR OWN SELVES . watch how simple and clear things would become . Hurry and never LOOK back .