Prior Book | Prior Chapter | Prior Verse | Next Verse | Next Chapter | | Viewing NASB and Amplified 2015 | |
NASB | Revelation 13:8 All who dwell on the earth will worship him, everyone whose name has not been written from the foundation of the world in the book of life of the Lamb who has been slain. |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | Revelation 13:8 All the inhabitants of the earth will fall down and worship him, everyone whose name has not been written since the foundation of the world in the Book of Life of the Lamb who has been slain [as a willing sacrifice]. |
Subject: Our name erased or added to Book of Life |
Bible Note: Dear Tim, You stated; "But, if 'all' is not modified, then it means 'all'. If you look 'pas' up in a Greek dictionary, you will not find a single listing for the meaning 'some'!" I never said all may mean some, Tim. However, I do believe it can mean virtually all, most, or many depending on context. As a child of God, we are privledged to be in the possession of "inside information". Christians are the only people who can understand the Bible. Now...Don't get me wrong...I am not saying that I myself or any other christian have perfect knowledge or understanding. The fact that you and I differ at all proves that! Nevertheless, our familial relationship with our Father puts us in a special category when it comes to discernment. We are vessels of the Holy Spirit whose will it is to enlighten us and cause us to grow in the knowledge of God. To this end God has also provided for us pastors and teachers, who are specially gifted, to assist us in our discovery of the will of God for our lives. One of the things that I have learned from my teachers is the importance of context. I have been warned against coming to any conclusion based upon a single verse. Rather, the prudent reader will examine the surrounding verses, the chapter, the book and the entirity of Scripture as well if needs be. Therefore, if a particular word in a particlar verse seems problematical, additional light from another verse may be brought in to solve the difficulty. Please allow me to show the method I have used to solve the proplem of the use of the word "all" in Matt 3:5 and why I think it is an innocent use of hyperbole. Firstly I checked the meaning of "all" in the concordance. I then looked for other verses from Matthew to get the sense of how the writer understands the word. I agree that to Matthew "all" meant "all" most of the time, but in some cases it was not used in the precise definition of the term. For instance: Matt 21:10 When He had entered Jerusalem, all the city was stirred, saying, "Who is this?" Now, If we are to believe that ALL the city (every living soul within the city limits) said "Who is this?", it leads to an absurdity. In order to be considered "Bible believing christians", must we believe that the dumb and newborn infants as well spoke these words. Common sense alone is sufficent to tell us that "all" in this case does not mean absolutely everyone! I rest my case. Moving on...You said "Allow me to ask you a question. I know from previous posts that you believe that Christians can still commit acts of sin (as do I). When you sin, do you sin because you willed to or because God willed you to sin?" When Herod and Pontius Pilate, along with the Gentiles and the peoples of Israel who gathered together to perform the most grievous sin of all, was it because they willed it or because God willed it? Acts 4:26-28 'THE KINGS OF THE EARTH TOOK THEIR STAND, AND THE RULERS WERE GATHERED TOGETHER AGAINST THE LORD AND AGAINST HIS CHRIST.' "For truly in this city there were gathered together against Your holy servant Jesus, whom You anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, along with the Gentiles and the peoples of Israel, to do whatever Your hand and Your purpose predestined to occur. Now, what does Scripture say about this radical concept that man can accept or receive the gift of salvation?... Rom. 5:17 - "For if, by the trespass of the one man, death reigned through that one man, how much more will those who receive God?s abundant provision of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man, Jesus Christ."...Receive - Present, Active, Participle. The active voice means that the subject is doing the action. Your pre-supposition that man has an inate ability to choose spiritual good, despite being "dead in sin", compels your interpretation of Rom 5:17 as supporting free-willism. The way I interpret 5:17 is that those who recieve, do so because God had drawn them, had taught them (through the power of the Holy Spirit using the means of the gospel) and raised them from spiritual life by giving them a believing heart of flesh. God has not failed in anything He has puposed to do! Prov 16:4 The LORD has made everything for its own purpose, Even the wicked for the day of evil. Is 46:10 Declaring the end from the beginning, And from ancient times things which have not been done, Saying, 'My purpose will be established, And I will accomplish all My good pleasure'; Yes I am a sinner. And yes I believe that God has pre-ordained all things. I also believe that He is not the author of sin, neither does He tempt sinners to sin. The soverignty of God and the responsiblity of man is one of those questions that must wait til we are perfected. In the meantime I trust the Lord to keep me and try to avoid leaning on my own understanding. Your Brother, John Reformed |