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NASB | Revelation 17:16 "And the ten horns which you saw, and the beast, these will hate the harlot and will make her desolate and naked, and will eat her flesh and will burn her up with fire. |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | Revelation 17:16 "And the ten horns which you saw, and the beast, these will hate the prostitute and will make her desolate and naked [stripped of her power and influence], and will eat her flesh and completely consume her with fire. |
Bible Question:
Brother John, You said:"Speculation in itself is can be a dangerous exercise. It can lead to the sinful practice of reading the scripture in the "light" of man's wisdom." Does this mean that it is wrong to ask the question as to whether Al-Qaeda or others that hate the Lamb (Christianity and Israel) and the Harlot that rides the beast could be part of Rev 17? It is true that God has not revealed everything we would like to know: Revelation 10:4 And when the seven thunders had uttered their voices, I was about to write: and I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Seal up those things which the seven thunders uttered, and write them not. 1Corinthians 13:12 For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known. However, we already know that the spirit of antichrist is with everyone that denies that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh: 1John 4:3 And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world. 2John 1:7 For many deceivers are entered into the world, who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist. If there is something wrong with comparing todays events to Revelation scripture then why were these prophesies written? Some things were sealed and not written while others were written. Why? "...spin it however they want." Huh? Who really was it that held the Christian Missionaries hostage in Afganistan last year? And who really destroyed the twin towers in New York? Or did these things really happen? Pastor Glenn |
Bible Answer: Pastor Glenn: By no means do I wish to enter the fray and debate eschatology, for I would soon find myself in water over well over my head! But I would like to make a casual observation on the subject if I may. There was in the days of my youth a radio preacher who not only claimed to be an authority on end times but who actually reckoned a date for the Lord's return and advertised it on his daily radio show. When the date came and passed into history without his prediction having materialized, he was not particularly abashed by his failure and so he set another date, and then another. Eventually he became the object of jokes and ridicule, even his most loyal followers deserted him, and he drifted off into obscurity. My point is that Christians should be extremely careful in their interpretation of the apocalyptic literature of the Bible. It is tempting and all too easy to jump to conclusions about what it is saying. Men have made egregious blunders in their interpretaions of apocalytic passages in the past and continue to make them still. Our burden, as the Lord Jesus himself taught, is to watch and be ready. It is to work in His vineyard as obedient disciples and not concern ourselves unduly about when and how God will work His purpose out. We should, in short, be concerned with the duties we have been assigned and be content to let God take care of the rest. He's far more skillful at running His universe than we are anyway! --Hank |