Subject: U.S.A. the Babylon of Revelations 18? |
Bible Note: There are a couple of things I would like to mention about this article. I am not certain I would agree with their hermeneutic. Quote: 2. The beast came to power in a densely populated area of the world, "I…saw a beast rise up out of the sea" Rev. 13:1. "The sea", in prophecy, is generally considered to represent the gentiles, or the overall mass of humanity. Regarding the beasts of Rev. 13, one comes from the sea and one from the land. This is thought to mean that the beast from the sea will be a gentile, and the beast from the land will be Jewish. Here they interpret this beast to come from a "densely populated" part of the earth. I do not believe this symbol is that specific. It is not refering to a concentration of people, but rather to a catagory of people. Quote: 4. The beast ruled ruthlessly possessing absolute hegemony (domination) for 1260 years. This period must have a clear starting point and end with the 'deadly wound'. "Power was given unto him to continue forty and two months." "And I saw one of his heads as it were wounded to death." "And power was given him over all kindreds, and tongues, and nations" Rev. 13:5, 3, 7. Days are interpreted as years, but where is the Biblical foundation for that? If it says days, its days. Here is a prediction made in this article: Quote: The Bible tells us that one day, in the not too distant future, the USA will legislate a law requiring its citizens, and then the world, to worship the first beast, the papacy. (...) Soon the USA will renounce its religious freedom to enforce Sunday observance (the mark of the beast). This is certainly a rather loose interpretation at best. The bottom line to this article appears to be the upholding of the Sabbath, and that oft repeated claim that to worship on Sunday is to take the mark of the beast. Not only does this allegorize Scripture without Scriptural authority, but it is directly against what the Bible actually says about the Sabbath: Colossians 2:16-17 (16) Then do not let anyone judge you in eating, or in drinking, or in part of a feast, or of a new moon, or of sabbaths, (17) which are a shadow of coming things, but the body is of Christ. When you meet your wife at the airport, do you hug and kiss her shadow??? No, you hug and kiss (I hope!) her! If we insist on the keeping of the Sabbath, in spite of what the Bible tells us that the Sabbath is fulfilled in our rest in the finished work of Christ (see Hebrews 4), that's what we are doing. We are focusing on Jesus's shadow, and ignoring Jesus. There is nothing wrong with worshipping on Saturday, but there is nothing wrong with worshipping on Sunday either. Or Tues. Or Thursday, or any other day. Now, as an aside, you say you keep the Sabbath. Do you really? No light bulbs, cooking, driving, candles, long walks, hobbies, store trips, or encouraging, inciting, benefitting from anyone else doing those things? And even if you say yes to that, which would, in all honesty, greatly surprise me, do you then expect to be justified by doing this? Do you then keep the whole Law? This is not a very promising road you are on. But I digress. Love in Christ, Mark |