Q: Why do some Christians feel strongly against altering the New Testament, and what do they think the consequences would be if it were changed?
A: What would be the motivation to change what the Apostles gave us? They were on orders from Christ Himself to give us what they wrote. Why would you want to change that? Whatever that motivation is? It’s straight from the devil himself.
Q: What are some examples of how metaphors in the Bible, like Jesus giving a “white stone,” have been understood by different cultures or traditions?
A: The Bible was written in one specific culture and tradition. Understanding that is the key to understanding the whole Bible. Genesis interprets Revelation, and so on through out the rest of the 66 books of the Bible.
Q: Why do some people interpret the image of “The Beast” as possibly being a future statue or digital likeness during the tribulation period?
A: Important to understand how to interpret the Bible: the Bible gives you the clues! Beasts are empires. Look at all of the Old Testament prophecies that have been fulfilled and you find that Beasts always represent empires.
What’s challenging about the Revelation beasts are that they are both previously described and yet profoundly different. The final “beast” becomes a system that controls the whole world’s economy; In the last days we’re told that one man becomes synonymous with that beast empire. And yet there is an image of that beast-empire-man that is put in the temple at Jerusalem. Seems confusing.
Until you realize that technology has advanced enough today to make it possible for an empire to control everything and for one man to control that empire’s leaders. It’s also possible for that technological system to have a visual representation that people will come to adore and ‘worship’ at Jerusalem.
Look at Revelation through the lens of past prophecy. It will help you.
Q: Can the term “Catholic” from St. Ignatius’ letters be seen as referring to something different than what we know today?
A: Absolutely. Catholic (gr catolicos) means “universal”. The universal church was originally speaking of all of those churches that held to the body of truth as given by the Apostles. This was codified in the Apostle’s Creed, which was a confession used for Baptism from the second century onward, to distinguish true believers in the true church from those who joined the gnostics, docetists, or the judaizers; all of whom were regarded as heretical (false) teachings that led people to error.
Ignatius referred to those who held to the essentials, the true faithful believers in Jesus, who were part of the universal church.
Q: Why can only Jesus open the seven seals?
A: Revelation 5:4 says “I wept and wept because no one was found who was worthy to open the scroll or look inside.”
No one is worthy because the title deed of the realm of man (Earth) was forfeited to satan at the Garden of Eden, when Adam chose to reject our Creator to be their own gods. (“ye shall be as gods”). God’s assessment of mankind since then is “All have sinned and fallen short” (Romans 3:23), so no human is ‘worthy’ to open the seals to the title deed of earth.
Jesus alone completed his life here without sin. He kept the Law of Moses, He kept the commands of His Father. So, Jesus alone is worthy and He will open the scroll and loose the seals of judgment to purge the world of sin.
Mission 17:11 Audience Questions 1
A: What would be the motivation to change what the Apostles gave us? They were on orders from Christ Himself to give us what they wrote. Why would you want to change that? Whatever that motivation is? It’s straight from the devil himself.
Q: What are some examples of how metaphors in the Bible, like Jesus giving a “white stone,” have been understood by different cultures or traditions?
A: The Bible was written in one specific culture and tradition. Understanding that is the key to understanding the whole Bible. Genesis interprets Revelation, and so on through out the rest of the 66 books of the Bible.
Q: Why do some people interpret the image of “The Beast” as possibly being a future statue or digital likeness during the tribulation period?
A: Important to understand how to interpret the Bible: the Bible gives you the clues! Beasts are empires. Look at all of the Old Testament prophecies that have been fulfilled and you find that Beasts always represent empires.
What’s challenging about the Revelation beasts are that they are both previously described and yet profoundly different. The final “beast” becomes a system that controls the whole world’s economy; In the last days we’re told that one man becomes synonymous with that beast empire. And yet there is an image of that beast-empire-man that is put in the temple at Jerusalem. Seems confusing.
Until you realize that technology has advanced enough today to make it possible for an empire to control everything and for one man to control that empire’s leaders. It’s also possible for that technological system to have a visual representation that people will come to adore and ‘worship’ at Jerusalem.
Look at Revelation through the lens of past prophecy. It will help you.
Q: Can the term “Catholic” from St. Ignatius’ letters be seen as referring to something different than what we know today?
A: Absolutely. Catholic (gr catolicos) means “universal”. The universal church was originally speaking of all of those churches that held to the body of truth as given by the Apostles. This was codified in the Apostle’s Creed, which was a confession used for Baptism from the second century onward, to distinguish true believers in the true church from those who joined the gnostics, docetists, or the judaizers; all of whom were regarded as heretical (false) teachings that led people to error.
Ignatius referred to those who held to the essentials, the true faithful believers in Jesus, who were part of the universal church.
Q: Why can only Jesus open the seven seals?
A: Revelation 5:4 says “I wept and wept because no one was found who was worthy to open the scroll or look inside.”
No one is worthy because the title deed of the realm of man (Earth) was forfeited to satan at the Garden of Eden, when Adam chose to reject our Creator to be their own gods. (“ye shall be as gods”). God’s assessment of mankind since then is “All have sinned and fallen short” (Romans 3:23), so no human is ‘worthy’ to open the seals to the title deed of earth.
Jesus alone completed his life here without sin. He kept the Law of Moses, He kept the commands of His Father. So, Jesus alone is worthy and He will open the scroll and loose the seals of judgment to purge the world of sin.
Published in Commentary, Practical Living, Prepared Warriors and Teaching