by jimwalton » Tue Sep 07, 2021 6:01 pm
Revelation 12 seems to be a grand summary review of all of salvation history, including its eschatological conclusion.
> The people of God doesn't make sense because no one can snatched us from His hand, therefore the dragon isn't dragging our casting 1/3 of us to earth with his tail.
There are SO many interpretations of this chapter. The woman has been said (by scholars) to possibly represent Israel, the professing church, Mary, or the old covenant. The child is said to possibly represent Christ, the true church, or the the 144,000. If the stars of v. 4 represent the martyrs, the chapter is summarizing what we've already read in ch. 6 and other places about the great persecution of the Church that will take place.
The text doesn't say these believers were snatched from the hand of God (if that's what this even represents). What it says is that the power of the dragon was so great that he was able to persecute even God's elect.
> Literal stars doesn't make much sense because if you're going literal, you've gotta go literal and in no way could we ever have 1/3 of the stars in the heavens on earth.
We know that in the eschaton there will be great cosmic disturbances (Mk. 13.25; Mt. 24.29; Rev. 6.13; 8.10; 9.1). It's not literal in the sense that these stars will hit the planet Earth, but it might be possible to see them falling from their place as we see meteor showers. As we all know, Revelation is a difficult book to take firm stances on.
> Based on context within the passage as well as the rest of the Bible, angels is the only answer that makes sense.
Yes, I hear that this is your opinion. It is an opinion that is shared by some and not by others.
> Isaiah 14 speaks of Satan being cast out. Ezekiel 28 does as well.
I don't believe that either of these texts speak of Satan. That is an old, traditional interpretation that is no longer believed by many scholars. I believe, with them, that it was a misinterpretation of those texts, which speak instead, in very poetic and symbolic language, of the kings of Tyre and Babylon.
> Jesus even says that he saw Satan cast out
This is an expression to say that his kingdom was under significant attack. It’s not like Satan has an office in heaven. This fall is the response to the 72’s successful ministry, of which they had just observed, “Even the demons submit to us in your name” (v. 17). It is therefore a possibility, if not a probability, that Christ is referring not to the primeval past, but to the recent triumphs of the 72 (cf. Jn. 12.31), though he may be doing it through allusion to the distant past.
> so we know that it's possible that 1/3 of them could've chosen to follow Lucifer in his rebellion.
Of course it's possible, but it's not a position we can take scripturally because the Bible doesn't say this is what happened in these numbers or this percentage. It's a legend that became a tradition, but it's not scriptural.
> And as I said above, your other two theories just don't hold water.
I hear that this is your opinion. Some scholars disagree with you. Some agree with you.
> I still feel it's important to interpret things accurately.
Me, too. Correct interpretation is paramount. That's why I have to disagree with you about some of this.
Revelation 12 seems to be a grand summary review of all of salvation history, including its eschatological conclusion.
> The people of God doesn't make sense because no one can snatched us from His hand, therefore the dragon isn't dragging our casting 1/3 of us to earth with his tail.
There are SO many interpretations of this chapter. The woman has been said (by scholars) to possibly represent Israel, the professing church, Mary, or the old covenant. The child is said to possibly represent Christ, the true church, or the the 144,000. If the stars of v. 4 represent the martyrs, the chapter is summarizing what we've already read in ch. 6 and other places about the great persecution of the Church that will take place.
The text doesn't say these believers were snatched from the hand of God (if that's what this even represents). What it says is that the power of the dragon was so great that he was able to persecute even God's elect.
> Literal stars doesn't make much sense because if you're going literal, you've gotta go literal and in no way could we ever have 1/3 of the stars in the heavens on earth.
We know that in the eschaton there will be great cosmic disturbances (Mk. 13.25; Mt. 24.29; Rev. 6.13; 8.10; 9.1). It's not literal in the sense that these stars will hit the planet Earth, but it might be possible to see them falling from their place as we see meteor showers. As we all know, Revelation is a difficult book to take firm stances on.
> Based on context within the passage as well as the rest of the Bible, angels is the only answer that makes sense.
Yes, I hear that this is your opinion. It is an opinion that is shared by some and not by others.
> Isaiah 14 speaks of Satan being cast out. Ezekiel 28 does as well.
I don't believe that either of these texts speak of Satan. That is an old, traditional interpretation that is no longer believed by many scholars. I believe, with them, that it was a misinterpretation of those texts, which speak instead, in very poetic and symbolic language, of the kings of Tyre and Babylon.
> Jesus even says that he saw Satan cast out
This is an expression to say that his kingdom was under significant attack. It’s not like Satan has an office in heaven. This fall is the response to the 72’s successful ministry, of which they had just observed, “Even the demons submit to us in your name” (v. 17). It is therefore a possibility, if not a probability, that Christ is referring not to the primeval past, but to the recent triumphs of the 72 (cf. Jn. 12.31), though he may be doing it through allusion to the distant past.
> so we know that it's possible that 1/3 of them could've chosen to follow Lucifer in his rebellion.
Of course it's possible, but it's not a position we can take scripturally because the Bible doesn't say this is what happened in these numbers or this percentage. It's a legend that became a tradition, but it's not scriptural.
> And as I said above, your other two theories just don't hold water.
I hear that this is your opinion. Some scholars disagree with you. Some agree with you.
> I still feel it's important to interpret things accurately.
Me, too. Correct interpretation is paramount. That's why I have to disagree with you about some of this.