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Is Revelation Difficult To Understand… Or Difficult To Believe?
Harbingers Daily ^ | 4/9/24 | Tim Moore

Posted on 04/10/2024 7:03:34 PM PDT by Roman_War_Criminal

Some people have a hard time accepting reality. Some things simply sound “too good to be true.” That could be said of Jesus’ promises to those who accept Him: absolute forgiveness and eternal life in the presence of God.

On the other hand, some people cannot accept the clear teaching of Scripture regarding the wrath of God that abides on all who do not obey the Son by accepting Him as Savior and Lord (John 3:36). They like the sound of a god who would not harm a fly but cannot accept the living God who will pour out His righteous indignation on a world that has rejected Him. They are even more appalled by the idea of Jesus, the Lamb who was slain, administering the wrath of God. Yet that is exactly what Revelation teaches (6:16).

It has been said that Revelation is too hard to understand. But Henry Morris, the founder of the Institute for Creation Research, once said: “Revelation is not hard to understand. It is hard to believe; but if you will believe it, you will understand it.”

It is critical that we understand up front that this final book in the canon of God’s Word is not merely the fanciful and imaginative vision of John the Apostle. The very first verse in the book establishes that it is “The Revelation of Jesus Christ.”

The same verse goes on to explain the purpose behind Jesus unveiling all that John would be tasked to record: “…which God gave Him to show to His bond-servants, the things which must soon take place; and He sent and communicated it by His angel to His bond-servant John.” Driving the point home even further, verse 2 tells us that John “testified to the word of God and to the testimony of Jesus Christ, even to all that he saw.”

Other prophets of God affirm the divine inspiration to their prophecies by frequently weaving in the phrase, “Thus saith the Lord.” But John established up front that Revelation is the testimony of none other than Jesus Christ.

Revelation is unique in one other respect. No other book offers a promise of blessing for merely reading what is written. But verse 3 says, “Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of the prophecy, and heed the things which are written in it; for the time is near.” Not clear enough? Jesus repeats the same promise in 22:7: “And behold, I am coming quickly. Blessed is he who heeds the words of the prophecy of this book.”

Reading and hearing can be easily done. But how do you heed a book of prophecy—especially one as expansive as Revelation? How can I heed the sweeping prophecies yet to be fulfilled and often related to God’s wrath that abides on the unbelieving world? By doing what Henry Morris advocated and believing this great book of prophecy.

In other words—taking Jesus at His Word.


TOPICS: Current Events; General Discusssion; Religion & Culture; Religion & Politics
KEYWORDS: endtimes; judgement; lastdays; revelation
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To: Roman_War_Criminal

See tagline. Repeat as necessary.


61 posted on 04/11/2024 2:17:03 PM PDT by fidelis (👈 Under no obligation to respond to rude, ignorant, abusive, bellicose, and obnoxious posts.)
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To: metmom

Rampant hypocrisy among Catholics clearly doesn’t embarrass or shame enough.

Some on this very forum have even lifted up the writings of Augustine over Scripture.

That’s just how they roll.


62 posted on 04/11/2024 2:17:40 PM PDT by Roman_War_Criminal (Jesus + Something = Nothing ; Jesus + Nothing = Everything )
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To: fidelis

You should live by your own tagline then and stop propagating lies.

They are obnoxious and ignorant.


63 posted on 04/11/2024 2:19:56 PM PDT by Roman_War_Criminal (Jesus + Something = Nothing ; Jesus + Nothing = Everything )
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To: Big Red Badger
Avoiding Judgement——

I wish you guys would make up your minds. The church doctors on this site keep saying a Christian is ALREADY JUDGED at the moment of grace, and that all one has to do to be saved is BELIEVE, and nothing else required. Done deal. Goin' to heaven. But, that's not sound biblical doctrine, now is it?

1 Peter 4:17For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God? 18And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear?

64 posted on 04/11/2024 2:24:13 PM PDT by Philsworld (It's all short quips and funny memes, until you find that you've come up short in the judgment. )
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To: Roman_War_Criminal

“Nutz and Cults”


You got it -
We have To Always seek the Truth.


65 posted on 04/11/2024 2:25:26 PM PDT by Big Red Badger (ALL Things Will be Revealed !)
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To: fidelis

Has he ever called you a cultist? 😁


66 posted on 04/11/2024 2:29:13 PM PDT by Philsworld (It's all short quips and funny memes, until you find that you've come up short in the judgment. )
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To: algore

Wasn’t that long ago we could get a job without the Internet or cell phones.

It just seems to happen in a relatively short time. I don’t remember having a choice in the matter?


67 posted on 04/11/2024 2:33:45 PM PDT by Leep (Leftardism strikes 1 in 5.)
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To: Roman_War_Criminal

So only 144,000 is literally true?


68 posted on 04/11/2024 2:36:28 PM PDT by Crusher138 ("Then conquer we must, for our cause it is just")
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To: Roman_War_Criminal; metmom

My heart breaks for Catholics,ORTHODOX Jews,Mormons and all others who don’t understand that the Bible Stands as Our
Final Key that breaks the Captive Free!
That the Blind will receive Sight.
When you ask for Wisdom and Jesus is your
Goal You are unlocking the Kingdom of God with Eternity in your Grasp!


69 posted on 04/11/2024 2:59:43 PM PDT by Big Red Badger (ALL Things Will be Revealed !)
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To: Philsworld

Easy Believeism ain’t in My Book FRiend.
The Apostles strove Hard to spread GOOD NEWS and most were executed for it.
Judas ‘believed’ I guess and now his name is used to mark a traitor.


70 posted on 04/11/2024 3:08:45 PM PDT by Big Red Badger (ALL Things Will be Revealed !)
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To: Big Red Badger

Nope. Many of your church doctor buddies, some posting on this very thread, have said that all one has to do to be saved is BELIEVE. Already judged at grace. Done deal. Goin’ to heaven.

As a Christian, is obedience required, AFTER GRACE? Obeying the gospel?


71 posted on 04/11/2024 3:26:07 PM PDT by Philsworld (It's all short quips and funny memes, until you find that you've come up short in the judgment. )
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To: metmom; Roman_War_Criminal

IIRC, it was from Roman Catholicism that the preterist viewpoint came to be.


72 posted on 04/11/2024 4:36:16 PM PDT by ealgeone
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To: ealgeone

——>it was from Roman Catholicism that the preterist viewpoint came to be.

As well as Futurism... denied by all FR “church doctors”.

The Catholic Origins of Futurism and Preterism
https://www.biblelightinfo.com/antichrist.htm

https://www.whitehorsemedia.com/docs/romanism_and_the_reformation.pdf
First, note the fact that Rome’s reply to the Reformation in the 16th century included an answer to the prophetic teachings of the Reformers. Through the Jesuits Ribera and Bellarmine, Rome put forth her futurist interpretation of prophecy. Ribera was a Jesuit priest of Salamanca. In 1585 he published a commentary on the Apocalypse, denying the application of the prophecies concerning antichrist to the existing Church of Rome. He was followed by Cardinal Bellarmine, a nephew of Pope Marcellus II, who was born in Tuscany in 1542, and died in Rome in 1621. Bellarmine was not only a man of great learning, but “the most powerful controversialist in defense of Popery that the Roman Church ever produced.”

Clement VIII used these remarkable words on his nomination: “We choose him, because the Church of God does not possess his equal in learning.” Bellarmine, like Ribera, advocated the futurist interpretation of prophecy. He taught that antichrist would be one particular man, that he would be a Jew, that he would be preceded by the reappearance of the literal Enoch and Elias, that he would rebuild the Jewish temple at Jerusalem, compel circumcision, abolish the Christian sacraments, abolish every other form of religion, would manifestly and avowedly deny Christ, would assume to be Christ, and would be received by the Jews as their Messiah, would pretend to be God, would make a literal image speak, would feign himself dead and rise again, and would conquer the whole world ù Christian, Mohammedan, and heathen; and all this in the space of three and a half years. He insisted that the prophecies of Daniel, Paul and John, with reference to the antichrist, had no application whatever to the Papal power.


73 posted on 04/11/2024 4:50:00 PM PDT by Philsworld (It's all short quips and funny memes, until you find that you've come up short in the judgment. )
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To: Philsworld

“The Good Theif” comes to mind perhaps.
But snarky taunts coming from
Cultists is a sign of a problem.


74 posted on 04/11/2024 4:53:39 PM PDT by Big Red Badger (ALL Things Will be Revealed !)
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To: Big Red Badger

Snarky taunt? No, a question on doctrine affecting one’s salvation.


75 posted on 04/11/2024 4:59:26 PM PDT by Philsworld (It's all short quips and funny memes, until you find that you've come up short in the judgment. )
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To: ealgeone

I’m not sure.

It never fit well with Scripture so I never gave it much thought.


76 posted on 04/11/2024 5:13:24 PM PDT by metmom (He who testifies to these things says, “Surely I am coming soon.” Amen. Come, Lord Jesus…)
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To: Philsworld

LOL. No, not yet. But he repeatedly calls me a liar, which is pretty much a conversation stopper. :)


77 posted on 04/11/2024 5:13:57 PM PDT by fidelis (👈 Under no obligation to respond to rude, ignorant, abusive, bellicose, and obnoxious posts.)
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To: Philsworld; Big Red Badger
phil, as I've said to you before....you have much bigger issues to contend with.

But, to address your point about just believing.

It's clear you don't understand what exactly this involves. IF one is a follower of Christ, one is going to do what He says to do. It's that simple.

78 posted on 04/11/2024 5:16:06 PM PDT by ealgeone
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To: ealgeone

——>IF one is a follower of Christ, one is going to do what He says to do. It’s that simple.

One would think. However, ALL Evangelical FR church doctors state that NOT DOING what He says, after grace, will in no way affect one’s salvation. OSAS/OJAJ and NOTHING will keep you out of heaven.


79 posted on 04/11/2024 5:21:18 PM PDT by Philsworld (It's all short quips and funny memes, until you find that you've come up short in the judgment. )
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To: Philsworld; aMorePerfectUnion; metmom
In the earliest centuries of the church, a general premillennial scheme was widely held, though chronological details were not always clear. Descriptions of the Millennium are literalistic, the future reign of Christ in Jerusalem is a prominent theme, and that reign will follow the return of Christ. Church historian Philip Schaff summarized as follows.

“The most striking point in the eschatology of the ante-Nicene Age is the prominent chiliasm, or millenarianism, that is the belief of a visible reign of Christ in glory on earth with the risen saints for a thousand years, before the general resurrection and judgment. It was indeed not the doctrine of the church embodied in any creed or form of devotion, but a widely current opinion of distinguished teachers.”

With the union of church and state under Constantine, the hope of Christ’s coming faded some. The Alexandrian school of interpretation attacked the literal hermeneutic on which premillennialism was based, and the influence of the teachings of Augustine reinterpreted the concept and time of the Millennium.

Charles Caldwell Ryrie, Basic Theology: A Popular Systematic Guide to Understanding Biblical Truth (Chicago, IL: Moody Press, 1999), 524.

80 posted on 04/11/2024 5:21:50 PM PDT by ealgeone
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