Revelation

A Time, Times, and Half a Time

Dusty D. — Fri, 28 Aug 2009 19:11:26 +0000

For this study we understand this reference to span the time between when this Revelation was given (some 60 years after Jesus ascended into heaven) to the time when Christ makes His second coming. The basis for this is the near description in Daniel 12 that shares a similar number (1290) as the span of time between these two events. Here are some variations of this same reference:

A time (1), times (2), and half a time (1/2) = 1+2+1/2 = 3 1/2
Sometimes refered to as 3 1/2 days
42 Months = 3 1/2 years
1260 days = 42 (30 day) months = 3 1/2 years

Original post blogged on b2evolution.

The White Horse - Part 4 - Some Thoughts From Matthew 24

Dusty D. — Sun, 30 Aug 2009 06:45:25 +0000

In addition to all that you have already read here is one final piece for the night. A comparison with Matthew 24 matches the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th, horses and riders up with (what I feel is) a very clear parallel. If these fit, and the 1st horse and rider represents false teachers / antichrist figures, than this also fits the parallel with Matthew 24. Here are the two passages paralleled:

Revelation 6:1-2
¹ I watched as the Lamb opened the first of the seven seals. Then I heard one of the four living creatures say in a voice like thunder, "Come!" ² I looked, and there before me was a white horse! Its rider held a bow, and he was given a crown, and he rode out as a conqueror bent on conquest.

Matthew 24:4-5
⁴ Jesus answered: "Watch out that no one deceives you. ⁵ For many will come in my name, claiming, 'I am the Christ, ' and will deceive many.

Revelation 6:3-4
³When the Lamb opened the second seal, I heard the second living creature say, "Come!" ⁴ Then another horse came out, a fiery red one. Its rider was given power to take peace from the earth and to make men slay each other. To him was given a large sword.

Matthew 24:6-7a
⁶ You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come. ⁷ Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom.

Revelation 6:5-6
⁵ When the Lamb opened the third seal, I heard the third living creature say, "Come!" I looked, and there before me was a black horse! Its rider was holding a pair of scales in his hand. ⁶ Then I heard what sounded like a voice among the four living creatures, saying, "A quart of wheat for a day's wages, and three quarts of barley for a day's wages, and do not damage the oil and the wine!"

Matthew 24:7b-8
There will be famines and earthquakes in various places. ⁸ All these are the beginning of birth pains.

Revelation 6:7-8
⁷When the Lamb opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth living creature say, "Come!" ⁸I looked, and there before me was a pale horse! Its rider was named Death, and Hades was following close behind him. They were given power over a fourth of the earth to kill by sword, famine and plague, and by the wild beasts of the earth.

Matthew 24:9
⁹ "Then you will be handed over to be persecuted and put to death, and you will be hated by all nations because of me.

Original post blogged on b2evolution.

The White Horse - Part 3 - Does 5 Down Match Up With 3 Across?

Dusty D. — Sun, 30 Aug 2009 06:42:46 +0000

Another piece of all this is fitting this horse and rider in with the other four, and fitting it in with the first four trumpets and the first four bowls (here’s where 5 down has to agree with 3 across in my crossword illustration).

Fitting it with the other horses really works well either way.
If the white horse and rider are the Gospel riding forth then the other three are natural progressions that fall in the wake of such a movement, war, pestilence, and death. On the other hand if the white horse and rider are antichrist figures, false teachers, and false religions, then horse #1 fits very well with horse #2, #3, and #4 as they would all come from the general group of major opposing forces to the church.

Fitting it with the 1st Trumpet, and the 1st Bowl is a bit more tricky. The 1st Trumpet and the 1st Bowl both deal with destruction happening to the earth. If the trumpets serve to warn those who have either consciously or unconsciously squared themselves off with God and the bowls are clearly God’s wrath being dished out on those who have consciously and willingly taken the opposing side, then the 1st seal, which is the 1st horse would best fit representing a force that has placed itself against God.

Also there is that element of “the earth.” The beast of the earth spoken of in Revelation 13 is described elsewhere in Revelation as the “false prophet” (16:13; 19:20; 20:10). The beast of the sea represents governments, kingdoms, earthly rulers, and the sort. If the earth is the symbol for the false prophet, and the earth is the key element referred to in the 1st Trumpet and the 1st Bowl and these are to line up with the 1st Seal then the white horse and rider would fit well as antichrist figures, false religion, and false teachers through history.

Original post blogged on b2evolution.

The White Horse - Part 2 - The Fulcrum of My Dilemma

Dusty D. — Sun, 30 Aug 2009 06:40:44 +0000

For years I held to the popular belief that the white horse was related to the picture of Jesus we see in Revelation 19:11-15:

“¹¹ I saw heaven standing open and there before me was a white horse, whose rider is called Faithful and True. With justice he judges and makes war. ¹² His eyes are like blazing fire, and on his head are many crowns. He has a name written on him that no one knows but he himself. ¹³ He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood, and his name is the Word of God. ¹⁴ The armies of heaven were following him, riding on white horses and dressed in fine linen, white and clean. ¹⁵ Out of his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations. ‘He will rule them with an iron scepter.’ He treads the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God Almighty.”

There is no argument that the rider of this horse is our Lord Jesus Christ. So was the white horse in Revelation 6 related to this horse? This fit with the other three horses as war, pestilence, and death follow the Gospel message as it rides out. This is still consistent with the understanding of persecution and suffering for the faithful, but I had some speed bumps that caused me to rethink this. Here is the description of the white horse and rider in Revelation 6:1-2

“¹I watched as the Lamb opened the first of the seven seals. Then I heard one of the four living creatures say in a voice like thunder, "Come!" ² I looked, and there before me was a white horse! Its rider held a bow, and he was given a crown, and he rode out as a conqueror bent on conquest.”

The horse is white. This is the only solid connection. This rider held a bow, while Jesus is seen most commonly with a sword. This rider was given a crown, while Jesus simply has crowns. This rider rides out as a conqueror bent on conquest, where Christ has already conquered and He rides out only to vindicate the Church. Let’s look at these one at a time:

White
The horse is white, and the rider isn’t mentioned to be specifically dressed in a particular color. In my new understanding, the white appearance is a mockery of the appearance of Jesus in both Revelation 19 and in chapter 1. We are told that Satan masquerades as an angel of light (2 Corinthians 11:13-15) as do his followers. What better color to use for the antichrist / false teachers, religions, and figures across the span of our history?

Bow vs Sword
A sword is a face to face weapon, where a bow is a sneaky weapon, taking people out from a distance, which does seem to fit better with the antichrist / false teacher motif, than with Jesus or the Gospel. There is nothing “sneaky” about the Gospel, and Jesus is most commonly seen with a sword (in the few times He is pictured using a symbolic weapon). Though there are Old Testament passages that place a bow in the hand of God. Paul does mention in Ephesians 6:16 that we are to take up our shield of faith to extinguish the arrows from the evil one.

Given a crown
This rider was given a crown, where Christ just has the crown. A crown is a symbol for authority and holding a position of power. If this is referring to antichrist figures and false teachers, then this authority is ultimately given by God to allow them to proceed with their lies and deception.

Bent on conquest
As with the other pieces of this puzzle this could very well capture the heart, zeal, and attitude of those who are riding out carrying the Gospel of Christ. But we don’t ride out impersonating one who has conquered. We simply are conquerors, or as Paul would say, we are “more than conquerors.”

Original post blogged on b2evolution.

The White Horse - Part 1 - An Intro

Dusty D. — Sun, 30 Aug 2009 06:39:25 +0000

The white horse in Revelation is quite a wild card, and I had to deal with it in taking this view. Revelation is a fun book to study, but it is quite a bit like building a house out of playing cards. When one piece of your “theory” falls it takes most, if not all of the house with it. In my experience it’s a book where you take an educated guess, form a “hypothesis,” and then test it against other scripture, Old Testament patterns of symbols, uses, and history, apocalyptic literature in general, and then that theory has to also fit snug as a bug in a rug with the whole message of Revelation.

So with this particular view I have taken I have formed somewhat of a crossword puzzle and if 5 down intersects with 3 across then they have to agree where they cross, otherwise it’s back to the drawing board for me, and another Revelation series years from now that sounds quite different from the one that I am sharing currently.

My current understanding of the white horse and rider is that they symbolize false teachers, false religions, and antichrist figures throughout history. The following posts will draw out some of the reasons I have come to this conclusion.

Original post blogged on b2evolution.

Main Theme

Dusty D. — Sat, 22 Aug 2009 00:31:31 +0000

Through studying the book of Revelation I've come across a lot of proposed themes. Most of which are very well supported and seem to capture well the main thrust of the book. As I read through the book of Revelation and try to step back and take in the big picture I see one major theme that seems to encompass a lot, if not all, of the other themes I've come across. And that them is

"to inspire Christians (disciples) to stay actively faithful in the Kingdom for the entirety of their life no matter what."

I believe themes of "hope for the life to come" or "hang on through the struggles of this life" or "God's gonna settle the score someday" or "a better understanding of suffering in this life" all find their way under this umbrella.

If any of you would like to chime in with some themes you have heard and how they fit or do not fit under this theme, feel free to make a post!

Dusty D.

Original post blogged on b2evolution.

Symbols of Numeric Amounts

Dusty D. — Sun, 23 Aug 2009 00:02:48 +0000

5 = A “handful,” means a small amount
10 = Two “handfuls” means a larger amount
1000 = A whole lot!

Original post blogged on b2evolution.

Basic Numeric Symbols

Dusty D. — Sat, 22 Aug 2009 23:38:47 +0000

2 = Witnesses
3 = The God Head (Trinity), therefore can be used in referring to things of Heaven
4 = Referring to earthly things (4 corners of the earth, NESW, 4 winds of the earth, 4 elements, etc.)
7 = Perfection or complete
6 = One less than 7, therefore is lacking completion or perfection, also known as the number for man
10 = Power
12 = God's chosen people

Original post blogged on b2evolution.