Notes on the Series about the Book of Revelation

Update:

10.5.19:

One more thing, and I think I'll let this go for now.  Of course, I'll refer to it again in the future, if events or thoughts return to it.

The jist of this post is that the truth is a slippery thing.  This is true in theology as well as in science.

If you wish, you could believe that another person is deliberately leading you astray.  But that may not be the truth.  The truth is out there, waiting to be discovered.  Maybe that person really is trying to lead others astray, but on the other hand, maybe not.  That too is a truth, but the truth may be hard to uncover.

So much for now.


10.4.19:

The reason I'm revisiting this post is that a bit of confusion about something with respect to what has been referred to as "the rapture".

There is a concept discussed as "Pre-Millenialism" which is discussed in the series on YouTube, to which this post refers.  I found it persuasive at the time, now I am not quite so sure.  Why?  Well, there is the source of the confusion.  Something else came to my attention which also seems persuasive, and it appears to support the "rapture".  Well, what to think about that one?

For an answer to the questions, I will embed the video by McDade, and let's see if this is as persuasive as it was before.

Of course, by the time I post this, I have reviewed the video, and let's say the answer is still not clear.

However, something else may be.

If a nation, such as Israel, loses its favor from God ( let's call it Grace ), then it will be destroyed.  The Romans smashed the Jewish state in AD 70, and sent the Jews to the far corners of the then civilized world.

The Romans in turn, were also smashed into ruins.  My question is who's next?  The United States?

Why would America be smashed?  The answer I will not attempt to give here.

Note:  McDade doesn't say anything like what I've just written.  That is my take on what I have seen.



10.3.19:

Funny thing is that I have been looking up on this subject this very day.  Notice the dates.  This post is exactly 4 years old this very day.

Perhaps there is no significance, but still quite a coincidence.  Er... now I noticing that the tine is also very close.  Just 5 minutes apart.  Woof!


10.3.15:

Note:  As of this writing, I haven't made notes of the first 4 videos.  Whatever I wrote about this was covered in prior posts.  It also should be noted that I didn't have much to write about that either.

Note:  Gary McDade appears to be following Revelation pretty closely.  However, he adds a great deal of commentary and criticism of those who have a different interpretation than his.  Since he stays so closely to the text, and gives citations to other portions of the New and Old Testaments, I'd say he has significant credibility.  Since he points out those who do not follow Scripture, I'd say ( without double checking that for accuracy) that his criticism of them is probably correct.

Note:  ( after watching 16 videos, with a possible 3 more to view, and having finally read the entirety of the Book of Revelation)  Without double checking all references for accuracy, I'm going to give a judgment that McDade is most likely correct.  Therefore, it is to be recommended for those like myself who needed some guidance in understanding the Book of Revelation, and some motivation for finishing the reading if you have started, but cannot finish reading it.


Part 5

Part 6

Part 7

Part 8

Part 9  Begin taking notes.... up to here, the sealing of the saints.  Not clear about whether these people are dead or still alive.  Most likely dead and in heaven because they stand before the throne of God.  However, what of the 4 angels that would hurt the Earth and were held back by the angel with the seal of God until those who would receive the mark so that they would not be hurt?  Must be referring to the Church and its living members.

Part 10

The Seven Trumpets.  However, most of this video slams Pre-Millenialism.

Part 11
Fifth and Sixth Trumpet:

Review of prior material.  Study outline.  Beginning of 9th chapter of Revelation.  Locusts that punish the non-believers.  Torment of them, but not kill them.  "Fate worse than death".  Reference to the seal of the saints.  Again---most of this video slams Pre-Millenialism.  Calvinism introduced.  Said to rob men of their free moral choice.

Part 12

Review as written above.  The mighty angel and the little book.  John was told to eat the book that was sweet as honey, but bitter to the stomach.  Not the only mention of such a thing in Scripture.  Again---video criticizes Pre-Millenialism most stringently.  Discussion of the Kingdom of God meaning the Church.

Part 13

Usual review of prior videos.  Discussion of Chapter 11.  "Truth has fallen in the street."  City of Sodom and Egypt---places of wickedness---linked with Imperial Rome?  ---- then Babylon , a place where God showed his wrath.  This sums up the story.  The rest of the story is retold---"oversimplication".  Much of Christendom believes some form of Pre-Millenialism, it seems.

Part 14

Usual review.  Discussion.  Beginning of retelling the story.  ( see above )  The criticism of Pre-Millenialism:  Daniel's prophecy quoted:  "to the time of the end" means end of prophecy--AD. 70, not the end of time.  Distinction being made is not insignificant.  95% believe of some form of PM ( Pre-Millenialism )...

Part 15

Mark of the beast.  The beast and the false prophet.  Later in the video, he compares the persecution of Christians in the early church and compare it to the "false" Christians who "fought" the Muslims in the Crusades.  No reference to the word "anti-Christ" in Revelation.  The Beast is not "the anti-Christ".  ( conflicts with the movie "Damien Omen"---popular culture.)  The Beast that John refers to is the Roman Emperor or Emperors, who persecute the church.

Part 16

"Wrath of God" is the same in the New Testament as it is in the Old.  Nothing has changed.  That's not what you hear today when you hear it described in the popular culture.  You hear that the wrath of God is Old Testament stuff, and that the New Testament isn't.  Another thing found to be false.  God of love is just as true.  There is no mutual exclusivity.

Will publish at this point, and add the rest of any comments as updates, if necessary

( Update if necessary ):

Update:

Yes, I think it is necessary to review something that caused confusion in Part 8 written about in an earlier post.  I looked for how this could be understood, with the confusion removed, and it appears that the seventy weeks of years was an artifice of the PMs ( Pre-Millenialists ).  I could not find it in Daniel, and the review of the video shows that it isn't in Daniel either.  Therefore, it must have come from the PMs.  But wait, it is in Daniel somehow, as McDade says it is indeed 490 years.  Okay, then, I cannot find it.  The confusion remains.  It must be the historical record of what actually happened with the destruction of Jerusalem by the Romans in AD 70, and then having the years reckoned back in time towards Daniel's prophecy.  But, I cannot find it in Daniel itself.  Only "70 weeks" is found.  Not "weeks of years".


Part 17

Getting a bit too contentious about the Pmers.  The point has been made.  Cut this short.  May return when I feel extremely patient.

Part 18

Battle of Armageddon is said by the Pmers to start here, but doesn't until a few chapters later.  The "bowls of wrath" are still to be poured out.  McDade exaggerrates human capabilities for destruction when he says that there are enough nukes to split the Earth in half.  ( not a chance )  The rest of the video refers to the Pmers, which isn't necessary for me.  I'm moving on.

Part 19

New videos found!

Moving on.  The Title is Mother of Harlots, meaning Rome.  Rome is the new Babylon.

This concludes my study.  Perhaps I will return to this at some later time.  But this is it for now.

Part 20, Part 21, Part 22, Part 23, Part 24