Why did the third angels cup of wrath turn into blood in the rivers? Why did God punish the fish and animals when it was the humans he was unleashing the wrath of God on?
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Do you think the author of this text ever imagined or even fathomed that people would be reading it thousands of years later? What would their reactions to people reading and trying to interpret it today? Especially along the lines of future predictions for the end of the world? Another note: in 20:2 The very last sentence, " After that he must be let out for a little while." I found it kind of humorous, because I got the image of a dog or someone getting let out for recess. After you lock the devil away for a little bit, he needs to be let out to play, but only for a little bit. Why "must" he be let out for a little while?
in discussion Discussion of Readings / Biblical Texts » Revelations 15-21
I did the same sort of thing. In reality, the story means nothing to me. But when I use some of the code words I learned, the story means something completely different! That's super cool! I wonder whether the audience this was meant for knew to read it in this way. Perhaps they figured it out as they read more. Why don't they tell this stuff in church? It would make a lot more sense to people!
So the whore of Babylon is actually the city of Rome? Seven angels with seven plagues- are the plagues the same as the ones in Egypt? Does this mean that the audience is hearing that there will be peace and that they will escape from Rome like they did Egypt??
What was the meaning of all of the number 7's? An example is the 7 plagues and 7 angels? Also, what were the bowls the angels poured out and what was in them? The whole plague thing confused me as well… why were angels sending out plagues to the earth?
Why does the devil get trapped then let out again (Revelation 20:1-3)? What is this period of time represent?
in discussion Discussion of Readings / Biblical Texts » monday april 26th Rev.
I dont understand why the end of time is predicted that it is coming soon. What made the author of this think that the end of time was near? It seems like every religion is always trying to predict the end of time, why do we make this such a big issue in religion? Are people anxious for the end of time for some reason?
It is still hard for me to understand the language of the time. I now know that everything stands for something else and is hidden to protect the author from the Romans, but knowing the few symbols that are present from the first reading makes it a little easier. What happens to be the symbols for these chapters? What do the 7 plagues and 7 angels represent?
As I read Revelations this time through, I tried something a little different. I did not focus on the individual words, but rather looked for symbols discussed in class. The three most common that I saw were the number 7, the temple, and bowls. I remember from class that seven is a reference to God. In revelation 15, there is the number 7 repeated over and over again while the individual words talked about how God was going to destroy the earth. I see the genius of the code! People unfamiliar with christian and Jewish customs (Romans) would see how cruel and scary God is, while the people who understand the code see comfort and peace in this violent passage. Is this accurate? What are more examples of codes within passages?
Revelations 15-21
Why does “one of the four living creatures” give away the seven bowls of wrath (15:7)? Is this a reference to the literal “Euphrates” River (16:12)? Who are the “kings from the east?”
What is the significance of this second worship declaration (19:3)?
In 21:4 I was wondering where the scene took place.. in heaven or earth?
Revelation is a highly symbolic book. What is the significance of the images?
Revelations 4-14
What does the phrase “After these things” refer to (4:1? Is there any significance to the repetition of this phrase? Who does the “first voice” belong to and why is the voice said to be “like the sound of a trumpet?”
Why is there so much commotion in heaven (4:5)? Who are “the seven Spirits of God?” Why are they called “lamps of fire?” Why are they “burning before the throne?”
Why does God want to hurt the land and the sea (7:3)? Why does God want to hurt anyone or anything? During the tribulation does God punish everyone, or just the God-rejecting world?
Jesus is described as the “slain lamb”.. what does this mean?
There are multiple sevens in the Book of Revelation including seven Spirits of God [ Revelation 4:5], seven Seals [ Revelation 5:1], and the seven Angels with Seven Chalices [ Revelation 15:5-7]. This seems to happen a lot in the Bible. What is the significance of the numbers?
in discussion Discussion of Readings / Biblical Texts » RELEVATIONS 15-21 RICK KIEVITs
Why are the angels sending out plagues to earth?
What were those bowls the angels poured out, what was in it?
This relevation text is really confusing, I have no clue what's going on.
The city that came down in 21 is Jerusalem which they make sound as a beautifull city everybody wants to live in and be in,
why is that
In Revelations 15:5 it says the temple of the tent of witness in heaven was opened, which is saying the opening of the heavenly gates. our notes say that its a prelude to judgment. If this a message for the people at the time, what does this message mean? If its not a prediction of the future, what does the judgment saying?
What does the judgment in 17:1 have to do with the great whore?
The idea of the false prophet is brought up many times again, in 19:20 it says "And the beast was captured, and with it the false prophet who had performed in its presence the signs by which he deceived those who has received the mark of the beast and those who worshiped its image…." Is the passage still referring to the other religious group at the time? What are the mark of the beast referring to?
I am really interested in how an apocalyptic audience would read 19:11-21. Many people read this as the battle of armageddon in which Jesus defeats Satan and the antichrist with a double edged sword out of his mouth (the Bible). This is clearly a different horse and rider than we see in the seals (chapter 6). Does the apocalyptic audience also see this rider as Jesus?
in discussion Discussion of Readings / Biblical Texts » Revelations 15-21
again, repetitive 7's and this time there was a ten thrown in a few times. The great whore makes her appearance and hell is described. There are commens about jesus's return and the devil's damnation. Judgement passes and those that are judged well pervail basically. then it ends with "i am coming soon" repeated 3 times from jesus, the end of time is near. again the 7 are blessed.
in discussion Discussion of Readings / Biblical Texts » Revelations 15-21
Weird… Ok my question comes from 21:14 it says, in reference to new city of Jerusalem, "…the city has twelve foundations, and on them are the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb." I know we already went over the significance of the author using the number 12 but what is odd to me is that this would have to include Judas wouldn't it? At the time this was written wasn't their already a "strong disliking" of Judas in Christianity? Would this have been important to early Christians or was having the number 12 repeated again just to much for the author to resist?
In chapter 17 it says the woman was clothed in purple and scarlet, are those colors suppose to represent evil?
In 17:12 it says that the ten horns are the ten kings who have not yet received a kingdom, but in 17:16, it says that the ten horns, they and the beast will hate the whore, so is this saying that the ten kings will hate the whore and will make her desolate and naked? Why does the whore have to be naked to die?
In Revelations the whore of Babylon character was pretty amusing. My question after reading this section is: How is it that absolutely NOBODY in Rome figured this Apolcalypsis out??
What is the precise history of Harmagedon? Why are purple and scarlet the colors of evil? Why must the dragon be let out of the bottomless pit for a little while at the end of the thousand years? Why is fire always paired with sulfur? Is this the only book of the Bible that warns its readers against editing its text?
in discussion Discussion of Readings / Biblical Texts » Revelation April 23rd
Revelations just sounds scary. There are a lot of number 7's in the book, what is that significance? Also, the number 4 comes up a lot too, what is that significance? There seems to be a lot of trouble going on for 7 years. Why would it take that long? And why does so many things have to happen before the day of judgement?
