Revelation and Prophecy :: EschatologyThe 7 Hills of RomeIn Revelation's symbolism, 1000 represents immensity, just like 7 represents perfection, 6 imperfection, etc. There's no reason to believe John meant 1000 literal years. He could have just been denoting a very long time. Not necessarily. Rev 20:5 could just be describing believers who have died and gone to heaven. 1 Cor 15:51 is clearly referring to the bodily resurrection that all will experience at the end of time. The first resurrection has been happening to Christians for 2,000 years. Death has no power over those who experience the first resurrection, which means they will not be condemned at the white throne judgement. The second resurrection, the bodily resurrection, will involve the saved and the unsaved. I'm not sure who the false prophet represents. I will borrow from Scott Hahn as to the identity of the beast: "The beast has "ten horns and seven heads, with ten crowns upon its horns and a blasphemous name upon its heads." We know from chapter 7 of the book of Daniel that in prophecy, such beasts usually represent dynasties. Horns, for example, are a common symbol of dynastic power. We should ask ourselves, then: in the first century, which dynasty was the most threatened by the rise of the messianic king from David's line? Matthew's gospel (chapter 2) makes it clear: it was the dynasty of Herod, the Herodians... The Herods would make themselves the greatest obstacle to the true restoration of David's kingdom. Seven Herods ruled in the line of the founding father, Antipater, and there were ten Caesars in Rome's imperial line from Julius to Vespasian. The beast with ten horns and seven heads corresponds rather curiously to the seven crowned Herods who drew their power from the dynasty of ten Caesars." Hail, Holy Queen Most definitely. He's not impotent by any means, but Christ's atonement seriously weakened his power. |
🌈Pride🌈 goeth before Destruction
When 🌈Pride🌈 cometh, then cometh Shame