Today I worked on endnotes which illustrate the culture of Ancient Rome into which the Early Church was born, and in which John lived at the time he received the vision. Understanding their culture which is so different from our own, helps make better sense not only of Revelation chapters 2 and 3, the letters to the seven churches, but all of the New Testament.
Letters to the Seven Churches Updated
Today I have updated the Letters to the Seven Churches endnote post with additional citations representing the different views on its meaning. With that update, ALL the endnotes for the first three chapters of the book (Introduction, The Design of Revelation, and Rev 1: The Things Which Are) are posted. WHOO HOO! I will probably always be adding endnotes even to the finished chapters, as I run across them in my research … but everything in those chapters has been cited. Yay! Now to finish the endnotes for Rev 2-3: The Letters to the Seven Churches chapter … !!
Three Forms of the Medieval Roman Empire
I apologize that I have been absent today! So many last minute details to finalize before the books ship! Whoo hoo! I am happy to announce that the endnote posting has resumed on the book website. This is one that was posted today:
The modern (actually, medieval) Roman Empire that we have been dealing with since Rev 13 is also in three parts: the beast of the sea, the land, and the image of the beast. The beast of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns, is the representation of the kingdoms of this world, which are all patterned after Babel in their philosophy and operation. … So the kingdoms of this world are represented by Rome, the terrible fourth beast of Daniel’s vision.
The second third is the beast from the land, which we saw the Roman papacy fulfilled, and the third of the thirds is the image of the beast whose deadly wound was healed, which is fulfilled in the Holy Roman Empire. (pp. 195-196).
“The beast is the Roman power in three forms, Imperial, Papal, and the Holy Roman Empire. The beast with seven heads is the secular power of the Roman Empire; the lamb-like beast who looks like Jesus but talks like the devil is the Papacy; the image to the beast is the Holy Roman Empire.”
– Fred Miller, Revelation: A Panorama of the Gospel Age, Ch. 9, “The Seven Last Plagues: The Decline and Fall of the Papacy.”
The Three Forms of the Medieval Roman Empire
Posting this today actually solidified something in my mind that has been growing as I have finished working on this book. Just as there are three series of judgments, seals, trumpets, and bowls, there are three series of Roman incarnations that each set of judgments is poured out upon. The seals judge the ancient Roman incarnation, the trumpets judge the medieval Roman incarnation, and the bowls judge the modern Roman incarnation. The judgment of the Roman beast is almost done!
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