Maybe they think they are scholars, but they have to be right on that first. I'll go with the ancient Jews in the original Hebrew copy that they used before Jesus was even born. Those Jews said the beast was identifiable as empires, all based upon the book of Daniel, and the Astarte was like the meaning of the Harlot sitting upon that beast. So we have a beast representing seven empires, and it has ten horns and a great lusting feminist upon its back. It sounds like Pan-America today, with the women's movement leading the Democratic Party.
They accept the Revelation as it was written before the NT reprinted it with three chapters added and a few words thereafter. That was the Hebrew copy of revelation which I refer too, and without the Christian parts they are the same.
As Margot stated. It has nothing to do with Astarte. I do not understand why you would even say this ?
I grant you that Revelation is a little more exciting then the rest of the NT. As far as Revelation predicting any end time events it is no different than Nostradamus, Edgar Casey or any other apocalyptic visions from the past.
The article in the Jewish Encyclopedia specifically says the harlot was Astarte: "In ch. xvii.-xix., in imitation of Isaiah's and Ezekiel's vision of Tyre (Isa. xxiii. 17; Ezek. xxvii.-xxviii.), the (Jewish) apocalyptic writer then proceeds to dwell on the judgment held over the great harlot that sits upon the many waters, with whom the kings of the earth have committed fornication, and with the wine of whose fornication the inhabitants of the earth have been made drunk. He then sees in the wilderness "a woman sitting upon a scarlet-colored beast full of names of blasphemy [idolatry] and having [seven heads and] ten horns [comp. Dan. vii. 7], herself arrayed in purple and scarlet and decked with gold and precious stones, and holding in her hand a golden cup full of the filthiness of her fornication" (the picture is taken probably from the Syrian representations of Astarte riding on a lion with a cup of destiny in her hand)."
Not unless one can read what it says as a history which has already taken place. The whole must be read out as one tale which makes factual historical sense.
Tyre was very prosperous.. Israel was not... so there is some envy there.. and you have to consider that Ezekiel said Tyre would never be rebuilt... So he blew that one.
So now you see that the Jews agree about Astarte sitting upon Rome, which was the beast in 32AD at that time. A harlot sits upon the seven headed beast, which represents nations which had also preceded Rome.
Why do I show you that the Jewish ID of the harlot who sits upon the seven headed beast representing the Roman Empire, was equated to a goddess of Lust? Because these ancient Jews endorse the identification of the beast and the harlot in a way which NOW historically has come true: The seven headed beast represents Egypt, followed by Assyria, then Babylon, Persia/Mede, Greece, and then Rome in the time of these Jews. The Harlot is Feminism which rose up in each of these nations and changed the successful economic and social culture into a Matriarchy where women supported the Gays as the country went down and down.
You should post something from the article then that supports your claim ?! - - - Updated - - - If Revelations has already taken place then there is no point in worrying about it.
I do not know why you say much of what you say. Now you are rambling on about gay which is not even mentioned in Revelations. No offense but this is really getting pointless.
I don't see any such unrelated thing... so stop your cheesy effort to put words in my mouth.. Repeatedly in the OT Israel is referred to as the harlot...... - - - Updated - - - Many scholars outside the Hal Lindsey school of prophesy think that Revelation has already happened and the Tribulation was over in the first century..
They actually have their own alternative to the Left Behind series as well. I'll have to find the title, but they were actually a pretty good read.
I actually have my own interpretation of Revelation. You should read it when I'm done with it (if I get done with it). It'll blow your mind away!
I'll bet............. I tend to go with preterist or partial preterist or looking at Revelation in terms of the history, events and symbolism of the first century..
That tends to be my interpretation as well, though occasionally a really thorough-going spiritual interpretation catches my eye. Qchan, I'd like to read yours when you are done as well.
Well ... I am a senior so I was never taught that futuristic crap about Revelation... Mainstream protestant churches didn't.. I remember when people were so freaked that JFK was a Catholic that they were claiming he was the antichrist. But, back in my day the Rapture Ready crowd rode around with loud speakers telling us the world would soon end. Typically they were poor, uneducated people and everyone laughed at them.... but then Hal Lindsey came along and wrote Late Great Planet Earth .. and it seemed to catch fire. Of course he blew it when the world didn't end in March of 1983... but it sure was funny.. My BIL was by this time preaching end times ever time he opened his mouth. aggravating everyone within earshot.. and I told him to shut up and deed his property to me since he was going to be "Raptured"......
A lot has taken place, yes. The whole Roman World became Christianized during the 1000 years of Universal Catholicism. (Rev 6:12-17). Islam sprung up as Mohammed appeared with his new philosophy about the God of the Jews, a white horse which has passed through three other stages now and is delivering the terrorism we see today. (Rev 6:1-. The Holocaust is over. (Rev 11:7-13} Israel has appeared as promised. (Rev 11:12-13) The 10 horns of power have had their moment of Western dominance. (Rev 12:3; Rev 13:1-5; Rev 17:3) Islam joined the ten nations of Europe as the eleventh horn of power, as Babylon, Persia, and the Eastern Roman Empire became Islamic. (Dan 7:24) The Renaissance freed the beast again, an the ancient culture of sexual promiscuity returned to Europe again. (Rev 20:1-3) Pan America as the eighth head of the beast, the whole world economy, has bloomed into what will be a Global Depression not far away. (Rev 17:10-12) What we are waiting for further now, is the acceptance of Jesus as a long lost son of the Jews who will see Christ as their savior and lord when he is identified as The Elijah, returned in 32AD as had been promised.
You can take any prophecy and cherry pick events from over 2000 years of history and claim "Look ...it came true" Tell you what I will make some prophecy right here and now. In the next 10 minutes it is going to rain ! Oh .. happy day 10 minutes I point out to the world and say look at 9.33 ... ten minutes later and then point to somewhere in the world where it is raining. When you have 2000 years rather than 10 minutes you would be surprised how many prophecies will come true .. in fact given enough time any event that has a probability of happening will happen. Stuff that has a high probability like war, heck you only need a couple of years never mind 2000.
