What is the Christian View on War?
We’ve passed the 4000 mark on soldiers killed in Iraq this week. Whatever your political opinions on this issue is not what this article is about. Instead I would like to take a look at a question people sometimes ask me. “What is the Christian view on war?” I’m not asking if this particular war is right or wrong but is any war right in the eyes of a Christian?
The truth is there is not one Christian view on war but several.
View #1: All war is wrong. Christians who accept this view do not believe war is ever justfiable in the eyes of a believer. Many who hold this view refuse to serve in the military or if they do they will only serve in non-combat roles. This is the pacifism view. This is the minority view and is held today in ‘peace’ churches. Anabaptist (Mennonites, Amish, and Hutterites), Quakers (Society of Friends), and others who go back to the 16th century are pacifists. They argue that Jesus was a pacifist and taught pacifism. Some argue whether any physical force can be used and others might allow it for self-defense or to protect others. Many have believed and practice peaceful resistance during the Civil Rights movement and other times and accepted physical abuse without fighting back to defend a cause. Early Christians were not in the Roman army and some might have made this choice because of pacifism and others because it was not an option for them due to their situation.
View #2: War is sometimes holy. We often think of the Islamic faith when we talk about holy war but it is in Christian history too! The Crusades were fought by Christians who felt it was a holy war. Christians have tortured and killed non-believers and claimed it was God’s will (Inquistion, Salem’s Witch Trial, etc). Some have killed in the name of Christ. Christian fundamentalists have killed abortion doctors and claimed a holy duty. The Ku Klux Klan claim to be Christian and they have used this to support their acts of violence toward minorities.
View #3: Sometimes war is justifable. The Just War Theory is often the argument used in this camp. This idea goes back to many Christian thinkers most notably Augustine of Hippo (354-430 AD). This idea is that resorting to war sometimes has to happen but must fit certain rules. Just War addresses when it is right to go to war and what is right to do in the time of war. In recent years discussions about how to end war and bring peace is brought up.
Just War Part 1: When is it OK to go to war? The reason must be just and this is when things that have been taken are recaptured or to punish people who have done wrong. There must be:
–Legimate Authority– Only constituted public authorities can wage war
–Right Intention– Force is used to correct a wrong and not just for material gain.
–Probablity of success- Can you win?
–Last resort– No other options
–Proprotionality– The benefits of the war must be proportionate to the harms caused by it.
Just War Part 2: Once war begins how can you fight it?
–Distinction–Directed toward enemy fighters and not non-combatants. No bombing civilian targets, etc.
–Proportionality– The force again must be in proportion to the wrong endured and to the possible good that may happen.
–Military necessity- Minimum force must be used. An attack must be done to help the military win and minimum damage done to property, etc (not excessive).
Just War Part 3: And ending a war? Much discussion is given regarding peace treaties, reconstruction, war trials, and reparations to stress a just cause for termination (when the right is done), right intention (no revenge), public declaration of authority (who is legimate authority), discrimination (the winner is to differentiate between political and military leaders and combatants and civilians/punishment only for those directly in the conflict), and proportionality (terms of surrender must be proportional to the right that were violated in the beginning/non draconian measures, etc).
Now so far I’ve not quoted much of the Bible in these three views! In the Old Testament the Hebrews did wage war (in my next blog I’ll address how we can read the violence in the Old Testament). In the New Testament Jesus did not push for violence and preached peace and calls us to be peace makers. When Peter cut off a soldiers ear Jesus told him to put the sword away because those who live by it will die by it. Jesus talks about wars and violence and never calls his disciples to be violent. The early Christians were victims of violence. Jesus of course is the Prince of Peace. The main thrust of the NT is to share the gospel of Jesus Christ and it is never by the sword. Still the question of nations who wage war is discussed. A case can be made for good citizenship in the Bible. Jesus himself said for us to give to “Caesar” what is his and so on.
So what can we get from all of this! On the one hand violence and war is a part of the OT way of life. In the NT peace is the message. Yet the early church prepared for the end and we know the end did not come. They began to settle into the world and to prepare for generations who would follow. The Bible does not condemn outright military service or legimate war or even discuss just war. Just war talk came later.
So what can we conclude from this? I’m honestly not sure. I believe Jesus wants peace and we are to be agents of peace. I believe holy war is not Biblical. I believe View #2 is dangerous and scary. I understand view #1 but I also see what has happened in history. If we had done nothing would Nazi Germany have taken over the world? 6 million Jews died in Holocaust camps! If a country comes to invade America would we sit and let them take over? Is that what God would want? If someone breaks into my home to kill my child I know what I would do! I would do everything I could to defend my child. And the Bible does talk about defending the helpless, children, orphans, widows, etc. We are called to be just people and to practice justice.
So the ethical dilema continues.
I believe that in the end war is sinful and evil. War is a result of the Fall and of sin in the world. The original intent of God was not war. War exists because we are sinful people. We should do all we can to prevent war and seek peace. Yet sometimes war is the lesser of two evils. I would rather wage war on an aggresive invading force than to allow innocents to be killed. So perhaps sometimes it may be ‘just’ but it is never a time to celebrate. I believe that when it happens we should grieve and not rejoice and then we should do waht we can to bring peace as soon as possible and to prevent future violence.
I do not think it is a sin to serve in the military. I am proud of both my grandfathers who served in WW2. I want to support, pray, and love our military. I also want to pray for peace and do all I can to be a peacemaker to help peace happen. And when those times happen where war is inevitable I will grieve and long for it to end and then work in the future to see if we can avoid future wars. I pray for a day when the lion will lay down with the lamb.
Now when it comes to specfiic wars it gets tough. People have argued over every war and over which war is ‘just.’ This can get political and so I will not argue the validity of Iraq or any other war in this column. I will say that Christians are on both sides of the debate. I also believe all of us need to pray for peace and for those who are in harm’s way. I long for a day when violence is a memory. The Prince of Peace will bring that one day!
Next up—How do Christians View the Terrible Violence Found in the Old Testament?
Whether you are a just war person or a pacifist the extreme violence of the Old Testament is shocking. And View #2 which talks about Holy War should scare us. So how do we deal with the ‘holy’ wars of the OT?
Blessings,
Derik
How does the Cross Bring Forgiveness of Sins?
Next week I will tackle some new issues/topics but as we face Good Friday I just want to again give pause to remind us that we need to remember this day as we prepare for Sunday.
Throughout history theologians and others have wrestled with how Jesus’ death brought about salvation. A old metaphor was the ‘ransom’ theory which was popularized in the 4th century. In this metaphor Jesus frees humans from slavery to Satan by giving his own life as a ransom. Another methapor is that Jesus brought victory over Satan through his death and defeated Satan and evil. This is called the “Christus Victor” theory. This is an emphasis on the spiritual battle and not a ransom.
In the 11th century Anslem used the ’satisfaction’ theory in which humanity owes a debt to God for our sin. God is just and fair and we are sinners and so justice must be done but Jesus takes our place. He satisfies God’s justice. A Protestant view that came from this is ‘penal substitution.’ The previous view was about satisfying God’s honor but this own was more about moral law. Romans 6:23 teaches that wages of sin is death and so Jesus had to become death for us to give us eternal life. Another variation is the ‘governmental theory’ which Jesus’ death shows just how far God will go for moral order/justice. Another metaphor focuses on God’s love. This view is often called the ‘moral influence’ and focuses on how Jesus’ death shows God’s amazing love and what God will do for his love for us. This act of love transforms all of humanity.
There are many ways people have discussed and debated how the death of Jesus forgives us for our sins. Atonement is the word that covers all of these theories. Atonement is a word that is used to describe forgiveness of our sins. William Tyndale in the 16th century realized that there was not a good English word to capture this concept. Tyndale worked hard to translate the Bible into English and so he invented a word to use in English that means “at onement.” It means “reconciliation” but as more of a punch than just ‘getting right with God.’ It is a spiritual reality that is made possible when we trust in Christ. Growing up in many churches we use the words “becoming a Christian”, “getting saved,” and “accepting Jesus.” As believers we know that Jesus’s death on the cross followed by his resurrection makes this possible. As you can see from this article the exact understanding of how this works is not so easy to describe and has been debated and described in many many ways. Atonement means we have our sins ‘covered/forgiven’ and we now have a relationship with God made possible thorugh the death and resurrection of Jesus.
So which theory is right? I imagine God smiles at all of our attempts to ‘figure it out.’ In the end there is depth found in many of theories and yet they all fall short. I believe Jesus’ death brings us home. His death/resurrection brings ultimate healing for our sins and gives us new life and helps us to be back with God.
When I was a child I remember an illustration that showed a person standing on a cliff and God on the other side of a huge valley. Nothing we do can get us over that vast gap. But the cross built a bridge for us to cross on the other side. How this works is a mystery but a reality.
The older I get the more I’m comfortable with mystery and the less I have to explain it all. Christians in the East have always been comfortable with mystery. Christians in the West have this annoying habit of always trying to figure it out.
And yet this Good Friday I give thanks. Thanks to Jesus who paid the price and set me free and conquered the grave. Tonight in our Good Friday service I encouraged our folks to think about their sins and to focus on Jesus’ death. Easter Sunday we will gather to celebrate. Because of Sunday we can have hope on Friday. Because of the resurrection we can find joy even in loss. Because of Jesus our sins do not win and we do not have to live defeated lives. That is something to celebrate!
Blessings,
Derik
A Call to a Responsible Faith or Do I Really Have to Read the Instructions?
Have you ever purchased a new camcorder, DVD player, or something else and tried to figure it out without the directions? Or maybe you bought one of those tv stands, book shelves, cabinets, or entertainment centers that come in a box with one million pieces to assemble and you thought you could wing it?
Yet if you want the end result you have to do the hard work to get there. It would be nice to find things already assembled and sometimes with furniture you can do that but not so with faith issues.
The truth is that growing in our faith takes hard work. When I teach about how the Bible came together or deal with an issue like eschatology (end times) or some other faith issue sometimes those I’m speaking to lament how difficult it all is. It’s tough to figure out faith issues! It takes hard work! As Christians we know the Bible is often called our set of instructions and yet figuring it out is not easy! We wish God had given us a key to unlock so many confusing issues. But it doesn’t work that way does it?
When we accept Christ it seems like faith should be easy. So we have to begin the reality of discipleship. Being a disciple means to be a student and students have much to learn. As believers we never ‘arrive’ and we always have questions. We are life time students. This process is hard work but there is joy and benefits to the journey. Our faith becomes our own and we are able to know what we believe in a deeper way. We move from believing things just because someone says so to believing because we have made our faith personal.
How does this work? Each of us are called to be responsible Christians and that means we are called to be on this journey.
Some keys I would give:
*Faith is developed in a community. The church is essential because this is the way God has chosen to impact the world and it is the best way to be discipled. In a church you can learn from others and learn with others. Churches need clergy who gain help them and work with them to equip and enable those within the church.
*Faith is about learning more about God’s Word. We need to read our Bible and be serious about studying the Bible. There are many interpretations of various texts and we have to learn to think for ourselves. We can’t base our ideas on what we wish but our ideas should come from Biblical foundations. When we read the Bible we should seek who wrote the book, why they wrote it, and the ways people interpret various passages. This is why church is needed. There are books and resources that can help us and this work is best done with other believers in a place that affirms us and helps us seek honestly what the text says. We need mature Christians to work with us to help us and yet we don’t need to just accept what people believe but find out for ourselves what we believe. Work? You bet! But you will be glad you did it.
When I was 15 I got a driver’s manual from the DMV. I read that book and studied how to drive a car. I took a Driver’s class in high school. I got out on the rode with family and learned how to actually drive. I then had to take a written and later a actual road test. This was all done because driving a car is a big deal. When done right driving is fun, practical, helpful, and a vital part of my life. When done wrong driving can be a headache, risky, and deadly.
The Bible is like a car. In the right hands it can be fun, practical, helpful and a vital to life. Used in the wrong hands it can be a headache, risky, and deadly.
*Faith is developed by living it out. You can’t just sit in a classroom or sanctuary and learn but you have to go do. When I got my driver’s license I had to put the book down at some point and get behind the wheel. I had to actually park a car and pull out on the highway. I couldn’t just read about it. As we wrestle with faith issues we will learn as we do it. We are to get out and live our faith. We are to practice the teachings found in the Bible. We are not called to just think deep thoughts but to be equipped to live our lives for God.
Easter is here and we are called to be Easter people. As we approach this Sunday may we accept the calling God has given us and go be the people of God daily.
Blessings,
Derik
Holy Week Begins!
Tomorrow is Palm Sunday and the beginning of Holy Week. Growing up in the typical Baptist church we didn’t do anything with Palm Sunday or some of the other Holy Week aspects. We tended to have a egg hunt and a big Easter Sunday. Sometimes churches came together for a good Friday service in the community. Some churches had sunrise services on Easter day. I’m glad to see Baptist churches in recent days becoming more involved in the various aspects of the church year. Baptists are embracing Advent, Lent, Holy Week and so on. Being Baptist we have the freedom to do these things and yet to adapt them to fit our church.
When you get up on Sunday it will be the beginning of the week. Many of us have traveled through Lent with special services to prepare ourselves for this time. Tomorrow palm branches will be waved to remember Jesus’ entrance into Jersualem on that final week. Many of our churches have special music services on that day and this is a wonderful time to kick things off. As you beging the week and participate in your own church or perhaps in other church activities take this week to read the various final week stories found in all four Gospels. Or you might choose one to focus on and reread every day. You might pick one character from the passion to really focus on, study, and follow his/her life through all four gospels and in particular on that final week. You might commit yourself to a special daily devotion time of prayer and reflection each day as you head through the week.
The week usually begins with music and anticipation (and egg hunts) but when Friday comes I hope you will find a way to enter the story of the cross for serious reflection. If your church has an event please go! If not find one that does. If you can’t take time with your family and/or friends to read the passion or to have a time of serious prayer and reflection. Our church has a Tenebrae service (service of darkness) where we read each of the seven sayings on the cross and after each reading candles are blown out. Then we will have total darkness, prayer, and a time to reflect before we go out into the night. You could do this at home with friends if you can’t attend a church. It can be a time of sincere inward reflection.
Then Easter morning go and celebrate! Make it a day like no other. Worship our wonderful God who did so much for us through the cross and give thanks for the empty tomb. Easter is what makes everything else make sense.
In the church year the weeks that follow Easter Sunday are still the Easter season. In our church I am preaching a series of sermons that will challenge us to move from ‘ordinary’ to ‘extraordinary’ and we will be challenged to really live as Easter people. I don’t know about you but I’m tired of one special day that we smile, go home, and then that’s it until maybe Christmas or even next Easter. I want Easter to transform me, my family, friends, and church. So I’m praying and looking forward to a Easter like no other this year.
Blessings as you go forward! I hope you were able to get something helpful out of my ‘end of the world’ blogs. If you didn’t agree I hope you’ll do some digging and challenge yourself to look at this issues Biblically and from more than one perspective. After Holy Week I’ll dig into some new topics and I’m also paying attention to everyday life and will comment on that as well. If you have topics you are interested in shoot me an email.
Blessings,
Derik
How Do I Read the Book of Daniel?
Daniel is another great book but a confusing one. Most of us know Daniel for the lion’s den story and the three friends who wind up in a furnace. Great stories! As a child I loved them. Have you read the entire book? There are many visions and symbols in this book as well. It is confusing and it is a book that ‘rapture’ thinkers have used to defend their view. So let’s talk about Daniel and wind up this end of the world discussion before Holy Week begins!
The Book of Daniel is a book both Jews and Christians read (it’s in the “Old” Testament for us Christians). The book is set during the Babylonian captivity. The Hebrews were defeated and hauled into exile. While in exile the stories in this book happened. The main character is Daniel and he is a Hebrew who became an adviser to the Babylonian king Nebuchadnezzar.
As I said in my intro there are some great stories. There are a series of narratives (chapters 1-6) and then four visions similar to the stuff you find in Revelation (chapter 7-12).
The stories are great and you’d love them. Go read them! I’m not going to comment too much on them other than to say they are wonderful and inspiring.
But what about those visions in the later chapters?
First some background needs to be mentioned. The book is called “Daniel” and centers around Daniel and traditionally is viewed to have been written by Daniel back when this is all happening (6th century BC). The visions of Daniel would then be future oriented about things not yet happened. Many modern scholars say that this is not necessarily the case. They hold that the book was written in the 2nd century BC reflecting back on those times and talking about the experiences that have now already happened.
So what does this mean? Either Daniel writes about the future and writes the book. Or he didn’t write the book but it is about him and is still about his future telling. Or somewhere in between one finds the truth.
That debate will continue and never convince all sides to anything. Interesting note is that this book will help Jews suffering in later years during Greek occupation as it talks about their old Babylonian exile/occupation. And Revelation will do the same for Christians dealing with Rome. So both books are inspiring books that deal with facing impossible opposition and surviving.
But what about those visions? What are they about?
Vision 1: He sees four beasts (winged lion, bear, four-headed leopard, and a terrifying beast with ten horns). Among the last one with ten horns a little horn cuts off some of the other horns and Daniel sees God (“the Ancient of Days”) on his throne in heaven. Ushered before God is “one like a son of man” who will have an everlasting kingdom- yet to come.
What’s this about? An angel tells Daniel that the four beasts symbolize kingdoms to come (or already came depending on your view). Many scholars say the lion is Babylon, the bear is Median-Persian, and the leopard Alexander the Great and his four generals. The final beast is the Greek rulers of Mesopotamia called the Seleucids (named after Alexander’s general Selecus). Some will say no it is the coming Rome (NT). Regardless most think the little horn is the Seleucid king Antichous Epiphanes IV who waged war with the Jews and was terrible to them. He’s the guy that had a pig slaughtered in the Holy of Holies and the Jews led a revolt against. Who is the “son of Man” coming? This to many Jews is the hope of a Messiah who will come and make things right and Christians will see that happened in Jesus.
So if you see Daniel as the writer and this as a much older book he had a vision of Hebrew history some which he had witness to and others that he would not live to see and this is prophecy. Or if it is written later than it has all happened (except the Son of Man coming). Regardless this book is an inspirational one for the Hebrews who suffer under so many enemies.
Vision 2– He has a vision of a ram and a male goat (see chapter eight) which we are told represent Medo-Persia and Greece. A wicked king challenges God’s army and descrated the sanctuary. Remember the Temple was descreated!
Vision 3– This is the one rapture folks love and involves the 70 weeks (chapter 9). Seventy sevens are mentioned for the history of the Hebrews. Jeremiah had predicted that the desolation of Jerusalem would last seventy years. Daniel is praying for the temple to be restored. Talk of destruction by a future leader/ruler.
Vision 4– A long vision (10:1 – 12:13) that talks about an arrogant king who desecrates the temple, sets up a “desolating abomination”, removes the daily sacrifice, and persecutes those who remain true to the “holy covenant”. This too happened when the pig was slaughtered in the Holy of Holies.
What does this have to do with the end of the world?
I believe nothing! I believe Daniel is telling the Hebrew story and the struggles. Debates about when/where/what/who/details will continue but it is not about the end of the world. The Son of Man is an exciting comment that points to Jesus for Christians. But it is not about a future end in our lives.
So why is it used by end time folks?
The 70 weeks passage is a big one used by dispensational premillenialists. The seven represent seven years and amillennialists believe this all has happened. But the rapture folks (Dispensationalists) believe that there is a pause between 69 and 70 and we are living in it! The believe this passage is pointing to a future event and not a king who descreated the Temple in the ancient world! So the time doesn’t work and so there must be a ‘pause’ and that is the church age. The rapture will kick off the final seven years (final week) and the 70th dispensation will happen and then Jesus returns and the 1000 year reign happens.
This is an incredible leap and reading into the text. Read Daniel. Read it and you will not find this kind of teaching. The rapture stuff tends to read much into the Bible. Many scholars see that the seven is seven years or time periods but was fulfilled with Antichous Epiphanes came and did his thing. Whenever you think Daniel was written this still holds true. And if it was written during the Greek occupation time it like Revelation was a resistance book. If it was written before it was still a resistance book and one that held the future (which is the past for us today but would be future for Daniel). Some Jews believe the destruction of the Temple in 70 AD is the final event and would be the ultimate descreation of the Temple.
So what do I think? In closing I believe Daniel is beautiful, inspired, and holy. I believe that whenever you think it was written (and I have no problem with either view- early or late) it helped the Jews under Greek rule. It also covers history that while once future is now past. To create a ‘pause’ and work the rapture in is just doesn’t work for me. The very name dispensational theology comes from this patchwork theology. I think it is wrong and misguided.
I do believe Jesus will return. I love the hint of Jesus in Daniel. I believe Daniel is a great book and one we need. It’s God’s word.
So that’s that! I’ve written too much about the end of the world! Next week is Holy Week so let’s move in that direction. Please let me know if I left any issues out you want me to write about in this topic and I’ll come back to it later. But after Holy Week I’m going to move on to other topics.
Again if you disagree with any of these blogs I’m OK with that! Feel free to e-mail and let’s chat about it.
Blessings,
Derik
How do I read the Book of Revelation?
The Apocalypse!!! The word “apocalpyse” means “lifting of the veil” and deals with literature that is heavy in symbolism (Beasts, dragons, dreams, and visions and such) and is reveiling something to the reader. Today the word usually means the end of the world but it is more like the end of the age and doesn’t have to be about the literal end of all things. It deals in the Bible with the revelation of things hidden by God to humanity. There were many types of books that fit this bill in the ancient world but only two made it into the Bible (Revelation and Daniel). There are types of apocolyptic passages found in other places (Mark for example) but one book in the OT (Daniel) and one in the NT (Revelation) that completely fit that bill. Next blog I’ll deal with Daniel but in this one let’s talk about Revelation.
Revelation captures the imagination of many. First let’s get it clear that the book does not have an “s” at the end. Often in horror movies they say “Revelations” which is not how it reads! Second let’s realize that like all the other topics we’ve discussed in this series of blogs there is not ‘one’ Christian view. There are diverse views of this book.
Different Views of the Book Exist!Some Christians say it is about the past. John is having a vision to help Christians persecuted by Rome to survive. The Beast is the Roman Emperor Nero (dead but a symbol of evil). Babylon is Rome. And the entire book is about survival in the past. Some Christians say it is about the future: Those are those who see this as a future book. The see the symbols as pointing to an upcoming apocalyptic war. The “Left Behind” books are a view based on this interpretation. The rapture folks really have pushed this view and it is the most marketable view out there.
And there are those who hold that it is about the past and the future: Some of the book is for the past and some does point to the future. In fact most of it is about the past, but some of it (the visions of the return of Christ) point us to the future. However, those images about the future also contain symbolism. “The New Jerusalem” image of heaven is not necessarily a literal image that we can get the complete exact measurements of heaven! It is an image of heaven like the other images found in the Bible (paradise, worship of God, and the vision of God) that we find. I personally hold to this view. John the RevelatorThere is a great song called “John the Revelator” that I love. Of course the author in this book is “John.” But who is John? Traditionally the book was thought to have been written around 95 CE, by John the disciple. John is the disciple who traditionally is thought to have been the author of the Gospel of John and 1, 2, and 3 John. This acceptance goes back to the church fathers but there have been those who have said it is another John who was a leader in the church. Christians were under persecution by Domitan (81-96) and this John is a prisoner on a desolate island and his vision happens near a small cave that still exists today. This is where we believe the book was written. It was a prison colony and a church was present. He was there for his faith. Rome saw this John as a threat.
A Controversial Book
This book is controversial. It was debated by Christians in the beginning and on today. Many views have existed and there is no one Christian view of this book. Care should be given to using it as a “How to” book about the “end times.” The book is one that has offered hope and encouragement to Christians in history who have suffered through persecution. Yet many have struggled with this book and have read many things into the visions and symbolism. Those who hold to the rapture are not the only ones to read things into the book other than it being about Rome and Christian persecution. Some did not want to put it into the canon or warned Christians about reading it because of the way extreme people read it.
Let’s look at some popular images in the book!
The Mark of the Beast 666: Gematria was a way of taking numbers and coming up with Hebrew alphabet. 666 is the sum value of the Hebrew letters that spell the name of the first century Emperor Nero. Nero was evil and cruel and probably responsible for the death of Peter and Paul. He was dead by the time this was written but he had become the symbol of evil (think Hitler or Osama Bin Laden). Rumors continued that he would come back from the dead or his spirit woudl return. The author uses Nero as the ultimate symbol of evil and emperors who followed in the path of this Nero were coming! Some argue that this was a code that the Romans didn’t get and was a way to slip it past them and others say the Christians knew and didn’t care but it was a popular way of doing this. Nero’s image was on coins and you had to use his coins to buy things and so the ‘mark’ of Nero was everywhere. Now the future crowd says that one day we will be forced (or those left behind) to have a literal 666 or a numeric system on our hands or forehead that a world Anti-Christ will force on humanity. Some feared debit cards and pin numbers and other inventions for this reason. Discussions of a common currency scare folks who take this literal future view.
The Lamb of God- Jesus: A Symbol that Jesus is the lamb slain- refers back to the OT. Horsemen of Death- White Horse of War, Red Horse of Blood/Violence, Black Horse of Famine, Green Horse of Death: Popular to use images to represent things and this represents suffering and the troubles that hit civilization.
Babylon: A particular civilization or civilization in general? Usually thought of as Rome. Again some see a future Babylon that exists during the tribulation. I believe Babylon (that old enemy) was seen in Rome for these Christians.
The Whore of Babylon: Another symbol of Babylon/Rome by calling her a “whore.” Or “Great whore.” Some would later blast others and call them this. Recently John Hagee and other television preachers elude or declare that the Roman Catholic Church is the Great Whore and this of course is misguided and cruel.
The Beast or the Anti-Christ: Means opposite of Christ. Is this the Roman Emperor or a symbol of evil or a literal upcoming world leader? Many have many opinions. The Bible often speaks of a class of people and not just one person fitting this bill. 1 John 4:3. Some see the Anti-Christ as the “man of sin” or “son of perdition” in 2 Thessalonians 2:3. Or in league with the Dragon, Beat, False Prophet or Whore of Babylon in Revelation. Matthew warns of false Christs (Matthew 24:5, 24:24). Revelation does not mention the name “Anti-Christ” but talks about two beasts coming from the sea. One is tied in to the Anti-Christ and the other the ‘false prophet’ in various interpretations. These are symbols of evil. Roman empire? Roman Emperor? Nero? Some future leader? Some talk about the ‘unholy Trinity’ (Satan, False Prophet, and Anti-Christ). 144,000: 12 is important (12 apostles, 12 tribes of Israel) and this is a symbol of 12 that means completion and not literally the only people redeemed. Jehovah’s Witnesses take this literal but that becomes problematic.
1000 Years: Literal time of peace or symbolic? Again numbers are usually symbolic. Read my blog on the rapture regarding this millenium issue.
When I teach or discuss the book of Revelation I go into greater detail than this article could go. I also admit I don’t know it all. I smiled when I saw John Hagee on a youtube video where in twenty minutes you can ‘understand’ the entire book of Revelation. He was talking and said that if you hold to another view you are simply wrong. I guess I’m just as bad as he is because I’d say he is wrong. However, I’ll admit I could be wrong too! I do believe that the best scholarship shows us that this book like all books of the Bible had a context and a audience in the original day. This does not mean it is not inspired. When you read Paul’s letters you find that those letters are not written directly to us but to a specific audience in a specific time. Yet they are Scripture and inspired and therefore have universal application and meaning for us today. They are just as important to us today as they were then but to get the most out of them we need to study them in context.
Christians who lived almost 2000 years ago did not care about the UN, America, Korea, or anywhere else. The concepts “Left Behind” brings into play did not exist or compute to John. John had a real message those folks needed to hear right then! Yet as Scripture it speaks to us today. Christians in persecuted lands can really relate to this book. They live under threat every day because they believe in Jesus. In free places like America it is harder to understand and yet we to are ‘aliens and strangers’ and can find hope in this book to survive today. And the overall message is that Christ will return and will bring peace everlasting to a troubled and evil world.
You might be growing weary of these blogs and I hope not. I hope they are stretching your thinking. Do not get mad if you disagree. Study hard and feel free to disagree. I’ve got one more blog on the subject and it’s coming up (Daniel). After that we’ll move on to other issues/topics.
Blessings,
Derik
Anti-Christ Video Clip
Here is a clip from the second “Left Behind” movie that emphasizes the Anti-Christ.
The Anti-Christ
When I was younger I saw the movie, “The Omen.” It was the story of a family who had a son that turned out to be the Anti-Christ. He had all these super powers and evil things going on. It was a terrifying movie that captured the attention of movie goers in the 70s. It returned in a remake a few years ago and new audiences got to see the Anti-Christ as a child. This of course is Hollywood and had little to do with the Bible.
In the movies and books “Left Behind” and other similar Christian fiction stories the Anti-Christ is a literal figure who becomes leader of the entire world after the ‘rapture’ and during the seven years of tribulation as taught in dispensational theological circles. If you read my other articles you will find that rapture theology is not the only theology Christians hold too. I personally do not accept the “Left Behind” version of the ‘end times.’
However does this mean the Anti-Christ is a symbol and not literal? In the next blog I’ll write about the book of Revelation. Revelation does not use the word ‘anti-Christ.’ However the Bible does talk about this concept and it is important to study. Many Christians have believed in a figure called the Anti-Christ and this is true for those who do not hold to the rapture theology. Others have seen the Anti-Christ as a symbol. Let’s explore this concept.
There are those who believe that whatever view you hold that one day an Anti-Christ will have power on the earth and a great time of tribulation or suffering will happen. From the beginning of the church this view has been debated. For the first 1000 years Christians debated this topic and generally saw the Anti-Christ as “the spirit of heresy”, “Nero” or “the Roman Empire.” Some would argue that there are many Anti-Christs and not one universal one. In the last 1000 years Christians began to believe in one universal figure. Protestants would say it was a Pope or some world leader. Dispensationalists all believe in a universal figure and literal tribulation while others might debate this. The Anti-Christ or Anti-Christs appear in 1 John 2:18, 22, 4:3, 2 John 1:7. The “man of sin” is in 2 Thessalonians 2:3. Some identify him with various figures in Revelation (the Beast, etc). Also see Matthew 24:5, 24:24. The most curious passage is 2 Thessalonians 2:1-12. At first reading it does appear to be a literal Anti-Christ. It is written though in the symbolic apocalyptic language! Some have read this literally and others as a symbol of the battle of evil. It is evil personified and like Revelation may be talking about Rome. When you read my blog article on Revelation you will see that book tends to use very symbolic language to teach a greater point. Some argue Revelation is all about the future and others that it is about the Christians struggle with the Roman Empire.
The biggest danger in Anti-Christ discussion is that in history particular people have been accused of being him! Sometimes it is nasty evil person. Other times it is a famous person. At one point this view was used to attack the Roman Catholic church and blast the Pope as being the anti-Christ being in league with him.
Some preachers will declare that there is one literal world leader coming into power and that he is already alive! Such talk can lead to panic, fear, and misunderstanding.
Having said all this I do stress that this again is a topic where much diversity exists. It is clear that there have been many anti-Christs as the Bible teaches. It is clear that there are many and will be many more. If there is one big major Anti-Christ only the future will show us this! And one does not have to accept a rapture view to hold to the view that this will happen (before anyone knew what the rapture was they believed in the Anti-Christ–for example Martin Luther and other reformers).
As Christians we must realize there are many who will oppose Christ and teach false lies. We must stand firm and have strong faith at such times. In some countries Christians are persecuted for their faith. They face daily struggles to serve Christ. Whatever we might face on this earth will not defeat us. Romans is clear in chapter 8 that suffering and tough times and even death may happen but nothing will separate us from the love of God (8:28-39).
Next up– Revelation
And the final article after that– Daniel
Then I’ll move onto a new topic!!
Derik
Rapture Videos
In 1972 the movie “A Thief in the Night” was released that was based on the ‘rapture’ view. Here is a famous clip from that movie.
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