From Daniel to Revelation

Categories

This website does not reflect the views of any specific denomination or church. (See – About Author) The articles are categorized as follows:

• • • The Book of Daniel:
      • • The Antichrist
        • The 490 Years of Daniel 9
        • Is the Book of Daniel a forgery?
    • Book of Revelation:
      • • General
        • Seven Seals
        • Chapters 12-14
        • Seven Last Plagues
        • Chapter 17 & Babylon, the mother of harlots
        • The Seven-headed Beasts
    • Specific Topics
      • • Early Church History
        • Death, Eternal Life, and Eternal Torment
        • Atonement
        • Justification
        • The Return of Christ
        • The Sabbath
        • The Law of Moses
        • The Gospel in Galatians
        • The Origin of Evil
        • Is Jesus the Most High God?
        • Trinity Doctrine – Historical Development
    • Specific Books
      • • Romans
        • Galatians
        • Colossians
        • Hebrews

Antichrist in Daniel

• • Daniel 2 sets the stage for the identification of the Antichrist.
  • Daniel 7 – Four beasts and eleven horns
  • Daniel 8 – Three alternative views for the evil horn
  • The animals of Daniel 7 and 8 reveal the Antichrist.
  • Did the evil horn in Daniel 8 come out of a Greek horn?
  • Daniel Eleven – Who is the “vile person?”
  • Antiochus IV does not fit the profile.

Daniel 9

• • Summary of all Daniel 9-articles

Daniel 9 – Specific Concepts

• • Introduction – Overview of the prophecy and major interpretations
  • With which decree did the 490 years begin?
  • The 490 years are an extension of God’s covenant with Israel.
  • The 490 years ended when the Jews stoned Stephen.
  • Who confirms what covenant with whom during the last 7 years?
  • What is destroyed in verse 27?
  • Does the prophecy list events in chronological sequence?
  • When are the goals for the 490 years (verse 24) fulfilled?
  • Translations differ with respect to WHEN Messiah will appear.
  • Do all the prophecies in Daniel 9 describe the same crisis?
  • Daniel’s prayer and the 490-year prophecy form a unit.

Daniel 9 – Interpretations

• • Liberal-Critical
  • Consistent Symbolical
  • Dispensational
  • Historical-Messianic
  • Pre-Wrath Dispensationalism

Daniel 9 – Related Articles

• • Where do we find Jeremiah’s 70 years in history?
  • How did the early church fathers interpret Daniel 9?
  • Nehemiah gives context to Daniel 9.

Is the Book of Daniel a forgery?

1. • Critical scholars claim that the book of Daniel is a forgery.
   • Evidence that Daniel is true prophecy written BEFORE the event
   • The Fall of Rome confirms Daniel as true prophecy.
   • Who was Darius the Mede?
   • Evidence from the Dead Sea Scrolls

Revelation – General

• • Why is the title of this website BY and not FROM Jesus Christ?
  • Does Revelation describe events in chronological sequence?
  • Every main part of Revelation begins in the temple in heaven.
  • Is a consistently literal interpretation appropriate?
  • God’s throne is the control center of the universe.
  • The Return of Christ
  • Does the book of Revelation present Jesus as God?
  • Jesus is worshiped. Does that mean that He is God?
  • Are both the Father and the Son worshipped in Rev 5:14?
  • Is there really a hearing/seeing theme in Revelation?
  • What do the numbers in the Book of Revelation mean?

The Seven Seals (4:1-8:1)

• • Summary of all the articles on the seven seals
  • List of articles with a brief description for each

Revelation 4

• • 4:1-8 verse by verse – The beings in God’s throne room
  • 4:4 – The 24 elders are people; not angels.
  • 4:8-11 verse by verse – Worship in God’s presence

Revelation 5

• • Revelation 5 is Christ’s enthronement after His ascension.
  • The sealed book is the Book of Life.
  • Why did Jesus have to die to open this book
  • Revelation 5 – verse by verse

Revelation 6

• • First seal: The white horse symbolizes the gospel.
  • The four horsemen of the Apocalypse – seals 2 to 4
  • Fifth Seal – Who are the souls under the altar?
  • Are the souls under the altar (Revelation 6:9-11) alive?
  • Sixth seal – the seven last plagues and Christ’s return

Revelation 7

• • The sealing of the 144000 (7:1-3)
    • • Where the sealing fits in the end-time events?
      • What is the seal which God’s end-time servants will receive?
      • God’s people are sealed during Daniel’s Time of the End.
  • Who are the 144,000 “Sons of Israel” (Rev 7:4)?
  • Who is the multitude before the throne of Revelation 7:9-17?

Revelation 8

• • The silence of the seventh seal when the lost are destroyed.
  • Does the seventh seal include the seven trumpets?
  • Christ died 2000 years ago. Why did Christ not yet return?

Revelation 12

• • Who are the woman and her child in Revelation 12?
  • What are the stars of heaven in Revelation 12:4 – angels or people?
  • WHEN did the war in heaven begin and WHEN did it end? 
  • HOW did Christ’s death win the victory in the war in heaven?
  • They overcame Satan by the word of their testimony. (v11) 
  • Why did God not make an end of evil after the Cross?

Revelation 13

• • What is the beast that comes out of the sea? (Rev 13:1-2)
  • Which of the beast’s seven heads has the fatal wound? (13:3-4)
  • The beast of Revelation is the mainstream church.
  • Supporting articles:
    • During the High Middle Ages, the Church became the largest fragment of the Roman Empire.
    • The massacres of the Waldensians; the first reformers

Seven Last Plagues (Revelation 15-16)

• • • Revelation 15: The plagues follow after Christian persecution.
  • Plagues 1-4
    • The first four are general and not individually interpreted.
    • They show that people with the mark of the beast will not repent.
  • Plague 5
    • What does the throne of the beast symbolize?
    • Who or what causes darkness on the beast’s throne?
    • The Roman Empire gave the church its throne and power. [PDF]
  • Plague 6
    • What does it mean that the Euphrates dries up?
    • The Kings from the East are Christ and His angels.
    • What is Armageddon?
    • Does “coming like a thief” support a secret rapture? (Rev 16:15)
    • Why the Euphrates must dry up to prepare the way for the kings 
    • Overview of the sixth plague
  • Plague 7
    • The Seventh Plague culminates in Christ’s return.
  • Purpose of the plagues
    • The ultimate purpose is to show that God judges perfectly.
    • Why is it necessary to show that God’s judgments are perfect?

Revelation 17

• • The harlot sitting on the scarlet beast (17:1-3)

Babylon – the Mother of Harlots

• • Babylon’s merchants are her false prophets.
  • The Babylon of Revelation is not a literal city.
  • How does Babylon relates to the beast?
  • Overview – Babylon, the Mother of Harlots.

Revelation’s Beasts

• • Who are the three seven-headed beasts of Revelation?
  • The sixth head, when the beast “is not,” is the Time of the End (Rev 17:10).
  • The three seven-headed beasts are three of the seven heads.
  • What are the seven heads of the beast?

Revelation – External Resources

• • • The characters of Revelation 12 and the War in Heaven.
    • The Great Controversy in Revelation 4 and 5.
    • Jon Paulien’s commentary.

Early Church History

(Key events which transformed the church from a sect of Judaism to an independent religion

• • • At first, the church was a Jewish sect, based in Jerusalem.
    • The Christians fled from persecution to Judea and Samaria.
    • A dispute arose – Must Gentile converts comply with the Law?
    • Acts 15 caused a separation between Jew and Gentile.
    • This history provides context to Paul’s theology.
    • Dates for key events in the first few decades

Death, Eternal Life, and Eternal Torment

Eternal Torment

• • • The Bible teaches that God will put the lost out of existence.
    • The smoke of their torment goes up forever (Rev 14:9-11)
    • The lake of fire is the second death. (Rev 20:10)
    • The evidence for eternal torment discussed
    • Summary of these articles

Eternal Life and Death

• • • Only God’s people will receive eternal life. Others will die an eternal death.
    • Eternal Life and Death in Paul’s Letters. 
    • Do people have immortal souls? (1 Cor 15)
    • With what kind of body will the dead be resurrected?

External Resources

• • • Glenn Peoples’ article, Why I am an Annihilationist (rightreason.org).
    • Rethinking Hell podcasts, including:
      • Episode 1: A Final Word With Edward Fudge
      • Episode 4: The Case for Annihilationism with Glenn Peoples
      • Episode 7: Traditional Objections Answered with Chris Date
    • What does the Bible say about the “Immortal Soul”?

Atonement

How did Christ’s death atone for sin? What problem did His death solve?

• • • The meaning of the word “atonement”
    • Overview of the theories of atonement
    • My proposed theory of the atonement: Christ’s death proved that God judges rightly.
    • Paul’s metaphors of salvation must not be literally interpreted.
    • The article Why Jesus had to die attempts to explain the theory of the atonement to a Moslem, without Bible references.
    • A brief overview of these articles
    • In the Book of Revelation, why did Jesus have to die?

Related Articles

• • • The Cross disarmed the rulers and authorities in heavenly places (Col 2:15).
    • War in Heaven – Revelation 12
    • The Cross made an end to the war in Heaven – Revelation 12
    • Origin of Evil – Where and How

Recommended External Resources (mp3s)

• • Graham Maxwell
    • Atonement, Justification, and why Christ had to die from the letter to the Galatians.
    • Atonement and Your Picture of God
  • Noah Worcester on Atonement:
    • Part 1
    • Part 2

Justification

We are not “justified by the works of the Law” but by grace through faith. However, God judges our deeds.

“Justify” is one of many metaphors and we should not interpret metaphors literally.

“Through faith in Christ” consists of two concepts: Faith in God and a mysterious unity between Christ and the believer.

“Live by” is an Old Testament expression that is equivalent to the New Testament concept of justify.

The Return of Christ

How Will He Return?

• • • When and how will Jesus return?
    • Christ’s return in the Book of Revelation
    • What did Jesus mean by “the End of the Age“?
    • Little Apocalypse – Christ’s description of the end
    • Matthew 24, Mark 13, and Luke 21 side-by-side
    • The “kingdom of God” has a King, laws, and citizens. Its King is God. Jesus explained its laws.

When Will He Return?

These articles discuss the statements Jesus made indicating that He will return soon:

• • • “This generation will not pass away until …” (Matt 24:34)
    • “You will not finish … until the Son of Man comes” (Matt 10:23).
    • What does “the Kingdom of God” mean?
    • “Some standing here shall not taste death until …“ (Matt 16:28).
    • Jesus said and His disciples believed that He will return soon.
    • Did He return “soon” through His Resurrection?
    • Did He return “soon” through the destruction of Jerusalem (AD 70)?
    • Why did Jesus not return soon?

The Sabbath 

The Seventh Day – blessed at creation, counted by Noah, made a Sabbath by Moses, corrupted by the Traditions, reformed by Christ, nut a non-issue for Paul.

In the Old Testament

• • • Blessed and sanctified at creation
    • The evolution theory makes the Bible null and void.
      
    • During the 2500 years between Creation and Moses
    • In the Ten Commandments; a day of rest
    • Corrupted by the Jewish Traditions

Jesus’ Sabbath Healing Miracles

• • • A demon-possessed man and Simon’s mother-in-law
    • The man with the withered hand (Matt 12:9-14)
    • The crippled woman (Luke 13:10-17)
    • The Paralytic At Bethesda (John 5)
    • The man that was born blind (John 9)

Jesus’ Sabbath Teachings

• • • The Sabbath was made for man. (Matt 12:1-8)
    • Christ deliberately contravened the Sabbath.
    • The real reason they killed Jesus.
    • His miracles gave Him the opportunity to teach.
    • What did Jesus teach about the Sabbath?
    • Jesus taught a different Sabbath.
    • Jesus replaced the Law of Moses with the Law of Christ.

The Sabbath in the New Testament

• • • Is the Sabbath commandment repeated in the New Testament?
    • Each must be fully convinced in his own mind (Rom 14:5-6).

The Law of Moses

Does Galatians Contradict Jesus?

Paul wrote that the Law of Moses has been nullified and replaced by “the Law of Christ” (Gal 2:19; 6:2). However, Jesus said:

“Do not think that I came to abolish the Law …
not the smallest letter or stroke shall pass from the Law.”

The following articles explain this apparent contradiction:

1. 1. 1. The Law of Christ (Gal 6:2) replaced the Law of Moses.
      2. The Old Testament foresaw that the Law of Moses will become obsolete.
      3. Jesus replaced the old commandments with much higher norms.
      4. The Law of Christ is what God’s Law always was and always will be.
      5. The final article summarizes the previous four.
      6. The purpose of this article by Thomas Lee is to rebut my article on the Law of Christ. 

Sermon on the Mount

• • • Jesus did not come to abolish but to fulfill the Law. – Discussion of Matthew 5:17.
    • Thomas Lee’s objections to the previous article
    • Why Gentiles are not subject to the Law of Moses – Discussion of Matthew 5:19 
    • Sermon on the Mount – What people will receive eternal life?

Gospel in Galatians

1. 1. 1. The doers of the Law will be justified but NOT by the Works of the Law. (Rom 2:13)
      2. If people are justified through faith, why will they be judged by their deeds?
      3. Is justification a legal process or does it mean that the person is changed?
      4. Christ’s death removed our sin and thus enabled the grace of God.

External Resources

Graham Maxwell explains his view of God’s use of the law from the letter to the Galatians.

The Origin of Evil

• • • Origin of evil – Evil began next to God’s throne.
    • Why Satan thought he could win against God – A study of Job
    • Rulers and Authorities are Supernatural beings that oppose Christ
    • The Cross disarmed the rulers and authorities.
    • War in Heaven – why and how do the angels war?
    • Why evil continues after the cross

Is Jesus the Most High God?

• • • Summary of the articles below

Specific Bible Books

• • • The Book of Revelation
    • Colossians – Roles of God and Christ in creation and salvation
    • Colossians Part 2 – Is Jesus God? Is He equal to the Father?

Specific Bible Passages

• • • Philippians 2 – Four stages of Christ’s existence
    • 1 Corinthians 8:6 – Does this verse divide the words of the Shema between the Father and the Son?
    • John 10:33-36 – Did Jesus claim to be God?
    • John 10:30 – Jesus said, “I and the Father are one.”

Origin and Pre-existence

• • • Monogenēs – Does it mean “only begotten” or “only unique?”
    • Firstborn of all creation (Col 1:15) – Is He part of creation?
    • Pre-existence – Did He exist before He was born?
    • Creation – God created all things through His Son.
    • Jesus in the Old Testament

Jesus is subordinate to God.

• • • Jesus is not God.
    • Does the New Testament refer to Jesus as “Almighty?”
    • The Son is ALWAYS subordinate to the Father.
    • If Jesus is not God, why must we worship Him?
    • List of all worship verses in the New Testament.

The Word of God

• • • Who is the word? – Jesus or wisdom personified?
    • Why is Christ called the “Word of God?”
    • Did Philo influence the Bible’s description of the Son of God?

The translation of John 1:1

• • • Introduction – John 1:1 is the best proof of Jesus’ deity.
    • The word was a god. – Arguments against this translation
    • Theos is a count noun. What are the implications?
    • Arguments against the translation: “The word was God.”

Jesus is called God.

• • • The meanings of theos (translated as “God” or as “god”)
    • John 1:18 – “the only begotten God”
    • John 20:28 – Did Thomas say that Jesus is God?
    • A study of the title theos (God) in John’s gospel.
    • Romans 9:5 – Paul never refers to Jesus as God.
    • Hebrews 1:8 refers to Jesus as theos.
    • Overview of the verses that refer to Jesus as theos.

Other Resources

I do not agree with Dale Tuggy’s Christology but I do recommend his podcasts.

History of the Development of the Trinity Doctrine

In this section, I also provide links to articles I posted on Stackexchange.

Christology of the persecuted church (first 3 centuries)

• • • Ignatius of Antioch – the Father is the only true God.
    • Polycarp – The “Lord God Almighty” is the Father alone.
    • Justin Martyr – The Son is subordinate to the Father.
    • Irenaeus – The Father is the only true God.
    • Why did these fathers refer to Jesus as “our god?”
    • Sabellius – Was he the first Trinitarian?
    • Other sources:
      • Pre-Nicene fathers regarded Jesus as subordinate to the Father. See Dr. Tuggy’s podcasts 239-242.

Arius

• • • If Arius was so important, why did his writings not survive?
    • Was Origen the ultimate source of Arius’ heresy?

The Nicene Creed of 325 AD

The Nicene Creed is the most famous and influential creed in the history of the church. The following articles are available:

• • • What was the dispute that led to the Council at Nicaea?
      
    • Why does the creed use ousia and hypostasis as synonyms?
    • Emperor Constantine controlled the Council of Nicaea.
    • The emperor forced the Nicene Council to accept a minority view.
    • What does the Nicene Creed really say?
    • The meaning of “He is of another substance or essence“
    • Should a Protestant accept the Nicene Creed?
    • External Resources:
      • If the Son is begotten, how could He be eternal? (Stack)
      • What “of the same substance” as the Father means (Stack)
      • The term “homoousios” came from Egyptian religions.

Post Nicene Developments

• • • After Nicaea, the church remained Unitarian (Arian).
    • What did the church believe at that time?
    • Long Lines Creed – an example of what the church taught

The end of Unitarianism

• • • Emperor Theodosius made the Trinity Doctrine law. (AD 380)
    • Why Theodosius was able to end the controversy (Stack)
    • Was the creed of AD 381 an update of the Nicene Creed of 325?

Authors on the Arian Controversy

These are extracts from the works of important researchers:

• • • RPC Hanson: A lecture on the Arian Controversy
    • What were the issues in the Fourth-Century Arian Controversy?
    • Edmund J. Fortman, The Triune God – Nicene Creed
    • Millard J. Erickson, God in Three Persons
    • William Boyd, Union of Church and State in the Roman Empire

Later Developments

• • • The Roman Empire did not fall; it transformed.
    • Why the Roman Empire fell
    • After the Roman Empire ‘fell’, Arian tribes ruled Europe.
    • The Fall of Rome proves Daniel to be true prophecy.
    • Justinian and the Byzantine Papacy made an end to Anianism.

Trinity Doctrine – General

• • • What is the difference between the Trinity theory and Modalism?
      
    • Is the Athanasian Creed consistent with the “Monarchy of the Father” of Eastern Orthodoxy?
      
    • The Eastern Orthodox view of the Trinity.
    • The Trinity doctrine contradicts itself.
    • Elohim, translated as “God,” is plural. Is God more than one Person?

Romans

• • • Romans 1: God will not override human freedom.
    • Romans 2: The doers of the Law will be justified.
    • Romans 3:1-8: Did God reject Israel?

Romans 9 and 11

• • • Romans 9-11: Who Israel is in the Book of Revelation?
    • All Israel will be saved: Summary of the previous article

Election

• • • Romans 9-11 describes election to a mission, not to salvation.

    • Dr. John Piper on why not everyone is elect (Recommended podcast)

Romans 14

• • • Romans 14:1-4 – The dispute was NOT over the Law of Moses.
    • Koinós (unclean Rom 14:14) does not refer to unclean animals.
    • The same dispute in Corinth over eating meat is idol worship
    • Romans 14:5-6 – These days do not refer to the Sabbath.
    • Romans 14:7-13 – God will judge people by their deeds.
    • Romans 14:13-23 – Abstain from meat if a brother to stumble.

Galatians

Galatians is important because it describes the very early power struggle between Paul and Judaising Jewish Christians.

Gal 1:1-5 – According to the will of our God and Father, Jesus gave Himself to rescue us from this present evil age.

Gal 1:6-9 – The Galatians accepted a dangerously distorted gospel.

Gal 1:10-12 – Paul received his gospel directly from Jesus Christ.

Gal 1:13-14 – The emphasis on outward behavior in Traditions of the Elders shifts the focus away from God to self.

Gal 1:15-24 – Short review of Paul’s history & Overview of Galatians 1.

Gal 2:1-10 – Paul took an uncircumcised Gentile Christian to the church leaders in Jerusalem. The church leaders accepted him.

Gal 2:11-14 – God instructed Peter to accept Gentiles without circumcision but he yielded to the Circumcision Party.

Gal 2:15-16 – The Acts 15 Church Council confirmed that Gentile Christians do not have to convert to Judaism.

Gal 2:17-18 – Paul’s teachings destroyed the law; the dividing wall between Jewish and Gentile Christians.

Gal 2:19-20 – Christians are not subject to the Law of Moses but to the Law of Christ.

Gal 2:21 – To attempt to earn “righteousness” through the Law is to nullify “the grace of God.”

Overview Galatians 1 & 2

Gal 3:1-5 – The Galatians received the Spirit without the Law but want to continue in their own power.

Gal 3:6-9 – Those who believe are sons of Abraham.

Gal 3:10-14 – No one is justified by the Law because no one is able to comply with the law.

Gal 3:15-18 – Jesus Christ is Abraham’s true Seed. As such, He inherited the Covenant promises.

Gal 3:19-25 – When Christ came, He became our Tutor. We no longer need the Law.

Gal 3:26-29 – There is no need to circumcise Gentile Christians because Israel no longer has a separate role in God’s plan.

Overview of Galatians Chapters 1 to 3

Chapter 4 – Work In Progress

Transversal Topics

Galatians represents Paul’s arguments before the Jerusalem Church Council in Acts 15.

The Galatians were at risk of losing their eternal inheritance. What exactly did they do wrong?

Colossians

Col 1:1-8 – We thank God for the hope laid up for us in heaven.

Col 1:9-14 – The Father rescued us from the domain of darkness.

Col 1:15-19 – The Colossian deception claimed to have supernatural knowledge, but all knowledge is found in Christ.

Col 1:20-22 – Through Christ, God brought an end to the war in heaven.

Col 1:23-28 – The mystery which has been hidden, namely that Gentiles are fellow members of the body

Col 2:1-4 – Deceivers merged the gospel with mystery religions, arguing that Christ is not the only source of knowledge.

Col 2:5-8 – The Colossian deception was man-made pagan philosophy; not Old Testament law..

Col 2:9-10 – The deception claimed that people need more than Christ to become complete.

Col 2:11 – Circumcision without hands is a heart circumcised by the Spirit. It loves God and hates sin.

Col 2:11-14 – Canceling the certificate of debt is forgiving of sins.

Col 2:14

• • • • • Different translations of cheirographon
        • Cheirographon is a certificate of debt; not the Law of Moses.
        • This verse is similar to Ephesians 2:15 but Colossians 2:14 abolishes something else to achieve a different purpose.

Col 2:15 – What rulers and authorities did God disarm through Christ?

Col 2:16

• • • • • The Sabbath is heavily debated today but it was a not controversial issue in Paul’s day.
        • Festivals, new moons, and sabbaths is a technical phrase for “all the appointed feasts of the house of Israel.”
        • “Sabbaths” refers to the weekly Sabbath; not to the annual Sabbaths.
        • Meros – The Colossians were criticized for HOW they kept these days.
      • Building …

Colossians: Specific Topics:

• • • Rulers and Authorities
    • War in Heaven
    • The Cross was a public display.
    • The pagan nature of the deception
    • It was the Gentiles who criticized the Christians
    • Weekly and Annual Sabbaths

Hebrews

1) Jesus became High Priest in the tabernacle in heaven through His suffering.

2) Jesus is a better High Priest because the Levitical priesthood was unable to do away with sin.

3) Jesus appears before God for us. He guarantees the promise which God made: “Their lawless deeds I will remember no more.”

4) Draw near with confidence to the throne of grace – an analysis of the two bookends (4:14-16 and 10:22-24).

5) If Christians go “on sinning willfully”, then there only remains “the fury of a fire which will consume” (10:27).

6) Hebrews 1:1-3: Christ’s message is superior to that of the Old Testament prophets because He is superior to them.

Other Topics

Christmas: Its Meaning and Origin – God’s willingness to send His Son reveals much about Him, but 25 December was derived from the pagan feast of the birthday of the Invincible Sun.

Author – I have no formal Bible training and I am not part of any church group.

For general discussions of theology, I recommend Graham Maxwell, who you will find on the Pineknoll website.