greetings in the Lord J. Chris Parson,
>> Got any links? Or is this just personal revelations? <<
St. Peter taught us otherwise.
Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost. (2 Peter 1:20-21)
i am simply declaring to you the teachings of Holy Church.
Then if any man shall say unto you, Lo, here is Christ, or there; believe it not. For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect. (Matthew 24:23-24)
now these words of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ are quite interesting. many people gloss over them and don't give them more than a glance. but as St. John Chrysostom instructed us, "there is not even a syllable or even one letter contained in Scripture which does not have great treasure concealed in its depths."
now let's subject this passage to a closer examination. on the face of it, there is an obvious and plain message that there will be false Christs and false prophets in the latter days. anyone can glean that from a quick reading of the verse bearing in mind the context of the chapter.
but now let's see if we can mine some of this hidden treasure contained in Sacred Scripture.
the Lord tells us that these false Christs and false prophets shall "arise". this is important and should not be overlooked. why did our Lord choose the word "arise"? he could have chosen many words to declare the appearance of false Christs and prophets in the latter days. he could have simply said there will "appear" for instance. but he chose to use the word "arise".
furthermore, why did the Lord say false Christs and false prophets, in that particular order, rather than the other way around? Christ could have mentioned false prophets first, and then false Christs second. after all, Christ sent his prophets to prepare the way of his coming beforehand, as with St. John the Baptist.
thirdly, we see that after the mention of false Christs and false prophets, we are told they shall show "great signs and wonders".
now if we eschew the things of this world and rather devote ourselves to searching the Sacred Scriptures, with God's grace the Spirit of truth will show us the things to come hereafter. (John 16:13).
let's turn to the last book of the Bible--the apocalypse of St. John--or as it is popularly called in english, the book of revelation.
And I stood upon the sand of the sea, and saw a beast rise up out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns, and upon his horns ten crowns, and upon his heads the name of blasphemy. (Revelation 13:1)
ten verses later...
And I beheld another beast coming up out of the earth; and he had two horns like a lamb, and he spake as a dragon. (Revelation 13:11)
notice we have two beasts spoken of in revelation chapter 13. they both "arise", as we are told the false Christs and false prophets in matthew 24 are to do.
two verses later...
And he doeth great wonders, so that he maketh fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men, (Revelation 13:13)
yet another reference to matthew 24.
recall that in matthew 24 we have in order:
1) false Christs
2) false prophets
3) great signs and wonders
that is exactly what we have in revelation 13. the first beast (v1) is the false Christ (Antichrist), the second beast (v11) is the false prophet, and then we have the great wonders (v13) that are associated with the beast.
both these beasts in revelation "arise" as Jesus warned us in matthew 24.
now we must carefully take note that the first beast in revelation 13 is said to "rise up out of the sea". the second beast (false prophet) is said to be "coming up out of the earth". so they both arise, but one from the sea and one from the earth.
hmm...can we recall any other place in Holy Scripture where we have a couple beasts described, one of the earth and another of the sea?
we will find it in the book of the holy and blessed Job. in chapter forty we have the giant beast "behemoth".
Behold now behemoth, which I made with thee; he eateth grass as an ox. Lo now, his strength is in his loins, and his force is in the navel of his belly. He moveth his tail like a cedar: the sinews of his stones are wrapped together. His bones are as strong pieces of brass; his bones are like bars of iron. He is the chief of the ways of God: he that made him can make his sword to approach unto him. Surely the mountains bring him forth food, where all the beasts of the field play. (Job 40:15-20)
our beast of the earth. and now a few verse later in Job forty-one we have our beast of the sea "leviathin"...
Canst thou draw out leviathan with an hook? or his tongue with a cord which thou lettest down? (Job 41:1)
let's read some more about this beast of the sea leviathin in the holy prophet isaiah...
In that day the Lord with his sore and great and strong sword shall punish leviathan the piercing serpent, even leviathan that crooked serpent; and he shall slay the dragon that is in the sea. (Isaiah 27:1)
oh by the way, in verse 14 of revelation chapter 13, we read:
And deceiveth them that dwell on the earth by the means of those miracles which he had power to do in the sight of the beast; saying to them that dwell on the earth, that they should make an image to the beast, which had the wound by a sword, and did live. (Revelation 13:14)
now this word "miracles" is translated from the greek word transliterated "simeia" which literally means "signs". this exact same greek word is used in mattew 24 when our Lord says, "For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs (simeia) and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.
revealing one more connection between matthew 24 and revelation 13. the translation in the KJV of the word "simeia" as "miracle" throws you off the trail a bit, but if you read the original greek you will make the connection.
there is another verse near the end of revelation which will confirm our interpretation, and shed further light on the subject...
And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles (once again this literally in the greek is "simeia" or signs) before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone. (Revelation 19:20)
at any rate, i have only scratched the surface regarding the deep meanings of these passages, and unlike a priest who has an audience that he knows comes to hear him talk, i have no assurance that any of you are even the least bit interested. so i will leave it at that for now... |
