King Solomon=666 ?

Peoples, tonight i was reading in I Kings 10 and came across something that surprised me. But before i get to that, i must back up and remind you of a verse in Revelations that i myself was reminded of while i was reading in I Kings tonight. The verse i was REMINDED of, is:

18 Here is wisdom. Let him that hath understanding count the number of the beast: for it is the number of a man; and his number is six hundred threescore and six. REV.13:18

Well, when i was reading I Kings 10: 14, i noticed it says:

14 Now the weight of gold that came to Solomon in one year was six hundred threescore and six talents of gold,..."
I KINGS 10:14

I noticed for the first time ever, that this is the number 666. Is this mere coincidence or has the number been connected to Solomon at any other time or in any other way? I have read things, that much is made of Solomon's activities having some sort of later connection to the Kabbalah or witchcraft mixed with Judaism, the Rothschild dynasty (or vice versa rather), and that he came into all that darkness when his heart turned away from the LORD and he began serving and sacrificing unto the devil gods of his foreign wives, such as Ashtoreth, Chemosh, Milcom, and Molech--all abominations. Molech alone involved child sacrifice by fire. I cannot even comprehend how the wisest man on earth got involved in such a thing but that is another subject. What i am asking is has there ever been any discussion on this subject of this verse and the one in Revelations or is it mere coincidence? Your thoughts and input.

EDIT: What is really bizarre is i have read all these books of the Bible dozens and dozens of times, for so many decades(!!!) and this is the FIRST time i noticed the significance of that number in I KINGS 10:14!!! Duh.

I believe it has been discussed before, but I can't myself direct you to the thread.

Maybe someone else can.

God bless.

Well here is something interesting. I don't know if this is true or not but this article claims that the name SOLOMON is the 666th name in the Bible:

http://forums.canadiancontent.net/christian-discussion/55169-solomon-666th-name-bible.html

And now i found this site also, which covers this topic of Solomon's gold and the mark 666:

http://www.ridingthebeast.com/articles/gold-money-666/

In this article:

"If you take a look at any Euro coin there's a distinct 666 on the back, blazened right across Europe. It's also very interesting that the Greek two Euro coin depicts a woman riding a beast (Revelation 17:3). There's no doubt that the Euro will continue to grow stronger monetarily and may very well play a supporting role for the Mark of the Beast.

If there was ever a stable world-wide currency gold is it. And if Digital Gold continues growing in popularity it could easily become the backing to microchip payment formats like the Verichip. 666 holds some spiritual significance, none of which supports a requirement to buy and sell. The physical associations with 666 are very clear."

Quote from another article:

"666 is a trinity of 6s never to be a 7. 6 is the number of man, especially as man in rebellion against God. Goliath was 6 cubits and a span (see 1 Samuel 17:4). King Nebuchadnezzar erected a statue to himself to be worshipped. It was 60 cubits high and 6 cubits across (Daniel 3:1)"

QUOTE: "Yes, 666 talents of gold was sent to Solomon each month by none other than the King of Tyrus. After you have read this account in the book of 1 Kings, turn to Ezekiel Chapter 28. Oh, what a tangled web was weaved, when Solomon practised to deceive. King Solomon left many articles which proved his blatant idolatry, such as King Solomon's Mirror, King Solomon's Comb, and the six-pointed star, which became known as the Seal of Solomon in the witchcraft and occult world. Solomon also laid down the foundations of the Craft (Daniel 8:25) which later became known as Freemasonry., and the six-pointed star features prominently in Masonic rituals.'

"The book, The Six-Pointed Star, is the first and only academic work which documents the origin and historical usage of this symbol. From Egypt to Solomon, to Arab magic, and witchcraft, to Druid uses, to freemasonry, to Mayer Amschel Bauer, who in the 17th century changes his name to depict the red six-pointed star which hung on his door in Germany, and thus began the family of "Rothschild" (meaning red shield). The Rothschild family incorporated this symbol in their Court of Arms. The research traced the six-pointed star through the Cabala, to astrology, to Hitler and his putting a yellow six-pointed star on Jews during the holocaust, to the Zionist symbol, and finally to the flag of the State of Israel and beyond."

SOURCE:

http://www.cephas-library.com/masonry_bible_connects_the_dots_to_the_antichrist.html

Hi Trekker,

Funny, I was also reading this the other night and was thinking about the same connection. I don't think it is coincidental that the number 666 is clearly given to the weight of Solomon's gold.

Solomon is an interesting figure as he both has aspects where he is a type of the Messiah and also a type of the Anti-Christ (false Messiah).

What does it teach us about the Anti-Christ is the question. Well maybe that he will be both a political and religious leader accepted by the Jews as a great man of God. I think it is interesting that the Jews throughout their history up to this present day consider Solomon as Israel's greatest King. They seem to forget the apostasy and gross idolatry that led to the Kingdom being divided.
He built his vast kingdom using slavery and taxing the people to excess (the very thing God warned Israel having a King would result in).

Also it may speak about the 'love of money being the root of all evil'. This world and those who control it is built on the financial systems, where money (gold) speaks and controls everything. I'm convinced that the bablylon of revelation is talking about the whole world of commerce/ trading / buying and selling. Everything that this current world operates by.

QUOTE: "Actually Solomon is a major type of the anti-Christ in the Bible."==EVERESTOSAMA

Yea, that much i got. The same is said of Nero, Hitler, King Saul, Absalom, etc. But i think this first mention of 666 in connection to Solomon must have SOME special significance. Kinda spooky in a way. I suppose any number of theories can and have arisen about it. Perhaps some world political or spiritual leader will try to replicate Solomon's annual salary? And i wouldn't be surprised either because just last night as i was reading about all the massive amounts of GOLD required to build Solomon's temple in Jerusalem (because everything was overlaid in GOLD and even the walls were gold, etc) i was wondering to myself, 'Well how is Israel ever gonna come up with that much (extra) gold to rebuild the final temple?" I mean, we are talking a massive amount of gold.

QUOTE: "I don't think it is coincidental that the number 666 is clearly given to the weight of Solomon's gold."==HEYDAVE

I don't either. AND, why did Solomon choose that particular figure? or did he.

EDIT: And how on earth does the wisest man on earth, who also had GOD appear and speak to him twice, fall into something SO EVIL as child sacrifice and witchcraft?!?!?!?!
I CANNOT WRAP MY HEAD AROUND THAT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
HOW DOES THAT HAPPEN?????!?!?!?!? I mean, i can understand falling into love with foreign women, i can understand falling into the sin of adultery, and the sin of murder even, but of all things?!?!? sacrificing to demons?!?!?!? Idols that required burning babies in fire?!?!?!?!!!!!!!!
Engaging in darkness so evil and so satanic and so depraved as that after writing all those hundreds of PROVERBS of such amazing wisdom?!??! I.JUST.DO.NOT.GET.IT.

"Caesar Nero" = Nrwn Qsr in Hebrew (prounounced "Neron Kaiser".

The value of the 7 Hebrew letters is 50, 200, 6, 50, 100, 60 and 200. The total is 666.

QUOTE: "Six lions, six steps, six lions. And Solomon enthroned atop that set of 666."==EVERESTOSAMA

Yea i already noticed that but i don't think anything of that, cuz, i mean, how ELSE are you gonna arrange 12 lions that represent the Tribe of Judah? Then again, why even USE lions, since there is only ONE Lion of the Tribe of Judah?
On the otherhand, of course the lion symbol is associated with power, just as the eagle is, and perhaps nothing is more appropriate of a symbol for any KING than lions...
All speculation. I don't think we can necessarily arrive at the 666 conclusion from the arrangement of the lions; i probably would have arranged them the same way myself if i had a throne and 12 tribes to represent.

But it is clear from what research i have seen that the Hebrew language DOES have numerical values for their letters, just as the Romans do (IV=4, V=5, X=10, and so forth in Latin/Roman world). Greeks also have numerical values for some letters. I never put any stock in the topic of numerology before now, because i was thinking from a strictly AMERICAN/ENGLISH/MODERN perspective, but clearly there is a lot to it in these three languages.

Everest wrote: "Also a type of anti-Christ."

The better and more obvious solution is that Nero WAS the anti-christ.

Hi! Trekker

About the Number 666 :

Newspapers and radio only give news about the outward world but do not impart insight into the spiritual events behind the visible things. We do not need knowledge of Greek or Hebrew to reckon the number of the name of the Beast.

This was what the Bible commentators of the 17th century did. They assumed that the Pope was Antichrist. He is the head of the Roman or Latin church, as Latin is the language of that church and the Vulgate the Latin version of the Bible. Just as the Roman characters, the Greek letters have a numerical value. So numbers may either be written completely or indicated by the letters of the alphabet.

The numerical value of 'lateinos' for instance is: 1=30; a=1; t=300; e (epsilon) =5; i=10; n=50; c=70; and s=200. Added together, lo: 666! With acute ingenuity many interpreters tried to brand historical persons as Antichrist, for instance Nero, Napoleon, Mussolini, etc.

Spelled in Greek the name Jesus gives the number 888. I-10; e (eta) =8; s=200; o=70; u=400; and s=200. Kurios (Lord) makes 800, Christus 1480 (8 times 185). It is a privilege to have knowledge of the ancient, dead languages, but it certainly is not the Holy Spirit's intention that in the endtimes the children of God should occupy themselves with mind boggling puzzles of this kind.

The number six indicates the power of occultism by which the whole power of Antichrist is connected with the Abyss. The number belonging to the Beast from the Bottomless Pit, to the Beast from the earth, and to the image, therefore is the number six.

When it says in Rev 13 that the number must be 'reckoned', while the number six hundred and sixty-six is mentioned at the same time, it means that the number should be 'explained'. It does not say that the calculation can be made or the number explained only when the endtimes has arrived and Antichrist has manifested himself, but rather that everyone who has a mind of wisdom will be able to do so. The Beast belongs to the invisible world, but the number of the Beast is a human number. Rev 21:17 has a similar expression when it says: "man's measure, that is, an angel's".

The number six hundred and sixty-six is related to two spheres: the invisible, spiritual, and the visible, natural one. The number applies to the spirit of Antichrist as well as to Antichrist and his church himself.

In the shadow of the image in the Old Covenant it strikes us immediately that only two dimensions of Nebuchadnezzar's golden image are mentioned its height was sixty cubits and its width six cubits. The ratio of 10 X 1 indicates that the image had abnormal proportions, and at the same time it also was a case of abominable idolatry and partnership with powers of darkness, (1Cor 10:20). John used the number six hundred and sixty-six to indicate one more dimension of lawlessness. Here there is no indirect worshipping of demons by means of idols but direct fellowship with the Dragon and the Beast by supernatural means.

The antichristian church is a spiritualistic church. Its contact, however, is not via the so-called deceased, rather the human spirit has direct fellowship with the spirits from the Abyss. Thus the church of Antichrist imitates the direct fellowship of the human spirit with the Holy Spirit. As the Holy Spirit makes man into a holy temple in which God dwells, so the spirit of Antichrist will seat himself in the temple that belongs to God, and manifest himself by signs and miracles as if he were god.

The Mark of the Beast refers to those who are baptized in the spirit of the Anti-Christ.

In the same way that there are ‘children’ of God, there are “children of disobedience” too; there are the Sons of God as well as the sons of Perdition; there is the baptism of the Holy Spirit and also the baptism of the spirit of the Anti-Christ.

Those who are baptized in the spirit of the Anti-Christ (the Beast from the Abyss) become ‘one’ with the Dragon and the Anti-Christ; just like when the Sons of God are baptized with the Holy Spirit and become ‘one’ with the Father and the Son.

There is a counterfeit reality to everything from out of the unseen/invisible world of the spirits.
Similarly, there are visible images to portray invisible realities; Jesus used such images when pronouncing His parables. For instance, the Sun is a visible image to illustrate the invisible reality that God is Light. Just as the moon is a visible image to illustrate the invisible reality that Jesus is a “light shining in the darkness” and Who reflects the glory of God … the light of the Sun.
Yet another instance of visible things revealing invisible realities is a cloud. Clouds are formed by the process of millions of droplets of water evaporating/rising from the earth. This is why Jesus is said to come “with clouds”. He comes with His faithful; His faithful form the cloud because their inner man has resurrected from the sea of Death and are now “raised to sit in heavenly places”.

The profound mystery of those inspired by the Spirit of Jesus is that they have been “raised to newness of life” and are intimately connected to God; and are governed by the Spirit of Life.
The abominable mystery of those inspired by the spirit of the Anti-Christ is their connection to the kingdom of darkness and their gradual immunization to the Spirit of God; and are governed by the spirit(s) of Sin and Death.

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King Solomon=666 ?
by Trekker on 2012/6/25 3:55:57
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Hi! Trekker

Oops!
I wanted to add a little something further to my previous comments about the Number 666

The coming of Satan, the coming of the anti-Christ, is also an appearing, a coming which is similar in form to that of Jesus’ coming.

The appearing of the Anti-Christ is not confined to a particular religion or belief system. Rather, the appearing of the Anti-Christ is revealed in the sons of Perdition; in a similar fashion to the appearing of Jesus in the Sons of God.

The spirit of the Anti-Christ is producing weeds … sons of perdition. These are not identified by the religion which they might subscribe to; they are primarily identified by their abhorrence of the truth; their attachment to evil, their hatred towards the Kingdom of Light.

As such, these sons of perdition can be found belonging to any number of groups or religions. After all, religions allow their members to express what is already their inner possessions. So, in this respect, it’s not the religions per say that are the Anti-Christ; religions are merely the gathering places for the sons of Perdition … religions behave similar to the occult tower of Babylon. It’s the not tower that is evil … rather, it is the persons who entered the tower; those who climbed up “into the heavens” illegally via witchcraft/occult.

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King Solomon=666 ?
by Trekker on 2012/6/25 3:55:57
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QUOTE: "The better and more obvious solution is that Nero WAS the anti-christ."==TMK

Why do you say that? There are and have always been MANY anti-Christs. But THEE ANtichrist will rule the entire world, and cause ALL both slave and free, rich and poor, to take the mark and bow down to the image of the beast. So this does not fit Nero, as wicked and satanic as he was. It ALMOST fit Hitler but not quite. Also, The Antichrist will sit upon the throne of the final temple, which hasn't even been built yet. He will be worse than Hitler.

There is also the Great Tribulation, which has not even occurred yet, and the reason we know that is that it will surpass anything that has ever been or ever will be in terms of it's torments and sufferings, etc.

QUOTE: "They assumed that the Pope was Antichrist. He is the head of the Roman or Latin church, as Latin is the language of that church and the Vulgate the Latin version of the Bible."==BLAYNE

Blayne, i always thought so too, but it is clear that THE Antichrist will/MUST be a JEW. So the only way he can be BOTH a Jew AND a pope is if the Vatican becomes so WED to the Jewish nation/Israel that a JEWISH POPE is confirmed.
We currently have a GERMAN pope. So this might be something to watch for. That is one reason i posted another article the other day about Israel having given the Vatican control over a Christian site in Jerusalem or Israel; the Roman church is showing an increasing amount of influence on the government over there and already has control over most if not all "Christian" sites. Many "Jews" (at least in name) also marry Catholics.

Trekker wrote:

"Why do you say that? There are and have always been MANY anti-Christs. But THEE ANtichrist will rule the entire world, and cause ALL both slave and free, rich and poor, to take the mark and bow down to the image of the beast. So this does not fit Nero, as wicked and satanic as he was. It ALMOST fit Hitler but not quite. Also, The Antichrist will sit upon the throne of the final temple, which hasn't even been built yet. He will be worse than Hitler.

There is also the Great Tribulation, which has not even occurred yet, and the reason we know that is that it will surpass anything that has ever been or ever will be in terms of it's torments and sufferings, etc."
_____________________

For your own edification, you might want to expand your eschatological horizons.

I am currently reading a very good commentary by Steve Gregg called "Revelation: 4 views."

It goes through each verse in Revelation and in column format summarizes how the primary commentators supporting each view (historist, preterist, futurist, spiritual) explain each passage.

It is very interesting to see it laid out in side by side column format because it really helps to compare the views and decide for yourself which is best interpreting scripture.

We bring many many presuppostions to our Bible reading based on what we have been taught or raised with. I didn't even realize there WERE alternative views to the "Left Behind" theology until a few years back.

but it is clear that THE Antichrist will/MUST be a JEW.

Brother... It is NOT clear via scripture. If it is, please quote chapter and verse/s where SCRIPTURE states that the anti-Christ is a Jew.

Anything other then that is bearing false witness.

QUOTE:
______________________________________________________________

And a Muslim deceiving even the elect? That seems a bit of a stretch in my opinion. Satan seems far more clever than that.
______________________________________________________________

I wish I could understand this to be true - it would be nice to be able to do so and that it would be for real. But I have seen in the last 50 years such a degradation in beliefs among Christians it defies common sense. Have you ever heard of Chrislam?

From my own personal study of Revelation I am coming to the conclusion that Muslims will be very much involved in the end-times. Given their ruthless methods of exterminating their distractors they would fit the bill. {{{Shudder}}} Time will tell.

John directed his prophecy to a Church that was undergoing intense persecution.

There are multiple statements like "must shortly come to pass" and "are about to take place" and "the time is at hand."

What good would it do those early readers of the epistle if it was talking about muslims (or any other power) taking over the world in the 21st century?

The futurist approach to intepreting Revelation is that everything after Ch 3 has not yet taken place.

Is it not possible that the letter was REALLY intended for those early believers and was REALLY meant to encourage THEM in their time of trouble?

In regard to 666, John said to his readers (those actual believers who receieved his letter) that with wisdom and understanding they could discover the number of the Beast and the number of his name. If, however, the Beast was not around in their day, John would have been giving them false information.

I am not saying that some of Revelation is not referring to future events (the second coming, e.g.). But it seems that based on its own language indicating a "soon" fulfillment that we should take those comments plainly, as would have the early believers to whom the book was addressed.

[edit]

QUOTE: "We bring many many presuppostions to our Bible reading based on what we have been taught or raised with. I didn't even realize there WERE alternative views to the "Left Behind" theology until a few years back."==TMK

I never once believed the Left Behind rubbish. Totally unscriptural. And just look at the man who wrote it, and that will tell you all you need to know (Tim LaHaye). Doesn't take all that much discernment.

QUOTE: "Brother... It is NOT clear via scripture. If it is, please quote chapter and verse/s where SCRIPTURE states that the anti-Christ is a Jew.Anything other then that is bearing false witness."==MICCAH

All i am saying is it is clear to me. Some things don't need a chapter and verse. Is suicide a sin (even for the UNbeliever)? Cite me chapter and verse. I think there is enough evidence in the Word to suggest very highly that the Antichrist must/will be a Jew or half-Jew. Who else is a Jewish nation going to accept as the long awaited "messiah"?
Just common sense i think. Was not Judas, the first "son of perdition" a Jew?

Trekker wrote:

"I never once believed the Left Behind rubbish"

That is awesome for you; perhaps you were not raised in churches that taught this. I would say that about 90% of evangelical churches in the USA teach that brand of End Times theology, and the other 10% don't teach about the End Times at all. That has been my experience.

I wish you would address my 6/28, 9:54 post. I am curious about your thinking on this matter.

Luke 17:26-37 And as it was in the days of Noe, so shall it be also in the days of the Son of man. They did eat, they drank, they married wives, they were given in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark, and the flood came, and destroyed them all. Likewise also as it was in the days of Lot; they did eat, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they builded; But the same day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven, and destroyed them all. Even thus shall it be in the day when the Son of man is revealed. In that day, he which shall be upon the housetop, and his stuff in the house, let him not come down to take it away: and he that is in the field, let him likewise not return back. Remember Lot's wife. Whosoever shall seek to save his life shall lose it; and whosoever shall lose his life shall preserve it. I tell you, in that night there shall be two men in one bed; the one shall be taken, and the other shall be left. Two women shall be grinding together; the one shall be taken, and the other left. Two men shall be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left. And they answered and said unto him, Where, Lord? And he said unto them, Wheresoever the body is, thither will the eagles be gathered together.

Left, Left, Left. This is scripture not Tims left behind fantasy.

1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. Wherefore comfort one another with these words.

Eph 1:10 That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him:
Eph 3:2 If ye have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which is given me to you-ward:
Col 1:25 Whereof I am made a minister, according to the dispensation of God which is given to me for you, to fulfil the word of God;

God's Word is fulfilled and will be fulfilled.

In Christ: Phillip

Hi! EverestoSama

Ummm, although I respect your viewpoint about Revelation 13, my view is that the sea in this verse (and many others as well) is an image of spiritual and religious life.

In our days the knowledge of things that belong to the natural world is increasing but, at the same time, the church of Jesus Christ receives insight into the mysteries of the Kingdom of Heaven.

Jesus spoke about this invisible kingdom in parables only: "The Kingdom of Heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and covered up", (Matthew 13:13 and 44). This means that Jesus hid the treasure of the Kingdom of Heaven in parables.

The invisible reality is expressed in images and symbols. We see this throughout the New Testament. It speaks of a New Jerusalem, a Tree of Life in the Paradise of God, a River of Life, of an unquenchable fire, a garment of righteousness, a spiritual Babylon, the true wife and the harlot, etc.
Evil powers are compared with scorpions or abominable birds and with mountains and islands in the sea or with hailstones and fire.

It is a spiritual man's duty to understand the images in which the Kingdom of Heaven is hidden. We must learn to "put our mind on things above"; learn how to transpose the parables (images) into the reality of the heavenly places.

Revelation uses the visible world as a picture of the invisible reality.
The Paradise, for instance, is a picture of the church. The Tree of Life is the image of Jesus Christ, and the Trees of life are the Sons of God. The waters of life in Paradise are an image of the Holy Spirit. The animals after their kind are pictures of the powers in the heavenly places. We think of: a lamb, a dove, a lion, a jackal, a serpent, a scorpion, a dragon, the locusts, and the (foul) birds. Even the heavenly bodies have been created to be 'signs'. The stars and their constellations, for instance, are images of the heavenly armies.

The separation of day and night, light and dark, also has its symbolic meaning. So has the separation between waters and waters. It says that God made the firmament and separated the waters under the firmament from the waters above the firmament. "And God called the firmament Heaven". The firmament was not heaven; it was an image of heaven.

There is a similar separation between spiritual life in the heavenly places and that on earth. The invisible life of man on earth is separated from the spirits in the heavenly places.

The flood of Noah's days is an image of the things that will happen in the latter days. At the flood, the windows of the heavens were opened and also the fountains of the great deep as the waters covered the whole earth. Similarly, the Bible states that in the latter days an invasion of powers from heaven will throw themselves on the earth and the hosts of the powers called up from the Bottomless Pit will cover the earth. The flood is an image of the great tribulation.

The spiritual life of the people who are not in Christ will then be completely overwhelmed by the powers of darkness. Jesus said: "Upon the earth distress of nations in perplexity at the roaring of the sea and the waves, men fainting with fear and with foreboding of what is coming on the world; for the powers of heaven will be shaken" (Luke 21:25-26).

In Revelation waters, wells, rivers and seas are images of spiritual, unseen life. The earth, with its trees, green grass and shrubs, is an image of natural visible life. Man lives on earth as well as on the sea. He has a natural and a spiritual life. The great sea is the image of religious life on earth.

When a person is Born Again, he receives new spiritual life. His spirit detaches itself from the 'sea' and ascends to the heavenly places. He then lives on earth and in heaven. When he dies, he is detached from the earth; but after the spirit he remains in the heavenly places and takes up a permanent dwelling place with Jesus.

People who do not repent remain on earth and on the sea. When they die, the ties with the earth are cut and spirit and soul sink into the depth of the sea, also called the Abyss and Hades.

When the Sons of God and the angels have cleansed the heavenly places from the powers of darkness, the devil is compelled to remove his dwelling place and field of action to the earth. In a horrible way he will seize man's body, soul and spirit, and he will subdue every living thing and connect it to himself. There will be tribulation on earth as has never been before and never will be after. Blessed and holy is he whose life cannot be damaged by the enemy in the heavenly places.

In this context Paul wrote: "The rebellion comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed … for the mystery of lawlessness is already at work" (2Thessalonians 2: 3-7). The Beast that emerges from the sea, the spirit of Antichrist, has always been there. As the Beast in this vision was initially hidden below the surface of the water, so the hidden spirit of Antichrist has done his work in the church. In the endtimes, however, it emerges from the water and reveals itself in its full atrociousness. Then this spirit will be clearly recognizable. The mystery of it's existence then becomes manifest. John said: "I saw a beast rising out of the sea".

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In Revelation 13, the first beast rises from the sea. The sea is a picture of the gentile nations.

But a little further in the chapter we see in verse 11, Then I saw another beast, COMING OUT OF THE EARTH. He had two horns like a lamb, but he spoke like a dragon.
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Hi, again! EverestoSama

If you don't mind, I would like to add something further about the Beast which "rises out of the EARTH".

Adjacent to verse 1, another Beast rises up. This time not from the sea but from the earth.

The earth is the image of natural life, of flesh and blood.

The Beast from the sea was the spirit of Antichrist, but the Beast from the earth is Antichrist himself.

I'm sure that you can see the obvious parallel:
In the church of Jesus Christ we speak of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is the Spirit through whom the Father reveals Himself. He is the Spirit of truth, (John 14:17).
In the same way the Dragon, the enemy of God, reveals himself by the spirit of Antichrist, the spirit of error, (1John 4:6).
Jesus Christ is the Word of God incarnate. Thus He is God's mouth and speaks through the Holy Spirit.
Antichrist is Satan 's mouth, speaking through the spirit from the Bottomless Pit.
The Son of God is truly man.
The Beast rising out of the earth is also a man.
Jesus Christ is the true prophet.
Antichrist is called the False Prophet, (19:20).
The Beast's horns indicate spiritual power.
The Lamb has seven horns and seven eyes, which are images of the seven Spirits of God,(Rev 5:6).
The two horns of the Lamb with which He reveals Himself in the world are the spirit of prophecy and the spirit of power by which signs and miracles occur.
Antichrist speaks as the Dragon, the father of lies and falsehood, (2Thess 2:9-12), "The coming of the lawless one by the activity of Satan will be with all power and with pretended signs and wonders".

So in the visible world antichrist wields the power he received from the Beast from the Bottomless Pit.

Those who live on earth, and consequently are not citizens in the heavenly places, follow Antichrist, and in doing so worship the spirit which is in him.
He who worships the Beast from the Bottomless Pit pays homage to the Dragon, "for he had given his authority to the beast", (v4).
Antichrist works with hidden, occult, and disrupting powers which he receives directly from the Kingdom of Darkness.
The mortal wound in the sixth head, the head of occultism, is healed; more powerfully than ever it supports the religion of the unfaithful anti-Christian church.

QUOTE: "The futurist approach to intepreting Revelation is that everything after Ch 3 has not yet taken place.

Is it not possible that the letter was REALLY intended for those early believers and was REALLY meant to encourage THEM in their time of trouble?

In regard to 666, John said to his readers (those actual believers who receieved his letter) that with wisdom and understanding they could discover the number of the Beast and the number of his name. If, however, the Beast was not around in their day, John would have been giving them false information.

I am not saying that some of Revelation is not referring to future events (the second coming, e.g.). But it seems that based on its own language indicating a "soon" fulfillment that we should take those comments plainly, as would have the early believers to whom the book was addressed."==TMK

TMK, i am responding to this post of your's as you requested...There is not much i have to say to answer you since you have made some very vague statements, nothing specific. You clearly state that SOME of Revelations is meant to be taken for the FUTURE but some was for only the present. Ok. Yet you seem to be suggesting the the number of the beast could only have been meant for John's present time. No. You have to remember that JOHN was receiving a REVELATION, and did not KNOW the time of the end, so it is only natural that in his letters to the 7 churches he would speak as he did.

As for the number 666, it refers to a man. And the verse in Psalms that i gave suggests it refers to Solomon (IN SOME WAY). Now, Solomon was LONG DEAD by the time John wrote his letters to the 7 churches. So to say that John was giving anyone false information in writing about the number of the beast to them because he could only have been writing about someone who was living during JOHN'S life is completely missing the boat; you are altogether missing John's intent.
John was simply relating what he saw and was told in the revelation that he received. If anyone has anything to add to this, or a better explanation by all means do so.

Quote: "Two women shall be grinding together; the one shall be taken, and the other left. Two men shall be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left. And they answered and said unto him, Where, Lord? And he said unto them, Wheresoever the body is, thither will the eagles be gathered together.

Left, Left, Left. This is scripture not Tims left behind fantasy."

But in this very passage-- who is getting "taken out?" Certainly not the righteous. Why? Because when the disciples asked Jesus where they were being taken to He said that where the bodies are, the eagles (or vultures) will gather. In other words, those taken away are DEAD and the carrion birds are circlinng.

These verses are not describing a rapture of the righteous; they are describing a judgment on the wicked.

By golly, you are correct TMK! I had never heard that about that passage before but you surely are correct in saying it is about judgment. Why? Because in the verse immediately BEFORE that one Jesus refers to the flood of Noah and how people were taken out. This is Matthew 24: 39-41:

39 And knew not until the flood came , and took them all away ; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be . 40 Then shall two be in the field; the one shall be taken , and the other left . 41 Two women shall be grinding at the mill; the one shall be taken , and the other left.

This sounds to me like a clear warning of judgment. And see, that is how to determine what an obscure passage means, by examining the verses around it...

Thank you for bringing that verse to my attention! In the past i was always confused about that passage. The Rapture people use it to support their "rapture" theory.

QUOTE: "The Rapture isn't a theory. That one's pretty clear in Scripture as well. Though don't mistake my association with any of that Left Behind pre-trib sort of stuff."==EVERESTOSAMA

Everest, when i use the word "Rapture" i am referring to the Pentacostal belief system of the pre-trib whisking away of believers which they seem to believe is going to occur independently of Christ's Second Coming. Also, as you know, the word "rapture" is nowhere in the Bible, so that is really the only way i CAN take it (the Pentacostal meaning). Of course, the word "Trinity" is not in the Bible either but all TRUE Christians are in agreement on the fact of the Triune Godhead (Father, Son, Holy Ghost), whereas all Christians are NOT in agreement on the issue of being whisked away independently of Christ's Second Coming, etc. etc. So yes, the "Rapture" is a theory. But Christ's Second Coming and all Believers (dead & living) being caught up to meet Him in the air at the sound of the last trumpet UPON HIS RETURN is not. (I might add that no church i ever attended ever used the word "Rapture" to describe this latter event EXCEPT Charismatics/Pentacostals; it was their creation).

Hi! Jeffmar

I read your comments with great interest. Thanks!

I have the opinion that the Antichrist will come from the denominational systems, he will be among the children of God. Judas is the image of this. Judas was among the privileged circle of the 12 apostles. Jesus said: "One of you is a devil!" Judas had tasted the heavenly gift and the good word of God. He fell away!

Matthew 25:5 says, "While the Bridegroom tarried, they ALL slumbered and slept. Satan has brought the entire church into a common, spiritual sleep. It's doesn't say that SOME slept; no, they ALL slept.

Christians have become sleepy and fallen asleep! The whole denominational system of this end-time has spiritually fallen asleep!

Weeds, satanic teachings and views have secretly entered unperceived into the thoughts of Gods children. Matthew 13:25 says, "But while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat, and went his way".

When God’s children sleep spiritually, all sorts of false doctrines and wrong views are able to secretly enter into their mind, and these are wrongly accepted as truth.

Satan weakens and spoils the Word of truth! The Church has to return to the true Word of God, as written in the Scriptures; namely, to God’s everlasting Gospel, (Rev 14:6). In the end-time the everlasting Gospel of God, (the Gospel of the Kingdom) is to be preached to the whole world.

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Re:
by jeffmar on 2012/7/1 7:10:37

Types and shadows of these judgements happened in Noah's Day. They were repeated again in Jeremiah's day. They were fulfilled in actuallity upon Physical Israel in 70 AD. They will be fulfilled again, in fullness, in the Last Days. The Prophetic Law of Dual/Multiple Fulfillment. "The things that were are the things that are, & the the things that shall be." For we know that "God is no respecter of persons." "He changeth not," for "He is the same yesterday, today, & forever." See the Preterists argue, "all these prophecies already happened in 70 AD". I agree to a certain point. They were fulfilled and carried out in physical Israel. A greater fulfillment is yet to come which will be fulfilled on all of Spiritual Israel, the whole earth who names the Name. Only the remnant shall be saved, for a season, & then handed over to the dragon from the Wilderness. It's not either or, but both. Understanding Prophecy isn't like reading and studying for a Chemistry or Accounting Exam. This is all from the Mind of God, laid out from the foundations of the earth. When we see more than the masses, we see but shadows through a glass dimly. Soon we will see as face to face & know even as we are known. PTL!!!
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39 And knew not until the flood came , and took them all away ; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be . 40 Then shall two be in the field; the one shall be taken , and the other left . 41 Two women shall be grinding at the mill; the one shall be taken , and the other left.

Who was wisked away in the Ark? Who were left in the flood of judgement?

Lot was wisked away out of Sodom and told not to even look back, or judgement unto those that were left in Sodom would be the same, proven by Lots wife.

Those that are left are left unto judgement, those that are taken are in the hands of Christ.

The whole context, not just the previous verse.

In Christ: Phillip

Phillip wrote: "Lot was wisked away out of Sodom and told not to even look back, or judgement unto those that were left in Sodom would be the same, proven by Lots wife.

Those that are left are left unto judgement, those that are taken are in the hands of Christ."
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You are reading something into scripture that is simply not there.

In the Luke 17 passage you originally quoted, it says:

"Two men shall be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left. And they answered and said unto him, Where, Lord? And he said unto them, Wheresoever the body is, thither will the eagles be gathered together."

Please note: the disciples ask Jesus directly where those being "whisked" away are being whisked away to. Jesus tells them "where the body is, thither will the eagles be gathered together." The ESV renders vs 37 like this: "Where the corpse is, there the vultures will gather.”

The people who are being whisked away in this passage are being whisked away to judgment. It DOES NOT mean that the wicked are being "raptured" it simply means that judgment will come suddenly.

This passage cannot be used as a rapture prooftext. I am not saying that the Bible does not teach a rapture of the righteous (at the 2nd coming); it simply does not teach it in this passage and the parallel passage in Matthew.

Quote: """This passage cannot be used as a rapture prooftext. I am not saying that the Bible does not teach a rapture of the righteous (at the 2nd coming); it simply does not teach it in this passage and the parallel passage in Matthew."""

Of course this would have to be for those that don't believe in dispensationalism or the rapture. (catching away,"harpazo")

"Left" Strong's Greek Dictionary
863. aphiemi
Search for G863 in KJVSL
ajihmi aphiemi af-ee'-ay-mee
from 575 and hiemi (to send; an intensive form of eimi, to go); to send forth, in various applications (as follow):--cry, forgive, forsake, lay aside, leave, let (alone, be, go, have), omit, put (send) away, remit, suffer, yield up.

See Greek 575

"Taken" Strong's Greek Dictionary
3880. paralambano
Search for G3880 in KJVSL
paralambnw paralambano par-al-am-ban'-o
from 3844 and 2983; to receive near, i.e. associate with oneself (in any familiar or intimate act or relation); by analogy, to assume an office; figuratively, to learn:--receive, take (unto, with).

See Greek 3844
See Greek 2983

Taken; an act of intimate relationship. "Christ in you the hope of glory". Rebirth.

Left; an act of judgement, (suffer)

In Christ: Phillip

QUOT: "Christians have become sleepy and fallen asleep! The whole denominational system of this end-time has spiritually fallen asleep!"==BLAYNE

Actually, no, i think it's much worse than that. All the major denominations have apostasized. That means they are not asleep, but spiritually dead. They aren't even giving the true Gospel anymore, far as i can tell. They have homosexuals in the pulpits, and unrepentent, unrebuked fornicators in the pews.

QUOTE: "Actually the word rapture is in the Bible. However not in the English one. It's the Latin Vulgate's translation of the Greek word harpazō, which means to be snatched up or taken away. Usually translated in the Vulgate as rapiemur from the root word rapio. However the usage comes from the Middle French "rapture"..."=EVERESTOSAMA

I'm sorry, i only recognize those bibles which were translated from the Textus Receptus, not those translated from the Vaticanus manuscripts. The TRUE Greek IS the Textus Receptus. For more on this you can feel free to read G.A. Riplinger's research book, titled "NEW AGE BIBLE VERSIONS".
Regardless of anyone's disagreement with my rejection of all modern translations (which come from the Vaticanus manuscripts) i am not about to budge on this so please don't anyone waste space or breath trying. Prayer and much study led me to this conclusion.

QUOTE: "Now, I agree that this "snatching away" has nothing to do with what many Pre-Trib Pentecostals say it means, but don't let anyone tell you that it's not in the Bible. It most certainly is. However the idea regarding how it's going to go down that many/most are propagating it is not."EVERESTOSAMA

I agree with your assessment of how the Pentacostals mean it.

Now today i read in 2 Chronicles 7: 1 that King Solomon actually saw fire come down from Heaven! I came across this by accident. Must not have registered in my mind in times past, totally weird. Now more than ever i am trying to wrap my head around how "the wisest man on earth" could go from seeing and experiencing all that to worshiping devils.

?????????????????????????????

Yes, and doesnt it make you wonder though, if a man as wise as Solomon can fall into apostasy, what keeps the rest of us poor saps from it? And to stand in the presence of those kind of miracles?!?! WOW. I cannot comprehend it.

WILL happen again? Brother, it already is. The great apostasy is here.

I definitely agree with you there. The delusion is always growing, that is for sure. It's all so very sickening. Like, beam me up Scotty!!