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Featured Article - January 2008
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| Study Revelation? Daniel First, Please! |
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By Dr. Harry Wendt
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Many Christians are fascinated, and often confused, by the book of Revelation. Why? With its cryptic, fiery language and ominous tone, it’s easy to read into Revelation all sorts of portents and warnings about our troubled times. Indeed, there are plenty of books out there—some wildly popular—that insist that the “End Times” must be very near because the “signs” mentioned in Revelation are happening right now.
But people have thought this way for centuries. The “Anti-Christ” has been variously identified with figures such as Emperor Fredrick II of Rome, Napoleon, Hitler, even Saddam Hussein. Yet none of these proved to be the dreaded “Beast.” Why not?
The writer of Revelation was concerned primarily with people of his day–not our day. The “Beast” is most likely a code term for the Roman imperial system, whose potential threat to the early church led John to urge believers to “Stand firm! Keep the faith!”
People have asked me to write a course on Revelation for years. However, if we wish to understand Revelation, we must first mine the message of the Book of Daniel—which is something of an Old Testament “foretaste of things to come” in Revelation.
Daniel was urging the people of his day not to lose heart in the face of oppression and persecution. Furthermore, Daniel adds, some day God’s oppressed people will rise up, crush their foes, and establish political dominion over the world with a reign that will endure forever.
Like John, Jesus also draws on some of the terms used in Daniel. However, when Jesus refers to Himself as the “Son of Man,” He is quoting—yet radically reinterpreting—Daniel to declare that He Himself is the One who has come to establish His Father’s eternal spiritual dominion over the world—a Kingdom designed to serve the world, not dominate it. Theological dynamite!
There is tremendous joy in discovering the deeper truths and profound messages that lie beneath the surface of Holy Scripture. Treat yourself to unlocking these truths by studying the Word! Crossways International offers a total of 10 courses—from the in-depth to simple “first steps” in biblical literacy. Call us toll-free at 1-800-257-7308. Call during regular business hours and you will always get a person—not a voice-mail labyrinth. Our one desire is to get people into the written Word so that they may better understand, believe in, and follow the Living Word—Jesus the forgiving Servant-Messiah.
Harry Wendt |
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