God's Character Podcast

Sheldon Principles Of Interpretation EGW 3 by God's Character Podcast

Sheldon Principles Of Interpretation EGW 2 by God's Character Podcast

Sheldon Principles Of Interpretation EGW 1 by God's Character Podcast

Most interpreters of Revelation see the 7 Trumpets as the judgments of God against rebellious sinners. This view believes that God's justice requires him to retributively punish. But is God the only person who plays an active role in the book of Revelation? The third trumpet is an allusion to Isaiah 14, the "bright morning star" which is an invitation to interpret demonic activity into the trumpet sequence. In addition, the fifth trumpet refers to the same fallen star who is finally identified as "the Destroyer." Is God the destroyer? Why are Satan and demonic forces marginalized in current Christian theology? Surely nothing damages God's reputation more than to assign Satan's activity as something that God is doing. The entire book of Revelation is to contrast the violently slaughtered Lamb with the dragon who deceptively tries to pass himself off as the lamb-like beast. Let's not confuse the Lamb with the dragon!

Follow along with the powerpoint presentation here - http://www.godscharacter.com/files/ppt/Revelation_8_9_Trumpets.ppt

Most interpreters of Revelation see the 7 Trumpets as the judgments of God against rebellious sinners. This view believes that God's justice requires him to retributively punish. But is God the only person who plays an active role in the book of Revelation? The third trumpet is an allusion to Isaiah 14, the "bright morning star" which is an invitation to interpret demonic activity into the trumpet sequence. In addition, the fifth trumpet refers to the same fallen star who is finally identified as "the Destroyer." Is God the destroyer? Why are Satan and demonic forces marginalized in current Christian theology? Surely nothing damages God's reputation more than to assign Satan's activity as something that God is doing. The entire book of Revelation is to contrast the violently slaughtered Lamb with the dragon who deceptively tries to pass himself off as the lamb-like beast. Let's not confuse the Lamb with the dragon!

Follow along with the powerpoint presentation here - http://www.godscharacter.com/files/ppt/Revelation_8_9_Trumpets.ppt

During medical school in 1988 or 1989, I attended a Daniel and Revelation seminar. Large posters and billboards of beasts, nuclear explosions, tanks and words like "Armageddon" advertised the conference. I don't remember many details, but I do recall much discussion about the rise of Communism predicted in Revelation and a coming war between the United States and the Soviet Union. The preacher added, "God has given us this prophecy so that we are not caught off guard." A few years later, of course, the Soviet Union dropped out of most Revelation seminars to be replaced by more contemporary issues such as terrorism, Islam or Iran. This approach illustrates a problem with most interpretations of this book. What approach should we take? Preterists view Revelation as describing things that have already happened, mainly surrounding the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 A.D. Futurists/dispensationalists, such as the makers of the "Left Behind" series, see this book as a future "dispensation" and have complex charts and graphs to show what will happen in the end. Historicists look to tie the story into an ongoing line of history, eagerly searching for the next pope or world leader to fit into the historical timeline. Is there another approach?

Follow along with the powerpoint presentation here - http://www.godscharacter.com/files/ppt/Revelation_2013_part_1.ppt

During medical school in 1988 or 1989, I attended a Daniel and Revelation seminar. Large posters and billboards of beasts, nuclear explosions, tanks and words like "Armageddon" advertised the conference. I don't remember many details, but I do recall much discussion about the rise of Communism predicted in Revelation and a coming war between the United States and the Soviet Union. The preacher added, "God has given us this prophecy so that we are not caught off guard." A few years later, of course, the Soviet Union dropped out of most Revelation seminars to be replaced by more contemporary issues such as terrorism, Islam or Iran. This approach illustrates a problem with most interpretations of this book. What approach should we take? Preterists view Revelation as describing things that have already happened, mainly surrounding the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 A.D. Futurists/dispensationalists, such as the makers of the "Left Behind" series, see this book as a future "dispensation" and have complex charts and graphs to show what will happen in the end. Historicists look to tie the story into an ongoing line of history, eagerly searching for the next pope or world leader to fit into the historical timeline. Is there another approach?

Follow along with the powerpoint presentation here - http://www.godscharacter.com/files/ppt/Revelation_2013_part_1.ppt

The book of Revelation revolves around the Cosmic Conflict between Christ and Satan. All of the vivid illustrations are for the purpose of explaining the issues in this conflict as well as to define the role that we have to play. At the heart of the controversy is the character of God. The dragon is described as slandering God's name and cleverly imitating and distorting the image of the true Lamb. The central image of God in the book of Revelation as well as the answers to Satan's charges are found in the throne room scene of Revelation 4 and 5. These two chapters are so imaginative in the way God's true character is revealed. Click here (https://www.facebook.com/pages/GodsCharactercom/102112119843672) to comment or discuss.

Follow along with the powerpoint presentation here - http://www.godscharacter.com/files/ppt/Revelation_5_The_Middle.ppt

There are many different interpretations of the seven seals. Who is the rider on the white horse? Does this individual represent a person or a period of church history? Is the rider good or bad? The next three riders are maliciously associated with images of war, famine and death. The seventh seal is most perhaps the strangest of all - - 30 minutes of silence in heaven! The seals make sense if they are taken together as a whole and if the breaking of the seventh seal is allowed to answer the challenge to God's worthiness that was raised in the heavenly throne room scene.

Follow along with the powerpoint presentation here - http://www.godscharacter.com/files/ppt/Revelation_6_8_Seals.ppt

There has been almost an infinite amount of speculation about the meaning of the mark of the beast. The book of Revelation is full of contrasting images that revolve around the distinction between the Lamb and the dragon. Followers of the Lamb are the 144,000 who receive the seal of God; followers of the dragon receive the polar opposite - the mark of the beast. Perhaps the best place to understand the meaning of the 666 then is to first discover what God's seal refers to.

Follow along with the powerpoint presentation here - http://www.godscharacter.com/files/ppt/Revelation_13_Mark_of_Beast.ppt