Posted by Darrell C View Post
But not in your interpretation, in which you have the Word of God needing to be resurrected after dying.
I point to the Bible being placed on an unrestricted platform when the printing press and Bible societies are put in place making it available to all mankind in the language of the people.
Whereas Revelation 11 speaks of death, physical death, in which the Two involved are resurrected then raptured (caught up).
As far as the Word of God being "resurrected" with the invention of the printing press, it has withstood the test of time long before the printing press was invented.
Didn't Darby invent it in the 19th century?
And I would point out that in this day there was only one Testament.
Kind of hard to make the Two Olive Trees of Zechariah 4 the Old and New Testaments.
however at the time of the 1260 years of the dark ages - there are both OT and NT and in Romans 4 God says "A father of many nations I HAVE made you" to Abraham while as yet Abraham had no children at all. God is not limited by time in His statements.
That is a good point, one I will not argue, because it is true we could impose a future reference of the New Testament in many passages.
However, and you knew that was coming, lol, that is not the only indication that the Two Witnesses of Revelation are human, not a spiritualized reference to the Testaments.
In Zechariah 4 we see a clear reference to Zerubbabel in the answer given, and it does speak of the Word and will of God, but, it also includes who His will is effected through.
Furthermore, we see in Christ, the Branch, the combining of the two Offices of High Priest and King.
Zechariah 3:7-9
King James Version (KJV)
7 Thus saith the Lord of hosts; If thou wilt walk in my ways, and if thou wilt keep my charge, then thou shalt also judge my house, and shalt also keep my courts, and I will give thee places to walk among these that stand by.
8 Hear now, O Joshua the high priest, thou, and thy fellows that sit before thee: for they are men wondered at: for, behold, I will bring forth my servant the Branch.
9 For behold the stone that I have laid before Joshua; upon one stone shall be seven eyes: behold, I will engrave the graving thereof, saith the Lord of hosts, and I will remove the iniquity of that land in one day.
Zechariah 6:11-13
King James Version (KJV)
11 Then take silver and gold, and make crowns, and set them upon the head of Joshua the son of Josedech, the high priest;
12 And speak unto him, saying, Thus speaketh the Lord of hosts, saying, Behold the man whose name is The Branch; and he shall grow up out of his place, and he shall build the temple of the Lord:
13 Even he shall build the temple of the Lord; and he shall bear the glory, and shall sit and rule upon his throne; and he shall be a priest upon his throne: and the counsel of peace shall be between them both.
While I would agree that the Two Testaments represent the Will and Word of God, that does not nullify the context of Revelation 11 where it is a stretch to make these two something besides men.
I would also add that presenting the will and Word of God as dying, even if it is just symbolically or figuratively presented, is contrary to every definitive statement in Scripture in regards to the Word of God.
For example (and I won't belabor the point (and don't say Too Late! lol)):
Matthew 5:17-18
King James Version (KJV)
17 Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.
18 For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.
This stands in direct contradiction to the word of God "dying," and is just one more reason to reject a spiritualized interpretation of the Two Witnesses.
In regards to the similarities between Catholics and many Protestants there is no denying those similarities, and when you can show me the Pre-Millennial Catholic I would love to talk to that guy.
The point I am making about the day-for-year 1260 year dark ages with the Catholic church as the persecuting power against the saints - is premillennial and is not promoted by Catholics.
There were many great Catholics, Bob. Jerome, for example, was a great scholar who I personally believe was a sincere believer.
And among Catholics through those dark ages I think we would do God an injustice to assume that there were no born again believers who, like many today...have issues with the denomination or faith they are part of. Who maintained Christ as the Central Figure of Scripture, despite the absconding of power and authority sought by some.
It is when the denomination or faith becomes the center of attention that we see abuses. It is when it becomes more important to defend or advocate a particular sect or faith that we have to question what the motivation for the priority is.
As far as the formula od conversion, I posted how it does not, in my view, maintain a consistency with Scriptural figuratives. What is meant is recorded, and we do not confuse Daniel's "weeks" with days or months, but see them as periods of years. Peter did not create a conversion formula in stating "a thousand years is as a day," but simply meant to say that time is relevant to mankind, not God, Who is Eternal.
God bless.