We know that these are figurative numbers. So why in the book of Revelation, the most figurative book in the New Testament do people take the numbers there literally?
2006-07-20 13:08:33 · 5 answers · asked by old.houndog 3 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Good point
Or else we better be on the lookout for some strange looking creatures.
Also if there is room only for 144,000 it was full long ago
2006-07-20 13:17:31 · answer #1 · answered by beek 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
They don't interpret the Bible with the Bible. Much of the figurative language in Revelation, Mt 24, Mk 13, and Lk 21 is used in the old testament and is obviously not literal there. For example, Isaiah 34:4 says "All the host of heaven shall be dissolved, and the heavens shall be rolled up like a scroll; all their host shall fall down as the leaf falls from the vine..." and verses 9 & 10 state that "Its streams will be turned into pitch, And its loose earth into brimstone, And its land will become burning pitch. It will not be quenched night or day; Its smoke will go up forever..." This passage is talking about God's judgment against Edom (vs 5) which occurred long ago. God used a foreign nation's army to attack Edom. There are many similar passages like this in the OT. Revelation and the Olivet Discourse fortold the destruction of the old covenant and the city of Jerusalem in 70AD by the Romans. So I agree with you if you believe the thousand years in Revelation is not a literal 1000 years.
2006-07-20 20:21:31 · answer #2 · answered by Colts fan 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
because Revelation tells about something that will happen in the future. People want to know exactly what's going on with it. Figurative numbers in the rest of the bible help explain the ideas to the reader, but the figurative numbers in Revelation only make the reader what to know the specifics
2006-07-20 20:16:41 · answer #3 · answered by E 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The numbers in Revelation are prophetical, not literal.
And those prophecies are coming true right before our very eyes! It's amazing!
If you want to know more, go to the following website and take the free Bible Prophecy studies. They are FASCINATING!
2006-07-20 20:18:54 · answer #4 · answered by songoftheforest 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Revelations shows some mysterious prophecies that no really understands.
Shalom
2006-07-20 20:26:12 · answer #5 · answered by Pashur 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋