The Apocalypse of John still poses a mystery. At least that is what is claimed by those who would like to keep the understanding of the prophecies obscure. An “EKD expert” advises ignoring the book of Revelation and the end times. Rather take care of the world.
Inhalt / Content
The “big question” about the end times
Studying theology doesn’t seem to convey quite what it promises. A theologian who claims to have studied theology turned to the “team of experts” from the media mouthpiece of the Evangelical Church in Germany (EKD) and wanted to know what role the “end times or apocalypse” actually played. She referred to the statements of many free churches who claimed that the end times are already here and that Jesus is coming back soon (Source).
EKD specialist believes he can answer
The answering “expert “” emphasized right at the beginning that “apocalypse” and “end times” are not “quite the same thing”. A distinction is very important because Christians have been expecting the end times for 2000 years. The apocalypse was about it a book of the Bible. In this book you will find the descriptions of what is about to happen, how it comes about and that the kingdom of God is coming.
Jesus Christ left out
In fact, “end times” and “apocalypse” have something to do with each other, but are not identical. The word “apocalypse,” often misused as “end of the world,” means nothing other than “revelation.” It comes from the Greek (“apokalýptein”) and means “to reveal”. So uncovering, disclosure or revelation. In this book, as in individual chapters of the book of Daniel in the Old Testament, the end times are reported.
The “expert” also points out the differences and the origin of the term “apocalypse”. John wrote this down on the island of Patmos. The “expert” describes him as a “seer” who told about his visions.
However, the explanation would only have been complete if the “expert” had also named the author of these visions. This information is found right at the beginning of the “Apocalypse,” Revelation 1:1-2:
“The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him, to shew unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass; and he sent and signified it by his angel unto his servant John: Who bare record of the word of God, and of the testimony of Jesus Christ, and of all things that he saw.“
Why this detail does not appear to be important would remain a mystery.
Revelation cannot be understood
The descriptions in Revelation are “full of symbolism and it is no wonder that attempts are made again and again to decipher these symbols,” said the “EKD expert”. However, the code is not available and was possibly in the possession of those to whom this disclosure was addressed, according to the “expert”.
With this, the “expert” makes it clear that the book of Revelation is completely incomprehensible, that it cannot be understood at all. The “code key” for the symbols does not exist, so any attempt to understand these prophecies is completely futile. “We,” said the “expert,” are only able to understand John’s message as a motivation to persevere in difficult times. Johannes uses “scary images” and compares them with other images that made everything, “really everything,” look good.
Revelation should be read
With this clear signal of (own) incomprehension, the “expert” contradicts the clear indication of Jesus Christ, Revelation 1:3:
“Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand.“
Jesus Christ calls on you to read this prophecy, to hear the message and also to “keep” it, i.e. to take it to heart and act accordingly. Just as Jesus Christ called on people to read the book of Daniel and understand it in his so-called end-time speech, Matthew 24:15:
“When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand:)“
If one followed the “expert’s” argument, then only those people who had the “code conclusions of revelation”, i.e. a small, select group at “that time” could be saved.
“Code Key” of Revelation
The “EKD expert” claims that a key is needed to understand the code of revelation. He’s not entirely wrong, because the symbols in the “Apocalypse” also want to be understood correctly. But anyone who reads Revelation, the last book of the Bible, also has the key in their hand. It is the Bible itself.
Be it a woman, a whore, the dragon, a golden cup, a (strange) beast, any two witnesses, etc., the Bible itself provides the meaning of each symbolism in a different place. For example, anyone who reads about a dragon in Revelation 13:2 and 13:11 will even get the answer in the same book as to who or what is meant by a dragon, Revelation 12:9:
“And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.“
This applies to all symbols in Revelation. A list of the symbols in Revelation, including an explanation and the explanatory Bible passage, can be found – here.
Nobody knows the beginning of the “end times”
The theologian who asked the question was also interested in whether the end times would come soon. The “EKD specialist” pointed out that Jesus gave clear answers to this. Only God knows when the time will come and “we” cannot know it, and that “we” should expect it at any time, because it will happen “all of a sudden”. The “EKD expert” referred to Mark 13:33-37 (and others).
Careless mixing of end and end time
At this point it becomes clear that the “expert” is either confusing “the end” with “end time”, or is simply ignoring the difference and lumping them together. Mark 13:33-37 describes the time of the “great finale”, i.e. the return of Jesus Christ. However, the “end times” are a continuous period over a certain period of time.
The book of Revelation describes the events during these end times and culminates in the “great end” in which Jesus Christ returns. Even then everything is not over yet, because there follows a phase of 1000 years (millennium) and then the “final judgment” and finally the arrival of the “New Jerusalem” as well as the creation of a new heaven and a new earth.
What “we” don’t know is the day and hour of the return of Jesus Christ. But what “we” observe very well and can therefore recognize is the beginning and the course of the “end times”. And we are actually in the middle of it. Actually already in the last throes of the end times. How can this be determined? Just based on revelation. The book that the “expert” discredits with his answer as completely incomprehensible.
“Working for the good of the world”
Since, according to this “EKD expert”, “we” do not know when the end times will come, but many people “constantly talk about the end of the world”, there is no longer enough effort for the “well-being of this world”. “We Christians” have always had this problem, according to the “expert”. That’s why the Bible exhorts us to always be patient and ready “while doing what is good for ourselves and the world.”
Just ignore the warning?
This “EKD specialist” focuses on the “well-being of this world” and calls for people to care more about this than about the end times. So everything the “expert” explained and recommended fit together well. The statement is simply, “Don’t worry about the prophecies in Revelation, as they are completely incomprehensible anyway, and rather care about the well-being of this world, because the end times are not yet here and we do not know when they will come.”
He could also have said, “Include yourself and then go back to sleep.” Anyone who reads Revelation will also recognize that it is essentially a continuation of the book of Daniel (chapters 10 to 12). Revelation explains exactly who God’s adversary is, who the adversary’s henchmen are and what goals are being pursued. But this “expert” recommends worrying about the well-being of this world rather than the immensely important message and warning given by Jesus Christ.
A “world expert”
This “EKD expert” is apparently a “friend of this world”, James 4:4:
“ know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.”
and “this world” also has a current ruler whose identity can be clearly determined.
John 12:31:
“Now is the judgment of this world: now shall the prince of this world be cast out.”
John 14:30:
“Hereafter I will not talk much with you: for the prince of this world cometh, and hath nothing in me.”
John 16:11:
“Of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged.“
This “prince” is identical to the dragon mentioned in the “Apocalypse”. A “friend of this world” also has this “prince” as his master.
Desired non-knowledge
The prophetic book of Daniel and the Apocalypse of John complement each other. Both books of the Bible, which can be understood even by a layperson, expressly point out the great dangers that the “expert” probably only sees with his hands covered (Info). The Bible, the Word of God, is given to man, not to the (self-proclaimed) expert.
At this point one can only speculate as to why it might be in the interest of the former Protestant churches and thus also of the “experts” that the revelation should not be understood. It is clear from the prophecies that the papacy and the (fallen) once Protestant churches are the (symbolic) “mother of all whores” and her many daughters. Here the fallen EV churches also play the role of the “false prophet”.
Mystical code key superfluous
Contrary to the claims of the “EKD expert”, there is no need for some “mysterious” key to understand the apocalypse. The Bible also explains the meanings of each existing symbol (Symbol-Liste).
Individual chapters from Revelation
- Revelation, Chapters 2 and 3 – Epistle – here
- Revelation, Chapter 11 – Two Witnesses – here
- Revelation, Chapter 11 – The Beast from the bottomless pit – here
- Revelation, Chapter 12 – The verses in detail – here
- Revelation, Chapter 13 – The Two Beasts – here
- Revelation, Chapter 13 – Details Beast from Earth – here
- Revelation, Chapter 17 – Sequence of Beasts and Kings – here
- Revelation, Chapter 18 – Judgment on Babylon – here
- Revelation details – beast, woman, whore, city – here
And saying, Alas, alas, that great city, that was clothed in fine linen, and purple, and scarlet, and decked with gold, and precious stones, and pearls!
Revelation 18:16
Bible verses from King James Version
