A Recapitulation –
A vision not in chronological order. In chapter 9 and 11 we have the beast coming out of the “bottomless pit” and in chapter 20 the beast is being cast into it. Victorinus was the first to suggest this theory of recapitulation. The bottomless pit is also consistent with the beast that was, is not, and yet is. The two beasts are really the same.
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A Marxist Rider –
A father of communism from the Black Sea. A threat to Christianity. A threat to liberty. A class struggle that would lead to Russia and China. The Church had to be eliminated for communism to succeed. Over 100 million had to be killed. Don’t call it communism or marxism. Call it liberalism, progressivism, or socialism.
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A Common Beast –
A second beast of the Apocalypse. John knows Daniel knows beasts. The beast which he saw was like unto a leopard, and his feet were as the feet of a bear, and his mouth as the mouth of a lion. The “ten horns” also ties them together. Numbers tie history to the fulfillment of prophecy.
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A Great City –
A capital of an empire that lasted a thousand years. Constantinople is Babylon the Great. The Byzantine Empire lasted a thousand years and its capital was Constantinople. At the start there were the seven dynasties of the Roman Empire. At the end there was the tenth dynasty of Islam. All the pieces fit.
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A Caliph –
A sultan, and a perfect fit with Saladin if you know how to count caliphates, sultanates, or dynasties and can tell the difference. Islam can and they counted ten as in ten horns and they shall hate the whore. A connection between Daniel and the Apocalypse. Connected with numbers.
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A Storm and Thunder –
A Russian astronomer claimed John Chrysostom wrote the Apocalypse in 395 based on astronomy. This John was in Ephesus at the beginning of 401. He could have said, “there are seven kings: five are fallen.” At the time, five of the seven dynasties of the Roman Empire had fallen. Really.
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A Brother on Patmos –
A third John who was in Ephesus when Jerome was finishing his Vulgate that included the Apocalypse. At the time it was not clear if it would be. Jerome had to be convinced that it was written by the Apostle. John Chrysostom was in Ephesus replacing seven bishops at the beginning of the fifth century.
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A Christian Empire –
A time when they reigned with Christ. The Byzantine Empire was the only Christian empire to last a thousand years. Its capital, Constantinople, has all the characteristics of Babylon the Great. No other city has them and can be found no more at all. It is a mystery and likely to remain so.
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A Prophecy Again –
A little book eaten by John the Apostle who added the seven churches. He was told to prophesy again. Followers of John the Baptist were found in Ephesus by Paul in Acts 19. This is a reasonable explanation of why John uses his name three times in the first chapter of the Apocalypse. Three different Johns.
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A History –
A fulfillment of prophecy verified with numbers that don’t require interpretation. There are over 50 English translations of the bible that agree on numbers. Big numbers like a thousand is the place to start. There is only one Christian empire that lasted a thousand years and it fits.
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