A Guess
based on what? What would be a literal interpretation? Have you looked at all 59 English translations? Few have. Most know they don’t agree so a literal interpretation is limited to a particular version. You can’t trust the translators or anyone’s interpretation. What can you trust? Numbers.
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A Reliable Means
of interpreting the Apocalypse. Finding the same numbers and colors that fit historical events can confirm the fulfillment of prophecy. They must fit. Not just a few but many if not all. History alone can validate prophecy. The future cannot be trusted. We are not prophets.
A Hypothetical View
of the Apocalypse that fits what is historically known. It relies on numbers and not interpretation. There are over 50 English translations of the Bible and there is very little agreement except when it comes to numbers. A thousand is a thousand. Ten is always ten. Seven is seven. We may not know what “heads” are but we can be sure there are seven of them.
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A Missing Martyr
with Eusebius and Victorinus. Antipas can not be found in the Church History of Eusebius or in the Commentary of Victorinus. The missing stuff is adding up. Can it be explained? Has any one tried to? There is reasonable explanation. They were both looking at copy of the Apocalypse that didn’t have Antipas, the churches, or Jesus. They just had the Lamb.
A Folly
according to Newton. What is your interpretation based on? The bible? Which translation? There are 59 different English translations plus revisions. They don’t agree. The differences are significant. Many are uncomfortable with the word interpretation because somehow they understand the original intent of the written word. Who or what can you believe?
A Necessary Ingredient
to verify the fulfillment of prophecy. Your interpretation can prevent you from identifying the historical events that have been prophesied. Numbers do not require interpretation. All bible translations agree on numbers and colors. That is where you need to start.
A Cottage Industry
that goes beyond home bible studies. It uses private interpretation of ambiguous phases in prophecy to support a particular agenda. It ignores two thousand years of history simply because it doesn’t fit with preconceived interpretations. History is the only advantage we have over the early fathers of the Church so why not use it? How can we use prophecy to search history without first interpreting it? Numbers. Numbers and possibly colors don’t require interpretation. Start with numbers. Big numbers like a thousand.
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A Literal Interpretation
when different bibles use different words. Numbers and some colors are the only words you can rely on. Especially when it comes to prophecy. How can you be sure a historic event fulfills what has been prophesied? Numbers. Numbers that fit historical events. Almost all the bibles agree on numbers. No interpretation required. Use them.
A Bigger Problem
compared to the problem with interpretation if you are looking for the king of the north. There are eight different words in 52 different translations: princes 24, commanders 10, officers 7, officials 5, generals 2, leaders 2, principalities 1, subordinates 1. The word prince suggests a family member unlike the other seven words which have a common meaning. Makes you wonder about words used in other parts of the bible. These are major differences in words used before you get to the problem of interpreting them. Reader beware.
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A Design
“Amongst the Interpreters of the last age there is scarce one of note who hath not made some discovery worth knowing; and thence I seem to gather that God is about opening these mysteries. The success of others put me upon considering it; and if I have done any thing which may be useful to following writers, I have my design,” a quote that can be found in “Observations On Daniel and the Apocalypse of St. John” by Sir Isaac Newton, an online book that is searchable. Newton spent a lot of time investigating the Apocalypse and his views should be considered by anyone who wants to understand.
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