Revelation Day 20

Was the nation of Israel the Harlot (i.e., the adulterous wife) who has been cast out and finally judged for rejecting her husband (God) who had come to them in the flesh? Who is Israel now?

Day 20

B. Hodge, M.Sc., B.Sc., PEI

Biblical Authority Ministries, June 11, 2020 (Donate)

The Old Testament equates Israel (and Judah, seen collectively as “Israel” or the “Jews”) and Jerusalem—the seat of power for Israel specifically—as the bride or wife of God; and when she turned her back on God, she was playing the harlot and committing adultery against God. Jeremiah 3:20 says “Surely, as a wife treacherously departs from her husband, So have you dealt treacherously with Me, O house of Israel," says the LORD.”

Many times the nation of Israel, the Jews, or Jerusalem was seen as the harlot involved in adulteries against God: Jeremiah 3:1-9, 9:2, 13:27, 23:14; Isaiah 1:21, 5:1-7; 13:1-10; Hosea 2:4, 4:15, 7:1-4, 9:1; Ezekiel 6:9, 16:1-2; 16:15-41, 23:37-43; Judges 8:33; 2 Chronicles 21:11-13.

Keep this in mind when reading Leviticus 20:10, Matthew 12:39, and Mark 8:38. The Jews at the time of Christ were no different, outside of the saved remnant. For they did not seek after Christ but rejected Him and crucified Him and persecuted the Christians who followed Christ—even Saul (Paul) was doing this.

The Jews rejected Christ their king as John 19:15 records, “But they cried out, "Away with Him, away with Him! Crucify Him!" Pilate said to them, "Shall I crucify your King?" The chief priests answered, "We have no king but Caesar!"” Their harlotry culminated at this very moment as they told God the Son, to His face, that they held to a human king (and a “beast” of Daniel no less) over Him.   

The blood of all the prophets that was shed, much by the hand of Israel, was to be charged to this first century generation as Luke 11:51 points out, "from the blood of Abel to the blood of Zechariah who perished between the altar and the temple. Yes, I say to you, it shall be required of this generation.” The Jews assembled in Jerusalem in Matthew 27:25 responded when crucifying Christ by saying, “And all the people answered and said, "His blood be on us and on our children."

Considering that Israel was previously annihilated and the Temple previously destroyed (with the exception of a remnant sent into captivity) for their constant rejection of God and His prophets in the Old Testament…should we not expect judgment upon the Jews who killed the One the prophets warned them about, the God-Man, Jesus Christ?

The Harlot was the nation of Israel (the Jews) being led by the Great City, Jerusalem (Revelation 11:8). This is why there is a need for a New Jerusalem (Galatians 4:25-26, Hebrews 13:14, Revelation 3:12, 21:2-9).

Descriptors of the Harlot being Israel/Jerusalem

1. Where the Lord was Crucified (Revelation 11:8)

2. Drunk by the blood of the Saints (Acts 9:13, 26:10)

3. Blood dripped by her attacks on the Martyrs (constant persecution of the church—(e.g., Acts 8:1-4, 11:19, 14:2, 17:13, 23:27, 1 Corinthians 15:9, Galatians 1:13)

4. Called the “Great City” (Revelation 11:8, 16:19, 17:18, 18:10, 18:16-21)

5. Responsible for the blood of the prophets (Matthew 23:29-37, Luke 11:47-50, Acts 7:51-52, 8:1-3, Romans 11:2-3, 1 Thessalonians 2:14-15)

6. Called Babylon (doubtful this is Babylon [of Nebuchadnezzar’s day] since it had been utterly destroyed and a ruin by the time the Parthian Empire took it over in 141 BC and is still desolate today! Rome took it over in AD 114-117 but waltzed right through it (still being largely a ruin). As a result of this, some early commentators suggested "Babylon" was a metaphor for Rome in 1 Peter 5:13 and Revelation. However, John equates Babylon  with the “the Great City” which is talked about extensively in Revelation and is the place where the Lord was crucified, Revelation 11:8, 16:19, 17:18, 18:10, 18:16-21. It makes sense that Peter was alluding to Jerusalem being Babylon in 1 Peter 5:13 as his ministry was directed to the circumcised of Israel and the Apostles' constant persecution there—Acts 9:32, Galatians 2:8.) This makes much sense of the unbelieving Israelites collectively who was the harlot that betrayed God and aligned herself with Rome over Christ.

7. Called Sodom (again Sodom was equated with the “Great City” where the Lord was crucified, Revelation 11:8, 16:19, 17:18, 18:10, 18:16-2)

8. Called Egypt (again Egypt was equated with the “Great City” where the Lord was crucified, Revelation 11:8, 16:19, 17:18, 18:10, 18:16-21)

9.The city will be divided into thirds at judgment in Revelation 16:19 (Ezekiel 5:1-5 says this is Jerusalem’s future)

10. Jerusalem and the Israel were often referred to as the “Harlot”, “Prostitute”, and adulterous in the Bible (e.g., 2 Chronicles 21:11-13, Psalm 106:39-40, Isaiah 1:21, Jeremiah 3:1-8, 13:27, Ezekiel 24:4-30, Hosea 4:12, 5:3-5, etc.)

So who is Israel? Israel is a name God selected and gave to His people, beginning with Jacob (who was given the name Israel). Israel is God’s people. Romans 9:6 point out that “they are not all Israel, which are of Israel.” Christians are now grafted into the remnant of Israel (Romans 11:1-27), the true bride of Christ (Revelation 22:14-17), having many natural branches pruned from Israel (Romans 11:17).

This is why Christians are the spiritual seed of Abraham (Romans 4:6-18). Whether Jew or gentile, we are all in the same boat and in need of Jesus Christ to be re-grafted into Israel. This is sometimes called "Grafted Theology". 

Read Genesis 12:1-3, Romans 4:13, 10:12, Galatians 3:28.

Revelation Day 5

How should Revelation be interpreted?

Day 5

B. Hodge, M.Sc., B.Sc., PEI

Biblical Authority Ministries, May 22, 2020 (Donate)

It is written as prophecy, so it should be interpreted as prophecy. Proverbs 8:8-9, 2 Corinthians 4:2, and so on indicate that the Word of God should be taken plainly/straightforward. With this, metaphors are metaphors, songs are songs, literal history is literal history, prophecy is prophecy, and so on. 

So it would be unwise to interpret Revelation as anything other than prophecy and this makes it a unique book among the New Testament collection. In every case, one should keep in mind context and culture, and thus, take the grammatical, historical approach where Scripture interprets Scripture, so when in doubt, always go with clear passages to interpret passages that are unclear (Acts 17:11). This is surely one aspect of what is meant by rightly dividing the Word of Truth (2 Timothy 2:15).

Prophetic books in the Old Testament were essentially about judgment (or the threat thereof). It would be wise to consult the prophetic books in the Old Testament for allusions and quotations and how they were used.

Well-known research by Merrill Tenney [professor of theological studies and dean of the Graduate School of Theology at Wheaton College] found that there are 348 clear references and allusions (so there could be more) to the Old Testament in Revelation. The breakdown was:

57 Pentateuch (5 books of Moses)

235 Prophets

56 Historical and Poetic Books

This does not include New Testament quotes and allusions, but so much depends on the Old Testament. So a good grasp on the Old Testament, especially the prophetic books, would be wise for proper understanding of the book of Revelation. It is maintained by this author that without a proper understanding of Old Testament prophecy, it would be difficult to understand New Testament prophecy.

Table 2: Old Testament Prophetic Books[1]:

	Book	About whom (primarily)?	Major theme or threat:
1	Isaiah	Judah	Judgment
2	Jeremiah	Judah	Judgment
3	Daniel	Four beasts/kingdoms: Babylon, Medo-Persian, Greece, and Rome	Judgment and demise
4	Ezekiel	Jerusalem and others	Judgment
5	Joel	Judah and other nations	Judgment
6	Jonah	Nineveh	Judgment
7	Obadiah	Edom (Esau)	Judgment
8	Hosea	Israel	Judgment
9	Amos	Israel, Judah and other nations	Judgment
10	Micah	Judah, Israel, and Samaria	Judgment
11	Nahum	Nineveh	Judgment
12	Habakkuk	Judah	Judgment
13	Zephaniah	Judah and other nations	Judgment
14	Haggai	Jews who returned from captivity	Judgment of gentile nations and restoration from Judgment
15	Zechariah	Jews who returned from captivity	Restoration from Judgment, but future judgment
16	Malachi	Jews	Judgment

Do not forget that Revelation is a prophetic book of judgment. 12 of the 16 Old Testament books of prophecy were directed toward Israelite nations (e.g., Jews, Israel, Judah, Samaria, and Jerusalem) who were or had been in rebellion against God. The follow up question is simple. To whom is the major judgment about in Revelation?

[1.]  At the onset of the book of Revelation, we see judgmental words to six of the seven churches in Asia Minor (modern-day Turkey). But this is more of an encouragement to stand strong and endure until the coming judgment discussed further in the book (Revelation 1:11-4:1). 

[2.]  The majority of the book of Revelation discusses the judgment of the Harlot/Prostitute also figuratively called the “Great City”, Babylon, Sodom, Egypt, which is described as the place where the Lord was crucified (e.g., Revelation 11:8, 17:15-16, 19:2; see also Deuteronomy 28:27, 28:60, 29:23; Isaiah 1:9-10; 3:8-9; Jeremiah 23:14; Ezekiel 16:1-2, 16:44-58; Amos 4:10-11; Lamentations 4:6). In the judgment, the Harlot is destroyed by the very Beast she rides (Revelation 17:1-16).

[3.]  At the end of Revelation, we also see the final judgment of the great Dragon, Serpent of old, Devil, or Satan who is bound (restrained), then released, and then eternally cast into Hell (Revelation 20:2, 20:10). We also see the demise of the beast and the false prophet in Hell (Revelation 20:10), and the unbelievers for eternity (Revelation 20:12-15). This portion of the book is about the eternality of judgment and the eternality of life for those in Jesus Christ. 

More on these identifications in due time—for example on Day 20 is a discussion of the Harlot. 

Read Revelation 4 and Ezekiel 1, Matthew 23:37, and Revelation 17-19:2. 

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[1] There were many prophets, including Moses; and there were other prophets, who wrote no books like Abel or Nathan.