Revelation Day 27

But aren’t we still waiting for the promise of Abraham’s descendants to be as the stars, dust of the ground, and sand on the seashore—a future eschatological event?

Day 27

B. Hodge, M.Sc., B.Sc., PEI

 Biblical Authority Ministries, June 28, 2020 (Donate)

Abraham was given a beautiful promise to which he never lived to see fulfilled. In Genesis 13:16, 15:5, and 22:17, he was told that his descendants would be as numerous as the “dust of the earth”, “sand on the seashore”, or as the “stars in heaven” if he could count them. This was reiterated to Jacob, Abraham’s grandson, in Genesis 26:4, 28:14, and 32:12. 

Yet so few realized that this was fulfilled quickly as God gave the increase (Deuteronomy 1:10, 10:22, Joshua 11:4, 1 Samuel 13:5, 1 Kings 4:20, Psalm 139:18, Isaiah 10:22, and Hebrews 11:12).

In Deuteronomy 28:62, it was prophesied through Moses that though they would reach this metaphorical number, they would be reduced to a remnant (Isaiah 48:18-19 with Romans 9:27).

And all of this came true. God is the one responsible for multiplying Abraham’s descendants and this exceeding increase came to Israel. And the Egyptians recognized this and wanted to do something about this population explosion occurring with the Israelites—hence enslaving them and trying to kill their baby boys in an effort to control them!

But the children of Israel were fruitful and increased abundantly, multiplied and grew exceedingly mighty; and the land was filled with them. (Exodus 1:7)

But the more they afflicted them, the more they multiplied and grew. And they were in dread of the children of Israel. (Exodus 1:12)

Therefore God dealt well with the midwives, and the people multiplied and grew very mighty. (Exodus 1:20)

Now is this increase a problem? No. It is not a problem for an all-powerful God to make the promise and keep it. There is no problem for God to make the Israelites as numerous as He promised. It would only be a problem if God hadn’t kept his promise, but that did not occur.  

This would only be a problem if we allege that God had no part and that the increase of Israelites could only be done by human means. That is, by naturalistic means. But this population growth is no problem whatsoever for God as the promise was fulfilled. After the Exodus, the Lord comments (see also Numbers 23:10 and Hosea 1:10): 

The LORD your God has multiplied you, and here you are today, as the stars of heaven in multitude (Deuteronomy 1:10). 

The book of Hebrews relates:

Therefore from one man, and him as good as dead, were born as many as the stars of the sky in multitude — innumerable as the sand, which is by the seashore. (Hebrews 11:12)

God’s promises to the house of Israel came to pass and were fulfilled (Joshua 21:44-45). Abraham’s spiritual descendants continue to grow as well (Galatians 3:29). As it is, Abraham is to be the heir of the world (Romans 4:13).

Read Deuteronomy 1:10, 10:22, Joshua 11:4, Judges 7:12, 1 Samuel 13:5, 1 Kings 4:20,  Psalm 139:18,  Isaiah 10:22, and Hebrews 11:12.

Revelation Day 10

Are the sun, moon, and stars in Revelation in reference to the literal sun, moon, and the stars (Revelation 6:12, 8:12, and 12:1)?

Day 10

B. Hodge, M.Sc., B.Sc., PEI

Biblical Authority Ministries, May 27, 2020 (Donate)

The context indicates something that yields a metaphorical nature. Here are the verses in question:

Revelation 6:12  I looked when He opened the sixth seal, and behold, there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became like blood.

Revelation 8:12  Then the fourth angel sounded: And a third of the sun was struck, a third of the moon, and a third of the stars, so that a third of them were darkened. A third of the day did not shine, and likewise the night.

Revelation 12:1  Now a great sign appeared in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and on her head a garland of twelve stars. (NKJV)

Phrases such as the “woman clothed with the sun”, the “moon became like blood”, the “sun became black”, a “third of the sun was stuck and it only shown a third of the day”, help us realize that this needs to be interpreted by other Scriptures and not in a “wooden” literal sense.

Acts 2:20 nearly mimics where the “the sun shall be turned into darkness, And the moon into blood”. The Gospel accounts in the context of tribulation and the Temple’s and Jerusalem’s destruction say:

Matthew 24:29  "Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken.

Mark 13:24-25  "But in those days, after that tribulation, the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; "the stars of heaven will fall, and the powers in the heavens will be shaken.

Luke 21:25  "And there will be signs in the sun, in the moon, and in the stars; and on the earth distress of nations, with perplexity, the sea and the waves roaring; (NKJV)

But this is still not the first metaphorical use of Sun, Moon, and Stars. Such things were prophesied previously by Joel in 2:10; 2:31; and 3:15. Other prophets use this imagery as well such as Isaiah in 13:10. So where is this imagery from? The answer is in Genesis. The first use of a metaphorical nature of the Sun, Moon, and Stars is:

Genesis 37:9-10

Then he dreamed still another dream and told it to his brothers, and said, "Look, I have dreamed another dream. And this time, the sun, the moon, and the eleven stars bowed down to me." So he told it to his father and his brothers; and his father [Israel] rebuked him and said to him, "What is this dream that you have dreamed? Shall your mother and I and your brothers indeed come to bow down to the earth before you?" (NKJV)

This image of Israel (i.e., Jacob and the twelve tribes) were seen as the sun, moon, and stars collectively. So the meaning reveals itself that Israel will be darkened (e.g., Matthew 21:33-44, Matthew 23:31-39) and turned to blood as Jesus indicated would happen with their destruction.