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Yeah! And, seen from the perspective that an apocalypse doesn't need to have each thing represent something, or any of it, outside of the larger story, then we don't need to get tripped up on details. The early church wasn't. And just as one example, people try to figure out which seal we are in or something - - but the point being made through that whole thing is answering this question : who is worthy to open the seals? It's revealing Jesus!

@@ReverendElation 👍 Exactly

Thanks so much for your question! The way many of our awesome churches have taught, with no good reason to think this way, is that things in Revelation need a correlation in some real life event. There are a couple problems with this way of reading apocalypses this way. Firstly, they only find parallels for things they can sort of understand--like the passage on the Mark of the beast, they find one thing they understand like "no buying or selling" and make a connection while ignoring all the other things spoken--even including the marks on the foreheads of believers three verses later. But if someone is going to try to make one thing literal, especially in something like apocalypse or poetry, they need good reason for it. (Like the real star placement above Jerusalem at Jesus birth that John includes in Revelation 12). Secondly, if we consider that this message being revealed meant something, we must ask, what is being revealed that the first century Christians would have received as their message? For this answer, we can look to things like the next chapters, 21 and 22, and notice the parallels with the Messianic prophecies and New Covenant Christian life and the terms and ideas expressed that are yanked from Isaiah and other places. New Heavens and New Earth, being the bride, living among His people etc are all things the Christian experiences now--and that the 1st century church did then as well. I'll be unpacking this a bit more as I go, but for a fun exercise into how it would have been given by God, find an audio book of Revelation (I recorded one here on my channel) and, instead of how people often do in looking for connections to modernity, just let the story wash over you with no preconceived ideas--listening how you would to a reading of a fantasy story, with good guys and bad, persecution trials, and victory for the saints who persevere and at its highest ideal: the revealing (Revelation) of Jesus Christ is is worthy, who defeated the prince of this world, and who is King of kings, and God's chosen, even God Himself. That's how a book written in the genre of apocalypse was written, and this one so happens to have 7 specific prophecies in it, cool insight into situations surround Jesus birth, John breaking the fourth wall to tell people what 666 or 616 meant, and a couple other surprises. Bless you as you see Revelation in a whole new way :)

Thanks for your question! Eze 28:23 explicitly states that it was a pestilence/plague that was to come to the city of Sidon. This was given in the middle of prophecies against many other kings and lands of Ezekiel's day like Tyre, Edom, Egypt, Moab, etc. Many are tempted to find connections of these prophecies that were given several hundred years before Christ, Ezekiel 1 in the year 593 to be exact, which was 4 years after they went into Babylonian Exile and 7 years before Solomons temple was destroyed. These were perilous, world changing times and God didn't leave His people- who were in exile according to their own sin-without His promised judgments on their enemies for their role in their demise, all while giving promises for things to come, like the new covenant in Eze 36, that would ensure separation and exile from His presence no longer. I understand how many in the centuries past would have looked for things in scripture to experience in their day, but Sidon was a very real city with very real rulers and it's a bit of a stretch to think God told Ezekiel to tell them about their punishment 2600 years early, to the prince of Sidon who wouldn't care, or that over this time that God would bring judgment on other inhabitants because of their zip code due to the very real sin that happened in the 6th century BC political climate against those in Israel who were in covenant then. Bless you! Thanks for your question!

@@ReverendElation When specifically in the history of Sidon was there pestilence/ plague AND and the slain shall fall in her midst, by the sword that is against her on every side? This was not fulfilled according to the biblical text by the Babylonians or the Persians .

After it was prophesied, and the plague (not war) described in terms that are apocalyptic (not necessarily literal though describing retribution). Remember why these proclamation were made: these countries/cities/tribes were the enemies of Israel for centuries, and participated in their rebellion and their exile. Without the contextual understanding of scripture, we are liable to make anachronistic mistakes--which so many end times teachers have done. And in doing so, keeping us from the actual historical context, knowing what God's word actually meant, and then when you get to places like the New Covenant and Messianic prophecies they still put them in the future now, when the Messiah came and did what those prophecies said they would. It's wild. Understanding scripture in its original context, hearing and knowing it as it's intended audience would have understood it, is the first step to Biblical interpretation, but many who eschew education and boldly embrace ignorance and wear it like a badge have sold us a story for a long time while completely ignoring the things one would learn in the 1st year of seminary. As for wanting to know specifics on the history of Tyre and Sidon and Egypt and philistia and all of their centuries long issues with Israel and the many prophecies towards them in Ezekiel and many other books, they can be found in good notes or commentaries, and frankly aren't worth memorizing if it's not your specialty because who cares about the wars of Israel in 673BC when there is so much to know and learn and experience that actually is written with us as partakers like the New Covenant, Baptism of the Holy Spirit and the Kingdom the Saints recieved.

@@ReverendElation If you want to ignore the biblical text that is your choice. The biblical text is CLEARLY describing the literal killing ( SWORD) of the people from Sidon. These events are going to be fulfilled in the future.

The passage you referenced in 28 specifically says pestilence which is specifically a plague. And the idea of falling by the sword on every side is a idiomatic phrase comparing the plague to war. We need to read clearly and in context, and be able to see what is literally referenced and understand Hebrew linguistic contexts otherwise you will be waiting for something that happened, and you will think something in Isaiah that happens for a certain reason to a certain people and all before the New Covenant is something that's could possibly happen to you or another. I don't understand how you ignored the logic of God clearly referencing a judgment against a certain government in Sidon for their oppression of Israel, and someone taught you that it's to come in the future to people who didn't oppress Israel in Ezekiel's day, and you think that's just or normal? I understand the temptation to try to find mystical things and apply it to us, but Christianity is full of actual mystical things and we don't need to listen to those who taught us that it applies to the future, but not Egypt, philistia, Tyre, etc who actually committed the crimes at the time. Imagine that! These are the same types who think prophecies to the coasts and islands afar off means America, when obv they didn't even know the western hemisphere existed. We really need to be good stewards of the mind and intellect God gave us, and, you need to be able to hear a perspective that's different without claiming someone isn't believing the Bible because they didn't come up with your conclusion. I have reasons, and I've given them, and it's based on things you never considered studying and that you didn't argue against. We need to be better, and you need to seek peace and not flip out at someone who is taking time to engage, who has also taken plenty of time to study this from many perspectives at high levels. And why is that important? With more knowledge and perspectives we can find the truth--and if we miss the historical context and linguistic context then we will apply things past to the future, and unfortunately too often, apply things present in the same way, missing out on what God provided. Most who study Biblical prophecy don't prophesy and/or understand that prophecy can be foretelling OR forthtelling--speaking for God. Ignorance of the Biblical role and writings, thinking all prophecy is future, combined with the western hubris that made the untrained think it's about them has caused much error and false negative expectation in the church. Imagine that, you are actually hoping for and expecting innocent Christians in Sidon today to die by swords or something because you interpret Eze 28 for the future. Do you see how that is incompatible with New Covenant Kingdom living?

I definitely agree with the optimism and confidence for the present and future that we have in Christ :) For a book that was an encouraging book, as the ending portrays, it's a shame that many interpretations have caused people to be fearful as if they are somewhere in the middle of the book! I'll make a video on it more, I'm sure, from the perspective of my main focus of seeing scripture as God wanted it seen, with as much original intent as possible. Without getting too much into it, and not acting like I know it all, that's for sure, I would say that one interesting thing about it's genre which is not prophecy, (though there are prophecies within the book that are specifically called prophecies), but that the genre used imaginitive creatures and wild natural events to describe something happening that the reader was experiencing or experienced. In short, certain people consider that the troubles, supremacy of Christ, and the heavenly results are found within the lives of the believer already--as things like bride, heavenly places, peace, no sin, etc is the experiential new covenant Spirit filled reality that the books original 1st century audience experienced already - and that is what is revealed in the revelation.

@@ReverendElation I am extremely grateful for your content and share in your perspective on pretty much everything I have heard you teach or comment on. I consider you a kindred spirit and believe you have a calling and gift to serve Jesus. So I am not intending to discredit nor insult you or bring criticism. I speak in love and desire that we remain one as a body of Christ. I have spent what most would consider 'an unhealthy amount of time' the last few years studying the book of Revelation relying on the Holy Spirit to reveal the truths so that I could gain understanding. Because God is not the author of confusion and its not His character to be vague or misleading.. I have found great comfort in finding concrete evidence by searching the scriptures and world history to confidently answer my curiosities. I am always open to differing views and find it a blessing when someone reveals a better or truer way of understanding. As I believe it to be a hardened heart to be closed minded to sound biblical viewpoints that differ from mine. So I said all that to say this... Please take a serious look with an open heart and willing spirit into the historical view. It is biblically sound and opens up a huge window into a better understanding of God's word.. it does not conflict with any of the beliefs we share that I've heard u express. So it is not a challenge or diminishing view. The link is to one of the people that is a content creator and insightful source on this view which I believe when given the chance will be obvious and comforting. Thanks in advance for giving it an honest consideration and ample thought. God bless. czcams.com/video/MqyXB2-9IOM/video.htmlsi=Pd6Sv84xITJPg27b

​@@Str8TruThank you so much for your comment, and I will never be offended at disagreement or different ideas, and I love to discuss and learn and grow. I'm going to make a couple videos on this particular aspect that I have found so enlightening, and will continue to engage with you and conversation on the subject. And thank you for that! One interesting thing that I'll be elaborating on, is that there are definitely actual literal things John mentions, like who he tags as 666 or 616,and that there is an element to it being concluded...because this genre idea includes a version of that--and I'll attempt to demonstrate how Revelation is actually demonstrated in every Christian life, and that perhaps, that was John purpose as he was encouraging a persecuted faithful church in the first century. I will check your link, and thank you for it!

Thank you Jesus the risen. Christ for telling us not to follow any man but thee and not to even follow our own hearts for its deceitful 😇

And in Paul's one analogy of the breastplate of righteousness, we can see what it does. Like a breastplate protects the heart, our righteousness protects our heart from the shame and guilt and strengthens it by our standing with God as if we had none of it. Receive your strength, oh heart, for the inpenetrable breastplate of Christ's righteousness is upon you.

thank you so good,amen

Though it is a shocking claim, I think it mainly refers to the things regarding the supernatural work of the Holy Spirit. I think it shows how Holy Spirit interaction is so important, as it is with any who are pursuing the life of the Spirit, and especially during the early Pentecostal movement which was filled with people like Smith who "thought they had it all." So, there are so many things that believers without that understanding can experience, like the other gifts of God. But the singular focus of the Baptism of the Holy Spirit, which was so important to Jesus that He forbade evangelism without it, was the fresh divine breath that not only put the rest of scripture in its proper context, but also served to fulfill God's New Covenant promise in all who receive, which was God's divine plan for centuries before. When we remember that, that power and Spirit supernaturality was God's plan for our lives, and not a concession based on our desires, we can be more open and understand that we can pursue and recieve for no selfish means--but rather the most selfless one--that of obedience and a desire to fall in line with God's plan. Holy Spirit power is then, perhaps the most humble thing we can pursue. Since after all, Jesus died and removed the Old Covenant so that you can be a pure temple in which He can live. His will, our obedience by faith, and as Jesus complained about Pharisees who didn't understand scripture, that they didn't "know the scriptures or the power of God."