Revelation 1:3
Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who understand, and who keep what is written in it, for the time is close.
The writer of this book penned these words of blessing to people who would understand. What they had going for them is that they were closer to the issues than we are. They were living at a time when people understood the language,understood the times, were taught (some of them) by actual apostles who were with Christ. They were Diaspora Judeans who already had for hundreds of years been reading an OT in Greek so the Greek Revelation of Christ wasn't hard for them to understand. We on the other hand are on the other end of the spectrum. We have been indoctrinated by the Irvin Baxter Jrs and the Tim Lahayes of the world, We have been Charles Larkined to death. We have been told time and time again that the events in the book of Revelation are pointing to every world dictator or president this country had an issue with. Because instead of studying out the Old Testament, and trying to see what the tribes were actually waiting for, we would rather have someone else to the heavy lifting for us. Waiting for someone to sit down and spoon feed us with some ecclesiastical fast food.
Answer this, why are the first century A.D. readers told to understand and solve the gematria numerals of the beast? They are told it's a man, and for them to figure out his name he obviously had to be living in their time. Why? because the question is being posed to "them"
Wisdom is needed here. Let the one with understanding solve the meaning of the number of the beast, for it is the number of a man. His number is 666.
If this book of the Bible was enigmatic, this verse we are specifically told wasn't.
Especially since it is pointed to the original readers who needed to have the wisdom, and through that gain understanding. Folks please take into consideration that you are reading manuscripts which date back to the Bronze age. The book of Revelation doesn't stand alone, isn't interpreted by the New Testament alone. You need to know the OT, with the prophets. Understand that the OT Hebrews weren't awaiting Azusa Street.
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