"Here we are informed that this beast upon which the woman rides, is full of names of blasphemy. It is not one name but many names, for the beast is filled with them. This word "blasphemy" requires special translation, or decoding. It was a familiar word in the New Testament era. It is not used so much today, but it does have its modern counterpart. Why did the Jews of Jesus' day call Him a blasphemer? That was always their charge against Him! It was because He dared to call God His Father and to call Himself the Son of God. Therefore, they called Him a blasphemer because He was not teaching and operating according to the rules and regulations which they had set down -- His doctrine was not that of the scribes and Pharisees, but He said that He spoke only what He heard personally from His Father. His entire message and ministry was outside of the "box" constructed by the religious leaders of the Jews. Today if a lawyer is not operating according to the rules laid down by the Bar Association he is called non-ethical or a malpractitioner. Just so, if a physician is not following the rules of treatment laid down by the Medical Association, he is labeled a malpractitioner. This gives you our modern counterpart of the ancient term blasphemy."
"Thus we can see that this beast upon which the woman rides symbolizes malpractice, that is, he appropriates to himself what belongs to God; he dishonors Him, vilifies Him, shamelessly offends all that is true and godly -- blasphemes Him. That is what both the world and religion do -- they usurp the place of God in men's lives, putting their authority above God's truth, dominating men's lives through malpractice! They are not doing things God's way! It is not the Father Himself speaking and acting through them. Rather, it is the elevation of Self to either impress, influence, coerce, or control men. You see this plainly in nearly all the rulers of the world's systems, and if you refuse their domination you will be persecuted, discriminated against, fined, imprisoned, exiled, or excommunicated! Oh, yes!"
Larger study in the link:
Andy you're scared, Jesus didn't come to make you afraid. The new testament is not the old testament, the old testament had passed, I dare say most don't really get it, I surely don't, but we are of the new Testament, Jesus Christ doesn't want you all scared.
I believe in hell, but I don’t believe your doctrines, I've debated this for a decade, it actually bores me, but appeantly much of the body of Christ is still captive to this doctrine. So I'll gladly speak of these things, but there are plenty of recourses for you to study it on your own.
Tentmaker.org used to be good.........it's all there. But you would rather fight for your doctrine. It's endless and boring, now if you really want to learn something, follow the Holy Spirit and study the whole issue. Would you like another link?
https://tentmaker.org/
I don't study apostasy I study the Bible.
Lol, teachers are given for our edification. You've chosen a doctrine, or did it choose you? You are right to question me about hell, but I'm not a teacher. I can give you resources, I'm looking for some right now. You're a good guy Andy, but are you fighting for your doctrine or is Jesus Christ showing you His?
I've never seen anyone spiritualize the passages in the Bible that tell you not to spiritualize the passages in the Bible. You've honestly blown my mind. Just take God's word and make it read whatever you want it to read that's awesome man. Does anyone know what words God will judge unbelievers by? What if they felt good about all the rapes and murders they committed, will God join in with their happiness?
Have you posted a scripture on this? You're arguing for an Old Testament judgment to a New Testament world. Even then, there is no doctrine of hell in the Old Testament. We take our doctrine from scripture as the Holy Spirit teaches it, that is how it's done. And you want to downplay the spiritual.