ChatGPT is just another tool in the tool box IMHO. It does make some tasks easier. From what I'm seeing it is scrapping the internet (say the first 5 to 10 hits) and then has the ability to quickly parse the data and create a response. It can't invent anything. It can only give us back what is already in the data sets. So if garbage is put in then we will get garbage out. And of course it does matter how you phrase the questions. Most of the time I have a pretty good idea what the answer should be.
Correct! Your response represents an equivalent of a "great awakening" on the biblical front!
Dispensationalism leads a Christian to believe that God has two different plans for two different people: One for the Church and one for the nation of Israel. This interpretation is in major error. God only has one church, one baptism, one bride - there's only one faith! The church is the Israel of God under the New Covenant - the Covenant of Jesus Christ!
Who is Shylock? He is a fictional character in William Shakespeare's play "The Merchant of Venice". He is a Jewish moneylender living in Venice.
Why Shylock is famous? He delivers one of Shakespeare's most quoted speeches: "Hath not a Jew eyes"...If you prick us, do we not bleed?"
Over time, "shylock" came to be used to mean a ruthless or usurious lender.
I think this is what you are missing in your analysis: who was the primary audience that John was writing to? It was the 7 churches in Asia in the 1st century. Why would John describe "Rome as it currently exists"? In the year 2026?
Listen - the main difference between you and me is that you are a dispensationalist - right? I am not. Have a nice day!
Sure I'd be glad to:
Drunk with the blood of the saints? Rev. 17:6 - "drunk with the blood of the saints and the righteous blood shed on the earth..."
Luke 13:33 - "it cannot be that a prophet perish outside of Jerusalem".
Rome persecuted Christians, yes - but Jerusalem killed the prophets and handed Jesus to Rome.
The woman rides the beast (Rome)? In Rev. 17 the woman (Babylon) rides the beast. The Beast equals the Roman Empire while the Woman equals Jerusalem.
Jerusalem depended on Roman power, favor & enforcement until Rome turned and destroyed her in AD 70. Roman troops would ultimately burn the city and temple under General Titus.
How about the 7 mountains? Well when most think of the city on 7 hills they think of Rome. Rev. 17:9 - "The seven heads are seven mountains on which the woman sits". Rome had 7 hills - BUT so did Jerusalem in ancient sources (Mount Zion, Moriah, Bezetha, Acra, Ophel, etc.
Also "mountains" in Scripture often mean kingdoms or authorities (Dan 2: Jer 51:25). Apostle John explains the symbol in Rev. 17:10 - "they are seven kings". So the text itself moves from geography to political power.
"Where the Lord was crucified" - Revelation already anchors the book of Revelation to Jerusalem explicitly (Rev. 11:8). Wouldn't it be strange for John to clearly identify Jerusalem once then suddenly switch "the great city" to Rome with no notice?
Then you have the time statements in Revelation. There are actually 11 time statements. Rev. 1:1 - "must shortly take place"; Rev. 1:3; 22:10 - "the time is near". Revelation describes the end of the Old Covenant age, not the end of the planet.
There is a strong, internally consistent biblical argument that Rev. 17 (& much of 18) describes Jerusalem' destruction in AD 70, using prophetic symbolism drawn from the Old Testament.
The empire destroyed in Rev 17 & 18 is London & England! Yes that's what many believe. Others argue that Revelation 17 describes the destruction of Jerusalem in AD 70, not Rome or a future global system.
Revelation uses the phrase "the great city" consistently. Revelation 11:8 states "the great city, which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt, where also our Lord was crucified." That can ONLY be Jerusalem. Then in Revelation 17-18" we see "the great city", "the woman', "Babylon the Great". John is using symbolic names for apostate Jerusalem, just as the prophets did.
Revelation 17 describes a harlot guilty of blood. That language is straight out of the OT prophets - and it's applied to Jerusalem, NOT Rome.
Examples: Isaiah 1:21 - "How the faithful city has become a harlot"; Jeremiah 2-3; Ezekiel 16 & 23 (explicit harlot imagery); Lamentations 1. Revelation isn't inventing new imagery - it's recycling covenant-lawsuit language.
I could continue if you like....
Yes indeed. I posted a comment in regards to that treaty.
What I failed to mention is that I took a flight to the south geographic pole while I was at McMurdo Station. I made friends with one of the flight crew members. I have a certificate that is signed by the South Pole Station Manager & a couple of photos. But hey I don't if any one would believe me.
BTW National Geographic published a major feature on Operation Highjump in October 1947 (I have a copy). The article was titled "Our Navy Explores Antarctiac" written by Rear Admiral Richard E. Byrd, USN (Ret.) and illustrated with official U.S. Navy photographs & maps. Some of the photos include unfrozen lakes.
The Antarctic Treaty was signed on Dec. 1, 1959. It entered into force on June 23, 1961. The original signatories were 12 countries. Today 50+ parties with 29 consultative (voting) members have signed.
Under the Antarctic Treaty system limited tourism is allowed - but guided only. Private expeditions are allowed but only with permits from a treaty nation. You generally MUST have a permit (issued by your home country to:
- Go ashore outside approved tourist sites
- Conduct research
- Fly private aircraft
- Camp or winter over
- Use drones
- Travel inland beyond coastal zones.
I sailed to Antarctica twice, in 74' & 75', as a young Coast Guard officer on the USCGC Glacier (now razor blades). It's a fascinating place to say the least. We made the trips during the Antarctic summer when the sun never set - we had daylight 24 hrs/day.
At the time I wasn't aware of Operation Highjump. Go down the Operation Highjump rabbit hole. This was in 1946-1947 - 13 U.S. Navy ships including 1 aircraft carrier and 1 submarine. ~ 4,700 total personnel: ~3,600 U.S. Navy sailors, ~ 500 U.S. marines - the rest were scientists, aviators & civilians. There were 33 aircraft. Admiral Richard E. Byrd commanded the operation, & it remains the largest Antarctic expedition ever mounted by a single nation.
What was the missions purpose? The "Official" answer was to train personnel & test equipment in extreme cold; consolidate U.S. presence in Antarctica & aerial mapping & scientific research.
Another "rabbit hole" to explore is the Nazi's presence on the continent of Antarctica before and during (and after?) WWII.
Thanks! I stand corrected.....hadn't had my 2nd cup of coffee yet!!