Lyra: ilmestyskirjan selityksiä

[mies]

20 Mutta sitä en sinussa hyväksy, että suvaitset tuota naista, tuota Isebeliä, joka sanoo itseään profeetaksi ja johtaa opetuksellaan minun palvelijoitani harhaan, harjoittamaan siveettömyyttä ja syömään epäjumalille uhrattua lihaa. 21 Olen antanut hänelle aikaa kääntyä, mutta hän ei halua luopua siveettömästä elämänmenostaan. 22 Voi häntä! Minä suistan hänet sairasvuoteeseen ja kaikki hänen rakastajansa ankaraan ahdinkoon, elleivät he luovu hänen tavoistaan

"suvaitset tuota naista, tuota Isebeliä":
On selvää, että tämä ei ole se 1.Kun kirjan Isebel, jota kutsuttiin epäjumalainpalvelijaksi ja haureudentekijäksi, koska hänet murskattiin hevosten jalkojen alle aikapäiviä sitten. Jotkut sanovat, että hän on jonkun piispan vaimo, mutta se ole todennäköistä että niin hyvällä miehellä olisi tämänkaltainen vaimo. Täten, pitäisi sanoa että hän oli taas yksi väärä profeetta, tai, ehkä joku eriseuralainen jolla on kuvainnollisesti naisen nimi johtuen lihan irstaudesta; usein heikkoa ja naismaista miestä kutsutaan naiseksi.

"Minä suistan hänet sairasvuoteeseen":
Kauheaan rangaistukseen, kuin on sanottu Jes.14:11:sä "11 Tuonelaan on syösty sinun loistosi ja mahtisi,
sinun harppujesi helkytys.
Sinun allasi ovat vuoteena madot,
sinun ylläsi peitteenä toukat."

"rakastajansa ankaraan ahdinkoon":
Tämä on, helvettiin hänen kanssansa.

Englannista suomennettu:

"Because thou sufferest the woman Jezabel." It is certain that it is not that one who in 1 Kings is called an idolater and a fornicator, because she was trampled by the feet of horses more than 400 years earlier. Some say that she was the wife of the bishop, but it does not seem likely that a man so good as was described before, would have such a wife. Therefore, it should be said that she was another false prophet, or, by chance, some heretic who is designated figuratively by a female name due to the wantonness of the flesh; frequently a weak and effeminate man is called a woman.

"Behold, I will cast her into a bed," of infernal punishment-concerning which it is said in Is. 14:11, “Your pomp is brought down to Hades, your body has fallen; maggots are the bed beneath you, and worms are your covering.”

"And they that commit adultery with her;" by communing with her evil.

"Shall be in very great tribulation," That is, in Hell with her.

[mies]

Ovat kertoneet, että Pergamonin seurakunnan enkeli oli St. Polycarp. Englanniksi, saatan suomentaa joskus:

"To the Angel." This is the third part, which includes the instruction to the church of Pergamum; first their goodness is commended so that the correction of there evil will be better received.

And "to the angel of Pergamus", that is, to St. Polycarp, as the doctors commonly say.

"The Angel of the church of." These things, saith he, "that hath the sharp two-edged sword," that is, a two-edged sword, just as was noted in Rev. 1:16.

"I know where thou dwellest," namely, in the virtue of persecution. Therefore, it is said, "where the seat of Satan is". His power in leading the infidels to persecute the Church.

"And thou holdest fast my name," in faith and practice.

"And hast not denied my faith," in the persecutions and torments.

"Even," that is, "in those days when Antipas;" this martyr is specifically named, because by his word and example he inspired others to martyrdom.

"But I have." Here the correction of their evil is included, when he says: "But I have against thee a few things," namely, sins which must be corrected.

"Because thou hast there them that hold the doctrine of Balaam." This story is in Numbers 25 where it is said that Balak, King of Moab, as a result of Balaam’s teaching sent beautiful maidens into the Hebrew camp to tempt the lecherous Hebrews by their beauty. Thus, God was angered against the people.

Certain expositors say that in the church of Pergamum there were some who by word and example led others to fornication, as if it were permitted, and to eat food sacrificed to idols. They say also that there were some holding and teaching the error of Nicolas discussed earlier. But this does not seem true, because, if there had been such, it would not be said in the text: "But I have against thee a few things."

But many, on account of this, it seems better to say that in the church of Pergamum only some practiced the error of Nicolas, as it is said in the text, and the teaching of Balaam is brought in only as a similitude or as an example. And on account of this, submitting myself to better judgment, this is the how the letter should be explained: “You have some who hold to the teaching of Balaam;” not in reality, but in similitude, just as a large man through a certain similitude is called Alexander. And this is the meaning, it seems, of what follows:

"Because thou hast," as if it says Balak clearly held the evil teaching of Balaam, and thus there are those among you holding the error of Nicolas.

"Nicolaitans." The Nicolaitans are named from Nicolas the deacon, of whom Clement relates that, when he was reproved for his jealousy of a most beautiful wife, he answered that whoever would might take her to wife, and says that, on account of this, unbelievers taught that the Apostles allowed to all a promiscuous and common intercourse with women. And the Nicolaitans are reported to have put forth some fabulous and almost heathen statements concerning the beginning of the world, and not to have kept their meats separate from things offered to idols.

"Do penance." Just as it was said concerning the church of Ephesus whose first love had been lost.

"If not," that is, if in any way you neglect to amend these things, I will come to thee quickly In the final judgment, which is especially near compared to eternity. On account of which it is said in 1 John 2:18, “It is the last hour.”

"And will fight against them;" against their stubborn error, "With the sword of my mouth," That is, with that horrible sentence, “You that are accursed depart into the eternal fire (Mt. 25:41).”

"To him that overcometh, I will give the hidden manna." Manna figuratively; clearly it was given corporeally to the children of Israel in the desert (Ex. 16), but the true manna is He Himself, who says in Jn. 6, “Truly truly I say to you, it was Moses who gave you the bread from Heaven, but it is my Father who gives you the true bread from Heaven.” And it is added, “I am the bread of Life.” This is the Heavenly manna that refreshes the saints inside and outside, as was said previously, and it is called “hidden” to persons of this present life, according to which is said in Ps. 31:19, “Oh how abundant is your goodness that you have laid up for those who fear you.”

[mies]

11 "Minä tulen pian. Pidä kiinni siitä mitä sinulla on, ettei kukaan vie voitonseppelettäsi.

"That no man take thy crown." For when some fall from justice in the present, others are substituted for them, just as it is clear in the “Legend of the 40 Martyrs (of Sebaste),” when one of them fell, the jailer was substituted, and received his crown.

"Ettei kukaan vie voitonseppelettäsi". Kun jotkut lankeavat, muita tulee tilalle, niinkuin on selvää "40 marttyyrin" kertomuksesta, kun yksi heistä lankesi, vartija tuli tilalle ja vei hänen voitonseppeleensä.

Tuosta Sebasten 40:stä marttyyristä on tällainen tarina:

"Pefekti määräsi 40 kristittyä sotilasta kylmään lampeen yöksi, jotta he menehtyisivät. Yksi sotilaista kuitenkin jätti joukon ja meni lämpimään kylpyyn joka oli valmistettu läheisyyteen, niille, jotka eivät tunnustaisi uskoaan. Tällöin yliluonnollinen kirkkaus peitti loput 39 sotilasta, ja yksi vartija tämän nähdessään heitti vaatteensa pois, tunnusti itsensä kristityksi ja liittyi joukkoon. Näin 40:nen joukko pysyi kokonaisena. Lopulta nämä marttyyrit poltettiin aamunsarastuksessa, vaikka osalla heitä oli vielä elonmerkkejä"

wiki: Forty_Martyrs_of_Sebaste

[mies]

11 "Minä tulen pian. Pidä kiinni siitä mitä sinulla on, ettei kukaan vie voitonseppelettäsi.

"That no man take thy crown." For when some fall from justice in the present, others are substituted for them, just as it is clear in the “Legend of the 40 Martyrs (of Sebaste),” when one of them fell, the jailer was substituted, and received his crown.

"Ettei kukaan vie voitonseppelettäsi". Kun jotkut lankeavat, muita tulee tilalle, niinkuin on selvää "40 marttyyrin" kertomuksesta, kun yksi heistä lankesi, vartija tuli tilalle ja vei hänen voitonseppeleensä.

Niinkuin Lutherkin sanoo, Kristus oli se tosi Salomon. Davidin & Salomonin kuningaskunnassa olikin kuva valtakunnasta, jonka johtaja oli Kuningas. Jumalan valtakunnasta sanotaankin, että se on kuningaskunta jonka kuningas on itse Herra Jeesus Kristus.

VT:stä muistamme, kuinka Israel ja Juuda jakaantuivat, ja kun Israelilaisia vietiin vankeuteen, tuotiin tilalle Samarialaisia. Miksi näin tapahtui?

7 Näin tapahtui siksi, että israelilaiset olivat tehneet syntiä Herraa, Jumalaansa vastaan.

Kun antaa synnille vallan, niin varmaa on, että Kuningaskunnasta joutuu ajan saatossa ulkopuolelle. Merkillepantavaa kuitenkin on, että uusia asukkaita tuli tilalle:

24 Assyrian kuningas siirsi Babyloniasta, Kutasta, Avvasta, Hamatista ja Sefarvaimista uusia asukkaita Samarian kaupunkeihin

Lopuksihan vielä Juudan väkeäkin vietiin pakkosiirtolaisuuteen, pois kuningaskunnasta, kun Nebukadnessar hyökkäsi Jerusalemiin.

Liekö tässä ollut kuin kuva siitä, että kun juutalaiset luopuivat elävästä uskosta, niin pakanakansoista saapui väkeä valtakuntaan. Myöhemmin, kun Kyyros oli Babylonian vankeudesta vapauttanut Israelilaiset, voimme lukea: (Esra.4 otsikoi alussa:) "Samarialaisia ei oteta mukaan rakennustöihin".