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Tag: babylon

Son of Man – a Prophetic Path to Gethsemane
Where have we heard the scriptural depiction, ‘son of man’ most in the Bible?

And to whom do we point by calling some mortal the “son of man?”
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Hold your answers for a moment until we look into who said that in the Bible and who was called that by whom. 
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Prophets Before Christ

Recall that true Prophets of God speak for the LORD God.

In part 1 we glanced at an important prophesy of Moses and then we followed Elijah observing some of the Prophet’s miracles.

Elijah – on a Prophetic Path to Gethsemane

Also in part-1:
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We also glanced quickly at historical context of the Jews from Canaan to Babylon and A.D. 1st c. Jerusalem.
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~1450 B.C

The Prophet Moses

~870 B.C. – 849 B.C.

The Prophet Elijah

Later, as prophesied:
- defeat of ISRAEL the Northern Kingdom
  - 722 B.C.
~620 B.C. – 570 B.C
- eventual fall of JUDAH the Southern Kingdom…
  - 586 B.C.
Introduction to the Son of Man

You’ll read in just ten times in the books of Moses:

לֹא אִישׁ אֵל וִיכַזֵּב וּבֶן־אָדָם וְיִתְנֶחָם הַהוּא אָמַר וְלֹא יַעֲשֶׂה וְדִבֶּר וְלֹא יְקִימֶנָּה׃

Numbers 23:19 Masoretic Text

In Hebrew, literally, “ben adam” or ‘son of adam.’

It is illustration of created man made in the image of the LORD.

You will find it frequently in the New Testament as well, most frequently with the Lord Jesus referring to Himself.

In the common Greek of the A.D. first century Roman empire, “huios anthrōpos” or ‘son of humans.’

It is here we see the significance of God born to a virgin woman (Mary) as a Son of Man.

One in substance with the Father and Holy Spirit — yet the Lord Jesus IS a real human Person.
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First Century A.D.
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“But when the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the angels with Him, then He will sit on His glorious throne.

Gospel of Matthew 25:31 LSB

The Prophet Ezekiel

We return not to Jerusalem, but to Babylon where Nebuchadnezzar, powerful arm of the LORD’s judgment against Judah resides.

10,000 Hebrew captives led to Babylon
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Ezekiel dates his prophecies from 597 B.C. ..also 573/72,..in 571/70 B.C. (29:17)
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Commentary of John MacArthur

.. while I was among the exiles by the Chebar Canal, the heavens were opened and I saw visions of God.

Ezekiel 1:1 b (CSB)

I looked, and there was a whirlwind coming from the north, a huge cloud with fire flashing back and forth and brilliant light all around it. In the center of the fire, there was a gleam like amber. 5 The likeness of four living creatures came from it, and this was their appearance: They looked something like a human —

Ezekiel 1:4-5 (CSB)
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You must picture the same scene of GLORY as the Prophet sees -- NO illustration can do it justice -- Ezekiel sees something sons of Adam just do not see! 
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A voice came from above the expanse over their heads;

— Ezekiel 1:25 (CSB)

This was the appearance of the likeness of the Lord’s glory.

When I saw it, I fell facedown and heard a voice speaking.

— Ezekiel 1:28 (CSB)

Son of Man

He said to me,

“Son of man, stand up on your feet and I will speak with you.”

As he spoke to me, the Spirit entered me and set me on my feet,

and I listened to the one who was speaking to me.

— Ezekiel 2:1-2 (CSB)

The SON OF MAN — in this instance, Ezekiel — has seen the GLORY OF THE LORD and spoken of it to sinful humans chosen to follow Him.

Ezekiel bows down — and obeys the word of the Lord.

The Spirit takes Ezekiel to Jerusalem’s Temple

Then the glory of the Lord moved away from the threshold of the temple and stopped above the cherubim.

— Ezekiel 10:18 (CSB)

The Spirit then lifted me up and brought me to the eastern gate of the Lord’s house.. I saw [25] leaders of the people.

The Lord said to me,

“Son of man, these are the men who plot evil and give wicked advice in this city. They are saying, ‘Isn’t the time near to build houses? The city is the pot, and we are the meat.’

Therefore, prophesy against them. Prophesy, son of man! ”

— Ezekiel 11:1-4 (CSB)

A New Shepherd of the Lord’s Chosen

The word of the Lord came to me:

“Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel. Prophesy, and say to them,

‘This is what the Lord God says to the shepherds:

Woe to the shepherds of Israel, who have been feeding themselves! Shouldn’t the shepherds feed their flock?

You eat the fat, wear the wool, and butcher the fattened animals, but you do not tend the flock.

You have not strengthened the weak, healed the sick, bandaged the injured, brought back the strays, or sought the lost.

— Ezekiel 34:1-4 (CSB)
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Does ANY of this sound familiar -- you 21 century shepherds of the Gospel -- have you tended your flock? 
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Dry Bones “rising from the dead”

“Prophesy concerning these bones

I will cause breath to enter you, and you will live. I will put tendons on you, make flesh grow on you, and cover you with skin. I will put breath in you so that you come to life.

Then you will know that I am the Lord.”

— Ezekiel 37:5-6 (CSB)
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Yet some of you do not believe the Prophets or in the resurrection of the dead to the Judgment or Heaven. 
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‘This is what the Lord God says:

I am going to open your graves and bring you up from them, my people, and lead you into the land of Israel. You will know that I am the Lord, my people, when I open your graves and bring you up from them.

I will put my Spirit in you, and you will live, and I will settle you in your own land. Then you will know that I am the Lord. I have spoken, and I will do it.

This is the declaration of the Lord.’ ” —

Ezekiel 37:12-14 (CSB)

In Visions of God – a New Temple

It is not our purpose today to point out similarities of a new temple and city to the Levitical outline of Moses or the Temple of David which had witnessed the glory of the LORD descending into the Holy of Holies. Nor can we visit such visions of Daniel and the Apostle John.

Sufficeth to say the Lord God will send a new Temple to Jerusalem and personalize a saved world in new worship.

προφήτης – prophētēs
1. in Greek writings, an interpreter of oracles or of other hidden things
2. one who, moved by the Spirit of God and hence his organ or spokesman, solemnly declares to men what he has received by inspiration, especially concerning future events, and in particular such as relate to the cause and kingdom of God and to human salvation
source: Strong’s G4396 – prophētēs – BlueLetterBible.org

The dead man sat up and began to speak, and Jesus gave him to his mother. Then fear came over everyone, and they glorified God, saying,

“A great prophet has risen among us,” and “God has visited his people.”

Gospel of Luke 7:16 CSB
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~ in the year of our Lord 30 
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The Son of Man

“But so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins” — then he told the paralytic, “Get up, take your stretcher, and go home.”

Gospel of Matthew 9:6 CSB

“Who do people say that the Son of Man is? ”

They replied,

“Some say John the Baptist; others, Elijah; still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets.”

“But you,” he asked them, “who do you say that I am? ”

Simon Peter answered,

“You are the Messiah [*Χριστός christos], the Son of the living God.”

Matthew 16:13-16 CSB

“You know that the Passover takes place after two days, and the Son of Man will be handed over to be crucified.”
Matthew 28:2 CSB
April 14, 2025
The Pervasiveness of Sin
If you perceive the pervasiveness of sin,

you will pour forth great gratitude for God’s grace

and the cross of Christ.

Revelation 18: For your merchants were the greatest in the world,
and you deceived the nations with your sorceries.
24 In your streets flowed the blood of the prophets and of God’s holy people
and the blood of people slaughtered all over the world.”

… all the nations were deceived by your sorcery.

So warns Christ’s Revelation to John of Babylon, a home for demons – the habitation of devils, and the hold of every foul spirit. Even Ezekiel had warned Jerusalem of these same evils (perhaps appropriate warning to a 21st c. church).

3 For all nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornication, and the kings of the earth have committed fornication with her, and the merchants of the earth are waxed rich through the abundance of her delicacies.
Disclaimer & Caution

Researching the Revelation of Jesus Christ to John reconfirms a need for a note of caution to the reader.

MUCH false teaching, speculative interpretation and agenda-driven preaching will easily mislead and confuse most believers, except believers well-versed scripturally in apologetics. Perhaps one of the greatest dangers is to accept an interpretation of just one man on the many important symbols John presents in Revelation – especially in the following chapters.

The following is a continuation in my series on Revelation, begun with the Letters to the Seven Churches and now continuing from much later in John’s apocalypse in Chapter 17.

May I suggest that you take my interpretation of scripture (or anyone’s interpretation) under consideration of:
- the Holy Spirit
- Scripture (including, possibly root meanings of the Greek or Hebrew)
- prayerful consideration of application to your life and those in your life
Roger Harned
Central

to the Judgment of Christ Jesus

in the Apocalypse of John.

Revelation is misunderstood and much misrepresented. Will the deception of these last days not increase with the pervasiveness of sin?

BABYLON, the Harlot Queen,

sits upon the scarlet beast –

Revelation 17:5 And upon her forehead was a name written, Mystery, Babylon The Great, The Mother Of Harlots And Abominations Of The Earth.

SIN is pervasive!

Revelation begins with warning to the churches. Should the churches of these last days not heed the warnings of a time so near?

The Apostle John describes Heavenly visions (none of which I will describe today):
- The Scroll and Seven Seals (ch. 4-7)
- Seven Angels with Seven Trumpets (ch. 8-11)
- Seven Symbolic Histories (ch. 12-14)
- Seven Bowls of God’s Wrath (ch. 15-16)
All of this leads up to the drama of punishment, with its great symbolism. All of Revelation leads to a drama:

CENTERED ON EVIL vs. GOOD

SATAN vs. CHRIST JESUS.

Though the FINAL BATTLE does not take place until Revelation 19, the familiar opponents of God confront the believer and unbeliever alike with the great symbolism of Revelation 17 and 18. What Jesus reveals is what our Lord has always revealed to those with ears to hear.

Matthew 24

English Standard Version (ESV)

Jesus Foretells Destruction of the Temple

Signs of the End of the Age

3 As he sat on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately, saying, “Tell us, when will these things be, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?”

4 And Jesus answered them, “See that no one leads you astray. 5 For many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and they will lead many astray.

6 And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not alarmed, for this must take place, but the end is not yet. 7 For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be famines and earthquakes in various places.8 All these are but the beginning of the birth pains.

9 “Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and put you to death, and you will be hated by all nations for my name’s sake. 10 And then many will fall away and betray one another and hate one another.

11 And many false prophets will arise and lead many astray. 12 And because lawlessness will be increased, the love of many will grow cold. 13 But the one who endures to the end will be saved.

14 And this gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come…

23 Then if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Christ!’ or ‘There he is!’ do not believe it.

24 For false christs and false prophets will arise and perform great signs and wonders, so as to lead astray, if possible, even the elect.

25 See, I have told you beforehand. 26 So, if they say to you, ‘Look, he is in the wilderness,’ do not go out. If they say, ‘Look, he is in the inner rooms,’ do not believe it. 27 For as the lightning comes from the east and shines as far as the west, so will be the coming of the Son of Man.

Do NOT be deceived:

1 Corinthians 6:9 Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality {note: The two Greek terms translated by this phrase refer to the passive and active partners in consensual homosexual acts.}

2 Timothy 2:12-13 Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, while evil people and impostors will go on from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived.

1 John 2:26 I write these things to you about those who are trying to deceive you.

Do you with ears to hear understand how the world is being deceived?

Do you sip from the cup of the Harlot?

Hear and understand the wine of her cup.

… all the nations were deceived by her ‘pharmakeia’ sorcery.

Heed the warning of the punishment for those who partake of the sorcery of the Harlot:

Revelation 21:8 But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, G5332 and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.

Let us continue to proclaim Christ crucified; for He IS and He will return in victory over Satan, the Harlot, and all the armies of evil which surround the believer every day.

We have Great Grace in Christ Jesus and His Blood of the Cross, where by His death and resurrection we are victorious over sin and death.

Christ Jesus our Lord has defeated the enemy. These last days will end and the faithful will be most thankful for the grace of the Cross.
October 25, 2013