On Friday 25th March 2011, @weecalvin said:
@weecalvin
1. You seem to lack skills in reading apocalyptic lit.
2. If you read John’s gospel you might find that Jesus did not come to judge and condemn us but to save us. In fact Jesus states He judges no one and that we judge ourselves by means of hear His words.
3. Hebrews states of Jesus return 27 Just as man is destined to die once, and after that to face judgment, 28 so Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many people; and he will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him.
Heb 9:27-28 (NIV)
Notice it is a contrast between judgment (which happened at the Cross and in 70ad) and what Jesus will come a do.
Now, back to #1. John is writing in code to show that while Caesar may claim to be King, Jesus is King of all. Much of the image of Revelation is around Ephesus and if you read up on the buildings rulers and other things there they line up to Revelation and showing Jesus is King of all. Also, how do we “overcome”… “by the blood of the Lamb and our testimony”. That is not about bloodshed of others, but salvation as noted in Hebrews. If you take symbols and images in apocryphal writings literal, you then get into real trouble fast… and get stupid things like the Rapture and other non biblical teachings. Even Luther and Calvin knew better than to write about Revelation.