One of the regular readers of this forum sent me an email a few days ago introducing an interesting point. I thought it might be beneficial to share the insight. – Meleti
Hello Meleti,
My first point relates to the “ruining of the Earth” mentioned at Revelation 11:18. The organization appears to always apply this statement to the ruining of the physical environment of the planet. It is true that damage to the environment on the scale that we are now seeing is a peculiarly modern problem and it is thus very tempting to read Revelation 11:18 as prophesying pollution in the last days. However, when you consider the scriptural context in which the statement is made, is seems out of place. How so?
Well before mentioning those ruining the Earth, the verse seems to make a point of emphasizing that all Jehovah’s servants, the great and the small, would be favorably rewarded. With this context set, it would seem reasonable that the verse would go on to likewise make the point that all the wicked, the great and the small, would be brought to ruin. Why would the verse, in an almost paraprosdokian manner, pass up mentioning murderers, fornicators, thieves, those who practice spiritism, etc., as receiving adverse judgment in favor of mentioning ONLY those ruining the environment?
I think it’s more reasonable to interpret the phrase “those ruining the Earth” as an all-encompassing expression referring to all practicers of sin as they all contribute to the ruining of the FIGURATIVE earth—the global human society. Of course, those wantonly ruining the physical environment would also be included. But the statement is not especially singling them out. It encompasses ALL unrepentant practicers of sin. This interpretation seems to better harmonize with the context of all the righteous being rewarded, great and small.
Also, given that it is a known fact that the book of Revelation borrows a lot of the stories and imagery from the Hebrew Scriptures. It is very interesting to note that Revelation’s use of the phrase “ruining the Earth” appears to be a borrowing or paraphrasing of language found at Genesis 6:11,12 where the Earth is said to be “ruined” because all flesh had ruined its way. Was it especially because of physical environmental pollution that the Earth was said to be ruined in Noah’s day? No, it was the wickedness of the people. It seems very probable that Revelation 11:18 is actually borrowing the language of Genesis 6:11,12 by using the phrase “ruining the Earth” and is using it in the same manner that Genesis 6:11,12 speaks about the Earth being ruined. In fact, the NWT even cross-references Revelation 11:18 with Genesis 6:11.
..understanding that “speaking to Jesus in prayer” means beseeching Jehovah in the name of Jesus!
Does “Jude” not concur that the Apostle John is the author of the Bible Book of Revelation? The problem here is the representations made by the “John class,” a class never mentioned in scripture, just as “Trinity” and “governing body” are never mentioned. Clearly the references of the revelation to John are closely connected to Genesis and the prophecy of Isaiah. How ironic that the first tweet from the Pope was : “By speaking with Jesus in prayer, listening to what he tells you in the Gospel and looking for him.” The “faithful slave” would do well to tweet the… Read more »
Thanks for that explanation of Rev 11v8 , I have felt for years that this is the correct contextual and only way of understanding this scripture, and it is good to know I am not alone ! In fact, a short while ago I mentioned to a M.S in our congregation that I was not comfortable using this scripture the way the Rev Climax book does, he just laughed and said, “But it gets their attention at the doors !” I feel too often we are using dishonest methods when talking to people, and taking a scripture out of context… Read more »
With respect…
I concur… Ref my previous comment regarding the, “Secret Knowledge”, the rebellious angels brought to mankind, and their abuse of their human genetic skills by interfering with nature… (Book of Enoch)
Thanks for sharing. It appears that the choice of words “those ruining the Earth” was very deliberate on the part of the Author of Revelation. Perhaps in a very concise and poetic way, the Author is subtly leading the reader to compare the coming day of Jehovah with the judgment in Noah’s day. This is akin to 2 Peter chapter 3 comparing Jehovah’s day with the days of Noah, only this time in one simple phrase by drawing on the reader’s pre-existing knowledge of Genesis. I think it illustrates just how essential knowledge of the Hebrew scriptures is to our… Read more »