A common argument is that in Revelation, the "earth" refers to Israel. Also, it is sometimes argued that the word "king" refers simply to rulers, such that "kings of the earth" just means "rulers of the land within Judea." And of course, the beast from the earth is argued to be Judaism. I admit that comparing the gentiles to the sea would seem to have some promise, based on certain Old Testament passages. (However, so far I cannot find any passages that compare Israel to the earth.) But the following verses seem to undermine this theory about the "earth" representing Israel:
Revelation 20:8-9
And shall go out to deceive the nations which are in the four quarters of the earth, Gog, and Magog, to gather them together to battle: the number of whom is as the sand of the sea. And they went up on the breadth of the earth, and compassed the camp of the saints about, and the beloved city: and fire came down from God out of heaven, and devoured them.
Under every paradigm except Futurism and Hyperpreterism, this passage refers to a point after Israel has disappeared. Also, it seems a little bit dubious to claim that Gog and Magog are in the four corners of Israel.
Revelation 17:2
And there came one of the seven angels which had the seven vials, and talked with me, saying unto me, Come hither; I will shew unto thee the judgment of the great whore that sitteth upon many waters: With whom the kings of the earth have committed fornication, and the inhabitants of the earth have been made drunk with the wine of her fornication.
Under Preterism, it is often claimed that the Whore refers to Jerusalem. It is further claimed that the seven heads refer to Roman emperors and the ten horns refer to Roman generals, or governors. However, here the kings are called "kings of the earth." So either the "kings" are not Roman, or else the "earth" is not Israel.
But in Revelation, the kings are instrumental in destroying the Whore. Hence if the kings are Jewish rulers then that does not correlate with history. The Jews did not fight alongside the Romans against Jerusalem (as far as I know).
Finally, here is a passage in Daniel which arguably seems to undermine the theory that the earth refers to Israel:
Daniel 7:3-23
And four great beasts came up from the sea, diverse one from another.
. . . .
These great beasts, which are four, are four kings, which shall arise out of the earth.
. . . .
Thus he said, The fourth beast shall be the fourth kingdom upon earth, which shall be diverse from all kingdoms, and shall devour the whole earth, and shall tread it down, and break it in pieces.
Namely, it does not clearly distinguish between the earth as being Israel, and the sea as being gentile. The two terms are used alongside each other, for some reason.
So in total, I have grave doubts about whether the "earth" refers to Israel in Revelation. However, I don't have any very good, alternative idea.
Revelation 20:8-9
And shall go out to deceive the nations which are in the four quarters of the earth, Gog, and Magog, to gather them together to battle: the number of whom is as the sand of the sea. And they went up on the breadth of the earth, and compassed the camp of the saints about, and the beloved city: and fire came down from God out of heaven, and devoured them.
Under every paradigm except Futurism and Hyperpreterism, this passage refers to a point after Israel has disappeared. Also, it seems a little bit dubious to claim that Gog and Magog are in the four corners of Israel.
Revelation 17:2
And there came one of the seven angels which had the seven vials, and talked with me, saying unto me, Come hither; I will shew unto thee the judgment of the great whore that sitteth upon many waters: With whom the kings of the earth have committed fornication, and the inhabitants of the earth have been made drunk with the wine of her fornication.
Under Preterism, it is often claimed that the Whore refers to Jerusalem. It is further claimed that the seven heads refer to Roman emperors and the ten horns refer to Roman generals, or governors. However, here the kings are called "kings of the earth." So either the "kings" are not Roman, or else the "earth" is not Israel.
But in Revelation, the kings are instrumental in destroying the Whore. Hence if the kings are Jewish rulers then that does not correlate with history. The Jews did not fight alongside the Romans against Jerusalem (as far as I know).
Finally, here is a passage in Daniel which arguably seems to undermine the theory that the earth refers to Israel:
Daniel 7:3-23
And four great beasts came up from the sea, diverse one from another.
. . . .
These great beasts, which are four, are four kings, which shall arise out of the earth.
. . . .
Thus he said, The fourth beast shall be the fourth kingdom upon earth, which shall be diverse from all kingdoms, and shall devour the whole earth, and shall tread it down, and break it in pieces.
Namely, it does not clearly distinguish between the earth as being Israel, and the sea as being gentile. The two terms are used alongside each other, for some reason.
So in total, I have grave doubts about whether the "earth" refers to Israel in Revelation. However, I don't have any very good, alternative idea.
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