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Eschatology 201 Guidelines

This area of the forum is primarily for Christian theists to discuss orthodox views of Eschatology. Other theist participation is welcome within that framework, but only within orthodoxy. Posts from nontheists that do not promote atheism or seek to undermine the faith of others will be permitted at the Moderator's discretion - such posters should contact the area moderators before posting.


Without turning this forum into a 'hill of foreskins' (Joshua 5:3), I believe we can still have fun with this 'sensitive' topic.

However, don't be misled, dispensationalism has only partly to do with circumcision issues. So, let's not forget about Innocence, Conscience, Promises, Kingdoms and so on.

End time -isms within orthodox Christianity also discussed here. Clearly unorthodox doctrines, such as those advocating "pantelism/full preterism/Neo-Hymenaeanism" or the denial of any essential of the historic Christian faith are not permitted in this section but can be discussed in Comparative Religions 101 without restriction. Any such threads, as well as any that within the moderator's discretions fall outside mainstream evangelical belief, will be moved to the appropriate area.

Millennialism- post-, pre- a-

Futurism, Historicism, Idealism, and Preterism, or just your garden variety Zionism.

From the tribulation to the anichrist. Whether your tastes run from Gary DeMar to Tim LaHaye or anywhere in between, your input is welcome here.

OK folks, let's roll!

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What does it mean to be cast down

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  • What does it mean to be cast down

    In Revelation 12, the dragon is cast down from heaven after a war/battle involving Michael. Heaven is told to rejoice. In contrast, the earth is told that this development is bad news.

    Even after being cast down, the devil is still able to persecute the "woman" somehow. When that plan fails, he chooses to persecute the woman's other children (i.e., other than Jesus Christ). In Revelation 13, it seems to describe the form that this persecution takes: Namely, the dragon gives power to the Beast from the Sea. Everyone seems to recognize that the Beast from the Sea is a government or set of governments. They get their power from someone who has already been cast down.

    Hence, the question arises: What good did it do to cast the devil down, if he still has so much power?

    My working theory is that being in heaven signifies that the devil has overt power. In contrast, when he is cast down that means that he is not worshipped out in the open, and has to act more subtly. Hence, the "dragon" may refer to Rome or the pagan empires in general. The Beast from the Sea may refer to a 'Christian' society, or potentially a secular one, which is still manipulated by the devil into opposing God. The fact that the Beast from the Earth looks like a lamb further seems to underscore the 'Christian' nature of this new order.

    I find that this is a pattern that many overlook, where they assume that the Beast from the Sea is just yet another pagan, openly God-hating kingdom. If that were the case, it wouldn't be any different from the regular old dragon.

    There are also many other references to stars and such being cast down. I am still wondering about those events, too. If anyone has insights, it would be appreciated. I don't get a lot of advice when I post these threads, but I do get some. I'm like House M.D., this is my white board, and you are my doctors. Go.

  • #2
    Cast down from heaven: the NASB says thrown down to earth
    KJV says "cast down to earth"
    and the ESV says 'thrown down to earth"

    I'm fairly certain he was thrown out of heaven.
    The devil only has so much power, his days are numbered. The Woman appears to be the Followers of Christ. As far as stars falling from te sky, I tend to think that is symbolism. It seems the beast's number relates at the time to Roman persecution.
    A happy family is but an earlier heaven.
    George Bernard Shaw

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    • #3
      I have to admit, I've never been able to make heads or tails of Rev 12. Total mystery to me. I can't even make sense of it in the context of preterism. I would imagine there's a million different interpretations of it by now.

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