Having just read it I now see why the OP was hidden... for foolishness.
Christianity itself is an interpretation of the bible. There were at least 7 different beliefs/interpretations about Jesus in the early Christian movement.
corrupt teachers use the notion of "private interpretation" and redefine it so that individuals wont believe anything that they don't approve of.
I find it slightly irritating when a person tries to teach the bible without understanding the most basic of basic realities about the bible. That being, it isn't 1 book. The "bible" is a library of books and letters put together by Christians. So the idea that each writer knew that their words were going to be included is silly. And the ones who read the scriptures never knew a letter they wrote was going to be thought of as scripture for some new religion that they weren't apart of and never signed up for.
You have to give up whatever arrogance you have when you study religion. Because Christians come at it like they know everything and that it has to be the way they read and interpret it. Guess what? It doesn't. 2nd Peter isn't talking about the bible because the bible did not exist at that time. So any reference to the "Scripture" is a reference to the TNK (Tanakh) that was read in the synagogues of Yisrael. It does not refer to the book of Revelation.
And NO, it's NOT clear that it is talking about a person at all. Visions use symbolism. When you read "lamb of God" do you think it's a literal lamb? No. It's just a symbol. You have to understand these things as metaphor, not take them for literal truth.
Since you relate this to Rev 1 did you not see the part where it introduces the word of God?
Rev 1:2 who testifies to everything he saw—that is, the word of God and the testimony of Jesus Christ.
"word of God" is logos deus, which can translated as the literal words spoken by God. This makes sense when you juxtapose this with the "testimony" of Jesus Christ. When Jesus is confronted in the wilderness and is tempted, does he not say that man shall not live by bread alone but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God? That is logos deus. You have to understand the basics of Hebrew theology. Christians wanted Jesus to be God so when they saw "and the word was made flesh" they thought Jesus was the word because they thought he pre-existed. They missed the whole commandment about other gods as well as a bunch of statements by God (logos deus) about the fact that he is the only God and that there is no other god beside him. Only in a metaphoric sense did Jesus pre-exist, because he believed himself to be the fulfillment of a promise. That promise was spoken by God. That promise existed before he came to be and he was nothing, not the messiah, not anyone to be listened to or followed, if not for that promise foretelling the coming of a messiah.
Jesus is not the "word" but rather a PERSONIFICATION of the word... or what the bible calls the "living word".
For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. - Hebrews 4:12
Jesus didn't hurt a fly. So why is the word of God compared to a sword? Is it a literal sword? Of course not. Spiritual things must be understood spiritually.
Rev 19:15 Coming out of his mouth is a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations.
What is it that strikes down the nations? Jesus? No. For the Hebrews it was the word of God; to be clear... the actual words of YHWH which existed in their literature long before anyone was talking about a messiah because while Christians think there was only one messiah and that he was prophesied before the creation of the world, Hebrew thought tells us that every king of Israel was anointed and therefore every king of Israel was a messiah.
Messiahs, plural, were anointed with oil which is where the term comes from. This is why Yeshua was crucified for sedition and crowned "king of the Jews"; mocking the title of messiah and what it was designed to be. So anyone, you should understand, can be a messiah. They simply need to be anointed which simply means chosen by God. The messiah's job is to be king and to represent the "word of God" (logos deus) on earth; NOT to be some kind of replacement for God.
Remember that Yisrael did not start off having a king. They only got one because they begged for one like the other nations had. And they were given one almost as a punishment and just like the other nations, their king was corrupt. Virtually every king was corrupted by that power. The only kind of king YHWH would ever really approve of was someone like Moses (who I hate btw) because *according to his story* he simply represented the "Word of God". Again... the word is not a person. However, just like the LAMB of God can symbolize a person who becomes God's sacrifice, the WORD of God can symbolize a person whose life is a perfect example of everything God has told humans to be and do. That was the significance of Yeshua, not to be an earthly king.
You quoted John 1:17 which should have been a clue.
The law was also the "Word of God". However it was judgement as opposed to a message of grace and mercy and forgiveness. So this other "truth" was ALSO the word of God and it came BY Yeshua.
Rev 19:15 is about the Word of God ruling the nations. In other words, its the same idea Muslim extremists have about everyone being converted (by force if necessary) to the Koran. In this case it is simply the TaNaKh. This is simply just an extension of the original prophecy which Yeshua did NOT fulfill. The reason why Jews do not accept Jesus as their messiah or savior is because not all of the prophecies were fulfilled; namely world peace. How did they believe world peace would be achieved? By all nations basically converting and following YHWH.
If you're waiting for Jesus to come in on a horse may I remind you that it is almost 2020 and we are way past horses. John the Revelator was expressing a dream. He wanted to see the "day of the Lord"... which is the apocalypse. The Israelites believed their God would, at some point, decide to end the whole sin experiment and rule over all the other nations with force the same way Israel was ruled without truly understanding that Israel was not a successful kingdom; that Mosaic law and forced observance and fear were not a successful form of government. It made people scared of God and cows to Jewish elite who ruled over them. And those elite didn't care that they were occupied by Rome because they still had power and authority. And they could keep pretending to be better than other people who were just trying to survive. At some point the people were even too scared to try to follow the religion because it (because of men) was too strict. That's why they followed Yeshua. So again... Yeshua represented a promise (the new covenant) but this all has to do with the "word of God". Stop trying to see a man. Because you're so in love with the man that you're not seeing what he was trying to represent was God. One God.
Does the bible refer to Selassie? Do I believe that? No. However, it's not impossible to come to that interpretation because if he was in the lineage of David he could be crowned king of Yisrael which would make him a potential messiah. And if he represented the word of God then you would have to compare his words and deeds with the fulfillment of the same prophecies. But again, Yeshua (Jesus) did NOT fulfill all the propehcies either. That's why the word of God doesn't need to be 1 man. It could be anyone and everyone that fulfills the will of God. I don't believe Jesus was "THE MESSIAH" but rather someone who believed that he could fulfill the will of God and he acted upon that belief. Selassie was not "THE MESSIAH" but rather a great man who believed he could fulfill the will of God that was given to him in his own life and for his people.
The biggest reason why Jesus is misunderstood is because John was misunderstood.
John 1:12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:
John the baptist was baptising MANY to become and be called "sons of God". This was never a unique title. David and Adam were also called sons of God. 1 John 3 tells you who can be called a son of God and what makes them so. It was never literal. It was always allegorical. Christian act like John the Baptist ran around all day teaching that Jesus would come and one day just said "Oh sh-t, look he here!" No John was a rabbi most likely from the Essene tradition and he was teaching people righteousness. And that is why he was assassinated. Think about it.
3 And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.
"hence John the BAPTIST"
9 Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.
10 In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil: whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God, neither he that loveth not his brother.
This right here is the epitome of John AND Yeshua's teaching.
23 And this is his [God's] commandment, That we should believe on the name of his [God's] Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, as he gave us commandment.
24 And he that keepeth his commandments dwelleth in him, and he in him. And hereby we know that he abideth in us, by the Spirit which he hath given us.
For those that understood the Gospel, God (YHWH) who was previously thought of as a king who ruled with an iron fist was now thought of as a Father who loved his children. But not everyone was his child. The same way that the Gospels tell you that Jesus was born by the holy spirit... this is the same SPIRITUAL birth that applies to others as well. 1 John 3 basically just does a better job spelling it out. And because it's spiritual anyone can be used by God according to his will. That's what the bible is saying. It's not deifying a dude named Yeshua and saying he's "God the son". Those words do not appear in the bible. Jesus is just as god-like as Selassie. It's in the minds of the people that these men become more than just men.
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