Beast of an apocalyptic conundrum

 

by

 Damien F. Mackey

  

“… even now many antichrists have appeared,

from which fact we know that it is the last hour”.

 

I John 2:18

 

 

Introduction

 

The Book of Apocalypse records and foretells events - albeit apocalyptically - that took place between the departure of the risen Christ (his Ascension) and his Coming, to overthrow the old order that had gone wrong (had become a prostitute) and to replace it with the new.

 

He came as Bridegroom to marry the new Bride, the Marian Church.

 

For, in the words of the Catechism of the Catholic Church (# 773):

 

In the Church this communion of men with God, in the "love [that] never ends," is the purpose which governs everything in her that is a sacramental means, tied to this passing world. "[The Church's] structure is totally ordered to the holiness of Christ's members. And holiness is measured according to the 'great mystery' in which the Bride responds with the gift of love to the gift of the Bridegroom." Mary goes before us all in the holiness that is the Church's mystery as "the bride without spot or wrinkle." (Eph 5:27). This is why the "Marian" dimension of the Church precedes the "Petrine."  

 

This is, as we have seen, the drama of the Apocalypse right up to its last chapters.

 

And that means that all that has gone before, including the “Beast” and the “two witnesses”, has belonged to this period of real time: approximately 33-70 AD.

 

The extraordinary Beast of the Apocalypse is never referred to as the Antichrist, though many like to make this association. As I have previously noted: The term “Antichrist” does not occur anywhere in the Book of Apocalypse (Revelation).

 

St. John alone refers to “antichrist” and “many antichrists” (I John 2:18, 19, 22):

 

Young children, it is the last hour, and just as you have heard that the antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have appeared, from which fact we know that it is the last hour. They went out from us, but they were not of our sort . . . Who is the liar but the one who denies that Jesus is the Christ? This is the antichrist, the one who denies the Father and the Son.

 

There had already been “many antichrists” by the time of St. John’s writing (“have appeared”). And it was due to this fact that John recognised that “it is the last hour”.

 

Similarly, he wrote in the Apocalypse, warning that all these things were to happen “very soon”. For the angel had declared (Revelation 14:7): ‘Fear God and give him glory, because the hour of his judgment has come …’.

 

Roman-ising the Apocalypse

 

Previously I had noted that:

 

What has exacerbated the whole exegetical problem of properly interpreting Revelation on a literal level is, I believe, the conventional opinion that St. John wrote this Apocalypse in hoary old age, in c. 95 AD, about a quarter of a century after Jerusalem had been destroyed. Hence many commentators are loath to see any relevance for Revelation in the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 AD. Protestant and Catholic writers alike accept the late 95 AD date of authorship (Protestant Thomas Foster sharing this view in common with Opus Dei and Fr. Kramer).

 

Hence many like to equate the harlot “Babylon” with Rome, and not with Jerusalem.

 

Similarly, the “two witnesses” no longer die where the Apocalypse clearly has them die, in Jerusalem (11:8): “Their bodies will lie in the public square of the great city—which is figuratively called Sodom and Egypt—where also their Lord was crucified”, but elsewhere, including Rome again. (On this, I was intrigued to read in an Opus Dei commentary on Revelation the view put forward that the “two witnesses” may have been Sts. Peter and Paul).  

 

And, likewise again, the “Beast” is converted into a Gentile ruler – e.g. the emperor Nero, his name being cleverly gematria-tised into 666.

 

But see my recent article on who Nero appears to have been:

 

Nero Caesar can be likened to king Antiochus ‘Epiphanes’, to the emperor Hadrian

 

(2) Nero Caesar can be likened to king Antiochus 'Epiphanes', to the emperor Hadrian

 

I have been of the very same mind-set in the past.

But more recently I have written differently, in my article:

 

Stephen ‘Protomartyr’ is key to understanding ‘Beast’ of Revelation 13

 

https://www.academia.edu/30919177/Stephen_Protomartyr_is_key_to_understanding_Beast_of_Revelation_13

 

- an article heavily-based upon the views of others - about the enigmatic apocalyptical Beast:

 

“Some have identified the Beast as being an individual such as the Pope, Martin Luther, John Calvin, William of Orange or Hitler.

Others have seen the Beast more as a group or movement of people,

such as the apostate Roman Church, the Protestants, the Roman Empire

(or the Common Market), the Roman persecuting power of the first century,

or some other great world-power that will rise up to persecute Christians”.

 

At the beginning of the New Testament’s Acts 8, immediately following the account of the testimony of Stephen, and his martyrdom, we read that “Saul [Paul] approved of their killing him”, and that (8:1-3).

 

On that day a great persecution broke out against the church in Jerusalem, and all except the apostles were scattered throughout Judea and Samaria. Godly men buried Stephen and mourned deeply for him. But Saul began to destroy the church. Going from house to house, he dragged off both men and women and put them in prison.

 

Booker, “The Beast in Jerusalem” (http://planetpreterist.com/content/beast-jerusalem), has juxtaposed this text with Rev 11:7-8:

 

When they have finished their testimony, the beast that comes up out of the abyss will make war with them, and overcome them and kill them. And their dead bodies will lie in the street of the great city which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt, where also their Lord was crucified.

 

And he draws the conclusion that the two texts are talking about the same thing:

 

First of all, let’s compare the above text to Luke’s Acts of the Apostles. In Acts, Stephen gives testimony of Jesus Christ, for which reason the Jews stoned him. It says ...

 

“Saul was in hearty agreement with putting him to death. And on that day a great persecution began against the church in Jerusalem, and they were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles. Some devout men buried Stephen, and made loud proclamation over him. But Saul began ravaging the church, entering house after house, and dragging off men and women, he would put them in prison”.

 

Now read Revelation again:

 

“When they have finished their testimony [when Stephen and those who followed after him finished their testimony], the beast that comes up out of the abyss will make war with them, and overcome them and kill them [a great persecution will afterward arise, they will ravage the church, enter house after house, and drag off men and women].

And their dead bodies will lie [unless some devout men come along to bury them] in the street of the great city which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt, where also their Lord was crucified [in Jerusalem]”.

 

Revelation also says, “The beast that you saw was, and is not, and is about to come up out of the abyss and go to destruction”.

 

Compare this text’s promise of destruction to 1 Thessalonians:

 

“For you, brethren, became imitators of the churches of God in Christ Jesus that are in Judea, for you also endured the same sufferings at the hands of your own countrymen, even as they did from the Jews, who both killed the Lord Jesus and the prophets, and drove us out. They are not pleasing to God, but hostile to all men, hindering us from speaking to the Gentiles so that they may be saved; with the result that they always fill up the measure of their sins. But wrath has come upon them to the utmost”.

1 Thess also says, “Now as to the times and the epochs, brethren, you have no need of anything to be written to you. For you yourselves know full well that the day of the Lord will come just like a thief in the night. While they are saying, “Peace and safety!” [the classic statement of the false prophets of old--Jer 6:13-14] then destruction will come upon them suddenly like labor pains upon a woman with child, and they will not escape”.

 

2 Thessalonians seems to speak of the beast and the false prophet:

The man of lawlessness is called also the “son of destruction”.

It is said that he “opposes and exalts himself above every so-called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, displaying himself as being God” [compare this to the image of the beast that must be worshipped--Rev 13:4,14]

It then says, “Then that lawless one will be revealed whom the Lord will slay with the breath of His mouth and bring to an end by the appearance of his coming” [compare to Rev 19:20, those who “were killed with the sword which came from the mouth of Him who sat on the horse ...”]

 

It goes on to describe the culprit as “the one whose coming is in accord with the activity of Satan, with all power and signs and false wonders”. [compare to Rev 13:2 where the beast receives its authority from the serpent. Also compare with Rev 13:14; 16:14; 19:20 where the false prophet performs “signs”]

 

Who was responsible for the great persecution?

 

Paul, in his allegory, says “as at that time he who was born according to the flesh persecuted him who was born according to the spirit, so it is now also”.

 

Yet in his allegory he contrasts two covenants and the children of two covenants. The children of the one, born for slavery from Mount Sinai and corresponding to the “present Jerusalem” persecuted the free children born of the Jerusalem that is free. There is, of course, no mention of Rome.

 

John’s Gospel also seems to downplay Rome.

 

Jesus omits any reference to it (as a persecuting body) when he says, “They will make you outcasts from the synagogue, but an hour is coming for everyone who kills you to think that he is offering service to God. These things they will do because they have not known the Father or me. But these things I have spoken to you, so that when their hour [of destruction] comes, you may remember that I told you of them”.

 

So ... with all of this background and history, why do people still identify the beast as Roman?

[End of quotes]

 

Also at: http://www.preterist.org/articles/the_beast.asp the same conclusion has been drawn, that the “Beast” of Revelation 13 must have been Jewish, and not Roman:

 

We are dealing with the character known as “the Beast” in the book of Revelation. Let me suggest, if you are not familiar with this subject, that you read the following passages before going on: Rev. 11, 13, 16, 17, 19, 20; 2 Thess. 2; 1 John 2, 3, 4, 5; and Matthew 24 (esp. vss. 23, 24).

The identity of “The Beast” has always intrigued theologians.

Legions of theories have been conjured up to excite the imagination. This article will examine some of them. It is not our purpose here to identify specifically who the Beast is, but rather to clarify his general nature (i.e. whether he is a Jewish Beast or a Roman one). If we can determine that, maybe his specific identity will be easier to pinpoint. We want to show why the Beast cannot be Roman and why it must be Jewish in character.

 

The whole question as to the nature of the Beast (Jewish or Roman) and his identity is related closely to the date of the book of Revelation. This article assumes that the book of Revelation was written before the destruction of Jerusalem (AD 70).

 

Past Theories

 

Some have identified the Beast as being an individual such as the Pope, Martin Luther, John Calvin, William of Orange or Hitler. Others have seen the Beast more as a group or movement of people, such as the apostate Roman Church, the Protestants, the Roman Empire (or the Common Market), the Roman persecuting power of the first century, or some other great world-power that will rise up to persecute Christians. Some of the more serious attempts have been to identify the Beast as Nero, based on the “666” number in Revelation 13. Another person (Spitta) urged a first-century application to the Biblical character of Simon Magus (Acts 8). Zullig interpreted the Beast as being the Herodian dynasty of rulers. J. S. Russell (in his book, The Parousia) suggests the Roman Procurators (from AD 44-66) and Nero. Once when walking in New York City, I was handed a sheet which stated that Rockefeller was the Antichrist! I've heard similar rumors about Henry Kissenger!

 

Every famous person who was feared or hated was someone’s “Beast!” This really illustrates how fear and hate (and other emotions) can affect one’s exegesis!

 

An Alternative

 

Very few have mustered the courage to suggest a Jewish fulfillment of these “beastly” passages. Most modern interpreters (who are Amillennial) say the Beast is Rome. So, the thesis of a Jewish Beast will probably not be easily accepted.

 

I want to preface our study with some comments taken from Dr. Cornelius Vanderwaal’s commentary on First John, where he deals with the antichrists: (from his commentary set entitled, Search The Scriptures, vol. 10, pp. 60,61) --

“John, who may have been on the island of Patmos when he wrote this letter, now declares that things have gone so far that many antichrists have already appeared. This indicates that it is the 'last hour' (2:18). Many false prophets have gone out in 'the world' (4:1), that is, the apostate Jewish world. ….

 

John’s words make it clear that we must not think of the ‘antichrist’ in connection with a misty future. When John reports the vision of the Beast in the book of Revelation, he is not telling us about a future political antichrist with the reins of world government in his hands; he is indicating that some beastly devil will arise out of Israel to attack the church.

 

2 Thessalonians 2 follows the same line of thought. In 3:9, John distinguishes sharply between the seed of God and the children of the devil (see John 8:44).

 

Who Were The Serpents?

 

The "Dragon" was the source of power and authority for the Beast. He is called “the Serpent” and “the Devil” also. He is clearly identified as “Satan” himself (Rev. 12:9, 20:2).

 

Were the Romans ever called “children of the devil”? The Jews were: (John 8:44; Acts 13:10; 1 John 3:10)! The Jews were also called “serpents” and “offspring of vipers” (Matt. 23:33)!

 

And that same verse (Matt. 23:33) condemns them to a fiery end similar to the end of the Beast and his followers (Rev. 19:19-21)!

 

Two Beasts!

 

There are actually two “Beasts” mentioned in Revelation (ch. 13). The second of these is later identified as the “False Prophet” (cf. Rev. 13:11-14; 16:13 and 19:20). Throughout the Old and New Testaments the words “false prophet” are continually used to denote Jewish characters. It would be strange indeed to speak of a Roman Beast with such terminology. This is another indication that the Beast and those he associates with are Jewish in character.

 

The Beast Revived

 

If the Beast is a Roman Emperor (such as Nero or Domitian), we are going to have to deal with the lack of historical evidence for his resurrection. Rev. 13:2, 12, 14 make it clear that the Beast was killed with the sword but came back to life. Some who favor the idea that Nero is under consideration here recall the rumor that was circulated after his death that he really hadn't died but that he was over in Parthia gathering an army to come back to Rome and take over.

 

There is, of course, historical evidence that such a rumor was circulated in the first century, but there is not the slightest evidence that the rumor was true, and Nero never reappeared. This theory (called the "Nero Redivivus" theory) has pretty well been abandoned by most who consider John’s account in Revelation to be inspired. How could an inspired Apostle entertain such speculative notions which never did materialize?

 

Neither Nero nor Domitian nor any other Roman emperor came back to life again. This would certainly militate against the Beast being Roman.

 

See also my (Damien Mackey’s) article:

 

Rome surprisingly minimal in Bible

 

(9) Rome surprisingly minimal in Bible

 

The article continues:

 

And it can’t be the Roman persecuting power that was revived, since the Roman persecution dragged on for several more centuries, and whatever persecution this is, was supposed to end shortly after the book was written (see Rev. 1:1-3; 22:6,10). This is interesting, because the Jewish persecution did come to a screeching halt shortly after the book was written!

 

Before its end, the Jewish cause got a couple of extra lives: one in AD 66 when Cestius Gallus (the Roman general) withdrew his forces and suffered a humiliating defeat at the pass of Beth Horon.

 

A second chance for their religion came when Yochanan Ben Zakkai pretended dead and escaped (in a coffin) out of Jerusalem to the Romans, where he was allowed by Titus to go to Yavneh and continue his teaching of the Law (where it continued until the destruction of Jerusalem in Hadrian's day (AD 135).

 

The Song of Moses

 

To anyone familiar with the Law of Moses and Jewish tradition, Rev. 15:2,3 will have meaning. It says that those martyrs “who had come off victorious from the Beast” were singing “the Song of Moses”.

 

Deuteronomy 32:1-43 is the song that John has reference to.

 

The Jews were to sing this song to remind themselves of what would befall them “in the latter days” (Deut. 31:29). the song talks about “the end” of the Jews (Deut. 32:20), and details their destruction by a consuming fire (Deut. 32:22), “famine” (32:24), “plague” (32:24) and “bitter destruction” (32:24). God calls them a “perverse generation” (32:5,20), and says He will “render vengeance” upon them and “vindicate His people” (32:41 and 32:36 respectively).

 

Why would Christian martyrs of the first century be singing this song about the Romans, when the song had reference to the Jews? It wouldn't make much sense. But if it was Jews who were killing them (like the book of Acts shows), then they had every reason to be singing the Song of Moses! It was the Jews who were the real threat to the Christians! No one else knew better how to attack the church than the Jews. Paul said that his intention as a former persecutor was not just to debate the Christians and prove they were wrong. He was out to “destroy” them (Gal. 1:13,23; 1 Tim. 1:13; Acts 8:3; 9:21)!

 

It was a Jewish beast who was persecuting and killing these Christians, and these martyrs were singing the Song of Moses to remind their Jewish persecutors of what was coming upon them!

Aren’t these the same martyrs who cried out earlier, “How long, Or Lord, wilt Thou refrain from judging and avenging our blood” (Rev. 6:10)? Who was it who had all the “blood of the righteous” martyrs imputed against them - Jews or Romans? These Christians who had kept their faith in Jesus in spite of the intense persecution by the Jews were the ones “who had come off victorious from the Beast”.

(See Matt. 23:35 and Luke 13:33)! This passage (Rev. 15:2,3) points very clearly to a Jewish beast.

 

Gnawed Tongues and Wild Beasts

 

In Rev. 16:10,11, it says that the people in the Beast’s kingdom “gnawed their tongues because of pain”. They had great sores on their bodies along with other plagues that had been poured out on them. The question is, if this is Rome or a Roman beast of some kind, when were they ever in such a miserable mess? John makes it clear that these events were to happen soon after the book was written (Rev. 1:1,3; 22:6,10). When was Nero or Domitian’s kingdom thrust into such dire straights?

 

We know from Josephus when the Jews literally gnawed their tongues for lack of food during the siege of AD 70!

And, it is interesting that Josephus even calls the Jewish Zealot forces a “wild beast” in several places (Wars V.1.1; IV.7.4; IV.9.8; V.2.5)!

 

This doesn’t fit the Romans at all, but it does fit the Jews very well! This point is emphasized even more by the fact that the whole context of the Song of Moses is full of references to “beasts”, “serpents”, and “dragons” (Lev. 26; Deut. 28-32; esp. Deut. 32:24,33).

 

The Beast Was Seized

 

The real clincher to the whole story is found in Revelation 19:11-21, where it says the Beast was “seized and thrown alive into the lake of fire” (vs. 20). Keep in mind that these events were to happen soon after Revelation was written (Rev. 1:1,3; 22:6,10).

 

Was Nero or Domitian seized and thrown into the Lake of Fire shortly after Revelation was written? Did Rome make war against Jesus and His angelic hosts and get defeated shortly after the book was written (Rev. 19:19)? Did the Roman armies get “killed with the sword” and become a feast for all the vultures, shortly after Revelation was written (19:21)? The Roman persecution did not end shortly after the writing of Revelation, but the Jewish one did.

 

Whoever the Beast is, he is soundly defeated here, his persecution against the church is crushed and his armies become plunder for the birds of prey to eat.

 

Rome didn’t fall until the Fifth Century [Mackey: Not necessarily my calculations], and that’s a long time after Revelation was written! This sounds more like a Jewish Beast trying to persecute and destroy the church, but finally getting itself destroyed! The Romans were the vultures of this text (Rev. 19:21) who circled outside the Jewish walls watching the Jewish factions kill each other, waiting until they wore themselves out enough to become easy prey.

This soon happened (in AD 70) and Jews glutted the world slave market. The Roman armies weren’t seized and “killed with the sword” in AD 70, nor in AD 96 either. Therefore, the Beast here (Rev. 19:19-21 cannot be a Roman one. It had to be Jewish!

 

Conclusion

 

We hope someone will go from here and discover the specific identity of the Jewish Beast. Whether he is an individual or a group within the Jewish nation is a matter that will be left to future studies. John Bray has suggested the Jewish Zealot leader, John of Gischala. Others have suggested Menachem, who was a relative of Judas the Galilean who had stirred up troubles back in earlier days. He gathered a zealot band and attacked Masada, captured the fortress, seized the armaments and paraded through Jerusalem with them. Menachem put on the purple robes, proclaimed himself Messiah, and went into the Temple, but he was assassinated in the Temple and his army vaporized. There may have been rumors about his coming back to life, but I haven't read of them so far. He never reappeared as far as Josephus recorded.

[End of quote]

 

With the Beast, the persecutor of the two witnesses, thus destroyed - along with all of his followers - and now the Devil chained up, the millennium can peacefully commence.

 

But, unfortunately, it is not yet the final curtain call, for Satan gets to make another stage appearance later on (Revelation 20:7-8): “When the thousand years are over, Satan will be released from his prison and will go out to deceive the nations in the four corners of the earth—Gog and Magog—and to gather them for battle”.

 

That release, I have believed, coincided approximately with the vision of Pope Leo XIII (1884).

 

According to what I have written in:

 

Church Undergoing Test of Prophet Job

 

(10) Church undergoing test of the prophet Job

 

we are still in that tumultuous period, now in a very late stage of it.

 

 

 

Finding the Child Jesus in the Temple

 

“The evangelist Luke pointedly captures this reality when he describes how

Mary and Joseph searched “anxiously” for their Son, employing a word he uses only one other time in his Gospel, when describing the fiery anguish experienced

by the rich man in hades (see Luke 16:24-25)”.

Clement Harrold

 

 

Taken from: Science of the Cross: Edith Stein's Theocentric Humanism | Church Life Journal | University of Notre Dame

 

Science of the Cross: Edith Stein’s Theocentric Humanism

by Clement Harrold August 09, 2024

 

….

Finding God Within: The Science of the Cross and the Fifth Joyful Mystery

 

Although Stein only touches briefly on Luke’s story of the finding of the child Jesus in the temple (see Luke 2:41-52) … the Gospel vignette nevertheless offers a helpful lens through which to understand the way the science of the cross functions in the life of the Christian. Certainly Stein accepts the biblical notion that the human person is a temple in which God dwells … a concept she sometimes expresses in the language of sanctuary: “Human beings are called upon to live in their inmost region. . . .

 

The angels have the task of protecting it. Evil spirits seek to gain control of it. God himself has chosen it as his dwelling.” …. Given Stein’s conviction that the essential task of the scientist of the cross is that of discovering God within the sanctuary of the self, what lessons might she then draw from the fifth joyful mystery?

A few thoughts will suffice.

 

When Mary and Joseph finally discover their beloved Son after three days of searching, theirs is the relief not only of finding their child again, but also of discovering that their experience of profound pain and loss took place for a reason: Jesus knew what he was doing all along. Yet we know that the dark night preceding this joy was an agonizing one. Presumably Mary and Joseph had already experienced various nights of the senses, whether in the ordeal of the Bethlehem birth, the tragedy of the Holy Innocents, or the forced flight into Egypt. On the occasion of losing their Son, however, night was to be far more painful, far more extreme: a night of the soul, not of the senses, where God himself is removed from their midst. The evangelist Luke pointedly captures this reality when he describes how Mary and Joseph searched “anxiously” for their Son, employing a word he uses only one other time in his Gospel, when describing the fiery anguish experienced by the rich man in hades (see Luke 16:24-25). This points us to a startling truth: for Mary and Joseph, the three days of searching were hell on earth. In their ultimate act of theomimesis, Jesus’s human parents were rewarded—albeit passively, and certainly not through their own choosing—with a taste of the same abandonment which he himself would experience on Calvary.

 

 

Yet the abandonment does not last forever, and it gives way to a deeper discovery of self. For this reason, to view the finding in the temple as nothing more than a bizarre anecdote speaking of the need for parental vigilance is to miss the point entirely. After all, it is not some failing on the part of Mary or Joseph which causes their Christ to go missing, but rather a deliberate decision on his part. Christ consciously allows his human parents to feel the loss of his presence in order that they might discover themselves more intimately in him. This reality finds symbolic expression in the temple itself, which in the Christian tradition (as Stein herself points out) at once represents the human being and the person of Christ. It is in the temple that Mary and Joseph discover Jesus, and it is in the temple of our souls that we discover that same Christ-child who permits our pains for a time, but always for the deeper purpose of love.

 

Transformation in Charity

 

In a profound way, the finding in the temple points to that lived experience of charity which forms the apotheosis of Stein’s science of the cross. Consider the question on the lips of Mary and Joseph when they are finally reunited with their Child: “Son, why have you treated us so?” (Luke 2:48). It is a question which echoes down the ages in the heart of every believer who has ever experienced intense pain; in the midst of grief, loneliness, trauma, and hurt, our cry to Jesus becomes no less spirited than that of his human parents: “Why, Jesus, why have you treated us so?”

For Stein, through the science of the cross, it is love which stands as the answer to this question. Love is why he has treated us so, and our final transformation in charity is the reason he asks us to suffer—and to discover ourselves in him. Commenting on Christ’s cryptic response to his parents (“Did you not know I must be about my Father’s business?”), Stein cites from John of the Cross in his own commentary on these first-recorded words of the Savior:

 

Nothing else can be meant by that which is the eternal Father’s business than the salvation of the world, above all the salvation of souls, since Christ our Lord applied the means foreordained by the eternal Father. . . . But what is most wonderful and divine is to cooperate in the conversion of souls and in bringing them home; for in this God’s own activity is reflected and this imitation is the greatest glory. That is why Christ, our Lord, called this the work of his Father, the business of his Father. It is also an evident truth that sympathy with the neighbor grows the more, the more the soul is united with God through love. ….

 

The Son is about the Father’s business: namely, the salvation of sinners, and the proliferation of love. For Stein, as for John of the Cross, the soul encounters God within the deepest recesses of her soul, and that encounter cannot leave her unchanged. A metamorphosing union now takes place: a union manifested in charity and in the soul’s “supernatural transformation” in God. ….

 

It now becomes evident that the science of the cross is precisely for the sake of that “transforming union through perfect love that divinizes the soul.” …. To be sure, union with God is the primary goal of the science, and Stein is careful to highlight Christ’s insistence that his followers “seek first the kingdom” (Mt 6:33). …. From this thoroughly theocentric point of departure, however, a horizontal dimension of charity also begins to emerge, and the science of the cross completes its cruciform structure.

For Stein, worship must indeed precede ethics; love of God ranks before love of neighbor. At the same time, the two maxims are not competitive in her thinking, but rather complementary. Love of God is incarnated through the love of neighbor; theomimesis is ever a communal affair. Stein is emphatic: “Self-fulfillment, union with God, and laboring for the union of others with God and for their self-fulfillment belong inseparably together.” …. Through the power of the cross, the people of God are gathered into one and bonded together in perfect charity. In their shared participation in Christ’s sufferings, the body of believers discover themselves in God and in one another: “And all the holy souls together form on their part a garland, which the bride-Church weaves together with Christ the Bridegroom.” ….

 

Conclusion

 

The finding in the temple is illustrative of the painful but life-giving role which the science of the cross must play in the life of the Christian. It is suggestive, too, of a distinctively theocentric humanism which is the hallmark of Stein’s thinking, and a possible interpretative key for unlocking her theological vision. Stein’s profound reflections on the cross present a challenge to modern man to ponder anew that mystery of mysteries: almighty and transcendent God nailed naked to a tree. For Stein, it is by taking this reality to heart that our conception of the human person is unalterably elevated. As such, an authentic humanism must begin and end with the divine; only then can the dignity of the human person be secured: “So the bridal union of the soul with God is the goal for which she was created, purchased through the cross, consummated on the cross and sealed for all eternity with the cross.” …. Divinization through suffering—theosis through kenosis—is the promise Christ extends to all mankind, and one in which we are invited to share. Herein lies Stein’s science of the cross, and the only reliable seedbed for an authentically Christian humanism.

….

 

Jesus Christ as Lord of History

 

“This pre-incarnate Christ was not merely a spectator or even just an agent

of creation—He was its purpose. All things were created "through Him and

for Him" (Colossians 1:16). The entire cosmos, from the most distant galaxy

to the smallest subatomic particle, exists for Christ, points to Christ,

and finds its meaning in Christ”.

  

Excellent article written on 06 Apr 2025:

Jesus Christ: The Eternal King and Lord of Time

  

Jesus Christ: The Eternal King and Lord of Time

 

Introduction: The Fullness of Christ Revealed

 

"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made."
— John 1:1-3

 

In the grand tapestry of divine revelation, one figure stands supreme, transcending time, space, and the limitations of human understanding. Jesus Christ—the Word made flesh, the Alpha and Omega, the King of Kings and Lord of Lords—is not merely a historical figure who appeared in Bethlehem two thousand years ago. He is the eternal Son of God, whose glory, power, and sovereignty stretch from before creation's dawn to beyond the consummation of all things.

 

He is the central figure of Scripture, history, and eternity—the one in whom "all the fullness of the Godhead dwells bodily" (Colossians 2:9).

 

This essay explores the surpassing glory, worth, and majesty of Jesus Christ as revealed across the entire sweep of Scripture and divine history. From His pre-incarnate manifestations to patriarchs and prophets, to His incarnation, death, and resurrection, to His coming again in glory—Jesus Christ stands as the sovereign Lord of time and creation, working out the divine plan of redemption that was established "before the foundation of the world" (Ephesians 1:4).

 

As we trace His movements through history, His appearances in various forms, His words spoken through prophets, and His actions in establishing and fulfilling the covenant promises, we behold the breathtaking unity of God's redemptive purpose centered in the person of His Son. We see how every thread of prophecy, every divine oath, every covenant promise, and every appointed time finds its fulfillment in Jesus Christ, who is "the same yesterday, today, and forever" (Hebrews 13:8).

 

I. Christ Before Creation: The Eternal Son

 

Before anything else existed, the Son was. Not merely existing, but reigning in glory, equal with the Father, participating in the divine counsel, and preparing to execute the divine plan for creation and redemption.

 

"He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him. And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist."
— Colossians 1:15-17

 

The Son's eternal existence is foundational to understanding His role throughout Scripture. He did not come into being at His birth in Bethlehem; He has always been. The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit existed in perfect communion before creation began—a divine fellowship of love and glory.

 

"Father, I desire that they also whom You gave Me may be with Me where I am, that they may behold My glory which You have given Me; for You loved Me before the foundation of the world."
— John 17:24

 

When the divine counsel declared "Let Us make man in Our image" (Genesis 1:26), the Son was an active participant in creation. As John affirms, "All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made" (John 1:3). Creation itself bears the imprint of the Son's wisdom, power, and artistry.

 

This pre-incarnate Christ was not merely a spectator or even just an agent of creation—He was its purpose. All things were created "through Him and for Him" (Colossians 1:16). The entire cosmos, from the most distant galaxy to the smallest subatomic particle, exists for Christ, points to Christ, and finds its meaning in Christ.

 

II. The Pre-Incarnate Christ: Divine Manifestations

 

Throughout the Old Testament, we find mysterious appearances of a figure often identified as "the Angel of the LORD"—not a created angel, but a unique manifestation who speaks with divine authority, receives worship, and is identified with YHWH Himself. These theophanies (divine appearances) represent the pre-incarnate Christ interacting with humanity, establishing the covenant lineage, and preparing the way for His eventual incarnation.

 

A. Christ and the Patriarchs

 

1. The Word to Abraham

 

When Abraham received the covenant promises, it was the pre-incarnate Christ who appeared to him:

 

"After these things the word of the LORD came to Abram in a vision, saying, 'Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield, your exceedingly great reward.'"
— Genesis 15:1

 

This "word of the LORD" (דְבַר־יְהוָה / debar-YHWH) who came to Abraham was the same eternal Word (λόγος / Logos) who would later become flesh in John 1:14. When the covenant was formally established through sacrifice, it was this divine Word who passed between the pieces, swearing by Himself to fulfill the covenant promises (Genesis 15:17-18).

 

Later, when three visitors appeared to Abraham at Mamre, one of them was addressed as "YHWH" (Genesis 18:1-3). This was no mere angel but the pre-incarnate Son, who discussed the fate of Sodom with Abraham as one having divine authority to judge. The eternal Lamb--slain before the foundation of the world.

 

2. Wrestling with Jacob

 

At Peniel, Jacob wrestled with a mysterious figure whom he later identified as God Himself:

 

"So Jacob called the name of the place Peniel: 'For I have seen God face to face, and my life is preserved.'"
— Genesis 32:30

 

This divine wrestler, who blessed Jacob and gave him the name Israel, was none other than the pre-incarnate Christ. The prophet Hosea later confirmed this, saying Jacob "struggled with God. Yes, he struggled with the Angel and prevailed" (Hosea 12:3-4). This "Angel" who is also "God" represents the Son before His incarnation, condescending to establish the covenant with the patriarch of the twelve tribes.

 

B. Christ in the Exodus and Wilderness

 

1. The Burning Bush

 

When Moses encountered the burning bush in Midian, the text states: "And the Angel of the LORD appeared to him in a flame of fire from the midst of a bush" (Exodus 3:2). Yet this Angel then identifies Himself as "the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob" (Exodus 3:6), and reveals His name as "I AM WHO I AM" (Exodus 3:14).

 

This was no created angel but the eternal Son, the second person of the Trinity, appearing to commission Moses for the liberation of His people. Jesus Himself later claimed this divine name, declaring to the Jewish leaders, "Before Abraham was, I AM" (John 8:58), thus identifying Himself as the God of the burning bush.

 

2. The Pillar of Cloud and Fire

 

Throughout the Exodus and wilderness wanderings, God led Israel with a pillar of cloud by day and fire by night. This visible manifestation of divine presence and guidance was identified as "the Angel of God" (Exodus 14:19) who protected Israel at the Red Sea. This Angel was none other than the pre-incarnate Christ, leading His people out of bondage and toward the Promised Land.

 

"Moreover, brethren, I do not want you to be unaware that all our fathers were under the cloud, all passed through the sea... and all drank the same spiritual drink. For they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them, and that Rock was Christ."
— 1 Corinthians 10:1, 4

 

Paul explicitly identifies the spiritual Rock that provided water in the wilderness as Christ Himself, confirming that the pre-incarnate Son was actively present with Israel throughout their wilderness journey.

 

3. Sinai and the Covenant

 

When God descended on Mount Sinai to establish the covenant with Israel, it was the pre-incarnate Son who mediated this covenant. Moses and the elders of Israel "saw the God of Israel. And there was under His feet as it were a paved work of sapphire stone, and it was like the very heavens in its clarity" (Exodus 24:10).

 

This vision of God in human form—with feet walking on sapphire—was a glimpse of the pre-incarnate Christ, who would later take permanent human form in the incarnation. The book of Hebrews confirms that Christ is "the Mediator of the new covenant" (Hebrews 12:24), just as He was the mediator of the old covenant at Sinai.

 

C. Christ in the Time of Judges and Kings

 

1. The Captain of the LORD's Army

 

When Joshua was preparing to conquer Jericho, he encountered a mysterious figure:

 

"And it came to pass, when Joshua was by Jericho, that he lifted his eyes and looked, and behold, a Man stood opposite him with His sword drawn in His hand. And Joshua went to Him and said to Him, 'Are You for us or for our adversaries?' So He said, 'No, but as Commander of the army of the LORD I have now come.'"
— Joshua 5:13-14

 

Joshua fell on his face in worship, and the Commander did not rebuke him but instead said, "Take your sandal off your foot, for the place where you stand is holy" (Joshua 5:15)—the same command given to Moses at the burning bush.

 

This was the pre-incarnate Christ, appearing as the divine Commander leading Israel's conquest of the Promised Land.

 

2. Gideon's Visitor

 

When the Angel of the LORD appeared to Gideon, the text again reveals this was no ordinary angel:

 

"Then the LORD turned to him and said, 'Go in this might of yours, and you shall save Israel from the hand of the Midianites. Have I not sent you?'"
— Judges 6:14

 

The narrative shifts seamlessly between "the Angel of the LORD" and "the LORD" Himself speaking to Gideon. When Gideon presented an offering, "the Angel of the LORD departed from his sight" (Judges 6:21), leading Gideon to exclaim, "Alas, O Lord GOD! For I have seen the Angel of the LORD face to face" (Judges 6:22).

 

This divine visitor, accepting worship and speaking with divine authority, was the pre-incarnate Christ, commissioning a deliverer for His people.

 

3. David's Lord

 

In Psalm 110, David wrote about a divine figure whom he called "my Lord":

 

"The LORD said to my Lord, 'Sit at My right hand, till I make Your enemies Your footstool.'"
— Psalm 110:1

 

Jesus Himself cited this verse to prove His divine identity, asking the Pharisees, "If David then calls Him 'Lord,' how is He his Son?" (Matthew 22:45). This psalm reveals the pre-incarnate Christ, enthroned at the Father's right hand, awaiting the time when He would take on human flesh as David's descendant while remaining David's divine Lord.

 

In Psalm 2, David saw the divine decree establishing the Son as King:

 

"I will declare the decree: The LORD has said to Me, 'You are My Son, today I have begotten You. Ask of Me, and I will give You the nations for Your inheritance, and the ends of the earth for Your possession.'"
— Psalm 2:7-8

 

This decree, spoken in eternity past, refers to the eternal Son who would later be incarnated as the Messiah. David's prophetic visions revealed the pre-incarnate Christ's royal status and coming reign.

 

In Psalm 45, David beheld the divine King in His beauty and majesty:

 

"Your throne, O God, is forever and ever; a scepter of righteousness is the scepter of Your kingdom."
— Psalm 45:6

 

The book of Hebrews directly applies this verse to Christ (Hebrews 1:8-9), confirming that David was seeing the pre-incarnate Son in His divine glory.

 

D. Christ in the Prophets

 

1. Isaiah's Visions

 

When Isaiah "saw the Lord sitting on a throne, high and lifted up, and the train of His robe filled the temple" (Isaiah 6:1), he was beholding the pre-incarnate Christ in glory. John confirms this, stating, "These things Isaiah said when he saw His glory and spoke of Him" (John 12:41).

 

This vision of the thrice-holy King surrounded by seraphim was a glimpse of the eternal Son, whose incarnation and redemptive work Isaiah would prophesy throughout his book.

 

In Isaiah 53, the prophet received a detailed vision of the coming Suffering Servant, the incarnate Christ who would be "wounded for our transgressions" and "bruised for our iniquities" (Isaiah 53:5).

 

This extraordinary prophecy, written seven centuries before the crucifixion, reveals the precision with which the eternal Son planned His redemptive mission.

 

In Isaiah 63, the prophet sees a vision of the divine warrior coming from Edom:

 

"Who is this who comes from Edom, with dyed garments from Bozrah, this One who is glorious in His apparel, traveling in the greatness of His strength?—'I who speak in righteousness, mighty to save.'"
— Isaiah 63:1

 

This warrior, stained with the blood of His enemies, is the pre-incarnate Christ revealing His future role as judge and deliverer. The vision anticipates both His first coming (to save) and His second coming (to judge).

 

2. Ezekiel's Vision of the Glory

 

When Ezekiel saw "the likeness of the glory of the LORD" by the River Chebar, he beheld "the likeness of a throne, in appearance like a sapphire stone; on the likeness of the throne was a likeness with the appearance of a man high above it" (Ezekiel 1:26).

 

This human form enveloped in radiant glory was the pre-incarnate Christ, the visible manifestation of the invisible God, seated on His heavenly throne. The sapphire throne echoes the vision given to Moses and the elders at Sinai, showing the consistent appearance of the pre-incarnate Son throughout Israel's history.

 

3. Daniel's Visions

 

Daniel beheld "One like the Son of Man, coming with the clouds of heaven" who "came to the Ancient of Days" and received "dominion and glory and a kingdom, that all peoples, nations, and languages should serve Him" (Daniel 7:13-14). This was the pre-incarnate Christ revealed in His future glory, receiving universal kingship from the Father.

 

Later, by the River Tigris, Daniel saw a glorious figure:

 

"I lifted my eyes and looked, and behold, a certain man clothed in linen, whose waist was girded with gold of Uphaz! His body was like beryl, His face like the appearance of lightning, His eyes like torches of fire, His arms and feet like burnished bronze in color, and the sound of His words like the voice of a multitude."
— Daniel 10:5-6

This description closely matches John's vision of the glorified Christ in Revelation 1:13-16, confirming that Daniel encountered the pre-incarnate Son in His divine splendor. This glorious figure raised His hand to heaven and swore the oath that would seal Daniel's prophetic timeline—the same gesture that would be repeated by the mighty angel in Revelation 10, confirming the continuity of Christ's sovereign control over prophetic history.

 

4. The Minor Prophets

 

Zechariah saw visions of "the Angel of the LORD" who interceded for Jerusalem (Zechariah 1:12) and functioned as the divine presence among His people. This Angel is identified as YHWH Himself when He declares, "I am zealous for Jerusalem and for Zion with great zeal" (Zechariah 1:14).

 

Zechariah also prophesied the Messiah's entry into Jerusalem on a donkey (Zechariah 9:9), His betrayal for thirty pieces of silver (Zechariah 11:12-13), and His piercing (Zechariah 12:10)—all precise details of Christ's first coming that would be fulfilled centuries later.

 

Malachi foretold the coming of "the Messenger of the covenant" who would "suddenly come to His temple" (Malachi 3:1). This divine Messenger, equated with the Lord Himself, is the pre-incarnate Christ who would later visit the temple in human flesh.

 

Micah prophesied the Messiah's birth in Bethlehem while affirming His eternal nature:

 

"But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of you shall come forth to Me the One to be Ruler in Israel, whose goings forth are from of old, from everlasting."
— Micah 5:2

 

This remarkable prophecy reveals both the incarnation's specificity (Bethlehem) and the eternal pre-existence of the Son ("from everlasting"). The pre-incarnate Christ was orchestrating the precise details of His future earthly mission through the prophets.

 

III. The Incarnate Christ: God Among Us

 

The mystery of the incarnation stands at the center of redemptive history: "The Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth" (John 1:14). The eternal Son, who had revealed Himself partially through theophanies and prophetic visions, now took on permanent human nature without diminishing His divine nature.

 

"Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men."
— Philippians 2:5-7

 

His birth fulfilled dozens of specific prophecies given centuries earlier:

 

• Born of a virgin (Isaiah 7:14)
• Born in Bethlehem (Micah 5:2)
• From the tribe of Judah (Genesis 49:10)
• From the lineage of David (2 Samuel 7:12-13)
• Worshiped by kings bearing gifts (Psalm 72:10-11)
• Called out of Egypt (Hosea 11:1)
• Preceded by a messenger (Isaiah 40:3)

 

The mathematical probability of one person fulfilling even a fraction of these prophecies by chance is statistically impossible, demonstrating the sovereign orchestration of the eternal Son throughout history.

 

Christ's earthly ministry revealed His divine identity through His:

 

• Authoritative teaching: "He taught them as one having authority" (Matthew 7:29)
• Miraculous power: healing the sick, casting out demons, raising the dead
• Command over nature: calming storms, walking on water, multiplying food
• Claims of divinity: "I and My Father are one" (John 10:30)
• Fulfillment of the Messianic prophecies: "Today this Scripture is fulfilled in your hearing" (Luke 4:21)

 

His perfect life fulfilled the righteousness requirements of the Law that no other human could achieve. As both fully God and fully man, He alone could serve as the perfect mediator between God and humanity, bridging the infinite gulf created by sin.

 

IV. The Crucified Christ: Divine Sacrifice

 

The crucifixion of Jesus Christ represents the central act of redemptive history—the moment when the eternal Son bore the sins of humanity and satisfied divine justice. This was no tragic accident but the fulfillment of the divine plan established "before the foundation of the world" (1 Peter 1:20).

 

"For Christ also suffered once for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive by the Spirit."
— 1 Peter 3:18

 

Christ's suffering and death fulfilled dozens of specific Old Testament prophecies, including:

 

• Betrayed by a friend (Psalm 41:9)
• Sold for thirty pieces of silver (Zechariah 11:12)
• Silent before His accusers (Isaiah 53:7)
• Pierced in His hands and feet (Psalm 22:16)
• Crucified with transgressors (Isaiah 53:12)
• Garments divided by casting lots (Psalm 22:18)
• Given gall and vinegar (Psalm 69:21)
• No bones broken (Psalm 34:20)
• Pierced (Zechariah 12:10)
• Buried in a rich man's tomb (Isaiah 53:9)

 

The cross stands as the supreme demonstration of both divine justice and divine love. As the hymn writer put it, "Here might I stay and sing, no story so divine; never was love, dear King, never was grief like Thine."

 

On the cross, the eternal Son who had created the cosmos now bore the full weight of human sin. The One who had appeared to Moses in burning glory now endured the unimaginable darkness of separation from the Father. The Commander of heaven's armies submitted to the most shameful execution devised by human cruelty.

 

Yet in this apparent defeat lay the greatest victory in cosmic history. Through His death, Christ:

 

• Paid the ransom for many (Mark 10:45)
• Became the propitiation for our sins (1 John 2:2)
• Canceled the record of debt against us (Colossians 2:14)
• Disarmed the principalities and powers (Colossians 2:15)
• Destroyed the power of death (Hebrews 2:14)
• Reconciled all things to God (Colossians 1:20)

 

The eternal Son, who had sworn the covenant oath to Abraham, now ratified the New Covenant with His own blood. The divine Lawgiver became the perfect sacrifice to satisfy His own holy requirements. The Judge of all the earth subjected Himself to human judgment to save the guilty.

 

V. The Resurrected Christ: Death Conquered

 

The resurrection of Jesus Christ stands as the divine vindication of His perfect sacrifice and the definitive demonstration of His divine identity. By conquering death, Christ proved both His deity and the effectiveness of His atoning work.

 

"He was delivered up because of our offenses, and was raised because of our justification."
— Romans 4:25

 

The resurrection fulfilled ancient prophecies, including:

 

• "You will not leave my soul in Sheol, nor will You allow Your Holy One to see corruption" (Psalm 16:10)
• "After two days He will revive us; on the third day He will raise us up" (Hosea 6:2)
• "I will open your graves and cause you to come up from your graves" (Ezekiel 37:12)

 

Christ's resurrection transformed a small band of frightened disciples into fearless apostles willing to die for their testimony. It established the Christian faith on an empirical historical foundation—over 500 eyewitnesses saw the risen Christ (1 Corinthians 15:6), and many of them suffered martyrdom rather than recant their testimony.

 

More than just a historical event, the resurrection has cosmic significance. It represents:

 

• The firstfruits of the new creation (1 Corinthians 15:20)
• The defeat of death itself (1 Corinthians 15:54-55)
• The guarantee of believers' resurrection (1 Corinthians 15:22)
• The validation of the gospel message (1 Corinthians 15:14)
• The demonstration of divine power (Ephesians 1:19-20)

 

The risen Christ, still bearing the wounds of crucifixion in His glorified body, reveals that the incarnation was not temporary. The eternal Son has permanently united Himself with human nature, elevating humanity to unprecedented dignity. The God who created humanity in His image has now taken that image upon Himself forever.

 

VI. The Ascended Christ: Universal King

 

Following His resurrection, Christ ascended to heaven, returning to the glory He had shared with the Father before the world began, but now bringing glorified humanity to the throne of God.

 

"When He had by Himself purged our sins, [He] sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high."
— Hebrews 1:3

 

The ascension fulfilled Christ's words to Mary Magdalene: "I am ascending to My Father and your Father, and to My God and your God" (John 20:17). It also fulfilled Daniel's vision of "One like the Son of Man" coming to the Ancient of Days to receive an everlasting dominion (Daniel 7:13-14).

 

From His heavenly throne, the ascended Christ now:

 

• Serves as our High Priest (Hebrews 4:14-16)
• Intercedes for believers (Romans 8:34)
• Sends the Holy Spirit (John 16:7)
• Gives gifts to the Church (Ephesians 4:8)
• Rules over all creation (Ephesians 1:20-22)
• Prepares a place for His followers (John 14:2-3)

 

His ascension does not represent absence but a different mode of presence. Through the Holy Spirit, Christ is "with you always, even to the end of the age" (Matthew 28:20). The incarnate One who walked the dusty roads of Galilee now fills all things (Ephesians 4:10), being present wherever two or three gather in His name (Matthew 18:20).

 

The ascended Christ now bears the highest name and receives universal worship:

 

"Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father."
— Philippians 2:9-11

 

This universal acclamation fulfills Isaiah's prophecy that "every knee shall bow, every tongue shall take an oath" (Isaiah 45:23). The ascended Christ has received the very worship that YHWH declared was His alone, confirming again the full deity of the Son.

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