Quote:
Originally Posted by OBW
Why are we considering elevating certain scripture over other scripture?
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The reason is because one scripture ends the story, and trumps the rest. Remember the parable of the man with two sons (Matt. 21)? One had a bad start, but repented and did the will of the father. The second started well, but stumbled. It is how you finish, not how you start. And given that 6 of the 7 epistles that end the Bible are censorious in nature, I suspect something is going on here. So I use the word "degradation", and ask why. The degradation might have occurred subsequent to and unrelated to the rest of the written record, given the lapse of time. But the two records, that of "Revelation" and that of what preceded it, may be causally correlated.
Paul told the Galatians: "You started well. You were running the race. Who stumbled you?"
Something stumbled the Asian assemblies. They were in captivity. I am wondering why.
Second, given that John knew the high priest, and was likely a disciple of John the Baptist, whose own father was a serving priest, I think John was acutely aware of the failure of Judaism. The religious Jews had the "white paint" of religion, but inside was death. Now, who do you suppose was the woman with the scarlet robe and the golden cup full of abominations? It was some religion; most likely are the Jewish one or the nascent christian one. I say it was likely the christian one. Why? Because the seven epistles are to the christian assemblies. John isn't concerned with Judaism. But the "spirit of Babylon" which killed the Jewish faith was going to ruin the christian one as well.
Third, John was there in chapter one of the fourth gospel, on the beach with Andrew and John the Baptist, and they saw Jesus there, alone. At the end of the written record there are assemblies, offices, service commitees, and so forth. If anyone is qualified to ascertain as to whether the "nature" of the business has changed for the worse, it is John the disciple. Paul wasn't there on the beach, nor was James. John was there. He saw the man Jesus. So I look to him for the "last word".