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Earth, land and world - What is the difference and does it make any difference in our beliefs?

The phrase “lost in translation” is becoming more of a reality to me as I study the Word. Looking at Revelation afresh is blowing my mind as I question what I have been programmed to believe. It is difficult at times as I have to question myself as to whether it is worth the time and possibly uprooting my beliefs in the process.

I am however spurred on to continue in my search and this is where I need your assistance as I might be so far off the rails that I have lost sight of where I started. Please help me in my thinking by giving your input as my thoughts are expanded with the more feedback I receive. (Almost sounds like an AI. ?)

Reading Rev. 13 this morning it dawned on me that the words "earth" and "land" are being used interchangeably. English is more descriptive than Greek in this instance; having multiple words for one Greek word.

V8a "All the inhabitants of the earth will fall down and worship him..."

V11a "Then I saw another beast rising up out of the earth;..."

V14a " And he deceives those who inhabit the earth..."

The word for "earth" is G1093, pronounced: ghay. It means:

- arable land
- the ground, the earth as a standing place
- the main land as opposed to the sea or water
- the earth as a whole
- the earth as opposed to the heavens
- the inhabited earth, the abode of men and animals
- a country, land enclosed within fixed boundaries, a tract of land, territory, region

This word is used to describe: ground, land, country, earth, etc. - https://www.blueletterbible.or....g/lexicon/g1093/kjv/

The same word for earth is used in Rom. 10:18

"But I say, did they not hear? Indeed they have; 'Their voice has gone out to all the earth, and their words to the ends of the world.'"

The verse ends with the word "world" which is G3625, pronounced: oy-kou-men'-ay. It means:

- the inhabited earth
- the portion of the earth inhabited by the Greeks, in distinction from the lands of the barbarians
- the Roman empire, all the subjects of the empire
- the whole inhabited earth, the world
- the inhabitants of the earth, men
- the universe, the world

Might we be substituting the word "earth" as in "land" with the word "world" whenever we think of the Anti-Christ's reign? Might his reign be a "localized" (albeit a large area) event where he has dominion over his kingdom, but not over the entire world?

Remember, we are reading a translation into English and the writers had to use source material to determine the full meaning of a word in Greek. Many of our “translations” are simply rewrites of existing versions to fit in with a narrative, so there are merely more versions of the same possible mistranslations. Having multiple incorrect copies of a story doesn’t suddenly make the story truthful. It simply means that more people read the incorrect text and then build their “truths” upon it.

Think of the Theory of Evolution. All modern scholars have to keep to this theory or they get shunned by the scientific community. The same is true when someone questions the truth statements made by the so-called church fathers, but how many can a person get wrong before they and their theories are ejected from our beliefs? We don’t even always know or want to investigate what the origins of our beliefs are.

In this example, if we read Rev. 13:7-8 and change "earth" to "land" then it changes the meaning in my view:

"He was also permitted to wage war against the saints and to overcome them, and authority and power over every tribe and people and language and nations. 8 All the inhabitants of the land will fall down and worship him, everyone whose name has not been written since the foundation of the world in the Book of Life of the Lamb who has been slain."

We also have to be aware that the word “nations” in verse 7 is G1484 which is translated as “gentile” 93 times and “nation” 64 times and looking at the other verses it is used in; many more should have read “gentile” rather than “nation”. So, might it be a mistranslation in this verse as well?

These verses sounds more like a dictator ruling their country/land, oppressing their people as opposed to what I have been taught to believe that he rules the entire world.

I understand that this is a new way of looking at these verses, so if I am way off the reservation then please let me have it. “it” being more Scripture to look at as I really want to know whether the “Bogeyman” we have been programmed to fear is what is in Scripture.

#earth #world #endtimes #antichrist

Comment

What if Revelation was originally written in Hebrew?

· Reply · 1713959068

18 Replies

Rev. 16 now looks to me to support my thought of yesterday. V10 says that the darkness covers the kingdom of the beast.

"Then the fifth angel poured out his bowl on the throne of the beast, and his kingdom was plunged into darkness; and people gnawed their tongues because of the pain"

V14b then says that the 3 frog-like spirits go forth to the kings of the earth/land.

"And they go out to the kings of the entire inhabited earth, to gather them together for the war of the great day of God, the Almighty."

My thinking is that if the beast kingdom was over all the world, shouldn't v10 have said that the darkness covers all the "world" and not "earth/land" as there is a Greek word for world that distinguishes it from earth/land?

· Reply · 1714033558

For me, I go back to Hebrew, even with the Greek written books. What I mean by this is going into it thinking like a Hebrew would, rather than what a Greek would (this includes being an English-thinker as we have been heavily influenced by Greek thought).

You mention that English is more descriptive than Greek. I would say we have multiple words that mean the same thing. From an English standpoint world and earth are interchangeable. Earth would be the proper name of the world.

However, in Hebrew, I haven't come across a term for "world", but as I pointed out in the other reply above earth and land are represented by the same word: ארץ.

Because it could mean either or, I can see this being either or. However, much like the other beast systems that have happened, I am leaning toward it will most likely cover the Land (Israel) and surrounding areas. It probably will be bigger than anything we've seen previously, so maybe also covering much of Europe, Asia, and Africa, but I don't think it'll be over here in the Americas.

When we look at Isaiah 66:19-20, there are people in the Nations after judgement has happened, that have "not heard YHWH's fame or seen YHWH's glory".

This shows there are parts of the world not affected by the events of the Great Tribulation and the Judgement happening during it. I believe the Americas are part of this group. Like I said in a previous post, we are either wiped out, or so insignificant at the End we aren't even worth mentioning. I wonder if some EMP type event happens and knocks out all electronics all over the world. We are so reliant on it over here that if it was knocked out, I don't think the US would be a "super power" any longer.

I believe I have shared it already, but if I haven't and you want to look at the difference between Greek thinking and Hebrew thinking, this is a really good series. It is all text based, so you can't watch a video or listen, but honestly with the content, to really grasp it, it is probably best read: https://www.wildbranch.org/tea....chings/hebrew-greek-

For me, I go back to Hebrew, even with the Greek written books. What I mean by this is going into it thinking like a Hebrew would, rather than what a Greek would (this includes being an English-thinker as we have been heavily influenced by Greek thought).  
 
You mention that English is more descriptive than Greek. I would say we have multiple words that mean the same thing. From an English standpoint world and earth are interchangeable. Earth would be the proper name of the world. 
 
However, in Hebrew, I haven't come across a term for "world", but as I pointed out in the other reply above earth and land are represented by the same word: ארץ.  
 
Because it could mean either or, I can see this being either or. However, much like the other beast systems that have happened, I am leaning toward it will most likely cover the Land (Israel) and surrounding areas. It probably will be bigger than anything we've seen previously, so maybe also covering much of Europe, Asia, and Africa, but I don't think it'll be over here in the Americas.  
 
When we look at Isaiah 66:19-20, there are people in the Nations after judgement has happened, that have "not heard YHWH's fame or seen YHWH's glory".  
 
This shows there are parts of the world not affected by the events of the Great Tribulation and the Judgement happening during it. I believe the Americas are part of this group. Like I said in a previous post, we are either wiped out, or so insignificant at the End we aren't even worth mentioning. I wonder if some EMP type event happens and knocks out all electronics all over the world. We are so reliant on it over here that if it was knocked out, I don't think the US would be a "super power" any longer. 
 
I believe I have shared it already, but if I haven't and you want to look at the difference between Greek thinking and Hebrew thinking, this is a really good series. It is all text based, so you can't watch a video or listen, but honestly with the content, to really grasp it, it is probably best read: https://www.wildbranch.org/teachings/hebrew-greek-mind/

· Reply · 1714141959

2 Replies

I pondered that verse. It sounds like that whole day on the 14th of Nissan is bleeding up to Passover that evening. We know Passover is an event, not a day. It's celebrated on the 14th at twilight in the evening as it's going into the 15th. I can see where one could make the point of the 14th being the first day of unleavened bread because it's leading up to it and it's preparing for it.

· Reply · 1713973428

There is some question as to who wrote the book of Revelation because the quality of the Greek in that book is different than other books by the same author.

· Reply · 1714182414

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