Fr. Abraam Sleman's Blog

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Armageddon War (Rev. 16:14-16)

March 12, 2022

Some preachers say that the Russia-Ukraine war is the same as “the Battle of Armageddon” in the Book of Revelation (Rev. 16:14-16). Answer According to the Historical Approach of interpreting the book of Revelation, the Commentators try to find fulfillment of the Revelation’s visions in historical events. In the past, they referred to many wars as the Battle of Armageddon. They miss the spiritual message and the symbolic language of the Book of Revelation by such interpretation. The kings of the world (Rev. 16:14) symbolize the powers of darkness opposing God through the evil political and religious rulers. And with the deceived multitudes, these kings go to war against Almighty God. Waging War The “battle” or “war” against God and His people is not physical or political but spiritual. It is the ongoing battle Satan has been waging since he led Adam and Eve astray in Paradise. Satan will continue to wage wars until God casts him into the lake of fire (Rev. 20:10). However, the Greek

Gog and Magog War (Rev. 20:8-9)

March 12, 2022

Some preachers in churches and TV have promoted the idea that the Russian-Ukraine War fulfills Gog and Magog’s War (Rev. 20:8-9). The number of their army is “two hundred million” (Rev. 9:16), “as the sand of the sea” (Rev. 20:8). This number can easily be reached if Russia and China allied together, and it would be the catastrophic World War III and the end of the world. Answer The Russian-Ukraine War is not the first war in history, and there is evidence to make us sure that it will be the last one. The Lord Jesus Christ said, “And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not troubled; for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet” (Matt. 24:6). According to the Historical Approach of interpreting the book of Revelation, the Commentators try to find fulfillment of the Revelation’s visions in historical events. They referred to many wars as the Battle of Gog& Magog in the past. They miss the spiritual message and the symbolic language of

The Supper of the Great God (Rev. 19:1-18)

March 11, 2022

The Author wrote: [Regardless of how it might be challenging to understand the following verse (Rev. 19:18), the supper of the great God is no other than the Lamb’s wedding supper. God invited all the saints to this great supper (Mark 13:27; Rev. 19: 7 -9)]. [1] (Rev. 19:18) reads: “that you may eat the flesh of kings, the flesh of captains, the flesh of mighty men, the flesh of horses and of those who sit on them, and the flesh of all people, free and slave, both small and great.” Is this the menu of the “Lamb’s wedding supper”? Answer The answer to this question is no. According to the Reviewer’s language, it is not the menu but the purpose of the menu. The Greek word, “ ἵ να , NT:2443,” which connects verses 17 and 18, denotes “the purpose or the result.” [2] It is translated into “so that” (NIV, NASB), “in order that” (NASB1995), “para que” (Spanish: most translations), and “ لكي ” (Arabic: Smith & Van Dyke). Before going into details, we should NOT be confused w

Souls Under the Altar (Rev. 6: 9-11)

March 11, 2022

The Author wrote, [In (Rev. 6:9), there is another paradox. Though the souls offered their lives for “the word of God,” they appeared “under the altar” (Rev. 6:9), they went to Hades. To be killed is injustice. Moreover, going to Hades after offering their lives for the word of God is more injustice] [1] . Since the Author said that “under the altar” is symbolic to Hades!! Does the Author believe the souls of the martyrs, like St. George, are in Hades? Another point I’d like to make here. Sometimes we store the altar utensils and vestments “under the altar.” Does that mean we keep them in Hades”?! Finally, who is that unjust one who sent the souls of the martyrs to Hades? Is it God?! Answer The quoted passage is from the Author’s Commentary on the opening of the Fifth Seal (Rev. 6:9-11). It is about the descent of Christ to Hades to preach to souls there and save the souls of the Old Testament’s righteous. The souls concerned in these passages are the souls of the Old Testament m

سفر الرؤيا (تحت الطبع): مقدمة المترجم

March 09, 2022

يُعتبر سفر الرؤيا من الأسفار النبوية في الكتاب المقدَّس؛ حيث يتحدَّث عن أمور حدثت وتحدث وسوف تحدث في المستقبل القريب أو البعيد، وبالتالي كان لا بد من أجل فك رموز هذا السفر النبوي المختوم، فكان استخدام المنهج الروحيّ في تفسير سفر الرؤيا هو أنسب المناهج التفسيرية . ونود الإشارة إلى أن المنهج الروحي الرمزي والمجازي في التفسير هو منهج آباء كنيستنا كنيسة الإسكندرية القبطية الأرثوذكسية. حيث استخدم المنهج الرمزيّ في التفسير عظماء مدرسة الإسكندرية ومديريها أمثال بانتينوس، وكليمندس، وأوريجينوس، وديديموس، وثيؤغنستس، وديونيسيوس غيرهم. وبالتالي كان استخدام المنهج الروحي المجازي في تفسير سفر الرؤيا هو امتداد لمنهج هؤلاء العظماء من كنيستنا القبطية الأرثوذكسية. ويتناول هذا التفسير الروحانيّ الآيات عسرة الفهم في السفر، والآيات ذات التفسيرات الشائعة، بصورة روحية أرثوذكسية تتناسب مع روح كنيستنا، وتتفق مع روح العصر وقضاياه المثارة الآن على الساحة، من انتشار الإلحاد والإدمان والإباحية، وغيرها من سمات الطبيعة الفاسدة والخاطئة الموجودة في جميعنا. هذه الطبيعة الفاسدة التي ننال النصرة عليها ببركات تجسُّد و

Multitude Before the Throne (Rev. 7:9–17)

October 19, 2021

Multitude Before the Throne (Rev. 7:9–17) The previous vision (Rev. 7:1-3) revealed God sealing seal the one hundred and forty-four thousand, forming a new creation in Christ and demonstrating the characteristics of this new creation. Here is another vision where God reveals the new creation appears as a great multitude of people in their eternal blessedness. They are before the throne of God in the full manifestation of His Kingdom. Showing them in heaven is intended to encourage the church toward its heavenly triumph, a needed message for the church at all times, especially in the time of spiritual decline and suffering. Great Multitude 7:9 After these things I looked, and behold, a great multitude which no one could number, of all nations, tribes, peoples, and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, with palm branches in their hands, John saw a multitude, too large to count, before the throne. The four-word description “nation

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