What the Bible Says About the Egyptian Revolution, Worldwide Riots, and Democracy
Living in the Age of "People's Rights"
The Seven Church Ages
To understand what the Bible says about the democratic revolution occurring in Egypt and in many places around the world, we must first look at the seven church ages written about in Revelation chapters 2 and 3. John was writing a letter to seven churches, but each church stands for a specific time period in the church age. When John penned Revelation, the seven church ages were the future of Christianity, but we can now look back on them as historical fact. The Ephesian church represented early Christians, who spread the Gospel and were enthusiastic about the Lord. Smyrna was the second church that John addressed; they represent the next period in Christianity where believers sometimes had to endure martyrdom and hard times for their faith (up until about 315 AD). John addresses several other churches, representing different historical eras in Christianity, until he addresses the final church, the Laodicean church. The condition of this church represents the era of Christianity that we are in today.
The Age of Laodicea
The term "Laodicean age" is a familiar term to many Christians. It is well known that this church was a lukewarm church. God told them that he would spew them out of his mouth (Revelation 3:16). It's not difficult to see that there is no shortage of lukewarm Christians in the world today. Another aspect of Laodicea that Christians focus on less is the name Laodicea itself. The name Laodicea comes from the Greek word Laos, meaning "people", and the word dike stands for law, justice, judgement, or punishment. In other words, the Laodicean age would be one where the people would stand up for their rights; where they would participate in the administration of justice and law.
Although the Bible doesn't specifically address Egypt in this prophetical passage of the Bible, the protests that we saw in Egypt, where people were demanding their way in the government, is extending the ideas of Laodicea to another country. The spread of democracy over the past several decades is an extension of the justice of the people that the Bible predicted would occur.
The fact that the people are exerting more control over justice and law all over the world shouldn't be a surprise. Most of the countries in the world now have some sort of democratic involvement now. In Biblical times, very few people had a say over how their governments would be run. In the Laodicean age that we live in, many people do.
Worldwide Riots
The riots in Egypt have sparked similar protests in other parts of the world. Even before the people of Egypt started rioting, there had been riots in Greece, France, England, Iceland, and other parts of the world. While this is a demonstration of the people rising up and demanding their own form of justice, it has the potential to lead to darker days ahead. At the very end of the Laodicean age in the Bible, the Rapture occurs and the seal judgements of the Tribulation begin. The opening of these seals leads to war, famine, and death. While we can wish that the democratic revolution in Egypt and elsewhere in the world will lead to a more peaceful, happier world, often, revolution leads to bloodshed. We could be seeing the very last days of Laodicea and the development of the next event in Biblical prophecy, the Tribulation.
Sources:
Bible. Revelation Chapters 2 to 6.
Sharp, Bryan. Revelation Revival 2010, Gospel Light Baptist Church. Disc 4, 16 May 2010.
"What Does Laodicea Mean?" La Vista Church of Christ.
Published by Brooke Lorren
Brooke Lorren is a freelance content producer living in central Arizona; she has been writing for over 10 years and has created over 1000 articles, blog posts, and web sites. She has also helped her husband... View profile
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2 Comments
Post a CommentDid you watch youtube Egypt riots on 4th February when the Pale Horse and rider appeared in the crowd then took off upwards ? Take a look.
Or, the Fall of Babylon! cheers :) interesting perspective.