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Commentary on "The Gift of Prophecy and
God's Remnant Church"
Day 3: Monday, January 19, 2009
The comments in the lesson say that Revelation 12:13-17 "describes the persecution of the Christian church, first by the Roman Empire and later by the apostate Roman Church.” This is an assumption that cannot be proved.
The focus on this lesson is on Revelation 12:17: "So the dragon was enraged with the woman, and went off to make war with the rest of her children, who keep the commandments of God and hold to the testimony of Jesus." The lesson makes it clear that it assumes the term "Commandments" refers to the Ten Commandments, specifically the Sabbath. But is this really true?
Commandments of God
The word "commandments," as used in the New Testament, may refer to one or more of the Ten Commandments. However, this term does not always refer to the Ten Commandments, and when it does, only once is it used in connection with the Sabbath commandment. That one time is:
And they returned and prepared spices and perfumes. And on the Sabbath they rested according to the commandment (Lk. 23:56).
Other uses of the term commandment or commandments of God include the following:
Circumcision is nothing, and uncircumcision is nothing, but what matters is the keeping of the commandments of God. Let each man remain in the condition in which he was called (1 Cor. 7:19, 20).
There is no evidence that entolon theou ("the commandments of God") was a technical term which would have been understood as referring exclusively (or even primarily) to the Decalogue.
We must remember that we are seeking to define "commandments" as used by John, the author of Revelation. While Luke used the Greek word commandment (entole) to refer to the Sabbath commandment, John always, uses the word "Law" (nomos) when referring to old covenant law. Following are all the uses of nomos in the writings of John. Note the consistency. Note that when referring to the Ten Commandment law, specifically the Sabbath law, John always uses nomos. We also recognize that the term "law" in John can refer to the whole law or any part of the law from Genesis to Deuteronomy.
John’s use of Law (nomos)
"For the Law [nomos] was given through Moses; grace and truth were realized through Jesus Christ" (Jn. 1:17).
"Philip found Nathanael and said to him, ‘We have found Him of whom Moses in the Law [nomos] and also the Prophets wrote, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.’" (Jn. 1:45).
"Did not Moses give you the Law [nomos] and yet none of you carries out the Law [nomos]? Why do you seek to kill Me?" (Jn. 7:19).
"If a man receives circumcision on the Sabbath that the Law [nomos] of Moses may not be broken, are you angry with Me because I made an entire man well on the Sabbath?" (Jn. 7:23).
"But this multitude which does not know the Law [nomos] is accursed" (Jn. 7:49).
"Our Law [nomos] does not judge a man, unless it first hears from him and knows what he is doing, does it?" (Jn. 7:51).
"Now in the Law [nomos] Moses commanded us to stone such women; what then do You say?" (Jn. 8:5).
"Even in your law [nomos] it has been written, that the testimony of two men is true" (Jn. 8:17).
"Jesus answered them, ‘Has it not been written in your Law [nomos] "I SAID, YOU ARE GODS"?’" (Jn. 10:34).
"The multitude therefore answered Him, ‘We have heard out of the Law [nomos] that the Christ is to remain forever; and how can You say, "The Son of Man must be lifted up"? Who is this Son of Man?’" (Jn. 12:34).
"But they have done this in order that the word may be fulfilled that is written in their Law [nomos] ‘THEY HATED ME WITHOUT A CAUSE.’" (Jn. 15:25).
"Pilate therefore said to them, ‘Take Him yourselves, and judge Him according to your law [nomos].' The Jews said to him, ‘We are not permitted to put anyone to death’" (Jn. 18:31).
"The Jews answered him, ‘We have a law [nomos] and by that law [nomos] He ought to die because He made Himself out to be the Son of God’" (Jn. 19:7).
The word "Law" (nomos) is not used in Revelation.
John’s use of "Commandment" (entole)
The following is a complete listing of the word "commandment" in the writings of John:
"No one has taken it away from Me, but I lay it down on My own initiative. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again. This commandment [entole] I received from My Father" (Jn. 10:18).
"For I did not speak on My own initiative, but the Father Himself who sent Me has given Me commandment [entole], what to say, and what to speak. And I know that His commandment [entole] is eternal life; therefore the things I speak, I speak just as the Father has told Me" (Jn. 12:49, 50).
"A new commandment [entole] I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another" (Jn. 13:34).
"If you love Me, you will keep My commandments [entole]" (Jn. 14:15).
"He who has My commandments [entole] and keeps them, he it is who loves Me; and he who loves Me shall be loved by My Father, and I will love him, and will disclose Myself to him" (Jn. 14:21).
"But that the world may know that I love the Father, and as the Father gave Me commandment [entole], even so I do. Arise, let us go from here" (Jn. 14:31).
"If you keep My commandments [entole], you will abide in My love; just as I have kept My Father’s commandments [entole], and abide in His love" (Jn. 15:10).
"This is My commandment [entole], that you love one another, just as I have loved you" (Jn. 15:12).
"And by this we know that we have come to know Him, if we keep His commandments [entole]. The one who says, ‘I have come to know Him,’ and does not keep His commandments [entole], is a liar, and the truth is not in him" (1 Jn. 2:3, 4).
"Beloved, I am not writing a new commandment [entole] to you, but an old commandment [entole] which you have had from the beginning; the old commandment [entole] is the word which you have heard. On the other hand, I am writing a new commandment [entole] to you, which is true in Him and in you, because the darkness is passing away, and the true light is already shining" (1 Jn. 2:7, 8).
"And whatever we ask we receive from Him, because we keep His commandments [entole] and do the things that are pleasing in His sight. And this is His commandment [entole], that we believe in the name of His Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, just as He commanded [entole] us. And the one who keeps His commandments [entole] abides in Him, and He in him. And we know by this that He abides in us, by the Spirit whom He has given us" (1 Jn. 3:22-24).
"And this commandment [entole] we have from Him, that the one who loves God should love his brother also" (1 Jn. 4:21).
"By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and observe His commandments [entole]. For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments [entole]; and His commandments [entole] are not burdensome" (1 Jn. 5:2, 3).
"I was very glad to find some of your children walking in truth, just as we have received commandment [entole] to do from the Father. And now I ask you, lady, not as writing to you a new commandment [entole], but the one which we have had from the beginning, that we love one another" (2 Jn. 1:4, 5).
"And this is love, that we walk according to His commandments [entole]. This is the commandment [entole], just as you have heard from the beginning, that you should walk in it" (2 Jn. 1:6).
The word "commandment" [entole] is used only two times in Revelation: Rev. 12:17 and 14:12.
As one reads John’s use of the word "commandment" it becomes evident that the main meaning of commandment is "to love".
"If you love Me, you will keep My commandments (Jn. 14:15).
He who has My commandments, and keeps them, he it is who loves Me (Jn. 14:21).
If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love; just as I have kept My Father’s commandments, and abide in His love. This is My commandment, that you love one another, just as I have loved you. This I command you, that you love one another (Jn. 15:10, 12, 17).
And this is His commandment, that we believe in the name of His son Jesus Christ, and love one another, just as He commanded us. And the one who keeps His commandments abides in Him, and He in him. And we know by this that He abides in us, by the Spirit which He has given us (1 Jn. 3:23, 24).
And this commandment we have from Him, that the one who loves God should love his brother also (1 Jn. 4:21).
By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and observe His commandments. For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments; and His commandments are not burdensome (1 Jn. 5:2, 3).
Summary
- The term "commandments of God" as used by John does not refer to the Ten Commandments. If he were referring to the Ten Commandments He would have used the Greek word (nomos) "Law" .
- The word entole refers primarily to Jesus’ instruction to "love".
Endnotes
- D. R. De Lacy, "The Sabbath/Sunday Question and the Law in the Pauline Corpus", in From Sabbath to Lord’s Day, p. 176.
- This assumes that John the Evangelist is the same person as John the Revelator, which some question.
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