[B-Greek] hUPOMONH in the Apocalypse

Harold R. Holmyard III hholmyard at ont.com
Wed Jun 2 08:35:30 EDT 2004


Dear George,

>I wouldn't read 17.9 that way at all.  It doesn't say that "This call for
>a mind with wisdom" but rather "Here is a wise thought  . . ."  It
>doesn't state that it requires wisdom to figure it out but tells you what
>it signifies
>
>hAI hEPTA KEFALAI hEPTA ORH ESTIN . . .

HH: But the sentence does not suggest "thought" to me but rather 
"mind." I know that NOUS can meaning "thought," but that occurs as a 
derivative idea from the basic meaning of "mind." Where it means 
"thought," you can normally just substitute the word "mind" and get a 
reasonable sentence.  If you substitute "mind" for "thought" in the 
sentence you propose, it won't work: "Here is a wise mind." At least 
it won't work with the sense you're giving it. Rather, I think NOUS 
has its normal sense of "mind." The statement that follows is a 
revelation, but it's in the form of a riddle. It comes from God, and 
everything from God is going to be wise, so I don't think the idea 
"wise" qualifies the statement. It goes without saying that God is 
wise in His revelations. And it seems odd that John would sort of 
brag about his own statement. Actually, where the wisdom comes into 
play is in figuring our how to apply the revelation, how to attach it 
to its referent:

The seven heads are seven hills on which the woman sits.
Rev. 17:10 They are also seven kings. Five have fallen, one is, the 
other has not yet come; but when he does come, he must remain for a 
little while.
Rev. 17:11 The beast who once was, and now is not, is an eighth king. 
He belongs to the seven and is going to his destruction.

HH: While there is general agreement that the seven hills signify 
Rome, there has been a puzzle through the ages as to the seven kings, 
and as to the eighth king.

HH: I have given you the interpretation of the first part of Rev 17:9 
that I have always heard. G. K. Beale is typical in his remarks:

V 9a develops further Daniel's prophecy that in the end-time 
tribulation true saints will need spiritual "understanding" and 
'wisdom" to avoid deception by an evil king, who exalts his 
sovereignty over God and persecutes God's people, who do not 
acknowledge him (so Dan. 11:33; 12:10). . . .
      Those with understanding and wisdom will also be able both 
cognitively and spiritually to perceive the angel's following 
explanation of the vision concerning the beast and the woman in vv. 
9b-18.

				Yours,
				Harold Holmyard


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