Common Knowledge: Difference between revisions
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** Of the four horsemen of the first four seals, only Death's role is made explicit. War and Famine are identified by the first carrying a large sword and going off to make war and sow strife, and the second holding a scale while a voice behind him cites hugely inflated grain prices and warns against touching pricier goods. Fair enough. Pestilence is thornier, and indeed, to the Catholic and Orthodox Churches the first horseman is "Conquest," since he identifies himself as a conqueror; other traditions have him as Christ himself or the Antichrist. Since conquest and war are so closely related, however, a minority of theologians came to the conclusion that this is the metaphorical conqueror of "Pestilence," and this idea somehow stuck. |
** Of the four horsemen of the first four seals, only Death's role is made explicit. War and Famine are identified by the first carrying a large sword and going off to make war and sow strife, and the second holding a scale while a voice behind him cites hugely inflated grain prices and warns against touching pricier goods. Fair enough. Pestilence is thornier, and indeed, to the Catholic and Orthodox Churches the first horseman is "Conquest," since he identifies himself as a conqueror; other traditions have him as Christ himself or the Antichrist. Since conquest and war are so closely related, however, a minority of theologians came to the conclusion that this is the metaphorical conqueror of "Pestilence," and this idea somehow stuck. |
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*** Truthfully, however, only Death is officially named in [[Book of Revelation]]. The other names come from the task and purpose they are assigned. |
*** Truthfully, however, only Death is officially named in [[Book of Revelation]]. The other names come from the task and purpose they are assigned. |
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*** Also regarding Death, he is often depicted on a white horse, as Revelation describes the mount as "pale". In truth, the color of Death's horse is written as khlōros (χλωρός) in the original Koine Greek, which can be translated to "green", "greenish-yellow", "ashen" or "pale" meaning "pallid". Based on its use, many scholars interpret the description as a horse with a sickly pallor, like how a corpse would be described by a doctor or coroner at the time, and seeing who the rider is, [[Fridge Logic| this makes perfect sense.]] |
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** Everyone ''knows'' that the Mark of Cain was a curse placed upon Cain by God. Except that, if you actually read the story, it isn't. God cursed Cain, then when Cain complained that on top of that anyone he met would kill him, God ''blessed'' him with a mark of protection such that any who harmed him would suffer vengeance sevenfold. This countered Cain's objection and ensured that he would only suffer the intended curse. |
** Everyone ''knows'' that the Mark of Cain was a curse placed upon Cain by God. Except that, if you actually read the story, it isn't. God cursed Cain, then when Cain complained that on top of that anyone he met would kill him, God ''blessed'' him with a mark of protection such that any who harmed him would suffer vengeance sevenfold. This countered Cain's objection and ensured that he would only suffer the intended curse. |
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** Many people believe Sodom and Gomorrah were destroyed because of homosexuality, but the book of Ezekiel (16:49 if you're interested) confirms that they were destroyed for greed and selfishness. |
** Many people believe Sodom and Gomorrah were destroyed because of homosexuality, but the book of Ezekiel (16:49 if you're interested) confirms that they were destroyed for greed and selfishness. |
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