Dr. Couch, Revelation 6:4 seems to say that the antichrist "is given, granted" to take peace from the earth. Is that "granting" coming from God or someone else?
ANSWER: Those of us who are able to read the Bible (and especially from the Greek text) note carefully the fact that the Lord is absolutely sovereign in all things. The word "given" is a Passive Voice from the verb "to give" (didomi). The force of the giving comes from an outside source, and that source is God!
I have always known that because I've translated almost the entire book of Revelation. But I checked out the best commentary on the subject of Revelation written by Dr. Robert L. Thomas. And he says the same thing. He writes:
"The best opinion is that [was given] carries the connotation 'granted by God' as it does throughout the book of Revelation (cf. 6:4, 8; 7:2; 9:5). God allows the beast to blaspheme for a limited time, but will still hold him accountable. One of the great lessons in Daniel from which John draws so heavily is the sovereignty of God over the world's governments (cf. Dan. 4:17, 25, 32). The future will be no different.
"There is a durative force in the passage. 'a mouth that continues speaking great things.'"
"The beast's God-permitted authority was given' over every lineage, nation, language group, and racial group is explicitly worldwide in its extent ("the whole earth")."
The beast and Satan have authority for a period but in the end God sends them to the lake of fire forever. "And the devil who deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and brimstone where the beast and the false prophet are also, and they will be tormented day and night forever and ever" (Rev. 20:10).
Thanks for asking.
—Dr. Mal Couch (4/11)
