nglish has its limitations. The words of Scripture in the original languages (Hebrew, Greek, and Aramaic) can have more depth than the modern connotations of the English words the translators selected. I do not think we should be insecure about using a translation to learn God’s Word, but sometimes a little extra information can be useful. I am not a scholar of the Biblical languages, but I do look up words sometimes to get a deeper understanding. I would be remiss if I did not share with you about the pharma in the book of Revelation.
By now, you have probably come to a conclusion about the nature of the latest popular pharma, be it helpful or evil. My purpose is not to make you worried or to condemn you. But I just want you to be aware, because this is not something everyone is familiar with, and if it can help you going forward, I do not want to keep quiet.
There are two places in Revelation that speak of pharma.
The first verse is Revelation 9:21, which is the last statement in the sixth trumpet judgment of Revelation—very near to the return of Christ.
Revelation 9:21(NKJV) And they did not repent of their murders or their sorceries or their sexual immorality or their thefts.
So, where is the pharma? It is actually the word translated “sorcercies” in our English Bibles.
The screenshots are from the Logos Bible app. You can see from the definition that this Greek word, pharmakon, translated “sorceries” in English, has a drug/medical component, as evidenced by the following words in the cited lexicons: “a drug, a poisoner, medicament, poison, medicine.” I don’t know about you, but I really wasn’t associating sorcery with drugs, although I have heard of the witch doctors in Africa dispensing medicines of some sort. It is obvious that our English word “pharmaceutical” derives from the root of this Greek word, pharmakon.
The first verse is Revelation 9:21, which is the last statement in the sixth trumpet judgment of Revelation—very near to the return of Christ.
Revelation 9:21(NKJV) And they did not repent of their murders or their sorceries or their sexual immorality or their thefts.
So, where’s the pharma? It’s actually the word translated “sorcercies” in our English Bibles.
The screenshots are from the Logos Bible app. You can see from the definition that this Greek word, pharmakon, translated “sorceries” in English, has a drug/medical component, as evidenced by the following words in the cited lexicons: “a drug, a poisoner, medicament, poison, medicine.” I don’t know about you, but I really wasn’t associating sorcery with drugs, although I have heard of the witch doctors in Africa dispensing medicines of some sort. It’s obvious that our English word “pharmaceutical” derives from the root of this Greek word, pharmakon.
The second reference is Revelation 18:23.
Revelation 18:23 (NKJV) The light of a lamp shall not shine in you anymore, and the voice of bridegroom and bride shall not be heard in you anymore. For your merchants were the great men of the earth, for by your sorcery all the nations were deceived.
This passage is talking about the downfall of great Babylon. Again, the Greek word for “sorcery”, pharmakeia, includes medical terms: “to administer drugs; the use of medicine; drugs; poisoning.”
Revelation 19:23 saying of Babylon, “For by your sorcery all the nations were deceived” makes me give serious thought to idea that the United States might be the end times Babylon, as it seem to be taking a significant role in promoting it to the nations. We’ll see what happens.
There are some people who go about trying to convince others that we’re in the middle of the Revelation seals, that the popular pharma right now is the mark of the beast (Revelation 13:15-17; 14:9-13), and all who take it are damned. I couldn’t disagree more strongly. However, I believe the rollout of today’s popular pharma, especially by means of bribery and coercion, is evil. I believe this is in the spirit of antichrist. If you disagree with me personally, that’s okay. We won’t always agree, and each of us is responsible for our own beliefs and actions.
The second reference is Revelation 18:23.
Revelation 18:23 (NKJV) The light of a lamp shall not shine in you anymore, and the voice of bridegroom and bride shall not be heard in you anymore. For your merchants were the great men of the earth, for by your sorcery all the nations were deceived.
This passage is talking about the downfall of great Babylon. Again, the Greek word for “sorcery”, pharmakeia, includes medical terms: “to administer drugs; the use of medicine; drugs; poisoning.”
Revelation 19:23 saying of Babylon, “For by your sorcery all the nations were deceived” makes me give serious thought to idea that the United States might be the end times Babylon, as it seem to be taking a significant role in promoting it to the nations. We’ll see what happens.
There are some people who go about trying to convince others that we’re in the middle of the Revelation seals, that the popular pharma right now is the mark of the beast (Revelation 13:15-17; 14:9-13), and all who take it are damned. I couldn’t disagree more strongly. However, I believe the rollout of today’s popular pharma, especially by means of bribery and coercion, is evil. I believe this is in the spirit of antichrist. If you disagree with me personally, that’s okay. We won’t always agree, and each of us is responsible for our own beliefs and actions.
Do I believe the modern pharmaceutical industry is totally corrupt and worth opting out of? I’m not there yet, but I don’t exactly put my trust in it, either. Where possible, I would prefer not be medicated. I believe more things than we realize can be treated with the natural resources God made for us—as people did for thousands of years before modern medicine. There have been some wonderful advancements recently, especially in surgery, but we need discernment, too. I think the main thing is to put our faith in God, not in the medical community. He says, “I am the LORD who heals you” (Exodus 15:26).
Do I believe the modern pharmaceutical industry is totally corrupt and worth opting out of? I am not there yet, but I don’t exactly put my trust in it, either. Where possible, I would prefer not be medicated. I believe more things than we realize can be treated with the natural resources God made for us—as people did for thousands of years before modern medicine. There have been some wonderful advancements recently, especially in surgery, but we need discernment, too. I think the main thing is to put our faith in God, not in the medical community. He says, “I am the LORD who heals you” (Exodus 15:26).
Sometimes heavy subjects can tempt us to worry, but Jesus wants us to trust Him. “These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world” (John 16:33). Jesus gave Revelation for our help, to prepare us to overcome, because He loves us. So, when it comes to the matter the pharma in the book of Revelation, I pray the LORD would give us wisdom when we need it. I pray also for the peace of Christ and the joy of the LORD to reign in our hearts.
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