Hermeneutics = the theory and methodology of interpretation -- how a person interprets Biblical texts. No one person has a corner on 'correct interpretation' -- context is the main thing. Comparing Scripture with Scripture.
Comparing scripture with scripture is one small part of a good hermeneutic. I'll have to post a page of what my hermeneutic look like and quote a few words from a few books I've read about it. We should look at the definition of words, look at the interlinear to see if those words are correct, look how those words are used elsewhere, etc. So let me give you an example to one of your previous statements about "the whole world.
There are dozens of examples in the New and Old Testament where ALL only implies a part of the whole or all things within an individual subject. If a verse says that all the people were astonished, it means that all the people who were there were astonished. This sort of thing is found throughout scripture.
All inhabitants of the earth will worship the beast - all whose names have not been written in the book of life belonging to the Lamb that was slain from the creation of the world. (Rev.13:8)
The verse doesn't say that everyone will worship the beast, but only those whose names have not been written in the book of life.
Also, when the bible uses the term "earth" or "world" it doesn't mean the whole planet like in the following examples:
And all the countries came to Egypt to buy grain from Joseph, because the famine was severe in all the world. (Genesis 41:57)
The whole world sought audience with Solomon to hear the wisdom God had put in his heart. (1 Kings 10:24)
And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar August, that all the world should be taxed. (Luke 2:1)
So the Pharisees said to one another, "See, this is getting us nowhere. Look how the whole world has gone after him!" (John 12:19)
All nations did not go to Egypt to buy grain, neither did all nations seek an audience with Solomon, neither was the whole planet taxed by the Romans, neither did the whole world follow Jesus while he was on Earth. What this shows is that the Bible often speaks of the whole world or the whole Earth, but it really means just a large geographical area of no certain size, and usually refers to nations that exist in the Mediterranean world. There are other examples in the Bible where 'world' doesn't mean the whole planet, even when it appears to.
In Daniel 2 King Nebuchadnezzar is said to rule the whole world: "You, O king, are the king of kings. The God of heaven has given you dominion and power and might and glory; in your hands he has placed mankind and the beasts of the field and the birds of the air. Wherever they live, he has made you ruler over them all." (Daniel 2:37-38)
In Daniel 2:39 the third empire of brass is said to, "
bear rule over all the earth."
At no time in history has any empire ruled the entire known world.
In Jeremiah, God said about Nebuchadnezzar, "All nations will serve him and his son and his grandson until the time for his land comes; then many nations and great kings will subjugate him" (Jeremiah 27:7).
If "all nations" were subject to Babylon, where did the invading armies come from that conquered Babylon?
Likewise...
The beast will not rule the entire planet. His rule extends only to the nations under his authority in the Middle East and/or Northern Africa. The empire of the beast is limited to ten nations since the beast of Revelation has ten horns.
Charles H. Spurgeon said, (1) "... 'The whole world is gone after him.' Did all the world go after Christ? 'Then went all Judea, and were baptized of him in Jordan.' Was all Judea, or all Jerusalem baptized in Jordan? 'Ye are of God, little children', and 'the whole world lieth in the wicked one.' Does 'the whole world' there mean everybody? If so, how was it, then, that there were some who were 'of God?' The words 'world' and 'all' are used in some seven or eight senses in Scripture; and it is very rarely that 'all' means all persons, taken individually. The words are generally used to signify that Christ has redeemed some of all sorts—some Jews, some Gentiles, some rich, some poor, and has not restricted his redemption to either Jew or Gentile."
