Mystery Babylon and the Last Trumpet

In Revelation 11:8-18, Mystery Babylon is identified as the city which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt, where also our Lord was crucified. This clearly marks Jerusalem as the subject of the mystery. Jesus was crucified in Jerusalem outside the gates, (Heb. 13:12). During His ministry he stated that it could not be that a prophet perish outside of Jerusalem, (Lk. 13:33).

Jerusalem had been likened to Sodom, a city noted for harlotry in the past, Isaiah 1:21; Ezk. 16:48-49, 53-57. In the Revelation text, 11:8, it is now spiritually called Sodom, i.e. Sodom in the spirit.  Paul, also calls Jerusalem Egypt who was in bondage with her children, Gal. 4:24-25, echoing the words of Christ, (John 8:32-35).

Mystery Babylon, the great city of Revelation (11:8; 17:5; 18; 18:2, 10, 18, 20-21, 24) is judged at the time the angel sounds the last trumpet. Mystery Babylon, is judged in A.D. 70 at  Jerusalem’s fall. Therefore, the seventh angel sounds in A.D. 70 in connection with the fall of Jerusalem.

Mystery Babylon and Resurrection 1 Corinthians 15

The sounding of the last trumpet of Revelation 11:15 corresponds to the time of the resurrection, per v. 18. That makes the event parallel to the last trump of 1 Corinthians 15, which also is the great resurrection chapter of the New Testament. Since the identity of Mystery Babylon is Jerusalem and its focus the destruction of the city, (Rev. 11:2), then we have an inseparable link between the fall of Babylon (Jerusalem) in A.D. 70 and the resurrection of the dead.

The resurrection of the dead occurs at the sounding of the last trumpet. But the sounding of the last trumpet occurs when Jerusalem or Mystery Babylon is judged. Therefore the resurrection of 1 Corinthians 15 corresponds in time to the judgment upon Jerusalem.

Mystery Babylon and the Last Trumpet in Matthew 24:31

The sounding of the last trumpet also corresponds in time to the gathering of God’s elect from the four winds at the sound of the trumpet per Matthew 24:31. This means that this text is parallel to both 1 Corinthians 15:50 and Revelation 11:18. There cannot be two last trumpets, one at the fall of Babylon and one yet future. Since both mark the time of the resurrection and the parousia (coming) of the Lord, they are one and the same.

The key point here is that Jesus said this event would take place before that first century generation passed, Matt. 24:34. This confirms the historical context of Mystery Babylon or Jerusalem, which fell in connection with the overthrow of the temple. See Matthew 24:3, Luke 21:20-24; Rev. 11:2.

Mystery Babylon and the Last Trumpet in 1 Thessalonians 4:16

This brings us to the last correlation for this time, that of 1 Thessalonians 4:16. Paul yet speaks of the Lord descending from heaven with a shout and the voice of an archangel, with the trumpet of God. His context is the resurrection of the dead. That means he speaks of the time of the last trumpet. The text must therefore correspond in time to Revelation 11:15-18, the time of the fall of Mystery Babylon.

That means it is not a future text of an alleged Rapture, but one which depicts the past fulfillment of the resurrection of the dead. The trumpet corresponds in time with that of Matthew 24:31-34, which occurred within Jesus’ own generation at the fall of the temple, per above, and the demise of Mystery Babylon per the Revelation text.

There can be no mistake that the resurrection and Mystery Babylon are united in Scripture. Once the identity of Mystery Babylon is established as Jerusalem in the first century, the timing of the resurrection in A.D. 70 cannot be refuted.  There are many more points to be made here, but these must suffice for the brevity sake.

Study more on endtime themes with our book on the Re-Examination. Get your copy today.

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Victory of the Redeemed - Zechariah 3"

The Victory of the Redeemed, Zechariah 3. At the time of the writing of Zechariah, God’s people were in trouble. Satan stood at the right hand of Joshua the high priest to oppose him. He sought to condemn the people of God. However, Joshua stood before (in the presence of) the Angel of the Lord.

The reason Satan sought to condemn Joshua (representative of the righteousness remnant of Israel) derived from verse 3 of Zechariah 3. Joshua, clothed with filthy garments declared their sinful condition. In offering the “blood of bulls and goats” he could effect no lasting cleansing and thereby righteousness through them, (Heb. 10:1-4). Mere shadows of the coming redemption in Christ, they failed to atone.

Objection Overruled!

Take Away the Filthy Garments

The Angel of the Lord orders the filthy garments to be taken away. He called attention to this that it might be noticed. “See, I have removed your iniquity from you.” Observe that it is the Angel himself who removes this iniquity. This invites an investigation into the person of this Angel. According to Jude 9, which recounts the text, he is called Michael the Archangel. He is seen here in removing the sin of Joshua the High Priest, but not only of him, as he speaks to “those” who stand before him. Thus, the remnant is included.

Michael the Archangel

Described as one of the chief princes who helps God’s people Israel in their time of trouble; his role particularly addresses the needs of Israel in their latter days. See Daniel 10:13-14.  Daniel 12:1ff shows that this great prince stands watch over God’s people particularly in the time of the end and resurrection. Revelation 12:7-11 portrays his battle with Satan and his angels. The latter are defeated and cast out. The correlation is unmistakable. Zechariah, Daniel and John describe the endtime events of Israel’s last days in which Christ defeats Satan and delivers the remnant from the power of sin and death.

Clothed With Rich Robes

After removing their filthy garments, the Angel of the Lord, (Michael) clothes them with rich robes. This refers to the fine linen and righteousness of the saints received at the time of the marriage.

“I will greatly rejoice in the Lord, My soul shall be joyful in my God; for He has clothed me with the garments of salvation, He has covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decks himself with ornaments, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels. For as the earth brings forth its bud, as the garden causes the things that are sown in it to spring forth, so the Lord God will cause righteousness and praise to spring forth before all the nations.”

Note the dual reference here to the wedding and the resurrection. The righteous garment imagery recalls Ephesians 5:27 and Revelation 19:7-8. The analogy of the earth bringing forth its bud” typifies Israel sown in corruption and raised in incorruption, springing forth in righteousness in the kingdom of God. It is the time of Israel’s salvation. Observe the events of Revelation 19 are preceded with praise and shouts of Salvation and Alleluia!

You Are A Wondrous Sign!

Joshua, the High Priest of the Old Covenant along with the entire priesthood were a sign that God would bring His Servant, the BRANCH. This is Christ. See Isaiah 11:1f. Zechariah’s focus is therefore Israel’s endtime in the last days.  Daniel shows this time to be when the power of the holy people was completely shattered. Matthew quoting Daniel 12:1, in verse 21, declares it is fulfilled within the first century generation, (Matthew 24:34). In so doing he likewise connects, Michael, the Archangel with Matt. 24:31, and 1 Thess. 4:16.

Victory of the Redeemed – Zechariah 3 Fulfilled

The practical outworking of this message permeates the writings of Paul and the Apostles. He writes: “What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things? Who shall bring a charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. Who is he who condemns? It is Christ who died, and further is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ.  Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?…Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. ( Romans 8:31-39) I shall offer no other comment for the believer today other than, “Rejoice and again, I say rejoice!

For a detailed explanation of the correlation in Daniel and 1 Thess. 4, See “We Shall Meet Him In the Air,” by Don K. Preston. Don and I will share the platform with other speakers on these themes in Daleville, Al, next week, Thursday through Saturday, February 11-13, 2010.

Foundation of the Earth

That I May Plant the Heavens, Genesis 1 or the Kingdom?, is part of a text from Isaiah 51:16. The controversy around this text offers three possible solutions for its interpretation. Some believe that it refers historically to Genesis 1:1, but not to a physical creation, rather to the covenantal creation of Israel. Others offer Sinai at the giving of the Law. Yet another group believe it refers to the kingdom age.

And I have put my words in your mouth; I have covered you with the shadow of My hand, that I may plant the heavens, lay the foundations of the earth, and say to Zion, ‘You are my people.’” (Isaiah 51:16).

Adam Clarke is verse sparse in his comments on the text. He offers justification for what we wrote above saying the text is very obscure. That doesn’t help much!  Young, a bit more generous acknowledges that the words are reminiscent of Sinai. However, he sees a futurist perspective in the second half of the verse.

“Yet the second half of the verse seems to suggest that the work therein described is to be carried out by those in whose mouth God has placed His words. They are to plant the heavens and found the earth. God places His words in their mouth that thereby the heavens and earth may be founded. ” (Edward Young, The New International Commentary, Book of Isaiah, Vol. III)

Young further adds that the more likely view is that the Servant of God, i.e. the Messiah. He reasons that the planting of the heavens and founding of the earth is not generally the work of Isaiah and the prophets. While Israel may be a consideration, it could only be representative of the one Seed through whom Israel is determined, i.e. the Messiah.

He concludes: “Yet in light of the nature of the work to be accomplished, it seems best to regard the One in whose mouth God places His words as the Messiah Himself, the One who is to plant the heavens and found the earth and bring a message of comfort to Zion.

That I May Plant the Heavens – Genesis 1 or the Kingdom?

The language of Isaiah is clearly future tense as expressed in the LXX (Septuagint or Greek translation of the Old Testament). “I will put my words into thy mouth, and I will shelter thee under the shadow of mine hand, with which I fixed the sky, and founded the earth: and the Lord shall say to Sion, Thou are my people. ”

In this text note that God affirms that the Messiah would be sheltered under the shadow of his hand with which he “fixed” the sky. This is an allusion to the permanency of the material creation. See our book on “Will Planet Earth Be Destroyed?” for a full discussion on this concept. This further confirms that he speaks of a future creation. This text is parallel to Isaiah 65:17 where God says he would make a new creation and a new people. Only there he uses Jerusalem for Zion as the place of the creation. They are the same.

In previous verses, God had just spoken of the passing of the Old Covenant heaven and earth comparing it with the salvation which comes through the Messiah which would not be abolished. (Isaiah 51:6). Thus, the heavens and earth God would create per Isaiah 51:16 would not be abolished.

In summary, we have shown that the words of Isaiah 51:16 refers not to Gen. 1:1 (material creation). We demonstrated it could not be the Old Covenant creation at Sinai, in that that creation would pass away, whereas the new heavens and earth God would create would remain. Since the material creation is “fixed” then it will not vanish away. It is therefore the Old Covenant which passes away like smoke and vanishes like a garment.

Therefore, the reference in Isaiah 51:16 speaks of the New Covenant creation under the Messiah and the New Israel (Christians) who inhabit that new covenantal world.

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The Beginning of the World – Christian Eschatology: We’re often asked, what is left for us if Christ has come? Where is our hope? Is this all we get? How much more ungrateful, simplistic and narrow a viewpoint can this be? That’s not to say the questions are not honest, but they do lack just bit of depth in thought.

What do we have now that Christ has come? How  about everything, including the world? Is that enough? “Therefore, let no one boast in men. For all things are yours: whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas, or the world or life or death, or things present or things to come–all are yours. And  you are Christ’s and Christ is God’s.  (1 Cor. 1:21-23). Could there be any greater blessing than to own all things present and future and to be claimed by God and Christ?

Consider, a man buys a tract of land. He is yet unaware of the treasures he possesses, so he walks around looking for wealth. Then he is told that his land is full of gold, diamonds, oil, water and other minerals and wealth. Yet, discovering this, he walks around as a pauper in need.What is his problem? Is it gold, silver, oil or water? No, it is having the means to access and utilize it.

Christ in You, the Hope of Glory

In like manner, God has given to us all things which pertain to life an godliness. That includes having Christ who was [not is] our hope of glory. We do not hope for what we already have. “To them God willed to make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles: which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.” (Col. 1:27). Jesus’ coming in A.D. 70, fulfilled this hope of glory. Yet, because many do not understand it being blinded by cumulus clouds and aerodynamic white horses, they continue to seek what they has already been given.

The Beginning of the World – Christian Eschatology

A new world began in A.D. 70. It is the world of Christ, the age without end, (Eph. 3:21). It is designated in scripture as the “age to come,” only because those words were written before Jerusalem fell in the first century. It is now the world that came. In it we have resurrection, we cannot die anymore and are as the angels of God being sons of the resurrection.  However, as long as Christians do not believe they have all things, they will neither claim it nor live as though they have inherited all.

Hebrews 1:10-12 – End of the World 2012? What does this passage say about the date of December 21, 2012? Is it a prophecy of the future end of the planet? This is what we call covenant eschatology. It is about the end of the a covenant. It is not cosmic in the sense of a physical destruction of the world. Note the passage, then we will offer a few reasons why this text says cannot be predicting an event of 2012 or other such event.

And: ‘You, Lord, in the beginning laid the foundation of the earth and the heavens are the work of your hands. They will perish, but You remain; and they will all grow old like a garment; Like a cloak You will fold them up, and they will be changed. But You are the same and Your years will not fail.’

One would certainly have to admit that on the surface this appears to be the end of heaven and earth as we know it. Such conclusions are drawn by those unskilled and unfamiliar with the language of the prophets. Paul quotes from the Psalms, 102:25-27; and Isaiah chapter 50:9 and 51:6. Those passages form the background for understanding the text.

Two Worlds

First, observe the contrasting worlds. Heaven and Earth stands over against the Lord. The heavens and earth would perish, but the Lord would remain. What does this mean? It means that two covenant worlds are being contrasted and compared as to their duration. A figure of speech called metonymy, (a change of name) is employed here. One should ask, why is the passing of heaven and earth compared with the Lord remaining?

The answer is because the Lord represents a “heaven and earth” which does not remain. In other words, to live in Christ is to live in a new indestructible world. It is to have a covenant relationship with him which does not perish. The Apostle is employed figures of speech. The Lord is named for the new heavens and earth. The old would perish, the new remains. See Rev. 21:1.

The Promised Stability of the Physical World

It is also important in establishing the world that perishes, to understand that God has promised never to destroy the physical world. Understanding this, helps us to further identify the world that perishes. Let’s note a few passages.

After the world suffered the trauma of the flood, God made a promise to Noah that never again would he destroy the earth as he had done. “I will never again curse the ground for man’s sake, although the imagination of man’s heart is evil from his youth; nor will I again destroy every living thing as I have done.” (Gen. 8:21). Now that should be sufficient for any reader of the Bible that God is not interested in destroying his creation. His mercy and love of mankind can be seen in the expression, “although man’s heart is evil from his youth,” I will never again destroy the earth.

When we observe the latter part of the promise the language is clear that God said he would never again destroy life as He had done in the flood. “While the earth remains, seed time and harvest, cold and heat, winter and summer, and day and night shall not cease.” (Gen. 8:22)

Has the earth ever experienced a lack of harvest, seasonal change, or the “rising of the sun” and “glowing of the moon at night” since the flood? Never. Is God keeping his promise? He has up to this very moment.

The Continuance of the Physical World is the Surety, the Guarantee of the World of Christ

God has made his promise of the continuance of the physical world so sure, that He made it the foundation for the continuance of Christ and his throne. Observe that God says the throne of Christ endures forever, and is without end. See Isa. 9:7, Dan 2:44; Luke 1:32-33. Now let’s notice the assurance or guarantee, i.e. the proof that God says we can take to the bank.

“Nevertheless My loving kindness I will not utterly take from him, nor allow my faithfulness to fail. My covenant I will not break, nor alter the word that has gone out of my lips. Once I have sworn by My holiness; I will not lie to David. His seed shall endure forever, and his throne as the sun before Me; It shall be established forever like the moon, even like the faithful witness in the sky.” Psalms 89:33-36.

Now, did you catch the power of that? God said he swore by his holiness. He would not lie. David’s seed (Christ) would endure forever and his throne as the sun. It would be established forever like the moon, even the faithful witness in the sky. If the material creation, the sun and moon ceases, then God’s kingdom will cease! That would mean that if God were to ever destroy the world, heaven, i.e. the kingdom of God would no longer exist!

This is simply a reiteration of the promise made to Noah, seed time, harvest, day and night (sun and moon) shall not cease. God made this promise as the surety of Christ’s kingdom.

Hebrews 1:10-12 – End of the World 2012?

That brings us back to the current text. Since God says he would never destroy the earth and since that promise is inseparably connected to the eternal reign of Christ and the kingdom, then what does he mean by “heaven and earth” shall perish?  Well, one thing it cannot mean, is a destruction of our physical world. I have completed a booklet and companion audio recording of this study, which is too long to communicate here. This makes a great tract and addition to your eschatology library. You can order a copy by going here now.

Image by allthingsfulfilled via Flickr

Olivet Discourse: Has the Kingdom of God Arrived? Matthew, Mark and Luke, all record the Olivet Discourse. However, only one explicitly mention the coming of the kingdom of God. While all gospels speak of the coming kingdom, only Luke connected it with Jesus’ address on the Mount of Olives.

The kingdom is the reign of God in men’s hearts. Luke recorded Jesus’ words that during the Roman conflagration of Jerusalem in A.D. 70, the kingdom would be near. “So likewise you, when you see all these things, know that the kingdom of God has drawn near.”

In order to establish that connection, let us consider a statement Jesus makes elsewhere in Luke concerning his kingdom. When the Pharisees asked when the kingdom would come, Jesus replied that the kingdom does not come with observation, but is within you…” (Luke 17:20-23. That means it is not visible to the physical eye. It is spiritual in nature.

Warning Against Impostors

For this reason, Jesus warned his disciples not to follow those who say “Look here!’ or ‘Look there!’, and thus do not go after them or follow them. This, he called one of the days of the Son of Man. Now several points must be observed. First, since this text refers to the “days” of the Son of Man, we are not speaking of a planet-ending event. In most eschatological paradigms, there is only one last day of the Son of Man.

Secondly, the association of this text with the Son of Man connects the coming of the kingdom with the coming of the Son of Man. Why? It is because Christ comes in his kingdom. Now as we have observed that the kingdom does not come with observation but is within you, it must follow that if Christ comes in his kingdom, he:

1. Does not come with observation
2. Comes to be within us

A quick glance at Colossians 1:27, shows that the hope of the gospel was Christ “in you” the hope of glory. That means that the concept of the kingdom/Christ dwelling within you applies to the second coming of Christ. But more on that later.

An important text is Luke 21:24, which says, “For as the lightning that flashes out of one part under heaven ashines to the other part under heaven, so also the Son of man will be in His day.”

Olivet Discourse: Has the Kingdom Arrived?

Now Matthew records the same exhortation and admonition. Only he omits the kingdom in the verses, Matt. 24:23-27. By connecting these verses with those of Luke 17:20-23, it then is undeniable that the coming of the Son of Man in Matthew equals the coming of the kingdom in Luke.

Therefore Jesus taught that the kingdom/coming of the Son of Man had drawn in near, that both would be fulfilled before Jerusalem fell. Once one sees that Luke and Matthew speak of the same event, then it is clear that they both refer to 70 A.D. Equally true is that the kingdom of God arrived.

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24 Hours to Armageddon? No, this is not a prophecy about an imminent end. However, the Mayan 2012 prophecy is getting a lot of press. A History Channel special begins tonight revealing the sources of the mysterious 2012 date from the Mayan Calendar, Merlin of the medieval times and even the internet. Now that latter one has to take you aback just a bit. Searches on the internet about the end reveals the date 2012! That makes it true, right? Wrong!

The best we may get from 2012 are some self-fulfilling prophecies. Perhaps this is a code date that will prompt a preemptive strike on Iran, the new “scape goat” demanded to justify 21st century colonialist Palestinian holocaust in the Middle East.  Christian Zionism, a blend of right-wing extremist politics and racism disguised as religion continues its support of Zionism’s destructive holocaust of the indigenous people of Palestine whose land they stole and have maintained by force for over three score years.

Dispensationalism, Darwinism, Zionism, Colonialism and racism flow from common streams. The people under attack are labeled as terrorists especially if they speak out or fight back. Why are the indigenous  people who fight to keep their land and resources from invaders always labeled as terrorists? Si Tanka Spotted Elk (Chief Big Foot) of the Lakota Sioux tribe was labeled a terrorist by the American government until he and hundreds of innocent women and children were gunned down and their bodies left frozen in the open plains.  Sitting Bull was also considered a terrorist until so much of their land was taken and his people destroyed that he had to return from Canada from which he sought refuge just to survive.

Nobel Peace Prize Winner and former ANC president Nelson Mandela was yet on the USA’s terrorist’s list at age 89 in 2008 for his fight for freedom and resistance to Apartheid in South Africa. But, let’s look at some Bible characters who were on the government’s terrorist’s lists.

Moses Was a Terrorist

First up is Moses! Why? He killed an Egyptian who colonized, enslaved and committed crimes against humanity involving his brethren by beating them as they worked. It took 10 plagues of divine intervention including that of killing all of Egypt’s firstborn before Pharaoh reluctantly confessed to his crimes against humanity. In April 2009, Australia, Canada, Germany, Israel, Italy, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Poland, and the United States boycotted the Durban Review Conference, the official name of the United Nations World Conference Against Racism, (WCAR),  The Czech Republic walked out after one day, and the twenty three European countries sent low-level delegates.

Could you imagine, Jesus and Paul boycotting a conference because homosexuality and Zionism failed to make the agenda!?!  Is this the “Christian Zionists” agenda?

King David Was Labeled a Terrorist

David, defeated Goliath and became  number one on King Saul’s terrorist’s list. Yet when an opportunity arose to kill the king in his sleep, David merely cut off the corner of his robe and left him snoring until he called to wake up the king. Afterward he became overwhelmed with remorse, (1 Sam. 24:5-6).

Jesus Called A Terrorist and Anti-Semitic/Zionist

The ancient Israeli government labeled Jesus as a terrorist whom they falsely charged with blasphemy and insurrection worthy of capital punishment. Why, because he rejected the political nationalist Zionism of the first century Jews (John 6:15). Not only that, he denounced their claim to the land and promised to wipe them off of it at his coming in A.D. 70, (Matt. 21:33-45) through the same Roman government they used to put him to death, (Lk. 21:20-22).  Those first century Zionists acknowledged, “His blood be on us and on our children,” (Matt. 27:25) and so it was.

Like their first century counterparts, “Zionists and Dispensationalist Christian Zionist supporters say “Palestinians blood be on us and our children”! Only they don’t stop there. They’d like to sprinkle some Iranian blood on their “human sacrifices” as well.

Were Jesus physically alive on earth today, he would be America’s and Israel’s most outspoken critic earning his place on their terrorist lists as well. Jesus rejected Dispsensationalism, i.e. a physical kingdom on earth (John 6:15). That means he rejected the land as an inheritance to ancient Zionist Israel. For this reason, Dispensationalists would regard Christ as a terrorist also!

Stephen, A Terrorist and Anti-Semitic/Zionist

Now let’s take a look at brother Stephen’s “freedom of speech.” First off, he denounced the temple in Jerusalem as God’s holy place, words he got from Jesus Christ! They charged him with anti-Zionism (read blasphemy). “They also set up false witnesses who said, “this man does not cease to speak blasphemous words against this holy place and the law; for we have heard him say that this Jesus of Nazareth will destroy this place and change the customs which Moses delivered to us,” (Acts 6:13-14).

Stephen, inspired by the Holy Spirit, had no delusions about political Zionism. He was not a “Christian Zionist” nor card-carrying member of CUFI (Christians United for Zionism). He said God did not dwell in temples made with men’s hands, (Acts 7:48) and charged the Zionists as hard-hearted stiff-necked murderers.  How did the Zionists respond to these “crimes against humanity”? Just like the nations who walked out of the Durban 2009 conference. They stopped their ears, (resisted his freedom of speech against Zionism labeling him anti-Semitic) and kept right on committing crimes against humanity. “They cast him out of the city and stoned him to death as he watched Jesus in the heavens who encouraged him.

Are Kindergartens in Palestine Terrorists Institutions?

According to South African representatives of the  Academic Campaign for Boycotting Israel, the IDF reportedly bombed 6 Palestinian Universities, over 1500 high schools and a number of kindergartens. Are these Jell-O pudding eating kindergarten kids on the terrorist list?

It is well known that Marcus Garvey, Malcom X and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr, made J. Edgar Hoover’s terrorist list. Blacks have been on the USA’s terrorist list since the first slave ship arrived. Blacks are labeled terrorists for driving while being Black, walking in the “wrong” neighborhood hood while being Black, whistling while being Black, organizing while being Black, getting an education while being Black, increasing in population while being Black and for being Black while being Black. It’s nothing new in the Black community in America. It comes with the territory.

24 Hours to Armageddon?

It will be interesting to see if the History Channel turns to the history of the first century or whether they ignore history and join the prophetic speculation of futurists and Dispensationalist interpreters as their guideposts to signs of the end times. Perhaps they could take a note or two from some well known terrorists who had first hand evidence, –Jesus, Stephen and John (Revelation) who taught that Armageddon lies buried in past history, namely that of the Roman invasion of Judea, the destruction of its temple, and God’s permanent removal of its priesthood and land.

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Zephaniah's World Destruction -2012?

Did Zephaniah Read the Mayan 2012 Prophecy? First, who was Zephaniah? He was ninth in the literary order of the minor prophets, the son of Cushi, and great-grandson of Hezekiah.  (Zeph. 1:1) He prophesied in the days of Josiah, king of Judah (B.C. 641-610). He was also a contemporary of the prophet Jeremiah.

Zephaniah was an inspired prophet of God. He received his message from the Spirit of God. He prophesied that God would bring the world to an end.

I will utterly consume everything from the face of the land,” says the Lord; I will consume man and beast; I will consume the birds of the heavens, the fish of the sea, and the stumbling blocks along with the wicked. I will cut off man from the face of the land, says the Lord.” (Zeph. 1:2-3)

Not only did God say he would destroy everything from the face of the earth, he also said he would burn it up.

But the whole land shall be devoured by the fire of his jealousy, for He will make speedy riddance of all those who dwell in the land. (1:18; 3:8)

We must ask, does Zephaniah prophesy the end of all life from the planet? Does he predict a fiery conflagration at the end of time? Certainly, the words of Zephaniah imply that and more. He said the great day of the Lord is near; it is near and hastens quickly. (1:14)

“I will stretch out My hand against Judah, and against all the inhabitants of Jerusalem, I will cut off every trace of Baal from this place, the names of the idolatrous priest with the pagan priests.” In other words, God would punish Judah and Jerusalem for the worship of idols.  It is common in scripture for God to use language which to us sounds as though the planet is about to be wiped out.

Understanding Zephaniah

Yet, Zephaniah spoke not of the end of the universe, but of the Chaldean (Babylonian) invasion of Judea and destruction of the temple of Solomon in 586 BC.  The language employed is that which is common to the fall of nations throughout both the Old Testament and  the new. In fact, this is the source from which the Apostles of the New Testament drew their messages of the end.

What is interesting is that Zephaniah uses the world erets (Hebrew for earth), but which is correctly translated land over 1000 times in the Old Testament. The Greek equivalent of erets is ge. This term is used in many New Testament passages which speak of the end time events to come upon the earth. See Matthew 24:30, Luk. 21:35, Rev. 3:10. Most significant is that 2 Peter 3:7-12, uses the same language found in Zephaniah to speak of the destruction of the land by fire.

Understanding 2 Peter 3

Now, does 2 Peter 3, refer to the end of the universe? Many Bible expositors belief so. Yet, the word “ge” (translated earth) which means land means no more in 2 Peter 3, than it meant in Zephaniah. The irony of it all is that 2 Peter 3 is likewise discussing the destruction of Jerusalem and the second temple, i.e. Herods, which the Romans destroyed in A.D.70. Peter uses the same language Zephaniah used to discuss the event.  In his first epistle he said the day was at hand, that the time of God’s judgment had come and that the day hastened upon them using the exact words as those found in Zephaniah.

The truth of the matter is, both Zephaniah and Peter drew their language of the fiery destruction of the earth (land of Palestine) from Moses per Deuteronomy 32:22. Moses said of Israel in their last days, that the fire of God’s anger would burn to the lowest hell and consume the earth (erets) or land and set on fire the foundations of the mountains.  Neither text spoke of the end of the planet, but only the end of Israel.

Did Zephaniah Read the Mayan 2012 Prophecy?

You may compare God’s use of erets in the promise made to Abraham. “Now the Lord had said to Abram: Get out of your [erets] country, and from your family and from your father’s house, to a [erets] land that I will show  you.” (Gen. 12:1) Now does God tell Abraham to leave the earth so that he could show him a new earth? This is the same word used in Zephaniah and its Greek equivalent is used in 2 Peter 3. The Septuagint (LXX), Greek translation of the Old Testament, often translates erets with ge, or land, whether speaking of the land of Canaan, or the land of Egypt, etc.

So, the Bible knows nothing at all about the end of the planet. Those who are afraid of the bogey man Mayan calendar 2012 prophecy have nothing to worry about when they understand the Bible. The movie is simply entertainment, not factual. The Mayan calendar is a pagan calendar and its prophecy is false.  For a more in depth study on the subject, see my new book and audio CD Set All The Earth Destroyed?

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Jubilee - Acceptable Year of the Lord 70 AD

The Acceptable Year of the Lord. A major failure of end times prophecy teaching is the inability to make the transition from national geo-centric Israel to spiritual Christo-centric Israel.  It is the chief source from a biblical view for the support of Dispensational Zionism. Ultra-literalism describes their method of interpretation. Stephen Sizer points out that often when quoting texts, Dispensationalists supply their interpretation right in the text. (Zion’s Christian Soldier’s, p. 34)

For example, when Hal Lindsey writes of the holy place in Matthew 24:15, he adds the words [the rebuilt temple]. Yet, no where in verse 15 is there any indication of a rebuilt temple. In that verse, the subject is the destruction of Herod’s then existing temple of which Christ had just spoken particularly in (Matt. 23:37-38. 24:2). In other words, when using the gloves of scripture, “if it doesn’t fit, you must force it.”

The Regathering of Israel

Jeremiah spoke of the regathering of Israel as the time when David, the Branch, of righteousness would reign. At that time God would gather His flock out of all the countries where He had driven them.

“Behold, the days are coming, says the Lord, That I will raise to David a Branch of righteousness; A King shall reign and prosper, and execute judgment and righteousness in the earth. In His days Judah will be saved, and Israel will dwell safely; Now this is His name by which he will be called: THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS. Therefore, behold the days are coming says the Lord, “that they shall no longer say, ‘As the Lord lives who brought the children of Israel from the land of Egypt,’ but, ‘As the Lord lives who brought up and led the descendants of the house of Israel from the north country and from all the countries where I had driven them.’ And they shall dwell in their own land.” (Jer. 23:5-8).

The above verses speak of the time when God would gather his people. It is when he raises up David, the Branch. Isaiah 11:1 says the Branch, is he upon whom the Spirit of God rests. Both John, the Baptizer, and Jesus identified the Lord as the one upon whom the Spirit of God remained, (John 1:32-33; Matt. 3:16; Lk. 4:18). The timing of the coming of the Spirit is critical in the identification of the Branch setting the stage for the time of the blowing of the trumpet.  The Spirit came in the first century.

At the time Jesus entered the synagogue in Nazareth, he cited both Isaiah 49:8-9 and 61:1-2. The first text speaks of the acceptable time in which God would restore the land to Israel. The second speaks of the acceptable year of the Lord, i.e. the year of Jubilee when liberty is proclaimed to the captives and the day of vengeance comes. This was the work of Jesus’ last days ministry, setting the stage to fulfill the prophecies of Daniel’s 70th week.

Peter announced that the Holy Spirit, poured out in the last days began on Pentecost, (Acts 2:16-120) in fulfillment of Joel 2:28-32. Paul affirmed it would continue until the end of the Old Covenant age, (1 Cor. 1:7-8) the time of Jerusalem’s fall by the Romans in 70AD.

This identified the times of the regathering of Israel. As Isaiah 11 further states “in that day” Jesus, the Christ, the root of Jesse would stand as a banner to the people; For the Gentiles shall seek Him, and His resting place shall be glorious. Also, “in that day” meaning in the time of the eschatological Spirit, “It shall come to pass in that day that the Lord shall set His hand again the second time to recover the remnant of His people who are left, from Assyria and Egypt, from Pathros and Cush, from Elam and Shinar, From Hamath and the islands of the sea.”

The Acceptable Year of the Lord – Jubilee

The countries mentioned here are the same as those for Isaiah 27:12-13. The time is the same, the day of the blowing of the trumpet, the outpouring of the Spirit, the regathering of Israel and the coming in of the Gentiles. Paul quotes Isaiah 11, in Romans 12.  According to Leviticus, the sounding of the trumpet in the acceptable year, i.e. Jubilee occurred on the 10th day of the seventh month, on the Day of Atonement. That is the time they proclaimed liberty throughout all the land of Israel to all its inhabitants allowing each one to return to his possession, and each to his family. (Lev. 25:9-10).

Jesus quotes from that same text in Matthew 24:31, to speak of the gathering of God’s elect from the four winds at the sounding of the trumpet. And He will send His angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they will gather together His elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.” Now with marked precision, the Lord tells us the very generation in which he would both come and regather Israel and the Gentiles. “Assuredly, I say to you, this generation will by no means pass away till all these things take place.” (Matt. 24:30).

“Now is the Acceptable Time – Now is the Day of Salvation”, 2 Cor. 6:2

In 2 Corinthians 6:1-2, Paul quotes directly from Isaiah 49:8 concerning the acceptable day of the Lord, i.e. the day of salvation or Jubilee!  He said, “Behold now is the acceptable time, behold now is the day of salvation. Tim LaHaye, Thomas Ice, nor Lindsay, can by any stretch of the imagination place Jesus, Peter or Paul in the year 1948. They did not write in that year that it was the acceptable day of the Lord. They did not say “now” is the accepted time. No. They wrote and spoke those words centuries ago.

Now we see why Lindsey has to write “of rebuilt temple” into Matt. 24:15. It is a blanket admission that Dispensationalism does not fit the Bible time frame for the regathering of Israel into the land. It runs counter to the words of Christ, the prophets or the apostles. They all pointed to the first century as the time of fulfillment.

First Century Jews Sold Their Land In Israel

Finally, the irony of it all is that the Christian Jews who lived in Jerusalem were selling their land as fast as they could, (Acts 2:43-44). They knew Jerusalem and the temple were about to be destroyed in their lifetime. More importantly, they knew that in Jerusalem, “they had no abiding city” but sought the one about to come, i.e. the heavenly Jerusalem, (Heb. 13:13-14, 12:22-23).

If Dispensationalists really believed we are living in the end times and that God was gathering Israel  why are not the Zionist’s selling their land in Jerusalem, as they did in the first century? Those Jews knew the Jerusalem of which the prophets spoke was spiritual and heavenly. They knew the temple was spiritual and heavenly, a house not made with hands, which the Lord built and not man.

They knew the priesthood was being change from the Levitical to the tribe of Judah, which also demanded the changing of the law to the new covenant which God would write on the hearts. Most importantly, they knew that the ark of the covenant and the relics of the old temple would not come to mind, nor ever be visited or made anymore.

Is America complicit in Shedding Innocent Blood? One of the charges God made against the ancient nation of Israel was that their hands were defiled with blood and their fingers with iniquity. For this reason, God would not hear them because their iniquities had separated them from Him, so they he refused to hear.

Isaiah went on to say that the acts of violence is in their hands. Their feet run to evil, and they make haste to shed innocent blood: Their thoughts are thoughts of iniquity. Wasting and destruction are in their paths. The way of peace they have not known and there is no justice in their ways. They have made themselves crooked paths; Whoever takes that way shall not know peace.” (Isa. 59:6-8).

This text could have been published on any of the major news networks such as CNN, ABC, CBS, or the BBC  or Al Jazeera. It would be a pretty accurate description of modern day Zionism and the Apartheid, Colonialist, illegal occupation and confiscation of Palestinian land and the brutal ethnic cleansing of its  people. Like Judas who betrayed the Christ, other nations and U.S. Corporations are complicit in accepting the blood money of Israel.

South Africa, a nation once guilty of Apartheid has stood up and denounced the inhumanties and war crimes of Zionism. They report that

South Africa was built on the backs of Black labor as was America on the backs of Black Americas. Israel however does not want Palestinians and therefore carries out a slow process of genocide. What is happening to the Palestinians is akin to what happened to the Aborigines of Australia and the American Indians. Israelis are charged with destroying food supplies and  contaminating the water supplies. Some Palestinians in Gaza are paying 25% (twentyfive percent) of their income just for water which they must import from other Arab nations.  It is an attempt to wipe out Palestinian history and all memory of them from the earth.

Due to high concentrations of nitrates in their water, babies are being born purple, with a condition known as “Blue Baby Syndrome” or methemoglobinemia. Palestinian children and university students have had to take their education underground in mosques, churches and basements. Kindergartens are considered a security threat. Egypt comes to mind, (Exod. 1). Some found armed with “books” are arrested. Israeli’s wear t-shirts with photos of rifles pointing to pregnant Palestinian women’s bellies, proclaiming “two dead with one bullet.”

The UN General Assembly report representing 192-member world body approved a resolution with a vote of 114 to 18, with 44 abstentions and 16 countries not voting. Israel’s Foreign minister claimed the resolution did not have the support of the “moral majority” of the Western nations! What arrogance!  The world has spoken, Western approval or not. That says quite a bit about how Zionists feel about “shedding innocent blood” and the Western nations who refused to vote against them. Seems many of our politicians have drunk the Jim Jones Kool-Aid of Zionism and are staggering in their cry for justice.

Ohio Congressman Dennis Kucinich says in light of the Goldstone report charging Israel with war crimes and the refusal of US politicians to consider the report in blind support of Israel, is to pretend that war crimes were never committed and that such deception was the nullification of humanity. Pilate tried washing his hands clean of the blood of Christ. But blood stains are not so easily removed.

Maybe the West is waiting for Palestinians to be placed in gas chambers before they can agree war crimes against humanity are committed by Zionist Israel.  In the meantime, a country which should know what Apartheid is, has already spoken.

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