Opposites!

Mark 6:1-3,5 (New King James Version)
- "1 Then He went out from there and came to His own country, and His disciples followed Him. 2 And when the Sabbath had come, He began to teach in the synagogue. And many hearing Him were astonished, saying, “Where did this Man get these things? And what wisdom is this which is given to Him, that such mighty works are performed by His hands! 3 Is this not the carpenter, the Son of Mary, and brother of James, Joses, Judas, and Simon? And are not His sisters here with us? So they were offended at Him. ....5 Now He could do no mighty work there, except that He laid His hands on a few sick people and healed them."

Mark 4:37-39,41 (New King James Version)
- "37 And a great windstorm arose, and the waves beat into the boat, so that it was already filling. 38 But He was in the stern, asleep on a pillow. And they awoke Him and said to Him, “Teacher, do You not care that we are perishing?”
39 Then He arose and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, “Peace, be still!” And the wind ceased and there was a great calm. ....41 And they feared exceedingly, and said to one another, “Who can this be, that even the wind and the sea obey Him!”

- (Darby Translation)
"Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?"

Nothing All That New Under The Sun

I hadn't realized Nero is said to have burned Rome because he wanted to rebuild it. I knew he burned the city, fiddled gleefully while it was burning, and then blamed the Christians.
- Nero was the first of major anti-Christs.
- The Roman Empire became (quasi) Christian after Emperor Constantine sided with what was the highest population of the empire at the time, Christianity. There arose fierce persecution against paganism, and wealth seized from them by the emperor was given to the bishops of Christianity. Church influence, power and political domination of the empire and its offices grew rapidly. (But it did not resemble the innocent and simple faith it began as, about three and a half centuries earlier, but was now a political entity.)
- The world of this entity became "Western Civilization". But when Western Civilization turns (extreme) and begins to have bias against Israel and Christianity, it will further evolve into a beast (Apocalypse 13:1-10 & Daniel 7:7,19) of ten crowns (horns, divisions, toes). It will prove itself a beast when it harnesses a sword of terror (Apoc. 20:4). Daniel the Prophet and John the Apostle wrote of and described the vision they saw of this beast. Both described the beast as having ten horns. John said it had a crown on each of its horns, and had seven heads. Daniel described it with teeth of iron, and its feet, which had bronze claws, tore things apart. We can assume the final beast (world empire) of man, will include all that both Daniel and John were shown.
- "Iron" and "bronze" had come up quite a while earlier, in Daniel's interpretation of Nebuchadnezzar's dream of a great statue (back in Daniel 2:31-43). God revealed to Daniel that this statue, made up of different metals, represented the world empires throughout history which impact Israel. That being the case, biblical historian scholars have calculated that "bronze" in the dream was (the highly dramatic, then secular) "Greece"and the "iron" in the dream was mighty Rome. The final beast has iron teeth (iron columns?) and bronze (secular) claws.
- We can certainly assume that the final beast has Roman/Graeco (Roman/Greek) roots. It builds a peace.. an accord.. a "league" (Strong's #1285 from Daniel 9:27) a "firm" (Strong's #1396 "strong, mighty") one with "the many".

The Spirit of Truth

It's not trying to make the Bible fit a vision (idea or teaching) but seeing if it fits the Bible.

Attn: Bible Prophecy Buffs

UN-LOCKING THE BOOK OF REVELATION:
- The vision of Revelation begins at chapter 6, previous to that is seen a scene in heaven concurrent to the day of the vision and John's exile on Patmos.. the vision begins from there with the breaking of the 1st seal, the conqueror "openly victorious over powers and principalities" the olde 'gods', 2nd seal, war is given a long sword, fast forward to 6th seal a new wind/fire(13:13 for the discerning) the new wind is held back for a time (7:1).. until trumpet 1 (an Israeli pre-empt?) trump 2 loss of 1/3 trade and commerce.. trump 3 offshoot of trump 1; trump 4 drought and Joel's smoky day; trump 5 out of the smoke 5 months of marshall law.. trump 6, tanks, 666, and gather to armageddon.. in trump 7 are the 7 bowls, final fire and retribution/the final results of mankind's choices and doings.. a BiG lock is at the seals - they are described in a blend of what they are when 1st broken, and what they are when fully matured at the very 'end', therefore things which occur very late on planet earth are described here so very early in the narrative.. another lock: chapters 10,11,12,13, and part of 14 are inserts (rev 12 is Israel, then Christianity('s 2 migrations) and then again Israel who (by then) have the testimony of Jesus... Rev16:14-15-16

All(?) "the Signs" / the Latter Day Fulfillment of Bible Prophecy

To begin, of course there's the Matthew 24 discourse (or Luke 21, Mark 13) where Jesus said "when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies" and "when you see the abomination of desolation" (in the 'end' times fulfillment, the 666 apparatus?) set-up in Jerusalem (what else would it be?).." these of course are much later than "earthquakes in various places" and "wars and rumors of war" (including unrest?)
 - Daniel (in chapter 12, verse11) wrote "three and 1/2 years plus one month (a Hebrew leap month?) after the" (place of) "daily sacrifice" (of prayers and thanksgiving) "is taken away, the abomination of desolation (666) will be set-up" - I believe the place of daily sacrifice in Israel today is the Wailing Wall which is a remainder of the Western Wall of the 2nd Temple, because in Matthew 24, verses 1 and 2, Jesus said "see all these things" (the buildings and walls of the Temple complex) "not oNe stone will be left one atop the other". Daniel continues in verse 12, with, "happy is the one who-waits and comes-to the three and 1/2 years, one month, and 45 days later.." What happy event occurs on that 45th day of 666? (but I drift a little).
 - The Book of Revelation vision starts at chapter 6, previous to that is a vision or scene of an opening of heaven, concurrent to the time of John's exile and his receiving the vision, then the scroll sealed with 7 seals is shown and the seals are broken with the first one beginning at that same time.. a conqueror on a white horse, the victorious gospel message went/goes forth "conquering and to conquer "openly triumphing over powers and principalities" (Col 2:15) those olde ancient 'gods'... then the 2nd horseman war, 2nd element of the latter age (aka the years of our Lord A.D.) "is given a long sword".. fast forward to the 6th seal, when what comes forth is a new wind which changes much of the fabric of life (1945 Hiroshima and Nagasaki). This new wind is then paused for a while (rev 7:1) - the prime key to interpretation of the whole vision is here - the key being, each seal is (fully) described here, as a blend of what it is when the seal is first broken/opened or begun, and what it is at the 'end' in its full grown state. Thus events which happen very late on planet Earth, are described here, so very early in the narrative. This hides much of the vision "for many days" (Dn 12:9).
 - When the Seventh Seal is activated, there will be a great earthquake - Rev 8:1-5 (chapter 8)
- Trumpet one is the re-Opening of atomic warfare (an Israeli preemptive strike?)
- Trumpet two, very large riots and degrees of anarchy? and one third of all existing, at the time, trade and commerce, is destroyed - Rev 8:8,9
- Trumpet three, one third of all water is undrinkable, an offshoot of trumpet one - Rev 8:10,11
- Trumpet four, Joel's dry and smoky day, offshoot of both trumpet one and two - Rev 8:12; Rev chapter 12 (one of four intserts) verse 16; Joel 2 and see Rev 9:3.
- Then, Revelation 8:13 - "And I saw, and I heard an eagle flying in mid-heaven, saying with a loud voice, Woe, woe, woe, to them that dwell upon the earth, for the remaining voices of the trumpet of the three angels who are about to sound..." [Next; chapter 9]
 - During Joel's smoky day is trumpet five, out of the smoke (of the abyss of man's heart away from God) come whirring, hovering locust like things, for locusts hover.. helicopters of global marshall law for five months; then is sounded trumpet six, tanks swarm middle east. And I'm thinking here is the 666 spoken of by Daniel and Jesus (abomination which desolates - 35 days of cannot buy and sell, then escalates into ten days of will be killed. Then trumpet 7 - "immediately after the tribulation of those days.. the Son of man ..will be seen coming on the clouds.. He will send out His angels to gather His elect from all corners of the earth..."  from Mt 28-31. And 1 Thess 1:7, "He comes with fire and with angels.." - i.e, in trumpet 7 are the seven bowls.. final consequences of man's choices and doings.
 - Rev 12, which is one of four inserts also gives signs (the drought of verse 16 being one) the key to this chapter is the woman about to give birth to a manchild (Son of man) is Israel, then there are two migrations after the mantle has been transferred for a time to the 'church', then the dragon turns his attention back "to the remainder of the woman's children, those who have the commandments of God, and" (by now) "have the testimony of Jesus".. "And the nations are gathered" against Israel "for Armageddon" (rev 16:14,15,16 // "Look up for your redemption draweth nigh"). With cross reference, Isaiah 29:1,5,6 - "Ariel, Ariel" (another name for Jerusalem/Israel) "your many enemies will become like fine dust, the ruthless hordes like blown chaff. Suddenly, in an instant, the LORD Almighty will come with thunder and earthquake and great noise, with windstorm and tempest and flames of a devouring fire."

JiGsaW PuZZLe

We can find the puzzle pieces of truth and prophecy in the Bible, in our interaction with other believers, and in our church or broadcast messages, but in our quiet times with Him, is when He can knit the strands for us. He (His Holy Spirit) fits the pieces of the puzzle together.

Seven Winds Part 1

When the Seventh Seal is activated, there will be a great earthquake - Rev 8:1-5
- Trumpet # 1 is the re-Opening of atomic warfare (an Israeli preemptive strike?) - atomic warfare opened, Rev 6:12-17, a blend of Opening and full maturity/gallop with Rev 13:13 (an office); plus 7:1 & 8:7!
- Trumpet # 2, very large riots and degrees of anarchy? and one third of all existing, at the time, trade and commerce, is destroyed - Rev 8:8,9
- Trumpet # 3, one third of all water is undrinkable, an offshoot of Trumpet One - Rev 8:10,11
- Trumpet # 4, Joel's dry and smoky day, offshoot of both Trumpet One and Two - Rev 8:12; Rev chapter 12 (one of four inserts) verse 16; Joel 2 and see Rev 9:3
Revelation 8:13 - ^"And I saw, and I heard an eagle flying in mid-heaven, saying with a loud voice, Woe, woe, woe, to them that dwell upon the earth, for the remaining voices of the trumpet of the three angels who are about to sound..."

The Apocalypse Vision

The Book of Revelation/Apocalypse is not all future. The vision of the future is in the scroll which is seen and opened in chapter five. The vision of a door opening into the heavens in chapter four is current to the time when John received the vision, but often, I think it is interpreted as being a part of the vision of the future.. The scroll opens and begins from that current (time) point, "and I saw the Lamb open the first of seven seals.."

The Book Of Revelation Says

The Book of Revelation says Socialism will swallow Capitalism. Almost all would like less materialism, greed and inequity in the world and nation. The fall of Capitalism may bring about less materialism, but not less greed and inequity. What will take its place? Do we really think it will be peaceful self rule?

PARALLEL - end times and 70 A.D

PARALLEL - end times and 70 A.D: (LUKE 19:41-44) JESUS said.. "see all these things?" speaking of the Temple area, "not one stone of these will remain one atop another.." Yet, there sits the "Wailing Wall", quite a few stones sitting one atop another.. I'm convinced (through prayerful contemplations) that this is the sign DANIEL spoke of in DANIEL 12:11 "one thousand, two hundred and ninety days after they remove" (STRONG's #5493) "the continual" (STRONG's #8548) "sacrifice, shall be set-up the abomination which desolates" // Jesus said - not one stone will remain upon another - DANIEL wrote - 1,290 days after they remove the continual sacrifice, the abomination that makes desolate will be "set-up". Happy the one who waits and comes to the 1335th day. (What event will occur on the 1335th day, aka, the 45th day of the abomination which desolates?)
 - As we know Jesus also included this "abomination" sign, when his disciples asked him "what will be the sign of your coming and the end of the world?" He included, "when you-see the abomination of desolation set-up, let all Judea flee.." (grafted and ungrafted? or that is to say natural and born again?)

Discipleship

Luke 9:1 says "Jesus called together His twelve apostles and gave them complete power over all demons and diseases.." Which is how it reads in the bible version I'm reading right now. I was wondering if the original Greek word used here was "apostle" or "disciple" (because to me apostle means teacher and disciple means follower and student). It wasn't that easy however! For starting with the Greek concordance, I looked up "apostle" and found it was not used in Luke 9:1, but when I looked up "disciple" I found that wasn't used either(!) What was written originally was "And having called together the twelve he gave them power and authority over all the demons and diseases to heal.." (from the "Interlinear NASB-NIV Parallel New Testament in Greek and English"). I then thought to myself that "the twelve" is likely closer to "apostle" then "disciple". It's important because I presently know three people battling stage four cancers.
- All in all, I decided, I will continue my prayers and encouragement to them, because "apostle" or "disciple" Jesus said many times things like "what ever things you desire, when you pray, believe you have them and you shall have them.." and "where two or more agree in prayer as touching anything upon earth, my Father in heaven will hear them and give it to them.." (Well, these are paraphrased from my memory.. which is faulty at best and getting worse as I get older! But you get my drift I hope..)
- However, and in addition, when I went back to the concordance (Strong's Exhaustive) I found that apostle means "messenger" and "sent out"(one).. (And "disciple" is "learner, instructed one".)

Just What Is Hell, Besides a Mistranslation Which Should Read Death?

'Hell' was created, as 'hell' is commonly understood to be, very early on, but not by God! As a place of torment it has been a part of ancient Pagan (non-Hebrew) beliefs and reached its epiphany in Greece. But Israel acquainted "hellfire" with fiery (national) judgment. And Sheol, of course, the place of the dead, was the grave and the dust of - Isaiah 14:11; Genesis 3:19 (Philippians 2:10).
- "Hell" is being without God. But that can't happen! God is Life. Every little drop of Life is God - Genesis 1:1 - so to be without God is to not be. Period. "And the last thing to be vanquished is death" - 1 Corinthians 15:26. (The opposite of Life, is non-life.)
- Jude, in verse 7, said "the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah.. is the example of eternal fire" - Jude 7. Is there flames and fire there now, where Sodom and Gomorrah once were? Rather it is mounds of dust and ashes. Revelation 19:3 speaks of destruction as a "smoke that rises forever and ever." It is an eternal lesson which is remembered forever and ever, and then some. The smoke (memory) of it will rise forever in our memory and psyche. We cannot walk away from God in any means or fashion, because God is both Life and Perfection. To turn from Him in any little thing is to cease to be. It's an eternal "note to self (a great gift) which says "CANNOT BE DONE".
- But this journey and lesson of hell (death) and hellfire, this narrative of God is/was unavoidable, unless God is creating an ant farm and robots. But He's not. He's of course creating the absolutely best thing possible, because He is, after all, Perfection. So the 'end' result of all this can only be Perfect. Nothing else is possible.

All of Life is an Allegory

Been enjoying talking with some "universal redemtionists" online but it's a little frustrating because many of them believe bible prophecy and the book of revelation are allegory! but I've studied it for a long time and can see the main characters pretty as you please in the world. Maybe it's a case of ‎"I don't understand it so it must be allegory" but how far can we go with that? And that's way too weird. If life is literal enough as to have flesh and bones, then God is very much a vibrant and living personality, and this unavoidable journey and lesson we're on of learning good from evil is God's drama, and it too is alive and vibrant and literal.

Don't 'spose you like a riddle..?

What is the "false prophet"/(teaching) of the book of revelation/apocalypse and the "strong delusion" after "falling away" mentioned elsewhere..? (most of the characters in the book of rev/apoc have in most minds morphed into one, but there are five). This one was involved with, or rather, enabled rev 13:13, which is the same as the new wind of 6:12-15 (followed by a pause,7:1), and will enable 13:16,17, which will escalate into 20:4.

THE KINGDOM OF GOD

Luke 3

21 - "Now when all the people were baptized, Jesus was also baptized, and while He was praying, heaven was opened

22 - and the Holy Spirit descended upon Him in bodily form like a dove, and a voice came out of heaven, "You are My beloved Son, in You I am well-pleased."

Psalm 2

7 - "I will surely tell of the decree of the LORD: He said to Me, "You are My Son, today I have begotten You" - #3205 in Strong's "yalad" "made you apparent".

Mark 9

1 - The Transfiguration - "And Jesus was saying to them - Truly I say to you, there are some of those who are standing here who will not taste death until they see the KINGDOM of God after it has come with power"

2 - (and) "six days later, Jesus took with Him Peter and James and John, and brought them up on a high mountain by themselves. And He was transfigured before them

3 - and His garments became radiant and exceedingly white, as no launderer on earth can whiten them....

7 - then a cloud formed, overshadowing them, and a voice came out of the cloud, "This is My beloved Son, listen to Him!" (Margin: "or give constant heed to Him".)

8 - All at once they looked around and saw no one with them anymore - except Jesus alone."