Chapter 13 - The twenty parables within
the Book of Revelation
Chapter
XXVI.—John and Daniel have predicted the dissolution and desolation of the
Roman Empire, which shall precede the end of the world and the eternal kingdom
of Christ. The Gnostics are refuted, those tools of Satan, who invent another
Father different from the Creator.
2. If therefore the great God showed future things by
Daniel, and confirmed them by His Son; and if Christ is the stone which is cut
out without hands, who shall destroy temporal kingdoms, and introduce an
eternal one, which is the resurrection of the just; as he declares, “The God of
heaven shall raise up a kingdom which shall never be destroyed,”—let those thus
confuted come to their senses, who reject the Creator (Demiurgum), and
do not agree that the prophets were sent beforehand from the same Father from
whom also the Lord came, but who assert that prophecies originated from diverse
powers. For those things which have been predicted by the Creator alike through
all the prophets has Christ fulfilled in the end, ministering to His Father’s
will, and completing His dispensations with regard to the human race. Let those
persons, therefore, who blaspheme the Creator, either by openly expressed
words, such as the disciples of Marcion, or by a perversion of the sense [of
Scripture], as those of Valentinus and all the Gnostics falsely so called,
be recognised as agents of Satan by all those who worship God; through whose
agency Satan now, and not before, has been seen to speak against God, even Him
who has prepared eternal fire for every kind of apostasy. For he did not
venture to blaspheme his Lord openly of himself; as also in the beginning he
led man astray through the instrumentality of the serpent, concealing himself as
it were from God. Truly has Justin remarked: That before the Lord’s appearance
Satan never dared to blaspheme God, inasmuch as he did not yet know his own
sentence, because it was contained in parables and allegories;
but that after the Lord’s appearance, when he had clearly ascertained from the
words of Christ and His apostles that eternal fire has been prepared for him as
he apostatized from God of his own free-will, and likewise for all who
unrepentant continue in the apostasy, he now blasphemes, by means of such men,
the Lord who brings judgment [upon him] as being already condemned, and imputes
the guilt of his apostasy to his Maker, not to his own voluntary disposition.
Just as it is with those who break the laws, when punishment overtakes them: they
throw the blame upon those who frame the laws, but not upon themselves. In like
manner do those men, filled with a satanic spirit, bring innumerable
accusations against our Creator, who has both given to us the spirit of life,
and established a law adapted for all; and they will not admit that the
judgment of God is just. Wherefore also they set about imagining some other
Father who neither cares about nor exercises a providence over our affairs,
nay, one who even approves of all sins.
(Source: Iranaeus against Heresies, Book V, Chapter
XXVI)
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The evidence above from an early Church father will be put
to the test. The presentation of the parables within the Book of Revelation
will be shown to be either genuine or flawed. If it is flawed then the
statement by Iranaeus is incorrect or in error. It may create another question:
Is it possible that a new book or "revelation" is awaited after the
Book of Revelation among the Christian community? The previous question will
also be proven to be valid or flawed. Nevertheless, the statement by Iraneaus
is partly true because the Roman empire was defeated years later. However; his
statement is partly false because the Book of Revelation also predicted,
falsely, a seventy years cycle which did not materialize.
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(1) The Parable of the Seven Churches or congregation.
The evidence presented was copied or paralleled with 2nd Maccabees chapter
seven. The 2nd Maccabees passage may be disregarded but it may have derived
from a reading of Ezekiel chapter twenty-four. The fact that only seven
churches or congregations were picked out of the various churches in existence
during the era of the writer is peculiar. The question is: who came up first
with the idea of using "seven" for the examples in their respective
passages? It is known that the Book of the Maccabees were composed during
the time around the destruction of the Temple by the Romans. Is it possible
that the Books of the Maccabees were written as a competition document(s)
against the early Christian messianic Gospels? Revelation 1:4 seems to be a
personification of the churches mentioned. The seven churches were selected
based on symbolic numerology and the strategic location of the congregations.
Joshua 6:1-7 was thought of by the writer because of the importance of the
growing Gentile Christian community. The previous passage located in the Book
of Joshua was contemplated by John because of the earlier idea presented by
Paul years earlier (Romans chapter eleven). The Joshua passage is closely
connected with the themes of rapture (Joshua 6:20 and 1st Thessalonians
4:15-16). The mention of the ark in Revelation 11:19 is a connector to the
previous evidence which include the phrase: "And the seventh angel
sounded..." (Revelation 11:15).
(2) The Parable of the "raptured" twenty-four
Elders. John, the writer, is describing himself as the 'Body of Christ'
being raptured to heaven to witness the message. It is a symbolic
representation of how the loyal 'Body of Christ' would be separated from the
rest of humanity during "rapture". The two proposed eras are
presented: the 'Great Tribulation'(Revelation 2:22) versus
'Tribulation'(Revelation 2:9-10 and 1st Corinthians 7:26). This seems to be
traced to Joel 2:15-16,32 and Joshua 10:11-13. It is also possible that the
"rapture" subject is connected with the "24 elders"(Ezra
6:14, Ezra 10:7, Nehemiah 8:6, Nehemiah 9:1). The twenty-four elders are the
twenty-four days of fasting and remembrance mentioned in the Book of Nehemiah.
The previous is the source of the symbolism but its meaning is that twelve
elders represent leaders over the Jewish-Christians and the other twelve elders
represent leaders over the Gentile Christians. The twenty-four elders are a
symbolic combined representation of the Christian leadership representing both
Gentile Christians and Jewish-Christians. The source itself presents the idea
that those not raptured are captured, and in a new form of captivity, not
solely by the Roman Empire but by "Satan"(Revelation 13:10 and
Revelation 1:2). Therefore, after Revelation chapter four, the term
"Tribulation" is meant in the past tense while the term "Great
Tribulation" is in the present tense. In other words, the mention of
"tribulation"(Revelation 1:9 and Revelation 2:9-10) was a separation
of two eras and initiated by the event of "rapture". In conclusion,
the "Great Tribulation"(Revelation 7:14) era was supposedly enacted,
through the mind of the writer of the Book of Revelation, after the destruction
of the Temple by the Romans in A.D. 70. One must conclude that a new date code,
or another method of recording time, was introduced as similar as the mention
of A.D.(After Death) and B.C.(Before Christ). The writer, John, was introducing
a new era which the date would be A.R.(After Rapture) and B.R.(Before Rapture) and
then concluding with the events after the Millennial reign of Christ and his
saints. In other words, an alternative metaphysical timeline out of the
material timeline. The Book of Revelation is not only a message but also the
introduction of a new timeline recording tool that would eventually be used by
all of humanity. The Questions: Only those believing in Christ would be
raptured? Those who do not believe would stay physically dead forever? These
set of questions will be evaluated later.
(3) The Parable of the
Gospel of John. Revelation chapter five is describing the existence of an
earlier document produced by the same author or writer. This document is called
the Gospel of John before it was described as such much later in the movement's
existence. The seven seals' role of holding the secrets is an allegory that the
author is conveying his authorship of another important document. The secret of
this authorship is hinted through the crucifixion of Jesus as a
"Lamb" in Revelation 5:6 as being slain. Furthermore, the
dispatchment of the "saints" to proclaim the resurrection of Jesus
into Jerusalem that Sunday morning by James in Revelation 5:9 - "sung a
new song...". The most important meaning of the symbolic parable is the
introduction of a concept deriving from an Old Testament source. The concept is
the pattern of 'the rule of double images'. Here we are introduced to the first
double within the Book of Revelation: The Books. The books are the Gospel of
John and the Book of Revelation itself. Nevertheless, the one described in
Revelation chapter five is the Gospel of John. What is the author or writer
trying to convey here in the Book of Revelation? The writer is presenting his
own importance within the movement of early Christians by composing his treatise
called the Book of Revelation. The writer succeeds by borrowing an earlier
pattern noted in the Book of Leviticus where the scapegoat ceremony has
established this pattern (Leviticus chapter sixteen). The chapter describing
this ceremony presents the fate of two goats: One for the Lord and the other
for the "scapegoat"(Leviticus 16:8). This is noticeable in Revelation
chapter thirteen when the writer introduces two beasts(Revelation 13:11). Question:
why mention and present two beasts when the message could have been addressed
by presenting one beast? (Revelation 17:11). The reason is obvious, the
writer has borrowed a concept from the Book of Leviticus copying the
"scapegoat" ceremony. In Revelation chapter five, we are introduced
to 'the rule of double images' and especially the claim of authorship of
another important document. The five doubles: (1) The two books: Revelation
chapter five - The Gospel of John, Revelation chapter ten - The Book of
Revelation. The evidence: Revelation 1:7 and The Gospel of John 19:34. (2) The two tribes - Revelation
chapter seven and chapter fourteen. (3)The two cities - Jerusalem and Rome in
Revelation chapters six and twelve. (4) The two beasts - both described in
Revelation chapter thirteen. (5) The splitting of the book into two parts:
Chapters one through ten symbolizing the ten commandments of Moses while the
remaining twelve chapters symbolizing the twelve apostles of Christ (Revelation
21:14) and therefore concluding in twenty-two chapters (10+12=22). The rule of double
images is uniquely an early Christian phenomena and especially applied solely
by the writer of Revelation. The theory is that the making and distribution of
the Gospel of John was the reason for John's imprisonment and exile.
(4) The Parable of the four
horsemen. The four horsemen were already described earlier as the symbolic
relationship between Rome and Jerusalem. Each of the breaking of the seven
seals results in the revelation of a crime committed by Rome. In other words,
each broken seal revealed the effects of the "sinful" relationship
between the two cities described - Revelation 6:1, 6:3, 6:7, 6:9, 6:12, and
Revelation 8:1. The seventh seal is connected with one of the Sabbath hours
mentioned in another chapter of this book. The "sinful" and unlawful
relationship between Jerusalem and Rome results in the destruction of the
Temple in Jerusalem implied in Revelation 6:13. The "earthquake" is a
symbolic reference to a major event as is noted in Revelation 6:12 and repeated
in describing Jesus' crucifixion in Revelation 16:18 after the term "Armageddon"
(this term is describing Jesus ' crucifixion and the evidence is presented in
another chapter of this book). The 'Divine Command' is introduced in Revelation
6:8 and it presents the creation of 'evil' actions producing 'good' (Isaiah
45:7). The theory is stating that humans are not in control of their actions
and destinies but it is in the control of an outside agent and this includes a
'command' by a "divine" being or creator. It also implies that this
removal of autonomy for beings is a command of "worship" demanded by
this supposed creator which has introduced an absurdity or a contradiction.
(5) The parable of the
twelve inner tribes. In this chapter, chapter seven of the book of
Revelation, we witness the initial expansion of the inner circle or tribe by
embracing external tribes. The transition is between Revelation 7:1-8 into
Revelation 7:9. Through Revelation chapter seven, we witness a new tribe
already detailed and discussed by Paul in Romans chapter eleven: A 'universal
tribe' which includes and "grafts" non-Jews into the fold stated in
Revelation chapter fourteen. Therefore, the "144,000" of Revelation
chapter fourteen was developed with a mathematical calculation using the
initial twelve (mentioned in chapter 7:1-8) times twelve (symbolic unknown
tribes of non-Jews and the number of apostles - Revelation 21:12 and 21:14)
then multiplied by a thousand. The "thousand" is derived from
Revelation chapter twenty (Revelation 20:3-6) where the combined 'universal
tribe' is joined by their spiritual leader - The Lamb (Jesus). John, expounds
in his own way, the doctrine mentioned by Paul in Romans chapter eleven with
symbolic imagery and a coded message: (12x12x1000) = 144,000. The mathematical description
simply is expounding the transformation of the local tribe (Jewish-Christians)
into a universal tribe(Christians) which includes gentiles.
(6) The parable of the
seventh seal. In this chapter, the destructive description concerning the
city of Jerusalem by the Romans is witnessed figuratively by the writer or
author. How do I know this? Let us go through this carefully. Revelation 8:1-2
is referenced to the fall of Jericho described in Joshua 6:6 because of the
"seven" horns is similar to the "seven" trumpets. Unlike
Jericho, the city of Jerusalem contains the said instruments of God stated in
Revelation 8:3-5. In the next verse, the Book of Joshua is revisited when in
Joshua 6:15-16 is copied summarily in Revelation 8:6. The usage of the phrase:
"the third part" which is stated through the three next verses in
Revelation 8:7-9 and this phrase defines a three part separation of an overall
presentation.
The previous three verses are indirectly copied from the
Book of Ezekiel chapter 5 - Ezekiel 5:2 and 5:12. The language is almost very
similar between both previous mentioned sources. The Ezekiel passage is a
symbolic description of the destruction of Jerusalem by the Babylonians and
noted as a "prophecy" of such past destruction. Was the seventh seal
opened or broken? The hint is noted by the next term in question. The term -
"wormwood" - was also stated by Jeremiah when he witnessed the
destruction of Jerusalem in the Book of Lamentations. In the Book of
Lamentations, Jeremiah describes the destruction of Jerusalem by the
Babylonians in detail. Jeremiah also uses the term - "wormwood" - in
Lamentations 3:15-19 to describe the destruction of the city of Jerusalem by
the Babylonians. Therefore; the usage of the term "wormwood", in
Revelation 8:11, is describing a past event and the symbolic opening of the
seal. In other words, "wormwood" is a direct reference to the
destruction of Jerusalem and the Jewish Temple by the Roman empire in A.D. 70
therefore Revelation 8:12-13 is presenting to the readers a similar connection
with the Babylonian destruction and signals the beginning of an important
cycle. This important cycle is not only the beginning of a new era but a clear
indication that the writer intended his message to be fulfilled during the era
of the Roman Empire. Therefore, the term "wormwood" is now evidence
that the Book of Revelation is a false prophecy or false prediction altogether
with other New Testament prophecies. Furthermore, it details of when John was
arrested and hints the meaning of the Gospel of John 2:18-21 (Revelation
21:22).
(7) The parable of the fifth
angel. In this chapter; the writer describes the oppression and persecution
of the body of Christ, Christians, by the Roman Empire. The writer is making
this specifically emphatic that the importance of the physical Temple and the
city of Jerusalem is not important as the bonds between Christians (Revelation
21:22). The bonds between believing Christians should be stronger because the
next attacks by the Roman Empire are both physical and spiritual. The writer
continues to present a theory; this theory is suggesting that following the
destruction of the city of Jerusalem and the Temple, by the Roman Empire, the
followers of Christ would be the next target of the Roman Empire's wrath. The
"bottomless pit" is spiritually manifested after the city's
destruction by the Roman Empire. In reality, the usage of the term is
suggesting the beginning of a test and the separation of the body of Christ
into two groups. The theory presented previously could be shown by two things:
"the seal of god" (Revelation 9:4) and "locusts"
(Revelation 9:3). The writer is presenting an immediate social prediction that
two camps of followers would be created after the chaos concerning the
destruction of Jerusalem. The reason for this theory derives from the fact that
Jerusalem was the seat or capital of the early Christian community.
Through the mind of the writer, the "locusts" are
hypocrites within the Christian community who may come out of the ranks
speaking of compromise. The mention of Revelation chapter nine is both a
warning and motivation for the Christian community to keep loyal and to
preserve their social bonds in the face of the Roman Empire's onslaught. The
"breastplate" mentioned in Revelation 9:9 is an indication presenting
that some of the "locusts" are Jewish-Christians because it
represents knowledge (Ephesians 6:14). Then out of the "locusts"
would develop a leader among them noted as a "king" or
"emperor" in Revelation 9:11. The leader of the "locusts"
(hypocrites of the Christian community during Roman times) is a repeat of the
personage of Korah mentioned in Numbers chapter sixteen and represents the Roman
emperor or Roman leadership. The writer of the Book of Revelation is indicating
that another "korah" would arise to divide the Christian community
and would result in a similar fate like "korah". Nevertheless, the
most important aspect of this chapter and verse 9:11 is that simultaneously
this particular false leader and the Roman emperor is represented as the leader
of the "locusts". This type of imagery is the adoption or borrowing
of a previous Old Testament concept of "doubles" and then eventually
a meshing of two entities.
The meshing of the two separate entities is noted in
Revelation chapter thirteen(Revelation 13:12,16:13, The verses - Numbers 16:32,
Revelation 9:2, and Revelation 19:20 seems to be a verification of the symbolic
imagery and prediction by the author). The meshing of two entities is a
symbolic reference of the scapegoat ceremony in Leviticus chapter sixteen.
However, through the verses in Revelation 9:12-20 contains two false
predictions or false prophecies: (1) The following invasion from the Persians (Arsacid
Parthian empire) during the Roman empire's era and (2) a following
"plague"; both supposedly occurring after the destruction of
Jerusalem in A.D. 70. The reason for the previous hypothesis is based on the
identification of "wormwood", located in the previous chapter
(Revelation chapter eight), and the concerns of inner divisions or
fragmentation among the nascent Christians after the destruction of Jerusalem
by the Romans. Revelation 9:12 is very clear of noticing three events: one
which already occurred and two new ones yet to happen and which never occurred
within the seventy years timeframe. The one mentioned is the destruction of
Jerusalem by the Romans in A.D. 70 and the next two are clearly false
predictions or an indication of a false prophecy (Revelation 9:12). Why
conclude and state such claims against the writer of the Book of Revelation?
The reason is because the writer repeats this pattern of writing in Revelation
17:10-12, where he describes a timeline through his other false prediction or
false prophecy concerning more leaders to come concluding in a tenth leader
(Revelation 17:12). The number of leaders after the fifth one does not conclude
in a tenth one, therefore, a prime example of a false prediction. The modern
interpretation by a specific Christian sect states that Revelation 17:12
indicates non-Roman leaders in neighboring nations. The previous could be shown
to not be the case but rather a false prediction by John. The recent example
just given refutes the claim above by the Church father - Iraneaus.
(8) The parable of
Revelation. The writer is now stating the importance of the Book of
Revelation itself. It is the last commandment or his famous last words to the
nascent Christian community. It is a symbolic reminder by using the ten
commandments of Moses as a template by noting previously the Gospel of John in
the fifth chapter and presenting the manifestation of the Book of Revelation in
the tenth chapter. Ezekiel 2:10 is used as one source of guidance. Even
Revelation 22:10 is a later echo of Revelation 10:4. There are many borrowed
passages from the previous Old Testament sources before Revelation 10:8. In
Revelation 10:8-11, the verses are borrowed from Zechariah 5:2 and Ezekiel
3:1-3. The most important aspect of this chapter is the conclusion of one part
or volume of the Book of Revelation. It is the conclusion of the first pair of
the double rule. The writer is signing off to the completion of his first
volume in Revelation chapter ten before the start of the second volume in
Revelation chapter eleven.
The chapter is describing the importance of the composition
of his treatise and that it is a "divine" command to continue. It is
a symbolic completion by referring to the tenth commandment of Moses by using
the term - "Thunder" (Revelation 10:4 and Exodus 20:18). The usage of
the term: "Thunder"- is a slight or minor use of the double rule. The
writer of the Book of Revelation has simply used the term to convey the later
introduction of "lightning" which is to suggest the continuation of
the message in the next chapter (Revelation 11:19). The writer of the Book of
Revelation has now employed nature within his coded message. In this example,
the "thunder" is after the sight of the "lightning" as it is
expressed in nature. What is the meaning of the previous symbolic figure? It
seems that the writer of the Book of Revelation is now expressing a theory
using borrowed symbols from the Old Testament. The theory is that the Body of
Christ; Christians, were a form of "prophecy" predicted even in the
previous Exodus passage (Exodus 20:18). To the writer and even to some readers
of his era and even modern times, there exist passages in the Old Testament
canon which has expressed this theory. This formation of predictable thinking
is very troubling because it creates other paradoxes and absurd theories among
modern Christian groups. The thinking of the writer and many others in the New
Testament canon could be properly describes as a metaphorical union when the relationship
of the symbolic "thunder" and "lightning" is traced back to
its textual origins. The reason and even direct evidence of such union lies in
the "grafting" comment by Paul himself in the Book of Romans (Romans
11:24) which was borrowed by observing the behavior of past Roman emperors
extending citizenship to non-Romans. Is it possible that this is an absurdity?
No; if the adoption of the acts of nature, now used as metaphorical symbols by
the writer of Revelation, are clearly defined as such. The other theory was to
highlight a philosophical struggle between the nascent Christian community and
the dominant Roman philosophies called Philosophical Hedonism or Stoicism and
Epicureanism.
The writer of the Book of Revelation, John, elaborately and
uniquely created a new way of expressing this "grafting" by employing
the nature theme stated through the wordings in the previous Book of Exodus.
The writer of the Book of Revelation has expressed in a brand new way of saying
that the Christians(Thunder) and the Jews(Lightning) are different natural
expressions of the same storm. Here, we are introduced to a new symbolic image:
New Testament or Christians as "Thunder" and Old Testament or Jews as
"Lightning". The writer is saying that a new order is now in effect
which includes gentile Christians. At times, even in nature, the
"thunder" comes in before the "lightning". The mention of
the natural phenomena is also a challenge to the Roman stoics within Roman
society who championed a form of positive materialism.
(9) The parable of the two
witnesses. The transition has begun with a reintroduction of the seven
churches and the rest of the Body of Christ. The images in which the writer
conveys to his early readers are the struggles of the two witnesses. These two
witnesses are the Jewish-Christians and the Gentile Christians (which is
further explained in another chapter of this book): the new "thunder"
and the new "lightning", respectively symbolic, to a new storm
(Revelation 11:19). While in an earlier part of the chapter; Revelation 11:9 is
a new interpretation, by the writer, to describe the spiritual resurrection of
the Body of Christ (Christian community) through Hosea 6:2-4. The previous Old
Testament passage has been in use by other fellow New Testament writers but is
also expressed in Revelation chapter eleven describing the two witnesses. In
other words, the spiritual Body of Christ will resurrect just like the previous
supposed physical body of Christ. The writer has succeeded in coding his
message but only a few Jewish-Christians would understand its true meaning. My
evidence of the previous statement is all around us today: Many Christians
still expect the fulfillment of many verses within the Book of Revelation.
Also, many have misread and misinterpreted the meaning of the parable of the two
witnesses. Many have created television shows and films based on their
misreading and misinterpretations of the parable given. Another factor must be
introduced in John's coded message, the idea that his treatise against the
Roman Empire was a three part presentation against the opposing entity. It is
known throughout history, the Roman Empire was known for its synthesis of legal
jurisprudence and political theory from other nations especially the previous
Greek nation-states. Therefore, the parable of the two witnesses is an
introduction of awareness to the readers of this particular era that it was the
beginning of a second phase of a three part presentation. The term
"witnesses" is a clear indication that John intended to present a
court case and a later verdict against the Roman Empire.
(10) The parable of
Jerusalem. The chapter is symbolic because of the number twelve. The number
twelve is symbolic to the writer and his immediate audience. The method would
have been understood especially among readers of the Jewish numerology system.
The parable is a presentation of the theocratic court system elaborated through
initial evidence, thorough deposition, the jury's opinion and the final
decision by the judge. In this parable, the judge of the proposed theocratic
court system is Jesus of Nazareth himself. Jesus of Nazareth is the judge and
new groom in this parable which continues into the end of the Book of
Revelation. Revelation 6:13 details the description of the city of Jerusalem
containing the symbolic "twelve" which is both represented as the
Jewish and Christian communities. Furthermore, the "sun" and
"moon" are both representations of the Jewish and Christian
communities. The "woman" is the city of Jerusalem being judged and
evaluated by the supreme judge. Here we are revisited to the 'Rule of Double'
image. Therefore, the usage of the "sun" and "moon" to
represent both communities is an indication of a pairing. While the next verse,
Revelation 12:2, elaborates the symbolic passing to a new community as if it is
a new day. It is an elaboration of the new community under the protection of
the Judeo-Christian deity. The Christian community is referenced implicitly
through the symbolic birth and the previous literal birth of Jesus Christ - the
Judge and King of the present deposition of the theocratic court system. The
verse - Revelation 12:2- is the thesis statement of the Book of
Revelation: The pursuit of the Roman Empire, physically and spiritually, to
eliminate the new Christian community - "And She being with child cried,
travailing in birth, and pained to be delivered". The proposed thesis
statement verse expresses all of the previous assumptions and theories into one
symbolic conflicting action: (1) The city of Jerusalem containing the
leadership of the Christian community and headquartered church. (2) The city of
Jerusalem being destroyed by the Romans expressed through the Jeremiah-like
symbolic tears(Revelation 6:13, Revelation 8:10-12, Lamentations 3:15-19) by
the writer of the Book of Revelation. (3) The church, properly predicted
through its era and context by Matthew, fleeing from the city when it was
destroyed (Matthew 24:20-21) and eventually rescued.
The next verse, Revelation 12:3 presents the villain and
guilty party of the conflict - The Roman Empire. It is a symbolic verse
presenting the real threat to the community as not as one leader but many
leaders pursuing the same victim - The city of Jerusalem. The violation is
witnessed by all according to the writer of the Book of Revelation and this
violation is adultery. The innocence of the victim is given a sentence for
fornication (Revelation 2:20). The Roman Empire is in control of the vast
majority of the known lands and territories. Therefore, it could in one swoop
of its immense power eliminate the nascent Christian community with its
military might. The symbolic image given in Revelation 12:4 is to suggest that
this power is seductive and deadly to the nascent Christian community. The
previous verse also expresses the expansive oppressive power of the Roman Empire.
The innocence of the city of Jerusalem is verified by the young eyes of the
Christian community living within its jurisdiction(The two witnesses of
Revelation chapter eleven). The next verse, presents to the readers, the leader
of the nascent Christian community as being the spiritual entity of Jesus of
Nazareth himself. Moreover, the introduction of a triumphant vision of the
future under a Christian theocratic system through the eyes of John. The vision
by John was presenting the new system to be ushered in by the triumphant King
and Judge. A theocracy with a "divine right" over its subjects and
administered, literally, by the "raptured" saints through a symbolic
"rod"(Revelation 2:27 and Revelation 19:15). It is a foreshadowed
expression by the writer presenting an eventual proposed Christian theocracy
over democracy ruled by men of the Christian faith over Roman philosophy. The
expression of conflicting ideologies and forms of government are given in three
verses: Revelation 8:13, 9:2, and 18:19. These three verses are not only
precursors to the evidence but also redirects us to the proposed flaws in a
democratic system by the writer of Revelation. A system where a majority could
be oppressive to a minority class or a minority ruling over the masses. The
previous is clearly an expression of subjective morality. In other words, it is
an opinion of whose morality is followed and valid for the proper function of
society. The previous statement is manifested in the last verse - Revelation
18:19 - where the economic system is intertwined with the political system of
the Roman Empire. The parable of Jerusalem in this chapter is presenting a court
case against: (1) The Roman Empire, (2) The political and economic system of
democracy, and (3) its contradictory nature towards the proposed Christian
theocratic system (Revelation 2:20-29) or a pure form of theonomy.
The parable of Jerusalem, this chapter in the Book of
Revelation, has revealed a proposed court program: (1) Revelation chapters one
through ten as the initial evidence to the court (2) Revelation chapters eleven
through fifteen are presenting an examination before trial or the preliminary
deposition of the court case against the Roman Empire (3) Revelation chapters
sixteen through twenty-two are presenting the verdict of the court. The verdict
is for the city of Jerusalem and against the city of Rome. In other words,
under a theocratic setting, the settlement and new marriage contract is given
by the Judge and King of the court - Messiah Jesus of Nazareth.
The group of verses stated, Revelation 12:7-17, is
presenting a totally new view of the Old Testament sources especially a
spiritual reinterpretation of the flood of Noah and the fall of the rebelling
angels. The "two wings" are a repeat of the 'Rule of Double' and it
suggests simultaneously two types of raptures occurring after the A.D. 70 event
and also the idea of adopting the Roman system of tribal expansion. The reason
why the writer of Revelation, John, honored Paul by placing the chapter of the
two witnesses as number eleven by copying the number and theme of Romans
chapter eleven. The two bodies of believers allegorically described as the two
witnesses would go through an event. The two raptures are suggested in "the
second death" in Revelation 21:8. The question is revisited concerning
what happens to the unraptured disbelievers? They are awaken after the 1,000
year reign of Jesus and his saints. Therefore, the verses located in Revelation
12:7-17 concerning the fallen angels are not two events but one event: one is
located in the deposition of the court (Revelation 12:7-17) and the other
account, which is outside of the deposition, is repeated throughout the rest of
the Bible (Biblios) and sections of the Book of Revelation itself. Revelation
12:7-17 is evidence that the parable of Jerusalem is a separation from the rest
of the whole Bible in giving a summarized account and therefore prime evidence
of a "deposition of the 'divine' court". The A.D. 70 event of the Roman
Empire's destruction of the city of Jerusalem was a purifying process of
Malachi chapter three (Revelation 21:8) and the separation of the two
tribulation eras: Tribulation and the Great Tribulation where the invisible
'mark of the beast' is applied. The previous is the intention of John's vision
and prediction for the redemption and physical liberation of the city of
Jerusalem. The next parable should answer the question of when the 'mark of the
beast' was applied and provide definite proof of a 'divine court' case against
the Roman Empire of A.D. 70.
(11) The parable of the
Beast(s). The case has now moved into the identity of the defendant. The
role of the prosecutor is the pursuit of justice and the role of the defense
representative is to establish the innocence of the defendant. In the 'divine
court' setting, the defendant is the Roman Empire, through the words of John,
describing its unjust actions towards the believers of Jesus Christ of
Nazareth. Where is the definite evidence that the Book of Revelation is divided
into a three-part-case against the Roman Empire? In the evidence phase, the
seductive spiritual power of the Roman empire is given in Revelation 9:2, 9:11,
and 9:18-21. The proof within the evidence phase is presenting the Roman control
of the material environment of society. The Roman empire is in control of the
marketplace, the center of material economic flow, and has enforced a
symbolic("spiritual", according to the writer of the Book of
Revelation) exchange involving its various 'gods'(Revelation 9:11, Revelation
2:14, and 1st Corinthians 8:4-9). This type of imagery is a repeat of an
earlier event in the Book of Daniel (Daniel 3:12). In the deposition phase, the
Roman empire is symbolized by one of its most controversial leader-Nero
(Revelation 13:18 - The evidence exposing Nero as the "beast" in
Revelation chapter thirteen is located at the first two chapters of this book – Book of Revolution). In the final
verdict phase or new contract phase, the writer of the Book of Revelation
presents the punishment decree for the city of Rome and the Roman Empire. The
evidence is stating the continuous presence of a symbolic Nero existing among
the Roman leadership which only directs the readers to the eventual conflict
against secular democracy in general. The previous theory will be shown in
greater detail in other later parables. Nevertheless, the chapter describing
the meshing of two beasts into one is a way of presenting a multiple threat to
the nascent Christian community: Political(material) and spiritual(immaterial).
Revelation 17:1-18 is presenting the identity of the guilty
party before the final decision by the Judge and King of the Book of
Revelation. The description is hinted literally by stating the number of
"hills" in Revelation 17:9 and the ruling leader of the Roman Empire
during the writing of the Book of Revelation. The descriptive evidence is
located in Chapter seventeen in Revelation 17:10. The connection between
Revelation chapter nine and Revelation chapter seventeen is Revelation 17:8 by
its use of the term - "bottomless pit". Therefore, there are three
phases presented above using the common denominator through the characteristics
of the oppressive guilty party: evidence phase, deposition phase, and the final
verdict phase. Is there another proof or a complimentary entity to the parable
of the beast(s)? Yes, the city of Jerusalem. It is also noted in three phases:
The evidence phase (Revelation 6:13 and 8:1-13), the deposition phase
(Revelation 12:1-17), and the final verdict phase (Revelation 16:1-21). Is
there a specific phrase which may express this 'court theory'? Yes, the
"third part" in Revelation 8:7-9, Revelation 9:18 and Revelation
12:4. The writer of the Book of Revelation has borrowed this term - "third
part"- from an earlier 'Temple' apocalyptic writer. The writer's name is
Ezekiel. The writer, Ezekiel, also employed this term to describe the
destruction of the Temple by the Babylonians which is an apocalyptic letter
concentrated on the existence of the Jewish Temple. The themes and symbolic
descriptions stated in Ezekiel 5:2 and Ezekiel 5:12 were borrowed by the writer
of the Book of Revelation. However, the difference between the two writers is
the usage of the term, "third part", to suggest a three part
presentation contained in a two volume set within a one book form called the
Book of Revelation. A three part case, presented successfully, against the
entity of the Roman Empire and its eventual execution "spiritually"
by the supreme judge of the Christian community.
What is the Roman Empire guilty of? The Roman Empire is
guilty of natural political expression as a political majority and state
entity. Therefore, this expression of political autonomy has been interpreted
as not only political suppression but also "spiritual" oppression or
a complete abomination by the prosecutor. The Roman Empire is innocent of one
thing through its historical trial - the application of a liberal democracy in
the form of a republic. This application is without trial and error as this is
proven throughout its history. The Roman Empire, naturally, went through a form
of legalistic "collission" between the majority and minority
throughout its existence. The evidence is presented when the Roman Empire
eventually collapsed through the power of the Christian majority years later
replacing the 'gods' of the Roman Empire completely. The evidence is also known
that the Romans, or Etruscans, believed in various gods. The collapse of the
Roman Empire was a natural phenomena just as the various changes of leadership
and philosophy within Jewish political history.
Therefore, the three-part-case is centered to the existence
of the Temple and sets the range of the date. The case is relevant to only the
time presented: A.D. 70 to A.D. 140. Therefore, each phase within the
presentation gives at least three symbolic representations of the same entity.
The limit and range of the years leaves us with one conclusion: The Book of
Revelation was intended for the readers and believers of the Book of Revelation
during those early struggling years of the Christian community. Therefore, only
one individual is referenced in Revelation 13:18 and that individual is the
Roman emperor Nero. The previous evidence is supported by the usage of the term
-"wormwood"- which is noted to describe the Temple's destruction in
A.D. 70 limiting the range of the intended fulfillment of the supposed
predictions and prophecies to its last range of A.D. 1140. It was also hinted
in Revelation 13:10 where the terms - "swords" and
"captivity" are used.
What is the true conflict or "collission theory"
between the competing communities within the material timeline? The usage of
the term - reason - is used in Revelation 8:13, 9:2, and 18:19. The term
presents an undercurrent theme between two competing ideologies which has been
repeated within the Jewish psyche and history. Moreover, the conflict between
an ongoing Jewish apocalyptic worldview versus those outside of the fold or
gentiles. Paul expresses this ideological conflict in Colossians 2:8-22 where
the "philosophy" of the world could pollute the purity of the
message. Does the writer of the Book of Revelation employ this method? The
theme throughout the Book of Revelation continues where Paul left the scene.
The term "reason" is connected with main philosophers of Socrates,
Plato and Greek philosophy in general. This type of conflict is hinted in
Revelation 9:11 where both terms "Hebrew" and "Greek" are
used. It is rational to believe that both Paul and John knew about these two
philosophers and their various books on various subjects. It is very possible
also that both John and Paul knew of the philosophical conflict between Roman
stoics and Greek skeptics who disagreed over materialism. Therefore, the
premise of the Book of Revelation was to refute any philosophy outside of the
new apocalyptic vision. The target of John's new vision was Roman law, Greek
philosophy and its combined derivatives. Roman law derives from the synthesis
of previous empires and it was the antithesis of John's apocalyptic vision.
Therefore, Roman law and its derivatives created a natural conflict which
concluded many years later, historically, through the Council of Nicea.
Nevertheless, a synthesis was developed years later and much sooner at the
start of the peaceful Pauline Christian revolution which removed
"pagan" Roman authority. The synthesis is known as such because the
Christian transformation of the Roman domain did not improve the material
“status quo” of the citizenry.
Does the arrangement of the evidence above hints of a
natural or supernatural source? The evidence above points to a natural source
using the 'Socratic Dialectic' method of questioning which in turn creates a
court like sentencing of an oppressive entity called the Roman Empire.
Therefore, it is a juristic approach to the early material struggle of the
early Christian movement. The apocalyptic juristic expression is a proposition
to a pure form of a theonomy which is now clearly refuted.
(12) The parable of the 144,000.
The writer of the Book of Revelation continues in his case against the Roman Empire
using the socratic template of literary argument. John, the writer and author
of the Book of Revelation, employed a method to state his case. The evidence
lies in the manner of Paul's delivery to Festus and Agrippa in the Book of
Acts. Paul's delivery was a defense according to the socratic dialectic method.
In the modern era, many scholars are classified as "apologetics" when
they defend their respective religions using reason and logic. The question
arises has Paul employed the words, in Koine Greek, to convey a type of
socratic defense? Yes, in the Book of Acts it states -apologeisthai -
in Acts 26:2-3, to describe his defense against charges from the Jewish priests
(Acts 25:24-27). Paul uses the term - apologia - in Philippians
1:7 properly translated in English as "defense" to describe his
loyalty to the "Gospel". There are many correlations or connections
that could be shown to present that the template of the New Testament writers
derived from the five known dialogues of Plato. The previous comparison and
proposed theory, written out in detail, would be exhaustive. Nevertheless, the
terms used by Paul in the original Koine Greek would be valid proof to suggest
the socratic dialectic method was used to defend the "Gospel" by
Paul, John and other New Testament writers. One of Plato's dialogue is titled: Apologia
- in its original Greek form. However, within the Book of Revelation,
it is observed that the writer employed the court setting by using the opposite
position used by Paul. In other words; rather than delivering an Apologia,the
writer of the Book of Revelation used the other form - Kategoria-
used by prosecutors to plea a case against a defendant. In the proposed case
above, the Roman Empire is the defendant. In the Koine Greek, John used the
term - Apokalupsis- in Revelation 1:1 but in known translated
English it is "Revelation" and in its original Koine Greek form it is
the source for the term: Apocalypse. John later uses another Koine Greek
term to suggest a court setting in Revelation 1:2 and 1:7 - marturian-
the previous term is translated as "witness or testimony" and in its
plural form in Revelation 11:3(martusin). The obvious conclusion is that
John recreated a court-like presentation to convince his readers and the general
populace to remove the Roman Empire from the scene of material history. It was
also a way of John recognizing Paul’s trial and eventual execution or martyrdom
through the hands of Nero. Therefore, it was not surprise that Nero became the
anti-thesis of the Book of Revelation.
The "144,000" mentioned in Revelation 14:1, the
main witnesses for the case against the Roman Empire, is a verse expressing the
expansion and transformation of the Jewish tribe into a universal Christian
tribe or universal community, i.e. universi.
The litigants against the Roman Empire, John and Paul, agreed in accepting
others into their pure form of a theonomy. An ideology which clearly exists in
the mind and not in the material world as was proven years later through later
Christian European leaders and the onset of the Dark Ages. The evidence for the
previous observation is based on another term employed by the author: mind
(Revelation 17:9 and 17:13). The expansion of the tribe, which are classified
as "saints", contains Jewish and Gentile believers of the new Messiah
King(Revelation 5:8,8:3,11:18,13:7,14:12,15:3,16:6,17:6,19:8 and 20:9 existing
in all three phrases of the court presentation). The idea of this expansion
derives from the Roman emperor Caesar’s and Tacitus’ observation of the outer
tribes located on the periphery of the Roman Empire. The two previous Roman
observers, at times, concentrated their observation on the behavior of the
Germanic federated tribes.
In the chapter of the parable, Revelation 14:2, tells the
reader that the usage of the phrase-"great thunder" - is to describe
the Christian community in general. The later term, in Revelation 14:12, states
"saints" and this usage tells the reader that "thunder" is
synonymous to describe the Christian community or the spiritual or allegorical
Body of Christ. This is proof of the writer's style of using symbolic allegory
deriving from the Old Testament (Exodus 20:18). The use of this type of style
of writing is understandable, despite its absurdity, knowing that there were
Roman laws against slander of political figures in poems and letters during
this era. It would also explain Paul's indirect reference of the Roman emperor
Nero in 2nd Timothy 4:17 - "I was delivered out of the mouth of the Lion".
(The previous evidence of the Roman law against slander is located in the first
two chapters of this book – Book of
Revolution). It also explains John's indirect reference of Nero, in the
evidence phase, within his treatise located in a symbolical form in Revelation
4:7. Each four symbolic figures are an indirect reference to the Roman Empire
which includes the Roman emperor. The use of the term - beast- tells the reader that each four symbols are in the negative
towards the Christian congregation: "lion"= Nero, "calf" =
marketplace with Roman idols, "face as a man" = coins or economic
system and a foreshadow(and fear) of the invisible or spiritual imposition of a
mark of the beast(Revelation 13:17), and "flying eagle" = the might of
the Roman empire in contrast to the non-violent movement headquartered in
Jerusalem(Revelation 12:14, which is a possible foreshadow of the eventual
removal or hope to remove the Roman empire from the scene of material history).
The hope of the writer is fiercely expressed and trying to
motivate the oppressed and suppressed Christian minority in the midst of the
majority. The previous is known through a phrase - "many waters" in
Revelation 14:2. The specific time in which the writer predicted this hope for
deliverance and triumph against the Roman Empire could be discovered through
the Koine Greek form of his natural treatise. This is noted in the Koine Greek
in Revelation 1:3 - "...ho gar KAIROS EGGUS". This means
"ERA NEAR" and it is a clear evidence of the intent of the writer
hoping that his ideas would materialize seventy years after the Temple's
destruction in A.D. 70 to A.D. 140. This is clear evidence of a false
prediction and therefore a false prophecy. The other clear evidence even noted
in the English translation is Revelation 1:1 where it states: "...shortly
come to pass." Nevertheless, the "144,000" has seen their
victory generations afterward against the Roman Empire and this event was never
predicted but rather a natural outcome of events. The other evidence in which
the "144,000" did not witness the destruction of the Roman empire is
located in Koine Greek in Revelation 1:7 - "...OPSETAI.."
which means "Shall be seeing", literally. Also, the previous verse is
connected with the Gospel of John 19:34 and Zechariah 12:10. The previous
connections and the false prediction by John, within and starting with the Book
of Revelation, means all three sources are in doubt of being sources of divine
command.
The authenticity of the Book of Revelation as being divinely
inspired has been refuted. Even through this refutation, the reader discovers
the natural talent of the writer to create a formidable non-violent revolution.
The genius of the natural writer, John, is shown and presented through the
symbolic use of another object in nature. The object and term is
"waters" located in the parable of the "144,000" in
Revelation 14:7. The "144,000" was calculated and explained earlier
in the 'parable of the twelve inner tribes' as (12x12x1000) = 144,000. It was
done intentionally to show the purity of the message, the unity of the current
tribe with the new members, and loyalty to the leadership in Jerusalem.
Nevertheless,' the parable of the 144,000' is an explanation showing the
expansion of the “spiritual” conflict in its peaceful form. Nevertheless, never
noticed by the writer of the Book of Revelation is the material conflict which
resulted in an ineffective synthesis of the competing ideas. The expansion of
conflict is seemingly clear with the identification of the meaning of the symbolic
"waters". Here, the reader discovers the pure talent of the natural
writer. The discovery is the clash of two civilizations: the Roman Empire and
the emergence of the Christian community. The previous stated two entities,
containing competing cultures, which ended naturally in a synthesis of both
ideologies but one prevailing vision: A Christian Roman theonomy. The verse
which gives the clear differentiation between the two and its symbolic conflict
is located in Revelation 17:15. While Revelation 11:6, where "the two
witnesses" are used, presents the two options of "waters" and
"blood". The previous symbol is expressing the Roman populace
embracing all aspects of Roman culture and the former expressing the Body of
Christ or the Christian community. Revelation 11:6 also provides the goal of
the writer as a non-violent struggle to peacefully convert the Roman populace
to the Christian message. Furthermore, to present further convincing evidence
concerning the symbolic use of the term -"waters" - meant another
political body of people. The term "sea" is also used frequently. It
was first employed by an earlier natural writer of predictions – Daniel (Daniel
7:2-3) - which also used the term to signify an opposing political body. In
another treatise of importance, the Book of Isaiah, the reader would witness
the origin of connecting the "sea" with the dragon or beast(s) of
Revelation(Revelation 7:1-2,10:2,12:12,13:1,14:7,20:8 and Isaiah 27:1).
In the verdict phase, Revelation 19:6 and Revelation 19:13
the reader would witness the clash of the two sides and to eventually end in
the victory of the "blood"- nascent and emergent Christianity.
Revelation 1:15 identifies the Roman populace using some symbolism borrowed
from the Book of Daniel. Revelation 7:17 and 8:18 are connected but represents
the military might of Rome when it mentions "fountain" because of the
"wormwood" connection in the next verse. While Revelation 14:7
explains the connection with the "144,000" to confront peacefully the
Roman military might. In the final verdict phase, the reader would witness the
power of God over the Roman military might(Revelation 16:4) which is a copy of
the previous non-violent victory over the Babylonians through the hands of the
Persians which ended the seventy year captivity(Ephesian 4:8, The Gospel of
Luke 21:24, Zechariah 6:10, Jeremiah 29:10, Jeremiah 29:28, Jeremiah 25:11-12,
Jeremiah 15:2, Isaiah 23:15, and Daniel 9:2). Even though, the previous sources
are considered "divine" sources they are actually natural observations
after the fact or even during the events. However, according to the writer of
the Book of Revelation this meant that something was to occur seventy years
after the Temple's destruction. The parable of the 144,000 was describing the
actual struggle of the believing Christian participants against the Roman Empire
headed by Nero and its spirit of Nero. Nevertheless, the struggle differs with
the previous rebuilding of the Temple after the Babylonian captivity era
(Revelation 21:22).
(13) The parable of the
seven plagues. The last segment of the deposition phase, presents evidence
that the writer intended for his message to be fulfilled literally during the
span of seventy years - A.D.70 to A.D.140 - where the plagues were intended to
be manifested literally. Why adopt such an opinion? Why not suggest that the
phrase "seven plagues" was rather symbolic rather than literal. The
writer, John, is more successful as a natural writer than a supernatural one
because of the usage of the previous phrase. The term “seven” does express a
symbolic usage of the term but there is evidence that the writer believed in a
literal supernatural intervention in the timeline. Revelation 15:1(Revelation
11:6) is a repeated theme existing in the previous destruction of the Temple by
the Babylonians and from an earlier era. The expression existing in the verse
was not intended by the writer to be as symbolic as the "seventh
seal" in Revelation chapter eight. Revelation 15:1-3 is connected and
makes reference to two whole chapters in Exodus (Exodus chapters ten and
eleven). While, Exodus 11:1 states the term "plague", it was
expounded by the writer of the Book of Revelation in its plural form to include
a repeat of events which occurred during the era of Moses struggling with the
ruling pharaoh of Egypt. It is possible that these terms were employed to
demoralize the Roman government, in contrast, to uplift the morale of the
Christian community and movement. The previous evidence is included in the
combination of possible manifestations which never occurred: (a) the return of
Persian control of Jerusalem to remove Roman hegemony (Revelation 9:12-20). The
"seven plagues" was one of the failed predictions of the writer of
the Book of Revelation because it was a repeated failed prediction from
Revelation 9:12 and then emphasized in Revelation 9:20. The time the
Babylonians invaded, 587 B.C., famine occurred within the city of Jerusalem
because of the 18 months siege. The previous example is why the writer, John,
employed the term "plagues" to predict it will occur among the Romans
in the same manner it occurred under the Babylonians. The manifestation and the
prediction of the "seven plagues" never materialized and it is
another example of a false prophecy.
The mention of "moses" in Revelation 15:3 gives
the impression to readers during the time of A.D.70 that a new order was to be
developed when the Romans were driven off the land by the pursuing Persians. It
was simply a hopeful and flawed natural prediction using past historical
events. The previous observation is noted through two verses: Revelation
15:7-8. Here we know one of the four beasts of Revelation 4:7 surrenders the
city of Jerusalem to the Persians. The Persians then are to surrender the land
to the "Lamb" - Christian movement (Revelation 15:3, Revelation 15:8
and Revelation 21:22). The Persians during the era of Nero were the Arsacid
Parthian Empire.
The theory is valid to present the idea that the Book of
Revelation was a natural prediction which failed in some areas.
It presents a new event into the timeline which differs from the past
historical destruction by the Babylonians. The Persian return, and response to
the destruction of the Temple by the Romans, means that the Romans are viewed
as "Babylonians"(1st Peter 5:13). The "seven plagues" occur
after the Temple's destruction by the Romans and the vision proposed by the
writer is to suggest that Rome would have went through a 'divine punishment'
from God which included unknown plagues immediately after the destruction of
the Temple (Isaiah 51:19). The result was rather a natural expiration of the
Roman Empire than a supernatural intervention (Revelation 16:19-21).
This particular chapter also validates an interjection by the writer to express the Hebrew alphabet through having twenty-two chapters within his book. It seems quite possible that this chapter could have been omitted or merged into another chapter. The Hebrew Alef Beis, or Hebrew alphabet, was employed by the writer to create the mirage of a supernaturally composed text to be addressed to another segment of the audience - The Jewish people. It is proven without a doubt that this particular chapter was not necessary and could have been omitted but the author wanted to add another theme and therefore creating another chapter.
This particular chapter also validates an interjection by the writer to express the Hebrew alphabet through having twenty-two chapters within his book. It seems quite possible that this chapter could have been omitted or merged into another chapter. The Hebrew Alef Beis, or Hebrew alphabet, was employed by the writer to create the mirage of a supernaturally composed text to be addressed to another segment of the audience - The Jewish people. It is proven without a doubt that this particular chapter was not necessary and could have been omitted but the author wanted to add another theme and therefore creating another chapter.
(14) The marks of Armageddon.
Even though, the theme continues, the beginning of the third part of the court
case is presented: The final verdict phase. The "spiritual" conflict
is heightened towards a definite conclusion. The definition of the term -
"earth" - The opening verse to the sixteenth chapter contains this
term which could be misinterpreted in its modern usage. The answer to this
dilemma is very rational. If the reader returns to the origin of the allegory
in Exodus 10:15 the term is illuminated (Hebrews 10:32). The range of the term
used is limited to the near geographic regions because of its intended
application. "The Earth" is Jerusalem (Revelation 11:18 and 12:16)
and Rome which was used to describe ancient Egypt (Exodus 10:15). The
application of this term to describe ancient Egypt was previously used to describe
the city and the lands of ancient Judea (Isaiah 14:7, 24:1, 24:3-6, 24:12, and
65:17). There are parts of the Book of Isaiah in which the term was used
exactly to its true meaning. Nevertheless, the usage of the term in this
chapter is a symbolic reference to the city of Jerusalem and the Roman Empire.
In the next verse, Revelation 16:2, the evidence is given that the term
"earth" includes the Roman empire because of the mention of "the
mark of the beast". The worshippers of the image includes those
participants of the marketplace (Revelation 2:14) and this expands the range of
the meaning of "earth" in the context of the chapter. The next verse,
Revelation 16:3, introduces a prelude to an ideological battle. This battle is
rather symbolic and is designated as "Armageddon". The subject of
Armageddon, Revelation 16:16, was already explained thoroughly in another
chapter of this book - Book of Revolution.
The intention of this parable is to express its peripheral variables into the
equation. Armageddon, an amalgamated term, includes a meaning of the conflict
between two sides expressing opposing cosmological views. The opposing views is
a material conflict about the consumption of foods in the marketplace
(Revelation 2:14 and 4:7) and an immaterial conflict of the mind (Revelation
3:5, 8:13, 12:13, 16:13, and 17:9-13) or rather philosophies. The conflict
between the followers of Epicurus and Jesus of Nazareth is hinted carefully in
Revelation 16:10-11. The leader of the Roman Epicurean movement during this
time went by the name of Lucretius who wrote - On the Nature of Things - which explains and introduced an
existential materialist view of Life and Death. It was the Roman manner that
many individuals embraced into the Roman citizenry, who possess high labor
value and over the working class, usually joined the Epicurean movement. The
previous observation is clearly reasons for the implied mention of this movement
by John within the Book of Revelation. While the inclusion of a third political
entity, the Persian empire during the Roman era, hinted in Revelation
16:19(Revelation 9:12-20) and which failed to materialize(Revelation 16:19-21).
Therefore, the marks of Armageddon are the marks of God and the marks of the
beast(s). These marks are immaterial and therefore invisible to the eye.
According to the writer of the Book of Revelation, the mark of the beast is
initiated through buying and selling at the Roman-controlled marketplace under
pagan statues (Revelation 13:15-18). The previous is a past cultural conflict
repeated in Jewish history (Daniel chapter three and Romans 11:4). Furthermore,
it includes the philosophical conflict between John's Millennialism and Roman
Epicureanism.
(15) The synthesis of the
pair of sevens. The parable in this chapter describes one of the two
variables which will eventually join together to form a new union under the
leadership of the Christian church or congregation (Revelation 21:1). The
reason is because the term "sea" signifies a non-Jewish political
entity. Revelation 21:1 describes the victory of the Christian community over
the Roman Empire. Even though, this is a true statement through the writings of
John, it is not a true prediction which was fulfilled under the seventy years
cycle. The intention of the writer was to present a force of antithesis against
the proposed thesis. Furthermore, the chapter presented is showing the Roman
force to be ruinous to the Christian community. The theme in the first verse is
presenting an attack on Hellenism and its output of philosophical hedonism. The
conquest of the region by Rome in 40 B.C. enforced Hellenism through its new
philosophy. The dangerous encroachment of the philosophy threatened the
religious fabric of the Jewish community and then the nascent Christian
community through compromise. The pair of sevens: the "seven hills"(Revelation
17:9) is the Roman Empire and the "seven churches"(Revelation 1:4).
The opposition theory is given and explained in Revelation 17:15 because of the
term - "waters". The failed prediction which failed to materialize
within the seventy years span is expressed in Revelation 21:1-2. The reason for
this failed prediction is clearly a timing of the supposed event and its
failure to materialize in the duration given through the mention of
"wormwood"(Revelation 8:11). The failed synthesis (Revelation
21:1-2), which is supposedly a complete victory for one side of the equation,
never materialized. In fact, what did occur was a political compromise but a
complete route for philosophical Hedonism (Stoicism and Epicureanism). However,
its philosophical outcome, through social evolution- utilitarianism - survives
today in all political forms.
Let us review some facts, the seven hills or mountains
mention in Revelation 17:9 are – (1) The Palatine, (2) Capitoline, (3) Caelian,
(4) Esquiline, (5) Aventine, (6) Viminal, (7) Quirinal (Source: footnote of
page 12, Caesar and Christ by Will
Durant). The leaders mentioned in Revelation 17:10 are – (1) Octavian, (2)
Augustus, (3) Tiberius, (4) Gaius / Caligula, (5) Claudius, to the present
ruler identified as Nero – the symbolic sixth ruler. The next verse, Revelation
17:11, is predicting the return of the fallen Nero because it was well rumored
that he had escaped to the Persian empire, the very political entity in which
Nero had several treaties. The next verse, Revelation 17:12, is the beginning
of a new era starting with Nero and continues with ten more Roman emperors all
containing the spirit of Nero. The reader, of the Book of Revelation during the
era of the early Christians, expected several events to take place before the
return of Jesus of Nazareth. There are two ways of counting knowing the chaos
which took place after the demise of Nero. Both will be proven to lead to a
false prediction and therefore a false prophecy by the writer of the Book of
Revelation. Theory #A: 1) Galba, 2) Otho, 3) Vitellius, 4) Vespasian, 5) Titus,
6) Domitian, 7) Nerva, 8) Trajan, 9) Hadrian, 10) Antoninus Pius. Theory #B:
Include all the leaders starting from Vespasian to Antoninus Pius then include
Marcus Aurelius then add two more –Commodus son of Marcus Aurelius and
Septimius Severus. The date of Septimus Severus rule would be between A.D. 193
to A.D. 211. Well, nothing occurred at A.D. 140 (The expiration of the seventy
years cycle) and at A.D. 211. The only events which occurred were purges within
the Christian community during those times to purge out the “Gnostic” believers.
The intellectual purge was simply to get rid of the evidence of a false
prediction and false prophecy because the “Gnostics” properly spiritualized the
meanings of the predictions within the New Testament canons. Therefore, in
reality, the verse of Revelation 17:9, described an ideological conflict
between philosophies. This is an allegorical meaning of a continuous
“spiritual” conflict between these two competing philosophies ending with the
supposed return of Jesus of Nazareth (Revelation 17:14-15) which never
materialized.
The failed prediction, by the writer of the Book of
Revelation, does not invalidate the book itself but rather presents a natural
political manifesto against the cultural forces of the Roman Empire. The Roman
entity will be presented as becoming corrupt during its late stage called: The Pax Romana era (B.C. 30 to A.D. 180).
The previous is a confirmation of natural causes rather than John's
supernatural suppositions. Furthermore, the writer and author of the Book of
Revelation tried to merge the Book of Daniel's ten horns (Daniel 7:7 and 7:24)
with his treatise. The "ten horns" were already borrowed and then
described, by John, as the Roman laws based on the twelve tablets and the TEN
lawgivers. John must have seen this and thought that the "ten horns",
initially located in the Book of Daniel, is no coincidence or thought it was a
confirmation of a supernatural cause and later composed a treatise describing
it as "divine inspiration". In fact, the previous proposed
observation is based on textual evidence of borrowing because of the terms John
used to convey his message. Many of the Roman Stoics would have stated that
John is going through an Acatalepsy, a term used by Greek
Skeptics to identify their philosophy. In other words, it is a way of saying it
is based on the imagination and not on empirical data. Rene Descartes later in
history would defend "Acatalepsy" in his own way by stating
‘knowledge’ is based on the mind and not on material observation because our
observation could be misleading based through the workings of an invisible
"demon"!? However, John may have been relying on past historical
events which truly happened. Therefore, it is quite possible that John
interpreted textual coincidence (and actual events) with "divine"
inspiration. John; the writer, was motivated to compose such a document
knowingly misinterpreted such a possible event, as the eventual destruction of
the Jewish Temple, and tied it with a supernatural repeat of history. John then
utilized Jewish history from previous books to present a case against the Roman
Empire. Furthermore, the false prediction occurred when the numerical sequence
expired (Revelation 17:2-18). The timely false prediction created a class of
misguided Christian scholars which created the likes of St. Augustine of Hippo
who later envisioned, falsely, another numerical error. Millennialism was made
out of the confusion of many natural events, producing in effect, the false
opinion of St. Augustine of Hippo who then thought John’s "ten kings"(deriving
from the Book of Daniel 7:20,24)) were during the era he lived in.
The result of the failed prediction and numerical
miscalculation still produced a synthesis based on material benefit years
later. The fall of Rome occurred because of natural outcomes and not based on
John's apocalyptic vision. The evidence is the failed seventy years cycle which
was overlooked by such great philosophical giants of Christian academia - St.
Augustine of Hippo. The fall of the Roman Empire was based on the misdirection
of material flow within Roman society. The fall of this entity is noted as the
continuous use of slave labor(cheap labor) and rent of some of the lands to the
German federate tribes. This type of renting allowed years later for the
eventual fall of Rome to the Gothic tribes. Of course, John has noted the use
slave labor(Revelation 13:16,18:13 and 19:18) but never predicted it was one of
the factors for the Fall of the Roman empire. Furthermore, John neither
predicted nor properly identified the "evil" of diminished or reduced
valued labor, the engine of scientific ingenuity. In the Roman Empire, the rise
of cheap slave labor force into The
Pax Romana era of the entity's existence, contributed later to its
demise. The results of the increase of this cheap labor created high
unemployment among the roman citizenry which resulted in riots, political
instability, and even corruption. In other words, John never predicted the
removal of slave labor from modern material economics in the Roman sphere of
influence rather he incorporated it in his future vision. Nor has he predicted
the apparent outcomes or results of "slave labor"(cheap labor): unemployment.
The unemployment of valued labor, the causes of riots and political
instability, created a window of opportunity for the writer of the Book of
Revelation. However, John has failed to connect the dots to the material causes
of the riots and political instability presenting a false prediction.
Furthermore, he only expressed the alternative philosophical vision to replace
psychological hedonism which means that his treatise is a natural manifestation
rather than a supernatural one. John also omitted the "sin" of usury
in his manifesto (Ezekiel chapter eighteen), the very "sin" which
factored into the destruction of the previous Temple by the Babylonians.
Therefore the result of John's apocalyptic Millennialistic vision: the removal
of a mental idol and replaced with another in its place. Nevertheless, the
problem of political corruption is universal.
(16) The spectre of Babylon.
The transference of the material reality from the immaterial ideal did not
occur. The writer of the Book of Revelation presents the outcome of his
treatise: The natural to the supernatural to the absurdity. The collapse of the
Roman Empire and introduction of the Christian empire decreased scientific
ingenuity. The reason for this collapse was the continuation of the material 'status
quo' flow of the Roman Empire under classical conservative form of government.
In other words, the political imposition of one individual rule over the
populace contributed to the poor material flow or circulation of wealth. The
Book of Revelation, and other books within the New Testament, would never
address the problem of poor material flow which has contributed to the downfall
of the Roman Empire. Hence, the reason of why the New Testament
"prophecies" or predictions failed to present the true origin of political
corruption within the Roman empire and without. The subject of the parable
directs the reader to an old problem which originates and predates the
Babylonian entity. The problem, according to the writer, was the symptom -
Political corruption. The problem, based on empirical data, is the increase of
slave labor over the volume of valued labor over time within the political
entity. The problem of slave labor is the value of its cheapness that would
favor the corporate entity while decreasing the other sources of tax revenue
for the state entity (Revelation 18:15) . The writer of the Book of Revelation
attempted to address the problem through the usage of symbolic metaphors which
expressed only one variable or outcome of the poor flow of materials within society-Political
corruption. Does this mean the writer has received a "divine command”?
This will be proven to actually be a natural observation by the writer himself.
The evidence of the previous presupposition derives from the
behavior and conditions of the Roman leadership during the time of Christian
persecution. The policies adopted by the previous leaders before Nero,
introduced policies which weakened the state of Rome. For instance, through
invading other lands which is land expansion, slave labor supply increased
which resulted in high unemployment among the Roman citizenry. Furthermore, the
rise of slave labor created unemployment among the Roman citizenry which
created political instability. In other words, the theory and proposition
presented is that the expansion of the Roman political entity through wars was
followed by an increase of slave labor. Therefore, the problem was never 'wars
to expand' but rather 'the imposition of slave labor' which increased
unemployment among the Roman citizenry. Example; the increase of slave labor,
which is also cheap labor, also increased the unemployment rate among the Roman
citizenry. The increase of unemployment, among the citizenry, created riots
periodically and these riots were then complimented with the persecution of
minorities. Two disastrous results occurred: 1) The persecution of Christians
increased, 2) The level of scientific ingenuity decreased. The reason of why
there existed two forces within the Roman government: Force #1 - the increase
of the Roman state through wars, land expansion and the imposition of slave
labor. Force #2 - the increase of the Roman citizenry creating also regular
employment which reduced riots and increased scientific ingenuity.
Therefore, the writer of the Book of Revelation expressed
his discontent by composing a book filled with metaphorical symbolism and a
court case against the Roman Empire. The treatise is proven not to be from a
'divine source' because there is no evidence that the treatise addressed the
source of the problem and also many other factors were left out by the writer.
The treatise was a hope and encouragement to the persecuted minority,.i.e.
Christian community. The treatise was also an attempt to get gentile Roman
citizens to help the persecuted Christians. Furthermore, it was also an address
to the violent Jewish revolutionaries fighting the Roman army. However, the
treatise was filled with false predictions along with borrowed themes from
previous books and secular sources of the era.
The answer is given of what is the true meaning of the
mention of "Babylon"? The answer, by the writer, is to suggest Roman
political corruption. The corruption is interpreted by the writer to be derived
from a supernatural source rather than concluding it from a natural source. The
omission is not intentional but rather through ignorance which then exposes the
writer to be composing a natural treatise with natural errors or mistakes. Was
John using symbolic images to convey natural outcomes concerning the growth of
the Roman Empire? Yes, the usage of "plagues" could be several
manifestations which includes riots (Revelation 18:3-10). The mention of
"slaves" is both a natural observation and an error (Revelation
18:13). It is a natural observation because it is a fact through the behavior
of the Roman political policy to impose slavery on conquered tribes but the
writer does not suggest that it is the cause of the "riots" or
"plagues" because it results in unemployment for the Roman citizenry.
Therefore; the verse mentioned, Revelation 6:15-16, is an error by the writer
because of the mention of "slaves".
The above is summarized by one verse located in the previous
chapter - Revelation 17:5 - "and upon her forehead was a name
written, MYSTERY, BABYLON the great, the mother of harlots and abominations
of the Earth".
The "mystery" is not the political entity itself
but the lack of circulation of the wealth within it and its consequences of
internal rebellions. An earlier example was the Pisonian revolt and conspiracy
against Nero. Why has this been proposed? The reason is because the pattern of
conquest always lead to slave labor which only strengthens a few corporate
entities within a tribal empire(Revelation 18:15). The consequences are
tremendous for the political entity and other variables associated with the
state entity. The increase of unemployment among the citizenry caused the
increase of state instability. The hypothesis is presented:
A) The lack of material interactions, concentrated into a
few corporate entities within a tribal state, caused the collapse of the Roman
Empire? In other words, the rise of unemployment caused riots and consequently
political corruption over several years?
-or-
B) Increased political corruption caused unemployment
through political mismanagement?
The reason for the lack of material circulation is the
imposition of slave-labor through tribal-state expansion which created the
corruption within the state. In other words, the invasion and possession of
other lands through the consequent imposition of slavery or slave-labor created
a systematic problem. The previous observation is known to describe the
political turbulent years of the Roman Empire. The same would characterize the
Babylonian entity which invaded Jerusalem in B.C. 587.
The understanding is now made concerning the 'divine
inspiration' of John and the treatise was expressing a natural phenomenon with
symbolic overtones. The other observation is the role of the imposition of
slavery compared to the imposition of citizenship. These two opposing
viewpoints were at odds within the Roman government before the time of the
writer and after the treatise. The writer of the Book of Revelation and Paul
both expressed the imposition of citizenship to the non-Jews or gentiles(Romans
chapter eleven and Revelation chapters seven and fourteen) and this adoption of
an opinion may have strengthen the case for the acceptance of Christianity
among the Roman populace.
'The
Roman Material Theory' is presented and it is a statement declaring the fall of Iron age
empires was a natural occurrence through state imposition of slave-labor which
decreased the overall wages of the citizenry while strengthening a few 'Iron
Age' corporations. The writer of the Book of Revelation was aware of the
influence of a powerful few corporate entities or "merchants"
(Revelation 18:15) but never concluded a material outcome in the timeline. The
writer of the Book of Revelation actually predicted, falsely, a supernatural
outcome of events within the timeline.
Revelation 18:21 is prime example of a false prediction. The
verse is a borrowed theme from the Book of Jeremiah suggesting a supernatural intervention
against the Roman Empire. The natural disaster of the volcanic eruption of
Vesuvius around Pompeii in A.D.79 occurred nine years after the destruction of
the Jewish Temple in Jerusalem. This coincidence would probably fit the verse -
Revelation 18:21? The problem with this connection is the fire of Rome during
Nero's time and the fire of Rome during Titus' reign in A.D.80.The next
evidence is the stability of the Roman Empire which occurred years later under
five Roman emperors. These Roman emperors are known as "The Five Good
Emperors": Nerva, Trajan, Hadrian, Antoninus Pius, and Marcus Aurelius.
The rule of these five emperors was a temporary halt to the usual imposition of
the classical conservative model (one individual rule) and the application of
the classical liberal model of multiple state representation. In other words,
the democratization of material flow would create state stability. Therefore,
Revelation 18:21(Jeremiah 51:63-64) has already happened if the verse is to be
believed literally or it never occurred yet? The proposition is given: the
verse previously mentioned is an allegorical expression of the
"divine" punishment against the Roman empire. If the previous verse
has not been fulfilled then what is the meaning of
"wormwood"(Revelation 8:10-11) or the seventy years span within the
Book of Revelation? It would only conclude in a false prediction. The natural
coincidence which occurred at least three times is not evidence of a
supernatural intervention.
The mention of usury is stated by the author. The indirect
reference is made concerning the "sin" of usury. Revelation 18:6
seems to be referring implicitly to Ezekiel 18:8-13 and Nehemiah 5:7 but not an explicit
statement. Even if the admittance is made concerning usury, the problem is not
usury but rather greed. By the way, usury is part of the mechanism for the
circulation of wealth and therefore the greed of the few destroys the
circulation of wealth. Revelation 18:3 is identifying the guilty actors of this
greed which has captured and hijacked the Roman government. The term -
"merchant" - represents the corporate class or the corporate entity.
The usage of the term; by John, is to point out that only a few
"merchants" are powerful, influential, and part of the Roman
government. In other words, the existence of the "merchants" is not
the problem (Revelation 18:15) it is rather a few which has adopted the
behavior to hoard wealth through mismanaging the circulation of materials.
The subject of usury is very important to the author as it
is written, Revelation 18:6, but the issue is convoluted through the behavior
of the Christian community during the rule of Constantine in A.D. 312 and the
rulings of the council of Nicea in A.D. 325. The reason for the success of the
Barbarian invasion into Rome in A.D. 410, by Alaric, was the ongoing
application of the true corruption - slave labor and one individual rule of
government - the very factors which lead to the previous fall of the secular
Roman Empire. The issue of usury was a non-factor and does nothing to the
health of a nation during both rulingships of the Roman Empire and the Roman
Christian Empire. The issue never involved usury, the problem was the
continuous imposition of slave labor and form of government borrowed from the
previous Roman authority. The cause is the slave labor and the effect is the
form of government (classical conservative model or one individual ruling the
state) which leads to corruption at the state level and corporate level. The
evidence will be presented but the issue of St. Augustine of Hippo's critique
concerning the causes of the fall of the Roman Christian government - City
of God - was a treatise not addressing the cause. If the reader glances
over St. Augustine of Hippo's treatise on the matter, the reader will notice he
never mentions state financial issues but rather explains a conflict of
philosophical ideas. The issue is clear, St. Augustine of Hippo, is not an
economist but has contributed to the furtherance of the ignorant trend of
religious philosophical clashes which created the first champion of
Millennialism. The evidence showing that usury was never an issue even during
the theocratic rule of the Roman Christian government is stated in a historical
book:
"These monetary changes produced coins suitable for the
larger economic transactions that characterized thirteenth-century Europe....A
crusader, for instance, might buy a letter of credit which he could cash in a
Syrian port; a pope could send funds to his legate in Dublin; a king could pay
by draft for crown jewels to be brought in Constantinople. And despite the
prohibitions of ecclesiastical law, the Lombards did a flourishing business in
moneylending. The Church, by citing various texts from the Bible, had
forbidden the taking of usury. To read certain authors, one would
suppose that such prohibition tended to paralyze all credit operations in the
Middle Ages. But it is an instructive fact that, even in the days of Innocent
III, the utmost pressure of ecclesiastical authority could not even prevent
ordinary buying and selling on Sunday. And in connection with the lending of
money the church itself taught Christians how to circumvent the canon law"
(Source: Mediaeval history: Europe from the Second to the Sixteenth Century,4th
ed.,pg. 529, Carl Stephenson).
Question: Has the subject of
usury proven to be a fallacy in both the Old Testament and New Testament
canons?
Answer:
Yes, rather, it has exposed three canons: Jewish, Christian and Islamic canons.
The reason for this flaw is promotion and imposition of slave labor or cheap
labor over the years which suppressed wages and discouraged scientific inquiry.
In other words, the problem was partly identified but not fully comprehended by
the author of the Book of Revelation. Therefore, exposing the Book of
Revelation to be a natural manifesto against the Roman Empire's persecution of
Christians during the era of the writer. The Dark Ages of Europe under the
concentration of a theonomy which suppressed scientific creativity and
ingenuity. The members of the modern Christian community are no longer
following this specific 'divine command' - no usury - which in itself proves
that the creator of John does not exist. The primary reason is because usury is
proven to be a non-factor in the modern operation of the global economy. In
both eras, during the Roman Empire and the Christian Roman Empire, the subject
and the imposition of usury never changed the orientation of the state entity.
However, the imposition of slave labor which created cheap labor caused
unemployment among the citizenry, riots and eventually state instability.
Furthermore; during the rule of the secular Roman emperors, scientific
ingenuity was bound by a single indirect problem of low wages then doubly
compounded with a "divine command" of the forbidence of usury,
through a Christian theonomy, which created the problem of direct suppression
of scientific ingenuity.
Another contradiction is the
initiation of the Crusades which contradicts the order located in Matthew 10:34
which present Jesus or God as the sword. Nevertheless, the writer of the Book
of Revelation has presented a borrowed theme and a powerful image. John’s image
is presenting a metaphorical Judge delivering his final verdict and punishment
on the guilty party in the 'divine' court room. John’s proposed image is an
honorific vision towards his fallen comrade – Paul – who was put in a court
room and eventually martyred, years later, by the orders of Nero.
(17) The Wedding supper of the Lamb. The start and
forward theme is given by the author of the Book of Revelation, John, is
describing the eventual victory of the Christian community over the Roman Empire.
The eventual triumph was the conversion of the Emperor Constantine to
Christianity in A.D. 312 and the promulgation of the Christian creed by the
Nicea Council in AD.325. The triumph was a natural manifestation rather than a
divine one which took almost two hundred years after the predicted date,
A.D.140, given by John in the Book of Revelation. The evidence above stating
the usury regulation is an example of Moral sublimation (which is discussed in
Chapter 29 of this book - Book of Revolution). Moral sublimation is the
gradual disappearance of a moral code, through social historical evolution,
into an irrelevant feature of humanity.
The predictions by John are natural hopes and goals of the
early Christian community which has manifested itself way after its predicted
date. The title above, for this parable, is derived from Revelation 19:7-9
where the symbolism is given presenting the union of the region of Jerusalem
with the community of believers. The main evidence showing Jesus of Nazareth's
physical return is Revelation 19:11 and it corresponds with two other verses:
Revelation 1:7 and the Gospel of John 19:34. The previous is proof that the
return of Jesus of Nazareth - the Messiah of the Christian community - is
false. There is no physical literal return of Jesus of Nazareth as the previous
historical evidence has proven. The historical evidence has also, without a
doubt, proven the contradictions or false predictions by John. The Gospel of
John's evidence is also proof that the terms: "water" and
"blood" are symbolic descriptions of non-believers and believers
rather than literal descriptions. The evidence was detailed an earlier parable
concerning the verse within the chapter, Revelation 19:13, which shows this
allegorical description for "blood".
The doctrine and belief of Christianity flourished naturally
because of the early Christians ability to adopt some of the concepts from the
Roman Empire. Paul, John, and other New Testament writers adapted to their
social conditions by promoting one important principle abandoned by the Roman
emperors: the principle of expanding citizenship to their fellow human beings.
The weakness of Rome was not based on warfare but rather a non-violent element
among the Roman compound - the expansion of citizenship. The principle was
immediately adopted by Paul, John and other early Christian leaders. The
adoption of such a principle was a brilliant move by the Christian leadership
because it was appealing to some Gentile plebeians who were not yet citizens of
the Roman state. Therefore, Paul's Romans chapter eleven and John's chapters
seven and fourteen in the Book of Revelation are natural calculations which
have preserved the existence of the Christian community. A comparison could be
made to the genius of individuals previously mentioned to the founders of the
Russian communist movement who have also sacrificed their lives for a material
cause. Even though, the material supposition delivered by Karl Marx could also
be proven flawed through empirical observation and social evolution. The
founder of the term and observation of "theonomy", Cornelius Van Til,
also missed the meaning and role of social evolution. The fallacy within his “theonomy”
observation and belief system is the missing factor of social evolution. In
other words, all belief systems whether they are "religious" or
philosophy based are subject to transforming or changing because of social
evolution. The previous explanation of the fallacy exposes the fact that the
message of Christianity is limited and expired like most ancient belief
systems.
Therefore, as natural revolutionaries, Paul and John
partially exposed to the readers of their era and modern times the expected
corruption when the corporate entity has saturated the state entity completely.
In other words, the words of the natural revolutionaries, exposed the flaw of a
particular economic and political system which predates the Babylonian empire.
The leaders of the nascent Christian community through the promotion of a
reformed Jewish belief system, or Christianity, addressed the problem
incompletely because of their rationale to install a theocracy (Revelation 2:27
and 19:15). Furthermore, the relationship between the Roman state and its
"merchants" (Revelation 18:16) has exposed the readers to the
phenomenon of an early form of scientific capitalism which manifested in the
Iron Age. The relationship between these two entities has shown one of the many
errors which could develop between the said entities. The scholar of
anthropology, Christian Jurgensen Thomsen, presented the above three-tier
system. The system he proposed presented the industrial evolution of humanity.
The proposed Ages: The Stone Age, The Bronze Age, and then the Iron Age; in
which the Roman empire existed, presents the evolutionary synthesis between the
state entity and corporate entity. An ancient Greek poet, Hesiod, composed a
poem mentioning a five-tier system: Golden Age, Silver Age, Bronze Age, Heroic
Age, and the Iron Age. The work is titled - Works and Days - which
presented the five-tier system. Interestingly, it could be possible that Daniel
mentioned this in the Book of Daniel 2:34-35 but borrowed the knowledge of 'the
Ages' from Hesiod's poem or composed work? Let the reader observe: the siege
and invasion of Jerusalem occurred in B.C. 587 and the poet lived between B.C. 750
and B.C. 650. Therefore, it is very possible that Daniel borrowed the
description of 'the Ages' and then metaphorically developed the images from a
previous work by the ancient Greek poet. Then, the author of the Book
Revelation borrowed Daniel's images to describe the natural phenomenon of
political corruption which predates the Babylonian empire. John expressed this
corruption through the phrase: "Mystery Babylon" to describe the
corruption within the Roman Empire (Revelation 17:5).
The modern discipline which supports the ‘Roman Material
Theory' would be the work of Jean Fourastie. The previous scholar described the
evolutionary modern development stage between the state entity and corporate
entity as the Industrial Age. Overall, the Industrial Age would be categorized
within the timeline between the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. The
development into the Industrial Age has been categorized into a three-tier
system: Primary sector(agricultural), Secondary sector(manufacturing and
promotion of inventions), and Tertiary sector(mass manufacturing of items).
According to Jean Fourasties, a nation-state(tribe) enters the Industrial Age
through the expansion of the "secondary sector". The question arises,
what happened during the transition between the Roman Empire and the
installment of the Roman Christian empire under emperor Constantine? The
secondary sector suffered because of the continued imposition of cheap labor
and "slave labor" despite the imposition of "religious"
financial regulation,i.e. the negation of usury. The above discredits the
verses pertaining to the social regulation against usury (Revelation 18:6 and
Ezekiel 18:5-13) supported by years of economical empirical evidence. There are
also clear mistakes by Paul himself which supports the behavior of slavery (Letter
to Philemon, Ephesians 6:5-9) and is evidence of the overall fallibility of
the Christian message as it pertains to the complete salvation of the human
race on Earth. Why would Paul, and his God, fail to address the complete
picture concerning the conditions of the people living in Judea and the Roman Empire?
The previous is an example of the flaws within the belief system and the
imposed Christian theonomy years later after the verdict of the Council of
Nicea. Therefore, Revelation 19:11-21 is the key of the whole Revelation of
John presenting a clear false "prophecy" or a failed proposed
supernatural prediction. Is it possible that the Gnostics, years later,
properly "spiritualized" the message of the writers of the New
Testament canon? Is it possible that the Council of Nicaea simply suppressed
these ideas to hide the fact that the predictions circulating among the
Christian community during those times were a fallacy? The proposal is
constructed the acts of the Council, and eventually later St.Augustine of
Hippo, were to collaborate in the development of a false doctrine which is
based on a poor philosophical foundation concerning one important aspect of the
lives of humans or sentient beings - the material realm. The synthesis, which
is the Roman Christian theonomy, removed the philosophical thesis of
psychological hedonism- Epicureanism and Stoicism - and installed a theocracy
which discouraged further scientific development, mass manufacturing of
inventions and the imposition of cheap labor or low wages. Was this the intent
of the New Testament writers to encourage sound material economics? No, it was
the intent of the New Testament writers to await the immediate return of the
Jesus of Nazareth the “Messiah” during one or two more generations copying the
previous duration of the previous Jewish Babylonian captivity (Revelation
13:10, Ephesians 4:8 and Jeremiah 15:2).
The human race, since the installment of the
"religious" theonomies, has suffered a captivity. The captivity of
the mind, by theonomies and negative material philosophies, which brought
forward poor material mismanagement and eventually political corruption. This
captivity derives from nature and not from supernatural ghosts within the
machine of history. The positive material philosophies also did not develop or
were not promoted during these eras. The previous example of the social
negation of usury, compounded with imposition of negative philosophies,
resulted in the lack of technological progress. The previous statement is
supported by the historical scholar and evidence by Carl Stephenson:
" Inevitably, as Rome became the metropolis of the
Mediterranean world, the courts were led to supplement the ancient law of citizens(ius
civile) with a new and more flexible law of noncitizens(ius gentium)".
(Source: Mediaeval history: Europe from the Second to the Sixteenth Century,4th
ed.,pg. 13, Carl Stephenson).
The above evidence tells the
reader the root of the problem among the Romans. It tells the reader also one
of the reasons for the attraction towards early Christianity. Therefore,
strength of Christianity is the Roman empires weakness expressed by Paul in
Romans Chapter eleven and in John's Revelation chapter seven and fourteen.
The writings of Karl Marx, which observed the evils of the
Industrial Age, also resulted in an error. The error was to formulate a theory
of total state control of material forces within a nation-state while
dissolving the corporate entity. The promotion of state control was a copy of
the same template from previous early human eras. In other words, the tribal
material well-being controlled by one leader during the Industrial Age. It was
simply the replacement of the "divine" leader for the atheist or
non-"divine" leader and it was the copy of the previous classical
conservative model of one individual rule rather than its democratization. The
Communism which developed years after Karl Marx is not similar to its supposed
champion and the Christianity which came after John was also not the same. Both
philosophies are similar and different in many ways. The common denominator
between these two movements is the manner in the propagation of their beliefs
and members willing to die for their respective causes. Therefore, the war of
winning the mind was the tactic of the author of the Book of
Revelation(Revelation 17:9,13) and a clue to its winning strategy over the
Roman government which lost its battle over citizenship of the populace at the
leadership level. The early formation of Islam also went through a similar
transformation and success against former regions under the Roman Christian
government and other tribal nation-states. Marxism, however, differs from the
two movements in philosophical belief and subject matter. The subject matter
being the material well-being of the citizens of a nation-state rather than
their direct contribution to the philosophical outlook of the citizenry. In
communism, the material well-being would have resulted in a gradual
philosophical change within the populace. While in John's early Christianity,
Revelation 19:19-20 expresses the author's concept of a mind war or propaganda
war and leaving the physical war to supernatural intervention. In the verse,
Revelation 19:20, presents to the reader the enemies of the early Christian
movement: The corrupt Roman leadership, its philosophical twin (Stoicism or
psychological hedonism, lead by Seneca (Revelation 16:10-11,13)) and so-called
Christian hypocrites(Hymenaeus and Philetus, as examples, noted in 2nd Timothy
2:17). The symbolism is shown with Korah's previous rebellion which is mention
in the Old Testament source of the Book of Numbers(Numbers chapter sixteen)
which directs the reader to include hypocrites or antagonists within the
Christian movement. So, the Christian movement during the time of the author
presented the formula of combating both enemies from within and without using
the most persuasive form of expression during those times and region - general
religious language.
What is 'The Roman Material
Theory' and its prescription? The theory is stating the introduction of
political corruption through an imbalance in the material flow. The initial
symptom is the imposition of "slave-labor" or cheap labor which creates
unemployment among the already members of the nation-state or tribe. The result
of this exchange: the creation of a few rich corporations or corporate entities
within the nation-state or tribal affiliation (Revelation 18:15). In other
words, the collision of the two circles will result in the creation of a
middle area(c): (a) "Slave" cheap labor , and (b) A few rich
corporations lead in the formation of a , (c) corrupt political nation-state
because of a corrupted state entity. In other words, the state entity is saturated
by the influence and power of a few corporations. Furthermore, the raising of taxes would be an effect and not a cause of the previous dillemma. The raising taxes occurs because the leadership has to raise money for unemployment remedies - Entertainments and public projects to keep non-slave labor in contentment.
In the above presentation, the
idea of the Laffer curve is refuted. The idea of lower taxation for
corporations, to an old ages problem, will not result in the furtherance of
natural rights nor liberties but rather its opposite. Also, the increase of
citizenship also would force the moderation of wages and taxation. The rule of
law would be preserved by the state therefore resulting in the minimalization
of corruption. In other words, the preservation of material flow within society
or a specific nation-state or tribe for the plebeians. Again, the references by
the New Testament writers are numerous but inadequate in some parts but clearly
shows signs of borrowing from other sources: Romans chapter eleven, 2nd
Thessalonians 3:8-10, Revelation chapters seven and fourteen.
(18) The Thousand years reign of the Messiah. The
reign of the messiah never occurred and this absence of an event may have been
the true intention of the author of the Book of Revelation (Revelation 20:3-6).
Therefore, what could explain the supposed vision given to Emperor Constantine?
Eventhough, it was rumored to be a political move to end the ongoing Christian
debates among the believers of a failed prediction, it fulfilled its function
to solidify the Christian community until the verdicts of Council of Nicea. The
verdicts of the Council removed any doubters and their texts called the
"Gnostics" as official representatives of the Christian community.
The truth of the matter, it would have been easier to "spiritualize"
the supposed physical return of the messiah rather than endure more years of
social purges. Nevertheless, the previous suggestion is what occurred years
later with the manifestation of an off-shot of Jewish and Christian protest
manuals - Islam. The list grows after Islam concerning social purges which
later developed unto the modern era.
The human race faces other social purges which exposes the
other side of the fallacy: State control and total management of materials. The
pre-Industrial theonomies also exercised state control but their folly was not
the negation of the corporate entity but rather the enforcement of cheap labor
through the practice of slavery. After the manifesto, presented by Karl Marx,
many other treatises followed detailing the crimes against humanity. Karl Marx
was correct in explaining the peripheral outcomes of the Industrial Age which
states many social evils. However, Karl Marx was incorrect in prescribing a
remedy which promotes the installation of another form of classical
conservative model of leadership. It is very possible that Karl Marx never
envisioned the slow process of social evolution. Eventhough, he tried to get in
contact with Charles Darwin much later to exchange notes. Karl Marx only saw
the evil results of the conflict surrounding the struggle of the Paris commune
of 1871 to conclude that the classical liberal model is not the solution. The
inner and further details of this observation will be discussed in the second
volume of this book - Book of Revolution.
The problem is known through historical empirical date which
is further evidence of the erosion of power through the hand of one individual.
After Karl Marx' various treatise on the imposition of the modern classical
conservative model ,of one individual rule, the witnesses of history saw the
carnage of Stalin and Hitler. Through Stalin we had witnessed the elimination
of many individuals which may have contributed to the historical material
timeline. The social purges by Stalin was not through the prism of theonomy but
through the material observation of Karl Marx. In Germany, the homeland of Karl
Marx, an evil arose which spoke of the ancient and supposed tribal greatness of Germany
which rode on a similar material observation but through a corrupt form of
darwanism. Hence, the reader is reminded of Herbert Spencer's social darwanism
- a negative material flow. How should the proposed hypothesis of the Roman
Material Theory address such a dilemma? The problem is the initial factor of
cheap labor which created social tensions and then the creation of state
tension. The solution or remedy has always been the preservation of human
rights through natural rights preserved by a just state entity. However,
through observing the Roman Empire we witness both the discomposure and the
ataraxy of the state entity. Only through the absence of a dictatorship of the
state entity, and henceforth the democratization of material forces, the result
has been the material progress for all within society.
The other problem has been the introduction of false
material philosophy and its admixture to adopt flawed concepts. Hitler, through
his warped understanding of the Millennial reference, borrowed the phrase from
the Book of Revelation which was proven to be a fallacy. The readers could
witness this fallacy and its results when a concept from theonomy is not
socially refuted within thinking circles of society. Germany went through a
first world war, which produced the environment for a pseudo-thinker to rise
from the ashes of the German workers' holocaust. The social conditions, of the
First World War, was an issue which Karl Marx addressed many times over and
this very subject make Karl Marx a truth-teller. The social evils of the Industrial
Revolution originates from the low wages of the working masses which only
strengthen a few corporations and corrupted the state entity which resulted in
a "World War". The previous statement resulted in the encouraging
conditions for the launching of the First World War because of social tensions
which created false material philosophies throughout Europe along with its
theonomic attachments with hundreds of years of prejudices. There is a healthy
suspicion that the rise of Hitler's party was financed by a wealthy few controlling
such corporations to combat the rise of Marxism within Germany. The fight
within has been the tug of war between the said theonomic forces and particular
communist atheistic forces to install both of their reactions to the
conditions: the imposition of the classical conservative model of an autocratic
one individual rule. The winner, Hitler, obviously astrocized ethnic minorities
as well as Jewish scientist by the name of Albert Einstein who is credited for
the proved theories of physics and removed the Marxists from the scene. While
Stalin in Russia, eliminated physically not only political opponents as well
but also scientists of all persuasions. The results only proves the saying:
"Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely "
said by John Emerich Edward Dalberg-Acton or Lord Acton.
The introduction of the corporate entity into the material
timeline of humanity is irreversible. The previous observation has been as an
empirical fact through the error of the Soviet experience. Karl Marx did not
live long enough to make an alternative theory or to observe the disaster of
the Soviet social experiment. The above proves that the negation and absence of
the corporate entity would be disastrous for humanity. Therefore, at least
three factors are observed for the Roman Material Theory: the imbalance of the
material flow, the imposition of a flawed theonomy or a poor social philosophy,
the existence of social tensions preceded the introduction of state tensions
and the absence of a corporate entity would equate to political corruption
resulting in an industrial depression. The previous comes close to the Second
Theory of Thermodynamics without applying the truth of David Hume's dictum.
The social tensions existed before the introduction of state
tensions. Therefore, the previous condition is possible when the social
tensions first existed and then state actors within the state entity initiated
state tensions. These peripherals, overall, are the systemic tensions of the
Roman Material Theory. The wrong prescription has been observed though Hitler's
Germany and Stalin's Russia where the absolute control or removal of the
corporate entity occurred. The Roman Material Theory or hypothesis could also
be applied to the pre-conditions of the American Civil war. The RMT applies to
the southern states during President Lincoln's era: If southern states
prevailed then the theory would be properly applied because of the volume of
slave labor which represents cheap labor within the populace. The eventual social
tensions would have resulted in mass unrests which would have then furthered
interstate disturbances and creation of state actors to initiate interstate
tensions. During the process, only a few corporate entities would have
benefited and therefore business interest would have sabotaged the overall
material well-being of "southern" society. The next evidence of the
relevance of the 'Roman Material Theory' would be the social tensions within
the current Federal state of Mexico where political corruption has established
itself within the system. The economic-political "push" factors have
resulted in the decay of the Mexican democracy. The social tensions described
through the proposed 'Roman Material Theory' is very obvious in the case of
Mexico.
The 'Gog and Magog' entity is mentioned in Revelation 20:8
and it is rather symbolic than literal. The details of the hypothesis
concerning the metaphysical entity is discussed in chapter eight of this book -
Book of Revolution. The dangers of generalization will be presented and
it is relevant knowing that the Book of Revelation's message has expired beyond
its predicted date. Since the onset of the interpretations given by John Nelson
Darby's dispensationalism doctrine the readers and interpreters of the Book of
Revelation have witnessed wars. Were the wars caused by the interpretations of
John Nelson Darby? No, there is no clear evidence of any connection. However,
the most convincing evidence of biblical misinterpretation has been the misuse
by Hitler of the 'thousand years' reign , which was intended for Jesus, for the
NAZI doctrine of a 'thousand years' reign. The prejudices and bigotry has
existed within Europe before the rise of the NAZI (National Socialist German
Workers) party but surely the social practices derive from the past crusades
and compounded by social tensions. The remainder entity left to be twisted and
misinterpreted is the 'Gog and Magog' entity which truly is connected with the
rebuilding of the Second Temple in Jerusalem by Zerubbabel and others of this
specific era. John's usage of the 'Gog and Magog' entity was to present to his
readers the people opposed to the early Christian message during the Roman Empire's
era. The current trend is to generalize, falsely, that the 'Gog and Magog' reference
is describing the Asian and Russian peoples by tracing the origin of the said
tribal entity. The previous only proves, one the many proofs, the fallacy of
the modern interpreters of the Old Testament and New Testament canons. The
modern interpreters have adopted the literal view of the 'Gog and Magog'
reference because these readers of Revelation's "prophecy" have
already accepted the absurd from the reality. Furthermore, John Nelson Darby's
misinterpretation of the term - "Dispensationalism" ignores the fact
that Paul's usage of the term derives from Paul's false prediction of a
desecration of the Temple rather than its complete destruction. Therefore, the
real intent of John's message has been to address the 'Gog and Magog' derive
from the disbelievers of the Jewish-Christians, Gentile Christians, Jewish
revolutionaries and the Jewish community, Gentile Romans and the Philosopher
class. The last class being mentioned is the real danger to the message of
Christianity. The previous danger delivered by Paul earlier and John later
within the treatise from the island of Patmos. The danger of generalization
becomes clear and obvious if the message of Christianity is not filtered and
realized. One important observation is that Christianity did not produce a
difference within the historical timeline but rather copied the same problem
which the materialists have went through proving the case for social evolution
over theonomy.
(19) New Jerusalem and the Temple within. The theme
of New Jerusalem coming out of the sky is another borrowed theme. The evident
verses are Revelation 21:2,10 (Revelation 3:12) which may derive from 2nd
Esdras 13:36? The question would be where does 2nd Esdras originate? Even if
the answer is given, another question arises, which of these collections
mentioned the fallen city first? If the Book of Revelation was a specially
given and designed Book by a creator then why is there another book mentioning
this event? It is claimed that the Book 2nd Esdras is traced back to Ezra. The
very individual which took part in the rebuilding of the Temple after the
seventy years Babylonian captivity. The other question arises, why has the
Catholic Church retained it in their collection but later the Protestants
disregarded this particular book? The four theories are formulated concerning
this mystery:
a) The Book, 2nd Esdras, is truly a metaphorical expression
through Ezra in contrast with the other Book given the title of his name.
Ezra's usage of metaphorical expressions, in 2nd Esdras, was another manner of
describing a literal event? Was the book, 2nd Esrdas, intended for the future?
b) The Book was composed during the time of the destruction
of the Second Temple by the Romans. It was written by a Jewish revolutionary,
or a Jewish priest or a Jewish commoner.
c) The Book is authored by a later Christian writer loyal to
the early Christian leadership? Hence, the reason why it was not disregarded as
a 'Gnostic' composition or protest manual by the Council of Nicea years later.
d) The Book was created through another Jewish priest, not
Ezra, after the rebuilding of the Temple and before the Roman destruction of
the Temple?
e) The Book of Hebrews has also implied the spiritual city
several times which only creates the speculation that the inference has been in
circulation in Jewish society through oral tradition.
The five observations above would not be able to answer and
correct the previous conclusion. The conclusion earlier presented showing the
Book of Revelation was meant to be fulfilled during the era of the Roman Empire.
Revelation 21:1 has hinted that the "sea" will no longer exist. The
previous is not a literal image or event but rather an allegorical expression
suggesting that the Gentiles will no longer be "gentiles" but
believers. In other words, the Book of Revelation is mentioning that there is
no heaven but rather it will exist on a new Earth because "death" and
"hell" would be eliminated (Revelation 20:14). The proposed 'Temporal
Flow Thesis' is given from all the previous chapters:
"Symbolic description" ---> "The A.D. 70
admixture point" ---> "Literal description"
It is from the clash of the synthesis entities: Seven
Churches -->*<-- Seven Hills of Rome.
The point (*), starts at Revelation 21:1 where according to
the author, there is a literal materialist victory on Earth over the forces of
the Roman empire used by "evil". The reason for this turn of events
is because the Book of Isaiah has employed this language to describe the
rebuilding of the Second Temple (Isaiah 65:17). However, the Temple and
Tabernacle is Jesus of Nazareth (Revelation 21:3,22). Therefore, the intention
of the writer and author of the Book of Revelation, has expressed the
conclusion that there is no future Temple in Jerusalem because Jesus himself is
the Temple. If the writer expressed this then why are many modern Christians
for the rebuilding of the Temple? If we followed the "prophecy" from
beginning to end, any reader will observe that the author intended the Book of
Revelation to be fully fulfilled around A.D. 140 and another variable is
factored in. The variable is that Jesus himself is the Temple and Tabernacle
(Revelation 21:3,22). The Gospel of John (John 2:19-21) and the Book of
Revelation (Revelation 21:22) both expresses this conclusion and if the writer
was confident that a new Temple would be rebuilt then he would have clearly
stated the previous possibility. The previous collections or books were written
some years after the Temple’s destruction but the writer refuses to present an
alternative vision of a physically New Temple in Jerusalem.
The A.D. 70 admixture
point is described as such because it is a line differentiating two ages:
"Tribulation era" and "Great Tribulation era". The
tribulation era is before the Temple's destruction and the great tribulation is
after the Temple's destruction in A.D. 70 then John created this doctrine to
atone for the error created by Paul. Paul's error was to predict the
desecration of the Temple and not its destruction. However, when the Temple was
destroyed then John composed the Book of Revelation utilizing the languages of
the Temple's destruction by mentioning "wormwood". Therefore, Matthew
committed the first error (Matthew 24:20) by mentioning "Sabbath"
within the verse. Furthermore, the whole idea at first was that the Temple was
going to be desecrated similar to the earlier events of Antiochus Epiphanes.
Paul later wrote letters to the congregations at Corinth and Thessalonica
hinting at a desecration of the Temple and not its total destruction (2nd
Thessalonians 2:1-4, 1st Corinthians 7:26-31). Paul hints of a desecration and
the "desecration" is when the Christian community would be raptured
(1st Thessalonians 4:15-18). Then according to historical records, Paul was
martyred or killed by Nero. Then years later, John was sent to the island of
Patmos by the Romans where he revised and edited the apocalyptic visions by
Matthew and Paul. John then added the seventy years doctrine through the
mention of "wormwood" (Revelation 8:10-11) to revise the date of the
return of Jesus since he did not show up when the Temple was destroyed (rather
than desecrated). Paul truly mentions this error which forces John to revise
the ending of the story (1st Corinthians 7:26-29 and 2nd Thessalonians 2:1-4).
There is a possibility that the reason John was sent to the island of Patmos
may have been the contents within the Gospel of John. The evidence is
presented: The Gospel of John 19:37, Revelation 1:7, and Zechariah 12:10.
The imprisonment and
exile of John was done through the Jewish Temple priests and the Romans later agreed
(Revelation 16:13). The reason is because of the Zechariah 12:10 verse would
have been read by a Jewish Temple priest spy who then later reported the
activities of John. John must have mentioned it through a sermon or something
in connection with the three presented verses and this connection must have
made authorities nervous. John, through his exile, still composed another
document exhorting the early Christian community to be vigilant against their
oppressors. All of the previous evidence with verses was already stated earlier.
The best assessment would be the composition of the Gospel of John and this
lead to his arrest and exile.
Through the
"Temporal Flow Thesis" and the previous presentation of a court case
against the Roman Empire, it is rational to conclude that John was a
non-violent revolutionary even if his natural treatise was somehow intended to
be supernatural. There is also a connection between Paul and John through the
statement of Paul himself (2nd Corinthians 12:1-7) which is an indirect
description of John by Paul. The connection would explain the various symbolic
languages and supposed experiences expressed in the Book of Revelation. The
"Temporal Flow Thesis" also would express an impossibility which
occurred years later with the imposition of something of a priori , or
of the mind, and into an attempted way of materializing the previous visions.
In other words, the false prediction by John still produced a vigorous spirit
among the Christians which years later manufactured a political transformation
within the Roman Empire.
The illustration is
given, according to the vision by John, the death of a believer during the
Roman empire: 1) The believer dies, 2) The believer is resurrected or raptured,
3) The believer rules for a thousand years with Jesus, 4) The believer
witnesses the resurrection of the disbelievers, 5) The disbelievers, satan,
fallen angels, Hell (bottomless pit) and Death are all thrown into the Lake of
Fire. 6) The creation of a new Jerusalem and new transformed Earth eliminates
or abrogates the existence of "Heaven". All of the Believers and
Jesus are the only ones to exist forever on a new Earth which is now
"Heaven". In other words; with the elimination of "Hell"
then there is no need for "Heaven"? Simply, the Lake of Fire
eliminates the negatives mentioned previously and "heaven" is
eliminated by the transformation of Earth and the fallen new city of Jerusalem.
During the whole process there is no new Temple.
The whole process
presented by John's own words, is an attempt to outflank the Roman philosophy
of the era which taught material enlightenment (Hebrews 10:32) through a
priori. In other words, a thinking trend concerning the liberation of the
body or consciousness after death. However, the position of John is more
captivating because it goes further by using previous Jewish belief and
allegorical language. The doctrine by Epicurus is stating that pursuit of
pleasure before death is of utmost importance. The usage of the term
"pleasure" is not entirely about sex but experiencing all aspects of
life in the positive without violating agreed laws among humanity. Later; the
early Jewish community, where the Christian revolutionaries are based, since
the time of Daniel, has viewed the cultural importation of Hellenistic
persuasion as endangering the overall cultural viewpoints and beliefs within
the Jewish community. It is really the preservation of cultural identity going
against the prevailing and prosperous culture. The result was a synthesis which
did not actually resulted in a "synthesis" because of the theonomic
nature of the Christian Roman leadership after Constantine.
The above describing
the elimination of "Hell" and eventually "Heaven" does
contain a contradiction within the Gospels. Matthew 10:28 states: " And
fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but
rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in
HELL." According to the words of John this not possible because it is the
Lake of Fire, mentioned in the Book of Revelation four times, would be able to
destroy both soul and body. Remember, "death" and "hell"
are both sent into the "Lake of Fire" (Revelation 20:14).The omission
in the Gospel of John tells us that John is the author of both books or
documents: The Gospel of John and the Book of Revelation (Revelations chapters
five and ten). Why? The reason is because Luke, Matthew and Mark make mention
of similar references to which the aforementioned entity destroys both soul and
body. All three previous sources share the same conclusion: Hell destroys both
soul and body (Matthew 10:28, Luke 12:4-5, and Mark 9:43-48). While the Gospel
of John (John 15:6) only mentions Hellfire indirectly and implicitly but the
omission agrees with the assumption that John believes that "Hell"
does not destroy both soul and body. According to John, only the
Lake of Fire would be able to destroy both soul and body. There is a difference
because according to John, "Hell" is temporary and for only
punishment while the Lake of Fire destroys all the negatives of existence hence
no punishment afterwards. In other words; if you are judged, by Jesus, to be a
disbeliever then first you are resurrected then put in Hellfire(for punishment
of the soul) and then thrown into the Lake of Fire(for final execution of the
soul) so you could no longer exist. The previous explanation is partly
nihilistic. Furthermore, this means no one is currently in "Hell" or
"Heaven".
The question arises;
does Paul, the other Gospel writers, and the rest of the New Testament writers
agree with John's viewpoint? No other writers within the New Testament canon
speaks of "the Lake of Fire" nor does any of the Old Testament
writers. It seems "Hell" is a place of punishment and this specific
designation the writers may agree on but they disagree on the role of
"Hell"(Revelation 20:10 and Revelation 20:14). The previous
observation creates another question, why has this information been omitted by
the other New Testament writers concerning the existence of "the Lake of
Fire"? The only conclusion would be that this may have been why it took at
least two centuries or more for the Christian community to allow John's last
testament, the Book of Revelation, into the New Testament canon. It was the
hand of St.Augustine of Hippo, years later, which allowed the Book of
Revelation to be accepted into the New Testament canon because of political
persuasion based on the attempt to explain the problems of the successful
invasions by the Huns into Rome. Nevertheless, the problem concerning the role
of "Hell" and the mention of "the Lake of Fire" may have
played a factor in delaying its acceptance by consensus. This delay may negate the
whole existence of these entities:
"Hell","Heaven","the Lake of Fire", and "the
new Jerusalem" completely. Furthermore, its delay into the New Testament
canon may have been the subject concerning the deposit of any soul currently
and into the modern age, whether it is in "Heaven"/"Hell"
or in the ground until the rapture or second resurrection for disbelievers? The
Book of Revelation and Paul's mention of "rapture" is now understood
to mean that when people die their soul stays in the ground (John 3:13 and Acts
2:29) until the "rapture"(or the second resurrection for
Disbelievers) mentioned by both Paul in his various letters and John in the
Book of Revelation. This would mean that the current popular Christian ideas
concerning where the soul goes after death is disputable or in error but it
seems that several Christian groups has this correct doctrine already in place.
However, the delay of the canonization concerning the Book of Revelation may
have abrogated or negated the existence of all four entities. The only
questions left are: Is there a soul existing within the body? If there is a
soul, where does the soul goes if there is no "Hell" and
"Heaven"?
(20) The Twelve
Fruits of Light. The first two verses of the chapter reference back to the
lost tribe of Israel (Matthew 10:6). The Gospel source and the first two verses
of Revelation chapter twenty-two suggest the repopulation of the Earth? Or the
discovery of the lost tribe? The first question could be thought through
rationally. The reason of why it may lead back to the repopulation of the Earth
is because the language directs us to Adam and the tree in the Book of Genesis
(Genesis chapters two through four). It may be simply symbolic but a literal
manifestation of believers sharing the remaining existence with Jesus their
messiah. If it is only in reference to the "lost tribe" then John has
confirmed the theory that the Book of Revelation was about the destruction of
Rome only but yet it leads to some questions: was all of Humanity judged? Or
just the local area sample of humanity between Rome and Jerusalem? Let us
assume that John intended that it was for all of humanity then the mention of
"the nations" are the believers designated as the new mankind.
Revelation 22:4 makes the other references of "marks on skin" to be
exactly an invisible mark and not a literal mark. This means that the earlier
references of "marks on/in skin" (Revelation 9:4, 13:16-18, 14:9,
15:2, 16:2, 19:12, 19:20, and 20:4) are symbolic and allegorical deriving from
Ezekiel 9:4-7. All of the previous guides the reader to one conclusion: The
term "the nations" is in reference to the believers who are going to
repopulate the Earth with Jesus of Nazareth their messiah/king. This leads to
an evolution of Earth's ecological system through the hand of God similar to
the hand of God in the events leading to the previous Jewish tribe's liberation
from captivity and the rebuilding of the Temple after the captivity era. The
material transformation of the Earth through a supernatural intervention and
its sustainment through supernatural means is the proposed theory by the writer.
Where is the fundamental error to this proposed ideal utopia? The Gospel of
Matthew counters this proposed vision in Matthew 22:30-32. John is not the only
to violate “The Testament of Jesus” because Paul does the same by revising
Matthew 10:5-15 with Romans chapter eleven.
The twelve fruits of
light is the materially new creation of a transformed Earth and new mankind
guided by the messiah shepherd called Jesus of Nazareth. The proposed utopia
would be possible but one flaw has been presented: The various failed
predictions which created an alternative timeline. The next flaw is the
correlation of two other sources which differ in language but agree in
principle with the Matthew passage. Matthew 10:6 corresponds with Mark 6:7-13
and Luke 9:1-6. There is no mention of "the lost tribe of Israel".
John has truly presented a natural manifesto with supernatural intentions. The
undiscovered tribe is simply the forerunner to the principle of the extension
of a new mankind. The new mankind is actually the Christian community with a
new principle borrowed from the Roman concept of the expansion of Roman
citizenship. All three sources were combined in Revelation chapter eleven
describing the two witnesses. The previous confirms the theory that the
"two witnesses" are the Jewish-Christians and Gentile Christians, the
Body of Christ, being martyred by the Roman Empire. Furthermore; the previous
evidence also confirms John's premise that only the believers, of the Roman
era, would repopulate the physically transformed Earth (Revelation 3:12 and
Ephesians 2:15). However, if Matthew 22:30-32 is valid and is still followed by
John then there is no repopulation of the Earth just believers living forever.
The concept of the
undiscovered tribe has been employed by Paul in several of his letters and
stated by John himself within the Book of Revelation. John has committed the
“sin” of false witness according to his own words within the chapter. The issue
has been addressed concerning the statement by the earlier Church father, Iraneaus, who also committed the same error. The ones who
have been attacked:" the disciples of Marcion, or by a perversion of
the sense [of Scripture], as those of Valentinus and all the Gnostics
" are all innocent of their supposed crimes or "blasphemy".
Nevertheless, the "Gnostics" are correct in spiritualizing the texts
because there is something to keep hidden from the public. The secret to be
hidden was the false predictions by John and Paul. These false predictions are
now known variables of why the texts were not translated from Latin until the
ignorance was removed through regional translations. However, when the local
translations occurred political issues may have hidden the truth further
through other agendas. 'The twenty theses against Christian Millennialism' has
concluded into the material realm something which Martin Luther's ninety-five
theses partly presented. Even Martin Luther's ninety-five theses exposed the
truth within the fallacy of the New Testament predictions. The definition of
supernatural means reality is warped or transformed from the material world
around us by an outside entity from the reality. The previous observation was
presented by David Hume in the late 1700's:
" There arise, indeed, in some minds, some
unaccountable terrors with regard to futurity: But these would quickly vanish,
were they not artificially fostered by precept and education. And those, who
foster them: what is their motive? Only to gain a livelihood, and to acquire
power and riches in this world. Their very zeal and industry, therefore, are an
argument against them. " (Of the immortality of the Soul, David
Hume)
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