Revelation 22: Timing. The “Others” Still Around New Jerusalem

John is shown a river of the “water of life” pouring out of the throne of God/the Lamb which watered the Tree of Life, which each month gave 1 fruit to heal, 12 heals. All curses are gone. The servants of God will have their foreheads marked with his name (again, why mark the foreheads? To distinguish them from everyone else outside of the city. Otherwise, if everyone else was in hell, and they were the only people left on earth, why mark the foreheads?)

Timing: (in Jesus’ own words, according to this KJV bible) “Behold, I come quickly, blessed is he that keepeth the saying of the prophecy of this book” (22:7).

“I come quickly”. Not 2,000 years or more. No Peter “god math” where 1 day = 1000 years required. Even the angel affirms in verse 6: “and the Lord God of the holy prophets sent his angel to shew unto his servants (John) the things which must shortly be done” (22:6). So now we have TWO witnesses to the testimony that all this will be happening quickly/shortly, if not in John’s lifetime. Of course, we only have ONE witness that any of this happened at all, and that is John by himself. So that logic kind of skewers John’s testimony according to Jesus’ rules of 2 or more witnesses to establish testimony.

More Timing: “Seal not the sayings of the prophecy of this book: for the time is at hand” (22:10). The angel instructs John to have people just be as they are “he that is unjust, let him be unjust still” as if there is NO TIME for preaching to change the person, because the “time is at hand”

So who gets to enter the city after all this is done: “Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city” (22:14). So it sounds like there is free movement in and out of the city so that those who obey the commandments AND have the marks of their god on their forehead have access to the Tree of Life. What about everyone else? Because it has been established not everyone is burning in hell.

22:15 – For without are dogs, sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie.

Who was prescribed the area OUTSIDE of the city when John and the Angel measured it the first time? GENTILES. Gentiles are still around it seems. So not every man on the planet was judged nor thrown into Hell (which by the way is now in the bottomless pit so how does that work?)

If we aren’t still dealing with astrological symbolism in some form, it wouldn’t surprise me: “I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches. I am the root and offspring of David, and the bright and morning star” (22:16). Shades of the planet Venus, often referred to as the morning or day star during certain seasons when it shines bright in the morning. A seasonal astronomy reference by Jesus himself.

The people in the city, the Jews/lost house of Israel that believed, obeyed, and received the mark, are free to drink of the water of life as needed. Thus, these people have been promised immortality, because Death (for them anyways) is in the bottomless pit with the Dragon and Hell.

A warning goes out from John about this book of Revelation he was instructed to write: Don’t ADD to it or the plagues listed will fall upon you.

(22:19) And if any man shall *take away* from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city…

So anyone who takes words OUT of this prophecy get thrown out of the city. What do they do then? Probably intermingle with those outside of the city. No death penalty (Death for them is in the bottomless pit), he can’t be sent to hell (Hell is in the bottomless pit), and Satan CAN NOT be blamed for this man who takes away from the prophecy because he is chained up in the bottomless pit. SO WHERE DID THIS THEORETICAL “RULE BREAK” COME FROM?

Jesus last words in this prophecy, in Revelation, and in the Bible: “Surely, I come quickly” (22:20)

Quick note: NOT the Revelation I was taught nor was thinking I would encounter during my studies. Thus I will summarize in my final blog post. My journey through the King James Version of the modern Bible is complete.

Revelation 8 – 11: A RESET of Jesus’ Prophecy?

Revelation 8 – 7th of 7 seals, 4 of 7 Trumpets

The last seal is opened and silence appeared for 1/2 hour (how in the world did John measure hours, did he have an ancient watch?!). The 7 angels in front of God are given 7 trumpets. Another angel appears with incense, makes an incense offering in front of God and the saints, then hurls the incense censer, filled with fire from the altar, down onto the earth, causing natural calamities. The 7 trumpets are sounded:

• 1st Angel: hail and fire “mingled with blood” thrown on earth, killing 1/3 of all the trees and all the grass. (Volcano?)
• 2nd Angel: Something “as it were a great mountain burning with fire” is thrown into the sea, and 1/3 of the sea became blood, 1/3 of sea life died, and 1/3 of ships were destroyed. (A fiery comet?)
• 3rd Angel: A “burning lamp” star from heaven called “wormwood” falls into 1/3 of the rivers and fountains of water, and “many men” died of this wormwood water. (A plague star? This is interesting because there are theories out there that comets can introduce virus and other foreign particles from the universe to the planet.)
• 4th Angel: 1/3 of the sun, moon, and the stars blacken.

After these 4 an angel flies around in “woe” for the earth because the next 3 trumpets have yet to be sound.

Revelation 9 – Woes 1, 2

• 5th Angel (Woe 1): A “star” falls to the earth, and to “him” (the star) was given they key to the bottomless pit. Was this an another angel? Who was described as a star before: the king of Babylon and Jesus. The Lamb is already there in the scene so it can’t be Jesus. Could be the king of Babylon or could be another entity yet to be named/described. This 5th trumpet set out locusts to go after those without the seal of God in their foreheads. The sting is like a scorpion, the torment was to last 5 months, men will wish for death but it will not come.

The “Locust”: Like armored horses, on their heads crowns “like” gold, faces were “as the faces of man.” They had long hair of a “woman”, lion like teeth, iron breastplates, and their wings made the sound of many horse chariots “running” into battle. They had scorpion like tails that also tormented men for 5 months with a sting. The king of these locusts is named Abbadon (Apollyon in Greek) and is an angel. So Abbadon seems to be the falling star in 9:1.

• 6th Angel (Woe 2): There are 4 horns on the golden altar of God, and these horns TELL the 6th angel to release the 4 Angels that are bound in the Euphrates, and these 4 Angels will slay a 1/3 of men at an appointed time.

Ok, at this point these horns don’t sound like animal horns, but actual horn speakers. Did these horns found on these altars actually make *sound* during the rituals where burning sacrifices were laid on them? Sound from the heat/rising air like a whistle the way some HVAC systems with heat leaks make a whistling sound?

John reverts back to the 4 horses of the first 4 seals. He says there are 200,000 horsemen soldiers (50,000 per Horse released by a seal). These horsemen soldiers have breastplates “of” fire, jacinth, brimstone (burning, flaming, breastplates). Out of the mouths of these horses came fire and brimstone that will kill 1/3 of men. These horses also had snake like tails that also caused damage.

So 1/3 of men are killed. The other 2/3 are said to still not repent for their wickedness, idols, murders, sorceries, etc.

Revelation 10 – 7th Angel Prophecy

The story changes a bit with the 7th Angel. No trumpet is mentioned but he (or another angel) comes down from heaven, “clothed” in a cloud, rainbow over his head, his face/side/fascia was “like the sun” (hot? bright?) and puts one foot in the sea and one on land. He cries out and 7 thunders speak. John begins to write down the words but a voice tells him NOT to write what the 7 Thunders have spoken.

The Angel standing in the water and land swears to God, that “there should be time no longer” (10:6). But the “mystery of God” will be finished “in the days of the voice of the 7th Angel” (so now we have a prophecy within a prophecy). The Angel on land/in water has a small book, John is instructed to go get that book and eat it. It tastes like honey but hurts his stomach. John is told: “Thou must prophesy again before many peoples, and nations, and tongues, and kings.”

WHOA. I think I see what is happening here: This is round 2 of the 1st Jesus prophecy, if not an outright replacement because IT HASN’T BEEN FULFILLED AS JESUS SAID IT WOULD BE.

Remember, John and the other disciples are near death, yet Jesus has told them they would not taste death until they saw the kingdom of Heaven and him on the throne come in power. It has not happened yet. THIS IS AN ATTEMPT TO RESET THE PROPHECY AS JESUS SPOKE OF. Why? Because it’s a new prophecy, and thus John has to “… prophesy again before many peoples, nations, and tongues, and kings.” so that the religion does not die off when they die, and the kingdom of heaven doesn’t come, as Jesus promised.

Reintroduce a new prophecy to replace one that hasn’t been fulfilled. The timeline is now extended because John is told to go out and prophecy “again”. Remember, Jesus (while on earth) said the kingdom of heaven was at hand. This new prophecy pushes the timeline for “judgement” or “kingdom of heaven” or whatever you want to call it, out of Jesus timeline and into a new one. Now John has to go preach again to NEW peoples, nations, tongues and kings because the peoples of the time Jesus preached are or have DIED OFF. The scene has changed. Need a new population!

Is this the intent of Revelation? Not a continuation of Jesus’ spoken prophecy but an extension/reset to expand this religion past his end time timeline, which too has past? Makes perfect sense now. Let’s see if more context is added to this theory.

Revelation 6: Seals, Constellations, 4 Horses. Culture and Localized “Reset” vs End of the World

The 1st of 7 Seals, 1st Horse

The first seal is opened, and John sees an archer with a crown on a white horse. This sounded so familiar to me, astrologically that is, and I found it quick: Constellation Sagittarius: horse, archer, and crown (corona)

See the “crown”? Corona Australis

Is this what we are dealing with? Constellations? Let’s look at the other of the 7 seals.

2nd of 7 Seals, 2nd Horse

The 2nd seal unveils a red horse, and the rider is given a sword with the ability to take peace from the earth, where man kills each other. What is this called when men fight other men: War. Constellation: Orion, the man with sword, shield, and club. All implements of war:

3rd of 7 Seals, 3rd Horse

The 3rd seal unveils a black horse and man with “a pair of balances in his hand” (6:5). This one was easy: LIBRA

Libra, the 3rd Seal/Constellation?

This part of Revelation is starting to come to life as Zodiacal signs and Constellations. Very interesting.

4th of 7 Seals, 4th Horse

The 4th seal unveils a “pale” (see through?) horse, with the rider’s name being “Death”. Hell follows behind him. Hell and Death given power to 1/4 of the earth to kill man and beast with sword, hunger, and death. This one is much more difficult. The modern depictions of “Death” is a robed grim reaper, complete with “scythe”. The closest I could get to anything similar in the sky is the constellation: Bootes

A scimitar/scythe.

A “Pale” Horse? Pegasus Constellation

5th of 7 Seals

The 5th seal opens up and John sees the souls of the martyrs (those who were killed for their testimony and word of God) under the table, crying out asking how long until they are avenged. It wasn’t yet time, they were given white robes, because more martyrs were to be killed… “that they should rest yet for a little season” (6:11). A small season…. 2000 years plus?

6th of 7 Seals

The 6th seal opens up and there was 1) an earthquake 2) the Sun became “black” (aka an eclipse?) 3) the moon turned a “blood” moon.

Ok, for this to happen, both the Sun and the Moon had to be in the sky at the same time for John to see both in his vision. This only happens in the early or late parts of daytime when the sun and the moon are on opposite horizons. These are pretty normal conditions in the times of eclipses:

So how do stars “fall from heaven”? During a Solar Eclipse, some stars do become visible.

Stars visible during a Solar Eclipse (south America, still stars become visible)

So what happens after the Sun goes black, stars appear, and the Sun returns during the eclipse? The stars “fall” or “die” or fade away. Surely explainable with astronomy thus far. Otherwise we are to believe the stars and planets fall into the horizon.

Seal six is much more complicated than the others: As the “world” seems to fall into turmoil:

• “Heaven” the sky rolls up like a scroll. Islands and mountains move.
• Kings (do we even have these in 2020), great men, rich men, chief captains, mighty men, bondsman, and free man hide in the rocks.

Let’s analyze this one: the sun goes dark, the moon is red, the stars are gone thus making the earth sound completely dark. Why then would men run into dens and rocks where it’s just as dark? Why not wait outside for light to return?

Looks like seal 7 is in the next chapter. Thus far, not being an expert on astrology or astronomy, much of what Revelation 6 lays out can be explained using these two disciplines. What it exactly means? One idea is we are just dealing with John viewing a fast forward view of the movement of the constellations in the sky, which includes the more scarce events of earthquakes, blood moons/lunar eclipses, and solar eclipses. Quite a long time cycle, when viewed in “fast forward” mode, will make it look like the stars “fall” like they were shaken off of a fig tree. So we will see what context the rest of the Revelation chapters add to this possible explanation.

One question: Is this some sort of “end of the planet” scenario? My first response would be: At this point, and even with the context Jesus in his own words described: NO. Astronomically, and Astrologically eclipses and earthquakes can be and are very LOCALIZED. Depending on where you are on the planet, especially which hemisphere. What would be interesting is to find constellation/solar/lunar situations where these events “have” taken place in the Middle East, and it could very well be an ancient astronomer making a prophecy based on the recurrence of an astrological scenario. An astrological scenario that the culture and the people recognize as a “time of change”. That’s how ancients and even people today have used the cycles of the stars.

Even now we have the concept of the “Age of Aquarius” coming with epochal change. And who would want change more than a group of people (Jews and the lost house of Israel) who have been under the thumb of Assyria, Babylon, Medes, Persia and now Rome! They would want a “world” aka THEIR WORLD to reset, end, and then favor them. Who wouldn’t?

Galatians 1 – 3. The Apostles Split From Paul!

I cheated a little bit to get some geographical background on biblical Galatia on Wikipedia. It is NOT a traditional Israelite locale, so it seems we are dealing with converted Gentiles once again, or Jews in Galatia. The text should address this but after reading the letters to the Corinthians, I think we are dealing with the former: Converted Gentiles who could be of Greek/Turkish/Anatolian origin and ethnicity (did Jesus want them to be preached to?).

Galatians 1

Paul writes a letter to Galatia. In verse 6 Paul marvels at how fast they replaced “him that called you” (1:6) (Paul?) with another gospel (from who?).

1:8 – But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.

So the FIRST gospel that was preached to them is the right one, and any gospel after that, even if it’s from the same people is not right. And what is this about ANGELS preaching gospels?

Paul admits he’s only seen TWO apostles: Peter and James, Jesus’ brother. But it doesn’t/shouldn’t matter because Paul tells them his gospel comes from God himself. He ALSO admits he “was unknown by face unto the churches of Judaea which were in Christ” (1:22). WHAT?! So is this why he went off to strange lands to preach, to avoid Judaea knowing he might face wrath for his past in persecuting converted Jews?! VERY INTERESTING!

Galatians 2 – The Apostles SPLIT from Paul!

Paul explains that his own gospel to the uncircumcised (Gentiles) is just as effectual as Peter’s gospel to the circumcised (Jews.) However he goes on to explain that the Apostles initially accepted him and his Gentile gospel, then turned away!

2:11 – But when Peter was come to Antioch, I withstood him to the face, because *he was to be blamed*. For before that certain came from James, he did eat with the Gentiles: but when they were come, he withdrew and separated himself, fearing them which were of the circumcision.

JESUS TOLD YOU GUYS NOT TO GO TO THE GENTILES PAUL!

Other Jews separated themselves as well, including Paul’s partner Barnabas, away from the Gentiles. Paul then scolds Peter, Jesus’ ROCK and the rest of the Apostles/Disciples!:

2:14 – But when I saw that they walked not uprightly according to the truth of the gospel, I said unto Peter before them all…

Peter and the rest were accused of “walking not uprightly according to the truth of the gospel” (2:14) because he and the others expected the Gentiles to live as Jews do. OR, maybe they were following Jesus’ instructions and command in Matthew 10:5 and split from Paul who wasn’t following Jesus’ commandment.

Here’s the doozy verse I hear ALL THE TIME, and now that I know this verse is not Jesus’ own words, but Paul’s, I FIND THE VERSE HIGHLY SUSPECT!

2:16 – Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ.

So Paul is saying it’s not about the law, and the culture/lifestyle of the Jews, which is what turned the others away from the Gentiles, but simply “faith”.

Are these also Jesus’ words and sentiments? Because he is the authority. So, can we assume the “false gospels” the Galatians are receiving are ones from the Disciples that split from Paul? If not, who preached them?

2 Galatians 3

Paul tears into the Galatians for being bewitched and not obeying the truth, again getting into the faith vs. works of the law argument. In verse 7 he says those of “faith” are “the same are the children of Abraham” (3:7). Again, I don’t think this was part of Jesus’ (whose own words were “Salvation isof the Jews”)gospel or his sentiment, and Paul continues his divergence from the philosophy and doctrine of Jesus. In verse 3:8 Paul tries to tie in his gospel with the blessing of Abraham “all nations shall be blessed”, not seeming to understand that from Abraham came multiple nations from his children: Israel, Moab, Edom, etc. THOSE were the nations.

So here is where modern Christianity gets the idea that Christians are of the seed of Abraham: NOT Jesus, but PAUL. Galatians 3:16 which rhymes with John 3:16… coincidence? Two verses taken out of context not only by Paul but by modern church when compared to Jesus’ own words…

Paul continues lecturing on the law of Moses, as if he was an expert on why it was put in place, and why it’s no longer as important as faith. All are under sin (NOT Jesus’ words).

3:28 – There is neither Jew nor Greek… for ye are all one in Christ. And if ye be Christ’s, then are ye Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.

I find this verse extremely problematic, especially in regards to Jesus’ own words on who salvation is for, and who he came to preach to. Paul is changing doctrine to include EVERYONE. <— ANOTHER research goal accomplished in my journey. Finding out who turned Christianity from a localized to land and people religion into a global religion: Paul.

I was expecting these verses to be the words of Jesus because how often they are quoted today, but alas, they are not his words. The further I go into the New Testament, the more I see that much of what is quoted today is not the words of Jesus’ but the words of Paul. The same Paul who the original apostles and disciples have decidedly split from. No wonder we have SO MANY denominations today. It started with Paul!

Acts 1 – 2

Despite the difference in “end game” descriptions between the first 3 gospels and John, it seemed apparent that the “kingdom of heaven” was soon to make an appearance yet in John it was the impending “Holy Ghost”. Will Acts follow through with the kingdom of heaven end game or the end game in John which wasn’t really clear beyond Jesus leading Peter and the disciple he loved off into the sunset. Through Jesus’ own words the mission was pinpointed to the Jews that believed and the lost house of Israel, and now I wonder if the apostles are going to stick to Jesus’ commands in regards to this mission.

Acts 1

Ok so whoever wrote Luke seems to be the author of Acts, because once again we get a letter to Theophilus. Even in Acts, Jesus is not being called the “king of all mankind”. We find ourselves with Jesus and the disciples interacting. They ask him “… Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel?” (1:6) and he tells them it is not for them to know.

1:8 – But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.

So here’s where it looks like the CHANGE comes. Jesus told them specifically NOT to preach in Samaria or to the Gentiles. Now he’s’ breaking his own rule? Just WHO are they going to be witnesses to? Jews and the lost house of Israel that reside in the “uttermost part of the earth”? Of course we get zero answer because conveniently, Jesus then ascends into heaven after speaking this.

No mention of the impending kingdom of heaven, no mention of the coming tribulations, no mention of Jesus returning on his throne. It seems the story has changed AGAIN. No consistency compared to the first 3 gospels.

More change in the story: The 11 apostles are gathered together to discuss replacing Judas as the 12th because Judas used the money he was paid to betray Jesus, bought a field and then “he burst asunder in the midst, and all his bowels gushed out” (1:18). Yet in Matthew:

Matthew 27:5 – And he cast down the pieces of silver in the temple, and departed, and went and hanged himself.

Judas didn’t buy the field, the Pharisees who Judas gave the money back to bought a potters field. DID THE AUTHOR OF ACTS NOT KNOW THE GOSPEL OF MATTHEW? It seems so. THUS, the gospels being of a (supposedly) higher authority, I now hold anything I read in Acts as suspect.

The author of acts tries to justify his version of Judas death by quoting Psalms. In Matthew that author justified HIS version of Judas death by quoting Jeremiah. Both can’t be right, someone is wrong.

The 12th disciple slot is filled by Matthias.

Acts 2

The Holy Ghost appears to the apostles, but just not the apostles, but all the other disciples. In John 20:19 Jesus has already fulfilled his promise of giving the apostles the Holy Ghost when he “breathes” it into them. What is all this new context about a 2nd arrival of the Holy Ghost? This time the apostles begin speaking in tongues. Here we might get some context as to why Jesus suddenly tells his apostles to go to all the nations to witness in Acts 1:

2:6 – Now there were dwelling at Jerusalem Jews, devout men, out of every nation under heaven.

There’s the context: There are Jews that are in “every nation under heaven”. Which explains the shock the multitude has when they see foreign Jews who speak the language of their nation speaking tongues. Not just random babble as is often portrayed today either.

2:8 – And how hear we every man *in our own tongue*, wherein we were born?

So they are speaking the original language of the Jews, not random languages or gibberish. So what in the world is going on TODAY when people begin “speaking in tongues” during church services?

Peter has to stand up and intervene in all the confusion and he really throws a curve ball by reintroducing the coming of THE DAY OF THE LORD that Jehovah/Yahweh spoke of in the Old Testament. WHAT! JESUS MADE NO MENTION OF THE DAY OF THE LORD! Peter is calling out the Day of the Lord to explain why Jews are speaking in Hebrew when the language of the nation of their origin is different. Peter then throws King David into the mix.

I see what Peter has done here: He used the Day of the Lord and King David to guilt the Jews around him for crucifying Jesus. Does this next verse sound like what Jesus commanded his followers to do:

2:38 – Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.

What happened to “many are called but few are CHOSEN”? Or why Jesus spoke to the masses in parables so they would not be “healed”? Now we have Peter throwing it AND the Holy Ghost out to any Jew who repents.

Acts 2 ends with the familiar New Author writing style of exaggerated and boastful claims of the apostles. To sum up, thousands were added to the “church”. So what is the “end game” now? A perpetual church despite Jesus promising the judgement and the kingdom being imminent?

Jesus Answers My Questions

Because I often get accused of having “opinions” on the bible when I’m simply quoting the verses themselves, I’ll let Jesus speak, in his own words for this post. Specifically where he answered the questions I had from the start of this journey. The biggest one, (that is broken down in the questions below), “Does all this apply to me?”

Question: “Is EVERYONE a sinner?” Side note: No, some are righteous, he only came for the sinner. He actually says there are “righteous” people in existence. Not a lot of information on “who” these righteous were but the point is: not all are sinners.

Matthew 9:13 – But go ye and learn what that meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice: for I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.

Luke 5:32 – I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.

Question: “Did Jesus come to save all mankind? Everyone on earth? Everyone who seeks salvation?”

Matthew 10:5 – These 12 Jesus sent forth, and commanded them, saying, Go not into the way of the Gentiles, and into any city of the Samaritans enter ye not: But go rather to the *lost* sheep of the *house* of *Israel*.

Matthew 18:11 – For the Son of man is come to save that which was *lost*

Luke 13:23 – Then one said unto him, Lord, are there few that be saved? And he said unto them, Strive to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able.

Luke 19:9 – And Jesus said unto him, This day is salvation come to this *house*, forsomuch as he also is a son of Abraham. For the Son of the man is come to seek and save that which was *lost.*

Luke 24:21 – But we trusted that it had been he which should have redeemed Israel…

John 4:22 – (Jesus to the Samaritan woman pitching water) Ye worship ye know not what: we know what we worship: for salvation is of the Jews.

Question: “But modern Christians quote John 3:16 that says you came to save all mankind/the world. How is “world” defined then?” (Side note: Caesar couldn’t tax all mankind, hence the need to scale down the definition of “world”):

Luke 2:1 – And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the *world* should be taxed.

Question: “Seriously, did you come to save everyone, regular people like modern Christianity says?” and “Why did you speak in parables and confuse regular people?”

Matthew 13:11 – Because it is given unto YOU (the 12 disciples) to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is NOT given… lest at any time they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart, and be converted, and I should heal them.

Question: “Ok so not everyone is to understand and be healed. What about those that BEG you?” (Canaanite/Syro-Phoenician/Samaritan woman)

Matthew 15:24 – But he answered and said, I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel.

John 4:22 – Ye worship ye know not what: we know what we worship: for salvation is of the Jews.

Question: “When is the kingdom of heaven supposed to, or supposed to have come?”

Matthew 16:28 – Verily I say unto you, There be some *standing here* (alive), which shall not taste death, till they see the Son of man coming in his kingdom.

Matthew 24:34 – Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled.

Matthew 26:64 – Thou hast said: nevertheless I say unto you (Caiphas, high priest of the Pharisees), Hereafter shall ye see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven.

Mark 1:15 – And saying, The time is *fulfilled*, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel.

Mark 9:1 – And he said unto them (the 12 disciples), Verily I say unto you, that there be some of them that stand here, which shall not taste death, till they have seen the kingdom of God come with power.

Mark 14:62 – And Jesus said, I am: and ye (Caiphas high priest) shall see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven.

Luke 9:27 – But I tell you of a truth, there be some standing here, which shall not taste of death, till they see the kingdom of God.

Luke 21:27 – And then shall they (men during the lifetime of the disciples) see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.

John 1:51 – And he saith unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto you (Jesus 12 disciples), Hereafter ye shall see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the son of man.

Question: “When is the judgement coming?”

John 12:30 – … This voice came not because of me, but for your sakes. *Now* is the judgement of this world: now shall the prince of the world be cast out

Question: “Will Jesus be the king of the world when he comes? Or just Israel?”

Luke 1:33 – And he shall reign over the *house* of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end.

Questions answered. Thank you.

John 13 – 14; 14 Zodiacal “House” of the Father? 12 Mansions? What Happened to…

John 13

A new gospel story: Jesus washes the feet of the 12 (13:5). This allows Jesus to identify that he will be betrayed (compare to this happening at the Last Supper in the previous gospels) by one of his disciples who is “not all clean” (13:10). The lesson: they are to do as Jesus has done, symbolically, treating each other as he has to them. Same lesson with the Father: of the disciples that receive Jesus, the Father will receive the disciples, etc.

Jesus tells his 12 that one will betray him, the one that sops bread with him (13:26), and he does so with Judas. He sends Judas off to do what he has to do and, in the meantime, the rest of the disciples just can’t figure out what’s going on (really? C’mon).

With Judas gone Jesus speaks to his 11:

13:34 – A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love on another; as I have loved you, that ye also love on another. *By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.

Notice WHO he is saying this to: his 11 disciples. Not the masses, the multitudes, the Jews, the women, the lepers, the blind, etc. Just his 11. Why do I say this? Because people take 13:34 to mean Jesus meant this message for everyone, and he does not say, in chapter 13 at least, to pass the message down to the other disciples and the rest of mankind. Why is this? It seems it’s just for the 11 that way they can be IDENTIFIED as the latter part of verse 34 states*. So the people can recognize and DISTINGUISH the 11 from everyone else. Is it a good mantra to live by in any society? Of course. Is that what Jesus meant it as, a message to all mankind? I think not, he explains WHY he wants them act this way: “so all men shall know that ye are my disciples.”

13 ends with Peter being told he will deny Christ 3 times, etc.

John 14

John 14 continues with Jesus speaking to his 11. He tells them not to be troubled, and that “In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you” (14:2). So, let’s look at this from an astrology point of view. There are 12 mansions for 12 disciples. It’s the Father’s “house”. Jesus tells them he will “come again, and receive you…” (14:3). The Son aka “Sun” will come again and receive the 12. This is the first thing I thought of:

A biblical based illustration of the Zodiac. 12 “mansions”, the “house” of the Father, the Son/Sun will “come again” through it as the sun passes through the constellations. Just a thought. Oh, is this actually EZEKIEL’s wheel within a wheel?

Again, let’s look at another highly important and repeated verse and the context: Jesus is still speaking to the 11:

14:6 – … I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father but by me. If ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me…. henceforth ye know him, and have seen him.

So here we have 11 people who have officially “seen” the Father. What about everyone else? Was the goal of preaching to Judah and lost house of Israel for them to also know the Father? Or was the goal of preaching to heal and clean them up to enter the new kingdom (not the same as knowing the Father.) So is it only the 11(12) who are destined to know the Father? I hadn’t caught this notion until this pass through the bible. Interesting, let’s see if future text supports this.

Disciple Phillip then asks (despite already being told he has) Jesus to show him the father. Jesus gives him a stern lecture and gives the 12 some further instructions. He says he will not leave them “comfortless” (14:18) who will abide with them “for ever.”

What? What happened to the impending kingdom of Heaven/God as Jesus promised in the previous 3 gospels where Jesus will show up on the throne in the clouds in the presence of Caiphas and his disciples, etc? This is a contradiction in the making.

SUDDENLY, the prophecy of post crucifixion that Jesus lays out differs greatly from what he said before: the disciples that love Jesus will be loved back, and Jesus and his Father will return to them and make “an abode” with them (14:23). Is this a reference to the kingdom of Heaven being WITHIN them? Also new: the coming of the comforter, the Holy Spirit to teach the disciples all things.

14:30 – Hereafter I will not talk much with you: for the prince of this world cometh, and hath nothing in me.

Who’s the prince of the world? Remembering that thanks to Luke 2, the word “world” doesn’t mean the entire planet, then just who is the prince of the Jews and the lost house of Israel?

I’m still waiting for the reference to the impending arrival of the kingdom of heaven after Jesus is crucified/resurrected. Still have a few more chapters to go so there is still hope.

John 11 – 12. 12 Did Jesus Come to Judge Man? (yes, no, no). Why the Differences?

John 11 – A Quick Lazarus Run Down

We meet another victim of the need to “glorify god” with a miracle: Lazarus. Lazarus is an acquaintance of Jesus, as he “loved” him and his sisters. Jesus, despite leaving Judaea for fear of being killed (no legions of angels?) returns to Judaea. His disciples questions, and Jesus insists on returning because Lazarus is “asleep” aka dead. Thomas “the Twin” Didymus rallies the disciples to go with him.

“Jesus wept.” (11:35) and as he gets to the grave of Lazarus he “groaning in himself cometh to the grave.” (11:38). In a nutshell, Jesus raises Lazarus from the dead, and some Jews believed, and others went to snitch to the Pharisees. Here is where we get some more insight into the “why” the Pharisees and other Jews feared Jesus: Caiphas the high priest concludes that if all men of their nation believe in him, then the Romans just might come and take them ALL away (seemingly into another captivity as opposed to being independent but under the overall rule of Roman law.)

Caiphas and the others then plan on putting Jesus to death. Unlike the first 3 gospels, where Jesus received his death sentence while meeting with Caiphas, here it’s made without Jesus present. Jesus then heads out to Ephraim (another of the lost house of Israel) because the Jews were commanded to be on the look out for him.

John 12

I got the hint that the death sentence in 11 is a change from the previous 3 gospels where Jesus received his death sentence in the presence of Caiphas. In chapter 12 he returns to the home of Lazarus where once again he is anointed for his death, but this time by Mary. Here are the contradictions:

• Matthew 26/Mark 14: Jesus is anointed by a random woman in the house of Simon the Leper. In John its a pretty important character: Mary M. Did Matthew and Mark not know who she was?
• Is Lazarus the same as Simon the Leper? No mention of Jesus healing Simon of his leprosy or raising him from the dead. So why the change?

This isn’t the first contradiction or change in John compared to the others: So far Jesus has yet to tell his disciples to sell all they own, hate their family, take up their cross to enter the kingdom of god. All he has said so far is to “believe”. To me that’s a HUGE discrepancy.

Jews head over to see Lazarus, who they heard was raised from the dead. The Pharisees in the meantime are looking to kill Lazarus because his resurrection had been causing Jews to “go away” from the Pharisees and to Jesus. The story of the seeking out of a colt and an ass for Jesus to make his final entry into Judaea is minimized to a sentence or two. In fact, this story has changed as well because in John, Jesus “found a young ass, sat thereon” (12:14). So I guess he DIDN’T send two disciples to seek them out?

12:15 – Fear not, daughter of Sion: behold, thy King cometh, sitting on an ass’s colt.

Not king of the world, king of all mankind… King of Sion.

In 12:20 we are told some “Greeks” came to worship at the feast (and to see Jesus). Ok, were these non-Israelite outsiders from Greece? Or were they Israelite’s who were Greek citizens (post captivity) who came to worship “their god” at the feast?

Lot’s of changes from the other 3 gospels: Jesus usual 2 chapter lecture to his disciples is cut down to about 9 verses. In this lecture he is already troubled (12:27) as opposed to being troubled up on the mount while his disciples slept. Apparently the Father from heaven speaks down “glorifying” Jesus in the presence of other people, who believed it was a thundering angel speaking to him. Look at this next verse… does this answer “When does the judgement come?”:

12:30 – … This voice came not because of me, but for your sakes. *Now is the judgement of this world*: now shall the prince of the world be cast out.

Remember: replace the word “world” with “Judah and the lost house of Israel” (or even Zion) and this creates a match with the context well laid out in all 4 gospels, in Jesus own words: he didn’t come to save all mankind. If you haven’t followed this blog it’s clearly stated first by Jesus in Matthew 10:5-6, and multiple times afterwards. (I also discuss a bit at the end of the post.)

More importantly, he’s saying “the judgement is now”. Yet 2,000 years later people are still waiting for it. In fact, we have a bunch of post-Gospel books… surely they will be discussing the judgement that Jesus says is “now”?

There seems to be some sort of uncertainty in Jesus however, when he states this:

12:32 – And I, if I be lifted up from earth, will draw all men unto me.

“If”?? Is Jesus not certain of the plan, or not certain that it will unfold as planned? Very interesting. Apparently the people do know of a plan that the “Son of man” be lifted up but they can’t seem to figure out it’s him? Strange. He tells them that he (as light) still walks among them so they need to believe so that they do not walk in darkness. He leaves, and we are told they STILL don’t believe (WHY? Answer below…) Apparently it’s all because of an Isaiah prophecy back during the time of the captivity of Judah in Babylon, which really has nothing to do with the Jews who returned to Jerusalem/Judaea, where we are told “the Lord (or Jesus, or both, or the same)” hardened their hearts. SO THEN WHY EVEN BOTHER PREACHING TO THEM?

Did Jesus come to judge man?

John 5:22 – For the Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgement unto the Son. (Yes, Jesus judges)

John 8:15 – Ye judge after the flesh; I judge no man. (No, Jesus doesn’t judge)

John 12:47 – And if any man hear my words, and believe not, I judge him not: for I came not to judge the world… (No, Jesus doesn’t judge)

All 3 in the SAME book of John. So which is it? Does it matter? Of course, where’s the consistency? I made the argument that it SEEMS like Jesus might be deceiving his audience with these contradictions, just like he speaks parables to them so that they do not “understand”. This makes complete sense. I can hear the hissing now: “Jesus doesn’t lie, why would he do that. He came to save the world.” IN HIS OWN WORDS (not mine):

Matthew 13:11 – … Because it is given unto you (his disciples) to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is *not* given. For whosoever hath, to him shall be given, and he shall have more abundance: but whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken away even that he hath. Therefore speak I to them in parables: because they seeing see not; and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand…. (13:15) lest at any time they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them.

In his own words: he hardened their hearts in Matthew 13 (or at least the Father did) and he speaks to them in parables so that they do not understand and they do not convert and become healed.

SO IT’S NOT EVEN THEIR CHOICE

These are not the words of a deity that came to save all mankind and all his people, but one who came to save who the father chooses (the select “elect”), and the rest he has to make sure they do not understand and become healed.

John 6 – Astrology; Differing Gospels & Requirements

John 6

Repeat: Feeding the masses with 5 loaves of bread and 2 fish. TWO FISH:

Two Fish

So what about the 5 loaves of bread? According to ancient Egyptians, the constellation Virgo represents the “wheat harvest” aka bread, and Virgo has 5 peripheral points.

The 5 loaves of Bread? The Virgin in Beth-lehem (House of Bread). Virgo = the “Wheat” Maiden

Some potential astrological references there. Finally, we get some new information: Jesus sensed that the people who were amazed at this miracle would try to “take him by force, to make him a king” (6:15) so he takes off to a mountain alone. Repeat: the walking on water scene. For some reason I don’t think the story really matches with the previous gospels but that’s just at a glance.

Jesus is on the opposite side of the sea of Galilee and the “people”, looking for him, decide to sail on over to him. Jesus accuses them of not coming because of his “miracle”, but because they at plenty of fish and bread, and he warns them not to worry about that type of “meat” but to think of the “meat” that gives everlasting life, which he, the Son of God, will give them.

So how will they get this “meat”? Take up their cross? Sell all their belongings? Be persecuted? Roll the dice and hope they are one of the chosen of “many are called, but few are chosen?”

John 6:29 – Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent.

THAT’S IT? See the contradiction between John and the 3 previous gospels!? There were WAY more requirements in those gospels than here in John. Jesus didn’t tell them to sell all their goods and follow, to “hate” their family, take up their cross, etc. and join him. Just “believe”. So WHICH GOSPEL IS CORRECT? The 3 vs John… they can’t be BOTH right. Both can be wrong though.

It should be noted, at this time, Jesus is NOT speaking to his 12, but to the “multitudes.” Now, at least in the previous gospels, the 12 were already set up, prepared for the impending arrival of the kingdom. The rest? It’s not so clear, especially when we were told “many are called, few are chosen.” So is Jesus trying to trip up the masses by telling them “just believe” when in previous stories he laid out a whole list of requirements? Look at what Jesus now tells them after they requested the “bread of life”:

6:35 – But I said unto you, That ye also have seen me, and believe not.

OK RIGHT HERE he is telling them they “believe not” thus it sounds like he’s already eliminated them. Let’s see if the rest of the verse affirms this point. The part of the speech that angered the Jews to “murmur” was Jesus calling himself the bread of heaven, when, to them he is the earthly son of Mary and Joseph. Again, let’s see if Jesus has come to save ALL the Jews, or ALL mankind:

6:44 – No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me to *draw him*…

So here Jesus is even admitting only those selected (the elect) by the Father will be chose/raised up on the last day. Jesus confuses the Jews further by stating that the “bread of life” is his flesh, and the Jews (surely thinking of ancient food laws against cannabalism) question him further.

Ok, chapter 6 is full of important verses. I didn’t see this one coming but wow is it important in modern context:

6:53 … Verily, verily I say unto you, Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, ye have no life in you. Whoso eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day.

We have a new rule: You have to have eaten (figuratively/ritually) the flesh and blood of Jesus to be raised on the last day and have eternal life. Ask yourself this: At this point in the story in Luke, WHO HAS eaten/drinken of the flesh/blood of Jesus? No one it seems. WHO WILL eat/drink of the flesh and blood of Jesus? THE TWELVE. Anyone else? This part of the story even ends without Jesus acknowledging to this multitude that followed and questioned him that they are now chosen to be saved. It’s as if he had already decided, and they weren’t part of it.

Modern Times: I know of only ONE Christian denomination that includes the weekly ritual of symbolically eating the flesh and drinking the blood of Jesus as was symbolized in the Last Supper Passover by eating bread and drinking wine: the communion sacrament of the Catholic church. Is this why the church does this weekly, to fulfill the requirements of John 6:53-54? What about the denominations that DON’T do this?

Back to the story… after concluding his dialogue with the multitude, even his 12 disciples “murmured” at Jesus’ concept of flesh/blood. Jesus even goes so far to accuse some of his 12 of “believing not” (6:64), alluding at least to Judas.

At this point in the story it seems many of those “following” Jesus as part of the multitude have been disenfranchised at this point and have left the scene. Jesus seeing this, then asks his 12 “Will ye also go away?” (6:67). Simon Peter replies no, because they believe he is the Christ. Oddly, Jesus even admit that, out of the 12, he chose a “devil” (aka Judas.).

Side note: John 6 is a pretty important chapter because it introduces new concepts not discussed in the previous 3 gospels (indicating contradictions between the gospels), and how ironic, this differing gospel is placed LAST in the timeline, so that it can act as a bridge to NEW concepts I’m sure we will see in Acts, that are not congruent with the first 3 gospels. This chapter also has some serious influence on modern Christianity, especially in regards to how certain denomination do/don’t fulfill the requirements Jesus laid out, yet at the same time IGNORING verses like Matthew 10:5 that exclude them from this entire mission.

John 3: The Most Famous Verse. A Change in the Path to the Kingdom?

John 3

A Pharisees named Nicodemus approaches Jesus telling him he knows that “God is with him.” A new concept we hadn’t heard in the previous 3 gospels:

John 3:3 – Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.

There’s the concept of SEEING the kingdom of God, but now, we have an added requirement of being “born again.” In previous gospels the requirements included experiencing the tribulation, taking up the cross, judgement, death, etc. Just like everyone else who’s read up to this point, Nicodemus asks how one that is physically born can be “born again”.

Another new requirement:

3:5 – …. I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the spirit is spirit.

Born = baptized? Like myself, Nicodemus has more questions on “how can this be” but Jesus pretty much tells him these are “heavenly” spirit concepts. In verse 13 Jesus says “no man hath ascended up to heaven” (3:13) What about Elijah? (story not matching up. moving on).

3:14 – And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up.

Jesus is foretelling himself up on the cross. The parallels to Moses staff used to cure the people from the snake bites the Lord sent upon them is uncanny. Both Jesus and Moses’ snake pole “healed” people:

Wonder where the symbol of Jesus on the cross came from? Note both are symbols of “healing”.

Let’s get to the BIGGEST verse of them all. Seen on signs at baseball games, car windows, tattoos, greeting cards, social media, etc.

3:16 – For God so loved the *world*, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

Anyone who SKIPS and JUMPS right to this verse, ignoring context, may think this God has sent his son to save the entire planet, all mankind, etc. HOWEVER, one of my goals in this blog was to cover ALL the books and chapters to find the context of verses like this, and I can conclude with certainty, that the context IS NOT HE CAME TO SAVE ALL MANKIND. I’ve already proven, and it’s been well established (thanks to Luke 2:1) that the word “world” does NOT mean all mankind. Jesus own words affirm this in Matthew 10:5.

Despite John 3:16, by itself, insinuating Jesus came for all mankind, the scriptures can prove this is not true. He came for the Jews and the lost house of Israel as his own words have proven.

So this verse, despite sounding very kind and loving to all mankind, doesn’t really mean what people think it does. Jesus’ mission was very targeted and precise. Not some general “save ’em all” mission as it is being portrayed today. This was one of my primary goal verses to get to, with all the context of the bible I’ve gone through verse by verse and chapter by chapter to support my conclusion. To be honest my next big goal is Revelation but I’m going to slog through Acts and all the letters just to be complete.

Side Note: This concept of being “saved” has become much simpler in John: Just believe in Jesus. The previous 3 gospels, in regards to how attain the kingdom of heaven, don’t really match modern Christian methods (I’ve never seen a modern Christian sell all their goods and wear a loin cloth to follow Jesus). Most seem to lean more on John’s concept of “just believe” while maintaining their riches, power, materialism and even wicked ways. Not to degrade from those that DO give to the poor and devote a majority of time to service in the church. But now we seem to have TWO methods on reaching the kingdom of heaven, and how ironic most people today choose John’s much simpler method. It’s not surprising when we have multiple gospels with different methods to reach the kingdom of heaven to choose from. Let’s see if John will start to match up more with the previous 3, or if his theme really is “just believe”.

Back to the story: John’s disciples question him on the nature of Jesus, a dichotomy between the earthly John and the heavenly Jesus, and the nature of believing in Jesus as being gifted from the father, and passed down to the earthly realm for a chance at everlasting life.